The Advent of Lord Krishna: Introduction

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.1.1)

श्रीराजोवाच कथितो वंशविस्तारो भवता सोमसूर्ययोः । राज्ञां चोभयवंश्यानां चरितं परमाद्भुतम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca kathito vaṁśa-vistāro bhavatā soma-sūryayoḥ rājñāṁ cobhaya-vaṁśyānāṁ caritaṁ paramādbhutam

King Parikshit said: You have described the extension of both the lunar and solar dynasties, and the most wonderful conduct of the kings of both these lines.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.1.2)

यदोश्च धर्मशीलस्य नितरां मुनिसत्तम । तत्रांशेनावतीर्णस्य विष्णोर्वीर्याणि शंस नः ॥ २ ॥

yadoś ca dharma-śīlasya nitarāṁ muni-sattama tatrāṁśenāvatīrṇasya viṣṇor vīryāṇi śaṁsa naḥ

O best of sages, you have also told of the righteous dynasty of Yadu. Now, please, tell me of the mighty deeds of Bhagavan Vishnu, who descended into that dynasty as a partial manifestation.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.1.3)

अवतीर्य यदोर्वंशे भगवान् भूतभावनः । कृतवान् यानि विश्वात्मा तानि नो वद विस्तरात् ॥ ३ ॥

avatīrya yador vaṁśe bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ kṛtavān yāni viśvātmā tāni no vada vistarāt

The Supreme Lord, the soul of the universe and the origin of all beings, descended into the Yadu dynasty — please tell me in full detail all that He did there.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.1.4)

निवृत्ततर्षैरुपगीयमानाद्भवौषधाच्छ्रोत्रमनोऽभिरामात् । क उत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवादात्पुमान् विरज्येत विना पशुघ्नात् ॥ ४ ॥

nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt

That narration, sung by pure souls free of craving, is the very medicine for the disease of material existence and delights both ear and mind — what person, other than one who slaughters his own self, could ever turn away from such glorification of the Lord of auspicious renown?

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.1.5)

पितामहा मे समरेऽमरञ्जयै-र्देवव्रताद्यातिरथैस्तिमिङ्गिलैः । दुरत्ययं कौरवसैन्यसागरं कृत्वातरन् वत्सपदं स्म यत्प्लवाः ॥ ५ ॥

pitāmahā me samare ’marañjayair devavratādyātirathais timiṅgilaiḥ duratyayaṁ kaurava-sainya-sāgaraṁ kṛtvātaran vatsa-padaṁ sma yat-plavāḥ

In that ocean of the Kaurava army, so hard to cross, where great warriors like Devavrata Bhishma were like huge sea-monsters, my grandfathers, Arjuna and the others, crossed over as easily as one steps across a calf's hoofprint.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.1.6)

द्रौण्यस्त्रविप्लुष्टमिदं मदङ्गंसन्तानबीजं कुरुपाण्डवानाम् । जुगोप कुक्षिं गत आत्तचक्रोमातुश्च मे यः शरणं गतायाः ॥ ६ ॥

drauṇy-astra-vipluṣṭam idaṁ mad-aṅgaṁ santāna-bījaṁ kuru-pāṇḍavānām jugopa kukṣiṁ gata ātta-cakro mātuś ca me yaḥ śaraṇaṁ gatāyāḥ

This body of mine, which the weapon of Ashvatthama had shattered, and which carried the last seed of the Kuru-Pandava line, He protected by entering my mother's womb, discus in hand — for she had taken shelter of Him alone.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.1.7)

वीर्याणि तस्याखिलदेहभाजा-मन्तर्बहिः पूरुषकालरूपैः । प्रयच्छतो मृत्युमुतामृतं चमायामनुष्यस्य वदस्व विद्वन् ॥ ७ ॥

vīryāṇi tasyākhila-deha-bhājām antar bahiḥ pūruṣa-kāla-rūpaiḥ prayacchato mṛtyum utāmṛtaṁ ca māyā-manuṣyasya vadasva vidvan

O learned one, please describe how He, who dwells within and without all embodied beings in the forms of the Person and of Time, grants both death and immortality, and how, through His own maya, He assumed a human form.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.1.8)

रोहिण्यास्तनयः प्रोक्तो रामः सङ्कर्षणस्त्वया । देवक्या गर्भसम्बन्धः कुतो देहान्तरं विना ॥ ८ ॥

rohiṇyās tanayaḥ prokto rāmaḥ saṅkarṣaṇas tvayā devakyā garbha-sambandhaḥ kuto dehāntaraṁ vinā

You have said that Rama, called Sankarshana, is the son born of Rohini. But without a transfer from one body to another, how could He first be connected with Devaki's womb?

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.1.9)

कस्मान्मुकुन्दो भगवान् पितुर्गेहाद् व्रजं गतः । क्व वासं ज्ञातिभिः सार्धं कृतवान् सात्वतांपतिः ॥ ९ ॥

kasmān mukundo bhagavān pitur gehād vrajaṁ gataḥ kva vāsaṁ jñātibhiḥ sārdhaṁ kṛtavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ

Why did Bhagavan Mukunda leave His father's house and go to Vraja? Where did the Lord of the Satvatas dwell together with His kinsmen?

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.1.10)

व्रजे वसन् किमकरोन्मधुपुर्यां च केशवः । भ्रातरं चावधीत् कंसं मातुरद्धातदर्हणम् ॥ १० ॥

vraje vasan kim akaron madhupuryāṁ ca keśavaḥ bhrātaraṁ cāvadhīt kaṁsaṁ mātur addhātad-arhaṇam

Dwelling in Vraja, what did Keshava do, and what did He do in the city of Mathura? Why did He slay Kamsa, His mother's own brother, whose killing was not sanctioned?

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.1.11)

देहं मानुषमाश्रित्य कति वर्षाणि वृष्णिभिः । यदुपुर्यां सहावात्सीत् पत्न्यः कत्यभवन् प्रभोः ॥ ११ ॥

dehaṁ mānuṣam āśritya kati varṣāṇi vṛṣṇibhiḥ yadu-puryāṁ sahāvātsīt patnyaḥ katy abhavan prabhoḥ

Having taken on a human body, for how many years did the Lord dwell among the Vrishnis, and how many wives did He have in the city of the Yadus?

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.1.12)

एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे मुने कृष्णविचेष्टितम् । वक्तुमर्हसि सर्वज्ञ श्रद्दधानाय विस्तृतम् ॥ १२ ॥

etad anyac ca sarvaṁ me mune kṛṣṇa-viceṣṭitam vaktum arhasi sarvajña śraddadhānāya vistṛtam

O all-knowing sage, please relate to me in full detail these and all the other doings of Krishna, for I listen with faith and eagerness.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.1.13)

नैषातिदुःसहा क्षुन्मां त्यक्तोदमपि बाधते । पिबन्तं त्वन्मुखाम्भोजच्युतं हरिकथामृतम् ॥ १३ ॥

naiṣātiduḥsahā kṣun māṁ tyaktodam api bādhate pibantaṁ tvan-mukhāmbhoja- cyutaṁ hari-kathāmṛtam

Drinking this nectar of Hari's story as it flows from your lotus mouth, even without water — which I have vowed to give up — this hunger, unbearable as it is, does not trouble me.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.1.14)

सूत उवाच एवं निशम्य भृगुनन्दन साधुवादंवैयासकिः स भगवानथ विष्णुरातम् । प्रत्यर्च्य कृष्णचरितं कलिकल्मषघ्नंव्याहर्तुमारभत भागवतप्रधानः ॥ १४ ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ niśamya bhṛgu-nandana sādhu-vādaṁ vaiyāsakiḥ sa bhagavān atha viṣṇu-rātam pratyarcya kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ kali-kalmaṣa-ghnaṁ vyāhartum ārabhata bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ

Suta said: O Shaunaka, descendant of Bhrigu, hearing this excellent speech, the illustrious Shukadeva, son of Vyasa and foremost among the devotees, honored Parikshit — also called Vishnurata — and began to relate the story of Krishna, which destroys the sins of the Age of Kali.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.1.15)

श्रीशुक उवाच सम्यग्व्यवसिता बुद्धिस्तव राजर्षिसत्तम । वासुदेवकथायां ते यज्जाता नैष्ठिकी रतिः ॥ १५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca samyag vyavasitā buddhis tava rājarṣi-sattama vāsudeva-kathāyāṁ te yaj jātā naiṣṭhikī ratiḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: O best of royal sages, your intelligence is well settled, for the devotion that has arisen in you for the story of Vasudeva is steadfast and enduring.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.1.16)

वासुदेवकथाप्रश्नः पुरुषांस्त्रीन् पुनाति हि । वक्तारं प्रच्छकं श्रोतॄंस्तत्पादसलिलं यथा ॥ १६ ॥

vāsudeva-kathā-praśnaḥ puruṣāṁs trīn punāti hi vaktāraṁ pracchakaṁ śrotṝṁs tat-pāda-salilaṁ yathā

Inquiry into the story of Vasudeva purifies three kinds of persons, just as the water from His feet does — the speaker, the questioner, and the hearers.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.1.17)

भूमिर्दृप्तनृपव्याजदैत्यानीकशतायुतैः । आक्रान्ता भूरिभारेण ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययौ ॥ १७ ॥

bhūmir dṛpta-nṛpa-vyāja- daityānīka-śatāyutaiḥ ākrāntā bhūri-bhāreṇa brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau

The earth, oppressed by the vast burden of countless demonic armies disguised as arrogant kings, went for refuge to Lord Brahma.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.1.18)

गौर्भूत्वाश्रुमुखी खिन्ना क्रन्दन्ती करुणं विभोः । उपस्थितान्तिके तस्मै व्यसनं समवोचत ॥ १८ ॥

gaur bhūtvāśru-mukhī khinnā krandantī karuṇaṁ vibhoḥ upasthitāntike tasmai vyasanaṁ samavocata

Taking the form of a cow, her face streaming with tears, wailing piteously in her distress, she came before him and told him of her calamity.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.1.19)

ब्रह्मा तदुपधार्याथ सह देवैस्तया सह । जगाम सत्रिनयनस्तीरं क्षीरपयोनिधेः ॥ १९ ॥

brahmā tad-upadhāryātha saha devais tayā saha jagāma sa-tri-nayanas tīraṁ kṣīra-payo-nidheḥ

Hearing this, Brahma, together with the three-eyed Shiva and the other gods, went with her to the shore of the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.1.20)

तत्र गत्वा जगन्नाथं देवदेवं वृषाकपिम् । पुरुषं पुरुषसूक्तेन उपतस्थे समाहितः ॥ २० ॥

tatra gatvā jagannāthaṁ deva-devaṁ vṛṣākapim puruṣaṁ puruṣa-sūktena upatasthe samāhitaḥ

Arriving there, with mind concentrated, he worshipped the Lord of the universe, the God of gods, the Supreme Person, reciting the Purusha-sukta.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.1.21)

गिरं समाधौ गगने समीरितांनिशम्य वेधास्त्रिदशानुवाच ह । गां पौरुषीं मे शृणुतामराः पुन-र्विधीयतामाशु तथैव मा चिरम् ॥ २१ ॥

giraṁ samādhau gagane samīritāṁ niśamya vedhās tridaśān uvāca ha gāṁ pauruṣīṁ me śṛṇutāmarāḥ punar vidhīyatām āśu tathaiva mā ciram

Hearing, in trance, that voice resound from the sky, Brahma said to the gods: O immortals, hear this word from the Supreme Person spoken through me, and carry it out at once, without delay.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.1.22)

पुरैव पुंसावधृतो धराज्वरोभवद्भिरंशैर्यदुषूपजन्यताम् । स यावदुर्व्या भरमीश्वरेश्वरःस्वकालशक्त्या क्षपयंश्चरेद् भुवि ॥ २२ ॥

puraiva puṁsāvadhṛto dharā-jvaro bhavadbhir aṁśair yaduṣūpajanyatām sa yāvad urvyā bharam īśvareśvaraḥ sva-kāla-śaktyā kṣapayaṁś cared bhuvi

This fever of the earth was already known to the Supreme Person even before we spoke; let each of you, through your own portions, take birth in the Yadu dynasty. For as long as the Lord of lords moves upon the earth, lightening its burden by His own power of time, remain there.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.1.23)

वसुदेवगृहे साक्षाद् भगवान्पुरुषः परः । जनिष्यते तत्प्रियार्थं सम्भवन्तु सुरस्त्रियः ॥ २३ ॥

vasudeva-gṛhe sākṣād bhagavān puruṣaḥ paraḥ janiṣyate tat-priyārthaṁ sambhavantu sura-striyaḥ

The Supreme Person Himself, Bhagavan, will take birth directly in the house of Vasudeva. For His pleasure, therefore, let the wives of the gods also come into being there.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.1.24)

वासुदेवकलानन्तः सहस्रवदनः स्वराट् । अग्रतो भविता देवो हरेः प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥ २४ ॥

vāsudeva-kalānantaḥ sahasra-vadanaḥ svarāṭ agrato bhavitā devo hareḥ priya-cikīrṣayā

Ananta, the thousand-headed, self-effulgent partial manifestation of Vasudeva, will appear before Him, wishing to please Hari.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.1.25)

विष्णोर्माया भगवती यया सम्मोहितं जगत् । आदिष्टा प्रभुणांशेन कार्यार्थे सम्भविष्यति ॥ २५ ॥

viṣṇor māyā bhagavatī yayā sammohitaṁ jagat ādiṣṭā prabhuṇāṁśena kāryārthe sambhaviṣyati

That divine potency of Vishnu, Yogamaya, by whom the whole world is bewildered, ordered by her Lord, will manifest as His partial expansion for the accomplishment of His work.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.1.26)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिश्यामरगणान् प्रजापतिपतिर्विभुः । आश्वास्य च महीं गीर्भिः स्वधाम परमं ययौ ॥ २६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ādiśyāmara-gaṇān prajāpati-patir vibhuḥ āśvāsya ca mahīṁ gīrbhiḥ sva-dhāma paramaṁ yayau

Shri Shukadeva said: Having thus instructed the assembled gods, the mighty Brahma, lord of all the Prajapatis, consoled the earth with these words and departed to his own supreme abode.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.1.27)

शूरसेनो यदुपतिर्मथुरामावसन् पुरीम् । माथुराञ्छूरसेनांश्च विषयान् बुभुजे पुरा ॥ २७ ॥

śūraseno yadupatir mathurām āvasan purīm māthurāñ chūrasenāṁś ca viṣayān bubhuje purā

Long ago, Shurasena, lord of the Yadus, dwelt in the city of Mathura and enjoyed the territories known as Mathura and Shurasena.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.1.28)

राजधानी ततः साभूत्सर्वयादवभूभुजाम् । मथुरा भगवान् यत्र नित्यं सन्निहितो हरिः ॥ २८ ॥

rājadhānī tataḥ sābhūt sarva-yādava-bhūbhujām mathurā bhagavān yatra nityaṁ sannihito hariḥ

From then on Mathura became the capital of all the Yadava kings, and there Bhagavan Hari dwells eternally.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.1.29)

तस्यां तु कर्हिचिच्छौरिर्वसुदेवः कृतोद्वहः । देवक्या सूर्यया सार्धं प्रयाणे रथमारुहत् ॥ २९ ॥

tasyāṁ tu karhicic chaurir vasudevaḥ kṛtodvahaḥ devakyā sūryayā sārdhaṁ prayāṇe ratham āruhat

There, once, Shauri Vasudeva, having married, mounted his chariot to set out for home, with Devaki, radiant as the sun, seated beside him as his bride.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.1.30)

उग्रसेनसुतः कंसः स्वसुः प्रियचिकीर्षया । रश्मीन् हयानां जग्राह रौक्मै रथशतैर्वृतः ॥ ३० ॥

ugrasena-sutaḥ kaṁsaḥ svasuḥ priya-cikīrṣayā raśmīn hayānāṁ jagrāha raukmai ratha-śatair vṛtaḥ

Kamsa, son of Ugrasena, wishing to please his sister, himself took up the reins of the horses, becoming the charioteer, surrounded by a hundred golden chariots.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.1.31)

चतुःशतं पारिबर्हं गजानां हेममालिनाम् । अश्वानामयुतं सार्धं रथानां च त्रिषट्शतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

catuḥ-śataṁ pāribarhaṁ gajānāṁ hema-mālinām aśvānām ayutaṁ sārdhaṁ rathānāṁ ca tri-ṣaṭ-śatam

Four hundred elephants adorned with golden garlands, ten thousand horses, and eighteen hundred chariots were given as the dowry.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.1.32)

दासीनां सुकुमारीणां द्वे शते समलङ्कृते । दुहित्रे देवकः प्रादाद् याने दुहितृवत्सलः ॥ ३२ ॥

dāsīnāṁ sukumārīṇāṁ dve śate samalaṅkṛte duhitre devakaḥ prādād yāne duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ

Devaka, doting on his daughter, gave two hundred beautifully adorned young maidservants to her as she departed.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.1.33)

शङ्खतूर्यमृदङ्गाश्च नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः समम् । प्रयाणप्रक्रमे तात वरवध्वोः सुमङ्गलम् ॥ ३३ ॥

śaṅkha-tūrya-mṛdaṅgāś ca nedur dundubhayaḥ samam prayāṇa-prakrame tāta vara-vadhvoḥ sumaṅgalam

Conches, trumpets, drums and kettledrums all sounded together, O father, at the auspicious departure of the bride and bridegroom.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.1.34)

पथि प्रग्रहिणं कंसमाभाष्याहाशरीरवाक् । अस्यास्त्वामष्टमो गर्भो हन्ता यां वहसेऽबुध ॥ ३४ ॥

pathi pragrahiṇaṁ kaṁsam ābhāṣyāhāśarīra-vāk asyās tvām aṣṭamo garbho hantā yāṁ vahase ’budha

On the way, addressing Kamsa as he held the reins, a bodiless voice spoke: O fool, the eighth child of this woman you are carrying will be your death.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.1.35)

इत्युक्तः स खलः पापो भोजानां कुलपांसनः । भगिनीं हन्तुमारब्धः खड्गपाणिः कचेऽग्रहीत् ॥ ३५ ॥

ity uktaḥ sa khalaḥ pāpo bhojānāṁ kula-pāṁsanaḥ bhaginīṁ hantum ārabdhaḥ khaḍga-pāṇiḥ kace ’grahīt

On hearing this, that wicked, sinful blot on the Bhoja line, resolved to kill his own sister, seized her by the hair, sword in hand.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.1.36)

तं जुगुप्सितकर्माणं नृशंसं निरपत्रपम् । वसुदेवो महाभाग उवाच परिसान्त्वयन् ॥ ३६ ॥

taṁ jugupsita-karmāṇaṁ nṛśaṁsaṁ nirapatrapam vasudevo mahā-bhāga uvāca parisāntvayan

To pacify him in this loathsome, shameless, cruel act, the noble Vasudeva spoke these words.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.1.37)

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच श्लाघनीयगुणः शूरैर्भवान् भोजयशस्करः । स कथं भगिनीं हन्यात् स्त्रियमुद्वाहपर्वणि ॥ ३७ ॥

śrī-vasudeva uvāca ślāghanīya-guṇaḥ śūrair bhavān bhoja-yaśaskaraḥ sa kathaṁ bhaginīṁ hanyāt striyam udvāha-parvaṇi

Shri Vasudeva said: Heroes praise your virtues, O Kamsa; you are the glory of the Bhoja line. How could such a man kill his own sister, and that too on the occasion of her wedding?

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.1.38)

मृत्युर्जन्मवतां वीर देहेन सह जायते । अद्य वाब्दशतान्ते वा मृत्युर्वै प्राणिनां ध्रुवः ॥ ३८ ॥

mṛtyur janmavatāṁ vīra dehena saha jāyate adya vābda-śatānte vā mṛtyur vai prāṇināṁ dhruvaḥ

O hero, death is born together with the body of everyone who is born; whether today or after a hundred years, death for every living being is certain.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.1.39)

देहे पञ्चत्वमापन्ने देही कर्मानुगोऽवशः । देहान्तरमनुप्राप्य प्राक्तनं त्यजते वपुः ॥ ३९ ॥

dehe pañcatvam āpanne dehī karmānugo ’vaśaḥ dehāntaram anuprāpya prāktanaṁ tyajate vapuḥ

When the body dissolves into the five elements, the embodied soul, bound by its own past deeds and helpless, attains another body and gives up the previous one.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.1.40)

व्रजंस्तिष्ठन् पदैकेन यथैवैकेन गच्छति । यथा तृणजलौकैवं देही कर्मगतिं गतः ॥ ४० ॥

vrajaṁs tiṣṭhan padaikena yathaivaikena gacchati yathā tṛṇa-jalaukaivaṁ dehī karma-gatiṁ gataḥ

As one walking rests on one foot while lifting the other, or as a caterpillar on a blade of grass moves to the next only after gripping it, so does the embodied soul pass to its next state according to its deeds.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.1.41)

स्वप्ने यथा पश्यति देहमीदृशंमनोरथेनाभिनिविष्टचेतनः । दृष्टश्रुताभ्यां मनसानुचिन्तयन्प्रपद्यते तत् किमपि ह्यपस्मृतिः ॥ ४१ ॥

svapne yathā paśyati deham īdṛśaṁ manorathenābhiniviṣṭa-cetanaḥ dṛṣṭa-śrutābhyāṁ manasānucintayan prapadyate tat kim api hy apasmṛtiḥ

Just as in a dream, the mind, absorbed in its own longing, conjures up a body from what it has seen and heard and surrenders itself to it, so too is this a kind of forgetting.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.1.42)

यतो यतो धावति दैवचोदितंमनो विकारात्मकमाप पञ्चसु । गुणेषु मायारचितेषु देह्यसौप्रपद्यमानः सह तेन जायते ॥ ४२ ॥

yato yato dhāvati daiva-coditaṁ mano vikārātmakam āpa pañcasu guṇeṣu māyā-raciteṣu dehy asau prapadyamānaḥ saha tena jāyate

Wherever the mind, driven by fate, runs among the transformations it undergoes, into whichever of the five qualities fashioned by maya it surrenders, there the embodied soul takes birth along with it.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.1.43)

ज्योतिर्यथैवोदकपार्थिवेष्वदःसमीरवेगानुगतं विभाव्यते । एवं स्वमायारचितेष्वसौ पुमान्गुणेषु रागानुगतो विमुह्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

jyotir yathaivodaka-pārthiveṣv adaḥ samīra-vegānugataṁ vibhāvyate evaṁ sva-māyā-raciteṣv asau pumān guṇeṣu rāgānugato vimuhyati

As light reflected in vessels of water or earth appears to move variously with the force of the wind, so too this person, attached to the qualities fashioned by his own maya, becomes bewildered.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.1.44)

तस्मान् न कस्यचिद्द्रोहमाचरेत् स तथाविधः । आत्मनः क्षेममन्विच्छन् द्रोग्धुर्वै परतो भयम् ॥ ४४ ॥

tasmān na kasyacid droham ācaret sa tathā-vidhaḥ ātmanaḥ kṣemam anvicchan drogdhur vai parato bhayam

Therefore one who understands this should not commit violence against anyone, seeking his own welfare — for whoever does harm must ever fear harm in return from others.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.1.45)

एषा तवानुजा बाला कृपणा पुत्रिकोपमा । हन्तुं नार्हसि कल्याणीमिमां त्वं दीनवत्सलः ॥ ४५ ॥

eṣā tavānujā bālā kṛpaṇā putrikopamā hantuṁ nārhasi kalyāṇīm imāṁ tvaṁ dīna-vatsalaḥ

This helpless young girl, your younger sister, is like your own daughter. O protector of the humble, it is not fitting for you to kill this auspicious one.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.1.46)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं स सामभिर्भेदैर्बोध्यमानोऽपि दारुणः । न न्यवर्तत कौरव्य पुरुषादाननुव्रतः ॥ ४६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ sa sāmabhir bhedair bodhyamāno ’pi dāruṇaḥ na nyavartata kauravya puruṣādān anuvrataḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: O descendant of Kuru, though thus persuaded with conciliation and reasoning, that cruel Kamsa, a follower of man-eating demons, would not turn from his resolve.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.1.47)

निर्बन्धं तस्य तं ज्ञात्वा विचिन्त्यानकदुन्दुभिः । प्राप्तं कालं प्रतिव्योढुमिदं तत्रान्वपद्यत ॥ ४७ ॥

nirbandhaṁ tasya taṁ jñātvā vicintyānakadundubhiḥ prāptaṁ kālaṁ prativyoḍhum idaṁ tatrānvapadyata

Recognizing his obstinacy, Vasudeva, called Anakadundubhi, pondered deeply, and to meet the crisis at hand, resolved upon this plan.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.1.48)

मृत्युर्बुद्धिमतापोह्यो यावद्बुद्धिबलोदयम् । यद्यसौ न निवर्तेत नापराधोऽस्ति देहिनः ॥ ४८ ॥

mṛtyur buddhimatāpohyo yāvad buddhi-balodayam yady asau na nivarteta nāparādho ’sti dehinaḥ

An intelligent person should strive to avert death as long as his intelligence and strength endure. If, even after such effort, it cannot be averted, the embodied soul incurs no fault.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.1.49)

प्रदाय मृत्यवे पुत्रान् मोचये कृपणामिमाम् । सुता मे यदि जायेरन् मृत्युर्वा न म्रियेत चेत् ॥ ४९ ॥

pradāya mṛtyave putrān mocaye kṛpaṇām imām sutā me yadi jāyeran mṛtyur vā na mriyeta cet

By handing my sons over to Kamsa, death personified, let me rescue this poor woman. Even should my sons be born, perhaps death itself will not survive to claim them, or he may not die at all.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.1.50)

विपर्ययो वा किं न स्याद् गतिर्धातुर्दुरत्यया । उपस्थितो निवर्तेत निवृत्तः पुनरापतेत् ॥ ५० ॥

viparyayo vā kiṁ na syād gatir dhātur duratyayā upasthito nivarteta nivṛttaḥ punar āpatet

Or why should the reverse not occur? The way of destiny is hard to fathom. What has arrived may yet turn back, and what has turned back may come again.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.1.51)

अग्नेर्यथा दारुवियोगयोगयो-रदृष्टतोऽन्यन्न निमित्तमस्ति । एवं हि जन्तोरपि दुर्विभाव्यःशरीरसंयोगवियोगहेतुः ॥ ५१ ॥

agner yathā dāru-viyoga-yogayor adṛṣṭato ’nyan na nimittam asti evaṁ hi jantor api durvibhāvyaḥ śarīra-saṁyoga-viyoga-hetuḥ

As fire's separation from and union with one piece of wood over another has no cause other than unseen destiny, so too the cause of a living being's union with and separation from its body is hard indeed to fathom.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.1.52)

एवं विमृश्य तं पापं यावदात्मनिदर्शनम् । पूजयामास वै शौरिर्बहुमानपुरःसरम् ॥ ५२ ॥

evaṁ vimṛśya taṁ pāpaṁ yāvad-ātmani-darśanam pūjayām āsa vai śaurir bahu-māna-puraḥsaram

Having thus deliberated as far as his own understanding could reach, Shauri honored that sinful Kamsa with great deference.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.1.53)

प्रसन्नवदनाम्भोजो नृशंसं निरपत्रपम् । मनसा दूयमानेन विहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ ५३ ॥

prasanna-vadanāmbhojo nṛśaṁsaṁ nirapatrapam manasā dūyamānena vihasann idam abravīt

With a smiling lotus face but a grieving heart, Vasudeva spoke thus, laughing, to that shameless and cruel Kamsa.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.1.54)

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच न ह्यस्यास्ते भयं सौम्य यद् वैसाहाशरीरवाक् । पुत्रान् समर्पयिष्येऽस्या यतस्ते भयमुत्थितम् ॥ ५४ ॥

śrī-vasudeva uvāca na hy asyās te bhayaṁ saumya yad vai sāhāśarīra-vāk putrān samarpayiṣye ’syā yatas te bhayam utthitam

Shri Vasudeva said: O gentle one, you have nothing to fear from her — for that bodiless voice declared it, and I shall hand over to you the very sons born of her from whom your fear has arisen.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.1.55)

श्रीशुक उवाच स्वसुर्वधान्निववृते कंसस्तद्वाक्यसारवित् । वसुदेवोऽपि तं प्रीतः प्रशस्य प्राविशद् गृहम् ॥ ५५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca svasur vadhān nivavṛte kaṁsas tad-vākya-sāra-vit vasudevo ’pi taṁ prītaḥ praśasya prāviśad gṛham

Shri Shukadeva said: Grasping the substance of Vasudeva's words, Kamsa turned back from killing his sister. Vasudeva too, pleased, praised him and entered his own house.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.1.56)

अथ काल उपावृत्ते देवकी सर्वदेवता । पुत्रान् प्रसुषुवे चाष्टौ कन्यां चैवानुवत्सरम् ॥ ५६ ॥

atha kāla upāvṛtte devakī sarva-devatā putrān prasuṣuve cāṣṭau kanyāṁ caivānuvatsaram

Thereafter, in due course, Devaki, the mother in whom all the gods were present, gave birth year by year to eight sons, and finally to a daughter.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.1.57)

कीर्तिमन्तं प्रथमजं कंसायानकदुन्दुभिः । अर्पयामास कृच्छ्रेण सोऽनृतादतिविह्वलः ॥ ५७ ॥

kīrtimantaṁ prathamajaṁ kaṁsāyānakadundubhiḥ arpayām āsa kṛcchreṇa so ’nṛtād ativihvalaḥ

Overwhelmed with anguish at the thought of his promise proving false, Vasudeva, with great pain, handed over his first-born son, Kirtiman, to Kamsa.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.10.1.58)

किं दुःसहं नु साधूनां विदुषां किमपेक्षितम् । किमकार्यं कदर्याणां दुस्त्यजं किं धृतात्मनाम् ॥ ५८ ॥

kiṁ duḥsahaṁ nu sādhūnāṁ viduṣāṁ kim apekṣitam kim akāryaṁ kadaryāṇāṁ dustyajaṁ kiṁ dhṛtātmanām

What is unbearable for the saintly? What need have the wise of anything? What deed is forbidden to the base? And what is hard for the self-controlled to give up?

Verse 59 (bhagavata.10.1.59)

दृष्ट्वा समत्वं तच्छौरेः सत्ये चैव व्यवस्थितिम् । कंसस्तुष्टमना राजन् प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ ५९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā samatvaṁ tac chaureḥ satye caiva vyavasthitim kaṁsas tuṣṭa-manā rājan prahasann idam abravīt

O King, seeing Shauri's steadfastness in truth and his even-mindedness, Kamsa, his heart satisfied, spoke laughingly as follows.

Verse 60 (bhagavata.10.1.60)

प्रतियातु कुमारोऽयं न ह्यस्मादस्ति मे भयम् । अष्टमाद् युवयोर्गर्भान्मृत्युर्मे विहितः किल ॥ ६० ॥

pratiyātu kumāro ’yaṁ na hy asmād asti me bhayam aṣṭamād yuvayor garbhān mṛtyur me vihitaḥ kila

Let this child go back; I have no fear from him. It is from the eighth child of you two that my death is destined.

Verse 61 (bhagavata.10.1.61)

तथेति सुतमादाय ययावानकदुन्दुभिः । नाभ्यनन्दत तद्वाक्यमसतोऽविजितात्मनः ॥ ६१ ॥

tatheti sutam ādāya yayāv ānakadundubhiḥ nābhyanandata tad-vākyam asato ’vijitātmanaḥ

Saying, 'So be it,' Anakadundubhi took his son and departed, but he placed no trust in the word of that unrestrained and wicked Kamsa.

Verse 62 (bhagavata.10.1.62)

नन्दाद्या ये व्रजे गोपा याश्चामीषां च योषितः । वृष्णयो वसुदेवाद्या देवक्याद्या यदुस्त्रियः ॥ ६२ ॥

nandādyā ye vraje gopā yāś cāmīṣāṁ ca yoṣitaḥ vṛṣṇayo vasudevādyā devaky-ādyā yadu-striyaḥ

Nanda and the other cowherds of Vraja, and their wives, and the Vrishnis headed by Vasudeva, and Devaki and the other women of the Yadu dynasty —

Verse 63 (bhagavata.10.1.63)

सर्वे वै देवताप्राया उभयोरपि भारत । ज्ञातयो बन्धुसुहृदो ये च कंसमनुव्रताः ॥ ६३ ॥

sarve vai devatā-prāyā ubhayor api bhārata jñātayo bandhu-suhṛdo ye ca kaṁsam anuvratāḥ

O descendant of Bharata, both parties were, for the most part, gods themselves, as were their kinsmen, relations, friends — and even those who followed Kamsa.

Verse 64 (bhagavata.10.1.64)

एतत् कंसाय भगवाञ्छशंसाभ्येत्य नारदः । भूमेर्भारायमाणानां दैत्यानां च वधोद्यमम् ॥ ६४ ॥

etat kaṁsāya bhagavāñ chaśaṁsābhyetya nāradaḥ bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānāṁ daityānāṁ ca vadhodyamam

Bhagavan Narada came to Kamsa and told him this — that the effort to slay the demons who burdened the earth had already begun.

Verse 65 (bhagavata.10.1.65)

ऋषेर्विनिर्गमे कंसो यदून् मत्वा सुरानिति । देवक्या गर्भसम्भूतं विष्णुं च स्ववधं प्रति ॥ ६५ ॥

ṛṣer vinirgame kaṁso yadūn matvā surān iti devakyā garbha-sambhūtaṁ viṣṇuṁ ca sva-vadhaṁ prati

After the sage's departure, Kamsa, taking the Yadus to be gods, and believing that the one born of Devaki's womb would be Vishnu himself come for his destruction,

Verse 66 (bhagavata.10.1.66)

देवकीं वसुदेवं च निगृह्य निगडैर्गृहे । जातं जातमहन् पुत्रं तयोरजनशङ्कया ॥ ६६ ॥

devakīṁ vasudevaṁ ca nigṛhya nigaḍair gṛhe jātaṁ jātam ahan putraṁ tayor ajana-śaṅkayā

bound Devaki and Vasudeva with fetters in his own house, and out of dread of that as-yet-unborn danger, killed each son as soon as he was born.

Verse 67 (bhagavata.10.1.67)

मातरं पितरं भ्रातॄन् सर्वांश्च सुहृदस्तथा । घ्नन्ति ह्यसुतृपो लुब्धा राजानः प्रायशो भुवि ॥ ६७ ॥

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ bhrātṝn sarvāṁś ca suhṛdas tathā ghnanti hy asutṛpo lubdhā rājānaḥ prāyaśo bhuvi

Kings on this earth, greedy for enjoyment and covetous, will as a rule kill even their own mother, father, brothers, and all their kin.

Verse 68 (bhagavata.10.1.68)

आत्मानमिह सञ्जातं जानन्प्राग् विष्णुना हतम् । महासुरं कालनेमिं यदुभिः स व्यरुध्यत ॥ ६८ ॥

ātmānam iha sañjātaṁ jānan prāg viṣṇunā hatam mahāsuraṁ kālanemiṁ yadubhiḥ sa vyarudhyata

Knowing that he himself had, in a previous birth, been the great demon Kalanemi slain by Vishnu, he set himself in enmity against the Yadus.

Verse 69 (bhagavata.10.1.69)

उग्रसेनं च पितरं यदुभोजान्धकाधिपम् । स्वयं निगृह्य बुभुजे शूरसेनान् महाबलः ॥ ६९ ॥

ugrasenaṁ ca pitaraṁ yadu-bhojāndhakādhipam svayaṁ nigṛhya bubhuje śūrasenān mahā-balaḥ

The immensely powerful Kamsa even imprisoned his own father Ugrasena, lord of the Yadu, Bhoja and Andhaka dynasties, and himself ruled over the Shurasena territory.