Shri Shuka said: At the door, the sage of the Kurus, Maitrey, seated in deep wisdom, approached and asked, having purified his heart.

Vidura said: The world performs actions for happiness, yet it does not find happiness or relief. It finds only greater sorrow, as the Lord speaks.

For the person turned away from Krishna, who is devoid of dharma, and is very unhappy, surely the beings will wander for the grace of Janardana.

The Supreme Lord, who is situated in the hearts of all beings, bestows knowledge upon the pure devotees, guiding them on the path of righteousness.

The Lord, who has descended in various forms, performs actions according to the principles of the self, establishing the order of the universe.

Just as a person rests in a cave after investing their wealth, the supreme yogi, the Lord, enters the creation in many forms.

The Lord engages in playful activities for the welfare of the Brahmanas and the gods, while the mind remains unsatisfied even when hearing the nectar of His glorious deeds.

By the distinctions of reality, the Lord of the worlds, who is the protector of all beings, manifests in various forms, ensuring the diversity of all entities.

By whom the divisions of self-action are established among the people, O best of the Brahmanas, describe that Narayana, the source of the universe.

The vows of the Lord, as heard from the mouth of Vyasa, are never satiating to those who are afflicted by minor pleasures; without them, the nectar of Krishna's stories is overwhelming.

Who can purify the place of pilgrimage, which is praised by the wise, and which cuts off the bondage of worldly existence for those who have gone there?

The sage, desiring to speak of the Lord's qualities, also addressed you, O Bharata, saying that in which the minds of men are absorbed in the mundane pleasures of the village, is it not in the stories of Hari?

For one who is devoted and remembers the feet of Hari, the growing detachment quickly removes all suffering.

Those who are ignorant do not lament for the Lord's stories, even when they are detached. The deity, who is unblinking, destroys the false memories of those who are misguided.

Thus, O Lord, grant the essence of Your stories, which are like a refuge for the distressed, to the one who is seeking shelter in the tales of the Lord.

The Lord, who has taken an incarnation for the purpose of universal creation and control, performed extraordinary deeds that are to be glorified by me.

Shukadeva said: Thus questioned, the Lord, who is the sage of the Kshatriyas, spoke to him, honoring him with the highest knowledge for the benefit of mankind.

Maitreya said: O saint, you have rightly asked about the worlds, as you are protecting them. By spreading the glory of the Lord, you elevate your own self.

This is not surprising, for you are the one who has captured the Lord Hari, the Supreme Being, with unwavering devotion.

From the curse of Mandavya, the Lord of Death was born, who controls the minds of the people, from the son of Satyavati, in the field of his brother.

You are always in agreement with the Lord, who is the source of all knowledge and who has instructed me.

Now I will describe the divine pastimes of the Lord, who is the essence of the universe, in order.

The Lord, who is the supreme soul, is the one who follows the desires of the soul, and he is characterized by various attributes.

Then, he who sees did not see the visible one. He thought of himself as the eternal, like a sleeping power with a dormant vision.

This is the power of the seer, which is both existence and non-existence. It is called Maya, the great fortune, by which the infinite created this.

By the course of time, the Lord, who is beyond the senses, endowed with qualities, manifests through the person who is the essence of the self.

Then, the great truth arose from the unmanifest, prompted by time. The consciousness, residing in the body of the self, manifested the universe, dispelling darkness.

He, too, endowed with the qualities of the part, is perceivable by the divine vision. The self revealed itself for the sake of this universe.

From the great principle, the sense of 'I' arose, which is the essence of action, cause, and doer, composed of the elements, senses, mind.

The sense of 'I' is threefold: the gross, the subtle, and the tamasic. From the great principle, the mind is of the gross type. The deities of the gross are those that express meaning.

The subtle elements of the fiery and sensory nature are born from the knowledge and actions. From the tamasic, the subtle elements arise, from which the sky and the essence of the self emerge.

By the union of time and illusion, the sky is perceived as the divine. The touch that follows the sky creates the wind.

Even the wind, while creating, is endowed with the strength of the sky. It produced the essence of form, the light of the world.

The light, accompanied by the wind, creates a form that is perceived by the supreme. It brings forth the essence of water, in accordance with the nature of time.

The light of the waters, when combined, creates a form that is perceived by Brahman. It brings forth the qualities of the earth in accordance with the nature of time.

Whatever is magnificent or ordinary among the beings and the heavens, they know the qualities by their association with the supreme.

These deities are the manifestations of Vishnu, in the form of time and the divine. They express their various powers, bowing down to the supreme.

The gods said: We bow to you, O lotus feet of the divine, the refuge that alleviates the suffering of the surrendered. Those who are rooted in you, they cast away the sorrows of worldly existence.

In this world, O Lord, the living beings afflicted by the threefold miseries do not find peace. They attain the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are the abode of knowledge.

The sages, who are detached and have realized the essence of the scriptures, seek the path that leads to Your lotus feet, which are the refuge of the holy rivers.

With faith and devotion, when the heart is cleansed, the wise, endowed with knowledge and renunciation, will attain Your lotus feet.

For the purpose of the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe, we seek refuge at Your lotus feet, which grant fearlessness to those who remember You.

In the house of the body, where the attachment of 'I' and 'mine' exists, we shall worship Your lotus feet, even if we are far away from the city of men.

Those who are endowed with untainted qualities, who have the mind focused on the Supreme, do not see the great Lord, who is the essence of all, as they are engaged in the play of the divine.

Through the nectar of the divine stories, they attain clarity of heart with great devotion. By realizing the essence of renunciation, they gain knowledge and remain steadfast.

Others, through the practice of self-meditation, conquer the strong nature. The wise enter into You; their toil is not in service to You.

We are those who, desiring the welfare of the world, are entrusted by You with the threefold self. All are detached from their own ways; they cannot resist You.

As long as we do not take away Your strength, we too shall not partake of food. Indeed, these worlds take away strength while consuming food.

You are the original person, the eternal one, the supreme being of the gods and the source of all qualities and actions. You are the unborn, the wise one, who is the essence of creation.

Therefore, we, who are devoted to the truth, ask you, what should we do for you? You, who are our inner eye, bestow your grace upon us for the purpose of divine action.