Hearing these words, Krishna’s portion—Krishnaamsha—responded with humility, saying, “Therefore, having abandoned you, the land has come under the king’s control.” Recognizing the wisdom of his companion, he added, “You indeed know all dharmas; therefore, forgive the offender.” When King Jayachandra heard this, he replied firmly, “Go quickly, you and your clan, otherwise you are not permitted to stay.” At this, Krishnaamsha, the bewilderer of all, laughed and said, “O king, give me that which is to be given, and accept the due payment.” Thus addressed, the king became embarrassed in the presence of Krishnaamsha. Meanwhile, the heroic Sakula, adorned with auspicious marks, and Ahlada took action. They reached the city of Kuṭhāra and laid siege to the king’s fortress. The king of Kuṭhāra, Lakṣaṇa—mighty and descended from the Vāmana lineage—stood ready with an army tens of thousands strong. Crossing the waters of the Yamunā, Lakṣaṇa arrived at the field of Kalpa, stronger than before and leading his forces from the front. He then reached the beautiful river Vetravatī, his entire army in tow. At that time, the hero Cāmuṇḍa appeared, commanding a hundred thousand warriors. A great and terrible battle broke out between the two armies, with both sides wielding missile-launchers. Into this fray came Raktabīja, swift and powerful, mounted on an elephant. Warriors on both sides were slain or routed in the fierce fighting. Seeing his own forces shattered, Tālana, armed with a mace, struck Raktabīja’s elephant, causing Cāmuṇḍa to fall to the ground. A skilled swordsman then confronted Tālana, who brandished his heavy mace. Lakṣaṇa, rushing forward, struck his enemy with his own arrow. A thousand warriors, followers of Raktabīja, stood ready with swords, spears, and javelins. At first, they were full of joy, but soon they became distressed by fear of Raktabīja. Witnessing this, Brahmānanda went to his father. Hearing of these events, King Parimala was overwhelmed with love and, his voice trembling, spoke to his son. Then Queen Devakī, filled with affection, addressed the king, “Having been abandoned by you, we wander to another king.” Hearing her words, the king, overcome with supreme joy, ordered his hundred-thousand-strong army to be mobilized. After five days, the king of the earth arrived, and a great and terrible battle erupted between the two sides, lasting for a month. At dawn, when the sky was clear, Krishnaamsha, with his army of a hundred thousand, advanced and severed the heads of the Chamuṇḍas, each one separately. Yet, as their heads were cut off, all those hundred thousand warriors became alive again. Krishnaamsha was astonished, and in that moment, filled with fear. He exclaimed, “This universe, pervaded by you, is nothing but continuous sound. O you who have assumed the form of Chamuṇḍā for the destruction of Raktabīja!” Hearing this hymn, the goddess—granter of boons and accomplisher of all—was pleased. When the hundred-thousand-fold enemy was reduced to ashes, Chamuṇḍa descended to earth. The king of the earth, hearing of this, came in fear and said, “Forgive my wrongdoing.” Because of the king’s words, great fear arose, and he said, “You are related to me, and we are indeed your servants.” Hearing this, Parimala advised the king, “Go for refuge to the compassionate devotee of Vishnu, who is the giver of shelter.” The king of the earth, powerful and wise, assumed the form of a twice-born and acted accordingly. Then Lakṣaṇa, the hero, showed affection toward the king. When the month of Phālguna arrived, everyone returned to their own homes. Balakhāna, overwhelmed by the events, performed the ancestral rites at Gayā and fed a thousand Brahmins devoted to the Vedas. Later, in the month of Kārtika, on a Monday, under the auspicious conjunction of Kṛttikā and Vyatipāta, Krishnaamsha—leading his army of a hundred thousand and accompanied by Svarṇavatī—set forth once again.