Chapter 59: The Killing of the Demon Naraka

 

10.59.1

śrī-rājovāca yathā hato bhagavatā

bhaumo yene ca tāḥ striyaḥ

niruddhā etad ācakṣva

vikramaḿ śārńga-dhanvanaḥ

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; yathā — how; hataḥ — killed; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord; bhaumaḥ — Narakāsura, the son of Bhūmi, goddess of the earth; yena — by whom; ca — and; tāḥ — these; striyaḥ — women; niruddhāḥ — captured; etat — this; ācakṣva — please tell; vikramam — adventure; śārńga-dhanvanaḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the possessor of the bow Śārńga.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[King Parīkṣit said:] How was Bhaumāsura, who kidnapped so many women, killed by the Supreme Lord? Please narrate this adventure of Lord Śārńgadhanvā's.

 

10.59.2-3

śrī-śuka uvāca

indreṇa hṛta-chatreṇa

hṛta-kuṇḍala-bandhunā

hṛtāmarādri-sthānena

jñāpito bhauma-ceṣṭitam

sa-bhāryo garuḍārūḍhaḥ

 

prāg-jyotiṣa-puraḿ yayau

giri-durgaiḥ śastra-durgair

jalāgny-anila-durgamam

mura-pāśāyutair ghorair

dṛḍhaiḥ sarvata āvṛtam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; indreṇa — by Lord Indra; hṛta-chatreṇa — who had suffered the theft of (Varuṇa's) umbrella; hṛta-kuṇḍala — the theft of the earrings; bandhunā — of his relative (his mother Aditi); hṛta — and the theft; amara-adri — on the mountain of the demigods (Mandara); sthānena — of the special location (the recreational area at its peak, known as Maṇi-parvata); jñāpitaḥ — informed; bhauma-ceṣṭitam — of the activities of Bhauma; sa — together with; bhāryaḥ — His wife (Satyabhāmā); garuḍa-ārūḍhaḥ — riding on the giant bird Garuḍa;

 

prāg-jyotiṣa-puram — to the city of Prāgjyotiṣa-pura, Bhauma's capital (still existing today as Tejpur in Assam); yayau — He went; giri — consisting of mountains; durgaiḥ — by fortifications; śastra — consisting of weapons; durgaiḥ — by fortifications; jala — of water; agni — fire; anila — and wind; durgamam — made inaccessible by fortifications; mura-pāśa — by a dangerous wall of cables; ayutaiḥ — tens of thousands; ghoraiḥ — fearsome; dṛḍhaiḥ — and strong; sarvataḥ — on all sides; āvṛtam — surrounded.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Bhauma had stolen the earrings belonging to Indra's mother, along with Varuṇa's umbrella and the demigods' playground at the peak of Mandara mountain, Indra went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and informed Him of these misdeeds. The Lord, taking His wife Satyabhāmā with Him, then rode on Garuḍa to Prāgyotiṣa-pura, which was surrounded on all sides by fortifications consisting of hills, unmanned weapons, water, fire and wind, and by obstructions of mura-pāśa wire.

 

10.59.4

gadayā nirbibhedādrīn

śastra-durgāṇi sāyakaiḥ

cakreṇāgniḿ jalaḿ vāyuḿ

mura-pāśāḿs tathāsinā

 

gadayā — with His club; nirbibheda — He broke through; adrīn — the hills; śastra-durgāṇi — the weapon obstacles; sāyakaiḥ — with His arrows; cakreṇa — with His disc; agnim — the fire; jalam — water; vāyum — and wind; mura-pāśān — the cable obstructions; tathā — similarly; asinā — 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-pāśa cables.

 

10.59.5

śańkha-nādena yantrāṇi

hṛdayāni manasvinām

prākāraḿ gadayā gurvyā

nirbibheda gadādharaḥ

 

śańkha — of His conchshell; nādena — with the resounding; yantrāṇi — the mystic talismans; hṛdayāni — the hearts; manasvinām — of the brave warriors; prākāram — the ramparts; gadayā — with His club; gurvyā — heavy; nirbibheda — He broke; gadādharaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With the sound of His conchshell Lord Gadādhara 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.

 

10.59.6

pāñcajanya-dhvaniḿ śrutvā

yugāntaśani-bhīṣaṇam

muraḥ śayāna uttasthau

daityaḥ pañca-śirā jalāt

 

pāñcajanya — of Pāñcajanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa's conchshell; dhvanim — the vibration; śrutvā — hearing; yuga — of the universal era; anta — at the end; aśani — (like the sound) of lightning; bhīṣaṇam — terrifying; muraḥ — Mura; śayānaḥ — sleeping; uttasthau — stood up; daityaḥ — the demon; pañca-śirāḥ — five-headed; jalāt — 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 Kṛṣṇa's Pāñcajanya conchshell, a sound as terrifying as the thunder at the end of the cosmic age.

 

10.59.7

tri-śūlam udyamya su-durnirīkṣaṇo

yugānta-sūryānala-rocir ulbaṇaḥ

grasaḿs tri-lokīm iva pañcabhir mukhair

abhyadravat tārkṣya-sutaḿ yathoragaḥ

 

tri-śūlam — his trident; udyamya — raising; su — very; durnirīkṣaṇaḥ — difficult to look at; yuga-anta — at the end of a millennium; sūrya — of the sun; anala — (like) the fire; rociḥ — whose effulgence; ulbaṇaḥ — terrible; grasan — swallowing; tri-lokīm — the three worlds; iva — as if; pañcabhiḥ — with his five; mukhaiḥ — mouths; abhyadravat — he attacked; tārkṣya-sutam — Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya; yathā — as; uragaḥ — 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 Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya, like an attacking snake.

 

10.59.8

āvidhya śūlaḿ tarasā garutmate

nirasya vaktrair vyanadat sa pañcabhiḥ

sa rodasī sarva-diśo 'mbaraḿ mahān

āpūrayann aṇḍa-kaṭāham āvṛṇot

 

āvidhya — whirling about; śūlam — his trident; tarasā — with great force; garutmate — at Garuḍa; nirasya — throwing it; vaktraiḥ — with his mouths; vyanadat — roared; saḥ — he; pañcabhiḥ — five; saḥ — that; rodasī — the earth and sky; sarva — all; diśaḥ — the directions; ambaram — outer space; mahān — the great (roar); āpūrayan — filling; aṇda — of the egglike covering of the universe; kaṭāham — the pot; āvṛṇot — covered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mura whirled his trident and then hurled it fiercely at Garuḍa, 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.

 

10.59.9

tadāpatad vai tri-śikhaḿ garutmate

hariḥ śarābhyām abhinat tridhojasā

mukheṣu taḿ cāpi śarair atāḍayat

tasmai gadāḿ so 'pi ruṣā vyamuñcata

 

tadā — then; āpatat — flying; vai — indeed; tri-śikham — the trident; garutmate — toward Garuḍa; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śarābhyām — with two arrows; abhinat — broke; tridhā — into three pieces; ojasā — forcefully; mukheṣu — on his faces; tam — him, Mura; ca — and; api — also; śaraiḥ — with arrows; atāḍayat — He struck; tasmai — at Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa; gadām — his club; saḥ — he, Mura; api — and; ruṣā — in anger; vyamuñcata — released.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then with two arrows Lord Hari struck the trident flying toward Garuḍa 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.

 

10.59.10

tām āpatantīḿ gadayā gadāḿ mṛdhe

gadāgrajo nirbibhide sahasradhā

udyamya bāhūn abhidhāvato 'jitaḥ

śirāḿsi cakreṇa jahāra līlayā

 

tām — that; āpatantīm — flying toward; gadayā — with His club; gadām — the club; mṛdhe — on the battleground; gada-agrajaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gada; nirbibhide — broke; sahasradhā — into thousands of pieces; udyamya — raising; bāhūn — his arms; abhidhāvataḥ — of the one running at him; ajitaḥ — unconquerable Lord Kṛṣṇa; śirāḿsi — the heads; cakreṇa — with His disc; jahāra — removed; līlayā — easily.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As Mura's club sped toward Him on the battlefield, Lord Gadāgraja 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.

 

10.59.11

vyasuḥ papātāmbhasi kṛtta-śīrṣo

nikṛtta-śṛńgo 'drir ivendra-tejasā

tasyātmajāḥ sapta pitur vadhāturāḥ

pratikriyāmarṣa-juṣaḥ samudyatāḥ

 

vyasuḥ — lifeless; papāta — he fell; ambhasi — into the water; kṛtta — severed; śīrṣaḥ — his heads; nikṛtta — cut off; śṛńgaḥ — whose peak; adriḥ — a mountain; iva — as if; indra — of Lord Indra; tejasā — by the power (that is, by his thunderbolt); tasya — his, Mura's; ātma-jāḥ — sons; sapta — seven; pituḥ — of their father; vadha — by the killing; āturāḥ — very distressed; pratikriyā — for retribution; amarṣa — fury; juṣaḥ — feeling; samudyatāḥ — 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.

 

10.59.12

tāmro 'ntarikṣaḥ śravaṇo vibhāvasur

vasur nabhasvān aruṇaś ca saptamaḥ

pīṭhaḿ puraskṛtya camū-patiḿ mṛdhe

bhauma-prayuktā niragan dhṛtāyudhāḥ

 

tāmraḥ antarikṣaḥ śravaṇaḥ vibhāvasuḥ — Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa and Vibhāvasu; vasuḥ nabhasvān — Vasu and Nabhasvān; aruṇaḥ — Aruṇa; ca — and; saptamaḥ — the seventh; pīṭham — Pīṭha; puraḥ-kṛtya — putting at the head; camū-patim — their commander in chief; mṛdhe — on the battlefield; bhauma — by Bhaumāsura; prayuktāḥ — engaged; niragan — they came out (of the fortress); dhṛta — carrying; āyudhāḥ — weapons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Ordered by Bhaumāsura, Mura's seven sons — Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān and Aruṇa — followed their general, Pīṭha, onto the battlefield bearing their weapons.

 

10.59.13

prāyuñjatāsādya śarān asīn gadāḥ

śakty-ṛṣṭi-śūlāny ajite ruṣolbaṇāḥ

tac-chastra-kūṭaḿ bhagavān sva-mārgaṇair

amogha-vīryas tilaśaś cakarta ha

 

prāyuñjata — they used; āsādya — attacking; śarān — arrows; asīn — swords; gadāḥ — clubs; śakti — spears; ṛṣti — lances; śūlāni — and tridents; ajite — against Lord Kṛṣṇa, the unconquerable; ruṣā — angrily; ulbaṇāḥ — fierce; tat — their; śastra — of weapons; kūṭam — the mountain; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sva — with His own; mārgaṇaiḥ — arrows; amogha — never frustrated; vīryaḥ — whose prowess; tilaśaḥ — into particles the size of sesame seeds; cakarta ha — He cut.

 

TRANSLATION

 

These fierce warriors furiously attacked invincible Lord Kṛṣṇa 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.

 

10.59.14

tān pīṭha-mukhyān anayad yama-kṣayaḿ

nikṛtta-śīrṣoru-bhujāńghri-varmaṇaḥ

svānīka-pān acyuta-cakra-sāyakais

tathā nirastān narako dharā-sutaḥ

nirīkṣya durmarṣaṇa āsravan-madair

gajaiḥ payodhi-prabhavair nirākramāt

 

tān — them; pīṭha-mukhyān — headed by Pīṭha; anayat — He sent; yama — of Yamarāja, the lord of death; kṣayam — to the abode; nikṛtta — cut off; śīrṣa — their heads; ūru — thighs; bhuja — arms; ańghri — legs; varmaṇaḥ — and armor; sva — his; anīka — of the army; pān — the leaders; acyuta — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; cakra — by the disc; sāyakaiḥ — and arrows; tathā — thus; nirastān — removed; narakaḥ — Bhauma; dharā — of the goddess of the earth; sutaḥ — the son; nirīkṣya — seeing; durmarṣaṇaḥ — unable to tolerate; āsravat — exuding; madaiḥ — a viscous secretion produced from the foreheads of excited elephants; gajaiḥ — with elephants; payaḥ-dhi — from the ocean of milk; prabhavaiḥ — born; nirākramāt — he came out.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord severed the heads, thighs, arms, legs and armor of these opponents led by Pīṭha and sent them all to the abode of Yamarāja. Narakāsura, 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.

 

10.59.15

dṛṣṭvā sa-bhāryaḿ garuḍopari sthitaḿ

sūryopariṣṭāt sa-taḍid ghanaḿ yathā

kṛṣṇaḿ sa tasmai vyasṛjac chata-ghnīḿ

yodhāś ca sarve yugapac ca vivyadhuḥ

 

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; sa-bhāryam — with His wife; garuḍa-upari — upon Garuḍa; sthitam — sitting; sūrya — the sun; upariṣṭāt — higher than; sa-taḍit — with lightning; ghanam — a cloud; yathā — like; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — he, Bhauma; tasmai — at Him; vyasṛjat — released; śata-ghnīm — Śataghnī (the name of his śakti spear); yodhāḥ — his soldiers; ca — and; sarve — all; yugapat — simultaneously; ca — and; vivyadhuḥ — attacked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.16

tad bhauma-sainyaḿ bhagavān gadāgrajo

vicitra-vājair niśitaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ

nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodhra-vigrahaḿ

cakāra tarhy eva hatāśva-kuñjaram

 

tat — that; bhauma-sainyam — army of Bhaumāsura; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; gadāgrajaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; vicitra — variegated; vājaiḥ — whose feathers; niśitaiḥ — sharp; śilīmukhaiḥ — with arrows; nikṛtta — cut off; bāhu — with arms; ūru — thighs; śiraḥ-dhra — and necks; vigraham — whose bodies; cakāra — made; tarhi eva — at that same moment; hata — killed; aśva — the horses; kuñjaram — and elephants.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that moment Lord Gadāgraja shot His sharp arrows at Bhaumāsura'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.

 

10.59.17-19

yāni yodhaiḥ prayuktāni

śastrāstrāṇi kurūdvaha

haris tāny acchinat tīkṣṇaiḥ

śarair ekaikaśas trībhiḥ

 

uhyamānaḥ suparṇena

pakṣābhyāḿ nighnatā gajān

gurutmatā hanyamānās

 

tuṇḍa-pakṣa-nakher gajāḥ

puram evāviśann ārtā

narako yudhy ayudhyata

 

yāni — those which; yodhaiḥ — by the warriors; prayuktāni — used; śastra — cutting weapons; astrāṇi — and missile weapons; kuru-udvaha — O hero of the Kurus (King Parīkṣit); hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāni — them; acchinat — cut to pieces; tīkṣṇaiḥ — sharp; śaraiḥ — with arrows; ekaśaḥ — each one; tribhiḥ — with three;

 

uhyamānaḥ — being carried; su-parṇena — by him of the great wings (Garuḍa); pakṣābhyām — with both his wings; nighnatā — who was striking; gajān — the elephants; gurutmatā — by Garuḍa; hanyamānaḥ — being beaten;

 

tuṇḍa — with his beak; pakṣa — wings; nakheḥ — and talons; gajāḥ — the elephants; puram — into the city; eva — indeed; āviśann — going back inside; ārtāḥ — distressed; narakaḥ — 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 Garuḍa, as he carried the Lord, struck the enemy's elephants with his wings. Beaten by Garuḍa's wings, beak and talons, the elephants fled back into the city, leaving Narakāsura alone on the battlefield to oppose Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.59.20

dṛṣṭvā vidrāvitaḿ sainyaḿ

garuḍenārditaḿ svakaḿ

taḿ bhaumaḥ prāharac chaktyā

vajraḥ pratihato yataḥ

nākampata tayā viddho

mālāhata iva dvipaḥ

 

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; vidrāvitam — driven away; sainyam — the army; garuḍena — by Garuḍa; arditam — tormented; svakam — his; tam — him, Garuḍa; bhaumaḥ — Bhaumāsura; prāharat — struck; śaktyā — with his spear; vajraḥ — the thunderbolt (of Lord Indra); pratihataḥ — counteracted; yataḥ — by which; na akampata — he (Garuḍa) was not shaken; tayā — by it; viddhaḥ — struck; mālā — by a flower garland; āhataḥ — hit; iva — like; dvipaḥ — an elephant.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.21

śūlaḿ bhaumo 'cyutaḿ hantum

ādade vitathodyamaḥ

tad-visargāt pūrvam eva

narakasya śiro hariḥ

apāharad gaja-sthasya

cakreṇa kṣura-neminā

 

śūlam — his trident; bhaumaḥ — Bhauma; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; hantum — to kill; ādade — took up; vitatha — frustrated; udyamaḥ — whose endeavors; tat — its; visargāt — release; pūrvam — before; eva — even; narakasya — of Bhauma; śiraḥ — the head; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; apāharat — removed; gaja — on his elephant; sthasya — who was seated; cakreṇa — with His disc; kṣura — razor-sharp; neminā — whose edge.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bhauma, frustrated in all his attempts, took up his trident to kill Lord Kṛṣṇa. 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.

 

10.59.22

sa-kuṇḍalaḿ cāru-kirīṭa-bhūṣaṇaḿ

babhau pṛthivyāḿ patitam samujjvalam

ha heti sādhv ity ṛṣayaḥ sureśvarā

mālyair mukundaḿ vikiranta īdire

 

sa — together with; kuṇḍalam — earrings; cāru — attractive; kirīṭa — with a helmet; bhūṣaṇam — decorated; babhau — shone; pṛthivyām — on the ground; patitam — fallen; samujjvalam — brilliant; hā hā iti — "alas, alas!"; sādhu iti — "excellent!"; ṛṣayaḥ — the sages; sura-īśvaraḥ — and the chief demigods; mālyaiḥ — with flower garlands; mukundam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; vikirantaḥ — showering; īḍire — they worshiped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Fallen on the ground, Bhaumāsura'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.

 

10.59.23

tataś ca bhūḥ kṛṣṇam upetya kuṇḍale

pratapta-jāmbūnada-ratna-bhāsvare

sa-vaijayantyā vana-mālayārpayat

prācetasaḿ chatram atho mahā-maṇim

 

tataḥ — then; ca — and; bhūḥ — the goddess of the earth; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; upetya — approaching; kuṇḍale — the two earrings (belonging to Aditi); pratapta — glowing; jāmbūnada — gold; ratna — with jewels; bhāsvare — shining; sa — together with; vaijayantyā — named Vaijayantī; vana-mālayā — and with a flower garland; arpayat — presented; prācetasam — of Varuṇa; chatram — the umbrella; atha u — then; mahā-maṇim — Maṇi-parvata, the peak of Mandara Mountain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.24

astauṣīd atha viśveśaḿ

devī deva-varārcitam

prāñjaliḥ praṇatā rājan

bhakti-pravaṇayā dhiyā

 

astauṣīt — praised; atha — then; viśva — of the universe; īśam — the Lord; devī — the goddess; deva — of demigods; vara — by the best; arcitam — who is worshiped; prāñjaliḥ — folding her palms; praṇatā — bowed down; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhakti — of devotion; pravaṇayā — full; dhiyā — 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.

 

10.59.25

bhūmir uvāca

namas te deva-deveśa

śańkha-cakra-gadā-dhara

bhaktecchopātta-rūpāya

paramātman namo 'stu te

 

bhūmiḥ uvāca — the earth-goddess said; namaḥ — obeisances; te — unto You; deva-deva — of the lords of the demigods; īśa — O Lord; śańkha — of the conchshell; cakra — disc; gadā — and club; dhara — O holder; bhakta — of Your devotees; icchā — by the desire; upātta — who have assumed; rūpāya — Your forms; parama-ātman — O Supreme Soul; namaḥ — obeisances; astu — let there be; te — unto You.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Goddess Bhūmi 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.

 

10.59.26

namaḥ pańkaja-nābhāya

namaḥ pańkaja-māline

namaḥ pańkaja-netrāya

namas tepańkajāńghraye

 

namaḥ — all respectful obeisances; pańkaja-nābhāya — unto the Lord who has a specific depression resembling a lotus flower in the center of His abdomen; namaḥ — obeisances; pańkaja-māline — one who is always decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; namaḥ — obeisances; pańkaja-netrāya — one whose glance is as cooling as a lotus flower; namaḥ te — respectful obeisances unto You; pańkaja-ańghraye — 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.

 

10.59.27

namo bhagavate tubhyaḿ

vāsudevāya viṣṇave

puruṣāyādi-bījāya

pūrṇa-bodhāya te namaḥ

 

namaḥ — obeisances; bhagavate — to the Supreme Godhead; tubhyam — unto You; vāsudevāya — Lord Vāsudeva, the shelter of all created beings; viṣṇave — all-pervading Lord Viṣṇu; puruṣāya — the primeval person; ādi — original; bījāya — the seed; pūrṇa — full; bodhāya — knowledge; te — to You; namaḥ — obeisances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Obeisances unto You, the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu, the primeval person, the original seed. Obeisances unto You, the omniscient one.

 

10.59.28

ajāya janayitre 'sya

brahmaṇe 'nanta-śaktaye

parāvarātman bhūtātman

paramātman namo 'stu te

 

ajāya — to the unborn; janayitre — the progenitor; asya — of this (universe); brahmaṇe — the Absolute; ananta — unlimited; śaktaye — whose energies; para — of the superior; avara — and the inferior; ātman — O Soul; bhūta — of the material creation; ātman — O Soul; parama-ātman — O Supreme Soul, who are all-pervading; namaḥ — 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.

 

10.59.29

tvaḿ vai sisṛkṣur aja utkaṭaḿ prabho

tamo nirodhāya bibharṣy asaḿvṛtaḥ

sthānāya sattvaḿ jagato jagat-pate

kālaḥ pradhānaḿ puruṣo bhavān paraḥ

 

tvam — You; vai — indeed; sisṛkṣuḥ — desiring to create; ajaḥ — unborn; utkaṭam — prominent; prabho — O master; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; nirodhāya — for annihilation; bibharṣi — You assume; asaḿvṛtaḥ — uncovered; sthānāya — for maintenance; sattvam — the mode of goodness; jagataḥ — of the universe; jagat-pate — O Lord of the universe; kālaḥ — time; pradhānam — material nature (in its original, undifferentiated state); puruṣaḥ — the creator (who interacts with material nature); bhavān — You; paraḥ — 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 pradhāna, and the puruṣa, O Lord of the universe, yet still You are separate and distinct.

 

10.59.30

ahaḿ payo jyotir athānilo nabho

mātrāṇi devā mana indriyāṇi

kartā mahān ity akhilaḿ carācaraḿ

tvayy advitīye bhagavan ayaḿ bhramaḥ

 

aham — myself (earth); payaḥ — water; jyotiḥ — fire; atha — and; anilaḥ — air; nabhaḥ — ether; mātrāṇi — the various sense objects (corresponding to each of the five gross elements); devāḥ — the demigods; manaḥ — the mind; indriyāṇi — the senses; kartā — "the doer," false ego; mahān — the total material energy (mahat-tattva); iti — thus; akhilam — everything; cara — moving; acaram — and nonmoving; tvayi — within You; advitīye — who has no second; bhagavan — O Lord; ayam — this; bhramaḥ — 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.

 

10.59.31

tasyātmajo 'yaḿ tava pāda-pańkajaḿ

bhītaḥ prapannārti-haropasāditaḥ

tat pālayainaḿ kuru hasta-pańkajaḿ

śirasy amuṣyākhila-kalmaṣāpaham

 

tasya — of him (Bhaumāsura); ātma-jaḥ — son; ayam — this; tava — Your; pāda — feet; pańkajam — lotuslike; bhītaḥ — afraid; prapanna — of those who take shelter; ārti — the distress; hara — O You who remove; upasāditaḥ — has approached; tat — therefore; pālaya — please protect; enam — him; kuru — place; hasta-pańkajam — Your lotus hand; śirasi — on the head; amuṣya — his; akhila — all; kalmaṣa — sins; apaham — which eradicates.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Here is the son of Bhaumāsura. 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.

 

10.59.32

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti bhūmy-arthito vāgbhir

bhagavān bhakti-namrayā

dattvābhayaḿ bhauma-gṛham

prāviśat sakalarddhimat

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; bhūmi — by goddess Bhūmi; arthitaḥ — prayed to; vāgbhiḥ — in those words; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhakti — with devotion; namrayā — humble; dattvā — giving; abhayam — fearlessness; bhauma-gṛham — the residence of Bhaumāsura; prāviśat — He entered; sakala — all; ṛddhi — with opulences; mat — endowed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus entreated by Goddess Bhūmi in words of humble devotion, the Supreme Lord bestowed fearlessness upon her grandson and then entered Bhaumāsura's palace, which was filled with all manner of riches.

 

10.59.33

tatra rājanya-kanyānāḿ

ṣaṭ-sahasrādhikāyutam

bhaumāhṛtānāḿ vikramya

rājabhyo dadṛśe hariḥ

 

tatra — there; rājanya — of the royal order; kanyānām — of maidens; ṣaṭ-sahasra — six thousand; adhika — more than; ayutam — ten thousand; bhauma — by Bhauma; āhṛtānām — taken; vikramya — by force; rājabhyaḥ — from kings; dadṛśe — saw; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.34

tam praviṣṭaḿ striyo vīkṣya

nara-varyaḿ vimohitāḥ

manasā vavrire 'bhīṣṭaḿ

patiḿ daivopasāditam

 

tam — Him; praviṣṭam — entered; striyaḥ — the women; vīkṣya — seeing; nara — of men; varyam — the most excellent; vimohitāḥ — enchanted; manasā — in their minds; vavrire — chose; abhīṣṭam — desirable; patim — as their husband; daiva — by fate; upasāditam — 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.

 

10.59.35

bhūyāt patir ayaḿ mahyaḿ

dhātā tad anumodatām

iti sarvāḥ pṛthak kṛṣṇe

bhāvena hṛdayaḿ dadhuḥ

 

bhūyāt — may become; patiḥ — husband; ayam — He; mahyam — my; dhātā — providence; tat — that; anumodatām — may please grant; iti — thus; sarvāḥ — all of them; pṛthak — individually; kṛṣṇe — in Kṛṣṇa; bhāvena — with the idea; hṛdayam — their hearts; dadhuḥ — placed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.36

tāḥ prāhiṇod dvāravatīḿ

su-mṛṣṭa-virajo-'mbarāḥ

nara-yānair mahā-kośān

rathāśvān draviṇaḿ mahāt

 

tāḥ — them; prāhiṇot — He sent; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; su-mṛṣṭa — well cleaned; virajaḥ — spotless; ambarāḥ — with clothes; nara-yānaiḥ — by human conveyances (palanquins); mahā — great; kośān — treasures; ratha — chariots; aśvān — and horses; draviṇam — wealth; mahat — extensive.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.37

airāvata-kulebhāḿś ca

catur-dantāḿs tarasvinaḥ

pāṇḍurāḿś ca catuḥ-ṣaṣṭiḿ

prerayām āsa keśavaḥ

 

airāvata — of Airāvata, Lord Indra's carrier; kula — from the family; ibhān — elephants; ca — also; catuḥ — four; dantān — having tusks; tarasvinaḥ — swift; pāṇḍurān — white; ca — and; catuḥ-ṣaṣṭim — sixty-four; prerayām āsa — dispatched; keśavaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.38-39

gatvā surendra-bhavanaḿ

dattvādityai ca kuṇḍale

pūjitas tridaśendreṇa

mahendryāṇyā ca sa-priyaḥ

 

codito bhāryayotpāṭya

pārījātaḿ garutmati

āropya sendrān vibudhān

nirjityopānayat puram

 

gatvā — going; sura — of the demigods; indra — of the King; bhavanam — to the abode; dattvā — giving; adityai — to Aditi, the mother of Indra; ca — and; kuṇḍale — her earrings; pūjitaḥ — worshiped; tridaśa — of the thirty (chief demigods); indreṇa — by the chief; mahā-indryāṇyā — by the wife of Lord Indra; ca — and; sa — together with; priyaḥ — His beloved (Queen Satyabhāmā); coditaḥ — urged; bhāryayā — by His wife; utpāṭya — uprooting; pārijātam — the pārijāta tree; garutmati — on Garuḍa; āropya — placing; sa-indrān — including Indra; vibudhān — the demigods; nirjitya — defeating; upānayat — 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 Kṛṣṇa and His beloved consort Satyabhāmā. Then, at Satyabhāmā's behest the Lord uprooted the heavenly pārijāta tree and put it on the back of Garuḍa. After defeating Indra and all the other demigods, Kṛṣṇa brought the pārijāta to His capital.

 

10.59.40

sthāpitaḥ satyabhāmāyā

gṛhodyānopaśobhanaḥ

anvagur bhramarāḥ svargāt

tad-gandhāsava-lampaṭāḥ

 

sthāpitaḥ — established; satyabhāmāyāḥ — of Satyabhāmā; gṛha — of the residence; udyāna — the garden; upaśobhanaḥ — beautifying; anvaguḥ — followed; bhramarāḥ — bees; svargāt — from heaven; tat — for its; gandha — fragrance; āsava — and sweet sap; lampaṭāḥ — greedy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

10.59.41

yayāca ānamya kirīṭa-koṭibhiḥ

pādau spṛśann acyutam artha-sādhanam

siddhārtha etena vigṛhyate mahān

aho surāṇāḿ ca tamo dhig āḍhyatām

 

yayāca — he (Lord Indra) begged; ānamya — bowing down; kirīṭa — of his crown; koṭibhiḥ — with the tips; pādau — His feet; spṛśan — touching; acyutam — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; artha — his (Indra's) purpose; sādhanam — who fulfilled; siddha — fulfilled; arthaḥ — whose purpose; etena — with Him; vigṛhyate — He quarrels; mahān — the great soul; aho — indeed; surāṇām — of the demigods; ca — and; tamaḥ — the ignorance; dhik — damnation; āḍhyatām — 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!

 

10.59.42

atho muhūrta ekasmin

nānāgāreṣu tāḥ striyaḥ

yathopayeme bhagavān

tāvad-rūpa-dharo 'vyayaḥ

 

atha u — and then; muhūrte — at the auspicious time; ekasmin — same; nānā — various; agāreṣu — in residences; tāḥ — those; striyaḥ — women; yathā — properly; upayeme — married; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tāvat — that many; rūpa — forms; dharaḥ — assuming; avyayaḥ — 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.

 

10.59.43

gṛheṣu tāsām anapāyy atarka-kṛn

nirasta-sāmyātiśayeṣv avasthitaḥ

reme ramābhir nija-kāma-sampluto

yathetaro gārhaka-medhikāḿś caran

 

gṛheṣu — in the residences; tāsām — their; anapāyī — never leaving; atarka — inconceivable; kṛt — performing deeds; nirasta — which refuted; sāmya — equality; atiśayeṣu — and superiority; avasthitaḥ — remaining; reme — He enjoyed; ramābhiḥ — with the pleasing women; nija — His own; kāma — in the pleasure; samplutaḥ — absorbed; yathā — as; itaraḥ — any other man; gārhaka-medhikān — 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.

 

10.59.44

itthaḿ ramā-patim avāpya patiḿ striyas tā

brahmādayo 'pi na viduḥ padavīḿ yadīyām

bhejur mudāviratam edhitayānurāga

hāsāvaloka-nava-sańgama-jalpa-lajjāḥ

 

ittham — in this manner; ramā-patim — the Lord of the goddess of fortune; avāpya — obtaining; patim — as their husband; striyaḥ — the women; tāḥ — they; brahmā-ādayaḥ — Lord Brahmā and other demigods; api — even; na viduḥ — do not know; padavīm — the means of attaining; yadīyām — whom; bhejuḥ — partook of; mudā — with pleasure; aviratam — incessantly; edhitayā — increasing; anurāga — loving attraction; hāsa — smiling; avaloka — glances; nava — ever fresh; sańgama — association; jalpa — playful conversations; lajjāḥ — and shyness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus those women obtained as their husband the husband of the goddess of fortune, although even great demigods like Brahmā 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.

 

10.59.45

pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pada-śauca-

tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ

dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam

 

pratyudgama — by approaching; āsana — offering a seat; vara — first class; arhaṇa — worship; pāda — His feet; śauca — washing; tāmbūla — (offering) betel-nut preparation; viśramaṇa — helping Him to relax (by massaging His feet); vījana — fanning; gandha — (offering) fragrant substances; mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands; keśa — His hair; prasāra — by dressing; śayana — putting to bed; snapana — bathing; upahāryaiḥ — and by presenting gifts; dāsī — maidservants; śatāḥ — having hundreds; api — although; vibhoḥ — for the almighty Lord; vidadhuḥ sma — they executed; dāsyam — 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 pān 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.