Salutations were offered to the Supreme Self, the inner witness who pervades the elements, the senses, the life-breath, the mind, the intellect, and the innermost disposition of all beings. Though experienced within, this Self remains hidden by the veil of identification with the three qualities of nature. To Him, who is infinite, subtle, unchanging, and all-knowing—who supports every doctrine and is the very power behind all words and silence—reverence was given. Praise was offered again and again to the one who is the very root of all true knowledge, the sage, the source of the scriptures, the path of both action and renunciation, the Veda itself. Salutations were directed to Kṛṣṇa, to Rāma, to the son of Vasudeva, to Pradyumna, to Aniruddha, and to the Lord of the Sātvatas. Homage was paid to the Lord who is like a lamp shining with the qualities, who veils Himself with those same qualities, who is seen through their workings, who witnesses all qualities, and who is the innermost consciousness. To Hṛṣīkeśa, who sports in the unmanifest and perfects all that is manifest, who is sage and silent ascetic, salutations were offered. Salutations were also given to Him who knows the course of the higher and lower, who oversees all, who is both manifest and unmanifest, the seer of all things and their cause. Though unattached to the qualities, He presides over the birth, existence, and dissolution of the world, upholding the power of time, awakening the various natures in beings, and, by His unfailing glance, enacts His wondrous play. The Lord cherishes all beings in the three worlds—those peaceful, those restless, and those deluded. Yet, the peaceful are especially dear, for now, out of a desire to uphold dharma, He strives to protect and preserve the virtuous. Even a single offense by a subject should be forgiven by a ruler; thus, with a tranquil mind, one who has acted in ignorance should be pardoned. The wives of the serpent, their hearts full of sorrow, pleaded: “Grant us your mercy, O Lord, for the serpent is abandoning his life. Let our husband, who is our very life and who now lies wretched and deserving of compassion, be restored to us. Command us, your maidservants, and we will carry out your order, for he who serves you with faith is freed from all fear.” Hearing their praise and pleas, Śuka recounted, the Lord released the unconscious serpent, whose head was crushed beneath His feet. Regaining his senses and breath, Kaliya the serpent slowly gazed upon Hari; weak, gasping for air, and distressed, he spoke to Kṛṣṇa with folded hands. Kaliya confessed, “We are wicked by birth, ever shrouded in darkness and long-standing anger. O Lord, this nature is hard to forsake, for it is the false grasping that binds all beings. By you, O Creator, this universe has been fashioned, its qualities distributed; all natures, powers, energies, forms, seeds, and inclinations arise from you. Among them, we serpents are born with fierce anger. How can we abandon your māyā, so difficult to relinquish, when we ourselves are deluded by it? You are the cause of all, omniscient Lord of the universe; whether you grant us mercy or punishment, do as you see fit.” Śuka continued: Hearing these words, the Lord, acting as a human, spoke: “You must not remain here, O serpent. Go at once to the ocean. Leave this river for the enjoyment of cows, men, your kin, your children, and your wives. Whoever among mortals remembers this instruction I have given you, and recites it at both dawn and dusk, will not suffer fear from you. Whoever bathes here, where I have played, offers water to the gods, fasts, and worships me with remembrance, will be freed from all sins. Having left the island of Ramanaka and taken refuge in this lake, you were spared from Suparna’s wrath out of fear, for you bear the mark of my foot.” Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, whose deeds are wondrous, Kaliya was worshipped with joy and respect by his wives. They honored the Lord with divine garments, garlands, precious jewels, ornaments, fragrant ointments, and a great garland of lotuses. Having worshipped the Lord of the universe—Krishna, whose banner bears Garuda—they circumambulated him and offered their salutations. Then, with all his wives, friends, and sons, Kaliya departed for the ocean’s island. In that moment, by the grace of the Lord who played in human form, the waters of the Yamuna became free of poison. In another place, the king worshipped with incense, perfumes, and other offerings, using the sacred twelve-syllable mantra. Sūta then spoke: There, the king beheld a distressing sight—a cow and a bull being beaten mercilessly, as if they were helpless, by a low-born man wielding a club, a disgrace to royalty. The bull, white as a lotus stalk, trembled in fear as if urinating, shaking, standing on just one leg, weakened by the blows of the Śūdra. The cow, who once gave warm milk, was now in distress, severely struck by the feet of the Śūdra, separated from her calf, her face tearful and emaciated, longing for grass. Mounted on his chariot adorned with golden fittings, the king, his voice deep and thunderous and his bow raised, questioned them: “Who are you, who in this world, under my protection, unjustly harms the weak? Though you appear as a king, your actions are like those of an actor, not a twice-born. You, who attack the innocent in secret, deserve to be killed, now that Kṛṣṇa has departed far away with the bearer of the Gāṇḍīva bow. “Or are you, white as a lotus stalk, walking with diminished feet, a deity in the form of a bull, bringing us sorrow? Never, while the earth was protected by the mighty arms of the Kaurava kings, did grief afflict living beings here, except through you. “O daughter of Surabhi, do not grieve; let your fear of the low-born vanish. Do not weep, mother; may auspiciousness be yours. I am the punisher of the wicked. In whose kingdom all subjects suffer from the wicked and the good alike, that intoxicated ruler loses his fame, lifespan, fortune, and the right path. This is the supreme duty of kings: to subdue the afflicted and punish their tormentors. Therefore, I shall kill this most wicked enemy of living beings. “Who has cut off your three legs, O daughter of Surabhi, you four-footed one? May such as you never exist in the realm of kings who follow Kṛṣṇa. Tell me, O bull, may auspiciousness be yours, who is the cause of the disfigurement of the innocent, the defamer of the fame of the sons of Pṛthā.” Thus, the king stood ready to uphold dharma, determined to protect the innocent and punish the wicked, as the Lord’s presence continued to guide the course of righteousness in the world.