Although Rukmi nursed a deep enmity toward Krishna, remembering the humiliation he had suffered at Krishna’s hands, he still gave his own daughter in marriage to Krishna’s son, thus pleasing his beloved sister, Rukmini. O King, the mighty son of Kritavarma also married Rukmini’s daughter—a young woman famed for her beauty and her wide, enchanting eyes. Despite the ongoing feud, Rukmi gave his granddaughter, Rocana, in marriage to Aniruddha, the illustrious grandson of Hari. Though he knew this union was improper, his affection for his sister compelled him to act, hoping to please her heart. When the time for the wedding arrived, it was an auspicious occasion. Rukmini, Balarama, Krishna, Samba, Pradyumna, and other members of the Yadu dynasty journeyed together to the city of Bhojakat, the seat of Rukmi’s power. Once the wedding ceremonies were complete, the assembled kings—led by the haughty ruler of Kalinga—challenged Rukmi to defeat Balarama in a game of dice. Though Balarama was not skilled in the game, the loss would be significant, and so he was summoned to play against Rukmi. The game began. Balarama wagered a hundred coins, then a thousand, and then ten thousand. Rukmi won these rounds, and the king of Kalinga burst into laughter, baring his teeth in derision at Balarama—a sight Halayudha, Balarama himself, could not tolerate. Rukmi then staked a hundred thousand coins, but this time Balarama was victorious. Rukmi, however, resorted to deceit and falsely declared, “I have won.” Balarama’s anger swelled, his eyes reddened with wrath and righteous indignation. Like the ocean at its full, he raised the stakes to ten million coins. Again, Balarama won fairly, but Rukmi, clinging to trickery, insisted he was the winner and called for witnesses to support his claim. At that moment, a voice resounded from the sky: “Balarama alone has won the wager. Rukmi speaks falsely, claiming victory by words, not by righteousness.” Yet the king of Vidarbha, urged on by wicked rulers and blinded by fate, ignored the heavenly voice. He mocked Sankarshana, Balarama, with scornful words, saying, “You are unskilled in dice, you cowherds who wander the forests. It is kings who play dice and wield arrows, not men like you.” Insulted and ridiculed before the assembly by Rukmi and the other kings, Balarama’s fury erupted. He seized his club and, in the midst of the gathering, struck Rukmi down. With quick steps, he caught the king of Kalinga—who had laughed at him so openly—and with a single blow, knocked out his teeth. The other arrogant kings, their arms, thighs, and heads broken and bleeding from Balarama’s blows, fled in terror from the assembly. When Rukmi, Krishna’s brother-in-law, was slain, Krishna—Hari himself—remained silent, neither praising nor condemning the act, mindful of the bond between Rukmini and Balarama and the delicate ties of family affection. With the wedding fulfilled, Balarama and the Dasharhas placed Aniruddha and his new bride on a splendid chariot and departed from Bhojakat, returning to Kushasthali under the shelter of Madhusudana, their hearts and purposes fulfilled. At this, the king asked: “The foremost of the Yadus married Bāṇa’s daughter Ūṣā. There was a great battle then between Hari and Śaṅkara. O sage, please recount all this in detail.” Śrī Śuka replied: Bāṇa was the eldest among the hundred sons of the great soul Bali, who once gave the earth to Hari in the form of Vāmana. Bāṇa himself was ever devoted to Śiva, honored, generous, wise, steadfast in truth, and firm in his vows. In the beautiful city of Śoṇita, Bāṇa ruled as king. By Śiva’s grace, his attendants were like the immortals. With his thousand arms, he delighted Rudra by playing music during the Tāṇḍava dance. Lord Śiva, master of all beings and refuge of his devotees, offered Bāṇa a boon of his choice. Bāṇa asked that Śiva protect his city. Once, intoxicated by his own strength, Bāṇa approached Giriśa, Śiva, who was nearby, and touched his lotus feet with a crown shining like the sun. He said, “I bow to you, Mahādeva, guru and lord of the worlds, fulfiller of the desires of the unmet, worshipped by the immortals. You have given me a thousand arms, but now they are a burden. In all three worlds, I find no one equal to fight except you. Longing for battle, I have scratched myself with my restrained arms and fought the elephants of the directions, crushing mountains, but even they fled in fear.” Hearing this, the Lord was angered and said, “When your flag is broken, O fool, then you will find an opponent equal to you in battle who will humble your pride.” Delighted by these words, though misguided, Bāṇa returned to his palace, foolishly awaiting the command of Giriśa, not realizing he was inviting his own ruin. Bāṇa had a daughter named Ūṣā. One night, Ūṣā dreamed of union with a handsome youth she had never seen or heard of before—the son of Pradyumna. Awaking among her friends, she was agitated and embarrassed, calling out, “Where are you, beloved?” Bāṇa’s minister was Kumbhāṇḍa, whose daughter Citralekhā was a close friend of Ūṣā. Curious, Citralekhā asked her among their companions, “Whom are you seeking, O beautiful-browed one? What kind of man fills your thoughts? Princess, I have not seen anyone take your hand.” Ūṣā replied, “I saw a man in my dream—dark, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow garments, with great arms—who captivates the hearts of women. I seek that beloved who made me drink nectar from his lips, but then he vanished, leaving me in an ocean of sorrow.” Citralekhā said, “If fate has brought this misfortune, I will remove it. Tell me who this enchanting one is, and I will bring him to you.” Thus speaking, Citralekhā drew the forms of gods, gandharvas, siddhas, charanas, serpents, demons, vidyadharas, yakshas, and humans as they appeared. Among the humans, she depicted the Vrishnis, Shura, and Anakadundubhi. When she drew Pradyumna, she became embarrassed while sketching Rama and Krishna. But when she drew Aniruddha, Ūṣā blushed, lowered her face, and smiling, said, “That one, that one.” Understanding her friend’s heart, Citralekhā, a yogini and granddaughter of Krishna, soared through the sky and journeyed to Dvaraka, the city protected by Krishna.