The tale begins with the glorious deeds of Lord Krishna, who, by the strength of His valor, won many princesses at their svayamvaras, subduing mighty kings like Shishupala and others. He also rescued countless maidens, daughters of kings such as Pradyumna and Samba, by slaying Bhauma, bringing them to Himself by the thousands. These women, though they had cast aside worldly decorum and purity, attained the highest womanhood, for their lotus-eyed husband, Krishna, never departed from their homes, filling their hearts with His divine presence. As the women of the city spoke in praise of Him, Hari, with a gentle smile, acknowledged their words and continued on His way. Out of affection and concern for Krishna’s safety, Ajātaśatru deployed his fourfold army, protecting the enemy of Madhu from any possible threats. Krishna, known as Śauri, seeing the Kauravas who had come from afar and were distressed by separation, lovingly persuaded them to return home, and then departed for His own city with His beloveds. Traveling through the lands of the Kurus, Jāngalas, Pāñcālas, Śūrasenas, the regions along the Yamunā, Brahmāvarta, Kurukṣetra, Matsyas, and Sārasvatas, Krishna crossed the desert of Marudhanva and entered the regions of the Sauvīras and Ābhīras, finally reaching Ānarta, accompanied by Bhārgava, His horses somewhat fatigued. At every 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 attendants prayed, “O Supreme Lord, permit us, Your servants, to depart. By the sage’s grace, we have been blessed with Your sight.” They wished that their speech might recount His virtues, their ears hear His stories, their hands serve Him, their minds rest at His feet, their heads bow in remembrance of Him—the abode of the universe—and their eyes behold the holy ones who embody Him. Śuka narrated: As the two praised Him, the Lord of Gokula, bound to the mortar by the rope, smiled and spoke to the celestial beings. The Blessed Lord said, “I already knew, revealed by the compassionate sage, that by the words of those blinded by wealth, you lost your position and received My grace. For the virtuous, even-minded, and wholly devoted to Me, there is no bondage in 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 both desired for Me has arisen in your hearts.” 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 revealed Himself through devotion; without such devotion, even the wise cannot behold Him. His actions, birth, and other deeds are not subject to ordinary laws; these are ascribed to Him by Māyā, only to refute the notion of agency. This is known as Brahmā’s kalpa, a period marked by distinctions, within 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,” said the sage. Śaunaka then asked 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, 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—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 Krishna? Please describe this.” Śrī Nārada spoke: When the demons were defeated in battle by the gods, who were strengthened by the Lord, the demons approached Maya, the supreme master of illusion, for refuge. Maya constructed three cities—of gold, silver, and iron—difficult to perceive, joined by subtle means, and furnished with unimaginable defenses. With these cities, the armies of the demons, along with their lords, remembering their ancient enmity, began to destroy the three worlds. 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.” The Lord, showing them favor, said, “Do not fear,” and, stringing an arrow to His bow, released a weapon upon the cities. Arrows blazing like fire arose from the solar orb; like rays of light, they were unseen as they approached the cities. Struck by these, all the inhabitants of the cities lost their lives and fell; Maya, the great yogī, gathered them and cast them into a well of nectar. Touched by the nectar of immortality, they, strong as thunderbolts and full of great energy, rose up, splitting the clouds like flashes of lightning. Seeing his resolve broken and Vṛṣadhvaja disheartened, Lord Viṣṇu devised another means at that place. At that time, Brahmā became the calf, Viṣṇu himself became the cow, and, entering Tripura at the right moment, drank the nectar from the well. Though the demons saw this, they did not prevent it, being deluded; realizing this, the great yogī Maya spoke to the guardians of the nectar. Smiling and free from sorrow, Maya remembered those afflicted by grief and the workings of destiny, for god, demon, human, or any other—none here is independent. What is ordained for oneself or another cannot be averted by either, for fate prevails; then, with his own powers, he performed the principal act of Shiva. Through righteousness, knowledge, detachment, prosperity, austerity, learning, and action, he manifested the chariot, charioteer, banner, horses, bow, armor, arrows, and all else. Fully armed, mounting the chariot, he took up the bow and arrow; fitting the arrow to the bow, in a moment, the Lord of Victory prepared himself. With that arrow, O King, Hara burned the three impregnable cities; in the heavens, drums resounded, and the skies were crowded with hundreds of celestial vehicles.