Emaciated by hunger and their faces drawn with suffering, the captive kings—long tormented by their confinement—lifted their eyes and beheld before them the dark-complexioned One, clad in radiant yellow silk. As their gaze rested upon him, they saw the auspicious mark of Śrīvatsa upon his chest, his four arms resplendent, his eyes like blooming lotuses tinged with red, his face beautiful and gracious, and his ears adorned with shining makara-shaped earrings. In his hands he held the lotus, mace, conch, and discus. His form was further adorned with a crown, necklace, bracelets, a girdle, and armlets, each gleaming with divine brilliance. Around his neck shone the finest jewels and a garland of forest flowers. The kings, starved of joy, drank in his presence with their eyes, as if savoring him with their tongues; they seemed to inhale his fragrance with their noses and yearned to embrace him with their arms. Freed from sin by this vision, they bowed their heads reverently at Hari’s feet. Delight filled their hearts at the sight of Krishna, and all fatigue and distress from their captivity melted away. With palms joined, the kings praised Hṛṣīkeśa with heartfelt words: “Salutations to you, Lord of gods, imperishable remover of the distress of those who take refuge! We have sought your shelter, O Krishna—protect us, who are weary of this terrible cycle of birth and death. “O Madhusūdana, we do not blame you for the loss of our kingdoms at the hands of the Magadhan. O Lord, for us kings, your favor is the true cause. Kings, swollen with pride from sovereignty and opulence, do not attain true welfare; deluded by your māyā, they consider impermanent riches to be unshakable. Just as children imagine water in a mirage, so too do those lacking discernment mistake illusory things for reality. “Formerly, blinded by the intoxication of prosperity, we, driven by the desire to conquer, competed with one another, mercilessly destroying our own subjects, O Lord, recklessly disregarding death before us. Those very riches, O Krishna, have been swept away by your profound and irresistible power; by time, by your form, and by your compassion, our pride is destroyed, and we remember your feet. “Therefore, we no longer desire a kingdom, which is like a mirage, with a body that is ever subject to decay and pain; O Lord, we long to worship you, for the fruit of such acts, both in this life and after, is pleasing to the ear. Instruct us in the means by which, even as we wander in this world, our remembrance of your lotus feet may never cease. “Obeisance again and again to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, to Hari, the Supreme Self, to Govinda, destroyer of the distress of those who take refuge in him.” Śuka then said: Thus praised by the kings, now freed from their bondage, the compassionate Lord—shelter of all—addressed them with gentle words. The Blessed Lord spoke: “From this day forth, O kings, firm devotion to me, the Self, the Lord of all, will arise in you, as you have earnestly desired. By good fortune, O kings, you have resolved rightly and spoken truthfully; behold how pride in wealth and power drives men mad. “Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others—lords of gods, demons, and men—were cast down from their positions by pride in prosperity. Knowing this, that all arising from body and so on is perishable, worship me through sacrifices, and protect your subjects with righteousness. Sustaining the threads of your people, experiencing happiness and sorrow, birth and death as they come, serve what comes your way, and move about with your minds fixed on me. “Detached from body and so forth, delighting in the Self, firm in your vows, fixing your minds wholly on me, you shall attain Brahman at the end.” Śuka continued: Having thus instructed the kings, Krishna, Lord of the world, assigned attendants to them for the bathing ceremony of their wives. He had the ceremonial worship performed by Sahadeva, with garments, ornaments, garlands, and ointments fit for kings. After bathing and adorning them, Krishna fed them with excellent food, provided them with various enjoyments, and with betel and other things suitable for royalty. Honored by Mukunda, the kings, with shining earrings, freed from distress, shone like planets released from the rainy season. Krishna had chariots, adorned with jewels and gold and yoked with fine horses, prepared for them, and, pleasing them with kind words, sent them back to their own lands. Thus, rescued from hardship by the greatly noble Krishna, the kings departed, meditating on him and the deeds of the Lord of the universe. The people marveled at the actions of the Supreme Person, and, as the Lord directed, they diligently carried out their duties. After Jarasandha was slain by Bhimasena, Krishna, honored by Sahadeva and accompanied by the two sons of Pritha, departed. Having reached Khandavaprastha, the victorious heroes sounded their conchshells, delighting their friends and bringing distress to their enemies. Hearing this, the residents of Indraprastha became joyful at heart, believing that the Magadha king was subdued and their own king’s desire fulfilled. Then Bhima, Arjuna, and Janardana, after offering respects to the king, reported to him all that they had accomplished. Hearing this, King Yudhishthira, understanding Krishna’s compassion, shed tears of joy and, out of love, could not speak a word. Thus ends the seventy-third chapter, entitled ‘The Coming of Krishna and Others,’ in the second half of the Tenth Canto of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the great Purāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Śuka continued: Thus, King Yudhishthira, having heard of the slaying of Jarasandha by the mighty Krishna and his wondrous deeds, was pleased and spoke to him. Yudhishthira said: “Those who are the teachers of the three worlds, the great lords of all beings—even after attaining what is difficult to obtain—accept instruction upon their heads. “You, O lotus-eyed one, bear rule over those who consider themselves masters among the distressed; O great one, this is indeed a profound mystery. For the one Supreme, the Absolute, the Paramātman, who is without a second, neither does his glory increase nor diminish through actions, just as the sun is unaffected. “O unconquered one, O Mādhava, among your devotees there is no division of ‘mine’ and ‘yours’; such distinctions are like the differences among animals.