272 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

elephant, thinking that He was still lying down, tried to push an ivory
tusk through the body of Krsna by forcibly stabbing it into the ground.
Although the elephant was harassed and angry, the caretaker riding on its
head tried to provoke it further. The elephant then rushed madly towards
Krsna. As soon as it came within reach, Krsna caught hold of the trunk
and pulled the elephant down. When the elephant and caretaker fell, |
Kysna jumped up on the elephant’s back and broke it and killed the ‘
caretaker also. After killing the elephant, Krsna took an ivory tusk on His
shoulder. Decorated with drops of perspiration and sprinkled with the
blood of the elephant, He felt very blissful, and thus He began to proceed
towards the wrestling camp. Lord Balarama took the other tusk of the
elephant on His shoulder. Accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends,
They entered the arena.

When Krsna entered the wrestling arena with Balarama and Their
friends, He appeared differently to different people according to their
different relationships (rasas) with Him. Krsna is the reservoir of all
pleasure and all kinds of rasas, both favorable and unfavorable. He appeared
to the wrestlers exactly like a thunderbolt. To the people in general He
appeared as the most beautiful personality. To the females He appeared to
be the most attractive male, Cupid personified, and thus increased their
lust. The cowherd men who were present there looked upon Krsna as their
own kinsman, coming from the same village of Vrndavana. The ksatriya
kings who were present saw Him as the strongest ruler. To the parents of
Krsna, Nanda and Yagoda, He appeared to be the most loving child. To
Kamsa, the king of the Bhoja dynasty, He appeared to be death personi-
fied. To the unintelligent, He appeared to be an incapable personality. To
the yogis present, He appeared to be the Supersoul. To the members of the
Vrsni dynasty He appeared to be the most celebrated descendant. Thus
appreciated differently by different kinds of men present, Krsna entered
the wrestling arena with Balarama and His cowherd boy friends. Having
heard that Krsna had already killed the elephant, Kuvalayapida, Karhsa
knew beyond doubt that Krsna was formidable. He thus became very much
afraid of Him. Krsna and Balarama had long hands. They were beautifully
dressed, and They were attractive to all the people assembled there. They
were dressed as if They were going to act on a dramatic stage, and They
drew the attention of all people.

The citizens of Mathura City who saw Krsna, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, became very pleased and began to look on His face with
insatiable glances, as if they were drinking the nectar of heaven. Seeing
Krsna gave them so much pleasure that it appeared that they were not
