ORIENTAL SERIES.

i66 KRISHNA.
conflict with the great serpent Kaliya, who lived in the Yamuna,
and he compelled him to go away. On one occasion, when the gopls
or milkmaids were hathing, he took away all their clothes and
climbed up a tree, and there he remained till the damsels came
to him naked to recover them. He persuaded Nanda and the
cowherds to give up the worship of Indra, and to worship the
mountain Govardhana, which sheltered them and their cattle.
Incensed at the loss of his offerings, Indra poured down a heavy
rain, which would have deluged them, but Krishna lifted up the
mountain Govardhana, and held it upon his ringer as a shelter
for seven days and nights, till Indra felt that he was foiled,
From this feat he obtained the name of Govardhana-dhara and
Tungisa, As he had protected the kine, Indra expressed his
satisfaction, and gave him the title of Upendra. He was now
approaching manhood, and was very handsome. The gopls were
all enamoured of him, and he dispensed his favours very freely.
He married seven or eight of them, but his first and favourite
wife was Eadha. At this period of his life he is represented
with flowing hair and with a flute in his hand. One of his
favourite pastimes was a round dance, called Mattrfala-n7*itya or
Basa-mawrfala, in which he and Radha formed the centre whilst
the gopls danced round them. But his happiness was inter-
rupted by the machinations of Kansa, who sent formidable
demons to destroy him Arishfo in the form of a bull, and
Kesin in the form of a horse. These attempts having failed,
Kansa sent his messenger, Akrura, to invite Krishna and Balarama
to Mathura to attend some games, and he formed several
plans for their destruction. They accepted the invitation, and
went to Mathura. Near the city they found Kansa's washerman
engaged in his calling. They threw down some of his
clothes, and he addressed them insolently, upon which they killed
him, and took such clothes as they liked. In his progress he met
Kubja, a crooked damsel, who gave him some unguent, and he
repaid her gift by making her straight. In the games he killed
Chawura, the king's boxer. Afterwards he killed Kama himself,
and replaced Ugrasena on the throne. He remained in Mathura
and studied the science of arms under Sandipani. He went
down to the infernal regions and brought back his six brothers,
whom Kansa had killed, and these, having tasted the milk of
their mother, ascended to heaven. During this period he killed