Among the many pilgrims who journeyed to the sacred places, there was a certain brahmin who bore the terrible mark of brahmahatya—the sin of killing a Brahmin. So grave was his transgression that the very embodiment of this sin became visible to all who saw him; it was as if the weight of his misdeed had taken on a form that none could ignore. This brahmin had never before come to this holy site. Yet, moved by some inner compulsion, he went and performed ablutions at the sacred tirtha known as Vaikuntha. Witnessing this, the people gathered there turned to the Earth herself and asked in wonder, “What is this? What is happening here?” They questioned further, “By what fault or cause did the holy stream abandon this twice-born and depart from him?” It was revealed that when the brahmin immersed himself in the waters of Vaikuntha, the sin of brahmahatya left him completely. Thus, the power of this tirtha was made manifest. When the pilgrims sought further explanation, the Lord of the gods appeared briefly and, after addressing them, vanished on the spot. From that time, it became known that whoever bathes at the Vaikuntha tirtha is freed from all sins. Sūta, the wise narrator, continued: “Among all holy places, Gandharva-kunda is foremost by name. O Devi, one who bathes there rejoices with the Gandharvas themselves. The sacred region of Mathurā, my own domain, extends for twenty yojanas. At its very center abides Keśava, the remover of suffering. “O Vasundharā, those who pass away in the heart of this land attain liberation. Having seen the Lord of the gods, why should the mind feel sorrow? Until the great dissolution of the worlds, such a soul does not fall again into worldly existence. There is no doubt—whoever beholds him attains liberation. “The Lord there is of great and beautiful form, resembling Keśava himself. “In the ancient Kṛta Yuga, there lived a king named Māndhātā. Pleased with his devotion, I bestowed upon him this divine image. When Māndhātā reached Mathurā, the asura Lavaṇa was slain. This image is holy, radiant, and celestial in form. By the power of his mind, Māndhātā created the auspicious image of Vārāhī. “O Devi, Kapila, the foremost of sages, was worshipped by Indra, the king of the gods. When Indra received the boon he desired, he was filled with joy. At that time, Kapila granted Indra the supreme, divine knowledge. Then, the mighty sage set forth to Indra’s world, intent on conquering heaven itself. “But the gods were defeated by the powerful Ravana, and even Indra was overcome. Ravana entered a house adorned with precious jewels. Yet, O Devi, that rakshasa named Ravana was deluded by Kapila’s power. “O Damodara, Hrishikesha, slayer of Hiranyaksha—salutations to you, O Narayana, who took the form of a tortoise! Salutations to you! “O virtuous one,” Kapila prayed, “I am unable to gaze upon you or even to ask you for a boon. Always bestow your grace upon me, who am bowed in devotion before you.” The god Janardana, Lord of the worlds, then assumed a gentle form. “Salutations to you, O god, in your small body! I am not capable of lifting you,” Ravana declared. “I wish to take you to the unsurpassed city of Lanka.” Then Shri Varaha spoke: “Hearing the words of Kapila, Ravana replied, ‘Unwavering devotion has arisen in me from seeing you.’” As Ravana’s devotion grew, his own form became lighter and suffused with grace. He then brought the divine form to Lanka, placing it reverently within his own house.