Harivamsa

21 - vṛṣabhāsuravadhaḥ - Slaying of Vrishabhasura

vaiśampāyana uvāca

pradoṣārddhe kadācittu kṛṣṇe ratiparāyaṇe |

trāsayantsamado goṣṭhamariṣṭaḥ pratyadṛśyata ||2-21-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya!) One day, early in the morning, when kṛṣṇa was engaged in rati, ariṣṭa was seen, terrifying the entire vraja.

nirvāṇāṅgārameghābhastīkṣṇaśṛṅgo'rkalocanaḥ |

kṣuratīkṣṇāgracharaṇaḥ kālaḥ kāla ivāparaḥ ||2-21-2

He was black as coal and rain cloud. He had sharp horns and his eyes were red as sun. His hooves were sharp as a knife. He appeared as black death personified.

lelihānaḥ saniṣpeṣaṁ jihvayoṣṭhau punaḥ punaḥ |

garvitāviddhalāṅgūlaḥ kaṭhinaskandhabandhanaḥ ||2-21-3

As he approached he began to bite his lips in anger and lick them again and again. He bellowed raising his tail. He had a large hard bump on his back.

kakudodagranirmāṇaḥ pramāṇādduratikramaḥ |

śakṛnmūtropaliptāṅgo gavāmudvejano bhṛśam ||2-21-4

His hump was extremely large. No one could control him. His rear body was smeared with dung and urine. He frightened the cows.

mahākatṭiḥ sthūlamukho dṛḍhajānurmahodaraḥ |

viṣāṇāvalgitagatirlambatā kanṭhacharmaṇā ||2-21-5

He had a broad waist, a large face, strong knees and a large belly. He walked shaking his horns. The skin from his neck hung down.

gavāroheṣu chapalastarughātāṅkitānanaḥ |

yuddhasajjaviṣāṇāgro dviṣadvṛṣabhasūdanaḥ ||2-21-6

He appeared keen to mate with the cows. His head had bruises, due to hitting the trees. He had horns ready for fighting. He was strong to fell down enemy bulls.

ariśṭo nāma hi gavāmariṣṭo dāruṇākṛtiḥ |

daityo vṛṣabharūpeṇa goṣṭhānviparidhāvati ||2-21-7

The cows were frightened by the terrible ariṣṭa. The daitya entered the vraja in the form of a bull and created havoc.

pātayāno gavāṁ garbhāndṛpto gacchatyanārtavam |

jṛmbhamāṇaścha chapalo gṛṣṭīḥ saṁpracacāra ha ||2-21-8

He attacked pregnant cows and caused miscarriage. The proud daitya mated with cows even it was not their time. The restless bull chased the cows that had already delivered calves.

śṛṅgapraharaṇo raudraḥ praharangoṣu durmadaḥ |

goṣṭheṣu na ratiṁ lebhe vinā yuddhena govṛṣaḥ ||2-21-9

Using his horn as a weapon, the formidable daitya attacked the cows. Without fight, the bull did not derive enjoyment in the vraja.

kasyachittvatha kālasya sa vṛṣaḥ keśavāgrataḥ |

ājagāma balodagro vaivasvatavashe sthitaḥ ||2-21-10

One day, the formidable bull, whose time to go to the god of death (vaivasvata) had come, came in front of keshava.

sa tatra gāstu prasabhaṁ bādhamāno madotkaṭaḥ |

cakāra nirvṛṣaṁ goṣṭhaṁ nirvatsaśiśupuṅgavam ||2-21-11

As soon as he entered vraja, the mad bull started harassing the cows. With his attack, he made all the bulls, cows and calves flee from vraja.

etasminneva kale tu gāvaḥ kṛṣṇasamīpagāḥ |

trāsayāmāsa duṣṭātmā vaivasvatavashe sthitaḥ ||2-21-12

At the same time, the wicked bull, who was ready to go to the god of death (vaivasvata) frightened the cows near kṛṣṇa.

sendrāśanirivāmbhodo nardamāno mahāsuraḥ |

tālaśabdena taṁ kṛṣṇassiṁhanādaiścha mohayan ||2-21-13

The great daitya roared like a thundering rain cloud. kṛṣṇa clapped his hands and shouted in response.

abhyadhāvata govindo daityaṁ vṛṣabharūpiṇam |

sa kṛṣṇaṁ govṛṣo dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭalāṅgūlalocanaḥ ||2-21-14

govinda charged at the daitya in the form of a bull. Seeing kṛṣna, the bull raised its tail and looked at him.

roṣitastālaśabdena yuddhākāṅkṣī nanarda ha |

tamāpatantaṁ durvṛttaṁ dṛśtvā vṛṣabharūpiṇam |

tasmātsthānānna vyacalatkṛṣṇo giririvācalaḥ |||2-21-15

By clapping hands, kṛṣṇa made the bull angry. Ready to fight, the bull was roaring. kṛṣṇa saw the wicked bull running towards him. Like a mountain, kṛṣṇa did not move from his position.

sa kukṣau vṛṣabho dṛṣṭiṁ praṇidhāya dhṝtānanaḥ |

kṛṣṇasya nidhanākāṅkṣī tūrṇamabhyutpapāta ha ||2-21-16

The bull kept its aim on kṛṣṇa's belly and lifted its head. The bull ran fast intending to kill kṛṣṇa.

tamāpatantaṁ pramukhe pratijagrāha durddharam |

kṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇāṣjananibho vṛṣaṁ prativṛṣopamaḥ ||2-21-17

kṛṣṇa, black as aṣjana, looked like a powerful bull as he faced the bull. As the formidable bull approached, kṛṣṇa caught him.

sa saṁsaktastu kṛṣṇo vai vṛṣeṇeva mahāvṛṣaḥ |

mumocha vaktrajaṁ phenaṁ nastaścātha saśabdavat ||2-21-18

The great bull was confronted by kṛṣṇa, like a great bull. Foam and saliva started coming from its mouth and nose.

tāvanyonyāvaruddhāṅgau yuddhe kṛṣṇavṛṣāvubhau |

rejaturmeghasamaye saṁsaktāviva toyadau ||2-21-19

kṛṣṇa and the bull fought against each other. They dazzled like two confronting rain clouds in the rainy season.

tasya darpabalaṁ hatvā kṛtvā śṛṅgāntare padam |

āpīḍayadariṣṭasya kaṇṭhaṁ klinnamivāṁbaram ||2-21-20

Destroying the pride and power of the bull, kṛṣṇa kicked it between the horns. kṛṣna twisted its neck like a wet cloth.

śṛṅgaṁ cāsya punaḥ savyamutpāṭya yamadaṇḍāvat |

tenaiva prāharadvaktre sa mamāra bhṛśaṁ hataḥ ||2-21-21

Pulling out the left horn of the bull, which looked like the rod of the god of death, kṛṣṇa struck him in the mouth. The bull fell down, dead.

sa bhinnaśṛṅgo bhagnāsyo bhagnaskandhashcha dānavaḥ |

papāta rudhirodgārī sāmbudhāra ivāmbudaḥ ||2-21-22

With its horns broken, face smashed and neck broken, the daitya began to vomit blood like a cloud release water.

govindena hataṁ dṛṣṭvā dṛptaṁ vṛṣabhadānavam |

sādhu sādhviti bhūtāni tatkarmāsyābhituṣṭuvuḥ ||2-21-23

Seeing the daitya, in the form of the proud bull, killed by govinda, all people were pleased by his action. They praised kṛṣna.

sa chopendro vṛṣaṁ hatvā kāntachandre niśāmukhe |

aravindābhanayanaḥ punareva rarāsa ha ||2-21-24

upendra (kṛṣṇa) killed the bull during the night, when moon was shining brightly. kṛṣṇa with eyes as beautiful as lotus, resumed the rāsakrīḍā.

te'pi govṛttayaḥ sarve kṛṣṇaṁ kamalalocanam |

upāsāṁcakrire hṛṣṭāḥ sarve śakramivāmarāḥ ||2-21-25

All the gopa-s happily worshipped kṛṣṇa with lotus eyes, like the gods worshipping indra.

iti srimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi vṛṣabhāsuravadhe ekaviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the twenty-first chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, slaying of vṛṣabhāsura.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

athaikaviṁśe hyadhyāye ariṣṭaṁ vṛṣarūpiṇam |

devaśatruṁ durādharṣaṁ kṛṣṇo'hanaditīryate || 1 ||

· 2-21-1 pradoṣārddhe iti |

· 2-21-2 nirvāṇāṅgāra iṅgālaḥ meghashcha tadubhayābhaḥ kāla kṛṣṇavarṇaḥ kālayitā saṁhartā vetthyarthaḥ |

· 2-21-3 garvitaṁ darpaḥ tena āviddhaṁ bhrāmitaṁ lāṅgūlaṁ yena saḥ kaṭhinaṁ skandhabandhanaṁ kakudyasya ||

· 2-21-4 kakudeti | kakudāghāena udagram agranihitaṁ kṛtaṁ nirmāṇaṁ mahāprāsādādirachanaṁ yena sa tathā | kakudāghātena tādite vṛkṣaprāsādamūle sarvamapi tadbhajyata ityarthaḥ |

· 2-21-8 gṛṣṭīḥ sadyaḥ prasūtāḥ gāḥ saṁpracacāra jagāma | retaḥ sekāyetyarthaḥ |

· 2-21-12 gāvaḥ gāḥ vaivasvatavashe sthitaḥ āsannamṛtyuḥ |

· 2-21-14 hṛṣṭam utphalitaṁ lāṅgūlaṁ lochane ca yena saḥ |

· 2-21-16 saṁprahartukāma iti śeṣaḥ |

· 2-21-17 pramukhe mukhāgre Oṣṭayorityarthaḥ | vegena iti vā pāṭhaḥ |

· 2-21-18 nastaḥ nāsikātaḥ |

· 2-21-25 govṛttayo gopāḥ | ayaṁ cārtho dāśatayyām -

"pranemasmin dadṛśe somo antar-

gopānemamāvirasthā kṛṇoti

sa tigmaśṛṅgam vṛṣabhaṁ yuyutsan-

druhastatstau bahule baddho antaḥ"

iti mantreṇopabṛṁhitaḥ |

mantrārthastu antargopāḥ antaḥ sthitvā gopāyannantaryāmī nemasminnardhaprapaṣche sthāvare somaḥ somādirūpaḥ pradadṛśe prakarṣeṇa dṛṣṭaḥ nemamardhe prapaṣcaṁ asthā asthiram jaṅgamaṁ āviḥ kṛṇoti prakaṭīkaroti | sa tigmaśṛṅgaṁ vṛṣabhaṁ yuyutsan yoddhumicchan dṛṅmātreṇa bhasmīkartuṁ śakt'opi līlayā tena saha yuyutsan druhaḥ drohaṁ kṛtavān taṁ hatavānityarthaḥ | tatashcha bahule vraje antaḥ rāsamaṇḍalamadhye baddhaḥ bhaktajanena premapāśena baddhaḥ san tasthau krīḍitumiti śeṣaḥ ||

iti śrīharvaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekaviṁśodhyāyaḥ |

22 – akrūraprasthānam - A Mission for Akrura

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

kṛṣṇaṁ vrajagataṁ śrutvā vardhamānamivānalam |

udvegamagamatkaṁsaḥ śaṅkamānastato bhayam |2-22-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Hearing that kṛṣṇa was growing up in vraja like a blazing fire, kaṁsa became anxious and doubtful due to fear.

pūtanāyāṁ hatāyāṁ ca kāliye ca parājite |

dhenuke pralayaṁ nīte pralambe ca nipātite ||2-22-2

pūtanā was killed and kāliyā was defeated. Dhenuka was destroyed and pralmaba was felled.

dhṛte govardhane shaile viphale śakraśāsane |

goṣu trātāsu ca tathā spṛhaṇīyena karmaṇā ||2-22-3

govardhana hill was lifted and orders of śakra were nullified. The cows were protected by desirable actions.

kakudmini hate'riṣṭe gopeṣu muditeṣu ca |

dṛśyamāne vināśe ca saṁnikṛṣṭe mahābhaye || 2-22-4

The bull, ariṣṭā, was killed making the gopa-s happy. It appears as though a terrible time of destruction is approaching.

karṣaṇe vṛkṣayoścaiva śakaṭasya tathaiva ca |

acintyaṁ karma tacchrutvā vardhamāneṣu śatruṣu ||2-22-5

The trees were dragged (and uprooted) and the cart was broken. I hear about the unimaginable actions and growth of the enemy.

prāptāriśṭāmivātmānaṁ mene sa mathureśvaraḥ |

visaṁjṣendriyabhūtātmā gatāsupratimo babhau ||2-22-6

The king of mathura (kaṁsa) realized that danger is approaching for him. His senses, mind and intelligence were stunned and he became like a statue.

tato jṣātīnsamānāyya pitaraṁ chograśāsanaḥ |

nishi stimitamūkāyāṁ mathurāyāṁ janādhipaḥ ||2-22-7

In the night when mathura became silent, the king summoned his father ugrasena and relatives and friends.

vasudevaṁ ca devābhaṁ kaṅkaṁ cāhūya yādavam |

satyakaṁ dārukaṁ caiva kaṅkāvarajameva ca ||2-22-8

He called vasudeva, dazzling like a god, kaṅka the yādava, satyaka, dāruka and kaṅka's brother;

bhojaṁ vaitaraṇaṁ caiva vikadruṁ ca mahābalam |

bhayaśaṅkhaṁ ca dharmajṣaṁ vipṛthuṁ ca pṛthuśriyam ||2-22-9

bhoja the vaitaraṇa, powerful vikadru, bhayaśaṅkha knowledgeable about dharma-s, vipṛthu and pṛthu blessed by śrī,

babhruṁ dānapatiṁ caiva kṛtavarmāṇameva ca |

bhūritejasamakṣobhyaṁ bhūriśravasameva ca ||2-22-10

babhru, dānapati (akrūra), kṛtavarma, the unprovokable bhūriteja and bhūriśrava,

etāṇ sa yādavānsarvānābhāṣya śṛṇuteti ca |

ugrasenasuto rājā provāca mathureśvaraḥ ||2-22-11

The king, son of ugrasena, lord of mathura called all the yādava~s and said: Listen to me.

bhavantaḥ sarvakāryajṣā vedeṣu pariniṣṭhitāḥ |

nyāyavṛttāntakuśalāstrivargasya pravartakāḥ ||2-22-12

You are knowledgeable about all matters. You are learned in Vedas. You are experts in the model ways of life. You demonstrate how to conduct the three methods (trivarga - dharma, artha and kāma) of life.

kartavyānāṁ ca kartāro lokasya vibudhopamāḥ |

tasthivāṁso mahāvṛtte niṣkampā iva parvatāḥ ||2-22-13

You perform your duties to the people. You are like deva-s in maintaining good conduct, you are immovable like a mountain.

adambhavṛttayaḥ sarve sarve gurukuloṣitāḥ |

rājamantradharāḥ sarve sarve dhanuṣi pāragāḥ ||2-22-14

All of you act humbly. All of you were educated by serving teachers. All of you are trained in various techniques and all of you are experts in archery.

yaśaḥpradīpā lokānāṁ vedārthānāṁ vivakṣavaḥ |

āśramāṇāṁ nisargajṣā varṇānāṁ kramapāragāḥ ||2-22-15

Your fame lights up the world. You understand the meanings of Vedas. You are aware of the duties of the orders and the social classes.

pravaktāraḥ suniyatāṁ netāro nayadarśinām |

bhettāraḥ pararāṣṭrāṇāṁ trātāraḥ śaraṇārthinām ||2-22-16

You are experts in directing those who lack understanding. You are leaders of moral people. You penetrate the secrets of enemies and protect those who depend on you.

evamakṣatacāritraiḥ śrīmadbhiruditoditaiḥ |

dyaurapyanugṛhītā syādbhavadbhiḥ kiṁ punarmahī ||2-22-17

You characters are faultless. You, auspicious men, are great leaders. You are sufficient to protect heaven. Then what is there about protecting the earth?

ṛṣīṇāmiva vo vṛttaṁ prabhāvo marutāmiva |

rudrāṇāmiva vaḥ krodho dīptiraṅgirasāmiva ||2-22-18

You behave like sages. Your splendour is like maruts. Your anger is similar to rudras. You dazzle as the fire god.

vyāvartamānaṁ sumahadbhavadbhiḥ khyātakīrtibhiḥ |

dhṛtaṁ yadukulaṁ vīrairbhūtalaṁ parvatairiva ||2-22-19

Whenever the great yadu dynasty faces difficulties, famous and glorious kings like you appeared to restore its glories like mountains sustain earth.

evaṁ bhavatsu yukteṣu mama chittānuvartiṣu |

vardhamāno mamānartho bhavadbhiḥ kimupekṣitaḥ ||2-22-20

You are talented people and you have worked for my benefit. In spite of your presence, I now face great difficulty. How is it that you have ignored my situation?

eṣa kṛṣṇa iti khyāto nandagopasuto vraje |

vardhamāna ivāmbhodhirmūlaṁ naḥ parikṛntati ||2-22-21

This son of nandagopa, known as kṛṣṇa is growing like a rain cloud in vraja. He is steadily trying to cut off the roots of our existence.

anamātyasya śūnyasya cārāndhasya mamaiva tu |

kāraṇānnandagopasya sa suto gopito gṛhe ||2-22-22

I do not have ministers (giving advice). I can not do anything. I am blind since I do not have good spies. Because of all this, the son of nandagopa, lives peacefully at home.

upekṣita iva vyādhiḥ pūryamāṇa ivāmbudaḥ |

nadanmegha ivoṣṇānte sa durātmā vivardhate ||2-22-23

That wicked soul is growing like a neglected disease, like a cloud full of water and like a thundering cloud at the end of summer.

tasya nāhaṁ gatiṁ jāne na yogaṁ na parākramam |

nandagopasya bhavane jātasyādbhutakarmaṇaḥ ||2-22-24

I do not know the future, situation and power of the boy born in the house of nandagopa, who performed wonderful actions.

kiṁ tadbhūtaṁ samudbhūtaṁ devāpatyaṁ na vidmahe |

atidevairamānuṣyaiḥ karmabhiḥ so'numīyate ||2-22-25

I do not know who has come as the boy. Is he the son of a god (deva)? He appears to be more powerful than the gods by his superhuman actions.

pūtanā śakunī bālye śiśunottānaśāyinā |

stanapānepsunā pītā prāṇaiḥ saha durāsadā ||2-22-26

When pūtanā, the terrible bird, went to feed the sucking child her breast milk, he sucked out her life and killed her.

yamunāyā hrade nāgaḥ kāliyo damitastathā |

rasātalacharo nītaḥ kṣaṇenādarśanaṁ hradāt ||2-22-27

This boy defeated the serpent kāliya who lived in a lake of yamunā. As directed by kṛṣṇa, the resident of rasātala was forced to leave the lake.

nandagopasuto yogaṁ kṛtvā sa punarutthitaḥ |

dhenukastālaśikharātpātito jīvitaṁ vinā ||2-22-28

(Breaking free from the serpent and) rising up again, the son of nandagopa killed dhenuka by throwing him on to the tāla trees.

pralambaṁ yaṁ mṛdhe devā na shekurativartitum |

bālena muṣṭinaikena sa hataḥ prākṛto yathā ||2-22-29

The boy killed pralamba, whom even the gods are unable to overcome, with a punch of his fist.

vāsavasyotsavaṁ bhaṅktvā varṣaṁ vāsavaroṣajam |

nirjitya gogṛhārthāya dhṛto govardhano giriḥ ||2-22-30

He stopped the festival of vāsava (indra) and protected vraja from the torrential rain created by vāsava (indra) by holding the govardhana hill.

hatastvariṣṭo balavānniḥśṛṅgaścha kṛto vraje |

abālo bālyamāsthāya ramate śiśulīlayā ||2-22-31

The powerful boy killed ariṣṭa in vraja by breaking the horns. He is playing as a small boy, even though he is not a small boy.

prabandhaḥ karmaṇāmevaṁ tasya govrajavāsinaḥ |

sannikṛṣṭaṁ bhayaṁ caiva keshino mama ca dhruvam ||2-22-32

These are the actions of that boy who lives in vraja. I am sure that danger is approaching keshi and me.

bhūtapūrvaścha me mṛtyuḥ satataṁ pūrvadaihikaḥ |

yuddhākāṅkṣī ca sa yathā tiṣṭhatīha mamāgrataḥ ||2-22-33

Previously (In my earlier births), I am sure that he was the cause of my death always. It is as if he is standing in front of me, ready to fight.

kva ca gopatvamaśubhaṁ mānuṣyaṁ mṝtyudurbalam |

kva ca devaprabhāveṇa krīḍitavyaṁ vraje mayā ||2-22-34

Why is he appearing in the human form as an inauspicious, cow tender, weakened by death? Why is he playing in my vraja, dazzling as a god?

aho nīchena vapuṣā''cchādayitvātmano vapuḥ |

ko'pyeṣa ramate devaḥ śmaśānasya ivānalaḥ ||2-22-35

Alas! He is concealing his own body in a low form (of a cow tender.s body). Like fire in a crematorium, this god is playing among us.

śrūyate hi purā viṣṇuḥ surāṇāṁ kāraṇāntare |

vāmanena tu rūpeṇa jahāra pṛthivīmimām ||2-22-36

I have heard that earlier viṣṇu in the form of vāmana had conquered the earth for the gods.

kṛtvā kesariṇo rūpaṁ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā |

hato hiraṇyakaśipurdānavānāṁ pitāmahaḥ ||2-22-37

The dazzling viṣṇu, taking the form of a lion, killed hiraṇyakaśipu, the great grandfather of dānavas.

acintyarūpamāsthāya śvetashailasya mūrdhani |

bhavena chyāvitā daityāḥ purā tattripuraṁ ghnatā ||2-22-38

Assuming an unthinkable form on the top of the white mountain, becoming bhava, he destroyed the tripura of daityas.

cālito guruputreṇa bhārgavo'ṅgirasena vai |

pravishya dārdurīṁ māyāmanāvṛṣṭiṁ cakāra ha ||2-22-39

Using dārdurī māya, the son of bṛhaspati (kacha) had made aṅgiras the bhārgava (śukra) change his pledge and created draught (anāvṛṣṭi).

anantaḥ śāśvato devaḥ sahasraśiraso'vyayaḥ |

vārāhaṁ rūpamāsthāya projjahārārṇavānmahīm ||2-22-40

The eternal deva without any end, with thousand heads, having no decline, took the form of varāha and recovered this earth from the ocean.

amṛte nirmite pūrvaṁ viṣṇuḥ strīrūpamāsthitaḥ |

surāṇāmasurāṇāṁ ca yuddhaṁ cakre sudāruṇam ||2-22-41

When nectar was produced in ancient times, viṣṇu took the form of a beautiful woman and caused a terrible war between the gods and asuras.

amṛtārthe purā cāpi devadaityasamāgame |

dadhāra mandaraṁ viṣṇurakūpāra iti śrutiḥ ||2-22-42

It is heard that, in ancient times, even during combine effort of deva-s and daitya-s for getting amṛta, viṣnu carried the mandaraṁ (mountain) in the form of a giant tortoise.

vapurvāmanamāsthāya nandanīyaṁ purā baleḥ |

tribiḥ kramaistu trī.ṇllokāṣjahāra tridivālayam ||2-22-43

(Note 1)

Taking the form of vāmana, with his three steps, viṣṇu won the three worlds including heaven from the respectable bali.

caturdhā tejaso bhāgaṁ kṛtvā dāśarathe gṛhe |

sa eva rāmasaṁjṣo vai rāvaṇaṁ vyanaśattadā ||2-22-44

Then, splitting his splendour in four parts, in the abode of dasaratha, under the name of rāma, he destroyed rāvaṇa.

evameṣa nikṛtyā vai tattadrūpamupāgataḥ |

sādhayitvā''tmanaḥ kāryaṁ surāṇāmarthasiddhaye||2-22-45

Thus by cheating and taking the forms as required, he accomplished the tasks for the benefit of devas.

tadeṣa nūnaṁ viṣṇurvā shakro vā marutāṁ patiḥ |

matsādhanecchaya prāpto nārado māṁ prayuktavān ||2-22-46

Is he really viṣṇu or is he śakra, the king of marut-s who has come to kill me? Earlier, nārada had told me (about him).

atra me śaṅkate buddhirvasudevaṁ prati dhruvā |

asya buddhiviśeṣeṇa vayaṁ kātaratāṁ gatāḥ ||2-22-47

Definitely, I have doubts about vasudeva now. Because of his intellect, we are afraid.

ahaṁ hi khaṭvāṅgavane nāradena samāgataḥ |

dvitīyaṁ sa hi māṁ vipraḥ punarevābravīdvacaḥ ||2-22-48

I met nārada in the forest of khaṭvāṅga. That brāhmaṇa had told me the following again for a second time.

yastvayā hi kṛto yatnaḥ kaṁsa garbhakṛte mahān |

vasudevena te rātrau tatkarma viphalīkṛtam ||2-22-49

kaṁsa, you had tried very hard to destroy the conception (of devakī). vasudeva had nullified all your efforts in the night.

dārikā yā tvayā rātrau śilāyāṁ kamsa pātitā |

tāṁ yaśodāsutāṁ viddhi kṛṣṇaṁ ca vasudevajam ||2-22-50

kaṁsa, know that the girl you threw on the rock in the night is the daughter of yaśodā and kṛṣṇa is the son of vasudeva.

rātrau vyāvartitāvetau garbhau tava vadhāya vai |

vasudevena saṁdhāya mitrarūpeṇa śatruṇā ||2-22-51

vasudeva, your enemy, appearing as a friend, exchanged both conceptions in the night for killing you.

sā tu kanyā yaśodāyā vindhye parvatasattame |

hatvā shumbhanishumbhau dvau dānavau nagacāriṇau ||2-22-52

That girl of yaśodā, killed the dānava-s, shumbha and nishumba in the forest, on the mountain of vindhya.

kṛtābhiṣekā varadā bhūtasaṅghaniṣevitā |

arcyate dasyubhirghorairmahābalipaśupriyā ||2-22-53

abhiṣeka was done on that Goddess, served by bhūtas. She grants boons (to her devotees). She receives worship also from terrible dasyus. She is fond of animal sacrifices.

surāpiśitapūrṇābhyāṁ kumbhābhyāmupaśobhitā |

mayurāṅgadacitraiścha barhabhārairvibhūṣitā ||2-22-54

She dazzles with two pots of liquor and meat. She is adorned with peacock feathers.

hṛṣṭakukkuṭasaṁnādaṁ vanaṁ vāyasanāditam |

mṛgasaṅghaiścha saṁpūṛnāmaviruddhaiścha pakṣibhiḥ ||2-22-55

The forest is full of sounds made by crows and happy cocks. The forest is full of animals and birds who do not fight among themselves.

simhavyāghravarāhāṇāṁ nādena pratināditam |

vṛkṣagambhīranibiḍaṁ kāntāraiḥ sarvato vṛtam ||2-22-56

The forest echoes with the sounds of lions, tigers and boars. The forest is full of giant trees everywhere.

divyabhṛṅgāruchamarairādarśairupaśobhitam |

devatūryaninādaiścha śataśaḥ pratināditam ||2-22-57

Divine bees act as her fans and mirrors increasing her beauty. The place echoes with the sound of divine musical instruments.

sthānaṁ tasyā nage vindhye nirmitaṁ svena tejasā |

ripūṇāṁ trāsajananī nityaṁ tatra manorame ||2-22-58

The place in the vindhya mountain is made by her splendour There, the beautiful goddess terrifies her enemies.

vasate paramaprītā devatairapi pūjitā |

Worshipped by even the gods, the Goddess stays there, highly pleased.

yastvayaṁ nandagopasya kṛṣṇa ityucyate sutaḥ ||2-22-59

atra me nāradaḥ prāha sumahatkarmakāraṇam |

Regarding the son of nandagopa, named kṛṣṇa, nāradā told a very great reason.

dvitīyo vasudevādvai vāsudevo bhaviṣyati ||2-22-60

The second son of vasudeva will be known as vāsudeva.

sa hi te sahajo mṛtyurbāndhavaścha bhaviṣyati |

sa eva vāsudevo vai vasudevasuto balī |

bān

dhavo dharmato mahyaṁ hṛdayenāntako ripuḥ ||2-22-61

He will be your death and your relative. That vāsudeva is the powerful son of vasudeva. By dharma he is related. By within, he is death, your enemy.

yathā hi vāyaso mūrdhni padbhyāṁ yasyāvatiṣṭhati |

netre tudati tasyaiva vaktreṇābhiṣagṛddhinā ||2-22-62

How a crow sits, keeping its legs on one's head and strikes on the eyes with its beaks like a vulture,

vasudevastathaivāyaṁ saputrajṣātibāndhavaḥ |

Chinatti mama mūlāṇi bhuṅkte ca mama pārśvataḥ ||2-22-63

In the same manner, vasudeva, along with his sons, friends and relatives depends on me for his survival and severs my roots.

bhrūṇahatyāpi saṁtāryā govadhaḥ strīvadho'pi vā |

na kṛtaghnasya loko'sti bāndhavasya viśeṣataḥ ||2-22-64

One may get absolved from the sin of killing of embryo, cow and woman. An ungrateful person, especially a relative is unfit to live in this world.

patitānugataṁ mārgaṁ niṣevatyachireṇa saḥ |

yaḥ kṛtaghno'nubandhena prītiṁ vahati dāruṇām ||2-22-65

He will follow the path of fallen down men, without any delay. The ungrateful are pleased to seek a terrible end.

narakādhyuṣitaḥ panthā gantavyastena dāruṇaḥ |

apāpe pāpahṛdayo yaḥ pāpamanutiṣṭhati ||2-22-66

He shall follow the terrible path of hell. He sins on the people who are devoid of sins.

ahaṁ vā svajanaḥ ślāghyaḥ sa vā ślāghyataraḥ sutaḥ |

niyamairguṇavṛttena tvayā bāndhavakāmyayā ||2-22-67

Am I praiseworthy by my people or is that son (of vasudeva) praiseworthy by conditions, qualifications and desire for relations?

hastināṁ kalahe ghore vadhamṛcchanti vīrudhaḥ |

yuddhavyuparame te tu sahāśnanti mahāvane |2-22-68

When elephants fight against each, the trees will be destroyed. When their quarrel ends, they eat together in the forest.

bāndhavānāmapi tathā bhedakāle samutthite |

badhyate yo'ntaraprepsuḥ svajano yadi vetaraḥ ||2-22-69

In the same way, when there is a fight among relatives, those who are in between, whether they are relatives or others, get killed.

kālastvaṁ hi vināśāya mayā puṣṭo vijānatā |

vasudevakulasyāsya yadvirodhayase bhṛśam ||2-22-70

I brought you up, unknowingly for my destruction. vasudeva! Are you not standing against our race?

amarṣī vairaśīlaścha sadā pāpamatiḥ śaṭhaḥ |

sthāne yadukulaṁ mūḍha śochanīyaṁ tvayā kṛtam ||2-22-71

You are always angry, you behave as an enemy, you are sinful and stubborn. Fool, you have made the status of yadukula deplorable.

vasudeva vṛthā vṛddha yanmayā tvaṁ puraskṛtaḥ |

śvetena śirasā vṛddho naiva varṣaśatairbhavet ||2-22-72

vasudeva, you are an old man, brought to the forefront by me. Even if one lives for hundred years with white hair on his head, he does not become old.

yasyabuddhiḥ pariṇatā sa vai vṛddhataro nṛṇām |

na tena vṛddho bhavati yenāsya palitaṁ śiraḥ ||2-22-73

One becomes old among men, whose intellect is matured. Even if one's hairs turn completely white he does not become old.

tvaṁ ca karkaśaśīlaścha buddhyā ca na bahuśrutaḥ |

kevalaṁ vayasā vṛddho yathā śaradi toyadaḥ ||2-22-74

Your nature is stubborn. You are not learned. Like a rain cloud of winter only, you are an old man.

kiṁ ca tvaṁ sādhu jānīṣe vasudeva vṛthāmate |

mṛte kaṁse mama suto mathurāṁ pālayiṣyati ||2-22-75

vasudeva, your intellect is useless. Are you not thinking: my son will become the king of mathura when kaṁsa is dead.

cinnāśastvaṁ vṛthāvṛddho mithyā tvevaṁ vicāritam |

jijīviṣurna so'pyasti yo. avatiṣṭhenmamāgrataḥ||2-22-76

It is useless for a mere old man with all hopes lost to think in this way. No one who hopes to live will stand before me.

prahartukāmo viśvaste yastvaṁ duṣṭena chetasā |

tatte pratikariṣye'haṁ putrayostava paśyataḥ ||2-22-77

With an evil mind, you plan to apply (your methods) on a trusted person. As you watch I will take revenge on your sons.

na me vṛddhavadhaḥ kaśchiddvijastrīvadha eva ca |

kṛtapūrvaḥ kariṣye vā viśeṣeṇa tu bāndhave ||2-22-78

Neither I have killed old men, brahmins and women, nor shall I kill, especially a relative.

iha tvaṁ jātasaṁvṛddho mama pitrā vivardhitaḥ |

pitṛṣvasuścha me bhartā yadūnāṁ prathamo guruḥ ||2-22-79

You were born here and brought up by my father. You are husband of my father's daughter and principal preceptor of yadu race.

kule mahati vikhyātaḥ prathite cakravartinām |

gurvarthaṁ pūjitaḥ sadbhirmahadbhirdharmabuddhibhiḥ ||2-22-80

You are famous in the great race of kings. You are respected as a preceptor. You are honoured as an intellectual by people.

kiṁ kariṣyāmahe sarve satsu vaktavyatāṁ gatāḥ |

yadūnāṁ yūthamukhyasya yasya te vṛttamīdṛśam ||2-22-81

What can we do? We, good men, have to point out and tell you, the leader of yadu-s about your (wrong) actions.

madvadho vā jayo vātha vasudevasya durnayaiḥ |

satsu yāsyanti puruṣā yadūnāmavaguṇṭhitāḥ || 2-22-82

Due to the bad policies of vasudeva, I may die. The yadu-s may be victorious. The good leaders of yadu-s are moving with their heads covered.

tvayā hi madvadhopāyaṁ tarkamāṇena vai mṛdhe |

aviśvāsyaṁ kṛtaṁ karma vācyāścha yadavaḥ kṛtāḥ ||2-22-83

You look for an opportunity to kill me in fight. You carry out untrustworthy acts and earn bad name among yadus.

aśāmyaṁ vairamutpannaṁ mama kṛṣṇasya chobhayoḥ |

śāntimekatare śāntiṁ gate yāsyanti yādavāḥ ||2-22-84

Between me and kṛṣṇa, there is unending enmity. Only if someone tries to remove the enmity, yadava-s will have peace.

gaccha dānapate kṣipram tāvihānayituṁ vrajāt |

nandagopaṁ ca gopāṁścha karadānmama śāsanāt ||2-22-85

On my order, let this dānapati (akrūra) go quickly to vraja and bring nandagopa and other gopa-s who pay tribute to me.

vācyaścha nandagopo vai karamādāya vārṣikam |

śīghramāgaccha nagaraṁ gopaiḥ saha samanvitaḥ ||2-22-86

Tell nandagopa that he should come to the city quickly along with other gopa-s and give the yearly tribute.

kṛṣṇasaṅkarṣaṇau caiva vasudevasutāvubhau |

draśṭumicchati vai kaṁsaḥ sabhṛtyaḥ sapurohitaḥ ||2-22-87

kaṁsa along with his servants and priests wishes to see both kṛṣṇa and saṅkarṣaṇa, sons of vasudeva.

etau yuddhavidau raṅge kālanirmāṇayodhinau |

dṛḍhau ca kṛtinau caiva śṛṇomi vyāyatodyamau ||2-22-88

They are experts in the fighting ring. They fight as demanded by the occasion. I hear that they are firm, full of enthusiasm and accomplished (fighters).

asmākamapi mallau dvau sajjau yuddhakṛtotsavau |

tābhyāṁ saha niyotsyete tau yuddhakuśalāvubhau ||2-22-89

We also have two wrestlers, enthusiastic and ready for fighting. Those boys, experts in fighting, shall fight with them (our wrestlers).

draṣṭavyau ca mayāvaśyaṁ bālau tāvamaropamau |

pitṛṣvasuḥ sutau mukhyau vrajavāsau vanecharau ||2-22-90

I also insist to see those boys, looking like deva-s, sons of my father's sister, staying in the vraja, moving in the forest.

vaktavyaṁ ca vraje tasminsamīpe vrajavāsinām |

rājā dhanurmakhaṁ nāma kārayiṣyati vai sukhī ||2-22-91

You shall go to vraja and tell the residents of vraja: The well settled king is conducting a bow sacrifice.

sannikṛṣṭaṁ vane te tu nivasantu yathāsukham |

janasyāmantritasyārthe yatha syātsarvamavyayam ||2-22-92

Let them stay comfortably in the nearby forest. Everything will be provided for all the invited people without any deficiency.

payasaḥ sarpiṣaścaiva dadhno dadhyuttarasya ca |

yathākāmapradānāya bhojyādhiśrayaṇāya ca ||2-22-93

Let them be given milk, ghee, curd and butter milk. Whatever they want shall be provided along with condiments for foods.

akrūra gaccha śīghraṁ tvaṁ tāvānaya mamājṣayā |

saṅkarṣaṇaṁ ca kṛṣṇaṁ ca draṣṭuṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me ||2-22-94

akrūra, you proceed and bring them as ordered by me. I am curious to see saṅkarṣaṇa and kṛṣṇa.

tayorāgamane prītiḥ paramā matkṛtā bhavet |

dṛṣṭvā tu tau mahāvīryau tadvidhāsyāmi yaddhitam ||2-22-95

I shall be greatly pleased by their coming. When I see those great heroes (vīrā-s) I shall do what they like.

śāsanaṁ yadi vā śrutvā mama tau paribhāṣitam |

nāgacchetām yathākālaṁ nigrāhyāvapi tau mama ||2-22-96

If they do not come on time even after hearing the order pronounced by me, they will be slain by me.

sāntvameva tu bāleṣu pradhānaṁ prathamo nayaḥ |

madhureṇaiva tau mandau svayamevānayāśu vai ||2-22-97

The best and important way is to speak to the boys in a loving manner. Hence you bring those wrestlers here by speaking to them in sweet words.

akrūra kuru me prītimetāṁ paramadurlabhām |

yadi vā nopajapto'si vasudevena suvrata ||2-22-98

tathā kartavyametaddhi yatha tāvāgamiṣyataḥ |

ākrūra, please do as I say and receive my pleasure, which is rare. O man of good vows! If vasudeva has not yet gone, please do the needful so that they will come here.

evamākṣipyamāṇo'pi vasudevo vasūpamaḥ |

sāgarākāramātmānaṁ niṣprakampamadhārayat ||2-22-99

Even after being abused thus, vasudeva , like earth, kept his soul still like the ocean, without any movement.

vākchalyaistāḍyamānastu kaṁsenādīrghadarśinā |

kṣamāṁ manasi saṁdhāya nottaraṁ pratyabhāṣata ||2-22-100

kaṁsa who lacked foresight, spoke harsh words (to vasudeva). Keeping patience in his mind, he did not answer in reply.

ye tu taṁ dadṛśustatra kṣipyamāṇamanekadhā |

dhigdhigityasakṛtte vai śanairūcuravāṅmukhāḥ ||2-22-101

Those who watched vasudeva being abused in many ways, said shame! shame! and lowered their faces.

akrūrastu mahātejā jānandivyena cakṣuṣā |

jalaṁ dṛṣṭveva tṛṣitaḥ preṣitaḥ prītimānabhūt |2-22-102

akrūra having great splendour, knew all with his divine vision. As a thirsty person, who sees water, he was pleased to be sent on this mission.

tasminneva muhūrte tu mathurāyāḥ sa niryayau |

prītimānpuṇḍarīkākṣaṁ drasṣṭuṁ dānapatiḥ svayam ||2-22-103

Highly pleased, the dānapati (akruṛa) left mathura at that moment itself to see puṇḍarīkāsḍha (kṛṣṇa).

iti srimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi akrūraprasthāne dvāviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the twenty-second chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, a mission for akrūra.

Note 1 After sloka 43, harivaṁśa, vol.ī, edited by P.L.Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, 1969 gives the following lines after sloka 43 on page 427. After 43, D6, S ( except T3.4 ) ins.

sa eva bhagavānviṣṇurbhūtvā bhārgavanandanaḥ |

parashvadhena śātena jaghāna kṛtavīryajam ||

The same lord viṣṇu became the son of bhārgava and killed kṛtavīrya with his axe.

triḥsaptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivīṁ hatvā kṣatriyapuṁgavān |

hayamedhe tadā yajṣe kāśyapāya dadau kila ||

He travelled on earth twentyone times, killed the kṣatriya kings and gave the earth to kashyapa in the horse sacrifice.

The malayālaṁ translation of these lines are given in slokas 44 and 45 on page 393, volume 6, bhāṣābhārataṁ, kuṣṣikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, DC Books edition 2007.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

dvāviṁśatitame'dhyāye kaṁsenāhūya yādavān |

vasudevamadhikṣipya akrūraḥ preṣito vrajam || 1 ||

· 2.22.1 kṛṣṇamiti ||

· 2.22.6 prāptāriṣṭam prāptamṛtyum ata eva visaṁjṣāni indriyāṇi bhūtātmā jīvaścha yasya ||

· 2.22.7 sthitamitaṁ nidrayā mūkāyāmiva rātrau niḥśabde kāle ityarthaḥ ||

· 2.22.10 babhrureva dānapatistamakrūram ||

· 2.22.11 ābhāṣya pratyekaṁ saṁbodhya ||

· 2.22.13 mahāvṛ+tte mahatyācāre ||

· 2.22.15 ṇisargajṣāḥ svābhāvikakarmajṣāḥ ||

· 2.22.16 suniyatāṁ śobhanānāṁ vidhīnāṁ ||

· 2.22.17 uditiditaiḥ kathāprasaṅgena udbhaṭaiḥ ||

· 2.22.18 āṅgirasāṁ agnīnām ||

· 2.22.19 vyāvarttamānaṁ bhrashyat ||

· 2.22.22 śūnyasya tad hṛdayaśūnyasya cārāndhasya cāracakṣurvarjitasya |

"rājānaścāracakṣuṣa" ityukteḥ |

mama kāranāt madīyaprabhāvāt nandagopasya gṛhe vasudevasya suto gopitaḥ ||

· 2.22.23 pūryamāṇaḥ parvaṇi ambudaḥ samudraḥ ||

· 2.22.24 gatiṁ sattvaṁ yogaṁ vaśīkaraṇopāyam ||

· 2.22.25 devairapīti devebhyopyadhika iti so'numīyate ||

· 2.22.28 yogaṁ nāgapāśabandhaṁ kṛ+tvā citvā ||

· 2.22.32 prabandhaḥ ghaṭanāprakāraḥ ||

· 2.22.34 mṛtyudurbalaṁ mṛtyuyogena durbalam ||

· 2.22.38 bhavena rudrarūpiṇā viṣṇunā tatprasiddhaṁ brahmaṇo varadānātabhedyamāsīttadityarthaḥ ||

· 2.22.39 cālita iti | guruputreṇa kachena bhārgavaḥ śukraḥ cālitaḥ mṛtasaṁjīvinīṁ vidyāṁ kasmaichidapi na dāsyamityetasmānniyamāt bhraṁśitaḥ | kathamityata āha - dārdurīṁ māyāṁ pravishyeti | yathā darduro mṛtvā punaḥ punaruttiṣṭhati evaṁ kachopi dānavebhyo.ssakṛnmṛtyumāsādya gurūdaraṁ praveshitastato guroḥ sakāśāt vidyāṁ prāpya tadudaraṁ bhitvā punaruthitaḥ mṛtaṁ ca guruṁ punarjīvitavān | tatastāmeva dānavaiḥ kṛtāṁ kachahatyāṁ nimittīkṛtya dānaveṣu devo na vavarṣītyarthaḥ || evaṁ dānavānāṁ vināśaḥ rudradvārā tripurasyeva kachadvārā'pyanenaiva kṛta iti bhāvaḥ | sahasrashirasa ityadantatvamārṣam ||

· 2-22-41 cakre kāritavān ||

· 2-22-42 akūpāre samudre kacchapo bhūtveti śeṣaḥ ||

· 2.22.43 lokān ākramamāṇastridivālayaṁ svargaṁ jahāra ||

· 2.22.44 vyanashat vināśitavān ||

· 2.22.45 nikṛtyā Chalena ||

· 2.22.46 matsādhanecchayā madvadhecchayā ||

· 2-22-48 dvitīyaṁ dvitīyavāram ||

· 2.22.57 bhṛṅgāruḥ kanakapātraṁ gaḍukam ||

· 2.22.60 mahatāṁ karmaṇāṁ pūtanāvadhādīnāṁ kāraṇaṁ hetum | dvitīya iti rāmāpekṣayā so'pi vāsudevājjāta iti vāsudevo bhavatyeva ||

· 2-22-65 anubandhena kāryānurodhena | dāruṇāṁ dāruṇodarkāṁ ||

· 2.22.67 bāndhavakāmyayā mitrecchayā mitrakāmenetyarthaḥ ||

· 2.22.68 hastināmiti | yathā hastināṁ kalahe vīrudho nashyanti| na tu hasinaḥ evaṁ mama ca kṛṣṇasya ca kalahe vasudevādaya eva naṅkṣyanti na tvāvāmiti ślokadvayasyārthaḥ ||

· 2.22.71 śaṭho mithyāvinītaścha |

"śaṭho gūḍhāparādhakṛt"

iti kośāt | tvayā kulaṁ yat śochanīyaṁ tatsthāne yuktamityarthaḥ ||

· 2.22.72 he ! vṛddha yat yato mayā tvaṁ puraskṛto'to'haṁ vṛ+thā vyarthajanmāsmītyarthaḥ ||

· 2.22.78 me mayā ||

· 2.22.79 jātaścāsau saṁvṛddhascha jātasaṁvṛddhaḥ | pitṛṣvasuriti pitṛvyasaṁbandhinyāḥ svasuriti ||

· 2.22.80 cakravartināṁ -

"yasya mūrdhani dṛśyeta vinā catreṇa bhūpateḥ |

padmānukāriṇī cāyā tamāhuścakravartinam ||"

ityuktalakṣaṇānām ||

· 2.22.81 jayo vā'stviti śeṣaḥ | ubhayathā vilajjayā avaguṇṭhitā āccāditamukhāḥ yadūnāṁ puruṣā yāsyanti | ekena kapaṭinā sarveṣu kapaṭitvāpavādaprasaṅgāditi bhāvaḥ ||

· 2.22.82 tadevāha - tvayeti | vācyā nindyāḥ ||

· 2-22-85 dānapate he akrūra ||

· 2.22.86 vācyastvayā vaktavyaḥ ||

· 2.22.88 kālanirmāṇayodhinau samayānusāri yuddhakushalau vyāyatodhyamau dīrghayatnau ||

· 2.22.89 mallau cāṇūramuṣṭikau niyotsyete yuddhaṁ kariṣyataḥ ||

· 2.22.90 pitṛṣvasuriti pitṛṣyasaṁbandhinyāḥ svasuriti jṣeyaṁ | kālabhedena yathāśrutamevāstu ||

· 2.22.93 dadhyuttarasya dadhimaṇḍasya takrasya vā bhojyādhiśrayaṇāya ca bhojyaṁ pāyasavadannaṁ kartuṁ yat adhiśrayaṇaṁ kṣīrasya tasmai ||

· 2.22.98 upajapto bheditaḥ ||

· 2.22.99 sāgarākāraṁ atigambhīram | ātmānaṁ manaḥ ||

· 2.22.103 tasminneva muhūrtaṁ madhyarātre ||

iti śrīmahābhārate harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ dvāviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

23 - andhakavacanam - Andhaka Admonishes Kamsa

vaiśampāyana uvāca

kṣipraṁ yaduvṛṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve te yadupuṅgavāḥ |

nipīḍya śravaṇānhastairmenire taṁ gatāyuṣam ||2-23-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Seeing that the bull (chief) of yādavas ( vasudeva) is thus abused, all the bulls (leaders) of yādavā-s closed their ears with hands and considered his (kaṁsa's) life as gone.

andhako'nudvignamanā dhairyādavikṛtaṁ vacaḥ |

provāca vadatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ samāje kaṁsamojasā |2-23-2

But andhaka was not perturbed. Great among orators, with splendour, he spoke courageously using faultless words to kaṁsa.

aślāghyo me mataḥ putra tavāyaṁ vākpariśramaḥ |

ayukto garhitaḥ sadbhirbāndhaveśu viśeṣataḥ ||2-23-3

Son, your effort with the words is not praiseworthy. This is my opinion. These words are unsuitable for good men, specially for relatives.

ayādavo yadi bhavāṣchṛṇu tāvadyaducyate |

na hi tvāṁ yādavaṁ vīra balātkurvanti yādavāḥ ||2-23-4

If you are not a yādava, then hear what we are saying. O Hero! (vīra), yādava-s will not use force on you, who is a yādava.

aślāghyā vṛṣṇayaḥ putra yeṣām tvamanuśāsitā |

ikṣvākuvaṁśajo rājā vinivṛttaḥ svayaṁ sakṛt ||2-23-5

Son! The members of vṛṣṇi dynasty, on whom you are ruling, are not praiseworthy. There was a king of ikṣvāku dynasty, who had to relinquish his kingdom.

bhojo vā yādavo vāsi kaṁso vāsi yathā tathā |

sahajaṁ te śirastāta jaṭī muṇḍo'pi vā bhava ||2-23-6

You may be a bhoja or yādava or kaṁsa. But son! Your head is yours. Be with matted hairs or shaven or anything as you like.

ugrasenastvayaṁ shochyo yo'smākaṁ kulapāṁsanaḥ |

durjātīyena yena tvamīdṛśo janitaḥ sutaḥ ||2-23-7

ugrasena's situation is regrettable. He is a disgrace to our race since he got a son like you with deplorable qualities.

na cātmano guṇāṁstāta pravadanti manīṣiṇāḥ |

pareṇoktā gunā gauṇyaṁ yānti vedārthasaṁmitāḥ ||2-23-8

Son! The wise do not speak of their qualities. Only when others speak of their qualities, those are considered true, equal to the meaning of Vedas.

pṛthivyāṁ yaduvaṁśo'yaṁ nindanīyo mahīkṣitām |

bālaḥ kulāntakṛnmūḍho yeṣāṁ tvamanuśāsitā ||2-23-9

On earth, our yādava race has become despicable among kings since it has a ruler who kills children and his own race without having the power of discrimination.

asādhumadbhirvākyaiścha tvayā sādhviti bhāṣitaiḥ |

na cāpyāsāditaṁ kāryamātmā ca vivṛtaḥ kṛtaḥ ||1-23-10

By speaking these despicable words, thinking that these are excellent you will not get anything done. Instead, the words simply revealed your mind.

guroranavaliptasya mānyasya mahatāmapi |

kśepaṇaṁ kaḥ śubhaṁ manye dvijasyeva vadhe kṛte ||2-23-11

Who will think that abusing a humble preceptor who is respectable even for the great men, is auspicious? This is similar to killing of Brahmin-s

mānyāśchaivābhigamyāścha vṛddhāstāta yathāgnayaḥ |

krodho hi teṣāṁ pradahellokānantargatānapi ||2-23-12

Son! Elderly men are always respectable like fire. Their anger can burn even the internal worlds.

budhena tāta dāntena nityamabhyucchritātmanā |

dharmasya gatiranveṣyā matsyasya gatirapsviva ||2-23-13

Son! One who is a scholar, who is self controlled and who is always on the way of self progress should seek the path of dharma, like a fish seeking its way in water.

kevalaṁ tvaṁ tu darpeṇa vṛddhānagnisamāniha |

vācā tudasi marmaghnyā amantroktā yathā''hutiḥ ||2-23-14

Simply because of your false pride, you struck the elderly people, who are brilliant as fire, with words, splitting their weak spots. Like an offering made without chanting the proper mantra, your words are useless.

vasudevaṁ ca putrārthe yadimaṁ parigarhasi |

tatra mithyā pralāpante nindāmi kṛpaṇaṁ vacaḥ ||2-23-15

Are you not admonishing Vasudeva because of his sons? Therefore your criticism is empty talk. I strongly condemn your words.

dāruṇe ca pitā putre naiva dāruṇatāṁ vrajet |

putrārthe hyāpadaḥ kaṣṭāḥ pitaraḥ prāpnuvanti hi ||2-23-16

Even if the son is terrible, a father can not act cruelly to him. A father is always prepared to face difficulties and dangers for the sons.

cādito vasudevena yadi putraḥ śiśustadā |

manyase yadyakartavyaṁ tatpṛccha pitaram svakam ||2-23-17

vasudeva's hiding his son when he was a child (for his protection) can not be considered as a fault. You may ask your own father about this.

garhatā vasudevaṁ ca yaduvaṁśaṁ ca nindatā |

tvayā yādavaputrāṇāṁ vairajaṁ viṣamarjitam 2-23-18||

By abusing vasudeva and ridiculing the yadu dynasty, you have only created the poison of enmity among the sons of yādavas.

akartavyaṁ yadi kṛtaṁ vasudevena putrajam |

kimarthamugrasenena śiśustvaṁ na vināśitaḥ ||2-23-19

If vasudeva has acted improperly by protecting his son (when he was a child), why did ugrasena not kill you when you were a child?

punnāmno narakātputro yasmāttrātā pitṝṁstadā |

tasmādbruvanti putreti putraṁ dharmavido janāḥ ||2-23-20

A son saves his father from the hell known as put. Hence people who are conversant with dharma call son as putra.

jātyāṁ hi yādavaḥ kṛśṇāḥ sa ca saṅkarṣaṇo yuvā |

tvaṁ cāpi vidhṛtastābhyāṁ jātavaireṇā chetasā ||2-23-21

kṛṣṇa and saṅkarṣaṇa also belong to yādava dynasty. You considered them to be your enemies since their birth and now they consider you as their enemy.

udbhūtānīha sarveṣāṁ yadūnāṁ hṛdayāni vai |

vasudeve tvayā''kṣipte vāsudeve ca kopite ||2-23-22

You shook the minds of all yādava-s by abusing vasudeva and making vāsudeva (kṛṣṇa) angry.

kṛṣṇe ca bhavato dveṣye vasudevavigarhaṇāt |

śaṁsanti cemāni bhayaṁ nimittānyaśubhāṇi te ||2-23-23

By abusing vasudeva, you have made kṛṣṇa your enemy. Due to this, you see these fearful omens.

sarpāṇāṁ darśanaṁ tīvraṁ duḥsvapnānāṁ niśākṣaye |

puryā vaidhavyaśaṁsīni kāraṇāiranumīmahe ||2-23-24

At the end of the night dreaming about serpents is inauspicious. We infer that this indicates that the city will become king-less.

esha ghoro grahaḥ svātīmullikhaṅkhe gabhastibhiḥ |

cakramaṣgārakaścakre citrāyāṁ ghoradarśanaḥ ||2-23-25

Here the terrible planet is covering the star svāti. The ferocious planet Mars is devouring the star citra, encircling it.

budhena paśchimā sandhyā vyāptā ghoreṇa tejasā |

vaiśvānarapathe shukro hyaticāraṁ cacāra ha ||2-23-26

The planet Mercury appears on the western horizon. The planet Venus is moving fast towards the path of vaiśvānara.

ketunā dhūmaketostu nakṣatrāṇi trayodaśa |

bharaṇyādīni bhinnāni nānuyānti niśākaram ||2-23-27

The inauspicious presence of ketu has diminished the brightness of thirteen stars led by Bharani. It does not follow moon.

prāksaṁdhyā parighagrastā bhābhirbādhati bhāskaram |

pratilomaṁ ca yāntyeva vyāharanto mṛgadvijāḥ ||2-23-28

The previous sandhya affects the sun under the influence of a parigha (a line seen across the sun). The animals and birds move in opposite directions crying wildly.

śivā śmaśānānniṣkramya niḥśvāsāṅgāravarṣiṇī |

ubhe sandhye purīṁ ghorā paryeti bahu vāśatī ||2-23-29

Leaving the crematorium, a jackal howling and showering fire from its mouth, circles the city in the evening and at dawn.

ulkā nirghātanādena papāta dharanītale |

calatyaparvaṇi mahī girīṇāṁ śikharāṇi ca ||2-23-30

A shower of meteors fell on the face of earth with a loud noise. Suddenly, there is an earthquake and the mountain peaks are trembling.

grastaḥ svarbhānunā sūryo divā naktamajāyata |

dhūmotpātairdiśo vyāptāḥ śuṣkāśanisamāhatāḥ ||2-23-31

The planet rahu eclipsed the sun and it was dark during daytime. Smoke clouds are seen in all directions. Lightning is seen without any clouds in the sky.

prasravanti ghanā raktaṁ sāśanistanayitnavaḥ |

chalitā devatāḥ sthānāttyajanti vihagā nagān ||2-23-32

Clouds shower blood accompanied by thunder and lightning. The deities move from their altars. The birds leave the trees.

yāni rājavināśāya daivajṣāḥ kathayanti ha |

tāni sarvāṇi paśyāmo nimittānyaśubhāni vai ||2-23-33

Expert astrologers say that all these indicate the destruction of a king. Here we also see other inauspicious signs.

tvaṁ cāpi svajanadveṣī rājadharmaparāṅmukhaḥ |

animittāgatakrodhaḥ sannikṛṣṭabhayo hyasi ||2-23-34

You hate your own people. You do not perform your duties as a king. You get angry without any reason. It appears that some misfortune will come to you in the near future.

yastvam devopamam vṛddhaṁ vasudevaṁ vasūpamam |

mohātkṣipasi durbuddhe kutaste śāntirātmanaḥ ||2-23-35

You, with wicked intellect, abuse the elderly, god-like vasudeva, who is like vasus. How can you ever have peace?

tvadgato yo hi naḥ snehastaṁ tyajāmo'dya vai vayam |

ahitaṁ svasya vaṁśasya na tvāṁ kṣaṇamupāsmahe ||2-23-36

From now onwards, we are abandoning all affection for you. You are a disgrace to your race. We shall no longer serve you even for a moment.

sa hi dānapatirdhanyo yo drakṣyati vane gatam |

puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣaṁ kṛṣṇamakliṣṭakāriṇam ||2-23-37

That dānapati (akrūra) is blessed who has gone to the forest. He will be able to see the lotus eyed kṛṣṇa who can easily do all impossible tasks.

cinnamūlo hyayaṁ vaṁśo yadūnāṁ tvatkṛte kṛtaḥ |

kṛṣṇo jṣātīnsamānāyya sa sandhānaṁ kariṣyati ||2-23-38

Because of you, the yādava race has become rootless. kṛṣṇa will bring all the relatives, acquaintances and friends together.

kṣāntameva tavānena vasudevena dhīmatā |

kālasaṁyakparijṣāno brūhi tvaṁ yadyadicchasi ||2-23-39

Intelligent vasudeva has already forgiven your offenses. Time has taken away your powers of discrimination. Hence you speak as you like.

mahyaṁ tu rochate kaṁsa vasudevasahāyavān |

gaccha kṛṣṇasya nilayaṁ sandhistena ca rochatām ||2 23-40

kamsa, my advice is that you go along with vasudeva to kṛṣṇa's residence and try to make an alliance of friendship with him.

iti srimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi andhakavacane trayoviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the twenty-third chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, andhaka admonishes kaṁsa.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

trayoviṁś'esminnadhyāye ugrasenapitāmahaḥ |

kaṅkaḥ kaṁsaṁ vinirbhartsya hitamāheti varṇyate || 1 ||

· 2-23-1 kṣipramiti |

· 2-23-2 andhakaḥ kaṅkāparanāmā ugrasenasya pitāmaha iti prāṣchaḥ |

· 2-23-5 ikṣvākuvaṁśajo asamaṣjāḥ yathā prajāpīḍakaḥ sakṛdvinivṛtto jātaḥ sa eva tvaṁ punarjāta ityarthaḥ ||

· 2-23-6 sahajam avikṛ+taṁ te tava śiraḥ uttamāṅgaṁ baddhakuṇḍalaṁ jaṭī muṇḍa iti lakṣaṇayā mūrdhanyān badhvopacchindhi vetyarthaḥ ||

· 2-23-8 gauṇyaṁ sāphalyam ||

· 2-23-10 asādhumadbhiḥ nindādiyuktaiḥ vivṛtaḥ spaṣṭīkṛtaḥ ||

· 2-23-12 antargatān yogabalārjitānapi ||

· 2-23-21 jātyāṁ hi utpattāveva tvayā jātavaireṇa chetasā kṛṣṇaḥ saṁkarṣaṇaścha dhṛtaḥ tābhyāṁ ca tvamapi tathaiva jātaivareṇa chetasā dhṛta iti tvameva bālaghnaḥ prathamo'parādhī ityarthaḥ ||

· 2-23-22 uddhūtāni atikampitāni ||

· 2-23-25 eṣa iti | sarvatobhadracakre kaṁsasya janmanakṣatraṁ mṛgaśiraḥ | tato daśamaṁ citrā tasyaiva nakṣatram | tatra ghoro grahaḥ rāhuḥ krūro'sti | kujashcha vakrībhūya tatraivāgato'sti | tābhyāṁ karmabhaṁ vyāpya janmabhaṁ viddhamiti tava jīvanārtho yatnaḥ sarvo niṣphalo bhaviṣyati dehashcha naṅkṣayati bhāvaḥ ||

· 2-23-26 evaṁ paśchimāyāmudito budho'pi rājyabhaṅgakṛdityāha - budheneti | aticāraṁ sūryamullaṅghya gamanaṁ yathāca budhasūryaśukrāṇām atyantaṁ pṛthakdarśanaṁ mahate nāśāya bhavatīti bhāvaḥ ||

· 2-23-27 ketunā pucchena dhūmaketorutpātaviśeṣasya bharaṇyādīniti kaṁsasya janmakarmabhe dhūmaketunā tṛtīyena upagraheṇāpi viddhe ityarthaḥ | nānuyānti niśākaramityanena citrāste rāhau citrāt uttarāṇi trayodaśa nakṣatrāṇi jīvapakṣe sati pūrvāṇi trayodaśanakṣatrāṇi mṛtyupakṣe pātitāni | atastatratyaḥ chandro'pi na tairnakṣatrairuttamaphalakaratvenānugamyata ityarthaḥ ||

· 2-23-28 parigho ravimaṇḍale tiryagvṛttidaṇḍaḥ bādhati bādhate ||

· 2-23-29 paryati parikrāmiti | vāśatī śabdaṁ kurvāṇā ||

· 2-23-30 aparvaṇi akāṇḍe ākasmāditi yāvat ||

· 2-30-32 devatāḥ devatāpratimāḥ ||

· 2-30-38 tvatkṛte tvadarthe tvayaivetyarthaḥ | saṁdhānaṁ itastato viprakīrṇānāṁ yādavānāmānayanena ekīkaraṇam ||

· 2-30-39 kālena samyak parigataṁ naṣṭaṁ jṣānaṁ yasya saḥ kālaḥ samyak parijṣātaḥ ||

iti śrīmahābhārate harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ trayodaśo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Gopal Champu

Chapter Thirty-one - Various Rāgas

[1-2] Snigdhakaṇṭha began speaking in the morning.

In this way Kṛṣṇa, the friend of Gokula, full of bliss at every moment, revealed pastimes of the highest prema during his tenth year.

[3] When all the proud demons had been killed, Kaṁsa, absorbed in killing his enemy, called Ariṣṭa and Keśi whom he had reserved as his best demons, and spoke to them with anger and fear: “It was not right to send persons like Pūtanā. I have underestimated Kṛṣṇa. I thought he was a child but he clearly killed them all. Troubled by my own indolence, I ask you two what should be done.”

[4-5] They said, “We are always ready and await your command. Tell us what should be done now. What is the use of orders? Even without orders, we are engaged as your servants. They rose and offered respects.”

Kaṁsa spoke to them as they were about to leave, “Ariṣṭa should go, but since it is possible that Kṛṣṇa will obstruct being killed, Keśi should stay nearby.” Hearing this, the two returned home and developed enthusiasm for killing Kṛṣṇa.

[6-7] One day in the evening, when the sun’s rays were red, the enemy of the devatās named Ariṣṭa ran everywhere in a zigzag manner at full speed killing cows and came to the edge of beautiful Vraja.

[8] At that time, on the full moon day with Citrā constellation, astute Kṛṣṇa had gone somewhat far with a desire to see Govardhana, which increased his joy.

When Ariṣṭa stepped on the ground, the earth moved and the mountains trembled. The clouds became agitated by the sound of his feet and the moon became distorted. Because the hump on his back collided with the clouds, the people of Vraja surmised that it must be a mountain. They quickly fled in all directions in fear. ||1||

By a little urine, the enemy of the devatās named Ariṣṭa with a body huge as a mountain created rivers and by his stool, he created a mountain range. Look at him! ||2||

He had the pride of a bull and made angry sounds which caused miscarriages in all the cows. ||3||

When he disfigured the earth and dug up the hillocks with his horns and hooves, all of Gokula became covered in dust. ||4||

The earth split wherever he placed his hooves. From the holes in the earth, water rose like tears from the earth’s weeping. ||5||

[9] The people said, “If ever a mountain there is a mountain that moves let it be.” But two suns (his eyes) between horns astonished the people of Vraja. ||6||

[10] In this way the demon showed pride, killed all the cows, violated all objects and roared. The cows and people all became terrified and called out to Kṛṣṇa.

[11] Hearing just a trace of their wailing, merciful Kṛṣṇa appeared before them as if he had not gone anywhere. When he said, “Do no fear” fear disappeared. He then beckoned Ariṣṭa by making the sound of an angry bull announcing to Ariṣṭa, “You can easily be killed.”

[12] He also said.

gopālaiḥ paśubhir manda trāsitaiḥ kim asattama |

mayi śāstari duṣṭānāṁ tvad-vidhānāṁ durātmanām ||

“You fool! What do you think you’re doing, you wicked rascal, frightening the cowherd community a nd their animals when I am here just to punish corrupt miscreants like you!” SB 10.36.7

He also said, “Despicable demon! Why are you showing your cruel nature from far away? Satisfy me just as the ocean satisfied Agastya (who swallowed the ocean).” ||7||

[13] One should understand that he said this to dispel people’s belief that Ariṣṭa was of the cow species, because he wanted to the kill the demon who was disguised as a bull.

When the bull roared, Kṛṣṇa’s roar broke the ear drums of the demons. When the bull became angry, Kṛṣṇa became angry like a child and laughed repeatedly. ||8||

Placing his arm on a friend’s shoulder, Kṛṣṇa laughed loudly. This increased Ariṣṭa’s anger but destroyed the worries of his friends. ||9||

Waving his tail, the bull raised clouds of dust. Wounding the earth with his thunderbolt hooves which were like shovels, he came running towards Kṛṣṇa. ||10||

Kṛṣṇa became hard as a thunderbolt as Ariṣṭa approached and sounded like thunder against the bellowing of his adversary. Not only did Kṛṣṇa laugh but his friends holding his shoulder also laughed. ||11||

[14] When Ariṣṭa came close, Kṛṣṇa firmly grabbed his horns:

When Ariṣṭa threw his horns forward so that they were easy to catch Kṛṣṇa easily subdued them. ||12||

Holding his sharp horns in his noose-like arms, he faced the demon and kicked him strongly eighteen times. ||13||

The demon was arrogant, without prema. There was no use in playing with him. Thus Kṛṣṇa casually threw him high up in the air, making him tumble about. ||14||

Thrown by Kṛṣṇa, not only the demon tumbled on the earth but the devatās in heaven tumbled over with fits of laughter. ||15||

By the power of his horns, his tail fell on the earth and by the power of his tail his horns fell on the earth. By the power of his back, his feet fell on the earth and by the power of his feet his back fell on the earth. The topsy-turvy situation was befitting the demon. ||16||

When he fell, he became ashamed but stood up again. But Kṛṣṇa then uprooted his left horn and crushed his face with it. ||17||

[14] Pulling out his horn, Kṛṣṇa spoke.

“Though inauspicious, you have taken an auspicious form of a bull. The form of a cow is more auspicious than a pile of your horns.” ||18||

As one wrings water out of cloth, Kṛṣṇa squeezed the life out of Ariṣṭa. Expelling his sin in the form of stool, urine and blood, he became purified and attained liberation. ||19||

Though he achieved the highest liberation, sages say that he went to Yama’s kingdom because he was Kṛṣṇa’s enemy. The devatās showered flowers because their enemy had been destroyed. What event is more wonderful than the destruction of the enemy? ||20||

[15] Understanding the intentions of Kṛṣṇa, the life of Gokula, the devatās described his intentions and laughed.

“O bull demon! In childhood I recognized a demon disguised as a calf and killed it. Now in kaiśora age, why should I not recognize you as the most fearful of demons and kill you?” ||21||

[16] Śukadeva, entering the mood of the people of Gokula and Kṛṣṇa, the life of Gokula, describes this:

evaṁ kukudminaṁ hatvā stūyamānaḥ dvijātibhiḥ |

viveśa goṣṭhaṁ sabalo gopīnāṁ nayanotsavaḥ ||

Having thus killed the bull demon Ariṣṭa, he who is a festival for the gopīs’ eyes entered the cowherd village with Balarāma. SB 10.36.15

When Kṛṣṇa, who was praised because of his excellence in the auspicious killing of the enemy, entered Vraja, all the people became overjoyed and began speaking. On seeing his face filled with tears, his mother and father wiped away those tears and, weeping loudly, stood without speaking. ||22||

[17] The reciter concluded the story: “O Nanda! Your son is worthy of praise because he protected the devatās and killed their enemy.” ||23||