As time passed, the paths through the land became uncertain and overgrown, their markers lost beneath thick grass—much like the Vedas themselves, which, when neglected by the brahmins and obscured by quarrel, become difficult to follow. Among people, the bonds that once held them together flickered as briefly as lightning among clouds; and the constancy of women toward even virtuous men faded away, just as the clouds quickly lose their lightning. In the sky, the rainbow appeared colorless, yet seemed to possess hues—just as a person without qualities appears to have them when such qualities are manifested. The moon, shrouded by clouds radiant with its own light, did not shine forth; so too, a person blinded by ego fails to radiate his true brilliance. Peacocks, delighted by the arrival of the rain-bearing clouds, rejoiced; yet, in their homes, scorched and yearning, they waited for the Lord’s coming, just as His devotees do. The trees, having drunk deeply through their roots, regained their lush forms, recovering from the withering exhaustion brought by austerity—just as those worn out by the pursuit of desires do when nourished. Cranes settled quietly in the tranquil waters of lakes and reservoirs, just as people with vain hopes dwell in households filled with restless duties. The embankments, however, were broken by the torrents 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 their water as nectar for all beings; so too, 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 delight in its bounty. The cows, though moving slowly under the heavy weight of their udders, came quickly when called by the Lord, their udders moist with affection. The forest dwellers rejoiced as they saw the rows of trees dripping with honey, and the caves near the mountains resounded with the music of falling water. Sometimes, when rain fell into the hollows of trees or in caves, the Lord entered, delighting there and eating roots, tubers, and fruits. With Sankarshana and the cowherds, He sat on a stone near the water and ate the curds and rice they had brought, sharing the meal with His companions. Seated on the grass as they grazed, the bulls, calves, and cows—wearied from the weight of their udders—closed their eyes in contentment, fully satisfied. Beholding the glory of the rainy season, which brought joy to all beings and was enhanced by His own power, the Lord worshipped it. Thus, 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 yoga. Autumn swept away the clouds from the sky, impurity from the earth, and filth from the waters, just as devotion to Krishna removes impurity from ascetics. Those who had abandoned all possessions 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 fail to notice their own lifespan decreasing day by day. Nor did such creatures feel the heat of the autumn sun, just as a 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 body and possessions. 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 of the autumn sun from living beings, just as Mukunda dispelled the suffering born of bodily identification in the women of Vraja. The autumn sky appeared spotless and full of pure stars, just as the mind endowed with goodness perceives the meaning of the sound of Brahman. The moon, surrounded by stars, shone in the sky with its unbroken orb, just as Krishna, surrounded by the Vṛṣṇi clan, shone upon the earth. Embracing the forest breeze, which was both cool and warm and fragrant with flowers, people shed their suffering; but the gopīs, whose hearts had been stolen by Krishna, did not. Cows, deer, birds, women, and flowering plants flourished in autumn, each sought out by their own males, just as fruits are produced by the actions of the Lord. Lotus flowers rejoiced at the rising of the sun, except for the night-blooming lilies, just as people are fearless under the protection of a king, but not in the presence of robbers. In towns and villages, with festivals and senses delighted, the earth shone, rich with ripe harvests, especially due to the arts of Hari. Merchants, sages, and kings, having bathed, went out to pursue their purposes, just as perfected beings, when the time arrives, seek their own bodies after being restrained by the rains. He, possessing the self, created his own city and people for them; and seeing those who had been previously created, they praised the Lord of creatures. They exclaimed, “Ah, O creator of the world, how excellent is your deed! In whom all rituals are established, together let us partake of food.” Endowed with austerity, knowledge, and yoga in deep concentration, Hṛṣīkeśa, the sage of sages, created the desired beings. And to each of them, the unborn one gave a portion of his own body—the prosperity of meditation and yoga, austerity, knowledge, and detachment. Śuka continued: In this way, during autumn, with clear water and the fragrance of blooming lotuses, Acyuta, along with the cowherd boys and cows, entered the forest cooled by gentle breezes. In forests filled with blossoming trees, humming with swarms of bees, and lakes and rivers resounding with the calls of birds, the lord of the bees entered, herding the cows with his companions, and played the flute.