With care, I built myself a small hut in the wilderness, using leaves, grass, and pieces of wood. There, I lived the life of a hunter, surviving by killing many kinds of animals. One day, a virtuous woman appeared, a native of the Vindhya region. She had been abandoned by her relatives, was afflicted by suffering, and her body showed the marks of age and hardship. By the workings of fate, she wandered alone into that desolate forest. When I saw her, tormented by sorrow, my heart filled with great compassion. As she rested from her weary wandering, I approached her and asked about her story. She revealed her past to me: “I am not a cuckoo, but born into a family of hunters. I have always taken what belonged to others and often spoke harshly and maliciously. For a time, my husband supported me, though the world condemned me. But then, left alone and afflicted by suffering, I wandered through the lonely wilderness.” Thus, she confessed to me all the deeds she had committed. We stayed together there for ten years, living off flesh and fruit. At night, in the temple, we found a strange joy, feasting on meat. But when the enjoyment of our destined karma was exhausted, both of us departed from that life at the same time. As we delighted in dance, fierce messengers appeared to take us to the abode of Yama, the Lord of Death. Yet, because we had performed the rite known as the “sanctification of the temple,” divine messengers arrived—servants of the Lord of gods, bearing conch, discus, and mace, adorned with crowns, earrings, garlands, and forest wreaths. Though fearsome, with weapons in hand and fangs, they drove away Yama’s attendants. These devotees of Krishna spoke firmly to those who sought to seize us: “Release this sinless couple, beloved of Hari!” They declared, “One who harbors evil thoughts toward the innocent is the lowest of men. And one who, though innocent in thought, commits evil, is lower still. Let Yama punish the wicked, but these two shall not be taken.” They resolved to bring the question of righteousness and unrighteousness before Yama himself. The attendants of Yama replied to those who prided themselves on righteousness, though their actions were not always so: “For those who lack proper discernment, calamity is inevitable. Why are you still so eager to commit sinful acts? Such souls remain in dreadful hell as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure. Why would I again and again perform sinful deeds? Instead, we shall truthfully recount the righteous and unrighteous acts performed by these two.” Recognizing that we were protected by Hari, they agreed: “Release them without delay. At the end of their lives, in the house of Vishnu, they attained freedom from sin through Him. One attains the highest state—how much more so those devoted to service! Even a man who serves Krishna at the end attains the supreme goal. The messengers go swiftly, and even sinners may attain the highest state. If this is so, how much greater the reward for those who have served for years?” “These two, always present in the house of Hari, though worn and weary, have rendered service. How could such blessed souls be worthy of suffering torment?” Thus, by the grace of Hari, we were released and protected, our sins washed away by our devotion and service.