Dantavaktra Vadha

Dantavaktra was the king of Karūsha. This narrative is told in the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 78. It comes right after Kṛshṇa destroyed Śālva and the Saubha vimāna (flying city). Dantavaktra came on foot with a gadā (mace) to take revenge for his fallen friends. Kṛshṇa killed him with his Kaumodakī gadā, and a divine light rose from Dantavaktra’s body and entered Kṛshṇa, as it had with Śiśupāla. Dantavaktra’s brother Vidūratha then came and was killed by the Sudarśana cakra.

Dantavaktra comes for revenge

The wicked Dantavaktra had been a friend of Śiśupāla, Śālva and Pauṇḍraka, even after their deaths. When he heard that Śālva was dead and the Saubha destroyed, he burned with rage. He came alone and on foot to face Kṛshṇa. The earth shook under his steps. In his hands he carried only a gadā.

Kṛshṇa saw him coming. He jumped down from his chariot, took his own gadā, and stood before Dantavaktra like the shore that holds back the ocean tide. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 78)

The duel and the death of Dantavaktra

Dantavaktra was swollen with pride. He said: “O Kṛshṇa, what great joy! At last I have found you. You are our cousin, yet you have betrayed our friends. So, fool, I will kill you today with this gadā, which is hard as the vajra.”

He went on: “O ignorant one! You are like a disease hidden in the body: you are an enemy in the form of a relative. But my love for my friends is strong, and I will pay my friends’ debt by killing you.”

He struck Kṛshṇa on the head with the gadā and roared. Kṛshṇa did not flinch. He struck Dantavaktra on the chest with the great Kaumodakī gadā, and Dantavaktra’s heart split open. He fell, vomiting blood, with his limbs flung out and his hair loose, and died.

Before the eyes of all who were there, a fine and wonderful light rose from the body of Dantavaktra and entered Kṛshṇa, just as it had with Śiśupāla. (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 78)

Vidūratha

Vidūratha, the brother of Dantavaktra, was overcome with grief at his brother’s death. He came forward with sword and shield, breathing hard, set on taking revenge. Kṛshṇa took up the Sudarśana cakra and cut off his head. The crown and earrings were still shining as it fell.

Kṛshṇa had now destroyed Śālva with his Saubha, and Dantavaktra and Vidūratha. No ordinary warrior could have faced any of them. The assembled devas, maharshis, siddhas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, mahānāgas, apsarases, yakshas, kinnaras and cāraṇas praised him. They showered flowers and beat divine drums. Kṛshṇa went back to Dvārakā, with the Yādava chiefs praising him on every side.

The Bhāgavata says: “To those who think like animals, Kṛshṇa seemed to be defeated at some moments of this battle, but he was always the most exalted. He who plays the part of a human being to set an example for the world is the all-ruling Paramātmā.” (Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 78)

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 78