Balarama, filled with fury, took up the tip of his mighty plough and tore open the city of Hastinapura. With irresistible strength, he dragged the city toward the sacred Ganga, intent on striking. As Hastinapura was pulled, it spun wildly like a boat caught in a whirlpool, and the Kauravas, witnessing their city being dragged away, were seized with terror and panic. Desperate to preserve their lives, the Kauravas, along with their families, approached Balarama for refuge. Placing Lakshmana and Samba at the front, they bowed to the Lord with joined palms and pleaded, "O Rama, foundation of all, we do not know your power. Please forgive our offense, for we are foolish and misguided." They praised him, saying, "You alone are the cause, independent, of creation, maintenance, and dissolution. O Lord, the wise say that the worlds are your playthings, and you delight in 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 withdraws into yourself, you alone remain, unique and unsurpassed. O Lord, your anger is for 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 take refuge in you." Śuka narrates that seeing those who had taken refuge, distressed and trembling, Balarama was pleased. Fully satisfied, he granted them fearlessness, saying, "Do not be afraid." As tribute, Duryodhana offered sixty-year-old elephants and twelve thousand horses. He also gave six thousand golden chariots shining like the sun, and a thousand maidservants without necklaces, being fond of daughters. Having accepted these gifts, Balarama, the foremost of the Sātvatas, departed with his son and daughter-in-law, honored by his friends. Halāyudha then 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 stands elevated to the south of the Ganga, bearing the mark of Rama's might, visible to all. Thus concludes 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. Śuka then continues: Hearing that Naraka was slain and that many women were wed by Krishna alone, the sage Narada was filled with wonder and desired to see this for himself. How astonishing it was that, with a single body, Krishna had simultaneously married eight thousand and two hundred women, each in her own home. Eager to witness the marvels of Dvārakā, the divine sage Narada arrived at the city, where gardens and parks flourished in full bloom, resounding with the voices of flocks of birds and the chants of brahmins. The lakes were adorned with fully blossomed blue lotuses, water lilies, day-blooming lotuses, and kumudas; tall reeds swayed, and the calls of swans and cranes echoed through the waters. The city itself was graced with nine hundred thousand palaces of crystal and silver, resembling great emeralds, furnished with golden and jeweled decorations. Its avenues, streets, squares, and marketplaces were distinct and well laid out. Beautiful halls and assembly chambers stood alongside celestial temples. The roads, courtyards, alleys, and thresholds were sprinkled with water, and flags and banners shielded the city from the sun. Within, the splendid inner chambers were honored by all householders, and Hari's own skill was fully displayed, as if crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ himself. Narada entered one among the sixteen thousand beautifully adorned mansions, a grand residence belonging to one of Śauri's wives. The palace was supported by coral pillars, with the finest lapis lazuli floors, walls of sapphire, and a ground shining with unmatched brilliance. Canopies crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ hung with strings of pearls, and seats and couches were adorned with the finest gems and ivory. The palace was decorated with maidservants wearing splendid garments but no necklaces, and men dressed in fine robes, with sashes, turbans, and jeweled earrings. The darkness was dispelled by the radiance of jeweled lamps. In the varied balconies, peacocks danced, incense and sacred offerings were arranged, and those of deep intellect sang loudly as they saw the sage’s arrival. There, among thousands of maidservants equal in qualities, beauty, youth, and attire, Narada saw the queen fanning the lord of the Sātvatas with a golden-handled camara. Beholding him, Krishna, greatest among upholders of dharma, immediately rose from his couch, bowed his crowned head to the sage’s feet, and, with joined palms, welcomed him to his own seat. Krishna washed the sage’s feet and placed that water upon his own head, though he is the supreme teacher of the world and lord of the virtuous. The purity of his feet, known as 'Brahmaṇyadeva,' is the ultimate holy place. Having honored the foremost of divine sages, the ancient ṛṣi Nārāyaṇa, friend of Nara, Krishna spoke with sweet, measured words, as prescribed by tradition: "O Lord, what may we do for you, O Blessed One?" Narada replied, "It is not surprising in you, O master of all worlds, that you show friendship to all people, self-restraint toward the wicked; for the welfare of the world, you maintain and protect it through your free descents, O praised one, as we well know. Having seen your pair of feet, which grant liberation to people, contemplated in the hearts of Brahmā and others endowed with profound wisdom, and serving as a support for those fallen into the well of worldly existence, I wander, meditating—grant me your grace, so that remembrance may arise." On another day, Narada entered the house of another wife of Krishna, desiring to understand the yoga-māyā of the lord of yogis. There, Krishna was engaged in playing dice with his beloved and Uddhava, yet honored Narada with supreme devotion through rising, offering a seat, and other acts. Krishna asked, as if unaware, "When did you arrive, O Lord? What could those like us, who are incomplete, do for those who are complete?" Still, O brāhmaṇa, tell us about this beautiful birth; but Narada, astonished, rose and silently went to another house. There too, he saw Govinda delighting his young sons. In another house, he saw Krishna preparing for bathing. Elsewhere, he observed Krishna offering oblations into sacrificial fires, performing sacrifices with five kinds of rituals, feeding the brāhmaṇas in some places, and in others, eating what remained. In some places, Narada saw Krishna seated at twilight, reciting the Veda with controlled speech; elsewhere, walking on the paths of archers with sword and shield. Thus, Narada witnessed the wondrous household conduct of the Lord, marveling at the infinite manifestations of Krishna’s divine presence, each act a revelation of his yoga-māyā and boundless grace.