After the exhilarating rāsa dance, one gopī, tired and adorned with a loosened jasmine garland and bracelets slipping down her arm, rested that arm gently upon the shoulder of Krishna, the mighty bearer of the mace, who stood beside her. Another, enraptured, took Krishna’s fragrant arm—scented with blue lotus and sandalwood—and pressed it to her nose, feeling a surge of joy as she kissed it. A third, her cheek shimmering with the light of earrings tossed about by her dancing, pressed her cheek to Krishna’s and lovingly offered him betel that she herself had chewed. Yet another, her anklets and girdle ringing as she danced and sang, grew weary and placed Krishna’s lotus hand upon her breasts for comfort, Acyuta standing close. The gopīs, having gained Acyuta—who is the exclusive consort of Śrī—as their beloved, embraced him around the neck with their arms and sang joyfully, enjoying his company. Their lotus earrings, locks of hair, and cheeks glistened with sweat, faces radiant, bracelets and anklets chiming melodiously as they danced with Krishna. Their garlands loosened in their hair, bees joined in the song, humming through the cowherd’s grove. Krishna, the Lord of Lakshmi, delighted in the company of the beautiful women of Vraja, exchanging embraces, affectionate touches, playful smiles, and laughter, just as a child delights in his own reflection. The gopīs’ senses were overwhelmed with joy from contact with Krishna’s limbs. Their hair, garments, and breastbands loosened, they struggled to gather up what had fallen—garlands and ornaments slipping down—so absorbed were they in bliss. Witnessing Krishna’s playful sports, even the celestial women in the sky became bewildered, overcome by desire; the moon and his retinue were astonished at the spectacle. By his own playful will, the Blessed Lord assumed as many forms as there were cowherd women, though he is self-satisfied, and enjoyed with them all. When the gopīs became tired from their exuberant play, Krishna, full of compassion and love, gently wiped their faces with his peaceful hand. Their cheeks, adorned by golden earrings and radiant hair, shone as they smiled sweetly and sang of Krishna’s glorious deeds, feeling blessed by the touch of his lotus hands. Surrounded by these women, their garlands crushed and smeared with saffron from their breasts, Krishna entered the forest, followed by hosts of Gandharvas, just as a weary elephant enters water surrounded by female elephants. There, bathed by the young women, gazed upon with love and laughter, and praised by celestial beings showering flowers, the self-delighting Lord sported like the king of elephants. In Krishna’s grove, on both land and water, the air was fragrant with flowers. Krishna wandered, surrounded by swarms of joyful women, like a rutting elephant with his female companions. Thus, through nights adorned by the moon’s rays, Krishna, true to his word and surrounded by loving women, enjoyed their company, his passion absorbed within himself, savoring the poetic essence of the autumn season. At this point, King Parikshit spoke: “O Brahman, the Lord of the universe descends in person to establish righteousness and subdue unrighteousness. How then could he, the speaker, doer, and protector of dharma, act contrary to it by touching the wives of others? The Lord of the Yadus, who is self-satisfied, performed an act that is censured; what was his intention in this? Please dispel my doubt, O virtuous one.” Śuka replied: “Transgressions of righteousness and bold acts are seen among the lords—the 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 the lords are true, and so too 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 here; nor, O master, is there harm for those without ego, even if the opposite occurs. What, then, of all beings—animals, mortals, and 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 everyone 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 person swiftly removes the disease of lust from the heart. Śuka continued: Once, during a festival for the gods, the cowherds, eager and excited, set out for the Ambikā forest with their oxen yoked to carts. There, after bathing in the Sarasvatī, they worshipped the mighty Lord Paśupati with offerings, and also 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, 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. Even as it was burned by firebrands, the serpent did not release him. Then Krishna, master of the Sātvatas, approached and touched it with His feet. Struck by the touch of the glorious Lord’s feet, the serpent’s evil was destroyed; abandoning its serpent form, it assumed a radiant body honored by the Vidyādharas. Hrishikesha, Krishna, questioned him, who now stood there bowing, shining with a radiant form, adorned with a golden garland.