To relieve the burden of the earth and to destroy the asuras, the Supreme Lord descended into the Yadu lineage, born in the house of Anakadundubhi. People know Him as Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva. Many evil ones—Kalanemi, Kamsa, Pralamba, and others—had already been slain by Him, and even the Yavana, who had threatened the land, was burned by the fierce gaze of King Mucukunda. The Lord entered the cave where Mucukunda rested, coming for his sake, to show him favor. Mucukunda had prayed to Him greatly in the past, and the Lord, ever devoted to His devotees, responded to those prayers. With compassion, the Lord invited Mucukunda to choose any boon he desired, assuring him that one who has His favor need never grieve again. Hearing these words, Mucukunda was filled with joy. He bowed deeply, recognizing Narayana Himself before him, and recalling the prophecies of Garga. With humility, Mucukunda spoke: “O Lord, people are deluded by Your maya and, seeing only misfortune, do not worship You. Seeking happiness, they become attached to home, women, and men, and are deceived. When a person attains this rare human birth, somehow with a sound body and without 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 sinless one, my time has passed fruitlessly. I was a king, intoxicated by royal opulence, absorbed in the mortal conception of self, and deeply attached to children, wife, wealth, and possessions, 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 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 like Death, as 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, renouncing 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 association with 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 chance, attachment to 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 with kindness: “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 twice-born, a supreme friend to all beings, and you will attain Me alone.” Śuka continued: Having been favored by Krishna, the son of Ikshvaku 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 went toward the northern direction. Endowed with austerity and faith, resolute, free from attachment and doubt, he fixed his mind on Krishna and entered Gandhamadana. Reaching Badari-ashrama, the abode of Nara and Narayana, he, enduring all dualities and peaceful, worshipped Hari through austerities. Meanwhile, the Lord returned to the city surrounded by Yavanas, slew the barbarian forces, and brought their wealth to Dwaraka. As the wealth was being transported with cows and men, urged by Acyuta, Jarasandha, the king with twenty-three armies, arrived. Seeing the enemy army advancing swiftly and forcefully, the two Madhavas, adopting human ways, quickly fled, O King. Abandoning abundant wealth, fearless though appearing afraid like cowards, they traveled many yojanas on foot with their 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 Pravarshana, 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. Believing falsely that Balarama and Kesava had been burned, the king of Magadha withdrew his vast army and returned to Magadha. The illustrious king of Anarta, Raivata, prompted by Brahma, gave his daughter Raivati to Baladeva, as previously declared. Govinda, the Lord, also married Vaidarbhi, the daughter of Bhishmaka and mother of Shri, at her own svayamvara, O best of the Kurus.