At the urging of her mother-in-law, Krishna and all his wives gathered to honor Rukmini, Satyā, Bhadrā, and Jāmbavatī. They extended the same reverence to Kālindī, Mitravindā, Śaibyā, Nāgnajitī, and the other virtuous women who had arrived, offering them fine garments, fragrant garlands, shining ornaments, and similar gifts. King Yudhishthira, ever gracious, ensured that Janardana—Krishna—along with his entire army, attendants, and wives, was comfortably accommodated, renewing his hospitality again and again. Having satisfied Agni by offering the Khāṇḍava forest, together with Phālguna (Arjuna), and having freed Maya, who in gratitude built a splendid divine assembly hall for the king, Krishna stayed for several months in Indraprastha. Wishing to please Yudhishthira, he roamed about in a chariot with Phālguna, surrounded by warriors. Thus concluded the seventy-first chapter, "Krishna's Journey to Indraprastha," in the tenth canto, second half, of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the great Purāṇa, the scripture of the supreme swan. Now, Śuka continued: Once, in the midst of a grand assembly, surrounded by sages, brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and his brothers, Yudhishthira sat. With teachers, elders of the lineage, relatives, and kinsmen listening, he addressed them all. Yudhishthira spoke: "O Govinda, through the royal sacrifice, the Rājasūya, I wish to worship you and your glories. O Lord, please arrange this for us. Those who follow your footsteps, who meditate upon you, who sing your praises and destroy inauspiciousness, O lotus-naveled one, attain liberation from worldly existence. If they desire blessings, let them seek them from you, for none other can grant them. "O Lord of lords, through service at your lotus feet, may the world witness its effect here. Among those who worship you and those who do not, O mighty one, reveal the true standing of the Kurus and Sṛñjayas. "For you, soul of all, who perceive equally, there is no notion of difference between self and others; you experience your own bliss. Like the wish-fulfilling tree, your favor arises according to service rendered, never otherwise." The Blessed Lord Krishna replied: "O king, destroyer of enemies, your resolve is proper; by it, your auspicious fame will be experienced throughout the worlds. This great sacrifice is desired by sages, ancestors, gods, friends—even by us—and by all beings. Having conquered all kings and brought the world under your control, gather all the necessary materials and perform the great sacrifice. Your brothers are born from portions of the guardians of the worlds. I am conquered by you, who are self-controlled; I am unconquerable by those who lack self-mastery. No one in this world surpasses me in power, fame, wealth, or opulence—not even the gods, much less earthly kings." Śuka narrated: Hearing the Lord's words, Yudhishthira's face bloomed with delight. Empowered by Viṣṇu’s energy, he sent his brothers to conquer the directions. Sahadeva, accompanied by the Sṛñjayas, went south; Nakula ventured west; Arjuna journeyed north; Bhīma marched east with the Matsyas, Kekayas, and Madras. These heroic brothers, having conquered the kings in all directions by their strength, brought abundant wealth to Ajātaśatru (Yudhishthira), who would perform the sacrifice. Yet, hearing that Jarāsandha remained unconquered, Yudhishthira pondered. Hari (Krishna) then spoke of the means to overcome Jarāsandha, as Uddhava had previously described. Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and Krishna—three who bore the marks of Brahmins—set out for Girivraja, where the son of Bṛhadratha, Jarāsandha, resided. Arriving at the proper time for guests, they entered the house of the householder, disguised as Brahmins, and acted according to custom. They announced their arrival: "O king, guests have come from afar. Grant us, O fortunate one, what we desire." They spoke further: "What is unbearable for the patient? What is improper for the unrighteous? What is not to be given by the generous? Who is superior to those who see all equally? He who, with his impermanent body, does not earn lasting fame among the virtuous, though able, is truly pitiable. Hariścandra, Rantideva, Śibi, Bali, the hunter, the pigeon—many have attained the eternal by means of the impermanent." Jarāsandha, recognizing them by their voices, appearances, and the bowstring scars on their hands, pondered. He thought, "These relatives of the royal order are bearing the marks of Brahmins; I will give even my own self, which is difficult to relinquish, as alms to them. The fame of Bali, pure and widespread, remained even after he was deprived of his wealth by Vishnu, who took the guise of a Brahmin. Desiring Indra’s wealth, Vishnu received the earth from the king of the Daityas, who, though aware and restrained, still gave it. What purpose does the body of a kshatriya serve, if living only for the sake of Brahmins? When the body falls here, great fame is attained." Thus, with noble intent, Jarāsandha spoke to Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhimasena: "O Brahmins, choose your desire; I will give even my own head to you." The Blessed Lord Krishna replied: "O king, grant us battle, if you consider it fitting to fight in pairs. We have come seeking combat, desiring nothing else but battle with the royal order. This is Bhimasena, O Partha; his brother is Arjuna. Know me, Krishna, as their maternal uncle and your enemy." Thus informed, the king of Magadha laughed loudly and, angered, said, "Then, I will grant you battle, O fools. I will not fight with you, coward, whose valor is uncertain; you abandoned your own city, Mathura, and took refuge by the sea. This one is equal to me in age, but not in strength; Arjuna is not fit to fight, but Bhima is equal in might to me." Having spoken thus, Jarāsandha gave a great mace to Bhimasena, took another himself, and went out from the city. Then, the two heroes, equally matched, met on the field; wild with battle, they struck each other with maces as mighty as thunderbolts.