As the time came for Kṛṣṇa to depart, all those gathered around Him—family, friends, and well-wishers—followed Him with hearts overflowing, their eyes fixed upon Him without blinking, unable to look away, bound by deep affection and wandering here and there as He moved. The women of the household, their longing for Devakī’s son so intense, tried to restrain their streaming tears, silently praying that nothing inauspicious would happen as He left the house. A joyous clamor filled the air: mṛdaṅgas, conches, bherīs, vīṇās, paṇavas, gomukhas, dhundhuris, ānakas, bells, and dundubhis all resounded, celebrating His departure. The noble women of the Kuru dynasty, eager for a glimpse of Kṛṣṇa, climbed to the palace rooftops and showered Him with flowers, their eyes smiling with both love and modesty. Guḍākeśa, beloved of Kṛṣṇa’s dearest friend, took up a white parasol adorned with pearls and a jeweled handle, shielding the Lord. Uddhava and Sātyaki, holding wondrous fans, fanned Madhupati as He walked along the road, flowers raining down upon Him. Everywhere, blessings were heard—some suitable, some not—spoken by the twice-born, addressed to Him who is beyond qualities, yet embodies all qualities. Among the women of the city, conversation blossomed, captivating anyone who listened, for their minds were absorbed in the Glorious One. They spoke of Him, marveling: “This is the ancient Being, who alone existed before all qualities, the soul and Lord of the universe, whose own power was dormant in the night of dissolution. Again, impelled by His own energy, He desired to create, assigning names and forms to the formless Self, setting scripture in motion. That abode, which sages attain by mastering their senses and wind, with minds purified by devotion, is surely worthy to purify all existence. He, whose friendship is sung and whose sacred stories are told in the Vedas and by those who know the mysteries, is the sole Lord, the soul of the universe, who creates, maintains, and destroys by His play, yet remains unattached. Whenever kings rule unrighteously, He descends among the Sātvatas, assuming forms rich in fortune, truth, compassion, and fame, for the world’s welfare, age after age. How praiseworthy is the lineage of Yadu! How supremely holy is Madhu’s forest, where the Lord of Śrī delights both by His birth and wandering. Kuśasthalī, which eclipses heaven’s fame and brings virtue to earth, is blessed, for its people constantly behold their Lord’s smiling, glancing face by His grace. Surely, these women have worshipped Him through vows, ritual baths, offerings, and observances, for He has taken their hands in marriage; and the women of Vraja, drinking the nectar of His affectionate speech, 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 those 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 acknowledged their words with a smiling glance and continued on His way. Ajātaśatru, out of affection and concern for Kṛṣṇa’s safety, deployed his fourfold army to protect Him from any possible threats. Then Śauri, seeing the Kauravas who had come from afar and were distressed by separation, gently persuaded them to return home, 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 journeyed to the regions of the Sauvīras and Ābhīras, and then to Ānarta, accompanied by Bhārgava, His horses somewhat fatigued. At each place, Hari was honored by the local people; in the evening, He turned westward, seeking pasture, and entered the land of the cows. There, His servants and attendants approached Him: “O Supreme Lord, permit us to depart; by the sage’s grace, we have been blessed with Your sight.” They prayed, “May our speech recount Your virtues, our ears hear Your stories, our hands serve You, our minds rest at Your feet; may our heads bow in remembrance to You, the abode of the universe, and may our eyes behold those holy ones who embody You.” Śuka said: As the two praised Him in this way, the Lord of Gokula, bound to the mortar by the rope, smiled and spoke to the celestial beings. The Blessed Lord said, “This was already known to Me, revealed by the compassionate sage: by the words of those blinded by wealth, you lost your position and received My grace. For those who are virtuous, even-minded, and wholly devoted to Me, there is no bondage from seeing Me, just as the sun does not bind the eyes of men. Now go to your own abode, O Nalakūbara, for the supreme devotion you desired for Me has arisen in your hearts.” Śuka continued: Thus addressed, the two circumambulated Him, bowed again and again, took leave of the bound mortar, and departed for the northern direction. In this way, the Supreme Lord was revealed through devotion; without such devotion, even the wise cannot behold Him. His actions, birth, and so forth are not subject to the laws governing others; these are ascribed to Him by Māyā, only to refute the notion of agency. This is known as Brahmā’s kalpa, described as having distinctions, in which the general process of creation occurs, both primary and secondary. I will explain the measure of time, the form that marks a kalpa, and describe the Padma Kalpa as before—now listen. Then Śaunaka asked: “O Sūta, you told us that Vidura, the foremost devotee, left behind his most difficult-to-abandon relatives and wandered to holy places on earth. The conversation between Vidura, son of Vyāsa, and the sage Kauśārava was based on spiritual inquiry; or, that great soul, when questioned, spoke the truth to him. Please tell us what Vidura did, and why he renounced his family and then returned again.” Sūta replied: “What the great sage answered when King Parīkṣit asked him, I will now relate to you—listen, as it follows the king’s questions.” The king asked: “In which action of the Lord, the maker of the universe and my own self, was His fame increased by Kṛṣṇa? Please describe this.” Thus, the story unfolds, leading to further inquiry into the deeds and glory of the Lord.