by Bibek Debroy
‘With the use of maya, Krishna’s drum was sounded. At this sound, all of them assembled and stood there. The Yadavas asked each other, “What is this?” All of them spoke to each other and conversed with each other. The Yadavas, unassailable in battle, stood there, sighing. Their eyes were full of tears and their eyes were red with anger. When all of them were silent, Viprithu spoke these words to Krishna, supreme among strikers, who was sighing repeatedly. “O Indra among men! Why are you standing here, overcome by thoughts? All the Yadavas find life by resorting to the strength of your arms. O Krishna! Depending on you, we have been divided into various groups. Shakra’s victory and defeat depends on your strength and that is the reason he sleeps happily. Why are you overcome by thoughts? All of your kin are agitated in this ocean of grief. O mighty-armed one! You are the only one who can save them from this submergence. Why are you immersed in thoughts and why are you not saying anything? O god! O Madhava! You do not deserve to be immersed in futile thoughts.” Thus addressed, Krishna again sighed for a long time. The one who had a way with words then spoke these words, like Brihaspati himself. “O Viprithu! I am immersed in thoughts because I have been thinking about what needs to be done. I have thought about what you said, but am unable to find a clear answer. Standing in the midst of this large number of Dasharhas, I am now speaking these words, which are full of reason. O Yadavas! All of you listen to me, about why I am overcome by thoughts. Since the brave Aniruddha has been abducted, all the kings on earth think that we and all our relatives are incapable. In earlier times, our king, Ahuka, was abducted by Salva. We fought an extremely terrible battle and brought him back. When he was a child, Pradyumna was abducted by Shambara. Having slain him in a battle, Rukmini’s son returned. This is indeed a great hardship. Where has Pradyumna’s son gone? O bulls among men! I cannot think of a sin like this. Who is the one whose ash-smeared feet have descended on my head? In a battle, I will rob him and his relatives of their lives.” Thus addressed by Krishna, Satyaki spoke these words. “O Krishna! Let spies be employed to seek out Aniruddha’s path.” Krishna smiled and spoke these words to Ahuka. “O king! Please instruct spies to be employed inside the kingdom and outside it.” The illustrious king instructed that spies should be employed in every direction and along every path, inside the kingdom and outside it. “Search the mountains Venumanta and Raivataka, covered with creepers. Use swift horses to search the paths on Mount Rikshavanta. Search each and every garden and the paths in every direction. In every direction, go to all the gardens, even if they are deserted. Mount thousands of horses and large numbers of chariots. Swiftly search for the descendant of the Yadu lineage along all the paths.” The commander, Anadhrishti, seemed to be scared and terrified and spoke these words to Krishna Achyuta, the perfomer of unsullied deeds. “O Krishna! O lord! If it pleases you, listen to my words. For a long time, my mind has turned towards telling you something. Asiloma, Puloma, Nisunda and Naraka have been slain. Soubha, Salva, Mainda and Dvivida have also been killed. You have killed the extremely great Hayagriva and his followers. For the sake of the gods, you have engaged in such extremely terrible encounters. Through your deeds, in battle after battle, you have destroyed them. O Govinda! You have done all this and you have no one to act as your parshni.1054 O Krishna! With your followers, you have accomplished these deeds in battles. You performed the extremely difficult task of seizing the Parijata tree. O Krishna! At that time, Shakra, accomplished in fighting, was himself astride Airavata’s head. However, using the valour of your arms, you vanquished him. There is no doubt that he has taken it upon himself to bear enmity towards you. Because of that, he has thought his task is to be hostile towards you. Therefore, Maghavan has himself abducted Aniruddha. There is no one else who is capable of bearing this great enmity towards you.” Addressed in these words, Krishna sighed like a serpent. The intelligent one spoke these words to the immensely strong Anadhrishti. “O commander! O son!1055 It cannot be like that. The gods are not the perpetrators of inferior deeds. They are not ungrateful. Nor are they impotent. They are not insolent or foolish. My efforts are for the gods and for the great destruction of the danavas. It is to bring them pleasure that I have killed the insolent and extremely great asuras in battle. I am devoted to them and my mind is immersed in them. I am engaged in doing what they find agreeable. Knowing this, how can they commit this crime against me? They are truthful and are never inferior. They are devoted to those who follow them. Know that this transgression isn’t theirs. You have spoken foolishly.” Having heard Krishna’s words, Akrura, who was skilled in speaking words that were full of reason, spoke these words. His speech was sweet and gentle. “O lord! It is certain that our tasks are for Shakra. The tasks that we perform are the same as the tasks required by Shachi’s consort. We are protected by the gods and we also protect the gods. We have assumed human forms to accomplish the tasks of the gods.” Purushottama was thus urged by Akrura’s words. Krishna again spoke in a tone that was gentle and deep. “This abduction of Pradyumna’s son hasn’t been done by the gods, the gandharvas, the yakshas or the rakshasas. This abduction has been done by a lady who is a courtesan. The daitya and danava women are courtesans and accomplished in the use of maya. There is no doubt that such a person has abducted him. There cannot be fear from anyone else.” When these words were spoken, sweet sounds of praise were heard in Madhava’s house, uttered by the bards and the minstrels.
‘All the spies also returned and assembled at the gate. In soft tones, they spoke these words. “O king! We searched each one of hundreds of gardens, mountains, caverns, rivers and ponds, but could not trace his footprints. O descendant of the Yadu lineage! You should think of some other means and instruct us. Command us so that we can quickly seek out Aniruddha’s tracks.” All of them were distressed in their minds and their eyes were full of tears. They asked each other, “What shall we do next?” There were some who bit their lips. There were others whose eyes were full of tears. There were some brave men whose foreheads were furrowed in thought.
‘A sparkling morning dawned and the sun arose. To the great sound of trumpets and conch shells, the mighty-armed Krishna was awoken in his house. Narada entered the assembly hall alone. He seemed to be smiling. The lord Krishna, impossible for even armies to defeat, was distracted. However, he arose and offered Narada madhuparka1056 and a cow. He1057 seated himself on a sparkling spread that was covered with cushions. Seated upright, he spoke these words that were full of import. “Why are you overcome by thoughts, as if you are enveloped in darkness and alone? All your enterprise seems to have been destroyed and you are as insensible as eunuchs.” The great-souled Narada addressed them in these words. Vasudeva replied, “O illustrious one! You should hear what I am about to say. O brahmana! O one who is excellent in his vows! Someone has abducted Aniruddha in the night. It is because of this that all of us seem to be insensible and are immersed in thoughts.” Narada was thus addressed by the great-souled Keshava. He laughed and retorted, “O Madhusudana! You should listen to me. There was an extremely great battle between two great men and it is now over. In that great battle, Aniruddha single-handedly fought against Bana. Bana, unmatched in his energy, has a daughter named Usha. For her sake, the apsara Chitralekha swiftly abducted him. There was an extremely fierce and great battle between Pradyumna’s son and Bana, like the encounter between Bali and Vasava. Aniruddha did not retreat from that battle. Out of fear for him, the immensely strong Bana resorted to maya and bound him up in the coils of serpents. For the sake of fame and victory, arise quickly. O son!1058 For the sake of victory, this is not the time to protect one’s life.” Addressed in these words, the powerful and valorous Vasudeva gave instructions that arrangements should be made for his departure. Sandalwood powder and parched rice were sprinkled in every direction. The mighty-armed Janardana made arrangements for departure. Narada said, “O Krishna! You should remember Vinata’s son.1059 O mighty-armed one! There is no one else who is capable of going there. O Janardana! Pradyumna’s son has
been taken to the city of Shonita and it is eleven thousand yojanas away. Vinata’s powerful son is immensely brave and possesses the speed of thought. In an instant, he alone can show you Bana.” Having heard his words, Hari thought of Garuda and he arrived at Krishna’s side and stood there cheerfully.
‘Jishnu wore bracelets and was dark in complexion. His hair was dark. He possessed four teeth and four arms. He knew the four Vedas and six Vedangas. He bore the srivatsa mark and his eyes were like lotuses. His body hair stood up and his speech was gentle. His fingers were even. His nails were even. His fingers and the tips of his nails were red. His voice was gentle and deep. He was mighty-armed and his arms were round. His arms stretched down to his knees. His face was like that of a lion. He was young and was capable of standing up before a lion. He blazed like a thousand suns shining together. This resplendent lord is in the souls of all creatures. He is the lord who thought of the creation of beings. Delighted, Prajapati had granted him the eight qualities and powers.1060 Among all the lords of creatures, sadhyas and gods, he is eternal. He is praised in the chants of bards, minstrels and raconteurs and is honoured by the immensely fortunate rishis who are accomplished in the Vedas and the Vedangas. Having made up his mind to leave, the mighty-armed and powerful Vasudeva conveyed instructions for Dvaraka. The god ascended Garuda, with the wielder of the plough behind him. Pradyumna, the afflicter of enemies, was behind Bala.1061 “O mighty-armed one! Defeat Bana and his followers in the battle. In a great encounter, no one is capable of standing before you. There is no doubt that Lakshmi will show you her favours and that there is victory in your valour. Vanquish the enemy, the Indra among the daityas, and his soldiders, in the battle.” From the sky, the siddhas, charanas and large numbers of maharshis pronounced these words in every direction. Keshava departed for the battle.’
Chapter 110
Vaishampayana said, ‘There was the sound of trumpets and the loud blare of conch shells. Thousands of bards, minstrels and panegyrics chanted his praise. Men who were anxious for victory praised him with words of benediction. Hari assumed a blazing form that was like that of the moon, the sun and Venus.1062 The form of Vinata’s son rising up was extremely dazzled and that radiance was enchanced by Hari’s energy. With eight hands, Krishna assumed a form that was like that of a mountain. Desiring Bana’s destruction, Pundarikaksha dazzled. The hands on the right held a sword, the chakra, a mace and an arrow. The hands on the left held a shield, the Sharnga bow and a conch shell. The wielder of the Sharnga bow assumed one thousand heads. Samkarshana also assumed one thousand forms. Astride Garuda, Rama was like the rising moon. The unassailable one wielded white weapons and looked like the summited Kailasa. Wishing to display his valour in the battle, the great-souled and mighty-armed Pradyumna manifested Sanatkumara’s form. With the force of his wings, the powerful one1063 flung away and shattered many mountains, obstructing the path of the wind. Garuda adopted a speed that was greater than that of the wind. He followed the auspicious path adopted by large numbers of siddhas and charanas. Rama spoke these words to Krishna, who was unmatched in battle. “O Krishna! We have been robbed of our own splendour. This is something that has never happened before. How did it occur? It is clear that all of us have assumed a golden complexion. Tell me the truth about what has happened. Is this because we have reached the slopes of Meru?” The illustrious one replied, “O wielder of the plough! We have been struck by the radiance of the ahavaniya fire.1064 Our reddish hue is the result of that.” Rama said, “If we are near and if our resplendence has been lost because of that, use your intelligence to determine what is beneficial and what must be done next.” The illustrious one replied, “O Vinata’s son! Do what must be done next. After you have decided what must be done, I will determine our next course of action.” Hearing these words of the great-souled Keshava, Vinata’s powerful son quickly went to the Ganga. He picked up water from there and sprinkled the fire with it. The ahavaniya fire was thus pacified. “It is my view that the three, Krishna, Samkarshana and the immensely strong Pradyumna, are capable of taking on the three worlds.”1065 When the fire was pacified, the king of birds continued to advance. He created a terrible and loud noise from the strength with which he was flapping his wings.
‘On seeing this, the fires, followers of Rudra, began to think. “Who are these, astride Garuda? They have many forms and signify fear. Who are these three men and why have they come here?” The fires that travel in the mountains could not arrive at any conclusion. A battle commenced between them and the three Yadavas. An uproar arose. Anxious to know what was going on, Bana sent a man, who possessed the speed of thought, to go and witness everything. He agreed and went to see the battle that was going on, the great encounter as the fires clashed against Vasudeva. All the fires were there. There were the five fires which are famous as being associated with the utterance of “svadha”—Kalmasha, Khasrima, Dahana, Shoshana and the immensely strong Tapana. There were other immensely fortunate ones, accompanied by their own soldiers. The five fires associated with the utterance of “svaha” also fought—Patara, Pataga, Svarna, Agadha and Bhraja. The two great-souled and immensely radiant conflagrations associated with the divisions of jyotishtoma and vashatkara also fought.1066 In between these two was the lord, the maharshi Angiras.1067 On seeing Angiras stationed on his chariot, Purushottama Krishna smiled repeatedly and spoke these words. “O fires! Remain here. I will generate a fear among you. You will be consumed by my energy and devastated, will flee in different directions.” At this, Angiras attacked him with a blazing spear. In that great battle, he was enraged and wished to take away Krishna’s life. However, he1068 fought with supreme arrows that were supreme and sharp, with tips in the form of the crescent moon and like the Destroyer, Yama. Using these, he severed that blazing trident. The extremely illustrious one used a blazing arrow with a broad shaft. It was like Yama. Using this, he struck him1069 in the chest and roared. With blood flowing all over his body, the fire became senseless. With his body numb, he violently fell down on the ground. At this, the remaining four fires, the sons of Brahma,1070 quickly fled towards Bana’s city.
‘The lotus-eyed one held the conch shell up to his mouth and it looked as if the moon was poised amidst clouds. With the force of the wind, he blew into it. The valiant one blew on the conch shell and generated fear. Krishna, the performer of extraordinary deeds, entered Bana’s city. Bana’s soldiers suddenly emerged from all sides, blowing on conch shells and creating a loud noise through drums. That army of servants was sent into the great battle. There were many crore of these and they wielded blazing weapons. In that encounter, they united together, looking like a giant mass of clouds adhering to each other. It seemed to be immeasurable and indestructible and was like a mass of collyrium. Those daityas, danavas and rakshasas wielded blazing weapons. There were the best of demons and they assembled and fought with Krishna. All of them had blazing mouths, like flames of fires into which oblations are fed. In that battle, they drank the blood of those four.1071 The mighty-armed Rama spoke these words to Keshava. “O Krishna! O mighty-armed one! O Krishna! Create a great fear in them.” Krishna was thus urged by the intelligent Balabhadra.1072 Purushottama was the best among those accomplished in astras and shastras. To slay them, he picked up the agneya weapon, as resplendent as the Destroyer, Yama. The large number of carnivorous asuras was driven away by this weapon’s energy. However, he swiftly went to the spot where that army could be seen. He glanced at that army of demons, wielding spikes, spears, javelins, swords, tridents, clubs and other weapons. Adopting many kinds of fearful forms, they looked like mountains or clouds. All the warriors were stationed there, with large numbers of mounts. They looked like clouds scattered away by the wind and clinging to mountains. Astride Vinata’s son, Rama saw this army and told Krishna, “O Krishna! O mighty-armed one! O Krishna! This army can be seen. O Purushottama! I wish to fight against them in this battle.” Krishna replied, “The same kind of intention has also been generated in me. I also wish to a
dvance against these ones, who are indomitable in battle. I will fight on the east and let Suparna1073 be ahead of me. Let Pradyumna be to my left and you can be to my right. In this fierce and great battle, we will protect each other.” Astride that supreme bird, they thus spoke to each other. Rohini’s son assumed a terrible form and fought, using the summits of mountains, clubs, bludgeons and ploughs. He was like Time, which burns down all creatures at the end of a yuga. He dragged them with the tip of his plough and uprooted them with his club. Extremely strong and accomplished in all the modes of fighting, he roamed around in that encounter. Pradyumna, tiger among men, fought in every direction and repulsed thousands of danavas with showers of arrows. Janardana blew on his conch shell several times. He was like a gentle mass of collyrium and wielded the conch shell, the chakra and the mace. In that battle, Vinata’s powerful son attacked the enemy and struck them with the force of his wings, mangling them with the tip of his beak and his talons. The army of daityas was terrible in valour, but was slaughtered. In that encounter, it was routed with a shower of arrows. When the army was routed, Jvara1074 desired to save it and attacked. He possessed three feet and three heads and was indomitable in encounters. He was like Yama. He was fierce and used ashes as his weapon. He roared like a storm, or like thousands of clouds. He angrily faced the wielder of the plough and said, “What kind of strength do you possess? In this battle, why are you not looking at me? Wait. In the forefront of this encounter, you will not be able to escape with your life.” Saying this, he laughed and attacked the wielder of the plough. He generated great fear with his terrible fists, which looked like the fire that comes at the time of the destruction of a yuga. Adopting thousands of different forms, he whirled around in that battle and in a short instant, Rohini’s son was no longer able to see where he was stationed. Unmatched in his energy, Jvara flung ashes and these descended on the target, the body that was like a mountain.1075 From his chest, those blazing ashes fell on the summit of Meru and shattered the peak of the mountain. Krishna’s elder brother was struck by the blazing ashes, hurled with anger. He sighed and yawned repeatedly and fell asleep. His eyes were filled with weakness and he was incessantly distracted. His body hair stood up and his sight faded. He sighed as if he was crazy. Maddened and unconscious, the wielder of the plough spoke to Krishna, “O Krishna! O mighty-armed one! O Krishna! This is a terrifying blaze. O son!1076 I am burning all over my body. How can I obtain peace?” Addressed in this way, he embraced the wielder of the plough. When Krishna embraced him with great affection, he was freed from the burning. Extremely wrathful, Vasudeva spoke to Jvara. “Come. O Jvara! In this great battle, fight against me with all your strength. O one who is accomplished in fighting! In this encounter, show me what you possess.” Using two of his right hands, Jvara then flung ashes at him. These blazed and were greatly powerful. In an instant, Krishna, supreme among strikers, assumed a blazing form and that fire was pacified. With three of his hands, which were like snakes, Jvara struck Krishna on the neck and beat him on the chest with his fists. There was a tumultuous battle between those two lions among men, the great Jvara and the great-souled Krishna. There was a roar like that of thunder descending on mountains. There was an extremely terrible battle, with Krishna and Jvara striking each other with their hands. There were loud noises, “You should not strike like this.” For a short instant, those two extremely great-souled ones fought with each other. Jvara was adorned in golden and colourful ornaments and roamed around in the sky. In that battle, he was crushed by the strength of arms1077 and the lord of the universe seemed to be like Yama, the destroyer.’