Overpowered by pride, Dvivida the mighty monkey began to act with insolence toward Balarāma, disturbing the regions with his disrespect. Witnessing this unruly behavior and the turmoil caused, Balarāma’s anger was stirred. He seized his club and plough, intent on putting an end to his foe. But Dvivida, displaying his great strength, uprooted a gigantic tree and rushed at Balarāma, striking him on the head. Yet Balarāma, also known as Saṅkarṣaṇa, stood unmoved, as firm as a mountain struck from above. Balarāma caught the tree and, with his club, delivered a powerful blow to Dvivida, shattering the monkey’s skull and causing blood to stream forth. Dvivida, however, paid no heed to the blow; like a mountain stained with red ochre, he remained undeterred. He seized another tree, stripped it of its branches, and struck fiercely once more. Balarāma, with swift skill, cut the tree into a hundred pieces. Dvivida, enraged, grabbed yet another tree and attacked again, only for Balarāma to reduce it to splinters a hundredfold. Their battle raged on, and as each tree Dvivida pulled up was destroyed by Balarāma, the monkey uprooted all the trees around, leaving the forest bare and treeless. In his fury, Dvivida then unleashed a shower of rocks upon Balarāma, but the Lord effortlessly crushed them all with his club. Not to be deterred, Dvivida made his arms as sturdy as palm trunks and formed his fists. Approaching the son of Rohiṇī, he struck Balarāma’s chest with both fists. The chief of the Yadus, abandoning his club and plough, seized Dvivida with both arms in anger and pressed upon his collarbone. Overwhelmed, Dvivida fell to the ground, vomiting blood. As Dvivida collapsed, the earth trembled in fear, and the trees shuddered, as if a mountain had been rocked by the wind or a boat tossed on water. From the sky, the gods, siddhas, and great sages cried out, “Victory!” “Homage!” “Well done! Well done!” and showered flowers upon the Lord. Thus, Balarāma slew Dvivida, who had brought distress to the world, and, praised by the people, returned to 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 then turns to Sāmbha’s marriage and Balarāma’s dragging of Hastināpura. The Kauravas, enraged, said, “This boy is ill-behaved; he has disregarded us and seized our unwilling daughter by force.” They resolved, “Let us bind this insolent one. What will the Vrishnis do? They, who 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, eager to capture him, shouted “Stop! Stop!” and, approaching with bows, Karna and the others showered him with arrows. Though struck by the Kurus, Sāmbha, the child of the Yadus, did not tolerate it, like a lion among petty animals. Stringing his splendid bow, the hero wounded all six chariot-warriors, including Karna, with arrows, simultaneously and separately. With four arrows he struck four horses, with one each the charioteers, and the great bowmen on their chariots; for this, they honored him. However, the Kurus 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. When the Vrishnis heard this from Narada, they 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 Hastinapura in a radiant chariot, surrounded by Brahmins and elders of his lineage, like the moon among stars. Upon reaching 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 come, 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. After hearing that their relatives were well and inquiring after their welfare, Balarāma spoke forthrightly to them: “Ugrasena, the lord of the earth—whatever command he gives, you should hear it with undisturbed mind and carry it out without delay. Though you are many, you bound the righteous one by unrighteous means, having defeated him; I tolerate this for the sake of unity among relatives.” The Kurus, provoked, heard Balarāma’s words, which were filled with vigor, heroism, and strength, equal to his own power. They exclaimed, “Ah, how astonishing is this! By the unstoppable movement of time, one who wishes to ascend wears shoes while his head is adorned with a crown. These Vṛṣṇis, joined by youth, sharing beds, seats, and meals, have been made equal to us, and we have given them royal seats. They enjoy the fan, fly-whisk, conch, white umbrella, crown, throne, and bed, all due to our neglect.” Thus unfolds the tale of Dvivida’s defeat and the tension between the Vrishnis and Kurus, as recorded in the sacred Bhāgavata.