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Chapter
7: Krishna Kicks
the Cart, Defeats
Trinâvarta and Shows Yas'odâ the Universe
(1-2) The honorable king said: 'The different
pastimes of the avatâras
of the Supreme Lord that offer us the image of the Lord, our
Controller, are most pleasing to our ears
and inspiring to our minds oh master. Whoever hears about them will
find his existence very soon purified from the propensity for
dissatisfaction and, as a person who is devoted to the Lord, also find
friendship with His people [Vaishnavas]. If
you like, please speak to us about everything pertaining to Him. (3)
Tell us more about the wonderful pastimes of Krishna who, imitating the
human way, in the form of a child assumed His position on this earth.' [*]
(4) S'rî S'uka said: 'At the
time the moon stood in the constellation of
Rohinî [after three months] He could turn Himself on His back in
His
crib. To celebrate this the mothers organized a celebration with a
washing ritual. They gathered with music and song and while mother Yas'odâ
performed the bathing ceremony hymns were chanted by
the brahmins. (5) After
Nanda's wife and the other members of the household had finished the
bathing, the
brahmins, who performed their auspicious mantras, were respectfully
honored with food, garments,
garlands and cows. Seeing that the child had become sleepy, it was laid aside for the
time being. (6) While busily engaged for the utthâna
[or 'turning
upward'] ceremony she, providing the guests from all over Vraja to
their liking, did not hear any of the cries of her child who, wailing
to be fed, angrily kicked around its legs. (7) The cart underneath He was
put
was hit by His delicate feet that were as tender as a new leaf. It
turned
over so that all the bowls, plates and the sweetness they contained
fell to the ground, the wheels and axle got dislocated and the pole was
broken [**]. (8) All the men and women of Vraja who being
invited by Yas'odâ and Nanda had assembled for the utthâna
ceremony witnessed that wondrous event and wondered how the cart out of
its own could have been damaged so badly. (9) The
children told the dumbfounded gopas and gopîs
that it suffered no doubt that, as soon as the child started to cry, it
with one
leg had dashed it apart. (10) They,
unaware of the inconceivable power of that
small baby, could not believe it. The gopas thought that
all that they had heard was but child prattle. (11)
Mother
Yas'odâ, picked up her crying son and offered Him her breast.
Thinking
it had been an unfavorable planet, she called for the brahmins to
perform a ceremony with Vedic hymns. (12) After
a couple of strong gopas
had reassembled the cart and
had placed the pots and everything back on it, the priests
with curds, rice, kus'a grass and water performed the rituals
for the fire
sacrifice. (13-15) The
blessings of those
who endowed with the perfect truth are free from discontent, untruth,
false pride, envy, violence and self-conceit, never go
in vain [see also B.G. 18:
42]. With this in mind Nanda
took care of the child by asking
those fine brahmins to sing
auspicious
hymns and purify it according to the
Sâma, Rig and Yajur Veda with
the
help
of
water
mixed
with
herbs. When the child had been bathed he, the
leading cowherd, held a fire sacrifice and devoutly served the souls of rebirth a most excellent
meal. (16)
To
assure
his son of all of the best, he - to the blessing they also gave
him - donated in charity the best quality milk cows that were nicely decorated with flowers
and golden chains. (17) The
scholars
being
joined
with
whatever
they
pronounce,
bring
one, as
experts in
the mantras, all the blessings because the valid words they use never
at any time will be fruitless.
(18) One day [with Him about a year old] when
Yas'odâ fondled Him as He sat on her lap, she could no longer bear the
child's weight
because He became as heavy as a mountain peak. (19)
Astonished about the pressing weight the gopî put
the child on the floor. Next she
turned to Nârâyana and
engaged herself in her worldly duties. (20)
The
child sitting there was swept away [though] by a demon named Trinâvarta, a servant sent by Kamsa who
had assumed the form of a whirlwind. (21) Producing a
tremendous noise it massively roaring covered all of Gokula with dust
that penetrated every nook and corner so that everything was hidden
from sight. (22) For an hour or so all of the cow land was
plunged in darkness by
the heavy dust. Yas'odâ
could not find her son on the spot where she had put Him down. (23) The people could not
see
themselves or each other anymore because of the sands blown up and were disturbed and
confused. (24) The woman helpless because of
the dust clouds of the strong whirlwind saw nothing and thus she in
fear about her son lamented pitifully and fell to the ground like
a cow that has lost her
calf. (25) After
the fierce dust storm of the whirlwind had
ceased and she could not find
Nanda's son, the other gopîs
with their faces full of tears all in sympathy wailed
along with her crying. (26)
After Trinâvarta had
assumed the form of the whirlwind and thus had swept away Krishna, he,
reaching the top of the atmosphere, could not get higher with Him
getting heavier and mightier and so he lost his strength. (27) Taking
Him
who
strangled
his
neck
for
an
incredibly
heavy rock that exceeded his power he could not get rid of
this wonderful child. (28) Grasped
by
the
throat
he
was
powerless.
His
eyes popped out while he choked and
lifeless together with the child
fell down to the ground in Vraja.
(29) The
gathered
sobbing gopîs all together saw him fallen out of the sky
upon a slab of stone with all his limbs broken, like Tripura pierced by
the arrows of S'iva [see 7.10]. (30)
They were totally surprised
to find Krishna in good health sitting on the chest
of the man-eater who had transported Him through the sky. All the gopîs
and gopas rejoiced most happily that He was saved from the
mouth of death and that they had gotten Him back. (31)
[They
said:] 'How greatly wonderful this baby that, being seized by
the ogre, left us but has returned unscathed! Now that this nasty and
violent demon has been killed
because of his sins, the innocent, even-minded people are relieved of
their fears. (32)
Of what austerity have we been,
what was our worship for the One in the Beyond and what was the pious
work, the public
service, the charity, or any other
benevolent activity for our fellow man that we performed, as a result
of which the child, that
was practically lost, is
present here again to the
fortune and pleasure of all His
folk?' (33) Having
witnessed
all
these
different
wonderful
events
in
the great forest, the
herdsman
Nanda over and over stood amazed how true the words of Vasudeva had
been [see also verse 10.6: 32].
(18) One day [with Him about a year old] when
Yas'odâ fondled Him as He sat on her lap, she could no longer bear the
child's weight
because He became as heavy as a mountain peak. (19)
Astonished about the pressing weight the gopî put
the child on the floor. Next she
turned to Nârâyana and
engaged herself in her worldly duties. (20)
The
child sitting there was swept away [though] by a demon named Trinâvarta, a servant sent by Kamsa who
had assumed the form of a whirlwind. (21) Producing a
tremendous noise it massively roaring covered all of Gokula with dust
that penetrated every nook and corner so that everything was hidden
from sight. (22) For an hour or so all of the cow land was
plunged in darkness by
the heavy dust. Yas'odâ
could not find her son on the spot where she had put Him down. (23) The people could not
see
themselves or each other anymore because of the sands blown up and were disturbed and
confused. (24) The woman helpless because of
the dust clouds of the strong whirlwind saw nothing and thus she in
fear about her son lamented pitifully and fell to the ground like
a cow that has lost her
calf. (25) After
the fierce dust storm of the whirlwind had
ceased and she could not find
Nanda's son, the other gopîs
with their faces full of tears all in sympathy wailed
along with her crying. (26)
After Trinâvarta had
assumed the form of the whirlwind and thus had swept away Krishna, he,
reaching the top of the atmosphere, could not get higher with Him
getting heavier and mightier and so he lost his strength. (27) Taking
Him
who
strangled
his
neck
for
an
incredibly
heavy rock that exceeded his power he could not get rid of
this wonderful child. (28) Grasped
by
the
throat
he
was
powerless.
His
eyes popped out while he choked and
lifeless together with the child
fell down to the ground in Vraja.
(29) The
gathered
sobbing gopîs all together saw him fallen out of the sky
upon a slab of stone with all his limbs broken, like Tripura pierced by
the arrows of S'iva [see 7.10]. (30)
They were totally surprised
to find Krishna in good health sitting on the chest
of the man-eater who had transported Him through the sky. All the gopîs
and gopas rejoiced most happily that He was saved from the
mouth of death and that they had gotten Him back. (31)
[They
said:] 'How greatly wonderful this baby that, being seized by
the ogre, left us but has returned unscathed! Now that this nasty and
violent demon has been killed
because of his sins, the innocent, even-minded people are relieved of
their fears. (32)
Of what austerity have we been,
what was our worship for the One in the Beyond and what was the pious
work, the public
service, the charity, or any other
benevolent activity for our fellow man that we performed, as a result
of which the child, that
was practically lost, is
present here again to the
fortune and pleasure of all His
folk?' (33) Having
witnessed
all
these
different
wonderful
events
in
the great forest, the
herdsman
Nanda over and over stood amazed how true the words of Vasudeva had
been [see also verse 10.6: 32].
(34) One day the mother pulled the little boy on her lap to nurse Him from her breast, from which because of her great affection the milk was oozing. (35-36) Oh King, when He was done and mother Yas'odâ, patting softly to help Him, looked the satisfied and smiling child in the face, she had, when He yawned, the following vision: she saw the sky, the planets and the earth, the luminaries in all directions, the sun and the moon. She saw fire, the air and the seas with the continents, the mountains, their daughters the rivers, the forests and all creatures moving and not moving [see also B.G. 11]. (37) Thus all of a sudden seeing the entire universe oh King, she in great amazement stifled with deer-like eyes and started to tremble all over.'
