Devotion, it is said, is the supreme cause behind all accomplishments. Just as the breath is the very life of the body, so too is devotion regarded as the life of all attainments. Therefore, one should rely upon devotion in every undertaking, for it is through devotion that all tasks find their fulfillment. Desires are fulfilled by faith, and it is the faithful who ultimately attain liberation. O best of sages, know this: the Blessed Lord Hari is not pleased by those who are devoid of devotion. Whatever is given without devotion—even if done with the intention of destroying one’s own wealth—remains fruitless. Any oblation or offering made without a heart full of devotion is like casting sacrifices into ashes; such acts yield no eternal reward, no matter how grand they appear. Deeds performed without devotion are empty, O Brahman, and only lead the ignorant deeper into the poisonous cycle of worldly existence. Even the company of devotees, devotion to Hari, and the practice of forbearance—if performed without true devotion—are fruitless, O Brahman. For such people, Hari remains distant. For those who act falsely, He is even farther away. For those whose minds lack devotion, even in righteous deeds, Hari is farther still. And among those devoid of faith, He is the most distant of all. Such a person lives like the bellows of a blacksmith: breathing, yet not truly alive. O delight of the Brahmins, know that success comes only to those who possess faith; it is never otherwise. Through faith, one attains the abode of Vishnu, the very realm beheld by the sages. But he who is intent on meditating upon Hari attains the supreme state. Hari is always worshipped by one who follows the discipline of his own order. The one who is excluded from right action is alone to be known as fallen. He who deviates from the discipline of his own order is called fallen. Even if such a person is learned, he cannot purify others, O best of the twice-born. Not even the performance of various sacrifices or the recitation of the Vedas can protect one who has abandoned proper conduct. Liberation is attained only through right conduct; indeed, is there anything that cannot be gained by proper conduct? Similarly, among those devoted to Hari, it is devotion itself that is regarded as the true cause of all attainments. Therefore, devotion is celebrated as the mother of all worlds. All the righteous live by relying on devotion. There is none equal to such a person in all the three worlds, O son of Jananda. When the Lord is pleased, true knowledge arises; through knowledge, liberation is attained. The opportunity to associate with such a soul is granted to people through the good deeds they have accumulated in previous lives. Freed from faults such as desire, these saints become teachers to the world. If one finds oneself in the company of such a saint, know that it is the result of merit earned in a previous birth. Only then does association with the virtuous occur, and not otherwise. Saints are like rays of noble speech, always dispelling the darkness within. For those who are graced by their company, peace becomes everlasting. What is the nature of their world? Tell me all of this in truth, for you alone are capable of describing these mysteries—there is none superior to you. It was you whom the Lord of the universe addressed, having been released from yogic sleep, and you, Shiva-Brahma, the creator of the world, who possesses your own divine form.