As the celestial drama unfolded, the heavens themselves resounded with the music of conches and kettledrums, their sounds echoing through the sky at the urging of the gods. The lords of the Gandharvas, led by Tumburu, joined in, their voices weaving melodious praise, O King. Amidst this divine celebration, Hari, accompanied by his beloved brother Balarāma and encircled by the affectionate cowherds, made his way back to his own village. The Gopīs followed in joyful procession, their hearts brimming with devotion, singing of Kṛṣṇa’s wondrous deeds as they walked, deeply moved by his presence and pastimes. Thus concludes the twenty-fifth chapter of the first half of the tenth book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture revered by those who seek supreme renunciation. Then, the Lord spoke: “Let the wise, having shaken off all attachment to the qualities of nature, worship Me alone. The learned—free from attachment, self-controlled, and ever alert—should worship Me. A sage overcomes passion and darkness by cultivating goodness, and, standing firm in goodness, he conquers even that by detachment and calmness of mind. Thus, freed from all the qualities of nature, the soul attains Me, leaving behind all sense of separate existence. “When the soul is liberated from the influence of other souls and from desires born of the material qualities, it becomes complete in Me, the Absolute, moving neither outward nor inward. Therefore, those who understand My power as the Lord of Māyā and possess the eightfold sovereignty do not crave even the fortune of the goddess of prosperity; instead, in this world, they attain My supreme state. “My devotees, peaceful in nature, never perish. The weapon of Time does not touch those for whom I am as dear as their very Self, as a son, friend, teacher, well-wisher, and cherished deity. This world, the next, the soul that moves between them, and all that is considered one’s own—be it wealth, cattle, or homes—should be abandoned. Worshipping Me alone, the all-pervading Lord, with exclusive devotion, I Myself carry My devotee beyond death. “Nowhere else but in Me, the Supreme Lord of all beings and master of primordial nature, is the intense fear of the soul 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, reach My feet, which are free from all fear, and attain true well-being. This alone is the highest good for people in this world: to keep the mind steadily fixed on Me with intense devotion. “Within the body are seven gates above, two in front, and two below—each serving as a passage for the movement of the senses, and within each dwells a certain lord, O King. Of these, five gates are to the east, one to the south, and one to the north; two are to the west. I shall now describe their names to you. “Like fireflies, two eastern gates were constructed together; through them, Dyumatsakha travels, illuminating the land. Two more gates, named Nalinī and Nālinī, stand together in the east; through these, Avadhūtasakha enters the fragrant domain. At the front is the gate called Mukhyā, bustling with shops and food boats; through it, the king of the city enters, accompanied by merchants who know the tastes of life. “Through the southern gate, Pitṛhū, Purañjana enters the southern Pañcāla region, accompanied by those who carry knowledge. Through the northern gate, Devahū, he enters the northern Pañcāla, also with companions of knowledge. Through the western gate called Āsurī, Purañjana enters the region of Grāmaka, accompanied by arrogance. Through the western gate called Nirṛti, he enters the region of 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, and joy arising from his wife and children. Thus absorbed in actions, driven by desire, deceived and ignorant, he follows whatever his queen wishes. “Sometimes, when she drinks, he drinks wine, 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; when she speaks, he responds in turn. Sometimes, when she runs, he runs; when she stands, he stands; when she lies down, he lies 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. When his wife grieves, he grieves with her, sharing her 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: Observing such extraordinary deeds of Kṛṣṇa, the cowherds, filled with amazement and unaware of his true power, approached Nanda and spoke to him, recalling the words of the sage Garga. They said, “These acts of this boy are truly astonishing! How could such a child be born among villagers, whose offspring are usually overlooked? 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 all beings. “While lying below, the infant’s feet struck the cart, and the wheel fell down, overturned, as he cried and kicked it. When he was just a year old, the demon Tṛṇāvarta carried him away through the sky, grasping his neck, but Kṛṣṇa overcame that great affliction. Once, when his mother had tied him to a mortar for stealing butter, he walked between two arjuna trees and caused them to fall with his arms. In the forest, tending calves and surrounded by other boys, he tore apart the mouth of the demon Baka with his hands, though Baka intended to kill him.” Thus, the cowherds marveled at the divine and miraculous deeds of Kṛṣṇa, their hearts filled with wonder and devotion.