Gopala-campu
Gopal Champu
Chapter Twenty-two - Destruction of Dvivida
O Kṛṣṇa! O Caitanya! Of Rūpa and Sanātana! O Gopāla! O Raghunātha! O Vallabha who has attained Vraja! Please protect me! ||1||
[1] In this way, Uddhava and Balarāma gave great bliss to Vraja. The First and Second Campus have been written to show (ultimately) Kṛṣṇa’s return to Vraja after killing Dantavakra. In order to establish this with proof, the section called Kṛṣna-pūrṇa-vraja will now be offered.[1] The two reciters described this pastime after his return to Vraja just as they described his other pastimes.
[2] Snigdhakaṇṭha began speaking at Nanda’s assembly in the presence of Kṛṣṇa, the prince of Vraja.
In this way the two pastimes (of Uddhava and Balarāma visiting Vraja) have been described. In those pastimes Uddhava and Balarāma, like the divine physicians, the Aśvini-kumāras, alleviated the disease of Vraja’s separation from Kṛṣṇa as if by a medicine. This was not untrue.
When Balarāma pacified Vraja by revealing that Kṛṣṇa would return and then returned to Dvārakā, the people of Vraja had even greater desire for Kṛṣṇa, just as cātaka birds cannot control themselves at the approach of the monsoon season. ||2||
Like a person struck with debilitating disease craves water, the people of Vraja tasted water in the form of Kṛṣṇa through the device of his sphūrti presented by Balarāma. They constantly derived great happiness from that sphūrti and that happiness was not false since their happiness was never obstructed, though their longing for attaining Kṛṣṇa remained. ||3||
[3] When the hope that Balarāma gave them spread everywhere, after some days, as previously, two messengers arrived from Dvārakā and spoke: “Desiring Kṛṣṇa’s quick return to Vraja, Balarāma personally began to destroy the obstacles by fighting victorious with great boldness. Please hear the story of killing Dvivida.”
[4] Nanda said, “Who is the enemy known as Dvivida?”
[5] The messengers said, “This king of the monkeys acted as a commander in Rāma’s army.”
[6] Nanda said, “How was this prideless servant of Rāma killed because of excessive arrogance by Balarāma?”
[7] The messengers said, “At this time, Dvivida became inimical by association with the demon Naraka.”
[8] Nanda said, “I cannot think how association of a great devotee with the demon Naraka could cause such damage.”
[9] The messengers said, “Association with the wicked was certainly the cause of his hatred for Balarāma also. During Rāma’s time he also had hostility towards Lakṣmaṇa.”
[10] Nanda said, “It is hard to understand the real nature of Rāma’s associates. Let that be. Please describe the misconduct of this person who destroyed his service to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.”
[11] The messengers said, “When Naraka died, to help him, Dvivida came to Kṛṣṇa’s province. Throwing fire, water and mountains in all directions, he destroyed cities, towns and cowherd villages. He put men and women in caves and sealed them in with stones. He destroyed women’s chastity and devastated the sages’ hermitages and contaminated them with his stool and urine. In this way the ape gave suffering to Kṛṣṇa’s province and destroyed it whimsically. “||3-4||
[12] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[13] The messengers said:
Near Dvārakā at Raivata Mountain, Dvivida heard Balarāma’s pleasant music. When he came there, by shaking the trees he destroyed flowers, fruits and branches of the trees. He imitated Balarāma’s singing by uttering, “Kila, kila, kila.” Balarāma’s women laughed at him. When he saw them, he sported with them as apes would do. What else can be said?
Understanding that Dvivida was an associate of Rāma, Balarāma tolerated everything. When Dvivida showed impudence a thousand times, Balarāma killed him. ||6||
Though he killed him, I think he was merciful, for he liberated him from his various offenses. ||7||
[14] The fight:
Balarāma threw stones at him but Dvivida dodged them and became gentle for a moment when he drank some stolen liquor. He then disgracefully pulled at the clothing of the women. Because of his ungracious actions, Balarāma took up his plough and pestle. Dvivida attacked with sāla trees and Balarāma, enraged with a fighting spirit, threw his pestle. Dvivida became covered in blood. Balarāma looked at him with pleasure. Dvivida threw a sāla tree. Balarāma broke the tree and when he threw another one, Balarāma broke that one also. Dvivida threw a shower of stones and Balarāma released his pestle, shattered all the stones and propelled them in the opposite direction. Dvivida attacked Balarāma with his fists and Balarāma attacked him with his fists. Dvivida died and Balarāma was successful. The battle displayed the successive moves and countermoves of Dvivida and Balarāma one after the other. The immovable earth began to tremble when the two grappled with each other during the fight. ||7-8||
[15] When the two messengers had finished speaking, two travelers from Dvārakā arrived and spoke, “Please hear of another astonishing act of Balarāma. Having gone to Hastināpura he treated the city like an object to be thrown away.”
[16] Everyone said in astonishment, “What is that? Please tell us the news.”
[17] The messengers said:
The son of Jāmbavatī, Sāmba, decided to get married and stole the daughter of Duryodhana by himself. When he did so, Śālva, Bhuriśrava, Duryodhana and Karṇa became red with rage, and even Bhīṣma took a frightful stance. Coming together with great force, they captured Sāmba, the best of heroes, conqueror of warriors, the sun of the Yadu family.
[18] Hearing that he was tied up from Nārada, the Yadus lost control and gathered their armies. Desiring auspiciousness for the Kurus, Balarāma went to their city with the intention of pacifying them with good instructions.
[19] Thinking of the future pleasure, Kṛṣṇa did not speak at all at that time.
[20] Balarāma camped in a garden half a krośa from Hastināpura along with an assembly of many brāhmaṇas. Through Uddhava he sent a faultless message to them. Thinking that Balarāma had come to release Sāmba, they quickly went to Balarāma to pray for their well-being. Approaching him, to show that they respected him, they announced, “Please order us what to do.”
[21] Balarāma thought to himself: “If I arrange this marriage, then they will have an affectionate relationship with Kṛṣṇa. I should maintain a favorable attitude to these enemies in order to understand if this is possible. They are following me with respect, thinking I am their friend but they consider Kṛṣṇa, the jewel of my heart, to be among their enemies. Enough of acting favorable to them! They do not give up our child but imprison him like an enemy! What Kṛṣṇa has said is true. It is useless to treat them like this. Therefore I should not speak pacifying words to them but rather speak harshly. As the Vedas should not be spoken to śūdras, Kṛṣṇa’s name should not be spoken to them. I will use Ugrasena’s name.”
[22] Then Balarāma spoke aloud, “I have come as a messenger, and thus cannot give orders. Ugrasena can give the order.”
[23] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[24] The messengers said:
When they looked at each other, in front of Balarāma, who looked like death, the Kurus became angry in their hearts. Balarāma then spoke frankly, “Listen to his order. Our innocent boy follows the correct dharma of kṣatriyas. You have fought a battle unworthy of a kṣatriya, showing great anger since you together have fought one person. Sāmba, who has stolen your daughter single-handedly, is the greatest of warriors. You should not unjustly tie him up unless you do not consider my teachings. Let that be. Today, you should follow proper conduct.”
[25] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[26] The messengers said:
When they heard this, the Kurus turned pale but quickly began speaking unspeakable words.
Though some like Bhīṣma and others turned pale because of the heat caused by offense to Kṛṣṇa, they did not protest the offensive speaking because they were overpowered by their intense warrior natures. Not only did they demean the Yadus, and not only did they show hatred to Ugrasena, but they disrespected Balarāma as well, and then returned to the city. But how could Balarāma tolerate it when they insulted Kṛṣṇa with arrogance? From a distance Balarāma ordered Duryodhana, “O Duryodhana! If you do not worship Kṛṣṇa, you will not live much longer.”
[27] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[28] The messengers said, “When they spoke to the Yadus in this demeaning way, Balarāma desired to demean their city.” ||9||
[29] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[30] The messengers said:
When they spoke sarcastic words like the utterances of Buddha against the Vedas, looking at them with disrespect, Balarāma began pulling the city with all its palaces in order to throw it in the Gaṅgā.
Balarāma, laughing loudly, dug his plough into the earth to pull the city toward the Gaṅgā while its attractive sides were being attacked by fierce troops. Creating friction by the movement which made a loud noise “hala hala” he caused joy to spread in the whole universe and made the enemy shed showers of tears. ||10||
When the front part of the city began to sink and the opposite side rose, the citizens began cursing Duryodhana and his sons. With their heads bowed in shame, they brought Sāmba with the young maiden forward and surrendered to Balarāma. Balarāma, glancing at them with compassion, began giving them instructions. ||11||
[31] “Oh best of the Kurus! You should never do such wicked acts.” Duryodhana, gaining his senses, worshiped Balarāma along with the citizens in fear. Bringing a huge dowry and placing it in front of Balarāma, he requested him to depart with the bride and groom. Sāmba, being embarrassed, requested to have a fair fight with each of the Kurus in front of Balarāma. He did not speak of Lakṣmaṇā. At this, the worried Kurus touched their turbans and crowns to Balarāma’s feet and prayed for his mercy (that Sāmba accept the bride).”
[32] Nanda said, “Why did Bhīṣma, the follower of Kṛṣṇa, support the sinful? And why did Balarāma not completely destroy their city seeing the opportunity?”
[33] The messengers said, “Bhīṣma knew in his heart the real truth but followed the principles of a kṣatriya. Balarāma began to drag the city into the river in order to purify the Kurus by instilling fear in them, but not to kill them.”
[34] Nanda said, “Then what happened?”
[35] The messengers said, “Joyfully Balarāma took Sāmba and his bride to Dvārakā and related the events to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa simply smiled. He did this to indicate that he understood their hearts and that Balarāma was correct.”
[36] Snigdhakaṇṭha concluded, “By your request I have recited this. It is not like that now. O Nanda! Look at Kṛṣṇa, whose eyes bestow bliss, sitting beside you.” ||12||
[37] When, having satisfied everyone, the reciter remained silent for a few moments, the bards of Vraja began singing:
You became angry at Dvivida’s evil nature. You are the friend of the devotees. You performed pastimes at Raivata that the ordinary people could not see.
You were served by your women and became angered by the boldness of the ape. You fought with him and enjoyed it thoroughly.
You killed the evilest of the apes after a long time and were praised by the devatās and sages. When the Kurus bound up Sāmba, you gathered the Yadu troops.
Trying to make peace, you went in the company of many brāhmaṇas. Hastening to Hastināpura, you heard their nasty words.
Looking at their city, in anger you pulled their city using your plough and created astonishment in all.
Frightened, the Kurus surrendered to your feet and mercifully you gave up the quarrel. You returned to Dvārakā joyfully with the bride, groom and dowry.
Now you are living with your younger brother in Vraja. Victory! Victory! Victory! O Balarāma, the only bliss for your brother! ||13||
[38] Then at the assembly of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the reciter made them happy. He spoke as follows:
As long as Balarāma was with Kṛṣṇa after returning from Gokula, Kṛṣṇa engaged him so that he could return to Vraja. ||14||
O Rādhā! The fools think that Kṛṣṇa was attracted to Vraja for some other reason. The wise know that the main reason for his attraction was the treasure of your good qualities. ||15||
[39] He concluded: “O Rādhā! There is no need to describe things further. What I have described you can see directly in front of you. Look! Kṛṣṇa remains standing for a long time, gazing at your face which is covered in tears.” ||16||
[40] When the reciters finished their talk and returned to their quarters with the others, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa went to their abode while longing for each other.
[1] This is the name of the last chapters from 21-37.