As the wheel of Time turned and the days advanced, troubling changes swept through the land. Dealings among people became crooked, friendship was tainted by deceit, and quarrels erupted even among fathers and mothers, friends, brothers, and married couples. Seeing these dire omens and the rise of greed and unrighteousness, King Yudhishthira grew concerned. He spoke to his younger brother, reflecting on the events unfolding around them. "Arjuna was sent to Dvārakā," Yudhishthira said, "longing to see our relatives and to learn of the deeds of the illustrious Kṛṣṇa. Now, seven months have passed, and Bhīmasena has not returned; I do not know why. 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. But now, see these portents, O tiger among men—celestial, terrestrial, and bodily—terrible and ominous, appearing nearby, filling us with fear and confusion." He described his own distress: "My thighs, eyes, and arms are trembling again and again, and my heart is unsteady; surely, something inauspicious is approaching. The she-jackal, with fiery mouth, howls at the rising sun; and this dog cries at me like one who is afraid. Animals circle me on the left and right, and I see my horses weeping. This pigeon, a messenger of death, and the owl, unsettling my mind, and the screeching of the night-owl—these portend sleeplessness and emptiness." Yudhishthira continued, "The quarters are filled with smoke, the horizons tremble along with the mountains, and there are great thunderclaps together with lightning. The wind blows harshly, scattering dust and darkness; the clouds rain blood everywhere, in a most dreadful manner. See the sun, its brilliance dimmed, and the planets colliding in the sky, while the heavens seem ablaze and crowded with strange beings. The rivers and streams are agitated, the lakes and minds as well; the fire does not blaze even with ghee. What will this time bring?" He observed the suffering of animals: "Calves do not drink from their mothers' udders, nor do the cows yield milk; the cows, with tearful faces, cry and the bulls in the herd do not rejoice. The deities seem to weep, sweat, and tremble; these towns, villages, gardens, lakes, and hermitages have lost their splendor and joy. What misfortune are they showing us? I think, by these great omens, surely 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 pondered these troubling signs, his mind disturbed, Arjuna—the one whose banner bears the image of Hanuman—returned from the city of the Yadus. Arjuna approached, falling at Yudhishthira's feet, unlike before, his face lowered, distressed, and shedding tears from his lotus-like eyes. Seeing his brother so troubled and changed in appearance, Yudhishthira questioned him in the midst of their friends, recalling the words of Narada. He asked anxiously, "Are our relatives in Anarta city 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 those like Shatrujit and others safe? Is Rama, the Lord of the Satvatas, living happily?" He continued, "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?" Yudhishthira's concern deepened as he asked, "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, they play in supreme bliss, like great heroes. By serving at the feet, which is their chief duty, Satyā and the other sixteen thousand women, having conquered the celestial goddesses in beauty, receive blessings suited for the beloveds of Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt. The foremost Yadus, who live by the rise of their many strong arms and are fearless at all times, forcibly enter the Sudharmā assembly hall, fit for the best of gods, with their feet, having brought it there." Turning to Arjuna himself, Yudhishthira asked gently, "My dear, do you remain free from illness? You appear to me as if your radiance has faded. Have you failed to obtain something, been disrespected, or stayed away for a long time? Have you not been struck by inauspicious things, such as sounds or other disturbances? Have you failed to give or fulfill what was promised to supplicants out of desire? Have you, as a giver of refuge, not rejected a Brahmin, child, cow, elder, sick person, woman, or any being who approached you for shelter? Have you not approached a woman who should not be approached, or one who is to be approached, or one who has been made your companion? Or have you been defeated by superior or inferior paths? Have you eaten food that should be shared with elders and children? Have you committed any act that is disgraceful or beyond your capacity?" Thus, with a heart full of concern and love, Yudhishthira questioned Arjuna, seeking to understand the cause of his distress and the ominous signs that weighed heavily on the world.