O foremost of Brahmins, listen with care to this sacred account. True liberation, it is said, cannot arise unless the sacred vow of Trispṛśā is observed. The Lord of gods himself has declared that the Vaiṣṇavī tithi—this auspicious time—exists for the very purpose of granting liberation. In this age of Kali, when the knowledge of Sāṃkhya is difficult to attain even for the twice-born, when restraint of the senses and steadiness of mind are rare, the path of discipline is fraught with obstacles. For those who remain entangled in sense objects, lacking meditation and concentration, and yet are attached to the enjoyment of desires, the observance of the Trispṛśā vow alone bestows liberation. Long ago, this profound truth was revealed to me by the Four-faced Brahmā himself, as we sat together in the ocean of milk. At that time, Lord Viṣṇu, the wielder of the discus, had assumed the form of a fish and was instructing those who had sought refuge in him. Even those who perform the Trispṛśā while still engaged with worldly pleasures—though lacking the knowledge of Sāṃkhya—are granted liberation by my grace. For those attached to enjoyment and desires, the Trispṛśā is a sure path to freedom. Many assemblies of sages have practiced this vow, O great sage, and attained the highest good. If the Trispṛśā occurs during the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika, and is accompanied by Soma or his offspring, it is said to destroy millions of sins. Even one who observes its fast while engaged in acts as grave as killing can be freed; the skull of Brahmā itself, once clinging to the hand of Maheśvara as a mark of sin, instantly falls to the earth. By the complete observance of Trispṛśā, the goddess herself, freed from the countless heaps of Kali’s sins, traverses the three paths by the instruction of Mādhava. The eight killings of Bāhuvīrya from previous births were destroyed by Bhṛgu’s instruction and the full observance of the Trispṛśā. Likewise, a Brāhmaṇa slain in the forest by Śatāyudha was freed from the sin of Brahminicide by this vow. By Indra’s guidance, the sin arising from the killing of Namuci was also destroyed through Trispṛśā. Such is its power: even the gravest sins, such as Brahminicide, are dissolved by the complete observance of Trispṛśā. What need is there to speak of lesser faults? Not even the sanctity of Prayāga, nor the glory of Kāśī, nor the presence of Kṛṣṇa at the Gomati, can grant liberation if the Trispṛśā is not observed. Yet, dying at Prayāga or at the Gomati in the presence of Kṛṣṇa, or even bathing in the Gomati, brings eternal liberation. Even within one’s own house, liberation is attained by the complete observance of the Trispṛśā, even for those living amidst sense pleasures. For one who has renounced sense objects, liberation remains difficult to obtain through Sāṃkhya alone. Therefore, O foremost of Brahmins, perform the Trispṛśā, which bestows liberation. At this, Nārada spoke: “O best of gods, what is this great vow called Trispṛśā, which you have now described as granting liberation to the twice-born?” Mahādeva replied: “O Brahmin, long ago, out of compassion for you, Madhava spoke to Jahnavi on the eastern bank of the Sarasvati about the sacred bath known as Trispṛśā.” Jahnavi, the river goddess, addressed Hrishikesha, saying: “In the age of Kali, countless multitudes of sins—including the killing of Brahmins and other grave acts—cling to those who bathe in my waters. Because of the hundreds of faults and sins of those people, my body has become tainted. O Garuda-bannered Lord, how will my sin be removed?” Eastern Madhava gently replied: “Do not doubt, my daughter, nor weep. My abode is Shyamovata, and the Eastern Goddess stands before me. There, the daughter of Brahma flows, and the Queen of the gods is seen ahead. Bathe there daily, and you will be purified. Where the Eastern daughter of Brahma is, there I am—of this there is no doubt. Together with the gods, I dwell there, and that place is endowed with hundreds of millions of sacred fords. That place, so dear to me, is pure and destroys millions of heinous sins. I have granted it with satisfaction, for you are dearer to me than life itself. O Jahnavi, thousands of millions of sacred fords always remain by my command in the waters of the Eastern Sarasvati.” He continued: “From the killing of a Brahmin, drinking of liquor, killing of a cow, killing of an outcaste, stealing a Brahmin’s wealth, failing to honor one’s parents, neglecting religious rites, betraying one’s teacher, eating forbidden food, and committing all kinds of sins, O daughter of Brahma—the Eastern daughter of Brahma removes all these by a single bath before me. Bathe, O best of rivers, and you will be freed from sin.” Jahnavi then asked, “O Lord of the gods, I am not able to come here always. Tell me, O Madhava, how sins are destroyed here.” Eastern Madhava replied, “O Jahnavi, when you are unable to come here always, I will tell you another way, since you have arisen from my feet. There is that which surpasses the Sarasvati, exceeds hundreds of millions of sacred fords, surpasses hundreds of millions of sacrifices, and is greater than vows and gifts. That which is greater than recitation and oblation, bestows the fruits of the four aims of life, and surpasses Sāṃkhya and Yoga—that auspicious Trispṛśā should be performed. In whatever month the bright lunar fortnight arrives, if it is present, then it should be performed in the best of rivers; by doing so, one is freed from sin.” Jahnavi, eager to know more, asked, “O blessed Madhava, what is this Trispṛśā? Tell me, for you have just spoken of its great glory.” She continued, “On a single day when the tenth and eleventh lunar days coincide, that is called Trispṛśā, O Lord; or tell me otherwise, O Master.” Krishna then spoke: “The goddess Trispṛśā of demonic nature, whom you have mentioned, must be avoided with care, just as one would avoid a husband who has lost his virtue. She is declared among the demons as the destroyer of lifespan and strength; she must be avoided diligently, just as a woman in her menstrual period. One who abandons their own caste and associates with lower castes must especially be shunned, particularly on my day joined with the tenth lunar day. Just as those who associate with a menstruating woman are corrupted and deprived of wisdom, so too, my day joined with the tenth lunar day is corrupted for people.” Thus, the sacred vow of Trispṛśā was revealed—its greatness, its purifying power, and the care with which it must be observed, so that all who seek liberation, even amidst the trials of Kali Yuga, may find release from sin and attain the highest good.