To such blind attacks there is no immediate end.  One day, however, a sage discloses to Kansa the true identity of his enemy.  He tells him in what manner Balarama and Krishna were born, how Balarama was transferred from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohini, and how Krishna was transported to Nanda’s house in Gokula.  Kansa is now confronted with the ghastly truth—­how Vasudeva’s willingness to surrender his first six sons has lulled his suspicions, how his confidence in Vasudeva has been entirely misplaced, and how completely he has been deceived.  He sends for Vasudeva and is on the point of killing him when the sage interposes, advising Kansa to imprison Vasudeva for the present and meanwhile make an all-out attempt to kill or capture Balarama and Krishna.  Kansa sees the force of his remarks, spares Vasudeva for the moment, throws him and Devaki into jail and dispatches a special demon, the horse Kesi, on a murderous errand.

As the horse speeds on its way, Kansa assembles his demon councillors, explains the situation to them and asks for their advice.  If Krishna should not be killed in the forest, the only alternative, the demons suggest, is to decoy him to Mathura.  Let a handsome theatre be built, a sacrifice to Siva held and a special festival of arms proclaimed.  All the cowherds will naturally come to see it.  Nanda, the rich herdsman, will bring presents, Krishna and Balarama will come with other cowherds.  When they have arrived the wrestler Chanura can throw them down and kill them.  Kansa is delighted at the suggestion, adding only that a savage elephant should be stationed at the gate ready to tear Krishna and Balarama to pieces immediately they enter.  He then dismisses his demon advisers and sends for Akrura, the chief of the Yadavas and a leading member of his court.  Akrura, he judges, will be the best person to decoy Krishna to Mathura.  He accordingly briefs him as to his intentions and instructs him to await orders.  Akrura deems it politic to express compliance but secretly is overjoyed that he will thus obtain access to the Krishna he adores.

The first stage of Kansa’s master plan is now brought into effect.  The horse demon, Kesi, reaches Brindaban and begins to paw the ground and kick up its heels.  The cowherds are frightened but Krishna dares it to attack.  The horse tries to bite him but Krishna plunges his hand down its throat and expands it to a vast size until the demon bursts.  Its remains litter the ground but Krishna is so unmoved that he merely summons the cowherd children to play a game.  Squatting with them under a fig tree, he names one of them a general, another a minister, a third a councillor and himself pretending to be a raja plays with them at being king.  A little later they join him in a game of blind man’s bluff.