The venerable mother, her heart weighed down by sorrow, gazed upon her sons and lamented, “How strange and painful is this sight! I am still young, yet my sons have grown old before me. Why have things come to such a state? It is the way of the world that the mother should age, while her children remain youthful. Yet here, though the three of us have always been together, this natural order seems reversed. What could be the cause of this?” Troubled and filled with wonder, she turned to the wise sage before her, saying, “O treasure-house of yoga, O knower of truth, please tell me—what is the root of this sorrow? My mind is restless and yearns for understanding.” Nārada, the sage, replied gently, “O sinless one, through knowledge I perceive all that transpires within the Self. Do not let grief overwhelm you, for Hari, the Lord, will surely bring you auspiciousness.” Hearing these words, the assembly became attentive, and the great sage Nārada continued, “Listen closely, child. The present age—Kali Yuga—and the decline of yoga have caused the disappearance of good conduct, the true path, and austerities. People have become like Aghāsura himself, engaging in deceit and wickedness. The virtuous suffer, while the unrighteous flourish; yet, the wise person who remains steadfast and courageous is truly learned. “Seeing these untouchables and the burden they place upon the earth, year by year, all signs of auspiciousness vanish. Now, no one sees you together with your sons; you are neglected by those blinded by attachment, and have come to a state of decrepitude. “But in Vṛndāvana, by union with that sacred place, you became young and fresh again. Blessed is Vṛndāvana, where devotion herself dances. Here, in this age, old age clings to your sons, for there are none left who truly receive them. With a little self-contentment, they simply rest, resigned.” Devotion, the mother, then asked, “How did the impure Kali become established by King Parīkṣit? With the onset of Kali, where did the very essence of virtue go? Even with the compassionate Hari present, how is unrighteousness witnessed? Please, remove this doubt from my heart.” Nārada replied, “Child, since you have asked, listen with care. I will tell you everything, and your confusion will be dispelled. When Mukunda, the Lord, departed from this earth and returned to His own abode, from that day, Kali Yuga arrived, obstructing all means of virtue. During his conquest of the directions, King Parīkṣit saw Kali, miserable and seeking refuge. He did not kill him, just as a bee is spared by the honey-gatherer. “In this age, what cannot be attained by austerity, yoga, or meditation is fully achieved simply by praising Keśava. Seeing Kali as uniform, devoid of essence, Viṣṇurāta (King Parīkṣit) established him for the sake of those born in Kali, so that even in this age, some happiness might remain. “But now, because of evil deeds, the true essence has departed from all things; what remains are mere husks, empty of substance. The brāhmaṇas once spread the Bhāgavata teaching in every home, but, driven by greed for reward, the essence of those stories has vanished. Even those who commit terrible deeds, the atheistic and hellish, remain at holy places, but the sanctity of those places is lost. Those agitated by desire, anger, greed, and thirst still perform austerities, but the true essence of austerity is gone. “Because of the mind’s defeat by greed, hypocrisy, and heresy—even the study of scriptures fails to yield the fruit of meditation and yoga. The learned delight with their wives, skilled only in producing sons, but not in attaining liberation. True Vaiṣṇavism is nowhere found, even among the leaders of traditions; thus, the true essence of reality has perished everywhere. “But this is the very nature of the age. Who can be blamed? Therefore, the Lotus-eyed Lord endures, remaining nearby.” Hearing these words, those present were filled with wonder. Bhakti, Devotion herself, spoke again, “O Śaunaka, hear further. O sage among the gods, you are truly blessed to 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 creates all speech with a single utterance! By His grace, Dhruva attained the eternal state. I bow to Nārada, son of Brahmā, vessel of all auspiciousness.” As the second chapter began, Nārada spoke with compassion, “Child, why do you grieve in vain, so troubled by anxiety? Remember the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and your sorrow will depart. Was it not He who rescued Draupadī from her calamity among the Kauravas, and protected the cowherd women? Where has that Kṛṣṇa gone now? “But know this, Bhakti: you 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, knowledge, and detachment are the means to liberation; but in Kali, only Bhakti grants union with Brahman. “Thus, having resolved, the Conscious Lord created you, of the same divine nature, as a beautiful form of supreme bliss, beloved of Kṛṣṇa. With folded hands, you once asked Him, ‘What shall I do?’ And Kṛṣṇa instructed you, ‘Nourish my devotees.’ “You gladly accepted His command, and Hari was pleased. He gave you Mukti—Liberation—as your maidservant, and these two, Jñāna and Vairāgya—Knowledge and Renunciation—as your sons. In Vaikuṇṭha, you nourish by your own form; on earth, to nurture devotees, you manifest a shadow-form. With Mukti, Jñāna, and Vairāgya, you came to earth and remained in great joy from the age of Kṛta through Dvāpara. “But in Kali, Mukti was destroyed, afflicted by heresy; at your command, she quickly returned to Vaikuṇṭha. Liberation comes and goes here as you remember, and these two—your sons, Knowledge and Renunciation—are always protected at your side.” Thus, the story of Devotion’s sorrow and the decline of virtue in Kali Yuga was revealed, along with the enduring hope that remains through Bhakti—the loving remembrance of the Lord.