Dvivida, the powerful monkey, stood undaunted, his body stained like a mountain with red ochre, paying no heed to Balarāma’s mighty blows. Again, he seized another tree, tearing it from the earth and stripping its branches with tremendous force. With that tree, he struck fiercely at Balarāma, but Balarāma, swift and sure, shattered it into a hundred pieces. Undeterred, Dvivida snatched yet another tree in his anger, but Balarāma destroyed it as well, splintering it a hundredfold. Thus, their battle raged on, Dvivida attacking relentlessly and Balarāma meeting every assault. As each tree was destroyed, Dvivida tore up every tree nearby, until the once lush forest was left bare and treeless. Consumed by rage at Balarāma, Dvivida then hurled a shower of rocks upon him. But Balarāma, wielding his club, crushed every rock with effortless ease. Refusing to yield, the lord of monkeys made his arms as solid as palm trunks, formed his fists, and charged at Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī. With both fists, he struck Balarāma on the chest. But the chief of the Yadus, abandoning his club and plough, seized Dvivida in a surge of anger. Pressing down upon the monkey’s collarbone with both arms, Balarāma subdued him, causing Dvivida to fall to the ground, vomiting blood. As Dvivida crashed to the earth, the ground itself trembled in fear, along with the remaining trees, as if a great mountain had been shaken by the wind or a boat tossed upon the water. In the heavens, the gods, siddhas, and great sages cried out in joy, “Victory! Homage! Well done! Well done!” and showered flowers from above. Having thus slain Dvivida, who had brought distress to the world, Balarāma, praised by all the people, returned to his own city. Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter, entitled “The Slaying of Dvivida,” in the tenth book, second half, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Now begins the tale of Sāmbha’s marriage and Balarāma’s wondrous act at Hastināpura. The Kauravas, filled with anger, said among themselves, “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, who enjoy the land given to them by our favor. If the Vrishnis come 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, set out to bind Sāmbha. Seeing the Dhartarashtras pursuing him, Sāmbha, the great chariot-warrior, seized his splendid bow and stood alone, like a lion among lesser creatures. The angry Kurus shouted, “Stop! Stop!” and, approaching with bows drawn, Karna and the others showered him with arrows. Though struck by the Kurus, Sāmbha, best of the Yadus, did not tolerate their assault, just as a lion does not tolerate the attacks of petty animals. Stringing his resplendent bow, the hero wounded all six chariot warriors, including Karna, with his arrows, both together and separately. With four arrows, he struck the four horses; with one each, he struck the charioteers and the great bowmen on their chariots. For this display of skill, even his enemies honored him. But the Kurus pressed on, making him chariotless: four arrows felled his four horses, one killed his charioteer, and another cut his bow. Having thus made him helpless, they bound Sāmbha with great difficulty in the battle and, victorious, entered their city with both the prince and their own daughter. When the Vrishnis heard this from Nārada, O King, they were filled with anger. Urged by Ugrasena, they prepared to confront the Kurus. But Balarāma, ever the remover of discord, pacified the armed leaders of the Vrishnis; he did not wish for conflict between the Kurus and the Vrishnis. Balarāma then set out for Hastināpura in a radiant chariot, surrounded by Brahmins and elders of his lineage, shining like the moon among stars. Upon reaching Gajahvaya, he stayed in the outer gardens and sent Uddhava to inquire after Dhritarāshtra. Uddhava, after respectfully greeting Ambikā’s son, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Bahlik, and Duryodhana according to custom, announced Balarāma’s arrival. Hearing that their dearest friend had come, the Kurus were exceedingly pleased. They honored him and approached with auspicious offerings. Meeting him properly, they presented him with the cow and water for worship; those who understood his greatness bowed their heads to Balarāma. After inquiring about each other’s well-being, Balarāma spoke openly to them: “Ugrasena, the lord of the earth, whatever command he gives, you should hear with undisturbed mind and carry 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, and matched his own might. They replied with astonishment, “Ah, how strange this is! 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. Enough of the Yādavas being marked by royal honors, bestowed by the donor, like nectar to serpents; those Yādavas, who have prospered by our favor, today command us, shamelessly. How could even Indra, with the Kurus—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Arjuna, and others—seize what was not given, like a lion snatching prey in the forest?” Their pride, inflated by birth, kinship, and wealth, made them arrogant, O best of the Bharatas. After speaking such harsh words to Balarāma, those uncivil men entered the city. Witnessing the wickedness of the Kurus and hearing their offensive words, Acyuta (Krishna), angered and difficult to behold, laughed and spoke repeatedly, his words sharp and powerful.