Some say the Unborn Lord took birth in the celebrated Yadu dynasty for the glory of the virtuous, his beloved ones—just as fragrant sandalwood grows only in the Malaya mountains, so too did he choose that lineage for his advent. Others declare that, moved by the prayers of Vasudeva and Devakī, the Unborn One appeared to protect the world and to destroy those who hate the gods. There are those who say that, when the earth was burdened and sinking like a boat in the ocean, Brahmā himself appealed to you, O Lord, and thus you were born to relieve her load. Still others believe you descended to enact wondrous deeds—acts that are heard and remembered by those suffering in this world, bound by ignorance, desire, and karma. Those who constantly hear, sing, praise, remember, and rejoice in your deeds soon attain the vision of your lotus feet, which bring an end to the endless cycle of worldly existence. O Lord, will you now abandon us—your devoted friends and dependents, for whom there is no other refuge but your lotus feet—even though we are bound by the responsibilities and faults of kingship? What are we, the Pāṇḍavas and the Yadus, but mere names and forms? Without you, the Lord of the senses, our existence is empty—nothing at all. O Gadādhara, the earth will lose her splendor without your feet, adorned with their unique auspicious marks. These lands are prosperous, the herbs and plants flourish, forests, mountains, rivers, and oceans thrive—all because of your glances. Therefore, O Lord of the universe, soul and form of all, please sever this strong bond of affection I feel for the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis. O Lord of Madhu, may my mind, without distraction, always flow in love toward you, just as the Ganges flows unbroken to the sea. O Śrī Kṛṣṇa, friend of Kṛṣṇa, chief of the Vṛṣṇis, destroyer of the wicked, fire among royal lines, liberator, Govinda—who relieves the distress of cows, brāhmaṇas, and gods, master of yoga, teacher of all—O Lord, I bow to you. Thus did Pṛthā praise the all-auspicious Lord Vaikuṇṭha with sweet words. The Lord smiled gently, as if enchanting her with his own divine power. After affectionately bidding her farewell, he entered Hastināpura. Yet, as he was about to depart for his own city, accompanied by the women, the king, out of love, stopped him. Despite being instructed by Vyāsa and other sages, and by Kṛṣṇa himself, performer of wondrous deeds, and though taught through histories and stories, the king could not understand, overwhelmed as he was by grief. Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Dharma, thinking about the slaughter of his friends, spoke, overcome by attachment and delusion, with a heart like that of ordinary men. “Alas, see my ignorance, deeply rooted in my sinful heart! For the sake of another’s body, I have caused the death of countless armies. Even if I were freed from hell for ten thousand times ten thousand years, I would not be released from the sin of harming children, brāhmaṇas, friends, kin, fathers, brothers, and teachers. The killing of enemies in a righteous war is not sinful for a king protecting his people, yet these words bring me no peace. The enmity that has arisen here among women whose relatives have been slain, through the actions of householders, I am unable to remove. Just as mud cannot cleanse muddy water, nor liquor remove the stain of liquor, so too a single act of killing cannot be purified by sacrifices.” Then, a sage spoke: “O prince, listen now to the supreme secret mantra, which, when recited for seven nights, enables one to see the celestial beings who move in the sky. ‘Om, obeisance to the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva.’ With this mantra, the wise should worship the Lord with various offerings, knowing the proper place and time. He should use pure water, flowers, wild roots, fruits, tender sprouts, fresh garments, and especially the beloved tulasī leaves. Having obtained an image for worship—whether of earth, water, or other elements—the sage, self-controlled and peaceful, moderate in speech and food, should worship it. The Lord, praised in sublime verses, will manifest by his own inconceivable power and by his freely chosen deeds; one should meditate on him as present in the heart. All forms of service previously performed should now be offered to the Lord’s form established by mantra, with the heart absorbed in that mantra. Thus, when the Lord is served with body, mind, and speech, and with devotion from the heart, he is truly worshipped. To those who are sincere and free from deceit, the Lord increases their devotion and grants the highest good, unattainable by ordinary duties. One who is detached from sense pleasures should worship him with constant and sincere devotion, through the yoga of devotion, for complete liberation.” Having been thus instructed, the prince circumambulated the sage and bowed, then went to the sacred Madhuvana, sanctified by the Lord’s footprints. After reaching the forest of penance, the sage entered the inner chambers, where the king honored him properly and, once seated comfortably, spoke to him. Nārada asked, “O King, why do you sit so long in thought, your face dried with sorrow? Is it that desire or duty, joined with wealth, is not being fulfilled?” The king replied, “O brāhmaṇa, my son—a mere child of five—has been exiled with his mother by a cruel-hearted woman; yet he is a great sage. O brāhmaṇa, though helpless in the forest, may the wolves not harm that child—tired, lying down, hungry, his lotus-face withered. Alas, see my wretchedness, conquered by a woman! I did not welcome that innocent one, who wished to climb into my lap out of love—how base I am!” Nārada consoled him, “O protector of the people, do not grieve for your son, who is guarded by the gods. Not knowing his greatness, you lament, though his fame will spread throughout the world. He has accomplished a deed difficult even for the guardians of the worlds, O King, and will soon bring you a fame that will become immense.” Maitreya continued: Hearing these words from the divine sage, the king, disregarding royal opulence, thought only of his son. There, having been consecrated and purified, he spent the night in observance, and with a focused mind, served the Supreme Person as instructed.