Parva 2 Chapter 11: yamunāvarṇanam - Description of Yamuna

vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya!) One day, handsome kṛṣṇa, who can take any form that he desires, went for a walk in that beautiful forest, without saṅkarṣaṇa. kākapakṣadharaḥ śrīmāṣchyāmaḥ padmadalekṣaṇaḥ | śrīvatsenorasā yuktaḥ śaśāṅka iva lakṣmaṇā ||2-11-2 Wearing a hair lock on the backside of his head, with black complexion and beautiful eyes like petals of lotus flower, auspicious kṛṣṇa, with the srivatsa mark on his chest, appeared like moon adorned with marks of hares. sāṅgadenāgrahastena paṅkajodbhinnavakṣasā | sukumārābhitāmreṇa krāntavikrāntagāminā ||2-11-3 With bangles at the top of his arms, chest like a lotus flower in full bloom and charming legs with a red hue, his energetic walk was enchanting. pīte prītikare nṝṇāṁ padmakiṣjalkasaprabhe | sūkṣme vasāno vasane sasaṁdhya iva toyadaḥ ||2-11-4 He was wearing two yellow clothes, shining like the filaments of lotus flower, giving happiness to the onlookers. In these clothes, kṛṣṇa (having dark complexion) looked like a (dark) rain cloud in the evening sky (having golden yellow hue). vatsavyāpārayuktābhyāṁ vyaghrābhyāṁ gaṇḍarajjubhiḥ | bhujābhyāṁ sādhuvṛttābhyāṁ pūjitābhyāṁ divaukasaiḥ ||2-11-5 His two arms, engaged in tendering calves and tying bells with ropes around their necks, were worshipped by devas. kṛṣṇa looked attractive with his long and round arms. sadṛśaṁ puṇḍarīkasya gandhena kamalasya ca | rarāja cāsya tadbālye rucirauṣṭhapuṭaṁ mukham ||2-11-6 In childhood, kṛṣṇa's face with his beautiful lips shone similar to a lotus flower with its fragrance. śikhābhistasya muktābhī rarāja mukhapaṅkajam | vṛtam ṣaṭpadapaṅktībhiryathā syātpadmamaṇḍalam ||2-11-7 His lotus like face dazzled with loose hair locks, like a lotus flower surrounded by a swarm of bees. tasyārjunakadambāḍhyā nīpakandalamālinī | rarāja mālā shirasi nakṣatrāṇāṁ yatha divi ||2-11-8 His head was decorated with a garland of arjuna, kadamba and nīpa flowers and flower buds like the sky decorated with stars. sa tayā mālayā vīraḥ shuśubhe kaṇṭhasaktayā | meghamālāmbudaśyāmo nabhasya iva mūrtimān ||2-11-9 A similar garland dazzled on his neck, with which the dark kṛṣṇa dazzled like the sky of month of bhadra, adorned by garlands of rain clouds. ekenāmalapatreṇa kaṇṭhasūtrāvalambinā | rarāja barhipatrena mandamārutakampinā ||2-11-10 Around his neck, kṛṣṇa had a chain with a peacock feather. The peacock feather, swayed to and fro in the slow wind. kvachidgāyaṅkvachitkrīḍaṁśchaṣcūryaṁścha kvachitkvachit | parṇavādyaṁ shrutisukham vādayaṁścha kvachidvane ||2-11-11 Sometimes he sang. Sometimes he played. Sometimes he wandered here and there in the forest blowing a whistle made of palm leaves, the sound of which was pleasant to hear. gopaveṇuṁ sumadhuraṁ kāmāttamapi vādayan | prahlādanārtham ca gavāṁ kvachidvanagato yuvā ||2-11-12 Sometimes, young kṛṣṇa went to the forest and played flute used by gopa-s, joyfully in a sweet voice to make the cows happy. gokule'mbudharaśyāmaścacāra dyutimānprabhuḥ | reme ca tatra ramyāsu citrāsu vanarājiṣu ||2-11-13 Dark complexioned kṛṣṇa, dazzling like a rain cloud, roamed in gokula. He wandered joyfully in the beautiful forests. mayūraravaghuṣṭasu madanoddīpanīṣu ca | meghanādaprativyūhairnāditāsu samantataḥ ||2-11-14 The forest, filled with the sound of peacocks was activating everyone's mind. There was commotion due to the echo of the roar of clouds. śāḍvalacchannamārgāsu śilīndhrābharaṇāsu ca | kandalāmalapatrāsu sravantīṣu navaṁ jalam ||2-11-15 On the paths, covered with green grass and decorated with mushrooms fresh water was dripping from the tender leaves of plants. kesarāṇāṁ navairgandhairmadaniḥśvasitopamaiḥ | abhīkṣṇaṁ niḥśvasantīṣu kāminīṣviva nityaśaḥ ||2-11-16 The forest was taking deep breaths with the fresh fragrance of flowers every day like the breaths of desire of a young woman. sevyamāno navairvātairdrumasaṅghātaniḥsṛtaiḥ | tāsu kṛṣṇo mudaṁ lebhe saumyāsu vanarājiṣu ||2-11-17 kṛṣṇa enjoyed the fresh cool breeze emanating from the woods. The forest gave him immense pleasure. sa kadācidvane tasmiṅgobhiḥ saha paribhraman | dadarsha vipulodagraṁ śākhinaṁ śākhināṁ varam ||2-11-18 One day, while wandering in the forest with the cows, kṛṣṇa saw, among the trees, a giant tree which was extremely tall and huge. sthitaṁ dharaṇyāṁ meghābhaṁ nibiḍaṁ dalasaṣchayaiḥ | gaganārdhocchritākāraṁ parvatābhogadhāriṇam ||2-11-19 Standing on earth with the beauty of clouds, dense with leaves, with its trunk covering half the sky, the tree appeared like a huge mountain. nīlacitrāṅgavarṇaiścha sevitaṁ bahubhiḥ khagaiḥ | phalaiḥ pravālaiścha ghanaiḥ sendracāpaghanopamam ||2-11-20 There were many birds with blue bodies and colourful feathers in that tree. Dense with red fruits, the tree looked like a rainbow with clouds. bhavanākāraviṭapaṁ latāpuṣpasumaṇḍitam | viśālamūlāvanataṁ pavanāmbhodadhāriṇam ||2-11-21 The huge branches looked like houses. The tree was adorned with creepers and flowers. Its large roots spread far and wide. The tree was covered with wind and rain clouds. ādhipatyamivānyeṣāṁ tasya deshasya śākhinām | kurvāṇaṁ śubhakarmāṇaṁ nirāvarṣamanātapam ||2-11-22 It appeared as though this tree was ruling over all other trees in that area. It was beneficial to all giving protection from rain and sunshine. nyagrodhaṁ parvatāgrābhaṁ bhāṇḍīraṁ nāma nāmataḥ | dṛṣṭvā tatra matiṁ cakre nivāsāya tataḥ prabhuḥ ||2-11-23 The huge banyan tree, named bhāṇḍīra, appeared like a mountain. Seeing this beautiful tree, kṛṣṇa decided to stay there. sa tatra vayasā tulyairvatsapālaiḥ sahānagha | reme vai vāsaraṁ kṛṣṇaḥ purā svargagato yathā ||2-11-24 O sinless janamejaya! kṛṣṇa, enjoyed with other cow-tending boys of the same age under the tree, like he was enjoying in heaven before. taṁ krīḍamānaṁ gopālāḥ kṛṣṇaṁ bhāṇḍīravāsinam | ramayanti sma bahavo vanyaiḥ krīḍanakaistadā ||2-11-25 When kṛṣṇa played under the bhāṇḍīra tree, his cow-tending boys made him happy with many toys of the forest. anye sma parigāyanti gopā muditamānasāḥ | gopālāḥ kṛṣṇamevānye gāyanti sma ratipriyāḥ ||2-11-26 Some others with joyful minds sang. Some others who liked kṛṣṇa's plays sang about them. teṣāṁ sa gāyatāmeva vādayāmāsa vīryavān | parṇavādyāntare veṇuṁ tumbīvīṇāṁ ca tatra ha ||2-11-27 When the boys sang, kṛṣṇa played a whistle made of palm leaves. Sometimes he played flute, tumburu or vīṇā. kadācichcārayanneva gāḥ sa govṛṣabhekṣaṇaḥ | jagāma yamunātīraṁ latālaṅkṛtapādapam ||2-11-28 One day, while tending the cows, kṛṣṇa who had eyes as broad as those of cows and bulls went to the banks of yamunā, with trees covered with creepers and bushes. taraṅgāpāṅgakuṭilaṁ vārisparśamukhānilām | tāṁ ca padmotpalavatīṁ dadarsha yamunāṁ nadīm ||2-11-29 kṛṣṇa saw the river yamunā which appeared curved because of waves. A pleasant wind was blowing touching the surface of water. sutīrthāṁ svādusalilāṁ hradinīṁ vegagāminīm | toyavātodyatairvegairavanāmitapādapām ||2-11-30 Good pathways were leading to the river. The water was tasty. There were many ponds and the water flowed with force. The trees on the banks were bent due to the force of water and wind. haṁsakāraṇḍavoghudṣṭām sārasaiścha vināditām | anarghamithunaishcaiva sevitāṁ mithunecharaiḥ ||2-11-31 The atmosphere was filled with the sounds of swans, kāraṇḍava-s and cranes. Male and female cakravāka-s were enjoying coitus in the water. jalajaiḥ prāṇibhiḥ kīrṇāṁ jalajairbhūṣitāṁ gunaiḥ | jalajaiḥ kusumaiścitrāṁ jalajairharitodakām ||2-11-32 It was full of aquatic animals. It was adorned with all qualities of water. It was full of variety of water borne flowers. The water appeared greenish due to water plants. prasṛtasrotacharaṇāṁ pulinaśroṇimaṇḍalām | āvartanābhigambhīrāṁ padmaromābhiraṣjitām ||2-11-33 (The river is described as a beautiful woman - nīlakaṇṭha). The flowing river water was her feet. The river banks were her waist. The great whirlpools were her navel. She was decorated with body hair of lotus flowers. taṭacchedodarāṁ kāntāṁ tritaraṅgavalīdharām | phenaprahṛṣṭavadanāṁ prasannāṁ haṁsahāsinīm ||2-11-34 Her thin, beautiful waistline was near the banks where the flow was thin. The waves resembled the three lines. The froth was her smiling face. She was always pleased and swans were her laughter. rucirotpalaraktoṣṭhīṁ natabhrūṁ jalajekṣanām | hradadīrghalalāṭāntāṁ kāntāṁ śaivalamūrdhajām ||2-11-35 Beautiful red lotus flowers were her red lips. The undercurrents were her eyebrows. Blue lotus flowers were her eyes. The lake was her forehead. The moss resembled her hair. cakravākastanataṭīṁ tīrapārśvāyatānanām | dīrghasrotāyatabhujāmābhogaśravaṇāyatām ||2-11-36 A pair of cakravāka birds were her breasts. The river banks were her face. The lengthy currents were her long arms. The complete banks were her ears. kāraṇḍavākuṇḍalinīṁ śrīmatpaṅkajalochanām | taṭajābharaṇopetāṁ mīnanirmalamekhalām ||2-11-37 kāraṇḍava-s were her ear rings. Lotus flowers were her eyes. The trees on the banks were her ornaments. The shoal of fish was her girdle. vāriplavaplavakṣaumāṁ sārasārāvanūpurām | kāśacāmīkaraṁ vāso vasānāṁ haṁsalakṣaṇām ||2-11-38 The vast body of water was her shawl. The sound of cranes were the tinkling sound of her anklets. The crystal clear water was her garment. Swans were her auspicious marks. bhīmanakrānuliptāṅgīṁ kūrmalakṣaṇabhūṣitām | nipānaśvāpadāpīḍāṁ nṛbhiḥ pīnapayodharām ||2-11-39 Giant crocodiles were like smears on her body. Tortoises were auspicious marks decorating her hands and feet. Animals were drinking from her ponds. Men were drinking water from her breasts. śvāpadocchiṣṭasalilāmāśramasthānasaṅkulām | tāṁ samudrasya mahiṣīmīkṣamāṇaḥ samantataḥ ||2-11-40 The water was contaminated since wild animals drank from the river. There were many hermitages on the banks. kṛṣṇa wandered observing the beauty of the queen of ocean, yamunā. cacāra ruciraṁ kṛṣṇo yamunāmupasobhayan | tāṁ caransa nadīṁ śreṣṭhāṁ dadarsha hradamuttamam ||2-11-41 kṛṣṇa roamed enhancing the beauty of yamunā. Wandering along the banks of that great river, he saw a huge lake. dīrghaṁ yojanavistāraṁ dustaraṁ tridaśairapi | gambhīramakṣobhyajalaṁ niṣkampamiva sāgaram ||2-11-42 It was a huge lake with the breadth of one yojana. It was difficult even for the deva-s to cross it. The huge water body was calm and quiet like an ocean without any agitation. toyajaiḥ śvāpadaistyaktaṁ śūnyam toyacharaiḥ khagaiḥ | agādhenāmbhasā pūrṇaṁ meghapūrṇamivāmbaram ||2-11-43 Aquatics and animals avoided that lake. It was empty without any water birds. Very deep and full of water, it appeared like a sky full of clouds. duḥkhopasarpyaṁ tīreṣu sasarpairvipulairbilaiḥ | viṣāraṇibhavasyāgnerdhūmena pariveṣṭitam ||2-11-44 On the unapproachable banks, there were big holes where serpents lived. The entire lake was covered with the fire and smoke emanating from the poison of the serpents. abhogyaṁ tatpaśūnāṁ hi apeyaṁ ca jalārthinām | upabhogaiḥ parityaktaṁ suraistriṣavaṇārthibhiḥ ||2-11-45 The water was not good for use for animals. It was not good for drinking. Even the deva-s who bath thrice a day gave up using that water. ākāśādapyasaṁcāryaṁ khagairākāśagocharaiḥ | tṛṇeṣvapi patatsvapsu jvalantamiva tejasā ||2-11-46 It was impossible for the birds to fly in the sky over that lake. If a blade of dry grass fell on the water, it was immediately burned. samantādyojanaṁ sāgraṁ devairapi durāsadam | viṣānalena ghoreṇa jvālāprajvalitadrumam ||2-11-47 For a distance of a yojana all around the lake, it was difficult even for the deva-s to walk. The trees were burned by the fierce fire of poison. vrajasyottaratastasya krośamātre nirāmaye | taṁ dṛṣṭvā cintayāmāsa kṛṣṇO vai vipulaṁ hradam ||2-11-48 On the north side of vraja, an area of one krosha, being unaffected by the poison, was not having any problem. Seeing that vast lake, kṛṣṇa started thinking. agādhaṁ dyotamānaṁ ca kasyāyaṁ mahato hradaḥ | asminsa kāliyo nāma kālāṣjanachayopamaḥ ||2-11-49 Who does this deep, shining, great lake belong to? This lake is the residence of serpent kāliya, black like the shade of anjana stone. uragādhipatiḥ sākṣāddhrade vasati dāruṇaḥ | utsṛjya sāgarāvāsaṁ yo mayā viditaḥ purā ||2-11-50 bhayātpatagarājasya suparṇasyoragāśinaḥ | The terrible king of serpents himself lives in this lake. Afraid of the king of birds, suparṇa (garuḍa), the serpent-eater, kāliya left his residence in the sea as known to me before. teneyaṁ dūṣitā sarvā yamunā sāgaraṅgamā ||2-11-51 It is kāliya who has polluted the entire yamunā, which goes to the ocean. bhayāttasyoragapaternāyaṁ desho niṣevyate | tadidaṁ dāruṇākāramaraṇyaṁ rūḍhaśādvalam ||2-11-52 Afraid of the king of serpents, no one resides at this place. Hence this forest has taken a terrible shape, full of tall grass. sāvarohadrumaṁ ghoraṁ kīrṇaṁ nānālatādrumaiḥ | rakṣśitaṁ sarparājasya sachivairāptakāribhiḥ ||2-11-53 This terrible forest, thick with trees, plants, creepers and bushes is protected by kāliya and his trusted ministers. vanaṁ nirviṣayākāram viṣānnamiva duḥspṛśam | tairāptakāribhirnityaṁ sarvataḥ parirakṣitam ||2-1-54 Hence this forest, untouchable like poisoned food has become empty like sky. It is protected always and everywhere by those trusted beings. śaivālanalinaiścāpi vṛkṣaiḥ kṣudralatākulaiḥ | kartavyamārgau bhrājete hradasyāsya taṭāvubhau ||2-11-55 The banks are covered with moss, lotus and trees full of creepers. I have to make paths on both banks of the lake. tadasya sarparājasya kartavyo nigraho mayā | yatheyaṁ saridambhodā bhavecchivajalāśayā ||2-11-56 Thus it is my duty to destroy the king of serpents so that water of this river becomes useful. vrajopabhogyā ca yathā nāge ca damite mayā | sarvatra sukhasaṣcārā sarvatīrthasukhāśrayā ||2-11-57 If this serpent is conquered by me, this water will become useful for vraja. People will be able to roam in this area again. The river will become sacred and a source of happiness. etadarthaṁ ca vāso'yaṁ vraje'smin gopajanma ca | amīṣāmutpathasthānāṁ nigrahārthaṁ durātmanām ||2-11-58 For this reason, I took birth as a cow tending boy and started residing in the vraja. It is for destroying the wicked, who stay in the wrong path. enaṁ kadambamāruhya tadeva śiśulīlayā | vinipatya hrade ghore damayiṣyāmi kāliyam ||2-11-59 As a child's play, climbing on this kadamba tree and jumping into this terrible lake, I will conquer kāliya. evaṁ kṛte bāhuvīryaṁ loke khyātiṁ gamiṣyati ||2-11-60 If I do this, the strength of my arms will become famous in the world. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi yamunāvarṇanaṁ nāma ekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the eleventh chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, description of yamunā. nīlakaṇṭha commentary asminnekādaśe'dhyāye vanakrīḍā nirūpyate | kāliyakṣveḍadagdhīyayamunādarśanaṁ hareḥ || 1 || · 2-11-1 kadāciditi | · 2-11-2 śrīvatsena urasā dhṛteneti śeṣaḥ | tṛtīyāntānāṁ paṣchamastena rarājetyanenānvayaḥ || · 2-11-3 hastena paṅkajodbhinnaṁ vikasatkamalaṁ tattulyatejasā krāntaṁ vikrāntaṁ gamanaṁ yasya tādṛśena gāminā gamanasvabhāvena pādena || · 2-11-5 divaukasaḥ devaiḥ || · 2-11-6 bālye "paugaṇḍaṁ daśamāvadhi" ityukteḥ paugaṇḍe | · 2-11-8 nīpāḥ kadambapuṣpāṇi kandalā navāṁkurāḥ taiḥ śobhānā nīpakandalamālinī · 2-11-9 nabhasyo bhādrapadaḥ || · 2-11-10 amalaṁ divyaṁ patraṁ dalaṁ yasya tena bāhirṣeṇa mayūrapicchena shuśubhe ityanuṣaṅgaḥ || · 2-11-14 prati vyūhaiḥ pratidhvanibhiḥ || · 2-11-15 kandalāni navāṅkuritāni amalāni ca patrāṇi yāsu | "kandalaṁ tu kapole syāduparāge navāṅkure" iti viśvaḥ || · 2-11-16 kāminīśviveti sravantīnāmupamā || · 2-11-18 śākhinaṁ vaṭam || · 2-11-20 citrāṅgavarṇairmayūraiḥ || · 2-11-22 nirāvarṣaṁ varṣavāraṇam | anātapam ātapanivāraṇam || · 2-11-25 krīḍānakaiḥ krīḍāsādhanaiḥ || · 2-11-29 taraṅgā evāpāṅgāḥ kaṭākṣāstaiḥ kuṭilaṁ tīram || · 2-11-31 mithunecharaiścakravākādibhiḥ || · 2-11-32 jalajairbhinādyaiḥ jalajairguṇaiḥ śītalatvanirmalatvādyaiḥ jalajaiḥ padmaiḥ jalajaiḥ śaivālaiḥ || · 2-11-33 strīrūpeṇa varṇayati | prasṛteti | srotaḥ sabde sakāralopa ārṣaḥ || · 2-11-34 taṭacchedaḥ pravāhasya madhye kārśyam | tisraḥ taraṅgā eva valayaḥ tāsāṁ dharāṁ taraṅgatravalīdharām || · 2-11-36 ābhogaśravaṇāyatām ābhogastaṭasyobhayataḥ pūrṇatā saiva śravaṇe Ayate yasyāsthām || · 2-11-38 vāriṇi plavante vistāraṁ yānti śaivālāḥ kamalinīdalāni vā teṣāṁ yaḥ plavaḥ vipulatā saiva kṣaumaṁ atasīsūtramayaṁ vāso yasyāstām || · 2-11-39 nīpānaṁ paśūnāṁ pānasthalaṁ tatra ye śvāpadāsta evāpiḍo bhūṣā yasyāstām || · 2-11-44 viṣāraṇayaḥ sarpāḥ || · 2-11-46 ākāśādapi ākāśamārge'pi || · 2-11-54 nirviṣayākāram ākāśavannirālambanam || · 2-11-55 kartavyau na tu svataḥsiddhau mārgo yayostau || iti śrīmatpada nīlakaṇṭhakṛtau bhāratabhāvapradīpe harivaṁśārthaprakāśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ