rule



 

 

Canto 10

S'rī Rūpa Manjari Pada

 

 

Chapter 55: The History of Pradyumna



(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'Cupid [Kāmadeva], an expansion of Vāsudeva who previously got burned by the anger of Rudra, had returned to Him in order to again obtain a body [see also 3.1: 28 and 8.10: 32-34 and B.G. 10: 28]. (2) Born from the seed of Krishna in the daughter of the king of Vidarbha [Rukminī], He was thus known as Pradyumna ['the prominently mighty one', see also vyūha]. He was in no respect inferior to His Father. (3) S'ambara ['the juggler' see 7.2: 4-5, 10.36: 36], who could assume any form he wanted, stole the child away that was not even ten days old yet. Recognizing Him as his enemy, he threw Him in the ocean and returned home. (4) Pradyumna was swallowed by a mighty fish which, together with others being trapped in a huge net, was seized by fishermen. (5) The fishermen presented it to S'ambara, who sent the gift to the cooks who with a knife cut it open in the kitchen. (6) The child they found in its belly was given to Māyāvatī, who was astonished. From Nārada she heard the facts about the child's birth and how it had ended up in the belly of the fish. (7-8) She was by S'ambara appointed to prepare rice and vegetables, but she in fact was Cupid's famous wife named Rati. She [after pleading with Lord S'iva and being directed to S'ambara] was waiting for her burned husband to obtain a new body. Understanding that the infant was Kāmadeva, she developed love for the child. (9) He, the son of Krishna, soon attained full youth and became very enchanting to the women who saw Him. (1o) Dear King, full of love she with a bashful smile, raised eyebrows, glances and gestures of conjugal attraction approached Him, her husband, who with His long arms and eyes the size of a lotus petal, was the most beautiful one to be found in society. (11) The Lord in the form of Kṛṣṇa's own son said to her: 'Oh mother, you, in your attitude acting like a girlfriend differently, therewith overstep the [standards for the] mood of motherly affection.'

(12) Rati replied: 'You are the son of Nārāyana by S'ambara stolen from Your home and I am Your legitimate wife Rati, oh Cupid, my master! (13) Not yet being ten days old You were by that demon S'ambara thrown into the ocean, where a fish devoured You from the belly of which we received You here, oh master! (14) Please put an end to that hard to approach and difficult to conquer enemy of Yours who knows hundreds of magic spells. This You can realize with the help of bewildering magic and such! (15) Your mother, with her son gone, is distressed like a cow missing her calf. Overwhelmed with love for her child she is pitifully crying like an osprey.'

(16) Speaking thus Māyāvatī gave the great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge called Mahāmāyā ['the great bewildering potency'], that puts an end to all magic spells. (17) Thereupon He approached S'ambara to call him to battle. He reviled him with intolerable insults and thus provoked a fight. (18) Offended by the harsh words he, with eyes red as copper, infuriated like a snake being struck by a foot, came forward holding a mace. (19) Whirling his club swiftly, he threw it at the Great Soul Pradyumna, producing a sound as sharp as a stroke of lightning. (20) The weapon was in its flight by Lord Pradyumna knocked away with His club, oh King. Gotten angry He thereupon hurled His club at the enemy. (21) The demon resorted to the daitya magic he had learned from Maya Dānava, and released, moving through the sky, a downpour of weapons over the son of Krishna [compare 3.19: 20]. (22) Harassed by the rain of weapons the powerful warrior, the son of Rukminī, implemented the great charm that, rooting in goodness, supersedes all magic. (23) The demon then used hundreds of weapons belonging to Kuvera's guardians [Guhyakas], the heavenly singers [Gandharvas], the ogres [Pis'ācas], the celestial snakes [Uragas] and the man-eaters [Rākshasas], but the son of Krishna stroke them all down. (24) Drawing His sharp-edged sword He with one violent blow severed S'ambara's head from his body, complete with helmet, earrings and his red mustache. (25) As the gods full of praise from above rained flowers upon Him, He was by His wife, who traveled the sky, through the air brought to the city [of Dvārakā]. (26) Together with His wife He, like a cloud with lightning, from the sky entered the inner spaces of the most exquisite palace, oh King, which was crowded with hundreds of women. (27-28) When they saw Him, dark as a cloud, dressed in yellow silk, with long arms, reddish eyes, a pleasing smile, His charming countenance, His nicely decorated lotuslike face and His bluish-black curling locks, the women, who thought He was Krishna, bashfully hid themselves here and there. (29) Gradually the ladies noticed slight differences in His appearance, whereupon they delighted and most surprised approached Him and [Rati,] that jewel among women. (30) When the sweet-voiced and dark-eyed Rukminī saw Him, she remembered her lost son and her breasts got wet out of affection.

(31) [She thought:] 'Who would this gem among men be, whose son is He, which lotus-eyed woman has carried Him in her womb, and what is more, who is this woman won by Him? (32) If the son I lost, who was taken from the maternity room, were alive somewhere, He would be of the same age and appearance! (33) How can He have the same physical appearance, have the same gait, limbs, voice, smile and glance as the Wielder of the S'ārnga [Krishna's bow]? (34) Considering my great affection for Him and the trembling in my left arm, it has got to be Him, He must be the child I carried in my womb!'

(35) While the daughter of the king of Vidarbha thus was conjecturing, the Lord Hailed in the Scriptures arrived there together with Devakī and Ānakadundubhi. (36) Even though the Supreme Lord Janārdana knew all about the matter, He remained silent. It was Nārada who told the whole story, beginning with the kidnapping by S'ambara. (37) When the women of Krishna's residence heard about that great miracle, they cheered in ecstasy to welcome Him, who had been lost for so many years, as if someone had returned from death. (38) Devakī, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarāma, and also the women [of the palace] and Rukminī, embraced the couple and rejoiced. (39) Hearing that Pradyumna, who had been lost, had returned, the residents of Dvārakā declared: 'Ah, by providence the child we thought dead has come back!'

(40) It was not surprising that they, who constantly thought of the resemblance with His father, their master, in the full of their attraction, as His mothers, kept their feelings of reverence for Him private. When they felt that way when He appeared before their eyes as the spitting image of the form of the Shelter of the Goddess of Fortune, as Cupid the God of Love in person, then what would that have meant for the feelings of other women?'

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 Third revised edition, loaded May 6, 2021.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī S'uka said: 'Cupid [Kāmadeva], an expansion of Vāsudeva who previously got burned by the anger of Rudra, had returned to Him in order to again obtain a body [see also 3.1: 28 and 8.10: 32-34 and B.G. 10; 28].
S'rī S'uka said: 'Cupid [Kāmadeva], an expansion of Vāsudeva who previously got burned by the anger of Rudra, had, in order to again obtain a body, returned to Him [see also 3.1: 28 and 8.10: 32-34 and B.G. 10: 28]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

Born from the seed of Krishna in the daughter of the king of Vidarbha [Rukminī], He was thus known as Pradyumna ['the prominently mighty one', see also vyūha]. He was in no respect inferior to His Father.

He from the seed of Krishna begotten in the daughter of the king of Vidarbha [Rukminī] was thus known as Pradyumna ['the preeminently mighty one', see also vyūha] and was in no respect inferior to His Father. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

S'ambara ['the juggler' see 7.2: 4-5, 10.36: 36], who could assume any form he wanted, stole the child away that was not even ten days old yet. Recognizing Him as his enemy, he threw Him in the ocean and returned home.

S'ambara ['the juggler' see 7.2: 4-5, 10.36: 36], who could assume any form he wanted, stole the child away that wasn't even ten days old yet. Understanding He was his enemy, threw he Him in the ocean and returned he home. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Pradyumna was swallowed by a mighty fish which, together with others being trapped in a huge net, was seized by fishermen.

Pradyumna was swallowed by a mighty fish that together with others trapped in a huge net was caught by fishermen. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The fishermen presented it to S'ambara, who sent the gift to the cooks who with a knife cut it open in the kitchen.

The fishermen presented the amazing fish to S'ambara who sent the gift to the cooks who in the kitchen cut it open with a knife. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

The child they found in its belly was given to Māyāvatī, who was astonished. From Nārada she heard the facts about the child's birth and how it had ended up in the belly of the fish.

Seeing a child in its belly it was given to Māyāvatī to whom being astonished Nārada related the facts about the child its birth and how it had ended up in the belly of the fish.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 7-8

She was by S'ambara appointed to prepare rice and vegetables, but she in fact was Cupid's famous wife named Rati. She [after pleading with Lord S'iva and being directed to S'ambara] was waiting for her burned husband to obtain a new body. Understanding that the infant was Kāmadeva, she developed love for the child.

She, who by S'ambara was appointed to prepare rice and vegetables, was in fact Cupid's famous wife named Rati who [after pleading with Lord S'iva being directed to S'ambara] was waiting for her burned husband to attain a new body. Understanding that the infant was Kāmadeva she developed love for the child. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

He, the son of Krishna, soon attained full youth and became very enchanting to the women who saw Him.

Not so long thereafter was He, the son of Krishna, attaining full youth, very enchanting to the women who saw Him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Dear King, full of love she with a bashful smile, raised eyebrows, glances and gestures of conjugal attraction approached Him, her husband, who with His long arms and eyes the size of a lotus petal, was the most beautiful one to be found in society.

My best, lovingly approached she with a bashful smile, raised eyebrows and glances and gestures of sexual attraction Him, her husband, the most beautiful one in society with His long arms and eyes with the form of a lotus petal. (Vedabase)


Text 11

The Lord in the form of Kṛṣṇa's own son said to her: 'Oh mother, you, in your attitude acting like a girlfriend differently, therewith overstep the [standards for the] mood of motherly affection.'

To her said the Supreme Lord in the form of Krishna's own son: 'O mother in your attitude differently acting like a girlfriend you overstep the mood of motherly affection.'  (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

Rati replied: 'You are the son of Nārāyana by S'ambara stolen from Your home and I am Your legitimate wife Rati, oh Cupid, my master!

Rati replied: 'You are the son of Nārāyana stolen by S'ambara from Your home and I am Your legitimate wife Rati, o Cupid my Master! (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Not yet being ten days old You were by that demon S'ambara thrown into the ocean, where a fish devoured You from the belly of which we received You here, oh master!

You not yet being ten days old were by him, that demon S'ambara, thrown into the ocean where a fish devoured You from the belly of which we saw You appearing here o master! (Vedabase)

  

Text 14

Please put an end to that hard to approach and difficult to conquer enemy of Yours who knows hundreds of magic spells. This You can realize with the help of bewildering magic and such!

Please put an end to that hard to approach and difficult to conquer enemy of Yours who knows hundreds of magic spells; that You can realize with the help of the bewilderment of magic and such! (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Your mother, with her son gone, is distressed like a cow missing her calf. Overwhelmed with love for her child she is pitifully crying like an osprey.'

Your poor mother with her son gone, pitiful distressed like a cow without her calf, is being overwhelmed with love for her child crying like an osprey.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Speaking thus Māyāvatī gave the great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge called Mahāmāyā ['the great bewildering potency'], that puts an end to all magic spells.

Thus speaking gave Māyāvatī that great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge of Mahāmāyā ['the great bewildering potency'] that puts an end to all deluding spells.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 17

Thereupon He approached S'ambara to call him to battle. He reviled him with intolerable insults and thus provoked a fight.

As He thereupon approached S'ambara for battle, reviled He him with intolerable insults in order to provoke a fight. (Vedabase)

   

Text 18

Offended by the harsh words he, with eyes red as copper, infuriated like a snake being struck by a foot, came forward holding a mace.

He offended by the harsh words with his eyes turned red as copper, infuriated like a snake is when struck by a foot, came forward holding a mace. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Whirling his club swiftly, he threw it at the Great Soul Pradyumna, producing a sound as sharp as a stroke of lightning.

Whirling his club swiftly threw he it at Pradyumna the Great Soul, producing a sound as sharp as a stroke of lightning. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The weapon was in its flight by Lord Pradyumna knocked away with His club, oh King. Gotten angry He thereupon hurled His club at the enemy.

It was in its flight by the Supreme Lord with His club knocked away, o King, upon which He angered hurled His own club at His enemy. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

The demon resorted to the daitya magic he had learned from Maya Dānava, and released, moving through the sky, a downpour of weapons over the son of Krishna [compare 3.19: 20].

He, the demon, resorting to the daitya magic he had learned from Maya Dānava, released from above in the sky a downpour of weapons over the son of Krishna [compare: 3.19: 20]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 22

Harassed by the rain of weapons the powerful warrior, the son of Rukminī, implemented the great charm that, rooting in goodness, supersedes all magic.

Harassed by the rain of weapons implemented the powerful warrior, the son of Rukminī, the great charm rooting in goodness which supersedes all magic. (Vedabase)

  

Text 23

The demon then used hundreds of weapons belonging to Kuvera's guardians [Guhyakas], the heavenly singers [Gandharvas], the ogres [Pis'ācas], the celestial snakes [Uragas] and the man-eaters [Rākshasas], but the son of Krishna stroke them all down.

The demon then used hundreds of weapons belonging to Kuvera's guardians [Guhyakas], the heavenly singers [Gandharvas], the ogres [Pis'ācas], the celestial snakes [Uragas ] and the man-eaters [Rākshasas], but the son of Krishna stroke them all down.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 24

Drawing His sharp-edged sword He with one violent blow severed S'ambara's head from his body, complete with helmet, earrings and his red mustache.

Drawing His sharp-edged sword severed he with one violent blow S'ambara's head, complete with his helmet, earrings and red mustache from his body. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

As the gods full of praise from above rained flowers upon Him, He was by His wife, who traveled the sky, through the air brought to the city [of Dvārakā].

Being showered by the gods from above who of praise scattered flowers, was He by His wife traveling through the sky brought to the city [of Dvārakā]. (Vedabase)


 Text 26

Together with His wife He, like a cloud with lightning, from the sky entered the inner spaces of the most exquisite palace, oh King, which was crowded with hundreds of women.

The inner palace most exquisite, o King, crowded with hundreds of women was by Him with His wife entered from the sky like a cloud with lightning. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27-28

When they saw Him, dark as a cloud, dressed in yellow silk, with long arms, reddish eyes, a pleasing smile, His charming countenance, His nicely decorated lotuslike face and His bluish-black curling locks, the women, who thought He was Krishna, bashfully hid themselves here and there.

Seeing Him dark as a cloud, dressed in yellow silk, with long arms, reddish eyes, a pleasing smile, His charming countenance; His nicely decorated lotuslike face and the bluish-black curling locks became the women, thinking He was Krishna, bashful and took they off to hide themselves here and there. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Gradually the ladies noticed slight differences in His appearance, whereupon they delighted and most surprised approached Him and [Rati,] that jewel among women.

By and by realized the ladies slight differences in appearance and approached they delighted and surprised Him and [Rati,] that jewel among women. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

When the sweet-voiced and dark-eyed Rukminī saw Him, she remembered her lost son and her breasts got wet out of affection.

The breasts of the sweet-voiced and dark-eyed Rukminī, remembering her lost son, then flowed of affection. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

[She thought:] 'Who would this gem among men be, whose son is He, which lotus-eyed woman has carried Him in her womb, and what is more, who is this woman won by Him?

[She thought:] 'Who would this gem among men be, whose son is He and what lotus-eyed woman has carried Him in her womb, and even more, who is this woman won by Him? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 32

If the son I lost, who was taken from the maternity room, were alive somewhere, He would be of the same age and appearance!

If my son lost from the maternity room were alive somewhere, He'd be of the same age and appearance! (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

How can He have the same physical appearance, have the same gait, limbs, voice, smile and glance as the Wielder of the S'ārnga [Krishna's bow]?

How could He have acquired the same appearance in body, gait, limbs, voice, smile and glance as that of the wielder of S'ārnga [Krishna's bow]? (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

Considering my great affection for Him and the trembling in my left arm, it has got to be Him, He must be the child I carried in my womb!'

Considering my great affection for Him and the trembling in my left arm, He's no doubt - He must be - for sure, the child I carried in my womb!'  (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

While the daughter of the king of Vidarbha thus was conjecturing, the Lord Hailed in the Scriptures arrived there together with Devakī and Ānakadundubhi. 

While the daughter of the king of Vaidarbha was thus conjecturing arrived the Lord Hailed in the Scriptures there together with Devakī and Ānakadundhubi. (Vedabase)

  

Text 36

Even though the Supreme Lord Janārdana knew all about the matter, He remained silent. It was Nārada who told the whole story, beginning with the kidnapping by S'ambara.

Even though the Supreme Lord understood the matter remained He, Janārdana, silent; it was Nārada who told the whole story beginning with the kidnapping by S'ambara.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

When the women of Krishna's residence heard about that great miracle, they cheered in ecstasy to welcome Him, who had been lost for so many years, as if someone had returned from death.

The women of Krishna's residence hearing of that great wonder then cheered in ecstasy to welcome the one lost for so many years as if someone had returned from death.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

Devakī, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarāma, and also the women [of the palace] and Rukminī, embraced the couple and rejoiced.

Devakī, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarāma as also the women and Rukminī embraced the couple and rejoiced. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

Hearing that Pradyumna, who had been lost, had returned, the residents of Dvārakā declared: 'Ah, by providence the child we thought dead has come back!'

The residents of Dvārakā hearing that Pradyumna being lost had returned declared: 'O providence, the child we thought dead has really come back!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

It was not surprising that they, who constantly thought of the resemblance with His father, their master, in the full of their attraction, as His mothers, kept their feelings of reverence for Him private. When they felt that way when He appeared before their eyes as the spitting image of the form of the Shelter of the Goddess of Fortune, as Cupid the God of Love in person, then what would that have meant for the feelings of other women?'

It was not that surprising at all that they, who constantly thought of the resemblance with His father their master, in being His mothers in the full of their attraction backed off in respect of Him. With them doing so with the way He appeared before their eyes as the spitting image of the Shelter of the Goddess of Fortune His form, as Cupid the God of Love in person, then what would one expect of other women?' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 picture is titled: 'The Presentation of the Fish to Sambara',
Folio from a Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord), Nepal, Himalayas 1775-1800".
Courtesy
LACMA.
The image is titled: "Dvaraka" ca. 1600, Mughal dynasty, Reign of Emperor Akbar.
Source:
Smithsonian institute - Freer Sackler Gallery.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

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