O King, listen with attention to the workings of karma and the consequences of unrighteous deeds. When one commits a grave sin, such as theft, a vow of expiation equal to that for slaying a Brahmin must be undertaken. Yet, even with penance, the thief himself is destined for hell, while the one whose property was stolen receives the results of his own actions. Hear further, O King: one who maliciously reviles ascetics is condemned to be reborn in the inert state of stone. Thereafter, such a soul endures all manner of torments in succession, even being forced to eat the food of dogs. Now, let me tell you the fate of those who destroy flower gardens—these offenders are reborn as beings made of excrement for twenty-one kalpas, suffering greatly. Those who destroy, burn, or plunder villages, those who eat leftovers unfit for offering, and those who betray their friends—all such persons, along with those who abandon ancestral and divine rites or stray from the path of the Vedas, experience many kinds of torments, O King. Such are the punishments for evil-doers. But there is also the path of righteousness. For all these sins, as prescribed by the Dharma Shastra, atonements must be performed in the presence of the Lord of the Lotus, Vishnu. The holy Ganga, the sacred Tulasi plant, the company of virtuous souls, and the praise of Hari—these are powerful purifiers. Deeds offered to Vishnu bear true fruit. Whether an act is regular, occasional, or motivated by desire, or whatever else leads to liberation—devotion to Hari, the Supreme Person, destroys all sins. This devotion, O best of kings, may be of the nature of tamas, rajas, or sattva. Tamasic devotion, based on ignorance and wickedness, is considered the lowest. When directed not to Narayana but to other deities or objects, it is considered middling, and yet, even among tamasic devotion, there is a highest form. Rajasic devotion, driven by passion and great faith, is the lowest of its kind; worship performed with supreme devotion is the middle form, and the highest rajasic devotion surpasses these. Sattvic devotion, pure and luminous, is the best. Endowed with supreme faith, it is the lowest form of sattvic devotion; when joined with faith, it is the middle, and among all, the devotion that brings complete satisfaction through total absorption in the divine is the highest of the highest. One who always perceives thus is to be known as the greatest among the great. Among all these, sattvic devotion alone grants all desired results. Therefore, even if it seems contrary to one’s prescribed duties, devotion to Janardana should be performed. Vishnu is not pleased by mere external conduct, but only by conduct that is in harmony with dharma. True dharma arises from proper conduct, and its source is the imperishable one. For those who lack good conduct, even the practice of dharma brings no happiness. All that you have asked, O King, has now been explained to you. By following this path, you will easily attain the eternal, supreme Narayana. Know also that one who creates division between two people falls into hell by the millions, and the maker of discord suffers both in this world and the next. O King, your forefathers now dwell in hell, but take heart: the sacred Ganga truly destroys all sins.