"Krishna stood before him, strong and straight. He said, 'O best of masters! We have to offer you gratitude for teaching us in an incomparable manner all the rare arts and sciences. That is only our Dharma, isn't it? We will proceed immediately and fight against the sea that swallowed your precious son, and recover him. We shall bring him back to you and give you joy. Let us dedicate this act as our Guru-Dakshina (ceremonial presents made to the preceptor, by the pupil). Bless us, so that we can start on this expedition. Bless us, and give us leave to start.' They fell at his feet, rose and stood, expectant. Sandeepani was confident that the boys were not of ordinary mould; he had faith that they would succeed. He embraced them, stroked their hair and blessed them." The king said: "Master, O, how fortunate are my grandparents that they could witness these! Krishna was the divine which was acting the role of a human being, though he had immanent in Him all that there is, was and will be."

"O king, receiving the acceptance and blessing of the preceptor, Balarama and Krishna hastened to the sea and standing majestically on the shore, commanded in a compelling voice, 'Ocean! Give back the son of our Guru! Do this immediately or suffer the punishment we intend to give you!' The ocean shook in fear, as soon as he heard these words. He touched the feet of Balarama and Krishna and said, 'Pardon! It is no fault of mine! When the boy was bathing, destiny drew him into a vortex and brought him into the depths. Meantime, the Ogre, Panchajanya, who has been living in the caverns there swallowed him and had him in his stomach. This is the truth of what has happened. I leave the rest to you.'

"When the sea spoke thus, Krishna nodded, 'Right! I have heard your account', and plunged into the depths of the sea, to the cavern of that Ogre. He attacked him in mortal combat. The Ogre handed over the boy to the God of death before he himself died; so, Krishna could not recover him, when He tore open the stomach. While searching his intestines in great anger to discover whether the boy was anywhere there, a huge conch came into His hands. Securing this, Krishna emerged from the sea, and went straight to the city of death. Standing at the entrance, Krishna blew the Panchajanya conch that he had got from Panchajanya. The sound it produced was like thunder to the ear."

"Yama, the God of death, rushed up to the gate, in terror. He saw Balarama and Krishna and queried, politely, the reason why they had come so far. The brothers commanded him to bring the 'son of the Guru' and place him in their custody. 'As you order', replied Yama, with folded hands; he directed his minions, and within seconds, the consecrated son of the preceptor was placed in the divine hands. They brought him, immediately, to the hermitage and placing him by the side of Sandeepani, stood on one side, 'This is our Guru-Dakshina, please accept this act as such,' appealed Krishna."

"The joy of the parents was beyond words; they were overcome with the sudden gush of happiness. No one who contemplates such divine achievements - the bringing back to life the son of the Guru, who was in the arms of death and similar miracles - can entertain the belief that they are mortal and not divine. What then are we to speak of Sandeepani? He knew; he realised that they are the twins, Nara-Narayana."