In the quiet hush of morning, after offering worship once more to the sacred Ganga and to Vishnu, one should, O Jaimini, offer a gift to a Brahmin according to one’s ability. With a heart full of devotion, the worshipper then prays to the river goddess, “By your grace, O Ganga, may all the worship and vigil performed before you remain unbroken.” Having spoken these words and bowing deeply to her, the twice-born who has fulfilled his daily rites, together with his family, breaks his fast. Listen, dear child, to the merit gained by one who observes this holy fast on the banks of Jahnavi. Such a person is freed from the sins accumulated over countless births and, taking on a form like Vishnu’s, attains the city of Vishnu, where he enjoys happiness in the company of the Lord Himself. For thousands upon thousands of aeons, he remains in Vishnu’s city, experiencing joys that are exceedingly rare, even among the gods. After this, by the command of Narayana, he ascends to the world of Brahma, where he enjoys happiness that even the gods find difficult to obtain. When his time in Brahma’s world comes to an end, he mounts a splendid chariot and proceeds to Mahadeva. There, he experiences various kinds of happiness, rare and wonderful, and attains the state of Ganapati. What more can be said? After dwelling in Shiva’s city for the allotted time, the virtuous soul journeys next to Indra’s world, shining like a second Vasava. There, seated with Indra, he enjoys every desire for hundreds of millions of aeons. Next, he travels to the world of the Sun, radiant as the Moon himself. There, in the presence of the Moon, he enjoys ambrosial delights for a long, long time. Eventually, he returns to earth and is born as a universal emperor, ruling the world for many years and conquering all rival kings. At the end of this life, he meets a peaceful death in the waters of the Ganga. Then, ascending a celestial chariot, he becomes renowned and glorious, and journeys to the city of the Blessed Lord—a place even the gods struggle to reach. There, he enjoys all pleasures for four cycles of Manu. In that sacred city, he attains supreme knowledge and finally liberation, which is difficult even for yogis to achieve. Such is the path for one who, by divine will, undertakes the journey to the banks of the Jahnavi. Even if he should die on the way, he surely reaches the supreme abode—there is no doubt about this. Let me tell you, Jaimini, of a king named Satyadharma, who lived at the meeting of the Treta and Dvapara ages. He was righteous and gentle in speech, and his queen was Vijayā, beautiful, virtuous, and devoted to her husband. Together, they enjoyed life on earth for seven thousand years. When their time came, both passed away together, and the terrifying attendants of Yama bound them and led them along a painful path to Yama’s abode. Upon their arrival, King Dharma addressed Citragupta, “Examine all the deeds of these two.” At the king’s command, Citragupta, with joined palms, reviewed all their actions from the very beginning. He spoke, “O King, hear all the deeds of these two. Whatever good or bad they have done on earth, I will recount—and I will tell you of a means for her, so listen carefully. Once, a solitary deer, fleeing in terror from tigers, came out of the forest and entered their assembly seeking safety. Seeing the deer approach, the king, overcome by curiosity, rose swiftly and struck it down with his sword. He killed the deer, even though it had sought refuge. Therefore, O Lord, this king and his wife must be punished by you. For as many hairs as were on the deer’s body, for thousands and hundreds of manvantaras, he will suffer in hell with countless millions of families. This is the fate of one who fails to protect a being seeking refuge, even at the cost of his own life or wealth. But the wise man who protects one seeking refuge, even with his life or wealth, is freed from all sins—even those as grave as the killing of a Brahmin. At the end of his life, such a person attains liberation, which is difficult even for yogis to achieve. But by the command of Yama, this king and his wife were cast by the messengers into the dreadful forest of sword-leaves, where the trees’ leaves are as sharp as swords. This place is known as the forest of sword-leaves, and there they remained for hundreds of millions of ages. Afterwards, they entered the hell called ‘food for tigers,’ a place of every kind of torment, where they became food for tigers and were known as such. After enduring this for thousands of millions of ages, the king and his wife finally exhausted their evil karma and were born on earth in the womb of a frog. Even as frogs, they remembered their past lives and were filled with misery. They always stayed together on a certain riverbank, feeding on insects. One day, some meritorious humans passed by on their way to the banks of the Ganges. The two frogs saw them, and one spoke: “Because of delusion in the rainy season, all the sinful acts I performed—even now, because of that karma, we do not escape suffering. Yet even sinners can be freed if they give up their bodies in the Ganges. Still, how is it that, after all this suffering, we remain? I wish now to give up this body in the Ganges.” Thus, the tale reminds us of the power of holy acts, the consequences of our actions, and the supreme grace of the Ganga.