For twenty-one days, a fierce and prolonged battle raged between Krishna and his adversary. The people of the city, filled with hope and worry, waited anxiously at the entrance of the cave, expecting Krishna to emerge victorious and return to them. However, after twelve days had passed and Krishna had still not reappeared, fear gripped their hearts. Unable to endure the uncertainty any longer, they returned to their homes, heavy with sorrow, and recounted the entire tale from the very beginning. The news spread quickly, and all who heard it were overcome with grief and anger, directing their curses toward Satrājit, whom they blamed for the calamity. When the illustrious Vāsudeva, Krishna’s father, learned of what had befallen his beloved son, he and his family were plunged into overwhelming despair and lost consciousness from the force of their grief. Vāsudeva’s heart was troubled with many thoughts as he pondered how he might recover his son and restore peace to his family. At that moment, the revered sage Nārada arrived from the world of Brahma. Vāsudeva rose respectfully, greeted the sage with deep reverence, and offered him all due honors. After inquiring about Vāsudeva’s well-being, Nārada gently asked the foremost among the Yadus what weighed so heavily on his mind. With a heart full of sorrow, Vāsudeva replied, “My son Krishna, who is dearer to me than life itself, went into the forest with the townspeople to search for Prasena. There, they discovered Prasena slain. When they saw Hari, the slayer of Prasena, lying dead at the cave’s entrance, the people waited outside while Krishna entered the cave alone. Many days have now passed, and my son has not returned. This is the cause of my grief. O sage, tell me by what means I might recover my son.” Nārada spoke with compassion: “O foremost of the Yadus, if you wish to obtain your son, worship the goddess Ambikā. Only by her worship will you immediately attain what is best.” Vāsudeva, eager to learn, asked, “O revered one, who is this goddess, and what is her power? Please tell me, O divine sage, by what method her worship is performed.” Nārada replied, “O illustrious Vasudeva, listen as I briefly recount her greatness. Who could ever fully describe the incomparable glory of the goddess? She is the eternal, blessed one, whose very form is existence, consciousness, and bliss. She is higher than the highest, pervading all the worlds. It is by her worship that Brahmā creates this moving and unmoving universe; by praising her, he was freed from fear of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. By her grace, blessed Viṣṇu sustains the universe, and by her compassionate glance, Rudra brings about its dissolution. She is the cause of both bondage and liberation, the giver of freedom, supreme knowledge, the highest goddess, and ruler of all rulers. “If you worship the World-Mother according to the rite of Navarātra, and listen for nine days to the ancient Bhāgavata of the goddess, you will immediately regain your son. For those who recite or listen to this sacred story, enjoyment and liberation are not far off.” Hearing these words, Vasudeva bowed deeply to Nārada and, full of affection, spoke to the eminent sage: “O revered one, your words have brought back memories of my past. Listen as I recount the origin of the goddess’s greatness in my own life. “Long ago, by the decree of heaven, Kamsa learned that his death would come at the hands of Devaki’s eighth child. Out of fear, he wickedly imprisoned me and my wife. There, in that dark prison, Kamsa cruelly killed each of our sons as soon as they were born. Six sons were thus slain, and Devaki, my noble wife, was overwhelmed with grief, suffering day and night. “In our despair, I summoned the sage Garga. Bowing and honoring him, I revealed Devaki’s sorrow and sought his guidance, longing for a son who would live. I said, ‘O revered one, ocean of compassion, you are the guru of the Yadavas; tell me the means to obtain a long-lived son.’ “Garga, pleased by my devotion, spoke kindly: ‘O Vasudeva, greatly fortunate, listen to the supreme means. Worship the blessed Goddess Durga, who removes the misfortunes of her devotees. By her grace, you will quickly attain prosperity. All people who worship her obtain every desire; nothing is difficult in this world for those who worship Durga.’ “Filled with hope, my wife and I bowed to the sage with utmost devotion and petitioned him: ‘If you, O Lord, ocean of mercy, have affection for me, then please, for my sake, worship Chandika. Imprisoned as I am in Kamsa’s house, I am unable to do anything myself. Therefore, wise one, you alone must rescue me from this ocean of sorrow.’ “Thus addressed, the eminent sage, pleased by my request, replied, ‘O Vasudeva, out of affection for you, I will do what is best.’ “Then, at my urging, sage Garga departed for Mount Vindhya, accompanied by Brahmins, to worship Durga. There, he devoted himself to recitation and prayer, worshipping the World-Mother, who fulfills the wishes of her devotees. When the observance was complete, a celestial voice rang out, saying, ‘I am pleased, O sage; your purpose will be accomplished. For the removal of the earth’s burden, Hari has been sent by me; he will descend, by his own portion, into Devaki, wife of Vasudeva. Out of fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva will take the child and deliver him to Nanda’s house in Gokula. He will bring Yashoda’s daughter to his own house, and Kamsa will attempt to kill her, but she will escape. She will assume a divine form, become the embodiment of intoxication, and accomplish the good of the world on Mount Vindhya.’ “Hearing these words, sage Garga, his mind at peace, bowed to the Mother of the Universe and returned to the city of Mathura.” Thus, Vasudeva recalled the greatness of the goddess and the role she had played in his life, inspired by the wise counsel of Nārada in his present hour of need.