Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 11
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Redemption of Dhenukasura.
Sri Narada says:- Oh King! One day Sri Krishna along with Balaram reached
the new Talavan while grazing his delightful cattle. At the time all the Gopas
were with them. The donkey-bodied demon Dhenukasura used to live there. Out of
fear for him, the cowherds did not enter the forest. Sri Krishna also did not
enter. Balaram alone entered the forest. Tightening his blue garments around
his waist, the mighty Balaram started wandering in the forest looking for
ripened fruits. Balaram was the avatar of Anantadeva himself. His strength was
infinite. Shaking the Tala trees with both hands, he began to make the fruits
fall from them while roaring fiercely. Hearing these sounds, the demon became
enraged. Since this disturbed his usual afternoon nap, he woke up in a fit of
rage. Not only was he a friend of Kamsa, but he was also very powerful. With
the evil intention of fighting with Balaram, he came out and kicked Balaram on
the chest with his hind legs. After attacking Balaram, he ran round and round
and began scratching the ground with his hind legs like a typical donkey. In an
instant, Balaram playfully picked him up by his hind legs and smashed him
against a Tala tree. Not only did the Tala tree fall, but it also took down
several other trees in the row. Oh, King of Kings! The most amazing thing
happened after this. The demon got up and just as an elephant fighting another
elephant, would push its opponent backward with its head, he pushed Balaram
back by a distance of one yojana. Immediately, Balaram picked him up, and
twirled him around in the air, and smashed him on the ground. The demon fainted
and broke his head. Fuming in anger, he still managed to get up. He made four
terrible horns appear on his head and began to attack the Gopas with them.
Seeing the Gopas running in fear, he began chasing them wildly.
At that time, Sridama smacked him with a stick, Subala punched
him with his fist, StokaKrishna threw stones at him, Arjuna attacked him with
sharp objects, and Anshu kicked him. Thereafter, Vishalarishabha came and
hurriedly attacked the demon with his hands and legs. Then Tejasvi attacked him
with a weapon known as Ardha-Chandra and pushed him back and Devaprastha landed
many slaps on him. Varoothapa hit the donkey-like demon with balls. Then Sri
Krishna also participated by lifting Dhenukasura, swirling him around and
throwing him on top of the Govardhan mountain. The demon remained unconscious
for a few moments. He then got up and shook his body and charged ahead. He
picked up Sri Hari with his two horns, flew up into the sky to a height of one
lakh yojanas, and began to fight with the Lord. Sri Krishna caught him and
flung him to the ground. This broke his bones into pieces and he fainted. Even
then, he managed to get up. Lifting the Govardhan mountain with his horns, he
hurled it at Sri Krishna. But Sri Krishna caught Govardhan, hit the demon with
it, and returned the mountain safely to its original place. Then the great
demon, Dhenuka pierced the Earth with his two horns, and ran towards Balaram
and attacked him with great force, roaring very loudly. The whole universe
shook by the terrible roar. Then Balaram caught him and broke his bones by
smashing him on the ground and punching him with his fists. This fierce attack
marked the end of Dhenukasura and he died immediately. The Devas began to
shower flowers from the Nandanavana gardens in heaven.
After coming out of the donkey body, Dhenuka assumed the form of
a dark-hued Deva, dressed in crisp yellow garments, adorning beautiful flower
garlands, and a Vanamala around his neck. Lakhs and lakhs of attendants began
to serve him. A chariot with thousands of wheels, drawn by ten thousand horses
arrived. Lacks of beautiful umbrellas adorned the chariot. The chariot was red
and was studded with precious gems. The attractive chariot, which was one
yojana in length, could fly at the speed of the mind. The chariot was decorated
with bells, chimes, and other jingling ornaments. The divine form assumed by
Dhenuka, did parikrama (circled) around Sri Krishna and Balaram and ascended
the divine chariot, brightening up all the directions and flew beyond the material
world and into the divine Golokdham. After slaying Dhenukasura, Sri Krishna and
Balaram returned to Vraj along with the cows, amidst the praises of the
Gopas.
The King asks:- Oh Great Sage! Who
was Dhenukasur in his past life? How did he attain Mukti? Also, why did he get
the body of a donkey? Please explain with clarity.
Sri Narada says:- King Virochan Bali had a brave son by the name of
Saahasik. Once, he was roaming about in Gandhamadana mountains with ten
thousand women. The sounds of the musical instruments being played by them and
the jingling of the anklets worn by the women began to disturb the meditation
of sage Durvasa, who was meditating on Sri Krishna, in one of the nearby caves.
Wearing his wooden slippers, he stepped out. His body was weakened by
austerities. His mustache and beard had grown very long and he was walking with
the help of a walking stick. He was an embodiment of anger and appeared bright
as fire. Sage Durvasa is foremost among the sages whose curse is feared by
everyone in this world. He spoke thus.
Sage Durvasa said:- You evil-minded person! You are enslaved by material indulgences
like a donkey, hence you take the body of a donkey. After four lakh years, in
Mathura-Mandal in Bharat-Varsha, you will attain Mukti at the hands of
Baladeva.
Sri Narada says:- King! Due to this curse, Sri Krishna enlisted Balaram to slay
the demon Dhenuka. This way Sri Krishna also honored the promise he made to
Prahlada that He would not slay any demon who would be born in Prahlada’s
lineage.
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