After Krishna had destroyed the sorcerous powers of Paundraka’s son, leaving nothing but ashes behind, he turned his attention toward the city of Varanasi. This city, magnificent and bustling, overflowed with chariots, elephants, horses, men and women, and was filled with countless treasures and storerooms—so splendid that even the gods found it difficult to behold. Yet, with all its gates, houses, walls, and courtyards marked, the divine discus of Hari, Sudarshana, burned the entire city to the ground. The discus moved with relentless power and brilliance, accomplishing what seemed impossible, and when its task was done, it blazed back to Vishnu’s hand. Thus concludes the account of Krishna’s destruction of Paundraka’s son’s sorcery, as told in the Padma Purana’s Uttarakanda, within the sacred dialogue of Uma and Maheshvara. Sri Rudra then spoke of further events: After Kamsa was slain, the king of Magadha, Jarasandha, driven by hatred, continually oppressed the Yadavas. Distressed, the Yadavas approached Krishna for help. Krishna summoned Bhima and Arjuna, and consulted with them, saying, “Jarasandha has worshipped Rudra and, by his grace, is invulnerable to weapons. How can he be slain?” After deliberation, Bhima suggested, “Challenge him to a wrestling match, for he has vowed to accept such a challenge.” Krishna, worshipped by all beings, moving and unmoving, went with Bhima and Arjuna to Jarasandha’s city. Disguised as Brahmins, they entered his inner chambers. Jarasandha, having defeated many mighty Kshatriyas in battle, had imprisoned them in his palace. Each month, on the Krishna Chaturdashi, he would kill one captive and offer their blood as a sacrifice to Bhairava. While he was engaged in this dreadful slaughter, Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna entered his house, still disguised as Brahmins. Upon seeing them, Jarasandha respectfully bowed, seated them on appropriate seats, and honored them with the madhuparka ceremony. He said, “I am blessed, my purpose is fulfilled. For what reason have you come? Tell me, and I will grant whatever you desire.” Vasudeva, smiling, revealed their true intent: “Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna have come for battle. Choose one of us for a duel.” Jarasandha agreed and selected Bhima for the contest. Thus began a terrifying wrestling match between Bhima and Jarasandha, lasting continuously for twenty-five days. At last, prompted by Krishna, Bhima, the son of the wind, split Jarasandha’s body in two and cast him to the ground. With Jarasandha slain, Vasudeva freed the captive kings from their imprisonment. The liberated kings bowed and praised Madhusudana, then returned to their own lands, now protected by Krishna. Afterwards, Krishna went with Bhima and Arjuna to Indraprastha, where he caused Yudhishthira to perform the grand Rajasuya sacrifice. When the sacrifice was completed, Krishna was given the foremost honor, with Bhishma’s approval. At this assembly, Shishupala spoke many words of accusation against Krishna. Krishna, using the Sudarshana discus, cut off Shishupala’s head. At the end of three births, Shishupala attained a form resembling Hari. Hearing of Shishupala’s death, Dantavaktra came to Mathura to challenge Krishna. Krishna mounted his chariot and went to Mathura to face him. A fierce battle ensued between Dantavaktra and Vasudeva at the gate of Mathura, on the banks of the Yamuna. Krishna struck Dantavaktra down with his mace. His limbs crushed and pierced, Dantavaktra fell lifeless to the ground, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt. He too attained union with Hari, the supreme, eternal abode of bliss, accessible to yogis. Thus, Jaya and Vijaya, through the curse of Sanaka and others, descended into worldly existence for the Lord’s play. In three births, they were slain by Krishna, and at the end, attained liberation. Having slain Dantavaktra, Krishna crossed the Yamuna and went to Nandavraja. He greeted and comforted his former parents, who embraced him with tearful throats. Krishna bowed to and soothed all the elder cowherds, satisfying everyone present with jewels, ornaments, and gifts. On the beautiful banks of the Kalindi, surrounded by sacred trees, Krishna played day and night with the cowherd women. Wearing the attire of a cowherd, Hari dwelled there for two months, immersed in joyful play and bound by the nectar of love. Then, by Krishna’s grace, all those present—Nanda, the cowherds, their families, cattle, birds, and animals—took on divine forms, ascended celestial vehicles, and attained the supreme Vaikuntha world. Krishna, having granted the supreme, flawless abode to all the inhabitants of Nandavraja, entered the splendid Dvaravati, praised in heaven by hosts of gods. There, Vasudeva, Ugrasena, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Akrura, and others honored him daily. With sixteen thousand wives and eight divine queens, bearing the form of the universe and adorned with celestial jewels, Krishna delighted them in various houses, on beds decorated with flowers. At this time, a Brahmin, childhood friend of Rama and Krishna, afflicted by extreme poverty and wearing garments obtained by begging for handfuls of rice, came to the splendid city of Dvaraka to see Vasudeva. He stood silently for a moment at the entrance to Rukmini’s inner chambers. Krishna, knowing the Brahmin had arrived, greeted him with Pradyumna, took his left hand, seated him comfortably in another room, and, as the Brahmin trembled with fear, washed his feet with water from a golden pitcher brought by Rukmini, honoring him with the traditional offering. After satisfying him with food and drink like nectar and ambrosia, Krishna himself took with his own hand the parched rice that the Brahmin had received by begging and kept in his old garment. Smiling, Krishna ate it. At that very moment, the Brahmin attained great wealth, grain, garments, and ornaments, his poverty vanished by Krishna’s grace.