Kaṁsa’s Growing Panic
With every demon he sent to Vṛndāvana meeting defeat, the tyrant Kaṁsa grew more desperate. Pūtanā, Tṛṇāvarta, Śakaṭāsura, Aghāsura, Ariṣṭāsura—all had fallen at the hands of the child Kṛṣṇa. The prophecies about his death haunted him constantly.
Determined to destroy the boy before his own end arrived, Kaṁsa sent Keśī, a mystical horse demon, terrible in speed and strength, to kill Kṛṣṇa.
The Arrival of Keśī
One morning, the pastures of Vṛndāvana began to tremble as Keśī stormed in, his body as massive as a mountain, hooves like thunder, and a mane of blazing flames. His neigh shook the skies and frightened the creatures of the forest. Trees fell as he galloped, and dust clouds rose like smoke from a fire.
The residents of Vraja screamed in terror. Even the animals ran in panic. Kṛṣṇa, ever fearless, stood to confront the demon, His yellow cloth fluttering in the wind, His eyes sharp and serene.
The Demon’s Charge
Keśī neighed and galloped toward Kṛṣṇa with devastating force, intending to trample Him. The earth quaked. But Kṛṣṇa calmly stepped aside, smiling, and touched the demon’s body as if brushing away a leaf. Keśī turned, enraged, and opened his mouth wide to devour the boy.
Kṛṣṇa’s Swift and Decisive Response
At that moment, Kṛṣṇa thrust His left arm deep into Keśī’s mouth. The demon laughed—thinking the boy had made a mistake. But within seconds, Kṛṣṇa’s arm began to expand, becoming heavy and burning like molten iron.
Keśī’s teeth cracked, his jaws stretched, and his breath stopped. The more he tried to pull out the arm, the more it grew and burned. Finally, unable to bear the divine power, Keśī’s body burst, and he fell dead on the ground, eyes bulging, legs twitching.
Kṛṣṇa pulled out His arm, which was still fragrant and untouched, shining with divine brilliance.
The Demigods Rejoice
From the heavens, the devatās (demigods) showered flowers, and sages offered prayers. The residents of Vṛndāvana cheered and danced. The gopas lifted Kṛṣṇa onto their shoulders, praising Him as their eternal protector.
Nārada Muni’s Visit
Just after Keśī’s death, the sage Nārada Muni appeared in the sky, glorifying Kṛṣṇa with folded hands:
“O Supreme Lord! O Master of all beings! Today You have displayed yet another aspect of Your divine power. The time is near when You shall fulfill the prophecy and end the reign of Kaṁsa.”
He foretold Kṛṣṇa’s future pastimes—the killing of Kaṁsa, the restoration of dharma, and the establishment of divine rule on earth. The gopas listened in amazement, but still thought of Kṛṣṇa as their dear friend.
The Sweetness of Vṛndāvana
Though Kṛṣṇa was being praised as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the gopīs still thought of Him as Yaśodā’s little boy, and Nanda Mahārāja embraced Him as his beloved son.
Such is the unique sweetness of Vṛndāvana, where the highest divinity is hidden within the deepest intimacy of love.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Divine power doesn’t always shout—it smiles. Kṛṣṇa’s strength is often veiled in childlike charm.
- Even the most fearsome demon is destroyed by a single move of the Lord, when He chooses.
- Kṛṣṇa’s touch purifies, even when it appears to punish.
- True bhakti, like that of Vṛndāvana’s residents, is not diminished by displays of power. It is only deepened.
- The Lord sometimes waits until the right moment, not out of fear, but to fulfill divine timing.
Origin of the Story: Harivaṁśa Purāṇa – Viṣṇu-parva, Chapters 69–70
