Bhagavatapurana 10.68: athāṣṭaṣaṣṭitamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.68.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
duryodhana-sutāṃ rājan lakṣmaṇāṃ samitiṃ-jayaḥ /
svayaṃvara-sthām aharat sāmbo jāmbavatī-sutaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / Duryodhana’s daughter Lakṣmaṇā, O King, who was standing at her svayaṃvara, / was carried away by Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, victorious in battle.

1. Sri Suka said:— Samba, Jambavati's son, victorious in battle, carried away Lakshmana, Duryodhana's daughter, at the hour of Swayamvara. 2. Kauravas were enraged and said, "Unruly is this boy who insults us in taking away by force the maiden that did not indicate her love to him.

10.68.2

kauravāḥ kupitā ūcur durvinīto 'yam arbhakaḥ /
kadarthī-kṛtya naḥ kanyām akāmām aharad balāt //

The Kauravas, enraged, said: "This undisciplined boy, / insulting us, has taken away our maiden by force against her will!

10.68.3

badhnītemaṃ durvinītaṃ kiṃ kariṣyanti vṛṣṇayaḥ /
ye 'smat-prasādopacitāṃ dattāṃ no bhuñjate mahīm //

Bind this ill-mannered youth! What will the Vṛṣṇis do? / They who enjoy the earth that was granted by us, enriched through our favor!

3. Bind down this wicked and unruly boy. What could Vrishnis do who live now on a piece of land which we graciously conferred on them (and which we got by our prowess)?

10.68.4

nigṛhītaṃ sutaṃ śrutvā yady eṣyantīha vṛṣṇayaḥ /
bhagna-darpāḥ śamaṃ yānti prāṇā iva su-saṃyatāḥ //

If, upon hearing that their son has been captured, the Vṛṣṇis come here, / their pride broken, they will subside, just like fully restrained vital breaths."

4. If Vrishnis come here hearing of his captivity they will (only) have their pride put down and be silenced like breaths under yogic control. (like serpents deprived of their fangs D.)

10.68.5

iti karṇaḥ śalo bhūrir yajñaketuḥ suyodhanaḥ /
sāmbam ārebhire yoddhuṃ kuru-vṛddhānumoditāḥ //

Thus Karṇa, Śala, Bhūri, Yajñaketu, and Suyodhana, / approved by the Kuru elders, undertook to fight against Sāmba.

5. Thus Karna, Sala, Bhuri, Yagnaketu, Duryodhana (D. Having thus observed to Karna, Bhurisravas and Duryodhana and also Dussasana and Sakuni naturally skilled in giving bad counsel—

these neglecting Vidura and the glorious Gandhari) attempted to fetter Samba, with (without D.) the approval of the aged Kurus.

10.68.6

dṛṣṭvānudhāvataḥ sāmbo dhārtarāṣṭrān mahā-rathaḥ /
pragṛhya ruciraṃ cāpaṃ tasthau siṃha ivaikalaḥ //

Seeing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra pursuing him, Sāmba, the great chariot-warrior, / took up his splendid bow and stood his ground alone, like a lion.

6. Seeing Dritarashtra's sons, pursuing him, the warrior Samba took a fine bow and like a lion singly stood at bay.

10.68.7

taṃ te jighṛkṣavaḥ kruddhās tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣiṇaḥ /
āsādya dhanvino bāṇaiḥ karṇāgraṇyaḥ samākiran //

Desiring to capture him, the enraged bowmen, shouting "Halt, halt!", / approached him and, led by Karṇa, showered him with arrows.

7. In rage and in their eagerness to catch hold of him, and led on by Karna they cried out, 'stod, stop', and approaching the warrior showered arrows on him.

10.68.8

so 'paviddhaḥ kuru-śreṣṭha kurubhir yadu-nandanaḥ /
nāmṛṣyat tad acintyārbhaḥ siṃha kṣudra-mṛgair iva //

Struck by the Kurus, O best of the Kurus, that delight of the Yadus, / of inconceivable prowess, did not brook it, like a lion attacked by petty beasts.

8. O best of Kurus, beaten by the Kurus (like a lion attacked by weak animals) that son of Yadu's race, the child of the incomprehensible Lord, did not brook it (like a serpent beaten with a club).

10.68.9

visphūrjya ruciraṃ cāpaṃ sarvān vivyādha sāyakaiḥ /
karṇādīn ṣaḍ rathān vīras tāvadbhir yugapat pṛthak //

Twanging his splendid bow, that hero simultaneously pierced with arrows / all six chariot-warriors individually, Karṇa and the rest, with an equal number [of shafts]—

9. & 10. Twanging his fine bow, he hit one and all with his shafts headed by Karna, the six chariots, the six heroes, (the leading combotants with him). hitting each simultaneously with the same number of shafts i.e., the four horses with four, the charioteeers and warriors in the chariot of renowned bows each with one: and they all lauded his skill.

10.68.10

caturbhiś caturo vāhān ekaikena ca sārathīn /
rathinaś ca maheṣvāsāṃs tasya tat te 'bhyapūjayan //

four horses with four, and each of the charioteers and / great bowmen chariot-fighters with one each; for that, they praised him.

10.68.11

taṃ tu te virathaṃ cakruś catvāraś caturo hayān /
ekas tu sārathiṃ jaghne cicchedaṇyaḥ śarāsanam //

However, four [of them] slew his four horses and deprived him of his chariot; / one killed his charioteer, and another broke his bow.

11. Four of them made him lose his chariot, each killing one of the four horses: one his charioteer: and the remaining one cut off his bow.

10.68.12

taṃ baddhvā virathī-kṛtya kṛcchreṇa kuravo yudhi /
kumāraṃ svasya kanyāṃ ca sva-puraṃ jayino 'viśan //

Having deprived him of his chariot and bound him with difficulty in battle, / the Kurus entered their city victorious, taking the youth and their maiden.

12. Thus with difficulty the Kauravas deprived him of his chariot in battle and bound him and took him, as well as the maiden, triumphantly to their city.

10.68.13

tac chrutvā nāradoktena rājan sañjāta-manyavaḥ /
kurūn praty udyamaṃ cakrur ugrasena-pracoditāḥ //

Hearing of that from the words of Nārada, O King, the Yadus, filled with anger, / made preparations against the Kurus, urged on by Ugrasena.

13. On hearing of it from Narada, O king, Yadavas filled with rage and directed by Ugrasena, made preparations to march against the Kurus.

10.68.14

sāntvayitvā tu tān rāmaḥ sannaddhān vṛṣṇi-puṅgavān /
naicchat kurūṇāṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ kaliṃ kali-malāpahaḥ //

Rāma, however, pacified those foremost Vṛṣṇis who had put on their armor; / he who removes the impurities of the Kali age did not desire conflict between the Kurus and Vṛṣṇis.

14. But Balarama appeased the great Vrishnis that were prepared for war (enraged); for Rama, who removes the dirt of Kali, (was averse to difference) did not like a quarrel between Kurus and Vrishnis.

10.68.15

jagāma hāstina-puraṃ rathenāditya-varcasā /
brāhmaṇaiḥ kula-vṛddhaiś ca vṛtaś candra iva grahaiḥ //

He went to Hāstinapura on a chariot splendid as the sun, / surrounded by brāhmaṇas and family elders, like the moon surrounded by planets.

15. In his chariot brilliant like the sun he rode to Hastina accompanied by brahmins and the elderly members of the family like the moon in the midst of planets.

10.68.16

gatvā gajāhvayaṃ rāmo bāhyopavanam āsthitaḥ /
uddhavaṃ preṣayām āsa dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ bubhutsayā //

Having reached the city known as Gajāhvaya, Rāma stayed in a grove outside / and sent Uddhava to Dhṛtarāṣṭra in order to learn their intentions.

16. Reaching Hastina, Balarama stopped in a garden outside the city and sent Uddhava to Dritarashtra to know the truth (to conciliate him).

10.68.17

so 'bhivandyāmbikā-putraṃ bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ ca bāhlikam /
duryodhanaṃ ca vidhi-vad rāmam āgataṃ abravīt //

Having paid homage according to rule to the son of Ambikā, to Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Bāhlika, / and Duryodhana, he informed them that Rāma had arrived.

17. He duly saluted the son of Ambika, Bhishma, Drona, Balhika and Duryodhana and told them of Balarama's arrival.

10.68.18

te 'ti-prītās tam ākarṇya prāptaṃ rāmaṃ suhṛt-tamam /
tam arcayitvābhiyayuḥ sarve maṅgala-pāṇayaḥ //

Overjoyed upon hearing that Rāma, their dearest friend, had arrived, / they all went forth with auspicious offerings in their hands to honor him.

18. They were very much pleased to hear of the arrival of Balarama, their best friend: they came forth to meet him and duly worshipped him, all bringing in their hands some auspicious present.

10.68.19

taṃ saṅgamya yathā-nyāyaṃ gām arghyaṃ ca nyavedayan /
teṣāṃ ye tat-prabhāva-jñāḥ praṇemuḥ śirasā balam //

Having met him, they presented a cow and guest-offering according to proper custom; / those among them who knew his power bowed their heads to Bala.

19. Having received him with proper honours they offered him water and Argha; and such of them as knew his greatness, saluted him bowing their head.

10.68.20

bandhūn kuśalinaḥ śrutvā pṛṣṭvā śivam anāmayam /
parasparam atho rāmo babhāṣe 'viklavaṃ vacaḥ //

Having heard that their relatives were well and having inquired after their welfare and health / mutually, Rāma then spoke resolute words:

20. Having enquired after the welfare of his relations and their happiness and health and after friendly conversation, Rama spoke fearlessly these words.

10.68.21

ugrasenaḥ kṣiteśeśo yad va ājñāpayat prabhuḥ /
tad avyagra-dhiyaḥ śrutvā kurudhvam avilambitam //

"What the master Ugrasena, sovereign of the earth, commands you, / hear that with undisturbed minds and carry it out without delay:

21. 'What the great king and lord Ugrasena commands you to do,—listen to it with attention and do it without delay.

10.68.22

yad yūyaṃ bahavas tv ekaṃ jitvādharmeṇa dhārmikam /
abadhnītātha tan mṛṣye bandhūnām aikya-kāmyayā //

'That so many of you, having unrighteously conquered one righteous person, / bound him, I overlook that out of a desire for unity among kinsmen.'"

22. That you, many, unjustly vanquished the single-handed and righteous warrior and bound him down. I put up with it for the sake of harmony among relations.'

10.68.23

vīrya-śaurya-balonnaddham ātma-śakti-samaṃ vacaḥ /
kuravo baladevasya niśamyocuḥ prakopitāḥ //

Hearing the words of Baladeva, full of prowess, valor, and strength, and commensurate with his power, / the Kurus, highly provoked, said:

23. & 24. On hearing from (the lips of) Balarama of immense strength, prowess and energy, words truly worthy of his powers, Kurus were angry and said, "Ha, what great wonder is this? By the inevitable force of time, indeed the slipper would usurp the place of the crown on the head!

10.68.24

aho mahac citram idaṃ kāla-gatyā duratyayā /
ārurukṣaty upānad vai śiro mukuṭa-sevitam //

"Oh, this is a great wonder brought about by the insurmountable course of time, / that a shoe indeed wishes to mount a head crowned with a diadem!

10.68.25

ete yaunena sambaddhāḥ saha-śayyāsanāśanāḥ /
vṛṣṇayas tulyatāṃ nītā asmad-datta-nṛpāsanāḥ //

These Vṛṣṇis, joined through marital alliance, sharing beds, seats, and food, / have been brought to equality and given royal thrones by us.

25. "These related to us by affinity and having with us shared the bed, the seat and food,—these Vrishnis raised to our rank with a royal seat favoured by us.

10.68.26

cāmara-vyajane śaṅkham ātapatraṃ ca pāṇḍuram /
kirīṭam āsanaṃ śayyāṃ bhuñjate 'smad-upekṣayā //

They enjoy the pair of flywhisks, the conch shell, the white umbrella, / the crown, throne, and bed through our indulgence!

26. "The chamara and fan, Sankha and the white umbrella, a crown, a seat and a bed—these they enjoy because we care not to disturb them through our indulgence.

10.68.27

alaṃ yadūnāṃ naradeva-lāñchanair dātuḥ pratīpaiḥ phaṇinām ivāmṛtam /
ye 'smat-prasādopacitā hi yādavā ājñāpayanty adya gata-trapā bata //

Away with the emblems of royalty for the Yadus, harmful to their giver like nectar to serpents! / For the Yādavas, enriched by our favor, now issue commands, shameless alas!

27. Let the Yadus to-day lay down the royal insignia with which they stand opposed to the giver, like serpents fed with milk: Do those Yadavas who grew through our own grace unhesitatingly to-day lay their commands on us.

10.68.28

katham indro 'pi kurubhir bhīṣma-droṇārjunādibhiḥ /
adattam avarundhīta siṃha-grastam ivoraṇaḥ //

How could even Indra seize what has not been given by the Kurus, / by Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Arjuna, and the rest, any more than a lamb could seize what a lion has grasped?"

28. "How could even Indra think of owning what is not offered to him by Kurus viz., Bhishma, Drona, Arjuna and others, or how could a ram touch what is in the grasp of the lion?"

10.68.29

/0 śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
janma-bandhu-śrīyonnaddha- madās te bharatarṣabha /
āśrāvya rāmaṃ durvācyam asabhyāḥ puram āviśan //

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: / Arrogant with the pride of birth, family, and prosperity, O bull of the Bharatas, / those ill-mannered men made Rāma hear offensive words and entered their city.

29. Sri Suka said:—Full of inordinate pride on account of their birth, high relations, fortune and prosperity and (in the garden) having spoken unpalatable words in the hearing of Balarama, the unworthy Kauravas retired into the city.

10.68.30

dṛṣṭvā kurūnāṃ dauḥśīlyaṃ śrutvāvācyāni cācyutaḥ /
avocat kopa-saṃrabdho duṣprekṣyaḥ prahasan muhuḥ //

Seeing the wicked nature of the Kurus and hearing their unspeakable words, Acyuta [Balarāma], / agitated with anger, terrible to behold, laughed repeatedly and spoke:

30. Noting the wicked behaviour of Kurus and having heard the reproaches, Achyuta burned and looked terrific with indignation and laughed and said repeatedly:

10.68.31

nūnaṃ nānā-madonnaddhāḥ śāntiṃ necchanty asādhavaḥ /
teṣāṃ hi praśamo daṇḍaḥ paśūnāṃ laguḍo yathā //

"Surely the wicked, puffed up by various types of pride, do not desire peace; / indeed, the chastisement for them is punishment, just like a stick for animals.

31. 'Certainly the wicked are mad with pride that has grown in various ways and do not like peacefulness; to such indeed good thrashing is the best means of securing it, just as a club is to the beasts.

10.68.32

aho yadūn su-saṃrabdhān kṛṣṇaṃ ca kupitaṃ śanaiḥ /
sāntvayitvāham eteṣāṃ śamam icchann ihāgataḥ //

Alas, after gradually pacifying the highly agitated Yadus / and the angered Kṛṣṇa, I came here desiring peace for these people!

32. What! I have gently pacified the enraged Yadus and the angry Krishna, I am hither hoping to secure them peace!

10.68.33

ta ime manda-matayaḥ kalahābhiratāḥ khalāḥ /
taṃ mām avajñāya muhur durbhāṣān mānino 'bruvan //

Yet these dull-witted villains, delighting in quarrel / and full of arrogance, repeatedly insulting me, have spoken abusive words!

33. These are foolish, wicked and bent on discord; having scornfully treated me, proud wretches uttered reproaches beyond measure.

10.68.34

nograsenaḥ kila vibhur bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ /
śakrādayo loka-pālā yasyādeśānuvartinaḥ //

‘Is Ugrasena, the lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, truly not a sovereign, / whose commands even Śakra and the world guardians obey?

34 to 36. Indeed, in their view, Ugrasena is no ruler and lord of Bhojas, Vrishnis aud Andhakas: and that Lord of Sree does not deserve the royal insignia and throne at whose beck and call are Indra and other protectors of the world, by whom Sudharma is occupied and the celestial tree Parijata is brought down and enjoyed—He indeed is not deserving of the high seat, whose feet Sri, the Ruler of all is directly worshipping.

10.68.35

sudharmākramyate yena pārijāto 'marāṅghripaḥ /
ānīya bhujyate so 'sau na kilādhyāsanārhaṇaḥ //

He by whom Sudharmā was occupied, and the Pārijāta, the tree of the immortals, / was brought and enjoyed—is that very person indeed unworthy of a royal seat?

10.68.36

yasya pāda-yugaṃ sākṣāc chrīr upāste 'khileśvarī /
sa nārhati kila śrīśo naradeva-paricchadān //

He whose two lotus feet are served directly by Śrī, the sovereign of the universe— / is that lord of Śrī truly not entitled to the regalia of kings?

10.68.36.p1

yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajo 'khila-loka-pālair $ mauly-uttamair dhṛtam upāsita-tīrtha-tīrtham &

The dust of whose lotus feet is borne upon their supreme crowns by all the world guardians, / an object of worship and the sanctuary of all holy waters,

37. What is the value of a royal seat to Him the dust on whose feet like unto lotus is borne on their crown by all the protectors of the world and confers sacredness on all the holy waters resorted by all and is eternally borne by us Brahma, Rudra and I, only amsas of His amsa as well as Sri. 38 & 39. Indeed (do they say) Vrishnis enjoy a piece of land granted by Kurus and we the slipper and the Kurus the head: Ah! haughty incoherent words of those that are mad with power and wealth—inebriate and insolent fellows—who would put up with such harsh words if able enough to deal punishment?

10.68.37

brahmā bhavo 'ham api yasya kalāḥ kalāyāḥ % śrīś codvahema ciram asya nṛpāsanaṃ kva //

and of whom Brahmā, Bhava, and I myself are portions of a portion, / as is Śrī, and we bear it constantly—where [in comparison] is a king's throne?

10.68.38

bhuñjate kurubhir dattaṃ bhū-khaṇḍaṃ vṛṣṇayaḥ kila /
upānahaḥ kila vayaṃ svayaṃ tu kuravaḥ śiraḥ //

“The Vṛṣṇis, forsooth, enjoy a tract of land granted by the Kurus! / We are supposedly the shoes, while the Kurus themselves are the head!”

10.68.39

aho aiśvarya-mattānāṃ mattānām iva māninām /
asambaddhā giṛo rukṣāḥ kaḥ sahetānuśāsītā //

Ah, what chastiser would tolerate the incoherent, harsh words / of those intoxicated by dominion, puffed up with pride like madmen?

10.68.40

adya niṣkauravaṃ pṛthvīṃ kariṣyāmīty amarṣitaḥ /
gṛhītvā halam uttasthau dahann iva jagat-trayam //

“Today I shall rid the earth of the Kurus!” he said in fury; / seizing his plow, he rose as if ready to consume the three worlds.

40. To-day I will rid the earth of Kurus:--with this resolve in wild wrath, Balarama raised his plough as if he would burn the three worlds.

10.68.41

lāṅgalāgreṇa nagaram udvidārya gajāhvayam /
vicakarṣa sa gaṅgāyāṃ prahariṣyann amarṣitaḥ //

Tearing up the city of Gajāhvaya with the tip of his plow, / the enraged [hero] dragged it toward the Gaṅgā, intending to cast it in.

41. In rage, with the point of the plough, he lifted up the whole city of Hastina and dragged it to be thrown into the Ganga.

10.68.42

jala-yānam ivāghūrṇaṃ gaṅgāyāṃ nagaraṃ patat /
ākṛṣyamāṇam ālokya kauravāḥ jāta-sambhramāḥ //

Seeing their city being dragged, reeling like a ship on water, / falling into the Gaṅgā, the Kauravas were filled with consternation.

42 & 43. Shaken like a raft the city was falling into the Ganga. When the Kauravas saw it so dragged they were confounded in terror. They, eager to save their lives, with their families, sought protection of Balarama himself with joined hands and with Samba and Lakshmana (the bride) in their front.

10.68.43

tam eva śaraṇaṃ jagmuḥ sa-kuṭumbā jijīviṣavaḥ /
sa-lakṣmaṇaṃ puras-kṛtya sāmbaṃ prāñjalayaḥ prabhum //

Desiring to live, they fled with their families to him alone for refuge; / placing Sāmba together with Lakṣmaṇā before them, with folded hands [they addressed] the Lord:

10.68.44

rāma rāmākhilādhāra prabhāvaṃ na vidāma te /
mūḍhānāṃ naḥ ku-buddhīnāṃ kṣantum arhasy atikramam //

“O Rāma, Rāma, support of all! We do not know your power; / you ought to forgive the transgression of us who are foolish and dull-witted.

44. They said, O Rama, Rama, the supporter of all, we do not know Thy power and greatness. Mayest thou be pleased to forgive the violation of our foolish and wicked selves.

10.68.45

sthity-utpatty-apyayānāṃ tvam eko hetur nirāśrayaḥ /
lokān krīḍanakān īśa krīḍatas te vadanti hi //

You alone are the independent cause of the maintenance, origin, and dissolution [of all]; / the wise say, O Lord, that the worlds are mere playthings for you as you play.

45. ‘Thyself dependent on nothing, Thou art the one cause of creation, protection and destruction and truly say they that the three worlds are the toys of Thy sport (are borne by Thee).

10.68.46

tvam eva mūrdhnīdam ananta līlayā bhū-maṇḍalaṃ bibharṣi sahasra-mūrdhan /
ante ca yaḥ svātma-niruddha-viśvaḥ śeṣe 'dvitīyaḥ pariśiṣyamāṇaḥ //

You alone, O Ananta, bear this globe of the earth upon your head in sport, O thousand-headed one; / and at the end, having withdrawn the universe into yourself, you remain alone without a second.

46. ‘It is Thou, O Ananta of thousand heads, that bearest without any effort this globe of the earth on Thy head and at the end withdrawest the Universe into Thyself and restest as the one unabsorbed existence without a second.

10.68.47

kopas te 'khila-śikṣārthaṃ na dveṣān na ca matsarāt /
bibhrato bhagavan sattvaṃ sthiti-pālana-tatparaḥ //

Your anger is intended for the instruction of all, not out of hatred or malice; / you who sustain purity, O Lord, are intent upon maintaining and protecting [creation].

47. ‘Thy anger is only to teach (a lesson to) all, not caused by hatred or envy: when Thou art, O glorious one, intent on maintaining and protecting the world, Thou assumest the Satva quality.

10.68.48

namas te sarva-bhūtātman sarva-śakti-dharāvyaya /
viśva-karman namas te 'stu tvāṃ vayaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ //

Obeisance to you, the self of all beings, bearer of all powers, imperishable one! / Creator of the universe, obeisance to you! We have taken refuge in you.”

48. ‘We bow to Thee, O Ruler of all beings, omnipotent, and subject to no decay, O Maker of all, we bow to Thee: with Thee we have sought refuge.

10.68.49

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
evaṃ prapannaiḥ saṃvignair vepamānāyanair balaḥ /
prasāditaḥ su-prasanno mā bhaiṣṭety abhayaṃ dadau //

Śrī Śuka said: / Thus propitiated by those who had surrendered, trembling in distress and shaking in their gait, / Bala was well pleased and granted them freedom from fear, saying, “Do not fear.”

49. Sri Suka said:— By the Kauravas thus reduced to a wretched plight, confounded and trembling, Balarama was prayed to be gracious; then pleased with them he promised protection and bid them be fearless.

10.68.50

duryodhanaḥ pāribarhaṃ kuñjarān ṣaṣṭi-hāyanān /
dadau ca dvādaśa-śatāny ayutāni turaṅgamān //

Duryodhana gave as a dowry sixty-year-old elephants / numbering twelve hundred, and ten thousand horses,

50. Duryodhana gave presents of twelve hundred elephants each sixty years old, and ten thousand horses; 51.—Six thousand golden chariots glowing like the sun, and a thousand servants-maid adorned with gold, as he was very affectionate to his daughter.

10.68.51

rathānāṃ ṣaṭ-sahasrāṇi raukmāṇāṃ sūrya-varcasām /
dāsīnāṃ niṣka-kaṇṭhīnāṃ sahasraṃ duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ //

six thousand golden chariots shining like the sun, / and, loving his daughter, a thousand maidservants with golden ornaments on their necks.

10.68.52

pratigṛhya tu tat sarvaṃ bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ /
sa-sutaḥ sa-snuṣaḥ prāyāt suhṛdbhir abhinanditaḥ //

Accepting all that, the Lord, the best of the Sātvatas, / departed with his son and his daughter-in-law, cheered by his kin.

52. Having accepted all that the glorious Balarama, the fore most of the Satvatas set out with his son and daughter-in-law with the congratulations of friends and well-wishers.

10.68.52.p1

tataḥ praviṣṭaḥ sva-puraṃ halāyudhaḥ $ sametya bandhūn anurakta-cetasaḥ &

Then, having entered his own city, the plow-wielding hero, / meeting his devoted relatives,

53. Then, on his return to his city, Balarama met all his affectionate relations and in the council-hall narrated to the great Yadavas, how he dealt with the Kurus.

10.68.53

śaśaṃsa sarvaṃ yadu-puṅgavānāṃ % madhye sabhāyāṃ kuruṣu sva-ceṣṭitam //

recounted in full his exploits among the Kurus / in the midst of the assembly of the foremost of the Yadus.

10.68.54

adyāpi ca puraṃ hy etat sūcayad rāma-vikramam /
samunnataṃ dakṣiṇato gaṅgāyām anudṛśyate //

And even today, that city, indicating the valor of Rāma, / is seen prominently elevated on the south side along the Gaṅgā.

54. Even now the city indicates this supreme exploit of Balarama, being raised high on the south and sloping down the Ganga.