Srimad Bhagavatam – day 788
Chanura, Mustika and other wrestlers meet death
Narayana Krishna
Maharishi Śuka continued, ‘Devaki and Vasudeva, the parents of Balarama and Krishna, had been imprisoned by Kamsa. The fearful words spoken by the ladies seated in the amphitheatre reached their ears. Unaware of the might of their sons, they agonized a lot”.
The ladies in the amphitheatre were apprehensive that Cānura and Muṣṭika would kill the two boys who were running hither and tither like two tiny deer trying to escape from the clutches of the mighty wrestlers. Hearing this news, Devaki and Vasudeva were alarmed. They grieved for their sons. They experienced severe mental torture.
“The Supreme Lord Krishna and Cānura fought vehemently with one another using various wrestling techniques. The frightening techniques used by them were a feast to the eyes but at the same time were alarming. Balarama and Muṣṭika also fought vehemently adopting the various wrestling techniques.
The harsh blows given by Lord Krishna using His limbs were hitting Cānura like thunderbolts. It was as if Krishna’s body had transformed into a thunderbolt. He felt as if his body was breaking under Krishna’s might. His limbs began to weaken and the bones within began to crack. He now began to experience excruciating pain.
With the speed of a hawk, Cānura jumped up in the air and using his strong fists hit Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, on his chest. However, like an elephant that remains without moving even when hit by its mahout, Krishna continued to stand there unaffected by the blow”.
When the mahout goads the elephant, it takes no notice of it and continues to remain indifferent.
“Krishna suddenly grabbed Cānura, lifted him and swirled him around several times before hurling him to the ground. He then stamped Cānura and beat him up. Cānura’s hair, ornaments and garland were scattered and just as the flag pole consecrated by Indra for his worship crashes to the ground, this mighty wrestler fell down dead.
The combat between Balarama and Muṣṭika followed the same pattern. At first, Muṣṭika vehemently hit Balarama using his fists. Balarama retaliated by hitting him on his cheek with his palm. Muṣtika trembled fearfully while experiencing excruciating pain. He vomited blood and crashed down dead like a huge tree that crashes down due to turbulent winds.
Wrestler Kuṭa now confronted Balarama, the best among warriors. With a blow from his left fist, Balarama playfully eliminated this wrestler.
Meanwhile Krishna struck wrestler Śala with his feet and severed his head from his body. He also playfully killed wrestler Tośala.
In this way wrestlers Cānura, Muṣṭika, Śala, Kuta and Tośala met their end in the hands of Krishna and Balarama, while the remaining wrestlers ran from there fearing their lives.
At that moment, musical instruments began to be sounded. The anklets on the feet of Krishna and Balarama jingled resonating with the musical instruments. Calling their cowherd friends and holding their hands, Krishna and Balarama danced and sported in that amphitheatre.
Barring Kamsa, everyone present in that amphitheatre rejoiced at Krishna’s victory. The Brahmins and many other chieftains applauded Krishna and Balarama with shouts ‘well done, excellent’.
Kamsa, who was angered that his wrestlers had been killed or had run away from the stadium, ordered the music to be stopped. Then, in a loud resonating voice he shouted,
‘Balarama and Krishna, the sons of Vasudeva, are of improper conduct. Drive them away from this city. Confiscate the wealth of the cowherds and immediately arrest that fool Nanda who is of immoral conduct. This very instant Vasudeva, who is wicked in nature, should be put to death. My father Ugrasena has along with his subordinates sided with these enemies abandoning me. As such he too should be put to death’- as Kamsa was screaming frantically, Krishna flew into a rage”.
How could He tolerate any harm to father Nanda or his cowherd kinsmen? How could He remain silent when His parents were being put to death?
“Despite having battled fiercely since morning, Krishna’s prowess has not depleted even slightly. In quick steps, the undefeatable Lord ran swiftly and all of a sudden jumped on to the royal dais which was situated at a height. Seeing Krishna approaching him in the form of death, Kamsa panicked, and instantaneously holding his sword and his shield, he stood up”.
Narayana Krishna