Gopal Champu

[1] The morning recitation began in Nanda’s assembly with Kṛṣṇa present.

[2] Snigdhakaṇṭha spoke:

Night came. When it came, an auspicious jackal, auspicious for Kṛṣṇa and inauspicious for Kaṁsa appeared. Kaṁsa passed the fearful night dreaming and waking up. Proud Kaṁsa then intensely strengthened the sporting of the wrestlers. The arena, arranged in the center of the many viewing stands which were profusely decorated, looked attractive with various colors. It was like the sky with stars twinkling amidst a mass of autumn clouds shining with lightning.

[3] Kaṁsa occupied the highest position, like the ornament of all the evil kings. Though filled with the pride of being the king of kings, he would soon end up terrified.

Near Kaṁsa’s stand was the stand of Akrūra and Vasudeva and that of the women of Mathurā, where Devakī sat. Nanda and the cowherds were in a stand far away. Near the entrance Kaṁsa arranged for the elephant Kuvalyāpīḍa and in front he arranged the immovable wrestlers. Thus no one could be disturbed. ||1||

The music that started on the order of Kaṁsa for the wrestlers became auspicious for the entrance of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. ||2||

[4] When they reached the gate of the arena, the two boys did not go first, but sent the elder cowherds. After finishing morning rites, as soon as they just entered the gates of the arena, the crowd made a clamor of excitement on seeing them.

[5] To kill that elephant, fierce and dripping with juice from his forehead, putting to shame all who could not discern whether it was an elephant or a mountain, Kṛṣṇa, killer of demons, tied up his cloth and head ornaments, and approached the elephant, with Balarāma and his friends following behind.

His friends forbade him from going to the elephant by shouting and his enemies forbade the elephant from approaching, thinking Kṛṣṇa would kill him. Gazing at both sides with a smile, Kṛṣṇa approached the elephant. ||3||

[6] He asked the elephant to get out of the way and then went boldly towards the elephant which was enraged by its mahout. Repeatedly the elephant tried to crush him with its trunk, tusks and feet, but he escaped. He grasped its tail and whirled it around. Facing it, he struck the elephant. Running towards it, he quickly threw it on the ground. In confusion the beast twitched its limbs. ||4||

The elephant became unsteady when its tusks, difficult to grasp, hit the earth. When Kṛṣṇa got close to the tusks he grabbed them and threw the elephant on the ground. Attacking its body, he uprooted its tusks. This killed the elephant. Viewed by the spectators, his actions were like waves in the ocean, which submerged the people and then pulled them out. ||5||

When the elephant was killed, what use were the mahouts? When the wrestlers were crushed what can be said of the bugs residing there? ||6||

[7] Some details:

“He moves like a dancer and destroys like a lion. He breaks thunderbolts.” This is what the elephant thought on seeing Kṛṣṇa. ||7||

Killing the pachyderm and taking its two tusks, Kṛṣṇa gave one to Balarāma. By this he taught to all that the fame produced by one of them was the fame of two. ||8||

Kṛṣṇa killed the elephant. Balarāma was covered with red drops of the elephant’s mada.[1] Close by Kṛṣṇa’s side, he moved about like his shadow. ||9||

[8] The devatās, afraid of the arrow of the elephant’s roar, were called sleepless[2] because of not sleeping due to fear. The elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, superior in strength to the devatās, was killed by Kṛṣṇa. Thus the devatās became motionless like pictures, out of astonishment. Out of fear no one could boldly tell Kaṁsa the news.

[9] Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, looking splendid in the clothing looted from the king’s wardrobe the previous day, with the tusks of the recently killed elephant in their hands, their anklets and bracelets sprinkled with its blood and mada, came before the king with their friends of similar beauty. ||10||

Courage is the ornament of men, by which the despicable becomes praiseworthy. The bodies of the two, sprinkled with mada and blood from the elephant’s tusks, looked beautiful in Kaṁsa’s assembly. ||11||

His enemies saw him as fearful. The neutral parties saw him as neither fearful nor giving joy. His sympathizers saw him as a form giving joy and attained various special states. According to their individual moods, Kṛṣṇa strongly experienced those feelings simultaneously. ||12||

How can one describe his supreme sweetness at that time, because of which, even while Kaṁsa was living, thousands and thousands of people praised him in the assembly? How can one describe his power? The devatās considered Kaṁsa, though living, to be dead from being merged in that power. ||13||

[10] The two praiseworthy boys, with broad chests, entered the arena while holding the tusks. They looked like two elephants with water lily stems in their trunks and gazed at Kaṁsa while denigrating him with words like, “What is he anyway?” Turning their backs to him, they then looked around.

[11] Kṛṣṇa came close and looked at him again. “Oh! He is following half the path to Svarga. It is not too unfortunate to send him there.” Laughing, he played with his friends and exchanged news.

[12] Colored red with the blood of the dead elephant, Kṛṣṇa appeared like Śiva at the time of the destruction of the universe. Seeing him, Kaṁsa’s effulgence was destroyed. “Who are those two?” he asked. His attendants said, “Those are the two.”

[13] Kaṁsa said, “What is in their hands? Why are their bodies painted?”

[14] They all said, “Those are tusks of Kuvalayāpīḍa. They are covered with the elephant’s blood.”

[15] Kaṁsa said in pride and anger, “Ah! O sinful people! It is impossible that they can be the subject of words.”

[16] When the attendants no longer answered, the effulgence of the two boys informed Kaṁsa:

“O Kaṁsa, if you are strong, that is a misfortune. Why did you put the elephant at the gate and not your body? If you think those tusks are the best, why did you not grab them?” By their appearance they hinted this to Kaṁsa. ||14||

[17] “He killed Pūtanā and overturned the cart demon. He destroyed the wind demon and uprooted the arjuna trees.” Describing Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja pastimes, the people of Mathurā saw Kṛṣṇa before them. He melted the hearts of those looking and the hearts of others who heard the words, “See today what will happen.” ||15||

[18] The women of Svarga became submerged in bliss by simultaneously attempting to open their eyes wide to see the complete forms of the two boys, to move their tongues to taste the full sweetness of his descriptions, to widen their nostrils to let their complete fragrance enter their hearts, taking pride in the festival of attaining the boys’ fragrance, and to throw up their hands to embrace him. Music also sounded. He who is satisfied with praise was praised in this way.

[19] His special powers surpassed all conceptions continually. Hearing of Kṛṣṇa’s powers, Kaṁsa had first sent the wrestlers but the wrestlers ended up praising him by using critical words.

[20] At that time most cruel Cāṇūra spoke. He addressed the two as “son of Nanda” and “Rāma” without respect and without mentioning their father’s name (Vasudeva) in order to show disrespect to them. However Sarasvatī made his voice dance in order to praise Kṛṣṇa. By mentioning the words Nanda (bliss) and Rāma (enjoyment), he indicated that these two were equal to avatāras by having complete bliss as their quality.

[21] Kṛṣṇa said with a smile, “Order us as you please.”

[22] Cāṇūra said, “Good fortune should be situated in your minds.”

[23] Kṛṣṇa said, “How?”

[24] Cāṇūra said, “The king is present, desiring to give his merciful glance.”

[25] Kṛṣṇa said, “True. Please instruct us what we must do.”

[26] Cāṇūra said, “It is proper that you agree. If you are disinclined to fight, it will make us unhappy.”

[27] Kṛṣṇa said, “Being forest people, we have not met persons of elevated conduct respected by the king’s followers. But now we will follow your instruction and act according to the place.”

[28] Cāṇūra said, “For now, do whatever the exalted king orders.”

[29] Kṛṣṇa said with feigned politeness, “Best of wrestlers! Please give the order.”

[30] Cāṇūra said, “You should remain here and experience the happiness of playing with us.”

[31] Kṛṣṇa said, “The king will take pleasure in seeing the playing of us children. But you will experience lamentation. Now you are laughing but this is not proper for you, who are persons endowed with the king’s authority.”

[32] Cāṇūra said, “I swear to the honorable king. This is the king’s order.”

[33] Kṛṣṇa said, “How is that?”

[34-35] Cāṇūra said, “You were not babies when you killed Pūtanā. You were not boys when you performed pastimes like lifting Govardhana. You were not a youth when you killed the elephant which looked like an elephant of the directions. Since you are so strong, the king will take pleasure in seeing us fight with you. And you elder brother showed superiority in killing Pralamba and others.” ||16||

[36] Kṛṣṇa said, “They died because without cause they showed hatred and sinful conduct towards us. Indra’s pride was cut down spontaneously so the sacrificial festival could take place. We are just cowherd boys. Dhenuka was an old bull infested with bugs. His skin was torn in trying to throw off various people riding on him. He crumbled when we just touched him. First the elephant came to kill me. I fled in fear. The elephant drove its tusks into the earth to strike me, and could not remove them. When the elephant pulled this way and that, the tusks broke and the elephant died. People by looking thought that I was the cause of its death. The mahouts died by being crushed under its feet. Do not think otherwise.”

[37] Cāṇūra said, “You are hiding your sinful acts by trying to show humility. The king is not unhappy with these events. He has sent to you persons having long-lasting pride, in order to curb their arrogance since they were useless for protecting him. He wants to exchange them for you two only for increasing his own strength.”

[38] Kṛṣṇa said, “This is most astonishing luck for us. However, you embarrass us with praise. We will serve him by giving him the position of a king (or destination of Indra’s place-death). And we are a little reserved because we are not expert in the art of wrestling.”

[39] Cāṇūra said, “Do not uselessly hide the truth. We have heard what is well known. The cowherds in tending their flocks practice our art. You should follow our order and the king’s order and not disobey.”

[40] Kṛṣṇa said, “Since we are forest people we do not have knowledge of this great art. Following your order, we are ready to show the king.”

Harivamsa

28 - kaṁsasya janmādivṛttam - Narrations about Kamsa's birth

vaiśampāyana uvāca

sa cintayitvā dhanuṣo bhaṅgaṁ bhojavivardhanaḥ |

babhūva vimanā rājā cintayanbhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ ||2-28-1

vaiśampāyana said:

Thinking about breaking of the bow, the king who diminished (*) the glory of bhojas (kaṁsa) became depressed. He was highly worried with thoughts.

(*) see nīlakaṇṭha commentary

kathaṁ bālo vigatabhīravamatya mahābalam |

prekṣamāṇastu puruṣairdhanurbhaṅktvā vinirgataḥ ||2-28-2

How could the boy, without any fear, ignore the highly powerful guards? With men watching, how could he leave after breaking the bow?

yasyārthe dāruṇaṁ karma kṛtaṁ lokavigarhitam |

pitṛsvasrātmajānvīrānṣaḍevāhaṁ nyapothayam ||2-28-3

Is this the boy, fearing whom I did terrible deeds despised by people, such as killing the six valiant, newborn sons of my sister?

daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa na shakyamativartitum |

nāradoktaṁ ca vacanaṁ nūnaṁ mahyamupasthitam ||2-28-4

It is not possible to overcome the providence by human effort. The words told by nārada are definitely going to happen.

evaṁ rājā vichintyātha niṣkramya svagṛhottamāt |

prekṣāgāraṁ jagāmāśu maṣcānāmavalokakaḥ ||2-28-5

Thinking in this manner, the king left his best house. He went to the (wrestling) venue to look at the seating arrangements.

sa dṛṣṭvā sarvanirmuktaṁ prekṣāgāraṁ nṛpottamaḥ |

śreṇīnāṁ dṛḍhaniryuktairmaṣchavāṭairnirantaram ||2-28-6

There the great king saw that the (wrestling) venue was fully ready. Rows of raised platforms were erected there.

sottamāgārayuktābhirvalabhībhirvibhūṣitam |

chadībhiḥ saṁpravṛddhābhirekastambhairvibhūṣitam ||2-28-7

There were best cabins with suitable balconies having sun shades supported on single pillar.

sarvataḥ sāranirvyūhaṁ svāyataṁ supratiṣṭhitam |

udagrākliṣṭasukliṣṭaṁ maṣcārohaṇamuttamam ||2-28-8

The walls were of bamboo. The arena was vast and strong. Ladders were provided to reach the platforms easily.

nṛpāsanaparikṣiptaṁ saṣcārapathasaṣkulam |

channaṁ tadvedikābhiścha mānuṣaughabharakṣamam ||2-28-9

Royal seats and walkways were arranged. The stage was properly covered. The venue was capable of accommodating many groups of people.

sa dṛṣṭvā bhūṣitaṁ raṅgamājṣāpayata buddhimān |

Seeing the venue decorated suitably, the intelligent king ordered:

śvaḥ sacitrāḥ samālyāścha sapatākāstathaiva ca ||2-28-10

suvāsitā vapuṣmanta upanītottaracchadāḥ |

kriyantāṁ maṣchavāṭāścha valabhyo vīthayastathā ||2-28-11

"Tomorrow the wrestling arena and the pathways shall be decorated with pictures, garlands and flags. The canopy of the arena shall be decorated with fragrant flowers.

raṅgavāṭe karīṣasya kalpyantāṁ rāśayo'vyayāḥ |

paṭāstaraṇaśobhāścha valayaścānurūpataḥ ||2-28-12

The stage shall be smeared with cow dung. The canopy shall be decorated with curtains.

sthāpyantāṁ sunikhātāścha pānakumbhā yathākramam |

udabhārasahāḥ sarve sakāṣchanaghaṭottamāḥ ||2-28-13

Drinking pots shall be arranged in order. Golden pots, full of water, shall also be provided.

valayaścopakalpyantāṁ kaṣāyāścaiva kumbhaśaḥ |

prāśnikāścha nimantryantāṁ śreṇyaścha sapurogamāḥ ||2-28-14

Gifts shall be provided. Pots full of juice shall be arranged. Expert wrestlers shall be invited. Spectators shall be seated in the front.

ājṣā ca deyā mallānāṁ prekṣakāṇāṁ tathaiva ca |

samāje maṣchavāṭāścha kalpyantāṁ sūpakalpitāḥ ||2-28-15

Order the wrestlers and instruct the spectators. Decorate the arena and the viewing area suitably."

evamājṣāpya rājā sa samājavidhimuttamam |

samājavāṭānniṣkramya vivesha svaṁ niveshanam ||2-28-16

Thus the king ordered for providing best arrangements (for wrestling). Then he left the arena and returned to his house.

āhvānaṁ tatra saṣcakre tasya malladvayasya vai |

cāṇūrasyāprameyasya muṣṭikasya tathaiva ca ||2-28-17

After reaching there he summoned two of his wrestlers, the unconquerable cāṇūra and muṣṭika.

tau tu mallau mahāvīryau balinau bāhuśālinau |

kaṁsasyājṣāṁ puraskṛtya hṛṣṭau viviśatustadā ||2-26-18

The wrestlers were great vīras, strong and with powerful arms. As per kaṁsa's order they immediately went there happily.

tau samīpagatau dṛṣṭvā mallau jagati vishrutau |

uvāca kaṁso nṛpatiḥ sopanyāsamidaṁ vacaḥ ||2-28-19

Seeing that the famous wrestlers were standing before him, king kaṁsa spoke to them with explanations.

bhavantau mama vikhyātau mallau vīradhvajocchritau |

pūjitau ca yathānyāyaṁ satkārārhau viśeṣataḥ ||2-28-20

"You are my famous wrestlers, flying the flag of valiancy high. You are respected accordingly. You are specially deserved to be felicitated.

tanmatto yadi satkāraḥ smaryate sukṛtāni ca |

kartavyaṁ me mahatkarma bhavadbhyāṁ svena tejasā ||2-28-21

If you remember my past felicitations and other favours, please do my important work with your prowess.

yāvetau mama saṁvṛddhau vraje gopālakāvubhau |

saṅkarṣaṇaścha kṛṣṇaścha bālāvapi jitashramau ||2-28-22

Those two cow tenders, saṅkarṣaṇa (balarāma) and kṛṣṇa grew up in my vraja. Even though they are young, they never seem to tire.

etau raṅgagatau yuddhe yuddhyamānau vanecharau |

nipātānantaraṁ śīghraṁ hantavyau nātra saṁśayaḥ ||2-28-23

They live in the forest. When they fight in the arena with you, you should quickly throw them on the ground and kill them without any doubt.

bālāvimau suchapalāvakriyāviti sarvathā |

nāvajṣā tatra kartavyā kartavyo yatna eva hi ||2-28-24

Never think that these youths are restless and do not know wrestling. Do not underestimate them. You should exert yourself.

tābhyāṁ yudhi nirastābhyāṁ gopābhyāṁ raṅgasannidhau |

āyatyāṁ ca tadātve ca śreyo mama bhaviṣyati ||2-28-25

If you kill these cow tenders in fight in the arena, I will get benefited for the present and future".

nṛpateḥ snehasaṁyuktairvachobhirhṛṣṭamānasau |

ūcaturyuddhasaṁmattau mallau cāṇūramuṣṭikau ||2-28-26

Hearing the affectionate words of the king, the wrestlers cāṇūra and muṣṭika, intoxicated with pride in their wrestling skills, were happy. They replied:

yadyāvayostau pramukhe sthāsyete gopakilbiṣau |

hatāvityeva mantavyau pretarūpau tapasvinau ||2-28-27

"If these cow tenders, who are a disgrace to gopa-s stand before us in fight, they are as good as dead. They have already become dead bodies.

yadyāvāṁ pratiyotsyete tāvariṣṭapariplutau |

āvābhyāṁ roṣayuktābhyāṁ pramukhe tau vane charau ||2-28-28

If we fight them directly, they will be in great trouble. We shall definitely be angry with those who live in forests."

evaṁ vāgviṣamutsṛjya tāvubhau mallapuṅgavau |

anujṣātau narendreṇa sve gṛhe tau prajagmatuḥ ||2-28-29

Uttering these poisonous (insulting) words, the two leading wrestlers, as permitted by the king, returned home.

mahāmātraṁ tataḥ kaṁso babhāṣe hastijīvinam |

hastī kuvalayāpīḍaḥ samājadvāri tiṣṭhatu || 2-28-30

Then kaṁsa spoke to his mahout, mahāmātra: "Keep the elephant kuvalayāpīḍa at the entrance of the arena.

balavānmadalolākṣaśchapalaḥ krodhano nṛṣu |

dānotkaṭakaṭaśchaṇḍaḥ prativāraṇaroṣaṇaḥ ||2-28-31

The elephant is strong, his eyes are with mada, he is restless and angry on men. He becomes angry seeing another elephant.

sa saṁnodayitavyaste tāvuddiśya vanaukasau |

vasudevasutau vīrau yathā syātāṁ gatāyuṣau ||2-28-32

You should direct the elephant towards those residents of forest so that both the valiant sons of vasudeva shall be killed.

tvayā caiva gajendreṇā yadi tau goṣṭhajīvinau |

bhavetāṁ patitau raṅge paśyeyamahamutkaṭau ||2-28-33

I wish to see that those powerful residents of vraja are killed in the arena because of you and the elephant.

tatastau patitau dṛṣṭvā vasudevaḥ sabāndhavaḥ |

cinnamūlo nirālambaḥ sabhāryo vinaśiṣyati ||2-28-34

Seeing that those are killed, vasudeva along with his wife and relatives will perish without any support.

ye cheme yādavā mūrkhāḥ sarve kṛṣṇaparāyaṇāḥ |

vinaśiṣyanti ccinnnāśā dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaṁ nipātitam ||2-28-35

Seeing that kṛṣṇa is killed, all those ignorant yādava-s, who are supporters of kṛṣṇa shall perish losing all hope.

etau hatvā gajendreṇa mallairvā svayameva vā |

purīṁ niryādavīṁ kṛtvā vichariṣyāmyahaṁ sukhī ||2-28-36

Killing them by elephant or wrestlers or myself and making the city devoid of yādava-s, I shall be comfortable.

pitā hi me parityakto yādavānāṁ kulodvahaḥ |

śeṣāścha me parityaktā yādavāḥ kṛṣṇapakṣiṇaḥ ||2-28-37

I have abandoned my father, who is the benefactor of yādava race. I have also abandoned those yādava-s who are supporters of kṛṣṇa.

na cāhamugrasenena jātaḥ kila sutārthinā |

mānuṣeṇālpavīryeṇa yathā māmāha nāradaḥ ||2-28-38

nārada has told me that I was not born to the less valiant man ugrasena who desired to have a son.

mahāmātra uvāca

kathamuktaṁ nāradena rājandevarṣiṇā purā |

āścharymetatkathitaṁ tvattaḥ śrutamariṁdama ||2-28-39

mahāmātra said:

O king! What did the devarṣi nārada tell you earlier? O killer of enemies! This is a surprise that you are telling me.

kathamanyena jātastvamugrasenātpiturvinā |

tava mātrā kathaṁ rājankṛtaṁ karmedamīdṛśam ||2-28-40

Are you born to someone else other than ugrasena as father? O king! Why did your mother do such a thing?

anyāpi prākṛtā nārī na kuryāccha jugupsitam |

vistaraṁ śrotumicchāmi hyetatkautūhalaṁ hi me ||2-28-41

Even an ordinary woman will not do such a despicable thing. I am curious to hear this in detail.

kaṁsa uvāca

yathā kathitavānvipro maharṣirnāradaḥ prabhuḥ |

tathāhaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi yadi te śravaṇe matiḥ ||2-28-42

kaṁsa said:

If you are interested to hear about this, I will tell you as the lord brāhmin sage nārada had told me.

āgataḥ śakrasadanātsa vai śakrasakho muniḥ |

candrāṁśuśuklavasano jaṭāmaṇḍalamudvahan ||2-28-43

That sage, a friend of śakra (indra), had come from the abode of śakra (indra]), dressed in clothes as white as moon rays, with matted hair.

kṛṣṇājinottarīyeṇa rukmayajṣopavītavān |

daṇḍī kamaṇḍaludharaḥ prajāpatirivāparaḥ ||2-28-44

A deerskin was hung on his shoulder. He was wearing a golden sacred thread. He was looking like another prajāpati carrying a stick and a water pot.

gātā caturṇāṁ vedānāṁ vidvāngāndharvavedavit |

sa nārado'tha devarṣirbrahmalokacharo'vyayaḥ ||2-8-45

He sings all four vedas. He is a scholar of music. devarṣi nārada is eternal who travels in the world of brahma.

tamāgatamṛṣiṁ dṛṣṭvā pūjayitvā yathāvidhi |

pādyārghamāsanaṁ dattvā sampraveshyopavishya ha ||2-28-46

Seeing the sage who arrived, I received and worshipped him as ordained. I offered him pādya and arghya, offered him a seat and took him inside.

sukhopaviṣṭo'tha muniḥ pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṁ mama |

uvāca ca prītamanā devarṣirbhāvitātmavān ||2-28-47

After being seated comfortably, the sage enquired about me. The sage with blessed soul was pleased and told me as follows:

nārada uvāca

pūjito'haṁ tvayā vīra vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā |

idamekaṁ mama vacaḥ śrūyatāṁ pratigṛhyatām ||2-28-48

nārada said:

"You have worshipped me as ordained. Listen to my words and accept them.

gato'haṁ devasadanaṁ sauvarṇaṁ meruparvatam |

so'haṁ kadāciddevānāṁ samāje merumūrdhani ||2-28-49

I had gone to the residence of deva-s in the golden meru mountain. I was present once in the assembly of deva-s on the top of meru.

tatra mantryatāmevaṁ devatānāṁ mayā śrutaḥ |

bhavataḥ sānugasyaiva vadhopāyaḥ sudāruṇaḥ ||2-28-50

There, I heard the deva-s discussing about terrible methods of killing you and your associates.

tatra yo devakīgarbho viṣṇurlokanamask+itaḥ |

yo'syā garbho'ṣṭamaḥ kaṁsa sa te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati ||2-28-51

viśṇu, worshipped by the world will become devakī's conception. Kamsa, her eighth conception will be the cause of your death.

devānāṁ sa tu sarvasvaṁ tridivasya gatishcha saḥ |

paraṁ rahasyaṁ devānāṁ sa te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati ||2-28-52

He will be the protector of deva-s and the shelter of heavenly bodies. He, the supreme secret of deva-s will be the cause of your death.

yatnashcha kriyatāṁ kaṁsa garbhāṇāṁ pātanaṁ prati |

nāvajṣā ripave kāryā durbale svajane'pi vā ||2-28-53

kaṁsa, make efforts to destroy the conceptions. Do not ignore your enemies and relatives even though they are weak.

na cāyamugrasenaḥ sa pitā tava mahābalaḥ |

drumilo nāma tejasvī saubhasya patirūrjitaḥ ||2-28-54

ugrasena is not your father. Your father is the powerful, opulent and energetic master of saubha named drumila."

śrutvāhaṁ tadvacastasya kiṁchidroṣasamanvitaḥ |

bhūyo'pṛccaṁ kathaṁ brahmandrumilo nāma dānavaḥ ||2-28-55

Hearing his words, I became somewhat angry. I asked: "O brahmaṇa, how did the dānava named drumila become my father?

mama mātrā kathaṁ tasya brūhi vipra samāgamaḥ |

etadichcāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ vistareṇa tapodhana ||2-28-56

O brahmaṇa, tell me how he had relations with my mother? O you who are enriched with austerity, I wish to hear about this in detail.

nārada uvāca

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu rājanyathārthataḥ |

drumilasya ca mātrā te saṁvādaṁ ca samāgamam ||2-28-57

nārada said:

Alas! O king! I will tell you about the conservation and meeting of drumila and your mother. Listen!

suyāmunaṁ nāma nagaṁ tava māta rajasvalā |

prekṣituṁ sahitā strībhirgatā vai sā kutūhalāt ||2-28-58

Once when her menstrual period had just finished, your mother had gone to see the mountain named suyāmuna, due to curiosity, along with other women.

sā tatra ramaṇīyeṣu ruciradrumasānuṣu |

cacāra nagaśṛṅgeṣu kandareṣu nadīṣu ca ||2-28-59

There she walked along the peaks with beautiful trees. She traveled along caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain.

kinnarodgītamadhurāḥ pratiśrutyabhināditāḥ |

śṛṇvantī kāmajananīrvācaḥ śrotrsukhāvahāḥ |2-68-60

She heard sweet songs sung by kinnara-s and their echoes as well. She heard words pleasant to the ear and generating desire.

barhiṇāṁ caiva virutaṁ khagānāṁ ca vikūjitam |

abhīkṣṇamabhiśṛṇvantī strīdharmamabhirochayat ||2-28-61

Hearing the crowing of peacocks and the chirping of birds, again and again, her mind turned towards womanly desire.

etasminnantare vāyurvanarājiviniḥsṛtaḥ |

hṛdyaḥ kusumagandhāḍhyo vavau manmathabodhanaḥ ||2-28-62

In between this, a cool breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers began to blow in the forest, stimulating passionate desires.

dvirephābharaṇāścaiva kadambā vāyughaṭṭitāḥ |

mumuchurgandhamadhikaṁ saṁtatāsāramūrchitāḥ ||2-28-63

The kadamba (Nauclea Cadamba) trees with bees hovering around flowers swayed in the wind. Enriched by the ever flowing streams and aided by the wind, the fragrance of the flowers were strong.

kesarāḥ puṣpavarṣaiścha vavṛṣurmadabodhanāḥ |

nīpā dīpā ivābhānti puṣpakaṇṭakadhāriṇaḥ ||2-28-64

The kesarā (Mimusops Elengi) trees showered flowers with intoxicating fragrance. The nīpā (Nauclea Cadamba) trees appeared like lamps with their flowers and thorns.

mahī navatṛṇacchannā śakragopavibhūṣitā |

yauvanastheva vanitā svaṁ dadhārārtavaṁ vapuḥ ||2-28-65

Covered by fresh green grass and decorated by cochineal insects (śakragopa) the earth looked like the body of a young woman.

atha saubhapatiḥ śrīmāndrumilo nāma dānavaḥ |

bhaviṣyaddaivayogena vidhātrā tatra nīyate ||2-28-66

Then the dazzling lord of saubha, the dānava named drumila, reached there, as directed by the creator, due to the arrangement of providence.

kāmagena rathenāśu taruṇādityavarchasā |

yadṛcchayā gatastatra suyāmunadidṛkṣayā ||2-28-67

By accident, he went to see suyāmuna, in his chariot which travels according to his desire, sparkling like the morning sunshine.

vihāyasā kāmagamo manaso'pyāśugāminā |

sa taṁ prāpya parvatendramavatīrya rathottamāt ||2-28-68

Arriving at the lord of mountains in the best of chariots, which travels through the sky as he desires at a speed faster than mind, he alighted from the chariot.

parvatopavane nyasya rathaṁ pararathārujam |

athāsau sūtasahitaścacāra nagamūrdhani ||2-28-69

He stopped his chariot, capable of destroying enemy chariots, in a garden of the mountain. Then he wandered on the peak along with his charioteer.

tato bahūnyapaśyetāṁ kānanāni vanāni ca |

sarvartuguṇasaṁpannaṁ nandanasyeva kānanam ||2-28-70

There both of them saw many forests and woods, with the qualities of all seasons like the forest of nandana.

ceraturnagaśṛṅgeṣu kandareṣu nadīṣu ca |

nānādhātupinaddhaiścha śṛṅgairbahubhirucchritaiḥ ||2-28-71

They walked near the caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain. The highly tall peaks were covered with many minerals.

nānāratnavicitreṣu kāṣchanāṣjanarājatān |

nānākusumagandhāḍhyānnānāsattvaguṇairyutān ||2-28-72

There were varieties of strange jewels, gold, silver and aṣjana. There were varieties of fragrant flowers with varieties of qualities.

nānādvijagaṇaistuṣṭānnānāpuṣpaphaladrumān |

nānauṣadhisamāyuktānṛṣisiddhānusevitān ||2-28-73

There were varieties of birds. There were trees with varieties of flowers and fruits. There were varieties of medicinal plants. Many sages and beatified persons with supernatural qualities lived there.

vidyādharānkiṁpuruṣānṛkṣavānararākṣasān |

simhānvyāghrānvarāhāṁścha mahiṣāṣcharabhāṣchaśān ||2-28-74

supernatural beings with magical powers (vidyādhar-s), kiṁpuruśās, bears, monkeys and rākṣasās lived there. Lions, tigers, boars, buffaloes, deers and hares lived there.

sṛmarāṁśchamarānnyaṅkūnmātaṅgānyakṣarākṣasān |

evaṁ bahuvidhānpaśyaṁścharamāṇo nagottamam || 2-28-75

They saw wild deer, yaks, antelopes, elephants, yakṣa-s, rākṣasa-s and many other beings while wandering on the best mountain.

dūrāddadarśa nṛpatirdevīṁ devasutopamām |

krīḍamānāṁ sakhībhiścha puṣpaṁ caiva vichinvatīm ||2-28-76

The king (of dānava-s) saw the queen (of ugrasena), who was like a celestial woman, from a distance. She was playing with her companions and plucking flowers from garden.

tataścarantīṁ suśroṇīṁ sakhībhiḥ saha saṁvṛtām ||

dṛṣṭvā saubhapatirdūrādvismayansūtamabravīt ||2-28-77

Seeing the lady with beautiful hair, moving, surrounded by her companions, from a distance, the lord of saubha was astonished and he spoke to his charioteer.

kasyeyaṁ mṛgaśāvākṣī vanāntaravicāriṇī |

rūpaudāryaguṇopetā manmathasya ratiryathā ||2-28-78

"Whose is this doe-eyed beautiful lady wandering in this forest? She is beautiful with all good qualities, like rati, wife of manmatha (god of love).

śacī va puruhūtasya utāho vā tilottamā |

nārāyaṇoruṁ nirbhidya saṁbhūtā varavarṇinī |

ailasya dayitā devī yoṣidratnaṁ kimurvaśī ||2-28-79

Is she puruhūta's (indra's) wife sachi or the beautiful tilottamā who manifested from the thigh of nārāyaṇa or the wife of aila, urvaśī, the jewel of women?

kṣīrārṇave mathyamāne surāsuragaṇaiḥ saha |

manthānaṁ mandaraṁ kṛtvāmṛtārthamiti naḥ shrutam ||2-28-80

I have heard that the ocean of milk was churned by deva-s and asura-s using manthara as the churning stick to obtain nectar.

tato'mṛtātsamuttasthau devī śrīrlokabhāvinī |

nārāyaṇāṅkalulitā kiṁ śrīreṣā varāṅganā ||2-28-81

At that time, goddess śrī, benefactor of the entire world appeared along with nectar. Is she that beautiful goddess śrī, who left the lap of nārāyaṇa?

nīlameghāntaragatā dyotayantyaciraprabhā |

tathā yoṣidgaṇānmadhye rūpaṁ pradyotayadvanam ||2-28-82

Just as lightning sparkles among dark blue clouds, this beautiful woman among women, lights up this forest.

atīva sukumārāṅgī suprabhendunibhānanā |

dṛṣṭvā rūpamanindyāṅgyā vibhrānto vyākulendriyaḥ ||2-28-83

She has beautiful limbs. Her face shines like full moon. Seeing her faultless form, I have become mad and my senses have become confused.

kāmasya vaśamāpanno mano vihvalatīva me |

bhṛśaṁ kṛntati me'ṅgāni sāyakaiḥ kusumāyudhaḥ ||2-28-84

My mind, under the influence of the god of love, has become restless. The one with flowers as weapons (god of love) is piercing my limbs with his arrows.

bhittvā hṛdi śarānpaṣcha nirdayaṁ hanti me manaḥ |

hṛdayāgnirvardhayati Ajyasikta ivānalaḥ |

The one with five arrows (god of love) is splitting my heart and burning my mind without any kindness. The fire of the heart increases like fire fed with ghee.

kathamadya bhavetkāryaṁ śamārthaṁ manmathāgninā ||2-28-85

What should I do to douse this fire of desire?

kenopāyena kiṁ kurmo bhajenmāṁ mattagāminī |

evaṁ bahu cintayāno nopalabhya ca dānavaḥ ||2-28-86

What is the method I should adopt so that this beautiful woman will accept me?" The dānava thought a lot about this but he could find a solution.

sūtamāha muhūrtaṁ tu tiṣṭhasva tvamihānagha |

ahaṁ yāsyāmi tāṁ draṣṭuṁ kasyeyamiti yoṣitam ||2-28-87

pratīkṣamāṇastiṣṭhasva yāvadāgamanam mama |

He told the charioteer: "O sinless one! You wait here for a while. I will go and find out whose wife is this beautiful woman. Wait here for me till I return".

śrutvā tu vacanaṁ tasya tathāstviti vacho'bravīt ||2-28-88

Hearing his words, the charioteer said: "So be it".

evamuktvā dānavendro gamanāya mano dadhe |

vāryupaspṛśya balavāndhyānamevānvacintayat ||2-28-89

Saying this, the king of dānava-s, decided to go. The powerful one, touched water (performed oblation with water) and meditated and thought.

muhūrtaṁ dhyānamātreṇa dṛṣṭaṁ jṣānabalāttataḥ |

ugrasenasya patnīti jṣātvā harṣamupāgataḥ ||2-28-90

After meditating for a while, by the power of higher knowledge, he found that the woman was wife of ugrasena. Knowing this he was happy.

ugrasenasya rūpaṁ vai kṛtvā svaṁ parivartya saḥ |

upāsarpanmahābāhuḥ prahasandānaveśvaraḥ ||2-28-91

Leaving his own form, the lord of dānava-s with powerful arms assumed the form of ugrasena and smiled.

smayamānaścha śanakairjagrāhāmitavīryavān |

ugrasenasya rūpeṇa mātaraṁ te vyadharṣayat ||2-28-92

The highly valiant dānava slowly embraced her with a smile. He violated your mother in the form of ugrasena.

sā patisnigdhahṛdayā taṁ bhāvenopasarpatī |

śaṅkitā cābhavatpaścāttasya gauravadarśanāt ||2-28-93

Due to the love for her husband, she served him, thinking him to be her husband. Later after close contact, she became suspicious on him.

sā tamāhotthitā bhītā na tvaṁ mama patirdhruvam |

kasya tvaṁ vikṛtācāro yenāsmi malinīkṛtā ||2-28-94

She became afraid and stood up. She said: "It is certain that you are not my husband. Who are you, with perverted behavior? Why did you pollute me?"

ekabhartṛvratamidaṁ mama saṁdūṣitaṁ tvayā |

patyurme rūpamāsthāya nīcha nīchena karmaṇā ||2-28-95

You, lowly person, assuming the form of my husband and performing a lowly act, today you have polluted my vow of one husband.

kiṁ māṁ vakṣyanti ruṣitā bāndhavāḥ kulapāṁsanīm |

jugupsitā ca vatsyāmi patipakṣairnirākṛtā ||2-28--96

What will my angry relatives tell me, who has polluted the race? I have to spend the rest of my life despised by the members of my husband's family.

dhiktvāmīdṛśamakṣāntaṁ duṣkulaṁ vyutthitendriyam |

aviśvāsyamanāyuṣyaṁ paradārābhimarśanam || 2-28-97

You are condemned to behave like this. You are intolerant and you are of a bad race. Your senses are perverted. You are not trustworthy. You are lustful. You spoiled someone else's wife."

sa tāmāha prasajjantīṁ kṣiptaḥ krodhena dānavaḥ |

ahaṁ vai drumilo nāma saubhasya patirūrjitaḥ ||2-28-98

As she condemned him in this way, the dānava became enraged and said: "I am the powerful lord of saubha, named drumila.

kiṁ māṁ kṣipasi roṣeṇa mūdhe paṇḍitamānini |

mānuṣaṁ patimāśritya nīcaṁ mṛtyuvaśe sthitam ||2-28-99

Why are you condemning me with anger, you fool? You think yourself to be wise, dependent on your human husband, who is low and controlled by death.

vyabhicārānna duṣyanti striyaḥ strīmānagarvite |

na hyāsāṁ niyatā buddhirmānuṣīṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ ||2-28-100

Proud woman! women are not polluted by adultery. Woman, especially of human race, do not have a firm intelligence.

śrūyante hi striyo bahvyo vyabhicāravyatikramaiḥ |

prasūtā devasaṅkāśānputrānniśchalavikramān ||2-28-101

I have heard that many women, by deviating with adultery, have delivered powerful and valiant children, like devas.

atīva hi tvaṁ strīloke patidharmavatī satī |

śuddhakeśānvidhunvantī bhāṣase yadyadicchasi ||2-28-102

You are the only one among women, who is faithful to her husband. Thinking about purity you are talking as you like.

kasya tvamiti yachcāhaṁ tvayokto mattakāśini |

kaṁsastasmādripudhvaṁsī tava putro bhaviṣyati ||2-28-103

Since you asked me , "Who are you?", O beautiful woman! you will have a son named kaṁsa, who will destroy his enemies.

sā saroṣā punarbhūtvā nindantī tasya taṁ varam |

uvāca vyathitā devī dānavaṁ dhṛṣṭavādinam ||2-28-104

(On hearing this) she was again enraged. She condemned the boon given by him. The wife of ugrasena, overcome with sorrow, told the dānava who was reasoning with her.

dhikte vṝttaṁ sudurvṛtta yaḥ sarvā nindasi striyaḥ |

santi striyo nīchavṛttāḥ santi caiva pativratāḥ ||2-28-105

"O sinful one! I condemn your action. You condemn all women. Just as there are women of bad character, there are chaste women as well.

yāstvekapatnyaḥ śrūyante'rundhatīpramukhāḥ striyaḥ |

dhṛtā yābhiḥ prajāḥ sarvā lokāścaiva kulādhama ||2-28-106

You are a disgrace to your family. There are women such as arundhatī who are chaste. Those women sustain the people as well as the world.

yastvayā mama putro vai datto vṛttavināśanaḥ |

na me bahumatastveṣa śṛṇu cāpi yaducyate ||2-28-107

But the son you gave me is a destroyer of good characters. I do not approve him . Hear what I have to say.

utpatsyati pumānnīchaḥ pativaṁśe mamādya yaḥ |

bhaviṣyati sa te mṛtyur yashcha dattastvayā sutaḥ ||2-28-108

O lowly person! A person will appear in my husband's family. He will be the cause of your death as well as the cause of death of the son given by you.

drumilastvevamuktastu jagāmākāśameva tu |

tenaiva rathamukhyena divyenāpratigāminā ||2-28-109

After this was told to drumila (by your mother) he departed to the sky in his best divine chariot which does not have a competitor.

jagāma ca purīm dīnā mātā tadahareva te |

māmevamuktvā bhagavānnārado munisattamaḥ ||2-28-110

Your mother, overcome by sorrow, returned to the city on the same day". Lord nārada, the great sage told me this.

dīpyamānastapovīryātsākṣādagniriva jvalan |

vallakīṁ vādyamāno hi saptasvaravimūrcchitām ||2-28-111

Lighting with the power of penance, blazing like real fire, playing his vīnā capable of producing all the seven basic sounds,

gāyano lakṣyavīthīṁ sa jagāma brahmaṇo'ntikam |

the singing sage went to the abode of brahma by air.

śṛṇuṣvedaṁ mahāmātra nibodha vacanaṁ mama ||2-28-112

Hear this, mahāmātra, understand my words.

tathyaṁ choktaṁ nāradena trailokyajṣena dhīmatā |

Whatever the intelligent nāradā, who knows the past, present and future, has told is true.

alaṁ balena vīryeṇānayena vinayena ca ||2-28-113

pramāṇairvāpi vīryeṇa tejasā vikrameṇa ca |

satyena caiva dānena nānyo'sti sadṛśaḥ pumān ||2-28-114

There is no one like me with strength, valiancy, arrogance , humility, splendour, power, truth and kindness.

viditvā sarvamātmānaṁ vacanaṁ śaddadhāmyaham |

kṣetrajo'haṁ sutastasya ugrasenasya hastipa ||2-28-115

Knowing me very well , I believe those words. O keeper of elephant! I am the son born to ugrasena's wife.

mātāpitṛbhyāṁ saṁtyaktaḥ sthāpitaḥ svena tejasā |

ubhābhyāmapi vidviṣṭo bāndhavaiścha viśeṣataḥ ||2-18-116

(Note 1)

My mother and father have abandoned me. I have established myself with my power. Both my parents and specially my relatives hate me.

etānapi haniṣyāmi yādvānkṛṣṇapakṣiṇaḥ |

tadimau ghātayitvā tu hastinā gopakilbiṣau ||2-28-117

After getting these sinful gopa-s killed by the elephant, I will kill the yādava-s who are on kṛṣṇa's side.

tadgaccha gajamāruhya sāṅkuśaprāsatomaraḥ |

sthiro bhava mahāmātra samājadvāri mā ciram ||2-28-118

Now proceed and come riding on the elephant with all weapons. Station yourself at the entrance of the arena without any delay.

iti srimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi kaṁsavākye'ṣṭāviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the twenty-eighth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, narrations about Kamsa's birth.

(Note 1)

The Harivamsa critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Institute, Pune (1969) has the following additional line

While D6, T 1-2, G, M 1-3 ins.

badhvā ca pitaraṁ rājye sthito'smi ca balīyasā |

After imprisoning my father, I will rule the land with my own power.

The ṁalayalam translation of this line is given on Page 420, lines 117-1, Bhashabharatam, kuṣṣhikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, volume 6, DC Books, Kottayam, 2007.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

śrīmadgopījanamānasāya śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ |

aṣṭāviṁśe tvthāyadhyāye maṣcānāṁ rachanocyate |

mahāmātrāya kaṁsasya svajanmātha chikīrṣitam || 1 ||

pūrvenādhyāyena

"yuvaṁ vastrāṇi pīvasā vasāthe yuvoracchidrā mantavo ha sargāḥ"

ityardhacārtha upabṛṁhitaḥ |

yasyārthastu yuvaṁ yuvāṁ yuvāṁ pīvasā balena rajakaṁ hatvetyarthaḥ | vastrāṇi vasāthe yuvoḥ yuvayoḥ mantavo mānayitāraḥ mālākārakubjāprabhṛtayaḥ sargāḥ sṛjanti mālyānulepanādikaṁ te sargāḥ acchidrāḥ nīchatvakubjatvādidoṣahīnā bhavantīti |

"avātiratamanṛtāni viśvā ṛtena mitrāvaruṇā sachethe"

ityasyopabṛṁhaṇārtha uttaro granthaḥ | tatra ayādavo'pi kaṁso yadūnāmādipatyanicchannanṛtaḥ tena prayuktāni mallādīni anṛtāni viśvā sarvāṇi tāni avātirataṁ tiraskṛtavantau ṛtena satyenaiva yādavatvena gopatvāccāditatayā prāgaprasiddhena mitrāvaruṇau sūtrāntaryāmiṇau rāmakṛṣṇau sachethe saṁgacchethe yuvāṁ | tatra kaṁsasyānṛtatvamatra mahāmātrakathayā upabṛṁhyate |

· 2-28-1 sa cintayitveti | bhojavivarddhano bhojacchedī |

· 2-28-3 yasyārthe yannimittam |

· 2-28-4 vacanaṁ na vasudevayatnau rātrāveva viphalīkṛta ityevaṁrūpam |

· 2-28-5 prekṣāgāraṁ dhanurmahaprekṣārthaṁ kṛtaṁ sthānam |

· 2-28-6 niyuktaṁ niṣpannaṁ śreṇīnāṁ ekaśilpopajīvināṁ dṛḍhaṁ niyuktairdR+ḍhasaṁyukataiḥ dṛḍhabaddhaiḥ |

· 2-28-7 sa eko maṣcārohaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā raṅgamājṣāpayateti vyavahitena saṁbandhaḥ | balabhībhiḥ ubhayato namatpakṣadvayābhiḥ | chadībhiḥ ṣaṭstambhābhiḥ | kūṭībhiriti pāṭhe koṣṭhakoṣṭhakaiḥ saptacchadikaiḥ chatustambhaiḥ ||

· 2-28-8 sāranirvyūhaṁ dṛḍhaṁ nāgadantā gṛhānnirgatadārurūpāṇi yatra | udagraṁ uccham akliṣṭam asaṁkuchitaṁ suśliṣṭaṁ ca maṣcārohaṇaṁ sopānapaṅktiryatra |

· 2-28-9 parikṣiptaṁ vyāptam |

· 2-28-10 raṅgadhanurmaham ājṣāpayat ājṣāpitavān | sacitrā ityādi maṣchavāṭānāṁ viśeṣaṇam |

· 2-28-11 vapuṣmantaścitrapuruṣādiyuktāḥ uttaracchadā mahāstaraṇāni |

· 2-28-12 karīṣasya śuṣkagomayacūrṇasya rāśayaḥ mallānāṁ svedāpamārjanārthaṁ maṅgalārthaṁ vā |

· 2-28-13 pānakumbhāḥ ghaṭocchrāyikāḥ |

· 2-28-14 kaṣāyāḥ rasāḥ prāśnikāḥ yuddhadharmavidaḥ |

· 2-28-15 prekṣakāṇāṁ yuddhasākṣiṇām |

· 2-28-19 sopanyāsaṁ sopapattikam |

· 2-28-20 vīradhvajaḥ sotkarṣasūchakaṁ toḍarādi tena ucchritau |

· 2-28-22 jitashramau kadācidapi na shramavantau |

· 2.28-23 nipātānantaraṁ saṁbandhmātreṇetyarthaḥ |

· 2-28-24 akriyau arakṣitau |

· 2-28-25 āyatyāṁ uttarakāle tadātve vartamānakāle |

· 2-28-28 pramukhe tau nihantavyāviti śeṣaḥ |

· 2-28-31 dānotkaṭakaṭaḥ madotkaṭagaṇḍaḥ |

· 2-28-46 saṁmukhaṁ gatvā saṁpraveśya gṛhaṁ tataḥ pādyasahitam arghaṁ datvā ācamanaṁ ca datvā tatsaṁnidhau svayamupavishya |

· 2.28-47 bhavitātmavān pūtachittaḥ |

· 2-28-51 asyāḥ devakyāḥ |

· 2-28-53 ripave rapau |

· 2-28-55 kathaṁ kīdṛśo drumilaḥ |

· 2-28-61 strīdharmam aṣṭaguṇakāmavattvam |

· 2-28-66 nīyate anīyata ityarthaḥ |

· 2-28-68 vihāyasā ākāśamārgeṇa kāmagamaḥ icchayā gantuṁ śīlaḥ |

· 2-28-70 kānanāni āropitavṛkṣāṇi | vanāni ropitavṛkṣāṇi |

· 2-28-79 nārayaṇoruṁ nirbhidya jātā urvaśī |

· 2-28-82 aciraprabhā vidyudiva yoṣidgaṇānyoṣidgaṇānām | yadvā gaṇānvanaṁ ca pradyotayat rūpaṁ dadhāneti śeṣaḥ |

· 2-28-85 nirdayaṁ yathā syāttayā me māṁ hṛdayāgniḥ kāmāgniḥ vardhayati Chinatti dahatītyarthaḥ | mammathāgninā ṣaṣṭyarthe tṛtīyā |

· 2-28-86 nopalabhya anupalabhya dhairyamiti śeṣaḥ |

· 2-28-93 gauravadarśanāt rateḥ sparśagauravānubhavāt |

· 2-28-97 akṣāntaṁ akṣāṇām indriyāṇām anto nāśo yasya tam |

· 2-28-98 prasajjantīṁ kalahāyamānāṁ kṣiptaḥ dhikkṛtaḥ |

· 2-28-100 vyabhicārādamānuṣasaṁbandhajāt chittasya chaṣcalatvātsvāpnābhicāravadayamamānuṣajo vyabhicārastava na doṣāyetyarthaḥ |

· 2-28-101 striyaḥ kuntīmadayantīprabṛtayaḥ |

· 2-28-102 śuddhakeśān

"yāni kāni ca pāpāni keśānāśritya tiṣṭhant["

iti vacanāt niṣpāpān asmānapi vidhunvantī bharsyantī yadicchasi tadbhāṣase yatheṣṭaṁ pralapasi mauḍhyādityarthaḥ |

· 2-28-105 dhigiti | kuntyādīnāmapyāpaddharmāpekṣayā puruṣāntarasaṁbandho na kāmavikāreṇetyarthaḥ | saḥ tvaṁ tu sarvāsāṁ nindāṁ kurvan pāpatamo'sītyarthaḥ |

· 2-28-108 pumān iśvaraḥ te tava tvatputrasya ca mayi jātasya ||

· 2-28-111 vādyamānaḥ vādayan |

· 2-28-112 lakṣyavīthīṁ brahmalokamārgaṁ devayānam |

· 2-29-114 sadṛśo mayeti śeṣaḥ |

iti śrī harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmaṣṭaviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

29 – kuvalayāpīḍamāraṇam - Kuvalayapida Killed

vaiśampāyana uvāca

tasminnahani nirvṛtte dvitīye samupasthite |

āpūryata mahāraṅgaḥ paurairyuddhadidṛkṣubhiḥ ||2-29-1

vaiśaṁpāyana said:

That day was over. On the second day, the large venue was filled with people who came to see the fight.

sacitrāṣṭāsricharaṇāḥ sārgaladvāravedikāḥ |

sagavākṣārdhacandrāścha sutalpottamabhūṣitāḥ ||2-29-2

The arena was decorated with pictures. Pillars on eight corners supported the stage. The entrances were beautified with arches. Beautiful beds and pillows were provided.

prāṅmukhaiścārunirmuktairmālyadāmāvataṁsitaiḥ |

alaṁkṛtairvirājadbhiḥ śāradairiva toyadaiḥ ||2-29-3

The main entrance facing east was decorated with flower garlands looking like rain clouds in autumn.

maṣcāgāraiḥ suniryuktairyuddhāya suvibhūṣitaiḥ |

samājavāṭaḥ shuśubhe sameghaugha ivārṇavaḥ ||2-29-4

The wrestling arena dazzled with wrestlers dressed for fighting. The entrance of the arena was shining like sea with many clouds.

svakarmadravyayuktābhiḥ patākābhirnirantaram |

śreṇīnāṁ ca gaṇānāṁ ca maṣcā bhāntyacalopamāḥ ||2-29-5

Always carrying the flags and the tools appropriate for their trades, the rows of groups of artists and craftsmen shone like mountains.

antaḥpuracarāṇāṁ ca prekṣāgārāṇyanekaśaḥ |

rejuḥ kāṣchanacitrāṇi ratnajvālākulāni ca ||2-29-6

Many viewing places were arranged for ladies. The women dazzled with variety of golden ornaments and jewels.

tāni ratnaughakyptāni sasānupragrahāṇi ca |

rejurjavanikākṣepaiḥ sapakṣā iva khe nagāḥ ||2-29-7

The viewing places with two floors with curtains, decorated with jewels shone like mountains with wings.

tatra cāmarahāraischa bhuṣaṇānāṁ ca siṣjitaiḥ |

vāṇīnāṁ ca vicitrāṇāṁ vicitrāścherurarchiṣaḥ ||2-29-8

The sounds of plumes, garlands and ornaments mingled with sweet speech. The strange combination (of sounds) emerged from the area.

gaṇikānāṁ pṛthaṅmaṣcāḥ śubhairāstaraṇāmbaraiḥ |

śobhitā vāramukhyābhirvimānapratimaujasaḥ ||2-29-9

Places with good clothes were provided for courtesans. Those places dazzled along with courtesans like an aerial car.

tatrāsanāni khyātāni paryaṅkāścha hiraṇmayāḥ |

prakīrṇāścha kuthāścitrāḥ sapuṣpastabakairvṛtāḥ ||2-29-10

There were beautiful seats and golden couches. Variegated clothes decorated with bunches of flowers were spread on them.

sauvarṇāḥ pānakumbhāścha pānabhūmyaścha śobhitāḥ |

phalāvadaṁśapūrṇāścha cāṅgeryaḥ pānayojitāḥ ||2-29-11

The place shone with golden pots for drinking. Suitable fruits, condiments and others with sour taste were provided with drinks.

anye ca maṣcā bahavaḥ kāṣṭhasaṣchayabandhanāḥ |

rejuḥ prastaraṇāstatra śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ||2-29-12

There were many other viewing places made of wood. Hundreds of thousands of such places shone there, spread with clothes.

uttamāgārikāścaiva sūkṣmajālāvalokinaḥ |

strīṇāṁ prekṣagṛhā bhānti rājahaṁsā ivāṁbare ||2-29-13

Places covered with fine netting were provided for women. They shone like swans in the sky.

prāṅmukhaścāruniryukto meruśṛṅgasamaprabhaḥ |

rukmapatranibhastambhaścitraniryogaśobhitaḥ ||2-29-14

The east facing entrance shone like the peak of meru mountain. It was beautiful with pillars covered with golden sheets and variety of pictures.

prekṣāgāraḥ sa kaṁsasya pracakāśe'dhikaṁ śriyā |

shobhito mālyadāmaiścha nivāsakṛtalakṣaṇaḥ ||2-29-15

The viewing place for kaṁsa shone with more splendour. It was decorated with garlands with all signs of royal palace.

tasminnānājanākīrṇe janaughapratinādite |

samājavāṭe saṁstabdhe kampamānārṇāvaprabhe ||2-29-16

As crowds of people assembled and as their noise reverberated, as the entrances were blocked like an ocean without any movement,

rājā kuvalayāpīḍaḥ samājadvāri kuṣjaraḥ |

tiṣṭhatviti samājṣāpya prekṣāgāramupāyayau ||2-29-17

the king arrived at his viewing place, ordering: The elephant kuvalayāpīḍa should be kept near the entrance.

sa shukle vāsasī bibhracchvetavyajanacāmaraḥ |

shuśubhe śvetamukuṭaḥ śvetābhra iva candramāḥ ||2-29-18

The king was dressed in white clothes. Being fanned with white yak plumes and wearing a white crown, he sparkled like the full moon surrounded by white clouds.

tasya simhāsanasthasya sukhāsīnasya dhīmataḥ |

rūpamapratimam dṛṣṭvā paurāḥ prochurjayāśiṣaḥ ||2-29-19

The intelligent king sat on his throne comfortably. Seeing his incomparable form the citizens shouted victory to him.

tataḥ praviviśurmallā raṅgamāvalitāmbarāḥ |

tisrashcha bhāgaśaḥ kakṣāḥ prāviśanbalaśālinaḥ ||2-29-20

Then the wrestlers entered the arena, tightening their waists. The powerful men sat in three rows.

tatastūryaninadena kṣveḍitāsphoṭitena ca |

vasudevasutau hṛṣṭau raṅgadvāramupasthitau ||2-29-21

Then, accompanied by the sounds of tūrya (a musical instrument), shouts and the clapping of hands, the sons of vasudeva, happily arrived at the entrance of the arena.

ballavau vastrasaṁvītau suravandanabhūṣitau |

ūrdhvapīḍau sragāpīḍau bāhuśastrakṛtau yamau |

They were dressed for the occasion. Their bodies were smeared with sandalwood paste. Sandalwood marks were on their foreheads. They were wearing garlands. Both, looking like twins, had their mighty arms as weapons.

āsphoṭayaṁtāvanyonyaṁ bāhū chaivārgalopamau ||2-29-22

Slapping on each other's mighty arms and hands (as wide) as doors, they shouted.

tāvāpatantau tvaritau pratiṣiddhau varānanau |

tena mattena nāgena chodyamānena vai bhṛśam ||2-29-23

As they approached quickly, the handsome (brothers) were blocked by the intoxicated elephant which was stationed there for the purpose.

sa matttahastī duṣṭātmā kṛtvā kuṇḍalinaṁ karam |

cakāra chodito yatnaṁ nihantuṁ balakeshavau ||2-29-24

The angry, intoxicated elephant raised its trunk and attempted to kill balarāma and keshava as intended.

tataḥ prahasitaḥ kṛṣṇastrāsyamāno gajena vai |

kaṁsasya tanmataṁ caiva jagarhe sa durātmanaḥ ||2-29-25

kṛṣṇa, whom the elephant was trying to frighten, laughed. kṛṣṇa condemned the wicked soul, kaṁsa's intention.

tvarate khalu kaṁso'yaṁ gantuṁ vaivasvatakṣayam |

yo māmanena nāgena pradharṣayitumicchati ||2-29-26

"kaṁsa must be eager to go to vaivasvata (god of death) since he wished to attack me with elephant."

sannikṛṣṭe tato nāge garjamāne tathā ghane |

sahasotpatya govindashcakre tālasvanaṁ prabhuḥ ||2-29-27

As the elephant approached roaring like a rain cloud, lord govinda jumped suddenly and clapped his hands.

kṣveḍitāsphoṭitaravaṁ kṛtvā nāgasya cāgrataḥ |

karaṁ sasīkaraṁ tasya pratijagrāha vakṣasā ||2-29-28

Roaring and clapping his hands in front of the elephant, he caught the elephant/s trunk, wet with drops of water and pressed it with his chest.

viṣāṇāntarago bhūtvā punaścharaṇamadhyagaḥ |

babādhe taṁ gajaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ pavanastoyadaṁ yathā ||2-29-29

Going between the elephant's tusks and again between its legs, kṛṣṇa harassed the elephant like the wind harassing the rain clouds.

sa hastāgrādviniṣkrānto viṣāṇāgrāccha dantinaḥ |

vimuktaḥ padamadhyāccha kṛṣṇo dvijamapothayat ||2-29-30

Escaping from the elephant's trunk and its tusks and coming out from the middle of its legs, kṛṣṇa dragged the elephant by its tail.

so'tikāyastu saṁmūḍho hantuṁ kṛṣṇamaśaknuvan |

gajah sveṣveva gātreṣu mathyamāno rarāsa ha ||2-29-31

That huge elephant was unable to kill kṛṣṇa. Hit on his body, the elephant trumpeted loudly.

papāta bhūmau jānubhyāṁ daśanābhyāṁ tutoda ca |

madaṁ susrāva roṣāccha gharmāpāye yathā ghanaḥ ||2-29-32

The elephant fell on his knees and its tusks struck the ground. Angered, water of mada came out as rain from clouds in the rainy season.

kṛṣṇastu tena nāgena krīḍitvā śiśulīlayā |

nidhanāya matiṁ cakre kaṁsadviṣṭena chetasā ||2-29-33

kṛṣṇa fought the elephant like a child playing. He decided to kill the elephant, with anger in his mind towards kaṁsa.

sa tasya pramukhe pādaṁ kṛtvā kumbhādanantaram |

dorbhyāṁ viṣāṇamutpāṭya tenaiva prāharattadā ||2-29-34

Placing his right foot on the elephant's forehead, he pulled out both the tusks and stabbed the elephant with the tusks.

sa tena vajrakalpena svena dantena kuṣjaraḥ |

hanyamānaḥ śakṛnmūtraṁ mumocārto rarāsa ha ||2-29-35

The elephant, stabbed by its own tusks, strong as vajra, screamed and began to pass stool and urine.

kṛṣṇajarjaritāṅgasya kuṣjarasyārtachetasaḥ |

kaṭābhyāmati susrāva vegavadbhūri śoṇitam ||2-29-36

Its limbs struck by kṛṣṇa, the elephant was in a pathetic condition. Lots of blood oozed out from its wounds.

lāṅgūlaṁ cāsya vegena niśchakarṣa halāyudhaḥ |

śailapṛṣṭhārdhasaṁlīnaṁ vainateya ivoragam ||2-29-37

halāyudha (balarāma) pulled out its tail quickly like vinata's son (garuda) pulls out a snake whose half body is hidden inside a hill.

tenaiva gajadantena kṛṣṇo hatvā tu dantinam |

jaghānaikaprahāreṇa gajārohaṇamulbaṇam ||2-29-38

With one powerful strike of the same elephant tusk with which kṛṣṇa killed the elephant, kṛṣṇa killed the strong mahout.

sortanādaṁ mahatkṛtvā vidanto dantināṁ varaḥ |

papāta sa mahāmātro vajrabhinna ivācalaḥ ||2-29-39

The great elephant, losing its tusks, screamed loudly and fell down along with mahāmātra (mahout) like a mountain split by vajra.

tatastau toraṇāṅgāni pragṛhya raṇakarkaśau |

gajasya pādarakṣāṁścha jaghnatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau ||2-29-40

Then the two bulls of men, the skilled fighters, picked up broken pillars and killed the attendants guarding the elephant's legs.

tāṁścha hatvā viviśaturmadhyaṁ raṅgasya tāvubhau |

nāsatyāvaśvinau svargādavatīrṇāvivecchayā ||2-29-41

Killing them, both of them entered the arena like asvinīdeva-s had come down from heaven at their own will.

vṛṣṇyandhakāścha bhojāścha dadṛśurvanamālinau |

kṣveḍitotkṛṣṭanādena bāhvorāsphoṭitena ca |

siṁhanādaiścha tālaiścha harṣayāmāsaturjanam ||2-29-42

Seeing the two wearing flower garlands, the vṛṣṇi-s, andhaka-s and bhoja-s rejoiced by shouting, clapping their hands and roaring.

tau dṛṣṭvā bhojarājastu viṣasāda vṛthāmatiḥ |

paurāṇāmanurāgaṁ ca harṣaṁ cālakṣya bhārata ||2-29-43

O bhārata (janamejaya)! (vaiśaṁpāyana said) Seeing the two (brothers ), the joy of spectators and their love, the king of bhoja-s (kaṁsa), of vain intelligence, was sad.

taṁ hatvā puṇḍarīkākṣo nadantaṁ dantināṁ varam |

avatīrṇo'rṇavākāraṁ samājaṁ sahapūrvajaḥ ||2-29-44

killing the roaring great elephant, kṛṣṇa, along with his elder brother (balarāma) entered the arena, vast like an ocean.

iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi kuvalayāpīḍavadhe ekonatriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus this is the twenty-nineth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrīmahābhārata, Kuvalayapida Killed.

nīlakaṇṭha commentary

ekonatriṁśe kaṁsebhapramukhasyātha māraṇam ||

śrīkṛṣṇena kuvalayāpīḍanāmno nirūpyate ||

· 2-29-1 tasmin iti ||

· 2-29-2 yatra maṣcāḥ bhānti sa samājavāṭaḥ prāṅmukhairmaṣcāgāraiḥ shuśubhe iti paṣchamacaturthatṛtīyasthānāṁ padānāṁ saṁbandhaḥ | tatra maṣcāḥ kīdṛśā ityata āha dvitīyena shlokena | sacitreti | citrasahitāḥ sacitrāḥ aṣṭāstrayo aṣṭakoṇāścharaṇā yeṣāṁ te sacitrāṣṭāstricharaṇāḥ ||

· 2-29-3 nirmuktaiḥ viralatantubhirantaḥ paṭairyuktāni maṣcāgārāṇi yeṣu sthitāḥ rājadārāḥ sarvaṁ bahisthaṁ pashyanti bāhyāścha tānna pashyanti tādr+śaiścārunirmuktaiḥ ||

· 2-29-4 suniryuktaiḥ śobhanāḥ niryuktāḥ mallādayo yeṣu taiḥ ||

· 2-29-5 svakarmadravyayuktābhiḥ yasya shilpavato yadupakaraṇadravyaṁ tena chihnitābhiḥ śreṇīnām anekajātināmapyekaśilpopajīvinām gaṇānām ekajātinām ||

· 2-29-7 tāniti | javanikārūpairākṣepairantarddhikaraistirohitādhobhāgāni ratnoghaiḥ kl+iptāni kṛtāni prekṣāgārāṇi sasānupragrahāṇi uparideshe sapatākāni khe sapakṣaparvatavatbhāntītyarthaḥ ||

· 2-29-8 tatra prekṣāgāreṣu ||

· 2-29-10 kuthāḥ āstaraṇaviśeṣāḥ ||

· 2-29-11 phalāvadaṁśāḥ jambhīrādupadaṁśāstaiḥ pūrṇāḥ cāṅgeryaḥ chukrikādipānarasāḥ pānayojitāḥ pānārthaṁ sthāpitāḥ

· 2-29-12 prastharaṇāḥ prakṛṣṭāstaraṇāḥ |

· 2-29-13 uttamāgārikāḥ gṛhopari gṛhaṁ yattduttamāgāraṁ tatra bhavāḥ | sūkṣmajāladvārāvaloko yastadvantaḥ | prekṣāgṛhāḥ prekṣārtho gṛhāḥ ||

· 2-29-14 prāṅmukhaḥ prekṣāgāraḥ kaṁsasya cakāro iti dvayoḥ saṁbandhaḥ ||

· 2-29-17 rājā kaṁsaḥ ||

· 2-29-20 āvalitāni prasphuritāni ambarāṇi yeṣām ||

· 2-29-21 kṣveḍitaṁ tatsahitena āsphoṭitena āsphālalena upalakṣitau ||

· 2-29-24 karaṁ śuṇḍādaṇḍam ||

· 2-29-27 tālasvanaṁ gajaṁ kopayituṁ karatālikādhvanim ||

· 2-29-29 babādha vyākulaṁ cakāra ||

· 2-29-30 apothayat puchcākarṣaṇena bhūmau dharṣitavān ||

· 2-29-31 saṁmūḍhaḥ vyākulaḥ rarāsa śabdaṁ kṛtavān ||

· 2-29-32 daśanābhyāṁ mūlato bhagnābhyāṁ tutoda vyathāṁ prāpa ||

· 2-29-34 pramukhe bhūmadhyadeśe viṣāṇaṁ dantam ||

· 2-29-39 sārteti sandhirārṣaḥ | 'so'chiti' vā sorlopaḥ | mahanmahāntam ||

· 2-29-40 toraṇasya bahirdvārasya aṅgāni stambhādīni toraṇaṁ vāhanaṁ gajastasyāṅgānīti dantadvaye dvābhyāṁ gṛhītamityanye ||

· 2-29-43 bhojarājaḥ kaṁsaḥ viṣasāda viṣādaṁ prāpa | tatra hetvantaraṁ paurāṇāmanurāgaṁ ca kṛṣḥṇe ālakṣya ||

iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivamshe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekonatriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ ||