Canto Ten - Chapter 42

Śrī Śuka said: As Mādhava walked along the royal road, He saw a young, beautiful-faced hunchback woman carrying a vessel of fragrant body ointment. The giver of rasa smiled and questioned her as she approached.

'Lovely-thighed girl, who are you? For whom is this ointment? Tell us truthfully. Give the two of us this excellent body fragrance, and very soon supreme good will come to you.'

The maidservant said: Handsome one, I am Kaṃsa's servant, favored by him for my skill in preparing ointments, and I am called Trivakrā. The Bhoja king greatly cherishes the fragrances I prepare, but other than the two of You, who is more worthy to receive them?

Her heart overwhelmed by Their beauty, refinement, sweetness, smiles, speech, and glances, she gave both brothers abundant fragrant ointment.

Anointed with cosmetics whose colors contrasted with Their natural complexions, the two brothers appeared even more splendid, attaining the highest beauty.

Pleased with the lovely-faced Trivakrā, whose body was bent in three places, Bhagavān resolved to straighten her, thereby showing the fruit of beholding Him.

Acyuta pressed the fronts of her feet beneath His own, took her chin with two raised fingers of His hand, and lifted her body upward until it was straight.

At Mukunda's touch she immediately became a most beautiful woman, her limbs straight and evenly formed, her hips and breasts full.

Now endowed with beauty, virtue, and generosity, she felt desire arise in her heart. Smiling, she caught the edge of Keśava's upper garment and addressed Him.

'Hero, come! Let us go to my house. I cannot bear to leave You here. O bull among men, my heart has been churned by You; please be gracious to me.'

Solicited in this way by the woman, Kṛṣṇa glanced at Balarāma's face and then at the cowherd boys. Laughing, He replied to her.

'Beautiful-browed lady, I shall come to your house after accomplishing My purpose. You can remove a man's distress, and for us homeless travelers you are the finest refuge.'

Dismissing her with these sweet words, Kṛṣṇa continued along the merchants' road with His elder brother. The traders worshiped Them with many gifts, betel, garlands, and fragrances.

Agitated by Love at the sight of Him, the women lost awareness of themselves. With clothes, braids, and bracelets slipping loose, they stood motionless like painted figures.

Acyuta asked the citizens where the bow was kept. Entering that place, He saw the wondrous bow, which resembled Indra's own weapon.

Many men guarded the richly decorated bow and worshiped it. Although they tried to stop Him, Kṛṣṇa forcibly took it up.

As everyone watched, Urukrama playfully lifted the bow in His left hand, strung it in an instant, drew it fully, and snapped it through the middle like an elephant breaking a stalk of sugarcane.

The sound of the breaking bow filled the sky, earth, heavens, and every direction. Hearing it, Kaṃsa became terrified.

Enraged, the bow's guards and their attendants surrounded the brothers with murderous intent, shouting, 'Seize them! Kill them!'

Seeing their wicked purpose, Balarāma and Keśava became angry. Taking the two broken sections of the bow, They struck the men down.

After also killing the force sent by Kaṃsa, the joyful brothers left the bow hall and wandered about, admiring the city's opulence.

Hearing of Their astonishing prowess and seeing Their splendor, boldness, and beauty, the residents of Mathurā considered Them the foremost of the gods.

While They wandered freely, the sun set. Surrounded by the cowherd boys, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma left the city and returned to the carts.

The blessings hoped for by the gopīs, who suffered in separation when Mukunda departed, came true in Mathurā. As the women of the city beheld the bodily splendor of the ornament of men, Śrī herself seemed to forsake all others and desire His shelter.

After Their feet were washed, the brothers ate rice pudding and spent the night comfortably, fully aware of Kaṃsa's intentions.

Kaṃsa heard of the bow's destruction, the deaths of its guards and his soldiers, and the extraordinary play of Govinda and Rāma.

The wicked king remained awake throughout the long night in terror, seeing many ominous signs and messengers of death both while waking and sleeping.

Though his reflection was present, he could not see his own head in it. Though there was no second object, he saw everything doubled, and celestial lights appeared in duplicate.

He saw holes in his shadow, could not hear the sound of his own life breath, perceived a golden color upon trees, and could not see his own footprints.

In dreams he embraced corpses, rode upon a donkey, and drank poison. He traveled alone wearing an oleander garland, his body smeared with oil and entirely naked.

Seeing these and many similar omens both in dreams and while awake, he was terrified of death. Consumed by anxious thought, he found no sleep.

O descendant of Kuru, when the night had passed and the sun rose from the waters, Kaṃsa arranged the great wrestling festival.

Men ceremonially honored the arena, and trumpets and kettledrums sounded. The viewing platforms were decorated with garlands, flags, cloth, and archways.

Citizens and country people, headed by brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas, entered the stands as they pleased, while the kings took their appointed seats.

Surrounded by his ministers, Kaṃsa sat upon the royal platform amid the provincial rulers, though his heart was tormented.

As the trumpets sounded and wrestlers beat out their rhythms, the proud competitors, beautifully adorned and accompanied by their instructors, took their places.

Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośala came forward, exhilarated by the charming music.

Nanda Gopa and the other cowherds, summoned by the Bhoja king, presented their tribute and sat together upon one viewing platform.