The Earth, in her wisdom, spoke of sacred rites and the path to liberation. She explained that, beginning from the south and completing the ritual in the north, one should proceed with devotion. Whatever the method by which people attain freedom from worldly bondage, there should be no doubt: leaving the house in silence, one must perform the purifying bath. Afterward, Krishna should be worshipped with reverence, and then the Earth herself addressed with proper respect. Having offered sacrifice to Krishna, and having performed the prescribed bathing and other rites in their proper order, one should feed the Brahmins—this, the Earth declared, is the established procedure. Whoever follows this path does not return to her world; instead, he is greatly honored and liberated. However, those who die elsewhere, or whose funeral rites are performed in the shape of a half-moon, remain bound as long as their bones are arranged in that form. There is a special significance to the half-moon shape at the sacred place called Viśrānti. O Earth, there are two crores of holy places known as Gartteśvara and Bhūteśa. And whatever form is found among the people of Mathura, that, O Earth, is my own form as well. Listen, O Goddess, to the story of the great-souled Garuḍa. In Mathura, Garuḍa could not see the deity in a distinct form. Troubled, the mighty bird approached the deity directly. With deep devotion, Garuḍa proclaimed, "Victory to you, Keśava, Lord! Victory to you, Krishna! Salutations to you! Victory to you, O Embodied One! Victory to you, O Inconceivable! Ornament of the worlds!" Then, before Garuḍa, the deity manifested in bodily form and spoke: "What should I do? Is it this hymn, or is there something else you wish of me?" Garuḍa replied, "O Lord, though I have come, I have not seen your form. Truly, only the people of Mathura, together with the world, have seen your form. Therefore, O Lord of gods, I offer you this praise, desiring your favor." The Lord spoke gently to Garuḍa, saying, "O bird, whatever form is found among the people of Mathura, that is my form as well. Sinners, O twice-born, do not behold my form in Mathura." And so, Garuḍa departed from that place as he wished. The Lord continued, "By merely being worshipped by the people of Mathura, I am always pleased. Even an insect, a moth, or one born in an animal womb—whoever beholds Padmanabha on the twelfth day of Ashvina, or, having fasted on the eleventh day, is pure and composed, or fasts on the bright twelfth day of Chaitra and bathes—whoever does this is liberated; there can be no doubt. O goddess, by seeing Mahavidyeshvari, one is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin. Whoever bathes there is not afflicted by the malefic planets. Seeing the one called Vishranti—the long Vishnu, Keshava—during the time of recitation, ritual, or meditation, and observing as prescribed by Brahma, brings great merit." Thus, in the ancient narrative of the Varaha Purana, is the seventy-ninth chapter named "The Greatness of Mathura." Then, Sri Varaha spoke: "Long ago, in Mathura, there occurred an event concerning the great-souled Gokarna. His wife was Suśīlā by name, a woman adorned with virtue. Yet, the lovely-hipped Suśīlā lamented alone, her heart heavy with sorrow. There, at the root of a tree, sat a certain sage. Moved by compassion, he gently spoke to the woman, who was dear to him.