How does the beginning of Chapter 36 set the stage for the rest of the chapter, and what is its stated purpose?

Chapter 36 opens with a traditional invocation to various deities, followed by a direct address to the reader, asking them to pay attention. It positions itself as a continuation of the previous chapter, noting that the beautiful story told there has increased the reader's thirst for devotion. As explained in Chapter 36, the explicit purpose of the new story that will be told is to quench that very thirst. The text emphasizes that this is not just a story but is like "the very water of self-bliss" intended to remove worldly fatigue and misery. It concludes its introduction by announcing the arrival of "Two gentlemen from Goa," signaling the start of the next narrative.