Adhyaya 76

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच अथान्यदपि कृष्णस्य श‍ृणु कर्माद्भ‍ुतं नृप । क्रीडानरशरीरस्य यथा सौभपतिर्हत: ॥ १ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, now hear another wondrous deed of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who appeared in a humanlike form to relish His transcendental līlās. Hear how He slew the lord of Saubha.

Verse 2

शिशुपालसख: शाल्वो रुक्‍मिण्युद्वाह आगत: । यदुभिर्निर्जित: सङ्ख्ये जरासन्धादयस्तथा ॥ २ ॥

Śālva, a friend of Śiśupāla, came to Rukmiṇī’s wedding; there in battle the Yadu heroes defeated him, along with Jarāsandha and the other kings.

Verse 3

शाल्व: प्रतिज्ञामकरोच्छृण्वतां सर्वभूभुजाम् । अयादवां क्ष्मां करिष्ये पौरुषं मम पश्यत ॥ ३ ॥

Hearing all the kings, Śālva made a vow: “I shall rid the earth of the Yādavas—behold my prowess!”

Verse 4

इति मूढ: प्रतिज्ञाय देवं पशुपतिं प्रभुम् । आराधयामास नृप: पांशुमुष्टिं सकृद्ग्रसन् ॥ ४ ॥

Thus vowing, the foolish king began to worship Lord Paśupati (Śiva) as his chosen deity, swallowing each day only a handful of dust and nothing else.

Verse 5

संवत्सरान्ते भगवानाशुतोष उमापति: । वरेणच्छन्दयामास शाल्वं शरणमागतम् ॥ ५ ॥

At the end of a year, Bhagavān Umāpati—renowned as Āśutoṣa, “quickly pleased”—granted sheltering Śālva his favor by offering him a choice of boons.

Verse 6

देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । अभेद्यं कामगं वव्रे स यानं वृष्णिभीषणम् ॥ ६ ॥

Śālva chose a vehicle that could not be destroyed by gods, demons, humans, Gandharvas, Uragas, or Rākṣasas; that could go wherever he wished; and that would strike terror into the Vṛṣṇis.

Verse 7

तथेति गिरिशादिष्टो मय: परपुरंजय: । पुरं निर्माय शाल्वाय प्रादात्सौभमयस्मयम् ॥ ७ ॥

Lord Śiva said, “So be it.” By his command, Maya Dānava built the iron flying city called Saubha and presented it to Śālva.

Verse 8

स लब्ध्वा कामगं यानं तमोधाम दुरासदम् । ययौ द्वारवतीं शाल्वो वैरं वृष्णिकृतं स्मरन् ॥ ८ ॥

Having obtained that unassailable craft—able to go anywhere and filled with darkness—Śālva set out for Dvārakā, remembering his enmity with the Vṛṣṇis.

Verse 9

निरुध्य सेनया शाल्वो महत्या भरतर्षभ । पुरीं बभञ्जोपवनानुद्यानानि च सर्वश: ॥ ९ ॥ सगोपुराणि द्वाराणि प्रासादाट्टालतोलिका: । विहारान् स विमानाग्र्‍यान्निपेतु: शस्‍त्रवृष्टय: ॥ १० ॥ शिला द्रुमाश्चाशनय: सर्पा आसारशर्करा: । प्रचण्डश्चक्रवातोऽभूद् रजसाच्छादिता दिश: ॥ ११ ॥

O best of the Bharatas, Śālva besieged the city with a vast army and ravaged the outlying groves and gardens on every side. Gateways and doors, palaces with their watchtowers, lofty walls and places of recreation were shattered; from his finest airship he poured down a rain of weapons—stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts like vajras, serpents, and hail. A fierce whirlwind arose, and dust veiled all directions.

Verse 10

निरुध्य सेनया शाल्वो महत्या भरतर्षभ । पुरीं बभञ्जोपवनानुद्यानानि च सर्वश: ॥ ९ ॥ सगोपुराणि द्वाराणि प्रासादाट्टालतोलिका: । विहारान् स विमानाग्र्‍यान्निपेतु: शस्‍त्रवृष्टय: ॥ १० ॥ शिला द्रुमाश्चाशनय: सर्पा आसारशर्करा: । प्रचण्डश्चक्रवातोऽभूद् रजसाच्छादिता दिश: ॥ ११ ॥

O best of the Bharatas, Śālva besieged the city with a vast army and devastated the groves and gardens all around. Gateways and doors, palaces with their watchtowers, lofty structures and places of recreation were smashed; from his finest airship he rained down weapons—stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts like vajras, serpents, and hail. A fierce whirlwind arose, and dust covered every direction.

Verse 11

निरुध्य सेनया शाल्वो महत्या भरतर्षभ । पुरीं बभञ्जोपवनानुद्यानानि च सर्वश: ॥ ९ ॥ सगोपुराणि द्वाराणि प्रासादाट्टालतोलिका: । विहारान् स विमानाग्र्‍यान्निपेतु: शस्‍त्रवृष्टय: ॥ १० ॥ शिला द्रुमाश्चाशनय: सर्पा आसारशर्करा: । प्रचण्डश्चक्रवातोऽभूद् रजसाच्छादिता दिश: ॥ ११ ॥

O best of the Bharatas, Śālva surrounded the city with a mighty army and crushed the groves and gardens on every side. Towered gates and doors, palaces with their watchtowers, lofty buildings and places of recreation collapsed; from his airship he sent down a rain of weapons—stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts like vajras, serpents, and hail. Then a fierce whirlwind rose, and dust shrouded all directions.

Verse 12

इत्यर्द्यमाना सौभेन कृष्णस्य नगरी भृशम् । नाभ्यपद्यत शं राजंस्‍त्रिपुरेण यथा मही ॥ १२ ॥

Thus, grievously tormented by the Saubha airship, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s city, O King, found no peace—like the earth when assailed by the three aerial cities of Tripura.

Verse 13

प्रद्युम्नो भगवान् वीक्ष्य बाध्यमाना निजा: प्रजा: । मा भैष्टेत्यभ्यधाद् वीरो रथारूढो महायशा: ॥ १३ ॥

Seeing His own people harassed, the glorious hero Lord Pradyumna mounted His chariot and declared, “Do not fear.”

Verse 14

सात्यकिश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बोऽक्रूर: सहानुज: । हार्दिक्यो भानुविन्दश्च गदश्च शुकसारणौ ॥ १४ ॥ अपरे च महेष्वासा रथयूथपयूथपा: । निर्ययुर्दंशिता गुप्ता रथेभाश्वपदातिभि: ॥ १५ ॥

The chief commanders of the chariot warriors—Sātyaki, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, Akrūra with his younger brothers, along with Hārdikya, Bhānuvinda, Gada, Śuka and Sāraṇa—together with many other mighty bowmen, leaders of chariot squadrons, all armored, marched out of the city under the protection of troops on chariots, elephants, horses, and companies of infantry.

Verse 15

सात्यकिश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बोऽक्रूर: सहानुज: । हार्दिक्यो भानुविन्दश्च गदश्च शुकसारणौ ॥ १४ ॥ अपरे च महेष्वासा रथयूथपयूथपा: । निर्ययुर्दंशिता गुप्ता रथेभाश्वपदातिभि: ॥ १५ ॥

The chief commanders of the chariot warriors—Sātyaki, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, Akrūra with his younger brothers, along with Hārdikya, Bhānuvinda, Gada, Śuka and Sāraṇa—together with many other mighty bowmen, leaders of chariot squadrons, all armored, marched out of the city under the protection of troops on chariots, elephants, horses, and companies of infantry.

Verse 16

तत: प्रववृते युद्धं शाल्वानां यदुभि: सह । यथासुराणां विबुधैस्तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥ १६ ॥

Then a tumultuous, hair-raising battle erupted between Śālva’s forces and the Yadus, rivaling the great wars between the asuras and the devas.

Verse 17

ताश्च सौभपतेर्माया दिव्यास्‍त्रै रुक्‍मिणीसुत: । क्षणेन नाशयामास नैशं तम इवोष्णगु: ॥ १७ ॥

Pradyumna, the son of Rukmiṇī, with his divine weapons instantly destroyed all of Śālva’s magical illusions, just as the sun’s warm rays dispel the darkness of night.

Verse 18

विव्याध पञ्चविंशत्या स्वर्णपुङ्खैरयोमुखै: । शाल्वस्य ध्वजिनीपालं शरै: सन्नतपर्वभि: ॥ १८ ॥ शतेनाताडयच्छाल्वमेकैकेनास्य सैनिकान् । दशभिर्दशभिर्नेतृन् वाहनानि त्रिभिस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १९ ॥

Pradyumna’s arrows had golden shafts, iron heads and perfectly smooth joints. With twenty-five he struck down Śālva’s commander-in-chief, and with one hundred he struck Śālva himself. Then he pierced the soldiers with one arrow each, the officers with ten each, and the horses and other carriers with three each.

Verse 19

विव्याध पञ्चविंशत्या स्वर्णपुङ्खैरयोमुखै: । शाल्वस्य ध्वजिनीपालं शरै: सन्नतपर्वभि: ॥ १८ ॥ शतेनाताडयच्छाल्वमेकैकेनास्य सैनिकान् । दशभिर्दशभिर्नेतृन् वाहनानि त्रिभिस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ १९ ॥

Pradyumna’s arrows had golden shafts, iron heads and perfectly smooth joints. With twenty-five he struck down Śālva’s commander-in-chief, and with one hundred he struck Śālva himself. Then he pierced the soldiers with one arrow each, the officers with ten each, and the horses and other carriers with three each.

Verse 20

तदद्भुचतं महत् कर्म प्रद्युम्नस्य महात्मन: । द‍ृष्ट्वा तं पूजयामासु: सर्वे स्वपरसैनिका: ॥ २० ॥

Seeing that astonishing and mighty feat performed by the great-souled Pradyumna, all the soldiers on both sides praised and honored him.

Verse 21

बहुरूपैकरूपं तद् द‍ृश्यते न च द‍ृश्यते । मायामयं मयकृतं दुर्विभाव्यं परैरभूत् ॥ २१ ॥

The magic airship built by Maya Dānava would at one moment, though a single craft, appear in many identical forms, and at the next be only one again; sometimes it was visible and sometimes not. Thus Śālva’s opponents could never be certain where it was.

Verse 22

क्व‍‍चिद्भ‍ूमौ क्व‍‍चिद् व्योम्नि गिरिमूर्ध्‍नि जले क्व‍‍चित् । अलातचक्रवद् भ्राम्यत् सौभं तद् दुरवस्थितम् ॥ २२ ॥

From moment to moment the Saubha airship appeared now on the earth, now in the sky, now upon a mountain peak, and now within the waters. Like a flaming brand whirled in a circle, it never stayed in one place.

Verse 23

यत्र यत्रोपलक्ष्येत ससौभ: सहसैनिक: । शाल्वस्ततस्ततोऽमुञ्चञ् छरान् सात्वतयूथपा: ॥ २३ ॥

Wherever Śālva appeared with his Saubha craft and his soldiers, there the Sātvata—Yadu commanders—would release volleys of arrows at him.

Verse 24

शरैरग्‍न्यर्कसंस्पर्शैराशीविषदुरासदै: । पीड्यमानपुरानीक: शाल्वोऽमुह्यत्परेरितै: ॥ २४ ॥

Harassed by the enemy’s arrows—searing like fire and the sun, and intolerable as serpent venom—Śālva saw his army and aerial city in distress and became bewildered.

Verse 25

शाल्वानीकपशस्‍त्रौघैर्वृष्णिवीरा भृशार्दिता: । न तत्यजू रणं स्वं स्वं लोकद्वयजिगीषव: ॥ २५ ॥

Though sorely tormented by the torrents of weapons hurled by Śālva’s commanders, the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan did not abandon their appointed stations in battle, yearning for victory in this world and the next.

Verse 26

शाल्वामात्यो द्युमान्नाम प्रद्युम्नं प्राक्प्रपीडित: । आसाद्य गदया मौर्व्या व्याहत्य व्यनदद् बली ॥ २६ ॥

Dyumān, Śālva’s minister—previously wounded by Śrī Pradyumna—now rushed up to Him and, roaring loudly, struck Him with his club of black iron.

Verse 27

प्रद्युम्नं गदया शीर्णवक्ष:स्थलमरिंदमम् । अपोवाह रणात्सूतो धर्मविद् दारुकात्मज: ॥ २७ ॥

Thinking that the club had shattered the chest of the valiant Pradyumna, his charioteer—the dharma-knowing son of Dāruka—carried him away from the battlefield.

Verse 28

लब्धसंज्ञो मुहूर्तेन कार्ष्णि: सारथिमब्रवीत् । अहो असाध्विदं सूत यद् रणान्मेऽपसर्पणम् ॥ २८ ॥

Regaining consciousness in a moment, Pradyumna, Kṛṣṇa’s son, said to his charioteer, “O driver, this is disgraceful—that I have been taken away from the battlefield!”

Verse 29

न यदूनां कुले जात: श्रूयते रणविच्युत: । विना मत्क्लीबचित्तेन सूतेन प्राप्तकिल्बिषात् ॥ २९ ॥

Except for me, it has never been heard that anyone born in the Yadu dynasty abandoned the battlefield. Now my fame has been stained by a sinful driver with a coward’s heart.

Verse 30

किं नु वक्ष्येऽभिसङ्गम्य पितरौ रामकेशवौ । युद्धात्सम्यगपक्रान्त: पृष्टस्तत्रात्मन: क्षमम् ॥ ३० ॥

What will I say when I return and meet my fathers, Rāma and Keśava, after simply fleeing the battle? If questioned there, what reply could befit my honor?

Verse 31

व्यक्तं मे कथयिष्यन्ति हसन्त्यो भ्रातृजामय: । क्लैब्यं कथं कथं वीर तवान्यै: कथ्यतां मृधे ॥ ३१ ॥

Surely my sisters-in-law will laugh at me and say, “O hero, tell us—how did your enemies make you such a coward in battle?”

Verse 32

सारथिरुवाच धर्मं विजानतायुष्मन् कृतमेतन्मया विभो । सूत: कृच्छ्रगतं रक्षेद् रथिनं सारथिं रथी ॥ ३२ ॥

The charioteer replied: “O long-lived one, I did this with full knowledge of my dharma, O Lord. A driver must protect the warrior on the chariot when he is in danger, and the warrior must also protect his driver.”

Verse 33

एतद्विदित्वा तु भवान्मयापोवाहितो रणात् । उपसृष्ट: परेणेति मूर्च्छितो गदया हत: ॥ ३३ ॥

Keeping this rule in mind, I carried You away from the battlefield, for You had been struck by the enemy’s club and had fallen unconscious, and I thought You were gravely hurt.