rule



 

 
Canto 10

S'rīta Kamala

 

 

Chapter 34: Sudars'ana Delivered and S'ankhacūdha Killed



(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'The gopas one day, eager for God, with bullock carts went on a trip into the Ambikā forest. (2) There they took a bath in the Sarasvatī and worshiped with paraphernalia devotedly the mighty demigod Pas'upati [S'iva as the lord of the animals] and the goddess Ambikā [*], oh King. (3) Respectfully donating cows, gold, clothing and sweet grains to all the brahmins, they prayed: 'devo nah prīyatām' [may God be pleased with us]. (4) Following strict vows only drinking water [see 8.16], the highly blessed Nanda, Sunanda [Nanda's younger brother] and the others stayed that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī. (5) Some giant snake that was very hungry, happened to live in that forest and slithering on his belly began to swallow the sleeping Nanda. (6) Seized by the python he shouted: 'Krishna, oh Krishna, my dear boy, save this surrendered soul. This huge serpent is devouring me!' (7) Hearing his cries, the gopas rose immediately, and seeing what happened, they perplexed took up firebrands to attack the snake. (8) The snake, despite being burned by the torches, did not release Nanda. But the Supreme Lord, the Master of the Devotees came and touched him with His foot. (9) The divine touch of the Supreme Lord's foot put an end to his badness. He gave up his snake body and next assumed a form that was worshiped by the Vidyādharas [he was their leader]. (10) The Lord of the Senses then questioned the personality who, offering his obeisances and with his body adorned with a golden necklace, brilliantly shining stood before Him. (11) 'Who might you be who, shining so beautifully, are wonderful to behold? Tell Me what led to this terrible fate of having been forced to assume such a ghastly form [7.13: 11]?'

(12-13) The [erstwhile] serpent said: 'I am Sudars'ana, a certain Vidyādhara well-known for his opulence and appearance. I used to wander all the directions in my celestial carrier. Because I, conceited about my appearance, ridiculed the sages who descended from Angirā I, for my sin of deriding them, was made to assume this ugly form. (14) They, in their compassionate nature, with pronouncing their imprecation included the favor that all my viciousness would be destroyed after having being touched by the foot of the Master of All Worlds. (15) I beg You, that same person who for the surrendered souls are the remover of the fear of a material existence, oh You who by the touch of Your foot freed me from the curse, for Your permission [to return to my world], oh Destroyer of All Distress. (16) I am surrendered to You, oh Greatest of All Yogis, oh Supreme Personality, oh Master of the Truthful Ones. Please let me go, oh Lord, oh Controller of all the Controllers of the Universe. (17) Seeing You I was immediately freed from the punishment of the brahmins, oh Acyuta, oh You whose name, being sung, instantly purifies all those who may hear it, as also the singer himself. How much more then, would it mean to be touched by Your foot?'

(18) Thus circumambulating Him and offering his obeisances, Sudars'ana took leave. He returned to heaven and Nanda was delivered from his awkward position. (19) The men of Vraja, witnessing Krishna's personal display of power, stood amazed. Thereupon they on the spot finished their duties [unto S'iva] and returned to the cowherd village, oh King, [on their way] with reverence recounting what had happened.

(20) Some day thereafter [at Gaura-pūrnimā so one says] Govinda and Rāma, whose deeds are so wonderful, in the middle of the night were playing in the forest with the girls of Vraja. (21) Their glories were charmingly sung by the group of women bound in affection to Them, whose limbs were finely decorated and smeared, wearing flower garlands and spotless clothes. (22) The two of Them [together with them] honored the nightfall with the appearance of the moon and the stars, the jasmine buds which with their fragrance intoxicated the enjoying bees, and the breeze that transported the fragrance of the lotuses. (23) They both sang for the mind and ears of all living beings to be happy, therewith in harmony from high to low producing the entire scale of notes available. (24) The gopīs who listened to Their singing, in their fascination did not notice, oh ruler of man, that their dresses slipped and their hair and flowers got disheveled. (25) While the Two thus were amusing Themselves to their heart's content, singing to the point of ecstasy, a servant of Kuvera arrived on the scene carrying the name S'ankhacūdha ['wealthy-crest']. (26) Straight in front of Their eyes, oh King, he shamelessly drove the group of women away in the northern direction, while they were crying out to the Two they had chosen as their Lords. (27) Seeing that they who belonged to Them were seized by a thief like a couple of cows and were crying out 'Oh Krishna, oh Rāma, help us!', the two brothers ran after them. (28) Calling out 'Do not be afraid', They comforted them with Their words. Quickly moving with s'ala logs in Their hands They soon caught up with that worst specimen of all Yakshas who was speeding away with great haste. (29) When he saw the two approaching like Time and Death personified, he became afraid. In his confusion he left the women behind and ran for his life. (30) Govinda pursued him wherever he fled in order to rob him of his crest jewel, while Balarāma stayed behind to protect the women. (31) Overtaking him like it was nothing, the Almighty Lord with His fist knocked off the crest jewel of the villain together with his head. (32) After thus having killed S'ankhacūdha He brought the shining jewel to His elder brother and handed it satisfied over to Him while the gopīs were watching.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded December 3, 2020. 

 

   

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'The gopas one day, eager for God, with bullock carts went on a trip into the Ambikā forest.
S'rī S'uka said: 'One day went the gopas eager for God on a trip with bullock carts into the Ambikā forest. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

There they took a bath in the Sarasvatī and worshiped with paraphernalia devotedly the mighty demigod Pas'upati [S'iva as the lord of the animals] and the goddess Ambikā [*], oh King.

There bathing in the Sarasvatī they worshiped with paraphernalia devout the mighty demigod Pas'upati [S'iva as the lord of the animals] and the goddess Ambikā [*], o King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Respectfully donating cows, gold, clothing and sweet grains to all the brahmins, they prayed: 'devo nah prīyatām' [may God be pleased with us].

With respect donating to all the brahmins cows, gold clothing and grains that mixed with honey tasted sweet prayed they to that occasion: 'devo nah prīyatām' [may God be pleased with us]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Following strict vows only drinking water [see 8.16], the highly blessed Nanda, Sunanda [Nanda's younger brother] and the others stayed that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī.

Submitting to strict vows subsisting on water only [see 8.16] stayed the highly blessed Nanda, Sunanda [Nanda's younger brother] and the others that night on the bank of the Sarasvatī. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

Some giant snake that was very hungry, happened to live in that forest and slithering on his belly began to swallow the sleeping Nanda.

Some giant snake in that vicinity most hungrily happened to go there slithering on his belly and began to swallow Nanda. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Seized by the python he shouted: 'Krishna, oh Krishna, my dear boy, save this surrendered soul. This huge serpent is devouring me!'

He, seized by the python, shouted: 'Krishna, o Krishna, my dear boy, save this surrendered soul, this huge serpent is devouring me!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Hearing his cries, the gopas rose immediately, and seeing what happened, they perplexed took up firebrands to attack the snake.

Upon hearing his cries rose the gopas immediately and seized they, perplexed to see what happened, firebrands to attack the snake. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

The snake, despite being burned by the torches, did not release Nanda. But the Supreme Lord, the Master of the Devotees came and touched him with His foot.

Despite of being burned by the torches did the snake not release Nanda but then came the Supreme Lord, the Master of the Devotees and touched him with His foot. (Vedabase)

   

Text 9

The divine touch of the Supreme Lord's foot put an end to his badness. He gave up his snake body and next assumed a form that was worshiped by the Vidyādharas [he was their leader].

And verily was by the divine touch of the Supreme Lord His foot that badness ended and could appearing from the snake's body left behind a by the Vidyādharas worshiped form [their leader thus] be seen. (Vedabase)


Text 10

The Lord of the Senses then questioned the personality who, offering his obeisances and with his body adorned with a golden necklace, brilliantly shining stood before Him.

The Lord of the Senses then questioned that personality who, head down, with his body adorned with a golden necklace, brilliantly shining stood before Him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

'Who might you be who, shining so beautifully, are wonderful to behold? Tell Me what led to this terrible fate of having been forced to assume such a ghastly form [7.13: 11]?'

'Who might you be so most beautifully shining and wondrous to see? Tell Me what led to this terrible destination of having been forced to assume such a ghastly form [7.13: 11]?' (Vedabase)

   

 Text 12-13

The [erstwhile] serpent said: 'I am Sudars'ana, a certain Vidyādhara well-known for his opulence and appearance. I used to wander all the directions in my celestial carrier. Because I, conceited about my appearance, ridiculed the sages who descended from Angirā I, for my sin of deriding them, was made to assume this ugly form.

The [erstwhile] serpent said: 'I am Sudars'ana, a certain Vidyādhara well-known for his opulence and appearance. I used to wander all the directions in my celestial carrier. Vainglorious having laughed at the sages who came forth from Angirā was I for my sin of deriding them made to assume this ugly form. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

They, in their compassionate nature, with pronouncing their imprecation included the favor that all my viciousness would be destroyed after having being touched by the foot of the Master of All Worlds.

They so compassionate of nature for sure with their pronouncing the imprecation have prepared me a blessing because thus, after being touched by the foot of the Master of All Worlds, all my viciousness was destroyed.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

I beg You, that same person who for the surrendered souls are the remover of the fear of a material existence, oh You who by the touch of Your foot freed me from the curse, for Your permission [to return to my world], oh Destroyer of All Distress.

You, the same person who for the surrendered art the Remover of the fear of a material existence, I beg for Your permission [to return to my world], o You who by the touch of Your foot freed me from the curse, o Destroyer of All Distress. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

I am surrendered to You, oh Greatest of All Yogis, oh Supreme Personality, oh Master of the Truthful Ones. Please let me go, oh Lord, oh Controller of all the Controllers of the Universe.

I am surrendered to You o Greatest of All Yogis , o Supreme Personality, o Master of the Truthful, please command me o God, o Controller of all Controllers of the Universe. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Seeing You I was immediately freed from the punishment of the brahmins, oh Acyuta, oh You whose name, being sung, instantly purifies all those who may hear it, as also the singer himself. How much more then, would it mean to be touched by Your foot?'

Seeing You I was immediately freed from the punishment of the brahmins, o Acyuta, You whose name being sung instantly purifies all those who may hear it as well as indeed the singer himself; not mentioning even what it means to be touched by Your foot!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Thus circumambulating Him and offering his obeisances, Sudars'ana took leave. He returned to heaven and Nanda was delivered from his awkward position.

Thus circumambulating offering his obeisances received Sudars'ana permission to leave His presence so that he could go to heaven and was Nanda delivered from his predicament. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The men of Vraja, witnessing Krishna's personal display of power, stood amazed. Thereupon they on the spot finished their duties [unto S'iva] and returned to the cowherd village, oh King, [on their way] with reverence recounting what had happened.

To witness that personal display of Krishna's power boggled the minds of the men of Vraja. Directly after the incident they finished their vows and turned back to the cowherd village, o King, [on their way] with reverence recounting what had happened. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

Some day thereafter [at Gaura-pūrnimā so one says] Govinda and Rāma, whose deeds are so wonderful, in the middle of the night were playing in the forest with the girls of Vraja.

Some day thereafter [at Gaura-pūrnimā one says] were Govinda and Rāma, whose deeds are so wonderful, in the middle of the night in the forest playing with the girls of Vraja. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Their glories were charmingly sung by the group of women bound in affection to Them, whose limbs were finely decorated and smeared, wearing flower garlands and spotless clothes.

Their glories were with charm sung by the womenfolk bound in affection to Them whose limbs were finely decorated and smeared next to the garlands and the impeccable clothes they wore. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

The two of Them [together with them] honored the nightfall with the appearance of the moon and the stars, the jasmine buds which with their fragrance intoxicated the enjoying bees, and the breeze that transported the fragrance of the lotuses.

Earlier that evening honored the both of Them the moon risen, the stars, the jasmine buds that with their fragrance intoxicated the bees who were mad thereafter and the breeze transporting the fragrance of the lotuses. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

They both sang for the mind and ears of all living beings to be happy, therewith in harmony from high to low producing the entire scale of notes available.

The two sang to the mind and ears of all living beings of the happiness, together producing high and low the entire scale of notes available. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

The gopīs who listened to Their singing, in their fascination did not notice, oh ruler of man, that their dresses slipped and their hair and flowers got disheveled.

The gopīs hearing their singing fascinated as they were didn't notice, o ruler of man, how their dresses slipped and their hair and flowers got disheveled. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

While the Two thus were amusing Themselves to their heart's content, singing to the point of ecstasy, a servant of Kuvera arrived on the scene carrying the name S'ankhacūdha ['wealthy-crest'].

As the two thus to their heart's content were amusing Themselves singing to the point of ecstasy, arrived a servant of Kuvera at the scene named S'ankhacūda ['wealthy-crest']. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Straight in front of Their eyes, oh King, he shamelessly drove the group of women away in the northern direction, while they were crying out to the Two they had chosen as their Lords.

Right before their eyes, o King, drove he the gathering of women who had Them for their Lords, dauntless under their cries in the northern direction. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Seeing that they who belonged to Them were seized by a thief like a couple of cows and were crying out 'Oh Krishna, oh Rāma, help us!', the two brothers ran after them.

Seeing how the ones belonging to them like a couple of cows were seized by a thief and were crying 'Krishna, o Rāma, help us!', sped the two brothers after them. (Vedabase)


Text 28

Calling out 'Do not be afraid', They comforted them with Their words. Quickly moving with s'ala logs in Their hands They soon caught up with that worst specimen of all Yakshas who was speeding away with great haste.

 No previous version - (Vedabase)


Text 29

When he saw the two approaching like Time and Death personified, he became afraid. In his confusion he left the women behind and ran for his life.

When he saw how the two like Time and Death were approaching got he afraid and left he in his confusion the women behind to run for his life. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Govinda pursued him wherever he fled in order to rob him of his crest jewel, while Balarāma stayed behind to protect the women.

Govinda eager after his crest jewel pursued him wherever he fled, while Balarāma stayed behind to protect the women. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Overtaking him like it was nothing, the Almighty Lord with His fist knocked off the crest jewel of the villain together with his head.

Overtaking him like it was nothing blew He, the Almighty Lord, with His fist in one blow off his crest jewel together with his head. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

After thus having killed S'ankhacūdha He brought the shining jewel to His elder brother and handed it satisfied over to Him while the gopīs were watching.'

Thus having killed S'ankhacūda took He the shining jewel to His elder brother and handed He, while the gopīs watching, it over to Him satisfied about what He had done.' (Vedabase)

 

*: Ambikā means mother, good woman, a name scripturally associated with the femininity of Ūma and Pārvatī in relation to Skanda, S'iva or Rudra, as a term of respect. Ambikāvana is found in the Gujarat province, near the city of Siddhapura. S'rīla Vis'vanātha Cakravartī Thhākura quotes authorities here who claim that Ambikāvana is situated at the bank of the Sarasvatī river [that does not exist any longer] and is found northwest of Mathurā. Ambikāvana is notable for its deities of S'rī S'iva and his wife, the goddess Ūma.

 

 

 

 


Creative Commons
                License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The first painting is titled: 'The Python Swallows Nanda (Recto), Singeing of the Python (Verso)'.
Folio from a Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord). India, Rajasthan, Mewar, South Asia, circa 1600-1650.
Courtesy
LACMA.
The second painting is by B.K Mitra.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

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