After some time had passed, guided by the wise instruction of Nārada, he attained the highest knowledge and the supreme path of yoga. Entrusting his kingdom to his son, he journeyed to the sacred hermitage at Badarikā. There, through the profound teaching concerning the seed of Māyā, his understanding became clear and unobstructed. By Nārada's grace, Śuka achieved immediate liberation. Free from all attachment to his father, he reached the blissful heights of Kailāsa. Immersed in deep meditation and turning away from all worldly bonds, he rose from the mountain peak and attained the ultimate accomplishment. Śuka moved through the sky, radiant with immense energy, shining like the very sun itself. At his ascent, the mountain peak split in two, and many wondrous omens appeared. Śuka glided through the heavens like the wind, praised by the divine sages, his brilliance rivaling a second sun. Vyāsa, overwhelmed by the pain of separation, called out again and again, “My son! My son!” He made his way to the mountain peak where a parrot had remained. Seeing Vyāsa so distressed and exhausted, the parrot heard his sorrowful cries. Present as a witness in all beings, the parrot echoed Vyāsa’s lament, and to this day, a clear echo resounds on that mountain peak. Beholding Vyāsa weeping, overcome with grief, calling out for his son and submerged in the agony of separation, Śiva himself appeared. Addressing Parāśara’s son, Śiva said, “Vyāsa, do not grieve. Your son is foremost among yogis. He has attained the supreme state, a state rare for those who have not mastered themselves. You, who understand the nature of freedom from sorrow, should not mourn for him. Through your son, your fame has become great, O sinless one.” Vyāsa replied, “Yet, O Lord of gods, my sorrow does not leave me. What can I do, Lord of the world? Today my eyes long to rest upon my son.” Mahādeva consoled him, “You will see the beautiful shadow of your son standing nearby. Beholding that shadow, O tiger among sages, abandon your grief, O scorcher of foes.” And so it was that Vyāsa beheld the radiant shadow of his son. Having granted this boon, Hara vanished, and with Mahādeva’s disappearance, Vyāsa returned to his hermitage. Yet, even in Śuka’s absence, Vyāsa remained scorched by grief, suffering greatly. At this point, the sages gathered and inquired, “Śuka, O best of gods, attained the highest perfection. What did Vyāsa do afterward? Tell us in detail.” Sūta replied: The disciples of Vyāsa, devoted to the study of the Vedas, received his command and departed earlier onto the earth. Asita, Devala, Vaiśampāyana, Jaimini, and Sumantu—all these ascetics left. Seeing both his disciples and his son departed from the world, Vyāsa, overwhelmed by sorrow, resolved to depart as well. Vyāsa remembered in his heart his virtuous mother—the Niṣāda maiden Satyavatī—now freed from sorrow, dwelling on the banks of the Jahnavi. Recalling her, Vyāsa left that lofty mountain and journeyed to his birthplace. Upon reaching the island, he inquired, “Where has that beautiful-faced woman gone?” The Niṣādas told him, “The maiden was given to the king.” The King of the Daśas, having respectfully worshipped Vyāsa with great affection, welcomed him with honor and addressed him with joined palms: “Today my birth has borne fruit, and our lineage is purified, O Sage, for even the gods rarely behold what I have seen—your presence. For whatever purpose you have come, O best of twice-born, please tell me. My wives, wealth, and sons—all are at your disposal, O illustrious one.” On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvatī, Vyāsa established a hermitage and, absorbed in austerities, resided there with a focused mind. When the two sons of Satyavatī—radiant descendants of Śāntanu—were born, Vyāsa, considering them his brothers, lived contentedly in the forest. Chitrāngada, the eldest, handsome and a subduer of foes, became the king’s son, endowed with all auspicious marks. The second son, named Vichitravīrya, was also born; he too possessed every virtue and brought happiness to Śāntanu. The first among them was Ganga’s son, a mighty hero of superior strength; likewise, the two sons born to Satyavatī were exceedingly powerful. Seeing his sons endowed with all auspicious marks, Śāntanu, great of mind, considered himself invincible even among the gods. After some time, Śāntanu, righteous in soul, relinquished his body according to the course of time, just as one casts off worn-out garments. Upon the king’s departure, Bhīṣma performed all the funeral rites and various charitable acts as prescribed. Then he installed the valiant Chitrāngada in the kingdom; but he himself did not assume the throne, and thus Devavrata became known as Bhīṣma. Chitrāngada, son of Satyavatī, pure and powerful, became reckless in his strength and brought suffering to others. Once, that mighty-armed one, surrounded by a great army, roamed the forest, hunting deer and antelopes. There, the Gandharva named Chitrāngada, seeing the king traveling along the path, descended near him in a splendid aerial chariot. There arose a great battle between these two, equal in valor, on the sacred field of Kurukshetra—a battle that raged for three years, O ascetics.