Śuka continued: After bestowing his grace upon Kubjā, breaking the great bow, and preparing the wrestling arena, Mādhava, accompanied by Balarāma, proceeded along the royal road of Mathurā. As they walked, Kṛṣṇa noticed a young woman with a lovely face carrying a vessel of fragrant ointment. She was Kubjā, also known as Trivakra, and her appearance was marked by a hunchback. Delighted and smiling, Kṛṣṇa approached her and gently inquired, “Who are you, beautiful one? What is this fragrant ointment you carry? Whose maid are you? Please tell us. Would you kindly anoint our limbs with this fine ointment? By doing so, your good fortune will surely arise.” The woman replied with humility, “O handsome one, I am a maidservant approved by King Kaṃsa, and my name is Trivakra. My task is to prepare ointments, which are especially dear to the Bhoja king. Truly, besides you two, who else is worthy to receive them?” Captivated by the beauty, charm, sweet smiles, words, and glances of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Kubjā gladly applied the rich ointment to their bodies. Adorned with this ointment, which shone with a hue different from their own, both brothers appeared even more resplendent, their divine forms further enhanced. Pleased by her service, the Lord resolved to reward Kubjā by straightening her hunchback, thereby demonstrating the blessing that comes from beholding Him. Placing His feet upon hers and lifting her chin with His gentle, upward-turned fingers, Acyuta drew her up, transforming her body. In that instant, by the touch of Mukunda, Kubjā’s form became straight and astonishingly beautiful, her hips broad and her breasts full. Endowed now with beauty, virtue, and generosity, she drew Kṛṣṇa’s upper garment and, smiling with awakened desire, spoke to Keśava: “Come, hero, let us go to my house; I cannot bear to let you go. My heart is stirred by you—please, best of men, be gracious to me.” Kṛṣṇa, as Balarāma and their followers looked on, smiled and replied, “O lovely-browed one who captivates the hearts of men, I will come to your house. When our purpose here is fulfilled, you shall be our refuge, for we are wanderers.” With these sweet words, Kṛṣṇa left her and continued along the merchant’s road with Balarāma, honored by the townspeople who brought them gifts of betel, garlands, and perfumes. So enchanting was Kṛṣṇa’s presence that the women of Mathurā, agitated by seeing and remembering Him, lost awareness of themselves—their clothes, hair, and bangles slipped from their bodies, and they stood as if painted, motionless in wonder. Meanwhile, Acyuta inquired about the location of the great bow and entered the hall where it was kept. There he beheld a wondrous bow, radiant like that of Indra, guarded by many men and worshipped with great reverence. Though the guards attempted to restrain Him, Kṛṣṇa, with effortless strength, seized the bow. Playfully lifting it with His left hand, He strung it in a moment before all eyes. Then, drawing it back, the mighty Kṛṣṇa broke the bow in two, as easily as an elephant snaps a stalk of sugarcane. The thunderous sound echoed through the sky, earth, and all directions, striking terror into the heart of Kaṃsa. Enraged, the guards and their followers rushed at Kṛṣṇa, shouting, “Catch him! Kill him!” Seeing their hostile intent, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa became angry. Seizing the broken fragments of the bow, they struck down and killed the attackers. Having vanquished Kaṃsa’s force, the two brothers joyfully left the hall and wandered through the city, marveling at its splendor. The people of Mathurā, witnessing their extraordinary valor, brilliance, confidence, and divine forms, regarded them as foremost among the gods. As the sun set, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, accompanied by the cowherds, returned from the city to their wagon to rest. The gopīs, suffering the pain of separation from Mukunda, offered heartfelt blessings from afar, while Lakṣmī herself, beholding Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, abandoned all others and desired only Him. That night, after having their feet washed and enjoying a meal with milk, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma rested happily, fully aware of Kaṃsa’s intentions. Meanwhile, Kaṃsa, upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, the destruction of his guards, and the marvelous deeds of Govinda and Rāma, was greatly disturbed. Sleepless and fearful, his mind was troubled by evil omens, both real and imagined, all foretelling his impending death. He saw his own head missing or doubled in reflections, observed duplicity in the stars, noticed gaps in his shadow, could not hear his own breath, saw gold appearing in trees, and his footprints vanished. His dreams were filled with dreadful signs: he embraced the dead, rode a donkey, felt sorrow, wore garlands of nalada grass, was smeared with oil, and wandered naked. Terrified by these omens, both in dreams and waking, Kaṃsa could not sleep, his mind overwhelmed by anxiety. When the night had passed and the sun rose, Kaṃsa arranged a grand wrestling festival. The arena was beautifully decorated; drums and trumpets resounded, and the platforms were adorned with garlands, flags, cloths, and arches. Townspeople, villagers, and the leaders of the brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas entered according to their status, and the kings took their seats. Kaṃsa, surrounded by his ministers and the regional rulers, sat upon the royal platform, his heart agitated. As the music of trumpets and drums filled the air, the wrestlers, splendidly adorned and proud, entered with their teachers. Among them were Chanura, Mushtika, Kuta, Shala, and Toshala, who approached the stage, delighted by the sweet music. Nanda and the cowherds, summoned by the king of the Bhojas, presented their gifts and entered together, seated upon a single platform. Thus, the forty-second chapter ends, describing the wrestling arena in the first half of the tenth book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the great Purāṇa, the scripture of supreme renunciates. Then, Śuka continued, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, having purified themselves, heard the booming sound of the wrestling drums and came forward to witness the spectacle.