Chapter Four Kuṇḍina-pura-yāna Journey to the City of Kuṇḍina

In the country of Vidarbha there was a powerful king named Bhīṣmaka, who ruled from his capitol Kuṇḍina. He was handsome and glorious and he was the best of the knowers of true religion.

He had a daughter named Rukmiṇī, who was more beautiful than the goddess of fortune. She was decorated with all virtues and was more glorious than ten million moons.

From my mouth she once heard the transcendental virtues of Lord Kṛṣṇa. From that day she thought of attaining a husband like Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

From my mouth Lord Kṛṣṇa heard of her beauty and virtues. He fell in love with her and fixed his heart on marrying a girl like her.

Aware that Lord Kṛṣṇa had fallen in love with his daughter, King Bhīṣmaka, who knew all about true religion, decided to give his daughter to Him.

With a great effort prince Rukmī stopped him. Rukmī thought his sister should be given to Śiśupāla, a great warrior who was Kṛṣṇa's enemy.

Dejected, Rukmiṇī sent a brāhmaṇa messenger to noble-hearted Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Arriving at glorious Dvārakā, the brāhmaṇa was worshiped by Lord Kṛṣṇa. The brāhmaṇa sat, ate, and rested in Lord Kṛṣṇa's palace.

First the brāhmaṇa inquired about noble-hearted Lord Kṛṣṇa's welfare. Then, with the Lord's permission, the brāhmaṇa recited Rukmiṇī's letter to Him:

"Greetings to You, the master of five opulences, a great ocean of eternal bliss, filled with splendid divine virtues. I bow down before You millions and millions of times.

"Your letter brought happiness everywhere. From Nārada Muni's words I can understand that You are beyond the world of matter.

"Although You know everything, I shall tell know something in private: Please know that I am a prize to be grasped by a hero like You. O noble-hearted one, please take me by force.

As a deer should not take the lion's prize, so Śiśupāla should not take me. How can You kidnap me while I am in the fortress of this palace? Please listen.

One day before the wedding there will be a great festival for goddess Durgā, our family's deity. O Kṛṣṇa, I will go to that festival and You can kidnap me then.

sad-aśvaiḥ śaibya-sugrīva- meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ niyojitair dārukeṇa caṣcalaiś cāru-cāmaraiḥ yuktaṁ mahā-rathaṁ divyaṁ sahasrāditya-varcasam āruhya sāratheḥ pṛṣṭhe dhṛtvā śrī-pāda-paṅkajam sva-hastena dvijaṁ tasmin samāropya ramā-patiḥ vidarbhān prayayau rājan chrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ paścimayam—in the west; tadā—there; rātrau—at night; vaikuṇṭha-prabhavam—the power of Vaikuṇṭha; param—great; kiṅkinī-jāla-samyuktam—with tinkling ornaments; hema-ratna-khacit-prabham—splendid with gold and jewels; sad-aśvaiḥ—with horses; śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ—Saibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka; niyojitaiḥ—yoked; dārukeṇa—by Daruka; caṣcalaiḥ—restless; cāru-cāmaraiḥ—with beautifulcamaras; yuktam—endowed; mahā-ratham—greeat chariot; divyam—splendid; sahasrāditya-varcasam—splendid as a thousand suns; āruhya—mounting; sāratheḥ—of the charioteer; pṛṣṭhe—at the beck; dhṛtvā—holding; śrī-pāda-paṅkajam—His glorious lotus feet; sva-hastena—with His own hand; dvijam—the brāhmaṇa; tasmin—in that; samāropya—placing; ramā-patiḥ—the goddess of fortune's husband; vidarbhān—to the country of Vidarbha; prayayau—went; rājan—O king; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ—Lord Hari. That night a chariot from Vaikuṇṭha appeared in the west. It was decorated with gold, jewels, and a network of tinkling ornaments and was splendid like a thousand suns. Dāruka yoked to it the restless cāmara-decorated horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and then mounted the chariot behind them. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, placed His own lotus feet on the chariot, and with His own hand pulled the brāhmaṇa onto the chariot. O king, then the Lord went to the country of Vidarbha.

sad-aśvaiḥ śaibya-sugrīva- meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ niyojitair dārukeṇa caṣcalaiś cāru-cāmaraiḥ yuktaṁ mahā-rathaṁ divyaṁ sahasrāditya-varcasam āruhya sāratheḥ pṛṣṭhe dhṛtvā śrī-pāda-paṅkajam sva-hastena dvijaṁ tasmin samāropya ramā-patiḥ vidarbhān prayayau rājan chrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ paścimayam—in the west; tadā—there; rātrau—at night; vaikuṇṭha-prabhavam—the power of Vaikuṇṭha; param—great; kiṅkinī-jāla-samyuktam—with tinkling ornaments; hema-ratna-khacit-prabham—splendid with gold and jewels; sad-aśvaiḥ—with horses; śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ—Saibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka; niyojitaiḥ—yoked; dārukeṇa—by Daruka; caṣcalaiḥ—restless; cāru-cāmaraiḥ—with beautifulcamaras; yuktam—endowed; mahā-ratham—greeat chariot; divyam—splendid; sahasrāditya-varcasam—splendid as a thousand suns; āruhya—mounting; sāratheḥ—of the charioteer; pṛṣṭhe—at the beck; dhṛtvā—holding; śrī-pāda-paṅkajam—His glorious lotus feet; sva-hastena—with His own hand; dvijam—the brāhmaṇa; tasmin—in that; samāropya—placing; ramā-patiḥ—the goddess of fortune's husband; vidarbhān—to the country of Vidarbha; prayayau—went; rājan—O king; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ—Lord Hari. That night a chariot from Vaikuṇṭha appeared in the west. It was decorated with gold, jewels, and a network of tinkling ornaments and was splendid like a thousand suns. Dāruka yoked to it the restless cāmara-decorated horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and then mounted the chariot behind them. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, placed His own lotus feet on the chariot, and with His own hand pulled the brāhmaṇa onto the chariot. O king, then the Lord went to the country of Vidarbha.

sad-aśvaiḥ śaibya-sugrīva- meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ niyojitair dārukeṇa caṣcalaiś cāru-cāmaraiḥ yuktaṁ mahā-rathaṁ divyaṁ sahasrāditya-varcasam āruhya sāratheḥ pṛṣṭhe dhṛtvā śrī-pāda-paṅkajam sva-hastena dvijaṁ tasmin samāropya ramā-patiḥ vidarbhān prayayau rājan chrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ paścimayam—in the west; tadā—there; rātrau—at night; vaikuṇṭha-prabhavam—the power of Vaikuṇṭha; param—great; kiṅkinī-jāla-samyuktam—with tinkling ornaments; hema-ratna-khacit-prabham—splendid with gold and jewels; sad-aśvaiḥ—with horses; śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ—Saibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka; niyojitaiḥ—yoked; dārukeṇa—by Daruka; caṣcalaiḥ—restless; cāru-cāmaraiḥ—with beautifulcamaras; yuktam—endowed; mahā-ratham—greeat chariot; divyam—splendid; sahasrāditya-varcasam—splendid as a thousand suns; āruhya—mounting; sāratheḥ—of the charioteer; pṛṣṭhe—at the beck; dhṛtvā—holding; śrī-pāda-paṅkajam—His glorious lotus feet; sva-hastena—with His own hand; dvijam—the brāhmaṇa; tasmin—in that; samāropya—placing; ramā-patiḥ—the goddess of fortune's husband; vidarbhān—to the country of Vidarbha; prayayau—went; rājan—O king; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ—Lord Hari. That night a chariot from Vaikuṇṭha appeared in the west. It was decorated with gold, jewels, and a network of tinkling ornaments and was splendid like a thousand suns. Dāruka yoked to it the restless cāmara-decorated horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and then mounted the chariot behind them. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, placed His own lotus feet on the chariot, and with His own hand pulled the brāhmaṇa onto the chariot. O king, then the Lord went to the country of Vidarbha.

sad-aśvaiḥ śaibya-sugrīva- meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ niyojitair dārukeṇa caṣcalaiś cāru-cāmaraiḥ yuktaṁ mahā-rathaṁ divyaṁ sahasrāditya-varcasam āruhya sāratheḥ pṛṣṭhe dhṛtvā śrī-pāda-paṅkajam sva-hastena dvijaṁ tasmin samāropya ramā-patiḥ vidarbhān prayayau rājan chrī-kṛṣṇo bhagavān hariḥ paścimayam—in the west; tadā—there; rātrau—at night; vaikuṇṭha-prabhavam—the power of Vaikuṇṭha; param—great; kiṅkinī-jāla-samyuktam—with tinkling ornaments; hema-ratna-khacit-prabham—splendid with gold and jewels; sad-aśvaiḥ—with horses; śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ—Saibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka; niyojitaiḥ—yoked; dārukeṇa—by Daruka; caṣcalaiḥ—restless; cāru-cāmaraiḥ—with beautifulcamaras; yuktam—endowed; mahā-ratham—greeat chariot; divyam—splendid; sahasrāditya-varcasam—splendid as a thousand suns; āruhya—mounting; sāratheḥ—of the charioteer; pṛṣṭhe—at the beck; dhṛtvā—holding; śrī-pāda-paṅkajam—His glorious lotus feet; sva-hastena—with His own hand; dvijam—the brāhmaṇa; tasmin—in that; samāropya—placing; ramā-patiḥ—the goddess of fortune's husband; vidarbhān—to the country of Vidarbha; prayayau—went; rājan—O king; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ—Lord Hari. That night a chariot from Vaikuṇṭha appeared in the west. It was decorated with gold, jewels, and a network of tinkling ornaments and was splendid like a thousand suns. Dāruka yoked to it the restless cāmara-decorated horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and then mounted the chariot behind them. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, placed His own lotus feet on the chariot, and with His own hand pulled the brāhmaṇa onto the chariot. O king, then the Lord went to the country of Vidarbha.

Hearing that Lord Kṛṣṇa had gone alone to kidnap Rukmiṇī from the circle of kings, and fearing a quarrel would follow, Lord Balarāma prepared to help His brother.

Taking with Him all the Yādavas' powerful armies, Lord Balarāma went to defeat the enemy kings.

Arriving at the gardens outside Kuṇḍina, Kṛṣṇa and the brāhmaṇa stayed under a tintiṇī tree as Dāruka untied the horses.

In the distance they could see the great city of Kuṇḍina, which stood within a great fortress 56 miles around.

That fort was encircled by an impassable moat a hundred bows wide and overflowing with water like a river swollen by the monsoon.

The city was surrounded by a wall fifty hands high. In the city were many beautiful palaces with glistening golden roofs.

There were many flags, glittering ornaments, and splendid golden spires. Many peacocks and pārāvatas flew here and there.

About to offer his daughter to Siśupāla, King Bhīṣmaka made elaborate wedding preparations in a jewel pavilion.

As goddess Earth is splendidly manifested among many mystic powers in the earthly realm, so Rukmiṇī was splendidly manifested among many women in a palace filled with beautiful music.

Then brāhmaṇas learned in the Atharva Veda approached the carefuully bathed and decorated with exquisite garments and precious jewels Rukmiṇī, chanted mantras for her protection and tied on her an amulet.

gajāyutaṁ rathānāṁ ca daśa-lakṣaṁ manoharam daśa-koṭi-hayānāṁ ca gudādi-tila-parvatān sahasraṁ svarṇa-patrāṇāṁ bhūṣaṇānāṁ tathāyutam viprebhyaḥ pradadau rājā bhīṣmako 'ti-mahā-manāḥ haimānām—of gold; bhara-lakṣam—a hundred thousand bharas; ca—and; muktānām—of pearls; dvi-guṇam—double; tathā—so; sahasra—a thousand; bhāram—bharas; vastrāṇām—of garments; dhenūnām—of cows; arbudāni—a hundred million; ṣaṭ—six; gaja—of elephants; ayutam—tne thousand; rathānām—of chariots; ca—and; daśa-lakṣam—a million; manoharam—beautiful; daśa-koṭi-hayānām—a hundred million horses; ca—and; gudādi-tila-parvatān—mountains of grains and molasses; sahasram—a thousand; svarṇa-patrāṇām—golden cups; bhūṣaṇānām—of ornaments; tathā—so; ayutam—ten thousand; viprebhyaḥ—to the brāhmaṇas; pradadau—gave; rājan—O king; bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; ati-mahā-manāḥ—very noble-hearted. The noble-hearted King Bhīṣmaka gave in charity to the brāhmaṇas a hundred thousand bharas of gold, twice that much in pearls, a thousand bharas of valuable garments, six hundred million cows, a hundred million horses, many mountains of grains and molasses, a thousand golden cups, and ten thousand ornaments.

gajāyutaṁ rathānāṁ ca daśa-lakṣaṁ manoharam daśa-koṭi-hayānāṁ ca gudādi-tila-parvatān sahasraṁ svarṇa-patrāṇāṁ bhūṣaṇānāṁ tathāyutam viprebhyaḥ pradadau rājā bhīṣmako 'ti-mahā-manāḥ haimānām—of gold; bhara-lakṣam—a hundred thousand bharas; ca—and; muktānām—of pearls; dvi-guṇam—double; tathā—so; sahasra—a thousand; bhāram—bharas; vastrāṇām—of garments; dhenūnām—of cows; arbudāni—a hundred million; ṣaṭ—six; gaja—of elephants; ayutam—tne thousand; rathānām—of chariots; ca—and; daśa-lakṣam—a million; manoharam—beautiful; daśa-koṭi-hayānām—a hundred million horses; ca—and; gudādi-tila-parvatān—mountains of grains and molasses; sahasram—a thousand; svarṇa-patrāṇām—golden cups; bhūṣaṇānām—of ornaments; tathā—so; ayutam—ten thousand; viprebhyaḥ—to the brāhmaṇas; pradadau—gave; rājan—O king; bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; ati-mahā-manāḥ—very noble-hearted. The noble-hearted King Bhīṣmaka gave in charity to the brāhmaṇas a hundred thousand bharas of gold, twice that much in pearls, a thousand bharas of valuable garments, six hundred million cows, a hundred million horses, many mountains of grains and molasses, a thousand golden cups, and ten thousand ornaments.

gajāyutaṁ rathānāṁ ca daśa-lakṣaṁ manoharam daśa-koṭi-hayānāṁ ca gudādi-tila-parvatān sahasraṁ svarṇa-patrāṇāṁ bhūṣaṇānāṁ tathāyutam viprebhyaḥ pradadau rājā bhīṣmako 'ti-mahā-manāḥ haimānām—of gold; bhara-lakṣam—a hundred thousand bharas; ca—and; muktānām—of pearls; dvi-guṇam—double; tathā—so; sahasra—a thousand; bhāram—bharas; vastrāṇām—of garments; dhenūnām—of cows; arbudāni—a hundred million; ṣaṭ—six; gaja—of elephants; ayutam—tne thousand; rathānām—of chariots; ca—and; daśa-lakṣam—a million; manoharam—beautiful; daśa-koṭi-hayānām—a hundred million horses; ca—and; gudādi-tila-parvatān—mountains of grains and molasses; sahasram—a thousand; svarṇa-patrāṇām—golden cups; bhūṣaṇānām—of ornaments; tathā—so; ayutam—ten thousand; viprebhyaḥ—to the brāhmaṇas; pradadau—gave; rājan—O king; bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; ati-mahā-manāḥ—very noble-hearted. The noble-hearted King Bhīṣmaka gave in charity to the brāhmaṇas a hundred thousand bharas of gold, twice that much in pearls, a thousand bharas of valuable garments, six hundred million cows, a hundred million horses, many mountains of grains and molasses, a thousand golden cups, and ten thousand ornaments.

Then, on Damaghoṣa's order, the brāhmaṇas gave a protective amulet to Śiśupāla.

hara-kaṅkana-keyūra- śikhāmaṇi-vibhūṣitam maṅgalair gīta-vāditrair gandhākṣata-vicarcitam ācāra-lājaiḥ suvaraṁ śiśupālaṁ vidhāya ca āropya kariṇaṁ proccaṁ dāmaghoṣo viniryayau brāhmaṇaiḥ—by the brāhmaṇas; maṅgala-snānam—an auspicious bath; pati—of the king; kaṣcuka—in garments; śobhitam—splendid; mukuṭa—crown; upari—above; vibhrājat—shining; puṣpa—of flowers; mauli—a crown; dharam—wearing; śubham—handsome; hāra—necklaces; kaṅkana—bracelets; keyūra—armlets; śikhā—crown; maṇi—jewels; vibhūṣitam—decorated; maṅgalaiḥ—with auspicious; gīta—singing; vāditraiḥ—and instrumental music; gandhākṣata-vicarcitam—asnointed with sweet fragrances; ācāra-lājaiḥ—with showers of grain; suvaram—bridegroom; śiśupālam—Sisupala; vidhāya—placing; ca—and; āropya—mounting; kariṇam—an elephant; proccam—great; dāmaghoṣaḥ—Damaghosa; viniryayau—left. Placing his son, Śiśupāla, who had been ritually bathed by the brāhmaṇas, who was elegantly dressed as the bridegroom, who wore a crown decorated with splendid flowers, who wore necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and crest jewels, who was anointed with sweet fragrances, and who was greated with auspicious singing, instrumental music, and a shower of grains, on a great elephant, and then himself climbing on that elephant, King Damaghoṣa left his own city.

hara-kaṅkana-keyūra- śikhāmaṇi-vibhūṣitam maṅgalair gīta-vāditrair gandhākṣata-vicarcitam ācāra-lājaiḥ suvaraṁ śiśupālaṁ vidhāya ca āropya kariṇaṁ proccaṁ dāmaghoṣo viniryayau brāhmaṇaiḥ—by the brāhmaṇas; maṅgala-snānam—an auspicious bath; pati—of the king; kaṣcuka—in garments; śobhitam—splendid; mukuṭa—crown; upari—above; vibhrājat—shining; puṣpa—of flowers; mauli—a crown; dharam—wearing; śubham—handsome; hāra—necklaces; kaṅkana—bracelets; keyūra—armlets; śikhā—crown; maṇi—jewels; vibhūṣitam—decorated; maṅgalaiḥ—with auspicious; gīta—singing; vāditraiḥ—and instrumental music; gandhākṣata-vicarcitam—asnointed with sweet fragrances; ācāra-lājaiḥ—with showers of grain; suvaram—bridegroom; śiśupālam—Sisupala; vidhāya—placing; ca—and; āropya—mounting; kariṇam—an elephant; proccam—great; dāmaghoṣaḥ—Damaghosa; viniryayau—left. Placing his son, Śiśupāla, who had been ritually bathed by the brāhmaṇas, who was elegantly dressed as the bridegroom, who wore a crown decorated with splendid flowers, who wore necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and crest jewels, who was anointed with sweet fragrances, and who was greated with auspicious singing, instrumental music, and a shower of grains, on a great elephant, and then himself climbing on that elephant, King Damaghoṣa left his own city.

hara-kaṅkana-keyūra- śikhāmaṇi-vibhūṣitam maṅgalair gīta-vāditrair gandhākṣata-vicarcitam ācāra-lājaiḥ suvaraṁ śiśupālaṁ vidhāya ca āropya kariṇaṁ proccaṁ dāmaghoṣo viniryayau brāhmaṇaiḥ—by the brāhmaṇas; maṅgala-snānam—an auspicious bath; pati—of the king; kaṣcuka—in garments; śobhitam—splendid; mukuṭa—crown; upari—above; vibhrājat—shining; puṣpa—of flowers; mauli—a crown; dharam—wearing; śubham—handsome; hāra—necklaces; kaṅkana—bracelets; keyūra—armlets; śikhā—crown; maṇi—jewels; vibhūṣitam—decorated; maṅgalaiḥ—with auspicious; gīta—singing; vāditraiḥ—and instrumental music; gandhākṣata-vicarcitam—asnointed with sweet fragrances; ācāra-lājaiḥ—with showers of grain; suvaram—bridegroom; śiśupālam—Sisupala; vidhāya—placing; ca—and; āropya—mounting; kariṇam—an elephant; proccam—great; dāmaghoṣaḥ—Damaghosa; viniryayau—left. Placing his son, Śiśupāla, who had been ritually bathed by the brāhmaṇas, who was elegantly dressed as the bridegroom, who wore a crown decorated with splendid flowers, who wore necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and crest jewels, who was anointed with sweet fragrances, and who was greated with auspicious singing, instrumental music, and a shower of grains, on a great elephant, and then himself climbing on that elephant, King Damaghoṣa left his own city.

vikarṣan mahatīṁ senāṁ damaghoṣo mahā-balaḥ dundubhīn nādayān dīrghān āyayau kuṇḍinaṁ puram jarāsandhena—with Jarasandha; śālvena—withe Salva; dantavakreṇa—with Dantavakra; dhīmatā—intelligent; virūrathena—with Viduratha; pauṇḍreṇa—with Punrdaka; pāṛṣṇi-grāhena—protecting the rear of the army; maithila—O king of Mithila; vikarṣan—pulling; mahatīm—great; senām—army; damaghoṣaḥ—Damaghosa; mahā-balaḥ—very powerful; {}; dundubhīn—drums; nādayān—sounding; dīrghān—long; āyayau—came; kuṇḍinam—to Kundina; puram—city. Accompanied by Jarāsandha, Śalva, intelligent Dantavakra, and Vidūratha, and with Pauṇḍraka at the rear, powerful King Damaghoṣa, bringing with him a great army sounding kettledrums, went to Kuṇḍina City.

Hearing that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come, many thousands of other kings, all Śiśupāla's allies, eagerly came.

maṇḍiteṣu ca sarveṣu muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu saugandhikaiḥ puṣpa-rasai rāṣṭreṣu śibireṣu ca varāṅganā-nṛtya-lāsan- mṛdaṅgeṣu dhvanatsu ca niveśayām āsa nṛpair vidarbhādhipatir mahān bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; hy—indeed; agrataḥ—before; gatvā—going; sampūjya—worshiping; vidhivān—according to the rules; nṛpam—the king; kāśmīra—from Kasmira; kambalaiḥ—with wollen cadars; divyā—splendid; aruṇaiḥ—red coral; samudra-sambhavaiḥ—born from the sea; maṇḍiteṣu—decorated; ca—and; sarveṣu—all; muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu—with necklaces of pearls; saugandhikaiḥ—fragrant; puṣpa-rasai—with the nectar of flowers; rāṣṭreṣu—in the kingdoms; śibireṣu—in the camps; ca—and; varāṅganā—of prostitutes; nṛtya—dancing; lāsat—splendid; mṛdaṅgeṣu—drums; dhvanatsu—sounding; ca—and; niveśayām āsa—made to enter; nṛpaiḥ—with the kings; vidarbhādhipatiḥ—the king od Vidarbha; mahān—great. King Bhīṣmaka went to greet the kings. As drums sounded and dancing-girls danced in the military encampment, Bhīṣmaka worshiped the kings and decorated them with woolen shawls from Kashmir, ornaments of red coral gathered from the ocean, pearl necklaces, and flower fragrances. .pa

maṇḍiteṣu ca sarveṣu muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu saugandhikaiḥ puṣpa-rasai rāṣṭreṣu śibireṣu ca varāṅganā-nṛtya-lāsan- mṛdaṅgeṣu dhvanatsu ca niveśayām āsa nṛpair vidarbhādhipatir mahān bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; hy—indeed; agrataḥ—before; gatvā—going; sampūjya—worshiping; vidhivān—according to the rules; nṛpam—the king; kāśmīra—from Kasmira; kambalaiḥ—with wollen cadars; divyā—splendid; aruṇaiḥ—red coral; samudra-sambhavaiḥ—born from the sea; maṇḍiteṣu—decorated; ca—and; sarveṣu—all; muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu—with necklaces of pearls; saugandhikaiḥ—fragrant; puṣpa-rasai—with the nectar of flowers; rāṣṭreṣu—in the kingdoms; śibireṣu—in the camps; ca—and; varāṅganā—of prostitutes; nṛtya—dancing; lāsat—splendid; mṛdaṅgeṣu—drums; dhvanatsu—sounding; ca—and; niveśayām āsa—made to enter; nṛpaiḥ—with the kings; vidarbhādhipatiḥ—the king od Vidarbha; mahān—great. King Bhīṣmaka went to greet the kings. As drums sounded and dancing-girls danced in the military encampment, Bhīṣmaka worshiped the kings and decorated them with woolen shawls from Kashmir, ornaments of red coral gathered from the ocean, pearl necklaces, and flower fragrances. .pa

maṇḍiteṣu ca sarveṣu muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu saugandhikaiḥ puṣpa-rasai rāṣṭreṣu śibireṣu ca varāṅganā-nṛtya-lāsan- mṛdaṅgeṣu dhvanatsu ca niveśayām āsa nṛpair vidarbhādhipatir mahān bhīṣmakaḥ—Bhismaka; hy—indeed; agrataḥ—before; gatvā—going; sampūjya—worshiping; vidhivān—according to the rules; nṛpam—the king; kāśmīra—from Kasmira; kambalaiḥ—with wollen cadars; divyā—splendid; aruṇaiḥ—red coral; samudra-sambhavaiḥ—born from the sea; maṇḍiteṣu—decorated; ca—and; sarveṣu—all; muktā-dāma-vilambiṣu—with necklaces of pearls; saugandhikaiḥ—fragrant; puṣpa-rasai—with the nectar of flowers; rāṣṭreṣu—in the kingdoms; śibireṣu—in the camps; ca—and; varāṅganā—of prostitutes; nṛtya—dancing; lāsat—splendid; mṛdaṅgeṣu—drums; dhvanatsu—sounding; ca—and; niveśayām āsa—made to enter; nṛpaiḥ—with the kings; vidarbhādhipatiḥ—the king od Vidarbha; mahān—great. King Bhīṣmaka went to greet the kings. As drums sounded and dancing-girls danced in the military encampment, Bhīṣmaka worshiped the kings and decorated them with woolen shawls from Kashmir, ornaments of red coral gathered from the ocean, pearl necklaces, and flower fragrances. .pa