In the fierce battles that unfolded, Saradana, mighty among warriors, became renowned as the northern portion after he slew both Madana and the one born among the cowherds—Madana’s end came in the north. Rūpaṇa, joining forces, brought down Mardana, causing him to lose consciousness. In the heat of conflict, the powerful Brahmānanda, overcome by anger, captured Tāraka. Nṛhara, upon meeting Rañajit, was struck down by his own arrow, wounded in anger. The one who met his end there was a portion of Duśśāsana, and upon his death, he joined that place. With the fall of his kinsman Nṛhara, Mardana was consumed by wrath. But Rañajit, the valiant hero born of Parimala, rose up and cut down his foes. When Mardana, the hero, was slain, the mighty Saradana pressed on. Rañajit, who had endured great hardship and was born of Malana, continued the struggle. As three kinsmen fell in the thick of battle, Tāraka, seized by furious anger, retaliated fiercely. He cut through arrows and the enemy’s bow, as did Rañajit, both warriors burning with rage—like serpents subdued by rods. Tāraka threatened his enemy, took careful aim, and struck at his opponent’s throat. When that mighty hero was finally slain, Brahmananda was overcome with grief. Evening descended on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadra. In response, the gate was fortified with sixty thousand soldiers, yet the king—powerful ruler of the earth—was stricken with sorrow for his lost son. In his anguish, the king declared, “Just as I once emptied the delightful city called Shirisha, so too will I destroy all those descendants of the lunar dynasty with my arrows.” Having spoken thus, he summoned Dhundhukara, who, upon hearing the command, quickly hurried to the threshold. Then, the mighty king set forth, accompanied by an army of eight hundred thousand. On the tenth day of the bright half of Bhadra, Malana was overcome with sorrow. She, of the Kacchapadeshiya region and descended from the lineage of Gautama, called her sons, Ahlada and his younger brother, both dear to her heart. To the grieving Malana, she spoke gently, “That lord will not return to you.” Hearing these words, Malana, virtuous and full of love, wept bitterly, lamenting, “Alas, O portion of Rama, O mighty-armed one, child, O portion of beautiful Krishna!” At that moment, Parimala’s son, seeing the queen in such distress, asked Romaharshana, “Tell us, who is this, and what did he do?” Romaharshana explained that the father of Parimala had been the minister to King Anangamahi. Parimala, his daughter, was born into this noble family. When it was time for her to marry, her father arranged a svayaṃvara, and she was wedded with proper rites, joyfully joining her new home. From their union, a son was born—Jananāyaka. This heroic son, by his might, conquered the kings who dwelled along the banks of the Sindhu. Once, the great king, surrounded by his army, set out on a campaign. A great battle ensued between Jananāyaka and the king. In the end, Jananāyaka abandoned his kingdom and family, journeying to Mahāvatī, where he established his residence and became renowned throughout the earth by his own name. Then, with the approval of other rulers, the great king ordered Jananāyaka’s capture. With a force of one hundred thousand soldiers, he reached the banks of the Netravatī. There, Jananāyaka, strong-armed and self-controlled, took up his sword and advanced, resolute for the challenges ahead.