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Chapter Thirty-Four
517. At that very moment, a powerful Asura named Dhumketu, riding in his celestial chariot, approached Rukmini's palace, his chariot resembling a comet. ||39||
His chariot came to a sudden halt, causing him to be momentarily astonished. Looking down, his eyes, which possessed the knowledge of destruction, beheld Rukmini's son. ||40||
Upon seeing the child, his anger flared, his eyes turning crimson, fueled by the fire of his past enmity. ||41||
He then plunged all the guards, the family members, and even Rukmini herself into a deep slumber, and lifting the child in his arms, as if he were a mountain, the dark-hued Asura, known for his foolish mind, soared into the sky. ||42-43||
As he flew, he pondered, "Should I crush this former enemy of mine with my hands? Or should I tear him apart with my claws and scatter his remains for the birds in the sky? Or should I drop this insignificant foe into the vast ocean, filled with fearsome sharks and crocodiles? Or is this just a lump of flesh? What good is killing him? If I leave him here, unprotected, he will die on his own." ||44-46||
Thus, contemplating the child's good fortune, the Asura continued his journey, spotting the Khadir forest in the distance. He descended and placed the child beneath the Takshashila mountain, then, resembling a comet, he vanished swiftly. ||47-48||
Shortly after, the king of Meghakoota, Kalasambara, accompanied by his queen Kanakmala, was traversing the skies in his celestial chariot, surveying the earth. But the child's influence brought his chariot to a standstill. ||49-50||
"What is this?" he wondered, filled with astonishment. Descending, he saw a large, moving rock. ||51||
He pushed the rock aside and beheld a body, unharmed, radiating the brilliance of Kamadeva, the god of love. ||52||
Krishna, pleased by the news of Satyabhama's childbirth, showered her with gifts. ||38||