Chapter 42 - Description of the Wrestling Arena

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. While proceeding ahead on the royal road, Kṛṣṇa espied a deformed young woman of charming countenance carrying a vessel containing sandal-paste and other unguents (for smearing and beautifying the body). He asked laughingly just to humour her.

2. “Who are you, Oh lady of shapely thighs? For whom is this vessel of unguents intended? Tell us the truth. Give us both some excellent unguents (out of these). (By this act of yours) you will soon be blessed with good luck.”

The maidservant said:

3. “Oh beautiful youth! I am a maid-servant called Tri-Vakrā (Deformed at three places viz. at the neck, the breast and the waist), but I am esteemed by (His Majesty) Kaṃsa in (the technique of) preparation of unguents). For the pastes and ointments prepared by me are very much liked by the king of Bhojas.—who else other than you both deserves to be anointed with this?”

4. Her heart being thoroughly captivated by their beauty, comeliness, bewitching smiles, sweet words and loving glances, she besmeared them thickly with the unguent.

5. Then with the upper part of their bodies painted with the unguent, the colour of which was different from that of the complexion of their persons, they both (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma) appeared very much effulgent.

6. The glorious Lord who was very much pleased with her, decided to straighten up perfectly the hump-backed woman deformed at the three different places, though possessed of a charming countenance, and thereby to show (to the world) the fruit of having a sight of him.

7. Pressing the front part of her feet with his own feet, he held her chin with two fingers of his raised open palm and made her body perfectly straight.

8. Instantly, at the very touch of Kṛṣṇa, she became the loveliest young damsel with all limbs straight and proportionate and shapely, with big buttocks and heavy breasts.

9. Being thus gifted with excellent beauty and noble qualities, she thereupon felt the passion of love enkindled in her. And drawing him by the end of his upper garment, she requested him, beaming with a smile.

10. “Come, Oh hero! Let us go home. I cannot bear (the idea of going away) leaving you here, now. Please be propitious unto a woman whose mind has been agitated by you. Oh prominent one among men.”

11. When solicited thus by the woman, despite the presence of even Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa cast a glance at him and at the faces of cowherds, laughed loudly and spoke to her.

12. “Oh lady with beautiful eye-brows! After accomplishing the object of my coming here (viz. killing of Kaṃsa) I shall certainly visit your house which relieves the pangs of hearts of men. You are the only resort of homeless wayfarers like us.^[1]

13. After taking leave of her in sweet words, as he proceeded through the commercial area of the town (lit. through the streets of the Vaiśya community), he, along with his elder brother and followers was worshipfully received with various presents, betel-leaves, garlands of pearls and precious Stones and perfumes by the guilds of merchants.

14.^[2] The minds of the ladies of the merchant communities were so much agitated and overwhelmed with love that they forgot themselves. With loosened garments and braids of hair and slipping bracelets, they stood motionless as if painted in a picture.

15. Thereupon, enquiring with the people about the venue of the Bow-(Sacrifice), the Immutable Lord (Kṛṣṇa) entered the sacrificial-hall and saw the wonderful bow, beautiful (and big) like the rainbow (as it was studded with precious stones).

16. It was guarded by many men-at-arms, as it was worshipped and decorated with precious stones and valuables. Though he was prohibited by the attending guards, Kṛṣṇa forcibly caught hold of it.

17. Sportively picking it up with his left hand and fixing its string, Kṛṣṇa of formidable prowess, stretched it to the full and snapped it asunder in two in a second, as an intoxicated elephant would do to a sugarcane. And all men stood a-gazing (in astonishment).

18. As the bow was being broken, the crashing sound filled the sky, the space between the earth and heaven and all the quarters. Hearing that sound, even Kaṃsa was seized with terror.

19. The guards of the bow along with the attendants got enraged. Armed as they were, they were anxious to arrest him. Shouting “Let him be seized and bound down”, they encircled him.

20. Perceiving those fellows of wicked intentions, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa flared up in rage, and grasping the two pieces of the broken bow stick, soundly drubbed them all.

21. Having destroyed the battalion of soldiers despatched against them by Kaṃsa, they came out of the gate of the sacrificial hall. As they roamed along, they were delighted to see the affluence of the city.

22. Witnessing their marvellous prowess, splendour, fearlessness and handsome personality, the citizens of Mathura regarded them as two foremost ones among gods.

23. While both of them were thus wandering at will, the sun set. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma surrounded by cowherds, returned from the city to the camp of their carts.

24. All the auspicious blessings anticipated (to happen to the citizens of Mathura) by the Gopīs who became afflicted with the pangs of (impending) separation from Kṛṣṇa at the time of his departure (from Vraja), materialised to be true at Mathura, in the case of those citizens who could gaze at the splendour of the elegant personality of Kṛṣṇa (The Supreme Person), the ornament of Manliness to whom Śrī, the goddess of beauty and affluence, resorted for shelter disregarding other gods who sought her.

25. After washing their pair of feet, they partook of rice boiled in milk. With full knowledge what Kaṃsa intended to do the next day, they spent that night quite happily.

26-27. Kaṃsa, however, was struck with panic when he heard the report of the breaking of the huge bow and the massacre of the guards of the bow and the contingent of the army (deployed against them), and the marvellous sportive acts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. The wicked-minded fellow, being terrified, remained sleepless for a long time, and saw both in sleep and while awake, many evil omens portending death.

28. Though his reflection in water or mirror was visible, he could not see his head in that reflection. Though no second luminary was in existence, he saw every planet (of lamp) in duplicate.

29. He espied holes in his shadow. Nor could he hear the whizzing sound of vital breath when the ears were closed. He felt that the trees he saw were of gold. Nor his footprints (in dust or sand) as he walked, were visible to him.

30. In dreams he saw himself clasped in embrace by dead persons (or goblins) and that he rode a donkey and gulped poison. He saw that he was wandering along with a garland of red flowers, and was smeared all over with oil and was naked.

31. He perceived such and other similar portends foreboding death, both in his dreams and in the waking state. Being terribly afraid of death, he did not get any sleep at all through anxiety.

32. When the night was over and the sun came up from the eastern waters, Karñsa caused (i.e. gave orders for) the grand celebration of athletic sports (such as wrestling of athletes etc.).

33. Men worshipped the wrestling arena. There was a fanfare of trumpets and beating of drums. The galleries were decorated with garlands, flags, buntings and ornamental arches.

34. Citizens and country people headed by Brāhmaṇas and Kṣattriyas entered and were comfortably seated, each according to his position. Princes and royal personages also occupied their respective seats.

35. Surrounded by his ministers and at the centre of his tributary princes sat Kaṃsa on the throne, though his heart was aching with anxiety.

36. While the flourish of trumpets was being (occasionally drowned by the stroking of arms by athletes^[3], the well adorned proud athletic champions occupied their seats along- with their trainers.

37. Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala and Tośala as well—all highly cheered up by the exciting music of the instruments presented themselves into the arena.

38. Cowherd Nanda and other cowherds who were invited by the king of Bhojas and who had offered their presents to him, took their seats on a separate dais.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Padaratnāvalī: God is not attached to anyone. But his devotees worship him and become his resort.

Bhāgavata Candrikā: You deserve to be enjoyed.

[2]:

Untraced in Padaratnāvalī’s Text.

[3]:

mallānāṃ tāla-śca
sva-bāhu-mūlaghātaḥ—VT