Chapter 82 - Keśin is slain

Vyāsa said:

1-4. When Ariṣṭa was killed thus, when Dhenuka had been struck down, when Pralamba had been slain, when the mountain Govardhana was held up, when the serpent Kāliya had been suppressed, when the two lofty trees had been broken, when Pūtanā was killed and when the cart had been overturned, Nārada narrated everything to Kaṃsa in the manner it had happened. He narrated the exchange of children between Yaśodā and Devakī and all other details in full. On hearing these details from Nārada of divine vision, the wicked Kaṃsa became furious with Vasudeva.

5. Due to his excessive wrath he taunted everyone in the assembly of Yādavas. He rebuked Yādavas and thought of what should be done next.

6. “Bala and Kṛṣṇa are small boys (now). Before they grow stronger they should be killed by me. Once they attain youth they cannot be checked from their evil activities.

7. Here I have Cāṇūra of great prowess and Muṣṭika of great strength. I shall get those two haughty boys killed through these two in a wrestling bout.

8. Under the pretext of a great sacrifice in the name of Dhanurmaha (festival of bows) I shall fetch them here from the cowherds’ colony. I shall do those things strenuously that will reduce their power and destroy them.

Vyāsa said:

9. After thinking like this, the wicked Kaṃsa decided to kill Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa. Accordingly he said to the Valorous Akrūra.

Kaṃsa said:

10. O lord of charitable gifts, may the following task be carried out at my instance for my pleasure. Drive in a chariot from here and go to the cowherds’ colony of Nanda.

11. There, two sons of Vasudeva are born from the parts of Viṣṇu. They are born for my destruction. The wicked ones are flourishing day by day.

12. The great sacrifice the festival of bows will take place on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight. They should be brought by you there for taking part in the wrestling bout.

13. My wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika are experts in duels. Let the people see duel between the two combatants.

14. Then there is the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa. Prompted by its mahout the elephant will kill the wicked boys the sons of Vasudeva.

15. After killing them I shall kill the wicked Vasudeva and Nanda too. I shall kill my father Ugrasena as well.

16. Thereafter, I shall seize the cattle-wealth of the cowherds. I shall confiscate the wealth of all those wicked ones who are desirous of killing me.

17. O lord of charitable gifts, excepting you all these Yādavas are wicked in my opinion. I shall endeavour to kill them also one by one.

18. Thereafter, I shall make this kingdom devoid of Yādavas. As it is rid of all thorns I shall rule it through you. Hence, O heroic one, go for my love.

19. You should speak to them in such a manner as to make the cowherds bring as present unto me ghee and curds the products of buffalo’s milk.

Vyāsa said:

20-21. O brahmins, thus commanded, Akrūra the great devotee of the lord became delighted because he could see Kṛṣṇa the next day. Saying ‘So be it’ he (Akrūra) who was fond of seeing Kṛṣṇa got into a chariot and hurried out of the city of Mathura.

Vyāsa said:

22. Keśin who too was urged by Kaṃsa as his powerful messenger came to Vṛndāvana desirous of killing Kṛṣṇa.

23. He came to the colony of cowherds. With his hoofs he dug up pits on the ground. When he waved his manes he shook and scattered the clouds. He traversed through the aerial path of the moon and the sun.

24. Frightened by the neighing sound of the asura in the form of a horse the cowherds and cowherdesses sought refuge in Kṛṣṇa.

25. On tearing their words—“Save us, O save us”, Kṛṣṇa spoke in a loud tone like the rumbling sound of the rain-bearing cloud.

Kṛṣṇa said:

26. O cowherds, do not be afraid. You belong to the clan of cowherds, why are you so afraid of Keśin? Why are you losing courage and prowess befitting the heroes?

27. This wicked horse has only very little strength. He is making a proud display of the loud neighing sound. He is only an ordinary messenger in the army of asuras. He is vaunting and galloping—Of what avail is this?

28. O wicked one, come. come. I am Kṛṣṇa. Just as the Pināka-bearing lord knocked off the teeth of Pūṣan, so also I shall knock off the teeth from your mouth.

Vyāsa said:

29. After saying thus, Kṛṣṇa stood face to face with Keśin. The asura too rushed at him with a wide open mouth.

30. Then Kṛṣṇa enlarged his arm and thrust it into the mouth of the wicked horse, Keśin.

31. His teeth were knocked off by the arm of Kṛṣṇa that was thrust into the mouth of Keśin. They looked like the bits of white clouds.

32. O brahmins, Kṛṣṇa’s arm that went into the body of Keśin became the cause of his destruction like the ailment that is neglected in the early stages by trustworthy persons (attendants, relatives or oneself).

33. His lips were torn off. The corners of the mouth were made gapingly wide. He vomited frothful blood. The tendons were loosened and untied.

34. Stretching his legs he fell on the ground and discharged dung and urine in plenty. His body was drenched in sweat. He became exhausted and ultimately ceased to struggle for life.

35. With his mouth torn apart by the arm of Kṛṣṇa, that extremely terrible Asura fell down like a tree that is severed into two by the lightning stroke.

36. The two halves of the dead horse Keśin, each having two legs, one ear, one eye, one nostril and a moiety of the back and the tail shone remarkably.

37. After killing Keśin, Kṛṣṇa was surrounded by the joyous cowherds. His body had no sign of strain. Hale and hearty he stood there laughing.

38. When Keśin was killed, the cowherds and the cowherdesses were surprised. They eulogised the lotus-eyed lord in charming words indicative of their love.

39. The sage Nārada hurriedly came there seated on a cloud. On seeing Keśin killed his mind was extremely delighted.

Nārada said:

40. Well done. Well done, O lord of the universe, O Acyuta! Keśin, the tormentor of heaven-dwellers, has been killed by you playfully.

41. (?) You were eager to bring about his death in this battle between a man and a horse. Killed by you here that wicked asura has gone to heaven.

42. O slayer of Madhu, good rites have been performed by you in this incarnation that caused surprise in me (?) But by virtue of this action, my mind is delighted and satisfied.

43. O Kṛṣṇa, Devas and Indra had been afraid of this horse that used to shake off his manes, neigh (loudly) and see the clouds high up in the sky.

44. O Kṛṣṇa, since this wicked Keśin was killed by you, you will become worthy of being sung about in the world by the name of Keśava.

45. Hail to you. I shall go now. O slayer of Keśin, day after tomorrow I shall meet you once again in the course of battle with Kaṃsa.

46. When Kaṃsa, the son of Ugrasena, is struck down along with his followers, O supporter of the Earth, you will remove the burden of the Earth.

47. O Kṛṣṇa, I shall be there witnessing matches, old duels as told by you.

48. I shall now go, O Kṛṣṇa, great task of Devas has been accomplished by you. I have been honoured by you. Hail to you. I shall go now.

Vyāsa said:

49. When Nārada had gone, Kṛṣṇa who was not dismayed entered the cowherd’s colony as the sole receptacle of beverage to be drunk by the eyes of the cowherd lasses.