THE KILLING OF DHENUKA, THE ASS DEMON
Once the cowherd friends of Krsna and Balarama told Them, “In the Talavana forest many fruits are falling from the trees, and many are lying on the ground. But all the fruits are being guarded by the evil Dhenuka. O Rama! O Krsna! Dhenuka is a most powerful demon in the form of an ass. He is surrounded by many friends who have assumed similar shapes and who are just as powerful as he. Dhenuka has eaten men alive, and therefore all people and animals are terrified of going to the Tala forest. O killer of the enemy, even the birds are afraid to fly there. In the Tala forest are sweet-smelling fruits no one has ever tasted. Indeed, even now we can smell the fragrance of the tala fruits spreading all about. O Krsna! Please get those fruits for us. Our minds are so attracted by their aroma! Dear Balarama, our desire to have those fruits is very great. If You think it’s a good idea, let’s go to that Tala forest.”
Hearing the words of Their dear companions, Krsna and Balarama laughed and, desiring to please them, set off for the Tala forest surrounded by Their cowherd boyfriends. Lord Balarama entered the Tala forest first. With His arms He began shaking the trees with the power of a maddened elephant, causing the tala fruits to fall to the ground. Hearing the sound of the falling fruits, the ass demon Dhenuka ran to attack Balarama making the earth and trees tremble. The powerful demon rushed up to Lord Balarama and sharply struck His chest with the hooves of his hind legs. Then Dhenuka began to run about, braying loudly.
Again the furious ass rushed toward Balarama and situated himself with his back toward the Lord. Then, screaming in rage, the demon hurled his two hind legs at Him. Lord Balarama seized Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him about with one hand, and threw him into the top of a palm thee. The violent wheeling motion killed the demon.
Lord Balarama threw the dead body of Dhenukasura into the tallest palm tree in the forest, and when the body landed in the treetop, the tree began shaking. The great palm tree first caused a tree by its side to shake, and then it broke under the weight of the demon. As the second tree shook, it caused a third one to shake. In this way a chain reaction was created, and many trees in the forest shook and broke.
Thoroughly enraged by the death of Dhenuka, the remaining ass demons ran to attack Krsna and Balarama. As the demons attacked, Krsna and Balarama easily seized them one after another by their hind legs and threw them all into the tops of the palm trees.
PAINTING BY JADURANI – DEVI DASI (1978)