Salutations were offered to Balarama, the soul of all beings, the bearer of all powers, the imperishable creator of the universe. Those who had been distressed and trembling, having taken refuge in him, bowed down and surrendered themselves, seeking his protection. Pleased by their humility and surrender, Balarama, the mighty Halāyudha, was fully satisfied. He granted them fearlessness, saying with compassion, “Do not be afraid.” Their hearts were set at ease by his assurance. Duryodhana, in gratitude and honor, presented a grand tribute: sixty-year-old elephants and twelve thousand horses. He also gave six thousand golden chariots that shone like the sun, and a thousand maidservants who wore no necklaces, for he was fond of daughters. Accepting these gifts, the Lord—foremost among the Sātvatas—departed, accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law, honored by his friends and well-wishers. Returning home, Halāyudha entered his own city, his heart filled with affection for his relatives. In the assembly of the Yadus, he recounted all that had transpired among the Kurus. Even to this day, that city, bearing the mark of Rama’s might, stands elevated to the south of the Ganga, visible to all as a testament to his power. Thus concludes the sixty-eighth chapter, entitled “The Victory of Sankarshana in the Form of Dragging Hastinapura,” of the Uttara section of the Tenth Book of the glorious Bhagavata Purana. Now, listen to the account of the Lord’s household life as witnessed by the sage Narada. Śuka continued: Having heard that Naraka was slain and that Krishna had married many women, Narada was filled with wonder and wished to see these marvels for himself. How astonishing it was that, with a single body, Krishna had simultaneously married eight thousand and two hundred women, each in her own home! Eager to witness this, the divine sage Narada arrived at Dvārakā, the city surrounded by gardens and parks in full bloom, resonant with the calls of flocks of birds and the recitations of brahmins. The lakes of Dvārakā were adorned with fully blossomed blue lotuses, water lilies, day-blooming lotuses, and kumudas, filled with tall reeds and echoing with the calls of swans and cranes. The city itself was magnificent, graced with nine hundred thousand palaces made of crystal and silver, resembling great emeralds, adorned with golden and jeweled decorations. Its avenues, streets, squares, and marketplaces were each distinct; beautiful halls and assembly chambers stood beside celestial temples. The roads, courtyards, alleys, and thresholds were sprinkled with water, and flags and banners shielded the city from the sun. Within, the splendid inner chambers were honored by all the householders. There, Hari’s own artistry was fully displayed, as though the divine craftsman Tvaṣṭṛ himself had built them. Narada entered one of the sixteen thousand beautifully adorned mansions, a grand residence belonging to one of Śauri’s wives. The palace was supported by pillars of coral, with floors of the finest lapis lazuli, walls of sapphire, and a ground shining with unmatched brilliance. Canopies crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ hung with strings of pearls, while seats and couches were adorned with the finest gems and ivory. The palace was decorated with maidservants in splendid garments without necklaces, and men dressed in fine robes with sashes, turbans, and jeweled earrings. The darkness was dispelled by the radiance of jeweled lamps. In the balconies, peacocks danced, incense and sacred offerings were arranged, and those of deep intellect sang loudly as they saw the sage’s arrival. Among thousands of maidservants equal in beauty, youth, and attire, Narada beheld the queen herself, fanning the Lord of the Sātvatas with a golden-handled camara. As soon as the Blessed Lord, greatest among all upholders of dharma, saw Narada, he immediately rose from his couch, bowed his crowned head at the sage’s feet, and, with joined palms, welcomed him to a seat of honor. Krishna washed the sage’s feet and placed that water upon his own head, though he is the supreme teacher of the world and lord of the virtuous; for the purity of the sage’s feet is the ultimate holy place, and Krishna is known as Brahmaṇyadeva for this very reason. Having honored the foremost of divine sages, the ancient ṛṣi Nārāyaṇa, friend of Nara, Krishna addressed him with sweet, measured words, as tradition prescribes: “O Lord, what may we do for you, O Blessed One?” Narada replied, “O master of all worlds, it is no surprise that you show friendship to all people and self-restraint toward the wicked. For the welfare of the world, you maintain and protect it through your free descents, O praised one, as we well know. Having seen your feet, which grant liberation and are contemplated by Brahmā and others of profound wisdom, and which support those fallen into worldly existence, I wander, meditating—grant me your grace, so that remembrance may arise.” Desiring to understand the wondrous yoga-māyā of the Lord of yogis, Narada, on another day, entered the house of another wife of Krishna. There, he saw Krishna playing dice with his beloved and Uddhava, yet still being honored with supreme devotion through rising, offering a seat, and other acts. Krishna, as if he were ignorant, asked, “When did you arrive, O Lord? What could those like us, who are incomplete, do for those who are complete?” Still, he requested, “O brāhmaṇa, tell us about this beautiful birth.” Narada, astonished by what he saw, rose and silently went to another house. There, too, he saw Govinda delighting his young sons; in yet another house, he saw Krishna preparing for his bath. Elsewhere, Krishna was offering oblations into sacrificial fires, performing sacrifices with five kinds of rituals, feeding the brāhmaṇas in some places, and in others, eating what remained. In some places, Krishna was seated at twilight, reciting the Veda with controlled speech; elsewhere, he was walking on the paths of archers with sword and shield. In some places, he was traveling with horses, elephants, and chariots, accompanied by Balarāma; elsewhere, reclining on a couch, being praised by bards. In some places, Krishna was consulting with ministers like Uddhava; elsewhere, he was engaged in water sports, surrounded by the foremost women of the palace. Somewhere, he was giving well-adorned cows to the foremost brāhmaṇas; elsewhere, listening to auspicious histories and Purāṇas. Sometimes, he was seen laughing at home with his beloved through humorous stories; elsewhere, engaged in dharma, and in other places, in pursuits of wealth and desire. In one place, Krishna was sitting alone, meditating on the Supreme Person beyond nature; elsewhere, he was serving his teachers with pleasures and offerings. In some places, Keśava was making treaties with some, and in others, making war; elsewhere, together with Rāma, he was contemplating the welfare of the virtuous. At the proper time, he arranged the marriages of his sons and daughters with spouses equal to them, providing them with appropriate wealth. Thus, Narada beheld the wondrous and multifaceted household life of Lord Krishna, whose divine power and loving dealings with all were beyond the understanding of ordinary beings.