As Uddhava wandered through the tranquil rivers, lush forests, and blossoming trees of Vraja, his heart was filled with memories of Krishna. In these sacred surroundings, he found great joy, dedicating himself to serving the people of Vraja with devotion. He soon beheld the gopīs, their minds so deeply absorbed in thoughts of Krishna that they seemed overwhelmed by love. Witnessing their extraordinary devotion, Uddhava was filled with supreme joy. He bowed reverently before them and began to sing their praises. “These cowherd women,” he declared, “are the highest among all embodied beings on earth. The love they hold for Govinda is hidden deep within their hearts. Even great sages—who are fearful of rebirth—and even we ourselves, yearn for such devotion. What use is it to be born as Brahma himself, compared to tasting the nectar of Krishna’s stories? “Just consider: where are these simple women, dwellers of the forest, who have strayed from the ordinary path, and where is this supreme love for Krishna, the Paramatma? Truly, even those who are ignorant but worship the Lord directly attain his blessings, just as a king bestows favor upon those who serve him. “O friend, this intense grace of love is not found among the heavenly women, fragrant as lotuses, nor among others. It arose uniquely at the festival of rasa, when Krishna embraced the necks of his beloved Vraja maidens and fulfilled their deepest longing. “Oh, how I wish I could become even a blade of grass, a bush, a creeper, or a herb here in Vrindavana, just to 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 even the Vedas search for. “Those whose breasts have been adorned by 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.” Having thus praised the gopīs, Uddhava took leave of them, as well as of Yashoda, Nanda, and the other cowherds. Preparing to depart, he ascended his chariot. As he was about to leave, Nanda and the others approached him with affection, their hands full of gifts. Tears filled their eyes as they spoke to him, “May our minds always rest at the lotus feet of Krishna. May our words speak only his names, and may our bodies always 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 all auspicious acts and charity.” Thus honored by the cowherds, who were filled with devotion to Krishna, Uddhava returned to Mathura, feeling protected by Krishna’s grace. Upon his arrival, he bowed to Krishna, his heart overflowing with love for the people of Vraja, and offered gifts to Vasudeva, Balarama, and the king. Meanwhile, Krishna, the Soul of all, who knows the desires of every heart, wished to please Kubja, also known as Sairandhri. Understanding her longing, he went to her house. Her home was adorned with splendid furnishings, prepared for pleasure. Pearl garlands, banners, canopies, beds, and seats decorated the rooms, which were fragrant with incense, bright with lamps, and filled with garlands and perfumes. As Krishna entered, Kubja, flustered and excited, immediately rose from her seat. With her companions, she approached Krishna and honored him with a seat and other offerings. Uddhava, too, was respectfully welcomed and, after touching his seat, sat down. Krishna, following worldly custom, quickly entered the splendid bed. Kubja, having bathed and adorned herself with fine garments, ornaments, garlands, and perfumes, chewed betel and approached Madhava. Her bashful, sidelong glances and gentle smile betrayed her excitement. Krishna called his beloved, who was shy and hesitant, her hands adorned with bracelets. Taking her by the hand, he seated her on the bed and enjoyed her company—she, blessed by the merit of having anointed him. Her heart and body burning with longing, she inhaled the fragrance of his feet, massaged away her pains with them, and, embracing her beloved in her arms, found in him, the embodiment of bliss, the end of all her suffering. Having attained him, the Lord of liberation—so difficult to attain—Kubja, though considered unfortunate, offered him sandal paste and asked for a boon: “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, the Giver of Honor, granted her the boon she desired. Having honored her, he, along with Uddhava, returned to his own revered abode. Śuka then reflected, “He who worships Vishnu, Lord of all lords, with great devotion and then asks for a boon that merely pleases the mind, if lacking in goodness, is of poor judgment.” Later, Krishna, together with Balarama and Uddhava, wishing to please Akrura and accomplish something important, went to Akrura’s house. Seeing Krishna and Balarama approach from a distance, Akrura rose joyfully, embraced them, and welcomed them with delight. Bowing to Krishna and Balarama, he received their greetings and, after accepting their seats, worshipped them as prescribed. He held the water for washing their feet upon his head and honored them with divine garments, fragrant garlands, and the finest ornaments. Having worshipped them, bowing his head and washing their feet with his own hands, Akrura, full of humility, addressed Krishna and Balarama: “By good fortune, wicked Kamsa and his followers have been slain, and our 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. “This universe, created by yourself, you enter with your own powers and manifest in many ways, O Brahman, perceivable by hearing and direct experience. Just as in all beings, moving and non-moving, various forms appear in wombs such as mine, so you, O Lord, alone manifest in many ways in beings born from yourself, being self-dependent. “You create, destroy, and protect the universe by your own powers of passion, darkness, and goodness; yet you are not bound by those qualities or actions, for you are the self of knowledge—how could there be any cause of bondage for you? “Because your existence is not defined by body or other limiting adjuncts, you are not directly subject to difference; therefore, for you there is neither bondage nor liberation—may there never be confusion about you for us. “Whenever the ancient Vedic path is obstructed by false doctrines and untruth, you, for the welfare of the world, manifest yourself, endowed with the quality of goodness. Therefore, O Lord, today you have descended into the house of Vasudeva, with your own portion, to remove the burden of the earth, destroying hundreds of armies of hostile kings, and spreading the fame of this dynasty. “Today, O Lord, our dwellings are truly blessed, for you, who are the form of all gods, ancestors, beings, and men, whose foot-washing water purifies the three worlds, O teacher of the universe, Adhokshaja, have entered them. “What wise man would seek shelter anywhere else but you, who are dear to your devotees, whose words are true, who are a friend to all and grateful, who grants all desires to those who worship you, and for whom gain and loss of self mean nothing?” Thus did Akrura honor Krishna and Balarama, expressing the deepest gratitude and devotion, recognizing in them the Supreme Lord and the ultimate shelter for all beings.