After some days, Kṛṣṇa sent Balarāma and others to Dvārakā. Desiring to have fun in the forest with Arjuna, he was wandering on the bank of the Yamunā. When Agni (the mouth of the devatās) begged for food, Kṛṣṇa made the Khāṇḍava forest, inhabited by ferocious Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, snakes, tigers, lions, bears and deer, into Agni’s food. On another day he took away the daughter of the sun. At that time we met him for getting service.
Kṛṣṇa went into a forest with Arjuna and entered a dense, pleasurable area having trees like umbrellas, giving tempting fruits and flowers, filled with many birds, far from the water.
He entered a hermitage to rest for a short period. He looked in all directions and with astonishment, smiles, regret and compassion, experienced the cries of parrots and śārika birds to be the lamentation of the gopīs having attachment to him.
O prince of Vraja! O sapphire jewel! O touchstone of Vraja! O moon of Vṛndāvana! O dear lover of the Vraja gopīs! O giver of joy to the three worlds by dancing on the Yamunā shore! O beloved! When will you see those young girls?
The voice meant to say mat tirā (my bank) but because of agitation said tat-tīra.
Everyone said “What happened then?”
The messengers said: On the order of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna searched everywhere and saw a dark young woman of splendid beauty, in the distance. Desiring a special husband, she was performing austerities, worship and offering respects to her deity.
Seeing her with astonishment, Arjuna informed Kṛṣṇa. Desiring her, in order to enter that nearby place, Kṛṣṇa sent Arjuna. By the radiance of his smile he made black Arjuna turn white. Gently approaching her, Arjuna lowered his head and asked “Who are you? Why are you performing difficult austerities?”
Embarrassed and disturbed on seeing someone other than Kṛṣṇa near her in a lonely forest, suddenly she introduced herself.
“O brother! I am the daughter of the sun god, and I am named Yamunā. I am doing austerities. I live in the water in a dwelling made by my father. I am constantly vowing that the person who satisfies the universe and plays in Vṛndāvana will be my husband.”
Everyone asked the messengers, “Why did she go to another place and perform austerities for attaining her desire?”
The messengers said, “She had ascertained that he would be in that forest with his close friend Arjuna.”
Nanda, pining for Vṛndāvana, sighed and said, “Then what happened?”
The messengers said: With tears in his eyes, and choked voice Arjuna quickly went to Kṛṣṇa and told what she had said. “I have great attraction for the Yamunā and for her black color. She should flow in the middle of Vṛndāvana.” With this reasoning, he approached her on an island. Her eyes were astonished by his radiance and constantly followed him because of his variegated beauty. She glanced at him and immediately fainted. At that place the two, spreading their dark complexions, established their bonds of prema.
When tears flowed from one, perspiration flowed from the other. When one became stunned, the other regained consciousness. When this happened, Arjuna assisted Kṛṣṇa and after some time brought him out of that astonishing condition.
His thirst awakened by anurāga, Kṛṣṇa put her on his chariot in that condition and recovered after a long time. He sent her to Kuntī secretly by Arjuna, and the women of the palace took her down from the chariot.
Hearing from Arjuna, Kuntī looked at her with curiosity. Determining who she was, astonished with unblinking eyes, filled with respect and affection, she placed her among the best of women.
Madhukaṇṭha said: Giving them cloth and ornaments, Kṛṣṇa sent off two messengers. Nanda heard the news from two other messengers:
O Nanda! Your son built Yudhiṣṭhira’s city with Viśvakarmā’s help. Previously he gave the Khāṇḍava forest of Indra to Agni. On offering the forest, a huge blaze arose. Saving Mayadānava from the fire, Mayadānava built the assembly hall. Giving the hall to the Pāṇḍavas, he sent Yamunā to Dvārakā.
In building the city and hall, Indra became the object of joking. O Indra! Previously full of cuckoos and other birds, the Khāṇḍava forest now remains full of embers. Do not have a crooked mind.
In the assembly, Nanda said with a smile “No one can compare with the daughter of the sun, most fortunate, who comes from a respected royal lineage. I do not consider it proper unless her father gives her. Please describe the details.”
The messengers said: Hearing the news, the sun god was greatly pleased. He invited all the devatās for the festival and came to Dvārakā, which defeats the pride of Svarga. Dvārakā with all its houses brought the sun god under control with its beauty, and attracted the earth by its unprecedented festivities.
How to describe his amazement, since the sun god was an astrologer, knower of Vedic rites and father of the bride? When he gave the bride and glanced at the groom, he became motionless like a picture. There was nothing as amazing as this.