The Killing of Dhenukasura

One day, Balarama and Krishna were wandering around in the forest and came to a grove where there were a lot of tala trees. A daitya who looked like a donkey lived there and survived on deer meat. His name was Dhenuka.

The tala trees were full of rich fruit and the other cowherds wished to help themselves to the fruit. The problems, however, was Dhenukasura, who guarded the tala trees. The cowherds, therefore, requested Balarama and Krishna to pluck some fruit for them. This the two brothers proceeded to do. But as the fruit fell on the ground, the sound attracted the angry Dhenuka who arrived on the scene. With its hind legs and donkey kicked Balarama in the chest. But Balarama caught hold of those legs and began to twirl and donkey round and round. At this, the donkey died and Balarama flung the dead body on the tala trees.

Many other daityas in the form of donkeys also arrived. But Krishna and Balarama killed all of them.

The tala grove because safe and cattle began to graze there once again.