Chapter Fifty-One
The Deliverance of Mucukunda
1-6. Sukadeva Gosvami said: Kalayavana saw the Lord come out from Mathura like the rising moon. The Lord was most beautiful to behold, with His dark-blue complexion and yellow silk garment. Upon His chest He bore the mark of Srivatsa, and the Kaustubha gem adorned His neck. His four arms were sturdy and long. He displayed His ever-joyful lotuslike face, with eyes pink like lotuses, beautifully effulgent cheeks, a pristine smile and glittering shark-shaped earrings. The barbarian thought, “This person must indeed be Vasudeva, since He possesses the characteristics Narada mentioned: He is marked with Srivatsa, He has four arms, His eyes are like lotuses, He wears a garland of forest flowers, and He is extremely handsome. He cannot be anyone else. Since He goes on foot and unarmed, I will fight Him without weapons.” Resolving thus, he ran after the Lord, who turned His back and ran away. Kalayavana hoped to catch Lord Krishna, though great mystic yogis cannot attain Him.
7. Appearing virtually within reach of Kalayavana’s hands at every moment, Lord Hari led the King of the Yavanas far away to a mountain cave.
8. While chasing the Lord, the Yavana cast insults at Him, saying “You took birth in the Yadu dynasty. It’s not proper for You to run away!” But still Kalayavana could not reach Lord Krishna, because his sinful reactions had not been cleansed away.
9. Although insulted in this way, the Supreme Lord entered the mountain cave. Kalayavana also entered, and there he saw another man lying asleep.
10. “So, after leading me such a long distance, now He is lying here like some saint!” Thus thinking the sleeping man to be Lord Krishna, the deluded fool kicked him with all his strength.
11. The man awoke aher a long sleep and slowly opened his eyes. Looking all about, he saw Kalayavana standing beside him.
12. The awakened man was angry and cast his glance at Kalayavana, whose body burst into flames. In a single moment, O King Pariksit, Kalayavana was burnt to ashes.
13. King Pariksit said: Who was that person, O brahmana? To which family did he belong, and what were his powers? Why did that destroyer of the barbarian lie down to sleep in the cave, and whose son was he?
14. Sukadeva Gosvami said: Mucukunda was the name of this great personality, who was born in the Iksvaku dynasty as the son of Mandhata. He was devoted to brahminical culture and always true to his vow in battle.
15. Begged by Indra and the other demigods to help protect them when they were terrorized by the demons, Mucukunda defended them for a long time.
16. When the demigods obtained Karttikeya as their general, they told Mucukunda, “O King, you may now give up your troublesome duty of guarding us.
17. “Abandoning an unopposed kingdom in the world of men, O valiant one, you neglected all your personal desires while engaged in protecting us.
18. “The children, queens, relatives, ministers, advisers and subjects who were your contemporaries are no longer alive. They have all been swept away by time.
19. “Inexhaustible time, stronger than the strong, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Like a herdsman moving his animals along, He moves mortal creatures as His pastime.
20. “All good fortune to you! Now please choose a benediction from us—anything but liberation, since only the infallible Supreme Lord, Visnu, can bestow that.”
21. Addressed thus, King Mucukunda took his respectful leave of the demigods and went to a cave, where he lay down to enjoy the sleep they had granted him.
22. After the Yavana was burnt to ashes, the Supreme Lord, chief of the Satvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.
23-26. As he gazed at the Lord, King Mucukunda saw that He was dark blue like a cloud, had four arms, and wore a yellow silk garment. On His chest He bore the Srivatsa mark and on His neck the brilliantly glowing Kaustubha gem. Adorned with a Vaijayanti garland, the Lord displayed His handsome, peaceful face, which attracts the eyes of all mankind with its shark-shaped earrings and affectionately smiling glance. The beauty of His youthful form was unexcelled, and He moved with the nobility of an angry lion. The highly intelligent King was overwhelmed by the Lord’s effulgence, which showed Him to be invincible. Expressing his uncertainty, Mucukunda hesitantly questioned Lord Krishna as follows.
27. Sri Mucukunda said: Who are You who have come to this mountain cave in the forest, having walked on the thorny ground with feet as soft as lotus petals?
28. Perhaps You are the potency of all potent beings. Or maybe You are the powerful god of fire, or the sun-god, the moon-god, the King of heaven or the ruling demigod of some other planet.
29. I think You are the Supreme Personality among the three chief gods, since You drive away the darkness of this cave as a lamp dispels darkness with its light.
30. O best among men, if You like, please truly describe Your birth, activities and lineage to us, who are eager to hear.
31. As for ourselves, O tiger among men, we belong to a family of fallen ksatriyas, descendants of King Iksvaku. My name is Mucukunda, my Lord, and I am the son of Yauvanasva.
32. I was fatigued after remaining awake for a long time, and my senses were overwhelmed by sleep. Thus I slept comfortably here in this solitary place until, just now, someone woke me.
33. Kalayavana had declared himself the enemy of Sri Krishna and the Yadu dynasty. Through Mucukunda, Sri Krishna destroyed the opposition of that foolish barbarian.