Fourth Skandha · Chapter 20
Sourceव्यास उवाच शृण भारत वक्ष्यामि भारावतरणं तथा । कुरुक्षेत्रे प्रभासे च क्षपितं योगमायया ॥ १ ॥ यदुवंशे समुत्पत्तिर्विष्णोरमिततेजसः । भृगुशापप्रतापेन महामायाबलेन च ॥ २ ॥ क्षितिभारसमुत्तारनिमित्तमिति मे मतिः । मायया विहितो योगो विष्णोर्जन्म धरातले ॥ ३ ॥ किं चित्रं नृप देवी सा ब्रह्मविष्णुसुरानपि । नर्तयत्यनिशं माया त्रिगुणानपरान्किमु ॥ ४ ॥ गर्भवासोद्भवं दुःखं विण्मूत्रस्नायुसंयुतम् । विष्णोरापादितं सम्यग्यया विगतलीलया ॥ ५ ॥ पुरा रामावतारेऽपि निर्जरा वानराः कृताः । विदितं ते यथा विष्णुर्दुःखपाशेन मोहितः ॥ ६ ॥ अहं ममेति पाशेन सुदृढेन नराधिप । योगिनो मुक्तसङ्गाश्च भुक्तिकामा मुमुक्षवः ॥ ७ ॥ तामेव समुपासन्ते देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम् । यद्भक्तिलेशलेशांशलेशलेशलवांशकम् ॥ ८ ॥ लब्ध्वा मुक्तो भवेज्जन्तुस्तां न सेवेत को जनः । भुवनेशीत्येव वक्त्रे ददाति भुवनत्रयम् ॥ ९ ॥ मां पाहीत्यस्य वचसो देयाभावादृणान्विता । विद्याविद्येति तस्या द्वे रूपे जानीहि पार्थिव ॥ १० ॥ विद्यया मुच्यते जन्तुर्बध्यतेऽविद्यया पुनः । ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च सर्वे तस्या वशानुगाः ॥ ११ ॥ अवताराः सर्व एव यन्त्रिता इव दामभिः । कदाचिच्च सुखं भुंक्ते वैकुण्ठे क्षीरसागरे ॥ १२ ॥ कदाचित्कुरुते युद्धं दानवैर्बलवत्तरैः । हरिः कदाचिद्यज्ञान्वै विततान्प्रकरोति च ॥ १३ ॥ कदाचिच्च तपस्तीव्रं तीर्थे चरति सुव्रत । कदाचिच्छयने शेते योगनिद्रामुपाश्रितः ॥ १४ ॥ न स्वतन्त्रः कदाचिच्च भगवान्मधुसूदनः । तथा ब्रह्मा तथा रुद्रस्तथेन्द्रो वरुणो यमः ॥ १५ ॥ कुबेरोऽग्नी रवीन्दू च तथान्ये सुरसत्तमाः । मुनयः सनकाद्याश्च वसिष्ठाद्यास्तथापरे ॥ १६ ॥ सर्वेऽम्बावशगा नित्यं पाञ्चालीव नरस्य च । नसि प्रोता यथा गावो विचरन्ति वशानुगाः ॥ १७ ॥ तथैव देवताः सर्वाः कालपाशनियन्त्रिताः । हर्षशोकादयो भावा निद्रातन्द्रालसादयः ॥ १८ ॥ सर्वेषां सर्वदा राजन्देहिनां देहसंश्रिताः । अमरा निर्जराः प्रोक्ता देवाश्च ग्रन्थकारकैः ॥ १९ ॥ अभिधानतश्चार्थतो न ते नूनं तादृशाः क्वचित् । उत्पत्तिस्थितिनाशाख्या भावा येषां निरन्तरम् ॥ २० ॥ अमरास्ते कथं वाच्या निर्जराश्च कथं पुनः । कथं दुःखाभिभूता वा जायन्ते विबुधोत्तमाः ॥ २१ ॥ कथं देवाश्च वक्तव्या व्यसने क्रीडनं कथम् । क्षणादुत्पत्तिनाशश्च दृश्यतेऽस्मिन्न संशयः ॥ २२ ॥ जलजानां च कीटानां मशकानां तथा पुनः । उपमा न कथं चैषामायुषोऽन्ते मराः स्मृताः ॥ २३ ॥ ततो वर्षायुषश्चापि शतवर्षायुषस्तथा । मनुष्या ह्यमरा देवास्तस्माद् ब्रह्मापरः स्मृतः ॥ २४ ॥ रुद्रस्तथा तथा विष्णुः क्रमशश्च भवन्ति हि । नश्यन्ति क्रमशश्चैव वर्धन्ति चोत्तरोत्तरम् ॥ २५ ॥ नूनं देहवतो नाशो मृतस्योत्पत्तिरेव च । चक्रवद् भ्रमणं राजन् सर्वेषां नात्र संशयः ॥ २६ ॥ मोहजालावृतो जन्तुर्मुच्यते न कदाचन । मायायां विद्यमानायां मोहजालं न नश्यति ॥ २७ ॥ उत्पित्सुकाल उत्पत्तिः सर्वेषां नृप जायते । तथैव नाशः कल्पान्ते ब्रह्मादीनां यथाक्रमम् ॥ २८ ॥ निमित्तं यस्तु यन्नाशे स घातयति तं नृप । नान्यथा तद्भवेन्नूनं विधिना निर्मितं तु यत् ॥ २९ ॥ जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखं वा सुखमेव वा । तत्तथैव भवेत्कामं नान्यथेह विनिर्णयः ॥ ३० ॥ सर्वेषां सुखदौ देवौ प्रत्यक्षौ शशिभास्करौ । न नश्यति तयोः पीडा क्यचित्तद्वैरिसम्भवा ॥ ३१ ॥ भास्करस्य सुतो मन्दः क्षयी चन्द्रः कलङ्कवान् । पश्य राजन् विधेः सूत्रं दुर्वारं महतामपि ॥ ३२ ॥ वेदकर्ता जगत्स्रष्टा बुद्धिदस्तु चतुर्मुखः । सोऽपि विक्लवतां प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा पुत्रीं सरस्वतीम् ॥ ३३ ॥ शिवस्यापि मृता भार्या सती दग्ध्वा कलेवरम् । सोऽभवद्दुःखसन्तप्तः कामार्तश्च जनार्तिहा ॥ ३४ ॥ कामाग्निदग्धदेहस्तु कालिन्द्यां पतितः शिवः । सापि श्यामजला जाता तन्निदाघवशान्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ कामार्तो रममाणस्तु नग्नः सोऽपि भृगोर्वनम् । गतः प्राप्तोऽथ भृगुणा शप्तः कामातुरो भृशम् ॥ ३६ ॥ पतत्वद्यैव ते लिङ्गं निर्लज्जेति भृशं किल । पपौ चामृतवापीञ्च दानवैर्निर्मितां मुदे ॥ ३७ ॥ इन्द्रोऽपि च वृषो भूत्वा वाहनत्वं गतः क्षितौ । आद्यस्य सर्वलोकस्य विष्णोरेव विवेकिनः ॥ ३८ ॥ सर्वज्ञत्वं गतं कुत्र प्रभुशक्तिः कुतो गता । यद्धेममृगविज्ञानं न ज्ञातं हरिणा किल ॥ ३९ ॥ राजन् मायाबलं पश्य रामो हि काममोहितः । रामो विरहसन्तप्तो रुरोद भृशमातुरः ॥ ४० ॥ योऽपृच्छत्पादपान्मूढः क्व गता जनकात्मजा । भक्षिता वा हृता केन रुदन्नुच्चतरं ततः ॥ ४१ ॥ लक्ष्मणाहं मरिष्यामि कान्ताविरहदुःखितः । त्वं चापि मम दुःखेन मरिष्यसि वनेऽनुज ॥ ४२ ॥ आवयोर्मरणं ज्ञात्वा माता मम मरिष्यति । शत्रुघ्नोऽप्यतिदुःखार्तः कथं जीवितुमर्हति ॥ ४३ ॥ सुमित्रा जीवितं जह्यात्पुत्रव्यसनकर्शिता । पूर्णकामाथ कैकेयी भवेत्पुत्रसमन्विता ॥ ४४ ॥ हा सीते क्व गतासि त्वं मां विहाय स्मरातुरा । एह्येहि मृगशावाक्षि मां जीवय कृशोदरि ॥ ४५ ॥ किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि त्वदधीनञ्च जीवितम् । समाश्वासय दीनं मां प्रियं जनकनन्दिनि ॥ ४६ ॥ एवं विलपता तेन रामेणामिततेजसा । वने वने च भ्रमता नेक्षिता जनकात्मजा ॥ ४७ ॥ शरण्यः सर्वलोकानां रामः कमललोचनः । शरणं वानराणां स गतो मायाविमोहितः ॥ ४८ ॥ सहायान्वानरान्कृत्वा बबन्ध वरुणालयम् । जघान रावणं वीरं कुम्भकर्णं महोदरम् ॥ ४९ ॥ आनीय च ततः सीतां रामो दिव्यमकारयत् । सर्वज्ञोऽपि हृतां मत्वा रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ ५० ॥ किं ब्रवीमि महाराज योगमायाबलं महत् । यया विश्वमिदं सर्वं भ्रामितं भ्रमते किल ॥ ५१ ॥ एवं नानावतारेऽत्र विष्णुः शापवशं गतः । करोति विविधाश्चेष्टा दैवाधीनः सदैव हि ॥ ५२ ॥ तवाहं कथयिष्यामि कृष्णस्यापि विचेष्टितम् । प्रभवं मानुषे लोके देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ ५३ ॥ कालिन्दीपुलिने रम्ये ह्यासीन्मधुवनं पुरा । लवणो मधुपुत्रस्तु तत्रासीद्दानवो बली ॥ ५४ ॥ द्विजानां दुःखदः पापो वरदानेन गर्वितः । निहतोऽसौ महाभाग लक्ष्मणस्यानुजेन वै ॥ ५५ ॥ शत्रुघ्नेनाथ संग्रामे तं निहत्य मदोत्कटम् । वासिता मथुरा नाम पुरी परमशोभना ॥ ५६ ॥ स तत्र पुष्कराक्षौ द्वौ पुत्रौ शत्रुनिषूदनः । निवेश्य राज्ये मतिमान्काले प्राप्ते दिवं गतः ॥ ५७ ॥ सूर्यवंशक्षये तां तु यादवाः प्रतिपेदिरे । मथुरां मुक्तिदा राजन् ययातितनयः पुरा ॥ ५८ ॥ शूरसेनाभिधः शूरस्तत्राभून्मेदिनीपतिः । माथुराञ्छूरसेनांश्च बुभुजे विषयान्नृप ॥ ५९ ॥ तत्रोत्पन्नः कश्यपांशः शापाच्च वरुणस्य वै । वसुदेवोऽतिविख्यातः शूरसेनसुतस्तदा ॥ ६० ॥ वैश्यवृत्तिरतः सोऽभून्मृते पितरि माधवः । उग्रसेनो बभूवाथ कंसस्तस्यात्मजो महान् ॥ ६१ ॥ अदितिर्देवकी जाता देवकस्य सुता तदा । शापाद्वै वरुणस्याथ कश्यपानुगता किल ॥ ६२ ॥ दत्ता सा वसुदेवाय देवकेन महात्मना । विवाहे रचिते तत्र वागभूद् गगने तदा ॥ ६३ ॥ कंस कंस महाभाग देवकीगर्भसम्भवः । अष्टमस्तु सुतः श्रीमांस्तव हन्ता भविष्यति ॥ ६४ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं कंसो विस्मितोऽभून्महाबलः । देववाचं तु तां मत्वा सत्यां चिन्तामवाप सः ॥ ६५ ॥ किं करोमीति सञ्चिन्त्य विमर्शमकरोत्तदा । निहत्यैनां न मे मृत्युर्भवेदद्यैव सत्वरम् ॥ ६६ ॥ उपायो नान्यथा चास्मिन्कार्ये मृत्युभयावहे । इयं पितृष्वसा पूज्या कथं हन्मीत्यचिन्तयत् ॥ ६७ ॥ पुनर्विचारयामास मरणं मेऽस्त्यहो स्वसा । पापेनापि प्रकर्तव्या देहरक्षा विपश्चिता ॥ ६८ ॥ प्रायश्चित्तेन पापस्य शुद्धिर्भवति सर्वदा । प्राणरक्षा प्रकर्तव्या बुधैरप्येनसा तथा ॥ ६९ ॥ विचिन्त्य मनसा कंसः खड्गमादाय सत्वरः । जग्राह तां वरारोहां केशेष्वाकृष्य पापकृत् ॥ ७० ॥ कोशात्खड्गमुपाकृष्य हन्तुकामो दुराशयः । पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां नवोढां तां चकर्ष ह ॥ ७१ ॥ हन्यमानाञ्च तां दृष्ट्वा हाहाकारो महानभूत् । वसुदेवानुगा वीरा युद्धायोद्यतकार्मुकाः ॥ ७२ ॥ मुञ्च मुञ्चेति प्रोचुस्तं ते तदाद्भुतसाहसाः । कृपया मोचयामासुर्देवकीं देवमातरम् ॥ ७३ ॥ तद्युद्धमभवद् घोरं वीराणाञ्च परस्परम् । वसुदेवसहायानां कंसेन च महात्मना ॥ ७४ ॥ वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे । कंसं निवारयामासुर्वृद्धा ये यदुसत्तमाः ॥ ७५ ॥ पितृष्वसेयं ते वीर पूजनीया च बालिशा । न हन्तव्या त्वया वीर विवाहोत्सवसङ्गमे ॥ ७६ ॥ स्त्रीहत्या दुःसहा वीर कीर्तिघ्नी पापकृत्तमा । भूतभाषितमात्रेण न कर्तव्या विजानता ॥ ७७ ॥ अन्तर्हितेन केनापि शत्रुणा तव चास्य वा । उदितेति कुतो न स्याद्वागनर्थकरी विभो ॥ ७८ ॥ यशसस्ते विघाताय वसुदेवगृहस्य च । अरिणा रचिता वाणी गुणमायाविदा नृप ॥ ७९ ॥ बिभेषि वीरस्त्वं भूत्वा भूतभाषितभाषया । यशोमूलविघातार्थमुपायस्त्वरिणा कृतः ॥ ८० ॥ पितृष्वसा न हन्तव्या विवाहसमये पुनः । भवितव्यं महाराज भवेच्च कथमन्यथा ॥ ८१ ॥ एवं तैर्बोध्यमानोऽसौ निवृत्तो नाभवद्यदा । तदा तं वसुदेवोऽपि नीतिज्ञः प्रत्यभाषत ॥ ८२ ॥ कंस सत्यं ब्रवीम्यद्य सत्याधारं जगत्त्रयम् । दास्यामि देवकीपुत्रानुत्पन्नांस्तव सर्वशः ॥ ८३ ॥ जातं जातं सुतं तुभ्यं न दास्यामि यदि प्रभो । कुम्भीपाके तदा घोरे पतन्तु मम पूर्वजाः ॥ ८४ ॥ श्रुत्वाथ वचनं सत्यं पौरवा ये पुरःस्थिताः । ऊचुस्ते त्वरिताः कंसं साधु साधु पुनः पुनः ॥ ८५ ॥ न मिथ्या भाषते क्वापि वसुदेवो महामनाः । केशं मुञ्च महाभाग स्त्रीहत्या पातकं तथा ॥ ८६ ॥ व्यास उवाच एवं प्रबोधितः कंसो यदुवृद्धैर्महात्मभिः । क्रोधं त्यक्त्वा स्थितस्तत्र सत्यवाक्यानुमोदितः ॥ ८७ ॥ ततो दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्वादित्राणि च सस्वनुः । जयशब्दस्तु सर्वेषामुत्पन्नस्तत्र संसदि ॥ ८८ ॥ प्रसाद्य कंसं प्रतिमोच्य देवकीं महायशाः शूरसुतस्तदानीम् । जगाम गेहं स्वजनानुवृत्तो नवोढया वीतभयस्तरस्वी ॥ ८९ ॥
vyāsa uvāca śṛṇa bhārata vakṣyāmi bhārāvataraṇaṃ tathā | kurukṣetre prabhāse ca kṣapitaṃ yogamāyayā || 1 || yaduvaṃśe samutpattirviṣṇoramitatejasaḥ | bhṛguśāpapratāpena mahāmāyābalena ca || 2 || kṣitibhārasamuttāranimittamiti me matiḥ | māyayā vihito yogo viṣṇorjanma dharātale || 3 || kiṃ citraṃ nṛpa devī sā brahmaviṣṇusurānapi | nartayatyaniśaṃ māyā triguṇānaparānkimu || 4 || garbhavāsodbhavaṃ duḥkhaṃ viṇmūtrasnāyusaṃyutam | viṣṇorāpāditaṃ samyagyayā vigatalīlayā || 5 || purā rāmāvatāre'pi nirjarā vānarāḥ kṛtāḥ | viditaṃ te yathā viṣṇurduḥkhapāśena mohitaḥ || 6 || ahaṃ mameti pāśena sudṛḍhena narādhipa | yogino muktasaṅgāśca bhuktikāmā mumukṣavaḥ || 7 || tāmeva samupāsante devīṃ viśveśvarīṃ śivām | yadbhaktileśaleśāṃśaleśaleśalavāṃśakam || 8 || labdhvā mukto bhavejjantustāṃ na seveta ko janaḥ | bhuvaneśītyeva vaktre dadāti bhuvanatrayam || 9 || māṃ pāhītyasya vacaso deyābhāvādṛṇānvitā | vidyāvidyeti tasyā dve rūpe jānīhi pārthiva || 10 || vidyayā mucyate janturbadhyate'vidyayā punaḥ | brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca sarve tasyā vaśānugāḥ || 11 || avatārāḥ sarva eva yantritā iva dāmabhiḥ | kadācicca sukhaṃ bhuṃkte vaikuṇṭhe kṣīrasāgare || 12 || kadācitkurute yuddhaṃ dānavairbalavattaraiḥ | hariḥ kadācidyajñānvai vitatānprakaroti ca || 13 || kadācicca tapastīvraṃ tīrthe carati suvrata | kadācicchayane śete yoganidrāmupāśritaḥ || 14 || na svatantraḥ kadācicca bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ | tathā brahmā tathā rudrastathendro varuṇo yamaḥ || 15 || kubero'gnī ravīndū ca tathānye surasattamāḥ | munayaḥ sanakādyāśca vasiṣṭhādyāstathāpare || 16 || sarve'mbāvaśagā nityaṃ pāñcālīva narasya ca | nasi protā yathā gāvo vicaranti vaśānugāḥ || 17 || tathaiva devatāḥ sarvāḥ kālapāśaniyantritāḥ | harṣaśokādayo bhāvā nidrātandrālasādayaḥ || 18 || sarveṣāṃ sarvadā rājandehināṃ dehasaṃśritāḥ | amarā nirjarāḥ proktā devāśca granthakārakaiḥ || 19 || abhidhānataścārthato na te nūnaṃ tādṛśāḥ kvacit | utpattisthitināśākhyā bhāvā yeṣāṃ nirantaram || 20 || amarāste kathaṃ vācyā nirjarāśca kathaṃ punaḥ | kathaṃ duḥkhābhibhūtā vā jāyante vibudhottamāḥ || 21 || kathaṃ devāśca vaktavyā vyasane krīḍanaṃ katham | kṣaṇādutpattināśaśca dṛśyate'sminna saṃśayaḥ || 22 || jalajānāṃ ca kīṭānāṃ maśakānāṃ tathā punaḥ | upamā na kathaṃ caiṣāmāyuṣo'nte marāḥ smṛtāḥ || 23 || tato varṣāyuṣaścāpi śatavarṣāyuṣastathā | manuṣyā hyamarā devāstasmād brahmāparaḥ smṛtaḥ || 24 || rudrastathā tathā viṣṇuḥ kramaśaśca bhavanti hi | naśyanti kramaśaścaiva vardhanti cottarottaram || 25 || nūnaṃ dehavato nāśo mṛtasyotpattireva ca | cakravad bhramaṇaṃ rājan sarveṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || 26 || mohajālāvṛto janturmucyate na kadācana | māyāyāṃ vidyamānāyāṃ mohajālaṃ na naśyati || 27 || utpitsukāla utpattiḥ sarveṣāṃ nṛpa jāyate | tathaiva nāśaḥ kalpānte brahmādīnāṃ yathākramam || 28 || nimittaṃ yastu yannāśe sa ghātayati taṃ nṛpa | nānyathā tadbhavennūnaṃ vidhinā nirmitaṃ tu yat || 29 || janmamṛtyujarāvyādhiduḥkhaṃ vā sukhameva vā | tattathaiva bhavetkāmaṃ nānyatheha vinirṇayaḥ || 30 || sarveṣāṃ sukhadau devau pratyakṣau śaśibhāskarau | na naśyati tayoḥ pīḍā kyacittadvairisambhavā || 31 || bhāskarasya suto mandaḥ kṣayī candraḥ kalaṅkavān | paśya rājan vidheḥ sūtraṃ durvāraṃ mahatāmapi || 32 || vedakartā jagatsraṣṭā buddhidastu caturmukhaḥ | so'pi viklavatāṃ prāpto dṛṣṭvā putrīṃ sarasvatīm || 33 || śivasyāpi mṛtā bhāryā satī dagdhvā kalevaram | so'bhavadduḥkhasantaptaḥ kāmārtaśca janārtihā || 34 || kāmāgnidagdhadehastu kālindyāṃ patitaḥ śivaḥ | sāpi śyāmajalā jātā tannidāghavaśānnṛpa || 35 || kāmārto ramamāṇastu nagnaḥ so'pi bhṛgorvanam | gataḥ prāpto'tha bhṛguṇā śaptaḥ kāmāturo bhṛśam || 36 || patatvadyaiva te liṅgaṃ nirlajjeti bhṛśaṃ kila | papau cāmṛtavāpīñca dānavairnirmitāṃ mude || 37 || indro'pi ca vṛṣo bhūtvā vāhanatvaṃ gataḥ kṣitau | ādyasya sarvalokasya viṣṇoreva vivekinaḥ || 38 || sarvajñatvaṃ gataṃ kutra prabhuśaktiḥ kuto gatā | yaddhemamṛgavijñānaṃ na jñātaṃ hariṇā kila || 39 || rājan māyābalaṃ paśya rāmo hi kāmamohitaḥ | rāmo virahasantapto ruroda bhṛśamāturaḥ || 40 || yo'pṛcchatpādapānmūḍhaḥ kva gatā janakātmajā | bhakṣitā vā hṛtā kena rudannuccataraṃ tataḥ || 41 || lakṣmaṇāhaṃ mariṣyāmi kāntāvirahaduḥkhitaḥ | tvaṃ cāpi mama duḥkhena mariṣyasi vane'nuja || 42 || āvayormaraṇaṃ jñātvā mātā mama mariṣyati | śatrughno'pyatiduḥkhārtaḥ kathaṃ jīvitumarhati || 43 || sumitrā jīvitaṃ jahyātputravyasanakarśitā | pūrṇakāmātha kaikeyī bhavetputrasamanvitā || 44 || hā sīte kva gatāsi tvaṃ māṃ vihāya smarāturā | ehyehi mṛgaśāvākṣi māṃ jīvaya kṛśodari || 45 || kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi tvadadhīnañca jīvitam | samāśvāsaya dīnaṃ māṃ priyaṃ janakanandini || 46 || evaṃ vilapatā tena rāmeṇāmitatejasā | vane vane ca bhramatā nekṣitā janakātmajā || 47 || śaraṇyaḥ sarvalokānāṃ rāmaḥ kamalalocanaḥ | śaraṇaṃ vānarāṇāṃ sa gato māyāvimohitaḥ || 48 || sahāyānvānarānkṛtvā babandha varuṇālayam | jaghāna rāvaṇaṃ vīraṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ mahodaram || 49 || ānīya ca tataḥ sītāṃ rāmo divyamakārayat | sarvajño'pi hṛtāṃ matvā rāvaṇena durātmanā || 50 || kiṃ bravīmi mahārāja yogamāyābalaṃ mahat | yayā viśvamidaṃ sarvaṃ bhrāmitaṃ bhramate kila || 51 || evaṃ nānāvatāre'tra viṣṇuḥ śāpavaśaṃ gataḥ | karoti vividhāśceṣṭā daivādhīnaḥ sadaiva hi || 52 || tavāhaṃ kathayiṣyāmi kṛṣṇasyāpi viceṣṭitam | prabhavaṃ mānuṣe loke devakāryārthasiddhaye || 53 || kālindīpuline ramye hyāsīnmadhuvanaṃ purā | lavaṇo madhuputrastu tatrāsīddānavo balī || 54 || dvijānāṃ duḥkhadaḥ pāpo varadānena garvitaḥ | nihato'sau mahābhāga lakṣmaṇasyānujena vai || 55 || śatrughnenātha saṃgrāme taṃ nihatya madotkaṭam | vāsitā mathurā nāma purī paramaśobhanā || 56 || sa tatra puṣkarākṣau dvau putrau śatruniṣūdanaḥ | niveśya rājye matimānkāle prāpte divaṃ gataḥ || 57 || sūryavaṃśakṣaye tāṃ tu yādavāḥ pratipedire | mathurāṃ muktidā rājan yayātitanayaḥ purā || 58 || śūrasenābhidhaḥ śūrastatrābhūnmedinīpatiḥ | māthurāñchūrasenāṃśca bubhuje viṣayānnṛpa || 59 || tatrotpannaḥ kaśyapāṃśaḥ śāpācca varuṇasya vai | vasudevo'tivikhyātaḥ śūrasenasutastadā || 60 || vaiśyavṛttirataḥ so'bhūnmṛte pitari mādhavaḥ | ugraseno babhūvātha kaṃsastasyātmajo mahān || 61 || aditirdevakī jātā devakasya sutā tadā | śāpādvai varuṇasyātha kaśyapānugatā kila || 62 || dattā sā vasudevāya devakena mahātmanā | vivāhe racite tatra vāgabhūd gagane tadā || 63 || kaṃsa kaṃsa mahābhāga devakīgarbhasambhavaḥ | aṣṭamastu sutaḥ śrīmāṃstava hantā bhaviṣyati || 64 || tacchrutvā vacanaṃ kaṃso vismito'bhūnmahābalaḥ | devavācaṃ tu tāṃ matvā satyāṃ cintāmavāpa saḥ || 65 || kiṃ karomīti sañcintya vimarśamakarottadā | nihatyaināṃ na me mṛtyurbhavedadyaiva satvaram || 66 || upāyo nānyathā cāsminkārye mṛtyubhayāvahe | iyaṃ pitṛṣvasā pūjyā kathaṃ hanmītyacintayat || 67 || punarvicārayāmāsa maraṇaṃ me'styaho svasā | pāpenāpi prakartavyā deharakṣā vipaścitā || 68 || prāyaścittena pāpasya śuddhirbhavati sarvadā | prāṇarakṣā prakartavyā budhairapyenasā tathā || 69 || vicintya manasā kaṃsaḥ khaḍgamādāya satvaraḥ | jagrāha tāṃ varārohāṃ keśeṣvākṛṣya pāpakṛt || 70 || kośātkhaḍgamupākṛṣya hantukāmo durāśayaḥ | paśyatāṃ sarvalokānāṃ navoḍhāṃ tāṃ cakarṣa ha || 71 || hanyamānāñca tāṃ dṛṣṭvā hāhākāro mahānabhūt | vasudevānugā vīrā yuddhāyodyatakārmukāḥ || 72 || muñca muñceti procustaṃ te tadādbhutasāhasāḥ | kṛpayā mocayāmāsurdevakīṃ devamātaram || 73 || tadyuddhamabhavad ghoraṃ vīrāṇāñca parasparam | vasudevasahāyānāṃ kaṃsena ca mahātmanā || 74 || vartamāne tathā yuddhe dāruṇe lomaharṣaṇe | kaṃsaṃ nivārayāmāsurvṛddhā ye yadusattamāḥ || 75 || pitṛṣvaseyaṃ te vīra pūjanīyā ca bāliśā | na hantavyā tvayā vīra vivāhotsavasaṅgame || 76 || strīhatyā duḥsahā vīra kīrtighnī pāpakṛttamā | bhūtabhāṣitamātreṇa na kartavyā vijānatā || 77 || antarhitena kenāpi śatruṇā tava cāsya vā | uditeti kuto na syādvāganarthakarī vibho || 78 || yaśasaste vighātāya vasudevagṛhasya ca | ariṇā racitā vāṇī guṇamāyāvidā nṛpa || 79 || bibheṣi vīrastvaṃ bhūtvā bhūtabhāṣitabhāṣayā | yaśomūlavighātārthamupāyastvariṇā kṛtaḥ || 80 || pitṛṣvasā na hantavyā vivāhasamaye punaḥ | bhavitavyaṃ mahārāja bhavecca kathamanyathā || 81 || evaṃ tairbodhyamāno'sau nivṛtto nābhavadyadā | tadā taṃ vasudevo'pi nītijñaḥ pratyabhāṣata || 82 || kaṃsa satyaṃ bravīmyadya satyādhāraṃ jagattrayam | dāsyāmi devakīputrānutpannāṃstava sarvaśaḥ || 83 || jātaṃ jātaṃ sutaṃ tubhyaṃ na dāsyāmi yadi prabho | kumbhīpāke tadā ghore patantu mama pūrvajāḥ || 84 || śrutvātha vacanaṃ satyaṃ pauravā ye puraḥsthitāḥ | ūcuste tvaritāḥ kaṃsaṃ sādhu sādhu punaḥ punaḥ || 85 || na mithyā bhāṣate kvāpi vasudevo mahāmanāḥ | keśaṃ muñca mahābhāga strīhatyā pātakaṃ tathā || 86 || vyāsa uvāca evaṃ prabodhitaḥ kaṃso yaduvṛddhairmahātmabhiḥ | krodhaṃ tyaktvā sthitastatra satyavākyānumoditaḥ || 87 || tato dundubhayo nedurvāditrāṇi ca sasvanuḥ | jayaśabdastu sarveṣāmutpannastatra saṃsadi || 88 || prasādya kaṃsaṃ pratimocya devakīṃ mahāyaśāḥ śūrasutastadānīm | jagāma gehaṃ svajanānuvṛtto navoḍhayā vītabhayastarasvī || 89 ||
English translation
1-2. Vyasa said O Bharata! I now narrate to you about the relief of the burden of the Earth, the destruction by the Yoga Maya of the armies Kuruksettra and Prabhasa, the two sacred places, and about the birth, due to the curse of Bhrigu, of the Bhagavan Hah, of unparalleled prowess, under the influence of Mahamaya, in the race of Yadu. Now hear.
3. Visnu’s taking birth in the world was effected under the circumstances caused by Yoga Maya, to relieve the burden of the Earth; this is my opinion.
N. B. Prabhasa is a well-known place of pilgrimage near Dvarka, in Gujerat.
4. O king! When the Goddess Mahamaya, the Incarnate of the three qualities can make Brahma, Visnu and the other Devas dance incessantly as their Internal Controller, then what wonder, that She would appear charming to the other Jivas and make them dance incessantly, as wooden dolls.
5. All the troubles incurred in remaining in the womb, amidst the urine, excreta and tissues. She had brought to bear finally on Visnu by Her ever famous Leela (Divine Sport).
6. In days of yore, in Rama incarnation. She, That Supreme Goddess made the Gods become monkeys and you know very well
already, what amount of trouble Bhagavan Visnu had to undergo by the hard iron chain of bondage, “This is mine, this is I,” etc., imposed by Maya.
7. The Yogis who want final liberation and who have abandoned all their attachments and who want devotion, they worship the Supreme Goddess of the Universe, the Incarnate of Auspiciousness.
8. O king! Who will not serve Her? A trace of devotion towards Whom effects at once the salvation of the JTvas.
9. If any human being utters simply the name “BhuvanesVari” (the Goddess of Universe) She gives him the three worlds; and if any one cries and utters for help “Save me,” then the Goddess of the Universe, being unable to find anything that She can repay him as a fit recompense for his utterance, becomes Herself indebted to that man.
10. O King! Know Vidya (knowledge) and Avidya (non-knowledge, spiritual ignorance, lower knowledge) Her two forms; Vidya gives liberation; Avidya causes bondage.
11. Brahma, Visnu, Rudra, all these and their Avataras are Her instruments and are under Her subjection, as if they are all fastened by a cord.
12-14. The Bhagavan Hari sometimes resides in Vaikuntha, sometimes resides in the sea of milk and enjoys pleasures, sometimes fights the powerful Danavas, sometimes performs
extensive sacrificial ceremonies sometimes performs severe asceticism and sometimes takes to deep sleep under the guidance of Yoga Maya. Thus He never becomes free and independent.
15-16. O King! And like Visnu, Brahma, Rudra, the other Gods Indra, Varuna, Yama, Kuvera, Agni, the Sun, Moon and other celestial gods, the Sanaka and other Munis, Vas’istha and other Risis, all are incessantly controlled by the Supreme Goddess, as if they are the dolls in the hands of a playing magician.
17. All the Devas are controlled by the noose of Time, just as oxen are brought under control by men, by strings passed within their noses.
18. O King! Pleasure, pain, sleep, lassitude, idleness, and other passions and feelings are always found inherent in every embodied being.
19-23. The Devas are written down by authors in their books as not subject to death or decay; this statement is merely nominal and not real; for whoever is always subject to birth, growth, decay and death how can we call him immortal or beyond old age and death? Why do the Devas get into sorrows, and troubles? How can they be called gods? How can one enjoy when one is involved in a trouble? In this world, it is seen mosquitoes and other insects born from water die after a very short time; so, like these, the Devas at the expiry of their ordained life-period, die too. Then why not the Devas be treated like those insects? Why not shall we term them, “Mortal”?
24-25. Some human beings live one year; some others live upto one hundred years, the Devas live longer than men; the life of the Prajapati Brahma exceeds those of the Devas; Rudra lives longer than Brahma; and Visnu lives longer than Rudra. All these are thus subject by turns to birth, growth, and decay.
26. Those who are born, they die; those that die are again born. Thus O King! In this world all the JTvas, no doubt, move round and round like a wheel.
27. The JTvas are deluded by the network of Moha (charms) and thus deluded. They can never gain final release. So long as Maya exists in them, their delusion is not destroyed.
28. O King! At the time of creation Brahma and all other things came into existence, in due order, and these will duly dissolve at the time of the Great Dissolution (the Pralaya)?
29. Whatever is the cause of destruction to anybody here, that destroys the body in question. According to the Will Power of the Supreme Goddess, whatever is created by Brahma, no none can undo that. Know this as perfectly certain.
30. Know this the predestined law that the birth, death, old age, diseases, pain or pleasure overtake all the JTvas according to the prescribed order of Nature; never these laws fail to operate in their actions.
31. See! The Devas that we see with our physical eyes, the Sun and Moon yield pleasure to all; still they suffer always troubles at the hands of their enemies (i.e., Rahu and Ketu, i.e., there always take place regularly solar and lunar eclipses, when they are in the ascending and descending modes.) This suffering is never removed.
32. The son of the Sun (Saturn) is always injurious to people; hence it is termed “Manda” (bad); the Moon was attacked with consumption and bears stain on his body (spots in the Moon disc). What to speak of ordinary men? The great men even are subject to the prescribed laws of Fate and Nature.
33. The Creator of the world, the four faced Brahma is the author of the Vedas and awarder of Intelligence. He, too, on seeing Sarasvati, his own daughter, was afflicted with passion.
34. When Sati, the wife of S’iva, left off Her mortal coil, Mahadeva, though He could remove the sorrows of all, was very much moved with passion and greatly afflicted.
35. Then, being burnt very much as it were by the fire of passion, he threw himself down into the water of the river Kalindi; and the water of that river became black-coloured, as if burnt by the burning fire of the sorrows of S’iva.
36-37. O King! When Mahadeva, being infatuated with Kama, went into the forest of Bhrigu and becoming naked, began to copulate, the ascetic Bhrigu, seeing him in that state, exclaimed “O You are very shameless” and cursed Him thus Let your penis drop off just now.
Mahadeva, then to satisfy his thirst for passion, began to drink the water of the lake Amrita Vapi, dug by the Danavas.
38-39. Indra, too, the Lord of the Devas, turned into a bull and carried Visnu on his back on the face of the earth. What to speak where the omniscience and omnipotence disappeared of Bhagavan Visnu, Who is the First of all created beings and possessed of reason, and discrimination? Oh! What a great wonder, that He could not know about the golden deer?
40-41. Judge, O King! for yourself, the great power of Maya, that even Rama Chandra was deluded by passion, and very much grieved for the separation from his dear wife Sita, and wept much for Her. Greatly deluded, he began to cry aloud and ask the trees “Where has gone My Sita, the daughter of Janaka? Is she devoured by the rapacious animals? or whether is she stolen by some mischievous person?
42-44. O Brother Laksmana! I am being consumed by the fire of separation from my beloved; I will commit suicide now; and you too will die due to the separation from me; our mother, too, would die when they will hear of our deaths; Satrughna, too, will be very much afflicted at our death and will not hold his life. The mother Sumitra, too, will destroy her life, being afflicted with her son’s demise; and then Bharata’s and his mother’s desires will certainly be fulfilled.
45. O Sita! I am very much moved by your separation; where have you gone, leaving me here! O deer-eyed, O one of thin waist! come; give life unto me!
46. What shall I do? Where shall I go? My life is entirely dependent on you, O daughter of Janaka! I am your darling! Now I am very much depressed owing to your separation. Please come and speak to me words of hope and courage.
47. Though Rama, of unequalled prowess, roamed about weeping from forest to forest, yet he could not find out Sita.
48-49. He, who is the Refuge of all the worlds, the lotus-eyed Rama, got entangled into the delusion of Maya and had to take refuge Himself under the monkeys, and with their help, constructed the bridge across the ocean, crossed the ocean and was thus able to kill the valiant warriors Kumbhakarna and Havana.
50. Then Rama got back His Sita before him but suspecting, since she had been stolen by the vicious Havana, made her take an oath, though it is to, be remembered that Rama was all-knowing.
51. O King! The power of Yoga Maya is very great; what shall I speak of Her great power? This whole cosmos is always urged into activity by Her and thus goes rolling on and on incessantly.
52. Thus, in various incarnations, Bhagavan Visnu was always under the influence of previous curse and also under the control of Destiny and had to do various functions incessantly.
53. O King! Now I will speak to you about the birth of S’ri Krisna in the world for serving the purposes of gods, and will narrate His Leela.
54. In days of yore, on the delightful banks of the river Kalindi, there was a place, called Madhuban, where lived a powerful Daitya named Lavana, the son of Madhu.
55-56. That wicked Demon was exceedingly arrogant, on getting a boon, and he used to give an enormous amount of trouble to the Dvijas. Satrughna the younger of Laksman, killed that uncontrollable Daitya and built a very beautiful city there and named it Mathura.
57. The intelligent Satrughna, the destroyer of enemies, installed his two lotus-eyed sons in that kingdom and, when his end came, went to Heaven.
58. Afterwards on the decline of the Solar race, the Yadavas, born of the race of Yayati, occupied that Mathura city, giving salvation to all.
59. O King! There reigned in Mathura city one Yadava king, valiant warrior, named S’urasena; and he enjoyed all the pleasures Mathura.
60. Under the curse of Varuna, Vasudeva took his birth as the son of the renowned S’urasena, as the part incarnate of Kas’yapa.
61. He took up the profession of a Vais’ya and engaged himself in agriculture. And on the death of his father, the prosperous and wealthy Ugrasena became the King of Mathura. The powerful Kamsa was the son Ugrasena.
62. On the other hand, the King Devaka had a daughter born to hinn named Devaki, the part incarnate of Aditi. She under the curse of Varuna, followed Kas’yapa-
63. The high souled King Devaka performed the marriage ceremony of his daughter Devaki with Vasudeva.
64. When this marriage ceremony was over, a voice was heard from Heaven, saying O fortunate Kamsa! The eighth son of this Devaki will take away your life.
65. The powerful Kamsa, hearing that voice from Heaven, was surprised and took it to be true and became very anxious.
66-67. Kamsa began to argue in his mind. Once he thought “I would today destroy her; then my death won’t take place; for I can’t see any other way of escape from this difficulty,” again he thought, “She is my sister, daughter of my paternal uncle and therefore fit to be worshipped; how can I kill her!”
68. Lastly, he came to the final conclusion, thus “She is the cause of my death, though she is my sister, fit to be worshipped; to kill her will not lead me to sin; for it is enjoined by the wise Do even a sin to avert one’s own death.”
69. The sins can be remedied always by penances. Therefore to save one’s life, by committing even a sinful act, ought to be done by
the wise.
70-71. The vicious Kamsa thus arguing, holding the scabbard in his hand, drew from it the sword and dragged and caught hold of the newly married handsome woman by her hair to kill her before the presence of the public.
72. A cry of universal consternation and distress arose on all sides, seeing Kamsa thus ready to kill Devaki; then the warriors, under Vasudeva, at once raised their bows and arrows, ready to fight.
73. These wonderfully valorous warriors loudly exclaimed to Kamsa, “Leave Devaki at once” “Leave Devaki at once” and then they were finally able out of their mercy to release the Devamata Devaki, from the hold of the vicious Kamsa.
74. Deadly battles ensued then between the powerful Kamsa and those valorous warriors on Vasudeva’s side.
75-76. Seeing the exceedingly terrible battle, the old Yadavas asked Kamsa to desist from such a battle and advised him thus. This Devaki is your sister; you ought to pay her respects. Did you not consider even for a moment that she is as yet a girl. O Hero! You ought not to kill her at the time of this joyous marriage ceremony.
77. O Valiant Warrior! The murder of a woman is intolerable! Destroyer of fame, and most heinous crime! You should also consider that learned persons ought not to commit such dastardly
acts as the murdering of females, depending simply on a voice from heaven, a very ordinary thing!
78. It may be that some of your Vasudeva’s enemy has uttered that harmful word, hiding himself from your sight. No reason can be shewn contrary to this.
79. We are of opinion that to ruin your name and to destroy the house of Vasudeva, some magician, expert in black magic, your enemy has framed this voice from Heaven.
80. O king! You are a hero; why do you fear the words of a devil. We firmly believe, there is no doubt, that this is done by your malicious enemy to ruin your name.
81. O king! What is destined to take place, will take place; no one can stand against it otherwise. Therefore, at this marriage festivity, you ought never to kill this your respected sister.
82-83. O King Janamejaya! Though made to understand thus by the old wise Yadavas, the king Kamsa did not desist from his purpose; S’ri Vasudeva, versed in morals, told him “Kamsa! These three worlds are established on Truth. I say on Truth that I will hand over to you all my sons, born of the womb of Devaki, no sooner they are born.
84. And if I do not deliver to you all those sons, no sooner they are born then all my forefathers will fall down into the hell called Kumbihpaka.”
85-86. The descendants of Puru, that were present there, hearing his truthful words, praised him repeatedly and told Kamsa “Vasudeva is a high minded personage; he is surely not to tell a lie. Therefore,
O Thou, blessed one! Now leave Devaki and be free from committing the murder of woman.”
87. O king! Thus made to understand by the aged high minded Yadavas the king Kamsa accepted the truthful words of Vasudeva and abandoned his anger.
88. Then the Dunduvis and other sounding instruments were sounded; and their sounds filled the place; and all repeatedly uttered jai, jai.
89. Then the famous Vasudeva, the son of S’urasena, thus pleased the king Kamsa and freed Devaki; and, surrounded by his relatives, he went quickly without any fear to his own house, accompanied by Devaki.
Here ends the 20th chapter in the 4th Adhyaya of S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa, on Devaki’s marriage.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25187, revision 252738 (2020-07-03T21:28:53Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk04ch20.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.