When the boundless Lord, whose power is realized simply by hearing His glories, is praised, He enters the hearts of people and thoroughly cleanses away their suffering—just as the sun and a mighty wind disperse darkness and clouds. Words and stories that do not speak of the Lord’s transcendence are empty and false; they are not to be spoken. Only those words are true, auspicious, and holy that bring forth the virtues of the Lord. Indeed, only the singing of the Lord’s excellent fame is delightful, charming, ever fresh, and ever new. It is a constant festival for the mind and dries up the ocean of sorrow for all who hear. Speech, however ornate, that does not proclaim the fame of Hari, which sanctifies the world, is like a bathing place for crows—not frequented by swans. Where Acyuta is present, there alone gather pure devotees. Even if imperfect in meter, any creation of speech containing the names and glories of the infinite Lord washes away the sins of people; the virtuous listen to, sing, and recite it. Even action free from desire and pure knowledge, without devotion to Acyuta, do not shine; how much less, then, do even the best works, if not offered to the Lord, bring lasting good? All effort for fame and prosperity—whether through duties of caste and stage of life, austerity, or study—is supreme only when it results in 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 and bestows well-being; it purifies the mind, brings supreme devotion to the indwelling Lord, and grants knowledge endowed with realization and detachment. You, foremost among the twice-born, are truly blessed, for you constantly worship Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of gods, the ruler and soul of all beings, having fixed Him steadily in your hearts. 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 observing his fast, surrounded by 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 the praise and hearing of whose glories, the gods, sages, perfected beings, ancestors, Manus, and kings grant desires to 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 studying, 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 of all, who burns away the mass of Kali’s impurity, is not sung of constantly; but here, the Lord, whose form is all-encompassing, is thoroughly recited, verse by verse, in the course of 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 Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, and other lords of heaven—O infallible One. Homage to the eternal Supreme among the gods, whose own power forms the stable and moving worlds within Himself, and whose abode is realized only by the blessed. I bow to Vyāsa’s son, absorbed in his own bliss and drawn by the unconquered Lord’s charming play, who out of compassion revealed this Purāṇa—the lamp of truth, destroyer of all sin. Sūta continued: Vidura, having learned about the path of the self from Maitreya during his pilgrimage, returned to Hastināpura, his desire for knowledge fulfilled. As long as Vidura asked questions before the sage Kauṣārava, he developed exclusive devotion to Govinda, and then ceased from those inquiries. Upon Vidura’s return, Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) and his brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Sūta, Kṛpa, and Pṛthā, along with Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttara, Kṛpī, and other wives of Pāṇḍu, their sons and female relatives—all rose up with delight, as if life itself had returned to their bodies. They approached Vidura properly, greeting him with embraces and salutations. Overcome by longing from separation, they shed streams of tears of love; the king honored him, offering a seat and welcoming him. Once Vidura had eaten, rested, and was comfortably seated, the king, bowing with humility, spoke as all listened: “Do you remember us, who thrived under your shelter and were saved, along with our mother, from many dangers such as poison and fire? By what means have you lived while wandering the earth? Have you visited the chief holy places and sacred fields? O Lord, devotees like you are themselves holy places; they sanctify even sacred sites by carrying within their hearts the bearer of the mace. O dear one, have our friends and relatives, the worshippers of Krishna, been seen or heard from? Are the Yadavas living happily in their city?” Thus addressed by Dharmaraja, Vidura described everything as he had experienced it, step by step, except for the destruction of the Yadu dynasty. Although something unpleasant and unbearable had occurred, he did not report it, being compassionate and unable to witness the sorrow of others. For some time, Vidura stayed there, honored and happy like a god, bringing well-being to his elder brother and happiness to all. Aryama carried out punishment upon wrongdoers as required, while Yama, due to a curse, maintained the status of a Shudra for a hundred years. Yudhishthira, having regained his kingdom and seeing his grandson as the heir of the dynasty, rejoiced with his brothers, who resembled guardians of the world, in supreme prosperity. Thus, for those attached to their homes and heedless, absorbed in such pursuits, time—exceedingly difficult to overcome—passed unnoticed. Vidura, perceiving this, spoke to Dhritarashtra: “O King, depart quickly; see how danger has arrived.