Śuka, the sage, spoke: Freed from their captivity and praised by the assembled kings, the compassionate Lord Krishna—the shelter of all—addressed them with gentle, gracious words. The Blessed Lord said, “From this day forward, O kings, your hearts will be filled with unwavering devotion to me, the Self, the Lord of all, as you have so sincerely wished. By good fortune, you have resolved rightly and spoken truthfully; see how pride in wealth and power can drive men to madness. Remember Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others—lords among gods, demons, and men—who were cast down from their lofty positions because of pride in prosperity. Knowing this, that all things arising from the body and worldly attachments are perishable, worship me through sacrifice and protect your subjects with righteousness. Sustain the threads of your people, experiencing happiness and sorrow, birth and death as they come; serve what life brings you, moving about with your minds fixed upon me. Detached from body and possessions, delighting in the Self, firm in your vows, and fixing your minds wholly on me, you shall attain Brahman at the end.” Having thus instructed the kings, Krishna, Lord of the world, arranged for attendants to assist in the ceremonial bathing of their wives. He had Sahadeva perform the ritual worship, offering garments, ornaments, garlands, and ointments befitting royalty. After bathing and adorning them, Krishna fed the kings with excellent food, provided them with various enjoyments, and gave them betel and other offerings suitable for their station. Thus honored by Mukunda, the kings—now freed from distress and adorned with shining earrings—shone like planets released from the rainy season. Krishna ordered their jeweled and gold-adorned chariots, yoked with fine horses, to be made ready. With kind words, he sent them back to their own lands. 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. Reaching Khandavaprastha, the victorious heroes sounded their conchshells, delighting their friends and causing distress to their enemies. Hearing this, the residents of Indraprastha rejoiced, believing the Magadha king was subdued and their own king’s desire fulfilled. Bhima, Arjuna, and Janardana, after offering respects to King Yudhishthira, reported to him all that they had accomplished. Hearing their words and understanding Krishna’s compassion, King Yudhishthira was overwhelmed with joy, shedding tears and, out of love, unable to speak. Thus ends the seventy-third chapter, ‘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: Hearing of Jarasandha’s slaying by the mighty Krishna and his wondrous deeds, King Yudhishthira 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 even 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 those among animals.” Having spoken thus, at the proper time for the sacrifice, Yudhishthira—with Krishna’s approval—chose the priests who were qualified, brāhmaṇas learned in the Veda. Among them were Vyāsa, Bharadvāja, Sumantu, Gotama, Asita, Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Kavaṣa, and Trita; Viśvāmitra, Vāmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila, Parāśara, Garga, and Vaiśampāyana; Atharvā, Kaśyapa, Dhaumya, Rāma of the Bhārgavas, Āsuri, Vītihotra, Madhucchandā, Vīrasena, and Akṛtavraṇa. Others were also invited: Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and the rest; Dhṛtarāṣṭra came with his sons, and wise Vidura. Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras—all desiring to witness the sacrifice—came, along with all the kings and their subjects. The brāhmaṇas, using golden ploughs, prepared the sacrificial ground according to tradition and initiated the king for the rite. All the sacrificial implements were made of gold, just as in ancient times for Varuṇa. The guardians of the worlds, beginning with Indra, accompanied by Brahmā and Śiva, were present. With their retinues came siddhas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, great serpents, sages, yakṣas, rākṣasas, birds, kinnaras, and cāraṇas. Kings arrived with their royal consorts at the rājasūya sacrifice of the son of Pāṇḍu. Amazed, they considered it fitting for one devoted to Kṛṣṇa. Priests of divine radiance performed the rājasūya for the great king, properly, just as the gods did for Pracetasa. On the day of the sacrifice, the lord of the earth, Yudhishthira, honored the priests and masters of the assembly with full attention, as was proper. The members of the assembly deliberated on who was most worthy of the highest honor, but could not reach a unanimous decision. Then Sahadeva spoke: “Indeed, Acyuta, the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, deserves the highest honor; for in him are all the gods, places, times, wealth, and so forth. He is the Self of this entire universe, and the sacrifices are based in him; the fire offerings, the mantras, Sāṅkhya and Yoga—all are directed toward him.