Canto 10 - Chapter 11: Destruction of Vatsasura and Bakasura

Discourse XI

Destruction of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura

Śrī Śuka began again : Hearing the noise of the two falling trees, and disturbed with the fear of a thunderbolt, the cowherds headed by Nanda came to that spot, O jewel among the Kurus! (1)
They saw there the two Arjuna trees fallen to the ground. Failing (however) to perceive the cause of their fall, (though) obvious in the shape of the infant (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) dragging the mortar tied (to Him) with a cord, they wondered whose work it was and from what source that strange phenomenon could be. They were alarmed to think that it was an evil portent and felt (utterly) bewildered. (2-3)
The infants (who happened to be playing there) said, "The trees were uprooted by (none else than) this chap, who had taken his position between the trees while dragging the mortar, that had fallen aslant. We also saw two men (rising from their midst)." (4)
The cowherds (however) did not credit their report because (they thought that) it was not possible for that child to uproot the two (huge) trees in that way. Others (who recollected that it was the child Śrī Kṛṣṇa that had taken the life of Pūtanā and throttled the demon Trṇāvarta the other day) stood with their mind full of doubt. (5)
Finding his son dragging the mortar, though (himself) tied with a cord, Nanda with a laughing countenance set him completely free, so the tradition goes. (6)

Encouraged by the cowherdesses (by means of coaxing words and assurances), the Lord now danced like an (ordinary) infant and now sang guilelessly at the top of His voice, behaving like a puppet (wholly) subject to their will. (7)
Ordered (by them) He would now bear a wooden seat, a measure or a pair of wooden sandals and strike on His arms (like a veteran wrestler), causing delight to His kinsmen (thereby). (8)
Demonstrating in the world to those who knew Him (His divinity) His own subjection to the will of His servants, the Lord indeed brought joy to (the land of) Vraja through His infantile sports. (9)

Hearing the words "O buy fruits!" and taking foodgrains (in the hollow of His palms) Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the immortal Lord), the Dispenser of fruit to all, went forth in haste desirous of fruits. (10)
The fruiteress filled with fruits both His palms even though the foodgrains (contained in them) had slipped (through the gap between His finger); and the fruit basket (of the fruiteress in its turn) got filled with precious stones. (11)

On a certain (subsequent) day the venerable Rohiṇī called Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who had felled the Arjuna trees, and Balarāma, both fondly playing with (other) children on the river bank. (12)
When in Their fondness for play the two Boys did not return (even) though called, Rohiṇī sent Yaśodā, who was (deeply) affectionate towards her son. (13)
Yaśodā repeatedly shouted for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who had been playing with His elder brother (Balarāma) and (other) children beyond the limit of time, her breasts overflowing from affection for her son:—(14)
"Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, O darling with lotus-like eyes, come suck my breasts ! Have done with (your) pastimes. You are emaciated from hunger and fatigued with sport, O dear son ! (15)
O Rāma dear, come at once with your younger brother (Kṛṣṇa), O delight of your race ! You had your breakfast early in the morning. Hence you ought to dine (now). (16)
The lord of Vraja (your father) is waiting for you, O scion of Dāśārha, in order to take his meals. (Therefore,) come, bring delight to us both (your father as well as myself). Return to your home, O boys ! (17)
Take your bath, my boy—you whose person is soiled with dust. The star presiding over your birth is in the ascendant today. Getting purified (through bath), give away cows to (holy) Brāhmaṇas. (18)
Lo ! look at your playmates, who have been washed and well-adorned by their mothers. Resume you your play after you have bathed and finished your meals and are well-adorned." (19)
Saying so and thinking Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Crown of all, to be her son, Yaśodā, whose mind was bound with (ties of affection) for Him, O protector of men, clasped Him alongwith Balarāma by the hand and taking Them to her house, presently performed rites calculated to bring good luck to Them. (20)

• Verses 10 to 20 above have not been commented upon by Śrīdhara Swāmi and Ācārya Vallabha too and are evidently not recognized by them.

Observing evil portents of a grave nature at Bṛhadvana (Gokula), elderly cowherds headed by Nanda came together and deliberated as to what should be done in the interests of Vraja. (21)
Of them, a cowherd, Upananda by name—who was advanced in wisdom and age, possessed insight into the true nature of things as well as into the peculiarities of time and place and did what was pleasing to Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa—spoke as follows:—(22)
"We, who wish well of Gokula, ought to shift from this place. (For) here appear evil portents of a grave nature, foreboding destruction of infants. (23)
Indeed this boy (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) was somehow rescued from (the clutches of) the ogress (Pūtanā) who took the life of infants. It was surely by the grace of Śrī Hari that the cart did not fall on him. (24)
Carried away to the skies, the resort of birds, by a demon in the form of a whirlwind, he dropped on a rock and was saved (even) in that predicament by the rulers of gods (our tutelary deities). (25)
That this boy or any other boy too should not die on getting between the two (Arjuna) trees (even while they fell) was also an act of deliverance by the immortal Lord (Viṣṇu). (26)
Before a calamity foreboded by evil portents should overtake Vraja we shall shift from here to some other place alongwith our followers, taking our infants with us. (27)
There is a forest, Vṛndāvana by name, suitable for cattle, full of evergreen woodlands, fit to be resorted to by cowherds and cowherdesses and the bovine race and consisting of sacred hills, pasturage and plants. (28)
Therefore, we shall go there this very day. Get the carts ready; do not tarry. Let the cattle wealth proceed ahead if it pleases you (all)." (29)

Hearing this, the cowherds, who were (all) of one mind, said, "Right ! Good !" Bringing together their respective herds, they went forthwith their effects loaded (on the carts). (30)
Putting the aged, infants, womenfolk and all accessories, O king, on the carts and placing the cattle-wealth at the head, the cowherds, who were (all) alert and carried bows, blew horns on all sides and proceeded with their family priests accompanied by a loud flourish of trumpets. (31-32)
Mounted on chariots and splendid with saffron freshly painted on their breasts, cowherdesses, whose necks were adorned with strings of gold coins and who were (all) finely dressed, delightfully sang the pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (33)
Similarly mounted on one and the same chariot, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī, who were anxious to hear the stories of their Darlings, shone with Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa (by their side). (34)
Duly entering Vṛndāvana, which was delightful at all times (during all seasons), they set up (on the first day) by means of their carts a crescent-shaped habitation for their cattle. (35)
At the sight of Vṛndāvana, the Govardhana hill and the sandy banks of the (holy) Yamunā supreme joy filled the mind of Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, O protector of men ! (36)

Affording delight in this way to the inhabitants of Vraja by means of Their infantile gestures and sweet expressions the two Brothers in due time grew to be the keepers of calves. (37)
Equipped with various playthings They pastured the calves not far from the area of cow-pens in the company of (other) cowherd boys. (38)
Now they played on the flute and now hurled stones etc., by means of slings. Sometimes They threw them with Their feet making a tinkling noise with the tiny bells fastened to their girdle; while at other times They contended with each other playing the part of bulls and bellowing (like them) in the company of (other) boys disguised as bulls. (Nay,) mimicking animals (of various kinds), by crying like them, They moved about (in the woods) like ordinary (human) infants. (39-40)

Once, while They were grazing the calves on the bank of the Yamunā alongwith Their companions, a demon appeared (there) with intent to slay Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. (41)
Observing him disguised as a calf in the herd of calves and pointing him out to Baladeva, Śrī Hari slowly approached him like an ignorant chap. (42)
Seizing him by his hind legs, tail and all, and revolving him, the immortal Lord (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) threw him lifeless against the top of a Kapittha tree. Alongwith the Kapittha fruits that were being made to drop (by the dead weight of his body), the demon too (who had while dying involuntarily given up his disguise and appeared in his own demoniac form) fell down. (43)
Surprised to behold him, the boys raised a shout of applause, saying "Well done ! Bravo !" The gods were highly gratified (at this) and showered flowers. (44)

Assuming the role of keepers of calves, the two sole Protectors of all the worlds roamed about (in the woods) grazing calves with Their breakfast in the wallet. (45)
Reaching the vicinity of a pond with intent to give a drink each to his own herd, one day, all made their calves drink water and drank of it themselves. (46)
The boys saw standing there a monstrous creature resembling a mountain-peak struck off with (Indra's) thunderbolt, and got frightened. (47)
He was indeed a great demon, Baka by name, and disguised as a heron. Approaching all of a sudden, the powerful monster with a sharp beak swallowed Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (48)
Perceiving Śrī Kṛṣṇa swallowed by a huge heron, the (cowherd) boys led by Balarāma got stupefied like the senses devoid of life. (49)
Baka forthwith disgorged Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the son of a cowherd), the father (even) of Brahmā (the father of the universe)—who was burning the root of its palate—and rushed once more in a great rage with intent to kill Him with its bill. (50)
Seeing Baka, a friend of Kamsa, rushing (towards Him) and seizing it by the two halves of its bill, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Protector of the righteous, tore up the demon like a blade of straw in (mere) sport, bringing delight to the denizens of heaven, while the (cowherd) boys stood looking on. (51)
Then the denizens of the celestial region showered the Slayer of Baka with jasmine and other blossoms of Nandana (Indra's garden) and cheered Him with the beating of drums, blowing of conchs and the singing of praises. The cowherd boys were filled with wonder to behold this. (52)
Relieved to find Him released from the mouth of Baka and returned to the sporting ground, the boys headed by Balarāma embraced Him even as the senses would welcome life. Collecting the calves, they returned to Vraja and narrated the incident. (53)
Astonished to hear of it and greeted by Śrī Kṛṣṇa (who was most beloved of them), the cowherds and cowherdesses looked on Him with thirsty eyes out of eagerness as though he had returned from the land of the dead. (54)
(They said to one another,) "Oh, dear me! there has been many a mortal enemy of this chap! Evil has (however) befallen them alone inasmuch as terror was brought by them to others in a previous existence. (55)
Though terrible to look at, they are certainly not able to overpower Him all the same. Approaching him with intent to slay him they (on the other hand), perish like moths in fire. (56)
Ah, the words of the knowers of Brahma can never be untrue! Whatever the worshipful Garga uttered has been fully verified." (57)
Thus recounting with joy the story of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and rejoicing (over it), the cowherds headed by Nanda did not experience the agony of mundane life. (58)
In this way Balarāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa passed Their childhood in Vraja in childlike games, such as hide-and-seek, constructing toydams, and jumping over like monkeys. (59)

Thus ends the eleventh discourse entitled "The destruction of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura," in the first half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā.