“O Earth, listen as I reveal something further,” said the Lord. “For as long as that principle remains established within a body, its effects continue. Hear once again, O Earth, as I explain another matter. When a person becomes blind, O goddess, he is then born into such a state in his next life. Yet, he is also born into a great, noble, and pure family devoted to the Lord. In that birth, he possesses wealth, virtues, beauty, good character, and purity. By these merits, and through devotion to my actions, he is freed from sin. For such a one, it is proper to subsist on milk alone for seven days. Having performed penance in this way, O noble one, he attains my world. Now, O beautiful one, let me tell you the fault in this, and listen well to the truth. Thereafter, he becomes a soul of complete purity, my devotee—of this, there can be no doubt. But if an initiated person drinks liquor, there is no expiation for him. However, if he drinks liquor of the color of fire, by that act he is freed from sin. He is not tainted by sin, nor does he go to rebirth. Yet, if he falls, he is cooked in a terrible hell for fifteen years, taking the form of a boar. After one year, he is purified, devoted to my actions, and remains pure. At this, having heard these words, the Earth addressed Hari again: ‘O Lord of the gods, O Master, tell me—what atonement is there, and how may one be freed, for a man who uses the Kusumbha branch as a broom?’ The Lord replied, ‘Such a person is tormented in hell for ten thousand years. But if he has eaten it, he should diligently perform the Cāndrāyaṇa expiation. Whoever performs this atonement in the proper way, and who, wearing another’s garment—especially one that is unwashed, O Mādhavi—performs my rites or touches me in that state, O Earth, he is born with a defective limb for one birth. For him, O fair-hipped one, I shall declare a powerful atonement. Having observed a fast for eight meals and devoted himself to my worship, he should go to a body of water, remain there calm, self-restrained, and observing vows. When the night has passed and the sun has risen, whoever performs atonement in this manner, and who, being devoted to my rites, does not prepare new rice, causes his ancestors to go without food for fifteen years. For such a one, there is no righteousness—this is certain, without doubt. O highly fortunate one, the atonement brings happiness to my devotees. By lying on the ground under the open sky, he is purified on the fourth day. After drinking the five products of the cow, he is quickly freed from sin. Abandoning all attachments, he attains my world. But if one acts otherwise, he becomes a corpse on earth, a demon—there is no doubt. He remains here in this state, O noble one; thus it is, without doubt. Now, I will declare the atonement by which one is freed from sin: having fasted for eight meals, on the tenth or eleventh day, he is purified.” Thus, the Lord spoke, revealing the paths of sin, expiation, and liberation, all for the benefit of the devoted and the wise.