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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 42: Verses 14-26
Due to agitation (of mind) caused by love at His sight, the women (of Mathura) forgot (all about) themselves. (Standing spell-bound) with their garments unsettled, bangles slipped off and braids loosened, they looked like painted figures. Enquiring of the citizens about the place where the bow had been kept (for the purpose of a bow-sacrifice), Sri Krsna (the immortal Lord) then entered the sacrificial hall and beheld (there) the wonderful bow-which resembled the rainbow (in point of size and picturesqueness, studded as it was with jewels of various colours), was guarded by many men, had been (duly) worshipped and was attended with a large fortune (in the shape of valuable gold ornaments)-and, even though being stopped by the men, He forcibly seized it. Having strung the bow, which had (already) been playfully lifted (by Him) with His left hand, and pulling the string to its utmost capacity, Lord Sri Krsna (of immeasurable prowess) broke it in two in the middle in the twinkling of an eye-while the men (guarding the bow) stood looking on-(even)as an elephant in rut would snap a sugar-cane. The crash of the bow, while it was being broken, filled heaven and earth and the intermediate region as well as the (four) quarters. Hearing it Kamsa was seized with consternation.
Full of wrath and eager to apprehend the Lord, the custodians of the bow alongwith their followers surrounded Him with their bows drawn (in order to kill Him), exclaiming; "Let the intruder be seized, let him be bound !" Immediately perceiving them to be of wicked intent, Balarama and Sri Krsna (the Ruler even of Brahma and Lord Siva) grew angry and, seizing the two pieces of the (broken) bow, made short work of them. Having also destroyed a detachment sent by Kamsa the two Brothers came away through the entrance of the amphitheatre and roamed about delighted to witness the wealth of the city. Perceiving such wonderful prowess, indomitable spirit, intrepidity and comeliness of the two Brothers, the citizens thought them to be two foremost gods. While They were (yet) roving at will, the sun set on Them. Surrounded by the cowherds, Sri Krsna and Balarama (now) returned to Their carts outside the city. In the case of those who gazed in Mathura (the city founded by the demon Madhu) on the elegance of the personality of Sri Krsna (the Jewel among men)-which lo! Sri (the goddess of beauty and prosperity) coveted as Her abode, leaving (all) others who sought Her-the predictions that the cowherd women, afflicted at the thought of their separation (from Sri Krsna), had made at the time of departure (from Vraja) of Sri Krsna came to be (literally) true. With Their feet duly washed and partaking of rice cooked in milk (with sugar), and having come to know what Kamsa intended to do (the next day), the two Brothers passed that night happily. Kamsa, on the other hand, felt dismayed to hear of the breaking of the (huge) bow and the destruction of its keepers as well as of his own detachment- which was a mere child's play on the part of Sri Krsna (the Protector of cows) and Balarama.
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