After the great events had unfolded, and with King Yudhishthira’s gracious permission, Krishna, accompanied by his dear relatives, set forth for Dvaraka. Arjuna and the noble Yadus traveled with Him, their hearts bound in affection and reverence. O Brahman, this was a time of both fulfillment and longing, as the Lord departed from Hastinapura. Meanwhile, in the sacred land of Vraja, the youthful boys still marvelled at the wondrous deeds of Hari they had witnessed in their childhood—the miraculous deliverance of His devotee. They spoke among themselves, filled with awe, for such acts were not easily forgotten. Yet, what wonder is this, truly? For the Supreme Creator Himself, who assumes a human form for His divine pastimes, nothing is impossible. Even the demon Agha, whose sins were washed away by the Lord’s touch, attained a state of oneness with the Self—a rare blessing, especially for the wicked. Consider, then, the power of even a moment’s remembrance of the Lord! He who but once placed the image of Krishna in his mind attained the supreme path of devotion. How much more, then, for one who, free from illusion, constantly experiences the bliss of the eternal Self? At this point, Sūta continued, “O twice-born sages, King Yudhishthira, having heard these wondrous deeds of Krishna, felt his mind wholly absorbed in that sacred story. Eager for deeper understanding, he turned once more to Suka.” With humility, the king inquired, “O revered Brahman, how is it that the boys of Vraja, now in their youth, sing of Krishna’s childhood deeds, when those events occurred at another time? O great yogi, please explain this supreme wonder. Surely, it can only be the work of Hari’s divine māyā—there is no other explanation.” Yudhishthira’s heart overflowed with gratitude. “We are most fortunate in this world, O teacher, though we are kṣatriyas only in name, for we constantly drink the nectar of Krishna’s sacred stories from you.” Thus addressed, Sūta said, the great son of Badarāyaṇa—whose senses dwelt in the infinite—was roused from his inward absorption. Gathering his mind with effort, he gazed upon Yudhishthira and replied, his words gentle and full of wisdom. “O best of the twice-born, you have inquired so earnestly, and I have recounted to you the playful incarnations and deeds of the Lord. Know this: whether one is fallen, distressed, or helpless, if he but loudly utters ‘obeisance to Hari,’ he is freed from all sin. When the infinite Lord is glorified, and His power realized through hearing, He enters the hearts of people and completely cleanses their suffering, just as the sun and a strong wind dispel darkness and clouds. Empty words and false stories that do not speak of the transcendent Lord are not to be told. Only that which brings forth the Lord’s virtues is true, auspicious, and holy. Indeed, only the glories of the Lord are ever delightful, charming, fresh, and new—an unending festival for the mind, drying up the ocean of sorrow for all who hear. Ornate speech that does not proclaim the fame of Hari, who sanctifies the world, is like a crow’s bathing place, unfit for swans; where Acyuta is praised, there pure devotees gather. Even if imperfect in meter, any speech containing the names and glories of the infinite Lord washes away the sins of people; the virtuous listen, sing, and recite it. Even action free from desire, or pure knowledge, shines not without devotion to You, O Acyuta; how much less, then, do even the best works, if not offered to the Lord, bring lasting good? All effort for fame and prosperity—through duty, austerity, or study—is supreme only when it brings unfailing remembrance of Śrīdhara’s lotus feet, through hearing and praising Hari’s virtues with reverence. Remembrance of Krishna’s lotus feet destroys all inauspiciousness, bestows well-being, purifies the mind, brings supreme devotion to the indwelling Lord, and grants knowledge endowed with realization and detachment. Truly, you foremost twice-born are greatly blessed, for you constantly worship Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of gods, the ruler, who is the soul of all beings, holding Him steadily in your hearts. And I, too, have been reminded of the truth of the Self, which I heard long ago from the lips of the supreme sage, when King Parīkṣit was fasting, surrounded by the great sages and seers. O brāhmaṇas, I have thus told you the glorious deeds of the Lord of mighty acts, whose greatness destroys all misfortune. Whoever, with unwavering mind and faith, recites or attentively listens to this daily, even for a moment, purifies himself. Hearing this on the twelfth or eleventh day of the lunar fortnight grants long life; reciting it with self-control and fasting, one becomes free from sin. One who, self-controlled, observes a fast and recites this collection in Puṣkara, Mathurā, or Dvārakā, is freed from fear. By praising and hearing the Lord’s glories, the gods, sages, perfected beings, ancestors, Manus, and kings grant the desires of those who sing or listen. A twice-born who studies the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas attains the fruits of honey, clarified butter, and milk streams. A devoted twice-born who studies this Purāṇa attains the supreme abode spoken of by the Lord. By study, a brāhmaṇa attains wisdom, a kṣatriya the sovereignty of the ocean, a vaiśya lordship over wealth, and a śūdra is purified from sin. Elsewhere, Hari—the Lord who burns away the impurity of Kali—is not sung constantly; but here, His all-encompassing form is thoroughly recited, verse by verse, in these narratives. I bow to You, the unborn, infinite, true Self, whose power brings about the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe, whose praise is difficult to grasp even for the lords of heaven—Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, and others—O infallible One. Homage to the eternal Supreme among the gods, whose own power, ever new, forms the stable and moving worlds within Himself, and whose abode is realized only by the blessed. I bow to Vyāsa’s son, who, with a mind absorbed in his own bliss and free from all else, was drawn by the unconquered Lord’s charming play, and who, out of compassion, revealed this Purāṇa—the lamp of truth, destroyer of all sin.” At this time, Sūta continued: Vidura, having learned the path of the Self from the sage Maitreya during his pilgrimage, returned to Hastināpura, his heart fulfilled by that wisdom. While Vidura questioned the sage Kauṣārava, he developed exclusive devotion to Govinda, and, his thirst for knowledge satisfied, he ceased from further inquiries. When Vidura returned, his kinsmen—Dharmaputra with his brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Sūta, Kṛpa, and Pṛthā—saw him and rejoiced. Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttara, Kṛpī, and other wives of the Pāṇḍavas, along with their sons and female relatives, all rose up in delight, as if life itself had returned to their bodies. They approached Vidura, greeting him with embraces and salutations. Overcome by longing from their time apart, they shed tears of love. The king honored Vidura with a seat and a warm welcome. When he had eaten, rested, and was comfortably seated, the king, bowing with humility, spoke to him as all listened in anticipation.