After these things had happened, Aristha, the bull demon and Dhenuka and
Pralamba had been destroyed, Govardhana had been uplifted, the serpent
Kailya had been vanquished, the two trees had been broken, the female
fiend Putanā had been destroyed and the wagon had been overturned,
Nārada went to Kansa and related to him the whole, beginning with the
transference of the child from Devaki to Yosadā. Hearing this from
Nārada, Kansa was greatly enraged with Vasudeva and remonstrated with
him hard, and with all the Yadavas in an assembly of the race. Then
thinking what was to be done he determined to destroy both Krishna and
Rāma whilist they were yet young and before they had attained to
man-hood. Accordingly he made up his mind, to invite them from Vraja
under the plea of the solemn rite of the lustration of arms, when he
would engage them in a trial of strength with his chief boxers Chānura
and Mushtika, by whom they would undoubtedly be slain. "I will send" he
said "the noble Akrura, the son of Swapalka to Gokula to bring them
hither. I will order the dreadful Kesin, who frequents the forest of
Vrindavan, to attack him, and he is of unequalled prowess and will, for
certain, kill them; or if they come here, my elephant Kuvalayapida shall
trample to death these two cow-boy sons of Vasudeva". Having thus
planned to kill Rāma and Janārddana, the vicious Kansa sent for the
heroic Akrura and said to him, "O master of liberal gifts, hear my
words: and out of friendship for me perform my orders. Ascend your
chariot and go to the house of the milkman Nanda. The two vicious boys,
portions of Vishnu, have been born there, for the very object of
bringing about my destruction. On the fourteenth lunation I intend
celebrating the rite of the lustration of arms. I wish them to be
brought here by you to take part in the games and that the people may
behold them engage in a boxing match with my too skilled boxers Chānura
and Mushtika; or by chance, my elephant, driven against them by his
rider, shall destroy these vicious youngsters—the sons of Vasudeva. When
they are out of the way, I shall kill Vasudeva himself, the cow-herds
and my foolish father Ugrasena and I will get there by the flocks, herds
and all the properties of the rebelious cow-herds who have ever been
inimical to me. Save thou, lord of liberality, all the Yadavas have been
my enemies and I will find out means for their destruction; and I shall
then govern my kingdom with thee without any disturbance. If you regard
me, do thou go as I direct thee; and thou shalt command the cow-herds to
bring in speedily their supplies of milk and butter and curds".
Being thus advised the illustrious Akrura the immediately undertook to
see Krishna and ascending his magnificent chariot he went, out from the
city of Mathura.