Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India

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Pralamba

PRALAMBA. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] An Asura killed by Krishna, according to the Mahabharata. His story as told in the Vishnu Purana is, that he was an Asura and a dependant of Kansa. With the object of devouring the boys Krishna and Balarama, he joined them and their playmates in jumping. Pralamba was beaten by his opponent Balarama, and by the rules of the game had to carry the victor back on his shoulders to the starting-place. He took up Balarama and then expanded his form, and was making off with his rider when Balarama called upon Krishna for assistance. Krishna made a long speech, and ended by telling him to suspend awhile his mortal character and do what was right. Balarama laughed, squeezed Pralamba with his knees, and beat him on the head with his fists till his eyes were knocked out and his brain forced through his skull, so that he fell to the ground and expired.


Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. The textual material made available at this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. No claims are made regarding the status of images used at this website; if you own the copyright privileges to any of these images and believe your copyright privileges have been violated, please contact the webmaster. Page last updated: October 16, 2007 12:22 PM