Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Then after some days had passed, O king, the Våñëi and Andhaka dynasties staged a huge festival on Raivataka Mountain, and the Bhoja, Våñëi, and Andhaka heroes gave charity to thousands of brähmaëas during the festival of the mountain. With elegant cottages and colorful jewels spread all around the mountain, the whole region looked gorgeous, O king, and on all sides the trees were beautifully lit up with lamps. Skilled musicians sounded their instruments, dancers danced, and singers sang their songs. 
The powerful Våñëi boys were nicely dressed and ornamented, and they dashed about in their chariots made of golden parts. The people of the city came on foot and in varieties of simple and elaborate vehicles, with their wives and followers, and by the hundreds and thousands. 
Then almighty Lord Haladhara. intoxicated from drinking Väruëé honey and followed by the Gandharvas, came strolling about with His wife Revaté. Similarly, the mighty Ugrasena, king of the Våñëis, being praised in song by the Gandharvas, walked about with a thousand female companions. Two of Lord Kåñëa's sons, Pradyumna and Sämba, who could fight with frenzied might, were also affected by drinking heavenly beverages. Sporting divine garlands, they enjoyed themselves like two immortal gods. 
Akrüra, Säraëa, Gada, Bhänu, Viòüratha, Niçaöha, Cärudeñëa, Påthu, Vipåthu, Satyaka, Sätyaki, Bhaìgakära, Sahäcara, Härdikya, Kåtavarmä, and all those who are not mentioned were all individually praised in song by the Gandharvas. Surrounded by ladies, they all made the festival at Raivataka Mountain a striking affair. In the midst of the thrill and excitement and splendor, Lord Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, and Arjuna, son of Påthä, walked around together. As the two transcendental friends strolled about the festival grounds, they saw Vasudeva's lovely daughter, who was Çré Kåñëa's younger sister, in the midst of her friends. She was gorgeously decorated and radiant with pure goodness. As soon as Arjuna saw her, Cupid rose up in his heart, and Kåñëa immediately noted that Arjuna's mind was fixed on His sister. Now the lotus-eyed Kåñëa said to Arjuna, as if to tease him, «O Bhärata, what is this? The mind of a saintly forest-dweller is agitated by romantic desire! Arjuna, she is My sister and the sister of My brother Säraëa, born of the same mother. If you are seriously thinking about her, I myself shall speak to our father. 
Arjuna said: 
Whom would she not bewilder with her perfect beauty, this daughter of Vasudeva and sister of Çré Kåñëa? If Your sister, the Våñëi princess, could become my queen, then I surely must have done all that is good and noble. But what means should I use to win her? Please tell me, Janäradana, and I shall do it precisely, if it can be done by a man. 
Lord Kåñëa said: 
Among warriors, marriages are normally decided by the bride's own choice at a svayaàvara. But that is doubtful here, Arjuna, because your sentiments would not necessarily influence the decision. Those who know the sacred law have stated, «Among warriors who have proven to be heroes, forcibly taking a princess for the purpose of marriage is approved.» Therefore you should take My noble sister by force. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Then Arjuna and Kåñëa made up their minds: «Let us do it!» they said, and they dispatched fast-moving men to go at once and deliver their entire proposal to Dharmaräja Yudhiñöhira, who was staying at Indraprastha. As soon as he heard the plan, the mighty-armed Päëòava king gave his approval. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
Thereupon, Janamejaya, when Yudhiñöhira agreed and authorized him, Arjuna learned that the girl had gone to Raivataka Mountain. Arjuna met with Kåñëa and the Lord gave His approval, saying, «Let it be done.» Abiding by Kåñëa's decision, Arjuna then departed in a golden chariot built to scriptural code, yoked with the horses Sainya and Sugréva, and delicately adorned with a garland of bells. The chariot was equipped with a full assortment of weapons; it rumbled like a rain cloud, shone like blazing fire, and struck dead the hopes of the hostile. 
Tightly fitted with armor, wielding a sword, and with finger- and wrist-guards fastened, Arjuna set out at once on the pretext of a hunting expedition. Now Subhadräö offered reverence to Raivata, the great stone mountain, and to all the deities who resided there, and to the brähmaëas, having them invoke good fortune with their chants. Having circumambulated the mountain, she departed for Dvärakä, but Arjuna, son of Kunté, rushed up to her and forcibly placed her in his chariot. Thus taking the girl, who was smiling innocently, the tigerlike Arjuna departed for his city in that chariot, which could travel in the sky. 
When her military escort saw that Subhadrä was being stolen away, they cried out and then all hurried back to Dvärakä to sound the alarm. They all went at once to Sudharmä, the royal assembly hall, and fully explained Arjuna's bold act to the assembly leader. Hearing this, the assembly leader repeatedly struck the gold-encircled battle drum, and it reverberated throughout the city. 
Stirred by the sound, the Bhojas, Våñëis, and Andhakas put aside their eating and drinking and rushed to the assembly hall. Then as fires blaze on the sacred altars, so those tigerlike men of the Våñëis and Andhakas, mahäratha warriors who shone like swirling fire, took their seats by the hundreds on royal thrones wrought in gold, upholstered with costly cushions, and colorfully studded with gems and coral. When they were all seated like the gods in their sessions, the assembly chief and his assistants explained what Arjuna had done. 
When the Våñëi heroes heard this, their eyes turned red with rage, for they could not tolerate Arjuna's deed, and they proudly rose up together and sent forth a war cry: «Yoke the chariots immediately! Bring the lances, the most prized bows, and full armor!» 
Some warriors cried out to their chariot drivers, «Yoke the chariots!» while other warriors brought their own swift horses adorned in gold. As the chariots, armor, and flags were being brought forward, and as the heroic men roared instructions, a great crowd and commotion arose about them. 
But Lord Balaräma, sporting a garland of forest flowers, acting as if He were drunk and emboldened by Väruëé beverage, and standing in his blue garb as big and strong as the peak of Mount Kailäsa, then said, «What is this you are all doing without knowledge when you see that Lord Kåñëa remains silent? Without knowing His feelings you are all enraged and roaring in vain. Let Him, with His great mind, explain to you His own plan and what He would like to do, and then do that with full attention.» 
Hearing these authoritative words from Balaräma, everyone became silent, and then they began to say, «Yes, He is right. That is the best thing.» Thus hearing these balanced, objective words from the intelligent Balaräma, all the men again took their seats in the assembly. 
Then Lord Balaräma asked victorious Lord Kåñëa, «My dear Kåñëa, why do You remain seated, watching all this in silence? O infallible one, for Your sake all of us honored Arjuna, but it seems that he did not deserve the honor, for he has a wicked mind and has disgraced his family. Indeed, what man anywhere, having eaten our food, should then break our dish and still consider himself born in a noble family? Who would behave so rashly and inconsiderately, having come here seeking our friendship and beseeching our help and knowing all that we have done for him in the past? Insulting us and disregarding You, he has stolen Subhadrä by force, and thus he has taken death upon himself. 
«How can I tolerate it, Govinda. when he puts his foot right on My head, for he is treading on the head of a cobra? Today I alone shall rid the earth of the Kauravas, for I will not tolerate such an offense from Arjuna.» 
All the Bhojas, Våñëis, and Andhakas agreed, and they supported Lord Balaräma, whose deep and grave voice vibrated like rumbling clouds or kettledrums.