“Further tell me, O merciful lord, wherefrom did the crow get this sacred and delightful story? And also let me know how could You hear it, O Destroyer of Cupid: for all this fills me with much inquisitiveness. Garu˛a, again, is highly enlightened and an embodiment of virtues; moreover, he is a servant of Ýr¶ Hari (being His own mount) and lives very close to Him. Leaving a host of sages, wherefore did he approach a crow and hear Ýr¶ RŒma’s story from him? Further let me know how the dialogue proceeded between the crow and Garu˛a (the devourer of serpents), both of whom are devotees of Ýr¶ Hari.” Lord Ýiva rejoiced to hear the artless and welcome speech of His Consort (Gaur¶) and politely replied, “You are blessed indeed, O virtuous lady; your idea is holy, and you possess not a little love for the feet of Ýr¶ RŒma (the Lord of the Raghus). Therefore, listen to a most sacred story, which, when heard, puts an end to the delusion of the whole universe, engenders faith in Ýr¶ RŒma’s feet and enables a man to cross the ocean of worldly existence without any difficulty.” (1—5)