Harivamsa

8 - vṛkavarṇanam - Attack by wolves

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

evam tau bālyamuttīrṇau kṛṣṇasaṁkarṣaṇāvubhau |

tasminneva vrajasthāne saptavarshau babhūvatuḥ ||2-8-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya,) In this way kṛṣṇa and saṁkarṣaṇa spent their childhood. They completed seven years in the same vraja.

nīlapītāmbaradharau pītaśvetānulepanau |

babhūvaturvatsapālau kākapakṣadharāvubhau ||2-8-2

They were dressed in blue (saṁkarṣaṇa) and yellow (kṛṣṇa) clothes. Their bodies were smeared with yellow and white (sandal) pastes. They became keepers of calves. Both had hair locks.

parṇavādyaṁ śrutisukhaṁ vādayantau varānanau |

śuśubhāte vanagatau triśīrṣāviva pannagau ||2-8-3

The boys with beautiful faces, blew whistles made of palm leaves, which were pleasant to hear. They dazzled in the forest, looking like three-headed snakes (while blowing whistles).

mayūrāṅgadakarṇau tu pallavāpīḍadhāriṇau |

vanamālākuloraskau drumapotāvivodgatau ||2-8-4

They wore peacock feathers on arms and ears. They wore crowns of leaves on their heads Their chests had garlands of forest flowers. Thus they looked like young trees.

aravindakṛtāpīḍau rajjuyajṣopavītinau |

sashikyatumbakarakau gopaveṇupravādakau ||2-8-5

Their heads were decorated with lotus flowers. They wore sacred threads made of ropes. They carried swings of ropes suspended from either ends of a pole, gourds and water vessels. They played flutes among the gopas.

kvachidvasantāvanyonyaṁ krīḍamānau kvachitkvachit |

parṇaśayyāsu saṁsuptau kvacinnidrāntarekṣaṇau ||2-8-6

They laughed looking at each other at some places. They played with each other at some other places. They slept on beds made of leaves. Sometimes they lied down closing their eyes.

evaṁ vatsānpālayantau shobhayantau mahāvanam |

chaṣcūryantau ramantau sma kiśorāviva chaṣchalau ||2-8-7

In this way they took care of the calves and dazzled in the great forest. They freely wandered about like two young restless horses.

atha dāmodaraḥ śrīmānsaṅkarṣaṇamuvāca ha |

ārya nāsminvane śakyaṁ gopālaiḥ saha krīḍitum ||2-8-8

One day, the handsome dāmodara (kṛṣṇa) told saṅkarṣaṇa: "Brother, It is not possible to play with gopa-s in this forest any more.

avagītamidam sarvamāvābhyāṁ bhuktakānanam |

prakṣīṇatṛṇakāṣṭham ca gopairmathitapādapam ||2-8-9

We are seeing all this again and again. This forest is consumed by us. There is no more grass and fire-wood and the trees are destroyed by gopas.

ghanībhūtāni yānyāsankānanāni vanāni ca |

tānyākāśanikāśāni dṛśyante'dya yathāsukham ||2-8-10

These woods and forests were dense They are thin now. Without leaves, open skies can be seen (through the forest) easily.

govāṭeṣvapi ye vṛkṣāḥ parivṛttārgaleṣu ca |

sarve goṣṭhāgniṣu gatāḥ kṣayamakṣayavarchasaḥ ||2-8-11

There were trees surrounding the cowshed with locked doors. All those inexhaustible trees have gone, being consumed for fire-wood in vraja.

saṁnikṛṣṭāni yānyāsankāṣṭhāni ca tṛṇāni ca |

tāni dūrāvakṛṣṭāsu mārgitavyāni bhūmiṣu ||2-8-12

Fire-wood and grass were available nearby earlier. We have to search for these on grounds located far way.

araṇyamidamalpodamalpakakṣaṁ nirāśrayam |

anveṣitavyaviśrāmaṁ dāruṇaṁ viraladrumam ||2-8-13

This forest has very little water and grass. It is devoid of any supports. The rest-places have to be searched for. The trees are rare. The situation is pathetic.

akarmanyeṣu vṛkṣeṣu sthitavipraṁ sthitadvijam |

saṁvāsasyāsya mahato janenotsāditadrumam ||2-8-14

The trees are no longer productive. The birds living on these trees have left. The large number of inhabitants have cut down many trees.

nirānandaṁ nirāsvādaṁ niṣprayojanamārutam |

nirvihaṅgamidaṁ śūnyaṁ nirvyaṣjanamivāśanam ||2-8-15

There is no happiness here. There is nothing to be enjoyed. The air is useless. The forest is empty without birds like food without condiment.

vikrīyamāṇaiḥ kāṣṭhaiścha śākaiścha vanasaṁbhavaiḥ |

uccinnasaṣchayatṛṇairghoṣo'yaṁ nagarāyate ||2-8-16

The fire-wood and leafy vegetables of this forest are sold (for a livelihood ). Without any grass, the vraja looks like a city.

śailānāṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ ghoṣo ghoṣāṇāṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ vanam |

vanānāṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ gāvastāścāsmākaṁ parā gatiḥ ||2-8-17

vraja-s are decoration of hills. Forests are decoration of vrajas. Cows are decoration of forests. Cows are our greatest assets.

tasmādanyadvanaṁ yāmaḥ pratyagrayavasendhanam |

icchantyanupabhuktāni gāvo bhoktuṁ tṛṇāni ca ||2-8-18

Therefore, we should go to another forest where grass and fire-wood are available in plenty. The cows like to eat new green grass which they have not eaten before.

tasmādvanaṁ navatṛṇaṁ gacchantu dhanino vrajāḥ |

na dvārabandhāvaraṇā na gṛhakṣetriṇastathā |

praśastā vai vrajā loke yathā vai cakracāriṇaḥ ||2-8-19

Therefore, the vraja, seeking prosperity, should go to a forest where new grass is available. The places, where doors are closed and covered and houses and fields are bound, are not good for residence. Like freely moving birds (such as haṁsa, sārasa etc. who are without a permanent residence), the vraja living in different places is famous in the world.

hakṛnmūtreṣu teṣveva jātakṣārarasāyanam |

na tṛṇaṁ bhuṣjate gāvo nāpi tatpayase hitam ||2-8-20

Due to cow-dung and urine, salt and chemicals have accumulated (in the earth). The cows are not eating such grass and that is not favourable for milk.

sthalīprāyāsu rathyāsu navāsu vanarājiṣu |

carāvaḥ sahitau gobhiḥ kṣipraṁ saṁvāhyatāṁ vrajaḥ ||2-8-21

All the paths in this forest have become plain. Let us all go with the cows to new forests. Let us quickly relocate the vraja there.

śrūyate hi vanaṁ ramyaṁ paryāptaṁ tṛṇasaṁstaram |

nāmnā vṛndāvanaṁ nāma svāduvṛkṣaphalodakam ||2-8-22

It is heard that there is a beautiful forest named vṛndāvanaṁ. That forest has adequate green grass. There are trees having tasty fruits and the water is tasty.

ajhillikaṇṭakavanaṁ sarvairvanaguṇairyutam |

kadambapādapaprāyaṁ yamunātīrasaṁśritam ||2-8-23

There are no thorny bushes in that forest. It has all that a forest should have. There are many kadamba trees in that forest on the banks of yamunā.

snigdhaśītānilavanaṁ sarvartunilayaṁ śubham |

gopīnāṁ sukhasaṣcāraṁ cārucitravanāntaram ||2-8-24

A cool breeze blows in that forest. All seasons are present there simultaneously. The gopi-s can roam freely there. Inside there are many beautiful and strange forests.

tatra govardhano nāma nātidūre girirmahān |

bhrājate dīrghaśikharo nandanasyeva mandaraḥ ||2-8-25

There is a great mountain named govardhana not very far from the forest. The mountain has many tall peaks. It looks splendid like mandara (mountain) in nandana (forest).

madhye cāsya mahāśākho nyagrodho yojanocchritaḥ |

bhāṇḍīro nāma shuśubhe nīlamegha ivāmbare ||2-8-26

In the middle of the forest, there is a banyan tree with huge branches having one yojana height. Called bhāṇḍīra, it dazzles like a blue cloud in the sky.

madhyena cāsya kālindī sīmantamiva kurvatī |

prayātā nandanasyeva nalinī saritāṁ varā ||2-8-27

The river kālindī runs through the middle as the partition on the forehead of a married woman, like the river nalinī which runs through nanadana.

tatra govardhanaṁ caiva bhāṇḍīraṁ ca vanaspatim |

kālindīṁ ca nadīṁ ramyāṁ drakṣyāvaścharataḥ sukham ||2-8-28

It will be a pleasure for us to walk around there and see govardhanam, bhāṇḍīram, trees and the beautiful river kālinḍi.

tatrāyaṁ kalpyatāṁ ghoṣastyajyatāṁ nirguṇaṁ vanam |

saṁtrāsayāvo bhadraṁ te kiṣchidutpādya kāraṇam ||2-8-29

Let us leave this useless forest and establish vraja there. Let us create some reason and generate fear. All will be well.

evaṁ kathayatastasya vāsudevasya dhimataḥ |

prādurbabhūvuḥ shatasho raktamāṁsavasāśanāḥ ||2-8-30

As the intelligent son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa) was speaking, hundreds of wolves, fond of blood , meat and marrow , emerged .

ghorāścintayatastasya svatanūruhajāstadā |

viniṣpeturbhayakarāḥ sarvaśaḥ shatasho vṛkāḥ ||2-8-31

Hundreds of terrible wolves emerged from his body and spread everywhere, as he was thinking about them.

niṣpatanti sma bahavo vrajasyotsādanāya vai |

vṛkānniṣpatitāndṛṣṭvā goṣu vatseṣvatho nṛṣu ||2-8-32

gopīṣu ca yathākāmaṁ vraje trāso'bhavanmahān |

Seeing the many wolves which emerged to relocate the vraja (as kṛṣṇa desired), all the cows, calves, men and women, the entire vraja became extremely frightened.

te vṛkāḥ paṣchabaddhāścha daśabaddhāstatha pare ||2-8-33

triṁśadviṁśatibaddhāścha śatabaddhāstathā pare |

nishcherustasya gātrebhyaḥ śrīvatsakṛtalakṣaṇāḥ ||2-8-34

The wolves, manifested from kṛṣṇa's body in groups of five, ten, twenty, thirty and hundred had the (auspicious) mark of srīvatsa (mark of viṣṇu).

kṛṣṇasya kṛṣṇavadanā gopānāṁ bhayavardhanāḥ |

bhakṣayadbhiścha tairvatsāṁstrāsayadbhiścha govrajān ||2-8-35

The black faced wolves which emerged from kṛṣṇa's body terrified the gopas. They ate the calves and frightened the cows of vraja.

nishi bālānharadbhiścha vṛkairutsādyate vrajaḥ |

na vane shakyate gantuṁ na gāścha parirakṣitum ||2-8-36

In the night, they stole young boys. The wolves broke the life at vraja. It became impossible to go to the forest and to protect the cows.

na vanātkiṣchidāhartuṁ na ca vā tarituṁ nadīm |

trastā hyudvignamanaso'gatāstasminvane'vasan ||2-8-37

It became impossible to collect anything from the forest and to cross the river. All the inhabitants became overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

evaṁ vṛkairudīrṇaistu vyāghratulyaparākramaiḥ |

vrajo niṣpandacheṣṭasya ekasthānacharaḥ kṛtaḥ ||2-8-38

In this way, the wolves, who were terrific like tigers, rendered the vraja without and movement and activities. They were forced to stay together at one place.

iti śrīmahabhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viśṇuparvaṇi śiśucaryāyāṁ vṛkadarśane'ṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the eighth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, attack by wolves.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

asminnathāṣṭame'dhyāye vanāntaramiyāsataḥ |

tanūrūhasamutpannā vṛkā kṛṣṇasya varṇyate ||

evaṁ tāvityadhyāyaḥ | "sudevo adya prapatedanāvṛtparāvataṁ paramāṁ gantavā u adhāśayīta nirṛterupasthe dhainaṁ vṛkā rabhasāso adyuḥ" ityasya mantrasyopabṛṁhaṇārthaḥ | mantrārthaḥ | purūravasaṁ pratyurvaśī vadati | sudevaḥ śobhanasvāmiko vrajaḥ ādyakṣaralopena vāsudevo vā adya prapatet adyaiva upadravasamakālaṁ gacchet anāvṛt nāsti āvṛt nirodhako yasya tādṛśo'pi parāvataṁ paramāt dūrāddūrataraṁ gantavai gantuṁ u niśchitaṁ prapatedityanvayaḥ | adya pakṣāntare yadi sudevo na prapatettarhi nirṛterupasthe shayita agha athavā evaṁ vrajaṁ vāsudevaparijanaṁ rabhasāso rabhasāḥ vegavantaḥ vṛ+kāḥ adyuḥ bhakṣayeyuḥ tasmādvāsudevo vā tatparigṛhīto vrajo vā vṛkebhyo vibheti atastvādṛśenāpi indriyavṛkebhyaḥ sutarāṁ bhetavyamiti bhāvaḥ | itaḥ spaṣṭārthaṁ mūlaṁ ||

2-8-3 paṇavo hi tumbīphalopeto vādyaviśeṣaḥ | ādyapadāttādṛśaṁ rudravīṇādikaṁ paṇavādyamata eva triśīrṣāviveti dṛṣṭāntaḥ saṁgacchate parṇavādyamityapi pāṭhaḥ ||

· 2-8-7 chaṣcūryantau atyantaṁ saṁcarantau kiśorāviva aśvapotāviva ||

· 2-8-9 avagītaṁ nāśitaṁ bhuktabhogaṁ kānanam ||

· 2-8-10 kānanāni udyānāni vanāni araṇyāni ākāśanikāśāni patrādinā śūnyāni ||

· 2-8-11 parito vṛttacakrākāraḥ paridhiḥ argalashva yeṣu teṣu parivṛttārgaleṣu ||

· 2-8-15 nirvyaṣjanaṁ śākarūpādihīnam ||

· 2-8-18 kartavyamāha | tasmāditi ||

· 2-8-19 nanu pitṛparyāgatā bhūmirnirdhanāpi sukhāvahetyukteḥ kathaṁ pūrvasthānaṁ tyājyamityāha | na dvāreti | cakreṇa samudāyena caranti te cakracāriṇo haṇsasārasādayaḥ aniketo ityarthaḥ ||

· 2-8-20 śakṛnmūtreṣu teṣveṣu tṛṇeṣu patiteṣu satsu ||

· 2-8-21 sthalīprāyāsu samabhūmitulyāsu nistṛṇātvityarthaḥ ||

· 2-8-24 snigdhavanaṁ śītānilaṁ cheti saṁbandhaḥ ||

· 2-8-28 charato mṛgādīniti śeṣaḥ ||

· 2-8-33 paṣchabaddhāḥ paṣcādisaṁkhyayā saṁhatā ||

· 2-8-37 agatāḥ asamcārāḥ

· 2-8-38 tadevāha | evamiti ||

iti harivamshe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmaṣṭamo.dhyāyaḥ ||

9 - vrindāvanapraveśaḥ - Moving to Vrindavana

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

evaṁ vṛkāṁścha tāndṛṣṭvā vardhamānāndurāsadān |

sastrīpumānsa ghoṣo vai samasto'mantrayattadā ||2-9-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya) Thus, seeing the invincible wolves increasing, all the women and men of vraja as a group, said:

sthāne neha na nah kāryaṁ vrajāmo'nyanmahadvanam |

yacchivaṁ ca sukhoṣyaṁ ca gavāṁ caiva sukhāvaham ||2-9-2

There is no reason to live here anymore. We should move the vraja to another big forest where we can live peacefully and comfortably along with the cows.

adyaiva kiṁ chireṇa sma vrajāmaḥ saha godhanaiḥ |

yāvadvṛkairvadhaṁ ghoraṁ na naḥ sarvo vrajo vrajet ||2-9-3

What is the use of delay? Let us move the vraja along with cows before all of us are killed terribly by these wolves.

eśāṁ dhūmrāruṇāṅgānāṁ daṁṣṭriṇāṁ nakhakarṣiṇām |

vṛkāṇāṁ kṛṣṇavaktrāṇāṁ bibhīmo nishi garjatām ||2-9-4

We are terribly frightened in the night by the howling of these wolves having black faces, grey and red limbs, sharp teeth and nails.

mama putro mama bhrātā mama vatso'tha gaurmama |

vṛkairvyāpāditā hyevaṁ krandanti sma gṛhe gṛhe ||2-9-5

At every house, people lamented crying: My son, my brother, my calf and my cow were attacked by wolves.

tāsāṁ ruditashabdena gavāṁ haṁbhāraveṇa ca |

vrajasyotthāpanaṁ cakrurghoṣavṛddhāḥ samāgatāḥ ||2-9-6

Concerned by the sound of their crying and the mooing of cows, the elders of vraja, decided to relocate the vraja.

teṣāṁ matamathājṣāya gantuṁ vṛndāvanaṁ prati |

vrajasya viniveśāya gavāṁ caiva hitāya ca ||2-9-7

Understanding their desire to go to vṛndāvana for establishing the vraja and for the benefit of cows,

vṝndāvananivāsāya tāṣjṣātvā kṛtaniśchayān |

nandagopo bṛhadvākyaṁ bṛhaspatirivādade ||2-9-8

and knowing that they have decided to live in vṛndāvana, nandagopa spoke these great words like bṛhaspati (the preceptor of deva-s):

adyaiva niśchayaprāptiryadi gantavyameva naḥ |

śīghramājṣāpyatāṁ ghoṣaḥ sajjībhavata mā ciram ||2-9-9

If you have determined to go, let us go today. Let the order be given quickly to ready the vraja without any delay.

tato'vaghuṣyata tadā ghoṣe tatprākṛtairjanaiḥ |

śīghraṁ gāvaḥ prakalpyantāṁ bhāṇḍām samabhiropyatām ||2-9-10

Then through ordinary men, it was announced in vraja: Get the cows ready quickly. Pack your things.

vatsayūthāni kālyantāṁ yujyantāṁ śakaṭāni ca |

vṛndāvanamitaḥ sthānānniveśāya ca gamyatām ||2-9-11

Get the calves ready. Assemble the carts. Let us begin the journey from here to live in vṛndāvana.

tacchrutvā nandagopasya vacanaṁ sādhu bhāṣitam |

udatiṣṭhadvrajaḥ sarvaḥ śīghraṁ gamanalālasaḥ ||2-9-12

Hearing the good words spoken by nandagopa, the entire vraja quickly readied itself to undertake the journey.

prayāhyuttiṣṭha gachcāmaḥ kiṁ śeṣe sādhu yojaya |

uttiṣṭhati vraje tasmingopakolāhalo hyabhūt ||2-9-13

When the vraja rose up to leave the place and go, there was commotion among the gopa-s: Get up, go, are you sleeping? go, make the carts ready.

uttiṣṭhamānaḥ shuśubhe śakaṭīśakaṭastu saḥ |

vyāghraghoṣamahāghoṣo ghoṣaḥ sāgaraghoṣavān ||2-9-14

When the carts and residents began moving, a huge commotion was heard. The loud noise was like the roar of tigers or the roar of waves in the ocean.

gopīnāṁ gargarībhiścha mūrdhni chottambhitairghaṭaiḥ |

niṣpapāta vrajātpaṅktistārāpaṅktirivāṁbarāt ||2-9-15

Gopi-s, carrying pots of milk and buttermilk on their heads, followed in rows. It appeared as if a series of stars from the sky have fallen down on earth.

nīlapītāruṇaistāsāṁ vastrairagrastanocchritaiaḥ |

śakracāpāyate paṅktirgopīnāṁ mārgagāminī ||2-9-16

Blue, yellow and red clothes covered their breasts. When they walked, the clothes appeared like the bow of indra (rainbow).

dāmanī dāmabhāraiścha kaiśchitkāyāvalambibhiḥ|

gopā mārgagatā bhānti sāvarohā iva drumāḥ ||2-9-17

On the way, gopa-s hanging ropes and bundles of churning sticks tied with ropes on their bodies looked like banyan trees with their roots hanging about.

sa vrajo vrajatā bhāti śakaṭaughena bhāsvatā |

potaiḥ pavanavikṣiptairniṣpatadbhirivārṇavaḥ ||2-9-18

The vraja dazzled with the caravan of moving carts. It appeared like an ocean with a number of ships moving with the force of wind.

kṣaṇena tadvrajasthānamīriṇaṁ samapadyata |

dravyāvayavanirdhūtaṁ kīrṇaṁ vāyasamaṇḍalaiḥ ||2-9-19

Within a short time, that place of vraja became vacant like a barren land. Soon the place became filled with crows due to scattered particles of food grains.

tataḥ krameṇa ghoṣaḥ sa prāpto vṛndāvanaṁ vanam |

niveśaṁ vipulaṁ cakre gavāṁ caiva hitāya ca ||2-9-20

Gradually, moving forward, the vraja reached the forest, vṛndāvanaṁ. The residences were built over a vast area, for the benefit of cows.

śakaṭāvartaparyantaṁ candrārdhākārasaṁsthitam |

madhye yojanavistīrṇaṁ tāvaddviguṇamāyatam ||2-9-21

The carts were parked around the boundary in the shape of half moon. In the middle, the breadth was one yojana and the length was two yojanas.

kaṇṭakībhiḥ pravṛddhābhistathā kaṇṭakitadrumaiḥ |

nikhātocchritaśākhāgrairabhiguptaṁ samantataḥ ||2-9-22

The place was concealed and protected by thorny bushes, tall branches of trees, other thorny plants and trees.

manthairāropyamāṇaiścha manthabandhānukarṣaṇaiḥ |

adbhiḥ prakṣālyamānābhirgargarībhiritastataḥ ||2-9-23

The churning sticks were mounted along with the ropes. The buttermilk pots were properly washed with water.

kīlairāropyamāṇaiścha dāmanīpāśapāśitaiḥ |

stambhanībhirdhṛtābhiścha śakaṭaiḥ parivartitaiḥ ||2-9-24

Pegs were driven into the ground. Churning ropes were tied on the pegs. Poles were erected and carts were tied to these poles.

niyogapāśairāsaktairgargarīstambhamūrdhasu |

cādanārthaṁ prakīrṇaiścha kaṭakaistṛṇasaṁkaṭaiḥ ||2-9-25

Buttermilk pots were hung on the poles with ropes. For cover, mats of grass were spread.

śākhāviṭaṅkairvṛkṣāṇāṁ kriyamāṇairitastataḥ |

śodhyamānairgavāṁ sthānaiḥ sthāpyamānairulūkhalaiḥ ||2-9-26

Nests were built here and there on the trees for birds. Places were cleared for building cowsheds. Mortars were installed.

prāṅmukhaiḥ sicyamānaiścha saṁdīpyadbhiścha pāvakaiḥ |

savatsacharmāstaraṇaiḥ paryaṅkaiścāvaropitaiḥ ||2-9-27

These were washed keeping them facing east. Fires were lit. Seats made from the skin of calves were unloaded (from the carts).

toyamuttārayantībhiḥ prekṣantībhiścha tadvanam |

śākhāścākarṣamāṇābhirgopībhiścha samantataḥ ||2-9-28

Some gopi-s were lowering water pots from their heads. Some were enjoying the beauty of the forest. Some were walking around pulling down the branches of trees.

yuvabhiḥ sthaviraishcaiva gopairvyagrakarairbhṛśam |

viśasadbhiḥ kuṭhāraiścha kāṣṭhānyapi tarūnapi ||2-9-29

The young and old gopa-s were busy with their hands. Some were cutting firewood and trees with axes.

tadvrajasthānamadhikaṁ shuśubhe kānanāvṝtam |

ramyaṁ vananivesham vai svādumūlaphalodakam ||2-9-30

Because of all this, that place of vraja, surrounded by forest appeared enchanting. That beautiful forest had tasty roots, fruits and fresh water.

tāstu kāmadughā gāvaḥ sarvapakṣirutaṁ vanam |

vṛndāvanamanuprāptā nandanopamakānanam ||2-9-31

The cows which gave plenty of milk entered vṛndāvana, which was full of sounds of all kinds of birds. The forest resembled nandana (forest).

pūrvameva tu kṛṣṇena gavām vai hitakāriṇā |

shivena manasā dṛṣṭaṁ tadvanaṁ vanacāriṇā ||2-9-32

kṛṣṇa, who travels in the forest and always thinks about the welfare of cows had visualized this forest before.

pashchime tu tato rūKṣe dharme māse nirāmaye |

varṣatīvāmṛtaṁ deve tṛṇaṁ tatra vyavardhata ||2-9-33

It was the last part of the hot summer month. Even then green grass was abundantly available since, indra (deva) had showered rains (amṛtaṁ).

na tatra vatsāḥ sīdanti na gāvo netare janāḥ |

yatra tiṣṭhati lokānāṁ bhavāya madhusūdanaḥ ||2-9-34

Where madhusūdana (kṛṣṇa), the benefactor of people is present, there the calves, cows and people can not face any difficulty.

tāścha gāvaḥ sa ghoṣastu sa ca saṅkarṣaṇo yuvā |

kṛṣṇena vihitaṁ vāsaṁ samadhyāsata nirvṛtāḥ ||2-9-35

Thus the cows, vraja and the young saṅkarṣaṇa began to live with delight in the place liked by kṛṣṇa.

iti śimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi vrindāvanapraveśe navamo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the nineth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, moving to vṛndāvana.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

etasminnavame'dhyāye rāmakṛṣṇecchayā punaḥ | vṛndāvanapraveśaścha vrajasyādbhuta Iryate ||

· 2-9-1 evaṁ vṛkān ||

· 2-9- 2 sukhoṣyaṁ sukhāvāsam ||

· 2-9-4 eṣām ebhyaḥ sakāśāt ||

· 2-9-10 avaghuṣyata ghoṣo jataḥ | bhāṇḍaṁ śakaṭeṣviti śeṣaḥ ||

· 2-9-18 potaiḥ naukābhiḥ ||

· 2-9-19 īrṇam ūṣaraṁ śūnyamityarthaḥ ||

· 2-9-25 niyogapāśaiḥ manthanabhāṇḍasthūṇāyā manthanadaṇḍena saṁyojanārthaiḥ pāśaiḥ māṣjereti mahārāṣtraprasiddhaiḥ śikyairvā kaṭakairghaṭādhārakatṛṇaiḥ sahitābhiḥ tṛṇasaṁkaṭaiḥ tṛṇamayībhirāccādanībhi ||

· 2-9-26 śākhāsu viṭaṅkāḥ pakṣyupaveśanasthānāni taiḥ kriyamāṇaiḥ ||

· 2-9-33 dharme grīṣme tatrāpi pashchime āṣāḍhe ||

· 2-9-34 adhyāsata adhyāsitavantaḥ ||

iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi tīkāyāṁ navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

10 - prā vṛḍvarṇanam - Description of the Rainy Season

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

tau tu vṛndāvanaṁ prāptau vasudevasutāvubhau |

ceraturvatsayūthāni cārayantau surūpiṇau ||2-10-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya), after arriving at vṛndāvana, the two handsome sons of vasudeva wandered in the forest tending to calves.

pūrṇastu gharmasamayastayostatra vane sukham |

krīḍatoḥ saha gopālairyamunāṁ cāvagāhatoḥ ||2-10-2

They completed the (remaining) summer time in the forest happily, playing with gopa-boys and bathing in the river yamunā.

tataḥ prāvṛḍanuprāptā manasaḥ kāmadīpinī |

pravavarṣurmahāmeghāḥ śakracāpāṅkitodarāḥ ||2-10-3

Then the rainy season lighting desires in the mind arrived. Great clouds adorned with rainbows (śakracāpa) on the belly, covered the sky and it started raining heavily.

babhūvādarśanaḥ sūryo bhūmiścādarśanā tṛṇaiḥ |

patatā meghavātena navatoyānukarṣiṇā ||2-10-4

saṁmārjitatalā bhūmiryauvanastheva lakṣyate ||2-10-5

It was difficult to see the sun. The earth covered with grass was not visible. The earth appeared as if it regained youth since its surface was swept by strong winds spraying fresh water.

na vavarṣāvasiktāni śakragopakulāni ca |

naṣṭadāvāgnidhūmāni vanāni pracakāśire ||2-10-6

The insects such as indragopakula drenched in the rain. The forest fires and the smokes were extinguished completely. The forest looked charming.

nṛtyavyāpārakālaścha mayūrāṇāṁ kalāpinām |

madaraktāḥ pravṛttāścha kekāḥ paṭuravāstathā ||2-10-7

It was the time for peacocks with large feathers to dance. The sounds of their joyful mingling could be heard everywhere.

navaprāvṛṣi kāntāṇāṁ ṣaṭpadāhāradāyinām |

yauvanasthakadambānāṁ navābhrairbhrājate vapuḥ ||2-10-8

In the new rains, the trunks of young kadamba trees looked beautiful with the new clouds, providing food for butterflies and bees.

hāsitaṁ kuṭajairvṛkṣaiḥ kadambairvāsitaṁ vanam |

nāśitaṁ jaladairuṣṇaṁ toṣitā vasudhā jalaiḥ |

The kuṭaja and kadamba trees enhanced the beauty of the forest with their flowers and fragrance. The clouds destroyed the heat of summer. The earth was happy with rain water.

saṁtaptā bhāskarakarairabhitaptā davāgnibhiḥ ||2-10-9

jalairbalāhakotsṛṣṭairucchvasantīva parvatāḥ |

The hills which were scorched by the sun rays and burned by blazing forest fires, breathed new life after being soaked with rain water.

mahāvātasamudbhūtaṁ mahāmeghagaṇārpitam |

mahī mahārāja puraistulyamāpadyate nabhaḥ ||2-10-10

Strong winds blew everywhere. Huge clouds showered heavy rains. The earth, taken over by the sky, appeared like the city of a king. (strong winds blew like flags and huge clouds appeared like huge palaces of a king's city - nīlakaṇṭha).

kvachitkadambahāsāḍhyaṁ śilīndhrābharaṇaṁ kvachit |

saṁpradīptamivābhāti phullanīpadrumaṁ vanam ||2-10-11

In some places, kadamba trees were in full bloom. In some other places, mushrooms flourished like ornaments. The forest appeared lit with nīpa flowers in full bloom.

aindreṇa payasā siktaṁ mārutena ca vistṛtam |

pārthivaṁ gandhamāghrāya lokaḥ kṣubhitamānasaḥ ||2-10-12

Drenched by indra's rain water, the fragrance of earth spread by winds, agitated the minds of people everywhere.

dṛptasāraṅganādena darduravyāhatena ca |

navaishcha śikhivikruṣṭairavakīrṇā vasundharā ||2-10-13

The entire earth was filled with the sound of humming bees, croaking frogs and singing peacocks.

bhramattūrṇamahāvartā varṣaprāptamahārayāḥ |

harantyastīrajānvṛkṣānvistāraṁ yāṁti nimnagāḥ ||2-10-14

Flowing forcefully with large whirlpools and abundant water obtained from the rains, the rivers increased their breadth uprooting trees from the banks.

santatāsāraniryatnāḥ klinnayatnottaracchadāḥ |

na tyajanti nagāgrāṇi śrāntā iva patatriṇaḥ ||2-10-15

The birds with their wings wet in the heavy rain, refused to leave the tree tops as though they were exhausted.

toyagambhīralambeṣu sravatsu ca nadatsu ca |

udareṣu navābhrāṇāṁ majjatīva divākaraḥ ||2-10-16

The sun was immersed in the bellies of the rain clouds, which were dense with water and rumbling with rain, in the sky.

mahīruhairutpatitaiḥ salilotpīḍasaṅkulā |

anviṣyamārgā vasudhā bhāti śādvalamālinī ||2-10-17

Covered with green grass and drenched in heavy rain, it became difficult to find paths which were indicated by the trees on both sides.

vajreṇevāvarugṇānāṁ nagānāṁ nagaśālinām |

srotobhiḥ parikṛttāni patanti śikharāṇyadhaḥ ||2-10-18

The peaks of hills having trees whose top branches were cut as though struck by vajra, crumbled on the ground due to strong currents of water.

patatā meghavarṣeṇa yathā nimnānusāriṇā |

palvalotkīrṇamuktena pūryante vanarājayaḥ ||2-10-19

The rain water from the clouds flowed through the land, according to the level. The low areas became full, flooding the forest.

hastocchritamukhā vanyā meghanādānusāriṇaḥ |

bhrāntātivṛṣṭyā mātaṅgā gāṁ gatā iva toyadāḥ ||2-10-20

In the heavy rain, following the thunder of the clouds, wild elephants raised their heads, holding their trunks up. It appeared as though the clouds have descended on earth.

prāvṛṭpravṛttiṁ saṁdṛśya dṛṣṭvā cāmbudharānghanān |

rauhiṇeyo mithaḥ kāle kṛṣṇaṁ vacanamabravīt ||2-10-21

Seeing that the rainy season has arrived and water bearing clouds have covered the sky, the son of rohiṇi (balarāma) spoke these appropriate words to kṛṣṇa.

pashya kṛṣṇa ghanānkṛṣṇānbalākojjvalabhūṣaṇān |

gagane tava gātrasya varṇachorānsamucchritān ||2-10-22

kṛṣṇa, look at the dark clouds which are shining with groups of birds, as though decorated with ornaments. Stealing the colour of your body, they have gone up in the sky.

tava nidrākaraḥ kālastava gātropamaṁ nabhaḥ |

tvamivājṣātavasatiṁ chandro vasati vārṣikīm ||2-10-23

This is the time for you to sleep. (It is known in purāṇā-s that viṣṇu sleeps during the four months of the rainy season -footnote on page 295, harivaṁśa - gītā press). The sky has the colour of your body. In the rainy season, the moon remains incognito, like you. (Refer rāma observing cāturmāsya vow during the rainy season).

etannīlāmbudaśyāmaṁ nīlotpaladalaprabham |

saṁprāpte durdine kāle durdinaṁ bhāti vai nabhaḥ ||2-10-24

When the rainy season arrives, the blue sky appears black due to the presence of black rain clouds and shines like a blue lotus flower, as if bad days have come.

pashya kṛṣṇa jalodagraiḥ kṛṣṇairudgrathitairghanaiḥ |

govardhano yathā ramyo bhāti govardhano giriḥ ||2-10-25

See kṛṣṇa, covered by the dark rain clouds, the govardhana hill which nourishes the cows, appears beautiful.

patitenāmbhasā hyete samantānmadadarpitāḥ |

bhrājante kṛṣṇasāraṅgāḥ kānaneṣu mudānvitāḥ ||2-10-26

Because of rain water, the black deer have become intoxicated. They appear happy as they roam in the forest.

etānyambuprahṛṣṭāni haritāni mṛdūni ca |

tṛṇāni śatapatrākṣa patrairgūhanti medinīm ||2-10-27

O lotus eyed one! Bathed by rain water, the new green grass is happily covering the earth fully with blades.

kṣarajjalānāṁ śailānāṁ vanānāṁ jaladāgame |

sasasyāṇāṁ ca sīmānāṁ na lakṣmīrvyatiricyate ||2-10-28

Because of the arrival of rain clouds, there is no shortage of wealth (lakshmi) for the hills, the source of rivers, the forests and the land with plants.

śīghravātasamudbhūtāḥ proṣitautsukyakāriṇaḥ |

dāmodaroddāmaravāḥ prāgalbhyaṁ yānti toydāḥ ||2-10-29

O dāmodara! The rain clouds, which induce people living in foreign lands to return home, forced by fast winds, roar loudly and show their pride.

hare haryaśvacāpena trivarṇena trivikrama |

vibāṇajyena rachitaṁ tavedaṁ madhyamaṁ padam ||2-10-30

O hari who took the form of trivikrama! Without arrows and string, the tricoloured rainbow decorates your third foot (sky).

nabhasyeṣa nabhaścakṣurna bhātyeva carannabhaḥ |

meghaiḥ śītātapakaro virashmiriva raśmivān ||2-10-31

The sun, the eye of sky, does not shine while moving in the sky (in the rainy season). The sun's heat producing rays are cooled by the clouds and it looks ray-less.

dyāvāpṛthivyoḥ saṁsargaḥ satataṁ vitataiḥ kṛtaḥ |

avyavaccinnadhāraughaiḥ samudraughasamairghanaiḥ ||2-10-32

The clouds shower incessant rain, spreading in the sky like a group of oceans. The clouds unite the sky with earth.

nīpārjunakadambānāṁ pṛthivyāṁ cātivṛṣṭibhiḥ |

gandhaiḥ kolāhalā vānti vātā madanadīpanāḥ ||2-10-33

Due to heavy rainfall on earth, the strong wind blows carrying the fragrance of the flowers of nīpa, arjuna and kadambā trees, stimulating the minds of people.

saṁpravṛttamahāvarṣaṁ lambamānamahāṁbudam |

bhātyagādhamaparyantaṁ sasāgaramivāmbaram ||2-10-34

It has started raining heavily. Big clouds have come closer to the earth. It looks as if the sky has merged with a deep and unlimited ocean.

dhārānirmalanārācaṁ vidyutkavacavarmiṇam |

śakracāpāyudhadharaṁ yuddhasajjamivāṁbaram ||2-10-35

It looks as if the sky is getting ready for a battle, with a sword of rain, shield of lightning and a weapon of rainbow.

śailānāṁ ca vanānāṁ ca drumāṇāṁ ca varānana |

praticchannāni bhāsante śikharāṇi ghanairghanaiḥ ||2-10-36

O Handsome! (kṛṣṇa)! The mountain peaks, the top of forests and the tree tops look enchanting, covered by dark clouds.

gajānīkairivākīrṇaṁ salilodgāribhirghanaiḥ |

varṇasārūpyatāṁ yāti gaganaṁ sāgarasya ca ||2-10-37

The sky covered with dark clouds resembling a herd of elephants spraying water with their trunks, appears having the same colour as the ocean.

samudroddhūtajanitā lolaśāḍvalakampinaḥ |

śītāḥ sapṛṣatoddāmāḥ karkaśā vānti mārutāḥ ||2-10-38

The cool wind coming from the waves of the ocean is blowing carrying small drops of water, shaking the grass and keepers.

niśāsu suptacandrāsu muktatoyāsu toyadaiḥ |

magnasūryasya nabhaso na vibhānti disho daśa ||2-10-39

Because of the water released by the rain clouds, the moon has disappeared in the night. The sun is drowned in the sky. The ten directions are not seen.

cetanaṁ puṣkaraṁ kośaiḥ kṣudhādhmātaiḥ samantataḥ |

na ghṛṇīnāṁ na ramyāṇām vivekaṁ yaṁti kṛṣṭayah |2-10-40

The entire sky is alive with the clouds agitated by winds. The farmers are unable to differentiate between day and night.

gharmadoṣaparityaktaṁ meghatoyavibhūṣitam |

pashya vṛndāvanaṁ kṛṣṇa vanaṁ chaitrarathaṁ yathā ||2-10-41

kṛṣṇa! See vṛndāvanaṁ, devoid of the bad effects of heat and decorated by the water showered by the clouds, beautiful as the chaitraratha forest.

evaṁ prāvṛḍguṇānsarvāṣchrīmānkṛṣnasya pūrvajaḥ |

kathayanneva balavānvrajameva jagāma ha ||2-10-42

Thus glorifying the rainy season in vṛndāvana, kṛṣṇa's mighty elder brother, returned to vraja.

anyonyaṁ ramamāṇau tu kṛṣṇasaṅkarṣaṇāvubhau |

tatkālajṣātibhiḥ sārddhaṁ ceratustadvanaṁ mahat ||2-10-43

Playing together, the two brothers, kṛṣṇa and saṅkarṣaṇa, along with friends of that time, enjoyed in that great forest.

iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivāṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi prāvṛḍvarṇane daśamo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the tenth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, description of rainy season.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

etasmindaśame'dhyāye prāvṛḍavarṇanamucyate |

śrīnivāsanivāsena ghoṣotkarṣattathā divaḥ ||

· 2-10-1 tāviti ||

· 2-10-8 kāntānāṁ kadambānāmiti sāmānādhikaraṇyam ||

· 2-10-9 hāsitam vikāśitam ||

· 2-10-10 ucchvāsantīva bāṣpamudgirantītyarthaḥ | mahī puraistulyaṁ vapurāpadyate tatra dṛṣṭānte mahāvātāḥ patākāḥ mahāmeghā mahāprasādāḥ ||

· 2-10-11 śilīndrāḥ chatrākāḥ ||

· 2-10-12 kṣubhitamānasaḥ kāmāturo'bhūt ||

· 2-10-13 dṛptasāraṅganādena mattabhramaradhvaninā dardurā bhekāḥ avakīrṇā vyāptā ||

· 2-10-15 saṁtato ya āsāro dhārāsaṁpātastena niryatnāḥ jaḍīkṛtāḥ nagāgrāṇi vṛkṣaśākhāgrāṇi ||

· 2-10-16 toyena gambhīrāṇi nibiḍāni lambāni vistṛtāni ca teṣudareṣu ||

· 2-10-17 mahīruhairmārgachihnabhūtairanveṣyo jalacchanno mārgoyasyāḥ sā ||

· 2-10-19 palvalebhya utkīrṇam utsiktaṁ yattoyaṁ tena varṣeṇa ||

2-10-20 hastaḥ śuṇḍā tayā saha ucchritam mukhaṁ yeṣāṁ te hastocchritamukhā ||

2-10-23 chandro nabhovasatiṁ vasati Aste vārṣikīṁ varṣābhavām ||

· 2-10-24 durdine meghacchanne'hni kāle pravṛḍakāle durdine meghairācchannam ||

· 2-10-25 govardhano nāmataḥ gavāṁ vardhayitā ||

· 2-10-26 kṛṣṇasāraṅgā bhramarāḥ ||

· 2-10-27 gūhantyāccādayanti ||

· 2-10-28 sīmānāṁ kṛṣṭabhūmināṁ trayāṇāmapi lakṣmirna vyatiricyate nādhikā bhavatyapi tu samānairvetyarthaḥ ||

· 2-10-29 proṣitānāṁ pravāsināṁ autsukyaṁ gṛhāgamane tatkāriṇaḥ ||

· 2-10-30 haryasvacāpena indradhanuṣā rachitaṁ miśritaṁ madhyamaṁ padamantarīkṣam ||

· 2-10-31 nabhasi śrāvaṇe nabhaścakṣuḥ sūryaḥ ||

2-10-32 saṁsargaḥ saṁbandhaḥ samudraughanibhaiḥ kṣubdhairityarthaḥ ||

· 2-10-33 nīpāḥ kadambaānāmavāntarajātayaḥ pṛthivyāṁ sṛṣṭairiti śeṣaḥ || kolāhalāḥ kalakalāḥ ||

· 2-10-35 yairvidyutkavacairmeghairvarmiṇaṁ varmavatpuṁstvamārṣam ||

· 2-10-36 ghanairnibhiḍairmeghaiḥ ||

· 2-10-37 gajā jalagajāsteṣāmanīkaiḥ ||

· 2-10-38 uddhūtam uddhūnanam kampinaḥ kaṁpahetavaḥ sapṛṣataḥ sabindavaḥ uddāmāḥ mahāntaḥ | sapṛṣatoddāmā iti sandhirārṣaḥ ||

· 2-10-39 supto adṛśyaḥ chandro yāsu ||

· 2-10-40 chetanamiti | kṣudhādhmātairvāyunā pūritaiḥ kośaiścharmakośasadṛśairmegharūpalakṣitaṁ puṣkaramambaraṁ chetanāmiva bhātīti luptopamā | sarvatashchaladbhirmeghairnabhopi calatīvetyarthaḥ | evamapi kṛṣṭayaḥ prajāḥ ramyāṇāṁ rātriṇāṁ ghṛṇināṁ divasānāṁ ca vivekam anyonyataḥ pṛthaktvaṁ na yāntīti na apitu yāntyeveti yojanā | meghotthāndhakārāvṛtāni dināni rātrikalpānyabhūvannityarthaḥ ||

· 2-10-43 tatkālajṣātibhiḥ na tu yādavavajjanmajṣātibhiḥ ||

iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ daśamodhyāyaḥ ||

11 - yamunāvarṇanam - Description of Yamuna

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

kadācittu tadā kṛṣṇo vinā saṅkarṣaṇena vai |

cacāra tadvanaṁ ramyaṁ kāmarūpī varānanaḥ ||2-11-1

vaiśampāyana said:

(O janamejaya!) One day, handsome kṛṣṇa, who can take any form that he desires, went for a walk in that beautiful forest, without saṅkarṣaṇa.

kākapakṣadharaḥ śrīmāṣchyāmaḥ padmadalekṣaṇaḥ |

śrīvatsenorasā yuktaḥ śaśāṅka iva lakṣmaṇā ||2-11-2

Wearing a hair lock on the backside of his head, with black complexion and beautiful eyes like petals of lotus flower, auspicious kṛṣṇa, with the srivatsa mark on his chest, appeared like moon adorned with marks of hares.

sāṅgadenāgrahastena paṅkajodbhinnavakṣasā |

sukumārābhitāmreṇa krāntavikrāntagāminā ||2-11-3

With bangles at the top of his arms, chest like a lotus flower in full bloom and charming legs with a red hue, his energetic walk was enchanting.

pīte prītikare nṝṇāṁ padmakiṣjalkasaprabhe |

sūkṣme vasāno vasane sasaṁdhya iva toyadaḥ ||2-11-4

He was wearing two yellow clothes, shining like the filaments of lotus flower, giving happiness to the onlookers. In these clothes, kṛṣṇa (having dark complexion) looked like a (dark) rain cloud in the evening sky (having golden yellow hue).

vatsavyāpārayuktābhyāṁ vyaghrābhyāṁ gaṇḍarajjubhiḥ |

bhujābhyāṁ sādhuvṛttābhyāṁ pūjitābhyāṁ divaukasaiḥ ||2-11-5

His two arms, engaged in tendering calves and tying bells with ropes around their necks, were worshipped by devas. kṛṣṇa looked attractive with his long and round arms.

sadṛśaṁ puṇḍarīkasya gandhena kamalasya ca |

rarāja cāsya tadbālye rucirauṣṭhapuṭaṁ mukham ||2-11-6

In childhood, kṛṣṇa's face with his beautiful lips shone similar to a lotus flower with its fragrance.

śikhābhistasya muktābhī rarāja mukhapaṅkajam |

vṛtam ṣaṭpadapaṅktībhiryathā syātpadmamaṇḍalam ||2-11-7

His lotus like face dazzled with loose hair locks, like a lotus flower surrounded by a swarm of bees.

tasyārjunakadambāḍhyā nīpakandalamālinī |

rarāja mālā shirasi nakṣatrāṇāṁ yatha divi ||2-11-8

His head was decorated with a garland of arjuna, kadamba and nīpa flowers and flower buds like the sky decorated with stars.

sa tayā mālayā vīraḥ shuśubhe kaṇṭhasaktayā |

meghamālāmbudaśyāmo nabhasya iva mūrtimān ||2-11-9

A similar garland dazzled on his neck, with which the dark kṛṣṇa dazzled like the sky of month of bhadra, adorned by garlands of rain clouds.

ekenāmalapatreṇa kaṇṭhasūtrāvalambinā |

rarāja barhipatrena mandamārutakampinā ||2-11-10

Around his neck, kṛṣṇa had a chain with a peacock feather. The peacock feather, swayed to and fro in the slow wind.

kvachidgāyaṅkvachitkrīḍaṁśchaṣcūryaṁścha kvachitkvachit |

parṇavādyaṁ shrutisukham vādayaṁścha kvachidvane ||2-11-11

Sometimes he sang. Sometimes he played. Sometimes he wandered here and there in the forest blowing a whistle made of palm leaves, the sound of which was pleasant to hear.

gopaveṇuṁ sumadhuraṁ kāmāttamapi vādayan |

prahlādanārtham ca gavāṁ kvachidvanagato yuvā ||2-11-12

Sometimes, young kṛṣṇa went to the forest and played flute used by gopa-s, joyfully in a sweet voice to make the cows happy.

gokule'mbudharaśyāmaścacāra dyutimānprabhuḥ |

reme ca tatra ramyāsu citrāsu vanarājiṣu ||2-11-13

Dark complexioned kṛṣṇa, dazzling like a rain cloud, roamed in gokula. He wandered joyfully in the beautiful forests.

mayūraravaghuṣṭasu madanoddīpanīṣu ca |

meghanādaprativyūhairnāditāsu samantataḥ ||2-11-14

The forest, filled with the sound of peacocks was activating everyone's mind. There was commotion due to the echo of the roar of clouds.

śāḍvalacchannamārgāsu śilīndhrābharaṇāsu ca |

kandalāmalapatrāsu sravantīṣu navaṁ jalam ||2-11-15

On the paths, covered with green grass and decorated with mushrooms fresh water was dripping from the tender leaves of plants.

kesarāṇāṁ navairgandhairmadaniḥśvasitopamaiḥ |

abhīkṣṇaṁ niḥśvasantīṣu kāminīṣviva nityaśaḥ ||2-11-16

The forest was taking deep breaths with the fresh fragrance of flowers every day like the breaths of desire of a young woman.

sevyamāno navairvātairdrumasaṅghātaniḥsṛtaiḥ |

tāsu kṛṣṇo mudaṁ lebhe saumyāsu vanarājiṣu ||2-11-17

kṛṣṇa enjoyed the fresh cool breeze emanating from the woods. The forest gave him immense pleasure.

sa kadācidvane tasmiṅgobhiḥ saha paribhraman |

dadarsha vipulodagraṁ śākhinaṁ śākhināṁ varam ||2-11-18

One day, while wandering in the forest with the cows, kṛṣṇa saw, among the trees, a giant tree which was extremely tall and huge.

sthitaṁ dharaṇyāṁ meghābhaṁ nibiḍaṁ dalasaṣchayaiḥ |

gaganārdhocchritākāraṁ parvatābhogadhāriṇam ||2-11-19

Standing on earth with the beauty of clouds, dense with leaves, with its trunk covering half the sky, the tree appeared like a huge mountain.

nīlacitrāṅgavarṇaiścha sevitaṁ bahubhiḥ khagaiḥ |

phalaiḥ pravālaiścha ghanaiḥ sendracāpaghanopamam ||2-11-20

There were many birds with blue bodies and colourful feathers in that tree. Dense with red fruits, the tree looked like a rainbow with clouds.

bhavanākāraviṭapaṁ latāpuṣpasumaṇḍitam |

viśālamūlāvanataṁ pavanāmbhodadhāriṇam ||2-11-21

The huge branches looked like houses. The tree was adorned with creepers and flowers. Its large roots spread far and wide. The tree was covered with wind and rain clouds.

ādhipatyamivānyeṣāṁ tasya deshasya śākhinām |

kurvāṇaṁ śubhakarmāṇaṁ nirāvarṣamanātapam ||2-11-22

It appeared as though this tree was ruling over all other trees in that area. It was beneficial to all giving protection from rain and sunshine.

nyagrodhaṁ parvatāgrābhaṁ bhāṇḍīraṁ nāma nāmataḥ |

dṛṣṭvā tatra matiṁ cakre nivāsāya tataḥ prabhuḥ ||2-11-23

The huge banyan tree, named bhāṇḍīra, appeared like a mountain. Seeing this beautiful tree, kṛṣṇa decided to stay there.

sa tatra vayasā tulyairvatsapālaiḥ sahānagha |

reme vai vāsaraṁ kṛṣṇaḥ purā svargagato yathā ||2-11-24

O sinless janamejaya! kṛṣṇa, enjoyed with other cow-tending boys of the same age under the tree, like he was enjoying in heaven before.

taṁ krīḍamānaṁ gopālāḥ kṛṣṇaṁ bhāṇḍīravāsinam |

ramayanti sma bahavo vanyaiḥ krīḍanakaistadā ||2-11-25

When kṛṣṇa played under the bhāṇḍīra tree, his cow-tending boys made him happy with many toys of the forest.

anye sma parigāyanti gopā muditamānasāḥ |

gopālāḥ kṛṣṇamevānye gāyanti sma ratipriyāḥ ||2-11-26

Some others with joyful minds sang. Some others who liked kṛṣṇa's plays sang about them.

teṣāṁ sa gāyatāmeva vādayāmāsa vīryavān |

parṇavādyāntare veṇuṁ tumbīvīṇāṁ ca tatra ha ||2-11-27

When the boys sang, kṛṣṇa played a whistle made of palm leaves. Sometimes he played flute, tumburu or vīṇā.

kadācichcārayanneva gāḥ sa govṛṣabhekṣaṇaḥ |

jagāma yamunātīraṁ latālaṅkṛtapādapam ||2-11-28

One day, while tending the cows, kṛṣṇa who had eyes as broad as those of cows and bulls went to the banks of yamunā, with trees covered with creepers and bushes.

taraṅgāpāṅgakuṭilaṁ vārisparśamukhānilām |

tāṁ ca padmotpalavatīṁ dadarsha yamunāṁ nadīm ||2-11-29

kṛṣṇa saw the river yamunā which appeared curved because of waves. A pleasant wind was blowing touching the surface of water.

sutīrthāṁ svādusalilāṁ hradinīṁ vegagāminīm |

toyavātodyatairvegairavanāmitapādapām ||2-11-30

Good pathways were leading to the river. The water was tasty. There were many ponds and the water flowed with force. The trees on the banks were bent due to the force of water and wind.

haṁsakāraṇḍavoghudṣṭām sārasaiścha vināditām |

anarghamithunaishcaiva sevitāṁ mithunecharaiḥ ||2-11-31

The atmosphere was filled with the sounds of swans, kāraṇḍava-s and cranes. Male and female cakravāka-s were enjoying coitus in the water.

jalajaiḥ prāṇibhiḥ kīrṇāṁ jalajairbhūṣitāṁ gunaiḥ |

jalajaiḥ kusumaiścitrāṁ jalajairharitodakām ||2-11-32

It was full of aquatic animals. It was adorned with all qualities of water. It was full of variety of water borne flowers. The water appeared greenish due to water plants.

prasṛtasrotacharaṇāṁ pulinaśroṇimaṇḍalām |

āvartanābhigambhīrāṁ padmaromābhiraṣjitām ||2-11-33

(The river is described as a beautiful woman - nīlakaṇṭha). The flowing river water was her feet. The river banks were her waist. The great whirlpools were her navel. She was decorated with body hair of lotus flowers.

taṭacchedodarāṁ kāntāṁ tritaraṅgavalīdharām |

phenaprahṛṣṭavadanāṁ prasannāṁ haṁsahāsinīm ||2-11-34

Her thin, beautiful waistline was near the banks where the flow was thin. The waves resembled the three lines. The froth was her smiling face. She was always pleased and swans were her laughter.

rucirotpalaraktoṣṭhīṁ natabhrūṁ jalajekṣanām |

hradadīrghalalāṭāntāṁ kāntāṁ śaivalamūrdhajām ||2-11-35

Beautiful red lotus flowers were her red lips. The undercurrents were her eyebrows. Blue lotus flowers were her eyes. The lake was her forehead. The moss resembled her hair.

cakravākastanataṭīṁ tīrapārśvāyatānanām |

dīrghasrotāyatabhujāmābhogaśravaṇāyatām ||2-11-36

A pair of cakravāka birds were her breasts. The river banks were her face. The lengthy currents were her long arms. The complete banks were her ears.

kāraṇḍavākuṇḍalinīṁ śrīmatpaṅkajalochanām |

taṭajābharaṇopetāṁ mīnanirmalamekhalām ||2-11-37

kāraṇḍava-s were her ear rings. Lotus flowers were her eyes. The trees on the banks were her ornaments. The shoal of fish was her girdle.

vāriplavaplavakṣaumāṁ sārasārāvanūpurām |

kāśacāmīkaraṁ vāso vasānāṁ haṁsalakṣaṇām ||2-11-38

The vast body of water was her shawl. The sound of cranes were the tinkling sound of her anklets. The crystal clear water was her garment. Swans were her auspicious marks.

bhīmanakrānuliptāṅgīṁ kūrmalakṣaṇabhūṣitām |

nipānaśvāpadāpīḍāṁ nṛbhiḥ pīnapayodharām ||2-11-39

Giant crocodiles were like smears on her body. Tortoises were auspicious marks decorating her hands and feet. Animals were drinking from her ponds. Men were drinking water from her breasts.

śvāpadocchiṣṭasalilāmāśramasthānasaṅkulām |

tāṁ samudrasya mahiṣīmīkṣamāṇaḥ samantataḥ ||2-11-40

The water was contaminated since wild animals drank from the river. There were many hermitages on the banks. kṛṣṇa wandered observing the beauty of the queen of ocean, yamunā.

cacāra ruciraṁ kṛṣṇo yamunāmupasobhayan |

tāṁ caransa nadīṁ śreṣṭhāṁ dadarsha hradamuttamam ||2-11-41

kṛṣṇa roamed enhancing the beauty of yamunā. Wandering along the banks of that great river, he saw a huge lake.

dīrghaṁ yojanavistāraṁ dustaraṁ tridaśairapi |

gambhīramakṣobhyajalaṁ niṣkampamiva sāgaram ||2-11-42

It was a huge lake with the breadth of one yojana. It was difficult even for the deva-s to cross it. The huge water body was calm and quiet like an ocean without any agitation.

toyajaiḥ śvāpadaistyaktaṁ śūnyam toyacharaiḥ khagaiḥ |

agādhenāmbhasā pūrṇaṁ meghapūrṇamivāmbaram ||2-11-43

Aquatics and animals avoided that lake. It was empty without any water birds. Very deep and full of water, it appeared like a sky full of clouds.

duḥkhopasarpyaṁ tīreṣu sasarpairvipulairbilaiḥ |

viṣāraṇibhavasyāgnerdhūmena pariveṣṭitam ||2-11-44

On the unapproachable banks, there were big holes where serpents lived. The entire lake was covered with the fire and smoke emanating from the poison of the serpents.

abhogyaṁ tatpaśūnāṁ hi apeyaṁ ca jalārthinām |

upabhogaiḥ parityaktaṁ suraistriṣavaṇārthibhiḥ ||2-11-45

The water was not good for use for animals. It was not good for drinking. Even the deva-s who bath thrice a day gave up using that water.

ākāśādapyasaṁcāryaṁ khagairākāśagocharaiḥ |

tṛṇeṣvapi patatsvapsu jvalantamiva tejasā ||2-11-46

It was impossible for the birds to fly in the sky over that lake. If a blade of dry grass fell on the water, it was immediately burned.

samantādyojanaṁ sāgraṁ devairapi durāsadam |

viṣānalena ghoreṇa jvālāprajvalitadrumam ||2-11-47

For a distance of a yojana all around the lake, it was difficult even for the deva-s to walk. The trees were burned by the fierce fire of poison.

vrajasyottaratastasya krośamātre nirāmaye |

taṁ dṛṣṭvā cintayāmāsa kṛṣṇO vai vipulaṁ hradam ||2-11-48

On the north side of vraja, an area of one krosha, being unaffected by the poison, was not having any problem. Seeing that vast lake, kṛṣṇa started thinking.

agādhaṁ dyotamānaṁ ca kasyāyaṁ mahato hradaḥ |

asminsa kāliyo nāma kālāṣjanachayopamaḥ ||2-11-49

Who does this deep, shining, great lake belong to? This lake is the residence of serpent kāliya, black like the shade of anjana stone.

uragādhipatiḥ sākṣāddhrade vasati dāruṇaḥ |

utsṛjya sāgarāvāsaṁ yo mayā viditaḥ purā ||2-11-50

bhayātpatagarājasya suparṇasyoragāśinaḥ |

The terrible king of serpents himself lives in this lake. Afraid of the king of birds, suparṇa (garuḍa), the serpent-eater, kāliya left his residence in the sea as known to me before.

teneyaṁ dūṣitā sarvā yamunā sāgaraṅgamā ||2-11-51

It is kāliya who has polluted the entire yamunā, which goes to the ocean.

bhayāttasyoragapaternāyaṁ desho niṣevyate |

tadidaṁ dāruṇākāramaraṇyaṁ rūḍhaśādvalam ||2-11-52

Afraid of the king of serpents, no one resides at this place. Hence this forest has taken a terrible shape, full of tall grass.

sāvarohadrumaṁ ghoraṁ kīrṇaṁ nānālatādrumaiḥ |

rakṣśitaṁ sarparājasya sachivairāptakāribhiḥ ||2-11-53

This terrible forest, thick with trees, plants, creepers and bushes is protected by kāliya and his trusted ministers.

vanaṁ nirviṣayākāram viṣānnamiva duḥspṛśam |

tairāptakāribhirnityaṁ sarvataḥ parirakṣitam ||2-1-54

Hence this forest, untouchable like poisoned food has become empty like sky. It is protected always and everywhere by those trusted beings.

śaivālanalinaiścāpi vṛkṣaiḥ kṣudralatākulaiḥ |

kartavyamārgau bhrājete hradasyāsya taṭāvubhau ||2-11-55

The banks are covered with moss, lotus and trees full of creepers. I have to make paths on both banks of the lake.

tadasya sarparājasya kartavyo nigraho mayā |

yatheyaṁ saridambhodā bhavecchivajalāśayā ||2-11-56

Thus it is my duty to destroy the king of serpents so that water of this river becomes useful.

vrajopabhogyā ca yathā nāge ca damite mayā |

sarvatra sukhasaṣcārā sarvatīrthasukhāśrayā ||2-11-57

If this serpent is conquered by me, this water will become useful for vraja. People will be able to roam in this area again. The river will become sacred and a source of happiness.

etadarthaṁ ca vāso'yaṁ vraje'smin gopajanma ca |

amīṣāmutpathasthānāṁ nigrahārthaṁ durātmanām ||2-11-58

For this reason, I took birth as a cow tending boy and started residing in the vraja. It is for destroying the wicked, who stay in the wrong path.

enaṁ kadambamāruhya tadeva śiśulīlayā |

vinipatya hrade ghore damayiṣyāmi kāliyam ||2-11-59

As a child's play, climbing on this kadamba tree and jumping into this terrible lake, I will conquer kāliya.

evaṁ kṛte bāhuvīryaṁ loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati ||2-11-60

If I do this, the strength of my arms will become famous in the world.

iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi yamunāvarṇanaṁ nāma ekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the eleventh chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, description of yamunā.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

asminnekādaśe'dhyāye vanakrīḍā nirūpyate |

kāliyakṣveḍadagdhīyayamunādarśanaṁ hareḥ || 1 ||

· 2-11-1 kadāciditi |

· 2-11-2 śrīvatsena urasā dhṛteneti śeṣaḥ | tṛtīyāntānāṁ paṣchamastena rarājetyanenānvayaḥ ||

· 2-11-3 hastena paṅkajodbhinnaṁ vikasatkamalaṁ tattulyatejasā krāntaṁ vikrāntaṁ gamanaṁ yasya tādṛśena gāminā gamanasvabhāvena pādena ||

· 2-11-5 divaukasaḥ devaiḥ ||

· 2-11-6 bālye

"paugaṇḍaṁ daśamāvadhi"

ityukteḥ paugaṇḍe |

· 2-11-8 nīpāḥ kadambapuṣpāṇi kandalā navāṁkurāḥ taiḥ śobhānā nīpakandalamālinī

· 2-11-9 nabhasyo bhādrapadaḥ ||

· 2-11-10 amalaṁ divyaṁ patraṁ dalaṁ yasya tena bāhirṣeṇa mayūrapicchena shuśubhe ityanuṣaṅgaḥ ||

· 2-11-14 prati vyūhaiḥ pratidhvanibhiḥ ||

· 2-11-15 kandalāni navāṅkuritāni amalāni ca patrāṇi yāsu |

"kandalaṁ tu kapole syāduparāge navāṅkure"

iti viśvaḥ ||

· 2-11-16 kāminīśviveti sravantīnāmupamā ||

· 2-11-18 śākhinaṁ vaṭam ||

· 2-11-20 citrāṅgavarṇairmayūraiḥ ||

· 2-11-22 nirāvarṣaṁ varṣavāraṇam | anātapam ātapanivāraṇam ||

· 2-11-25 krīḍānakaiḥ krīḍāsādhanaiḥ ||

· 2-11-29 taraṅgā evāpāṅgāḥ kaṭākṣāstaiḥ kuṭilaṁ tīram ||

· 2-11-31 mithunecharaiścakravākādibhiḥ ||

· 2-11-32 jalajairbhinādyaiḥ jalajairguṇaiḥ śītalatvanirmalatvādyaiḥ jalajaiḥ padmaiḥ jalajaiḥ śaivālaiḥ ||

· 2-11-33 strīrūpeṇa varṇayati | prasṛteti | srotaḥ sabde sakāralopa ārṣaḥ ||

· 2-11-34 taṭacchedaḥ pravāhasya madhye kārśyam | tisraḥ taraṅgā eva valayaḥ tāsāṁ dharāṁ taraṅgatravalīdharām ||

· 2-11-36 ābhogaśravaṇāyatām ābhogastaṭasyobhayataḥ pūrṇatā saiva śravaṇe Ayate yasyāsthām ||

· 2-11-38 vāriṇi plavante vistāraṁ yānti śaivālāḥ kamalinīdalāni vā teṣāṁ yaḥ plavaḥ vipulatā saiva kṣaumaṁ atasīsūtramayaṁ vāso yasyāstām ||

· 2-11-39 nīpānaṁ paśūnāṁ pānasthalaṁ tatra ye śvāpadāsta evāpiḍo bhūṣā yasyāstām ||

· 2-11-44 viṣāraṇayaḥ sarpāḥ ||

· 2-11-46 ākāśādapi ākāśamārge'pi ||

· 2-11-54 nirviṣayākāram ākāśavannirālambanam ||

· 2-11-55 kartavyau na tu svataḥsiddhau mārgo yayostau ||

iti śrīmatpada nīlakaṇṭhakṛtau bhāratabhāvapradīpe harivaṁśārthaprakāśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ