Through the merit of one devoted soul, as the Varaha Purana recounts, seventy-seven entire lineages of ancestors are uplifted and delivered. Such is the power of holy acts that these ancestors are satisfied and content for countless hundreds of millions of years. Indeed, if one should pass away amidst these sacred places, he attains a realm equal to that of Indra himself. And for those who aspire to reach the world of Brahma, even from the midst of the lord of cowherds, that supreme goal is within reach. Furthermore, a single man, by his devotion, delivers ten generations of ancestors before and ten after himself, granting them liberation. When a person relinquishes his life in these hallowed grounds, he is brought to the world of the Lord, to dwell in divine company. On the southern side of Mathura lies the Phālgunaka field, a rare and exceedingly holy place. There, those who perform consecration find themselves rejoicing alongside the gods. Within this sacred region is Tālavana, once guarded by the demon Dhenuka, and nearby is a pond of clear water, adorned with blue lotuses, radiating beauty and peace. Another supreme spot in this field is called Saṃpīṭhaka. Here, if a person spends even a single night and bathes, he earns the merit to ascend to the Lord’s world upon departing this life. It is in this very place that the Lord himself worshipped the auspicious Sun. There, the Sun, holding a lotus in his hand, was beheld in all his glory. On the seventh day of the dark fortnight, the Sun is said to always remain present there, bestowing blessings. For those who seek, nothing is difficult to obtain in this world, for the Sun ever grants all that is desired. Whether man or woman, each attains the full results of their devotion without fail. Even mighty Bhishma, by placing the Sun before him, attained the highest goal here. Bathing and giving in this place brings about the fulfillment of all desires. Thus concludes the one hundred and fifty-seventh chapter, extolling the greatness of bathing and other sacred acts at Malayarjuna and other holy places, and praising the supreme sanctity of Mathura. Now begins the account of the sacred places within Mathura. The Lord declares: "My region of Mathura stretches for twenty yojanas. During the rainy season, one should dwell in these joyous lands. Across all seven continents, there are many holy sites and abodes, yet Mathura holds a special place. When I, the Lord, awaken from sleep upon the earth in Mathura, all its inhabitants are blessed with liberation. Those who bathe in the sacred Kalindi River are honored in my world. Whoever circumambulates Kesava in Mathura, bearing vessels filled with ghee and adorned in complete garments, partakes of great merit. This holy region, five yojanas in breadth and five in length, is abundant in all pleasures and is attended by groups of apsaras. There, the devotee ascends daily, surrounded by a radiant circle of light. O Devi, the longing for this merit is ever-present; the fruits of good deeds performed on earth are real and lasting. In the homes of the virtuous, humans are born blessed, for the deity protects these fields and destroys all sin. Neither animals, nor ghosts, nor demons, nor obstructive spirits can trouble those devoted to me. For their protection, I have appointed the guardians of the directions: Indra watches over the east, and Yama guards the south." Thus, the greatness and sanctity of Mathura and its holy places are revealed, shining with the promise of liberation, protection, and divine joy to all who seek them with faith.