Bhagavatapurana 10.55: atha pañcapañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.55.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
kāmas tu vāsudevāṃśo dagdhaḥ prāg rudra-manyunā /
dehopapattaye bhūyas tam eva pratyapadyata //

Śrī Śuka said:
Kāma, who is a portion of Vāsudeva and was previously burned by the anger of Rudra,
turned to Him again to obtain a physical body.

1. Sri Suka said:- It is well known that Kama, the god of love, an Amsa of Vasudeva, was once burnt through Siva's anger and he sought the favour of the same god again for his restoration to a corporeal existence.

10.55.2

sa eva jāto vaidarbhyāṃ kṛṣṇa-vīrya-samudbhavaḥ /
pradyumna iti vikhyātaḥ sarvato 'navamaḥ pituḥ //

He alone was born of the daughter of Vidarbha, originating from the seed of Kṛṣṇa,
renowned as Pradyumna, not inferior to his father in any respect.

2. It is that Manmatha who is now born of Rukmini and Sri Krishna; he is known as Pradyumna and in no respect inferior to his father.

10.55.3

taṃ śambaraḥ kāma-rūpī hṛtvā tokam anirdaśam /
sa viditvātmanaḥ śatruṃ prāsyodanvaty agād gṛham //

The shape-shifting Śambara, kidnapping the infant before he was ten days old,
knowing him to be his enemy, cast him into the ocean and went home.

3. Sambara, an asura capable of assuming any form at will, carried away the babe that had not passed the first ten days: but, knowing that it would grow into his enemy, he threw it into the sea and went home.

10.55.4

taṃ nirjagāra balavān mīnaḥ so 'py aparaiḥ saha /
vṛto jālena mahatā gṛhīto matsya-jīvibhiḥ //

A powerful fish swallowed him, and that fish, along with others,
was enclosed in a great net and caught by fishermen.

4. A certain mighty fish swallowed the babe; and that fish along with others was caught in a big net by fishermen.

10.55.5

taṃ śambarāya kaivartā upājahrur upāyanam /
sūdā mahānasaṃ nītvā- vadyan sudhitinādbhutam //

The fishermen brought it as a present to Śambara;
the cooks, carrying the wondrous fish to the kitchen, sliced it open with a cleaver.

5. The fishermen sent the fish as a present to Sambara; his cooks took it to the kitchen and cut the wonderful fish with their knife.

10.55.6

dṛṣṭvā tad-udare bālam māyāvatyai nyavedayan /
nārado 'kathayat sarvaṃ tasyāḥ śaṅkita-cetasaḥ /
bālasya tattvam utpattiṃ matsyodara-niveśanam //

Seeing a male child in its belly, they presented him to Māyāvatī;
Nārada told everything to her whose mind was bewildered:
the child's true identity, his birth, and his placement within the belly of the fish.

6. Finding a child in its bowels they presented it to Mayavati: seeing that her heart was full of doubt and fear, Narada gave her a full and true account who the child was, how it was born and found in the fish.

10.55.7

sā ca kāmasya vai patnī ratir nāma yaśasvinī /
patyur nirdagdha-dehasya dehotpattim pratīkṣatī //

And she was indeed the wife of Kāma, renowned by the name Rati,
awaiting the bodily manifestation of her husband whose body had been burned away.

7. She was indeed the consort of Kama, well-known as Rati. she was expecting the regeneration of her lord whose body had been burnt.

10.55.8

nirūpitā śambareṇa sā sūdaudana-sādhane /
kāmadevaṃ śiśuṃ buddhvā cakre snehaṃ tadārbhake //

Appointed by Śambara to prepare the cooked dishes and rice,
recognizing the infant to be Kāmadeva, she then showered love upon the child.

8. She had been appointed by Sambara to supervise in his kitchen the preparation of dholl and food. Knowing the babe to be Kamadeva she (constantly) cherished affection towards it. 9. In a short time Krishna's son attained to the prime of youth and confounded the heart of women that looked on him.

10.55.9

nāti-dīrgheṇa kālena sa kārṣṇi rūḍha-yauvanaḥ /
janayām āsa nārīṇāṃ vīkṣantīnāṃ ca vibhramam //

In not very long a time, that son of Kṛṣṇa attained mature youth,
and he aroused erotic longing in the women who gazed upon him.

10.55.10

sā tam patiṃ padma-dalāyatekṣaṇaṃ pralamba-bāhuṃ nara-loka-sundaram /
sa-vrīḍa-hāsottabhita-bhruvekṣatī prītyopatasthe ratir aṅga saurataiḥ //

Seeing that husband of hers with eyes long as lotus petals, with long arms, the handsomest in the mortal world,
Rati, with bashful smiles and arched eyebrows, lovingly approached him, my dear, with amorous gestures.

10. Now looking at him in delight with bashful smiles and lifted brows and with all the preparations for the joys of life, that Mayavati waited on him who with his broad lotus eyes and long arms shone the one beautiful person of the mortal world and who was no other than her own consort in the previous life.

10.55.11

tām aha bhagavān kārṣṇir mātas te matir anyathā /
mātṛ-bhāvam atikramya vartase kāminī yathā //

The Lord, the son of Kṛṣṇa, said to her: "Mother, your attitude is improper;
transgressing the role of a mother, you act like a woman in love."

11. The glorious son of Krishna said to her, "O mother, thy heart seems to be in the wrong way: how is it that thou, abandoning thy motherly relation, behavest like a love?

10.55.12

/0 ratir uvāca
bhavān nārāyaṇa-sutaḥ śambareṇa hṛto gṛhāt /
ahaṃ te 'dhikṛtā patnī ratiḥ kāmo bhavān prabho //

Rati said:
"You are the son of Nārāyaṇa, abducted from home by Śambara;
I am your rightful wife, Rati, and you, O Lord, are Kāma.

12. Rati said:— Thou art Sri Narayana's son stolen away by Sambara from His house: I am Rati thy appointed consort and thou art Manmatha, O Lord.

10.55.13

eṣa tvānirdaśaṃ sindhāv akṣipac chambaro 'suraḥ /
matsyo 'grasīt tad-udarād itaḥ prāpto bhavān prabho //

This demon Śambara threw you into the sea before you were ten days old;
a fish swallowed you, and from its belly you arrived here, O Lord.

13. This asura Sambara threw thee when a babe into the sea not even ten days old: (there) a fish swallowed thee and from its bowels thou camest to be here, my lord.

10.55.14

tam imaṃ jahi durdharṣaṃ durjayaṃ śatrum ātmanaḥ /
māyā-śata-vidaṃ taṃ ca māyābhir mohanādibhiḥ //

Slay this your enemy, unassailable and unconquerable,
who knows a hundred illusions, using illusions such as the deluding art.

14. He is irresistible, and thy enemy is versed in hundreds of magical processes; do thou (also) slay him by means of Mayas, viz, Mohana and the like powers.

10.55.15

parīśocati te mātā kurarīva gata-prajā /
putra-snehākulā dīnā vivatsā gaur ivāturā //

Your mother laments like an osprey whose young are lost,
distressed with love for her son, wretched like a grieving cow bereft of her calf."

15. On the loss of her child thy mother has been lamenting like the bird Kurari [she-deer] deprived of her young ones; and in the fullness of her motherly love, she is anxious like a helpless cow that hast lost her calf.

10.55.16

prabhāṣyaivaṃ dadau vidyāṃ pradyumnāya mahātmane /
māyāvatī mahā-māyāṃ sarva-māyā-vināśinīm //

Having spoken thus, Māyāvatī bestowed the science upon the great-souled Pradyumna,
the supreme magical art that destroys all magical illusions.

16. Having thus explained the fact to the great Pradyumna, she (Mayavati) imparted to him the knowledge of Maya, by which all Mayas can be destroyed.

10.55.17

sa ca śambaram abhyetya saṃyugāya samāhvayat /
aviṣahyais tam ākṣepaiḥ kṣipan sañjanayan kalim //

He approached Śambara and challenged him to combat,
taunting him with intolerable insults and provoking a quarrel.

17. Calling on Sambara he challenged him to a fight, showering unbearable reproaches to pick up a quarrel.

10.55.18

so 'dhikṣipto durvācobhiḥ padāhata ivoragaḥ /
niścakrāma gadā-pāṇir amarṣāt tāmra-locanaḥ //

Insulted by his harsh words like a snake struck by a foot,
he came forth, mace in hand, his eyes red with fury.

18. Scorned at in bitter language, he, like a serpent trodden under foot, issued out in a rage with fiery eyes and with Gada in hand.

10.55.19

gadām āvidhya tarasā pradyumnāya mahātmane /
prakṣipya vyanadan nādaṃ vajra-niṣpeṣa-niṣṭhuram //

Whirling his mace with force at the great-souled Pradyumna
and hurling it, he roared a roar harsh like the crash of a thunderbolt.

19. With tremendous force he aimed his gada at Pradyumna of noble powers and having let go the weapon, he uttered a roar which was as terrible as the stroke of Vajra.

10.55.20

tām āpatantīṃ bhagavān pradyumno gadayā gadām /
apāsya śatrave kruddhaḥ prāhiṇot sva-gadāṃ nṛpa //

Knocking aside that flying mace with his own mace, the Lord Pradyumna,
enraged at his foe, hurled his own mace, O king.

20. The powerful Pradyumna beat back as it came Sambara's gada with his own and in a rage dashed it at the enemy, O king.

10.55.21

sa ca māyāṃ samāśritya daiteyīṃ maya-darśitam /
mumuce 'stra-mayaṃ varṣaṃ kārṣṇau vaihāyaso 'suraḥ //

Resorting to the demoniac illusion taught by Maya,
the demon, flying through the sky, released a shower of weapons upon the son of Kṛṣṇa.

21. And that asura resorting to the magical courses of daityas taught by Maya, disappeared in the sky and let fall on Pradyumna a shower of missiles (stones).

10.55.22

bādhyamāno 'stra-varṣeṇa raukmiṇeyo mahā-rathaḥ /
sattvātmikāṃ mahā-vidyāṃ sarva-māyopamardinīm //

Afflicted by the rain of weapons, the great chariot warrior, son of Rukmiṇī, [employed]
the great science consisting of pure sattva, which crushes all illusions.

22. Being molested with a shower of missiles (stones), the great warrior, powerful son of Rukmini, made use of his great Vidya of Satvic nature that destroys all Mayas.

10.55.23

tato gauhyaka-gāndharva- paiśācoraga-rākṣasīḥ /
prāyuṅkta śataśo daityaḥ kārṣṇir vyadhamayat sa tāḥ //

Then the demon employed hundreds of Guhyaka, Gandharva,
Paiśāca, snake, and Rākṣasa illusions; the son of Kṛṣṇa dispersed them all.

23. Then the asura tried to use hundreds of Mayas relating to Guhyakas, Gandharvas, Pisachas, Uragas and Rakshasas; and Krishna's son destroyed every one of them with ease.

10.55.24

niśātam asim udyamya sa-kirīṭaṃ sa-kuṇḍalam /
śambarasya śiraḥ kāyāt tāmra-śmaśrv ojasāharat //

Drawing a sharp sword, with vigor he severed the head of Śambara,
adorned with a crown and earrings, and bearing a red beard, from his body.

24. Then he raised his keen-edged sword and cut off from his body Sambara's head adorned with the copper-coloured moustaches (beard).

10.55.25

ākīryamāṇo divi-jaiḥ stuvadbhiḥ kusumotkaraiḥ /
bhāryayāmbara-cāriṇyā puraṃ nīto vihāyasā //

Showered with heaps of flowers by the sky-dwellers who praised him,
he was carried through the sky to his city by his wife who moves through the air.

25. Profusely showered over with flowers by the gods who sang his praises, he was taken to the city of Dvaraka through the sky by his wife capable of journeying through the air.

10.55.26

antaḥ-pura-varaṃ rājan lalanā-śata-saṅkulam /
viveśa patnyā gaganād vidyuteva balāhakaḥ //

He entered the splendid inner chambers crowded with hundreds of women, O king,
with his wife, dropping from the sky like a raincloud with lightning.

26. O king, like a cloud attended by lightning he with his wife alighted from the sky into the harem crowded with hundreds of damsels.

10.55.27

taṃ dṛṣṭvā jalada-śyāmaṃ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam /
pralamba-bāhuṃ tāmrākṣaṃ su-smitaṃ rucirānanam //

Seeing him dark like a raincloud, clad in yellow silk robes,
with long arms, reddish eyes, a beautiful smile, and an attractive face,

27. On seeing him, blue like the cloud, clad in yellow silks, of long arms, of reddish eyes and sweet smiles and winning lips.

10.55.28

sv-alaṅkṛta-mukhāmbhojaṃ nīla-vakrālakālibhiḥ /
kṛṣṇaṃ matvā striyo hrītā nililyus tatra tatra ha //

his lotus-face well-adorned with locks of black curly hair,
the women, mistaking him for Kṛṣṇa, felt bashful and hid themselves here and there.

28. With a well-adorned (well trimmed) lotus-like face, with dark curly locks and other characteristics, the women took him for Krishna and in modesty (fear) hid themselves hither and thither.

10.55.29

avadhārya śanair īṣad vailakṣaṇyena yoṣitaḥ /
upajagmuḥ pramuditāḥ sa-strī ratnaṃ su-vismitāḥ //

Slowly discerning him by slight differences,
the women, delighted and thoroughly amazed, approached that jewel of a man with his wife.

29. Then from some distinguishing marks gradually concluding him to be some other, the women gladly approached him, wondering (smiling) as he came with an excellent damsel.

10.55.30

atha tatrāsitāpāṅgī vaidarbhī valgu-bhāṣiṇī /
asmarat sva-sutaṃ naṣṭaṃ sneha-snuta-payodharā //

Then the dark-eyed lady of Vidarbha, sweet of speech,
remembered her lost son, her breasts flowing with milk out of love:

30. Now in their midst, the blue-eyed Rukmini of sweet speech remembered her lost son; through affection her milk flowed.

10.55.31

ko nv ayam nara-vaidūryaḥ kasya vā kamalekṣaṇaḥ /
dhṛtaḥ kayā vā jaṭhare keyaṃ labdhā tv anena vā //

"Who indeed is this lapis lazuli among men, or to whom does this lotus-eyed youth belong?
By whom was he carried in the womb, or who is this woman won by him?

31. "Who is this jewel of a man? Whose son, having lotus-like eyes? By whom (what mother) was he borne? And who (whence) is this damsel obtained by him?

10.55.32

mama cāpy ātmajo naṣṭo nīto yaḥ sūtikā-gṛhāt /
etat-tulya-vayo-rūpo yadi jīvati kutracit //

My own son too was lost, who was taken from the maternity room,
matching this one in age and form, if he lives anywhere.

32. "And my son too who was carried away from the room of confinement, would be of this age and beauty, if he should be living anywhere.

10.55.33

kathaṃ tv anena samprāptaṃ sārūpyaṃ śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ /
ākṛtyāvayavair gatyā svara-hāsāvalokanaiḥ //

How has he obtained this likeness in form to the Wielder of the Śārṅga Bow,
in shape, limbs, gait, voice, smile, and glances?

33. How is it that he takes so closely after the Weilder of Sarnga (in form) in limbs, in the tone of his voice, smiles and looks?

10.55.34

sa eva vā bhaven nūnaṃ yo me garbhe dhṛto 'rbhakaḥ /
amuṣmin prītir adhikā vāmaḥ sphurati me bhujaḥ //

Or surely he must be that very child who was carried in my womb; / for my affection toward him is overwhelming, and my left arm trembles.

34. "Or it might be he (the same blessed one) whom I bore in my womb. Great is my affection for him and my left arm throbs."

10.55.35

evaṃ mīmāṃsamaṇāyāṃ vaidarbhyāṃ devakī-sutaḥ /
devaky-ānakadundubhyām uttamaḥ-śloka āgamat //

While the princess of Vidarbha was thus deliberating, the son of Devakī, / He of highest renown, arrived together with Devakī and Ānakadundubhi.

35. When Vaidarbhi was thus weighing, Sri Krishna of glorious name came in with Devaki and Vasudeva.

10.55.36

vijñātārtho 'pi bhagavāṃs tūṣṇīm āsa janārdanaḥ /
nārado 'kathayat sarvaṃ śambarāharaṇādikam //

Although the Lord, Janārdana, knew the whole matter, He remained silent; / Nārada then recounted everything, beginning with the abduction by Śambara.

36. Though well aware of the fact, the Almighty Janardana kept perfect silence: and Narada told the whole story beginning with Sambara's stealing away the infant.

10.55.37

tac chrutvā mahad āścaryaṃ kṛṣṇāntaḥ-pura-yoṣitaḥ /
abhyanandan bahūn abdān naṣṭaṃ mṛtam ivāgatam //

Hearing of that great wonder, the women of Kṛṣṇa's inner quarters / joyfully welcomed him who had been lost for many years, as if returned from death.

37. On hearing that astonishing and happy account, the ladies of Krishna's harem were rejoiced to welcome him who had been lost for many years, like one that returns to life after death.

10.55.38

devakī vasudevaś ca kṛṣṇa-rāmau tathā striyaḥ /
dampatī tau pariṣvajya rukmiṇī ca yayur mudam //

Devakī, Vasudeva, Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, and likewise the women, / embraced the married couple, and Rukmiṇī, too, was filled with joy.

38. Devaki and Vasudeva, Krishna and Rama, Rukmini and also other women were overjoyed to embrace that young couple.

10.55.39

naṣṭaṃ pradyumnam āyātam ākarṇya dvārakaukasaḥ /
aho mṛta ivāyāto bālo diṣṭyeti hābruvan //

Hearing that the lost Pradyumna had returned, the inhabitants of Dvārakā / exclaimed: 'Oh, by good fortune the boy has come back as if from death!'

39. On hearing of Pradyumna's return, the citizens of Dwaraka said to one another, "What wonder! It is like the return of one from the jaws of death! Fortunately the boy has come back."

10.55.39.p1

yaṃ vai muhuḥ pitṛ-sarūpa-nijeśa-bhāvās $ tan-mātaro yad abhajan raha-rūḍha-bhāvāḥ &

Indeed, that his mothers repeatedly experienced feelings fit for their own lord because he was identical in form to his father, their emotion rising in secret,

40. It is no wonder that his mothers often mistook Pradyumna for Krishna Himself on account of his close resemblance: for, even a passing memory of Kama kindles passion: and it is then but natural that other women did so, when (he) the exact likeness of the original (Sri Lakshmi's Lord), is directly within the range of their eyes.

10.55.40

citraṃ na tat khalu ramāspada-bimba-bimbe % kāme smare 'kṣa-viṣaye kim utānya-nāryaḥ //

is certainly no wonder, when Kāma, the very image of the reflection of the dwelling of Ramā, was present before their eyes; how much more so, then, other women!