In the sacred groves of Vrindavan, the cowherds found themselves afflicted by an unbearable hunger. Even the wise struggle against the powerful forces of nature, and only those devoted to the Lord’s dharma, peaceful and sheltered at His feet, can truly withstand such trials. Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods, follows the doctrine of Brahman, and Hari himself, in the state of self-realization, honors cows, teachers, and Brahmins, following Viṣvaksena. Throughout the three worlds, praise and song enter the hearts of women through their ears, just as Rāma moves among the virtuous. Favor is gained among the wives of sacrificers through food and offerings. The cowherds approached Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, the mighty-armed destroyers of the wicked, saying, “This hunger afflicts us; you ought to bring its relief.” Hearing their plea, the Lord, son of Devakī, kindly spoke for the devotee, the wife of the Brahmin: “Go to the sacrificial altar where the Brahmins, versed in Brahman, are performing the Angirasa sacrifice, desiring heaven. Ask for cooked rice, sent by us, mentioning the names of the Lord, the noble one, and myself.” Following the Lord’s instructions, the cowherds went to the Brahmins, folded their hands, bowed, and prostrated themselves. They said, “O lords of the earth, listen! We have come as those who carry out Kṛṣṇa’s command. Know that we are cowherds sent by Rāma; may good fortune be yours. O best knowers of dharma, Rama and Achyuta, tending the cows not far from here, are hungry and seeking food from you. If you have faith, give them the cooked rice they desire. O excellent ones, except during the consecration for the animal sacrifice or the Sautramani rite, even for one who is consecrated, food is not spoiled by eating it.” Though the Brahmins heard this request on behalf of the Lord, they did not listen. Their desires were petty, their minds absorbed in rituals, childish, and proud of their age. Yet, the place, time, materials, mantras, procedures, priests, fires, deities, sacrificer, ritual, and dharma—all these are composed of Him. That Supreme Brahman, the Lord Adhokshaja Himself, they, lacking discernment and seeing themselves as mortal, did not recognize, viewing Him as a mere human. They neither said, “Give it to the Yadus,” nor “Do not give.” The cowherds, disappointed, returned and told Krishna and Rama what had happened. Hearing this, the Lord, Master of the universe, laughed and spoke again to the cowherds, showing a worldly course of action: “Go and inform the wives, along with Sankarshana and myself having come. They, affectionate and devoted to me in thought, will gladly give you food.” The cowherds went to the house of the Brahmins’ wives. Seeing them seated and adorned, they bowed and respectfully spoke: “Salutations to you, O Brahmins’ wives. Please listen to our words. Not far from here, we, sent by Krishna, are tending the cows. He, tending the cows with the cowherds and with Rama, has come a long way. Please give food to him, who is hungry and accompanied by his companions.” Hearing that Achyuta had come, the women, always eager to see Him and absorbed in His stories, were filled with excitement. Taking four kinds of excellent food in vessels, they hurried forth to their beloved, like rivers rushing to the ocean. Though forbidden by their husbands, brothers, relatives, and sons, their minds fixed on the Lord of excellent fame, sustained by long-heard teachings, they went forth. In a grove on the Yamuna, adorned with fresh asoka shoots, the women saw Him, surrounded by cowherds and His elder brother, wandering there. They beheld Him, dark as a raincloud, clad in golden garments, adorned with forest garlands and peacock feathers, dressed as a dancer, with a lotus resting on His shoulder, twirling a lotus in His hand, His ear adorned with a lily, locks framing His cheeks, and His face blossoming with a smile. Their minds, immersed in Him whose stories they loved, whose presence delighted their ears, entered Him through their eyes, embraced Him long within, and, as wise ones, let go of their sorrow as they wished. Having abandoned all other hopes, they came, desiring to see their very Self. He, the seer of all, knowing this, spoke to them with a smiling face: “Welcome, O highly fortunate ones! Please be seated. What may I do for you? It is fitting that you have come here, desiring to see us. Indeed, those who are truly wise and seek their own good render to me, who am dear to their very selves, devotion that is causeless and unbroken. Life, intellect, mind, self, wives, children, wealth, and so on—all these become dear through contact with me; therefore, who else could truly be dear?” He then said, “Now go to the sacrificial altar, O wives of the twice-born! Your husbands, householders, will complete their own sacrifice with your participation.” The wives pleaded, “Do not speak so harshly, O Lord! Fulfill the promise of your scripture at your feet. We have come, leaving behind all relatives, to gather the dust of your feet adorned with tulasi, to place in our hair. Neither our husbands, nor parents, nor children, nor brothers, nor friends, nor anyone else will accept us now. Therefore, O subduer of enemies, for those of us who have fallen at your feet, there is no other refuge—please grant us this.” The Blessed Lord replied, “Let not your husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, or others bear resentment; even the worlds, the gods, and all beings honor you, as you are now connected with me. Physical association among people in this world is not for love or affection; by fixing your minds on me, you will soon attain me.” Śuka said: Thus addressed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the sacrificial enclosure, and their husbands, now free of envy, completed the sacrifice with their own wives. There, one woman, restrained by her husband, embraced the Lord in her heart as she had heard, and, giving up her body bound by karma, attained liberation. The Lord Govinda, with that very food, fed the cowherds in fourfold ways, and the Lord himself also partook. Thus, the Lord, assuming a human form for His play, delighted the cows, cowherds, and cowherd women with His beauty, words, and deeds. Then, recalling the request made to the Lords of the universe by their wives, the brāhmaṇas repented for their offense, having mocked the Lord in human guise.