The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa
भो भो निशम्यतामेतद् वीरचाणूरमुष्टिकौ । नन्दव्रजे किलासाते सुतावानकदुन्दुभे: ॥ २२ ॥ रामकृष्णौ ततो मह्यं मृत्यु: किल निदर्शित: । भवद्भ्यामिह सम्प्राप्तौ हन्येतां मल्ललीलया ॥ २३ ॥
bho bho niśamyatām etad vīra-cāṇūra-muṣṭikau nanda-vraje kilāsāte sutāv ānakadundubheḥ
Meus caros e heroicos Cāṇūra e Muṣṭika, por favor ouçam isto. Rāma e Kṛṣṇa, os filhos de Vasudeva, vivem na aldeia de Nanda. Foi previsto que estes dois rapazes serão a causa da minha morte. Quando Eles forem trazidos aqui, matem-nos sob o pretexto de os envolver num combate de luta livre.
In this verse, Kaṁsa admits that his death is now certain because Rāma and Kṛṣṇa have arrived in Mathurā, and he plans to have them killed through a staged wrestling match.
Kaṁsa intended to hide his murderous intent behind public entertainment—using the “malla-līlā” as a pretext—so the killing would appear like a contest rather than open tyranny.
Adharma often disguises itself as “normal” or “acceptable” activity; this verse reminds a seeker to recognize hidden motives and to trust that truth ultimately prevails despite such schemes.