Parva 2 Chapter 25: akrūrāgamanam - Akrura Arrives

vaiśaṁpāyana said: (O janamejaya!) As sun was setting, with its rays weakened, as the sky was becoming red in the evening, as the moon was becoming white, nīḍastheṣu vihaṅgeṣu satsu prāduṣkṛtāgniṣu | īṣattamaḥsaṁvṝtāsu dikṣu sarvāsu sarvaśaḥ ||2-25-2 as the birds were nesting, as the good people were performing oblations to the fire, as the darkness descended covering all directions, ghoṣavāsiṣu supteshu vāśantīṣu śivāsu ca | naktaṁchareṣu hṛṣṭeṣu piśitāśanakāṅkṣiṣu ||2-25-3 as the residents of vraja were sleeping, as the jackals were howling, as those moving in the night (naktaṁchara) were happy looking forward to eat flesh, śakragopāhvayāmode pradośe'bhyāsataskare | saṁdhyāmayīmiva guhaṁ saṁpratiṣṭhe divākare ||2-25-4 as the indragopa insects (śakragopa) became happy, as the recital of Vedas come to an end in the evening, as the sun was entering the cave of twilight, adhiśrayaṇavelāyāṁ prāptāyāṁ gṛhamedhinām | vanyairvaikhānasairmantrairhūyamāne hutāśane ||2-25-5 as the time for offering oblation to the fire approached for householders, as the elderly people who retired as householders (vānaprasthas) offered oblation to the fire in the evening, upāvṛttāsu vai goṣu duhyamānāsu ca vraje | asakṛdvyāharantīṣu baddhavatsāsu dhenuṣu ||2-25-6 as the cows returned to the cowsheds in vraja and were milked, as the cows bellowed when the calves were tied up, p rakīrṇadāmanīkeṣu gāstathaivāhvayatsu ca | saninādeṣu gopeṣu kālyamāne ca godhane ||2-25-7 as the cows were untied and called and as the gopa-s gathered the cows, making sounds, karīṣeṣu prakypteṣu dīpyamāneṣu sarvaśaḥ | kāṣṭhabhārānataskandhairgopairabhyāgataistathā ||2-25-8 as the dried cowdung was heaped and burned around, as the gopa-s returned carrying firewood on their shoulder, kiṣchidabhyudyate some mandarashmau virājati | īṣadvigāhamānāyāṁ rajanyāṁ divase gate ||2-25-9 as the moon rose a little and as the moonlight began to spread, as the day ended completely and the night began, prāpte dinavyuparame pravṛtte kṣaṇadāmukhe | bhāskare tejasi gate saumye tejasyupasthite ||2-25-10 as the day ended and the night started, as the sun's splendour ended and the moon's splendour began, agnihotrākule kāle saumyendau samupasthite | agnīṣomātmake saṁdhau vartamāne jaganmaye ||2-25-11 as the time for offering oblation to the fire was drenched in the cool moonlight, as the entire world was performing oblation to fire in the twilight, paśchimenāgnidīptena pūrveṇotpalavarchasā | dagdhādrisadṛśe vyomni kiṣchittārāgaṇākule ||2-25-12 as the west appeared in bright red as if on fire, as the east appeared in blue and as the sky looked like a hill on fire with a few stars twinkling, vayobhirvāsamuśatāṁ bandhubhishcha samāgamam | śaṁsadbhiḥ syandanenāśu prāpto dānapatirvrajam ||2-25-13 as the flocks of birds flying to their nests indicated sign of meeting with relatives, the dānapati (akrūra) reached vraja in the chariot. pravishanneva papraccha sānnidhyaṁ keshavasya saḥ | rauhiṇeyasya cākrūro nandagopasya cāsakṛt ||2-25-14 As he entered, akrūra inquired about the residences of keshava, the son of rohiṇi (balarāma) and nandagopa. sa nandagopasya gṛhaṁ vāsāya vibudhopamaḥ | avatīrya tato yānātpraviveśa mahābalaḥ ||2-25-15 The powerful akrūra, dazzling like a god, left his chariot to stay in the house of nandagopa. harṣapūrṇena vaktreṇa sāśrunetreṇa caiva hi | pravishanneva ca dvāri dadarśādohane gavām ||2-25-16 vatsamadhye sthitaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ savatsamiva govṛṣam | As he entered with a happy face and eyes shredding tears of joy, at the entrance of the shed for milking the cows, he saw kṛṣṇa surrounded by calves, looking like a bull with calves. sa taṁ harṣaparītena vacasā gadgadena vai ||2-25-17 ehi keshava tāteti pravyāharata dharmavit | He (akrūra), the righteous soul, called him with words faltering with happiness: "Come my son keshava!" uttānaśāyinaṁ dṛṣṭvā punardṛṣṭvā śriyā vṛtam ||2-25-18 avyaktayauvanam kṛṣnamakrūraḥ praśaśaṁsa ha | visualising the auspicious kṛṣṇa as a child, lying on his back (sucking his toe, on a banyan leaf floating on the surface of water in the deluge at the end of the era - see nīlakaṇṭha commentary), akrūra praised kṛṣṇa again and again. ayaṁ sa puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ simhaśārdūlavikramaḥ ||2-25-19 He is the one with lotus eyes, valiant as a lion and tiger. saṁpūrṇajalameghābhaḥ parvatapravarākṛtiḥ | mṛdheṣvadharṣaṇīyena saśrīvatsena vakṣasā | His colour is like a rain cloud full of water. His body is like a great mountain. His chest is adorned with the auspicious mark of śrīvatsa. He is undefeatable in war. dviṣannidhanadakṣābhyāṁ bhujābhyāṁ sādhu bhūṣitaḥ ||2-25-20 He is adorned with arms which destroy the enemies in the war. mūrtimānsa rahasyātmā jagato'gryasya bhājanam | gopaveṣadharo viṣṇurudagrāgryatanūruhaḥ ||2-25-21 He, with incomprehensible soul, has appeared in body. He is worshipped by the entire universe. He is viṣṇu appearing as a gopa. The hair on his body stands on end (seeing his devotees) kirīṭalāṣchanenāpi śirasā chatravarchasā | kuṇḍalottamayogyābhyāṁ śravaṇābhyāṁ vibhūṣitaḥ ||2-25-22 He dazzles with a head having the sign of crown and the shape of an umbrella and ears fit for best ear-rings. hārārheṇa ca pīnena suvistīrṇena vakṣasā | dvābhyāṁ bhujābhyāṁ vṛttābhyāṁ dīrghābhyāmupaśobhitaḥ ||2-25-23 His chest is broad suitable for garlands. He shines with two long and round arms. strīsahasropacharyeṇa vapuṣā manmathādhinā | pīte vasāno vasane so'yaṁ viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ ||2-25-24 He is viṣṇu the eternal, wearing yellow dress with a beautiful body blessed by cupid (manmatha) and worshipped by a thousand women. dharaṇyāśrayabhūtābhyāṁ charaṇābhyāmarindamaḥ | trailokyākrāntibhūtābhyāṁ bhuvi padbhyāṁ vyavasthitaḥ ||2-25-25 He, the destroyer of enemies, stands on earth with his auspicious two feet, which is the shelter of the earth and which measured the three worlds. rucirāgrakaraścāsya cakrāṅkita ivekṣate | dvitīya udyataścāpi gadāsaṁyogamicchati ||2-25-26 His best (right) hand is suitable for holding the weapon, wheel (cakra). His second (left) hand is suitable for holding the mace. avatīrṇo bhavāyeha prathamaṁ padamātmanaḥ | śobhate'dya bhuvi śreṣṭhastridaśāno dhurandharaḥ ||2-25-27 He has appeared for the welfare of this world. Now he, the best among the gods, shines on earth. ayaṁ bhaviṣye kathito bhaviṣyakuśalairnaraiḥ | gopālo yādavaṁ vaṁśaṁ kṣīṇaṁ vistārayiṣyati ||2-25-28 Those who are experts in predicting future have foretold his appearance. This cow tender will revive the weakening yadu dynasty and expand it. tejasā yādavāścāsya śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | vaṁśamāpūrayiṣyanti hyoghā iva mahārṇavam ||2-25-29 Hundreds of thousands of yādava-s will flourish due to his power like streams enriching the ocean. asyedaṁ śāsane sarvaṁ jagatsthāsyati śāśvatam | nihatāmitrasāmantaṁ sphītaṁ kṛtayuge tathā ||2-25-30 For a long time, the world will be maintained by him. All sinful people will be vanquished and the world will become peaceful as it was in the era of kṛta. ayamāsthāya vasudhāṁ sthāpayitvā jagadvashe | rājṣāṁ bhaviṣyatyupari na ca rājā bhaviṣyati ||2-25-31 He will live on earth, keeping it under his control. He will conquer all the kings but he will not become a king. nūnaṁ tribiḥ kramairjitvā yathānena prabhuḥ kṛtaḥ | purā purandaro rājā devatānāṁ triviṣṭape ||2-25-32 Long ago the lord won the world with three steps and made purandara (indra) the king of gods in heaven. tathaiva vasudhāṁ jitvā jitapūrvāṁ tribhiḥ kramaiḥ | sthāpayiṣyati rājānamugrasenaṁ na saṁśayaḥ ||2-25-33 Without doubt, he will install ugrasena as king in the same way he won the earth long ago with three steps. prasṛṣṭavairagādho'yaṁ prashnaishcha bahubhiḥ śrutaḥ | brāhmaṇāirbrahmavādaiścha purāṇo'yaṁ hi gīyate ||2-25-34 He is the same brahmavāda pronounced by brahmins, sung by purāṇā-s and widely heard during (discussion of) many issues. He has appeared to remove the envy and hatred that has spread everywhere. spṛhaṇīyo hi lokasya bhaviṣyati ca keśavaḥ | tathā hyasyotthitā buddhirmānuṣyamupajīvitum ||2-25-35 This keshava is to be desired by the world. It is our good fortune that he has human intellect in that manner. ahaṁ tvasyādya vasatiṁ pūjayiṣye yathāvidhi | viṣṇutvaṁ manasā caiva pūjayiṣyāmi mantravat ||2-25-36 I will worship his residence in the ordained manner. I will worship the state of being viṣṇu mentally by chanting mantras. yaccha jṣātiparijṣānaṁ prādurbhāvaścha vai nṛṣu | amānuṣaṁ vedmi chainaṁ ye cānye divyacakṣuṣaḥ ||2-25-37 I see his prādurbhāva (incarnation) as a man. I realize his knowledge of relatives. I understand him as a superhuman being. Others with divine vision also realize this. so'haṁ kṛṣṇena vai rātrau saṁmantrya viditātmanā | sahānena gamiṣyāmi savrajo yadi maṁsyate ||2-25-38 In the night, I will explain everything to kṛṣṇa, who knows the soul. If the entire vraja agrees, I will go (to mathura) with him. evaṁ bahuvidhaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā hetvarthakāraṇaiḥ | vivesha nandagopasya kṛṣṇena saha saṁsadam ||2-25-39 In this manner, visualising kṛṣṇa through many causes, meanings and reasons, akrūra entered the residence of nandagopa along with kṛṣṇa. iti srīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi akrūrāgamane paṣchaviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the twenty-fifth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, akrūra arrives. nīlakaṇṭha commentary paṣchaviṁśe tvayadhyāye kṛṣṇasmaraṇaviklavaḥ | nānābhilāṣa āyātaḥ sāyaṁ vrajamitīryate || 1 || · 2-25-1 athāstamiti | · 2-25-2 satsu yājnikeṣu prāduṣkṛtāgniṣu sāyamagnihomārthaṁ prakaṭīkṛtāgniṣu | · 2-25-3 ghoṣavāsiṣu ghoṣagateṣu supteṣu avyaktaśabdeṣu śukabālakādiṣu iti śeṣaḥ · 2-25-4 śakragopāhvayāmodaṁ indragopānāmātapataptānāmatyantaṁ sukhakare abhyāsataskare svādhyāyanivartake āsanāndhakāre vā || · 2-25-5 adhiśrayaṇam agnihotrārthasya payaso'gnau sthāpanam vanyaiḥ nīvārādyaiḥ vaikhānasairvānaprastaiḥ || · 2-25-7 prakīrṇā vistṛtāḥ dāmanyo dīrghagobandhanarajjavo yaisteṣu | kālyamāne bandhanārthe niyamyamāne | · 2-25-8 karīreṣu śuṣkagomayacūrṇeṣu | · 2-25-11 saumyendau śvobhūte mṛgaśirasi chandre upastite sati taddhi kaṁsasya janmanakṣatraṁ rāhukujadhūmaketubhiścitrāsthaiḥ prāguktarītyā sarvatobhadracakre viddhaṁ sat candrayoge mṛtyukaraṁ tena udite mṛtyuyoge sadyaḥ paredyuḥ kālāntare vā mṛtyurbhavatīti abhipretya purāṇāntare uktam - "raudre tadrajakaṁ hatvāditye kaṁso nipātita" iti | sandhirārṣaḥ | agniṣomātmake ratrau tayoreva prakāśamānatvāt sandhau sambandhe jaganmaya iti tayoreva bhoktṛbhogyāmtakatvaṁ darshitam | · 2-25-12 pashchimena paśchimataḥ agnivaddīptena pūrveṇa pūrvataḥ utpalavadraktena bhāgena dagdhādrisadreśe ubhayatā dahyamānādritulye sūryostasya chandrodasya cāsannasamayatvāt | · 2-25-13 vāsaṁ gṛhaṁ uśatāṁ kāmayamānānāṁ pānthānāṁ bandhubhiḥ saha samāgamaṁ śaṁsadbhirvayobhiḥ pakṣibhiḥ saha dānapatirakrūro vrajaṁ prāptaḥ | vede tu - " devānāṁ dūtaḥ purudhaḥ prasūto'nāgānno vochatu sarvatātā" ityādiḥ | "sadā sugaḥ pitumānastu panthā" iti "udrāyo aśyāṁ sadanaṁ purukṣoḥ" ityakrūrasya manoratho varṇitaḥ | devānaṁ kames hantukāmānāṁ kamsavāgādyabhimānināmagnyādīnāmahaṁ dūto'smi kṛṣṇaṁ prati gantuṁ prasthito'smi purudhaḥ bahuprakāraiḥ prasūto nisṛṣṭaḥ kaṁsena no'smānprati anāgān niṣpāpān sarvatātā sarvasya vistārakartā hariḥ vochatu vadatu asmābhiḥ saha saṁbhāṣaṇaṁ karotu | tathā panthā api sadasugaḥ sugamyaḥ pitumān annavān astu mārge'pyantarāyo mā bhūtityarthaḥ | purukṣo bahūnāṁ kṣayaṁ kartuḥ sadanaṁ gṛhaṁ aśyāṁ vyāpnuyāṁ udrāy utkaṭasampadaḥ iti mantrapadānāmarthaḥ | · 2-25-14 sānnidhyaṁ sthānam · 2-25-18 pravyāharata uktavān | uttānaśāyinaṁ kalpānte bālaṁ vaṭapatraśāyinaṁ śriyā trailokyākramaṇalakṣmyā vāmanaṁ vaṭum | · 2-25-19 avyaktayauvanaṁ vayaḥ sandhigatam | · 2-25-21 rahasyātmā aupaniṣadaḥ puruṣaḥ agryasya prathamapūjādeḥ bhājanaṁ pātraṁ | udagrāgryatanūruha ūrdhvāgrāḥ śreṣṭhāścha keśā yasya | bhaktadarśanamātreṇa romāṣchitagātra ityarthaḥ | · 2-25-24 manmathādhinā manmathaḥ adhīyate'sminniti tathābhūtena yauvanapaugaṇḍasandhigatenetyarthaḥ | · 2-25-25 dharaṇīti | yena prāguktena ekārṇave uttānaśāyinā pādāgreṇaiva pṛthvī dhṛtā tathā vaṭunā pādābhyāṁ kramāṇābhyāṁ lokāntarasahitā ākrāntā sā idānīṁ tena vayaḥsandhigatena asmadādineva śrīyata ityatyantamāścaryamityarthaḥ | · 2-25-26 agrakaro dakṣiṇahastaḥ dvitīyo vāmaḥ | · 2-25-27 ātmano viśvataijasaprājṣaturīyaākhyapādacatuṣṭyavat utpattikramāpekṣayā prathamaṁ padaṁ nirguṇaṁ brahmetyarthaḥ | · 2-25-33 jitvā trailokyamiti śeṣaḥ · 2-25-34 prasṛṣṭasya vairasya gādhaḥ pāro'yaṁ śamakāmādīnāmanyo virodho'smin prāpte naśyatītyarthaḥ | ata evāyaṁ praśnopaniṣadi ṣaḍbhi praśnaiḥ śrutaḥ tatpūrvakaṁ pratipāditaḥ | iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ paṣchaviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ