With his mighty form, the divine Boar seized the earth with his left tusk and gently lifted her up from the depths. As he raised her, some trees that clung to her surface fell away, while others remained, their roots still entwined with her soil. The earth, radiant and pure as the full moon, rested at the mouth of the Boar, shining with serene brilliance. Bearing her aloft—the earth along with her vast oceans—the Boar carried her with great care. Within her lay the measure of time itself, the divisions of the ages, all contained in her being. Then, from this very earth, the imperishable Lord Viṣṇu, the blessed and eternal God, arose in his resplendent form. The earth, in the form of a cow, offered her praises to him—the ancient, supreme, and imperishable one. In deep reverence, she asked, “O God, what is the true nature of support, and what is its proper use? What is the essence of evening twilight, and what is its significance when it is half-external? O Lord, what should be done during the establishment, invocation, and dismissal of sacred rites? How does one offer water for washing your feet, and what are the proper acts of bathing and anointing you? What is prescribed regarding the seat and the bed, and what other acts are to be performed for your service? “What merit arises at the evening and morning twilights, O Lord, and what is its true nature? What acts should be performed in spring, and what are the proper deeds to be done in summer? Which flowers and fruits are to be enjoyed in your worship? By what act does the devotee reach the auspicious Mādhava period? What is the proper measure for your image, and how should it be installed? How does one accept yellow, white, or red garments in your service? “With which substances should the offering of madhuparka be made, and to which worlds do those go who partake of it? In what measure should the madhuparka, properly prepared, be given? Is it appropriate to perform this act, accompanied by scriptural injunctions, even in marketplaces? By what ritual formula should the offering of madhuparka be administered to you? What acts should be performed after a devotee has eaten your sacred food? Who here partakes of that supreme, all-purifying offering? “O Lord, what is the destiny of those who follow your path? What is the fate of those who practice devotion to you, who, having performed austerities and penances, approach Mādhava? What destination do those attain who are devoted to your actions? O Krishna, what is the destiny of those who are steadfast in devotion to you? What about those who follow your prescribed actions, or those who observe vows? What destination do those attain who are unwavering in their devotion to you, or who live by alms? What is the fate of those devoted to your actions? “To which worlds do those go who die in your sacred places, and what becomes of those who die under the open sky? O Lord, what is the destiny of those who have taken to sleeping on beds of thorns? O Krishna, what is the end for those who are wholly devoted to you in faith? O Brahman, what is the destiny of those who remain steadfast on the path of your devotion? And finally, O Lord, what is the destiny of those humans who live out their lives for as long as their allotted span?” Thus, with humility and devotion, the earth beseeched the Lord, seeking to understand the sacred acts, their proper performance, and the destinies that await all who walk the path of devotion and righteousness.