Parāçara said:—Being commissioned by Kansa's emissary, Kesin, elated
with the confidence of his prowess, reached Vrindavana, being desirous
of bringing about the destruction of Krishna. He assailed the cow-herds,
spurning the ground with his hoofs, scattering the clouds with his mane
and obstructing the paths of the sun and the moon. Being terrified by
the neighings of the demon, assuming the shape of a steed, the cow-herds
and their females fled to Govinda for shelter exclaiming "Save us! Save
us!!" Hearing their cries, Govinda replied in a voice deep as the
roaring of the thunder cloud. Srikrishna said: "Away with the fears of
Keshin, O cowherds; being born as Gopals, why do you destroy my valour
and heroism? Why are you afraid of one of such little might whose
neighings are his only terrors, a galloping and vicious horse who is
ridden by the strength of Daityas? Come on, wretch. I am Krishna and I
will knock all thy teeth down thy throat, as the wielder of trident did
to Pushan". Thus defying him, Govinda went to fight with Kesin. The
demon with his mouth wide open, ran upon Krishna. But Krishna, enlarging
his arms, thrust it into his mouth and knocked down the teeth which fell
from his jaws like fragments of white clouds. Still the arm of Krishna
in the throat of Krishna continued to enlarge, as a disease, neglected
in the beginning, increasing till the dissolution. The torn lips of the
demon vomitted forth foam and blood; his eyes rolled in affliction; his
joints gave way; he struck the earth with his feet; his body was covered
with perspiration and he became incapable of any exertion. Having his
mouths rent open by the arm of Krishna, that dreadful demon fell down
like a tree struck and shattered by lightning, divided into two
portions. Each of those portions had two legs, half a back, half a tail,
one ear, one eye and one nostril. Krishna stood, unhurt and smiling
after the destruction of the demons encircled by the cow-herd, who,
together with their females, were filled with surprise at the death of
Kesin and glorified the lotus-eyed deity. Beholding the destruction of
Kesin, the Brāhmin Nārada, invisible and seated in a cloud, delightedly
exclaimed—"Well done, O lord of the universe who has easily destroyed
Kesin, the oppresser of the celestials. I have never heard of such a
combat between a man and a horse; being curious to behold it, I have
come from heaven. My heart is filled with joy and surprise, O slayer of
Madhu, on beholding the wonderful works thou hast done in thy descent
upon earth. O Krishna Indra and other celestials lived in fear of this
horse, who tossed his mane and neighed and looked down upon the clouds,
Because thou hast slain the impious Kesin thou shalt be celebrated in
the world by the name of Kesava. Farewell! I will now go. I shall meet
thee again, O subduer of Kesin, in two days more, when thou shalt be
engaged in a conflict with Kansa, When the son of Ugrasena, with his
follwers shall have been slain, then, O upholder of the earth earth's
burden will have been lightened by thee. Many are the battles of the
kings that have to see, in which thou shalt be renowned; I will now go
away, O Govinda. Thou hast accomplished a great deed admired by the
celestials, I have been much pleased with thee and take my leave". When
Nārada had departed, Krishna, who was the cynosure of the eyes of the
damsels of Vraja, not the least surprised, went back with the cow-herds
to Gokula.