To the one who is faithful, devoted, disciplined, free from envy, friendly toward all beings, and eager to serve, this teaching is to be given. It should be shared with one who is outwardly detached, whose mind is tranquil, who is pure and without envy, and for whom I am the dearest among all dear things. O mother, any person who even once hears this with faith, or who recites it with a mind fixed on Me, will surely attain My path. Śrī Śuka continued: When the cowherd women heard these most beautiful words of the Lord, their hearts, long tormented by separation, were soothed. All their desires were fulfilled simply by His presence. There, in that sacred place, Govinda began the rāsa dance, encircled by the joyous and devoted gopīs, the most radiant among women, their arms entwined with one another. The festival of rāsa commenced, the circle of gopīs forming a wondrous garland, with Kṛṣṇa, the lord of yogis, manifesting Himself between each pair among them. Entering among them, He drew the women close by the neck; any who witnessed this would imagine the sky filled with hundreds of flying palaces. The gods, along with their wives, watched from the heavens, their minds enraptured by eagerness. Drums resounded, showers of flowers rained down, and the lords of the Gandharvas, with their consorts, sang the spotless glories of the Lord. Within the rāsa circle, the sound of bracelets, anklets, and bells mingled with the laughter and song of the gopīs and their Beloved. Among them, the Lord, son of Devakī, shone resplendent, like a great emerald set among golden gems. The gopīs, with stamping feet, waving arms, playful glances, dancing brows, and swaying earrings brushing their cheeks, with loosened hair damp with sweat, sang joyfully. They sparkled like lightning within a circle of clouds. Their voices soared as they danced, their throats flushed with passion, delighting in Kṛṣṇa’s touch. The beloveds sang, filling the grove with their sweet song. One gopī, singing with Mukunda, skillfully blended her melody with His; honored by His affection and praised with “Well done, well done,” she sang again and again, receiving His special favor. Another, exhausted from the dance, let her bracelet slip and her jasmine garland loosen, and rested her arm upon the shoulder of the mace-bearing Lord beside her. One, seizing Kṛṣṇa’s arm—fragrant with blue lotus and sandalwood—pressed it to her nose in delight and kissed it. Another, her cheek adorned by sparkling earrings tossed by her dance, pressed her cheek to His and offered Him betel she had chewed. One, dancing and singing, her anklets and girdle ringing, grew weary and placed the lotus hand of Acyuta upon her breasts for comfort. The gopīs, having gained Acyuta as their beloved—the exclusive consort of Śrī—embraced Him around the neck and, singing, delighted in His company. With lotus earrings, shining locks, cheeks glistening with sweat, radiant faces, and the music of bracelets and anklets, the gopīs danced together with the Lord. Their garlands loosened in their hair, they moved in the company of bees humming in the cowherd’s grove. In this way, with embraces, touches, affectionate glances, playful smiles, and laughter, the Lord of Lakṣmī delighted with the beautiful women of Vraja, just as a child delights in his own reflection. Overwhelmed by joy from contact with His limbs, the women—hair, garments, and breastbands loosened—struggled to gather what had fallen, their garlands and ornaments slipping down, O best of the Kurus. Witnessing Kṛṣṇa’s playful sports, the celestial women in the sky became bewildered, overcome by longing; even the moon and his retinue gazed in astonishment. Kṛṣṇa, by His playful will, assumed as many forms as there were cowherd women, though He is ever self-satisfied, and enjoyed with them all. When the gopīs grew tired from their exuberant play, He, compassionate and loving, gently wiped their faces with His peaceful hand. Their cheeks adorned by golden earrings and shining hair, the gopīs, with sweet smiles and glances, sang of the glorious deeds of the foremost of men, feeling blessed by the touch of His lotus hands. Surrounded by those women, their garlands crushed and smeared with saffron from their breasts, He entered the forest, followed by hosts of Gandharvas, just as a weary elephant, breaking through a dam, enters the water surrounded by female elephants. There, as He was bathed by the young women, gazed upon with love and laughter from all sides, and praised by celestial beings showering flowers, the self-delighting Lord sported like the king of elephants. Then, in Krishna’s grove, on land and water, where the air was perfumed by flowers, He wandered, surrounded by joyful women like a rutting elephant with His female companions. Thus, through nights adorned by the rays of the moon, true to His word and surrounded by loving women, He enjoyed the poetic essence of the autumn season, His passion absorbed within Himself. At this, King Parikshit asked: “O Brahman, the Lord descends to establish righteousness and subdue unrighteousness. How, then, could He, who is the upholder of dharma, act contrary by touching the wives of others? The Lord of the Yadus is self-satisfied—what was His intention in performing this act, which is censured? Please dispel my doubt.” Śuka replied: “Transgressions of righteousness and bold acts are sometimes seen among the lords, the gods. For the powerful, there is no fault, just as fire consumes everything without being tainted. One who is not a lord should never imitate this, not even in thought; if he acts out of ignorance, he perishes, just as Rudra was harmed by the poison from the ocean. The words and actions of the lords are true, but the wise should follow only those words and deeds that are in accord with reason. The lords act skillfully, without personal aim; nor is there harm for those without ego, even if the opposite seems to occur. What then of all beings—animals, mortals, and gods—who are subject to the law of cause and effect? The connection of good and evil applies to them. But those who are satisfied by serving the dust of His lotus feet, whose yoga has dissolved all bondage of karma, roam freely as sages, unrestrained. By His will, having assumed a body, how could there be any bondage at all? He who dwells within all beings—the gopīs, their husbands, and everyone embodied—is the overseer, playing here in various forms. For the sake of showing favor to living beings, He has taken on a human body and performs such wondrous pastimes. Hearing of these, one becomes devoted to Him.