Having completed their ritual bath at the sacred place, the devotees felt a surge of supreme devotion to Hari. Their hearts filled with reverence, they moved about, bowing in humility, and spoke quietly among themselves at that blessed moment. The two brāhmaṇas reflected together, saying, “Just as our meeting happened by chance upon this path, so too in this world do the bonds of house, wife, and family arise merely by fate. But now, just as travelers part ways, separation is destined for us as well. Such is the way of wives, sons, and all other relations—subject always to the play of time. Fortunate indeed is that person who, recognizing how fleeting these unions are, seeks refuge in the Lord and worships Him with devotion.” Nārada, listening, spoke humbly, “I must always remember—I am your servant, sheltered at your feet.” Then, with the thought, “A message must be sent by me,” they each departed for their own homes. O King, now listen to what happened next with Vimalā’s friend. As he journeyed, the liberation of the rākṣasīs was accomplished. Traveling along the path, the brāhmaṇa came to a waterless, desolate region. There, those demonesses—tormented by their sins and overwhelmed by hunger and thirst—spied from afar the noble twice-born man walking along, a water vessel in his hand. Seeing him approach, the demonesses spoke among themselves: “A traveler is coming, carrying water. Perhaps our hunger and thirst will be eased at last—we shall devour him and drink what he carries!” They lamented, “We have suffered parched throats and starvation for a hundred years; that vessel, that water, our thirst—let one of us first feast on the hot flesh of his body. Then, after drinking his blood, I will regain my strength.” Another said, “How much substance can this elephant-faced one really have? Even for my tiger-faced self, there does not seem to be enough to drink!” Yet another, named Rathacakra, declared, “Listen to me: I will make earrings and a girdle from his intestines.” Another added, “And I will fashion dice for the gaming hall from his blackened teeth. He is skilled at the game with sixteen dice!” Thus plotting among themselves, they rushed toward the brāhmaṇa. Their mouths gaped wide, tongues lolling, arms gleaming like great pillars. As they closed in, the brāhmaṇa, seeing their dreadful forms, was seized by fear. But, O King, he quickly protected himself on all sides with Vedic mantras as prescribed by tradition. The fearsome demonesses, checked by his radiance and the power of his mantras, halted and stood at a distance. Repelled by his brilliance, they called out, “Who are you? From where have you come? Tell us, O brāhmaṇa. Just by seeing you, our minds are calmed. What blessing would not arise from touching your feet? Place your lotus-like foot upon our heads, we beg you!” Hearing their words, Haridatta’s son replied, “I am a brāhmaṇa who has performed sacred baths at holy places. Now, I am journeying to Pushkara. What do you desire from me? Ask, and if it is within my power, I will grant it.” The demonesses implored, “O best of brāhmaṇas, tell us at which holy places you have bathed. All those places are sacred and can liberate even those of evil birth. Our suffering from hunger and thirst is unbearable.” The brāhmaṇa then recounted his pilgrimage: “From the hermitage at Avanti, I traveled to the city of Hari. From there, I went to Dvārakā and bathed in the waters born of Soma. Next, I reached the sacred Prabhāsa on the ocean’s shore, and then bathed at the Setu, the supremely pure causeway. From there, I journeyed to the holy land of Kishkindhā, where Vāli, 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 south, where I saw the cities of Śiva-Kāñcī and Viṣṇu-Kāñcī, places where, upon death, one is reborn as Śiva or Viṣṇu. From there, I reached Utkala, where Hari and Īśvara dwell, directly granting the four aims of life and sought by devotees. After worshipping Him properly and offering the prescribed food, I received His grace and traveled to the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean, where I satisfied the gods, sages, and ancestors with the proper rites. “I came to the place where the Gaṅgā bursts forth with a hundred mouths, and then to Gayā, where I offered the prescribed oblations to the ancestors—tulasi leaves, sandalwood, and water. Next, I went to Kośalā and the Sarayū, whose waters are carried by the wind. There, purified by the touch of all the people, is the sacred ford called Gopratāra, rare even for the gods. I performed bathing and other rites there, then traveled to Kāśī, the royal city of Umāpati. “I bowed to Lord Viśveśvara and to Bindumādhava, then bathed with devotion at Maṇikarṇikā and at the well of knowledge. I stayed there for three nights, then returned to Prayāga, where Prajāpati is manifest on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Pauṣa. In the month of Māgha, I bathed at dawn, then traveled to Naimiṣa on the bank of the Gomati, where all sacred fords reside by their own power. “From there, I reached Mathurā, where the place called Viśrānti is found. Nearby is the supreme sacred ford called Asikuṇḍa, along with Kṛṣṇagaṅgā, Dhruvā, Akrūra, Keśikālīya, and other holy fords. There flows the Yamunā, greatly sacred and fulfilling all desires; on both her banks are twelve forests, resplendent and abundant. That land is majestic, traversed by the gods, and fulfills every purpose. Those who bathe and drink there are freed from rebirth.” Thus, the brāhmaṇa shared his journey, each holy place shining with its own glory, each step bringing sanctity and liberation, even to those burdened by sin.