Krishna's Schooling and the Slaying of Kamsa

Verse 1 (2.54.1)

ततस्तौ जग्मतुस्तत्र गुरुं सान्दीपिनिं पुनः । गुरुशुश्रूषणायुक्तौ धर्मज्ञौ धर्मचारिणौ ॥

tatastau jagmatustatra guruṃ sāndīpiniṃ punaḥ | guruśuśrūṣaṇāyuktau dharmajñau dharmacāriṇau

Then the two of them went once more to their teacher Sandipani, devoted to serving their guru, knowers of dharma who lived by dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 857–858.

Verse 2 (2.54.2)

व्रतमुग्रं महात्मानौ विचरन्ताववन्तिषु । अहोरात्रैश्चतुष्पष्ट्या साङ्गान्वेदानवापतुः ॥

vratamugraṃ mahātmānau vicarantāvavantiṣu | ahorātraiścatuṣpaṣṭyā sāṅgānvedānavāpatuḥ

Keeping a stern vow, the two great-souled ones lived among the Avantis, and in sixty-four days and nights they mastered the Vedas together with their auxiliary limbs.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 859–860.

Verse 3 (2.54.3)

लेख्यं च गणितं चोभौ प्राप्नुतां यदुनन्दनौ । गान्धर्ववेदं वैद्यं च सकलं समवापतुः ॥

lekhyaṃ ca gaṇitaṃ cobhau prāpnutāṃ yadunandanau | gāndharvavedaṃ vaidyaṃ ca sakalaṃ samavāpatuḥ

The two delights of the Yadus also learned writing and arithmetic, and they mastered in full the Gandharva Veda, the science of music, and the science of medicine.

Note on the text: Corrected समावापतुः → समवापतुः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray long ā; the form is sam-ava-āp, as in the CE's samavāpatuḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 861–862.

Verse 4 (2.54.4)

हस्तिशिक्षामश्वशिक्षां द्वादशाहेन चाप्नुताम् । तावुभौ जग्मतुर्वीरौ गुरुं सान्दीपिनिं पुनः ॥

hastiśikṣāmaśvaśikṣāṃ dvādaśāhena cāpnutām | tāvubhau jagmaturvīrau guruṃ sāndīpiniṃ punaḥ

In twelve days they learned the training of elephants and the training of horses. Then the two heroes went once again to their teacher Sandipani,

Note on the text: Corrected अश्विशिक्षां → अश्वशिक्षां (misprint in Wikisource; the training of horses, aśva-, not of the Ashvins; CE aśvaśikṣāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 863–864.

Verse 5 (2.54.5)

धनुर्वेदचिकीर्षार्थं धर्मज्ञौ धर्मचारिणौ । ताविष्वासवराचार्यमभिगम्य प्रणम्य च ॥

dhanurvedacikīrṣārthaṃ dharmajñau dharmacāriṇau | tāviṣvāsavarācāryamabhigamya praṇamya ca

wishing to learn the science of archery, those knowers of dharma who lived by dharma. They approached that foremost teacher of the bow and bowed before him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 865–866.

Verse 6 (2.54.6)

तेन वै सत्कृतौ राजंश्चरन्तौ ताववन्तिषु । पञ्चाशद्भिरहोरात्रैर्दशाङ्गं सुप्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

tena vai satkṛtau rājaṃścarantau tāvavantiṣu | pañcāśadbhirahorātrairdaśāṅgaṃ supratiṣṭhitam

Honoured by him, O king, the two lived among the Avantis, and in fifty days and nights they acquired the science of archery in its ten branches, firmly established,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 867–868.

Verse 7 (2.54.7)

सरहस्यं धनुर्वेदं सकलं ताववापतुः । दृष्ट्वा कृतार्थो विप्रेन्द्रो गुर्वर्थे तावचोदयत् ॥

sarahasyaṃ dhanurvedaṃ sakalaṃ tāvavāpatuḥ | dṛṣṭvā kṛtārtho viprendro gurvarthe tāvacodayat

the whole of archery together with its secrets. Seeing this, the foremost of brahmins was satisfied, and he pressed the two for his teacher's fee.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 869–870.

Verse 8 (2.54.8)

अयाचतार्थं गोविन्दं तदा सान्दीपिनिर्विभुम् । मम पुत्रः समुद्रेऽस्मिंस्तिमिना चापवाहितः ॥

ayācatārthaṃ govindaṃ tadā sāndīpinirvibhum | mama putraḥ samudre'smiṃstiminā cāpavāhitaḥ

Then Sandipani asked the mighty Govinda for this payment: "My son was carried off in this ocean by a great fish.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 871–872.

Verse 9 (2.54.9)

पुत्रमानय भद्रं ते भक्षितं तिमिना मम । आर्ताय गुरवे तत्र प्रतिशुश्राव दुष्करम् ॥

putramānaya bhadraṃ te bhakṣitaṃ timinā mama | ārtāya gurave tatra pratiśuśrāva duṣkaram

Bring back my son, whom the great fish devoured; may good befall you." To his grieving teacher Krishna there promised a deed hard to do,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 873–874.

Verse 10 (2.54.10)

अशक्यं सर्वभूतेषु कर्तुमन्येन केनचित् । यश्च सान्दीपिनेः पुत्रं जहार भरतर्षभ ॥

aśakyaṃ sarvabhūteṣu kartumanyena kenacit | yaśca sāndīpineḥ putraṃ jahāra bharatarṣabha

one that no other among all beings could have done. And the one who had carried off Sandipani's son, O bull of the Bharatas,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 875–876.

Verse 11 (2.54.11)

सोऽसुरः समरे ताभ्यां समुद्रे विनिपातितः । ततः सान्दीपिनेः पुत्रः प्रसादादमितौजसः ॥

so'suraḥ samare tābhyāṃ samudre vinipātitaḥ | tataḥ sāndīpineḥ putraḥ prasādādamitaujasaḥ

that asura was struck down by the two of them in battle in the ocean. Then, by the grace of the one of boundless might, Sandipani's son,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 877–878.

Verse 12 (2.54.12)

दीर्घकालं कृतः प्रेतः पुनरासीच्छरीरवान् । तदशक्यमचिन्त्यं च दृष्ट्वा सुमहदद्भुतम् ॥

dīrghakālaṃ kṛtaḥ pretaḥ punarāsīccharīravān | tadaśakyamacintyaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā sumahadadbhutam

who had been dead for a long time, came back in bodily form. Seeing that impossible, unthinkable and very great wonder,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 879–880.

Verse 13 (2.54.13)

सर्वेषामेव भूतानां विस्मयः समजायत । आसनानि च सर्वाणि गवाश्वं च धनादिकम् ॥

sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ vismayaḥ samajāyata | āsanāni ca sarvāṇi gavāśvaṃ ca dhanādikam

all beings were filled with amazement. Seats of every kind, cattle and horses, wealth and the like,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 881–882.

Verse 14 (2.54.14)

सर्वं तदुपजह्राते गुरवे रामकेशवौ । गदापरिघयुद्धे च सर्वास्त्रेषु च केशवः ॥

sarvaṃ tadupajahrāte gurave rāmakeśavau | gadāparighayuddhe ca sarvāstreṣu ca keśavaḥ

all of it Rama and Keshava presented to their teacher. In fighting with mace and iron club, and in every kind of weapon, Keshava

Note on the text: Corrected उपजहाते → उपजह्राते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र् of the perfect of upa-hṛ; CE upajahrāte). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 883–884.

Verse 15 (2.54.15)

परमां मुख्यतां प्राप्तः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः । कश्च नारायणादन्यः सर्वरत्नविभूषितम् ॥

paramāṃ mukhyatāṃ prāptaḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutaḥ | kaśca nārāyaṇādanyaḥ sarvaratnavibhūṣitam

attained the very first place and became renowned in all the worlds. Who other than Narayana could mount the chariot of Shachi's lord, adorned with every jewel

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 885–886.

Verse 16 (2.54.16)

रथमादित्यसङ्काशमातिष्ठेत शचीपतेः । कस्य चाप्रतिमो यन्ता वज्रपाणेः प्रियः सखा ॥

rathamādityasaṅkāśamātiṣṭheta śacīpateḥ | kasya cāpratimo yantā vajrapāṇeḥ priyaḥ sakhā

and bright as the sun? And for whom would the matchless charioteer, the dear friend of the wielder of the thunderbolt,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 887–888.

Verse 17 (2.54.17)

मातलिः सङ्गृहीता स्यादन्यत्र पुरुषोत्तमात् । भोजराजात्मजो वापि कंसस्तात युधिष्ठिर ॥

mātaliḥ saṅgṛhītā syādanyatra puruṣottamāt | bhojarājātmajo vāpi kaṃsastāta yudhiṣṭhira

Matali, take the reins, other than for the Supreme Person? Kamsa too, son of the Bhoja king, my dear Yudhishthira,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 889–890.

Verse 18 (2.54.18)

अस्त्रजाते बले वीर्ये कार्तवीर्यसमोऽभवत् । तस्य भोजपतेः पुत्राद्भोजराजन्यवर्धनात् ॥

astrajāte bale vīrye kārtavīryasamo'bhavat | tasya bhojapateḥ putrādbhojarājanyavardhanāt

was the equal of Kartavirya in the whole range of weapons, in strength and in valour. Before that son of the Bhoja lord, who raised up the Bhoja nobility,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 891–892.

Verse 19 (2.54.19)

उद्विजन्ते स्म राजानः सुपर्णादिव पन्नगाः । चित्रकार्मुकनिस्त्रिंशविमलप्रासयोधिनः ॥

udvijante sma rājānaḥ suparṇādiva pannagāḥ | citrakārmukanistriṃśavimalaprāsayodhinaḥ

kings trembled as serpents tremble before Suparna. Fighting with bright bows, swords and gleaming lances,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 893–894.

Verse 20 (2.54.20)

शतं शतसहस्राणि पादातास्तस्य भारत । अष्टौ शतसहस्राणि शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम् ॥

śataṃ śatasahasrāṇi pādātāstasya bhārata | aṣṭau śatasahasrāṇi śūrāṇāmanivartinām

his foot-soldiers numbered a hundred hundred-thousands, O Bharata, and eight hundred thousand of them were heroes who never turned back.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 895–896.

Verse 21 (2.54.21)

अभवन्भोजराजस्य जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः । रुक्मकाञ्चनकक्ष्यास्तु रथास्तस्य युधिष्ठिर ॥

abhavanbhojarājasya jāmbūnadamayā dhvajāḥ | rukmakāñcanakakṣyāstu rathāstasya yudhiṣṭhira

The Bhoja king's banners were made of Jambunada gold, and his chariots, O Yudhishthira, had girths of bright gold.

Note on the text: Corrected युधिष्ठि → युधिष्ठिर (misprint in Wikisource; final akshara dropped, leaving the line a syllable short). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 897–898.

Verse 22 (2.54.22)

अभवन्भोजपुत्रस्य द्विपास्तावद्धि तद्बलम् । चित्रकार्मुकनिस्त्रिंशविमलप्रासयोधिनाम् ॥

abhavanbhojaputrasya dvipāstāvaddhi tadbalam | citrakārmukanistriṃśavimalaprāsayodhinām

The Bhoja king's son had elephants in the same number; such was his force of warriors fighting with bright bows, swords and gleaming lances.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); in the CE's Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), the first line is close to line 903 and the second repeats line 894.

Verse 23 (2.54.23)

षोडशाश्वसहस्राणि किंशुकाभानि तस्य वै । अपरस्तु महाव्यूहः किशोराणां युधिष्ठिर ॥

ṣoḍaśāśvasahasrāṇi kiṃśukābhāni tasya vai | aparastu mahāvyūhaḥ kiśorāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira

He had sixteen thousand horses the colour of kimshuka blossoms, and another great array of young horses, O Yudhishthira,

Note on the text: Corrected किशोरणां → किशोराणां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā, leaving the line a syllable short; CE kiśorāṇāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 904–905.

Verse 24 (2.54.24)

आरोहवरसम्पन्नो दुर्धर्षः केनचिद्बलात् । स च षोडशसाहस्रः कंसभ्रातृपुरःसरः ॥

ārohavarasampanno durdharṣaḥ kenacidbalāt | sa ca ṣoḍaśasāhasraḥ kaṃsabhrātṛpuraḥsaraḥ

furnished with the best riders and not to be overcome by any force. That body of sixteen thousand, led by Kamsa's brother

Note on the text: Corrected केनचिद्बलान् → केनचिद्बलात् (misprint in Wikisource; 'by any force' needs the ablative; CE kena cid balāt) and joined पुरः सरः → पुरःसरः (one compound, wrongly split). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 906–907.

Verse 25 (2.54.25)

सुनामा सर्वतस्त्वेनं स कंसं पर्यपालयत् । सगणो मिश्रको नाम षष्टिसाहस्र उच्यते ॥

sunāmā sarvatastvenaṃ sa kaṃsaṃ paryapālayat | sagaṇo miśrako nāma ṣaṣṭisāhasra ucyate

Sunaman, guarded Kamsa on every side. The troop called Mishraka, the Mixed Band, is said to number sixty thousand.

Note on the text: Corrected षष्टिमसाहस्र → षष्टिसाहस्र (misprint in Wikisource; a stray म makes the line a syllable too long; CE ṣaṣṭisāhasra). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 908–910.

Verse 26 (2.54.26)

कंसरोषमहावेगां ध्वजानूपमहाद्रुमाम् । मत्तद्विपमहाग्राहां वैवस्वतवशानुगाम् ॥

kaṃsaroṣamahāvegāṃ dhvajānūpamahādrumām | mattadvipamahāgrāhāṃ vaivasvatavaśānugām

That river of great battle had Kamsa's wrath for its mighty current, banners for the great trees along its banks, maddened elephants for its great crocodiles, and it flowed at the bidding of Vaivasvata, lord of death;

Note on the text: Corrected वैवस्वतवशानुगाम् → ध्वजानूपमहाद्रुमाम् in the first line (misprint in Wikisource; the copyist repeated the second line's last quarter, so the river image loses its banks; the CE's appendix line 911 reads dhvajānūpamahādrumām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 911–912.

Verse 27 (2.54.27)

शस्त्रजालमहाफेनां सादिवेगमहाजलाम् । गदापरिघपाठीनां नानाकवचशैवलाम् ॥

śastrajālamahāphenāṃ sādivegamahājalām | gadāparighapāṭhīnāṃ nānākavacaśaivalām

masses of weapons were its great foam, the rush of horsemen its great waters, maces and iron clubs its pathina fish, armour of many kinds its moss;

Note on the text: Corrected शस्रजाल → शस्त्रजाल (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 913–914.

Verse 28 (2.54.28)

रथनागमहावर्तां नानारुधिरकर्दमाम् । चित्रकार्मुककल्लोलां रथाश्वकलिलह्रदाम् ॥

rathanāgamahāvartāṃ nānārudhirakardamām | citrakārmukakallolāṃ rathāśvakalilahradām

chariots and elephants were its great whirlpools, the blood of many its mire, bright bows its billows, and its pools were thick with chariots and horses.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 915–916.

Verse 29 (2.54.29)

महामृधनदीं घोरां योधावर्तननिस्वनाम् । कोऽन्यो नारायणादेत्य कंसहन्ता युधिष्ठिर ॥

mahāmṛdhanadīṃ ghorāṃ yodhāvartananisvanām | ko'nyo nārāyaṇādetya kaṃsahantā yudhiṣṭhira

Who other than Narayana could come upon that dreadful river of great battle, roaring with the tumult of warriors, and slay Kamsa, O Yudhishthira?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 917–918.

Verse 30 (2.54.30)

एष शक्ररथे तिष्ठंस्तान्यनीकानि भारत । व्यधमद्भोजपुत्रस्य महाभ्राणीव मारुतः ॥

eṣa śakrarathe tiṣṭhaṃstānyanīkāni bhārata | vyadhamadbhojaputrasya mahābhrāṇīva mārutaḥ

Standing in Shakra's chariot, he scattered those armies of the Bhoja king's son, O Bharata, as the wind scatters great clouds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 919–920.

Verse 31 (2.54.31)

तं सभास्थं सहामात्यं हत्वा कंसं सहान्वयम् । आनयामास मानार्हां देवकीं ससुहृद्गणाम् ॥

taṃ sabhāsthaṃ sahāmātyaṃ hatvā kaṃsaṃ sahānvayam | ānayāmāsa mānārhāṃ devakīṃ sasuhṛdgaṇām

Having slain Kamsa in his assembly hall, together with his ministers and all his line, he brought home Devaki, who deserved all honour, with her circle of friends.

Note on the text: Corrected समुहृद्गणाम् → ससुहृद्गणाम् (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; 'with her circle of friends', CE sasuhṛdgaṇām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 921–922.

Verse 32 (2.54.32)

यशोदां रोहिणीं चैव अभिवाद्य पुनः पुनः । उग्रसेनं च राजानमभिषिच्य जनार्दनः ॥

yaśodāṃ rohiṇīṃ caiva abhivādya punaḥ punaḥ | ugrasenaṃ ca rājānamabhiṣicya janārdanaḥ

Janardana greeted Yashoda and Rohini with reverence again and again, and consecrated Ugrasena as king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 923–924.

Verse 33 (2.54.33)

अर्चितो यदुमुख्यैश्च भगवान्वासवानुजः । ततः पार्थिवमायान्तं सहितं सर्वराजभिः । सरस्वत्यां जरासन्धमजयत्पुरुषोत्तमः ॥

arcito yadumukhyaiśca bhagavānvāsavānujaḥ | tataḥ pārthivamāyāntaṃ sahitaṃ sarvarājabhiḥ | sarasvatyāṃ jarāsandhamajayatpuruṣottamaḥ

Honoured by the chief men of the Yadus, the blessed younger brother of Vasava, the Supreme Person, then defeated Jarasandha on the Sarasvati when he came against him with all the kings.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (inserted after 2.35.29), lines 925–927.