With a surge of swift power, the mighty son of Rohiṇī, Balabhadra, leapt forward in anger and struck the head of the fearsome elephant with his left foot. Such was the force of Balabhadra’s blow that the colossal beast, Kuvalayāpīḍa, fell dead on the spot, as if a mighty mountain had been felled by Indra’s thunderbolt. The elephant, goaded on by its driver, had met its end; its immense body smeared with blood and ichor, and now, Balabhadra and Krishna, armed with the elephant’s majestic tusks, strode forth. The two brothers, like lions among deer, gazed about with playful pride as they entered the great arena. Their arrival stirred a great commotion among the gathered multitudes. Cries of astonishment and joy filled the air as people pointed and exclaimed, “This is Krishna, and that is Balabhadra!” The crowd recalled Krishna’s wondrous deeds: “He it was who slew the terrible, child-killing Putana; who overturned the cart; who broke the twin Arjuna trees. He subdued the serpent Kaliya, climbing upon him in play, and held aloft Govardhana mountain for seven nights to protect all. Arishta, Dhenuka, and Keshi—those wicked foes—were effortlessly vanquished by this noble one. Behold, this is Achyuta!” Their admiration turned to Balabhadra as well: “Here is his elder brother, mighty-armed and full of playful ease, a delight to the eyes and hearts of all women. The wise proclaim him as the cowherd who will uplift the Yadava lineage, now fallen on hard times. Truly, Krishna is a great portion of Vishnu himself, the source of all beings, descended to earth to relieve its burden.” As these praises echoed through the city, Devaki’s heart swelled with emotion, her breast moist with motherly affection at the sight of her sons. Vasudeva, too, was filled with such joy upon beholding his sons’ faces that he seemed to shed the weight of age, becoming youthful once more. The women of the royal inner chambers gazed at Krishna and Balabhadra with wide, unblinking eyes, unable to look away, while the ladies of the city gathered in groups, their eyes drinking in the sight. They whispered among themselves, “Friends, look at Krishna’s face, his eyes deep red, adorned with drops of sweat from the struggle with the elephant. His face glows like a blooming autumn lotus, moistened and radiant above all others. Let our eyes be fulfilled in this very birth by beholding him. See the great splendor of the boy marked with the Srivatsa, his chest broad and powerful, his arms the destroyers of foes. And why do you not notice Balabhadra? His form is white as milk, the moon, and lotus stalks, and he stands before us in blue garments. See Balabhadra at play with Mustika and Chanura, and behold the smile of Hari!” Their excitement grew as the matches began. “Friends, look—Hari approaches Chanura for wrestling. There is no hesitation in him. But are the elders truly permitting this? How can Hari, whose tender body is just entering youth, be matched against this great demon, hard as thunder? These two brothers, with their graceful limbs in the bloom of youth, are set against the fierce demon wrestlers led by Chanura. Surely, this is a great transgression in the rules of wrestling, that a contest between a child and a strong man is watched in silence by the judges.” As these thoughts filled the arena, the blessed Hari, his belt fastened, leapt into the assembly, shaking the earth itself. Balabhadra, too, struck the ground and leapt about with such force and grace that it seemed astonishing the earth did not shatter beneath him. The combat began. Krishna, of immeasurable prowess, faced Chanura, while the demon wrestler Mustika, skilled in his art, engaged with Balabhadra. Krishna and Chanura wrestled fiercely, hurling and striking with fists, their blows resounding like thunderbolts, employing every wrestling hold and maneuver. Their battle raged with kicks, pushes, and grappling, fierce and dreadful, displaying their strength and vitality before the festive assembly. The cowherds and townspeople watched breathlessly, their hearts suspended as long as Chanura fought with Krishna. Krishna, the very embodiment of the universe, fought with effortless playfulness, shaking his lion-like mane out of fatigue and rising anger. The ebb and flow of strength between Chanura and Krishna did not escape Kaṃsa, who, filled with wrath, abruptly ordered the musicians to cease playing. At that very moment, as the earthly instruments fell silent, a wondrous sound arose: divine instruments resounded together in the sky above. The gods, hidden from mortal sight, joyfully cried out, “Victory to Govinda! Slay the demon Chanura, O Keśava!” Intent on Chanura’s destruction, Madhusūdana tormented him for a long time, then seized him and began to whirl him about. After spinning the demon wrestler a hundred times, Krishna dashed him to the ground, his life already departed into the air. Chanura’s body shattered into a hundred pieces upon impact, and the earth became a pool of blood. Meanwhile, mighty Baladeva fought with the demon wrestler Mustika, just as Krishna had with Chanura. Baladeva struck Mustika with his fist on the head, then on the chest, and with his knee, before throwing him down and crushing him as his life left him. Krishna then turned to the powerful wrestler king Tośalaka and, striking him with his left fist, brought him crashing down to the ground. Thus, in the great arena, Krishna and Balabhadra, shining with divine might, vanquished their foes, while all the people looked on in awe and wonder.