In the thick of battle, the warrior cut down both the enemy’s arrow and his bow, just as Rañajit had done before him. Overcome with rage, he subdued his foe as one might tame a furious serpent with rods. With deadly intent, he took aim and struck at his enemy’s throat, threatening him as he did so. When this mighty hero fell in combat, Brahmananda was plunged into grief. As evening descended on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadra, Brahmananda took measures to secure his stronghold, fortifying the gate with sixty thousand soldiers. The powerful king of the earth, stricken with sorrow for his lost son, recalled his past deeds and declared, “Just as I once emptied the delightful city called Shirisha, so too will I destroy all the descendants of the lunar dynasty with my arrows.” Having spoken with such resolve, the king summoned Dhundhukara. Hearing the summons, Dhundhukara hastened quickly to the threshold. Then, the mighty king, accompanied by eight hundred thousand warriors, set forth from his city. On the tenth day of the bright half of Bhadra, Malana was overcome with sorrow. She was of the Kacchapadeshiya region, descended from the lineage of Gautama. Grieving, she called for her son Ahlada and his younger brother, both dearly beloved to her. To the mourning Malana, someone spoke gently: “That lord will not return to you.” Hearing these words, virtuous Malana wept bitterly, crying out, “Alas, O one who shares in Rama’s greatness, mighty-armed child, portion of beautiful Krishna!” At this moment, Parimala’s son, seeing the queen’s sorrow, turned to Romaharshana and asked, “Tell us, who is this person, and what has he done?” The father of Parimala had once served as minister to King Anangamahi. Parimala, his daughter, was born and, when she came of age, her father arranged a svayaṃvara for her marriage. She was wed according to proper rites and, full of joy, went to her new home. In time, their union was blessed with a son named Jananāyaka. Jananāyaka grew to be a heroic man, and by force he conquered the kings who dwelled along the banks of the Sindhu. Once, surrounded by his army, this great king set out on a campaign. A fierce battle broke out between Jananāyaka and another king. Afterward, abandoning his kingdom and family, Jananāyaka arrived at Mahāvatī, where he made his new home and soon became renowned throughout the land by his own name. Later, with the assent of other rulers, the great king ordered Jananāyaka’s capture. Leading a hundred thousand soldiers, he reached the bank of the river Netravatī. There, strong-armed and self-controlled, Jananāyaka took up his sword and advanced. He seized the crown of the enemy general, who was seated atop an elephant. Addressing him, Jananāyaka said, “You are a Kṣatriya, the provider for me, a Brāhmaṇa.” Hearing this, the general respectfully offered him auspicious wealth. Exhausted from his labors, Jananāyaka found the shade of a banyan tree and rested there. Meanwhile, Vāmana, upon learning the cause of these events from his own messengers, understood what had transpired. When the divine horse was stolen, Jananāyaka awoke and, seeing the mark of the horse’s hoof, fearlessly approached Vāmana. Vāmana was known to bring laughter to Kṣatriyas, but fear to the earth. He warned, “Otherwise, the portion of Krishna will surely destroy your city.” Frightened by this threat, Vāmana resolved to hand over the city of Harinagara.