There was a king, the unrivaled performer of all sacrifices, including the great horse-sacrifice. In gifts, sacrifices, and austerities, none could equal him. At every sacred rite, he bestowed lavish treasures upon the foremost Brahmins—gold, jewels, pearls, elephants, and horses flowed in abundance from his generous hands. Within his vast realm, there was no limit to the wealth of elephants, horses, chariots, fine woolen cloth, skins, garments, jewels, riches, and grain. Endowed with every prosperity and adorned with all virtues, he fulfilled every desire of his people and ruled his kingdom without affliction. Yet, even amidst such abundance, a thought arose in his mind: “How shall I worship Hari, the Lord of all Yogis, who grants both enjoyment and liberation?” He pondered deeply, considering all treatises, tantras, the expanse of the Āgamas, the epics, ancient tales, and every limb of the Veda. He examined all the treatises on dharma, the disciplines spoken by sages, the sources of knowledge—nothing escaped his scrutiny. By diligently serving his teacher and the foremost Brahmins learned in the Veda, he attained the highest goal and fulfilled his purpose. Realizing the supreme, imperishable truth known as Vāsudeva, he became free from delusion and ignorance—a true seeker of liberation, with his senses restrained. Yet again, he wondered: “How shall I worship the eternal God of gods, clad in yellow garments, four-armed, bearing the conch, discus, and mace? The One adorned with a garland of forest flowers, eyes wide as lotus petals, marked with the Śrīvatsa on his breast, shining with crown and armlets?” Resolving to undertake this worship, the lord of the people departed from his own city of Ujjayinī. He set forth with a great force—his attendants and priests at his side. Charioteers, weapons in hand, followed him in chariots that shone like celestial vehicles, adorned with banners and flags. Horsemen, bearing spears and maces, rode on steeds swift as the wind, closely following their king. Mighty elephants, born in the Himalayas, mountain-like and intoxicated, their tusks slightly curved and their bodies adorned with golden armor and banners, marched in his train. The sound of bells rang out as expert elephant warriors guided them forward. Countless foot soldiers came, bearing bows, spears, and swords. They wore divine garlands and garments, their bodies anointed with heavenly fragrances. Young men with polished earrings, skilled in all weapons, valiant and always eager for battle, joined the procession. Even the women of the inner chambers, fully adorned with lips like bimba fruit, beautiful teeth, and every ornament, came forth. Clad in divine garments and celestial garlands, their faces radiant as the autumn moon, their waists slender and attire charming, their hair curled and mouths reddened by betel, they rode in vehicles high and low, bright and jeweled, accompanied by singers and reciters of praise, all well-guarded by attendants. Surrounded by armed guards with eyes as long as lotus petals, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas also followed the king. Merchant guilds and groups from various towns came too, bringing their wealth, jewels, and gold, accompanied by their wives and retinues. All manner of people joined: those who sold weapons, betel, grass, or wood; those who lived by the stage, by selling meat, oil, or cloth; sellers of fruit, leaves, carriers of burdens, washermen, cowherds, barbers, tailors, shepherds, keepers of deer and swans, sellers of grain, parched flour, jaggery, and salt. Singers, dancers, reciters of auspicious hymns, actors, storytellers, and those skilled in ancient tales all assembled. Poets and creators of poetry, poison-curers, experts in Garuda lore, examiners of gems, metalworkers, coppersmiths, bronze-makers, goldsmiths, silk-weavers, painters, potters, fire-workers, stick-makers, sword-makers, brewers, wrestlers, messengers, scribes, and many others—each performing their tasks—joined the journey. Weavers, image-makers, artisans, oil-pressers, sellers of fried grain, fowlers, those who lived by hunting wild animals and birds, elephant doctors, human physicians, tree doctors, cow doctors, and those skilled in surgery and cauterizing—all these townspeople and more, even those not named, followed their king. It was as if sons, eager and devoted, followed their father on a journey to another village. Thus, that illustrious king, surrounded by all his people—great and small, with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry—proceeded slowly on his way. After traveling thus, followed for a long time by his entire retinue, he finally reached the southern shore of the ocean. There he beheld the beautiful ocean, standing as if dancing, crowded with countless hundreds of thousands of waves—a wondrous sight to behold.