With the arena echoing the sounds of battle, Balabhadra, mighty in strength, struck Muṣṭika with a forceful blow of his fist, followed by a severe hit with his palm. Muṣṭika trembled, blood pouring from his mouth, tormented by pain; his life departed, and he collapsed onto the ground like a tree felled by a powerful wind. Then Rāma, the best among fighters, effortlessly slew Kūṭa, who had approached him, with a contemptuous blow of his left fist. At that very moment, Śala, his head struck by Kṛṣṇa’s foot, and Tośalaka, both split in two, fell down. With Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka slain, all the remaining wrestlers, fearing for their lives, fled the arena. Gathering their cowherd friends, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma played joyfully with them, as musical instruments sounded and their anklets rang in celebration. All the people rejoiced at the deeds of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa; the foremost brāhmaṇas and the virtuous exclaimed, "Well done! Well done!"—all except Kaṃsa, who sat disturbed. When the greatest wrestlers had fallen and Kaṃsa, king of the Bhojas, was agitated, he stopped his musicians and spoke fiercely: "Expel from the city those two wicked sons of Vasudeva; seize the wealth of the cowherds; bind Nanda, that evil-minded man. Let Vasudeva, that wicked-minded one, be killed at once, along with the best of horses; and Ugrasena, my father, who sides with the enemy, along with his followers." As Kaṃsa boasted thus, the imperishable Lord, enraged, leapt swiftly onto the high platform. Seeing him approach, death itself for Kaṃsa, the king sprang up suddenly from his seat and seized his shield and sword. Kaṃsa moved about swiftly, wielding his sword like a hawk circling the sky; but Kṛṣṇa, of irresistible and fierce energy, 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, refuge of the universe and self-dependent, fell upon him from above. Hari dragged Kaṃsa's lifeless body across the ground, as one would drag an elephant, while all the world looked on. A great cry of "Alas! Alas!" arose from the people. Kaṃsa, whose mind was always anxious—whether eating, speaking, moving, sleeping, or breathing—had always seen before him the Lord with the discus weapon. Thus, at the moment of death, he 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 Rohiṇī's son, Rāma, with great speed, struck them down, wielding his club as a lion would strike down beasts. Drums resounded in the sky, and the divine powers led by Brahmā and Śiva, delighted, showered flowers upon Kṛṣṇa, praised him, and the women danced. The wives of the slain, afflicted with grief, approached their fallen beloveds, beating their heads and shedding tears. Embracing their husbands as they lay upon the heroes' beds, the women lamented in sweet voices, again and again releasing their sorrow: "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 said: The Lord, creator of the worlds, comforted the royal women and performed for the slain the customary funeral rites. Then, having released his mother and father from their bonds, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma bowed to them, touching their feet with their heads. Devakī and Vasudeva, recognizing their sons as the Lords of the universe, after receiving their reverence, embraced them without fear. Śuka continued: The Supreme Person, understanding that his parents' desires had been fulfilled, spread his own deluding power, saying, "Do not grieve," bewildering the minds of people. Approaching his parents with his elder brother, the best of the Sātvatas, Kṛṣṇa bowed respectfully and, to please them, addressed them affectionately as "Mother" and "Father." He spoke: "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." Śuka said: Thus, by the words of Hari, the Soul of the universe, who had assumed a human form through his māyā, Devakī and Vasudeva were deluded; lifting him onto their laps and embracing him, they attained joy. Flooded with streams of tears and bound by the ties of affection, they could say nothing, their throats choked with emotion and their minds bewildered. Having thus comforted his parents, the son of Devakī, the Lord, installed Ugrasena, his maternal grandfather, as king over the Yadus.