Chapter Two Keśi-vadha The Killing of Keśī

24 verses

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca ataḥ keśī mahā-daityo haya-rūpi madotkaṭaḥ etya vṛndāvanaṁ ramyaṁ jagarja ghanavad balī

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; ataḥ then ; keśī Kesi ; mahā-daityaḥ the great demon ; haya-rūpi in the form of a horse ; madotkaṭaḥ wild ; etya going ; vṛndāvanam to Vṛndāvana ; ramyam beautiful ; jagarja neighed ; ghanavat like a cloud ; balī powerful.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Then the powerful and ferocious demon Keśī assumed the form of a wild horse. Neighing like thunder, he entered beautiful Vṛndāvana.

Verse text

yasya pāda-pratāḍena nipetuḥ śākhino dṛḍhāḥ pucchā-ghātena gagane khaṇḍaṁ khaṇḍaṁ yayur ghanāḥ

Synonyms

yasya of whom ; pāda-pratāḍena by the steps ; nipetuḥ fell ; śākhinaḥ the trees ; dṛḍhāḥ solid ; pucchā of the tial ; ghātena by the swishing ; gagane in the sky ; khaṇḍam khaṇḍam broken apart ; yayuḥ went ; ghanāḥ the clouds.

Translation

His footsteps made the great trees fall. The swishing of his tail broke apart the clouds in the sky.

Verse text

taṁ vīkṣya duḥsaha-javaṁ gopa-gopī-gaṇā bhṛśām bhayāturā maithilendra śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ saraṇaṁ yayuḥ

Synonyms

tam him ; vīkṣya seeing ; duḥsaha-javam running with unstoppable speed ; gopa-gopī-gaṇā the gopas and gopīs ; bhṛśām greatly ; bhayāturā afraid ; maithilendra O king of Mithilā ; śrī-kṛṣṇam to Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; saraṇam for shelter ; yayuḥ went.

Translation

When they saw him fiercely charge at them, the terrified gopas and gopīs ran to Śrī Kṛṣṇa for shelter.

Verse text

mā bhaiṣṭety abhayaṁ dattvā bhagavān vṛjinārdanaḥ kaṭau pītāmbaraṁ baddhvā hantuṁ daityaṁ pracakrame

Synonyms

don't ; bhaiṣṭa be afraid ; iti thus ; abhayam fearlessness ; dattvā giving ; bhagavān the Lord ; vṛjinārdanaḥ the deliverer from miseries ; kaṭau at His waist ; pītāmbaram the yellow garment ; baddhvā tying ; hantum to kill ; daityam the demon ; pracakrame went.

Translation

Saying, "Don't be afraid", the Lord removed their fears. Then, tightening the yellow sash at His waist, the Supreme Lord, the deliverer from troubles, went to kill the demon.

Verse text

hariṁ paścima-pādābhyāṁ santatāḍa mahāsuraḥ cālayan pṛthivīṁ rājan nādayan vyoma-maṇḍalam

Synonyms

harim Kṛṣṇa ; paścima-pādābhyām with his hind legs ; santatāḍa hit ; mahāsuraḥ the great demon ; cālayan shaking ; pṛthivīm the ground ; rājan O king ; nādayan neighing ; vyoma-maṇḍalam the circle of the sky.

Translation

O king, then, shaking the ground, and making the sky echo with his neighing, with his hind legs the great demon kicked Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse text

gṛhītvā pādayor daityaṁ bhrāmayitvā bhujena khe cikṣepa yojanaṁ kṛṣṇo vātaḥ padmam ivoddhṛtam

Synonyms

gṛhītvā grabbing ; pādayoḥ of the legs ; daityam the demon ; bhrāmayitvā whrling around ; bhujena with an arm ; khe into the sky ; cikṣepa threw ; yojanam eight miles ; kṛṣṇaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; vātaḥ wind ; padmam a lotus flower ; iva like ; uddhṛtam uprooted.

Translation

Grabbing the demon's legs and whirling him around and around, with one arm Lord Kṛṣṇa threw the demon eight miles into the sky as a great wind uproots and throws a lotus flower.

Verse text

punar āgatavān so 'pi krodha-pūrita-vigrahaḥ pucchena śrī-hariṁ devaṁ santatāḍa vrajāṅgane

Synonyms

punaḥ again ; āgatavān come ; saḥ he ; api also ; krodha-pūrita-vigrahaḥ filled with angfer ; pucchena with his tail ; śrī-harim Lord Kṛṣṇa ; devam the Lord ; santatāḍa hit ; vrajāṅgane in the courtyard of Vraja.

Translation

Filled with anger, the demon returned to the courtyards of Vraja and with his tail violently struck Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse text

pucche gṛhītvā taṁ kṛṣṇo bhrāmayitvā bhujaujasā yojanānāṁ śataṁ rājan cikṣepa gagane balāt

Synonyms

pucche the tail ; gṛhītvā grabbing ; tam him ; kṛṣṇaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; bhrāmayitvā whirling ; bhujaujasā with the power ofHis arms ; yojanānām eight miles ; śatam a hundred ; rājan O king ; cikṣepa threw ; gagane into the sky ; balāt forcibly.

Translation

Grabbing that tail, and whirling the demon around and around, with the strength of His arms Lord Kṛṣṇa threw him eighty miles into the sky.

Verse text

ākāśāt patitaḥ so 'pi kiṣcid vyākula-mānasaḥ samutthāya punar daityo jagarja ghanavad balī

Synonyms

ākāśāt from the sky ; patitaḥ fallen ; so 'pi he ; kiṣcit somewhat ; vyākula-mānasaḥ agitated at heart ; samutthāya standing up ; punaḥ again ; daityaḥ the demon ; jagarja neighed ; ghanavat like a cloud ; balī powerful

Translation

When he fell from the sky, the powerful demon was somewhat disturbed at heart. Standing up again, he neighed like thunder.

Verse text

saṭā vidhunvan romāṇi bālaṁ khe cālayan muhuḥ mahīṁ vidārayan pādair utpapāta hareḥ puraḥ

Synonyms

saṭā mane ; vidhunvan shaking ; romāṇi the hairs ; bālam tail ; khe in the sky ; cālayan moving ; muhuḥ again and again ; mahīm the earth ; vidārayan breaking ; pādaiḥ with hooves ; utpapāta jumped ; hareḥ Lord Kṛṣṇa ; puraḥ in front of.

Translation

Shaking his mane, swishing his tail in the sky, and breaking the ground with his hooves, the demon-horse jumped before Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse text

tatāḍa muṣṭinā taṁ vai bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ tasya muṣṭi-prahāreṇa mūrcchito ghaṭikā-dvayam

Synonyms

tatāḍa hit ; muṣṭinā with a fist ; tam him ; vai indeed ; bhagavān the Lord ; madhusūdanaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; tasya of Him ; muṣṭi-prahāreṇa by the puch ; mūrcchitaḥ unconscious ; ghaṭikā-dvayam for an hour.

Translation

Then Lord Kṛṣṇa punched him, and the demon was unconscious for an hour.

Verse text

mastakena galoddeśe samudhṛtya hariṁ hayaḥ bhū-maṇḍalād utpapāta gagane lakṣa-yojanam

Synonyms

mastakena by the head ; galoddeśe on the neck ; samudhṛtya grabbing ; harim Lord Kṛṣṇa ; hayaḥ the horse ; bhū-maṇḍalāt from the earth ; utpapāta threw ; gagane into the sky ; lakṣa-yojanam 800,000 miles.

Translation

Then, grabbing His neck, the demon-horse pulled Lord Kṛṣṇa eight hundred thousand miles into the sky.

Verse text

tayor yuddham abhūd ghoraṁ gagane prahara-dvayam pādair dadbhiḥ saṭābhiś ca puccha-tīkṣna-khurair nṛpa

Synonyms

tayoḥ of them ; yuddham battle ; abhūt was ; ghoram horrible ; gagane in the sky ; prahara-dvayam for six hours ; pādaiḥ with feet ; dadbhiḥ with teeth ; saṭābhiś with mane ; ca and ; puccha tail ; khuraiḥ razor ; nṛpa O king.

Translation

For six hours they fought fiercely. With his hooves, teeth, mane, and the sharp razor of his tail, the demon-horse attacked the Lord.

Verse text

gṛhītvā taṁ harir dorbhyāṁ bhrāmayitvā tv itas tataḥ ākāśāt pātayām āsa kamaṇḍalum ivārbhakaḥ

Synonyms

gṛhītvā grabbing ; tam him ; hariḥ Lord Kṛṣṇa ; dorbhyām with both arms ; bhrāmayitvā whirling around ; tv indeed ; itas tataḥ herew and there ; ākāśāt from the sky ; pātayām āsa threw ; kamaṇḍalum a kamandalu ; iva like ; arbhakaḥ a child.

Translation

Suddenly grabbing him, and whirling him around and around, with both arms Lord Kṛṣṇa threw the demon to the earth as a child throws a kamaṇḍalu.

Verse text

bhujaṁ praveṣayām āsa tan-mukhe bhagavān hariḥ tasyodare gato bāhur vavṛdhe rogavad bhṛśām

Synonyms

bhujam His arm ; praveṣayām āsa inserting ; tan-mukhe in the demon's mouth ; bhagavān Lord ; hariḥ Kṛṣṇa ; tasyodare in his belly ; gataḥ wnet ; bāhuḥ the arm ; vavṛdhe expanded ; rogavat like a disease ; bhṛśām greatly.

Translation

Then Lord Kṛṣṇa thrust His arm in the demon's mouth. Pushed into the demon's belly, the arm expanded like an incurable disease.

Verse text

tadā tu leṇḍaṁ kṛtavān ruddha-vāyur mahāsuraḥ khaṇḍī-bhūtodaraḥ sadyo mamāra haya-rūpa-dhṛk

Synonyms

tadā then ; tu indeed ; leṇḍam stool ; kṛtavān passing ; ruddha-vāyuḥ his life-breath stopped ; mahāsuraḥ the great demon ; khaṇḍī-bhūtodaraḥ his stomach broken ; sadyaḥ at once ; mamāra died ; haya-rūpa-dhṛk having the form of a horse.

Translation

Then, passing stool and urine, his life breath stopped, and his stomach broken by Lord Kṛṣṇa's arm, the horse-demon suddenly died.

Verse text

dehād vinirgataḥ sadyo mukuṭī kuṇḍalānvitaḥ divya-rūpa-dharaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ prāṣjaliḥ praṇanāma ha

Synonyms

dehāt from the body ; vinirgataḥ come ; sadyaḥ suddenly ; mukuṭī crowned ; kuṇḍalānvitaḥ decorated with earrings ; divya-rūpa a splendid form ; dharam manifesting ; kṛṣṇam to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; prāṣjaliḥ with folded hands ; praṇanāma bowed down ; ha certainly.

Translation

From the demon's body suddenly emerged a being wearing a crown and earrings. With folded hands he bowed down before glorious Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse text

śrī-kumuda uvāca śakrasyānucaro 'haṁ vai kumudo nāma mādhava tejasvī rūpavān vīro jiṣṇuś chatra-bhramiṁ dadhan

Synonyms

śrī-kumuda uvāca Śrī Kumuda said ; śakrasya of Indra ; anucaraḥ a follower ; aham I am ; vai indeed ; kumudaḥ Kumuda ; nāma named ; mādhava O Kṛṣṇa ; tejasvī powerful and splendid ; rūpavān handsome ; vīraḥ heroic ; jiṣṇuḥ glorious ; chatra-bhramim the parasol ; dadhan holding.

Translation

Śrī Kumuda said: O Lord Kṛṣṇa, my name is Kumuda and I am a servant of King Indra. I am powerful, handsome, heroic, and glorious. I carry Indra's parasol.

Verse text

vṛtrāsura-vadhe pūrvaṁ brahma-hatyā-praśāntaye yajṣaṁ cakāra nākeśo vājimedhaṁ kratūttamam

Synonyms

vṛtrāsura of Vṛtrāsura ; vadhe in the killing ; pūrvam previously ; brahma-hatyā-praśāntaye to become free of the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa ; yajṣam a yajna ; cakāra did ; nākeśaḥ Indra ; vājimedham vajimedha ; kratūttamam the best of yajnas.

Translation

When Vṛtrāsura was killed, to become free of the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa, Indra performed an aṣvamedha-yajṣa, the best of sacrifices.

Verse text

aśvamedha-hayaṁ śubhraṁ śyāma-karṇaṁ mano-javam tam ārurukṣur duṣṭo 'haṁ corayitvā talaṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

aśvamedha-hayam the aśvamedha horse ; śubhram handsome ; śyāma-karṇam with black ears ; mano-javam running as fast as the mind ; tam that ; ārurukṣuḥ wishing to ride ; duṣṭaḥ wicked ; aham I ; corayitvā stealing ; talam to Talaloka ; gataḥ went.

Translation

Yearning to ride it, I stole the splendid sacrificial horse, which had one black ear and ran as fast as the mind, and went to Talaloka.

Verse text

tato marud-gaṇair nītaṁ pāśa-baddhaṁ mahā-khalam saśāpa māṁ balārātis tvaṁ rakṣo bhava durmate

Synonyms

tataḥ from there ; marud-gaṇaiḥ by the Maruts ; nītam brought ; pāśa-baddham bound with ropes ; mahā-khalam a great iffender ; saśāpa cursed ; mām me ; balārātiḥ Indra, the enemy of Bala ; tvam you ; rakṣaḥ a raksasa ; bhava become ; durmate O wicked one.

Translation

The Maruts bound me with ropes and brought me back. Indra cursed me, "Wretch! Become a demon!

Verse text

hayākṛtis te sambhūyād bhūmau manvantara-dvayam tac-chāpād adya mukto 'haṁ sadyas tvat-sparśanāt prabho

Synonyms

hayākṛtiḥ the form of a horse ; te of you ; sambhūyāt will be ; bhūmau on the earthj ; manvantara-dvayam for two manvantaras ; tac-chāpāt from that curse ; adya today ; muktaḥ freed ; aham I am ; sadyaḥ at once ; tvat-sparśanāt by Your touch ; prabhaḥ O Lord.

Translation

"For two manvantaras you will have a horse's form on the earth." O Lord, today Your touch has freed me from that curse.

Verse text

kiṅkaraṁ kuru māṁ deva tvad-aṅghrau lagna-mānasam namas tubhyaṁ bhagavate sarva-lokaika-sākṣiṇe

Synonyms

kiṅkaram a servant ; kuru please make ; mām me ; deva O Lord ; tvad-aṅghrau at Your feet ; lagna-mānasam the mind is placed ; namaḥ obeisances ; tubhyam to You ; bhagavate the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; sarva-lokaika-sākṣiṇe the sole witness of all.

Translation

O Lord please make me Your servant. My heart is fixed on Your feet. I offer my respectful obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul who is the witness of all.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya hariṁ pareśvaraṁ vimānam āruhya mahojjvalaṁ param vaikuṇṭhalokaṁ kumudo yayau tvaraṁ virājayan maithila maṇḍalaṁ diśām

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtya circumambulating ; harim Lord Kṛṣṇa ; pareśvaram the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; vimānam an airplane ; āruhya climbing ; mahojjvalam very glorious ; param transcendental ; vaikuṇṭhalokam Vaikuṇṭhaloka ; kumudaḥ Kumuda ; yayau went ; tvaram at once ; virājayan filling with light ; maithila O king of Mithilā ; maṇḍalam the circle ; diśām of the directions.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, after circumambulating Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kumuda entered a celestial airplane and at once flew to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, filling the circle of the directions with light as he went. .pa