O best of listeners, hear now how the Lord’s compassion and the devotion of simple hearts shone forth in the sacred land of Vraja. One day, as the sacred rites of sacrifice were being performed by learned brāhmaṇas not far from the pastures, the cowherd boys, sent by Krishna and Balarama—the Supreme Lord and His elder brother—approached these keepers of dharma. They spoke respectfully, “O knowers of righteousness, Rama and Achyuta, tending the cows nearby, are hungry and seek food from you. If you have faith, please offer them the cooked rice they desire.” To assure them, the boys added, “O excellent ones, except during the special consecrations for animal sacrifice or the Sautramani rite, even a consecrated person does not spoil food by eating it.” Yet, though the brāhmaṇas heard this request on behalf of the Lord Himself, they did not heed it. Their minds, absorbed in rituals and petty desires, proud of their learning and age, were distracted and unmoved. How ironic! For the place, the time, the materials, the mantras, the procedures, the priests, the fires, the deities, the sacrificer, the ritual, and even dharma itself—all are but His manifestations. That Supreme Brahman, the Lord, Adhokshaja Himself, they, lacking discernment and seeing only with mortal eyes, failed to recognize. They saw Him as a mere human being. They did not say, “Give it to the Yadus,” nor did they say, “Do not give.” Confused and indifferent, they left the cowherd boys disappointed. Crestfallen, the boys returned and told Krishna and Rama all that had transpired. Hearing their account, the Lord of the universe laughed gently. Wishing to teach by example, He said, “Go now and inform the wives of the brāhmaṇas that Sankarshana and I have come. They, affectionate and devoted to Me in thought, will gladly give you food.” Thus instructed, the boys went to the homes of the brāhmaṇas’ wives. Finding them seated and adorned, the boys bowed with reverence and spoke, “Salutations, O noble ladies. Please listen: Not far from here, sent by Krishna, we are tending the cows. Krishna, with Rama and the cowherds, has come a long way and is hungry. Please, grant Him and His companions some food.” Hearing that Achyuta had arrived, the women, whose minds were always absorbed in His stories and eager for His sight, were filled with joy and excitement. Gathering four kinds of excellent food in vessels, all of them hurried forth to meet their beloved, like rivers rushing to the ocean. Their husbands, brothers, relatives, and sons tried to restrain them, but their minds were fixed on the Lord of excellent fame, strengthened by the teachings they had heard. Sustained by their devotion, they went forth, heedless of worldly bonds. In a grove along the Yamuna, adorned with fresh asoka shoots, the women beheld Krishna—surrounded by cowherds and His elder brother, wandering among the trees. There He stood, dark as a raincloud, clad in golden garments, adorned with forest garlands and peacock feathers, dressed as a dancer. A lotus rested on His shoulder, another twirled in His hand, a lily adorned His ear, locks framed His radiant cheeks, and His face blossomed with a gentle smile. Their hearts, ever immersed in His stories and delighted by His presence, drank in His beauty through their eyes. They embraced Him long within, and, wise as they were, let go of all sorrow as they wished. Having abandoned all other hopes, they had come, desiring to see their very Self. Krishna, knower of all hearts, greeted them with a smiling face, saying, “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. “Indeed, those who are truly wise and seek their own good render to Me, who am dearer than their very selves, devotion that is causeless and unbroken. Life, intellect, mind, self, wives, children, wealth—all these are dear only because of their connection with Me. Who else, then, could truly be dear? “Now, return to the sacrificial altar, O wives of the twice-born! Your husbands, as householders, will complete their sacrifice with your participation.” But the wives replied, “Do not speak so harshly, O Lord! Fulfill the promise of Your scripture at Your feet. We have come, leaving behind all relatives, only 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.” Krishna, the Blessed Lord, reassured them, “Let not your husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, or others bear resentment. Even the worlds, the gods, and all beings honor you, for you are now connected with Me. Physical association among people in this world is not for love or affection alone; by fixing your minds on Me, you will soon attain Me.” Thus addressed, the wives of the brāhmaṇas returned to the sacrificial enclosure. Their husbands, now free of envy and awakened to the truth, completed the sacrifice with their wives beside them. Yet, 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. Govinda, the Lord, with that very food, fed the cowherds in fourfold ways, and He Himself also partook. Thus, assuming a human form for His play, the Lord delighted the cows, the cowherds, and the cowherd women with His beauty, words, and deeds. Later, the brāhmaṇas, recalling the request made to the Lords of the universe by their wives, repented deeply for their offense and for having mocked the Lord in human guise. Seeing the extraordinary devotion of their wives to Krishna, 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,” they lamented, “if we are turned away from the Lord beyond sense perception. Surely, the Lord’s māyā is deluding, even for yogis; for we, teachers of men, are bewildered about our own true welfare. “Behold the steadfastness of these women, who, for Krishna, the teacher of the world, broke the bonds of death called ‘home.’ These women had no initiation as twice-born, no residence with a teacher, no austerity, no self-inquiry, no purity, and no auspicious rituals. Still, even though we possess refinement and other virtues, our devotion to Krishna, the Lord of the most exalted, the master of all yogis, is not firm. “Indeed, though we were deluded about our true welfare and distracted by household life, He reminded us of the path of the righteous through the words of the cowherd women. Otherwise, what need would we, who are subject to His command, have for boons like liberation or anything else from Him who is the Lord of all blessings and whose desires are already fulfilled? This is only a display of His play. “Even Lakshmi, seeking only the touch of His feet, abandons all others and worships Him even once; her request for liberation from her own faults is merely a deluding charm for people.” Thus, O king, the Lord revealed the glory of pure devotion, the humility of the wise, and the power of love that transcends all worldly bonds.