Harivamsa

6 - śakaṭabhaṅgapūtanāvadhau - Elimination of Sakatasura and Putana

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

tatra tasyāsataḥ kālaḥ sumahānatyavartata |

govraje nandagopasya ballavatvaṁ prakurvataḥ ||2-6-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said: As nandagopa stayed in govraja, working as a cowherd, many days passed.

dārakau kṛtanāmānau vavṛdhāte sukhaṁ ca tau |

jyeṣṭhaḥ saṁkarṣaṇo nāma kanīyānkṛṣṇa eva tu ||2-6-2

The elder boy was named saṁkarṣaṇa and the younger boy, kṛṣṇa. The boys who were named thus, grew up there comfortably.

meghakṛṣṇastu kṛṣṇo'bhūddehāntaragato hariḥ |

vyavardhata gavāṁ madhye sāgarasya ivāmbudaḥ |2-6-3

kṛśṇa, in whose body hari had entered, had the complexion of dark (rain) cloud. He grew up among the cows like a rain cloud in the sea.

śakaṭasya tvadhaḥ suptaṁ kadācitputragṛddhinī |

yaśodā taṁ samutsṛjya jagāma yamunāṁ nadīm ||2-6-4

One day, yashoda who was fond of her son, left the child sleeping under a cart and went to the river yamunā.

śiśulīlāṁ tataḥ kurvansa hastacharaṇau kṣipan |

ruroda madhuraṁ kṛṣṇaḥ pādāvūrdhvaṁ prasārayan ||2-6-5

kṛṣṇa started playing by throwing his hands and legs into the air. He cried in a sweet voice, shaking his legs up.

sa tatraikena pādena śakaṭaṁ paryavartayat |

nyubjaṁ payodharākāṅkṣī cakāra ca ruroda ca ||2-6-6

With one leg, kṛṣṇa kicked the cart and it overturned. Then he started crying for milk.

etasminnantare prāptā yaśodā bhayaviklavā |

snātā prasravadigdhāṅgī baddhāvatseva saurabhī ||2-6-7

Meanwhile, yaśodā returned after bathing. She was afraid. She was anxious to breast feed her child like surabhī (mother cow).

sā dadarsha viparyastaṁ śakaṭaṁ vāyunā vinā |

hāheti kṛtvā tvaritā dārakaṁ jagṛhe tadā ||2-6-8

She saw that the cart has overturned without any wind. Crying aloud, she quickly picked up the child.

na sā bubodha tattvena śakaṭaṁ parivartitam |

svasti te dārakāyeti prītā bhītāpi sābhavat ||2-6-9

She did not understand how the cart was overturned. She was afraid, but she was pleased and wished good for the child.

kiṁ tu vakṣyati te putra pitā paramakopanaḥ |

tvayyadhaḥ śakaṭe supte akasmāccha viloḍite ||2-6-10

She said:-->My son, what will your father say, who will be very angry? You were sleeping under the cart and it broke suddenly".

kiṁ me snānena duḥsnānaṁ kiṁ ca me gamane nadīm |

paryaste śakaṭe putra yā tvāṁ paśyāmyapāvṛtam ||2-6-11

Seeing you lying under the overturned cart (if you had been crushed under it), what is the use for me in taking bath as well as going to the river?

etasminnantare gobhirājagāma vanecharaḥ |

kāṣāyavāsasī bibhrannandagopo vrajāntikam ||2-6-12

Meanwhile, nandagopa along with cows and calves, returned to vraja from the forest. He was wearing kāṣāya dress.

sa dadarsha viparyastaṁ bhinnabhāṇḍaghaṭīghaṭam |

apāstadhūrvibhinnākṣaṁ śakaṭaṁ cakramaulinam ||2-6-13

He saw the broken pitchers and pots. The cart was lying upturned with its wheels up and axle broken.

bhītastvaritamāgatya sahasā sāśrulocanaḥ |

api me svasti putrāyetyasakṛdvacanaṁ vadan ||2-6-14

He was extremely afraid. He went quickly inside with tears falling from his eyes, saying "is my son well?"

pibantaṁ stanamālakṣya putraṁ svastho'bravītpunaḥ |

vṛṣayuddhaṁ vinā kena paryastaṁ śakaṭaṁ mama ||2-6-15

He became composed seeing his son drinking his mother’s breast milk. Then he asked, "without a fight between the bulls, how did the cart overturn ?"

pratyuvāca yaśodā taṁ bhītā gadgadabhāṣiṇī |

na vijānāmyahaṁ kena śakaṭaṁ parivartitam || 2-6-16

yaśodā, frightened, replied with a choked voice : "I do not know who overturned the cart".

ahaṁ nadīṁ gatā saumya chailaprakṣālanārthinī |

āgatā ca viparyastamapaśyaṁ śakaṭaṁ bhuvi ||2-6-17

O gentle one, I had gone to the river to wash my clothes. On returning, I saw the cart overturned on the ground.

tayoḥ kathayatorevamabruvaṁstatra dārakāḥ |

anena śiśunā yānametatpādena loḍitam ||2-6-18

While they were talking like this, some boys said: This child overturned the cart with his feet.

asmābhiḥ saṁpatadbhiścha dṛṣṭametadyadṛcchayā |

nandagopastu tacchrutvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayau ||2-6-19

We came here by chance and we saw it. Hearing this, nandagopa was greatly surprised.

prahṛṣṭaścaiva bhītaścha kimetaditi cintayan |

na ca te śraddhadhurgopāḥ sarve mānuṣabuddhayaḥ ||2-6-20

He was happy at first. He was afraid thinking, "what is all this". The gopa-s, all of human intellect, did not believe what they heard.

āścaryamiti te sarve vismayotphullalochanāḥ |

sve sthāne śakaṭaṁ prāpya cakrabandhamakākrayan ||2-6-21

All of them considered this as a wonder. Their eyes became wide open with wonder. They put the cart upright in its place with the wheels.

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

kasyachittvatha kālasya śakunī veṣadhāriṇī |

dhātrī kaṁsasya bhojasya pūtaneti pariśrutā ||2-6-22

Ananda Vrindavan Champu

The Killing of Sakatasura and Trnavarta

At the age of three months Krsna rolled over and crawled out of the p To commemorate this event Yasoda observed a special ceremony. The elderly gopis, looking like creepers of maternal affection, felt intoxicated with bliss by taking part in this function. It seems this pleasure came result of their previous piety. Since the gopis' hearts overflowed with compassion, they always observed auspicious rituals for the satisfaction and protection of Krsna.

All the Vrajavasis anxiously rushed to see Krsna. The arrival of the splen­didly dressed elderly gopis greatly enhanced the joyous atmosphere of the festival. Yasoda and other gopis smeared oil on Krsna's body to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His leaving home for the first time to crawl about on His hands and knees. Mrdangas played melodiously while Yasoda bathed her son and honored the guests. Krsna-kumara looked extremely beautiful after His auspicious bath and the application of kajala to His lotus eyes.

Vrajesvari Yasoda pleased all her relatives by performing the traditional family rituals. Vrajaraja Nanda also relished boundless happiness during the festival. As an expert in domestic affairs, Rohini remembered her husband and distributed charity to all the guests. Afterwards, Yasoda put Krsna to rest on a soft mattress, which was whiter than powdered cam­phor, in an ornately decorated cradle, which she placed under a handcart.

Mother Yasoda worshiped the guests while Krsna rested peacefully. Melodious music from rumbling mrdangas, bherries, dundubhis and other instruments filled the air. The waves of music produced by the talented musicians sweetened all directions. Satisfied brahmanas recited Vedic hymns to bless the child. Yasodanandana, whose beauty defeats beauty personified, started crying due to hunger and a desire to drink Yasoda's breast milk. But Vrajesvari could not hear Him due to the loud music and singing.

At this time, Krsna decided to kill Sakatasura, a demon who was hiding «n the cart under which He lay. Opening His joyful eyes, Krsna simulta­neously destroyed the cart and killed the demon by playfully kicking His rcet. Without any effort Krsna vanquished that demon with His tender feet, which were unlimitedly beautiful and softer than the petals of a lotus flower. These were not the thunderbolt nails He used to kill Hiranyakasipu; nor were they the legs He extended throughout the universe in His Vamana incarnation. The gentle tinkling of Krsna's ankle-bells increased the splendor of His delicate little legs.

Although the cart stood considerably higher than the child, Krsna easily kicked the wheel of the cart with His feet. The brass pots on the can made a tremendously loud sound as they tumbled over the ground. From the force of Krsna's kick the wheels split from the axle, the hubs and spokes fell apart, and the handcart collapsed. Everyone's hearts stopped when they heard the shattering sound of Sakatasura falling down dead. Thinking that Krsna may have been hurt, the Vrajavasis filled with an­guish. Their hearts overwhelmed in fear, they anxiously rushed to the spot.

With great anxiety they met Krsna and said, "Alas! Is this the beginning of some imminent danger? This cart represented auspiciousness since it remained in their house for so long without moving. How did this cart suddenly become inauspicious? This perfect boy is the sum total of all pious activities. Although many heavy brass pots crashed down, hone of them touched the tender limbs of Krsna whose glossy body is smeared with musk. 0 Lord of Vrndavana, Nanda Maharaja! In any assembly you are the natural leader, and along with your wife Yasoda you are the em­bodiments of all fortune. Our words fail to describe the extent of your wonderful glories." Thus the Vrajavasis praised the King of Vrndavana.

The cowherd boys met their parents and described the heroic deeds of Krsna in broken language. They said, "It is not His fault. He felt hungry and started crying loudly for some milk. When He did not get any, then why blame Him if He did something wrong? You should not scold Him. Unless driven by the wind how can a lotus bud move, similarly, the cart broke and fell to the ground because Krsna kicked it with His legs while crying." Assuming there must be some unknown cause, the elderly per­sons did not believe the statements of the children.

Fearing that the death of Sakatasura must have brought some danger to her son, Yasodarani fell down on the ground. Rohini and the gopis affectionately picked up Yasoda, and pacified her with the good news about Krsna's safety. By their comforting words Yasoda regained her senses .and wiped away her tears.

Mother Yasoda said, "Alas! My three-month old baby, whose body is softer than butter, has suffered so much. Suddenly this cart broke and fell upon my son. Since my heart did not stop upon hearing about this, it must be harder than a thunderbolt. Shame on my motherly love! Alas! I am His mother in name only."

"The earth shook from the crashing of the cart and the people became speechless. When that cart fell down around my child He cried in fear but did not get hurt. I guess it must be the result of my misfortune. Otherwise, why are such evil events occurring like Putana's visit and the breaking of the cart? Therefore the auspicious King of Vrndavana must arrange to prevent anv further calamities coming to my child. From this incident I can only guess what further misfortune awaits me." Thus lamenting and feeling apprehensive, Mother Yasoda ran quickly her son. She saw His attractive face conquering the effulgent beauty of the moon with its ever-increasing charm. Yasoda drowned in an ocean of sweetness when she placed Krsna on her lap. Surcharged with feelings of bliss, Yasoda's mind became pacified and free from worry.

Nanda and Yasoda observed an auspicious religious ritual on behalf of Krsna-kumara, whose radiant body looked gorgeous. Although Krsna is the Supreme Brahman, He appeared in Vrndavana as a boy with curly dark blue hair and a tender transcendental form. As Yasoda fondly fed Krsna the milk dripping from her breasts, He gradually fell asleep. Then she tucked Krsna back in His bed under the cart just as before. Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, whose lustrous beauty surpasses all the women of heaven, engaged the brahmanas in chanting auspicious mantras to coun­teract the evil effects caused by Sakatasura.

Trnavarta Demon Vanquished

One blissful day during Krsna's first year, Yasoda lifted up her resplen­dent, jewel-like son while passing through the main chamber of the pal­ace. She lovingly fondled and caressed Him. With His perfect intelligence Krsna immediately perceived some danger. Employing His Yogamaya potency, Krsna decided to reveal an ecstatic childhood pastime to show compassion to those rotting in the material world.

Thinking thus, Krsna made His body so heavy that He forced His mother to set Him down. Mother Yasoda, who is worshipable by all the three worlds, suddenly felt very tired from carrying her heavy son. As a creeper hangs down from the weight of ripened fruits, similarly, mother Yasoda bent over from the heavy weight of her maternal affection. Afraid of drop­ping her beloved son, Yasoda carefully sat Krsna down.

By the sweet will of the Lord, Yogamaya influenced Yasoda's mind. Without the slightest worry, She left Krsna alone outside the house and went inside to perform other domestic duties. Mother Yasoda had no idea that she had left Krsna in a dangerous position. Yasoda's bewilder­ment had no other apparent cause than the all-powerful manifestation of her son's majesty. Realizing her mistake upon entering the house, Yasoda Wy ran back to get Krsna.

Meanwhile a demon named Tmavarta descended upon Vrndavana. Taking the form of a huge cyclone, he terrorized all the people and animals. The whirlwind created by the demon seemed like an exhalation of hot breath from the wives of thousands of snakes burning in separation from their husbands. It appeared as if the earth transformed into a blacksmith's bellows emitting a loud sound in all directions. Or was it the ears of the elephants controlling the four directions, which look like large flat trays used for winnowing grain, flapping back and forth causing the whole sky to fall down?

The body of Trnavarta, full of high winds and a dense covering of dust resembled the body of a diseased man infected with ignorance and pas­sion due to fever and cough. Although a crooked person may externally show some sweetness, he will never let anyone enter his bitter heart. Just as excessive wine drinking covers the intelligence and makes one go crazy Trnavarta covered all directions with dense darkness. As a battlefield fills with darkness due to the movement of masses of elephants, similarly, Trnavarta's whirlwind body enveloped Vrndavana in a dense cloud of darkness.

Trnavarta, an extremely powerful demon sent by Kamsa, disturbed the natural balance of the material world made of five gross elements. He converted the three worlds into one element, namely wind. Although the dust particles within that whirlwind danced joyfully, the Vrajavasis felt greatly distressed. At its zenith the whirlwind touched the heavens, and it was so dense that it blinded everyone on earth. It seemed like the cloud of smoke created by the lord of the snakes during the dissolution of the universe.

Intent on killing Krsna, Trnavarta quickly attacked with his powerful winds. He dropped a deadly shower of dust, grass, and broken pots on the people of Vrndavana. Mother Yasoda worried about her son's safety. She did not realize that her darling son, whose soft hands and feet possess the beauty, fragrance, and coolness of a lotus flower, could easily kill the big­gest giants or the immortal demigods in heaven.

Suddenly Trnavarta kidnapped that tender baby who would soon cause his death. But Krsna, who is worshiped by Brahma, Siva, and all the demi­gods, did not feel the slightest pain or distress. The whirlwind sent the sweet fragrance of Krsna's body into the celestial abodes. Krsna happily assumed a powerful feature while contemplating how to kill the demon. Trnavarta felt that he was carrying a fire bound in a cloth, a deadly poison within his throat, or death personified.

To satisfy the celestial damsels desirous of His darsana, Krsna rode the whirlwind into the heavens. He looked like a man running up a flight of stairs as He continually rose upward atop Trnavarta. When Krsna struck the demon with His hand, which smelled like musk and looked as splen­did as the stem of a lotus, the demon's life air slowly left his body. Then with a final blow Krsna crushed the demon to dust.

Krsna looked like a blue sapphire locket hanging from the demon's throat. When they crashed on the ground the demon died, but Krsna landed safely on the earth. Seeing this amazing feat, the Vrajavasis filled with joy. Though appearing as a mere baby, Krsna proved His supremacy I, displaying His unlimited potency. That great whirlwind demon, who showered dust, rain and clumps of earth all over Vrndavana, touched Krsna's body and attained the supreme fortune of becoming eligible for liberation. Thus Trnavarta did the best possible act to purify his family line. When Yasoda could not find her son after the cessation of the storm, her heart turned into a desert of lamentation. At that time, she lost all oatience, and unconsciousness personified appeared as her only compan­ion Feeling helpless and overwhelmed, Mother Yasoda collapsed on the earth. Though suffering immensely, Yasoda's faint breathing indicated that she still lived.

Understanding her intense pain of lamentation, the Vrajavasis tried to revive Yasoda by sprinkling water on her face and speaking comforting words. They said, "0 pious and learned lady! The extent of your good fortune is unlimited. Your son gives happiness to the eyes of everyone. . The honey-sweet dealings of Krsna-kumara continually increase our at­tachment to Him. Due to your purify your son is still alive.

"0 King and Queen of Vrndavana! Now we realize that all your fortune and prestige is caused by your. illustrious son. Ma Yasoda! Although you are apprehensive about your son's safety, you can give up your distress, for the illusion has left our village. Do not let your mind burn any longer. Lift up your son and rejoice."

Thus reassured, Yasoda regained consciousness, but she was still in anxi­ety. She said, "Just a few minutes ago I could not tolerate the weight of my son so I put Him down, and then that demon captured Him. Can you explain how a tiny baby can suddenly become so heavy that even his mother cannot carry him? I guess this must be due to my bad luck. Alas! How could my son, who is as soft as butter and cannot even tolerate the pain of my lap, endure the tremendous pain generated by that demon who at­tacked Vrndavana with a shower of grass, high winds, and pieces of bricks?

"Previously Providence protected my son from the poisonous breasts of Putana and the falling cart demon. Now I pray to Him to always protect my beloved son. Alas! I got my son back because of the Lord's protection. From now on I will never take Him off my lap and put Him on the ground. Quickly help me find my son. Where is He? Has the wind demon snatched Him and carried Him away? As lone as I live I will never again leave Him outside alone."

Saying this,Yasoda fell down unconscious. Sympathizing with the plight of Yasoda, the elderly gopis again tried to pacify her. Due to the burning fire of lamentation, Yasoda's lotus face looked morose and took on the hue of a red lotus. Her sadness submerged the Vrajavasis in an ocean of distress.

On the outskirts of the village, where He had previously played upon the breast of Putana, Krsna-kumara triumphed over His enemy by smash­ing him on the earth. This location brought success, just as victory is as­sured for one choosing a favorable constellation before fighting. While vanquishing that demon, Krsna, the greatest of all relishers, looked like a blossoming aparajita flower amidst a garden of thorns, or a blue lotus rising above a lake choked with tall reeds, or a small shining lamp atop a dense cloud of darkness. Krsna stood as the embodiment of transcenden­tal knowledge amidst an ocean of ignorance. He resembled a river of nectar flowing in a desert, or a flower of personified bliss atop of a tree of misery.

Seeing the beautiful blue baby in a safe position, the crowds gradually dispersed. One person commented, "This low-class, faithless demon has kept the demigods from blessing us with their association. Taking the form of a whirlwind, he prevented all auspicious acts and tortured Mother Earth. Finally he destroyed himself by the reaction of his heinous sin of attempt­ing to kidnap the Prince of Vrndavana. Since he did even have enough piety to approach Krsna's house, he died outside of town instead."

Someone else said, "0 look at this boy! He is the eternal Parambrahma and the Supreme Personality of Godhead! The effulgence of His unlim­ited opulence is always expanding. He is an invincible razor sharp sword annihilating the asuric kings with His awesome power. From the very be­ginning, Krsna established the glories of His name by killing the Putana demon. It is He who freed everyone from distress by destroying Sakatasura. He also demolished that demon who terrorized the three worlds."

Another Vrajavasi said, "Like King Indra, Nanda Maharaja must have performed severe austerities and done many good deeds to accrue such vast piety. As a result, Nanda Baba received a boon that enabled his son to defeat formidable asuras like Putana and others. There is no other way to explain how all these demons met their death."

Having accepted Krsna as the wealth of their lives, the Vrajavasis re­joiced upon finding Him free from danger. Picking Him up in their loving arms, they carried Krsna into Yasoda's inner chambers. The atmosphere filled with the happy news of Krsna's well-being. Witnessing the pleasure of the Vrajavasis also brought waves of bliss to the mind of Asurari, Krsna, the destroyer of demons.

Observing this joyful pastime of Krsna, the elderly gopis. smiled and said, "Hey Bhagavati! You are worshipable by everyone in the world. Due to your good fortune your son is now safe and happy." Such reassuring words greatly pleased the mind of Yasoda. When rain clouds forcefully pour water on a burned out forest, a fresh abundance of life reappears to beau­tify that forest with elegance and contentment. In a similar way, Yasoda looked refreshed and beautiful upon regaining her beloved son.

Though happy, Yasoda felt somewhat anxious and confused by the un­usual event. In this state of bewilderment she said, "Where is He? Where is He?" Compassionately taking charge of Yasoda, the Vrajavasis gradu­ally nursed her back to consciousness. At that time Yasoda's eyes looked like a pair of lotus flowers moistened with cool drops of dew. Her name, fame, and position surpass everyone in creation. Waking from her trance, Yasoda stood up and drowned in an ocean of joy upon beholding her all-attractive son.

Other ladies glorified Krsna-kumara, "Hey Krsna! Hey Krsna!" A dy­ing man receives new life by taking sanjivam rasa. Similarly, Yasoda, who nearly died in separation, revived upon meeting her dearest son Krsna. She felt she had retrieved an invaluable lost treasure. Sitting Krsna on her lap, she lovingly gazed at Him with unblinking eyes. But being only semi-conscious, Yasoda could not relish the full bliss of Krsna's direct association.

As her sleeping senses awoke in the service of her beloved son, she said, "0 darling! From the time of Your birth You have caused so much trouble to Your mother. Of course, this is not Your fault, so how can J blame You? I am the one who left You outside and unprotected. This shows my heart is as dry as wood, and therefore I qualify as Your mother in name only. But since I am known as Your mother, You have never treated me cruelly.

"Although that demon kidnapped You, because You of Your innocence You somehow escaped and returned. 0 my beloved! Your love for me is unprecedented and transcendental. I should be punished for my grave mistake."

Out of intense motherly affection, Mother Yasoda suckled Krsna with her breast milk and put Him to rest. Although appearing in a human form to act as the son of Yasoda, Krsna-kumara eternally exists as the personi­fication of transcendental bliss.

Gopal Champu

Chapter Six - Breaking the cart and other pastimes

[1] The next day at the splendid assembly, Snigdhakaṇṭha in joy began speaking:

O Madhukaṇṭha with sweet throat! Please hear.

[2] Day by day Kṛṣṇa revealed his beauty and gave joy to his devotees. This is summarized as follows:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight people, alone or in pairs, in groups or many groups, infants, youths, elders or middle-aged persons entered the house to see the child. Playing with him, they made the child laugh and they laughed. ||1||

Relatives from the mother’s and father’s side came in excitement to see the child with lotus navel, whose eyes were dark as lamp black. Daily their eyes were filled with delight on lifting up the attractive cover and touching him while smiling. ||2||

He had disheveled locks of hair and eyes fickle like the khaṣjana bird. He had a smile playing on his face, with shining tilaka of rocana and kuṁkuma. The dark-complexioned child appeared splendid when three months old. ||3||

The child looked about affectionately, smiling gently. He would move his legs and make small sounds and desired to be held. If he was not held he would cry and if held he would laugh. Drinking milk, he would sleep and then awaken joyfully. ||4||

[3] After three months according to the constellations, when the moon was in Rohiṇī constellation, Yaśodā held the bathing festival for the child.

At that time an attractive bed studded with gems was arranged in the house with a little perfumed pillow and fine sheets. The child shone like a sapphire on that bed. It appeared that a blue lotus was floating on the Gaṅgā or Nārāyaṇa was resting on the milk ocean. ||5||

The child, lying on his back, giving fame to his mother and joy to his father, full of strength and most attractive, turned over on the morning when the moon entered Rohiṇī constellation. ||6||

[4] Seeing that the child was sleeping with his side pressing the bed down, the nurse informed Yaśodā. Filled with bliss and desiring auspiciousness of the child, at the order of Nanda, she called the women and arranged from a huge festival which would give happiness.

[5] During the festival there were women assigned to protect the house. Those who were called to protect the place were ordered as follows:

The child’s birth constellation has arrived and there will be a celebration of the child’s turning over. Many have come for this festival. You should remain here to protect the house. Repeatedly she said this. What thief resided in Vraja? If there is a thief, the child will steal his heart. ||7||

[6] The rites were performed with colorful music, auspicious songs and chanting of Vedic mantras by the best brāhmaṇas. Then the child was bathed, clothed in yellow cloth and ornamented. He was protected with mantras and glances. To manifest the highest joy, women came from everywhere and all were engaged in activities. They made the child lie in bed in the lower part of a cart as huge as a house which was standing in the yard, and placed young boys of five years age around it. The bed was like a swing in the midst of four supporting pillars.

The swing had coral feet and an emerald slab at the base. It was covered with red silk ribbons and an even mattress of cotton. The baby was situated on top of this gently swinging bed. ||8||

From the top various colorful pieces of cloth hung down. Touching these with his hands the child made sounds and laughed. ||9||

[7] After the worship as performed by the brāhmaṇas, gifts were offered. This lasted for one- and-half praharas[1] without cessation.

[8] Another demon sent by Kaṁsa to find newly born children was in the sky thinking, “This child who has killed Pūtanā is in the lower part of the huge car. It seems no one can harm the child. Pūtanā died on taking a disguised form. I will not take another form but will do activities to fulfill my goal.” He then entered the cart unseen by others.

[9] When the demon entered the cart, the wheels sank into the earth and the axel became tilted. At that time the child wanted to drink milk, but could not get any. Disturbed, he kicked up his foot, tender as a new lotus petal. In doing this, the cart, without wings, flew up in the air like a demon bird out of eagerness and then fell to the earth.

[10] Arjuna describes this in Viṣṇu-dharma:

tālocchritāgraṁ guru-bhāra-sāram āyāma-vistāravad adya jātaḥ |

pādāgra-vikṣepa-vibhinna-bhāṇḍaṁ cikṣepa ko ’nyaḥ śakaṭaṁ yathā tvam? ||

Kṛṣṇa broke the cart with the tip of his foot even though the cart was tall as a palm tree and very heavy, long and wide. Who except you could do this?

[11] This demon did not have a form and thus Kṛṣṇa destroyed him just by his appearance in the sky. It is amazing that it happened simultaneously, like the tāla fruit falling and the crow landing on the branch. Kṛṣṇa absorbed in this demon is known as śakaṭāsura-bhaṣjana in the hundred and eight names of Kṛṣṇa mentioned in the Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa.

[12] At this time the devatās spoke about Kṛṣṇa in poetic language:

The cart was standing in one part of my house. You entered this cart and because of the cart you went upwards. I cried incessantly. If you died, it is not my fault. ||10||

When the cart made groaning noises, people in fear ran in all directions saying, “What is that?” When the cart fell and they saw the child, they became completely bewildered and wept. ||11||

Out of control, Yaśodā, ignoring the onlookers like a woman possessed, quickly grabbed her child. When her limbs became afflicted with trembling many women quickly came and held her up. ||12||

[13] When the cart fell, there was a rumbling sound like clouds:

What is that? What is making that sound? It is the cart. What happened to that cart?

It turned over. How? Suddenly it happened. Was that good? It was the mercy of Vāsudeva. With such discussion, the leaders of Vraja entered the area and saw the broken cart. Biting their lips they stood there in astonishment for some time. ||13||

[14-15] Seeing Nanda quickly coming from outside to the inner area, all came and stood on both sides at a distance, giving him a place to proceed. Understanding what happened with the cart from the shouting of the people, he touched the child held by his mother to his forehead and gazed at his limbs.

[16] They became peaceful and then asked the boys who were around the cart. They pointed their forefingers at one boy. That boy spoke when the others stopped speaking. Stuttering, the boy spoke, “Hear from me. When he raised his foot and touched the cart, the cart went upwards like a bird.”

[17] All the other boys, imitating him, began to laugh. The affectionate elders then dismissed the talk of the boys. But they had some doubt because they knew that Pūtanā had been killed.

[18] After creating auspiciousness for the child by invoking good fortune, bathing the child, satisfying the brāhmaṇas and getting the blessings of all present, Nanda returned the child to Yaśodā’s lap. Busy with caring for the child, she placed him on a bed in the middle of the house. The people then restored the huge cart to its previous position.

[19] Madhukaṇṭha then said, “O child! It is impossible for a small child to upset the huge cart. Please consider and say what does this incident mean?”

[20] Snigdhakaṇṭha said, “O respectable brother! This is not so surprising, since Yogamāyā has made the impossible possible. Do not ask about this again.”

[21] Madhukaṇṭha said with a smile, “Then what happened?”

[22] Snigdhakaṇṭha said:

Nanda consulted with his older and younger brothers: “These two boys should live together because their mothers are fond of caring for both. They are attached to both and they both are eager to do the right household duties. It is difficult to protect them separately. I am waiting only for a favorable day. It is said by the learned that one should do as one desires. Tell this to the brāhmaṇas and when they determine the proper time, arrange that the two boys stay together quickly with music, chanting mantras and prayers.”

Gazing at each other, stunned from a long time, on the pretext of tears, the two boy’s hearts melted. From childhood the two boys had attachment as brothers. When they saw each other, their attachment spread joy through the universe. ||14||

From the beginning of childhood Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa were together. They were the white rays and blackness of the moon. ||15||

[23] On all the festive days, the two, whose qualities could not be counted, met with other young boys.

[24] Telling the story in the proper order, the story will be in a different order from what is narrated in Bhāgavatam.

Skillful poets put the pastimes in proper order for taste, though Śukadeva spoke from intoxication of prema without following the proper order. ||16||

Killing Tranavarta

Chapter Seven - Infant Pastimes

[1] As on previous days, after the dawn in the glorious assembly, Madhukaṇṭha said:

O Snigdhakaṇṭha, absorb your mind in other pastimes.

[2] After one year, the birthday of Kṛṣṇa in Bhādra month, endowed with all wealth, arrived. Taking shelter of the instructions of Garga, the worship on his birthday was completed. Nanda conducted an astonishing festival with the best chanting.

The birthday was celebrated by Nanda with Vedic chanting, songs, the best dancing, abhiṣeka with mantras, gifts given in charity, sounds of joy, mantras chanted by persons knowledgeable of sacrifice, performance of six acts using sesame,[1] touching objects with earth, aguru rice and dūrva and releasing a fish.[2] ||1||

As Kṛṣṇa’s age increased, the festival increased, since there was no difference between him and the festival. ||2||

All the food and clothes that Kṛṣṇa received were given away in his name in Vraja. ||3||

[3] When one year passed with joy, one day when various old men and women were engaged in work, Yaśodā was caring for Kṛṣṇa outside in the yard.

She placed her face on Kṛṣṇa’s and kissed him. She spoke to him, laughed and made him laugh. Then Yaśodā became moist with showers of happiness. ||4||

[4] Thwarted by Kṛṣṇa’s killing Pūtanā and Śakatāsura, Kaṁsa sent Tṛnāvarta, who was extremely opposed to the devatās. Situated in the sky, from far-off he saw the child and considered.

[5] “The dark-complexioned child is on his mother’s lap in the yard of the huge house. Making everyone tremble, I will bring the mother with the child into the sky. Pūtanā took a different form and Śakaṭa became invisible in the cart to cheat them. I will take a form different from both of those*—*the form of the wind—and enter Vraja.”

[6] Yogamāyā, looking for opportunities for pastimes, entered into Kṛṣṇa’s body and manifested her power in order to separate Kṛṣṇa from his mother. By her power, Yaśodā could not bear carrying Kṛṣṇa’s weight, even though he was still as tender as a blue lotus. Astonished, she suddenly placed him on the earth, thinking, “No one else can bear this weight.” She began to meditate on the antaryāmī of the universe. Being afraid, she was anxious to worship the Lord to avoid any disaster.

[7] Tṛṇāvarta, taking the form of a whirlwind, took the child as if putting a noose around his neck and attacked Vraja with a shower of hard stones, almost destroying it. All of Vraja’s moving and non-moving entities became frightened.

When the whirlwind arrived, intense darkness covered not only every object, but also the hearts of all the people. ||5||

[8] When this evil demon began afflicting the people, in fear they began to speak to each other.

When the wind began to blow it raised pieces of broken pots and made a noise like thunder. It broke the trees, shortening their lives, and smashed the houses and cow sheds: “Ah! Misfortune! What is happening here? The tender boy with the hue of a blue lotus petal is here.” ||6||

At Nanda’s house, at this time of danger, Yaśodā did not see Kṛṣṇa at the place where she had put him down. Having more affection for her child than a cow has for its calf, she lost her sense of judgment and became like the earth, losing consciousness. ||7||

When the wind died down, Yaśodā could not see her son. She became agitated like a cow which, on losing its new calf, is unaware of what people speak. ||8||

[9] Starting with Yaśodā, all people on all sides began to cry. The whole of Gokula became filled with the sound of wailing.

[10] Unaware of the disaster around them, they came running, and all drowned in an ocean of grief.

When Tṛṇāvarta stole Kṛṣṇa, Yaśodā’s body became a burden, and all others’ bodies became similar. It seemed their bodies would be destroyed. ||9||

[11] All the women were weeping. Yaśodā thought, “O Rohiṇī! Since you are preventing me from dying, what shall I do? Not seeing my child, shall I not die? How can I show my face to the king of Vraja?” If one thinks of the Yaśodā’s death-like state as she lamented, one’s ghee-like heart would melt. How can this scene be described? What more can be said? Madhukaṇṭha, worrying that all would lose self-control, immediately began speaking.

[12] When Kṛṣṇa, who gives happiness, was taken in the sky, his relatives, who were plunged into an intolerable ocean of grief, approached the favorable shore very quickly.

Clutching the neck of the demon like a frightened child, Kṛṣṇa began afflicting the demon. He became like the snake noose of Varuṇa around his neck. ||10||

As he tightened his grip on the demon’s neck, his weight became heavier. The demon could no longer carry Kṛṣṇa, nor could he give him up. He could not stop Kṛṣṇa at all. ||11||

Kṛṣṇa, whose garland should not be removed, took the burden of weight from the demon and the demon’s life as well. ||12||

As a man who thinks a snake is a garland is captured by the snake and as a man who think a bear is a blanket is captured by the bear, Kṛṣṇa surrounded the demon by his feet, hands and other limbs. How could the wind-demon give him up? ||13||

When the demon’s throat became choked, his breath and life airs stopped. Did his breath and life air leave? Did he die? ||14||

[13] The demon’s body fell from the sky with a deafening roar into the yard spread with stones. Though his body had been very strong, all his joints became loose.

“What is this? Where did it fall from?” Surrounding the corpse they began to speak. Then on the chest of the demon they saw Kṛṣṇa whom they were seeking. ||15||

They saw the demon with his eyes popping out, and the child on his chest looking around and making the place auspicious. Quickly they took him and gave him to his mother. ||16||

[14] The women revived Yaśodā using words as if they were mantras.

They said, “O Yaśodā, affectionate to your son! Death (the demon) has died. He who was taken by death is alive. Please take him!” Using these words as the mantra and Kṛṣṇa as the medicine, they brought Yaśodā back to life. ||17||

As the indragopa insect gains life from water in the spring season, Yaśodā gained life on attaining her child taken by the demon. ||18||

Nanda and others with him quickly came to the place in amazement and fear. They did not think of going to their houses, since they were all concerned about Kṛṣṇa. ||19||

Not seeing Kṛṣṇa and seeing the demon, they had come to that place to see Kṛṣṇa, since they were controlled by love of Kṛṣṇa. ||20||

Nanda, the child’s protector, touched Kṛṣṇa with his trembling hand and looked at him with tearful eyes. He took him from the lap of his mother. ||21||

[15] They feared he had been injured by the demon.

The women inspected his body and Nanda also looked with extreme possessiveness as if he were their very selves. Thus each one wanted to inspect him personally. ||22||

[16] Some who were interested in everyone’s welfare and had become disturbed came and spoke to each other in front of Nanda:

What is the strong, flesh-eating demon who has been killed? What is this boy who has escaped his mouth? The sinner is destroyed by his sin and the sinless person is saved from fear by his good qualities. ||23||

[17] Thus it is proper that we have had good fortune.

Though he was taken by the demon, he came back on his own to please his relatives. What austerities, unlimited prema or charities we must have accomplished in past lives to satisfy the Lord! ||24||