As soon as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa had accomplished their heroic deed, joy swept through the people. All, save Kaṃsa, rejoiced; the foremost brāhmaṇas and the virtuous cried out in admiration, “Well done! Well done!” But Kaṃsa, shaken and agitated by the defeat of his best wrestlers, abruptly stopped his musicians and, in a fury, issued harsh commands: “Drive out those two wicked sons of Vasudeva from the city. Seize the wealth of the cowherds. Bind Nanda, that evil-minded man. Kill Vasudeva at once, along with the finest horses, and slay Ugrasena, my father, who sides with the enemy, and his supporters.” As Kaṃsa boasted thus, the imperishable Lord, enraged, sprang swiftly onto the high platform. Seeing his doom approaching in the form of Kṛṣṇa, Kaṃsa, resolute, leapt from his seat, grasped his shield and sword, and moved about with the ferocity of a hawk circling in the sky. Yet Kṛṣṇa, whose energy was irresistible and fierce, seized him forcefully, as Garuḍa would seize a serpent. Grabbing Kaṃsa by the hair, his crown trembling, Kṛṣṇa hurled him down from the platform onto the arena. Then, the lotus-naveled Lord, refuge of the universe and self-dependent, fell upon Kaṃsa from above. Hari dragged Kaṃsa’s lifeless body across the ground, as one would drag an elephant, while the world watched in awe. A great cry of “Alas! Alas!” arose from the people. Kaṃsa, whose mind had always been anxious—whether eating, speaking, moving, sleeping, or breathing—had always seen before him the Lord wielding the discus. Thus, at the moment of death, he attained that very form of the Lord, which is difficult to obtain. Kaṃsa’s eight brothers—Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka, and the rest—rushed forward, burning with rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death. Then Rohiṇī’s son, Balarāma, struck them down with great speed, wielding his club as a lion would fell wild beasts. Drums resounded in the sky, and the divine powers led by Brahmā and Śiva, delighted, showered flowers upon the Lord, praising him, while the women danced in celebration. Meanwhile, the wives of Kaṃsa and his brothers, afflicted by grief for their beloveds, approached, beating their heads, their eyes streaming with tears. Embracing their husbands as they lay upon the beds of heroes, the women lamented in sweet voices, releasing their sorrow again and again: “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 grieving royal women and performed the customary funeral rites for the slain. Afterwards, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma released their mother and father, Devakī and Vasudeva, from their bonds. With reverence, they bowed to them, touching their feet with their heads. Devakī and Vasudeva, recognizing their sons as the Lords of the universe, received their homage and embraced them without fear. Śuka continued: The Supreme Person, seeing that his parents’ desires had been fulfilled, spread his own deluding power, saying, “Do not grieve,” thus bewildering the minds of the 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 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.” 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 Kṛṣṇa 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. Kṛṣṇa 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. When I, your servant, am present, even the gods and others bow down and offer tribute—what then of other human kings?” All their own relatives and kin—the Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasharhas, Kukuras, and others—who had been distressed in every direction by fear of Kaṃsa, were honored and comforted by Kṛṣṇa. He settled those wearied by exile in foreign lands in their own homes, generously providing them with wealth. Protected by the arms of Kṛṣṇa and Sankarshana, their cherished wishes fulfilled, the people lived happily in their homes, freed from all distress by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon the lotus face of Mukunda, always radiant, beautiful, and beaming with a compassionate smile.