Chapter One Kaṁsa-mantra Advice to Kaṁsa

śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; vasudeva-sutam—the son of Vasudeva; devam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kaṁsa-cāṇūra-mardanam—who defeated Kaṁsa and Canura; devakī-paramānandam—who gave bliss to Devakī; kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; vande—I offer my respectful obeisances; jagad-gurum—tbe master of the universes.

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca—Śrī Bahulāśva said; mathurāyām—in Mathurā; kim—what?; caritram—pastimes; kṛtavān—did; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mune—O sage; katham—how?; jaghāna—killed; kaṁsākhyam—Kaṁsa; etan—this; me—to me; brūhi—please tell; tattvataḥ—in truth.

śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; atha—then; ekadā—one day; aham—I; mathurām purīm—to Mathurā City; parām—great; vilokitum—to see; ca—and; āgatavān—went; nṛpeśvara—O king of kings; kartum—to do; param—great; daitya-vadhodyamam—killing of demons; hareḥ—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; parasya—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣān—directly; manasā—with a mind; praṇoditaḥ—sent.

siṁhāsane—on a throne; ca—and; prahṛte—taken; purandarāt—from Indra; sitātapatre—with a white parasol; cala—moving; cāru—beautiful; cāmare—camaras; sthitam—situated; nṛpam—the king; kaṁsam—Kaṁsa; uraṅga—as a serpent; duḥsaham—venemous; prāvocam—I spoke; evam—thus; śṛṇu—please hear; tat-prapūjitaḥ—worshiped by him.

yasodāyāḥ—of Yaśodā; sutā—the daughter; jātā—born; yā—who; tvad-dhastāt—by your hand; divam—to heaven; gatā—gone; devakyām—in Devakī; kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa; utpannaḥ—born; rohiṇī-nandanaḥ—Rohiṇī's son; balaḥ—Balarāma.

sva-mitre—with his friend; nanda-rāje—King Nanda; ca—and; nyastau—placing; putrau—the two sons; bhavat—of you; bhayāt—from fear; tava—of you; arī—the two enemies; rāma—Balarāma; kṛṣṇau—and Kṛṣṇa; dvau—both; vasudevena—by King Vasudeva; daitya-rāṭ—O king of the demons.

pūtanādyā—beginning weith Putana; hy—indeed; ariṣṭāntā—ending with Arista; daityā—demons; ye—who; tvat—of you; balotkaṭāḥ—having great strength; yābhyām—by whom; hatā—killed; vanoddeśe—in the forest; te—they; mṛtyū—deaths; tau—They; smṛtau—considered; kila—indeed.

evam—thus; uktaḥ—addressed; bhoja-patiḥ—the king of the Bhojas; krodhāc—angrily; calita-vigrahaḥ—his body trembling; jagrāha—grabbed; niśitām—a sharp; khaḍgam—sword; śaurim—Vasudweva; hantum—to kill; sabhā-tale—in the assembly.

mayā—by me; nivāritaḥ—forbidden; saḥ—he; api—also; vistṛtaiḥ—with great; nigaḍaiḥ—chains; dṛḍhaiḥ—firm; baddhvā—binding; tam—him; bhāryayā—with his wife; sārdham—with; kārāgāre—into a prison cell; rurodha—locked up; ha—indeed.

ity—thus; uktvā—speaking; tam—to him; mayi—in me; gate—gone; keśinam—toKesi; daitya-puṅgavam—the best of demons; rāma-kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; vadhārthāya—to kill; preṣayām āsa—sent; daitya-rāṭ—the king of demons.

cāṇūrādīn—headed by Canmura; samāhūya—calling; mahā-mātram—the elephant trainer; dvipasya—of the elephant; ca—and; kārya-bhāra-karān—servants; lokān—people; prāha—said; idam—this; bhoja-rāḍ—Kaṁsa; balī—powerful Kaṁsa.

kaṁsa—Kaṁsa; uvāca—said; he—O; kūṭa—Kuta; he—O; tośalaka—Tosala; he—O; cāṇūra—Canura; mahā-bala—very powerful; rāma—Balarāma; kṛṣṇau—and Kṛṣṇa; ca—and; me—my; mṛtyū—death; darśitau—revealed; nāradena—by Nārada; tu—indeed.

bhavadbhiḥ—by you; iha—here; samprāptau—attained; hanyetām—should be killed; malla-līlayā—in wrestling games; malla-bhūmim—the wrestling arena; ca—and; samyuktam—with; kuruta—should do; āśu—at once; śubhāvahām—auspicious.

dvipam—the elephant; kuvalayāpīḍam—Kuvalayapida; raṅga-dvāri—at the gate; madotkaṭam—maddened; prasthāpya—placing; tena—by it; hantavyau—will be killed; mahā-mātra—O elephant trainer; mahāhitau—my two enemies.

caturdaśyām—on Caturdasi; tu—indeed; kartavyaḥ—will be; dhanur-yāgaḥ—the Dhanur-yajna; praśāntaye—to pacify; amāvāsya-dine—on the new-moon day; lokā—O people; malla-yuddham—wrestling match; bhavet—will be; iha—here.

śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; ity—thus; uktvā—speaking; sva-janān—to his people; kaṁsaḥ—Kaṁsa; akrūram—Akrūra; āhūya—calling; sa-tvaram—at once; rahasi—in private; prāha—said; rājendra—O king of kings; mantram—advice; mantri-jana-priyam—dear to the counselors.

kaṁsa uvāca—Kaṁsa said; bhaḥ—O; bhaḥ—O; dāna-pate—best of the generous persons; mantrin—O counselor; chṛnu—please hear; me—of me; paramam—great; vacaḥ—words; gaccha—go; nanda-vrajam—to Nanda's Vraja; prātaḥ—in the morning; kuru—do; kāryam—duty; mahā-mate—O noble-hearted one.

āsāte—arrived; tatra—there; me—my; śatrū—two enemies; vasudeva-sutau—the two sons of Vasudeva; kila—indeed; darśitau—revealed; nāradena—By Nārada; api—also; deva-devarṣiṇa—the sage of the demigods; bhṛśām—greatly.

sa-upāyanaiḥ—with giftsd; gopa-gaṇaiḥ—with the gopas; nanda-rājādibhiḥ—hgeaded by King Nanda; saha—with; mathurā-darśana-miṣāt—on the pretext of seeing Mathurā; rathena—by chariot; ānaya—vring; mām—to me; ciram—at once.

dvipena—with the elephant; vā—or; mahā-mallaiḥ—by the great wretslers; ghātayiṣyāmi—I will kill; tau—Them; śiśū—the boys; tat-paścān—after that; nanda-rājam—King Nanda; ca—and; vasudeva-sahāyakam—Vasudeva's friend.

vṛṣabhānu-varam—Vṛṣabhānu; paścān—then; nava-nandopanandakān—the nine Nandas and Upanandas; paścac—then; chaurim—Vasudeva; haniṣyāmi—I will kill; devakam—Devaka; tat-sahāyakam—his friend.

ugrasenam—Ugrasenba; ca—and; pitaram—father; vṛddham—old; rājya-samutsukam—still eager to rule his kingdom; tat-paścāt—after that; yādavān—the Yadavas; sarvān—all; haniṣyāmi—I will jkill; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt.

ete—the; deva-gaṇāḥ—demigods; sarve—all; jātā—born; mantrin—O counselor; mahī-tale—on the earth; śakuniḥ— me mahā-mitro balī candravatī-patiḥ

bhūtasantāpanaḥ—Bhūtasantāpana; hṛṣṭaḥ—Hṛṣṭa; vṛkaḥ—Vṛka; śambara—Śambara; eva—indeed; ca—and; kālanābhaḥ——Kālanābha; mahānābhaḥ—Mahānābho; hariśmaśruḥ—Hariśmaśru; tathā—so; eva—indeed; ca—and.

ete—they; mitrāṇi—friends; me—my; santi—are; mad-artham—for my sake; prāṇadā—giving their lives; balāt—forcibly; śvaśuraḥ—father-in-law; api—even; jarāsandhaḥ—Jarāsandha; dviviḍaḥ—Dviviḍo; me—my; sakhā—friend; smṛtaḥ—is considered.

bāṇāsuraḥ—Bāṇāsura; ca—and; narakaḥ—Naraka; mayy—in me; eva—indeed; kṛta-sauhṛdaḥ—become friends; ete—theye; sarvām—all; mahīm—the earth; jitvā—conquering; baddhvā—binding; devān—the demigods; sa-vāsavān—with Indra.

kṣiptvā—throwing; meru-guha-durge—in a fortress-cave in Mount Meru; kuveram—Kuvera; dravya-nāyakam—the treasurer; trailokya—of the three worlds; rājyam—the kingdom; tu—indeed; sadā—always; kariṣyanti—will do; na—no; saṁśayaḥ—doubt.

kavīnām—of wise men; tvam—you; kaviḥ—the wisest; iva—as if; girām—of words; giṣpati-vat—like Bṛhaspati; bhuvi—on the earth; etat—this; kāryam—mission; ca—and; kartavyam—should be done; tvayā—by you; dāna-pate—O generous one; tvaram—at once.

śrī-akrūra uvāca—Śrī Akrūra said; tvayā—by you; kṛtaḥ—done; yadu-pate—O king of the Yadavas; manoratha-mahārṇavaḥ—a great ocean of desires; daiva—of destiny; icchayā—by the desire; ayam—this; bhavati—is; goṣpadam—a cow's hoofprint; tat—that; vinā—without; arṇavaḥ—an ocean.

kaṁsa uvāca—Kaṁsa said; visṛjya—rejecting; daivam—destiny; kurute—does; baliṣṭhaḥ—a strong man; daivam—destiny; samāśritya—takign shelter; hi—indeed; nirbalaś—the weak; ca—and; kāla—of time; ātmanoḥ—and the Supersoul; nitya-gayaḥ—always going; prabhāvān—by the power; nirākulaḥ—free from troubles; tiṣṭhatu—stands; karma-yogī—a karma-yogi.

śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; evam—thus; uktvā—saying; mantri-varam—to the great counselor; samutthāya—rising; sabhā-sthalāt—from the assembly; kiṣcit—somewhat; prakupitaḥ—angry; kaṁsaḥ—Kaṁsa; śanaiḥ—slowly; antaḥ-puram—to the inner part of the palace; yayau—went.