Hearing of the abduction of the maiden by the Yadus, the kings whose power had been broken by them and the mighty bulls of their clan, were unable to tolerate such humiliation. In their fury, they attempted to block the procession as the maiden was being led away. But Arjuna, the wielder of the great Gāṇḍīva bow, ever the dear friend and protector, scattered their volleys of arrows, felling the opposing kings as a lion fells small beasts. Having received the dowry, the foremost among the Yadus, Lord Krishna, the son of Devakī, returned to Dvārakā and enjoyed happiness with Satyā. Krishna also married Bhadrā, the daughter of Śrutakīrti, his paternal aunt, a princess of the Kaikeyas, who was lovingly given to him by her brothers, including Santardana. In another svayaṃvara, Krishna alone carried off Lakṣmaṇā, the daughter of the king of Madra, adorned with auspicious marks, just as Garuḍa seized the nectar. In this way, thousands of charming wives became Krishna’s after he slew Bhauma and rescued them from captivity. King Parīkṣit, eager to hear more, asked the sage Śuka, “O wise one, please 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 his umbrella, earrings, and companions, and his position upon the mountain of the gods had been usurped, Krishna, informed of the actions of the earth-born Naraka, mounted Garuḍa with his wife and proceeded 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 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 rampart. Hearing the terrifying sound of Pāñcajanya, like thunder at the end of an age, the demon Mura, with five heads, rose from the water where he lay. Brandishing a dreadful trident, blazing with the fierce radiance of the sun and fire, he rushed at Krishna, 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, the sound filling the heavens and all directions, 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 Krishna, but as it came flying, Krishna, 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 his discus. Headless, his life departed, Mura fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been cut off by Indra’s power. Seeing their father slain, Mura’s seven sons—Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān, and Aruṇa as the seventh—placed their commander Pīṭha in front and, armed for battle, advanced against Krishna, sent by Naraka. Reaching the unconquered Lord, they hurled arrows, swords, maces, spears, javelins, and tridents in fierce wrath. Bhagavān, whose power never fails, cut their weapons to bits with his own arrows and 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. Durmarṣaṇa, overflowing with pride, then attacked with elephants born from the ocean. Seeing Krishna with his wife seated upon Garuḍa, like the sun atop a cloud with lightning, Durmarṣaṇa hurled a weapon meant to slay hundreds, 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 slew their horses and elephants in that moment. 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, killing 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 one struck Krishna with his weapon, but the thunderbolt was repelled; even pierced by it, Krishna did not tremble, like an elephant struck by a garland. With futile effort, Naraka 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 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 Krishna, 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 with hands joined and mind devoted in loving reverence. Bhūmi 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, 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. 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 addressed by Bhūmi with words of devotion and humility, the Lord granted her assurance and entered the opulent house of the earth-born one. There, Hari saw over sixteen thousand royal maidens, seized by Naraka, whom he had rescued from the kings. Seeing that best of men enter, the women, bewildered, desired him in their hearts as their chosen husband, brought to them by fate.