Narayaneeyam 17

Dhenukasura

Krushna is six years of age. He’s now promoted to tending cows instead of calves.

Once Balarama and Krushna were enjoying the beauty of the woods. With the suggestion of Sridama, a friend of Krushna, they go to the Dhenuka forest.

There was a cluster of tall palm trees. On Krushna’s gesture, Balarama, shook the palm tree with force. A bunch of palm fruits, ripe and some unripe, fell to the ground. Dhenukasura, in the form of a donkey, also emerged. Krushna asks Balarama to ‘take care’ of the asura. (He says,“How can I kill Dhenuka, when I am engaged the protection of the Dhenus (cows)”

Balarama kills the asura. The asura’s servants charged in the form of jackals. They all were smashed against the palm trees by both Balarama and Krushna, as if they were rose apple fruits.
“Dhenuka is killed! Dhenuka is killed”, shouted the boys.
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