Garga Bhagavatham : Golok khanda - Chapter 6
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Description of the great strength and victories of Kamsa, who is created out of a part of Kalanemi
King Bahulashva
says:- Oh Crest jewel of sages! Which demon was this Kamsa, who has
enormous strength and valor, famous as? Please tell me about his past lives and
past deeds!
Sri Narada says:- In the
past, during the churning of the ocean, the demon Kalanemi waged war with Lord
Vishnu. In that war, the Lord vanquished him with HIS enormous strength. At the
time, sage Shukracharya, used his knowledge of the Sanjeevini, to revive him.
Then, a desire arose in his mind to wage a war against Lord Vishnu again. With
this desire in mind, that demon started performing severe penance at the
Mandara mountains. Sustaining himself only on the juice of grass each day, he
performed penance to please Lord Bramha. After one hundred years as per the
timezone of the devas passed, Lord Brahma appeared in front of him. At that
time, his body had reduced into a bag of bones covered by skin. Lord Brahma
said to him, "Ask for a boon".
Kalanemi said:- In this
Brahmanda, Lord Vishnu is the fundamental source of power to all-powerful
devatas, that are present here. My death should not be in the hands of any of
those devatas.
Lord Brahma said:- Oh Demon!
Although this unfathomable boon that you have asked for is extremely hard to
obtain, it will materialize at another time. My words will never be
falsified.
Sri Narada says:- Oh King,
Later that same demon Kalanemi was born out the womb of Padmavati, the wife for
King Ugrasena. Even as a child, he would engage in wrestling duels with mighty
wrestlers. Once the King of Magadha, King Jarasandha, set out on a conquest of
kingdoms in all directions. His soldiers camped here and there on the banks of
River Yamuna. In his possession was an elephant by the name of Kuvulayapeeda,
which was endowed with the strength of a thousand elephants. One day,
intoxicated by its power, the elephant ran out of the camp, after breaking many
tents. After having destroyed many camps, houses, and bridges along the
mountains, he wandered into the same arena where Kamsa was wrestling. Upon his
arrival, may valiant soldiers escaped from there. However, Kamsa lifted the
elephant by its tusks and threw him on the ground. Then he again picked it up
with both hands and flung him in the air. The elephant went a long distance in
the air and fell in front of King Jarasandha. Impressed with the might of
Kamsa, King Jarasandha gave his beautiful daughters Asti and Praapti in
marriage to Kamsa. As a part of the wedding procession, Jarasandha, the son of
Jara, offered one crore horses, one lakh elephants and ten thousand
maidservants to Kamsa.
Kamsa was very fond of wrestling.
Intoxicated by his might, he would always remain eager for wrestling duels.
Once he went to the city of Mahishmati, which was full of mighty and valiant
men. The king of Mahishmati had five sons who were powerful wrestlers and were
always very eager for victory in wrestling. Their names were Chaanura,
Mushtika, Koota, Shala, and Toshala. Kamsa used the technique of pacification
and lovingly told them, "Let us have a wrestling match. If you all win, I
will become your slave. However, if I am victorious, I will make you all my
slaves." In front of all the good people present there, Kamsa took this
vow and began to wrestle with those brothers, who were also eager to win. As
soon as Chaanura came, Kamsa, the king of Yadavas, roared ferociously and
picked him up and threw him to the ground. At that same instant, Mushtika also
arrived there clenching his fists. Kamsa held him by his fists and threw him
down. Then Koota came ferociously. Kamsa pushed him to the ground and began to
drag him by his feet. Then Shala, came beating his chest. Then Kamsa, picked
him up with a single hand, by his fist, and threw him down. After this, Kamsa
caught Toshala's hands and threw him down. He then picked him up, flung him in
the air, ten yojanas away. In this way, Kamsa made them all his slaves and then
upon my (Sage Narada's) insistence, took those warriors with him, and reached
mount Pravarshanagiri. There he fought with the might monkey warrior, Dvividha.
Dvividha picked up rocks from the mountain and threw them at Kamsa's head.
However, Kamsa caught those rocks and threw them back at him. The Kamsa
attacked him with his fists and flung him into the sky. Dvividh fell
unconscious. His bones broke into pieces. Then he also became a slave of
Kamsa.
Then Kamsa traveled to Rishyamukha
mountains with all his slaves. In those mountains, lived a demon by the name
Keshi, whose form was that of a horse. His roar was like that of the clouds.
Kamsa gave him severe blows with his fists and mounted on him. Next, the
valiant Kamsa reached the Mahendragiri mountains. The demon king Kamsa, then
uprooted and lifted the mountain up and down a hundred times. This enraged the
great sage Parashurama, who lived in the mountains and who was brilliant like
the Sun, at the time of complete annihilation. His eyes became red with anger.
Kamsa threw himself at the feet of the sage. This calmed the anger of the sage.
He spoke thus, "You insignificant worm, You, the son of a monkey, you are
as lowly as a mosquito. You are an evil Kshatriya, intoxicated by your
strength. Let me send you to the jaws of death right away! Look! I have this
great bow. Its weight is incomparable. At the time of war with Tripurasura,
Lord Vishnu gifted this to Lord Shankar. It was then passed on to me, to be
used for the destruction of all Kshatriyas. If you can string this bow, then I
will let you go. If not, I will destroy all your power. After hearing these
words, Kamsa playfully lifted the bow, which was as long as seven Tala trees
and strung it, in-front of Sage Parashurama's eyes, and pulled the string one
hundred times with ease. As he pulled the string, it roared like thunder. It's
sound reverberated in the seven worlds along with the seven nether worlds. All
directions trembled and stars began to crumble and fall. Kamsa put the bow down
and repeatedly prostrated in front of the sage, speaking thus. "Oh, Lord!
I am not a Kshatriya. I am your slave demon. I am a slave of your slaves. Oh,
greatest among men! Please protect me." Pleased by Kamsa's words, Sage
Parashurama gifted him the bow.
Sage Parashurama
said:- This bow belongs to Lord Vishnu. The one who breaks this is the
complete Lord. Your death is destined to happen in HIS hands alone.
Sri Narada says:- Oh
King, Kamsa bowed down to Sage Parashurama and began roaming around on the
Earth, intoxicated by his power. No king on the Earth opposed him. They all
began to appease him by paying regular taxes. Then Kamsa went to the shores of
the ocean. There lived a demon by the name of Aghasura, who had the form of a
serpent. He was hissing fiercely. He began to attack Kamsa. Unperturbed by
this, Kamsa picked him up and thrashed him on the ground. He then wore the
snake, like a garland around his neck. In those days, in Bangadesha, which was
in the east, there lived a demon by the name of Arishta, whose form was like
that of bull. Kamsa charged at him as if an elephant was charging at another elephant.
With his horns, the demon lifted huge mountains and threw him at Kamsa. Kamsa
caught those very mountains and threw them back at the demon. Kamsa punched him
and rendered him unconscious. Thus enslaving him, Kamsa headed towards the
north. He approached the mighty King of Praagjyothishpur, Narakasura, who was
the son of Mother Earth. Intending to wage a war, Kamsa addressed him, "Oh
King of Demons! Give me an opportunity for a dual with your warriors. If any of
one them is victorious, I will become your slave and if I am victorious, I will
make all of you my slaves"
Sri Narada says:- Oh
King, in Praagjyothishpur, the very first warrior to fight with Kamsa was the
mighty Pralambasura. He fought against Kamsa just as one fierce lion fights
another, amidst the mountains. In the wrestling dual that ensued, Kamsa
defeated Pralambasura. Lifting him, Kamsa threw him at the feet of King
Bhaumasura. Another demon by the name of Dhenuka, raging with anger, charged
towards Kamsa and pushed him back. Kamsa charged forward and pushed Dhenukasura
fiercely and wounded him immensely with his punches. Then by the order of King
Bhaumasura, the demon Trinavarta picked up Kamsa, took him high up into the
clouds, and began the duel mid-air. With all his might, Kamsa pushed the demon
unto the ground. Trinavarta fell and began to bleed profusely from his mouth.
After this, the demon Bakasura charged towards Kamsa and attempted to swallow
him with his beaks. Kamsa punched Bakasura and rendered him helpless. Bakasura
mustered up all his strength and got up. He opened his beaks and swallowed
Kamsa. Kamsa's body was hard like a diamond. He punched the throat of Bakasura
and came out through the hole. Kamsa then threw him down and began to drag him
on the battlefield. Bakasura had a sister by the name of Putana, who also
became eager for war. Amused at her, Kamsa said, "Oh Putana! Listen to me.
You are a woman. Hence I can never fight with you. Now, this Bakasura is my
brother and you remain my sister. Shaken by the great might of Kamsa, King
Bhaumasura accepted defeat. He began to maintain a friendly relationship with
Kamsa, in anticipation of Kamsa's support in future battles with the Devas.
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