Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Chapter Six Aghāsura-mokṣa The Liberation of Aghāsura

Text 1

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
ekadā bālakaiḥ sākaṁ
go-vatsāṁś cārayan hariḥ
kālindī-nikaṭe ramye
bāla-krīḍaṁ cakāra ha

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; ekadā once ; bālakaiḥ the boys ; sākam with ; go-vatsān the calves ; cārayan herding ; hariḥ Kṛṣṇa ; kālindī-nikaṭe on the shore of the Yamunā ; ramye beautiful ; bāla-krīḍam childhood pastimes ; cakāra did ; ha *indeed.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Once, as, near the beauitful Yamunā, with the boys He was herding the calves, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed the pastimes of childhood.
Text 2

Verse text

aghāsuro nāma mahā-
daityas tatra sthito 'bhavat
krośa-dīrghaṁ vapuḥ kṛtvā
prasarya mukha-maṇḍalam

Synonyms

aghāsuraḥ Aghāsura ; nāma named ; mahā-daityaḥ a great demon ; tatra there ; sthitaḥ situated ; abhavat was ; krośa two miles ; dīrgham long ; vapuḥ body ; kṛtvā doing ; prasarya opening ; mukha-maṇḍalam *his mouth.

Translation

A great demon named Aghāsura stayed there. His body was two miles long and his mouth wide open.
Text 3

Verse text

dūrād yaṁ parvatākāraṁ
vīkṣya vṛndāvane vane
gopā jagmur mukhe tasya
vatsaiḥ kṛtvāñjalī-dhvanim

Synonyms

dūrāt from far away ; yam what ; parvatākāram the body of a mountain ; vīkṣya seeing ; vṛndāvane in Vṛndāvana ; vane forest ; gopā the gopas ; jagmuḥ went ; mukhe in the mouth ; tasya of him ; vatsaiḥ with the calves ; kṛtvā making ; añjalī of the hands ; dhvanim *the sound.

Translation

From afar they saw him, his body like a great mountain. Approaching, and clapping their hands, they entered his mouth with the calves.
Text 4

Verse text

tad-rakṣārthaṁ ca sa-bālas
tan-mukhe praviśad dhariḥ
nigīrṇeṣu sa-vatseṣu
bāleṣu tv ahi-rūpiṇā
hā-śabdo 'bhūt surāṇāṁ tu
daityānāṁ harṣa eva hi
kṛṣṇo vapuḥ svaṁ vairājaṁ
tatānāghodare tataḥ

Synonyms

ca and ; sa-bālaḥ with the boys ; tan-mukhe in his mouth ; praviśat entered ; hariḥ Lord Kṛṣṇa ; nigīrṇeṣu swallowed ; sa-vatseṣu with the calves ; bāleṣu and boys ; tv indeed ; ahi-rūpiṇā in the form of a snake ; of ala ; śabdaḥ the sound ; abhūt weas ; surāṇām of the demigods ; tu indeed ; daityānām of the demons ; harṣa joy ; eva indeed ; hi indeed ; kṛṣṇaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; vapuḥ form ; svam own ; vairājam universal ; tatāna manifested ; agha of Agha ; udare in the belly ; tataḥ *then.

Translation

To protect them, Kṛṣṇa entered the mouth along with the boys. When the demon in the form of a snake had swallowed the boys and calves, the demigods cried out, "Alas!" and the demons became happy. Then Kṛṣṇa expanded His universal form inside Aghāsura's stomach.
Text 6

Verse text

tasya samrodha-gaḥ prāṇāḥ
śiro bhittvā vinirgatāḥ
tan-mukhān nirgatāḥ kṛṣṇo
bālair vatsaiś ca maithila

Synonyms

tasya of him ; samrodha-gaḥ stopped ; prāṇāḥ the life breath ; siraḥ head ; bhittvā breaking ; vinirgatāḥ left ; tan-mukhān from his mouth ; nirgatāḥ left ; kṛṣṇaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; bālaiḥ with the boys ; vatsaiḥ and calves ; ca and ; maithila *O king of Mithilā.

Translation

It's movements stopped, the demon's life-breath broke through the demon's skull and left. Then Kṛṣṇa and the boys and calves left his mouth, O king of Mithilā.
Text 7

Verse text

sa-vatsakān śiśūn dṛṣṭvā
jīvayām āsa mādhavaḥ
taj-jyotiḥ śrī-ghana-śyāme
līnaṁ jātaṁ taḍid yathā

Synonyms

sa-vatsakān with the calves ; śiśūn the boys ; dṛṣṭvā seeing ; jīvayām āsa restored to life ; mādhavaḥ Kṛṣṇa ; taj-jyotiḥ his effulgence ; śrī-ghana-śyāme in Kṛṣṇa, who was dark as a monsoon cloud ; līnam entered ; jātam born ; taḍit lightning flash ; yathā *like.

Translation

With a glance Kṛṣṇa brought the boys and calves to life. Then a light that was like a lightning flash (left the demon's body) and entered Kṛṣṇa, who was dark as a monsoon cloud.
Text 8

Verse text

tadaiva vavṛṣur devaḥ
puṣpa-varṣāṇi pārthiva
evaṁ śrutvā muner vākyaṁ
maithilo vākyam abravīt

Synonyms

tadā then ; eva indeed ; vavṛṣuḥ showered ; devaḥ the demigods ; puṣpa-varṣāṇi with showers of flowers ; pārthiva O king ; evam thus ; śrutvā hearing ; muneḥ of the sage ; vākyam the words ; maithilaḥ the king of Mithilā ; vākyam words ; abravīt *said.

Translation

O king, then the demigods showered flowers. After hearing the sage's words, the king of Mithilā spoke.
Text 9

Verse text

śrī-rājovāca
ko 'yaṁ daityaḥ pūrva-kāle
śrī-kṛṣṇe līnataṁ gataḥ
aho vairānubandhena
śīghraṁ daityo hariṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

śrī-rājā uvāca the king said ; kaḥ who? ; ayam this ; daityaḥ demon ; pūrva-kāle in the previous time ; śrī-kṛṣṇe in Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; līnatam entering ; gataḥ attained ; ahaḥ Oh ; vaira-anubandhena with hatred ; śīghram quickly ; daityaḥ the demon ; harim Lord Kṛṣṇa ; gataḥ *attained.

Translation

The king said: Who was this demon in his previous birth that he was able to enter Lord Kṛṣṇa? Simply by hating Him, this demon quickly attained Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Text 10

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
śaṅkhāsura-suto rājann
agho nāma mahā-balaḥ
yuvāti-sundaraḥ sākṣāt
kāmadeva ivāparaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; śaṅkhāsura-sutaḥ the son of Sankhasura ; rājann O king ; aghaḥ Agha ; nāma named ; mahā very ; balaḥ powerful yuvā—young ; ati-sundaraḥ very handsome ; sākṣāt directly ; kāmadeva Kāmadeva ; iva like ; aparaḥ *another.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king, he was Śaṅkhacūḍa's son, and his name was Agha. He was young, strong, and very handsome. He was like another Kāmadeva.
Text 11

Verse text

aṣṭavakraṁ muniṁ yāntaṁ
virūpaṁ malayācale
dṛṣṭvā jahāsa tam aghaḥ
ku-rūpo 'yam iti bruvan

Synonyms

aṣṭavakram munim Aṣṭavakra Muni ; yāntam going ; virūpam disfigured ; malayācale in the Malaya Mountains ; dṛṣṭvā seeing ; jahāsa laughed ; tam at him ; aghaḥ Agha ; ku-rūpaḥ ungly ; ayam this ; iti thus ; bruvan *saying.

Translation

When he saw the disfigured sage Aṣṭavakra Muni walking by the Malaya Hills, Agha laughed and said, "Who is this ugly person?"
Text 12

Verse text

taṁ śaśāpa mahā-duṣṭaṁ
tvaṁ sarpo bhava durmate
kurūpa vakra-ga jātiḥ
sarpāṇāṁ bhūmi-maṇḍale

Synonyms

tam him ; śaśāpa cursed ; mahā-duṣṭam very wicked ; tvam you ; sarpaḥ a snake ; bhava become ; durmate O wicked-hearted one ; kurūpa ugly ; vakra-ga difigured ; jātiḥ birth ; sarpāṇām of snakes ; bhūmi-maṇḍale *on the circle of the earth.

Translation

Then the sage cursed the demon Agha: "O wicked-hearted one, you will become a snake. You will be the ugliest snake in the circle of the earth."
Text 13

Verse text

tat-pādayor nipatitaṁ
daityaṁ dīnaṁ gata-smayam
prasannaḥ sa munir
varaṁ tasmai dadau punaḥ

Synonyms

tat-pādayoḥ at his feet ; nipatitam fallen ; daityam the demon ; dīnam poor ; gata-smayam his arrogance gone ; dṛṣṭvā seeing ; prasannaḥ satisfied ; sa he ; muniḥ the sage ; varam benedication ; tasmai to him ; dadau gave ; punaḥ *again.

Translation

Seeing that the demon, his pride and arrogance now gone, had fallen at his feet, the sage became pleased with him and gave him a benediction.
Text 14

Verse text

śrī-aṣṭavakra uvāca
koṭi-kandarpa-lāvaṇyaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇas tu tavodare
yadāgacchet sarpa-rūpāt
tadā muktir bhaviṣyati

Synonyms

śrī-aṣṭavakra uvāca Śrī Aṣṭavakra said ; koṭi-kandarpa-lāvaṇyaḥ handsome as millions of Kāmadevas ; śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; tu indeed ; tava of you ; udare in the stomach ; yadā when ; āgacchet enters ; sarpa-rūpāt from the form of a snake ; tadā then ; muktiḥ liberation ; bhaviṣyati *will be.

Translation

Śrī Aṣṭavakta said: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is more handsome than many millions of Kāmadevas, will enter your stomach. Then you will be free from having a snake's form.
Text 15

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
aṣṭavakrasya śāpena
sarpo bhūtvā hy aghāsuraḥ
tad-varāt paramaṁ mokṣaṁ
gato devaiś ca durlabhaṁ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; aṣṭavakrasya of Aṣṭavakra ; śāpena by the curse ; sarpaḥ a snake ; bhūtvā becoming ; hi indeed ; aghāsuraḥ Aghāsura ; tad-varāt by that benediction ; paramam ultimate ; mokṣam liberation ; gataḥ attained ; devaiḥ by the demigods ; ca and ; durlabham *difficult to attain.

Translation

By Aṣṭavakra's curse Aghāsura became a snake, and by Aṣṭavakra's blessing Aghāsura attained a liberation even the demigods cannot attain.
Text 16

Verse text

vatsād baka-mukhān muktaṁ
tato muktaṁ hy aghāsurāt
śrutvā kati-dinaiḥ kṛṣṇaṁ
yaśodābhud bhayāturā

Synonyms

vatsāt from vatsāsura ; baka-mukhān from Baka's mouth ; muktam freed ; tataḥ then ; muktam freed ; hi indeed ; aghāsurāt from Aghāsura ; śrutvā hearing ; kṛṣṇam Kṛṣṇa ; yaśodā Yaśodā ; abhut —become ; bhaya with fear ; āturā *overcome.

Translation

Hearing how in only a few days Kṛṣṇa was rescued from Vatsāsura, Bakāsura's beak, and now from Aghāsura, Yaśodā became filled with fears.
Texts 17 and 18

Verse text

kalāvatīṁ rohiṇīṁ ca
gopī-gopānvayādhikān
vṛṣabhānu-varaṁ gopaṁ
nandarājaṁ vrajeśvaram
navopanandān nandāṁś ca
vṛṣabhānūn vrajeśvarān
samāhuya tad-agre ca
vacaḥ prāha yaśomatī

Synonyms

kalāvatīm Kalāvatī ; rohiṇīm Rohiṇī ; ca and ; gopī-gopānvayādhikān the most important gopas and gopīs ; vṛṣabhānu-varam King Vṛṣabhānu ; gopam the gopa ; nandarājam King Nanda ; vrajeśvaram the master of Vraja ; nava nine ; upanandān Upanandas ; nandān Nandas ; ca and ; vṛṣabhānūn the Vṛṣabhānus ; vrajeśvarān the rulers of Vraja ; samāhuya calling ; tad-agre in their presence ; ca and ; vacaḥ words ; prāha said ; yaśomatī *Yaśodā.

Translation

Calling together Kalāvatī, Rohiṇī, the most important gopas and gopīs, the gopa king Vṛṣabhānu, Vraja's king Nanda, the nine Upanandas, the Nandas, the Vṛṣabhānus, and the various leaders of Vraja, Yaśodā spoke to them.
Text 19

Verse text

śrī-yaśodovāca
kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi
kalyānāṁ me kathaṁ bhavet
mat-sute bahavo 'riṣṭāḥ
āgacchanti kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

Synonyms

śrī-yaśodā uvāca Śrī Yaśodā said ; kim what? ; karomi shall I do? ; kva where ; gacchāmi shall I go ; kalyānām auspiciousness ; me for me ; katham how? ; bhavet will be ; mat-sute for my son ; bahavaḥ many ; ariṣṭāḥ calamities ; āgacchanti come ; kṣaṇe moment Kṛṣṇa ; kṣaṇe *after moment.

Translation

Śrī Yaśodā said: What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will I be happy? Moment after moment many calamities have fallen on my son.
Text 20

Verse text

pūrvaṁ mahā-vanaṁ tyaktvā
vṛndāraṇye gatā vayam
etat tyaktvā kva yasyāmo
deśe vadata nirbhaye

Synonyms

pūrvam before ; mahā-vanam Mahāvana ; tyaktvā leaving ; vṛndāraṇye in Vṛndāvana ; gatā gone ; vayam we ; etat this ; tyaktvā leaving ; kva where? ; yasyāmaḥ we will go ; deśe in a country ; vadata tell ; nirbhaye *that will not be fearful.

Translation

First we left Mahāvana and came to Vṛndāvana. If we leave Vṛndāvana to what safe country, where there will be no fearful calamities, could we go? Please tell me.
Text 21

Verse text

cañcalo 'yaṁ bālako me
krīḍan dūre prayāti hi
bālakāś cañcalāḥ sarve
na mānyante vaco mama

Synonyms

cañcalaḥ restless ; ayam thjis ; bālakaḥ boy ; me of mine ; krīḍan playing ; dūre far away ; prayāti goes ; hi indeed ; bālakāḥ boys ; cañcalāḥ restless ; sarve all ; na not ; mānyante are considered ; vacaḥ words ; mama *my.

Translation

When He plays, my restless boy goes far away. All the boys are restless. I am not the only one to say that.
Text 22

Verse text

bakāsuraś ca me bālaṁ
tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍo 'grasad balī
tasmān muktaṁ tu jagrāhār-
bhakair dinam aghāsuraḥ

Synonyms

bakāsuraḥ Bakasura ; ca and ; me my ; bālam boy ; tīkṣṇa-tuṇḍaḥ a sharp beak ; agrasat swallowed ; balī powerful ; tasmān from that ; muktam rescued ; tu indeed ; jagrāha grabbed ; arbhakaiḥ with the boys ; dinam one day ; aghāsuraḥ *Aghāsura.

Translation

Powerful and sharp-beaked Bakāsura swallowed my boy. Somehow He was rescued. Another day Aghāsura swallowed my boy and all the other boys.
Text 23

Verse text

vatsāsuras taj-jighāṁśuḥ
so 'pi daivena māritaḥ
vatsārthaṁ sva-gṛhād bālaṁ
na bahiḥ karayāmy aham

Synonyms

taj-jighāṁśuḥ yearning to kill Him ; saḥ he ; api even ; daivena by fate ; māritaḥ was killed ; vatsārtham for the sake of the calves ; sva-gṛhāt from His own home ; bālam the boy ; na not ; bahiḥ outside ; karayāmi cause to do ; aham *I.

Translation

When he tried to kill my boy, Vatsāsura was himself killed by his own fate. Now I do not allow my boy to go outside to care for the calves.
Text 24

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
itthaṁ vadantīṁ satataṁ rudantīṁ
yaśomatīṁ vīkṣya jagāda nandaḥ
āśvāsayām āsa su-garga-vākyair
dharmārtha-vid dharma-bhṛtāṁ variṣṭhaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; ittham thus ; vadantīm speaking ; satatam again and again ; rudantīm weeping ; yaśomatīm Yaśodā ; vīkṣya seeing ; jagāda spoke ; nandaḥ Nanda ; āśvāsayām āsa comforted ; su-garga-vākyaiḥ with the words of Garga Muni ; dharmārtha-vit who understood the meaning of religion ; dharma-bhṛtām of the pious ; variṣṭhaḥ *the best.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Glancing at Yaśodā as she spoke these words and wept, Nanda, who was the best of the pious and who understood the true meaning of religion, spoke to her. He comforted her by repeating the words of Garga Muni.
Text 25

Verse text

śrī-nandarāja uvāca
garga-vākyaṁ tvayā sarvaṁ
vismṛtaṁ he yaśomati
brāhmaṇānāṁ vacaḥ satyaṁ
nāsatyaṁ bhavati kvacit

Synonyms

śrī-nandarāja uvāca Nanda Mahārāja said ; garga of Garga Muni ; vākyam the words ; tvayā by you ; sarvam all ; vismṛtam forgotten ; he yaśomati O Yaśodā ; brāhmaṇānām of the brahmanas ; vacaḥ the words ; satyam true ; na not ; asatyam untrue ; bhavati are ; kvacit *ever.

Translation

Nanda Mahārāja said: O Yaśodā, you have completely forgotten Garga Muni's words. The words of the brāhmaṇas are always true. They are never untrue.
Text 26

Verse text

tasmād dānaṁ prakartavyaṁ
sarvāriṣṭa-nivāraṇam
dānāt paraṁ tu kalyāṇaṁ
na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

Synonyms

tasmāt therefore ; dānam charity ; prakartavyam should be given ; sarva all ; ariṣṭa calamities ; nivāraṇam dispeling ; dānāt than charity ; param better ; tu indeed ; kalyāṇam good fortune ; na not ; bhūtam manifested ; na not ; bhaviṣyati *will be.

Translation

Therefore charity should be given. That will dispel all calamities. There has never been nor will there ever be a source of good fortune better than giving charity.
Text 27

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
tadā yaśodā viprebhyo
nava-ratnaṁ mahā-dhanam
svālaṅkarāṁś ca bālasya
sa-balasya dadau nṛpa

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca Śrī Nārada said ; tadā then ; yaśodā Yaśodā ; viprebhyaḥ to the brahmanas ; nava-ratnam nine jewels ; mahā great ; dhanam wealth ; svālaṅkarān own ornaments ; ca and ; bālasya of the boy ; sa-balasya with Balarāma ; dadau gave ; nṛpa *O king.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king, on behalf of her boy and Balarāma, Yaśodā then gave to the brāhmaṇas great wealth, seven kinds of precious jewels, and even her own ornaments.
Text 28

Verse text

ayutaṁ vṛṣabhānāṁ ca
gavāṁ lakṣaṁ manoharam
dvi-lakṣam anna-bhārāṇāṁ
nando dānaṁ dadau tataḥ

Synonyms

ayutam ten thousand ; vṛṣabhānām bulls ; ca and ; gavām cows ; lakṣam a hundred thousand ; manoharam beautiful ; dvi-laksam two hundred thousand ; anna of grains ; bhārāṇām bharas ; nandaḥ Nanda ; dānam charity ; dadau gave ; tataḥ *then.

Translation

The Nanda gave in charity ten thousand bulls, a hundred thousand beautiful cows, and two hundred thousand bhāras of grain. .pa