Achyuta, the mighty Krishna, struck the earth with his palm, the sound echoing like thunder and provoking the bull-demon Ariṣṭa. With unwavering confidence, Krishna declared, “I am the destroyer of the pride of the wicked, like you, O evil-minded one.” Standing with his arm draped over his friend’s shoulder, Hari waited calmly as Ariṣṭa, enraged, scraped the ground with his hoof, his tail whirling like a storm cloud. The demon, eyes bloodshot and horns poised, charged at Krishna with the force of a thunderbolt unleashed by Indra. As Ariṣṭa rushed forward, Krishna seized him by the horns, stepped back eighteen paces, and dragged him away, just as an elephant might pull another elephant. Thrown aside, Ariṣṭa quickly rose again, his body drenched in sweat, breath heavy, and wrath surging within him. He charged once more, but Krishna caught him by the horns, pressed him down with his foot, and hurled him to the ground. Krishna squeezed Ariṣṭa as one wrings out wet clothes and struck him with the horn, causing the demon to collapse. Ariṣṭa, suffering terribly, vomited blood, released urine and feces, flailed his legs, and his eyes rolled unsteadily. Overcome by Nirṛti, the force of destruction, Ariṣṭa met his end. The gods, witnessing Krishna’s victory, showered him with flowers and sang his praises. Having slain the bull-demon Kukudmin in this way, Krishna, lauded by the twice-born, entered the cowherd settlement with Balarama. Their arrival was a festival for the eyes of the gopīs. Meanwhile, when Ariṣṭa was slain by Krishna’s wondrous deeds, the divine sage Nārada, who beholds the gods, went to inform Kaṃsa. Nārada told Kaṃsa that the daughter of Yaśodā, Krishna the son of Devakī, and Rāma, the son of Rohiṇī, had been entrusted by the fearful Vasudeva. Vasudeva had placed them in the care of his friend Nanda, and it was these two who had slain Kaṃsa’s men. Hearing this, the king of the Bhojas, Kaṃsa, agitated by anger, seized a sharp sword, intending to kill Vasudeva. But Nārada restrained him, revealing that Krishna and Rama were destined to be Kaṃsa’s death. Realizing the gravity of this revelation, Kaṃsa bound Vasudeva and his wife with iron chains. When Nārada departed, Kaṃsa summoned Keśin and instructed him, “Go and kill Rāma and Keśava. Then send Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośala, and others.” He called his ministers and elephant-keepers, saying, “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; therefore, my death has been foretold at their hands.” Kaṃsa commanded, “You two must kill them here in a wrestling match. Prepare platforms surrounded by the wrestling arena, so all citizens and country folk may witness their combat. O chief minister, bring the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa to the gate of the arena; let him kill my enemies there. Let the bow-sacrifice be commenced on the fourteenth day, according to prescribed rites, and bring pure animals for offering to the Lord of beings, the bestower of blessings.” Having instructed his expert in practical affairs, Kaṃsa summoned the foremost among the Yadus and spoke to Akrura, taking his hand. “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 purpose, O mighty one.” 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, “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.” Thus instructing Akrura and dismissing his ministers, Kaṃsa entered his palace, and Akrura returned to his own house. Meanwhile, Kesi, sent by Kaṃsa, arrived—a mighty horse, swift as the mind, trampling the earth with his hooves. His mane shook the sky, and his neighing was so fierce that all were terrified. With wide eyes, a monstrous mouth, a huge neck, and dark as a great raincloud, Kesi harbored evil intent and wished to aid Kaṃsa. He entered Nanda’s Vraja, making it tremble. Kesi’s neighing and the clouds tossed by his tail frightened Krishna’s own cowherd village. The Lord, leader of the cowherds, called out to him, roaring like a lion. As Krishna performed the sacrifice, Kesi, enraged, rushed forward as if to swallow the sky, striking the lotus-eyed Lord with his fierce, unbearable speed. But the Unmanifest Lord, deceiving him in wrath, seized Kesi with both arms, whirled him by the legs, and contemptuously threw him aside a hundred bows’ length, just as Garuda would toss a serpent. Regaining consciousness, Kesi rose again in fury and charged at Hari with open mouth. Smiling, Hari thrust his arm into the demon’s jaws, as a serpent enters its hole. As the Lord’s arm touched his teeth, they fell out, shattering like heated iron. The mighty Lord’s arm, entering Kesi’s body, expanded like a bar of iron, disregarded. Thus, Krishna continued to vanquish the demons sent by Kaṃsa, his wondrous deeds celebrated by gods and men alike, while the wheels of destiny turned inexorably toward the fulfillment of prophecy.