At that time, Jayanta, the illustrious son of Svarnavati and born of Shakra, was present. Sūta continued his narration: King Parimala, a powerful ruler, undertook an auspicious ritual, accompanied by Pushpavati, who was renowned for her skill in singing and dancing. During the cold of winter, the heroic king engaged in secret sport, withdrawing from the affairs of the world, for he was adept in all forms of contact and enjoyment. In the midst of their private moments, the portion of Krishna manifested and spoke, asking, “Who were you in your previous birth?” To this, a gentle reply came: “O beloved, in my former life I was a king named Chandradāsa. Each day, I worshipped the sacred Shalagrama stone. When the day of my death arrived, my mind remained fixed upon Shalagrama. At that moment, Vishnu—the Lord of all, the embodiment of time—was invoked by Kali.” The divine voice continued, “Whenever righteousness declines, O beloved, I manifest. In the Satya Yuga, the gods are pleased by mental worship; in the Dvapara Yuga, they are satisfied by worship through images. In the Satya Yuga, I am the Swan; in Treta, the Person of Sacrifice; and when Kali Yuga arrives, I become Shalagrama for the satisfaction of the gods. O beloved, all sages, deities, and hosts of ancestors are likewise to be worshipped by the twice-born and the three castes, with offerings of sandal and other gifts. Even foreigners, if they approach with humility and devotion, gain merit; by merely seeing the Shalagrama, their impurities are destroyed. Thus, O goddess, the supreme code of conduct for the ages has been revealed to you.” Pushpavati then spoke of her own past: “I performed singing, dancing, and played instruments before the deity. By the merit of these acts, I attained the heavenly world. Even in heaven, I did not abandon celibacy; Aniruddha himself, who is Brahman, took my hand. The Lord, my master, was invoked by Kali for my sake. There, indeed, the greatness of his own favor was displayed. By his command, O lord, I became the daughter of Jambuka. My death, however, was caused by your brother, Balakhanin. Because of that fault, your brother underwent severe torment.” Having said this, Pushpavati fell silent and rejoiced together with her husband. When the festival of Holika approached, Malana, overwhelmed by love and sorrow for her daughter, wept at night, her heart distressed. The great hero, understanding the reason for her grief, set out alone—valiant and determined—to the house of Candravali. The king, who was his adversary, upon learning the true cause, heard of a village called Balithatha, which was protected by the Yadavas. There, King Virasena was present, accompanied by a mighty army of three hundred thousand. Among the Yadava lineage, Kamasena, Prasena, Mahasena, and Madhupa were born in succession. In that assembly, Narakesari, a portion of Krishna, entered with noble intent and delivered to the king a letter written by Malana. After enjoying various wonderful dishes together with the Yadavas, his sister, filled with love though afflicted by sorrow, spoke to Krishna’s portion. At the age of twenty, he had been forgotten by his father and mother. Yet now he declared, “Today my birth is fulfilled, and my life is also fulfilled.” With a cheerful heart, he spoke humbly to his sister. Because of her sorrow, the king became increasingly fearful and anxious each day. Yet the powerful king besieged my city, threatening all within.