Chapter 15 - Kaṃsa sends Akrūra to the cattle camp

Parāśara

After Ariṣṭa the hump-backed bull was slain, Dhenuka overthrown, Pralamba led to death and Mount Govardhana raised, 1

The nāga Kāliya vanquished, the tall trees felled, Pūtanā killed and the wagon overturned, 2

Nārada informed Kaṃsa of all of these events in order, and that the infants of Yaśodā and Devakī had been exchanged. 3

Hearing this from Nārada, the sage with divine perception, wicked Kaṃsa was furious with Vasudeva. 4

At a meeting of the Yādava clan, filled with fury, he threatened and reproached the clansmen, then pondered his next move: 5

‘I’ll kill Balarāma and his brother while they’re young and weak, because it won’t be possible when they’ve come of age. 6

Mighty Cāṇūra and powerful Muṣṭika are here. I’ll have them kill those two young fools in a wrestling match. 7

Under the pretext of some great tournament, I’ll invite them from their cattle camp, then I’ll do what’s needed to send them to their doom. 8

I’ll dispatch Śvaphalka’s son Akrūra, that bull among the Yādavas, to their camp to fetch them here. 9

Then I’ll send an order to Keśin, the terrible beast who roams Vṛndāvana. He’s strong enough to kill the two boys there. 10

If those sons of Vasudeva make it here alive, the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa will trample them to death.’ 11

Parāśara:

With this thought, wicked Kaṃsa resolved to kill Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa. He then addressed heroic Akrūra: 12

Kaṃsa:

Come, my generous man, and do as I command. You’ll be doing me a favour. Take a chariot and ride to Nanda’s cattle camp. 13

Both of Vasudeva’s evil sons, Viṣṇu’s aspects born for my destruction, are maturing there. 14

On the fourteenth day this month, I’ll hold a tournament here. Go to the camp and invite them to a wrestling match. 15

My two wrestlers, Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika, are skilled in combat. I want everyone to watch the two boys fight with them. 16

If they fail, the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, urged forward by his driver, will crush Vasudeva’s two young wicked sons. 17

I’ll kill them first, then I’ll get rid of Vasudeva and that wicked-minded herder Nanda, as well as Ugrasena, my own father, who’s just as bad. 18

Next I’ll seize the herders’ cattle and all their other property. Those upstarts want me dead. 19

Except for you, my generous man, all these evil Yādavas detest me, so I’ll kill them one by one. 20

With your assistance, I’ll then rule this whole domain, rid of the prickly Yādavas. Your love for me will take you there, brave man. 21

And tell the herdsmen to bring me all their yoghurt and buffalo butter. 22

Parāśara:

On hearing this command, Akrūra was filled at once with love for Kṛṣṇa, brahmin, knowing that the next day he would see him. 23

Akrūra, assenting to the king’s request, mounted a splendid chariot. Then that friend of Madhu set out from the city of Mathurā. 24

So ends Chapter Fifteen in Book Five of the glorious Viṣṇu Purāṇa.

Other Purana Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Kamsa sends Akrura to the cattle camp’. Further sources in the context of Purana might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Wrestling-match, Divine perception, Wicked Kamsa, Yadava clan, Terrible beast, Elephant Kuvalayapida, Skilled in combat.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Love for Krishna, Generous man.