Canto Ten - Chapter 44

Śrī Śuka said: His resolve thus made known, Bhagavān Madhusūdana engaged Cāṇūra, while Rohiṇī's son confronted Muṣṭika.

Gripping one another hand to hand and foot to foot, the two pairs wrestled forcefully, each determined to win.

They struck one another forearm against forearm, knee against knee, head against head, and chest against chest.

By whirling and hurling one another, by grappling and throwing each other down, and by advancing and retreating, they sought to check their opponents.

Each tried to defeat the other by lifting, carrying aloft, shaking, and casting him down.

O King, seeing this contest between opponents of unequal strength, all the women assembled there gathered in groups and spoke compassionately among themselves.

'Alas, what a grave injustice is being committed by the members of this royal assembly, who, while the king looks on, desire a contest between the strong and the weak!'

'On one side stand two wrestlers whose entire bodies are hard as thunderbolts and who resemble mighty mountains; on the other are two exceedingly tender-limbed boys who have not yet reached full youth.'

'This assembly will surely share in the transgression of dharma. One should never remain where adharma is allowed to arise.'

'A wise person who remembers the faults incurred by an assembly should not enter it. One who remains silent, speaks falsely, or pleads ignorance when dharma is at stake incurs sin.'

'Look at Kṛṣṇa's lotus face as He moves about His opponent. It is covered with drops of perspiration, like a lotus bud sprinkled with water.'

'And do you not see Rāma's face, His eyes copper-red with indignation toward Muṣṭika, yet beautified by His smile and the intensity of the contest?'

'How blessed is the land of Vraja, where this primeval Person wanders concealed in human form, adorned with a many-colored forest garland, tending the cows with Balarāma and playing His flute. His feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and the goddess of fortune.'

'What austerities must the gopīs have performed that they may drink with their eyes His form, the very essence of beauty, unequaled and unsurpassed, perfect in itself, ever fresh at every moment, difficult to attain, and the exclusive abode of fame, splendor, and sovereignty?'

'Blessed are the women of Vraja, whose minds travel always with Urukrama. While milking, winnowing grain, churning, plastering the floors, rocking swings, tending crying children, sprinkling, and cleaning, they sing of Him with loving hearts and voices choked by tears.'

'Morning and evening, when He leaves Vraja and returns with the cows, playing His flute, those greatly blessed women swiftly come out upon the path and behold His smiling face and merciful glance.'

O best of the Bharatas, while the women spoke in this way, Bhagavān Hari, the master of yoga, resolved to kill His enemy.

Hearing the women's fearful words, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma's parents were tormented by grief born of parental affection, for they did not understand their sons' strength.

Acyuta and Cāṇūra fought one another with every variety of wrestling technique, and Balarāma and Muṣṭika battled in the same way.

Cāṇūra's limbs were shattered by the blows from Bhagavān's body, which were crushing and hard as the pounding of a thunderbolt, and again and again he became exhausted.

Then, leaping with the speed of a hawk and clenching both hands into fists, the enraged Cāṇūra struck Bhagavān Vāsudeva upon the chest.

Kṛṣṇa did not move beneath that blow, any more than an elephant struck by a flower garland. Hari seized Cāṇūra by both arms and whirled him around repeatedly.

With great force He dashed the lifeless wrestler upon the ground. His ornaments, hair, and garland scattered, Cāṇūra fell like the festival flag of Indra.

Muṣṭika had first struck mighty Balarāma with his fist, but Balarāma dealt him a powerful blow with the palm of His hand.

Trembling and tormented, Muṣṭika vomited blood from his mouth and fell lifeless upon the ground like a tree struck down by the wind.

Then Kūṭa advanced. O King, Balarāma, foremost of fighters, contemptuously killed him in play with His left fist.

At that very moment Kṛṣṇa struck Śala on the head with His foot and tore Tośalaka in two; both wrestlers fell.

When Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala, and Tośalaka had been slain, all the remaining wrestlers fled, anxious to save their lives.

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then drew Their cowherd friends near and sported with them. As the instruments sounded, the brothers danced and Their ankle bells rang.

All the people rejoiced at the deeds of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, except Kaṃsa. The leading brāhmaṇas and saintly persons exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'

When the foremost wrestlers had been killed and the rest had fled, O King, the Bhoja ruler stopped his musicians and spoke these words.

'Drive these two ill-behaved sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds' wealth, and bind up the wicked-minded Nanda!'

'And immediately kill the foolish and thoroughly wicked Vasudeva. Put my father Ugrasena to death as well, together with his followers, for he has sided with the enemy.'

As Kaṃsa boasted in this way, the imperishable Kṛṣṇa became enraged. With effortless speed He sprang upward and mounted the lofty royal platform.

Seeing death itself approaching him, the resolute Kaṃsa suddenly rose from his seat and seized his sword and shield.

Sword in hand, Kaṃsa moved swiftly left and right across the platform like a hawk in the sky. But the Lord of irresistible and terrible power seized him forcibly, as Garuḍa seizes a serpent.

Grasping Kaṃsa by the hair and dislodging his crown, lotus-naveled Kṛṣṇa, the independent refuge of the universe, hurled him from the high platform into the arena and leapt down upon him.

Hari then dragged the dead Kaṃsa across the ground like a lion dragging an elephant, while the whole world watched. O King, a tremendous cry of 'Alas! Alas!' arose from all the people.

Because Kaṃsa's mind had always been agitated by fear, he saw the Lord bearing His discus before him while drinking, eating, walking, sleeping, and breathing. He therefore attained that very divine form which is exceedingly difficult to attain.

Kaṃsa's eight younger brothers, headed by Kaṅka and Nyagrodha, then rushed forward in great fury, determined to avenge their brother.

Rohiṇī's son raised His iron club and slew those fiercely charging, battle-ready brothers as a lion kills beasts.

Kettledrums resounded in the heavens. Brahmā, Śiva, and the other exalted beings joyfully showered flowers upon Kṛṣṇa and praised Him, while the celestial women danced.

O great King, the wives of the slain men, grief-stricken by the deaths of their beloveds, came there with tear-filled eyes, beating their heads.

Embracing their husbands as they lay upon the warriors' resting place, the women grieved and repeatedly released their sorrow in melodious lamentation.

'Alas, our lord! Our beloved, knower of dharma, compassionate protector of those who depended upon you! With you slain, we and your homes and children have all been struck down.'

'O best of men, bereft of you, her husband, this city no longer shines. Its festivals and auspicious celebrations have ceased, just as ours have.'

'You committed grievous violence against innocent beings, and by that offense you have been brought to this condition. What peace can one who harms living beings ever attain?'

'He is indeed the source and dissolution of all beings here, as well as their protector. One who disregards Him never prospers anywhere.'

Śrī Śuka said: Bhagavān, the creator and sustainer of the worlds, consoled the royal women and arranged the customary funeral rites for those who had been slain.

Then Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma released Their mother and father from bondage, bowed Their heads, and touched Their parents' feet.

Recognizing their sons as the Lords of the universe, Devakī and Vasudeva stood apprehensive. Although Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma bowed to them, the parents did not embrace Them.