The Slaying of Aristasura

The thirty sixth chapter describes how Kamsa, hearing from Narada that Krsna had killed Aristasura, imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, and ordered Akrura to go to Vraja.

As tarhi is used in this sentence, yada should also be supplied. Thus the meaning is that when (yada) Krsna began his rasa lila in the evening, then (tarhi) Arisasura came. Visnu Purana describes this: “One day when Krsna was enjoying the rasa in the twilight, Aristasura entered the village after spreading fear everywhere.”

Atha signifies that while Krsna was enjoying, something interrupted that enjoyment. Arista had the form of a bull with a large hump on his back. Stamping his hooves, he shook the earth.

Roaring very loudly and roughly, he clawed the earth with his hooves. He dug out the bank with his horns and passed stool.

Due to his load roaring the cows and women had miscarriages. Up to the fourth month, miscarriage is called “srava” and in the fifth and sixth month miscarriage is called “pata”.

“What do you gain by frightening the cows?” Addressing the demon as “most sinful one (asattama), Krsna suggests that no sin would be incurred by killing the bull, though normally cows and bulls should not be killed.

Krsna challenged the bull by slapping his right palm on the base of his left arm

arm, making a sound, as a show of courage. By placing his snake–like arm on Subala’s shoulder (ams) he showed his contempt for the demon.

Arista showed his power by raising and twitching his tail, so that it disturbed the clouds in the sky.

The bull’s eyes were red with arrogance. His side long glances scolded Krsna.

Krsna threw the bull in the opposite direction.

Being thrown backwards the bull then got up.

Grasping his two horns in his hands, Krsna twisted him around like a piece of wet cloth. Uprooting his left horn, Krsna dealt him a blow with that horn.

The bull was put into great difficulty (kasta). Yama then killed the bull, not Krsna. The bull got immediate liberation. The devatas praised Krsna by showering flowers (puspaih kirantah).

The puranas describe how Radha kunda and Shyama kunda appeared after the killing of Aristasura as a result of a conversation between Radha and Krsna.

“O sinful killer of a bull! Do not touch me today.”

“O foolish woman! This is not a bull, but a terrible demon.”

“O Krsna, that may be true, but he belongs to the species of cattle, just as Vrtrasura, though a demon, was still a brahmana.”

“O Radha! What is the acquittal for this act?”

“You will become pure by performing the austerity of bathing in all the holy waters of the three worlds.”

“How will I go around the three worlds? I will bring all the holy places here and bathe in them. Just watch now.”

Saying that, Mukunda stamped on the earth with his heel, making a hole, and said, “Come here.” All the holy waters came there along from Ganga situated in Patala with their presiding deities.

Krsna said to the gopis, “Behold all the holy waters!”

But they did not believe his words. The presiding deities, folding their hands, came forward and introduced themselves.

“I am the salt ocean. I am the milk ocean. I am the svarga dighi, I am the red ocean. I am the Tamraparni,. I am Puskara, I am Sarasvati I am Godavari I am Yamuna. I am Sarayu, I am Prayaga. I am Reva.”

“See all these waters and believe me.”

Bathing in the waters Krsna became clean. “I have made one lake in which all the tirthas reside. None of you have performed such pious work.”

Hearing this, Radha said to her friends, “We must also make an attractive kunda. You should construct one with great care.” West of Krsna’s kunda, where Arista had made a hole with his foot, the gopis began to take earth in their hands and in two and half hours made a beautiful kunda.

Seeing their kunda, Krsna began to think of having rasa. “O lotus eyed Radha, please take some of the holy water from my kunda and fill up your kunda.”

Hearing this Radha said, “No, no! That water is no good, coming from one who has sinfully killed a bull. I will fill up this kunda with a thousand pots of water from Manasa Ganga. By this my fame will be spread throughout the universe.”

Taking the cue from Krsna all the holy waters of his kunda, taking on one transcendental form, approached Radha, offered obeisances, and with folded hands and tears in her eyes, began to offer praises. “O goddess, those who know scripture do not know your glories. Brahma does not know, nor Siva, nor Laksmi. Only Krsna, best of men, who wipes the perspiration from your limbs, who decorates your feet with skilful designs and puts your anklets on your feet knows. Just getting the glance from your lotus eye, we will think ourselves superbly fortunate and will reach the highest bliss. We reside in this place made by Krsna’s heel. On his order we have come here. If you are pleased, give your merciful glance. Then our desire tree will be able to bear fruit.”

Being satisfied with the praises of the tirthas, Radha said, “Know that your desire has been fulfilled.”

The tirthas clearly stated their desire. “Our lives will be successful if we can enter your kunda. This is the boon we pray for.”

Then Radha, glancing at Krsna, said, “Come, come.”

Hearing this, the same minded gopis became submerged in ecstasy. All moving and non moving creatures became enlivened. Having attained the mercy of Radha, all the tirthas broke their bank and swiftly flowed into Radha’s kunda, filling it up.

Krsna said, ”O most beloved! May your kunda become more famous in the world than mine. In your kunda I will perform water pastimes I will bathe there daily. As you are most dear to me, so is your kunda”

Radha said, “Along with my frineds, I will also bathe in Radha kunda. May the kunda destroy a hundred misfortunes. I will be most pleased with that person who shows devotion to this kunda, who bathes in it, and who resides near it.”

The lightening form of Radha, whose glory is spread throughout the three worlds, who causes a shower of blissful rasa from the cloud of Krsna, performs rasa lila at Radha kunda nightly.

Narada is referred to as deva darsana. This means that he was endowed with transcendental vision like the supreme lord (deva), one who knows or sees the pastimes of Krsna. Narada, knowing that Krsna’s Vraja lila was ending, to make arrangements to bring him to Mathura, spoke to Kamsa.

What did he say to Kamsa? The famous eight child of Devaki, a female, was actually the daughter of Yasoda. Krsna, commonly known as Nanda’s son, was actually the son of Devaki. Balarama, thought to be Nanda’s son, was actually the son of Rohini.

“If Krsna and Balarama are Vasudeva’s children, who brought them to Vraja?”

“They were brought by Vasudeva.”

Kamsa took up his sword, but not in the presence of Vasudeva.

Narada prevented Kamsa from killing Vasudeva by giving the following advice.

“If you kill Vasudeva, Krsna and Balarama will flee in terror. Do not reveal to Vasudeva that you want to kill Krsna and Balarama. If you tell him, he will tell his friend Nanda, who will flee with his sons. Therefore on some pretext imprison Vasudeva and Devaki, and bring Krsna and Balarama to Mathura.”

One should not think that in saying this, Narada was being unkind to Devaki and Vasudeva. Rather, this was a sign of affection. After Krsna and Balarama arrived in Mathura, on seeing their children they gave thanks to Narada. Thus there was no fault in Narada’s suggesting that they be imprisoned.

Kamsa ordered Kesi, “Go to Vraja and kill them”. This statement also means “You should attain them or merge into them (get killed).”

My death has been indicated by Narada (nidarsinta).

In order to fool Krsna and Balarama, and to increase the enthusiasm to fight, make a huge festive competition. Otherwise they will flee.”

O elephant keeper, place Kuvalayapida at the entrance of the arena in order that he kill my enemies, those who are not beneficial to me (ahitau).

For my prosperity, cut up some goats in order to please the lord of living entities.

Kamsa was knowledgeable of artha sastra. That means he knew all about artha and kama, but not dharma and moksa.

In order to please me, undertake this action easy for a friend to do.

I have come to you because you can execute the task most perfectly.

Pointing with his finger at the new chariot, Kamsa said, “Seeing the new astonishing chariot the young boys will readily sit in it.” Akrura took the new chariot, thinking that it would be unsuitable to bring the Lord in something used previously by Kamsa.

My death ( the two boys) has been created inescapably by the devatas who take shelter of Visnu.

They will be killed by these wrestlers who are like thunderbolts.

When these two boys are killed, Vasudeva, the Vrsnis and their friends of the Bhoja and Dasarha dynsasties will become weak.

I will also kill all my other enemies.

How will the world be without thorns, if Jarasandha and others are present?

Jarasandha is my elder, or guru (svasura)

You should not tell this secret plot to others, but you should speak as follows, inviting the boys to the dhanur yajna.

You have thoroughly considered how to avoid your death. But now hear the words of niti sastra. In regards to success or failure, one should perform the action with cool head, since fate alone will determine the result.

Living entities (low forms, not you) perform activities with expectations that are sometimes fulfilled and sometimes unfulfilled, leading to happiness and distress. But I will carry out my orders so that you will be happy. This is the external meaning.

Another meaning is: “Though it is not proper to carry out an order of you who desire to die, I will do so, because you are the king and I am a citizen.”

Another meaning is: “Though your desires will not be fulfilled, mine will be fulfilled, so I will carry out your order”.