Surrounded by the noble Vrishnis, Krishna made his way into the grand assembly hall known as Sudharma—a place where those who sat within were untouched by the six waves of suffering. Taking his seat upon the highest throne, the Lord radiated his own effulgence, casting light in all directions. Encircled by the heroic Yadus, Krishna shone like the full moon amid a sky of glittering stars. Within this splendid hall, the master of ceremonies and the teachers of dance approached Krishna, bringing with them laughter and joy in many forms. Dancers performed distinct tandava dances, their movements accompanied by the resonant sounds of mridanga, vina, muraja drums, flutes, and cymbals. The air was filled with song, praise, and the eulogies of Sutas, Magadhas, and bards, each extolling the Lord’s virtues. Amidst this celebration, some Brahmins, learned in the knowledge of Brahman, sat and narrated the stories of ancient kings renowned for their virtue. Suddenly, a man of striking and unprecedented appearance arrived at the entrance. Announced by the doorkeepers, he was ushered into the assembly before Bhagavan Krishna. With joined palms, the visitor bowed to Krishna, the supreme Lord, and then addressed the assembled kings, describing the distress caused by the imprisonment enforced by Jarasandha. He spoke of how those kings who refused to submit to Jarasandha’s conquest were forcibly detained, with two groups of ten thousand each held captive in Girivraja. The captive kings, through the messenger, addressed Krishna: “O Krishna, Krishna, immeasurable soul, destroyer of fear for those who seek refuge—we come to you, fearful of this world and divided in mind, seeking shelter at your feet. The world is steeped in unrighteousness, heedless of virtue, yet this suffering, which arises from you, is ultimately for your worship. Whoever, strong as he may be, abruptly ends the hopes of the restless—salutations to him! “O Lord, you have descended for the protection of the righteous and the subjugation of the wicked. Who can defy your command, O master? Who can attain the fruit of their actions without your will? We do not know. The happiness of kings is like a dream, dependent on others and always shadowed by fear; we bear the burden of a life as good as dead. Abandoning the true happiness found in the self—so easily attained through you—we suffer greatly, pitifully deluded by your māyā in this world. “Therefore, O Lord whose feet remove the sorrow of those who take refuge, release us from the bonds of the Magadhan’s deeds. You alone, who possess the strength of ten thousand elephants, have restrained the king who, like a lion among beasts, has confined us in his palace. Though proud and eager to conquer the world, he has been defeated by you, O Lord of infinite power, when you broke his noble disc in battle twenty-two times. Now he torments your people—O unconquered one, please act for our sake.” The messenger concluded: “Thus, these kings, held captive by the Magadhan and longing to see you, have taken refuge at your feet. Please grant relief to these afflicted souls.” As the messenger finished speaking, the divine sage Narada suddenly appeared, radiant and bearing tawny matted locks, his presence like the rising sun. Seeing Narada, Bhagavan Krishna—Lord of all lords—rose with his assembly and followers, joyfully bowing his head in deep respect. Krishna honored Narada properly, offering him a seat and addressing him with words full of faith and reverence: “Is all well today among the three worlds, free from fear? Surely, the virtue of the Lord increases as you travel among the worlds. Nothing is unknown to you in all the worlds, O Lord among creators. Therefore, we ask: what do the Pandavas intend?” Narada replied, “O Lord, I have seen your māyā many times—so difficult to overcome! O Master, Creator of the universe and wielder of māyā, as you move among beings with your own powers, your glory is hidden like fire concealed in wood; thus, nothing astonishes me. Who indeed can know your actions here, as you create and withdraw this world by your own māyā? What appears to exist is but a reflection of understanding. I bow to you, whose nature is beyond all distinctions. “You grant liberation to souls wandering in samsara, who do not know the suffering brought by the body. By your playful descents, you kindle your own fame. I take refuge in you, who dispel all darkness. “Yet, O Brahman, I shall relate what is intended by your devotee, the king, the son of your paternal aunt, as he prepares to perform a deed that will amaze the world. The son of Pandu, desiring the status of Brahma, will worship you with the Rajasuya sacrifice, O Lord. May you be pleased by this. At that supreme sacrifice, O God, you will be seen by the gods and other illustrious kings, all assembling out of eagerness. By hearing, singing, or meditating upon you, O Lord of Brahman, even those who simply dwell near you are purified—how much more so those who see or touch you? The pure fame of your feet is renowned in heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld; the sacred water flowing from your feet is known as Mandakini in heaven, Bhogavati below, and Ganga here, sanctifying the universe. May that water bless all the worlds.” As Narada finished, Śuka said, Krishna’s own followers, eager for conquest, looked to him. Smiling and speaking sweetly, Krishna turned to his trusted servant Uddhava: “You are indeed our supreme eye, a true friend who knows the essence and purpose of counsel. Therefore, speak here what should be done; we have faith and shall act accordingly.” Though all-knowing, Uddhava humbly accepted the command, bowed his head, and prepared to reply. Thus concludes the seventieth chapter, “Inquiry into Divine Knowledge,” in the second half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Śuka continued: Hearing the words of the divine sage, Uddhava—wise among the wise—after understanding the opinion of the assembly and Krishna himself, spoke as follows: “O Lord, as the sage has said, you should act as advisor for the sacrifice, protect your paternal cousin, and shelter those who seek refuge. The Rajasuya sacrifice should be performed by you, O mighty one, as conqueror of the quarters; thus, the defeat of Jarasandha serves both purposes, in my view. For us, too, a great benefit will arise, O Govinda, and your fame will grow by freeing the imprisoned kings. “That king is indeed hard to overcome, equal in strength to ten thousand elephants, and among the strong, none can match him except Bhima. He must be defeated in single combat, not by an army of a hundred divisions; he is devoted to the Brahmanas and never refuses a request from them. Let Vrikodara, disguised as a Brahmana, go and beg from him; he will surely kill him in single combat in your presence—there is no doubt. “The Supreme Lord is the cause for both the creation and destruction of the universe; Hiraṇyagarbha and Śarva are forms of your timeless power.