Overwhelmed by sorrow, Jāhnavī, the divine river goddess, approached the Lord adorned with the Garuda banner and spoke with distress: “Due to the countless faults and sins of those who come to me, my body has become tainted. O Lord, how shall I be freed of this burden of sin?” Eastern Mādhava, with gentle assurance, replied: “Do not doubt, my daughter, nor let tears trouble you. Listen as I reveal the way. My sacred abode is Shyāmovata, where the Eastern Goddess stands before me. There flows the daughter of Brahmā, and ahead is seen the Queen of the gods. If you bathe there daily, you will be purified. Wherever the Eastern daughter of Brahmā is, there I reside without a doubt, accompanied by the gods and the presence of hundreds of millions of holy fords. That place, so dear to me, is pure and destroys even millions of heinous sins. I have granted it with satisfaction, for you are dearer to me than life itself. O Jāhnavī, by my command, thousands of millions of sacred fords always remain in the waters of the Eastern Sarasvatī. From the gravest sins—such as killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, killing a cow, killing an outcaste, stealing a Brahmin’s wealth, or failing to honor one’s parents—to neglecting religious rites, betraying one’s teacher, eating forbidden food, and all other transgressions, the Eastern daughter of Brahmā removes them all with a single bath taken before me. Bathe, O best of rivers, and you will be freed from sin.” Jāhnavī, however, replied, “O Lord of the gods, I am not able to come here always. Tell me, O Mādhava, how then are sins destroyed here?” Eastern Mādhava responded, “O Jāhnavī, since you cannot always come here, I will tell you another way, for you have arisen from my very feet. There is a practice that surpasses the Sarasvatī, exceeds hundreds of millions of sacred fords, is greater than hundreds of millions of sacrifices, and transcends all vows and gifts. It is greater than recitation and oblation, bestows the fruits of the four aims of life, and surpasses even Sāṅkhya and Yoga. That auspicious observance is called Trispṛśā. Whenever the bright lunar fortnight arrives in any month, and if this occasion is present, Trispṛśā should be performed in the best of rivers. By doing so, one is freed from sin.” Curious, Jāhnavī asked, “O blessed Mādhava, what is this Trispṛśā? Tell me, for you have spoken of its great glory.” She continued, “Is it on a single day when the tenth and eleventh lunar days coincide? Is that Trispṛśā, O Lord? Or tell me otherwise, O Master.” Śrī Krishna clarified, “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. Among the demons, she is the destroyer of lifespan and strength; she must be shunned as one shuns a woman in her period of impurity. One who abandons their own caste and associates with the lower must especially be avoided, particularly on the day joined with the tenth lunar day, which is my 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. Observing Trispṛśā destroys ten thousand acts of killing; the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth lunar days remaining in the night. That Trispṛśā should be understood as joined with the tenth lunar day, not otherwise; after committing an offense, one is freed by performing atonement. I do not forgive the fault arising from the tenth lunar day, O river goddess; by consuming it, one has eaten poison, as if partaking of halāhala. If someone performs the vow of Ekādaśī mixed with the tenth lunar day, thinking thus, my day joined with the tenth should not be observed. The merit accumulated over millions of births is destroyed; it causes one’s own lineage to fall, and leads them from heaven to hells such as Raurava. After purifying one’s own body, my day should be observed; in case of a growth or increase, it must be abandoned unless joined with the proper conjunctions, such as hearing the scriptures. The merit of birth is diminished for those who fast on Ekādaśī, especially when there is an increase and doubt arises. By my command, Dvādaśī, beloved to me, must be observed.” Jāhnavī accepted, “O Lord of the world, I will observe Trispṛśā according to your words. By your command, I shall become free from all sins.” Śrī Krishna blessed her, “Return to your own place, O blessed one. Have no fear, O goddess, best of rivers, for no sin will pass to you. Those who bathe in the waters of Sarasvatī, worship Mādhava, and bow to the Lord of the world, attain the highest state.” Jāhnavī then asked, “O Brahman, tell me the procedure; I will perform it fully. I seek the favor of the flawless Lord of gods, Damodara.” Prācīmādhava explained, “Listen, O goddess, and I will describe the procedure for Trispṛśā. Hearing it, O best of rivers, a person is freed from all sins. According to one’s means, a golden image of me should be made—with a weight, or half, or even a quarter. One should prepare a copper vessel filled with sesame seeds and a pure water pot adorned with five kinds of gems. The vessel should be wrapped with garlands of flowers and scented with camphor and aguru. Then, after bathing Damodara and anointing him, one should place it. Afterwards, offer a pair of garments as clothing; worship should be performed with mantras from the Purāṇas, with fresh, white flowers of the season and tender tulasī leaves. Present an umbrella to Viṣṇu, along with sandals and many delightful fruits as offerings. A sacred thread should be given, along with a new, strong upper garment, and a beautiful, tall, and sturdy Vaiṣṇava staff. To Damodara, offer the feet; to Mādhava, the knees; and to the form of Vāmana, the waist, as the giver of desires.” Thus, the Lord instructed Jāhnavī in the means of purification and the observance of Trispṛśā, ensuring that she—and all who follow—would be freed from the taint of sin and attain the highest state.