Indra, the mighty king of the gods, arrived, accompanied by Viṣṇu, radiant as the sun and moon, and joined by Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, the divine creators. The winds and the fires, too, attended, their presence powerful and purifying. Pūṣan, Bhaga, Aryaman, Tvaṣṭṛ, Aṃśu, Vivasvat—the wise one with his two wives—Mitra, and Varuṇa, all gathered, their forms resplendent. The Lord appeared, surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, and Ādityas, and the twin Aśvins. All the gods, the tempestuous Maruts, the noble Sādhyas, and the revered ancestors joined in this assembly. The celestial musicians, Gandharvas, and the graceful Apsarases came, along with the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents. Countless devarṣis and eminent brahmarṣis were present, their wisdom illuminating the gathering. Sages of every kind arrived: the Vaikhānasas, the diminutive Vālakhilyas, the wind-borne Vāyvāhāras, the great Marīci, the Bhṛgus, and the Āṅgirasas—all accomplished in every branch of knowledge. The virtuous Vidyādharas, those perfected in yoga, the Grandfather, Pulastya, and the great ascetic Pulaha joined the throng. Aṅgirā, Kaśyapa, Atri, Marīci, Bhṛgu, Kratu, Hara, Pracetas, Manu, and Dakṣa were all present, their presence sanctifying the event. The seasons, planets, and luminaries attended, along with the sacred rivers in their divine forms and the eternal gods. The oceans, lakes, and various sacred fords, the earth, the sky, the directions, and the trees themselves joined in, bearing witness. Aditi, the mother of the gods, was there, as were Hrī, Śrī, Svāhā, Sarasvatī, Umā, Śacī, Sinīvālī, Anumati, and Kuhū. Rākā, Dhiṣaṇā, and other divine wives came, as did the majestic mountains—Himavat, Vindhya, and Meru with their many peaks. Airāvata, the king of elephants, arrived with his retinue. The divisions of time—kalās, kāṣṭhās, half-months, months, seasons, nights, days, and years—all assembled. Uccaiḥśravā, the best of horses, the serpent king Vāmana, Aruṇa, Garuḍa, and all the trees and herbs joined. Dharma, the blessed god, came, as did Kāla, Yama, Mṛtyu, and the attendants of Yama. Hosts of deities too numerous to name came one after another for the grand consecration of the Lord. All the gods, the dwellers in heaven, together with the sages, gathered the sacred substances and auspicious items needed for the ceremony. With golden pitchers filled with divine ingredients, with water from Sarasvatī and other holy celestial rivers, they prepared for the sacred bathing. Water from the celestial Gaṅgā was brought, and Kṛṣṇa and Rāma themselves joined in. With showers of flowers and golden pots, all those upon earth bathed the Lord. In the sky, celestial chariots of the gods moved—some high, some low—divine, wish-fulfilling, and steady. They were adorned with celestial jewels, attended by hosts of apsarases, and resounded with songs, instruments, and fluttering banners, shining brilliantly in all directions. Thus, O best of sages, after bathing Kṛṣṇa together with Rāma and Subhadrā, the gods and sages, filled with joy, began to praise them. Their voices rang out: “Victory to you, Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the universe! Victory to you, younger brother of Saṃkarṣaṇa! Victory to you, lotus-eyed one! Victory to you, bestower of all desires! Victory to you, whose chest is adorned with garlands! Victory to you, bearer of the discus and mace! Victory to you, beloved of Padmā! Victory to you, Viṣṇu! Salutations to you!” Thus praised by the gods led by Śakra, with delighted minds, and by the hosts of Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and all the dwellers of heaven, the sages—including the Vālakhilyas—beheld Kṛṣṇa with Rāma and Subhadrā and bowed to them, standing in the sky in reverence. Having seen, praised, and offered their obeisance, those dwellers of heaven then departed to their own abodes, their hearts filled with joy, for Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and Subhadrā had been honored. Once more, the celestial chariots of the gods moved through the sky—some high, some low—all divine, wish-fulfilling, and steady. Adorned with various divine jewels, attended by groups of apsarases, resounding with songs and instruments, and decorated all around with banners, they shone brilliantly. At that time, those mortals who beheld the Supreme Person—Kṛṣṇa, along with Balabhadra and Subhadrā—attained the imperishable state. Indeed, seeing the Supreme Person, together with Subhadrā and Rāma, seated upon the platform, one attained a place free from all affliction—there was no doubt about this. The merit that is gained at Puṣkara by giving a hundred tawny cows—that very merit, O best of sages, a virtuous person obtains simply by beholding Kṛṣṇa, armed and seated on the platform with Subhadrā. The merit arising from giving a hundred maidens, or a hundred gold niṣkas, or a thousand cows, or from properly giving land, or from giving food and honoring guests, or from the proper release of a bull, or from giving water in the summer or elsewhere, or from giving a sesame cow, or even from gifting elephants, horses, or chariots—all these great merits are obtained by simply beholding Kṛṣṇa, seated on the platform. Thus, the assembly of gods and sages, the celestial beings, and all those present, honored Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and Subhadrā, and those who merely beheld their divine forms were blessed with the highest merit and liberation.