Kalavati, her heart full of devotion, went to her beloved Drumila, whose presence was enchanting to behold. She bowed before him with reverence. Upon hearing Kalavati’s words, Drumila’s face shone with joy. He spoke gently to her, “You will bear a son who will be a true Vaishnava, O chaste lady, and you will be most fortunate. Whichever womb a Vaishnava is born from, or by whose seed, both mother and father are blessed—they will ascend to heaven in a resplendent Vishnu-airplane, fashioned from precious gems.” He then instructed her, “O auspicious-faced one, go to the house of a Brahmin.” Having thus spoken, Drumila, the king of cowherds, bathed and performed a grand offering. The scale of his charity was magnificent: he gave away four hundred thousand horses and one hundred thousand elephants. There were five hundred thousand Uccaiḥśravas horses and a thousand splendid chariots. He gifted twelve hundred thousand cows and three hundred thousand buffaloes. To the assembled sages he gave a hundred thousand doves and a hundred parrots, a thousand villages, and one hundred times a hundred cities. His generosity extended to a hundred crores of gold coins and a thousand radiant gems. Countless golden vessels and ornaments were also bestowed. Having given away his entire kingdom, the great king, his heart and mind dwelling on Hari within and without, joyfully journeyed to Badarī as a humble cowherd, his soul fulfilled. There, on the beautiful banks of the Ganges, he performed intense austerities for a month. At the end of his penance, he ascended to heaven in a celestial chariot crafted by Vishnu, the lord of jewels. There, he attained the supreme service of Hari, becoming a devoted servant of the Lord. When her husband departed from this world, Kalavati wept aloud in grief. At that moment, a compassionate Brahmin, addressing her tenderly as “Mother,” took her into his home with joy. In the Brahmin’s house, that virtuous woman gave birth to an excellent son. All the women present gathered to see the auspicious child. The boy was so beautiful that he surpassed even Kāmadeva, and his face shone brighter than the moon. He had charming hands and feet, lovely cheeks, and was captivating to behold. His two little hands moved restlessly as he cried, seeking his mother’s breast. The Brahmin cared for Kalavati and her son as if they were his own family. Sauti then explained: This boy, from his very birth, remembered his past lives. He was endowed with knowledge and always recalled the sacred mantras of former times. The glories, names, and virtues of Krishna were always sung in his presence. Wherever a verse about Krishna was recited, the boy’s whole body would become covered in dust; he longed for the dust of holy places as an offering. If ever his mother called him for breakfast, he would be so absorbed in devotion that he would not come at once. At this point, Shaunaka, the sage, inquired, “By etymology or by designation, you ought to explain this, O Sauti.” Sauti replied, “At the time of his birth, his mother did not give him water. Therefore, he is called Narada. He gives water and knowledge, and the boy, in turn, shares these gifts with other boys. By the potency of Narada alone, this boy came into being, O sage.” Shaunaka asked, “How is this great sage auspiciously named Narada?” Sauti answered, “He gave the boy to Kashyapa; therefore, he is called Narada.” Again Shaunaka questioned, “How is it that the son of Brahma, born in a Shudra womb, is called Narada?” Sauti replied, “He gave water to his throat, and thus he is remembered as Narada.” And then, from Narada’s throat, a boy was born. Thus, the wondrous story of Narada’s birth and the blessings of devotion unfolded, sanctifying all who heard it.