After the grave act of brahma-hatya had been committed, the sages addressed Rāma, the purifier of worlds, saying, “If this act can indeed cleanse the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa, then you, O purifier, should undertake the proper expiation yourself, without waiting for another to prompt you.” The Blessed Lord replied, “For the welfare of the world, I shall perform the prescribed expiation for this killing. Let the same rule be established as it was in the first age.” He continued, “Long life, strength, and the senses were promised to him; what you have spoken, I shall accomplish by my yogic power.” The sages then said, “Let it be so, O Rāma, that your word, the power of your weapon, and death for us, all remain true.” The Lord responded, “The Veda declares that the self is indeed born as the son. Therefore, let his son be the speaker, endowed with life, senses, and strength.” Turning to the sages, he asked, “What is your wish, O best of sages? Speak, and I shall do it. Consider well, O wise ones, how I may atone for my unknowing act.” The sages replied, “There is a fierce demon named Balvala, son of Ilvala, who comes at every festival and defiles our sacrifice.” They entreated, “O descendant of Daśārha, slay that wicked one for us—that is our highest wish. He showers pus, blood, excrement, urine, liquor, and flesh upon us.” They instructed, “Then, having left the land of Bharata with a steady mind, after wandering for twelve months and bathing at holy places, you will become purified.” Later, King Parīkṣit addressed Śuka, saying, “O venerable one, I wish to hear other heroic deeds of Mukunda, the great soul whose power is infinite. Who, having heard the sacred stories of the praiseworthy Lord even once, would cease listening—except one deeply afflicted by desire and ignorant of their true worth?” He continued, “That speech which praises His qualities, those hands that perform His deeds, that mind which remembers Him dwelling among all beings, and those ears that hear His holy stories—these alone are truly speech, hands, mind, and ears. That head is truly a head which bows to Him who bears both forms; those eyes alone see which behold Him; those limbs are truly limbs which always serve the water that has washed the feet of Viṣṇu or His devotees.” Sūta then narrated, “Thus questioned by Viṣṇurāta, the blessed son of Badarāyaṇa, whose heart was immersed in Lord Vāsudeva, spoke.” Śuka said, “Kṛṣṇa had a certain brāhmaṇa friend, most learned in the Veda, detached from sense pleasures, peaceful in mind, and self-controlled. Living as a householder, sustaining himself with whatever came by chance, his wife, thin from hunger, was just like him—her clothing in tatters.” One day, the devoted wife, with a pale face, approached her impoverished, suffering husband, trembling, and spoke, “O brāhmaṇa, is not the Lord, the husband of Śrī herself, your friend? He is devoted to the brāhmaṇas, the refuge of all, and the exalted Lord of the Sātvatas. Go to Him, O blessed one, the supreme shelter of the virtuous. He will surely give abundant wealth to you, the householder, who is in distress. He now resides in Dvārakā as the Lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas. Even as He remembers His lotus feet, He offers Himself to His devotees. Why would the teacher of the world not grant the desired objects, even those not sought, to one who worships Him?” Thus, gently entreated by his wife, the brāhmaṇa thought, “Indeed, the greatest gain is to see the Lord praised in the highest hymns.” Thinking thus, he resolved to go, and asked, “Is there any gift at home, O good lady? Let something be given.” She begged four handfuls of flat rice from the brāhmaṇas, tied them in a piece of cloth, and gave them to her husband as a gift. Taking them, the foremost brāhmaṇa set out for Dvārakā, thinking, “How might I obtain a vision of Kṛṣṇa?” Passing through three enclosures and three courtyards, he entered the homes of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, who followed the path of the infallible Lord. He entered one of the houses of Hari’s sixteen thousand queens, and, as if attaining divine bliss, became filled with joy. Seeing him from afar, Acyuta, seated on his beloved’s couch, immediately rose up, approached, and joyfully embraced him with both arms. Delighted by the touch of his dear friend, the sage among the twice-born, the lotus-eyed Lord, overwhelmed with joy, shed tears from his eyes. Then, after seating his friend upon the couch, he himself performed the proper honors for him, bringing water and washing his feet with his own hands. The Lord, purifier of the worlds, respectfully took the water with his head and anointed his guest with divine fragrances of sandalwood, aguru, and saffron. With fragrant incense and rows of lamps, he worshipped his friend with joy, offered him betel nut, and, after presenting a cow, spoke words of welcome. The goddess herself served the twice-born, who was clad in worn, soiled garments, emaciated, and with veins prominent, by fanning him with a yak-tail fan. Seeing the avadhūta, so honored by Kṛṣṇa of spotless fame, the women of the inner chambers were amazed and filled with great affection. They wondered, “What pious act has this avadhūta, this mendicant, performed—he who is destitute of fortune, despised and lowly in this world?” He, who was so honored by Śrīnivāsa, the preceptor of the three worlds, was embraced like an elder brother, even as the goddess of fortune remained seated on the couch. The two friends began to recount delightful stories from their time together in the preceptor’s house, holding each other's hands as they spoke. The Blessed Lord asked, “O brāhmaṇa, after you completed your studies in the preceptor’s house and offered the proper fee, did you marry a suitable wife or not, O knower of dharma? It is well known to me, wise one, that your mind is not attached to household life or to wealth, for you act without desire and do not take much pleasure in such things. Some perform actions, their minds deluded by desire, abandoning their divine natures, just as I do for the sake of maintaining the world. O brāhmaṇa, do you remember our time living together in the preceptor’s house? For the twice-born, by knowing what is to be known, crosses beyond darkness.