Once more, the terrifying rākṣasīs—demonesses—appeared on the battlefield, their forms twisted by hunger and thirst, instilling fear simply by their presence. Their dreadful state was the result of a grave sin: by word and by mind, they had transgressed, and for this, they were born twice into the wombs of rākṣasīs, condemned to a fate of suffering. That very sin led not only to the destruction of the king but also to the ruin of both his cities. Thus, it is taught: one must never consort with another’s beloved, for such actions bring only disaster. Even women who are mindful of righteousness must not abandon their own husbands—no matter if he is ill, slow-witted, poor, or even blind—neither in word nor in thought, if they wish for the highest good. All this, the nature of sin committed through word and mind, and the bitter fruit that comes from devotion to another’s beloved, was explained in detail to King Śibi. Among the women who did not go to Indraprastha but were seen in Dvārakā, there was one whose mere touch of water caused the city women to cry out. Because of their attachment in thought and word to another’s beloved, these women fell into a dreadful state as flesh-eating demonesses; yet, when released from that condition, they were transformed into divine women, bringing delight to the gods. Thus concludes the two hundred and sixth chapter of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttarakhaṇḍa, devoted to the greatness of Kāliṃdī and the description of Dvārakā. Now, listen further. The sage Nārada spoke: After bringing the pure-hearted brāhmaṇa to Dvārakā, they arrived there, and, desiring once again to renew their devotion to the Lord, the wise ones bathed. At that very moment, O King, a voice as deep as thunder resounded from the sky. The celestial voice declared: “Hear, O best of brāhmaṇas! This is the sacred tīrtha of Hari. By the grace of this holy place, you both will attain true devotion to Viṣṇu, by which the world is freed from ignorance and terrible delusion.” Hearing this bodiless voice, the two brāhmaṇas turned to each other and said, “This is indeed the grace of Hari.” They bathed as prescribed, and upon receiving supreme devotion to Hari, they moved about, bowing and conversing together. Reflecting on their lives, they said, “Just as our meeting happened by chance on the road, so too do house, wife, and other ties arise in this world. Now, separation is destined for us, as it is for all travelers along the path. Such is the way with wives, sons, and all relations, subject to the play of time. Blessed is that person who, knowing how fleeting these unions are, always seeks refuge in and worships the Lord.” Nārada then said, “I must remember—I am your servant, sheltered at your feet.” With these words, and the thought that a message must be sent, they returned to their homes. Now, O King, listen to what befell Vimalā’s friend. As the brāhmaṇa journeyed onward, the liberation of the rākṣasīs was accomplished. Traveling, he reached a barren, waterless region. There, the demonesses, tormented by their sins and wracked by hunger and thirst, spotted the noble brāhmaṇa from afar, a vessel of water in his hand. They whispered among themselves, “A traveler approaches, carrying a water pot. Perhaps our hunger and thirst will be eased—we shall devour him and drink what he carries.” For a hundred years, they had suffered, parched and starving. One of them suggested, “Let one of us first eat the hot flesh from his body.” Another said, “After drinking his blood, I will regain my life.” A third, eyeing his form, wondered, “How much substance does this elephant-faced one possess? Even for my tiger-faced self, there does not seem enough to drink.” Rathacakra, another demoness, declared, “I will make earrings and a girdle from his intestines.” Yet another said, “I will fashion dice for the gaming hall from his blackened teeth—he is skilled in the game with sixteen dice.” Having spoken thus, they rushed at the twice-born man, their mouths wide, tongues lolling, arms gleaming like pillars. Seeing them approach, the brāhmaṇa was seized with fear. But he remembered the Vedic mantras and protected himself on all sides as prescribed. The demonesses, mighty and terrible, came near but halted, repelled by his brilliance and the power of his sacred chants. They called out, “Who are you? From where have you come? Tell us. Just by seeing you, our minds find peace. What blessing would not come from touching your feet? Place your lotus-like foot upon our heads.” Hearing these words, Haridatta’s son replied, “I am a brāhmaṇa who has performed sacred baths at holy places. Now I am on my way to Pushkara. What do you wish from me? Ask, and if I am able, I will grant it.” The demonesses replied, “O best of brāhmaṇas, tell us of the holy places where you have bathed. All these places are sacred and can liberate even those of evil birth. Our suffering from hunger and thirst is severe.” The brāhmaṇa answered, “From the hermitage at Avanti, I journeyed to the city of Hari. From there, I went to Dvārakā and bathed in the water born of Soma. Then I reached the holy place called Prabhasa, on the ocean’s shore, and from there, I bathed at the Setu, the supremely pure causeway. Next, I traveled to the sacred Kishkindha, where Vali, lord of the monkeys, was slain by Rāma. I visited the monastery on the banks of the Sarasvatī and Narmadā, where Bhāratī is revered by all. Then I entered Veṇī in the southern region and saw the cities of Śiva-Kāñcī and Viṣṇu-Kāñcī, where, upon death, a soul may be born as Śiva or Viṣṇu. From there, I reached Utkala, where Hari and Īśvara reside, directly granting the four aims of life and sought by devotees. After worshipping there and offering the prescribed food, I received their grace and went to the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean, where I satisfied the gods, sages, and ancestors according to the rites. Where the Ganges emerged with a hundred mouths, I arrived there; then, going to Gayā, I offered oblations as prescribed.” Thus, through the brāhmaṇa’s words and deeds, the liberation of the demonesses was set in motion, and the sacred journey continued, guided by devotion and the grace of the Lord.