In days when Death itself lingered among mortals, no one perished; and so, the wise sages summoned the Lord, yearning that the world of men might drink deeply of the nectar of Hari’s pastimes. Yet, in this age, people are slow and dull-witted, their lives brief and frittered away—their nights lost to sleep, their days spent in fruitless pursuits. It was during this time that Sūta began his narration: King Parīkṣit, residing in the land of the Kurus, heard troubling news—Kali, the age of discord, had entered his kingdom. The valiant archer, determined to protect his realm, took up his bow. Mounting his splendid chariot, adorned with a lion banner and drawn by dark horses, he set forth, accompanied by a formidable army of chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry, intent on conquering every direction. Parīkṣit subdued the lands of Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, the northern Kurus, Kimpuruṣa, and other regions, collecting tribute from all. He overcame cities and forests, rivers of pure waters, men who seemed godlike, and women of enchanting beauty. Everywhere, he witnessed marvels unknown to him before—glorious dwellings and women who resembled celestial nymphs. In the lands he traveled, Parīkṣit heard the praises of his noble ancestors sung, extolling the greatness of Krishna. He also listened to accounts of how he himself had been saved from the fiery weapon of Ashvatthāman, tales of the deep affection between the Vṛṣṇis and the sons of Pāṇḍu, and their unwavering devotion to Keśava. Filled with joy and gratitude, Parīkṣit generously bestowed wealth, garments, and necklaces upon those who delighted him. The king, devoted to the lotus feet of Viṣṇu, served the Pāṇḍavas with affection—acting as their charioteer, companion, attendant, friend, envoy, sharing their valor, following them, praising and bowing to them. Through such service, he inspired the world to bow before Viṣṇu. While Parīkṣit was thus engaged, faithfully following the conduct of his forebears day by day, a wondrous event unfolded nearby. Listen as Sūta recounts: Dharma, limping upon a single foot, beheld the Earth, her shadow diminished, weeping like a cow separated from her calf. Dharma approached her and asked, “O gentle one, is all well with you? Why do you appear pale and withered? I sense sorrow within you—are you grieving for a distant relative, O mother?” He continued, “Are you mourning a missing limb, fearing destruction at the hands of the wicked, or lamenting for the gods whose shares in sacrifice have been stolen, or for the people, since Indra no longer sends rain? Do you grieve for women and children left unprotected, suffering under cruel men? Or for the sacred speech of the goddess, corrupted among the brahmins, or for noble families degraded by unrighteous kings? Is it for the kṣatriya clans afflicted by Kali, or for the ruined kingdoms? Or for those who wander, seeking food, drink, shelter, and baths, their livelihoods disrupted? Or, O mother, do you recall the deeds of Hari, who incarnated to lighten your burden, but has now departed, delaying your deliverance? Tell me, O Earth, what is the root of your distress? Has your good fortune, worshipped by the gods, been snatched away by Time, the strongest of the strong?” The Earth replied, “O Dharma, you know all that you ask, for you uphold the four legs that bring happiness to the world. Truth, purity, compassion, forgiveness, renunciation, contentment, straightforwardness, tranquility, self-control, austerity, equanimity, forbearance, withdrawal, learning—knowledge, detachment, lordliness, heroism, brilliance, strength, memory, independence, skill, beauty, courage, gentleness—boldness, humility, good conduct, endurance, vigor, strength, prosperity, depth, steadiness, faith, fame, honor, absence of pride—all these and other noble qualities dwell in you. Those who seek greatness pursue them, for they never diminish in you. “Therefore, I grieve for the world, now bereft of Śrīnivāsa, the vessel of all virtues, and afflicted by the sinful gaze of Kali. I lament for myself, for you, the best among rulers, for the gods, ancestors, sages, all the virtuous, and for all social orders and stages of life. Even Brahmā and the others, longing for a mere sidelong glance, performed severe austerities, surrendering to the Lord; yet the goddess Śrī herself, forsaking her own abode in the lotus forest, lovingly worships the dust of His feet, adorned with auspicious marks. “I was once adorned by the glorious footprints of the Lord—marked with lotus, thunderbolt, goad, banner, and other symbols. Yet, though I attained such splendor, I did not find favor with Him; in the end, He cast me aside, and the worlds rejected me with disdain. He, by His own power, removed the unbearable burden of the earth—the hundred armies of demonic kings—restored you, though your position was unstable and diminished, to your own strength, and delighted the Yadu dynasty by bearing their charming forms. Who could bear separation from the Supreme Person, whose loving glances, radiant smiles, and sweet words steal away even the honey-bees’ steadfastness—when the very dust of His feet, marked with auspicious signs, brings a thrill to my being?” As the Earth and Dharma thus conversed, King Parīkṣit, the royal sage, arrived at the eastern bank of the Sarasvatī river. There, he offered his obeisance: “O Lord, Supreme Person, great soul, abode of all beings, source of all, transcendent, Supreme Self—salutations to You. Treasure-house of knowledge and wisdom, Absolute, infinite in power, beyond qualities, unchanging, not of this world—salutations. Source of time, witness of its divisions, universe itself, overseer of all, creator and cause—salutations. Self of elements, senses, life-breath, mind, intellect, and inner disposition, experienced inwardly yet concealed by identification with the three qualities—salutations. Infinite, subtle, immutable, all-knowing, accommodating all doctrines, power behind both spoken and unspoken—salutations. Root of all valid knowledge, sage, source of the scriptures, path of action and renunciation, the Veda itself—again and again, salutations. Salutations to Kṛṣṇa, to Rāma, to the son of Vasudeva, to Pradyumna, to Aniruddha, and to the Lord of the Sātvatas. Salutations to the lamp of the qualities, to the one who veils Himself with the qualities, perceived through their functions, seer of the qualities, and inner consciousness. To Him who sports in the unmanifest, perfects all that is manifest, Hṛṣīkeśa, sage, silent ascetic—salutations to You.” Thus, the story unfolds: the king’s devotion, the Earth’s lament, Dharma’s inquiry, and the praise of the Supreme, all woven together in reverence and longing for the Lord’s presence.