The cowherds, overcome by hunger, approached Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, calling out, “O Rāma, mighty-armed! O Kṛṣṇa, destroyer of the wicked! This hunger afflicts us; please relieve it.” Hearing their plea, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, spoke kindly, considering especially the devotee among the wives of the brāhmaṇas. He instructed the cowherds, “Go to the sacrificial altar where the brāhmaṇas, learned in Brahman, are performing the Angirasa sacrifice, seeking heaven. Ask them for cooked rice, saying you are sent by myself and the noble Rāma.” The cowherds, following the Lord’s instructions, went to the altar, bowed humbly to the brāhmaṇas, and spoke respectfully: “O lords of the earth, we come carrying out Kṛṣṇa’s command. We are cowherds sent by Rāma; may good fortune be yours. O best knowers of dharma, Rāma and Achyuta, tending cows nearby, are hungry and seek food from you. If you have faith, please give them the cooked rice they desire. Except during certain rites, food is not spoiled even for those consecrated.” But the brāhmaṇas, absorbed in ritual, did not heed the request. Their minds were petty and childish, proud of their learning and distracted by many rites. They did not recognize that all aspects of the sacrifice—the place, time, materials, mantras, procedures, priests, fires, deities, sacrificer, ritual, and dharma—are composed of Him, the Supreme Brahman, Adhokshaja Himself. Lacking discernment, they saw Kṛṣṇa as merely human. They neither agreed nor refused to give food to the Yadus. Disappointed, the cowherds returned and reported to Kṛṣṇa and Rāma what had happened. Hearing this, the Lord of the universe laughed, and, showing a practical path, told the cowherds, “Go to the wives of the brāhmaṇas and tell them that Sankarshana and I have come. They are affectionate and devoted to me in thought; they will gladly give you food.” The cowherds went to the wives’ house, found them seated and adorned, bowed respectfully, and spoke: “Salutations, O brāhmaṇas’ wives. Please listen. Not far from here, we, sent by Kṛṣṇa, are tending cows. He has come a long way with Rāma and the cowherds. Please give him food, for he is hungry and accompanied by his companions.” Upon hearing that Achyuta had arrived, the women—whose minds were absorbed in his stories and ever eager to see him—were filled with excitement. Gathering four kinds of excellent food in vessels, they hurried to their beloved, like rivers rushing toward the ocean. Though forbidden by husbands, brothers, relatives, and sons, their minds fixed on the Lord and sustained by teachings heard over time, they went forth. In a grove on the Yamuna, adorned with fresh asoka shoots, they found Kṛṣṇa, 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, a lotus resting on his shoulder, one hand twirling a lotus, a lily in his ear, locks framing his cheeks, and his face radiant with a smile. Their minds, immersed in him whose stories they cherished, whose presence delighted their ears, they entered him through their eyes, embraced him within their hearts, and, as wise ones, let go of all sorrow. Having abandoned all other hopes, they came, desiring to see their very Self. Kṛṣṇa, the seer of all, knowing their hearts, 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, desiring to see us. 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—all these are dear through contact with me; therefore, who else could truly be dear?” He then gently said, “Now go to the sacrificial altar, O wives of the twice-born! Your husbands, householders, will complete their sacrifice with your participation.” The wives replied, “Do not speak so harshly, O Lord! Fulfill the promise of your scripture at your feet. We have come, leaving all relatives, to gather the dust of your feet adorned with tulasi, to place in our hair. Neither our husbands, parents, children, brothers, friends, nor anyone else will accept us now. 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 comforted them: “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 continued: Thus addressed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the sacrificial enclosure, and their husbands, now free of envy, completed the sacrifice with their wives. 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 the food brought by the wives, fed the cowherds in fourfold ways, and he himself also partook. Thus, assuming a human form for his play, the Lord delighted the cows, cowherds, and cowherd women with his beauty, words, and deeds. Later, the brāhmaṇas, recalling their wives’ request to the Lords of the universe, repented for their offense, having mocked the Lord in human guise. Seeing the extraordinary devotion of their wives to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and recognizing their own lack of such devotion, they became remorseful and blamed themselves: “Fie upon our birth, our threefold knowledge, our vows, our great learning, our lineage, and our ritual expertise—if we are turned away from the Lord beyond sense perception. Surely, the Lord’s māyā is deluding, even for yogis; for we, the teachers of men, are bewildered about our own true welfare, O brāhmaṇas.