Adhyaya 12

Verse 1

धृते गोवर्धने शैले परित्राते च गोकुले रोचयाम् आस कृष्णस्य दर्शनं पाकशासनः

When Govardhana mountain had been held aloft and Gokula thereby preserved, Pākaśāsana (Indra), his pride subdued, resolved to seek the sight of Krishna, the Supreme Protector.

Verse 2

सो ऽधिरुह्य महानागम् ऐरावतम् अमित्रजित् गोवर्धनगिरौ कृष्णं ददर्श त्रिदशेश्वरः

Mounting the mighty elephant Airāvata, the invincible subduer of foes, Indra—the lord of the gods—came to Govardhana hill and beheld Krishna there.

Verse 3

चारयन्तं महावीर्यं गाश् च गोपवपुर्धरम् कृत्स्नस्य जगतो गोपं वृतं गोपकुमारकैः

They beheld the One of immeasurable valor tending the cows—clad in the form of a cowherd—He who is truly the Protector of the entire universe, surrounded on every side by the cowherd boys.

Verse 4

गरुडं च ददर्शोच्चैर् अन्तर्धानगतं द्विज कृतच्छायं हरेर् मूर्ध्नि पक्षाभ्यां पक्षिपुंगवम्

And he beheld Garuḍa, O twice-born one—lofty, the foremost of birds—who had become invisible, yet with his two wings cast a sheltering shade upon Hari’s head.

Verse 5

अवरुह्य स नागेन्द्राद् एकान्ते मधुसूदनम् शक्रः सस्मितम् आहेदं प्रीतिविस्तारितेक्षणः

Descending from Airāvata, lord of elephants, Śakra (Indra) drew near to Madhusūdana in a secluded place; with a gentle smile and eyes widened by joy and reverence, he spoke these words.

Verse 6

कृष्ण कृष्ण शृणुष्वेदं यदर्थम् अहम् आगतः त्वत्समीपं महाभाग नैतच् चिन्त्यं त्वयान्यथा

“O Krishna, O Krishna—listen to this: O greatly fortunate one, the purpose for which I have come into your presence—do not think of it in any other way; do not misconstrue it.”

Verse 7

भारावतारणार्थाय पृथिव्याः पृथिवीतलम् अवतीर्णो ऽखिलाधार त्वम् एव परमेश्वरः

To lift the burden of the earth you have descended upon the earth’s very surface; O support of all that exists, you alone are the Supreme Lord.

Verse 8

महभङ्गविरुद्धेन मया गोकुलनाशकाः समादिष्टा महामेघास् तैश् चैतत् कदनं कृतम्

In opposition to that great humiliation, I commanded the mighty storm-clouds—destroyers of Gokula; and by them this devastation has been wrought.

Verse 9

त्रातास् ताश् च त्वया गावः समुत्पाट्य महागिरिम् तेनाहं तोषितो वीर कर्मणात्यद्भुतेन ते

You have saved those cows; tearing up the mighty mountain itself, you became their protector. By that astonishing deed of yours, O hero, I am fully satisfied.

Verse 10

साधितं कृष्ण देवानाम् अहं मन्ये प्रयोजनम् त्वयायम् अद्रिप्रवरः करेणैकेन यद् धृतः

O Kṛṣṇa, I deem the gods’ very purpose fulfilled—since by you this foremost of mountains has been held aloft with a single hand.

Verse 11

गोभिश् च चोदितः कृष्ण त्वत्सकाशम् इहागतः त्वया त्राताभिर् अत्यर्थं युष्मत्सत्कारकारणात्

Urged on by the cows, O Kṛṣṇa, I have come here into your presence; for you have saved them exceedingly, and this coming is prompted by the honor and gratitude due to you for that gracious protection.

Verse 12

स त्वां कृष्णाभिषेक्ष्यामि गवां वाक्यप्रचोदितः उपेन्द्रत्वे गवाम् इन्द्रो गोविन्दस् त्वं भविष्यसि

Therefore, urged by the very words of the cows, I shall consecrate you, O Kṛṣṇa. In the office of Upendra among the cattle, you shall become their Indra; and thus you shall be known as Govinda.

Verse 13

अथोपवाह्याद् आदाय घण्टाम् ऐरावताद् गजात् अभिषेकं तया चक्रे पवित्रजलपूर्णया

Then, taking up the consecration-bell brought from Airāvata, the celestial elephant, he performed the anointing rite with it, using that vessel filled with sanctified, purifying water.

Verse 14

क्रियमाणे ऽभिषेके तु गावः कृष्णस्य तत्क्षणात् प्रस्नवोद्भूतदुग्धार्द्रां सद्यश् चक्रुर् वसुंधराम्

As Kṛṣṇa’s consecration was being performed, the cows at that very instant let their milk flow of its own accord, and in a moment drenched the earth with freshly streaming milk.

Verse 15

अभिषिच्य गवां वाक्याद् देवेन्द्रो वै जनार्दनम् प्रीत्या सप्रश्रयं कृष्णं पुनर् आह शचीपतिः

Having consecrated Janārdana at the behest of the cattle, Devendra—Śacī’s lord—then, with joy and reverent humility, addressed Kṛṣṇa once again.

Verse 16

गवाम् एतत् कृतं वाक्यं तथान्यद् अपि मे शृणु यद् ब्रवीमि महाभाग भारावतरणेच्छया

This was spoken on behalf of the cattle; now hear something further from me as well. O greatly fortunate one, listen to what I declare with the intent of relieving the earth’s burden.

Verse 17

ममांशः पुरुषव्याघ्र पृथायां पृथिवीतले अवतीर्णो ऽर्जुनो नाम स रक्ष्यो भवता सदा

O tiger among men, upon the earth—in Pṛthā (Kuntī)—a portion of Me has descended, named Arjuna; therefore, he must be protected by you at all times.

Verse 18

भारावतरणे साह्यं स ते वीरः करिष्यति स रक्षणीयो भवता यथात्मा मधुसूदन

In the sacred task of lightening the Earth’s burden, that heroic one will aid you. Therefore, O Madhusūdana, protect him—protect him as you would your very self.

Verse 19

जानामि भारते वंशे जातं पार्थं तवांशकम् तम् अहं पालयिष्यामि यावत् स्थास्यामि भूतले

I know that in the Bharata line Pārtha has been born, a portion of your own being. Him I shall sustain and protect for as long as I remain upon the earth.

Verse 20

यावन् महीतले शक्र स्थास्याम्य् अहम् अरिंदम न तावद् अर्जुनं कश्चिद् देवेन्द्र युधि जेष्यति

So long as I remain upon the earth, O Śakra, subduer of foes—so long, O Devendra, no one at all shall conquer Arjuna in battle.

Verse 21

कंसो नाम महाबाहुर् दैत्यो ऽरिष्टस् तथापरः केशी कुवलयापीडो नरकाद्यास् तथापरे

There was Kamsa, mighty‑armed; and also the daitya Ariṣṭa; likewise Keśī, Kuvalayāpīḍa, Naraka, and others besides.

Verse 22

हतेष्व् एतेषु देवेन्द्र भविष्यति महाहवः तत्र विद्धि सहस्राक्ष भारावतरणं कृतम्

When these have been slain, O Indra, a mighty war will arise. Know then, O thousand‑eyed one, that in that very conflict the Earth’s burden will be brought down.

Verse 23

स त्वं गच्छ न संतापं पुत्रार्थे कर्तुम् अर्हसि नार्जुनस्य रिपुः कश्चिन् ममाग्रे प्रभविष्यति

Therefore go; you should not give way to sorrow for the sake of a son. In my very presence, no enemy of Arjuna shall ever gain ascendancy.

Verse 24

अर्जुनार्थे त्व् अहं सर्वान् युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमान् निवृत्ते भारते युद्धे कुन्त्यै दास्याम्य् अविक्षतान्

But for Arjuna’s sake, when the war of the Bhāratas has ended, I shall restore them all—Yudhiṣṭhira at their head—and deliver them back to Kuntī, unharmed and unbroken.

Verse 25

इत्य् उक्तः संपरिष्वज्य देवराजो जनार्दनम् आरुह्यैरावतं नागं पुनर् एव दिवं ययौ

Thus addressed, the king of the gods embraced Janārdana; then, mounting the elephant Airāvata, he departed once more for heaven.

Verse 26

कृष्णो ऽपि सहितो गोभिर् गोपालैश् च पुनर् व्रजम् आजगामाथ गोपीनां दृष्टिपूतेन वर्त्मना

Kṛṣṇa too—accompanied by the cows and the cowherds—returned again to Vraja, proceeding along that path made pure and sanctified by the loving gaze of the gopīs.