As the gopīs pondered Krishna’s absence, one of them spoke to the king, questioning why Krishna, having gained his kingdom, vanquished his enemies, married royal maidens, and surrounded himself with beloved friends, would return to their humble forest. What purpose could simple forest dwellers or others serve for the great soul, the Lord of Lakshmi, who had fulfilled every desire and was accomplished within himself? Yet, she reflected, supreme happiness lies in freedom from expectation, as Pingala the courtesan had once declared. Still, even knowing this truth, the hope they held in Krishna was impossible to relinquish. Who could bear to forsake communion with the glorified Lord, even unwillingly, when fortune itself never departs from his limbs? The rivers, mountains, forests, cows, and the melodious sound of the flute—all had been traversed by Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana. Again and again, the abodes of Lakshmi reminded them of Nanda’s son; his footprints left them unable to forget him. With his graceful walk, noble laughter, playful glances, and sweet speech, Krishna had captivated their minds completely—how could they ever forget him? With hearts full of longing, they prayed: “O Lord, O consort of Lakshmi, O master of Vraja, destroyer of distress, lift up Gokula from the ocean of suffering in which it is submerged, O Govinda.” Śuka then narrated: Relieved of the fever of separation by Krishna’s messages, the gopīs honored Uddhava, recognizing him as a manifestation of the Lord. Uddhava remained in Vraja for several months, dispelling the grief of the gopīs, singing stories of Krishna’s pastimes, and delighting all of Gokula. For as many days as Uddhava stayed in Nanda’s Vraja, the moments passed swiftly for its residents, absorbed in news of Krishna. As Uddhava beheld the rivers, forests, and blossoming trees, he remembered Krishna and found joy in serving the people of Vraja. Witnessing the gopīs so absorbed in Krishna, their minds overwhelmed with devotion, Uddhava, filled with supreme joy, bowed to them and sang their praises. He declared, “These cowherd women are the highest among embodied beings on earth, for their love for Govinda is deep within the heart. Even sages, fearful of rebirth, and we ourselves desire such devotion—what use is birth as Brahma compared to tasting the nectar of Krishna’s stories? Where are these women, forest-dwellers, corrupted by transgression, and where is this supreme love for Krishna, the Paramatma? Truly, even those ignorant who worship the Lord directly attain blessing, just as a king bestows favor upon those who serve him.” He continued, “O friend, this grace of intense love is not found even among the heavenly women, fragrant as lotuses, nor among others; it arose at the rasa festival, when Krishna embraced the necks of the beloveds of Vraja, granting them fulfillment. Oh, how I wish I could become even a blade of grass, a bush, a creeper, or a herb here in Vṛndāvana, so that I might receive the dust of the feet of those who, abandoning what is so hard to give up—their own kin and the path of the virtuous—have sought the path of Mukunda, which is searched for by the Vedas. Those whose breasts are adorned with the lotus feet of Krishna—the Lord, worshipped by Lakshmi and the greatest of the self-satisfied yogis, and who is the very goal of the rāsa dance—have, by embracing Him, cast off all suffering. I bow again and again to the dust of the feet of the women of Nanda's Vraja, whose singing of Hari's glories purifies all the three worlds.” Śuka then said: After taking leave of the gopīs, Yaśodā, Nanda, and bidding farewell to the cowherds, Uddhava, about to depart, ascended his chariot. As he was leaving, Nanda and the others, their hands full of various gifts, approached him with affection, their eyes filled with tears, and spoke: “May our minds always rest at the lotus feet of Krishna, may our words speak only His names, and may our bodies bow in His service. Though we are tossed about by our actions wherever the Lord's will may send us, may our devotion to Krishna remain steady through auspicious acts and charity.” Thus honored by the cowherds with devotion to Krishna, Uddhava returned to Mathurā, protected by Krishna. He bowed to Krishna and, his heart overflowing with devotion for the people of Vraja, offered gifts to Vasudeva, Rama, and the king. Śuka continued: The Lord, the Soul of all, knowing the desire of Sairandhrī (Kubjā) and wishing to please her, went to her house. Her home was rich with splendid furnishings, enhanced for pleasure, adorned with pearl garlands, banners, canopies, beds, and seats, fragrant with incense, bright with lamps, and decorated with garlands and perfumes. Seeing Krishna enter, Kubjā, flustered, immediately rose from her seat, approached Him as was proper, and, together with her companions, honored Acyuta with a seat and other offerings. Uddhava, too, was respectfully welcomed and, after touching the seat, sat down. Krishna, following worldly custom, quickly entered the splendid bed. Kubjā, having bathed, anointed herself, dressed in fine garments and ornaments, garlanded, perfumed, and having chewed betel, approached Mādhava, her bashful, sidelong, smiling glances betraying her excitement. Krishna called his beloved, who was shy at their first meeting and hesitant, her hand adorned with bracelets. Taking her by the hand, He seated her on the bed and enjoyed with her, she blessed by the merit of anointing Him. Her breasts and heart burning with passion, her eyes longing, Kubjā inhaled the fragrance of His feet, massaged away her pains with them, and, embracing her beloved between her arms and breasts, found in the embodiment of bliss the end of her long suffering. Having attained Krishna, the Lord of liberation, so hard to attain, Kubjā, though unfortunate, asked Him for a boon by offering Him sandal paste: “Let my beloved stay here with me for a few days; enjoy with me, O lotus-eyed one, for I cannot bear to be parted from you.” Krishna granted her the boon she desired and, having honored her, the Giver of Honor, along with Uddhava, returned to His own revered abode. Śuka explained: He who, by great worship, propitiates Vishnu, the Lord of all lords, and then chooses a boon pleasing to the mind, if lacking in goodness, is of poor judgment. Krishna, together with Rama and Uddhava, desiring to accomplish something and wishing to please Akrūra, went to Akrūra's house. Seeing from a distance those best of men, his own kinsmen, Akrūra rose joyfully, embraced them, and welcomed them with delight. He bowed to Krishna and Rama, and they too greeted him; then, having accepted their seats as prescribed, he worshipped them properly. He held the water for washing their feet upon his head, O King, and honored them with divine garments, fragrant garlands, and the finest ornaments.