O Lord, beloved of Lakshmi, master of Vraja, and destroyer of all distress—please lift Gokula from the ocean of suffering in which it is submerged! Such was the heartfelt plea that arose in the hearts of the people of Vraja, longing for Krishna’s presence. Śuka continued: Once Krishna’s loving messages reached them, the fever of separation eased in the hearts of the gopīs and the people of Gokula. They honored Uddhava, recognizing in him a manifestation of Krishna Himself. Uddhava remained in Vraja for several months, tenderly dispelling the grief of the gopīs by recounting stories of Krishna’s wondrous pastimes. His words brought delight to all of Gokula. During the days that Uddhava stayed in Nanda’s Vraja, time seemed to pass swiftly for the residents, for their minds were wholly absorbed in news of Krishna. As Uddhava wandered among the rivers, forests, and blossoming trees, he was constantly reminded of Krishna, and his heart overflowed with joy as he served the people of Vraja. He beheld the gopīs, their minds so deeply absorbed in Krishna that they seemed overwhelmed by divine love. Filled with supreme joy, Uddhava bowed to them and spoke with reverence: “These cowherd women are truly the highest among embodied beings on earth. Their love for Govinda resides deep within their hearts. Even sages, who are fearful of rebirth, and we ourselves, long for such devotion. What is the use of being born as Brahma compared to tasting the nectar of Krishna’s stories? “Where are these simple forest-dwelling women, considered fallen by social standards, and where is their supreme love for Krishna, the Paramatma? Yet, even those who are ignorant but worship Him directly receive His blessings, just as a king bestows favor upon his servants. “O friend, such grace of intense love is not found even among the heavenly women, fragrant as lotuses, nor among others; it arose in Vraja at the rasa festival, when Krishna embraced the necks of His beloveds, granting them fulfillment. “Oh, how I wish I could become even a blade of grass, a bush, a creeper, or a humble herb here in Vrindavana, so that I might receive the dust of the feet of those who, abandoning everything so difficult to give up—their own families and the path of virtue—have chosen the path of Mukunda, the very path sought by the Vedas themselves. “Those whose breasts are adorned with the lotus feet of Krishna—the Lord worshipped by Lakshmi and the greatest yogis, and the very goal of the rasa dance—have, by embracing Him, cast off all suffering. “I bow again and again to the dust of the feet of the women of Nanda’s Vraja, whose singing of Hari’s glories purifies all the three worlds.” After some time, Śuka said, Uddhava prepared to depart. He took leave of the gopīs, of mother Yaśodā, of Nanda, and of all the cowherds. Ascending his chariot, he was approached by Nanda and the others, who, with hands full of gifts and eyes brimming with tears, spoke to him with great affection: “May our minds always rest at Krishna’s lotus feet, may our words speak only His names, and may our bodies bow in His service. Though we are tossed about by our actions wherever the Lord’s will may send us, may our devotion to Krishna remain steady through every auspicious act and charity.” Thus honored by the cowherds and filled with their devotion for Krishna, Uddhava returned to Mathurā, protected by Krishna’s grace. Upon his arrival, he bowed to Krishna, his heart overflowing with devotion for the people of Vraja, and he offered gifts to Vasudeva, to Rāma, and to the king. Śuka continued: At this time, the Lord, the Soul of all who sees everything, knew the desire of Sairandhrī, Kubjā, and wished to please her. So Krishna went to her house. Her home was splendidly furnished, enhanced for pleasure, adorned with pearl garlands, banners, canopies, beds, and seats. The air was fragrant with incense, bright with lamps, and decorated with garlands and perfumes. When Krishna entered, Kubjā was flustered. She immediately rose from her seat, approached Him as was proper, and, together with her companions, honored Acyuta with a seat and other offerings. Uddhava, too, was welcomed and, after touching the seat, sat down. Krishna, following worldly custom, quickly entered the splendid bed. Kubjā, having bathed, anointed herself, dressed in fine garments and ornaments, garlanded and perfumed, and having chewed betel, approached Mādhava. Her bashful, sidelong, smiling glances betrayed her excitement. Krishna called His beloved, who was shy and hesitant at their first meeting, her hand adorned with bracelets. Taking her by the hand, He seated her on the bed and enjoyed her company; she was blessed by the merit of having anointed Him. Her heart and body aflame with passion, her eyes longing, Kubjā inhaled the fragrance of His feet, massaged away her pains with them, and, embracing her beloved between her arms and breasts, found in the embodiment of bliss the end of her long suffering. Having attained the Lord of liberation, so hard to attain, she, though considered unfortunate, asked Krishna for a boon as she offered Him sandal paste: “Let my beloved stay here with me for a few days; enjoy with me, O lotus-eyed one, for I cannot bear to be parted from you.” Krishna granted her the boon she desired and, having honored her, the Giver of Honor, along with Uddhava, returned to His own revered abode. One who, by great worship, propitiates Vishnu, the Lord of all lords, and then chooses a boon pleasing only to the mind, if lacking in goodness, is of poor judgment. Thereafter, Krishna, together with Rāma and Uddhava, wishing to accomplish something and desiring to please Akrūra, went to Akrūra’s house. Seeing from a distance those best of men, his own kinsmen, Akrūra rose joyfully, embraced them, and welcomed them with great delight. He bowed to Krishna and Rāma, and they too greeted him warmly. After they had accepted their seats as prescribed, Akrūra worshipped them properly. He held the water for washing their feet upon his head and honored them with divine garments, fragrant garlands, and the finest ornaments. Having worshipped them, bowing his head, and washing their feet with his hands, Akrūra, full of humility, addressed Krishna and Rāma: “By good fortune, wicked Kaṃsa and his followers have been slain, and this family has been rescued from great distress and restored by you both. You two are the Supreme Persons, the causes and the substance of the universe; apart from you, there is nothing higher or lower. This universe, created by yourself, you enter with your own powers and manifest in many ways, O Brahman, perceivable by hearing and direct experience. Just as in all beings, moving and non-moving, various forms appear in wombs such as mine, so you, O Lord, alone, manifest in many ways in beings born from yourself, being self-dependent. “You create, destroy, and protect the universe by your own powers of passion, darkness, and goodness; yet you are not bound by those qualities or actions, for you are the self of knowledge—how could there be any cause of bondage for you? Because your existence is not defined by body or other limiting adjuncts, you are not directly subject to difference; therefore, for you there is neither bondage nor liberation—may there never be confusion about you for us.” Thus, Akrūra poured forth his devotion and understanding at the feet of Krishna and Rāma, recognizing their true divine nature.