That midnight, the city of Navadwip, under the ruthless oppression of the victorious and intoxicated Yavana army, became as restless as a storm-tossed, wave-lashed sea. The royal road was soon covered with countless cavalrymen, countless infantry, countless swordsmen, archers, and spearmen, all assembled in grand array. The citizens of the capital, now defenseless and terrified, hurried into their homes; bolting their doors, they began to chant the names of their chosen deities in fear.

Whenever the Yavanas came upon some hapless, shelterless soul on the royal road, they impaled them on spears and then set about attacking the houses with locked doors. In some places, they broke down the doors; elsewhere, they scaled the walls; in others, they entered by deceit, luring the frightened householder with false promises of sparing his life. Once inside, they would systematically plunder all the household’s possessions, and then, as a matter of course, behead every man, woman, elder, maiden, and child. Only for young women was there a different fate.

The homes of the householders began to flood with blood. The royal road became muddy with gore. The Yavana army itself became stained with crimson. The weight of the plundered goods burdened the backs of horses and the shoulders of men alike.

The severed heads of Brahmins, impaled upon spears, presented a ghastly spectacle. The sacred threads of the Brahmins dangled from the necks of horses. The Shalagrama stones from the royal throne rolled across the floor, struck by the feet of the Yavanas.

The night sky filled with dreadful sounds: the thunder of horses’ hooves, the tumult of soldiers, the trumpeting of elephants, the shouts of Yavana victory, and above all, the cries of the afflicted. The wailing of mothers, the sobbing of children, the pitiful pleas of the old, the heart-rending shrieks of young women.

The valiant man whom Madhavacharya had so carefully brought to Navadwip to subdue the Yavanas... He had come, but where is he now? In this dreadful cataclysm of the Yavanas, Hemchandra is not preparing for battle. What could he accomplish by facing it alone? Hemchandra was then lying upon his bed in the sleeping chamber of his own house. The tumult of the city's assault reached his ears. He asked Digvijay, "What is that noise?" Digvijay replied, "The Yavana army has attacked the city." Hemchandra was astonished. Until now, he had heard nothing of the usurpation of the royal palace by Banga Tiarak and the king's flight. Digvijay recounted the details to him. Hemchandra asked, "What are the citizens doing?" Di: Those who can are fleeing; those who cannot are losing their lives. He: And the Gauriya soldiers? Di: For whom should they fight? The king has fled. Therefore, each is seeking his own way. He: Prepare my horse and armor. Digvijay was surprised and asked, "Where will you go?" He: To the city. Di: Alone? Hemchandra frowned. Seeing his frown, Digvijay, frightened, went to prepare the horse and armor. Hemchandra then, adorned in priceless battle attire,