After the passing of the venerable Bhīṣma, Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of the Bhārgava line, performed all the proper rites for his departed elder. Yet, even after fulfilling these sacred duties, Yudhiṣṭhira remained deeply sorrowful for some time, his heart weighed down by grief. Meanwhile, the assembled sages, delighted in spirit, praised Kṛṣṇa with secret, sacred names. Their hearts full of devotion for Him, they eventually returned to their own hermitages, uplifted by His presence. Then Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by Kṛṣṇa, journeyed to Gajāhvaya to comfort his father, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and the ascetic queen Gāndhārī, soothing their hearts in their time of sorrow. With his father’s approval and Kṛṣṇa’s gracious consent, the mighty Yudhiṣṭhira took up the responsibilities of rule, governing the kingdom righteously as inherited from his father and grandfather. His mother, Kuntī, the mother of heroes, was overcome with emotion: milk flowed from her breasts and auspicious tears from her eyes as she repeatedly anointed her beloved son, welcoming him home. The people gathered around the queen and said with joy, “By great fortune, your son, the remover of distress, has been restored after his long absence, and now he will protect the circle of the earth.” They continued, “Surely, O queen, you have worshipped the Lord, the remover of distress, for those who meditate on Him with steady mind conquer even death, so hard to overcome.” Thus cherished by the people, Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers, filled with joy, mounted the royal elephant. Praised by all, the king entered the city in a glorious procession. At every entrance, splendid makara-archways stood, surrounded by clusters of banana trunks and heaps of betel nuts, all beautifully arranged. Each gateway was adorned with pitchers of water topped with lamps, garlands of young mango leaves, and strings of pearls hanging down. The city itself was resplendent—ramparts, gateways, and houses gleamed with golden ornaments, and the spires of mansions shone in the sunlight. Courtyards, streets, and crossroads were swept clean and sprinkled with sandal paste, and everywhere were offerings of parched rice, unbroken grains, flowers, fruits, and rice. As the steadfast king passed along the roads, the women of the city brought auspicious items—rice, unbroken grains, curd, water, sacred grass, flowers, and fruits—to bless his way. Out of affection, these virtuous women offered their blessings as Yudhiṣṭhira entered his father’s palace, their sweet, childish songs filling the air. Within that splendid palace, adorned with clusters of great jewels, Yudhiṣṭhira was cherished exceedingly by his father and dwelled there like a god in heaven. The beds were white as milk foam and adorned with golden ornaments; the seats were most precious, and all the furnishings were made of gold. On crystal walls and great emeralds, jeweled lamps shone, their light enhanced by gems from women’s ornaments. Delightful gardens, filled with wondrous celestial trees, echoed with the song of cooing birds and the hum of intoxicated bees. There were ponds with steps made of lapis lazuli, filled with lotuses, water lilies, and kumuda flowers, frequented by swans, cranes, and chakravaka ducks. King Uttānapāda, the royal sage, upon seeing and hearing of his son’s extraordinary glory, was filled with the highest wonder. Seeing Dhruva grown, beloved by the people, and approved by the ministers, the king made him lord of the earth. Realizing his own old age, detached from worldly affairs, King Uttānapāda set out for the forest, contemplating the path of his soul. At this point, Śaunaka, the wise sage, asked, “O best of the righteous, after Yudhiṣṭhira had vanquished his enemies and secured his kingdom and meals with his brothers, what did he do next? How did he proceed?” Sūta replied, “Hari, the creator of the world, restored the Kuru dynasty, which had been devastated by the fire of its own descendants. Having established Yudhiṣṭhira in his own kingdom, He was pleased at heart. Having heard the wise words of Bhīṣma and Acyuta, and with his doubts dispelled by true knowledge, Yudhiṣṭhira ruled the earth, supported by his unconquerable brothers, like Indra among the gods.” During his reign, the clouds rained as desired, the earth yielded all that was wished for, and the cows joyfully drenched the villages with abundant milk. Rivers, oceans, mountains, forests, and plants—all the herbs—produced their fruits as desired. No ailments, diseases, or troubles—whether arising from fate, other beings, or oneself—afflicted any creatures during the rule of Yudhiṣṭhira, the king whose enemy was never born. Hari, Kṛṣṇa Himself, stayed for a few months in Hastināpura to bring joy to His friends and to please His beloved sister, Subhadrā. After taking leave and being permitted, Kṛṣṇa embraced and bowed to the elders, and ascended His chariot, honored by those around Him. Present were Subhadrā, Draupadī, Kuntī, the daughter of Virāṭa, Gāndhārī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Kripa, and the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva. Vṛkodara (Bhīma), Dhaumya, and the women, such as the daughter of the King of Matsya, were bewildered and distraught, unable to bear the separation from the wielder of the Śārṅga bow. Freed from bad company by association with the virtuous, a wise person is unable to abandon such company, having once heard the delightful fame of Him who is praised. How could the sons of Pṛthā, whose minds were fixed on Him, endure separation—after seeing, touching, conversing, lying down, sitting, and eating with Him? All of them, their hearts rushing after Him, followed Kṛṣṇa with unblinking eyes, bound by affection, wandering here and there. The women of the family restrained their streaming tears, out of longing for Devakī’s son, thinking, “Let no inauspiciousness occur as He leaves the house.” As Kṛṣṇa departed, the air resounded with the music of mṛdaṅgas, conches, bherīs, vīṇās, paṇavas, gomukhas, dhundhuris, ānakas, bells, and dundubhis. The noble women of the Kurus, eager to see Kṛṣṇa, climbed to the tops of the palaces and showered Him with flowers, their eyes smiling with love and modesty. Guḍākeśa, Arjuna—the beloved friend—took up a white parasol adorned with a string of pearls and a jeweled handle to shade Kṛṣṇa. Uddhava and Sātyaki, with wondrous fans, fanned Madhupati as He shone on the road, showered with flowers by all.