Though you are many, you bound the righteous one by unrighteous means, having defeated him; I have tolerated this for the sake of unity among relatives. Such were the words of Balarāma, spoken with the vigor, heroism, and strength that matched his own might, as the Kurus, provoked, listened intently. "How astonishing," Balarāma continued, "is the unstoppable movement of time! One who wishes to ascend wears shoes, while his head is adorned with a crown." The Kurus, reflecting on their own actions, acknowledged that the Vṛṣṇis—once joined to them in youth, sharing beds, seats, and meals—had been elevated to their own status. They themselves had given the Vṛṣṇis royal seats, and now the Vṛṣṇis enjoyed the fan, fly-whisk, conch, white umbrella, crown, throne, and bed, all due to the Kurus' neglect. "Enough of the Yādavas being marked by royal honors, bestowed by the donor, like nectar to serpents," they said bitterly. "Those Yādavas, who have prospered by our favor, now 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?" Śrī Bādarāyaṇa observed that the pride of the Kurus, inflated by birth, kinship, and wealth, made them arrogant. After speaking harsh words to Rāma, these uncivil men entered their city. Witnessing the wickedness of the Kurus and hearing their offensive words, Acyuta—Lord Kṛṣṇa—became angry, his countenance difficult to behold. He spoke repeatedly, laughing: "Surely, these wicked ones, puffed up with various kinds of pride, do not desire peace. For them, restraint is punishment, just as a stick is for animals. I have come here desiring peace, having gently calmed the enraged Yādus and Kṛṣṇa. Yet these dull-minded, quarrelsome, wicked ones have repeatedly disregarded me and spoken disrespectful words, proud as they are." Kṛṣṇa reminded them, "Is not Ugrasena the mighty lord, ruler of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, whom even Indra and the other guardians of the worlds obey? He, by whom Sudharmā is entered, the Pārijāta tree is brought from the realm of the immortals and enjoyed, is surely not unworthy of the royal seat. At whose feet Śrī herself serves directly, the sovereign of all— is he not worthy of royal honors and paraphernalia? The dust of whose lotus feet is borne by the crowns of all guardians of the worlds, worshipped as the holiest of holy places—Brahmā, Śiva, and I are but portions of his portion, and Śrī herself serves him for a long time—where is the royal seat for him?" The Kurus retorted, "The Vṛṣṇis enjoy the land given by the Kurus, while we ourselves are like shoes, and the Kurus are the crown upon the head." Kṛṣṇa, seeing their pride and intoxication with wealth, remarked, "Who could endure or instruct those intoxicated by wealth, whose words are incoherent and harsh, like those of the proud and drunken?" Enraged by their insolence, Balarāma declared, "Today I will make the earth free of the Kauravas!" Seizing his plough, he rose up, as if to burn the three worlds. With the tip of his plough, he tore open the city of Hastinapura, and, furious, dragged it into the Ganga, intent on striking. As the city, pulled into the Ganga, spun like a boat in a whirlpool, the Kauravas, seeing it being dragged, were seized with panic. Desiring to live, the Kauravas, with their families, approached Balarāma for refuge, placing Lakshmana and Samba at the front, and bowed with joined palms to the Lord. They pleaded, "O Rāma, foundation of all, we do not know your power. Please forgive our offense, for we are foolish and misguided. You alone are the cause, without dependence, of creation, maintenance, and dissolution. O Lord, the wise say that the worlds are your playthings, and you play with them. You alone, O endless one, bear the earth with your thousand heads, playfully supporting it on your crown; and at the end, when the universe is withdrawn into yourself, you alone remain, unique and unsurpassed. O Lord, your anger is for the sake of universal instruction, not out of hatred or envy; you, upholding sattva, are ever intent on the protection of existence. Salutations to you, the soul of all beings, bearer of all powers, imperishable one; O creator of the universe, we bow to you and have taken refuge in you." Śuka continued: Thus, by those who had taken refuge, distressed and trembling, Balarāma was pleased and, fully satisfied, granted them fearlessness, saying, "Do not be afraid." In gratitude, Duryodhana gave as tribute sixty-year-old elephants and twelve thousand horses, along with six thousand golden chariots shining like the sun, and a thousand maidservants without necklaces, being fond of daughters. Having accepted all this, the Lord, the foremost of the Sātvatas, departed with his son and daughter-in-law, honored by his friends. Then Halāyudha, Balarāma, entered his own city, his heart affectionate toward his relatives. In the assembly of the Yadus, he recounted all his deeds among the Kurus. Even today, that city, bearing the mark of Rāma's might, stands elevated to the south of the Ganga, visible to all. Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, entitled "The Victory of Sankarshana in the Form of Dragging Hastinapura," of the Uttara section of the Tenth Book of the glorious Bhagavata Purana. Now, turning to the household conduct of the Lord as performed by the sage Nārada—Śuka said: Hearing that Naraka was slain and that many women were wed by Kṛṣṇa alone, Nārada desired to see this wonder for himself. How astonishing it was that, with a single body, Kṛṣṇa simultaneously married eight thousand and two hundred women, each in their own home. Eager to witness Dvārakā, the divine sage arrived there, where gardens and parks were in full bloom, resounding with the voices of flocks of birds and the chanting of brahmins. The lakes were adorned with fully blossomed blue lotuses, water lilies, day-blooming lotuses, and kumudas, filled with tall reeds and echoing with the calls of swans and cranes. The city itself was graced with nine hundred thousand palaces made of crystal and silver, resembling great emeralds, furnished with golden and jeweled decorations. Its avenues, streets, squares, and marketplaces were distinct; beautiful halls and assembly chambers stood alongside celestial temples. The roads, courtyards, alleys, and thresholds were sprinkled with water, while flags and banners shielded the city from the sun.