son (Kansa), seated in court in the midst of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and then gave unto Ugrasena the kingdom.  It was Krishna who fought with king Salya, the lord of Saubha, stationed in the skies, fearless in consequence of his powers of illusion; and it was he, who, at the gate of Subha caught with his hands the fierce Sataghni (hurled by Saubha’s lord).  What mortal is able to bear his might?  The Asuras had a city named Pragjyotisha, which was formidable, inaccessible and unbearable.  It was there that the mighty Naraka, the son of the Earth, kept the jewelled ear-rings of Aditi, having brought them by force.  The very gods, who, fearless of death, assembled together with Sakra at their head were incapable of conquering him.  Beholding Kesava’s prowess and might, and weapon that is irresistible, and knowing also the object of his birth, the gods employed him for the destruction of those Asuras.  Vasudeva, too, endued with all the divine attributes that ensure success, agreed to undertake that exceedingly difficult task.  In the city of Nirmochana that hero slew six thousand Asuras, and cutting into pieces innumerable keen-edged shafts, he slew Mura and hosts of Rakshasas, and then entered that city.  It was there, that an encounter took place between the mighty’ Naraka and Vishnu of immeasurable strength.  Slain by Krishna, Naraka lay lifeless there, like a Karnikara tree uprooted by the wind.  Having slain the Earth’s son, Naraka, and also Mura, and having recovered those jewelled ear-rings, the learned Krishna of unparalleled prowess came back, adorned with beauty and undying fame.  Having witnessed his terrible feats in that battle, the gods then and there blessed him saying, ’Fatigue will never be thine in fights, neither the firmament nor the waters shall stop thy course, nor shall weapons penetrate thy body.’  And Krishna, by all this, regarded himself amply rewarded.  Immeasurable, and possessed of great might, in Vasudeva ever exist all the virtues.  And yet the son of Dhritarashtra seeketh to vanquish that unbearable Vishnu of infinite energy, for that wretch often thinks of imprisoning him.  Krishna, however, beareth all this for our sake only.  That wretch seeketh to create a sudden disunion between Krishna and myself.  How far, however, he is capable of taking away the affection of Krishna from the Pandavas, he will see on the field of battle.  Having bowed down unto Santanu’s son, and also Drona with his son, and the unrivalled son of Saradwat, I shall fight for regaining our kingdom.  The God of justice himself, I am sure, will bring destruction on that sinful man who will fight with the Pandavas.  Deceitfully defeated at dice by those wretches, ourselves, of royal birth, had to pass twelve years in great distress in the forest and one long year in a state of concealment.  When those Pandavas are still alive, how shall the sons of Dhritarashtra rejoice, possessing rank and affluence?  If they vanquish us in fight, aided by the very gods headed by Indra, the then practice