Listen now to this sacred account as revealed in the Varāha Purāṇa, where the Lord expounds on the conduct and worship that lead one toward dharma and divine favor. There was a woman, devoted to her teacher, steadfast in her worship of the gods, and affectionate toward her husband. Established in the world of the Lord, she gazed upon her husband with favor and kindness. In return, the husband too was enjoined to look upon his loving wife with the same favor and warmth. Yet, even the seers, though firmly established in the Lord’s path of action, could not perceive Him directly. If this is so for the seers, what then can be said of ordinary humans, who also walk the path of action? The Lord explained that those who are deluded by His māyā, O Mādhavi, are unable to approach Him. Only those perfected in their disposition, those pure in heart and intent, are recognized by the Lord, who bestows His grace upon them accordingly. Thus, O goddess, the Lord declared, this account imbued with dharma has been spoken. It is not to be given to those who have not been properly instructed, nor to those who are deceitful or lacking in faith. This teaching, O Mādhavi, should be guarded well; it must not be entrusted to the deceitful or the atheistic. In this way, the Lord’s mighty dharma was revealed, and so concludes the chapter known as ‘The Account of Thirty-Two Transgressions’ in the glorious Varāha Purāṇa. Now, O fortunate one, listen attentively to the procedure for the worship of the gods and the proper method of expiation. The Lord instructed that one should take up a tooth-stick, reciting the prescribed mantra. When the lamp has been lit, hands should be cleansed at that place. After bowing to the Lord’s feet, one should proceed to brush the teeth, all while reciting the mantra: “O Source of the worlds, O Remover of the Sun, O Endless One, O One in the middle—thus we take this earth as the stick for cleaning the teeth.” All that has been spoken thus far, the Lord affirmed, is indeed a full determination of dharma. After raising the head, it should be held upon one’s own head. The actions of the mouth should be performed using only a little water for purification. Having worshipped with this unfailing mantra, one is released from worldly existence. The mantra to be spoken is: “O Lord, accept yourself, your qualities, and your own self with water; let the mouth of all the deities be washed.” Then, offering a handful of flowers to the Lord—He who is the lover of devotees, the knower of mantras, the performer of sacrifice, and the creator of beings—one should make the body prostrate and propitiate Janardana. When the Lord is pleased by the mantras and the worship, even liberation for yogis comes by His will. The devotee, recognizing himself as the Lord’s servant, performs all actions for the Lord’s sake, seeking His pleasure by following these instructions. Having thus performed the rite of mantra, established in devotion to the Lord, and steadfast in action, the knower of mantras and doer of righteous acts proceeds with affection in mind. The mantras declare: “In all worlds, I am the accomplished self, and I grant boons by my own act. Whatever I have spoken, forgive; to you, indeed, salutations again and again.” Thereafter, one should anoint the right limb, followed by the left limb. With firm resolve, the devotee should smear the western part of the ground with cow dung, purifying the place of worship. The Lord then described the merits attained by performing these acts: for as many thousands of years as the grains counted, one is honored and exalted in the heavenly realm, established in the Lord’s own world. Through these acts, the limbs are purified and the Lord’s delight is invoked. Finally, the Lord named the sacred types of wood used for the tooth-stick: Madhuka, Ashvaparna, Rohini, and Karkata. Thus, the procedure for worship and the fruits of such devotion were revealed, guiding all who hear with faith toward the path of righteousness and divine grace.