Sometimes, I have examined the births I have taken upon the earth among great beings, but truly, my appearances are never defined by qualities, deeds, or even names. O King, my manifestations and activities extend across all three divisions of time—past, present, and future—and even the greatest sages, tracing them one after another, can never reach their end. Yet, O friend, listen as I speak to you now of my present birth. Long ago, at the request of Brahmā, I descended to protect dharma. To relieve the earth’s burden and destroy the asuras, I took birth in the Yadu dynasty, in the house of Anakadundubhi. People call me Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva. Kalanemi, Kaṁsa, Pralamba, and other evil ones have been slain; and now, this Yavana too has been burned, O King, by the fire of your fierce gaze. I have come to this cave for your sake, to show you favor, for you prayed to me greatly in times past, and I am ever devoted to my devotees. Now, O royal sage, choose your boons. I grant you all desires. One who has my favor need never grieve again. Śuka said: Thus addressed, Mucukunda, filled with joy, bowed down to the Lord, recognizing Him as Nārāyaṇa, and recalling the words once spoken by Garga. Mucukunda spoke: O Lord, people are deluded by your māyā 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, somehow blessed with a sound body and without great effort, yet does not worship your lotus feet due to a misguided mind, he falls into the dark well of household life like an animal. O unconquered Lord, my own time has passed fruitlessly. As a king intoxicated by royal opulence, absorbed in the mortal conception of self, deeply attached to children, wife, wealth, and possessions, I was tormented by endless anxieties. In this body, which is like a clay pot, I was established as ‘king of men,’ surrounded by chariots, elephants, horses, infantry, and retinues, roaming the earth in great arrogance, not counting anyone else. Intoxicated, I was absorbed in loud thoughts of what to do next, with ever-increasing greed and craving for sense pleasures. But you, unbewildered, suddenly approach, O Death, like a snake licking a mouse’s hole. Once, riding in chariots adorned with gold or on mighty elephants, I was called ‘king of men’; but by the inescapable force of time, this very body becomes known as excrement, worms, or ashes. Having conquered the circle of directions, assuming a form as vast as the earth, seated on a splendid throne and honored by other kings, a man is led, O Lord, like a plaything of women, into the pleasures of the home, as a beast for their sport. Even one who performs actions, firmly established in austerity, having renounced enjoyment and giving charity as required, again desires, “May I become a sovereign king,” and with growing thirst, does not attain happiness. When, after wandering in worldly existence, a person attains liberation, O Infallible One, it is then that he gains the association of the virtuous; and when such association occurs, at that very moment, devotion to you, Lord of all, arises. O Lord, I consider it your favor upon me that, by your grace, attachment to my kingdom has been removed—something sought by the virtuous, who, desiring to enter the forest, renounce the unbroken expanse of land. O Master, I do not desire any boon other than service at your feet, which is most sought after even by those who have nothing; for who, having worshiped you, the giver of liberation, would choose any other boon that binds the soul? Therefore, O Lord, abandoning all desires everywhere, which are bound to the qualities of passion, ignorance, and goodness, I approach you—the pure, qualityless, nondual, supreme Person, who is pure consciousness. Long tormented here by suffering and remorse, afflicted by enemies such as thirst, never finding peace, I have somehow come to your lotus feet, O shelter-giving Supreme Soul; protect me, O Lord, who am helpless, with fearlessness, immortality, and freedom from sorrow. The Blessed Lord replied: O great king, ruler of the earth, your mind is pure and steadfast, for even when tempted by boons, it has not been disturbed by desires. Know that your being tempted by boons was only to test your vigilance; for the mind of those with exclusive devotion is never shaken by blessings. For those who practice yoga but lack devotion, O king, the mind, with its undiminished desires, is seen to rise again, even after control through breath and other means. Roam the earth as you wish, with your mind absorbed in Me; may you always have unwavering devotion to Me. While established in the duty of a warrior, you have killed creatures in hunting and other ways; but, being intent on this austerity and taking refuge in Me, cast off sin. In your next birth, O king, you will become the best of the twice-born, a supreme friend to all beings, and you will attain Me alone. Śuka continued: Thus, O dear one, having been favored by Krishna, the son of Ikṣvāku circumambulated Him, bowed down, and departed from the mouth of the cave. Observing the small humans, animals, herbs, and trees, and realizing that the age of Kali had arrived, he turned toward the northern direction. Endowed with austerity and faith, resolute, free from attachment and doubt, he fixed his mind on Krishna and entered Gandhamādana. Reaching Badarī-āśrama, the abode of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, he, enduring all dualities and peaceful, worshiped Hari through austerities. Meanwhile, the Lord, Krishna, returned again to the city surrounded by Yavanas, slew the barbarian forces, and brought their wealth to Dvārakā. As the wealth was being transported with cows and men, urged by Acyuta, Jarāsandha, the king with twenty-three armies, arrived. Seeing the enemy army advancing swiftly and forcefully, the two Mādhavas, adopting human ways, quickly fled, O King. Abandoning abundant wealth, fearless though appearing afraid like cowards, they traveled many yojanas on foot with lotus-like feet. Seeing the two fleeing, the mighty king of Magadha laughed and pursued them with his chariot divisions, unaware of their true power. After running a great distance and becoming exhausted, they climbed a high mountain called Pravarṣaṇa, where it always rains. Not finding their tracks on the mountain, the king, thinking them hidden, set fire to the mountain on all sides with burning materials. Then, leaping swiftly from the burning slope, both descended from the ten-yojana-high peak to the ground below. Unseen by the enemy and his followers, the best of the Yadus returned again to their city, which was protected by the ocean, O King.