After three years had passed in the life of the virtuous Balakhānin, King Vatsarāja set out for the land of Gurjara, bringing with him his daughter Madālasā. On that very day, they arrived at their destination. But as King Vatsarāja reached Gurjara, Jambuka, surrounded by his own formidable forces, laid siege to the entire city ruled by King Parimala. A fierce and terrible battle ensued, involving seven hundred thousand Māhiṣmatas. By the boon of Śiva, defeat befell the brothers who stood against Jambuka. In the course of the conflict, Jambuka slew the courtesan Lakṣārati and her elephant. Having seized the city, he reduced it to ashes before returning home, his heart filled with triumph. He took with him the jewels from the conquered fortresses and departed joyfully. Meanwhile, the goddess beloved by the gods conceived within her womb the seventh portion of Kṛṣṇa. When she reached the field of Kalpa, she cast this divine portion into the waters of the Kālindī river. There, a man named Sāmanta found the child and took him to the house of his father-in-law. On the auspicious eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhādra, at the moment when the Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatra stars were conjoined, the child was born. He had a dark, radiant body, eyes like lotuses, and the brilliance of an indranīla gem. The mother was astonished at the wondrous sight, marveling at the divine form that shone like the sun itself. She wondered what miracle had occurred, for it was as if a form of the gods had arisen before her. From the heavens, a voice proclaimed that a portion of Krishna had been born upon the earth, bringing joy to all. Hearing these words from the sky, those present were filled with supreme delight. The child, dark-complexioned and beautiful, bore all the marks of auspiciousness. The entire city rejoiced at his birth. On that same occasion, Brāhmī gave birth to a son as well—a portion of the divine attendants, endowed with great strength. The brāhmaṇas soon arrived and performed the sacred birth rites for the children. As time passed, the children grew, bringing auspiciousness to all the worlds. When the Krishna-portion reached his third year, he became stronger still. He played with his brothers in the sandalwood forest, delighting in the company of the divine horse Ashvini and the deer that roamed near Uccaiḥśravas. A year later, another auspicious son was born—a dove, radiant in form. In time, a brāhmaṇa named Shivaśarman came into the world, skilled in all branches of knowledge. When the Krishna-portion reached his eighth year, the naming and other rites were performed according to tradition. Sūta continued: When Krishna’s portion attained his ninth year, his strength and prowess grew even greater. He became foremost in the knowledge of dharmaśāstra. Emboldened, he sent forth his own army to the great city, intent on conquest. His messengers came before King Parimala and said, “Listen, O descendant of the lunar dynasty. One-sixth of the revenue is taken as tax and given to our king. But from today onward, if anyone pays tax to that king, it will no longer be accepted. Those kings who have joined the side of Jayachandra do so only out of fear.” Upon hearing this, King Parimala approached the great-souled ruler, bearing wealth amounting to one million. Together they went forth, and a hundred thousand heroes gathered at Kanyakubja. There, King Prithviraja, the illustrious monarch, sent word that he desired tribute from them.