Thus, that sacred place became renowned as Gopratāra, its fame spreading far and wide. O brāhmaṇa, it is said that even if the union with the divine is attained only after hundreds of births, there is no doubt that at Gopratāra, Hari abides steadfastly through the devotion of his worshippers. Even a learned man who bathes at Gopratāra is certainly purified, shedding the stains of sin. Especially in the auspicious month of Kārtika, those who have mastered their senses gather at Ayodhyā, drawn by the special merit of bathing at Gopratāra. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a holy place to equal it. By bathing there, one becomes sinless, casting off all impurity, emerging with a pure body and clad in white garments. O virtuous one, whatever divine holy places exist upon the earth, their essence is found on the day of Gopratāra. On that day, one should recite sacred texts, offer oblations into the fire, bathe, and give gifts according to one’s ability. In the month of Kārtika, by attaining the merit of Gopratāra, all the merits of other sacred places are also gained. Bathing at Gopratāra on its special day destroys all sins; one is freed from every stain, and there is no need for further doubt or deliberation. Especially, worship of the brāhmaṇas should be performed, with Viṣṇu as the intended deity. One should give food of many kinds, gold, and various garments in charity. During a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra, or a lunar eclipse at the Narmadā river, a lamp made with ghee or even sesame oil should be offered. By such acts, all sacrifices are deemed accomplished, and the merit of bathing at all sacred places is fulfilled. There are many kinds of holy places, granting both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation. But whoever gives even a little gold to a brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas—at the sacred place called Gopratāra, renowned throughout the three worlds, O twice-born—whoever bathes there and satisfies the brāhmaṇas, or observes a vow of eating only once a day for a month at that place, or performs the prescribed ritual of entering the fire, or practices fasting with firm devotion to Viṣṇu, or worships Govinda at Gopratāra, O human—such persons attain the highest merit. Incense offered to Govinda here yields the fruit of the great Agnihotra sacrifice. O learned one, this place has been described as exceedingly wondrous. By bathing at this gateway to heaven, a person obtains merit equal to the gift of ten pieces of gold. At this excellent holy place during a festival, one attains the same reward. Having fasted, being pure, having bathed, and devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu, the merits gained resound across heaven, earth, and the netherworld for a long time. On the full moon, in the morning, after bathing with a pure mind, having given food according to one’s ability and satisfied the brāhmaṇas, and having beheld the all-pervading, hidden Hari and worshipped him especially, one should perform the midday bath at the gateway to heaven according to the proper rites. Thus, by these supreme ordinances at Gopratāra, whoever performs these rites with great effort and renowned virtue should bathe there, for such is the path of highest merit. To the northwest of Sītākuṇḍa lies another sacred place, Guṇasundara. Long ago, it was here that King Daśaratha performed the Putreṣṭi sacrifice, seeking the boon of sons. Joyful and generous with gifts, the king completed the sacrifice with all due rites. Taking a golden vessel filled with the excellent oblation, he divided it into four parts and gave them to his wives. There occurred the wondrous attainment of that rare milk, which, revealed by water, bestowed the highest fruit.