681. Kamsa's Emissary

"My attempts to kill Krishna have not succeeded. On the other hand, he killed several demons like Putaki, Sakata, Trinavarta, Aka, Bhaka and Vata, whom I had engaged to kill him. Now, he has gained a reputation as a person who has performed incredible feats. He has become a darling of our Yadava clan. He is admired and loved by all sections of people. If I make any more attempt to kill him, the entire Yadava clan will turn against me!" Kamsa told his friend and confidant Chanura.

"What you say is correct. We should kill him only through clandestine means" Chanura agreed.

"How?"

"King Kamsa! All along, you tried to get him killed, by sending an assassin to his place. Those attempts didn't succeed. We can invite him to our place and get him killed here."

"How do we bring him here? And how do we kill him, after he comes to our place?"

"There are many ways to kill him. We can get him attacked by the rogue elephant Kuvalayapeeta, which has been locked up in our palace. If Krishna is killed by the rogue elephant, people will perceive it as an accident. In case, he escapes from the elephant, we will invite him to a wrestling contest. There is no one to beat me in the sport of wrestling. I will challenge him to wrestle with me and kill him when he wrestles with me" said Chanura, with excitement. 

"Your idea appears plausible. But how do we make Krishna come here?" asked Kamsa.

"There is a archery contest in our capital city. We will invite Krishna and his elder brother Balarama to the event" suggested Chanura. 

"Good idea. But, they will attend the event, only if you invite them properly, by sending an emissary" said Kamsa. 

"We will send the invitation to Krishna and Balarama, through one of our palace guards and instruct the guard to bring the brothers to our palace" said Chanura. 

"We cannot send anyone as an emissary. A person to be chosen as the emissary should have some attributes."

"What are those attributes?"

"The most important attribute an emissary should have is acting with love or kindness towards others. He also needs other qualities."

"What are the other qualities?"

"He should hail from a noble family. He should have manners that will be appreciated by kings."

"Do we have a person with such attributes?" asked Chanura. 

"There is one. He is Akrura, the Minister!" said Kamsa.

"But, he is too soft and gentle. Will he fit the bill?"

"His softness is only an expression of his innate attributes like kindness and good manners. He is my father's younger brother's son. Thus, he is also the maternal uncle of Krishna. So, Krishna will accept the suggestion from Akrura to attend the event, at our place. I will send him as my emissary and ask him to bring Krishna and Balarama to my palace" said Kamsa.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 69
The Ambassadorial Mission

Verse 681 (in Tamil):
anbudaimai AnRa kudip piRaththal vEndhavAm
paNbudaimai thUthU uraippAn paNbu.

Meaning:

The qualification of an ambassador are benevolence, born in a respectable family, and the possession of attributes pleasing to royalty.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kamsanin thUthar' by the same author.) 

Verse 681 (Soon)
Verse 680