Surrounded by the others, hearts brimming with devotion, he bowed his head in reverence. In that sacred assembly, Kali, Skanda, and Shankara each bestowed their blessings upon him. At that very moment, a warm and meaningful conversation arose among them all. With a tranquil mind, the great and blessed Mahadeva spoke, illuminating the gathering with his words. He recounted, “Marichi was his son, a devotee of Vishnu and steadfast in righteousness. Kashyapa, too, was his son—most virtuous and renowned as a progenitor. Among their descendants was Danu, whose virtue and prosperity grew ever greater through good fortune. Another among them was Vipracitti, famed for his immense strength and valor. “Vipracitti, with unwavering resolve, recited the supreme mantra at Puṣkara for a hundred thousand years. By the power of this penance, he obtained you as a son—one wholly devoted to Krishna. Yet now, because of Rādhikā’s curse, the lord of the Dānavas has come to dwell in Bhārata. “Even the highest states—sharing the same world, opulence, form, nearness, or oneness with Hari—were considered insignificant by the devotee of Vishnu. What value, then, is there for you, a devotee of Krishna, in wandering among the realms of the gods? Instead, remain content in your own sovereignty, and let the gods abide in theirs. “Whatever sins may exist, even those as grave as the slaying of a Brahmin, and even if, O king of kings, you grieve over the loss of your wealth—know that the disappearance of Brahma himself occurs when the cosmic dissolution takes place. Knowledge, intellect, asceticism, and memory—all these are established in the world. The highest dharma is ever rooted in truth and upheld by it. “In the previous age, only a single part of Kali existed, and its decline happened gradually. Just as the radiance of the sun is not the same in summer as in winter, so too do things change with time—childhood comes gradually, and during the day, light can be obscured on a densely clouded day. “The full moon is complete on the night of its fullness, but it does not remain so; it wanes day by day. Yet, after the new moon, it regains its fullness, waxing again day by day. On a day eclipsed by Rahu, or when the sky is heavily clouded, the moon appears faded. But in the future, the moon will regain its strength; for now, its splendor has descended to the netherworld. “In time, she was submerged in water, vanished, and fell into misfortune. All beings, moving and unmoving, perish and arise again in their due course. I am the conqueror of death, for countless dissolutions of nature have come and gone. He is the very form of nature, and is also remembered as the Purusha. “Whoever constantly recites the names and qualities of that One—by him, the creator becomes Brahma, the protector becomes Vishnu, and the world itself comes into being. He appointed Rudra as the fire of time for destruction within the domain, O king. Therefore, I am the conqueror of death, and with this knowledge, I am without fear.” Having spoken thus, the Lord of all—omniscient and the creator of all beings—brought his discourse to a close. The king, deeply moved by these words, offered his praise again and again. Then Shankhachuda spoke: “Still, let something true be heard—my humble submission. You have now spoken of three great sins: the betrayal of kin.