Bhṛgu, the great sage, approached a deity but refrained from returning his embrace, perceiving disrespect. The god’s eyes blazed with anger; he raised his trident, intent on striking Bhṛgu down. At that moment, the goddess—gentle and wise—fell at the god’s feet and soothed him with soft words. His wrath abated, the god departed for Vaikuṇṭha, the celestial realm where Janārdana, the Supreme Lord, dwells. Upon arriving, Bhṛgu found the Lord reclining, Śrī Lakṣmī resting upon His chest. Without hesitation, Bhṛgu struck the Lord’s chest with his foot. Yet, the Lord—refuge of the virtuous—rose together with Lakṣmī, descended from His bed, and bowed His head to the sage. With humility, He welcomed Bhṛgu: “O Brāhmaṇa, please be seated. Forgive us for not knowing of your arrival.” Then the Lord spoke reverently: “O maker of holy places among the holy, purify me, the world, and the guardians of the world who are devoted to me, with the water that has washed your feet.” He continued, “Today, O Lord, I have become the exclusive recipient of Lakṣmī’s favor. Prosperity, freed from sin by the touch of your feet, will dwell upon my chest.” Śuka, the sage, narrates that as Bhṛgu listened to these gentle words in Vaikuṇṭha, he became deeply satisfied and fulfilled. Silence overcame him, devotion welled within his heart, and tears filled his eyes. Bhṛgu then returned to the assembly of sages devoted to Brahman and described everything he had directly experienced. The sages, astonished and free from doubt, placed even greater faith in Viṣṇu, the source of peace and fearlessness. From Him arises dharma, knowledge, renunciation, eightfold sovereignty, and fame that purifies the self. He is the supreme goal for the sages—those who have laid down their rods, who are peaceful, equal-minded, possessing nothing, and virtuous. His beloved form is sattva; for Him, brāhmaṇas are the chosen deities. The wise, peaceful, and desireless worship Him without seeking reward. By His māyā, endowed with the guṇas, He creates the threefold classes—rākṣasas, asuras, and suras—and sattva is the means to attain that holy place. Śuka concludes: Thus, the Sarasvata brāhmaṇas, for the removal of people’s doubts, attained the supreme destination by serving the lotus feet of the Supreme Person. Sūta then declares: Whoever, with the ears as vessels, repeatedly drinks this nectar—fragrant with the lotus feet of the sage’s son—which removes the fear of worldly existence and concerns the Supreme Person, that traveler abandons the fatigue of wandering the path. Śuka continues: Once, in Dvārakā, a brāhmaṇa’s wife gave birth, but the newborn son died as soon as he touched the earth. The grieving brāhmaṇa carried the dead child to the king’s gate, lamenting in distress. He cried out, “Because of the misdeeds of a king who hates brāhmaṇas, is deceitful, greedy, and attached to sense objects, my child has died. When the king delights in violence, is wicked, and has uncontrolled senses, the people suffer, becoming poor and constantly afflicted.” This lament repeated as a second and then a third child died; each time, the brāhmaṇa left them at the king’s gate. When the ninth child had passed away, Arjuna, in Keśava’s presence, spoke to the brāhmaṇa: “O brāhmaṇa, what is lacking in your house? These brāhmaṇas are performing a sacrifice, attended by kṣatriya friends. Where brāhmaṇas, surrounded by wealth, wives, and sons, are lamenting, those who live in the guise of kṣatriyas are impostors, living in disgrace. O Lord, I will protect your children here, who are afflicted and helpless. If I fail to fulfill my promise, I shall enter fire, purified of sin.” The brāhmaṇa replied, “Sankarshana, Vasudeva, Pradyumna—best among archers—and Aniruddha, whose chariot is unconquerable, were unable to protect them. How then do you, desiring a deed difficult even for the Lords of the world, intend to accomplish it out of childishness? We do not believe this.” Arjuna responded, “O brāhmaṇa, I am not Sankarshana, nor Krishna, nor the son of Krishna; I am Arjuna, whose bow is Gandiva. Do not underestimate my power, which has pleased Tryambaka. Having conquered death in battle, I will bring back your children.” Thus reassured by Phalguna, the scorcher of foes, the brāhmaṇa, pleased after witnessing Partha’s prowess, returned to his house. When the time of birth approached for the brāhmaṇa’s wife, the distressed brāhmaṇa called out to Arjuna: “Protect, protect my child from death!” Arjuna purified himself with clean water, bowed to Maheshvara, recalled divine weapons, and took up his Gandiva. He blocked the birthing chamber with arrows, employing various weapons, and made a cage of arrows on all sides—across, above, and below. Yet, as the child was born, crying repeatedly, he vanished at once, body and all, into the sky. The brāhmaṇa, in Krishna’s presence, reproached Arjuna: “See my foolishness, that I believed his boastful words. Neither Pradyumna, nor Aniruddha, nor Rama, nor Kesava could protect him; who else, then, O Lord of the universe, could do so? Shame on Arjuna for his false words, shame on his self-praise and his bow; deluded, he seeks to do what is ordained by fate.” Thus cursed by the brāhmaṇa sage, Phalguna, relying on his knowledge, quickly went to Samyamanī, where Lord Yama resides. Not finding the brāhmaṇa’s son there, he went armed to the city of Indra, then to those of Agni, Nirriti, Soma, Vayu, and Varuna. He searched Rasatala, the heavens, and the abodes of other deities, bearing his weapons. Failing to find the brāhmaṇa’s son and unable to fulfill his promise, Arjuna wished to enter fire, but Krishna stopped him. Krishna said, “I will show you the brāhmaṇa’s sons; do not belittle yourself. Those men who establish our pure fame will be blessed.