20211002 Kaṁsa-vadha Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on October 2nd, 2021 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

 

hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! We are continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, Today's chapter is entitled:

Kaṁsa-vadha, Part 2

Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.382

paḍila ta mahāgaja–śune kaṁsarāya
kāṅpite lāgila aṅga tarāsa hiyāya

Translation: King Kaṁsā, heard that Lord Kṛṣṇa had killed his elephant and the limbs of his body quivered in fear.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Kaṁsā, he was sure that the elephant would kill Kṛṣṇa and when he heard that the elephant was killed by Lord Kṛṣṇa, he became very fearful.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.383

tabe rāma-kṛṣṇa gelā rājāra sammukhe
tarāse goyālā saba hāle kāṅpe buke

Translation: Then Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma went in front of the King. The cowherd men were afraid and their hearts throbbed.

Jayapatākā Swami: The cowherd men loved Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, seeing that plan of King Kaṁsā was to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa, they became afraid for Lord Kṛṣṇa and their hearts was throbbing.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.6

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma killed Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika along with the other wrestlers, and finally Kaṁsa was also slain. They were jubilantly applauded by everyone. Next, after being caressed by their parents Vasudeva and Devakī, They approached Nanda Mahārāja and joyously addressed him.

Jayapatākā Swami: First, Devakī and Vasudeva they offered their prayers and obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma with folded hands but Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma wanted them to express their parental love. So, Lord Kṛṣṇa spread some līlā powder over their heads, so they immediately became filled with maternal affection.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.384

cānura-muṣṭika śune kaṁsera vacana—
malla-yuddha dekhibāre bhela mora mana

Translation: The wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika heard the words of King Kaṁsa, I desire to see the wrestling fight.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, apparently Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma are youths, and these professional wrestlers have huge bodies. So, the gentlemen and gentle ladies, they protested that this is not a fair match” They were booing, and they were crying, and they were decrying the decision of King Kaṁsā. Of course, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were both the Supreme Personalities of Godhead, for them the ordinary wrestlers are nothing.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.385

eikhāne malla-yuddha bhela mahāraṇe
cānura sahite kṛṣṇa-muṣṭika balarāme

Translation: Herein Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma engaged in great fight of wrestling. With wrestler Cāṇura fought Lord Kṛṣṇa and Muṣṭika fought Lord Balarāma.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa tightened up His dhotī to prepare for the wrestling, Lord Balarāma also prepared Himself. Cāṇura and Muṣṭika saw Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma as being formidable fighters.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.386

eikhāne hāhākāra kaila saba loka
e mallera yogya nahe—e ati bālaka

Translation:  At this place everyone wailed, These wrestlers are not fitting to fight these mere boys.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as I said earlier, people in general they thought this was a very unfair match. Kaṁsā’s idea was to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.387

ayogya karaye kaṁsa karaye virūpa
yāra yena hiyā kṛṣṇe dekhe tenarūpa

Jayapatākā Swami: King Kaṁsa is doing a great injustice and is ill disposed. According to their individual consciousness, everyone saw accordingly (as Lord Kṛṣṇa entered Kaṁsa’s wrestling arena).

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.388

camakita bhela kaṁsa saghane bharama
kṛṣṇa-balarāme dekhe mūrtimanta yama

Translation: King Kaṁsa was shocked and frequently illusioned as He saw Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma as death personified.

Jayapatākā Swami: Its said when Kaṁsā saw his two queens one with white cloth and one with black cloth, or blue cloth he started screaming, Kṛṣṇa is coming to kill me!” and the ministers told him, no, these are your wives”. So when actually Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were present we can imagine how afraid actually Kaṁsā was.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.389

mallagaṇa dekhe yena vajraniramāṇa
yogigaṇa dekhe sei pūrṇa bhagavān

Translation: The wrestlers saw Lord Kṛṣṇa as a lightning bolt, the yogīs saw Him as pūrṇa Bhagavān.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, different people saw Kṛṣṇa in their personal vision, parents saw Him like their beloved son, the common people thought that the two boys, it is unjust that They should be fighting, the wrestlers saw Lord Kṛṣṇa as a lightning bolt and the yogīs saw Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everyone saw Kṛṣṇa according to their own vision and King Kaṁsā saw Kṛṣṇa as death personified.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.390

yadugaṇa dekhe yena kulera devatā
aviduṣagaṇa dekhe virāṭa vidhātā

Translation: The Yadus saw Kṛṣṇa as their supreme worshipable Deity, the unintelligent as the Supreme Lord’s universal form.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is describing how each person saw Kṛṣṇa in a different way.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.391

gopagaṇa dekhe sei svajana samāna
nārīgaṇa dekhaye kandarpa mūrtimān

Jayapatākā Swami: The cowherd men saw Kṛṣṇa as their own person, and the women as Cupid in person.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.392

raṇasthale dāṇḍāila yabe dui bhāi
yāra yei anubhava dekhila se-ṭhāñi

Translation: Thus when the two brothers, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, stood in the wrestling arena, the spectators saw Lord Kṛṣṇa according to their realization.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa, Kṛṣṇa dāsa was explaining these pastimes to Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya was feeling so much ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.393

cānura-muṣṭika dui-bhāi kare raṇa
dekhiyā camake rājā takhane takhana

Translation: The wrestlers Cāṇūra-Muṣṭka, fought against the two brothers, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma. Seeing this fight King Kamsa was wonderstruck.

Jayapatākā Swami: Tonight there were two heavy weights and two light weights, but actually they were no match for Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma. So, this was something that King Kaṁsā was wonderstruck how Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were fighting with these professional wrestlers.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.394

cānura mārilā kṛṣṇa-ghucila utpāta
muṣṭika mārilā rāma–śabada nirghāta

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa killed Cāṇūrā and thus removed the nuisance. Similarly, Balarāma killed Muṣṭika with a violent blow.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.395

punaḥ āra muṭakite koṭi-malla māre
śālba nāme malla kṛṣṇa mārila āchāḍe

Translation: Using Their lotus fists, They killed ten million wrestlers. Lord Kṛṣṇa smashed Śālva on the ground to kill him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, many wrestlers were there to back up Cāṇura and Muṣṭika and many of them attacked Kṛṣṇa but they were all killed, and the others ran away, fearing for their lives.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.396

bhāṅgilena eka mañca caraṇera ghāye
kṛṣṇera vikrame malla caudige palāye

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Balarāma broke the stage by striking with His leg. By the prowess of Kṛṣṇa, the wrestlers fled in all directions.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.397

śīghra ājñā kare kaṁsa e saba dekhiyā
rāma-kṛṣṇa bāḍīra bāhira kara niñā

Translation: Seeing all these, King Kaṁsa ordered his men to quickly oust Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma from the palace.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Kaṁsā's plan to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa was not successful, so he told his soldiers to throw out of the palace.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.398

nanda-ādi yateka goyālā bandī kara
ugrasena-vasudeva devakīre māra

Translation: Arrest Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men, and kill Vasudeva, Devakī and Ugrasena.”

Jayapatākā Swami: How King Kaṁsā was so ill-motivated, he ordered to have his own sister, brother- in-law killed, his father killed. Nanda Mahārāja and all the cowherd men arrested, He was completely demoniac.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.399

henakāle kṛṣṇa-candra samaya bujhiyā
mahādarpe uṭhilā mañcete lāpha diyā

Translation: At that time, Lord Kṛṣṇacandra understanding the opportune moment, in great pride, jumped up on the royal dias.

Jayapatākā Swami: While King Kaṁsā was making his plans to kill all the Devaki, Vasudeva, Ugrasena and arrest all the cowherd, Kṛṣṇa jumped up on the royal dias.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.400

āste vyaste kaṁsa khaḍaga dharibāra kāle
huhuṅkāra diyā kṛṣṇa dhare tāra cule

Jayapatākā Swami: As quickly as Kaṁsa wanted to raise his sword in haste, Lord Kṛṣṇa, roaring like a lion, caught hold of the hair of Kaṁsa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.401

cule dhari’ mañca haite phelilena bhūme
viśvarūpa buke caḍhe mañcera paścime

Jayapatākā Swami: Grabbing him by the hair, Lord Kṛṣṇa threw Kaṁsa from the west of dias down on the ground. Viśvarūpa [Lord Kṛṣṇa] climbed on Kaṁsa’s chest from the western direction.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.402

chāḍileka prāṇa kaṁsa viśvarūpera bhare
dhanya kaṁsa-rāja-kṛṣṇa bukera upare

Translation: King Kaṁsa gave up his life due to the weight of Viśvarūpa [Lord Kṛṣṇa]. King Kaṁsa is fortunate – Lord Kṛṣṇa sat on his chest.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, prediction that the eighth son of Devakī and Vasudeva would kill Kaṁsā so this is what happened. So in this way Kṛṣṇa who has the weight of the universe, simply by being on King Kaṁsā’s chest He could crush him

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.403

kaṁsa-vadha kailā – loke bole jaya jaya
ānande devatā saba puṣpa bariṣaya

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa killed Kaṁsa,” people exclaimed, Jaya! Jaya!” The demigods showered flowers in great happiness.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually everyone was happy that such a demoniac person like King Kaṁsā was finally killed. The devatās showered flowers from the universe. The whole universe was happy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.404

cheṅcuḍiyā nila kṛṣṇa culete dhariyā
kathodūre phelāiyā tuli’ āchāḍiyā

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body by the hair, and then threw it away to some distance.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this Lord Kṛṣṇa demonstrated everyone that King Kaṁsā was truly dead.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.405

kaṅka-ādi kari’ kaṁsera aṣṭa sahodara
bhrātṛ śoke unamata—sabhe dhare bala

Translation: King Kaṁsa’s eight brothers, Kaṅka and so on being aggrieved over the death of their brother wanted to seek revenge.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Kṛṣṇa was born of Devakī, so Kaṁsā was His uncle but Balarāma being born of Rohiṇī was not related to the brothers of Kaṁsā. So, He could fight with the brothers, Krsna didn’t want to kill any more of His uncles.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.406

rāma-kṛṣṇa-māribāre āise sāta jane
bhrukṣepe mārilā tāhā ekā balarāme

Jayapatākā Swami: The seven brothers came to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma. Simply by the frowning eyebrows, Lord Balarāma alone annihilated them all.

All glories to Lord Balarāma!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.407

kaṁsere cheṅcuḍi ei grāma-madhya diyā
‘kaṁsakhāli’ bali’ ei—śuna mana diyā

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body through this village and so this place is called Kaṅsakhāli – Please hear attentively.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the places in Mathurā are named after some pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.408

śramaśānti kaila se viśrānti-ghāṭa nāma
kaṁsanārī pralāpe–prabodhe’ balarāma

Translation: Because Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma took rest (removing śrama), therefore it is named viśrānti-ghāṭa. Balarāma consoled the wailing wives of Kaṁsa who were overcome by lamentation.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one of the ghāṭas was called viśrānti-ghāṭa as Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma took rest here and Lord Balarāma is so kind that He consoled the wailing wives of King Kaṁsā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.409

tabe nija mātāpitā karila mokṣaṇa
ānande vihvala tārā karaye cumbana

Jayapatākā Swami: Then, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma released Their mother and father, Vasudeva and Devakī from prison. Becoming overwhelmed with joy, they affectionately kissed their sons.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.410

ugrasene rājā kaila nandake vidāya
e kathā āmāra śaktye kahane nā yāya

Translation: Ugrasena was enthroned as the King and bade farewell to Nanda Mahārāja. I (Kṛṣṇadāsa or Locanadāsa Ṭhākura) have no ability to tell about this topic.

Jayapatākā Swami: Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men leaving Kṛṣṇa was not possible to explain what sentiment they had.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.411

kṛṣṇera niṭhurapanā śunite tarāsa
kahite maraye–kahe e locanadāsa

Translation: Hearing about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s heart-less act (of leaving and bidding farewell to Nanda Mahārāja) is terrible. Locana dāsa says that speaking about this is bereavement.

Jayapatākā Swami: Locana dāsa he is not able to discuss the departure of Nanda Mahārāja, Devaki and Vasudeva are Kṛṣṇa’s mother and father, but They grew up under the care of Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja. So Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja, they cannot think of living without Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.7

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa said, O father, I desire to see Mathurā for some time. If this satisfies you, that is My satisfaction. Please let my elder brother happily accompany you back to Vraja.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.8

Jayapatākā Swami: Upon hearing this, Nanda smiled and said, You are an uncontrollable boy, just like a maddened lion. Who can bring You under control?”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.9

Jayapatākā Swami: Balarāma, You should also stay here. From time to time You may come to Vṛndāvana to tend the cows.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.10

Jayapatākā Swami: After gladly embracing Them and being offered respects by Them, Nanda left for Nandīśvara, with Kṛṣṇa and Rāma residing in His heart.” So, Nanada Mahārāja wanted Lord Balarāma to stay with Kṛṣṇa to see to His protection and Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men, they always kept Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in their heart.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.412

tabe vasudeva pitā devakī jananī
e doṅhāra prema-sukhe bharila dharaṇī

Translation: Then Vasudeva pitā, father, and Devakī Jananī, mother filled the earth with the happiness of loving these two (Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma).

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma had been away for sixteen years with Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja and now that Devakī and Vasudeva had the two brothers, they were so happy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.12.11

Jayapatākā Swami: Thereafter, Vasudeva and Devakī had their two sons receive the sacred thread and initiated into chanting the Gāyatrī mantra.”

So, Vasudeva and Devaki got Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma and properly initiated them as kṣatriyas.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.413

putre upavīta diyā gāyātrī śikhāya
kathodina mathurāte vilāse goṅāya

Translation: By giving the sacred thread to their son, they taught Them into chanting the Gāyatrī mantra. They happily spent some days in Mathurā

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Kaṁsa-vadha, Part 2

Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana