Shaunaka asked: When Narada had departed, what did the Lord Badarayana, who was aware of his intention, do next?

Soot spoke: On the western bank of the Sarasvati river, there is an ashram called Shamyapras, which is known as the enhancer of the sages.

In that hermitage, Vyasa, seated in the Badarika forest, focused his mind and contemplated.

By the practice of devotional yoga, his mind was perfectly purified, and he saw the primordial person and the illusion that depended on Him.

By which, being deluded, the soul considers itself to be of the three gunas, and even the supreme being suffers from the consequences of that.

The wise, knowing that the remedy for all miseries is directly the devotional yoga of the imperishable, compiled the Satvata Samhita for the ignorant world.

In which, when heard, devotion to Krishna, the Supreme Person, arises in men, dispelling grief, illusion, and fear.

The sage, having composed the Bhagavata Purana and having instructed his son Shuka, engaged in the practice of renunciation.

Shaunaka said: The sage, who is devoted to renunciation and indifferent to everything, who was he that practiced this great knowledge?

Soot said: The sages who are self-satisfied, even though they are free from all attachments, engage in unmotivated devotion to the Lord, who possesses such qualities.

The qualities of the Lord, who is dear to the devotees, are sung by the sage Badarayana, who is absorbed in the great narratives.

Then, King Parikshit, having heard about the birth and deeds of the Pandavas, I will narrate the rise of the Krishna-katha.

When the Kauravas, fierce in battle, fell, the son of Dhritarashtra, struck by Bhima's mace, was left in a state of despair.

Seeing the beloved son of Drona, the Krishna's sons, offering their heads, they condemned the detestable act of Drona.

Hearing the dreadful news of her sons' demise, the mother, weeping profusely, was consoled by the crown-wearing one.

Then, O auspicious one, I shall wipe away the blood of the Brahmin killer, as you will bathe in the arrows released from the Gandiva bow.

Thus, the son of Acyuta, consoled by the charming and varied words, swiftly approached the fierce archer, the son of the guru, in his chariot.

Seeing him approaching from afar, the young prince, troubled in mind, quickly drove the chariot, as the sun does when it fears Rudra.

The son of the Brahmana, seeing the exhausted horse, took the weapon, which is the refuge of the self, for the protection of the soul.

Then, having touched the water, he concentrated and prepared, not knowing the end of the life force that was present.

Then, the intense light that was created spread in all directions, and looking towards Vishnu, Jishnu spoke.

Arjuna said: O Krishna, O great fortune, you are the sole refuge for those who are tormented in this cycle of existence.

You are the original person, the supreme Lord, beyond nature, having transcended illusion, residing in the state of liberation.

He alone, in the world of living beings, bewilders the minds of the deluded, establishing the qualities of righteousness and virtue by His own power.

Thus, this incarnation of Yours is for the sake of removing the burden of the earth and for the meditation of those who are devoted to You.

What is this? From where does it come? O Lord of Lords, I do not know. The light that comes from all sides is extremely fierce.

The Supreme Lord said: You know this, O son of Drona, the Brahmin weapon that has been shown. He does not know the destruction of the Vedas when life is threatened.

Indeed, there is no weapon that can counter the weapon of the one who is endowed with the power of weapons.

Soot said: Hearing this from the Lord, Arjuna, the slayer of enemies, circumambulated the water and approached the Brahmana.

With their energies combined, both sides, enveloped by arrows, expanded the sky and the atmosphere like the sun and fire.

Seeing the weapon's power, it burned the three worlds, and all creatures, being scorched, sought refuge in the great void.

Observing the calamity of the people and the disturbance in the world, Arjuna took both of these matters into consideration as advised by Vasudeva.

Having approached with great speed, the fierce Tamraksha bound the beast with a rope, just as one would.

The Lord with lotus-like eyes, angered, spoke to Arjuna, having forcibly bound the enemy for the camp.

O Partha, kill this Brahmin relative who is asleep and has not been killed at night by the serpent.

One who is intoxicated, mad, asleep, a child, a woman, or dull-witted, does not kill an enemy, according to the knower of dharma.

He who harms others for his own gain, being devoid of compassion, is indeed deserving of death, as a man who falls into sin.

O honorable one, I shall bring the head of that Panchala who listens to me, the one who has killed your son.

Thus, he was to be killed, the sinful aggressor who binds his own kin, and the hero who has committed an unworthy act against his lord.

Thus, when Partha was tested in righteousness, urged by Krishna, he did not wish to kill the son of his teacher, even though he was a great self-killer.

Then, approaching his own camp, the beloved charioteer of Govinda informed him about the lamenting relatives of those who were slain.

Thus, seeing the son of the guru, bound like an animal and facing down, engaged in a distasteful act, Krishna, of gentle nature, did not bow down.

The virtuous one spoke: 'Let this Brahmana be freed from his bonds. Let him be liberated, for he is indeed a great teacher.'

The secret knowledge of archery, with its complete control over weapons, is imparted to you by the grace of the teacher.

This Lord Drona exists in the form of all beings. His half is not different from the wife of the valiant Kṛpa.

O learned and great soul, your family does not deserve to face misfortune, which is always to be honored and revered by you.

Do not weep, O mother Gautami, for your husband is the deity. As I am like a dead one, I weep with a face full of tears.

Those who, being angry, burn the family of Brahmins, O King, that family is soon destroyed, along with its connections, like a well-cooked dish.

Soot said: The words of the king, the son of Dharma, are righteous, just, compassionate, unblemished, and equal to the great ones.

Nakula, Sahadeva, Yuyudhana, and Dhananjaya, along with the Lord, the son of Devaki, and others, including the women.

There, Bhima, enraged, remembered that the killing of him is better; neither for the husband nor for oneself is it worthwhile to kill sleeping children in vain.

Hearing Bhima's words, the four-armed one, seeing the face of Draupadi, said this while smiling.

Lord Krishna said: A Brahmin should not be killed; an aggressor is worthy of death. This is the instruction that I have imparted.

O Kuru, the promise made is true; it is for the sake of peace that I speak this, both for Bhimasena and for the Panchali and for myself.

Releasing from the bondage of the rope, the child who was struck down, bereft of brilliance, was sent to the netherworld by the jewel.

The Soot said: Arjuna, upon suddenly receiving the command of Hari, with his sword, took the jewel from the head of the twice-born.

The act of sweeping, the giving of wealth, and the removal of obstacles from a place—these are indeed the means of killing the bonds of Brahman. There is no other physical means.

All the Pandavas, afflicted by the grief of losing their sons, performed their duties, including the act of liberation.