Śuka, the great sage, continued his narration: After blessing the gopīs, Lord Kṛṣṇa—their teacher, their shelter, and the refuge of all—turned His attention to the welfare of Yudhiṣṭhira and his steadfast companions. The blessed souls who were thus honored by the Lord of all worlds responded with hearts brimming with joy, their sins washed away by the mere sight of His sacred feet. They said, “O great one, what misfortune could ever befall those who drink the nectar flowing from Your lotus feet, sometimes reaching us through Your divine words? Those who listen with the cups of their ears are freed from the bondage of bodily existence and the forgetfulness it brings. Having abandoned the threefold states of self and purified of all actions, we have attained unbroken bliss and clear knowledge. Through yoga, guided by scripture and time, we bow to Your form—the supreme path of the paramahaṃsa—though it appears to us through Your own māyā.” In this way, the noble wives of the Andhaka and Kaurava dynasties gathered together and praised Kṛṣṇa, the crown jewel among the illustrious. United in their devotion, they joyfully recited to each other Govinda’s wondrous deeds, tales celebrated throughout the three worlds. Dear listener, let me recount these stories for you. Draupadī, the noble daughter of Drupada, addressed the assembled queens: “O Vaidarbhī, O Bhadrā, O Jāmbavatī, O Kauśalā, O Satyabhāmā, O Kālindī, O Śaibyā, O Rohiṇī, O Lakṣmaṇā—wives of Kṛṣṇa—please tell us: how did the Lord, by His own divine power, marry each of you, imitating the ways of the world?” Rukmiṇī, the gentle queen, began: “When mighty warriors armed with bows tried to offer me to the king of Cedi, Kṛṣṇa came—His feet dusting the heads of those soldiers. Like a lion seizing his rightful share from a herd of goats, He carried me away. May I ever worship the feet of that Lord, the abode of Lakṣmī.” Satyabhāmā spoke next: “To remove the curse placed upon me by a co-wife, He defeated the kings of the earth and brought the precious jewel. He frightened my father and others, and though I was promised to another, He claimed me for Himself.” Jāmbavatī recalled, “Recognizing Him as the Lord of all forms and my destined husband, He fought my father for twenty-one days. When my father realized Kṛṣṇa’s true nature, he offered me to Him. Grasping His feet and the jewel, I became His devoted servant.” Kālindī added, “Performing austerities by the Yamunā, longing for His touch, He approached me as a friend, took my hand, and made me the humble sweeper of His household.” Mitravindā shared her story: “At my svayaṃvara, He defeated all the assembled kings and carried me off, like an elephant seizing his mate. He drove away my brothers and brought me to His city, the abode of fortune. May I always serve His feet.” Satyā, daughter of Nagnajit, said: “To test the valor of suitors, my father set seven fierce, sharp-horned bulls before them. Kṛṣṇa, destroyer of the pride of heroes, subdued them with ease, binding them as a child binds calves. Thus, I was won by Him, along with my maidservants and army, after He defeated the other kings. May I ever be His servant.” Bhadrā spoke: “My father, inviting my maternal uncle, gave me to Kṛṣṇa, the dark one, with an army and companions, for my heart was set upon Him. May I ever touch His feet, for such contact grants the highest good to the soul.” Lakṣmaṇā then recounted: “Hearing again and again from Nārada the stories of the Lord’s birth and glorious deeds, my heart was drawn to Mukunda, the lotus-handed one, forsaking even the guardians of the world. My father, Bṛhatsena, knowing my mind, devised a svayaṃvara. As in Draupadī’s contest, a fish was concealed outside, its reflection visible in the water below. Kings skilled in all weapons came from every land, honored by my father. Those who wished to win me took up the bow, but many failed to string it; some were struck down by its force. Others—like the kings of Magadha, Ambashṭha, Cedi, as well as Bhīma, Duryodhana, and Karṇa—strung the bow but did not grasp the true challenge. Arjuna, understanding the task, released his arrow, which merely touched the target. When the other kings withdrew, their pride broken, the Lord Himself took up the bow, strung it effortlessly, and with a single glance at the fish’s image in the water, struck it down with His arrow as the sun stood in Abhijit. “Adorned in new silk, with tinkling anklets, a golden garland in my hands, and a bashful smile, I entered the arena. My face uplifted, earrings gleaming, I gazed gently at the assembled kings. With a heart devoted to Murāri, I placed my garland on His shoulder. At that moment, drums, conches, and trumpets resounded, and dancers and singers rejoiced. When I chose the master of Māyā, the chiefs of men, burning with desire, could not tolerate my choice and began to compete with one another. “Kṛṣṇa placed me on His chariot, yoked with four splendid horses. Armed with His Śārṅga bow and clad in armor, He stood forth with four arms. Dāruka drove the golden chariot, and the assembled kings looked on, just as the king of beasts carries off his prey before other animals. Some kings gave chase, armed with drawn bows, but struck by volleys from the Śārṅga, some fell, while others fled. Then the Lord of the Yadus entered His city, splendidly decorated and celebrated in heaven and earth, like a ship reaching its home port. My father honored all with gifts—garments, ornaments, beds, and seats—along with maidservants, wealth, soldiers, chariots, and horses. We, his maidservants, became so by true austerity and detachment, serving Him who is ever content.” The queens then declared together: “After slaying Bhauma and his followers in battle, He freed us, the princesses conquered by that demon. Remembering His lotus feet, the fulfiller of all desires, He accepted us in marriage, granting us liberation from worldly bondage. We desire neither sovereignty, lordship, rulership, nor even the supreme position of Brahmā—not even the endless abode of Hari Himself. Our only wish is to serve His lotus feet, life after life.