Gopala Champu

Chapter Eleven - Killing of Aghāsura and Bewilderment of Brahmā

[1] As on previous days, in the early morning Madhukaṇṭha began speaking with enthusiasm.

[2] Playing joyously as previously, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, killers of demons finished their kaumāra period.

[3] The white- and black-complexioned boys, desiring the paugaṇḍa period, made even the hearts of sages unsteady by their boyish fickleness. They learned all the sweet arts necessary for performing various pastimes. In this way, the two played, spreading nectar everywhere in the form of the flute music. ||1||

[4] One time, waking up very early in the morning, the brother of Balarāma, the sole protector of the universe, developed a desire by chance, “Today we should have our morning meal in the forest.” Finishing his morning duties, he asked his mother to allow this. Pleasing his mother by his actions, he went out with her permission, and with the sound of his buffalo horn, woke up his friends and Balarāma. Going quickly and sitting at the crossroads, waiting for his friends for a few moments, he looked around.

[5] Rising from bed, his friends came running and gathered together. Kṛṣṇa was waiting, expecting Balarāma to arrive in a few moments. When Balarāma’s servants came they spoke to Kṛṣṇa.

[6] The servant related the message spoken by Balarāma: “O my brother Kṛṣṇa! Though I want to play with you, something has suddenly come up to prevent me. My maternal uncle of the Puru dynasty has come to see me on some surprising business. He remains here, fixed like a tree, in the room. I know that you got up early with a special desire. Please fulfill your desire for pastimes. If some obstacle arises at the beginning of a new activity, it will prevent the action from bearing fruit.”

[7] On hearing the words of the servant, Kṛṣṇa, whose lotus eyes stretched to his ears, desiring to play, said to his friends, “Quickly have your lunch packets containing suitable food tied with a string, prepared for sending to the forest. Our mothers will also send us food through some proper persons.” Making beneficial arrangements for well-wishing friends, generous Kṛṣṇa, leading the dear calves, entered the forest. It is said that thousands and thousands of young boys went with Kṛṣṇa to herd the calves. It is said there were ten thousand, a million, or ten million boys. And the number of calves that Kṛṣṇa herded was also unlimited.

When Kṛṣṇa started for the forest, a million horns and flutes resounded and a million calves cried out, mixed with the boys’ shouting. Thus Kṛṣṇa playfully made Balarāma’s heart and the whole world tremble. ||2||

[8] Though the boys were beautiful because of the jewels as they entered the forest, they ornamented their bodies with fruits and buds from the trees and used a multitude of glass beads brought in packets from their houses after much pleading. Absorbed in playing, they did not consider that one thing was better than another. Only the miser, thinking of expense, sees with a critical eye. The carefree person, not considering expense, becomes joyful with what is pleasing.

[9] Placing the food packets on tree branches, they became absorbed in moving here and there as they played, while Kṛṣṇa glanced about.

Muṣṇanto ’nyonya-śikyādīn jṣātān ārāc ca cikṣipuḥ |

tatratyāś ca punar dūrād dhasantaś ca punar daduḥ ||

All the cowherd boys used to steal one another’s lunch bags. When a boy came to understand that his bag had been taken away, the other boys would throw it farther away, to a more distant place, and those standing there would throw it still farther. When the proprietor of the bag became disappointed, the other boys would laugh, the proprietor would cry, and then the bag would be returned. SB 10.12.5

[10] The theft:

They stole each others’ sticks, flutes and lunches. Considering it their own, they would throw the item far away. They would then bring the item back and offer it. They all engaged in suitable actions by the quick movements of Kṛṣṇa’s brow at every second and knew nothing else. ||3||

[11] Just as they enjoyed bliss only by being with Kṛṣṇa, even in separation they became blissful.

yadi dūraṁ gataḥ kṛṣṇo vana-śobhekṣaṇāya tam |

ahaṁ pūrvam ahaṁ pūrvam iti saṁspṛśya remire ||

Sometimes Kṛṣṇa would go to a somewhat distant place to see the beauty of the forest. Then all the other boys would run to accompany him, each one saying, “I shall be the first to run and touch Kṛṣṇa! I shall touch Kṛṣṇa first!” In this way they enjoyed life by repeatedly touching Kṛṣṇa. SB 10.12.6

[12] The meaning of this is explained. They touched him.

Kṛṣṇa sent all the boys ahead to look for the calves and then went far off to see the beauty of the forest. They could not see him. But they ran towards him, attracted by his fragrance as bees are attracted to the flowers, saying, “I will catch him first.” Having such pride, they felt great bliss. ||4||

[13] They played.

Though the boys were pure, they displayed pride to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa. ||5||

By playing the flute some boys indicated that they would hide an object. Others blew their horns and made Kṛṣṇa laugh. ||6||

Others, considering the horns to have a vulgar sound, rejected those sounds and made sounds like bees and cuckoos. ||7||

Speed is an object of praise for cowherds, whereas singing is the occupation of sannyāsīs. Thus some boys, thinking in this way, ran after the shadows of birds. ||8||

Thinking they were superior because of being able to imitate various birds, some boys walked among the swans, cranes and peacocks. ||9||

Others, in order to show their knowledge of making bamboo puppets, joyfully moved among the branches with the monkeys. ||10||

All the youngest boys were engaged in satisfying Kṛṣṇa. Some boys went to the waterfalls and crossed over the river, jumping with the frogs, and when they saw their own reflections on the water they laughed. Laughing and playing, they satisfied Kṛṣṇa. ||11-12||

He sent boys to curse the echoes and imitate the reflections in the water, and obtained joy from this. ||13||

The pastimes that the boys following Kṛṣṇa performed surpassed the acts of magicians and surpassed the understanding of jṣānīs and devotees. Śukadeva has revealed this clearly. ||14||

[14] When Kṛṣṇa desired another type of play and the boys skillful at all arts diversified their antics, the younger brother of Baka and Pūtanā, Aghāsura, arrived on their path, like a black cloud suddenly appearing in the sky. He was praised by Kaṁsa:

“O my great assistant! Give up disappointment and listen. You do not know that by not staying awake and sleeping all the time as a python, a great problem has arisen. For this reason I have woken you up.”

[15] Agha said, “O lord of the universe! Please give me the order.”

[16] Beginning from the voice in the sky on Devakī’s wedding day, Kaṁsa told the whole story while praising himself, “My assistants such as Pūtanā, full of poison, found novel ways of deception, but all their endeavors met with failure. Thus you are my only hope, with your ability to devour everything.” He halted praising him with the words “like Rāvaṇa’s brother” out of fear of the inauspicious connotations and also rejected the words “like Vṛtra, among the previous demons.” “You are firm in determination like Dhruva. You must kill Kṛṣṇa, the greatest enemy of your brother Baka.”

[17] Though he knew such words were contrary to auspiciousness and good conduct, Agha quickly spread himself in front of Kṛṣṇa’s friends and assumed the form of a long snake. He remained fixed there as much as he displayed his inborn deceptive nature. Jokingly, the boys described him as a huge snake.

“In front of us a huge snake emitting poison lies awake. If he devours us, he will die like Baka.” ||15||

[18] Saying this, and looking at Kṛṣṇa’s face, clapping their hands while frolicking and laughing, they entered the mouth of the Agha, like a cave in a mountain, just as the sun enters the Western Mountain. The calves, glowing with brilliance, followed the boys. Though Kṛṣṇa did not want them to do so, he did not have the opportunity to prevent them. He was astonished at the determination of his future pastimes and then became remorseful. Just as the sun enters into a dense fog, he followed the boys and calves into the demon’s mouth.

[19] The demons and devatās situated nearby and far off repeatedly began crying out, “Oh!” in joy and sorrow, not knowing the powers of Kṛṣṇa. Making the same sound the two groups expressed different sentiments–that of victory and fear.

[20] Agha acted like Baka but by the assistance of Yogamāyā, full of the power of Nanda’s austerities, Kṛṣṇa, endowed with unlimited power expanded in the throat of Agha just as his arm expanded on entering the throat of Keśi.

[21] After a few moments, the demon’s breathing stopped. Then he lost consciousness. Then his head split open and his life air departed. His soul, having associated with Kṛṣṇa and becoming purified, waited outside in order to attain an eternally fresh body.

[22] Having killed the demon from inside, Kṛṣṇa revived the calves and boys by his sweet glance. As the moon emerges from the mouth of Rāhu, he emerged from Agha’s mouth by the path that he had entered.

[23] When they all emerged from the demon like the Gaṅgā flowing from the Himalayas, the demon’s effulgence merged into the effulgence coming from Kṛṣṇa’s body. All people saw that the light merging into Kṛṣṇa’s body just as a spark merges into the light of the sun.

[24] At that time, the devatās headed by Brahmā standing in front of Kṛṣṇa, played music and recited praises, showered flowers from the desire-trees of heaven, worshiped Kṛṣṇa and mocked Agha, expressing Kṛṣṇa’s thoughts:

“O demon Agha! As darkness disappears with the contact of light, you have suddenly been destroyed by contact with me. You knew this, so what fault do I have?” ||16||

“You swallowed unlimited calves and cowherd boys, and not being satisfied, you desired to swallow me as well. I came into your heart in order to satisfy you, but because of being restricted, your life airs desired to come out. Though I did not agree, those airs burst out of your head. What can I do?” ||17||