Listen, O revered one, to the sacred account of Mathurā’s greatness as spoken by Śrī Varāha to the goddess. The Māthura region, he declares, stretches for twenty yojanas—a vast and holy expanse. This revelation, he confides, is so secret that he has never spoken of it, not even to the great-souled Brahmā. Until now, he has kept it hidden, more secret than the most secret, supreme among mysteries. Within this region lie many tīrthas, sacred fords, and Varāha promises to describe them. He tells Vasudhā, the Earth goddess, the number of tīrthas found in Mathurā: Praskandana and Bhāṇḍīra, and six others equal in sanctity to Kurukṣetra. Among them, Asikuṇḍa alongside Vaikuṇṭha is remembered as the most excellent among ten million sacred fords. There are also Cakra Tīrtha, Ākrūra, and the place called Dvādaśāditya. Mathurā’s merit, he assures, is a hundred times greater than Kurukṣetra—there is no doubt. Those who attain Mathurā’s greatness reach the supreme state. Whoever, at the time of death, remembers Mathurā with a pure mind, will have all sins destroyed; this teaching has been imparted to the goddess. Thus concludes the chapter concerning Mathurā’s greatness in the divine scripture of the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa. Continuing, Śrī Varāha says, “O Devi, I always reside in Mathurā. Among all sacred fords, Mathurā is the highest and greatest. All its sanctity abides in the Cakra, truly at the foot of Kṛṣṇa. The inhabitants who dwell there surely attain liberation—there is no doubt.” He explains that between two places, the god stands in the form of the Soma-cakra. Dying in Mathurā is equal in merit to two crores of all actions. By this, imperishable worlds are attained; even the mere sacred thread protects many families. The Earth then speaks, describing the proper procedure: beginning from the south, one should complete the rites in the north. By whatever method people attain liberation—there is no doubt—one should leave the house in silence and perform bathing. After worshipping Kṛṣṇa, one should address the Earth. Having performed the sacrifice for Krishna, along with the prescribed bathing and other rites in due order, one should then feed the Brahmins. This is the declared procedure. Such a person does not return again to the world of Earth, but is greatly honored. However, those who die elsewhere, or whose rites are performed in the form of a half-moon, as long as the bones remain in that shape, there is special significance at the holy place called Viśrānti. There are also two crores of sacred places at Gartteśvara and Bhūteśa. Whatever form is found among the people of Mathurā, that is also the form of Varāha. Then, Varāha invites the goddess to listen to the story of Garuḍa, the great-souled bird. In Mathurā, Garuḍa could not perceive the deity in its distinct form. He approached the deity and offered his salutations: “Victory to you, Keśava, Lord! Victory to you, Krishna! Salutations to you! Victory to you, O Embodied One! Victory to you, O Inconceivable! Victory to you, Ornament of the worlds!” In front of Garuḍa, the deity then appeared in bodily form and asked, “What should I do? Is it this hymn, or is there something else you wish me to do?” Garuḍa replied, “O Lord, though I have come, I have not seen your form. Indeed, your form has been seen only by the people of Mathurā, together with the world.” Thus is revealed the supreme sanctity and mystery of Mathurā, where the divine presence is most manifest, and whose residents and pilgrims are blessed beyond measure.