Taking the humble offering entrusted to him, the foremost among brāhmaṇas set out for Dvārakā, his heart filled with longing and hope: “How might I obtain a vision of Kṛṣṇa?” Passing through three enclosures and three inner courtyards, he entered the homes of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, those noble families who followed the path of the infallible Lord. Making his way further, the brāhmaṇa entered one of the houses belonging to Hari’s sixteen thousand queens. There, as if he had attained divine bliss itself, he was filled with great joy. From a distance, Kṛṣṇa—Acyuta—was seated upon the couch of his beloved. The moment his lotus eyes saw his dear friend, the Lord immediately rose, approached him, and embraced the brāhmaṇa warmly with both arms, his face shining with delight. Overwhelmed by the touch of his cherished companion, the sage among the twice-born, the Lord’s heart swelled with joy, and tears welled up in his eyes. Seating his friend upon his own couch, Kṛṣṇa himself performed the proper honors: he fetched water and, with his own hands, washed the brāhmaṇa’s feet. O King, the Lord—purifier of the worlds—then respectfully sprinkled that water upon his own head and anointed his guest with divine fragrances: sandalwood, aguru, and saffron. With fragrant incense and rows of shining lamps, Kṛṣṇa worshipped his friend joyfully, offering betel nut and presenting a cow as a gift. He spoke words of heartfelt welcome. The goddess herself, though surrounded by every luxury, took up a yak-tail fan and served the twice-born guest, who sat clad in worn and soiled garments, his body emaciated and veins prominent. Witnessing Kṛṣṇa, of spotless fame, honor this wandering mendicant so deeply, the women of the inner chambers were amazed and filled with affection. They wondered, “What pious act has this avadhūta, this destitute and lowly man, performed in a past life to be so honored here?” For he, so scorned by the world, was embraced by Śrīnivāsa, the Lord of Lakṣmī, as though he were an elder brother, even as the goddess of fortune herself remained seated upon the couch. With hands clasped, the two friends began to recount delightful stories from their days together in their preceptor’s house. Kṛṣṇa, the Blessed Lord, asked, “O brāhmaṇa, after you completed your studies in the guru’s house and offered the proper fee, did you marry a suitable wife or not, O knower of dharma? Yet I know well, wise one, that your mind is unattached to household life or wealth; you act without desire and take little 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. 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. Indeed, the preceptor is the very origin here of those devoted to righteous action, born of the twice-born, and foremost among those in the āśramas, just as I am the giver of knowledge and the teacher. “O brāhmaṇa, those skilled in the true meaning, among those who follow varṇa and āśrama, easily cross the ocean of worldly existence by my instruction as their teacher. I, the indwelling soul of all beings, am not satisfied by worship, offspring, austerity, or restraint, as I am by service to the teacher. “Do you remember our conduct while living with the preceptor, when, at the urging of the preceptor’s wives, we sometimes went to gather firewood? Once, as we entered the great forest, a fierce storm arose, with violent winds and harsh thunder. The sun had set, darkness covered all directions, and the riverbank was flooded and indistinguishable. We were struck again and again by powerful winds and torrents of water, overwhelmed by the flood; unable to discern the directions or see each other, we wandered through the forest, holding hands, distressed. “At sunrise, our teacher Sāndīpani came searching and found us in a wretched state. He cried, ‘Ah, dear children, you have suffered greatly for my sake; yet, forgoing your own well-being, you have devoted yourselves to me. Indeed, this is what true disciples must do for their teacher: to dedicate all their efforts and very selves to the guru with pure intent. I am pleased, O best of the twice-born; may all your true wishes be fulfilled, and may you master the Vedas and their limbs, here and hereafter.’ “In this way, by the guru’s grace alone, a person living in the teacher’s house attains completeness and peace through many such experiences.” The blessed brāhmaṇa replied, “What remains unfulfilled for us, O Lord of gods, teacher of the world, when we have lived in your house—you who are ever true to your word? For him whose body is composed of Vedic sound, O mighty one, dwelling with a teacher is the highest honor among all blessings.” Thus concludes the eightieth chapter, entitled “The Story of Śrīdāma,” in the second half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the supreme renunciants. Śrī Śuka continued: As Hari spoke thus with the foremost brāhmaṇa, he who knows the minds of all beings smiled and addressed him further. Kṛṣṇa, ever devoted to the brāhmaṇas, gazed upon his guest with deep affection, his loving smile a reward sought by the virtuous. The Blessed Lord said, “O brāhmaṇa, what gift have you brought me from your home? Even a small offering brought with love by my devotee becomes great in my eyes; but even a great gift from one without devotion does not please me. Whoever offers me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion, I accept that offering from the pure-hearted devotee.” But the brāhmaṇa, though thus addressed, was embarrassed before the Lord of Śrī and did not present the handful of parched rice he carried. He remained silent, ashamed. Yet Kṛṣṇa, who sees the Self in all beings, understood the reason for his coming and thought, “This man did not worship me before out of desire for wealth. But now, prompted by the wish of his devoted wife and out of friendship, he has come to me. I shall grant him riches rarely attained by mortals.” Thinking thus, the Lord took from the brāhmaṇa’s possession the parched rice wrapped in cloth and wondered with a gentle smile, “What is this?