Armed and resolute, the Lord of Victory mounted his chariot. Taking up his bow and arrow, he fitted the arrow with swift precision, preparing himself in a moment. With that divine arrow, O King, Hara—Shiva—burned the three impregnable cities to ashes. The heavens resounded with the beat of celestial drums, and the skies were filled with hundreds of divine chariots. The gods, sages, ancestors, and perfected beings, brimming with joy, showered flowers and proclaimed his triumph. The hosts of Apsaras danced in delight, celebrating the destruction of the cities. Thus, having burned the three cities, the Lord, the destroyer of cities, was praised by Brahma and others, and he returned to his own abode. Such are the wondrous deeds of Hari, who, by his own power, playfully imitates the ways of mortals. These stories are sung by the sages and purify the world; what more can be said? Sūta continued: As the Lord approached the lands of Ānarta and his own prosperous regions, he blew his resounding conch, its sound dispelling all sorrow. The conch, white-bellied and high-pitched, pressed to the reddish lower lip of the mighty Lord, when blown in his lotus-like hand, echoed like the call of a swan in a pond of lotuses. Hearing that fear-dispelling blast, all the people, eager to see their beloved Lord, rushed forth. Gathering together, their strength renewed, they honored him as one honors a lamp in darkness, feeling ever content and fulfilled simply by his presence. Their faces bloomed with joy, and their voices, choked with happiness, spoke as children do to a father who is their protector and dearest friend: “We bow to you, Master, whose lotus feet are worshipped by Brahma, Shiva, and Indra. You are the supreme refuge for those who seek well-being, where even time, the supreme lord, holds no sway. “For our welfare, you are the creator, sustainer, and protector of the universe. You are our mother, friend, lord, and father; you are our true teacher and highest deity. By following you, we have become accomplished. “Ah, we are truly blessed! Even the gods of heaven rarely behold what we see: your face, radiant with loving smiles and glances, and your form adorned with all auspiciousness. “O lotus-eyed one, whenever you departed for the Kurus or the Madhus, wishing to see your friends, each moment felt as long as millions of ages, like eyes bereft of the sun, O Acyuta.” As the people spoke these heartfelt words, the Lord, ever affectionate to his devotees, listened and bestowed his gracious glance, then entered the city. Protected by the Madhus, Bhojas, Dasharhas, Kukuras, Andhakas, and Vrishnis—whose strength matched his own—he made the city secure, like serpents guarding Bhogavati. In every season, the city shone with all prosperity, surrounded by auspicious trees, creepers, hermitages, gardens, parks, and lotus ponds. At the gates, doorways, and roads, festive arches were constructed, adorned with colorful flags and banners, keeping the sunlight at bay within. The grand avenues, streets, markets, and squares were swept clean, sprinkled with fragrant water, and decorated with fruits, flowers, and grains. At the doors of each house, yogurt, grains, fruits, and sugarcane were placed in full pots, with offerings, incense, and lamps. Hearing that their beloved was arriving, Vasudeva, noble-minded, Akrura, Ugrasena, Rama of wondrous prowess, Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Samba, son of Jambavati—all, overwhelmed with joy, abandoned their beds, seats, and meals. Placing the lordly elephant at the front, accompanied by Brahmins chanting auspicious hymns, and the sounds of conch shells and trumpets, honored by the chanting of Vedic hymns, they joyfully approached with chariots, moved by affection and awe. Hundreds of leading elephants, eager for his sight, with shining earrings and radiant cheeks, enhanced the splendor of the procession. Dancers, actors, Gandharvas, bards, Magadhas, and singers sang the wondrous deeds and stories of the illustrious one. The Blessed Lord, among his relatives and the citizens who followed him, approached each according to custom and honored them all. With humble greetings, embraces, hand-touch, and smiling glances, he comforted those who had been away, and granted desired boons to others. He himself, with elders, priests, wives, and aged relatives, received blessings from others and entered the city, accompanied by singers. As Krishna proceeded along the royal road of Dvaraka, the noble women of the city ascended their mansions, eager for the great festival of his sight. Though the residents of Dvaraka gazed upon him constantly, their eyes were never satisfied, for he is the abode of fortune and the source of beauty. His chest is the dwelling place of fortune, his face the drinking vessel for the eyes, his arms the guardians of the world, and his lotus feet the refuge of the virtuous. Adorned with white parasols and fans, showered with fresh flowers along the path, wearing yellow garments and a forest garland, he shone like the sun surrounded by clouds, a rainbow, and lightning. Entering his parents' house, he was embraced by his mothers, and he bowed his head joyfully to Devaki and the other seven. Those women, with breasts wet from affection, lifted their son onto their laps and, overwhelmed with joy, bathed him with tears from their eyes. Then he entered his own unsurpassed palace, fulfilling every desire, where there were sixteen thousand mansions of his wives. His wives, after being separated from their husband and now seeing him return home, rose at once from their seats and beds, their hearts filled with festival-like joy, their faces and eyes cast down in modesty due to their vows. Though their feelings were difficult to restrain, those noble ladies of the Bhṛgu line embraced their husband with their children, gazing at him with inner longing. Even as they tried to hold back, tears flowed from their eyes out of bashful emotion. Even though he was right beside them in private, at every step his pair of feet appeared ever new to them. Which woman could ever cease from his feet, when even the restless goddess of fortune never abandons them? In this way, after causing enmity among the kings—who were born as the burden of the earth and whose power was turned against each other with armies—he, like the wind extinguishing fire, brought about their mutual destruction and then stood apart, weaponless. The Lord, descended into this world of men by his own power, surrounded by the choicest of women, enjoyed himself as if he were an ordinary man.