People from many lands—Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru, Jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pāñcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa, and others—gathered, their hearts drawn by the radiant presence of the Lord. Men and women alike gazed upon his lotus-like face, which shone with a gentle smile and compassionate eyes, filling their vision with joy. As his glance dispelled the darkness from their hearts, the Guru of the three worlds granted them safety and blessed them with the sight of his divine form. The praises sung by gods and men echoed all around, spreading like the pure sky and banishing misfortune. With this auspicious atmosphere, the Lord slowly entered Videha. News of Acyuta’s arrival reached the citizens and people of the land, and they came forward, joyful and eager, carrying offerings in their hands. Seeing the illustrious one, their faces blossomed with delight; they bowed with joined palms, as did the sages whom they had only heard of before. Both the king of Mithilā and Śrutadeva, feeling that the Guru of the world had come for their blessing, fell at his feet in reverence. With joined palms, they invited the Dāśārha, along with the brāhmaṇas, to accept their hospitality at the same time. The Lord, perceiving their intent and wishing to please them both, entered the homes of each, unnoticed by the other. Janaka, the wise king, welcomed all who had come—even those not of good conduct—into his house. He seated them comfortably on the finest seats and listened to their words. With devotion swelling in his heart, tears of joy in his eyes, he bowed to their feet, washed them, and took that water, which purifies the world. With his family, he bore that sacred water on his head and worshipped the Lords with fragrances, garlands, garments, incense, lamps, offerings, and gifts of cows and bulls. Pleasing them with sweet words as they sat, not yet fully satisfied, Janaka gently touched the feet of Viṣṇu, who sat with his feet drawn up, his heart overflowing with joy. With reverence, King Bahulāśva spoke: “You are the Self, the witness, the seer of all beings, O Lord. And now, for us who remember your lotus feet, you have come into our sight. To fulfill your own words, you have become visible to us; for you said that your devotees, who are exclusively devoted, are dear to you, O Infinite One, more than even Lakṣmī or Brahmā. Who would abandon your lotus feet, O giver of the Self to renounced, peaceful sages who possess nothing? You descended in the Yadu dynasty among men, spreading your fame for their peace and removing the suffering of the three worlds. Obeisance to you, O Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, of unfailing wisdom, Nārāyaṇa, the sage who performed tranquil austerities. Please dwell in our home for a few days together with these brāhmaṇas; sanctify the lineage of Nimi with the dust of your feet.” Thus invited, the Lord, creator of the worlds, stayed there, bringing auspiciousness to the men and women of Mithilā. Śrutadeva, overwhelmed with joy, welcomed Acyuta to his house as Janaka had, bowed to the sages, and danced, shaking his garment in delight. He seated them on mats of grass and ox hides he had brought, and, together with his wife, joyfully washed their feet and greeted them with hospitality. With that water, he, his family, and his household bathed themselves, elated as all his desires had been fulfilled. Śrutadeva worshipped them with offerings of fruits, fragrant roots, pure water, clay, cow products, tulasi, sacred grass, and lotuses, performing the proper rites that increase goodness and destroy darkness. He wondered, “How did I, fallen into the blind well of household life, come to have this meeting—with Krishna himself, the dust of whose feet is the abode of all holy places, and with these brāhmaṇas who are his very home?” When his guests were seated and honored, Śrutadeva, together with his wife, children, and relatives, approached and touched their feet. With reverence, he spoke: “Today, the Supreme Person, who after creating this world with his energies enters it by his own being, has not come to our sight for the first time. Just as a man, lying down, creates a dream world by his own mind and then enters and illuminates it, so does he. To those who listen, speak, worship, bow to you, and converse sincerely, you reveal yourself within their pure hearts. Though dwelling in the heart, you remain far away from those whose minds are distracted by action, and, though inaccessible by your own power, you are not grasped by those attached to the qualities of matter. Obeisance to you, the Supreme Self, knower of the inner reality, who is beyond the self, who divides the self from death, who assumes forms with and without cause, and whose vision is veiled by your own maya. Therefore, O Lord, instruct us, your servants—what should we do? For the greatest suffering of people is that you are beyond the reach of their senses.” Hearing these words, the Lord, remover of the distress of those who bow to him, took Śrutadeva’s hand in his own, smiled, and spoke gently: “O brāhmaṇa, know that these sages have come here for your blessing; they wander the worlds with me, purifying them with the dust of their feet. The gods, sacred places, and holy waters purify gradually through sight, touch, and worship, but even they are purified instantly by the gaze of the best of brāhmaṇas. Among all living beings here, the brāhmaṇa is superior by birth; how much more so when endowed with austerity, knowledge, and contentment, and especially when devoted to me. This four-armed form is not dear to Me as the brāhmaṇas are; O brāhmaṇa, you are the embodiment of all the Vedas, and indeed, I am the embodiment of all the gods. Those of poor understanding, who do not know this, who are envious and disrespectful, see Me, the guru, the brāhmaṇa, and their own self as mere idols during worship. Whatever is moving or unmoving in this universe, and all the causes of these, the brāhmaṇa, by My vision, regards as My forms in his mind. Therefore, O brāhmaṇa, worship these brāhmaṇa sages with faith in Me; if you worship in this way, I am truly worshipped—not otherwise, even with great opulence.” Thus instructed by the Lord, the king of Mithilā worshipped the foremost brāhmaṇas along with Kṛṣṇa, regarding them as one with himself, and attained the highest destination. In this way, the Lord, who is devoted to His devotees and to devotion itself, after staying there and instructing the right path, returned again to Dvārakā.