Some say that the Lord appeared in this world to perform deeds so wondrous and memorable that those suffering from ignorance, desire, and the consequences of their actions might find solace and inspiration. Those who constantly hear, sing, praise, remember, and rejoice in His divine acts soon behold His lotus feet, which alone can end the cycle of worldly existence. Yet, O Lord, will You now abandon us—Your devoted friends and dependents—who have no refuge but Your lotus feet, even though we are entangled in the burdens and sins of kingship? Who are we, the Pāṇḍavas and the Yadus, but mere names and forms? Without Your presence, O Lord of the senses, we are nothing. O Gadādhara, this earth will lose its radiance once it is no longer adorned by Your feet, which bear unique signs. The prosperity of these lands—the ripening of herbs and plants, the flourishing of forests, mountains, rivers, and oceans—all exists because of Your glances. Therefore, O Lord of the universe, soul and form of all, please sever this strong bond of affection in me for the Pāṇḍavas and the Vṛṣṇis. O Lord of Madhu, may my mind, without any other object, always bear love for You directly, 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. Thus, Pṛthā praised the all-auspicious Lord Vaikuṇṭha with sweet words. The Lord smiled gently, as if bewildering her with His divine māyā. After affectionately bidding her farewell, He entered Hastināpura. But as He was about to depart for His own city with the women, the king stopped Him out of love. Despite being instructed by Vyāsa and other sages, and by Kṛṣṇa Himself—performer of wondrous deeds—and though taught through histories, the king did not understand, overwhelmed as he was by grief. The son of Dharma, thinking of the slaughter of his friends, spoke, overcome by attachment and delusion, his mind clouded like that of ordinary men. He lamented, “Alas, see my ignorance, deeply rooted in my wicked 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 a sin for a king who protects his people; yet, these words of command do not bring me understanding. The enmity that has arisen against women whose relatives have been slain, through the actions of householders, I am not able to remove. Just as mud cannot cleanse muddy water, nor liquor remove the stain of liquor, so too a single act of killing living beings cannot be purified by sacrifices.” Then a sage spoke: “Now, O prince, listen to the supreme secret mantra, which, when recited for seven nights, enables one to see the beings who move in the sky. ‘Om, obeisance to the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva.’ With this mantra, the wise should worship the Lord with material offerings, using various substances, knowing the proper place and time. He should worship with pure water, flowers, wild roots, fruits, tender sprouts, fresh garments, and especially the beloved tulasī leaves. Having obtained a material image for worship, whether of earth, water, or other elements, the sage—self-controlled, peaceful, restrained in speech, and moderate in food—should worship it. The Lord, praised in sublime verses, will manifest by His own inconceivable power and 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 the mantra. Thus, when the Lord is served with body, mind, and speech, and with devotion arising from the heart, He is truly worshipped. To those men who are free from deceit and worship Him properly, the Lord increases their devotion and grants the highest good they desire, which is not attained 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 received this instruction, the prince circumambulated and bowed, then went to the sacred Madhuvana, sanctified by the Lord’s footprints. When he had gone to the forest of penance, the sage entered the inner chambers, was properly honored by the king, and, seated comfortably, spoke to him. Nārada said, “O King, why do you sit 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; he is a great sage. Though he is helpless in the forest, may the wolves not harm that child—tired, lying down, hungry, his lotus-face withered. Alas, consider 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 comforted 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. Having performed a deed difficult even for the guardians of the worlds, O King, he will soon attain for you a fame that will become immense.” Maitreya continued: Hearing these words spoken by the divine sage, the lord of the earth, disregarding royal opulence, thought only of his son. There, having been consecrated and purified, he spent the night in observance, and with focused mind, served the Supreme Person as instructed. At the end of every three nights, subsisting on wood-apple and jujube fruits, he spent a month worshipping Hari according to his capacity. In the second month, on every sixth day, the boy prepared food from fallen leaves, grass, and such, and worshipped the Lord. In the third month, on every ninth day, he subsisted on water alone and, absorbed in meditation, approached the Glorious Lord.