By great fortune, the wicked Kaṁsa and his followers have been destroyed, and this noble family has been rescued from grave distress and restored to safety by the efforts of Krishna and Balarama. Indeed, these two are none other than the Supreme Persons themselves—the origin and substance of the entire universe. Beyond them, there is nothing higher or lower; all that exists arises from them alone. This universe, created by their own will, is entered and pervaded by them through their divine powers. In countless ways, O Brahman, they manifest themselves, becoming perceptible through both hearing and direct experience. Just as various forms appear in the wombs of all beings, both moving and unmoving—including my own—so too, O Lord, do you manifest in many forms within beings born of yourself, entirely self-sufficient. You alone create, maintain, and destroy the universe by your powers of passion, darkness, and goodness—yet you remain untouched by these qualities or by the actions they produce. For you are the very self of knowledge; how could there ever be any cause of bondage for you? Your existence is not defined by body or any limiting adjuncts, and thus you are beyond all differences. For you, there is neither bondage nor liberation. May we never be confused about your true nature. Whenever the ancient path of the Vedas is blocked by false doctrines and untruth, you appear in this world, endowed with the quality of goodness, for the welfare of all beings. Thus, O Lord, you have descended today into the house of Vasudeva with your own portion, to relieve the burden of the earth, destroying countless armies of hostile kings and spreading the glory of this dynasty. Truly, our homes are blessed today, for you—the form of all gods, ancestors, beings, and men, whose foot-washing water purifies the three worlds, O teacher of the universe, Adhokṣaja—have entered them. What wise man would seek shelter anywhere but with you, who are dear to your devotees, whose words are always true, who are a friend to all and ever grateful, who grants all desires to those who worship you, and for whom gain and loss mean nothing? By great fortune, O Janārdana, you have appeared before us here, though even the greatest yogis and gods find you difficult to reach. Please, swiftly cut for us the bonds of delusion—our attachments to children, spouse, wealth, relatives, home, body, and so forth—which are your own māyā. Thus worshipped and praised by his devotee, the Blessed Lord Hari smiled and spoke to Akrura, enchanting him with his words. The Lord said, “You are our teacher, our paternal uncle, ever-honored kinsman. We are to be protected, nourished, and shown compassion by you, for we are your dependents. Exalted souls like you, best among the worthy, should always be served by those who seek their own good. The gods act for their own sake, but the virtuous do not. Holy places are not truly sanctified by water, nor are the gods merely images of clay and stone; it is the sight of the virtuous that purifies, even in a moment. You, our well-wisher, are most capable of seeking our welfare; therefore, for the sake of learning about the Pāṇḍavas, go now to Hastināpura. We have heard that, after their father’s death, the children, together with their mother, were brought to their own city by the king and now reside there, deeply distressed. Yet the king, son of Ambikā, is not impartial toward his brother’s sons; surely, under the influence of his wicked son, his vision is clouded. Go and learn their present condition, whether good or bad. Once we know, we will act to secure the welfare of our friends.” Having thus instructed Akrura, Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller, departed to his own residence, accompanied by Sankarṣaṇa and Uddhava. Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter of the first half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṁsas. Śuka continued: Akrura set out for Hastināpura, the famed city of the Paurava kings. There, he saw the son of Ambikā, along with Bhīṣma, Vidura, and Pṛthā. He also encountered Bāhlīka and his son, Bhāradvāja and Gautama, Karṇa, Suyodhana, Aśvatthāmā, the Pāṇḍavas, and many other friends. The son of Gāndinī approached each of his relatives as appropriate, was warmly asked about the welfare of friends, and in turn inquired about their well-being. He stayed there for a few months, wishing to discern the conduct of the king, who was poorly advised, lacking in substance, and swayed by the wishes of the wicked. Akrura observed that the king did not wish to see or acknowledge the brilliance, strength, valor, humility, and other virtues, nor the people’s affection for the sons of Pṛthā. All the wrongs done by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons—including poisoning and other misdeeds—were fully recounted to him by Pṛthā and also by Vidura. When Pṛthā saw her brother Akrura had arrived, her eyes filled with tears as she remembered her birthplace, and she spoke to him: “O gentle one, do my parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, sisters-in-law, and friends still remember us? The illustrious Krishna, my cousin, who is the refuge and beloved of his devotees, and Rama, the lotus-eyed, do they remember their maternal aunt’s children? In the midst of my co-wives, grieving like a doe among wolves, Krishna will console me with words, and also comfort my children, who are bereft of their father. Krishna, Krishna! Great yogi, soul of the universe, creator of the world—protect me, O Govinda, for I have taken refuge in you and am sinking together with my children. I see no other refuge for people than your lotus feet, O Lord, who deliver from the fearful ocean of birth and death. Salutations to Krishna, the pure, the Supreme Spirit, the Supreme Soul, the Lord of yoga and embodiment of yoga; I have sought refuge in you.” Thus, remembering her relatives and Krishna, the Lord of the universe, your great-grandmother, O King, began to pray, afflicted with sorrow. The noble Vidura, impartial in both happiness and distress, and the renowned Akrura, comforted Kunti with words of reason, reminding her of the divine purpose behind the birth of her sons. As Akrura prepared to depart, he approached the king, who was partial to his own sons, and spoke among the friends and relatives, prompted by goodwill: “O descendant of Vicitravīrya, you who enhance the fame of the Kurus, now that your brother Pāṇḍu has departed, you have assumed the throne. By ruling the earth righteously, pleasing the people with virtue, and remaining impartial to your own, you will attain prosperity and fame. Otherwise, if you act differently in this world, you will be condemned and fall into darkness. Therefore, remain impartial toward the Pāṇḍavas and your own sons.