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 Satyabhâma to Prâkjyotisha, 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, — Tâmra, Antariksha, Sravana, Vibhâvasu, 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 Dvârakâ. He then went with Satyabhâma to the place of Indra and there restored the ear-rings to Aditi. At the request of his wife, Krishna uprooted the Pârijâta tree and placed it on the back of Garuda. The Devas resisted, but Krishna defeated them all. The Pârijâta tree was planted in the quarters of Satyabhâma and it spread its fragrance all round. Krishna married the 16 thousand girls at one and the same moment by assuming as many forms. KRISHNA AND RUKMINI. *SKANDHA X. CHAP. 60.* Krishna and Rukmini were once sitting together, when, turning to his wife with a smile, Krishna spoke the following words: "Princess, thou wert coveted by great and powerful kings. Thy brother and thy own father offered thee to Sisupâla and others. How is it then thou didst accept me who am not thy equal? See how we have taken shelter in the sea being afraid of the kings. Having powerful enemies, we can hardly be said to occupy our kingly seats. O thou with beautiful eyebrows, woe to those women who follow such men as have unknown and uncommon ways of their own. Poor as we are, wealthy people hardly seek us. It is meet that they should marry or make friendship with each other, who are equals in wealth, birth, power and beauty. It is through ignorance and shortsightedness that thou hast married one who is void of all Gunas (good qualities) and who is praised only by Bhikshus (beggars). Therefore do thou seek some Kshatriya king who will be a match for thee. Sisupâla, Sâlva, Jarâsandha, Danta Vakra and other kings and even thy own brother Rukmin, blindfolded by pride, shewed hostility to me. For the repression of their pride, I the punisher of evil men brought thee here. But we are indifferent to the body and the house, void of all desires, fixed in self, all full, the light within, without actions."