Chapter Six Ayodhyā-pura-vāsiny-upākhyāna The Story of the Ayodhyā Women

31 verses

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
evam uktvā gate sākṣād
yājṣavalkye mahā-munau
atīva harṣam āpanno
vimalaś campakā-patiḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; evam — thus ; uktvā — speaking ; gate — gone ; sākṣāt — directly ; yājṣavalkye — Yajnavalkya ; mahā-munau — the great sage ; atīva — great ; harṣam — happiness ; āpannaḥ — attained ; vimalaḥ — Vimala ; campakā-patiḥ — the king of Campaka.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: Then the great sage Yājṣavalkya left. Vimala, the king of Campakā, was very happy.

Verse text

ayodhyā-pura-vāsinyaḥ
śrī-rāmasya varāc ca yāḥ
babhūvus tasya bhāryāsu
tāḥ sarvāḥ kanyakāḥ śubhāḥ

Synonyms

ayodhyā-pura-vāsinyaḥ — the women of Ayodhyā ; śrī-rāmasya — of Srī Rāma ; varāt — frokm the benediction ; ca — and ; yāḥ — who ; babhūvuḥ — became ; tasya — of him ; bhāryāsu — in the wives ; tāḥ — they ; sarvāḥ — all ; kanyakāḥ — daughters ; śubhāḥ — beautiful.

Translation

Then the Ayodhyā women blessed by Lord Rāmacandra took birth as the very beautiful daughters of Vimala and his wives.

Verse text

vivāha-yogyās tā dṛṣṭvā
cintayaṁś campakā-patiḥ
yājṣavalkya-vacaḥ smṛtvā
dūtam āha nṛpeśvaraḥ

Synonyms

vivāha-yogyāḥ — at the proper age for marriage ; tā — they ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; cintayan — thinking ; campakā-patiḥ — the king of Campakā ; yājṣavalkya-vacaḥ — the words of Yajnavalkya ; smṛtvā — remembering ; dūtam — to give ; āha — said ; nṛpeśvaraḥ — the great king.

Translation

Seeing that his daughters had come to a marriagable age, and remembering Yājṣavalkya's words, King Vimala spoke.

Verse text

śrī-vimala uvāca
mathurāṁ gaccha dūta tvaṁ
gatvā śauri-gṛhaṁ śubham
darśanīyās tvayā putro
vasudevasya sundaraḥ

Synonyms

śrī-vimala uvāca — Srī Vimala said ; mathurām — to Mathurā ; gaccha — go ; dūta — O messenger ; tvam — you ; gatvā — having gone ; śauri — of Vasudeva ; gṛham — to tyhe home ; śubham — beautiful ; darśanīyaḥ — should be seen ; tvayā — by you ; putraḥ — the son ; vasudevasya — of Vasudeva ; sundaraḥ — handsome.

Translation

Srī Vimala said: O messenger, go to Mathurā, enter Vasudeva's palace, and look for Vasudeva's handsome son.

Verse text

śrīvatsāṅko ghana-śyāmo
vana-mālī catur-bhujaḥ
yadi syāt tarhi dāsyāmi
tasmai sarvāḥ su-kanyakāḥ

Synonyms

śrīvatsāṅkaḥ — marked with Srīvatsa ; ghana-śyāmaḥ — dark as a cloud ; vana-mālī — wearing a forest garland ; catur-bhujaḥ — with four arms ; yadi — if ; syāt — is ; tarhi — then ; dāsyāmi — I will give ; tasmai — to Him ; sarvāḥ — all ; su-kanyakāḥ — my beautiful daughters.

Translation

He is dark as a monsoon cloud, has four arms, is marked with Srīvatsa, and wears a forest garland. If He is there, I will give Him all my beautiful daughters.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
iti vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā
dūto 'sau mathurāṁ gataḥ
papraccha sarvābhiprāyaṁ
māthurāṁś ca mahājanān

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; vākyam — the words ; tataḥ — then ; śrutvā — hearing ; dūtaḥ — the messenger ; asau — he ; mathurām — to Mathurā ; gataḥ — went ; papraccha — asked ; sarvābhiprāyam — all knowledge ; māthurān — the people of Mathurā ; ca — and ; mahājanān — great souls.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: Hearing these words, and going to Mathurā, the messenger asked the great souls there if they had seen Vasudeva's son.

Verse text

tad-vākyaṁ māthurāḥ śrutvā
kaṁsa-bhītāḥ su-buddhayaḥ
taṁ dūtaṁ rahasi prāhuḥ
karṇānte manda-vāg yathā

Synonyms

tad-vākyam — his words ; mathuraḥ — the peole of Mathura ; śrutvā — hearing ; kaṁsa-bhītāḥ — afraid of Kaṁsa ; su-buddhayaḥ — intelligent ; tam — to him ; dūtam — the messenger ; rahasi — in private ; prāhuḥ — said ; karṇānte — in the ear ; manda-vāg — whispering ; yathā — as.

Translation

Hearing these words, the intelligent people of Mathurā, who were all afraid of Kaṁsa, took him to a secluded place and whispered in his ear.

Verse text

śrī-māthurā ūcuḥ
vasudevasya ye putrāḥ
kaṁsena bahavo hatāḥ
ekāvaśiṣṭāvarajā
kanyā sāpi divaṁ gatā

Synonyms

śrī-māthurā ūcuḥ — the people of Mathura said ; vasudevasya — of vasudeva ; ye — who ; putrāḥ — the sons ; kaṁsena — by Kaṁsa ; bahavaḥ — many ; hatāḥ — killed ; ekāvaśiṣṭāvarajā — one remaining ; kanyā — a dauighter ; sāpi — she ; divam — to heaven ; gatā — went.

Translation

The people of Mathurā said: Vasudeva's many sons were all killed by Kaṁsa. Only a daughter, who went to the heavenly planets, survived.

Verse text

vasudevo 'sti cātraiva
hy aputro dīna-mānasaḥ
idaṁ na kathanīyaṁ hi
tvayā kaṁsa-bhayaṁ pure

Synonyms

vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva ; asti — is ; ca — and ; atra — here ; eva — indeed ; hi — indeed ; aputraḥ — sonless ; dīna-mānasaḥ — unhappy at heart ; idam — thus ; na — not ; kathanīyam — to be spoken ; hi — indeed ; tvayā — by you ; kaṁsa-bhayam — out of fear of Kaṁsa ; pure — in the city.

Translation

Now sonless, Vasudeva is unhappy at heart. Because of the danger of Kaṁsa, you should not repeat these words in this city.

Verse text

śauri-santāna-vārtāṁ yo
vākti cen mathurā-pure
taṁ daṇḍayati kaṁso 'sau
śaury-aṣṭama-śiśo ripuḥ

Synonyms

śauri — of Vasudeva ; santāna — the family ; vārtām — the story ; yaḥ — who ; vākti — speaks ; cet — if ; mathurā-pure — in Mathura City ; tam — him ; daṇḍayati — punishes ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; asau — he ; śaury-aṣṭama-śiśoḥ — of Vasudeva's eighth son ; ripuḥ — the enemy.

Translation

If in Mathurā-purī someone speaks this story of Vasudeva's sons, then Kaṁsa, the sworn enemy of Vasudeva's eighth son, punishes him severely.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
jana-vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā
dūto vai campakā-purīm
gatvātha kathayām āsa
rājṣe kāraṇam adbhutam

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; jana-vākyam — the words of the people ; tataḥ — then ; śrutvā — hearing ; dūtaḥ — the messenger ; vai — indeed ; campakā-purīm — to the4 city of Campakā ; gatvā — going ; atha — then ; kathayām āsa — spoke ; rājṣe — to the king ; kāraṇam — the reason ; adbhutam — surprising.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: After hearing the people's words, the messenger returned to the city of Campakā and told the very surprising story to the king.

Verse text

śrī-dūta uvāca
mathurāyām āsti śaurir
anapatyo 'ti-dīnavat
tat-putrās tu purā jātāḥ
kaṁsena nihatāḥ śrutam

Synonyms

śrī-dūta uvāca — the messenger said ; mathurāyām — in Mathurā ; āsti — is ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; anapatyaḥ — childless ; ati-dīnavat — like a very wretched person ; tat-putrāḥ — his sons ; tu — indeed ; purā — previously ; jātāḥ — born ; kaṁsena — by Kaṁsa ; nihatāḥ — killed ; śrutam — heard.

Translation

The messenger said: Unhappy and childless, Vasudeva stays in Mathurā. I heard that all his sons were killed by Kaṁsa.

Verse text

ekāvaśiṣṭā kanyāpi
khaṁ gatā kaṁsa-hastataḥ
evaṁ śrutvā yadu-purān
nirgato 'haṁ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Synonyms

ekā — one ; avaśiṣṭā — remaining ; kanyā — daughter ; api — also ; kham — to heaven ; gatā — went ; kaṁsa-hastataḥ — by Kaṁsa's hand ; evam — thus ; śrutvā — hearing ; yadu-purāt — from the city of the Yadus ; nirgataḥ — come ; aham — I ; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ — very slowly.

Translation

One a daughter who, struck by Kaṁsa's hand, went to the heavenly planets, remains. Hearing this, I slowly left the Yadus' city.

Verse text

caran vṛndāvane ramye
kālindī-nikaṭe śubhe
akasmāl latikā-vṛnde
dṛṣṭaḥ kaścic chiṣur mayā

Synonyms

caran — walking ; vṛndāvane — in Vṛndāvana ; ramye — beautiful ; kālindī-nikaṭe — by the Yamunā's shore ; śubhe — beautiful ; akasmāl — suddenly ; latikā-vṛnde — among many vines ; dṛṣṭaḥ — seen ; kaścic — someone ; chiṣuḥ — a boy ; mayā — by me.

Translation

As I walked by the Yamunā's shore in beautiful Vṛndāvana forest I saw a boy among some vines.

Verse text

tal-lakṣaṇa-samo rājan
go-gopa-gaṇa-madhyataḥ
śrīvatsāṅko ghana-śyāmo
vana-māly ati-sundaraḥ

Synonyms

tal-lakṣaṇa-samaḥ — the same characteristsics ; rājan — O king ; go-gopa-gaṇa-madhyataḥ — among many cows and gopas ; śrīvatsāṅkaḥ — marked with Srīvatsa ; ghana-śyāmaḥ — dark as a monsoon cloud ; vana-māli — wearing a forest garland ; ati-sundaraḥ — very handsome.

Translation

O king, He had all the features you described. He was handsome, dark as a monsoon cloud, marked with Srīvatsa, and decorated with a forest garland. He was the midst of many cows and gopas.

Verse text

dvi-bhujo gopa-sūnuś ca
paraṁ tv etad vilakṣaṇam
tvayā catur-bhujaś cokto
vasudevātmajo hariḥ

Synonyms

dvi-bhujaḥ — two artms ; gopa-sūnuḥ — a gopa's son ; ca — and ; param — then ; tv — indeed ; etat — this ; vilakṣaṇam — extraordinary ; tvayā — by you ; catur-bhujaḥ — four arms ; ca — and ; uktaḥ — said ; vasudevātmajaḥ — Vasudeva's son ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

There is one difference. He had two arms and Vasudeva's son had four arms.

Verse text

kiṁ kartavyaṁ vada nṛpa
muni-vākyaṁ mṛṣā na hi
yatra yatra yathecchā te
tatra māṁ preṣaya prabho

Synonyms

kim — what? ; kartavyam — should be don ; vada — tell ; nṛpa — O king ; muni-vākyam — the sage's words ; mṛṣā — false ; na — not ; hi — indeed ; yatra — where ; yatra — where ; yathā — as ; icchā — the desire ; te — of you ; tatra — there ; mām — me ; preṣaya — please send ; prabhaḥ — O lord.

Translation

What should be done? Tell me, O king. It cannot be that the sage's words are untrue. O master, send me wherever you wish.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
iti cintayatas tasya
vismitasya nṛpaśya ca
gajāhvayāt sindhu-deśān
jetuṁ bhīṣmaḥ samāgataḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; cintayataḥ — thinking ; tasya — of him ; vismitasya — surprised ; nṛpasya — of the king ; ca — and ; gajāhvayāt — from Hastinapura ; sindhu-deśān — to Sindhu-desa ; jetum — to conquer ; bhīṣmaḥ — Bhiṣma ; samāgataḥ — arrived.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: As the king was thinking about what to do, Bhīṣma, on his way to conquer Sindhu-deśa, came from Hastināpura.

Verse text

taṁ pūjya vimalo rāja
dattvā tasmai baliṁ bahu
papraccha sarvābhiprāyaṁ
bhīṣmaṁ dharma-bhṛtāṁ varam

Synonyms

tam — him ; pūjya — worshiping ; vimalaḥ — Vimala ; rāja — King ; dattvā — giving ; tasmai — to him ; balim — a gift ; bahu — great ; papraccha — asked ; sarvābhiprāyam — who knows everything ; bhīṣmam — Bhīṣma ; dharma-bhṛtām — of pious men ; varam — the best.

Translation

After worshiping him and giving him many gifts, King Vimala asked a question of all-knowing Bhīṣma, the best of pious men.

Verse text

śrī-vimala uvāca
yājṣavalkyena pūrvokto
mathurāyāṁ hariḥ svayam
vasudevasya devakyāṁ
bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-vimala uvāca — Srī Vimala said ; yāj 24avalkyena — by yajnavalkya ; pūrvoktaḥ — previously said ; mathurāyām — in mathurā ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; svayam — personally ; vasudevasya — of Vasudeva ; devakyām — in Devakī ; bhaviṣyati — will be ; na — no ; saṁśayaḥ — doubt.

Translation

Srī Vimala said: Yājṣavalkya Muni told me that Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will become the son of Vasudeva and Devakī in Mathurā. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse text

na jāto vasudevasya
sakāśe 'dya hariḥ paraḥ
ṛṣi-vākyaṁ mṛṣā na syāt
kasmai dāsyāmi kanyakāḥ

Synonyms

na — not ; jātaḥ — born ; vasudevasya — of Vasudeva ; sakāśe — in the presence ; adya — now ; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; paraḥ — supreme ; ṛṣi-vākyam — the words of the sage ; mṛṣā — false ; na — not ; syāt — are ; kasmai — to whom? ; dāsyāmi — I will give ; kanyakāḥ — my daughters.

Translation

Although the sage's words cannot be untrue, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has not taken birth as Vasudeva's son. To whom shall I give my daughters in marriage?

Verse text

mahā-bhāgavataḥ sākṣāt
tvaṁ parāvara-vittamaḥ
jitendriyo bālya-bhāvād
vīro dhanvī vasūttamaḥ
etad vada mahā-buddhe
kiṁ kartavyaṁ mayātra vai

Synonyms

mahā-bhāgavataḥ — a great devotee ; sākṣāt — directly ; tvam — you ; parāvara-vittamaḥ — all-knowing ; jitendriyaḥ — conquering the senses ; bālya-bhāvāt — from childhood ; vīraḥ — a hero ; dhanvī — a bowman ; vasūttamaḥ — the best of the Vasus ; etat — this ; vada — please tell ; mahā-buddhe — O intelligent one ; kim — what? ; kartavyam — should be done ; mayā — by me ; atra — here ; vai — indeed.

Translation

You are a great devotee. You know everything. Your senses are carefully controlled. From childhood you have been a heroic warrior. You are an expert archer and the best of the Vasus. O very intelligent one, please say what I should do.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
vimalaṁ prāha gaṅgeyo
mahā-bhāgavataḥ kaviḥ
divya-dṛg dharma-tattva-jṣaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇasya prabhāva-vit

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Srī Nārada said ; vimalam — to Vimala ; prāha — said ; gaṅgeyaḥ — Bhīṣma ; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — great devotee ; kaviḥ — philosopher ; divya-dṛg — with transcendental vision ; dharma-tattva-j 24aḥ — understanding the truth of religion ; śrī-kṛṣṇasya — of Srī Kṛṣṇa ; prabhāva — the glory ; vit — knowing.

Translation

Srī Nārada said: The great devotee philosopher Bhīṣma, who had spiritual vision, understood the truth of religion, and was fully aware of Lord Kṛṣṇa's glories, spoke to King Vimala.

Verse text

śrī-bhīṣma uvāca
he rājan guptam ākhyānaṁ
vedavyāsa-mukhāc chrutam
sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ
śṛṇu harṣa-vivardhanam

Synonyms

śrī-bhīṣma uvāca — Srī Bhisma said ; he — O ; rājan — king ; guptam — hidden ; ākhyānam — story ; vedavyāsa — of Vedavyasa ; mukhāt — from the mouth ; śrutam — heard ; sarva-pāpa-haram — removing all sins ; puṇyam — sacred ; śṛṇu — pleasehear ; harṣa-vivardhanam — delightful.

Translation

Srī Bhīṣma said: O king, please hear this secret I heard from Vyāsa's mouth, a holy and delightful secret that removes all sins.

Verse text

devānāṁ rakṣaṇārthāya
daityānāṁ hi vadhāya ca
vasudeva-gṛhe jātaḥ
paripūrṇatamo hariḥ

Synonyms

devānām — of the demigods ; rakṣaṇārthāya — for protection ; daityānām — of the demons ; hi — indeed ; vadhāya — for killing ; ca — and ; vasudeva-gṛhe — in Vasudva's home ; jātaḥ — born ; paripūrṇatamo hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

To protect the devotees and kill the demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has taken birth in Vasudeva's home.

Verse text

ardha-rātre kaṁsa-bhayān
nītvā śauriś ca taṁ tvaram
gatvā ca gokule putraṁ
nidhāya śayane nṛpa

Synonyms

ardha-rātre — in the middle of the night ; kaṁsa-bhayān — out of fear of Kaṁsa ; nītvā — bringing ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; ca — and ; tam — Him ; tvaram — quickly ; gatvā — gone ; ca — and ; gokule — in Gokula ; putram — son ; nidhāya — placing ; śayane — in bed ; nṛpa — O king.

Translation

O king, out of fear of Kaṁsa, Vasudeva took his son to Gokula and placed Him in Yaśodā's bed.

Verse text

yaśodā-nandayoḥ putrīṁ
māyāṁ nītvā puraṁ yayau
vavṛdhe gokule kṛṣṇo
gupto jṣāto na kair nṛbhiḥ

Synonyms

yaśodā-nandayoḥ — of Nadna and Yaśodā ; putrīm — the daughter ; māyām — Māyā ; nītvā — taking ; puram — to the city ; yayau — went ; vavṛdhe — increased ; gokule — in Gokula ; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; guptaḥ — hidden ; jṣātaḥ — known ; na — not ; kair nṛbhiḥ — by anyone.

Translation

Then to Mathurā City he took Nanda's and Yaśodā's daughter, who was the goddess Māyā. As Kṛṣṇa grew up on Gokula, no one understood His real identity.

Verse text

so 'dyaiva vṛndakāraṇye
harir gopāla-veṣa-dhṛk
ekādaśa samās tatra
gūḍho vāsaṁ kariṣyati
daityaṁ kaṁsaṁ ghātayitvā
prakaṭaḥ sa bhaviṣyati

Synonyms

saḥ — He ; adya — today ; eva — even ; vṛndakāraṇye — in Vṛndāvana forest ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; gopāla-veṣa-dhṛk — dressed as a gopa ; ekādaśa — eleven ; samāḥ — years ; tatra — there ; gūḍhaḥ — hidden ; vāsam — residence ; kariṣyati — will do ; daityam — the demon ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; ghātayitvā — killing ; prakaṭaḥ — revealed ; sa — He ; bhaviṣyati — will be.

Translation

Today the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living as a gopa in Vṛndāvana. He will stay there, carefully concealed, for eleven years and then He will kill the demon Kaṁsa and His true identity will be revealed.

Verse text

ayodhyā-pura-vāsinyaḥ
śrī-rāmasya varāc ca yāḥ
tāḥ sarvās tava bhāryāsu
babhūvuḥ kanyakāḥ śubhāḥ

Synonyms

ayodhyā-pura-vāsinyaḥ — the women of Ayodhyā ; śrī-rāmasya — of Lord Rāma ; varāt — from the blessing ; ca — and ; yāḥ — who ; tāḥ — they ; sarvāḥ — all ; tava — of you ; bhāryāsu — in the wives ; babhūvuḥ — were ; kanyakāḥ — daughters ; śubhāḥ — beautiful.

Translation

Because they were blessed by Lord Rāmacandra, many women of Ayodhyā, took birth as the beautiful daughters born from you and your wives

Verse text

gūḍhāya deva-devāya
deyāḥ kanyās tvayā khalu
na vilambaḥ kvacit kāryo
dehaḥ kāla-vaśo hy ayam

Synonyms

gūḍhāya — concealed ; deva-devāya — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; deyāḥ — should be given ; kanyāḥ — daughters ; tvayā — by you ; khalu — indeed ; na — not ; vilambaḥ — delay ; kvacit — at all ; kāryaḥ — should be done ; dehaḥ — body ; kāla-vaśaḥ — subject to time ; hi — indeed ; ayam — this.

Translation

Marry your daughters to the carefully concealed Supreme Personality of Godhead. Don't delay. This body is subject to the ravages of time.

Verse text

ity uktvātha gate bhīṣme
sarvajṣe hastināpuram
dūtaṁ svaṁ preṣayām āsa
vimalo nanda-sūnave

Synonyms

iti — thus ; uktvā — speaking ; atha — then ; gate — gone ; bhīṣme — Bhīṣma ; sarvajṣe — all-knowing ; hastināpuram — to Hasintapura ; dūtam — messenger ; svam — own ; preṣayām āsa — sent ; vimalaḥ — Vimala ; nanda-sūnave — to Nanda's son, Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

All-knowing Bhīṣma spoke these words and then left for Hastināpura. Then King Vimala sent his messenger to Nanda's son, Lord Kṛṣṇa. .pa