A story of Dvapara Yuga in Prose ( part-9)
By Lokanath Mishra:
News of Pūtanā’s death and cremation reached Kansa . Externally he pretended not to care, as though it mattered little to him. He did not wish others to know that Pūtanā had gone to Gokula on his command. Yet within, Kansa began to suspect that there was some hidden mystery in the cowherd settlement.
For a long time, Kansa had placed spies to keep watch on important people in Mathurā. These spies now reported that Vasudeva, on his way back, had met Nanda the cowherd. They also reported that the sage Garga had visited Nanda’s house twice. This was alarming to Kansa , for Garga was Vasudeva’s family priest, while Nanda’s own priest was Śāṇḍilya. Why then did Garga perform ceremonies for Nanda in secret?
Kansa thought of forcing the truth from the sage by threats, but dared not, for he still bore the weight of a curse from the sage Gomati and did not wish to risk another. Instead, he summoned Vasudeva and Devakī. Though he tempted them with rewards and terrified them with threats, neither spoke a word. Enraged, Kansa threw them back into prison, warning Vasudeva that if he did not confess within a set time, he would be executed.
Kansa then began to suspect his father Ugrasena. For a long time, he had distrusted Ugrasena’s activities. If there was any link between Mathurā and the cowherds, Ugrasena was the one who might know. Moreover, on the night of Devakī’s eighth childbirth, Ugrasena had been guarding the gates of the city. Kansa called him to the palace.
But Ugrasena’s mind was absorbed in the four-armed form of KṛIshna which he had once seen. Having lost all desire for royal power, he longed only that one day the Lord would appear in Mathurā and grant him darśana, making his life fulfilled. When questioned, he simply replied: “I know nothing of any child being transferred.”
Kansa did not believe him and ordered that Ugrasena be kept in custody.
Kansa’s thoughts became increasingly troubled: “How did Pūtanā die? Did Nanda’s infant kill her? Impossible! She must have perished from her own poisoned milk. But if she had killed so many children before, why did she die now? Was it fate? Are the gods’ prophecies true? Or is it merely the trick of Māyā?” Thus Kansa , overwhelmed with fear and suspicion, lost his peace of mind.
Charuna perceiving his condition, said:
“My lord, all my suspicion points to your enemy being raised in Gokula. If you order me, I shall go and slay Nanda’s child. But since they already know me, it may not be wise. Still, there are two beings I know who can kill the child in such a way that no one will discover who did it.”
Kansa asked: “Who are they?”
Charuna answered:
“Śakaṭāsura and Trunavarta. In Gokula there are countless carts; none can tell which is ordinary and which is Śakaṭāsura in disguise. The people will believe the child was crushed by accident and blame fate. If Śakaṭāsura fails, then Trunavarta will not. He will take the form of a whirlwind, lift the child high into the sky, and dash him against the rocks of a mountain.”
At this, Kansa laughed aloud: “Well spoken, Charuna ! Why delay? Send both of them to Gokula tomorrow!”
In Gokula, KṛIshna and Balarāma had already become the delight of the gopīs and the cowherd boys and girls. From morning till evening the courtyard was filled with their play. One day, at Nanda’s house, a festival was being celebrated. Singing, dancing, and merriment filled the air. Tired, Krishna fell asleep.
To spare him from the noise, Yaśodā instructed a maid to place his cradle outside, beneath a cart. As he slept, the cart began to tremble and move. Alarmed, the maid ran, but before she reached him, the child Krishna kicked the cart with his tiny feet. At once the cart leapt into the air and revealed itself as the demon Śakaṭāsura. With a terrible cry he fell, his body shattered, limbs scattered on the ground.
The maid, though trembling, was relieved to find Krishna unharmed. Soon Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda, and all the guests arrived, having seen the demon fall. Yaśodā anxiously examined every limb of her son, but he was uninjured. All rejoiced.
But soon another calamity arose. Though the sky was clear, a violent whirlwind suddenly swept through Gokula. Trees bent, houses shook, dust covered the village. It was the demon Trunavarta , who seized Krishna from Yaśodā’s arms and carried him into the sky.
The villagers cried aloud, “Krishna ! Krishna “and ran in pursuit, but the whirlwind was too swift.
High above, the demon sought to crush the child. But Krishna grasped his throat tightly. The demon gasped, his tongue hung out, and at last he choked and fell to the ground, dead. There, seated upon his chest, was little Krishna smiling and playing with his fingers as though nothing had happened.
Nanda, Yaśodā, and Rohiṇī, who had lost hope of seeing him again, wept with joy. They embraced and kissed him, while the gopīs and cowherds rejoiced, saying the curse on Gokula was broken. The children danced and clapped, chanting “Kānhā! Kānhā!”
Kansa, the king of Mathura, was always afraid of baby Krishna. His wives, Asti and Prapti, told him not to worry, because he had many strong friends and soldiers. But Kansa was restless. He knew Krishna was no ordinary child.
Meanwhile, in Gokul, little Krishna and his brother Balarama were growing up. They were playful and full of mischief! Krishna once pulled a calf’s tail, fell down, and hurt his lip. Yashoda, his mother, quickly picked him up, bathed him, and kissed him with love. Everyone laughed when they saw Krishna’s first teeth coming in.
As Krishna grew, he played with his friends Subala and Sudama. He danced with calves, splashed in water, and made trouble everywhere. Yashoda and Rohini, his mothers, had no time for housework!
One morning, Yashoda tried to churn butter before Krishna woke up. But Krishna caught the churning stick and refused to let go. Smiling mischievously, he put his little hands in the butter, ate it, and began to dance with joy.
Yashoda sighed, wiped the butter from his face, kissed him, and hugged her naughty little Krishna tightly.
( to be continued)
The Story of Krishna’s Childhood and Youth