At the break of dawn, the Brahmin bathed and faithfully performed his daily duties. He lived with nonviolence in his heart, observed the sacred vow of Ekadashi, and was ever devoted to honoring his family and relatives. One night, O best of the twice-born, a wondrous vision came to him in a dream. He beheld Keshava—dark as a rain-laden cloud, with spotless, lotus-like eyes, a gentle smile gracing his face, and clad in brilliant yellow garments. The Lord’s form shone with golden earrings, anklets, and a radiant crown; his chest was aglow with the Kaustubha gem and adorned with a garland of wild forest flowers. The Brahmin saw the Lord with four arms, holding the conch, discus, mace, and lotus, his body marked with all auspicious signs, and a golden sacred thread across his chest. Overwhelmed with joy at this divine vision, the Brahmin’s palms joined in reverence, and his hair stood on end. With a heart full of devotion, he began to praise the Lord: “Salutations to you, Lord of all worlds, destroyer of sorrow, fear, and disease for all beings. O Narayana, beloved of Lakshmi, you grant the supreme nectar of righteousness, prosperity, desire, and liberation. “All the sins I have committed, O enemy of Mura, have arisen from intoxication and delusion. I am afraid of this vast ocean of worldly existence—please lift me up by granting me the boat of your devotion. Though I know, O Hari, that people are deluded and incur sin on earth, still I go on committing evil with pleasure; truly, there is no one as foolish as I. “The tree of merit quickly bears the fruit of happiness, but what do I know, O slayer of Naraka? I am a sinner, with no wealth to offer flowers or trees. O Lord, be gracious—what can I do? Forsaking your pair of lotus feet, the very abode of nectar, my mind, like a bee, ever wanders toward the faces of women, bestowing only death, smeared with mucus, deluded as a bee after a lotus. “My hands do not give gifts, my mouth speaks falsehood, my ears eagerly listen to evil. O Hari, remove these faults of your servant, for you are the destroyer of the faults of those who seek your refuge. Even if I have obtained the sturdy boat of your devotion in this dreadful ocean of worldly existence, I am still subject to fate, of a wicked mind, and my time is spent in sorrow. “Is there a shining path to cross this ocean of worldly existence, free from all suffering, compassionate and gracious? My vision is blinded by the darkness of delusion and never turns to you here, O Vishnu. Even though I am sinful, my mind lost and ruined, the cause of my own destruction, yet, O slayer of Keshi, today I behold you—whose lotus feet are worshipped by all the gods—even in a dream, O Lord.” Vyasa said: Thus praised by the Brahmin, the blessed Lord, consort of Lakshmi and knower of all speech, who carries souls across the ocean of worldly existence, spoke these words: “O best of Brahmins, I am always pleased by your devotion. Therefore, very soon, all good fortune will come to you. Even before, I delivered you from sin, O Brahmin; now you are my devotee—no misfortune will befall you.” The Brahmin, filled with wonder, asked, “Who was I before, O Vishnu? What sin did I commit? How did you deliver me from sin in the past? How was I born in this world, and how did you bring me forth? Please tell me all of this, for you are ever compassionate.” The Blessed Lord replied, “Though this is a secret, O best of the twice-born, out of affection for you, I will tell you. Listen well. Formerly, O foremost of Brahmins, you were born in the lineage of birds, arising on earth as a result of your own actions. Tormented constantly by hunger and thirst, you wandered about, eating insects and drinking water from hot springs. For four thousand years you endured various kinds of suffering, always reborn as a bird. “Once, a Brahmin named Kulabhadra, knower of all truths, worshipped me with devotion and offerings on the riverbank. After his worship, that noble Brahmin left the rice he had offered to me and returned to his home. Driven by hunger, you, as a bird, descended from a tree and ate all the rice connected to my offering. Having eaten, you were immediately freed from terrible sins; and when your time came, O Brahmin, you went to the realm of death. “To bring you, I sent my own messengers in every way. They placed you—now purified from sin—on a chariot and brought you to my supreme abode, where you remained in my presence for thousands of aeons, enjoying pleasures even the gods find hard to obtain. Then, you were born again, O best of Brahmins, in a pure Brahmin family. There, too, your devotion to me became exceedingly firm; through the practice of rites, you constantly worshipped me. “At the end of your life, by my grace, you will attain my own abode. When I am pleased, O Brahmin, even a sinful soul attains liberation. But if I am ever displeased with someone, even a virtuous soul becomes subject to sin. Therefore, good fortune to you, for you are devoted to me and steadfast in vows. I will grant you the supreme place, which even the gods cannot attain.” The Brahmin replied, “By your grace, O Lord, I have heard the account of my former existence. Now I wish to know more—please tell me, O Lord of gods: with whom are you pleased, and with whom are you displeased? Out of great compassion, tell me all this.” The Blessed Lord said, “O best of Brahmins, I shall tell you by what actions my pleasure arises in my heart. Listen briefly to the matter of anger and all related things: I am always pleased with one who is compassionate toward all beings at all times, and who is free from pride. I am pleased with one who performs actions for my sake, devoted to righteousness; who speaks peacefully for my sake; who, having obtained a desirable object, offers it to me; who remains the same in honor and dishonor; and who knows me as abiding in the bodies of all beings.