As the grand Rajasuya sacrifice unfolded, the earth trembled beneath the marching armies of the Yadus, Sṛñjayas, Kambojas, Kurus, Kekayas, and Kosalas, each clan led by its warriors. The distinguished sages, officiants, and the best among the twice-born gathered, their voices raised in loud chanting of Vedic hymns. The gods, sages, ancestors, and gandharvas watched with delight, showering flowers in praise of their sacred recitations. All around, men and women adorned themselves with fragrant garlands, ornaments, and fine garments. They playfully sprinkled each other with water, reveling in various delights. The women, their bodies smeared with oil, cow’s ghee, fragrant powders, turmeric, and rich saffron, joined in the merriment, rubbing and enjoying with the men. Protected by their husbands, the queens slipped out unnoticed, like divine ladies in celestial chariots. As their maternal relatives and friends sprinkled them, their faces glowed with bashful smiles. Together with their companions, the queens enthusiastically sprinkled the gods. Their garments became wet, bodies and breasts exposed, garlands loosened and falling, their playful charm stirring the minds of those with impure thoughts. Amidst all this, the emperor shone brightly, mounted on a chariot drawn by fine horses and adorned with gold, surrounded by his wives—like the lord of a sacrifice amidst its rituals. After the ritual bath with his wives, the officiants, having purified themselves, bathed the king in the sacred Ganges, together with Krishna. Divine drums resounded alongside human drums; gods, sages, ancestors, and humans showered flowers in celebration. All men, regardless of class or stage of life, bathed there, for even those guilty of great sins found themselves instantly freed from impurity. The king, dressed in fine silk and splendidly adorned, honored the officiants, sages, and brahmins with ornaments and garments. Devoted to Narayana, he repeatedly honored his relatives, acquaintances, kings, friends, and all others present. The people, shining with divine radiance, wore jeweled earrings, garlands, turbans, jackets, fine cloth, and precious necklaces. The women, adorned with pairs of earrings and groups of bangles, their faces beautiful and girdled in gold, shone brilliantly. The officiants of great virtue, sages, and brahminical scholars, along with assembled kings from all classes—brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra—gathered there. The gods, sages, ancestors, spirits, and guardians of the worlds, with their attendants, having been duly honored, gave their permission and returned to their own abodes. The royal sages could not tire of praising Haridasa’s grand Rajasuya, just as mortals never tire of drinking nectar. King Yudhishthira, with affection, bade farewell to his friends, relatives, and kinsmen, and reluctantly parted from Krishna as well. The Blessed Lord, who brings joy to his dear ones, remained for a time, after sending the Yadu heroes, including Samba and others, to Kusasthali. Thus, the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, crossed the vast ocean of his cherished desires—so difficult to traverse—and, with Krishna’s help, became free from distress. Once, in the king’s palace, Duryodhana beheld the splendor and felt tormented by the greatness of the Rajasuya and the glory of Lord Achyuta. In that place, where the wealth of kings, demons, and gods—arranged by the Creator—shone forth, the lord stood beside the daughter of Drupada, and Kururaja’s heart was ensnared and tormented. At that time, a thousand queens of Madhupati, with their heavy hips and softly tinkling anklets, surrounded the radiant face adorned with crimson necklaces, beautiful earrings, and flowing locks. In the assembly hall built by Maya, the son of Dharma, the emperor, sat surrounded by followers and kinsmen, and by Krishna, who watched with his own eyes. Seated on a golden throne, like Indra himself, endowed with supreme prosperity, he was praised by bards. Duryodhana, proud and surrounded by his brothers, wearing a crown and garland, sat with sword in hand, casting it down in anger. On the floor, he grasped the edge of a garment, thinking it was water, but it was dry; and in the water, he mistook it for solid ground, bewildered by Maya’s illusion. Bhima laughed at him upon seeing this, as did the women and other kings. Though Yudhishthira tried to restrain them, Krishna approved their laughter. Ashamed, with downcast face and burning with anger, Duryodhana left silently for Gajaha. A great cry of “Alas!” arose among the virtuous, and Ajatasatru was troubled in mind; the Blessed Lord remained silent, wishing to relieve the earth’s burden, and watched with wandering eyes. O King, thus have I told you what you asked about—the wickedness of Suyodhana at the great Rajasuya sacrifice. Thus ends the seventy-fifth chapter, called “The Humbling of Duryodhana’s Pride,” in the tenth canto, second half, of the glorious Bhagavata Purana, the scripture of the supreme swans. Now, hear another wondrous deed of Krishna, O King, as Shri Shuka continued: how the playful, bodyless Lord slew the lord of Saubha. Shalva, friend of Shishupala, had come to the wedding of Rukmini; he was defeated in battle by the Yadus, as were Jarasandha and others. Shalva made a vow before all the kings: “I will make the earth free of the Yadavas—witness my valor.” Having made such a foolish vow, Shalva worshipped the Lord, the master of creatures, by swallowing a handful of dust just once. At the end of a year, the gracious Lord, the husband of Uma, being easily pleased, offered a boon to Shalva, who had come to him for refuge. Shalva chose a vehicle, terrifying to the Vrishnis, which could go anywhere at will and could not be broken by gods, demons, humans, Gandharvas, serpents, or Rakshasas. “So be it,” said Girisha. As instructed by him, Maya, the conqueror of enemy cities, constructed an iron city called Saubha and gave it to Shalva. Having obtained that wish-fulfilling, formidable, and impenetrable vehicle, Shalva set out for Dvaravati, remembering the enmity caused by the Vrishnis. O best of the Bharatas, Shalva besieged the city with his great army and destroyed all the suburbs and gardens. The gates with their towers, the palaces, balconies, pleasure grounds, and lofty mansions—all were struck by showers of weapons.