The formidable warriors, filled with wrath, reached the unconquered Lord and unleashed a storm of arrows, swords, maces, spears, javelins, and tridents upon him. Yet Bhagavān, whose power never fails, shattered all their weapons with his own arrows, rendering their assault useless. Then, with his flying discus and arrows, he struck down the chiefs led by Pīṭha, severing their heads, arms, legs, and armor, and sent them all to the abode of Yama. Thus was Naraka, the son of the earth, defeated. Witnessing this devastation, Durmarṣaṇa, brimming with pride, charged forward with elephants born from the ocean. Seeing Kṛṣṇa seated with his wife upon Garuḍa—shining like the sun atop a cloud lit by lightning—Durmarṣaṇa hurled a mighty weapon capable of slaying hundreds. All the warriors attacked at once. But the Lord, elder of maces, struck back at the earth-born army with wondrous steeds and sharp arrows, cutting off the arms, thighs, heads, and bodies of his foes, and at that moment also slew their horses and elephants. O descendant of Kuru, 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, and with his beak, wings, and claws, he slew them. Naraka, distressed by the destruction of his army and tormented by Garuḍa, retreated into his city, fighting as he went. In desperation, the earth-born one struck Kṛṣṇa with his weapon, but even the thunderbolt was repelled. Though pierced, the Lord did not tremble, just as an elephant is unmoved by a mere garland. Naraka, with futile effort, seized 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. Naraka’s head, adorned with beautiful earrings and a splendid crown, shone brilliantly as it fell to the earth. The sages and lords of the gods cried out in wonder, praising Mukunda and showering him with garlands. Then Bhūmi, the earth goddess, approached Kṛṣṇa. She brought radiant earrings set with refined gold and jewels, the Vaijayanti garland, a great jewel, and a royal umbrella, offering them all to the son of Prachetas. Reverently, she joined her hands and, with a devoted mind, praised the Lord of the universe. Bhūmi spoke: “Obeisance to you, Lord of gods, bearer of conch, discus, and mace; you who assume 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—obeisance to you, whose feet are like lotuses. Salutations to you, Bhagavān, 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. Desiring to create, you assume fierce forms for dissolution; for the world’s stability, 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 with words of devotion and humility, the Lord assured Bhūmi and then entered the splendid palace of the earth-born one. There he saw over sixteen thousand royal maidens, whom Naraka had seized after rescuing them from various kings. When that best of men entered, the women, bewildered, felt in their hearts the desire for him as their chosen husband, as though fate had brought him to them. Each prayed, “May this one become my husband, and may the Creator approve it,” and each, with her own feeling, offered her heart to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa sent them to Dvārakā, adorned in spotless garments, along with attendants, treasures, chariots, horses, and abundant wealth. He also dispatched sixty-four swift, four-tusked, white elephants from the line of Airāvata. Afterward, Kṛṣṇa visited the abode of the lord of the gods and presented the earrings to Aditi, being honored by the king of the gods and his beloved Indrani. At Satyabhama’s request, he uprooted the celestial Pārijāta tree, placed it upon Garuḍa, and, after defeating the gods with Indra, brought it to his own city. He established the tree in Satyabhama’s house-garden, enhancing its beauty, and bees, greedy for its fragrance, followed it from heaven. Satyabhama bowed to Acyuta, touching his feet with her crown, and requested the fulfillment of her desire. Thus, the Lord’s greatness was revealed—and, alas, how deep is the darkness of pride among the gods! Then, in a single moment, the unchanging Lord assumed as many forms as needed and married those women in their various mansions. Dwelling in their homes, surpassing all comparison and distinction, he delighted with his consorts, appearing just as an ordinary householder among his wives. The women, having attained the Lord of Lakshmi as their husband—a path unknown even to Brahmā and others—served him with joy and increasing love, through smiles, glances, intimate union, playful words, and bashfulness. Hundreds of maidservants also attended the Lord, performing tasks such as welcoming him, offering seats, worship, washing his feet, presenting betel, ensuring his rest, fanning him, adorning him with fragrant garlands, arranging his hair, preparing his bed, bathing him, and presenting gifts. Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, “The Taking of the Parijata Tree and the Slaying of Naraka,” in the tenth book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Once, Bhāīṣmī attended to her husband, the teacher of the world, as he sat happily on his bed, fanning him together with her companions. He, who by his play creates, sustains, and destroys the universe, was born among the Yadus to protect the cows and his own kin. In that inner chamber, adorned with a hanging pearl necklace, a jeweled canopy, and radiant lamps, garlands of jasmine and other blossoms filled the air, and swarms of bees hummed. Pure moonlight filtered through the lattice windows, and breezes carried the fragrance of the Parijata grove and gardens, mingling with the scent of aloe wood incense wafting through the air. On a most excellent couch, white as milk foam, Bhāīṣmī attended her husband, the Lord of the worlds, as he sat there in comfort and delight.