92.45

The bold king Shrutayudha son of Varuna had been born to the river Parnasha whose waters flow deep and cold. O majesty his mother had loved her child and she had gone before Varuna and addressed him.

“May my son be invincible before his foes.”

Varuna was pleased with her and these were the words that he said.

“There is a weapon of heaven and if armed with it your son will be truly invincible. I will give it to him. O wonder of flowing water no man can ever hope for immortality, for death cannot be transgressed by any that are born. But let your mind be at peace. With this weapon in his hand your son will win any battle he fights.”

92.50

With these words Varuna bestowed upon Shrutayudha an enchanted mace that did indeed make him a match for any man, though the holy lord of waters had a warning for him.

“Hear me my good son. Never swing this mace at an unarmed man lest it recoil upon you. For it can strike down the man that wields it.”

When the fatal moment came Shrutayudha forgot his father’s words. He swung the mace at the Stirrer of Hearts and Krishna took its deadly bulk on his brawny shoulder. The wind cannot move Mount Vindhya and that blow did not move Shauri. But black magic seemed to bounce the mace back and it cracked against Shrutayudha and knocked the wild and mighty hero dead and then followed him down to the earth.