CHAPTER SEVEN

The Killing of the Demon Trnavarta

In this chapter, Sri Krsna’s pastimes of breaking the cart (Sakata-
bhaijana), killing the aswra known as Trnavarta, and demonstrating the
entire universe within His mouth are especially described.

When Sukadeva Gosvami saw that Maharaja Pariksit was eagerly wait-
ing to hear about Lord Krsna’s pastimes as a child, he was very much
pleased, and he continued to speak. When Sri Krsna was only three
months old and was just trying to turn backside up, before He even at-
tempted to crawl, mother Yasodé wanted to observe a ritualistic
ceremony with her friends for the good fortune of the child. Such a
ritualistic ceremony is generally performed with ladies who also have
small children. When mother Yasoda saw that Krsna was falling asleep,
because of other engagements she put the child underneath a household
cart, called Sakata, and while the child was sleeping, she engaged herself
in other business pertaining to the auspicious ritualistic ceremony.
Underneath the cart was a cradle, and mother Yasoda placed the child in
that cradle. The child was sleeping, but suddenly He awakened and, as
usual for a child, began to kick His small legs. This kicking shook the
cart, which collapsed with a great sound, breaking completely and spill-
ing all its contents. Children who were playing nearby immediately in-
formed mother Yagoda that the cart had broken, and therefore she
hastily arrived there in great anxiety with the other gopis. Mother Yasoda
immediately took the child on her lap and allowed Him to suck her
breast. Then various types of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies were per-
formed with the help of the brahmanas. Not knowing the real identity of
the child, the brahmanas showered the child with blessings.

Another day, when mother Yasoda was sitting with her child on her
lap, she suddenly observed that he had assumed the weight of the entire
universe. She was so astonished that she had to put the child down, and
in the meantime Trnavarta, one of the servants of Karnsa, appeared there
as a whirlwind and took the child away. The whole tract of land known as
Gokula became surcharged with dust, no one could see where the child

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