In the land blessed by divine beauty, there were serene ponds with steps fashioned from lapis lazuli. These tranquil waters were adorned with lotuses, water lilies, and kumuda flowers, and graced by swans, cranes, and chakravaka ducks, creating a scene of peace and abundance. Amidst such splendor, King Uttānapāda, a royal sage, witnessed the extraordinary glory of his son. Hearing of Dhruva’s achievements and seeing his virtues, the king was filled with profound wonder. Observing that Dhruva had grown into a beloved figure among the people and had earned the approval of the ministers, Uttānapāda made him lord of the earth. Recognizing his own advancing age, the king, detached from worldly affairs, set out for the forest, turning his mind toward the path of his soul. Later, in the sacred assembly at Naimiṣāraṇya, Śaunaka addressed Sūta: “O best among the righteous, after Yudhiṣṭhira vanquished those who coveted his kingdom and wealth, and his meals were secured 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 rightful kingdom, Hari was pleased at heart. Yudhiṣṭhira, his doubts dispelled by the wise words of Bhīṣma and Acyuta, ruled the earth with true knowledge, supported by his unconquered brothers, like Indra among the gods. During his reign, the clouds rained as desired, the earth yielded all that was wished for, and cows joyfully drenched the villages with abundant milk. Rivers, oceans, mountains, forests, and all plants produced their fruits as desired. No ailments, diseases, or troubles—whether from fate, other beings, or oneself—afflicted the creatures under the rule of the king whose enemy was never born. Hari remained in Hastināpura for several months, bringing joy to his friends and pleasing his beloved sister. When the time came to depart, He took leave, permitted by all, embracing and bowing to them. He ascended His chariot, honored by some and embraced by others. Subhadrā, Draupadī, Kuntī, the daughter of Virāṭa, Gāndhārī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Kripa, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva were present, along with Vṛkodara, Dhaumya, and the women of the royal family, such as the daughter of the King of Matsya. These noble souls, bewildered and distraught, could not bear the separation from Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of Śārṅga. Freed from bad company by association with the virtuous, a wise person cannot abandon it, having once heard the delightful fame of Him who is praised. How could the sons of Pṛthā, whose minds were fixed on Him, endure the separation, after seeing, touching, conversing, lying down, sitting, and eating with Him? All of them, their hearts rushing after Him, followed Him with unblinking eyes, bound by affection, wandering here and there. The women of the family, out of longing for Devakī’s son, restrained their streaming tears, thinking, “Let no inauspiciousness occur as He leaves the house.” As Kṛṣṇa departed, the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, conches, bherīs, vīṇās, paṇavas, gomukhas, dhundhuris, ānakas, bells, and dundubhis filled the air. The noble women of the Kurus, eager to see Him, climbed to the tops of the palaces and showered Him with flowers, their eyes smiling with love and modesty. Guḍākeśa, the beloved of the dearest friend, took up a white parasol adorned with pearls and a jeweled handle. Uddhava and Sātyaki, with wondrous fans, fanned Madhupati as He shone on the road, being showered with flowers. Here and there, true blessings were heard, uttered by the twice-born—some appropriate, some not—addressed to Him who is beyond qualities, though the essence of qualities. Among the women of the city, captivating conversations arose, their minds absorbed in the Glorious One. They spoke: “This very person is the ancient Being, who alone existed, undifferentiated, before the qualities, as the soul of the universe and its Lord, with His own power dormant in the night of dissolution. Again, impelled by His own power, He follows His living energy—nature—desiring to create; wishing to assign names and forms to the formless Self, He sets scripture in motion. That very abode, which sages—having mastered their senses and conquered the wind—behold with minds purified by devotion, is surely worthy to purify existence. He, whose friendship is sung, whose stories are told in the Vedas and in secret by those who know, is the sole Lord, the soul of the universe, who by His play creates, maintains, and destroys, yet is not attached to these. Whenever kings of darkened minds live by unrighteousness, He assumes forms among the Sātvatas, bearing fortune, truth, compassion, and fame, for the welfare of the world, age after age. How praiseworthy is the lineage of Yadu! How holy is the forest of Madhu, where this foremost of men, the Lord of Śrī, delights by His birth and wandering. Kuśasthalī, eclipsing the fame of heaven and bringing virtue to earth, is blessed, for its people constantly behold their Lord’s smiling, glancing face. Surely, the Lord has been worshipped by these women through vows, ritual baths, offerings, and observances, for He has taken their hands in marriage; repeatedly drinking the nectar of His affectionate speech, the women of Vraja became utterly absorbed in Him. Those whom He won at their svayamvara by valor, after subduing powerful kings like Shishupala, and those other maidens, daughters of kings such as Pradyumna and Samba, whom He rescued by slaying Bhauma, were brought to Him by the thousands. These women, though they had abandoned all decorum and purity, have attained the highest womanhood, for their lotus-eyed husband never departs from their homes, touching their hearts with His presence.” As the women spoke thus, Hari, with a smiling glance, acknowledged their words and continued on His way. Ajātaśatru, out of affection and concern for the safety of the enemy of Madhu, deployed his fourfold army to protect Him from possible threats. Then Śauri, seeing the Kauravas who had come from afar and were distressed by separation, affectionately persuaded them to return, and departed for His own city with His beloveds. He passed through the lands of the Kurus, Jāngalas, Pāñcālas, Śūrasenas, those along the Yamunā, Brahmāvarta, Kurukṣetra, Matsyas, and Sārasvatas. Crossing the desert of Marudhanva, He went to the regions of the Sauvīras and Ābhīras, and then to Ānarta, accompanied by Bhārgava, His horses somewhat fatigued. At each place, Hari was duly honored by the local people; in the evening, He turned westward and, seeking pasture, went to the land of the cows.