After a fierce battle, all the vast wealth—endless and adorned with the trophies of valor—won on the battlefield was gathered by the Lord and presented to the king of the Yadus. Yet, the king of Magadha, Jarasandha, with a mighty force numbering seventeen akshauhinis, repeatedly waged war against the Yadus, who stood protected by Krishna’s divine presence. Empowered by Krishna’s brilliance, the Vṛṣṇis overcame Jarasandha’s formidable armies; as his troops fell, Jarasandha was deserted by his allies and withdrew. But even as the eighteenth battle loomed, a new threat appeared: a powerful hero, a Yavana sent by Narada, arrived in the midst of the conflict. This foreigner besieged Mathura with three million barbarian soldiers, unmatched among men, having heard of the Vṛṣṇis, his equals in prowess. Seeing this, Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana, pondered, “Alas, a great calamity has come upon the Yadus from both sides.” He observed, “This Yavana, immensely powerful, besieges us today, and the king of Magadha may arrive at any moment. If Jarasandha comes while we are engaged in battle, he could either slay our kinsmen or, being strong, carry them off to his city. Therefore, today let us build a fortress, difficult for men to approach. There, after settling our kinsmen, we will destroy the Yavana.” After careful deliberation, the Blessed Lord created an extraordinary fortress—twelve yojanas wide—a wondrous city within the sea. The city displayed the skill of Tvaṣṭṛ, its streets, crossroads, and avenues constructed with expert craftsmanship and according to proper architectural principles. It was adorned with 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 vast emerald platforms. Residences for the guardians of the quarters and beloved women filled the city, which shone with the homes of the Yadu gods and people of all four varṇas. Sudharmā, the celestial assembly hall, and the Pārijāta tree were sent there by Indra, where even mortals residing within were freed from mortal limitations. Varuṇa gifted swift, dark-colored horses, white in hue; the lord of treasures granted eight treasuries; and the guardians of the worlds bestowed their own opulences. All lordship given by the Blessed Lord for their perfection was returned to Hari when He descended to earth. By the power of yoga, Hari brought all His people to this city. After consulting with Rāma, the protector of the people, Krishna left the city gate, garlanded with lotuses and unarmed. Śrī Śuka described the scene: As Krishna emerged, He shone like the rising moon, most beautiful to behold—dark in complexion, clad in yellow silk, bearing the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, radiant with the Kaustubha gem at His throat, broad, tall, four-armed, with eyes like freshly blossomed red lotuses. Ever joyful and glorious, with rounded cheeks, a pure smile, a lotus-like face, and brilliant makara-shaped earrings, He was supremely beautiful, adorned with a forest garland. By the signs described by Narada, the Yavana recognized Him—none other could be so. Seeing Krishna unarmed and walking on foot, the Yavana resolved, “I shall fight him unarmed.” Driven by this resolve, the Yavana pursued Krishna as He fled, though Krishna is unattainable even to yogis. Like trying to grasp himself with his own hand, the lord of the Yavanas was led step by step by Hari, who revealed Himself at a distance, into a mountain cave. Taunting Krishna as he followed, “Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line,” the ill-fated Yavana could not catch Him. Undeterred by the taunts, Krishna entered the cave; the Yavana followed and found another man lying there. Thinking, “Surely this one has been brought far away and is lying here like a saint,” the foolish Yavana struck the one lying there—Achyuta—with his foot. Awakened from a long sleep, the man slowly opened his eyes, looked around, and saw the Yavana standing beside him. At that moment, by the angry gaze of the awakened man, the Yavana was instantly burned to ashes by the fire born of his own body. King Parikshit, hearing this, 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?” Śrī 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. Indra and the hosts of gods requested him to protect them from the asuras, and he performed this duty for a long time. When the gods found Mucukunda, their protector, resting in the cave, they said, “O king, please desist from these hardships of protecting us. You have abandoned the world of men and a kingdom free from enemies; all your desires have been forsaken while you protected us. Your sons, wives, relatives, ministers, counselors, and subjects of your age are no longer alive. Time, the almighty and imperishable Lord, is stronger than the strong; playing, He brings all beings to their end, just as a herdsman does with cattle. Choose a boon, good fortune to you, except for liberation, for today that is not ours to give. There is only one Lord, and He is the imperishable Bhagavān Viṣṇu.” Thus addressed, the illustrious Mucukunda bowed to the gods, entered the cave, and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep. When the Yavana had been reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord, Krishna—the best of the Sātvatas—revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.