Chapter Seven Kuvalayāpīḍa-vadha The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa

Śrī Nārada said: When he heard how the washerman was beheaded, the guards killed, and the bow broken, Kaṁsa became filled with fear.

From that moment Kaṁsa saw many evil omens. The left side of his body trembled. In dreams he saw his limbs broken. Then he could not sleep.

Then he dreamed of being attacked by ghosts, of being anointed with oil, of walking about naked, of being garlanded with roses, and of rising south on a buffalo.

Rising in the morning, he called for his servants and had them make arrangements for the day's wrestling festival.

Before the royal assembly building was a sports arena with a huge field and many golden pillars.

Om king, there were golden awnings decorated with pearls, great stairways, golden viewer's boxes, and a great field.

In the splendid, golden, jamine-decorated royal box was Indra's throne holding a great circle of cushions.

Over the throne was a splendid parasol graceful as the circle of the moon, and by it were swan fans and cāmaras with diamond handles.

It was ten hastas high and was made by Viśvakarmā. At that moment Kaṁsa ascended the throne. He was like a lion on a mountaintop. Note: One hasta is the distance between the elbow and the middle finger.

Suddenly the singers sang, the dancing-girls danced, and the mṛdaṅgas, paṭahas, tālas, bheryas, nakas, and other musical instruments were sounded.

In the many grandstands and viwers' boxes many kings, provincial governors, and the people of the city, observed the wrestling games.

Then Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośala entered and began to fight each other with clubs.

Called forward by Kaṁsa, King Nanda and the other gopas bowed their heads and placed their gifts before him. Then they went to their own box.

atha tau rāma-kṛṣṇau dvau māyā-bālaka-vigrahau malla-līlā-darśanārthaṁ yayatū raṅga-maṇḍapam bāṇāsura-jarāsandha-narakānām—of Bāṇāsura, Jarāsandha, and Naraka; purān—from the city; nṛpa—O king; anyeṣām—of others; śambarādīnām—headed by Sambara; sakāśāt—in the presence; bhūbhujām—of the kings; tathā—so; balayaḥ—offerings; ca—and; āyayuḥ—came; rājan—O king; yadu-rājāya—to Kaṁsa; tatra—there; vai—indeed; atha—then; tau—They; rāma—Balarāma; kṛṣṇau—and Kṛṣṇa; dvau—both; māyā-bālaka-vigrahau—appearing like ordinary boys; malla-līlā-darśanārthaṁ yayatū raṅga-maṇḍapam Many offerings also came to Kaṁsa from Bāṇāsura, Jarāsandha, Naraka, Śambara, and many other kings. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who seemed to be ordinary human boys, also approached the arena to see the wrestling games.

atha tau rāma-kṛṣṇau dvau māyā-bālaka-vigrahau malla-līlā-darśanārthaṁ yayatū raṅga-maṇḍapam bāṇāsura-jarāsandha-narakānām—of Bāṇāsura, Jarāsandha, and Naraka; purān—from the city; nṛpa—O king; anyeṣām—of others; śambarādīnām—headed by Sambara; sakāśāt—in the presence; bhūbhujām—of the kings; tathā—so; balayaḥ—offerings; ca—and; āyayuḥ—came; rājan—O king; yadu-rājāya—to Kaṁsa; tatra—there; vai—indeed; atha—then; tau—They; rāma—Balarāma; kṛṣṇau—and Kṛṣṇa; dvau—both; māyā-bālaka-vigrahau—appearing like ordinary boys; malla-līlā-darśanārthaṁ yayatū raṅga-maṇḍapam Many offerings also came to Kaṁsa from Bāṇāsura, Jarāsandha, Naraka, Śambara, and many other kings. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who seemed to be ordinary human boys, also approached the arena to see the wrestling games.

gajaṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ raṅga-dvāram avasthitam vīkṣya kṛṣṇo mahā-mātraṁ prāha gambhīrayā girā gomūtra-caya—with abundant gomutra; sindūra—sindura; kastūrī—musk; patra—cups; bhṛt—holding; mukham—face; sravat—flowing; mada-mahā-mattam—maddened; ratna-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitam—decorated with jewel earrings; gajam—elephant; kuvalayāpīḍam—Kuvalayāpīḍa; raṅga-dvāram—the entrance to the arena; avasthitam—standing; vīkṣya—seeing; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; mahā-mātram—to the elphant trainer; prāha—said; gambhīrayā—in a deep; girā—voice. Seeing the maddened elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa anointed with gomūtra, sindūra, and musk, decorated with jewel earrings, and its ichor flowing, blocking the entrance to the arena, in a deep voice Lord Kṛṣṇa said to the elephant trainer:

gajaṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ raṅga-dvāram avasthitam vīkṣya kṛṣṇo mahā-mātraṁ prāha gambhīrayā girā gomūtra-caya—with abundant gomutra; sindūra—sindura; kastūrī—musk; patra—cups; bhṛt—holding; mukham—face; sravat—flowing; mada-mahā-mattam—maddened; ratna-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitam—decorated with jewel earrings; gajam—elephant; kuvalayāpīḍam—Kuvalayāpīḍa; raṅga-dvāram—the entrance to the arena; avasthitam—standing; vīkṣya—seeing; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; mahā-mātram—to the elphant trainer; prāha—said; gambhīrayā—in a deep; girā—voice. Seeing the maddened elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa anointed with gomūtra, sindūra, and musk, decorated with jewel earrings, and its ichor flowing, blocking the entrance to the arena, in a deep voice Lord Kṛṣṇa said to the elephant trainer:

Sir, please pull back this great elephant, and give Me a path as I wish. If you do not, I will throw you and your elephant to the ground.

Angered, the elephant-trainer made the elephant, trumpeting in all directions, charge Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda.

The regal elephant grabbed Kṛṣṇa in its trunk and lifted Him high, but in a moment Kṛṣṇa slipped from the elephant's grasp.

As He used to do among the trees in Vṛndāvana's forests, Kṛṣṇa, quickly going here and there, played hide-and-seek behind the elephant's legs.

Pushing its trunk between its legs, the elephant grabbed Kṛṣṇa. Pressing the trunk hard with both hands, Kṛṣṇa ran behind the elephant.

Its trunk and body twisted into an awkward position, the disoriented elephant tried to grab Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa punched it with His fist and ran to the front.

O king of Videha, when Kṛṣṇa fled and the elephant chased Him through Mathurā City, there was great uproar.

Then very powerful Lord Balarāma grabbed the elephant's tail and with both arms dragged it here and there as Garuḍa drags a snake.

Laughing, Lord Kṛṣṇa grabbed the elephant's trunk and pulled it with both hands as one pulls the rope in a well.

O king of kings, pulled in both directions by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the elephant was in great distress. Seven elephant trainers quickly came to its rescue.

śuṇḍā-daṇḍe saṅgṛhītvā bhrāmayitvā tv itas tataḥ pātayām āsa bhū-pṛṣṭhe kamaṇḍalum ivārbhakaḥ nītā—brought; gajāḥ—elephants; tathā—then; ca—and; anyaiḥ—byu others; kṛṣṇam—Kṛṣṇa; hantum—to kill; śata-trayam—three hundred; aṅkuśāsphālanāt—hit with goads; kruddham—angry; mattebham—maddened; punaḥ—again; āgatam—come; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt—directly; baladevasya—as Balarāma; paśyataḥ—watched; śuṇḍā-daṇḍe—the trunk; saṅgṛhītvā—grabbing; bhrāmayitvā—whirling around; tv—indeed; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; pātayām āsa—threw; bhū-pṛṣṭhe—to the ground; kamaṇḍalum—a kamandalu; iva—as; arbhakaḥ—a child. Then other trainers brought three hundred elephants to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa. As Lord Balarāma watched, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, approached the elephant maddened by the pinching goad, grabbed it by the trunk, whirled around and around, and finally threw it to the ground as a small child throws a kamaṇḍalu.

śuṇḍā-daṇḍe saṅgṛhītvā bhrāmayitvā tv itas tataḥ pātayām āsa bhū-pṛṣṭhe kamaṇḍalum ivārbhakaḥ nītā—brought; gajāḥ—elephants; tathā—then; ca—and; anyaiḥ—byu others; kṛṣṇam—Kṛṣṇa; hantum—to kill; śata-trayam—three hundred; aṅkuśāsphālanāt—hit with goads; kruddham—angry; mattebham—maddened; punaḥ—again; āgatam—come; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt—directly; baladevasya—as Balarāma; paśyataḥ—watched; śuṇḍā-daṇḍe—the trunk; saṅgṛhītvā—grabbing; bhrāmayitvā—whirling around; tv—indeed; itaḥ—here; tataḥ—and there; pātayām āsa—threw; bhū-pṛṣṭhe—to the ground; kamaṇḍalum—a kamandalu; iva—as; arbhakaḥ—a child. Then other trainers brought three hundred elephants to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa. As Lord Balarāma watched, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, approached the elephant maddened by the pinching goad, grabbed it by the trunk, whirled around and around, and finally threw it to the ground as a small child throws a kamaṇḍalu.

As the saintly people of Mathurā watched and the trainer fled, the elephant suddenly died.

O king of Videha, an effulgence left the elephant's dead body and suddenly entered Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is dark as a monsoon cloud. Then very powerful Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma uprooted the elaphant's tusks and with them as weapons attacked the elephant-trainers as two lions attack a flock of deer.

When the elephant was killed, the trainers fled in all directions as rainclouds flee at the end of the monsoon.

pariśramāruṇa-mukhau raṅgaṁ viviśatur tvaram danta-pāṇī mahā-vegau yathāśām anilānalau evam—thus; hatvā—having killed; dvipam—the elepbant; gopaiḥ—with the gopas; śeṣaiḥ—remaining; taiḥ—with them; prekṣanotsukaiḥ—eager to see; jayārāvaiḥ—with sounds of Victory!; rāma-kṛṣṇau—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; śrama-vāri-madāṅkitau—anopinted with drops of perspiration and elephant's rut; pariśramāruṇa-mukhau—Their faces red with exhaustion; raṅgam—the arena; viviśatuḥ—entered; tvaram—quickly; danta-pāṇī—with the tusks in Their hands; mahā-vegau—very powerful; yathā—as; āśām—in the dirtection; anila—fanned by the wind; analau—two fires. After killing the elephant, very powerful Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, covered with perspiration and elephant's rut, clutching the two elephant's tusks, and Their faces red with stress, quickly entered the arena like two forest-fires fanned by great winds. Following Them were the remaining gopas, who loudly called out "Victory!" and were eager to see what would happen next.

pariśramāruṇa-mukhau raṅgaṁ viviśatur tvaram danta-pāṇī mahā-vegau yathāśām anilānalau evam—thus; hatvā—having killed; dvipam—the elepbant; gopaiḥ—with the gopas; śeṣaiḥ—remaining; taiḥ—with them; prekṣanotsukaiḥ—eager to see; jayārāvaiḥ—with sounds of Victory!; rāma-kṛṣṇau—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; śrama-vāri-madāṅkitau—anopinted with drops of perspiration and elephant's rut; pariśramāruṇa-mukhau—Their faces red with exhaustion; raṅgam—the arena; viviśatuḥ—entered; tvaram—quickly; danta-pāṇī—with the tusks in Their hands; mahā-vegau—very powerful; yathā—as; āśām—in the dirtection; anila—fanned by the wind; analau—two fires. After killing the elephant, very powerful Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, covered with perspiration and elephant's rut, clutching the two elephant's tusks, and Their faces red with stress, quickly entered the arena like two forest-fires fanned by great winds. Following Them were the remaining gopas, who loudly called out "Victory!" and were eager to see what would happen next.

tattvaṁ paraṁ yogi-varāś ca bhojā devaṁ tadā raṅga-gataṁ balena pṛthak pṛthag bhāvanayā hy apaśyan sarve janās taṁ paripūrṇa-devam mallāḥ—the wrestlers; ca—and; mallam—a wrestler; ca—and; narā—the people; narendram—a king; striyaḥ—the women; smaram—Kāmadeva; gopa-gaṇāḥ—the gopas; vrajeśam—the master of Vraja; pitā—His father; sutam—a son; daṇḍa-dharam—Yamarāja; hy—indeed; asantaḥ—the impious; mṛtyum—death; ca—and; kaṁsaḥ—Kaṁsa; vibudhā—the wise; virājam—a renounced sage; tattvam—the truth; param—supreme; yogi-varāś—the great yogis; ca—and; bhojā—the Bhojas; devam—the Lord; tadā—then; raṅga-gatam—come to the arena; balena—with Balarāma; pṛthak pṛthak—each in their own way; bhāvanayā—with the ideaq; hy—indeed; apaśyan—saw; sarve—all; janāḥ—the people; tam—Him; paripūrṇa-devam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When, accompanied by Balarāma, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, entered the arena, the people saw Him in different ways. The wrestlers saw Him as a wrestler, the people in general saw Him as a great king, the women saw Him as Kāmadeva, the gopas saw Him as the master of Vraja, King Nanda saw Him as his son, the impious saw Him as Yamarāja, Kaṁsa saw Him as death personified, the wise saw Him as a great renounced sage, the yogīs saw Him as the Supreme Truth, and the members of the Bhoja dynasty saw Him as their Lord.

tattvaṁ paraṁ yogi-varāś ca bhojā devaṁ tadā raṅga-gataṁ balena pṛthak pṛthag bhāvanayā hy apaśyan sarve janās taṁ paripūrṇa-devam mallāḥ—the wrestlers; ca—and; mallam—a wrestler; ca—and; narā—the people; narendram—a king; striyaḥ—the women; smaram—Kāmadeva; gopa-gaṇāḥ—the gopas; vrajeśam—the master of Vraja; pitā—His father; sutam—a son; daṇḍa-dharam—Yamarāja; hy—indeed; asantaḥ—the impious; mṛtyum—death; ca—and; kaṁsaḥ—Kaṁsa; vibudhā—the wise; virājam—a renounced sage; tattvam—the truth; param—supreme; yogi-varāś—the great yogis; ca—and; bhojā—the Bhojas; devam—the Lord; tadā—then; raṅga-gatam—come to the arena; balena—with Balarāma; pṛthak pṛthak—each in their own way; bhāvanayā—with the ideaq; hy—indeed; apaśyan—saw; sarve—all; janāḥ—the people; tam—Him; paripūrṇa-devam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When, accompanied by Balarāma, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, entered the arena, the people saw Him in different ways. The wrestlers saw Him as a wrestler, the people in general saw Him as a great king, the women saw Him as Kāmadeva, the gopas saw Him as the master of Vraja, King Nanda saw Him as his son, the impious saw Him as Yamarāja, Kaṁsa saw Him as death personified, the wise saw Him as a great renounced sage, the yogīs saw Him as the Supreme Truth, and the members of the Bhoja dynasty saw Him as their Lord.

When Kaṁsa saw that the elephant had been killed, he became pensive and frightened at heart. When the people in the grandstands saw it, they became happy at heart like cakora birds gazing at the moon.

The eager people whispered in each other's ears, The Supreme Personality of Godhead has become the two sons of Vasudeva."

We are now gazing on Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who wandered in the beautiful circle of Vraja, and who is so difficult to see. Now our lives have become a perfect success.

Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, as the people of Mathurā spoke in this way, and as the turyas sounded, Cāṇūra approached Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and addressed Them with these words.

Cāṇūra said: O Balarāma, O Kṛṣṇa, You are both very strong. Please fight with us before the king. If King Kaṁsa is pleased what good thing will not come both to You and to us.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: By the king's grace we will happily fight with other boys that are our equals in strength. It is not right for Us to fight with those who are much stronger than We. There should not be such an impious fight.

Cāṇūra said: You are not a boy. Nor are You a youth. You are stronger than the strongest. The two of You easily killed an elephant stronger than thousands of furious elephants.

Śrī Nārada said: Hearing these words, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who removes all troubles, proceeded to fight with Cāṇūra. Then Balarāma proceeded to fight with Muṣṭika.

As the people watched, Kṛṣṇa and Cāṇura wrestled, pulling and pushing each other with both arms. They were like two elephants trying to defeat each other.

Picking him up with both arms, Kṛṣṇa weighed Cāṇūra, as the demigod Brahma weighs the heaviness of someone's pious deeds.

As Lord Śeṣa, the king of serpents, picks up the earth, with one hand Cāṇūra playfully picked up Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

With one hand on his neck and the other on his waist, Kṛṣṇa suddenly picked up Cāṇūra and threw him to the gound.

Hitting each other with Their hands, knees, feet, arms, fingers, and fists, Kṛṣṇa and Cāṇūra fought. Balarāma and Muṣṭika also fought in the same way.

Gazing at the handsome perspiring faces of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the women of the palace became filled with compassion for Them. Standing in the palace windows, they spoke.

The women said: An impious fight is now happening in the royal assembly in the king's presence. How can Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who are like two flowers, be an equal match with these two wrestlers, who have bodies like thunderbolts?

The people of Mathurā City are very unfortunate that they must see such a fight. The girls in the forest were fortunate. They could taste the nectar of the rāsa-dance with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Friends, while this wicked king is present no one dare say anything. We simply pray that by the power of Their pious deeds these two boys will defeat Their enemies. .pa