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103. VASUDEVA KILLS THE SPIRIT
OF ANGER
Once the four Yādava princes, Vāsudeva, Baladeva, Satyaka and Dāruka were carried into a thick jungle by their horses and since it was late in the evening, they decided to stay there for the night. Under a huge banyan tree they decided to sleep. They also said that they would keep a watch in the dark jungle by turns. Dăruka took the first turn and the other three slept. Anger, in the form of a spirit, came to Dăruka to complain of hunger and said that he would very much like to eat Dăruka's sleeping companions. Däruka of course would not allow it and this resulted in a fierce battle between the two. As Dāruka could not easily overcome the spirit, he got angry and as he got angry the strength of the spirit of anger increased. Däruka was struck badly and he lay wounded but luckily by that time his hour of watch had ended and Satyaka took his place. Anger overpowered him as well and Baladeva was the third to be similarly vanquished. When it was Vāsudeva's turn and he took up the place of Baladeva anger accosted him as well. Vasudeva said he could not possibly touch any of his companions unless he defeated him. A fight ensued and Väsudeva quite appreciated the strength, courage and skill of the goblin. Throughout the fight, Vasudeva remained calm and this made the spirit of anger lose his strength. Anger was finally defeated by a powerful kick of Vasudeva at his groin.
In the morning, Väsudeva saw that each one of his companions had a broken limb and when asked who had done that, they all said that it was a vicious goblin. Väsudeva told them that it was the spirit of anger which needed nothing more than calmness to destroy it. He showed them the dead anger lying prostrate there.
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