After that, it was explained that during Uttarayana—the sun’s northward journey—the merit gained by people for their sacred acts becomes ten times greater than at other times. On the special Akshaya day, the merit is said to be equal, though this is not established in the Vedas. Even on an ordinary day, if one bathes with focused meditation, the spiritual reward increases a hundredfold. Yet, there are days of even greater potency. On the bright seventh day of the month of Magha, and on the day known as Bhishma Ashtami, the merit is especially auspicious. Still more powerful is the rare and precious day called Nanda, when the merit is twice as great. Equal to Nanda is the day of Varuni, and on the days leading up to it, the merit is four times greater than usual. On these supremely sacred occasions, the benefit of a bath can become ten million times greater than that of a regular day. Even if one bathes at partial sunrise, the merit is a hundred times more than usual. Yet, among all people, the Vaishnavas—those devoted to Lord Vishnu and liberated even while living—are without desire for any fruit of their actions. When the supreme Vishnu mantra is received in the ear from the mouth of a guru, not only is the recipient uplifted, but so too are a hundred ancestors before and a hundred descendants after. The blessing extends to one’s sister, brother, nephew, maternal uncle, as well as the guru, the giver of knowledge, friends, and companions—all are elevated simply by the reception of the mantra. Such a person’s touch purifies even the holy places of Bharat, and wherever their foot-water falls, that place becomes a sacred site. True Vaishnavas partake only of offerings, never eating otherwise. All sacred waters are purified by their touch, and their sins flee from them, just as serpents flee before Garuda. Vishnu’s Sudarshana disc constantly protects them. These best among Vaishnavas speak with trembling voices and tearful eyes, their homes and all they possess entrusted to the Lord. From the highest post of Brahma down to the smallest blade of grass, everything that moves or does not move arises from the Lord. Countless millions of universes, each with their own Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others, are all manifestations of His radiance, supreme and full of grace for devotees. All beings born of nature arise from Him and are ultimately withdrawn back into Him. Having spoken thus, the Lord of gods fell silent before those assembled. Then, Ganga herself spoke: “By your command, O king, and by the power of my austerities, whatever sins the sinful give to me, for how long shall I remain in Bharat? Whatever else I desire, you know, O all-knowing one.” Sri Krishna replied: “Your husband, in the form of Rudra, will become the salt ocean. The ocean is my own portion, and you are the embodiment of Lakshmi. As many rivers as there are in Bharat—Bharati and others—from this day, O goddess of gods, for five thousand years of Kali Yuga, you will enjoy secret union with the ocean. They will please you with hymns composed by Bhagiratha. By meditating as taught by Kauthuma, they will worship you after contemplating you. Whoever, even among hundreds of people, utters your name—‘Ganga, Ganga’—the sins from the bathing of thousands of sinners will become yours. The sins from touching the corpses of thousands of sinners will also become yours.” Thus, the sacred story unfolded, revealing the immense merit of holy acts, the power of mantras, the glory of Vaishnavas, and the unique role of Ganga in receiving and purifying the sins of the world.