Adhyaya 17

In Vyāsa’s teaching to Jaimini, Hari-bhakti is praised as the supreme purifier, especially in Puruṣottama-kṣetra where Keśava abides. The tale follows Bhadratanu, a brāhmaṇa who falls into sensual indulgence and neglect of Vedic duties, even approaching a courtesan on a śrāddha day; shock awakens repentance, and he seeks a way back to righteousness. After venerating Mārkaṇḍeya and asking for grace, he receives from Dāṃta a practical discipline of kriyā-yoga: ethical renunciation, temple service, the pañca-mahā-yajñas, mantra-japa, and the recitation of Viṣṇu’s 108 Names with prescribed viniyoga and meditation. After five days of devoted worship, Hari appears, accepts his stuti and confessional expiation, grants steadfast devotion across births and divine friendship. Dāṃta too receives darśana, and the chapter ends by extolling the rare gift of human birth and Bhārata-varṣa as the blessed field where worship bears liberation.