He who is devoted and twice-born, and who studies this Purāṇa, attains that supreme abode which the Lord Himself has described. For the brāhmaṇa, such study brings wisdom; for the kṣatriya, sovereignty as vast as the ocean; for the vaiśya, lordship over wealth; and for the śūdra, purification from sin. Elsewhere, the Lord Hari, who burns away the dense impurity of Kali, is not constantly praised, but here, in these very narratives, the all-encompassing Lord is thoroughly described, verse by verse. To that unborn, infinite, and true Self, whose power creates, maintains, and dissolves the universe—whose praise is difficult even for the greatest gods such as Brahmā, Indra, and Śiva—I offer my reverent obeisance. Homage to the eternal Supreme among the gods, whose own power, ever new, 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, whose mind, absorbed in his own bliss and free from all else, was drawn by the unconquered Lord’s enchanting play, and who, out of compassion, revealed this Purāṇa, the lamp of truth that destroys all sin. Sūta continued: Vidura, having learned the path of the self from the sage Maitreya during his pilgrimage, returned to Hastināpura, his thirst for knowledge now fulfilled. While he questioned the sage Kauṣārava, exclusive devotion to Govinda arose in his heart, and so, content, he ceased his inquiries. When Vidura returned, his kinsmen—Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Sūta, Kṛpa, and Pṛthā—saw him. Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttara, Kṛpī, and the other wives of the Pāṇḍavas, along with their sons and female relatives, all rose up in joy, as if life itself had returned to their bodies. They greeted him properly, with embraces and salutations, their hearts overflowing with love and tears of longing from their time apart. The king honored Vidura, offering him a seat and a warm welcome. After Vidura had eaten, rested, and was comfortably seated, Yudhiṣṭhira, bowing humbly, spoke as all listened attentively: “Do you remember us, who thrived under your shelter, and who, along with our mother, were saved from so many dangers—poison, fire, and more? 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, for they carry within their hearts the Lord who wields the mace, sanctifying even the most sacred sites. Have you seen or heard of our friends and relatives, the worshippers of Krishna? Are the Yadavas well in their city?” Thus addressed by Yudhiṣṭhira, Vidura described all he had seen and experienced, step by step—except for the destruction of the Yadu dynasty. Though something grievous and unbearable had occurred, Vidura, out of compassion and unwilling to cause sorrow, did not speak of it. For some time, Vidura stayed there, honored and happy like a god, bringing well-being to his elder brother and joy to all. During this time, Aryamā dispensed justice to wrongdoers as necessary, while Yama, due to a curse, lived the life of a śūdra for a hundred years. Yudhiṣṭhira, having regained his kingdom and seeing his grandson as heir to the dynasty, rejoiced with his brothers—guardians of the world—enjoying supreme prosperity. Yet, for those attached to home and heedless, absorbed in their pursuits, time, so difficult to overcome, passed unnoticed. Vidura, perceiving this, spoke to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “O King, depart quickly; see how danger has come. There is no remedy here, from any quarter, at any time. This is the Supreme Time, the Lord Himself, who comes for all. Even those most dear, with their very lives, are overtaken, and people are suddenly separated—what then of wealth and possessions? Fathers, brothers, friends, sons—all have been slain. Youth has departed, old age consumes your self, and you now reside in another’s house. Ah, how strong is the hope for life in a living being! You, like a caretaker, accept food left aside by Bhima. Fire was set, gifts were 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, though unwilling, will leave you, worn out by old age, like threadbare clothes. “One who, having lost all purpose for the body, becomes detached and freed from bonds, leaves it without concern for its destination—such a person is wise. He who, whether by his own realization or another’s guidance, becomes disillusioned and self-possessed, placing Hari in his heart, leaves home—such a man is supreme. Therefore, let your journey be toward the north, your path unknown to others; for from here onward, time, through the influence of the qualities, generally draws men away.” Thus awakened by his wise younger brother Vidura, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra cut the strong bonds of affection for his people and departed along the path shown by his brother. The virtuous Gāndhārī, devoted to her husband, followed him, laying aside her staff of authority, just as noble souls relinquish attachments at the end. Yudhiṣṭhira, having made peace with all, performed fire sacrifices, honored the brāhmaṇas with sesame, cows, land, and gold, and then entered his house to pay respects to his elders—but he did not see his parents or Gāndhārī. There he found Sanjaya seated, and anxiously asked, “O Gavalgana, where is our aged father, now deprived of sight? Where is mother, grieving for her slain sons? Where has my uncle, our friend, gone? Perhaps, thinking me unwise 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?” Sūta said: Overwhelmed by compassion and the pain of separation, Sanjaya, unable to see the Lord within himself, could not reply, so deeply afflicted was he.