O sage, listen to the tale of a king whose heart brimmed with generosity and devotion. In a spirit of selfless giving, he bestowed a hundred thousand doves and a hundred parrots upon the deserving. His munificence stretched further still: he granted a thousand villages and a hundred times a hundred cities, sharing the prosperity of his realm without reservation. He gave away a hundred crores of gold coins and a thousand precious gems, followed by countless golden vessels and ornaments, each gift reflecting the depth of his detachment and piety. Having relinquished even his kingdom, the great king, his mind ever absorbed in remembrance of Hari—both within and without—set out joyfully for Badarī. There, adopting the humble life of a cowherd, his heart was content and fulfilled. On the beautiful banks of the sacred Ganges, he engaged in rigorous austerities for a month. Then, by the grace of Vishnu, the lord of jewels, a celestial chariot appeared, and the king ascended to heaven. In that divine realm, he attained the blessed service of Hari, becoming a devoted servant at the Lord’s feet. When her beloved husband departed, Kalāvatī, his wife, wept aloud in grief. Yet a compassionate brāhmaṇa, addressing her as “Mother,” took her into his home with joy. In the brāhmaṇa’s household, the virtuous Kalāvatī gave birth to an excellent son. The women who gathered to witness the event beheld an auspicious boy whose beauty surpassed even that of Kāmadeva, and whose face shone brighter than the moon. His hands and feet were charming, his cheeks lovely, and his appearance captivating. As an infant, his two little hands moved restlessly as he cried, seeking his mother’s breast. The brāhmaṇa cared for both mother and child as if they were his own. Sauti continued: This extraordinary boy, even from birth, remembered his past lives. He was endowed with knowledge and retained the memory of ancient mantras. Wherever the glories, names, and virtues of Krishna were sung, he would be entranced; whenever he heard a verse about Krishna, he longed to offer himself, even yearning for the dust at such sacred gatherings. So absorbed was he that, if his mother called him for breakfast, he would remain lost in devotion. At this, Shaunaka inquired about the origin of the boy’s name. Sauti explained: At the time of birth, the mother did not give him water, and so he was called Narada. He would later give both water and knowledge, sharing generously with other boys as well. By Narada’s own potency, this remarkable child came into being. Shaunaka then asked how the great sage could be auspiciously called Narada. Sauti replied: He gave the son to Kashyapa, and thus he is known as Narada. Again Shaunaka questioned: How could the son of Brahma, born in a Shudra womb, bear the name Narada? Sauti clarified: Because water was given to his throat, he is remembered as Narada. Indeed, from Narada’s throat, a boy was born. Now, attend to the account of the child’s early life. The Gopika boy grew day by day in the house of the brāhmaṇa. In time, a group of brāhmaṇas arrived at the house, coming in secret, as if they had stolen away the midday summer sun. At the right moment, four eminent sages brought offerings of fruits and roots. The fourth sage, with gladness, imparted to the boy the sacred Krishna-mantra. One night, as the boy’s mother walked along a path, that virtuous lady was suddenly taken to Vaikuntha in Vishnu’s celestial chariot. The next morning, the boy, accompanied by the brāhmaṇas, departed from the brāhmaṇa’s house. The sons of Brahma, having fulfilled their purpose, left the child and returned to their own abode.