Chapter Eleven Dhenukāsura-mokṣa The Liberation of Dhenukāsura

One day, as He was herding the beautiful cows with Balarāma and all the gopas, Kṛṣṇa went to newly-blossoming Tālavana forest.

Out of fear of an ass, Dhenuka, the gopas did not enter that forest. Even Kṛṣṇa did not enter. Only Balarāma entered.

Tying the blue sash at His waist, very powerful Balarāma entered that forest to get its ripe fruit.

Roaring fearlessly, Balarāma, who was Lord Ananta Himself, and whose strength had no limit, with both arms shook the tāla trees and made many fruits fall.

When he heard the sound of the falling fruits, the ass-demon Dhenuka, who was very powerful, who was a friend of Kaṁsa, and who had been taking his midday nap, became filled with anger.

cakāra khara-śabdaṁ svaṁ paridhāvan muhur muhuḥ balaḥ paścima-pādayoḥ cīkṣepa tāla-vṛkṣe ca hastenaikena līlayā tena bhagnaś ca tālo 'pi tālān pārśva-sthitān bahūn pātayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat punar utthāya daityendro balaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ āyayau —came; sammukhe —in the presence; yoddhum —to fight; baladevasya —Balarāma; dhenukaḥ —Dhenuka; balam —Balarāma; paścima —behind; pādābhyām —with both feet; nihatyta —struck; urasi —on the chest; sa-tvaram —quickly; cakāra —did; khara-śabdam —an ass sound; svam —own; paridhāvan —running; muhuḥ —again; muhuḥ —and again; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; śīghram —at once; balaḥ —Balarāma; paścima-pādayoḥ —by the hind hooves; cikṣepa —threw; tāla-vṛkṣe —into a tala tree; ca —and; hastenaikena —with one hand; līlayā —playfully; tena —by Him; bhagnaś —broken; ca —and; tālaḥ —the tala tree; api —even; tālān —the tal trees; pārśva-sthitān —by its side; bahūn —many; pātayām āsa —caused to fall rājendra —O king of kings; tat —that; adbhutam —wonder; iva —like; abhavat —was; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; daityendraḥ —the king of demons; balam —Balarāma; jagrāha —grabbed; roṣataḥ —angrily. Coming before the Lord to fight, with his hind hooves Dhenuka suddenly kicked Balarāma's chest and neighed. Balarāma chased Dhenuka, quickly caught his hind legs, and with one hand playfully threw him into a tāla tree. When that tree fell it made and many other tāla trees nearby also fall. O king of kings, all this was very surprising. Then that king of demons again stood up and angrily grabbed Balarāma.

cakāra khara-śabdaṁ svaṁ paridhāvan muhur muhuḥ balaḥ paścima-pādayoḥ cīkṣepa tāla-vṛkṣe ca hastenaikena līlayā tena bhagnaś ca tālo 'pi tālān pārśva-sthitān bahūn pātayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat punar utthāya daityendro balaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ āyayau —came; sammukhe —in the presence; yoddhum —to fight; baladevasya —Balarāma; dhenukaḥ —Dhenuka; balam —Balarāma; paścima —behind; pādābhyām —with both feet; nihatyta —struck; urasi —on the chest; sa-tvaram —quickly; cakāra —did; khara-śabdam —an ass sound; svam —own; paridhāvan —running; muhuḥ —again; muhuḥ —and again; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; śīghram —at once; balaḥ —Balarāma; paścima-pādayoḥ —by the hind hooves; cikṣepa —threw; tāla-vṛkṣe —into a tala tree; ca —and; hastenaikena —with one hand; līlayā —playfully; tena —by Him; bhagnaś —broken; ca —and; tālaḥ —the tala tree; api —even; tālān —the tal trees; pārśva-sthitān —by its side; bahūn —many; pātayām āsa —caused to fall rājendra —O king of kings; tat —that; adbhutam —wonder; iva —like; abhavat —was; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; daityendraḥ —the king of demons; balam —Balarāma; jagrāha —grabbed; roṣataḥ —angrily. Coming before the Lord to fight, with his hind hooves Dhenuka suddenly kicked Balarāma's chest and neighed. Balarāma chased Dhenuka, quickly caught his hind legs, and with one hand playfully threw him into a tāla tree. When that tree fell it made and many other tāla trees nearby also fall. O king of kings, all this was very surprising. Then that king of demons again stood up and angrily grabbed Balarāma.

cakāra khara-śabdaṁ svaṁ paridhāvan muhur muhuḥ balaḥ paścima-pādayoḥ cīkṣepa tāla-vṛkṣe ca hastenaikena līlayā tena bhagnaś ca tālo 'pi tālān pārśva-sthitān bahūn pātayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat punar utthāya daityendro balaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ āyayau —came; sammukhe —in the presence; yoddhum —to fight; baladevasya —Balarāma; dhenukaḥ —Dhenuka; balam —Balarāma; paścima —behind; pādābhyām —with both feet; nihatyta —struck; urasi —on the chest; sa-tvaram —quickly; cakāra —did; khara-śabdam —an ass sound; svam —own; paridhāvan —running; muhuḥ —again; muhuḥ —and again; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; śīghram —at once; balaḥ —Balarāma; paścima-pādayoḥ —by the hind hooves; cikṣepa —threw; tāla-vṛkṣe —into a tala tree; ca —and; hastenaikena —with one hand; līlayā —playfully; tena —by Him; bhagnaś —broken; ca —and; tālaḥ —the tala tree; api —even; tālān —the tal trees; pārśva-sthitān —by its side; bahūn —many; pātayām āsa —caused to fall rājendra —O king of kings; tat —that; adbhutam —wonder; iva —like; abhavat —was; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; daityendraḥ —the king of demons; balam —Balarāma; jagrāha —grabbed; roṣataḥ —angrily. Coming before the Lord to fight, with his hind hooves Dhenuka suddenly kicked Balarāma's chest and neighed. Balarāma chased Dhenuka, quickly caught his hind legs, and with one hand playfully threw him into a tāla tree. When that tree fell it made and many other tāla trees nearby also fall. O king of kings, all this was very surprising. Then that king of demons again stood up and angrily grabbed Balarāma.

cakāra khara-śabdaṁ svaṁ paridhāvan muhur muhuḥ balaḥ paścima-pādayoḥ cīkṣepa tāla-vṛkṣe ca hastenaikena līlayā tena bhagnaś ca tālo 'pi tālān pārśva-sthitān bahūn pātayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat punar utthāya daityendro balaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ āyayau —came; sammukhe —in the presence; yoddhum —to fight; baladevasya —Balarāma; dhenukaḥ —Dhenuka; balam —Balarāma; paścima —behind; pādābhyām —with both feet; nihatyta —struck; urasi —on the chest; sa-tvaram —quickly; cakāra —did; khara-śabdam —an ass sound; svam —own; paridhāvan —running; muhuḥ —again; muhuḥ —and again; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; śīghram —at once; balaḥ —Balarāma; paścima-pādayoḥ —by the hind hooves; cikṣepa —threw; tāla-vṛkṣe —into a tala tree; ca —and; hastenaikena —with one hand; līlayā —playfully; tena —by Him; bhagnaś —broken; ca —and; tālaḥ —the tala tree; api —even; tālān —the tal trees; pārśva-sthitān —by its side; bahūn —many; pātayām āsa —caused to fall rājendra —O king of kings; tat —that; adbhutam —wonder; iva —like; abhavat —was; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; daityendraḥ —the king of demons; balam —Balarāma; jagrāha —grabbed; roṣataḥ —angrily. Coming before the Lord to fight, with his hind hooves Dhenuka suddenly kicked Balarāma's chest and neighed. Balarāma chased Dhenuka, quickly caught his hind legs, and with one hand playfully threw him into a tāla tree. When that tree fell it made and many other tāla trees nearby also fall. O king of kings, all this was very surprising. Then that king of demons again stood up and angrily grabbed Balarāma.

Then Balarāma suddenly grabbed Dhenuka, whirled him around, and, as one elephant throws another elephant, threw him for eight miles.

When Dhenuka struck the ground, his head became badly wounded, and he fell unconscious. In a moment he stood up, and this time his body was filled with anger.

Then Dheunka manifested a terrifying form with four horns. With his sharp and terrifying horns he made the gopas flee.

When the boys fled, Dhenuka chased them. Angry Śrīdāmā hit Dhenuka with a stick, and Subala hit him with his fist.

Stoka Kṛṣṇa whipped the powerful demon with a rope. Arjuna and Aṁśu threw him far away.

Viśāla and Ṛṣabha kicked the demon. Tejasvī tried to strangle him. Devaprastha slapped him.

bhrāmayitvāśu cīkṣepa giri-govardhanopari śrī-kṛṣṇasya prahāreṇa mūrcchito ghaṭikā-dvayam varūthapaḥ —Varuthapa; kandukena —with a ball; santatāḍa —hit; mahā-kharam —thge great ass; atha —then; kṛṣṇaḥ —Kṛṣṇa; api —also; tam —him; nītvā —taking; hastābhyām —with both hands; dhenukāsuram —Dhenukasara; bhrāmayitvā —whirling about; āśu —at once; cīkṣepa —threw; giri-govardhanopari —onto Govardhana Hill; śrī-kṛṣṇasya —of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; prahāreṇa —by the blow; mūrcchitaḥ —fainted; ghaṭikā-dvayam —for an hour. Varūthapa hit the great demon with a ball. Then Kṛṣṇa grabbed Dhenukāsura with both hands, whirled him around, and threw him onto Gocvardhana Hill. By the force of this the demon was unconscious for an hour.

bhrāmayitvāśu cīkṣepa giri-govardhanopari śrī-kṛṣṇasya prahāreṇa mūrcchito ghaṭikā-dvayam varūthapaḥ —Varuthapa; kandukena —with a ball; santatāḍa —hit; mahā-kharam —thge great ass; atha —then; kṛṣṇaḥ —Kṛṣṇa; api —also; tam —him; nītvā —taking; hastābhyām —with both hands; dhenukāsuram —Dhenukasara; bhrāmayitvā —whirling about; āśu —at once; cīkṣepa —threw; giri-govardhanopari —onto Govardhana Hill; śrī-kṛṣṇasya —of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; prahāreṇa —by the blow; mūrcchitaḥ —fainted; ghaṭikā-dvayam —for an hour. Varūthapa hit the great demon with a ball. Then Kṛṣṇa grabbed Dhenukāsura with both hands, whirled him around, and threw him onto Gocvardhana Hill. By the force of this the demon was unconscious for an hour.

Shaking off this form, the demon again manifested his original form. With his horns the demon grabbed Kṛṣṇa and carried Him into the sky.

śrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān svayam cīkṣepādho bhūmi-madhye cūrṇitāsthiḥ sa mūrcchitaḥ punar utthāya śṛṅgābhyāṁ nādaṁ kṛtvāti-bhairavam cakāra —did; tena —by him; khe —in the sky; yuddham —battle; ūrdhvam —high; vai —indeed; lakṣa-yojanam —eight hundred thousand miles; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; daityam —the demon; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ —Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān svayam —the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; cikṣepa —threw; adhaḥ —below; bhūmi-madhye —to the earth; cūrṇita —broken; asthiḥ —bones; sa —he; mūrcchitaḥ —fainted; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; śṛṅgābhyām —with two horns; nādam —a sound; kṛtva —making; ati-bhairavam —veryy terrible. Eight hundred thousand miles in the sky they fought. Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, grabbed Dhenukāsura and threw him to the earth. His bones broken, the demon fell unconscious. Again rising, the demon made a very terrible sound with his two horns.

śrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān svayam cīkṣepādho bhūmi-madhye cūrṇitāsthiḥ sa mūrcchitaḥ punar utthāya śṛṅgābhyāṁ nādaṁ kṛtvāti-bhairavam cakāra —did; tena —by him; khe —in the sky; yuddham —battle; ūrdhvam —high; vai —indeed; lakṣa-yojanam —eight hundred thousand miles; gṛhītvā —taking; dhenukam —Dhenuka; daityam —the demon; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ —Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān svayam —the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; cikṣepa —threw; adhaḥ —below; bhūmi-madhye —to the earth; cūrṇita —broken; asthiḥ —bones; sa —he; mūrcchitaḥ —fainted; punaḥ —again; utthāya —rising; śṛṅgābhyām —with two horns; nādam —a sound; kṛtva —making; ati-bhairavam —veryy terrible. Eight hundred thousand miles in the sky they fought. Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, grabbed Dhenukāsura and threw him to the earth. His bones broken, the demon fell unconscious. Again rising, the demon made a very terrible sound with his two horns.

prākṣipat tasya mastake govardhanam —Govardhana Hill; samutpāṭya —uprotting; śrī-kṛṣṇe —at Śrī Kṛṣṇa; prāhiṇot —threw; kharaḥ —Dhenukasura; girim —the hill; gṛhītvā —taking; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ —Śrī Kṛṣṇa; prākṣipat —threw; tasya —on his; mastake —head. Uprooting Govardhana Hill, Dhenukāsura threw it at Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Catching the hill, Kṛṣṇa threw it at Dhenuka's head.

The demon caught the hill and threw it again at Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa caught Govardhana Hill and threw it back to its former place.

Breaking the gorund with his horns, the demon charged Balarāma, kicked him with his hind hooves, and roared.

bhū-pṛṣṭhe pothayām āsa mūrcchitaṁ bhagna-mastakam punas tatāḍa taṁ daityaṁ muṣṭinā hy acyutāgrajaḥ nanāda —sounded; tena —by that; brahmāṇḍam —the universe; praijat —shook; bhū-khaṇḍa-maṇḍalam —to the earth; hastābhyām —with both hands; saṅgṛhītvā —grabbing; tam —him; baladevaḥ —Balarāma; mahā-balaḥ —very powerful; bhū-pṛṣṭhe —to the ground; pothayām āsa —threw; mūrcchitam —fainted; bhagna-mastakam —his head broken; punaḥ —again; tatāḍa —struck; tam —him; daityam —the demon; muṣṭinā —with a fist; hy —indeed; acyuta —of infallible Kṛṣṇa; agrajaḥ —the elder brother. With that roar the universe echoed and the earth shook. Then with both hands powerful Balarāma grabbed the demon and threw him to the ground. His head broken, the demon fell unconscious. Then Kṛṣṇa's elder brother, Balarāma, punched the demon with His fist.

bhū-pṛṣṭhe pothayām āsa mūrcchitaṁ bhagna-mastakam punas tatāḍa taṁ daityaṁ muṣṭinā hy acyutāgrajaḥ nanāda —sounded; tena —by that; brahmāṇḍam —the universe; praijat —shook; bhū-khaṇḍa-maṇḍalam —to the earth; hastābhyām —with both hands; saṅgṛhītvā —grabbing; tam —him; baladevaḥ —Balarāma; mahā-balaḥ —very powerful; bhū-pṛṣṭhe —to the ground; pothayām āsa —threw; mūrcchitam —fainted; bhagna-mastakam —his head broken; punaḥ —again; tatāḍa —struck; tam —him; daityam —the demon; muṣṭinā —with a fist; hy —indeed; acyuta —of infallible Kṛṣṇa; agrajaḥ —the elder brother. With that roar the universe echoed and the earth shook. Then with both hands powerful Balarāma grabbed the demon and threw him to the ground. His head broken, the demon fell unconscious. Then Kṛṣṇa's elder brother, Balarāma, punched the demon with His fist.

With that punch the demon died. Then the demigods showered flowers from the nandana gardens.

lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛd dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyo 'ruṇa-varṇo 'ti-ratna-bhṛt divya-yojana-vistīrṇo mano-yāyī manoharaḥ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyukto ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ hariṁ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya sa-balaṁ divya-rūpa-dhṛk divyaṁ rathaṁ samāruhya dyotayan maṇḍalaṁ diśam jagāma daityo he rājan golokaṁ prakṛteḥ param dehāt —from the body; vinirgataḥ —gone; saḥ —he; api —also; śyāmasundara-vigrahaḥ —a handsome dark form like that of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sragvī —garlanded; pītāmbaraḥ —dressed in yellow graments; devaḥ —the Lord; vana-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ —decorated with forest flowers; lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ —with a hundred thousand associates; sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ —splendid with a thousand flags; sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛt —with a thousand rubling wheels; dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ —drawn by ten thousand horses; lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyaḥ —splemndid with a hundred thousand camaras; aruṇa-varṇaḥ —red; ati-ratna-bhṛt —studded with many jewels; divya-yojana-vistīrṇaḥ —eight miles long; mano-yāyī —traveling as fast as the mind; manoharaḥ —beautiful; kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyuktaḥ —with a network of tinkling ornaments; ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ —with many bells; harim —Kṛṣṇa; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya —circumambulating; sa-balam —with Balarāma; divya-rūpa-dhṛk —a transcendental form manifesting; divyam —transcendental; ratham —chariot; samāruhya —climbing; dyotayan —glistening; maṇḍalam —the circle; diśam —the directions; jagāma —went; daityaḥ —the demon; he —O; rājan —king; golokam —to Goloka; prakṛteḥ —the material world; param —above. Leaving his body, Dhenuka manifested a splendid and handsome dark form wearing yellow garments and decorated with a forest flower garland. Then a chariot, filled with a hundred thousand of the Lord's associates, decorated with a thousand flags, rumbling with a thousand wheels, pulled by ten thousand horses, glorious with a hundred thousand cāmaras, yellow, studded with many jewels, eight miles long, beautiful, traveling as fast as the mind, and decorated with many bells and tinkling ornaments, suddenly appeared. O king, the demon circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and then, filling the circle of the directions with light, he ascended the chariot and went to Goloka, far beyond the material realm.

lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛd dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyo 'ruṇa-varṇo 'ti-ratna-bhṛt divya-yojana-vistīrṇo mano-yāyī manoharaḥ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyukto ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ hariṁ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya sa-balaṁ divya-rūpa-dhṛk divyaṁ rathaṁ samāruhya dyotayan maṇḍalaṁ diśam jagāma daityo he rājan golokaṁ prakṛteḥ param dehāt —from the body; vinirgataḥ —gone; saḥ —he; api —also; śyāmasundara-vigrahaḥ —a handsome dark form like that of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sragvī —garlanded; pītāmbaraḥ —dressed in yellow graments; devaḥ —the Lord; vana-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ —decorated with forest flowers; lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ —with a hundred thousand associates; sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ —splendid with a thousand flags; sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛt —with a thousand rubling wheels; dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ —drawn by ten thousand horses; lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyaḥ —splemndid with a hundred thousand camaras; aruṇa-varṇaḥ —red; ati-ratna-bhṛt —studded with many jewels; divya-yojana-vistīrṇaḥ —eight miles long; mano-yāyī —traveling as fast as the mind; manoharaḥ —beautiful; kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyuktaḥ —with a network of tinkling ornaments; ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ —with many bells; harim —Kṛṣṇa; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya —circumambulating; sa-balam —with Balarāma; divya-rūpa-dhṛk —a transcendental form manifesting; divyam —transcendental; ratham —chariot; samāruhya —climbing; dyotayan —glistening; maṇḍalam —the circle; diśam —the directions; jagāma —went; daityaḥ —the demon; he —O; rājan —king; golokam —to Goloka; prakṛteḥ —the material world; param —above. Leaving his body, Dhenuka manifested a splendid and handsome dark form wearing yellow garments and decorated with a forest flower garland. Then a chariot, filled with a hundred thousand of the Lord's associates, decorated with a thousand flags, rumbling with a thousand wheels, pulled by ten thousand horses, glorious with a hundred thousand cāmaras, yellow, studded with many jewels, eight miles long, beautiful, traveling as fast as the mind, and decorated with many bells and tinkling ornaments, suddenly appeared. O king, the demon circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and then, filling the circle of the directions with light, he ascended the chariot and went to Goloka, far beyond the material realm.

lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛd dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyo 'ruṇa-varṇo 'ti-ratna-bhṛt divya-yojana-vistīrṇo mano-yāyī manoharaḥ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyukto ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ hariṁ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya sa-balaṁ divya-rūpa-dhṛk divyaṁ rathaṁ samāruhya dyotayan maṇḍalaṁ diśam jagāma daityo he rājan golokaṁ prakṛteḥ param dehāt —from the body; vinirgataḥ —gone; saḥ —he; api —also; śyāmasundara-vigrahaḥ —a handsome dark form like that of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sragvī —garlanded; pītāmbaraḥ —dressed in yellow graments; devaḥ —the Lord; vana-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ —decorated with forest flowers; lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ —with a hundred thousand associates; sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ —splendid with a thousand flags; sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛt —with a thousand rubling wheels; dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ —drawn by ten thousand horses; lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyaḥ —splemndid with a hundred thousand camaras; aruṇa-varṇaḥ —red; ati-ratna-bhṛt —studded with many jewels; divya-yojana-vistīrṇaḥ —eight miles long; mano-yāyī —traveling as fast as the mind; manoharaḥ —beautiful; kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyuktaḥ —with a network of tinkling ornaments; ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ —with many bells; harim —Kṛṣṇa; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya —circumambulating; sa-balam —with Balarāma; divya-rūpa-dhṛk —a transcendental form manifesting; divyam —transcendental; ratham —chariot; samāruhya —climbing; dyotayan —glistening; maṇḍalam —the circle; diśam —the directions; jagāma —went; daityaḥ —the demon; he —O; rājan —king; golokam —to Goloka; prakṛteḥ —the material world; param —above. Leaving his body, Dhenuka manifested a splendid and handsome dark form wearing yellow garments and decorated with a forest flower garland. Then a chariot, filled with a hundred thousand of the Lord's associates, decorated with a thousand flags, rumbling with a thousand wheels, pulled by ten thousand horses, glorious with a hundred thousand cāmaras, yellow, studded with many jewels, eight miles long, beautiful, traveling as fast as the mind, and decorated with many bells and tinkling ornaments, suddenly appeared. O king, the demon circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and then, filling the circle of the directions with light, he ascended the chariot and went to Goloka, far beyond the material realm.

lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛd dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyo 'ruṇa-varṇo 'ti-ratna-bhṛt divya-yojana-vistīrṇo mano-yāyī manoharaḥ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyukto ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ hariṁ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya sa-balaṁ divya-rūpa-dhṛk divyaṁ rathaṁ samāruhya dyotayan maṇḍalaṁ diśam jagāma daityo he rājan golokaṁ prakṛteḥ param dehāt —from the body; vinirgataḥ —gone; saḥ —he; api —also; śyāmasundara-vigrahaḥ —a handsome dark form like that of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sragvī —garlanded; pītāmbaraḥ —dressed in yellow graments; devaḥ —the Lord; vana-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ —decorated with forest flowers; lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ —with a hundred thousand associates; sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ —splendid with a thousand flags; sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛt —with a thousand rubling wheels; dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ —drawn by ten thousand horses; lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyaḥ —splemndid with a hundred thousand camaras; aruṇa-varṇaḥ —red; ati-ratna-bhṛt —studded with many jewels; divya-yojana-vistīrṇaḥ —eight miles long; mano-yāyī —traveling as fast as the mind; manoharaḥ —beautiful; kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyuktaḥ —with a network of tinkling ornaments; ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ —with many bells; harim —Kṛṣṇa; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya —circumambulating; sa-balam —with Balarāma; divya-rūpa-dhṛk —a transcendental form manifesting; divyam —transcendental; ratham —chariot; samāruhya —climbing; dyotayan —glistening; maṇḍalam —the circle; diśam —the directions; jagāma —went; daityaḥ —the demon; he —O; rājan —king; golokam —to Goloka; prakṛteḥ —the material world; param —above. Leaving his body, Dhenuka manifested a splendid and handsome dark form wearing yellow garments and decorated with a forest flower garland. Then a chariot, filled with a hundred thousand of the Lord's associates, decorated with a thousand flags, rumbling with a thousand wheels, pulled by ten thousand horses, glorious with a hundred thousand cāmaras, yellow, studded with many jewels, eight miles long, beautiful, traveling as fast as the mind, and decorated with many bells and tinkling ornaments, suddenly appeared. O king, the demon circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and then, filling the circle of the directions with light, he ascended the chariot and went to Goloka, far beyond the material realm.

lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛd dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyo 'ruṇa-varṇo 'ti-ratna-bhṛt divya-yojana-vistīrṇo mano-yāyī manoharaḥ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyukto ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ hariṁ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya sa-balaṁ divya-rūpa-dhṛk divyaṁ rathaṁ samāruhya dyotayan maṇḍalaṁ diśam jagāma daityo he rājan golokaṁ prakṛteḥ param dehāt —from the body; vinirgataḥ —gone; saḥ —he; api —also; śyāmasundara-vigrahaḥ —a handsome dark form like that of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sragvī —garlanded; pītāmbaraḥ —dressed in yellow graments; devaḥ —the Lord; vana-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ —decorated with forest flowers; lakṣa-pārṣada-samyuktaḥ —with a hundred thousand associates; sahasra-dhvaja-śobhitaḥ —splendid with a thousand flags; sahasra-cakra-dhvani-bhṛt —with a thousand rubling wheels; dhayāyuta-samanvitaḥ —drawn by ten thousand horses; lakṣa-cāmara-śobhāḍhyaḥ —splemndid with a hundred thousand camaras; aruṇa-varṇaḥ —red; ati-ratna-bhṛt —studded with many jewels; divya-yojana-vistīrṇaḥ —eight miles long; mano-yāyī —traveling as fast as the mind; manoharaḥ —beautiful; kiṅkiṇī-jāla-samyuktaḥ —with a network of tinkling ornaments; ghaṇṭā-maṣjīra-samyutaḥ —with many bells; harim —Kṛṣṇa; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya —circumambulating; sa-balam —with Balarāma; divya-rūpa-dhṛk —a transcendental form manifesting; divyam —transcendental; ratham —chariot; samāruhya —climbing; dyotayan —glistening; maṇḍalam —the circle; diśam —the directions; jagāma —went; daityaḥ —the demon; he —O; rājan —king; golokam —to Goloka; prakṛteḥ —the material world; param —above. Leaving his body, Dhenuka manifested a splendid and handsome dark form wearing yellow garments and decorated with a forest flower garland. Then a chariot, filled with a hundred thousand of the Lord's associates, decorated with a thousand flags, rumbling with a thousand wheels, pulled by ten thousand horses, glorious with a hundred thousand cāmaras, yellow, studded with many jewels, eight miles long, beautiful, traveling as fast as the mind, and decorated with many bells and tinkling ornaments, suddenly appeared. O king, the demon circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and then, filling the circle of the directions with light, he ascended the chariot and went to Goloka, far beyond the material realm.

When Dhenuka was killed, Kṛṣṇa was surrounded by the cows, Balarāma, and the boys, who were all singing His glories.

The king said: O sage, Why did he attain liberation? Who was Dhenukāsura in his previous birth? Why did he get the body of an ass? Please tell me this in truth.

Śrī Nārada said: He was the powerful son of King Bali, who was the son of Virocana, and his name was Sāhasika. One time he enjoyed pastimes with ten thousand women on Gandhamādana Mountain.

durvāsaso 'tha tenāpi dhyāna-bhagno babhūva ha nirgataḥ pādukārūḍho durvāsaḥ kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ dīrgha-śmaśrur yaṣṭi-dharaḥ krodha-puṣjānala-dyutiḥ yasya śāpād viśvam īdaṁ kampate sa jagāda ha vāditrāṇām —of musical instruments; nupurāṇām —of anklebells; śabdaḥ —the sound; abhūt —was; tad-vane —in that forest; mahān —great; guhāyām —in a cave; āsthitasya —situated; api —even; śrī-kṛṣṇam —on Śrī Kṛṣṇa; smarataḥ —meditating; muneḥ —of a sage; durvāsasaḥ —Durvasa; atha —then; tena —by that; api —also; dhyāna —meditation; bhagnaḥ —broken; babhūva —became; ha —indeed; nirgataḥ —left; pāduka-ārūḍhaḥ —wearing wooden sandals; durvāsaḥ —Durvāsā; kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ —very thin; dīrgha —a long; śmaśruḥ —beard; yaṣṭi —a stick; dharaḥ —holding; krodha-puṣja —of great anger; anala —with the fire; dyutiḥ —glowing; yasya —of whom; śāpāt —from the curse; viśvam —teh universe; īdam —this; kampate —trembles; sa —he; jagāda —said; ha —indeed. The sounds in that forest of the many musical instuments and ankle-bells broke the trance of Durvāsā Muni, who in a cave nearby was meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa. Very thing, with a long beard, walking with wooden sandals, holding a stick, and glowing with flames of anger, Durvāasā, whose gurse makes the universe tremble, left his cave and spoke (to Sāhasika).

durvāsaso 'tha tenāpi dhyāna-bhagno babhūva ha nirgataḥ pādukārūḍho durvāsaḥ kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ dīrgha-śmaśrur yaṣṭi-dharaḥ krodha-puṣjānala-dyutiḥ yasya śāpād viśvam īdaṁ kampate sa jagāda ha vāditrāṇām —of musical instruments; nupurāṇām —of anklebells; śabdaḥ —the sound; abhūt —was; tad-vane —in that forest; mahān —great; guhāyām —in a cave; āsthitasya —situated; api —even; śrī-kṛṣṇam —on Śrī Kṛṣṇa; smarataḥ —meditating; muneḥ —of a sage; durvāsasaḥ —Durvasa; atha —then; tena —by that; api —also; dhyāna —meditation; bhagnaḥ —broken; babhūva —became; ha —indeed; nirgataḥ —left; pāduka-ārūḍhaḥ —wearing wooden sandals; durvāsaḥ —Durvāsā; kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ —very thin; dīrgha —a long; śmaśruḥ —beard; yaṣṭi —a stick; dharaḥ —holding; krodha-puṣja —of great anger; anala —with the fire; dyutiḥ —glowing; yasya —of whom; śāpāt —from the curse; viśvam —teh universe; īdam —this; kampate —trembles; sa —he; jagāda —said; ha —indeed. The sounds in that forest of the many musical instuments and ankle-bells broke the trance of Durvāsā Muni, who in a cave nearby was meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa. Very thing, with a long beard, walking with wooden sandals, holding a stick, and glowing with flames of anger, Durvāasā, whose gurse makes the universe tremble, left his cave and spoke (to Sāhasika).

durvāsaso 'tha tenāpi dhyāna-bhagno babhūva ha nirgataḥ pādukārūḍho durvāsaḥ kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ dīrgha-śmaśrur yaṣṭi-dharaḥ krodha-puṣjānala-dyutiḥ yasya śāpād viśvam īdaṁ kampate sa jagāda ha vāditrāṇām —of musical instruments; nupurāṇām —of anklebells; śabdaḥ —the sound; abhūt —was; tad-vane —in that forest; mahān —great; guhāyām —in a cave; āsthitasya —situated; api —even; śrī-kṛṣṇam —on Śrī Kṛṣṇa; smarataḥ —meditating; muneḥ —of a sage; durvāsasaḥ —Durvasa; atha —then; tena —by that; api —also; dhyāna —meditation; bhagnaḥ —broken; babhūva —became; ha —indeed; nirgataḥ —left; pāduka-ārūḍhaḥ —wearing wooden sandals; durvāsaḥ —Durvāsā; kṛṣa-vigrahaḥ —very thin; dīrgha —a long; śmaśruḥ —beard; yaṣṭi —a stick; dharaḥ —holding; krodha-puṣja —of great anger; anala —with the fire; dyutiḥ —glowing; yasya —of whom; śāpāt —from the curse; viśvam —teh universe; īdam —this; kampate —trembles; sa —he; jagāda —said; ha —indeed. The sounds in that forest of the many musical instuments and ankle-bells broke the trance of Durvāsā Muni, who in a cave nearby was meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa. Very thing, with a long beard, walking with wooden sandals, holding a stick, and glowing with flames of anger, Durvāasā, whose gurse makes the universe tremble, left his cave and spoke (to Sāhasika).

māthure maṇḍale divye puṇye tālavane vane baladevasya hastena muktis te bhavitāsura śrī-durvāsā uvāca —Śrī Durvasa said; uttiṣṭha —rise; gardabhākāra —O you who have the form of an ass; gardabhaḥ —an ass; bhava —become; durmate —O fool; varṣāṇām —of years; tu —indeed; catur-lakṣam —four hundred thousand; vyatīte —past; bhārate —on the earth; punaḥ —again; māthure maṇḍale —in the circle of Mathura; divye —transcendental; puṇye —sacred; tālavane —in Talavan; vane —forest; baladevasya —of Lord Balarāma; hastena —by the hand; muktiḥ —liberation; te —of you; bhavitā —will be; asura —O demon. Fool! Ass-like person! Rise! Become an ass! O demon, after four hundred thousand years, in the transcendental circle of Mathurā, in the sacred forest of Tālavana, you will attain liberation by Lord Balarāma's hand.

māthure maṇḍale divye puṇye tālavane vane baladevasya hastena muktis te bhavitāsura śrī-durvāsā uvāca —Śrī Durvasa said; uttiṣṭha —rise; gardabhākāra —O you who have the form of an ass; gardabhaḥ —an ass; bhava —become; durmate —O fool; varṣāṇām —of years; tu —indeed; catur-lakṣam —four hundred thousand; vyatīte —past; bhārate —on the earth; punaḥ —again; māthure maṇḍale —in the circle of Mathura; divye —transcendental; puṇye —sacred; tālavane —in Talavan; vane —forest; baladevasya —of Lord Balarāma; hastena —by the hand; muktiḥ —liberation; te —of you; bhavitā —will be; asura —O demon. Fool! Ass-like person! Rise! Become an ass! O demon, after four hundred thousand years, in the transcendental circle of Mathurā, in the sacred forest of Tālavana, you will attain liberation by Lord Balarāma's hand.

Śrī Nārada said: Because he had given Prahlāda Mahārāja the benediction, "Your descendents will not be killed by Me", Kṛṣṇa arranged that Dhenukāsura was killed by Lord Balarāma's hand.