I receive Vāmana, and Vāmana graciously grants to me. Within the very limbs of Kapila, the fourteen worlds themselves reside. To you, O divinely-born and highly honored one, I offer this act for the destruction of my sins. Whoever, endowed with faith and learned in the scriptures, performs this sacred observance on the twelfth day, attains merit a hundredfold greater than ordinary. I, too, with unwavering faith, have served at this holy place at the proper time. Because of this devotion, you sinful ones are powerless to trouble me. The vow must be observed until a single cycle is completed. By hearing these teachings from you, liberation is attained directly; now, I shall surely perceive it. As the brāhmaṇa spoke these words, a wondrous sound of drums echoed in the sky, and celestial chariots of the departed arrived from every direction. By conversing with this brāhmaṇa and by his praise of virtue, the greatness of good company was revealed. Therefore, by every effort, the association with the virtuous is to be sought above all. Just as those who bathe at the holy place are purified, so too are even those of evil mind when they hear of the power of these sacred sites. The fruit of liberation is granted simply by hearing of the glory of the holy place. Whoever recites this account with supreme devotion, or listens to it with a devoted heart, attains great merit. This is the glory of the holy place called Piśāca, renowned throughout the three worlds. Thus ends the one hundred and seventy-fourth chapter, entitled "The Glory of the Confluence of the Yamunā at All Holy Places," in the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa, Madhu-mā-sa section. Śrī Varāha continued: Having bathed in the pure stream of the Yamunā, the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, known to all as Vyāsa, meditated deeply upon the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, both destroyers of sin. In the region between Soma and Vaikuṇṭha, the river is called Kṛṣṇaṅga. There, a divine hermitage flourished, attended by foremost sages—knowers of the essence of the Vedas, wise and steadfast in their vows. Vyāsa instructed them with many words, guiding them toward the path of virtue. There, on Kālañjara, resides the great god Śiva, lord of all holy places. It is said that one who observes a twelve-year vow there, remaining free from attachments, attains great merit. Such a person, having journeyed to the Himālayas, reaches the sacred vicinity of Badarī. The lord, possessing a pure soul and vision of past, present, and future, attains perfection at that holy place. At the Kṛṣṇa holy place, in the presence of the Pāñcāla lineage, there once lived a brāhmaṇa named Vasu, as tradition tells. Stricken by a severe famine, Vasu journeyed southward with his wife. There, he established himself and took up the livelihood of a brāhmaṇa. In that place, a maiden blessed with wealth and abundance was given to him. Yet, gathering the bones of the girl, he journeyed to Mathurā. It is said that one whose bones bear a crescent shape dwells eternally in heaven. Along with that caravan, the maiden, too, went to Mathurā. She was exceedingly beautiful, with delicate limbs and dark, curly hair. Her fingers and toes were well-formed, her nails bright and coppery, and all signs upon her were auspicious. Her waist was slender, her belly even, her breasts full and high. Her nails were fine, her eyes lovely, her brows beautifully arched, her form well-proportioned, and her speech always pleasing. Whoever that charming-limbed maiden looked upon, and whoever looked upon her, felt blessed. Such was she, ever devoted to bathing at holy places, seeking purity and merit wherever she went.