As the people gathered in Mathurā for the grand festival, a messenger approached Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, addressing them with respect and warmth: “O sons of Nanda, O Rāma, you two are renowned as heroes, skilled in the art of wrestling, and the king himself has summoned you, eager to witness your prowess.” He reminded them that when the king’s desires are fulfilled, the welfare of the people is ensured in thought, word, and deed; but if the king is displeased, the opposite follows. The cowherds and herders who had come with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were always joyful, often engaging in playful wrestling matches among themselves in the forests as they tended their cattle. Now, they encouraged one another, saying, “Let us do what pleases the king! For the king is the embodiment of all beings; when he is satisfied, all creatures are pleased with us.” Hearing these words, Kṛṣṇa responded in a manner fitting the time and place. He welcomed the challenge of wrestling, for this was his own desire as well. “We are subjects of King Bhoja,” he said, “and as forest-dwellers too, it is our greatest favor to always do what pleases him.” Yet, Kṛṣṇa added, “We are but boys and will play with those of equal strength, as is proper. Let the wrestling match be fair, so that the assembly of wrestlers cannot find fault with us.” But Chanura, one of the king’s champion wrestlers, replied, “You are neither a child nor a youth—you are the foremost among the strong! By your play, you slew the mighty elephant who bore the strength of a thousand.” Therefore, he insisted, “You two must wrestle with the strongest here; there is no evasion. Let Mushtika contend with Balarāma, and let me, O descendant of the Vrishni, match my strength with yours.” Thus ended the chapter recounting the slaying of Kuvalayapida, the king’s elephant, and the scene shifted to the wrestling arena. Śuka, the sage, continued the tale: With their resolve clear, Lord Madhusudana (Kṛṣṇa) and the son of Rohini (Balarāma) stepped forward to face Chanura and Mushtika. The four locked hands and feet, each dragging the other with force, eager for victory. They struck one another with fists, knees, and heads, and with their chests and shoulders as well. Their contest was fierce, filled with circling, feints, embraces, throws, advances, and retreats, each move met with a counter. They lifted, raised, shook, and held one another, each seeking to overpower the other, exerting their full strength. As this contest of strength and weakness unfolded, the women gathered in the audience spoke among themselves with compassion. “Alas, what great injustice is this in the king’s assembly!” they exclaimed. “How can these wrestlers, with bodies hard as thunderbolts and resembling mountain peaks, be matched against these two youths, who are 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.” They reflected further, “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.” Their eyes turned to Kṛṣṇa: “See his lotus-like face, covered with sweat from exertion as he faces his enemy, like a lotus bud moistened with water. And look at Rāma—his face flush with anger, copper-red eyes, adorned with a smile, shining as he confronts Muṣṭika!” Their hearts overflowed with devotion. “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, delighting in various pastimes. What austerities did the cowherd women perform, that they could see his form—the very essence of beauty, ever fresh, the sole abode of fame, fortune, and majesty—drinking it in with their eyes?” They praised the women of Vraja further: “Fortunate are those whose minds are devoted to the mighty Lord, who, with voices choked by tears, sing of him while milking cows, gathering dung, churning, smearing floors, swinging their children, or sweeping—whatever their work. Morning and evening, as he leaves for the pastures or returns with the cows, playing his flute, the blessed young women quickly come out onto the path to see his smiling face and compassionate glances.” While the women thus spoke, the Lord, master of yoga, Hari, resolved in his mind to slay his enemies. The parents of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, hearing the fearful words of the women, were overcome with grief and anxiety for their sons, unaware of their true strength. The wrestling continued. Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa) and his opponent, as well as Balarāma and Muṣṭika, fought with all the techniques of wrestling. Struck by the blows of the Lord’s limbs, which were as harsh as thunderbolts, Chanura’s body was battered and he became exhausted. With the speed of a hawk, Chanura leapt up, clenched his fists, and struck Vāsudeva hard on the chest. But Kṛṣṇa did not move, as if an elephant had been struck by a garland. Seizing Chanura by the arms, Hari spun him around many times, then dashed him violently to the ground. His life nearly gone, hair and garland scattered, Chanura fell like Indra’s banner collapsing. In the same way, Muṣṭika was struck forcefully by the mighty Balarāma’s fist, then hit again with his palm. He trembled, blood pouring from his mouth, tormented; his life departed, and he collapsed like a tree felled by the wind. Then Rāma, best among fighters, slew Kūṭa effortlessly with a contemptuous blow of his left fist. At that moment, Śala, his head struck by Kṛṣṇa’s foot, and Tośalaka were both split in two and fell down. With Chanura, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka slain, the remaining wrestlers, desiring to save their lives, fled in fear. Drawing their cowherd friends together, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma rejoiced and played with them, as musical instruments sounded and their anklets rang out while they danced. All the people rejoiced at the heroic deeds of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. Except for Kaṃsa, the foremost brāhmaṇas and the virtuous exclaimed, “Well done! Well done!