CHAPTER XXXIII.But Kangsa was troubled by the triumph of the brothers, and next morning called the wrestlers who were to match the two brothers, and again put to them the weight of the contest, and placed armed men at the gates of the arena. He then proceeded with many forebodings to the amphitheatre, where the sports were to take place. He took his seat amid the beating of drums, the blaring of trumpets and the waving of banners.Already many spectators had assembled, among them many crowned chiefs, Brāhmans and Kshatriyas, all with expectancy overwhelming, as to the outcome of the wrestling.Forward the wrestlers came with a rush and stood in the centre of the ring, wrestlers whose fame was known throughout all the land for their brute strength and skill.Few there were who dared to meet these men, and as Krishna and Rima came forward to see the meeting of the first pair, they found a huge elephant posted there at the entrance.Krishna, seeing this, asked the driver to make way with the beast for Him. At this the rider urged the infuriated beast towards Him.With a smile, Krishna grasped with his soft little hand the nose of the furious beast, who, with a bellow, fell to the ground lifeless, dragging the driver down with him.Krishna then tore the tusks from the brute's head; and Rāma and Krishna entered the wrestling grounds with the tusks in their hands and blood-stained from the slaying of the beast.Kangsa's heart sank at the sight, and even the wrestlers recoiled in terror at the blood-stained figures who gazed on them with supernatural power in their youthful eyes.Yet true to the command of Kangsa, Chānoor, the chief of the wrestlers, cried: "Come, ye youngsters, good wrestlers are ye! The good king hath invited you to participate in the contest, so come and wrestle and give pleasure to King Kangsa, he who is the greatest of all kings and men.With a smile all-wise Krishna looked at the wrestlers, then, with eye aslant, he gazed on Kangsa, who trembled at the look; and answered Chānoor thus: "Though subjects of King Kangsa, yet only boys of the forest are we, unlearned in the art of wrestling. Therefore, we pray you, match us with boys of our age and not with men whose muscles are iron and whose hearts are bold as a lion's. If we are to meet men like these, unfair is the game, and unjust, and we decline the arrangement." Then Chānoor became insolent, because of the confession of Krishna which he thought was made in weakness, and cried:"O thou who hast killed the furious elephant as if in sport, thou askest to be matched with one of thine own age! With me thou shalt wrestle, me the most powerful, the strongest man of the age, and Rāma shall match with Mushtik; and, be it just or unjust, fair or unfair, thee I will fight and fight to kill." And so a combat began between the man that was mortal and the youth that was God.The man a giant was of colossal brute force, of stature great, with muscles all knotted and crooked as the boughs of an oak-tree of many years' growth.And the Boy, smooth as a sweet maiden, all curved with grace, smilingly awaited the onslaught.Forward the wrestler came, with the snort of a wild bull, to meet the Boy, who, calm and serene, smiled in his eye.The people arose and sprang from their benches, and hissed, and threw their head gear and staffs into the ring, as they shouted:"Give up, the fight is unfair!""Oh, shame!" they cried, "coward and beast! put a stop to the slaughter!" on seeing the seemingly unequal fight.Several times Chānoor struck furious blows at the fair, slight body of Krishna, the youth, but provoked naught but a smile from Him; while beads of blood sprang to the brow and arms of Chānoor, and his huge legs trembled and broke at the knee as he tried to reach the belt of Him, who, after several circles about the ring, seized Chānoor by the arms, and, lifting him high above His head, to the wonderment of the crowd, dashed him down to the ground, as a playing child doth throw the pebbles. And the wrestler breathed his last with a yearning look of love in his eyes, as they rested on Him, whom a moment before he beheld with hate.And Rāma, too, victorious was.But when Krishna stood and faced the mass of people there, they shouted and cheered with mad delight and jumped on the railings in panic wild: "He is more than human, He is God come down to earth! It is He, for whom the world hath waited! He will free our land from oppression! Hari is He, the Invincible! Oh, mighty art Thou and possessest in Thy frame the forces of all the universe!"But Kangsa, the King, full of terror and rage, cried: "Ho, guards! Seize him and take him to the outskirts of my kingdom and drive him into banishment Imprison Nanda and Yasodā, confiscate all their lands and belongings, and take from the Gopas their wealth and goods and drive them from Brindāban. Kill Devaki and Vāsudeva, who are now imprisoned in my dungeon. Kill all who know and love this youth, 'tis my command."A moment Krishna gazed on Kangsa, then with a bound he reached the platform where Kangsa stood with sword unsheathed."O Kangsa. I am the eighth son of Devaki whom thou so long hast sought to slay. It is writ that thou by my hand must die! O King, dost thou think that human hand can turn aside the force of the Law?"And hurling Kangsa down on the ground, He leaped over the prostrate king, whereat his life departed.But his glazed eyes were fixed on Him whose hand had blessed even him by its touch and burned away every sin from his soul.Then, hastening through the lines of guards, who prostrated low at His approach. He went to where His father and mother were imprisoned in dungeons dark and deep.Low he bent to their feet, murmuring in accents sweet;"O parents mine! Oh, much have ye suffered for my sake and all ye shall gain through Me; for in Me is all there is to gain and outside of Me there is naught. From thy womb. O Devaki, I was born, yet out of Me thou didst come. I prostrate before thee."Then saluting them both, 'mid deafening cheers, he led them forth to the palace.And the father of Kangsa, dethroned by his son, received and welcomed them there.And wild was the joy of the populace on that day that Krishna lifted the yoke of bondage from them, and they blessed the hour that the sun had ushered in that day, which brought a new ruler in their land.And already Mathura felt the joy that was but a forerunner of a perfect reign. For Krishna it was who placed on the throne the one who would rule the land in goodness and plenty.
CHAPTER XXXIII.But Kangsa was troubled by the triumph of the brothers, and next morning called the wrestlers who were to match the two brothers, and again put to them the weight of the contest, and placed armed men at the gates of the arena. He then proceeded with many forebodings to the amphitheatre, where the sports were to take place. He took his seat amid the beating of drums, the blaring of trumpets and the waving of banners.Already many spectators had assembled, among them many crowned chiefs, Brāhmans and Kshatriyas, all with expectancy overwhelming, as to the outcome of the wrestling.Forward the wrestlers came with a rush and stood in the centre of the ring, wrestlers whose fame was known throughout all the land for their brute strength and skill.Few there were who dared to meet these men, and as Krishna and Rima came forward to see the meeting of the first pair, they found a huge elephant posted there at the entrance.Krishna, seeing this, asked the driver to make way with the beast for Him. At this the rider urged the infuriated beast towards Him.With a smile, Krishna grasped with his soft little hand the nose of the furious beast, who, with a bellow, fell to the ground lifeless, dragging the driver down with him.Krishna then tore the tusks from the brute's head; and Rāma and Krishna entered the wrestling grounds with the tusks in their hands and blood-stained from the slaying of the beast.Kangsa's heart sank at the sight, and even the wrestlers recoiled in terror at the blood-stained figures who gazed on them with supernatural power in their youthful eyes.Yet true to the command of Kangsa, Chānoor, the chief of the wrestlers, cried: "Come, ye youngsters, good wrestlers are ye! The good king hath invited you to participate in the contest, so come and wrestle and give pleasure to King Kangsa, he who is the greatest of all kings and men.With a smile all-wise Krishna looked at the wrestlers, then, with eye aslant, he gazed on Kangsa, who trembled at the look; and answered Chānoor thus: "Though subjects of King Kangsa, yet only boys of the forest are we, unlearned in the art of wrestling. Therefore, we pray you, match us with boys of our age and not with men whose muscles are iron and whose hearts are bold as a lion's. If we are to meet men like these, unfair is the game, and unjust, and we decline the arrangement." Then Chānoor became insolent, because of the confession of Krishna which he thought was made in weakness, and cried:"O thou who hast killed the furious elephant as if in sport, thou askest to be matched with one of thine own age! With me thou shalt wrestle, me the most powerful, the strongest man of the age, and Rāma shall match with Mushtik; and, be it just or unjust, fair or unfair, thee I will fight and fight to kill." And so a combat began between the man that was mortal and the youth that was God.The man a giant was of colossal brute force, of stature great, with muscles all knotted and crooked as the boughs of an oak-tree of many years' growth.And the Boy, smooth as a sweet maiden, all curved with grace, smilingly awaited the onslaught.Forward the wrestler came, with the snort of a wild bull, to meet the Boy, who, calm and serene, smiled in his eye.The people arose and sprang from their benches, and hissed, and threw their head gear and staffs into the ring, as they shouted:"Give up, the fight is unfair!""Oh, shame!" they cried, "coward and beast! put a stop to the slaughter!" on seeing the seemingly unequal fight.Several times Chānoor struck furious blows at the fair, slight body of Krishna, the youth, but provoked naught but a smile from Him; while beads of blood sprang to the brow and arms of Chānoor, and his huge legs trembled and broke at the knee as he tried to reach the belt of Him, who, after several circles about the ring, seized Chānoor by the arms, and, lifting him high above His head, to the wonderment of the crowd, dashed him down to the ground, as a playing child doth throw the pebbles. And the wrestler breathed his last with a yearning look of love in his eyes, as they rested on Him, whom a moment before he beheld with hate.And Rāma, too, victorious was.But when Krishna stood and faced the mass of people there, they shouted and cheered with mad delight and jumped on the railings in panic wild: "He is more than human, He is God come down to earth! It is He, for whom the world hath waited! He will free our land from oppression! Hari is He, the Invincible! Oh, mighty art Thou and possessest in Thy frame the forces of all the universe!"But Kangsa, the King, full of terror and rage, cried: "Ho, guards! Seize him and take him to the outskirts of my kingdom and drive him into banishment Imprison Nanda and Yasodā, confiscate all their lands and belongings, and take from the Gopas their wealth and goods and drive them from Brindāban. Kill Devaki and Vāsudeva, who are now imprisoned in my dungeon. Kill all who know and love this youth, 'tis my command."A moment Krishna gazed on Kangsa, then with a bound he reached the platform where Kangsa stood with sword unsheathed."O Kangsa. I am the eighth son of Devaki whom thou so long hast sought to slay. It is writ that thou by my hand must die! O King, dost thou think that human hand can turn aside the force of the Law?"And hurling Kangsa down on the ground, He leaped over the prostrate king, whereat his life departed.But his glazed eyes were fixed on Him whose hand had blessed even him by its touch and burned away every sin from his soul.Then, hastening through the lines of guards, who prostrated low at His approach. He went to where His father and mother were imprisoned in dungeons dark and deep.Low he bent to their feet, murmuring in accents sweet;"O parents mine! Oh, much have ye suffered for my sake and all ye shall gain through Me; for in Me is all there is to gain and outside of Me there is naught. From thy womb. O Devaki, I was born, yet out of Me thou didst come. I prostrate before thee."Then saluting them both, 'mid deafening cheers, he led them forth to the palace.And the father of Kangsa, dethroned by his son, received and welcomed them there.And wild was the joy of the populace on that day that Krishna lifted the yoke of bondage from them, and they blessed the hour that the sun had ushered in that day, which brought a new ruler in their land.And already Mathura felt the joy that was but a forerunner of a perfect reign. For Krishna it was who placed on the throne the one who would rule the land in goodness and plenty.
CHAPTER XXXIII.But Kangsa was troubled by the triumph of the brothers, and next morning called the wrestlers who were to match the two brothers, and again put to them the weight of the contest, and placed armed men at the gates of the arena. He then proceeded with many forebodings to the amphitheatre, where the sports were to take place. He took his seat amid the beating of drums, the blaring of trumpets and the waving of banners.Already many spectators had assembled, among them many crowned chiefs, Brāhmans and Kshatriyas, all with expectancy overwhelming, as to the outcome of the wrestling.Forward the wrestlers came with a rush and stood in the centre of the ring, wrestlers whose fame was known throughout all the land for their brute strength and skill.Few there were who dared to meet these men, and as Krishna and Rima came forward to see the meeting of the first pair, they found a huge elephant posted there at the entrance.Krishna, seeing this, asked the driver to make way with the beast for Him. At this the rider urged the infuriated beast towards Him.With a smile, Krishna grasped with his soft little hand the nose of the furious beast, who, with a bellow, fell to the ground lifeless, dragging the driver down with him.Krishna then tore the tusks from the brute's head; and Rāma and Krishna entered the wrestling grounds with the tusks in their hands and blood-stained from the slaying of the beast.Kangsa's heart sank at the sight, and even the wrestlers recoiled in terror at the blood-stained figures who gazed on them with supernatural power in their youthful eyes.Yet true to the command of Kangsa, Chānoor, the chief of the wrestlers, cried: "Come, ye youngsters, good wrestlers are ye! The good king hath invited you to participate in the contest, so come and wrestle and give pleasure to King Kangsa, he who is the greatest of all kings and men.With a smile all-wise Krishna looked at the wrestlers, then, with eye aslant, he gazed on Kangsa, who trembled at the look; and answered Chānoor thus: "Though subjects of King Kangsa, yet only boys of the forest are we, unlearned in the art of wrestling. Therefore, we pray you, match us with boys of our age and not with men whose muscles are iron and whose hearts are bold as a lion's. If we are to meet men like these, unfair is the game, and unjust, and we decline the arrangement." Then Chānoor became insolent, because of the confession of Krishna which he thought was made in weakness, and cried:"O thou who hast killed the furious elephant as if in sport, thou askest to be matched with one of thine own age! With me thou shalt wrestle, me the most powerful, the strongest man of the age, and Rāma shall match with Mushtik; and, be it just or unjust, fair or unfair, thee I will fight and fight to kill." And so a combat began between the man that was mortal and the youth that was God.The man a giant was of colossal brute force, of stature great, with muscles all knotted and crooked as the boughs of an oak-tree of many years' growth.And the Boy, smooth as a sweet maiden, all curved with grace, smilingly awaited the onslaught.Forward the wrestler came, with the snort of a wild bull, to meet the Boy, who, calm and serene, smiled in his eye.The people arose and sprang from their benches, and hissed, and threw their head gear and staffs into the ring, as they shouted:"Give up, the fight is unfair!""Oh, shame!" they cried, "coward and beast! put a stop to the slaughter!" on seeing the seemingly unequal fight.Several times Chānoor struck furious blows at the fair, slight body of Krishna, the youth, but provoked naught but a smile from Him; while beads of blood sprang to the brow and arms of Chānoor, and his huge legs trembled and broke at the knee as he tried to reach the belt of Him, who, after several circles about the ring, seized Chānoor by the arms, and, lifting him high above His head, to the wonderment of the crowd, dashed him down to the ground, as a playing child doth throw the pebbles. And the wrestler breathed his last with a yearning look of love in his eyes, as they rested on Him, whom a moment before he beheld with hate.And Rāma, too, victorious was.But when Krishna stood and faced the mass of people there, they shouted and cheered with mad delight and jumped on the railings in panic wild: "He is more than human, He is God come down to earth! It is He, for whom the world hath waited! He will free our land from oppression! Hari is He, the Invincible! Oh, mighty art Thou and possessest in Thy frame the forces of all the universe!"But Kangsa, the King, full of terror and rage, cried: "Ho, guards! Seize him and take him to the outskirts of my kingdom and drive him into banishment Imprison Nanda and Yasodā, confiscate all their lands and belongings, and take from the Gopas their wealth and goods and drive them from Brindāban. Kill Devaki and Vāsudeva, who are now imprisoned in my dungeon. Kill all who know and love this youth, 'tis my command."A moment Krishna gazed on Kangsa, then with a bound he reached the platform where Kangsa stood with sword unsheathed."O Kangsa. I am the eighth son of Devaki whom thou so long hast sought to slay. It is writ that thou by my hand must die! O King, dost thou think that human hand can turn aside the force of the Law?"And hurling Kangsa down on the ground, He leaped over the prostrate king, whereat his life departed.But his glazed eyes were fixed on Him whose hand had blessed even him by its touch and burned away every sin from his soul.Then, hastening through the lines of guards, who prostrated low at His approach. He went to where His father and mother were imprisoned in dungeons dark and deep.Low he bent to their feet, murmuring in accents sweet;"O parents mine! Oh, much have ye suffered for my sake and all ye shall gain through Me; for in Me is all there is to gain and outside of Me there is naught. From thy womb. O Devaki, I was born, yet out of Me thou didst come. I prostrate before thee."Then saluting them both, 'mid deafening cheers, he led them forth to the palace.And the father of Kangsa, dethroned by his son, received and welcomed them there.And wild was the joy of the populace on that day that Krishna lifted the yoke of bondage from them, and they blessed the hour that the sun had ushered in that day, which brought a new ruler in their land.And already Mathura felt the joy that was but a forerunner of a perfect reign. For Krishna it was who placed on the throne the one who would rule the land in goodness and plenty.
But Kangsa was troubled by the triumph of the brothers, and next morning called the wrestlers who were to match the two brothers, and again put to them the weight of the contest, and placed armed men at the gates of the arena. He then proceeded with many forebodings to the amphitheatre, where the sports were to take place. He took his seat amid the beating of drums, the blaring of trumpets and the waving of banners.
Already many spectators had assembled, among them many crowned chiefs, Brāhmans and Kshatriyas, all with expectancy overwhelming, as to the outcome of the wrestling.
Forward the wrestlers came with a rush and stood in the centre of the ring, wrestlers whose fame was known throughout all the land for their brute strength and skill.
Few there were who dared to meet these men, and as Krishna and Rima came forward to see the meeting of the first pair, they found a huge elephant posted there at the entrance.
Krishna, seeing this, asked the driver to make way with the beast for Him. At this the rider urged the infuriated beast towards Him.
With a smile, Krishna grasped with his soft little hand the nose of the furious beast, who, with a bellow, fell to the ground lifeless, dragging the driver down with him.
Krishna then tore the tusks from the brute's head; and Rāma and Krishna entered the wrestling grounds with the tusks in their hands and blood-stained from the slaying of the beast.
Kangsa's heart sank at the sight, and even the wrestlers recoiled in terror at the blood-stained figures who gazed on them with supernatural power in their youthful eyes.
Yet true to the command of Kangsa, Chānoor, the chief of the wrestlers, cried: "Come, ye youngsters, good wrestlers are ye! The good king hath invited you to participate in the contest, so come and wrestle and give pleasure to King Kangsa, he who is the greatest of all kings and men.
With a smile all-wise Krishna looked at the wrestlers, then, with eye aslant, he gazed on Kangsa, who trembled at the look; and answered Chānoor thus: "Though subjects of King Kangsa, yet only boys of the forest are we, unlearned in the art of wrestling. Therefore, we pray you, match us with boys of our age and not with men whose muscles are iron and whose hearts are bold as a lion's. If we are to meet men like these, unfair is the game, and unjust, and we decline the arrangement." Then Chānoor became insolent, because of the confession of Krishna which he thought was made in weakness, and cried:
"O thou who hast killed the furious elephant as if in sport, thou askest to be matched with one of thine own age! With me thou shalt wrestle, me the most powerful, the strongest man of the age, and Rāma shall match with Mushtik; and, be it just or unjust, fair or unfair, thee I will fight and fight to kill." And so a combat began between the man that was mortal and the youth that was God.
The man a giant was of colossal brute force, of stature great, with muscles all knotted and crooked as the boughs of an oak-tree of many years' growth.
And the Boy, smooth as a sweet maiden, all curved with grace, smilingly awaited the onslaught.
Forward the wrestler came, with the snort of a wild bull, to meet the Boy, who, calm and serene, smiled in his eye.
The people arose and sprang from their benches, and hissed, and threw their head gear and staffs into the ring, as they shouted:
"Give up, the fight is unfair!"
"Oh, shame!" they cried, "coward and beast! put a stop to the slaughter!" on seeing the seemingly unequal fight.
Several times Chānoor struck furious blows at the fair, slight body of Krishna, the youth, but provoked naught but a smile from Him; while beads of blood sprang to the brow and arms of Chānoor, and his huge legs trembled and broke at the knee as he tried to reach the belt of Him, who, after several circles about the ring, seized Chānoor by the arms, and, lifting him high above His head, to the wonderment of the crowd, dashed him down to the ground, as a playing child doth throw the pebbles. And the wrestler breathed his last with a yearning look of love in his eyes, as they rested on Him, whom a moment before he beheld with hate.
And Rāma, too, victorious was.
But when Krishna stood and faced the mass of people there, they shouted and cheered with mad delight and jumped on the railings in panic wild: "He is more than human, He is God come down to earth! It is He, for whom the world hath waited! He will free our land from oppression! Hari is He, the Invincible! Oh, mighty art Thou and possessest in Thy frame the forces of all the universe!"
But Kangsa, the King, full of terror and rage, cried: "Ho, guards! Seize him and take him to the outskirts of my kingdom and drive him into banishment Imprison Nanda and Yasodā, confiscate all their lands and belongings, and take from the Gopas their wealth and goods and drive them from Brindāban. Kill Devaki and Vāsudeva, who are now imprisoned in my dungeon. Kill all who know and love this youth, 'tis my command."
A moment Krishna gazed on Kangsa, then with a bound he reached the platform where Kangsa stood with sword unsheathed.
"O Kangsa. I am the eighth son of Devaki whom thou so long hast sought to slay. It is writ that thou by my hand must die! O King, dost thou think that human hand can turn aside the force of the Law?"
And hurling Kangsa down on the ground, He leaped over the prostrate king, whereat his life departed.
But his glazed eyes were fixed on Him whose hand had blessed even him by its touch and burned away every sin from his soul.
Then, hastening through the lines of guards, who prostrated low at His approach. He went to where His father and mother were imprisoned in dungeons dark and deep.
Low he bent to their feet, murmuring in accents sweet;
"O parents mine! Oh, much have ye suffered for my sake and all ye shall gain through Me; for in Me is all there is to gain and outside of Me there is naught. From thy womb. O Devaki, I was born, yet out of Me thou didst come. I prostrate before thee."
Then saluting them both, 'mid deafening cheers, he led them forth to the palace.
And the father of Kangsa, dethroned by his son, received and welcomed them there.
And wild was the joy of the populace on that day that Krishna lifted the yoke of bondage from them, and they blessed the hour that the sun had ushered in that day, which brought a new ruler in their land.
And already Mathura felt the joy that was but a forerunner of a perfect reign. For Krishna it was who placed on the throne the one who would rule the land in goodness and plenty.