Once Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja. The two Lords wore flower garlands and spotless garments, and Their limbs were beautifully decorated and anointed. The women sang Their glories in a charming way, bound to Them by affection. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze, and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.
While the two Lords thus played according to Their own sweet will and sang to the point of apparent intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named Śaṅkhacūḍa came upon the scene. Even as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma looked on, Śaṅkhacūḍa brazenly began driving the women off toward the north. The women, who had accepted Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as their Lords, began to cry out to Them.
Hearing their devotees crying out "Kṛṣṇa! Rāma!" and seeing that they were just like cows being stolen by a thief, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma began to run after the demon.
The Lords called out in reply "Do not fear!" Then They picked up logs of the sala tree and quickly pursued that lowest of Guhyakas. When Śaṅkhacūḍa saw the two of Them coming toward him like the personified forces of Time and Death, he was filled with anxiety. Confused, he abandoned the women and fled for his life.
Lord Kṛṣṇa chased the demon wherever he ran, eager to take his crest jewel. Meanwhile, Lord Balarāma stayed with the women to protect them. The mighty Lord overtook Śaṅkhacūḍa from a great distance as if from nearby, and then with His fist the Lord removed the wicked demon's head, together with his crest jewel.
Having thus killed the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa and seized his shining jewel, Lord Kṛṣṇa presented the jewel to His elder brother with great satisfaction as the gopīs watched.