Fourth Skandha · Chapter 24
Sourceव्यास उवाच प्रातर्नन्दगृहे जातः पुत्रजन्ममहोत्सवः । किंवदन्त्यथ कंसेन श्रुता चारमुखादपि ॥ १ ॥ जानाति वसुदेवस्य दारास्तत्र वसन्ति हि । पशवो दासवर्गश्च सर्वे ते नन्दगोकुले ॥ २ ॥ तेन शङ्कासमाविष्टो गोकुलं प्रति भारत । नारदेनापि तत्सर्वं कथितं कारणं पुरा ॥ ३ ॥ गोकुले ये च नन्दाद्यास्तत्पत्न्यश्च सुरांशजाः । देवकीवसुदेवाद्याः सर्वे ते शत्रवः किल ॥ ४ ॥ इति नारदवाक्येन बोधितोऽसौ कुलाधमः । जातः कोपमना राजन् कंसः परमपापकृत् ॥ ५ ॥ पूतना निहता तत्र कृष्णेनामिततेजसा । बको वत्सासुरश्चापि धेनुकश्च महाबलः ॥ ६ ॥ प्रलम्बो निहतस्तेन तथा गोवर्धनो धृतः । श्रुत्वैतत्कर्म कंसस्तु मेने मरणमात्मनः ॥ ७ ॥ तथा विनिहतः केशी ज्ञात्वा कंसोऽतिदुर्मनाः । धनुर्यागमिषेणाशु तावानेतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ८ ॥ अक्रूरं प्रेषयामास क्रूरः पापमतिस्तदा । आनेतुं रामकृष्णौ च वधायामितविक्रमौ ॥ ९ ॥ रथमारोप्य गोपालौ गोकुलाद् गान्दिनीसुतः । आगतो मथुरायां तु कंसादेशे स्थितः किल ॥ १० ॥ तावागत्य तदा तत्र धनुर्भङ्गञ्च चक्रतुः । हत्वाथ रजकं कामं गजं चाणूरमुष्टिकम् ॥ ११ ॥ शलं च तोशलं चैव निजघान हरिस्तदा । जघान कंसं देवेशः केशेष्वाकृष्य लीलया ॥ १२ ॥ पितरौ मोचयित्वाथ गतदुःखौ चकार ह । उग्रसेनाय राज्यं तद्ददावरिनिषूदनः ॥ १३ ॥ वसुदेवस्तयोस्तत्र मौञ्जीबन्धनपूर्वकम् । कारयामास विधिवद् व्रतबन्धं महामनाः ॥ १४ ॥ उपनीतौ तदा तौ तु गतौ सान्दीपनालयम् । विद्याः सर्वाः समभ्यस्य मथुरामागतौ पुनः ॥ १५ ॥ जातौ द्वादशवर्षीयौ कृतविद्यौ महाबलौ । मथुरायां स्थितौ वीरौ सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः ॥ १६ ॥ मागधस्तु जरासन्धो जामातृवधदुःखितः । कृत्वा सैन्यसमाजं स मथुरामागतः पुरीम् ॥ १७ ॥ स सप्तदशवारं तु कृष्णेन कृतबुद्धिना । जितः संग्राममासाद्य मधुपुर्यां निवासिना ॥ १८ ॥ पश्चाच्च प्रेरितस्तेन स कालयवनाभिधः । सर्वम्लेच्छाधिपः शूरो यादवानां भयङ्करः ॥ १९ ॥ श्रुत्वा यवनमायान्तं कृष्णः सर्वान् यदूत्तमान् । आनाय्य च तथा राममुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥ २० ॥ भयं नोऽत्र समुत्पन्नं जरासन्धान्महाबलात् । किं कर्तव्यं महाभाग यवनः समुपैति वै ॥ २१ ॥ प्राणत्राणं प्रकर्तव्यं त्यक्त्वा गेहं बलं धनम् । सुखेन स्थीयते यत्र स देशः खलु पैतृकः ॥ २२ ॥ सदोद्वेगकरः कामं किं कर्तव्यः कुलोचितः । शैलसागरसान्निध्ये स्थातव्यं सुखमिच्छता ॥ २३ ॥ यत्र वैरिभयं न स्यात्स्थातव्यं तत्र पण्डितैः । शेषशय्यां समाश्रित्य हरिः स्वपिति सागरे ॥ २४ ॥ तथैव च भयाद्भीतः कैलासे त्रिपुरार्दनः । तस्मान्नात्रैव स्थातव्यमस्माभिः शत्रुतापितैः ॥ २५ ॥ द्वारवत्यां गमिष्यामः सहिताः सर्व एव वै । कथिता गरुडेनाद्य रम्या द्वारवती पुरी ॥ २६ ॥ रैवताचलसानिध्ये सिन्धुकूले मनोहरा । व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तथ्यं सर्वे यादवपुङ्गवाः ॥ २७ ॥ गमनाय मतिं चक्रुः सकुटुम्बाः सवाहनाः । शकटानि तथोष्ट्राश्च वाम्यश्च महिषास्तथा ॥ २८ ॥ धनपूर्णानि कृत्वा ते निर्ययुर्नगराद्बहिः । रामकृष्णौ पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते सपरिच्छदाः ॥ २९ ॥ अग्रे कृत्वा प्रजाः सर्वाश्चेलुः सर्वे यदूत्तमाः । कतिचिद्दिवसैः प्रापुः पुरीं द्वारवतीं किल ॥ ३० ॥ शिल्पिभिः कारयामास जीर्णोद्धारं हि माधवः । संस्थाप्य यादवांस्तत्र तावेतौ बलकेशवौ ॥ ३१ ॥ तरसा मथुरामेत्य संस्थितौ निर्जनां पुरीम् । तदा तत्रैव सम्प्राप्तो बलवान् यवनाधिपः ॥ ३२ ॥ ज्ञात्वैनमागतं कृष्णो निर्ययौ नगराद्बहिः । पदातिरग्रे तस्याभूद्यवनस्य जनार्दनः ॥ ३३ ॥ पीताम्बरधरः श्रीमान्प्राहसन्मधुसूदनः । तं दृष्ट्वा पुरतो यान्तं कृष्णं कमललोचनम् ॥ ३४ ॥ यवनोऽपि पदातिः सन्पृष्ठतोऽनुगतः खलः । प्रसुप्तो यत्र राजर्षिर्मुचुकुन्दो महाबलः ॥ ३५ ॥ प्रययौ भगवांस्तत्र सकालयवनो हरिः । तत्रैवान्तर्दधे विष्णुर्मुचुकुन्दं समीक्ष्य च ॥ ३६ ॥ तत्रैव यवनः प्राप्तः सुप्तभूतमपश्यत । मत्वा तं वासुदेवं स पादेनाताडयन्नृपम् ॥ ३७ ॥ प्रबुद्धः क्रोधरक्ताक्षस्तं ददाह महाबलः । तं दग्ध्वा मुचुकुन्दोऽथ ददर्श कमलेक्षणम् ॥ ३८ ॥ वासुदेवं सुदेवेशं प्रणम्य प्रस्थितो वनम् । जगाम द्वारकां कृष्णो बलदेवसमन्वितः ॥ ३९ ॥ उग्रसेनं नृपं कृत्वा विजहार यथारुचि । अहरद्रुक्मिणी कामं शिशुपालस्वयंवरात् ॥ ४० ॥ राक्षसेन विवाहेन चक्रे दारविधिं हरिः । ततो जाम्बवतीं सत्यां मित्रविन्दाञ्च भामिनीम् ॥ ४१ ॥ कालिन्दीं लक्षणां भद्रां तथा नाग्नजितीं शुभाम् । पृथक्पृथक्समानीयाप्युपयेमे जनार्दनः ॥ ४२ ॥ अष्टावेव महीपाल पत्न्यः परमशोभनाः । प्रासूत रुक्मिणी पुत्रं प्रद्युम्नं चारुदर्शनम् ॥ ४३ ॥ जातकर्मादिकं तस्य चकार मधुसूदनः । हृतोऽसौ सूतिकागेहाच्छम्बरेण बलीयसा ॥ ४४ ॥ नीतश्च स्वपुरीं बालो मायावत्यै समर्पितः । वासुदेवो हृतं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं शोकसमन्वितः ॥ ४५ ॥ जगाम शरणं देवीं भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा । वृत्रासुरादयो दैत्या लीलयैव यया हताः ॥ ४६ ॥ ततोऽसौ योगमायायाश्चकार परमां स्मृतिम् । वचोभिः परमोदारैरक्षरैः स्तवनैः शुभैः ॥ ४७ ॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच मातर्मयातितपसा परितोषिता त्वं प्राग्जन्मनि प्रसुमनादिभिरर्चितासि । धर्मात्मजेन बदरीवनखण्डमध्ये किं विस्मृतो जननि ते त्वयि भक्तिभावः ॥ ४८ ॥ सूतीगृहादपहृतः किमु बालको मे केनापि दुष्टमनसाप्यथ कौतुकाद्वा । मानापहारकरणाय ममाद्य नूनं लज्जा तवाम्ब खलु भक्तजनस्य युक्ता ॥ ४९ ॥ दुर्गो महानतितरां नगरी सुगुप्ता तत्रापि मेऽस्ति सदनं किल मध्यभागे । अन्तःपुरे च पिहितं ननु सूतिगेहं बालो हृतः खलु तथापि ममैव दोषात् ॥ ५० ॥ नाहं गतः परपुरं न च यादवाश्च रक्षावतीव नगरी किल वीरवर्यैः । माया तवैव जननि प्रकटप्रभावा मे बालकः परिहृतः कुहकेन केन ॥ ५१ ॥ नो वेद्म्यहं जननि ते चरितं सुगुप्तं को वेद मन्दमतिरल्पविदेव देही । क्वासौ गतो मम भटैर्न च वीक्षितो वा हर्ताम्बिके जवनिका तव कल्पितेयम् ॥ ५२ ॥ चित्रं न तेऽत्र पुरतो मम मातृगर्भो नीतस्त्वयार्धसमये किल माययासौ । यं रोहिणी हलधरं सुषुवे प्रसिद्धं दूरे स्थिता पतिपरा मिथुनं विनापि ॥ ५३ ॥ सृष्टिं करोषि जगतामनुपालनं च नाशं तथैव पुनरप्यनिशं गुणैस्त्वम् । को वेद तेऽम्ब चरितं दुरितान्तकारि प्रायेण सर्वमखिलं विहितं त्वयैतत् ॥ ५४ ॥ उत्पाद्य पुत्रजननप्रभवं प्रमोदं दत्त्वा पुनर्विरहजं किल दुःखभारम् । त्वं क्रीडसे सुललितैः खलु तैर्विहारै- र्नो चेत्कथं मम सुताप्तिरतिर्वृथा स्यात् ॥ ५५ ॥ मातास्य रोदिति भृशं कुररीव बाला दुःखं तनोति मम सन्निधिगा सदैव । कष्टं न वेत्सि ललितेऽप्रमितप्रभावे मातस्त्वमेव शरणं भवपीडितानाम् ॥ ५६ ॥ सीमा सुखस्य सुतजन्म तदीयनाशो दुःखस्य देवि भवने विबुधा वदन्ति । तत्किं करोमि जननि प्रथमे प्रनष्टे पुत्रे ममाद्य हृदयं स्फुटतीव मातः ॥ ५७ ॥ यज्ञं करोमि तव तुष्टिकरं व्रतं वा दैवं च पूजनमथाखिलदुःखहा त्वम् । मातः सुतोऽत्र यदि जीवति दर्शयाशु त्वं वै क्षमा सकलशोकविनाशनाय ॥ ५८ ॥ व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । प्रत्यक्षदर्शना भूत्वा तमुवाच जगद्गुरुम् ॥ ५९ ॥ श्रीदेव्युवाच शोकं मा कुरु देवेश शापोऽयं ते पुरातनः । तस्य योगेन पुत्रस्ते शम्बरेण हृतो बलात् ॥ ६० ॥ अतस्ते षोडशे वर्षे हत्वा तं शम्बरं बलात् । आगमिष्यति पुत्रस्ते मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः ॥ ६१ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा । भगवानपि पुत्रस्य शोकं त्यक्त्वाभवत्सुखी ॥ ६२ ॥
vyāsa uvāca prātarnandagṛhe jātaḥ putrajanmamahotsavaḥ | kiṃvadantyatha kaṃsena śrutā cāramukhādapi || 1 || jānāti vasudevasya dārāstatra vasanti hi | paśavo dāsavargaśca sarve te nandagokule || 2 || tena śaṅkāsamāviṣṭo gokulaṃ prati bhārata | nāradenāpi tatsarvaṃ kathitaṃ kāraṇaṃ purā || 3 || gokule ye ca nandādyāstatpatnyaśca surāṃśajāḥ | devakīvasudevādyāḥ sarve te śatravaḥ kila || 4 || iti nāradavākyena bodhito'sau kulādhamaḥ | jātaḥ kopamanā rājan kaṃsaḥ paramapāpakṛt || 5 || pūtanā nihatā tatra kṛṣṇenāmitatejasā | bako vatsāsuraścāpi dhenukaśca mahābalaḥ || 6 || pralambo nihatastena tathā govardhano dhṛtaḥ | śrutvaitatkarma kaṃsastu mene maraṇamātmanaḥ || 7 || tathā vinihataḥ keśī jñātvā kaṃso'tidurmanāḥ | dhanuryāgamiṣeṇāśu tāvānetuṃ pracakrame || 8 || akrūraṃ preṣayāmāsa krūraḥ pāpamatistadā | ānetuṃ rāmakṛṣṇau ca vadhāyāmitavikramau || 9 || rathamāropya gopālau gokulād gāndinīsutaḥ | āgato mathurāyāṃ tu kaṃsādeśe sthitaḥ kila || 10 || tāvāgatya tadā tatra dhanurbhaṅgañca cakratuḥ | hatvātha rajakaṃ kāmaṃ gajaṃ cāṇūramuṣṭikam || 11 || śalaṃ ca tośalaṃ caiva nijaghāna haristadā | jaghāna kaṃsaṃ deveśaḥ keśeṣvākṛṣya līlayā || 12 || pitarau mocayitvātha gataduḥkhau cakāra ha | ugrasenāya rājyaṃ taddadāvariniṣūdanaḥ || 13 || vasudevastayostatra mauñjībandhanapūrvakam | kārayāmāsa vidhivad vratabandhaṃ mahāmanāḥ || 14 || upanītau tadā tau tu gatau sāndīpanālayam | vidyāḥ sarvāḥ samabhyasya mathurāmāgatau punaḥ || 15 || jātau dvādaśavarṣīyau kṛtavidyau mahābalau | mathurāyāṃ sthitau vīrau sutāvānakadundubheḥ || 16 || māgadhastu jarāsandho jāmātṛvadhaduḥkhitaḥ | kṛtvā sainyasamājaṃ sa mathurāmāgataḥ purīm || 17 || sa saptadaśavāraṃ tu kṛṣṇena kṛtabuddhinā | jitaḥ saṃgrāmamāsādya madhupuryāṃ nivāsinā || 18 || paścācca preritastena sa kālayavanābhidhaḥ | sarvamlecchādhipaḥ śūro yādavānāṃ bhayaṅkaraḥ || 19 || śrutvā yavanamāyāntaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ sarvān yadūttamān | ānāyya ca tathā rāmamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ || 20 || bhayaṃ no'tra samutpannaṃ jarāsandhānmahābalāt | kiṃ kartavyaṃ mahābhāga yavanaḥ samupaiti vai || 21 || prāṇatrāṇaṃ prakartavyaṃ tyaktvā gehaṃ balaṃ dhanam | sukhena sthīyate yatra sa deśaḥ khalu paitṛkaḥ || 22 || sadodvegakaraḥ kāmaṃ kiṃ kartavyaḥ kulocitaḥ | śailasāgarasānnidhye sthātavyaṃ sukhamicchatā || 23 || yatra vairibhayaṃ na syātsthātavyaṃ tatra paṇḍitaiḥ | śeṣaśayyāṃ samāśritya hariḥ svapiti sāgare || 24 || tathaiva ca bhayādbhītaḥ kailāse tripurārdanaḥ | tasmānnātraiva sthātavyamasmābhiḥ śatrutāpitaiḥ || 25 || dvāravatyāṃ gamiṣyāmaḥ sahitāḥ sarva eva vai | kathitā garuḍenādya ramyā dvāravatī purī || 26 || raivatācalasānidhye sindhukūle manoharā | vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tathyaṃ sarve yādavapuṅgavāḥ || 27 || gamanāya matiṃ cakruḥ sakuṭumbāḥ savāhanāḥ | śakaṭāni tathoṣṭrāśca vāmyaśca mahiṣāstathā || 28 || dhanapūrṇāni kṛtvā te niryayurnagarādbahiḥ | rāmakṛṣṇau puraskṛtya sarve te saparicchadāḥ || 29 || agre kṛtvā prajāḥ sarvāśceluḥ sarve yadūttamāḥ | katiciddivasaiḥ prāpuḥ purīṃ dvāravatīṃ kila || 30 || śilpibhiḥ kārayāmāsa jīrṇoddhāraṃ hi mādhavaḥ | saṃsthāpya yādavāṃstatra tāvetau balakeśavau || 31 || tarasā mathurāmetya saṃsthitau nirjanāṃ purīm | tadā tatraiva samprāpto balavān yavanādhipaḥ || 32 || jñātvainamāgataṃ kṛṣṇo niryayau nagarādbahiḥ | padātiragre tasyābhūdyavanasya janārdanaḥ || 33 || pītāmbaradharaḥ śrīmānprāhasanmadhusūdanaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā purato yāntaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ kamalalocanam || 34 || yavano'pi padātiḥ sanpṛṣṭhato'nugataḥ khalaḥ | prasupto yatra rājarṣirmucukundo mahābalaḥ || 35 || prayayau bhagavāṃstatra sakālayavano hariḥ | tatraivāntardadhe viṣṇurmucukundaṃ samīkṣya ca || 36 || tatraiva yavanaḥ prāptaḥ suptabhūtamapaśyata | matvā taṃ vāsudevaṃ sa pādenātāḍayannṛpam || 37 || prabuddhaḥ krodharaktākṣastaṃ dadāha mahābalaḥ | taṃ dagdhvā mucukundo'tha dadarśa kamalekṣaṇam || 38 || vāsudevaṃ sudeveśaṃ praṇamya prasthito vanam | jagāma dvārakāṃ kṛṣṇo baladevasamanvitaḥ || 39 || ugrasenaṃ nṛpaṃ kṛtvā vijahāra yathāruci | aharadrukmiṇī kāmaṃ śiśupālasvayaṃvarāt || 40 || rākṣasena vivāhena cakre dāravidhiṃ hariḥ | tato jāmbavatīṃ satyāṃ mitravindāñca bhāminīm || 41 || kālindīṃ lakṣaṇāṃ bhadrāṃ tathā nāgnajitīṃ śubhām | pṛthakpṛthaksamānīyāpyupayeme janārdanaḥ || 42 || aṣṭāveva mahīpāla patnyaḥ paramaśobhanāḥ | prāsūta rukmiṇī putraṃ pradyumnaṃ cārudarśanam || 43 || jātakarmādikaṃ tasya cakāra madhusūdanaḥ | hṛto'sau sūtikāgehācchambareṇa balīyasā || 44 || nītaśca svapurīṃ bālo māyāvatyai samarpitaḥ | vāsudevo hṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā putraṃ śokasamanvitaḥ || 45 || jagāma śaraṇaṃ devīṃ bhaktiyuktena cetasā | vṛtrāsurādayo daityā līlayaiva yayā hatāḥ || 46 || tato'sau yogamāyāyāścakāra paramāṃ smṛtim | vacobhiḥ paramodārairakṣaraiḥ stavanaiḥ śubhaiḥ || 47 || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca mātarmayātitapasā paritoṣitā tvaṃ prāgjanmani prasumanādibhirarcitāsi | dharmātmajena badarīvanakhaṇḍamadhye kiṃ vismṛto janani te tvayi bhaktibhāvaḥ || 48 || sūtīgṛhādapahṛtaḥ kimu bālako me kenāpi duṣṭamanasāpyatha kautukādvā | mānāpahārakaraṇāya mamādya nūnaṃ lajjā tavāmba khalu bhaktajanasya yuktā || 49 || durgo mahānatitarāṃ nagarī suguptā tatrāpi me'sti sadanaṃ kila madhyabhāge | antaḥpure ca pihitaṃ nanu sūtigehaṃ bālo hṛtaḥ khalu tathāpi mamaiva doṣāt || 50 || nāhaṃ gataḥ parapuraṃ na ca yādavāśca rakṣāvatīva nagarī kila vīravaryaiḥ | māyā tavaiva janani prakaṭaprabhāvā me bālakaḥ parihṛtaḥ kuhakena kena || 51 || no vedmyahaṃ janani te caritaṃ suguptaṃ ko veda mandamatiralpavideva dehī | kvāsau gato mama bhaṭairna ca vīkṣito vā hartāmbike javanikā tava kalpiteyam || 52 || citraṃ na te'tra purato mama mātṛgarbho nītastvayārdhasamaye kila māyayāsau | yaṃ rohiṇī haladharaṃ suṣuve prasiddhaṃ dūre sthitā patiparā mithunaṃ vināpi || 53 || sṛṣṭiṃ karoṣi jagatāmanupālanaṃ ca nāśaṃ tathaiva punarapyaniśaṃ guṇaistvam | ko veda te'mba caritaṃ duritāntakāri prāyeṇa sarvamakhilaṃ vihitaṃ tvayaitat || 54 || utpādya putrajananaprabhavaṃ pramodaṃ dattvā punarvirahajaṃ kila duḥkhabhāram | tvaṃ krīḍase sulalitaiḥ khalu tairvihārai- rno cetkathaṃ mama sutāptiratirvṛthā syāt || 55 || mātāsya roditi bhṛśaṃ kurarīva bālā duḥkhaṃ tanoti mama sannidhigā sadaiva | kaṣṭaṃ na vetsi lalite'pramitaprabhāve mātastvameva śaraṇaṃ bhavapīḍitānām || 56 || sīmā sukhasya sutajanma tadīyanāśo duḥkhasya devi bhavane vibudhā vadanti | tatkiṃ karomi janani prathame pranaṣṭe putre mamādya hṛdayaṃ sphuṭatīva mātaḥ || 57 || yajñaṃ karomi tava tuṣṭikaraṃ vrataṃ vā daivaṃ ca pūjanamathākhiladuḥkhahā tvam | mātaḥ suto'tra yadi jīvati darśayāśu tvaṃ vai kṣamā sakalaśokavināśanāya || 58 || vyāsa uvāca evaṃ stutā tadā devī kṛṣṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā | pratyakṣadarśanā bhūtvā tamuvāca jagadgurum || 59 || śrīdevyuvāca śokaṃ mā kuru deveśa śāpo'yaṃ te purātanaḥ | tasya yogena putraste śambareṇa hṛto balāt || 60 || ataste ṣoḍaśe varṣe hatvā taṃ śambaraṃ balāt | āgamiṣyati putraste matprasādānna saṃśayaḥ || 61 || vyāsa uvāca ityuktvāntardadhe devī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā | bhagavānapi putrasya śokaṃ tyaktvābhavatsukhī || 62 ||
English translation
1-2. Vyasa said On the other hand, there, at the house of Nanda, early in the next morning, commenced the grand birth day festivity. Kamsa came to know, afterwards, by his spies as will as by general rumour, that at Gokula, in the house of Nanda, a very joyous festival on a grand scale was being performed; he also knew before that the other wives of Vasudeva, his animals and his servants were all staying at Nanda’s residence in Gokula.
3-4. O Bharata! Thus all these gave reasons to Kamsa to suspect the place Gokula. Especially Narada told him before that the residents, the cowherds at Gokula, Nanda and others, their wives, Devaki and Vasudeva were all Devas incarnates; and consequently they were his enemies.
5-7. Thus being brought to more confidence by Narada’s words, that vicious Kamsa, the disgrace to his family, was very angry and sent there his demons Putana, Baka, Vatsa, the great Asura, the powerful Dhenuka, Pralamba. They were all killed by Krisna, of unsurpassable prowess. S’ri Krisna held aloft also the hillock Gobardhana (to protect the cow herds and cows, etc.) Hearing all these, Kamsa became certain also of his own death.
8. Lastly when the evil minded Kamsa heard that the Daitya Kes’i was also slain, then he made arrangements for a sacrifice, known as Dhanuryajha; and under this pretext wanted to bring over there at Mathura the two brothers Krisna and Balarama.
9. The evil minded Kamsa to effect the death of those two, Rama and Krisna, of unsurpassable prowess, sent Akrura to Gokula to bring them over to Mathura.
10. Akrura, the son of Gandini, under the orders of Kamsa, went to Gokula and brought the two boys on a chariot to Mathura.
11-12. On arriving at Mathura, Rama and Krisna first broke the bow; killed Rajaka, the elephant Kubalaya, Chanur, Mustika, S’ala, Tos’ala and other athletes and warriors. Last of all, Hari, the Lord of the Devas, holding Kamsa by his hair, killed him with utmost ease.
13. The enemy-destroyer Krisna removed the sorrows of his father and mother and released them from their prisons and gave over the kingdom of Mathura to Ugrasena (the father of Kamsa).
14-15. The high minded Vasudeva, then, with the triple girdle made of Munja grass, performed the Upanayana ceremonies (wearing the sacred thread round the body) of Rama and Krisna and made them accept the vow of Brahmacharya. They then departed to the hermitage of the holy Muni S’andipana to acquire knowledge. Learning all the vidyas (knowledges) there, they returned quickly to Mathura.
16. The two sons of Anakadundubhi stayed there and on attaining their twelfth year, became proficient in all the branches of learning and became very powerful.
17. That time Jarasandha, being grieved at the killing of his son-in- law Kamsa, collected a strong and numerous army and marched to Mathura.
18. Seventeen times Jarasandha, the king of Magadha, attacked Mathura and seventeen times he was defeated by the ingenuity of that highly intelligent S’ri Krisna, who was of firm resolve and was then residing in Mathura.
19. Lastly, Jarasandha sent the Kalayavana (Black Yavana) to invade Mathura. These Yavanas were brave and the lords of all MIechchas (untouchables) and extremely terrific to the Yadavas.
Note: Kalayavana - A king of Yavanas and enemy of Krisna and an invincible foe of the Yadavas. Krisna finding it impossible to vanquish him in the field of battle, cunningly decoyed him to the cave where Muchukunda was sleeping who burnt him down.
Yavana means a Greek, an Ionian; then any foreigner, or barbarian (the word is applied at present to a Mahomedan or a European also).
20-21. Hearing that Kala Yavana was coming to attack the Yadavas, Krisna the destroyer of Madhu, called all the Yadavas and Baladeva and addressed them thus “O blessed ones! Now a cause of great terror has appeared amongst us; Kala Yavana is being sent by our powerful enemy Jarasandha to attack Mathura. Now what to do? It is better to save one’s life by leaving aside all our homes, wealth and army.
22. You should all know that is the place of our fathers and forefathers where we can safely and happily dwell; where there is a constant source of anxiety and uneasiness that, though the place of our fathers and forefathers, ought to be avoided; never ought anyone to dwell there.
23. If you want to dwell at ease and comfort, you ought to dwell in that country or place which is adjacent to a sea or a mountain; where there is no fear from an enemy, the sages will always remain there.
24. See! The Bhagavan Hah, being afraid, as it were, of his enemy has taken refuge on the body of the thousand headed S’esa serpent as his sleeping place and is sleeping at ease and comfort on the ocean. It seems likely that the enemy of Tripura, the great S’iva is also dwelling on the Kailas’a mountain.
25. We, too, are being constantly worried by our enemies here; therefore we ought not to live here any longer. We should all go to Dwarka city with our friends, relatives and wealth.
26. Garuda, the king of the birds, has given us the detailed information of the city Dwarka. That beautiful city is situated on the sea shore in the vicinity of the Raivataka mountain.”
27. Vyasa said The Yadava chiefs, hearing S’ri Krisna’s utterances fraught with their welfare, were ready to depart to that place Dwarka, attended by their friends, relatives, and appurtenances.
28. They then collected their camels, mares, and buffaloes and filled their conveyances with wealth, gems and precious stones and marched out of their place.
29. Rama and Krisna went in front; the Yadavas and other subjects then marched in groups (several parties).
30. Marching some days, they all reached Dvaravati. Then the portions of the city that were dilapidated or destroyed, S’ri Krisna had them repaired by engineers, artisans and craftsmen.
31. Placing the Yadavas there, Kes’ava and Baladeva quickly returned to Mathura and began to stay in that desolated city.
32. The extremely powerful king of the Yavanas arrived then at Mathura. Krisna knowing that the Yavana chief had come there, went out of the city.
33. The Bhagavan Madhusudana, the destroyer of the boastings of Asuras and other people, dressed in yellow robes, appeared on foot before the Kalayavan with smile on his lips.
34. Seeing the lotus-eyed Krisna before him, the treacherous Lord of the Yavanas, pursued him on foot to catch hold of him.
35. Where the powerful Rajarsi Muchukunda was sleeping soundly, the Bhagavan Hari led Kalayavana there.
36. There S’ri Krisna, saw Muchukunda and vanished away at once; the king of the Yavanas on arriving there found the Rajarsi (the royal sage) there in deep sleep.
37. The wicked Yavana mistaking Muchukunda for S’ri Krisna, gave him a good kick. The powerful king Muchukunda got up and was very angry; his eyes became red and reduced that vicious Yavana instantly into ashes.
38. When Muchukunda burnt the Yavana, he saw the lotus-eyed Krisna; he bowed down to that Supreme Deva, Vasudeva, and went to forest.
39. S’ri Krisna then went back to the city Dwarka with Rama and made Ugrasena there the king and began to enjoy at his will.
40. At the marriage ceremony of S’is’upala, at the palace of the king of Vidarbha, Janardan Visnu carried away by force Rukmini, the bride elect from the Svayambara assembly (where the husband is self elected by the bride herself) and afterwards married her according to the rule called Rakhsasa Vidhi (one of the eight forms of marriage in Hindu Law in which a girl is forcibly seized and carried away after the defeat or destruction of her relatives in battle).
41-42. Afterwards He brought also Jambavati, Satyabhama, Mitravinda, Kalindi, Laksmana, Bhadra, and auspicious Nagnajiti (the daughter of the king Nagnajit) on various occasions and married
them. O Lord of the earth! These eight women were the best and most beautiful of S’ri Krisna’s wives.
43. Rukmini first gave birth to the beautiful child Pradyumna and S’ri Krisna performed the religious ceremony at the birth of his child.
44. Then the powerful Danava named S’amvara stole away the little baby from the lying-in-chamber and carried him to his own city and made him over under the charge of Mayavati.
45. Coming to know that His son had been stolen away, S’ri Krisna became very much overpowered with sorrow and took the shelter of the Supreme Goddess, the Devi, with a heart full of devotion.
46-47. S’ri Krisna then began, to chant, in sweet auspicious tone, hymns in alphabets, conveying the highest meanings, in adoration of the Yoga Maya, Who slew Vritrasura and other Daityas with ease and alacrity.
48. O Mother! I, in my former birth as the son of Dharma, appeased You by my ascetic practices in the hermitage of Badari and worshipped You with various offerings; O Mother! Have you now forgotten all my devotion to You?
49. O Mother! Has any evil minded enemy stolen away my son from the lying-in chamber? Or have You Yourself done this to make a fun and see the amusement? It seems that some one of my enemies has done so to insult me; however. You, O Mother! ought not to put your devotee under this shameful condition.
50. O Mother! This Dwaraka city is well guarded; a very strong fort is built in its middle and my place is in the midst of that again; and the lying in-chamber is again in the middle; I therefore must say that it is due to my bad luck that the child is stolen away!
51. O Mother! I did not go to the house of my enemy; the Yadavas also did not go there; this city is guarded by valiant soldiers; then how is it, under what charm, the baby has been stolen? O Mother! Now I come to know that it is due to Your Maya; such things are common due to Your Maya in the three worlds.
52. O Mother! When I am ignorant of your deepest mysteries, how can there exist anyone among the little minded Jivas that can know your doings? My watchmen could not see anything, where my child was taken away and who has stolen it. O Mother! I come to the conclusion that it is hidden behind the screen of Your Maya.
53. O Mother! It is not strange with You; to the chaste woman, Rohini Devi, though situated at a great distance and not connected with any male persons. You, in the fifth month, moved away the son to my knowledge from the womb of my mother; and thus Baladeva was born to Rohini. This is now known to all.
54. Mother! You are incessantly creating, preserving, and destroying this whole universe by the mixture of the three qualities. Who can know Your sin-destroying doings? Mother! There is no need of dwelling at length. Suffice it to say that You, no doubt, are doing all that are being done in this whole universe.
55. You first create the joy at the birth of a child; again You load us with heavy burdens of sorrows due to the separation from that child; thus you are always sporting; otherwise how my joy at the birth of my child would thus be rendered quite useless?
56. The mother of that child is always weeping like an ewe, straying from a flock; she is giving vent to her sorrows always to me; O Kind- hearted! Being thus endowed with illimitable prowess and understanding, do You not know my troubles! O Mother! You are the only source of consolation to one, suffering from the sorrows of this world. There is no doubt in this.
57. O Goddess! The wise seers say that the birth of a child in any house is the highest bliss there, and the death of a child is the greatest sorrow that can befall to any house. Therefore, O Mother! What shall I do in this? What shall I say more than that my heart is going to burst, due to the disappearance of my child.
58. O Mother! I will perform all the necessary sacrifices, take up vows, perform all sorts of worship to the entire satisfaction of the Great Fate (Ordainer of things); You be pleased to remove my sorrow. O Mother! If my son be alive, kindly shew him once to me. Mother! There is no other than You Who is fully capable to destroy this my pain and sorrow, raging in my heart.
59. Vyasa said He who brings into practice, things that are considered impracticable for the Devas and removes the load of the Goddess Earth with ease and alacrity, the same Saviour of world, S’ri Krisna thus chanted hymns in adoration of the Great Goddess. The Devi then became visible to him and said.
60. O Lord of the Devas! Do not any longer be sorrowful and miserable; there had been a curse on you before; and, for that reason, the Daitya S’ambara has stolen away your son by his demonic magic.
61. Therefore, when your son will grow sixteen years old, then he will, by My Grace, kill the Daitya perforce and will return to you. There is no doubt in this.
62. O king! Thus saying these words full of hope and confidence, the Great Goddess Chandika, of formidable prowess, disappeared. Krisna too, quitted his sorrows, due to the bereavement of his child, and began to spend his time in happiness and peace.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Fourth Book of S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa on the stealing away of Pradyumna.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33255, revision 86844 (2016-10-24T01:22:20Z). 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/bk04ch24.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.