Jarasandha, the powerful king of Magadha, gathered a colossal army—twenty-three akṣauhiṇīs in all—and surrounded Mathurā, the capital of the Yadus, besieging it from every side. The city was encircled, and the swelling host resembled the vastness of the ocean. The people of Mathurā were filled with fear, and Krishna, seeing both the immense army and the distress of his subjects, considered the situation carefully. Lord Hari, in his human form, reflected deeply on the purpose of his descent to earth, taking into account the time, place, and circumstances. He resolved, “I will destroy this force, which has assembled as a burden upon the earth, gathered by Jarasandha from all the subjugated kings. These armies, counted by akṣauhiṇīs and filled with soldiers, horses, chariots, and elephants, must be destroyed. Yet, the king of Magadha himself is not to be slain, for he will gather another force. This is the purpose of my descent: to relieve the earth of its burden, to protect the virtuous, and to destroy those who threaten righteousness. I have assumed another body for the protection of dharma, and whenever adharma arises, I come to end it.” As Govinda meditated thus, suddenly two radiant chariots appeared from the sky, shining like the sun, complete with drivers and all necessary equipment. Divine and ancient weapons also manifested by chance. Seeing these, Hṛṣīkeśa spoke to Saṅkarṣaṇa, saying, “Behold, O noble one, the calamity that has befallen the Yadus, O Lord among those who have descended to earth. Here is your chariot, along with your beloved weapons. Indeed, for this very purpose have we been born, O Lord—bring happiness to the virtuous and remove the burden of the earth, represented by these twenty-three armies.” Having consulted together, the two sons of Dasharha, Krishna and Balarama, resolute and armed for battle since ancient times, set out with their weapons, accompanied by a small force. Hari, with Daruka as his charioteer, blew his conch as he departed, and in the hearts of the enemy soldiers arose terror and trembling. Upon seeing them, Jarasandha mocked, “O Krishna, lowest of men, I do not wish to fight you, a mere boy, out of shame; nor you, who hide behind others, O dullard—go away, destroyer of kin, I will not fight you. But you, Rama, if you have faith, fight and show your courage; either abandon your body, cut down by my arrows and ascend to heaven, or kill me.” The Blessed Lord replied, “Truly, heroes do not boast; they simply display their valor. We do not heed the words of one who is distressed and facing death, O King.” Shuka narrates that Jarasandha then rushed at the two Madhavas, surrounding them with a mighty host of chariots, elephants, horses, and banners, like the wind enveloping the sun and fire with clouds of dust. The women of Mathurā, seeing the two chariots of Hari and Rama marked with the emblems of Garuda and the palm tree in the midst of battle, took refuge in the ancient towers, palaces, and gateways, overcome with grief and confusion. Hari, seeing his own army—honored by gods and demons—again and again afflicted by the fierce rain of arrows from the enemy host, sounded his supreme Sharnga bow with a thunderous twang. Drawing arrows from his quiver, stringing and releasing volleys of sharp shafts, he struck down chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers. The whirling discus never left his hand. Elephants with shattered tusks fell in great numbers; horses, their necks severed by arrows, collapsed; chariots, with their horses, banners, drivers, and leaders slain, and foot soldiers with arms, thighs, and necks cut, lay scattered. As the limbs of elephants, horses, and men were severed, rivers of blood flowed in hundreds, filled with arms, horse heads, human skulls, and turtle-like torsos, crowded with the corpses of slain elephants, horses, and warriors. The rivers had waves of arms, hair as waterweeds, bows as currents, and were choked with clusters of weapons. Terrifying whirlpools were formed by spinning swords, sparkling with gems, pearls, ornaments, and stones. In that battle, Sankarshana, of immeasurable brilliance, wielding his mace, struck down the arrogant foes, causing terror among the timid and joy among the brave, as the warriors destroyed each other. That vast and dreadful army, guarded by Jarasandha and seemingly insurmountable, was utterly destroyed by the sons of Vasudeva, whose play is supreme in the world. He whose power brings about the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the three worlds by his own play—there is nothing remarkable in his subduing of enemies; yet, for the sake of mortals, it is described. Rama seized Jarasandha, mighty though he was, after his chariot was destroyed and his army slain, overpowering him by sheer strength, just as a lion seizes another lion. Govinda stopped him from being bound with human and Varuna’s ropes, after his enemies had been slain, in order to accomplish a certain purpose. Freed by the Lords of the world, Jarasandha, esteemed among heroes, felt ashamed and resolved upon penance, but was blocked on the road by the kings. Through words whose meanings were pure, and even ordinary glances, this defeat befell him through the Yadus, as a result of his own actions. When all his forces had been destroyed, Jarasandha, king of the Barhadratha line, was disregarded by the Blessed One and departed for Magadha, troubled in mind. Mukunda, with his strength unscathed and having crossed the ocean of enemy forces, was showered with flowers and praised by the gods. The people of Mathurā, now free from distress and joyful in spirit, approached him. His victory was sung by charioteers, bards, and minstrels. Conch shells and drums resounded, many trumpets and horns were played, as the Lord entered the city, accompanied by lyres, flutes, and mridangas. The streets were sprinkled, the people were joyful, adorned with flags, echoing with the sound of Vedic chants, and festooned with decorated gateways. He was honored by women with garlands, yogurt, and sprouting grains, and gazed upon with loving, eager eyes. All the wealth, endless and adorned with the ornaments of heroes, gained in battle, was brought and presented by the Lord to the king of the Yadus. Thus, the king of Magadha, with a force as great as seventeen akṣauhiṇīs, fought repeatedly with the Yadus, who were protected by Krishna. The Vṛṣṇis, empowered by Krishna’s brilliance, destroyed all that force; when his own troops were slain, Jarasandha was abandoned by his allies and departed. In the eighteenth battle, as it was about to occur, a hero sent by Narada—the Yavana—appeared in the midst.