Who could ever bear to part from communion with the glorified Lord, even if forced by circumstance, when fortune itself never leaves His divine form? The rivers, mountains, forests, cows, and the sweet sound of the flute—all these have been traversed by Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana, O master. Again and again, the abodes of Lakshmi remind the people of Vraja of Nanda’s son; by the footprints He has left, they find themselves unable to forget Him. His graceful walk, noble laughter, playful glances, and sweet speech have captivated their minds; how could they ever forget Him? With heartfelt yearning, they pray: “O Lord, O consort of Lakshmi, O master of Vraja, destroyer of distress, lift up Gokula, O Govinda, from the ocean of suffering in which it is submerged.” Śuka tells that, after hearing Krishna’s messages, the fever of separation was eased in the hearts of the gopis, who then honored Uddhava, recognizing him as a manifestation of the Lord Himself. Uddhava remained in Vraja for several months, dispelling the grief of the gopis, recounting Krishna’s pastimes, and delighting all of Gokula. As long as Uddhava stayed in Nanda’s Vraja, the days passed swiftly for the residents, absorbed as they were in the news of Krishna. Uddhava, beholding the rivers, forests, and blossoming trees, remembered Krishna and found joy, serving the people of Vraja. Seeing the gopis so deeply absorbed in Krishna, their minds overwhelmed with love, Uddhava, filled with supreme joy, bowed to them and sang their praises. He reflected: “These cowherd women are the highest among embodied beings on earth, for their love for Govinda is deep within their hearts. 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. “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 Vrindavana, 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, adorned with the lotus feet of Krishna—the Lord worshipped by Lakshmi and the greatest of self-satisfied yogis, and who is the very goal of the rasa 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 continues: After taking leave of the gopis, Yashoda, Nanda, and bidding farewell to the cowherds, Uddhava prepared to depart, ascending 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 Mathura, 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 narrates further: Then the Lord, the Soul of all, who sees everything, knowing the desire of Sairandhri (Kubja) and wishing to please her, went to her house. Her house 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 Him enter her house, Kubja, 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. Kubja, having bathed, anointed herself, dressed in fine garments and ornaments, garlanded, perfumed, and having chewed betel, approached Madhava, 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, she 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 Him, the Lord of liberation, so hard to attain, she, 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.” Having granted her the boon she desired and having honored her, the Giver of Honor, along with Uddhava, returned to His own revered abode. Śuka observes: 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, the Lord, together with Rama and Uddhava, desiring to accomplish something and wishing to please Akrura, went to Akrura’s house. Seeing from a distance those best of men, his own kinsmen, Akrura 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. Having worshipped them, bowing his head, and washing their feet with his hands, Akrura, full of humility, addressed Krishna and Rama: “By good fortune, wicked Kamsa and his followers have been slain, and this family has been rescued from great distress and restored by you both. You two are the Supreme Persons, the causes and the substance of the universe; apart from you, there is nothing higher or lower.