With the speed and ferocity of a hawk, Cāṇūra leapt into the arena, his fists clenched in anger, and struck Lord Vāsudeva hard upon the chest. Yet, the blow did not move Kṛṣṇa in the slightest; he stood unmoved, like a mighty elephant struck only by a garland. Hari seized Cāṇūra by his arms, spinning him round and round with great force, and then dashed him violently to the ground. As Cāṇūra’s life ebbed away, his hair and garland scattered, and he fell like Indra’s banner collapsing in defeat. Meanwhile, Muṣṭika faced Balabhadra, the powerful Rāma, who first struck him fiercely with his fist, then followed with a heavy blow from his palm. Muṣṭika trembled, blood pouring from his mouth, tormented by pain. His life departed, and he collapsed to the ground like a tree felled by a mighty wind. Not long after, Kūṭa, another wrestler, approached Rāma. With effortless contempt, Rāma struck him down with his left fist, ending his life instantly. At that very moment, Śala, his head struck by Kṛṣṇa’s foot, and Tośalaka, both split in two, fell lifeless to the ground. With Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka slain, the remaining wrestlers, terrified and seeking only to save themselves, fled from the arena. Gathering their cowherd friends, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma played joyfully, dancing to the sound of musical instruments and the ringing of their anklets. All the people rejoiced at the deeds of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, cheering them with cries of “Well done! Well done!”—all except Kaṃsa, and the foremost brāhmaṇas and virtuous people praised their victory. But Kaṃsa, king of the Bhojas, agitated and furious at the defeat of his wrestlers, stopped his musicians and spoke harshly: “Expel from the city those two wicked sons of Vasudeva; seize the wealth of the cowherds; bind Nanda, that evil-minded man. Let Vasudeva be killed at once, along with the best of horses, and Ugrasena, my father, who sides with the enemy, together with his followers.” As Kaṃsa boasted and raged, the imperishable Lord, filled with anger, swiftly leapt onto the high platform. Seeing Kṛṣṇa approach—death itself for him—Kaṃsa sprang from his seat, snatched up his shield and sword, and moved about swiftly, like a hawk circling in the sky. But Kṛṣṇa, whose energy was irresistible and fierce, seized him forcefully, as Garuḍa would seize a serpent. Grabbing Kaṃsa by the hair, his crown shaking, Kṛṣṇa threw him down from the high platform onto the arena. Then, the lotus-naveled Lord, the refuge of the universe, self-dependent, fell upon Kaṃsa from above. Hari dragged Kaṃsa’s lifeless body across the ground, as one would drag an elephant, while all the world looked on in awe. A great cry of “Alas! Alas!” arose from the people, O King. Kaṃsa, whose mind was always anxious—whether eating, speaking, moving, sleeping, or breathing—saw before him the Lord with the discus weapon, and thus attained that very form which is difficult to obtain. Kaṃsa’s eight brothers—Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka, and the rest—rushed forward, enraged and seeking to avenge their brother’s death. Then Rāma, son of Rohiṇī, struck them down with great speed, wielding his club like a lion striking down beasts. Drums resounded in the sky, and the divine powers led by Brahmā and Śiva, delighted, showered flowers upon the Lord, praised him, and the women danced in celebration. The wives of the slain, O great king, afflicted with grief, approached, beating their heads and weeping, their eyes filled with tears. Embracing their husbands as they lay upon the heroes’ beds, the women lamented in sweet voices, again and again releasing their sorrow. They cried, “Alas, lord, beloved, knower of righteousness, compassionate protector of the helpless! With you slain, we and our children and households are destroyed. Deprived of you, our husband, this city, O best of men, is bereft of beauty, just as we are, with all festivals and auspiciousness ended. You have committed a grievous wrong against innocent beings; therefore, O slayer of creatures, who, having brought us to this state, can find peace? For all beings here, this indeed is the source of creation and dissolution; and as the protector, one who disregards this never attains happiness anywhere.” Śuka then said: The Lord, creator of the worlds, comforted the royal women and performed the customary funeral rites for the slain. Afterwards, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma released their mother and father from their bonds, bowing to them and touching their feet with their heads. Devakī and Vasudeva, recognizing their sons as the Lords of the universe, received their reverence and embraced them without fear. Śuka continued: The Supreme Person, seeing that his parents’ wishes had been fulfilled, spread his own deluding power, saying, “Do not grieve,” bewildering the minds of all. Approaching his parents with his elder brother, the best of the Sātvatas, Kṛṣṇa bowed respectfully and addressed them affectionately as “Mother” and “Father,” to please them. He said, “O Father, though you and Mother always longed for us, your sons, we were never able to spend our childhood, boyhood, or youth with you. Because fate prevented us, we could not dwell near you; the happiness that children, cherished in their father’s house, usually enjoy, we did not experience. Even if a mortal lives a hundred years, he cannot repay his parents from whom his body, the source of all attainments, is born and nourished. If a son, able in body and wealth, does not provide for the livelihood of his parents, after death he is made to eat his own flesh. One who, while able, neglects his aged mother and father, virtuous wife, young child, teacher, brāhmaṇa, or one who has sought refuge, is as good as dead though living. For us, whose minds were always anxious because of Kaṃsa, these days passed in vain, without worshipping your feet. Therefore, O Father and Mother, you should forgive us, who were dependent and much afflicted by a cruel-hearted man, for not serving you.” Thus, the Lord, having fulfilled his parents’ wishes and freed them from sorrow, spoke words of humility and devotion, honoring the sacred bond between parent and child.