Prompted by Indra, the attendants of the gods lovingly presented the fragrant Parijata flowers to the goddess Shaci. Shaci, graceful and radiant, accepted them and, with her pure, dark hair, bound the blossoms upon her own head. In that moment, she ignored the illustrious Satyabhama, Krishna's beloved queen. Shaci thought to herself, “This woman is unworthy, merely human; these auspicious flowers are fit for the gods,” and so she withheld the Parijata from Satyabhama. Hurt and angered by this slight, Satyabhama left the palace. Her eyes, beautiful like lotuses, flashed with indignation as she approached her husband, Krishna, and spoke: “O foremost of the Yadus, this Shaci, proud of the Parijata, has not given it to me, Govinda. Instead, she bound it upon her own head.” Upon hearing Satyabhama’s words, Vasudeva, mighty and resolute, uprooted the Parijata tree and placed it upon Garuda, his divine mount. With Satyabhama seated beside him, Krishna swiftly ascended Garuda and journeyed to the splendid city of Dvaraka. Indra, king of the gods, was filled with wrath. He gathered the Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, Sadhyas, and the hosts of Maruts. Together, they mounted Airavata and went to battle against Kesava, surrounding Janardana with their divine armies. The gods unleashed showers of weapons upon Krishna, like clouds pouring rain upon a great mountain. Yet Krishna, wielding his discus, sliced through their weapons with ease. Garuda, enraged and powerful, fiercely struck down the gods, scattering them like the wind scatters blades of grass. Indra, furious, hurled his blazing thunderbolt, intent on slaying Krishna. But Krishna caught the thunderbolt effortlessly with one hand. Indra, frightened by Krishna’s strength, descended from Airavata and stood before Janardana with joined palms, bowing and praising him with hymns. Indra spoke: “O Krishna, this Parijata is fit for the gods; you once gave it to me and to the gods. How, then, can it remain among humans?” Krishna replied to the thousand-eyed Indra: “Satyabhama, my wife, was slighted by Shaci in your house, O Lord of the gods. Shaci, daughter of Puloma, did not give the Parijata flowers to Satyabhama, but wore them herself—your beloved. For this reason, O Indra, I have taken the Parijata. I promised to give it to Satyabhama, O Lord of the hosts of gods. O Vasava, I will place the Parijata in your house; therefore, today the Parijata should not be given, O Lord of the gods. For the welfare of the gods, I will send it to the earth; until then, let the Parijata remain in my abode. When I go to heaven, O Shakra, you may take it as you wish.” Having spoken thus, Krishna handed Indra his thunderbolt. Indra, accepting, bowed to Govinda and departed for his divine city, surrounded by the hosts of gods. Krishna, together with Queen Satyabhama, seated upon Garuda and praised by sages, entered Dvaraka. He placed the Parijata, the divine tree, near Satyabhama, delighting all his wives. During the nights, Madhusudana, glorious and assuming all forms, dwelled in the houses of all his wives, bringing them happiness. Thus concludes, in the glorious Padma Mahapurana, the Uttarakanda, in the dialogue of Uma and Maheshvara, the story of Krishna—the two hundred and fifty-first chapter named “The Account of the Marriage of Shri Vasudeva.” Afterwards, Shri Rudra spoke: Paundraka Vasudeva, king of Kashi, undertook severe austerities in seclusion at Varanasi. For twelve years, he fasted and recited the sacred five-syllable mantra, worshipping Mahesha with a lotus plucked from his own eye. Pleased by his devotion, Shulapani, Lord of Uma, appeared and said, “Choose a boon.” Paundraka replied, “Grant me, O gracious Shiva, Lord of all beings, five-faced one, a form equal to Vasudeva.” Shiva granted his wish. Paundraka received a form with four arms holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus; eyes like lotus petals; a crown like Vasudeva’s; lovely locks; yellow garments; the Kaustubha jewel, and all other divine marks. Deluded by his newfound form, Paundraka proclaimed, “I am Vasudeva,” and deceived all the worlds. One day, Narada approached the mighty king of Kashi in heaven and said, “Without defeating the son of Vasudeva, one cannot attain the status of Vasudeva.” At that moment, Paundraka mounted a chariot adorned with Garuda banners, assumed a formidable form, and, with an army of four divisions, arrived at Dvaraka. Stationed at the city gate in a golden chariot, he sent a messenger to Vasudeva, declaring, “I have come for battle; unless you defeat me, you cannot claim the status of Vasudeva.” Vishnu, hearing this challenge, mounted Garuda and went out to the city gate to face Paundraka. There he saw Paundraka seated in a chariot with his army, holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus in his hands. Krishna, taking up the Sharnga bow, unleashed blazing arrows, burning up Paundraka’s great army—horses, elephants, and infantry—in an instant. With a single arrow, he playfully severed the conch, discus, mace, and other weapons attached to Paundraka’s hands. Then, with the pure Sudarshana discus, Krishna cut off Paundraka’s lotus-like head, adorned with crown and earrings, and cast it down within the city of Varanasi. Seeing this, all the inhabitants of Kashi were astonished and, wondering what had happened, became fearful.