The sky was dense with dark, heavy clouds, streaked by flashes of lightning and filled with the roar of thunder. Its light shone dimly, veiled—much like the Supreme Brahman, when covered by qualities. When the proper time arrived, the clouds began to release, by their own power, the water they had drawn from the earth over eight long months. Great clouds, accompanied by brilliant lightning and shaken by fierce winds, poured down life-giving rain upon the world, their generosity like compassion itself. The earth, which had been parched and scorched by the relentless sun, was now drenched by the rain, just as a body emaciated by austerity is restored upon attaining the desired result. At the beginning of night, only fireflies shone in the darkness; the planets themselves were hidden, just as in the age of Kali, the Vedas do not shine among heretics because of the weight of sin. Hearing the thunder of the clouds, the frogs, who had been silent for so long, began to croak again—just as brāhmaṇas, after completing their vows, resume their recitations. The small rivers, which had dried up and wandered off their courses, began to flow again, just as the wealth and bodily strength of a man who is independent returns to him. The earth became green with tender grass and red with indragopa insects, shaded by mushrooms—like the return of fortune to men. The fields, now rich with crops, brought joy to the farmers, but regret to the proud who do not understand that all depends on fate. All creatures, both on land and in water, refreshed by the new rains, took on a lovely appearance, just as beings are beautified by serving Hari. The river, swelled by many streams, surged with waves driven by the wind—like the mind of an immature yogi, agitated by passion and qualities. Yet, the mountains, struck by torrents of rain, stood unmoved, just as those whose minds are fixed on the Supreme remain unshaken by calamities. The paths became uncertain, overgrown with grass and unmarked, like the Vedas themselves, neglected by the brāhmaṇas and obscured by quarrel. The bonds among people, as fleeting as lightning among clouds, did not endure; even the constancy of women toward men, however virtuous, did not remain. A rainbow appeared in the sky, seemingly adorned with qualities yet essentially without them—just as a person without qualities appears to possess them when those qualities manifest. The moon, veiled by clouds radiant with its own light, did not shine forth, just as a person blinded by ego is unable to reveal his true brilliance. The peacocks, delighted by the arrival of the clouds, rejoiced, but within their homes, scorched and disheartened, they waited for the coming of the Lord—just as His devotees do. The trees, having drunk deeply with their roots, regained their forms; once withered and exhausted by austerity, they now stood revived, just like those who have attained their 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 the 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 time. Thus, Hari, accompanied by His companions and surrounded by cows and cowherds, entered that forest, rich with ripe dates and jambu trees, to enjoy its delights. The cows, moving slowly under the heavy weight of their udders, came quickly when called by the Lord, their udders moist with affection. The forest dwellers, joyful, saw the rows of trees dripping with honey, and the caves near the mountains resounded with the sound of falling water. Sometimes, when rain fell into the hollows of trees or in caves, the Lord would enter and delight there, eating roots, tubers, and fruits. With Sankarshana and the cowherds, He ate the curds and rice that had been brought, sitting 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 power, the Lord honored it. Thus, as Rama and Keshava dwelt in Vraja, the autumn arrived, with clear skies, pure waters, and gentle winds. In autumn, as the lotuses bloomed, the waters returned to their natural clarity, just as the minds of those who have fallen are restored through the practice of yoga. Autumn removed the clouds from the sky, the impurity from the earth, and the filth from the waters, just as devotion to Krishna removes impurity from ascetics. Having abandoned all their possessions, the land and waters shone with pure radiance, just as sages who have renounced all desires become peaceful and freed from sin. The mountains released their waters, but sometimes withheld what was auspicious, just as the wise give the nectar of knowledge at the proper time, or sometimes do not. The creatures living in deep waters did not perceive the diminishing water, just as foolish householders do not notice their lifespan decreasing day by day. Nor did they feel the heat caused by the autumn sun, just as a poor, pitiable householder with uncontrolled senses does not perceive his own suffering. Gradually, the plants shed their mud and dryness, just as wise people slowly abandon the notions of “I” and “mine” regarding the body and all things not truly the self. The ocean became still and silent at the arrival of autumn, just as a sage, when all movements cease, becomes fully absorbed in the self. Farmers drew water from the fields with strong embankments, just as yogis, by restraining the flow of knowledge with their vital energies, control it. The moon removed the heat caused by the rays of the autumn sun from living beings, just as Mukunda dispelled the suffering born of bodily identification in the women of Vraja. The sky appeared spotless and full of pure stars in autumn, just as the mind endowed with goodness perceives the meaning of the sound of Brahman.