Parva 2 Chapter 83: yashavistaro duṣṭanigrahaścha - expanding glory, annihilation of demons

vaiśampāyana said (O janamejaya!) At around this time, a brahmin disciple of yājṣavalkya, with all qualities of dharma, an expert of four veda-s, along with six sections, brahmadatteti vikhyāto vipro vājasaneyivān | aśvamedhaḥ kṛtastena vasudevasya dhīmataḥ ||2-83-2 famous by the name brahmadatta, the one who is inwardly excited (brahmin), student of śukla yajurveda, vājasaneya treatise, who conducted the horse sacrifice for vasudeva, one with high intellect, sa saṁvatsaradīkṣāyāṁ dīkṣitaḥ ṣaṭpurālayaḥ | āvartāyāḥ śubhe tīre sunadyā munijuṣṭayā ||2-83-3 the one who was a resident of ṣaṭpura, observed a sacrifice lasting for an year, by the shore of the auspicious river āvarta, along with the best among sages. sakhā ca vasudevasya sahādhyāyī dvijottamaḥ | upādhyāyaścha kauravya kṣīrahotā mahātmanaḥ ||2-83-4 O the son of kuru (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued)! The best among brahmins, having a great soul, a preceptor, an officiating priest (an adherent of yajurveda), was a friend of vasudeva, a fellow student. vasudevastatra yāto devakyā sahitaḥ prabho | yājamānye ṣaṭpurasthaṁ yathā shakro bṛhaspatim ||2-83-5 O lord (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued)! In the same manner as indra goes to bṛhaspati, vasudeva went to ṣaṭpura, along with devakī. tatsatraṁ brahmadattasya bahvannaṁ bahudakṣiṇam | upāsanti muniśreṣṭhā mahātmāno dṛḍhavratāḥ ||2-83-6 That sacrifice of brahmadatta was with plenty of food and donations. The great souls, fixed in vow, the best among the sages, observed the penance. vyāso'haṁ yājṣavalkyaścha sumanturjaiministathā | dhṛ+timāṣjābaliścaiva devalādyāścha bhārata ||2-83-7 In the sacrifice, O the one of bhārata race! vyāsa, myself, yājṣavalkya, sumantu, jaimini, the vigourous jābāli as well as devala and other sages were present. ṛddhyānurūpayā yuktaṁ vasudevasya dhīmataḥ | yatrepsitāndadau kāmāndevakī dharmacāriṇī ||2-83-8 vāsudevaprabhāveṇa jagatsraṣṭurmahītale | devakī, who proceeds in the path of dharma, offered all that were desired by them on the face of earth, suitable to vasudeva of high intellect, by the splendor of vāsudeva (son of vasudeva, kṛṣṇa), the creator of the world. tasminsatre vartamāne daityāḥ ṣaṭpuravāsinaḥ ||2-83-9 nikumbhādyāḥ samāgamya tamūcurvaradarpitāḥ | While the sacrifice was in progress, the demons nikumbha and others, the residents of ṣaṭpura, proud due to the boon (given by brahma), went there, and told (brahmadatta): kāryatāṁ yajṣabhāgo naḥ somaṁ pāsyāmahe vayam | kanyāścha brahmadatto no yajamānaḥ prayacchatu ||2-83-10 (Demons said): Give us the portion of the sacrifice. We shall also drink the essence of soma. The master of the sacrific, brahmadatta, shall offer us maidens. bahvyaḥ santyasya kanyāścha rūpavatyo mahātamanaḥ | āhūya tāḥ pradātavyāḥ sarvathaiva hi naḥ shrutam ||2-83-11 We have heard that, the great soul, (brahmadatta) has many beautiful maidens. He shall call them and offer them to us by all means. ratnāni ca brahmadatto viśiṣṭāni dadātu naḥ | anyathā tu na yaṣṭavyaṁ vayamājṣāpayāmahe ||2-83-12 brahmadatta shall also give us best of the jewels. Otherwise , he shall not conduct this sacrifice. This is our order. etacchrutvā brahmadattastānuvāca mahāsurān | yajṣabhāgo na vihitaḥ purāṇe'surasattamāḥ ||2-83-13 Hearing this , brahmadatta told the great demons: O the best among demons! There is no provision to offer portion of sacrifice to demons in the veda-s (see nīlakaṇṭha commentary). kathaṁ satre somapānaṁ śakyaṁ dātuṁ mayā hi vaḥ | pṛcchateha muniśreṣṭhānvedabhāṣyārthakovidān ||2-83-14 As such, how can I offer the essence of soma in the sacrifice to you? The best among the sages, experts in the meaning and commentary of veda-s are present here (in this sacrifice). You may ask them. kanyā hi mama yā deyāstāścha saṅkalpitā mayā | antarvedyāṁ pradātavyāḥ sadṛśānāmasaṁśayam ||2-83-15 I have already mentally offered the maidens. There is no doubt the maidens are to be offered to the deserving, at the stage of the sacrifice. ratnāni tu prayachcāmi sāntvenāhaṁ vichintyatām | balānnaiva pradāsyāmi devakīputramāśritaḥ ||2-83-16 I shall offer jewels to you, if you request for the same. If you demand (the jewels) forcefully, nothing shall be offered by me, who is dependent on the son of devakī (kṛṣṇa). nikumbhādyāstu ruṣitāḥ pāpāḥ ṣaṭpuravāsinaḥ | yajṣavāṭaṁ viluluṭhurjahruḥ kanyāścha tāstathā ||2-83-17 Hearing this, the wicked demons such as nikumbha, the residents of ṣaṭpura, became enraged. They desecrated the sacrificial stage and took away the maidens. taddṛṣṭvā saṁpravṛttaṁ tu dadhyāvānakadundubhiḥ | vāsudevaṁ mahātmānaṁ balabhadraṁ gadaṁ tathā ||2-83-18 Seeing this Anakadundubhi (vasudeva) was distressed. Then he remembered the great soul vāsudeva (kṛṣṇa), balabhadra and gada. viditārthastataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pradyumnamidamabravīt | gaccha kanyāparitrāṇaṁ kuru putrāśu māyayā ||2-83-19 kṛṣṇa understood the matter and he immediately told pradyumna as follows: O son! Go there and save the maidens using illusion. yāvadyādavasainyena ṣaṭpuraṁ yāmyahaṁ prabho | sa yayau ṣaṭpuraṁ vīraḥ piturājṣākarastadā ||2--83-20 (pradyumna said) O lord! I will go to ṣaṭpura along with the yādava army. Then valiant pradyumna, who obeys the order of his father, went to ṣaṭpura. nimeṣāntaramātreṇa gatvā kāmo mahābalaḥ | kanyāstā māyayā dhīmānupajahre mahābalaḥ ||2-83-21 By the time for closing the eye, kāma (pradyumna) with great power went there (to ṣaṭpura). Powerful pradyumna, the one with intellect, took away the maidens using illusion. māyāmayīścha kṛtvā'nyā nyastavānrukmiṇīsutaḥ | mā bhairiti ca dharmātmā devakīmuktavāṁstadā ||2-83-22 The son of rukmiṇī created maidens by illusion (and left them with the demons). Then pradyumna, the soul with dharma, told devakī (mother of kṛṣṇa): Do not be afraid. māyāmayīstato hṛtvā sutā hyasya durāsadāḥ | ṣaṭpuraṁ viviśurdaityāḥ parituṣṭā narādhipa ||2-83-23 O the ruler of men (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued)! Thinking that they were getting the daughters (of brahmadatta) who were difficult to get, getting the maidens of illusion, the demons went to ṣaṭpura happily. karma cāsāryate tatra vidhidṛṣṭeṇa karmaṇā | yadviśiṣṭaṁ bahuguṇaṁ tadabhūccha narādhipa ||2-83-24 O the ruler of men (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) The sacrifice proceeded as prescribed in the best way. The best sacrifice with many qualities proceeded in the best manner. etasminnantare prāptā rājānastatra bhārata | satre nimantritāḥ pūrvaṁ brahmadattena dhīmatā ||2-83-25 O the one of bhārata race (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued)! During this time, many kings, invited to the sacrifice by brahmadatta, the one with intellect, arrived there. jarāsaṁdho dantavaktraḥ śiśupālastathaiva ca | pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāścha mālavāḥ sagaṇāstathā ||2-83-26 jarāsaṁdha, dantavaktra, śiśupāla and also pāṇḍava-s, all sons of dhṛtarāṣtra, mālavā king with followers, rukmī chaivāhvṛtiścaiva nīlo vā dharma eva ca | vindānuvindāvāvantyau śalyaḥ śakunireva ca ||2-83-27 rukmi, āhvṛti and also nīla, dharma, vinda and anuvinda of Avanti, shalya, śakuni, rājānaścāpare vīrā mahātmāno dṛḍhāyudhāḥ | āvāsitā nātidūre ṣaṭpurasya ca bhārata ||2-83-28 and also other valiant kings, the great souls, armed with weapons, arrived there, O the one of bhārata race (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) and stayed not very far away from ṣaṭpura. tāndṝṣṭvā nāradaḥ śrīmānacintayadaninditaḥ | kṣattrasya yādavānāṁ ca bhaviṣyati samāgamaḥ ||2-83-29 Seeing them, auspicious nārada, who is not despised, thought: There will be a battle between the kṣatriya kings and the yādavas. atra heturahaṁ yuddhe tasmāttatprayatāmyaham | evaṁ sancintayitvātha nikumbhabhavanaṁ gataḥ ||2-83-30 I will be the reason for that battle. Hence I will start to cause that battle. Thinking thus, he (nārada) went to the house of nikumbha. pūjitaḥ sa nikumbhena dānavaiścha tathāparaiḥ | upaviṣṭaḥ sa dharmātmā nikumbhamidamabravīt ||2-83-31 Worshipped by nikumbha and other demons, nārada, having the dharma soul, took his seat and told nikumbha as follows: kathaṁ virodhaṁ yadubhiḥ kṛtvā svasthairihāsyate | yo brahmadattaḥ sa hariḥ sa hi tasya vibhuḥ sakhā ||2-83-32 (nārada said) Why are you living pacefully, even after opposing the yadava-s? brahmadatta is lord hari (kṛṣṇa) himself because brahmadatta is a friend of him(vasudeva). śatāni pāṣcha bhāryāṇāṁ brahmadattasya dhīmataḥ | ānītā vasudevasya sutasya priyakāmyayā || 2-83-33 Brahmadatta, with intellect, has five hundred wives who were obtained by the grace of the son of vasudeva. śatadvayaṁ brāhmaṇīnāṁ rājanyānāṁ śataṁ tathā | vaiśyānām śatamekaṁ ca śūdrāṇāṁ shatameva ca ||2-83-34 Two hundred are Brahmin women, hundred were daughters of kings, hundred vaishya women and hundred śūdra women. tābhiḥ śuśrūṣito dhīmāndurvāsa dharmavittamaḥ | tena tāsāṁ varo datto muninā puṇyakarmaṇā ||2-83-35 By performing auspicious deeds, they served, sage durvāsa with intellect, the best among the observers of dharma. The sage (pleased with them) gave a boon to them. ekaikastanayo rājannekaikā duhitā tathā | rūpeṇānupamāḥ sarvā varadānena dhīmataḥ ||2-83-36 O king (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued)! Each of the wives had a son and daughter each due to the boon given by the sage. All the daughters have incomparable beauty. kanyā bhavanti tanayāstasyāsura punaḥ punaḥ | saṅgame saṅgame viīra bhartṛbhiḥ shayane saha ||2-83-37 O valiant demon! (nārada continued) The maidens become virgins again and again even after having sexual union with their husbands. sarvapuṣpamayam gandhaṁ prasravanti varāṅganāḥ | sarvadā yauvane nyastāḥ sarvāścaiva pativratāḥ ||2-83-38 The women with beautiful limbs radiate the fragrance of all kinds of flowers. They remain young forever. All of them are faithful to their husbands. sarvā guṇairapsarasāṁ gītanṛtyaguṇodayam | jānanti sarvā daiteya varadānena dhīmataḥ ||2-83-39 All of them have qualities of celestial women. Because of the boon given by the sage of intellect (durvāsa), all of them are skilled in singing and dancing. putrāścha rūpasaṁpannāḥ śāstrārthakuśalāstathā | sve sve sthitā varṇadharme yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ ||2-83-40 The sons are also handsome, experts in the meanings of scriptures. All of them remain fixed in the dharma of their own castes, in order. tāḥ kanyā bhaimamukhyānāṁ dattāḥ prāṇena dhimatā | avaśeṣaṁ śataṁ tvekaṁ yadānītaṁ kila tvayā ||2-83-41 The one with intellect (brahmadatta) has given away most of the maidens to the prominent persons of bhaima (yādava-s). You have brought here the remaining hundred maidens. tadarthe yādavānvīra yodhayiṣyasi sarvathā | sahāyārthaṁ tu rājāno dhriyantāṁ hetupūrvakam ||2-83-42 O valiant demon! For them (hundred maidens) you have to fight with yādavas by all means. Request the kings for helping you (in the battle ), along with reasons. brahmadattasutārthaṁ ca ratnāni vividhāni ca | dīyantāṁ bhūmipālānāṁ sahāyārtham mahātmanām ||2-83-43 For the sake of the daughters of brahmadatta, for getting the help of those with great souls (the kings), you may offer varieties of jewels to the kings. ātithyaṁ kriyatāṁ caiva ye sameṣyanti vai nṛpāḥ | Also offer hospitality to the kings who have assembled here. evamukte tathā cakrurasurāste'tihṛ+ṣṭavat ||2-83-44 (vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya!) The demons who were told thus (by nārada) did happily as they were told. labdhvā paṣchaśataṁ kanyā ratnāni vividhāni ca | yathārheṇa narendraistā vibhaktā bhaktavatsalāḥ ||2-83-45 The kings, kind to their followers, received five hundred maidens and varieties of jewels and shared them among themselves suitably. ṛte pāṇḍusutāṇvīrānvāritā nāradena te | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tatra gatvā mahātmanā ||2-83-46 Except the five pāṇḍava-s, all (kings) had shared the maidens and the jewels. The great soul, nārada had gone there during the time for closing the eye, and prevented the pāṇḍava-s from taking the share. tuṣṭaistairasurā hyuktā rājanbhūmipasattamaiḥ | sarvakāmasamṛddhārthairbhavadbhīḥ khagamaiḥ svayam ||2-83-47 O king! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) The best among the kings became pleased. They told the demons: You fulfill all your desires and you yourselves travel in the air. architāḥ sma yathānyāyaṁ kṣatraṁ kiṁ vaḥ prayacchatu | kṣatraṁ cārchitapūrvaṁ hi divyairvīrairbhavadvidhaiḥ ||2-83-48 Even then, you have honoured us suitably as required. Now tell us: What shall we, kṣatriyas, do for you? kṣatriyas were honoured by divine, valiant people like you before as well. nikumbho'thābravīddhṛṣṭaḥ kṣatraṁ suraripustadā | anuvarṇayitvā kṣatrasya māhātmyaṁ satyameva ca ||2-83-49 Hearing this, nikumbha, the enemy of deva-s became happy. Describing the true greatness of kṣatriya-s again and again, he told them: yuddhaṁ no ripubhiḥ sārdhaṁ bhaviṣyati nṛpottamāḥ | sāhāyyaṁ dātumichcāmo bhavadbhistatra sarvathā ||2-83-50 O the best among kings! There will be a battle between us and our enemies. We wish that you shall help us in the battle by all means. evamastviti tānūcuḥ kṣatriyāḥ kṣīṇakilbiṣāḥ | pāṇḍaveyānṛte vīrāṣchrutārthānnāradādvibho ||2-83-51 O lord! (vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya!) Except the valiant pāṇḍava-s, all others among the kṣatriya-s whose sins had lessened, accepted their request and said: let it be so. pāṇḍvā-s had understood the matter from nārada. kṣatriyāḥ sanniviṣṭāste yuddhārthaṁ kurunandana | patnyastu brahmadattasya yajṣavāṭaṁ gatā api ||2-83-52 O the son of kuru! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) All the kṣatriya-s prepared for the battle. Then, the wives of brahmadatta entered the place of the sacrifice. kṛṣṇo'pi senayā sārdhaṁ prayayau ṣaṭpuraṁ vibhuḥ | mahādevasya vacanamudvahanmanasā nṛpa ||2-83-53 O king! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) Remembering the words of the great lord (shiva), lord kṛṣṇa also arrived at ṣaṭpura along with the army. sthāpayitvā dvāravatyāmāhukaṁ pārthivaṁ tadā | sa tayā senayā sārdhaṁ paurāṇāṁ hitakāmyayā ||2-83-54 Keeping king Ahuka (ugrasena) at the city of entrances (dvāravatī) for the benefit of the citizens, he (kṛṣṇa) arrived (at ṣaṭpura) along with the army. yajṣavāṭasyāvidūre devo nivivishe vibhuḥ | deshe pravarakalyāṇe vasudevaprachoditaḥ ||2-83-55 The lord, deva (kṛṣṇa), prompted by vasudeva, stayed at an auspicious place, a little away from the place of sacrifice. dattagulmāpratisaraṁ kṛtvā taṁ vidhivatprabhuḥ | pradyumnamaṭane śrīmānrakṣārthaṁ viniyujya ca ||2-83-56 Lord kṛṣṇa arranged the army for protection as required and directed pradyumna to guard the army from all directions. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṣaṭpuravadhe kṛṣṇasya ṣaṭpuragamane tryaśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the eighty-third chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, in the slaying of ṣaṭpura demons, expanding glory, annihilation of demons nīlakaṇṭha commentary tryadhike'thāśītitame'trādhyāye yajṣavistaraḥ | varṇyate brahmadattasya tatra duṣṭavinigrahaḥ || 1 || · 2-83-1 atasminneti | · 2-83-2 brahmadattetyatra sandhirārṣaḥ || kāritaḥ saṁpādita ityarthaḥ || · 2-83-4 kṣīrahotā'dhvaryuḥ || · 2-83-6 upāsanti sevante || · 2-83-8 dadau samāgatebhyaḥ || · 2-83-13 purāṇaśabdenātra vedo'bhidhīyate tasmin || · 2-83-18 tat yajṣavāṭaluṇṭhanam || · 2-83-20 prabho iti saṁbodhanam | kanyāgoptṛtvaṁ saṁbhāvayati || · 2-83-23 sutā brahmadattasya pāramparyato durāsadāḥ || · 2-83-24 karma satrākhyaṁ āsāryate prasāryate vidhīyataḥ ityarthaḥ || · 2-83-32 vibhuḥ svāmī sakhā mitraṁ ca | pituḥ sakhā iti pāṭhāntaram || · 2-83-33 ānīteti ḍājantam | ānītā ityarthaḥ | priyakāmyayā tadārādhanena nimittabhūtena || · 2-83-37 kanyāḥ kamaniyāḥ kumāryaḥ | saṅgame saṅgame pratisaṅgamam || · 2-83-39 sarvā apsarasāṁ guṇairyuktā ata eva sarvā gītādi jānantīti vākyabhedaḥ || · 2-83-56 taṁ skandhāvāraṁ dattagulmāpratisaraṁ dattairvṛttyarthe sthāpirtagulmairna pratisaraḥ aniṣṭamārgo yasmiṁstam | aṭane rakṣārthaṁ paribhramaṇe || iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ tryaśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ|| Note 1 : verse 22, line 2 : devakīṁ is correct 2 : " 24, line 2 : visarga for pāṇdavaḥ is to be concealed in sandhi 3 : verse ending with dhīmatā has to be numbered 25