In a quiet moment, a mother gazed sorrowfully at her two sons, who lay before her, exhausted and aged beyond their years. She was preparing to leave that place and journey to another land, but her heart was heavy with grief. Though she herself was still young, her sons had grown old, and this unnatural reversal filled her with pain and bewilderment. She wondered aloud how such a thing could happen, for it is natural that a mother should age while her children remain youthful, not the other way around. Troubled and filled with wonder, she turned to the wise sage before her and pleaded, “O treasure of yoga, O wise one, tell me—what could be the cause of this sorrow?” Nārada, the compassionate sage, replied to her with gentle reassurance. “O sinless one, by knowledge I perceive all this within the Self. Do not be despondent, for Lord Hari will surely bring you auspiciousness.” Instantly understanding the depth of her distress, the great sage prepared to speak. Nārada said, “Listen attentively, child. The yoga and the fierce Kali age have together caused the disappearance of good conduct, the path of yoga, and austerities. People have become like Aghāsura, full of deceit and wicked deeds. In this age, the virtuous are distressed while the unrighteous rejoice. Yet, the wise person who remains courageous is truly steadfast and learned. “Seeing these untouchables, the earth herself has become a bearer of burdens, and year after year, auspiciousness slips further away. Now, no one even notices you together with your sons; you are neglected by those blinded by attachment and reduced to a state of decrepitude. Yet, when you were united with Vṛndāvana, you became young and fresh again—blessed is Vṛndāvana, where devotion itself dances. Here, in this age, because there are none who truly receive them, even old age does not leave your sons; with a little self-contentment, they simply rest. “Tell me, how was the impure Kali established by King Parīkṣit? With the coming of Kali, where did the essence of all virtue go?” Devotion herself asked, filled with concern. “Even by the compassionate Hari, how is unrighteousness witnessed? Please, remove this doubt of mine with your words.” Nārada replied, “Since you have asked, child, listen with affection, and I will tell you everything so your confusion will depart. When Mukunda, the Lord, left this world and returned to His own abode, from that very day, Kali entered, obstructing all the paths of virtue. During his conquests, the king saw Kali, miserable and seeking refuge. He did not kill him, just as a honey-gatherer might spare a bee. “The result not attained by austerity, yoga, or meditation is fully obtained in Kali by the praise of Keśava. Seeing Kali as uniform and devoid of essence, Viṣṇurāta established him for the happiness of those born in this age. Yet, because of evil deeds, the essence has departed from everywhere; objects remain on earth like husks without seeds. “Once, the brāhmaṇas made the Bhāgavata teaching known in every home, but out of greed for fees, the essence of those stories has vanished. Even those who perform terrible deeds—atheistic, hellish people—remain at holy places, yet the essence of those places is lost. Those whose minds are agitated by desire, anger, and greed still engage in austerity, but the true essence is gone. Because of the defeat of the mind, greed, hypocrisy, and heresy, even the mere study of scriptures does not yield the fruit of meditation and yoga. “The learned delight with their wives like buffaloes, skilled in producing sons but unskilled in attaining liberation. Nowhere is true Vaiṣṇavism found, even among the leaders of the traditions; thus, the true essence of reality has perished everywhere. But this is the nature of the age—who can be blamed? Therefore, the Lotus-eyed Lord endures, standing nearby.” Hearing these words, those present were filled with great wonder. Bhakti, the very embodiment of devotion, spoke again, “Let this also be heard, O Śaunaka. O sage among the gods, you are truly blessed, for you have come here by my good fortune. The sight of the virtuous in this world bestows all perfections. Victory, victory to Him whose body is the basis of illusion, who, by a single utterance, creates all speech! By His grace, Dhruva attained the eternal state. I bow to the son of Brahmā, the vessel of all auspiciousness.” Thus begins the next chapter—the glory of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Nārada, eager to relieve Bhakti’s distress, spoke with soothing wisdom: “Child, why do you grieve in vain, so troubled by anxiety? Remember the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—your sorrow will depart. It was He who rescued Draupadī from the calamity of the Kauravas and protected the cowherd women; where is that Kṛṣṇa now? “But you, Bhakti, are always dearer to Him than life itself. When you call, the Lord comes even to the houses of the lowly. In the first three ages, truth and knowledge, along with detachment, are the means to liberation; but in Kali, only Bhakti grants union with Brahman. “Thus, having decided, the Conscious One created you, who are of the same nature, as a beautiful form of supreme bliss, beloved of Kṛṣṇa. With folded hands, you once asked, ‘What shall I do?’ Then Kṛṣṇa instructed you: ‘Nourish my devotees.’ You accepted that command, and Hari was pleased. He gave you Mukti as a maidservant, and these two—Jñāna and Vairāgya. “In Vaikuṇṭha, you nourish by your own form; on earth, to nourish devotees, you manifest a shadow-form. With Mukti, Jñāna, and Vairāgya, you came to earth and remained in great joy until the end of Dvāpara, beginning from Kṛta. But in Kali, Mukti was destroyed, afflicted by heresy; by your command, she quickly returned again to Vaikuṇṭha.” Thus, Nārada explained the decline of virtue and the special place of Bhakti in the age of Kali, assuring all that remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet would dispel every sorrow.