Listen, O seekers, to the sacred narrative as spoken in the Padma Purana. Among all beings—gods, demons, humans, serpents, and rakshasas—I am the same, O dwellers in heaven. For your welfare, that sinful one was destroyed by me through a mantra; and by beholding this lotus, he attained the worlds earned by the virtuous. The lotus released by me has sanctified this place on earth, which will henceforth be known as Pushkara—a great and holy tirtha, bestowing purity and merit. It is renowned as a source of merit for all creatures on earth; truly, a blessing has been granted, O gods, to the devotees who seek devotion. By constant residence in this forest, and at the request of its trees, the sinless Mahakala came here for my sake. And to you who practice austerities, great knowledge has been revealed; O gods, hold in your hearts both your own good and that of others. You should be seen on earth in various forms; for a man who, out of hatred, afflicts a wise Brahmin is struck down by sin. He cannot be freed from sin even in a hundred million births; one must never slay or slander a Brahmin learned in the Vedas and their branches. For when one is killed, it is as if a hundred million are slain. One should feed, with faith, a Brahmin who knows the end of the Vedas; the one who is fed is as if a hundred million Brahmins have been fed—of this there is no doubt. And whoever gives alms to ascetics, filling their bowls, is freed from all sins and does not attain a bad state, just as I am the eldest, the best, and the grandsire of all the gods. In the same way, the knower is always to be worshipped—unattached and without possessions. This vow, approved by Brahma, is for liberation from worldly bondage. Composed by me for the twice-born, it is the cause of non-return. If one who has not conquered his senses abandons the Agnihotra sacrifice, he quickly goes to Raurava, led away by the servants of Yama. And one who performs petty acts for worldly livelihood, whose mind is attached, who is passionate, fond of women and wealth, who eats alone, delights in tasty food, and serves agriculture or trade, who is ignorant of the Veda, who reviles the Veda, or who approaches another man's wife—one corrupted by such faults as these—a man who even converses with such a person, or who corrupts a good vow, goes to hell. One who is discontent, of divided mind, wicked, and a doer of evil should not be touched physically; if touched, one is purified by bathing. Having thus spoken, the blessed Brahma, together with those immortals, established the sacred field as is proper. To the north lies the Chandranadi, to the east as far as the Sarasvati, and to the east, from Nandana entirely, as far as Kalpa with Pushkara. This altar was made for sacrifice by Brahma, the creator of the worlds. The eldest should be known as the first and as the purifier of the three worlds; that is famous as the Brahma sanctuary, the middle as belonging to Vishnu, the youngest as belonging to Rudra; Brahma made it first. This is the foremost and supreme field, spoken of as secret in the Vedas. The forest called Pushkara, where Brahma, the lord, is present—Brahma himself bestowed favor on this piece of earth. For the benefit of the twice-born and all who dwell on earth, the land was made with an altar surrounded by gold and diamonds, adorned with various inlaid gems, made most beautiful in every way. There the blessed Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, delights. Vishnu and Rudra, the two gods, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Maruts with mighty Indra, and the dwellers in heaven also delight there. All this has been truly declared for the benefit of the worlds, in accordance with the sacred collection and proper mantras and rites. The twice-born who recite the Vedas, devoted to serving their teacher, all dwell near Brahma, blessed by him. Then Bhīṣma asked: “O Lord, by what method should those who dwell in sacred places, desiring to reach the world of Brahmā, live in the forest or at Puṣkara? Should this be done by men, or by women, or by those established in the social orders and stages of life? What should those who reside there practice? Tell me all of this.” Pulastya replied: “Men and women, and those established in the social orders and stages of life, should reside there, devoted to their own duties and conduct, free from hypocrisy and delusion, with actions, mind, and speech devoted to Brahman, with senses subdued, free from envy and pettiness, intent on the welfare of all beings.” Bhīṣma then asked: “By performing what actions is a man called a devotee of Brahman here? And what kind of devotees of Brahman are spoken of among men? Tell me this.” Pulastya answered: “Threefold devotion is described, arising from mind, speech, and body; it may be worldly, Vedic, or spiritual. That which is performed by meditation, concentration, intellect, and recollection of the meaning of the Vedas, and which brings delight to Brahman, is called mental devotion. By recitation of mantras, Vedic hymns, salutations, meditation on fire and ancestral rites, and obligatory chants, this is considered verbal devotion. By vows, fasts, observances, restraint of the senses, adorning with ornaments rich in gold and jewels, and also by lunar fasts and similar practices, by Brahmakṛcchra fasts and other auspicious vows, bodily devotion is declared; this threefold devotion pertains to the twice-born. With offerings of cow’s ghee, milk, curds, jewels, lamps, sacred grass, water, various fragrances and garlands, and substances prepared from metals, with clarified butter, incense of guggulu, fragrant black aloe, ornaments adorned with gold and jewels, and with splendid garlands as well, the sacred rites are performed.” Thus the story flows, revealing the sanctity of Pushkara, the duties of those who dwell there, and the forms of devotion that lead one to Brahman’s world.