With deep humility, the serpent king addressed the Lord, saying, “O Lord, just as You created me—with my birth, my form, and my inherent nature—so have I acted, according to the way I was made. If I had acted otherwise, O God of gods, it would be just for You to punish me as You see fit. Yet whatever punishment the Lord of the universe has meted out to me, I have endured. Let there be no other boon for me than this chastisement from Your hand. My strength is spent, my venom exhausted; I am subdued by You, O Achyuta. Grant me life—command me, Lord, what shall I do?” Then Krishna spoke: “O serpent, you must not remain here any longer in the waters of the Yamuna. Go, with your attendants and followers, to the waters of the ocean. And when you see my footprints upon your head in the ocean, Garuda, the foe of serpents, shall not attack you.” Having thus spoken to the king of serpents, the blessed Hari released him. The serpent, bowing deeply to Krishna, departed for the abode of waters. In the sight of all beings, with his attendants, children, kin, and wives, the serpent king abandoned his own pool. When the serpent had gone, the cowherds, overwhelmed with relief and love, embraced Govinda as if he had returned to them from the very jaws of death, their eyes brimming with tears. Amazed and overjoyed, they praised Krishna, the doer of flawless deeds, for restoring the river to its pure and auspicious state. The cowherd women sang of Krishna’s wondrous acts and enchanting exploits, and the cowherds joined in praise as Krishna entered Vraja. Once again, Rama and Keshava wandered together, tending their cows through the forest until they came upon the delightful Tala grove. In that grove dwelled a fearsome demon named Dhenuka, who had taken the form of a donkey and fed upon the flesh of men and cattle. Seeing the grove abundant with delicious fruit, the cowherd boys, filled with longing, spoke to Krishna and Balarama: “O Rama, O Krishna, this land is always guarded by Dhenuka; thus, these fruits remain untouched. See the ripe, fragrant palm fruits—we desire them. Let them be brought down, if you are willing.” Hearing these words, Sankarshana and Krishna began to shake the palm trees, bringing the fruits to the ground. The sound of the falling fruits roused Dhenuka, the wicked-hearted demon, who rushed there in anger. With great force, he struck Baladeva on the chest with his hind legs, but Baladeva seized him by those very legs. Whirling the demon around in the air, he hurled him lifeless onto the top of a palm tree. As the donkey-demon crashed down, many fruits rained to the earth, as if a mighty wind had scattered clouds. Krishna and Balabhadra, with ease, likewise cast the other donkey-demons—Dhenuka’s kin—onto the palm trees. In a moment, the earth was arrayed with ripe fruits and the bodies of the demons, making the sages who witnessed it shine with joy. There, in the now peaceful Tala forest, the cows grazed undisturbed on fresh grass, where once they had been forbidden. With the donkey-demon and his brothers slain, the beautiful Tala grove shone brightly for all the cowherds and their families. Krishna and Balarama, the two radiant sons of Vasudeva, moved joyfully about like two young bulls with budding horns, tending the cows at a distance, calling them by name, garlands of forest flowers around their necks and herding ropes on their shoulders. Their garments, dusted with gold and black powder, made them appear like Indra’s weapons—white and dark clouds together. Delighting in playful games with the perfected beings of the worlds, they wandered the earth, honoring humanity and enjoying the pastimes suited to their human forms. The two mighty ones played at swings, wrestling, and stone-throwing contests. Then, desiring to defeat them, the asura Pralamba appeared, disguised as a cowherd boy. He, foremost of the Danavas, entered among the children in human form, seeming like an ordinary man. Seeking his chance, he plotted to kill the son of Rohini, while keeping Krishna distracted. As part of their play, the boys began a game called ‘Harina-kridana,’ leaping in pairs. Govinda paired with Shridama, Bala with Pralamba, and the other cowherds with each other. Krishna bested Shridama, and the son of Rohini defeated Pralamba; the rest of Krishna’s side won, while the others were defeated. According to the rules, those who lost carried the victors on their shoulders to the banyan tree, then all returned to their places. Suddenly, the Danava swiftly lifted Sankarshana onto his shoulders and, instead of stopping, carried him off like a cloud bearing the moon. When he could carry him no further, the demon, overcome with anger, grew to a massive size, like a rain cloud swelling in the monsoon.