Thus, having received both curse and boon from the great lord of the gods, the assembled sages stood before Brahmā, the creator, and offered him their heartfelt prayers. Brahmā’s words brought satisfaction to all the foremost among the twice-born, calming their minds and hearts. In that gathering, some of the sages declared, “Let us choose the Vedas as our boon,” while others, content with Brahmā’s favor, said, “What need have we for wealth when the Grandfather himself is pleased?” Their aspiration was for peaceful and prosperous worlds to arise through the granting of boons. Yet, for the sake of these boons, contention arose, and some sages even prepared to fight one another. Others, however, remained indifferent, maintaining silence amidst the commotion. The place where all this transpired was the foremost among holy sites, the highest of sacred fields. After this exchange, the chief among the sages decided to take up residence there, recognizing its sanctity. It is said that by merely seeing these sages, one would never behold the realm of Yama, the lord of death; even a slayer of a Brahmin would not see Yama’s world if he beheld them. Into this sacred lineage descended the illustrious ones of the Yadu line, radiant with divine forms and great splendor. These were the heroes who slew the wicked Kaṃsa and the mighty Cāṇūra, and who then installed Ugrasena as king. In the aftermath, someone addressed Krishna, asking, “What should I do for you, now that your son has been killed?” Krishna replied with assurance, “Everything will be accomplished, for nothing is difficult for me.” He was then advised, “Go to Ujjayinī; there you will become accomplished in knowledge.” Thus, Krishna and his companions mastered the Vedas and all codes of conduct, holding their knowledge at the very tip of their tongues. This wondrous feat was accomplished in just sixty-four days and nights. Reflecting on their achievements, their teacher considered Krishna and his brother Balarāma as if the moon and the sun had come together, so brilliant were they. The brahmin, accompanied by his disciples, entered the great Kāla forest, and at that time, Rāma and Keśava—Balarāma and Krishna—also entered with their own followers. Bowing to Mahākāla, the great lord of time, they received his words, addressed to Keśava. Mahākāla, ever the bringer of happiness to both the virtuous and the ignorant, spoke: “All the kings, led by Kaṃsa, have been slain by you two; now, O sinless ones, you must ensure the welfare of the sages, siddhas, gods, and others.” Krishna replied, “I will do that,” and, having offered his respects, departed. Such was the wonder of these events that few could believe the utterly marvelous things that had occurred. As Krishna and Balarāma embraced, a sound arose, echoing their deep bond. There were those present who confessed, “I did not know that these two heroes were born in the Yadu and Vṛṣṇi lineages.” Pleased, Krishna and Rāma together addressed their teacher, saying, “What shall we give you for the sake of our instruction?” The teacher replied, “I desire from you the son who died in the salt ocean. During the pilgrimage at Prabhāsa, you must bring him here.” Setting out on this quest, Krishna encountered the great demon Pañcajana, who had taken the form of a sea creature. Pañcajana spoke to Krishna, but the mighty one slew the demon in his monstrous form. With great ease, Krishna retrieved the boy from the house of Varuṇa, the lord of waters, for the boy had been held there in the form of a sea creature. Believing the boy had gone to the realm of Yama, Krishna then spoke to Varuṇa. Varuṇa recounted how, long ago, proud demons and Dānavas had been slain, and how a magnificent chariot had been entrusted to him by the gods—a chariot upheld by the slayer of enemies. With this unshakable chariot, which had been given by the gods and asuras for victory in war, Krishna could conquer even the lord of death and see the lost boy. Then Hari, Krishna himself, beheld the chariot, splendid and adorned with jewels. It shone with wondrous forms and bore the banner of Garuda, the mighty eagle, signifying its divine origin and power.