The gathering of the virtuous is praised by the noble, for such an assembly brings joy even to the gods themselves. The wise affirm that where good people come together, energy, fame, prosperity, and even worthy offspring arise. In places where the righteous perform great acts of compassion, O lord, it is as though one has bathed in all the sacred waters—the soul is purified without a doubt. With reverence, one asked, “O foremost of Brahmins, command me—what may I do to please you?” Touched gently and spoken to with affection, the questioner was filled with delight. It is known that one who is humble and respectful gains many blessings in this world; through humility, even mortals may attain that which is difficult for even the greatest souls to achieve. “May well-being always be yours,” came the reply. “Now speak what I am about to ask. Among such company, you should always be prepared to raise the banner, to take the lead. But tell me truly, for what reason has this event come to pass? The deeds of both of us here are a wonder to the worlds.” Then, with honest reflection, the speaker confessed, “I was always devoted to wicked acts, delighting in the harm of all beings—a killer of cows, a slayer of Brahmins, a thief, intent on the destruction of living things. How long did I persist in such evil without being struck down, O great seer? I always ate the flesh of animals and robbed travelers as well. Once, exhausted by hunger, scorched by the summer heat, and tormented by thirst, I came upon a great lake filled with swans and waterfowl. I drank the cool water, and on the bank, my fatigue left me. Nearby, in a ruined abode of Vishnu, I made a shelter for myself, building a hut with leaves, grass, and pieces of wood. There, living as a hunter, I killed many kinds of animals. Then she arrived—a virtuous woman from the Vindhya region, abandoned by her relatives, afflicted by suffering, her body worn and aged. By the will of fate, she wandered alone into that desolate forest. Seeing her tormented by sorrow, great compassion arose in me. When she was weary from wandering, I asked her about herself. She replied, ‘I am not a cuckoo, but was born into a family of hunters. I always stole the wealth of others and spoke maliciously. For a time, my husband supported me, though I was condemned by the world. Alone and suffering, I wandered in the lonely wilderness.’ Thus, she revealed to me all the deeds she herself had committed. We two remained there for ten years, living on flesh and fruit. In that temple, we rejoiced at night, feasting on meat. But when the enjoyment of our destined karma ended, we both departed from this world at the same time. As we delighted in dance, fierce messengers arrived to take us to Yama’s abode. Yet, because of a rite we had performed—the sanctification of the temple—the messengers of the Lord of gods appeared, bearing conch, discus, and mace. They wore crowns and earrings, adorned with garlands and forest wreaths. Terrifying, with weapons in hand and fangs, they drove away the attendants of Yama.