The king, pleased with recent events, went to meet Saṃyoginī. But as soon as Saṃyoginī saw the king, she was so overwhelmed that she fainted on the spot. The king, accompanied by his entire army, proceeded to the threshold of her dwelling. When they arrived, they discovered that the palanquin was missing, and, alarmed, they hastened away with great urgency. The king then stationed half of his army at that place for security, and with the rest, he returned to his own home. Soon after, both parties reached the Sūkara field, ready and prepared for battle. There, they joined forces with their respective armies, and a fierce and tremendous battle erupted—so dreadful and tumultuous that it sent shivers down the spine. As the night deepened and darkness enveloped the field, fear gripped those who remained. The heroes, led by Pradyota, made their way toward the threshold. In the thick of battle, Dhundhukara shot arrows straight into Pradyota’s heart. Witnessing his brother’s fall, the mighty Vidyota charged forward, but he too was struck down by three spears and collapsed unconscious to the ground. Then Krishna Kumara, mounted on a mighty elephant, advanced swiftly into the fray. But he was pierced by an arrow and, dying, ascended to the city of heaven. Ratnabhanu, a renowned hero, fought alongside him, and Lakshana, in the company of these two, engaged fiercely in the battle. With the power of Rudra’s weapons, Lakshana was bewildered and thrown into confusion. Together, they overcame King Dhundhukara and his Vaishnava allies. The battle raged on, with both sides displaying equal strength—heroes standing atop elephants, fighting with great skill and determination. Their struggle was fierce and difficult to overcome. When that mighty warrior finally fell, terror seized the people of Kanyakubja. Grief-stricken for their king, they abandoned the battle and returned to their homes, each one frightened and seeking refuge. Yet the king, undaunted and powerful, remained with his force of seven hundred thousand troops. In this way, Bhishma, Parimala, and Lakshana approached their own father. The victory belonged to the king of the earth, and the fame of Jayachandra in battle spread far and wide. Jayachandra, lord of the earth, ruled over Kanyakubja and Delhi. Meanwhile, Bhishma stood like a lion on the bank of the sacred Ganga, a devoted worshipper of Indra. At the end of the month, blessed Indra, recognizing Bhishma’s supreme devotion, appeared to him. Bhishma prayed, “Grant me the divine mare, if you are pleased, O Lord.” There, Indra graciously bestowed the divine mare upon him and then vanished from sight. At that time, Parimala was plunged into sorrow for his ancestors. As a test, Shiva himself afflicted him with a serpent-disease. Five months passed, and the king’s strength was drained away. Facing death, the king journeyed to Kashi, accompanied by his wife. Meanwhile, a certain serpent dwelled at the root of a tree. This serpent, Rudraahi, spoke with disdain: “You are merciless and dull-witted. This king is a fool—he would even drink molten copper if given the chance! Every day I found great delight in the king’s body. Yet here he is, a fool who never even offered warm oil.” Thus unfolded a tale of battle, devotion, trial, and the mysterious workings of fate among kings and heroes.