Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Text 1

Verse text

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca
kaḥ kaṁso 'yaṁ purā daityo
mahā-bala-parākramaḥ
tasya janmāṇi karmāṇi
brūhi devarṣi-sattama

Synonyms

śrī-bahulāśvaḥ uvāca — Śrī Bahulāśva said ; kaḥ — who? ; kaṁsaḥ — is Kaṁsa ; ayam — he ; purā — before ; daityaḥ — a demon ; mahā-bala-parākramaḥ — very powerful ; tasya — of him ; janmāṇi — births ; karmāṇi — deeds ; brūhi — describe ; devarṣi-sattama — *O great sage.

Translation

Śrī Bahulāśva said: Who was this very powerful demon Kaṁsa? O great sage, please describe his births and deeds.
Text 2

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
samudra-mathane pūrvaṁ
kālanemir mahāsuraḥ
yuyudhe viṣṇunā sārdhaṁ
yuddhe tena hato balāt

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; samudra — of the ocean ; mathane — in churning ; pūrvam — before ; kālanemiḥ — Kālanemi ; mahāsuraḥ — a great demon ; yuyudhe — fought ; viṣṇunā — Viṣṇu ; sārdham — with ; yuddhe — in the fight ; tena — by Him ; hataḥ — killed ; balāt — *by the strength.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: At the time of churning the ocean a great demon named Kālanemi fought with Lord Viṣṇu and was violently killed by Him.
Text 3

Verse text

śukreṇa jīvitas tatra
sañjīvinyā sva-vidyayā
punar viṣṇuṁ yoddhu-kāma
udyogaṁ manasākarot

Synonyms

śukreṇa — by Śukrācārya ; jīvitaḥ — brought to life ; tatra — there ; sañjīvinyā — sañjivinī ; sva-vidyayā — by his science ; punaḥ — again ; viṣṇum — with Viṣṇu ; yoddhu — to fight ; kāmaḥ — desiring ; udyogam — determination ; manasā — with the mind ; akarot — *did.

Translation

When with his sañjīvinī science Śukrācārya revived him, in his heart Kālanemi yearned to fight again with Lord Viṣṇu.
Text 4

Verse text

tapas tepe tadā daityo
mandarācala-sannidhau
nityaṁ dūrvā-rasaṁ pītvā
bhajan devaṁ pitāmaham

Synonyms

tapas tepe — performed austerities ; tadā — then ; daityaḥ — the demon ; mandarācala-sannidhau — at Mount Mandara nityam—regularly ; durvā — of durvā grass ; rasam — juice ; pītvā — drinking ; bhajan — worshiping ; devaṁ pitāmaham — *the demigod Brahmā.

Translation

On Mount Mandara he performed severe austerities, drinking dūrvā-grass juice and worshiping the demigod Brahmā.
Text 5

Verse text

divyeṣu śata-varṣeṣu
vyatīteṣu pitāmahaḥ
asthi-śeṣaṁ sa-vālmīkaṁ
varaṁ brūhīty uvāca tam

Synonyms

divyeṣu — celestial ; śata — a hundred ; varṣeṣu — years ; vyatīteṣu — passed ; pitāmahaḥ — Brahmā ; asthi — only bones ; śeṣam — remaining ; sa-vālmīkam — with an anthill ; varam — benediction ; brūhi — say ; iti — thus ; uvāca — said ; tam — *to him.

Translation

When a hundred celestial years had passed all that remained of him was bones in an anthill. Then Brahmā said to him, Ask for a benediction," and Kālanemi spoke a reply.
Text 6

Verse text

kālanemir uvāca
brahmāṇḍe ye sthitā devā
viṣṇu-mūlā mahā-balāḥ
teṣāṁ hastair na me mṛtyuḥ
pūrṇānām api mā bhavet

Synonyms

kālanemiḥ uvāca — Kālanemi said ; brahmāṇḍe — in the universe ; ye — who ; sthitāḥ — stays ; devāḥ — demigods ; viṣṇu — Viṣṇu ; mūlāḥ — at the root ; mahā-balāḥ — very powerful ; teṣām — of them ; hastaiḥ — by the hands ; na — not ; me — of me ; mṛtyuḥ — death ; pūrṇānām — all ; api — even ; mā — may not ; bhavet — *be.

Translation

Kālanemi said: May my death not come from the hands of any or all of the very powerful demigods, who have Lord Viṣṇu as their root.
Text 7

Verse text

śrī-brahmovāca
durlabho 'yaṁ varo daitya
yas tvayā prarthitaḥ paraḥ
kālāntare te praptaḥ syān
mad-vākyaṁ na mṛṣā bhavet

Synonyms

śrī-brahmā uvāca — Śrī Brahmā said ; durlabhaḥ — difficult to attain ; ayam — this ; varaḥ — benediction ; daitya — O demon ; yaḥ — which ; tvayā — by you ; prarthitaḥ — is asked ; paraḥ — great ; kāla-antare — at this time ; te — by you ; prāptaḥ — attained ; syāt — is ; mad-vākyam — my statement ; na — not ; mṛṣā — false ; bhavet — *is.

Translation

Śrī Brahmā said: O demon, the benediction you request is difficult to attain. Still, you have now attained it. My words are not false.
Text 8

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ugrasenasya patnyāṁ kau
janma lebhe 'suraḥ punaḥ
kaumāre 'pi mahā-mallaiḥ
satataṁ sa yuyodha ha

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; ugrasenasya — of Ugrasena ; patnyām — in the wife ; kau — evil ; janma — birth ; lebhe — attained ; asuraḥ — the demon ; punaḥ — again ; kaumāre — in childhood ; api — even ; mahā — great ; mallaiḥ — with wrestlers ; satatam — always ; saḥ — he ; yuyodha ha — *fought.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: In Ugrasena's wife the demon attained another demonic birth. Even in childhood he would regularly fight with great wrestlers.
Text 9

Verse text

jarāsandho māgadhendro
dig-jayārthī vinirgataḥ
yamunā-nikaṭe tasya
śibiro 'bhūd itas tataḥ

Synonyms

jarāsandhaḥ — Jarāsandha ; magadha — of Magadha ; indraḥ — the king ; dik — the directions ; jaya — conquest ; arthī — with the purpose ; vinirgataḥ — went ; yamunā-nikaṭe — by the Yamunā ; tasya — of him ; śibiraḥ — camp ; abhūt — was ; itas tataḥ — *here and there.

Translation

Wishing to conquer all directions, Jarāsandha, the king of Magadha, set his royal camp at different places by the Yamunā's shore.
Text 10

Verse text

dvipaḥ kuvalayāpīḍaḥ
sahasra-dvipa-sattva-bhṛt
babhañja śṛṅkhala-bandhaṁ
dudrāva śibirān madī

Synonyms

dvipaḥ — elephant ; kuvalayāpīḍaḥ — Kuvalayāpīḍa ; sahasra — of a thousand ; dvipa — elephants ; sattva — the strength ; bhṛt — having ; babhañja — broke ; śṛṅkhala-bandham — chains ; dudrāva — ran ; śibirāt — from the camp ; madī — *maddened.

Translation

Then the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, who was strong as thousands of other elephants, became angry, broke his chains, and ran from the royal camp.
Text 11

Verse text

nipātayan sa śibirān
mandirān bhūbhṛtas taṭān
raṅga-bhūmyām ājagāma
yatra kaṁso 'pi yudhyati

Synonyms

nipātayan — causing to fall ; saḥ — he ; śibirāt — from the royal camp ; mandirān — to the residences ; taṭān — surfaces ; raṅga-bhūmyām — the arena ; ājagāma — entered ; yatra — where ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; api — even ; yudhyati — *fights.

Translation

It ran from the royal camp to the mountains and entered an arena where Kaṁsa was fighting.
Text 12

Verse text

palāyiteṣu malleṣu
kaṁsas taṁ ca samāgatam
śuṇḍā-daṇḍe saṅgṛhītvā
pātayām āsa bhū-tale

Synonyms

palāyiteṣu — fled ; malleṣu — when the wrestlers ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; tam — it ; ca — also ; samāgatam — approached ; śuṇḍā-daṇḍe — the trunk ; saṅgṛhītvā — grasping ; pātayām āsa — threw ; bhū-tale — *to the ground.

Translation

When wrestlers fled and the elephant approached him, Kaṁsa grabbed its trunk and threw it to the ground.
Text 13

Verse text

punar gṛhītvā hastābhyāṁ
bhrāmayitvograsenajaḥ
jarāsandhasya senāyāṁ
cīkṣepa daśa-yojanam

Synonyms

punaḥ — again ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; hastābhyām — with both hands ; bhrāmayitvā — whirling around ; ugrasenajaḥ — Kaṁsa ; jarāsandhasya — of Jarasandha ; senāyām — into the army ; cīkṣepa — threw ; daśa-yojanam — 80 miles.

Translation

Again grabbing it, Kaṁsa threw it into Jarāsandha's army eighty miles away.
Text 14

Verse text

tad adbhutaṁ balaṁ dṛṭṭvā
prasanno magadheśvaraḥ
asti-prāptī dadau kanye
tasmai kaṁsaya taṁ dvipam

Synonyms

tat — this ; adbhutam — amazing ; balam — strength ; dṛṭṭvā — seeing ; prasannaḥ — pleased ; magadheśvaraḥ — the king of Magadha ; asti-prāpti — Asti and Prapti ; dadau — gave ; kanye — two daughters ; tasmai — to him ; kaṁsāya — to Kaṁsa ; tam — that ; dvipam — *elephant.

Translation

Pleased by seeing this amazing strength, the king of Magadha gave his two daughters, Asti and Prāpti, as well as that elephant, to Kaṁsa.
Text 15

Verse text

aśvārbhudaṁ hasti-lakṣaṁ
rathānāṁ ca tri-lakṣakam
ayutaṁ caiva dāsīnāṁ
pāribarhaṁ jarā-sutaḥ

Synonyms

aśva — horses ; arbhudam — a hundred million ; hasti — elephants ; lakṣam — a hundred thousand ; rathānām — of chariots ; ca — also ; tri-lakṣakam — three hundred thousand ; ayutam — ten thousand ; ca — and ; eva — indeed ; dāsīnām — maidservants ; pāribarham — wedding present ; jarā-sutaḥ — *Jarāsandha.

Translation

For a wedding present Jarāsandha gave a hundred million horses, a hundred thousand elephants, three hundred thousand chariots, and ten thousand maidservants.
Text 16

Verse text

dvandva-yodhī tataḥ kaṁso
bhuja-vīrya-madotkaṭaḥ
māhiṣmatīṁ yayau vīro
'thaikākī caṇḍa-vikramaḥ

Synonyms

dvandva-yodhi — eager to fight ; tataḥ — then ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; bhuja-vīrya-madotkaṭaḥ — proud of the strength of his arms ; mahiṣmatīm — to Māhiṣmati ; yayau — went ; vīraḥ — the hero ; atha — then ; ekākī — alone ; caṇḍa-vikramaḥ — *powerful.

Translation

Then, very proud of the strength of his arms, and eager to fight, powerful Kaṁsa went, all alone, to Māhiṣmatī City.
Text 17

Verse text

cāṇūro muṣṭikaḥ kūṭaḥ
śalas tośalakas tathā
māhiṣmatī-pateḥ putrā
mallā yuddha-jayaiṣiṇaḥ

Synonyms

cāṇūraḥ — Cāṇūra ; muṣṭikaḥ — Muṣṭika ; kūṭaḥ — Kūṭa ; śalaḥ — Śala ; tośalakaḥ — Tośalaka ; tathā — then ; māhiṣmatī-pateḥ — of the king of Māhiṣmatī ; putrāḥ — the sons ; mallāḥ — wrestlers ; yuddha — in battle ; jaya — to defeat ; aiṣiṇaḥ — *wishing.

Translation

Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śāla, and Tośala, who were the sons of the king of Māhiṣmatī, were wrestlers very eager to defeat their opponents in fighting.
Text 18

Verse text

kaṁsas tān āha sāmnāpi
duryuddhaṁ karavāmahe
ahaṁ dāso bhaveyaṁ vo
bhavanto jayino yadi

Synonyms

kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; tān — to them ; āha — said ; sāmnā — calmly ; api — also ; duryuddham — fight ; karavāmahe — let us do ; aham — I ; dāsaḥ — slave ; bhaveyam — will be ; vaḥ — of you ; bhavantaḥ — you ; jayinaḥ — victorious ; yadi — *if.

Translation

Kaṁsa calmly said to them: "Let us fight. If you win, I will become your servant.
Text 19

Verse text

ahaṁ jayī ced bhavato
dāsān sarvān karomy alam
sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ teṣāṁ
nāgarāṇāṁ mahātmanām
iti pratijṣāṁ kṛtvātha
yuyudhe tair jayaiṣibhiḥ

Synonyms

aham — I ; jayī — victorious ; cet — if ; bhavataḥ — you ; dāsān — servants ; sarvān — all ; karomi — I do ; alam — greatly ; sarveṣām — of all ; paśyatām — looking ; teṣām — of them ; nāgarāṇām — living in the city ; mahātmanām — great souls ; iti — thus ; pratijṣām — promise ; kṛtvā — having done ; atha — then ; yuyudhe — fought ; taiḥ — with them ; jaya — victory

Translation

"If I win, I will make you all my servants." All these great fighters looked at him and agreed. Then Kaṁsa fought with them and they tried to defeat him.
Text 20

Verse text

yadāgataṁ sa cāṇūraṁ
gṛhītvā yādaveśvaraḥ
bhū-pṛṭṭhe pothayām āsa
śabdam uccaiḥ samuccaran

Synonyms

yadā — when ; āgatam — came ; saḥ — he ; cāṇūram — Cāṇūra ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; yādaveśvaraḥ — the Yadu king ; bhū-pṛṭṭhe — on the ground ; pothayām āsa — threw ; śabdam — sound ; uccaiḥ — great ; samuccaran — *making.

Translation

When Cāṇūra rushed at him, Kaṁsa made a great sound and threw him to the ground.
Text 21

Verse text

tadāyāntaṁ muṣṭikākhyaṁ
muṣṭibhir yudhi durgamam
ekena muṣṭinā taṁ vai
pātayām āsa bhū-tale

Synonyms

tadā — then ; āyāntam — coming ; muṣṭikākhyam — named Muṣṭika ; muṣṭibhiḥ — with fists ; yudhi — in a fight ; durgamam — great ; ekena — with one ; muṣṭinā — fist ; tam — him ; vai — indeed ; pātayām āsa — threw ; bhū-tale — *to the ground.

Translation

When Muṣṭika rushed at him with ferocious punches, with one punch Kaṁsa knocked him to the ground.
Text 22

Verse text

kūṭaṁ samāgataṁ kaṁso
gṛhītvā pādayoś ca tam
pātayitvā bhūmi-madhye
cīkṣepa gagane balāt

Synonyms

kūṭam — Kūṭa ; samāgatam — come ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; gṛhītvā — grabbed ; pādayoḥ — feet ; ca — and ; tam — him ; pātayitvā — throwing ; bhūmi-madhye — on the ground ; cīkṣepa — threw ; gagane — in the sky ; balāt — *violently.

Translation

When Kūṭa rushed at him, Kaṁsa knowcked him to the ground, grabbed his feet, and violently threw him into the sky.
Text 23

Verse text

bhujam āsphoṭya dhāvantaṁ
śalaṁ nītvā bhujena saḥ
pātayitvā punar nitvā
bhūmau taṁ vicakarṣa ha

Synonyms

bhujam — arm ; āsphoṭya — waving ; dhāvantam — running ; śalam — Śāla ; nītvā — bringing ; bhujena — by the arm ; saḥ — he ; pātayitvā — threw ; punaḥ — again ; nitvā — bringing ; bhūmau — on the ground ; tam — him ; vicakarṣa — dragged ; ha — *indeed.

Translation

When Śala, waving his arms, rushed at him, Kaṁsa grabbed an arm, pulled him down, and dragged him about.
Text 24

Verse text

atha tośalakaṁ kaṁso
gṛhītvā bhujayor balāt
nipatya bhūmav utthāpya
cīkṣepa daśa-yojanam

Synonyms

atha — then ; tośalakam — Tośala ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; bhujayoḥ — of the arms ; balāt — by the power ; nipatya — falling ; bhūmau — on the ground ; utthāpya — rising ; cīkṣepa — threw ; daśa-yojanam — *80 miles.

Translation

Then Kaṁsa grabbed Tośala, knocked him to the ground, and, by the power of his arms, threw him eighty miles away.
Text 25

Verse text

dāsa-bhāve ca tān kṛtvā
taiḥ sārdhaṁ yādavādhipaḥ
mad-vākyena jagāmāśu
pravarṣaṇa-giriṁ varam

Synonyms

dāsa-bhāve — the status of servants ; ca — also ; tān — them ; kṛtvā — making ; taiḥ — them ; sārdham — with ; yādavādhipaḥ — the king of the Yadus ; mat — of me ; vākyena — by the statement ; jagāma — went ; āśu — at once ; pravarṣaṇa-girim — to Pravarṣaṇa Mountain ; varam — *great.

Translation

Then Kaṁsa made them all his servants and, on my advice, went with them to great Mount Pravaraṣaṇa.
Text 26

Verse text

tasmai nivedyābhiprāyaṁ
yuyudhe vānareṇa saḥ
dvividenāpi viṁśatyā
dinaiḥ kaṁso hy aviśramam

Synonyms

tasmai — to him ; nivedya — appealing ; abhiprāyam — intention ; yuyudhe — fought ; vanareṇa — with the gorilla ; saḥ — he ; dvividena — Dvivida ; api — also ; viṁśatyā — for twenty ; dinaiḥ — days ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; hi — indeed ; aviśramam — *without fatigue.

Translation

After presenting his proposal before him, Kaṁsa fought with the gorilla Dvivida for twenty days without becoming tired.
Text 27

Verse text

dvivido girim utpatya
cīkṣepa tasya mūrdhani
kaṁso giriṁ gṛhītvā ca
tasyopari samākṣipat

Synonyms

dvividaḥ — Dvivida ; girim — a mountain ; utpatya — uprooting ; cīkṣepa — threw ; tasya — of him ; mūrdhani — on the head ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; girim — a mountain ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; ca — also ; tasya — him ; upari — on ; samākṣipat — *threw.

Translation

Dvivida uprooted a mountain and threw it on Kaṁsa's head. Kaṁsa also grabbed a mountain and threw it on Dvivida.
Text 28

Verse text

dvivido muṣṭinā kaṁsaṁ
ghātayitvā nabho gataḥ
dhāvan kaṁsas ca taṁ nitvā
pātayām āsa bhū-tale

Synonyms

dvividaḥ — Dvivida ; muṣṭinā — with a fist ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; ghātayitvā — hitting ; nabhaḥ — to the sky ; gataḥ — gone ; dhāvan — running ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; ca — also ; tam — him ; nitvā — bringing ; pātayām āsa — threw ; bhū-tale — *on the ground.

Translation

Dvivida punched Kaṁsa and jumped into the sky. Kaṁsa chased him and threw him to the ground.
Text 29

Verse text

mūrchitas tat-prahāreṇa
paraṁ kaṣmalatāṁ yayau
kṣīṇa-sattvas cūrṇitāsthir
dāsa-bhāvaṁ gatas tadā

Synonyms

mūrchitaḥ — unconscious ; tat-prahāreṇa — by that blow ; param — great ; kaṣmalatām — depression ; yayau — attained ; kṣīṇa-sattvaḥ — weak ; cūrṇita — crushed into a powder ; asthiḥ — bones ; dāsa-bhāvam — the state of a servant ; gataḥ — attained ; tadā — *then.

Translation

In this way Dvivida was knocked unconscious. Dispirited, weakened, and his bones broken, he became Kaṁsa's servant.
Text 30

Verse text

tenaivātha gataḥ kaṁsa
ṛṣyāmūka-vanaṁ tataḥ
tatra keśī mahā-daityo
haya-rūpī ghana-svanaḥ

Synonyms

tena — by this ; eva — indeed ; atha — then ; gataḥ — went ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; ṛṣyāmūka-vanam — to Ṛṣyāmūka forest ; tataḥ — then ; tatra — there ; keśī — Keśī ; mahā-daityaḥ — a great demon ; haya-rūpī — in the form of a horse ; ghana-svanaḥ — *thundering.

Translation

Then Kaṁsa went to Ṛṣyamūka forest, where there was a great demon named Keśī, who had the form of a horse whinnying like thunder.
Text 31

Verse text

muṣṭibhir ghātayitvā taṁ
vaśī-kṛtvāruroha tam
itthaṁ kaṁso mahā-vīryo
mahendrākhyaṁ giriṁ yayau

Synonyms

muṣṭibhiḥ — with punches ; ghātayitvā — hitting ; tam — him ; vaśī-kṛtvā — subduing ; āruroha — climbed ; tam — on him ; ittham — thus ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; mahā-vīryaḥ — very powerful ; mahendrākhyam — named Mahendra ; girim — to the mountain ; yayau — *went.

Translation

Punching it again and again, Kaṁsa subdued the horse. Mounting it, very powerful Kaṁsa rode to Mount Mahendra.
Text 32

Verse text

śata-vāraṁ cojjahāra
girim utpatya daitya-rāṭ
punas tatra sthitaṁ rāmaṁ
krodha-samrakta-locanam
pralayārka-prabhaṁ dṛṭṭvā
nanāma śirasā munim
punaḥ pradakṣiṇī-kṛtyo
tad-aṅghryor nipapāta ha

Synonyms

śata — a hundred ; vāram — times ; ca — also ; ujjahāra — lifting ; girim — the hill ; utpatya — uprooting ; daitya-rāṭ — the king of mountains ; punaḥ — again ; tatra — there ; sthitam — placed ; rāmam — rāma ; krodha — with anger ; samrakta — red ; locanam — eyes ; pralaya — of devastation ; arka — of the sun ; prabham — the splendor ; dṛṭṭvā — seeing ; nanāma — bowed down ; śirasā — with his head ; munim — to the sage ; punaḥ — again ; pradakṣiṇī-kṛtyaḥ — circumambulating ; tad-aṅghryoḥ — at His feet ; nipapāta — fell ; ha — *certainly.

Translation

A hundred times the demon-king Kaṁsa uprooted the mountain, held it high, and set it again in its place. When he saw Lord Paraśurāma, who was as effulgent as the sun at the time of cosmic dissolution, and whose eyes were now red with anger, Kaṁsa bowed his head before the sage, circumambulated Him, and fell at His feet.
Text 34

Verse text

tataḥ śānto bhārgavo 'pi
kaṁsaṁ prāha mahogra-dṛk
he kīṭa karkaṭī-dimbha
tuccho 'si maṣako yathā

Synonyms

tataḥ — then ; śāntaḥ — pacified ; bhārgavaḥ — Paraśurāma ; api — also ; kaṁsam — to Kaṁsa ; prāha — said ; mahā — very ; ugra — ferocious ; dṛk — eyes ; he — O ; kīṭa — worm ; karkaṭī — crab ; dimbha — baby ; tucchaḥ — insignificant ; asi — you are ; maṣakaḥ — mosquito ; yathā — *as.

Translation

Pacified by this, Paraśurāma, his eyes very fierce, said to Kaṁsa, "O worm! O baby crab! You are insignificant as a mosquito.
Text 35

Verse text

adyaiva tvāṁ hanmi duṣṭa-
kṣatriyaṁ vīra-māninam
mat-samīpe dhanur idaṁ
lakṣa-bhāra-samaṁ mahat

Synonyms

adya — today ; eva — indeed ; tvām — you ; hanmi — I will kill ; duṣṭa — wicked ; kṣatriyam — kṣatriya ; vīra — strong ; māninam — thinking yourself ; mat-samīpe — near Me ; dhanuḥ — bow ; idam — this ; lakṣa-bhāra-samam — as heavy as a hundred thousand bhāras ; mahat — *great.

Translation

Today I will kill you, who are a wicked kṣatriya falsely proud of his strength. This great bow by My side weighs a hundred thousand bhāras.
Text 36

Verse text

idaṁ ca viṣṇunā dattaṁ
sambhave traipure yudhi
śambhoḥ karād iha prāptaṁ
kṣatriyāṇāṁ vadhāya ca

Synonyms

idam — this ; ca — and ; viṣṇunā — by Lord Viṣṇu ; dattam — given ; sambhave traipure yudhi — in the battle with Tripura ; śambhoḥ — of Lord Śiva ; karāt — from the hand ; iha — here ; prāptam — attained ; kṣatriyāṇām — of the kṣatriyas ; vadhāya — for the killing ; ca — *also.

Translation

This bow was given by Lord Viṣṇu in the battle for Tripura City. To kill the kṣatriyas I received it from Lord Śiva's own hand.
Text 37

Verse text

yadi cedaṁ tanoṣi tvaṁ
tadā ca kuśalaṁ bhavet
ced asya karṣaṇaṁ na syād
ghātayiṣyāmi te balam

Synonyms

yadi — if ; ca — and ; idam — this ; tanoṣi — stretch ; tvam — you ; tadā — then ; ca — also ; kuśalam — auspiciousness ; bhavet — may be ; cet — if ; asya — of it ; karṣaṇam — drawing ; na — not ; syāt — is ; ghātayiṣyāmi — I will kill ; te — of you ; balam — *the strength.

Translation

If you can draw this bow it will be good for you. If you cannot draw it I will destroy your strength.
Text 38

Verse text

śrutvā vacas tadā daityaḥ
ko-daṇḍaṁ sapta-tālakam
gṛhītvā paśyatas tasya
sajjaṁ kṛtvātha līlayā

Synonyms

śrutvā — hearing ; vacaḥ — words ; tadā — then ; daityaḥ — the demon ; ko-daṇḍam — the bow ; sapta-tālakam — made of seven palm trees ; gṛhītvā — holding ; paśyataḥ — watching ; tasya — of Him ; sajjam — preparation ; kṛtvā — doing ; atha — then ; līlayā — *easily.

Translation

Hearing these words, the demon Kaṁsa picked up the bow made of seven palm trees. As Paraśurāma watched, Kaṁsa easily strung it.
Text 39

Verse text

ākṛṣya karṇa-paryantaṁ
śata-vāraṁ tatāna ha
pratyañcāsphoṭanenaiva
ṭaṅkāro 'bhūt taḍit-svanaḥ

Synonyms

ākṛṣya — drawing ; karṇa-paryantam — to his ear ; śata-vāram — a hundred times ; tatāna — stretched ; ha — indeed ; pratyañca āsphoṭanena — by releasing the bowstring ; eva — indeed ; ṭaṅkāraḥ — twanging sound ; abhūt — was ; taḍit-svanaḥ — *thunder.

Translation

A hundred times he drew the bowstring back to his ear and released it with a thunderous sound.
Text 40

Verse text

nanāda tena brahmāṇdaṁ
sapta-lokair bilaiḥ saha
vicelur dig-gajās tārā
'patan bhū-khaṇḍa-maṇḍalam

Synonyms

nanāda — sounded ; tena — by that ; brahmāṇdam — the universe ; sapta-lokaiḥ — with seven planetary systems ; bilaiḥ — with the spaces between them ; saha — with ; viceluḥ — trembled ; dik — of the directions ; gajāḥ — the elephants ; tārāḥ — the stars ; apatan — fell ; bhū-khaṇḍa-maṇḍalam — *to the earth.

Translation

That sound echoed in the universe of seven planetary systems and outer space. It made the elephants that support the directions tremble and it made the stars fall to the earth.
Text 41

Verse text

dhanuḥ saṁsthāpya tat kaṁso
natvā natvāha bhārgavam
he deva kṣatriyo nāsmi
daityo 'haṁ te ca kiṅkaraḥ

Synonyms

dhanuḥ — the bow ; saṁsthāpya — putting down ; tat — that ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; natvā natvā — bowing down again and again ; āha — said ; bhārgavam — to Paraśurāma ; he — O ; deva — Lord ; kṣatriyaḥ — a kṣatriya ; na — not ; asmi — I am ; daityaḥ — a demon ; aham — I am ; te — You ; ca — and ; kiṅkaraḥ — *servant.

Translation

Putting the bow back in its place, and bowing again and again to Lord Paraśurāma, Kaṁsa said, "O Lord, I am not a kṣatriya. I am a demon, and I am Your servant.
Text 42

Verse text

tava dāsasya dāso 'haṁ
pāhi māṁ puruṣottama
śrūtvā prasannaḥ śrī-rāmas
tasmai prādād dhanuś ca tat

Synonyms

tava — of You ; dāsasya — of the servant ; dāsaḥ — the servant ; aham — I am ; pāhi — protect ; mām — me ; puruṣottama — O Supreme Person ; śrūtvā — hearing ; prasannaḥ — pleased ; śrī-rāmaḥ — Śrī Paraśurāma ; tasmai — to him ; prādāt — gave ; dhanuḥ — bow ; ca — also ; tat — *that.

Translation

"I am the servant of Your servant. O Supreme Person, please protect me." Hearing this, Lord Paraśurāma was pleased with him and gave him that bow.
Text 43

Verse text

śrī-jāmadagny uvāca
yat ko-daṇḍaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ tad
yena bhaṅgī-bhaviṣyati
paripūrṇatamenātra
so 'pi tvāṁ ghātayiṣyati

Synonyms

śrī-jāmadagnī uvāca — Śrī Paraśurāma said ; yat — what ; ko-daṇḍam — bow ; vaiṣṇavam — of Lord Viṣṇu ; tat — that ; yena — by which ; bhaṅgī-bhaviṣyati — will break ; paripūrṇatamena — completely ; atra — here ; saḥ api — that person ; tvām — you ; ghātayiṣyati — *will kill.

Translation

Śrī Paraśurāma said: Whoever breaks this bow of Lord Viṣṇu will kill you.
Text 44

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
atha natvā muniṁ kaṁso
vicaran sa mahotkaṭaḥ
na ke 'pi yuyudhus tena
rājānaś ca baliṁ daduḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; atha — then ; natvā — bowing ; munim — to the sage ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; vicaran — considering ; saḥ — he ; mahā-utkaṭaḥ — very proud ; na — not ; ke api — whoever ; yuyudhāḥ — fighting ; tena — with that ; rājānaḥ — kings ; ca — also ; balim — offering ; daduḥ — *gave.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Then Kaṁsa bowed down before the sage Paraśurāma. As Kaṁsa thought of all this, he became filled with pride. No king could fight with him. They only brought him gifts.
Text 45

Verse text

samudrasya taṭe kaṁso
daityaṁ nāmnā hy aghāsuram
saprakāraṁ ca phūtkārair
lelihānaṁ dadarśa ha

Synonyms

samudrasya — of the ocean ; taṭe — on the shore ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; daityam — a demon ; nāmnā — by name ; hi — indeed ; aghāsuram — Aghāsura ; sarpa — of a snake ; ākāram — —the form ; ca — also ; phūtkāraiḥ — with hissing ; lelihānam — licking ; dadarśa ha — *saw.

Translation

On the seashore Kaṁsa saw a a demon named Aghāsura who, licking its tongue and hissing, had a serpent's body.
Text 46

Verse text

āgacchantaṁ daśantaṁ ca
gṛhītvā taṁ nipatya saḥ
cakāra sva-gale hāraṁ
nirbhayo daitya-rāḍ balī

Synonyms

āgacchantam — coming ; daśantam — biting ; ca — and ; gṛhītvā — grasped ; tam — it ; nipatya — falling ; saḥ — he ; cakāra — did ; sva-gale — on the neck ; hāram — necklace ; nirbhayaḥ — fearless ; daitya — of the demons ; rāḍ — the king ; balī — *strong.

Translation

When the serpent approached and bit him, the fearless and very powerful demon-king Kaṁsa jumped on it and became like a necklace squeezing its neck.
Text 47

Verse text

prācyāṁ tu vaṅga-deśeṣu
daityo 'riṣṭo mahā-vṛṣaḥ
tena sārdhaṁ sa yuyudhe
gajenāpi gajo yathā

Synonyms

prācyām — in the east ; tu — also ; vaṅga-deśeṣu — in Bengal ; daityaḥ — a demon ; ariṣṭaḥ — Ariṣṭa ; mahā — great ; vṛṣaḥ — bull ; tena — him ; sārdham — with ; saḥ — he ; yuyudhe — fought ; gajena — with an elephant ; api — also ; gajaḥ — an elephant ; yathā — *as.

Translation

In the east a great bull-demon named Ariṣṭa fought with Kaṁsa as one elephant fights with another elephant.
Text 48

Verse text

śṛṅgābhyāṁ parvataṁ nītvā
cīkṣepa kaṁsa-mūrdhani
kaṁso giriṁ saṅgṛhītvā
prākṣipat tasya mastake

Synonyms

śṛṅgābhyām — with horns ; parvatam — a mountain ; nītvā — uprooting ; cīkṣepa — threw ; kaṁsa-mūrdhani — at Kaṁsa's head ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; girim — a mountain ; saṅgṛhītvā — grasping ; prākṣipat — threw ; tasya — of it ; mastake — *at the head.

Translation

With its horns it uprooted a mountain and threw it at Kaṁsa's head. Then Kaṁsa took a mountain and threw it at Ariṣṭa's head.
Text 49

Verse text

jaghāna muṣṭināriṣṭaṁ
kaṁso vai daitya-puṅgavaḥ mūrchitaṁ taṁ vinirjitya
tenodīcīṁ diśaṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

jaghāna — struck ; muṣṭinā — with fist ; ariṣṭam — Ariṣṭa ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; vai — indeed ; daitya — of demons ; puṅgavaḥ — the best ; mūrchitam — fainted ; tam — him ; vinirjitya — defeating ; tena — by that ; udīcīm — north ; diśam — direction ; gataḥ — *went.

Translation

With a single punch the great demon Kaṁsa made Ariṣṭa fall unconscious. After this victory Kaṁsa went to the north.
Text 50

Verse text

prāgjyotiṣeśvaraṁ bhaumaṁ
narakākhyaṁ mahā-balam
uvāca kaṁso yuddhārthī
yuddhaṁ me dehi daitya-rāṭ

Synonyms

prāgjyotiṣa — of Prāgjyotiṣa ; īśvaram — the king ; bhaumam — the son of the earth-goddess ; naraka-ākhyam — named Naraka ; mahā-balam — very strong ; uvāca — said ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; yuddha — to fight ; arthī — desiring ; yuddham — fight ; me — to me ; dehi — give ; daitya-rāṭ — *O king of the demons.

Translation

There, eager to fight, Kaṁsa said to Narakāsura, Prāgjyotiṣa City's very powerful king, who was a son of the earth-goddess, "O king of the demons, please give me a fight.
Text 51

Verse text

ahaṁ dāso bhaveyaṁ vo
bhavanto jayino yadi
ahaṁ jayī ced bhavato
dāsān sarvān karomy aham

Synonyms

aham — I ; dāsaḥ — a servant ; bhaveyam — will be ; vaḥ — of you ; bhavantaḥ — you ; jayinaḥ — victorious ; yadi — if ; aham — I ; jayī — victorious ; cet — if ; bhavataḥ — of you ; dāsān — servant ; sarvān — all ; karomi — make ; aham — *I.

Translation

"If you are victorious, I will become your servant. If I am victorious I will make you my servant."
Text 52

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
pūrvaṁ pralambo yuyudhe
kaṁsenāpi mahā-balaḥ
mṛgendreṇa mṛgendro vā
udbhaṭena yathodbhaṭaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; pūrvam — before ; pralambaḥ — Pralamba ; yuyudhe — fought ; kaṁsena — with Kaṁsa ; api — also ; mahā-balaḥ — very powerful ; mṛgendreṇa — with a lion ; mṛgendraḥ — a lion ; vai — indeed ; udbhaṭena — with a great ; yathā — as ; udbhaṭaḥ — *a great.

Translation

First a very powerful demon named Pralambāsura fought with Kaṁsa. They fought as one great lion fights with another great lion.
Text 53

Verse text

malla-yuddhe gṛhītvā taṁ
kaṁso bhūmau nipatya ca
punar gṛhītvā cīkṣepa
prāgjyotiṣa-purodare

Synonyms

malla-yuddhe — in wrestling ; gṛhītvā — grasping ; tam — him ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; bhūmau — on the ground ; nipatya — falling ; ca — also ; punaḥ — again ; gṛhītvā — grasping ; cīkṣepa — threw ; prāgjyotiṣa-pura-udare — *into Prāgjyotiṣa City.

Translation

Kaṁsa wrestled him to the ground and threw him into Prāgjyotiṣa City.
Text 54

Verse text

āgato dhenuko nāmnā
kaṁsaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ
nodayām āsa dūreṇa
balaṁ kṛtvātha dāruṇam

Synonyms

āgataḥ — came ; dhenukaḥ — Dhenuka ; nāmnā — by name ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; jagrāha — grasped ; roṣataḥ — angrily ; nodayām āsa — threw ; dūreṇa — far away ; balam — strength ; kṛtvā — doing ; atha — then ; dāruṇam — *fearsome.

Translation

Then a demon named Dhenuka came and grabbed Kaṁsa. With fearsome strength Kaṁsa angrily threw him far away.
Text 55

Verse text

kaṁsas taṁ nodayām āsa
dhenukaṁ śata-yojanam
nipatya cūrṇayām āsa
tad-aṅga-muṣṭibhir dṛḍhaiḥ

Synonyms

kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; tam — him ; nodayām āsa — threw ; dhenukam — Dhenuka ; śata-yojanam — eight hundred miles ; nipatya — falling ; cūrṇayām āsa — crushed ; tad-aṅga-muṣṭibhiḥ — with punches ; dṛḍhaiḥ — *hard.

Translation

Kaṁsa threw Dhenuka eight hundred miles, jumped on him, and crushed him with many hard punches.
Text 56

Verse text

tṛṇāvarto bhauma-vākyāt
kaṁsaṁ nītvā nabho gataḥ
tatraiva yuyudhe daitya
ūrdhvaṁ vai lakṣa-yojanam

Synonyms

tṛṇāvartaḥ — Tṛṇāvarta ; bhauma-vākyāt — from the words of Narakāsura ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; nītvā — brought ; nabhaḥ — in the sky ; gataḥ — went ; tatra — there ; eva — indeed ; yuyudhe — fought ; daityaḥ — the demon ; ūrdhvam — above ; vai — indeed ; lakṣa-yojanam — *eight hundred thousand miles.

Translation

On Narakāsura's order a demon named Tṛṇāvarta pulled Kaṁsa into the sky and fought with him eight hundred thousand miles in outer space.
Text 57

Verse text

kaṁso 'nanta-balaṁ kṛtvā
daityaṁ nītvā tadāmbarāt
bhūmyāṁ sampātayām āsa
vamantaṁ rudhiraṁ mukhāt

Synonyms

kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; ananta — limitless ; balam — strength ; kṛtvā — doing ; daityam — the demon ; nītvā — bringing ; tadā — then ; ambarāt — from outer space ; bhūmyām — to the earth ; sampātayām āsa — made fall ; vamantam — vomiting ; rudhiram — blood ; mukhāt — *from his mouth.

Translation

With limitless strength Kaṁsa dragged the demon from outer space to the earth and made him vomit blood from his mouth.
Text 58

Verse text

tuṇḍenātha grasantaṁ ca
bakaṁ daityaṁ mahā-balam
kaṁso nipātayām āsa
muṣṭinā vajra-ghātinā

Synonyms

tuṇḍena — with its beak ; atha — then ; grasantam — swallowing ; ca — also ; bakam — Bakāsura ; daityam — demon ; mahā-balam — very powerful ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; nipātayām āsa — made fall ; muṣṭinā — with a punch ; vajra-ghātinā — *hard as a lightning bolt.

Translation

When a powerful and demonic duck named Bakāsura tried to swallow him with its beak, Kaṁsa made it fall with a single punch hard as a thunderbolt.
Text 59

Verse text

utthāya daityo balavān
sita-pakṣo ghana-svanaḥ
krodha-yuktaḥ samutpatya
tīkṣna-tuṇḍo 'grasac ca tam

Synonyms

utthāya — lifting ; daityaḥ — the demon ; balavān — powerful ; sita — white ; pakṣaḥ — wings ; ghana-svanaḥ — sound of thunder ; krodha-yuktaḥ — angry ; samutpatya — lifting ; tīkṣna — sharp ; tuṇḍaḥ — beak ; agrasat — swallowed ; ca — and ; tam — *him.

Translation

Lifting itself up, the white-winged demon made a sound like thunder and angrily swallowed Kaṁsa with its sharp beak.
Text 60

Verse text

nigīrṇo 'pi sa vajrāṅgas
tad-gale rodha-kṛc ca yaḥ
sadyaś caccharda taṁ kaṁsaṁ
kṣata-kaṇṭho mahā-bakaḥ

Synonyms

nigīrṇaḥ — swallowed ; api — also ; saḥ — he ; vajra — thunderbolt ; aṅgaḥ — body ; tat — its ; gale — throat ; rodha-kṛt — angry ; ca — also ; yaḥ — who ; sadyaḥ — at once ; caccharda — vomited ; tam — him ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; kṣata — broken ; kaṇṭhaḥ — neck ; mahā-bakaḥ — *great duck.

Translation

When he was swallowed, Kaṁsa became angry and his body became like a thunderbolt. Its throat breaking, the great duck Bakāsura spat Kaṁsa out at once.
Text 61

Verse text

kaṁso bakaṁ saṅgṛhītvā
pātayitvā mahī-tale
karābhyāṁ bhrāmayitvā ca
yuddhe taṁ vicakarṣa ha

Synonyms

kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; bakam — the duck ; saṅgṛhītvā — grasping ; pātayitvā — threw ; mahī-tale — on the ground ; karābhyām — with both hands ; bhrāmayitvā — spun around ; ca — also ; yuddhe — in the fight ; tam — it ; vicakarṣa ha — *dragged.

Translation

Kaṁsa grabbed Bakāsura and threw it to the ground. As they fought, Kaṁsa grabbed it with both hands, whirled it around, and dragged it here and there.
Text 62

Verse text

tat-svasāraṁ pūtanākhyāṁ
yoddhu-kāmām avasthitām
tām āha kaṁsaḥ prahasan
vākyaṁ me śṛṇu pūtane

Synonyms

tat — his ; svasāram — sister ; pūtanā-ākhyām — named Pūtanā ; yoddhu-kāmām — desiring to fight ; avasthitām — stood ; tām — her ; āha — said ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; prahasan — laughing ; vākyam — words ; me — my ; śṛṇu — hear ; pūtane — *O Pūtanā.

Translation

Then Bakāsura's sister, who was named Pūtanā, came and wished to fight. Kaṁsa laughed and said to her, "Hear my words, O Pūtanā.
Text 63

Verse text

striyā sārdham ahaṁ yuddhaṁ
na karomi kadācana
bakāsuraḥ syān me bhrātā
tvaṁ ca me bhaginī bhava

Synonyms

striyā — a woman ; sārdham — with ; aham — I ; yuddham — a fight ; na — not ; karomi — I do ; kadācana — ever ; bakāsuraḥ — Bakāsura ; syāt — has become ; me — my ; bhrātā — brother ; tvam — you ; ca — and ; me — my ; bhaginī — sister ; bhava — *should be.

Translation

"I will never fight with a woman. Bakāsura has become my brother, so you should be my sister."
Text 64

Verse text

tato 'nanta-balaṁ kaṁsaṁ
vīkṣya bhaumo 'pi dharṣitaḥ
cakāra sauhṛdaṁ kaṁse sahayyārthaṁ surān prati

Synonyms

tataḥ — then ; ananta — limitless ; balam — strength ; kaṁsam — Kaṁsa ; vīkṣya — seeing ; bhaumaḥ — Narakāsura ; api — also ; dharṣitaḥ — was defeated ; cakāra — did ; sauhṛdam — friendship ; kaṁse — with Kaṁsa ; sahayya-artham — for an alliance ; surān — the demigods ; prati — against*.

Translation

Then, seeing that Kaṁsa had endless strength, Narakāsura accepted defeat. He made friendship with Kaṁsa and they formed an alliance against the demigods. Chapter Seven Dig-vijaya-varṇana Description of the Conquest of All Directions
Text 1

Verse text

atha kaṁsaḥ pralambādyair
anyaiḥ pūrva-jitaiś ca taiḥ
śambarasya puraṁ prāgāt
svābhiprayaṁ nivedayan

Synonyms

atha — *then ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; pralamba-ādyair — headed by Pralamba ; anyaiḥ — with others ; pūrva — before ; jitais — defeated ; ca — also ; taiḥ — with them ; śambarasya — of Śambara ; puram — to the city ; prāgāt — went ; svā — own ; abhiprayaṁ — intention ; nivedayan — speaking.

Translation

Then, accompanied by Pralamba and the other demons he had defeated before, Kaṁsa went to the city of Śambara and made his offer.
Text 2

Verse text

śambaro hy ati-vīryo 'pi
na yuyodha sa tena vai
cakāra sauhṛdaṁ kaṁse
sarvair ati-balaiḥ saha

Synonyms

śambaro — *Śambara ; hi — indeed ; ati-vīryo — very powerful ; api — although ; na — not ; yuyodha — fought ; sas — he ; tena — with him ; vai — indeed ; cakāra — made ; sauhṛdam — friendship ; kaṁse — with Kaṁsa ; sarvair — with all ; ati-balaiḥ — very powerful ; saha — with.

Translation

Although he was very powerful, Śambara would not fight. Instead, he made friends with Kaṁsa and all his very powerful allies.
Text 3

Verse text

tri-śṛṅga-śikhare śete
vyomo nāmāsuro balī
kaṁsa-pāda-prabuddho 'bhūt
krodha-samrakta-locanaḥ

Synonyms

tri-śṛṅga-śikhare — *on the summit of Mount Trikūṭa ; śete — slept ; vyomo — Vyoma ; nāma — named ; asuro — demon ; balī — powerful ; kaṁsa — of Kaṁsa ; pāda — by the foot ; prabuddho — awakened ; abhūt — became ; krodha — with anger ; samrakta — red ; locanaḥ — eyes.

Translation

A very strong demon named Vyoma slept on the summit of Mount Trikūṭa. When Kaṁsa awakened him with a kick, his eyes became red with rage.
Text 4

Verse text

kaṁsaṁ jaghāna cotthāya
prabalair dṛḍha-muṣṭibhiḥ
tayor yuddham abhūd ghoraṁ
itaretara-muṣṭibhiḥ

Synonyms

kaṁsaṁ — *Kaṁsa ; jaghāna — struck ; ca — and ; utthāya — stood ; prabalair — with strong ; dṛḍha — clenched ; muṣṭibhiḥ — fists ; tayor — of them ; yuddham — fight ; abhūd — was ; ghoram — terribel ; itaretara — of each other ; muṣṭibhiḥ — with punches.

Translation

He stood up and attacked Kaṁsa with hard punches. Then they fought a terrible battle with their fists.
Text 5

Verse text

kaṁsasya muṣṭibhiḥ so 'pi
niḥsattvo 'bhūd bhramāturaḥ
bhṛtyaṁ kṛtvātha taṁ kaṁsaḥ
prāptaṁ māṁ praṇanāma ha

Synonyms

kaṁsasya — *of Kaṁsa ; muṣṭibhiḥ — with punches ; saḥ api — he ; niḥsattvo — weakened ; abhūd — became ; bhrama-āturaḥ — dizzy ; bhṛtyaṁ — servant ; kṛtvā — doing ; atha — then ; taṁ — him ; kaṁsas — Kaṁsa ; prāptaṁ — attained ; māṁ — me ; praṇanāma — bowed down ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Kaṁsa's punches weakened him and made him dizzy. Kaṁsa made Vyoma his servant. Then Kaṁsa came to me and bowed down to offer respects.
Text 6

Verse text

he deva yuddha-kaṅkṣāsti
kva yāmi tvaṁ vadāśu me
provāca taṁ tadā gaccha
daityaṁ bāṇaṁ mahā-balam

Synonyms

he — *O ; deva — demigod ; yuddha — to fight ; kaṅkṣā — the desire ; asti — is ; kva — where? ; yāmi — I go ; tvam — you ; vada — tell ; āśu — quickly ; me — to me ; provāca — said ; taṁ — to him ; tadā — then ; gaccha — go ; daityaṁ — to the demon ; bāṇaṁ — Bāṇa ; mahā-balam — very powerful.

Translation

He said, "O lord, I yearn to fight. Where should I go?" I said to him, "Go to the very powerful demon Bāṇāsura."
Text 7

Verse text

preritaś ceti kaṁsākhyo
mayā yuddhi-didṛkṣuṇā
bhuja-vīrya-madonnaddhaḥ
śonitākhyaṁ puraṁ yayau

Synonyms

preritas — *sent ; ca — also ; iti — thus ; kaṁsa — Kaṁsa ; ākhyo — named ; mayā — by me ; yuddhi — a fight ; didṛkṣuṇā — with the desire to see ; bhuja — of his arms ; vīrya — by the power ; mada-unnaddhaḥ — overcome with pride ; śonitā-Ākhyaṁ — named Śonitā ; puram — to the city ; yayau — went.

Translation

Thus sent by me, Kaṁsa, who was filled with pride in the strength of his arms and was looking for a fight, went to the city named Śonitā.
Text 8

Verse text

bāṇāsuras tat-pratijṣāṁ
śrūtvā kruddho hy abhūd bhṛśam
tatāḍa lattāṁ bhū-madhye
jagarja ghanavad balī

Synonyms

bāṇāsuras — *Bāṇāsura ; tat-pratijṣāṁ — his offer ; śrūtvā — hearing ; kruddho — angry ; hi — certainly ; abhūd — became ; bhṛśam — very ; tatāḍa — struck ; lattām — a kick ; bhū-madhye — on the ground ; jagarja — roared ; ghanavad — like thunder ; balī — powerful.

Translation

When he heard Kaṁsa's offer, powerful Bāṇāsura became very angry. He kicked the ground and roared like thunder.
Text 9

Verse text

ā-jānu-bhūmi-gaṁ lattāṁ
pātālāntam upāgatam
kṛtvā tam āha bāṇas tu
pūrvaṁ cainaṁ samuddhara

Synonyms

ā-jānu — *to his knees ; bhūmi — to the ground ; gaṁ — gone ; lattāṁ — kick ; pātālāntam — to Patala ; upāgatam — gone ; kṛtvā — having done ; tam — to him ; āha — spoke ; bāṇas — Bāṇa ; tu — indeed ; pūrvaṁ — before ; ca — and ; enaṁ — this ; samuddhara — lift.

Translation

That kick pushed his leg through the ground up to his knee as his foot reached Pātālaloka. Then Bāṇāsura said, Please pull me up as I was before."
Text 10

Verse text

śrūtvā vacaḥ karābhyāṁ taṁ
ujjahāra madotkaṭaḥ
pracaṇḍa-vikramaḥ kaṁsaḥ
khara-daṇḍaṁ gajo yathā

Synonyms

śrūtvā — *hearing ; vacaḥ — the words ; karābhyāṁ — with both hands ; taṁ — him ; ujjahāra — lifted ; mada-utkataḥ — full of pride ; pracaṇḍa-vikramaḥ — powerful ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; khara-daṇḍam — a lotus ; gajo — an elephant ; yathā — as.

Translation

Hearing these words, with both hands proud and powerful Kaṁsa pulled him up as an elephant pulls up a lotus.
Text 11

Verse text

tayā coddhṛtayotkhātā
lokāḥ sapta-talā dṛḍhāḥ
nipetur girayo 'nekā
vicelur dṛḍha-dig-gajāḥ

Synonyms

tayā — *by this ; ca — also ; uddhṛtayā — lifted ; utkhātās — devastated ; lokāḥ — the worlds ; sapta-talā — seven tala planets ; dṛḍhāḥ — solid ; nipetur — fell ; girayo — mountains ; anekās — many ; vicelur — stumbled ; dṛḍha — sturdy ; dik — of the directions ; gajāḥ — the elephants.

Translation

By this pulling the seven Tala planets were devastated, many great mountains fell, and the sturdy elephants holding the directions stumbled.
Text 12

Verse text

yoddhuṁ tam udyataṁ bāṇaṁ
dṛṭṭvāgatya vṛṣadhvajaḥ
sarvān sambodhayām āsa
provāca bali-nandanam

Synonyms

yoddhum — *to fight ; tam — him ; udyataṁ — eager ; bāṇam — Bāṇa ; dṛṭṭvā — seeing ; āgatya — coming ; vṛṣadhvajaḥ — Lord Śiva ; sarvān — everyone ; sambodhayām āsa — addressed ; provāca — said ; bali-nandanam — to Bāṇa, the son of Bali.

Translation

Seeing that Bāṇāsura was very eager to fight, Lord Śiva arrived, greeted everyone, and to Bali Mahārāja's son, Bāṇāsura, said:
Text 13

Verse text

kṛṣṇaṁ vināparaṁ cainaṁ
bhūmau ko 'pi na jeṣyati
bhārgaveṇa varaṁ dattaṁ
dhanur asmai ca vaiṣṇavam

Synonyms

kṛṣṇaṁ — *Kṛṣṇa ; vinā — without ; aparam — another ; ca — also ; enaṁ — him ; bhūmau — on the earth ; ko 'pi — someone ; na — not ; jeṣyati — will defeat ; bhārgaveṇa — by Paraśurāma ; varaṁ — benediction ; dattaṁ — given ; dhanur — bow ; asmai — to him ; ca — also ; vaiṣṇavam — of Lord Viṣṇu.

Translation

Except for Lord Kṛṣṇa, no one in the world can defeat him. Lord Paraśurāma gave him that benediction and also gave him Lord Viṣṇu's own bow.
Text 14

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ity uktvā sauhṛdaṁ hṛdyaṁ
sadyo vai kaṁsa-bāṇayoḥ
cakāra parayā śāntyā
śivaḥ sākṣān maheśvaraḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — *Śrī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; uktvā — speaking ; sauhṛdaṁ — friendship ; hṛdyaṁ — sincere ; sadyo — at once ; vai — certainly ; kaṁsa-bāṇayoḥ — of Kaṁsa and Bāṇa ; cakāra — did ; parayā — with great ; śāntyā — peacefulness ; śivaḥ — Lord Śiva ; sākṣāt — directly ; maheśvaraḥ — the great Lord.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: By speaking these words Lord Śiva, who is the Supreme Lord Himself, brought peace between Kaṁsa and Bāṇāsura and made them great friends.
Text 15

Verse text

atha kaṁso dik-pratīcyāṁ
śrūtvā vatsaṁ mahāsuram
tena sārdhaṁ sa yuyudhe
vatsa-rūpeṇa daitya-rāṭ

Synonyms

atha — *then ; kaṁso — Kaṁsa ; dik-pratīcyāṁ — in the west ; śrūtvā — having heard ; vatsaṁ — Vatsa ; mahāsuram — a great demon ; tena — him ; sārdhaṁ — with ; sas — he ; yuyudhe — fought ; vatsa-rūpeṇa — in the form of a calf ; daitya-rāṭ — the demon king.

Translation

Hearing of a great demon named Vatsāsura who lived in the west, the demon-king Kaṁsa fought with him, a demon who had the form of a calf.
Text 16

Verse text

pucche gṛhītvā taṁ vatsaṁ
pothayām āsa bhū-tale
vaśī-kṛtvātha taṁ śīghraṁ
mleccha-deśāṁs tato yayau

Synonyms

pucche — *by the tail ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; taṁ — that ; vatsaṁ — calf ; pothayām āsa — threw ; bhū-tale — to the ground ; vaśī-kṛtvā — subduing ; atha — then ; taṁ — it ; śīghraṁ — quickly ; mleccha — of the barbarians ; deśān — to the countries ; tato — then ; yayau — went.

Translation

Kaṁsa grabbed the calf Vatsāsura by the tail and threw it to the ground, in this way bringing it under his dominion. Then he quickly went to the countries of the barbarian mlecchas.
Text 17

Verse text

man-mukhāt kālayavanaḥ
śrūtvā daityaṁ mahā-balam
niryayau sammukhe yoddhuṁ
rakta-smaśrur gadā-dharaḥ

Synonyms

mat — *of me ; mukhāt — from the mouth ; kālayavanaḥ — Kālayavana ; śrūtvā — hearing ; daityaṁ — demon ; mahā — very ; balam — powerful ; niryayau — went ; sammukhe — before ; yoddhuṁ — to fight ; rakta — red ; smaśrur — beard ; gadā — a club ; dharaḥ — holding.

Translation

Hearing about him from my mouth, red-bearded Kālayavana picked up a club and went before the powerful demon Kaṁsa to fight with him.
Text 18

Verse text

kaṁso gadāṁ gṛhītvā svaṁ
lakṣa-bhāra-vinirmitam
prākṣipad yāvanendrāya
siṁha-nādam athākarot

Synonyms

kaṁso — *Kaṁsa ; gadaṁ — a club ; gṛhītvā — taking ; svaṁ — own ; lakṣa-bhāra-vinirmitam — as heavy as a hundred thousand bhāras ; prākṣipad — threw ; yavana — of the Yavanas ; indrāya — at the king ; siṁha — of a lion ; nādam — the sound ; atha — then ; akarot — did.

Translation

Kaṁsa picked up his own club, which weighed a hundred thousand bhāras, threw it at the barbarian king, and then roared like a lion.
Text 19

Verse text

gadā-yuddham abhūt tatra
ghoraṁ hi kaṁsa-kālayoḥ
visphuliṅgān kṣarantyau dve
gade cūrṇī-babhūvatuḥ

Synonyms

gadā — *club ; yuddham — battle ; abhūt — was ; tatra — there ; ghoram — terrible ; hi — indeed ; kaṁsa-kālayoḥ — of Kaṁsa and Kālayavana ; visphuliṅgān — sparks ; kṣarantyau — tossing ; dve — both ; gade — clubs ; cūrṇī-babhūvatuḥ — became broken into dust.

Translation

Then Kaṁsa and Kālayavana fought a terrible duel with clubs, a duel where, throwing many sparks, the clubs were ground to powder.
Text 20

Verse text

kaṁsaḥ kālaṁ saṅgṛhītvā
pātayām āsa bhū-tale
punar gṛhītvā niṣpatya
mṛta-tulyaṁ cakāra ha

Synonyms

kaṁsaḥ — *Kaṁsa ; kālaṁ — Kālayavana ; saṅgṛhītvā — grabbing ; pātayām āsa — threw ; bhū-tale — on the ground ; punar — again ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; niṣpatya — fell ; mṛta — death ; tulyaṁ — like ; cakāra — made ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Kaṁsa grabbed Kālayavana, threw him to the gound, jumped on him, and attacked him so violently he almost died.
Text 21

Verse text

bāṇa-varṣaṁ prakurvantīṁ
senāṁ tāṁ yavanasya ca
gadayā pothayām āsa
kaṁso daityādhipo balī

Synonyms

bāṇa — *of arrows ; varṣaṁ — a shower ; prakurvantīṁ — doing ; senāṁ — army ; tāṁ — it ; yavanasya — of Kālayavana ; ca — also ; gadayā — with a club ; pothayām āsa — threw ; kaṁsas — Kaṁsa ; daitya — of the demons ; adhipo — the king ; balī — powerful.

Translation

When Kālayavana's army showered him with arrows, the powerful demon-king Kaṁsa knocked it to the ground with his club.
Text 22

Verse text

gajāṁs turaṅgān sa-rathān
vīrān bhūmau nipātya ca
jagarja ghanavad vīro
gadā-yuddhe mṛdhāṅgane

Synonyms

gajān — *the elephants ; turaṅgān — horses ; sa-rathān — with chariots ; vīrān — warriors ; bhūmau — to the ground ; nipātya — knocking ; ca — also ; jagarja — roared ; ghanavad — like thunder ; vīro — hero ; gadā — club ; yuddhe — in the fight ; mṛdhā-aṅgane — in the battlefield.

Translation

When he knocked down the elephants, horses, chariots and warriors in the club battlefield, powerful Kaṁsa roared like thunder.
Text 23

Verse text

tataś ca durdruvur mlecchāḥ
tyaktvā svaṁ svaṁ raṇaṁ param
bhītān palāyitān mlecchān
na jaghānātha nīti-vit

Synonyms

tatas — *then ; ca — also ; durdruvur — fled ; mlecchāḥ — the barbarians ; tyaktvā — abandoning ; svaṁ svaṁ — their own ; raṇaṁ — battlefield ; param — very ; bhītān — afraid ; palāyitān — fleeing ; mlecchān — barbarians ; na — not ; jaghāna — attacked ; atha — then ; nīti — morality ; vit — knowing.

Translation

Then the barbarians fled the battlefield. Aware of the code of chivalry, Kaṁsa did not attack the frightened, fleeing barbarians.
Texts 24-26

Verse text

ucca-pādo dīrgha-jānuḥ
stambhorur laghimā kaṭiḥ
kapaṭa-vakṣaḥ pīnāṁsaḥ
puṣṭaḥ prāṁśur bṛhad-bhujaḥ
padma-netro bṛhat-keśo
'ruṇa-varṇo 'sitāmbaraḥ
kirīṭī kuṇḍalī hārī
padma-mālī layārka-ruk
khaḍgī niṣaṅgi kavacī
mudgarāḍhyo dhanur-dharaḥ
madotkaṭo yayau jetuṁ
devān kaṁso 'marāvatīm

Synonyms

ucca — *raised ; pādo — feet ; dīrgha — long ; jānuḥ — knees ; stambha — pillar ; ūrur — thighs ; laghimā — slender ; kaṭiḥ — waist ; kapaṭa — a great door ; vakṣaḥ — chest ; pīna — broad ; aṁsaḥ — shoulders ; puṣṭaḥ — broad ; prāṁśur — tall ; bṛhad — broad ; bhujaḥ — arms ; padma — lotus ; netro — eyes ; bṛhat — great ; keśo — hair ; aruṇa — red ; varṇo — color ; asita — black ; ambaraḥ — garments ; kirīṭī — wearing a helmet ; kuṇḍalī — wearing earrings ; hārī — wearing a necklace ; padma — of lotuses ; mālī — wearing a garland ; laya — at the time of cosmic devastation ; arka — sun ; ruk — splendor ; khaḍgī — wielding a sword ; niṣaṅgi — carrying a quiver of arrows ; kavacī — carrying a shield ; mudgarāḍhyo — carrying a club ; dhanur-dharaḥ — carrying a bow ; madotkaṭo — proud ; yayau — went ; jetum — to conquer ; devān — the demigods ; kaṁso — Kaṁsa ; amarāvatīm — to Amarāvatī.

Translation

Lifting his feet and knees, his thighs like pillars, his waist slender, His chest a great door, his shoulders broad, His arms massive, His eyes lotus flowers, his hair long, his complexion ruddy, his garments black, wearing a helmet, earrings, necklace, and lotus garland, effulgent as the sun at the time of cosmic dissolution, wielding a sword, shield, quiver of arrows, and club, proud Kaṁsa went to Amarāvatī to conquer the demigods.
Text 27

Verse text

cāṇūra-muṣṭikāriṣṭa-
śala-tośala-keśibhiḥ
pralambena bakenāpi
dvividena samāvṛtaḥ
tṛṇāvartāgha-kūṭaiś ca
bhauma-bāṇākhya-śambaraiḥ
vyoma-dhenuka-vatsaiś ca
rurudhe so 'marāvatīm

Synonyms

cāṇūra-muṣṭikāriṣṭa — *with Cāṇūra, Muṣṭik, and Ariṣṭa ; śala-tośala-keśibhiḥ — with Śala, Tośala, and Keśī ; pralambena — with Pralamba ; bakena — with Baka ; api — also ; dvividena — with Dvivida ; samāvṛtaḥ — accompanied ; tṛṇāvartāgha — with Tṛṇāvarta and Agha ; kūṭais — with Kūṭa ; ca — also ; bhauma-bāṇākhya-śambaraiḥ — with Narakāsura ; vyoma-dhenuka-vatsaiś — with Vyoma, Dhenuka, and Vatsa ; ca — also ; rurudhe — besieged ; so — he ; amarāvatīm — Amarāvatī.

Translation

Aided by Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Ariṣṭa, Śala, Tośala, Keśī, Pralamba, Baka, Dvivida, Tṛṇāvarta, Agha, Kūṭa, Narakāsura, Bāṇa, Śambara, Vyoma, Dhenuka, and Vatsa, he besieged the city of Aamarāvatī.
Text 29

Verse text

kaṁsādīn āgatān dṛṭṭvā
śakro devādhipaḥ svarāṭ
sarvair deva-gaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ
yoddhuṁ kruddho viniryayau

Synonyms

kaṁsa — *by Kaṁsa ; ādīn — headed ; āgatān — arrived ; dṛṭṭvā — seeing ; śakro — Indra ; deva — of the demigods ; adhipaḥ — the king ; svarāṭ — independent ; sarvair — with all ; deva-gaṇaiḥ — the hosts of demigods ; sārdhaṁ — with ; yoddhuṁ — to fight ; kruddho — angry ; viniryayau — went.

Translation

Seeing the demons headed by Kaṁsa had come, Indra, the sovereign king of the demigods became angry and, accompanied by a great host of demigods, went to fight with them.
Texts 30 and 31

Verse text

tayor yuddham abhūd ghoraṁ
tumulaṁ roma-harṣaṇam
divyaiś ca śastra-sampātair
bāṇais tīkṣnaiḥ sphurat-prabhaiḥ
śastrāndhakāre sañjāte
rathārūḍho maheśvaraḥ
cīkṣepa vajraṁ kaṁsāya
śata-dhāraṁ taḍid-dyuti

Synonyms

tayor — *of them ; yuddham — battle ; abhūd — was ; ghoraṁ — terrible ; tumulam — tumult ; roma-harṣaṇam — masking the hairs stand erect ; ca — also ; śastra-sampātair — weapons ; bāṇais — with arrows ; tīkṣnaiḥ — sharp ; sphurat-prabhaiḥ — effulgent ; śastra — of weapons ; andhakāre — blinding darkness ; sa 24jāte — manifested ; ratha — on a chariot ; ārūḍho — riding ; maheśvaraḥ — king Indra ; cīkṣepa — threw ; vajraṁ — thunderbolt ; kaṁsāya — at Kaṁsa ; śata — a hundred ; dhāraṁ — streams ; taḍid — lightning ; dyuti — splendor.

Translation

Then they fought a terrible, tumultuous battle that made hairs stand up. When hosts of sharp and glistening arrows and divine weapons created a blinding darkness, King Indra, riding on a chariot, threw his thunderbolt, flowing with a hundred streams and glittering with lightning, at Kaṁsa.
Text 32

Verse text

mudgareṇāpi tad-vajraṁ
taṭādāśu mahāsuraḥ
papāta kuliśaṁ yuddhe
chinna-dhāraṁ babhūva ha

Synonyms

mudgareṇa — *with his club ; api — also ; tad-vajraṁ — the thunderbolt ; taṭāda — struck ; āśu — at once ; mahā — the great ; asuraḥ — demon ; papāta — fell ; kuliśam — the thunderbolt ; yuddhe — in battle ; chinna — broken ; dhāraṁ — streams ; babhūva ha — became.

Translation

With his club the great demon Kaṁsa struck the thunderbolt. Its streams of lightning broken, it fell in the battle.
Text 33

Verse text

tyaktvā vajraṁ tadā vajrī
khaḍgaṁ jagrāha roṣataḥ
kaṁsaṁ mūrdhni taṭādāśu
nādaṁ kṛtvātha bhairavam

Synonyms

tyaktvā — *abandoning ; vajraṁ — the thunderbolt ; tadā — then ; vajrī — Indra ; khaḍgaṁ — sword ; jagrāha — took ; roṣataḥ — angrily ; kaṁsaṁ — Kaṁsa ; mūrdhni — on the head ; taṭāda — struck ; āśu — at once ; nādaṁ — a sound ; kṛtvā — making ; atha — then ; bhairavam — terrible.

Translation

Abandoning the thunderbolt, Indra took up a sword and angrily struck Kaṁsa on the head, making a terrible sound.
Text 34

Verse text

sa kṣato nābhavat kaṁso
mālā-hata iva dvipaḥ
gṛhītvā sa gadāṁ gurvīṁ
aṣṭa-dhātu-mayīṁ dṛḍhām

Synonyms

sas — *he ; kṣato — hurt ; na — not ; abhavat — was ; kaṁso — Kaṁsa ; mālā — by a garland ; hatas — struck ; iva — like ; dvipaḥ — an elephant ; gṛhītvā — taking ; sas — he ; gadāṁ — club ; gurvīṁ — heavy ; aṣṭa — eight ; dhātu — metals ; mayīm — made ; dṛḍhām — firm.

Translation

Kaṁsa remained unhurt, like an elephant struck by a flower garland. Then he took a great and heavy club made of eight metals.
Text 35

Verse text

lakṣa-bhāra-samāṁ kaṁsaś
cīkṣependrāya daitya-rāṭ
tāṁ samāpatatīṁ vīkṣya
jagrāhāśu purandaraḥ

Synonyms

lakṣa — *a hundred thousand ; bhāra — bhāras ; samaṁ — like ; kaṁsas — Kaṁsa ; cīkṣepa — threw ; indrāya — at Indra ; daitya-rāṭ — the demon-king ; taṁ — that ; samāpatatīṁ — coming ; vīkṣya — seeing ; jagrāha — took ; āśu — at once ; purandaraḥ — Indra.

Translation

Then the demon-king Kaṁsa threw that club weighing a hundred thousand bhāras at Indra. Seeing it coming, Indra caught it.
Text 36

Verse text

tataś cīkṣepa daityāya
gadāṁ namuci-sūdanaḥ
cacāra yuddhe vidalann
arīn mātali-sārathiḥ

Synonyms

tatas — *then ; cīkṣepa — threw ; daityāya — at the demon ; gadāṁ — the club ; namuci-sūdanaḥ — Indra, the killer of Namuci ; cacāra — went ; yuddhe — in the fight ; vidalan — breaking ; arīn — the enemies ; mātali-sārathiḥ — Indra, whose charioteer is Mātali.

Translation

Indra, the killer of Namuci, threw the club back at the demon. Then Indra, cutting his enemies to pieces, and his chariot driven by Mātali, went into the battle.
Text 37

Verse text

kaṁso gṛhītvā parighaṁ
taṭādāṁse 'sura-dviṣaḥ
tat-prahāreṇa devendraḥ
kṣaṇaṁ murchām avāpa ha

Synonyms

kaṁso — *Kaṁsa ; gṛhītvā — taking ; parighaṁ — an iron club ; taṭāda — struck ; aṁse — on the shoulder ; asura-dviṣaḥ — Indra, the enemy of the demons ; tat-prahāreṇa — by that blow ; devendraḥ — the king of the demigods ; kṣaṇaṁ — for a moment ; murchām — unconsciousness ; avāpa — attained ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Taking an iron club, Kaṁsa struck Indra on the shoulder. Because of that blow, Indra, the king of the demigods and enemy of the demons, became momentarily unconscious.
Text 38

Verse text

kaṁsaṁ marud-gaṇāḥ sarve
gṛḍhra-pakṣaiḥ sphurat-prabhaiḥ
bāṇaughaiś chādayām āsuḥ
pravṛt-sūryam ivāmbudaḥ

Synonyms

kaṁsaṁ — *Kaṁsa ; marud-gaṇāḥ — the Maruts ; sarve — all ; gṛḍhra-pakṣaiḥ — with the eagles' feathers ; sphurat-prabhaiḥ — splendid ; bāṇa — of arrows ; aughais — a flood ; chādayām āsuḥ — covered ; pravṛt — monsoon ; sūryam — sun ; iva — like ; ambudaḥ — cloud.

Translation

Then all the Maruts coverd Kaṁsa with a great and splendid flood of gṛdhra-feathered arrows like a monsoon cloud covering the sun.
Text 39

Verse text

doḥ-sahasra-yuto vīras
cāpāṁs ṭāṅkārayan muhuḥ
tadā tān kālayām āsa
bāṇair bāṇāsuro balī

Synonyms

doḥ — *of arms ; sahasra — thousands ; yuto — endowed ; vīras — warrior ; cāpān — bows ; ṭāṅkārayan — twanging ; muhuḥ — again and again ; tadā — then ; tān — them ; kālayām āsa — pushed back ; bāṇair — with arrows ; bāṇāsuro — Bāṇāsura ; balī — powerful.

Translation

Making a great sound as he worked many bows with his thousand arms, the powerful warrior Bānaāsura drove them back with a host of arrows.
Text 40

Verse text

bāṇaṁ ca vasavo rudrā
ādityā ṛbhavaḥ surāḥ
jaghnur nānā-vidhaiḥ śastraiḥ
sarvato 'driṁ yathā gajāḥ

Synonyms

bāṇaṁ — *to Bāṇa ; ca — also ; vasavo — the Vasus ; rudrās — the Rudras ; ādityās — the Adityas ; ṛbhavaḥ — the Ṛbhus ; surāḥ — the Suras ; jaghnur — struck ; nānā-vidhaiḥ — with many kinds ; śastraiḥ — with weapons ; sarvato — everywhere ; adrim — a mountain ; yathā — as ; gajāḥ — elephants.

Translation

Surrounding him as a host of elephants might surround a mountain, the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Ṛbhus, and Suras attacked Bāṇāsura with a great variety of weapons.
Text 41

Verse text

tato bhaumāsuraḥ prāptaḥ
pralambādy-asurair nadan
tena nādena devās te
nipetur mūrchitā raṇe

Synonyms

tato — *then ; bhaumāsuraḥ — Narakāsura ; prāptaḥ — attained ; pralamba-ādi — headed by Pralamba ; asurair — by the demons ; nadan — sounding ; tena — by that ; nādena — sound ; devās — demigods ; te — the ; nipetur — fell ; mūrchitās — unconscious ; raṇe — in the battleground.

Translation

Then, assisted by Pralamba and the other demons, Narakāsura came and made a great sound. That sound made the demigods fall unconscious on the battleground.
Texts 42-45

Verse text

utthāyāśu tadā sākro
gajam āruhya rakta-dṛk
nodayām āsa kaṁsāya
mattam airāvataṁ gajam
aṅkuśāsphalanāt kruddhaṁ
pātayantaṁ padair dviṣaḥ
śuṇḍā-daṇḍasya phūtkarair
mārdayantam itas tataḥ
sravan-madaṁ catur-dantaṁ
himādrim iva durgamam
nadantaṁ srṅkhalaṁ śuṇḍāṁ
cālayantaṁ muhur muhuḥ
ghaṇṭāḍhyaṁ kiṅkinī-jāla-
ratna-kambala-maṇḍitam
go-sūtra-caya-sindūra-
kastūrī-pātra-bhṛn-mukham

Synonyms

utthāya — *rising ; āśu — quickly ; tadā — then ; sākro — Indra ; gajam — an elephant ; āruhya — mounting ; rakta — red ; dṛk — eyes ; nodayām āsa — charged ; kaṁsāya — at Kaṁsa ; mattam — furious ; airāvataṁ — Airāvata ; gajam — elephant ; aṅkuśa — of the goad ; āsphalanāt — by the blows ; kruddhaṁ — angered ; pātayantaṁ — falling ; padair — with feet ; dviṣaḥ — of the enemy ; śuṇḍā-daṇḍasya — of the tusk ; phūtkarair — with loud sounds ; mārdayantam — attacking ; itas tataḥ — here and there ; sravat — flowing ; madam — ichor ; catur — four ; dantaṁ — tusks ; hima — of snow ; ādrim — mountain ; iva — like ; durgamam — unassailable ; nadantaṁ — making a sound ; srṅkhalaṁ — chains ; śuṇḍaṁ — trunk ; cālayantaṁ — moving ; muhur — again ; muhuḥ — and again ; ghantā — with bells ; aḍhyaṁ — opulent ; kiṅkinī — of tinkling ornaments ; jāla — net ; ratna — jewel ; kambala — saddle ; maṇḍitam — decorated ; go-mūtra-caya — cow's urine ; sindūra — red sindūra ; kastūrī — musk ; pātra — designs ; bhṛt — holding ; mukham — face.

Translation

Quickly rising, and his eyes now red, Indra mounted his furious four-tusked elephant Airāvata, now provoked by the striking of the goad, trumpeting with its trunk, crushing its enemies under its moving feet, its rut flowing, unapproachable as a mountain of snow, jingling its chains, moving its trunk again and again, opulent with bells, decorated with a jewel saddle and a network of tinkling ornaments, and its face decorated with pictures and designs drawn in musk, sindūra and gomūtra, and made it charge Kaṁsa.
Text 46

Verse text

dṛḍhena muṣṭinā kaṁsas
taṁ taṭāda mahā-gajam
dvitīya-muṣṭinā śakraṁ
sa jaghāna raṇāṅgane

Synonyms

dṛḍhena — *with a hard ; muṣṭinā — fist ; kaṁsas — Kaṁsa ; tam — it ; taṭāda — struck ; mahā — great ; gajam — elephant ; dvitīya — with a second ; muṣṭinā — fist ; śakraṁ — Indra ; sas — he ; jaghāna — struck ; raṇāṅgane — in the battleground.

Translation

With a hard punch Kaṁsa struck the great elephant and with a second punch he struck Indra in that battleground.
Text 47

Verse text

tasya muṣṭi-prahāreṇa
dūre śakraḥ papāta ha
jānūbhyāṁ dharaṇīṁ spṛṣṭvā
gajo 'pi vihvalo 'bhavat

Synonyms

tasya — *of him ; muṣṭi-prahāreṇa — by the punch ; dūre — far away ; śakraḥ — Indra ; papāta ha — fell ; jānūbhyāṁ — with both knees ; dharaṇīṁ — the ground ; spṛṣṭvā — touching ; gajo — the elephant ; api — also ; vihvalo — troubled ; abhavat — became.

Translation

With that punch Indra fell far away and the elephant was wounded and fell, its knees touching the ground.
Text 48

Verse text

punar utthāya nāgendro
dantaiś cāhatya daityapam
śuṇḍā-daṇḍena coddhṛtvā
cīkṣepa lakṣa-yojanam

Synonyms

punar — *again ; utthāya — rising ; nāga — of elephants ; indro — the king ; dantais — with tusks ; ca — and ; āhatya — striking ; daityapam — the king of the demons ; śuṇḍā-daṇḍena — with its trunk ; ca — and ; uddhṛtvā — lifting ; cīkṣepa — threw ; lakṣa-yojanam — eight hundred thousand miles.

Translation

Again standing, the king of elephants attacked the demon-king Kaṁsa with its tusks, picked him up with its trunk, and threw him eight-hundred thousand miles.
Text 49

Verse text

patito 'pi sa vajrāṅgaḥ
kiñcid-vyākula-mānasaḥ
sphurad-oṣṭho 'ti-ruṣṭāṅgi
yuddha-bhūmiṁ samāyayau

Synonyms

patito — *fell ; api — although ; sas — he ; vajra — lightning ; aṅgaḥ — body ; kiñcid — somewhat ; vyākula — upset ; mānasaḥ — ay heart ; sphurad — trembling ; oṣṭho — lips ; ati-ruṣṭāṅgi — very angry ; yuddha-bhūmiṁ — to the battleground ; samāyayau — went.

Translation

His body hard as a thunderbolt, when he fell he was only a little upset in his heart. Angry, and his lips trembling, he returned to the battleground.
Text 50

Verse text

kaṁso gṛhītvā nāgendraṁ
sannipatya raṇāṅgane
niṣpīḍya śuṇḍāṁ tasyāpi
dantāṁs cūrṇī-cakāra ha

Synonyms

kaṁso — *Kaṁsa ; gṛhītvā — grabbing ; nāgendraṁ — the king of elephants ; sannipatya — threw ; raṇāṅgane — onj the battleground ; niṣpīḍya — strangled ; śuṇḍāṁ — to the trunk ; tasya — of him ; api — also ; dantān — tusks ; cūrṇī-cakāra — broke into pieces ; ha — certainly.

Translation

Kaṁsa grabbed the elephant-king Airāvata, threw him onto the battleground, strangled its trunk, and broke its tusks into pieces.
Text 51

Verse text

atha cairāvato nāgo
dudrāvāśu raṇāṅganāt
nipātayan mahā-vīrān
devadhānīṁ purīṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

atha — *then ; ca — also ; airāvato — Airāvata ; nāgo — elephant ; dudrāva — fled ; āśu — quickly ; raṇāṅganāt — from the battleground ; nipātayan — knocking over ; mahā-vīrān — great heroes ; devadhānīṁ purīṁ — to the capitol of the demigods ; gataḥ — went.

Translation

Knocking over many great heroes, the elephant Airāvata fled the battleground and went to the capitol of the demigods.
Text 52

Verse text

gṛhītvā vaiṣṇavaṁ cāpaṁ
sajjaṁ kṛtvātha daitya-rāṭ
devān vidrāvayām āsa
bāṇaughaiś ca dhanuḥ-svanaiḥ

Synonyms

gṛhītvā — *taking ; vaiṣṇavaṁ — of Lord Viṣṇu ; cāpam — the bow ; sajjaṁ — preparation ; kṛtvā — having done ; atha — then ; daitya-rāṭ — the king of the demons ; devān — the demigods ; vidrāvayām āsa — drove away ; bāṇa — of arrows ; aughais — with floods ; ca — also ; dhanuh — of the bow ; svanaiḥ — with sounds.

Translation

Taking the bow of Lord Viṣṇu and stringing it, with a flood of arrows accompanied by the twanging sound of the bow, the demon-king Kaṁsa made the demigods flee.
Text 53

Verse text

tataḥ surās tena nihanyamānā
vidudruvur dīna-dhiyo diśaṁ te
kecid raṇe mukta-śikhā babhūvur
bhītāḥ sma itthaṁ yudhi vādinas te

Synonyms

tataḥ — *then ; surās — the demigods ; tena — by that ; nihanyamānās — being killed ; vidudruvur — fled ; dīna — unhappy ; dhiyo — at heart ; diśaṁ — the direction ; te — they ; kecid — some ; raṇe — in the battleground ; mukta — abandoned ; śikhās — helmets ; babhūvur — became ; bhītāḥ — frightened ; sma — indeed ; itthaṁ — thus ; yudhi — in the fight ; vādinas — saying ; te — they.

Translation

As Kaṁsa was attacking and killing them, the dispirited demigods fled in all directions. Some, their helmets lost, screamed in terror.
Text 54

Verse text

kecit tathā prāñjalayo 'ti-dīna-vat
sannyasta-śastrā yudhi mukta-kacchakāḥ
sthātuṁ raṇe kaṁsa-nṛ-deva-sammukhe
gatepsitāḥ kecid atīva-vihvalāḥ

Synonyms

kecit — *some ; tathā — so ; prāñjalayo — with folded hands ; ati-dīna-vat — as a poor and humble person ; sannyasta — dropped ; śastrās — weapons ; yudhi — in the battle ; mukta — abandoned ; kacchakāḥ — lower garments ; sthātum — to stay ; raṇe — in the battle ; kaṁsa-nṛ-deva-sammukhe — before King Kaṁsa ; gata — gone ; ipsitāḥ — desired ; kecid — some ; atīva — very ; vihvalāḥ — agitated.

Translation

Some, dropping their weapons and armor, humbly surrendered with folded hands. Others, very troubled, had lost all desire to stand before King Kaṁsa.
Text 55

Verse text

itthaṁ sa devān pragatān nirīkṣya tan
nītvā ca siṁhāsanam ātapatravat
sarvais tadā daitya-gaṇair janādhipaḥ
sva-rājadhānīṁ mathurāṁ samāyayau

Synonyms

ittham — thus ; sas — he ; devān — the demigods ; pragatān — fleeing ; nirīkṣya — seeing ; tān — them ; nītvā — bringing ; ca — also ; siṁhāsanam — throne ; ātapatravat — as a parasol ; sarvais — by all ; tadā — then ; daitya — of demons ; gaṇair — by the hosts ; janādhipaḥ — the king ; sva — own ; rājadhānīṁ — capitol ; mathurāṁ — to Mathurā ; samāyayau — went.

Translation

Seeing that the demigods had fled, Kaṁsa took (Indra's) throne and parasol and returned with all the demons to his own capitol Mathurā. Chapter Nine Vasudeva-vivāha-varṇana Description of Vasudeva's Wedding
Text 1

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
tatraikadā śrī-mathurā-pure vare
purohitaḥ sarva-yadūttamaiḥ kṛtaḥ
surecchayā garga iti pramāṇikaḥ
samāyayau sundara-rāja-mandiram

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; tatra — there ; ekadā — once ; śrī-mathurā-pure — in Mathurā City ; vare — excellent ; purohitaḥ — the priest ; sarva-yaduttamaiḥ — by all the best of the Yadus ; kṛtaḥ — done ; sura — of the demigods ; icchayā — by the desire ; gargaḥ — Garga Muni ; iti — thus ; pramāṇikaḥ — great scholar ; samāyayau — came ; sundara — handsome ; rāja — of the king ; mandiram — *to the palace.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: One day the great scholar Garga Muni, whom all the Yadus had made their chief priest, by his own wish went in Mathurā City to the king's handsome palace, . . .
Text 2

Verse text

hīrā-khacid-dhema-lasat-kapāṭakaṁ
dvipendra-karṇāhata-bhrṅga-nāditam
ibha-sravan-nirjhara-gaṇḍa-dhārayā
samardritaṁ mandapa-khaṇḍa-maṇḍitam

Synonyms

hira — diamonds ; khacit — studded ; hema — gold ; lasat — glistening ; kapāṭakam — door ; dvipa — of elephants ; indra — king ; karṇa — by the ear ; āhata — struck ; bhrṅga — bee ; nāditam — sounded ; ibha — elephant ; sravat — flowing ; nirjhara — streams ; gaṇḍa — cheek ; dhārayā — with a stream ; samardritam — wet ; mandapa — pavilion ; khaṇḍa — part ; maṇḍitam — *decorated.

Translation

. . . which had great glistening golden doors studded with diamonds, which was filled with the sounds of bees and the flapping of elephants' ears, which was wet with streams of ichor flowing from the elephants, and which was decorated with many pavilions, . . .
Text 3

Verse text

mahodbhaṭair vīra-janaiḥ sa-kañcukair
dhanur-dharaiś carma-kṛpāṇa-pāṇibhiḥ
ratha-dvipāśva-dhvajinī-balādibhiḥ
su-rakṣitaṁ maṇḍala-maṇḍalībhiḥ

Synonyms

mahodbhaṭaiḥ — great soldiers ; vīra-janaiḥ — heroic ; sa-ka 24cukaiḥ — wearing armor ; dhanur-dharaiḥ — holding bows ; carma — shields ; kṛpāṇa — and swords ; pāṇibhiḥ — in hand ; ratha — chariots ; dvipa — elephants ; aśva — horses ; dhvajinī — of an army ; bala — the might ; ādibhiḥ — beginning with ; su — well ; rakṣitam — protected ; maṇḍala-maṇḍalībhiḥ — *with groups.

Translation

. . . and which was well protected by great heroic soldiers wearing armor, carrying bows, holding swords and shields in their hands, and by the great power of an army riding on chariots, elephants, and horses.
Text 4

Verse text

dadarśa gargo nṛpadevam āhukaṁ
śvaphalkinā devaka-kaṁsa-sevitam
śrī-śakra-siṁhāsana unnate pare
sthitaṁ vṛtaṁ cchātra-vitāna-cāmaraiḥ

Synonyms

dadarśa — saw ; gargaḥ — Garga ; nṛpadevam — the king of kings ; āhukam — Ugrasena ; śvaphalkinā — by Akrūra ; devaka — Deavaka ; kaṁsa — Kaṁsa ; sevitam — served ; śrī-śakra — of Indra ; siṁhāsane — on the throne ; unnate — raised ; pare — great ; sthitam — situated ; vṛtam — surrounded ; chātra — parasol ; vitāna — awning ; cāmaraiḥ — *and cāmaras.

Translation

There Garga Muni saw emperor Ugrasena who was accompanied Akrūra, served by Devaka and Kaṁsa, and surrounded by parasols, awnings, and cāmaras as he sat on Indra's great throne
Text 5

Verse text

dṛṭṭvā muniṁ taṁ sahasāsanāśayād
utthāya rājā praṇanāma yādavaiḥ
saṁsthāpya sampūjya subhadra-pīṭhake
stutvā parikramya nataḥ sthito 'bhavat

Synonyms

dṛṭṭvā — seeing ; munim — sage ; tam — the ; sahasā — as tonce ; āsanāśayāt — from the throne ; utthāya — rising ; rājā — the king ; praṇanāma — bowed ; yādavaiḥ — with the Yadus ; saṁsthāpya — placing ; sampūjya — worshiping ; subhadra-pīṭhake — on the throne ; stutvā — offering prayers ; parikramya — circumambulating ; nataḥ — bowing ; sthitaḥ — stood ; abhavat — *was.

Translation

Seeing the sage, the emperor at once rose from his throne, offered respectful obeisances with the Yādavas, placed the sage on the throne, worshiped him, glorified him, circumambulated him, and bowed down before him.
Text 6

Verse text

dattvāśiṣaṁ garga-munir nṛpāya vai
papraccha sarvaṁ kuśalaṁ nṛpādiṣu
śrī-devakaṁ prāha mahā-manā ṛṣir
mahaujasaṁ nīti-vidaṁ yadūttamam

Synonyms

dattvā — giving ; āśiṣam — benediction ; garga-muniḥ — Garga Muni ; nṛpāya — to the king ; vai — certainly ; papraccha — asked ; sarvam — all ; kuśalam — welfare ; nṛpa-ādiṣu — beginning with the king ; śrī-devakam — Śrī Devaka ; prāha — said ; mahā-manā — the great soul ; ṛṣiḥ — the sage ; mahaujasam — very powerful ; nīti-vidam — wise ; yadūttamam — *the best of the Yadus.

Translation

Garga Muni blessed the king and asked about the welfare of the king and his associates. Then the saintly sage spoke to powerful and wise Śrī Devaka, the best of the Yādavas.
Text 7

Verse text

śrī-garga uvāca
śauriṁ vinā bhuvi nṛpeṣu varas tu nāsti
cintyo mayā bahu-dinaiḥ kila yatra tatra
tasmān nṛ-deva vasudeva-varāya dehi
śrī-devakīṁ tava sutāṁ vidhinodvahasva

Synonyms

śrī-gargaḥ uvāca — Śrī Garga Muni said ; śaurim — Vasudeva ; vinā — without ; bhuvi — on the earth ; nṛpeṣu — among the kings ; varaḥ — best ; tu — indeed ; na — not ; asti — is ; cintyaḥ — considered ; mayā — by me ; bahu-dinaiḥ — with many days ; kila — indeed ; yatra — where ; tatra — there ; tasmāt — from that ; nṛ-devaḥ — the king ; vasudeva-varāya — great Vasudeva ; dehi — please give ; śrī-devakīm — Śrī Devakī ; tava — your ; sutām — daughter ; vidhinā — following tradition ; udvahasva — *marry.

Translation

Śrī Garga Muni said: After thinking for many days I have decided that in this world no king is better than Vasudeva. Therefore, O king, please give your daughter Devakī in marriage to Vasudeva.
Text 8

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
kṛtvā tadaiva puri niścaya-nāgavalliṁ
śrī-devakaḥ sakala-dharma-bhṛtāṁ variṣṭhaḥ
gargecchayā tu vasudeva-varāya putrīṁ
kṛtvātha maṅgalam alaṁ pradadau vivāhe

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; kṛtvā — having done ; tadā — then ; eva — indeed ; puri — in the city ; niścaya — decision ; nāgavallim — betelnuts ; śrī-devakaḥ — Śrī Devaka ; sakala — all ; dharma — of religious principles ; bhṛtām — of they who possess ; variṣṭhaḥ — the best ; garga — of Garga Muni ; icchayā — by the desire ; tu — indeed ; vasudeva-varāya — to Vasudeva ; putrīm — daughter ; kṛtvā — doing ; atha — then ; maṅgalam — auspiciousness ; alam — great ; pradadau — gave ; vivāhe — *in marriage.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: After offering (the sage) betelnuts to show his assent, Śrī Devaka, who was the best of all pious men, performed the auspicious ceremonies and gave his daughter in marriage to Vasudeva according to Garga Muni's desire.
Text 9

Verse text

kṛtodvahaḥ śaurir atīva-sundaraṁ
rathaṁ prayāne samalaṅkṛtaṁ hayaiḥ
sārdhaṁ tayā devaka-rāja-kanyayā
samāruhat kañcana-ratna-śobhayā

Synonyms

kṛta — performed ; udvahaḥ — marriage ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; atīva-sundaram — very beautiful ; ratham — chariot ; prayāne — in the journey ; samalaṅkṛtam — decorated ; hayaiḥ — horses ; sārdham — with ; tayā — with her ; devaka-rāja-kanyayā — King Devaka's daughter ; samāruhat — ascended ; kañcana — with gold ; ratna — and jewels ; śobhayā — *beautiful.

Translation

When the marriage ceremony was over Vasudeva, accompanied by King Devaka's daughter, who was beautiful with gold and jewels, climbed a very graceful decorated chariot drawn by many horses.
Text 10

Verse text

svasuḥ priyaṁ kartum atīva kaṁso
jagrāha raśmīṁs calatāṁ hayānām
uvāha vāhāṁs caturāṅginībhir
vṛtaḥ kṛpā-sneha-paro 'tha śaurau

Synonyms

svasuḥ — to his sister ; priyam — a favor ; kartum — to do ; atīva — very ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; jagrāha — took ; rasmin — the reins ; calatām — moving ; hayānām — of the horses ; uvāha — carried ; vāhān — the chariots ; caturāṅginībhiḥ — with an army ; vṛtaḥ — surrounded ; kṛpā-sneha-paraḥ — filled with kindness ; atha — then ; śaurau — *for Vasudeva.

Translation

To please his sister, Kaṁsa took the reins of the moving horses. Kind and affectionate to Vasudeva, and surrounded by an army, he drove the chariot.
Text 11

Verse text

dāsī-sahasraṁ tv ayutaṁ gajanānāṁ
sat-pāribarhaṁ niyutaṁ hayānām
lakṣaṁ rathānāṁ ca gavāṁ dvi-lakṣaṁ
pradād duhitre nṛpa-devako vai

Synonyms

dāsī — of maidservants ; sahasram — a thousand ; tu — indeed ; ayutam — ten thousand ; gajanānām — of elephants ; sat-pāribarham — a wedding pressent ; niyutam — a million ; hayānām — of horses ; lakṣam — a hundred thousand ; rathānām — of chariots ; ca — and ; gavām — of cows ; dvi-lakṣam — two hundred thousand pradāt —gave ; duhitre — to his daughter ; nṛpa-devaḥ — King Devaka ; vai — *indeed.

Translation

King Devaka gave to his daughter a wedding present of a thousand maidservants, ten thousand elephants, a million horses, a hundred thousand chariots, and two hundred thousand cows.
Text 12

Verse text

bheri-mṛdaṅgoddhara-gomukhānāṁ
dhundhurya-vīnānaka-veṇukānāṁ
mahat-svano 'bhūc calatāṁ yadūnāṁ
prayāna-kāle pathi maṅgalaṁ ca

Synonyms

bheri — bheris ; mṛdaṅga — mṛdaṅgas ; uddhara — uddharas ; gomukhānām — and gomukhas ; dhundhurya — dhundhuryas ; vīnā — vīnāa ; anaka — anakas ; veṇukānām — and venus ; mahat — great ; svanaḥ — sound ; abhūt — was ; calatām — moving ; yadūnām — of the Yādavas ; prayāna — of departure ; kāle — at the time ; pathi — on the path ; maṅgalam — auspicious ; ca — *and.

Translation

At the time of the Yādavas' departure, on the path was a great auspicious sound of many bheris, mṛdaṅgas, uddharas, gomukhas, dhundhuryas, vīṇās, anakas, and veṇus.
Text 13

Verse text

ākāśa-vāg āha tadaiva kaṁsaṁ
tvām aṣṭamo hi prasavo 'ñjasāsyāḥ
hantā na jānāsi ca yāṁ ratha-sthāṁ
rāśmiṁ gṛhītvā vahase 'budhas tvam

Synonyms

ākāśa — from the sky ; vāk — a voice ; āha — said ; tadā — then ; eva — indeed ; kaṁsam — to Kaṁsa ; tvām — you ; aṣṭamaḥ — the eighth ; hi — indeed ; prasavaḥ — son ; añjasā — certainly ; asyāḥ — of her ; hantā — killer ; na — not ; jānāsi — you know ; ca — also ; yām — whom ; ratha-sthām — staying on the chariot ; rāśmīn — the reins ; gṛhītvā — taking ; vahase — you carry ; abudhaḥ — a fool ; tvam — *you.

Translation

Then a voice from the sky said to Kaṁsa: You are a fool. You do not know that the eighth son of the girl riding in the chariot you drive, holding the reins, will kill you.
Text 14

Verse text

kusaṅga-niṣṭho 'ti-khalo hi kaṁso
hantuṁ svasāraṁ dhiṣaṇaṁ cakāra
kace gṛhitvā sita-khaḍga-pāṇir
gata-trapo nirdaya ugra-karmā

Synonyms

ku-saṅga-niṣṭhaḥ — whose friends were demons ; ati-khalaḥ — very wicked ; hi — indeed ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; hantum — to kill ; svasāram — his sister ; dhiṣaṇam — the ground ; cakāra — did ; kace — by the hair ; gṛhitvā — grabbing ; sita — sharp ; khaḍga — sword ; pāṇiḥ — in his hand ; gata-trapaḥ — shameless ; nirdayaḥ — merciless ; ugra — horrible ; karmā — *deeds.

Translation

Wicked, shameless, merciless Kaṁsa, whose friends were demons and whose deeds were horrible, threw his sister to the ground, grabbed her by the hair, and grasped a sharp sword in his hand to kill her.
Text 15

Verse text

vaditra-kārā rahitā babhūvur
agre sthitāḥ syus cakitā hi paścāt
sarveṣu vā śveta-mukheṣu satsu
śauris tam āhāśu satāṁ variṣṭhaḥ

Synonyms

vaditra — kārāḥ —musicians ; rahitāḥ — without ; babhūvuḥ — became ; agre-sthitāḥ — in the presence ; syuḥ — were ; cakitāḥ — afraid ; hi — indeed ; paścāt — behind ; sarveṣu — all ; vā — or ; śveta — white ; mukheṣu — faces ; satsu — being so ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; tam — to him ; āha — said ; āśu — at once ; satām — of the devotees ; variṣṭhaḥ — *the best.

Translation

The musicians dropped their instruments. They who were in front went to the rear. When all faces turned white, Vasudeva, the best of devotees, spoke to Kaṁsa.
Text 16

Verse text

śrī-vasudeva uvāca
bhojendra bhoja-kula-kīrti-karas tvam eva
bhaumādi-māgadha-bakāsura-vatsa-bāṇaiḥ
ślāghyā guṇās tava yudhi pratiyoddhu-kāmaiḥ
sa tvaṁ kathaṁ tu bhaginīm asinātra hanyāt

Synonyms

śrī-vasudevaḥ uvāca — Śrī Vasudeva said ; bhoja-indra — O king of the Bhojas ; bhoja-kula — of the Bhoja family ; kīrti-karaḥ — the glory ; tvam — you ; eva — indeed ; bhauma — narakāsura ; ādi — beginning with ; māgadha — the king of Magadha ; bakāsura — Bakāsura ; vatsa — Vatsa ; bāṇaiḥ — by bāṇa ; ślāghyāḥ — glorified ; guṇāḥ — virtues ; tava — your ; yudhi — in battle ; pratiyoddhu-kāmaiḥ — desiring to fight ; saḥ — he ; tvam — you ; katham — why? ; tu — certainly ; bhaginīm — sister ; asinā — with a sword ; atra — here ; hanyāt — *will kill.

Translation

Śrī Vasudeva said: O king of the Bhojas, you are the glory of the Bhoja dynasty. Narakāsura, Jarāsandha, Bakāsura, Vatsāsura, and Bāṇāsura, who all yearned to fight with you, praise your virtues in battle. Why are you now on the verge of killing with a sword your own sister?
Text 17

Verse text

jṣātvā striyaṁ kila bakīṁ pratiyoddhu-kāmāṁ
yuddhaṁ kṛtaṁ na bhavatā nṛpa-nīti-vṛttyā
sā tu tvayāpi bhaginīva kṛtā praśāntyai
sākṣād iyaṁ tu bhaginī kim u te vicārāt

Synonyms

jṣātvā — understanding ; striyam — a woman ; kila — indeed ; bakīm — Pūtanā ; pratiyoddhu-kāmām — desiring to fight ; yuddham — fight ; kṛtam — done ; na — not ; bhavatā — by you ; nṛpa-nīti-vṛttyā — by the proper conduct of a king ; sā — she ; tu — certainly ; tvayā — by you ; api — also ; bhaginī — a sister ; iva — like ; kṛtā — made ; praśāntyai — to pacify ; sākṣāt — directly ; iyam — she ; tu — certainly ; bhaginī — sister ; kim u — why? ; te — of you ; vicārāt — *by the thought.

Translation

Following the royal code of chivalry you would not fight with Pūtanā, a woman who yearned to fight with you, and to pacify her you treated her as if she were your sister. This girl is your real sister. Why do you wish to act in this way?
Text 18

Verse text

udvāha-parvaṇi gatā ca tavānujā ca
bālā suteva kṛpaṇā śubhadā sadaiṣā
yogyo 'si nātra mathurādhipa hantum etāṁ
tvaṁ dīna-duḥkha-haraṇe kṛta-citta-vṛttiḥ

Synonyms

udvāha — of the wedding ; parvaṇi — the festival ; gatā — gone ; ca — also ; tava — your ; anujā — younger sister ; ca — also ; bālā — a girl ; sutā — daughter ; iva — like ; kṛpaṇā — object of mercy ; śubhadā — auspicious ; sadā — always ; eṣā — she ; yogyaḥ — proper ; asi — are ; na — not ; atra — here ; mathurādhipa — O king of Mathurā ; hantum — to kill ; etām — her ; tvam — you ; dīna — of the poor ; duḥkha — of the sufferings ; haraṇe — in the removal ; kṛta — done ; citta — of the heart ; vṛttiḥ — *the action.

Translation

On this, her festive wedding-day, you should be kind to your younger sister and treat her as a daughter. O king of Mathurā, you should not kill her. You should fix your heart on remving the sufferings of the distressed.
Text 19

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
nāmanyathetthaṁ pratibodhito 'pi
ku-saṅga-niṣṭho 'ti-khalo hi kaṁsaḥ
tadā hareḥ kāla-gatiṁ vicārya
śauriḥ prasannaḥ punar āha kaṁsam

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; na — not ; āmanyatha — think ; ittham — thus ; pratibodhitaḥ — enlightened ; api — even ; ku-sāṅga-niṣṭhaḥ — whose friends were demons ; ati-khalaḥ — very wicked ; hi — certainly ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; tadā — then ; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kāla — of time ; gatim — the way ; vicārya — considering ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; prasannaḥ — cheerful ; punaḥ — again ; āha — said ; kaṁsam — *to Kaṁsa.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Although given this good instruction, wicked Kaṁsa, whose friends were demons, did not take it seriously. Then, reflecting on the ways of Lord Hari's time, Vasudeva, now cheerful, again spoke to Kaṁsa.
Text 20

Verse text

śrī-vasudeva uvāca
nāsyās tu te deva bhayaṁ kadācid
yad deva-vāṇyā kathitaṁ ca tac chṛṇu
putrān dadāmīti yato bhayaṁ syān
mā te vyathāsyāḥ prasava-prajātāt

Synonyms

śrī-vasudevaḥ uvāca — Śrī Vasudeva said ; na — not ; asyāḥ — of her ; tu — certainly ; te — of you ; deva — O lord ; bhayam — fear ; kadācit — ever ; yat — what ; deva — divine ; vāṇyā — by the voice ; kathitam — spoken ; ca — also ; tat — that ; śṛṇu — listen ; putrān — sons ; dadāmi — i will give ; iti — thus ; yataḥ — because of whom ; bhayam — fear ; syāt — may be ; mā — don't ; te — of you ; vyathā — agitation ; asyāḥ — of her ; prasava-prajātāt — *from the birth of sons.

Translation

Śrī Vasudeva said: O lord, you never need to fear this girl. Hear what the divine voice said. I will give you the sons that frighten you. Don't be afraid of the sons that may be born from her.
Text 21

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
śrutvā ca niścitya vaco 'tha śaureḥ
kaṁsaḥ praśaṁsyāśu gṛhaṁ gato 'bhūt
śauris tadā devaka-rāja-putryā
bhayāvṛtaḥ san gṛham ājagāma

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; śrutvā — hearing ; ca — also ; niścitya — considering ; vacaḥ — words ; atha — then ; śaureḥ — of Vasudeva ; kaṁsaḥ — Kaṁsa ; praśaṁsya — praising ; āśu — at once ; gṛham — home ; gataḥ — went ; abhūt — became ; śauriḥ — Vasudeva ; tadā — then ; devaka-rāja-putryā — with the daughter of King Devaka ; bhaya-āvṛtaḥ — filled with fear ; san — being ; gṛham — home ; ājagāma — *came.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Hearing and agreeing with Vasudeva's words, Kaṁsa praised him and then went home. Then, frightened Vasudeva, accompanied by King Devaka's daughter, went to his home. Chapter Ten Śrī-Balabhadra-janma-varṇaṇa Description of the Birth of Lord Balarāma
Text 1

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
bhītah palāyate nāyaṁ
yoddhārah kaṁsa-noditah
ayutaṁ śastra-samyuktā
rurudhuh śauri-mandiraṁ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradah uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; bhītah — frightened ; palāyate — flees ; na — not ; ayam — he ; yoddhārah — soldiers ; kaṁsa — by Kaṁsa ; noditah — sent ; ayutam — ten thousand ; śastra-samyuktāh — with weapons ; rurudhuh — stopped ; śauri — Vasudeva's

Translation

Frightened Vasudeva could not flee, for ten thousand armed soldiers sent by Kaṁsa surrounded Vasudeva's palace.
Text 2

Verse text

śaurih kālena devakyām
aṣṭau putrān ajījanat
anuvarṣaṁ cātha kanyām
ekāṁ māyāṁ sanātanīm

Synonyms

śaurih — Vasudeva ; kālena — in time ; devakyām — in Devakī ; aṣṭau — eight ; putrān — sons ; ajījanat — begat ; anuvarṣam — every year ; ca — and ; atha — then ; kanyām — daughter ; ekām — one ; māyām — Māyā

Translation

In the course of time, year after year, Vasudeva begat in Devakī eight sons and a daughter who was the eternal goddess Māyā.
Text 3

Verse text

kīrtimantaṁ sutaṁ hy ādau
jātam ānakadundubhih
nītvā kaṁsa-sabhām etya
dadau tasmai parārtha-vit

Synonyms

kīrtimantam — Kīrtiman ; sutam — son ; hi — certainly ; ādau — in the beginning ; jātam — born ; ānakadundubhih — Vasudeva ; nītvā — bringing ; kaṁsa — of Kaṁsa ; sabhām — to the assembly ; etya — coming ; dadau — gave ; tasmai — to him

Translation

Vasudeva, who knew the ultimate goal of life, went to Kaṁsa's assembly and offered his first son Kirrtimān.
Text 4

Verse text

satya-vākya-sthitaṁ śauriṁ
dṛṣṭvā kaṁso ghṛṇī tv abhūt
duhkhaṁ sādhur na sahate
satye kasya kṣamā na hi

Synonyms

satya-vākya-sthitam — whose word is true ; śaurim — Vasudeva ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; kaṁsah — Kaṁsa ; ghṛṇī — kind ; tu — indeed ; abhūt — became ; duhkham — sadness ; sādhuh — a saint ; na — not ; sahate — bears ; satye — in truth ; kasya — of what? ; kṣamā — tolerance ; na — not

Translation

Seeing that Vasudeva had kept his promise and his word was true, Kaṁsa became softened with kindness. In truth, what suffering will a saint not bear? What will he not tolerate?
Text 5

Verse text

kaṁsa uvāca
eṣa bālo yātu gṛham
etasmān na hi me bhayam
yuvayor aṣṭamaṁ garbhaṁ
haniṣyāmi na saṁsayah

Synonyms

kaṁsah uvāca — Kaṁsasaid ; eṣah — this ; bālah — child ; yātu — may go ; gṛham — home ; etasmāt — of him ; na — not ; hi — indeed ; me — of me ; bhayam — fear ; yuvayoh — of you ; aṣṭamam — the eighth ; garbham — child ; haniṣyāmi — I will kill ; na — no

Translation

Kaṁsa said: This child may go home. I do not fear him. I will kill your eighth son. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 6

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ity ukto vasudevas tu
sa-putro gṛham āgatah
satyaṁ nāmanyata manāg
vākyaṁ tasya durātmanah

Synonyms

śrī-nāradah uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; uktah — said ; vasudevah — Vasudeva ; tu — certainly ; sa-putrah — with his son ; gṛham — home ; āgatah — went ; satyam — truth ; na — not ; āmanyata — thought ; manāk — at all ; vākyam — statement ; tasya — of him

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Told this, Vasudeva went home with his son. However, he did not think the demon would make his words true.
Text 7

Verse text

tadāmbarād āgataṁ māṁ
natvā pūjyograsenajah
papraccha devābhiprāyaṁ
prāvocaṁ taṁ nibodha me

Synonyms

tadā — then ; ambarāt — from the sky ; āgatam — come ; mām — me ; natvā — bowing ; pūjya — worshiping ; ugrasenajah — Kaṁsa ; papraccha — asked ; deva — of the demigods ; abhiprāyam — intention ; prāvocam — i told ; tam — him ; nibodha — learn

Translation

Then I came there from the sky. Kaṁsa bowed before me, worshiped me, and asked me about the demigods' plans. I said to him, "Learn this from me.
Text 8

Verse text

nandādyā vasavah sarve
vṛṣabhānv-ādayah surāh
gopyo veda-ṛcādyāś ca
santi bhūmau nṛpeśvara

Synonyms

nanda — by Nanda ; ādyāh — headed ; vasavah — the Vasus ; sarve — all ; vṛṣabhānu — by Vṛṣabhānu ; ādayah — headed ; surāh — the suras ; gopyah — the gopīs ; veda-ṛcā — by the Vedic hymns ; ādyāh — headed ; ca — also ; santi — are ; bhūmau — on the earth

Translation

"O king of kings, all the Vasus have become the people that have Nanda as their leader. The suras have become the people that have Vṛṣabhānu as their leader. A group that has the Vedic hymns as its leader has become gopīs. They are all now on the earth.
Text 9

Verse text

vasudevādayo devā
mathurāyāṁ ca vṛṣṇayah
devaky-ādyāh striyah sarvā
devatāh santi niścayāh

Synonyms

vasudeva — by Vasudeva ; ādayah — headed ; devāh — the demigods ; mathurāyām — in mathurā ; ca — and ; vṛṣṇayah — the Vṛṣṇis ; devakī — by Devakī ; ādyāh — headed ; striyah — their wives ; sarvāh — all ; devatāh — demigods ; santi — are

Translation

"The devas have become the Vṛṣṇis headed by Vasudeva and all the demigoddesses have become their wives, headed by Devakī.
Text 10

Verse text

sapta-vāra-prasaṅkhyānād
aṣṭamāh sarva eva hi
te hantuh saṅkhyayāyaṁ vai
devāṇāṁ vāmato gatih

Synonyms

sapta-vāra-prasaṅkhyānāt — after the seventh ; aṣṭamāh — the eighth ; sarve — all ; eva — indeed ; hi — indeed ; te — they ; hantuh — of the killer ; saṅkhyayā — by the number ; ayam — he ; vai — indeed ; devāṇām — of the demigods

Translation

"Depending on how they are counted, any of Vasudeva's sons can be the eighth one. Any of them can be the one that will kill you. That is the crookedness of the demigods.
Text 11

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ity uktvā taṁ mayi gate
kṛte daitya-vadhodyame
kaṁsah kopa-vṛtah sadyo
yadūn hantuṁ mano dadhe

Synonyms

śrī-nāradah uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; uktvā — saying ; tam — to him ; mayi — when I ; gate — had gone ; kṛte — done ; daitya — of the demons ; vadha — killing ; udyame — in determination ; kaṁsah — Kaṁsa ; kopa — with anger ; vṛtah — filled ; sadyah — at once ; yadūn — the Yādavas ; hantum — to kill ; manah — mind

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: After I had gone, Kaṁsa became filled with anger at this plan (of the demigods) to kill the demons. In his heart he decided to kill all the Yādavas.
Text 12

Verse text

vasudevaṁ devakīṁ ca
baddhvātha nigaḍair dṛḍhaih
mamarda taṁ śilā-pṛṣṭhe
devakī-garbhajaṁ śiśum

Synonyms

vasudevam — Vasudeva ; devakīm — Ddvakī ; ca — and ; baddhvā — binding ; atha — then ; nigaḍaih — in chains ; dṛḍhaih — firm ; mamarda — beat ; tam — him ; śilā — of stone ; pṛṣṭhe — on the surface

Translation

Kaṁsa tightly bound Vasudeva and Devakī in chains. Then he crushed Devakī's son against a stone surface.
Text 13

Verse text

jāti-smaro viṣṇu-bhayāj
jātaṁ jātaṁ jaghāna ha
iti duṣṭa-vibhāvāc ca
bhūmau bhūtaṁ na saṁśayam

Synonyms

jāti — birth ; smarah — remembering ; viṣṇu — of Lord Viṣṇu ; bhayāt — out of fear ; jātam — born ; jātam — born ; jaghāna — killed ; ha — indeed ; iti — thus ; duṣṭa-vibhāvāt — out of wickedness ; ca — also ; bhūmau — on the earth ; bhūtam — manifested ; na — no

Translation

Remembering his previous birth, out of his demonic nature and out of fear of Lord Viṣṇu he killed each son as it was born. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 14

Verse text

ugrasenas tadā kruddho
yādavendro nṛpeśvarah
vārayām āsa kaṁsākhyaṁ
vasudeva-sahāya-kṛt

Synonyms

ugrasenah — Ugrasena ; tadā — then ; kruddhah — angry ; yādavendrah — the king of the Yādavas ; nṛpeśvarah — the king of kings ; vārayām āsa — stopped ; kaṁsākhyam — Kaṁsa ; vasudeva — to Vasudeva ; sahāya — help

Translation

Angry at this, emperor Ugrasena, who was the master of the Yādavas, stopped Kaṁsa and helped Vasudeva.
Text 15

Verse text

kaṁsasya durābhiprāyaṁ
dṛṣṭvottasthur mahā-bhaṭāh
ugrasenānugā rakṣaṁ
cakrus te khaḍga-pāṇayah

Synonyms

kaṁsasya — of Kaṁsa ; durābhiprāyam — the wicked plan ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; uttasthuh — rose ; maha-bhaṭāh — great soldiers ; ugrasenānugāh — followers of Ugrasena ; rakṣam — protection ; cakruh — did ; te — they ; khaḍga — swords

Translation

Seeing Kaṁsa's demonic intentions, with swords in their hands, Ugrasena's soldiers protected (Vasudeva and Devakī).
Text 16

Verse text

ugrasenānugān dṛṣṭvā
kaṁsa-vīrāh samutthitāh
taih sārdham abhavad yuddhaṁ
sabhā-maṇḍapa-madhyatah

Synonyms

ugrasenānugān — the followers of Ugrasena ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; kaṁsa-vīrāh — Kaṁsa's soldiers ; samutthitāh — risen ; taih — them ; sārdham — with ; abhavat — was ; yuddham — battle

Translation

Seeing Ugrasena's soldiers, Kaṁsa's soldiers rose against them and fought a great battle with them in the midst of the assembly.
Text 17

Verse text

dvāra-deśe 'pi vīrāṇāṁ
yuddhaṁ jātaṁ parapsparam
khaḍga-prahārair ayutaṁ
janānāṁ nidhanaṁ gatam

Synonyms

dvāra-dese — in the doorway ; api — even ; vīrāṇām — of the soldiers ; yuddham — battle ; jātam — was born ; parapsparam — mutual ; khaḍga — of swords ; prahāraih — with blows ; ayutam — ten thousand ; janānām — of people ; nidhanam — to death

Translation

The soldiers fought a great battle in the doorway. By the blows of their swords ten thousand people died.
Texts 18 and 19

Verse text

kaṁso gṛhītvātha gadāṁ
pituh senāṁ mamarda ha
kaṁsasya gadayā spṛṣṭah
kecic chinna-lalāṭakāh
bhinna-pādā bhinna-mukhāś
chinnāṁsās chinna-bāhavah
adho-mukhā ūrdhva-mukhāh
sa-śastrāh patitāh kṣaṇāt

Synonyms

kaṁsah — Kaṁsa ; gṛhītvā — grasping ; atha — then ; gadām — a club ; pituh — of his father ; senām — the army ; mamarda ha — crushed ; kaṁsasya — of Kaṁsa ; gadayā — by the club ; spṛṣṭah — touched ; kecit — some ; chinna — broken ; lalāṭakāh — foreheads ; bhinna — broken ; pādāh — legs ; bhinna — broken ; mukhāh — faces ; chinna — broken ; aṁsāh — shoulders ; chinna — broken ; bāhavah — arms ; adhah — bowed down ; mukhāh — faces ; ūrdhva — up ; mukhāh — faces ; sa — with ; śastrāh — weapons ; patitāh — fallen

Translation

Then Kaṁsa took his club and crushed his father's army. Touched by his club, in a moment many fell with their weapons, their faces down or up, and their foreheads, legs, faces, shoulders, or arms broken.
Text 20

Verse text

vamanto rudhiraṁ vīrā
mūrchitā nidhanaṁ gatāh
sabhā-maṇḍapam āraktaṁ
dṛśyate kṣataja-sravāt

Synonyms

vamantah — vomiting ; rudhiram — blood ; vīrāh — the soldiers ; mūrchitāh — fell unconscious ; nidhanam — to death ; gatāh — went ; sabhā-maṇḍapam — the assembly hall ; āraktam — red ; dṛśyate — is seen ; kṣataja — blood from the wounds

Translation

Many soldiers vomited blood, fell unconscious, and died. The assembly hall was seen to be red with streams of blood from their wounds.
Text 21

Verse text

itthaṁ mahotkaṭah kaṁsah
sa nipātyodbhaṭān ripūn
krodhāḍhyo rāja-rājendro
jagrāha pitaraṁ khalah

Synonyms

ittham — thus ; mahotkaṭah — arrogant ; kaṁsah — Kaṁsa ; sah — he ; nipātya — falling ; udbhaṭān — on the soldiers ; ripūn — enemy ; krodha — with anger ; aḍhyah — rich ; rāja-rājendrah — the king of kings of kings ; jagrāha — grabbed ; pitaram — his father

Translation

In this way Kaṁsa fell upon the enemy soldiers. Then, rich with anger, the demonic king of the kings of kings grabbed his father.
Text 22

Verse text

nṛpāsanāt saṅgṛhītvā
baddhvā pāśaiś ca taṁ khalah
tan-mitraiś ca nṛpaih sārdhaṁ
kārāgāre rurodha ha

Synonyms

nṛpāsanāt — from the royal throne ; saṅgṛhītvā — taking ; baddhvā — binding ; pāśaih — with ropes ; ca — also ; tam — him ; khalah — the demon ; tan-mitraih — with his friends ; ca — also ; nṛpaih — kings ; sārdham — with ; kārāgāre — in a prison cell ; rurodha — imprisoned

Translation

The demon dragged him from the royal throne, bound him with ropes, and with his royal friends locked him in a prison cell.
Text 23

Verse text

madhūnāṁ śūrasenānāṁ
deśānāṁ sarva-sampadām
siṁhāsane copaviśya
svayaṁ rājyaṁ cakāra ha

Synonyms

madhūnām — of the Madhus ; śūrasenānām — of the Śūrasenas ; deśānām — of the countries ; sarva — all ; sampadām — opulences ; siṁhāsane — on the throne ; ca — also ; upaviśya — sitting ; svayam — personally ; rājyam — the kingdom

Translation

Sitting on the throne, Kaṁsa then personally ruled the opulent kingdoms of the Madhus and Śūrasenas.
Text 24

Verse text

pīḍitā yādavāh sarve
sambandhasya miṣais tvaram
catur-diśo 'ntaraṁ deśān
viviśuh kāla-vedinah

Synonyms

pīḍitāh — distressed ; yādavāh — the Yādavas ; sarve — all ; sambandhasya — of the relationship ; miṣaih — on the preText ; tvaram — quickly ; catur-diśah — to the four directions ; antaram — in ; deśān — countries ; viviśuh — entered ; kāla — time

Translation

Harassed by Kaṁsa, all the Yādavas fled to other countries on the preText of visiting relatives and waited for a better time.