Śuka began his narration: Once, the Supreme Person, accompanied by his 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 in joy, as if life itself had returned to them. They embraced Acyuta, and by the touch of his limbs, all their distress vanished. Gazing upon his affectionate, smiling face, their hearts overflowed with happiness. After offering obeisance at the feet of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma, Kṛṣṇa embraced Arjuna, and the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, honored him warmly. Kṛṣṇā, who had recently married and was still somewhat bashful, approached and respectfully greeted Kṛṣṇa, who was seated in the chief place. Satyaki, too, was honored and respectfully greeted by the Pāṇḍavas, and he took his seat nearby, along with other honored guests. Kṛṣṇa then approached Kuntī, offered his salutations, and was embraced by her, her eyes moist with deep affection. He inquired about her welfare, the well-being of her daughters-in-law, her sister, and all her relatives. Kuntī, recalling the many hardships she had endured and the vision of the Self that comes after suffering, spoke to him with a voice choked by love, her eyes filled with tears. She said, “Only then did our well-being arise, when we gained a protector. Remembering our kin, O Kṛṣṇa, my brother was sent to you. For you, who are the friend and 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 then spoke: “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.” Thus requested by the king, the Lord stayed in Indraprastha for several months, delighting the eyes of all its people. One day, Arjuna, the great conqueror, mounted his chariot, bearing the banner of Hanuman, and took up his Gāṇḍīva bow and inexhaustible quivers. Together with Kṛṣṇa, fully armed, he entered a vast forest teeming with wild beasts, seeking sport and adventure. There, Arjuna struck tigers, boars, buffaloes, antelopes, sarabhas, wild oxen, rhinoceroses, deer, hares, and porcupines with his arrows. The attendants brought these sanctified animals to King Yudhiṣṭhira as a festival approached. Parched with thirst and weary, Arjuna made his way to the Yamunā. There, after performing purification and drinking clear water, the two mighty warriors, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, saw a maiden of enchanting beauty wandering nearby. Approaching this noble, radiant maiden of auspicious form, Arjuna, at Kṛṣṇa’s request, questioned her, the best of women: “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, and I am 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, who, understanding her desire, placed her upon the chariot and brought her to King Yudhiṣṭhira. In accordance with the king’s wishes, Kṛṣṇa had the wondrous city built for the sons of Pritha, constructed by Vishvakarma in marvelous fashion. The Blessed Lord, residing there to please his own people, then became Arjuna’s charioteer to give the Khandava forest to Agni. O King, Agni, being satisfied, bestowed upon Arjuna a bow, a chariot with white horses, two inexhaustible quivers, impenetrable armor, and divine weapons. Maya, having been rescued from the fire, brought a great assembly hall as a token of friendship, in which Duryodhana was bewildered, mistaking water for land. Having been permitted by Yudhiṣṭhira and approved by his friends, Kṛṣṇa returned again to Dvārakā, surrounded by Satyaki and others. Then he married Kālindī at the auspicious time and season, spreading supreme joy among his people and bringing the highest good. Vinda and Anuvinda, the Avanti princes and followers of Duryodhana, prevented their sister, who was attached to Kṛṣṇa, from choosing her own husband at the svayamvara. O King, Kṛṣṇa 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 him with rising, seating, and other marks of respect, and welcomed 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. 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, Nārāyaṇa, Lord of the universe, said, “What could I, who am full in my own bliss, do with something meager?” The Blessed Lord, delighted, having accepted the seat, spoke with a voice deep as a cloud, smiling, to the descendant of the Kurus: “O King, begging is condemned by sages for a kshatriya who follows his own duty; yet, desiring your friendship, I ask for your daughter—not for a bride-price, for we do not give that.