Within the splendid city, built with the homes of the guardians of the directions and the residences of beloved women, people from all four varṇas thrived. The city glowed with the homes of the Yadu gods, radiating prosperity and divine presence. Indra himself sent Sudharmā, the celestial assembly hall, and the Pārijāta tree to this city, so that even mortals dwelling there would not be bound by the limitations of ordinary human life. Varuṇa gifted magnificent, dark-colored horses—swift as thought, yet white in hue. The lord of treasures presented eight treasure houses, and the guardians of the worlds bestowed all their own opulences. All the powers and lordships granted to them by the Blessed Lord for their own perfection, they returned to Hari when He descended to earth. There, by the power of yoga, Hari gathered all the people. After consulting with Rāma, the protector of the people, Kṛṣṇa left the city gate, garlanded with lotuses and unarmed. Śuka continued, describing the scene: As Kṛṣṇa emerged, He shone like the rising moon, most beautiful to behold. His complexion was dark, His garments yellow silk. The Śrīvatsa mark adorned His chest, and the Kaustubha gem radiated at His throat. Tall and broad, with four arms, His eyes were like fresh red lotuses. Ever joyful and glorious, with rounded cheeks and a pure, gentle smile, His face was like a lotus, and His makara-shaped earrings sparkled. This was truly Vāsudeva—marked by the Śrīvatsa, four-armed, lotus-eyed, adorned with a forest garland, supremely beautiful. By the signs described by Nārada, none could mistake Him for another. Seeing Him unarmed and walking on foot, the Yavana resolved, “I shall fight him unarmed.” Desiring to seize Kṛṣṇa, the Yavana pursued Him as He fled, though Kṛṣṇa is unattainable even to yogis. Kṛṣṇa led him step by step, always showing Himself at a distance, into a mountain cave, as if the Yavana could grasp his own self with his hand. The Yavana, taunting as he followed, cried out, “Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line, such as you!” But though he mocked, he could not catch Kṛṣṇa. The Blessed Lord 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 Achyuta, who lay there, with his foot. The man, having slept for a long time, slowly rose and opened his eyes. Looking in all directions, he saw the Yavana standing beside him. At that moment, the angry gaze of the man instantly burned the Yavana to ashes, consumed by the fire born of his own body. King Parīkṣit, listening, asked, “O brāhmaṇa, who was that man? Of what lineage and power? Why did he go into the cave and sleep there? 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. Requested by the hosts of gods, including Indra, he protected them from the terrified asuras 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.’ “O hero, 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, the best of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda. Mucukunda saw Him, dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, marked with the Śrīvatsa on His chest, and shining with the Kaustubha gem. 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, suspecting and cautious, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power. Mucukunda said, “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. He too was surely reduced to ashes by his own wickedness; immediately after, you, glorious and renowned for subduing enemies, appeared. Your unbearable radiance is so great that we cannot gaze upon you; O illustrious one, you are worthy of honor among embodied beings.” Thus addressed by the king, the Lord, creator of beings, replied with a smile, His voice deep as thunderclouds.