Garga Bhagavatham : Maadhurya khanda - Chapter 14

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Mighty Kamsa comes to rescue of Gopa Rangoji, troubled by the Kaurava army; Rangoji resides in the border of Vraja-Mandal; Maidens from Jalandhar's kingdom appear as Gopis in the house of Rangoji

Sri Narada says:- Lord of Mithila! Now listen to the description of the ladies from the women's quarters of Jalandhar who took birth as Gopis. Along with it, listen to their deeds which will always destroy the sins of humans.

    King! on the banks of river Saptanadhi there was a famous and excellent town called 'Rangapatna', which had all types of comforts and was very big. It was spread over an area of two yojanas and was a circular town. The owner of that town was a Gopa named Rangoji, who was very strong. He was endowed with children, grandchildren, and had great wealth and granary. He was always paying one crore gold coins to King of Hastinapur, Dritharashtra as annual tax. Once even after the lapse of one year, being intoxicated with his wealth, he did not pay the annual tax. Not only this, the leader of gopas Rangoji did not even go to meet the king. Then one thousand soldiers sent by Dritarashtra went and tied up the Gopa and brought him to Hastinapur. For many years, he was lying tied up in prison. Even after being tied up and beaten that greedy Gopa was not scared. He did not give even a small amount to king Dhritarashtra. 

    At some point in time, the leader of gopas Rangoji escaped from that dangerous prison and in the darkness, of night time somehow reached Rangapur. Three large armies of Drithrashtra, equipped with powerful carriages went to catch him again,. That Gopa also, equipped with weapons entered the war field, and with his bow started raining sharp and shining arrows on the army and began to fight fiercely. His enemies broke his armory and his bow, they also killed all his people, then he retreated to his town Durg and continued to fight for a few days. In the end, the forlorn and scared, Rangoji wished for someone who would give him refuge or some demon. He sent his messenger to the king of Yadavas, Kamsa. The messenger reached Mathura and went to the royal court. With a bowed head and folded hands, he paid respects to the son of Ugrasena, Kamsa, and said in a pitiful voice.

    ' Great King! There is a famous Gopa called Rangoji in Rangapatna, who is the lord of the town and is best among moral people. Enemies have surrounded his town from all four sides. He has become very worried and being orphaned has come to you seeking refuge. In this world, you are the only one who allays the sorrow of sad people. You are the strongest and you are seated like Indra in your capital after defeating Devatas, Demons, and powerful kings. Just like the chakora bird waits for the moon, a bunch of lotus wait for the sun, chataka birds wait for the drops of rain from the clouds in sharad ritu( autumn season), like the hungry man thinks only about food and thirsty animals thinks of only water, in the same manner, Rangoji fearing the enemies of gopas is thinking only about you.

 Sri Narada says:- Listening to the words of the messenger, Kamsa decided to go there with crores of demons. Kamsa had a majestic elephant whose cheek portions were decorated with vemillion and musk mixed in cow's urine. That elephant was as huge as the Vindhyachal mountain, and the fluid of intoxication was flowing down its cheeks. There were chains on its feet. it was rumbling like the roar of clouds. Kamsa, wearing armory and carrying weapons climbed on this elephant named Kuvalayaapeed and accompanied by wrestlers such as Chaanur, Mushtik, and others along with demon warriors Keshee, Vyomasur, and Vrishaasur, set out towards Rangapatna. A fierce battle ensued between the armies of Yadavas and Kauravas in which they attacked each other using swords and Trishuls(tridents). When darkness engulfed the battlefield by the shooting of arrows, then Kamsa charged into the Kaurava army carrying his large mace just like forest fire engulfs a forest. Just like Indra fells mountains with his Vajra, in the same way, Kamsa attacked many armored soldiers and made them fall on the ground. He destroyed many chariots with his feet and killed the horses by attacking them with his ankles. He attacked the elephants with his own elephant and catching hold of the legs of the elephants, threw them away. The great strong Kamsa caught hold of many elephants by their trunks or haunches threw them into the sky along with all their decorative coverings. In that battlefield, the strong Vyomasur holding the elephants by their trunks threw them on the ground along with their ringing bells. The wicked demon Vrishasur, who was very strong, lifted the chariots above his head, twirled them, and threw them in all directions. The strong demon king Keshee kicked away many soldiers and horses here and there. Witnessing such a fierce battle the remaining soldiers were scared and escaped in all directions. King of demons, brave Kamsa happily celebrated the victory by having drums played, took Rangoji along with his family to Mathura.

    Learning about the defeat of their army the Kauravas fainted. But all of them remained silent considering the strength of the demons at present. There was a famous town called Barhishad near the border of Vrajmandal, which was given to Rangoji. The leader of gopas Rangoji started living there. By the boon granted by Sri Hari, the women of the women's quarters of Jalandhar were born from the wombs of the wives of that same gopa, Rangoji. Those gopa girls who were beautiful and full of youth were all married to different gopas, but all of them began secretly loving Sri Krishna deeply. God of Vrindavan Shyamasundar, enjoyed with all of them in the MahaRaas during the month of Chaitra, in the splendorous Vrindavan.

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