In the sacred realm, the Supreme, non-dual, infinite Lord—whose knowledge is beyond comprehension—enacted His enchanting childhood pastimes as a cowherd boy. He wandered, searching for calves and friends, just as He had always done, holding a morsel of food in His hand. In this divine moment, Brahma, the creator, beheld Him. Upon seeing the Lord, Brahma quickly descended from his celestial vehicle. He bowed deeply to the earth, as if laying down a golden staff, and touched the Lord’s two feet with the crowns of his four heads. With tears of joy streaming down, Brahma performed an abhisheka, bathing the Lord’s feet in reverence. Again and again, rising and falling at Krishna’s feet, Brahma sat for a long time, his mind flooded with memories of the Lord’s greatness that he had previously witnessed. After some time, Brahma rose slowly, wiping his tears. With his neck bowed in humility, he gazed upon Mukunda. Joining his palms in reverence, trembling and composed, he spoke in a choked, tearful voice, overwhelmed by devotion. Meanwhile, Sūta narrated: When Arjuna departed for Dvārakā, eager to see his kinsmen and to learn of the deeds of the illustrious Krishna, several months passed without his return. O best of the Kurus, during this time, dreadful and ominous signs began to appear. King Yudhishthira observed the fierce passage of Time, the reversal of natural order, and the worsening conduct of people, who now seemed driven by anger, greed, and falsehood. Dealings became crooked, friendships tainted with deceit, and quarrels erupted among fathers, mothers, friends, brothers, and married couples. As these dire omens increased and unrighteousness rose among people, the king, perceiving the advance of greed and the decline of virtue, spoke to his younger brother. Yudhishthira said, “Arjuna was sent to Dvārakā, longing to see our relatives and to learn of the illustrious Krishna’s deeds. Now, seven months have passed, and our brother Bhīmasena has not returned. I do not know the reason for this at all. Has the time foretold by the divine sage arrived, when the Lord intends to relinquish His earthly play? By His grace, we obtained wealth, kingdom, wives, life, family, subjects, victory over enemies, and even the worlds. Look at these portents, O tiger among men—celestial, terrestrial, and bodily—terrible and ominous, appearing nearby and filling us with fear and confusion. My thighs, eyes, and arms tremble again and again, and my heart is unsteady; surely something inauspicious is approaching. The she-jackal, with a fiery mouth, howls at the rising sun, and this dog cries at me as if afraid. Animals circle me on both sides, and I see my horses weeping. A pigeon, messenger of death, and an owl unsettle my mind, and the screeching of the night-owl foretells sleeplessness and emptiness. The quarters are filled with smoke; the horizons tremble along with the mountains; thunderclaps and lightning abound. The wind blows harshly, scattering dust and darkness; the clouds rain blood everywhere in a dreadful manner. The sun’s brilliance is dimmed, and the planets collide in the sky. The heavens seem ablaze and crowded with strange beings. The rivers and streams are agitated, as are the lakes and minds; even fire does not blaze with ghee. What will this time bring? Calves do not drink from their mothers’ udders, nor do cows yield milk. The cows, with tearful faces, cry, and the bulls do not rejoice. The deities seem to weep, sweat, and tremble. Towns, villages, gardens, lakes, and hermitages have lost their splendor and joy. What misfortune are they showing us? I think, by these great omens, the earth has been deprived of the feet of the Lord and of those unique persons endowed with His fortune, and has lost its prosperity.” While Yudhishthira thus reflected, his mind disturbed by these portents, the one with the monkey-banner—Arjuna—returned from the city of the Yadus. Arjuna appeared fallen at Yudhishthira’s feet, unlike before, distressed, his face lowered, shedding drops from the lotus of his eyes. Seeing his brother, whose heart was troubled and whose appearance had changed, the king questioned him in the midst of friends, recalling Narada’s words. Yudhishthira asked, “Are our relatives in the city of Anarta living happily—the Madhus, Bhojas, Dasharhas, Ahukas, Satvatas, Andhakas, and Vrishnis? Is Shura, our maternal grandfather, well, and is his wife also well? Is our uncle, Anakadundubhi, along with his younger brothers, safe? Are the seven sisters, their husbands, other maternal uncles with their sons, and their daughters-in-law, led by Devaki herself, all well? Is King Ahuka alive, and his wicked son and younger brother? Is Hridika with his son, Akrura, Jayanta, Gada, and Sarana well? Are Shatrujit and others safe? Is Rama, the Lord of the Satvatas, living happily? Is Pradyumna, the great chariot-warrior of all the Vrishnis, well? Is Aniruddha, deep in his passions, growing and blessed? Are Sushena, Charudesha, Samba—the son of Jambavati—and others, the foremost of the Karsnis, with their sons, like Rishabha, well? And likewise, are the followers of Shauri—Shrutadeva, Uddhava, Sunanda, Nanda, Shirishanya, and other chief Satvatas—well? Are all those who rely on the arms of Rama and Krishna safe? Do those bound by friendship remember our welfare? Is Govinda, the Lord, devoted to Brahmanas and affectionate to his devotees, living happily in the city of Sudharma, surrounded by friends? For the welfare, safety, and prosperity of the worlds, does the primeval, infinite friend, the man, remain in the ocean of the Yadu dynasty? When the Yadus are honored in their own city, protected by many strong arms, do they play in supreme bliss, like great heroes?” Thus, Yudhishthira, troubled by the omens and his brother’s sorrowful return, anxiously questioned Arjuna about the wellbeing of their kin and the fate of the Lord and the Yadu dynasty.