Hearing the account that had just been spoken, a sense of wonder arose in the listener’s mind. Eager to know more, he asked, “Please, tell me in detail about this most marvelous greatness you have described.” The sage replied, “Listen, O best of Brahmins, to the wondrous greatness of the sacred confluence. At this holy place, as I have learned from Skanda himself, there always dwell ten billion thousand and ten billion hundred beings—gods, immortals, perfected ones, and yogis alike. “If a person bathes in the waters of this confluence with a focused mind, and performs a sacrifice with a Vaiṣṇava mantra in purity, the merit he obtains is equal to the fruit of a thousand horse sacrifices and a hundred Vājapeya rites. Moreover, the merit gained by giving gold daily is also obtained here. “Especially on the new moon, the full moon, and on both twelfth days, the rewards are immense. Even if someone were to stand on one foot for a thousand ages, or hang inverted for ten thousand ages, the results attained by bathing here would surpass the merit of a hundred sacrifices. “In particular, during the month of Pauṣa, bathing here brings abundant rewards. Whoever bathes with devotion in Pauṣa attains the abode of Brahman, free from the cycle of birth and death. And in this same month, one who gives a lamp filled with ghee, the best of offerings, is freed from whatever sins—great or small—have been accumulated over many births. Such a person is granted long life, health, prosperity, offspring, and supreme happiness. “One who, with discipline and devotion, observes a vow on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in Pauṣa, and keeps vigil through the night, offering lamps everywhere, especially as a devotee of Viṣṇu, worships Viṣṇu and listens to the tales of Hari, spending the night awake immersed in these meritorious stories—at dawn, after bathing in pure water according to the prescribed rites and with reverence, and then giving gold, food, and garments with faith—such a person should observe this vigil every year if devoted to merit. “In this way, Hari should be worshipped, and the twice-born should be properly satisfied according to one’s ability. Serpents, too, become harmless here, just as they do at the sight of Tārkṣya. “One who bathes at this confluence ascends to heaven; one who bathes here becomes truly happy. Indeed, whatever living beings exist in the three worlds, all of them—among all beings here whose minds are afflicted by suffering—seven inferior and seven superior ones, along with the person himself, are uplifted. Here, even those who are congenitally blind or lame are made equal. “Just as among the castes the brāhmaṇa is foremost, so too is this confluence the foremost among sacred places. By bathing here, giving charity, and conquering the senses according to one’s capacity—whether man or woman—one should perform the prescribed bath. Just as fire burns everything, whether dry or moist, so does this holy place purify all. “On one side are all the sacred places, each with their various fruits, but the fruit of bathing here is equal to that of bathing at all the sacred places, as tradition remembers. “There is another sacred ford called Gopratāra, O sinless one, where, through bathing and giving, a person never grieves at any time. Just as Maṇikarṇikā exists in Vārāṇasī, so too, in Naimiṣa, the Cakravāpī is remembered as the foremost of sacred fords.” Thus, the sage revealed the supreme greatness and sanctity of the confluence and its sacred fords, extolling their power to grant merit, happiness, and liberation to all who approach with faith and devotion.