Goloka, the supreme and most exalted of all worlds, shines forth in a perfect circular form, surpassing every other realm in glory. Its grandeur is revealed in the dazzling pillars and stairways, each inlaid with the finest, most radiant jewels. Within Goloka, wondrous pavilions glisten, and the entire realm is further adorned by countless peaks, their slopes washed pure by the sacred river Viraja. The dimensions of Goloka are remarkable: its length is half that of the Viraja, and its width matches this measure. Encircling it is the luminous rasa-mandala, a circle of divine dance and joy, itself spanning half the breadth of Goloka. At the very heart of this celestial lotus, just as the pericarp is the most enchanting part of a lotus flower, there resides the supreme Lord. Here, O King, the Lord is eternally united with Radhika, the queen of the rasa dance, embodying the very essence of divine love and bliss. He is adorned in garments purified by fire and decked with ornaments of precious jewels. Seated upon a splendid jeweled throne, beneath a radiant jeweled parasol, he is further beautified by the loving hands of the gopis, who decorate him with fragrant garlands and anoint his form with cooling sandal paste. Thus, the vast expanse of the worlds has been described, in harmony with both tradition and the capacity of understanding. The vessel of creation is envisioned as formed from six lotus petals, deep and four finger-breadths wide, with a tiny golden aperture the size of a mustard seed. Supporting it are rods, each four finger-breadths in length; two rods together measure a muhūrta, and four such muhūrtas make a yāma. Time unfolds in cycles: a month consists of two fortnights, and a year is made up of twelve months. During the dark fortnight, the day is said to prevail; during the bright fortnight, the night dominates. The northern course of the sun marks the day, while the southern course is considered the night. Now, listen to the reckoning of time as it pertains to the primal beings such as Brahmā and to the elements. Twelve thousand divine years make up the great cycle, with two thousand of these years belonging to the dawn and dusk periods. The caturyuga—comprising the four ages—is measured according to human years. The Kṛta Yuga, Tretā Yuga, Dvāpara Yuga, and Kali Yuga are each carefully measured and proclaimed by those who understand the science of time and numbers. Within this grand span, seven days are established, and sixteen tithis, or lunar days, are remembered. Thus, the great wheel of time turns, and with it, the caturyuga cycles endlessly. In this way, the fourteen Manus revolve in their ordained order, their reigns measured and recounted: twenty-five thousand and sixty-five at the close of sixty cycles. The stories of these Manus, the righteous kings, are recited in tradition. The first among them was Manu, the son of Brahmā, whose devoted wife was Śatarūpā. This Svāyambhuva Manu, a disciple of Śambhu, was wholly dedicated to the sacred vow of Viṣṇu. On the banks of the Narmadā, he performed a thousand Rājasūya sacrifices, each a magnificent celebration of dharma. He also conducted four hundred thousand Gomedha sacrifices, following every prescribed rite—a truly wondrous accomplishment. For these rituals, he offered the meat of five hundred thousand cows, all carefully prepared with ghee, along with a hundred thousand priceless jewels and one hundred million pieces of gold. His generosity knew no bounds: a hundred thousand garments, each purified by fire, were given to the greatest sages, and three hundred thousand excellent horses, adorned with golden trappings, were bestowed. He offered a thousand splendid chariots, a hundred thousand palanquins, and thirty million golden ornaments, all fragrant with camphor and other rare scents. Three million golden couches, accompanied by exquisite betel leaves, were presented, each adorned with garlands and nets of flowers, and draped in beautiful, fire-purified garments. Having gained supreme knowledge from Śaṅkara, Svāyambhuva Manu was blessed with the most rare and sacred Kṛṣṇa-mantra, crowning his life of devotion and sacrifice.