After Chānura, proud of his strength, had been slain Rohini's son engaged with Mushthika and Krishna with Toshala again (48). In the first challenge, those two wrestlers, beside themselves with anger, as if urged on by Destiny met Rāma and Krishna (49). Thrown down by a gust of wind they began to leap and bound in the arena. Taking up Toshala, huge as a mountain summit and whirling him for a hundred times the powerful Krishna grinded him on the earth (50). Then profuse blood gushed out of the mouth of that powerful wrestler attacked and assailed by Krishna. And he was on the point of death (51). Displaying various circular feats and fighting for a long time with Mushthika, and the wrestler Andhra the energetic and powerful athlete Baladeva struck his head with his fist resembling a cloud accompanied by a thunderbolt (52–53). Thereat his brain came out and his eyes were displaced. When he fell down slain on earth the multitude sent up a great shout (54). Having thus slain Toshala and Andhra, Krishna and Sangkarshana, with eyes reddened in anger, began to move about with leaps and bounds in the arena (55). At that time the great wrestlers Andhra and Chānura being slain that grim looking arena grew void of wrestlers (56). With all their limbs trembling waited there the Gopa spectators headed by Nanda (57). With her limbs trembling, her breast pained with the discharge of milk and eyes bathed in tears of joy Devaki began to see Krishna (58). Vasudeva, who had his eyes agitated by tears on seeing Krisana, became youthful as if casting off his decrepitude (59). As if through the black-bees of their respective glances, the courtesans drank the lotus countenance of Krishna (60). There were seen drops of perspiration on Kansa's face for seeing Krishna and of anger between his eye-brows (61). His heart was fanned by the breaths of anger accompanied by smoke-like thoughts of Keshava's destruction and was consumed by the fire of mental anxiety (62). His lips trembling in anger and the painted lines on his forehead being washed off by perspiration his body appeared like the crimson-coloured sun (63). As dew-drops, falling from a tree, appear when smitten by the rays of the sun so appeared the drops of perspiration falling from his face reddened with anger (64). Thereupon greatly worked up with anger Kansa issued a mandate to dreadful persons, saying:—"Turn out of the arena these two sinful, grim-visaged and forest-ranging young cow-herds. I do not wish to see them. Amongst the Gopas none deserves residence in my territory (65–66). This Nanda Gopa is wicked and is bent upon committing injury to me. Therefore assail him with iron chains and spikes (67). Although Vasudeva is my kinsman he is highly wicked. Therefore punish him even today in such a way which persons not, aged, deserve (68). The other inferior Gopas, whom you see, are all devoted to Krishna. Therefore take away from them their kine and other riches" (69).
Whilst the harsh-speeched Kansa thus issued the mandate, Vāsudeva, having truth for his prowess, eyed him with eyes expanded in anger (70). Beholding his father Vasudeva and Nanda insulted, his kinsmen distressed and Devaki unconscious he was greatly worked up with anger (71). Desirous of ascending Kansa's pavillion in order to kill him, the powerful, large-armed and eternal Krishna, with the velocity of a lion, began to leap in the arena before him like a cloud driven by the wind (72-73). Only the citizens, seated on the side of Kansa, saw him when he leaped in the arena (74). Kansa was completely possessed by Destiny and so he considered Govinda coming down from the sky (75). There upon stretching his own Parigha-like arms Krishna drew Kansa by the hair in the arena (76). Assailed by Krishna's hands his golden crown, set with diamonds, fell down on earth from his head (77). When Vāsudeva held Kansa by the hair he became motionless, overwhelmed and agitated and began to breath like one lifeless. He was not capable of seeing even Krishna's face (78). His ears were divested of Kundalas, his necklace was torn off, his arms grew lengthened and his body was shorn of ornaments and body-cloth (80). Thus possessed by divine effulgence Kansa's face grew bewildered and he set forth many an exertion (81). Coming down from the pavillion and holding Kansa, deserving of pain, by the hair with force Keshava began to drag him in the arena (82). The highly effulgent king of Bhoja being thus dragged by Krishna, a ditch was made by his body in the arena (83). Thus sporting in the arena when Kansa breathed his last Krishna threw away his body at no distance (84). Thus struck Kansa's body, used to luxuries, was grinded on the ground and covered with dust (85). His closed eyes and dark face, without the crown, were shorn of beauty like a lotus without leaves (86). Slain not in a battle and his body not wounded with shafts and killed by being dragged by the hair Kansa was driven away from the path of heroes (87). But on his body were all on a sudden seen marks of nails set by Keshava, which mutilated his flesh and destroyed his life (88).
Having thus slain Kansa and removed his thorns and being endued with twofold effulgence in delight the lotus-eyed Krishna first touched Vasudeva's feet. And afterwards the descendant of Yadu bowed at the feet of his mother. She too sprinkled him with torrents of tear begotten by joy (89-90). Thereupon shining in his own effulgence Mādhava, according to rank and age, enquired after the well-being of all other Yadavas (91). Holding powerfully by his hands the proud brother of Kansa, by name Urgita, the virtuous-souled Baladeva killed him (92). Thus having conquered their enemies and subdued their anger, those two heroes, brought up in Vraja, went delightedly to their father's house (93).
| [266] | The meaning is:—In a wrestling match one gives no proof of his power and performs no good deed because it is mere an idle amusement. And so the one slain does not go to heaven and the one successful secures no glory. |
CHAPTER LXXXVI. LAMENTATIONS OF KANSA'S WIVES.
Vaishampayana said:—Beholding their husband slain and fallen Kansa's wives encircled him like planets of decreasing lustre (1). Beholding their lion-like royal husband slain and lying down on earth his wives began to bewail (2). "O thou of large arms, a hero, ever observant of heroic vows like thyself, being slain, we all, being the wives of a hero, have become friendless and all our hopes have been frustrated (3). O foremost of kings, seeing this thy ordained death we are plaintively bewailing along with our relatives (4). O highly powerful lord, thyself being dead and cast off by thee we have our roots cut off (5). Alas! When stricken with sexual desire we will tremble in anger like creepers. Who will take us to the bed-room (6)? O gentle one, is it meet that the sun should scorch thy charming face full of breaths like a lotus without water (7)? O thou who wert ever fond of Kundalas! Divested of Kundalas, thy ears, attached to thy neck, are not shining well (8). O hero, where is that crown crested with jewels and effulgent like the sun that used to increase greatly the beauty of thy head (9)? Thyself repairing to the other world, how will these thy thousand wives, ever gracing thy inner apartment, pass their days poorly (10)? Chaste wives are never disappointed from their enjoying in the company of their husband nor are they forsaken by him; why dost thou then leave us behind (11)? Alas! Time is highly powerful; for although a death to thy enemies thou art being speedily taken away by Time who carries on his work in order (12). O lord, we are unworthy of sorrow and have been brought up by thee in happiness. Being deprived of our lord and miserly how shall we spend our days (13). A husband is the only refuge unto those women who care for their character. But the powerful Death has killed such a husband of ours (14). Possessed by widowhood in thy absence and sunk in the deep ocean of lamentations, where shall we repair, with hearts stricken with sorrow (15)? Alas! fickle is the movement of men. Sporting on thy lap we were spending our days with thee. Now in a moment we have been separated from thee (16). O thou the conferrer of honors, thyself meeting with this calamity, we have been visited by disasters. It seems, we all perpetrated a similar iniquity for we have all in the like manner, met with widowhood (17). Alas! We were all fond of thee and thou didst take care of us with heavenly enjoyments. Casting us off where dost thou go now (18)? O lord of the world, O giver of honors, O thou resembling a celestial, thou art our master who have been separated from their lord. O lord, we are bewailing like hind; it behoves thee to give us a reply (19). O lord sovereign, thy departure, making thy kinsmen sorrowful and thy wives bewail, appears (to us) as terribly hard (20). Forsooth it appears O lord, that the damsels of the other world are more beautiful, because, O hero, thou hast departed leaving behind thy own people (21). What is the reason O hero, that thou dost pay no heed to the lamentations of thy wives (22). Alas, the march of men to the other world is ruthless, because without caring for them they even forsake their own wives (23). It is better for women not to have husbands than beloved, heroic husbands, because they love the women of the celestial region and they too are fond of heroes (24). Alas! carrying away imperceptibly such a heroic husband Death has pierced our very vitals (25). O lord of the world, having slain the army of Jarāsandha and vanquished the other enemies in battle why hast thou met with death at the hands of an ordinary man (26)? Alas! Fighting with Indra in a combat of arrows thou wert not defeated by the immortals. How hast thou been then slain by a mortal (27)? Having agitated, with a shower of arrows, the ocean that is incapable of being moved thou didst conquer Varuna the holder of the noose, and take away all his riches (28). When Vāsava did not pour profuse showers, thou didst, for the citizens, bore through the clouds with thy arrows and bring down rain by force (29). By thy prowess all kings were humiliated and used to send thee the precious jewels and clothes (30). Alas, thy manliness was manifest unto thy enemies and thou wert like a god. How has then such a life-ending calamity befallen thee (31)? Thyself being slain O lord, we are passing by the name of widows. Although not mad we have become so and have been assailed by death (32). O lord, if thou wert determined upon departing why hast thou then forgotten us? Would it have tired thee if thou hadst say it in mere words (33)? O lord, O king of Mathurā, we bow unto thy feet in fear. Be thou propitiated and return from the distant land (34). O hero, how dost thou lie down on grass and dust? Prostrating thyself on earth does not thy body feel any inconvenience (35)? Alas, who has inflicted on us this stroke of sleep? Who has ruthlessly struck the body of these women (36)? The woman, who has to survive, should weep and repent. Why should we weep when we are to follow our husband (37)?"
In the meantime trembling poorly and crying aloud "Where is my son? Where is my child?" Kansa's mother arrived there (38). Beholding her son like unto the moon shorn of its lustre her heart as if broke assunder and she repeatedly lost her consciousness (39). Beholding her son and exclaiming "Alas! I am undone!" she began to bewail along with her daughters-in-law (40). Placing on her lap the head of her son, that one, fond of sons, began to bewail plaintively saying "O my son, O thou the enhancer of the delight of thy kinsmen, O thou ever devoted to the vow of a hero, why hast thou departed so soon? O my son observant of vows, why art thou asleep before all men? The kings should never lie down on earth in this way (41–43). When in the days of yore all the Rākshasas assembled Rāvana, the foremost of the strong in all the worlds, uttered the following verse, spoken well of by the sages (44). 'Although I am of great strength and a destroyer of the immortals, a terrible and irresistable calamity will proceed to me from my kinsmen (45). And such a life-destroying great calamity will also proceed to my intelligent son from my relatives (46)'". Thereupon weeping like unto a cow, separated from her calf, she said to her husband the old king Ugrasena (47). "Come and see, O pious king, this thy royal son is lying on the bed of a hero like a mountain clapped by a thunderbolt (48). O king, you are to perform the obsequial rites of this thy son who has repaired to the abode of Death and attained to the state of a ghost (49). Kingdoms are worthy of being enjoyed by heroes and we have been defeated. Go and ask Krishna about Kansha's funeral rites (50). Enmity terminates with death—it ceases with the death of the enemy. His obsequial rites should therefore be performed. What offence has the dead body committed (51)?" Having said this to the Bhoja king with a heart laden with sorrow and casting her looks again on the face of her son Kansa's mother began to bewail anew, saying (52): "O king, what will thy wives do hereafter, who, even having obtained a husband like thee, have their desires frustrated? (53) How shall I now see thy aged father dried up under the subjection of Krishna like water in the pool (54)? O my son, I am thy mother, why dost thou not speak to me? Leaving behind thy beloved people thou hast departed to a distant land (55). O hero, the inevitable Death has, against the knowledge of this unfortunate woman, taken away a son like thee well-read in moral laws (56). O the master of thy clan, thy servants, who were pleased with thy qualities on receiving honors and various presents from thee, are now weeping (57). O foremost of kings, O thou of large arms and great strength, rise up and save the people of thy house and other poor men (58)."
While the wives of Kansa, stricken with great misery, were thus bewailing the sun, smitten with evening rays, set in (59).
CHAPTER LXXXVII. KRISHNA'S REPLY TO UGRASENA.
Vaishampayana said:—Breathing like a person who has drunk poison, Ugrasena, burning with grief for his son, approached Krishna (1). He saw him there encircled by Yadavas repenting for his sinful destruction of Kansa (2). Hearing the heart-rending lamentations of Kansa's wives he, censuring his own self in that assembly of the Yādavas, (said) (3):—"Alas, out of my childish freak and under the influence of anger, I have, by the destruction of Kansa, made widows of these thousand women (4). On the death of their husband these women are bewailing so very plaintively that even an ordinary man's heart, on hearing it, feels compassion (5). Hearing the lamentations of these guileless women, even Kritānta's (Regent of the dead) heart is filled with pity (6). I had determined before that Kansa, the oppresser of the pious, and always given to vice, should be slain (7). Death is preferable to life unto him who, in this world, is of a degraded conduct, ruthless temper, feeble understanding and whom the people hate (8). Kansa was highly sinful, never liked by the pious and him every one used to hate. What pity should then be felt for him (9)? The ascetics, as a fruit of their virtuous deeds, live in the celestial region. He, who attains to glory in this world, is also like a dweller in heaven (to). If the subjects are self-controlled, observant of their own duties and perform pious deeds, unrighteousness can never touch the king (11). Those, who are wicked, are constrained by Death to reap the proper fruits. The pious attain to auspicious fruits in the next world (12). Many are the agents of impious deeds in these worlds and therefore the gods perfectly protect the pious (13). That Kansa has been slain by me should be considered by you as righteous for I have eradicated (thereby) his mis-deeds (14). Do you now console the sorrowful women, the citizens and the merchants (15)."