Then, the radiant goddess Svarṇavatī, accompanied by her faithful attendant Śobhā, prepared to act. Svarṇavatī entrusted Śobhā, who was skilled in the mysterious arts of the mlecchas, with a mission. Śobhā set forth and, arriving at her destination, addressed the king with respectful words: “Hear me, O foremost of kings.” She revealed to him the fate of his royal couple, explaining who had taken them and where they had gone. She spoke of Āhlāda, the valiant one who resided upon the moon, and of the mighty god Tālana. Having delivered this message, the courtesan Śobhanā assumed a yogic form. She led forth a group of great warriors, all disguised as ascetics, at the forefront of their search. Āhlāda rode atop a majestic elephant; Indula mounted the fierce steed Karāla; the portion of Krishna took his seat upon Bindula, making the horse dance with his skill. Together, they searched a region magical in nature, stretching a hundred yojanas across, seeking the king who bore auspicious marks. Yet their efforts were in vain—they found no trace of him there. Undeterred, Śobhanā and her companions journeyed onward to the city of Mayūra. Still searching, they moved next to the village of Innagaḍha, mingling among its people. Their quest carried them further to the splendid city of Bahlika. After these journeys, they returned to their own land, where Śobhanā honored the city of Bahlika, now inhabited by foreigners, and devoted herself to singing and dancing in its midst. At that moment, a god, filled with joy, emerged from the depths of the earth. He revealed, “I was placed in the pit of the earth by Kālāgni Rudra.” Upon hearing this, Śobhā herself grew despondent. Once more, she returned to Svarṇavatī and recounted everything to Dita. Consoling them, Suvarnangi worshipped the goddess Chandika; at the close of night, as darkness descended, she approached Jagadambika for guidance. Elsewhere, a woman named Padmini, beloved of Manideva, came into the story. Manideva was known as the commander of Kubera. Padmini approached the god of gods, the consort of Uma—Mahadeva himself. It was only after a hundred years that Mahadeva spoke to her, granting her a boon: “By obtaining a portion of Nakula and enjoying great happiness through him, you will be reunited with your husband and return again to Kailasa.” Mahadeva also decreed that Sharada, for the protection of the realm, would go to the delightful city of Mahavati. There, Sharada established a protective measure on earth to safeguard the village. Turning to Svarṇavatī, Mahadeva instructed, “Therefore, Svarṇavatī, you shall go to Kailasa, the secret abode of the Yakshas.” Upon hearing this, Svarṇavatī went to Padmini and, arriving at the house of Kamapala, took up residence there. When Padmini departed from that house, an auspicious writing was discovered. Understanding the significance of these events, the portion of Krishna gathered an army of one hundred and twenty thousand warriors. Kamapala, powerful and resolute, assembled an even greater force of three hundred thousand. A tremendous battle erupted between the two armies. In the midst of this conflict, Padmini’s brother and father, having sought refuge with her, received from her a letter of disappearance for their protection. Using this boon, the two became invisible and struck down the enemy’s forces with their swords. Seeing this, the leaders of the army abandoned the battle and sought refuge with the portion of Krishna. Now endowed with divine sight, he fought valiantly, approaching his adversaries directly. In the end, he bound his foe, and, filled with joy and having obtained the auspicious mark, became fearless. The victorious party then returned the royal couple to King Jayachandra. Jayachandra, powerful and just, was reunited with his wife at home. In the bright fortnight of the eldest month, the portion of Krishna also returned home. Thus, O Brahmin, have the auspicious deeds of the portion of Krishna been recounted to you. And so it was that, as the king of the earth sat in his assembly, he was approached by one whose radiance rivaled that of the moon.