Narada told King Bahulashva about a test in Vraja. The cowherds had spoken to Vrishabhanu. They praised the wealth of his household. They spoke of elephants and horses. They mentioned chariots and splendid homes. His cows and jewels seemed beyond counting. They compared his riches with Nanda's. Nanda was a farmer and keeper of cows. They asked for a test of Nanda's son. Was Krishna truly the supreme Hari?
Vrishabhanu heard their proposal. He arranged a gift of pearl necklaces. The pearls were large and brilliant. The necklaces were placed in vessels. Experienced messengers carried them to Nanda. They entered his assembly and bowed. They spoke of Radha as a prospective bride. They spoke of Krishna as the chosen bridegroom. They offered the pearls for him. A corresponding gift for the bride was customary.
Nanda looked at the precious offering. He took it inside to consult Yashoda. They considered it for a long time. Their household held nothing of equal value. Nanda feared becoming an object of ridicule. How could he answer such a gift? He wondered what to do about the marriage gifts. Meanwhile Krishna arrived unnoticed. He took a hundred of the necklaces. He carried them outside into the fields.
Krishna scattered the pearls with His own hand. One by one, He cast them over the soil. He sowed them as a farmer sows grain. Then Nanda counted the necklaces again. A hundred were missing. His worry increased. He wondered whether Krishna had taken them to play. Perhaps Balarama had taken them instead. Nanda decided to ask the boys. He approached Krishna with his question.
Krishna laughed as He answered His father. He reminded him that they were farming cowherds. They knew how to make seeds grow. He had scattered pearl seeds in the field. Nanda reproved his son. He went with Krishna to recover the pearls. In the fields he saw hundreds of trees. They stood tall, covered in green shoots. Clusters of pearls hung from their branches. The text compares their brightness to stars.
Nanda was filled with joy. He recognized Krishna as the Supreme Lord. He gathered the divine pearls. They matched the large pearls of the original gift. He loaded great quantities onto carts. He gave them to Vrishabhanu's messengers. The messengers took the pearls back. Before everyone, they described Nanda's abundance. The cowherds heard their report in wonder. Their doubts about Nanda's son fell away.
They recognized Him as Hari and bowed to Vrishabhanu. Radha was known as Hari's beloved. Hari was known as Radha's beloved. Narada also named the place of the miracle. Where Krishna had scattered the pearls, Mukta-sarovara became a sacred place. The chapter praises giving even one pearl there. It speaks of the fruit of giving a hundred thousand. Narada brought this account to its close. He asked the king what he wished to hear next.