196 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM
Kansa's iniquity, to have given such orders for His undoing, muttered, between closed teeth, '* Tyrant I thine end must indeed be near at hand!" and gave Himself finally to the killing of the beast and its keeper.
The great trunk would have wound itself about Him, but He vaulted lightly by its means to the creature's head, and then, placing one foot there, and one on the lower jaw, He forced the mouth open, and, bending down, drew forth its immense tusks, and with these slew both elephant and man. A few minutes later, girded as He had been for the struggle, and bearing the tusks of the creature in His hands, Krishna entered the arena, followed by Bolarama, His brother.
How different were the feelings of those who looked upon Him in that moment I The soldiers saw in Him, it is said, a mighty general. Women saw a beautiful youth. The people saw simply a great man. Nanda and his subjects saw the beloved Cowherd of Brindaban. Devaki and Vasudeva, from their place near the King's person, saw their Babe of one stormy night twelve years before. Saints saw the Lord Himself appear on earth in human form. And Kansa, on his high seat trembled, for in the beautiful Lad before him, without armour, weapons, or followers, he, seated on his throne and surrounded by his armies, saw only his own destined Destroyer.
