Whoever, with devotion, recites or listens to the Bhāgavata of the Goddess is blessed with dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa—the four great aims of life. Simply by hearing this sacred text, even Vasudeva, who had once gone searching for Prasena, was able to find his beloved son Kṛṣṇa, who had been lost for a long time, and his heart was filled with joy. Indeed, those who listen with true devotion to the story of the Divine Mother, or who recite it with faith, attain both worldly enjoyment and liberation. The childless are granted children, the poor become wealthy, and the sick are freed from illness by drinking the nectar of the Bhāgavata. For a woman who is barren, who has only daughters, or whose child has died, hearing the Devī Bhāgavata bestows the blessing of a long-lived son. Wherever the Śrī Bhāgavata is worshipped daily in a household, that place becomes holy and purifies the sins of its inhabitants. Whoever, filled with devotion, recites or listens to this text on the eighth, fourteenth, or ninth day of the lunar month attains the highest perfection. A brāhmaṇa who recites it becomes foremost among the knowers of the Veda; a kṣatriya is born as a ruler; a vaiśya gains abundant wealth, and even a śūdra, by listening, excels in his own duties. Now begins the second chapter. The sages gathered and asked, “How did the illustrious Vasudeva regain his son? Where did Prasena go with Kṛṣṇa, and how was he sought? By what means, and for what reason, did Vasudeva hear the Devī Bhāgavata? O wise Sūta, tell us this story.” Sūta replied: Satrājit, of the Bhoja lineage, lived happily in Dvāravatī and was a devoted worshipper of the Sun, a supreme devotee and friend. In time, the Sun, pleased by Satrājit’s devotion and affection, revealed his own radiant world to him. As a mark of favor, the Sun Lord gifted Satrājit the Syamantaka jewel. Wearing this brilliant gem around his neck, Satrājit returned to Dvārakā. When the people of the city saw Satrājit, his radiance was so dazzling that they mistook him for the Sun himself. They hurried to Kṛṣṇa, who was seated in the Sudharmā hall, and exclaimed, “Here comes the Sun, wishing to see you, O Lord of the world!” Hearing this, Kṛṣṇa smiled and said in the assembly, “O children, this is not the Sun shining; it is Satrājit, radiant with the Syamantaka jewel, which the luminous Bhāsvat has given him.” Satrājit, summoning the Brahmins with auspicious recitations, respectfully welcomed them and brought the jewel into his home. Wherever that jewel resides, there is no disease, no famine, nor any fear of calamity; it constantly produces eight measures of gold every day. One day, Satrājit’s brother, Prasena, tied the jewel around his neck, mounted his Sindhu horse, and rode out into the forest to hunt. There, the king of beasts—the lion—attacked, killing both Prasena and his horse, and seized the jewel. Soon after, Jāmbavān, the mighty king of bears, saw the lion carrying the jewel. At the entrance to a cave, Jāmbavān killed the lion and took the Syamantaka for himself. He gave the radiant gem to his own son to play with, and the child began to enjoy the jewel. When Prasena did not return, Satrājit was deeply troubled. He thought, “I do not know who killed Prasena, desiring the jewel.” Rumors began to spread throughout the city: “Prasena was surely killed by Krishna, who coveted the jewel.” Krishna heard these rumors, and his reputation was stained by suspicion. To clear his name, he set out with the citizens, tracing the path Prasena had taken. Entering the forest, Krishna found Prasena slain by a lion. Following a trail marked with drops of blood, he tracked the beast to the entrance of a cave, where he found the lion itself dead. Moved with compassion, Krishna addressed the townspeople, saying, “Remain here until I return; I will enter this cave to recover the jewel from its thief.” The citizens of Dvārakā agreed and stayed at the cave’s entrance, while Krishna entered the cave, which was Jāmbavān’s dwelling. Inside, Krishna saw the bear prince holding the jewel. As Krishna moved to take it, the nurse, frightened, cried out. Hearing her cry, Jāmbavān, the king of bears, rushed in and engaged Krishna in battle. For twenty-one days, the two mighty beings fought without rest. The citizens waited faithfully at the entrance, hoping for Krishna’s return. After twelve days, however, fear overcame them, and they returned to their homes, recounting the entire story from the beginning. All of them, overwhelmed with grief, cursed Satrājit for the calamity. When the illustrious Vāsudeva heard what had happened to his son, he and his family were plunged into sorrow and lost consciousness from grief. He pondered deeply, seeking a way to recover his beloved son. At that moment, the revered sage Nārada arrived from the world of Brahma. Vasudeva rose, bowed, and honored the sage. After inquiring about Vasudeva’s well-being, Nārada asked, “What weighs on your mind? Tell me.” Vasudeva replied, “My son Kṛṣṇa, dearest to me, went with the townspeople into the forest to search for Prasena, whom he found slain. The people saw Hari, the killer of Prasena, dead at the cave entrance, while my son entered within. Many days have passed, and he has not returned. I am consumed by grief. O sage, tell me by what means I may recover my son.” Nārada replied, “O foremost of the Yadus, to regain your son, worship the goddess Ambikā. By her worship alone, you will immediately attain what is best.