On the fourth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, the moon appears in the sky—a day considered sacred, when one must refrain from making false accusations. It is said that whoever gazes upon the cool, radiant moon on this auspicious day and listens to the tale of the Syamantaka jewel becomes freed from the burden of false accusations. In the land of the Madra king, three illustrious daughters—Sulakshmana, Nagna-jiti, and the virtuous, renowned Sushila, each graced with auspicious features—attended their own svayamvara. On that very day, these radiant maidens, shining with beauty and virtue, all chose Krishna as their husband. Thus, the descendant of Yadu married them all in a single day. Krishna, the great-souled one, was renowned for his eight queens, beginning with Rukmini. Their names were Rukmini, Satyabhama, Kalindi with her pure smile, Mitravinda, Jambavati, Nagna-jiti, Sulakshmana, and the slender-waisted Sushila. These eight queens are always remembered as his principal consorts. At that time, there was a mighty asura named Naraka, the son of the earth, whose power was immense. He defeated Indra, the king of the gods, and vanquished all the other deities in battle. Naraka seized by force the radiant earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods, as well as many other divine jewels belonging to the gods. He took Airavata, the magnificent elephant of Mahendra, and the celestial horse Ucchaihshravas. He also seized Kubera’s jewels, including the precious mani, the conch, and the lotus treasures. Naraka’s audacity knew no bounds—he carried off the celestial nymphs and women, and forcibly took the thunderbolt and other weapons from the gods. With those very weapons, he slew many gods and took up residence in a city he conjured by his magic. This city, shining in the pure sky, was his abode, where he dwelled, adorned in radiant garments. Terrified and distressed by Naraka’s might, all the hosts of gods, led by Indra, the lord of Śacī, sought refuge with Krishna, the performer of blameless deeds. Hearing of Naraka’s actions, Krishna assured the gods of their safety and turned his mind toward Garuḍa. At that moment, Garuḍa, the mighty bird honored by all the gods, appeared before Hari with joined palms. Mounting Garuḍa with Satyā (Satyabhama) by his side, Krishna—praised by the sages—set out for the city of the demons. As they approached, Krishna beheld the city blazing in the sky like the sun itself, filled with countless demons adorned in divine ornaments. This city was impregnable, even to the gods. Noting its formidable fortifications, Krishna, the mighty Lord, prepared his discus. With his radiant brilliance, Krishna dispelled the darkness like the rising sun. Immediately, hundreds and thousands of demons, raising their spears, surged forth to do battle. They hurled divine javelins, clubs, and heavy maces at Krishna, but their attacks were as ineffective as straw striking fire. Then Krishna, the Lord bearing the Garuḍa banner, took up his bow Śārṅga. With arrows blazing like tongues of fire, he cut down their weapons, and with his discus, he severed the necks of their elephants and swift horses. Some demons fell to the discus, others to his arrows, and yet others were slain by his mace. Thus, all the demons were cast down upon the earth, split as mountains are by Indra’s thunderbolt. Having slain all the Dānavas, the lotus-eyed Lord blew his great conch, Pāñcajanya. At that sound, Naraka, the mighty demon, seized his bow and, mounting his divine chariot, rushed forth to meet Krishna. Their battle was fierce and tumultuous, sending chills through all who witnessed it. Arrows rained down in thousands from both sides, like clouds pouring rain. Then Vāsudeva, the eternal one, with a crescent-shaped arrow, cut Naraka’s bow in two. He released a great divine weapon at Naraka’s broad chest. Pierced in the heart, the great demon fell to the earth, crashing down like a thunder-struck mountain. Krishna approached Naraka as he lay on the ground. At the urging of the earth herself, Krishna said to the demon, “Choose a boon.” Rising atop Garuḍa, Naraka replied, “I have no need for a boon, for I am Naraka. Yet, for the good of other worlds, I will ask for the highest boon: O Krishna, Lord of all beings, on the day of my death, may those men who perform the auspicious bath never fall into hell. Let it be so, O remover of fear.” Mahādeva responded, “So be it,” and Govinda granted the boon. Then, as Naraka gazed upon Hari’s feet—radiant as autumn lotuses, adorned with anklets of thunderbolt-gem and cat’s-eye, worshipped by Brahmā, Rudra, and other gods and sages—the son of the earth gave up his life and attained a form resembling Hari himself. All the hosts of gods, their hearts overflowing with joy, showered down rains of flowers, and the great sages sang Krishna’s praises. Entering Naraka’s city, the lotus-eyed Krishna recovered the jewels of the gods, the earrings of the divine mother, and the horse Uccaiḥśravas. He also took Airāvata, the foremost elephant, and the blazing mountain of gems. All these treasures, the best of the Yadus returned to Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt. Naraka, in his might, had also carried off sixteen thousand maidens from the kingdoms he had conquered, confining them within his inner palace. When Krishna, radiant as a hundred Cupids and resplendent in valor, entered the palace, all those maidens saw him and their hearts were filled with hope.