O King, as the illustrious assembly of monarchs looked on, Krishna, the Supreme Lord, boldly seized Mitravinda, the daughter of the chief queen—who was also his father’s sister—claiming her as his bride. In the land of Kosala, there ruled a noble and virtuous king named Nagnajit. His daughter, renowned as Satyā or Nagnajiti, was famed for her beauty and character. Yet, to win her hand, suitors faced a daunting trial: they had to subdue seven fierce, sharp-horned bulls, wild and untamable, proud of their might. Many kings had tried and failed, suffering defeat and injury at the hands of these powerful beasts. When news of this challenge reached Krishna, the master of the Sātvatas, he journeyed to Kosala, accompanied by a resplendent army. King Nagnajit, delighted by Krishna’s arrival, honored him with all proper marks of respect—rising from his seat, offering a place of honor, and welcoming him with reverence. Seeing Krishna, the suitor of her heart, Satyā’s longing grew. She prayed silently, “If my vows and austerities are true, may this Lord, whom even Lakshmi, Brahma, Shiva, and the guardians of the worlds worship, become my husband and fulfill all my wishes. How could I, insignificant as I am, be worthy of him—he who built a bridge across the ocean for his own purpose, whose lotus feet are revered by the greatest beings?” Krishna, worshipped anew, smiled and addressed the king, his voice deep and sonorous. “O King,” he said, “though sages declare it unworthy for a kshatriya to beg, I desire your friendship and thus ask for your daughter’s hand—not for a bride-price, for we do not accept such gifts.” King Nagnajit replied with humility, “Who could be a greater or more worthy suitor for my daughter than you, O Lord, when the goddess of fortune herself dwells upon your person? Yet, O best of the Sātvatas, we have a prior agreement: my daughter’s hand is to be won only by one who can subdue these seven formidable bulls, who have already humbled many princes. If you, O delight of the Yadus, can accomplish this feat, then you shall have my daughter as your bride.” Accepting the challenge, Krishna tied his garment securely, then, by his mystic power, multiplied himself into seven identical forms. With playful ease, he subdued each bull, breaking their pride and strength, and bound them with ropes as effortlessly as a child drags wooden toys. Astonished and overjoyed, King Nagnajit gave his daughter Satyā to Krishna, who accepted her in the proper ritual manner as his equal and beloved bride. The royal women, now blessed with Krishna as their son-in-law, rejoiced, and a grand festival ensued. Conch shells, kettledrums, and trumpets resounded; songs and musical instruments filled the air; brāhmaṇas bestowed their blessings; and men and women, adorned in splendid garments, garlands, and ornaments, celebrated with great joy. As dowry, Krishna received ten thousand cows, three thousand maidens adorned with necklaces and fine clothes, nine thousand elephants, chariots a hundred times more than the elephants, horses a hundred times more than the chariots, and men a hundred times more than the horses. The king of Kosala, his heart softened with affection, placed the newly-wed couple upon a chariot and sent them off, escorted by a mighty army. Yet, the kings who had been defeated by the Yadus and the bulls, unable to tolerate Krishna’s victory, attempted to block the procession as Satyā was being led away. But Arjuna, Krishna’s dear friend and protector, wielding his mighty Gāṇḍīva bow, scattered their volleys of arrows and felled those kings as a lion vanquishes lesser beasts. Thus, Krishna, the foremost of the Yadus and son of Devakī, returned to Dvārakā with his bride Satyā and enjoyed great happiness. Krishna also married Bhadrā, daughter of Śrutakīrti—his paternal aunt and a princess of the Kaikeyas—who was given to him by her brothers, such as Santardana. He alone carried off Lakṣmaṇā, the daughter of the king of Madra, adorned with auspicious marks, from her svayaṃvara, just as Garuḍa seized nectar from the gods. In this way, after slaying Bhauma and rescuing thousands of beautiful maidens from captivity, Krishna accepted them all as his wives. At this, King Parīkṣit inquired, “O sage, tell me how Bhauma was slain by the Lord, and how those women, kept in confinement, were rescued by the wielder of Śārṅga.” Śuka replied: When Indra took away Bhauma’s umbrella, earrings, and companions, and usurped his position on the mountain of the gods, Krishna, informed of the earth-born demon’s actions, mounted Garuḍa with his wife and journeyed to the city of Prāgjyotiṣa. That city was protected on all sides by formidable mountain fortresses, weapon fortresses, and barriers of water, fire, and wind, as well as by the fierce, strong bonds of the demon Mura. With his mace, Krishna shattered the mountains; with arrows, he destroyed the weapon fortresses; with his discus, he overcame the barriers of fire, water, and wind; and with his sword, he cut through the bonds of Mura. The blast of his conch, Pāñcajanya, broke the machines and struck terror into the hearts of the proud; with his mighty mace, Gadādhara smashed the ramparts. Hearing the terrifying sound of Pāñcajanya, which resounded like thunder at the end of the age, Mura—the demon with five heads—rose from the water where he lay. Brandishing a dreadful trident, blazing like the sun and fire at the end of time, he rushed at Krishna and Garuḍa, his five mouths gaping like a furious serpent. Mura hurled his trident at Garuḍa, roaring so mightily that the sound filled the heavens and all directions, encompassing the cosmic egg itself. As the trident fell, Krishna countered it with two powerful arrows, then shot more arrows into Mura’s mouths. Enraged, Mura hurled his massive mace at Krishna, but Krishna shattered it with his own, breaking it into a thousand pieces. Then, raising his arms, the unconquered Lord rushed forward and, with playful ease, severed Mura’s heads with his discus. Headless, the demon’s life departed, and he fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been struck off by Indra. Enraged by their father’s death, Mura’s seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa as the seventh—placed their commander Pīṭha at the front and, fully armed, advanced to do battle, sent forth by Bhauma, the earth-born.