When the assembled kings had withdrawn, their pride humbled, the Lord Krishna took up the mighty bow and strung it effortlessly, displaying a strength unmatched by any present. With calm focus, Krishna aimed an arrow at the challenging target—a fish spinning above a pool of water. Glancing just once at its reflection, he released the arrow with flawless precision, striking the fish and causing it to fall, all while the sun stood in the auspicious Abhijit constellation. At that moment, I—Draupadī—entered the arena, my anklets softly tinkling. In my hands I held a radiant golden garland studded with gems. Dressed in new silk, my face adorned with a bashful smile, and my hair crowned with a floral wreath, I walked forward. Lifting my face, my large earrings gleaming and cheeks glowing, I cast gentle, smiling glances around at the gathered kings. With a heart devoted to Murāri, I placed the garland upon Krishna’s shoulder, choosing him as my husband. Instantly, drums, kettledrums, conches, trumpets, and other instruments resounded through the hall. Dancers performed and singers sang in celebration. Yet, when I chose Krishna, the master of Māyā, the chiefs of men—burning with desire—could not bear my choice and began to compete with each other. Krishna placed me upon his chariot, yoked with four excellent horses, took up the Śārṅga bow, donned his armor, and stood ready for battle, manifesting his four arms. Dāruka drove the chariot, adorned with golden fittings, as the kings watched, just as the king of beasts carries off his prey before lesser animals. Some of the kings pursued Krishna, armed and with drawn bows, attempting to block his path, like village lions chasing Hari. But struck by volleys of arrows from the Śārṅga bow, their arms, legs, and necks were severed; some fell in battle, while others abandoned the fight and fled. Then Krishna, Lord of the Yadus, entered the city, splendidly decorated with sun-shaded banners and painted gateways, celebrated in heaven and on earth, like a ship reaching its own harbor. My father honored his friends, relatives, and kin with precious garments, ornaments, beds, seats, and other gifts. With maidservants, all kinds of wealth, soldiers, chariots, and horses, he gave valuable weapons with full devotion. We, the maidservants of Krishna’s household, became so by the power of true austerity and complete detachment, serving him who is self-satisfied. The queens spoke: “Having slain Bhauma and his followers in battle, Krishna freed us, the princesses conquered by him. Remembering his lotus feet, the fulfiller of all desires, he accepted us in marriage, granting us liberation from worldly bondage. We do not desire sovereignty, lordship, rulership, or even the supreme position of Brahmā, nor the endless abode of Hari. We desire only to bear on our heads the dust of his glorious feet, fragrant with the scent of his consort’s breast-unguent, he who wields the mace. The cowherd women of Vraja, the Pulinda women, the grasses and herbs, the cows, and the cowherd boys—all desire the touch of the feet of that great soul as he tends the cows.” Śuka continued: When Kuntī, Subhadrā, Draupadī, Mādhavī, the royal wives, and their own gopīs heard of the deep affection Krishna, the Supreme Soul, had for them, they were all amazed, their eyes brimming with tears. As the women spoke among themselves and the men among men, the sages arrived there, eager to see Krishna and Balarāma. Among the sages were Vyāsa, Nārada, Cyavana, Devala, Asita, Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, Bharadvāja, and Gautama. Rāma with his disciples, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, Gālava, Bhṛgu, Pulastya, Kaśyapa, Atri, Mārkaṇḍeya, and Bṛhaspati also arrived. Dvitas, Trita, Ekata, the sons of Brahmā, Aṅgirā, Agastya, Yājñavalkya, Vāmadeva, and others came as well. Seeing them, the kings who had been seated before, along with the Pāṇḍavas, Krishna, and Balarāma, immediately rose and bowed to those revered by the world. They all worshipped the sages as was proper, and Rāma and Acyuta also honored them with words of welcome, seats, water for washing feet, offerings, garlands, incense, and ointments. The Lord, embodiment of righteousness, spoke to them as they sat comfortably, while the great assembly listened in silence to his measured words. Krishna said: “Ah, we who are born into this world have attained the highest fruit, which is difficult even for the gods to obtain—the sight of the masters of yoga. What to say of those men of little austerity, who in the worship of the gods—who are the eyes of the world—gain the chance to see, touch, question, and bow to the feet of such beings? Neither sacred waters, nor gods made of clay and stone, purify in the same way; it is the holy ones who purify, simply by their sight, even in a brief moment. Neither fire, nor sun, nor moon and stars, nor earth, water, sky, wind, speech, or mind—though worshipped as separate—remove sin; the wise destroy it by serving the enlightened, even for a moment. He who identifies the self with the body of three elements, regards wife and kin as his own, worships earth as sacred, and sees holy places only as water, but never seeks out the wise—he is no better than a cow or donkey.” Śuka said: Hearing these words of Krishna, whose wisdom is unfathomable, the sages sat silent, their minds perplexed by the depth of his speech. After long deliberation, the sages, smiling at the Lord of the universe, said that his sovereignty was for gathering people together. The sages spoke: “By your māyā, O highest knower of truth, even we, the lords among the creators of the world, are bewildered; your mastery is hidden by your own mysterious power—how wondrous are the Lord’s actions! Though without desire, you create, maintain, and withdraw the world in many ways, yet are not bound—just as the earth, though appearing in many forms and names, remains unchanged. How marvelous and mysterious are the acts of your greatness! Yet, at the proper time, for the protection of Your own people, You assume the mode of goodness, and also for the subjugation of the wicked; by Your own play, You uphold the eternal path of the Veda, O Supreme Person, who are the soul of the varṇāśrama order. O Brahman, Your heart is pure, attained through austerity, study, and self-restraint; in it is realized that which is manifest, unmanifest, and beyond both. Therefore, O Brahman, You honor the community of Brahmins, the very source of the scriptures and of Yourself; thus You become the foremost among those devoted to Brahman. Today, our birth, our learning, our austerity, and our vision have borne fruit, for by meeting You, who are the highest goal, we have attained the supreme good. Obeisance to that Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose intellect is unfailing, whose greatness is concealed by His own yogamāyā, and who is the Supreme Soul.