The thirty fourth chapter describes how Krsna delivered his father Nanda from being swallowed by a snake, killing Sankhacuda, the son of Kuvera and taking his crown jewel. After describing the autumn rasa lila and before describing the holi lila of spring, Sukadeva describes the celebration of Siva ratri. On the caturdasi (waning phase) of phalguna month, the inhabitants of Vraja when to Amibika vana, a forest with Siva and Uma deities on the bank of the Sarasvati river to the northwest of Mathura. Others however say that the place was located at Siddhapura in Gujarat.

To show a similar pastime, related to the same subject as the rāsa dance, and which ends with the killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa, Śukadeva now relates another pastime which shows Kṛṣṇa’s power used to prevent opposing persons from interfering with such pastimes. This pastime of going to Ambikāvana chronologically comes between the rāsa dance and the Horikā pastime. After the rāsa dance (ekadā), during Śiva-rātri in Phālguna month, the cowherds (gopālāḥ) became eager to go on pilgrimage to a Śiva temple. On should understand that it was ultimately because of Kṛṣṇa’s eagerness, as in the Govardhana pastime. They were fully devoted to his desires. Or, they developed complete eagerness (ā-jāta-kautukāḥ) because of the cowherd Kṛṣṇa (gopāla). Kṛṣṇa had a hidden agenda of easily associating with the gopīs at this time. He had similar feelings as in the previous pastime of rāsa līlā. Anaḍuh means oxen. But its derivation is “carrying a cart.” Thus they used oxen which easily pulled the carts. They used carts to bring many articles for gifting at the holy place. Thus they travelled conspicuously (pra—yayuḥ). Ambikāvana was northwest of Mathurā district on the bank of the Sarasvatī River with Śiva and Durgā as the presiding deities. Or, it was a holy place not far from Siddhapur in Gujarat province. They went there because it was very famous.

Śukadeva begins a related story to show the increase of bhakti for the Lord in the cowherds by showing them directly his power. He describes another similar pastime, where human pastimes were mixed with power. It was during his kaiśora period, which some say was Śiva-rātrī (Phalguna month), and some say was during Kartika. The cowherds became eager to go to visit Śiva (deva). They went out of curiosity or for fun, not because of material desires, since they were cowherds, whose quality was having fun. They yoked huge bulls to their carts, since cowherds normally travel by cart, and they had to carry many goods for offering to the tīrtha. They went gloriously (pra-yayuḥ). Ambikāvana was northwest of Mathurā district on the bank of the Sarasvatī River with Śiva and Durgā as the presiding deities. Or, it was a holy place not far from Siddhapur in Gujarat province.