Krishna said: -- "We dwell in the forest. But still we are âgavataPurâsubjects of the King of Bhoja. That we are ordered to please the King is a great favor to us. But we are boys. We shall play with those of equal might. There will then be a fair match and there will be no injustice attaching to those present here."
"You are neither a boy nor a youth below fifteen, Krishna. Nor is Balarâma so. You killed that elephant with the might of a thousand elephants as it were in sport. It is meet therefore you shall fight with the powerful. There is no injustice in this. You measure your strength with me and let Balarâma do so with Mushtika."
So it was. The fight was a drawn one. At last the brothers killed their rivals. Kûta then confronted Balarâma, who killed him with his fist. Sola and Tosala also fell dead before Krishna. The other wrestlers fled for their lives. Râma and Krishna then called their Gopa companions and began to dance together on the wrestling ground. "Well done," "Well done," cried all, except Kansa.
Kansa stopped the music. He exclaimed. "Let these two unruly sons of Vâsudeva be driven out from the town. Take away the wealth of the Gopas. Confine this wicked Nanda. Kill that vile Vâsudeva. My father Ugrasena is partial to my enemies. Kill him with all his attendants." While Kansa was thus bragging Krishna got angry and with one jump, he got upon the platform. Kansa stood up with his sword and shield. Krishna held him by his hair and threw him down from the platform. He then jumped over Kansa and his life departed. He then dragged the dead body of Kansa in the presence of all. Kansa through fear and anxiety had always thought of Krishna and now being killed by his hands, he attained the Rûpa of Krishna. The eight brothers of Kansa attacked Krishna but they were put to death by Balarâma. There was great rejoicing amongst the Devas.
The wives of Kansa loudly lamented the death of their husband. Bhagavân consoled them. He then liberated his father and mother and touched their feet. He then took leave of Nanda and the Gopas, promising a speedy return to them.
Krishna placed Ugrasena on the throne. The Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasarhas and Kukkuras, who had left Mathurâ for fear of Kansa, now returned to that town. Vâsudeva called the Purohita (family priest) Garga and performed the Upanayana ceremony (investiture of the sacred thread) of his sons. They then became twice-born. (Dvija-Brâhmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas are the twice-born classes. Krishna was a Kshatriya by birth). After Upanayana, one has to practise Brahmâcharya _i.e._ he has to reside at the house of his Guru, learn the Vedas from him and practise asceticism at the same time. According to practice, Râma and Krishna went to reside at the house of Rishi Sandipani of Avanti of the line of Kasyapa. The brothers learned the Vedas, the Vedangas and all the branches of learning in sixty four days. Then they requested their Guru to name his Dakshinâ. (When a disciple leaves his Guru after the completion of study, he has to give some Dakshinâ or present according to his power to the Guru). Sandipani in consultation with his wife asked for the restoration to life of his son, who had been drowned in the sea at Prabhâsa Kshetra. "All right," said the brothers. They took their chariot and went to the sea-side. The sea brought presents. But Krishna asked for the restoration of his Guru's son. The sea replied: -- "I did not carry him off, but one Asura named Panchajana, who lives in my waters in the form of a conch." Krishna entered the waters and killed Panchajana. But he did not find the boy within the Asura's body. Me took the conch and came back. He then went with Balarâma to the seat of Yâma called Sanyamani and blew the conch. Yâma adored the brothers and wanted to know their behests.