O Devi, hear now the greatness that has been revealed: whoever, at the time of death, remembers this with a pure mind, all their sins are destroyed. This sacred teaching has been imparted to you, and its power is beyond question. Thus concludes the chapter concerning the glory of Mathurā in the divine Śrī Varāha Purāṇa. Then Śrī Varāha spoke: "O Devi, know that I always reside in Mathurā. Among all sacred fords and holy places, Mathurā is the highest, the greatest of all. Everything sacred abides there at the Cakra, truly at the very foot of Kṛṣṇa. The fortunate souls who dwell in Mathurā surely attain liberation—there can be no doubt. "Between two sacred places, the Lord stands manifest in the form of the Soma-cakra. Death in this holy city is as meritorious as the sum of two crores of all other sacred actions. Through this alone, imperishable worlds are attained. Even the mere wearing of the sacred thread here protects many families. "Now listen, O Earth. From the southern side, one should begin the sacred rites and complete them in the north. By whatever method people seek liberation, there is no doubt: one should leave the house in silence and perform the ritual bathing. After worshipping Kṛṣṇa, one should address the Earth with reverence. Having performed the sacrifice for Kṛṣṇa, together with the prescribed bathing and all other rites in due order, one must then feed the Brahmins. This is the procedure that has been declared. "He who departs from this world in this manner does not return again to my world; he is greatly honored. But those who die elsewhere, or whose rites are performed in the form of a half-moon, as long as their bones remain in that half-moon shape, have a different path. There is a special significance to the half-moon at the holy place known as Viśrānti. At the sacred sites called Gartteśvara and Bhūteśa, O Earth, there are two crores of merits. "Whatever form is found among the people of Mathurā, that is my form as well, O Earth. Now, O Goddess, listen to what happened to the great-souled Garuḍa. In Mathurā, even Garuḍa could not behold the deity in a distinct form. Then, O Earth, that mighty bird went before the deity and offered his praise: "'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!' "There, in front of Garuḍa, the deity manifested in bodily form and spoke: 'What should I do for you? Is it this hymn, or is there something else you desire?' "Garuḍa replied, 'O Lord, though I have come here, I have not seen your form. Indeed, your true form is seen only by the people of Mathurā, together with the world. Therefore, O Lord of gods, I offer this praise out of the desire for your favor.' "Then the Lord spoke gently to Garuḍa, saying, 'O bird, whatever form is found among the people of Mathurā, that is my form as well. Sinners, O twice-born, do not behold my form in Mathurā.' And so, even Garuḍa, O Goddess, departed from that place as he wished. "By merely being worshipped by the people of Mathurā, I am always pleased. Even an insect, a moth, or one born in an animal womb—whoever beholds Padmanabha on the twelfth day of the month of Ashvina, or, having fasted on the eleventh day, pure and composed; and those who fast on the bright twelfth day of Chaitra and then bathe—whoever does this is liberated. There is no need for doubt here." Thus is told the glory and the liberating power of Mathurā, the presence of the Lord, and the blessings that await those who worship with pure hearts in this sacred place.