274 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

to join with us in wrestling so that all the people present here, along with
the king, will be pleased.”

Krsna immediately understood the purpose of Canira’s statements, and
He prepared to wrestle with him. But according to the time and circum-
stances, He spoke as follows: “You are the subject, of the King of Bhoja,
and you live in the jungle. We are also indirectly his subjects, and we try
to please him as far as possible. This offer of wrestling is a great favor of
his, but the fact is that We are simply boys. We sometimes play in the
forest of Vrndavana with our friends who are our own age. We think that
to combat persons of equal age and strength is good for us, but to fight
great wrestlers like you would not be good for the audience. It would
contradict their religious principles.” Krsna thus indicated that the cele-
brated, strong wrestlers should not challenge Krsna and Balarama to fight.

In reply to this, Caniira said, “My dear Krsna, we can understand that
You are neither a child nor a young man. You are transcendental to every-
one, as is Your big brother, Balarama. You have already killed the elephant
Kuvalayapida, who was capable of fighting and defeating other elephants.
You have killed him in a wonderful way. Because of Your strength, it
behooves You to compete with the stronger wrestlers amongst us. |
therefore wish to wrestle with You, and Your elder brother, Balarama, will
wrestle with Mustika.”’

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Forty-second Chapter of
Krsna, “The Killing of the Elephant Kuvalayapida.”
