Parva 2 Chapter 28: kaṁsasya janmādivṛttam - Narrations about Kamsa's birth

vaiśampāyana said: Thinking about breaking of the bow, the king who diminished (*) the glory of bhojas (kaṁsa) became depressed. He was highly worried with thoughts. (*) see nīlakaṇṭha commentary kathaṁ bālo vigatabhīravamatya mahābalam | prekṣamāṇastu puruṣairdhanurbhaṅktvā vinirgataḥ ||2-28-2 How could the boy, without any fear, ignore the highly powerful guards? With men watching, how could he leave after breaking the bow? yasyārthe dāruṇaṁ karma kṛtaṁ lokavigarhitam | pitṛsvasrātmajānvīrānṣaḍevāhaṁ nyapothayam ||2-28-3 Is this the boy, fearing whom I did terrible deeds despised by people, such as killing the six valiant, newborn sons of my sister? daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa na shakyamativartitum | nāradoktaṁ ca vacanaṁ nūnaṁ mahyamupasthitam ||2-28-4 It is not possible to overcome the providence by human effort. The words told by nārada are definitely going to happen. evaṁ rājā vichintyātha niṣkramya svagṛhottamāt | prekṣāgāraṁ jagāmāśu maṣcānāmavalokakaḥ ||2-28-5 Thinking in this manner, the king left his best house. He went to the (wrestling) venue to look at the seating arrangements. sa dṛṣṭvā sarvanirmuktaṁ prekṣāgāraṁ nṛpottamaḥ | śreṇīnāṁ dṛḍhaniryuktairmaṣchavāṭairnirantaram ||2-28-6 There the great king saw that the (wrestling) venue was fully ready. Rows of raised platforms were erected there. sottamāgārayuktābhirvalabhībhirvibhūṣitam | chadībhiḥ saṁpravṛddhābhirekastambhairvibhūṣitam ||2-28-7 There were best cabins with suitable balconies having sun shades supported on single pillar. sarvataḥ sāranirvyūhaṁ svāyataṁ supratiṣṭhitam | udagrākliṣṭasukliṣṭaṁ maṣcārohaṇamuttamam ||2-28-8 The walls were of bamboo. The arena was vast and strong. Ladders were provided to reach the platforms easily. nṛpāsanaparikṣiptaṁ saṣcārapathasaṣkulam | channaṁ tadvedikābhiścha mānuṣaughabharakṣamam ||2-28-9 Royal seats and walkways were arranged. The stage was properly covered. The venue was capable of accommodating many groups of people. sa dṛṣṭvā bhūṣitaṁ raṅgamājṣāpayata buddhimān | Seeing the venue decorated suitably, the intelligent king ordered: śvaḥ sacitrāḥ samālyāścha sapatākāstathaiva ca ||2-28-10 suvāsitā vapuṣmanta upanītottaracchadāḥ | kriyantāṁ maṣchavāṭāścha valabhyo vīthayastathā ||2-28-11 "Tomorrow the wrestling arena and the pathways shall be decorated with pictures, garlands and flags. The canopy of the arena shall be decorated with fragrant flowers. raṅgavāṭe karīṣasya kalpyantāṁ rāśayo'vyayāḥ | paṭāstaraṇaśobhāścha valayaścānurūpataḥ ||2-28-12 The stage shall be smeared with cow dung. The canopy shall be decorated with curtains. sthāpyantāṁ sunikhātāścha pānakumbhā yathākramam | udabhārasahāḥ sarve sakāṣchanaghaṭottamāḥ ||2-28-13 Drinking pots shall be arranged in order. Golden pots, full of water, shall also be provided. valayaścopakalpyantāṁ kaṣāyāścaiva kumbhaśaḥ | prāśnikāścha nimantryantāṁ śreṇyaścha sapurogamāḥ ||2-28-14 Gifts shall be provided. Pots full of juice shall be arranged. Expert wrestlers shall be invited. Spectators shall be seated in the front. ājṣā ca deyā mallānāṁ prekṣakāṇāṁ tathaiva ca | samāje maṣchavāṭāścha kalpyantāṁ sūpakalpitāḥ ||2-28-15 Order the wrestlers and instruct the spectators. Decorate the arena and the viewing area suitably." evamājṣāpya rājā sa samājavidhimuttamam | samājavāṭānniṣkramya vivesha svaṁ niveshanam ||2-28-16 Thus the king ordered for providing best arrangements (for wrestling). Then he left the arena and returned to his house. āhvānaṁ tatra saṣcakre tasya malladvayasya vai | cāṇūrasyāprameyasya muṣṭikasya tathaiva ca ||2-28-17 After reaching there he summoned two of his wrestlers, the unconquerable cāṇūra and muṣṭika. tau tu mallau mahāvīryau balinau bāhuśālinau | kaṁsasyājṣāṁ puraskṛtya hṛṣṭau viviśatustadā ||2-26-18 The wrestlers were great vīras, strong and with powerful arms. As per kaṁsa's order they immediately went there happily. tau samīpagatau dṛṣṭvā mallau jagati vishrutau | uvāca kaṁso nṛpatiḥ sopanyāsamidaṁ vacaḥ ||2-28-19 Seeing that the famous wrestlers were standing before him, king kaṁsa spoke to them with explanations. bhavantau mama vikhyātau mallau vīradhvajocchritau | pūjitau ca yathānyāyaṁ satkārārhau viśeṣataḥ ||2-28-20 "You are my famous wrestlers, flying the flag of valiancy high. You are respected accordingly. You are specially deserved to be felicitated. tanmatto yadi satkāraḥ smaryate sukṛtāni ca | kartavyaṁ me mahatkarma bhavadbhyāṁ svena tejasā ||2-28-21 If you remember my past felicitations and other favours, please do my important work with your prowess. yāvetau mama saṁvṛddhau vraje gopālakāvubhau | saṅkarṣaṇaścha kṛṣṇaścha bālāvapi jitashramau ||2-28-22 Those two cow tenders, saṅkarṣaṇa (balarāma) and kṛṣṇa grew up in my vraja. Even though they are young, they never seem to tire. etau raṅgagatau yuddhe yuddhyamānau vanecharau | nipātānantaraṁ śīghraṁ hantavyau nātra saṁśayaḥ ||2-28-23 They live in the forest. When they fight in the arena with you, you should quickly throw them on the ground and kill them without any doubt. bālāvimau suchapalāvakriyāviti sarvathā | nāvajṣā tatra kartavyā kartavyo yatna eva hi ||2-28-24 Never think that these youths are restless and do not know wrestling. Do not underestimate them. You should exert yourself. tābhyāṁ yudhi nirastābhyāṁ gopābhyāṁ raṅgasannidhau | āyatyāṁ ca tadātve ca śreyo mama bhaviṣyati ||2-28-25 If you kill these cow tenders in fight in the arena, I will get benefited for the present and future". nṛpateḥ snehasaṁyuktairvachobhirhṛṣṭamānasau | ūcaturyuddhasaṁmattau mallau cāṇūramuṣṭikau ||2-28-26 Hearing the affectionate words of the king, the wrestlers cāṇūra and muṣṭika, intoxicated with pride in their wrestling skills, were happy. They replied: yadyāvayostau pramukhe sthāsyete gopakilbiṣau | hatāvityeva mantavyau pretarūpau tapasvinau ||2-28-27 "If these cow tenders, who are a disgrace to gopa-s stand before us in fight, they are as good as dead. They have already become dead bodies. yadyāvāṁ pratiyotsyete tāvariṣṭapariplutau | āvābhyāṁ roṣayuktābhyāṁ pramukhe tau vane charau ||2-28-28 If we fight them directly, they will be in great trouble. We shall definitely be angry with those who live in forests." evaṁ vāgviṣamutsṛjya tāvubhau mallapuṅgavau | anujṣātau narendreṇa sve gṛhe tau prajagmatuḥ ||2-28-29 Uttering these poisonous (insulting) words, the two leading wrestlers, as permitted by the king, returned home. mahāmātraṁ tataḥ kaṁso babhāṣe hastijīvinam | hastī kuvalayāpīḍaḥ samājadvāri tiṣṭhatu || 2-28-30 Then kaṁsa spoke to his mahout, mahāmātra: "Keep the elephant kuvalayāpīḍa at the entrance of the arena. balavānmadalolākṣaśchapalaḥ krodhano nṛṣu | dānotkaṭakaṭaśchaṇḍaḥ prativāraṇaroṣaṇaḥ ||2-28-31 The elephant is strong, his eyes are with mada, he is restless and angry on men. He becomes angry seeing another elephant. sa saṁnodayitavyaste tāvuddiśya vanaukasau | vasudevasutau vīrau yathā syātāṁ gatāyuṣau ||2-28-32 You should direct the elephant towards those residents of forest so that both the valiant sons of vasudeva shall be killed. tvayā caiva gajendreṇā yadi tau goṣṭhajīvinau | bhavetāṁ patitau raṅge paśyeyamahamutkaṭau ||2-28-33 I wish to see that those powerful residents of vraja are killed in the arena because of you and the elephant. tatastau patitau dṛṣṭvā vasudevaḥ sabāndhavaḥ | cinnamūlo nirālambaḥ sabhāryo vinaśiṣyati ||2-28-34 Seeing that those are killed, vasudeva along with his wife and relatives will perish without any support. ye cheme yādavā mūrkhāḥ sarve kṛṣṇaparāyaṇāḥ | vinaśiṣyanti ccinnnāśā dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaṁ nipātitam ||2-28-35 Seeing that kṛṣṇa is killed, all those ignorant yādava-s, who are supporters of kṛṣṇa shall perish losing all hope. etau hatvā gajendreṇa mallairvā svayameva vā | purīṁ niryādavīṁ kṛtvā vichariṣyāmyahaṁ sukhī ||2-28-36 Killing them by elephant or wrestlers or myself and making the city devoid of yādava-s, I shall be comfortable. pitā hi me parityakto yādavānāṁ kulodvahaḥ | śeṣāścha me parityaktā yādavāḥ kṛṣṇapakṣiṇaḥ ||2-28-37 I have abandoned my father, who is the benefactor of yādava race. I have also abandoned those yādava-s who are supporters of kṛṣṇa. na cāhamugrasenena jātaḥ kila sutārthinā | mānuṣeṇālpavīryeṇa yathā māmāha nāradaḥ ||2-28-38 nārada has told me that I was not born to the less valiant man ugrasena who desired to have a son. mahāmātra uvāca kathamuktaṁ nāradena rājandevarṣiṇā purā | āścharymetatkathitaṁ tvattaḥ śrutamariṁdama ||2-28-39 mahāmātra said: O king! What did the devarṣi nārada tell you earlier? O killer of enemies! This is a surprise that you are telling me. kathamanyena jātastvamugrasenātpiturvinā | tava mātrā kathaṁ rājankṛtaṁ karmedamīdṛśam ||2-28-40 Are you born to someone else other than ugrasena as father? O king! Why did your mother do such a thing? anyāpi prākṛtā nārī na kuryāccha jugupsitam | vistaraṁ śrotumicchāmi hyetatkautūhalaṁ hi me ||2-28-41 Even an ordinary woman will not do such a despicable thing. I am curious to hear this in detail. kaṁsa uvāca yathā kathitavānvipro maharṣirnāradaḥ prabhuḥ | tathāhaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi yadi te śravaṇe matiḥ ||2-28-42 kaṁsa said: If you are interested to hear about this, I will tell you as the lord brāhmin sage nārada had told me. āgataḥ śakrasadanātsa vai śakrasakho muniḥ | candrāṁśuśuklavasano jaṭāmaṇḍalamudvahan ||2-28-43 That sage, a friend of śakra (indra), had come from the abode of śakra (indra]), dressed in clothes as white as moon rays, with matted hair. kṛṣṇājinottarīyeṇa rukmayajṣopavītavān | daṇḍī kamaṇḍaludharaḥ prajāpatirivāparaḥ ||2-28-44 A deerskin was hung on his shoulder. He was wearing a golden sacred thread. He was looking like another prajāpati carrying a stick and a water pot. gātā caturṇāṁ vedānāṁ vidvāngāndharvavedavit | sa nārado'tha devarṣirbrahmalokacharo'vyayaḥ ||2-8-45 He sings all four vedas. He is a scholar of music. devarṣi nārada is eternal who travels in the world of brahma. tamāgatamṛṣiṁ dṛṣṭvā pūjayitvā yathāvidhi | pādyārghamāsanaṁ dattvā sampraveshyopavishya ha ||2-28-46 Seeing the sage who arrived, I received and worshipped him as ordained. I offered him pādya and arghya, offered him a seat and took him inside. sukhopaviṣṭo'tha muniḥ pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṁ mama | uvāca ca prītamanā devarṣirbhāvitātmavān ||2-28-47 After being seated comfortably, the sage enquired about me. The sage with blessed soul was pleased and told me as follows: nārada uvāca pūjito'haṁ tvayā vīra vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā | idamekaṁ mama vacaḥ śrūyatāṁ pratigṛhyatām ||2-28-48 nārada said: "You have worshipped me as ordained. Listen to my words and accept them. gato'haṁ devasadanaṁ sauvarṇaṁ meruparvatam | so'haṁ kadāciddevānāṁ samāje merumūrdhani ||2-28-49 I had gone to the residence of deva-s in the golden meru mountain. I was present once in the assembly of deva-s on the top of meru. tatra mantryatāmevaṁ devatānāṁ mayā śrutaḥ | bhavataḥ sānugasyaiva vadhopāyaḥ sudāruṇaḥ ||2-28-50 There, I heard the deva-s discussing about terrible methods of killing you and your associates. tatra yo devakīgarbho viṣṇurlokanamask+itaḥ | yo'syā garbho'ṣṭamaḥ kaṁsa sa te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati ||2-28-51 viśṇu, worshipped by the world will become devakī's conception. Kamsa, her eighth conception will be the cause of your death. devānāṁ sa tu sarvasvaṁ tridivasya gatishcha saḥ | paraṁ rahasyaṁ devānāṁ sa te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati ||2-28-52 He will be the protector of deva-s and the shelter of heavenly bodies. He, the supreme secret of deva-s will be the cause of your death. yatnashcha kriyatāṁ kaṁsa garbhāṇāṁ pātanaṁ prati | nāvajṣā ripave kāryā durbale svajane'pi vā ||2-28-53 kaṁsa, make efforts to destroy the conceptions. Do not ignore your enemies and relatives even though they are weak. na cāyamugrasenaḥ sa pitā tava mahābalaḥ | drumilo nāma tejasvī saubhasya patirūrjitaḥ ||2-28-54 ugrasena is not your father. Your father is the powerful, opulent and energetic master of saubha named drumila." śrutvāhaṁ tadvacastasya kiṁchidroṣasamanvitaḥ | bhūyo'pṛccaṁ kathaṁ brahmandrumilo nāma dānavaḥ ||2-28-55 Hearing his words, I became somewhat angry. I asked: "O brahmaṇa, how did the dānava named drumila become my father? mama mātrā kathaṁ tasya brūhi vipra samāgamaḥ | etadichcāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ vistareṇa tapodhana ||2-28-56 O brahmaṇa, tell me how he had relations with my mother? O you who are enriched with austerity, I wish to hear about this in detail. nārada uvāca hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu rājanyathārthataḥ | drumilasya ca mātrā te saṁvādaṁ ca samāgamam ||2-28-57 nārada said: Alas! O king! I will tell you about the conservation and meeting of drumila and your mother. Listen! suyāmunaṁ nāma nagaṁ tava māta rajasvalā | prekṣituṁ sahitā strībhirgatā vai sā kutūhalāt ||2-28-58 Once when her menstrual period had just finished, your mother had gone to see the mountain named suyāmuna, due to curiosity, along with other women. sā tatra ramaṇīyeṣu ruciradrumasānuṣu | cacāra nagaśṛṅgeṣu kandareṣu nadīṣu ca ||2-28-59 There she walked along the peaks with beautiful trees. She traveled along caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain. kinnarodgītamadhurāḥ pratiśrutyabhināditāḥ | śṛṇvantī kāmajananīrvācaḥ śrotrsukhāvahāḥ |2-68-60 She heard sweet songs sung by kinnara-s and their echoes as well. She heard words pleasant to the ear and generating desire. barhiṇāṁ caiva virutaṁ khagānāṁ ca vikūjitam | abhīkṣṇamabhiśṛṇvantī strīdharmamabhirochayat ||2-28-61 Hearing the crowing of peacocks and the chirping of birds, again and again, her mind turned towards womanly desire. etasminnantare vāyurvanarājiviniḥsṛtaḥ | hṛdyaḥ kusumagandhāḍhyo vavau manmathabodhanaḥ ||2-28-62 In between this, a cool breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers began to blow in the forest, stimulating passionate desires. dvirephābharaṇāścaiva kadambā vāyughaṭṭitāḥ | mumuchurgandhamadhikaṁ saṁtatāsāramūrchitāḥ ||2-28-63 The kadamba (Nauclea Cadamba) trees with bees hovering around flowers swayed in the wind. Enriched by the ever flowing streams and aided by the wind, the fragrance of the flowers were strong. kesarāḥ puṣpavarṣaiścha vavṛṣurmadabodhanāḥ | nīpā dīpā ivābhānti puṣpakaṇṭakadhāriṇaḥ ||2-28-64 The kesarā (Mimusops Elengi) trees showered flowers with intoxicating fragrance. The nīpā (Nauclea Cadamba) trees appeared like lamps with their flowers and thorns. mahī navatṛṇacchannā śakragopavibhūṣitā | yauvanastheva vanitā svaṁ dadhārārtavaṁ vapuḥ ||2-28-65 Covered by fresh green grass and decorated by cochineal insects (śakragopa) the earth looked like the body of a young woman. atha saubhapatiḥ śrīmāndrumilo nāma dānavaḥ | bhaviṣyaddaivayogena vidhātrā tatra nīyate ||2-28-66 Then the dazzling lord of saubha, the dānava named drumila, reached there, as directed by the creator, due to the arrangement of providence. kāmagena rathenāśu taruṇādityavarchasā | yadṛcchayā gatastatra suyāmunadidṛkṣayā ||2-28-67 By accident, he went to see suyāmuna, in his chariot which travels according to his desire, sparkling like the morning sunshine. vihāyasā kāmagamo manaso'pyāśugāminā | sa taṁ prāpya parvatendramavatīrya rathottamāt ||2-28-68 Arriving at the lord of mountains in the best of chariots, which travels through the sky as he desires at a speed faster than mind, he alighted from the chariot. parvatopavane nyasya rathaṁ pararathārujam | athāsau sūtasahitaścacāra nagamūrdhani ||2-28-69 He stopped his chariot, capable of destroying enemy chariots, in a garden of the mountain. Then he wandered on the peak along with his charioteer. tato bahūnyapaśyetāṁ kānanāni vanāni ca | sarvartuguṇasaṁpannaṁ nandanasyeva kānanam ||2-28-70 There both of them saw many forests and woods, with the qualities of all seasons like the forest of nandana. ceraturnagaśṛṅgeṣu kandareṣu nadīṣu ca | nānādhātupinaddhaiścha śṛṅgairbahubhirucchritaiḥ ||2-28-71 They walked near the caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain. The highly tall peaks were covered with many minerals. nānāratnavicitreṣu kāṣchanāṣjanarājatān | nānākusumagandhāḍhyānnānāsattvaguṇairyutān ||2-28-72 There were varieties of strange jewels, gold, silver and aṣjana. There were varieties of fragrant flowers with varieties of qualities. nānādvijagaṇaistuṣṭānnānāpuṣpaphaladrumān | nānauṣadhisamāyuktānṛṣisiddhānusevitān ||2-28-73 There were varieties of birds. There were trees with varieties of flowers and fruits. There were varieties of medicinal plants. Many sages and beatified persons with supernatural qualities lived there. vidyādharānkiṁpuruṣānṛkṣavānararākṣasān | simhānvyāghrānvarāhāṁścha mahiṣāṣcharabhāṣchaśān ||2-28-74 supernatural beings with magical powers (vidyādhar-s), kiṁpuruśās, bears, monkeys and rākṣasās lived there. Lions, tigers, boars, buffaloes, deers and hares lived there. sṛmarāṁśchamarānnyaṅkūnmātaṅgānyakṣarākṣasān | evaṁ bahuvidhānpaśyaṁścharamāṇo nagottamam || 2-28-75 They saw wild deer, yaks, antelopes, elephants, yakṣa-s, rākṣasa-s and many other beings while wandering on the best mountain. dūrāddadarśa nṛpatirdevīṁ devasutopamām | krīḍamānāṁ sakhībhiścha puṣpaṁ caiva vichinvatīm ||2-28-76 The king (of dānava-s) saw the queen (of ugrasena), who was like a celestial woman, from a distance. She was playing with her companions and plucking flowers from garden. tataścarantīṁ suśroṇīṁ sakhībhiḥ saha saṁvṛtām || dṛṣṭvā saubhapatirdūrādvismayansūtamabravīt ||2-28-77 Seeing the lady with beautiful hair, moving, surrounded by her companions, from a distance, the lord of saubha was astonished and he spoke to his charioteer. kasyeyaṁ mṛgaśāvākṣī vanāntaravicāriṇī | rūpaudāryaguṇopetā manmathasya ratiryathā ||2-28-78 "Whose is this doe-eyed beautiful lady wandering in this forest? She is beautiful with all good qualities, like rati, wife of manmatha (god of love). śacī va puruhūtasya utāho vā tilottamā | nārāyaṇoruṁ nirbhidya saṁbhūtā varavarṇinī | ailasya dayitā devī yoṣidratnaṁ kimurvaśī ||2-28-79 Is she puruhūta's (indra's) wife sachi or the beautiful tilottamā who manifested from the thigh of nārāyaṇa or the wife of aila, urvaśī, the jewel of women? kṣīrārṇave mathyamāne surāsuragaṇaiḥ saha | manthānaṁ mandaraṁ kṛtvāmṛtārthamiti naḥ shrutam ||2-28-80 I have heard that the ocean of milk was churned by deva-s and asura-s using manthara as the churning stick to obtain nectar. tato'mṛtātsamuttasthau devī śrīrlokabhāvinī | nārāyaṇāṅkalulitā kiṁ śrīreṣā varāṅganā ||2-28-81 At that time, goddess śrī, benefactor of the entire world appeared along with nectar. Is she that beautiful goddess śrī, who left the lap of nārāyaṇa? nīlameghāntaragatā dyotayantyaciraprabhā | tathā yoṣidgaṇānmadhye rūpaṁ pradyotayadvanam ||2-28-82 Just as lightning sparkles among dark blue clouds, this beautiful woman among women, lights up this forest. atīva sukumārāṅgī suprabhendunibhānanā | dṛṣṭvā rūpamanindyāṅgyā vibhrānto vyākulendriyaḥ ||2-28-83 She has beautiful limbs. Her face shines like full moon. Seeing her faultless form, I have become mad and my senses have become confused. kāmasya vaśamāpanno mano vihvalatīva me | bhṛśaṁ kṛntati me'ṅgāni sāyakaiḥ kusumāyudhaḥ ||2-28-84 My mind, under the influence of the god of love, has become restless. The one with flowers as weapons (god of love) is piercing my limbs with his arrows. bhittvā hṛdi śarānpaṣcha nirdayaṁ hanti me manaḥ | hṛdayāgnirvardhayati Ajyasikta ivānalaḥ | The one with five arrows (god of love) is splitting my heart and burning my mind without any kindness. The fire of the heart increases like fire fed with ghee. kathamadya bhavetkāryaṁ śamārthaṁ manmathāgninā ||2-28-85 What should I do to douse this fire of desire? kenopāyena kiṁ kurmo bhajenmāṁ mattagāminī | evaṁ bahu cintayāno nopalabhya ca dānavaḥ ||2-28-86 What is the method I should adopt so that this beautiful woman will accept me?" The dānava thought a lot about this but he could find a solution. sūtamāha muhūrtaṁ tu tiṣṭhasva tvamihānagha | ahaṁ yāsyāmi tāṁ draṣṭuṁ kasyeyamiti yoṣitam ||2-28-87 pratīkṣamāṇastiṣṭhasva yāvadāgamanam mama | He told the charioteer: "O sinless one! You wait here for a while. I will go and find out whose wife is this beautiful woman. Wait here for me till I return". śrutvā tu vacanaṁ tasya tathāstviti vacho'bravīt ||2-28-88 Hearing his words, the charioteer said: "So be it". evamuktvā dānavendro gamanāya mano dadhe | vāryupaspṛśya balavāndhyānamevānvacintayat ||2-28-89 Saying this, the king of dānava-s, decided to go. The powerful one, touched water (performed oblation with water) and meditated and thought. muhūrtaṁ dhyānamātreṇa dṛṣṭaṁ jṣānabalāttataḥ | ugrasenasya patnīti jṣātvā harṣamupāgataḥ ||2-28-90 After meditating for a while, by the power of higher knowledge, he found that the woman was wife of ugrasena. Knowing this he was happy. ugrasenasya rūpaṁ vai kṛtvā svaṁ parivartya saḥ | upāsarpanmahābāhuḥ prahasandānaveśvaraḥ ||2-28-91 Leaving his own form, the lord of dānava-s with powerful arms assumed the form of ugrasena and smiled. smayamānaścha śanakairjagrāhāmitavīryavān | ugrasenasya rūpeṇa mātaraṁ te vyadharṣayat ||2-28-92 The highly valiant dānava slowly embraced her with a smile. He violated your mother in the form of ugrasena. sā patisnigdhahṛdayā taṁ bhāvenopasarpatī | śaṅkitā cābhavatpaścāttasya gauravadarśanāt ||2-28-93 Due to the love for her husband, she served him, thinking him to be her husband. Later after close contact, she became suspicious on him. sā tamāhotthitā bhītā na tvaṁ mama patirdhruvam | kasya tvaṁ vikṛtācāro yenāsmi malinīkṛtā ||2-28-94 She became afraid and stood up. She said: "It is certain that you are not my husband. Who are you, with perverted behavior? Why did you pollute me?" ekabhartṛvratamidaṁ mama saṁdūṣitaṁ tvayā | patyurme rūpamāsthāya nīcha nīchena karmaṇā ||2-28-95 You, lowly person, assuming the form of my husband and performing a lowly act, today you have polluted my vow of one husband. kiṁ māṁ vakṣyanti ruṣitā bāndhavāḥ kulapāṁsanīm | jugupsitā ca vatsyāmi patipakṣairnirākṛtā ||2-28--96 What will my angry relatives tell me, who has polluted the race? I have to spend the rest of my life despised by the members of my husband's family. dhiktvāmīdṛśamakṣāntaṁ duṣkulaṁ vyutthitendriyam | aviśvāsyamanāyuṣyaṁ paradārābhimarśanam || 2-28-97 You are condemned to behave like this. You are intolerant and you are of a bad race. Your senses are perverted. You are not trustworthy. You are lustful. You spoiled someone else's wife." sa tāmāha prasajjantīṁ kṣiptaḥ krodhena dānavaḥ | ahaṁ vai drumilo nāma saubhasya patirūrjitaḥ ||2-28-98 As she condemned him in this way, the dānava became enraged and said: "I am the powerful lord of saubha, named drumila. kiṁ māṁ kṣipasi roṣeṇa mūdhe paṇḍitamānini | mānuṣaṁ patimāśritya nīcaṁ mṛtyuvaśe sthitam ||2-28-99 Why are you condemning me with anger, you fool? You think yourself to be wise, dependent on your human husband, who is low and controlled by death. vyabhicārānna duṣyanti striyaḥ strīmānagarvite | na hyāsāṁ niyatā buddhirmānuṣīṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ ||2-28-100 Proud woman! women are not polluted by adultery. Woman, especially of human race, do not have a firm intelligence. śrūyante hi striyo bahvyo vyabhicāravyatikramaiḥ | prasūtā devasaṅkāśānputrānniśchalavikramān ||2-28-101 I have heard that many women, by deviating with adultery, have delivered powerful and valiant children, like devas. atīva hi tvaṁ strīloke patidharmavatī satī | śuddhakeśānvidhunvantī bhāṣase yadyadicchasi ||2-28-102 You are the only one among women, who is faithful to her husband. Thinking about purity you are talking as you like. kasya tvamiti yachcāhaṁ tvayokto mattakāśini | kaṁsastasmādripudhvaṁsī tava putro bhaviṣyati ||2-28-103 Since you asked me , "Who are you?", O beautiful woman! you will have a son named kaṁsa, who will destroy his enemies. sā saroṣā punarbhūtvā nindantī tasya taṁ varam | uvāca vyathitā devī dānavaṁ dhṛṣṭavādinam ||2-28-104 (On hearing this) she was again enraged. She condemned the boon given by him. The wife of ugrasena, overcome with sorrow, told the dānava who was reasoning with her. dhikte vṝttaṁ sudurvṛtta yaḥ sarvā nindasi striyaḥ | santi striyo nīchavṛttāḥ santi caiva pativratāḥ ||2-28-105 "O sinful one! I condemn your action. You condemn all women. Just as there are women of bad character, there are chaste women as well. yāstvekapatnyaḥ śrūyante'rundhatīpramukhāḥ striyaḥ | dhṛtā yābhiḥ prajāḥ sarvā lokāścaiva kulādhama ||2-28-106 You are a disgrace to your family. There are women such as arundhatī who are chaste. Those women sustain the people as well as the world. yastvayā mama putro vai datto vṛttavināśanaḥ | na me bahumatastveṣa śṛṇu cāpi yaducyate ||2-28-107 But the son you gave me is a destroyer of good characters. I do not approve him . Hear what I have to say. utpatsyati pumānnīchaḥ pativaṁśe mamādya yaḥ | bhaviṣyati sa te mṛtyur yashcha dattastvayā sutaḥ ||2-28-108 O lowly person! A person will appear in my husband's family. He will be the cause of your death as well as the cause of death of the son given by you. drumilastvevamuktastu jagāmākāśameva tu | tenaiva rathamukhyena divyenāpratigāminā ||2-28-109 After this was told to drumila (by your mother) he departed to the sky in his best divine chariot which does not have a competitor. jagāma ca purīm dīnā mātā tadahareva te | māmevamuktvā bhagavānnārado munisattamaḥ ||2-28-110 Your mother, overcome by sorrow, returned to the city on the same day". Lord nārada, the great sage told me this. dīpyamānastapovīryātsākṣādagniriva jvalan | vallakīṁ vādyamāno hi saptasvaravimūrcchitām ||2-28-111 Lighting with the power of penance, blazing like real fire, playing his vīnā capable of producing all the seven basic sounds, gāyano lakṣyavīthīṁ sa jagāma brahmaṇo'ntikam | the singing sage went to the abode of brahma by air. śṛṇuṣvedaṁ mahāmātra nibodha vacanaṁ mama ||2-28-112 Hear this, mahāmātra, understand my words. tathyaṁ choktaṁ nāradena trailokyajṣena dhīmatā | Whatever the intelligent nāradā, who knows the past, present and future, has told is true. alaṁ balena vīryeṇānayena vinayena ca ||2-28-113 pramāṇairvāpi vīryeṇa tejasā vikrameṇa ca | satyena caiva dānena nānyo'sti sadṛśaḥ pumān ||2-28-114 There is no one like me with strength, valiancy, arrogance , humility, splendour, power, truth and kindness. viditvā sarvamātmānaṁ vacanaṁ śaddadhāmyaham | kṣetrajo'haṁ sutastasya ugrasenasya hastipa ||2-28-115 Knowing me very well , I believe those words. O keeper of elephant! I am the son born to ugrasena's wife. mātāpitṛbhyāṁ saṁtyaktaḥ sthāpitaḥ svena tejasā | ubhābhyāmapi vidviṣṭo bāndhavaiścha viśeṣataḥ ||2-18-116 (Note 1) My mother and father have abandoned me. I have established myself with my power. Both my parents and specially my relatives hate me. etānapi haniṣyāmi yādvānkṛṣṇapakṣiṇaḥ | tadimau ghātayitvā tu hastinā gopakilbiṣau ||2-28-117 After getting these sinful gopa-s killed by the elephant, I will kill the yādava-s who are on kṛṣṇa's side. tadgaccha gajamāruhya sāṅkuśaprāsatomaraḥ | sthiro bhava mahāmātra samājadvāri mā ciram ||2-28-118 Now proceed and come riding on the elephant with all weapons. Station yourself at the entrance of the arena without any delay. iti srimahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi kaṁsavākye'ṣṭāviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the twenty-eighth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, narrations about Kamsa's birth. (Note 1) The Harivamsa critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Institute, Pune (1969) has the following additional line While D6, T 1-2, G, M 1-3 ins. badhvā ca pitaraṁ rājye sthito'smi ca balīyasā | After imprisoning my father, I will rule the land with my own power. The ṁalayalam translation of this line is given on Page 420, lines 117-1, Bhashabharatam, kuṣṣhikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, volume 6, DC Books, Kottayam, 2007. nīlakaṇṭha commentary śrīmadgopījanamānasāya śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ | aṣṭāviṁśe tvthāyadhyāye maṣcānāṁ rachanocyate | mahāmātrāya kaṁsasya svajanmātha chikīrṣitam || 1 || pūrvenādhyāyena "yuvaṁ vastrāṇi pīvasā vasāthe yuvoracchidrā mantavo ha sargāḥ" ityardhacārtha upabṛṁhitaḥ | yasyārthastu yuvaṁ yuvāṁ yuvāṁ pīvasā balena rajakaṁ hatvetyarthaḥ | vastrāṇi vasāthe yuvoḥ yuvayoḥ mantavo mānayitāraḥ mālākārakubjāprabhṛtayaḥ sargāḥ sṛjanti mālyānulepanādikaṁ te sargāḥ acchidrāḥ nīchatvakubjatvādidoṣahīnā bhavantīti | "avātiratamanṛtāni viśvā ṛtena mitrāvaruṇā sachethe" ityasyopabṛṁhaṇārtha uttaro granthaḥ | tatra ayādavo'pi kaṁso yadūnāmādipatyanicchannanṛtaḥ tena prayuktāni mallādīni anṛtāni viśvā sarvāṇi tāni avātirataṁ tiraskṛtavantau ṛtena satyenaiva yādavatvena gopatvāccāditatayā prāgaprasiddhena mitrāvaruṇau sūtrāntaryāmiṇau rāmakṛṣṇau sachethe saṁgacchethe yuvāṁ | tatra kaṁsasyānṛtatvamatra mahāmātrakathayā upabṛṁhyate | · 2-28-1 sa cintayitveti | bhojavivarddhano bhojacchedī | · 2-28-3 yasyārthe yannimittam | · 2-28-4 vacanaṁ na vasudevayatnau rātrāveva viphalīkṛta ityevaṁrūpam | · 2-28-5 prekṣāgāraṁ dhanurmahaprekṣārthaṁ kṛtaṁ sthānam | · 2-28-6 niyuktaṁ niṣpannaṁ śreṇīnāṁ ekaśilpopajīvināṁ dṛḍhaṁ niyuktairdR+ḍhasaṁyukataiḥ dṛḍhabaddhaiḥ | · 2-28-7 sa eko maṣcārohaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā raṅgamājṣāpayateti vyavahitena saṁbandhaḥ | balabhībhiḥ ubhayato namatpakṣadvayābhiḥ | chadībhiḥ ṣaṭstambhābhiḥ | kūṭībhiriti pāṭhe koṣṭhakoṣṭhakaiḥ saptacchadikaiḥ chatustambhaiḥ || · 2-28-8 sāranirvyūhaṁ dṛḍhaṁ nāgadantā gṛhānnirgatadārurūpāṇi yatra | udagraṁ uccham akliṣṭam asaṁkuchitaṁ suśliṣṭaṁ ca maṣcārohaṇaṁ sopānapaṅktiryatra | · 2-28-9 parikṣiptaṁ vyāptam | · 2-28-10 raṅgadhanurmaham ājṣāpayat ājṣāpitavān | sacitrā ityādi maṣchavāṭānāṁ viśeṣaṇam | · 2-28-11 vapuṣmantaścitrapuruṣādiyuktāḥ uttaracchadā mahāstaraṇāni | · 2-28-12 karīṣasya śuṣkagomayacūrṇasya rāśayaḥ mallānāṁ svedāpamārjanārthaṁ maṅgalārthaṁ vā | · 2-28-13 pānakumbhāḥ ghaṭocchrāyikāḥ | · 2-28-14 kaṣāyāḥ rasāḥ prāśnikāḥ yuddhadharmavidaḥ | · 2-28-15 prekṣakāṇāṁ yuddhasākṣiṇām | · 2-28-19 sopanyāsaṁ sopapattikam | · 2-28-20 vīradhvajaḥ sotkarṣasūchakaṁ toḍarādi tena ucchritau | · 2-28-22 jitashramau kadācidapi na shramavantau | · 2.28-23 nipātānantaraṁ saṁbandhmātreṇetyarthaḥ | · 2-28-24 akriyau arakṣitau | · 2-28-25 āyatyāṁ uttarakāle tadātve vartamānakāle | · 2-28-28 pramukhe tau nihantavyāviti śeṣaḥ | · 2-28-31 dānotkaṭakaṭaḥ madotkaṭagaṇḍaḥ | · 2-28-46 saṁmukhaṁ gatvā saṁpraveśya gṛhaṁ tataḥ pādyasahitam arghaṁ datvā ācamanaṁ ca datvā tatsaṁnidhau svayamupavishya | · 2.28-47 bhavitātmavān pūtachittaḥ | · 2-28-51 asyāḥ devakyāḥ | · 2-28-53 ripave rapau | · 2-28-55 kathaṁ kīdṛśo drumilaḥ | · 2-28-61 strīdharmam aṣṭaguṇakāmavattvam | · 2-28-66 nīyate anīyata ityarthaḥ | · 2-28-68 vihāyasā ākāśamārgeṇa kāmagamaḥ icchayā gantuṁ śīlaḥ | · 2-28-70 kānanāni āropitavṛkṣāṇi | vanāni ropitavṛkṣāṇi | · 2-28-79 nārayaṇoruṁ nirbhidya jātā urvaśī | · 2-28-82 aciraprabhā vidyudiva yoṣidgaṇānyoṣidgaṇānām | yadvā gaṇānvanaṁ ca pradyotayat rūpaṁ dadhāneti śeṣaḥ | · 2-28-85 nirdayaṁ yathā syāttayā me māṁ hṛdayāgniḥ kāmāgniḥ vardhayati Chinatti dahatītyarthaḥ | mammathāgninā ṣaṣṭyarthe tṛtīyā | · 2-28-86 nopalabhya anupalabhya dhairyamiti śeṣaḥ | · 2-28-93 gauravadarśanāt rateḥ sparśagauravānubhavāt | · 2-28-97 akṣāntaṁ akṣāṇām indriyāṇām anto nāśo yasya tam | · 2-28-98 prasajjantīṁ kalahāyamānāṁ kṣiptaḥ dhikkṛtaḥ | · 2-28-100 vyabhicārādamānuṣasaṁbandhajāt chittasya chaṣcalatvātsvāpnābhicāravadayamamānuṣajo vyabhicārastava na doṣāyetyarthaḥ | · 2-28-101 striyaḥ kuntīmadayantīprabṛtayaḥ | · 2-28-102 śuddhakeśān "yāni kāni ca pāpāni keśānāśritya tiṣṭhant[" iti vacanāt niṣpāpān asmānapi vidhunvantī bharsyantī yadicchasi tadbhāṣase yatheṣṭaṁ pralapasi mauḍhyādityarthaḥ | · 2-28-105 dhigiti | kuntyādīnāmapyāpaddharmāpekṣayā puruṣāntarasaṁbandho na kāmavikāreṇetyarthaḥ | saḥ tvaṁ tu sarvāsāṁ nindāṁ kurvan pāpatamo'sītyarthaḥ | · 2-28-108 pumān iśvaraḥ te tava tvatputrasya ca mayi jātasya || · 2-28-111 vādyamānaḥ vādayan | · 2-28-112 lakṣyavīthīṁ brahmalokamārgaṁ devayānam | · 2-29-114 sadṛśo mayeti śeṣaḥ | iti śrī harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmaṣṭaviṁśo'dhyāyaḥ