10.44.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaḿ carcita-sańkalpo

bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ

āsasādātha caṇūraḿ

muṣṭtikaḿ rohiṇī-sutaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; carcita — fixing; sańkalpaḥ — His determination; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; madhusūdanaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; āsasāda — confronted; atha — then; cāṇūram — Cāṇūra; muṣṭikam — Muṣṭika; rohiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rohiṇī, Lord Balarāma.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed, Lord Kṛṣṇa made up His mind to accept the challenge. He paired off with Cāṇūra, and Lord Balarāma with Muṣṭika.

 

10.44.2

hastābhyāḿ hastayor baddhvā

padbhyām eva ca pādayoḥ

vicakarṣatur anyonyaḿ

prasahya vijigīṣayā

 

hastābhyām — with their hands; hastayoḥ — by the hands; baddhvā — seizing; padbhyām — with their legs; eva ca — also; pādayoḥ — by the legs; vicakarṣatuḥ — they (Kṛṣṇa paired with Cāṇūra, and Balarāma with Muṣṭika) dragged; anyonyam — each other; prasahya — with force; vijigīṣayā — with desire for victory.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seizing each other's hands and locking legs with each other, the opponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory.

 

10.44.3

aratnī dve aratnibhyāḿ

jānubhyāḿ caiva jānunī

śiraḥ śīrṣṇorasoras tāv

anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ

 

aratnī — against the opponent's fists; dve — two; aratnibhyām — their fists; jānubhyām — their knees; ca eva — also; jānunī — against the opponent's knees; śiraḥ — head; śīrṣṇā — with head; urasā — with chest; uraḥ — chest; tau — they in pairs; anyonyam — each other; abhijaghnatuḥ — struck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

They each struck fists against fists, knees against knees, head against head and chest against chest.

 

10.44.4

paribhrāmaṇa-vikṣepa-

parirambhāvapātanaiḥ

utsarpaṇāpasarpaṇaiś

cānyonyaḿ pratyarundhatām

 

paribhrāmaṇa — with wheeling the other about; vikṣepa — shoving; parirambha — crushing; avapātanaiḥ — and throwing down; utsarpaṇa — releasing and running in front; apasarpaṇaiḥ — going behind; ca — and; anyonyam — each other; pratyarundhatām — they resisted.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Each fighter contended with his opponent by dragging him about in circles, shoving and crushing him, throwing him down and running before and behind him.

 

10.44.5

utthāpanair unnayanaiś

cālanaiḥ sthāpanair api

parasparaḿ jigīṣantāv

apacakratur ātmanaḥ

 

utthāpanaiḥ — with lifting up; unnayanaiḥ — carrying; cālanaiḥ — pushing away; sthāpanaiḥ — holding stationary; api — also; parasparam — each other; jigīṣantau — wanting victory; apacakratuḥ — they harmed; ātmanaḥ — (even) themselves.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, pushing each other away and holding each other down, the fighters hurt even their own bodies in their great eagerness for victory.

 

10.44.6

tad balābalavad yuddhaḿ

sametāḥ sarva-yoṣitaḥ

ūcuḥ parasparaḿ rājan

sānukampā varūthaśaḥ

 

tat — that; bala-abala — the strong and the weak; vat — involving; yuddham — fight; sametāḥ — assembled; sarva — all; yoṣitaḥ — the women; ūcuḥ — said; parasparam — to one another; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); sa-anukampāḥ — feeling compassion; varūthaśaḥ — in groups.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, all the women present, considering the match an unfair fight between the strong and the weak, felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They assembled in groups around the arena and spoke to one another as follows.

 

10.44.7

mahān ayaḿ batādharma

eṣāḿ rāja-sabhā-sadām

ye balābalavad yuddhaḿ

rājño 'nvicchanti paśyataḥ

 

mahān — great; ayam — this; bata — alas; adharmaḥ — act of irreligion; eṣām — on the part of these; rāja-sabhā — in the King's assembly; sadām — persons present; ye — who; bala-abala-vat — between strong and weak; yuddham — a fight; rājñaḥ — while the King; anvicchanti — they also desire; paśyataḥ — is watching.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The women said:] Alas, what a greatly irreligious act the members of this royal assembly are committing! As the King watches this fight between the strong and the weak, they also want to see it.

 

10.44.8

kva vajra-sāra-sarvāńgau

mallau śailendra-sannibhau

kva cāti-sukumārāńgau

kiśorau nāpta-yauvanau

 

kva — where, on the one hand; vajra — of lightning; sāra — with the strength; sarva — all; ańgau — whose limbs; mallau — two wrestlers; śaila — mountains; indra — like the chief; sannibhau — whose appearance; kva — where; ca — and, on the other hand; ati — very; su-kumāra — tender; ańgau — whose limbs; kiśorau — two youths; na āpta — not having yet attained; yauvanau — Their maturity.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What comparison can there be between these two professional wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and these two young, immature boys with exceedingly tender limbs?

 

10.44.9

dharma-vyatikramo hy asya

samājasya dhruvaḿ bhavet

yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen

na stheyaḿ tatra karhicit

 

dharma — of religious principles; vyatikramaḥ — transgression; hi — indeed; asya — by this; samājasya — company; dhruvam — certainly; bhavet — must be; yatra — wherein; adharmaḥ — irreligion; samuttiṣṭhet — has fully arisen; na stheyam — one should not remain; tatra — there; karhicit — for any duration of time at all.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.

 

10.44.10

na sabhāḿ praviśet prājñaḥ

sabhya-doṣān anusmaran

abruvan vibruvann ajño

naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute

 

na — not; sabhām — an assembly; praviśet — should enter; prājñaḥ — the wise person; sabhya — of the assembly members; doṣān — sinful discrepancies; anusmaran — keeping in mind; abruvan — not speaking; vibruvan — speaking wrongly; ajñaḥ — ignorant (or pretending to be so); naraḥ — a man; kilbiṣam — sin; aśnute — incurs.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.

 

10.44.11

valgataḥ śatrum abhitaḥ

kṛṣṇasya vadanāmbujam

vīkṣyatāḿ śrama-vāry-uptaḿ

padma-kośam ivāmbubhiḥ

 

valgataḥ — leaping; śatrum — of His enemy; abhitaḥ — on all sides; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; vadana — the face; ambujam — lotuslike; vīkṣyatām — you should see; śrama — of fatigue; vāri — with the moisture; uptam — covered; padma — of a lotus flower; kośam — the whorl; iva — like; ambubhiḥ — with droplets of water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just see the lotus face of Kṛṣṇa as He darts around His foe! That face, covered with drops of perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight, resembles a lotus covered with dew.

 

10.44.12

kiḿ na paśyata rāmasya

mukham ātāmra-locanam

muṣṭikaḿ prati sāmarṣaḿ

hāsa-saḿrambha-śobhitam

 

kim — why; na paśyata — do you not see; rāmasya — of Lord Balarāma; mukham — the face; ātāmra — like copper; locanam — with eyes; muṣṭikam — Muṣṭika; prati — toward; sa-amarṣam — with anger; hāsa — by His laughter; saḿrambha — and His absorption; śobhitam — beautified.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Don't you see the face of Lord Balarāma, with its eyes copper-red from His anger toward Muṣṭika and its beauty enhanced by His laughter and His absorption in the fight?

 

10.44.13

puṇyā bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayaḿ nṛ-lińga

gūḍhaḥ purāṇa-puruṣo vana-citra-mālyaḥ

gāḥ pālayan saha-balaḥ kvaṇayaḿś ca veṇuḿ

vikrīdayāñcati giritra-ramārcitāńghriḥ

 

puṇyāḥ — pious; bata — indeed; vraja-bhuvaḥ — the various regions of the land of Vraja; yat — in which; ayam — this; nṛ — human; lińga — by characteristics; gūḍhaḥ — disguised; purāṇa-puruṣaḥ — the primeval Personality of Godhead; vana — composed of flowers and other items of the forest; citra — of wonderful variety; mālyaḥ — whose garlands; gāḥ — the cows; pālayan — herding; saha — together with; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; kvaṇayan — vibrating; ca — and; veṇum — His flute; vikrīḍayā — with various pastimes; añcati — He moves about; giritra — by Lord Śiva; ramā — and the goddess of fortune; arcita — worshiped; ańghriḥ — His feet.

 

TRANSLATION

 

How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits, wanders about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and goddess Ramā vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in the company of Balarāma.

 

10.44.14

gopyas tapaḥ kim acaran yad amuṣya rūpaḿ

lāvaṇya-sāram asamordhvam ananya-siddham

dṛgbhiḥ pibanty anusavābhinavaḿ durāpam

ekānta-dhāma yaśasaḥ śrīya aiśvarasya

 

gopyaḥ — the gopīs; tapaḥ — austerities; kim — what; acaran — performed; yat — from which; amuṣya — of such a one (Lord Kṛṣṇa); rūpam — the form; lāvaṇya-sāram — the essence of loveliness; asama-ūrdhvam — not paralleled or surpassed; ananya-siddham — not perfected by any other ornament (self-perfect); dṛgbhiḥ — by the eyes; pibanti — they drink; anusava-abhinavam — constantly new; durāpam — difficult to obtain; ekānta-dhāma — the only abode; yaśasaḥ — of fame; śriyaḥ — of beauty; aiśvarasya — of opulence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What austerities must the gopīs have performed! With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Kṛṣṇa's form, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare.

 

10.44.15

yā dohane 'vahanane mathanopalepa

preńkheńkhanārbha-ruditokṣaṇa-mārjanādau

gāyanti cainam anurakta-dhiyo 'śru-kaṇṭhyo

dhanyā vraja-striya urukrama-citta-yānāḥ

 

yaḥ — who (the gopīs); dohane — while milking; avahanane — threshing; mathana — churning; upalepa — smearing; preńkha — on swings; ińkhana — swinging; arbha-rudita — (taking care of) crying babies; ukṣaṇa — sprinkling; mārjana — cleaning; ādau — and so on; gāyanti — they sing; ca — and; enam — about Him; anurakta — very much attached; dhiyaḥ — whose minds; aśru — with tears; kaṇṭhyaḥ — whose throats; dhanyāḥ — fortunate; vraja-striyaḥ — the ladies of Vraja; urukrama — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; citta — by consciousness; yānāḥ — whose acquisition of all desired objects.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Kṛṣṇa and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted Kṛṣṇa consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things.

 

10.44.16

prātar vrajād vrajata āviśataś ca sāyaḿ

gobhiḥ samaḿ kvaṇayato 'sya niśamya veṇum

nirgamya tūrṇam abalāḥ pathi bhūri-puṇyāḥ

paśyanti sa-smita-mukhaḿ sa-dayāvalokam

 

prātaḥ — in the early morning; vrajāt — from Vraja; vrajataḥ — of Him who is going; āviśataḥ — entering; ca — and; sāyam — in the evening; gobhiḥ samam — together with the cows; kvaṇayataḥ — who is playing; asya — His; niśamya — hearing; veṇum — the flute; nirgamya — coming out; tūrṇam — quickly; abalāḥ — the women; pathi — on the road; bhūri — extremely; puṇyāḥ — pious; paśyanti — they see; sa — with; smita — smiling; mukham — face; sa-daya — merciful; avalokam — with glances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the gopīs hear Kṛṣṇa playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the young girls quickly come out of their houses to see Him. They must have performed many pious activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon them.

 

10.44.17

evaḿ prabhāṣamāṇāsu

strīṣu yogeśvaro hariḥ

śatruḿ hantuḿ manaś cakre

bhagavān bharatarṣabha

 

evam — in this manner; prabhāṣamāṇāsu — while they were speaking; strīṣu — the women; yoga-īśvaraḥ — the master of all mystic power; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śatrum — His enemy; hantum — to kill; manaḥ cakre — made up His mind; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bharata-ṛṣabha — O hero of the Bhāratas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] As the women spoke thus, O hero of the Bhāratas, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystic power, made up His mind to kill His opponent.

 

10.44.18

sa-bhayāḥ strī-giraḥ śrutvā

putra-sneha-śucāturau

pitarāv anvatapyetāḿ

putrayor abudhau balam

 

sa-bhayāḥ — fearful; strī — of the women; giraḥ — the words; śrutvā — hearing; putra — for their sons; sneha — by their affection; śuca — with sorrow; āturau — overwhelmed; pitarau — Their parents (Devakī and Vasudeva); anvatapyetām — felt remorse; putrayoḥ — of their two sons; abudhau — not knowing; balam — the strength.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Out of affection for the two Lords, Their parents [Devakī and Vasudeva] became overwhelmed with sorrow when they heard the women's fearful statements. They grieved, not knowing their sons' strength.

 

10.44.19

tais tair niyuddha-vidhibhir

vividhair acyutetarau

yuyudhāte yathānyonyaḿ

tathaiva bala-muṣṭikau

 

taiḥ taiḥ — with all these; niyuddha — of wrestling; vidhibhiḥ — techniques; vividhaiḥ — various; acyuta-itarau — Lord Acyuta and His opponent; yuyudhāte — fought; yathā — as; anyonyam — with each other; tathā eva — just so; bala-muṣṭikau — Lord Balarāma and Muṣṭika.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Balarāma and Muṣṭika, expertly displaying numerous wrestling techniques, battled each other in the same way that Lord Kṛṣṇa and His opponent did.

 

10.44.20

bhagavad-gātra-niṣpātair

vajra-nīṣpeṣa-niṣṭhuraiḥ

cāṇūro bhajyamānāńgo

muhur glānim avāpa ha

 

bhagavat — of the Supreme Lord; gātra — by the limbs; niṣpātaiḥ — due to the blows; vajra — of lightning; niṣpeṣa — like a crushing stroke; niṣṭhuraiḥ — hard; cāṇūraḥ — Cāṇūra; bhajyamāna — being broken; ańgaḥ — his entire body; muhuḥ — more and more; glānim — pain and fatigue; avāpa ha — felt.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The harsh blows from the Supreme Lord's limbs fell like crushing lightning bolts upon Cāṇūra, breaking every part of his body and causing him more and more pain and fatigue.

 

10.44.21

sa śyena-vega utpatya

muṣṭī-kṛtya karāv ubhau

bhagavantaḿ vāsudevaḿ

kruddho vakṣasy abādhata

 

saḥ — he, Cāṇūra; śyena — of a hawk; vegaḥ — with the speed; utpatya — falling upon Him; muṣṭī — into fists; kṛtya — making; karau — his hands; ubhau — both; bhagavantam — the Supreme Lord; vāsudevam — Kṛṣṇa; kruddhaḥ — angry; vakṣasi — upon His chest; abādhata — struck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Furious, Cāṇūra attacked Lord Vāsudeva with the speed of a hawk and struck His chest with both fists.

 

10.44.22-23

nācalat tat-prahāreṇa

mālāhata iva dvipaḥ

bāhvor nigṛhya cāṇūraḿ

bahuśo bhrāmayan hariḥ

 

bhū-pṛṣṭhe pothayām āsa

tarasā kṣīṇa jīvitam

visrastākalpa-keśa-srag

indra-dhvaja ivāpatat

 

na acalat — He (Lord Kṛṣṇa) did not move; tat-prahāreṇa — because of his blows; mālā — with a garland; āhata — struck; iva — as; dvipaḥ — an elephant; bāhvoḥ — by the two arms; nigṛhya — seizing; cāṇūram — Cāṇūra; bahuśaḥ — several times; bhrāmayan — whirling him around; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa;

 

bhū — of the earth; pṛṣṭhe — onto the surface; pothayām āsa — hurled; tarasā — forcefully; kṣīṇa — becoming lost; jīvitam — his life; visrasta — scattered; ākalpa — his clothing; keśa — hair; srak — and flower garland; indra-dhvajaḥ — a tall festival column; iva — as if; apatat — he fell.

 

TRANSLATION

 

No more shaken by the demon's mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa grabbed Cāṇūra by his arms, swung him around several times and hurled him onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead, like a huge festival column collapsing.

 

10.44.24-25

tathaiva muṣṭikaḥ pūrvaḿ

sva-muṣṭyābhihatena vai

balabhadreṇa balinā

talenābhihato bhṛśam

 

pravepitaḥ sa rudhiram

udvaman mukhato 'rditaḥ

vyasuḥ papātorvy-upasthe

vātāhata ivāńghripaḥ

 

tathā — also; eva — similarly; muṣṭikaḥ — Muṣṭika; pūrvam — previously; sva-muṣṭyā — with his fist; abhihatena — who had been struck; vai — indeed; balabhadreṇa — by Lord Balarāma; balinā — the powerful; talena — with His palm; abhihataḥ — struck; bhṛśam — violently;

 

pravepitaḥ — trembling; saḥ — he, Muṣṭika; rudhiram — blood; udvaman — vomiting; mukhataḥ — from his mouth; arditaḥ — tormented; vyasuḥ — lifeless; papāta — he fell; urvī — of the earth; upasthe — onto the lap; vāta — by the wind; āhataḥ — struck down; iva — like; ańghripaḥ — a tree.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Similarly, Muṣṭika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord's palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.

 

10.44.26

tataḥ kūṭam anuprāptaḿ

rāmaḥ praharatāḿ varaḥ

avadhīl līlayā rājan

sāvajñaḿ vāma-muṣṭinā

 

tataḥ — then; kūṭam — the demonic wrestler Kūṭa; anuprāptam — appearing on the scene; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; praharatām — of fighters; varaḥ — the best; avadhīt — killed; līlayā — playfully; rājan — O King, Parīkṣit; sa-avajñam — neglectfully; vāma — left; muṣṭinā — with His fist.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Confronted next by the wrestler Kūṭa, Lord Balarāma, the best of fighters, playfully and nonchalantly killed him with His left fist, O King.

 

10.44.27

tarhy eva hi śalaḥ kṛṣṇa-

prapadāhata-śīrṣakaḥ

dvidhā vidīrṇas tośalaka

ubhāv api nipetatuḥ

 

tarhi eva — and then; hi — indeed; śalaḥ — the wrestler Śala; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prapada — by the toes; āhata — struck; śīrṣakaḥ — his head; dvidhā — in two; vidīrnaḥ — torn; tośalaka — Tośala; ubhau api — both of them; nipetatuḥ — fell down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then Kṛṣṇa struck the wrestler Śala in the head with His toes and tore him in half. The Lord dealt with Tośala in the same way, and both wrestlers fell down dead.

 

10.44.28

cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe

śale tośalake hate

śeṣāḥ pradudruvur mallāḥ

sarve prāṇa-parīpsavaḥ

 

cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe — Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika and Kūṭa; śale tośalake — Śala and Tośala; hate — being killed; śeṣāḥ — those remaining; pradudruvuḥ — ran away; mallāḥ — wrestlers; sarve — all; prāṇa — their lives; parīpsavaḥ — hoping to save.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala and Tośala having been killed, the remaining wrestlers all fled for their lives.

 

10.44.29

gopān vayasyān ākṛṣya

taiḥ saḿsṛjya vijahratuḥ

vādyamāneṣu tūryeṣu

valgantau ruta-nūpurau

 

gopān — the cowherd boys; vayasyān — Their young friends; ākṛṣya — gathering together; taiḥ — with them; saḿsṛjya — joining up; vijahratuḥ — They sported; vādyamāneṣu — while they played; tūryeṣu — the musical instruments; valgantau — the two of Them dancing about; ruta — resounding; nūpurau — Their ankle bells.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then called Their young cowherd boyfriends to join Them, and in their company the Lords danced about and sported, Their ankle bells resounding as musical instruments played.

 

10.44.30

janāḥ prajahṛṣuḥ sarve

karmaṇā rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

ṛte kaḿsaḿ vipra-mukhyāḥ

sādhavaḥ sādhu sādhv iti

 

janāḥ — the people; prajahṛṣuḥ — rejoiced; sarve — all; karmaṇā — at the deed; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; ṛte — except; kaḿsam — Kaḿsa; vipra — of the brāhmaṇas; mukhyāḥ — the best; sādhavaḥ — the saintly persons; sādhu sādhu iti — (exclaimed) "Excellent! Excellent!"

 

TRANSLATION

 

Everyone except Kaḿsa rejoiced at the wonderful feat Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had performed. The exalted brāhmaṇas and great saints exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent!"

 

10.44.31

hateṣu malla-varyeṣu

vidruteṣu ca bhoja-rāṭ

nyavārayat sva-tūryāṇi

vākyaḿ cedam uvāca ha

 

hateṣu — being killed; malla-varyeṣu — the best wrestlers; vidruteṣu — having run away; ca — and; bhoja-rāṭ — the Bhoja king, Kaḿsa; nyavārayat — stopped; sva — his own; tūryāṇi — musical instruments; vākyam — words; ca — and; idam — these; uvāca ha — spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Bhoja king, seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled, stopped the musical performance originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the following words.

 

10.44.32

niḥsārayata durvṛttau

vasudevātmajau purāt

dhanaḿ harata gopānāḿ

nandaḿ badhnīta durmatim

 

niḥsārayata — expel; durvṛttau — who behave wickedly; vasudeva-ātmajau — the two sons of Vasudeva; purāt — from the city; dhanam — the wealth; harata — take away; gopānām — of the cowherds; nandam — Nanda Mahārāja; badhnīta — tie up; durmatim — the fool, whose heart is crooked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Kaḿsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds' property and arrest that fool Nanda!

 

10.44.33

vasudevas tu durmedhā

hanyatām āśv asattamaḥ

ugrasenaḥ pitā cāpi

sānugaḥ para-pakṣa-gaḥ

 

vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; tu — and furthermore; durmedhā — the foolish-minded; hanyatām — should be killed; āśu — immediately; asat-tamaḥ — the worst of the impure; ugrasenaḥ — Ugrasena; pitā — my father; ca api — also; sa — together with; anugaḥ — his followers; para — of the enemy; pakṣa-gaḥ — taking the side.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kill that most evil fool Vasudeva! And also kill my father, Ugrasena, along with his followers, who have all sided with our enemies!

 

10.44.34

evaḿ vikatthamāne vai

kaḿse prakupito 'vyayaḥ

laghimnotpatya tarasā

mañcam uttuńgam āruhat

 

evam — thus; vikatthamāne — exclaiming with audacity; vai — indeed; kaḿse — Kaḿsa; prakupitaḥ — becoming extremely angry; avyayaḥ — the infallible Lord; laghimnā — with ease; utpatya — jumping up; tarasā — swiftly; mañcam — the royal platform; uttuńgam — tall; āruhat — climbed onto.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As Kaḿsa thus raved so audaciously, the infallible Lord Kṛṣṇa, intensely angry, quickly and easily jumped up onto the high royal dais.

 

10.44.35

tam āviśantam ālokya

mṛtyum ātmana āsanāt

manasvī sahasotthāya

jagṛhe so 'si-carmaṇī

 

tam — Him, Kṛṣṇa; āviśantam — entering (into his private sitting area); ālokya — seeing; mṛtyum — death; ātmanaḥ — his own; āsanāt — from his seat; manasvī — the intelligent; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — standing up; jagṛhe — took up; saḥ — he; asi — his sword; carmaṇī — and his shield.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching like death personified, the quick-witted Kaḿsa instantly rose from his seat and took up his sword and shield.

 

10.44.36

taḿ khaḍga-pāṇiḿ vicarantam āśu

śyenaḿ yathā dakṣiṇa-savyam ambare

samagrahīd durviṣahogra-tejā

yathoragaḿ tārkṣya-sutaḥ prasahya

 

tam — him, Kaḿsa; khaḍga — with sword; pāṇim — in his hand; vicarantam — moving about; āśu — quickly; śyenam — a hawk; yathā — like; dakṣiṇa-savyam — right and left; ambare — in the sky; samagrahīt — seized; durviṣaha — irresistible; ugra — and fearsome; tejāḥ — whose strength; yathā — as; uragam — a snake; tārkṣya-sutaḥ — the son of Tārkṣya, Garuḍa; prasahya — by force.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sword in hand, Kaḿsa moved quickly from side to side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, powerfully seized the demon just as the son of Tārkṣya might capture a snake.

 

10.44.37

pragṛhya keśeṣu calat-kirītaḿ

nipātya rańgopari tuńga-mañcāt

tasyopariṣṭāt svayam abja-nābhaḥ

papāta viśvāśraya ātma-tantraḥ

 

pragṛhya — grabbing; keśeṣu — by the hair; calat — knocking off; kirīṭam — whose crown; nipātya — throwing down; rańga-upari — onto the surface of the wrestling ring; tuńga — high; mañcāt — from the platform; tasya — of him; upariṣṭāt — on top; svayam — Himself; abja-nābhaḥ — the lotus-naveled Supreme Lord; papāta — threw; viśva — of the entire universe; āśrayaḥ — the support; ātma-tantraḥ — independent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Grabbing Kaḿsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the King.

 

10.44.38

taḿ samparetaḿ vicakarṣa bhūmau

harir yathebhaḿ jagato vipaśyataḥ

hā heti śabdaḥ su-mahāḿs tadābhūd

udīritaḥ sarva-janair narendra

 

tam — him; samparetam — dead; vicakarṣa — dragged; bhūmau — along the ground; hariḥ — a lion; yathā — as; ibham — an elephant; jagataḥ — all the people; vipaśyataḥ — as they looked on; hā hā iti — "Oh, oh!"; śabdaḥ — the sound; su-mahān — mighty; tadā — then; abhūt — arose; udīritaḥ — spoken; sarva-janaiḥ — by all the people; nara-indra — O ruler of men (King Parīkṣit).

 

TRANSLATION

 

As a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged Kaḿsa's dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. O King, all the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, "Oh! Oh!"

 

10.44.39

sa nityadodvigna-dhiyā tam īśvaraḿ

pibann adan vā vicaran svapan śvasan

dadarśa cakrāyudham agrato yatas

tad eva rūpaḿ duravāpam āpa

 

saḥ — he, Kaḿsa; nityadā — constantly; udvigna — anxious; dhiyā — with mind; tam — Him; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; piban — while drinking; adan — eating; vā — or; vicaran — walking; svapan — sleeping; śvasan — breathing; dadarśa — saw; cakra — the disc weapon; āyudham — in His hand; agrataḥ — before himself; yataḥ — because; tat — that; eva — same; rūpam — personal form; duravāpam — very difficult to achieve; āpa — he achieved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kaḿsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Thus Kaḿsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord's.

 

10.44.40

tasyānujā bhrātaro 'ṣṭau

kańka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ

abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā

bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ

 

tasya — of him, Kaḿsa; anujāḥ — younger; bhrātaraḥ — the brothers; aṣṭau — eight; kańka-nyagrodhaka-ādayaḥ — Kańka, Nyagrodhaka and the others; abhyadhāvan — ran forward to attack; ati-kruddhāḥ — infuriated; bhrātuḥ — to their brother; nirveśa — repayment of the debt; kāriṇaḥ — doing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kaḿsa's eight younger brothers, led by Kańka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother's death.

 

10.44.41

tathāti-rabhasāḿs tāḿs tu

saḿyattān rohiṇī-sutaḥ

ahan parigham udyamya

paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ

 

tathā — in this manner; ati-rabhasān — running very swiftly; tān — they; tu — and; saḿyattān — ready to strike; rohiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rohiṇī, Lord Balarāma; ahan — beat down; parigham — His club; udyamya — wielding; paśūn — animals; iva — as; mṛga-adhipaḥ — the lion, king of animals.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As they ran swiftly toward the two Lords, ready to strike, the son of Rohiṇī slew them with His club just as a lion easily kills other animals.

 

10.44.42

nedur dundubhayo vyomni

brahmeśādyā vibhūtayaḥ

puṣpaiḥ kirantas taḿ prītāḥ

śaśaḿsur nanṛtuḥ striyaḥ

 

neduḥ — resounded; dundubhayaḥ — kettledrums; vyomni — in the sky; brahma-īśa-ādyāḥ — Brahmā, Śiva and other demigods; vibhūtayaḥ — His expansions; puṣpaiḥ — flowers; kirantaḥ — scattering down; tam — upon Him; prītāḥ — pleased; śaśaḿsuḥ — they chanted His praises; nanṛtuḥ — danced; striyaḥ — their wives.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Kettledrums resounded in the sky as Brahmā, Śiva and other demigods, the Lord's expansions, rained down flowers upon Him with pleasure. They chanted His praises, and their wives danced.

 

10.44.43

teṣāḿ striyo mahā-rāja

suhṛn-maraṇa-duḥkhitāḥ

tatrābhīyur vinighnantyaḥ

śīrṣāṇy aśru-vilocanāḥ

 

teṣām — of them (Kaḿsa and his brothers); striyaḥ — the wives; mahārāja — O King (Parīkṣit); suhṛt — of their well-wishers (their husbands); maraṇa — because of the death; duḥkhitāḥ — sorrowful; tatra — that place; abhīyuḥ — approached; vinighnantyaḥ — beating; śīrṣāṇi — their heads; aśru — with tears; vilocanāḥ — their eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, the wives of Kaḿsa and his brothers, aggrieved by the death of their well-wishing husbands, came forward with tearful eyes, beating their heads.

 

10.44.44

śayānān vīra-śayāyāḿ

patīn ālińgya śocatīḥ

vilepuḥ su-svaraḿ nāryo

visṛjantyo muhuḥ śucaḥ

 

śayānān — lying; vīra — of a hero; śayāyām — upon the bed (the ground); patīn — their husbands; ālińgya — embracing; śocatīḥ — feeling sorrow; vilepuḥ — lamented; su-svaram — loudly; nāryaḥ — the women; visṛjantyaḥ — shedding; muhuḥ — repeatedly; śucaḥ — tears.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Embracing their husbands, who lay on a hero's final bed, the sorrowful women loudly lamented while shedding constant tears.

 

10.44.45

hā nātha priya dharma-jña

karuṇānātha-vatsala

tvayā hatena nihatā

vayaḿ te sa-gṛha-prajāḥ

 

ha — alas; nātha — O master; priya — O dear one; dharma-jña — O knower of religious principles; karuṇa — O kind one; anātha — to those who have no protector; vatsala — O you who are compassionate; tvayā — by you; hatena — being killed; nihatāḥ — are killed; vayam — we; te — your; sa — together with; gṛha — the home; prajāḥ — and offspring.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The women cried out:] Alas, O master, O dear one, O knower of religious principles! O kind and compassionate protector of the shelterless! By your being slain we have also been slain, together with your household and offspring.

 

10.44.46

tvayā virahitā patyā

purīyaḿ puruṣarṣabha

na śobhate vayam iva

nivṛttotsava-mańgalā

 

tvayā — of you; virahitā — bereft; patyā — the master; purī — the city; iyam — this; puruṣa — of men; ṛṣabha — O most heroic one; na śobhate — does not appear beautiful; vayam — us; iva — just like; nivṛtta — ceased; utsava — festivity; mańgalā — and auspiciousness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O great hero among men, bereft of you, its master, this city has lost its beauty, just as we have, and all festivity and good fortune within it have come to an end.

 

10.44.47

anāgasāḿ tvaḿ bhūtānāḿ

kṛtavān droham ulbaṇam

tenemāḿ bho daśāḿ nīto

bhūta-dhruk ko labheta śam

 

anāgasām — sinless; tvam — you; bhūtānām — against creatures; kṛtavān — have committed; droham — violence; ulbaṇam — terrible; tena — by that; imām — to this; bho — O dear one; daśām — condition; nītaḥ — brought; bhūta — to living beings; dhruk — causing harm; kaḥ — who; labheta — can achieve; śam — happiness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O dear one, you have been brought to this state because of the terrible violence you committed against innocent creatures. How can one who harms others attain happiness?

 

10.44.48

sarveṣām iha bhūtānām

eṣa hi prabhavāpyayaḥ

goptā ca tad-avadhyāyī

na kvacit sukham edhate

 

sarveṣām — of all; iha — in this world; bhūtānām — living beings; eṣaḥ — this (Śrī Kṛṣṇa); hi — certainly; prabhava — the origin; apyayaḥ — and disappearance; goptā — the maintainer; ca — and; tat — of Him; avadhyāyī — one who is neglectful; na kvacit — never; sukham — happily; edhate — prospers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa causes the appearance and disappearance of all beings in this world, and He is their maintainer as well. One who disrespects Him can never prosper happily.

 

10.44.49

śrī-śuka uvāca

rāja-yoṣita āśvāsya

bhagavān loka-bhāvanaḥ

yām āhur laukikīḿ saḿsthāḿ

hatānāḿ samakārayat

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; rāja — of the King (and his brothers); yoṣitaḥ — the wives; āśvāsya — consoling; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; loka — of all the worlds; bhāvanaḥ — the sustainer; yām — which; āhuḥ — they (Vedic authorities) enjoin; laukikīm saḿsthām — funeral rites; hatānām — for the deceased; samakārayat — -He arranged to be performed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After consoling the royal ladies, Lord Kṛṣṇa, sustainer of all the worlds, arranged for the prescribed funeral rites to be performed.

 

10.44.50

mātaraḿ pitaraḿ caiva

mocayitvātha bandhanāt

kṛṣṇa-rāmau vavandāte

śirasā spṛśya pādayoḥ