With devotion and care, the great Lord Śrīnivāsa—the sustainer of the universe and the well-wisher of his devotees—is to be worshipped with many sacred mantras. The ritual continues with the offering of damana, a fragrant plant, using the root mantra. This offering is made not only to Śrī and Śrī Viṣṇu, but also to all the assembled deities. The worship is then heightened into a grand festival: scented substances, melodious singing, music, and joyous dance fill the air, celebrating the Lord. Before the deities, a pot of water is set, and, on this special day, water play is performed at the feet of the Lord, symbolizing loving service. On this auspicious occasion, the devotee honors their own teacher with gifts of fine garments, ornaments, and wealth, offering these with faith and reverence. Afterwards, the devotee, together with their Vaiṣṇava relatives, partakes in a communal meal, sharing both food and devotion. Mahādeva declares that whenever Viṣṇu is worshipped with a cluster of damana, he himself is worshipped as well, for the Lord of the universe is not separate from him. The power of this festival is such that even those burdened by the gravest sins—be they slayers of brāhmaṇas, thieves of gold, drinkers of wine, or eaters of flesh—are freed from their sins merely by beholding the damana festival. Thus, Mahādeva tells the goddess, those excellent Vaiṣṇavas who worship the Lord with damana achieve the merit of all holy places through this worship alone. By the act of offering the damana cluster, the study of the Vedas and śāstras is fulfilled, and the agnihotra sacrifice is accomplished, for Hari is thus supremely pleased. Any family—be it Brahmin, Kshatriya, Shudra, Vaishya, or otherwise—that observes this festival is truly great and blessed, and even more so if it is prosperous. In every household where the Damanaka festival is celebrated, that family is especially fortunate, and blessed indeed is the one who worships Viṣṇu in this way. When the festival of Damanaka arrives in the spring, those who worship with damana attain the merit equivalent to gifting a thousand cows. Whoever, in the vernal season, worships the Lord adorned with the Garuda banner using jasmine flowers and with supreme devotion, becomes eligible for liberation itself. Marukā and Damanaka flowers bring immediate satisfaction to Hari; therefore, the best of Vaiṣṇavas should perform this worship with these blossoms. Through this worship of Viṣṇu, one gains the merit of gifting a thousand cows, of giving a maiden in marriage, and of giving the entire earth. Even one who takes a single sprig of Damanaka at the onset of spring and offers it to the Lord of the gods acquires immeasurable merit. Mahādeva confides to the mountain-born goddess that he cannot measure the greatness of such merit; that person, blessed, attains four-armed form and enjoys righteousness, wealth, and desires in both this world and the next, ultimately reaching the abode of Viṣṇu. Thus concludes the eighty-fourth chapter, “The Great Festival of Damanaka,” in the Uttarakhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa. Now, Sūta continues, describing the greatness of the holy month of Kārtika. Once, a sage arrived in the sacred city of Dvārakā, longing for a vision of Kṛṣṇa. He brought with him divine flowers, sprung from the wish-fulfilling tree. Kṛṣṇa welcomed the sage Nārada with honor, offering him water to wash his feet and hands, and a seat, saying, “Here is arghya, here is water for your feet.” Nārada presented the wondrous flowers to Kṛṣṇa, who then distributed them among his sixteen thousand wives. However, in the process, the Lord forgot Satyabhāmā and gave the flowers to the others. Feeling slighted, Satyabhāmā, filled with anger, withdrew to the chamber of wrath. Perceiving her displeasure, Kṛṣṇa, calm and composed, went to her and honored her. Remembering Garuḍa in his mind, he summoned his mighty vehicle, who appeared instantly before him. Mounting Garuḍa, Kṛṣṇa spoke gently to his beloved: “O Satyā, do not be angry. For your sake, even if I must oppose the gods and their king, I shall plant the wish-fulfilling tree in your courtyard. O greatly fortunate one, forgive my offense regarding the wish-fulfilling tree.” With this promise, Kṛṣṇa, together with Satyabhāmā, swiftly journeyed to the realm of the gods, where Indra resides. There, Kṛṣṇa requested the wish-fulfilling tree from Indra, but the king of the gods refused, saying, “This divine tree is not fit to be obtained by you on earth, O Lord.” Enraged, Kṛṣṇa, mighty-armed, uprooted the tree with great force and placed it on Garuḍa. Valiant Indra, bearer of the thunderbolt, rushed forward, striking Garuḍa and commanding, “Abandon the wish-fulfilling tree!” Out of respect for the thunderbolt, Garuḍa quickly released one feather and departed. From the place where the thunderbolt struck, three birds emerged: the peacock, the mongoose, and the partridge. Kṛṣṇa, the dark-hued Lord, returned to Dvārakā and placed the wish-fulfilling tree in Satyabhāmā’s house. At that very moment, Nārada arrived and was greatly honored by Satyabhāmā. She said to him, “Such is this wish-fulfilling tree, and such is the Lord, its master. How may one obtain them, life after life? Please tell me this.” Nārada, the best of sages, replied, “O Satyabhāmā, this is attained by the gift of Tulāpuruṣa.” Hearing this, Satyabhāmā, along with Kṛṣṇa and the wish-fulfilling tree, gave them to Nārada himself, weighing them according to the prescribed rite. Gathering all the necessary items, Nārada departed for heaven. After bidding farewell to the Lord of Śrī and following Nārada’s departure, Satyā, radiant with joy, spoke to Vāsudeva: “I am blessed, my purpose is fulfilled, and my life is fruitful; my parents are truly blessed, both at my birth and as its cause. For they gave birth to me, the most beautiful in the three worlds, and I am beloved among your sixteen thousand wives. Because I, O Primeval Person, have offered the wish-fulfilling tree to Nārada, together with you, according to the prescribed method. Even those who dwell on earth and hear this account will know that this wish-fulfilling tree now stands in my house. I am the most beloved of the Lord of the three worlds, the Lord of Śrī; therefore, O Madhusūdana, I wish to ask you something. If you wish to please me, tell me this in detail; having heard it, I will again do what is beneficial for myself. O Lord, may I never be separated from you, according to your will.” Hearing these loving words, the elder brother of Gadā, Lord Kṛṣṇa, smiled, pleased with his beloved.