Gopala-campu
Gopal Champu
[41] After broadcasting this information, they drove the tusks firmly in the ground in front of Kaṁsa, as if driving stakes into his chest. Balarāma, whose fist punched Pralamba, was matched with Muṣṭika and Kṛṣṇa whose feet touch Garuḍa was matched with Cāṇūra.
It was like a glorious, frolicking lion freshly matched with a huge elephant possessed of great strength.
Displaying anger, they wrestled hand to hand, arm to arm, foot to foot, knee to knee, hip to hip, fist to fist and palm to palm. Imagine how many techniques Kṛṣṇa and Cāṇūra used! ||17||
Stopping him with his hand, Kṛṣṇa grabbed Cāṇūra and blocked his hand. Balarāma grabbed Muṣṭika. In choking the wrestlers, they choked Kaṁsa. ||18||
Something astonishing happened. When Kṛṣṇa pulled the wrestler’s limbs to his inconceivable limbs, the strong wrestler died though from a distance it appeared that he hit the wrestler many times to kill him. ||19||
When the two large wrestlers came to strike Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, they missed them. ||20||
[42] The wresters at first could not recognize but later understood Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s strength, and in either case they blamed Kaṁsa.
The wrestlers first thought, “These boys are very strong but do not know wrestling. Why did Kaṁsa not match us with someone who knows fighting?” ||21||
[43] Later they thought, “We can really understand that these two are most expert in wrestling and scriptures. Frightened Kaṁsa has foolishly matched us with them. ||22||”
[44] Others, along with the women, criticized Kaṁsa.
“These wrestlers are strong as mountains and thunderbolts. The two boys are so soft. Curse the king who permitted this fight. But why should they and we not be criticized in the assembly since we are seeing maltreatment of the righteous with curiosity?” ||23||
“We have not done any pious acts, for after seeing Kṛṣṇa for a few seconds with difficulty, calamity, like a demon, appears for those having affection for him. The women who experience happiness on seeing Kṛṣṇa go to the forest in the morning and return in the evening have accrued profuse pious acts.” ||24||
“We are cursed because out of fear of Kaṁsa we cannot chant Kṛṣṇa’s name. We offer unlimited respects to the women of Vraja who sing about his qualities constantly while doing household chores and who play in his heart at all times.” ||25||
“This form is a result of what incomparable piety? The gopīs drink this form, the incomparable essence of beauty, eternally perfect, the only shelter of power and good qualities, appearing ever fresh, with their eyes.” ||26||
“Who can describe the greatness of the gopīs’ prema? Look! Our hearts are following him, giving up our bodies. Govinda pulls everyone’s heart near with his beauty filled with fatigue from fighting. Balarāma also does this.” ||27||
“Running towards the angry enemy, Kṛṣṇa remains extraordinarily peaceful with his smiling lotus face, perspiration and enthusiasm for fighting. Since Balarāma’s eyes and face are red from anger at the opponent, it appears to be his nature—manifesting as Kṛṣṇa’s fiery brilliance.” ||28||
“All the righteous, including Vasudeva, Nanda, and Devakī, speaking like me with blazing hearts, with intense gazes, are continually agitated by Kaṁsa. It seemed that he will soon die.” ||29||
[45] Those who realized their great powers also criticized Kaṁsa.
“As a concealed hunter throws a dog to a lion, frightened Kaṁsa throws these wrestlers to Kṛṣṇa.” ||30||
“He who killed his troopers like Pūtanā, who completely cut down Indra’s pride, who inconceivably bewildered Brahmā, has promised to defeat Kaṁsa.” ||31||
“What is the comparison of self-manifesting Kṛṣṇa with ignorant wrestlers? Look at the amazing battle between light and darkness.” ||32||
“Though Kṛṣṇa and the wrestlers grapple each other they do not touch because of Kṛṣṇa’s special powers just as light and darkness do not mix.” ||33||
“In Kṛṣṇa’s heroic body there is not a trace of arrogance, panic or injury. See! His excellent prowess is like poison in front of Cāṇūra and crushes to bits his vital organs.” ||34||
“Look before you. As fire consumes grass, as a thunderbolt splits a mountain, as Agastya swallowed the ocean, as moonlight destroys darkness, as Viṣṇu’s name destroys all sin, Kṛṣṇa is victorious in the arena over the wrestler with ugly, huge, tough limbs.” ||35||
“See the amazing scene of Kṛṣṇa fighting. Afflicting Cāṇūra, he pierces the heart of Kaṁsa.” ||36||
“The fool punches Kṛṣṇa with his iron fist. When it touches Kṛṣṇa’s heart, Kṛṣṇa’s hairs stand on end in joy.” ||37||
[46] Thus with lamentation and criticism people watched.
Laughing once, Kṛṣṇa grabbed him, twirled him in the air, and on seeing him said, “Unfortunately, you are dead.” While Kaṁsa watched, he threw the wrestler on the earth with disrespect. ||38||
When Muṣṭika threw his punches, Balarāma was happy. Receiving a strike from Balarāma’s palm, he died. ||39||
In front, with his limbs quivering in pain, his distracted eyes trembling in terror, frightening to see, crushed by time in the form of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, indicating the path of Kaṁsa, Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika passed to another world, causing astonishment to all eyes. ||40||
When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, playing with the wrestlers, threw the two on the ground carelessly, not showing knowledge of skill, Kūṭa immediately came with Śala and Tośala, but Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma danced, splitting them open by striking them with their left feet and left hands. ||41||
[47] Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma wanted to fight with all the assembled troops in the back and all the other wrestlers.
[48] When these wrestlers were killed the other wresters fled, making Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and others laugh. ||42||
“Just as you sent your troops to kill me and I sent them to the other world; when you sent the elephant to the gate, I sent him to the other world, and then today, I have sent off the wrestlers. Now I will play with my friends on this comfortable road. In this way Kṛṣṇa instructed Kaṁsa in the assembly and played. ||43||
When they were playing with their friends, the friends defeated the two brothers. Seeing this defeat by their friends, Kaṁsa was troubled in his heart. ||44||
[49] The two caused astonishment in mock fighting with their friends as the praiseworthy four varṇas watched. The two who were respected equally, gave respect to their friends of the same age. They appeared glorious with the joy caused by the faultless heavenly and earthly music. They kept the beat while wrestling as the main dancers in a divine performance. They mounted the heavenly airplanes in a joyous festival. Their prestige increased by the shower of flowers. For half an hour they made everyone fix their minds on one object.
[50] Everyone was attached to Kṛṣṇa, but Kaṁsa, unable to tolerate him, showed pride. Noting that wealth and power were actually the same, and that he would soon order that all the cowherds’ wealth should be seized, he waved his hands several times to stop the music.
[51] When the heavenly music, though faultless, was stopped, Kṛṣṇa with brilliant moves began jumping attractively with his friends. Hearing the harsh words of Kaṁsa directed to Nanda, Vasudeva and Ugrasena, and aiming to remove the faults from Kaṁsa’s words and his stopping the music, the independent enemy of Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa, ran quickly with a laugh, jumped on Kaṁsa’s stage, and glanced about.
[52] Kṛṣṇa’s intolerable bodily effulgence fought with Kaṁsa and Kaṁsa was destroyed. Defeated, his mind became deflated. He lost all composure, and grasping his sword and shield, began pacing about. Unconquerable Kṛṣṇa, walking joyfully, grabbed Kaṁsa’s hair as if it was a natural action. Kaṁsa could not understand what happened, just as a rabbit cannot understand how it is caught by a hawk.
[53] People praise this:
As a hawk attacks a pigeon, as a lion attacks an elephant, as a thunderbolt splits a mountain, as Garuḍa catches a snake and plays with it, Kṛṣṇa, going to the sturdy podium, quickly grabbed Kaṁsa and, taking control, played with him. ||45||
[54] As people recited this verse, Kṛṣṇa just by taking him by the hair, released half his life airs. Grabbing him, he pulled him from the dais and released the other half of his life airs. Impassioned by the desire to fight, Kṛṣṇa did not realize how swiftly he could kill him.
Kṛṣṇa pulled Kaṁsa’s hair and held his life airs in his fist. But that is not astonishing. Remember how Kṛṣṇa as a baby pulled out the life airs in drinking from Pūtanā’s breast. ||46||
Kaṁsa’s sword and shield fell and his jeweled armor came off. His hair was scruffy and his crown was in disarray. The fool on whom Kṛṣṇa placed his feet fell from the dais in front of everyone. ||47||
Previously Kaṁsa was known to have stopped blinking his eyes out of fear. The fearful people however could not say, “Kṛṣṇa has killed him.” To make his death known, Kṛṣṇa, like a lion, dragged his body around the arena nonchalantly like the best of lions, making marks on the ground. ||48||
With shouts of “Victory! Victory”, music blared, flowers fell in thick showers, as heaven and earth offered praises. Kṛṣṇa, increasing Kaṁsa’s knowledge, worshiped by his relatives and well-wishers, became stunned in his intelligence. ||49||
.
Kṛṣṇa was worshiped by brilliant showers of flowers laden with the best perfumes, by heavenly music, assistants to words of the devatās spreading the news of Kaṁsa’s death everywhere. Though situated on the earth, Kṛṣṇa had profuse power and effulgence and was attractive with profuse streams of bliss. May he be everyone’s object of meditation! ||50||
When Kaṁsa’s brothers like Kaṅka arrived out of gratitude to him, Balarāma destroyed them all with his club to help Kṛṣṇa. ||51||
[55] We will now describe details of the story taking support from Bhāgavatam mixed with Hari-vaṁsa.
[56] Kṛṣṇa, rejoicing, offered respects to Vasudeva and Nanda. Since he had freed Vasudeva, everyone was pleased. Searching for Devakī, going to her house, he met all the elder women. He met all other relatives and made them all happy. He spoke to others in order to free Ugrasena who had been imprisoned and had had his wealth stolen by Kaṁsa. Using his left hand, with little effort, Kṛṣṇa had pulled Kaṁsa by his hair, though he could not be pulled by a herd of elephants. He pulled him along a road boarding a canal. Followed by Vasudeva and Nanda, who were surrounded by rejoicing crowds, he then took rest at Viśrānti-tīrtha.
[57] Balarāma and others, dragging Kaṇka and other enemies around, showered joy on everyone and then killed them all.
[58] The respectable people saw that those who had been killed fell from Bhuvar-loka as if from a demonic planet. At this, the devotees’ minds became peaceful.
When the messenger that Nanda quickly sent to Vraja to inform them of Kaṁsa’s death arrived there, the joyful music in Vraja not only reached Mathurā but some people of Mathurā became one with that music. ||52||
[59] Kaṁsa’s wives became almost lifeless, and pounded their foreheads with their fists. Coming to the place, and seeing no alternative, they embraced their husband. Hating their life airs, they wailed and shed tears. Their mothers also lamented.
Previously the wives had concealed the signs of their husband’s death. Now they revealed all the signs in the pain of their lamentation, giving up all shyness in front of Kṛṣṇa. ||53||
Hearing their cries and seeing their tears, he felt remorse, criticized himself, and consoled them thoroughly with gentle words. ||54||
Though he consoled the women, they did not accept his consolation. The Yādavas then engaged others in this and took him into the city. ||55||
[60] There the Yadus were delayed by various disturbances. When Akrūra expressed desire to bring Kṛṣṇa to his house, Nanda, the best follower of etiquette, refused and instead took Kṛṣṇa along with Balarāma to Vasudeva’s house and made them sit down there.
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were in the middle, with Vasudeva and Nanda on either side. In front of them, the best of the Yadus, full of longing, crowded together to meet them. ||56||
In front of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma stood Nanda to introduce the elders and Akrūra to introduce the younger generation. ||57||
[61] Kṛṣṇa was troubled by the prolonged sobbing of Kaṁsa’s wives. Ugrasena, the moon of whose face was eclipsed by the offenses of his son Kaṁsa, met Kṛṣṇa. Along with his relatives, seeing no alternative, he held in front of him the ornaments of a king, including an umbrella with a golden staff. He remained standing with head bowed down.
[62] Understanding that Ugrasena was the king, Vasudeva and Nanda stood up. When they rose, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma also rose and acknowledged Ugrasena. Acknowledging them, Ugrasena felt distressed, but greeted them with respect. While offering respects, Vasudeva and Nanda placed Ugrasena, shaking with fear, in front of the city to establish his position.
[63] Ugrasena, feeling fear and discomfort because of the offenses of his son Kaṁsa, spoke while lamenting,
“Though the relative of an offender should not speak to the righteous, an urgent situation will make him speak.” ||58||
[64] Kṛṣṇa said, “Please give us the order.”
[65-66] Ugrasena said, “He who destroys ignorance is the king of the world. Who can be king of the day except the sun, since it alone destroys darkness? He who is experienced follows the path of old age. Dependent on the speed of time, no one can oppose time. Let the umbrella and other insignia of the king be taken by yourself.” ||59-60||
[67] Kṛṣṇa said:
All have heard that I killed your son. How can I reverse that now? But it appears that his destruction was dependent on me. But the real cause is time which takes the form of the violence inflicted on people like you. Though I knew about his enmity when I attained intelligence and strength in an independent condition, I did not give it much regard. I didn’t know it at all when I was a child. Kaṁsa then sent his cohorts including Pūtanā and was destroyed by that same time.
Pūtanā, giving me pain while offering her breasts, died. Cruel Tṛṇāvarta, trying to take me away by trickery, was killed. Vatsāsura, desiring to kill me, died. Baka, desiring to swallow me, died. Vyomāsura, trying to separate me from my friends, died. Agha, desiring to eat me with my friends, died. Pralamba, stealing Balarāma, died. Vṛṣāsura, desiring to kill me, died. Keśi, coming to devour me, died of his own accord. What is my fault in this? ||61||
Your son sent Akrūra and tried to kill me by the elephant and the wrestlers. Hearing his abusive scolding I became frightened. I desired to do atonements. When I grabbed a portion of his hair, he died. ||62||
[68] The cause of death for the snake-like uncle who devours his relatives and others is his own sinful acts. I did not desire it. If I killed him, then how can ruling this kingdom be pleasing to me?
[69] If I accept the kingdom, my vow will be broken. But my vow is never broken at any time. The devotees will gossip about my position as the speaker of truth.
ahaṁ sa eva go-madhye gopaiḥ saha vanecaraḥ |
prītimān vicariṣyāmi kāmacārī yathā gajaḥ
etāvac chataśopy evaṁ satyenaiva bravīmi te |
na me kāryaṁ nṛpatvena vijṣāpyaṁ kriyatām idam |
bhavān mānyostu rājā ye yadūnām agrajaḥ prabhuḥ ||
I live in the forest and in joy wander about among the cows with the cowherds as I please like an elephant. I speak the truth. I have hundreds of vows. It is not necessary that I rule the kingdom. I request that you rule the kingdom. Since you are respected, the eldest of the Yadus and capable, you should rule. Hari-vaṁsa 78.35-37 ||63-64||
[70] Everyone appreciated his proper conduct and remained standing for some moments with tears in their eyes, which were filled with the sweetness of his face. Vasudeva was afraid and Nanda was joyful. Seeing Ugrasena frightened because of his own people and his enemies, Kṛṣṇa then said, “This warrior family is now endowed with a king. If you accept to be the protector of this land I will help you for some days. Otherwise I will return immediately to Gokula and become fully happy.”
[71] Absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and knowing that everyone would suffer without a king, Ugrasena remained silent. Kṛṣṇa, craving the prema of Gokula, firmly put the crown on Ugrasena’s head.
[72] Giving up pride, everyone bowed their heads to him. Kṛṣṇa then made an announcement. “Putting you in front, we will all perform the rites for your son who has attained the destination of warriors. Vasudeva and Nanda, being tired, should go to their houses.” Speaking to Śrīdāma he said, “Balarāma and I will do the funeral rites. You should follow Nanda and go to the cart encampment for the night.”
[73] Sending everyone off and taking some rest, Kṛṣṇa then took the dead bodies by boat to the northern bank of the Yamunā and performed the death rites. He then went with Balarāma to Vasudeva’s house.
[74] Going there, Kṛṣṇa passed through the impassable doors and attentively offered respects to Vasudeva and Devakī. Experiencing Kṛṣṇa’s powers, their sentiments as mother and father disappeared and they felt uncomfortable accepting respects from Kṛṣṇa. Understanding their feelings, Kṛṣṇa sat down with sadness. Then with hearts filled with compassion like Nanda’s and Yaśodā’s, they strongly embraced Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and remained seated like inanimate objects for some moments.
As long as a devotee does not experience Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness, strong feelings of the Lord’s power arising from fear and respect will arise in his heart. How can it be otherwise? Śukadeva has continually and excellently praised Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness in Vraja. ||65||
[75] Going out with Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa, affectionate to his servants, giving joy to all by his fame, on remembering Uddhava remained with unblinking eyes, having a desire to see him. Kṛṣṇa immediately called him from the house by sending men to him, since Uddhava was watching him at a distance because of his reserve.
When they met for the first time, they lost awareness. “Who am I? Where am I? When did this happen? Who are these people?” If people nearby could not understand the cause of their loss of consciousness, who could understand? Only their prema understood their feeling. ||66||
[76] Kṛṣṇa with Balarāma then went a slight distance from Vasudeva on some pretext and met with Uddhava. Bringing him close, Kṛṣṇa embraced him in joy while gazing at his face constantly, soaking him with his cool streams of tears, which made a pond, which arose from his heart full of separation.
[77] Taking permission from Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa, along with Balarāma and Uddhava, went to Ugrasena’s house. While Kaṁsa’s wives wept, he brought Ugrasena to the assembly with the Yadu troops, convinced him that he should accept the kingdom, and placed him on the throne. He then returned to Vasudeva’s house.
Why would Kṛṣṇa desire Kaṁsa’s wealth, when his wealth made lordship over millions of universes and the wealth of Vaikuṇṭha insignificant? ||67||
[78] Vasudeva, mounting a huge chariot with Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Uddhava, manifesting great joy, and fulfilling all desires, went to the impenetrable cart encampment to meet Nanda. When he arrived, the two met with deep embraces. Meeting Nanda’s younger brothers, they discussed the spying and disturbances caused by Kaṁsa, now dead. Vasudeva then requested that as long as Nanda remained there Nanda and the cowherds should eat at his house as if it were theirs.
[79] Every day there was a great festival. Kṛṣṇa with Balarāma attended the assemblies of Ugrasena or of Vasudeva at the time of establishing a new, long-lasting kingdom, by unifying the Yadus who had fled in fear of Kaṁsa. Then going to the cart encampment he would play with his friends in amazing ways.
[80] Finishing the story for the day, Snigdhakaṇṭha spoke.
“O Nanda! Kṛṣṇa who previously killed Kaṁsa rests on your lap. Look at Kṛṣṇa, like a treasure gathered from one of the continents.” ||68||
[81] When the story was finished the bards of Vraja in great bliss spoke as follows.
O Kṛṣṇa, creating auspiciousness for yourself, creating auspiciousness for the people of Mathurā. Victory to you!
You make the citizens of Mathurā blissful by your various pastimes. You are expert at bewildering the minds of the Mathurā women. You took Kaṁsa’s clothing from the dyer. When the weaver made you beautiful, you made him beautiful.
Showering mercy on the devotees, you fulfilled the desires of the garland maker.
You made your body beautiful with Kubjā’s sandalwood, and made her crooked body beautiful.
You asked the whereabouts of the bow at Kaṁsa’s sacrifice and gave happiness to all the city folk. You broke the sacrificial bow of Kaṁsa and defeated the proud warriors who could not tolerate this.
You asked the mahouts to make way and when they became angry you killed the elephant. Balarāma and you were decorated with the elephant’s tusks. You ornamented the Bhoja dynasty when you entered the arena.
You were covered in elephant’s blood. You are known in various ways by various people. You have no opponent in the universe. In front of Kaṁsa you killed all his wrestlers.
In the whole assembly no one can compare to you. You enchanted the word by dressing as a wrestler. You became angry on hearing the criticisms of Kaṁsa’s men and defeated them all with the lightning of your glance.
You shook the grandstands with your jumping. You agitated Kaṁsa by the prowess of your playing. You quickly threw Kaṁsa from the podium and destroyed the affliction of the three worlds.
You freed everyone from suffering and immediately gave Kaṁsa liberation. You freed Vasudeva from prison. You were determined to give happiness to the devotees. You pulled Kaṁsa to the Viśrānti-ghāṭa. You exceed all with your manifested powers.
You gave the acquired kingdom to Ugrasena. You gave joy to all by your fame.
You deliver all those whom you protect. You give joy to Vraja.
Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory!
Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! Victory! ||69||
[82] Everyone, who had become increasingly attentive because of the recitation by the two reciters , the praises of the bards, and because of the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa’s constant association, developed happiness sympathetic to the reciters and bards.
[83] When the evening recitation took place, Snigdhakaṇṭha spoke before Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa:
When the happy news came to Vraja, from there a message came to Kṛṣṇa. That message from the devotees will be described tomorrow. Now hear the confidential, auspicious message of the gopīs whose devastation from long separation mixed with fear had decreased slightly on hearing that Kṛṣṇa had offered the kingdom to Ugrasena.
O beloved Kṛṣṇa! Separation from you afflicts your wives, the gopīs. Ah! Will this separation not separate them from their life airs? ||70||
For the gopīs the forest has become their home, and their home has become a forest. For the gopīs, will not separation from you, make death into life and life into death? ||71||
For the gopīs, sandalwood and the moon produces heat. In separation from you, will not fire (death) bring relief? ||72||
Separation is good. It reduces the pain. But your making the bold promise to return creates an obstacle to our relief. ||73||
Killer of Agha! Time which you have regulated for keeping order has become a destroyer. For us a moment is as long as a kalpa. ||74||
[84] Rādhā’s sakhīs wrote verses in this vein:
O destroyer of Agha! The wounds of separation never give us pain. But if Rādhā’s beauty withers away we will not accept that separation. ||75||
[85] There may be other causes, but this is most intolerable.
“O parrot! You and I will take a little of that food soaked in ghee that Rādhā brings for Kṛṣṇa to eat. May the sweet sound of Kṛṣṇa’s name spread everywhere.” Saying this, and every morning repeating “O king of Mathurā!” the śārikā bird living in Vṛndāvana gives intense pain to Rādhā. ||76||
When Kṛṣṇa heard the letters of the sakhīs his tears stopped and he became steady. ||77||
[86] Seeing the gopīs exhaling heavily when this talk started, Snigdhakaṇṭha concluded with enthusiasm.
“O Rādhā! How can your lover who has such attachment to you be callous? Look! Kṛṣṇa, dark as a rain cloud, is showering your creeper body with tears.” ||78||
[87] Concluding the madhura-rasa with these words, the two reciters, giving bliss to all and filled with the highest bliss themselves, went to their dwellings and Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa went to Cupid’s chamber.
[1] Mada is juice that drips from the forehead of a rutting male elephant.
[2] Devatās are called asvapat or sleepless, seeing everything.