Guḍākeśa, the beloved of his dearest friend, took up a radiant white parasol, its handle adorned with jewels and a string of pearls, to honor the Lord as He prepared to depart. Uddhava and Sātyaki, with wondrous fans in hand, gently fanned Madhupati—Krishna Himself—as He traveled the road, His divine form shining resplendently while showers of fragrant flowers rained down upon Him. Along the way, the air was filled with the sounds of blessings pronounced by the twice-born, the learned brāhmaṇas. Some of their words were fitting, others less so, for they were addressed to that Supreme One who is beyond all qualities, yet is the very essence of all qualities. Meanwhile, within the city of the Kaurava king, the women gathered and spoke among themselves, their conversation so enchanting that all who listened were captivated, for their hearts and minds were wholly absorbed in the glories of Krishna. In their awe, the women said, “This very person is the ancient Being—He alone existed, undifferentiated, before creation, as the soul and Lord of the universe, His divine power resting dormant in the night of dissolution. Again, impelled by His own power, He stirred His living energy—nature—desiring to create. He wished to bestow names and forms upon the formless Self, and, as the maker of the scriptures, He set the universe in motion. It is this very abode, which the great sages, having mastered their senses and conquered the restless mind, behold with pure devotion. Surely, He is the One who purifies all existence. His friendship is sung in the Vedas, and His sacred stories are shared in secret by those who know the mysteries. He alone is the Lord, the soul of the universe, who, through His playful will, creates, maintains, and destroys, yet remains unattached to these acts. Whenever kings, clouded in mind, rule by unrighteousness, He takes birth among the Sātvatas, assuming forms that embody fortune, truth, compassion, and fame, for the welfare of the world, age after age. How truly praiseworthy is the Yadu lineage! 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. Indeed, Kuśasthalī, which outshines even the heavens 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. The women of Vraja, drinking the nectar of His affectionate speech, became utterly absorbed in Him. Those He won at their own svayamvara, after subduing mighty kings like Shishupala, and the 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 having abandoned all decorum and purity, have indeed attained the highest womanhood, for their lotus-eyed husband never leaves their homes, always touching their hearts with His presence.” As the women of the city spoke thus, Hari, the Lord, acknowledged their words with a smiling glance and proceeded on His way. Out of affection and concern for Krishna’s safety, Ajātaśatru, the enemy-less king, deployed his fourfold army to protect Him from any possible threats. Śauri—Krishna—seeing the Kauravas who had come from afar and were distressed at parting, affectionately persuaded them to return. Then, with His beloveds, He departed for His own city. Passing through the lands of the Kurus, Jāngalas, Pāñcālas, Śūrasenas, the Yamunā region, Brahmāvarta, Kurukṣetra, Matsyas, and Sārasvatas, He journeyed on. Crossing the desert of Marudhanva, He traveled through the regions of the Sauvīras and Ābhīras, finally reaching Ānarta, accompanied by Bhārgava, His horses somewhat fatigued from the journey. At each place, Hari was duly honored by the local people. In the evening, He turned westward, seeking pasture, and entered the land of the cows. There, His attendants approached Him with folded hands, saying, “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 recount Your virtues, our ears hear Your stories, our hands serve You, our minds rest at Your feet. May our heads bow in remembrance of You, the abode of the universe, and may our eyes behold the holy ones who embody You.” Śuka continued: As the two praised Him thus, the Lord of Gokula, still bound to the mortar by the rope, smiled and spoke to the celestial beings. The Blessed Lord said, “I already knew, as revealed by the compassionate sage, that through the words of those blinded by wealth, you were deprived of your position and thus 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, return to your own abode, O Nalakūbara, for the supreme devotion you both desired for Me has arisen in your hearts.” Thus addressed, the two circumambulated the Lord, 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 that bind others; these are only ascribed to Him by Māyā, to refute the notion of agency. This is known as the kalpa of Brahmā, marked by its distinctions, in which the general process of creation—both primary and secondary—occurs. I will now explain the measure of time, the form that marks a kalpa, and, as before, describe the Padma Kalpa—please listen. At this point, Śaunaka spoke: “O Sūta, you told us that Vidura, the foremost devotee, left behind his difficult-to-abandon relatives and wandered to holy places. The conversation between Vidura, son of Vyāsa, and the sage Kauśārava was based on spiritual inquiry; or, when questioned, that great soul spoke the truth to him. Please tell us, gentle one, what Vidura did, and for what reason 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—please listen, for it follows the king’s questions.” The king had asked, “In which action of the Lord, the maker of the universe and my own self, was his fame increased by Krishna? Please describe this.” Śrī Nārada then said: “When the demons were defeated in battle by the gods, who were strengthened by him, they approached Maya, the supreme master of illusion, for refuge. Maya, the powerful one, constructed three cities—one of gold, one of silver, and one of iron—difficult to perceive, joined by subtle means, and equipped with unimaginable defenses. With those cities, the armies of the demons, along with their lords, remembering their ancient enmity, began to destroy the three worlds, O king. Then, the rulers of the worlds, along with their lords, approached the Lord, bowed down, and pleaded, ‘Protect us, O God! We are being destroyed by the inhabitants of Tripura.