After Krishna had subdued the venomous serpent Kāliya, broken the arrogant Tungadruma, slain the fearsome Pūtanā, and overturned the evil cart, the sage Nārada went to Kaṃsa. He recounted, in order, all the miraculous events that had transpired, beginning with the transfer of the embryo from Devakī to Yaśodā. Hearing these accounts from Nārada, who had descended from the heavens, Kaṃsa—wicked in mind—was seized by rage against Vasudeva. Consumed with anger, Kaṃsa rebuked the Yādavas in their assembly, censured their entire clan, and began to plot his next move. He resolved that before Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, still mere boys, grew strong and reached their full youth—when they would become invincible—he must have them killed. Kaṃsa considered how to accomplish this: He would arrange a wrestling match with Cāṇūra, a mighty warrior, and Muṣṭika, whose strength was immense. Through this contest, he planned to have the boys slain. He would invite them from Vraja under the pretext of a grand bow festival, making every effort to ensure their destruction. To bring them to Mathura, Kaṃsa decided to send Akrūra, son of Śvaphalka and foremost among the Yadus, to Gokula. He also resolved to unleash the fierce demon-horse Keśin, who roamed in Vṛndāvana, hoping that with his great strength, Keśin would kill both boys. Furthermore, Kaṃsa planned for the mighty elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, driven by his chief mahout, to destroy the sons of Vasudeva when they arrived. Having devised these wicked schemes, Kaṃsa summoned Akrūra, the heroic Yadu, and spoke to him with malicious intent: “Ho, lord of gifts, do as I command to please me. Mount your chariot and go to Nanda’s Gokula. There, the two sons of Vasudeva, born from a portion of Viṣṇu, have grown up—destined to destroy me, though they are wicked. My grand bow festival will take place on the fourteenth day; bring them here for a wrestling match. Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika, my skilled wrestlers, will fight them before the world. The elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, urged by my chief mahout, will kill those sinful sons of Vasudeva, still children. Afterward, I will slay Vasudeva and the wicked Nanda Gopa, and even his father Ugrasena, who is most evil-minded. Then I will seize all the cattle and wealth of the cowherds who oppose me. Except for you, O lord of gifts, all these Yadavas are my enemies, and I will destroy them one by one. At that time, I will establish the Yadava kingdom free from all obstacles. Therefore, go forth, O hero, for my pleasure. Just as ghee and curds are brought for the buffalo, instruct your people to quickly bring the cowherds to me.” Thus commanded, Akrūra, the great devotee and twice-born, became joyful, eager to see Krishna the next day. He replied, “So be it,” to the king, mounted his splendid chariot, and departed from Mathura, the city beloved of Madhu. Meanwhile, Kaṃsa sent Keśī, a demon-horse of tremendous strength, as his messenger, intent on Krishna’s death. Keśī entered Vṛndāvana, his hooves wounding the earth, his powerful tail scattering the clouds, and he rushed along the paths of the moon and sun, charging at the cowherds. At the sound of Keśī’s terrible neighing, the cowherds, the demon-horse’s grooms, and the frightened cowherd women all sought refuge in Govinda, crying out in fear. Hearing their cries of “Save us, save us!” Govinda, his voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke words of reassurance: “Enough of fear, cowherds! Why be so afraid of Keśī? Among you, born of cowherds, courage is lost through fear. What is there in this lowly creature, whose neighing only causes alarm, this demon-powered, wicked horse leaping about? Come, come, wicked one! I am Krishna, like the Pinaka-wielder for Pūṣan; I will strike down all your teeth from your mouth.” Having spoken thus and clapped his hands, Govinda advanced toward Keśī. The demon-horse, mouth wide open, rushed at him. Janardana, making his arm serpent-like, inserted it into Keśī’s mouth. As Krishna’s arm entered, Keśī’s teeth shattered and fell, like fragments of white clouds. Krishna’s arm, dwelling within Keśī’s body, grew in strength, just as a neglected disease increases, O twice-born. Keśī’s lips split open, he vomited blood mixed with foam, his eyes rolled, and his jaws gaped wide, freed from restraint. Struck down, he released dung and urine upon the ground with his feet; his body drenched in sweat, subdued and exhausted, he became powerless. The demon, his mouth and great cavity agape, was struck down by Krishna’s arm and fell split in two upon the earth, like a tree struck by lightning. Of the horse, with its two legs, half its back and tail, one ear, eye, and nostril, when split in two, the two halves shone forth. Having slain Keśī, Krishna stood surrounded by joyful cowherds, his body unwearied and his mind at peace, smiling. Then the cowherd women and men, astonished at Keśī’s death, praised the lotus-eyed one, delighted by his affection.