Chapter 60 - On the exploits of Sri Krishna

Early next morning, Nanda, the shepherd king, received news that he had been blessed with a son, and his joy rose like the sea at the appearance of the full moon. He celebrated the-birth with great rejoicings, and the happy new» spread from house to house throughout the length and breadth of Gokula. All the cowherds put on their best attire and ornaments, and anointing: themselves with sandal-paste, came to see the child with husked and unhusked rice, the sacred Durva^[1] grass, and pots full of curd in their hands. They saw the beautiful smiling face of Sri Krishna, and blessed him by placing a few grains of corn and blades of the sacred grass on his head and marking his forehead with a drop of the curd. Thereafter they embraced one another in exuberance of joy. Cows, bulls and calves were painted with a mixture of oil termeric[turmeric?]-paste and were let loose to frisk about gaily.

Rejoicings of this nature continued from day to day till Kamsa’s suspicions were aroused, and he sent a demoness named Putna in disguise, to murder the child. Krishna sucked her breast with such force that her vitality was entirely drawn out and she died immediately. When giving up the ghost, she assumed her own monstrous form, seeing which the shepherds and shepherdesses were much terrified.

Sri Krishna killed many other evil beings in his childhood which was passed with Rohini’s son Balarama.

In course of time the two brothers proceeded to Vrindavana at the advice of the shepherds, and began to live there. This town was very charming on account of its situation on the banks of the Yamuna, and at the foot of the Govardhana hill; and Lord Sri Krishna’s presence lent additional lustre to it.

Sri Krishna tended cattle here like an ordinary shepherd boy, but was the delight of all the grown up shepherds and shepherdesses, and the friend and protector of the young children. He and Balarama killed Vakasura, Vatsasura and many other demons who were all servants of Kamsa. He also killed a huge serpent named Achalakara.

One day Brahma, with a view to put Srikrishna to the test, came to the pasturage with other gods, and kidnapped all the shepherd boys who were taking their food at the time. Sri Krishna, who had gone away in search of a cow, came back, and found that all his companions were missing. He proceeded forthwith in search of the boys when Brahma took advantage of his second absence, and stole all the cows also.

Sri Krishna, through his divine intuition, found out that it was all Brahma’s work, and, in order to avert the grief of the shepherds, assumed the forms of the stolen boys and cows. After a whole year Brahma repented him of his folly, and restoring the boys and cows to him, begged and obtained his pardon.

At another time he crushed Indra’s pride by lifting the Govardhana hill up with his hands and holding it up (like an umbrella) to protect Gokula from furious wind and rain sent by that god.

Krishna performed many other miracles in Vrindavana, to the wonder and delight of the people, and lived happily with his brother, Balarama, who also was not lacking in miraculous powers. The news of all this was conveyed to Kamsa by the sage Narada, and the demon king sent his minister, Akrura, to invite the boys to a sacrificial gathering. He also sent a mighty demon, Kesi by name, who had the form of a donkey, to kill Krishna, but Kesi was killed himself. This victory over Kesi earned Sri Krishna the name of Kesava. After this, Narada paid a visit to Sri Krishna and informed him of all that had passed in private between Kamsa and himself. Now Akrura, the minister of Kamsa, was a virtuous man and looked forward with delight to the expected meeting with Sri Krishna. He considered himself fortunate in having been afforded such an opportunity, and was happy for the sake of his master too, who, he knew, would meet his death at the hands of Sri Krisnna, and thereby obtain salvation. He started on his chariot, and, arriving at Gokula fell down at the feet of Sri Krishna and Balarama and apprised them of Kamsa’s message. The brothers embraced Akrura, and gave him a hearty welcome.

Nanda, the shepherd king, was also invited, and he made preparations for departure. He collected a variety of handsome presents for Kamsa, and selected a large number of followers to accompany him. With these he started for Mathura, but Sri Krishna and Balarama travelled with Akrura in his chariot.

They all reached Mathura in the evening, and Were accommodated in a garden. Krishna and Balarama went out to see the town and met a washerman in the way. They killed him and dressed themselves in the rich clothes he was carrying. Thereafter they anointed their bodies with perfumery, and, wearing beautiful garlands, went to the lists prepared by Kamsa, and, entering into the arena, saluted the wrestlers.

Kamsa was informed of the arrival of Sri Krishna and Balarama at Mathura by Akrura. In consultation with his other ministers he put Vasudeva and Devaki into prison, and, inviting the best and strongest wrestlers into the gymnasium took his seat on a high platform to witness the wrestling matches. Krishna and Balarama appeared on the scene in due time, and the former, after killing a huge elephant named Kuvalayapida, entered into combat with a celebrated wrestler known as Chanura who was defeated and killed. A second famous wrestler, Mushtika by name, was killed by Balarama. Thereafter Sri Krishna ascended the Mancha^[2], and snatching Kamsa’s sword from him, cut off his head with it.

Every one present was delighted at the death of the tyrant, and Krishna released his parents at once from imprisonment. Nanda and the other shepherds were informed of the whole mystery from beginning to end, and were duly honoured by Vasudeva and Devaki The assembly was then dissolved.

Krishna and Balarama were now installed as great princes, and proper arrangements were made for their education. They learnt all the scriptures in no time, and became thoroughly accomplished in every way.

After a short time, the mighty King Jarasandha, who was Kamsa’s, father-in-law, came to Mathura with a large army to fight with Krishna and Balarama. Thereupon the brothers had their divine chariot brought from Heaven, and, mounting upon it, they waged war with Jarasandha and completely routed and destroyed his army.

Jarasandha then deputed an invincible demon named Kala Yavana, who had a charmed life, to fight with Sri Krishna.

Sri Krishna knew that it would not do to fight with this demon, and that his death should be brought about by some stratagem. He, therefore, built a city in the midst of the sea which he named Dvaraka, and, placing all the Yaduvamsa Kshatriyas (who were his own kinsmen) in it, in charge of Balarama, made his escape. Kalayavana followed him, and was led to a mountain cave in which Krishna disappeared.

Now, a king of the Solar dynasty whose name was Muchukunda was asleep in this cave, and the gods had ordained that any one who should arouse him from sleep and on whom his eyes should fall immediately on being so aroused, should be consumed to ashes. Kalayavana mistook him for Krishna and reaped the consequence of his folly by being converted into a heap of ashes. For this Muchukunda received Sri Krishna’s blessings.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A kind of grass used for worship.

[2]:

A raised seat.