Parva 2 Chapter 73: indrakṛṣṇayoryuddhaṁ viṣṇorutkarṣaścha - battle between indra and kṛṣṇa

vaiśampāyana said: viṣṇu (kṛṣṇa) of high splendour, some time after the sun rise, went to the mountain of raivataka, with the pretention of hunting. āropyaikarathe devaḥ sātyakiṁ narapuṅgavam | pradyumnamanugaccheti proktvā kurukulodvaha ||2-73-2 O the one who flourishes the race of kuru (janamejaya!) (vaiśampāyana continued) The deva (kṛṣṇa) mounted on a single chariot and told sātyaki, the best among men, and pradyumna to follow him. raivataṁ ca giriṁ devo gatvā dārukamabravīt | madīyaṁ rathamenaṁ tvaṁ grahāyehaiva dāruka ||2-73-3 Going to the mountain of raivataka, the deva (kṛṣṇa) told dāruka: O dāruka! Hold my chariot here. pratipālaya māṁ saumya dinārddhaṁ vārayanharīn | rathenaiva praveṣṭāhaṁ dvārakāṁ sūtasattama ||2-73-4 O gentle one! Stop the horses and wait for me for half a day. O the best among charioteers! I shall proceed to dvāraka, mounting on the chariot. iti sandishya bhagavānāruroha jayodyataḥ | tārkṣyaṁ sasātyako dhīmānaprameyaparākramaḥ ||2-73-5 Instructing him (dāruka) in this manner, the lord (kṛṣṇa) of high intellect with immeasurable valiancy, aiming for victory, mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa), along with sātyaki. pṛthagrathena kauravya pradyumnaḥ śatrusūdanaḥ | ākāśagāminā rājanpṛṣṭhataḥ kṛṣṇamanvayāt ||2-73-6 O the one of kuru race (janamejaya!) (vaiśampāyana continued), pradyumna, the slayer of enemies, mounted on another chariot, O king, followed kṛṣṇa, going through the sky. nimeṣāntaramātreṇa nandanaṁ kānanaṁ hariḥ | devodyānaṁ yayau dhīmānpārijātajihīrṣayā ||2-73-7 Within the interval of a moment, hari (kṛṣṇa) of high intellect reached the forest of nandana, the garden of the deva-s, with the intention of taking the pārijāta away. dadarsha tatra bhagavāndevayodhāndurāsadān | nānāyudhadharānvīrānnandanasthānadhokṣajaḥ ||2-73-8 There, at nandana, viṣṇu (kṛṣṇa), the lord, saw the deva fighters, difficult to conquer, holding various kinds of weapons. teṣāṁ saṁpaśyatāmeva pārijātaṁ mahābalaḥ | utpāṭyāropayāmāsa pārijātaṁ satāṁ gatiḥ ||2-73-9 As they were guarding the pārijāta tree, kṛṣṇa of high power, the refuge of good people, pulled out the pārijāta tree and placed it (on garuḍa). garuḍaṁ pakṣirājānamayatnenaiva bhārata | upasthito vigrahavānpārijātaḥ sa keshavam ||2-73-10 O the one of bharata race! Without any effort, the pārijāta tree was placed on the king of birds (garuḍa), in the bodily form, near to keshava (kṛṣṇa). sāntvito vāsudevena pārjātaścha bhārata | uktashcha vṛkṣa mā bhaistvaṁ keshavena mahātmanā ||2-73-11 O the one of bharata race! vāsudeva consoled the pārijāta tree. keshava (kṛṣṇa) of great soul said: O tree! Do not fear! taṁ prasthitaṁ taruṁ dṝṣṭvā pārijātamadhokṣajaḥ | amarāvatīṁ purīṁ śreṣṭhāṁ tatashcakre pradakṣiṇām ||2-73-12 Seeing that the pārijāta tree was secure with him, viṣṇu circumambulated the best city, amarāvatī. te tu nandanagoptāraḥ pārijāto drumottamaḥ | hriyatīti mahendrāya gatvā nṛpa śaśaṁsire ||2-73-13 O king! (vaisahampāyana continued) The guards of nandana went and told the great indra that the best of trees, pārijāta, is being taken away. athairāvatamāruhya niryayau pākaśāsanaḥ | jayantena rathasthena pṛṣṭhato'nugataḥ prabhuḥ ||2-73-14 Immediately, the king of deva-s, indra, mounted on airāvata, went there. The lord (indra) was followed by jayanta, mounted on a chariot. pūrvamabhyāgataṁ dvāraṁ keśavaṁ śatrunāśanam | dṛṣṭvovāca pravṛttaṁ bhoḥ kimidaṁ madhusūdana ||2-73-15 īndra, saw keshava (kṛṣṇa), the destroyer of enemies, who reached the eastern entrance of the city and said: O the slayer of madhu (kṛṣṇa)! What are you doing? praṇamya garuḍastho'tha keśavaḥ śakramabravīt | vadhvāste puṇyakāryāya nīyate'yam varadrumaḥ ||2-73-16 keshava (kṛṣṇa), mounted on garuḍa, bowed to śakra (indra) and said: I am taking away this best tree for an auspicious ritual of the wives (of your brother). tamuvāca tataḥ shakro mā maivaṁ puṣkarekṣaṇa | ayodhayitvā na tarurnayitavyastvayācyuta ||2-73-17 śakra (indra) told him: O the one with the eyes as beautiful as lotus! This is not possible. O the one without any fall! Without fighting, you can not take the tree away. praharasva mahābāho prathamaṁ mayi keshava | pratijṣā saphalā te'stu muktvā kaumodakīṁ mayi ||2-73-18 O keshava (kṛṣṇa)! Strike me first, by releasing the mace, kaumodaki on me and make your pledge true. tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śaraistīkṣṇairdevarājagajottamam | bibhedāśanisaṅkāśaiḥ prahasanniva bhārata ||2-73-19 O the one of bharata race (janamejaya !) (vaiśampāyana continued) Then kṛṣṇa, smiling, split the best elephant of the king of deva-s with sharp arrows. vivyādha garuḍaṁ vajrī divyaiḥ śaravaraistathā | bāṇāṁściccheda sahasā keshavasya tarasvinaḥ ||2-73-20 Then the wielder of vajra split garuḍa with the best divine arrows. He also broke the arrows of keshava (kṛṣṇa), having power. yānyānmumocha devendrastāṁstāṁściccheda mādhavaḥ | mādhavena prayuktāṁścha ciccheda balavṛtrahā ||2-73-21 mādhava (kṛṣṇa) cut the arrows shot by indra of the gods then and there. The slayer of bala and vṛtra split the arrows shot by mādhava (kṛṣṇa). mahendrasya ca shabdena dhanuṣaḥ kurunandana | śārṅgasya ca ninādena mumuhuḥ svargavāsinaḥ ||2-73-22 O the son of kuru (janamejaya!) (vaiśampāyana continued) The residents of heaven were stunned by the sound of the bow of mahendra and the sound of śārṅga (bow of kṛṣṇa). tayorvartati saṅgrāme garuḍastho mahābalaḥ | pārijātaṁ jayanto'tha hartumabhyudyato balī ||2-73-23 As indra and kṛṣṇa were fighting each other, powerful jayanta, having great power, tried to take away the pārijāta, kept on garuḍa. pradyumnamatha kaṁsaghno vārayeti tadābravīt | tatastaṁ vārayāmāsa raukmiṇeyaḥ pratāpavān ||2-73-24 The slayer of kaṁsa (kṛṣṇa) told pradyumna to prevent it. Immediately, the splendorous son of rukmiṇī (pradyumna) prevented jayanta. jayanto jayatāṁ śreṣṭho raukmiṇeyamatheṣubhiḥ | sarvagātreṣu vihasannājaghāna rathe sthitaḥ ||2-73-25 jayanta, the best among the victorious, mounted on a chariot, smiling, shot arrows on all limbs of the son of rukmiṇī (pradyumna). rathastha eva rathinaṁ kāmastu kamalekṣaṇaḥ | aindrimabhyardayāmāsa bāṇairāśīviṣopamaiḥ ||2-73-26 The god of desire, with eyes as beautiful as lotus, (pradyumna) mounted on a chariot, shot arrows with snake poison at the son of indra (jayanta), mounted on a chariot. sa sannipātastumulo babhūva kurunandana | jayantasya ca vīrasya raukmiṇeyasya chobhayoḥ ||2-73-27 O the son of kuru (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued), the fight between jayanta and the valiant son of rukmiṇī (pradyumna) became tumultuous. kṛtapratikṛtaṁ yuddhe cakratustau mahābalau | mahendropendratanayau jagatyastrabhṛtāṁ varau ||2-73-28 The powerful sons of the great indra and upendra (kṛṣṇa), best among the expert archers of the world, opposed each other's actions in the battle (fought against each other). devāścha munayashcaiva dadṛśūrvismayānvitāḥ | taṁ saṁgrāmaṁ mahāghoraṁ siddhāścaiva sacāranāḥ ||2-73-29 That highly terrible battle was witnessed with wonder by deva-s, sages, siddha-s and cāraṇas. tatastu pravaro nāma devadūto mahābalaḥ | pārijātaṁ punarhartumiyeṣa kurunandana ||2-73-30 Then, O the son of kuru (janamejaya!) (vaiśampāyana continued), a messenger of deva-s, named pravara, having great power tried to take away pārijāta again. sakhā sa devarājasya mahāstravidarindamaḥ | avadhyo varadānena brahmaṇaḥ kurunandana ||2-73-31 He (pravara) was a friend of the king of deva-s, a great expert of archery, oppressor of enemies, who can not be killed due to a boon from brahma. brāhmaṇastapasā siddho jambudvīpāddivaṁ gataḥ | svaśaktyā nṛpa saṁyātaḥ sakhitvaṁ balaghātinā ||2-73-32 He is a Brahmin, accomplished with penance, one who went to heaven from the island of jambu. O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana said), he became a friend of the slayer of bala (indra) with his own power. tamāpatantaṁ saṁprekṣya kṛṣṇaḥ sātyakimabravīt | atrastha eva pravaraṁ śarairvāraya sātyake ||2-73-33 Seeing him approaching, kṛṣṇa told sātyaki: O sātyaki, stop pravara from here with arrows. na tvatra nirdayam bāṇā moktavyāḥ sātyake tvayā | asya brāhmaṇacāpalyaṁ soḍhavyaṁ khalu sarvathā ||2-73-34 O sātyaki, do not show any kindness. Do not miss any arrows on him. By all means, we shall pardon his fickleness as a Brahmin. tataḥ ṣaṣṭyā ratheṣūṇāṁ garuḍasthaṁ dvijastadā | ājaghāna mahābāho sātyakiṁ pravaro bhṛśam ||2-73-35 Immediately, the Brahmin (pravara) shot sixty arrows at garuḍa. pravara shot arrows at the powerful sātyaki. śinernaptā dhanustasya kśipataḥ sāyakānnṛpa | ciccheda puruṣavyāghro vacanaṁ chedamabravīt ||3-73-36 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) The grandson of shini, the tiger among men, sātyaki, cut off pravara's bow, which was showering arrows and said the following words: brāhmaṇo nābhihantavyastiṣṭha tiṣṭha svavartmani | avadhyā yādavānāṁ hi svāparādhe'pi hi dvijāḥ ||2-73-37 (sātyaki said) A Brahmin can not be killed. Please stop your action. A Brahmin can not be killed by yādava-s, even if he commits an offence. pravarastu prahasyainamuvāca kurunandana | alaṁ kṣāntyā nṛṇāṁ śūra yuddhya sarvātmanā raṇe ||2-73-38 O the son of kurus (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued:) pravara laughed and said: O the valiant among men! Your forbearance is enough. Fight the battle with all your soul. jāmadagnyasya rāmasya śiṣyo'hamapi yādava | nāmataḥ pravaro nāma sakhā śakrasya dhīmataḥ ||2-73-39 O yādava (sātyaki)! I am the disciple of rāma, the son of jamadagni, by the name pravara, friend of śakra (indra) with high intellect. na devā yoddhumicchanti manyanto madhusūdanam | ānṛṇyaṁ sauhṛdasyāhamadhigantāsmi mādhava ||2-73-40 deva-s do not wish to fight the slayer of madhu (kṛṣṇa). O mādhava (kṛṣṇa)! Today I shall fulfill the obligation of my friendship (with indra). tatastayostadā raudraḥ saṁgrāmo vavṛdhe nṛpa | astrairdivyairnaravyāghra śaineyadvijamukhyayoḥ ||2-73-41 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) Afterwards, the intensity of war between the son of sini and the best among brahmins increased, O the tiger among men, with divine arrows. dyauścacāla tadā rājanhyachalāścha sahasraśaḥ | tasminvartati saṁgrāme teṣāmatimahātmanām ||2-73-42 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) Then as the battle between those great souls continued, the sky and thousands of mountains shook. nātiśiṣye raṇe kārṣṇiraindrimastrabhṛtāṁ varam | aindriḥ kārṣṇiṁ mahātmānaṁ māyinaṁ śūrasattamam ||2-73-43 The son of kṛṣṇa (pradyumna) did not overcome the son of indra (jayanta), who was the best among archers, in the battle. The son of indra (jayanta) did not overcome the son of kṛṣṇa, the great soul, master of illusion and the best among valiants. hanta gṛhṇa pratīccheti tāvubhau yodhasattamau | yuyudhāte naraśreṣṭha parasparajayaiṣiṇau ||2-73-44 Both of them, the best among fighters said, "you take this", "release that" etc and fought the battle, O the best among men (vaiśampāyana continued), keen to win against each other. atha śārṅgāyudhasutaṁ śacīputraḥ pratāpavān | vibhāṣyābhyahanadrājandivyenāstreṇa satvaraḥ ||2-73-45 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) Then the splendorous son of śacī (jayanta), quickly shot a divine arrow at the son (pradyumna) of the one whose weapon is śārṅga (kṛṣṇa). so'straṁ tadabhidīpyantamāpatantaṁ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tastaṁbhe bāṇajālena tadadbhutamivābhavat ||2-73-46 That blazing arrow was backed by a row of sharp arrows, by a group of arrows. That became a wonder. tatastaddīpyamānaṁ tu papāta raṇamūrddhani | raukmiṇeyasya kauravya ghoraṁ dānavamardanam ||2-73-47 That blazing arrow arrived at the head of the battle. O the son of kuru (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana said), This became terrible for the son of rukmiṇī, oppressor of daityas. tenāstreṇa ratho dagdhaḥ pradumnasya mahātmanaḥ | nādahattatsughoraṁ taṁ raukmiṇeyaṁ narādhipa ||2-73-48 With that arrow, the chariot of the great soul, pradyumna burned. O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued), That terrible arrow did not burn the son of rukmiṇī. dahatyagniṁ na khalvagniruddhato'pi viśāṁpate | dagdhānrathānmahābāhū raukmuṇeyaḥ pracakrame ||2-73-49 O the lord of earth! Burning fire does not burn fire. The son of rukmiṇī, having powerful arms, jumped out of the burning chariot. atha nārāyaṇasuto viratho rathināṁ varaḥ | sthito dhanuṣmānākāśe jayantamidamabravīt ||2-73-50 Then the son of nārāyaṇa (kṛṣṇa), the best among chariot fighters, without any chariot, stood in the sky, holding the bow and told jayanta as follows: mahendraputra divyaṁ tvaṁ yadastraṁ muktavānasi | nāhamīdṛśarūpāṇāṁ shakyo hantuṁ shatairapi ||2-73-51 (pradyumna said:) O the son of indra! I can not be killed even with a hundred of such divine arrows, similar to the one released by you. prayatnaṁ kuru śikṣāṇāṁ yatnaṁ me'dya pradarshaya | nāsti me'tiśayam kartā saṁgrāme'maranandana ||2--73-52 Attempt and try to show your fighting skill gained by training on me. O the son of deva, you will not be able to overcome me in the battle. āsīnme sādhvasaṁ dṛṣṭvā rathasthaṁ tvāṁ dhṛtāyudham | bibhemi tava nedānīṁ yuddhe dṛṣṭabalo'balam ||2-73-53 I was terrified by seeing you mounted on a chariot and holding weapons. Having seen your power, I am not afraid of you, who are of less power. manasā smaryātāṁ saiṣa pārijātastvayā taruḥ | śakyaṁ na khalu hastābhyāṁ spraṣṭavyo yastvayā hyasau ||2-73-54 You can remember the pārijāta tree in your mind. You will not be able to even touch the tree with your hand. ratho māyāmayo dagdhastvaya yo hyastratejasā | īdṛśānāṁ sahasrāṇi sraṣṭuṁ śakto'smi māyayā ||2-73-55 With illusion, I am capable of creating a thousand chariots, similar to the illusionary one you burned with the power of your arrow. evamukto jayantashcha mumocāstraṁ mahābalaḥ | tapasopachitaṁ tena svayamevātitejasā ||2-73-56 (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya !) jayanta of great power, who was told this, released an arrow. He, who himself is splendourous, gained that \best arrow with penance. tatpradyumno mahādevaṁ śarajālairavārayat | catvāryastrāṇi divyāni mumuche cāparāṇi saḥ ||2-73-57 pradyumna, the great deva, stopped it with a group of arrows. Then, he (jayanta) released another four divine arrows. dikṣu sarvāsu rurudhūstānyastrāṇyatha bhārata | raukmiṇeyaṁ mahātmānamantarikṣe ca paṣchamam ||2-73-58 O the one of bharata race! (vaiśampāyana continued) These (four) arrows blocked the son of rukmiṇī, with great soul, from all (four) directions and a fifth arrow blocked him from the sky. maholkāsadṛśānbāṇānastrāṇyamarasattamaḥ | mumocha yāni ghorāṇi pradyumnaṁ prati sarvataḥ ||2-73-59 The best among deva-s (pravara) blocked all directions with these arrows. He also released terrible arrows at pradyumna. tāni sarvāṇi bānaughaiḥ kārṣṇirastrāṇyavārayat | jayantaṁ cāparairbāṇairvivyādha niśitaistadā ||2-73-60 The son of kṛṣṇa (pradyumna) stopped all the arrows with a group of arrows. Then jayanta shot sharp arrows. tato nādaḥ samutsṛṣṭo hyamaraiḥ puṇyakarmabhiḥ | dṛṣṭvā sthairyaṁ ca śaighryaṁ ca pradyumnasya mahātmanaḥ ||2-73-61 Then, seeing the firmness and speed of pradyumna of great soul, the deva-s who perform good deeds shouted together (appreciating him). pravarasyāpi bāṇena shitena śinipuṅgavaḥ | cicchedeṣvāsanaṁ vīro hastāvāpaṁ ca bhārata ||2-73-62 O the son of bharata! (vaiśampāyana continued) The valiant, best among the sons of shini (sātyaki) cut off the bow and hand glove of pravara with an arrow. tato'nyatsa tu jagrāha mahattaddhanuruttamam | mahendradattaṁ pravaro mahāśanisamasvanam ||2-73-63 Then pravara took up another bow, huge and best among bows, given by the great indra, which produces a sound like a great thunder. sa tena vīro mahatā dhanuṣā viprasattamaḥ | śarāṇmumocha vividhānarkaraśminibhāṁstadā ||2-73-64 With that great bow, the valiant, the best among Brahmins, released many arrows, blazing like the sun rays. cakarta ca dhanuścitraṁ śaineyasyāmitaujasaḥ | vivyādha sarvagātreṣu bāṇairapi sa sātyakim ||2-73-65 The one with great splendour (pravara) broke the wonderful bow of the son of shini (sātyaki) and also shot arrows over sātyaki's entire body. dhanurādāya śaineyastato'nyatkurunandana | dṛḍhaṁ bhārasahaṁ dhīmānvivyādha pravaraṁ raṇe ||2-73-66 O the son of kuru (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) The son of shini took up another bow, firm and capable of bearing load. The one with intellect (sātyaki) shot arrows at pravara in the battle. ucchakartaturanyonyavarmaṇī tau śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | gātrebhyaścaiva māṁsāni marmabhidbhiḥ śarodyamaiḥ ||2-73-67 They shot sharp arrows against each other and cut off each other's jacket. They also shot arrows at each other's body cutting flesh and tearing weak spots. athāṣṭadhārabāṇena punariṣvāsanaṁ dvidhā | ciccheda pravaro vīrastribhiśchainamatāḍayat ||2-73-68 Then pravara again broke the bow of (sātyaki) in two pieces with an arrow having eight tips. Valiant pravara shot another three arrows at sātyaki. anyadiṣvāsanaṁ taṁ tu grahītumanasaṁ dvijaḥ | gadayā tāḍayāmāsa kṣepyayā laghuhastavān ||2-73-69 The Brahmin (pravara), having a quick hand, struck sātyaki who was thinking of taking another bow, by throwing a mace at him. so'siṁ charma ca jagrāha sātyakiḥ prahasanniva | na jagrāha dhanurdhīmāngadayābhihato bhṛśam | sātyaki, having high intellect, who was struck with the mace, did not take up the bow. He laughed and took up a sword and shield quickly. tataḥ śaraśatānyeva mumocha pravarastadā ||2-73-70 Immediately pravara released another hundred arrows at sātyaki. vihastamiva vijṣāya sātyakiṁ yadunandanam | pradyumno'sya dadau khaḍgaṁ nirmalākāśasannibham ||2-73-71 Realising that sātyaki's hands are empty, the son of yadu, pradyumna, gave him a sword, as bright as the clear sky. tasya ciccheda bhallena nistrimśaṁ pravarastatadā | tsarudeśe'pātayaccha pravaraḥ prahasanniva ||2-73-72 Immediately, pravara cut the sword in two by shooting the arrow (bhalla). pravara, laughing, cut the sword at its handle. vyadhamaccha tathā charma śitairbāṇairajihmagaiḥ | ājaghāna ca śaktyainaṁ hṛdi vipro nanāda ca ||2-73-73 pravara broke the shield also with sharp arrows flying fast. The Brahmin (pravara) struck sātyaki on his chest with the spear shakti and shouted loudly. taṁ viklavamiva jṣātvā pārijātajihīrṣayā | tārkṣyābhyāśe rathenaiva sa tasthau pravarastadā ||2-73-74 Realising that sātyaki is distressed, pravara went, riding his chariot near tārkṣya (garuḍa) to take away the pārijāta. taṁ pakṣapuṭavegena cikṣepa garuḍastathā | gavyūtimekāṁ sarathaḥ sa papāta mumoha ca ||2-73-75 Then garuḍa threw him away along with his chariot by the fast beating of his wings to a distance of one gavyūti (= 4000 daṇḍas or 2 krosha). pravara fell down and became unconscious. taṁ jayanto nipatyātha patitaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ nṛpa | samāśvāsya rathaṁ śīghraṁ samāropitavāṁstadā ||2-73-76 Then O king (janamejaya)! vaiśampāyana continued), jayanta reached there and consoled the brahmin (pravara) who had fallen down and helped him to quickly mount the chariot. śaineyamapi muhyantaṁ patantaṁ ca muhurmuhuḥ | āśvāsayānaḥ pradyumnaḥ pitṛvyaṁ pariṣasvaje ||2-73-77 The son of shini (sātyaki) also started falling down again and again, becoming unconscious. pradyumna consoling his paternal uncle embraced him. taṁ hi pasparsha hastena savyena madhusūdanaḥ | virujaḥ sparśamātreṇa sātyakiḥ samapadyata ||2-73-78 The slayer of madhu (viṣṇu - kṛṣṇa) caressed him (sātyaki) with his left hand. Just by the touch of his hand, all pains of sātyaki vanished. pradyumno dakṣiṇe pārśve vāme tu śinipuṅgavaḥ | tasthatuḥ pārijātasya yuddhaśauṇḍatarāvubhau ||2-73-79 pradyumna stood on the right side and the best among the sons of shini (sātyaki) stood on the left side, near pārijāta, ready for battle. jayantaḥ pravarshcaiva rathenaikena bhārata | sampatantau mahendreṇa prahasyoktau mahātmanā ||2-73-80 O the one of bharata race (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) As jayanta and pravara approached quickly in one chariot, the great indra, of great soul said laughing: nāsannamabhigantavyaṁ garuḍasya kathaṣchana | balavāneṣa patatāṁ rājā ca vinatāsutaḥ ||2-73-81 (indra said) Never go anywhere near garuḍa. This king of birds, the son of vinatā is powerful. dakṣiṇe caiva savye ca pārśve mama dhṛtāyudhau | ubhau sthitau yuddhyamānaṁ māmeva hi prapashyatam ||2-73-82 You stand on my left and right sides, holding weapons. Both of you stand, looking at me who is fighting. evamuktau sthitau vīrau tataḥ śakrasya pārśvayoḥ | dadṛśāte yudddhyamānau devarājajanārdanau ||2-73-83 (vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya!) They, who were told in this manner, stood on either side of śakra and watched the king of deva-s, indra and janārdana (kṛṣṇa) who were fighting. athendro garuḍaṁ bāṇairmahāśanisamasvanaiḥ | vivyādha sarvagātreṣu mahāstrapravaraistathā ||2-73-84 Then indra shot arrows, having the sound of great thunder at garuḍa which split him all over his body. He also shot other best great arrows. sa tānbāṇānagaṇayanvainateyaḥ pratāpavān | sasārābhimukho vīraḥ śakranāgamarindamaḥ ||2-73-85 Without minding those arrows, the splendorous, valiant son of vinatā, the oppressor of enemies went straight, facing at the elephant (airāvata) of indra. ubhau tau sahasā rājanbalinau gajapakṣiṇau | prayuddhau vīryasaṁpannau mahāprāṇau durāsadau ||2-73-86 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) Suddenly both the elephant (airāvata) and the bird (garuḍa), both of them powerful, fought against each other, having great soul, who were difficult to overcome. radanaiḥ pannagaripuṁ kareṇa śirasā tadā | airāvato gajapatirājaghāna nadaṁstathā ||2-73-87 airāvata, the king of elephants, trumpeting loudly, struck garuḍa forcefully with his tusk, trunk and head. tathā nakhāṅkuśaistīkṣṇairvainateyo balotkaṭaḥ | tathā pakṣanipātaiścha śakranāgaṁ jaghāna ha ||2-73-88 Then the son of vinatā, having immense power, tore the elephant of śakra (airāvata) with his sharp nails and struck him by flapping him with his wings. muhūrtaṁ sumahānāsītsaṁpāto gajapakṣiṇoḥ | vismāpanīyo jagataḥ prekṣitṝṇāṁ bhayāvahaḥ ||2-73-89 The great battle between the elephant (airāvata) and the bird (garuḍa), wonderful for the world and terrible for the spectators, lasted for a while. mūrdhnyathairāvataṁ tārkṣyastāḍayāmāsa bhārata | nakhāṅkuśakarālena charaṇena mahābalaḥ ||2-73-90 O the one of bharata race (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued), garuḍa of great power, struck airāvata on his head with his feet having sharp nails. . saṁprahārābhisaṁtapto nipapāta triviṣṭapāt | pāriyatre giriśreṣṭhe dvīpe'smiṣjanamejaya ||2-73-91 O janamejaya (vaiśampāyana said), beaten by garuḍa, airāvata became distressed and fell down from the heaven on the best of the mountains, pāriyātra, on the island (of jambhu - see nīlakaṇṭha). patantamapi taṁ shakro na mumocha mahābalaḥ | kāruṇyādatha sauhārdātpūrvābhyupagamādapi || 2-73-92 śakra (indra) of great power did not leave him (airāvata) even after falling, due to kindness, friendship and early association. kṛṣno'pyanvagamacchainaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ prabhavāvyayaḥ | pārijātavatā dhīmāngaruḍena mahābalaḥ ||2-73-93 kṛṣṇa, the lord, who is imperishable, with high intellect, most powerful, followed him (indra) there, mounted on garuḍa, who carried the pārijāta tree on him. sa tasthau parvataśreṣṭhe pāriyātre tu vṛtrahā | airāvate samāśvaste saṅgrāmo vavṛdhe punaḥ ||2-73-94 The slayer of vṛtra (indra) stood on pāriyātra, the best of mountains. As airāvata recovered, the battle started again. śarairāśīviśaprakhyai ratnayuktaiḥ sutejitaiḥ | anyonyaṁ kuruśārdūla śakrakeśavayormahān ||2-73-95 O the tiger among kurus (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued), with powerful shooting of sharp arrows with the poison of snakes, decorated with jewels, between the great śakra (indra) and keshava (kṛṣna). tato vajrāyudho vajramaśaniṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ | mumocha garuḍe rājannairāvataripau nṛpa ||2-73-96 Then O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued), the one with vajra as weapon (indra), released thunderbolts of vajra, again and again on garuḍa, the enemy of airāvata. vajrāśaninipātāṁstānsehe śakrasya pakṣirāṭ | avadhyo balināṁ śreṣṭho nisargeṇa tato balāt ||2-73-97 The best among the powerful, king of birds (garuḍa), who can not be killed, suffered the thunderbolts of vajra, with his nature and power. mumocha pakṣamekaikaṁ mānayannaśaniṁ sadā | vajraṁ ca devarājṣo'tha bhrātuḥ kaśyapasaṁbhavaḥ ||2-73-98 The son of kashyapa, released one feather each, respecting the thunderbolts of vajra of the king of deva-s, who is his brother. ākramyamāṇastārkṣyeṇa nyamajjannṛpate giriḥ | vivesha dharanīṁ rājaṣccīryamāṇaḥ samantataḥ ||2-73-99 O king (janamejaya)! (vaiśampāyana continued) As tārkṣya (garuḍa) arrived and attacked, the mountain was sunk. O king! The mountain collapsed all around and sunk in the earth. chukūja bahumānena kṛṣṇasya sa tu parvataḥ | taṁ cādrākṣīttataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kiṣciccheṣamadhokṣajaḥ ||2-73-100 The mountain cried aloud with the high load of kṛṣṇa. Then kṛṣṇa looked at him and saw that some portion of the mountain was still left on the earth. taṁ muktvā garuḍenātha tasthau devo vihāyasi | pradyumnaṁ ca tadovāca sarvakṛllokabhāvanaḥ ||2-73-101 Then kṛṣṇa left garuḍa and stood in the sky. Then the all producing kṛṣṇa, who promotes the welfare of the world of men, told pradyumna: ito dvāravatīṁ gatvā rathamānaya mā ciram | sadārukaṁ mahābāho mattejobalamāśritaḥ ||2-73-102 O the one with great arms! O the one who has the power of my splendour! Go to the city of doors (dvāraka) and bring my chariot along with dāruka without any delay. vaktavyo balabhadrashcha rājā ca kukurādhipaḥ | śvo jitvendraṁ tvāgamiṣye dvārakāmiti mānada ||2-73-103 O the one who respects others! Inform balabhadra (balarāma) as well as king ugrasena of the kukurā race that tomorrow I shall reach the city of dvāraka, conquering indra. tathetyuktvā tu dharmātmā pradyumnaḥ pitaraṁ vibhuḥ | gatvā yathoktamuktvā ca yādavendrabalāvubhau ||2-73-104 Saying, let it be, to his father, the lord, pradyumna, with the righteous soul , went to dvārakā and said as he was told to both the king of yaḍāva-s ( ugrasena) and bala(rāma). nāḍikāntaramātreṇa punastaṁ deśamāyayau | dārukeṇa samāyukte rathamāsthāya bhārata ||2-73-105 Within a short interval of time, O the one of bharata race (janamejaya), \ (vaiśampāyana said) pradyumna returned to that place, mounted on the chariot, yoked by dāruka. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi pārijātaharaṇe kṛṣṇendrayuddhe trisaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the seventythird chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, in the taking away of pārijāta, battle between indra and kṛṣṇa. nīlakaṇṭha commentary atha trisaptatitame'dhyāye'sminnindrakṛṣṇayoḥ | yuddhaṁ tu varṇyate tatra viṣṇorutkarṣa ucyate || · 2-73-1 atha viṣṇu mṛgayāvyapadeśena mṛgayācchalena || · 2-73-3 grahāya gṛhītvā || · 2-73-4 pratipālya pratīkṣasva | harīn aśvān pravekṣyāmi || · 2-73-9 pārijātaṁ saṁpaśyatāṁ paśyatastānanāddṛtyetyarthaḥ | pārijātaṁ aropayāmāseti pṛthaganvayānna paunaruktyam | · 2-73-13 hriyati hriyate || · 2-73-15 indrapuryā eva || · 2-73-23 vartati vartamāne || · 2-73-28 kṛtapratikṛtaṁ anyonyaṁ śastrāstraparihāram || · 2-73-34 brāhmaṇacāpalyam brāhmaṇatvātchcāpalyamityarthaḥ || · 2-73-36 śinernaptā sātyakiḥ || · 2-73-40 manyanto mānayanta | · 2-73-43 kārṣṇirnātiśiṣye ityanukṛṣyate || · 2-73-44 hanteti saṁbodhanam | gṛhṇa gṛhāṇa | pratīccha dehi | prahāramiti śeṣa|| · 2-73-46 dīpyantaṁ dīpyamānaṁ puṁstvaṁ ārṣam | śarairupetaṁ bāṇajālam | · 2-73-47 raukmiṇeyasyāpi ghoraṁ duḥsahaṁ kimutānyasya | · 2-73-48 tenapatitenāpi || · 2-73-53 tava tvattaḥ yuddhe dṛṣṭaṁ riporbalaṁ yena saḥ || abalaṁ alpabalam || · 2-73-54 khalu yasmāt || · 2-73-57 sa jayanta | aparāṇi tato'pyadhikāni | · 2-73-58 paṣchamaṁ paścātprayuktam | · 2-73-62 hastāvāpaṁ hastatrāṇaṁ ca || · 2-73-67 māṁsānyucchakartatuḥ || · · 2-73-68 athāṣṭadhāretyatrāstravarabāṇeneti pāṭhe astrādapi varo yo bāṇastena | · 2-73-69 taṁ sātyakim | · 2-73-71 vihastamiveti vikalahastamiva | · 2-73-72 tsarudeshe muṣṭideśe sharashate nāśite khaḍge riktahastamityarthaḥ | · 2-73-78 virujaḥ pīḍāhīnaḥ || · 2-73-85 śakranāgaṁ airāvataṁ prati || · 2-73-86 prayuddhau prakarṣeṇa yuddhayamānau || · 2-73-87 radanaiḥ dantaiḥ | kareṇa śuṇḍādaṇḍena || · 2-73-91 asmin jambuprahite dvīpe || · 2-73-92 pūrvābhyupagamāt || · 2-73-97 nisargeṇa svabhāvena tapobalāccha | · 2-73-105 nāḍikā ghaṭikā || īti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ trisaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ