Even among the greatest blessings—residence in the divine realm, immense opulence, proximity to Śrī Hari, or even oneness with Him—there is something far more rare and precious: the eternal, unwavering devotion that marks the true servant of Hari. Such steadfast devotion and the status of being Hari’s servant are exceedingly difficult to attain. With a heart full of longing, the seeker prayed to the wish-fulfilling tree, “Grant me this boon: let me become a servant of the son of Viṣṇu.” And in earnest, he added, “O Śambhu, if you will not grant me this boon, then let me become a wrongdoer, for I desire nothing else.” Hearing these fervent words, the ocean of compassion himself responded. Śrī Śaṃkara, the embodiment of mercy, spoke: “May he be long-lived, virtuous, ever youthful, and steadfast. May he be wise, handsome, devoted to his teacher, and master of his senses.” Having blessed him so, Śaṃkara departed to his own abode. All the people, their hearts blossoming with joy, felt their purpose fulfilled. In due course, that elderly woman gave birth to a son upon the sacred slopes of Mount Gandhamādana. On an auspicious day, the boy’s consecration was performed, and he surpassed even the most venerable elders. He was given the name Upabarhaṇa. Sauti continued: The king of the Gandharvas, overjoyed, bestowed gifts upon the brāhmaṇas. As time passed, Upabarhaṇa acquired the exceedingly rare mantra of Hari. Once, on the banks of the Gaṇḍakī river, he reached the fullness of his youth. There, he and his companions performed intense austerities, and through their yoga, gave up their lives. The women who had accompanied him chose Upabarhaṇa the Gandharva as their husband. Ever youthful and steadfast, Upabarhaṇa took them as his wives. With them, he ruled the kingdom for a long time, day and night, in harmony and prosperity. One day, as he watched Rambhā dance, her firm breast swaying with her movements, he was so overcome that he immediately ceased his song and fell unconscious upon the floor of the assembly. At that moment, a decree was pronounced: “Go, you, to a birth among the Śūdras, and abandon your Gandharvī form.” For, as was declared, “Without adversity, O son, there is truly no greatness among men.” Having spoken thus, the Creator departed from Puṣkara to his own abode. In the course of his yogic journey, Upabarhaṇa pierced the sixteen nāḍīs—the Mūlādhāra, Svādhiṣṭhāna, Maṇipūra, Anāhata, Iḍā, Suṣumnā, Medhā, Piṅgalā, Viśuddhā, Niruddhā, the channel of circulating air, and the channel of intellect that expands knowledge. Piercing these, and indeed the haṃsa, he remained for a moment, uniting his individual self with the Supreme Self. He then placed the three-stringed, hard-to-obtain vīṇā upon his left shoulder, and uttered the supreme Brahman—the very essence of the Vedas, the highest of the high. Lying down with his head towards the east and his feet towards the west, the king of the Gandharvas beheld him at that moment, together with his wife. All the wives and relatives wailed and wept bitterly at his passing. Among fifty women, the chief queen, Mālāvatī, cried out in anguish, embracing her beloved to her breast. Overcome with grief, she pleaded, “Grant me a vision, O friend, for I am submerged in an ocean of sorrow.” She recalled their days together: in the delightful sandalwood forest, adorned with beautiful garments, in the place of their intimacy—by the sandalwood mountain, within the fragrant woods, and in that lovely spot on Mount Gandhamādana, beside the riverbank.