The king, his heart full of reverence, addressed the Lord: “O Lord, who could be a greater or more desirable suitor for my daughter than you, in whom the unfailing goddess of fortune herself resides, and who are the sole abode of all virtues? Yet, O best of the Sātvatas, we had made a prior agreement: to test the strength of those who sought her hand, my daughter would be won only through a contest.” He gestured toward seven fierce and uncontrollable bulls. “These bulls, O hero, have bested and wounded many princes who tried. If you alone, O delight of the Yadus, can subdue them, then you shall be chosen as my daughter’s husband, O Lord of Śrī.” Hearing this, the Lord fastened his garment, and, by his divine power, multiplied himself into seven forms. With playful ease, he subdued the bulls, breaking their pride and taming their wildness. Śauri then bound them with ropes and dragged them along as effortlessly as a child would pull wooden toys. The king, both delighted and astonished, joyfully gave his daughter, Satyā, to Kṛṣṇa. In accordance with proper custom, the Lord accepted her as his equal bride. The royal wives, overjoyed to gain Kṛṣṇa as their beloved son-in-law, rejoiced, and a grand festival arose throughout the kingdom. Conch shells, kettledrums, and trumpets resounded; songs and instruments filled the air, and the brāhmaṇas bestowed their blessings. Men and women, adorned in fine garments, garlands, and ornaments, celebrated together. In generosity, the Lord gave as dowry ten thousand cows and three thousand young women adorned with necklaces and fine clothes. He also gave nine thousand elephants, chariots a hundred times more than elephants, horses a hundred times more than chariots, and men a hundred times more than horses. The king of Kośala, his heart softened by affection, placed the couple on a chariot, surrounded by a great army, and sent them forth in splendor. But when the kings, whose pride had been humbled by the Yadus and the bulls, heard of this, they could not tolerate it. Gathering together, they tried to block the procession as the maiden was being led away. Arjuna, the wielder of Gāṇḍīva, dear friend and protector, met their challenge. With his mighty bow, he scattered their volleys of arrows and felled them as a lion fells small beasts. Having received the dowry, Kṛṣṇa, the foremost of the Yadus and son of Devakī, returned to Dvārakā and enjoyed happiness with Satyā. He also married Bhadrā, daughter of his paternal aunt Śrutakīrti, a princess of the Kaikeyas, who was given to him by her brothers, such as Santardana. In another svayaṃvara, Kṛṣṇa alone carried off Lakṣmaṇā, the daughter of the king of Madra, adorned with auspicious marks, just as Garuḍa had seized nectar from the gods. In this way, after slaying Bhauma and rescuing them from captivity, thousands of charming women became Kṛṣṇa’s wives. King Parīkṣit then asked, “O sage, tell me how Bhauma was slain by the Lord, and how those women, who had been confined, were rescued by the wielder of Śārṅga.” Śuka replied: When Indra had taken away his umbrella, earrings, and companions, and usurped his position on the mountain of the gods, and when he learned of the deeds of the earth-born Naraka, the Lord mounted Garuḍa with his wife and journeyed to the city of Prāgjyotiṣa. That city was surrounded on all sides by formidable mountain fortresses, weapon fortresses, and fortifications of water, fire, and wind, as well as by the fierce, strong bonds of the demon Mura. With his mace, Kṛṣṇa shattered the mountains; with his 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. With the blast of his conch, Pāñcajanya, he broke the machines and struck terror into the hearts of the proud. With his mighty mace, Gadādhara smashed the ramparts. Hearing the sound of Pāñcajanya, terrifying as thunder at the end of an age, Mura, the five-headed demon, rose from the water where he dwelled. Brandishing a dreadful trident, blazing like the sun and fire at the world’s end, he rushed at Garuḍa and the Lord with his five mouths, like a serpent attacking. Mura hurled his trident at Garuḍa, roaring with his five mouths; the sound filled the heavens, all directions, and the very cosmic egg. The weapon fell upon Garuḍa, but Hari struck it with two arrows of triple power and shot arrows into Mura’s mouths. Enraged, Mura hurled his mace at the Lord, but Kṛṣṇa shattered it with his own, splitting it into a thousand pieces. Then, raising his arms, the unconquered Lord rushed forward and, with his discus, playfully severed Mura’s five heads. Headless, Mura’s life departed, and he fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been cut off by Indra’s thunderbolt. His seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa—placing their commander Pīṭha at the front, armed themselves for battle and advanced, sent by Naraka. They hurled arrows, swords, maces, spears, javelins, and tridents at the unconquered Lord in fierce wrath, but Bhagavān, whose power never fails, cut their weapons to pieces with his own arrows. With his flying discus and arrows, he severed their heads, arms, legs, and armor, sending them, led by Pīṭha, to the abode of Yama. Thus, Naraka, son of the earth, was defeated. Seeing this, Durmarṣaṇa, overflowing with pride, attacked with elephants born from the ocean. Beholding Kṛṣṇa with his wife seated upon Garuḍa, like the sun on a cloud with lightning, he hurled a weapon meant to slay a hundred at once, while all the warriors attacked together. The Lord, elder of maces, struck the earth-born army with wondrous steeds and sharp arrows, cutting off their arms, thighs, heads, and bodies, and slew their horses and elephants. Whatever weapons and missiles the warriors launched, Hari cut them down with sharp arrows and sword-bearing shafts. Garuḍa, the mighty Suparṇa, struck the elephants with his wings, beak, and claws, slaying them all. Naraka, distressed at the destruction of his army and tormented by Garuḍa, entered the city, fighting as he went. The earth-born Naraka struck the Lord with his weapon, but it was as ineffectual as a garland striking an elephant. In vain, Naraka took up a spear to kill Acyuta, but before he could release it, Hari severed his head with the razor-edged discus as he sat upon his elephant. Naraka’s head, adorned with earrings and a beautiful crown, shone brilliantly as it fell to the earth. The sages and lords of the gods exclaimed in wonder, “Alas! Well done!” and praised Mukunda, showering him with garlands.