The Lord, in celebration of His marriage, bestowed a magnificent dowry: ten thousand cows, and three thousand young women adorned with sparkling necklaces and fine garments. He gave 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. After arranging these splendid gifts, the King of Kośala, his heart softened with affection, placed the newly wedded couple upon a chariot, surrounded by a grand army, and sent them off with honor. News of this joyous procession reached the ears of kings whose pride and strength had been humbled by the Yadus and their champions. Unable to tolerate the event, they attempted to obstruct the path as the maiden was being led away. Arjuna, the mighty wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow, dear friend and protector, stood firm. With skill and valor, he scattered their volleys of arrows, felling the opposing warriors as a lion fells lesser beasts. Having received the dowry, the foremost among the Yadus, the Lord, 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, given to Him by her brothers, including Santardana. He alone carried off Lakṣmaṇā, the daughter of the king of Madra, radiant with auspicious marks, from her svayaṃvara, just as Garuḍa seized the nectar of immortality. In this way, thousands of charming wives became Kṛṣṇa’s, after He slew Bhauma and rescued them from captivity. King Parīkṣit, eager to hear more, asked the sage Śuka, “O wise one, tell me how Bhauma was slain by the Lord, and how those women, who had been imprisoned, 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, the Lord, informed of the earth-born Naraka’s actions, 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 barriers of water, fire, and wind, as well as the fierce, strong bonds of the demon Mura. With His mace, the Lord 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 broke the bonds of Mura. The blast of His conch shattered the machines and struck terror into the hearts of the proud. With His mighty mace, Gadādhara smashed the ramparts. Hearing the terrible sound of Pāñcajanya, as thunder at the end of an age, Mura, the demon with five heads, rose from the waters where he lay. Mura, dreadful to behold, brandished a blazing trident, fierce as the sun and fire at the world’s end, and rushed at the son of Tārkṣya, attacking with his five mouths like a serpent. He hurled his trident swiftly at Garuḍa, roaring so loudly with his five mouths that the sound filled the heavens, all directions, and the cosmic egg. The three-pronged weapon struck Garuḍa, but Hari countered it with two arrows of triple power and shot arrows into Mura’s mouths. Enraged, Mura hurled his mace at the Lord. As the mace flew in battle, the Lord, elder of maces, 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’s life departed, and he fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been cut off by Indra’s power. His seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa as the seventh—placed their commander Pīṭha in front, armed for battle, and advanced, sent by Naraka. They approached the unconquered Lord, hurling arrows, swords, maces, spears, javelins, and tridents in fierce wrath. 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 together. Bhagavān, elder of maces, struck Naraka’s 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. Carried by Suparṇa, Garuḍa struck the elephants with his wings, slaying them with his beak, wings, and claws. Naraka, distressed, entered the city, fighting as he went, seeing his army routed and tormented by Garuḍa. The earth-born Naraka struck Kṛṣṇa with his weapon, but the thunderbolt was repelled. Though pierced, the Lord did not tremble, like an elephant struck by a garland. Naraka, in 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. Naraka’s 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 radiant earrings of 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 with joined hands and a mind devoted in loving reverence. Bhūmi prayed: “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, adorned with a garland of lotuses, lotus-eyed one, 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. You, desiring to create, O unborn Lord, assume the fierce form to bring about dissolution; for the stability of the worlds, you are sattva, O Lord of the universe; time, matter, and the supreme person—you are all these. Earth, water, fire, air, ether, the senses, gods, mind, and the great principle—all that moves and does not move, O Lord, in you, the non-dual, this delusion does not exist. This son of yours, frightened, has taken refuge at your lotus feet, seeking relief from distress; therefore, protect him—place your lotus hand, which removes all sin, upon his head.” Thus, the Lord was worshipped and praised by the goddess, and His victory over Naraka was celebrated by all.