In the glad land of Brindāban, the land where Love reigned supreme,
because of the presence of Him who was Love Personified, who was Love
Incarnate and who as a Boy did bless the world with His Being.
In that land, 'mid childish sport and gladsome frolic, Krishna grew into
beauty of youth.
Day by day the land became more beautiful in the joyous springtime, and
one day His brother Rāma, he whose growing was beautiful, and who, like
Krishna, was marvelled at for the wonder of his doings, said unto
Krishna:
"Does not the smell of the forest invite Thee, O brother? Even here the
air is heavy with ripeness of the fruit, that the sweet spring-air hath
brought us. Shall we not go and pluck from the trees and eat our fill of
the fruits that are dropping on the ground in luxuriousness but to
become rotten?"
"Gladly would we go," said the other boys, "but we fear Dhenuka, of the
demon family, who dwelleth close thereby. It is said that he hath taken
the form of an ass and though he seemeth harmless, yet hath he much
power for evil, which he wieldeth mightily, when he hath a chance to do
so. So, though we would gladly partake of the fallen fruit, yet do we
fear him. But what sayest Thou, Krishna? Thou canst, if Thou wilt,
destroy all who are filled with hate and evil. Wilt Thou and Rāma use
your strength to protect us?"
"Let us away," quoth Krishna, and in a few moments, heated and full of
laughter, the boys were shaking the trees for the golden-sided fruit,
which seemed to smile upon them in its beauty of ripeness.
But at the first sound of happiness that reached the ears of the ass, he
rushed in the midst of the youngsters and sought to destroy them, making
Rāma and Krishna the special objects upon which to vent his hatred and
strength.
For a time both boys dodged hither and thither, trying to turn aside the
anger of the ass; but seeing that it would not be appeased, Rāma caught
him by the hind legs and after swinging him over the heads of the boys a
few times, he dashed his head against the tree and proceeded to aid the
boys in picking the fruit.
The braying of the ass had brought forth the kith and kin of the Asura,
who dwelt in the forests with him; but they, too, in a brief struggle
were killed by Rāma and Krishna.