Mudgala, the noble sage, addressed the messenger sent by the gods, saying, “O best of the twice-born, it is by my own merits that I have reached this place. Now, I intend to undertake great austerities and worship Maheshvara. If your resolve is firm, I will briefly tell you my purpose.” He spoke of the heavenly realms, describing the delightful groves of Nandana and others, where neither hunger, nor thirst, nor sleep, nor laziness afflict anyone. Instead, people are delighted by many songs and dances. “Thus, O ascetic rich in penance, people dwell there in heaven,” Mudgala continued. “Yet, O sage, one fault alone appears to me in heaven: no further merit can ever be gained there by any means. Whatever good deed is performed in the mortal world, its result is enjoyed in heaven. There, O best of the twice-born, those with little merit witness many others possessed of great splendor.” Mudgala admitted, “I have not performed much good in the mortal world by any means. And so, seeing thousands of others falling from heaven after their merits are exhausted, I have understood the origin of virtue and fault and have now told you all this.” With a serene detachment, he declared, “Therefore, O messenger, I have no desire whatsoever for heaven. You must clearly speak these words to the king of the gods on my behalf: I will perform that act by which we will have no fear of falling; I will accomplish those worlds so that they are always free from downfall.” Pulastya continued the tale, saying, “Having spoken thus, O best of kings, Mudgala, unattached to the pleasures of heaven, remained steadfast. The messenger of Śakra, hearing Mudgala’s words in detail, returned. The celestial vehicle, measured for the divine messenger, had been prepared by you. Śakra then commanded, ‘Go there quickly and forcibly bring that sage.’” Hearing these words from Śakra, the divine messenger became fearful. Again, Mudgala saw the messenger standing before him in the celestial vehicle. Stunned by the sage’s unwavering resolve, the messenger was as if inscribed with Mudgala’s words. Noticing the long delay, the lord of the gods grew impatient. When he saw his messenger so bewildered by Mudgala, terrible omens appeared at that very moment. Seeing these, Mudgala was filled with wonder and began to reflect deeply. Then, Mudgala beheld Hari in the sky, holding the thunderbolt raised in his hand. Śakra, his enthusiasm broken, offered praise to Mudgala and addressed him, “Whether in heaven or on earth, dwell wherever you wish, O twice-born one. Choose a boon—may it be well with you—whatever is always in your mind.” Mudgala replied, “O thousand-eyed one, even in dreams, the sight of you is exceedingly rare. If you must indeed grant me a boon, O slayer of Vṛtra, do not doubt, for I have sent a messenger to the lake.” He spoke of the sacred place where the ancestors attain supreme satisfaction from the offering of rice-balls. “By my grace, this is the highest, O best of Brahmins. Those who, with focused mind, are present here on the full moon of Phalguna, by offering rice-balls, will obtain the supreme fruit equal to that of Gaya.” Thereafter, Mudgala, constantly contemplating the supreme Brahman and absorbed in pure meditation, attained imperishable liberation. Here, a verse was formerly sung by the great soul, Narada, commemorating this supreme attainment.