For where the hand of Krishna rested, whether to bring life or take life away, that man forever holy was made by the touch. So also with Kangsa it was. Dwelling constantly on Krishna, even though in hate, he came closer to Love than he himself knew. So the celebration of the Bow ended in triumph for Krishna and Rāma. And though Kangsa sent a body of well-armed soldiers to apprehend them, lo! the conquerors victorious walked from the arena, followed by the cheers of the worshipping populace, who saw that in strength they were invincible, even as in beauty they were incomparable. And they looked forward eagerly to the morrow, when the brothers were to participate in wrestlings and sports. But Rāma and Krishna returned to spend the night with the Gopas; while the people of Mathura neither ate nor slept, but sang of their beauty and might. CHAPTER XXXIII. But Kangsa was troubled by the triumph of the brothers, and next morning called the wrestlers who were to match the two brothers, and again put to them the weight of the contest, and placed armed men at the gates of the arena. He then proceeded with many forebodings to the amphitheatre, where the sports were to take place. He took his seat amid the beating of drums, the blaring of trumpets and the waving of banners. Already many spectators had assembled, among them many crowned chiefs, Brāhmans and Kshatriyas, all with expectancy overwhelming, as to the outcome of the wrestling. Forward the wrestlers came with a rush and stood in the centre of the ring, wrestlers whose fame was known throughout all the land for their brute strength and skill. Few there were who dared to meet these men, and as Krishna and Rima came forward to see the meeting of the first pair, they found a huge elephant posted there at the entrance. Krishna, seeing this, asked the driver to make way with the beast for Him. At this the rider urged the infuriated beast towards Him. With a smile, Krishna grasped with his soft little hand the nose of the furious beast, who, with a bellow, fell to the ground lifeless, dragging the driver down with him. Krishna then tore the tusks from the brute's head; and Rāma and Krishna entered the wrestling grounds with the tusks in their hands and blood-stained from the slaying of the beast. Kangsa's heart sank at the sight, and even the wrestlers recoiled in terror at the blood-stained figures who gazed on them with supernatural power in their youthful eyes. Yet true to the command of Kangsa, Chānoor, the chief of the wrestlers, cried: "Come, ye youngsters, good wrestlers are ye! The good king hath invited you to participate in the contest, so come and wrestle and give pleasure to King Kangsa, he who is the greatest of all kings and men.