S'rîmad Bâgavatam - Canto 10
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

 

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Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

 

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Chapter Fifty-nine: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

 

 

TEXT 1

s'rî-râjovâca yathâ hato bhagavatâ

bhaumo yene ca tâh striyah

niruddhâ etad âcakshva

vikramam s'ârnga-dhanvanah

s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King (Parîkchit) said; yathâ - how; hatah - killed; bhagavatâ - by the Supreme Lord; bhaumah - Narakâsura, the son of Bhûmi, goddess of the earth; yena - by whom; ca - and; tâh - these; striyah - women; niruddhâh - captured; etat - this; âcakshva - please tell; vikramam - adventure; s'ârnga-dhanvanah - of Lord Krishna, the possessor of the bow S'ârnga.

TRANSLATION

[King Parîkchit said:] How was Bhaumâsura, who kidnapped so many women, killed by the Supreme Lord? Please narrate this adventure of Lord S'ârngadhanvâ's.

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TEXTS 2 - 3

s'rî-s'uka uvâca

indrena hrita-chatrena

hrita-kundala-bandhunâ

hritâmarâdri-sthânena

jñâpito bhauma-ceshthitam

sa-bhâryo garudârûdhah

prâg-jyotisha-puram yayau

 

giri-durgaih s'astra-durgair

jalâgny-anila-durgamam

mura-pâs'âyutair ghorair

dridhaih sarvata âvritam

s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; indrena - by Lord Indra; hrita- chatrena - who had suffered the theft of (Varuna's) umbrella; hrita- kundala - the theft of the earrings; bandhunâ - of his relative (his mother Aditi); hrita - and the theft; amara-adri - on the mountain of the demigods (Mandara); sthânena - of the special location (the recreational area at its peak, known as Mani-parvata); jñâpitah - informed; bhauma-ceshthitam - of the activities of Bhauma; sa - together with; bhâryah - His wife (Satyabhâmâ); garuda-ârûdhah - riding on the giant bird Garuda; prâg-jyotisha-puram - to the city of Prâgjyotisha-pura, Bhauma's capital (still existing today as Tejpur in Assam); yayau - He went;

giri - consisting of mountains; durgaih - by fortifications; s'astra - consisting of weapons; durgaih - by fortifications; jala - of water; agni - fire; anila - and wind; durgamam - made inaccessible by fortifications; mura-pâs'a - by a dangerous wall of cables; ayutaih - tens of thousands; ghoraih - fearsome; dridhaih - and strong; sarvatah - on all sides; âvritam - surrounded.

TRANSLATION

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After Bhauma had stolen the earrings belonging to Indra's mother, along with Varuna's umbrella and the demigods' playground at the peak of Mandara mountain, Indra went to Lord Krishna and informed Him of these misdeeds. The Lord, taking His wife Satyabhâmâ with Him, then rode on Garuda to Prâgyotisha-pura, which was surrounded on all sides by fortifications consisting of hills, unmanned weapons, water, fire and wind, and by obstructions of mura-pâs'a wire.

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TEXT 4

gadayâ nirbibhedâdrîn

s'astra-durgâni sâyakaih

cakrenâgnim jalam vâyum

mura-pâs'âms tathâsinâ

gadayâ - with His club; nirbibheda - He broke through; adrîn - the hills; s'astra- durgâni - the weapon obstacles; sâyakaih - with His arrows; cakrena - with His disc; agnim - the fire; jalam - water; vâyum - and wind; mura-pâs'ân - the cable obstructions; tathâ - similarly; asinâ - with His sword.

TRANSLATION

With His club the Lord broke through the rock fortifications; with His arrows, the weapon fortifications; with His disc, the fire, water and wind fortifications; and with His sword, the mura-pâs'a cables.

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TEXT 5

s'ankha-nâdena yantrâni

hridayâni manasvinâm

prâkâram gadayâ gurvyâ

nirbibheda gadâdharah

s'ankha - of His conchshell; nâdena - with the resounding; yantrâni - the mystic talismans; hridayâni - the hearts; manasvinâm - of the brave warriors; prâkâram - the ramparts; gadayâ - with His club; gurvyâ - heavy; nirbibheda - He broke; gadâdharah - Lord Krishna.

TRANSLATION

With the sound of His conchshell Lord Gadâdhara then shattered the magic seals of the fortress, along with the hearts of its brave defenders, and with His heavy club He demolished the surrounding earthen ramparts.

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TEXT 6

pâñcajanya-dhvanim s'rutvâ

yugântas'ani-bhîshanam

murah s'ayâna uttasthau

daityah pañca-s'irâ jalât

pâñcajanya - of Pâñcajanya, Lord Krishna's conchshell; dhvanim - the vibration; s'rutvâ - hearing; yuga - of the universal era; anta - at the end; as'ani - (like the sound) of lightning; bhîshanam - terrifying; murah - Mura; s'ayânah - sleeping; uttasthau - stood up; daityah - the demon; pañca-s'irâh - five-headed; jalât - from the water (of the moat surrounding the fortress).

TRANSLATION

The five-headed demon Mura, who slept at the bottom of the city's moat, awoke and rose up out of the water when he heard the vibration of Lord Krishna's Pâñcajanya conchshell, a sound as terrifying as the thunder at the end of the cosmic age.

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TEXT 7

tri-s'ûlam udyamya su-durnirîkshano

yugânta-sûryânala-rocir ulbanah

grasams tri-lokîm iva pañcabhir mukhair

abhyadravat târkshya-sutam yathoragah

tri-s'ûlam - his trident; udyamya - raising; su - very; durnirîkshanah - difficult to look at; yuga-anta - at the end of a millennium; sûrya - of the sun; anala - (like) the fire; rocih - whose effulgence; ulbanah - terrible; grasan - swallowing; tri-lokîm - the three worlds; iva - as if; pañcabhih - with his five; mukhaih - mouths; abhyadravat - he attacked; târkshya-sutam - Garuda, the son of Târkshya; yathâ - as; uragah - a snake.

TRANSLATION

Shining with the blinding, terrible effulgence of the sun's fire at the end of a millennium, Mura seemed to be swallowing up the three worlds with his five mouths. He lifted up his trident and fell upon Garuda, the son of Târkshya, like an attacking snake.

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TEXT 8

âvidhya s'ûlam tarasâ garutmate

nirasya vaktrair vyanadat sa pañcabhih

sa rodasî sarva-dis'o 'mbaram mahân

âpûrayann anda-kathâham âvrinot

âvidhya - whirling about; s'ûlam - his trident; tarasâ - with great force; garutmate - at Garuda; nirasya - throwing it; vaktraih - with his mouths; vyanadat - roared; sah - he; pañcabhih - five; sah - that; rodasî - the earth and sky; sarva - all; dis'ah - the directions; ambaram - outer space; mahân - the great (roar); âpûrayan - filling; anda - of the egglike covering of the universe; kathâham - the pot; âvrinot - covered.

TRANSLATION

Mura whirled his trident and then hurled it fiercely at Garuda, roaring from all five mouths. The sound filled the earth and sky, all directions and the limits of outer space, until it reverberated against the very shell of the universe.

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TEXT 9

tadâpatad vai tri-s'ikham garutmate

harih s'arâbhyâm abhinat tridhojasâ

mukheshu tam câpi s'arair atâdayat

tasmai gadâm so 'pi rushâ vyamuñcata

tadâ - then; âpatat - flying; vai - indeed; tri-s'ikham - the trident; garutmate - toward Garuda; harih - Lord Krishna; s'arâbhyâm - with two arrows; abhinat - broke; tridhâ - into three pieces; ojasâ - forcefully; mukheshu - on his faces; tam - him, Mura; ca - and; api - also; s'araih - with arrows; atâdayat - He struck; tasmai - at Him, Lord Krishna; gadâm - his club; sah - he, Mura; api - and; rushâ - in anger; vyamuñcata - released.

TRANSLATION

Then with two arrows Lord Hari struck the trident flying toward Garuda and broke it into three pieces. Next the Lord hit Mura's faces with several arrows, and the demon angrily hurled his club at the Lord.

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TEXT 10

tâm âpatantîm gadayâ gadâm mridhe

gadâgrajo nirbibhide sahasradhâ

udyamya bâhûn abhidhâvato 'jitah

s'irâmsi cakrena jahâra lîlayâ

tâm - that; âpatantîm - flying toward; gadayâ - with His club; gadâm - the club; mridhe - on the battleground; gada-agrajah - Lord Krishna, the elder brother of Gada; nirbibhide - broke; sahasradhâ - into thousands of pieces; udyamya - raising; bâhûn - his arms; abhidhâvatah - of the one running at him; ajitah - unconquerable Lord Krishna; s'irâmsi - the heads; cakrena - with His disc; jahâra - removed; lîlayâ - easily.

TRANSLATION

As Mura's club sped toward Him on the battlefield, Lord Gadâgraja intercepted it with His own and broke it into thousands of pieces. Mura then raised his arms high and rushed at the unconquerable Lord, who easily sliced off his heads with His disc weapon.

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TEXT 11

vyasuh papâtâmbhasi kritta-s'îrsho

nikritta-s'ringo 'drir ivendra-tejasâ

tasyâtmajâh sapta pitur vadhâturâh

pratikriyâmarsha-jushah samudyatâh

vyasuh - lifeless; papâta - he fell; ambhasi - into the water; kritta - severed; s'îrshah - his heads; nikritta - cut off; s'ringah - whose peak; adrih - a mountain; iva - as if; indra - of Lord Indra; tejasâ - by the power (that is, by his thunderbolt); tasya - his, Mura's; âtma-jâh - sons; sapta - seven; pituh - of their father; vadha - by the killing; âturâh - very distressed; pratikriyâ - for retribution; amarsha - fury; jushah - feeling; samudyatâh - aroused to action.

TRANSLATION

Lifeless, Mura's decapitated body fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been severed by the power of Lord Indra's thunderbolt. The demon's seven sons, enraged by their father's death, prepared to retaliate.

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TEXT 12

tâmro 'ntarikshah s'ravano vibhâvasur

vasur nabhasvân arunas' ca saptamah

pîthham puraskritya camû-patim mridhe

bhauma-prayuktâ niragan dhritâyudhâh

tâmrah antarikshah s'ravanah vibhâvasuh - Tâmra, Antariksha, S'ravana and Vibhâvasu; vasuh nabhasvân - Vasu and Nabhasvân; arunah - Aruna; ca - and; saptamah - the seventh; pîthham - Pîthha; purah-kritya - putting at the head; camû- patim - their commander in chief; mridhe - on the battlefield; bhauma - by Bhaumâsura; prayuktâh - engaged; niragan - they came out (of the fortress); dhrita - carrying; âyudhâh - weapons.

TRANSLATION

Ordered by Bhaumâsura, Mura's seven sons - Tâmra, Antariksha, S'ravana, Vibhâvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvân and Aruna - followed their general, Pîthha, onto the battlefield bearing their weapons.

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TEXT 13

prâyuñjatâsâdya s'arân asîn gadâh

s'akty-rishthi-s'ûlâny ajite rusholbanâh

tac-chastra-kûtham bhagavân sva-mârganair

amogha-vîryas tilas'as' cakarta ha

prâyuñjata - they used; âsâdya - attacking; s'arân - arrows; asîn - swords; gadâh - clubs; s'akti - spears; rishti - lances; s'ûlâni - and tridents; ajite - against Lord Krishna, the unconquerable; rushâ - angrily; ulbanâh - fierce; tat - their; s'astra - of weapons; kûtham - the mountain; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; sva - with His own; mârganaih - arrows; amogha - never frustrated; vîryah - whose prowess; tilas'ah - into particles the size of sesame seeds; cakarta ha - He cut.

TRANSLATION

These fierce warriors furiously attacked invincible Lord Krishna with arrows, swords, clubs, spears, lances and tridents, but the Supreme Lord, with unfailing prowess, cut this mountain of weapons into tiny pieces with His arrows.

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TEXT 14

tân pîthha-mukhyân anayad yama-kshayam

nikritta-s'îrshoru-bhujânghri-varmanah

svânîka-pân acyuta-cakra-sâyakais

tathâ nirastân narako dharâ-sutah

nirîkshya durmarshana âsravan-madair

gajaih payodhi-prabhavair nirâkramât

tân - them; pîthha-mukhyân - headed by Pîthha; anayat - He sent; yama - of Yamarâja, the lord of death; kshayam - to the abode; nikritta - cut off; s'îrsha - their heads; ûru - thighs; bhuja - arms; anghri - legs; varmanah - and armor; sva - his; anîka - of the army; pân - the leaders; acyuta - of Lord Krishna; cakra - by the disc; sâyakaih - and arrows; tathâ - thus; nirastân - removed; narakah - Bhauma; dharâ - of the goddess of the earth; sutah - the son; nirîkshya - seeing; durmarshanah - unable to tolerate; âsravat - exuding; madaih - a viscous secretion produced from the foreheads of excited elephants; gajaih - with elephants; payah-dhi - from the ocean of milk; prabhavaih - born; nirâkramât - he came out.

TRANSLATION

The Lord severed the heads, thighs, arms, legs and armor of these opponents led by Pîthha and sent them all to the abode of Yamarâja. Narakâsura, the son of the earth, could not contain his fury when he saw the fate of his military leaders. Thus he went out of the citadel with elephants born from the Milk Ocean who were exuding mada from their foreheads out of excitement.

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TEXT 15

drishthvâ sa-bhâryam garudopari sthitam

sûryoparishthât sa-tadid ghanam yathâ

krishnam sa tasmai vyasrijac chata-ghnîm

yodhâs' ca sarve yugapac ca vivyadhuh

drishthvâ - seeing; sa-bhâryam - with His wife; garuda-upari - upon Garuda; sthitam - sitting; sûrya - the sun; uparishthât - higher than; sa-tadit - with lightning; ghanam - a cloud; yathâ - like; krishnam - Lord Krishna; sah - he, Bhauma; tasmai - at Him; vyasrijat - released; s'ata-ghnîm - S'ataghnî (the name of his s'akti spear); yodhâh - his soldiers; ca - and; sarve - all; yugapat - simultaneously; ca - and; vivyadhuh - attacked.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krishna and His wife, mounted upon Garuda, looked like a cloud with lightning sitting above the sun. Seeing the Lord, Bhauma released his S'ataghnî weapon at Him, whereupon all of Bhauma's soldiers simultaneously attacked with their weapons.

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TEXT 16

tad bhauma-sainyam bhagavân gadâgrajo

vicitra-vâjair nis'itaih s'ilîmukhaih

nikritta-bâhûru-s'irodhra-vigraham

cakâra tarhy eva hatâs'va-kuñjaram

tat - that; bhauma-sainyam - army of Bhaumâsura; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; gadâgrajah - Krishna; vicitra - variegated; vâjaih - whose feathers; nis'itaih - sharp; s'ilîmukhaih - with arrows; nikritta - cut off; bâhu - with arms; ûru - thighs; s'irah-dhra - and necks; vigraham - whose bodies; cakâra - made; tarhi eva - at that same moment; hata - killed; as'va - the horses; kuñjaram - and elephants.

TRANSLATION

At that moment Lord Gadâgraja shot His sharp arrows at Bhaumâsura's army. These arrows, displaying variegated feathers, soon reduced that army to a mass of bodies with severed arms, thighs and necks. The Lord similarly killed the opposing horses and elephants.

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TEXTS 17 - 19

yâni yodhaih prayuktâni

s'astrâstrâni kurûdvaha

haris tâny acchinat tîkshnaih

s'arair ekaikas'as trîbhih

 

uhyamânah suparnena

pakshâbhyâm nighnatâ gajân

gurutmatâ hanyamânâs

 

tunda-paksha-nakher gajâh

puram evâvis'ann ârtâ

narako yudhy ayudhyata

yâni - those which; yodhaih - by the warriors; prayuktâni - used; s'astra - cutting weapons; astrâni - and missile weapons; kuru-udvaha - O hero of the Kurus (King Parîkchit); harih - Lord Krishna; tâni - them; acchinat - cut to pieces; tîkshnaih - sharp; s'araih - with arrows; ekas'ah - each one; tribhih - with three;

uhyamânah - being carried; su-parnena - by him of the great wings (Garuda); pakshâbhyâm - with both his wings; nighnatâ - who was striking; gajân - the elephants; gurutmatâ - by Garuda; hanyamânah - being beaten;

tunda - with his beak; paksha - wings; nakheh - and talons; gajâh - the elephants; puram - into the city; eva - indeed; âvis'ann - going back inside; ârtâh - distressed; narakah - Naraka (Bhauma); yudhi - in the battle; ayudhyata - continued fighting.

TRANSLATION

Lord Hari then struck down all the missiles and weapons the enemy soldiers threw at Him, O hero of the Kurus, destroying each and every one with three sharp arrows. Meanwhile Garuda, as he carried the Lord, struck the enemy's elephants with his wings. Beaten by Garuda's wings, beak and talons, the elephants fled back into the city, leaving Narakâsura alone on the battlefield to oppose Krishna.

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TEXT 20

drishthvâ vidrâvitam sainyam

garudenârditam svakam

tam bhaumah prâharac chaktyâ

vajrah pratihato yatah

nâkampata tayâ viddho

mâlâhata iva dvipah

drishthvâ - seeing; vidrâvitam - driven away; sainyam - the army; garudena - by Garuda; arditam - tormented; svakam - his; tam - him, Garuda; bhaumah - Bhaumâsura; prâharat - struck; s'aktyâ - with his spear; vajrah - the thunderbolt (of Lord Indra); pratihatah - counteracted; yatah - by which; na akampata - he (Garuda) was not shaken; tayâ - by it; viddhah - struck; mâlâ - by a flower garland; âhatah - hit; iva - like; dvipah - an elephant.

TRANSLATION

Seeing his army driven back and tormented by Garuda, Bhauma attacked him with his spear, which had once defeated Lord Indra's thunderbolt. But though struck by that mighty weapon, Garuda was not shaken. Indeed, he was like an elephant hit with a flower garland.

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TEXT 21

s'ûlam bhaumo 'cyutam hantum

âdade vitathodyamah

tad-visargât pûrvam eva

narakasya s'iro harih

apâharad gaja-sthasya

cakrena kshura-neminâ

s'ûlam - his trident; bhaumah - Bhauma; acyutam - Lord Krishna; hantum - to kill; âdade - took up; vitatha - frustrated; udyamah - whose endeavors; tat - its; visargât - release; pûrvam - before; eva - even; narakasya - of Bhauma; s'irah - the head; harih - Lord Krishna; apâharat - removed; gaja - on his elephant; sthasya - who was seated; cakrena - with His disc; kshura - razor-sharp; neminâ - whose edge.

TRANSLATION

Bhauma, frustrated in all his attempts, took up his trident to kill Lord Krishna. But even before he could release it, the Lord cut off his head with His razor-sharp cakra as the demon sat atop his elephant.

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TEXT 22

sa-kundalam câru-kirîtha-bhûshanam

babhau prithivyâm patitam samujjvalam

ha heti sâdhv ity rishayah sures'varâ

mâlyair mukundam vikiranta îdire

sa - together with; kundalam - earrings; câru - attractive; kirîtha - with a helmet; bhûshanam - decorated; babhau - shone; prithivyâm - on the ground; patitam - fallen; samujjvalam - brilliant; hâ hâ iti - "alas, alas!"; sâdhu iti - "excellent!"; rishayah - the sages; sura-îs'varah - and the chief demigods; mâlyaih - with flower garlands; mukundam - Lord Krishna; vikirantah - showering; îdire - they worshiped.

TRANSLATION

Fallen on the ground, Bhaumâsura's head shone brilliantly, decorated as it was with earrings and an attractive helmet. As cries of "Alas, alas!" and "Well done!" arose, the sages and principal demigods worshiped Lord Mukunda by showering Him with flower garlands.

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TEXT 23

tatas' ca bhûh krishnam upetya kundale

pratapta-jâmbûnada-ratna-bhâsvare

sa-vaijayantyâ vana-mâlayârpayat

prâcetasam chatram atho mahâ-manim

tatah - then; ca - and; bhûh - the goddess of the earth; krishnam - Lord Krishna; upetya - approaching; kundale - the two earrings (belonging to Aditi); pratapta - glowing; jâmbûnada - gold; ratna - with jewels; bhâsvare - shining; sa - together with; vaijayantyâ - named Vaijayantî; vana-mâlayâ - and with a flower garland; arpayat - presented; prâcetasam - of Varuna; chatram - the umbrella; atha u - then; mahâ-manim - Mani-parvata, the peak of Mandara Mountain.

TRANSLATION

The goddess of the earth then approached Lord Krishna and presented Him with Aditi's earrings, which were made of glowing gold inlaid with shining jewels. She also gave Him a Vaijayantî flower garland, Varuna's umbrella and the peak of Mandara Mountain.

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TEXT 24

astaushîd atha vis'ves'am

devî deva-varârcitam

prâñjalih pranatâ râjan

bhakti-pravanayâ dhiyâ

astaushît - praised; atha - then; vis'va - of the universe; îs'am - the Lord; devî - the goddess; deva - of demigods; vara - by the best; arcitam - who is worshiped; prâñjalih - folding her palms; pranatâ - bowed down; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); bhakti - of devotion; pravanayâ - full; dhiyâ - with a mentality.

TRANSLATION

O King, after bowing down to Him and then standing with joined palms, the goddess, her mind filled with devotion, began to praise the Lord of the universe, whom the best of demigods worship.

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TEXT 25

bhûmir uvâca

namas te deva-deves'a

s'ankha-cakra-gadâ-dhara

bhaktecchopâtta-rûpâya

paramâtman namo 'stu te

bhûmih uvâca - the earth-goddess said; namah - obeisances; te - unto You; deva- deva - of the lords of the demigods; îs'a - O Lord; s'ankha - of the conchshell; cakra - disc; gadâ - and club; dhara - O holder; bhakta - of Your devotees; icchâ - by the desire; upâtta - who have assumed; rûpâya - Your forms; parama- âtman - O Supreme Soul; namah - obeisances; astu - let there be; te - unto You.

TRANSLATION

Goddess Bhûmi said: Obeisances unto You, O Lord of the chief demigods, O holder of the conchshell, disc and club. O Supreme Soul within the heart, You assume Your various forms to fulfill Your devotees' desires. Obeisances unto You.

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TEXT 26

namah pankaja-nâbhâya

namah pankaja-mâline

namah pankaja-netrâya

namas tepankajânghraye

namah - all respectful obeisances; pankaja-nâbhâya - unto the Lord who has a specific depression resembling a lotus flower in the center of His abdomen; namah - obeisances; pankaja-mâline - one who is always decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; namah - obeisances; pankaja-netrâya - one whose glance is as cooling as a lotus flower; namah te - respectful obeisances unto You; pankaja- anghraye - unto You, the soles of whose feet are engraved with lotus flowers (and who are therefore said to possess lotus feet).

TRANSLATION

My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.

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TEXT 27

namo bhagavate tubhyam

vâsudevâya vishnave

purushâyâdi-bîjâya

pûrna-bodhâya te namah

namah - obeisances; bhagavate - to the Supreme Godhead; tubhyam - unto You; vâsudevâya - Lord Vâsudeva, the shelter of all created beings; vishnave - all- pervading Lord Vishnu; purushâya - the primeval person; âdi - original; bîjâya - the seed; pûrna - full; bodhâya - knowledge; te - to You; namah - obeisances.

TRANSLATION

Obeisances unto You, the Supreme Lord Vâsudeva, Vishnu, the primeval person, the original seed. Obeisances unto You, the omniscient one.

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TEXT 28

ajâya janayitre 'sya

brahmane 'nanta-s'aktaye

parâvarâtman bhûtâtman

paramâtman namo 'stu te

ajâya - to the unborn; janayitre - the progenitor; asya - of this (universe); brahmane - the Absolute; ananta - unlimited; s'aktaye - whose energies; para - of the superior; avara - and the inferior; âtman - O Soul; bhûta - of the material creation; âtman - O Soul; parama-âtman - O Supreme Soul, who are all-pervading; namah - obeisances; astu - may there be; te - unto You.

TRANSLATION

Obeisances unto You of unlimited energies, the unborn progenitor of this universe, the Absolute. O Soul of the high and the low, O Soul of the created elements, O all-pervading Supreme Soul, obeisances unto You.

******

 

TEXT 29

tvam vai sisrikshur aja utkatham prabho

tamo nirodhâya bibharshy asamvritah

sthânâya sattvam jagato jagat-pate

kâlah pradhânam purusho bhavân parah

tvam - You; vai - indeed; sisrikshuh - desiring to create; ajah - unborn; utkatham - prominent; prabho - O master; tamah - the mode of ignorance; nirodhâya - for annihilation; bibharshi - You assume; asamvritah - uncovered; sthânâya - for maintenance; sattvam - the mode of goodness; jagatah - of the universe; jagat-pate - O Lord of the universe; kâlah - time; pradhânam - material nature (in its original, undifferentiated state); purushah - the creator (who interacts with material nature); bhavân - You; parah - distinct.

TRANSLATION

Desiring to create, O unborn master, You increase and then assume the mode of passion. You do likewise with the mode of ignorance when You wish to annihilate the universe and with goodness when You wish to maintain it. Nonetheless, You remain uncovered by these modes. You are time, the pradhâna, and the purusha, O Lord of the universe, yet still You are separate and distinct.

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TEXT 30

aham payo jyotir athânilo nabho

mâtrâni devâ mana indriyâni

kartâ mahân ity akhilam carâcaram

tvayy advitîye bhagavan ayam bhramah

aham - myself (earth); payah - water; jyotih - fire; atha - and; anilah - air; nabhah - ether; mâtrâni - the various sense objects (corresponding to each of the five gross elements); devâh - the demigods; manah - the mind; indriyâni - the senses; kartâ - "the doer," false ego; mahân - the total material energy (mahat- tattva); iti - thus; akhilam - everything; cara - moving; acaram - and nonmoving; tvayi - within You; advitîye - who has no second; bhagavan - O Lord; ayam - this; bhramah - illusion.

TRANSLATION

This is illusion: that earth, water, fire, air, ether, sense objects, demigods, mind, the senses, false ego and the total material energy exist independent of You. In fact, they are all within You, my Lord, who are one without a second.

******

 

TEXT 31

tasyâtmajo 'yam tava pâda-pankajam

bhîtah prapannârti-haropasâditah

tat pâlayainam kuru hasta-pankajam

s'irasy amushyâkhila-kalmashâpaham

tasya - of him (Bhaumâsura); âtma-jah - son; ayam - this; tava - Your; pâda - feet; pankajam - lotuslike; bhîtah - afraid; prapanna - of those who take shelter; ârti - the distress; hara - O You who remove; upasâditah - has approached; tat - therefore; pâlaya - please protect; enam - him; kuru - place; hasta- pankajam - Your lotus hand; s'irasi - on the head; amushya - his; akhila - all; kalmasha - sins; apaham - which eradicates.

TRANSLATION

Here is the son of Bhaumâsura. Frightened, he is approaching Your lotus feet, since You remove the distress of all who seek refuge in You. Please protect him. Place Your lotus hand, which dispels all sins, upon his head.

******

 

TEXT 32

s'rî-s'uka uvâca

iti bhûmy-arthito vâgbhir

bhagavân bhakti-namrayâ

dattvâbhayam bhauma-griham

prâvis'at sakalarddhimat

s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus; bhûmi - by goddess Bhûmi; arthitah - prayed to; vâgbhih - in those words; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; bhakti - with devotion; namrayâ - humble; dattvâ - giving; abhayam - fearlessness; bhauma-griham - the residence of Bhaumâsura; prâvis'at - He entered; sakala - all; riddhi - with opulences; mat - endowed.

TRANSLATION

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus entreated by Goddess Bhûmi in words of humble devotion, the Supreme Lord bestowed fearlessness upon her grandson and then entered Bhaumâsura's palace, which was filled with all manner of riches.

******

 

TEXT 33

tatra râjanya-kanyânâm

shath-sahasrâdhikâyutam

bhaumâhritânâm vikramya

râjabhyo dadris'e harih

tatra - there; râjanya - of the royal order; kanyânâm - of maidens; shath- sahasra - six thousand; adhika - more than; ayutam - ten thousand; bhauma - by Bhauma; âhritânâm - taken; vikramya - by force; râjabhyah - from kings; dadris'e - saw; harih - Lord Krishna.

TRANSLATION

There Lord Krishna saw sixteen thousand royal maidens, whom Bhauma had taken by force from various kings.

******

 

TEXT 34

tam pravishtham striyo vîkshya

nara-varyam vimohitâh

manasâ vavrire 'bhîshtham

patim daivopasâditam

tam - Him; pravishtham - entered; striyah - the women; vîkshya - seeing; nara - of men; varyam - the most excellent; vimohitâh - enchanted; manasâ - in their minds; vavrire - chose; abhîshtham - desirable; patim - as their husband; daiva - by fate; upasâditam - brought.

TRANSLATION

The women became enchanted when they saw that most excellent of males enter. In their minds they each accepted Him, who had been brought there by destiny, as their chosen husband.

******

 

TEXT 35

bhûyât patir ayam mahyam

dhâtâ tad anumodatâm

iti sarvâh prithak krishne

bhâvena hridayam dadhuh

bhûyât - may become; patih - husband; ayam - He; mahyam - my; dhâtâ - providence; tat - that; anumodatâm - may please grant; iti - thus; sarvâh - all of them; prithak - individually; krishne - in Krishna; bhâvena - with the idea; hridayam - their hearts; dadhuh - placed.

TRANSLATION

With the thought "May providence grant that this man become my husband," each and every princess absorbed her heart in contemplation of Krishna.

******

 

TEXT 36

tâh prâhinod dvâravatîm

su-mrishtha-virajo-'mbarâh

nara-yânair mahâ-kos'ân

rathâs'vân dravinam mahât

tâh - them; prâhinot - He sent; dvâravatîm - to Dvârakâ; su-mrishtha - well cleaned; virajah - spotless; ambarâh - with clothes; nara-yânaih - by human conveyances (palanquins); mahâ - great; kos'ân - treasures; ratha - chariots; as'vân - and horses; dravinam - wealth; mahat - extensive.

TRANSLATION

The Lord had the princesses arrayed in clean, spotless garments and then sent them in palanquins to Dvârakâ, together with great treasures of chariots, horses and other valuables.

******

 

TEXT 37

airâvata-kulebhâms' ca

catur-dantâms tarasvinah

pândurâms' ca catuh-shashthim

prerayâm âsa kes'avah

airâvata - of Airâvata, Lord Indra's carrier; kula - from the family; ibhân - elephants; ca - also; catuh - four; dantân - having tusks; tarasvinah - swift; pândurân - white; ca - and; catuh-shashthim - sixty-four; prerayâm âsa - dispatched; kes'avah - Lord Krishna.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krishna also dispatched sixty-four swift white elephants, descendants of Airâvata, who each sported four tusks.

******

TEXTS 38 - 39

gatvâ surendra-bhavanam

dattvâdityai ca kundale

pûjitas tridas'endrena

mahendryânyâ ca sa-priyah

 

codito bhâryayotpâthya

pârîjâtam garutmati

âropya sendrân vibudhân

nirjityopânayat puram

gatvâ - going; sura - of the demigods; indra - of the King; bhavanam - to the abode; dattvâ - giving; adityai - to Aditi, the mother of Indra; ca - and; kundale - her earrings; pûjitah - worshiped; tridas'a - of the thirty (chief demigods); indrena - by the chief; mahâ-indryânyâ - by the wife of Lord Indra; ca - and; sa - together with; priyah - His beloved (Queen Satyabhâmâ);

coditah - urged; bhâryayâ - by His wife; utpâthya - uprooting; pârijâtam - the pârijâta tree; garutmati - on Garuda; âropya - placing; sa-indrân - including Indra; vibudhân - the demigods; nirjitya - defeating; upânayat - He brought; puram - to His city.

TRANSLATION

The Lord then went to the abode of Indra, the demigods' king, and gave mother Aditi her earrings; there Indra and his wife worshiped Krishna and His beloved consort Satyabhâmâ. Then, at Satyabhâmâ's behest the Lord uprooted the heavenly pârijâta tree and put it on the back of Garuda. After defeating Indra and all the other demigods, Krishna brought the pârijâta to His capital.

******

 

TEXT 40

sthâpitah satyabhâmâyâ

grihodyânopas'obhanah

anvagur bhramarâh svargât

tad-gandhâsava-lampathâh

sthâpitah - established; satyabhâmâyâh - of Satyabhâmâ; griha - of the residence; udyâna - the garden; upas'obhanah - beautifying; anvaguh - followed; bhramarâh - bees; svargât - from heaven; tat - for its; gandha - fragrance; âsava - and sweet sap; lampathâh - greedy.

TRANSLATION

Once planted, the pârijâta tree beautified the garden of Queen Satyabhâmâ's palace. Bees followed the tree all the way from heaven, greedy for its fragrance and sweet sap.

******

 

TEXT 41

yayâca ânamya kirîtha-kothibhih

pâdau spris'ann acyutam artha-sâdhanam

siddhârtha etena vigrihyate mahân

aho surânâm ca tamo dhig âdhyatâm

yayâca - he (Lord Indra) begged; ânamya - bowing down; kirîtha - of his crown; kothibhih - with the tips; pâdau - His feet; spris'an - touching; acyutam - to Lord Krishna; artha - his (Indra's) purpose; sâdhanam - who fulfilled; siddha - fulfilled; arthah - whose purpose; etena - with Him; vigrihyate - He quarrels; mahân - the great soul; aho - indeed; surânâm - of the demigods; ca - and; tamah - the ignorance; dhik - damnation; âdhyatâm - upon their wealth.

TRANSLATION

Even after Indra had bowed down to Lord Acyuta, touched His feet with the tips of his crown and begged the Lord to fulfill his desire, that exalted demigod, having achieved his purpose, chose to fight with the Supreme Lord. What ignorance there is among the gods! To hell with their opulence!

******

 

TEXT 42

atho muhûrta ekasmin

nânâgâreshu tâh striyah

yathopayeme bhagavân

tâvad-rûpa-dharo 'vyayah

atha u - and then; muhûrte - at the auspicious time; ekasmin - same; nânâ - various; agâreshu - in residences; tâh - those; striyah - women; yathâ - properly; upayeme - married; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; tâvat - that many; rûpa - forms; dharah - assuming; avyayah - the imperishable one.

TRANSLATION

Then the imperishable Supreme Personality, assuming a separate form for each bride, duly married all the princesses simultaneously, each in her own palace.

******

 

TEXT 43

griheshu tâsâm anapâyy atarka-krin

nirasta-sâmyâtis'ayeshv avasthitah

reme ramâbhir nija-kâma-sampluto

yathetaro gârhaka-medhikâms' caran

griheshu - in the residences; tâsâm - their; anapâyî - never leaving; atarka - inconceivable; krit - performing deeds; nirasta - which refuted; sâmya - equality; atis'ayeshu - and superiority; avasthitah - remaining; reme - He enjoyed; ramâbhih - with the pleasing women; nija - His own; kâma - in the pleasure; samplutah - absorbed; yathâ - as; itarah - any other man; gârhaka- medhikân - the duties of household life; caran - carrying out.

TRANSLATION

The Lord, performer of the inconceivable, constantly remained in each of His queens' palaces, which were unequaled and unexcelled by any other residence. There, although fully satisfied within Himself, He enjoyed with His pleasing wives, and like an ordinary husband He carried out His household duties.

******

 

TEXT 44

ittham ramâ-patim avâpya patim striyas tâ

brahmâdayo 'pi na viduh padavîm yadîyâm

bhejur mudâviratam edhitayânurâga

hâsâvaloka-nava-sangama-jalpa-lajjâh

ittham - in this manner; ramâ-patim - the Lord of the goddess of fortune; avâpya - obtaining; patim - as their husband; striyah - the women; tâh - they; brahmâ-âdayah - Lord Brahmâ and other demigods; api - even; na viduh - do not know; padavîm - the means of attaining; yadîyâm - whom; bhejuh - partook of; mudâ - with pleasure; aviratam - incessantly; edhitayâ - increasing; anurâga - loving attraction; hâsa - smiling; avaloka - glances; nava - ever fresh; sangama - association; jalpa - playful conversations; lajjâh - and shyness.

TRANSLATION

Thus those women obtained as their husband the husband of the goddess of fortune, although even great demigods like Brahmâ do not know how to approach Him. With ever-increasing pleasure they experienced loving attraction for Him, exchanged smiling glances with Him and reciprocated with Him in ever-fresh intimacy, replete with joking and feminine shyness.

******

 

TEXT 45

pratyudgamâsana-varârhana-pada-s'auca-

tâmbûla-vis'ramana-vîjana-gandha-mâlyaih

kes'a-prasâra-s'ayana- snapanopahâryaih

dâsî-s'atâ api vibhor vidadhuh sma dâsyam

pratyudgama - by approaching; âsana - offering a seat; vara - first class; arhana - worship; pâda - His feet; s'auca - washing; tâmbûla - (offering) betel-nut preparation; vis'ramana - helping Him to relax (by massaging His feet); vîjana - fanning; gandha - (offering) fragrant substances; mâlyaih - and flower garlands; kes'a - His hair; prasâra - by dressing; s'ayana - putting to bed; snapana - bathing; upahâryaih - and by presenting gifts; dâsî - maidservants; s'atâh - having hundreds; api - although; vibhoh - for the almighty Lord; vidadhuh sma - they executed; dâsyam - service.

TRANSLATION

Although the Supreme Lord's queens each had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to personally serve the Lord by approaching Him humbly, offering Him a seat, worshiping Him with excellent paraphernalia, bathing and massaging His feet, giving Him pân to chew, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood paste, adorning Him with flower garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing Him, and presenting Him with various gifts.

 

 

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