Chapter 42: The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow

 

10.42.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha vrajan rāja-pathena mādhavaḥ

striyaḿ gṛhītāńga-vilepa-bhājanām

vilokya kubjāḿ yuvatīḿ varānanāḿ

papraccha yāntīḿ prahasan rasa-pradaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — then; vrajan — walking; rāja-pathena — along the King's road; mādhavaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; striyam — a woman; gṛhīta — holding; ańga — for the body; vilepa — with ointments; bhājanām — a tray; vilokya — seeing; kubjām — hunchbacked; yuvatīm — young; vara-ānanām — with an attractive face; papraccha — He inquired; yāntīm — going; prahasan — smiling; rasa — of the pleasure of love; pradaḥ — the bestower.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As He walked down the King's road, Lord Mādhava then saw a young hunchback woman with an attractive face, who carried a tray of fragrant ointments as she walked along. The bestower of the ecstasy of love smiled and inquired from her as follows.

 

10.42.2

kā tvaḿ varorv etad u hānulepanaḿ

kasyāńgane vā kathayasva sādhu naḥ

dehy āvayor ańga-vilepam uttamaḿ

śreyas tatas te na cirād bhaviṣyati

 

kā — who; tvam — you; vara-ūru — O beautiful-thighed one; etat — this; u ha — ah, indeed; anulepanam — ointment; kasya — for whom; ańgane — My dear woman; vā — or; kathayasva — please tell; sādhu — honestly; naḥ — Us; dehi — please give; āvayoḥ — to Us two; ańga-vilepam — body ointment; uttamam — excellent; śreyaḥ — benefit; tataḥ — thereafter; te — your; na cirāt — soon; bhaviṣyati — will be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Who are you, O beautiful-thighed one? Ah, ointment! Who is it for, my dear lady? Please tell Us truthfully. Give Us both some of your finest ointment and you will soon gain a great boon.

 

10.42.3

sairandhry uvāca

dāsy asmy ahaḿ sundara kaḿsa-sammatā

trivakra-nāmā hy anulepa-karmaṇi

mad-bhāvitaḿ bhoja-pater ati-priyaḿ

vinā yuvāḿ ko 'nyatamas tad arhati

 

sairandhrī uvāca — the maidservant said; dāsī — a servant; asmi — am; aham — I; sundara — O handsome one; kaḿsa — by Kaḿsa; sammatā — respected; trivakra-nāmā — known as Trivakrā ("bent in three places"); hi — indeed; anulepa — with ointments; karmaṇi — for my work; mat — by me; bhāvitam — prepared; bhoja-pateḥ — to the chief of the Bhojas; ati-priyam — very dear; vinā — except for; yuvām — You two; kaḥ — who; anyatamaḥ — else; tat — that; arhati — deserves.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The maidservant replied: O handsome one, I am a servant of King Kaḿsa, who highly regards me for the ointments I make. My name is Trivakrā. Who else but You two deserve my ointments, which the lord of the Bhojas likes so much?

 

10.42.4

rūpa-peśala-mādhurya

hasitālāpa-vīkṣitaiḥ

dharṣitātmā dadau sāndram

ubhayor anulepanam

 

rūpa — by His beauty; peśala — charm; mādhurya — sweetness; hasita — smiles; ālāpa — talking; vīkṣitaiḥ — and glances; dharṣita — overwhelmed; ātmā — her mind; dadau — she gave; sāndram — plentiful; ubhayoḥ — to both of Them; anulepanam — ointment.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Her mind overwhelmed by Kṛṣṇa's beauty, charm, sweetness, smiles, words and glances, Trivakrā gave both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma generous amounts of ointment.

 

10.42.5

tatas tāv ańga-rāgeṇa

sva-varṇetara-śobhinā

samprāpta-para-bhāgena

śuśubhāte 'nurañjitau

 

tataḥ — then; tau — They; ańga — of Their bodies; rāgeṇa — with the coloring cosmetics; sva — Their own; varṇa — with colors; itara — other than; śobhinā — adorning; samprāpta — which exhibited; para — the highest; bhagena — excellence; śuśubhāte — They appeared beautiful; anurañjitau — anointed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Anointed with these most excellent cosmetics, which adorned Them with hues that contrasted with Their complexions, the two Lords appeared extremely beautiful.

 

10.42.6

prasanno bhagavān kubjāḿ

trivakrāḿ rucirānanām

ṛjvīḿ kartuḿ manaś cakre

darśayan darśane phalam

 

prasannaḥ — satisfied; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; kubjām — the hunchback; trivakrā — Trivakrā; rucira — attractive; ānanām — whose face; ṛjvīm — straight; kartum — to make; manaḥ cakre — He decided; darśayan — showing; darśane — of seeing Him; phalam — the result.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa was pleased with Trivakrā, so He decided to straighten that hunchbacked girl with the lovely face just to demonstrate the result of seeing Him.

 

10.42.7

padbhyām ākramya prapade

dry-ańguly-uttāna-pāṇinā

pragṛhya cibuke 'dhyātmam

udanīnamad acyutaḥ

 

padbhyām — with both His feet; ākramya — pressing down; prapade — on her toes; dvi — having two; ańguli — fingers; uttāna — pointing upwards; pāṇinā — with His hands; pragṛhya — taking hold of; cibuke — her chin; adhyātmam — her body; udanīnamat — He raised; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pressing down on her toes with both His feet, Lord Acyuta placed one upward-pointing finger of each hand under her chin and straightened up her body.

 

10.42.8

sā tadarju-samānāńgī

bṛhac-chroṇi-payodharā

mukunda-sparśanāt sadyo

babhūva pramadottamā

 

sā — she; tadā — then; ṛju — straight; samāna — even; ańgī — her limbs; bṛhat — large; śroṇi — her hips; payaḥ-dharā — and breasts; mukunda-sparśanāt — by the touch of Lord Mukunda; sadyaḥ — suddenly; babhūva — became; pramadā — a woman; uttamā — most perfect.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Simply by Lord Mukunda's touch, Trivakrā was suddenly transformed into an exquisitely beautiful woman with straight, evenly proportioned limbs and large hips and breasts.

 

10.42.9

tato rūpa-guṇaudārya-

sampannā prāha keśavam

uttarīyāntam akṛṣya

smayantī jāta-hṛc-chayā

 

tataḥ — then; rūpa — with beauty; guṇa — good character; audārya — and generosity; sampannā — endowed; prāha — she addressed; keśavam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; uttarīya — of His upper garment; antam — the end; ākṛṣya — pulling; smayantī — smiling; jāta — having developed; hṛt-śayā — lusty feelings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Now endowed with beauty, character and generosity Trivakrā began to feel lusty desires for Lord Keśava. Taking hold of the end of His upper cloth, she smiled and addressed Him as follows.

 

10.42.10

ehi vīra gṛhaḿ yāmo

na tvāḿ tyaktum ihotsahe

tvayonmathita-cittāyāḥ

prasīda puruṣarṣabha

 

ehi — come; vīra — O hero; gṛham — to my house; yāmaḥ — let us go; na — not; tvām — You; tyaktum — to leave; iha — here; utsahe — I can bear; tvayā — by You; unmathita — agitated; cittāyāḥ — on her whose mind; prasīda — please have mercy; puruṣa-ṛṣabha — O best of men.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Trivakrā said:] Come, O hero, let us go to my house. I cannot bear to leave You here. O best of males, please take pity on me, since You have agitated my mind.

 

10.42.11

evaḿ striyā yācyamānaḥ

kṛṣṇo rāmasya paśyataḥ

mukhaḿ vīkṣyānu gopānāḿ

prahasaḿs tām uvāca ha

 

evam — in this way; striyā — by the woman; yācya nānaḥ — being begged; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; rāmasya — of Balarāma; paśyataḥ — who was looking on; mukham — at the face; vīkṣya — glancing; anu — then; gopānām — of the cowherd boys; prahasan — laughing; tām — to her; uvāca ha — He said.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus entreated by the woman, Lord Kṛṣṇa first glanced at the face of Balarāma, who was watching the incident, and then at the faces of the cowherd boys. Then with a laugh Kṛṣṇa replied to her as follows.

 

10.42.12

eṣyāmi te gṛhaḿ su-bhru

puḿsām ādhi-vikarśanam

sādhitārtho 'gṛhāṇāḿ naḥ

pānthānāḿ tvaḿ parāyaṇam

 

eṣyāmi — I will go; te — your; gṛham — to the house; su-bhru — O you who have beautiful eyebrows; puḿsām — of men; ādhi — the mental distress; vikarśanam — which eradicates; sādhita — having accomplished; arthaḥ — My purpose; agṛhāṇām — who have no home; naḥ — for Us; pānthānām — who are traveling on the road; tvam — you; para — the best; ayanam — shelter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] O lady with beautiful eyebrows, as soon as I fulfill My purpose I will certainly visit your house, where men can relieve their anxiety. Indeed, you are the best refuge for Us homeless travelers.

 

10.42.13

visṛjya mādhvyā vāṇyā tām

vrajan mārge vaṇik-pathaiḥ

nānopāyana-tāmbūla-

srag-gandhaiḥ sāgrajo 'rcitaḥ

 

visṛjya — leaving; mādhvyā — sweet; vāṇyā — with words; tām — her; vrajan — walking; mārge — along the road; vaṇik-pathaiḥ — by the merchants; nānā — with various; upāyana — respectful offerings; tāmbūla — betel nut; srak — garlands; gandhaiḥ — and fragrant substances; sa — together with; agra-jaḥ — His elder brother; arcitaḥ — worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Leaving her with these sweet words, Lord Kṛṣṇa walked further down the road. The merchants along the way worshiped Him and His elder brother by presenting Them with various respectful offerings, including pān, garlands and fragrant substances.

 

10.42.14

tad-darśana-smara-kṣobhād

ātmānaḿ nāvidan striyaḥ

visrasta-vāsaḥ-kavara

valayā lekhya-mūrtayaḥ

 

tat — Him; darśana — because of seeing; smara — due to the effects of Cupid; kṣobhāt — by their agitation; ātmānam — themselves; na avidan — could not recognize; striyaḥ — the women; visrasta — disheveled; vāsaḥ — their clothes; kavara — the locks of their hair; valayāḥ — and their bangles; lekhya — (as if) drawn in a picture; mūrtayaḥ — their forms.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sight of Kṛṣṇa aroused Cupid in the hearts of the city women. Thus agitated, they forgot themselves. Their clothes, braids and bangles became disheveled, and they stood as still as figures in a painting.

 

10.42.15

tataḥ paurān pṛcchamāno

dhanuṣaḥ sthānam acyutaḥ

tasmin praviṣṭo dadṛśe

dhanur aindram ivādbhutam

 

tataḥ — then; paurān — from the city residents; pṛcchamānaḥ — inquiring about; dhanuṣaḥ — of the bow; sthānam — the place; acyutaḥ — the infallible Supreme Lord; tasmin — there; praviṣṭaḥ — entering; dadṛśe — He saw; dhanuḥ — the bow; aindram — that of Lord Indra; iva — like; adbhutam — amazing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa then asked the local people where the arena was in which the bow sacrifice would take place. When He went there He saw the amazing bow, which resembled Lord Indra's.

 

10.42.16

puruṣair bahubhir guptam

arcitaḿ paramarddhimat

vāryamāṇo nṛbhiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

prasahya dhanur ādade

 

puruṣaiḥ — by men; bahubhiḥ — many; guptam — guarded; arcitam — being worshiped; parama — supreme; ṛddhi — opulence; mat — possessing; vāryamāṇaḥ — warded off; nṛbhiḥ — by the guards; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; prasahya — by force; dhanuḥ — the bow; ādade — picked up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That most opulent bow was guarded by a large company of men, who were respectfully worshiping it. Kṛṣṇa pushed His way forward and, despite the guards' attempts to stop Him, picked it up.

 

10.42.17

kareṇa vāmena sa-līlam uddhṛtaḿ

sajyaḿ ca kṛtvā nimiṣeṇa paśyatām

nṛṇāḿ vikṛṣya prababhañja madhyato

yathekṣu-daṇḍaḿ mada-kary urukramaḥ

 

kareṇa — with His hand; vāmena — left; sa-līlam — playfully; uddhṛtam — lifted; sajyam — the stringing; ca — and; kṛtvā — doing; nimiṣeṇa — in the wink of an eye; paśyatām — as they watched; nṛṇām — the guards; vikṛṣya — pulling it taut; prababhañja — He broke it; madhyataḥ — in the middle; yathā — as; ikṣu — of sugarcane; daṇḍam — a stick; mada-karī — an excited elephant; urukramaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Easily lifting the bow with His left hand, Lord Urukrama strung it in a fraction of a second as the King's guards looked on. He then powerfully pulled the string and snapped the bow in half, just as an excited elephant might break a stalk of sugar cane.

 

10.42.18

dhanuṣo bhajyamānasya

śabdaḥ khaḿ rodasī diśaḥ

pūrayām āsa yaḿ śrutvā

kaḿsas trāsam upāgamat

 

dhanuṣaḥ — of the bow; bhajyamānasya — which was breaking; śabdaḥ — the sound; kham — the earth; rodasī — the sky; diśaḥ — and all the directions; pūrayām āsa — filled; yam — which; śrutvā — hearing; kaḿsaḥ — King Kaḿsa; trāsam — fear; upāgamat — experienced.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sound of the bow's breaking filled the earth and sky in all directions. Upon hearing it, Kaḿsa was struck with terror.

 

10.42.19

tad-rakṣiṇaḥ sānucaraḿ

kupitā ātatāyinaḥ

gṛhītu-kāmā āvavrur

gṛhyatāḿ vadhyatām iti

 

tat — its; rakṣiṇaḥ — guards; sa — along with; anucaram — His companions; kupitāḥ — angered; ātatāyinaḥ — holding weapons; gṛhītu — to catch; kāmāḥ — wanting; āvavruḥ — surrounded; gṛhyatām — seize Him; vadhyatām — kill Him; iti — thus saying.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The enraged guards then took up their weapons and, wanting to seize Kṛṣṇa and His companions, surrounded them and shouted, "Grab Him! Kill Him!"

 

10.42.20

atha tān durabhiprāyān

vilokya bala-keśavau

kruddhau dhanvana ādāya

śakale tāḿś ca jaghnatuḥ

 

atha — thereupon; tān — them; durabhiprāyān — with evil intent; vilokya — seeing; bala-keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; kruddhau — angry; dhanvanaḥ — of the bow; ādāya — taking; śakale — the two broken pieces; tān — them; ca — and; jaghnatuḥ — struck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the guards coming upon Them with evil intent, Balarāma and Keśava took up the two halves of the bow and began striking them down.

 

10.42.21

balaḿ ca kaḿsa-prahitaḿ

hatvā śālā-mukhāt tataḥ

niṣkramya ceratur hṛṣṭau

nirīkṣya pura-sampadaḥ

 

balam — an armed force; ca — and; kaḿsa-prahitam — sent by Kaḿsa; hatvā — having killed; śālā — of the sacrificial arena; mukhāt — by the gate; tataḥ — then; niṣkramya — exciting; ceratuḥ — the two of Them walked along; hṛṣṭau — happy; nirīkṣya — observing; pura — of the city; sampadaḥ — the riches.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After also killing a contingent of soldiers sent by Kaḿsa, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma left the sacrificial arena by its main gate and continued Their walk about the city, happily looking at the opulent sights.

 

10.42.22

tayos tad adbhutaḿ vīryaḿ

niśāmya pura-vāsinaḥ

tejaḥ prāgalbhyaḿ rūpaḿ ca

menire vibudhottamau

 

tayoḥ — of Them; tat — that; adbhutam — amazing; vīryam — heroic deed; niśāmya — seeing; pura-vāsinaḥ — the residents of the city; tejaḥ — Their strength; prāgalbhyam — boldness; rūpam — beauty; ca — and; menire — they considered; vibudha — of demigods; uttamau — two of the best.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having witnessed the amazing deed Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had performed, and seeing Their strength, boldness and beauty, the people of the city thought They must be two prominent demigods.

 

10.42.23

tayor vicaratoḥ svairam

ādityo 'stam upeyivān

kṛṣṇa-rāmau vṛtau gopaiḥ

purāc chakaṭam īyatuḥ

 

tayoḥ — as They; vicaratoḥ — moved about; svairam — at Their will; ādityaḥ — the sun; astam — its setting; upeyivān — approached; kṛṣṇa-rāmau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; vṛtau — accompanied; gopaiḥ — by the cowherd boys; purāt — from the city; śakaṭam — to the place where the wagons had been unharnessed; īyatuḥ — went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As They strolled about at will, the sun began to set, so They left the city with the cowherd boys and returned to the cowherds' wagon encampment.

 

10.42.24

gopyo mukunda-vigame virahāturā yā

āśāsatāśiṣa ṛtā madhu-pury abhūvan

sampaśyatāḿ puruṣa-bhūṣaṇa-gātra-lakṣmīḿ

hitvetarān nu bhajataś cakame 'yanaḿ śrīḥ

 

gopyaḥ — the gopīs; mukunda-vigame — when Lord Mukunda was departing; viraha — by feelings of separation; āturāḥ — tormented; yāḥ — which; āśāsata — they had spoken; āśiṣaḥ — the benedictions; ṛtāḥ — true; madhu-puri — in Mathurā; abhūvan — have become; sampaśyatām — for those who are fully seeing; puruṣa — of men; bhūṣaṇa — of the ornament; gātra — of His body; lakṣmīm — the beauty; hitvā — abandoning; itarān — others; nu — indeed; bhajataḥ — who were worshiping her; cakame — hankered for; ayanam — shelter; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At the time of Mukunda's [Kṛṣṇa's] departure from Vṛndāvana, the gopīs had foretold that the residents of Mathurā would enjoy many benedictions, and now the gopīs' predictions were coming true, for those residents were gazing upon the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, the jewel among men. Indeed, the goddess of fortune desired the shelter of that beauty so much that she abandoned many other men, although they worshiped her.

 

10.42.25

avaniktāńghri-yugalau

bhuktvā kṣīropasecanam

ūṣatus tāḿ sukhaḿ rātriḿ

jñātvā kaḿsa-cikīrṣitam

 

avanikta — bathed; ańghri-yugalau — the two feet of each of Them; bhuktvā — eating; kṣīra-upasecanam — boiled rice sprinkled with milk; ūṣatuḥ — They stayed there; tām — for that; sukham — comfortably; rātrim — night; jñātvā — knowing; kaḿsa-cikīrṣitam — what Kaḿsa intended to do.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After Kṛṣṇa's and Balarāma's feet were bathed, the two Lords ate rice with milk. Then, although knowing what Kaḿsa intended to do, They spent the night there comfortably.

 

 10.42.26-27

kaḿsas tu dhanuṣo bhańgaḿ

rakṣiṇāḿ sva-balasya ca

vadhaḿ niśamya govinda-

rāma-vikrīḍitaḿ param

 

dīrgha-prajāgaro bhīto

durnimittāni durmatiḥ

bahūny acaṣṭobhayathā

mṛtyor dautya-karāṇi ca

 

kaḿsaḥ — King Kaḿsa; tu — but; dhanuṣaḥ — of the bow; bhańgam — the breaking; rakṣiṇām — of the guards; sva — his; balasya — of the army; ca — and; vadham — the killing; niśamya — hearing of; govinda-rāma — of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; vikrīḍitam — the playing; param — merely;

 

dīrgha — for a long time; prajāgaraḥ — remaining awake; bhītaḥ — afraid; durnimittāni — bad omens; durmatiḥ — the wicked-minded; bahūni — many; acaṣṭa — saw; ubhayathā — in both states (sleep and wakefulness); mṛtyoḥ — of death; dautya-karāṇi — the messengers; ca — and.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Wicked King Kaḿsa, on the other hand, was terrified, having heard how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had broken the bow and killed his guards and soldiers, all simply as a game. He remained awake for a long time, and both while awake and while dreaming he saw many bad omens, messengers of death.

 

10.42.28-31

adarśanaḿ sva-śirasaḥ

pratirūpe ca saty api

asaty api dvitīye ca

dvai-rūpyaḿ jyotiṣāḿ tathā

 

chidra-pratītiś chāyāyāḿ

prāṇa-ghoṣānupaśrutiḥ

svarṇa-pratītir vṛkṣeṣu

sva-padānām adarśanam

 

svapne preta-pariṣvańgaḥ

khara-yānaḿ viṣādanam

yāyān nalada-māly ekas

tailābhyakto dig-ambaraḥ

 

anyāni cetthaḿ-bhūtāni

svapna-jāgaritāni ca

paśyan maraṇa-santrasto

nidrāḿ lebhe na cintayā

 

adarśanam — the invisibility; sva — of his own; śirasaḥ — head; pratirūpe — his reflection; ca — and; sati — being present; api — even; asati — there not being; api — even; dvitīye — a cause for duplication; ca — and; dvai-rūpyam — double image; jyotiṣām — of the heavenly bodies; tathā — also;

 

chidra — of a hole; pratītiḥ — the seeing; chāyāyām — in his shadow; prāṇa — of his life air; ghoṣa — of the reverberation; anupaśrutiḥ — the failure to hear; svarṇa — of a golden color; pratītiḥ — the perception; vṛkṣeṣu — on trees; sva — his own; padānām — footprints; adarśanam — not seeing;

 

svapne — while asleep; preta — by ghostly spirits; pariṣvańgaḥ — being embraced; khara — upon a donkey; yānam — traveling; viṣa — poison; adanam — swallowing; yāyāt — was going about; nalada — of spikenards, rose-purple flowers native to India; mālī — wearing a garland; ekaḥ — someone; taila — with oil; abhyaktaḥ — smeared; dik-ambaraḥ — naked;

 

anyāni — other (omens); ca — and; ittham-bhūtāni — like these; svapna — while asleep; jāgaritāni — while awake; ca — also; paśyan — seeing; maraṇa — of death; santrastaḥ — terrified; nidrām — sleep; lebhe — he could achieve; na — not; cintayā — because of his anxiety.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When he looked at his reflection he could not see his head; for no reason the moon and stars appeared double; he saw a hole in his shadow; he could not hear the sound of his life air; trees seemed covered with a golden hue; and he could not see his footprints. He dreamt that he was being embraced by ghosts, riding a donkey and drinking poison, and also that a naked man smeared with oil was passing by wearing a garland of nalada flowers. Seeing these and other such omens both while dreaming and while awake, Kaḿsa was terrified by the prospect of death, and out of anxiety he could not sleep.

 

10.42.32

vyuṣṭāyāḿ niśi kauravya

sūrye cādbhyaḥ samutthite

kārayām āsa vai kaḿso

malla-krīḍā-mahotsavam

 

vyuṣṭāyām — having passed; niśi — the night; kauravya — O descendant of Kuru (Parīkṣit); sūrye — the sun; ca — and; adbhyaḥ — from the water; samutthite — rising; kārayām āsa — had carried out; vai — indeed; kaḿsaḥ — Kaḿsa; malla — of wrestlers; krīḍā — of the sport; mahā-utsavam — the great festival.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the night had finally passed and the sun rose up again from the water, Kaḿsa set about arranging for the grand wrestling festival.

 

10.42.33

ānarcuḥ puruṣā rańgaḿ

tūrya-bheryaś ca jaghnire

mañcāś cālańkṛtāḥ sragbhiḥ

patākā-caila-toraṇaiḥ

 

ānarcuḥ — worshiped; puruṣāḥ — the King's men; rańgam — the arena; tūrya — musical instruments; bheryaḥ — drums; ca — and; jaghnire — they vibrated; mañcāḥ — the viewing platforms; ca — and; alańkṛtāḥ — were decorated; sragbhiḥ — with garlands; patākā — with flags; caila — cloth ribbons; toraṇaiḥ — and gateways.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King's men performed the ritual worship of the wrestling arena, sounded their drums and other instruments and decorated the viewing galleries with garlands, flags, ribbons and arches.

 

10.42.34

teṣu paurā jānapadā

brahma-kṣatra-purogamāḥ

yathopajoṣaḿ viviśū

rājānaś ca kṛtāsanāḥ

 

teṣu — upon these (platforms); paurāḥ — the city-dwellers; jānapadāḥ — and the people of the suburbs; brahma — by the brāhmaṇas; kṣatra — and the kṣatriyas; puraḥ-gamāḥ — headed; yathā-upajoṣam — as suited their comfort; viviśuḥ — came and sat; rājānaḥ — the kings; ca — also; kṛta — given; asanāḥ — special seats.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The city-dwellers and residents of the outlying districts, led by brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas, came and sat down comfortably in the galleries. The royal guests received special seats.

 

10.42.35

kaḿsaḥ parivṛto 'mātyai

rāja-mañca upāviśat

maṇḍaleśvara-madhya-stho

hṛdayena vidūyatā

 

kaḿsaḥ — Kaḿsa; parivṛtaḥ — surrounded; amātyaiḥ — by his ministers; rāja-mañce — on the King's platform; upāviśati — sat; maṇḍala-īśvara — of secondary rulers of various regions; madhya — in the midst; sthaḥ — situated; hṛdayena — with his heart; vidūyatā — trembling.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Surrounded by his ministers, Kaḿsa took his seat on the imperial dais. But even as he sat amidst his various provincial rulers, his heart trembled.

 

10.42.36

vādyamānesu tūryeṣu

malla-tālottareṣu ca

mallāḥ sv-alańkṛtāḥ dṛptāḥ

sopādhyāyāḥ samāsata

 

vādyamāneṣu — as they were being played; tūryeṣu — the musical instruments; malla — suitable for wrestling; tāla — with meters; uttareṣu — prominent; ca — and; mallāḥ — the wrestlers; su-alańkṛtāḥ — well ornamented; dṛptāḥ — proud; sa-upādhyāyāḥ — together with their instructors; samāsata — came and sat down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While the musical instruments loudly played in the rhythmic meters appropriate for wrestling matches, the lavishly ornamented wrestlers proudly entered the arena with their coaches and sat down.

 

10.42.37

cāṇūro muṣṭikaḥ kūtaḥ

śalas tośala eva ca

ta āsedur upasthānaḿ

valgu-vādya-praharṣitāḥ

 

cāṇūraḥ muṣṭikaḥ kūṭaḥ — the wrestlers Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika and Kūṭa; śalaḥ tośalaḥ — Śala and Tośala; eva ca — also; te — they; āseduḥ — sat down; upasthānam — on the mat of the wrestling ring; valgu — pleasing; vādya — by the music; praharṣitāḥ — enthused.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Enthused by the pleasing music, Canura, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala and Tośala sat down on the wrestling mat.

 

10.42.38

nanda-gopādayo gopā

bhoja-rāja-samāhutāḥ

niveditopāyanās ta

ekasmin mañca āviśan

 

nanda-gopa-ādayaḥ — headed by Nanda Gopa; gopāḥ — the cowherds; bhoja-rāja — by Kaḿsa, King of the Bhojas; samāhutāḥ — called forward; nivedita — presenting; upāyanāḥ — their offerings; te — they; ekasmin — in one; mañce — viewing gallery; āviśan — sat down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nanda Mahārāja and the other cowherds, summoned by the King of the Bhojas, presented him with their offerings and then took their seats in one of the galleries.