Krishna

Shri Krishna
Nityabrahmachariकृष्ण, Kṛṣṇa

"शुचिं शुचिपदं हंसं तत्पदं परमेष्ठिनम्। युक्त्या सर्वात्मनाऽऽत्मानं तं प्रपद्ये प्रजापतिम्।।"

("He, who himself is pure, whose path of attainment is also pure, who is in the form of the eternal force, who is the supreme soul indicated by every pronoun and the protector of people, I break all ties and connecting with him only, take refuge in that supreme soul Lord Krishna in every way.")

―Bhishma, praying to Krishna

Shri Krishna, also referred to as 'Vaasudeva' and 'Shri Bhagavan', is one of the two main protagonists of the epic Mahabharata. Said by the Vedas to be God, the Supreme Person, who is the origin of all other incarnations of the Godhead such as Viṣhnu and Nārāyaṇa. The Bhagavata Purana contains extensive descriptions of His qualities and activities. He spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna at the beginning of the Kurukṣetra war

Appearance and Attributes

Krishna is a direct pure form of God. He is one of the most important incarnations of Lord Vishnu, whose scheme culminates as every event that happens in the world, leading to the destruction of evil for the conservation of dharma. For this, he was born in human form, carrying various mortal attributes such as apparel, emotions and relations, but truly, Krishna is beyond all such things.

The closest to Krishna's true godly form was shown by him as the Vishvarupa, a grand appearance in which all living beings would appear as miniatures over his illuminated body, the light of which even a thousand suns could probably not match, with various divine weapons in his arms and flares coming out of his eyes, nostrils and ears. That enlarged form possessed multiple heads, arms, abdomens and legs, with humans who were nearing their death appearing to rush into his mouths. This terrific appearance was allowed by Krishna only to be viewed by Arjuna and Sanjaya. A tamer version of this form, although still overwhelming, was once unleashed by him angrily and additionally viewed only by great sages, Drona, Bhishma, Vidura and Dhritarashtra. Krishna also showed himself to Arjuna as how Lord Vishnu showed himself to devotees, with four arms holding a conch, discus, mace and lotus.

Ordinarily, Krishna used to wear signature yellow garments. Situations caused his early life to be humble as he worked as a herder of cows, sparking beautiful iconography in the theme of a forest alongside cattle, playing a woodwind instrument. Krishna had dark skin, the source of his name, as 'krishna' means 'dark' in Sanskrit. Being an incarnation of the purest, Krishna held incomparable looks and was gorgeous to behold, triggering devotion in those who were close to him. The Pandavas have sometimes been mentioned to weep when Krishna would leave their place to return home.

Krishna carried a large number of epithets, including those which directly belonged to Lord Vishnu. His most commonly used synonym was 'Vaasudeva' which was doubly meaningful, since it meant the shelter of all living beings as well as the son of Vasudeva. Similarly his name 'Damodara' meant the one who was wished to be realised through discipline as well as the one who was once tied with a rope on the belly (a humorous childhood incident). All light rays serving as his hair and killing Keshi, both earned him the epithet 'Keshava'. Other names include Madhava, Hari, Govinda and Hrishikesha.

Despite his divine origin, Krishna retained humility. While he would exhibit godliness when required, Krishna in turn was himself a devotee of Lord Shiva, setting an example by following the devotional path himself. His daily routine included chanting holy hymns, but most notably, he would perform charity on a daily basis, making good use of his royal wealth.

From childhood itself, Krishna began killing demons who threatened his fellows, directly protecting righteousness. His life drastically changed after he killed Kamsa and entered royalty, returning to his biological parents. Krishna then became an expert politician, a skill he extensively used in bringing up Yudhishthira as an ideal king. His divine status caused no feat to be impossible for him, allowing him to perform miracles for warding off trouble. His numerous actions, especially the takedown of several demons and evil kings, earned him great respect among the masses.

Despite his relatively young status among the Yadava people, Krishna was looked upon as the chief of his community, although he accepted little formal authority throughout his lifetime. As a form of the supreme preserver, Krishna possessed lordship over all deities, who appeared and incarnated to aid his plans. In turn, the deities flourished as Krishna took down evil threatening them. As a warrior, Krishna inherited the signature weapons of Lord Vishnu, wielding the Sudarshana discus, Kaumodaki mace and Sharnga bow. However, even when he abstained from fighting in the Kurukshetra War, his influence was quick to turn it in his allies' favour. Krishna's mere presence was enough to guarantee his side's victory.

Krishna's charioteer, who served him at least since his days in the city of Dvaraka, was the intelligent Daruka. Krishna's glamorous chariot, laden with little bells, was driven by four horses, the green Shaibya, red Sugriva, dark Meghapushpa and white Balahaka. The flag on his chariot carried the symbol of Garuda, Lord Vishnu's mount who would often appear to help Krishna as well. Krishna also came into the possession of the bold Panchajanya conch, which would shake and unnerve the enemy.

Krishna's residence, like the rest of the city of Dvaraka, was constructed by the divine architect Vishwakarma. It was a huge complex plated with gold and consisted of the palaces of his consorts too. Krishna also possessed supplementary palaces, one named Viraja, which was completely pure, and another laden with various gemstones. Krishna's palace complex contained flags as wayfinding signs whose poles were also golden.

Krishna clears all indirect obstacles in the path of good. Hence, he is the strong base providing the most important support to not only the protagonists, but the story as a whole. His political advice was instrumental in the rise of the Pandavas. Particularly, Krishna is close to the valiant Arjuna. In a previous lifetime, the two were a duo of venerated sages Nara and Narayana, adding to their combined formidability in this lifetime as well. Krishna helped Arjuna in his marriage to Subhadra, becoming his brother-in-law as well. Most notably, Krishna was Arjuna's expert charioteer in the Kurukshetra War, playing an indirect and yet significant role in the Kauravas' defeat, especially in reciting the extremely important Bhagavadgita to motivate Arjuna.

Krishna was close to both his biological as well as foster parents. He grew up alongside his half-brother Balarama, to whom he was very close. Being a sterner figure, Balarama disagreed with Krishna on a number of his policies, but mutual trust and brotherhood never strained their relationship in the long run. Krishna's chief consort Rukmini was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu's eternal consort Goddess Lakshmi. As a mortal attribute, Krishna was subject to the societal norm of polygamy, but he skilfully used divinity to accompany all of his spouses equally, loving them all the same.

Krishna also had the Yadava warrior Satyaki as his close companion. Krishna has been mentioned to spend significant leisure time with Satyaki and hold him in high regard as a skilled fighter. Satyaki and Krishna's eldest son Pradyumna have been often portrayed to accompany him in his quests and interactions with deities. Draupadi is another person important to Krishna as they were sibling figures. During the attempt to disrobe Draupadi, perhaps the only mention of Krishna appearing in abstract form at a place despite not being physically present is found. Even while fighting in a war, Krishna used divine powers to intervene and prevent Draupadi's further humiliation by indefinitely extending her cloth.

Krishna set various examples on ideal behaviour in the middle of looming trouble, most notably his handling of the invaders Jarasandha and Kalayavana. Although he had them both killed, Krishna recognised the physical and military capabilities of his birth city of Mathura. Prioritising the safety of his people, Krishna settled the beautiful city of Dvaraka far from their danger there. The city served Krishna throughout his lifetime. After he left the mortal world, it was soon submerged into the sea.

Krishna's feats also earned him a large number of enemies in the form of Jarasandha's allies and other jealous rivals who included even his brother-in-law Rukmi. With some such enemies, Krishna directly dealt, while others were taken down by his own allies as a part of his plans. Such stories symbolise the perseverance of truth over negative ideas.

Krishna was an excellent orator, well-versed in the skill of speech. He would always use the right tone and words based on the situation and the listeners. His polite speech was mesmerising, while his harsh words to enemies were equally impactful. When he wished, Krishna was frank in conveying what was on the front of his mind, whether seriously or in jest.

There is no Mahabharata without Krishna. In the analogy of characters, in which Yudhishthira is compared to a righteous tree, Krishna is called his strong roots. The all-knowing and all-pervading Krishna serves as the catalyst for the entire story to happen and set an example of the victory of the correct path and truth over evil and treachery.

Family

Paternal grandfather - Shurasena

Maternal grandfather - Devaka

Father - Vasudeva

Mother - Devaki

Half-Brothers - Balarama, Sarana, Shatha, Durdama, Damana, Shvabhra, Pindaraka, Ushinara, Bhoja, Vijaya, Vrikadeva, Gada, Upasangavara, Agavaha, Paundraka, Kapila and Jara

Half-Sisters - Chitra and Subhadra

Sons - One lakh eighty thousand including:- By Rukmini: Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Charubhadra, Charugarbha, Sudeshna, Druma, Sushena, Charugupta, Charuvinda and Charubahu; By Satyabhama: Bhanu, Bhimaratha, Kshupa, Rohita, Diptiman, Tamrajaksha and Jalantaka; By Jambavati: Samba, Mitravan, Mitravinda, Mitrabahu and Sunitha; By Nagnajiti: Bhadrakara and Bhadravinda; By Sudatta: Sangramajit, Satyajit, Senajit and Sapatnajit; By Subhima: Vrikarshva, Vrikanirvriti and Vrikadipti; By Lakshmanaa: Gatravan, Gatragupta and Gatravinda; By Kalindi: Ashruta and Shrutasammita; By Brihati: Gada; By Shaibyaa: Angada, Kumuda and Shveta; By Sudeva: Agavaha, Sumitra, Shuchi, Chitraratha and Chitrasena; By Kaushiki: Vanastamba, Stambavana, Nivasana and Avanastamba; By Sutasomaa: Upasanna, Shanku, Vajranshu and Kshipra; By Yaudhishthiri: Yudhishthira, Kapali and Garuda

Daughters - By Rukmini: Charumati; By Satyabhama: Bhaanu, Bhimalika, Tamraparni and Jalandhama; By Jambavati: Mitravati; By Nagnajiti: Bhadravati; By Lakshmanaa: Gatravati; By Shaibyaa: Shvetaa; By Sudeva: Chitra and Chitravati; By Kaushiki: Stambavati

Grandsons - Aniruddha and Suparshva

Foster Father - Nanda

Foster Mother - Yashoda

Foster Sister - Ekananga

Biography

The Prophecy and Birth

"Beware, evil Kamsa, the eighth child of Devaki will destroy you for your vile actions!" - A divine voice.

Vasudeva, a noble from the Vrishni clan and Devaki, the princess of Mathura from the Andhaka clan, both belonging to the Yadava people, had just been married. As they were about to leave for Vasudeva's home, Kamsa, Devaki's corrupted cousin brother decided to drive their chariot. Just then, a divine voice announced that the eighth child of Devaki would be the one to kill Kamsa. Evil as he was, he decided to kill Devaki to prevent his killer from being born. Vasudeva, in order to protect his wife, was forced to make a deal that he would give Kamsa every child that was born. Vasudeva and Devaki were imprisoned and six of the children born of them were killed by Kamsa. The seventh one, while still in the womb, was transferred to the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva's other wife in the village of Gokula in the Vraja region, owing to Devi Durga's will. He was Sankarsana (or Balarama), an incarnation of Lord Vishnu's loyal serpent Shesha. Next came Lord Vishnu himself, who entered the mind of Vasudeva as a light and slowly, through spiritual intercourse, entered the womb of Devaki.

According to a legend, for facilitating good deeds for deities on Earth, Lord Vishnu incarnated himself by dropping two strands of his hair- one white and one black. The black strand took the form of Krishna in Devaki's womb (the white one taking Balarama's form).

The time that Devaki was pregnant, she glowed with a divine aura and was extremely beautiful to behold. seeing this, Kamsa immediately realised that this time it was Lord Vishnu who has entered the womb of Devaki. But, as he beheld the Lord, his mind was filled with some Dharma and he was reluctant to kill an unborn child and a pregnant woman. Thus, he let Devaki live. On the Astami of the Krishna Paksha of the Bhadrapada month, Devaki gave birth to a child endowed with all opulences. He had four arms, each holding a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus flower. He had the Srivatsa mark on his chest, looking at him, Vasudeva and Devaki knew that it was the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself. At the time of Krishna's birth, tides began to form on the ocean. Mountains began to shake and extinguished fires lit up. All deities began celebrating, showering flowers and praying to him. The baby spoke to them, and informed them of their identity in various births and how they had penanced and acquired the boon of having Lord Vishnu as their son three times. Vasudeva asked the lord to redact his four-armed form for fear of Kamsa.

Before acting like an ordinary baby, he instructed them to to take him away to the Gokula village, where his potency, Yogamaya had taken birth in the house of King Nanda and his wife Yashoda. He interchanged the two babies, providing him a safe shelter away from Kamsa.

Childhood Deeds

Destroying the Hand-Cart and Putana

The baby was named 'Krishna' in the naming ceremony by Nanda. As a baby in Gokula, one day, Krishna was sleeping under a hand-cart hanging above when Yashoda went away to bathe in the river Yamuna. Krishna woke up and started crying for being fed while throwing a tantrum with his hands and feet. He landed a kick on the cart, which was inverted and fell down, with the pots kept on it being broken and the demon Shakatasura, who secretly resided in it, being killed. This made the loving mother Yashoda panic, who immediately breastfed Krishna. Nanda and she were informed by the children in proximity that Krishna himself had kicked the hand-cart down, much to everyone's surprise.

Another surprising incident happened with baby Krishna when he killed the demoness Putana. She was Kamsa's former caretaker who attempted to breastfeed Krishna with evil intentions in the middle of the night. However, Krishna fed on directly her breast, which he cut, making Putana scream and fall. The injury killed the demoness.

Uprooting the Yamalarjuna trees

After some time, Krishna, with Balarama, began to crawl. Krishna and Balarama had such a bond that both almost always appeared together. They played together and drank curd together. One day, Krishna was secretly eating butter at home when some milkmaids spotted him. Irritated with his uncontrolled agility, Yashoda and the others bound him to a mortar. However, as soon as they got busy in work, Krishna pulled the mortar with himself and eventually got it stuck between the roots of two trees. Those trees were broken from root to shoot by Krishna's pull. The Yamalarjuna demons resided in the trees. They were killed in the incident while Krishna laughed between the two fallen trees.

The panicking adults arrived at the site. Thinking that Krishna had survived very close to death, Nanda freed him from the mortar and kept him close in his lap for a while, reprimanding Yashoda for apparent carelessness. Since Krishna was tied with a rope ('dama') on his belly ('udara' in Sanskrit), the incident earned him the epithet 'Damodara'.

Moving to Vrindavana

As Krishna turned seven years old, he began to dress himself in yellow clothes. Krishna and Balarama began to herd cattle. They used to play leaf instruments in the forest and wore peacock feathers at the ears, scion crowns and wildflower garlands. They sometimes also put lotus flowers as head ornaments and ropes for calves as sacred threads. They played the Venu while roaming the forest. They sometimes used to sleep there on beds made of leaves. Krishna one day shared with Balarama that he felt that the forest had been exploited by the herders so much that it had lost its previous beauty. Krishna suggested moving to Vrindavana, a lush green jungle of sweet fruits and water, without crickets and thorns.

So, hundreds of wolves emerged from Krishna's divine body, terrorising the herders and their cattle. Hence, the herders were compelled to move their workplace from the old forest to the better abode of Vrindavana. Along with other boys, Krishna and Balarama began herding cows there, enjoying by the Yamuna river in summer, and then relishing in the forest's beautiful monsoon.

Subduing Kaliya

Krishna rested below apparently the largest banyan tree of Vrindavana, named Bhandira, where he enjoyed with his friends. One day, while roaming near the Yamuna, Krishna found a lake near the burflower forest, unused by any creature. He found the lake and its vicinity corrupted by the vicious snake Kaliya and his companions and decided to subdue him. Krishna jumped from a kadamba tree into the lake, causing a water splash that attracted the angry five-headed Kaliya's attention. Spitting venomous fire, the snake and his family and companions caught hold of Krishna and began to bite him, but he did not die from that.

Finding the herders grieved, Balarama spoke to Krishna to quickly subdue Kaliya, for others thought of Krishna as an ordinary human. Holding on to Kaliya's body with his feet, Krishna grabbed his head and climbed atop his hood. There, he mockingly danced, badly injuring Kaliya's heads. Kaliya pleadingly asked Krishna to stop since he had finished all of his venom and instruct what he should do to serve him. In front of all the villagers, Krishna ordered Kaliya to leave the lake and go to the sea, where he would not be endangered by Garuda on seeing Krishna's footmarks on his hood. As Kaliya and his other snakes left, the area was purified, leading to the herders venerating Krishna.

Role in the Deaths of Dhenuka and Pralamba

Roaming together one day, Krishna and Balarama found a forest of palm trees north of the Govardhana hill. Enjoying around the forest, Krishna suggested they should pluck the sweet fruits of the trees. So, Balarama laughingly shook the trees for the fruits to drop. This led to the resident demon Dhenuka, who lived with his companions as donkeys, attacking Balarama, who killed all of the demon donkeys and made the forest available for free human use. Krishna and Balarama seated themselves in the forest on palm tree leaves.

Once, while hop-racing by the Bhandira banyan, Krishna defeated his friend Shridama, who had to then carry him on his shoulders back to the tree. It was revealed that Balarama's competitor in the same game was a demon named Pralamba, who then kidnapped him, no longer concealing his enlarged body. Balarama called out to Krishna, who reminded him of his divine incarnation sourced from Lord Vishnu. The reminder filled Balarama with immense divine strength, with which he then beheaded Pralamba with one blow of his fist. Returning back to mortal childly stature, Balarama hugged Krishna and was praised by the other herder boys.

Interrupting Indra's Festival

As the monsoon passed, Krishna observed the preparations of the Indrayaga festival and enquired why they were doing it. An old herder replied that they were venerating Indra, who provided rain and sustained their crop and cattle. Krishna suggested to the herders that their deities should be cows, hills and forests and that they should conduct a Giriyajna, in which the cows would be venerated with the Govardhana hill. The herders were convinced and suspended the Indrayaga for the Giriyajna. Through divine powers, Krishna himself sounded as the hill deity at the end to accept the offering, including kheer, of the Giriyajna, while the child Krishna bowed before him with the other herders. As the deity, he instructed the herders to venerate their cows from now on, considering him to be a part of them. Krishna was later praised for suggesting this auspicious ritual.

Indra was enraged by this and poured heavy, oppressive continuous rain on Vrindavana. This flooded the river, seriously hurting the cows as well as nearing the herders to death. This angered Krishna, who countered Indra's move by lifting the Govardhana hill on just his left hand and told the herders to reside under it with the cattle without fear of the downpour. This continued for seven nights, after which Indra was forced to stop. Everyone went back to their ordinary residences and Krishna placed the hill back at its place. Indra, realising his mistake and recognising Krishna as a form of Lord Vishnu, descended to where Krishna was sitting on the hill and apologised. Indra also passed him a message from the Goloka, the realm of heavenly cows, which thanked Krishna for having saved the earthly cattle and gave him the title 'Indra of Gaus (cows)'.

Indra poured divine water on him, giving him the titles of 'Govinda' (protector of cows) and 'Upendra' (Indra on earth), dedicating the season of later monsoon to Krishna's veneration forever. Indra then also told him that his incarnation had been born as Krishna's cousin Arjuna, the son of Vasudeva's sister Kunti. Indra asked Krishna to look after Arjuna as his own and as a very good friend, ensuring his decided achievements in life, after dealing with Kamsa and other demons in childhood. Krishna agreed, after which Indra embraced Krishna and returned to heaven. On returning to the herders, Krishna was told that they were certain he was no ordinary human and was divine. The herders asked Krishna how he was born among them. Krishna smiled and replied that he was one of them and that they would hear who he really was when the right time would come. Till then, Krishna asked them not to talk about this topic.

Later at some point, Krishna killed the demon Bakasura, who appeared in the form of a bird.

Rasalila and killing Arishta

Entering adolescence, Krishna once organised a bull fight and a wrestling match for the herders and also caught some cows in the forest. It was a full moon night and Krishna playfully took some herder girls along with him into the forest. Since then, they began to come every night out of devotional influence. They surrounded Krishna in a circle who then supernaturally appeared as accompanying each of them separately. The girls would enjoy with Krishna, singing his praises and dancing, hence introducing the leisure activity of the Rasalila.

Once, one and a half hours into the night, during the Rasalila, a demon named Arishta, who had the form of a bull, appeared there. He began to torment some cows in Krishna's proximity. So, the latter challenged him by striking the thigh and letting out a roar, then hurrying towards the bull. Arishta ran towards where Krishna was standing, but instead of moving away in fear, he took the bull's headbutt on his abdomen. When Arishta jumped for a second hit, Krishna held him firmly midway and collided with him like another bull in a fight, making Arishta's nose and mouth produce froth. Although this was also taking a great toll on Krishna's body, he managed to render the bull immobile and placed a foot between his horns to twist his neck. Krishna then hit the final blow by plucking out Arishta's left horn and striking it on his mouth, killing him. He then went back to his Rasalila.

Killing Keshi

Kamsa sent the demon Keshi, who had the form of a horse, to Vrindavana. He was a cruel demon who tormented the herder community excessively. Once, on hearing the cries of the terrorised herders, Krishna assured them help and attacked Keshi, who also advanced towards him. The herders, who thought of Krishna as an ordinary human, discouraged him from fighting the mighty demon, but he did it anyway. The disgusting Keshi sent some spit and froth alongside dust flying towards Krishna with his neighing. As his legs hit Krishna's chest and his teeth wounded his forearm, Krishna enlarged his arm and struck it into Keshi's mouth, whose teeth were destroyed up till their base on trying to hurt the arm. The impact smashed Keshi's lips, jaws and eyes. Once the impact spread to his entire body and he was rendered immobile, Krishna sundered Keshi's entire body into two parts. Then, he stood laughing upon his corpse, having once again become the subject of the herders' praise.

Sage Narada, upon witnessing this event, granted the epithet of 'Keshava' to Krishna, meaning the one who killed Keshi, a demon feared by even Indra. Narada also told Krishna to continue the work he had taken on, of carrying out the oncoming events of the Mahabharata before ascending above.

First Experience in Mathura

Earning Akrura's Devotion

The evening after killing Keshi, while standing among some calves at home, Krishna was approached by Akrura, who had come from Mathura. In front of all the herders, Akrura told Krishna and Balarama that they were to go to Mathura the next day, where they would meet their real father Vasudeva and Krishna's biological mother Devaki, terrorised by Kamsa, who was conducting the Dhanuryajna (a ritual worshipping weapons of the warrior-class). Everyone agreed before this shocking truth to come with Akrura to Mathura. Krishna and Balarama talked to him all night.

In the morning, Krishna, Balarama and Akrura departed on one chariot for Mathura. When they reached the banks of the Yamuna, Akrura asked Krishna to look after the horses while he carried out his routine worship of Shesha. Krishna told Akrura to come back quickly. When Akrura dived into the Yamuna's waters such as to see the Nagaloka, the divine realm of serpents, he found Shesha, served by other snakes, along with Krishna (representing Lord Vishnu) resting in the iconic pose. Akrura was rendered speechless by Krishna's power. He came back up to see Krishna and Balarama still on the chariot. After venerating Lord Vishnu and Shesha, Akrura returned and was asked by Krishna what he had seen in the Nagaloka to be so lost in thought. Krishna was replied by Akrura that he was the biggest surprise anyone could witness. They continued their journey to Mathura.

Incidents in Mathura

Once they reached Mathura, Akrura hosted Krishna and Balarama at his house, discouraging them from going to Vasudeva's residence for Kamsa's fear. Krishna was allowed by Akrura to explore the main road and directly go to Kamsa's residence with Balarama. The two boys found a washerman, whom they asked for some beautiful garments. The washermen insulted their herder apparel, refusing to offer royal clothes. This angered Krishna, who landed a hard slap on the washerman's head, causing it to burst. Krishna and Balarama obtained some beautiful clothes from the dead arrogant washerman's property.

Then, the two brothers wished for a flower garland, for which they found a gardener named Gunaka in a florists' street. Krishna asked Gunaka for two garlands. Unlike the washerman, this gardener politely granted them the garlands they wished. Krishna happily blessed him to be endowed with great wealth. The gardener, thinking them to be two Yakshas (nature spirits), bowed down to their feet, accepting the boon.

Next, they were met by a hump-backed woman on the road. Krishna asked her for whom she was carrying her cosmetics. The woman replied that she carried it for Kamsa to apply, but also offered it to the two boys, growing fond of their pleasant presence. Krishna told the woman that they were wrestlers and wished to have the cosmetics applied on them too. The woman complied and brightened their skin. Krishna softly pressed the centre of her hump with two fingers, causing her back to straighten. She was no longer hump-backed. The woman was so delighted that she asked Krishna and Balarama to stay with her. However, they simply laughed and moved on to their way.

Then, Krishna and Balarama went to Kamsa's royal palace. Wanting to see the bow which was the subject of Kamsa's Dhanuryajna, they requested the armourer to let them view it. The armourer presented them the thick bow. Krishna took it in his hands and inspected its weight. He then bent it several times in attempts to tie its string. The excessive bending made the bow break into two pieces, something which even deities could not do. Having broken the bow, Krishna and Balarama hurried out of the palace and returned to the other herders.

Killing Kamsa and Reuniting with Parents

As challenged by Kamsa, Krishna and Balarama went to his amphitheatre. At the entrance, they were met by the vicious elephant Kuvalayapida, who was approaching to crush them. Krishna spoke that Kamsa's death was near, for he was now trying to have him killed by an elephant. Striking his thigh in challenge, Krishna held on to the elephant's trunk, pressing it on to his chest. Swinging between his tusks, Krishna reached below it on to its body between its legs and began to irritate it. Then, Krishna went behind it and dragged it, causing it to fall to its knees and hurt its tusks. He then climbed atop its head and plucked out one tusk, with which he beat Kuvalayapida to death and also killed its driver, who had excited it into attempting to crush them. Krishna and Balarama then pulled out the pillars at the entrance and together killed the elephant's foot guards, after which they entered the amphitheatre.

Kamsa commanded his loyal wrestler Chanura to ensue a wrestling match with Krishna while Balarama was to be engaged by the other powerful wrestler Mushtika. This caused objection among the Yadava audience, which did not agree to have a child wrestle with such a powerful person. However, Krishna himself spoke that he was ready to fight with Chanura and punish him for killing others that he had wrestled with in the past. The match was fierce. When one grabbed any body part of the other, the latter would easily free himself. Both hit each other through various moves, engaged in armlocks but pushed each other to get freed again, rubbed each other on the ground, threw each other upwards and damaged body parts by pressing hard. They both used elbows, knees, hands, nails and even the head to fight. Finally, Krishna bent Chanura's back and striking his chest with a knee, he punched his head with great might. With his eyes having popped out, Chanura fell down dead.

Krishna then engaged another wrestler named Toshala, whom he lifted with both arms and spun him around a hundred times before landing him on to the ground, killing him too. Meanwhile, Balarama also slew Mushtika. The enraged Kamsa ordered for Vasudeva and all the herders including Nanda to be arrested. On seeing his biological as well as foster families, sitting among the audience, tormented, Krishna angrily climbed on to the chamber from which Kamsa had been watching the matches. Krishna grabbed Kamsa's hair with great force and dragged him from his throne into the ring. As everyone watched, Krishna went on to render Kamsa's entire body immobile and finally break his neck. Meanwhile, Balarama killed Kamsa's brother and military commander Sunama.

Krishna touched Vasudeva and Devaki's feet and went to their residence with Balarama. Reuniting with Devaki, Vasudeva and other Yadavas, Krishna expressed remorse for having widowed Kamsa's wives, but rightfully found his deed correct. He was then approached by Ugrasena, who told him to accept all of Kamsa's property and to conduct Kamsa's funeral rites. Krishna explained to Ugrasena that Kamsa's time had come and he had only played the role of a medium in bringing his death. He expressed disinterest in owning the kingdom and asked Ugrasena to resume duty as the king. After his coronation, Ugrasena performed Kamsa's and Sunama's funeral rites with Krishna. At some point, Krishna also killed the demons Pitha, Paithika and Asiloma, who were Kamsa's ministers.

Krishna also reached out to Vasudeva's sister Kunti and her sons the Pandavas, among whom he developed significant friendship with Arjuna as he had promised to Indra.

Shishupala's Birth

In the Chedi kingdom, Krishna's cousin through Vasudeva's sister Shrutashrava was born. The prince, named Shishupala, had three eyes and four arms at birth. Hearing this news, Krishna and Balarama went to Chedi from Dvaraka to inspect the baby. In front of Shishupala's parents, a divine voice had declared that the baby would be killed by the individual who would cause his two extra arms to fall and one extra eye to be absorbed into the body as soon as the person took the baby in his lap. This phenomenon occurred when Krishna took Shishupala in his lap. At this, Shrutashrava requested Krishna to grant her a boon to protect her child's life. Krishna promised that he would spare his life by forgiving Shishupala's hundred crimes.

Experience with Sage Sandipani

Krishna and Balarama grew youthful in Mathura, after which they went to the hermitage of Sage Sandipani at Avanti for their education. Sandipani accepted them as their students after they introduced themselves. In just 64 days and nights, they learnt all the contents of the Vedas, along with various arts. They only took 12 days to learn elephant and horse riding. Then, over fifty days, Sandipani taught them archery. Krishna and Balarama used to worship Lord Vishnu sometimes in the hermitage too, creating an impression on their teacher. Krishna learnt to fight with various weapons including the mace and bludgeon.

In return, Sage Sandipani asked Krishna and Balarama to bring back his son, who had been eaten by a whale in the sea. As Balarama allowed, Krishna went to the sea and asked the location of his teacher's son. Lord Samudra, the sea deity, replied that he had been eaten by a demon named Panchajana, who masqueraded in the form of a whale. Krishna killed the demon in the sea, but did not find the son. Instead, Krishna obtained the conch named Panchajanya from the demon. Hence, Krishna went to Lord Yama's residence. When the god of death refused, Krishna and he had a battle. Krishna defeated Yama to revive Sandipani's son, whom he brought back from Yama's realm along with precious gems obtained from his servants. Krishna and Balarama gave their teacher invaluable glory, cattle, horses and wealth along with his son. They both were welcomed back in Mathura gloriously by the Yadavas led by Ugrasena.

Beginning of Conflict with Jarasandha

Averting the First Invasions

By killing Kamsa, Krishna earned the wrath of Jarasandha, who was Kamsa's father-in-law. Jarasandha first swung his mace 99 times and threw it. The mace landed near Mathura as a warning sign, reported to Krishna by citizens. Then, Jarasandha and his allies invaded Mathura. Krishna expressed excitement for the first war he would fight in and began to find out Jarasandha's military strength. Krishna resolved to destroy Mathura's invaders and entered the battlefield with armour on along with Balarama. They both wished for their divine weapons to be with them. Hence, Lord Vishnu's Sharnga bow and Kaumodaki mace descended for Krishna to use in battle, while Balarama got his divine plough and flail. Krishna, on his chariot with Garuda on the flag, directly reached Jarasandha, whom injured with eight arrows and also shot five at his charioteer. Before Jarasandha could do anything, Krishna also killed his horses. So, the king's assistant warriors Chitrasena and Kaishika intervened to save him. On seeing Balarama being attacked by all three at once, Krishna shot three arrows each at them.

As Jarasandha diverted his attack elsewhere, Krishna led a battalion of Yadavas including Avagaha, Prithu, Kanka, Shatadyumna and Viduratha to attack the left front of the enemy army, where Krishna was engaged in a duel with Prince Rukmi of Vidarbha. The all-knowing Krishna knew that Rukmi was going to be his future brother-in-law, so by the end of the 27 days of the battle, Krishna did not kill him and only fought by countering Rukmi's poisonous arrows. When Balarama and Jarasandha ensued a mace duel, all others stopped the battle to witness the fierce sight. The latter was defeated, spelling victory for the Yadavas in the first battle of this conflict. Krishna and the others happily returned into Mathura. Sixteen other invasions followed, in which the Yadavas were unable to kill Jarasandha.

Handling his Last Invasion of Mathura

For the eighteenth time, Jarasandha advanced towards Mathura for another invasion. The wise Yadava Vikadru, narrating the tale of the origin of the Yadavas, insisted before Krishna that their people and the city of Mathura would be unable to stand another invasion now. Vasudeva too implored Krishna to act accordingly. So, Krishna decided to move towards the south with Balarama to divert Jarasandha towards them away from Mathura. Hence, Krishna and Balarama first reached Karavirapura, another ancient Yadava settlement. Going along the Vena river flowing in proximity, they found Sage Parashurama below a banyan tree. Greeting him respectfully, Krishna asked Parashurama for advice by informing him of all relevant events that had happened with them. Sage Parashurama guided the brothers towards the Gomanta hill, whose uneven terrain would aid them in warfare against Jarasandha. Before departing for there, Parashurama fed them the milk of his divine cow Homadhenu. Krishna and Balarama were accompanied by him till the hill, where they quickly built a residence, after which Parashurama left, blessing Krishna to be victorious.

One day, Garuda passed by the hill and dropped Lord Vishnu's divine crown for Krishna to wear, adding to his delight and motivating him to battle Jarasandha, who had arrived with his armies on the site. The enemies set the Gomanta hill on fire, which incited Balarama to jump down, followed by Krishna, whose divine touch caused water to appear and put out the fire. Krishna roared and began battling the enemies. The Sudarshana discus, Sharnga bow and Kaumodaki mace descended for Krishna to use. He destroyed enemies, their elephants, horses and chariots with the discus and mocked their inability to face him. Balarama and Jarasandha had another climactic duel in which the latter was defeated and fled, followed by the remaining enemies. King Damaghosha of Chedi, being Krishna's uncle and having been insulted by Jarasandha earlier, abandoned the defeated side and told Krishna that Jarasandha would follow up with another invasion. Hence, Damaghosha advised Krishna to leave the region. The latter expressed happiness at Damaghosha's wisdom and began their journey back.

Overthrowing Shrigala

Krishna, Balarama and Damaghosha reached Karavirapura in three days, resting each night. The cruel King Shrigala of Karavirapura, wrongfully assuming this to be an invasion, arrived before them and challenged Krishna to an individual duel. Krishna told Shrigala to hit first and equipped his discus. Krishna took several hits of Shrigala's arrows, flails and other weapons with divine endurance. As his wounds fueled his anger, Krishna tore open Shrigala's chest, using the Sudarshana discus like a sharp boomerang. As the fallen king's soldiers were terrified by their master's death, Krishna assured them that he would not kill them as they were innocent.

Shrigala's wife Queen Padmavati approached Krishna while crying, expressing regret for her husband's foolish behaviour and handing over her son Shakradeva to Krishna's responsibility. Krishna assured the queen that his anger was gone with her husband's life and that he would ensure Shakradeva's safety, while also coronating him as the king. After Shakradeva's coronation, the three warriors continued their journey to Mathura on a chariot. They rested for five nights on the way, but Damaghosha proved to be a good companion, who made the journey feel like just one day. Krishna and Balarama were welcomed gloriously back in Mathura, where they happily reunited with the other Yadavas.

Preventing Rukmini's Swayamvara

Some time later, Krishna let Balarama go visit Vraja, while he himself remained in Mathura. When Balarama returned, Krishna was eager to know how their old friends and the cattle were doing, to which Balarama replied that everyone he cared for was doing well. When Krishna and Balarama were conversing, a group of informers arrived. Before all the assembled Yadavas, they informed Krishna that the Swayamvara (ceremony of choosing the husband) of Princess Rukmini of Vidarbha was being held and they should attend it too. Krishna asked Ugrasena to stay in Mathura with Balarama to ensure safety from Jarasandha, but Ugrasena replied that their joy was with Krishna and insisted on everyone to come along with him, to which he agreed.

They all reached Vidarbha's capital Kundinapura. Despite not having been invited, Krishna held an optimistic attitude there because the king and his brother, named Kratha and Kaishika, were his devotees. Rukmini was none other than Goddess Lakshmi who is the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu. For her to not be married away in this Swayamvara, Krishna thought of Garuda's assistance. Garuda arrived their and first invisibly flapped his wings to create strong wind behind Krishna, scaring the kings near him. Then, Garuda appeared in front of Krishna, who told him to come along and stay at the palace of Kaishika, Rukmini's grandfather, who welcomed Krishna wholeheartedly and had him stay at an individual residence constructed for him.

Kratha and Kaishika did not want Krishna to sit at an inferior position to other guests, so they decided to coronate him as the king of Vidarbha in their stead. With the allowance of all willing and reluctant kings including Jarasandha and his allies, Krishna was coronated and seated on a glorious throne. Garuda assumed human form and sat to his right, while Krishna seated Kratha and Kaishika alongside his companion Yadavas to his left. Kaishika asked Krishna to forgive the crimes the present kings had done against him, on which Krishna assured everyone that he had let the past go.

Rukmini's father Bhishmaka apologised for his arrogant son Rukmi's tendencies against Krishna, who told Bhishmaka that due to Rukmi, he would have not felt welcome there had it not been for Kaishika and decided to leave if he was making others uncomfortable. Bhishmaka did not wish for the Swayamvara to happen in the first place and cancelled it to please Krishna, against Rukmi's opinion. Hence, Krishna told Bhishmaka that Rukmini would marry whom she thought suitable and forgiving the hostile environment, he and Garuda were praised by Bhishmaka and gifted some gold before he returned to Mathura, bidding the other kings farewell.

Kalayavana's Invasion

Leaving Mathura

Sensing that Mathura would be under even greater threat now from its enemies, Garuda took permission from Krishna on the way to Mathura to scout the Kushasthali region and ensure its security in case Krishna ever required residence there. Hence, they parted ways and Krishna went to Mathura, where Ugrasena descended from his chariot and began to venerate Krishna for having become a king like him. However, Krishna declined it, still considering Ugrasena higher than himself as the king of Mathura. Still, when Krishna arrived at Vaudeva's residence, King Ugrasena and his wife Queen Padmavati offered him a glorious throne and all the wealth that Kamsa had acquired. Krishna once again declined, stating that he had not killed Kamsa for his wealth.

As Krishna and Balarama greeted their parents, the vicinity began quaking as Garuda returned. The three went to the royal palace, where Krishna told Garuda that they will have to migrate away from Mathura, which would now be invaded by Jarasandha and his allies' extremely large army that could not be destroyed like the previous ones had been. Garuda confirmed that Kushasthali was a suitable and safe place where they could settle a city away from these threats. After thinking about this, the brothers bid Garuda farewell. Ugrasena asked Krishna to take them along wherever he would be moving. Krishna replied that he would do what they wished.

Related to this series of events, Krishna was met by Sage Narada again at some point. Sage Narada told Krishna that near Mathura, a legendary king named Muchukunda was resting in a cave. Krishna was informed that Muchukunda was a veteran of a war between the deities and the demons and in reward for victory, had been granted a boon by the deities that he would immolate by his gaze anyone who disturbed him from his sleep.

Some time later, Krishna found out that the extremely formidable warrior Kalayavana, who had the power to wipe the Yadavas out, had been recruited by Jarasandha. Krishna initially attempted to intimidate Kalayavana by sending him the message that Krishna was fierce like a black snake along with a literal black snake in a pot. As a metaphor for his military power, Kalayavana sent the pot back with the snake killed by hostile ants which he put in it. This made Krishna realise Kalayavana was not an ordinary warrior.

Hence, in a Yadava assembly, Krishna used the excuse of overcrowding in the relatively small city of Mathura to move away. Everyone believed that Krishna was doing it for the sake of progress and agreed to leave Mathura. Kalayavana arrived there. Krishna immediately ordered evacuation of the city and led his fellow people west to the Raivataka hill in the Kushasthali region, where they established a settlement.

Finishing off Kalayavana

After establishing comfortable residential facilities, Krishna went back to Mathura to end this conflict. Krishna began to lure Kalayavana, who chased him with the intention of killing him. Krishna entered Muchukunda's cave and went behind the sleeping king, disappearing from Kalayavana's sight. Muchukunda was woken up by Kalayavana, who was then destroyed by his gaze. Krishna introduced himself and informed the legendary king what era it was, thanking him for having averted this problem. After Muchukunda left for performing penance, Krishna took over Kalayavana's masterless army, taking it back and providing it service to Ugrasena.

Settling Dvaraka

After having some sacred hymns recited, Krishna had the Raivataka hill fortified. He declared that they would establish a city there named Dvaravati and commissioned construction workers to build temples as well as organised paths. Krishna was suggested that they should summon Vishwakarma, the architect deity. Considering he was being summoned by Lord Vishnu, Vishwakarma appeared before Krishna, who commissioned him to build the most beautiful city on earth there. On Vishwakarma's advice, Krishna spoke to Lord Samudra and had 12 yojanas (about 154 kilometres) of land freed from water to accomodate enough area for the Yadava population. Then, Vishwakarma erected the city of Dvaravati, popularly known as Dvaraka, as Krishna had instructed.

Krishna wished for the financial well-being of his displaced people. So, Shankha, the treasurer of the deities, appeared before Krishna, who commissioned him to distribute wealth among his people such that no one would be forced to remain hungry or beg. Krishna then summoned Vayu and instructed him to bring the Sudharma assembly hall from heaven to his city. Hence, the divine establishment was placed in the centre of Dvaraka. Krishna then appointed Ugrasena as the king, Sage Sandipani as the priest, the commander-in-chief Anadhrishti and chief minister Vikadru along with ten wise assistant ministers. Additionally, Daruka became Krishna's charioteer while Satyaki was made the chief of the warrior society. Krishna then also had Balarama married to Revati. He ensured the complete safety of the city of Dvaraka. To adorn it, Krishna went as far as laboriously ripping a peak of the Meru mountain and placing it in his palace.

Saving King Nriga

In the early days of settling the city of Dvaraka, Krishna was approached by the resident Yadava children, who told him that there was a chameleon blocking the well and no one could get it out. So, to help the children, Krishna got the chameleon out which was then revealed to be a rebirth of a king named Nriga, famed to be very charitable. Krishna asked how he had found himself in this miserable state. Nriga told him that he was unable to provide justice to a Brahmin, whose cow was accidentally mixed with the king's cattle and given away in charity, before death and was hence reborn as a chameleon, whom Lord Yama had told that Krishna would provide him salvation. Now that he was saved from the well, and hell by extension, he took permission from Krishna and ascended to heaven. On this, Krishna stated in a couplet that one must never steal from a Brahmin, otherwise they would face ruin.

Marriage to Rukmini and Enmity with Shishupala

Rukmini was deeply in love with Krishna and her father was agreeable to her marriage with Krishna. However, her brother Rukmi was unwilling as Krishna was the enemy of Kamsa and Jarasandha. He wanted Rukmini to marry Shishupala. However, Rukmini was not willing to do so, so she sent a message via a brahmin declaring her love to Sri Krishna and asking him to come and take her away with him.

Upon hearing this message, Krishna was extremely delighted as he himself was deeply in love with Rukmini, so much so that he could not even sleep at night. Krishna and his fellows went to attend Rukmini's wedding with Shishupala but before that happened, made a plan to defeat all the kings and princes present at her wedding celebrations and elope with Rukmini as she was returning from the Temple of the Goddess Girija. Krishna picked up Rukmini, placed her on his chariot and hurried towards Dvaraka while his companions led by Balarama and Satyaki covered them. However, a group of warriors led by Rukmi intercepted the couple at the banks of the Narmada river. He arrogantly decided to battle Krishna alone and shot sixty-four sharp arrows at him, in response to which Krishna shot seventy arrows at him. Then, he shot away Rukmi's flag and decapitated his charioteer. That was when Rukmi's assistant warriors intervened, surrounding Krishna and shooting from all sides.

Krishna immediately eliminated Prince Anshuman from the battle by wounding his chest with an arrow, killed all four of Prince Shrutarva's horses and injured the king of Ashmaka, Venudari's right arm after cutting off his flag. After subduing Shrutarva with five arrows, Krishna killed others who attacked them. Rukmi attacked Krishna again, wounding both him and his charioteer. The enraged Krishna hence countered all of Rukmi's shots and then destroyed his bow and chariot. As Rukmi jumped from his chariot with a sword, Krishna destroyed it too and then struck him unconscious with three arrows to the chest. As Krishna made the others flee, Rukmini requested him not to kill her brother. Krishna embraced her, assuring that he would not be killed.

After Balarama and the others too arrived at Dvaraka, Krishna wed Rukmini. This turned Shishupala into Krishna's sworn enemy. He committed numerous crimes against Krishna's Yadava fellows, but he forgave them all due to his promise to Shishupala's mother. At some point, Krishna was married to other wives including Princess Mitravindaa of Avanti and Princess Satya (Nagnajiti) of Ayodhya.

Marriage to Jambavati and Satyabhama

The Yadava named Prasenajit had come to possess the brilliant gem named Syamantaka, originally belonging to Lord Surya. Krishna was interested in this wealthy gem, but Prasenajit did not give it to him and Krishna did not take it by force despite being able to. One day, Prasenajit died and all Yadavas suspected that Krishna had killed him for the gem. Due to these false allegations, Krishna resolved to bring the gem back. With the help of his confidants, Krishna tracked Prasenajit's footprints. The exhausted Krishna finally found Prasenajit's and his horse's dead bodies in the forest near the Rikshavan and Vindhya hills, but not the Syamantaka gem. However, near the corpse, Krishna also found the dead body of a lion. The footprints in proximity indicated that the killer was a bear, till whose cave Krishna followed the footprints.

Outside the cave, Krishna heard the voice of a woman, apparently the caretaker of the sentient bear's son. The woman was soothing the crying child by having him play with the Syamantaka gem. She was stating playfully that Prasenajit was killed by the lion, which was then killed by Jambavan the bear, which meant that the Syamantaka gem was now theirs. Hence, stationing Balarama and other Yadavas at the entrance, Krishna silently entered the cave. Inside, he found Jambavan himself, with whom he fought with bare arms for twenty-one days straight. During this timespan, Balarama and the others thought Krishna was dead and spread this news back in Dvaraka. Both Krishna and Jambavan called a truce at the end of the fight. Jambavan wed his daughter Jambavati to Krishna and also gave him the Syamantaka gem to prove his innocence. Having established these new friendly relations with the bear, Krishna returned to Dvaraka. Showing the gem to the Yadava assembly and proving his innocence, Krishna returned it to Prasenajit's brother Satrajit, who then had Krishna married to his daughter Satyabhama.

At a later point of time, Krishna was married to Princess Bhadra (Subhima) of Kekaya and Princess Lakshmanaa of Madra. He once also killed hundred warriors standing against him to make Shinshuma (Sudatta), a princess of Gandhara, his wife. His principal wives also included Kalindi and Pauravi. Once, one of his half-brothers by Rohini was captured by the snake Vasuki. Krishna defeated Vasuki to rescue him.

Incident with Narakasura

One day, when the Yadavas were sitting in their assembly hall, Indra appeared along with all the deities to visit them. Indra embraced Krishna and the other Yadavas. Then, he addressed Krishna and told him that the demon Narakasura had snatched the earrings of Aditi, whom Vishnu also called his mother. Aditi had been gravely insulted by Narakasura, and had ordered him to be killed. Krishna agreed and after consulting Balarama, he equipped his weapons and summoned and mounted Garuda, departing to fulfil the deities' wish. Balarama and Satyabhama accompanied him.

At the entrance to the demon's capital Pragjyotishapura, Krishna vibrated his bow's string to challenge the demons and was attacked by Narakasura's servant Mura, whose javelin and mace were destroyed by Krishna, after which the latter decapitated him with an arrow. He was next engaged by an army led by the demon Nisunda whom Krishna killed with the help of celestial weapons. The deaths of Hayagriva and Panchanada followed at his hands. He then entered the city, having killed 8 lakh demons with his discus, javelin and bilbo. Krishna then entered the underground cave where Narakasura resided. There, he began a fierce battle which lasted for a while. Destroying his chariot and weapons, he beheaded Narakasura with his discus.

Narakasura's mother, Bhumi, the earth, gave Aditi's earrings to Krishna. He consoled Bhumi and explained how her son had tormented the deities and insulted their mother. Then, along with Satyabhama and some deities, Krishna explored Narakasura's house. He found unparalleled wealth. The surviving demons promised all of those gemstones, horses and other valuables to be transported to Dvaraka as a reward for Krishna. Loading the wealth on Garuda, they then went to the Mani mountain to Narakasura's palace. There, Krishna found 16,100 women who had been abducted by the demon. They surrounded him and requested him to accept them as his wives, as they had been thinking about him for long to rescue them from the demon. Krishna complied and sent them all to Dvaraka. He then miraculously loaded the entire mountain on Garuda's back, on which the men departed for heaven.

Near Indra's palace, Balarama and Krishna touched Aditi's feet and gave her the earrings. Indra's wife Shachi also brought Satyabhama to Aditi. After being granted a boon by Aditi and accompanying Shachi, Satyabhama went to Krishna's resting place. Then, Krishna, Balarama, Satyabhama and Indra departed for Dvaraka. Upon reaching the city, Krishna found that it had been set on fire by Shishupala. Krishna immediately extinguished the fire and sounded his Panchajanya conch, informing the Yadavas of his arrival while admiring his city's beauty. He was welcomed gloriously for killing the numerous hateful demons. Krishna placed the Mani mountain inside his palace along with the wealth alongside the Sharnga bow.

Following this great achievement, Krishna first touched the feet of his teacher Sage Sandipani spiritually and then met Vasudeva, who was rendered emotional by his deeds. The other Yadavas too embraced him. Krishna distributed the wealth among all of those warriors. Indra once again embraced them all before returning to heaven.

Penance and First Meeting with Shiva

One night, Rukmini, while sleeping alongside Krishna, expressed her wish for a son as virtuous as him. Krishna decided that he would perform penance to please Lord Shiva so as to obtain a truly virtuous son. Next morning, Krishna informed the Yadavas about his plan and alerted them to beware of Narakasura's vengeful ally Paundraka. After granting the responsibility of Dvaraka's defence to Satyaki, Krishna's wise cousin Uddhava and Balarama, Krishna commenced his journey by summoning his mount Garuda, who dropped him at Badarikashrama, where he was joined by deities and welcomed by sages. At the banks of the river Ganga, Krishna began his penance. However, he was disturbed by the noises created by wild animals. He not only witnessed a group of deer being chased by dogs, but also flesh-eating demons.

Two flesh-eating demons appeared, whose identities Krishna asked, committed not to let them defile the holy site. The elder one introduced himself as Ghantakarna, who had been instructed by Lord Shiva that he would be freed of his miserable existence if he viewed Lord Vishnu. In response to his devotion, Krishna appeared before the demon as Lord Vishnu himself. The demon's purified soul worshipped Krishna in the form of Vishnu, but due to his inevitable nature, offered him the body of a dead brahmin, which was apparently supposed to be food. Krishna touched the demon, relieving him of his sinful form and granting him the boon of permanent residence in heaven. He also granted Ghantakarna the boon that whoever thought of this incident with an austere mind would be completely purified mentally and spiritually. After the demon departed, Krishna gave life to the dead brahmin and sent him to the other sages.

After asking the sages to visit him later, Krishna departed on Garuda for the Kailasa Mountain. Seating himself near Lake Manasarovara, Krishna began strict penance for a duration of twelve years. The austere Krishna was visited once during this time by many sages including Narada and Parvata. Krishna welcomed them appropriately and then heard various tales the sages narrated. Krishna's spiritual aura burnt the flora and fauna of the mountain and then was once again absorbed in him. When Krishna noticed this, he used his divinity to restore the site to its lively state. Krishna then addressed the surprised sages that they should not be surprised as they were knowledgeable of all the Shastras. The sages asked Krishna to explain this fire. He replied that this was his 'Vaishnava teja' that appeared due to his austere state. Krishna assured them that this was nothing to fear and then asked for further wisdom. Sage Narada then narrated a story about Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. After retelling Shiva's statements, the sages bid farewell.

In the last month of his penance, Krishna began to venerate Lord Agni. Hence, all the deities descended to visit him, followed by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati themselves. Along with their followers including spirits, sages and nymphs, Krishna viewed and venerated Shiva. The latter replied by reciting Vishnu's praises. It was rendered that both Krishna (Vishnu) and Shiva were one God in various forms. After Shiva's pleasant words, the penance ended. The deities returned to their places. Krishna went back to the Badarikashrama as well.

Paundraka's Invasion

Back in Badarikashrama, Sage Narada informed Krishna that Paundraka had assumed Krishna's epithets, claiming himself as the one deserving of veneration and worship. Krishna declared that he would destroy the fool's arrogance the next day itself. He mounted Garuda and returned to Dvaraka, finding it under Paundraka's invasion. He sounded the Panchajanya conch, informing his fellows of his arrival, and bid farewell to Garuda to mount his chariot driven by Daruka. Krishna stopped the impressive warrior Satyaki from further fighting Paundraka to directly face the latter. Krishna told Paundraka, who had even assumed the former's iconic bow, conch, discus and mace, that he would prove the pretender's mediocrity then and there in battle.

Unfazed by the seventy arrows Paundraka shot at him, Krishna destroyed the enemy's chariot. He then went on to destroy Paundraka's sword, bludgeon as well as the weak discus. Surprised that Paundraka would still not budge and continued to fight, Krishna reverted the large rock that he threw at him and then killed him with his original discus. Meeting his fellows after a long time, Krishna informed them of what had happened in the context of his penance, resuming Dvaraka's administration.

Pradyumna's Birth and Abduction

Ten months later, for his penance, Krishna's eldest son Pradyumna was born from Rukmini. Seven nights after his birth, Pradyumna was abducted by the malicious demon Shambara. Krishna did not stop him because he knew the future that his son would grow up to kill the evil demon.

Time passed for Pradyumna to grow up, find out his true parentage, kill Shambara and return to Dvaraka. Sage Narada informed Krishna of these events. He rushed to receive his now-adolescent son along with his wife Mayavati, telling Rukmini that he was indeed Pradyumna. Krishna reunited with his eldest son, embracing him and kissing his forehead, also welcoming his eldest daughter-in-law. Rukmini afterwards also begot other sons along with a daughter Charumati.

Spiritual Development with Upamanyu

Jambavati also desired a son as strong and handsome as Krishna and told her wish to him. He agreed and was wished good fortune by her. After bidding Vasudeva, Devaki, Ugrasena, Balarama and his half-brother Gada goodbye, Krishna summoned Garuda and departed for the Himalayas once again. There, after bidding farewell to Garuda too, he went at the Manimantha mountain to Sage Upamanyu's beautiful hermitage who welcomed him and suggested him to once again venerate Lord Shiva, describing his glorious past deeds and grandeur. Krishna was enchanted by the descriptions and incidents stated by Sage Upamanyu, who then informed him of Shiva's hymns for eight days. Then, the sage assisted in the beginning of Krishna's penance who lived eating only fruits for a month and then only drinking water in the next month and then stood on one foot with arms held up for the next three months.

In the sixth month, Krishna was visited by Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati, surrounded by other deities. Krishna venerated Lord Shiva, describing his greatness. Lord Shiva, considering Krishna (as a mortal form of Vishnu) his most adored devotee, told him to ask for eight boons. Krishna asked for firmness in dharma, ability to destroy enemies in war, the most renown, excellent might, capacity of great meditation, the status of being the most liked of all, closeness to Shiva himself and ten thousand sons. Hence, Krishna and Jambavati's son, Samba was begotten among others. Goddess Parvati also offered Krishna eight boons, which he then asked to be that he would never be angry at Brahmins, his father would always be happy in him, he would obtain hundreds of sons, best of enjoyments would always be available for him, his clan would always brim with happiness, his mother would always stay happy, he would get internal peace and he would obtain proficiency in every field. So, Krishna obtained these sixteen boons from this six-month-penance. When Krishna told this to Sage Upamanyu, the latter celebrated Shiva's grandeur, narrating about the penance Sage Tandi performed for Shiva, informing Krishna of the Shivasahasranamastotra (Prayer of Shiva's One Thousand Eight Names).

At some point, Krishna found his uncle and Vasudeva's younger brother Gandusha to have no sons. So, Krishna let Gandusha adopt four of his own sons, Charudeshna, Sucharu, Panchala and Kritalakshana. Similarly, one of Krishna's wives, Shrutasenaa, wished for a son. So, Krishna let her adopt Ashruta, his son born to Kalindi, declaring both would be considered his mothers. Through his numerous wives and the boon of Lord Shiva, a total of one lakh eighty thousand sons were born to Krishna.

Unusual Experience with Sage Durvasa

At Dvaraka, Krishna once accepted Sage Durvasa as his guest when no one was ready to host him due to his angry nature. Krishna found him to have an irregular routine, when he would sometimes eat too much and sometimes dine very less and then not return back to the house throughout the day after leaving. Moreover, Krishna also handled Sage Durvasa's mood swings. Once, Durvasa immolated some girls that happened to pass by his shelter and then suddenly told Krishna that he wished to eat kheer immediately. Krishna however held the advantage of knowing people's intentions before they were apparent. Sage Durvasa went on to eat very little of the kheer and then asked Krishna to apply the remaining kheer on himself, which he obeyed without hesitation. However, Durvasa's weird policy continued and he made Krishna apply the kheer on Rukmini also and then made her draw his chariot like a horse. Rukmini was unable to take the load along with Durvasa's whips, so the sage was angered and fled from the chariot. Krishna followed him and attempted to please him.

The petty Sage Durvasa was satisfied with Krishna, unable to find any wrong he would have committed. Durvasa granted him the boons that deities and humans would display affection for him as much as they showed for food. All materials destroyed by Durvasa during his stay would be mended back. On all the parts on which Krishna had applied kheer, any injury would be unable to kill him, which meant, his entire body except the soles of his feet guaranteed him immortality. After also granting Rukmini the boon of eternal youth and chiefdom among Krishna's wives, Durvasa also blessed Krishna to always retain this mentality of respect for Brahmins, before disappearing. Krishna resolved to always obey whatever Brahmins told him from then on. The site where Krishna was granted the boons became a pilgrimage site called the Varadanatirtha.

Other Minor Conflicts

Now, Krishna began renowned for not only defeating those mentioned above, but also other warriors such as Indradyumna, Kasheruman, Dyumatsena, Mainda, Rishabha, Jrimbha, Ahiravana and Virupa. Krishna was once faced by the warriors Ahuti, Kratha, Shishupala, Dantavaktra and Shatadhanva together in the city of Jaruthi, yet he defeated them all. The Vanara tribe chief Dvivida heavily showered boulders upon Krishna, but he evaded them all and then defeated Dvivida. At a place named Nirmochana, Krishna captured six thousand demons all at once.

On the Mahendra mountain, Krishna once caught the two powerful menaces capable of teleportation, Gopati and Talaketu. He executed them at the banks of the Iravati river. Krishna was also once greatly offended by the king of Kashi, whom he then killed after burning his capital. He was also known to have subdued Varuna as well as Agni. Once, Ugrasena was abducted by Shalva, whom Krishna and the other Yadavas defeated to bring back their king. Krishna once also took away the princess of the Sauvira kingdom, bringing her for his fellow Yadava Babhru.

Conversations from Shanti and Anushasana Parvas

Political Conversation with Narada

Once, Krishna and Sage Narada met again. Krishna told him his political dilemma that Balarama remained swayed away with his might, Gada was lazy while Pradyumna remained busy in pride for his handsome appearance. Additionally, his working assistants were divided by taking the sides of the rival Yadavas Ahuka and Akrura, among whom Krishna could not choose and was torn between their strife. Narada replied that providing power to such clansmen was not the right decision and he should render them mute with positive emotions that would win them over to avoid civil war. Krishna enquired what the method to do this was. Narada replied that it was a display of empathy, endurance, simplicity, softness and due respect. Narada advised the use of these qualities to tame his clansmen. Hence, this softer side of politics was disclosed to Krishna.

Conversation about Narada with Ugrasena

Once, while Krishna and Ugrasena were talking, the latter picked up the topic of Sage Narada and asked Krishna about his qualities. Krishna told Ugrasena that Narada was replete with good knowledge as well as good character. Krishna listed Narada's qualities of humility, righteousness, empathy, simplicity, honesty, egalitarianism, devotion and understanding among others as reasons for his respect everywhere. Krishna additionally stated that Narada was loved by everyone.

Conversation with Narada about Respected Ones

Once, Krishna found Sage Narada venerating some Brahmins and enquired who they were. Narada stated that he always paid due respect to everyone who was located in dharma, including those who followed and chanted the Vedas, performed austerity or held virtues of forgiveness, self-control or proper care of family and guests. Narada also told Krishna that paying due respect to such people would provide one with happiness and remove their troubles.

Conversations about Sanctity with Prithvi

Once, Krishna asked Goddess Prithvi (or Bhumi), who was the mother figure of all life, what a Grihastha (loosely meaning a householder or family man) could do to be free from sins. Prithvi replied that for this, the most sacred and excellent task was to serve Brahmins. (Brahmin could also be interpreted as a good, innocent or virtuous person in such tales.) Prithvi told Krishna that this destroyed egoistic tendencies while providing glory and wisdom.

At another point, Krishna once again venerated Goddess Prithvi and asked her what task was necessary for a successful Grihastha life. Prithvi told Krishna in response that a Grihastha must always duly worship and respect deities, ancestors, sages and guests. Krishna was then educated by Prithvi about the various methodologies to please them each by yajnas and other practices, which he then implemented throughout his life.

Explaining Pradyumna about the Grandeur of Brahmins

Once, a frustrated Pradyumna came to Krishna and asked him why Brahmins were respected so much. Krishna responded that Brahmins were peaceful and capable of improving lives with their spiritual might. Krishna told Pradyumna about his experience with Sage Durvasa, quenching his son's doubts about powerful austeres.

Conversation Featured in Anugita with Brahmin

Krishna was once visited by an enlightened, emancipated Brahmin travelling from the heavens. After a display of hospitality, Krishna asked him about behavior that would achieve salvation. The Brahmin informed Krishna about his conversation with another brahmin named Kaashyapa, whom he educated on the various fates living beings were subjected to and concluded that salvation was achieved by possession of a neutral outlook on all pleasures and griefs and concentration only on the Supreme Godhead. Thus having enlightened Krishna, the Brahmin vanished.

Satrajit's Death and Revenge

Krishna received the news that Kunti and the Pandavas had died in a fire. So, Krishna went to Hastinapura to attend their funeral rites. However, in Hastinapura, Satyabhama suddenly came to Krishna crying and told him that the Yadava warrior Shatadhanva had killed her father, Satrajit, for the Syamantaka gem. Assigning the duty to continue the funeral rites to Satyaki, Krishna immediately returned to Dvaraka, where he asked Balarama to come along on a chariot to kill Shatadhanva to avenge Satrajit and repossess the Syamantaka gem.

A fierce battle broke out between Krishna and Shatadhanva. The former chased him on the chariot for four hundred kos, after which Shatadhanva had to leave his mare, which died of exhaustion, and flee on foot. Krishna noticed that his chariot's horses were also tired. So, he told Balarama to wait while he got back the gem on foot. They had reached near the city of Mithila, where Krishna killed Shatadhanva, but did not find the gem with him. On returning, when Krishna was asked by Balarama for the gem and he replied that it was not found, Balarama was angered, thinking that Krishna was greedily lying. In his rage, Balarama did not come back to Dvaraka with Krishna and stayed at Mithila itself. It took a long time for the Yadavas to convince Balarama to come back. The location of the Syamantaka gem remained unknown.

Conflict with Hamsa and Dimbhaka

Once, free from royal work, Krishna and Satyaki were playing catch with each other to pass time. That was when a group of sages led by Durvasa approached him, informing that the two warriors Hamsa and Dimbhaka were arrogantly insulting and setting obstacles in the sages' life. Krishna vowed to kill them and in the meantime, fed the sages. A while later, the two themselves sent a messenger named Janardana to Krishna. The latter seated Janardana asked him for the message. Janardana conveyed that Hamsa and Dimbhaka were performing a Rajasuya yajna, the ritual by which they would become the region's emperors. They had commanded the Yadavas to accept their suzerainty and bring them tax with salt. Krishna and his fellows had a fit of laughter at this prospect. He sent Satyaki with Janardana to convey back the message to the two menaces that they would get the arrows he shot, a sharp sword or their decapitated heads as the tax.

Krishna with his army met Hamsa and Dimbhaka with their army at the Pushkara pilgrimage site. He was engaged in a battle with the demon Vichakra, who had personally threatened Dvaraka in the past. They ensued an archery battle. Krishna shot seventy-three arrows at the demon, who also shot arrows at Krishna's chest. This fueled Krishna's rage who then destroyed the demon's chariot. Vichakra then hit Krishna's head with a mace and then threw a large rock at his chest which he caught and reverted back, brutally wounding the demon. Enraged, Vichakra now threw a bludgeon, which was broken by Krishna's sword, with which he then also cut down a large tree thrown at him. Krishna finally conjured the Agneyastra (Agni's divine weapon) and destroyed Vichakra with it.

When the enemies fled the site, Krishna and his fellows followed, engaging them next morning in another battle at the Govardhana hill. He ensued a duel with Hamsa, challenging the enemies by sounding the Panchajanya conch. As both Hamsa and Dimbhaka assaulted Krishna with spikes, he jumped from his chariot and caught hold of them, spinning them a hundred times and hurling them towards Mount Kailasa.

Hamsa angrily returned, shooting arrows at Krishna. On this, he told Satyaki to drive his chariot and resolving to kill Hamsa then and there, began battling him with celestial weapons. When Krishna conjured the Vaishnavastra, Vishnu's celestial weapon, Hamsa fled. Krishna chased him into the lake in which he had previously subdued Kaliya. Hamsa's fate at Krishna's hands is subject to legends. Some say Krishna kicked him to death, while others claim he was dropped by Krishna into the underworld, where snakes fed on him. Worried about his brother, Dimbhaka too arrived there and jumped into the water, searching for Hamsa. He angrily asked Krishna where he was. Krishna replied that he should ask the Yamuna river. The saddened warrior realised that his brother was dead and committed suicide underwater.

At the Govardhana hill, Krishna reunited with his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda, asking them how the cows and herders were. Nanda replied that everyone was fine and the only grief in their life was for not being able to see him often. Krishna consoled them and bid them both farewell before returning to Dvaraka. On the way, Krishna also met the sages at Pushkara.

Draupadi's Swayamvara

Along with many of his brothers, sons and other family, Krishna attended the Swayamvara of Draupadi, the princess of the Panchala kingdom. While spectating, Krishna recognised the Pandavas, who were believed to be dead, sitting in the middle of the crowd, disguised as Brahmins. He pointed them out to Balarama, who was sitting right beside him and smiled on recognising them. They witnessed Arjuna emerge victorious in the Swayamvara and also the enraged kings and princes attacking him. While Krishna looked at Bhima and Arjuna fighting them, he once again pointed their individual identities out to Balarama and assured him that they could not be defeated and were alive. Balarama also expressed his relief at this fact. Then, Krishna intervened and declared that the Brahmin warrior had obtained Draupadi through the Swayamvara in a fair manner. This broke off the conflict.

Krishna and Balarama found the temporary residence of the Pandavas the same day- the house of a potter. There, they introduced themselves and greeted Yudhishthira and Kunti. After a brief conversation, they returned from the house, leaving them be.

After the wedding of Draupadi and the Pandavas, Krishna sent lots of gifts, including jewellery, clothes and other ornaments, which Yudhishthira accepted. Krishna became a strong ally of the Pandavas, playing the role of an important advisor. With the discovery that the Pandavas were still alive, their uncle Vidura came from Hastinapur to invite them back from Panchala. Vidura embraced Krishna when he met him. In the meeting with Vidura, King Drupada, considering Krishna as wise, asked for his opinion. Krishna stated that he too felt it was alright for the Pandavas to go back. Then, Krishna travelled with the Pandavas, Vidura, Draupadi and Kunti to Hastinapura.

In Hastinapura, Krishna encouraged the rapid coronation of Yudhishthira as the ruler of Khandavaprastha. Krishna accompanied the Pandavas to Khandavaprastha, which was a wasteland. He summoned Indra, who summoned Vishwakarma. On Krishna's instruction, Vishwakarma built the beautiful city of Indraprastha there for the Pandavas. After the city's inauguration, Krishna advised Yudhishthira to serve his subjects well. Kunti thanked Krishna for all the help he had provided in the recent hard times. He then departed with Balarama for Dvaraka.

For the prestige Krishna had obtained for his feats, Sage Narada once especially visited Krishna with other kings who had also come, to enounce Krishna's ultimate blessedness.

Subhadra's Marriage

A few years later, Krishna was reported that Arjuna had come to the nearby Prabhasa pilgrimage site. He found him there and embraced him. They both conversed. Later, Krishna ordered for the Raivataka hill, where they would stay the night, to be decorated along with food. After eating and watching shows of acrobats and dancers, Arjuna told Krishna about the various pilgrimages he had visited. The next morning, Krishna took Arjuna to Dvaraka. He hosted Arjuna in his palace for several nights.

A few days later, there was a Yadava celebration at the Raivataka hill. Krishna roamed there with Arjuna. There, they saw Krishna's half-sister Subhadra. Arjuna fell in love with her, which Krishna detected. He laughingly introduced Subhadra and advised Arjuna to abduct her, a glorious method of marriage among warriors. With Krishna's permission, Arjuna took this course of action. Krishna had his chariot decorated and gave it to Arjuna, who used it to abduct Subhadra.

The news of Subhadra's abduction enraged the Yadava warriors and chaos ensued. However, immediately, Balarama stopped them to state that the wise Krishna was silent on this matter. He publicly asked for Krishna's opinion on the issue. Krishna responded to the ongoing rage, saying that Arjuna had in fact chosen Subhadra to be his wife in the warrior way, in a method that would avoid dishonour. He also openly declared that he had helped him in the abduction. He instructed to have Arjuna brought back to Dvaraka respectfully. With the Yadavas calmed, Arjuna married Subhadra in Dvaraka, where he stayed for about a year more.

After Arjuna went to Indraprastha with Subhadra, Krishna and the Yadavas followed and were welcomed there by Nakula and Sahadeva. Krishna was embraced by Yudhishthira. Krishna greeted him and Bhima, before giving them dowry in the form of chariots, horses, mules, maids and other gifts. Although the other Yadavas returned, Krishna stayed in Indraprastha with Arjuna. They both spent time at the banks of Yamuna, hunting wild animals. In Indraprastha, Subhadra gave birth to Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, who was specially loved by Krishna since childhood. Krishna provided him with beautiful arrangements for his upbringing. Abhimanyu appeared to be just like Krishna in terms of bravery and stature.

Burning the Khandava Forest

One particularly hot day, Arjuna offered Krishna for a bath in the Yamuna. With the women of the palace, they both set off. While the women enjoyed themselves, Krishna and Arjuna roamed into a nearby country. There, they found two thrones, on which they seated themselves and began conversing. There, a Brahmin approached them, out of respect for whom they both stood up. This Brahmin was Lord Agni himself. He asked to be fed. The two warriors asked what he would like to feed on. Agni revealed his identity and asked them to help him feed on (burn) the Khandava forest, which Indra was not allowing him to.

Agni, with the help of Varuna, provided Krishna and Arjuna with a glorious chariot to help in this task. Along with that, Krishna also obtained a strong discus, which Agni told him would make him more powerful than humans, deities and demons and would return back in Krishna's hand after being thrown on enemies. Varuna also gave Krishna the Kaumodaki mace, which sounded similar to thunder. With confidence, the burning of the Khandava forest began.

While Agni burned the forest, Arjuna and Krishna ensured that no creature escaped so that they could be consumed by him. Krishna supported Arjuna when he cursed the snake Ashvasena to become shelterless. When demons living in the forest attempted to attack them, Krishna stopped their advances with blows from the discus. Indra was angered and appeared to fight with all deities. Krishna and Arjuna also readied their bows and began to wound them with their arrows. The deities were no match for the two together. Krishna went on to go around slaying demons, birds, snakes and other creatures of the forest with the discus. When the deities went away defeated, Krishna and Arjuna let out a battle cry. Maya asked Arjuna to spare him, to which Arjuna and Krishna complied. Over the following 15 days, with their opponents defeated, they successfully burnt the Khandava forest with Agni satisfied.

Indra and the deities then descended to express the fact that they had performed an extremely difficult job so well, that they deserved a boon. For the boon, Krishna asked Indra for the love between him and Arjuna to continue to grow, which was granted by Indra then and there. Agni too expressed gratitude and permitted them to go. Krishna, Arjuna and Maya went to the bank of the Yamuna.

Maya wished to show his gratitude. Arjuna told him to return their favour by doing what Krishna said. After thinking for a while, Krishna asked Maya to build a glorious assembly hall for Yudhishthira which could not be duplicated and remained one of its kind. They then introduced Maya to Yudhishthira. Finally, Krishna left again for Dvaraka after wishing everyone goodbye. After a long time, Krishna reunited with Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Devaki, Balarama and his sons.

Bhanumati's Abduction

Krishna once got the opportunity to visit the Pindaraka pilgrimage site with most of his fellow Yadavas, among whom mutual harmony he had ensured. They began to enjoy in the seawater there, which turned temporarily fresh by Krishna's grace. He assumed a separate form for every one of his wives and the couples splashed water on each other. Some nymphs descended from heaven to enjoy with the Yadava party when Krishna granted the permission, after which he ascended into the sky to enjoy separately with his wives. As they were singing hymns and praises, they were joined by the visiting Arjuna, Subhadra and Sage Narada. After enjoyment in the water, they feasted, sang and danced. Krishna then bid farewell to the nymphs.

Meanwhile in Dvaraka, the Yadava leader Bhanu's daughter Bhanumati was abducted by the dead Vajranabha's vengeful brother Nikumbha. Ugrasena and Vasudeva hurried to Krishna and informed him of what had happened under their noses. Krishna and Arjuna mounted Garuda and hurried away with Pradyumna following them on his chariot. They intercepted Nikumbha, who held Bhanumati to his front, positioning her as a shield from their attacks. Hence, they had to hold their hits and allow the demon to escape. After chasing the demon for long distances, he finally tripped at the Gokarna mountain graced by Lord Shiva. Hence, Pradyumna was able to retrieve Bhanumati. From then on, Krishna and Arjuna chased the lone demon, who then entered the demon cave of Shatpura. The two warriors had to wait at the cave's entrance, joined by Pradyumna who returned after dropping Bhanumati back at Dvaraka.

Nikumbha finally exited the cave to fight them, but he was invisible and hence rendered Arjuna and Pradyumna unconscious with one hit of his mace each. Hence, Krishna equipped the Kaumodaki mace and began duelling him. He, however, had to act like he was fainting. This ruse compelled Indra to arrive and pour holy water mixed with nectar on him, refilling him with energy. However, when Krishna, Arjuna and Pradyumna got up, they found that Nikumbha was also lying lifeless. They were relieved to find him dead from the duel, only to then discover this had also been a trick when one crore Nikumbhas appeared there and captured Arjuna. Krishna and Pradyumna hit the numerous forms of Nikumbha, but they regenerated. Krishna, however, used his divine intellect to identify the original Nikumbha, whom he then decapitated with his Sudarshana discus. They retrieved Arjuna and returned to Dvaraka. On Sage Narada's advice, Krishna summoned Sahadeva, who was then wed to the ever-pure Bhanumati.

Parijata Tree Conflict

Once, Rukmini fasted and held a ceremony for Brahmins to be fed, for which Krishna accompanied her on to the Raivataka hill and hosted the ceremony. With Sage Narada's allowance, Krishna summoned his entire family and held the feast for the Brahmins, after which he especially paid his respect to Rukmini. Narada approached Krishna sitting with Rukmini and was worshipped by him, after which he gifted Krishna a flower from the holy Parijata tree. Krishna gave the flower to Rukmini, who was then praised by Narada as the best of all of Krishna's wives. This sparked jealousy in Satyabhama, who moodily retired to the sulking room. Krishna made an excuse to leave and went to Satyabhama, stationing a few servants at the entrance to her palace and appointing Pradyumna to look after Sage Narada.

Krishna looked at the sulking Satyabhama for a while and approached her when she covered her face with a cloth and rested on a pillow. Signing to her maids not to inform her of his presence, Krishna went and stood behind Satyabhama, who turned curious to find the source of the smell of the Parijata flower. She turned around to find it was coming from Krishna, which reduced her to tears. Climbing onto the bed, he asked her the reason for her bad mood. Slightly calmed by Krishna's words, Satyabhama told him that she was hurt, feeling that he had no special affection for her, and wished to go perform penance away from the meaninglessness, after which she covered her eyes with Krishna's yellow cloth and began to weep again. On Krishna's further insistence, Satyabhama revealed the exact reason for her grief, in response to which he appeased her by promising to bring the whole Parijata tree for her.

Krishna thought of Sage Narada, who came to him and was served by Krishna and Satyabhama's hospitality. After she went back inside her palace and Narada declared he was returning to heaven, Krishna asked him to pass a message to Indra that they wished to borrow the Parijata tree for some time. Narada agreed to convey the message but told Krishna that Indra would not give it since it was under Shachi's use. Krishna said that if Indra did not agree, he would have to use force to keep his word with Satyabhama.

Krishna indeed did have to use force when Sage Narada returned to Dvaraka from heaven with the news that Indra had refused despite much convincing. First, he once again sent a message through Narada that Indra would not be able to stand against him in battle. Then, the next morning, Krishna went to the Raivataka hill with Satyaki and Pradyumna under the guise of going hunting. He told Daruka to keep the chariot on the hill and wait till he returned. He and Satyaki then mounted Garuda while Pradyumna followed on a flying chariot. The party reached heaven, where from the Nandana forest, Krishna uprooted the Parijata tree and loaded it on Garuda.

Very soon, Krishna was met by Indra at his capital Amaravati's eastern gate. The latter accepted that they would have to battle this out. Hence, Krishna shot the first arrows at Indra's mount, Airavata the elephant, following which the duel broke out. Meanwhile, Indra's son Jayanta tried to pick up the tree from Garuda's back, which Krishna noticed and hence told Pradyumna to stop him. As Indra and Krishna's sons too began battling each other, the former's trusted companion Pravara tried to take back the Parijata to stop whom Krishna ordered Satyaki. Although Pravara was once eliminated out of the duel, Satyaki was fatigued to the point of a swoon, but Krishna touched him with his left hand, refilling him with energy. When Garuda knocked Airavata, and Indra with him, down to the earth, Krishna followed them to where they fell, the Pariyatra mountain.

After Airavata rested for a bit, Krishna and Indra continued their battle atop the mountain. The mountain sank into the earth out of respect for Krishna. So, he floated into the sky and instructed Pradyumna to bring Daruka and his chariot to the site and inform Ugrasena that he would return the next day. As his chariot was brought to the site, it became night and both Krishna and Indra agreed to continue their fight the next day. During the night, being happy with the mountain for having reduced to the size of a seed ('shana') from his feet ('pada' in Sanskrit), Krishna gave it the name Shanapada and gave it the boon of holiness and regaining its size. Then, Krishna thought of Ganga, who appeared to provide holy water to Krishna for bathing. Then, Krishna proceeded with the veneration of Lord Shiva, who appeared before him and as Krishna praised him, granted him surety that he would take the Parijata tree. Shiva took the name of Bilvodakeshwara at the site Krishna had worshipped him and also told him that there were demon cities under the mountain whose residents had to be killed. They both then embraced as Shiva disappeared. Krishna declared that the demons underneath would be killed by him and that he would always reside over the mountain (spiritually).

The battle between Indra and Krishna started once again, but they did not hit each other, only shooting at each other's assistants. That was when the deities' parents Kashyapa and Aditi arrived. The latter ordered them to lay down their weapons. Indra and Krishna called a truce, bathed in Ganga's water and the four returned to heaven. Aditi instructed Krishna to take the Parijata to Dvaraka, have Satyabhama perform the Punyaka fast in its presence and then bring it back. Shachi gave Krishna gifts for his thousands of wives before he departed for Dvaraka, where he told Satyaki to inform others to decorate the city for the holy tree to enter. After meeting Devaki, Vasudeva and Ugrasena, Krishna carried the tree to Satyabhama, who then performed the Punyaka fast.

As per the fast ceremony, Krishna summoned Sage Narada and made him have a meal. Then, Satyabhama tied Krishna to the tree to gift to Narada alongside wealth and other formalities. After Krishna and Narada joked around a bit as the follower and master respectively, Krishna was freed and gifted Narada some cows. He also granted him the boon to be born unconventionally as a sage in every lifetime. They then invited all of Krishna's relatives including the Pandavas, Shishupala, Rukmi and their extended families to view the Parijata tree. Krishna spent more time with Arjuna.

Plot against Vajranabha

When Vasudeva was performing the Ashvamedha yajna, Indra approached Krishna in Dvaraka, informing him of the demon Vajranabha's ambition to conquer the worlds. Instead of being interrupted during his father's yajna, Krishna initially bid Indra farewell. When the latter visited again during the yajna's primary ritual, Krishna sat with him to plan entry into the demon's capital Vajrapura. At that time, an acrobat performing there greatly entertained the sages present and was hence granted the boon by them of visiting all around the world with the capability of performing even greater moves. Indra and Krishna used this for their plan. They sent some swans capable of human speech to Vajrapura, where they used this skill to make the demon's daughter Prabhavati fall in love with Pradyumna while convincing Vajranabha himself to organise a show for the acrobat.

Krishna magically disguised Pradyumna as the acrobat and sent other Yadavas including Samba and Gada disguised as assisting entertainers. As the disguised acrobats successfully found a place in Vajrapura by impressing the demons, Pradyumna secretly married Prabhavati after they got to know each other discretely for several nights. When the time came for Vajranabha to begin his conquest, Indra and Krishna sent the swans with instructions for the infiltrators-in-disguise to kill the demon. A message came back that they were hesitant since not only Pradyumna, but Samba and Gada had also married respective demon girls and the three had impregnated them too. Krishna, with Indra, conveyed through the swans that they should not be afraid and that the children born through them would prove to be virtuous.

The two deities turned the children youthful almost immediately as they were born by their grace. The demons opened hostility against the disguised Yadavas on sighting the three boys. Hence, as the battle against Vajranabha began, Krishna mounted Garuda and himself went to the site, joined by Indra. He sounded the Panchajanya conch to summon Pradyumna, who then mounted Garuda and killed Vajranabha. The kingdom of Vajrapura was divided into four parts by the two deities with Brihaspati's advice, with three of the parts going to the three Yadava children born there, Pradyumna's, Samba's and Gada's virtuous sons. After the coronation, Krishna returned to Dvaraka.

As a token of gratitude, Indra had Vishwakarma renovate Krishna's city of Dvaraka, which he found more beautiful than ever when he returned. Accompanied by his welcoming fellows, Krishna placed the Mani mountain and the Parijata tree in their respective places in the newly renovated city. In celebration, he honoured and gifted wealth to the Yadavas and was also visited by the praising Sage Narada.

Killing the Demons of Shatpura

One year after having obtained the Parijata tree, Krishna returned it to heaven. Aditi blessed Krishna to maintain a brotherly relation with Indra, who then granted Krishna the warriors Pravara and Jayanta to kill the demons of Shatpura, the city complex under the Shanapada mountain. Vasudeva and Devaki visited the site for a yajna, which was disrupted by some demons who also abducted the priest Brahmadatta's daughters. So, Vasudeva cogitated on Krishna, who told Pradyumna to save the girls while he himself marched on Shatpura with an army, which set camp at a little distance from the site of the yajna. Krishna appointed Pradyumna to then look after the army. Balarama, Krishna and Satyaki bathed in the Ganga the next morning and worshipped Lord Shiva. Krishna then appointed the respective Yadava warriors, the Pandavas who had been invited to the yajna as well as Pravara and Jayanta in various positions. Then he ordered for instruments to be played to challenge the demons out.

The demon king there was Nikumbha, who had a second body through a boon by Lord Shiva, his first having been destroyed by Krishna when he had abducted Bhanumati. He took a deceptive approach and invisibly picked up Yadava warriors to lock them inside the cave. This enraged Krishna, who began to shower arrows on the demon army and burnt every weapon and projectile that they threw at him. Krishna hence made the demons flee above, where his allies from heaven would kill them. He then stood alongside Arjuna and was ultimately faced by Nikumbha, whom he sighted with Lord Shiva's grace. Arjuna was unable to hit the demon with any divine weapon and asked the reason for this. Krishna told him that Nikumbha had been granted a boon by Lord Shiva earlier which made him invincible unless faced by a form of Lord Vishnu himself.

Krishna chased Nikumbha into the cave and battled him there, allowing Pradyumna to free the captured Yadavas. Nikumbha hit Krishna with a club while the latter hit back with his mace. The numerous hits rendered both unconscious but the prayers of his fellows refilled Krishna with energy. Lord Shiva instructed Krishna from above to use his discus. Hence, he threw the Sudarshana discus at Nikumbha, decapitating him. Krishna then distributed the demons' property to his allies in celebration and granted Shatpura to Brahmadatta. Then, Krishna with his family returned to Dvaraka.

Explaining his Grandeur to Arjuna

Arjuna once visited Dvaraka for a few days. At that time, Krishna was performing the Somayaga ritual. A brahmin came to him, pleading for help. Krishna immediately asked what the matter was. The brahmin replied that his three sons had died at the time of birth. Now, his wife was about to give birth to his fourth son and he wanted to ensure his life. Arjuna volunteered to help the brahmin while Krishna was engaged in the yajna. Krishna asked Arjuna to the latter's embarrassment if he would be able to do it but anyway allowed him to go with all other Yadavas while Balarama and Pradyumna stayed with Krishna.

The brahmin returned with a shamed Arjuna, greatly insulting him in front of Krishna for not having been able to save his fourth son. Arjuna, not having been able to keep his word, decided to immolate himself, but was stopped by Krishna and Pradyumna. Krishna told them that he would take them to the brahmin's son. After Daruka prepared Krishna's chariot, the latter instructed Arjuna to become the charioteer and departed with the brahmin towards the north. When they were met by a sea in the journey, Krishna instructed Samudra to make a way just for them which no one else would be able to use. They reached a compromise that the seawater would only be paralysed for the chariot to safely pass. They were then met by mountains, who gave them a way to pass when Krishna asked.

The group of three crossed the entire world to finally reach a place of complete darkness. Krishna illuminated the route with his discus. He was then absorbed into a human-shaped illuminated figure. Krishna returned with all four of the brahmin's sons, much to the latter's happiness. When the group turned back, they were instantly teleported to Dvaraka. Krishna fed the brahmin and gifted him wealth before bidding him farewell. Arjuna inquired about the events of the entire journey. Krishna replied that all of the world, nature, the figure, every single thing in existence was his form for he himself was a form of God. He would bring back people from death only for brahmins (subjects of utmost respect).

Battle with Shiva and Banasura

One day, Krishna discovered that his grandson Aniruddha was missing and had been abducted. Concerned as to how that had happened without his knowledge, Krishna asked Ugrasena to appoint spies to find Aniruddha. Anadhrishti suggested that Indra could have abducted him for their previous conflicts, but Krishna dismissed it, considering such an act beneath the deities' grandeur. In a discussion with Akrura, Krishna stated that Aniruddha could only have been abducted by a deceptive demon female.

Next morning, Sage Narada arrived in Dvaraka and informed Krishna that the demon named Bana had captured his grandson Aniruddha and was torturing him. What had actually happened was that Aniruddha and Banasura's daughter Usha had fallen in love. When Banasura found this out, he was enraged and imprisoned them both, torturing Aniruddha. Krishna called Balarama and Aniruddha's father Pradyumna. They mounted Garuda and angrily departed for Banasura's capital Shonitapura. There, they found that Banasura's power was such that even some deities protected his city. Agni appeared before them in various forms, diminishing the glow of their bodies, as explained by Krishna to Balarama. Krishna began shooting arrows, defeating all of the Agnis. Entering the city, as incited by Balarama, Krishna destroyed the first wave of Banasura's demon soldiers with the Agneyastra.

Krishna, with his three companions, ensued battle with all the demons coming to face them. They were also faced by a personified fever named Trishira, who began to immolate Balarama. However, the latter was saved by Krishna's embrace, after which the fever attacked him too. Its effects quickly vanished on Krishna, after which he began a fist battle with it. When it once again entered Krishna, he countered it with his supreme Vaishnava fever, which subdued Trishira. As Krishna was about to break it into pieces, Trishira asked him to spare its life, supported by a divine voice from the sky. Krishna agreed to take back the Vaishnava fever and told Trishira to exist in various forms as various diseases in various organisms as part of nature. Before going away, the fever was awarded the boon by Krishna that whoever read about their battle and preyed to them and his fellows would be freed of any fever.

As Banasura was a devotee of Lord Shiva, he protected his city. Hence, a fierce battle ensued between Krishna and Shiva. Both used divine weapons on each other. Krishna made everyone else flee by using the Vaishnavastra. Then, before Shiva responded by shooting another arrow, Krishna shot the Jrimbhastra at him which caused excessive yawning and hence drowsiness. Lord Brahma communicated with Shiva, helping in the arrival of the realisation that both Krishna (Vishnu) and Shiva were the same, being God simply in different forms. Both the deities hence called a truce. Next, Krishna was faced by Shiva's son Lord Kartikeya, Banasura's elder brother figure, whose Brahmashirastra was countered by Krishna's discus. He then also made Kartikeya's javelin fall to the ground mid-trajectory with just a roar. As Krishna was about to use his discus again, Parvati intervened, arriving between them in the form of the naked goddess Kotavi. Krishna turned his face away, allowing her to take away Kartikeya back to Lord Shiva.

Krishna, mounted on Garuda, reached Banasura, who taunted him. Krishna challenged him to a duel instead of insults. He also shot various divine weapons at Krishna which were countered by him. Krishna destroyed the demon's equipment and rendered him unconscious with a critical shot to the chest. Garuda attacked the peacock which was Banasura's mount, making him fall. As Lord Shiva sent a lion-drawn chariot driven by his mount Nandi for Banasura, Krishna vowed to destroy the demon's arrogance. The naked Kotavi once again arrived in front of Krishna, but this time he did not budge. The goddess asked him to spare Banasura's life as he was like her son. Krishna promised that he would not kill him but would turn the thousand-armed demon into an ordinary two-armed one. Then, with his eyes closed, he used a discus to cut Banasura's arms, deterred from killing him by Shiva.

With Banasura fallen, Krishna, Garuda, Balarama, Pradyumna and Narada went into the demon's harem and freed Aniruddha along with Usha. He appointed Banasura's more virtuous minister Kumbhanda as Shonitapura's new head and also loaded Banasura's wealth on Garuda. Getting Aniruddha and Usha married, Krishna next decided to take the demon's cows, drinking whose milk the demons did not grow old, for Satyabhama's request she had made before they had left. The cows frightened by Garuda escaped into the sea. Krishna then defeated Varuna and his attendants. Varuna revealed that he was bound in an oath to Banasura and could not give away his property. Krishna decided to let the cows go, not wishing to kill Varuna or break his oath. They called a truce. Krishna and his fellows returned to Dvaraka, where they welcomed Usha as a new member of their family.

Jarasandha's Death

Not a long time later, Yudhishthira sent a messenger to Krishna to take advice to conduct a Rajasuya Yajna. Krishna came back to Indraprastha and after meeting everyone and resting, assured Yudhishthira that he was suitable to perform the yajna and become an emperor. However, he also told Yudhishthira about Jarasandha, who was already a de facto emperor, as he had used various methods to make several kings submit to him. Krishna stated that the yajna was not possible while Jarasandha lived and hence, he had to be killed. This demotivated Yudhishthira, whose spirits were lifted by Bhima and Krishna, who reinstated the fact that Yudhishthira had all the virtues of an emperor. When Arjuna too showed willingness to help, Krishna supported him to motivate Yudhishthira.

Yudhishthira sent Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima to the Magadha kingdom where Jarasandha ruled. Krishna and the two Pandavas broke the drums kept in Girivraja, the capital of Magadha. They also used their combined strength to break the peak of the Chaityaka hill, near which the city was located. After this display of hostility, the three disguised themselves as Brahmins and entered the city. In this disguise, they were welcomed when they approached Jarasandha. Krishna asked him to come talk to them at midnight, as his two fellow Brahmins did not speak before that time. At midnight, Jarasandha met the three warriors in their real forms and was shocked. In response to him pointing this out, Krishna said that they would not accept any formalities from him. They had come to him as his enemies.

When Jarasandha showed confusion, Krishna reprimanded him for keeping kings imprisoned to be sacrificed later. He introduced Bhima, Arjuna and himself and challenged him to battle. Jarasandha accepted. Krishna asked whom he wished to combat. Jarasandha chose Bhima. Krishna and Arjuna spectated as the fierce wrestling battle unfolded. On the 14th night of the battle, when Jarasandha appeared to fatigue, Krishna pointed it out to Bhima and instructed him to fight accordingly. He held a reed and tore it into two pieces. Bhima understood the sign and after breaking Jarasandha's back, he tore the king's body into two.

Krishna seized the dead Jarasandha's chariot and rode it with Bhima and Arjuna to free all the kings who were his captives. While driving the chariot, Krishna thought of Garuda, who arrived to increase its glory by sitting atop it. After freeing the kings, Krishna assured Jarasandha's son Sahadeva and installed him as Magadha's king. Back in Indraprastha, Krishna congratulated Yudhishthira and earned his gratitude. With Jarasandha dead, Krishna returned to Dvaraka.

While the Pandavas were conquering the four directions to make Yudhishthira the emperor, Nakula was the one who conquered the west. In the process, Nakula also sent a messenger to Krishna to accept Yudhishthira's rule, which Krishna did out of affection. Then, with Vasudeva as the commander, Krishna arrived at Indraprastha with an army and wealth. In the palace, Yudhishthira, along with others, expressed his desire to conduct the Rajasuya Yajna with Krishna, which Krishna accepted. During the yajna, Krishna washed the feet of the visiting Brahmins.

At some point, Krishna narrated to a Brahmin the tale of the conversation between a jackal and a monkey, which was also heard by Bhishma. Krishna's story conveyed the moral that one must never falsely promise a donation to a Brahmin, which was the cause that a human had reborn as the scavenging jackal and also, one must never steal from a Brahmin, which was the cause of his friend to be reborn as a fickle monkey.

Killing Shishupala

The day of the Rajasuya Yajna on which all those present were honoured with offering, Bhishma advised the beginning of the ceremony by offering Krishna first, considering him the most suitable subject of worship. Hence, Sahadeva offered the holy water foremost to Krishna, which he accepted. At this, Shishupala, who was also present there as the king of Chedi, was enraged. He questioned the fact that Krishna was offered before the other elders present. He also directly insulted Krishna. Bhishma defended Krishna by citing his glory as being a form of Lord Vishnu himself. Bhishma narrated Lord Vishnu's deeds as well as those Krishna had performed in the past. Sahadeva also defended his action and challenged anyone who thought against it. Narada also spoke in Krishna's favour. Then, Sahadeva completed the ceremony by offering all respected individuals the holy water.

The enraged Shishupala motivated many kings to stand against the Pandavas and Krishna. Hence, many warriors stood up in Shishupala's support. Bhishma once again defended Krishna, followed by ill words from Shishupala. At this, Bhishma revealed the incident that had happened at Shishupala's birth. Finally, after hearing Shishupala's insults, Krishna broke his silence and reminded everyone that Shishupala was the son of a Yadava woman, and yet he had tormented the Yadavas a lot. He spoke about all of Shishupala's bad deeds and revealed that the boon he had granted to Shishupala's mother had been exhausted. Even though everyone present reprimanded Shishupala, he simply laughed and continued to insult Krishna.

Krishna summoned the Sudarshana discus, his sacred weapon. Krishna declared that he would now not forgive Shishupala and then, in front of all the warriors present at the yajna, he beheaded him with the discus. Shishupala's soul rose up, greeted Krishna and was then absorbed into Krishna's body, proving the fact that Krishna indeed was the lord deserving of worship. The earth began to quake, there was rain without clouds and lightning started thundering at this incident.

With all formalities following Shishupala's death carried out by the Pandavas, the yajna continued. Due to Krishna's protection, the yajna never ran out of food. After the yajna was completed, Yudhishthira thanked Krishna. Before departing for Dvaraka, Krishna met Kunti, Subhadra and Draupadi and advised Yudhishthira on his emperorship. Later, Krishna is said to be present during Duryodhana's embarrassment due to the illusions of the Pandavas' assembly hall.

War with Shalva and Humiliation of Draupadi

When Krishna reached Dvaraka, he found out through Kritavarma that Shalva, Shishupala's ally, had invaded the kingdom to avenge his death, killing many Yadava warriors. Angered at this act, Krishna decided to kill him too and destroy Shalva's city of Saubha, which was unique in the sense that it could be moved and acted as a flying vimana. Krishna, along with his army, found the city in the middle of the sea and sounded his conch to begin the battle. Shalva mockingly looked at him. Krishna's arrows, much to his rage, could not reach the island city from the mainland. However, Shalva's army easily shot arrows at Krishna's army. Krishna shot thousand divine arrows, but Saubha was flown away from the army's sight.

However, Krishna himself was able to put up a fight. His arrows reached the resident demons of Saubha and made them fall dead into the sea. Krishna once again honked the Panchajanya conch and engaged in a battle with Shalva, who began using deceptive magic. All sorts of weapons were then showered upon Krishna. But he used his own powers to cancel Shalva's abilities. Shalva then began to throw boulders from hills at Krishna and began to manipulate the lighting and weather through his powers. Once again, Krishna cancelled Shalva's abilities and then overwhelmed his army with his arrows.

Vigorously, Krishna broke all weapons Shalva threw from the sky into pieces. Shalva shot another lakh arrows, which overwhelmed Krishna's charioteer Daruka. While he was reassuring Daruka, Krishna received a message from a servant of Ugrasena that Shalva's forces had once again infiltrated Dvaraka and this time, they had killed Vasudeva. Ugrasena was calling Krishna back. As Krishna again battled Shalva, his mind was filled with sadness about his father's death and the safety of his fellows. And then, he suddenly saw Vasudeva's body falling from Saubha. Krishna was unable to hold his bow. As it fell, Krishna sat at the back of his chariot. But then after a while of despair, Krishna realised that Saubha, Shalva and Vasudeva had disappeared. That was when Krishna realised that this messenger had been a figure of Shalva's deceptive magic, and that no such incident had happened. Reinvigorated, Krishna got up and again began to shoot arrows at the enemies.

When the resident demons of Saubha were engaged in chaos due to Krishna's arrows, Krishna used the noise to locate the flying city. Like that, towards every noise he heard, Krishna took a shot and finished off the demons. When Krishna was showered with boulders and surrounded by them, apparently crushed, he summoned the Vajra and crushed all of those boulders. Daruka motivated Krishna to take the battle a step ahead and finish off Shalva. Krishna summoned the Sudarshana discus, enchanting it with the power of the Agneyastra and then cut the Saubha vimana into two pieces from the middle with it. The flying city fell at shore. He again threw the discus and this time, cut Shalva himself into two pieces. Driving the chariot towards the remnants of the city, Krishna sounded his conch to declare victory.

At the same time, Yudhishthira engaged in a gambling game of dice with Duryodhana and Shakuni. He not only lost all of the wealth he possessed, but also gambled away his four Pandava brothers and Draupadi. When Draupadi was being forcefully dragged into the hall of the game by Duhshasana, she called for Krishna out of despair. When Duryodhana ordered her humiliation, Duhshasana pulled on the cloth she had on and attempted to disrobe her. With no one present being able to help, Draupadi, who was considered by Krishna to be a very close friend, again called out to him. Her desperate calls for him reached Krishna, who unfortunately couldn't physically arrive there in Hastinapura. Hence, as the lord and present in all of matter spiritually, Krishna entered Draupadi's cloth and began to indefinitely extend it with numerous beautiful clothes. He made hundreds of colourful clothes appear as Draupadi was being disrobed. Unable to perform the deed, Duhshasana was tired and embarrassed and hence, forced to sit down. Eventually, King Dhritarashtra reversed the gains and losses of the game and allowed the Pandavas and Draupadi to return. However, through another deceitful game, the Pandavas and Draupadi were exiled for 13 years.

Physically, when Krishna returned to Dvaraka, Satyaki informed him of what had happened with the Pandavas.

Reuniting with the Exiled Pandavas

Along with the Yadava warriors, Subhadra, Abhimanyu, Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi's five sons, the king of Chedi Dhrishtaketu, Karenumati and the princes of Kekaya, Krishna visited the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest, where they were spending their exile. Krishna greeted Yudhishthira and addressed all who were present that they would reinstall him as the emperor by shedding the blood of the deceptive Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni and Duhshasana. While speaking, Krishna began to show great anger, calmed immediately by Arjuna, who was then reassured of unbreakable friendship by Krishna.

Then, Draupadi spoke to Krishna about how she had been dragged into the assembly hall, with just one cloth on to protect her sanctity, and despite being associated with so many brave individuals, she was forced to experience such humiliation. She burst out in tears, even stating that Krishna was not her friend, because he had not appeared to aid her in that time. Krishna promised her that just like her, the wives of her humiliators would also cry. He promised her that he would do everything possible for their well-being, no matter what. Arjuna and Dhrishtadyumna too followed in consoling her. Krishna lamented that if he had been at Dvaraka or near there, he would have arrived to stop the gambling game of dice. He informed them that he was not present there because he was busy combating Shalva. Then, Krishna departed for Dvaraka with Subhadra, Abhimanyu and his 20 servants including the charioteer Indrasena. Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna embraced him, Nakula and Sahadeva touched his feet, Sage Dhaumya too showed respect, while Draupadi still had tears flowing from her eyes.

Several months later, Krishna and Balarama heard that the Pandavas were performing penance at the Prabhasa site. Along with family and soldiers, Krishna went there and saw them in a miserable state, sleeping on the ground with their bodies, even Draupadi's, covered in dirt. The Yadavas began to cry at this sight. The patient Yudhishthira still greeted all of them appropriately, and so did the Yadavas. They all sat there, surrounding Yudhishthira, who updated them about what had happened so far during the exile. He also happily informed them about the reason of Arjuna's absence there: he had gone to heaven with Indra to obtain divine weapons. Balarama spoke to Krishna, expressing disappointment that the Pandavas and Draupadi, followers of dharma, were living in misery, while their humiliators enjoyed royalty. Satyaki suggested that they should attack the Kauravas then and there instead of waiting for the exile to be over. Krishna, however, spoke that being a staunch follower of dharma, Yudhishthira wouldn't allow that. Yudhishthira bid them goodbye and Krishna, along with the other Yadavas, departed to Dvaraka, while the Pandavas departed for other pilgrimage sites.

During the Pandavas' exile, Ashwatthama visited and stayed at Dvaraka. One day, as Krishna's guest, he met him alone at the seashore and asked Krishna to give him his discus in exchange for the celestial weapon Brahmastra. The amused Krishna presented his bow, javelin, discus and mace and told Ashwatthama to take any weapon he could lift or use without giving back anything. When Ashwatthama found himself unable to lift the discus, Krishna reprimanded him, stating that not even Arjuna or his own direct family had ever asked for his discus. He asked whom Ashwatthama wanted to battle with the discus and received the foolish reply that he wanted to battle Krishna himself and turn invincible. However, having realised that nobody could wield the discus but Krishna, Ashwatthama went away.

Towards the end of their exile, Krishna again visited the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest, this time arriving along with Satyabhama. He met four of the Pandavas as well as Sage Dhaumya. Then, he spotted Arjuna, whom he embraced. He also comforted Draupadi. They sat down around Krishna and Arjuna updated Krishna on the happenings of the exile. Then, Krishna praised Yudhishthira's adherence to dharma and then told Draupadi that her sons had come to Dvaraka and were learning and living a good life, followed by reassuring Yudhishthira of the Yadavas' support. While they were talking, Sage Markandeya arrived at the site. After they all showed appropriate respect through worship, Krishna, along with several Brahmins who had also come, requested the sage to narrate various ancient moral tales. Being a very old personality, Markandeya narrated various tales, which found glorious mentions of Lord Vishnu. After narrating the story of how he had met Balamukunda, a child form of Lord Vishnu, and had witnessed the entire universe inside him, Markandeya pointed out that Krishna was the same person and that he was incarnated in various form to perform various deeds. The Pandavas fell at Krishna's feet, who reassured them. After spending some time with the sage and the Pandavas, Krishna finally departed for Dvaraka with Satyabhama, after once again reassuring Draupadi.

At some point, Krishna slew Ekalavya so that he would not be recruited by the Kauravas against the Pandavas.

Handling Sage Durvasa for the Pandavas

One night, when Krishna was resting with Rumini beside him, he got the knowledge that Draupadi was in a dilemma as she was calling for him. Immediately, he arrived at the Pandavas' residence. She told him that Sage Durvasa had come, accompanied by ten thousand disciples. She was supposed to feed them, but they had exhausted their food source for the day. Krishna asked Draupadi to first feed him before handling those guests. Even though Draupadi insisted that as she had eaten, their divine kettledrum could not provide more food, Krishna still had the kettledrum summoned. Very few greens were still stuck at the neck of the vessel. He wished for the lord, part of all of matter in the world, to be satisfied with the greens and then ate that minuscule quantity. He then asked Sahadeva to bring the sage and his disciples.

Miraculously, the sage and his disciples felt completely full and afraid that the Pandavas would destroy them with their rage after they had ordered them to prepare food in the first place. They felt so because the Pandavas were backed by the lord, Krishna himself. Hence, this destruction was possible. So, Durvasa and the disciples were scared and ran away. When Sahadeva returned with no idea where they had gone, Krishna informed them about what had really happened. The Pandavas thanked him as he again returned to Dvaraka.

Abhimanyu's Wedding

As the last year of the Pandavas' exile came to be over, Krishna received the invitation of Abhimanyu's marriage with the princess of the Matsya kingdom, Uttaraa. Along with the Yadavas including Subhadra, Krishna brought Abhimanyu to the city of Upaplavya in the Matsya kingdom. He also brought ten thousand elephants, twenty thousand horses, ten thousand chariots and ten lakh infantry soldiers. He brought maids, gemstones and clothes as gifts too. With Krishna, Arjuna had his son Abhimanyu and Uttaraa married.

Efforts for and against the Kurukshetra War

Selecting Sides

The morning following Abhimanyu's wedding, the Pandavas, Yadavas and Panchalas held an assembly in King Virata's court. Krishna seated himself near Virata and Yudhishthira. After some casual discussion and thinking, Krishna gave his speech to the assembly. He spoke about how the Pandavas had been conspired against by the Kauravas since the beginning and yet, they had patiently prevailed. He asked all individuals present to aid the Pandavas if the situation came to war, but he also proposed that first, a messenger should be sent to Hastinapura to find out if Duryodhana agreed to return their half of the kingdom. Balarama agreed with Krishna while Satyaki proposed direct war. Drupada proposed that the preparations for a war must also be begun and messengers should be sent to every possible ally. Krishna agreed with Drupada and then went on to state that the Pandavas and Kauravas maintained similar relations with the Yadavas. Hence, with the wedding ceremony complete, Krishna departed for Dvaraka, leaving the remaining allies to ensue diplomatic conversations.

In Dvaraka, while Krishna was resting, both Duryodhana and Arjuna approached him. First, Duryodhana arrived and sat at a throne kept near his head. Then, Arjuna arrived and kept standing near his feet. Krishna first spotted Arjuna and then Duryodhana. After welcoming them, he asked for the reason of their arrival. Duryodhana declared he had come to ask for aid in the upcoming war. But Krishna told him that as he had spotted Arjuna first, he would first provide him aid. Krishna offered Arjuna two choices, his Narayana army or himself, but as someone who would not participate in battle and not hold any weapon. Arjuna asked for Krishna himself on their side and hence, the elated Duryodhana got Krishna's Narayana army. After Duryodhana went to meet other Yadavas, Krishna asked Arjuna why he had chosen him. Arjuna answered that he desired for the glory of possessing Krishna himself on his side and wished to make him his charioteer in the war. Krishna accepted this role. Hence, Krishna, along with other important Yadavas, accompanied Arjuna back to Yudhishthira.

Questions about Peace

In Upaplavya, Sanjaya arrived as a messenger from Dhritarashtra, attempting to negotiate peace. After some conversation, Yudhishthira asked Krishna to add his answer to the messenger. Krishna reminded Sanjaya of the unjust and cruel behaviour that the Pandavas had been subjected to. He told him that they were ready for both, peace and war, whatever Duryodhana and his allies would allow. With the combined messages of Yudhishthira, Krishna and Arjuna, Sanjaya returned to Hastinapura.

The Pandavas and other allies then approached Krishna. Yudhishthira asked him to go to Hastinapura to attempt something that would prove beneficial for the Pandavas as well as the Kauravas. Krishna decided to go to Hastinapura and have a go at another negotiation of peace. He reassured Yudhishthira that he would safely convey their message, which Duryodhana would have to listen. First, Krishna advised Yudhishthira to not behave softly and begin war. Bhima diverted Krishna from sparking any violence and still advocated for peace. Krishna laughingly reminded Bhima of his vows to kill his humiliators. Bhima responded by stating that he was supporting peace only out of pity and had not actually turned soft. Krishna finally reassured him that he would try to negotiate peace happily, but if they rejected it, war would be inevitable. Arjuna too motivated Krishna to advocate for peace, which he acknowledged, supported by Nakula. However, Sahadeva, Satyaki as well as the other warriors, along with the weeping Draupadi, advised Krishna to still plan for war with the unreliable Kauravas. Draupadi showed Krishna her open hair and asked him to remember them, that had been dragged by Duhshasana. Krishna once again reassured her that she would surely be avenged. It was finally decided that Krishna would attempt only peace.

Peace Mission to Hastinapura

The next morning, after performing his religious routine and making Satyaki equip his chariot with various weapons for good measure, Krishna began his journey to Hastinapura along with Satyaki, an army and his servants. The Pandavas and other allied warriors followed him for a distance. Then, Yudhishthira embraced Krishna and requested him to meet Kunti and ask how she was doing and reassure her. He also requested Krishna to embrace all of their relatives and friends. Arjuna too reminded Krishna of the goal to obtain their half of the kingdom. As the warriors returned to Upaplavya, Krishna continued his journey. En route, Krishna found some sages including Narada standing on the way. Krishna asked about how they were doing and how he could help them. Sage Parashurama spoke to him that they wished to see and hear his words in the assembly of the Kauravas and would accompany him to Hastinapura. With all of his company, Krishna was then welcomed by the townspeople of Vrikasthala. Hence, Krishna decided to stay the night in the town. Krishna ate with and visited the homes of the various townspeople and rested with them at night. Krishna noticed a resthouse prepared by Duryodhana in the town. Continuing his journey, Krishna found many such resthouses throughout his way. However, he decided to ignore them and went on to Hastinapura.

In Hastinapura, Krishna was welcomed by a huge crowd of citizens along with Kaurava warriors. Crossing through the crowd, Krishna entered Dhritarashtra's palace. After personally greeting Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Drona, Bahlika, Kripa, Somadatta and others, Krishna seated himself on a large throne. After accepting all formalities, Krishna departed for Vidura's house. After his welcome, Krishna told Vidura about all the purposes desired by the Pandavas. In the afternoon, Krishna met Kunti. Kunti emotionally embraced Krishna and began to weep. After welcoming him, Kunti asked him about the Pandavas while telling him about how she felt all this time. Krishna reassured her, stating that the Pandavas would be present in front of her in a short time. After being bid goodbye, Krishna departed for Duryodhana's residence. Welcomed by Duryodhana, Shakuni, Karna, Duhshasana and other Kauravas, Krishna seated himself on a bed. However, Krishna rejected their offers for food. When nudged, Krishna clearly stated that as a messenger, he would not be fed by those he had to convey his message to. He also did not wish to eat at the residence of a grudgingly behaving person. He also rejected the advances of the others whom he had greeted earlier. He returned to Vidura's residence. There, he first fed the sages and also donated them wealth. Then, he himself had lunch there. In the night, Vidura discouraged Krishna from advocating for peace, stating that Duryodhana had lost all wisdom and would just not listen. Krishna replied that his attempt at peace was driven by his duty and ability. Even though there were higher chances that this attempt would fail, as an able diplomat, he would at least try and give it a go. Following this conversation, Krishna went to sleep.

The next day, following his morning routine, Krishna was personally approached by Duryodhana and Shakuni, who informed him that the Kaurava assembly was ready for his presence. Krishna mounted his chariot brought by Daruka and was followed in his route to the palace by Duryodhana, Shakuni, Satyaki, Kritavarma and his remaining company. With Vidura and Satyaki beside him, Duryodhana and Karna in front and Kritavarma along with the other Yadavas behind, Krishna entered the assembly. While everyone stood in welcome, Krishna murmured to Bhishma and requested that first, the sages be given seats. When the sages led by Narada were seated in the hall, Krishna and the other warriors too seated themselves. Duryodhana and Karna sat near Krishna. With the assembly settled, standing in the middle of the hall, Krishna gave his impactful speech, looking at Dhritarashtra. Krishna clearly stated his purpose of establishing peace between he Kauravas and the Pandavas. He praised the Kuru dynasty and said that unjust deeds did not suit it. Krishna told that while he controlled the Pandavas, driving the Kauravas towards peace was only in the hands of Dhritarashtra. He praised the warriors of both sides and stated that peace was the appropriate solution for all of them. Letting the destruction that the ensuing war would cause did not comply with dharma. War and death among family would only bring grief to both sides. Considering Dhritarashtra to be their father figure, the Pandavas had completed their exile out of respect and hence, they deserved to be treated like sons by him. Krishna appeased to the conscience of all who were seated there and rhetorically asked them what the truly rational course of action in this situation was. Krishna ended the speech by stating that Dhritarashtra's sons had fallen prey to greed. Kunti's sons were ready to live together with them in peace and at the same time, were also ready for war. What Dhritarashtra felt appropriate then would be followed by all. The assembly was rendered silent by this speech.

Among the sages, Parashurama, Kanva and Narada stood up to narrate tales featuring the glory of Arjuna and Krishna in other lifetimes and the downfall that anger and arrogance had brought to others. Following this, Dhritarashtra requested Krishna to personally speak to Duryodhana and convince him for peace. Krishna told Duyodhana that his desires would only cause destruction and wouldn't succeed. He was against dharma and unpopular among the masses due to his angry and jealous doings. Giving the example of Dhritarashtra and his ministers, Krishna urged Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas. Krishna was followed by Bhishma, Drona, Vidura and Dhritarashtra in convincing the prince full of hatred. Duryodhana replied to Krishna clearly saying that he didn't believe he had done anything wrong and that the Pandavas were in misery due to their own bad luck. He stayed adamant on war and refused to give back their half of the kingdom. Krishna was angered at those words. He announced every deed Duryodhana had performed too disgrace or kill the Pandavas. Krishna crisply called him a moron and declared that peace was above his standards. When the enraged Duryodhana exited the assembly with his brothers, Bhishma too reprimanded him. Krishna advised the assembly to detain Duryodhana and his ministers, who were staining their dynasty. Gandhari was fetched to also convince Duryodhana, but he was only enraged further and secretly decided to detain Krishna.

Satyaki found out about Duryodhana's plan and reported it to Vidura, who immediately announced it aloud to the assembly. Krishna laid out an open challenge and spoke to Dhritarashtra to allow the Kauravas to detain him. However, Dhritarashtra immediately calmed down Krishna and with Vidura, reprimanded Duryodhana. Krishna angrily spoke to Duryodhana that he was ignorant to believe him alone. Then, Krishna laughed loudly and unleashed a godly form. Like small sparks, all the deities, the Pandavas and the Yadavas appeared on his body. Various weapons loaded themselves on Krishna's arms. Flames began to erupt out of his eyes, nostrils and ears. The entire assembly was rendered overwhelmingly afraid and closed their eyes. Only Drona, Bhishma, Vidura, Sanjaya and the sages were provided divine sight by Krishna to be able to view that form. The deities began to beat their drums and shower flowers on Krishna. The blind Dhritarashtra requested Krishna to provide him functional eyes just so he could view the divine form. Miraculously, Krishna complied. With the effect he wished to produce done, Krishna retracted his divine form. Then, ignoring the assembled who followed him, Krishna exited the hall with Satyaki and Kritavarma. As the three mounted their chariots, the blind Dhritarashtra called out, saying that he too wanted peace but as had been witnessed, he unfortunately had no control over Duryodhana. Krishna expressed disappointment at Duryodhana's impudence to the well-wishers present there.

Krishna went to Kunti and briefed her about everything that had happened in the assembly. Then, she gave him a moral message to be conveyed to the Pandavas and bid him goodbye. He once again bid farewell to the elders of the Kuru dynasty and then approached Karna. With Karna on his chariot, Krishna and he conversed during the journey to Upaplavya. Krishna revealed to Karna that he was Kunti's son, born before her marriage. With this news, Karna would be welcomed to the side of the Pandavas. However, Karna declined in the face of this revelation. He said that Kunti had not brought him up and additionally, Duryodhana was his good friend, whom he did not wish to leave. He wished only to battle Arjuna and asked Krishna to keep this a secret from others so he could fulfil his wish. Krishna told Karna that the victory of the Pandavas was inevitable and told him to inform the others that the war would begin within a week. Karna agreed with Krishna but remained adamant to the Kaurava side due to his loyalty. He ceremoniously hugged Krishna and dismounted. After dropping Karna, Krishna continued his journey back. In Upaplavya, he explained everything that had occurred in Hastinapura to the Pandavas.

Final Preparations for the War

In the presence of Krishna, Yudhishthira organised the Pandava armies. He asked Krishna about his opinion on who should be the commander-in-chief of the armies. Krishna cited Dhrishtadyumna as the appropriate candidate and hence, he was appointed at the post. When the formation was decided pre-war, the warriors Anadhrishti, Chekitana, Dhrishtaketu and Satyaki were appointed to surround Arjuna and Krishna. When the armies reached the borders of Kurukshetra, the battleground, Krishna too sounded his conch to boost the excitement of the soldiers.

At Kurukshetra, Krishna scouted the area with Arjuna and evicted all the soldiers of Duryodhana's army whom they found. Krishna then had a moat dug around the land they had chosen. After appointing guards for the moat, Krishna supervised the building of thousands of tents for the warriors of the Pandava army. When Yudhishthira asked his last-moment-doubts, Krishna gravely replied that there was no desire left for peace. War with the Kauravas was the only course of action that was their duty. Arjuna too supported Krishna's statement.

News reached the camp that Bhishma had been appointed commander-in-chief of the enemy army. Krishna encouraged Yudhishthira to appoint commanders who could face Bhishma during war. Yudhishthira specifically provided Krishna the role of guiding Arjuna while also being his charioteer. At that time, Balarama arrived at the camp. Krishna welcomed him alongside others. Balarama spoke that he still considered the Pandavas and the Kauravas to be equally his relatives. Balarama had asked Krishna to retain the same feelings, but now a destructive war was inevitable. Balarama respected Krishna's decision and said that he would now depart for a pilgrimage as he was unwilling to watch the oncoming destruction. Krishna bid him farewell.

Then, Rukmi arrived at the camp. He proposed to fight on the Pandava side. In Krishna's presence, Arjuna rejected Rukmi's aid. After that, Uluka came to the camp to convey a message from Duryodhana. The message personally challenged Yudhishthira and also addressed Arjuna to come fight alongside Krishna the next day. The message contained the insult that thousands of Krishnas and hundreds of Arjunas would flee when faced by Duryodhana alone. When Krishna saw the Pandavas enraged by this, especially Bhima, he told Uluka to return and convey that Duryodhana's message was accepted and its meaning had been conveyed. Uluka went on to convey Duryodhana's message to personally Krishna which challenged him to fight the war with deceptive magic and said that Duryodhana did not consider him worth fighting due to him being a herder in the past. The messages enraged all royal allies present. Arjuna defused the situation by giving a fitting reply to be conveyed back to Duryodhana. Krishna followed by telling Uluka to convey to Duryodhana that the former messages were motivated by the fact that Krishna had pledged not to fight. However, Krishna challenged Duryodhana that wherever he would go in battle, Krishna would transport Arjuna's chariot there relentlessly. Duryodhana was being arrogant. However, they did not consider him formidable at all. Uluka went back to the Kauravas with the replies of the warriors. Then, the Pandava army left camp for the battlefield for the beginning of the war. Yudhishthira appointed the warriors Virata, Jayatsena, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja to surround Arjuna and Krishna, located at the back of the army.

The Kurukshetra War

The Bhagavad Gita

"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।"

("Your right lies only in doing your work, never in its results. Therefore, neither do actions for their results, nor lean towards not doing actions.")

―Krishna to Arjuna

Satisfied with the excitement of the Pandava army, Krishna sounded the Panchajanya conch. As Krishna was in position as Arjuna's charioteer right before battle, he instructed Arjuna to battle the Kaurava army to get to Bhishma for which Krishna told him to once pray to Goddess Durga. As Durga blessed Arjuna, Krishna and he sounded their conches once again. Then, on Arjuna's request, Krishna moved the chariot to between the two armies so that he could view the warriors he was up against. However, as Arjuna saw his family against him about to begin battle, he was suddenly overwhelmed. He was demotivated and sat down, saying he did not wish to fight his family and that the war would be too destructive. Krishna called Arjuna's distress a pointless confusion and told him to overcome his weak heart.

Arjuna replied that he could not bring himself to shoot arrows at Bhishma, Drona and the Kauravas. He asked Krishna to give advice which would calm his senses. In replies to Arjuna's questions, Krishna gave him invaluable knowledge, the Bhagavadgita. To motivate Arjuna for the war, Krishna told him about the philosophies of Sankhya Yoga, Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga, which analysed the temporary and permanent states of all things. Krishna told Arjuna to perform his duty, karma, without worry about other things such as its result. As Arjuna kept on expressing his doubts, Krishna gave him the knowledge of Sanyasa Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Jnana-Vijnana Yoga, Akshara Brahma Yoga and Rajavidya-Rajaguhya Yoga.

The discussion had shifted to existential debate, focusing on the qualities of God himself. Krishna, being the Godhead, went on to preach the Vibhuti Yoga. Listening to that, Arjuna requested Krishna to show him his Vishvarupa form, in all his divinity. Krishna showed it to him, appearing enlarged, with multiple heads, multiple adornments, multiple weapons and divine light that not even a thousand suns could match. Krishna showed Arjuna the entire universe on his divine form. When Arjuna showed fear and asked him who he truly was, Krishna replied that he also was death, the destroyer of worlds, which should regain Arjuna his confidence and motivate him to fight as a medium of God's destruction. Still shocked on seeing the Vishvarupa form, Arjuna requested Krishna to show himself as Vishnu, with four arms. Krishna agreed and appeared in the four-armed form, holding his conch, discus, mace and lotus. Returning to his ordinary appearance, Krishna went on to preach Arjuna on a spiritual note, the Bhakti Yoga, Kshetra-Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga, Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga, Purushottama Yoga, Daivasura Sampada Vibhaga Yoga, Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga and the Moksha Sanyasa Yoga. Now, Arjuna was completely motivated for the war with full confidence. Fueled by the Bhagavadgita, he once again picked up his Gandiva bow and arrows.

First Day

As the armies were brimming with excitement, Yudhishthira suddenly took off his armour and weapons and went to the Kaurava army. The other Pandavas and other close warriors followed him out of concern. Krishna, coming along with them, laughed and told them that he had found out Yudhishthira's intentions. Yudhishthira wished to begin the war after taking the blessings of his elders in the Kaurava army. Krishna expressed confidence that Yudhishthira would win due to his lawful virtues. When Yudhishthira was done and exited the Kaurava army with the others, Krishna went to Karna. Krishna had heard that Karna would not participate in the war while Bhishma fought due to their hatred for each other. So, Krishna offered Karna to fight alongside the Pandavas while Bhishma was still there and then go back to the Kauravas when Bhishma would be eliminated. Karna refused to go against his friend Duryodhana at all. So, Krishna returned to the Pandavas, reprising his role as Arjuna's charioteer. After accepting Yuyutsu, a defector from the Kauravas, the war began.

From the first day itself, the war turned gruesome and there were major casualties on the Pandava side. Krishna and Arjuna witnessed one of their generals, Shveta, being killed in battle. So, they both retreated with their piece of the army, followed by their fellows. As the first day of the war came to an end, their army was overwhelmed by Bhishma's valour. Back at camp, the Pandava warriors approached Krishna. Yudhishthira expressed his concern about Bhishma's invincibility. Yudhishthira was so demeaned that he wished to leave the war to go live an ascetic life. Seeing this, Krishna motivated the warriors by reminding them of their own capabilities. Excitement began to dawn again and everyone began preparations to continue the war.

Second Day

In the new heron formation organised by commander-in-chief Dhrishtadyumna, Krishna sounded his Panchajanya conch. As the battle began and turned chaotic, Arjuna commanded Krishna to take the chariot to Bhishma. Krishna told Arjuna to be alert and drove the glorious chariot as Arjuna had commanded. During the archery fight between Arjuna and Bhishma, the latter shot three arrows at Krishna's chest and wounded him. The battle continued till Arjuna saw Abhimanyu fighting and advanced towards him to protect him. This move led to widespread chaos as no one was able to put up a fight against him and the Kaurava warriors began to flee in different directions. At this, Krishna victoriously sounded his conch alongside Arjuna. The day ended with the Kaurava army forced to retreat.

Third Day

The Pandava army was organised into a semi-circular formation, with Krishna and Arjuna stationed at the left front. Fierce battle ensued. In response to the courageous moves of the Pandava warriors, Bhishma began to overwhelm the Pandava army, causing chaos. Krishna spoke to Arjuna to battle with all his might and kill Bhishma and drove the chariot to the old Kaurava commander on Arjuna's command. Bhishma overwhelmed the chariot's horses and Krishna with arrows to such a degree that no one was able to see them. However, Krishna continued to reprise his role as the charioteer with patience. As Bhishma continued to shower arrows, Krishna showed great skill and began to drive the chariot on a round path, evading those arrows. As arrows continued to strike Krishna and Arjuna, they angrily continued battle.

Krishna's body was overwhelmingly shook. He was disappointed to see Arjuna and the remaining army's performance in front of Bhishma. His disappointment was further increased when multiple warriors came to aid Bhishma but no one except Satyaki came to help Arjuna and him. Krishna spoke to Satyaki in distrust for the others and told him that he himself was now going to slay Bhishma and Drona. Krishna summoned his divine Sudarshana discus and dismounted the chariot. With the discus spinning in his hand, he ran towards Bhishma. Arjuna quickly also dismounted and caught Krishna by his arms. Krishna in his rage couldn't be stopped. He continued advancing with Arjuna holding on to him. So, Arjuna caught hold of Krishna's feet and stopped him at ten steps from the chariot. Arjuna persuaded Krishna to stop and assured him that he would execute his duty without distraction. Krishna was contented and took on his role again as the charioteer. He happily sounded the Panchajanya conch. The remotivated Arjuna now expertly battled the Kaurava warriors while the morale of the Pandava army was restored. Victoriously, Krishna and Arjuna screamed battle cries. The day ended with Arjuna having decimated hundreds of Kaurava warriors.

Fourth Day

Krishna and Arjuna resumed battle on the fourth day, beginning from the front of the Pandava army. Arjuna fought valiantly against Bhishma. The entire day was dominated by Pandava warriors and despite their wounds, they returned to camp at the end of the day, fully happy and satisfied and having hurt the Kaurava army's morale.

Fifth Day

On the fifth day of the war, sounding the Panchajanya conch, Krishna drove as Arjuna and Bhima together ensued battle with Bhishma. As battle continued into the afternoon, Arjuna and Krishna were pitted against Ashwatthama, who wounded Krishna with seventy sharp arrows. The angry warriors continued fierce battle against him. However, along with the day, Krishna and Arjuna moved on to other Kaurava warriors, of which Arjuna killed twenty-five thousand who were targeting him, after which the sun set and the battle was stopped.

Sixth Day

Once again, Arjuna and Krishna were set at the head of the army, which Dhrishtadyumna organised into the crocodile formation. Into chaotic battle, they ended up in the southern portion of their army, from where Arjuna killed many Kaurava soldiers. They returned to camp at sunset.

Seventh Day

As the Kurukshetra War resumed on its seventh day, Arjuna expressed his wish to Krishna to destroy all that battled him that day. Multiple kings on the Kaurava side attacked them, showering them with arrows. However, they all were defeated by Arjuna. Hence, Bhishma once again was pitted against Arjuna and Krishna. However, some time later, Bhishma had to move away to assist the Kauravas against Abhimanyu. So, on Arjuna's command, Krishna drove the chariot towards other Kaurava warriors. As the battle continued, Duryodhana shot some brilliant arrows at Krishna and the Pandavas. There were large casualties throughout the day. By its end, everyone returned to camp tired.

Eighth Day

Right on the front of the army, Krishna and Arjuna began the battle. At one point in the day, they joined Bhima and Ghatotkacha in fighting King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha. This was when Bhima gave Krishna and Arjuna the news that the latter's son Iravan had died in battle earlier in the day. Arjuna was saddened and expressed to Krishna that they really should have opted for peace instead of war. Then, he reluctantly commanded Krishna to drive the chariot towards Duryodhana's army and they continued with the battle till sunset.

Ninth Day

At one point on the ninth day, Krishna was hit by seventy arrows from Susharma. Towards the end of the day, Bhishma one again instilled fear in the Pandava army, which began to flee. Hence, Krishna stopped the chariot and told Arjuna to fight Bhishma as this was the right opportunity. Arjuna reluctantly agreed and they went towards Bhishma. As arrows were continuously showered upon him, Krishna remained patient and controlled the horses. He skilfully began to drive the chariot, evading the arrows. Once again disappointed by Arjuna's performance, Krishna dismounted and ran towards Bhishma with a whip in his hands. Just like the third day, Arjuna quickly also dismounted and caught Krishna by his arms who continued advancing with Arjuna holding on to him. So, Arjuna caught hold of Krishna's feet and stopped him at ten steps from the chariot. Arjuna told Krishna not to break his vow of not fighting in the war and accepted the responsibility of killing Bhishma. The battle continued with Krishna back as the charioteer.

Battle ended at sunset. At the Pandava camp, the warriors planned in the night. The concerned Yudhishthira asked Krishna to provide a solution to effectively counter Bhishma in the battlefield. Krishna asked Yudhishthira for permission to fight in the war, which would allow him to slay Bhishma. Yudhishthira refused to let Krishna break his vow of not fighting in the war and decided that they should go ask Bhishma himself how to defeat him. Krishna too agreed, being confident that Bhishma, as a well-wisher of the Pandavas by mind, would help them. Krishna and the Pandavas, without armour and weapons, were welcomed by Bhishma in his camp who told them the key to defeating himself. While going back, Arjuna expressed in front of Krishna his inability to kill Bhishma. Krishna clearly told him that Bhishma's death at Arjuna's hands was predecided and that it was his duty as a warrior to face Bhishma in the battlefield. So, Arjuna agreed, much to the contentment of the others, and they returned to the Pandava camp.

Tenth Day

As Bhishma had disclosed to them the previous night, Shikhandi, whom Bhishma would not attack due to him having been a female in the past, was chosen to battle Bhishma. Meanwhile, Arjuna and Krishna were engaged by Duhshasana on the tenth day of the war. Duhshasana wounded Krishna with twenty arrows, which added to Arjuna's rage and led to the former's defeat. Next, Shalya faced Arjuna and again injured Krishna with five arrows. Fierce battle continued with all Kaurava warriors protecting Bhishma and the Pandava warriors trying to reach him. Only Krishna, Arjuna and Shikhandi were able to actually reach Bhishma. On seeing Bhishma destroying the Pandava army, Krishna told Arjuna to ambush Bhishma by surprise in the middle of the armies. Following Shikhandi, Arjuna attacked Bhishma and showered him with thousands of arrows, thus finally taking him down. Bhishma's defeat stopped the battle. Following Bhishma's last order, the armies returned to their camps and rested to continue battle the next day.

Krishna congratulated Yudhishthira on this occasion. The latter replied by thanking Krishna for being on their side and ensuring their victory, to which Krishna smilingly agreed.

Eleventh Day

Krishna and Arjuna freshly began battle from the front of the Pandava army, now facing Drona as the new Kaurava commander-in-chief. Arjuna battled so well that the Kaurava army had to retreat. Krishna and Arjuna victoriously returned to camp.

Twelfth Day

On the twelfth day, Arjuna and Krishna were faced by the Samshaptakas, a group of warriors from the Kaurava side with the intention to kill Arjuna or be killed by him. Before attacking them, Arjuna confidently spoke to Krishna that the warriors led by Susharma were going to be killed by him, for which they should cry and not brim with happiness as they appeared at that time, or they were so happy because they were about to reach the afterlife. The Samshaptakas showered them with arrows, but were faced by Arjuna so fiercely that they had to fall back. Arjuna commanded Krishna to follow them. Krishna praised Arjuna and obeyed. They were now attacked by Krishna's own Narayana army that he had given to the Kauravas and were completely hidden behind their arrows, but Arjuna handled them with one of his divine celestial weapons.

However, next, Krishna and Arjuna were actually overwhelmed by the Lalitthas, Malavas, Mavellakas, Trigartas and Yaudheyas combined, all warrior groups on the Kaurava side. Behind so many arrows, Krishna was profusely sweating and dryly asked Arjuna, whom he was unable to see, whether he was alive. This was when Arjuna used the Vayavyastra to destroy the shower of arrows, flying away the enemy soldiers.

At another point in the day, they saw dust flying around and heard the screams of an elephant, caused by the unique way the elephant-riding Bhagadatta was fighting. Arjuna expressed his concern about Bhagadatta's skill and commanded Krishna to drive the chariot towards him. There, they were faced once again by the Samshaptakas, including four hundred of Krishna's own Narayana army. One lakh arrows were showered upon them. Krishna was exhausted and Arjuna relieved him by destroying most of the arrows with his Brahmastra. Krishna praised Arjuna for handling the Samshaptakas successfully and then drove the chariot on his command. Arjuna was next conflicted because on one side, the Pandavas were being beaten by Drona and on the other, Susharma was once again challenging Arjuna in battle. He asked Krishna what he should do. Krishna took the decision and turned the chariot towards Susharma. In the ensuing fight, Krishna was attacked by Susharma with a lance. However, Arjuna gained the upper hand and defeated him.

Next, they were faced by Bhagadatta, who once again overwhelmed them with arrows and then advanced his elephant to kill them. Krishna immediately turned the chariot towards the right, successfully dodging the elephant. Bhagadatta injured Krishna with sharp arrows made of iron, which went through his chest into the earth. Bhagadatta also shot a javelin at Krishna, but it was broken by Arjuna mid-trajectory.

Following another exchange of arrows, Bhagadatta conjured the Vaishnavastra and shot it at Arjuna's chest. Krishna immediately got up in front of Arjuna and took the shot at his chest. There, the weapon turned into Vishnu's signature Vaijayanti garland. Arjuna told Krishna to not break his vow and take shots for him only if he was in danger or unable to counter them. Krishna told Arjuna in reply that the Vaishanavastra had been obtained by goddess Prithvi from Vishnu and had been inherited by her grandson, who was Bhagadatta. By taking it on his chest, Krishna had repossessed his celestial weapon and now made it possible for Arjuna to kill Bhagadatta. Hence with this new confidence, Arjuna slew Bhagadatta's elephant. Now, Krishna revealed another secret to Arjuna- Bhagadatta was so old that he had to use his headwear cloth to hold his eyelids and keep his eyes open. Hence, Arjuna destroyed the cloth with an arrow and closed Bhagadatta's eyes. As everything went dark for the old warrior, Arjuna was able to kill Bhagadatta.

Next, Arjuna killed Shakuni's two brothers, in revenge for which Shakuni used deceptive magic on Krishna and Arjuna, making all kinds of weapons and animals appear attacking the latter from all directions, followed by darkness and floods. One by one, Arjuna used his celestial weapons to counter them all, forcing Shakuni to flee. The day of the battle ended at sunset, having been successful for Krishna, Arjuna and their teamwork.

Thirteenth Day

As Krishna served as the charioteer, Arjuna slew more of the Samshaptakas this day. At the end of the day, as they were returning to camp, Arjuna expressed that he was not feeling well and was expecting something bad to have happened. Krishna consoled him that his brothers would be safe. As they reached the camp, they found it dull and distressed, adding to Arjuna's worry. Inside, they found the Pandavas concerned and demotivated. This was when Arjuna realised that Abhimanyu had been killed in battle. He began to inconsolably cry in regret. Krishna tried to console him, stating Abhimanyu had departed to other great worlds, dying a warrior's death. As they found out how Abhimanyu had died, Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha, who had been involved in his death, which Krishna angrily approved by sounding the Panchajanya conch.

Krishna had sent some spies to Duryodhana's camp who returned and gave the news that the Kauravas were alarmed by the sound of the conch and had stationed very skilled warriors to protect Jayadratha. He informed this to Arjuna, who expressed confidence he would defeat all of those warriors and commanded Krishna to ready his chariot as soon as possible in the morning. Both Krishna and Arjuna could not sleep in the night. On Arjuna's command, Krishna consoled Abhimanyu's mother Subhadra and wife Uttaraa. Subhadra, Uttaraa and Draupadi cried inconsolably and Krishna handled them with great difficulty.

For Arjuna's victory, Krishna made him venerate Lord Shiva. Then, he arranged with Daruka for all materials required for Arjuna's warfare the next day.

Fourteenth Day

In the morning before battle, Krishna met Yudhishthira along with other Pandava warriors. Krishna sat on the same seat as Satyaki and was then requested by Yudhishthira to make sure that Arjuna's vow to kill Jaydratha was fulfilled. Krishna assured him that he would ensure Abhimanyu would be avenged and Jayadratha would be killed. When Arjuna himself arrived there, Krishna and Satyaki accompanied him back. Krishna readied Arjuna's chariot, which the three warriors then mounted and departed for the battlefield. Arjuna and Krishna sounded their conches, intimidating the Kaurava army.

As the battle of the fourteenth day began, Krishna drove the chariot towards the Kaurava Durmarshana on Arjuna's command and they ran into the elephant army of the Kauravas to battle. Arjuna decimated Duhshasana's army, after which he took Krishna's permission to talk to Drona. As they began battle, Drona shot arrows that wounded Krishna. At another point, Drona shot five arrows at the latter. The battle was very formidable, so Krishna suggested Arjuna that they should move away from Drona towards Jayadratha, to which he agreed. In the ensuing movement, Krishna was hit by seventy arrows on his arms and chest from Drona. As they escaped from the latter, they were faced by Kritavarma, battling whom was also time-consuming. So, Krishna had to tell Arjuna to forget Kritavarma used to be their ally and battle ruthlessly, which Arjuna followed.

Then, Krishna was hit by seventy arrows from King Shrutayudha of Kalinga. Shrutayudha also threw the mace he had been gifted by Varuna at Krishna's shoulder, but he was able to withstand it without even being shook. Because of this misuse of a divine weapon, the mace went back and killed Shrutayudha. Next, Prince Sudakshina of Kamboja wounded Krishna with three arrows but Arjuna killed him. However, Arjuna was next stunned by the warriors Shrutayu and Achyutayu, which alarmed Krishna who began to reassure the Pandava army. The two Kaurava warriors showered arrows on Krishna from all directions, making him unable to be seen, but Arjuna recovered and used the Aindrastra, Indra's celesital weapon, to defeat and kill them. Arjuna continued to destroy the Kaurava army as motivated by Krishna.

The warrior named Ambashtha stopped the chariot and hit Krishna with a mace. The former went on to strike repeated blows with a mace on Arjuna and Krishna, which added to Arjuna's rage, who killed Ambashtha. They continued to advance towards Jayadratha, for which Arjuna shot arrows to make way for Krishna to skilfully and rapidly drive the chariot through the Kaurava army. They were faced by Princes Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, who shot another seventy arrows at Krishna. Arjuna killed Vinda, but Anuvinda remained alive, equipping a mace and hitting Krishna's forehead, although it had no effect on him, after which Arjuna also killed Anuvinda.

As Kaurava soldiers surrounded them, the exhausted Arjuna, finding Jayadratha still far away, asked Krishna what they should do. On Arjuna's suggestion, Krishna treated to the chariot's injured horses which had been showered by arrows in the day's fights while the former dismounted and fought on foot. While treating the horses, Krishna noticed and told Arjuna that the horses did not wish to be cleaned, but wanted water for drinking, which was not available. Arjuna shot a weapon into the ground to conjure a pond for the horses to drink, which amused Krishna, who praised him. Then, Krishna freed the horses from the chariot in the shelter of arrows Arjuna had created. Krishna calmed the horses and took the arrows out of their bodies. He gave them water to drink, bathed them and fed them with hay and grains. The once again active horses were tied back to the chariot and they resumed battle on it and advanced away from the surrounding soldiers, sounding the Panchajanya conch.

Krishna and Arjuna began to discuss among themselves that Jayadratha would be killed despite his six Kaurava protectors. Now, Duryodhana came forward to face them. Krishna nudged Arjuna to kill him by reminding him of everything bad he had done. They sounded their conches and began battle with him. Duryodhana shot ten arrows at Krishna's chest and also broke his whip with another one. Arjuna shot twenty-eight arrows at Duryodhana, but they had no effect on his armour, given to him by Drona. On seeing this, Krishna expressed surprise at Arjuna's inability, to which he replied that the armour was inpenetrable. Arjuna attempted to break it using the Manavastra, but it was countered by Ashwatthama from far away. Duryodhana again wounded Krishna with nine arrows. They were close to Jayadratha, but were showered invisible by arrows from Duryodhana. So, on Krishna's suggestion, Arjuna pulled the string of his bow very vigorously to shoot arrows while Krishna loudly sounded his conch. This got everything that surrounded them out of the way due to the vibrations they created.

Ashwatthama shot seventy-three arrows at Krishna, which enraged Arjuna, who severely injured Ashwatthama, who got back up and shot another twenty arrows at Krishna, after which the Kaurava warrior Bhurishrava broke Krishna's another whip. As the battle continued, they suddenly heard the roars of Bhima. Happy to see him, Krishna and Arjuna also roared as the former sounded the Panchajanya conch. They witnessed Bhima battling Karna, who broke Bhima's chariot. So, on Krishna's insistence, Arjuna engaged Karna, taking him away from Bhima. Then, they saw Satyaki defeating Duhshasana, adding to their satisfaction. As Krishna pointed him out to Arjuna, the latter expressed concern, because Satyaki had been appointed to protect Yudhishthira. Satyaki was Arjuna's disciple and had his chariot broken by and weapons lost to Bhurishrava. Krishna repeatedly told Arjuna to protect his disciple, after which the focused Arjuna finally shot an arrow to maim Bhurishrava, who was then encouraged by Krishna to be killed and go to Vishnu's worlds in the afterlife. However, Bhurishrava was now weaponless and Krishna too then discouraged him being killed. However, Satyaki still beheaded him.

Now, on Arjuna's command, Krishna drove the chariot towards Jayadratha. They were now faced by Kripa, who wounded Krishna with seven arrows and then another twenty arrows. Then, Prince Vrishasena of Anga also shot seven arrows at Krishna. Arjuna overcame these warriors and finally reached Jayadratha with Krishna, at whom Jayadratha shot another three arrows. Seeing that it was getting late, Krishna came up with a plan and told it to Arjuna, who agreed to it. Krishna used his deceptive magic to make it appear dark with the sun having set. This caused the Kaurava warriors including Jayadratha to get off their guard. Then, on Krishna's motivation, Arjuna defeated all the protector warriors and beheaded Jayadratha, shooting his head into his father's lap in the forest on Krishna's advice, since whoever would drop Jayadratha's head would also have his head destroyed into pieces as per a boon. Krishna took off the effects of his magic and it turned into day once again. The Pandava warriors victoriously sounded their conches.

Once again, Kripa and Arjuna faced each other. Kripa was seriously injured and taken away from the battlefield, which distressed Arjuna, who cried on the destruction the war was causing. However, he was once again swayed into the excitement of the battle when Karna attacked them. However, Krishna discouraged battle with him because Karna had a weapon gifted by Indra, which would prove destructive against Arjuna. As he had planned with Daruka, Krishna gave off a signal with his conch so the former brought another chariot, on which Satyaki would fight Karna.

Krishna embraced Arjuna and congratulated him on having fulfilled his oath. Arjuna thanked him for his help. Now, Krishna showed him the destructive scenery of the battlefield, sounded the Panchajanya conch and gave Yudhishthira the news. Yudhishthira tearfully embraced Krishna and Arjuna and praised him. Krishna assured Yudhishthira of their victory in the war. However, the Kauravas ragefully continued the war into the night. On Arjuna's command, Krishna took the chariot towards Drona. In the night battle, Ashwatthama destroyed an entire Akshauhini army as Krishna too witnessed. In the middle of the battle, Krishna advised Yudhishthira to stay away from Drona as he wished to capture him.

At another point during the battle, Krishna and Arjuna witnessed the Pandava army getting agitated due to Shalya's valour and advanced towards him. They were engaged by Shakuni and Uluka at one point. Uluka attacked Krishna but was defeated by Arjuna. Later, they saw the army fearful due to Drona's attacks. Krishna and Arjuna motivated their soldiers to fight on. They were further motivated when Bhima appeared on the scene. Then, Krishna and Arjuna went to face Drona and Karna. Arjuna asked what they should do against the two warriors. Krishna discouraged Arjuna from battling Karna once again and stated that Ghatotkacha was the only other capable warrior available against Karna. Hence, Arjuna summoned Ghatotkacha, who greeted them both and asked Krishna what he was required to do. Krishna affectionately told Ghatotkacha to battle and kill Karna.

Krishna then witnessed the Rakshasa Alayudha gaining the upper hand against Bhima. So, Krishna commanded Arjuna to help him while directing others on whom to battle. However, as the battle continued, Krishna decided to send Ghatotkacha to help Bhima before he was done with Karna. The battle continued as Ghatotkacha once again went to face Karna. However, Ghatotkacha was martyred fighting him. Although the others were saddened by this, Krishna happily roared and embraced Arjuna, who expressed surprise at this reaction. Krishna told Arjuna that he could now face Karna as he had exhausted Indra's weapon over Ghatotkacha. Hence, this had proved prudentially beneficial in the war. Krishna disclosed to Arjuna that his plans had been in actions long since the beginning, according to which various demons and formidable enemies such as Jarasandha were killed before and during the war. Krishna disclosed to Satyaki that he had been using his divine powers to keep Karna in delusion so that he never used Indra's weapon against Arjuna.

Yudhishthira also grieved for Ghatotkacha's death in front of Krishna, who motivated him to fight on. The angry Yudhishthira advanced to fight Karna and Krishna followed with Arjuna to ensure his safety. However, Yudhishthira was deterred from fighting by Sage Vyasa and the battle was suspended for the night.

Fifteenth Day

Krishna observed this day that the Kaurava army was divided into two portions. So, with Arjuna's agreement on Krishna's suggestion, they advanced through the middle of the army, putting other enemies including Karna on the left and the portion led by Drona on the right. As battle continued for the day, Krishna noticed that Drona had overwhelmed the Pandava army. So, he spoke to Arjuna and the other Pandavas to let go of the sentiment that Drona was their mentor and fight for victory against him. He further suggested that to be defeated, Drona would have to renunciate his weapons, for which someone would have to tell him that his son Ashwatthama had died, so he would be demotivated from battle. When Bhima told this to Drona, he doubted it could be a lie. As the latter continued to ensue destruction, Krishna asked Yudhishthira to lie for the sake of protecting the lives of his soldiers. Bhima also informed them that an elephant named Ashwatthama had been killed by him. So, he could use his name as a ruse to truthfully convey the lie. The trick worked.

As Krishna and Arjuna saw and praised Satyaki continuing battle against the Kaurava army assisting Drona, they too began attacks on the enemy. Krishna was among the only five people to witness the scene of Drona leaving his body in renunciation and his soul ascending to the heavens. Dhrishtadyumna beheaded Drona's already-renunciated body, an act that was berated. However, Krishna did not reply when Dhrishtadyumna justified this. However, Satyaki began a debate with the latter and by the end, became ready to heatedly kill Dhrishtadyumna. On Krishna's order, Bhima immediately stopped him. When the two still were not deterred, Krishna and Yudhishthira themselves calmed the two warriors down.

The enraged Ashwatthama, on learning how his father had died, shot the extremely destructive Narayanastra, Narayana's celestial weapon, at the Pandava army. With his two arms, Krishna signalled to the entire Pandava army and ordered it to immediately lay down weapons, dismount and join hands so that the weapon would not harm them. However, the excited Bhima did not comply and attempted to counter the Narayanastra. When that failed and the weapon had reached Bhima's chariot, Krishna and Arjuna immediately ran and took the shot for him. Of course, it could not harm the two warriors and they immediately pulled Bhima down. Krishna angrily told the reluctant Bhima that others would be fighting too if the Narayanastra could actually be countered. With no one to be used against, the weapon was calmed by itself.

The battle continued. Ashwatthama wounded Krishna with ten arrows and ragefully overwhelmed the Pandava army, which could not be calmed by Krishna and Arjuna. The latter spoke spiteful words to Ashwatthama, who was further enraged and shot the Agneyastra. Although an entire Akshauhini army was wiped out, Krishna and Arjuna stood unaffected. Ashwatthama was shocked and other Kaurava warriors later went to console him. The battle ended for that day.

Sixteenth Day

As Arjuna efficiently fought the Samshaptakas on the sixteenth day, flowers were showered upon him and Krishna from the heavens and a divine voice announced their praises and called them invincible, following which Ashwatthama attacked Krishna and Arjuna. As Ashwatthama challenged Arjuna, the latter asked Krishna whether he should fight the Samshaptakas or Ashwatthama. In response, Krishna took the decision and drove towards Ashwatthama, whom he challenged to stay still and fight Arjuna. Ashwatthama shot sixty arrows at Krishna. When Arjuna broke his bow, Ashwatthama got another one and shot three hundred arrows at Krishna. They were covered with arrows and Ashwatthama's hundreds of arrows rendered them inactive. The enraged Krishna looked at him as if he would destroy him with his eyes, but then asked Arjuna softly what had happened to his valour and not to treat Ashwatthama softly because he was his mentor's son. Arjuna was filled with new resolve and again came into form, destroying all of Ashwatthama's arrows. As Ashwatthama showered them with another hundreds of arrows, hit their sensitive spots, covered them by arrows once again and shot five arrows at Krishna of serious injury, Krishna told Arjuna to fight cautiously and try to kill Ashwatthama. Arjuna finally defeated Ashwatthama, who went away, while Krishna and Arjuna moved towards the Samshaptakas.

Krishna then heard the screams from the northern part of the Pandava army caused by the destruction ensued by the warrior Dandadhara from Magadha. Krishna turned back the chariot, told Arjuna to kill him before continuing with the destruction of the Samshaptakas and drove towards the skilled warrior. Dandadhara shot sixteen arrows at Krishna. While throwing lances at them, Dandadhara advanced his elephant towards Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna killed the elephant and Dandadhara died too. His brother Danda arrived there on his elephant and shot three sharp lances at Krishna. Arjuna also killed him.

The Samshaptakas engaged Arjuna for a little while then, so Krishna told Arjuna not to play around and quickly be finished with them so that they could quickly reach and battle Karna. Krishna then praised Arjuna's skill as he shot arrows very rapidly and advanced away. Krishna showed Arjuna the destruction that had been caused on the battlefield. Then, he heard noise in the Kaurava army. He went towards it and found the Pandya king fighting valiantly against the Kauravas, at which he expressed surprise. He witnessed the Pandya king fight and die at the hands of Ashwatthama. Krishna pointed out to Arjuna that he could not view the other Pandavas and advanced on Arjuna's request.

At another point in the day, Arjuna was faced by Satyasena of Trigarta, who shot a lance at Krishna that hit his left arm and fell down. This caused the whip and reins to fall from his hands. So, on Arjuna's command, Krishna took another whip and got the chariot's horses near Satyasena, who was then killed by Arjuna.

After venerating Lord Shiva timely, Krishna and Arjuna ensued destruction of the Kaurava army. They faced Karna, who shot twenty arrows at Krishna. As the battle was getting heated with Karna, the sun set and Krishna, with Arjuna, returned to the camp chanting prayers.

Seventeenth Day

As the Samshaptakas once again attacked Arjuna the next day, Susharma shot three arrows on Krishna's right arm. The thousands of Samshaptakas attempted to intercept the chariot and some even held Krishna's both arms who shook them all off, making the warriors fall on to the ground. This enraged Arjuna, who showered the enemies with arrows and hid them from view. He pointed this out to Krishna as a sort of reassurance, after which they both sounded their respective conches.

After having dealt with most of the Samshaptakas, the amused Krishna drove the chariot towards Karna on Arjuna's command. Ashwatthama once again ambushed them, overwhelming them with arrows and rendering them inactive. Just like the previous day, Krishna once again nudged Arjuna to fight properly, after which Arjuna defeated Ashwatthama by destroying his chariot.

Arjuna then noticed that Yudhishthira was nowhere to be found and told Krishna to once take him to his brother so that he could battle without concern. While moving towards Yudhishthira's position, Krishna pointed out the death, destruction and grief that could be witnessed around the battlefield. As Arjuna kept on nudging to reach Yudhishthira, Krishna showed him that only Karna had stood in the Kaurava army while the others had been displaced by the skill shown by Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima. Krishna told Arjuna to save Dhrishtadyumna, who could be killed by Ashwatthama anytime. For the second time in the day, Arjuna defeated Ashwatthama, after which he commanded Krishna to move towards the Samshaptakas so he could fulfil his duty.

Krishna showed Arjuna that Yudhishthira had probably been defeated or even killed due to the skill that was being shown by Duryodhana and Karna, whom he motivated Arjuna to kill while showing him the difficult valour Bhima was displaying. Hence, Arjuna was compelled to destroy the remaining enemies there and continue battle cautiously. However, when they were off guard, Yudhishthira was engaged in a difficult attack by the Kauravas and forced to move to his camp to treat injuries. Meanwhile, Krishna and Arjuna battled Ashwatthama just like they had earlier in the day. Ashwatthama suddenly wounded Krishna with a hundred arrows but was still defeated for the third time in the day by Arjuna, who then pointed out to Krishna the screams of Pandava soldiers and that Karna had used the fierce weapon Bhargavastra. Finding it appropriate for the time, Krishna told Arjuna to first see to the heavily injured Yudhishthira before battling Karna.

When Bhima volunteered to destroy the Samshaptakas, Arjuna allowed Krishna to drive away towards Yudhishthira, to which Krishna complied after praising Bhima. At the camp, they bowed and greeted Yudhishthira. However, Yudhishthira thought that they had come because they had killed Karna and was disappointed when he found out this was not the case. When Yudhishthira reprimanded him, it was too much for the pressured Arjuna, who angrily swung out his sword. Krishna immediately asked what the reason for this was. Arjuna told him that since Yudhishthira had angrily said to hand over the Gandiva bow to Krishna if he was unable to battle properly, he had vowed to kill whoever told him to hand it over to anyone else and was hence ready to kill his eldest brother.

Krishna clearly told Arjuna that he was acting irrationally for some vow he must have childishly made earlier. Krishna clarified to him that dharma was not constant for any true vows and recited to him the story of the hunter Balaka, who killed a blind animal, but still went to heaven as the animal wished to destroy all creatures and was hence evil. He then recited the contrasting story of the sage Kaushika, who had vowed to always speak the truth and hence, truthfully told the location of innocent people to dacoits, who killed them and hence caused the truthful sage to go to hell. Arjuna was deterred from killing Yudhishthira, but still had to fulfil his vow. So, Krishna advised him to simply talk to Yudhishthira disrespectfully once, so that he would philosophically be considered dead due to lack of respect of a mentor-like figure, and then apologise to him.

When Arjuna talked disrespectfully to Yudhishthira once, he was ashamed and once again took out his sword to kill himself out of spite. Krishna told Arjuna that suicide was an even greater sin and advised him to recite his own qualities, which would then render him philosophically dead. After Arjuna's dilemma about dharma was solved, Yudhishthira now realised disappointment and decided to leave as an ascetic. So, Krishna now also assured him that whatever had just happened had occurred for the protection of truth. He asked Yudhishthira to forgive them for this incident and promised him that Karna would be killed that day. Krishna reconciled both brothers, who cried embracing each other to be relieved of the immense pressure on both of them. On both their insistence, Arjuna vowed to kill Karna that day.

With Arjuna ready, Krishna ordered Daruka to prepare his chariot. As they proceeded back towards the battlefield, Krishna noticed Arjuna lost in thought and reminded him of the valour he had shown in the previous days while cautioning him to fight Karna properly and kill him. Krishna described the bravery the previous Kaurava commanders-in-chief had shown and praising Arjuna's might, reminded him of the injustice Karna and Duryodhana had performed, inciting him to now kill Karna too. The excited Arjuna then spoke courageous words and told Krishna to drive fast. Krishna rapidly drove to where Bhima was. After Arjuna had created a river of blood by destroying the Kaurava army, Krishna drove towards Karna on Arjuna's command.

Once again, they were faced by Ashwatthama, who shot three arrows at Krishna. When Arjuna broke his bow, Ashwatthama took another and once again wounded them with arrows. When other enemies attacked too, Arjuna defeated them all and Krishna advanced the chariot, shoving them to the right. As Arjuna continued to destroy the Kaurava army, Krishna decided it was inappropriate to kill it entirely and quickly turned the chariot to place them to his right, moving towards Karna's chariot. During a fierce battle, Karna killed Dhrishtadyumna's son, on which Krishna told Arjuna to quickly kill him. They were met by the elated Bhima, who had just killed Duhshasana and drunk his blood as per his vow. When Nakula was defeated by Vrishasena, Arjuna got Krishna to drive towards him. In the ensuing battle, Vrishasena, who was Karna's son, shot twelve arrows at Krishna, seeing which Arjuna began to fiercely fire arrows too. Once again, nine arrows from Vrishasena hit Krishna and soon, the former was killed at Arjuna's hands.

Behind Vrishasena stood Karna, who attacked Krishna and Arjuna, enraged on witnessing his son's death. Krishna pointed him out to Arjuna and commanded his death. Arjuna expressed confidence that he would kill Karna as Krishna was with him too. Rapidly advancing the chariot on Arjuna's command, Krishna stopped it right in front of Karna. They all sounded their conches. In the excitement, Krishna stared at Shalya, who was Karna's charioteer and couldn't meet Krishna's eyes. Arjuna suddenly asked what Krishna would do if Karna killed him. Krishna confidently answered that Karna could not defeat Arjuna anyway. If that would happen in some alternate world, Krishna would crush both Karna and Shalya in the battlefield. Arjuna laughed in reply.

The five warriors Duryodhana, Kritavarma, Shakuni, Kripa and Karna together fired arrows at Krishna and Arjuna. However, it of course culminated into a direct battle between just Arjuna and Karna. When Krishna saw Karna destroying the arrows Arjuna shot, he told Arjuna that by allowing this, he was exciting the Kaurava army and if his arrows were failing, he should use the Sudarshana discus to behead the enemy. Arjuna summoned divine weapons in response to battle Karna, who shot three arrows at Krishna. As the battle continued to heat up, Karna shot another sixty arrows at Krishna. Later, Karna wounded Krishna with five fiery snake-like arrows, which penetrated Krishna's armour before falling to the ground. At another point in the battle, Karna conjured a snake-mouthed arrow, in which the snake Ashwasena, a survivor of the burning of the Khandava forest, resided. When Karna fired this arrow, Krishna used his foot's pressure to partially sink the wheels of Arjuna's chariot into the earth and seat the horses on their knees, so the arrow hit only Arjuna's crown. Ashwasena once again advanced to attack Arjuna, so Krishna told him to kill the snake and that it was trying to extract revenge for the death of his mother and home, when Arjuna enquired about it. Arjuna then destroyed the snake into pieces with six arrows. Then, Krishna once again lifted the chariot with his arms.

Karna wounded Krishna with another twelve arrows. However, Arjuna severely wounded Karna's chest with iron arrows, rendered him unconscious and stopped the battle out of goodness. Krishna quickly told Arjuna that this opportunity was fortunate and should be used to kill Karna before he again attacked. However, Karna regained consciousness and continued the battle before he could be killed. He fired another six arrows at Krishna. As Arjuna slowly began to gain the upper hand, Karna wounded Krishna's hand with three arrows and began to destroy the arrows Arjuna shot again. Krishna hence told Arjuna to conjure another divine weapon, so he used the Brahmastra. As Karna was overwhelmed by the numerous arrows hence fired, Krishna commanded Arjuna to shoot weapons continuously as they advanced.

Karna's chariot wheel sunk into the earth, so he dismounted to lift it up and told Arjuna to wait as shooting arrows at him now would be against moral standards. Krishna berated Karna for this, saying he was blaming luck instead of his past wrong deeds. Krishna asked Karna where his dharma had gone at earlier conspiracies, the humiliation of Draupadi, the refusal of the Pandavas' right and Abhimanyu's murder. Krishna explicitly told Karna he could not expect to not be killed and use dharma in his favour in this situation. Speechless, Karna continued battle on foot. The enraged Arjuna, on Krishna's inciting, then also fired arrows back at him. Krishna told Arjuna to kill Karna before he mended and mounted back his chariot. Hence, finally, Arjuna killed Karna, in response to which Krishna victoriously sounded his conch. The Kaurava army fled in terror as Krishna and Arjuna sounded their conches, shaking them. Krishna embraced Arjuna and congratulated him, then suggested they should give the news to Yudhishthira.

After cautioning the other Pandava warriors to still mind the other enemies, Krishna and Arjuna went to Yudhishthira's camp and informed him about Karna's demise. Yudhishthira embraced them both as Krishna congratulated him too. Yudhishthira praised Krishna's presence in the battle and taking his right hand in his, thanked him for his divine plans that were resulting in victory. The three returned to the battlefield and Yudhishthira was even more elated to see Karna lying dead himself. Arjuna and Krishna now instilled fear in the remaining Kaurava army. Battle was halted.

Yudhishthira now asked Krishna to do what was necessary when Shalya was appointed the new Kaurava commander-in-chief. Recognising Shalya's great skill as a warrior, Krishna told Yudhishthira to kill Shalya, finding him to be the only one who could match Shalya in battle. Then, Krishna departed for camp.

Eighteenth Day

Krishna and Arjuna were faced by Duryodhana in the battle of the last day of the war, in which he wounded them with several arrows. At another point, many Kaurava warriors led by Ashwatthama attacked them all at once. Krishna was injured by ten arrows from Ashwatthama, but Arjuna fought skilfully against him. Yudhishthira then called the Pandavas, Krishna and Satyaki to inform them of the war strategy he had just come up with to fight Shalya and then having resolved to keep Krishna's word, he successfully did kill him. Now, condemning Duryodhana's actions, Arjuna told Krishna to advance the chariot into the Kauravas' army and went on to massacre the charioteers that came in front of him.

With limited warriors left in the battlefield, Krishna told Arjuna to attack Duryodhana. Arjuna too expressed willingness to finish off the remaining warriors. Krishna advanced the chariot towards Duryodhana's army, while Bhima and Sahadeva accompanied him and Arjuna. The warriors of Trigarta engaged Krishna and Arjuna but were all killed. When Sahadeva went on to slay Shakuni, Krishna happily sounded his conch along with the Pandavas. Krishna and Yudhishthira then permitted Yuyutsu to go to Hastinapura and ensure the safety of those who had fled the battle.

Duryodhana had also fled to an unknown location. Krishna accompanied the Pandavas warriors while searching for him. They found his location to be inside a lake named Dwaipayana, at which Yudhishthira pointed out to Krishna that Duryodhana had used deceptive powers to still the water of the lake to rest inside it. Krishna told Yudhishthira to come up with a creative plan to counter this deception. When Yudhishthira incited him, Duryodhana got out of the lake with a mace in his hand, ready to kill them all. Yudhishthira told Duryodhana to choose any one of the Pandavas to battle and hence decide victory in the war, a deed which Krishna immediately reprimanded, saying this was worse than even Shakuni's gambles since Duryodhana had practised well during the Pandavas' exile and it would be difficult for any single person to face him in direct one-to-one combat. However, Bhima still showed courage and volunteered to battle Duryodhana, assuring victory. Krishna applauded Bhima for this.

Balarama also arrived at the site. Krishna, with the Pandavas, was very happy to see him back from his pilgrimage. They welcomed him and told him to view the battle. Krishna and Arjuna embraced Balarama. Duryodhana haughtily told them to sit down and view his duel with Bhima. The duel was fierce. As both warriors ensued a climactic fight, Arjuna asked Krishna whom he thought to be the better warrior. Krishna honestly replied that Bhima was more powerful while Duryodhana was more practised. He clearly stated that Bhima would have to deceive Duryodhana and break his thighs as he had vowed and that a fair duel would put their side in dilemma. So, Arjuna made a sign in front of Bhima, who understood it and broke Duryodhana's thighs. The victorious Bhima approached his allies and declared that Draupadi had been avenged with all of the Kauravas fallen.

However, Balarama was offended by Bhima's unorthodox move. He attacked Bhima but was held by Krishna before he landed a hit with his plough. Krishna told Balarama that the Pandavas were their family, and hence, he should be happy at their victory. Krishna also stated that Bhima had previously vowed to break Duryodhana's thighs, who had been cursed so by Sage Maitreya too. Balarama called this biased imagination, saying that Bhima had clearly acted against dharma to obtain the wealth of his kingdom. Krishna replied that Duryodhana had always been evil and deceptive. He had unfairly killed their nephew Abhimanyu. Bhima's vow had been popular and Duryodhana should have minded. Krishna said that it was Duryodhana's carelessness that caused his defeat. Still unconvinced, Balarama departed for Dvaraka.

Although this victory should have instilled excitement, Balarama's reaction had completely thrown off their mood. Now, Krishna told Yudhishthira to follow dharma and stop Bhima from insulting Duryodhana further. However, Yudhishthira decided it was better to just let Bhima vent out his anger, to which Krishna reluctantly agreed. The Pandava warriors began to praise Bhima and insult Duryodhana. Krishna stopped them from insulting him further, stating that he had got what he deserved already and that they should now move back to camp. The enraged Duryodhana reprimanded Krishna in his severely injured state, saying they wouldn't have been victorious if they had not used deception themselves, for killing Bhishma, Drona, Bhurishrava, Karna and himself. Krishna said that Duryodhana and his allies' fate was due to their evil path while the Pandavas' side had always followed the truth. Duryodhana expressed happiness that he was at least dying a warrior's glorious death and then flowers were showered on him from the heavens, much to their embarrassment. Krishna said they had done what was necessary to defeat the extremely skilled warriors. After uplifting the mood, they all sounded their conches and left Duryodhana, who died from his injuries.

Back at camp, Krishna told Arjuna to dismount before him. When Krishna dismounted the chariot following Arjuna, it was destroyed and immolated. Krishna told his surprised and questioning allies that the chariot had been hit by various divine weapons throughout the war and was intact only because of his presence. With the war over and Krishna having left it, the chariot was destroyed as it should have been. Krishna embraced Yudhishthira and congratulated him, having successfully completed the request of keeping Arjuna safe. Now, Krishna told the others that they should spend the night out of the camp for their own good. Outside, Yudhishthira told Krishna to once go to Hastinapura and calm Gandhari. On the chariot prepared by Daruka, Krishna went to Hastinapura, where after greeting Dhritarashtra, Vyasa and Gandhari, he consoled the parents of the Kauravas. The weeping Gandhari was angry, but her anger was quelmed by Krishna. Then, Krishna suddenly recalled that the enraged Ashwatthama would now exact revenge in the night. So, taking permission from Vyasa, he returned to the Pandavas with Daruka. At some point then, on Arjuna's request, Krishna educated him about his various epithets such as Narayana and Hari, their etymology and their grandeur. As Arjuna expressed further curiosity, Krishna told him about the beginning stages of the universe and various other tales.

Pyrrhic Aftermath of the War

Ashwatthama's Revenge

Next morning, Krishna and the others found out that most of their remaining allies at the camp were killed by the remaining Kaurava warriors led by Ashwatthama while they were sleeping. Bhima and Nakula departed to find and kill the cruel Ashwatthama. On this, Krishna informed Yudhishthira of Ashwatthama's angry, evil and fickle nature as well as the fact that he wielded the Brahmastra. So, Krishna drove with Arjuna and Yudhishthira to protect Bhima. They all found Ashwatthama sitting alongside other sages. Having found out that Ashwatthama wished to use the Brahmastra against the Pandavas, Krishna immediately told Arjuna to also use the Brahmastra. Sages Narada and Vyasa appeared to stop the destruction the weapons would cause. While Arjuna retracted his, Ashwatthama was unable to do the same and instead shot the Brahmastra towards the wombs of the Pandavas' women. Krishna happily declared that a Brahmin had blessed Uttaraa at Upaplavya that her son would be the one to continue the Kuru dynasty's lineage. So, Ashwatthama angrily responded that he would make his Brahmastra befall Uttaraa's womb. Krishna cursed the petty warrior that while Uttaraa's son would be saved, he, as a coward, sinner and child killer, would wander desolate places of earth for three thousand years without talking to anyone. Krishna cursed Ashwatthama that he would not be able to live with people and smell of pus and blood, hence forced to find shelter at difficult locations. The gem with which the doomed Ashwatthama was born, was then taken by the Pandavas.

Back at camp, they met the grieving Draupadi, whose family had been killed. After consoling Draupadi, Yudhishthira asked Krishna how Ashwatthama was able to kill her valiant sons and brothers in the night. Krishna correctly guessed that Ashwatthama had venerated Lord Shiva. Krishna then narrated a story depicting the grandeur of Lord Shiva, drawing the conclusion that Ashwatthama had no strength, but Shiva's grace that helped him kill the skilful Panchala warriors.

Handling Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

Krishna followed the Pandavas as they went to Dhritarashtra for the funeral rites of all dead warriors. The blind Dhritarashtra, still consumed by grief, wished to kill Bhima, an intention that came to Krishna's knowledge. So, when Dhritarashtra advanced to embrace Bhima, Krishna shoved the latter aside and replaced him with an iron statue, which Dhritarashtra broke with his immense strength. Now regretful of this action, Dhritarashtra was informed by Krishna that he had only broken a statue, not killed Bhima. Krishna told Dhritarashtra that his sons would not come back and so, he should not be saddened wastefully. After the grieving king was freshened, Krishna told him to not be angry for something that was the result of something he himself and his son Duryodhana had caused by ignoring the pleas of others. Now calmed, Dhritarashtra responded that he had been consumed by paternal love, but thanked Krishna for saving Bhima from his wasteful wrath.

Krishna and the Pandavas then approached Gandhari, who in reality was still not over the deaths of her sons completely. When her powerful eyes accidentally viewed Yudhishthira's toes, their nails were turned black. Arjuna hid behind Krishna on this incident, something that calmed down Gandhari's anger. The Pandavas and the women of the dead warriors went to the battlefield with Dhritarashtra and Krishna in the front. With the women weeping near their husbands' bodies, Gandhari too cried while speaking to Krishna, calling this destruction unthinkable, expressing deep grief on the deaths of her sons, grandsons and brothers and especially weeping for the fall of Duryodhana. Gandhari wept in front of Krishna not only for her sons but also for the fallen Pandava warriors, whom she considered family too, expressing concern for Uttaraa. After describing the horrific scenery that disturbed her, Gandhari angrily blamed Krishna for letting this destruction happen. She cursed him that thirty-six years later, his clan would also be internally destroyed just as hers had been. Krishna accepted that this was indeed the inevitable future which Gandhari had just vocally repeated. Krishna further added that this was the result of her son's bad deeds and that her sons had died a warrior's death anyway.

Establishment of Yudhishthira's Political Soundness

Convincing for Acceptance of Royalty

Yudhishthira was generally not happy with their victory in the war due to the mass destruction of their family. Ashamed, he wished to go away to live as an ascetic. When Yudhishthira remained unconvinced by the other Pandavas, Draupadi and sages, Arjuna asked Krishna to solve his grief. Taking Yudhishthira's arm in his hand, Krishna encouraged him to move on from the warrior's deaths of his family and narrated the conversation of Sage Narada and King Srinjaya, including the legend of sixteen kings. This sparked Yudhishthira's interest in the affair, which Narada himself further detailed before him. When Sage Vyasa attempted once again to convince Yudhishthira, Krishna supported him, telling the warrior to serve his subjects who were waiting for him. So, the motivated Yudhishthira got up and finally entered Hastinapura once again. Krishna followed the Pandavas on his own chariot with Satyaki.

The demon Charvaka, a disguised ally of Duryodhana, attempted to discourage Yudhishthira in public inside the city, but was destroyed by its resident Brahmins. The all-knowing Krishna assured Yudhishthira that the demon had misused his power granted by Lord Brahma, who had himself decided that the evil Charvaka would be killed by Brahmins through his alliance with Duryodhana. As Yudhishthira sat on the royal throne, Krishna and Satyaki too seated themselves facing him. With Krishna's permission, Yudhishthira's coronation began. He libated Yudhishthira with water from the Panchajanya conch. After the ceremony, Yudhishthira lauded Krishna as God who had helped him obtain his kingdom. After Yudhishthira praised him with a hundred names, Krishna happily congratulated Yudhishthira once again. Krishna and Satyaki then stayed the night in Arjuna's palace.

Bhishma's Counsel

After performing his immediate duties as king, Yudhishthira once again approached Krishna for gratitude, but he was meditating, which surprised Yudhishthira, who enquired what was the purpose behind this. Krishna told Yudhishthira that Bhishma, lying on his bed of arrows, was cogitating on him, so he too was attending to him in meditation. Krishna said that with Bhishma's death, a store of knowledge would be lost. So, he advised Yudhishthira to timely enquire Bhishma about royal duty. Yudhishthira tearfully told Krishna that he too should come with him because Bhishma deserved to once live see him before death. So, Krishna told Satyaki to ready his chariot. With the Pandavas and other important personnel, Krishna went to mee Bhishma at Kurukshetra.

On the way, Krishna pointed out some lakes that had been connected to Parashurama. When Yudhishthira curiously enquired, Krishna narrated the tale of Parashurama. They then reached the site where Bhishma lied on his bed of arrows. After greeting the sages that surrounded him, they met Bhishma. Krishna praised Bhishma, stating his qualities, and Bhishma too prayed to Krishna, who told him he had appeared in front of him in response to his devotion. Krishna announced that Bhishma had limited time to live and hence, he should pass on his knowledge to the doubtful Yudhishthira. Bhishma responded that Krishna himself was very knowledgeable, and imparting knowledge in his presence would be inappropriate. Additionaly, the arrows did cause Bhishma great physical pain, which had also numbed his voice and wisdom. Krishna granted Bhishma the boon that he would no longer experience faintness, stupor, inflammation, illness, hunger and thirst while blossoming with knowledge and wisdom. After being venerated by the sages present, flowers were divinely showered upon Krishna. However, as the day came to an end, Krishna and the others departed to Hastinapura, where they rested and returned to Bhishma the next morning.

Krishna woke up, bathed, conducted Vedic veneration and donated one thousand cows each to one thousand Brahmins. Then, he sent Satyaki to find out whether Yudhishthira was ready to visit Bhishma. Just Krishna, Satyaki and the Pandavas departed on two chariots to visit Bhishma. They greeted the sages and Bhishma, with whom Krishna began the conversation on the nervous Yudhishthira's request. Krishna asked how Bhishma felt now, getting an optimistic response. Krishna then asked Bhishma to preach about dharma as Yudhishthira would enquire. However, Krishna also told Bhishma that Yudhishthira was embarrassed and afraid of a curse. That was when Bhishma comfortingly assured Yudhishthira, who then began his questions on a king's duty. By the time Bhishma described the resources for the defence of a kingdom, the day had passed. After walking around him in honour, Krishna and the others departed for Hastinapura. Krishna and the others then heard Bhishma's lessons to Yudhishthira over the next day, in which Bhishma expressed Krishna and Lord Vishnu's grandeur multiple times.

Assisting Bhishma

Krishna was asked by Bhishma to share his experience with Lord Shiva's veneration. So, Krishna narrated to Yudhishthira all of his experience from his penance with Sage Upamanyu for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, praising Shiva's grandeur. Yudhishthira later also enquired what was the result of serving Brahmins, on which Krishna, on Bhishma's insistence, narrated the greater same doubt his son Pradyumna had experienced and his own experience with Sage Durvasa. When Yudhishthira asked, Krishna also personally explained him the grandeur of Lord Shiva as he had learnt. After all of Yudhishthira's doubts were solved by Bhishma, they all returned back to Hastinapura.

Bhishma's Death

About fifty days later, when the sun began its apparent movement to the north, Krishna and the others returned to Bhishma as he had instructed. Bhishma praised Krishna and asked him for allowance to let go of the body. Krishna permitted Bhishma, telling him to ascend to the realm of the Vasus (elemental deities). Krishna and the others then witnessed Bhishma's body gradually exiting the bed of arrows and then dying as his soul ascended.

For Bhishma's funeral rites, they all bid a last farewell by pouring a handful of water at River Ganga, who was Bhishma's mother. Goddess Ganga appeared and expressed grief over her son's death, so Krishna consoled her, saying that Bhishma was now back as one of the Vasus and even though it was Arjuna who had taken him down, in the end, it was Bhishma who decided the time of his own death. Ganga descended back into her waters.

Yudhishthira was saddened by Bhishma's death and after this rite, fell down to the ground, but Krishna made Bhima hold him and asked him to not be so shaken. After Dhritarashtra consoled him, Krishna softly instructed Yudhishthira to move on and continue his duty as a king. However, the latter remained still grieved, deflected from the wish to rule, but was then persuaded by Sage Vyasa, following whom Krishna explained to Yudhishthira that his biggest enemy was his own self-doubt. Krishna narrated that after Indra chased away Vritrasura from the elements, the demon was absorbed into Indra's own body, but upon being brought back to consciousness by Sage Vasishtha, Indra killed Vritrasura even though the latter was situated in his own body. Krishna instructed Yudhishthira to conquer his mind, leave excess attachment and place his desires in dharma by performing yajnas such as the Ashvamedha. Ultimately, this calmed Yudhishthira's mind, who reprised his role as the king of the Kuru kingdom. The sages who had been accompanying them throughout Bhishma's rites were then bid farewell too.

Reciting the Anugita

With Yudhishthira's rule stabilised, Krishna and Arjuna departed to Indraprastha, where they spent quality time. Krishna calmed Arjuna's grief for the Kurukshetra War's casualties. One day, Arjuna told Krishna that after all this time, he had forgotten the contents of the Bhagavadgita and wished to hear it again. Embracing him, Krishna told Arjuna that forgetting the Bhagavadgita was an indication of lack of faith and wisdom and that reciting it once again was a momentary virtue which he was unable to replicate. So, to cover the same principles once again, Krishna recited the Anugita to Arjuna, beginning by retelling the conversation he had had with the enlightened, emancipated Brahmin.

Within the Anugita, Krishna followed by reciting the sub-Brahmanagita, a conversation between another Brahmin and his wife, featuring the value of attainment of knowledge, carrying out of life processes, voice, the senses, internal energies, the bases of all actions, all-knowing ones, enlightenment, destruction of evils and renunciation of overindulgence. On hearing the Brahmanagita, Arjuna asked who this Brahmin and his wife were. Krishna revealed to Arjuna that the preaching Brahmin may be considered Krishna's mind and the enquiring Brahmani (the Brahmin's wife) may be considered Krishna's wisdom.

Continuing the discussion of salvation, Krishna recited the knowledge conveyed by Lord Brahma to sages, including that of the properties of the world, the natural aspects of all substances, the five elements, the senses, the various attributes of existence, the chiefs among all creatures, the manifestations of dharma, the limited lifespan of everything but knowledge, stages of life, a method of emancipation, the structure of the soul contrasted with that of the supreme self and the impact of austerity, binding all of this knowledge into a conversation between a teacher and his student. When asked by Arjuna who these two were, the reply was to consider the teacher as Krishna himself and the student as his mind. Hence, Krishna retold the Bhagavadgita in an anecdotal form, the Anugita.

Meeting Uttanka

After reciting the Anugita, Krishna expressed his wish before Arjuna to return to Dvaraka for the first time after the war, to which the latter reluctantly agreed. So, they both first departed for Hastinapura on a chariot readied by Daruka and other servants. On the way, Arjuna expressed his gratitude for his aid in victory in the Kurukshetra War. After meeting everyone there, staying a night with Arjuna and taking permission from King Yudhishthira, Krishna departed for Dvaraka with Subhadra, Daruka and Satyaki, seen away by the Pandavas, especially Arjuna, who embraced him a number of times. On the way came the desert, where Krishna stopped to meet Sage Uttanka, who expected that Krishna would have negotiated peace between the two rival factions of the Kuru kingdom.

When Krishna revealed that attempts for peace had failed and instead, a war had caused only the Pandavas to survive, the enraged Uttanka threatened Krishna with a curse for not having averted the war despite possessing appropriate power. Krishna calmed him down, explaining the reasons he found the demise of the Kauravas right. With Uttanka's curse averted, he asked Krishna to show his Vishvarupa form. In his divine form, Krishna told the elated Uttanka to ask for a boon, which he granted to be that even in the desert, if he thought about Krishna, he would obtain the otherwise uncommon water. Back in mortal form, Krishna continued towards Dvaraka.

Later one day, Uttanka felt thirsty and thought of Lord Krishna. In heavenly form, Krishna asked Indra to provide Uttanka with amrita (nectar of immortality) in the form of water. Indra replied that a human could not be immortal, but Krishna insisted on it. So, Indra appeared to Uttanka in the form of a Chandala (a caste considered untouchable at the time), but his water was rejected by the latter. Uttanka felt scammed. So, Krishna, in heavenly form, appeared in front of him and revealed what had just happened, telling Uttanka he was wrong to reject amrita-water from Indra for being in the form of the Chandala. Anyway, Krishna decided that whenever Uttanka would feel thirsty, clouds would appear in the sky to rain upon the desert.

First Return to Dvaraka after the Kurukshetra War

When Krishna and his co-travellers reached Dvaraka, a festival was being celebrated at the Raivataka hill which they all joined. Moving from there, they went to their respective places. Krishna was welcomed by the Yadavas to his palace. Meeting everyone, Krishna was embraced by his parents. After washing his hands and feet and then resting, Vasudeva asked Krishna about the details of the war. Surrounded by all of the Vrishni clan, Krishna narrated the chief happenings of the war while deliberately not mentioning the death of Abhimanyu, Vasudeva's grandson. However, the saddened Subhadra told Krishna to describe her son Abhimanyu's death too. This caused both Subhadra and Vasudeva to fall into a swoon. Krishna had to sadly tell about Abhimanyu's death in brief too before consoling Vasudeva. The Yadavas led by Vasudeva then conducted reverence rites for Abhimanyu. Krishna fed sixty lakh Brahmins and donated clothes and excess of wealth to them.

Saving Parikshit

On recalling that the Pandavas were about to perform the Ashvamedha yajna, Krishna returned to Hastinapura with the entire Vrishni clan. Served by Vidura and Yuyutsu, Krishna stayed there. During the stay, Abhimanyu and Uttaraa's son was born, but he was stillborn due to Ashwatthama's Brahmastra. The distressed Krishna rushed to the harem with Satyaki. He was met there by the hurrying Kunti, who asked him to give the baby life so that their family and dynasty would be saved. Krishna consoled Kunti, who was lying down, and seated her. Subhadra cried in front of Krishna to save her grandson. Krishna immediately agreed and entered the decorated birthing chamber.

Uttaraa begged Krishna to revive her son. On seeing Uttaraa crying, Krishna cleaned away the effects of the Brahmastra. He declared that with the power of truth and dharma, her son shall relive. This turned the baby conscious and he began moving his limbs. On Krishna's command, the women of the harem had Brahmins chant hymns of protection for the baby. As Uttaraa carried the baby to Krishna, he gifted him many gems. Krishna named the child, declaring that since he had been born with the Kuru dynasty in the state of dying out ('parikshina' in Sanskrit), the boy's name shall be 'Parikshit'.

A month later, Krishna and the other Vrishnis welcomed the Pandavas in Hastinapura who had been gone meanwhile to find treasure that would ensure the kingdom's economic stability. Krishna was venerated by the Pandavas when they heard how he had saved Parikshit.

Pandavas' Ashvamedha Yajna

A few days after the Pandavas' return, Yudhishthira asked Krishna in gratitude to initiate their Ashvamedha yajna. Krishna permitted Yudhishthira to perform it and accepted whatever duty he would be assigned. Some time later, Krishna was told by an informer from Dvaraka that Arjuna had grown weak due to the repeated battles he was facing during the progress of the ritual, but was close to returning. The informer conveyed Arjuna's message that told Yudhishthira to show hospitality to all the kings that would be joining the yajna while avoiding any incident such as what had happened in the Rajasuya yajna. Arjuna also sent the message that his son, Babhruvahana, King of Manipura, would also be coming and should especially get a display of hospitality. Krishna and his Vrishni companions including Balarama approached Yudhishthira. While conversing with him, Krishna revealed this information.

Yudhishthira posed the question why out of all the Pandavas, it was Arjuna who had to face the most struggle when no error could be seen on him. Krishna thought about it and replied that Arjuna's calf muscle was thicker than average, which probably made his way more difficult. While Yudhishthira seriously agreed, this remark got Draupadi to squint at Krishna with some envy, which did not bother him since Draupadi considered him equal to Arjuna. Krishna and others welcomed Arjuna when he returned to the site of the yajna. Arjuna embraced him.

Krishna was met by Babhruvahana, whom he gifted a chariot. On the third day from then, following rituals of the Ashvamedha yajna began. Out of his great nature and goodwill, Yudhishthira decided to donate all of the land procured by battle to the Brahmins. Sage Vyasa, supported by Krishna, gave so much land back to the able king Yudhishthira.

After the yajna, Yudhishthira asked Krishna about Vaishnava dharma (the dharma endorsed by Lord Vishnu and by extension, Lord Krishna). Krishna described the importance of dharma, professional duties, methods for the expansion of dharma and reduction of sins, charity, Vedic mantras and their chanter Brahmins, hospitality, yajnas and rituals, among other topics. Yudhishthira was impressed and began praising Krishna, but the latter called this unfair and asked for more of Yudhishthira's queries. After describing more traditions and rituals, Krishna bid farewell to the Pandavas and the sages present and returned to Dvaraka with his chariot driven by Daruka. The Pandavas did not want to let Krishna go and accompanied him for three yojanas, after which Krishna embraced them before parting ways.

Rukmi's Death

Krishna and the Yadavas went to Vidarbha, where Aniruddha was married to Rukmi's granddaughter Rukmavati. After the wedding, Krishna was approached by Balarama in his camp who informed him that he had killed Rukmi after the latter had attempted to cheat in a game of dice against him. This saddened Krishna, who silently cried, having had Rukmi as his brother-in-law for years now. He also comforted the weeping Rukmini on this incident. They were gifted a large amount of wealth, after which they returned to Dvaraka.

End of the Syamantaka Gem Affair

After so much time, sixty years passed since Satrajit's death. Suddenly, Akrura, realising some fear, left Dvaraka with his family. Krishna wished to stop him but decided not to for fear of a civil war. It was observed that after this, it stopped raining in Dvaraka. The Yadavas, considering Akrura auspicious, convinced him to return. Akrura's return caused rain to recommence in the city. To ensure friendly relations, Akrura had his sister married to Krishna. This was obviously suspicious. Krishna meditated and found out that all of this had happened because the divine Syamantaka gem had been with Akrura, who was the actual mastermind of Satrajit's death while Shatadhanva had only been his accomplice.

Due to having conducted so many yajnas during the sixty years, now also being Krishna's brother-in-law and their relations having been good, Akrura could not be punished. Hence, one day in a royal assembly, Krishna openly told Akrura to return the Syamantaka gem. Akrura did not hesitate after so much time had passed and returned the gem to Krishna, who was pleased with this action and gave it back to Akrura, who could now don it openly without having to hide it.

Yadava Fratricide and Death

Thirty-six years after the Kurukshetra War, the sages Vishvamitra, Kanva and Narada visited Krishna and informed him that a group of mischievous Yadavas, including his half-brother Sarana and son Samba had played a disgraceful trick on them, in response to which the sages had cursed that the Yadava clan to be wiped out by civil war while Krishna and Balarama would meet their separate demises. Krishna accepted this to be inevitable fate. Still, there was at least an attempt to stop this from happening as Krishna, Balarama and other figures of authority announced that no alcohol would be prepared in Dvaraka from the following day.

Krishna and Balarama were the only ones spared from the misdeeds that began to spread among the Yadavas. Krishna noticed several bad omens and declared that the situation was similar to what was observed in the Kurukshetra War, finding their demise near as per Gandhari's curse. Krishna ordered Yadavas to move for a pilgrimage. Even Uddhava was allowed by Krishna to meet his oncoming timely death. At the Prabhasa pilgrimage site, Krishna witnessed the insolent Yadavas drinking and a fight breaking out between Satyaki and Kritavarma, whose words did offend Krishna. Satyaki then reminded that Kritavarma was involved in killing Satyabhama's father, which led to her bursting into tears and rushing to Krishna's lap.

The civil war began with Satyaki beheading Kritavarma. Krishna tried to stop him when he continued to fight others, but remained unwilling to stop impending death. When he saw both Satyaki and Pradyumna killed, Krishna joined the fray, picking up coastal grass, which turned into an iron flail in his hand as per the details of the sages' curse. All foolish warriors that came in front of Krishna were slain with it. As the fight continued, Krishna's momentary rage was fueled when Samba, Charudeshna, Aniruddha and Gada were also killed. With his bow, discus and mace, Krishna killed the remaining disgraced Yadavas. With the destruction completed, Babhru and Daruka asked Krishna to join them and find Balarama.

After they found Balarama meditating under a tree, Krishna ordered Daruka to inform Arjuna in Hastinapura about the destruction of the Yadavas. Krishna also ordered Babhru to go to Dvaraka to ensure the safety of the women, but the latter was drunk and died in front of Krishna from a rogue flail. So, Krishna told Balarama to wait and went to Vasudeva, whom he told to wait for Arjuna, assigned Babhru's duty and bid goodbye one last time. After assuring the panicking women that Arjuna was coming to rescue them, Krishna returned to Balarama, whom he then saw renunciate his body, with a snake coming out of his mouth and reuniting with other snakes.

Thinking about everything leading up to this, Krishna decided it was time to leave his mortal form and return to Vishnu's realm. In the forest, he lied down, suppressing all of his senses. From afar, a hunter named Jara thought he was a deer and hit him with an arrow on the sole of his foot, his only weak point. The hunter was regretful, but Krishna reassured him that he had committed no crime. Krishna then ascended to his realm, welcomed by all deities, with his time completed on the earth.