On the beautiful banks of the Kālindī, where sacred trees flourished, Keśava, the Lord Himself, delighted in playful pastimes day and night with the cowherd women. Dressed in the simple attire of a cowherd, Hari dwelled there for two months, fully immersed in the sweet joy of their company, bound by the nectar of love that flowed among them. Then, by the grace of Vāsudeva, a wondrous transformation occurred. All who dwelt there—Nanda, the cowherds, the people with their sons and wives, even the cattle, birds, and animals—took on divine forms. They ascended into celestial vehicles and attained the supreme, flawless Vaikuṇṭha world. Having bestowed this highest abode upon the blessed inhabitants of Nandavraja, Kṛṣṇa entered the splendid city of Dvāravatī, where the hosts of gods sang His praises. There, He was daily honored by Vasudeva, Ugrasena, Saṃkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Akrūra, and many others. With His sixteen thousand wives and eight divine queens, bearing the very form of the universe, adorned with celestial jewels, He delighted them in their various homes, resting on beds strewn with flowers. One day, a brāhmaṇa, a childhood friend of both Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, arrived in Dvārakā. He was always afflicted by extreme poverty, his garments gathered by begging for handfuls of rice. Quietly, he stood for a moment at the entrance to Rukmiṇī’s inner chambers. Kṛṣṇa, knowing of his arrival, greeted him warmly with Pradyumna, took his left hand, and seated him on a comfortable seat in another room. As the brāhmaṇa trembled with fear and humility, Kṛṣṇa washed his feet with water from a golden pitcher brought by Rukmiṇī, and honored him with the traditional offerings. After satisfying him with food and drink as sweet as nectar and ambrosia, Kṛṣṇa Himself, smiling, took with His own hand the parched rice that the brāhmaṇa had received by begging and kept in his old garment, and ate it. In that very moment, the brāhmaṇa’s house was filled with great wealth, grain, fine garments, and ornaments. Yet, when Kṛṣṇa dismissed him, the brāhmaṇa thought, “Kṛṣṇa did not give me any garment or wealth,” and returned to his own city. But upon entering his home, he saw it brimming with abundance. Overjoyed, he recognized it as Kṛṣṇa’s grace. With his wife, adorned now with divine garments and ornaments, he enjoyed all his desires, performed many sacrifices to please Hari, and by that grace attained supreme and eternal happiness. In time, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, deprived the sons of Pāṇḍu of their kingdom through the deceit of a rigged dice game, exiling them from his realm. Yudhishthira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, with their noble wife Draupadī, entered the great forest, dwelling there for twelve years, and for one year lived in disguise in the palace of King Virāṭa of Matsya. With Vāsudeva as their ally, they set out to battle the sons of Dhritarashtra. A great and terrible battle was then fought at holy Kurukṣetra, a conflict so fierce it frightened even the gods. There, Śrī Kṛṣṇa served as Arjuna’s charioteer, infusing him with His own divine power. Together, they vanquished all the kings led by Duryodhana, Bhīṣma, and Droṇa, along with their eleven divisions of troops. Having established the Pāṇḍavas in their rightful kingdom and removed the burden from the earth, Kṛṣṇa returned to His own city. After some time, a Vedic brāhmaṇa brought his five-year-old dead son to the king’s gate, lamenting bitterly and reproaching Kṛṣṇa with many words. Though the brāhmaṇa cried that his five sons had been killed before and that, if Kṛṣṇa did not restore his sixth son, he would die at the king’s gate, Kṛṣṇa remained silent. At this moment, Arjuna came to visit Kṛṣṇa and saw the brāhmaṇa’s grief. Moved by compassion, Arjuna assured the brāhmaṇa, promising, “I will bring your son back to life.” The brāhmaṇa, comforted by this promise, became joyful. Arjuna invoked many life-restoring weapons over the child, but life would not return. Having failed in his vow, Arjuna, filled with sorrow, resolved to give up his own life. But Kṛṣṇa, knowing all, emerged from within, comforted the brāhmaṇa, and said, “I will give you all your sons.” After reassuring him, Kṛṣṇa mounted Garuḍa with Arjuna and journeyed to the Vaishnava world. There, in a divine jeweled pavilion, they beheld Nārāyaṇa seated with the goddess. Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna bowed down before Him. Nārāyaṇa embraced them both, asking their purpose. Kṛṣṇa replied, “Lord, give me the sons of the Vedic brāhmaṇa.” Nārāyaṇa then returned to Kṛṣṇa the brāhmaṇa’s sons, all as young as before. Filled with joy, Śrī Kṛṣṇa placed the boys on Garuḍa’s shoulder, mounted with Arjuna, and, praised by the hosts of gods, returned to Dvārakā. There, He gave the six five-year-old sons to the brāhmaṇa, who, overwhelmed with joy, blessed Kṛṣṇa, wishing Him prosperity. Arjuna, his vow fulfilled, bowed to Kṛṣṇa and returned to his city, ruled by Yudhiṣṭhira. From Kṛṣṇa’s sixteen thousand wives, ten thousand sons were born, their sons and grandsons beyond counting. Among them, Pradyumna, the son of Rukmiṇī, was foremost. By these countless Yādavas, the earth became filled once more. Yet, perceiving the burden upon the earth again, Kṛṣṇa resolved to bring about their destruction under the pretext of a sage’s curse. One day, all the young men went to play at the Narmadā river. There, seeing the great sage Kaṇva engaged in austerities, they mischievously made Sāmba, son of Jāmbavatī, appear as a woman by magic, tying an iron club in his belly. Approaching the sage, they bowed and mockingly asked, “Will this one bear a boy or a girl?” The sage, perceiving their intent and angered, declared, “All of you will be destroyed by this very club.” Greatly disturbed, they went to Kṛṣṇa and recounted the sage’s words and their deed. Kṛṣṇa then had the iron club ground to powder and cast into the water.