Because of her husband Indra’s great pride, Śacī, his devoted wife, tried to restrain him from rash action. But Satyabhāmā, Krishna’s spirited queen, had reached the end of her patience. She declared, “Enough of waiting; let the Pārijāta tree be taken by strength!” She quickly dispatched a message to Paulomī, another name for Śacī: “Go at once and tell Śacī these words from Satyabhāmā, who speaks boldly and without fear: ‘If you truly are your husband’s beloved, if Indra is under your sway, then stop my husband from taking the Pārijāta tree. I know your husband is Śakra, lord of the gods, and you yourself are divine. Yet, though I am only a mortal woman, I will take the Pārijāta tree from you.’” The guards, hearing Satyabhāmā’s command, went to Śacī and delivered her message. Upon hearing these words, Śacī was roused to action. She incited Indra, the wielder of the mighty discus, to defend the honor of the gods. Indra, lord of the heavens, gathered the armies of all the gods and marched forth to battle Hari—Krishna—for the sake of the Pārijāta tree. The gods stood ready, armed with iron clubs, swords, maces, spears, and excellent weapons, surrounding Śakra, who held the thunderbolt. Krishna, standing upon Garuḍa, the king of serpents, beheld Śakra and the assembly of gods, all prepared for battle. He sounded his conch shell, its thunderous call echoing in all directions, and loosed volleys of sharp arrows by the thousands and tens of thousands. The sky was soon filled with hundreds of arrows. The gods responded in kind, releasing countless weapons and missiles. Yet, the Lord, slayer of Madhu, effortlessly cut down every weapon and missile sent by the gods, as if it were mere play. He seized the noose of Varuṇa, lord of waters, and cast it aside; with his beak, as easily as snapping a young serpent, Garuḍa broke it into pieces. Yama’s rod, shattered by Krishna’s mace, fell to the earth. With his discus, Krishna reduced Kubera’s palanquin to dust and struck the sun, diminishing its brilliance. Agni, the fire-god, was cooled by Krishna’s arrows; the Vasus scattered in all directions; and the Rudras, their spear-tips severed by the discus, were cast down to earth. The Sādhyas, Viśvas, Maruts, Gandharvas, and Yakṣas were all driven away in the sky, scattered like silk-cotton by the arrows of Krishna, wielder of the Śārṅga bow. Meanwhile, Garuḍa struck, tore, and devoured the gods with his beak, wings, and talons as he moved through the fray. In the midst of this tumultuous battle, Madhusūdana (Krishna) and Indra rained hundreds of thousands of blows upon each other, like storm clouds pouring streams of rain. Garuḍa fought with Airāvata, Indra’s great elephant, while Janārdana (Krishna) engaged Indra and all the gods in fierce combat. At last, when all the arrows, weapons, and missiles were spent, Indra seized his thunderbolt, and Krishna took up the Sudarśana discus. The three worlds cried out in alarm, seeing the lord of the gods and Janārdana facing each other with these ultimate weapons. Indra hurled his thunderbolt, but the blessed Hari caught it. Krishna, holding the discus but not releasing it, told Indra to stand still. Seeing Indra deprived of his thunderbolt and Garuḍa wounded, Satyabhāmā spoke to Indra, who was ready to flee: “Lord of the three worlds, husband of Śacī, it is not fitting for you to flee! Śacī herself will come to you, adorned with the Pārijāta garland. What kind of sovereignty over the gods is yours, if you, unable to see Śacī as before, must watch her approach, radiant with the Pārijāta garland?” She continued, “Enough, Śakra, with this struggle. Do not feel ashamed. Let the Pārijāta be taken, and let the gods be free from distress. Out of pride and arrogance, and excessive self-regard, Śacī did not even look at me when I entered her house, nor did she offer me any courtesy. Being a woman, my mind was unsteady and I was intent on praising my own husband; therefore, Śakra, I engaged in this conflict with you, together with him. Enough of this Pārijāta, which has now been taken by another. She is proud of her beauty, but what woman is not proud of her own husband?” Hearing Satyabhāmā’s words, the king of the gods turned back and answered her, “Enough, O fierce one, with these reproaches for your friend.” He then said, “Nor do I feel shame for being defeated by him who is the creator, destroyer, and sustainer of all, the one who has all forms. This entire world, without beginning, middle, or end, arises from him and cannot exist apart from him. He is the cause of creation, dissolution, and preservation. How can there be shame for me, having been overcome by him?” Indra continued, “He, whose form is the origin of all worlds—subtle, minute, unknown even to those who seek knowledge, and known by none but himself—the unborn, uncreated, eternal Lord, who by his own will brings benefit to the world—who among mortals could ever conquer him?” Thus praised by the king of the gods, Keśava (Krishna), smiling and moved, spoke gently: “You are the king of the gods, Indra; we are mortals, O lord of the world! Whatever offense I have committed must be forgiven by you. Let this Pārijāta tree be taken to its proper place; I have taken it, O Śakra, only to keep my word. Take back your thunderbolt, which you hurled at me; it is your weapon, meant for the destruction of enemies.” Indra replied, “O Lord, do you bewilder me by saying, ‘I am mortal’? We know you as the divine one—though your subtle nature is beyond our comprehension. You are who you are, O protector of the world, established at the beginning, O master; you remove the thorn from the world, O slayer of demons. Let this Pārijāta tree be brought to Dvārakā, O Krishna; it will not remain on earth once you have left the mortal realm.” Thus, the gods’ pride was humbled, the Pārijāta tree was won for Satyabhāmā, and all present recognized the supreme and gracious nature of Krishna, who acts only for the good of the world.