Endowed with extraordinary manliness, they moved through all the worlds, afflicting them with their presence. Among them was one of immense strength and dazzling brilliance, untouched by old age or death. In that realm, singers and laughers abounded—beings who awakened all living creatures from their slumber. Their radiance was magnificent, their forms adorned with the splendor of divine ornaments, shining with otherworldly beauty. Elsewhere, seats were draped with many kinds of fine cloths, creating a scene of both opulence and solemnity. There, too, were many men, enduring torments of great severity. Women appeared in countless forms, driven by desire and anger, their shapes ever-changing and unpredictable. The tumultuous noise of these women echoed on every side, rising in a cacophony that filled the air. Among them were ghouls, fiends, and flesh-eating demons—some with one arm, others with two or three, and some with many arms, their appearances fearsome and strange. Yet, mingled with these terrifying beings were men adorned with every kind of splendor, their forms decorated with garlands and ornaments, even as their feet were bound. Some among them held spears and javelins, others were armed with formidable bows, making them difficult to approach. Certain figures stood ready with curds in their hands, while many bore fragrant substances. They held various kinds of incense, their garments auspicious and pleasing to behold. Their conveyances were as varied as their forms: some rode in vehicles drawn by swift horses and mighty elephants, others by graceful swans. Still others had steeds shaped like peacocks, cranes, and chakravaka birds. Among all these, some shone brightly, while others appeared dirty or clothed in worn-out rags; some wore new silk, gleaming in the light. There were those whose complexions were cat-like, glassy, or black, and among them, too, was the fearsome figure of Kali. All these beings were the forerunners of the great-souled Death, the attendants who precede his arrival. It is said that those afflicted should always salute and honor them. Thus concludes the chapter entitled "Description of the Attendants of Death in the Wheel of Samsara" in the glorious Varaha Purana. Now begins the account of the torments found in the endless cycle of worldly existence. There, Yama himself granted me a vision: I beheld a single bull. Yama performed my worship exactly as prescribed, following every detail of the sacred ritual. Then, delighted, he spoke once more, inviting me, "Be seated on the seat of honor." Yama’s face was exceedingly fierce, always truly terrifying to behold. His eyes glowed blood-red, and he spoke again and again, his words echoing with power. Because of his formidable demeanor, I was repeatedly overcome with emotion—fear, awe, and reverence mingling within me. At once, seeking to please him and to dispel all faults, I recited a hymn—a sacred praise that bestows longevity and swiftly removes the effects of time. There, in that place, I uttered it with devotion: "Homage to you, O supreme god of the ancestors, who stands on four legs. Knower of time, knower of deeds, speaker of truth, unwavering in your vow. You cause all actions to be performed, O lord of beings past, present, and future. O wielder of the staff, with deformed eyes and holding a noose—homage to you. Of dark complexion, difficult to approach, in the form of oil—homage to you. Receiver of oblations to gods and ancestors, O powerful one—homage to you. Becoming one-eyed or many-eyed, O Time, O Death—homage to you. Sometimes as a child, sometimes as an old man, sometimes as a fierce one—homage to you. O god, you are seen directly; without you, nothing is accomplished. Among all recitations, yours is the supreme; no one else is seen apart from you." Thus, with reverence and awe, I honored Yama, the great lord who presides over the destinies of all beings.