Śrī Kṛṣṇa's Līlās – The Defeat of Tṛṇāvarta
Story So Far
Kṛṣṇa's divine childhood has begun in Gokula, full of joy and wonder. Yet Kaṁsa's fear grows, and he continues sending asuras to harm the child whom destiny has foretold will end his life.
The Whirlwind Demon Tṛṇāvarta
One peaceful day in Gokula, mother Yaśodā sat with baby Kṛṣṇa on her lap, rocking Him gently. Suddenly, she felt His sweet little form become impossibly heavy—as if the weight of the entire universe had settled on her lap. Astonished and unable to hold Him, she put Him down carefully.
At that exact moment, Tṛṇāvarta, a servant of Kaṁsa, arrived in the form of a mighty whirlwind. His job was to steal Kṛṣṇa away. With a roar of storm winds, he swept into Nanda's courtyard. Dust filled the air, the sky turned dark, and no one could see anything.
Before anyone could react, Tṛṇāvarta snatched baby Kṛṣṇa and rose high into the spinning clouds.
Gokula panicked. The gopīs ran in all directions, calling, "Where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is our child?" But the tornado storm swallowed every sound and sight.
High in the sky, however, Tṛṇāvarta felt something strange. The tiny child in his grip was growing heavier—heavier than mountains.
The asura strained, gasped, beat his wings of wind. He could not fly higher. He could not fly lower.
He could not drop the child — Kṛṣṇa held him tightly, with the effortless grip of the Supreme Lord.
Overwhelmed, choking under the mysterious weight, Tṛṇāvarta suddenly lost all strength and fell from the sky like a broken whirlwind, crashing onto the earth. The ground shook; the storm vanished; dust settled slowly. There, sitting cheerfully on the asura's lifeless chest, was baby Kṛṣṇa — untouched, unafraid, glowing like a blue lotus in the sun.
The gopīs rushed forward with cries of relief. They lifted Kṛṣṇa into Yaśodā's trembling arms. Overcome with gratitude and fear for His safety, she held Him close, tears flowing. Yet, by Yoga-māyā's gentle power, the people of Gokula did not understand that this was the Supreme Lord revealing His might. Instead, they simply praised their fortune and thanked the gods for saving the child. Nanda Mahārāja, remembering Vasudeva's warning about dangers in Gokula, marveled again at his dear friend's foresight and blessed him in his heart.
Thus, another asura was destroyed, and another secret moment of divine glory passed quietly in Kṛṣṇa's enchanting childhood.
