O noble one, listen to the wondrous deeds of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the delight of the Yadus. In the kingdom of Kośala, there stood seven fierce and unruly bulls, who had defeated and injured many princes that sought the hand of the king’s daughter, Satyā. The king, astonished by their strength, proclaimed, “If you alone, O Lord of Śrī, can subdue these bulls, you shall be the chosen husband of my daughter.” Upon hearing this challenge, Kṛṣṇa, with playful confidence, fastened his garment and multiplied himself into seven forms. With ease, he subdued the bulls, breaking their pride and strength. Śauri bound them with ropes and dragged them as effortlessly as a child would drag wooden toys. The king, delighted and astonished by this display, joyfully gave his daughter to Kṛṣṇa, who accepted her in proper form as his equal bride. The royal wives, now blessed with Kṛṣṇa as their beloved son-in-law, attained supreme joy, and a great festival arose. Conch shells, kettledrums, and trumpets resounded; songs and instruments filled the air, and brāhmaṇas offered blessings. Men and women, adorned in fine garments, garlands, and ornaments, rejoiced together. As dowry, the Lord gave ten thousand cows, three thousand young women adorned with necklaces and fine clothes, 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 with affection, placed the couple on a chariot, surrounded by a great army, and sent them off. Hearing of this, the kings whose strength had been broken by the Yadus and the bulls, unable to tolerate their defeat, attempted to block the procession as Satyā was being led away. But Arjuna, wielder of Gāṇḍīva and dear friend of Kṛṣṇa, scattered their volleys of arrows, felling them like a lion fells small beasts. Having received the dowry, Kṛṣṇa, foremost among the Yadus and son of Devakī, enjoyed happiness with Satyā in Dvārakā. Kṛṣṇa also married Bhadrā, the daughter of Śrutakīrti, his paternal aunt, a princess of the Kaikeyas, who was given to him by her brothers, including 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. In this way, thousands of such wives, all of charming appearance, became Kṛṣṇa’s after he slew Bhauma and rescued them from captivity. The king 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: Having had his umbrella, earrings, and companions taken by Indra, and his position on the mountain of the gods usurped, and informed of the actions of the earth-born, Kṛṣṇa mounted Garuḍa with his wife and went 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 fierce, strong bonds created by Mura. With his mace, Kṛṣṇa shattered the mountains; with arrows, he broke the weapon fortresses; with his discus, he overcame fire, water, and wind; and with his sword, he cut the bonds of Mura. With the blast of his conch, he broke the machines and struck fear into the hearts of the proud. With his mighty mace, Gadādhara smashed the rampart. Hearing the sound of Pāñcajanya, terrifying like thunder at the end of an age, Mura, the demon with five heads, rose from the water where he lay. Brandishing a trident, dreadful to behold and blazing with fierce radiance, Mura rushed at the son of Tārkṣya with his five mouths, as a serpent attacks. Hurling his trident at Garuḍa, he roared with his five mouths; the great sound filled the heavens, all directions, and the space within, covering the cosmic egg. The three-pronged 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 him. As the mace came flying, Kṛṣṇa shattered it with his own, splitting it into a thousand pieces. Raising his arms, the unconquered one rushed forward and playfully severed Mura’s heads with the discus. Headless, Mura fell into the water, like a mountain with its peak cut off by Indra’s power. His seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa as the seventh—placed Pīṭha, their commander, in front and armed for battle, advanced, sent by the earth-born. They hurled arrows, swords, maces, spears, javelins, and tridents in fierce wrath, but Bhagavān, whose power never fails, cut their weapons to bits with his own arrows. He sent those chiefs, led by Pīṭha, to the abode of Yama, their heads, arms, legs, and armor severed by his flying discus and arrows; thus Naraka, son of the earth, was defeated. Seeing this, Durmarṣaṇa, overflowing with pride, attacked with elephants born from the ocean. Seeing Kṛṣṇa with his wife seated upon Garuḍa, like the sun atop a cloud with lightning, he hurled a hundred-slaying weapon at him, and all the warriors simultaneously attacked. Bhagavān, elder of maces, struck the earth-born army with wondrous steeds and sharp arrows, cutting off their arms, thighs, heads, and bodies, and at that moment slew their horses and elephants. Whatever weapons and missiles the warriors launched, Hari cut them down, each with sharp arrows and sword-bearing shafts. Carried by Suparṇa, Garuḍa struck the elephants with his wings, beak, and claws, slaying them. Naraka, distressed, entered the city, fighting as he went, seeing his army routed and tormented by Garuḍa. The earth-born one struck Kṛṣṇa with his weapon, but the thunderbolt was repelled; pierced by it, Kṛṣṇa did not tremble, like an elephant struck by a garland. Naraka, with futile effort, 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 the elephant. His head, adorned with earrings and a beautiful crown, shone brilliantly as it fell upon the earth. The sages and lords of the gods exclaimed, “Alas! Well done!” and praised Mukunda, showering him with garlands. Then the earth herself approached Kṛṣṇa, bringing earrings radiant with refined gold and jewels, the Vaijayanti garland, a great jewel, and a royal umbrella, offering them to the son of Prachetas. The goddess, worshipped by the best of gods, praised the Lord of the universe, O King, with hands joined and mind devoted in loving reverence.