In that realm, O seekers, the body does not meet destruction. Again and again, souls must journey to his side, returning ceaselessly. Yet, those who engage in charity and study of the Vedas are spared from this return; they do not need to go there. O Brahmin, you ask: what is the nature of Raurava? What is the form of Kūṭaśālmalī? What do the beings there do, what practices do they follow? Those who are steeped in faults, who carry the scent of their misdeeds, do not attain stability. Though the truth should be known, they fail to grasp the highest virtue. Unaware of the Supreme, they revel in illusion—whose illusion, you wonder? O dear one, since you have witnessed these things directly, please reveal them. Thus concludes the one hundred and ninety-fifth chapter, titled ‘Description of the Sins in the Realm of Yama in the Cycle of Samsara,’ in the glorious Varaha Purana. Now begins the account of the city of Dharma-raja. Having listened to the words of the sages whose minds were purified, Naciketa spoke: “The city’s breadth stretches a thousand yojanas, and its length is twice as much. This city of the lord of the departed is encircled by a boundary twice that size. Its streets are crowded with mansions and palatial buildings, adorned with grand towers, and its residences shine like the peaks of Mount Kailāsa. Lovely reservoirs, lotus ponds, and lakes add to its splendor. Men and women fill the city, and the bustle of elephants and horses is ever-present. All living beings throng through this excellent city of the king. “In some places, there is singing and laughter; in others, sorrow afflicts the hearts. Some are dancing, some merely stand, and some are bound in confinement. Creatures, both gross and subtle, appear according to their own deeds. Witnessing all this, my limbs grow weak and my mind feels bewildered. Yet, I will describe what I have seen and heard. “The city is at once seen and unseen, crowded with myriad trees. Its water is clear, cool, and fragrant. The foremost river shines there, destroying all sins. Immortals play within its waters, delighting in games again and again. Kinnaris with graceful, bent forms and sweet voices sing, accompanied by serpents. Thousands of divine women are always present. Elsewhere, groves of trees bear flowers and fruits eternally. “In the water, enchanting women adorned with lovely girdles frolic, able to assume any form at will. Together with their beloveds, they stir the river and play joyfully, the sound of water instruments and the jingling of ornaments mingling in the air. “That auspicious river, the most delightful of all rivers, is known as Vaivasvatī. It is charming, its beauty matched by the divine, captivating waters that fill it always. The river is adorned with the finest lotuses, called Rathāṅga, their golden centers gleaming like molten gold. Its water is pure, fragrant, sweet, and clear—truly resembling nectar. “There, beautiful women, intoxicated with delight, play in enchanting forms. That river is worthy of worship even by the gods, by ascetics rich in penance, and by sages. Countless men have offered water there, and the river’s true form is established as its very essence.