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KB 1970-1-35 / Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna

35 / Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna

Vrndavana was always absorbed in the thought of Krsna. Everyone

remembered His pastimes and was constantly merged in the ocean

of transcendental bliss. But the material world is so

contaminated that even in Vrndavana the asuras or demons

tried to disturb the peaceful situation.

One demon named Aristasura entered the village like

a great bull with a gigantic body and horns, digging up

the earth with his hooves. When the demon entered Vrndavana, it

appeared that the whole land trembled, as if there

were an earthquake. He roared fiercely, and after digging up

the earth on the riverside, he entered the village proper. The

fearful roaring of the bull was so piercing that some of the

pregnant cows and women had miscarriages. Its body was so big,

stout and strong that a cloud hovered over its body just as

clouds hover over mountains. Aristasura entered Vrndavana with

such a fearful appearance that just on seeing this great demon,

all the men and women were afflicted with great fear, and the

cows and other animals fled the village.

The situation became very terrible, and all the inhabitants of

Vrndavana began to cry, "Krsna! Krsna, please save us!" Krsna

also saw that the cows were running away, and He immediately

replied, "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid." He then appeared

before Aristasura and said, "You are the lowest of living

entities! Why are you frightening the inhabitants of Gokula?

What will you gain by this action? If you have come to

challenge My authority, then I am prepared to fight you." In

this way, Krsna challenged the demon, and the demon became very

angry by the words of Krsna. Krsna stood before the bull,

resting His hand on the shoulder of a friend. The bull

began to proceed towards Krsna in anger. Digging the earth

with his hooves, Aristasura lifted his tail, and it appeared

that clouds were hovering about the tail. His eyes were reddish

and moving in anger. Pointing his horns at Krsna, he began to

charge Him, just like the thunderbolt of Indra. But Krsna

immediately caught his horns and tossed him away, just as a

gigantic elephant repels a small inimical elephant. Although

the demon appeared to be very tired and although he was

perspiring, he took courage and got up. Again he charged Krsna

with great force and anger. While rushing towards Krsna, he

breathed very heavily. Krsna again caught his horns and

immediately threw him on the ground, breaking his horns. Krsna

then began to kick his body, just as one squeezes a wet cloth

on the ground. Being thus kicked by Krsna, Aristasura rolled

over and began to move his legs violently. Bleeding

and passing stool and urine, his eyes starting from their

sockets, he passed to the kingdom of death.

The demigods in the celestial planets began to shower

flowers on Krsna for His wonderful achievements. Krsna was

already the life and soul of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, and

after killing this demon in the shape of a bull, He became the

cynosure of all eyes. With Balarama, He triumphantly entered

Vrndavana village, and the inhabitants glorified Him and

Balarama with great jubilation. When a person performs some

wonderful feat, his kinsmen and relatives and friends naturally

become jubilant.

It was after this incident that the great sage Narada disclosed

the secret of Krsna. Narada Muni is generally known as

devadarsana, which means that he can be seen only by

demigods or persons on the same level with the demigods. But

Narada visited Kamsa, who was not at all on the level of the

demigods, and yet Kamsa saw him. Of course Kamsa also

saw Krsna, what to speak of Narada Muni, but generally one must

have purified eyes to see the

Lord and His devotees. Of course, by association

with a pure devotee, one can derive an imperceptible

benefit, which is called ajnatasukrti. He cannot

understand how he is making progress, yet he makes progress by

seeing the devotee of the Lord. Narada Muni's mission was to

finish things quickly. Krsna appeared to kill the

demons, and Kamsa was the chief among them. Narada wanted to

expedite things; therefore, he immediately approached Kamsa

with all the real information. "You are to be killed by the

eighth son of Vasudeva," Narada told Kamsa. "That eighth son is

Krsna. You were misled by Vasudeva into believing that the

eighth issue of Vasudeva was a daughter. Actually, the daughter

was born of Yasoda, the wife of Nanda Maharaja, and Vasudeva

exchanged the daughter, so you were misled. Krsna

is the son of Vasudeva, as is Balarama. Being afraid of your

atrocious nature, Vasudeva has tactfully hidden Them in

Vrndavana, out of your sight." Narada further informed Kamsa, "

Krsna and Balarama have been living incognito in the care of

Nanda Maharaja. All the asuras, your companions who were sent

to Vrndavana to kill different children, were all killed by

Krsna and Balarama."

As soon as Kamsa got this information from Narada Muni, he took

out his sharpend sword and prepared to kill Vasudeva for his

duplicity. But Narada pacified him. "You are not to be killed

by Vasudeva," he said. "Why are you so anxious to kill him?

Better try to kill Krsna and Balarama." But in order to satisfy

his wrath, Kamsa arrested Vasudeva and his wife and shackled

them in iron chains. Acting on the new information, Kamsa

immediately called for the Kesi demon and asked him to go to

Vrndavana immediately to fetch Balarama and Krsna. In actuality,

Kamsa asked Kesi to go to Vrndavana to be killed by Krsna and

Balarama and thus get salvation. Then Kamsa called for the

expert elephant trainers, Canura,

Mustika, Sala, Tosala, etc., and he told them, "My dear friends,

try to hear me attentively. At Nanda Maharaja's place in

Vrndavana there are two brothers, Krsna and Balarama. They are

actually two sons of Vasudeva. As you know, I have been

destined to be killed by Krsna; there is a prophecy to this

effect. Now I am requesting you to arrange for a wrestling

match. People from different parts of the country will come to

see the festival. I will arrange to get those two boys here,

and you will try to kill Them in the wrestling arena."

Wrestling matches are still enjoyed by the indigenous people in

the northern part of India, and it appears from the statements

of Srimad-Bhagavatam that 5,000 years ago wrestling

was popular. Kamsa planned to arrange such a wrestling

competition and to invite people to visit. He also told the

trainers of the elephants, "Be sure to bring the elephant named

Kuvalayapida and keep him at the gate of the wrestling camp.

Try to capture Krsna and Balarama on Their arrival and

kill Them."

Kamsa also advised his friends to arrange to worship Lord Siva

by offering animal sacrifices and performing the sacrifice

called Dhanur-yajna and the sacrifice performed on the

fourteenth day of the moon, known as Caturdasi. This date falls

three days after Ekadasi, and it is set aside for the worship

of Lord Siva. One of the plenary portions of Lord Siva is

called Kalabhairava. This form of Lord Siva is worshiped by the

demons who offer skinned animals before him. The process

is still current in India in a place called Vaidyanatha-dhama

where the demons offer animal sacrifices to the deity of

Kalabhairava. Kamsa belonged to this demonic group. He was

also an expert diplomat, and so he quickly arranged for his

demon friends to kill Krsna and Balarama.

He then called for Akrura, one of the descendants in the family

of Yadu in which Krsna was born as the son of Vasudeva. When

Akrura came to see Kamsa, Kamsa very politely shook hands with

him and said, "My dear Akrura, actually I've no better friend

than you in the Bhoja and Yadu dynasties. You are the most

munificent person, so as a friend I am begging charity from you.

Actually I have taken shelter of you exactly as King Indra

takes shelter of Lord Visnu. I request you to go immediately to

Vrndavana and find the two boys named Krsna and Balarama. They

are sons of Nanda Maharaja. Take this nice chariot,

especially prepared for the boys, and bring Them here

immediately. That is my request to you. Now, my plan is to kill

these two boys. As soon as They come in the gate, there will be

a giant elephant named Kuvalayapida awaiting, and possibly he

will be able to kill Them. But if somehow or other They escape,

They will next meet the wrestlers and will be killed by them.

That is my plan. And after killing these two boys, I shall kill

Vasudeva and Nanda, who are supporters of the Vrsni and Bhoja

dynasties. I shall also kill my father Ugrasena and his

brother Devaka, because they are actually my enemies and are

hindrances to my diplomacy and politics. Thus I shall get rid

of all my enemies. Jarasandha is my father-in-law, and I have a

great monkey friend named Dvivida. With their help it will be

easy to kill all the kings on the surface of the world who

support the demigods. This is my plan. In this way I shall be

free from all opposition, and it will be very pleasant to rule

the world without obstruction. You may know also that Sambara,

Narakasura and Banasura are my intimate friends, and when I

begin this war against the kings who support the demigods, they

will help me considerably. Surely I shall be rid of all my

enemies. Please go immediately to Vrndavana and encourage the

boys to come here to see the beauty of Mathura and take

pleasure in the wrestling competition."

After hearing this plan of Kamsa's, Akrura replied, "My dear

King, your plan is very excellently made to counteract the

hindrances to your diplomatic activities. But you should

maintain some discretion, or your

plans will not be fruitful. After all,

man proposes, God disposes. We may make very great plans, but

unless they are sanctioned by the supreme authority, they will

fail. Everyone in this material world knows that the

supernatural power is the ultimate disposer of everything. One

may make a very great plan with his fertile brain, but he must

know that he will become subjected to the fruits, misery and

happiness. But I have nothing to say against your proposal. As

a friend, I shall carry out your order and bring Krsna and

Balarama here, as you desire."

After instructing his friends in various ways, Kamsa retired,

and Akrura went to Vrndavana.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirty-fifth Chapter

of Krsna, "Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna."

 
 
KB 36: Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna
 
CHAPTER THIRTY–SIX
 
Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna
 
Vrndavana was always absorbed in the thought of Krsna. Everyone 
remembered His pastimes and was constantly merged in the ocean 
of transcendental bliss. But the material world is so 
contaminated that even in Vrndavana the asuras, or demons, 
tried to disturb the peaceful situation.
 
Once a demon named Aristasura entered the village in the form 
of a great bull with a gigantic body and huge horns, digging up 
the earth with his hooves. When the demon entered Vrndavana, 
the whole land appeared to tremble, as if there 
were an earthquake. He roared fiercely, and after digging up 
the earth on the riverside, he entered the village proper. The 
fearful roaring of the bull was so piercing that some of the 
pregnant cows and women had miscarriages. Its body was so big, 
stout and strong that a cloud hovered over its body just as 
clouds hover over mountains. Aristasura entered Vrndavana with 
such a fearful appearance that just on seeing this great demon 
all the men and women were afflicted with great fear, and the 
cows and other animals fled the village.
 
The situation became very terrible, and all the inhabitants of 
Vrndavana began to cry, "Krsna! Krsna, please save us!" Krsna 
saw that the cows were running away, and He immediately 
replied, "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid." He then appeared 
before Aristasura and said, "You lowest of living 
entities! Why are you frightening the inhabitants of Gokula? 
What will you gain by this action? If you have come to 
challenge My authority, then I am prepared to fight you." In 
this way, Krsna challenged the demon, and the demon became very 
angry by the words of Krsna. Krsna stood before the bull, 
resting His hand on the shoulder of a friend. The bull 
proceeded toward Krsna in anger. Digging the earth 
with his hooves, Aristasura lifted his tail, and it appeared 
that clouds were hovering about the tail. His eyes were reddish 
and moving in anger. Pointing his horns at Krsna, he charged
 Him just like the thunderbolt of Indra. But Krsna 
immediately caught his horns and tossed him away, just as a 
gigantic elephant repels a small inimical elephant. Although 
the demon was perspiring and appeared very 
tired, he took courage and got up. Again he charged Krsna 
with great force and anger. While rushing toward Krsna, he 
breathed very heavily. Krsna again caught his horns and 
immediately threw him to the ground, breaking his horns. Krsna 
then began to kick his body, just as one squeezes a wet cloth 
on the ground. Being thus kicked by Krsna, Aristasura rolled 
over and began to move his legs violently. Bleeding from the 
mouth and passing stool and urine, his eyes starting from their 
sockets, he passed to the kingdom of death.
 
The demigods in the celestial planets showered 
flowers on Krsna for His wonderful achievement. Krsna was 
already the life and soul of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, and 
after killing this demon in the shape of a bull, He became the 
cynosure of all eyes. With Balarama, He triumphantly entered 
Vrndavana village, and the inhabitants glorified Him and 
Balarama with great jubilation. When a person performs some 
wonderful feat, his kinsmen and relatives and friends naturally 
become jubilant.
 
It was after this incident that the great sage Narada disclosed 
to Kamsa the secret of Krsna. Narada Muni is generally known as 
deva-darsana, which means that he can be seen only by 
demigods or persons on the same level with the demigods. But 
Narada visited Kamsa, who was not at all on the level of the 
demigods, and allowed Kamsa to see him. Of course, Kamsa also 
saw Krsna, what to speak of Narada Muni. But unless one sees 
the Lord or His devotees with purified eyes, one cannot 
derive the actual benefit. Of course, anyone who associates 
with a pure devotee derives imperceptible 
benefit, which is called ajnata-sukrti. One cannot 
understand how he is making progress, yet he makes progress by 
seeing the devotee of the Lord. Narada Muni's mission was to 
finish things quickly. Krsna appeared in order to kill the 
demons, and Kamsa was the chief among them. Narada wanted to 
expedite things; therefore, he immediately approached Kamsa 
with all the real information. "You are to be killed by the 
eighth son of Vasudeva," Narada told Kamsa. "That eighth son is 
Krsna. You were misled by Vasudeva into believing that the 
eighth issue of Vasudeva was a daughter. Actually, the daughter 
was born to Yasoda, the wife of Nanda Maharaja, and Vasudeva 
exchanged his son for the daughter, so you were misled. Krsna 
is the son of Vasudeva, as is Balarama. Being afraid of your 
atrocious nature, Vasudeva has tactfully hidden Them in 
Vrndavana, out of your sight." Narada further informed Kamsa, "
Krsna and Balarama have been living incognito in the care of 
Nanda Maharaja. All the asuras, your companions who were sent 
to Vrndavana to kill different children, were killed by 
Krsna and Balarama."
 
As soon as Kamsa got this information from Narada Muni, he took 
out his sharp sword and prepared to kill Vasudeva for his 
duplicity. But Narada pacified him. "You are not to be killed 
by Vasudeva," he said. "Why are you so anxious to kill him? 
Better try to kill Krsna and Balarama." But in order to satisfy 
his wrath, Kamsa arrested Vasudeva and his wife and shackled 
them in iron chains. Acting on the new information, Kamsa 
immediately called for the Kesi demon and asked him to go to 
Vrndavana immediately to kill Balarama and Krsna. In actuality,
 Kamsa asked Kesi to go to Vrndavana to be killed by Krsna and 
Balarama and thus get salvation. Then Kamsa called for his 
expert elephant trainers, as well as for the wrestlers Canura, 
Mustika, Sala, Tosala, etc., and he told them, "My dear friends,
 try to hear me attentively. At Nanda Maharaja's place in 
Vrndavana there are two brothers, Krsna and Balarama. They are 
actually two sons of Vasudeva. As you know, I have been 
destined to be killed by Krsna; there is a prophecy to this 
effect. Now I am requesting you to arrange for a wrestling 
match. People from different parts of the country will come to 
see the festival. I will arrange to get those two boys here, 
and you will try to kill Them in the wrestling arena."
 
Wrestling matches are still enjoyed by people in 
northern India, and it appears from the statements 
of Srimad-Bhagavatam that five thousand years ago wrestling 
was also popular. Kamsa planned to arrange such a wrestling 
competition and to invite people to visit. He also told the 
trainers of the elephants, "Be sure to bring the elephant named 
Kuvalayapida and keep him at the gate of the wrestling arena. 
Try to capture Krsna and Balarama on Their arrival and have the 
elephant kill Them."
 
Kamsa also advised his friends to arrange to worship Lord Siva 
by offering animal sacrifices and performing the sacrifice 
called Dhanur-yajna and the sacrifice performed on the 
fourteenth day of the moon, known as Caturdasi. This date falls 
three days after Ekadasi, and it is set aside for the worship 
of Lord Siva. One of the plenary portions of Lord Siva is 
called Kalabhairava. This form of Lord Siva is worshiped by 
demons who offer animals killed before him. The process 
is still current in India in a place called Vaidyanatha-dhama, 
where demons offer animal sacrifices to the deity of 
Kalabhairava. Kamsa belonged to this demoniac group. He was 
also an expert diplomat, and so he quickly arranged for his 
demon friends to try to kill Krsna and Balarama.
 
He then called for Akrura, one of the descendants in the family 
of Yadu, in which Krsna was born as the son of Vasudeva. When 
Akrura came to see Kamsa, Kamsa very politely shook hands with 
him and said, "My dear Akrura, actually I have no better friend 
than you in the Bhoja and Yadu dynasties. You are the most 
munificent person, so as a friend I am begging charity from you.
 Actually I have taken shelter of you exactly as King Indra 
takes shelter of Lord Visnu. I request you to go immediately to 
Vrndavana and find the two boys named Krsna and Balarama. They 
are the sons of Nanda Maharaja. Take this nice chariot, 
especially prepared for the boys, and bring Them here 
immediately. That is my request to you. Now, my plan is to kill 
these two boys. As soon as They come in the gate, there will be 
a giant elephant named Kuvalayapida waiting, and possibly he 
will be able to kill Them. But if somehow or other They escape, 
They will next meet the wrestlers and will be killed by them. 
That is my plan. And after killing these two boys, I shall kill 
Vasudeva and Nanda, who are supporters of the Vrsni and Bhoja 
dynasties. I shall also kill my father, Ugrasena, and his 
brother Devaka, because they are actually my enemies and are 
hindrances to my diplomacy and politics. Thus I shall get rid 
of all my enemies. Jarasandha is my father-in-law, and I have a 
great monkey friend named Dvivida. With their help it will be 
easy to kill all the kings on the surface of the earth who 
support the demigods. This is my plan. In this way I shall be 
free from all opposition, and it will be very pleasant to rule 
the world without obstruction. You may know also that Sambara, 
Narakasura and Banasura are my intimate friends, and when I 
begin this war against the kings who support the demigods, they 
will help me considerably. Surely I shall be rid of all my 
enemies. Please go immediately to Vrndavana and encourage the 
boys to come here to see the beauty of Mathura and take 
pleasure in the wrestling competition."
 
After hearing this plan of Kamsa's, Akrura replied, "My dear 
King, your plan is very excellently made to counteract the 
hindrances to your diplomatic activities. But you should 
maintain equilibrium, for the result of your 
activities may be fruitful or may not be fruitful. After all, 
man proposes, God disposes. We may make very great plans, but 
unless they are sanctioned by the supreme authority, they will 
fail. Everyone in this material world knows that the 
supernatural power is the ultimate disposer of everything. One 
may make a very great plan with his fertile brain, but he must 
know that he will be subjected to the fruits, misery and 
happiness. But I have nothing to say against your proposal. As 
a friend, I shall carry out your order and bring Krsna and 
Balarama here, as you desire."
 
After instructing his friends in various ways, Kamsa retired, 
and Akrura went back to his home.
 
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Thirty-sixth Chapter 
of Krsna, "Kamsa Sends Akrura for Krsna."
 