Kamsa, in a rage, stopped the festive music and ordered that Vasudeva, Nanda, Ugrasena, and all the cowherds be severely punished and that Krishna and Balarama be driven from the assembly. 

Krishna became furious when He heard Kamsa speak this way, and He instantly leapt onto the lofty royal dais. Seeing Lord Krishna approaching like death personified, the quick-witted Kamsa instantly rose from his seat and drew his sword and shield. Sword in hand, Kamsa moved quickly from side co side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord Krishna, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, powerfully seized the demon just as Garuda might capture a snake. 

Grabbing Kamsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the king. Krishna at once straddled his chest and began to pummel him again and again. 

Simply from the blows of Krishna's fist, Kamsa lost his life. Then, as a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord dragged Kamsa's dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. All the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, some in lamentation, some in jubilation. 

Kamsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore, when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping, or breathing, the king had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Because he was constantly meditating on the Lord, Kamsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord's.