*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 58-59.*
Sri Krishna went to see the Pandava brothers at Hastinapura. They gave
him a most devoted reception. One day Krishna and Arjuna went on a
hunting excursion to the side of the Yamuna.
They saw there a most beautiful girl. Arjuna asked who she was. The girl
replied: -- "I am daughter of the Sun-god. Desiring Vishnu to be my
husband, I have performed great Tapas. I shall have no other husband.
Let that friend of the friendless be pleased with me. My name is
KALINDI. I am to reside in the waters of the Yamuna in the abode built
by my father till I see Achyuta." Krishna placed the girl on his chariot
and took her to Yudisthira.
It was at this time that Krishna got a town built by Visvakarman at the
request of Arjuna and the Khandava forest was burnt by the Fire-god.
The rains over, Krishna went to Dvaraka and there duly married Kalindi.
Vinda and Anuvinda, two princes of Avanti, were followers of Duryodhana.
Their sister MITRA VINDA wanted to marry Krishna but they dissuaded her.
So Krishna carried away the girl by force and married her. She was the
daughter of his father's sister Rajadhi-devi.
In Ko-sala, there was a virtuous prince named Nagnajit. He had a
daughter named SATYA, also called NAGNAJITI after her father. No one
could marry her who had not overcome seven fierce bulls. Krishna went to
Kosala with a large retinue and he was received well by the prince. The
girl prayed to the Fire-god to have Krishna as her bridegroom. Krishna
overcame the bulls and married the girl.
Krishna then married BHADRA of Kekaya, the daughter of her aunt
(father's sister) Sruta-kirti. He also carried away by force LAKSHANA,
the daughter of the king of Madra.
Naraka, son of the Earth, deprived Aditi, mother of Indra, of her
ear-rings, Varuna of his umbrella and Indra of his seat at Mani Parvat
(Mountain of jewels). Indra complained to Krishna. He went with his wife
Satyabhama to Prakjyotisha, the town of Naraka. That town was well
fortified and it was protected by the Daitya Mura and his meshes.
Krishna forced his passage through all obstacles and had a fight with
Mura whom he slew with his Chakra. The seven sons of Mura, -- Tamra,
Antariksha, Sravana, Vibhavasu, Vatu, Nabhasvat and Varuna, -- under the
lead of one Pithha also attacked Krishna, but they were all killed.
Naraka then himself fought with Krishna and was killed by him. The
Goddess Earth then approached Krishna and, after adoring him, said: --
"This Bhagadatta, son of Naraka, takes Thy shelter. Please pass Thy hand
round his head."
Krishna gave assurances of safety and he then entered the house of
Naraka. Naraka had carried away 16 THOUSAND GIRLS by force. Krishna sent
away these girls and much treasure to Dvaraka. He then went with
Satyabhama to the place of Indra and there restored the ear-rings to
Aditi. At the request of his wife, Krishna uprooted the Parijata tree
and placed it on the back of Garuda. The Devas resisted, but Krishna
defeated them all. The Parijata tree was planted in the quarters of
Satyabhama and it spread its fragrance all round. Krishna married the 16
thousand girls at one and the same moment by assuming as many forms.