92. Bhagavatam - Balarama Slains Demon Dhenuka
Once, Sridama, a cowherd boy, made a request to Srikrishna and Balarama and said, “ Not far off from here lies an extensive forest with a row of Palmyra trees fully ladened with fruits.
A demon, Dhenuka, disguised as a donkey, is guarding them along with other donkeys.
We, cowherds, are eager to taste those fruits. Kindly make us available if you feel it is fit for us”.
The two brothers had a hearty laugh to hear the request and agreed to proceed to the forest along with other cowherds.
Entering the forest, Balarama thoroughly shook the palm trees with both His arms, and as a result, all the palm fruits fell down. Hearing this sound, the angered demon Dhenuka donkey rushed towards Balarama.
The donkey, using its hind legs, struck Balarama on His chest. It went a little far to strike again, but Balarama seized its feet with one hand, whirled and threw it against a palm tree. The donkey fell down lifeless.
The huge palm tree shaken by this event crashed on an adjacent tree, the latter hitting its neighbor in sequence. Demon Dhenuka’s family, too, met the same fate. The entire area was filled with heaps of palm fruits and carcasses of the demon donkeys.
Thereafter, there was no fear of accessing palm fruits and cattle grazing. Observing this feat, Vidyadharas, Gandarvas, and others poured down showers of flowers.
The cowherds were extremely happy and glorified Balarama and SriKrishna. They returned to Vraja and narrated the whole event to the residents.
Yasoda and Rohini, who were fond of their Sons, provided them with excellent food, relieved their fatigue by bath, and massage.
Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana
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