Delighted and astonished by the events that had unfolded, the king joyfully gave his daughter in marriage to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord graciously accepted her, honoring all proper customs, and thus she became his equal bride. The royal wives, now blessed to have Kṛṣṇa as their beloved son-in-law, were filled with supreme happiness, and a grand festival arose throughout the kingdom. The air reverberated with the sounds of conch shells, kettledrums, and trumpets. Songs were sung and musical instruments played, while brāhmaṇas bestowed auspicious blessings. Men and women, adorned in fine garments, fragrant garlands, and sparkling ornaments, rejoiced together in celebration. As dowry, the Lord gave ten thousand cows and three thousand young women, each adorned with necklaces and exquisite attire. He also gifted nine thousand elephants, chariots numbering a hundred times more than the elephants, horses a hundred times more than the chariots, and men a hundred times more than the horses. Placing the newly married couple upon a splendid chariot and surrounded by a great army, the king of Kośala, his heart softened with affection, sent them off with honor. News of this joyous procession reached the ears of kings who had previously been defeated by the Yadus and their mighty leaders. Unable to bear the event, they attempted to block the procession as the maiden was led away. But Arjuna, the wielder of Gāṇḍīva and Kṛṣṇa’s dear friend and protector, scattered their volleys of arrows with ease, felling them like a lion fells small beasts. Having received the dowry, Kṛṣṇa, the foremost among the Yadus and son of Devakī, returned to Dvārakā and enjoyed happiness with his new bride, Satyā. Kṛṣṇa also married Bhadrā, the daughter of Śrutakīrti, his paternal aunt and 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, after slaying Bhauma and rescuing them from captivity, thousands of charming wives came to belong to Kṛṣṇa. At this point, the king asked the sage, “O wise one, 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 learning of the actions of the earth-born Naraka, Kṛṣṇa 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 defenses of water, fire, and wind, as well as by fierce, strong bonds created by the demon Mura. With his mace, Kṛṣṇa shattered the mountains; with arrows, he destroyed the weapon fortresses; with his discus, he overcame the elements of fire, water, and wind; and with his sword, he cut through the bonds of Mura. The blast of his conch broke the machines and struck fear into the hearts of the proud, and 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 dreadful trident, blazing with the radiance of the sun and fire at the end of an age, Mura rushed at the son of Tārkṣya with his five mouths, like a serpent attacking. He hurled his trident swiftly at Garuḍa and roared with all five mouths, producing a sound that filled the heavens, all directions, and 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 Kṛṣṇa, but as it came flying, the Lord shattered it with his own, splitting it into a thousand pieces. Raising his arms, the unconquered one rushed forward and, with playful ease, severed Mura’s heads with his discus. Headless, Mura’s life departed, and he fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been cut off by Indra’s power. Enraged by their father’s death, Mura’s seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa as the seventh—placed Pīṭha, their commander, at the front and advanced, armed for battle and sent by Naraka. They reached the unconquered Lord and 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. Witnessing 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, Durmarṣaṇa hurled a hundred-slaying weapon at him, and all the warriors attacked simultaneously. 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 with sharp arrows and sword-bearing shafts. Garuḍa, ever faithful, struck the elephants with his wings, slaying them with his beak, wings, and claws. Naraka, distressed by the rout of his army and tormented by Garuḍa, entered the city, fighting as he went. 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 Naraka sat upon his elephant. His head, adorned with earrings and a beautiful crown, shone brilliantly as it fell to 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, and offered them to the son of Prachetas. The goddess, worshipped by the best of gods, praised the Lord of the universe with joined hands and a mind devoted in loving reverence. She said: “Obeisance to you, Lord of gods, bearer of conch, discus, and mace; who assumes forms according to the wishes of your devotees, Supreme Soul, I bow to you. Salutations to you, lotus-naveled one; salutations to you, adorned with a garland of lotuses; salutations to you, lotus-eyed one; obeisance to you, whose feet are like lotuses. Salutations to you, Bhagavan, Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person, the original seed, the one of complete knowledge; I bow to you. Obeisance to you, unborn one, creator of this universe, of infinite power; soul of all, supreme and immanent, I bow to you.” Thus, the earth praised Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all, who had rescued the captive women and restored righteousness.