Krishna, the lotus-eyed Lord, stood upon the battlefield, his weapons blazing with divine brilliance. With arrows that flamed like tongues of fire, he struck down the celestial weapons hurled by his foes, severing the necks of their mighty elephants and swift horses. Wielding his discus—the Sudarshana—he, the best of men, cut through his enemies with ease; some fell to the discus, others to his arrows. The demons who opposed him were also struck down by his formidable mace, and soon the battlefield was strewn with their fallen forms. Just as mountains are split asunder by the thunderbolt of Śakra, so too did Krishna, the supreme person, destroy the Dānavas. Having slain them all, he raised the great conch Pāñcajanya and blew it, its sound echoing across the fields. At that moment, Naraka, the mighty demon, seized his bow and mounted his divine chariot to confront Keśava in battle. The clash that followed was fierce and tumultuous, enough to make one’s hair stand on end. Arrows rained from both sides, falling like torrents from storm-laden clouds. Then Vāsudeva, the eternal one, loosed a crescent-shaped arrow that sliced through Naraka’s bow and followed it with a great divine weapon aimed at the demon’s broad chest. The weapon struck true, piercing Naraka’s heart. Like a thunderbolt from Indra, it felled him, and he crashed to earth like a roaring mountain. As Naraka lay dying, Krishna approached him, urged by the earth herself, and said, “Choose a boon.” Rising atop Garuḍa, Naraka replied, “I am Naraka; I need no boon for myself. Yet, for the good of other worlds, I ask this: O Krishna, Lord of all, on the day of my death, may those who perform the auspicious bath never fall into hell. Grant them this, O remover of fear.” Krishna, Govinda, graciously granted the boon, saying, “So be it.” Gazing upon Hari’s radiant feet—adorned with anklets of thunderbolt-gem and cat’s-eye, worshipped by Brahmā, Rudra, and the sages—Naraka, son of the earth, surrendered his life and attained a form resembling Hari himself. The gods, filled with joy, showered flowers from above, and the great sages praised the Lord. Krishna then entered Naraka’s city. There, by his might, he reclaimed the jewels of the gods, the divine mother’s earrings, and the celestial horse Uccaiḥśravas. He also took Airāvata, the foremost elephant, and a mountain of blazing gems, all of which he returned to Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt. It was revealed that Naraka, having conquered all the kings of the earth, had carried off sixteen thousand maidens, confining them in his inner palace. When these maidens beheld Krishna, radiant and valiant, more beautiful than a hundred Cupids, they all chose him as their husband, the all-pervading Lord of the universe. In that very moment, Govinda assumed manifold forms, and, according to custom, took each maiden by the hand. Bringing them forth, they sought refuge in him, the ocean of compassion who had freed them from Naraka. Out of respect for their wishes, Krishna established them in his kingdom, placing them in Indra’s celestial chariot and, with the aid of divine messengers, settled them in Dvārakā. Then, mounting Garuḍa with Satyā, Krishna swiftly ascended to the world of the gods to visit the divine mother. Entering the city of the king of the gods, Janārdana descended from Garuḍa with his wife. There, he bowed to Aditi, revered among the denizens of heaven, and she embraced him with motherly affection. Seating her in the place of honor, Krishna worshipped her with devotion, as did the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, and Indra himself. Satyabhama, illustrious among women, entered the house of Shaci, wife of Indra, and was honored by the goddess. As Satyabhama sat, attendants of the Parijata tree brought forth splendid flowers and, at Indra’s behest, lovingly gave them to Shaci. Shaci, graceful and proud, adorned her dark hair with the flowers, but disregarded Satyabhama, thinking her unworthy—a mere mortal—and not fit to receive such celestial blossoms. Hurt and angered, Satyabhama left the palace and approached Krishna, her eyes like lotuses, and said, “Shaci, proud of the Parijata, did not give me the flower, Govinda, but placed it on her own head.” Hearing her words, Vasudeva, mighty Krishna, uprooted the Parijata tree itself and placed it upon Garuḍa. With Satyabhama, he swiftly returned to the beautiful city of Dvārakā. Indra, king of the gods, filled with wrath, mounted Airāvata and, accompanied by the Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, Sadhyas, and hosts of Maruts, went to battle with Keśava. The hosts of gods surrounded Janārdana and rained down weapons upon him like clouds upon a mountain. But Krishna, wielding his discus, cut down all the divine weapons of the gods, standing unconquered and supreme.