Deluded by ignorance, the mighty monkey Dravida unleashed chaos upon the world. He destroyed sacred sacrifices, violated the boundaries of righteousness, and caused untold destruction among living beings. Forests, regions, towns, and villages fell victim to his wrath; in some places, he hurled mountains to crush entire settlements. Rocks and trees were torn from the earth and cast into the ocean, and standing amidst the sea, he stirred the waves into turmoil. His disturbance agitated the ocean, causing a great flood that swept away villages and cities along the shores with tremendous force. Assuming vast forms at will, Dravida roamed and plundered, crushing and scattering everything in his path with violent collisions. The world was thrown into disorder by his unruly deeds; the recitation of sacred texts and ritual utterances ceased, and distress spread everywhere. Once, in the garden of Raivata, Baladeva—Halāyudha—enjoyed wine with the illustrious Revatī and other noble women. Surrounded by radiant women singing, the chief of the Yadus reveled like Kubera on Mount Mandara. At that moment, the monkey approached, seized Baladeva’s plough, and brandished it and the mace before him. Laughing at the women, Dravida struck their wine-filled cups from their hands. Filled with anger, Baladeva sought to punish the monkey, but Dravida ignored him and made a clattering sound. Rising up in wrath, Baladeva seized his mace, while the monkey grasped a massive rock. Dravida hurled the rock, but Baladeva shattered it into a thousand pieces with his mace, and it fell to the earth. As the mace descended, the monkey leapt swiftly, and, approaching in anger, struck Baladeva’s chest with his palm. Enraged, Baladeva struck Dravida’s head with his fist; the monkey fell, blood pouring forth, his life exhausted. As Dravida’s body fell, the peak of the mountain was shattered, split into a hundred pieces as if struck by a thunderbolt. The gods showered flowers upon Rāma, praising him and saying, “Well done! You have accomplished a great deed.” They rejoiced, for the wicked monkey who had aided the demon faction and troubled the world had met his end. Having spoken thus, the delighted gods and the Guhyakas returned to heaven. In this way, countless deeds of wise Baladeva, the supporter of the earth, are recounted, beyond measure. Śrī Parāśara continued: Thus, Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Baladeva, accomplished the destruction of the demons and acted for the welfare of the world by eliminating wicked kings. The Lord, together with Phālguṇa (Arjuna), removed the burden of the earth by causing the downfall of all armies. Having relieved the earth’s burden by slaying all the kings, he brought an end to his lineage under the pretext of a curse by the Brāhmaṇas. Abandoning Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa relinquished his human form and entered his own abode, which is infused with the essence of Viṣṇu. Maitreya then asked: “By means of the Brāhmaṇas’ curse, how did he bring about the destruction of his own lineage? And how did Janārdana forsake his human body?” Śrī Parāśara explained: Viśvāmitra, Kaṇva, and the great sage Nārada were seen by the sons of the Yadu dynasty at the sacred site Piṇḍāraka. The young men, intoxicated by youth and impelled by fate, adorned Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, as a woman. Approaching the sages with humility, preceded by prostration, they asked, “This woman desires a son; tell us, what will she give birth to?” The sages, endowed with divine insight and angered by the deception, declared, “She will give birth to a pestle. That pestle will be the cause of the destruction of all the Yādavas, by which the entire lineage will be annihilated.” The young men reported everything to Ugrasena, and indeed, a pestle was born from Sāmba’s womb. Ugrasena had the pestle ground into powder, and that powder was cast into the great ocean. Of the pestle, which was made of iron and ground down, a fragment remained, shaped like a spear-head. That too was thrown into the ocean, and a fish swallowed it. When the fish was killed, a hunter took the fragment from its belly. Although Lord Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa) knew the ultimate truth, he did not wish to act contrary to what was ordained by fate. Then, sent by the gods, the wind approached Keśava, bowed, and spoke in secret: “I am a messenger sent by the gods, O Lord. Along with Vasus, Aśvins, Maruts, Ādityas, Rudras, Sādhyas, and others, Śakra informs you—listen, O mighty one. For the purpose of relieving the earth’s burden, the Lord descended here for more than a hundred years, prompted by the gods. The wicked Daityas have been slain, the burden of the earth has been lifted by you; may the gods, now without a protector, always dwell happily in heaven. O Lord of the universe, more than a hundred years have now passed; if it pleases you, now ascend to heaven.” Thus, the story unfolds: the mighty deeds of Baladeva, the destruction of the demons and wicked kings by Kṛṣṇa, and the fulfillment of fate through the curse of the sages, culminating in the Lord’s departure from the earth, as the gods rejoice and the world finds relief.