Kaṃsa Vadha (Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa)

This is the account of how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa went from Vṛndāvana to Mathurā at the call of the tyrant Kaṃsa, and how Kaṃsa was killed. Kaṃsa sent Akrūra to bring Kṛshṇa and Balarāma for a great bow-festival (dhanuryajña). On the way Akrūra saw a vision of Anantaśesha and Bhagavān Vishṇu. In Mathurā, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa broke Kaṃsa’s great bow, killed the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, overcame the wrestlers in the arena, and at last dragged Kaṃsa from his throne and killed him. Mathurā was free of his rule.

Kaṃsa sends Akrūra

Kaṃsa, king of Mathurā, was the tyrant uncle of Kṛshṇa. He had long lived in fear of the prophecy that Devakī’s eighth son would destroy him. He had failed again and again to kill Kṛshṇa through agents such as Pūtanā. So he made a plan to bring Kṛshṇa to Mathurā on the excuse of a great festival and have him killed there. He sent the noble Akrūra, a Yādava who was deeply devoted to Kṛshṇa, to Vṛndāvana with a message that called Kṛshṇa and Balarāma to the capital. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 23)

Akrūra’s journey to Vṛndāvana

Akrūra set out for Vṛndāvana with a heart full of longing to see Kṛshṇa, whom he had loved and honoured all his life. Although he carried Kaṃsa’s treacherous summons, his own bhakti (devotion) was pure. He thought of Kṛshṇa all along the way and came to the village of Vṛndāvana full of joy and reverence. (Vishṇu Parva, chapters 23 and 26)

Akrūra’s vision in the Yamunā

On the journey back, while crossing the river Yamunā with Kṛshṇa and Balarāma, Akrūra dipped himself in the water for his sandhyā-vandana (the prayers at the turn of the day). Under the water he saw a wonderful vision. He saw the great serpent Anantaśesha, white as a thousand moons, and Bhagavān Vishṇu lying on him. He also saw the form of Saṅkarshaṇa, the true form of Balarāma. Overcome by this darśana (sacred sight), Akrūra came up and looked at Kṛshṇa and Balarāma sitting in the chariot. Then he dived again and saw the same vision once more. He knew without doubt that these two were no ordinary youths. They were the Supreme Beings come down for the good of the world. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 27)

Arrival in Mathurā: the washerman and Kubjā

On entering Mathurā, Kṛshṇa met a washerman (rajaka) who was carrying fine clothes meant for Kaṃsa. Kṛshṇa asked for cloth fit for himself and Balarāma. The washerman refused proudly, and Kṛshṇa struck him. Farther on, Kṛshṇa met Kubjā, a hunchbacked woman carrying sandalwood paste for Kaṃsa. She offered the sweet-smelling paste to Kṛshṇa with great devotion. Kṛshṇa took her gift. He put his foot on her feet, lifted her chin with his fingers and straightened her bent body. Kubjā stood upright, made into a woman of great beauty by the touch of Kṛshṇa. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 28)

The breaking of Kaṃsa’s bow

Kaṃsa had set up a great bow at the festival, so huge that no ordinary man could lift or string it. Kṛshṇa walked up to the bow, lifted it with ease, strung it, and then broke it in two. The sound of the breaking bow rang through Mathurā and reached Kaṃsa in his palace. He knew it for a sign of his coming end. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 28)

The elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa

At the gate of the arena where the wrestling festival was to be held, Kaṃsa had placed his great war elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, trained to kill. The elephant charged at Kṛshṇa. Kṛshṇa seized it, wrestled it down and killed it. He pulled out one of its great tusks to use as a weapon. With the tusk in his hand, Kṛshṇa walked into the wrestling arena. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 30)

The wrestling match: Cāṇūra and Mushṭika killed

Inside the arena Kaṃsa had arranged a match with his champion wrestlers. Kṛshṇa was set against the mighty Cāṇūra, and Balarāma against Mushṭika. Both bouts were fought hard. Kṛshṇa overcame and killed Cāṇūra, and Balarāma killed Mushṭika. The people of Mathurā, who had lived in dread of Kaṃsa, watched in wonder and then in joy. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 31)

Kaṃsa is killed

With his champions beaten, Kaṃsa flew into a rage. He ordered the arrest of Kṛshṇa’s family: Vasudeva, Devakī, Nanda and the others who were present. This order sealed his fate. Kṛshṇa leapt from the floor of the arena straight to the royal seat where Kaṃsa sat, seized him by the hair and dragged him down. Kaṃsa fell, and Kṛshṇa struck him and killed him. With Kaṃsa dead, the long shadow of fear over Mathurā was gone. Kṛshṇa set his parents Vasudeva and Devakī free and brought peace to Mathurā. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 31)

Kaṃsa’s parentage

The Harivaṃśa also gives an account of Kaṃsa’s true parentage. Kaṃsa was not the natural son of the good king Ugrasena. He was the son of a rākshasa named Drumila, who came to Ugrasena’s queen in disguise. (Vishṇu Parva, chapter 29)

Sources

  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 23 (Kaṃsa sends Akrūra)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 26 (Akrūra’s journey to Vṛndāvana)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 27 (Akrūra’s vision in the Yamunā)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 28 (the washerman, Kubjā, the bow)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 29 (Kaṃsa’s parentage)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 30 (the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa)
  • Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, chapter 31 (the wrestlers, the death of Kaṃsa)