Garga Bhagavatham : Golok khanda - Chapter 7

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Victory of Kamsa; Defeat of  Shambara, Vyomasura, Banasura, Vatsasura, Kalyavan and all the Gods.

Narada says: - King! Afterwards, Kamsa, followed by those defeated by him earlier and other monsters proceeded to the place of Shamabasura. There he told about his earlier victories. Even though Shamabasura was very powerful, he did not wage war against Kamsa. Kamsa befriended all the mighty asuras there. On the Trikoot mountain a demon named Vyoma was asleep. Kamsa went there and hit him powerfully with a log and Vyoma was rudely awakened by this. His eyes turned blood red with anger. He got up and with his powerful and tightly clenched fists attacked Kamsa. Kamsa retaliated with powerful punches and Vyomasura could not bear the punches and accepted defeat. Kamsa made him his servant. Just then I (Narada) reached that place. Kamsa paid his respects to me and asked " O! Deva I am not satiated with urge to wage wars. Please tell me where to go now." Then I told him "You go to the monster Baanasura. I also like to witness battles." Being influenced by my words and excited by his own powers, Kamsa proceeded to Shonitpura.

   Hearing Kamsa's decision to wage a war, mighty Baanasura was enraged. With a thunderous roar he powerfully stamped his foot on the earth and by this act the whole world shook and the shock waves reached even the “patal lok”. Doing this, he told Kamsa "First you try to lift my foot". Hearing this, the enraged Kamsa lifted his feet off the ground, like a powerful elephant lifts a heavy log or a pillar with ease. When Kamsa lifted Baanasura's feet from the earth, the whole universe was shaken, and the great mountains also started getting displaced. As Baanasura prepared for the battle with Kamsa, Bhagavan Shankar himself appeared there and pacified everyone and stopped the battle.

Lord Shankar told Baanasura "King of Monsters! Other than Sri Krishna, there is no one in this universe who can defeat Kamsa. Sri Parasurama has given him such a boon and has also presented him with Vaishnava dhanush (bow)"

Narada says: - King! Lord Maheshwar himself established peace between Kamsa and Baanasur temporarily. There after coming to know about the great demon Vatsa in the western universe, Kamsa went there. That demon king took the form of a young cow by his magical powers. Kamsa caught hold of the cow's tail and thrashed it against the earth and killed it. After bringing the Nivaasbuth mountain under his control, he left to conquer the other foreign nations. After knowing from me about the attacks of the powerful demon Kamsa, Kaalayavan set out to oppose him. His beard and mustache were red in colour. He was carrying a mace (gadha) in his hand. Kamsa also took his mace made of iron and attacked Kalyavan, the king of Yavana, roaring like lion.  A very fierce battle ensued between Kamsa and Kaalayavan. Sparks of fire flew from the maces and both maces were broken into pieces. There after Kamsa caught hold of Kalayaan and banged him against the ground repeatedly. Like this, he almost killed Kaalayavan. Seeing this, Kaalayavan's army started raining arrows on Kamsa. But Kamsa drove them all away with the power of his mace. Kamsa with army of many elephants, horses and valiant men fought and roared like a lion on the battlefield.

  Then all the army of Kaalyavan started running away from the battlefield. Kamsa was a true soldier hence he did not attack the men who were running away out of fear.

Kamsa's legs were long, both knees were huge, and his thighs were like pillars. His waistline was thin, his chest was very broad and his arms were thick and strong. His body was very hefty and shoulders were broad. His eyes were like a fully blossomed lotus. He had long hair, his body was bright and shining. The glorious crown, the discs he was wearing as ear rings, garland around his neck, garland of lotus flowers on his chest, gave him a majestic look. His black garments added to his grandeur. He was looking as bright as the Sun of the dooms day. Armed with sword, mace, armored and intoxicated with power, Kamsa set out to Amaravati city to defeat the Devas.

He covered Amaravati from all the four sides with the help of demons named, Chanur, Mushtik, Arishta, Shal, Toshal, Keshi, Pralamb, Vakh, Dvividh, Aghaasur and other demons.

   Seeing the demons, the king of three worlds, Indra along with other devas angrily prepared for the battle. Fierce battle ensued between the two armies. Fierce arrows were being fired from both sides, so much so that darkness prevailed over the battle field. At this time Indra who was seated on a chariot fired a lightening arrow at Kamsa, but Kamsa easily countered it; it fell on the ground broken to pieces. Then Indra attacked Kamsa with his sword roaring like a lion, but the attack with the sword could not even cause a scratch on Kamsa. Then Kansa threw his heavy metallic mace at Indra but Indra caught it in his his hand and threw it back at Kamsa. Maatil was guiding the chariot of Indra and Devendra was going around the battlefield fighting the enemy. Kamsa threw a substance known as "parigh" on the shoulders of Indra which made Indra lose his senses. At that time Marut-Ganas (storm deities) covered Kamsa with so many arrows, like the Sun is covered by clouds. Seeing this the thousand shouldered Baanasur started attacking the storm deities. Baanasur was attacked from all four sides by Vasu, Rudra, Aditya, and other Devas and Rishis with different types of arms. 

    At this time Bhoumasura came there with Pralamba and other Asuras, who were roaring very loudly, by the sound of which all the devas lost consciousness and fell on the ground. By this time Indra regained consciousness and got got up quickly and climbed on the elephant Airavata. He guided the elephant towards Kamsa, with intention of crushing him under the elephant's feet. The king of elephants, who was angered by the goading started crushing the enemies under his feet. When the elephant came near Kamsa, he punched the elephant with all his might repeatedly and similarly he punched Indra also. Being punched by Kamsa, Indra fell down from Airavata and the elephant too fell on the ground. But Airavata got up quickly and with his trunks picked up Kamsa and threw him a long distance away. Kamsa's body was as hard and strong as a diamond. He was not hurt even though he was thrown so far away. He was a little distraught mentally, but still with lot of anger reached the battlefield.

    Kamsa caught hold of the elephant king and dashed him and broke his teeth into small pieces and threw him away. Airavata ran away from the battlefield. On the way it trampled many warriors and went away to Amaravathi, the capital of the Devas. After that Kamsa started attacking the Devas with all his might and all the weapons, like the bow, mace and others. Unable to bear this attack, the Devas lost their senses and started running away from the battled field. Some Devas even begged for mercy from Kamsa. 

After defeating the Devas, Kamsa took the throne from them and became the king of kings. Along with all the other asuras, he returned to his capital Mathura.

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