Lily
YA
Wi
36 / Killing the Kesi Demon
and Vyomasura

After being instructed by Kamsa, the demon Kesi assumed the form of
a terrible horse. He entered the area of Vrndavana, his great mane flying
and his hooves digging up the earth. He began to whinny and terrify the
whole world. Krsna saw that the demon was terrifying all the residents of
Vrndavana with his whinnying and his tail wheeling in the sky like a big
cloud. Krsna could understand that the horse was challenging Him to
fight. The Lord accepted his challenge and stood before the Kesi demon.
As He called him to fight, the horse began to proceed towards Krsna,
making a horrible sound like a roaring lion. Kesi rushed toward the Lord
with great speed and tried to trample Him with his legs, which were
strong, forceful, and as hard as stone. Krsna, however, immediately caught
hold of his legs and thus baffled him. Being somewhat angry, Krsna began
to move around the horse dextrously. After a few rounds, He threw him a
hundred yards away, just as Garuda throws a big snake. Thrown by Krsna,
the horse immediately passed out, but after a little while he regained
consciousness and with great anger and force rushed toward Krsna again,
this time with his mouth open. As soon as Kesi reached Him, Krsna pushed
His left hand within the horse’s mouth. The horse felt great pain because
the hand of Krsna felt to him like a hot iron rod. Immediately his teeth
fell out. Krsna’s hand within the mouth of the horse at once began to
inflate,and Keéi’s throat choked up. As the great horse began to suffocate,
perspiration appeared on his body, and he began to throw his legs hither
and thither. As his last breath came, his eyeballs bulged in their sockets, and
he passed stool and urine simultaneously. Thus the vital force of his life ex-
pired. When the horse was dead, his mouth became loose and Krsna could
extract His hand without difficulty. He did not feel any surprise that the
Keéi demon was killed so easily, but the demigods were amazed, and out of
their great appreciation they offered Krsna greetings by showering flowers.

240
