Harivamsha

by Bibek Debroy

  ‘Anakadundubhi650 informed Kamsa, Ugrasena’s son, about a beautiful daughter being born to him. On hearing this, with a force of guards, Kamsa swiftly came to the door of the valiant Vasudeva’s house. The eloquent one censured the guard and quickly asked, “What has been born? Give it to me fast.” With Devaki leading the way, all the women lamented. Devaki said, “O Kamsa! A daughter has been born. O lord! Seven of my handsome and infant sons have been slain by you. This daughter is almost dead. If you want, take a look.” On seeing that it was a daughter, Kamsa was happy. However, the one with the foolish intelligence said, “Since she has been born, the daughter must be killed.” She was still lying down in a dishevelled state in the bed for delivery. Her hair was still wet with fluids from the womb. Like the earth in patience, she was laid down on the ground, in front of Kamsa. The man seized her by her feet and raised her. He violently raised her, whirled her around and flung her against stone. However, she wasn’t crushed against the flat surface of the stone. Instead, she rose up into the sky. She suddenly gave up the body of the infant. With freely flowing hair, she rose upwards into the sky, adorned with divine garlands and unguents. The divine one always remained a maiden and was worshipped by the gods. She was attired in blue and yellow garments. Her breasts were like an elephant’s hump. Her thighs were as extensive as a chariot. Her face was like the moon and she possessed four arms. Her complexion was like radiant lightning. Her eyes were like the rising sun. She had excellent breasts and her voice was like that of the evening clouds. She was like the night shrouded in greater darkness, surrounded by a large number of bhutas. She was radiant and she alternately danced and laughed. The terrible one rose up into the sky and drank the best of drinks. She laughed out loudly and angrily addressed Kamsa. “O Kamsa! You tried to kill me. O Kamsa! You raised me and violently flung me against a rock. Therefore, when it is time for your death and you are afflicted by your enemy, I will tear apart your body with my hands and drink your warm blood.” Having spoken these terrible words, just as she wished, the goddess roamed around in the abode of the gods, together with her followers.

  ‘When she had left, Kamsa thought that she was his death. Ashamed, he met Devaki in private and addressed her. “O aunt! To avoid my death, I destroyed your babies. O queen! But it seems that my death will come from some other source. I made such efforts because of my despair. I killed my relatives. Through my manliness, I have not been able to overcome destiny. Give up all thoughts about your children, though that is a reason for grief. They have been destroyed because of destiny and I am only an instrument. Destiny is the enemy of men and measures out time. Time conveys everything and those like me are only instruments. Do not worry about your sons. Abandon sorrow and lamentations. This is generally the way of human birth. There is nothing that can bypass destiny. O Devaki! Like a son, I am prostrating myself and touching your feet with my head. Give up all anger that you have for me. I myself know the injury that I have caused.” She was distressed and eyes overflowing with tears, she looked towards her husband. She replied like a mother. “O Kamsa! O son! Arise. In front of me, you killed my infant children. O son! However, you were not the reason. The Destroyer, in the form of time, was the reason. I have got over what you did by killing my infant sons. You prostrated yourself and touched my feet with your head and condemned your own deeds as abhorrent. At the time of delivery, or in childhood, death cannot be avoided. The young also come under the control of death. The old are almost dead. When he is not born, an infant cannot be seen. He is like one who does not exist. Those who are born, and those who are not born, go wherever the ordainer conveys them. O son! Leave. There is no reason for anger on my part. The death has been predetermined, a cause only implements it. In truth, the creation of beings occurs because of what destiny has determined earlier. Through the deeds of the mother and the father, that deed is only implemented.” Hearing Devaki’s words, Kamsa went to his own house. He was miserable because his attempt had been countered. He was severely distressed.’

  Chapter 49

  Vaishampayana said, ‘Earlier, Vasudeva had heard that in Vraja, Rohini had given birth to a son with a face that was lovelier than the moon. He quickly went to Nandagopa and spoke these auspicious words. “Go to Vraja with Yashoda. Perform the birth rites and other rituals for the two infant boys there. O son!651 Once you are in Vraja, rear them cheerfully. Protect Rohini’s son and my son in Vraja.652 Everyone is prone to playing around in childhood. Men are foolish in childhood. Everyone tends to be fierce in childhood. Therefore, take care. During pitripaksha,653 I will become an object of discussion among those who have sons.654 Though I have a son, I won’t be able to see the child’s face. Truly, though I possess wisdom, it is as if my wisdom has forcibly been taken away from me. Our fear is that the hateful Kamsa may kill the children. O Nandagopa! O son! Therefore, search for a means whereby you can hide Rohini’s son and mine. In this world, there are many kinds of things that frighten children and hurt them. My son is older and your son is younger.655 Cheerfully, look towards both with equal affection. They are equal in age and will grow up together. O Nandagopa! Therefore, act so that everything is well in Vraja. Do not ever arrange for the cows to be herded in Vrindavana. Because Keshi, evil in sight, is there, there is reason to fear a residence there. Protect the two infants from reptiles, insects, birds and cows and calves in herds. O Nandagopa! The night is over. Use a swift vehicle to quickly go to Vraja. Both to the left and to the right, the birds here are urging you to make haste.” Having taken the permission of the great-souled Vasudeva in private, he656 cheerfully ascended the vehicle with Yashoda. The intelligent one carefully carried the infant on his shoulders and laid him down on a bed inside the palanquin. They left in secret along the beautiful banks of the Yamuna, fanned by cool winds that were sprinkled with water.

  ‘On the banks of the Yamuna, in a place where cool winds blew, he saw an auspicious region near Mount Govardhana. It was a beautiful place, not frequented by any predatory beasts. There were creepers, climbing plants and giant trees. There were carts near the river and cows grazed on the grass. The cows grazed on the flat ground and the level terrain was full of waterbodies. It was a spot where the trees were marked by scars from the horns and shoulders of bulls. However, it was a place frequented by wild crows, hawks and flesh-eating vultures. There were foxes, lions and other wild animals that lived off fat, marrow and flesh. There were the roars of tigers and the place was populated by many kinds of birds. It was a lovely place, with flowers and succulent fruit. There was sufficient grass to graze on. Cows roamed around there. There were the auspicious sounds made by cows. Gopa women lived there. In every direction, one could hear the sounds of calves calling. There were a large number of circles of carts. There were also plenty of trees with thorns. Though wild, it was adequately covered by a large number of trees that had fallen down.657 It was decorated with pegs and ropes for tying up the calves. The huts were covered with mats and the ground was covered with heaps of dry cow dung. There were many flat spots where healthy and well-fed people were walking around. There were plenty of ropes and sounds of the churning of milk could be heard. Copious quantities of buttermilk flowed. The ground was wet with heaps of curds. As the gopa women churned the milk, sounds arose from their bangles. Young gopa boys played there, sporting feathers from crows. In the midst of the cattle pounds, there were cattle pens with gates. The breeze was fragrant with the smell of butter being made. Maidens attired in blue and yellow garments were everywhere. These maidens were adorned with wild flowers. On their heads, they bore pots of ghee, covered with fine cloth. There were those who carried water along paths that led from the banks of the Yamuna. He happily entered the place where cattle wandered around, to the sound of cows mooing. Aged gopa men and women greeted him. The place appealed to him and he decided that this was a happy place to reside in. The goddess Rohini, who brought happiness to Vasudeva, was there. He entered and hid Krishna, who was like the rising sun.’

  Chapter 50r />
  Vaishampayana said, ‘In Govraja,658 Nandagopa lived and worked as a cowherd and a long period of time elapsed. The two infant boys grew up in happiness. The elder was named Samkarshana and the younger was named Krishna. Hari had entered inside Krishna’s body and he was as dark as a cloud. He grew up amidst the cattle, like a cloud in the ocean. On one occasion, he was asleep under a cart. Yashoda, who loved her son, left him there and left for the river Yamuna. Playing around in his infancy, he flung his arms and legs around. Krishna cried in a sweet voice and stretched his legs up into the air. He cried because he wanted some milk. Bending over, he overturned the cart with one leg. Meanwhile, Yashoda bathed and returned quickly. Here breast was overflowing with milk, like Surabhi659 when her calf has been tethered. She saw that despite there being no wind, the cart had been overturned. She lamented and swiftly picked up the infant. She did not understand the truth about how the cart had been overturned. She was frightened, but was also delighted that the infant was safe. She said, “O son! Your father660 will be extremely angry. Who knows what he will tell me? You were sleeping under the cart and suddenly the cart was overturned. My bath would have been a miserable bath.661 What was the need for me to go to the river? O son! With the cart overturned, I find you lying down in the open.” Meanwhile, after grazing the cows in the forest and clad in a brown garment, Nandagopa returned to Vraja. He saw the shattered vessels, pots and pitchers strewn around. The cart had been overturned. Its axle was broken and its wheels faced upwards. He was frightened. With tears in his eyes, he advanced quickly. He spoke words in anguish. “Is my son safe?” He then saw that his son was well and was drinking milk at the breast. He again asked, “Without a fight taking place between bulls, how did the cart overturn?” Yashoda was scared. She spoke in a voice that choked, “I do not know how the cart was overturned on the ground. O noble one! I had gone to the river, desiring to wash the clothes. On returning, I saw this calamity, of the cart being overturned on the ground.” While they were conversing in this way, some other children said, “This child overturned the cart with his foot. We were wandering around, as we wished. We turned up here and saw this happen.” On hearing this, all of them were astounded and their eyes widened in wonder. They placed the cart in its proper place and fastened the wheels again.

  ‘Bhoja Kamsa’s nursemaid was known by the name of Putana. She was seen in the middle of the night, in the form of a bird. She roared repeatedly, in a voice that was like that of a tiger. Her breasts flowing with milk, she stood on the axle of the cart. While people slept in the night, she offered her breasts to Krishna. Krishna sucked on her breast and sucked out her life too. With her breast torn out, she screamed. The bird suddenly fell down on the ground. At that sound, people were scared and awoke. Nandagopa, the gopas and Yashoda were worried. They saw the slain bird lying down on the ground, as if she had been shattered by the vajra. She had fallen down senseless, her breast severed. With Nandagopa at the forefront, they surrounded her and asked in terror, “What is this? Who has performed this act?” Astounded, the gopas returned to their own respective houses. In fear, Nandagopa asked Yashoda, “What kind of destiny is this? I do not know. I am greatly surprised. O timid one! I fear for my son. I am overcome by fear.” Yashoda replied, “O noble one! I do not know what this is. I was asleep with the child and woke up because of the sound.” When Yashoda said that she did not know, Nandagopa and his relatives were surprised. On account of Kamsa, they suffered from great fear.’

  Chapter 51

  Vaishampayana said, ‘As time passed, those two amiable infants, named Samkarshana and Krishna, started to crawl. From infancy, the two of them seemed to be one. The infants were attached to each other. They seemed to be strung on the same thread. They were handsome and were as radiant as the young moon and the sun. They seemed to have been created from the same mould. They slept on the same bed. They shared the same food and seat. They wore the same kind of clothing. They followed the same childish tendencies. They undertook the same task. It was as if a single body had been divided into two parts. They behaved in the same way. Though they were still children, they exhibited the same kind of great valour. Among people, they seemed to be of the same size. They were born as humans to undertake the tasks of the gods. The protectors of the entire universe were surrounded by gopas, in the form of gopa infants. They were affectionate towards each other and dazzled when they played. They were like the sun and the moon in the eye, casting their powerful rays on each other. With arms that were like snakes, they moved around everywhere. With dust smearing all their limbs, they looked like proud baby elephants. Their limbs were sometimes covered with ashes and sometimes, they were smeared with cowdung. They ran around, like Kumara, the son of Pavaka.662 Sometimes, as they crawled around on their knees, they were radiant. They played in the pens meant for calves and their limbs and heads became covered with cowdung. They blazed in their beauty and brought joy to their mother and father. There were occasions when they acted mischievously and laughed. They played like children and the curly hair descended over their eyes. The delicate infants possessed faces that were as bright as the moon. They were seen to be extremely addicted to roaming around all over Vraja. They were so indomitable that Nandagopa was incapable of controlling them.

  ‘Once, Yashoda was angry with the lotus-eyed Krishna. She tied a rope around his stomach and tied him to a mortar. “If you can, free yourself and move around.” Saying this, she concentrated on her tasks. While Yashoda was thus engaged, he left the courtyard. Krishna continued to engage in infantile pursuits and amazed Vraja. When Krishna emerged, he continued to drag the mortar behind him. There were a pair of arjuna trees in the forest. The child went there and dragging the mortar behind him, passed between the trees. As he tugged, the mortar was stuck horizontally between the trees. He tugged. The two arjuna trees were uprooted, got stuck to the mortar and were dragged along behind him. In sport, the child dragged along the two Arjuna trees. The trees were uprooted and shattered. He stood between them and laughed. He wished to show the gopas his own divine strength. Because of the child’s powers, the rope also held firm. Gopa women were headed along a path that led to the banks of the Yamuna river. They saw the child and cried out in wonder. They rushed to Yashoda. With fear written on their faces, the women told Yashoda, “O Yashoda! Come. Are you delaying because of fear? The two arjuna trees in Vraja used to cater to our needs. Those two large trees have fallen down on your son. Your child is there, with the rope firmly tied to his stomach. Your son, a mere child, is standing between the trees and laughing. O one with evil intelligence! O stupid one! O one who is proud of her learning! Arise and go there. Your son is alive, as if freed from the jaws of death.” Frightened, she arose violently, lamenting. She rushed to the spot where the two large trees had fallen down. She saw her infant child there, in between the two trees. With the rope tied to his stomach, he was dragging the mortar. The gopa women went to the aged and young gopas in Vraja and they assembled to see this great wonder in the land of the gopas. The gopas who wandered around in the forest conversed among themselves, as they willed. “How did these trees fall down? They were the best of trees in the land of the cowherds. There was no wind. There was no rain. There was no lightning. There was no harm caused by elephants. How did the trees fall down? Alas! Without their roots, the arjuna trees are no longer beautiful. They have fallen down on the ground and are like clouds without water. O Nandagopa! The trees that have come to such a pass are pleased with you. Though they were uprooted, your infant son has escaped and is without injury. This is the third evil portent that has been seen in the land of the gopas. Putana was killed and the cart overturned. The trees are next. It is not proper that the gopas should continue to reside here. Evil portents are seen here and this is not desirable.” Quickly, Nandagopa freed Krishna from the mortar and swiftly placed him on his lap, as if he had returned from the dead. Nandagopa scolded Yashoda severely and returned to his home. All the other gopa people also returned to their houses in
the land of the gopas. Since Krishna had been tied with a rope around his stomach, all the gopa women in the land of the gopas chanted his name of Damodara.663 O foremost among the Bharata lineage! While Krishna resided in the land of the gopas, as a child, these were his extraordinary exploits.’