Listen, O revered one, to this ancient account. In times long past, there was a mighty asura named Guḍākeśa. With unwavering determination, he undertook severe austerities and devoted himself to worshipping me for fourteen years. His discipline was so profound and his resolve so firm that I, Narayana, was deeply pleased. O great goddess, when I beheld his hermitage and heard auspicious words uttered there, my heart was gladdened. Appearing before him in my four-armed form, steadfast in my divine duties, I spoke to Guḍākeśa with affection: “O Guḍākeśa, most fortunate one, tell me—what boon do you desire? Whatever you have cherished in your heart, whether in thought, word, or deed, ask it of me.” Hearing my words, Guḍākeśa replied, “O Lord, if you are truly pleased with me in your innermost being, then grant me this: I wish to be slain by you, O Keśava, by your discus. And, after I am struck down, what is to become of my flesh and marrow?” He continued, “Let a vessel be fashioned from my remains, O Lord. May I experience supreme satisfaction in my heart when an offering is made in that vessel.” Thus, Guḍākeśa, established in virtuous conduct, made his unusual request. I responded to him, “O steadfast one, whatever you have contemplated in your heart, standing firm in your austerities, so shall it be. You will remain established in my presence, assuming a form stationed upon copper. Whatever is offered to me in a vessel of copper, filled to the brim, that copper is pure and auspicious—therefore, it is dear to me. On the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaiśākha, you shall come to my world. There is no doubt of this.” Guḍākeśa, desiring to be struck down by my discus, remained steadfast in my service. When the bright fortnight arrived, he, established in righteousness, spoke: “Release, O Lord, release your discus, shining like fire.” Then, pierced by the discus, Guḍākeśa attained to me, becoming foremost among devotees. Know that tin, lead, zinc, bronze, and iron are impure, but whatever is offered with a copper vessel upon the earth is pure and dear to me. My dear devotees, the Bhāgavatas, should always make offerings in copper vessels. Especially those who are initiated should offer water for washing the feet, arghya, and other rites in this manner. O goddess, I have explained this to you truthfully. Ask me, if you wish, what more remains. You inquired, O Lord of gods, how an initiated person performs the twilight worship, and by which mantra a devoted follower should conduct it. Listen, Mādhavī, to the supreme mantra for twilight worship: Just as the Sun is worshipped, so too should the former and later twilight be honored. One should assume a meditative posture for a moment and recite this mantra, by which the devotee delights in my world for thousands of years. The mantra is thus: “All the gods—Brahma, Rudra, Indra, and you, O Sun—are the primal, unmanifest form arising from existence. We, having established the god, the primal, unmanifest form, within ourselves, likewise—” With this very mantra, the initiated should perform the twilight worship. Thus concludes the account in the glorious Varaha Purana, the one hundred and twenty-ninth chapter, describing the initiation of the four classes and the significance of copper. Now begins the expiation for eating the king’s food. Having heard from the mouth of Narayana about the initiation, the Earth herself spoke: “Having heard, O greatly fortunate one, I have become pure, O Lord. Truly, the greatness of the Lord of the worlds is wondrous! Yet, O Lord, there is one supreme secret that abides in my heart. O God, your former and later offenses, even thirty-two in number, have been recounted.” Thus, the tale unfolds, revealing both the greatness of devotion and the sanctity of ritual, as well as the mysteries that dwell within the heart of the Earth herself.