Krishna Book | Part [KB.CH36.02]

It was after this incident that the great sage Narada disclosed to Kamsa the secret of Krishna. Narada Muni is generally known as deva-darsana, which means that he can be seen only by demigods or persons on the same level with the demigods. But Narada visited Kamsa, who was not at all on the level of the demigods, and allowed Kamsa to see him. Of course, Kamsa also saw Krishna, what to speak of Narada Muni. But unless one sees the Lord or His devotees with purified eyes, one cannot derive the actual benefit. Of course, anyone who associates with a pure devotee derives imperceptible benefit, which is called ajnata-sukriti. One cannot understand how he is making progress, yet he makes progress by seeing the devotee of the Lord. Narada Muni's mission was to finish things quickly. Krishna appeared in order to kill the demons, and Kamsa was the chief among them. Narada wanted to expedite things; therefore, he immediately approached Kamsa with all the real information. "You are to be killed by the eighth son of Vasudeva," Narada told Kamsa. "That eighth son is Krishna. You were misled by Vasudeva into believing that the eighth issue of Vasudeva was a daughter. Actually, the daughter was born to Yasoda, the wife of Nanda Maharaja, and Vasudeva exchanged his son for the daughter, so you were misled. Krishna is the son of Vasudeva, as is Balarama. Being afraid of your atrocious nature, Vasudeva has tactfully hidden Them in Vrindavana, out of your sight." Narada further informed Kamsa, "Krishna and Balarama have been living incognito in the care of Nanda Maharaja. All the asuras, your companions who were sent to Vrindavana to kill different children, were killed by Krishna and Balarama."

As soon as Kamsa got this information from Narada Muni, he took out his sharp sword and prepared to kill Vasudeva for his duplicity. But Narada pacified him. "You are not to be killed by Vasudeva," he said. "Why are you so anxious to kill him? Better try to kill Krishna and Balarama." But in order to satisfy his wrath, Kamsa arrested Vasudeva and his wife and shackled them in iron chains. Acting on the new information, Kamsa immediately called for the Kesi demon and asked him to go to Vrindavana immediately to kill Balarama and Krishna. In actuality, Kamsa asked Kesi to go to Vrindavana to be killed by Krishna and Balarama and thus get salvation. Then Kamsa called for his expert elephant trainers, as well as for the wrestlers Canura, Mushtika, Sala, Tosala, etc., and he told them, "My dear friends, try to hear me attentively. At Nanda Maharaja's place in Vrindavana there are two brothers, Krishna and Balarama. They are actually two sons of Vasudeva. As you know, I have been destined to be killed by Krishna; there is a prophecy to this effect. Now I am requesting you to arrange for a wrestling match. People from different parts of the country will come to see the festival. I will arrange to get those two boys here, and you will try to kill Them in the wrestling arena."

Wrestling matches are still enjoyed by people in northern India, and it appears from the statements of Srimad-Bhagavatam that five thousand years ago wrestling was also popular. Kamsa planned to arrange such a wrestling competition and to invite people to visit. He also told the trainers of the elephants, "Be sure to bring the elephant named Kuvalayapida and keep him at the gate of the wrestling arena. Try to capture Krishna and Balarama on Their arrival and have the elephant kill Them."

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Written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada