As the lord of the Yavanas pursued Hari, he found himself led step by step by the Divine, who revealed Himself only at a distance, drawing the Yavana onward into the depths of a mountain cave. Despite his efforts, it was as if the Yavana sought to seize his own self with his hand—impossible and futile—for Hari always remained just out of reach. The Yavana, ill-fated and relentless, followed, taunting the Lord: “Flight does not befit one born in the noble Yadu line, such as you!” Yet, despite his mockery, he could never catch Him. Hari, the Blessed Lord, entered the cave, and the Yavana, still in pursuit, followed Him inside. There, he encountered another man lying down in repose. The foolish Yavana, thinking, “Surely this one has been brought here and lies like a saint,” struck Achyuta, who lay there, with his foot. The man, who had slept for ages, slowly awoke, opening his eyes and surveying the surroundings. He saw the Yavana standing beside him. At that very moment, the man’s angry gaze unleashed a fire born from his own body, instantly reducing the Yavana to ashes. King Parikshit, listening to this tale, asked, “O brāhmaṇa, who was that man? Of what lineage and power was he? For what reason did he sleep in the cave? What was the brilliance of the one who destroyed the Yavana?” Śrī Śuka answered, “He was Mucukunda, born in the illustrious Ikṣvāku dynasty, the great son of Māndhātṛ, renowned for his devotion to the brāhmaṇas and steadfastness in truth. For a long time, the hosts of gods, including Indra, requested him to protect them from the asuras who had grown fearful. Mucukunda performed this protection for ages. Eventually, the gods found their protector, Mucukunda, resting in the cave. They said to him, ‘O king, please desist from these hardships of protecting us. You have abandoned the world of men and a kingdom free from enemies. All your desires have been forsaken while you served us. Your sons, wives, relatives, ministers, counselors, and subjects of your own age are no longer alive. Time, the almighty and imperishable Lord, is stronger than the strongest; playing, He brings all beings to their end, just as a herdsman does with cattle. Choose a boon, good fortune to you, except for liberation—for today that is not ours to grant. There is only one Lord, the imperishable Bhagavān Viṣṇu.’ Thus addressed, Mucukunda bowed to the gods, entered the cave, and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep. After the Yavana was reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord, best among the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda. Mucukunda beheld Him—dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark upon His chest and shining with the Kaustubha gem. The Lord stood with four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful, gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings. He was a sight to behold for all mankind, His eyes smiling affectionately, ever youthful and majestic like a proud lion, possessing noble prowess. Overwhelmed by the Lord’s brilliance, Mucukunda, cautious and suspecting, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power: ‘Who are you who have come here into this forest, into the mountain cave, wandering with your lotus-petal-like feet among the thorny undergrowth? What is the brilliance of the radiant ones—be it the Lord, fire, sun, moon, Indra, guardian of the worlds, or any other—compared to yours? I consider you the foremost among the gods of gods, for you dispel the darkness of the cave as a lamp does with its light. O best of men, if it pleases you, please tell us, who are eager to serve without fault, about your birth, deeds, and lineage. As for us, O tiger among men, we are of the Ikṣvāku clan, kshatriya kin; I am called Mucukunda, son of Yuvanashva, O Lord. Exhausted from long wakefulness, my senses dulled by sleep, I lay here alone, until someone awakened me just now. He too was surely reduced to ashes by his own wickedness; immediately after, you, glorious and renowned for subduing enemies, appeared. Your unbearable radiance is so great that we cannot gaze upon you; O illustrious one, you are worthy of honor among embodied beings.’ Thus addressed, the Lord, creator of beings, replied with a smile, His voice deep as thunderclouds: ‘My births, deeds, and names are countless, O friend; even I cannot enumerate them, for they are infinite. Sometimes I have examined earthly births with great beings, but my births are never defined by qualities, deeds, or names. O king, my births and deeds span all three times; even the greatest sages, tracing them in order, never reach their end. Yet, O friend, listen now as I speak of my present birth: Long ago, Brahma requested me to protect dharma. To relieve the earth’s burden and destroy the asuras, I descended into the Yadu lineage, in the house of Anakadundubhi; people call me Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva. Kalanemi, Kamsa, Pralamba, and other evil ones have been slain; this Yavana too has been burned, O king, by your fierce gaze. I have come to this cave for your sake, to show you favor; you prayed to me greatly in the past, and I am devoted to my devotees. Choose your boons, O royal sage; I grant you all desires. One who has my favor need never grieve again.’ Śuka continued: Thus addressed, Mucukunda, joyful, bowed to Him, recognizing Narayana, and recalling the words of Garga. Mucukunda spoke: ‘O Lord, people are deluded by your maya and do not worship you, seeing only misfortune; seeking happiness, they become attached to homes, women, and men, and are deceived. O sinless one, when a person attains this rare human birth here, somehow, with a sound body and without effort, yet does not worship Your lotus feet due to misguided mind, he falls into the dark well of household life like an animal.’ Thus, in the cave’s sacred silence, Mucukunda beheld the Lord and poured out his heart, recognizing the Divine and the futility of worldly attachments, as the Lord stood before him, offering grace and wisdom.