With reverence, let us recall the unfolding of these events as described in the sacred verses. First, there is a heartfelt invocation: a bow to the unborn, infinite Self, whose power brings forth, sustains, and dissolves the universe. Even the greatest of gods—Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, and others—find His praise difficult to comprehend. He is infallible, eternal, the Supreme among the gods, whose newly manifest power forms all that is stable and moving within Himself, whose true abode is realized only by the blessed. There is also homage to Vyāsa’s son, who, absorbed in his own bliss and freed from all else, was drawn by the unconquered Lord’s enchanting play. Out of compassion, he revealed this Purāṇa, the lamp of truth that destroys all sin. Sūta then narrates: Vidura, having completed his pilgrimage and learned the path of the self from Maitreya, returned to Hastināpura, his quest for knowledge fulfilled. While Vidura questioned the sage Kauṣārava, his devotion to Govinda grew unwavering, and then he ceased his inquiries. Upon Vidura’s return, his kinsmen—Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) and his brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Sūta, Kṛpa, Pṛthā, Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttara, Kṛpī, and other wives of Pāṇḍu, along with their sons and female relatives—all rose with joy, as if life itself had returned to them. They greeted Vidura with embraces and salutations, overwhelmed by longing from separation, shedding tears of love. 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? 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?” Vidura, thus addressed by Dharmaraja, 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, rejoiced with his brothers—guardians of the world—in supreme prosperity. Yet, for those attached to their homes and heedless, absorbed in such pursuits, time, exceedingly difficult to overcome, passed unnoticed. Vidura perceived this and 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? 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 Dhritarashtra, 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, 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 brahmins 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. He lamented, “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 explained: Out of compassion and the pain of separation, Sanjaya, overwhelmed and unable to see the Lord within himself, could not reply, being deeply afflicted. Wiping his tears with his hands and steadying himself, Sanjaya answered Ajatashatru, remembering the feet of the Lord. Sanjaya said, “O delight of your lineage, I do not know the decision of your parents or of Gandhari, O mighty-armed one; I have been deceived by these great souls.” At that moment, the venerable sage Narada arrived with Tumburu. Rising to greet and honor him, Yudhishthira and his brothers worshipped the sage. Thus, the story unfolds: from reverent invocations, through Vidura’s return and wise counsel, to the departure of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, Yudhishthira’s anxious search, and the arrival of Narada, all under the gaze of Supreme Time.