Harivamsha 70

English (machine translation) 70

Language: English

70.1

Vaiśaṃpāyana said:
Then, at clear dawn, resonant with the calling of birds,
as the moon's network of rays was gathered up with the night's end,

70.2

the sky suffused with crimson, the orb of stars dispersed,
the surface of the earth moistened by downpours of morning breezes,

70.3

the stars diminished in form and shining without brilliance as if asleep,
the form of night vanished, the sun arose,
and the cool-rayed moon became faded, its beams pacified.

70.3x786

The one destroyed its form, the other increased its body.

70.4

As the departure grounds of Vraja were crowded with cattle,
and the churning jars resounded, filled with whirls of churning sticks,

70.5

young calves were restrained with cords,
and the streets of the settlement were filled everywhere with cowherds,

70.6

right there, heavy baggage in great quantity was placed upon carts;
hastening, those who drove chariots set out, leaving it behind.

70.7

Then Kṛṣṇa, the son of Rohiṇī, and that man of boundless generosity,
the three of them mounted on the chariot, went like the lords of the three worlds.

70.8

Then Akrūra, resting by the bank of the Yamunā, said to Kṛṣṇa,
"Guard the chariot, my dear boy, and attend to the horses.

70.9

Having given fodder to the horses, and taking great care
of the horses' gear and the chariot, wait a moment, dear boy.

70.10

For in this pool of the Yamunā I will propitiate the lord of serpents
with divine, devotee-mantras, as he is the sovereign of all the worlds,

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the secret god of devotees, the creator of all the worlds.

70.11

I will bow to the hooded serpent with a splendid svastika on his head,
the thousand-headed god, Ananta, clad in blue garments.

70.12

Whatever poison comes forth from the mouth of that god of dharma,
I shall consume it all as if it were nectar, like an immortal.

70.13

Beholding the twofold-tongued serpent adorned with fortune, the abode of svastikas,
there will indeed be an assembly of serpents for pacification.

70.14

May the two of you remain together, watching for me,
until I return from that excellent pool of the serpent king."

70.15

Delighted, Kṛṣṇa said to him, "Go without delay, most righteous one;
indeed, bereft of you, we two are unable to remain here."

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Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, bowing mentally to Hari,

70.16

that man of boundless generosity plunged into the pool of the Yamunā.
In Rasātala he saw this serpent world as it was,

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just as the vision came about within the pool in Rasātala.

70.17

In its midst he saw the thousand-faced one, whose banner was a lofty golden palm tree,
the tips of his hands resting upon a plowshare, a pestle placed against his belly,

70-18

wrapped in dark blue garments, pale white, with a pale face,
wearing a single earring, impassioned, sleeping, with lotus eyes,

70.19

seated comfortably on a radiant seat made of his own coils,
formed from his own body, the earth-supporter with two auspicious svastikas,

70.20

his crest slightly turned to the left with a golden diadem,
his chest covered with a garland of lotuses made of gold,

70.21

his limbs anointed with red sandalwood, long-armed, subduer of enemies,
lotus-navelled, resembling a white cloud, radiant with splendor through his beams.

70.22

He saw the lord of hooded serpents, the master residing over the primeval ocean,
the lord being worshipped by the chiefs of two-tongued serpents led by Vāsuki.

70.23

Both serpents, Kambala and Aśvatara, holding fly-whisks,
fanned that god, the lord seated upon the throne of dharma.

70.24

Approaching him, Vāsuki, king of serpents, shone forth,
surrounded by other serpent ministers led by Karkoṭaka.

70.25

With divine golden jars, they bathed the king,
his hair covered with lotuses, already bathed with the waters of the primeval ocean.

On his lap, he saw Viṣṇu seated comfortably,
dark as a raincloud, his chest covered by the śrīvatsa mark,
lovelier than ten million Kamas,
with auspicious curls turning to the right, glossy,
bearing a thousand auspicious names, his radiant eyes like the sun and the moon,
wearing yellow garments.

70.27

And he saw the Lord seated, equal in build to the moon,
like Saṃkarṣaṇa seated there without a divine seat.

70.28

Thereupon he began hastily to address Kṛṣṇa;
Kṛṣṇa paralyzed his speech with his own splendor.

70.28x792-1

Having worshiped the bearer of the mace with hymns dedicated to Bhagavān,

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and having praised the Lord, the sovereign ruler who grants boons and is fond of his devotees,

70.28x792-3

he considered himself the foremost among those whose purpose has been achieved.

70.29

Having perceived that eternal devotee of the serpents,
he of boundless generosity rose again from the water in wonder.

70.30

He saw Bala and Keśava sitting right there on the chariot,
looking at each other, bearing wondrous forms.

70.31

Then out of curiosity Akrūra submerged himself there once more,
where that eternal god clad in blue garments is worshiped.

70.32

Akrūra saw Kṛṣṇa seated just the same on the lap of the bearer of a thousand faces,
being worshiped according to sacred rule.

70.33

Rising swiftly once more, keeping that mantra in his mind,
he of boundless generosity went to the chariot by that very path.

70.34

To him, to Akrūra who had returned and stood before him, the delighted Keśava said:
“What is the state of the world of the serpents in this lake sacred to the Lord?

70.35

You have tarried a long time through distraction.
I think you have seen a wonder, as your heart appears so steadfast.”

70.36

He replied to Kṛṣṇa: “Apart from you,
what wonder can there be in the worlds of moving and unmoving beings?

70.37

The wonder I saw there, Kṛṣṇa, which is difficult to find on earth,
that very wonder I see here as well, and I rejoice.

70.38

I have come together here with the embodiment of all the wonders of the worlds;
beyond this, O Kṛṣṇa, I have no desire to see any wonder.

70.38x793

Who indeed, or what wonder is there in the three worlds without you?

70.38x794-1

Obeisance to you, the self of all, the wonder, O Lord of the universe!

70.38x794-2

Obeisance be to the God of the chiefs of gods, obeisance to you, the self of all!

70.38x794-3

Obeisance be to you, Viṣṇu, the immeasurable Lord of the universe!

70.38x794-4

Or what need of this, O Lord of the world? I have now achieved my purpose.

70.38x794-5

Why do you now abandon what remains to be done, O Viṣṇu?

70.39

Therefore come, let us go to the city of King Kaṃsa, O Lord,
before the sun sinks at the end of day.”

Linked texts (1)

Harivaṃśa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit