I journeyed to Mathurā, and along the way, as I traveled beside the vast, water-covered ocean, I felt the urgency of my mission. I knew I must continue onward, and so I sought permission to proceed. The response was gentle and affectionate: “Go, my son, to Mathurā, and see for yourself the state in which I now find myself.” With these words, I agreed—“So be it”—and the noblest of birds joined me, boarding the boat for the journey ahead. But soon, grave tidings reached us: it was said that he had fallen into dire straits and had passed away. The news struck everyone deeply, filling their hearts with sorrow. In this moment of crisis, a voice called out to the bird, “O bird, for the sake of our survival, you must act.” It was through the wisdom and conversation of a parrot, kept safely in its cage, that guidance came to us. Not long after, a caravan arrived, magnificent and brimming with jewels, shining like the ocean itself. There were twenty in all, each accompanied by companions from the sea. All were welcomed with honor and care, and after being respectfully received and pleased, they were sent on their way, returning content to their homes. In gratitude, they served the merchant who had aided them with the same devotion and love they would show their own father. Thus concludes the one hundred seventy-first chapter in the glorious Varaha Purana, within the divine scripture, recounting the greatness of Gokarna. Now, Sri Varaha spoke: On the first day, as was proper, and again on the thirteenth, the prescribed duties were observed. The goddesses, through their devotion, became skilled in dance and song. Gokarna, immersed in their company, forgot all about his home. But soon, their faces grew pale and dejected. Their ornaments and garments were broken, and their forms appeared wounded and bloodied. They seemed disfigured, their bodies marked by suffering. For one without a son, there is neither a path, nor heaven, nor any lasting joy. Seeing this change, Gokarna, troubled, inquired about the cause of their sorrowful appearance. The goddesses replied, “That Lord is time itself, by whom all good deeds are enjoyed and exhausted. It is He, as eternal time, who brings forth both the question and its answer.” Seeking clarity, Gokarna bowed to them once more and humbly asked, “If you would reveal the reason for your suffering and disfigurement—even though such things are often kept secret—I would be grateful.” At this, one among them spoke gently: “Listen, child, I will tell you how this disfigurement came to be. There is the delightful city of Madhu, a place that grants liberation to men. He went there with devotion, observing the sacred rites of the four holy months. The city was adorned with splendid pleasure gardens, encircled by excellent walls. Within those gardens stood fruitful trees, beautiful in every season. “But the pleasure gardens and their fruitful trees were destroyed by the king’s servants. Though many tried to stop them, those with wicked hearts persisted in their destruction. Like a lion trapped in a cage, he wondered, ‘Who will save us from such calamity?’ In her distress, she cried out loudly, lamenting, ‘Alas, how terrible is our fate!’ “It is said that Gokarna, too, was deeply afflicted by these misfortunes. Yet, with folded hands and a gentle, sorrowful voice, he gradually consoled all who suffered. He vowed, ‘If I am present there, I will restrain that king and protect you.’ “As soon as these words were spoken, everyone regained their composure and asked, ‘Who are you? Tell us truly, and why have you come here from your own place?’ “Gokarna replied, ‘Once, I saw all of you, radiant in form and lovely-eyed. Now, you have become disheveled, and this sight only increases my sorrow.’ “In reply, the eldest among them, adorned with flowers of her own kind, stepped forward and spoke before him.” Thus the story unfolds, revealing the trials faced, the compassion shown, and the enduring search for understanding and restoration.