One time Krsna and Balarama and their friends

One time Krsna and Balarama and their friends, being desirous of enjoying the succulent fruits of the Talavana Forest, made plans to go there. However, some of the boys tried to warn Krsna and Balarama that there was a herd of donkey demons who stayed in that forest headed by Dhenukasura, and so it is not safe to go there. Krsna and Balarama who had dealt with so many demons, were not perturbed. The fruits in Talavana Forest were all ripe and juicy but were all high up in the trees. When Dhenukasura and his ass-like friends came, Krsna and Balarama caught hold of the demons and began throwing them up into the trees, thus killing the demons, and knocking down all the nice fruits.
In the summertime the boys and the cows would go down to the Yamuna River and take a break from the heat of the day. But for some time now another demon of the name Kaliya had taken his residence just down stream from the area known as Raman Reti or shimmering sands. He was a big black snake with many many heads and hoods. Due to his presence, the waters of the Yamuna in that area had become dirty, black and poisonous. On these hot days the cow herd boys normally would go to the Yamuna and drink also, but upon drinking this time, they became sick and then died. Only Krsna could bring them back to life by His glance. Krsna didn’t like his friends to be caused suffering in this way, so He climbed up a big Kadamba tree and in a fighting mood, jumped into the murky waters. After attracting the Kaliya serpent, Krsna sported with Him for some time. Finally Krsna made his transcendental body bigger and bigger, until finally He took hold of the demon’s hoods and began to dance, pushing down with Supreme pleasure. Kaliya began to vomit all kinds of bad things and even his own blood. As Krsna danced, he kicked the demon with His lotus feet. Kaliya was now almost dead because of associating unfavourably with Krsna, the Nagapatnis (wives of Kaliya) appealed for the life of their husband. Krsna then sent the demon away from that place in the Yamuna to where he now resides, in the south Pacific Ocean near Fiji. Krsna said that Garuda will not bother you if you go there immediately.
The daily pastimes of Krsna and Balarama are too numerous to even comprehend, what to speak of tell. Even Sesa Naga (Ananta Deva), Who has unlimited heads, possessing ears and mouths, is still in a transcendentally frustrated condition, for even though with His unlimited eyes and mouths he is neither capable of hearing nor reciting the oh, too numerous, wonderful pastimes of the Lord.
Krsna and Balarama and the cowherd boys love to wrestle together. Sometimes they would pick sides, and on some days some of the boys were on Krsna’s side and on some days they were on Balarama’s side. One day while they played like this, the demon Pralambasura joined in. He took the disguise of a cowherd boy. Krsna, the knower of all activities and the performers thereof in the past, present and future, knew this cowherd boy was a demon in disguise. On this particular day Balarama’s team were the winners and so Krsna’s team had to carry them on their shoulders. As they walked in this way through the forest, Pralambasura who was carrying Lord Balarama, carried Balarama far away. Suddenly the ferocious demon assumed his normal horrific size and shape. Lord Balaram, who is known for his superhuman strength, with a couple of good punches from his fists which are soft like lotuses and powerful like thunder bolts, killed the demon, blood pouring from Pralamba’s mouth.
Krsna, the transcendental cupid, always attracts the gopis and teases them, in fact, he gets them in such a state that they can never forget him for even a second. Their surrender to Krsna is completely selfless as one can see by the incident of when Krsna said He had a headache. He approached the ‘brahmanas’ and asked for the dust from their feet, for Krsna told them by taking their foot dust his headache would be cured. The ‘brahmins’ flatly refused, saying that they would go to hell never to return for such an offence of allowing their foot dust to be placed upon Krsna’s head. However when the ‘gopis’ headed by Srimati Radharani were asked for their foot dust without a second thought they gave, for they didn’t care even if they went to hell eternally, as long as Krsna was happy.
The ‘brahmanas’ over attachment to rules and regulation in this incident proved their reservation to be a limitation in actual service to the Lord. This is in the same way that other brahmanas who were worshipping the Lord within the sacrificial fire could not see the Lord directly before them asking for alms. But when Krsna and His cowherd friends approached the wives of the ‘brahmanas’, who were pure devotees they gave so much foodstuffs for the boys.
Too much attachment to rules and regulations becomes an obstacle to approaching Lord Krsna, and neglectfulness to follow guidelines for acknowledging who is the personality of Godhead, and what He looks like are also a problem. One cannot whimsically speculate what Krsna wants or how to please Him. Appearing as a small boy with His brother, cowherd friends and girl friends, the ‘gopis’, many persons did not recognise Krsna for who He is due to one reason or another. Those pure Vaisnavas who know what He and His friends look like, how to recognise them are constantly engaged in hearing, chanting, remembering Him, offering prayers, etc, and serving him with their every action.
As we can see by Sripad Madhwacarya’s life he is one of those pure unalloyed devotees of the Lord, for if he were not the, the incarnations and wonderful pastimes of Lord Krsna would not be manifesting themselves before his eyes. Nor would he be there before Srila Vyasadeva in the presence of Nara-Narayana Rshis.
Note: Sri Narayana Panditacarya in his Madhwa Vijaya (9:41-43.) when Udupi Krsna came refers to Him as ‘Gopikapranayinah Sripateh’ and ‘Nanadanandamatindrayakriam’. Madhwa’s God is the Boy-Krishna and object of all-affection. The lover conception of God as the lover of the ‘Gopis’ although not held as their main object of devotion, seems to have been present nonetheless, unlike today.
“This Darling conception of God has found its best expression in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraj states, ‘All ‘Gopis’ help to enhance the pleasure of Lord Krishna’s Sports with Sri Radha being the instruments of their (Radha and Krishna’s) mutual enjoyment, Radha being the darling of Lord Krishna and His life’s treasure, no maiden or Gopi conduces to His Pleasure with Radha’.”(Caitanya Caritamrta. Adi lila. 4:217-218.; Sambidananda dasa. 1991. The History & Literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas and their relation to other medieval Vaishnava Schools.page 107-108.)
If one shows that, Krsna can put his faith in a person, knowing that the person will not exploit the situation for mundane sensual pleasures, either mental, bodily, or extended through family or national, humanitarian, etc, the Lord will give that pure devotee the three worlds for he will only use it for the Lord’s pleasure.
Nanda Maharaja and the cowherds men were preparing to worship Indra the demigod in charge of distribution of rainfall. Being of the mercantile community for the growth of their crops, and grass for their cows, rain is very important. Krsna, however, was not impressed by the worship separately of demigods. He told Nanda Maharaja to instead worship the local brahmanas and Govardhana Hill and forget worshipping Indra. Agreeing to this, the cowherd men arranged for all kinds of fabulous foodstuffs to be cooked and offered to Govardhana Hill. There were many nice vegetable preparations, juicy, fried and dry cooked with spices, all kinds of rice, ‘dahls’, ‘pakora’, ‘puris’, ‘chapattis’ and other breads. There was ‘sujika halavah’, sweet balls, ‘sandesh’, ‘barfi’, sweets in syrups like ‘gulab jamens’, ‘rasagulla’, dry sweets like ‘laddhus’, ‘methipak’ etc., all kinds of nice preparations from scriptural recipes and local traditions.
The ‘brahmins’ chanted the glories of the Lord through choice hymns from the scriptures. The cows were nicely decorated with embroidered blankets, painted hoofs and horns, gold, silver, brass and copper ornaments adorned their bodies, and they were fed with unlimited juicy green grasses and other favourites of theirs.
‘Daksina’ was given to the ‘brahmanas’ comprising of gold coins, grains, cows and cloth, and every man, woman, child and animal was fed with nice ‘prasadam’. The ‘gopis’ were all dressed nicely and decorated with nice ornaments, their long hair nicely plaited and bound at the end with flowers, so they looked very chaste and pure, sitting upon bullock carts chanting the glories of Lord Sri Krsna.
During all this Lord Krsna, who was about seven years old, suddenly turned himself into a gigantic form of Govardhana Hill and He firmly stated that he is non-different from that Govardhana Hill. The Lord in His transcendental form, began to eat all of the foodstuffs offered at that place. Who can understand the wonderful pastimes and forms of the unlimited omnipotent Lord, Who has assumed the form of a small boy, though. He is the origin of everything that be.
When Lord Indra found out what had happened, in foolish anger he ordered his ‘samvartaka’ clouds to rain over Vrndavan and flood everything and in this way punish the residents of Vrndavan for not supplying the regular yearly offering. Krsna out of compassion for his dear devotees, lifted the whole Govardhana Hill, which is very high and many miles around, just as though this huge hill was a mere frogs’ umbrella (toadstool). Krsna held Govardhana Hill for seven days on the little (pinkie) finger of his left hand.
Indra could now understand that he had gotten carried away by the modes of passion and ignorance, and so he came before Krsna to beg forgiveness. After this King Indra, the demigods, and the Surabhi cows worshipped Krsna, bathing him with Ganges (Yamuna) water and fresh milk from the wish fulfilling Surabhi cows. Now Krsna is remembered as Giri Govardhana, and is worshipped in the form of Govardhana Hill.
Once, midway through the period of dusk, Krsna was about to engage in a ‘rasa’ dance with the cowherd girls when suddenly the Aristasura demon (bull demon) madly entered the village of Gokula, terrifying everyone. His roar was so frightening and tumultuous that pregnant mothers, cows and humans had miscarriages immediately. Krsna verbally chastised this bull demon, which made him more angry. Krsna stated that He was here just to punish wicked rascals like Aristasura. He provoked the demon into a charge, pointing the sharp tips of his horns straight ahead and gearing with anger from his bloodshot eyes, Aristasura tried to pierce Krsna. Krsna however grabbed the demon by the horns and threw him back eighteen paces. Enraged, the bull charged again, breathing heard and sweating. He was determined to finish the eternal Lord. As Aristasura attacked Krsna grabbed the demon by the horns and smashed Arista to the ground with His foot. The He thrashed him as a washerman thrashes the dirt out of a wet cloth. Finally Krsna broke off the demon’s horns and pulverised Aristasura with them. Vomiting blood and passing stool and urine, kicking his legs in agony and rolling his eyes, Aristasura painfully gave up his life. Meanwhile the demigods showered flowers upon Lord Krsna.
After Krsna killed Aristasura, Narada Muni went to speak to Kamsa, Krsna’s evil demon uncle. Narada told Kamsa the real course of events, how Krsna is really the son of Devaki, and that Yashoda Mayi really had a girl and was swapped over by Vasudeva. Also that Balarama is the son of Rohini, and that out of fear of Kamsa’s vengeance Vasudeva entrusting the transcendental boys to Nanda Maharaja. Thus accelerating the coming pastimes of the Lord. Narada Muni emphasised that these are the same boys who have killed all the demons that you Kamsa have sent.
Kamsa then sent the Keshi demon to try to kill both Krsna and Balarama. Arranging with the innocent devotee Akrura, Krsna sent Akrura to Vrndavan to fetch Krsna and Balaram to Mathura. Kamsa’s plan was simply to arrange for his asuric friends to try to kill Krsna and Balaram, and then to rule the world. When the Keshi demon arrived in the form of a gigantic horse, his loud neighing terrified all the inhabitants of Vrindavana, who all took shelter of Krsna. The bold Keshi demon came and approached Krsna and tried to attack with his front legs, but in a fatal swoop, Krsna grabbed the demon’s legs and whirled the demon around and around several times, and threw the horse demon three hundred metres or so. The demons lay half unconscious for some time, the Krsna, noticing the demon regaining consciousness, jumped on him, and thrust his left arm into the demons’ mouth. The demon tried to bit it, but Krsna simply expanded it more and more, finally choking Keshi into an agonising death. Krsna then calmly removed His arm from the dead demon’s mouth.
Soon after this Narada Muni, the sage among the demigods, came and offered respects to Krsna, glorifying the Lord’s future pastimes.
One day not long after, while Krsna and Balarama were tending the cows, a game of hide and seek came about in which all the boys were so absorbed. Some were playing sheep, some shepherds, and some as thieves who steal sheep. A demon called Vyomasura assumed the form of a boy and taking advantage of the game, stole away five of Krsna’s friends. The demon then secured them in a mountain cave and blocked the entrance with a big rock. Lord Krsna saw what Vyomasura was doing, and just as a lion grabs a wolf, Krsna forcefully grabbed the demon as he tried to steal away more boys. The Vyomasura demon then changed into his normal terrifying ugly form, as big as a mountain. Krsna, being the strength of the strong, withdrew the strength of the demon as he held Vyomasura in a death grip. He then smashed him to the ground and strangled the foolish servant of Kamsa.
Krsna and Balarama then nicely received their uncle Akrura, and prepared to go to Mathura to take up the ‘invitation’ of Kamsa. All the young ‘gopis’ were extremely upset to hear that their life and soul, Sri Sri Krsna and Balaram, were going to leave Vrndavan. The ‘gopis’ condemned Lord Brahma for making eyes that blinked for during that blinking action the were without Krsna for a second. But now Akrura, which literally means ‘not cruel’ was the cause of Krsna and Balarama going away, and repeatedly they said Akrura was not worthy of such a name. As the ‘gopis’ wept pitifully, Krsna assured them that He would be back soon. With their minds fixed in thought of Krsna and Balarama, the ‘gopis’ stood and watched as the chariot given by Kamsa, the flag on top and the dust of the chariot’s wheels on the road disappeared out of sight. Then in despondency they wandered back to their individual homes.
Krsna, Balarama and Akrura reached Mathura late in the afternoon. After Krsna and Balarama met with Nanda Maharaja. Akrura went home with Krsna’s blessings. He then informed Kamsa of Krsna and Balarama’s arrival in Mathura. The boys, wanting to see the opulent city of Mathura, then entered further into the city on the King’s road. Festoons, full water pots, banana trees, gems of all sizes decorated the city. Grains were scattered here and there, flower garlands were hanging here and there, all kinds of natural opulence’s auspiciously adorned the city. As the boys and their friends entered the city many women climbed to the roof tops to see Krsna and Balarama. The ladies were is such haste to see their Lordships that forgetting themselves, some of them put their clothes and ornaments on backwards, others forgot one of their earrings or ankle bells, while others applied make up to one eye forgetting the other one. Abandoning family gatherings, their meals and those breast feeding mothers even abandoned their suckling babes to see Krsna.
The Lord, smiling, walked like a bold bill elephant, dressed nicely. He was a festival for the eyes of the ladies of Mathura, who had gathered there with melting hearts to see Him. The women rained flowers upon the boys who, without a doubt, are the Supreme Lords of the three worlds.
Seeing a washerman approaching who had been dyeing clothes, Krsna asked the washerman to give some of these nice clothes in charity by which Krsna would bless the washerman with His mercy. But this washerman was the arrogant servant of King Kamsa, and was carrying the King’s cloth. The washerman foolishly started to insult Krsna and Balarama, suggesting that they were being impudent for asking for the King’s cloth. Krsna, with the greatest of ease, lopped off the sinful rascal washerman’s head with the touch of his finger. Seeing this, the washerman’s associates dropped their bundles and ran for their lives. Krsna and Balarama then dressed themselves nicely in the opulent clothes and then distributed the rest to all their friends, the cowherd from Vrindavan. Those that they had no need for, they simply left scattered on the ground.
As Krsna and Balarama and Their friends walked the streets, various person brought many auspicious items for their Lordships, such as garlands, perfumes, pan, etc, and thus received Krsna’s benedictions.
Krsna enquired from the local people as to the whereabouts of the sacrificial arena where the bow sacrifice would take place. When Krsna walked into the arena and saw the most opulent bow given to Kamsa by Lord Shiva, even though it was huge and guarded by a large company of men, Krsna pushed His way forward and effortlessly picked it up, strung it, and broke it in a fraction of a second. Kamsa was struck with terror and instructed his men to grab Krsna and Balarama and kill them. Krsna and Balarama picked up the two halves of the mighty bow and started killing hundreds of the soldiers who tried to attack them. As the sun began to set on that day, Krsna and Balarama returned to the cowherd’s wagons on the edge of town.
Kamsa couldn’t sleep that night as all kinds of inauspicious omen were seen by him. Kamsa was terrified by the prospect of his own death which he knew was imminent.

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