Chapter One Kaṁsa-mantra Advice to Kaṁsa

31 verses

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
vasudeva-sutaṁ devaṁ
kaṁsa-cāṇūra-mardanam
devakī-paramānandaṁ
kṛṣṇaṁ vande jagad-gurum

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: I offer my respectful obiesances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the universes, the crusher of Kaṁsa and Cāṇūra, the son of Vasudeva, and the bliss of Devakī.

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca
mathurāyāṁ kiṁ caritraṁ
kṛtavān bhagavān mune
kathaṁ jaghāna kaṁsākhyaṁ
etan me brūhi tattvataḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: O sage, what pastimes did the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoy in Mathurā? How did He kill Kaṁsa? Please tell me this in truth.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
athaikadāhaṁ mathurāṁ purīṁ parāṁ
vilokituṁ cāgatavān nṛpeśvara
kartuṁ paraṁ daitya-vadhodyamaṁ hareḥ
parasya sākṣān manasā praṇoditaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king of kings, one day, inspired by Lord Kṛṣṇa in my heart, I went to Mathurā City both to see it and to arrange for Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastime of killing many demons.

Verse text

siṁhāsane ca prahṛte purandarāt
sitātapatre cala-cāru-cāmare
sthitaṁ nṛpaṁ kaṁsam uraṅga-duḥsahaṁ
prāvocam evaṁ śṛṇu tat-prapūjitaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

After he had worshiped me, and as, fanned with beautiful cāmaras, he sat on a white-parasol throne stolen from Indra, I spoke to Kaṁsa, who was poisonous like a snake. Please hear what I said.

Verse text

yasodāyāḥ sutā jātā
yā tvad-dhastād divaṁ gatā
devakyāṁ kṛṣṇa utpanno
rohiṇī-nandano balaḥ

Synonyms

yasodāyāḥ of Yaśodā ; sutā the daughter ; jātā born ; 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.

Translation

The girl who fled to heaven from your hand was actually the daughter of Yaśodā. Devakī actually had a son: Kṛṣṇa, and Rohiṇī also had a son: Balarāma.

Verse text

sva-mitre nanda-rāje ca
nyastau putrau bhavad-bhayāt
tavārī rāma-kṛṣṇau dvau
vasudevena daitya-rāṭ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

O king of the demons, afraid of what you might do to them, Vasudeva placed his sons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who are your enemies, under the care of his friend Nanda Mahārāja.

Verse text

pūtanādyā hy ariṣṭāntā
daityā ye tvad-balotkaṭāḥ
yābhyāṁ hatā vanoddeśe
te mṛtyū tau smṛtau kila

Synonyms

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.

Translation

In the forest these two boys killed the host of very powerful demons, beginning with Pūtanā and ending with Ariṣta, that you sent there. Those two boys are like death personified.

Verse text

evam ukto bhoja-patiḥ
krodhāc calita-vigrahaḥ
jagrāha niśitāṁ khaḍgaṁ
śauriṁ hantuṁ sabhā-tale

Synonyms

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.

Translation

When he heard these words, Kaṁsa trembled with anger. He grabbed a sharp sword to kill Vasudeva in the royal assembly.

Verse text

mayā nivāritaḥ so 'pi
vistṛtair nigaḍair dṛḍhaiḥ
baddhvā taṁ bhāryayā sārdhaṁ
kārāgāre rurodha ha

Synonyms

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.

Translation

When I forbade him to do that, with great chains he tightly bound Vasudeva and his wife, and locked them in a prison cell.

Verse text

ity uktvā taṁ mayi gate
keśinaṁ daitya-puṅgavam
rāma-kṛṣṇa-vadhārthāya
preṣayām āsa daitya-rāṭ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

I spoke to Kaṁsa and then I left. When I was gone Kaṁsa sent the great demon Kesī to kill Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Verse text

cāṇūrādīn samāhūya
mahā-mātraṁ dvipasya ca
kārya-bhāra-karāl lokān
prāhedaṁ bhoja-rāḍ balī

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Calling together his many servants, headed by Cāṇūra and his elephant-trainer, Kaṁsa spoke to them the following words.

Verse text

kaṁsa uvāca
he kūṭa he tośalaka
he cāṇūra mahā-bala
rāma-kṛṣṇau ca me mṛtyū
darśitau nāradena tu

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Kaṁsa said: O Kūṭa, O Tośala, O powerful Cāṇūra, Nārada Muni has reveled to me that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are destined to kill me.

Verse text

bhavadbhir iha samprāptau
hanyetāṁ malla-līlayā
malla-bhūmiṁ ca samyuktaṁ
kurutāśu śubhāvahām

Synonyms

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.

Translation

When They come here you should kill Them in the wrestling games. In this way you will bring auspiciousness to our wrestling arena.

Verse text

dvipaṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
raṅga-dvāri madotkaṭam
prasthāpya tena hantavyau
mahā-mātra mahāhitau

Synonyms

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.

Translation

O elephant-trainer, placed the enraged elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa at the gateway and it will kill my two enemies.

Verse text

caturdaśyāṁ tu kartavyo
dhanur-yāgaḥ praśāntaye
amāvāsya-dine lokā
malla-yuddhaṁ bhaved iha

Synonyms

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.

Translation

O people, to ensure that there is peace in our land, on the fourteenth day of the moon we will celebrate a Dhanur-yajṣa ritual. Then, on the new-moon day we will celebrate a festival of wrestling matches.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ity uktvā sva-janān kaṁso
'krūram āhūya sa-tvaram
rahasi prāha rājendra
mantraṁ mantri-jana-priyam

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king of kings, after speaking these words to his people, Kaṁsa called for Akrūra and in private gave the following counsel, a counsel that 168pleased Akrūra, the wisest of counselors.

Verse text

kaṁsa uvāca
bho bho dāna-pate mantrin
chṛnu me paramaṁ vacaḥ
gaccha nanda-vrajaṁ prātaḥ
kuru kāryaṁ mahā-mate

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Kaṁsa said: O counselor, O best of the generous, please hear my noble words. In the morning you should go to Nanda's Vraja. O noble-hearted one, then you should execute the mission I give to you.

Verse text

āsāte tatra me śatrū
vasudeva-sutau kila
darśitau nāradenāpi
deva-devarṣiṇa bhṛśām

Synonyms

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.

Translation

My two enemies, the sons of Vasudeva, have gone there. Devarṣi Nārada revealed that to me.

Verse text

sopāyanair gopa-gaṇair
nanda-rājādibhiḥ saha
mathurā-darśana-miṣād
rathenānaya māṁ ciram

Synonyms

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.

Translation

One pretext of bringing Them to see Mathurā City bring, accompanied by King Nanda and the gopas bearing gifts, the two of Them to me at once.

Verse text

dvipena vā mahā-mallair
ghātayiṣyāmi tau śiśū
tat-paścān nanda-rājaṁ ca
vasudeva-sahāyakam

Synonyms

dvipena with the elephant ; 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.

Translation

I will have the two boys killed, either by the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, or by the great wrestlers, and then I will kill Vasudeva's friend Nanda Mahārāja.

Verse text

vṛṣabhānu-varaṁ paścān
nava-nandopanandakān
paścac chauriṁ haniṣyāmi
devakaṁ tat-sahāyakam

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Then I will kill King Vṛṣabhānu, and then the nine Nandas and Upanandas, and then Vasudeva, and then Vasudeva's friend Devaka.

Verse text

ugrasenaṁ ca pitaraṁ
vṛddhaṁ rājya-samutsukam
tat-paścād yādavān sarvān
haniṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Then I will kill my old father, who still yearns to rule his kingdom, and then I will kill all the Yādavas. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse text

ete deva-gaṇāḥ sarve
jātā mantrin mahī-tale
śakunir me mahā-mitro
balī candravatī-patiḥ

Synonyms

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

Translation

O counselor, all the demigods are now born on the earth. Still, Śakuni, the powerful king of Canrāvatī, is my great friend.

Verse text

bhūta-santāpano hṛṣṭo
vṛkaḥ śambara eva ca
kālanābho mahānābho
hariśmaśrus tathaiva ca

Synonyms

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

Translation

Bhūtasantāpana, Hṛṣṭa, Vṛka, Śambara, Kālanābha, Mahānābha, and Hariśmaśru are also my friends.

Verse text

ete mitrāṇi me santi
mad-arthaṁ prāṇadā balāt
śvaśuro 'pi jarāsandho
dviviḍo me sakhā smṛtaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

They are all my friends. They would give up their lives for my sake. Jarāsandha is my father-in-law. Dviviḍa is also my friend.

Verse text

bāṇāsuraś ca narako
mayy eva kṛta-sauhṛdaḥ
ete sarvāṁ mahīṁ jitvā
baddhvā devān sa-vāsavān

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Bāṇāsura and Narakāsura are also my friends. My friends will counquer all the worlds. They will put Indra and the demigods in chains.

Verse text

kṣiptvā meru-guha-durge
kuveraṁ dravya-nāyakam
trailokya-rājyaṁ tu sadā
kariṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

They will imprison the heavenly treasurer Kuvera in a cave on Mount Meru. They will rule the three worlds. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse text

kavīnāṁ tvaṁ kavir iva
girāṁ giṣpati-vad bhuvi
etat kāryaṁ ca kartavyaṁ
tvayā dāna-pate tvaram

Synonyms

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.

Translation

You are the wisest of wise men. In this world you are eloquent like Bṛhaspati. O generous one, please execute this mission at once.

Verse text

śrī-akrūra uvāca
tvayā kṛto yadu-pate
manoratha-mahārṇavaḥ
daivecchayāyaṁ bhavati
goṣpadaṁ tad vinārṇavaḥ

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Śrī Akrūra said: O king of the Yādavas, you have a great ocean of desires. If destiny wishes, you will cross that ocean as one crosses a the puddle in a cow's hoofprint. If destiny does not wish, your desires will remain an impassable ocean.

Verse text

kaṁsa uvāca
visṛjya daivaṁ kurute baliṣṭho
daivaṁ samāśritya hi nirbalaś ca
kālātmanor nitya-gayo prabhāvān
nirākulas tiṣṭhatu karma-yogī

Synonyms

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.

Translation

Kaṁsa said: A strong man rejects destiny. He makes his own destiny. Only the weak lean on destiny. Protected by the power of his own work, a strong man is never troubled by eternal time and the eternal Supersoul.

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
evam uktvā mantri-varaṁ
samutthāya sabhā-sthalāt
kiñcit prakupitaḥ kaṁsaḥ
śanair antaḥ-puraṁ yayau

Synonyms

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

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: After speaking these words to his counselor, agitated Kaṁsa stood up, left the room, and slowly walked to the inner rooms of the palace. .pa