Hear now the wondrous fruits that arise from the sacred act of gifting to a brāhmaṇa an image of Hari, the Lord, in his Varāha (boar) form, together with a water pot. In this very life, the giver is blessed with good fortune, prosperity, beauty, and satisfaction; poverty is swiftly turned into wealth, the childless receive a son, misfortune is dispelled at once, and the goddess Lakṣmī herself enters the home without delay. Such are the blessings in this world. But listen further, for I shall recount what awaits in the next. To illustrate this, let me share with you an ancient tale. Long ago, there was a king named Vīradhanvan, famed for his valor and his conquest of enemies. One day, seeking sport, he entered the forest to hunt deer. As he pursued and slew groups of deer, he unknowingly wandered into a forest where sages dwelled. There, without realizing, he killed brāhmaṇas who, through their spiritual powers, had taken the form of deer. These were fifty brothers, sons of the sage Saṃvarta, deeply devoted to the study of the Vedas. Satyatapa, curious, asked, “Why did these brāhmaṇas assume the forms of deer? Please, O brāhmaṇa, tell me, for I am eager to know.” The sage Durvāsas replied, “Once, these brothers went into the forest and found newborn fawns, abandoned by their mothers. Each took a fawn, carrying it on his shoulder, but the young creatures died in their care. Distressed, the brothers returned to their father, the sage Saṃvarta, and confessed, ‘O father, we have unintentionally caused the death of five newborn deer. Please prescribe atonement for us.’ Saṃvarta, recalling his own quick temper and that of his father, replied, ‘You are born into a line with fierce tendencies, and this act reflects such karma. Now, you must wear deer skins and observe strict vows, dwelling in the forest for five years. Thereafter, you shall be purified.’ Obediently, the brothers donned deer skins and entered the forest, their hearts at peace, reciting the eternal Brahman. After a year had passed, King Vīradhanvan happened upon that very place. At the foot of a great tree, he saw the brothers, their deer skins draped over their shoulders, standing and chanting. Mistaking them for deer, the king loosed his arrows and killed those devoted reciters of sacred knowledge. Horrified at his deed, the king, trembling with fear, went to the hermitage of the sage Devarāta. He confessed his sin of killing brāhmaṇas, recounting the entire event with a heart heavy with grief and tears flowing in sorrow. Devarāta, seeing the king’s genuine remorse, spoke gently, “Do not fear, O king; I shall free you from this sin. Just as the earth once sank into the netherworld and was lifted up by Lord Viṣṇu in the form of a boar, so too, you, burdened by the sin of Brahmin-killing, will be rescued by Janārdana himself.” Reassured, the king asked, “By what means, O noble sage, does the Lord show such favor? What must I do to be freed from all misfortune?” Durvāsas continued, “Devarāta then explained the sacred vow to the king, who performed it with devotion. Thereafter, he enjoyed abundant pleasures in this life. And when his time came, the king ascended to heaven in a golden, radiant chariot, reaching Indra’s realm. Indra himself came forth to greet him, but Vishnu’s attendants, seeing Indra approach, declared, ‘The king of gods should not be seen by one lacking in austerity.’ All the guardians of the worlds were drawn by the king’s radiance, yet Vishnu’s attendants turned them away, for their merit did not suffice. Thus, the king reached the very world of truth. In that deathless realm, free from burning and destruction, the great king remains even now, praised by the gods. Indeed, when the Lord of Sacrifice is pleased, what wonder is there? In this life, worship performed according to the prescribed method bestows fortune, longevity, health, and wealth, and ultimately grants the highest immortality. And when one completes the full year of observance, the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, four-formed and most precious, gives his own abode to the devotee—there is no doubt. Just as Keśava, in the form of a fish, rescued the Vedas; as the Lord, in his Kurma (tortoise) form, bore Mount Mandara during the churning of the ocean; and as the Supreme Person, in the form of a boar, lifted the earth from the netherworld—so too, recognize these glorious manifestations of Viṣṇu. Now, hear further instructions. In the month of Phālguna, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight, one should fast and worship Hari with the prescribed rites. Worship his feet as Narasiṃha, his thighs as Govinda, his waist as Viśvabhuja, his arms as Aniruddha. For Śitikaṇṭha, worship the neck; for Piṅgakeśa, the head; for the destroyer of demons, the discus; for the water-formed, the conch—adorning each with sandal paste, flowers, and fruits. Prepare a pot adorned with two white cloths. Place above it a golden image of Narasiṃha in a copper vessel—if possible, make it of gold, or else of wood or bamboo. Place it in a jewel-encrusted pot, worship it, and on the twelfth day, offer it to a brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas. By this act, one attains the same fruit as did a king of old, whom I shall now tell you about—King Vatsa. In the land of Kimpuruṣa, there was a righteous king named Bharata; his son was called Vatsa. Defeated in battle, his treasury and elephants seized by enemies, Vatsa retreated to the forest with his wife, dwelling in the hermitage of the sage Vasiṣṭha. After some time, the sage Vasiṣṭha asked him, “What brings you to this great hermitage?” The king replied, “O revered one, my kingdom and wealth have been taken, my resolve broken by my enemies. I have come to you for refuge. Please instruct me, and show me your favor.” Thus, the fruits of worship and the stories of those who have attained them are revealed, shining as examples for all who seek the blessings of the Lord.