Mikula Selyaninovich's supernatural strength comes directly from Mat Zemlya — his plow-bag contains the weight of the earth itself, and only he can carry her burden.
In one bylina, Svyatogor tries to lift Mikula Selyaninovich's plow-bag containing the weight of the earth but sinks into the ground — the giant's strength is nothing against the earth's own weight.
Mikula Selyaninovich serves no prince, standing apart from the Kiev-cycle bogatyrs who answer to Vladimir the Great. His independence embodies the peasant tradition's autonomy from princely authority.
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