Canto Ten - Chapter 68

Śrī Śuka said: O King, Jāmbavatī's son Sāmba, victorious in battle, carried away Duryodhana's daughter Lakṣmaṇā from her svayaṃvara.

The enraged Kauravas said, 'This ill-mannered boy has insulted us by forcibly abducting our unwilling daughter.

'Bind this undisciplined youth! What can the Vṛṣṇis do? By our grace they enjoy the land we granted them.

'When the Vṛṣṇis hear their son has been captured, if they come here their pride will be broken and they will become peaceful, like life airs brought under firm control.'

With the elders' approval, Karṇa, Śala, Bhūri, Yajñaketu, and Suyodhana set out to fight Sāmba.

Seeing Dhṛtarāṣṭra's warriors pursuing him, the great chariot fighter Sāmba took up his handsome bow and stood alone like a lion.

Angry and intent on capturing him, the bowmen led by Karṇa approached, shouting, 'Stop! Stop!' and showered him with arrows.

O best of the Kurus, though attacked by the Kurus, the inconceivably powerful Yadu prince could not tolerate it, any more than a lion tolerates lesser beasts.

Twang­ing his splendid bow, the hero simultaneously struck the six chariot warriors headed by Karṇa with six separate arrows.

With four arrows for each he struck their four horses, with one each their charioteers, and with another each the great bowmen themselves. They praised his prowess.

They then deprived him of his chariot: four warriors killed his four horses, one killed his charioteer, and another cut his bow.

Having with difficulty defeated and bound the young warrior in battle, the victorious Kurus entered their city with him and their maiden.

O King, when Nārada told them what had happened, the Yadus became angry and, at Ugrasena's command, prepared to march against the Kurus.

Balarāma, destroyer of the contamination of quarrel, pacified the armed Vṛṣṇi chiefs, not wishing conflict between the Kurus and Vṛṣṇis.

He traveled to Hastināpura in a sun-bright chariot, accompanied by brāhmaṇas and family elders like the moon surrounded by planets.

Upon reaching Gajāhvaya, Balarāma stayed in an outer garden and sent Uddhava to learn Dhṛtarāṣṭra's intentions.

Uddhava duly honored Ambikā's son, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Bāhlika, and Duryodhana, then informed them that Balarāma had arrived.

Overjoyed to hear that their dearest friend Balarāma had come, they honored Uddhava and all went forth carrying auspicious offerings.

They met Balarāma according to custom and presented a cow and arghya. Those who understood His power bowed their heads to Him.

After hearing that their relatives were well and mutually asking about health and welfare, Balarāma spoke fearlessly.

'Lord Ugrasena, ruler of earthly rulers, has issued you this command. Hear it with undistracted minds and carry it out without delay.

'You many warriors unrighteously defeated and bound one righteous man. Although I tolerate this for the sake of unity among relatives, release him now.'

Hearing Baladeva's words, swollen with heroic power, courage, and strength equal to His own might, the Kurus became angry and replied.

'How astonishing! By the irresistible course of time, a shoe now wishes to climb upon the head honored by a crown.

'Related to us through marriage and sharing our beds, seats, and meals, the Vṛṣṇis have been raised to equality by the royal thrones we granted them.

'Only through our indulgence do they enjoy yak-tail fans, ceremonial fans, conches, white parasols, crowns, royal seats, and beds.

'Enough of granting royal insignia to the Yadus, who oppose their benefactors like serpents fed with milk. Enriched by our grace, the shameless Yādavas now command us!'

'How could even Indra seize what the Kurus, including Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Arjuna, have not given, any more than a sheep could take prey from a lion?'

O best of Bharata, intoxicated with pride in birth, family, and wealth, those uncivil men spoke harshly to Balarāma and entered their city.

Seeing the Kurus' bad character and hearing their unspeakable words, Acyuta's elder brother became inflamed with anger, repeatedly laughing while terrible to behold.

'These wicked men, swollen with many kinds of pride, clearly do not desire peace. Their proper pacification is punishment, just as a stick disciplines animals.

'I came here desiring peace after gradually calming the enraged Yadus and Kṛṣṇa Himself.

'Yet these foolish, quarrelsome villains repeatedly insulted Me and spoke abusive words in their conceit.

'They claim that Ugrasena, lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, is not sovereign, although Indra and the other guardians of the worlds obey his commands.

'They say that He who conquered Sudharmā and brought away the pārijāta, the celestial wish-fulfilling tree, is unworthy of a royal seat.

'They claim that the Lord of Śrī, whose two feet the goddess Śrī, sovereign of all, personally serves, does not deserve royal insignia.

'The dust of His lotus feet is borne upon the finest crowns of all the world's rulers, and every sacred place worships those feet. Brahmā, Bhava, and I are merely portions of a portion of Him, and Śrī constantly carries that dust. What value has a royal throne beside Him?'

'The Vṛṣṇis supposedly enjoy land granted by the Kurus. We are said to be shoes while the Kurus themselves are the head!'

'Who charged with discipline could tolerate the incoherent, harsh speech of these conceited men, maddened by opulence like drunkards?

Enraged, He declared, 'Today I shall rid the earth of the Kauravas!' Taking up His plow, He rose as though burning the three worlds.

With the tip of His plow He tore open the city of Gajāhvaya and angrily dragged it, intending to cast it into the Gaṅgā.

Seeing their city sway like a boat and begin falling into the Gaṅgā as it was dragged, the Kauravas became terrified.

Desiring to live, they and their families sought refuge in Him alone. Placing Sāmba and Lakṣmaṇā before them, they approached the Lord with folded hands.

'Rāma, Rāma, foundation of everything, we did not understand Your power. Please forgive the offense of us foolish and wicked-minded men.

'Independent Lord, You alone are the cause of maintenance, creation, and dissolution. Sages say the worlds are toys for Your play.

'Ananta, with a thousand heads You playfully bear this earthly sphere upon Your head. At the end You withdraw the universe into Yourself and remain alone without a second as Śeṣa.

'Your anger exists to instruct everyone, not from hatred or envy. Supreme Lord, You embody pure being and devote Yourself to maintaining and protecting creation.

'Obeisance to You, Self of all beings, imperishable bearer of every power and maker of the universe. We bow to You and have taken refuge in You.'

Śrī Śuka said: Thus propitiated by the surrendered Kurus, whose eyes trembled in fear, Bala became gracious and gave them fearlessness, saying, 'Do not fear.'

Out of affection for his daughter, Duryodhana gave as her dowry twelve hundred elephants sixty years old and one hundred twenty thousand horses,

six thousand golden chariots radiant as the sun, and one thousand maidservants wearing golden necklaces.

The Supreme Lord, foremost of the Sātvatas, accepted everything and departed with His son and daughter-in-law, honored by His well-wishing relatives.

Halāyudha then entered His own city and met His loving relatives. In the assembly, before the foremost Yadus, He recounted everything He had done among the Kurus.

Even today that city can be seen elevated on its southern side toward the Gaṅgā, as if still displaying Rāma's power.