The Kauravas, their pride stoked by royal honors, began to speak with scorn. “Enough of the Yādavas being marked by royal respect, honors that, when given by the unworthy, are like nectar to serpents. The Yādavas, who have flourished only by our favor, now command us shamelessly!” they complained. “How could even Indra, with the might of the Kurus—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Arjuna, and the rest—seize what was not given, like a lion snatching prey in the forest?” Śrī Bādarāyaṇa relates that, swollen with arrogance from their birth, family ties, and wealth, the Kurus spoke these harsh words to Lord Balarāma. Their manners forgotten, they stormed back into the city. Witnessing their wickedness and hearing their insults, Acyuta—Krishna—was deeply angered. His face was difficult to behold, and, laughing, he spoke again and again. “Surely these wicked men, intoxicated by many kinds of pride, desire no peace. For such as these, restraint is a punishment, just as a stick is for beasts. I came here seeking peace, having gently soothed the wrath of the Yādus and Krishna. Yet these quarrelsome, foolish men repeatedly disregard me and speak with disrespect, blinded by their pride. Is not Ugrasena the mighty lord, ruler of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, whom even Indra and the guardians of the worlds obey? He entered Sudharmā, brought the Pārijāta tree from the realm of the immortals, and enjoys it—surely he is not unworthy of royal honor. At his feet, Śrī herself serves directly, sovereign of all. Is he not worthy of the royal seat? The dust of his lotus feet is borne by the crowns of all rulers 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 ages—where is the royal seat for him? The Vṛṣṇis enjoy land given by the Kurus, while we are like shoes and the Kurus the crown upon the head. Who could endure or instruct those drunk with wealth, whose words are incoherent and harsh, like the babbling of the intoxicated?” Enraged, Balarāma declared, “Today I will make the earth free of the Kauravas!” Seizing his plough, he rose up, his fury blazing as if to burn the three worlds. With the tip of his plough, he tore open the city of Hastinapura and, in his wrath, began to drag it toward the Ganga, intent on striking. As the city was pulled into the river, spinning like a boat caught in a whirlpool, panic seized the Kauravas. Fearing for their lives, they approached Balarāma for refuge, bringing Lakshmana and Samba before him, and bowed with joined palms to the Lord. “O Rāma, foundation of all,” they pleaded, “we do not know your true power. Please forgive our offense, for we are foolish and misguided. You alone are the independent cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution. The wise say the worlds are your playthings, and you delight in them. You, O endless one, bear the earth on your thousand heads, playfully supporting it on your crown; and at the end, when the universe is withdrawn, you alone remain, unique and unsurpassed. Your anger is for the sake of universal instruction, not out of hatred or envy; you, upholder of sattva, are ever intent on protecting existence. Salutations to you, soul of all beings, bearer of all powers, imperishable one; O creator of the universe, we bow to you and take refuge in you.” Śuka says: Thus, those who had taken refuge—distressed and trembling—pleased Balarāma. Satisfied, he granted them fearlessness, saying, “Do not be afraid.” Duryodhana, in gratitude, offered tribute: sixty-year-old elephants, twelve thousand horses, six thousand golden chariots shining like the sun, and a thousand maidservants, unadorned with necklaces, as he cherished daughters. Accepting these gifts, the Lord, foremost among the Sātvatas, departed with his son and daughter-in-law, honored by his friends. Then Halāyudha—Balarāma—entered his own city, his heart full of affection for his kin. In the assembly of the Yadus, he recounted all his deeds among the Kurus. Even today, that city stands, bearing the mark of Rāma’s might, elevated to the south of the Ganga, visible to all. Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, “The Victory of Sankarshana in the Form of Dragging Hastinapura,” of the Uttara section of the Tenth Book of the glorious Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Now begins the narration of the Lord’s household life, as witnessed by the sage Nārada. Śuka continued: Hearing that Naraka had been slain and that Krishna alone had married so many women, Nārada’s heart was filled with curiosity. How astonishing it was that, with a single body, Krishna had simultaneously wed eight thousand and two hundred women, each in her own home. Eager to see Dvārakā, the divine sage Nārada journeyed there. He arrived in a city radiant with blooming gardens and parks, alive with the calls of birds and the chanting of brahmins. The lakes were adorned with fully blossomed blue lotuses, water lilies, day-blooming lotuses, and kumudas, their surfaces dotted with tall reeds and filled with the calls of swans and cranes. The city itself was a vision of splendor, with nine hundred thousand palaces built of crystal and silver, resembling great emeralds, all furnished with golden and jeweled decorations. Its avenues, streets, squares, and marketplaces were distinct and orderly; beautiful halls and assembly chambers stood beside celestial temples. The roads, courtyards, alleys, and thresholds were sprinkled with water, and flags and banners fluttered, shielding the city from the sun’s glare. Within, the splendid inner chambers were honored by all the householders. Everywhere, Hari’s own architectural skill was evident, as if the divine craftsman Tvaṣṭṛ himself had built them. Entering one among the sixteen thousand beautifully adorned mansions, Nārada beheld a grand residence belonging to one of Śauri’s wives. The palace stood on coral pillars, its finest lapis lazuli floors gleaming, walls of sapphire shining with unmatched brilliance. Canopies crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ hung with strings of pearls, and the seats and couches were adorned with the best of gems and ivory. The palace was filled with maidservants in splendid garments, though without necklaces, and men dressed in fine robes, with sashes, turbans, and jeweled earrings. Thus, Nārada entered the wondrous world of Krishna’s household, eager to witness the supreme Lord’s miraculous life.