The story unfolds with the Lord graciously declining a precious jewel offered to him, saying to the king, “We do not accept the jewel, O King. Let it remain with you, a devotee of the gods, while we partake of its benefit.” Thus, the jewel stayed with the king, and the Lord’s benevolence shone through his words. Some time later, Śuka tells us, the Supreme Person, accompanied by attendants such as Yuyudhāna, journeyed to Indraprastha to visit the Pāṇḍavas. When Mukunda, the Lord of all, arrived, the heroic sons of Pāṇḍu rose together, as if life itself had returned to them. They embraced Acyuta, and with the touch of his limbs, all their distress melted away. Gazing upon his affectionate, smiling face, their hearts overflowed with joy. Krishna offered obeisance at the feet of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma, embraced Arjuna warmly, and was honored by the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva. Kṛṣṇā, recently married and somewhat bashful, approached and respectfully greeted Krishna, who was seated upon the chief seat. Satyaki, too, was honored by the Pāṇḍavas and took his seat, as did others who were respectfully received. Krishna then approached Kuntī, offering his salutations. Kuntī embraced him, her eyes moist with deep affection, and Krishna inquired about her welfare, that of her daughters-in-law, her sister, and all her relatives. Remembering the many hardships she and her family had endured, and the vision of the Self that comes after suffering, Kuntī spoke to Krishna with a voice choked by love, her eyes brimming with tears. She said, “Only then did our well-being arise, when we gained a protector; remembering our kin, O Krishna, my brother was sent to you. For you, who are the friend and the Self of all, there is no confusion of ‘us’ and ‘them’; yet, dwelling in the heart, you always dispel the sorrows of those who remember you.” Yudhiṣṭhira, too, spoke with reverence: “What good have we left undone? I do not know, O Lord, for you, who are rarely seen even by the masters of yoga, have been seen by us, who are of little wisdom.” Responding to their requests, the Lord stayed at Indraprastha for several months, delighting the eyes of all its people. One day, Arjuna, the conqueror, mounted his chariot bearing the banner of Hanuman, taking up his famed Gāṇḍīva bow and inexhaustible quivers. Together with Krishna, fully armed, he entered a vast forest teeming with wild beasts, seeking to enjoy sport and demonstrate his prowess. With his arrows, Arjuna struck tigers, boars, buffaloes, antelopes, sarabhas, wild oxen, rhinoceroses, deer, hares, and porcupines. Their attendants brought these sanctified animals to the king as a festival approached. Parched with thirst and weary, Arjuna made his way to the Yamunā. There, after performing purification and drinking the clear water, Krishna and Arjuna, mighty warriors both, saw a maiden of enchanting beauty wandering nearby. Arjuna, at Krishna’s behest, approached the noble, radiant maiden of auspicious form and questioned her: “Who are you, O slender-waisted one? Whose daughter are you, and from where do you come? What do you intend? I think you seek a husband. Tell me everything, O beautiful one.” The maiden replied, “I am the daughter of the god Sūrya, seeking a husband. I have undertaken severe austerities, desiring Viṣṇu, the bestower of boons, as my chosen lord. I choose no other husband but him, the abode of Śrī; may that blessed Mukunda, the refuge of the shelterless, be pleased with me. Known as Kālindī, I dwell in the waters of the Yamunā, in a palace built by my father, until I behold the infallible one.” Arjuna conveyed her words to Vāsudeva, and Krishna, understanding her heart, placed her on the chariot and brought her to King Yudhiṣṭhira. Krishna, as instructed, had the wondrous city built for the sons of Pritha, constructed by Vishvakarma in marvelous fashion. Residing there out of desire to please his own people, the Blessed Lord became Arjuna’s charioteer, helping him give the Khandava forest to Agni. Agni, satisfied, gifted Arjuna a bow, a chariot with white horses, two inexhaustible quivers, impenetrable armor, and divine weapons. Maya, rescued from the fire, brought a great assembly hall as a token of friendship—a hall in which Duryodhana was bewildered, mistaking water for land. Having been permitted by the king and approved by his friends, Krishna returned again to Dvaraka, surrounded by Satyaki and others. Then, at the auspicious time and season, Krishna married Kālindī, spreading supreme joy among his people and bringing the highest good. Meanwhile, Vinda and Anuvinda, the Avanti princes and followers of Duryodhana, prevented their sister, who was attached to Krishna, from choosing her own husband at the svayamvara. Krishna, undeterred, forcibly took Mitravinda, the daughter of the chief queen and his father’s sister, as all the assembled kings looked on. There was a king named Nagnajit, ruler of Kosala, renowned for his righteousness. His daughter was Satyā, also called Nagnajiti. None of the kings could win her without first subduing seven fierce, sharp-horned, untamable bulls, proud of their strength. Hearing that the prize of the bulls was attainable, the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, went to the city of Kosala, surrounded by a great army. The king of Kosala, pleased, honored Krishna with rising, seating, and other marks of respect, welcoming him with due reverence. Seeing the suitor she desired had arrived, the princess longed for the Lord of Lakshmi, thinking, “If my vow is true, may this man become my husband and fulfill all my wishes.” Yet she wondered, “He whose lotus feet’s dust is borne on their heads by Lakshmi, Brahma, Shiva, and the guardians of the worlds—he who, in play, built a bridge for his own purposes—how could such a Lord be satisfied with me?” Worshipped again, Narayana, Lord of the universe, said, “What could I, who am full in my own bliss, do with something meager?” Śuka then tells us, the Blessed Lord, delighted, having accepted the seat, spoke with a voice deep as a cloud, smiling, to the descendant of the Kurus. Thus, the Lord’s presence, kindness, and wondrous deeds continued to bring joy and blessings to all who encountered him, and his story shines forth in the hearts of those who remember him.