Parva 2 Chapter 101: kṛṣṇaparākramavarṇanam - kṛṣṇa's valour lauded

śrīkṛṣṇa said : Due to the penance, strength and meditation of all of you, having meritorious fame and your curses, the sinful soul, naraka, son of (goddess) earth was slain. mokṣitaṁ bandhanādguptaṁ kanyāntaḥpuramuttamam | maṇiparvatamutpāṭya śikharaṁ chaitadāhṛtam ||2-101-2 The best maidens who were kept captive secretly (by naraka) were set free. The mountain of jewels along with its peak was pulled out and brought here. ayaṁ dhanaughaḥ sumahānkiṅkarairāhṛ+to mama | īśā bhavnto dravyasya tānuktvā virarāma ha ||2-101-3 The kiṅkara have brought the great collection of wealth. You are the lord of this wealth. Saying this kṛṣṇa concluded his speech. tacchrutvā vāsudevasya bhojavṛṣṇyandhakā vacaḥ | jahasurhṛṣṭaromāṇaḥ pūjayanto janārdanam ||2-101-4 (vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya !) Hearing the words of the son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa), the bhoja-s, vṛṣṇi-s and andhaka-s smiled and became thrilled. They worshipped the one who excites men (kṛṣṇa). ūcuśchainaṁ nṛvīrāste kṛtāṣjalipuṭāstataḥ | naitatccitraṁ mahābāho tvayi devakinandane ||2-101-5 Those best among men folded their hands in respect and said: O the one with strong arms! There is no wonder in this act of yours, O the son of devakī. yatkṛtvā duṣkaraṁ karma devairapi durāsadam | lālayeḥ svajanānbhogai ratnaishcha svayamarjitaiḥ ||2-101-6 You have performed a task, most difficult even for the deva-s to perform. You pamper your own people with the wealth and jewels acquired by you. tataḥ sarvadaśārhāṇāmāhukasya ca yāḥ striyaḥ | prīyamāṇāḥ samājagmurvāsudevadidṛkṣayā || 2-101-7 Then all the women of dāśārha-s as well as Ahuka arrived happily to see the son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa). devakī saptamā devyo rohiṇī ca śubhānanā | dadṛśuḥ kṛṣṇamāsīnaṁ rāmaṁ caiva mahābhujam ||2-101-8 All the seven devī-s including devakī (sahadevā, śāntidevā, devarakṣitā, vṛkadevī, upadevī and devakī - all daughters of devaka) as well as rohiṇī, the one with auspicious face, saw kṛṣṇa and (bala)rāma, having strong arms, seated. (Note 1) tau tu pūrvamatikramya rohiṇīmabhivādya ca | abhivādayatāṁ devīṁ devakīṁ rāmakeśavau ||2-101-9 Both rāma and keshava (kṛṣṇa), crossing the order (of age), first bowed to rohiṇī and then bowed to devī devakī. sā tābhyāmṛṣabhākṣābhyāṁ putrābhyāṁ śuśubhe'mbikā | aditirdevamāteva mitreṇa varuṇena ca ||2-101-10 ambikā (mother devakī) dazzled due to her sons (balarāmā and kṛṣṇa) who had eyes as large as the eyes of bull, like the mother of deva-s, aditi, dazzles with her sons, mitra and varuṇa. tataḥ prāptā narāgryau tu tasyāḥ sā duhitā tadā | ekānaṁśeti yāmāhurnarā vai kāmarūpiṇīm ||2-101-11 At that time, the daughter (of yaśodā), who is called ekānaṁśa by men, who can take forms as she likes, arrived near the prominent among men (rāma and Kṛṣṇa). tathā kṣaṇamuhūrtābhyāṁ yathā jajṣe sureśvaraḥ | yatkṛte sagaṇaṁ kaṁsaṁ jaghāna puruṣottamaḥ ||2-101-12 The lord of deva-s, (kṛṣṇa) was born in the manner and time as set by ekānaṁśa. Because of her, the best among men (kṛṣṇa) slayed kaṁsa along with his men. sā kanyā vavṛdhe tatra vṛṣṇisadmani pūjitā | putravatpālyamānā vai vāsudevājṣayā tadā ||2-101-13 That maiden grew up in the house of vṛṣṇi-s, worshipped by them. She was looked after as a son, due to the order of the son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa). ekānaṁśeti yāmāhurutpannāṁ mānavā bhuvi | yogakanyāṁ durādharṣāṁ rakṣārthaṁ keshavasya ha ||2-101-14 She, who is difficult to conquer, who is the maiden yogamāyā, who is called ekānaṁśa, came to earth for the protection of keshava (kṛṣṇa). yāṁ vai sarve sumanasaḥ pūjayanti sma yādavāḥ | devavaddivyapuruṣaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ saṁrakṣito yathā ||2-101-15 She, worshipped by all the yādava-s, having good minds, protected the divine man kṛṣṇa, like a deva. tāṁ ca tatropasaṅgamya priyāmiva sakhīṁ svasām | dakṣiṇena karāgreṇa parijagrāha mādhavaḥ ||2-101-16 The husband of mā (kṛṣṇa) saw his sister there. He held her hand with his right hand as a friend. tathaiva rāmo'tibalaḥ saṁpariṣvajya bhāvinīm | mūrdhnyupāghrāya savyena pratijagrāha pāṇinā ||2-101-17 Embracing the sister in the same way, the most strong (bala)rāma smelt on her head and held her hand with his left hand. dadṛśustāḥ striyo madhye bhaginīṁ rāmakṛṣṇayoḥ | rukmapadmavyagrakarāṁ striyaṁ padmālayāmiva ||2-101-18 All women saw the sister (ekānaṁśa) between (bala)rāma and kṛṣṇa. She dazzled as the woman (lakṣmi) of the house of lotus, holding golden lotus flowers in her hands. tathākṣatamahāvṛṣṭyā puṣpaiścha vividhaiḥ śubhaiḥ | avakīrya ca lājaistāḥ striyo jagmuryathālayam ||2-101-19 The women showered grains, many varieties of auspicious flowers as well as fried rice. Then the women went home. tataste yādavāḥ sarve pūjayanto janārdanam | upopaviviśuḥ prītāḥ praśaṁsanto'dhbhutaṁ kṛtam ||2-101-20 Then all the yādava-s worshipped the one who excites men (kṛṣṇa). They sat near him, pleased, praising his wonderful deeds. pūjyamāno mahābāhuḥ paurāṇāṁ rativardhanaḥ | virarāja mahākīrtirdevairiva sa taiḥ saha ||2-101-21 The one who was worshipped, the one with strong arms, the one who increases the happiness of citizens, the one who has great fame like the deva-s, dazzled in the assembly (like indra in the assembly of deva-s). samāsīneṣu sarveṣu yādaveṣu janārdanam | niyogāttridaśendrasya nārado'bhyāgamatsabhām ||2-101-22 When all the yādava-s were seated, nārada came to that assembly to meet the one who excites people (kṛṣṇa) as directed by the indra of heaven. so'tha saṁpūjitaḥ pūjyaḥ śūraistairyadupuṅgavaiḥ | karaṁ saṁspṝśya sa harervivesha paramāsane ||2-101-23 nārada, the one who is worthy of worship, who was worshipped by the descendents of śūra and the prominent among yādava-s, held the hands of hari (kṛṣṇa) and was seated on the best seat. sukhopaviṣṭastānvṛṣṇīnupaviṣṭānuvāca ha | After being seated comfortably, nārada told the vṛṣṇi-s who were seated: saṁprāptaṁ śakravacanājjānīdhvaṁ māṁ nararṣabhāḥ ||2-101-24 (nārada said) O the bulls among men! Understand that I have come here as ordered by indra. śṛṇudhvaṁ rājaśārdūlāḥ kṛṣṇasyāsya parākramam | yāni karmāṇi kṛtavānbālyātprabhṛti keśavaḥ ||2-101-25 O tigers among kings! Hear about the heroic deeds of kṛṣṇa, which keshava (kṛṣṇa) has been doing since his childhood. ugrasenasutaḥ kaṁsaḥ sarvānnirmathya yādavān | rājyaṁ jagrāha durbuddhirbaddhvā pitaramāhukam ||2-101-26 The son of ugrasena, kaṁsa has oppressed all yādavas. The silly, malignant kaṁsa, tied up his father Ahuka and seized the kingdom. samāśritya jarāsaṁdhaṁ shvashuram kulapāṁsanaḥ | bhojavṛṣṇyandhakānsarvānavamanyata durmatiḥ ||2-101-27 The one who disgraced his race, depending on the father of his wives, jarāsaṁdha, the one with wicked intelligence insulted all bhojas, vṛṣṇi-s and andhakas. jṣātikāryaṁ chikīrṣustu vasudevaḥ pratāpavān | ugrasenasya rakṣārthaṁ svaputraṁ paryarakṣata ||2-101-28 The one with splendor, vasudeva, who is interested in the matters of the kinsmen, protected his son (kṛṣṇa) for protecting ugrasena. sa gopaiḥ saha dharmātmā mathuropavane sthitaḥ | atyadbhutāni karmāṇi kṛtavānmadhusūdanaḥ ||2-101-29 The slayer of madhu (kṛṣṇa), the one with righteous soul, living with the cowherds in the groves of mathura, performed most wonderful deeds. pratyakṣaṁ śūrasenānāṁ shrayate mahadadbhutam | uttānena śayānena śakaṭāntaracāriṇā ||2-101-30 The descendents of śūrasena heard a great wonder: When he was a child, as he was lying on his back below a cart, he destroyed it by throwing his legs up. rākṣasī nihatā raudrā śakunīveṣadhāriṇī | pūtanā nāma ghorā sā mahākāyā mahābalā ||2-101-31 A terrible demoness named pūtanā having a large body and great strength, in the form of a bird, was killed. viṣadigdhaṁ stanaṁ raudraṁ prayacchantī janārdane | dadṛśurnihatāṁ tāṁ te rākṣasīṁ vanagocarāḥ ||2-101-32 She gave her breast smeared with terrible poison to the one who excites men (kṛṣṇa). The cowherds who travel in the forest, saw the demoness killed. punarjāto'yamityāhuruktastasmādadhokṣajaḥ | atyadbhutamidaṁ cāsīdyacchiśuḥ puruṣottamaḥ || 2-101-33 This boy is born (again) below the axle of the cart (adhokṣaja - kṛṣṇa). It is most wonder that the child, the best among men, pādāṅguṣṭhena śakaṭaṁ krīḍamāno vyaloḍayat | aupset the cart with his toe while playing. dāmnā cholūkhale baddho viprakurvankumārakam ||2-101-34 babhaṣjārjunavṛkṣau dvau khyāto dāmodarastadā | Bound on a wooden mortar, the boy, showing his childish behavior, broke twin arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna) trees. Hence he was known as dāmodara (one having a rope around waist). kāliyaścha mahānāgo durādharṣo mahābalaḥ ||2-101-35 krīḍatā vāsudevena nirjito yamunāhrade | The son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa) while playing, defeated the highly powerful, great serpent kāliya who is difficult to conquer, in the pool of Yamuna. akrūrasya samakṣaṁ ca yannāgabhavane vibhuḥ ||2-101-36 pūjyamānaṁ tadā nāgairdivyaṁ vapuradhārayat | The lord took a divine form, worshipped by the serpents, in the world of serpents, in front of akrūra's eyes. śītavātārditā gāścha dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇena dhīmatā ||2-101-37 dhṛto govardhanaḥ śailaḥ saptarātraṁ mahātmanaḥ | Seeing that the cattle are suffering due to cold wind, the intelligent kṛṣṇa, the great soul, carried the govardhana mountain on his hand for seven nights. śiśunā vāsudevena gavāṁ trāṇārthamicchatām ||2-101-38 The son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa) when he was a child, who likes to save the suffering cattle, tathokṣaduṣṭo'tibalo mahākāyo narāṇtakṛt | gopatirvāsudevena hato'riṣṭo mahāsuraḥ ||2-101-39 the lord of cattle, the son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa) killed the great demon ariṣṭa, the wicked, most strong having a huge body and the killer of men. dhenukaḥ sa mahākāyo dānavaḥ sumahābalaḥ | nihato vāsudevena gavāṁ trāṇāya durmatiḥ ||2-101-40 The son of vasudeva (kṛṣṇa) killed dhenuka, the demon, having wicked intelligence, huge body and great strength, for saving the cattle. sunāmānamamitraghnaḥ sarvasainyapuraskṛtam | vṛkairvidrāvayāmāsa gṛhītaṁ samupasthitam ||2-101-41 kṛṣṇa, the slayer of enemies, made sunāma, who had come with all his army in front to imprison him, flee by sending wolves. rauhiṇeyena saṅgamya vane vicharatā punaḥ | gopaveṣadhareṇaiva kaṁsasya bhayamāhitam ||2-101-42 The one who again wandered in the forest along with the son of rohiṇī (balarāma) in the form of a cowherd generated fear for kaṁsa. tathā vrajagataḥ śaurirdṛṣṭvā yuddhabalaṁ hayam | pragrahaṁ bhojarājasya jaghāna puruṣottamaḥ ||2-101-43 The son of śūra (kṛṣṇa), living at vraja, the best among men, saw the horse having the strength to battle, sent by the king of bhoja (kaṁsa) and killed him. pralambashcha mahābāho rauhiṇeyena dhīmatā | dānavo muṣṭinaikena kaṁsāmātyo nipātitaḥ ||2-101-44 The son of rohiṇī (balarāma) having intellect with powerful arms felled the demon pralamba, the minister of kaṁsa, with one strike of the fist. etau hi vasudevasya putrau surasutopamau | vavṛdhāte mahāvīryau brahmagārgyeṇa saṁskṛtau ||2-101-45 These sons of vasudeva, comparable to the sons of deva-s, highly valiant, initiated by brahmagārgya in the saṁskāra, grew up. janmaprabhṛti cāpyetau gārgyeṇa paramarṣiṇā | yāthātathyena vijṣāpya samskāraṁ pratipāditau ||2-101-46 Right from birth, the best sage gārgya, has indicated their saṁskāra in the actual form, at the appropriate times. yadā tvimau naraśreṣṭhau sthitau yauvanasaṁmukhe | siṁhaśāvāvivodīrṇau mattau haimavatau yathā ||2-101-47 When these best among men attained youth, they appeared like excited cubs of lion on the mountain of Himalaya. tato manāṁsi gopīnāṁ haramāṇau mahābalau | āstāṁ goṣṭhavarau vīrau devaputropamadyutī ||2-101-48 These powerful youths stole the minds of cowherd women. The valiant became the best among the goṣṭa with splendor like the sons of devas. etau jaye vā yuddhe vā krīḍāsu vividhāsu ca | nandagopasya gopālā na śekuḥ prasamīkṣitum ||2-101-49 The cowherds of nandagopa were unable to look at their eyes (to match them) in victory or battle or varieties of games. vyūḍhoraskau mahābāhū śālaskandhāvivodgatau | śrutvāsau vyathitaḥ kaṁso mantribhiḥ sahito'bhavat ||2-101-50 With their wide chest, long arms, they appeared tall like the trunks of sal tree (Vatica Robusta). Hearing about them, kaṁsa with his ministers became worried. nāśakaccha yadā kaṁso grahītuṁ balakeshavau | nijagrāha tataḥ krodhādvasudevaṁ sabāndhavam ||2-101-51 When he was unable to capture (bala)rāma and keshava (kṛṣṇa), kaṁsa, became angry and tied up vasudeva along with his relatives. sahograsenena tadā choravadgāḍhabandhanam | kālaṁ mahāntamasuvatkṛcchramānakadundubhiḥ ||2-101-52 Anakadundubhi (vasudeva) suffered the captivity like a thief along with ugrasena with great difficulty for a long time. kaṁsastu pitaraṁ baddhvā śūrasenāṣśaśāsa ha | jarāsaṁdhaṁ samāśritya tathaivāhvṛtibhīṣmakau ||2-101-53 Holding his father captive, kaṁsa ruled over the kingdom of śūrasena, depending on jarāsaṁdha, āhvṛti and bhīṣmaka. kasyachittvatha kālasya mathurāyā mahotsavam | pinākinaṁ samudddishya cakre kaṁso narādhipaḥ ||2-101-54 After the passage of some time, the ruler of men, kaṁsa organized a grand festival in mathura to please pināki (shiva). tatra mallāḥ samājagmurnānādeśyā viśāṁpate | nartanā gāyanāścaiva kuśalā nṛtyakarmasu ||2-101-55 O the lord of earth (ugrasena! nārada continued), performers, singers as also experts in dancing and wrestlers from many lands assembled there. tataḥ kaṁso mahātejā raṅgavāṭaṁ mahādhanam | kuśalaiḥ kārayāmāsa śilpibhiḥ sādhuniṣṭhitaiḥ ||2-101-56 Then kaṁsa of great splendor got a theatre, skillfully made by expert sculptors with great wealth. tatra maṣchasahasrāṇi paurajānapadairjanaiḥ | samākīrṇāni dṛśyante jyotīṁṣi gagane yathā ||2-101-57 In the theatre, there were thousands of platforms, seen, filled by citizens and local people like stars filling the sky. bhojarājaḥ śriyā juṣṭaṁ raṅgavāṭaṁ mahardhimat | āruroha tataḥ kaṁso vimānaṁ sukṛtī yathā ||2-101-58 The king of bhoja (kaṁsa) along with all his splendor entered the great theatre like a virtuous person entering an aerial vehicle. raṅgavāṭe gajaṁ mattaṁ prabhūtāyudhakalpitam | śūrairadhiṣṭhitaḥ kaṁsaḥ sthāpayāmāsa vīryavān ||2-101-59 The valiant kaṁsa placed an elephant in rut, mounted by brave mahouts armed with weapons, at the entrance of the theatre. yadā hi sa mahātejā rāmakṛṣṇau samāgatau | śuśrāva puruṣavyāghrau sūryācandramasāviva ||2-101-60 Since when he heard that the splendorous (bala)rāma and kṛṣṇa, the tigers among men, similar to the sun and moon, have arrived, tadāprabhṛti yatno'bhūdrakṣāṁ prati narādhipa | na ca shishye sukhaṁ rātrau rāmakṛṣnṇau vicintayan ||2-101-61 O the ruler of men! (ugrasena! nārada continued) kaṁsa began his efforts for his own protection. kaṁsa could not sleep well in the night thinking about (bala)rāma and kṛṣṇa. śrutvā tu rāmaḥ kṛṣṇaścha taṁ samājamanuttamam | ubhau viviśaturvīrau śārdūlau govrajaṁ yathā ||2-101-62 (bala)rāma and kṛṣṇa had already heard about the best festival. Both entered the theatre like tigers entering a cattle-shed. tataḥ praveshe saṁruddhau rakṣibhiḥ puruṣarṣabhau | The bulls among men (balarāma and kṛṣṇa) were stopped by the guards from entering the theatre. havtā kuvalayāpīḍaṁ sasādinamarindamau | avamṛdya durādharṣau raṅgaṁ viviśatustadā ||2-101-63 The oppressors of enemies (balarāma and kṛṣṇa) killed kuvalayāpīḍaṁ (the elephant) along with its mahouts. cāṇūrāndhrau viniṣpiṣya keshavena balena ca | augraseniḥ suduṣṭātmā sānujo vinipātitaḥ ||2-101-64 keshava (kṛṣṇa) and bala(rāma) felled cāṇūra and Andhra (wrestlers). They fell (killed) the son of ugrasena (kaṁsa), the wicked soul, along with his younger brother. yatkṛtaṁ yadusiṁhena devairapi suduṣkaram | karma tatkeśavādanyaḥ kartumarhati kaḥ pumān ||2-101-65 The deeds performed by the lion of yādava-s (kṛṣṇa) are difficult even for the deva-s to perform. Who else is there to perform such deeds other than keshava ( kṛ+ iṣṇa). yadi nādhigataṁ pūrvaiḥ prahlādabaliśambaraiḥ | tadidaṁ prāpitaṁ vittaṁ śauriṇā bhavatāṁ kṛte ||2-101-66 The son of śūra (kṛṣṇa) has sent this wealth for you which could not be amassed even by prahlāda, bali and shambara. etena murumākramya daityaṁ paṣchajanaṁ tathā | niṣkramya śailasaṅghātānnisundaḥ sagaṇo hataḥ ||2-101-67 He attacked the demons, mura as well as paṣchajana. Crossing the mountains, he killed , nisundha with his followers. narakashcha hato bhaumaḥ kuṇḍale cāhṛte śubhe | prāptaṁ ca divi deveṣu keshavena mahadyaśaḥ ||2-101-68 naraka, the son of Goddess earth was killed. keshava (kṛṣṇa) regained the auspicious earrings (of aditi) taken away (by naraka) earning great fame in heaven more than the devas. vītaśokabhayābādhāḥ kriṣṇabāhubalāśrayāḥ | yajadhvaṁ vividhairyajṣairyādavā vītamatsarāḥ ||2-101-69 O yādava-s (nārada continued) Without sorrow and fear, without envy, depending on the strength of kṛṣṇa's arms, perform many kinds of sacrifices. devānāṁ sumahatkāryaṁ kṛtaṁ kṛṣṇena dhīmatā | priyamāvedayāmyeṣa bhavatāṁ bhadramastu vaḥ ||2-101-70 kṛṣṇa having intellect has performed great deeds for devas. I am telling what is good for you. Let there be good to you. yadiṣṭaṁ vo yaduśreṣṭhāḥ kartāsmi tadatandritaḥ | bhavatāmasmi yūyaṁ ca mama yuṣmāsvahaṁ sthitaḥ ||2-101-71 O the best among yādava-s! I shall do what you like without any hesitation. I am yours and you are mine. I am here. iti saṁbodhayankṛṣnamabravītpākaśāsanaḥ | sa māṁ praikṣītsuraśreṣṭhaḥ prītastuṣṭāstathā vayam ||2-101-72 The punisher of the demon pāka (indra) said so, addressing the greatness of kṛṣṇa to you. The best among deva-s was pleased to send me here. I am also pleased. yatra dhīḥ śrīḥ sthitā tatra yatra śrīstatra sannatiḥ | sannatirdhīstathā śrīścha nityaṁ kṛṣṇe mahātmani ||2-101-73 Where there is intelligence there is prosperity. Where there is prosperity, there is humility. Humility, intelligence as well as prosperity are always with the great soul, kṛṣṇa. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣnuparvaṇi nāradavākyaṁ nāmaikottaraśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the hundred and one chapter of viśṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, kṛṣṇa's valour lauded. Note 1: See footnote on page 757, gitā press edition. nīlakaṇṭha commentary · 2-101-1 bhavatāmiti · 2-101-11 narāgryau ekānaṁśā sā yogamāyā duhitā tasyā yaśodāyāḥ | · 2-101-12 kṣaṇaḥ uktavidhaḥ saṁketaḥ muhūrtaḥ uktaḥ kālaścha tābhyāṁ jajṣe āvirbabhūva || · 2-101-27 avamanyata teṣāṁ avamānamakarot || · 2-101-30 śakatāntaracāriṇā śakaṭanaśārthaṁ cheṣṭamānena || · 2-101-41 sunāmānamityanena kathāntaraṁ sūcyate || · 2-101-42 bhayaṁ daityāntaravadhaśravaṇajam || · 2-101-43 pragrahaṁ sahāyam || · 2-101-49 nandagopasya sutāviti śeṣaḥ || · 2-101-61 shishye śayanaṁ kṛtavān || · 2-101-68 kuṇḍale aditi saṁbandhinī || iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekottaraśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ ||