As the fierce contest in the wrestling arena reached its climax, one of the wrestlers trembled violently, blood streaming from his mouth, tormented beyond endurance. His life swiftly departed, and he collapsed onto the ground, lifeless, like a mighty tree felled by a sudden gust of wind. At that very moment, Rāma, the foremost among warriors, dispatched Kūṭa, who had approached him, with effortless ease—a single, contemptuous blow from his left fist ended Kūṭa’s challenge. Simultaneously, Śala was struck on the head by Kṛṣṇa’s foot, and Tośalaka too met his end; both were split asunder and fell lifeless to the ground. With Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka all slain, the remaining wrestlers, overwhelmed with fear and desperate to save their lives, fled from the arena. Victorious, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma gathered their cowherd friends and, with joy in their hearts, played together, their anklets ringing as they danced to the music that filled the air. The people assembled there rejoiced at the mighty deeds of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa. All, except the wicked Kaṃsa, joined the foremost brāhmaṇas and the virtuous in exclaiming, “Well done! Well done!” But Kaṃsa, the king of the Bhojas, was deeply agitated by the defeat and death of his champion wrestlers. In his fury, he silenced his own musicians and commanded: “Expel those two wicked sons of Vasudeva from the city! Seize the wealth of the cowherds! Bind Nanda, that evil-minded man! Kill Vasudeva, that wicked one, at once, along with the best of horses! And destroy Ugrasena, my father, who sides with the enemy, along with his followers!” While Kaṃsa thus boasted, the imperishable Lord, filled with righteous anger, leapt swiftly onto the high platform where Kaṃsa sat. Seeing Kṛṣṇa approach—his very death incarnate—Kaṃsa, though resolute, sprang up in terror, seizing his shield and sword. He moved with desperate speed, circling like a hawk in the sky, but Kṛṣṇa, whose energy is irresistible and fierce, seized him forcefully, as Garuḍa seizes a serpent. Grabbing Kaṃsa by the hair, his crown shaking, Kṛṣṇa hurled him down from the high platform into the arena below. The lotus-naveled Lord, the refuge of the universe and self-dependent, leapt upon him from above, ending Kaṃsa’s life. Hari then dragged Kaṃsa’s lifeless body across the ground, as one would drag a great elephant, while the whole world looked on in awe and sorrow. A great cry of “Alas! Alas!” rose from the people. Kaṃsa, whose mind had always been anxious—whether eating, speaking, moving, sleeping, or breathing—and who constantly saw before him the Lord wielding the discus, now attained that very divine form, difficult for anyone to attain. Enraged by their brother’s death, Kaṃsa’s eight brothers—Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka, and the others—rushed forward, seeking vengeance. But Rāma, son of Rohiṇī, moved with the speed of a lion and struck them down with his club, just as a lion fells lesser beasts. As the tumult subsided, drums resounded in the heavens, and the divine powers, led by Brahmā and Śiva, showered flowers upon Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, praising them with delight, while celestial women danced in joy. Meanwhile, the wives of the fallen warriors, overwhelmed with grief, came forward, beating their heads and weeping, their eyes brimming with tears. Embracing their husbands as they lay on the beds of heroes, the women lamented in sweet, sorrowful voices, again and again pouring out their anguish: “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, this indeed is the source of creation and dissolution; and as the protector, one who disregards this never attains happiness anywhere.” Witnessing their sorrow, the Lord, creator of the worlds, comforted the royal women and performed for the slain the customary funeral rites, according to worldly tradition. Then, having freed his mother Devakī and father Vasudeva from their long imprisonment, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma bowed to them, touching their feet with their heads in deep reverence. Devakī and Vasudeva, recognizing their sons as none other than the Lords of the universe, embraced them without fear, their hearts filled with love. Understanding that his parents’ deepest wishes had been fulfilled, the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, spread his own deluding power. He gently said, “Do not grieve,” bewildering the minds of all present, so that they would not perceive his divine nature. Approaching his parents with his elder brother, the best of the Sātvatas, Kṛṣṇa bowed respectfully and addressed them with great affection, calling them “Mother” and “Father” to please their hearts. 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.” Hearing these words from Hari, the very Soul of the universe, who had assumed a human form through his divine power, Devakī and Vasudeva were overcome with emotion. They lifted Kṛṣṇa onto their laps and embraced him, their hearts overflowing with joy. Tears streamed from their eyes, and they were bound by the ties of affection, unable to speak, their throats choked with emotion and their minds bewildered. Having thus comforted his parents, the son of Devakī, the Lord himself, installed his maternal grandfather Ugrasena as king over the Yadus. He said, “O great king, you should command us and the people; because of Yayāti’s curse, the Yadus must not sit on the royal throne.” Thus, in the arena of Mathurā, with the wicked overthrown, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma restored dharma, comforted the afflicted, and honored their elders, fulfilling both worldly and divine duties.