Let me share with you the unfolding of these sacred verses as a vivid, reverent narrative: There is nothing more delightful, charming, and ever-new than the singing of the Lord’s glories. Such praise is a constant festival for the mind, drying up the ocean of sorrow for all who hear it. Speech, however elaborate, that does not proclaim Hari’s fame—whose virtue sanctifies the world—is like a crow’s bathing place, shunned by swans; only where Acyuta is remembered do pure devotees gather. Even if imperfect in meter, words that contain the names and glories of the infinite Lord wash away people’s sins; the virtuous listen, sing, and recite them. Actions free from desire and pure knowledge, if not joined with devotion to Acyuta, do not shine; how much less do even the best works, if not offered to the Lord, bring lasting good. All efforts for fame or prosperity—through duties, austerity, or study—are supreme only when they lead to unfailing remembrance of Śrīdhara’s lotus feet, by hearing and praising Hari’s virtues with reverence. Remembering Krishna’s lotus feet destroys all inauspiciousness, bestows well-being, purifies the mind, brings supreme devotion to the indwelling Lord, and grants knowledge enriched with realization and detachment. You, the foremost among the twice-born, are truly blessed, for you constantly worship Nārāyaṇa—the Lord of gods, ruler, and soul of all beings—having fixed Him steadily in your hearts. And I too have been reminded of the truth of the Self, which I once heard from the supreme sage, when King Parīkṣit observed his fast, surrounded by great sages. O brāhmaṇas, I have thus recounted the glorious deeds of the Lord of mighty acts, whose greatness destroys all misfortune. Whoever, with unwavering mind and faith, recites or listens to this daily, even for a moment, becomes purified. Hearing these glories on the twelfth or eleventh day of the lunar fortnight grants long life; reciting them with self-control and fasting frees one 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 study, a brāhmaṇa attains wisdom, a kṣatriya sovereignty over the ocean, a vaiśya lordship over wealth, and a śūdra is purified from sin. Elsewhere, Hari—the Lord of all, who burns away Kali’s impurity—is not constantly sung; but here, the Lord, whose form is all-encompassing, is thoroughly recited verse by verse in these narratives. I bow to You, the unborn, infinite, true Self, whose power brings about creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe, whose praise is difficult to grasp even for Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, and others—O infallible One. Homage to the eternal Supreme among the gods, whose own power forms the worlds within Himself, and whose abode is realized only by the blessed. I bow to Vyāsa’s son, whose mind absorbed in bliss 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. Now, Sūta continued: Vidura, having learned the path of the self from Maitreya during his pilgrimage, returned to Hastināpura, his desire for knowledge fulfilled by her teachings. While Vidura questioned the sage Kauṣārava, he developed exclusive devotion to Govinda and then ceased his inquiries. Seeing their kinsman return, Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) with his brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Sūta, Kṛpa, and Pṛthā; Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttara, Kṛpī, and other wives of Pāṇḍu, along with their sons and female relatives—all rose up with delight, as if life itself had returned to their bodies. They approached Vidura, greeting him with embraces and salutations. Overcome by longing from separation, they shed streams of loving tears. The king honored Vidura, offering him a seat and welcoming him. When Vidura had eaten, rested, and was comfortably seated, the king, bowing with humility, spoke as all listened. Yudhiṣṭhira asked, “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?” He continued, “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 he had experienced, step by step, except for the destruction of the Yadu dynasty. Though 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 heir to the dynasty, rejoiced with his brothers—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. There is no remedy here, from anywhere or at any time, O Lord; this is the Supreme Time, the Lord, who has come for all of us. By whom even those most dear, with their very lives, are overtaken, and people are suddenly separated; what to say of others, like wealth and so forth?” Thus, the story flows, bearing the wisdom and reverence of the ancient verses, illuminating the glory of the Lord and the passing of time amidst the lives of the great.