One must carefully observe the bodily penances prescribed, for without proper discipline, one risks falling from the righteous path. After engaging in intercourse, it is enjoined that a person should fast for twelve days or even for half a month. Alternatively, one may undertake two Chandrayana vows, each lasting six months, as a form of atonement. These penances are declared to be threefold, determined by one’s understanding and the particular circumstances of the act. If one has killed creatures such as a cat, goat, dog, or cock, specific penances are ordained. The prescribed penance for slaying an elephant is the Jatpakṛcchra, while for killing a cow, the Paraka penance is required. In matters of drinking, sleeping, sitting, and the use of flowers, roots, and fruits, as well as with dry wood, grass, trees, and molasses, there are established guidelines. The same applies to actions involving birds like the titibha, the chakravaka, the swan, and the karandava, as well as the parrot, crow, crane, dolphin, and tortoise. When one consumes anything tainted by semen, urine, or excrement, the Prajapatya vow must be observed. If a person touches a menstruating woman, a Chandala, or a great sinner, it is proper to bathe, even if the contact was through clothing, and to partake of clarified butter as a purifying act. Should one, out of ignorance, touch any of these while eating, bathing, giving, reciting, or partaking of food, then one must immediately vomit the food, protect oneself, and undertake a fast. Even in the midst of vows or similar observances, if one hears about ashes, one must be cautious. Among all transgressions, reviling the twice-born or deities is considered the gravest sin. The sages have declared that certain acts are equal to great sins, yet for those who perform proper expiations with devotion to Narayana, there is hope. If one is free from passion and filled with true repentance, whether tainted by great sins or by any sin, fixing one’s mind on Narayana—the universal, flawless form—brings liberation. Whether Narayana is remembered, worshipped, meditated upon, or simply saluted, and whether this is done by association or by mistake, even a single remembrance of Vishnu destroys the accumulation of afflictions. O best of sages, human birth itself is exceedingly rare and precious. Therefore, having attained this fleeting human life, which passes as swiftly as a flash of lightning, one should strive to remove all obstacles and purify the mind. The eternal aims of human life are dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation). People may pursue sons, a wife, home, land, wealth, and grain, but one should abandon desire, anger, greed, delusion, and pride. Ultimately, renouncing all occupations, one should worship Janardana, the Lord. As long as death has not arrived, as long as old age has not overtaken, the wise should not place trust in this perishable body. Recognizing that the body is always close to death, one should abandon all arrogance. Understanding this, O highly fortunate one, worship Janardana with a pure heart. Even those burdened with great sins, if they worship Vishnu with devotion, find deliverance. All the holy places, the limbs of sacrifice, and the Vedas themselves—what use are these, O noble one, if one does not worship the Lord? In the end, Vedas, sacrifices, scriptures, and pilgrimages serve little purpose without devotion to Hari, the Supreme.