Adhyaya 59

Verse 1

श्रीराजोवाच यथा हतो भगवता भौमो येने च ता: स्‍त्रिय: । निरुद्धा एतदाचक्ष्व विक्रमं शार्ङ्गधन्वन: ॥ १ ॥

King Parīkṣit said: How was Bhaumāsura, who held so many women captive, slain by the Bhagavān? Please recount this heroic exploit of Śārṅgadhanvā, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 2

श्रीशुक उवाच इन्द्रेण हृतछत्रेण हृतकुण्डलबन्धुना । हृतामराद्रिस्थानेन ज्ञापितो भौमचेष्टितम् । सभार्यो गरुडारूढ: प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं ययौ ॥ २ ॥ गिरिदुर्गै: शस्‍त्रदुर्गैर्जलाग्‍न्यनिलदुर्गमम् । मुरपाशायुतैर्घोरैर्द‍ृढै: सर्वत आवृतम् ॥ ३ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva said: When Bhauma stole the earrings of Indra’s mother, Varuṇa’s umbrella, and the devas’ pleasure-ground atop Mount Mandara, Indra approached Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and reported these misdeeds. Then the Lord, taking His queen Satyabhāmā with Him, mounted Garuḍa and went to Prāgyotiṣa-pura, which was encircled on every side by fortifications of mountains, unmanned weapons, water, fire, and wind, and by dreadful, sturdy barriers of mura-pāśa cables.

Verse 3

श्रीशुक उवाच इन्द्रेण हृतछत्रेण हृतकुण्डलबन्धुना । हृतामराद्रिस्थानेन ज्ञापितो भौमचेष्टितम् । सभार्यो गरुडारूढ: प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं ययौ ॥ २ ॥ गिरिदुर्गै: शस्‍त्रदुर्गैर्जलाग्‍न्यनिलदुर्गमम् । मुरपाशायुतैर्घोरैर्द‍ृढै: सर्वत आवृतम् ॥ ३ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva said: Indra informed the Lord that Bhauma had seized the umbrella, the earrings, and other treasures, and had also plundered the devas’ playground on Mandara’s summit. Then the Lord, with Satyabhāmā, mounted Garuḍa and went to Prāgyotiṣa-pura, surrounded on all sides by mountain fortresses, weapon fortresses, fortresses of water, fire, and wind, and by dreadful, sturdy mura-pāśa cables.

Verse 4

गदया निर्बिभेदाद्रीन् शस्‍त्रदुर्गाणि सायकै: । चक्रेणाग्निं जलं वायुं मुरपाशांस्तथासिना ॥ ४ ॥

With His club the Lord smashed the rocky mountain fortifications; with His arrows He pierced the weapon fortifications; with His disc He cut through the fire, water, and wind defenses; and with His sword He severed the mura-pāśa cables, clearing the way.

Verse 5

शङ्खनादेन यन्त्राणि हृदयानि मनस्विनाम् । प्राकारं गदया गुर्व्या निर्बिभेद गदाधर: ॥ ५ ॥

With the blast of His conchshell, Lord Gadādhara shattered the fortress’s magical seals and shook the hearts of its valiant defenders. Then, with His heavy club, He demolished the surrounding ramparts and walls.

Verse 6

पाञ्चजन्यध्वनिं श्रुत्वा युगान्तशनिभीषणम् । मुर: शयान उत्तस्थौ दैत्य: पञ्चशिरा जलात् ॥ ६ ॥

Hearing the vibration of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Pāñcajanya conchshell—terrifying like thunder at the end of the age—the five-headed demon Mura, who slept at the bottom of the city’s moat, awoke and rose up from the water.

Verse 7

त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य सुदुर्निरीक्षणो युगान्तसूर्यानलरोचिरुल्बण: । ग्रसंस्‍त्रिलोकीमिव पञ्चभिर्मुखै- रभ्यद्रवत्तार्क्ष्यसुतं यथोरग: ॥ ७ ॥

Shining with the blinding, terrible effulgence of the sun’s fire at the end of a millennium, Mura seemed to be swallowing up the three worlds with his five mouths. He lifted up his trident and fell upon Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya, like an attacking snake.

Verse 8

आविध्य शूलं तरसा गरुत्मते निरस्य वक्त्रैर्व्यनदत्स पञ्चभि: । स रोदसी सर्वदिशोऽम्बरं महा- नापूरयन्नण्डकटाहमावृणोत् ॥ ८ ॥

Mura whirled his trident and then hurled it fiercely at Garuḍa, roaring from all five mouths. The sound filled the earth and sky, all directions and the limits of outer space, until it reverberated against the very shell of the universe.

Verse 9

तदापतद् वै त्रिशिखं गरुत्मते हरि: शराभ्यामभिनत्‍त्रिधोजसा । मुखेषु तं चापि शरैरताडयत् तस्मै गदां सोऽपि रुषा व्यमुञ्चत ॥ ९ ॥

Then with two arrows Lord Hari struck the trident flying toward Garuḍa and broke it into three pieces. Next the Lord hit Mura’s faces with several arrows, and the demon angrily hurled his club at the Lord.

Verse 10

तामापतन्तीं गदया गदां मृधे गदाग्रजो निर्बिभिदे सहस्रधा । उद्यम्य बाहूनभिधावतोऽजित: शिरांसि चक्रेण जहार लीलया ॥ १० ॥

As Mura’s club sped toward Him on the battlefield, Lord Gadāgraja intercepted it with His own and broke it into thousands of pieces. Mura then raised his arms high and rushed at the unconquerable Lord, who easily sliced off his heads with His disc weapon.

Verse 11

व्यसु: पपाताम्भसि कृत्तशीर्षो निकृत्तश‍ृङ्गोऽद्रिरिवेन्द्रतेजसा । तस्यात्मजा: सप्त पितुर्वधातुरा: प्रतिक्रियामर्षजुष: समुद्यता: ॥ ११ ॥

Lifeless, Mura’s decapitated body fell into the water like a mountain whose peak has been severed by the power of Lord Indra’s thunderbolt. The demon’s seven sons, enraged by their father’s death, prepared to retaliate.

Verse 12

ताम्रोऽन्तरिक्ष: श्रवणो विभावसु- र्वसुर्नभस्वानरुणश्च सप्तम: । पीठं पुरस्कृत्य चमूपतिं मृधे भौमप्रयुक्ता निरगन् धृतायुधा: ॥ १२ ॥

Ordered by Bhaumasura, Mura’s seven sons — Tamra, Antariksa, Sravana, Vibhavasu, Vasu, Nabhasvan and Aruna — followed their general, Pitha, onto the battlefield bearing their weapons.

Verse 13

प्रायुञ्जतासाद्य शरानसीन् गदा: शक्त्यृष्टिशूलान्यजिते रुषोल्बणा: । तच्छस्‍त्रकूटं भगवान् स्वमार्गणै- रमोघवीर्यस्तिलशश्चकर्त ह ॥ १३ ॥

These fierce warriors furiously attacked invincible Lord Krishna with arrows, swords, clubs, spears, lances and tridents, but the Supreme Lord, with unfailing prowess, cut this mountain of weapons into tiny pieces with His arrows.

Verse 14

तान् पीठमुख्याननयद् यमक्षयं निकृत्तशीर्षोरुभुजाङ्‍‍घ्रिवर्मण: । स्वानीकपानच्युतचक्रसायकै- स्तथा निरस्तान् नरको धरासुत: । निरीक्ष्य दुर्मर्षण आस्रवन्मदै- र्गजै: पयोधिप्रभवैर्निराक्रमात् ॥ १४ ॥

The Lord severed the heads, thighs, arms, legs and armor of these opponents led by Pitha and sent them all to the abode of Yamaraja. Narakasura, the son of the earth, could not contain his fury when he saw the fate of his military leaders. Thus he went out of the citadel with elephants born from the Milk Ocean who were exuding mada from their foreheads out of excitement.

Verse 15

द‍ृष्ट्वा सभार्यं गरुडोपरि स्थितं सूर्योपरिष्टात् सतडिद् घनं यथा । कृष्णं स तस्मै व्यसृजच्छतघ्नीं योधाश्च सर्वे युगपच्च विव्यधु: ॥ १५ ॥

Lord Krishna and His wife, mounted upon Garuda, looked like a cloud with lightning sitting above the sun. Seeing the Lord, Bhauma released his Sataghni weapon at Him, whereupon all of Bhauma’s soldiers simultaneously attacked with their weapons.

Verse 16

तद् भौमसैन्यं भगवान् गदाग्रजो विचित्रवाजैर्निशितै: शिलीमुखै: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोध्रविग्रहं चकार तर्ह्येव हताश्वकुञ्जरम् ॥ १६ ॥

At that moment Lord Gadagraja shot His sharp arrows at Bhaumasura’s army. These arrows, displaying variegated feathers, soon reduced that army to a mass of bodies with severed arms, thighs and necks. The Lord similarly killed the opposing horses and elephants.

Verse 17

यानि योधै: प्रयुक्तानि शस्‍त्रास्‍त्राणि कुरूद्वह । हरिस्तान्यच्छिनत्तीक्ष्णै: शरैरेकैकशस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ उह्यमान: सुपर्णेन पक्षाभ्यां निघ्नता गजान् । गुरुत्मता हन्यमानास्तुण्डपक्षनखेर्गजा: ॥ १८ ॥ पुरमेवाविशन्नार्ता नरको युध्ययुध्यत ॥ १९ ॥

O hero of the Kurus, all the weapons and missiles hurled by the enemy warriors Lord Hari cut down with sharp arrows, destroying each one with three shafts.

Verse 18

यानि योधै: प्रयुक्तानि शस्‍त्रास्‍त्राणि कुरूद्वह । हरिस्तान्यच्छिनत्तीक्ष्णै: शरैरेकैकशस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ उह्यमान: सुपर्णेन पक्षाभ्यां निघ्नता गजान् । गुरुत्मता हन्यमानास्तुण्डपक्षनखेर्गजा: ॥ १८ ॥ पुरमेवाविशन्नार्ता नरको युध्ययुध्यत ॥ १९ ॥

As Suparṇa Garuḍa bore the Lord, the mighty Garutmān struck the enemy elephants with his wings; beaten by his beak, wings, and talons, they fled in terror back into the city.

Verse 19

यानि योधै: प्रयुक्तानि शस्‍त्रास्‍त्राणि कुरूद्वह । हरिस्तान्यच्छिनत्तीक्ष्णै: शरैरेकैकशस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ उह्यमान: सुपर्णेन पक्षाभ्यां निघ्नता गजान् । गुरुत्मता हन्यमानास्तुण्डपक्षनखेर्गजा: ॥ १८ ॥ पुरमेवाविशन्नार्ता नरको युध्ययुध्यत ॥ १९ ॥

When the elephants fled back into the city, Narakāsura was left alone on the battlefield, still fighting against Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 20

द‍ृष्ट्वा विद्रावितं सैन्यं गरुडेनार्दितं स्वकं । तं भौम: प्राहरच्छक्त्या वज्र: प्रतिहतो यत: । नाकम्पत तया विद्धो मालाहत इव द्विप: ॥ २० ॥

Seeing his army driven back and harassed by Garuḍa, Bhauma struck with a spear that had once checked Indra’s vajra; yet though hit, Garuḍa did not tremble, like an elephant touched by a garland of flowers.

Verse 21

शूलं भौमोऽच्युतं हन्तुमाददे वितथोद्यम: । तद्विसर्गात् पूर्वमेव नरकस्य शिरो हरि: । अपाहरद् गजस्थस्य चक्रेण क्षुरनेमिना ॥ २१ ॥

Bhauma (Naraka) raised his trident to slay Acyuta, but before he could cast it, Lord Hari severed the demon’s head as he sat upon his elephant, with His razor-edged cakra.

Verse 22

सकुण्डलं चारुकिरीटभूषणं बभौ पृथिव्यां पतितं समुज्ज्वलम् । हा हेति साध्वित्यृषय: सुरेश्वरा माल्यैर्मुकुन्दं विकिरन्त ईडिरे ॥ २२ ॥

Bhaumāsura’s head, fallen upon the earth, shone brilliantly, adorned with earrings and a charming helmet. As cries of “Alas!” and “Well done!” arose, the sages and the foremost demigods worshiped Lord Mukunda by showering Him with flower garlands.

Verse 23

ततश्च भू: कृष्णमुपेत्य कुण्डले प्रतप्तजाम्बूनदरत्नभास्वरे । सवैजयन्त्या वनमालयार्पयत् प्राचेतसं छत्रमथो महामणिम् ॥ २३ ॥

Then the goddess Earth approached Lord Kṛṣṇa and offered Him Aditi’s earrings, fashioned of glowing Jāmbūnada gold and set with shining jewels. She also presented Him with a Vaijayantī garland, Varuṇa’s umbrella, and the great gem—the peak of Mandara Mountain.

Verse 24

अस्तौषीदथ विश्वेशं देवी देववरार्चितम् । प्राञ्जलि: प्रणता राजन् भक्तिप्रवणया धिया ॥ २४ ॥

O King, the goddess then began to praise the Lord of the universe, worshiped by the best of the demigods. Having bowed down and then standing with joined palms, her mind softened by devotion, she offered her hymns.

Verse 25

भूमिरुवाच नमस्ते देवदेवेश शङ्खचक्रगदाधर । भक्तेच्छोपात्तरूपाय परमात्मन् नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ २५ ॥

Goddess Bhūmi said: “Obeisances to You, O Lord of the lords of the demigods, bearer of conchshell, disc, and club. O Paramātmā within the heart, You assume many forms to fulfill the desires of Your devotees; again and again I bow to You.”

Verse 26

नम: पङ्कजनाभाय नम: पङ्कजमालिने । नम: पङ्कजनेत्राय नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्‍‍घ्रये ॥ २६ ॥

Obeisances to You, O Padmanābha, whose navel is like a lotus; obeisances to You, adorned with lotus garlands. Obeisances to You, lotus-eyed Lord; obeisances to You, whose feet are like lotuses.

Verse 27

नमो भगवते तुभ्यं वासुदेवाय विष्णवे । पुरुषायादिबीजाय पूर्णबोधाय ते नम: ॥ २७ ॥

Obeisances unto You, the Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu—primeval Person and original seed. O all-knowing One of perfect awakening, I bow to You.

Verse 28

अजाय जनयित्रेऽस्य ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये । परावरात्मन् भूतात्मन् परमात्मन् नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ २८ ॥

Obeisances unto You, the unborn progenitor of this universe, Brahman of limitless energies. O Soul of the high and the low, Soul of all beings, all-pervading Paramātmā—obeisances unto You.

Verse 29

त्वं वै सिसृक्षुरज उत्कटं प्रभो तमो निरोधाय बिभर्ष्यसंवृत: । स्थानाय सत्त्वं जगतो जगत्पते काल: प्रधानं पुरुषो भवान् पर: ॥ २९ ॥

O unborn Lord, desiring creation You make passion (rajas) surge; for dissolution You manifest ignorance (tamas); for maintenance You manifest goodness (sattva). Yet You remain untouched by the modes. O Master of the universe, You are time, the pradhāna, and the puruṣa, and still You stand distinct and transcendent.

Verse 30

अहं पयो ज्योतिरथानिलो नभो मात्राणि देवा मन इन्द्रियाणि । कर्ता महानित्यखिलं चराचरं त्वय्यद्वितीये भगवन्नयं भ्रम: ॥ ३० ॥

O Bhagavān, it is illusion to think that earth, water, fire, air, ether, the sense objects, the devas, mind, the senses, false ego, and the mahat-tattva exist apart from You. You are one without a second; all moving and unmoving beings rest within You.

Verse 31

तस्यात्मजोऽयं तव पादपङ्कजं भीत: प्रपन्नार्तिहरोपसादित: । तत् पालयैनं कुरु हस्तपङ्कजं शिरस्यमुष्याखिलकल्मषापहम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Here is the son of Bhaumāsura. Frightened, he has come to take shelter at Your lotus feet, for You remove the distress of all who surrender to You. Please protect him, and place Your lotus hand—destroyer of all sins—upon his head.

Verse 32

श्रीशुक उवाच इति भूम्यर्थितो वाग्भिर्भगवान् भक्तिनम्रया । दत्त्वाभयं भौमगृहं प्राविशत् सकलर्द्धिमत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus entreated by Goddess Bhūmi with humble words of devotion, the Supreme Lord granted fearlessness to her grandson and then entered Bhaumāsura’s palace, filled with every kind of wealth.

Verse 33

तत्र राजन्यकन्यानां षट्‍सहस्राधिकायुतम् । भौमाहृतानां विक्रम्य राजभ्यो दद‍ृशे हरि: ॥ ३३ ॥

There Lord Hari saw sixteen thousand royal maidens, whom Bhauma had seized by force from various kings.

Verse 34

तं प्रविष्टं स्‍त्रियो वीक्ष्य नरवर्यं विमोहिता: । मनसा वव्रिरेऽभीष्टं पतिं दैवोपसादितम् ॥ ३४ ॥

When the women saw that most excellent of men enter, they were enchanted. In their minds each accepted Him—brought there by destiny—as her chosen husband.

Verse 35

भूयात् पतिरयं मह्यं धाता तदनुमोदताम् । इति सर्वा: पृथक् कृष्णे भावेन हृदयं दधु: ॥ ३५ ॥

Thinking, “May providence approve that this man become my husband,” each princess, in her own heart, fixed her loving contemplation upon Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 36

ता: प्राहिणोद्‍द्वारवतीं सुमृष्टविरजोऽम्बरा: । नरयानैर्महाकोशान् रथाश्वान् द्रविणं महत् ॥ ३६ ॥

The Lord dressed the princesses in clean, spotless garments and sent them to Dvārakā in palanquins, along with great treasures—chariots, horses, and abundant wealth.

Verse 37

ऐरावतकुलेभांश्च चतुर्दन्तांस्तरस्विन: । पाण्डुरांश्च चतु:षष्टिं प्रेरयामास केशव: ॥ ३७ ॥

Keshava also dispatched sixty-four swift white elephants, descendants of Airāvata, each bearing four tusks.

Verse 38

गत्वा सुरेन्द्रभवनं दत्त्वादित्यै च कुण्डले । पूजितस्‍त्रिदशेन्द्रेण महेन्द्रय‍ाण्या च सप्रिय: ॥ ३८ ॥ चोदितो भार्ययोत्पाट्य पारिजातं गरुत्मति । आरोप्य सेन्द्रान् विबुधान् निर्जित्योपानयत्पुरम् ॥ ३९ ॥

The Lord Acyuta went to Indra’s abode and returned the earrings to mother Aditi; there Indra and his queen worshiped Kṛṣṇa together with His beloved Satyabhāmā.

Verse 39

गत्वा सुरेन्द्रभवनं दत्त्वादित्यै च कुण्डले । पूजितस्‍त्रिदशेन्द्रेण महेन्द्रय‍ाण्या च सप्रिय: ॥ ३८ ॥ चोदितो भार्ययोत्पाट्य पारिजातं गरुत्मति । आरोप्य सेन्द्रान् विबुधान् निर्जित्योपानयत्पुरम् ॥ ३९ ॥

At Satyabhāmā’s behest, the Lord uprooted the heavenly pārijāta tree and set it upon Garuḍa’s back; after defeating Indra and the other devas, Kṛṣṇa brought it to His capital.

Verse 40

स्थापित: सत्यभामाया गृहोद्यानोपशोभन: । अन्वगुर्भ्रमरा: स्वर्गात् तद्गन्धासवलम्पटा: ॥ ४० ॥

Once planted, the pārijāta tree beautified Queen Satyabhāmā’s palace garden, and bees—greedy for its fragrance and sweet sap—followed it even from heaven.

Verse 41

ययाच आनम्य किरीटकोटिभि: पादौ स्पृशन्नच्युतमर्थसाधनम् । सिद्धार्थ एतेन विगृह्यते महा- नहो सुराणां च तमो धिगाढ्यताम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Even after bowing to Lord Acyuta, touching His feet with the tips of his crown and begging fulfillment, Indra—his aim achieved—still chose to fight the Supreme Lord. Alas, what darkness of ignorance among the gods! To hell with their opulence!

Verse 42

अथो मुहूर्त एकस्मिन् नानागारेषु ता: स्‍त्रिय: । यथोपयेमे भगवान् तावद् रूपधरोऽव्यय: ॥ ४२ ॥

Then the imperishable Bhagavān, assuming a distinct form for each bride, duly married all the princesses at once, each within her own palace.

Verse 43

गृहेषु तासामनपाय्यतर्ककृ- न्निरस्तसाम्यातिशयेष्ववस्थित: । रेमे रमाभिर्निजकामसम्प्लुतो यथेतरो गार्हकमेधिकांश्चरन् ॥ ४३ ॥

The Lord, performer of the inconceivable, constantly remained in each of His queens’ palaces—residences without equal or superior. Though fully satisfied within Himself, He delighted with His beloved wives and, like an ordinary husband, carried out household duties.

Verse 44

इत्थं रमापतिमवाप्य पतिं स्‍त्रियस्ता ब्रह्मादयोऽपि न विदु: पदवीं यदीयाम् । भेजुर्मुदाविरतमेधितयानुराग- हासावलोकनवसङ्गमजल्पलज्जा: ॥ ४४ ॥

Thus those women obtained as their husband the Lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī), whom even Brahmā and other great devas do not know how to approach. With ever-increasing joy their love for Him grew, and they exchanged smiling glances and ever-fresh intimacy, filled with playful words and feminine shyness.

Verse 45

प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच- ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: । केशप्रसारशयनस्‍नपनोपहार्यै- र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Although each of the Lord’s queens had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to serve Him personally—humbly going to meet Him, offering a seat, worshiping with excellent paraphernalia, washing and massaging His feet, giving Him pān, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood, adorning Him with flower garlands, arranging His hair and bed, bathing Him, and presenting various gifts.