When Shatadhanvan found himself unable to protect the Syamantaka jewel any longer, he turned to Akrura and said, “If you cannot safeguard me, then take this jewel from me and keep it safe.” Upon hearing these words, Akrura replied, “Even if you do not reveal the gem’s whereabouts at the end, I will still obtain it.” With this agreement, Akrura took possession of the jewel. Shatadhanvan then mounted a horse as swift as a balance, capable of traveling a hundred yojanas, and fled. Balarama and Vasudeva gave chase, riding a chariot drawn by four noble horses—Shaivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa, and Balāhaka. The horse, after covering a hundred yojanas, exhausted itself and died in the region of the Mithila forest. Shatadhanvan abandoned the fallen horse and continued his escape on foot. Seeing this, Krishna turned to Balabhadra and said, “You should remain here in the chariot while I pursue this wicked man on foot and slay him. In this land, the rulers are vigilant and fearful; neither you nor I should cross this territory with our chariot.” Balarama agreed and stayed behind. Krishna followed the path for about two kroshas, and from a distance, hurled his discus, severing Shatadhanvan’s head. Krishna searched thoroughly among the body, clothes, and belongings, but the Syamantaka jewel was nowhere to be found. He then returned to Balabhadra and said, “In vain have we killed Shatadhanvan; we have not obtained that great jewel, the Syamantaka, which is the essence of the whole world.” Hearing this, Balarama became angry and said to Vasudeva, “Shame on you! You are so greedy for wealth. Because you are my brother, I have tolerated it. Now, go your own way as you wish. I want nothing to do with Dvaraka, with you, or with these false oaths before me. Enough, enough!” Though Krishna tried to appease him, Balarama would not stay. Balarama entered the city of Videha, where King Janaka welcomed him into his house with the customary offering of arghya. Balarama remained there, while Vasudeva returned to Dvaraka. During Balabhadra’s stay at King Janaka’s house, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, learned the art of mace-fighting from him. After three years had passed, Babhrū and the Yādavas led by Ugrasena, realizing that Krishna had not taken the jewel, went to the city of Videha. They convinced Baladeva and brought him back to Dvārakā. Meanwhile, Akrūra, absorbed in constant meditation on the Blessed Lord, performed sacrifices unceasingly, using the finest gold produced from the supreme jewel. Whenever the Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas gathered at the sacrificial ground, the slayer of a brāhmaṇa would be destroyed; thus, protected by consecration and its armor, Akrūra remained there. For sixty-two years, due to the power of the Syamantaka jewel, there was no calamity, famine, pestilence, or death in that place. However, when Śatrughna, the great-grandson of Sātvata, was slain by the Bhojas allied with Akrūra’s faction, Akrūra, along with the Bhojas, abandoned Dvārakā and departed. From the very day of their departure, calamities descended upon Dvārakā—famine, wild beasts, drought, pestilence, and other afflictions arose. In response, the Yādavas, together with Balabhadra and Ugrasena, assembled to deliberate. The Blessed Lord, beloved of all, said, “What is this? Why have so many calamities come at once? Let this be considered.” At this, a Yadu elder named Āndhaka spoke: “Wherever Akrūra’s father, Śvaphalka, was present, there was never famine, pestilence, drought, or the like. When Śvaphalka was brought to the land of the king of Kāśī during a drought, from that very moment the gods sent rain.” He continued, “Previously, the wife of the king of Kāśī bore a precious daughter in her womb. But even when the time for her full-term birth arrived, that daughter did not come forth. Twelve years passed, with the child remaining in the womb. Then the king of Kāśī spoke to his unborn daughter, ‘Daughter, why do you not come forth and be born? I wish to see your face. Why do you trouble your mother for so long?’ Thus addressed, the unborn child spoke from the womb, ‘Father, if you give one cow each day to a brāhmaṇa, then within three more years I will certainly emerge from this womb.’ Hearing these words, the king gave a cow to a brāhmaṇa every day.” In time, the daughter was born, and her father named her Gāndinī. That maiden, Gāndinī, was given as a gift to Śvaphalka, who had rendered assistance, when he arrived at their house, and she became the object of ceremonial hospitality. From Śvaphalka and Gāndinī, Akrūra was born.