When the nine-day sacrifice to the Goddess was completed, King Parikṣit, at that very moment, attained the divine realm of the Goddess Herself, assuming a celestial body. Witnessing his father's ascent to the heavenly abode, King Janamejaya was filled with supreme joy, especially after honoring the venerable sage Vyāsa. Among all the eighteen Purāṇas, the Devī Bhāgavata stands as the most excellent and supreme, for it bestows dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kāma (desire), and mokṣa (liberation). Those who listen with devotion to the sacred story of the Goddess Bhāgavata soon attain perfection; thus, it is said that all should serve and revere this scripture. Even listening for half a day, a quarter, a moment, or just an instant with devotion ensures that misfortune never befalls a person. The rewards gained from all sacrifices, pilgrimages, and gifts are granted by merely hearing this Purāṇa once. In ages past, many righteous acts were performed, but in this age of Kali, righteousness is found solely through hearing the Purāṇa; there is no other way. For those whose conduct is lacking and whose lives are short in Kali Yuga, Vyāsa composed this nectar-like Purāṇa for their welfare. By drinking nectar, one alone attains agelessness and immortality; but by partaking of the nectar of the Goddess’s story, one’s entire lineage becomes ageless and immortal. There is no restriction of months or days for serving the Devī Bhāgavata—it should always be revered by all. Yet, in the month of Āśvina, or in Madhu, or during the pure month of Tapas, especially in the four Navarātris, it bears the highest fruit. Thus, the nine-day sacrifice is declared more fruitful than all other virtuous acts, as it brings greater rewards and merit. Even those with wicked hearts, devoted to sin, deluded, betrayers of friends, revilers of the Vedas, addicted to violence and atheism—such souls are purified in Kali Yuga by the nine-day sacrifice. Men who covet others’ wives and wealth, burdened with sin, lacking devotion to cows, deities, and Brahmins, are also purified by this sacrifice. The fruit gained by the most severe austerities, vows, pilgrimages, donations, disciplines, sacrifices, offerings, and recitations is attained by people through the nine-day sacrifice. Not even the sacred places—Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Naimiṣa, Mathurā, Puṣkara, nor Badarī forest—purify as instantly as does this worship of the Goddess. Therefore, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa of the Goddess is regarded as the highest and supreme means for attaining dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation. When the Sun enters Virgo during the bright fortnight of Āśvina, one should especially worship the Goddess, seated upon Her lion-throne, on the great eighth day. With devotion, to please the Goddess, one should offer the Śrī Bhāgavata book to a worthy brāhmaṇa; by this, one attains the very path of the Goddess. Whoever recites even a single verse, or half a verse, of the Devī Bhāgavata daily with devotion becomes dear to the Goddess; simply by hearing it, one is freed from terrible calamities, deadly epidemics, and all disasters. The fears caused by balagrahas, spirits, or ghosts are driven far away by hearing the Devī Bhāgavata. Whoever, with devotion, recites or listens to the Bhāgavata of the Goddess attains righteousness, prosperity, desire, and liberation. In fact, by hearing it, Vasudeva, who had gone searching for Prasena, found his beloved son Kṛṣṇa, long lost, and was filled with joy. Whoever listens with devotion to this sacred tale of the Bhāgavatī, or recites it with devotion, attains both enjoyment and liberation; the childless gain children, the poor become wealthy, and the sick are freed from illness by hearing the nectar of the Bhāgavata. A woman who is barren, has only daughters, or whose child has died, by hearing the Devī Bhāgavata, obtains a long-lived son. The house where the Śrī Bhāgavata is worshipped daily becomes a holy place, destroying the sins of its inhabitants. Whoever, filled with devotion, recites or listens on the eighth, fourteenth, or ninth day attains the highest perfection. A brāhmaṇa who recites it becomes foremost among the knowers of the Veda; a kṣatriya is born as a ruler; a vaiśya gains abundant wealth by reciting it; even a śūdra, by listening, becomes excellent in his own deeds. Now, the sages gathered and asked: “How did the illustrious Vasudeva recover his son? Where did Prasena wander with Kṛṣṇa, and how was he sought? By what means, and for what reason, did Vasudeva hear the Devī Bhāgavata? O wise Sūta, tell us this story.” Sūta replied: Satrājit, of the Bhoja lineage, resided happily in Dvāravatī. He was deeply devoted to the Sun and was a supreme devotee and friend. Pleased by his devotion and affection, the Sun revealed his own world to Satrājit. To him, thus gratified, the Sun Lord gave the Syamantaka jewel. Wearing this jewel around his neck, Satrājit returned to Dvārakā. The people of the city, dazzled by his radiance, mistook him for the Sun himself and approached Kṛṣṇa, who was seated in the Sudharmā hall. They said, “Here comes the Sun, wishing to see you, O Lord of the world.” Hearing this, Kṛṣṇa smiled and spoke to the assembly: “O children, this is not the Sun shining; it is Satrājit, radiant with the Syamantaka jewel given by the luminous Bhāsvat.” Satrājit, having summoned the Brahmins with auspicious recitations, respectfully welcomed them and brought the jewel into his home. Wherever that jewel resided, there was no disease, no famine, nor any fear of calamity; it constantly produced eight measures of gold. Once, Satrājit’s brother, named Prasena, tied the jewel around his neck, mounted his Sindhu horse, and immediately set out. He ventured into the forest to hunt, where the king of beasts saw him, killed both Prasena and his horse, and seized the jewel. Then, Jāmbavān, the mighty king of bears, saw the lion bearing the jewel, slew the lion at the entrance of a cave, and took the Syamantaka jewel for himself.