Parīkṣit, the great devotee whose unwavering mind was fixed on liberation, attained the blessed feet of the Lord whose banner bears the eagle, guided by the knowledge imparted by Vyāsa’s illustrious son. Because of this, the sages assembled requested, “Please narrate to us that supremely auspicious and wondrous account, centered in yoga, whose meaning is open and clear, filled with the limitless deeds of the Lord—this very story that delighted Parīkṣit and brings joy to the devotees.” Sūta, humbly responding, began: “Ah, today we, though born in a lower lineage, are truly blessed by following in the footsteps of the wise elders. The company of the words of the greatest souls quickly removes the taint of birth and mental distress. What then of those who praise the Supreme Lord, the ultimate refuge of the exalted? The Lord is truly limitless, for his divine qualities know no end. “Indeed, what has already been said is sufficient to show the Lord’s unparalleled greatness, for even those who have renounced all else seek but the dust of his feet—though he himself is without desire for worship. Consider: the water used by Brahmā for worship, which sprang from the nails of the Lord’s feet, purifies the entire world. Who, seeking the Lord’s feet, would not be purified by Mukunda? “In that sacred realm, the wise and devoted suddenly abandon their attachments to the body and all its connections, and ascend to the highest state of the swan-like sages, where nonviolence, tranquility, and the fulfillment of one’s own duty prevail. “You have asked me, O noble ones, and so I will tell you as far as my realization allows. Just as birds soar in the sky each according to their strength, so too do the wise pursue the path of Viṣṇu according to their understanding. “Now, once, King Parīkṣit, while hunting in the forest with his bow raised, chased a deer. He became exhausted, greatly hungry and thirsty. Searching for water, he entered the hermitage of a sage and saw him seated in deep tranquility, eyes closed. The sage, with his senses, breath, mind, and intellect restrained, had attained a state beyond the three worlds—merged in Brahman, unchanging. He was covered with matted hair and a deerskin. Parched with thirst, the king begged him for water. “But the king could not obtain even the simplest offerings—no grass, no earth, not even the customary water or gentle words. Feeling slighted, he became angry. Never before had he suffered such hunger and thirst, and envy and anger arose toward the sage. In his anger, he placed a lifeless snake around the sage’s shoulders and, leaving the hermitage, returned to his city. “On his way, the king wondered, ‘Is this sage, with senses withdrawn and eyes closed, truly absorbed in meditation, or is it just a show? What is the true nature of such people, even among warriors?’ “Meanwhile, the sage’s son, a boy of extraordinary brilliance, was playing among his friends. Hearing that his father had been wronged by the king, he spoke out in anger: ‘Alas, what injustice by the rulers, who are like greedy eaters of sacrificial offerings! The offense of a servant against his master is like that of a gatekeeper—or even a dog—against the lord of the house. Though born a kṣatriya, the king was appointed by the brāhmaṇas as guardian of the realm; how then should such a doorkeeper be entitled to partake of the household’s wealth? Now that Kṛṣṇa, the Lord and guide of the righteous, has departed, I will punish those who have broken the bridge of righteousness. Witness my power!’ “With eyes red with anger, the young sage, after purifying himself at the Kauśikī river, uttered a thunderbolt of a curse: ‘Because the king has crossed the line, Takṣaka, urged by my words, will bite this destroyer of the dynasty on the seventh day.’ “After pronouncing this curse, the boy returned to the hermitage. Seeing his father with a dead snake around his neck, he was overcome with sorrow and cried out loudly. The great sage, hearing his son’s lament, slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the serpent, he cast it off and gently asked, ‘Child, why are you crying? Who has wronged you?’ The boy explained everything. “Upon hearing that the king had been cursed undeservedly, the sage did not rejoice in his son’s action. Instead, he lamented, ‘Alas, what a calamity you have caused today! Though the offense was small, the punishment is severe. You should not judge the king, O immature-minded one. It is by his invincible power that the people enjoy prosperity and safety on all sides. If the king, called Naradeva and wielder of the chariot wheel, is disregarded, the world will be overrun by thieves and will perish in an instant, like sheep without a shepherd. Today, sin will pour upon us without end, as people plunder the wealth of those left unprotected. They will kill each other, curse, rob, and seize cattle, women, and property. “Then noble dharma will vanish among men, along with the practices of varṇa and āśrama rooted in the three Vedas. After that, those absorbed in wealth and pleasure, like dogs and monkeys, will cause the mixing of castes. The king, guardian of dharma, is the great emperor Bṛhacchrava, a royal sage and true devotee, who performed horse sacrifices. A sin has been committed against this innocent king by a child of immature understanding. May the Lord, the soul of all, forgive this offense. “Even when insulted, deceived, cursed, abused, or killed, the devotees of the Lord do not retaliate, even if they possess the power to do so. Thus, due to his son’s offense, the great sage was filled with remorse; though he himself had been wronged by the king, he did not dwell on the offense. Generally, the virtuous in this world are placed in situations of duality by others, yet they neither grieve nor rejoice, for their reliance is upon the qualities of the self. “One should not lie down without washing the feet, nor with wet feet, nor with the head wet; nor should one eat food offered by others, nor lie naked, nor at dawn or dusk. Always pure, clothed in clean garments, endowed with auspiciousness, one should worship cows, brāhmaṇas, prosperity, and the infallible Lord before breakfast. Women and the valorous should worship with garlands, fragrances, offerings, and ornaments. Having worshipped her husband, a woman should attend to him and meditate upon him as residing within her womb. “If you uphold this unbroken vow of puṃsavana for a year, then a son who will defeat even Indra shall be born to you.’ Diti, firm in resolve, agreed, saying, ‘So be it.’ She received the seed from Kaśyapa and faithfully undertook the vow.” Thus, Sūta recounted the tale, preserving the sacred events and the wisdom contained therein.