Emperor Parīkṣit, though he found himself face to face with the age of Kali, did not harbor hatred toward it. Like a bee that extracts nectar from a flower, he sought the essence even amidst adversity, and for him, auspicious results came swiftly, unlike for others who struggled. For those who are wise and fearless, Kali—who preys boldly upon the weak but shrinks from the strong—can do nothing; among the careless, however, he prowls like a wolf among men. Sūta then spoke, saying, “As you requested, I have narrated the sacred story of Parīkṣit, which is filled with the glories and deeds of Vāsudeva. Indeed, all stories of the Lord, the performer of mighty acts, based on His virtues and actions, should be cherished by those who seek true life.” The sages responded with warmth and reverence: “O gentle Sūta, may you live long and possess everlasting pure fame, for you have given mortals the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s deeds. In this uncertain world, where minds are clouded, you have made us drink the honey-wine from Govinda’s lotus feet. We would not trade even a moment in the company of the Lord’s devotees for the pleasures of heaven or even liberation—what then of any lesser blessings for mortals? Who could ever be satisfied by hearing the nectar of stories about the supreme refuge of the greatest souls? Even the masters of yoga, those born from Brahma, have not reached the end of the qualities of the one who is beyond all qualities. Therefore, O Sūta, foremost among those devoted to the Supreme, please narrate to us the noble and pure deeds of Hari, for we are eager to listen.” They continued, “That Parīkṣit, the great devotee whose unwavering intelligence was fixed on liberation, attained the feet of the Lord whose banner bears the eagle, through the knowledge spoken by the son of Vyasa. So, please narrate to us that supremely auspicious, wondrous, and yoga-centered story, whose meaning is clear, which is filled with the endless deeds of the Lord and which delighted Parīkṣit and the devotees.” Sūta replied, “Ah, today, though born in a lower lineage, I have become blessed by following the elders. Association with the words of the greatest souls swiftly removes the impurity of a bad family and mental distress. How much more, then, for one who praises the Supreme, the ultimate refuge of the greatest souls? The infinite Lord, whose power is boundless, is called limitless because of His supreme qualities. Indeed, what has already been said is enough to show the unequalled and unsurpassed qualities of the Lord, whose foot dust is sought even by those who have abandoned all else, though He Himself desires no worship. Moreover, the water offered for worship by Brahma, produced from the nails of His feet, purifies the world; who in this world, desiring the Lord’s feet, would not be purified by Mukunda? There, those who are devoted, wise ones, suddenly abandon attachment to the body and its connections, and proceed to the highest state of the swan-like sages, where nonviolence, tranquility, and one’s own duty prevail. You have questioned me, O noble ones, so I shall explain as far as I have realized. Just as birds fly in the sky according to their own capacity, so too the wise attain the path of Vishnu according to their own understanding.” Sūta then began to recount the pivotal moment in Parīkṣit’s life: Once, while wandering in the forest for hunting, with bow raised, Parīkṣit pursued a deer and became exhausted, greatly hungry and thirsty. Searching for water, he entered a hermitage and saw a sage seated in tranquility, eyes closed. The sage, with senses, breath, mind, and intellect restrained, had attained a state beyond the three realms, becoming one with Brahman, unchanging. Covered with matted hair and a deerskin, Parīkṣit, his throat parched, begged the sage for water. Unable to obtain grass, earth, and other customary offerings, nor water or kind words, and feeling disregarded, the king became angry. Never before had he been so afflicted by hunger and thirst; envy and anger arose toward the Brahmin. In his anger, Parīkṣit placed a lifeless snake upon the shoulder of the sage and, leaving the hermitage, returned to his city. He wondered: “Is this one, with all his senses withdrawn and eyes closed, truly absorbed in meditation, or is it merely a pretense? What might be the case with those of the warrior class?” Meanwhile, the sage’s son, endowed with extraordinary brilliance, was playing among the children. Upon hearing that his father had been wronged by the king, he spoke with indignation, “Alas, what injustice by the rulers, like gluttons who eat the offerings! The offense committed against the master by the servants is like that of gatekeepers, or even dogs, against their lord. Though a kṣatriya by birth, he has been appointed by the brāhmaṇas as the guardian of the house; how then should such a doorkeeper be entitled to partake of the household’s provisions? With Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, departed—the guide for those who stray from the path—I now punish those who have broken the bridge of righteousness; behold my power.” Having spoken thus, his eyes reddened with anger, the young sage, among his friends, purified himself at the Kauśikī river and released a thunderbolt of words: “Thus, having transgressed the boundary, Takṣaka, urged by me, will bite this destroyer of the dynasty on the seventh day.” The boy then approached the hermitage and, seeing his father with a serpent’s body around his neck, was overcome with sorrow and cried out loudly. Hearing his son’s lament, the sage slowly opened his eyes and, seeing the dead serpent on his shoulder, cast it off and asked, “Child, why are you crying? Who has wronged you?” Thus questioned, the boy explained everything. Hearing that the king had been cursed undeservedly, the brāhmaṇa did not rejoice at his son. “Alas, what a great calamity you have caused today! Though your offense is small, the punishment is severe. You should not judge the king, O immature-minded one; by his invincible power, the people enjoy prosperity and safety from all sides. When the king, named Naradeva, wielder of the chariot wheel, is disregarded, O dear one, the world will be overrun by thieves and, unprotected, will perish in an instant, like sheep without a shepherd. Today, sin comes upon us without interruption, as people plunder the wealth of those who have lost their protector; they kill each other, curse, rob, and seize cattle, women, and property. Then, noble dharma dissolves among men, along with the practices of varṇa and āśrama, which are rooted in the three Vedas; thereafter, those absorbed in wealth and pleasure, like dogs and monkeys, cause the mixing of castes. The king, guardian of dharma, is the great emperor Bṛhacchrava, a royal sage, a true devotee, who performed horse sacrifices.” Thus, the story unfolds, revealing the consequences of anger and misunderstanding, the importance of righteous leadership, and the ever-glorious deeds of the Supreme Lord, whose qualities and stories are the true nectar for those who seek the highest life.