The gods, filled with longing, approached the Supreme Lord and expressed their desire to behold his divine form as Varāhī. Hearing their wish, the great god Nārāyaṇa turned his attention to the Earth herself and addressed her with gentle words: “O Earth, you have been supported and upheld for a thousand divine years. Now I am coming to you—may all good fortune be yours—for the heavenly beings yearn to see you.” The Earth, listening intently to these words of Mādhava, received them with devotion. Turning to the divine Person who had assumed the form of the Boar, she spoke with humility and reverence: “I have sought refuge in you, O Lord. I am devoted to you; you are my path and my master. O God, by what means are you pleased, and by what acts may you be worshipped? I feel no distress at all in your constant actions, for they sustain me. “All the worlds of gods and demons, together with Indra and the Grandfather, exist through your grace. O Mādhava, what deeds do those perform who are blessed to behold you? What is the duty of a brāhmaṇa, and what should a kṣatriya do? By what means is yoga attained, and by what determined austerity? What is considered painful dwelling, and what of food and drink? What kinds of acquisitions are to be made, and in which directions, O Lord? By what actions, O Keśava, does one avoid birth among animals? By what does one attain old age, and by what is birth obtained? By the power of what actions does one escape the endless cycle of existence? “Let all those devoted to the Lord and intent on liberation listen to these questions I have asked.” In response, Nārāyaṇa began to reveal sacred knowledge: “Among all the months, Mādhava is foremost; indeed, the month of Mādhava is preeminent. And in all sacrifices, I am always to be worshipped as Nārāyaṇa, the hero who pervades the seven worlds. Therefore, in the summer, one should perform all the prescribed rites as I have instructed. Of all the months, the summer month stands supreme, having attained special prominence. In this season, O beautiful one, worship me with devotion. “As many flowering and fragrant halls as there are on earth, let them be used in my worship. Likewise, during the rainy season, let my rites be performed, O Earth. Moreover, I will reveal to you another rite that grants liberation from worldly existence: with these flowers, worship me with great reverence, reciting the mantra, ‘Salutations to Nārāyaṇa.’ “Those devoted to meditation see me, dark as a rain-laden cloud, revered in my greatness. In the month of Āṣāḍha, on the twelfth day, worship is especially auspicious and brings peace and tranquility. Such a mortal does not perish in this worldly existence, in any age. By these rites, those devoted to action can cross over the ocean of worldly existence. “Having worshipped Nārāyaṇa, the god who has assumed the form of Varāha, know that these teachings should never be given to an unworthy disciple or to those who corrupt the meaning of scripture. For such persons, loss of wealth and virtue quickly follows from reciting these sacred instructions. This, O blessed one, is what I have told you in answer to your questions.” Thus ends the one hundred twenty-fourth chapter, named “Rite of the Seasons,” in the sacred scripture of the Varāha Purāṇa. Having heard the rites for the six seasons, the steadfast Earth, firm in her vow, spoke again, turning her thoughts to the mysterious wheel of illusion: “Those auspicious and pure things which you have mentioned, O Mādhava, the deeds you have spoken—these, to me, are the highest secret and arouse my greatest curiosity as well.