After the great war, Ajātaśatru—Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu—regained his rightful kingdom, which had been unjustly seized through deceitful gambling. The unrighteous kings, tainted by the influence of Kaca, were vanquished, and thus Kṛṣṇa fulfilled his purpose. Under Kṛṣṇa’s guidance, Yudhiṣṭhira performed three grand horse sacrifices, arranged with utmost excellence, and his pure fame spread across all directions, shining like that of Indra himself. When the time came for Kṛṣṇa to depart, he took leave of the Pāṇḍavas. Sātyaki and Uddhava accompanied him, and the great sage Vyāsa, along with other revered sages, honored him, receiving his respectful homage in return. With his heart set on returning to Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa mounted his chariot. But just then, he was approached by Uttarā, who came running toward him, gripped by terror. Uttarā cried out, “Protect me, protect me, O great yogin! O God of gods, Lord of the universe! Death threatens me from every side, and I see no refuge but you!” In desperation, she pleaded, “O Lord, a blazing iron arrow rushes toward me! Let it burn me if it must, but do not let my unborn child be destroyed, O master!” Hearing her anguished words, the Lord—who is ever compassionate to his devotees—at once understood that the weapon unleashed by Droṇa’s son was meant to destroy the line of the Pāṇḍavas. As the five brothers beheld the fiery arrows speeding toward them, they instinctively took up their own weapons in defense. But seeing this dire calamity threatening those whose hearts were fixed on him alone, Kṛṣṇa shielded his beloved ones with his own weapon, the Sudarśana discus. Hari, the supreme master of yoga who dwells within all beings as their very self, by his own power enveloped the embryo in Uttarā’s womb, protecting the future of the Kuru line. Though the Brahmaśiras weapon is unfailing and cannot be counteracted, it was subdued by the Lord’s Vaiṣṇava power, a wonder befitting Acyuta, in whom all miracles reside. For he, the unborn, creates, maintains, and destroys the worlds through his divine illusion. Thus freed from the power of Brahmā’s weapon, Pṛthā—Kuntī—together with her sons and in the presence of Kṛṣṇa, spoke words of gratitude to the Lord as he prepared to depart. Kuntī bowed and said, “O original Person, Lord beyond material nature, invisible to all, yet present within and without, I offer you my obeisance. Covered by the veil of illusion, unknowable and imperishable, you are not seen by those whose vision is clouded, just as an actor is hidden by his costume. For the sake of devotion among the pure-hearted renunciants, you appear, but how can we women possibly perceive you?” She continued, “Again and again I bow to you, Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, son of Devakī, beloved child of Nanda and the cowherds, Govinda. Salutations to you, lotus-naveled one, garlanded with lotuses, lotus-eyed, whose feet are like lotuses. Just as Hṛṣīkeśa freed Devakī from her long sorrow in Kaṃsa’s prison, so too have you again and again delivered me and my sons from many perils: from deadly poison, from the great fire, from the man-eater’s gaze, from the wicked assembly, from hardships in the forest, from countless battles with mighty warriors, and now from the weapon of Drauṇa. O Hari, you have always protected us. May such calamities always visit us, O Guru of the world, so that we may see you again and again, for seeing you means we shall not see repeated birth. Those who are proud of birth, wealth, learning, and beauty cannot truly call upon you, for you are accessible only to those who possess nothing. Salutations to you, the treasure of the destitute, whose actions are untouched by the modes, who delights in the self, who is peaceful, and the Lord of liberation. I see you as Time itself—beginningless, endless, all-pervading, and impartial, from whom all discord arises. No one knows your intention, O Lord. Your actions in this world seem to mock men’s understanding, for you have no favorites or foes, though people imagine otherwise. The birth and deeds of the soul of the universe, the unborn and non-acting self, among beasts, humans, and aquatic beings—these are the greatest wonders. When the gopī took a rope to bind you for your mischief, and your eyes, troubled by fear, were smeared with tears and ointment, you bowed your head in dread—this bewilders me, for even those who are feared, fear you. Some say the unborn was born in the Yadu line for the fame of the virtuous, just as sandalwood thrives in Malaya. Others declare that you appeared at the request of Vasudeva and Devakī, to protect the world and destroy those hostile to the gods. Some say you came at Brahmā’s plea, when the earth, burdened and sinking like a boat, needed relief. Others say you appeared to perform deeds worthy of hearing and remembrance by those suffering from ignorance, desire, and action. Those who constantly hear, sing, praise, remember, and rejoice in your deeds soon behold your lotus feet, which end the cycle of worldly existence. O Lord, will you now abandon us, your devoted friends and dependents, for whose sake there is no other refuge but your lotus feet, even though we are bound by kingship and its flaws? Who are we—the Pāṇḍavas and the Yadus—but mere names and forms? Without you, the Lord of the senses, we are nothing. O Gadādhara, the earth will no longer shine as it does now, adorned by your feet, marked by their unique signs. These lands flourish, their herbs and plants thrive, forests, mountains, rivers, and oceans all prosper because of your glances. Therefore, O Lord of the universe, soul of the universe, form of the universe, please sever this strong bond of affection I have for the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis. O Lord of Madhu, may my mind, without any other object, always flow in loving devotion to you, just as the Ganges flows unbroken to the sea. O Śrī Kṛṣṇa, friend of Kṛṣṇa, chief of the Vṛṣṇis, destroyer of the unrighteous, fire among royal lines, whose power brings liberation, Govinda, who relieves the distress of cows, brāhmaṇas, and gods, master of yoga, teacher of all, O Lord—I bow to you.” As Pṛthā praised him with these sweet and heartfelt words, the all-auspicious Lord Vaikuṇṭha smiled gently, as if to enchant her further with his divine māyā.