16 -The Killing of Bakasura, Pralambasura and Kesi 

Narayana said - Once Krishna, together with Balabhadra and the cowherd boys, went to the forest. 

After taking their food and while playing in the forest, Madhusudana pushed the cows ahead of the cowherds. 

Moving along with the cows and the cowherds Sri Krishna reached Madhuvana. The valorous lord consumed the delicious water in the forest and spotted a terrific demon of white complexion, having a deformed face in the form of a skylark, which was as huge as the mountain itself. 

Finding the cows and the cowherds together with Krishna and Balarama there, he swallowed them the same way as Agastya had swallowed Vatapi in his valley. 

Finding the lord having been swallowed by the skylark, all the gods felt frightened and cried in panic. They rushed to the scene carrying weapons. 

Indra shot his vajra at it which was built by the bones of the sage Dadhichi. With the strike of vajra the skylark could not be killed, but one of his wings was burnt out. 

The moon shot the arrow of snow on it which made the demon to suffer from cold. Yama the son of Surya then attacked it with the Yamadanda which made the skylark motionless. 

The wind-god issued the wind-arrow which carried the skylark to some other place. Varuna, on the other hand, showered a rain of stones which injured the skylark. 

The fire-god issued the fire-arrow at the skylark which burnt its wings. Kubera attacked it with the crescent-arrow which severed its legs. The trident of Shiva made the demon unconscious. All the sages and ascetics feeling panic pronounced their blessing on Krishna. 

In the meantime, Krishna illumining with his divine lustre burnt the demon from within as well as outside which made it vomit out all those who had been swallowed by it and was ultimately killed. 

Thus lord Krishna after having killed Bakasura accompanied with the cowherds and the cows, went to the forest of banana and kadamba trees. At that point of time a huge bull known as Pralambasura arrived there which was extremely wicked and of the size of a mountain. Carrying Krishna on its horns, it started moving him round and round. All the boys felt panicky and started crying but Balabhadra well realising his brother to be an incarnation of the lord, was smiling and was making the boys to understand that there was nothing to worry. 

On the other hand, Madhusiidana himself caught hold of the bull by the horns and moving it round and round in the sky threw it on the ground. With the fall of the bull on the ground the demon was killed. All the boys started laughing looking at the demon. Sri Krishna after killing Pralambasura rapidly went to Bhandiravana together with Balabhadra. On the way finding Krishna so moving, the valorous demon Kesi surrounded him tearing the earth with its hoofs. It carried Krishna on its head and flew a hundred yojanas in the sky; the demon moved Krishna round and round and then fell down on to the ground. The wicked demon tried to chew lord Krishna holding him tightly but its effort to chew Krishna with its teeth, all his vajra like teeth were broken. Thereafter getting burnt with the lustre of lord Krishna it fell down and was killed. The big drums were beaten in heaven and flowers were showered. 

In the meantime, the divine attendants arrived there with the chariots. All of them were two-armed; they were clad in yellow lower garments, adorned with kirita crown, kundalas and long garlands of forest flowers, each holding playfully a flute in his hands and creating sounds with their movement. They had anklets on their feet, their bodies were plastered with the sandal-paste. They appeared in beautiful form of the cowherds and wore a serene smile on their faces and could bestow their grace on the devotees of the lord. 

They were mounted on the chariot studded with the best of gems and they arrived in the Bhandira forest at the place were Krishna was present. They were clad in divine garments and were adorned with gem-studded ornaments. All of them started offering prayers to lord Krishna, after bowing in reverence to him. All of them had been Vaishnavas in the earlier births who had achieved demon-hood as a result of the curse pronounced on them; all of them, therefore, became the attendants of lord Krishna. 

Narada said - О virtuous one, you tell me about the Vaishnavas who were turned into demons. "Who were they"? You tell me all this. I am interested in listening to the same. 

Narayana said -O Brahman, in this connection I am going to narrate the story of ancient history which I heard from the mouth of lord Shiva at the time of the solar eclipse in the Pushkara region. You please listen to it. Shiva had narrated it to me by describing the qualities of the lord, at the instance of the sage, the god of death, Brahma and myself. 

О Brahmaputra, О virtuous one, he narrated the story in detail which purifies the universe; the lord of Gandharvas known as Gandhavaha used to live there who had been a great ascetic of the lord. 

О sage, he had four Gandharva sons who were always devoted at the lotus-like feet of the lord, while sleeping, awake, during the day or the night. 

Becoming the pupils of Durvasa they adored lord Krishna and they sipped the water only after offering the lotus flower at the feet of lord Krishna. 

They were known by the names of Vasudeva, Suhotra, Sudarshana and Suparsvaka. All the four of them started performing tapas in the Pushkara region. After performing tapas for a long time, they achieved success in the mantras. The eldest son known as Vasudeva who happened to be the best of the yogis achieved success, as per the advice of Durvasa, in the yogic practices. He did not marry, burning himself with the lustre of the Brahman. He left for his heavenly abode and became an attendant of lord Krishna. 

Once all the brothers went to Chitra-sarovara for collecting lotus flowers for offering to the lord, at dawn. О sage, while they were collecting the lotus flowers, the attendants of Shiva caught hold of them and bound them in fetters. 

The powerful attendants of Shiva caught hold of the poor fellows and sent them all to Shiva. At the audience with Shiva they bowed in reverence to him and prostrated before him. Wearing a serene smile on the face and the one who is always compassionate to his devotees, Siva blessed them variously. 

Shiva said - “who are you to steal the lotus flowers from the lake of Parvati? A lakh of Yaksh as protect that lake for the successful performance of the vrata of Parvati. She is performing the "three months" vrata for increase in the welfare of her husband and for that purpose she offers a thousand lotus flowers daily with devotions to lord Hari." 

On hearing the words of Shiva, the Vaishnavas felt panicky and with folded hands bending before him, they said. 

Gandharvas said - О virtuous one, we are the best of the Gandharvas and the sons of Gandhavaha. О lord, we consumed water only after offering lotus flowers to lord Krishna. О lord, we were not aware of the fact that the tank was protected by Parvati. О Shiva, you kindly accept these lotus flowers and make the vrata a success. 

We shall not offer the lotus flowers to the lord today and shall consume water without doing so. Otherwise, when we are offering these flowers to you, then why should we not consume the water. О lord by meditating at his feet we adore him by offering lotus flowers. We have been purified by offering the lotus flowers to you. 

Brahman happens to be one and unparalleled. Therefore, he has no body or form. He takes to human form only to bestow his grace on the people and he takes to other forms under the influence of illusion. Therefore, О lord, kindly accept these lotus flowers because you happen to be our lord. О Achyuta, the form which pleases our mind, you please appear in the same form, having two arms, of tender age, charming dark complexion and beautiful. Playfully you hold the flute in your hand, clad in yellow lower garment. You should have a single face, two eyes and your body should be plastered with sandal-paste and aguru. The body should be adorned with gem-studded ornament and the kaustubha gem should adorn your bright chest. Your head should be adorned with the peacock feather and the garland of jasmine and Parijata flowers should decorate you. Having the beauty of crores of gods of love, wearing a serene smile on the face and you should be passionately looking at the faces of the cowherdesses. You should be quite young and should occupy the heart of Radha, adored by Brahma and other gods. You should be adorable, desirable, fulfil the desires of all and always anxious to bestow your grace on all. 

Thus speaking the Gandharvas stood before lord Shiva. On hearing the description of lord Krishna, lord Shiva felt emotional and his hair stood on end. His eyes were filled with tears and he said, "I have come to realise that ydu happen to be the best of Vaishnavas and you are roaming about on the ground in order to purify it with the dust of your feet. I am always anxious to have an audience with the devotees of lord Krishna. It is very difficult to meet the noble people in the three worlds. 

You are dearer to me always than Parvati and the gods. Though the Vaishnavas are dearer to me than my own devotees, the promise I have already made cannot be otherwise. О virtuous one, you listen to it. I had ordained that during the performing of the vrata by Parvati, whosoever will collect lotus flowers from the lake would be turned into demons. There is no doubt about it. But the devotees of lord Krishna never meet with misfortune; therefore, after becoming demons you would go back to the Goloka. You are desirous of having an audience with lord Krishna, О son, in the land of Bharata in the forest of Vrundavana you will meet with Krishna being a Vaishnava and meet with your end and getting mounted on a chariot you will go to the abode of the lord. 

Presently if you are desirous of having a look at your desired form you can do so. Thus speaking lord Shiva made them look at the form of Krishna and looking at the same, the eyes of all the Gandharvas were filled with tears of love. Thereafter, bowing in reverence before the all pervading lord, the Gandharvas took to the demonic form and became the lords of the demons. Thus Vasudeva had achieved salvation earlier, his brother Suhotra became Bakasura, Sudarshana became Pralamba and Suparsvaka became Kesi. With the boon of lord Shiva all of them had a look at the form of Sri Krishna and met with their end ultimately achieving the abode of Krishna. О dear one, thus I have narrated to you an astonishing story of the lord in which Baka, Kesi and Pralamba achieved salvation. This story provides salvation to all. This has been ordained. 

Narada said - О virtuous one, I have listened by your grace to whatever had been astonishing. Presently I intend to know the vrata Parvati had to perform and who had been the chief god of the same, what was the reward for the vrata! And what are its regulations? О lord, what are the beautiful materials required for the said vrata? What is the time for it? You kindly also tell me about the performing of the same. О all pervading one, you think over it carefully and tell me everything since I am getting quite anxious about it. 

Narayana said - О sage, the vrata is to be continued for three months which increases the fortunes of the husband. Lord Krishna together with Radhika are the chief deities for the same. It starts in the first half of the year and is completed in the second half. At the time of the start of the vrata one has to get disciplined and consume the food of havisya and the next day being the first day of Vaishakha one should take a bath in the Ganga and start the vrata on the bank of the Ganga, taking samkalpa (vow). The one performing the vrata should adore the kalasa, the gem, a Salagrama, a vase of water. After adoring the five gods, one should adore the lord of Radha with devotion. I am telling you the method of the same as prescribed in the Samaveda. You listen to it. 

His complexion is like the fresh clouds, is clad in a yellow lower garment, his face wears a smile and looks like the full moon of the winter season, his eyes are like the fully blossomed lotus of the winter season, in whose eyes the collyrium has been applied. He attracts the minds of the cowherdesses again and again. Radha is looking at him and he resides in the heart of Radha. The gods like Brahma, Ananta, Shiva and Dharma adore him. I meditate upon him. 

Thus the performer of the vrata should meditate upon Krishna and should delightfully invoke him. Thereafter one should meditate upon Radhika. The said dhyanam is contained in the Madhyandina-sakha. According to this dhyanam, Radha is the chief of Rasa, quite charming, always anxious to perform the Rasallla, always present in Rdsamandala, the chief goddess of the divine dance, residing in the heart of lord Krishna, quite attractive, beloved of Krishna, the best of those performing Rasa, beautiful one and anxious for meeting the beloved. 

Her eyes resembled the lotus flowers of the winter season. She had curved eyebrows and was adorned with anklets. Her face resembled the lustre of the moon of the winter season and she wore a pleasant smile on her face; her body had the glory of champaka flowers; her body was decorated with sandal-paste, kasturi, vermilion and other cosmetics. Her cheeks were painted with beautiful leaves. She was clad in garments purified by fire, her gem-studded kundalas illumined her cheeks. The garland of gems decorated her breasts; the anklets, armlets and wristlets besides the waist-band were decorated with gems. The anklets decorate her feet which were studded with gems and created sweet sounds. Lord Krishna who is devoted by Brahma and other gods served her always. All the gods adore her and she happens to be the cause of all. I adore such a type of Radha.

Thus meditating upon Krishna one should adore him. Daily with the devoted mind one should make sixteen types of offering and adore him. The one who performs the vrata should make every offering separately with a delightful mind. He should make a hundred and eight offerings with the divine lotus flowers; he should make his offering in the fire with a devoted mind reciting 

One should make the offering of the unripe or ripe mango or banana fruits a hundred and eight times with devotion. The fruits should be uninjured. О sage, a hundred and eight Brahmana should be served with food daily and the performer of vrata should make a hundred and eight offerings in the fire. 

Those offerings should be made both to Radha and Krishna. О Narada, one should perform homa with the Seshamum seeds mixed with ghee.

The musical instruments should be played upon daily, besides the recitation of the name of Hari. After doing this, for three months, the vrata is completed. 

О Narada, I am now speaking out the method for the same; you please listen to it. One should offer ninety thousand uninjured lotus flowers and should serve to nine thousand Brahmans food which should be delicious and sweet. 

One should offer naivedya of nine thousand seven hundred and twenty fruits, several types of beverages besides other eatables; one should perform homa with the sanctified fire making ninety thousand offerings of ghee and Seshamum seeds. Thereafter the costumes, food and fruits, yajnopavita, ninety fragrant sweet balls and ninety pitchers filled with cool water should be given. Thus completing the vrata in this manner, one should offer dakshina to the Brahmanas. The quantity of dakshina should be the same as has been prescribed in the Vedas. One should give away in charity a hundred bulls whose horns should be coated with gold. О Brahman, thus I have narrated to you the method of performing the three months' vrata which bestows on the husband competent progeny and increases his fortunes. 

With the influence of this vrata one achieves fortune for a hundred births. She produces the best of sons in a hundred births and is never separated from the husband or the son. The son is always obedient like the slave and the husband also listens to her and such a chaste lady always remains engrossed in the devotion of Radha to Krishna. With the influence of this vrata, she always remains full of knowledge and remembers the god always.

In the earlier times this vrata which is prescribed in the Samaveda was performed by us. It is the best of all the vratas and I am going to spell out the names of all of them those who have performed it. You listen to it. 

Shatarupa the wife of Svayambhuvamanu making the sage Agastya as the chief priest, performed this vrata first of all. Thereafter, both Devahtiti and Akuti performed this vrata with Pulastya as the priest. О sage, Rohini also performed this vrata with Kratu as the priest. Rati also performed this vrata making Gautama as the priest, with great devotion. Tara the wife of teacher Bruhaspati also performed this vrata with devotion, making Vasistha as the chief priest. Thereafter Tara made elaborate arrangements for this vrata and following her Indrani also performed the vrata with great pomp and show, making Bruhaspati as the priest. Svaha performed this astonishing vrata collecting immense materials and making sage Marichi as the priest. О Brahman, looking at the same, goddess Parvati stood before Shiva with folded hands and bowing in reverence spoke to him. 

Parvati said - О lord of the universe, if you permit me I intend to perform the best of the vratas, which could bestow the welfare on both of us. О lord, the adoration of the lord is the cause of the welfare. Because the performing of the yajnas, charities, reciting the Vedas, visiting the holy places and going round the earth do not weigh even one-sixteenth part of the adoration of the lord. The one who always remembers the lord outwardly and inwardly and who is free from the death, gets redeemed by having a look at such a person. With the dust of his lotus-like feet, the earth gets purified at once. 

 At the sight of such a person all the three worlds are purified. By meditating upon whose lotus-like feet, Brahma, Vishnu, Dharma and Sesha and you yourself besides Ganesha had achieved similar glory. The one who adores daily such a person, gets a high place and ultimately he becomes like him in qualities, glory, intelligence and knowledge. By adoring at the feet of lord Krishna, remembering his name, performing dhyanam, tapas and serving him at the same time, I have achieved my husband and son; I have got everything playfully. Therefore,

 my mind is completely satisfied and at peace. О lord, I have been fortunate enough to get a husband like you, sons like Ganesha and Karttikeya and the father Himalaya who happens to be the amsha of Krishna. Therefore, nothing remains to be desired by me now. 

On hearing the words of Parvati, Shiva was extremely delighted and the hair on his body stood on end. Thereafter he spoke to her smilingly. 

 Mahadeva said - О goddess, you are the form of Mahalakshmi and nothing is beyond you. You are the form of all the riches and the prowess which is beyond measure. О goddess, the house in which you remain is bestowed with all the riches. The house which is devoid of Laksmi, death is better than life in that house. 

О auspicious one, myself, Brahma and Vishnu adore you and by your grace we indulge in the creation of the universe, its preservation and destruction. 

Himalaya, myself, Karttikeya and Ganesha are all of no consequence, without you. All of us are of no consequence without you and with you we are all powerful. Therefore, О chaste lady, whatever is appropriate for a chaste lady and whatever has been heard in the ancient times havu to be taken as the words of the lord. Therefore accepting the divine voice you perform this vrata. As the ladies who have performed this vrata, you also perform it in a most astonishing manner. In your vrata, Sanatkumara would conduct himself as the chief priest while I will arrange for the lotuses, Brahmanas and other materials. О beautiful one, Kubera would be the treasure, while I myself would be in charge of the charities. Lakshmi herself would provide all the riches. The god of fire would recite the Vedas. Varuna would perform the function of the supply of water and the Yakshas would be responsible for carrying the materials under the leadership of six-headed Karttikeya. The place of yajna would be kept neat and clean by the wind god himself while Indra would serve in the kitchen. Moon would be the chief organiser while Surya would supervise the charities and make appropriate arrangements. О dear one, whatever materials are needed for the performing the vratas, you offer the same in greater quantities to please lord Hari. Whatever is the number of Brahmanas prescribed to be fed in the vrata, you invite much more of them and serve them food. 

On the concluding day of the vrata, the Brahmanas should be given in charity gold, gems, pearls, coral and other things which have been prescribed in the vrata. These should be given in dakshina and the entire riches should be distributed. 

Thus speaking Shiva made Parvati to perform the vrata. Thus Durga performed the vrata in an astonishing manner. О dear one, thus have I narrated to you the details of the vrata performed by Parvati. О Narada, the Brahmanas were unable to carry the load of the dakshina money given away to them by Parvati. This is what I have heard from history; now I narrate to you further in the context of the story. The childhood plays of lord Krishna would appear to be fresh at every step. 

After killing the demons, lord Krishna accompanied by the cowherds returned to his home in Gokula which was a huge mansion like that of Kubera. Reaching home the cowherds narrated the happenings of the forest to every one in Gokula. On listening to these stories the people were surprised while Nanda felt panic.

He summoned all the old cowherds and cowherdesses and consulted them. Deciding on the future course of action, Nanda the chief of the cowherds got prepared to leave the place. О sage, at that point of time, he asked all the people to leave Vrundavana.

Listening to the command of Nanda all the people got ready to depart from there; all the cowherds, cowhferdesses, boys and girls delightfully went to Vrundavana together with Krishna and Balabhadra. All of them were singing taking to many forms, some of them were playing on vina, some of them were playing on horns. Some of them were playing on karatala while others were playing on flutes; some of them played on the arrow instruments in their hands while others had the horns; some of the cowherds were wearing tender leaves in their ears. 

Many of them had adorned their ears with flower buds while others had inserted the flowers into them. Some of them were carrying fresh garlands of flowers; some of the boys had worn long garlands of forest flowers, while others had decorated their tufts. О best of the Brahmanas, there were nine crores of cowherd boys and the cowherdesses numbering crores having developed pelvic region and breasts. All the female friends and the old ladies were moving delightfully. 

О sage, the female friend of Radhika like Susila and others were also moving while Radha on the other hand adorned with all the ornaments was clad in divine garment. She was moving wearing a smile on her face. Some of the ladies were moving in palanquins, while others were mounted on the chariots. 

They were all moving together on the chariots adorned with all the gem-studded ornaments and gold equipment. Both Yashoda and Rohini, adorned with all the gem-studded ornaments were travelling in the golden chariots. Nanda, Sunanda, Sridama, Giribhanu, Vibhakara, Virabhanu and Chandrabhanu were mounted on the chariots and were moving pleasantly. 

Both Sri Krishna and Balabhadra adorned with gem-studded ornaments and mounted on the golden chariots were moving on pleasantly. Crores of old and young cowherds mounted on horses, elephants and chariots moved on. The arrogant servants of Nanda mounted on bulls and donkeys playing on musical instruments. 

The twenty-one million slave-girls of Radha were moving with her delightfully. They had smiling faces and were adorned with golden ornaments. Some of them were holding vermilion, collyrium and even balls, while others were holding puppets. 

Some of them were carrying cosmetics and materials for decorating the body. Some of them had the material for decorating the costumes while others carried garlands of flowers. Some of them carried the musical instruments and were moving on delightfully. Some of them were clad in the garments purified by fire, while other carried sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron in their hands. Some of them were engaged in playing music and while others were engaged in reciting astonishing types of story. Thus crores of beautiful cowherdesses moved on in palanquins. There were crores of horses, chariots, bullock carts filled with several types of materials, crores of bulls carrying the materials, crores of elephants, driven by the elephants, driven by the elephant driver, by means of goads. All of them moved on to Vrundavana. On reaching Vrundavana, they found no dwelling places and as such they had to take shelter under the trees in an appropriate manner. At that point of time lord Krishna pointed out to the places for the stay of the cows as well as the people and said, "You spend the night somehow today." On hearing the words of Krishna all of them said, "O Krishna, where are the houses?" In reply to them Sri Krishna said. 

Sri Krishna said - There are several clean houses built here by the gods but no one can look at them unless the gods are pleased. 

Therefore, О cowherds, let us adore the god of forest and live here tonight. In the early morning you will surely find beautiful houses. Therefore, all of you should adore goddess Chandika here offering incense, lamp, naivedya, offerings, flowers and sandal-paste, who is lodged under the banyan tree. On hearing the words of Krishna all the cowherds adored the goddess during the day time and spent the time delightfully there itself.