O beautiful one, listen as the Lord speaks of the mystery of time and liberation. Assuming the form of Time itself, the Lord withdraws the world, gathering all things into Himself. His devotees, steadfast in their devotion, enter into Him alone, finding their ultimate refuge. In that realm, meditation, study, and knowledge become imperishable, untouched by decay. Yet, for those who enter Avimukta, all worldly attachments and limitations are destroyed. Even women, foreigners, and those born of mixed or sinful lineage, if their lives end in Avimukta, are reborn as humans in Shiva’s own city. There, favored by the Lord, all attain the supreme state. Remarkably, even one who merely dwells in Varanasi—perhaps having struck his foot with a stone—wherever he meets his end, is liberated from worldly existence. Those not awakened, deluded by the Lord’s māyā, fail to see this truth and wander again and again through lowly births, amidst impurity. But one who attains the supreme state grieves no more, and is accomplished, as the wise declare. This highest state is found only in Avimukta; the wise recognize Avimukta as their supreme remedy. It is the highest truth, the supreme auspiciousness. To those who seek it, the Lord grants supreme knowledge and, at life’s end, the highest state. Though places like Kedāra, Bhadrakarṇa, Gayā, Puṣkara, Prabhāsa, Vijayeśāna, Gokarṇa, and Bhadrakarṇaka are renowned, none bestow liberation as Varanasi does upon those who die there. Entering Varanasi destroys sins amassed over hundreds of lifetimes. The vows undertaken there are exceedingly rare and precious. One who subsists on air and remains in Varanasi purifies all, and anyone who reaches Varanasi is freed from all sins, becoming a lord among hosts. The supreme state might be attained after a thousand births elsewhere, but in Varanasi, liberation is achieved in just one birth. Thus, upon reaching Avimukta, one should not seek any other hermitage, for this is the most secret of secrets. Knowing this, one is liberated. The destiny of those who depart in Avimukta is indeed the supreme state. The city of Varanasi excels all other places in auspiciousness. There, in Avimukta, the liberating Brahman called Taraka is revealed. With just one birth, one attains this in Varanasi. As the radiant sun called Avimukta shines in Varanasi, the eternal truth of Avimukta is ever-present there. Within that sacred city, Lord Narayana and Mahadeva, the lord of gods, reside. They ceaselessly worship the god of gods, the grandsire. Those who reach Varanasi attain the highest state, and, having received knowledge from Mahadeva, are liberated.