By the power of yoga, Hari gathered all the people together, and after conferring with Rāma, the steadfast protector of the people, Kṛṣṇa departed from the city gates. He wore a garland of lotuses and carried no weapons. As He emerged, Śuka described the sight: Kṛṣṇa shone like the rising moon, His beauty captivating all. His complexion was dark as a rain cloud, and He was dressed in yellow silk. Upon His broad chest was the mark of Śrīvatsa, and at His throat gleamed the Kaustubha gem. He stood tall, with four radiant arms, His eyes like freshly blossomed red lotuses. Ever joyful, His rounded cheeks glowed, and His pure smile adorned His lotus-like face. Brilliant makara-shaped earrings dangled from His ears, and He wore a forest garland. Truly, this was Vāsudeva—marked by Śrīvatsa, four-armed, lotus-eyed, supremely beautiful. Recognizing Him by the signs described by Nārada, the Yavana king knew that none other could possess such qualities. Seeing Kṛṣṇa unarmed and walking on foot, the Yavana resolved, “I shall fight Him unarmed.” Driven by this desire, the Yavana pursued Kṛṣṇa as He fled, though Kṛṣṇa is unattainable even to yogis. Hari led the Yavana, step by step, always keeping Himself at a distance, into a mountain cave. It was as if the Yavana tried to grasp his own shadow, never able to catch Him. As he followed, the Yavana taunted, “Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line, such as you!” But despite his taunts, he could not catch the Lord. Ignoring the insults, Kṛṣṇa entered the mountain cave. The Yavana followed, only to find another man lying there. Thinking, “Surely Kṛṣṇa has been brought far away and is lying here like a saint,” the foolish Yavana struck the reclining Achyuta with his foot. The man, who had slept for a long time, slowly opened his eyes and looked around. Seeing the Yavana standing beside him, he fixed his gaze upon him. In that instant, by the angry glance of the awakened man, the Yavana was burned to ashes by a fire born from his own body. The king, Parīkṣit, then asked Śuka, “O brāhmaṇa, who was that man? What was his lineage and his power? Why did he sleep in the cave, and 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. He was devoted to the brāhmaṇas and steadfast in truth. The hosts of gods, including Indra, had requested Mucukunda to protect them from the asuras who were terrified. He served as their protector for a long time. When the gods found Mucukunda 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, the illustrious Mucukunda bowed to the gods, entered the cave, and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep. After 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. Kṛṣṇa stood with four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, His face beautiful and gracious, sparkling makara earrings shining. He was a sight to behold for all mankind, His eyes smiling affectionately, ever youthful, majestic like a proud lion, and possessing noble prowess. Overwhelmed by His brilliance, the wise king, cautious and suspecting, 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. Kṛṣṇa said, “My births, deeds, and names are countless, O friend; even I cannot enumerate them, for they are infinite. Sometimes I have examined earthly births with great beings, but my births are never defined by qualities, deeds, or names. O king, my births and deeds span all three times; even the greatest sages, tracing them in order, never reach their end. Yet, O friend, listen now as I speak of my present birth, for I was requested by Brahma long ago to protect dharma.