The Slaying of Kansa

King Parikshit leaned forward with eager eyes and said, "All right, Krishna and Balaram then walked around the streets of Mathura city. Surely something happened there too. Please tell me everything in detail."

Shukadeva Goswami replied, "Yes, King. Wherever Krishna sets foot, can anything happen there without causing a stir? Akrura felt a little sad because Krishna did not accept hospitality at his house. So he went at once to the royal palace, a little absent-minded, to give the king the news.

"And Krishna and Balaram came and stood on the roads of Mathura city with the cowherds who had come with them. Because of the coming festival, every house, road, and street in Mathura had been beautifully decorated. Krishna went around with his companions looking at all the decorations.

"On the other hand, when the women of Mathura heard that Krishna had arrived, their joy knew no bounds. Whatever work they were doing, they left it and ran to see Krishna. They began to shower flowers on his head. Joy overflowed everywhere. But in the middle of all this, an unlucky thing happened."

Parikshit at once asked, "What happened, Lord? In his presence, how can anything unlucky remain?"

Shukadeva said, "As a person's nature is, so will his fate be, O King. Krishna was walking on the road in Mathura. Just then he saw a washerman coming from the opposite side, carrying a load of clothes on his head. Krishna thought that they had no proper clothes fit for going to the royal court.

"At once Krishna stopped that washerman and said, 'O washerman, will you do a favor for me and my elder brother? Will you give us a few bright and colorful clothes? We will wear them and go to the palace.'"

The washerman replied harshly, "Who are you? Why are you stopping me in the middle of the road and asking for clothes like this? I supply clothes to the king. How dare you even wish to wear those clothes?"

Krishna said gently, "Do not worry. If you give us some clothes from these, it will bring you good."

But the washerman only grew more proud. "You are very bold. You come from the village and still have such demands. You roam around in the hills, fields, and meadows tending cows. Have you ever even seen such clothes in your life, that you want to wear them? I will call the king's guards and have you seized. Then you will see. You will see how they punish you."

Parikshit said, "Lord, then that washerman could not recognize Krishna and Balaram?"

"No, King," said Shukadeva. "The washerman could not recognize them at all. So the more Krishna held out his hand and wished to receive those clothes from him as a gift, the angrier the washerman became. This is the rule of the world, O King. We again and again fail to offer anything with all our heart to the One who is the giver of the whole universe."

Parikshit asked, "Did the same happen in the case of this washerman? Did Krishna get the clothes from him, Lord?"

"No, Parikshit," said Shukadeva. "The washerman became very angry and began to speak very harshly to them. Again and again he threatened to take them to the king and have them punished. At last Krishna became very annoyed and struck him on the cheek with a slap. That slap was so powerful that the washerman's head was separated from his body at once and rolled onto the ground."

"Well, seeing this, did the people there say nothing, Acharyadev?" asked the king.

"The washerman's companions became so frightened," Shukadeva answered, "that they dropped their loads on the road and ran away. At last Krishna and Balaram chose a few valuable clothes for themselves from those garments. And they distributed some other clothes among their companions."

Shukadeva continued, "After dressing themselves, Krishna then went to the house of the devotee Sudama. Sudama was overwhelmed by that unbelievable good fortune. While returning from Sudama's house, Krishna met Trivakra."

Parikshit asked, "Who was Trivakra, Lord?"

"Trivakra was a maidservant of Kansa," said Shukadeva. "She prepared scented ointments for the royal palace. She was pleasant to look at, but three parts of her body were bent. Because of that, it was very hard for her to walk straight. Trivakra was walking toward the palace carrying a bowl in her hand.

"When Lord Krishna saw her, he felt pity for her. He wanted to free her from that condition. So he called her and, smiling, asked, 'O beautiful one. Who are you? Where are you going?'"

She answered, "My name? My name is Trivakra. Everyone calls me Kubja. I am the favorite maidservant of the wise Kansa. I am going to the palace to apply ointment to the king's body. But everyone makes fun of me. No one calls me beautiful, you know?"

Krishna smiled and said, "Today I called you that. You truly are beautiful. Tell me, what is in that bowl in your hand?"

She replied, "Lord, I make fine body ointments with sandalwood, fragrance, and flowers. The king Kansa likes the ointment made by my hands very much. Every day I myself apply this ointment to his body. I am going there for that work."

"That is very good," Krishna said. "But today, you should apply this ointment to us. It will bring you good."

Trivakra's face brightened with joy. "This is my greatest good fortune. Today no one but you will receive this ointment. Come, Lord, I will decorate you with this ointment with my own hands."

Trivakra did not have to be asked more than once. She had already been charmed by the beauty of Krishna and Balaram, by the soft sweet words on their lips, and by their playful nature. So the moment Krishna asked for the ointment, she agreed to give it, and with her own hands she applied that colorful ointment from their navel upward over their bodies.

Parikshit asked softly, "And what did Lord Krishna give her in return, Lord?"

Shukadeva said, "Krishna was pleased with Kubja's service and went and stood before her. Then with his foot he pressed the front part of her feet to the ground. And touching her chin with two fingers of his hand, he made her stand straight. Trivakra saw that she could now stand upright like any other ordinary woman. From Kubja she then became a beautiful woman."

Parikshit said with wonder, "Ah, the endless play of the Lord. He makes all ugliness beautiful. If anyone comes to him in remembrance, he leaves no fault in that person."

"Yes, King, you have spoken rightly," said Shukadeva. "By Krishna's touch, not only Trivakra's body changed, but her mind changed too. Generosity and many other good qualities were born in her heart. Trivakra became restless with love for Krishna. She forgot that Balaram was with Krishna, and that the other cowherd boys were also there. Trivakra caught hold of the end of Madhusudan's upper cloth.

"'Lord, since you have shown me so much kindness, show me a little more. Come with me to my house. I cannot leave you here and go away. Make my small life blessed by your touch.'"

Krishna said to her kindly, "Trivakra, I bless you. May your house become a place where troubled men of the world find peace. May your home become a shelter for homeless travelers and men living away from home. I am now going to do a special work. So I cannot go to your house now. But I promise you, when that work is finished, I will surely come there on my way back."

Parikshit said, "Ah, what a divine play of the Lord. Only he knows whom he will save, and when, and how. Well then, what happened next, Lord? Did Krishna and Balaram find Kansa's palace?"

"Yes, King, they did," said Shukadeva. "Then they went toward Kansa's palace. Asking their way, Krishna reached the place of Kansa's bow sacrifice. There he saw a bow that looked like a rainbow. The bow was set with many precious jewels. It had been placed on an altar and was being worshiped. And many armed guards stood around it keeping watch. Krishna passed the guards, left the priests behind, went straight before the altar, and lifted that bow in his hands."

Parikshit exclaimed, "What a thing! Did the guards not stop him, Lord?"

Shukadeva replied, "Can such ordinary guards stop Narayan himself?"

"That is true," said the king. "But was that bow so easy to lift?"

"Not at all," said Shukadeva. "But Krishna was immensely powerful. So he lifted that bow easily with his left hand. Then he fixed the string to it and pulled it from the middle. Just as a mad elephant easily snaps a piece of sugarcane, in the same way that bow broke into two pieces in Krishna's hands. And at the sound of that bow breaking, heaven, earth, and the underworld all trembled. King Kansa too was terrified by that sound. By his order, the guards surrounded Krishna from all sides and rushed to kill him."

Parikshit asked, "And what did Krishna do then, Lord? Was Balaram with him?"

"Of course he was," Shukadeva answered. "Krishna was not alone there. Balaram was beside him. When the king's guards rushed to attack him, Balaram and Krishna picked up the two broken pieces of the bow and fought the guards with great strength. Kansa sent an even larger number of soldiers to defeat them. But they too were killed by Krishna and Balaram. When the soldiers were all destroyed and the place became quiet, the two brothers came out again and began to walk through the streets of Mathura."

"So much happened," said Parikshit. "What was the reaction of the people of Mathura, Lord?"

"They were certainly not frightened by Krishna's actions, O King," Shukadeva replied. "Rather the opposite happened. The people of Mathura accepted Krishna and Balaram as two mighty divine beings. And it goes without saying that wicked Kansa had no peaceful sleep that night. Again and again he was startled awake by terrible dreams. From then on, fear of death took hold of him, O King."

Parikshit said, "What happened after that? Please tell me, great sage."

Shukadeva continued, "When morning came the next day, Kansa arranged a wrestling match. Water was poured over the great wrestling ground and the dust was washed away. The place was cleaned on all sides, and trumpets, drums, and mridangas began to sound. Seating had been arranged on three sides of that arena. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, ordinary villagers, and guests all began slowly to gather there. The king's servants showed them their seats.

"And wicked Kansa came there too. King Kansa of the Bhojas sat securely, surrounded by his ministers. A throne had been made for him on a very high platform upon a great wall, so that no one could easily reach him. That wall was so high that no person could cross it. No one could climb up there either. After this, the wrestlers began to enter the arena one by one. Great wrestlers like Chanur, Mushtik, Kuta, and Shala came and sat in their places."

Parikshit asked, "And did no one come there from Vrindavan?"

"Yes, they did," said Shukadeva. "King Nanda himself came there early in the morning with the gopas. Then they offered many gifts and presents to Kansa and took their seats. And Krishna and Balaram too finished their morning bath and daily duties and came there early to watch the wrestling. But entering the arena was not easy for them. Blocking the main entrance of the arena stood Kansa's mighty elephant."

Parikshit said eagerly, "Kuvalayapida? Tell me all about that, Lord. Tell me how Krishna struck down that elephant."

"All right, listen then," said Shukadeva. "When Krishna and Balaram reached the wrestling ground, they saw that by Kansa's order the elephant Kuvalayapida and its mahout were standing there blocking the main path. If they wanted to enter, they would have to defeat that elephant first.

"Looking at the mahout, Krishna said in a grave voice, 'Move this elephant aside, mahout. Let us go inside.'"

The mahout answered, "This elephant will not move. If you wish to pass, then you must defeat it with your strength and only then may you go in."

Krishna said, "I do not wish to strike a helpless animal. Take it away, mahout."

But the mahout shouted, "Kuvalayapida, crush him. Go, hero, show your bravery."

That huge elephant now rushed toward Krishna with great speed. A cry of fear rose from among the crowd. But Krishna stood calm. When the mad elephant came within his reach, Krishna and Balaram began a fierce fight with it. By their strength Kansa's elephant was thrown down. When Kuvalayapida was killed, the two brothers pulled out the elephant's tusks. With blows from those tusks the mahout too was killed. After winning the battle, Krishna and Balaram entered the wrestling arena.

Parikshit asked, "Did King Nanda see that event?"

"Yes, King, he surely did," Shukadeva answered. "Everyone who had come from Vrindavan saw that event from the spectators' seats. And King Nanda understood at once that many harder tests still waited for Krishna. Though his heart shook with fear, there was nothing he could do except sit in the spectators' seats."

"Then what happened after the killing of Kuvalayapida, O sage?" asked the king.

Shukadeva said, "When Krishna and Balaram came carrying the tusks of the dead elephant on their shoulders, murmurs rose from all sides of the arena. By then everyone understood that the true purpose of this arranged wrestling match was those two brothers. Some were full of joy, and some were beside themselves with fear."

Voices rose from the crowd.

"So, that dark boy is Krishna?"

"Is he the one who killed demons like Putana, Trinavarta, Bakasura, and Keshi?"

"Yes, that is what everyone is saying."

"They say this boy will save the Yadu clan."

"Through him the Yadu clan will gain wealth, glory, and fame."

"In this way," said Shukadeva, "praise of Krishna spread all over the wrestling ground. This made King Kansa even more nervous. He ordered his most trusted follower Chanur to kill Krishna as quickly as possible. And Balaram too."

Parikshit asked, "Will Chanur be killed now then?"

"Yes, King," said Shukadeva. "At that time the mighty wrestler named Chanur said to Shri Krishna and Balaram, 'You there, sons of King Nanda, I hear you are the greatest of heroes. I hear you have shown great bravery even at this age. I have heard that in hand-to-hand combat none can match you. Our great king has heard this too. So he has invited you here to show your skill in battle.'"

Krishna asked, "King Kansa of the Bhojas has invited us to show our wrestling?"

Chanur replied, "That is exactly what I said. The king has heard that when you take the cows out to graze, you wrestle among yourselves."

"Yes," Krishna said, "your king has heard correctly."

"Then you must be skilled in this art," Chanur said. "King Kansa wants to see an example of your wrestling skill. Come, today you will wrestle with us. This will please the king. And when the king is pleased, it means the whole kingdom is pleased."

From the spectators' seats worried voices cried out, "Do not go, child. Do not go. Chanur's words are really King Kansa's plot. Do not fall into this plot, my children. Do not."

Krishna answered calmly, "Chanur, we too are forest-dwelling subjects of King Kansa of the Bhojas. So it is surely our duty to please him. That he has chosen us for his pleasure is a matter of great pride for us. What do you say, brother?"

Balaram said, "That is certainly true. To display wrestling skill here is a matter of good fortune for us. But tell me, Chanur, brother Balaram and I are still boys. So according to the rules of wrestling, we should wrestle only with someone of equal strength and the same age."

Chanur shook his head. "No, no, no, that will not do. Just now you killed the elephant Kuvalayapida, which had the strength of a thousand elephants, with such ease. After that, whatever else may be said, you cannot be called boys or youths. Come, you must wrestle with us. Krishna, you will fight with me, and Balaram will fight with Mushtik."

Krishna said, "Very well, since you are asking so much, let us go then. But with your strength, how can I possibly manage? Still, let me try. Come, brother, let us go to the arena."

Krishna went to fight with Chanur. And Balaram began fighting with Mushtik. What a terrible battle it was. They began to use every kind of wrestling skill against each other. Sometimes they grabbed one another, spun around, and threw each other far away. Sometimes one would seize the other tightly and press hard. Sometimes they would try to overpower the other by pinning both hands and feet. Sometimes they would strike the opponent and drag him from one side to the other.

Seeing all this, King Nanda and the people of Vrindavan who were present became upset again and again. And the people of Mathura split into two groups to support the two sides.

"Be careful, Krishna."

"Today I will finish you."

"Yes, of course. In the condition you are in, I may not even be able to stand before you."

"Here, take care."

"No, it did not hurt as much as I thought it would."

"But no, now you see. I will kill you."

"Catch me first, then you can kill me."

From among the people of Vrindavan came cries of pain and prayer.

"O Lord, protect him. Protect my Kanai and Balai."

"What are these boys doing? Can they ever match those two demons in strength? Why did they agree to fight?"

"Of course, of course, what else would they do? They are still only boys. How could they understand the tricks of that cunning Kansa?"

"King Nanda, what is happening here? King Kansa has thrown our two boys into the hands of these messengers of death. What kind of evil is this?"

Nanda answered helplessly, "There is nothing left in our hands. We can only sit quietly and watch. And keep praying to the Lord. That is why Akrura warned us before. But Kanai and Balai are still just boys. They did not understand so much."

Parikshit then asked, "Tell me, O sage, was Vasudev present there? What was the state of their minds? I am very curious to know."

Shukadeva said, "Yes, King. Vasudev was present among the spectators too. Because he had been imprisoned for so many years, none of Krishna and Balaram's deeds had reached his ears. So he had no idea of his sons' bravery. Therefore, when he saw his young sons fighting such an unequal battle against huge warriors, Vasudev was overcome with sorrow."

Vasudev prayed in distress, "Alas, what is this? O God, O Narayan, protect my sons. Lord, protect them. This evil Kansa wants to kill them. Help them, Lord. Protect my children."

Shukadeva went on, "There were many women too among the spectators in Kansa's wrestling arena. They were subjects of Kansa. Seeing such great cruelty being done to the two boys, they began to lament among themselves."

One woman said, "Look, friend, what innocent boys they are. And they have been thrown before those two fighters who look like messengers of death. How unjust this king is. It would be a sin even to watch such an unfair fight. Come, come, let us go away from here."

Another said, "Yes, friend, this injustice cannot be accepted. But look, see what Chanur's face looks like after taking Krishna's blows. And look at Balaram, sister, how terribly strong he is. He is landing all his blows on Mushtik. Oh dear, sweat has appeared all over Krishna's face. If only I could wipe the boy's face a little. Look at Balaram too, his eyes are becoming so red. Does no one feel pity even after seeing them? What kind of cruel king is this?"

Shukadeva added, "Our Kansa's father, King Ugrasen, was also present there. He was an old man. Because he had been imprisoned for so many years, he had become very weak. So even he could do nothing to stop the fight. But as he watched the battle, he became restless again and again.

"Seeing the anguish of the whole assembly, the tears in the women's eyes, the stirring in the heart of an old man like Ugrasen, and the frightened face of King Nanda, Krishna decided that enough was enough. Now Chanur must be killed and this game must be ended.

"So when Chanur at one point leaped high into the air and almost flew forward to strike Krishna with both his fists, Krishna caught both his hands and lifted him into the air and began to whirl him around. After being whirled for some time, Chanur's life came to an end. Then Madhusudan dashed his lifeless body down upon the ground."

Parikshit asked, "And what happened in Balaram's fight with Mushtik?"

"Balaram's strength was even greater than Krishna's," said Shukadeva. "When Mushtik struck Balaram with a punch, Balaram turned and gave Mushtik such a slap that Mushtik began to tremble all over from the blow. Blood came out of his mouth. And in this way he fell to the ground like a broken branch of a tree and died."

"Well," said the king, "what other fighters did Krishna and Balaram have to face?"

"Yes, King, they did face more," Shukadeva answered. "After that, a wrestler named Kuta came toward Balaram. He was killed by a single blow from Balaram's left hand. And Shala and Toshala went to attack Shri Krishna. Krishna struck one on the head with his foot and killed him. And he cut Toshala into two pieces. The remaining fighters fled from there in fear. After that Krishna and Balaram called the gopas who were present there, and with drums and music they began to dance joyfully."

Parikshit said, "And in the middle of all this, what was King Kansa doing?"

Shukadeva replied, "Almost everyone present in that arena was happy at the victory of Krishna and Balaram and began shouting their praises. Only Kansa became very uneasy. He called the city guard and ordered, 'Stop all this music and noise at once. And drive these two sons of Vasudev out of Mathura by the neck. At once arrest the cowherds who have come from Vrindavan along with all their wealth. And tie up that fellow Nanda hand and foot and throw him into prison.'"

The guard bowed and said, "As you command, Maharaj."

Kansa went on, "And listen, Vasudev is a very crooked and wicked man. Kill him as quickly as possible."

The guard said nervously, "But Maharaj, the old King Ugrasen has already been restless since watching the fight. If he hears the news of Vasudev's death now, it will be impossible to keep him calm."

Kansa said coldly, "Listen, city guard. Even though he is my father, he supports the enemy side. So there is no need to keep him alive. First kill Vasudev. Then kill Ugrasen too along with his followers."

Then Krishna spoke in anger, "Kansa, I have tolerated your injustice one after another. But you are crossing all limits. I warn you. Do not cross the limit."

Kansa mocked him and said, "Krishna is afraid. He is afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid that King Nanda will be arrested, or afraid of Vasudev's death? Which father will you save now? Decide. Which father will you save?"

Krishna said, "Take back your order, Maharaj. There is no bravery in killing innocent people."

But Kansa shouted, "City guard, go quickly. My order must be carried out exactly."

Then that strange event happened. As soon as Krishna heard that Vasudev was to be killed, he burst out in anger. First he told Kansa to take back his order. But when Kansa would not listen, Krishna trembled with rage and gave a terrible roar. Then he ran swiftly, leaped up, and stood on top of that high wall.

Parikshit asked, "Was Kansa afraid now, O sage?"

"No, Parikshit," said Shukadeva. "Kansa was not such a weak soul. Seeing death itself standing before him, he took up his shield and sword to fight. He was very skilled in sword fighting."

Kansa cried out, "Fool, you want to fight me? I am Kansa, king of the Bhojas. The greatest hero on this earth. The greatest hero."

Krishna answered, "What kind of hero are you? You, an elder brother, have kept your innocent helpless sister and her husband imprisoned for years and years. In your greed for power, you did not even spare your own father. And again and again you sent demons to Vrindavan to kill a child. You have also done terrible cruelty to the people of your kingdom. You are a coward. Yet you are proud and call yourself a hero."

Kansa shouted, "Krishna, do you know whom you are talking to? First face the blow of my sword."

At last, before the terrible anger of Lord Shri Krishna himself, all of Kansa's resistance was swept away like dry straw. Just as a garuda ignores all the tricks of a snake and snatches it up from the ground, in the same way Kansa was caught in the hands of Lord Krishna. As soon as the crown fell from his head, Krishna grabbed him by the hair and dragged him to the edge of the wall and pushed him down with great force. Then Krishna himself jumped down on top of him. Under the immense weight of the Lord of the universe, Kansa was crushed completely, and within a short time he died, choking for breath.

Parikshit said, "Alas, what a terrible end for a sinner. He had to leave before his time, leaving behind his golden throne and kingdom. Tell me, Gurudev, how did the people present react then? Did they accept Kansa's death as right?"

Shukadeva answered, "Everyone felt relief at the death of such a proud, cruel, and arrogant king as Kansa. Again and again they began to shout victory in Krishna's name."

"Kansa had more brothers, did he not?" asked Parikshit. "Did they say nothing, Acharyadev?"

"Yes, King," said Shukadeva. "Kansa had eight more brothers. They were filled with anger at their elder brother's death and rushed to attack Krishna. But Balaram picked up a club and killed them all alone."

Parikshit asked, "Tell me, O sage, even before his death, could Kansa not recognize Krishna?"

"Yes, King, he could," said Shukadeva.

"How did he recognize him, Acharyadev?" asked Parikshit. "Kansa had no virtue at all. Can a sinner like him also receive such a right? How is that possible?"

Shukadeva replied, "Listen, King. The Lord has said that he appears to living beings in whatever way they worship him. All through his life Kansa thought only of Lord Shri Krishna. Even though it was in the mood of an enemy, all his thoughts and deeds were filled only with Krishna, Parikshit. Only with Krishna. That is why before his death he saw the divine form of the Lord."

Parikshit said softly, "I understand, Acharyadev. The deepest truth of God's play is truly very strange. Tell me, O sage, after Kansa died, a shadow of sorrow must surely have fallen over the palace. Did the queens of Kansa's inner chambers remember Krishna?"

"Yes, Parikshit," Shukadeva answered. "They came and wept in sorrow. Krishna himself then comforted them and gave them assurance. After that he performed the funeral rites for the dead. And he freed King Ugrasen and his followers from imprisonment."

Parikshit asked one last question. "And when Vasudev and Devaki received their children near them after so many years, what did they do?"

Shukadeva Goswami said, "The ways of the human mind are very strange, O King. When Krishna freed Devaki and Vasudev and bowed down to touch their feet with his head, they, though father and mother, could not gather their child to their breasts. In truth, the thought of his divine nature came again and again into their minds. In that feeling they were overwhelmed with devotion. Vasudev and Devaki stood before Krishna with folded hands."