Adhyaya 48

Verse 1

स्कंद उवाच । शृणुष्व मैत्रावरुणे द्वारवत्यां यदूद्वहः । दानवानां वधार्थाय भुवोभारापनुत्तये

Skanda said: “Listen, O Maitrāvaruṇa: in Dvāravatī, the foremost of the Yadus—Kṛṣṇa—manifested to destroy the Dānavas and to remove the burden of the earth.”

Verse 2

आविरासीत्स्वयं कृष्णः कृष्णवर्त्मप्रतापवान् । वासुदेवो जगद्धाम देवक्या वसुदेवतः

Kṛṣṇa himself appeared—radiant with the glory of the Kṛṣṇa-path; Vāsudeva, the abode of the world—born of Devakī, from the line of Vasudeva.

Verse 3

साशीतिलक्षं तस्यासन्कुमारा अर्कवर्चसः । स्वर्गे पितादृशा बालाः सुशीला न हि कुंभज

Eighty lakṣas of sons were his, radiant like the sun. In heaven, O Kumbhaja, there were children like their father—indeed, noble and well-conducted.

Verse 4

अतीवरूपसंपन्ना अतीव सुमहाबलाः । अतीव शस्त्रशास्त्रज्ञा अतीव शुभलक्षणाः

They were exceedingly handsome, exceedingly mighty; exceedingly skilled in weapons and in the śāstras, and exceedingly marked with auspicious signs.

Verse 6

तांद्रष्टुं मानसः पुत्रो ब्रह्मणस्तपसांनिधिः । कृतवल्कलकौपीनो धृत कृष्णाजिनांबरः । गृहीतब्रह्मदंडश्च त्रिवृन्मौंजी सुमेखलः । उरस्थलस्थ तुलसी मालया समलंकृतः

To see her, Nārada—the mind-born son of Brahmā, a very treasury of tapas—set forth, wearing bark-garments and a loincloth, clad in a black antelope-skin; holding the brāhmaṇa’s staff, with a fine triple-stranded muñja-girdle, and adorned on his chest with a garland of tulasī.

Verse 7

गोपीचंदननिर्यास लसदंगविलेपनः । तपसा कृशसर्वांगो मूर्तो ज्वलनवज्ज्वलन्

His limbs shone with the paste of gopī-candana; his whole body, made lean by tapas, blazed forth like embodied fire.

Verse 8

आजगामांबरचरो नारदो द्वारकापुरीम् । विश्वकर्मविनिर्माणां जितस्वर्गपुरीश्रियम्

Nārada, moving through the sky, arrived at the city of Dvārakā—built by Viśvakarman—whose splendor surpassed even the beauty of the cities of heaven.

Verse 9

तंदृष्ट्वा नारदं सर्वे विनम्रतरकंधराः । प्रबद्ध मूर्धांजलयः प्रणेमुर्वृष्णिनंदनाः

Seeing Nārada, all the Vṛṣṇi princes bowed with necks bent low; with hands joined upon their heads, they offered reverent obeisance.

Verse 10

सांबः स्वरूपसौंदर्य गर्वसर्वस्वमोहितः । न ननाम मुनिं तत्र हसंस्तद्रूपसंपदम्

But Sāmba—deluded, his whole mind enthralled by pride in his own beauty—did not bow to the muni there; instead, he laughed at the sage’s form and condition.

Verse 11

सांबस्य तमभिप्रायं विज्ञाय स महामुनिः । विवेश सुमहारम्यं नारदः कृष्णमंदिरम्

Understanding Sāmba’s intention, the great muni Nārada entered Kṛṣṇa’s exceedingly beautiful palace-temple.

Verse 12

कृष्णोथ दृष्ट्वाऽगच्छंतं प्रत्युद्गम्य च नारदम् । मधुपर्केण संपूज्य स्वासने चोपवेशयत्

Then Kṛṣṇa, seeing Nārada approaching, went forward to welcome him; honoring him with madhuparka, he seated him upon his own seat.

Verse 13

कृत्वा कथा विचित्रार्थास्तत एकांतवर्तिनः । कृष्णस्य कर्णेऽकथयन्नारदः सांबचेष्टितम्

After conversing on various subtle matters, when they were in private, Nārada told Kṛṣṇa—into his ear—of Sāmba’s behavior.

Verse 14

अवश्यं किंचिदत्राऽस्ति यशोदानंदवर्धन । प्रायशस्तन्न घटतेऽसंभाव्यं नाथ वास्त्रियाम्

Surely there is something here, O increaser of Yaśodā’s joy. For such a thing generally does not occur, O Lord, nor is it likely in the case of a woman.

Verse 15

यूनां त्रिभुवनस्थानां सांबोऽतीव सुरूपवान् । स्वभावचंचलाक्षीणां चेतोवृत्तिः सुचंचला

Among the youths of the three worlds, Sāmba is exceedingly handsome; and for women whose eyes are naturally restless, the movements of the mind are indeed very fickle.

Verse 16

अपेक्षंते न मुग्धाक्ष्यः कुलं शीलं श्रुतं धनम् । रूपमेव समीक्षंते विषमेषु विमोहिताः

Infatuated maidens do not weigh lineage, character, learning, or wealth; when deluded in tangled passions, they look only at outward beauty.

Verse 18

वामभ्रुवां स्वभावाच्च नारदस्य च वाक्यतः । विज्ञाताऽखिलवृत्तांतस्तथ्यं कृष्णोप्यमन्यत

From the very nature of those fair-browed women, and from Nārada’s words, Kṛṣṇa understood the entire affair and accepted it as true.

Verse 19

तावद्धैर्यंचलाक्षीणां तावच्चेतोविवेकिता । यावन्नार्थी विविक्तस्थो विविक्तेर्थिनि नान्यथा

The steadiness of the fickle-eyed, and the mind’s power of discrimination, lasts only so long as the would-be seducer is not alone with the woman who seeks privacy—never otherwise.

Verse 20

इत्थं विवेचयंश्चित्ते कृष्णः क्रोधनदीरयम् । विवेकसेतुनाऽस्तभ्य नारदं प्राहिणोत्सुधीः

Thus reflecting within his mind, wise Kṛṣṇa checked the rushing river of anger by the bridge of discernment, and then dispatched Nārada.

Verse 21

सांबस्य वैकृतं किंचित्क्वचित्कृष्णोनवैक्षत । गते देवमुनौ तस्मिन्वीक्षमाणोप्यहर्निशम्

Though he watched day and night after that divine sage had departed, Kṛṣṇa noticed no abnormal change in Sāmba at any time.

Verse 22

कियत्यपि गते काले पुनरप्याययौ मुनिः । मध्ये लीलावतीनां च ज्ञात्वा कृष्णमवस्थितम्

After some time had passed, the sage came again; and knowing that Kṛṣṇa was staying amid the playful women, he arrived there.

Verse 23

बहिः क्रीडंतमाहूय सांबमित्याह नारदः । याहि कृष्णांतिकं तूर्णं कथयागमनं मम

Calling Sāmba, who was playing outside, Nārada said: “Go quickly to Kṛṣṇa and tell him of my arrival.”

Verse 24

सांबोपि यामि नोयामि क्षणमित्थमचिंतयत् । कथं रहःस्थ पितरं यामि स्त्रैणसखंप्रति

Sāmba too thought for a moment: “Shall I go, or shall I not go? How can I approach my father, who is in private, when he is with his companion in amorous sport?”

Verse 25

न यामि च कथं वाक्यादस्याहं ब्रह्मचारिणः । ज्वलदंगारसंकाश स्फुरत्सर्वांगतेजसः

“And if I do not go, how can I disregard the words of this brahmacārin—whose blazing energy shines from every limb like burning coals?”

Verse 26

प्रणमत्सुकुमारेषु व्रीडितोयं मयैकदा । इदानीमपि नो यायामस्य वाक्यान्महामुनेः

“Once he shamed me in the presence of the gentle and delicate as I bowed; even now I must not refuse to go at the word of that great sage.”

Verse 27

अत्याहितं तदस्तीह तदागोद्वयदर्शनात् । पितुः कोपोपि सुश्लाघ्यो मयि नो ब्राह्मणस्य तु

“There is grave danger in this matter—I know it from that sign, the sight of the pair of cows. Even my father’s anger would be bearable; but not the wrath of a brāhmaṇa toward me.”

Verse 28

ब्रह्मकोपाग्निनिर्दग्धाः प्ररोहंति न जातुचित् । अपराग्निविनिर्दग्धारो हंते दावदग्धवत्

“Those scorched by the fire of a brāhmaṇa’s anger never sprout again; but those burned by ordinary fire may grow back—like a forest that has been burned.”

Verse 29

इति ध्यात्वा क्षणं सांबोऽविशदंतःपुरंपितुः । मध्ये स्त्रैणसभंकृष्णं यावज्जांबवतीसुतः

Thinking thus for a moment, Sāmba—the son of Jāmbavatī—entered his father’s inner palace, where Kṛṣṇa was in the midst of the women’s assembly.

Verse 30

दूरात्प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तिं स चकार सशंकितः । तावत्तमन्वगच्छच्च नारदः कार्यसिद्धये

Bowing from a distance, he made his petition, though with apprehension. Just then Nārada also followed him, intent on bringing the matter to its conclusion.

Verse 31

ससंभ्रमोथ कृष्णोपि दृष्ट्वा सांबं च नारदम् । समुत्तस्थौ परिदधत्पीतकौशेयमंबरम्

Kṛṣṇa too, on seeing Sāmba and Nārada, rose at once with reverent eagerness, adjusting his yellow silken garment.

Verse 32

उत्थिते देवकीसूनौ ताः सर्वा अपि गोपिकाः । विलज्जिताः समुत्तस्धुर्गृह्णंत्यः स्वंस्वमंबरम्

When Devakī’s son rose, all those gopīs too stood up, embarrassed, each taking up her own garment.

Verse 33

महार्हशयनीये तं हस्ते धृत्वा महामुनिम् । समुपावेशयत्कृष्णः सांबश्च क्रीडितुं ययौ

Taking the great sage by the hand, Kṛṣṇa seated him upon a splendid couch; and Sāmba went away to play.

Verse 34

तासां स्खलितमालोक्य तिष्ठंतीनां पुरो मुनिः । कृष्णलीलाद्रवीभूतवरांगानां जगौ हरिम्

Seeing the women falter as they stood before him, the sage—before them—spoke to Hari (Kṛṣṇa), whose sportive līlā had stirred their hearts and softened their limbs.

Verse 35

पश्यपश्य महाबुद्धे दृष्ट्वा जांबवतीसुतम् । इमाः स्खलितमापन्नास्तद्रूपक्षुब्धचेतसः

“Look, look, O great-minded one! On seeing Jāmbavatī’s son, these women have begun to falter—their minds shaken by his beauty.”

Verse 36

कृष्णोपि सांबमाहूय सहसैवाशपत्सुतम् । सर्वा जांबवतीतुल्याः पश्यंतमपि दुर्विधेः

Kṛṣṇa too, summoning Sāmba, suddenly cursed his son: “Let all these women become like Jāmbavatī—even as they gaze upon you, O ill-fated one!”

Verse 37

यस्मात्त्वद्रूपमालोक्य गोपाल्यः स्खलिता इमाः । तस्मात्कुष्ठी भव क्षिप्रमकांडागमनेन च

“Because these cowherd maidens stumbled upon seeing your beauty, therefore become leprous at once—and let it come upon you suddenly, without delay.”

Verse 38

वेपमानो महाव्याधिभयात्सांबोपि दारुणात् । कृष्णं प्रसादयामास बहुशः पापशांतये

Trembling in terror of that dreadful, grievous disease, Sāmba repeatedly sought to propitiate Kṛṣṇa, longing for the pacification of his sin.

Verse 39

कृष्णोप्यनेन संजानन्सांबं स्वसुतमौरसम् । अब्रवीत्कुष्ठमोक्षाय व्रज वैश्वेश्वरीं पुरीम्

Kṛṣṇa too, recognizing by this that Sāmba was truly his own son, said: “For release from leprosy, go to the city of Viśveśvara—Vārāṇasī.”

Verse 40

तत्र ब्रध्नं समाराध्य प्रकृतिं स्वामवाप्स्यसि । महैनसां क्षयो यत्र नास्ति वाराणसीं विना

“There, by duly worshipping Bradhna, you will regain your own natural state. For the destruction of great sins is found nowhere—apart from Vārāṇasī.”

Verse 41

यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्र स्वर्गापगा च सा । येषां महैनसां दृष्टा मुनिभिर्नैव निष्कृतिः । तेषां विशुद्धिरस्त्येव प्राप्य वाराणसीं पुरीम्

Where Viśveśvara is present in person, and where that heavenly river flows—even those for whose great sins the sages have seen no expiation: for them too, purification surely arises upon reaching the city of Vārāṇasī.

Verse 42

न केवलं हि पापेभ्यो वाराणस्यां विमुच्यते । प्राकृतेभ्योपि पापेभ्यो मुच्यते शंकराज्ञया

In Vārāṇasī one is freed not only from sins; by Śaṅkara’s command one is released even from ordinary, inborn impurities and faults as well.

Verse 43

अथवा विदितं नो ते वल्लवीनां विचेष्टितम् । विनाष्टौनायिकाः कृष्ण कामयंतेऽबलाह्यमुम्

Or perhaps you do not know the ways of the cowherd women: when their beloved is absent, the lovesick heroines, O Kṛṣṇa, desire even what is unfit to be desired.

Verse 44

तत्रानंदवने शंभोस्तवशाप निराकृतिः । सांब तत्त्वेरितं याहि नान्यथा शापनिर्वृतिः

There, in Śambhu’s Ānandavana, your curse will be annulled. O Sāmba, go—this is the truth as declared; there is no other way for the curse to be brought to rest.

Verse 45

ततः कृष्णं समापृच्छ्य कर्मनिर्मुक्तचेष्टितः । नारदः कृतकृत्यः सन्ययावाकाशवर्त्मना

Then, having taken leave of Kṛṣṇa, Nārada—his purpose fulfilled and his actions unbound—departed by the path of the sky.

Verse 46

सांबो वाराणसीं प्राप्य समाराध्यांशुमालिनम् । कुंडं तत्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा निजां प्रकृतिमाप्तवान्

Sāmba, having reached Vārāṇasī and duly worshipped Aṃśumālin, then established a sacred pond behind it; and he regained his own natural condition—health and wholeness.

Verse 47

सांबादित्यस्तदारभ्य सर्वव्याधिहरो रविः । ददाति सर्वभक्तेभ्योऽनामयाः सर्वसंपदः

From that time onward, Sāmbāditya—the Sun—became the remover of all diseases, bestowing upon all his devotees freedom from illness and every kind of prosperity.

Verse 48

सांबकुंडे नरः स्नात्वा रविवारेऽरुणोदये । सांबादित्यं च संपूज्य व्याधिभिर्नाभिभूयते

A person who bathes in Sāmbakuṇḍa at dawn on a Sunday, and duly worships Sāmbāditya, is not overcome by diseases.

Verse 49

न स्त्री वैधव्यमाप्नोति सांबादित्यस्य सेवनात् । वंध्या पुत्रं प्रसूयेत शुद्धरूपसमन्वितम्

By devoted service to Sāmbāditya, a woman does not fall into widowhood; and a barren woman may give birth to a son endowed with a pure and auspicious form.

Verse 50

शुक्लायां द्विज सप्तम्यां माघे मासि रवेर्दिने । महापर्व समाख्यातं रविपर्व समं शुभम्

O brāhmaṇa, the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Māgha, when it falls on a Sunday, is proclaimed a great sacred observance—an auspicious Raviparva.

Verse 51

महारोगात्प्रमुच्येत तत्र स्नात्वारुणोदये । सांबादित्यं प्रपूज्यापि धर्ममक्षयमाप्नुयात्

By bathing there at dawn, one is released from grievous disease; and by worshipping Sāmbāditya, one attains imperishable merit of dharma.

Verse 52

सन्निहत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे यत्पुण्यं राहुदर्शने । तत्पुण्यं रविसप्तम्यां माघे काश्यां न संशयः

Whatever merit is gained at Sannihatyā in Kurukṣetra by beholding Rāhu, that same merit is obtained in Kāśī in Māgha on Ravi-saptamī—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 53

मधौमासि रवेर्वारे यात्रा सांवत्सरी भवेत् । अशोकैस्तत्र संपूज्य कुंडे स्नात्वा विधानतः

In the month of Madhu (spring), on a Sunday, the pilgrimage-observance becomes meritorious as though for a whole year; there one should worship with aśoka blossoms and bathe in the kuṇḍa according to rule.

Verse 54

सांबादित्यं नरो जातु न शोकैरभिभूयते । संवत्सरकृतात्पापाद्बहिर्भवति तत्क्षणात्

A person who turns to Sāmbāditya is never overwhelmed by sorrow; and the sins accumulated over a year depart at that very moment.

Verse 55

विश्वेशात्पश्चिमाशायां सांबेनात्र महात्मना । सम्यगाराधिता मूर्तिरादित्यस्य शुभप्रदा

To the west of Viśveśa, here the great-souled Sāmba duly propitiated a form of Āditya, bestower of auspiciousness.

Verse 56

इयं भविष्या तन्मूर्तिरगस्ते त्वत्पुरोऽकथि । तामभ्यर्च्य नमस्कृत्य कृत्वाष्टौ च प्रदक्षिणाः । नरो भवति निष्पापः काशीवास फलं लभेत्

O Agastya, it was proclaimed before you: “This very form shall endure in the future.” By worshipping it, bowing in reverence, and performing eight pradakṣiṇās, a person becomes free from sin and attains the full fruit of dwelling in Kāśī.

Verse 57

सांबादित्यस्य माहात्म्यं कथितं ते महामते । यच्छ्रुत्वापि नरो जातु यमलोकं न पश्यति

O great-minded one, I have narrated to you the greatness of Sāmbāditya. Having heard it, a person never at any time beholds the world of Yama, the realm of death.

Verse 58

इदानीं द्रौपदादित्यं कथयिष्यामि तेनघ । तथा द्रौपदआदित्यः संसेव्यो भक्तसिद्धिदः

Now, O sinless one, I shall describe Draupadāditya. Therefore Draupadāditya is to be diligently worshiped and served, for he bestows spiritual accomplishment upon devotees.