116 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

go there. No one can reach the trees to collect the fruits. Dear Krsna and
Balarama, this demon is present there in the form of an ass, and he is
surrounded by similar demon friends who assume the same shape. All of
them are very strong, so it is very difficult to approach this place. Dear
brothers, You are the only persons who can kill such demons. Other than
You, no one can go there for fear of being killed. Not even animals go
there, and no birds are sleeping there; they have all left. One can only
appreciate the sweet aroma that is coming from that place. It appears that
up until now, no one has tasted the sweet fruits there, either on the tree
or on the ground. Dear Krsna, to tell You frankly, we are very attracted
by this sweet aroma. Dear Balarama, let us all go there and enjoy these
fruits. The aroma of the fruits is now spread everywhere. Don’t You smell
it from here?”

When Balarama and Krsna were thus petitioned by Their smiling,
intimate friends, They were inclined to please them, and They began to
proceed towards the forest, surrounded by all Their friends. Immediately
upon entering the Talavana, Balarama began to yank the trees with His
arms, exhibiting the strength of an elephant. Because of this jerking, all
the ripe fruits fell down on the ground. Upon hearing the sound of the
falling fruits, the demon Dhenukasura, who was living there in the form of
an ass, began to approach with great force, shaking the whole field so that
all the trees began to move as if there were an earthquake. The demon
appeared first before Balarama and began to kick His chest with his hind
legs. At first, Balarama did not say anything, but the demon with great
anger began to kick Him again more vehemently. This time Balarama
immediately caught hold of the legs of the ass with one hand and,
wheeling him around, threw him into the treetops. While he was being
wheeled around by Balarama, the demon lost his life. Balarama threw the
demon into the biggest palm tree about, and the demon’s body was so
heavy that the palm tree fell upon other trees, and several fell down. It
appeared as if a great hurricane had passed through the forest, and all the
trees were falling down, one after another. This exhibition of extraordinary
strength is not astonishing because Balarama is the Personality of Godhead
known as Ananta Sesanaga, who is holding all the planets on the hoods of
His millions of heads. The whole cosmic manifestation is maintained by
Him exactly as two threads hold the weaving of a cloth.

After the demon was thrown into the trees, all the friends and associates
of Dhenukasura immediately assembled and attacked Balarama and Krsna
with great force. They were determined to retaliate and avenge the death
of their friend. But Krsna and Balarama began to catch each of the asses
