॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
***
Acting out of friendship for Shishupala, Shalva and Paundraka, who had all been slain by Sri Krishna and had passed on to the next world, the wicked Dantavaktra now appeared on the battlefield, all alone, on foot and wielding a club in his hand, and the strides of the mighty warrior shook the earth.
Seeing Dantavakra approach, Sri Krishna quickly picked up his Gada, jumped down from his chariot and stopped his advancing opponent midstride just as the shore holds back the ocean.
Dantavaktra, King of karusha, spoke in a great rage: “What luck! What luck — to have you appear before me today!
त्वं मातुलेयो न: कृष्ण मित्रध्रुङ्मां जिघांससि । अतस्त्वां गदया मन्द हनिष्ये वज्रकल्पया ॥
T: “You are our maternal cousin, Krishna, but you committed violence against my friends, and now you want to kill me also. Therefore, fool, I will kill you with my thunderbolt club. Then, you the unintelligent one, I will have repaid my debt to my dear friends by killing you, my enemy disguised as a relative, like a disease within my body.” Dantavaktra then suddenly struck Sri Krishna with his club on his head, roaring like a lion.
गदयाभिहतोऽप्याजौ न चचाल यदूद्वह: । कृष्णोऽपि तमहन् गुर्व्या कौमोदक्या स्तनान्तरे ॥
गदानिर्भिन्नहृदय उद्वमन् रुधिरं मुखात् । प्रसार्य केशबाह्वङ्घ्रीन् धरण्यां न्यपतद् व्यसु: ॥
T: Although hit by Dantavaktra’s club, Lord Sri Krishna, the deliverer of the Yadus, did not budge from his place on the battlefield. Rather, with his massive Kaumodaki Gada, the Lord struck Dantavaktra in the middle of his chest. His heart shattered by the Gada’s blow, Dantavaktra vomited blood and fell lifeless to the ground, his hair dishevelled and his arms and legs sprawled.
तत: सूक्ष्मतरं ज्योति: कृष्णमाविशदद्भुतम् । पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां यथा चैद्यवधे नृप ॥
T: A most subtle and wondrous spark of light then [rose from the demon’s body and] entered Sri Krishna while everyone looked on just as when Shishupala was killed. Connecting the dots, we can see those two were the third duo of Vishnu haters born from the curse on Jaya Vijaya, the two door-keepers of Vaikuntha by the Kumaras.
Thereafter, Sri Krishna was attacked by Dantavaktra’s brother Viduratha, who was again despatched to the next world by Sri Krishna.
Thus we see in this episode Sri Krishna fulfilling his promise of ridding the earth of evil kings in several different ways. Having thus destroyed Shalva and his Saubha airship, along with Dantavaktra and his younger brother, all of whom were invincible before any other opponent, the Lord was praised by gods, human beings and great sages, by Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas and other beings. As they sang his glories and showered him with flowers, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna entered his festively decorated capital city of Dwaraka in the company of the most eminent Vrishnis.
Sage Shuka adds that those who know Sri Krishna’s divinity understand that there is no question of defeat in his case, something attributed by only those with “beastly” understanding of the Lord.
***
Now what follows is a strange episode of Balarama.
श्रुत्वा युद्धोद्यमं राम: कुरूणां सह पाण्डवै: । तीर्थाभिषेकव्याजेन मध्यस्थ: प्रययौ किल ॥
T: Lord Balarama came to know that the Kauravas were preparing for war with the Paṇdavas. As he was equally close to both parties and in order to remain neutral, Balarama decided to go away on a pilgrimage.
He entered the forest of Naimisharanya during his travels and came to the place where all the Shaunaka and other sages were seated listening to the recitation of holy scriptures by Romaharshana, a disciple of Sage Vyasa himself. He is also called Suta. We have read in the very beginning that the Sutas were gifted raconteurs blessed to participate in Yajnas and Vedic rituals to perform the role of narrators of scriptures.
Balarama was received by the sages present with all courtesy and offered a seat. But he saw that neither Romaharshana rose in respect or offer obeisance to Balarama when he had arrived. This enraged Balarama.
अदान्तस्याविनीतस्य वृथा पण्डितमानिन: । न गुणाय भवन्ति स्म नटस्येवाजितात्मन: ॥
T: Baralama said, “This man of low birth since he is neither a Brahmin nor a Kshatriya has become arrogant by being a disciple of Sage Vyasa. He is neither self-controlled nor obedient and respectful. He deludes himself thinking he is learned. These people learned in the scriptures are like actors reprising the roles of ascetics. No sagely virtue is seen in these interlopers. I shall destroy him to teach a lesson to all.” Saying this, he picked up a bunch of Darbha grass, weaponised it with his mystic power, and struck the Suta Romaharshana dead!
All the sages were simply outraged and deeply regretted this impetuous act, They cried, “ Balarama! You have committed a sin!
Oh Yadava hero, we gave him the seat of the spiritual master and promised him long life and freedom from physical pain for as long as this Yajna continues. Given your divinity, the sin of killing a “Brahmin” thus will not stick to you, but you should perform due atonement nevertheless.”
Balarama saw his folly. He was truly remorseful. He offered to infuse all the mystic powers and learning treasured in Romaharshana into his son, saying that a physical offspring was only a chip off the old block and could carry on in the same vein as his father.
The sages concurred that by doing this, and profoundly atoning his impetuous Adharmic act, Balarama should pursue a year-long course of pilgrimage and asceticism without recess. Before going away, the sages also requested Balarama to slay a demon called Balavala who was a big nuisance and tormented the sages and disturbed their Yajnas.
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
