Within the city, the remarkable skill of Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine craftsman, was evident everywhere. Its streets, crossroads, and avenues were laid out with perfect precision, following the principles of sacred architecture. The city was adorned with celestial trees and gardens, marvelous groves, and towers of gold that soared to the sky. Crystal mansions and gateways gleamed, while silver and gold turrets rose above treasuries decorated with golden jars. Houses crowned with precious jewels stood upon great emerald platforms. There were the homes of the guardians of the quarters, and the residences of beloved women, all filled with people from every varṇa. The city shone with the dwellings of the Yadu gods. Indra himself had sent Sudharmā, the divine assembly hall, and the Pārijāta tree to this place, where even mortals who dwelled there were freed from the limitations of mortality. Gifts poured in from the guardians of the worlds: Varuṇa gave swift, dark-colored horses, white as clouds and as quick as thought; the lord of treasures bestowed eight treasuries; the guardians themselves offered all their own opulences. Whatever lordship had been granted by the Blessed Lord for their own perfection, all of it they returned to Hari when He descended to earth. By the power of yoga, Hari brought all the people together in this city. After consulting with Rāma, the protector of the people, Kṛṣṇa left the city gate, garlanded with lotuses and unarmed. Śrī Śuka narrates: As He emerged, Kṛṣṇa shone like the rising moon, most beautiful to behold. His complexion was dark, and He was clad in yellow silk. The Śrīvatsa mark adorned His chest, and the Kaustubha gem sparkled at His throat. Tall and broad, with four arms and eyes like fresh red lotuses, He was ever joyful and glorious. His rounded cheeks glowed with a pure smile, His face was lotus-like, and brilliant makara-shaped earrings dangled from His ears. This was truly Vāsudeva, marked by Śrīvatsa, four-armed, lotus-eyed, adorned with a forest garland, supremely beautiful. By the signs described by Nārada, none but He could be so. Unarmed and walking on foot, the Yavana king resolved, “I shall fight Him unarmed.” With this determination, the Yavana, eager to seize Him, pursued Kṛṣṇa as He fled—though Kṛṣṇa is unattainable even to yogis. Hari led the Yavana step by step, always showing Himself just out of reach, drawing him into a mountain cave. The Yavana taunted, “Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line!” but though he followed, he could not catch Him. Kṛṣṇa entered the cave, and the Yavana followed, only to find 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 sleeping man, Achyuta, with his foot. The man, having slept for a long time, rose and slowly opened his eyes, looking around in all directions. He saw the Yavana standing beside him. In 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 Parīkṣit 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. The hosts of gods, including Indra, had requested him to protect them from terrified asuras. For a long time, he performed this protection. When the gods found Mucukunda, their protector, 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 the same 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, 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, best of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda. Mucukunda saw Him, dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest and the Kaustubha gem shining at His throat. With four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful, gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings, Kṛṣṇa was a sight to behold for all mankind. His eyes smiled affectionately, He appeared ever youthful, majestic like a proud lion, and possessed noble prowess. Overwhelmed by His brilliance, the wise king, cautious and suspecting, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power. Mucukunda asked, “Who are you who have come here into this forest, into the mountain cave, wandering with your lotus-petal-like feet among the thorny undergrowth? What is the brilliance of the radiant ones—whether the Lord, fire, sun, moon, Indra, guardian of the worlds, or any other—compared to yours? I consider you the foremost among the gods of gods, for you dispel the darkness of the cave as a lamp does with its light. O best of men, if it pleases you, please tell us, who are eager to serve without fault, about your birth, deeds, and lineage. As for us, O tiger among men, we are the Ikṣvāku clan, kshatriya kin; I am called Mucukunda, son of Yuvanashva, O Lord. Exhausted from long wakefulness, my senses dulled by sleep, I lay here alone, until someone awakened me just now.