What mortal could withstand his power? The Asuras had a city, Pragjyotisha, that was fearsome, unassailable, and unbearable. It was there that the mighty Naraka, son of the Earth, kept the jewel-adorned earrings of Aditi, having carried them off by force. Even the gods themselves, who, undaunted by death, had gathered together with Shakra at their head, were unable to defeat him. Seeing Keshava's valor and power, his irresistible weapons, and knowing the purpose of his birth, the gods called upon him to destroy these Asuras. Vasudeva too, endowed with all the divine qualities that ensure success, agreed to take upon himself this exceedingly difficult task. In the city of Nimochana this hero slew six thousand Asuras and, cutting to pieces countless sharp-edged arrows, slew Mura and a host of Rakshasas, then entered that city. It was there that the meeting took place between the mighty Naraka and Vishnu of immeasurable power. Slain by Krishna, Naraka lay lifeless, like a Karnikara tree uprooted by the wind. Having slain the son of the Earth, Naraka, as well as Mura, and having recovered those jewel-adorned earrings, the wise Krishna, possessed of unrivaled skill, returned, adorned with beauty and immortal glory. Bearing witness to his terrible feats in that battle, the gods at once blessed him, saying: "Never shall you know weariness in battle; neither the vault of heaven nor the waters shall bar your path, and no weapon shall pierce your body." And Krishna, because of all this, considered himself fully rewarded. Immeasurable and possessed of immense power, all virtues ever abide in Vasudeva. And yet the son of Dhritarashtra seeks to defeat this unassailable Vishnu, possessed of boundless energy, for this wretch often thinks of imprisoning him. Yet Krishna endures all this only for our sake. This wretch tries to bring about a sudden rupture between me and Krishna. But how far he is able to steal Krishna's love from the Pandavas, he shall see on the field of battle. Having bowed to the son of Shantanu, and also to Drona with his son, and to the unsurpassed son of Sharadvata, I will fight to reclaim our kingdom. I am certain that the God of justice himself will bring ruin upon that sinful man who fights against the Pandavas. We, of royal lineage, deceitfully defeated at dice, had to spend twelve years in great suffering in the forest and one long year in a state of concealment.