In days of old, there was born a son of unsurpassed virtue, Sukeśa, to a noble lineage. Endowed with extraordinary gifts, Sukeśa was granted invincibility and immunity from death, even at the hands of his fiercest enemies. Ever steadfast in righteousness, he found delight among the night-dwellers, upholding the path of dharma with unwavering devotion. As Sukeśa journeyed, he came upon the serene hermitages of sages, whose souls were purified through penance and wisdom. Moved by their presence, he approached them with humility and respect, saying, "Let your honors instruct me; I do not presume to command you. Tell me, by what means is one honored among the virtuous, and how does such a person attain true happiness?" The sages, considering what would bring the greatest good in both this world and the next, replied thoughtfully. "Whatever ensures the highest and imperishable good, O hero, both here and hereafter—whoever among the virtuous relies upon that is honored by it and finds happiness. That which even the gods and other beings do not forsake—let us declare it to you. "The knowledge gained through self-study and the Vedas, along with devotion to the worship of Viṣṇu, are such imperishable paths. Likewise, understanding the treatises on ethics and devotion to Hara are also esteemed. Steadfastness in self-study and knowledge of Brahman is attained through these, as well as through unwavering devotion. "In Sarasvati, devotion remains constant; among the Gandharvas, righteousness is found in their unique way. For the Vidyadharas, righteousness is thus, and in Bhavani, it is solely devotion. The Kimpurushas consider skill in all crafts as their righteousness. Everywhere, fulfilling one's desires is regarded as ancestral righteousness. Through discipline, the understanding of righteousness is attained, and this is called the righteousness of Artha. "Non-miserliness, effortlessness, compassion, non-violence, forgiveness, and self-restraint—these are recognized as human righteousness in the realms of Shankara, Bhaskara, and Devi. Among the Guhyakas, pride and lack of humility are said to be their righteousness. Self-study and devotion to Tryambaka are considered the righteousness of the Rakshasas. For the Pisachas, always being greedy for flesh is regarded as their righteousness. "These twelve meritorious paths, which bestow progress, were declared by Brahma himself. Of these, speak again of those that pertain to human righteousness." The sages then turned their attention to describing the world itself, saying, "Men dwell upon the earth, which rests upon seven great islands. Just as a boat floats upon a river, so does the earth rest upon the waters. The abode was established, exceedingly high and shaped like the core of a lotus. The Lord of creatures, Prajapati, made known the places called islands, each with its own extent measured in yojanas. "Outside of the central continent lies Plaksha, twice as large. Beyond that, Shalmali is twice as large as the great ocean. The ocean of clarified butter is said to be twice the size of Kushadvipa, and beyond that is the ocean called 'curds,' which is again twice as large. Each region and ocean is situated, each twice the size of the last, extending from Jambudvipa all the way to the farthest Milk Ocean. "O Rakshasa, in all, there are four crore and fifty-five lakhs in number, surrounded and filled to the brim by a measure known as 'laksha-manda-kataha.' We shall go there for you—listen well, O night-wanderer. And know this: at the farthest ends of the branches of these lands, there is never any change of ages among their inhabitants." Thus, the sages revealed to Sukeśa the paths of righteousness and the vast structure of the worlds, illuminating both the ways of virtue and the mysteries of the cosmos.