Having effortlessly conquered mighty Indra and vanquished the formidable demon Bāṇa, the supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, endowed with perfect wisdom, resolved that his task was complete and decided to return to his own divine abode. The eternal one, his mission fulfilled, made his way back to the city of Dvārakā, so that he might be seen there once more. There, Nārāyaṇa sat upon the honored seats alongside the wise Rāma. With all deeds accomplished, he spoke words of satisfaction, addressing the best of sages, urging them to be pleased. Yet he also spoke of the coming age: “In this time, all people will indeed be drawn toward sin. But by these actions, the best among the twice-born will be freed from the sins brought on by Kali. Let the sins of those devoted to the Supreme Person be destroyed. Through the procedures prescribed in the Vedas, they shall reach the supreme state. Even in the age of Kali, devotion to Nārāyaṇa will flourish among the faithful. “However, those who bear hatred toward Maheśvara shall not attain that state. Those who revile Pinākin will quickly meet their end. Anyone who slanders the god Īśāna is destined for countless hells—whether by deed, mind, or speech, even if such actions are undertaken with effort against his devotees. In the Kali age, devotees should carefully avoid such people. Cursed by Gautama upon this earth, they are not to be spoken to by the best of the twice-born.” Having thus spoken, the excellent ones, uttering the sacred syllable ‘Om’, swiftly departed to their own abodes. Nārāyaṇa, having withdrawn his entire lineage, ascended to that supreme state beyond. “It is not possible to describe it in detail,” the narrator says. “What more do you wish to hear? Freed from all sins, one is honored in the world of heaven.” At this point, the sages Sūta and others are addressed, and they are asked to briefly describe the nature of these events. Meanwhile, Pārtha—Arjuna himself, the supremely righteous Pāṇḍava and conqueror of foes—caught sight of the sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana walking along the path. At once, Arjuna fell to the ground in deep prostration, casting away his sorrow, and respectfully asked, “O lord, where are you going in such haste, and to what place? Please tell me what task is mine, O lotus-eyed one.” The sage, surrounded by his disciples, sat down by the riverbank and replied, “I am going now to the great city of Vārāṇasī, the abode of the god. There, great sinners will arise, lacking both caste and stage of life. In the age of Kali, expiation is the only remedy for all sins. Yet even then, there will be great souls—righteous and speakers of truth. If today you uphold your own supreme duty, you will be freed from fear.” Having bowed down, Arjuna inquired of the best among the twice-born about the duties prescribed for the different ages. He also bowed to the god Īśāna, asking about the eternal duties of the yugas. The sage replied, “O Pārtha, I cannot speak of it to you in full detail. The third age is called Dvāpara, and the fourth is Kali. In the Dvāpara age, sacrifice alone is declared as the path; in the Kali age, it is charity alone. In Dvāpara, the deity is Vishnu; in Kali, it is Rudra, the great lord. Yet the blessed Rudra, bearer of the Pinaka bow, is worshipped in all four ages. In the Tishya age, when three quarters are lacking, existence remains only in its essence.