As the chapter on the glory of Asikunda came to a close, Sri Varaha began to narrate another tale to the attentive Earth. “Listen,” he said, “to an ancient story of a Rakshasa who once approached a great-souled Brahmin.” Curious, the Earth gently inquired, “For what reason did the Brahmin ask, O Lord? Please tell me everything.” Sri Varaha explained, “This individual, whom I speak of, neither worships the gods nor honors the virtuous. Even when he comes to a holy place, he does not perform the sacred bath. At both dawn and dusk, and even while lying down, he remains negligent, always delighting in sinful conduct and keeping the company of the wicked. His mind is thoroughly corrupt.” Sri Varaha continued, “Of all the duties prescribed, householdership has been declared the best by the Self-born. Just as all creatures depend on their mothers, so too do people depend on this way of life. But this most wicked man, by committing theft and other sins, brought misfortune upon himself. Fleeing from his misdeeds, he fell into a deep and dark pit, where he remained, terrifying to behold.” “Yet among those present, there was one Brahmin who protected the earth with the power of a sacred charm. At that moment, a demon approached the Brahmin and spoke, ‘O Brahmin, I will grant you whatever is in your mind—food, long awaited and as much as you desire—so that I may devour the caravan until I am satisfied. I have come alone for this caravan and will not let it escape under any circumstance. You cannot even look upon me, for by the power of my mantra, if my food is killed, the fault will fall upon you, O Brahmin. Show me compassion, best of Brahmins, and grant me food.’” The Brahmin, moved by the demon’s suffering, asked, “By what fault of action have you attained this state as a demon?” The demon replied, “Because of misconduct and the like, I have become a demon.” The Brahmin, still afflicted by the demon’s sorrow, said, “You speak as a friend, O demon. Tell me, what shall I give you? By my own hand, what dear thing shall I do for you? If you grant me what is in my mind, and what was done at Viśrānti after bathing at Mathurā—” Hearing this, the Brahmin, troubled by sorrow, asked, “How do you know, O demon, of the holy place called Viśrānti? And how did it get that name? Tell me, for I have always lived in the city of Ujjayinī. Once, I traveled to the temple of Viṣṇu, and day by day, I proclaimed the greatness of the holy place Viśrānti.” The demon replied, “I have heard of that faultless place, known as Viśrānti. There, one finds rest, and thus it is called Viśrānti, the place of rest. The fruit of a single bath there has been granted to you, O Rakshasa.” At this, the chapter on the greatness of Viśrānti came to a close. Eager to learn more, the Earth asked, “Tell me, O Lord, what merit is gained by simply seeing that place?” Sri Varaha replied, “By merely seeing Viśrānti, one attains the fruit of visiting Mathurā. Long ago, a thousand years of severe austerity were performed there. The Lord of the gods, being omnipresent, offered, ‘Choose a boon, auspicious one, whatever abides in your mind, for I know you well.’” The boon was humbly requested: “May my abode always be in Mathurā, O Lord. May you be the guardian of the field in Mathurā. Otherwise, perfection would not be attained—this is certain, there is no doubt. Indeed, a man attains such perfection by devotion in his own true nature.” Thus, the story reveals the greatness of Viśrānti and Mathurā, and the merit that flows from devotion and the sacred places of the Lord.