As time went on, Dhruva grew in stature, beloved by the people and approved by the wise ministers. Seeing this, the king entrusted him with the rulership of the earth. Having realized his own advancing age and feeling detached from worldly affairs, the lordly king set out for the forest, contemplating the path of his soul and seeking spiritual fulfillment. Meanwhile, in the sacred assembly at Naimiṣāraṇya, Śaunaka, the chief among the sages, addressed Sūta: “O best of the righteous, after Yudhiṣṭhira vanquished those who coveted his kingdom and wealth, and enjoyed his meals with his brothers, what did he do next? How did he proceed?” Sūta replied: “Hari, the creator and sustainer of the worlds, restored the Kuru dynasty, which had been devastated by the fire of its own descendants. Establishing Yudhiṣṭhira firmly upon his throne, the Lord was pleased at heart. Having heard the wise teachings of Bhīṣma and Acyuta, Yudhiṣṭhira’s doubts were dispelled by true knowledge. Supported by his unconquered brothers, he ruled the earth like Indra, the king of the gods. Under his reign, the clouds showered rain 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 all the plants and herbs produced their fruits as desired. No ailments, diseases, or troubles—whether from fate, other beings, or oneself—afflicted any creature during the reign of the king whose enemy was never born. Hari, the Supreme Lord, stayed for several months in Hastināpura, bringing joy to His friends and pleasing His beloved sister. When the time came to depart, He took leave, was permitted by His elders, and after embracing and bowing to them, ascended His chariot, honored and embraced by some. Subhadrā, Draupadī, Kuntī, the daughter of Virāṭa, Gāndhārī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Kripa, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva were all present. Vṛkodara (Bhīma), Dhaumya, and the women, including the daughter of the King of Matsya, were bewildered and distraught, unable to bear the separation from Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow. Freed from bad company by association with the virtuous, a wise person finds it impossible 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 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 restrained their streaming tears out of longing for Devakī’s son, thinking, ‘Let no inauspiciousness occur as He leaves the house.’ As Kṛṣṇa departed, mṛdaṅgas, conches, bherīs, vīṇās, paṇavas, gomukhas, dhundhuris, ānakas, bells, and dundubhis resounded, filling the air with music. 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), Kṛṣṇa’s dearest friend, took up a white parasol adorned with pearls and a jeweled handle. Uddhava and Sātyaki, holding wondrous fans, fanned Madhupati (Kṛṣṇa) 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, yet whose essence is qualities. Among the women of the Kaurava king’s city, there arose mutual conversation, captivating to all who heard, as their minds were absorbed in the Glorious One. They spoke: “This very person is the ancient Being, who alone existed, undifferentiated in Himself, 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 followed His living energy—nature—desiring to create, wishing to assign names and forms to the formless Self, and set the scriptures in motion. That abode, which sages—having mastered their senses and conquered the wind—behold with minds purified by overflowing devotion, surely this Being is worthy to purify existence. He, whose friendship is sung, whose sacred stories are told in the Vedas and in secret by those who know the mysteries, 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, then indeed, from among the Sātvatas, He assumes forms, bearing fortune, truth, compassion, and fame, for the welfare of the world, age after age. Ah, how praiseworthy is the lineage of Yadu! How supremely holy is the forest of Madhu, where this foremost of men, the Lord of Śrī, delights both by His birth and by His wandering. Kuśasthalī, which eclipses the fame of heaven and brings virtue to the earth, is blessed, for its people, by His grace, constantly behold their Lord’s smiling, glancing face. Surely, these women have worshipped the Lord 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 own svayamvara by the price of His valor, after subduing powerful kings like Shishupala and others, 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 indeed attained the highest womanhood, for their lotus-eyed husband never departs from their homes, touching their hearts with His presence.” As the women of the city spoke in this way, Hari, with a smiling glance, acknowledged their words and proceeded on His way. Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira), out of affection and concern for Kṛṣṇa’s safety, deployed his fourfold army to protect Him from possible threats by others. Then Śauri (Kṛṣṇa), 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. His attendants, filled with reverence, prayed: “O Supreme Lord, permit us, Your servants and attendants, to depart; by the sage's grace, we have been blessed with the sight of the Lord. May our speech be used in recounting Your virtues, our ears in hearing Your stories, our hands in Your service, our minds at Your feet; may our heads bow in remembrance to You, the abode of the universe, and may our eyes behold the holy ones who embody You.