Beloved, listen to the wondrous tale of Vrinda and the divine play of the gods. Once, Vrinda’s beloved’s head was severed by the fierce discus of Rudra. Yet, by the power of Vrinda’s devotion and the deep union of their souls, his severed head was brought back, and his life was restored. Still, Vrinda, sorrowful from their separation, grieved deeply for her beloved. He gently sought her forgiveness, saying, “Forgive me for the offense of leaving you and going to battle.” With these words, he reminded Vrinda of the circumstances that had parted them. Thereafter, the goddess Vrindarika was adorned with betel leaves, fine garments, and beautiful ornaments; she enjoyed all pleasures, delighting in amusements and the company of her beloved. Overcome with desire, Vrinda embraced her beloved tightly and kissed him, finding a happiness greater even than liberation, a joy born of enchantment. The god Narayana, tasting the nectar of Vrinda’s love, found it to surpass even the sweetness of Lakshmi’s affection. Thus, Madhava dispelled all sorrow from Vrinda’s heart, ending her suffering from separation. In the midst of their charming play by a lovely pond where royal swans dwelled, Krishna, enchanted by Vrinda’s form and mood, lost all desire even for Padma. In that sacred Vrindavana, Vrinda took the form of the Tulasi plant, arising supremely pure from the sweat of her own body. Having experienced the blissful union with Vrinda, Hari, Lord of the world, turned his thoughts for a few days to the deeds of Shiva. Then, one day, at the end of their loving union, Vrinda beheld, clinging to her neck, an ascetic—none other than the supreme person with two arms. Startled, Vrinda released her embrace and asked, “How have you come to enchant me in the form of an ascetic?” Hari comforted her, saying, “Listen, Vrindarika, know me as the enchanting Lord of Lakshmi. Your husband went forth to defeat Hara and bring back Gauri; but I am Shiva, and Shiva is I—there is no separation between us. Jalandhara was slain in battle; now, blameless one, accept me.” But hearing Vishnu’s words, Vrindarika’s face fell. Angered, she replied, “In battle you were bound, and by your father’s command you were freed while still alive; though honored with many precious jewels, your wife was taken from you. How can one who is always devoted to another’s wife be called the lord of righteousness? Even the Lord himself must experience the results of his actions—so say the wise. Just as you, ascetic, led me into delusion by your magic, so too, by magic, another ascetic will take your wife.” Thus cursed, Vishnu vanished at once; the splendid hall, the couch, and all who had come with him disappeared. When Hari departed, everything was lost. Seeing the forest empty, Vrinda turned to her friend and said, “This was deceitfully done by Vishnu. The city is abandoned, the kingdom lost, my beloved’s fate uncertain; knowing this in the forest, where shall I go, shaped by fate? The sight of my beloved was only the fulfillment of my desires.” Sighing with grief, Queen Vrinda lamented, “For me, death has come, messenger of love, because of you.” Her friend replied tenderly, “You are my very life.” Hearing these words, Vrinda, uncertain what to do, made her resolve in the forest and went to a great lake. There, abandoning sorrow, she washed her body in the water, sat in the lotus posture on the bank, and stilled her mind, making it free from all objects. She began to dry up her body, polluted by union with Vishnu, and undertook severe austerities and fasting, together with her friend. Then, from the world of the Gandharvas, a host of apsarases approached Vrinda and said, “O blessed one, go to heaven—do not abandon your body. This Gandharva weapon, which brings victory over the three worlds and the highest favor of Shripati, was obtained here, O Vrinda. How can you abandon this body, which has fulfilled its desire? Know that your beloved was struck down by the foremost of trident-bearers; the reward of merit is the ornaments of heaven. Now, O brave and blessed one, quickly go to the abode of the immortals.” Hearing the scripture and the words of the ocean-born beloved, Vrinda laughed and said, “Brought from heaven, the pearl among the wives of the gods, I was first the vessel of happiness for my unconquered beloved, but now, separated from him, I am blameless. May I attain my beloved, who has gone to immortality, in the next life.” Having spoken thus, Vrinda, with her friend, dismissed the host of apsarases; bound by her love, they come and go eternally. Then Vrinda, through the practice of yoga, burned away the qualities with the fire of knowledge; withdrawing her mind from the senses, she attained the supreme state. Seeing Vrinda in that state, the great host of apsarases praised her from the sky, delighted, and showered her with a rain of flowers. Gathering dry wood, they placed Vrinda’s body upon it; lighting the fire, the messenger of love entered into it. They burned the orb made of the dust from Vrinda’s body, and after reducing it to ashes, they cast the remains into the Mandakini river. There, where Vrinda abandoned her body and attained the path of Brahman, Vrindavana arose near Govardhana. Then the goddesses, having reached heaven, spoke of the virtues of the wives of the lords of the gods; hearing this, all the celestials and others, joyful in mind, destroyed the dreadful fear caused by the powerful demon, and those seated there heard the sound of mighty drums as the retinue of attendants brought forth the splendor of auspiciousness. Now, hear further of the sacred places. Sri Mahadeva said: “Hear, O foremost sage among the gods, of Haridvara, the place of great merit, where the Ganges flows; there is declared the supreme holy site. There, the gods dwell, as do sages and Manus; and there, the god Keshava himself is eternally present. Long ago, O child, that great holy site came into being; merely seeing it from afar removes sin. There, the Ganges, exceedingly beautiful, arose, especially sacred; the water from Vishnu’s feet was born there, from the touch of his feet. O learned one, Bhagiratha brought it there by his efforts; by that great soul, the ancestors were uplifted.” Thus, the tale of Vrinda’s devotion and the glory of the holy places resound, sanctifying all who hear them.