Haṃsa the Daitya
Haṃsa was a powerful daitya (a descendant of Diti) king. He was the brother of Dimbhaka. Bhagavān Śiva gave the two brothers a vara (a boon) that made them unconquerable as long as both stayed alive.
Haṃsa insulted Durvāsa Maharshi, and this began a great war with the Yādavas of Dvārakā. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa slew Haṃsa in the Kāliya-hrada, the lake of the serpent Kāliya. When Dimbhaka heard of it, he took his own life.
Birth and the boon of Bhagavān Śiva
Haṃsa and Dimbhaka were born with extraordinary power. Bhagavān Śiva gave them a vara: as long as both brothers were alive, neither could be defeated. Each brother’s life therefore depended on the other’s. The death of one was also the death of the other.
The insult to Durvāsa
Haṃsa insulted Durvāsa Maharshi. Durvāsa is the ṛshi known for his short temper and for the power of his śāpa (curses). This insult began the chain of events that led to the war. Durvāsa then came to Dvārakā, where he met Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.
Haṃsa then sent a message to Dvārakā. He demanded tribute and wanted his supremacy accepted. The Yādavas refused.
The great war
Haṃsa gathered an enormous army and marched against the Yādava forces. The war was fought in two main places, at Pushkara and at Govardhana, over two days. Both sides used their greatest warriors and weapons. The daitya forces under Haṃsa and Dimbhaka pressed the Yādavas hard. At both places the fighting lasted through two full days and nights.
Death in the Kāliya-hrada
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa himself ended the war. In the climax of the battle, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa slew Haṃsa in the Kāliya-hrada, the lake linked with the serpent Kāliya.
When the news of Haṃsa’s death reached Dimbhaka, he knew that the boon meant his own end was now certain. He chose to take his own life. In this way Haṃsa’s death was the death of both brothers.
Sources
- Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 104–130
- Birth and the boon of Bhagavān Śiva: Chapters 104–106
- The insult to Durvāsa and the message to Dvārakā: Chapters 104–110
- The great war: Chapters 110–128
- Death of Haṃsa and of Dimbhaka: Chapters 128–130