O kings, by great good fortune, you have chosen the right path and spoken with truthfulness. See, then, how pride in wealth and power can drive even the mightiest to madness. Consider Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others—lords among gods, demons, and men—each of whom was cast down from their high stations by their arrogance born of prosperity. Knowing this, that all which arises from the body and worldly attachments is perishable, worship Me through sacrifices and protect your subjects with righteousness. Sustain the fabric of your people, share in their happiness and sorrow, endure birth and death as they come, serve what destiny brings, and move about with your minds fixed on Me. Remain detached from body and possessions, delight in the Self, be steadfast in your vows, and fix your thoughts wholly on Me; thus, at the end, you shall attain Brahman. Having thus instructed the assembled kings, Krishna, Lord of the world, arranged for attendants to serve them and their wives during the ceremonial bathing. Sahadeva was assigned to perform their worship, adorning the kings with splendid garments, ornaments, garlands, and fragrant ointments fit for royalty. After their ritual bathing and adornment, Krishna had them served with excellent food and an abundance of enjoyments, including betel and other luxuries befitting their rank. Honored by Mukunda, the kings, now free of distress and shining with radiant earrings, glowed like planets emerging from the clouds at the end of the rainy season. Krishna had their chariots, decorated with jewels and gold and yoked with fine horses, readied. With gentle words, he sent these kings back to their own lands. Thus rescued from hardship by the noble Krishna, they departed, meditating on him and his wondrous deeds as Lord of the universe. The people marveled at the actions of the Supreme Person, and, following his direction, diligently carried out their respective duties. After Jarasandha was slain by Bhimasena, Krishna—honored by Sahadeva and accompanied by the two sons of Pritha—departed. When they reached Khandavaprastha, these victorious heroes sounded their conchshells, delighting their friends and striking fear into their enemies. Hearing the triumphant sound, the people of Indraprastha rejoiced, believing that the king of Magadha had been subdued and their own king’s desire fulfilled. Bhima, Arjuna, and Janardana then approached King Yudhishthira, offering him their respects and recounting all that they had accomplished. Hearing their words and understanding Krishna’s compassion, King Yudhishthira was overcome with joy and, out of deep love, shed tears, 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, scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Śuka continued: King Yudhishthira, having heard of Jarasandha’s slaying by the mighty Krishna and his marvelous deeds, was filled with pleasure and addressed Krishna. “Those who are the teachers of the three worlds, great lords of all beings, even after attaining what is most difficult, still accept instruction on their heads. You, O lotus-eyed one, 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 glory increases nor diminishes through actions, just as the sun is unaffected by what occurs on earth. O unconquered Mādhava, among your devotees there is no division of ‘mine’ and ‘yours’; such distinctions are like those among animals.” After speaking thus, Yudhishthira, at the proper time for the sacrifice, selected with Krishna’s approval the most qualified priests—brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas. Among them were Vyāsa, Bharadvāja, Sumantu, Gotama, Asita, Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Kavaṣa, and Trita; also Viśvāmitra, Vāmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila, Parāśara, Garga, and Vaiśampāyana; Atharvā, Kaśyapa, Dhaumya, Rāma of the Bhārgavas, Āsuri, Vītihotra, Madhucchandā, Vīrasena, and Akṛtavraṇa. Other notable figures were invited as well: Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and the rest; Dhṛtarāṣṭra came with his sons, and Vidura, the wise one, was present. People of all classes—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras—arrived, eager to witness the great sacrifice, along with all the kings and subjects of the rulers. The brāhmaṇas, using golden ploughs, prepared the sacrificial ground according to tradition and initiated the king for the rite. The sacrificial implements, all fashioned from gold as in the ancient rites for Varuṇa, were made ready. The guardians of the worlds, led by Indra and accompanied by Brahmā and Śiva, were present. Great beings—siddhas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, mighty serpents, sages, yakṣas, rākṣasas, birds, kinnaras, and cāraṇas—came with their retinues. Kings arrived with their royal consorts, all gathering for the rājasūya sacrifice of the son of Pāṇḍu. Amazed, they saw it as fitting for one so devoted to Krishna. Priests of divine radiance conducted the rājasūya for the great king, just as the gods had once performed it for Pracetasa. On the day of the sacrifice, the lord of the earth, attentive and reverent, honored the priests and the masters of the assembly as was proper. When the assembly deliberated on who was most worthy of the highest honor, they could not reach a unanimous decision. Then Sahadeva spoke: “Indeed, Acyuta, the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, deserves the highest honor. In him are all the gods, places, times, wealth, and more. He is the very self of this universe, and the sacrifices themselves are based in him; the fire offerings, the mantras, Sāṅkhya and Yoga—all are directed toward him. He alone, without a second, is this universe of non-duality; by his own self, the unborn one creates, sustains, and destroys the worlds. He, as the witness, brings about all actions here; whatever is sought—supreme good marked by dharma and the rest—arises from him.” Thus, the assembly recognized Krishna as the most worthy of honor, and the great sacrifice proceeded in a spirit of reverence and awe.