Then, after King Bhagiratha and the great sage Gautama had honored me with their deep austerities, they both approached and requested that I grant them the sacred river Ganga. For the welfare of all the worlds, O goddess, I joyfully bestowed upon them that most excellent and auspicious river, Ganga, who is dear to Vishnu. When Gautama brought her forth, she became known as Gautami; and because King Bhagiratha chose her, she became renowned as Bhagirathi. Thus, the unparalleled origin of Ganga has been described. Thereafter, the glorious Narayana, the Lord, granted to Bali, the king of the Daityas, the splendid realm of Rasatala, out of his affection for his devotees, including all the Danavas, Nagas, and Yadavas. He appointed Bali as their king until the great dissolution, having previously accepted the worlds from him while manifesting as the dwarf Vamana, the slayer of Daityas. Then Vishnu, the imperishable one, gladly gave the worlds to Mahendra, the son of Kashyapa. The gods, Gandharvas, and mighty sages praised the Lord with divine hymns and worshipped him. For their benefit, he condensed his great form so they might behold him. Honored by the gods, Hari then vanished from their sight, having thus protected Indra by his mighty power. The lord of the three worlds, Indra, attained great sovereignty. Thus, O goddess, I have recounted to you the glorious tale of Vamana. Whatever remains of his glory, I shall narrate to you in due order. Here ends the two hundred and fortieth chapter, called “The Manifestation of Vamana,” in the sacred dialogue between Uma and Maheshvara, in the Uttarakanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana, which comprises fifty-five thousand verses. Now, O goddess, listen further. Rudra spoke: After the wise Mucukunda had slain the Yavana there, granting him the boon of liberation, the noble descendant of Yadu departed. When Jarasandha, of wicked intent, heard that the Yavana had been killed, he gathered his own forces and engaged in battle with Rama and Krishna. By Krishna’s power, the entire army of that evil-minded king was destroyed, and the king of Magadha fell unconscious upon the earth. After a long while, regaining his senses, trembling and filled with fear, Jarasandha found himself unable to face Rama in battle. Turning away, he swiftly fled, accompanied by the remnants of his defeated troops, recognizing the invincible might of Rama and Krishna. Abandoning further conflict, he returned to his own city. Then those two sons of Vasudeva, along with their army, left the city of Mathura and entered the city of Dvaraka. There, Indra sent Vayu to the assembly of the gods. Out of affection, Indra bestowed upon Krishna a magnificent hall, crafted by Vishvakarma, adorned with diamonds, beryl, and many seats. Radiant with divine gems of many kinds and golden canopies, this splendid hall brought great joy to Ugrasena and the other kings. Together with the citizens, they rejoiced as the hosts of gods do in heaven. At that time, Raivata, a king descended from the Ikshvaku lineage, gave his own daughter, endowed with all auspicious qualities, to Rama out of affection; her name was Revati. Rama married Revati according to the proper rites and delighted in her as Indra delights in Shachi. The righteous king Bhishmaka, ruler of Vidarbha, was devoted to dharma, and his sons, including Rukma, were all virtuous. Among his children, the youngest daughter was Rukmini, radiant in complexion and born from a portion of Lakshmi herself, possessing every auspicious quality. In Rama’s incarnation, she was Sita; in Krishna’s birth, she was Rukmini; and in other descents of Vishnu, she is always his companion. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were born again in the Dvapara age as Shishupala and Dantavakra. Born in the Chedi lineage, mighty and valiant, Shishupala was the one whom Rukmini's father wished to wed her. But Rukmini, with her beautiful face, did not desire Shishupala as her husband. From childhood, steadfast in her vow, she was devoted to Vishnu alone. Always worshipping the gods, the maiden Rukmini performed many acts of charity, her heart set on Krishna as her husband. Devoted to vows and meditating on the Supreme Person, she dwelt in her father’s house, considering the lord of her soul as her true husband. Yet her father, the foremost king, together with his virtuous son Rukmi, made efforts to arrange her marriage with Shishupala. Rukmini, determined, sent a Brahmin, the son of the family priest, to Krishna, her chosen husband. The Brahmin swiftly departed for Dvaraka and, upon meeting Krishna and Rama, was properly honored by them. In private, he related all that Rukmini had spoken. Hearing this from the wise Brahmin, Rama and Krishna, the Lord, filled their chariot with all manner of weapons and missiles. Mounting the chariot with the noble charioteer Daruka, the two Supreme Persons swiftly journeyed to the city of Vidarbha. Kings from all realms, led by Jarasandha, had gathered to witness the marriage of the wise Shishupala. At the time of the wedding, Rukmini, adorned with golden ornaments, went out of the city with her companions to worship Durga. At that very moment, the son of Devaki, Krishna, arrived; the mighty slayer of Madhu seized her as she stood by the chariot. Swiftly placing her on the chariot, Krishna departed for his own abode. Seeing this, the kings led by Jarasandha were seized with great anger.