Krishna, the son of Devaki, approached his parents with humility and reverence. He spoke, “O Father and Mother, please forgive us. We were dependent and greatly afflicted by a cruel-hearted man, and thus could not serve you as we should have.” Hearing these words, spoken by Hari—the Soul of the universe who had assumed a human form through his divine power—his parents were bewildered, their minds enchanted. They lifted Krishna onto their laps and embraced him, their hearts overflowing with joy. Tears streamed down their faces, and their throats choked with emotion. Bound by the ties of affection and overwhelmed by love, they could not utter a word, their minds awash with feeling. After comforting his parents in this way, Krishna, the Lord, installed his maternal grandfather, Ugrasena, as king over the Yadus. He said, “O great king, you should command us and the people. Because of Yayāti’s curse, the Yadus must not sit upon the royal throne.” Krishna explained, “When I, your servant, am present, even the gods and others bow down and offer tribute—what then of other human kings?” All their relatives—the Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasharhas, Kukuras, and others—who had been scattered and distressed in every direction by fear of Kamsa, were honored by Krishna. He comforted those worn by exile in foreign lands and settled them in their own homes, generously providing them with wealth. Protected by the strong arms of Krishna and Sankarshana, their cherished wishes fulfilled, the people lived happily in their homes, freed from all distress by Krishna and Rama. Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon the lotus-like face of Mukunda, always radiant, beautiful, and beaming with a compassionate smile. Even the elders appeared youthful and full of vigor, repeatedly drinking with their eyes the nectar of Mukunda’s face. Then, Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana, approached Nanda and embraced him warmly. He spoke, “By you, our affectionate father, we were cherished and deeply cared for. Indeed, parents have even greater love for their children than for themselves. That father and mother who nurture children abandoned by relatives and unable to care for themselves, do so as if they were their own sons. Please, father, return to Vraja. We will come to see you and our dear relatives, who are pained by affection, after ensuring the happiness of our friends here.” Thus consoling Nanda and the people of Vraja, Achyuta honored them respectfully with clothing, ornaments, vessels, and other gifts. Overwhelmed with affection, Nanda embraced Krishna and Sankarshana, his eyes brimming with tears, and departed for Vraja along with the cowherds. Then, Vasudeva, Krishna’s father, arranged for the proper sacred thread ceremony for his two sons, performed by priests and brahmins according to tradition. He gave them gifts: cows adorned with gold necklaces, well-decorated, with calves and draped in fine cloth, honoring the priests who were similarly adorned. Those cows, which Vasudeva had mentally dedicated at the birth of Krishna and Rama, he now gave, recalling that Kamsa had unlawfully taken them. Having received their initiation and attained the status of twice-born, Krishna and Balarama undertook the vow of study under Garga and other family preceptors. Though they are the source of all knowledge, all-knowing, and Lords of the universe, they concealed their flawless wisdom, behaving as ordinary humans. Desiring to reside in a teacher’s house, they approached Sandipani of Kashi, who lived in Avanti. With self-control, they properly approached their teacher and served him blamelessly, learning from him with devotion, as if he were a god. Pleased by their pure and devoted conduct, Sandipani instructed them in all the Vedas with their branches and Upanishads, as their teacher. He taught them the secret Dhanurveda, the principles of righteousness and the paths of justice, as well as the science of reasoning and the sixfold science of royal governance. Krishna and Balarama, initiators of all knowledge, comprehended everything at once, merely from a single utterance. In just sixty-four days and nights, they mastered all those arts. Then, as their teacher’s fee, they asked Sandipani what he desired. Observing their wondrous and superhuman intelligence, Sandipani, after consulting with his wife, requested the return of his son who had died at Prabhasa in the great ocean. Agreeing, Krishna and Balarama ascended their great chariot, reached Prabhasa, approached the shore, and sat for a moment. The ocean, recognizing them, brought offerings of respect. The Lord spoke, “O Ocean, quickly give the son who was swallowed here by you, seized by a great wave.” The Ocean replied, “O Lord, I did not take him. The great demon Panchajana, who dwells in the waters in the form of a conch, seized him, O Krishna.” Hearing this, Krishna swiftly entered the water, slew that being, but did not find the boy within its belly. Taking the conch that had arisen from its body, he returned to his chariot and then went to the city called Samyamani, beloved of Yama. Having arrived, Janardana, together with his weapons, sounded the conch. Hearing its loud blast, Yama, the restrainer of beings, took notice. He offered them great worship, enhanced by devotion, bowed to Krishna, the abode of all beings’ hearts, and said, “O Vishnu, who acts in human form, what shall we do for you both?” The Blessed Lord replied, “The son of our teacher, brought here by the bonds of his own deeds, O great king, bring him forth, commanded by my order.” Saying “so be it,” Yama brought forth the teacher’s son to Krishna and Balarama. After giving him to their teacher, they again asked Sandipani to choose a boon. The revered teacher said, “My dear ones, you have fully repaid your teacher’s fee. What desire could remain for a teacher such as yours? Return home, O heroes. May your fame be pure; may the Vedas you have learned remain with you here and hereafter.