Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.275

c7.275

5) Attained salvation. Handing over charge of government to Sātyaki Śrī Kṛṣṇa once went to Kailāsa mounted on Garuḍa to see Śiva. On his way he dismounted at the Badaryāśrama, and while sitting deep in meditation there he heard the thundering voice of Piśācas (souls of dead people roaming without attaining salvation). He also heard the barking of dogs, and thus he understood that Piśācas were hunting animals. The hunters came to Kṛṣṇa's presence. They were led by Ghaṇṭākarṇa who was reciting the name of Viṣṇu. Śrī Kṛṣṇa felt pity for him. Ghaṇṭākarṇa told Kṛṣṇa that his aim and ambition were to see Viṣṇu and that Śiva had blessed that he would realise his ambition at Badaryāśrama. Pleased at all this, Śrī Kṛṣṇa revealed his Viśvarūpa (representing in his person the whole universe), and at once Ghaṇṭākarṇa brought half of the corpse of a brahmin and submitted it as a present before the Lord. He explained to Kṛṣṇa that according to the custom of the Rākṣasas that was the best present which could be made. Without accepting the present Kṛṣṇa patted Ghaṇṭākarṇa on his back with the result that he cast off his body and rose up to Vaikuṇṭha. (Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Chapters 80-82 and also Bhāgavata, Daśama Skandha).