One day in Gokula, a dreadful panic swept through the settlement. The cause was a monstrous bull-demon named Ariṣṭa, whose sharp horns and terrifying presence struck fear into the hearts of the cowherd men and women. Even the cattle, usually so calm, were seized with terror and fled the village, leaving Gokula abandoned and echoing with distress. In their fear, all the people cried out as one, "Krishna! Krishna!" Seeking safety, they took refuge in Govinda, their beloved protector. Krishna, seeing the entire settlement gripped by fear, took notice of the chaos and their desperate calls. With a gentle voice, Krishna comforted the trembling cowherds and cattle, assuring them, "Do not be afraid." Then, turning his attention to the bull-demon, he called out, "What is this, O worst of creatures?" The people, still fearful, watched as Krishna confronted their tormentor. To provoke Ariṣṭa, Krishna struck the ground with his palm, the sound resounding through the air. He declared, "I am the destroyer of the pride of the wicked, like you, O evil-minded one." Standing tall, his arm resting over his friend's shoulder, Krishna waited calmly for the demon's attack. Ariṣṭa, enraged, scraped the earth with his hoof, his tail swirling like a storm cloud. With his sharp horns lowered, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Krishna, he charged furiously, casting a sidelong glare like a thunderbolt hurled by Indra himself. But Krishna met the charge with divine strength. He seized Ariṣṭa by the horns, stepped back eighteen paces, and dragged the bull-demon away, just as a mighty elephant might pull back another in battle. Thrown aside, Ariṣṭa quickly regained his footing. His body drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and overcome by wrath, he charged Krishna once more. This time, as Ariṣṭa rushed forward, Krishna caught him again by the horns, pressed him down with his foot, and flung him to the ground. With the demon helpless, Krishna squeezed him as one wrings out wet clothes, then struck him with a horn. Ariṣṭa collapsed, vomiting blood, releasing urine and feces, his legs flailing and his eyes rolling. Suffering terribly, he met his end at the hands of Nirṛti, the lord of destruction. In that moment, the gods themselves showered Krishna with flowers and sang his praises. Having slain the bull-demon Kukudmin in this way, Krishna, honored by the twice-born sages, returned to the cowherd settlement with Balarama. Their arrival was a festival for the eyes of the gopīs, who beheld the two brothers with joy. News of Ariṣṭa's death, accomplished by Krishna's wondrous deeds, soon reached the divine sage Nārada, who sees all realms. Nārada went at once to inform Kaṃsa, the king of the Bhojas. He revealed to Kaṃsa that the daughter of Yaśodā, the boy Krishna of Devakī, and Rāma, son of Rohiṇī, had all been entrusted by the fearful Vasudeva. Vasudeva, he explained, had placed Krishna and Balarama under the care of his friend Nanda, and it was these two boys who had slain Kaṃsa's agents. Hearing this, Kaṃsa was seized with rage. His senses agitated, he took up a sharp sword, intent on killing Vasudeva. But Nārada restrained him, revealing that Krishna and Balarama were destined to be his death. Realizing the gravity of this, Kaṃsa ordered Vasudeva and his wife to be bound in iron chains. When the divine sage departed, Kaṃsa summoned Keśin, another fearsome demon, and spoke to him. He commanded, "Go and kill Rāma and Keśava. Afterward, send Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośala, and others." Kaṃsa then called together his ministers and elephant-keepers, telling them, "Listen, all of you: these are the mighty wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika. In Nanda's cowherd village reside the two sons of Ānakadundubhi, Rāma and Krishna. My death has been foretold at their hands." He instructed the wrestlers, "You two must kill them here in a wrestling match. Let various platforms be prepared, surrounded by the wrestling arena, so that all the citizens and country folk may witness their combat. Chief minister, have the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa brought to the gate of the arena; let him kill my enemies there. Let the bow-sacrifice be commenced on the fourteenth day, according to the prescribed rites; let pure animals be brought for offering to the Lord of beings, the bestower of blessings." After these instructions, Kaṃsa summoned Akrura, the foremost among the Yadus, took his hand, and spoke with urgency. "O generous lord, please, out of respect, establish friendship with me; among the Bhojas and Vrishnis, there is no one more well-wishing than you. Therefore, gentle one, I have taken refuge in you, as you are capable of accomplishing important tasks, just as Indra, relying on Vishnu, attained his own purpose." He continued, "Go to Nanda's Vraja; there, the two sons of Anakadundubhi are staying. Bring them here at once in this chariot. It is said that my death has been sent by the gods who dwell in Vaikuntha; bring those two here together with the cowherds, led by Nanda, along with their gifts. When they have been brought here, I will have them killed by the elephant, who is like death itself; if they escape, then I will have them slain by wrestlers, fierce as lightning. When those two have been killed, I will destroy Vasudeva and the others who are tormented, and I will slay their relatives—the Vrishnis, Bhojas, and Dasharhas. I will also kill Ugrasena, my aged father who desires the throne, his brother Devaka, and all others who are hostile to me. Then, my friend, this earth will be free of thorns; Jarasandha is my mentor, Dvivida my dear companion and friend. Shambara, Naraka, and Bana are devoted to me in friendship; with them, I will destroy the kings allied with the gods, and enjoy the earth. Knowing this, quickly bring Rama and Krishna, who delight in play, to witness the bow-sacrifice and to see the splendor of the Yadu city." Akrura replied humbly, "O King, your command is proper, and the removal of your enemies is your own duty; success or failure depends equally on destiny, for destiny is the cause of results. People strive greatly for their desires, even when hindered by fate; they are subject to both joy and sorrow. Nevertheless, I will carry out your order." Having thus instructed Akrura and dismissed his ministers, Kaṃsa entered his palace, while Akrura returned to his own house. Meanwhile, Keśin, the mighty horse-demon sent by Kaṃsa, arrived. As swift as the mind, he thundered across the earth, his hooves shaking the ground, his mane tossing the sky, and his neighing so fierce that all who heard it were filled with terror. With wide, glaring eyes, a monstrous mouth, and a massive neck, dark as a raincloud, Keśin harbored evil intent and sought to aid Kaṃsa. He entered Nanda's Vraja, making it tremble with his presence. Keśin's dreadful neighing and the clouds swirling from his tail frightened Krishna's own cowherd village. But Krishna, the leader of the cowherds, called out to the demon, his voice roaring like a lion. As Krishna was engaged in sacrifice, Keśin rushed at him in anger, as if to swallow the sky itself, and struck the lotus-eyed Lord with his powerful, unbearable hooves.