In that sacred place, a reciter was reading aloud the holy Purāṇic stories. At that very time, my dear friend, filled with reverence, led me to the temple of Lord Vishnu, delighting me again and again with his devotion. Side by side, my friend and I remained there together, experiencing the sanctity of the moment. It is said that at this holy spot, the four oceans themselves are gathered. There, all the great people assembled and offered gifts to the reciter in gratitude for the divine stories. My friend then turned to me and said, “Give as much as you are able.” So I too made my offering. Time passed, and eventually, I reached the inevitable end brought by Vaivasvata, the Lord of Death. I entered the vast and difficult-to-cross state of a departed soul. My ancestors remained unsatisfied, and so I continued in that condition, unable to fulfill their needs. A voice directed me: “Go, you must face the place where the city of Mathurā stands. How do you sustain your existence, sheltered at the root of a tree?” To this, as a departed soul, I replied, “What I gave to the reciter—a measure of gold—by the power of that gift, O Lord, I am always satisfied. Even though I have entered the state of a departed soul, my knowledge has remained clear and unconfused.” And so, all unfolded just as the departed soul had spoken. O Earth, this is the greatness of Mathurā that has now been told to you. Whether it be at a sacred place, in a house, at a temple, or in a public square, sin committed elsewhere is removed upon reaching a sacred place. But sin committed in Mathurā is destroyed right there, at once. Even those who are ungrateful, those who drink liquor, thieves, or breakers of vows—such a person must stand on one foot for a thousand ages as penance. Those who delight in others’ wives, whose senses are uncontrolled, and those who give offerings or alms and die free from anger—all these find their due result. What is gained by a thousand great-souled brāhmaṇas elsewhere can be gained here. In Mathurā, one who does not know the Ṛgveda is called Māthura, while another may be versed in all four Vedas. In this city, all sacred places and holy abodes exist together. Even if one abandons the four Vedas, one should always worship Mathurā. The residents of Mathurā behold the worlds and the four-armed Lord himself. The wise can perceive these wonders, but the ignorant do not see them. Thus, O Earth, you have heard the glory of Mathurā, as recounted in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa, in the chapter on the greatness of brāhmaṇas and the power of wells. Then Earth inquired, “This place is known as Asikuṇḍa. Please tell me about it, Lord.” Śrī Varāha replied: Once, for the sake of pilgrimage, a king ascended to heaven. While he was gone, his son ruled the kingdom. During the son’s reign, the sage Nārada arrived. Nārada accepted the king’s hospitality and then spoke to the prince. Having delivered his message, Nārada vanished on the spot. At that moment, the ministers wished to know what Nārada had said regarding the prince’s father. They soon learned of the father’s death, and Nārada had spoken of the father’s freedom from debt. A thought then arose in everyone’s mind: “Let us go to the city of Mathurā.