The Earth, curious and respectful, addressed Varaha, the divine boar: “O tiger among sages, I have heard of the wealth attained by Raibhya. What did the sage himself do afterward? This is a great doubt in my mind.” Varaha, the blessed Lord, replied: “That illustrious sage Raibhya, upon hearing of the attainment of wealth, journeyed to the sacred city of Gaya, the revered ancestral pilgrimage. There, with deep devotion, he honored his forefathers by offering rice balls, performing the ancestral rites with utmost sincerity. As Raibhya engaged in severe austerities—so intense and difficult that few could endure them—a remarkable event occurred. While immersed in his penance, a radiant yogi appeared, seated in a celestial chariot that was as pure as dust particles and shone like the sun. This extraordinary figure was of atomic size, glowing with divine brilliance. The yogi addressed Raibhya: ‘O steadfast Raibhya, what purpose drives you to perform such austerity?’ Having spoken, he measured the earth from the sky, surveying the world from above. There, he beheld a chariot that seemed to embody five chariots at once, sparkling like the sun and filling the realm of Brahma. Raibhya, awestruck by these wonders, bowed deeply and asked the radiant yogi: ‘Who are you? Please reveal your identity to me.’ The yogi replied: ‘I am Sanatkumara, the younger brother of Rudra, born from the mind of Brahma. I dwell in the world of Janas. I have come to you, O ascetic, out of affection. Truly, you are blessed, child, a worthy enhancer of Brahma’s lineage.’ Raibhya, humbled and grateful, spoke: ‘Salutations to you, greatest among yogis. Be gracious and compassionate, O universal form. What should I do here? Please instruct me, lion among yogis. How am I blessed, as you have said?’ Sanatkumara answered: ‘You are indeed blessed, foremost among the twice-born, for your devotion to Vedic teachings and your sincere offerings to your ancestors—mantras, vows, recitations, and rice balls—here at Gaya.’ He continued: ‘Listen further. There was a king named Vishala, residing in the grand city of Vishala. He was steadfast and blessed but lacked a son. Seeking an heir, he approached the foremost brahmins. Though their vitality was low, they advised him: “Go to Gaya and offer food in many ways. O king, your son will surely be born—a generous ruler of the earth.” Delighted by their counsel, King Vishala journeyed to the sacred pilgrimage. In the month of Magha, with deep devotion, he performed rites for his ancestors, offering rice balls with proper procedure and effort. During these rites, he noticed men of white, yellow, and black colors. Curious, he asked: “O sirs, what is this that you overlook? Please tell me everything, for curiosity stirs within me.” The white-colored man replied: “I am Sita, your ancestor, distinguished by name, conduct, and deed. This one, my ancestor, is red in color—cruel, a slayer of brahmins, and a doer of evil.” He continued: “The one beyond is named Adhishvara, his father, black in conduct and deed. This black one slew many ancient sages in previous births. Both these, my son, after death, entered the hells called Raudra and Avici. Adhishvara and Krishna, his father, remained there for a long time. But I, through my pure deeds, attained the seat of Indra, difficult to obtain.” “Through your learned offerings of rice balls at Gaya, these two—Bala and the other—have been united, freed from hell by the power of the sacred piṇḍa offering. With the water you have offered, you have satisfied ancestors, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. Thus, by your words, our union has occurred at once; by the power of this holy place, we shall ascend to the world of the ancestors—there is no doubt.” “By your offering here, these two grandfathers, though fallen into misfortune, have attained perfection, even after committing evil deeds. Such is the power of this sacred place: even the son of a Brahmin-slayer is purified by the piṇḍa offering and can be uplifted again. For this reason, my son, I have separated these two and come to see you; now I shall depart. Therefore, Raibhya, you are called blessed by me.” “A single visit to Gaya, a single offering of piṇḍa, is hard to obtain; yet you remain constantly engaged in this act. What more can be said about your merit, by which you have directly seen Narayana himself, the wielder of the mace? Therefore, Gadadhara himself is present at this holy place; for this reason, O best of the twice-born, this holy place is exceedingly renowned.” Varaha then said: “Having spoken thus, the great yogi vanished on the spot; and Raibhya, filled with devotion, composed a hymn of praise to Hari, the wielder of the mace.” Raibhya sang: “I bow to Gadadhara, praised by the hosts of gods, patient and auspicious, remover of the suffering of the hungry, crusher of the vast armies of demons, and destroyer of all misfortune when remembered. I bow in secret to Kesava, the ancient person, the foremost of men, primeval, pure, and spotless refuge, the Trivikrama who bore the earth for Bali, the wielder of the mace. He who is of pure mind, surrounded by riches, adorned with Shri, free from stain, wise, and praised by sinless lords of the earth—whoever bows to Gadadhara dwells in happiness.” “He whose lotus feet are worshipped by gods and demons, who wears armlets, garlands, ornaments, and a crown, who lies upon the ocean, who holds the wheel in his hand—whoever bows to Gadadhara dwells in happiness. He who is white in the Krita age, red in Treta, yellow in Dvapara, and in Kali is dark as a raincloud, the great lord—whoever bows to Gadadhara dwells in happiness.” “He from whom Brahma, born from the seed, creates the world in the form of Narayana, who protects as Rudra and also brings about the end—may Gadadhara, possessing sixfold forms, be victorious. Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three qualities arise from him alone and from no other; may that threefold Gadadhara grant me steadfastness in righteousness and liberation.” “In this ocean of worldly existence, with its painful strands and dreadful crocodiles of separation—when I am sinking, may Gadadhara bear me up like a great boat. He, the Trimurti, by his own power, created this cosmic egg from himself; in that, he created the earth, radiant with noble brilliance, arising from the waters—unto him, the bearer of the earth, I bow.” “He who, for the protection of gods and others, takes on names such as Matsya and so forth, the Bull-Ape, who is all-pervading in his principal form and wields the mace—may he grant me the highest path.” Varaha concluded: “Thus praised by the wise Raibhya with devotion, Vishnu, Janardana, suddenly appeared, clad in yellow garments. Holding conch, discus, and mace in his hands, seated upon Garuda, moving through the sky, the supreme person spoke with a voice deep as a cloud and words full of dignity.