Trinavarta Receives Kamsa’s Orders

Trinavarta walked into the court of Kamsa, “Welcome, my friend,” said the visibly hassled Lord of Mathura. “I need your help.”

“Tell me, O King, what can I do for you?”

“I need you to go to Vrindavan!”

The name created a tremor in Trinavarta’s heart. Despite his fame for limitless strength and magical powers, Vrindavan stirred a fear in his mind, brought on by the news of the death of his two friends, Putana and Utkaca. Not to mention, the rumour that it was a mere baby who killed them. 

While he didn’t believe the rumours (How could a child do this feat! That would be ridiculous!) until a few days ago, he had believed that his two friends were invincible. In fact, he believed he was invincible, immortal. 

How foolish he had been! Obviously, mortality was a part of earthly life. He had come to terms with it for a few days now. 

Yet, hearing the name of Vrindavan filled his heart and mind with fear. But, like his friends before him, he could never say no to his king and his friend, Kamsa. He had been a close associate and a loyal soldier for too long to break away now. He knew he would have to go to Gokul and find out the root of the problem.

“Of course, my Lord. As you command. I will, with your blessings, finish what my friends failed to do.”

Trinavarta smiled confidently at his king, whose dark face momentarily lit up. But the fear of death was evident on Kamsa’s face. He was sweating profusely. His hands were clammy when he placed them on his soldier’s shoulders to hug him in gratitude. His heart was racing like a horse grappling in a deathly whirlwind.

Maybe he is regretting his ignoble actions, including usurping his father’s kingdom after imprisoning the old man, placing his sister, Devaki, and brother-in-law, Vasudev, under house arrest driven by the dread of that terrible prophecy, and so much more. But who am I to judge my king? Didn’t I follow his orders blindly without caring for the consequences? Did I not kill hundreds and thousands of innocents to bring glory to him, and in turn for me? 

Trinavarta, King Saharaksha, and Sage Durvasa

This palpable fear emanating from Kamsa’s body triggered an ancient memory from the depths of Trinavarta’s soul. A vision filled his mind, so vivid that it seemed the events were unfolding right now.

It was a beautiful, sunny day in a dense, verdant jungle in the middle of which was a rippling river. Sounds of laughter came through. Trinavarta went closer to the sounds to see a handsome king playing in the water, surrounded by beautiful damsels. He was ravishing them one by one, sometimes working with more one. The damsels were enjoying themselves thoroughly, too. 

Suddenly, Trinavarta recognised the king. It was King Sahasraksha of the ancient Pandya kingdom, his form in a previous birth. As he walked closer to the banks of the river, he could even recall the emotions that Sahasraksha felt – the rising of his manhood as the women pleasured him no end. Trinavarta felt his groins groan in pleasure as those emotions leapt to the fore. 

But now, he saw something that Sahasraksha had missed. He saw Sage Durvasa, known for his terrible curses when angered, walking towards the king. He was not alone. A few of his disciples were there with him.

Trinavarta opened his mouth to warn the king. But no sound came from his lips. He watched in horror as the sage stood on the banks of the river waiting to be acknowledged by King Sahasraksha, whose lustful passions made him blind to the world around him.

The sage, seething with anger, cursed the king, “Since you are so attached to the tamasic aspects of the world, you will be reborn as a demon.”

The curse was strong enough to pull Sahasraksha from his reverie. He rushed out of the water, covered himself with a cloth, and fell at the sage’s feet, pleading for mercy. The king’s genuine regret helped calm the sage’s anger, and he said, “Lord Vishnu will release your demonic birth when it’s time.”

The vision disappeared. Trinavarta almost hit his head when he realised his folly. He had underestimated the child in Vrindavan. Lord Vishnu had taken birth on earth to release people like him, Putana, and Utkaca. That was why he could kill the powerful demons. They didn’t die at the hands of the child. He redeemed them. Even as Kamsa released him from his bear hug, he smiled inwardly and took leave. 

Trinavarta and Kanha

Trinavarta’s smile widened as he proceeded towards Vrindavan, knowing his redemption lay there in the hands of that baby.  

Seeking directions to the house of the beloved child, the son of Yashoda and Nand Maharaj, Trinavarta reached Nand’s house to find it empty. He went in and found everyone in the huge backyard, lined with fruit trees and beautiful gardens, having a picnic. There were at least 10 children shrieking in glee as they flew kites, laughed and giggled with joy. Many of the elders were busy cooking a picnic meal, and the delicious smell emanating from the pots made Trinavarta aware of his own hunger. He walked towards the group of picnickers.

But before that, the gurgling and cooing sounds of a baby attracted his attention. He turned right towards the sound where large tracts of farmland lay green and ready to harvest, and at the edge of the neat rows of golden-yellow wheat stalks swaying in the gentle wind, he found a baby with his toe in his mouth and a smile that could melt a thousand hearts.

Trinavarta had reached his destination. He smiled back at the child and lifted him. He turned into a whirlwind, gaining power one new circumference of swirling air at a time, and funnelled upward towards the sky. As he gained power, a thick cloud of smoke and dust filled the entire region of Vrindavan, blinding everyone in the area, filling Yashoda’s heart with so much dread that she wished her heart would stop beating. She knew instinctively that her baby was up to something. 

As the child rose in his arms, Trinavarta, the whirlwind demon, felt sudden peace as the pain and suffering of the curse he was carrying from his previous birth dissolved into nothingness. He embraced death with a smile of gratitude to Kanha, even as his eyes glistened with unshed tears. The baby had become so heavy Trinavarta couldn’t hold on to him and had to let go. 

Trinavarta’s soul whooshed into the sky and his huge, demonic body fell to the ground, creating an earthquake-like environment, vessels creating a din as they tossed and turned, the water of the river forming big waves and hitting the banks with force, people trying to hold on to something to steady themselves. They all screamed in panic

And suddenly, like magic, the smoke cleared, the shaking stopped, and the screams stopped, too. There was pin-drop silence. The scene in front of the picnickers was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The body of a gigantic demon lay near the banks of the river. And baby Kanha was suckling his thumb even as his mother Yashoda wondered how her baby, who she had safely ensconced in his crib, close to her, found his way to the banks of the river. 

And how do so many demons find their way to him? She sought answers, and yet she didn’t want to know. Because all she wanted was the safety of her child and that he stay with her for the rest of her life. But the doubts regarding the second wish rose like bile threatening to tear her heart apart. She simply swallowed her fears, rushed to Kanha and picked him up. His eyes twinkled as she hugged him, and she was smitten, again. 

Author’s Note:

Like the previous two stories in this series of Kamsa sending demons to kill Krishna, Bhagavatha Purana contains the story of Trinavarta, and Brahma Vaivarta Purana tells the story of his previous birth, as King Sahasraksha.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Sameeksha Reads.

Images created using ChatGPT.