Among the twice-born, those who devotedly study the three Vedas—Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma—are blessed with the fruits of honey, clarified butter, and streams of milk. Yet, greater still is the reward for one who, with faith, studies this Purāṇa: such a soul attains the supreme abode that the Lord Himself has spoken of. The study of these sacred texts brings its own rewards: a brāhmaṇa gains wisdom, a kṣatriya the sovereignty of the oceans, a vaiśya lordship over wealth, and even a śūdra is freed from sin. Elsewhere, the Lord Hari, who burns away the impurities of Kali, is not sung of constantly. But here, in these narratives, the all-encompassing form of the Lord is recited thoroughly, verse by verse. With reverence, I bow to the unborn, infinite, true Self—whose power creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe, whose praise is difficult to fathom even for the lords of heaven: Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, and others. O infallible One, I offer homage to You, the eternal Supreme among the gods, whose own power forms all that is stable and moving within Himself, and whose abode is realized only by the blessed. I bow to Vyāsa’s son, Śuka, who, absorbed in his own bliss and drawn by the Lord’s enchanting play, out of compassion revealed this Purāṇa—the lamp of truth, destroyer of all sin. Now, Sūta continued: Vidura, after learning the path of the self from the sage Maitreya during his pilgrimage, returned to Hastināpura, his quest for knowledge fulfilled. As long as Vidura questioned the sage Kauṣārava, his devotion to Govinda grew, and when his heart was fully absorbed, he ceased his inquiries. When Vidura returned, his kinsmen—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 with delight, as if life itself had returned to their bodies. They approached Vidura with proper greetings, embracing and honoring him. Overwhelmed by longing from their separation, they shed tears of love; the king honored Vidura, offering him a seat and welcoming him warmly. Once Vidura had eaten, rested, and was comfortably seated, King Yudhiṣṭhira, 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? How 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; you sanctify even sacred sites by carrying within your heart the bearer of the mace. Have you seen or heard from our friends and relatives, the worshippers of Krishna? Are the Yadavas living happily in their city?” Thus addressed, Vidura described everything as he had experienced it, 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. Yudhiṣṭhira, 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 Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “O King, depart quickly; see how danger has arrived. There is no remedy here, from anywhere or at any time. 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? Fathers, brothers, friends, sons—all have been slain; youth has departed; your self is consumed by old age, and you reside in another’s house. Ah, how great is the hope for life in a living being, by which you, like a caretaker, accept food left aside by Bhima. Fire has been set, gifts given, poison administered, wives dishonored, land and wealth stolen—how much remains for those who gave their lives for such things? Even your body, O pitiable one, desiring to live, though unwilling, will depart, worn out by old age, like clothes that are threadbare. One who, having lost all purpose for this body, becomes detached and freed from bonds, leaves it without concern for its destination; such a person is called wise. He who, whether from his own or another’s cause, has become disillusioned and self-possessed, placing Hari in his heart, leaves home; such a man is supreme. Therefore, let your journey be toward the northern direction, with your path unknown to others; for from here onward, time generally draws men away through the influence of the qualities.” Thus, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, awakened by his wise younger brother Vidura, cut the strong bonds of affection for his own people and departed along the path shown by his brother. The virtuous daughter of Subala, Gāndhārī, devoted to her husband, followed him as he left, laying aside her staff of authority, just as noble souls relinquish their attachments at the end. Ajatashatru (Yudhiṣṭhira), having made peace with all, performed fire sacrifices, honored the brāhmins with sesame, cows, land, and gold, and entered his house to pay respects to his elders, but did not see his parents or the daughter of Subala. There, finding Sanjaya seated, he anxiously asked, “O Gavalgana, where is our aged father, now deprived of sight? And where is mother, grieving for her slain sons? Where has my uncle, our friend, gone? Perhaps, thinking me lacking in wisdom and now bereft of kin, he has, with his wife, sought the Ganga, hoping for relief from sorrow,” he wondered, falling into distress. “After our father Pandu passed away, our uncles protected all our friends and children from calamity. Where have those protectors gone now, leaving us behind?” Thus ends this portion of the sacred narrative, shining with the wisdom and compassion of saints, and the ever-present guidance of the Supreme Lord.