Adhyaya 44

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं चर्चितसङ्कल्पो भगवान् मधुसूदन: । आससादाथ चाणूरं मुष्टिकं रोहिणीसुत: ॥ १ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed, Lord Kṛṣṇa made up His mind to accept the challenge. He paired off with Cāṇūra, and Lord Balarāma with Muṣṭika.

Verse 2

हस्ताभ्यां हस्तयोर्बद्ध्वा पद्‌भ्यामेव च पादयो: । विचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं प्रसह्य विजिगीषया ॥ २ ॥

Seizing each other’s hands and locking legs with each other, the opponents struggled powerfully, eager for victory.

Verse 3

अरत्नी द्वे अरत्निभ्यां जानुभ्यां चैव जानुनी । शिर: शीर्ष्णोरसोरस्तावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतु: ॥ ३ ॥

They each struck fists against fists, knees against knees, head against head and chest against chest.

Verse 4

परिभ्रामणविक्षेपपरिरम्भावपातनै: । उत्सर्पणापसर्पणैश्चान्योन्यं प्रत्यरुन्धताम् ॥ ४ ॥

Each fighter contended with his opponent by dragging him about in circles, shoving and crushing him, throwing him down and running before and behind him.

Verse 5

उत्थापनैरुन्नयनैश्चालनै: स्थापनैरपि । परस्परं जिगीषन्तावपचक्रतुरात्मन: ॥ ५ ॥

Forcefully lifting and carrying each other, pushing each other away and holding each other down, the fighters hurt even their own bodies in their great eagerness for victory.

Verse 6

तद् बलाबलवद्युद्धं समेता: सर्वयोषित: । ऊचु: परस्परं राजन् सानुकम्पा वरूथश: ॥ ६ ॥

My dear King, all the women present, considering the match an unfair fight between the strong and the weak, felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They assembled in groups around the arena and spoke to one another as follows.

Verse 7

महानयं बताधर्म एषां राजसभासदाम् । ये बलाबलवद्युद्धं राज्ञोऽन्विच्छन्ति पश्यत: ॥ ७ ॥

[The women said:] Alas, what a greatly irreligious act the members of this royal assembly are committing! As the King watches this fight between the strong and the weak, they also want to see it.

Verse 8

क्‍व वज्रसारसर्वाङ्गौ मल्लौ शैलेन्द्रसन्निभौ । क्‍व चातिसुकुमाराङ्गौ किशोरौ नाप्तयौवनौ ॥ ८ ॥

What comparison can there be between these two professional wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and these two young, immature boys with exceedingly tender limbs?

Verse 9

धर्मव्यतिक्रमो ह्यस्य समाजस्य ध्रुवं भवेत् । यत्राधर्म: समुत्तिष्ठेन्न स्थेयं तत्र कर्हिचित् ॥ ९ ॥

Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.

Verse 10

न सभां प्रविशेत् प्राज्ञ: सभ्यदोषाननुस्मरन् । अब्रुवन् विब्रुवन्नज्ञो नर: किल्बिषमश्न‍ुते ॥ १० ॥

A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.

Verse 11

वल्गत: शत्रुमभित: कृष्णस्य वदनाम्बुजम् । वीक्ष्यतां श्रमवार्युप्तं पद्मकोशमिवाम्बुभि: ॥ ११ ॥

Just see the lotus face of Kṛṣṇa as He darts around His foe! That face, covered with drops of perspiration brought on by the strenuous fight, resembles a lotus covered with dew.

Verse 12

किं न पश्यत रामस्य मुखमाताम्रलोचनम् । मुष्टिकं प्रति सामर्षं हाससंरम्भशोभितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Don’t you see the face of Lord Balarāma, with its eyes copper-red from His anger toward Muṣṭika and its beauty enhanced by His laughter and His absorption in the fight?

Verse 13

पुण्या बत व्रजभुवो यदयं नृलिङ्ग-गूढ: पुराणपुरुषो वनचित्रमाल्य: । गा: पालयन् सहबल: क्‍वणयंश्च वेणुंविक्रीडयाञ्चति गिरित्ररमार्चिताङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रि: ॥ १३ ॥

How pious are the tracts of land in Vraja, for there the primeval Personality of Godhead, disguising Himself with human traits, wanders about, enacting His many pastimes! Adorned with wonderfully variegated forest garlands, He whose feet are worshiped by Lord Śiva and goddess Ramā vibrates His flute as He tends the cows in the company of Balarāma.

Verse 14

गोप्यस्तप: किमचरन् यदमुष्य रूपंलावण्यसारमसमोर्ध्वमनन्यसिद्धम् । द‍ृग्भि: पिबन्त्यनुसवाभिनवं दुराप-मेकान्तधाम यशस: श्रिय ऐश्वरस्य ॥ १४ ॥

What austerities must the gopīs have performed! With their eyes they always drink the nectar of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s form, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That form is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare.

Verse 15

या दोहनेऽवहनने मथनोपलेप-प्रेङ्खेङ्खनार्भरुदितोक्षणमार्जनादौ । गायन्ति चैनमनुरक्तधियोऽश्रुकण्ठ्योधन्या व्रजस्त्रिय उरुक्रमचित्तयाना: ॥ १५ ॥

The ladies of Vraja are the most fortunate of women because, with their minds fully attached to Kṛṣṇa and their throats always choked up with tears, they constantly sing about Him while milking the cows, winnowing grain, churning butter, gathering cow dung for fuel, riding on swings, taking care of their crying babies, sprinkling the ground with water, cleaning their houses, and so on. By their exalted Kṛṣṇa consciousness they automatically acquire all desirable things.

Verse 16

प्रातर्व्रजाद् व्रजत आविशतश्च सायंगोभि: समं क्‍वणयतोऽस्य निशम्य वेणुम् । निर्गम्य तूर्णमबला: पथि भूरिपुण्या:पश्यन्ति सस्मितमुखं सदयावलोकम् ॥ १६ ॥

When the gopīs hear Kṛṣṇa playing His flute as He leaves Vraja in the morning with His cows or returns with them at sunset, the young girls quickly come out of their houses to see Him. They must have performed many pious activities to be able to see Him as He walks on the road, His smiling face mercifully glancing upon them.

Verse 17

एवं प्रभाषमाणासु स्त्रीषु योगेश्वरो हरि: । शत्रुं हन्तुं मनश्चक्रे भगवान् भरतर्षभ ॥ १७ ॥

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] As the women spoke thus, O hero of the Bhāratas, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystic power, made up His mind to kill His opponent.

Verse 18

सभया: स्त्रीगिर: श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्‍नेहशुचातुरौ । पितरावन्वतप्येतां पुत्रयोरबुधौ बलम् ॥ १८ ॥

Out of affection for the two Lords, Their parents [Devakī and Vasudeva] became overwhelmed with sorrow when they heard the women’s fearful statements. They grieved, not knowing their sons’ strength.

Verse 19

तैस्तैर्नियुद्धविधिभिर्विविधैरच्युतेतरौ । युयुधाते यथान्योन्यं तथैव बलमुष्टिकौ ॥ १९ ॥

Lord Balarāma and Muṣṭika, expertly displaying numerous wrestling techniques, battled each other in the same way that Lord Kṛṣṇa and His opponent did.

Verse 20

भगवद्गात्रनिष्पातैर्वज्रनीष्पेषनिष्ठुरै: । चाणूरो भज्यमानाङ्गो मुहुर्ग्लानिमवाप ह ॥ २० ॥

The harsh blows from the Supreme Lord’s limbs fell like crushing lightning bolts upon Cāṇūra, breaking every part of his body and causing him more and more pain and fatigue.

Verse 21

स श्येनवेग उत्पत्य मुष्टीकृत्य करावुभौ । भगवन्तं वासुदेवं क्रुद्धो वक्षस्यबाधत ॥ २१ ॥

Furious, Cāṇūra attacked Lord Vāsudeva with the speed of a hawk and struck His chest with both fists.

Verse 22

नाचलत्तत्प्रहारेण मालाहत इव द्विप: । बाह्वोर्निगृह्य चाणूरं बहुशो भ्रामयन् हरि: ॥ २२ ॥ भूपृष्ठे पोथयामास तरसा क्षीणजीवितम् । विस्रस्ताकल्पकेशस्रगिन्द्रध्वज इवापतत् ॥ २३ ॥

No more shaken by the demon’s mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa grabbed Cāṇūra by his arms, swung him around several times and hurled him onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead, like a huge festival column collapsing.

Verse 23

नाचलत्तत्प्रहारेण मालाहत इव द्विप: । बाह्वोर्निगृह्य चाणूरं बहुशो भ्रामयन् हरि: ॥ २२ ॥ भूपृष्ठे पोथयामास तरसा क्षीणजीवितम् । विस्रस्ताकल्पकेशस्रगिन्द्रध्वज इवापतत् ॥ २३ ॥

No more shaken by the demon’s mighty blows than an elephant struck with a flower garland, Lord Kṛṣṇa grabbed Cāṇūra by his arms, swung him around several times and hurled him onto the ground with great force. His clothes, hair and garland scattering, the wrestler fell down dead, like a huge festival column collapsing.

Verse 24

तथैव मुष्टिक: पूर्वं स्वमुष्ट्याभिहतेन वै । बलभद्रेण बलिना तलेनाभिहतो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रवेपित: स रुधिरमुद्वमन् मुखतोऽर्दित: । व्यसु: पपातोर्व्युपस्थे वाताहत इवाङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिप: ॥ २५ ॥

Similarly, Muṣṭika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.

Verse 25

तथैव मुष्टिक: पूर्वं स्वमुष्ट्याभिहतेन वै । बलभद्रेण बलिना तलेनाभिहतो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रवेपित: स रुधिरमुद्वमन् मुखतोऽर्दित: । व्यसु: पपातोर्व्युपस्थे वाताहत इवाङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिप: ॥ २५ ॥

Similarly, Muṣṭika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.

Verse 26

तत: कूटमनुप्राप्तं राम: प्रहरतां वर: । अवधील्लीलया राजन्सावज्ञं वाममुष्टिना ॥ २६ ॥

Confronted next by the wrestler Kūṭa, Lord Balarāma, the best of fighters, playfully and nonchalantly killed him with His left fist, O King.

Verse 27

तर्ह्येव हि शल: कृष्णप्रपदाहतशीर्षक: । द्विधा विदीर्णस्तोशलक उभावपि निपेततु: ॥ २७ ॥

Then Kṛṣṇa kicked in Śala’s head and tore Tośala in half, and both wrestlers fell down dead.

Verse 28

चाणूरे मुष्टिके कूटे शले तोशलके हते । शेषा: प्रदुद्रुवुर्मल्ला: सर्वे प्राणपरीप्सव: ॥ २८ ॥

Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Kūṭa, Śala and Tośala having been killed, the remaining wrestlers all fled for their lives.

Verse 29

गोपान्वयस्यानाकृष्य तै: संसृज्य विजह्रतु: । वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु वल्गन्तौ रुतनूपुरौ ॥ २९ ॥

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then called Their young cowherd boyfriends to join Them, and in their company the Lords danced about and sported, Their ankle bells resounding as musical instruments played.

Verse 30

जना: प्रजहृषु: सर्वे कर्मणा रामकृष्णयो: । ऋते कंसं विप्रमुख्या: साधव: साधु साध्विति ॥ ३० ॥

Everyone except Kaṁsa rejoiced at the wonderful feat Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had performed. The exalted brāhmaṇas and great saints exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!”

Verse 31

हतेषु मल्लवर्येषु विद्रुतेषु च भोजराट् । न्यवारयत् स्वतूर्याणि वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ ३१ ॥

The Bhoja king, seeing that his best wrestlers had all been killed or had fled, stopped the musical performance originally meant for his pleasure and spoke the following words.

Verse 32

नि:सारयत दुर्वृत्तौ वसुदेवात्मजौ पुरात् । धनं हरत गोपानां नन्दं बध्नीत दुर्मतिम् ॥ ३२ ॥

[Kaṁsa said:] Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Confiscate the cowherds’ property and arrest that fool Nanda!

Verse 33

वसुदेवस्तु दुर्मेधा हन्यतामाश्वसत्तम: । उग्रसेन: पिता चापि सानुग: परपक्षग: ॥ ३३ ॥

Kill that most evil fool Vasudeva! And also kill my father, Ugrasena, along with his followers, who have all sided with our enemies!

Verse 34

एवं विकत्थमाने वै कंसे प्रकुपितोऽव्यय: । लघिम्नोत्पत्य तरसा मञ्चमुत्तुङ्गमारुहत् ॥ ३४ ॥

As Kaṁsa thus raved so audaciously, the infallible Lord Kṛṣṇa, intensely angry, quickly and easily jumped up onto the high royal dais.

Verse 35

तमाविशन्तमालोक्य मृत्युमात्मन आसनात् । मनस्वी सहसोत्थाय जगृहे सोऽसिचर्मणी ॥ ३५ ॥

Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching like death personified, the quick-witted Kaṁsa instantly rose from his seat and took up his sword and shield.

Verse 36

तं खड्‌गपाणिं विचरन्तमाशुश्येनं यथा दक्षिणसव्यमम्बरे । समग्रहीद् दुर्विषहोग्रतेजायथोरगं तार्क्ष्यसुत: प्रसह्य ॥ ३६ ॥

Sword in hand, Kaṁsa moved quickly from side to side like a hawk in the sky. But Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose fearsome strength is irresistible, powerfully seized the demon just as the son of Tārkṣya might capture a snake.

Verse 37

प्रगृह्य केशेषु चलत्किरीटंनिपात्य रङ्गोपरि तुङ्गमञ्चात् । तस्योपरिष्टात् स्वयमब्जनाभ:पपात विश्वाश्रय आत्मतन्त्र: ॥ ३७ ॥

Grabbing Kaṁsa by the hair and knocking off his crown, the lotus-naveled Lord threw him off the elevated dais onto the wrestling mat. Then the independent Lord, the support of the entire universe, threw Himself upon the King.

Verse 38

तं सम्परेतं विचकर्ष भूमौहरिर्यथेभं जगतो विपश्यत: । हाहेति शब्द: सुमहांस्तदाभू-दुदीरित: सर्वजनैर्नरेन्द्र ॥ ३८ ॥

As a lion drags a dead elephant, the Lord then dragged Kaṁsa’s dead body along the ground in full view of everyone present. O King, all the people in the arena tumultuously cried out, “Oh! Oh!”

Verse 39

स नित्यदोद्विग्नधिया तमीश्वरंपिबन्नदन्वा विचरन् स्वपन् श्वसन् । ददर्श चक्रायुधमग्रतो यत-स्तदेव रूपं दुरवापमाप ॥ ३९ ॥

Kaṁsa had always been disturbed by the thought that the Supreme Lord was to kill him. Therefore when drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, the King had always seen the Lord before him with the disc weapon in His hand. Thus Kaṁsa achieved the rare boon of attaining a form like the Lord’s.

Verse 40

तस्यानुजा भ्रातरोऽष्टौ कङ्कन्यग्रोधकादय: । अभ्यधावन्नतिक्रुद्धा भ्रातुर्निर्वेशकारिण: ॥ ४० ॥

Kaṁsa’s eight younger brothers, led by Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka, then attacked the Lords in a rage, seeking to avenge their brother’s death.

Verse 41

तथातिरभसांस्तांस्तु संयत्तान्‍रोहिणीसुत: । अहन् परिघमुद्यम्य पशूनिव मृगाधिप: ॥ ४१ ॥

As they ran swiftly toward the two Lords, ready to strike, the son of Rohiṇī slew them with His club just as a lion easily kills other animals.

Verse 42

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो व्योम्नि ब्रह्मेशाद्या विभूतय: । पुष्पै: किरन्तस्तं प्रीता: शशंसुर्ननृतु: स्त्रिय: ॥ ४२ ॥

Kettledrums resounded in the sky as Brahmā, Śiva and other demigods, the Lord’s expansions, rained down flowers upon Him with pleasure. They chanted His praises, and their wives danced.

Verse 43

तेषां स्त्रियो महाराज सुहृन्मरणदु:खिता: । तत्राभीयुर्विनिघ्नन्त्य: शीर्षाण्यश्रुविलोचना: ॥ ४३ ॥

My dear King, the wives of Kaṁsa and his brothers, aggrieved by the death of their well-wishing husbands, came forward with tearful eyes, beating their heads.

Verse 44

शयानान्वीरशयायां पतीनालिङ्‌‌ग्य शोचती: । विलेपु: सुस्वरं नार्यो विसृजन्त्यो मुहु: शुच: ॥ ४४ ॥

Embracing their husbands, who lay on a hero’s final bed, the sorrowful women loudly lamented while shedding constant tears.

Verse 45

हा नाथ प्रिय धर्मज्ञ करुणानाथवत्सल । त्वया हतेन निहता वयं ते सगृहप्रजा: ॥ ४५ ॥

[The women cried out:] Alas, O master, O dear one, O knower of religious principles! O kind and compassionate protector of the shelterless! By your being slain we have also been slain, together with your household and offspring.

Verse 46

त्वया विरहिता पत्या पुरीयं पुरुषर्षभ । न शोभते वयमिव निवृत्तोत्सवमङ्गला ॥ ४६ ॥

O great hero among men, bereft of you, its master, this city has lost its beauty, just as we have, and all festivity and good fortune within it have come to an end.

Verse 47

अनागसां त्वं भूतानां कृतवान्द्रोहमुल्बणम् । तेनेमां भो दशां नीतो भूतध्रुक्को लभेत शम् ॥ ४७ ॥

O dear one, you have been brought to this state because of the terrible violence you committed against innocent creatures. How can one who harms others attain happiness?

Verse 48

सर्वेषामिह भूतानामेष हि प्रभवाप्यय: । गोप्ता च तदवध्यायी न क्‍वचित्सुखमेधते ॥ ४८ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa causes the appearance and disappearance of all beings in this world, and He is their maintainer as well. One who disrespects Him can never prosper happily.

Verse 49

श्रीशुक उवाच राजयोषित आश्वास्य भगवाँल्लोकभावन: । यामाहुर्लौकिकीं संस्थां हतानां समकारयत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After consoling the royal ladies, Lord Kṛṣṇa, sustainer of all the worlds, arranged for the prescribed funeral rites to be performed.

Verse 50

मातरं पितरं चैव मोचयित्वाथ बन्धनात् । कृष्णरामौ ववन्दाते शिरसा स्पृश्य पादयो: ॥ ५० ॥

Then Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma released Their mother and father from bondage and offered obeisances to them, touching their feet with Their heads.

Verse 51

देवकी वसुदेवश्च विज्ञाय जगदीश्वरौ । कृतसंवन्दनौ पुत्रौ सस्वजाते न शङ्कितौ ॥ ५१ ॥ नायं श्रियोऽङ्ग उ नितान्तरते: प्रसाद: स्वर्योषितां नलिनगन्धरुचां कुतोऽन्या: । रासोत्सवेऽस्य भुजदण्डगृहीतकण्ठ- लब्धाशिषां य उदगाद्‍व्रजवल्ल‍भीनाम् ॥

Devakī and Vasudeva, now knowing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to be the Lords of the universe, simply stood with joined palms. Being apprehensive, they did not embrace their sons.