Accompanied by a handful of cowherds, Baladeva and Janārdana entered the wrestling arena, O King, bearing the tusks of the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa as their weapons. As they strode in, each person present perceived Krishna in a different way: to the wrestlers, he was like a thunderbolt; among men, the foremost of all; to the women, he appeared as Cupid incarnate; to the cowherds, he was their kinsman; to the wicked rulers, a chastiser; to his parents, a beloved child; to King Bhoja, death itself; to the wise, the cosmic form; to yogis, the Supreme Truth; and to the Vṛṣṇis, the Supreme Deity. Thus, known in so many ways, Krishna entered the arena with his elder brother, Balarama. Seeing the mighty Kuvalayāpīḍa slain and these two unconquerable heroes entering the arena, even the resolute Kaṃsa was deeply unsettled. Krishna and Balarama, with their powerful arms, shone brilliantly as they entered, adorned in splendid garments, ornaments, garlands, and cloth. They looked like expert actors assuming supreme roles, captivating the minds of all who beheld them. The citizens and country folk, seated on platforms all around, gazed at the two supreme persons. Their eyes and faces were stirred by waves of delight, and no matter how long they looked, they could not be satisfied by beholding those radiant faces. It was as if they drank with their eyes, licked with their tongues, smelled with their noses, and embraced with their arms. Speaking among themselves, they recalled all that they had seen and heard of Krishna and Balarama—their beauty, virtues, sweetness, and boldness—reminding each other anew. They recognized: “These two are indeed direct incarnations of the Lord, Hari, Nārāyaṇa himself, who have descended in part into the house of Vasudeva. Krishna was truly born of Devakī, then brought to Gokula, where he grew up in secret in the house of Nanda. By him, Pūtanā was brought to her end, the demon Cakravat slain, Arjuna the Guhyaka destroyed, as well as Keśī, Dhenuka, and others of that kind. He rescued the cows and their herders from the forest fire, subdued Kāliya the serpent, and humbled Indra’s pride. For seven days, with one hand, he held up the great mountain, protecting Gokula from rain, wind, and thunderbolts. The cowherd women, always seeing his smiling, glancing face, crossed all hardships and fatigue with joy. By him, the illustrious Yadu dynasty, already widely renowned, will attain even greater prosperity, fame, and greatness, being protected.” They also praised his elder brother: “And this is the glorious Rāma, lotus-eyed, who slew Pralamba, Vatsaka, Baka, and others.” As the people spoke thus among themselves, and the instruments resounded, Cāṇūra, the wrestler, addressed Krishna and Balarama: “O sons of Nanda, O Rāma, you two are esteemed as heroes, skilled in wrestling, and have been summoned by the king, eager to see you. When the king’s wishes are fulfilled, the people surely attain welfare—by thought, deed, and word; the opposite is considered otherwise. The cowherds and herders, always joyful, would openly play at wrestling in the forests while tending the cows. Therefore, O friends, let us do what pleases the king, for when the king, who embodies all beings, is satisfied, all creatures are pleased with us.” Hearing this, Krishna spoke words appropriate to the time and place, welcoming the challenge of wrestling, which he himself desired: “We, the subjects of King Bhoja, and we forest-dwellers as well, will always do what pleases him; that is our greatest favor. We are boys, and will play with those of equal strength as is proper; let the wrestling match be fair, so that the assembly of wrestlers may not find fault with us.” But Cāṇūra replied: “You are neither a child nor a youth; you are the foremost among the strong, for by your play the mighty elephant, who bore the strength of a thousand, was slain. Therefore, you two must wrestle with the strong; there is no evasion here. Let Muṣṭika contend with Balarama, and let me, O descendant of Vrishni, match my strength with yours.” Thus ends the forty-third chapter, entitled “The Slaying of Kuvalayapida,” in the first half of the tenth book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the great Purāṇa, the scripture for the paramahamsas. Śuka continued: With his resolve honored, Lord Madhusudana, along with the son of Rohini, approached Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika. Locking hands with hands and feet with feet, they forcefully dragged each other, each eager for victory. They struck each other with fists, knees, heads, chests, and shoulders. With circling, feints, embraces, throws, advances, and retreats, they continually countered each other. By lifting, raising, shaking, and holding, each sought to overpower the other, exerting their full strength. Observing this contest of strength and weakness, all the women assembled there, O King, spoke to one another in groups, moved by compassion: “Alas, what great injustice is this among the king’s assembly, that they desire such a contest of strength and weakness before the king, as he looks on! How can these wrestlers, with bodies hard as thunderbolts and resembling mountain peaks, be matched against these two youths, so delicate and not yet come to full manhood? Surely, this assembly will incur a breach of righteousness, for where unrighteousness arises, one should never remain. A wise person should not enter an assembly, remembering the faults of its members; whether he speaks or remains silent, an ignorant man incurs sin.” They pointed out: “See Krishna’s lotus-like face, covered with sweat from exertion as he faces his enemy, like a lotus bud moistened with water. Why do you not see Rāma’s face, with copper-red eyes, adorned with a smile and the flush of anger, shining as he confronts Muṣṭika?” They spoke with wonder: “Blessed indeed are the lands of Vraja, where this ancient Person, concealed in human form and adorned with garlands of forest flowers, tends the cows with Balarāma, playing his flute, his feet worshipped by the beloved of the mountain lord, and delights in various pastimes. What austerities did the cowherd women perform, that they could see his form—the very essence of beauty, peerless and unique, ever fresh at every moment, difficult to attain, the sole abode of fame, fortune, and majesty—drinking it in with their eyes?