Chapter 36 - Akrūra deputed to bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka narrated:

1. Some time after this (festive occasion described in the last chapter), there arrived at Vraja, Ariṣṭa, a demon having the form of a bull, with a huge body and a big hump, tearing up and shaking the earth with his hoofs.

2. Bellowing with terrific harshness and breaking the earth with his hoofs, he rushed with his tail upraised, turning up mounds of earth with the ends of his horns.

3. 4. Discharging dung and urine in small quantities at intervals, he came with his eyes fixed and staring. Oh dear Parīkṣit! At his violent and terrific roar, cows and women were so shaken with fear that they prematurely delivered their off-spring in miscarriage.

5. Noticing that demonic beast with sharp horns, cowherd men and women got terrified. And the cattle ran away in fear, deserting Gokula, Oh king.

6-7. Calling upon Kṛṣṇa, “Oh Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa”, all of them sought the shelter of Govinda for their protection. Noticing the Gokula overwhelmed with fear and fleeing, Kṛṣṇa reassured them with theworḍs, “Don’t be afraid”, and challenged that demon in the form of a bull, “You stupid wretched-most fellow! What do you gain by terrifying the poor cowherds and cattle?

8. When I am here to crush down the pride of strength of the wicked and evil-minded brutes like you.” Challenging him thus, Kṛṣṇa stroked his arms and provoked the wrath of Ariṣṭa, by clapping his hands.

9. Kṛṣṇa waited spreading out his serpent-like mighty arm on the shoulder of a friend. The demon Ariṣṭa who was thus enraged, dashed at Kṛṣṇa in fury, furrowing the eaṛth below with his hoofs and dispersing the clouds with his tail upraised.

10. Thrusting forward the ends of his horns and staring fixed with blood-shot eyes, the demon, trying to cow down Kṛṣṇa with his side-glances, darted at him even as the thunderbolt discharged by Indra.

11. Catching hold of the Asura by his horns, the glorious Lord pushed him back to a distance of eighteen paces as an elephant would do to drive back its rival.

12. Although pushed backward by the Lord, Ariṣṭa who was perspiring all over, and heaving sighs, sprang to his feet and in a wrathful frenzy, speedily dashed at Kṛṣṇa again.

13. As he rushed towards Kṛṣṇa, the Lord seized the demon by the horns and hurled him on the ground. Pressing him down with one foot, he wrung his body as one would wring and twist a drenched cloth. Pulling out one of his horns, he struck him and the demon dropped down on the earth.

14. Vomiting blood, discharging urine and dung, kicking up his legs and with eyes rolling under excruciating pains, he went to the abode of death. Thereupon, the celestials, showering flowers on him, sang hymns in praise of Hari.

15. Having slain the demonic bull and glorified by his people (Gopas and gods), He, along with Balarāma, entered Gokula giving delight to the eyes of Gopīs.

16. When the Asura (demon) Arista was killed by Kṛṣṇa of miraculous feats, the worshipful divine sage Nārada who was endowed with divine vision, intimated to Kaṃsa as follows:

17. “By Vasudeva who was apprehensive (about the safety of his children) were given in charge of his friend Nanda, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī and Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, while the daughter (you tried to kill) was born of Yaśodā. It is by them both that your men (deputed to kill Kṛṣṇa) were slain.”

18. Hearing that (revelation) Kaṃsa, the king of Bhojas whose mind was agitated with wrath caught hold of a sharp, sword, with a view to kill Vasudeva.

19. He was prevented from taking that action (lest knowing of their father’s death Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma should abscond). But realizing that his (Vasudeva’s) sons are (ordained by Providence as) the cause of his death, Kaṃsa got Vasudeva and his consort fettered with iron chains.

20. When the divine sage (Nārada) departed, Kaṃsa sent for Keśin and commissioned him with the order, “Let Balarāma and Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) be killed by you.”

21. Then Kaṃsa, the king of Bhojas, summoned his ministers like Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośala and others, conductors of elephants and spoke to them:

22-23. Listen to this, Oh warriors, Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika. In the Vraja of Nanda dwell Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, the two sons of Vasudeva. It is ordained that I should meet death at their hands. When both of them are brought here, they are to be done to death by you in the game of wrestling.

24. Let galleries of various designs, suitable to the arenas of wrestlers, be constructed. Let all people in the city (of Mathurā) and the villages, witness this freestyle wrestling.

[Additional verses in the Text of Bhāgavata Candrikā and Padaratnāvalī.]

24.1. Oh highly intelligent superintendent (or keeper) of my elephants! Listen to this command of mine. Our Elephant, Kuvalayāpīḍa has the rut flowing from its temples.

24.2. It should be placed at the entrance of the arena with a heavy iron bar in its trunk. The two sons of Vasudeva (Ānakadundubhi) are to be killed.

24.3. But even the conductor of the elephant got agitated in mind and submitted, “How can I kill the two sons of the sister of His Majesty, the Lord of the earth?”

24.4. When addressed thus by the elephant-driver, the wicked-minded Kaṃsa ordered him again, making all the assembled persons hear it for compliance.

Kaṃsa said:

24.5. Carefully listen to this command personally given by me. You should all hear it and bear it in mind. Listen to the reason why from the start, I have been a sworn enemy of these, even though they are my relatives.

24.6. On one occasion, my highly fortunate lotus-eyed mother who was in her youth, was wandering about in the garden of the palace, when a gentle cool breeze was blowing.

24.7. 8. It was the spring time when the garden was beautified with full-blown Aśoka, Bakul, areca nuts and Punnāga trees, with humming and hovering swarms of black bees, resounded with the sweet cooings of cuckoos. It was attractive with the group of dancing peacocks and the herds of playful monkeys; it was lined with rows of Sāla trees.

24.9. While my mother of auspicious vows was sauntering there, she, who was well adorned and had taken her bath after menstruation, and was agitated with the passion of love, contemplated of her husband.

24.10. 11. At that time a certain Gandharva, Drumila by name, was going through the garden, unseen by others. He noticed that she was alone and ready for the occasion. He being able to read the thoughts and intentions in the minds of all, understood what she was thinking about. He assumed the form of Ugrasena and resembled him in speech and smiles.

24.12. The Gandharva who entertained a lustful passion about that chaste lady and was love-striken, got her consent. Being perfectly ignorant about the reality, she accompanied and had a pleasant time with him in that forest grove.

24.13. That chaste lady somehow came to discover him to be somebody else during the act of intercourse. She was extremely distressed at heart and with her mind and eyes agitated demanded, “Who are you, Oh wretched cheat? That a wicked person like you has perpetrated this deed condemned by the noble?”

24.14. The long-armed Drumila tried to console her who demanded this of him. He gently explained, “Oh good lady! We belong to a family of Gandharvas. We are equal to the celestials and are there beloved attendants.

24.15. Oh auspicious lady! Please note that we (Gandharvas) are not easily accessible to females of the human species like you who are fit to be enjoyed by human beings only. And there is a lot of difference between men who are subject to birth, death and such other physical and mental ailments and the celestials (who are unaffected by them), Oh pretty woman!”

24.16. While he was talking thus, the lady with her mind overwhelmed with rage, interrupted, “Do you want to appease me now after perpetrating that nefarious act?

24.17. In defiance of the deities presiding over water, fire, earth, air, the ether, the moon, the sun, and disregarding the presiding divinities of the cardinal points, Time- Spirit, the two twilights (the dawn and the dusk) and the Dharma itself, you have adulterated with me.

24.18. Like unto a restraint-less elephant emitting ichor and blind with passion, you, wretched fellow, have made me, who was like a pure, translucent lotus-pond in a forest, turbid and impure. You wrethed-most vile immortal! Do you again dare to try to conciliate me?”

24.19. 20. While she was censuring him thus, he, being afraid of being imprecated, urged through fear, “Oh Lotuseyed lady! Sexual relation between immortals and women is of the regular order while that between men and celestial women is of the irregular order and is unnatural.

24.21. Hence, Oh lady with lotus fragrance, please note that I have not committed an offence. My semen shall not go waste. A son will be born to you.

24.22-24. He will be affluent, intelligent, highly energetic and daring. My words shall not prove vain and untrue.” While he was speaking thus, my enraged mother who was deeply distressed at the loss of her irrecoverable chastity, exploded in wrath: “You have transgressed the bounds of dharma and have taken to different (sinful) course of conduct, and are a wicked sinner, a follower of the wrong (immoral) path, your son shall be cruel, characterised by criminality and void of good qualities. He will never receive the blessings of gods, Brāhmaṇas and sages”.

24.25. While the lady was giving vent to her wrathful expression, the Gandharva became afraid that she would curse him and uttering the words. “He will be an enemy of your relatives”, he disappeared.

24.26. After his departure, my blessed mother came ' back to her palace from the garden. And nobody else knew the incident.

24.27. In due course she became pregnant and delivered me at the proper time. On one occasion, the worshipful sage Nārada told me all this.

24.28. Since that time I hate these relatives who are wicked. You yourself are a witness here how they are always inimical to me.

24.29. 30. As I am born of a Gandharva, it will not be sinful to kill the wickedly disposed Ugrasena, the evil-minded Devaka, the crafty Vasudeva and their partisans and dependants. I, therefore, issue a command to you that they both (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) should be ruthlessly killed.

24.31. By performing the worship of god Yama, the deity of the other world with the offerings of the two boys (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) crushed to death by the mighty elephant, let them (Vasudeva, Ugrasena and others) follow their path (to the abode of death).

24.32-33.^[1] Let Vasudeva, Ugrasena, that Nanda and Devaka, the cowherds and Yādavas and all of their followers and partisans witness with tearful eyes the killing of their own sons. Let all the people in the country be invited and let them witness the free style wrestling^[2] (svaira-saṃ-yugam).

25. Oh conductor of my elephant! You are a good man: The elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa is to be posted by you at the entrance of the arena. See to it that my two enemies (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) are killed by it.

26. Let the sacrifice connected with the bow (dhanuryāga)^[3] be commenced with due formality on the fourteenth day (of the dark half^[4]). Let the priests offer sacrificial animals as victims to the king of bhūtas (goblins) i.e. god Śiva who is the bestower of all boons (to god Śiva the bestower of boons and the ruler over all beings).

27. Having thus passed the orders, Kaṃsa who was adept in the technique of achieving his purpose sent for Akrūra, the prominent member of the Yadu clan. Taking his palm in his hand, he spoke to Akrūra.

28. “Oh leader of charitable persons!^[5] Devoted as you are to me, please do a friendly turn to me; for there is nobody else either in my clan of Bhojas or those of Yadus who will guard my interest.

29. Hence, Oh gentle friend, I depend on you as a means of accomplishing an important mission even as the mighty Indra does, depending on god Viṣṇu, achieve his object.

30. Go to the Vraja of Nanda. There dwell two sons of Vasudeva. Please fetch them both here in this chariot. Let there be no delay.

31. It is reported that gods who are dependents of Viṣṇu have ordained my death (at the hands of one of them). Bring both of them along with cowherds headed by Nanda (lest the boys should refuse to come). Instruct Nanda and others to bring the tribute (curds, ghee etc.) so that they would be convinced that the dhanur-makha (sacrifice to Bow) is real and not a ruse to bring them.

32. When they are brought here, I shall get them killed by an elephant which is like the god of death. If they happen to escape (death from the elephant), I shall get them despatched by two wrestlers who are like thunderbolts.

33-34. When both of them are finished, I shall put to death Vasudeva and his brothers who will be grieving (the death of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) and massacre the clans of Vṛṣṇis Bhojas, Dāśārhas. and also my aged father Ugrasena who still dotes for sovereignty and his brother Devaka as well as all other enemies of mine.

35. It is after that that this earth will be rid of all thorns (free from enemies). My father-in-law Jarāsandha will be like a father unto me and Dvivida (the monkey chief), a dear friend.

36. Śambara, Naraka and Bāṇa have entered into friendly alliance with me. Having killed all the kings siding with gods, I shall enjoy the earth.

37. In view of (the knowledge of) these facts, quickly bring the youngsters Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa inducing them to witness the bow-sacrifice as well as the beauty of Mathurā, the capital of Yadus.

Akrūra replied:

38. Oh king! What you intend to do is all for the good inasmuch as you try to avert the evil (viz. death). But one should maintain equanimity and try one’s level best whether it results in success or failure. For it is the Providence which is the real cause (instrument) of success.

39. A man builds castles in the air (lit. one entertains very big plans) even though they are thwarted by the Destiny and thus experiences joy and sorrow. I shall, however, carry out your order.

Śrī Śuka said:

40. Having directed Akrūra (to go to Vraja) and sent away his counsellors, Kaṃsa entered his palace and Akrūra his home.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vṛndāvana edition gives these 33 additional verses.

[2]:

but pauruṣam [pauruṣa]— ‘my prowess’ interprets Bhāgavata Candrikā

[3]:

Subodhinī explains: As against the Viṣṇu-power of Kṛṣṇa, Kaṃsa wanted to counter-balance it by propitiating god Śiva. The worship of god Śiva as presiding over the bow (which would thereby be victorious in fighting) is called dhanuryāga in Śiva-tantra.

[4]:

Subodhinī states it to be the Śivarātrī day.

[5]:

Subodhinī: Akrūra used to give cows as gifts to Brāhmaṇas every day for a period of twelve years and his mother gave food in charity. Hence he is designated as dānapati (the leader of donors).