Çré Amalaki Ekädaçé Issue no: 231 20th March 2024

Killing of Kamsa
Killing of Kamsa
Srila Sukadeva Goswami

Kamsa's Destination
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chanura and Krishna

Srila Jiva Goswami
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their great eagerness for victory. My dear King,

Killing of Kamsa all the women present, considering the match
Srila Sukadeva Goswami an unfair fight between the strong and the weak,
felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They
Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus addressed, assembled in groups around the arena and spoke
Lord Krishna made up His mind to accept the to one another as follows. [The women said:]
challenge. He paired off with Chanura, and Lord Alas, what a greatly irreligious act the members
Balarama with Mushtika. Seizing each other’s of this royal assembly are committing! As the
hands and locking legs with each other, the op- King watches this fight between the strong and
ponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory. the weak, they also want to see it. What compar-
They each struck fists against fists, knees against ison can there be between these two professional
knees, head against head and chest against chest. wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts
Each fighter contended with his opponent by and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and
dragging him about in circles, shoving and crush- these two young, immature boys with exceed-
ing him, throwing him down and running before ingly tender limbs?
and behind him. Religious principles have certainly been violated
Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, in this assembly. One should not remain for even
pushing each other away and holding each other a moment in a place where irreligion is flourish-
down, the fighters hurt even their own bodies in ing. A wise person should not enter an assembly

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 231, Page—3
if he knows the participants there are committing knowing their sons’ strength. Lord Balarama and
acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such Mushtika, expertly displaying numerous wrestling
an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks techniques, battled each other in the same way that
falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur Lord Krishna and His opponent did. The harsh
sin. Just see the lotus face of Krishna as He darts blows from the Supreme Lord’s limbs fell like
around His foe! That face, covered with drops of crushing lightning bolts upon Chanura, breaking
perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight, every part of his body and causing him more and
resembles a lotus covered with dew. Don’t you see more pain and fatigue.
the face of Lord Balarama, with its eyes copper-red Furious, Chanura attacked Lord Vasudeva with
from His anger toward Mushtika and its beauty the speed of a hawk and struck His chest with
enhanced by His laughter and His absorption in both fists. No more shaken by the demon’s mighty
the fight? How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, blows than an elephant struck with a flower gar-
for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, land, Lord Krishna grabbed Chanura by his arms,
disguising Himself with human traits, wanders swung him around several times and hurled him
about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair
wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead,
feet are worshiped by Lord Shiva and goddess like a huge festival column collapsing. Similarly,
Rama vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in Mushtika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and
the company of Balarama. was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty
What austerities must the gopis have performed! Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great
With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the
Krishna’s form, which is the essence of loveliness ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.
and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That form
is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It Confronted next by the wrestler Kuta, Lord
is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare. The Balarama, the best of fighters, playfully and non-
ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women chalantly killed him with His left fist, O King. Then
because, with their minds fully attached to Krishna Krishna kicked Shala’s head and tore Toshala in
and their throats always choked up with tears, they half, and both wrestlers fell down dead. Chanura,
constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, Mushtika, Kuta, Shala and Toshala having been
winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow killed, the remaining wrestlers all fled for their lives.
dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their Krishna and Balarama then called Their young
crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cowherd boyfriends to join Them, and in their
cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted company the Lords danced about and sported,
Krishna consciousness they automatically acquire Their ankle bells resounding as musical instru-
all desirable things. When the gopis hear Krishna ments played. Everyone except Kamsa rejoiced
playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning at the wonderful feat Krishna and Balarama had
with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the performed. The exalted brahmanas and great saints
young girls quickly come out of their houses to exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!” The Bhoja king,
see Him. They must have performed many pious seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed
activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the or had fled, stopped the musical performance
road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the
them. following words.
Shukadeva Gosvami continued: As the women [Kamsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Va-
spoke thus, O hero of the Bharatas, Lord Krishna, sudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds’
the master of all mystic power, made up His mind property and arrest that fool Nanda! Kill that
to kill His opponent. Out of affection for the two most evil fool Vasudeva! And also kill my father,
Lords, Their parents [Devaki and Vasudeva] be- Ugrasena, along with his followers, who have all
came overwhelmed with sorrow when they heard sided with our enemies! As Kamsa thus raved so
the women’s fearful statements. They grieved, not audaciously, the infallible Lord Krishna, intensely

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Top left 4
angry, quickly and easily jumped up onto the and good fortune within it have come to an end.
high royal dais. Seeing Lord Krishna approaching O dear one, you have been brought to this state
like death personified, the quick-witted Kamsa because of the terrible violence you committed
instantly rose from his seat and took up his sword against innocent creatures. How can one who
and shield. Sword in hand, Kamsa moved quickly harms others attain happiness? Lord Krishna
from side to side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord causes the appearance and disappearance of all
Krishna, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, beings in this world, and He is their maintainer
powerfully seized the demon just as the son of as well. One who disrespects Him can never
Tarksya might capture a snake. prosper happily.
Grabbing Kamsa by the hair and knocking off Shukadeva Gosvami said: After consoling the
his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off royal ladies, Lord Krishna, sustainer of all the
the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then worlds, arranged for the prescribed funeral rites
the independent Lord, the support of the entire to be performed. Then Krishna and Balarama
universe, threw Himself upon the King. As a lion released Their mother and father from bondage
drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged and offered obeisances to them, touching their
Kamsa’s dead body along the ground in full view feet with Their heads. Devaki and Vasudeva, now
of everyone present. O King, all the people in the knowing Krishna and Balarama to be the Lords
arena tumultuously cried out, “Oh! Oh!” Kamsa of the universe, simply stood with joined palms.
had always been disturbed by the thought that the Being apprehensive, they did not embrace their
Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore, when sons.
drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or sim-
ply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord — Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum
Bonum » Chapter 44 » Verses 1–51 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine
before him with the disc weapon in His hand.
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Thus Kamsa achieved the rare boon of attaining
a form like the Lord’s.
Kamsa's Destination
Kamsa’s eight younger brothers, led by Kanka His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a
rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death. As According to the opinion of authorities, Kamsa
they ran swiftly toward the two Lords, ready to attained särüpya-mukti after death; that is to say,
strike, the son of Rohini slew them with His club he attained the same form as Narayana (Vishnu).
just as a lion easily kills other animals. Kettle- On the Vaikuntha planets all the inhabitants have
drums resounded in the sky as Brahma, Shiva and the same bodily features as Narayana. After his
other demigods, the Lord’s expansions, rained death, Kamsa attained liberation and was pro-
down flowers upon Him with pleasure. They moted to Vaikunthaloka. From this instance we
chanted His praises, and their wives danced. My can understand that even a person who thinks of
dear King, the wives of Kamsa and his brothers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an enemy
aggrieved by the death of their well-wishing hus- gets liberation or a place in a Vaikuntha planet,
bands, came forward with tearful eyes, beating so what to speak of the pure devotees, who are
their heads. Embracing their husbands, who lay always absorbed in favorable thoughts of Krishna?
on a hero’s final bed, the sorrowful women loudly Even an enemy killed by Krishna gets liberation
lamented while shedding constant tears. and is placed in the impersonal brahma-jyoti.
[The women cried out:] Alas, O master, O dear Since the Supreme Personality of Godhead
one, O knower of religious principles! O kind and is all-good, anyone thinking of Him, either
compassionate protector of the shelterless! By as an enemy or as a friend, gets liberation.
your being slain we have also been slain, together But the liberation of the devotee and the lib-
with your household and offspring. O great hero eration of the enemy are not the same. The
among men, bereft of you, its master, this city has enemy generally gets the liberation of säyu-
lost its beauty, just as we have, and all festivity

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 231, Page—5
jya, and sometimes he gets särüpya liberation. Then Krishna said to Kamsa: “O Kamsa, in the
Kamsa had eight brothers, headed by Kanka, all of past you sent many great warrior-generals to kill
them younger than he, and when they learned that Me, but I sent them all to Svargaloka. In the past
their elder brother had been killed, they combined few moments I have sent many of your wrestlers
together and rushed toward Krishna in great anger to Svargaloka also. Now I will happily send you to
to kill Him. Kamsa and his brothers were all Krish- Svargaloka.” After speaking these words to Kamsa
na’s maternal uncles, brothers of Krishna’s mother, in the assembly, Lord Krishna began to play with
Devaki. When Krishna killed Kamsa He killed His His friends. In the course of playing with Their
maternal uncle, which is against the regulations of friends, the two brothers Krishna and Balarama
Vedic injunctions. were again and again defeated in wrestling con-
Although Krishna is independent of all Vedic tests. Seeing this, Kamsa thought in his heart:
injunctions, He violates the Vedic injunctions only “Look! Krishna killed so many powerful wrestlers,
in inevitable cases. Kamsa could not be killed by and now He is defeated by small boys!”
anyone but Krishna; therefore Krishna was obliged With the playful wrestling-contests They en-
to kill him. But as far as Kamsa’s eight brothers were joyed with Their friends, Krishna and Balarama
concerned, Balarama took charge of killing them. filled everyone with wonder. They glanced at the
Balarama’s mother, Rohini, although the wife of fortunate members of the four varëas present in
Vasudeva, was not the sister of Kamsa; therefore that assembly. They gave all honor to their con-
Balarama took charge of killing all of Kamsa’s eight temporary gopa-friends. In the worlds of the demi-
brothers. He immediately took up an available gods, and on the Earth also, glorious instrumental
weapon (most probably the elephant’s tusk which music was sounded. There was divine dancing in
He carried) and killed the eight brothers one after the malla-rhythm. Demigods flying in airplanes
another, just as a lion kills a flock of deer. Krishna showered charming jasmine flowers on Krishna
and Balarama thus verified the statement that the and Balarama.
Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in order to Unable to tolerate all the praise of Krishna and
give protection to the pious and to kill the impious Balarama, King Kamsa, wishing to declare that
demons, who are always enemies of the demigods. because King Nanda’s property was originally
King Kamsa’s property it should be taken from
— Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum Nanda and given to Kamsa, clapped his hands
Bonum » Chapter 44 » From Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead by two or three times and commanded that the
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. musicians stop playing their instruments. When
the music stopped, Krishna continued to dance
Chanura and Krishna and play and jump with His gopa-friends. Then,
Srila Jiva Goswami when He heard Kamsa’s harsh words directed to
Vasudeva and Ugrasena, Sri Krishna, with a great
Not having seen the great ability in wrestling that leap, was suddenly seen on Kamsa’s royal platform.
Krishna and Balarama showed when they playfully Sri Krishna’s very unbearable effulgence at once
killed Chanura and Mushtika, some other wres- attacked Kamsa. Kamsa, whose death was now
tlers, spewing insults at Krishna and Balarama, then imminent, picked up a sword and shield to defeat
entered the arena. Their names were Kuta, Shala, his attacker. Then supremely powerful and joyful
and Toshala. After killing these three with punches Krishna, who is the shelter of the people of Vraja,
and kicks, Krishna and Balarama began to dance. suddenly grabbed Kamsa by the hair. As a rabbit
Then Krishna and Balarama happily fought with a grabbed by a hawk has no power to know what
great host of other wrestlers. When many of these in truth has just happened to him, so Kamsa did
wrestlers were killed, the remaining wrestlers fled. not know the truth of what was about to happen
When They saw this, Krishna and Balarama and to him.
many of the spectators laughed. The people there then spoke the following
stanza: “As a hawk grabs a pigeon, as a lion grabs

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 Issue no 231, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
a royal elephant, as a thunderbolt grabs a moun- Srimad-Bhägavatam, but also mixed with some
tain, and as Garuda grabs a snake filled with bitter details from Hari-vaàça and other scriptures.
poison, so Krishna has grabbed and overpowered Joyful Krishna offered respectful obeisances to
Kamsa. Krishna now playfully drags Kamsa here King Nanda and King Vasudeva. Then Krishna
and there on the royal platform. released Vasudeva from his bondage. In this way
As the people spoke this stanza, Krishna grabbed He delighted everyone. Accompanied by many
Kamsa’s hair. At once Kamsa lost half of his vital ladies, He went to Devakis house and found her
force. The mere scent of Krishna made Kamsa fall there with many other ladies. He reciprocated with
down from the royal platform. Lord Krishna, who His various kinsmen in appropriate ways and He
was eager to fight, had no power to understand delighted them all. Then He freed Kamsa’s father,
why Kamsa was in such haste to leave his body. Ugrasena, who had been imprisoned by Kamsa
Krishna pulled Kamsa’s hair. Because of the blows and whose wealth Kamsa had taken away. A great
of Krishna’s fist, Kamsa’s life-breath perished. This host elephants had no power to move the dead
is not very surprising. Please remember how in His body of Kamsa. With His left hand Krishna easily
infancy Lord Krishna sucked the life from Putana's dragged Kamsa’s body, which made a trench as it
breast. Kamsa’s sword and shield fell from his was pulled along the ground. After delighting His
hands. His jeweled armor became broken and fell two fathers and all the people there, Krishna took
from him. His hair became disheveled. His crown rest at the holy place named Vishrama-tirtha.
fell. In front of all the spectators, defeated Kamsa Lord Balarama and some others dragged the
fell from the royal platform. Lord Krishna then dead bodies of Kamsa’s brothers. In this way
stepped on the fallen Kamsa. They delighted everyone. They dragged the dead
Dead Kamsa’s eyelids remained open, stuck in bodies of all the enemies of Krishna. The saintly
that position by great fear. That is why no one was and pious people saw that these slain people had
willing to say: “Kamsa is now dead.” To prove to been demons in their previous birth. Slain in a
the people that Kamsa was indeed dead, Krishna battle (with the demigods), they had fallen from
dragged the dead Kamsa here and there in that Bhuvarloka and taken birth on the Earth. In this
assembly, dragged him as a great lion drags a way the pious people became peaceful and happy
dead elephant. At the moment the Earth and at heart. Glorious King Nanda at once sent to Vraja
the worlds of the demigods became filled with a messenger with the news of Kamsa’s death. It
tumultuous sounds of “Jaya! Jaya!”, and with was not only instrumental music that greeted the
tumultuous instrumental music, and with show- messenger when he arrived. He was greeted by
ers of flowers. Lord Krishna, who had just given great crowds of the people of Vraja also.
liberation to Kamsa, and who had delighted the The wives of Kamsa and his brothers were
people in that assembly, and who was then for a overcome with grief. They embraced the bodies
long time worshiped by His kinsmen and friends of their dead husbands. Lamenting, they hated
and well-wishers, concealed His supreme intelli- their own life’s-breath. They wept. Their mothers
gence and pretended to be unaware of all that had wept also. They were all filled with sorrow. At first
happened. the widows of Kamsa and his brothers showed no
The demigods in Devaloka spoke many prayers sign that they understood their husbands were
praising Krishna, the killer of Kamsa. They wor- dead. But now, in Krishna’s presence, they loudly
shiped Krishna with a great shower of fragrant lamented. In their lamentation they washed away
flowers. Charming and blissful Krishna had filled any shyness they may have felt then. Hearing
the Earth with a great festival of happiness. When their weeping, Krishna Himself wept. Filled with
Kanka and the other brothers of Kamsa tried to remorse for what He had done, He tried to console
avenge their brother’s death, Balarama, to assist them. Even though Krishna tried to console them,
His brother, killed them all with His club. Now those ladies were not consoled. Krishna asked
I will give the following description of the fol- other persons to try to console them. Then the
lowing events, a description taken mainly from Yadavas took Krishna to the palace.

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 231, Page—7
When the Yadavas were worried that a calamity Kamsa ferociously hated Me, still I did not pay
might fall on Mathura City, Akrura decided to very much attention to fighting with Kamsa and
visit Krishna and Balarama. Then King Nanda, defeating him. When I was a small child I did not
who is the best of all who know the rules of po- understand, even though he had sent Putana and
lite etiquette, forbade Akrura to do so. Instead a host of demons to attack Me, how much Kamsa
Nanda brought Krishna and Balarama to the hated Me. It was only after some time that I came
home of their uncle Akrura. In the center were to understand how much Kamsa hated Me.
Krishna and Balarama. At Their two sides were “Putana, who attacked Me with her breast-milk,
Nanda and Vasudeva. Before Them was a great Trinavarta, who tried to drag Me away, Vatsasura,
multitude of eager Yadavas. who tried to kill Me with a clever trick, Bakasura,
The Yadavas had come to meet Krishna and who tried to swallow Me, Vyomasura, who tried
Balarama. The gopa-king Nanda introduced to separate Me from My friends, Aghasura, who
the elder Yadavas to Krishna and Balarama, and tried to swallow Me and My companions, Pralam-
Akrura introduced the younger Yadavas. Sad- basura, who tried to abduct Balarama, and Keshi,
dened by hearing the weeping of the wives of who tried to devour Me, were all the cause of their
Kamsa and his brothers, and His face pale like own deaths. How can I be blamed for causing their
the moon swallowed by Rahu during an eclipse, deaths? Your son Kamsa sent Akrura to bring Me
pale because of his son Kamsa’s many offenses, here, and when I came Kamsa sent first Kuvalay-
Ugrasena, with his royal golden-handled parasol apida elephant and then some wrestlers to kill Me.
and other royal insignias placed before him and When I heard Kamsa hurl insults at you, I became
his head humbly bowed down, then arrived in afraid for Kamsa’s sake. To help him atone for the
that assembly. sin of insulting you, I grabbed him by the hair. As
When Ugrasena arrived, Nanda and Vasude- I held him, he died accidentally.
va both stood up. Observing this, Krishna and “My uncle Kamsa, who is like a snake that eats
Balarama stood up also. Understanding, “It is its own children, died because of his own sins.
he,” Krishna and Balarama offered respectful He did not die because of some effort on My part.
obeisances to the trembling Ugrasena and made How will accepting a kingdom make Me happy?
him sit at the head of the assembly. Sorrowful Speaking words that are the truth, I will now tell
because of the offenses committed by his son you My true desire, My unchanging eternal desire,
Kamsa, King Ugrasena said: “An offender has no My desire kalpa after kalpa. Accompanied by My
right to speak before righteous people. Still, if he cows and cowherd friends, I will wander in the
has no other option, the offender may say some- forest, happily wander like a wild elephant that
thing.” Sri Krishna said: “You may command Us acts as he pleases.I say the truth. I say it a hundred
in any way you wish.” Ugrasena said: “Who but times. I will not become king. You are a worthy
the sun-god rules the Earth, destroys darkness, and noble person. You are already the king. You
ends the night, and is the king of the daytime? “A are the ruler and the ancestor of Me and of the
wise man follows the path prescribed by the wise other Yadavas also.”
elders. Who has the power to cross to the farther For some moments the saintly members of that
shore of the shoreless ocean of time? “Therefore assembly gazed at Sri Krishna. With tears in their
I now offer this royal parasol and the other royal eyes they drank the nectar of gazing at His face.
paraphernalia to You.” Lord Krishna’s refusal to accept the kingship of
Sri Krishna said: “O king, everyone has already Mathura made Vasudeva and the Yadavas worry.
seen how I have killed your son Kamsa. How Nanda and the gopas of Vraja were, however, filled
can I change that fact? However, My killing of with joy. Seeing that the Yadavas were worried,
Kamsa has a certain unique feature. Time, which Lord Krishna said to them: “At present no king
has already brought many troubles to you, is rules over the Yädava dynasty. O Ugrasena, if you
the true cause of Kamsa’s death. Although I am accept the kingship of the Yadavas, and by that the
so powerful that I am not under the control kingship over the entire Earth, then, for some days
of time, and although I knew very well that I will give help to you. If it were not My duty to

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 Issue no 231, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
the unpleasant duty of attending Kamsa’s fu-
neral. You all should follow My father to the
carts and pass the night on the carts.” Krish-
na and Balarama went to Vishrama-ghata,
crossed the Yamuna on boats, performed
Kamsa’s funeral on the Yamuna's northern
bank, and then returned to Vasudeva’s palace.
Entering the closed-to-all-outsiders in-
ner-apartments of the palace, Krishna and
Balarama respectfully offered obeisances
to Their mother and father (Devaki and
Vasudeva). Because they had directly seen
the great power of Krishna and Balarama,
Devaki and Vasudeva could not think of
themselves as the parents of Krishna and
Balarama. Seeing this, Krishna and Balarama
became unhappy. Then Devaki and Vasude-
va became filled at heart with parental love
for Krishna and Balarama, love like the love
Yashoda and Nanda felt. Stunned with bliss,
Devaki and Vasudeva hugged Krishna and
Balarama for a long time.
As long as he does not taste the sweetness
of Krishna, a devotee will feel in his heart
great awe and reverence to Lord Krishna.
How could Srila Shukadeva Gosvami not
praise Lord Krishna’s sweetness? Again
and again Srila Shukadeva praised the land
of Vraja, where Lord Krishna manifested
help you now, I would immediately return His divine sweetness. Accompanied by
to Gokula and there I would enjoy the most Vasudeva, Krishna then departed from the
sublime bliss.” As Krishna spoke, Ugrasena palace. Then Lord Krishna, who dearly
retained a worried silence. Then Sri Krishna, loves His servants and who bears the mark
who thirsted to enjoy the bliss of His lov- of Srivatsa, and whose eyelids do not blink,
ing pastimes with the residents of Gokula, and whose fame and glory delight everyone
placed, with unwavering determination, the and fill all the worlds with auspiciousness,
crown upon Ugrasena’s head. remembered His servant Uddhava. Yearning
Lord Krishna humbly bowed His head be- to see Uddhava, Krishna has a servant fetch
fore King Ugrasena, and all the Yadavas there Uddhava from his home.
bowed their heads also. Then Lord Krishna When Krishna and Uddhava first met,
said: “O king, We will all follow behind you They were both overcome. They both
as you celebrate the funeral festival of Kamsa, though: “Who am I? Where am I? What is
who attained a glorious future destination the occasion? Who is this person that has
worthy of a heroic kñatriya. My two fathers now come before Me?” The people around
(Nanda and Vasudeva), who by now must be Them had no understanding of what Krish-
very fatigued, should return to their homes.” na and Uddhava then felt. Who has the pow-
Then Sri Krishna said to Sridama and the er to understand the truth of what Krishna
other cowherds: “Balarama and I will perform and Uddhava felt then? Only the Deity of
Pure Spiritual Love knows what They felt.

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 231, Page—9
On some pretext Krishna and Balarama ed for the other world as everyone watched with
departed from Vasudeva’s company and ap- filled-with-wonder eyes.
proached Uddhava. Their hearts frozen after Not having seen the great ability in wrestling that
long separation, Krishna and Uddhava met Krishna and Balarama showed when they playfully
again. Again and again They gazed at each killed Chanura and Mushtika, some other wres-
other’s face. They celebrated a great festival tlers, spewing insults at Krishna and Balarama, then
of hugging each other. It was as if They were entered the arena. Their names were Kuta, Shala,
anointing each other with an abhiñeka made and Toshala. After killing these three with punches
of the floods of tears from Their eyes. and kicks, Krishna and Balarama began to dance.
“In that ferocious battle Krishna and the Then Krishna and Balarama happily fought with
wrestler Chanura are never seen to actually a great host of other wrestlers. When many of these
touch. By Krishna’s power, material dark- wrestlers were killed, the remaining wrestlers fled.
ness can never touch spiritual light. Not When They saw this, Krishna and Balarama and
the slightest wound, nor even the slightest many of the spectators laughed.
swelling can be seen on the body of Sri — Sri Gopäla-Campü of Srila Jiva Gosvami » Translation by Kushakratha
Krishna. Look! With His poisonous power Das.
Sri Krishna has crushed into pieces all the
delicate life-giving organs within Chanura’s
body. As a spark burns a pile of twigs to ash-
es, as Indra’s thunderbolt breaks mountains
into pieces, as Agastya Muni swallowed up
the ocean, as the brilliant sun chases away
the darkness of night, and as Lord Krishna’s
holy name destroys all sins, so Lord Krishna
is now victorious over the powerful wrestler
Chanura. Look! You can see Lord Krishna’s
victory with your own eyes.
“Look at the great wonder Lord Krishna
now manifests in this fight! It is Chanura
who is suffering from Krishna’s blows,
but it is Kamsa, untouched by Krishna,
whose heart is breaking into pieces. With
his thunderbolt-like fists the fool Chanura
now pounds Sri Krishna’s chest. Still, the
blows have no effect on Krishna. The hairs
of Krishna’s body now stand upright in ex- !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
treme delight.” ISKCON
As the people sadly watched, Krishna Bhägavata Mahävidyalaya
grabbed Chanura and whirled him about is a branch of
in the air. Saying, “Alas! Now he is dead,” International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
Sri Krishna threw Chanura to the ground A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
as King Kamsa watched. Balarama was
happily punching Mushtika. Then, slapped Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
His Divine Grace
by Balarama, Mushtika suddenly died. A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mushtika suffered greatly. He trembled. He
rolled his eyes. He who shattered by Time ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
Personified, who bears the names Krishna
©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective
and Balarama. Showing the path that Kamsa artists.
himself was soon to tread, Mushtika depart-

www.ibmedu.org Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya