Narayana Krishna

Krishna said to Cānura, ‘We have come here to bring joy to king Kamsa and wrestling is very dear to us. However, as we are young boys, it is right that we should wrestle with boys who are equal to us in might. This will ensure that the rules of wrestling combats are not transgressed. Hence please arrange for wrestlers who match us in might. Wrestling should be bound by righteousness. This will ensure that no sin attaches to the assembled members here”.

Sin attaches to the audience who are witnessing an unrighteous wrestling match. Watching a battle that is righteous in nature and is bound by truthfulness causes well-being of the observer. It also causes the well-being of the citizens. On the contrary, an unrighteous battle composed of trickery and cheating brings harm to the citizens.

“Hearing this Chānura replied, “Neither you nor Balarama is an infant. Neither are you young boys who play in the streets. You both are the mightiest among the able-bodied fighters. We have witnessed how playfully you killed Kuvalayapiḍa which had in it the strength of a thousand elephants. This decisively proves your might. It is therefore right that you both must participate in this wrestling bout with us”.

Cānura presumed that Krishna was trying to evade the combat. He did not realize that Krishna was ridiculing him through such statements.

“There is nothing unrighteous in your wrestling with us. O descendant of the Vŗṣni lineage! O Krishna, show your prowess by wrestling with me. Muṣṭika will face Balarama”.

With this, the forty-third chapter of the tenth canto comes to an end.

Tenth Canto Chapter Forty-four

In this chapter, Krishna killing the wrestlers Cānura and others and death of Kamsa is covered.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “Having challenged thus, Krishna, the Supreme Lord who had previously destroyed demon Madhu, came to a resolute decision. Krishna now faced Cānura while Balarama, the son of Rohini, faced Muṣṭika. Both Muṣṭika and Cānura were considered the best among all the able-bodied wrestlers in the empire.

Desirous of winning the combat, the opponents clashed with one another. Inter-locking their arms and legs with those of their opponents, they clashed vehemently. With their legs, they kicked one another and with their hands they forcefully hit one another. Hitting the head of the opponent with their head, hitting the opponent’s chest with theirs, they fought bitterly. Hitting one another with their knees, heads, necks, legs and hands, they tried to overpower their opponents. They tried to lift their opponents, swirl them in the air before throwing them down. They sought to pin down their opponents. Through various techniques, the wrestlers tried to put down one another.

With bated breath, the people seated in the amphitheatre watched the frightening combat. Many froze in their seats.

The intensity of the combat caused the mud beneath their feet to be scattered in all directions. In order to defeat the opponent, they tried to lift them up, pin them down, tie them up or throw them, injuring each others’ bodies in the process.

Many ladies who had assembled there to witness the combat were filled with compassion and forming small batches, they began to talk amongst themselves as follows,

‘It is unrighteous combat wherein the weak are being made to fight the strong, powerful wrestlers like Cānura. It is such an unrighteous deed that is taking place in the presence of the king himself. The courtiers seated here are in agreement with this unrighteous deed wherein small children are being made to wrestle powerful men.

Can any comparison be ever drawn between wrestlers who in size resemble humungous mountains and whose power is comparable to thunderbolts, and small boys with fragile bodies who are on the threshold of youth? How unfair it is! Pitiable are these boys who are being made to fight these horrible wrestlers. What could be enjoyable in such unfair combat? Perhaps the king wants to get rid of these boys- why else would he organize unfair combat?’ some women wept as they uttered these words.

‘Undoubtedly those seated in this assembly are tainted with the sin caused due to watching an unrighteous match.

yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen na stheyaḿ tatra karhicit

One should never remain at that place where unrighteousness is ruling’.”

Krishna Narayana