Akrura too, as commanded, and desirous of seeing Krishna, set out for Mathura in an excellent car fleet like the mind (3). Many good signs appeared on Krishna’s limbs bespeaking of his union with a father-like relative (4). Before Akrura’s departure, Ugrasena’s son king Kansa sent an emissary to Keshi for destroying Krishna (4). Hearing the words of the messenger, the irrepressible Keshi, always oppressing the people, at once went to Vrindāvana and began to torture the Gopas (6), Feeding upon human flesh in anger that dreadful and wicked demon, in the shape of a horse, began to assail all greatly (7). Killing the cows and cow-herds, that irrepressible Dānava began to feed on beef of his own accord (8). Wherever in the forest the vicious-souled Dānava Keshi lived it was filled with the dead bodies of men and appeared like a cremation ground (9). He used to scratch the earth with his hoofs, weaken the trees with his velocity, leap up into the sky and trifle at the wind with his neighing (10). Thus shaking his manes and ranging in the forest, that highly proud, foolish and wicked demon, assuming the form of a horse, began to act there as desired by Kansa (11). Destroying the Gopas, that horse demon, of wicked deeds, made the forest empty (12). That wicked one so much vitiated the forest that the Gopas, who derive their sustenance through woods and the kine left it (13). With his mind worked up with pride he continually fed on human flesh so much so that the animals could not wend the forest roads (14). Once during the day, following in anger the noise of men, that Daity, as if urged on by Destiny, arrived at the settlement of the milk-men (15). As soon as they saw him the Gopa-women, with their children, and the Gopas, setting up a cry, fled away to their master Krishna, the lord of the universe (16). Hearing the cries of the Gopas and of their women Krishna promised them safety and went out to meet Keshi (17). Keshi, too, of powerful course, expanding his eyes and teeth and raising up his neck, ran towards Krishna with a great sound (18). Seeing the horse-demon Keshi fall on him Govinda confronted him as a cloud approaches the moon (19). Beholding Krishna at that time approach Keshi, the Gopas, endued with human sense, said to him for his well-being (20): "O child, O Krishna, do thou not all on a sudden approach this wretch of a horse, for thou art a boy and that one of evil ways is beyond the power of all (21). This highly powerful Dānava, peerless in battle, is born with Kansa, and is his life though ranging outward. He is a dread of the horses and soldiers, cannot be killed by any animal and the foremost of the sinful" (22–23).