Parva 2 Chapter 97: vajranābhavadhaḥ - slaying of vajranābha

vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya!) Some time after the eye of the world, sun, rose, lord hari (kṛṣṇa) appeared, mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa), the enemy of serpents. haṁsavāyumanobhiścha suśīghrataragaḥ khagaḥ | tasthau viyati śakrasya samīpe kurunandana ||2-97-2 aO the son of kuru! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyanya continued) The bird (garuḍa) having the speed of swan, wind and mind, stood near śakra (indra) in the sky. sametya ca yathānyāyaṁ kṛṣṇo vāsavasannidhau | pāṣchajanyaṁ harirdadhmau daityānāṁ bhayavardhanam ||2-97-3 As he reached near vāsava (indra) in due course, hari (kṛṣṇa), blew his conch, pāṣchajanya, generating fear for the demons. taṁ śrutvābhyāgatastatra pradyumno paravīrahā | vajranābhaṁ jahītyuktaḥ keshavena tvareti ca ||2-97-4 Hearing that (conch) pradyumna, the slayer of enemies reached there. keshava (kṛṣṇa) told him: kill vajranābha quickly. tārkṣyamāruhya gaccheti punareva praṇoditaḥ | cakāra sa tathā vīraḥ praṇipatya surottamau || 2-97-5 Then he (kṛṣṇa) again told him (pradyumna): go there, mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa). The valiant pradyumna bowed to both the best of deva-s and did accordingly. sa manoraṁhasā vīra tārkṣyeṇāśu yayau nṛpa | abhyāsaṁ vajranābhasya mahādvandvasya bhārata ||2-97-6 O king! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) pradyumna reached, O the one of bharata race, mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa) with the speed of mind, near vajranābha who was attacking fiercely. tatastārkṣyagato vīrastatarda raṇamūrdhani | vajranābhaṁ sthiro bhūtvā sarvāstravidaninditaḥ ||2-97-7 The valiant (pradyumna), mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa), expert of all arrows, the one who is not despised, struck vajranābha, forcefully during the battle. tena tārkṣyagatenaiva gadayā kṛṣṇasūnunā | urasyabhyāhato vīro vajranābo mahātmanā ||2-97-8 The valiant son of kṛṣṇa (pradyumna), mounted on tārkṣya (garuḍa), struck vajranābha, the great soul, on his chest. sa tenābhihato vīro daityo mohavaśaṁ gataḥ | cakṣāra ca bhṛśaṁ raktaṁ babhrāmaiva gatāsuvat ||2-97-9 The valiant demon, struck by pradyumna became unconscious and swirled around vomiting lot of blood, like one who is dead. āshvasetayatha taṁ kārṣṇiruvāca raṇadurjayaḥ | labdhasaṁjṣaḥ sa vīrastu pradyumnamidambravīt ||2-97-10 The son of kṛṣṇa, who is difficult to conquer in battle, said: Take rest. The valiant vajranābha regained consciousness and told pradyumna: sādhu yādava vīryeṇa ślāghyo mama ripurbhavān | pratiprahārakālo'yaṁ sthiro bhava mahābala ||2-97-11 a (vajranābha said) Well, you, my enemy, are celebrated with yādava valiance. O the one with high power! It is time for the return strike. Be careful. evamuktvā mahānādaṁ muktvā meghashatopamam | gadām mumocha vegena saghaṇṭāṁ bahukaṇṭakām ||2-97-12 Speaking thus, he released a great sound, similar to the sound of hundreds of clouds. He speedily released his mace with many thorns. tayā lalāṭe'bhihataḥ pradyumno gadayā nṛpa | udvamanrudhiraṁ bhūri mumoha yadunandanaḥ ||2-97-13 O king! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) pradyumna, the son of yadu, who was struck by the mace on his head, vomited lot of blood and became unconscious. taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavānkṛṣṇaḥ pāṣchajanyaṁ jalodbhavam | dadhmāvāśvāsanakaraṁ putrasya ripunāśanaḥ ||2-97-14 Seeing him, Lord kṛṣṇa, the destroyer of enemies, blew his conch pāṣchajanya, which was born out of water (ocean), to provide relief to his son pradyumna. taṁ pāṣchajanyaśabdena pratyāśvastaṁ mahābalam | dṛṣṭvā pramuditā lokā viśeṣeṇendrakeśavau ||2-97-15 As the highly powerful pradyumna was relieved by hearing the sound of pāṣchjanya, the world, especially indra and keshava (kṛṣṇa), became happy, seeing him. tasya cakraṁ kare yātaṁ kṛṣṇacchandena bhārata | kṣuranemisahasrāraṁ daityasaṅghakulāntakam ||2-97-16 a O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) the cakra, the destroyer of thousands, the slayer of the races of demons, went to pradyumna's hand, as desired by kṛṣṇa. tanmumocācyutasutastasya nāśāya bhārata | namaskṛtvā surendrāya kṛṣṇāya ca mahātmane ||2-97-17 O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued), The son of the one who does not suffer any decline (pradyumna), bowing to the indra of deva-s and the great soul kṛṣṇa, released it to destroy vajranābha. vajranābhasya tatkāyāducchakarta śirastadā | nārāyaṇasutonmuktaṁ daityānāmanupaśyatām ||2-97-18 As the demons were watching, the cakra, released by the son of nārāyaṇa, (kṛṣṇa) severed the head from the body of vajranābha. gadaḥ sunābhamavadhīdyatamānaṁ raṇājire | harmyapṛṣṭhe jighāṁsantaṁ raṇadṛptaṁ bhayānakam ||2-97-19 a gada killed sunābha, who was terrible, proud with his battle skill, who fought against him in the battle, at the backside of the building. sāmbaḥ samaramadhyasthānasurānarimardanaḥ | nināya niśitairbāṇaiḥ pretādhipaparigraham |2-97-20 sāmbha, the oppressor of enemies, sent the demons who fought in the battle, to the residence of the lord of the dead, by shooting sharp arrows. nikumbho'pi hate vīre vajranābhe mahāsure | jagāma ṣaṭpuraṁ vīro nārāyaṇabhayārditaḥ ||2-97-21 As the valiant, great demon vajranābha was killed, the valiant nikumbha went to ṣaṭpura, oppressed by the fear of nārāyaṇa (kṛṣṇa). nibarhite devaripau vajranābhe mahāsure | avatīrṇau mahātmānau harī vajrapuraṁ tadā ||2-97-22 After killing the great demon, vajranābha, the enemy of deva-s, the great souls, the hari-s (indra and kṛṣṇa) entered the city of vajra. labdhapraśamanaṁ caiva cakratuḥ surasattamau | sāntvayāmāsatuścaiva bālavṛddhaṁ bhayārditam ||2-97-23 The best of deva-s consoled the young and old people, who were oppressed by fear, of the city which was conquered. indropendrau mahātmānau mantrayitvā mahābalau | āyantyāṁ ca tadātve ca bṛhaspatimatānugau ||2-97-24 The great souls, indra and upendra (kṛṣṇa) having great power, consulted among themselves, for the future and beyond, as per the opinion of bṛhaspati. vajranābhasya tadrājyaṁ caturdhā cakraturnṛpa | vijayasya caturbhāgaṁ jayantatanayasya vai ||2-97-25 O king! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) That kingdom of vajranābha was divided into four. One fourth was given to vijaya, the son of jayanta. pradyumnasya caturbhāgaṁ raukmiṇeyasutasya ca | candraprabhasya dadatuścaturbhāgaṁ janeshvara ||2-97-26 One fourth was given to the son of rukmiṇī, pradyumna. O the lord of men! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) One fourth was given to candraprabha. kotyashchatasro grāmāṇāmadhikāstā viśāṁpate | śākhāpurasahasraṁ ca sphītaṁ vajrapuropamam | caturdhā cakratustatra saṁhṛṣṭau śakrakeshavau ||2-97-27 s O the lord of earth! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) There were more than 40 millions of villages, large like the city of vajra as well as thousands of satellite cities. Both śakra (indra) and keshava (kṛṣṇa) happily divided them there in four parts. kambalājinavāsāṁsi ratnāni vividhāni ca | caturdhā cakraturvirau vīravāsavakeśavau ||2-97-28 O valiant (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued). The valiant vāsava (indra) and keshava (kṛṣṇa) divided the woolen clothes, animal skin, many kinds of jewels and clothes in four parts. tato'bhiṣiktāste vīrā rājāno vāsavājṣayā | devadundubhivādyena nṛpa viṣṇupadījalaiḥ ||2-97-29 svayaṁ śakreṇa devena keshavena ca dhīmatā | ṛṣivamśe mahātmānaḥ śakramādhavanandanāḥ ||2-97-30 O king! (janamejaya! vaiśampāyana continued) By the order of vāsava (indra) the valiant sons of śakra and mādhava (kṛṣṇa) were anointed as kings with the water from viṣṇupadī (gaṅga) and the accompaniment of playing of divine drums, by the deva śakra (indra) and keshava (kṛṣṇa) with intellect, themselves, in the presence of the great souls, sages. vijayashcha prasiddhaiva gatirviyati dhīmataḥ | mātṛjena guṇenāpi mādhavānāṁ mahātmanām ||2-97-31 For vijaya with intellect, the ability to travel in the sky is famous. Due to the quality of their mothers, the sons of mādhava, the great souls were also able to do so. abhiṣicya jayantaṁ tu vāsavo bhagavānbravīt | tvayaite vīra saṁrakṣyā rājānaḥ samitiṁjayāḥ ||2-97-32 a Anointing jayanta, lord vāsava (indra) told him: O valiant! You shall protect these kings who win battles. mama vaṁśakaro'traikaḥ keshavasya trayo'nagha | avadhyāḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ bhaviṣyanti mamājṣayā ||2-97-33 O the one without any sin! Among them, one is the flourisher of my race. The other three are the same for keshava (kṛṣṇa). Because of my order all of you will be unslayable by any being. gamanāgamanaṁ caiva divi siddhaṁ bhaviṣyati | triviṣṭapaṁ dvārakāṁ ca ramyāṁ bhaimābhirakṣitām ||2-97-34 a You will be able to travel as you wish in the heaven and the beautiful dvāraka protected by the yādavas. diśāgajasutānnāgānhayāṁśchocchaiḥśravo'nvayān | icchayaiṣāṁ prayacchasva rathāṁstvaṣṭṛkṛtānapi ||2-97-35 Provide them with the elephants born from the elephants of the directions, and the horses from the divine horse ucchaiḥśrava and chariots made by tvaṣṭā. gajāvairāvaṇasutau śatruṣjayaripuṣjayau | prayachcākāśagau vīrau sāmbasya ca gadasya ca ||2-97-36 Give the elephants, the sons of airāvata named śatruṣjaya and ripuṣjaya, capable of travelling in the sky, to the valiant sāmba as well as gada, ākāśena purīṁ yātuṁ dvārakāṁ bhaimarakṣitām | āyātau ca sutau draṣṭuṁ yatheṣṭaṁ bhaimanandanau ||2-97-37 so that the sons of bhaima-s (yādava-s) can travel in the sky to dvārakā as well as to see their sons as they like. iti saṁdiśya bhagavāndevarājaḥ puraṁdaraḥ | jagāma bhagavānsvargaṁ dvārakāmapi keśavaḥ ||2-97-38 (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya !) Giving these directions, puraṁdara, the lord, the king of deva-s, (indra) returned to heaven and keshava (kṛṣṇa) returned to dvārakā. ṣaṇmāsānuṣitastatra gadaḥ pradyumna eva ca | sāṁbaścha dvārakāṁ yātā rūḍhe rājye mahābalāḥ ||2-97-39 After establishing the kingdoms and living there for six months, the powerful gada, pradyumna and sāmba returned to dvārakā. adyāpi tāni rājyāni meroḥ pārśve tathottare | tiṣṭhanti ca jagadyāvatsthāsyantyamarasaṁnibha ||2-97-40 Even now those kingdoms exist at the north side of meru. O the one who is like those who do not die (deva-s)! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) Those kingdoms will exist as long as the world exists. nivṛtte mausale yuddhe svargaṁ yāteṣu vṛṣṇiṣu | gadapradyumnasāmbāste gatā vajrapuraṁ vibho ||2-97-41 O lord! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) After the strife of mausala was over and the vṛṣṇa-s went to heaven, gada, pradyumna and sāmba went to the city of vajra. tataḥ proṣya punaryānti svargaṁ svaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ | prasādena ca kṛṣṇasya lokakarturjaneshvara ||2-97-42 After living there (at the city of vajra), they shall return to heaven due to their auspicious deeds, O the lord of men, (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) because of the pleasure of kṛṣṇa who created the world. pradyumnottarametatte nṛdeva kathitaṁ mayā | dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ śatrunāśanameva ca ||2-97-43 O the deva of men! (vaiśampāyana continued: O janamejaya!) (Hearing) this episode showing the importance of pradyumna, recited by me will produce good fortune, generate fame and long life and destroy the enemies. putrapautrā vivarddhante ārogyadhanasaṁpadaḥ | yasho vipulamāpnoti dvaipāyanavacho yathā ||2-97-44 By hearing these words spoken by dvaipāyana, the sons and grandsons will flourish, health and wealth will increase and the fame will be vast. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi vajranābhavadho nāma saptanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the ninetyseventh chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivamsha, khila of mahābhārata, slaying of vajranābha nīlakaṇṭha commentary · 2-97-1 jagata iti || · 2-97-6 mahādvandasya mahāvyutkramaṇasya durantasyetyarthaḥ || · 2-97-9 cakṣāra mukhena udgīrṇavān || · 2-97-16 tasya pradyumnasya || · 2-97-23 labdhasya śatruparājayasya praśamanaṁ duḥkhāpanodanam || · 2-97-25 vijayasya indrapautrasya || · 2-97-26 pradyumnasya pradyumnaputrasya raukmiṇeyo'tra sāmbhastatsutasya pariśeṣaḥ candraprabhasya gadaputrasya || · 2-97-30 ṛṣivaṁśe ṛṣisaṁghasamīpe abhiṣiktā pūrvastenānvayaḥ || · 2-97-31 gatiḥ vibhajya rājyam grāhyamityarthaḥ | mātṛjena guṇena asuradauhitṛtvena mādhavānāṁ putratrayaṁ mama ca putra ityevaṁ caturdhā vibhāgaḥ || · 2-97-32 bravīt abravīt || · 2-97-35 prayacchasveti jayantaṁ prati uktiḥ || · 2-97-43 pradyumnottaraṁ pradyumnasya utkarṣaḥ || iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyaṁ saptanavatitamo'dhyāyaḥ ||