After the passing of King Ratnabhānu, the kingdom came under the rule of Marudhanva, who governed the earth with diligence and devotion. Seeking divine favor, Marudhanva worshipped the fire god through sacrifices, deep meditation, strict vows, and elaborate rituals. Pleased by his sincere offerings, the blessed Lord of Fire bestowed upon him a noble horse, wondrously born from the very flames. From this divine event, four beings emerged—each born of fire—and they appeared upon the earth. All four, O revered sage, were in the prime of youth, being eighteen years old. At the same time, there was a maiden of extraordinary beauty, radiant and graceful, who too had reached the age of eighteen. In the lineage of the Śārdūlas, the king held a grand svayaṃvara, a ceremony where the maiden would choose her husband. The auspicious occasion was set during the bright fortnight of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, on the eighth day, a Monday. The maiden’s face shone with a restless brilliance, luminous as lightning itself. When she beheld the heroic suitor, she was overcome, her composure faltering like a pearl slipping from an elephant’s brow. Among the assembled were mighty kings such as Tāraka, all equipped with every weapon and missile. In total, five hundred powerful rulers had gathered, each hoping to win the maiden’s hand. In the midst of this assembly, Tāraka displayed his prowess, striking down the divisions of troops that surrounded him on all sides. The king’s eldest son, seeing the sword drawn in battle, took note of the unfolding conflict. Even as the king’s army was being defeated, the valiant Balakhāni stood his ground. Meanwhile, King Gajasena, seeing his daughter preparing to depart with her chosen one, was seized by concern and acted swiftly. Through the power of illusion, Gajasena bewildered the great hero who had slain Jambuka. In his anger, he quickly had the hero bound with strong iron shackles. He then summoned the fierce Caṇḍālas who dwelled nearby. These men, upon binding the hero, struck him relentlessly. But Balakhāni, seeing the Caṇḍālas, retaliated with strength and valor. In the ensuing struggle, five hundred of the fierce Caṇḍālas were slain, and the rest fled in terror. Realizing the cause of this turmoil, the king, though powerful, was bound hand and foot by the Caṇḍālas. O mighty hero, you too were bound by these fierce men. Meanwhile, my daughter has now arrived at your house; by good fortune, you have returned to life. Hearing these comforting words, the hero offered praise and acted accordingly. A marriage pavilion was prepared, and Vedic rites were performed for the wedding ceremony. By the king’s command, Gajasena, the servant of fire, recorded all that transpired. Thus, the marriage of Balakhan was celebrated, accompanied by the presence of your army. On that night, after these events were recounted, Balakhan the mighty was born. He was made to consume poison, yet, owing to an auspicious boon, he did not die. Even so, he was again bound with chains and beaten with canes. The effects of the poison were expelled from his body through his blood. O king, what has happened that your army delights in beating? Having endured torment, let him now be released. When these words were spoken to the king, Gajamukta arrived. The king then addressed his son, saying, “Go quickly to your own house.” Upon hearing these harsh words, Balakhan the mighty gathered his resolve. He surrounded himself with five hundred heroes, all well-armed. At that moment, Gajasena’s eldest son, shining with the radiance of the sun, arrived. Seeing her husband thus departed, Gajamukta was filled with great distress. Weeping, she went forth, brought her husband out, and gently gave him a fan. Meanwhile, the heroic Ahlada arrived, leading a formidable force of seven hundred thousand warriors.