Within the city of the body, there are two gates known as Andha and Avamīṣā. They are silent and skillful in their function, and through them, the lord of the body—who possesses the faculty of sight—passes and acts in the world. When he enters the inner chambers, accompanied by Viṣūcī, he is enveloped in delusion, pleasure, or joy that arises from his attachment to his wife and children. Thus, absorbed in ceaseless action, driven by desire, deceived and ignorant, he follows wherever his queen leads him. At times, when she drinks, he too drinks and becomes intoxicated; when she eats, he eats; when she seeks enjoyment, he joins her in pleasure. When she sings, he sings; when she weeps, he weeps; when she laughs, he laughs; and when she speaks, he responds in turn. If she runs, he runs with her; when she stands, he stands; when she lies down, he lies down beside her; and when she sits, he sits with her. When she listens, he listens; when she looks, he looks; when she smells, he smells; and when she touches, he touches as well. If his wife grieves, he grieves with her, sharing her sorrow; and when she rejoices, he rejoices, sharing in her happiness. In this way, deceived by his wife and all her qualities, the ignorant man, even when unwilling, imitates her every mood and action, like a plaything, out of weakness. At this point, Śuka continued: Witnessing such extraordinary deeds performed by Krishna, the cowherds of Vraja were filled with amazement. Unaware of Krishna’s true divine power, they approached Nanda, their leader, recalling the words once spoken by the sage Garga. They said, “These acts of this boy are truly astonishing. How could he be born among us villagers, whose children are generally overlooked? How could this child, only seven days old, effortlessly hold up the mighty mountain with a single hand, as easily as the king of elephants lifts a lotus flower? With his eyes only half-open in childish innocence, he drank the breast milk of the fierce Pūtanā, taking her very life, just as time consumes all beings. As an infant lying beneath a cart, he kicked out with his tiny feet, and the wheel crashed down, overturned by his touch. When he was but a year old, the demon Tṛṇāvarta carried him off through the sky, grasping him by the neck, but this child overcame that great affliction. “Once, when his mother had tied him to a mortar for stealing butter, he crawled between two arjuna trees and caused them to fall with his arms. In the forest, tending calves and surrounded by other boys, he tore apart the jaws of the demon Baka with his bare hands, though Baka sought his life. When a demon disguised as a calf entered among the herd to kill him, Krishna slew him and, with playful ease, knocked down the kapittha fruits. He killed the ass-demon and his powerful companions, making the tāla grove safe and filled with ripe fruit. By his strength, he slew the fierce Pralamba demon and freed the cows and cowherds from a raging forest fire. He subdued the proud serpent king, driving him from the lake and making the waters of the Yamunā pure and free from poison. “All the residents of Vraja are bound to him by an affection that cannot be abandoned. Nanda, how could such innate love arise in us for your son? How can a seven-day-old child perform the feat of holding up a great mountain? O leader of Vraja, these wonders fill us with doubt about your son.” Nanda replied, “Hear my words, O cowherds, and let your doubts be dispelled. Concerning this child, Garga, the wise Yadu sage, once spoke to me. He told me that this illustrious one has assumed three colors in successive ages: white, red, and yellow. Now, he has taken on a dark complexion. In a previous birth, he was born as the son of Vasudeva; now, he is your son. The wise call him Vāsudeva. Your son has many names and forms, each corresponding to his qualities and deeds. I know them, though others may not. “This delight of the cowherds and of Gokula will bring you all prosperity. By him, you will easily overcome all dangers. In ancient times, when the virtuous were oppressed by robbers in a land without a king, he protected them, and together they defeated the bandits. Those fortunate souls who develop affection for him are never overcome by misfortune, just as demons cannot harm those protected by Vishnu. Therefore, this son of Nanda is equal to Nārāyaṇa in qualities, fortune, fame, and influence. There is nothing to wonder at in his actions. Having been directly instructed by Garga, and now with the sage returned to his home, I consider Krishna, who performs such effortless deeds, to be a portion of Nārāyaṇa himself.” Hearing Nanda’s words and Garga’s song, the people of Vraja, having witnessed and heard of Krishna’s immeasurable brilliance, honored Nanda and Krishna with joyful hearts, free from astonishment. When Indra, angered by the disruption of his sacrifice, sent torrents of rain, hail, and wind, the cowherds and their cattle were distressed. But seeing Krishna, their only refuge, smiling with compassion, he uprooted the mountain with a single hand, as a child lifts a toy, and held it aloft, sheltering the entire cowherd community. Thus, Indra, proud of his power, was not pleased with the cows. Thus concludes the twenty-sixth chapter of the first part of the tenth book in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the great Purāṇa and scripture of the supreme renunciates. The saints, unattached and absorbed in Me, are peaceful, seeing all equally, free from possessiveness and ego, undisturbed by the dualities of life, and without greed. Among them, O fortunate one, my stories are always cherished and arise in the most blessed gatherings; these stories purify those who cherish them, removing all sin. Those who listen, sing, or approve of these tales with respect, who are devoted to Me and faithful, attain unwavering devotion. For the saint who has attained such devotion, what else remains to be achieved? For he experiences bliss in Me, the infinite, the very embodiment of Brahman and joy. Just as one who approaches a blazing fire dispels cold, fear, and darkness, so too does one who associates with the saints find all suffering and ignorance dispelled.