Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.36

c7.36

4) Gālava and Citrasena. Gālava was once having his evening prayers in the river when the spittings from the mouth of Citrasena who was travelling by air above fell on the pūjā materials of Gālava. Gālava went and complained to Śrī Kṛṣṇa of this and Kṛṣṇa in haste promised to bring before Gālava the head of Citrasena before the sun set. Nārada who heard this went and informed Citrasena of Kṛṣṇa's vow. Citrasena was frightened to death. But Nārada asked him to lose hope and advised Sandhyā and Valī, wives of Citrasena, to approach Subhadrā, sister of Kṛṣṇa, for protection. Both of them went to Subhadrā and made a grand fire-pit in front of her palace. Citrasena decided to end his life by jumping into the fire and as he was circling the pit his wives wept loudly. Since her husband Arjuna was away from the palace Subhadrā herself ran to the place from where she heard the cries. When they saw Subhadrā they begged for ‘Maṅgalyabhikṣā’ (a boon to live with one’s husband). Subhadrā agreed to give them that. Then she heard their story in full and only then did she realise that she had undertaken to do the impossible. Yet, to help Subhadrā, Arjuna agreed to protect Citrasena. When Śrī Kṛṣṇa attacked Citrasena Arjuna defended. The fight then ensued between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa. Both had very powerful and divine weapons and the world stood on the verge of a collapse by their fight. Then Subhadrā did a brave thing. She stood between the two and requested for a cease-fire. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa asked Citrasena to bow down and touch the feet of Gālava. Gālava pardoned him. (Padma Purāṇa).