Bhishma Recounts Krishna's Deeds

Verse 1 (2.61.1)

सूदिता द्वारपालाश्च निशुम्भनरकौ हतौ । कृतक्षेमः पुनः पन्थाः पुरं प्राग्ज्योतिषं प्रति ॥

sūditā dvārapālāśca niśumbhanarakau hatau | kṛtakṣemaḥ punaḥ panthāḥ puraṃ prāgjyotiṣaṃ prati

The gatekeepers were slain, Nishumbha and Naraka were killed, and the road to the city of Pragjyotisha was made safe once more.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1536–1537.

Verse 2 (2.61.2)

शौरिणा पृथिवीपालास्त्रासिता भरतर्षभ । धनुषश्च प्रणादेन पाञ्चजन्यस्वनेन च ॥

śauriṇā pṛthivīpālāstrāsitā bharatarṣabha | dhanuṣaśca praṇādena pāñcajanyasvanena ca

Shauri terrified the kings of the earth, O bull among the Bharatas, with the twang of his bow and the blast of his conch Panchajanya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1538–1539.

Verse 3 (2.61.3)

मेघप्रख्यैरनेकैश्च दाक्षिणात्याभिसंवृतम् । रुक्मिणं त्रासयामास केशवो भरतर्षभ ॥

meghaprakhyairanekaiśca dākṣiṇātyābhisaṃvṛtam | rukmiṇaṃ trāsayāmāsa keśavo bharatarṣabha

Keshava struck terror into Rukmin, O bull among the Bharatas, though he was surrounded by many cloud-like hosts of southerners.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1540–1541.

Verse 4 (2.61.4)

ततः पर्जन्यघोषेण रथेनादित्यवर्चसा । उवाह महिषीं भोज्यामेष चक्रगदाधरः ॥

tataḥ parjanyaghoṣeṇa rathenādityavarcasā | uvāha mahiṣīṃ bhojyāmeṣa cakragadādharaḥ

Then this bearer of discus and mace carried off the Bhoja princess to be his queen, in a chariot that thundered like a rain cloud and shone like the sun.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1542–1543.

Verse 5 (2.61.5)

जारूथ्य आहृतक्रोधः शिशुपालश्च निर्जितः । वक्रश्च स हतः सङ्ख्ये शतधन्वा च क्षत्रियः ॥

jārūthya āhṛtakrodhaḥ śiśupālaśca nirjitaḥ | vakraśca sa hataḥ saṅkhye śatadhanvā ca kṣatriyaḥ

The lord of Jarutha had his fury quelled and Shishupala was defeated; Vakra was slain in battle, and so was the kshatriya Shatadhanvan.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1544–1545. The base text's first line differs from the appendix (jārūthyām āhṛtiḥ krāthaḥ).

Verse 6 (2.61.6)

इन्द्रद्युम्नो हतः कोपाद्यवनश्च कशेरुकः । हतः सौभपतिश्चैव साल्वश्च कृतधन्वना ॥

indradyumno hataḥ kopādyavanaśca kaśerukaḥ | hataḥ saubhapatiścaiva sālvaśca kṛtadhanvanā

In his wrath he slew Indradyumna and Kasheruka the Yavana; the lord of Saubha, Shalva, was slain as well, together with Kritadhanvan.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1546–1547.

Verse 7 (2.61.7)

पर्वतानां सहस्रं च चक्रेण पुरुषोत्तमः । विभज्य पुण्डरीकाक्षो द्युमत्सेनमपोथयत् ॥

parvatānāṃ sahasraṃ ca cakreṇa puruṣottamaḥ | vibhajya puṇḍarīkākṣo dyumatsenamapothayat

With his discus the lotus-eyed Supreme Person split a thousand mountains apart and struck down Dyumatsena.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1548–1549.

Verse 8 (2.61.8)

महेन्द्रशिखरे चैव निमेषान्तरचारिणौ । जग्राह भरतश्रेष्ठ वानरावभितश्चरौ ॥

mahendraśikhare caiva nimeṣāntaracāriṇau | jagrāha bharataśreṣṭha vānarāvabhitaścarau

On the peak of Mahendra, O best of the Bharatas, he seized two monkeys that roamed about there, moving in the twinkling of an eye.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1550–1551.

Verse 9 (2.61.9)

इरावत्यां महाभोजो वह्निसूर्यसमो बले । गोपतिस्तालकेतुश्च निहतौ शार्ङ्गधन्वना ॥

irāvatyāṃ mahābhojo vahnisūryasamo bale | gopatistālaketuśca nihatau śārṅgadhanvanā

On the Iravati, Gopati and Talaketu, great Bhojas equal in strength to fire and the sun, were both slain by the wielder of the Sharnga bow.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1552–1553.

Verse 10 (2.61.10)

अक्षप्रपत्तने राजन्नवहेलनतत्परौ । उभौ तावपि कृष्णेन स्वराष्ट्रे विनिपातितौ ॥

akṣaprapattane rājannavahelanatatparau | ubhau tāvapi kṛṣṇena svarāṣṭre vinipātitau

At Akshaprapattana, O king, two who were bent on insolence were both struck down by Krishna in their own kingdom.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1554–1555.

Verse 11 (2.61.11)

दग्धा वाराणसी तात केशवेन महात्मना । पाण्ड्यं पौण्ड्रं च मात्स्यं च कलिङ्गं च जनार्दनः ॥

dagdhā vārāṇasī tāta keśavena mahātmanā | pāṇḍyaṃ pauṇḍraṃ ca mātsyaṃ ca kaliṅgaṃ ca janārdanaḥ

The great-souled Keshava burned Varanasi, dear one. The Pandya, the Paundra, the Matsya and the Kalinga, all of them together,

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1556 and 1563. Between these two lines the appendix has six more (1557–1562: the lord of Kashi, Pragjyotisha, Varuna and the Parijata tree) that the base text lacks; the sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 12 (2.61.12)

जघान सहितान्सर्वानङ्गराजं च माधवः ॥

jaghāna sahitānsarvānaṅgarājaṃ ca mādhavaḥ

Janardana, Madhava, slew, and the king of Anga too.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1564. The base text prints this single line as a verse of its own.

Verse 13 (2.61.13)

एष चैव शतं हत्वा रथेन क्षत्रपुङ्गवान् । गान्धारीमवहत्कृष्णो महिषीं यादवर्षभः ॥

eṣa caiva śataṃ hatvā rathena kṣatrapuṅgavān | gāndhārīmavahatkṛṣṇo mahiṣīṃ yādavarṣabhaḥ

This Krishna, bull of the Yadavas, slew a hundred foremost kshatriyas from his chariot and carried off the Gandhara princess to be his queen.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1565–1566.

Verse 14 (2.61.14)

अथ गाण्डीवधन्वानं क्रीडार्थं मधुसूदनः । जिगाय भरतश्रेष्ठ कुन्त्याश्च प्रमुखे विभुः ॥

atha gāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ krīḍārthaṃ madhusūdanaḥ | jigāya bharataśreṣṭha kuntyāśca pramukhe vibhuḥ

And in sport, O best of the Bharatas, the lord Madhusudana defeated the wielder of the Gandiva in the presence of Kunti.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1567–1568.

Verse 15 (2.61.15)

द्रौणिं कृपं च कर्णं च भीमसेनं सुयोधनम् । युद्धाय सहितान्राजञ्जिगाय भरतर्षभ ॥

drauṇiṃ kṛpaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca bhīmasenaṃ suyodhanam | yuddhāya sahitānrājañjigāya bharatarṣabha

Drona's son, Kripa, Karna, Bhimasena and Suyodhana: he defeated them all together in battle, O king, bull among the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1569–1570. Corrected सहितान्त्राजञ्जिगाय → सहितान्राजञ्जिगाय (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त् in the sandhi of सहितान् राजन्).

Verse 16 (2.61.16)

बभ्रोश्च प्रियमन्विच्छन्नेष चक्रगदाधरः । वेणुदारिवृतां भार्यां प्रममाथ युधिष्ठिर ॥

babhrośca priyamanvicchanneṣa cakragadādharaḥ | veṇudārivṛtāṃ bhāryāṃ pramamātha yudhiṣṭhira

Seeking to please Babhru, this bearer of discus and mace snatched back by force the wife whom Venudari had taken, Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1571–1572.

Verse 17 (2.61.17)

पर्याप्तां पृथिवीं सर्वां साश्वां सरथकुञ्जराम् । वेणुदारिवशे युक्तां जिगाय मधुसूदनः ॥

paryāptāṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ sāśvāṃ sarathakuñjarām | veṇudārivaśe yuktāṃ jigāya madhusūdanaḥ

Madhusudana conquered the whole wide earth that lay under Venudari's sway, with its horses, chariots and elephants.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1573–1574.

Verse 18 (2.61.18)

अवाप्य तपसा वीर्यं बलमोजश्च भारत । त्रासिताः सगणाः सर्वे बाणेन विबुधाधिपाः ॥

avāpya tapasā vīryaṃ balamojaśca bhārata | trāsitāḥ sagaṇāḥ sarve bāṇena vibudhādhipāḥ

Having gained valour, strength and vigour by austerity, O Bharata, Bana had terrified all the lords of the gods together with their hosts.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1575–1576.

Verse 19 (2.61.19)

वज्राशनिगदापाशैस्ताडयद्भिरनेकशः । तस्य नासीद्रणे मृत्युर्देवैरपि सवासवैः ॥

vajrāśanigadāpāśaistāḍayadbhiranekaśaḥ | tasya nāsīdraṇe mṛtyurdevairapi savāsavaiḥ

Though the gods struck at him again and again with thunderbolts, lightning, maces and nooses, death did not come to him in battle even from the gods with Indra.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1577–1578. Corrected गदाबामैस् → गदापाशैस् (misprint in Wikisource; बामैः is not a word; the appendix reads gadāpāśais, "maces and nooses").

Verse 20 (2.61.20)

सोऽभिभूतश्च कृष्णेन न हतश्च महात्मना । छित्वा बाहुसहस्रं तु गोविन्देन महात्मना ॥

so'bhibhūtaśca kṛṣṇena na hataśca mahātmanā | chitvā bāhusahasraṃ tu govindena mahātmanā

He was overpowered by Krishna, yet the great-souled one did not kill him; the great-souled Govinda cut off his thousand arms.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1579–1580. Corrected मगात्मना → महात्मना (misprint in Wikisource; as in the appendix and the next line). The base text's न हतश्च ("and not slain") is kept; the appendix reads nihataś ca.

Verse 21 (2.61.21)

एष पीठं महाबाहुः कंसं च मधुसूदनः । अवाप्तं तपसा वीर्यं बलमोजश्च भारत । कैटभं चातिलोमानं निजघान जनार्दनः ॥

eṣa pīṭhaṃ mahābāhuḥ kaṃsaṃ ca madhusūdanaḥ | avāptaṃ tapasā vīryaṃ balamojaśca bhārata | kaiṭabhaṃ cātilomānaṃ nijaghāna janārdanaḥ

This mighty-armed Madhusudana slew Pitha and Kamsa; and, for all the valour, strength and vigour they had won by austerity, O Bharata, Janardana slew Kaitabha and Atiloman.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1581–1582. Corrected एषोऽपीडन् → एष पीठं (misprint in Wikisource; a plural verb with a singular subject, where the appendix names the demon Pitha) and चातिलोमानि → चातिलोमानं (misprint; the accusative of the name Atiloman). The middle line repeats verse 18's first line and is absent from the appendix here; it is kept as printed.

Verse 22 (2.61.22)

जम्भमैरावतं चैव विरूपं च महायशाः । जघान भरतश्रेष्ठ शम्बरं चारिमर्दनम् ॥

jambhamairāvataṃ caiva virūpaṃ ca mahāyaśāḥ | jaghāna bharataśreṣṭha śambaraṃ cārimardanam

The glorious one also slew Jambha, Airavata and Virupa, O best of the Bharatas, and Shambara, crusher of foes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1583–1584. Corrected जम्बुमैरावतं → जम्भमैरावतं (misprint in Wikisource; the demon Jambha) and घान → जघान (dropped akshara; the line was a syllable short); both as in the appendix.

Verse 23 (2.61.23)

एष भोगवतीं गत्वा वासुकिं भरतर्षभ । निर्जित्य पुण्डरीकाक्षो रौक्मिणेयममोचयत् ॥

eṣa bhogavatīṃ gatvā vāsukiṃ bharatarṣabha | nirjitya puṇḍarīkākṣo raukmiṇeyamamocayat

This lotus-eyed one went to Bhogavati, O bull among the Bharatas, defeated Vasuki and set free Rukmini's son.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1585–1586.

Verse 24 (2.61.24)

एवं बहूनि कर्माणि शिशुरेव जनार्दनः । कृतवान्पुण्डरीकाक्षः सङ्कर्षणसहायवान् ॥

evaṃ bahūni karmāṇi śiśureva janārdanaḥ | kṛtavānpuṇḍarīkākṣaḥ saṅkarṣaṇasahāyavān

Thus the lotus-eyed Janardana did many deeds while still a child, with Sankarshana at his side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1587–1588.

Verse 25 (2.61.25)

एवमेषोऽसुराणां च सुराणामपि सर्वशः । भयामयकरः कृष्णः सर्वलोकेश्वरः प्रभुः ॥

evameṣo'surāṇāṃ ca surāṇāmapi sarvaśaḥ | bhayāmayakaraḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sarvalokeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Thus Krishna, the lord, master of all the worlds, brings fear and affliction upon asuras and gods alike, in every way.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1589–1590. Restored the word break in च सुराणामपि (run together in Wikisource).

Verse 26 (2.61.26)

एवमेव महाबाहुः शास्ता सर्वदुरात्मनाम् । कृत्वा देवार्थममितं स्वस्थानं प्राप्स्यते पुनः ॥

evameva mahābāhuḥ śāstā sarvadurātmanām | kṛtvā devārthamamitaṃ svasthānaṃ prāpsyate punaḥ

Even so this mighty-armed one, the chastiser of all the wicked, will accomplish the boundless purpose of the gods and then return to his own abode.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1591–1592.

Verse 27 (2.61.27)

एष भोगवतीं पुण्यां रविकान्तिं महायशाः । द्वारकामात्मसात्कृत्वा सागरं प्लावयिष्यति ॥

eṣa bhogavatīṃ puṇyāṃ ravikāntiṃ mahāyaśāḥ | dvārakāmātmasātkṛtvā sāgaraṃ plāvayiṣyati

This glorious one, having made Dvaraka his own, holy as Bhogavati and radiant as the sun, will at last let the ocean flood it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1593–1594 (with 1598). The appendix has four more lines on Dvaraka here (1595–1598); the base text ends the verse with the last of them, "the sea will flood it".

Verse 28 (2.61.28)

सुरासुरमनुष्येषु नाभून्न भविता क्वचित् । यस्तामध्यवसद्राजा नान्यत्र मधुसूदनात् ॥

surāsuramanuṣyeṣu nābhūnna bhavitā kvacit | yastāmadhyavasadrājā nānyatra madhusūdanāt

Among gods, asuras and men there has never been, nor ever will be, a king who dwelt in it, other than Madhusudana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1599–1600.

Verse 29 (2.61.29)

भ्राजमानास्तु वै सर्वे वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथाः । तेजिष्ठं प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते नाकपृष्ठं गतासवः ॥

bhrājamānāstu vai sarve vṛṣṇyandhakamahārathāḥ | tejiṣṭhaṃ pratipatsyante nākapṛṣṭhaṃ gatāsavaḥ

And all the great chariot-warriors of the Vrishnis and Andhakas, shining, will reach the most radiant vault of heaven when their lives depart.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1601–1602. Corrected नाकपृष्टं → नाकपृष्ठं (misprint in Wikisource; "the vault of heaven", as in the appendix).

Verse 30 (2.61.30)

एवमेव दशार्हाणां विधाय विधिना विधिम् । विष्णुर्नारायणः साक्षात्स्वस्थानं प्राप्स्यते ध्रुवम् ॥

evameva daśārhāṇāṃ vidhāya vidhinā vidhim | viṣṇurnārāyaṇaḥ sākṣātsvasthānaṃ prāpsyate dhruvam

Having thus ordained by due rule the order of the Dasharhas, Vishnu, Narayana himself, will surely return to his own abode.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1603–1604.

Verse 31 (2.61.31)

अप्रमेयोऽनियोज्यश्च यत्र कामगमो वशी । मोदते भगवान्प्रीतो बालः क्रीडानकैरिव ॥

aprameyo'niyojyaśca yatra kāmagamo vaśī | modate bhagavānprīto bālaḥ krīḍānakairiva

There the Blessed Lord, immeasurable, subject to no one, self-controlled, going where he wills, delights at ease like a child with his toys.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1605–1606. Corrected वालः → बालः (misprint in Wikisource; "a child", as in the appendix).

Verse 32 (2.61.32)

नैष गर्भत्वमापेदे न योन्यामावसत्प्रभुः । आत्मनस्तेजसा कृष्णः सर्वेषां कुरुते गतिम् ॥

naiṣa garbhatvamāpede na yonyāmāvasatprabhuḥ | ātmanastejasā kṛṣṇaḥ sarveṣāṃ kurute gatim

This lord never became an embryo nor dwelt in a womb; by his own radiance Krishna shapes the course of all beings.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1607–1608.

Verse 33 (2.61.33)

यथा बुद्बुद उत्थाय तत्रैव प्रविलीयते । चराचराणि भूतानि तथा नारायणे सदा ॥

yathā budbuda utthāya tatraiva pravilīyate | carācarāṇi bhūtāni tathā nārāyaṇe sadā

As a bubble rises and dissolves again in the very water it came from, so all beings, moving and unmoving, rise and dissolve in Narayana for ever.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1609–1610.

Verse 34 (2.61.34)

न प्रमातुं महाबाहुः शक्यो भारत केशवः । परं हि परतस्तस्माद्विश्वरूपान्न विद्यते ॥

na pramātuṃ mahābāhuḥ śakyo bhārata keśavaḥ | paraṃ hi paratastasmādviśvarūpānna vidyate

Mighty-armed Keshava cannot be measured, O Bharata; there is nothing higher beyond him, the one whose form is the universe.

Note on the text: Not in the critical-edition text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives the passage in Appendix I, No. 21 (after 2.35.29), lines 1611–1612.