Within the enchanting circle of the rāsa, the wives of Kṛṣṇa shone with radiant beauty. Their feet stamped in rhythm, arms waved gracefully, and playful smiles adorned their faces. The movement of their brows, the swaying of earrings brushing their cheeks, and loosened braids damp with sweat made them glow like lightning amidst clouds. Their singing, vibrant and joyful, filled the grove, voices raised and throats flushed with passion, delighted by Kṛṣṇa’s touch. One beloved, singing alongside Mukunda, skillfully blended her song with his. Honored by his affectionate praise—“Well done, well done!”—she sang again and again, receiving his special favor. Another, exhausted from the dance, rested her arm, with loosened bracelet and jasmine garland, upon the shoulder of the mace-bearer standing nearby. One, thrilled with joy, took Kṛṣṇa’s fragrant, sandalwood-smeared lotus arm to her nose and kissed it. Another, her cheek gleaming with earrings tossed by her dancing, pressed her cheek to his and offered him betel she had chewed. One, weary from singing and dancing, anklets and girdle ringing, placed Acyuta’s lotus hand upon her breasts for comfort. The gopīs, having attained Acyuta as their beloved—the exclusive consort of Śrī—embraced him around the neck, singing and rejoicing in his company. Their faces shone with sweat and radiant smiles, music of bracelets and anklets filling the air. Garlands loosened in their hair, they danced together with the Lord, surrounded by bees singing in the cowherd’s grove. With embraces, touches of the hand, affectionate glances, playful smiles and laughter, the Lord of Lakshmi delighted with the beautiful women of Vraja, just as a child delights in his own reflection. Overwhelmed with joy from contact with his limbs, their hair, garments, or breastbands loosened, the gopīs could not properly gather up what had fallen; garlands and ornaments slipped down, their senses awhirl. Witnessing Kṛṣṇa’s playful sports, even the celestial women in the sky became bewildered and overcome with desire; the moon and his retinue were astonished. By his own playful will, the Blessed Lord assumed as many forms as there were cowherd women, though self-satisfied, and enjoyed with them all. When the gopīs grew tired from excessive play, Kṛṣṇa, compassionate and loving, gently wiped their faces with his peaceful hand. Their cheeks adorned by radiant earrings and hair, sweet smiles and glances, they sang of his glorious deeds, feeling blessed by the touch of his lotus hands. Surrounded by those women—garlands crushed and smeared with saffron from their breasts—he entered the forest, followed by Gandharvas, like a weary elephant entering water surrounded by female elephants. There, bathed by the young women, gazed upon with love and laughter, and praised by celestial beings showering flowers, he sported like the king of elephants. In Krishna’s grove, on land and water, where the air was fragrant with flowers, he wandered, surrounded by swarms of joyful women, like a rutting elephant with his companions. Through nights adorned by moon rays, true to his word and surrounded by loving women, he enjoyed their company, his passion absorbed within himself, savoring the poetic essence of the autumn season. At this, King Parikshit asked: “O Brahman, the Lord of the universe descends to establish righteousness and subdue unrighteousness. How then could he, the protector of dharma, act contrary by touching the wives of others? The Lord of the Yadus, self-satisfied, performed an act that is censured; what was his intention? Please dispel my doubt, O virtuous one.” Shuka replied: “Transgressions and bold acts are seen among the lords (gods); for the powerful, there is no fault, just as fire consumes everything. 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 of lords are true, and so are their actions at times; the wise should follow only those words and deeds that accord with reason. By their skillful conduct, they have no personal aim; nor is there harm for those without ego, even if the opposite occurs. For all beings—animals, mortals, gods—who are ruled and to be ruled, the connection of good and evil applies to them. Those who are satisfied by serving the dust of His lotus feet, whose powers of yoga have 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 all embodied—is the overseer, playing here in bodies. For the sake of showing favor to living beings, He has taken on a human body and performs such pastimes, hearing which one becomes devoted to Him. Indeed, the residents of Vraja, deluded by His māyā, did not envy Krishna, thinking those beside them to be their own spouses. When the night of Brahmā had ended, the gopīs, beloved of the Lord, though reluctant, returned to their homes, with Vasudeva’s approval. Whoever faithfully hears or recounts this play of the wives of Vraja with Viṣṇu quickly attains supreme devotion to the Lord, and the wise swiftly remove the disease of lust from the heart. Shuka continued: Once, during a festival for the gods, the cowherds, eager with excitement, set out for Ambikā forest with their oxen yoked to carts. There, after bathing in the Sarasvatī, they worshipped the mighty Lord Paśupati and the goddess Ambikā with devotion. They respectfully gave cows, gold, clothing, honey, and food to the brāhmaṇas, praying, “May the Lord be pleased with us.” On the bank of the Sarasvatī, having drunk water and observed vows, the blessed Nanda, Sunanda, and others spent the night. In that forest, a great serpent, extremely hungry, came by chance and seized Nanda as he lay asleep. Gripped by the serpent, Nanda cried out, “Krishna, Krishna, this is terrible! Father, a snake is swallowing me—save me, I have taken refuge in you!” Hearing his cries, the cowherds quickly rose; seeing him seized, bewildered, they struck the serpent with sticks.