Chapter Nine Vasudeva-vivāha-varṇana Description of Vasudeva's Wedding

21 verses

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca tatraikadā śrī-mathurā-pure vare purohitaḥ sarva-yadūttamaiḥ kṛtaḥ surecchayā garga iti pramāṇikaḥ samāyayau sundara-rāja-mandiram

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; tatra there ; ekadā once ; śrī-mathurā-pure in Mathurā City ; vare excellent ; purohitaḥ the priest ; sarva-yaduttamaiḥ by all the best of the Yadus ; kṛtaḥ done ; sura of the demigods ; icchayā by the desire ; gargaḥ Garga Muni ; iti thus ; pramāṇikaḥ great scholar ; samāyayau came ; sundara handsome ; rāja of the king ; mandiram to the palace.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: One day the great scholar Garga Muni, whom all the Yadus had made their chief priest, by his own wish went in Mathurā City to the king's handsome palace, . . .

Verse text

hīrā-khacid-dhema-lasat-kapāṭakaṁ dvipendra-karṇāhata-bhrṅga-nāditam ibha-sravan-nirjhara-gaṇḍa-dhārayā samardritaṁ mandapa-khaṇḍa-maṇḍitam

Synonyms

hira diamonds ; khacit studded ; hema gold ; lasat glistening ; kapāṭakam door ; dvipa of elephants ; indra king ; karṇa by the ear ; āhata struck ; bhrṅga bee ; nāditam sounded ; ibha elephant ; sravat flowing ; nirjhara streams ; gaṇḍa cheek ; dhārayā with a stream ; samardritam wet ; mandapa pavilion ; khaṇḍa part ; maṇḍitam decorated.

Translation

. . . which had great glistening golden doors studded with diamonds, which was filled with the sounds of bees and the flapping of elephants' ears, which was wet with streams of ichor flowing from the elephants, and which was decorated with many pavilions, . . .

Verse text

mahodbhaṭair vīra-janaiḥ sa-kaṣcukair dhanur-dharaiś carma-kṛpāṇa-pāṇibhiḥ ratha-dvipāśva-dhvajinī-balādibhiḥ su-rakṣitaṁ maṇḍala-maṇḍalībhiḥ

Synonyms

mahodbhaṭaiḥ great soldiers ; vīra-janaiḥ heroic ; sa-ka 24cukaiḥ wearing armor ; dhanur-dharaiḥ holding bows ; carma shields ; kṛpāṇa and swords ; pāṇibhiḥ in hand ; ratha chariots ; dvipa elephants ; aśva horses ; dhvajinī of an army ; bala the might ; ādibhiḥ beginning with ; su well ; rakṣitam protected ; maṇḍala-maṇḍalībhiḥ with groups.

Translation

. . . and which was well protected by great heroic soldiers wearing armor, carrying bows, holding swords and shields in their hands, and by the great power of an army riding on chariots, elephants, and horses.

Verse text

dadarśa gargo nṛpadevam āhukaṁ śvaphalkinā devaka-kaṁsa-sevitam śrī-śakra-siṁhāsana unnate pare sthitaṁ vṛtaṁ cchātra-vitāna-cāmaraiḥ

Synonyms

dadarśa saw ; gargaḥ Garga ; nṛpadevam the king of kings ; āhukam Ugrasena ; śvaphalkinā by Akrūra ; devaka Deavaka ; kaṁsa Kaṁsa ; sevitam served ; śrī-śakra of Indra ; siṁhāsane on the throne ; unnate raised ; pare great ; sthitam situated ; vṛtam surrounded ; chātra parasol ; vitāna awning ; cāmaraiḥ and cāmaras.

Translation

There Garga Muni saw emperor Ugrasena who was accompanied Akrūra, served by Devaka and Kaṁsa, and surrounded by parasols, awnings, and cāmaras as he sat on Indra's great throne

Verse text

dṛṭṭvā muniṁ taṁ sahasāsanāśayād utthāya rājā praṇanāma yādavaiḥ saṁsthāpya sampūjya subhadra-pīṭhake stutvā parikramya nataḥ sthito 'bhavat

Synonyms

dṛṭṭvā seeing ; munim sage ; tam the ; sahasā as tonce ; āsanāśayāt from the throne ; utthāya rising ; rājā the king ; praṇanāma bowed ; yādavaiḥ with the Yadus ; saṁsthāpya placing ; sampūjya worshiping ; subhadra-pīṭhake on the throne ; stutvā offering prayers ; parikramya circumambulating ; nataḥ bowing ; sthitaḥ stood ; abhavat was.

Translation

Seeing the sage, the emperor at once rose from his throne, offered respectful obeisances with the Yādavas, placed the sage on the throne, worshiped him, glorified him, circumambulated him, and bowed down before him.

Verse text

dattvāśiṣaṁ garga-munir nṛpāya vai papraccha sarvaṁ kuśalaṁ nṛpādiṣu śrī-devakaṁ prāha mahā-manā ṛṣir mahaujasaṁ nīti-vidaṁ yadūttamam

Synonyms

dattvā giving ; āśiṣam benediction ; garga-muniḥ Garga Muni ; nṛpāya to the king ; vai certainly ; papraccha asked ; sarvam all ; kuśalam welfare ; nṛpa-ādiṣu beginning with the king ; śrī-devakam Śrī Devaka ; prāha said ; mahā-manā the great soul ; ṛṣiḥ the sage ; mahaujasam very powerful ; nīti-vidam wise ; yadūttamam the best of the Yadus.

Translation

Garga Muni blessed the king and asked about the welfare of the king and his associates. Then the saintly sage spoke to powerful and wise Śrī Devaka, the best of the Yādavas.

Verse text

śrī-garga uvāca śauriṁ vinā bhuvi nṛpeṣu varas tu nāsti cintyo mayā bahu-dinaiḥ kila yatra tatra tasmān nṛ-deva vasudeva-varāya dehi śrī-devakīṁ tava sutāṁ vidhinodvahasva

Synonyms

śrī-gargaḥ uvāca Śrī Garga Muni said ; śaurim Vasudeva ; vinā without ; bhuvi on the earth ; nṛpeṣu among the kings ; varaḥ best ; tu indeed ; na not ; asti is ; cintyaḥ considered ; mayā by me ; bahu-dinaiḥ with many days ; kila indeed ; yatra where ; tatra there ; tasmāt from that ; nṛ-devaḥ the king ; vasudeva-varāya great Vasudeva ; dehi please give ; śrī-devakīm Śrī Devakī ; tava your ; sutām daughter ; vidhinā following tradition ; udvahasva marry.

Translation

Śrī Garga Muni said: After thinking for many days I have decided that in this world no king is better than Vasudeva. Therefore, O king, please give your daughter Devakī in marriage to Vasudeva.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca kṛtvā tadaiva puri niścaya-nāgavalliṁ śrī-devakaḥ sakala-dharma-bhṛtāṁ variṣṭhaḥ gargecchayā tu vasudeva-varāya putrīṁ kṛtvātha maṅgalam alaṁ pradadau vivāhe

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; kṛtvā having done ; tadā then ; eva indeed ; puri in the city ; niścaya decision ; nāgavallim betelnuts ; śrī-devakaḥ Śrī Devaka ; sakala all ; dharma of religious principles ; bhṛtām of they who possess ; variṣṭhaḥ the best ; garga of Garga Muni ; icchayā by the desire ; tu indeed ; vasudeva-varāya to Vasudeva ; putrīm daughter ; kṛtvā doing ; atha then ; maṅgalam auspiciousness ; alam great ; pradadau gave ; vivāhe in marriage.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: After offering (the sage) betelnuts to show his assent, Śrī Devaka, who was the best of all pious men, performed the auspicious ceremonies and gave his daughter in marriage to Vasudeva according to Garga Muni's desire.

Verse text

kṛtodvahaḥ śaurir atīva-sundaraṁ rathaṁ prayāne samalaṅkṛtaṁ hayaiḥ sārdhaṁ tayā devaka-rāja-kanyayā samāruhat kaṣcana-ratna-śobhayā

Synonyms

kṛta performed ; udvahaḥ marriage ; śauriḥ Vasudeva ; atīva-sundaram very beautiful ; ratham chariot ; prayāne in the journey ; samalaṅkṛtam decorated ; hayaiḥ horses ; sārdham with ; tayā with her ; devaka-rāja-kanyayā King Devaka's daughter ; samāruhat ascended ; kaṣcana with gold ; ratna and jewels ; śobhayā beautiful.

Translation

When the marriage ceremony was over Vasudeva, accompanied by King Devaka's daughter, who was beautiful with gold and jewels, climbed a very graceful decorated chariot drawn by many horses.

Verse text

svasuḥ priyaṁ kartum atīva kaṁso jagrāha raśmīṁs calatāṁ hayānām uvāha vāhāṁs caturāṅginībhir vṛtaḥ kṛpā-sneha-paro 'tha śaurau

Synonyms

svasuḥ to his sister ; priyam a favor ; kartum to do ; atīva very ; kaṁsaḥ Kaṁsa ; jagrāha took ; rasmin the reins ; calatām moving ; hayānām of the horses ; uvāha carried ; vāhān the chariots ; caturāṅginībhiḥ with an army ; vṛtaḥ surrounded ; kṛpā-sneha-paraḥ filled with kindness ; atha then ; śaurau for Vasudeva.

Translation

To please his sister, Kaṁsa took the reins of the moving horses. Kind and affectionate to Vasudeva, and surrounded by an army, he drove the chariot.

Verse text

dāsī-sahasraṁ tv ayutaṁ gajanānāṁ sat-pāribarhaṁ niyutaṁ hayānām lakṣaṁ rathānāṁ ca gavāṁ dvi-lakṣaṁ pradād duhitre nṛpa-devako vai

Synonyms

dāsī of maidservants ; sahasram a thousand ; tu indeed ; ayutam ten thousand ; gajanānām of elephants ; sat-pāribarham a wedding pressent ; niyutam a million ; hayānām of horses ; lakṣam a hundred thousand ; rathānām of chariots ; ca and ; gavām of cows ; dvi-lakṣam two hundred thousand pradāt —gave ; duhitre to his daughter ; nṛpa-devaḥ King Devaka ; vai indeed.

Translation

King Devaka gave to his daughter a wedding present of a thousand maidservants, ten thousand elephants, a million horses, a hundred thousand chariots, and two hundred thousand cows.

Verse text

bheri-mṛdaṅgoddhara-gomukhānāṁ dhundhurya-vīnānaka-veṇukānāṁ mahat-svano 'bhūc calatāṁ yadūnāṁ prayāna-kāle pathi maṅgalaṁ ca

Synonyms

bheri bheris ; mṛdaṅga mṛdaṅgas ; uddhara uddharas ; gomukhānām and gomukhas ; dhundhurya dhundhuryas ; vīnā vīnāa ; anaka anakas ; veṇukānām and venus ; mahat great ; svanaḥ sound ; abhūt was ; calatām moving ; yadūnām of the Yādavas ; prayāna of departure ; kāle at the time ; pathi on the path ; maṅgalam auspicious ; ca and.

Translation

At the time of the Yādavas' departure, on the path was a great auspicious sound of many bheris, mṛdaṅgas, uddharas, gomukhas, dhundhuryas, vīṇās, anakas, and veṇus.

Verse text

ākāśa-vāg āha tadaiva kaṁsaṁ tvām aṣṭamo hi prasavo 'ṣjasāsyāḥ hantā na jānāsi ca yāṁ ratha-sthāṁ rāśmiṁ gṛhītvā vahase 'budhas tvam

Synonyms

ākāśa from the sky ; vāk a voice ; āha said ; tadā then ; eva indeed ; kaṁsam to Kaṁsa ; tvām you ; aṣṭamaḥ the eighth ; hi indeed ; prasavaḥ son ; aṣjasā certainly ; asyāḥ of her ; hantā killer ; na not ; jānāsi you know ; ca also ; yām whom ; ratha-sthām staying on the chariot ; rāśmīn the reins ; gṛhītvā taking ; vahase you carry ; abudhaḥ a fool ; tvam you.

Translation

Then a voice from the sky said to Kaṁsa: You are a fool. You do not know that the eighth son of the girl riding in the chariot you drive, holding the reins, will kill you.

Verse text

kusaṅga-niṣṭho 'ti-khalo hi kaṁso hantuṁ svasāraṁ dhiṣaṇaṁ cakāra kace gṛhitvā sita-khaḍga-pāṇir gata-trapo nirdaya ugra-karmā

Synonyms

ku-saṅga-niṣṭhaḥ whose friends were demons ; ati-khalaḥ very wicked ; hi indeed ; kaṁsaḥ Kaṁsa ; hantum to kill ; svasāram his sister ; dhiṣaṇam the ground ; cakāra did ; kace by the hair ; gṛhitvā grabbing ; sita sharp ; khaḍga sword ; pāṇiḥ in his hand ; gata-trapaḥ shameless ; nirdayaḥ merciless ; ugra horrible ; karmā deeds.

Translation

Wicked, shameless, merciless Kaṁsa, whose friends were demons and whose deeds were horrible, threw his sister to the ground, grabbed her by the hair, and grasped a sharp sword in his hand to kill her.

Verse text

vaditra-kārā rahitā babhūvur agre sthitāḥ syus cakitā hi paścāt sarveṣu vā śveta-mukheṣu satsu śauris tam āhāśu satāṁ variṣṭhaḥ

Synonyms

vaditra kārāḥ —musicians ; rahitāḥ without ; babhūvuḥ became ; agre-sthitāḥ in the presence ; syuḥ were ; cakitāḥ afraid ; hi indeed ; paścāt behind ; sarveṣu all ; or ; śveta white ; mukheṣu faces ; satsu being so ; śauriḥ Vasudeva ; tam to him ; āha said ; āśu at once ; satām of the devotees ; variṣṭhaḥ the best.

Translation

The musicians dropped their instruments. They who were in front went to the rear. When all faces turned white, Vasudeva, the best of devotees, spoke to Kaṁsa.

Verse text

śrī-vasudeva uvāca bhojendra bhoja-kula-kīrti-karas tvam eva bhaumādi-māgadha-bakāsura-vatsa-bāṇaiḥ ślāghyā guṇās tava yudhi pratiyoddhu-kāmaiḥ sa tvaṁ kathaṁ tu bhaginīm asinātra hanyāt

Synonyms

śrī-vasudevaḥ uvāca Śrī Vasudeva said ; bhoja-indra O king of the Bhojas ; bhoja-kula of the Bhoja family ; kīrti-karaḥ the glory ; tvam you ; eva indeed ; bhauma narakāsura ; ādi beginning with ; māgadha the king of Magadha ; bakāsura Bakāsura ; vatsa Vatsa ; bāṇaiḥ by bāṇa ; ślāghyāḥ glorified ; guṇāḥ virtues ; tava your ; yudhi in battle ; pratiyoddhu-kāmaiḥ desiring to fight ; saḥ he ; tvam you ; katham why? ; tu certainly ; bhaginīm sister ; asinā with a sword ; atra here ; hanyāt will kill.

Translation

Śrī Vasudeva said: O king of the Bhojas, you are the glory of the Bhoja dynasty. Narakāsura, Jarāsandha, Bakāsura, Vatsāsura, and Bāṇāsura, who all yearned to fight with you, praise your virtues in battle. Why are you now on the verge of killing with a sword your own sister?

Verse text

jṣātvā striyaṁ kila bakīṁ pratiyoddhu-kāmāṁ yuddhaṁ kṛtaṁ na bhavatā nṛpa-nīti-vṛttyā sā tu tvayāpi bhaginīva kṛtā praśāntyai sākṣād iyaṁ tu bhaginī kim u te vicārāt

Synonyms

jṣātvā understanding ; striyam a woman ; kila indeed ; bakīm Pūtanā ; pratiyoddhu-kāmām desiring to fight ; yuddham fight ; kṛtam done ; na not ; bhavatā by you ; nṛpa-nīti-vṛttyā by the proper conduct of a king ; she ; tu certainly ; tvayā by you ; api also ; bhaginī a sister ; iva like ; kṛtā made ; praśāntyai to pacify ; sākṣāt directly ; iyam she ; tu certainly ; bhaginī sister ; kim u why? ; te of you ; vicārāt by the thought.

Translation

Following the royal code of chivalry you would not fight with Pūtanā, a woman who yearned to fight with you, and to pacify her you treated her as if she were your sister. This girl is your real sister. Why do you wish to act in this way?

Verse text

udvāha-parvaṇi gatā ca tavānujā ca bālā suteva kṛpaṇā śubhadā sadaiṣā yogyo 'si nātra mathurādhipa hantum etāṁ tvaṁ dīna-duḥkha-haraṇe kṛta-citta-vṛttiḥ

Synonyms

udvāha of the wedding ; parvaṇi the festival ; gatā gone ; ca also ; tava your ; anujā younger sister ; ca also ; bālā a girl ; sutā daughter ; iva like ; kṛpaṇā object of mercy ; śubhadā auspicious ; sadā always ; eṣā she ; yogyaḥ proper ; asi are ; na not ; atra here ; mathurādhipa O king of Mathurā ; hantum to kill ; etām her ; tvam you ; dīna of the poor ; duḥkha of the sufferings ; haraṇe in the removal ; kṛta done ; citta of the heart ; vṛttiḥ the action.

Translation

On this, her festive wedding-day, you should be kind to your younger sister and treat her as a daughter. O king of Mathurā, you should not kill her. You should fix your heart on remving the sufferings of the distressed.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca nāmanyathetthaṁ pratibodhito 'pi ku-saṅga-niṣṭho 'ti-khalo hi kaṁsaḥ tadā hareḥ kāla-gatiṁ vicārya śauriḥ prasannaḥ punar āha kaṁsam

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; na not ; āmanyatha think ; ittham thus ; pratibodhitaḥ enlightened ; api even ; ku-sāṅga-niṣṭhaḥ whose friends were demons ; ati-khalaḥ very wicked ; hi certainly ; kaṁsaḥ Kaṁsa ; tadā then ; hareḥ of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kāla of time ; gatim the way ; vicārya considering ; śauriḥ Vasudeva ; prasannaḥ cheerful ; punaḥ again ; āha said ; kaṁsam to Kaṁsa.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Although given this good instruction, wicked Kaṁsa, whose friends were demons, did not take it seriously. Then, reflecting on the ways of Lord Hari's time, Vasudeva, now cheerful, again spoke to Kaṁsa.

Verse text

śrī-vasudeva uvāca nāsyās tu te deva bhayaṁ kadācid yad deva-vāṇyā kathitaṁ ca tac chṛṇu putrān dadāmīti yato bhayaṁ syān mā te vyathāsyāḥ prasava-prajātāt

Synonyms

śrī-vasudevaḥ uvāca Śrī Vasudeva said ; na not ; asyāḥ of her ; tu certainly ; te of you ; deva O lord ; bhayam fear ; kadācit ever ; yat what ; deva divine ; vāṇyā by the voice ; kathitam spoken ; ca also ; tat that ; śṛṇu listen ; putrān sons ; dadāmi i will give ; iti thus ; yataḥ because of whom ; bhayam fear ; syāt may be ; don't ; te of you ; vyathā agitation ; asyāḥ of her ; prasava-prajātāt from the birth of sons.

Translation

Śrī Vasudeva said: O lord, you never need to fear this girl. Hear what the divine voice said. I will give you the sons that frighten you. Don't be afraid of the sons that may be born from her.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca śrutvā ca niścitya vaco 'tha śaureḥ kaṁsaḥ praśaṁsyāśu gṛhaṁ gato 'bhūt śauris tadā devaka-rāja-putryā bhayāvṛtaḥ san gṛham ājagāma

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; śrutvā hearing ; ca also ; niścitya considering ; vacaḥ words ; atha then ; śaureḥ of Vasudeva ; kaṁsaḥ Kaṁsa ; praśaṁsya praising ; āśu at once ; gṛham home ; gataḥ went ; abhūt became ; śauriḥ Vasudeva ; tadā then ; devaka-rāja-putryā with the daughter of King Devaka ; bhaya-āvṛtaḥ filled with fear ; san being ; gṛham home ; ājagāma came.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Hearing and agreeing with Vasudeva's words, Kaṁsa praised him and then went home. Then, frightened Vasudeva, accompanied by King Devaka's daughter, went to his home.