Śrī Kṛṣṇa-janma-khaṇḍa · Chapter 81
Sourceश्रीकृष्ण उवाय एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शुक्रः सुरश्रेणीं ददर्श सः । आकाशमार्गादायान्तीं रणशस्त्रास्त्रधारिणीम् ।। १ ।। पताकानां त्रिकोटिश्च शतकोटिर्महारथाः । शतकोटिर्गजेन्द्राणां रथानां तच्चतुर्गुणम् ।। २ ।। अश्वानां तत्छतगुणं समूहं च सुदारुणम् । पदातीनां समूहं च तुरङ्गेभ्यश्च षड्गुणम् ।। ३ ।। दुंदूभीवाद्यभाण्डानां पञ्चलक्षं तथैव च । पटहानां त्रिलक्षं च डिण्डिमानां द्विलक्षकम् ।। ४ ।। ऐरावते महेन्द्रं च श्वेताश्वे धर्ममेव च । कुबेरं वरुणं वह्निं रथस्थं पवनं तथा ।। ५ ।। महिषस्थं यमं चैव स्यन्दनस्थं दिवाकरम् । ईशानं च वृषेन्द्रस्थमनन्तं नागवाहम् ।। ६ ।। आदित्यांश्च वसून्रुद्रान्सिद्धगन्धर्वाकिन्नरान् । जीवन्मुक्तमुनीनां च समीहं सूर्यवर्चसम् ।। ७ ।। तान्दृष्ट्वा निर्भयः शुक्रः समाश्वास्य निशाकरम् । सुराणां द्विगुणं सैन्यमाजुहाव व्रजेश्वर ।। ८ ।। रत्नमालानदीतीरे हुताशनप्रियाश्रमे । तत्र तस्थौ दैत्यसैन्यं पुण्यक्षीरोदधेस्तटे ।। ९ ।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शुक्रः समीपे सरसस्तटे । पुण्याश्रमेऽक्षयवटे सुरसैन्यात्समागतम् ।। १० ।। ददर्श वृषभस्थं च शंकरं सर्वंशंकरम् । त्रिशूलपट्टीशधरं व्याघ्रचर्माम्बरं वरम् ।। ११ ।। तेजःस्वरूपं परमं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम् । सर्दसंपत्प्रदातारं सर्वज्ञं सर्वकारणम् ।। १२ ।। सर्वेश्वरं सर्वपूज्यं सर्वहूपं सनातनम् । शरणागतदीनार्तं परित्राणपरायणम् ।। १३ ।। सस्मितं परमात्मानं ज्वलन्तं ब्रह्मतेजसा । संत्रस्तः सहसोत्थाय प्रणनाम पदाम्बुजे ।। १४ ।। ददौ शुभाशिषं तस्मै सुप्रसन्नः परात्परः । रत्नसिंहासने तं च वासयामास सादरम् ।। १५ ।। अथ तत्रान्तरे विप्रं पुरतस्तं ददर्श सः । शान्तं स्वयं विधातारं रत्नस्यन्दनमुन्दरम् ।। १६ ।। वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानं रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । प्रसन्नं सुस्मितं शुद्धं जगतामीश्वरं परम् ।। १७ ।। कर्मणां फलदातारं तपोरूपं तपश्विनाम् । वेदानां जनकं वेदप्रसूं कान्तं मनोहरम् ।। १८ ।। पुटाञ्जलिस्तदा त्रस्तः प्रणनाम सुरेश्वरम् । रत्नसिंहासने रम्ये वासयामास भक्तितः ।। १९ ।। पूजां चकार भक्त्या च तयोश्चरणपङ्कजे । नोचितं कुशलप्रश्नं तयोः कल्याणमेव च ।। २० ।। विधाता जगतां नन्द शकाचार्यं पुरस्थितम् । सुनीतिं कथयामास यत्नतः शंमुसंमतः ।। २१ ।। श्रृणु शुक्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तुर्नीतिं शशिनः सुत । लज्जाकारं त्रिजगतां कर्म वेदबहिष्कृतम् ।। २२ ।। स्नात्वा गृहोन्मुखीं तारां गुरुपत्नीं पतिव्रताम् । गृहीत्वा शरणापन्नस्त्वयि पापश्च संप्रतम् ।। २३ ।। प्रस्तुतं देवसैन्यं च पश्य वत्स रणोद्यतम् । अहं शंभुस्त्वत्समीपं तदर्थं च समागतौ ।। २४ ।। शंभुरुवाच चन्द्रमानय हे विप्र यद्यात्मशिवमिच्छसि । संहरिष्ये सिरस्तस्य त्रिशूरेन च पापिनः ।। २५ ।। अन्यथा संहरिष्यामि सर्वदैत्यान्क्षणेन च । मयि रुष्टे रक्षिता को दैत्यानां च भवेद्द्विज ।। २६ ।। सद्यः पाशुपतेनैव वाय्वस्त्रेण च र्सांप्रतम् । सुराणां रिपुवर्गं च हरिष्यामि च लीलया ।। २७ ।। दुर्वाससो मदंशस्य गुरुस्तस्याङ्गिरा सुनिः । परस्पराच्च संबन्धाद्गुरुपुत्रो गुरुर्मम ।। २८ ।। बृहस्पतिश्च तेजस्वी तं भस्मीकर्तुमीश्वरः । न चकार कृपालुश्चेत्प्रियशिष्येण हेतुना ।। २९ ।। उतथ्यपत्नीं दृष्ट्वा स पुरा रेमे स्वकामतः । तत्पतेः शापतोऽस्यैव परग्रस्ता प्रिया सती ।। ३० ।। पत्नीं मद्गुरुपुत्रस्य देहि तार्रां मनोहराम् । मद्वैरिणं च चन्द्रं च भ्रादृभार्यापहारिणम् ।। ३१ ।। शरणागतदीनार्तं न हि रक्षेद्यदीश्वरः । पच्यते निरये तावद्यावदिन्दाश्चतुदर्श ।। ३२ ।। अत्र नास्ति विचारो मे पापिष्ठे शरणागते । पापी यं शरणं याति स पापी च न संशयः ।। ३३ ।। देहि तं विप्रशार्दूल पापिनं मातृगामिनम् । बहिष्कृत्य स्वाश्रमाच्च तारासाध्वीसमन्वितम् ।। ३४ ।। शुक्र उवाच सुराणामसुराणां च सर्वेषां जगतामपि । त्वमेव शास्ता भगवान्को वा शास्ति सुरेऽसुरे ।। ३५ ।। कृत्वा सुराणां साहाय्यं कथं दैत्यान्हनिष्यसि । संहर्तुः सर्वजगतां दैत्यौधे किं च पौरुषम् ।। ३६ ।। त्वं जयोतिः परमं ब्रह्म सगुणो निर्गुणः स्वयम् । गुणभेदान्मूर्तिभेदो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः ।। ३७ ।। बलिद्वारे गदापाणिः स्वयमेव भवान्प्रभो । स्वयं प्रदत्ता शक्राय तस्मै श्रीरपि लीलया ।। ३८ ।। क्षमस्व भगञ्छंभो हर क्रोधं च संहर । किं पौरुषं च भवतो ब्रह्मणस्यापि हिंसया ।। ३९ ।। अहं जीवञ्छरीरेण न दास्यामि निशाकरम् । शरणागतदीनार्तं लज्जिर्वं पापसंयुतम् ।। ४० ।। अहं च त्वत्पदाम्भोजे शरणं यामि शंकर । यथोचितं कुरु विभो जगत्सर्वं तथैव च ।। ४१ ।। शुक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नो भगवाञ्छिवः । इत्युवाच निशानाथं समानय शुभं भवेत् ।। ४२ ।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मा बोधयित्वा कविं विभुः । समानीय निशानाथं तारकासहितं व्रज ।। ४३ ।। शंभोश्च चरणाम्भोजे चकार च समर्पणम् । शंभुस्तं प्रीतियुक्तश्च वासयामास वक्षसि ।। ४४ ।। दत्तवा तस्मै पादरेणुं निष्पापं च चकार सः । दत्तवा तन्मस्तके हस्तं कृपालुरभयं ददौ ।। ४५ ।। क्षीरोदे स्नापयित्वा च प्रायश्चित्तेन शंकरः । चकार चन्द्रं निष्पापं ब्रह्मणा सहितः शुचिम् ।। ४६ ।। योगेन चन्द्रं योगीन्द्रो द्विखण्डं तं चकार सः । ररक्षार्धं ललाटे च सोऽप्यर्धं ब्रह्मणः पुरः ।। ४७ ।। अत एव महादेवो बभूव चन्द्रशेखरः । मृगाङ्को लज्जितस्तत्र कलङ्कीं देवसंसदि ।। ४८ ।। लज्जया च स्वयोगेन देहत्यागं चकार सः । तच्छरीरं च क्षीरोदे ब्रह्मणा च समर्पितम् ।। ४९ ।। रुरोदात्रिश्च कृबया शुचा क्षीरोदधेस्तटे । अत्रेश्चक्षुर्जलं तस्य पपात च जले व्रज ।। ५० ।। तस्माद्बभूव चन्द्रश्च निष्पापो देवसंसदि । ब्रह्मा च भगवाञ्छंभुरभिषेकं चकार तम् ।। उवाच तं महादेवो निर्भयं देवसंसदि ।। ५१ ।। महादेव उवाच स्वस्थानं गच्छ पुत्र त्वं कुरुष्व विषयं मुदा । पश्चात्तस्याश्च शापेनयक्ष्मग्रस्तोभविष्यसि ।। ५२ ।। व्यर्थं पतिव्रताशापं कर्तुमीशश्चको भुवि । मदाशिषा यक्ष्मणश्च प्रतीकारो भविष्यति ।। ५३ ।। यस्माद्भाद्रचतुर्थ्यां तु गुरुपत्नीक्षतिः कृता । तस्मात्तस्मिन्दिने वत्स पापदृश्यो युगे युगे ।। ५४ ।। नाभुक्तं क्षीयते कर्म कल्पकोटिशतैरपि । अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम् ।। ५५ ।। देहत्यागेन हे वत्स कर्मभोगो न नश्यति । प्रायश्चित्तान्न संदेहो ङ्यस्तमेव भविष्यति ।। ५६ ।। ताराबहरणावत्स कलङ्कश्चन्द्रमण्डले । मृगाकृतिर्विलग्नश्च भविष्यति युगे युगे ।। ५७ ।। शृणु वाक्यमिहाऽऽगच्छ तारके च पतिव्रते । सत्यं ब्रूहि कस्य गर्भंत्यक्त्वा शुद्धाभव प्रिये ।। ५८ ।। अकामतो बलात्साध्वी न स्त्री जारेण दुष्यति । कामतो नरकं याति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ ।। ५९ ।। उवाच तारा ब्रह्माणं गर्भं चन्द्रस्य सस्मितम् । जहसुर्देवताः सर्वाः शंभुश्च मुनिसंघकाः ।। ६० ।। ददौ तारां च गुरवे लज्जिताय व्रजेश्वर । बृहस्पतिर्ययौ गेहं गृहीत्वा च पतिव्रताम् ।। ६१ ।। तया प्रसूतं पुत्रं च सुन्दरं कनकप्रभम् । गृहीत्वाप्रययौ चन्दौनमस्कृत्य विधिं शिवाम् ।। ६२ ।। ययुर्देवाश्च मुनयः शंभुश्च कमलोद्भवः । प्रययौ स्वगृहं शुक्रौ दैत्ययुक्तौ मुदाऽन्वितः ।। ६३ ।। एतत्ते कथितं नन्द ह्याख्यानं पुण्यदं शुभम् । एतच्छ्रु त्वा तु निष्पापो निष्कलङ्की नरो भवेत् ।। ६४ ।। धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वसंपत्करं परम् । शोकापनोदनं हर्षकरं मर्वत्र मङ्गलम् ।। ६५ ।। त्यज शोकं सदा नन्द गृहं व्रज व्रजेश्वर । ब्रूहि सर्वं यशोदां च मत्प्रसूं गोपिकागणम् ।। ६६ ।। बोधयिष्यसि सर्वां तां स्त्रीजातिं शोकसंयुताम् । सदीयज्ञानदत्तेन हर्षयुक्तः सदा भव ।। ६७ ।। इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo ताराहरणं नामैकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः ।। ८१ ।।
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāya etasminnantare śukraḥ suraśreṇīṃ dadarśa saḥ | ākāśamārgādāyāntīṃ raṇaśastrāstradhāriṇīm || 1 || patākānāṃ trikoṭiśca śatakoṭirmahārathāḥ | śatakoṭirgajendrāṇāṃ rathānāṃ taccaturguṇam || 2 || aśvānāṃ tatchataguṇaṃ samūhaṃ ca sudāruṇam | padātīnāṃ samūhaṃ ca turaṅgebhyaśca ṣaḍguṇam || 3 || duṃdūbhīvādyabhāṇḍānāṃ pañcalakṣaṃ tathaiva ca | paṭahānāṃ trilakṣaṃ ca ḍiṇḍimānāṃ dvilakṣakam || 4 || airāvate mahendraṃ ca śvetāśve dharmameva ca | kuberaṃ varuṇaṃ vahniṃ rathasthaṃ pavanaṃ tathā || 5 || mahiṣasthaṃ yamaṃ caiva syandanasthaṃ divākaram | īśānaṃ ca vṛṣendrasthamanantaṃ nāgavāham || 6 || ādityāṃśca vasūnrudrānsiddhagandharvākinnarān | jīvanmuktamunīnāṃ ca samīhaṃ sūryavarcasam || 7 || tāndṛṣṭvā nirbhayaḥ śukraḥ samāśvāsya niśākaram | surāṇāṃ dviguṇaṃ sainyamājuhāva vrajeśvara || 8 || ratnamālānadītīre hutāśanapriyāśrame | tatra tasthau daityasainyaṃ puṇyakṣīrodadhestaṭe || 9 || etasminnantare śukraḥ samīpe sarasastaṭe | puṇyāśrame'kṣayavaṭe surasainyātsamāgatam || 10 || dadarśa vṛṣabhasthaṃ ca śaṃkaraṃ sarvaṃśaṃkaram | triśūlapaṭṭīśadharaṃ vyāghracarmāmbaraṃ varam || 11 || tejaḥsvarūpaṃ paramaṃ bhaktānugrahavigraham | sardasaṃpatpradātāraṃ sarvajñaṃ sarvakāraṇam || 12 || sarveśvaraṃ sarvapūjyaṃ sarvahūpaṃ sanātanam | śaraṇāgatadīnārtaṃ paritrāṇaparāyaṇam || 13 || sasmitaṃ paramātmānaṃ jvalantaṃ brahmatejasā | saṃtrastaḥ sahasotthāya praṇanāma padāmbuje || 14 || dadau śubhāśiṣaṃ tasmai suprasannaḥ parātparaḥ | ratnasiṃhāsane taṃ ca vāsayāmāsa sādaram || 15 || atha tatrāntare vipraṃ puratastaṃ dadarśa saḥ | śāntaṃ svayaṃ vidhātāraṃ ratnasyandanamundaram || 16 || vahniśuddhāṃśukādhānaṃ ratnamālāvibhūṣitam | prasannaṃ susmitaṃ śuddhaṃ jagatāmīśvaraṃ param || 17 || karmaṇāṃ phaladātāraṃ taporūpaṃ tapaśvinām | vedānāṃ janakaṃ vedaprasūṃ kāntaṃ manoharam || 18 || puṭāñjalistadā trastaḥ praṇanāma sureśvaram | ratnasiṃhāsane ramye vāsayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ || 19 || pūjāṃ cakāra bhaktyā ca tayoścaraṇapaṅkaje | nocitaṃ kuśalapraśnaṃ tayoḥ kalyāṇameva ca || 20 || vidhātā jagatāṃ nanda śakācāryaṃ purasthitam | sunītiṃ kathayāmāsa yatnataḥ śaṃmusaṃmataḥ || 21 || śrṛṇu śukra pravakṣyāmi turnītiṃ śaśinaḥ suta | lajjākāraṃ trijagatāṃ karma vedabahiṣkṛtam || 22 || snātvā gṛhonmukhīṃ tārāṃ gurupatnīṃ pativratām | gṛhītvā śaraṇāpannastvayi pāpaśca saṃpratam || 23 || prastutaṃ devasainyaṃ ca paśya vatsa raṇodyatam | ahaṃ śaṃbhustvatsamīpaṃ tadarthaṃ ca samāgatau || 24 || śaṃbhuruvāca candramānaya he vipra yadyātmaśivamicchasi | saṃhariṣye sirastasya triśūrena ca pāpinaḥ || 25 || anyathā saṃhariṣyāmi sarvadaityānkṣaṇena ca | mayi ruṣṭe rakṣitā ko daityānāṃ ca bhaveddvija || 26 || sadyaḥ pāśupatenaiva vāyvastreṇa ca rsāṃpratam | surāṇāṃ ripuvargaṃ ca hariṣyāmi ca līlayā || 27 || durvāsaso madaṃśasya gurustasyāṅgirā suniḥ | parasparācca saṃbandhādguruputro gururmama || 28 || bṛhaspatiśca tejasvī taṃ bhasmīkartumīśvaraḥ | na cakāra kṛpāluścetpriyaśiṣyeṇa hetunā || 29 || utathyapatnīṃ dṛṣṭvā sa purā reme svakāmataḥ | tatpateḥ śāpato'syaiva paragrastā priyā satī || 30 || patnīṃ madguruputrasya dehi tārrāṃ manoharām | madvairiṇaṃ ca candraṃ ca bhrādṛbhāryāpahāriṇam || 31 || śaraṇāgatadīnārtaṃ na hi rakṣedyadīśvaraḥ | pacyate niraye tāvadyāvadindāścatudarśa || 32 || atra nāsti vicāro me pāpiṣṭhe śaraṇāgate | pāpī yaṃ śaraṇaṃ yāti sa pāpī ca na saṃśayaḥ || 33 || dehi taṃ vipraśārdūla pāpinaṃ mātṛgāminam | bahiṣkṛtya svāśramācca tārāsādhvīsamanvitam || 34 || śukra uvāca surāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ jagatāmapi | tvameva śāstā bhagavānko vā śāsti sure'sure || 35 || kṛtvā surāṇāṃ sāhāyyaṃ kathaṃ daityānhaniṣyasi | saṃhartuḥ sarvajagatāṃ daityaudhe kiṃ ca pauruṣam || 36 || tvaṃ jayotiḥ paramaṃ brahma saguṇo nirguṇaḥ svayam | guṇabhedānmūrtibhedo brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakaḥ || 37 || balidvāre gadāpāṇiḥ svayameva bhavānprabho | svayaṃ pradattā śakrāya tasmai śrīrapi līlayā || 38 || kṣamasva bhagañchaṃbho hara krodhaṃ ca saṃhara | kiṃ pauruṣaṃ ca bhavato brahmaṇasyāpi hiṃsayā || 39 || ahaṃ jīvañcharīreṇa na dāsyāmi niśākaram | śaraṇāgatadīnārtaṃ lajjirvaṃ pāpasaṃyutam || 40 || ahaṃ ca tvatpadāmbhoje śaraṇaṃ yāmi śaṃkara | yathocitaṃ kuru vibho jagatsarvaṃ tathaiva ca || 41 || śukrasya vacanaṃ śrutvā prasanno bhagavāñchivaḥ | ityuvāca niśānāthaṃ samānaya śubhaṃ bhavet || 42 || etasminnantare brahmā bodhayitvā kaviṃ vibhuḥ | samānīya niśānāthaṃ tārakāsahitaṃ vraja || 43 || śaṃbhośca caraṇāmbhoje cakāra ca samarpaṇam | śaṃbhustaṃ prītiyuktaśca vāsayāmāsa vakṣasi || 44 || dattavā tasmai pādareṇuṃ niṣpāpaṃ ca cakāra saḥ | dattavā tanmastake hastaṃ kṛpālurabhayaṃ dadau || 45 || kṣīrode snāpayitvā ca prāyaścittena śaṃkaraḥ | cakāra candraṃ niṣpāpaṃ brahmaṇā sahitaḥ śucim || 46 || yogena candraṃ yogīndro dvikhaṇḍaṃ taṃ cakāra saḥ | rarakṣārdhaṃ lalāṭe ca so'pyardhaṃ brahmaṇaḥ puraḥ || 47 || ata eva mahādevo babhūva candraśekharaḥ | mṛgāṅko lajjitastatra kalaṅkīṃ devasaṃsadi || 48 || lajjayā ca svayogena dehatyāgaṃ cakāra saḥ | taccharīraṃ ca kṣīrode brahmaṇā ca samarpitam || 49 || rurodātriśca kṛbayā śucā kṣīrodadhestaṭe | atreścakṣurjalaṃ tasya papāta ca jale vraja || 50 || tasmādbabhūva candraśca niṣpāpo devasaṃsadi | brahmā ca bhagavāñchaṃbhurabhiṣekaṃ cakāra tam || uvāca taṃ mahādevo nirbhayaṃ devasaṃsadi || 51 || mahādeva uvāca svasthānaṃ gaccha putra tvaṃ kuruṣva viṣayaṃ mudā | paścāttasyāśca śāpenayakṣmagrastobhaviṣyasi || 52 || vyarthaṃ pativratāśāpaṃ kartumīśaścako bhuvi | madāśiṣā yakṣmaṇaśca pratīkāro bhaviṣyati || 53 || yasmādbhādracaturthyāṃ tu gurupatnīkṣatiḥ kṛtā | tasmāttasmindine vatsa pāpadṛśyo yuge yuge || 54 || nābhuktaṃ kṣīyate karma kalpakoṭiśatairapi | avaśyameva bhoktavyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma śubhāśubham || 55 || dehatyāgena he vatsa karmabhogo na naśyati | prāyaścittānna saṃdeho ṅyastameva bhaviṣyati || 56 || tārābaharaṇāvatsa kalaṅkaścandramaṇḍale | mṛgākṛtirvilagnaśca bhaviṣyati yuge yuge || 57 || śṛṇu vākyamihā''gaccha tārake ca pativrate | satyaṃ brūhi kasya garbhaṃtyaktvā śuddhābhava priye || 58 || akāmato balātsādhvī na strī jāreṇa duṣyati | kāmato narakaṃ yāti yāvaccandradivākarau || 59 || uvāca tārā brahmāṇaṃ garbhaṃ candrasya sasmitam | jahasurdevatāḥ sarvāḥ śaṃbhuśca munisaṃghakāḥ || 60 || dadau tārāṃ ca gurave lajjitāya vrajeśvara | bṛhaspatiryayau gehaṃ gṛhītvā ca pativratām || 61 || tayā prasūtaṃ putraṃ ca sundaraṃ kanakaprabham | gṛhītvāprayayau candaunamaskṛtya vidhiṃ śivām || 62 || yayurdevāśca munayaḥ śaṃbhuśca kamalodbhavaḥ | prayayau svagṛhaṃ śukrau daityayuktau mudā'nvitaḥ || 63 || etatte kathitaṃ nanda hyākhyānaṃ puṇyadaṃ śubham | etacchru tvā tu niṣpāpo niṣkalaṅkī naro bhavet || 64 || dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ sarvasaṃpatkaraṃ param | śokāpanodanaṃ harṣakaraṃ marvatra maṅgalam || 65 || tyaja śokaṃ sadā nanda gṛhaṃ vraja vrajeśvara | brūhi sarvaṃ yaśodāṃ ca matprasūṃ gopikāgaṇam || 66 || bodhayiṣyasi sarvāṃ tāṃ strījātiṃ śokasaṃyutām | sadīyajñānadattena harṣayuktaḥ sadā bhava || 67 || iti śrībrahmao mahāo śrīkṛṣṇajanmakhao uttao nāradanāo tārāharaṇaṃ nāmaikāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ || 81 ||
English translation
The Abduction of Tara Sri Krsna said- In the meantime Sukra witnessed Devasena (army of gods) who was moving through the sky, wearing a coat of arms.
In the army there were three crores of flags, hundred crores of great chariots, hundred crores of elephants and four times more chariots, four times the terrific horses and six times more of the number of horses were the foot soldiers.
There were five lakhs of trumpets besides other musical instruments, three lakhs of drums and two lakhs of small drums.
Mahendra mounted on the Airavata, Dharma on the white horse, Kubera, Varuna, Agni and the wind god mounted on chariots. The god of death mounted on a buffalo, Surya mounted on a chariot, Siva mounted on a bull and Ananta mounted on a serpent. The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Siddhas^ Gandharvas, Kinnaras and the sages having the lustre of the sun were also O lord of Vraja, looking at the army of gods, Sukra remained unmoved and assuring the moon, he summoned double the army. The army of the demons was lodged on the shore of the ocean of milk, the banks of Ratnamala river and the dsrama of Agnipriya.
In the meantime Sukra the spotted Siva who had arrived there with the army of gods, camping near the bank of the pool under the eternal banyan tree. He mounted on a bull, bestowed welfare and was holding the trident and pattisa as weapons. He was clad in tiger skin, possessed great lustre and had taken to human form to grace his devotees. He was bestower of all the riches, all knowledgeable, the cause of all, the lord of all adorable by all, the eternal one, always anxious to help the grief-stricken people who come to take refuge with him, wearing a serene smile on the face and was illumining with the eternal lustre, ^ukra became upset, got up at once, went to him and bowed at his feet.
Getting extremely pleased lord l§iva who is beyond everything pronounced a blessing on him. Thereafter, Sukra made him sit on the gem- studded lion throne. O Brahmapa, in the meantime ^ukra spotted Brahma also who was peaceful, the creator of the universe and was mounted on a beautiful chariot of gems, clad in divine garments sanctified by fire, adorned with the rosary of crystal beads, having a delightful face, wearing a smile on the face. He was the supreme lord of the spotless universe, granter of boons, tapas for the ascetics, the creator of the Vedas, the source of the Vedas and was quite charming to look at.
In the meantime ^ukra who was panic-stricken offered his salutation to him with folded hands and offered him a gem-studded lion throne as a seat with great devotion. Sukra adored both the gods, devoting the mind at the lotus-like feet.
Being the form bf welfare he did not think it proper to enquire about their welfare. Thereafter Brahma, the creator of the universe, with the permission of ^iva spoke to ^ukracarya the words which were quite appropriate.
Brahma said- O son ^ukra, listen to me, I am going to tell you the misdeed of the moon which is disgraceful in all the three worlds and is against the Vedas. Chaste Tara, the wife of his teacher, was about to go back to her home when the moon forcibly took her and has now taken refuge with you. O son, you look here the army of the gods which has arrived here for the same purpose. Myself and l§iva have arrived here before you for the same piupose.
said- O Brahmana, is case you are desirous of your welfare, you produce the moon here. I shall remove the head of that sinful person with the striking of this trident, otherwise in a moment I shall reduce the entire demon race to ashes. Because, O Brahmana, if I am enraged who can protect the demons, by using the Pasupata weapon and the weapon of wind, 1 shall playfully destroy all the enemies of gods. The sage Ahgira is bom in my race and is the teacher of Durvasa. Because of the eternal relationship Brhaspati happens to be the son of my teacher.
The illustrious teacher can reduce the moon to ashes but since he happens to be quite a dear pupil of the teacher, the compassionate teacher has not done so. In the earlier times Brhaspati had raped the wife of his elder brother Utathya getting infatuated with passion. Because of the curse of his brother his beloved also has been You hand over to the son of my teacher, his wife Tara and the one who has abducted her who is none else than the moon himself.
If a competent person does not protect the person who comes to take refuge with him then he has to fall in the hell for a period of the life of the fourteen Indras. Here, since the sinful person comes to take refuge with you, I don't have to think of anything else because if a sinner takes refuge with someone, the person who protects him also becomes a sinner. There is no doubt about it.
O Brahmana, you take out the chaste Tara and the sinful moon who has cohabited with his own mother and hand over both of them to us.
Sukra said- You are the lord of the gods, the demons and the entire universe and you rule over the same. Who else can rule over the gods and the demons. Therefore by helping the gods why should you destroy the demons. You are the destroyer of the universe, then why should you display your prowess over the demons alone.
You ^e the form of flames, with qualities, without qualities and the eternal Brahma.
Because of the difference in gunaSy you appear as Brahma, Visnu and Siva in three separate forms. O Lord, it is you alone who remain present at the gate of the king Bali, holding a gadd in your hand. Both Indras and Bali have been bestowed with RajalaksmI by you.
O lord, O Siva, O Tara, you shed away the anger; what type of glory are you going to achieve by killing a Brahmana? I cannot hand over the moon to you till 1 am alive since he had taken refuge with me, becoming grief-stricken, shameful, down-trodden and sinful. Therefore, O Siva, I take refuge under your lotus-like feet. O virtuous one, you now do whatever you think best. Not only I myself but the entire universe is ruled by you. On hearing the words of Sukra, Siva felt delighted and said, "Bring the moon, the lord of night here at once". On his arrival here, he would meet with welfare.
O lord of Vraja, in the meantime, the lord Brahma made the poet Sukra to understand the reality. He brought Tara a^nd the moon there and presented them at the lotus-like feet of l^iva. Siva embraced lovingly the moon.
rl -RtSTJI^ sr?nJT: JTtll'if'all Then dropping the dust of his feet over the moon, he purified him completely. Thereafter the compassionate Siva placed his hand on the head of the moon and freed him from danger.
Thereafter, both Siva and Brahma made the moon to have a bath in the ocean of milk, in repentance and made him sinless and pure.
Thereafter Siva the lord of the yogis, divided the moon into two parts. One part of the moon was placed by Siva on his head. Therefore since that time Siva is known also by the name of Candrasekhara and the part having the sign of the deer earned the blemish and started feeling shameful among the gods.
Thereafter by yogic practices he ended his body which was thrown away by Brahma in the ocean of milk. Finding this, the sage Atri feeling compassionate started crying at the shore of the ocean of milk. O lord of Vraja, as soon as the tears of the sage Atri were dropped into the ocean of milk, the moon was relieved of all the Thereafter both Siva and Brahma crowned the moon and in the assembly of gods, lord Siva spoke to the moon.
Mahadeva said- O son, you go back to your home and enjoy all the worldly pleasures.
Thereafter because of the curse of Tara you will have to suffer from the disease of consumption.
Who is competent enough to neutralise the curse of a chaste woman on earth? But because of my blessing the disease of consumption will also be removed. You have caused harm to the wife of your teacher on the fourth day of a Bhadrapada, therefore, with each yoga your sight would earn sin to the viewers.
Because an evil deed cannot be destroyed even after the lapses of crores of kalpas without facing the reward for it. Therefore the result of the good or evil deeds performed by anyone has to be faced. O son, even after the death, the deeds never vanish but after performing repentance, they surely get destroyed.
O son, because of the abduction of Tara by the moon, the blemish in the form of the deer would always remain present in the body of the moon.
O chaste lady, you come here and listen to me.
You tell me plainly by whom have you conceived. O dear one, get yourself relieved of it and purify yourself. In case an unwilling and chaste lady is forcibly raped by someone she never gets impure but in case she enjoys the company of others willingly, she has to fall in the hell and remain there till the life of the sun end the moon.
house and narrate all this that I have told you, to my mother Yasoda and all other cowherdesses.
In spite of that you try to console all the cowherdesses who are plunged in grief and extend to them the divine knowledge which has been imparted by me to you.
Thereafter, Tara smilingly spoke to Brahma, I have conceived from the moon. On hearing this the gods, Siva and sages started laughing.
O lord of Vraja, Brhaspati was filled with shame and Brahma handed over Tara to him. The sage Brhaspati took the chaste lady with him and went to his abode. Tara gave birth to a son at that very place who was quite beautiful, having the lustre of gold and quite illustrious. The moon owned him. Thereafter bowing in reverence to Siva and Brahma, both of them went back to their respective places. Sukra also was delighted with all the demons and went back to his abode.
O Nanda, thus I have narrated to you this auspicious and pleasant story, which is quite graceful, bestows glory, increases age, bestowing all the riches, removes grief, increases pleasures and bestows all the welfare. Therefore, O lord of Vraja, disown all the grief and go back to your
Chapter-aligned complete witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource revision 226530 (2020-03-10T07:23:31Z); Shanti Lal Nagar English scan pages n1410–n1415: https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation/page/n1410/mode/1up. The historic English OCR transcription is lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.