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But the King put Yasudeva and his wife in iron fetters. He then ordered Kesi to kill Rama and Krishna. He called his ministers together in council. Addressing Chanur and Mushtika he said:—"Rama and Krishna are to kill us. So Narada told me." Those two Asuras came ready for Vraja. But Kansa said: "No, you need not go. I shall send for the two brothers and kill them in a wrestling match. So prepare the playground. Place the elephant Kubalayapida at the entrance and let him kill my enemies. On the fourteenth day of the Moon, let us commence Dhanus Yajna, and let animals be killed in honor of Siva." Kansa then sent for Akrara, one of the chiefs of the Yadu clan. "Akrira," said he, "Thou art my friend and do the work of a friend. Please go to Vraja. Take this chariot and bring the two sons of Va- sudeva. Tell them, they are to see the Dhanus Yajna and have a sight of the town. Let Nanda and other Gopas come with presents. The elephant shall kill the two boys. Or if perchance they escape, the wrestlers shall do away with them. I will then make easy work of Vasudeva, my old father Ugrasena, his brother Devaka, the Vrishnis, the Bhojas and the Dasarhas. Then, O friend, the earth will be left without a thorn. Jarasandha is my guide. Dvivid is my friend. Sam- vara, Naraka, and Vana have made alliance with me. With the help of these, I shall kill all kings that are on the side of the Devas. Know this to be my plan." Akrira said:—"The design is all right. But it may or may not succeed. Even lofty desires are frustrated by unforeseen ob- stacles. Still man entertains them, to meet with either joy or sorrow. But I will do thy behests." The council broke up. KESI. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 37. In the meantime, Kesi, under the orders of Kansa, entered Vraja, in the form of a fiery steed, Krishna held him aloft by the feet and Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 307 threw him away. The Asura regained consciousness and again ran after Krishna. He thrust his hand inside the mouth of the Asura and killed him at once. The Devas rained flowers over him and prayed. Rishi Narada also appeared and adored him, making reference to his future deeds. VYOMA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 37. The Gopas were grazing cattle on the flat summit of a hill. Some played the part of thieves, some, that of cattle keepers and some the part of sheep. The Asura Vyoma, (the word meaning Akasa), son of Maya, assumed the form of a Gopa, and playing the part of a thief carried away many Gopas, who became sheep and he confined them in a hill cave closed by stones. In the playground only four or five Gopas remained. Krishna found out the mischief, attacked the Asura and killed him. AKRURA. Akrira was mightily pleased that he would see the lotus feet of Rama and Krishna. His devotion to Krishna knew no bounds and he knew full well that, whatever his mission might be, the Lord would find out his inward devotion. At sunset he reached Gokula and, on seeing Rama and Krishna, fell down at their feet. They duly honored him. Nanda also shewed every respect to Akrira. At night Akriira made a clean breast of everything to Rama and Krishna, telling how Kansa oppressed the Yadus, how Narada informed him of their presence in Vraja and who they were, how he planned their death, and the mission on which he sent him. Rama and Krishna only laughed. The next morning they informed Nanda about the command of the king. Nanda asked the Gopas to prepare themselves with presents. And the Gopa girls? Who could measure the depth of their sor- row? Their plaintive strains were most heart-rending. They wept They followed the chariot carrying Rama and Krishna. Krishna to console them sent word that he would come back. At last the chariot became invisible and the Gopis went back to their homes. 308 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana On reaching the banks of the Yamuna the brothers took their bath in the river and refreshed themselves with its water. They took their seat again in the chariot. Akrira asked their permission and went to bathe. He plunged himself in the waters and duly performed the ablu- tion ceremonies. He made a japa (repeated recital) of Veda Mantras. But lo! he found before him Rama and Krishna. They were in the chariot. How could they appear then? He rose and saw the boys were really seated in the chariot. He plunged himself once more and saw in the waters the serpent king Ananta, with a thousand heads and a thousand crowns, dressed in blue clothes, white in body, adored by Siddhas, Charanas, Gandhavas, and Asuras. Embraced by him was the dark Purusha, dressed in yellow clothes, with four hands, adored by the Rishis. Akriara made salutations and adored the Purusha with folded hands. Krishna then withdrew his form, as a play is withdrawn from the stage. Akrira got up and took his seat in the chariot. Krishna said:—"Akrira, you look as if you have seen something unusual." Akrara replied:—"What is there in the universe that is not in thee. When I have seen thee, I have seen everything." They drove on again and at last reached Mathura. MATHURA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 41-42. Akrira asked Krishna and all the Gopas to come to his house. But Krishna would first kill Kansa before doing him this favor. So Akrara sorrowfully left him and informed Kansa about the performance of his mission. Krishna with Balarama and the Gopas went out to see the town. The house tops became crowded with females who wanted to have a look at Krishna, whose fame had already preceded him. A washer- man passed that way. Krishna begged him to give him some choice clothes. But he was the washerman of Kansa and he arrogantly re- fused to give any of the King’s clothes. Krishna in anger cut off his head. The attendants left the clothes and fled away. Rama and Kr- ishna took as many as they liked and gave the rest to the Gopas. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 309 A weaver came forward of his own accord and gladly dressed the brothers with choice clothes. Krishna rewarded him with great powers and provided for him Sarupya (a kind of Mukti) after death. Then the brothers went to the house of a garland-maker named Sudama. Sudama fell down at their feet and adorned them and the Gopas with the best garlands. The garland-maker prayed for constant devotion, for friendship with the devotees and for love of all beings. Krishna gave him these boons as well as many other blessings. A young girl went that way with fragrant paste in her hand. Though young and beautiful, she was hunch-backed. Krishna said smilingly:—"Fine girl that thou art, tell me truly what this scented thing is for. Anoint us with this, and good shall be your lot." The girl said:—"My name is Trivakra (with three bends). Iam a servant of Kansa. He likes my paste very much. Who but you can deserve to have it?" The girl then anointed the brothers, with zeal and love. Krishna pressed her feet with the tips of his own feet and held up her chin with two fingers and with a little effort made her erect. The hunch on her back was gone and she became a beauty. She invited Krishna to her own house. Krishna knew her object and said "Let me first do my work and then I shall visit your house." He then passed through the traders’ quarters. They made various presents. Krishna then enquired where the Yajna Dhanus (the bow to be used in the performance of the Yajna) was. Though warned by the citizens, he entered the place and easily broke the bow asunder. There was great noise. The warders ran to kill him. He killed the guardsmen with the two parts of the bow. It was then sun-set. The boys returned with the Gopas to their quarters. Kansa heard of the valour of the boys and passed the night in evil dreams. When the day broke, he made preparations for the wrestling match. THE WRESTLING. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 43-44. Kansa took his seat on a raised platform with his ministers. There was beating of drums. The athletes appeared on the scene, headed by 310 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana Chanur, Mushtika, Kata, Sala and Tosala. Nanda and other Gopas made their presents and were shown over to another platform. Hearing the noise, Rama and Krishna also came to see the match. At the entrance they were obstructed by the elephant Kubalayapida. Krishna asked the driver to remove the elephant, but he only set it upon him. There was a fight and Krishna at last succeeded in felling the elephant to the ground. He then plucked out its teeth and with their help, he killed both the animal and its driver. Blood-stained, the two brothers entered the wrestling ground with the ivory teeth in their hands. All were struck by their appearance. The account of the elephant’s death struck terror into Kansa’s heart. He began to tremble. The people of Mathura were attracted by the divine form of the brothers and they began to talk about their deeds. Chantra ad- dressing the brothers said:—"You are known as good wrestlers. The King has therefore invited you to this match. Come and do the plea- sure of the King, for the King is the embodiment of all Devas." Krishna said:—"We dwell in the forest. But still we are subjects of the King of Bhoja. That we are ordered to please the King is a great favor to us. But we are boys. We shall play with those of equal might. There will then be a fair match and there will be no injustice attaching to those present here." Chantira replied:— "You are neither a boy nor a youth below fifteen, Krishna. Nor is Balarama so. You killed that elephant with the might of a thousand elephants as it were in sport. It is meet therefore you shall fight with the powerful. There is no injustice in this. You measure your strength with me and let Balarama do so with Mushtika." So it was. The fight was a drawn one. At last the brothers killed their rivals.