Balarāma, radiant and mighty like an elephant in rut, sat singing with his eyes unsteady from drinking Varuni. As he enjoyed the company of youthful, playful women who delighted in laughter, a wicked monkey suddenly appeared. Climbing a tree, the monkey shook its branches, made loud noises, and drew everyone’s attention to himself. The young women, amused by the monkey’s insolence, burst into laughter. Emboldened by their reaction, the monkey began to mock them, throwing clods of earth and other objects from the front, displaying his backside, all while Balarāma watched. Enraged by this disrespect, Balarāma—the foremost among those who strike—hurled a rock at the monkey. But the cunning creature deceived the rock and seized the wine jar. Holding it aloft, the monkey mocked Balarāma, provoking him with laughter. Wickedly, he broke the jar and scattered Balarāma’s garments. Intoxicated with pride, the monkey overpowered Balarāma and acted with increasing insolence, disturbing the regions around him. Seeing such disrespect, Balarāma grew angry. He took up his club and plough, determined to kill his foe. Dvivida, the powerful monkey, raised a giant tree in his hand and rushed swiftly, striking Balarāma on the head. Yet Saṅkarṣaṇa stood unmoved, like a mountain struck from above. Balarāma caught the tree and struck Dvivida with his club, shattering his skull so that blood streamed forth. Dvivida, like a mountain stained with red ochre, ignored the blow. He seized another tree, stripped its branches, and struck fiercely, but Balarāma cut it to pieces a hundredfold. Again, Dvivida attacked with another tree, and again Balarāma destroyed it a hundredfold. Their battle raged on. As each tree was destroyed, Dvivida pulled up all the trees around, making the forest treeless. Enraged, he released a shower of rocks upon Balarāma, but the Lord effortlessly crushed them with his club. Dvivida, lord of monkeys, made his arms like palm trunks and formed his fists. Approaching the son of Rohiṇī, he struck him on the chest with both fists. But Balarāma, chief of the Yadus, put aside his club and plough, seized Dvivida with both arms in anger, and pressed upon his collarbone. Dvivida fell, vomiting blood. As he fell, the earth trembled in fear, along with the trees—like a mountain rocked by the wind or a boat tossed on the water. In the sky, shouts of “Victory!” and “Homage!” resounded, with cries of “Well done! Well done!” from the gods, siddhas, and great sages, as flowers rained down. Thus, having slain Dvivida, who brought distress to the world, the Lord, praised by the people, entered his own city. Thus concludes the sixty-seventh chapter, “The Slaying of Dvivida,” in the tenth book, second half, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. *** The story continues with Sāmbha’s marriage and Balarāma’s dragging of Hastināpura. The Kauravas, enraged, declared, “This boy is ill-behaved; he has disregarded us and seized our unwilling daughter by force. Let us bind this insolent one—what will the Vrishnis do? They enjoy the land given to us, accumulated by our favor. If the Vrishnis come here upon hearing that their son has been restrained, their pride will be broken and they will become peaceful, like well-controlled breaths.” Thus, Karna, Shala, Bhuri, Yajnaketu, and Suyodhana, supported by the elders of the Kurus, attempted to bind Sāmbha. Seeing the Dhartarashtras pursuing him, Sāmbha, the great chariot-warrior, seized his splendid bow and stood alone like a lion. The angry Kurus shouted “Stop! Stop!” and approached with bows, showering Sāmbha with arrows. Though struck by the Kurus, Sāmbha did not tolerate it, like a lion among petty animals. Stringing his splendid bow, he wounded all six chariot-warriors, including Karna, with arrows, simultaneously and separately. With four arrows, he struck four horses; with one each, he wounded the charioteers and the great bowmen on their chariots. For this, they honored him. But they made him chariotless: four struck four horses, one killed the charioteer, and another cut his bow. Having bound him and made him chariotless with difficulty in battle, the victorious Kurus entered their city with the prince and their own daughter. Hearing this from Narada, O King, the Vrishnis became angry and, urged by Ugrasena, prepared to confront the Kurus. But Balarāma, after pacifying the armed leaders of the Vrishnis, did not wish for conflict between the Kurus and Vrishnis, being the remover of discord. He went to Hastināpura in a radiant chariot, surrounded by Brahmins and elders of his lineage, like the moon among stars. Having reached Gajahvaya, Balarāma stayed in the outer gardens and sent Uddhava to inquire of Dhritarashtra. Uddhava, after respectfully greeting Ambika’s son, Bhishma, Drona, Bahlik, and Duryodhana according to custom, announced Balarāma’s arrival. Hearing that Balarāma, their dearest friend, had arrived, they were exceedingly pleased. After honoring him, all approached with auspicious offerings. Meeting him properly, they presented him with the cow and water for worship. Those who knew his greatness bowed their heads to Balarāma. Having heard that their relatives were well, and after inquiring about their welfare, Balarāma then spoke words without hesitation to them.