16 Keshin came towards Govinda at great speed, neighing, neck raised, eyes wide, teeth bared. 17 Govinda saw Keshin the Dānava horse bearing down upon him and advanced to meet him, like a thick cloud advancing towards the moon.
18 The cowherds saw that Krishna was staying within range of Keshin, and with their human intellects they were concerned for Krishna’s safety. They called to him:
19 Krishna boy! Whatever you do, don’t be too quick to meet this vile horse. You’re a child, and it’s an absolute villain. 20 It’s of a piece with Kamsa. It’s his double, Krishna boy: the supreme king of horses, a Dānava peerless in combat. 21 It’s the most frightening of enemy warriors, the most mighty of horses, the least killable demon of all, the first among miscreants.
22 Madhusūdana the Slayer of Madhu listened to what the cowherds said. Then the slayer of the foe turned his mind to the fight against Keshin.
23 The horse was moving around, circling to the left and the right, flattening trees with both hooves in its fury. 24 On its head with its hanging mane and on its shoulders thick with muscle, its wrinkles looked like waves of clouds as they ran with the sweat of its fury, 25 and from its mouth it showered a filthy froth, like the moon in the sky showering frost in the cold season. 26 It sprinkled lotus-eyed Govinda all over with foaming flecks discharged from its body, and with the spray of its spit as it whinnied. 27 The horse made Krishna’s hair orange with the sweet pale powdery dust that was thrown around by its raised hooves.
28 Keshin’s feet leaped and galloped as he charged at Krishna, gnashing his teeth, cutting the earth up with his hooves. 29 And Keshin the supreme horse made contact with Krishna. To be precise, he walloped Krishna in the chest with his two front hooves. 30 Then the mighty raging horse smashed his hooves into Krishna’s flank again and again, and then he used the sharp teeth in his nasty mouth as his weapons, and bit him in a soft spot on his arm. 31 Keshin’s bushy mane swung as he clashed with Krishna: he looked like the sun clashing with a cloud in the sky.
32 His strength doubled through fury, the mighty horse suddenly tried to smash Vāsudeva in the chest with his own chest. 33 But Krishna was mighty too and immeasurably bold, and as the horse reared up he became angry, and he extended his arm and crashed it through the horse’s face. 34 The horse was unable to bite or eat the arm, because his teeth had been knocked out by their roots and he was spewing a mixture of blood and saliva. 35 He’d been broken open, his two lips and his two hips split apart, and the wheels of his two ugly eyes had popped out of their sockets.
36 Keshin was penetrated, his jaw wrecked, his eyes clouded with blood and tears. His mind was gone, but his ears stuck up and he kept on struggling. 37 He kicked his feet up again and again, as he soiled and wet himself. Then, his pelt wet with sweat, he was worn out, and his feet stopped moving.
38 As it sank into Keshin’s snout, Krishna’s arm looked like a cloud being bent by the beams of the half-moon at the end of the hot season. 39 And as Krishna made contact with him and debilitated his body, Keshin looked like a weary moon bowing down to the morning and taking refuge behind Mount Meru. 40 Scattered by Krishna’s arm, Keshin’s teeth flew from his mouth like dry pieces of white cloud in an autumn sky.
41 After Keshin’s body had been divided by the arm he looked truly horrific, like an animal killed by trident-wielding Shiva. 42 Keshin’s two halves had been separated, and they looked amazing on the ground, each with two legs, half a back, half a rump, one ear, one eye, and one nostril. 43 And Krishna’s arm, damaged by Keshin’s teeth, looked like an old palm tree in the forest that’s been marked by the tusks of a bull elephant.
44 After he’d killed Keshin in battle and divided him in pieces, Krishna stood there laughing, his eyes like lotus petals.
45 The cowherds and cowherd women were all delighted to see that Keshin had been killed. Their tormentor slain, they were helpless no longer. 46 Whatever their rank, whatever their age, they praised glorious Dāmodara with fond words, honouring him again and again:
47 Ah! The deed is done, Krishna boy. This enemy of the people is slain! This Daitya who roamed the earth in the form of a horse is slain! 48 By killing Keshin the evil horse in a fight, Krishna boy, you’ve made Vrindāvana safe and accessible to all birds and people. 49 Many of our cowherds and cows have been killed, including calves and their loving mothers, and several other communities have been afflicted by that villain as well. 50 That miscreant liked to roam around as he pleased, apparently seeking to depopulate the human realm and bring on the end of the world. 51 No one who valued their life could stand before him—no one even within the ranks of the gods, let alone on the face of the earth.
52 Nārada the sky-ranging brahmin sage wasn’t visible at this point, but he nonetheless called out Krishna’s name again and again. Then he said:
Vishnu, lord of the gods, I’m delighted. 53 What you’ve done in your desire to kill Keshin is a deed so difficult that it was suitable only for you or for Shiva Tryambaka in the third heaven. 54 I’m fond of a fight, my boy, so it was with joy in my heart that I came here from heaven to watch this duel between man and horse. 55 I’ve witnessed your feats from the destruction of Pūtanā onwards, but this feat has satisfied me completely, Govinda. 56 Even great Indra, the slayer of Bala, was frightened of this malevolent horse Keshin who bore such a ferocious form. 57 But when you extended the sections of your arm and split him in two with it, that was the death that Brahmā, the creator of all, had decreed would destroy him.
58 Listen to my command. Because you killed Keshin the One with the Mane, you’ll be known in the world by the name of Keshava, the One with the Hair. 59 Good luck to you in the world! I move fast, and I’m leaving. You must complete what remains of your mission, but it shouldn’t take you long. 60 While you’re concentrating on this other task, the gods who’ve made use of your power are amusing themselves in the manner of human beings, imitating your style of play.
61 The time for the oceanic Bhārata war is coming near: the kings have had their quarrels arranged, and are bound for the third heaven. 62 Paths leading up through the sky have been made clear for ascent in flying chariots, and places in Shakra’s heaven have been reserved for the earth’s rulers. 63 Once Ugrasena’s son is dead and you’re occupying his position, Keshava, the great war of the kings will be imminent. 64 Your deeds are peerless, so princes will seek your help, and in those days of disunion between kings, you’ll take sides. 65 Master, once you’re installed on a royal seat and in possession of royal splendour, your mastery will make the kings lose their splendour, no doubt about it.
66 Krishna, this is a message from me and from the deities—the deities of the world, lord of the world, and the ones living in heaven. The sacred texts will make you famous. 67 I’ve seen your deed, master, and I’ve seen you. I’m leaving. I’ll visit again after Kamsa’s been punished.
68 After he’d heard the words of Nārada, who arranges songs for the gods, Krishna joined the cowherders and went back to the herding station.
68. Akrūra’s Arrival
1 Vaishampāyana said:
The sun had softened its rays and set into the western horizon. The face of the sky had blushed with twilight, the moon’s disk was shining white, 2 and all directions were soon to be completely enveloped in darkness. Birds were in their nests, honest people had lit their fires, 3 and the houses in the cattle station were resting. Jackals were shrieking, and nocturnal monsters were getting excited in expectation of fine flesh. 4 It was the first watch of the night, when the rain-mites enjoy themselves and thieves are close by. The sun seemed to have entered a cavern made of twilight. 5 The time had come for householders to make offerings into the fire, and forest hermits were invoking the oblation-eating fire with Vedic formulae. 6 Cows who’d already returned to the cattle station were being milked, returning cows whose calves had been tied up were calling out again and again, 7 cowherds dangling with tethers were summoning other cows with cries, and the herd was being brought home. 8 Fires of dried co
wdung had been prepared and were burning all around, as cowherds arrived with their shoulders bent down under bundles of firewood. 9 The moon had risen a little and was shining with its soft rays. Night was falling, day almost gone. 10 The end of the day had come, the first part of the night was underway, the splendour of the sun had gone, and the splendour of the moon had come. 11 It was the hour that’s given over to the offering to the fire, and the gentle moon was in attendance, and thus a combination of fire and soma was occurring,* enveloping the whole world. 12 The sky, lit up in the west by the fire of the sun, in the east by the brighter light of the moon, and spangled with companies of stars, was looking something like a burning mountain, 13 and youths were praising the beauty of their homestead and the fellowship of their relatives, as Akrūra the generous master arrived at the herding station in haste, on his chariot.
14 Even before he’d quite arrived, Akrūra kept on asking after the whereabouts of Keshava, and Rohinī ’s son, and cowherd Nanda. 15 Then, looking like Kubera, the mighty man got down from his vehicle and headed towards cowherd Nanda’s house for the night. 16 Even before he’d got through the gate, he saw Krishna near where the cows were being milked, resting among the calves like a bull among calves, 17 and knowing his duty, he spoke to him with stuttering words that were shot through with joy: Keshava! Come here, my boy!
18 Akrūra looked at Krishna lying on his back, and as he looked he saw that he was beautiful all over and showed no signs of immaturity, and he declared:
19 There he is, the one with eyes like white lotuses and the power of a lion or tiger. He’s the colour of a cloud that’s filled up with water, and he looks like the highest mountain. 20 He’s truly blessed, with his inviolable chest featuring the shrīvatsa, and with arms that are capable of killing his foes in fights. 21 Vishnu is the vessel of the highest heaven, but taking his secret self with him, he’s taken form in the guise of a cowherd. And with such intense hair! 22 His decorations include a head whose crown is surely as splendid as a royal parasol, ears that are fit for the finest earrings, 23 a deep and broad chest that deserves a necklace, and two long rounded arms. 24 He’s the eternal Vishnu clothed in yellow clothes, his body a fire of love for thousands of women to tend. 25 The tamer of the foe has come down to the earth on his two feet—the two feet that once rescued the earth, that once strode across the triple-world. 26 His leading hand is beautiful and looks as if it’s used to holding the discus, and his second hand is held out as if it wants to hold the mace. 27 The supreme bearer of the gods’ burdens has set down his own first footstep here for the greater good, and is now resplendent upon the earth.
28 This is surely the cowherder that the wise experts on the future saw within that future. He’ll expand the weakened Yādava lineage. 29 As a result of his brilliance, hundreds and thousands of Yadus will now fill up the lineage, like floods of water filling up the great restless ocean. 30 Under his jurisdiction the whole world will be shorn of enemy neighbours and will forever flourish as it does in the krita age. 31 After coming down to the jewel-bearing earth and bringing the world under his control he’ll be ranked above the kings, though he won’t be a king himself. 32 Surely, just as he prevailed long ago through his three strides and made Lord Indra, the smasher of citadels, king of the gods in the third heaven, 33 so in the same way he’ll win the jewel-bearing earth that he once won with the three strides, and he’ll establish Ugrasena as king, no doubt about it. 34 He’s the shallow water in which enmities are washed away, he’s the answer to many questions, he’s the ancient one that the brahmins who recite the Veda sing about. 35 Keshava will thus be the one that the people are longing for, for he’s made up his mind to serve humanity.
36 I’ll now honour his house in the proper fashion, and in my heart I’ll also honour his identity as Vishnu, as per the sacred texts. 37 Since his family background is well known, and since Vishnu certainly does manifest himself among humans, I know this boy isn’t human, and so do others with divine sight. 38 Krishna certainly knows who he is. After consulting with him overnight, I’ll leave again with him and the community, if he approves.
39 After Akrūra had thus observed Krishna to be a complex mixture of different causes, motives, and factors, he and Krishna went to sit with cowherd Nanda.
69. The Sorrow of Krishna’s Parents
1 Vaishampāyana said:
The infinitely generous Akrūra entered cowherd Nanda’s house, together with Keshava. The cowherd elders were assembled, and he made his speech. 2 He did it with pleasure, speaking to Krishna and the son of Rohinī together. He said:
Tomorrow, as luck would have it, we’re going to the town of Mathurā, my boys. 3 By order of Kamsa, all the cattle folk will come, with their possessions and their herds of cows, bringing the correct monsoon tax. 4 Kamsa’s going to have an elaborate bow-festival. You’ll all see him in his pomp, and you’ll meet your relatives.
5 You two will meet your father Vasudeva. He’s always sorrowful and depressed, worn down by the deaths of so many of his children, 6 and he’s always harassed by evil-minded Kamsa. He’s getting towards the end of his days, old and wizened, numb from his sorrows. 7 He trembles in fear of Kamsa, and he’s separated from you two, tormented day and night, missing you with his whole being.
8 Govinda, you’ll see divine-looking Devakī. She’s dejected, her breasts never pressed by children, her beauty spoiled. 9 Withering up from sorrow over her children, she’s desperate to see you, hurting with the pain of separation like a cow without its calf. 10 Her eyes are always flooded with tears, and she’s always dressed in black: it’s as if the light of the moon’s been swallowed by Svarbhānu. 11 Always longing to see you, she pines for your return. She’s a long-suffering woman, weighed down by the sorrow that you brought. 12 She was separated from you in your infancy, so she never heard your burblings, and she doesn’t know what your face looks like, my lord—your face as bright as the face of the moon.
13 If Devakī is suffering after giving birth to you, Krishna, then what’s the point of having children? It would have been much better for her not to have any children. 14 Sorrow is the only lot of childless women, for sure, but when the child doesn’t come to fruition, woe betide the woman who has a child—she’s tortured by her progeny. 15 But you’re a match for Shakra, you provide security even for your adversaries, and a woman ought not to suffer when her son has virtues like yours.
16 Your aged mother and father have become dependent on your enemy. Shortsighted Kamsa is menacing them because of you. 17 Devakī is sinking in waters of woe, and so if she deserves your respect as the earth that holds you up does, you should rescue her. 18 Mighty old Vasudeva loves his sons, so you’ll be doing the right thing if you let him make contact with them, Krishna. 19 Since you subdued a vicious snake in a pool on the Yamunā, and lifted up a massive mountain that holds the earth down, 20 and felled powerful Arishta when he was puffed up with pride, and killed Keshin the wicked killer of others, 21 you’ll be doing the right thing if you make the same effort to rescue this aged sorrowing couple. Think about that, Krishna.
22 Krishna, when they saw your father being abused in the assembly everyone was filled with great sorrow and had tears in their eyes. 23 Krishna, your mother Devakī helplessly endures so many sorrows from Kamsa. Having her babies killed was just the first of them. 24 Every decent person who’s been born must surely repay the proverbial debt to their mother and father in suitable fashion, 25 Krishna, and on that basis, if you do this favour for your mother and father they’ll be relieved of their suffering, and you’ll be discharging a paramount duty.
26 Brilliant Krishna Keshava understood what was required. He gave the infinitely generous Akrūra his agreement, and left it at that. He didn’t get angry.
27 After the cowherds under cowherd Nanda had come there and heard what Akrūra had said, they jumped to it in accordance with Kamsa’s orders. 28 The herding station’s inhabitants got ready for departure. The cowherd elders got the offering ready and got moving. 29 D
epending on their specialities and depending on their herds, they assembled their tax out of whatever they had that was fit to offer: bulls, buffaloes, butter, milk, and ghee. 30 And when they’d got Kamsa’s tax and offerings ready, all the cowherd leaders assembled for departure.
31 Meanwhile Akrūra stayed awake with Krishna, and with Rohinī ’s son as the third. As they told stories, the night passed by.
70. What Akrūra Saw in the World of the Snakes
1 Vaishampāyana said:
In due course the morning was bright and filled with birdsong, and the moon’s web of rays had been interrupted by the departure of night. 2 The sky had been streaked with red, the multitude of heavenly bodies had disappeared, and the face of the earth had been moistened by dawn’s gentle breezes. 3 When the stars had faded into sleep—when all sign of them had slipped away—the beauty of night disappeared, the sun rose, and the cool-rayed moon became devoid of beams and devoid of brightness. 4 It was the time of day when ordinarily the grounds leading away from the cattle station were teeming with cows, and the churns had been filled and were gurgling away with their paddles whirling, 5 and the young calves were being tied up with ropes, and the streets of the cattle station were filling up with cowherds on all sides. 6 But this morning those who were driving chariots set off at speed, leaving the mass of heavy luggage to bring up the rear, loaded on carts.
7 As for Krishna, Rohinī ’s son, and the infinitely generous Akrūra, those three travelled mounted on a chariot, as if they were lords of the triple-world. 8 Then Akrūra stopped at the bank of the Yamunā, and said to Krishna:
Look after the chariot, my boy, and take care of the horses. 9 Give the horses some grass, take good care of the horse-tack and the chariot, and you both wait here for a moment, my boys, 10 while I pay homage, with celestial verses of adoration, to the snake lord in this pool of the Yamunā, who’s master of the whole world. 11 I’ll bow down before the coiled snake—the thousand-headed god Ananta, dressed in dark blue, his head marked with auspicious swastikas— 12 and like an immortal drinking nectar, I’ll consume all the poison that comes out of that righteous god’s mouth. 13 After I’ve visited that bearer of swastikas, with his forked tongue and his glorious decorations, the company of serpents there will be effectively pacified. 14 You two must stay together, looking out for me until I return from the snake king’s deep pool.
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