Śuka continued: As the two celestial beings offered their heartfelt praises, the Lord of Gokula—still bound to the mortar by the rope—regarded them with a gentle smile and spoke to them with kindness. He said, “I have long been aware of your situation, for the compassionate sage once revealed it to Me: how, by the words of those blinded by pride and wealth, you lost your celestial positions, and thus, through My grace, you have come to Me. “For those who are virtuous, steady in mind, and wholly devoted to Me, there is no bondage in beholding Me—just as the sun does not bind the eyes of men. Now, Nalakūbara, return to your own abode, for the supreme devotion you both desired for Me has indeed arisen within your hearts.” Thus addressed by the Lord, the two beings respectfully circumambulated Him, bowing again and again. With gratitude, they took their leave, offering a final reverence to the mortar that had bound Him, and departed toward the northern direction. In this way, the Supreme Lord revealed Himself through the power of devotion; without such devotion, even the wise cannot behold Him. Truly, His actions, birth, and so forth are not governed by the ordinary laws of the world; these are attributed to Him by Māyā, only to dispel the misconception of agency. This period is known as Brahmā’s kalpa—a division of time marked by distinctions, during which the general process of creation, both primary and secondary, unfolds. I will now explain the measure of time, the form that defines a kalpa, and, as before, describe the Padma Kalpa—so listen attentively. At this, Śaunaka inquired, “O Sūta, you once told us that Vidura, the foremost devotee, left behind even his most beloved relatives and wandered to holy places upon the earth. The conversation between Vidura, son of Vyāsa, and the sage Kauśārava was centered on spiritual inquiry; and that great soul, when questioned, spoke the truth to him. Please, gentle one, tell us what Vidura did, and for what reason he renounced his family and later returned.” Sūta replied, “What the great sage answered when King Parīkṣit asked him, I will now relate to you—listen closely, for it follows the king’s questions. The king inquired, ‘In which deed of the Lord, the maker of the universe and my very self, was His fame increased by Kṛṣṇa? Please describe this.’ Śrī Nārada responded: When the gods, strengthened by the Lord, defeated the demons in battle, the vanquished sought refuge with Maya, the supreme master of illusion. Maya, powerful and wise, constructed for them three cities—one of gold, one of silver, and one of iron—difficult to perceive, joined by subtle means, and defended beyond imagination. With these fortresses, the armies of the demons, remembering their ancient enmity, began to devastate the three worlds, O king. The rulers of the worlds, along with their lords, approached the Lord, bowed before Him, and pleaded, ‘Protect us, O God! We are being destroyed by the inhabitants of Tripura.’ The Lord, showing them favor, reassured them, ‘Do not fear.’ Then, stringing an arrow to His bow, He released a weapon upon the cities. Arrows blazing like fire shot forth from the solar orb, and, like rays of light, they sped toward the cities unseen. Struck by these arrows, all the inhabitants of the cities lost their lives and fell. But Maya, the great yogī, gathered them and cast them into a well of nectar. Touched by this nectar of immortality, they, now strong as thunderbolts and full of energy, rose up again, 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 took the form of a calf, Viṣṇu Himself became the cow, and, entering Tripura at the right moment, they drank the nectar from the well. Though the demons saw this, they did not prevent it, for they were deluded. Realizing what had happened, the great yogī Maya spoke to the guardians of the nectar, smiling and free from sorrow. Remembering those afflicted by grief and the workings of destiny, he reflected that no one—god, demon, human, or any other—is truly independent. What is ordained for oneself or another cannot be averted by either, for fate prevails. Then, with his own powers, Maya 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 needed for battle. Fully armed, mounting the chariot, he took up the bow and arrow. Fitting the arrow to the bow, in a single moment, the Lord of Victory prepared Himself. With that arrow, O King, Hara burned the three impregnable cities to ashes. In the heavens, drums resounded, and the skies were crowded with hundreds of celestial vehicles. The gods, sages, ancestors, and perfected beings, overjoyed, showered flowers and proclaimed victory. The hosts of Apsaras danced in delight. Thus, having destroyed the three cities, the Lord, the destroyer of cities, was praised by Brahmā and others and returned to His own abode. In this way, the deeds of Hari, who, by His own power, playfully imitates the ways of mortals, are sung by the sages. Truly, what more need be said? These stories purify the world. Sūta continued: When the Lord approached the lands of Ānarta and His own prosperous regions, He blew His resounding conch, as if dispelling the sorrows of the people. The conch, white-bellied and high-pitched, touched by the reddish lower lip of the mighty Lord, when blown in His lotus-like hand, sounded like the call of a swan in a pond of lotuses. Hearing that resounding, fear-dispelling blast, all the people, eager to see their Lord, came forth joyfully. Gathered together, their strength renewed, they honored Him as one would a lamp in darkness—ever content and fulfilled in themselves, simply by His presence. With faces blooming with joy, they spoke in voices choked with happiness, as children speak to a father who is their protector and dearest friend: “We bow to you, Master, whose lotus feet are always worshipped by Brahmā, Shiva, and Indra. You are the supreme refuge for those who seek well-being, where even time, the supreme lord, holds no sway. “For our welfare, you are the creator, sustainer, and protector of the universe. You are our mother, friend, lord, and father. You are our true teacher and highest deity—by following you, we have become accomplished.