Krishna, with deep compassion, honored those who had suffered exile in foreign lands, comforting their wearied hearts and settling them back in their own homes. He generously bestowed wealth upon them, ensuring their well-being. Protected by the mighty arms of Krishna and Sankarshana, the people found their cherished wishes fulfilled. Freed from all distress by Krishna and Rama, they lived happily in their homes. Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon the radiant lotus face of Mukunda, whose beauty and compassionate smile brought joy to all. Even the elders seemed youthful and vigorous, their eyes drinking in the nectar of Mukunda’s face, never tiring of its charm. Then, O King, Krishna, the son of Devaki, together with Sankarshana, approached Nanda. They warmly embraced him and spoke with heartfelt affection: “By you, our loving father, we were cherished and cared for. Indeed, parents have even greater love for their children than for themselves. Those fathers and mothers who nurture children abandoned by others, unable to care for themselves, treat them as their own sons. Please, father, return to Vraja. After ensuring the happiness of our friends here, we will come to see you and our dear relatives, who are pained by affection.” Thus, Achyuta consoled Nanda and the people of Vraja, honoring them with gifts of clothing, ornaments, vessels, and other treasures. Overwhelmed with affection, Nanda embraced Krishna and Sankarshana, his eyes brimming with tears, and departed for Vraja with the cowherds. Afterwards, Vasudeva, son of Sura, arranged for the 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 received similar gifts. Vasudeva recalled the cows he had mentally dedicated at the birth of Krishna and Rama, which Kamsa had unlawfully seized, and now gave them as offerings. Having received their initiation and attained the status of twice-born, Krishna and Sankarshana 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. He taught them the secret Dhanurveda, the principles of righteousness and justice, the science of reasoning, and the sixfold science of royal governance. Krishna and Sankarshana, initiators of all knowledge, comprehended everything at once, merely from a single utterance. In just sixty-four days and nights, they mastered all these 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 Sankarshana ascended their great chariot and reached Prabhasa. They 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, seized by a great wave.” The Ocean replied: “O Lord, I did not take him. The great demon Panchajana, who dwells in the waters as a conch, seized him, O Krishna.” Hearing this, Krishna swiftly entered the water, slew Panchajana, but did not find the boy within its belly. Taking the conch that had arisen from its body, he returned to his chariot and went to the city called Samyamani, beloved of Yama. Upon arrival, Janardana sounded the conch; hearing its loud blast, Yama, the restrainer of beings, took notice. Yama offered them great worship, bowing 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.” Yama agreed, and brought forth the teacher’s son to Krishna and Sankarshana. After returning the boy to their teacher, they again asked Sandipani to choose a boon. The revered teacher replied: “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.” Thus permitted by their teacher, Krishna and Sankarshana returned to their city in their chariot, swift as the wind and sounding like thunderclouds. All the people rejoiced to see Rama and Janardana, as those who have recovered lost wealth after many days of deprivation. Now, as stated in the Śaiva Tantras, the sixty-four arts they mastered are: singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, acting, painting, making decorative cuttings, rice and flower arrangements, making flower beds, tooth, clothing, and body adornment, arranging jeweled floors, preparing beds, playing water instruments, splashing water, various artistic combinations, weaving garlands, arranging head ornaments, preparing costumes, shaping ear ornaments, blending fragrances, arranging jewelry, conjuring tricks, wrestling techniques, sleight of hand, making various vegetable and flour foods, preparing drinks and flavored liquors, needlework, string games, riddles, reciting chains of verses, tongue-twisters, reading books, seeing plays and stories, completing poetic puzzles, making various mats and canes, spinning and weaving, carpentry, architecture, testing silver and gems, metallurgy, knowledge of gem colors, knowledge of mines, knowledge of tree life, rules for ram, cock, and quail fights, training parrots and mynas to speak, cleaning, skill in hairdressing, reciting secret codes, mimicking foreign languages, knowledge of regional dialects, interpreting omens from flower garlands, making mechanical devices, making magical diagrams, reciting together, composing poetry in the mind, various creative activities, tricks and games, knowledge of dictionaries, meters, and prosody, methods of concealing clothes, special dice games, magnet games, children's toys, knowledge of Vainayikī, Vaijayikī, and Vaitālikī arts. Śrī Śuka continued: Among the Vṛṣṇis, Uddhava was foremost—a wise counselor, beloved friend of Krishna, and direct disciple of Bṛhaspati, excelling in intelligence. To him, the Lord, remover of distress for those who seek refuge, once spoke—taking Uddhava’s hand in his own, for he was most dear and devoted. Krishna said, “Go, O gentle Uddhava, to Vraja. Bring joy to my parents and, with my messages, relieve the agony of the gopīs caused by separation from me. Those women, their minds fixed on me, their very life devoted to me, have given up bodily comforts for my sake; they have come to me, their beloved, their very self, in their hearts. Those who have abandoned worldly duties for me—I uphold them.