Upon witnessing the extraordinary liberation of King Parīkṣit, even Brahmā, the creator himself, was struck with astonishment. In Satyaloka, the unborn Lord carefully weighed the means of liberation, as if balancing the scales of destiny. Among all the sacred works that had arisen, this account stood out for its profound gravity; the rest seemed minor in comparison. All the assembled sages, recognizing its greatness, were filled with the highest wonder. They came to regard the Bhāgavata Purāṇa itself as the very embodiment of the Supreme Lord. Especially in this age of Kali, they understood that simply by reading or hearing this scripture, one could immediately attain the supreme fruit of Vaikuṇṭha. Indeed, this scripture, when heard over the course of just seven days, bestows liberation in every respect. Long ago, the compassionate Sanaka and his brothers had shared this wisdom with Nārada. Although Nārada, due to his connection with Brahman, had already received this knowledge from the divine sage, the specific method of hearing it within seven days was explained to him by the Kumāras. At this point, Śaunaka, the chief among the sages, inquired, "How could Nārada, who is free from worldly ties and ever-wandering, feel any affection or form a connection with those present at the ritual?" Sūta replied, "I shall recount to you the sacred narrative, filled with devotion, which Śuka revealed to me in secret, accepting me as his disciple. Once, in the holy city of Viśālā, four pure-hearted sages gathered for the sake of spiritual association. There, they encountered Nārada." The Kumāras, seeing Nārada, addressed him gently, "O Brāhmaṇa, why does your face appear downcast, and why are you troubled in mind? Where are you hastening to, and from where have you come? You seem empty-hearted, as if you have lost your wealth, appearing like an ordinary man. This is not fitting for one so free from attachment. Tell us, what is the cause of your distress?" Nārada replied, "I have traveled the earth, considering it to be the highest, visiting the sacred places of Puṣkara, Prayāga, Kāśī, and the Godāvarī. I wandered among other holy sites—Harikṣetra, Kurukṣetra, Śrīraṅga, Setubandha, and many more—moving from one place to another. Yet nowhere did I find the happiness that truly satisfies the mind. The earth is now afflicted by Kali, the friend of unrighteousness. "Truth, austerity, purity, compassion, and charity have all but vanished. People live only to fill their bellies and speak deceitfully. They are dull-witted, of poor understanding, unfortunate, and afflicted. The truly good are few, and even those are absorbed in hypocrisy. Even renunciants now maintain households. Young women rule the home, brothers-in-law give counsel, daughters are sold out of greed, and discord arises between husband and wife. "Foreigners obstruct the āśramas and holy rivers, and many temples of the gods have been destroyed by the wicked. There are no true yogīs, no accomplished souls, no wise men, nor persons of good conduct. In the wildfire of Kali, all spiritual practices have been reduced to ashes. Villages are plagued by bandits, the twice-born are struck by the trident of Śiva, and women, their hair disheveled, become lustful in this age of Kali. "Seeing all these faults of the age, I wandered the earth and eventually came to the bank of the Yamunā, the place of the Lord's divine pastimes. There, I beheld a marvelous sight—please listen, O great sages. I saw a young woman, her mind weary and distressed, sitting alone. Beside her lay two elderly men, collapsed and barely breathing, unconscious. She was tending to them, trying to rouse them, and weeping before them. "She looked in all ten directions, searching for a protector, while her own form was being fanned by hundreds of women who also tried to awaken her. Seeing this from a distance, I approached out of curiosity. When she noticed me, the young woman rose, agitated, and spoke to me: "'O holy one, please stay a moment and dispel my anxiety. The very sight of you destroys the sins of the world. By your many words, relief from suffering will come. Only by great fortune can one meet such a sage as you.' "I asked her, 'Who are you? Who are these two with you, and who are these lotus-eyed women? Tell me in detail, O goddess, the cause of your distress.' "The young woman replied, 'I am known as Bhakti—Devotion. These two are my sons, Jñāna (Knowledge) and Vairāgya (Renunciation), now aged and worn by the influence of time. These women, headed by Gaṅgā, have come here remembering me, to serve me. Even the gods have served me, yet I have not found true welfare. "'Now, please listen, O sage rich in austerity, to my story. Though it is well known, hearing it will bring you happiness. I was born in Drāviḍa, grew up in Karṇāṭaka, and in some places in Mahārāṣṭra and Gurjara, I became aged. There, due to the terrible influence of Kali, I was attacked by heretics and became weak; for a long time, I remained feeble along with my sons. "'But having reached Vṛndāvana again, I became youthful and beautiful, a young woman in her prime, now possessing the best form. Yet here my two sons lie exhausted from fatigue. I am about to leave this place and go elsewhere. They have become old, and this sorrow pains me. Though I am young, why are my sons so aged? How has this reversal come about, when the three of us have always been together? Normally, the mother ages and the sons remain young. "'Therefore, I grieve for myself, my mind full of wonder. Please, O treasure of yoga, O wise one, tell me—what could be the cause?' "I replied to her, 'By knowledge, O sinless one, I perceive all this within the Self. You should not be despondent, for Lord Hari will surely bring you auspiciousness.' "Sūta continued, 'Understanding his words instantly, the great sage Nārada then spoke further.' "Nārada said: 'Listen carefully, child. The combination of this yoga and the fierce age of Kali has caused the disappearance of good conduct, the path of yoga, and austerities.'" Thus, the sages listened with rapt attention as the story of Bhakti, Jñāna, and Vairāgya unfolded, revealing the plight of devotion in the age of Kali and the hope that comes through the grace of the Lord and the wisdom of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.