Krishna and Balarama arrived at the venue where Kansa's famous sacrifice, the dhanur yajna, was to be held. There an enormous bow was placed on a platform to display Kansa's power.

Seeing the bow, Krishna went ahead to pick it up but was stopped by the guards. A fight followed and the guards were beaten badly. Krishna then climbed on the platform, held the heavy bow in his hand and bent it. The bow broke with a thunderous sound, so loud that it even reached Kansa's ears, miles away in his chamber.

The sound was like a clear signal to Kansa that the eight child of Devaki had finally arrived and that his end was near.

In desperation, Kansa even sent an army of men to capture Krishna but was again defeated after a severe battle.