42 / The Killing of the Elephant Kuvalayapida

After taking their baths and finishing all other morning duties, Krsna
and Balarama could hear the beating of the kettledrums in the wrestling
camp. They immediately prepared Themselves to proceed to the spot to
see the fun. When Krsna and Balarama reached the gate of the wrestling
camp, They saw a big elephant of the name Kuvalayapida being tended by
a caretaker. The caretaker was deliberately blocking Their entrance by
keeping the elephant in front of the gateway. Krsna could understand the
purpose of the caretaker, and He prepared Himself by tightening His dress
before combatting the elephant. He began to address the caretaker in a
very grave voice, as resounding as a cloud: “You miscreant caretaker, give
way and let Me pass through the gate. If you block My way, I shall send
you and your elephant to the house of death personified.”

The caretaker, being thus insulted by Krsna, became very angry, and in
order to challenge Krsna, as was previously planned, he provoked the
elephant to attack. The elephant then moved before Krsna like inevitable
death. It rushed towards Him and tried to catch Him with its trunk, but
Krsna very dexterously moved behind the elephant. Being able to see only
to the end of its nose, the elephant could not see Krsna hiding behind its
legs, but it tried to capture Him with its trunk. Krsna again very quickly
escaped capture, and He again ran behind the elephant and caught its tail.
Holding the elephant by its tail, Krsna began to pull it, and with very great
strength He dragged it fer at least twenty-five yards, just as Garuda drags
an insignificant snake. Krsna pulled the elephant from this side to that,
from right to left, just as He used to pull the tail of a calf in His childhood.
After this, Krsna went in front of the elephant and gave it a strong slap.
He then slipped away from the elephant’s view and ran to its back. Then,
falling down on the ground, Krsna placed Himself in front of the elephant’s
two legs and caused it to trip and fall. Krsna immediately got up, but the

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