With the danger now past, the Blessed Lord Kṛṣṇa, in the sight of all living beings, playfully lifted the great mountain and set it gently back in its original place, just as it had stood before. All the residents of Vraja, their hearts overflowing with love and gratitude, quietly gathered around him. They embraced him and offered him every sign of their deep affection. The cowherd women, joyful and full of devotion, worshipped Kṛṣṇa with curds and unbroken rice, showering upon him their constant blessings. Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda, and Balarāma—the strongest among the strong—came forward and embraced Kṛṣṇa with overwhelming affection, their hearts pouring forth heartfelt blessings upon him. Meanwhile, in the heavens above, the hosts of gods, Siddhas, Sādhyas, Gandharvas, and Cāraṇas, delighted by Kṛṣṇa’s wondrous act, sang his praises and joyfully rained down showers of celestial flowers upon the earth. The sounds of conches and kettledrums resounded throughout the sky, urged on by the gods, while the lords of the Gandharvas, led by Tumburu, sang in celebration. Then, surrounded by the loving cowherds, Hari—Kṛṣṇa—returned to his own settlement with Balarāma at his side. The Gopīs, their hearts deeply moved, followed behind, singing joyfully of his miraculous deeds. Thus ends the twenty-fifth chapter of the first half of the tenth book in the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture revered by the supreme renunciates. The Lord then spoke: “Let the wise, having shaken off all attachment to the qualities of nature, worship me. The learned, who are self-controlled, vigilant, and free from attachment, should worship me alone. By cultivating goodness, a sage overcomes passion and darkness; and, remaining steadfast, he transcends even goodness through detachment and a calm mind. Thus, freed from all qualities, the soul attains me, leaving behind individual existence. “When the soul is liberated from other souls and from desires born of the qualities, it becomes complete in me, the Absolute, moving neither outward nor inward. Therefore, those who know my power as the Lord of Māyā, endowed with eightfold sovereignty, do not covet even the fortune of the goddess of prosperity. In this world, they attain my supreme state. “My devotees, peaceful by nature, never perish; the weapon of Time does not touch them. For them, I am as dear as the Self, as a son, friend, teacher, well-wisher, and cherished deity. This world, the next, the soul that moves between both, and all that is considered one’s own here—be it wealth, cattle, or homes—abandoning all else, those who worship me alone, the all-pervading, with exclusive devotion, I carry them beyond death. “Nowhere but in me, the Supreme Lord and master of primordial nature, is the soul’s intense fear dispelled. Out of fear of me, the wind blows, the sun shines, Indra sends rain, fire burns, and death moves about. “Yogis endowed with knowledge and renunciation, through the yoga of devotion, enter my feet, which are free from all fear, for their well-being. This alone, in this world, is the highest good for people: with intense devotion, to keep the mind steadily fixed on me. “There are seven gates above, two in front, and two below; each for the movement of sense-objects, and within them dwells a certain lord. Of these, five gates are to the east, one to the south, one to the north, and two to the west. I shall now describe their names. “Like fireflies, two eastern gates were constructed together; through them, Dyumatsakha travels, illuminating the land. Two gates named Nalinī and Nālinī were built together in the east; through them, Avadhūtasakha enters the fragrant domain. A gate called Mukhyā stands at the front, bustling with many shops and food boats; through it, the king of the city enters, accompanied by merchants who know taste. “Through the southern gate named Pitṛhū, Purañjana enters the southern Pañcāla region, accompanied by those who carry knowledge. Through the northern gate called Devahū, Purañjana enters the northern Pañcāla region, again accompanied by those who carry knowledge. Through the western gate named Āsurī, Purañjana enters the territory called Grāmaka, accompanied by arrogance. Through the western gate named Nirṛti, Purañjana enters the region called Vaiśasa, accompanied by greed. “The two city gates named Andha and Avamīṣā are silent and skillful; their lord, who possesses sight, passes through them and acts. When he enters the inner chambers, accompanied by Viṣūcī, he experiences delusion, pleasure, or joy arising from his wife and children. “Thus, absorbed in action, driven by desire, deceived and ignorant, he follows whatever his queen wishes. Sometimes, when she drinks, he drinks wine and becomes intoxicated; when she eats, he eats; when she enjoys, he enjoys with her. Sometimes, when she sings, he sings; when she weeps, he weeps; when she laughs, he laughs; and when she speaks, he speaks in turn. Sometimes, when she runs, he runs; when she stands, he stands; when she lies down, he lies down beside her; and sometimes he sits with her. Sometimes, when she listens, he listens; when she looks, he looks; when she smells, he smells; and when she touches, he touches. Sometimes, when his wife grieves, he grieves with her, feeling sorrow; when she rejoices, he rejoices, sharing in her happiness. “Thus deceived by his wife and all her qualities, even when unwilling, the ignorant man imitates her, like a plaything, out of weakness.” Śuka then continued: Seeing such extraordinary deeds of Kṛṣṇa, the cowherds were filled with amazement. Unaware of his true power, they approached Nanda and spoke, remembering the words of Garga. They said, “These acts of this boy are truly astonishing. How could such a child be born among villagers, whose offspring are usually despised? How could this child, only seven days old, effortlessly hold aloft the great mountain with a single hand, just as the king of elephants lifts a lotus? With his eyes only partly open in childish innocence, he drank the breast milk of the mighty Pūtanā, along with her very life, just as time consumes the lives of all.