O Uddhava, the qualities of Śrī—such as independence—are subtle and profound. True happiness lies beyond pleasure and pain, for pain arises from the longing for pleasure. The wise know the difference between bondage and liberation, while the foolish identify themselves with their bodies and such fleeting things. The path I show is the Veda; distraction of the mind leads astray, but heaven is attained when sattva, the pure quality, rises. Hell is found in darkness and pride. Understand, friend, that teacher, companion, and self are truly one. The body is but a home, and humanity’s wealth is found in virtue; only the truly virtuous are called wealthy. He who is not content is poor, and pitiable is he who has not mastered his senses. The mind that is unattached to qualities is lordly; attachment brings the opposite. O Uddhava, all your questions have been answered. Why speak further of virtue and fault? To see faults within virtues is itself a fault, but virtue is that which is free from both. Then Śuka spoke, recounting how the cowherds told the women of Vraja the wondrous deeds of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma—how they extinguished the raging forest fire and defeated the demon Pralamba. Hearing these tales, the elder cowherds and the women were astonished. They regarded Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, who had come to their village, as foremost among the gods. Soon, the rainy season began, awakening all living beings. The horizon glowed, and thunder echoed across sky and earth. The sky was thick with dark clouds, streaked with lightning and roaring thunder, shining dimly and veiled—just as Brahman is veiled by its qualities. When the time was ripe, the clouds released the water they had gathered from the earth over eight months, pouring forth by their own power. Great clouds, accompanied by flashes of lightning and shaken by fierce winds, showered life-giving rain, like compassion descending from above. The earth, parched and scorched by the sun, was drenched and revived by the rain, just as a body emaciated by austerity is restored upon attaining its desired fruit. At the beginning of night, only fireflies shone in the darkness; the planets were hidden—just as, in the age of Kali, the Vedas do not shine among heretics because of sin. Hearing the thunder of the clouds, the frogs, silent until then, began to croak—like brāhmaṇas who recite again after completing their vows. The small rivers, dried up and wandering from their courses, began to flow anew—just as a man’s wealth and bodily strength return when he is independent. The earth became green with grass, red with indragopa insects, and shaded by mushrooms, a sign of fortune for men. The fields, rich with crops, brought joy to the farmers but regret to the proud, who fail to see that all depends on fate. All creatures, whether on land or in water, refreshed by the new rains, took on a lovely appearance—just as one does by serving Hari. The river, swelled by many streams and surging with waves driven by the wind, was like the mind of an immature yogi, agitated by passion and qualities. The mountains, struck by torrents of rain, stood unmoved—just as those whose minds are fixed on the Supreme remain steady amid calamities. The paths became uncertain, overgrown with grass and unmarked—like the Vedas, neglected by brahmins and obscured by quarrel. The bonds among people were as fleeting as lightning among clouds, and the constancy of women did not endure toward men, even those endowed with virtues. The rainbow appeared in the sky, seemingly possessing qualities though it was without them—just as a person without qualities appears to have them when qualities manifest. The moon, veiled by clouds radiant with its own light, did not shine forth—just as a person blinded by ego does not shine with his true brilliance. The peacocks, delighted by the arrival of clouds, rejoiced; yet in their homes, scorched and disheartened, they waited for the coming of the Lord, just as His devotees do. The trees, having drunk water through their roots, regained their forms, previously withered and exhausted by austerity—just as one is by the pursuit of desires. The cranes settled in the tranquil waters of lakes and reservoirs, just as people with vain hopes dwell in households filled with restless duties. The embankments were broken by torrents of water sent by the lord of rain, just as the paths of the Vedas are broken in the age of Kali by the false words of heretics. The clouds, driven by the winds, released water as nectar for all beings—just as the lords of wealth, urged by the twice-born, give blessings at the proper times. Thus, Hari, surrounded by his companions, cows, and cowherds, entered the forest, rich with ripe dates and jambu trees, to enjoy its bounty. The cows, moving slowly under the heavy weight of their udders, hastened when called by the Lord, their udders moist with affection. The forest dwellers rejoiced, seeing rows of trees dripping with honey and caves near the mountains echoing with the sounds of falling water. Sometimes, when rain fell in the hollows of trees or caves, the Lord entered and delighted there, eating roots, tubers, and fruits. With Sankarshana and the cowherds, he ate curds and rice brought for them, seated on a stone near the water, sharing the meal with his companions. Seated on the grass as they grazed, their eyes closed in contentment, the bulls, calves, and cows, weary from the weight of their udders, were satisfied. Beholding the glory of the rainy season, which brought joy to all beings and was enhanced by his own divine power, the Lord worshipped it. Then, as Rama and Keshava dwelt in Vraja, autumn arrived, bringing clear skies, pure waters, and gentle winds. With the blooming of lotuses, the waters returned to their natural state—just as the minds of those fallen are restored through the practice of yoga. Autumn cleared the clouds from the sky, impurity from the earth, and filth from the waters, just as devotion to Krishna removes impurity from ascetics. Having abandoned all their possessions, they shone with pure radiance—just as sages who have renounced all desires become peaceful and freed from sin.