Indeed, he is the very origin of those devoted to righteous action, born from the twice-born and standing as the foremost among those in the āśramas—just as I am the giver of knowledge and the teacher. O brāhmaṇa, those who are skilled in the true meaning, among those who follow the ways of 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 as satisfied by worship, offspring, austerity, or restraint as I am by sincere service to the teacher. O brāhmaṇa, do you remember our conduct while living with the preceptor, when, at the prompting of our teacher’s wives, we sometimes went out to gather firewood? Once, as we entered the great forest, O twice-born one, a fierce storm arose, with violent winds and harsh thunder. By then, the sun had set, and darkness covered all directions; the low-lying riverbank, now flooded, could not be discerned at all. There, we were struck repeatedly by powerful winds and torrents of water, overwhelmed by the flood. Unable to tell the directions or even see each other in the forest, we wandered about, holding hands, distressed and lost. At sunrise, our teacher Sāndīpani, searching for us, found his students in a wretched state. “Ah, dear children,” he said, “you have suffered greatly for my sake; yet, forgoing your own well-being, you have devoted yourselves to me. Truly, 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 ends 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: Thus, as Hari conversed with the foremost brāhmaṇa, he, who knows the hearts of all beings, smiled and spoke to him. Kṛṣṇa, the Lord devoted to the brāhmaṇas, gazed affectionately at the brāhmaṇa, and with a loving smile—indeed, such a look is the goal of the virtuous—he addressed him. The Blessed Lord said, “O brāhmaṇa, what gift have you brought me from your home? Even a small offering brought by devotees with love becomes great to me; 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.” Though thus addressed, the brāhmaṇa, feeling embarrassed before the Lord of Śrī, did not offer the handful of parched rice he had brought, remaining silent and ashamed. But He who directly 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, Kṛṣṇa took from the brāhmaṇa’s dwelling the parched rice bound in a cloth, wondering, “What is this?” He said, “O friend, truly this offering brought to Me is supreme satisfaction; these grains of parched rice, O dear one, satisfy Me and the whole universe.” Thus, having eaten one handful, He took a second to eat; at that moment, Lakshmi, ever devoted to the Supreme Lord, seized His hand and said, “O Soul of the Universe, this alone is enough for the abundance of all prosperity, in this world or the next, for a person whose purpose is to please You.” The brāhmaṇa spent that night in Achyuta’s abode, eating, drinking, and feeling happiness, as if he were in heaven itself. When morning came, honored with universal affection and personal happiness, he joyfully set out for his own home, accompanied along the path. He had not received any wealth from Kṛṣṇa, nor had he asked for it himself; yet he returned to his house, feeling bashful, but fulfilled by the great vision he had received. He thought, “Ah, I have witnessed the devotion of the Lord who cherishes the Brāhmaṇas, for though I am most poor, Lakshmi herself embraced Him upon His chest. Where am I, poor and sinful, and where is Kṛṣṇa, the abode of fortune? Though called merely a Brāhmaṇa in name, I was embraced by His arms. I was seated on a couch, cherished by my dear friend as brothers are, fanned by the queen, though weary, with her hand holding a child’s fan. With utmost service, such as massaging the feet, I was honored by the Lord of gods, the god of Brāhmaṇas, as if I were a god. For men, the root of all happiness in heaven and liberation, of wealth on earth, and of all perfections, is the worship of His feet. If this poor man were to obtain wealth, he might become intoxicated and forget Me; thus, out of compassion, He surely did not give me abundant riches.” Thinking thus within himself, he approached his humble home, only to find it surrounded on all sides by aerial palaces shining like the sun, fire, and moon. The place was adorned with wondrous groves and gardens, filled with the songs of flocks of birds, and with blossoming lotuses, water lilies, and blue lotuses in the ponds. It was graced by men and women, beautifully adorned, with doe-like eyes; he wondered, “What is this? Whose place is this? How has this come to be?” As he was thus pondering, men and women, radiant as immortals, welcomed the blessed one with abundant singing and instrumental music. Hearing that her husband had arrived, his wife, overwhelmed with joy and excitement, quickly came out of the house, like Lakshmi herself emerging from her own abode.