When the king of the Barhadratha dynasty, Jarasandha, saw his vast army utterly destroyed, he was ignored by the Blessed One—Krishna—and, troubled in mind, returned to Magadha. Meanwhile, Mukunda—Krishna—stood victorious, his strength untouched, having crossed the ocean of enemy forces. The gods themselves showered him with flowers and sang his praises from the heavens. The people of Mathura, now free from distress and filled with joy, gathered around Krishna. Charioteers, bards, and minstrels sang songs of his victory, and the air resonated with the sounds of conch shells, drums, trumpets, and horns. As Krishna entered the city, he was accompanied by music from lyres, flutes, and mridangas. The streets were sprinkled with water, flags adorned every corner, decorated gateways welcomed him, and the city echoed with Vedic chants. Mathura was alive with happiness. Women honored Krishna with garlands, yogurt, and sprouting grains, gazing upon him with loving, eager eyes. All the wealth won in battle—endless and adorned with the ornaments of fallen heroes—was brought by Krishna and presented to the king of the Yadus. But Jarasandha, king of Magadha, was relentless. With a force as great as seventeen akshauhinis, he fought the Yadus again and again, but Krishna’s brilliance empowered the Vṛṣṇis, who destroyed Jarasandha’s armies. Abandoned by his allies after his troops were slain, Jarasandha departed once more. Then, as the eighteenth battle loomed, a new threat appeared. A mighty hero sent by Narada—the Yavana—arrived amidst the conflict. This foreigner besieged Mathura with three million barbarian troops. In the world of men, none could match him; he had heard of the Vṛṣṇis, his equals. Seeing this formidable enemy, Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana (Balarama), thought, “Alas, a great calamity has come upon the Yadus from both sides. This Yavana is besieging us today, and the king of Magadha may arrive at any moment. If Jarasandha comes while we are engaged in battle, he will either kill our kinsmen or carry them off to his city. Therefore, today we must build a fortress, difficult for men to approach. After settling our kinsmen there, we will destroy the Yavana.” After careful deliberation, the Blessed Lord created a wondrous fortress—a city twelve yojanas wide—within the sea. The skill of Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine architect, was evident everywhere: streets, crossroads, and avenues laid out according to proper principles; celestial trees and gardens, marvelous groves, towers of gold reaching the sky, crystal mansions, and gateways. Silver and gold turrets gleamed, treasuries decorated with golden jars, houses crowned with jewels, and great emerald platforms adorned the city. The city housed the guardians of the quarters, residences of beloved women, and people of all four varṇas, shining with the homes of the Yadu gods. Sudharmā, the celestial assembly hall, and the Pārijāta tree were sent there by Indra, where even mortals residing were not subject to mortal limitations. Varuṇa gifted dark-colored horses, swift as the mind and white in hue; the lord of treasures gave eight treasuries; the guardians of the worlds offered all their own opulences. Whatever lordship had been granted by Krishna for their own perfection, they returned to Him when He descended to earth. By the power of yoga, Hari brought all the people into this new city. After consulting with Rāma, the protector of the people, Krishna left the city gate, garlanded with lotuses and unarmed. Śuka spoke: As Krishna emerged, he shone like the rising moon, most beautiful to behold, dark in complexion, clad in yellow silk. On his chest was the Śrīvatsa mark, and at his throat the radiant Kaustubha gem. He was broad, tall, four-armed, with eyes like fresh red lotuses. Ever joyful and glorious, his rounded cheeks and pure smile, his lotus-like face and brilliant makara-shaped earrings made him supremely beautiful. This was indeed Vāsudeva, marked by the Śrīvatsa, four-armed, lotus-eyed, adorned with a forest garland. By the signs described by Narada, the Yavana knew that none else could be so. Thinking, “Unarmed, walking on foot, I shall fight him unarmed,” the Yavana resolved to seize Krishna. He pursued Krishna as He fled, though Krishna is unattainable even to yogis. Step by step, Hari led the Yavana, showing himself at a distance, into a mountain cave. The Yavana taunted Krishna as he followed: “Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line, such as you!” But despite his taunts, he could not catch Krishna. The Blessed Lord entered the mountain cave, and the Yavana followed, only to see another man lying there. Thinking, “Surely this one has been brought far away and is lying here like a saint,” the foolish Yavana struck Achyuta, who was lying there, with his foot. The man, having slept for a long time, rose and slowly opened his eyes, looking in all directions. Seeing the Yavana standing beside him, he fixed his gaze upon him. At that moment, by the angry gaze of that man, the Yavana was instantly burned to ashes by the fire born of his own body. King Parikshit, curious, asked, “O brāhmaṇa, who was that man? Of what lineage and power? Why did he sleep in the cave? What was the brilliance of the destroyer of the Yavana?” Śuka replied: He was born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, the great son of Māndhātṛ, renowned as Mucukunda, devoted to the brāhmaṇas and steadfast in truth. The hosts of gods, including Indra, had requested him to protect them from the asuras who were terrified; Mucukunda performed that protection for a long time. When the gods found Mucukunda, their protector, in the cave, they said, “O king, please desist from these hardships of protecting us.