Nanda Maharaja Saved and Shankhachuda Slain

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.34.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा देवयात्रायां गोपाला जातकौतुकाः । अनोभिरनडुद्युक्तैः प्रययुस्तेऽम्बिकावनम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā deva-yātrāyāṁ gopālā jāta-kautukāḥ anobhir anaḍud-yuktaiḥ prayayus te ’mbikā-vanam

Sukadeva said: Once the cowherd men, eager to worship the great god, set out by ox-drawn carts to the forest of Ambika.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.34.2)

तत्र स्नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम् । आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च नृपतेऽम्बिकाम् ॥ २ ॥

tatra snātvā sarasvatyāṁ devaṁ paśu-patiṁ vibhum ānarcur arhaṇair bhaktyā devīṁ ca nṛpate ’mbikām

There, O King, having bathed in the river Sarasvati, they devotedly worshiped the mighty Lord Pashupati and the goddess Ambika with due offerings.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.34.3)

गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमादृताः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः सर्वे देवो नः प्रीयतामिति ॥ ३ ॥

gāvo hiraṇyaṁ vāsāṁsi madhu madhv-annam ādṛtāḥ brāhmaṇebhyo daduḥ sarve devo naḥ prīyatām iti

With reverence they gave the brahmanas gifts of cows, gold, garments, honey and food sweetened with honey, praying, 'May the lord be pleased with us.'

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.34.4)

ऊषुः सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य यतव्रताः । रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादयः ॥ ४ ॥

ūṣuḥ sarasvatī-tīre jalaṁ prāśya yata-vratāḥ rajanīṁ tāṁ mahā-bhāgā nanda-sunandakādayaḥ

Nanda, Sunanda and the other greatly fortunate cowherds, observing strict vows, spent that night on the bank of the Sarasvati, taking nothing but water.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.34.5)

कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन् विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षितः । यदृच्छयागतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत् ॥ ५ ॥

kaścin mahān ahis tasmin vipine ’ti-bubhukṣitaḥ yadṛcchayāgato nandaṁ śayānam ura-go ’grasīt

In that thicket a huge and ravenously hungry serpent chanced to appear, and it began swallowing Nanda as he lay there asleep.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.34.6)

स चुक्रोशाहिना ग्रस्तः कृष्ण कृष्ण महानयम् । सर्पो मां ग्रसते तात प्रपन्नं परिमोचय ॥ ६ ॥

sa cukrośāhinā grastaḥ kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahān ayam sarpo māṁ grasate tāta prapannaṁ parimocaya

Caught in the serpent's grip, Nanda cried out: 'Krishna! Krishna! This huge serpent is swallowing me, my son — save me, who has taken refuge in you!'

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.34.7)

तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपालाः सहसोत्थिताः । ग्रस्तं च दृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ताः सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकैः ॥ ७ ॥

tasya cākranditaṁ śrutvā gopālāḥ sahasotthitāḥ grastaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā vibhrāntāḥ sarpaṁ vivyadhur ulmukaiḥ

Hearing his cries, the cowherds sprang up at once, and seeing him in the serpent's grip, struck at it in alarm with their blazing torches.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.34.8)

अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गमः । तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः ॥ ८ ॥

alātair dahyamāno ’pi nāmuñcat tam uraṅgamaḥ tam aspṛśat padābhyetya bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ

Though scorched by the firebrands, the serpent would not release him — until the Lord, master of the Satvatas, came near and touched it with his own foot.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.34.9)

स वै भगवतः श्रीमत्पादस्पर्शहताशुभः । भेजे सर्पवपुर्हित्वा रूपं विद्याधरार्चितम् ॥ ९ ॥

sa vai bhagavataḥ śrīmat pāda-sparśa-hatāśubhaḥ bheje sarpa-vapur hitvā rūpaṁ vidyādharārcitam

The moment the Lord's glorious foot touched him, all his sin was destroyed; he shed his serpent's body and took on a form fit to be worshiped by the Vidyadharas.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.34.10)

तमपृच्छद् धृषीकेशः प्रणतं समवस्थितम् । दीप्यमानेन वपुषा पुरुषं हेममालिनम् ॥ १० ॥

tam apṛcchad dhṛṣīkeśaḥ praṇataṁ samavasthitam dīpyamānena vapuṣā puruṣaṁ hema-mālinam

Hrishikesha then questioned this being, who stood before him with head bowed, his body radiant and adorned with golden garlands.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.34.11)

को भवान् परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भुतदर्शनः । कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवशः ॥ ११ ॥

ko bhavān parayā lakṣmyā rocate ’dbhuta-darśanaḥ kathaṁ jugupsitām etāṁ gatiṁ vā prāpito ’vaśaḥ

[Krishna said:] Who are you, so radiant with supreme beauty, wondrous to see? And how were you forced against your will into this despicable state?

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.34.12)

सर्प उवाच अहं विद्याधरः कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुतः । श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरन् दिशः ॥ १२ ॥

sarpa uvāca ahaṁ vidyādharaḥ kaścit sudarśana iti śrutaḥ śriyā svarūpa-sampattyā vimānenācaran diśaḥ

The serpent replied: I am a Vidyadhara known as Sudarshana. Once, endowed with beauty and splendor, I would roam every direction in my flying chariot.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.34.13)

ऋषीन् विरूपाङ्गिरसः प्राहसं रूपदर्पितः । तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धैः स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ १३ ॥

ṛṣīn virūpāṅgirasaḥ prāhasaṁ rūpa-darpitaḥ tair imāṁ prāpito yoniṁ pralabdhaiḥ svena pāpmanā

Puffed up with pride in my beauty, I mocked the deformed sages of Angiras's line; and those very sages I had mocked, because of my own sin, brought me to this birth.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.34.14)

शापो मेऽनुग्रहायैव कृतस्तैः करुणात्मभिः । यदहं लोकगुरुणा पदा स्पृष्टो हताशुभः ॥ १४ ॥

śāpo me ’nugrahāyaiva kṛtas taiḥ karuṇātmabhiḥ yad ahaṁ loka-guruṇā padā spṛṣṭo hatāśubhaḥ

Yet that curse, laid on me by those compassionate souls, was truly a blessing — for by it I came to be touched by the foot of the teacher of all the worlds, and all my sin was destroyed.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.34.15)

तं त्वाहं भवभीतानां प्रपन्नानां भयापहम् । आपृच्छे शापनिर्मुक्तः पादस्पर्शादमीवहन् ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ tvāhaṁ bhava-bhītānāṁ prapannānāṁ bhayāpaham āpṛcche śāpa-nirmuktaḥ pāda-sparśād amīva-han

From you, who dispel the fear of all who are frightened by this world and take refuge in you, I now take my leave — freed from the curse by the touch of your foot, O destroyer of every affliction.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.34.16)

प्रपन्नोऽस्मि महायोगिन् महापुरुष सत्पते । अनुजानीहि मां देव सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वर ॥ १६ ॥

prapanno ’smi mahā-yogin mahā-puruṣa sat-pate anujānīhi māṁ deva sarva-lokeśvareśvara

I am surrendered to you, O greatest of yogis, O supreme person, O master of the saints; command me now, O Lord, supreme ruler over all the rulers of the worlds.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.34.17)

ब्रह्मदण्डाद्विमुक्तोऽहं सद्यस्तेऽच्युत दर्शनात् । यन्नाम गृह्णन्नखिलान् श्रोतृनात्मानमेव च । सद्यः पुनाति किं भूयस्तस्य स्पृष्टः पदा हि ते ॥ १७ ॥

brahma-daṇḍād vimukto ’haṁ sadyas te ’cyuta darśanāt yan-nāma gṛhṇann akhilān śrotṝn ātmānam eva ca sadyaḥ punāti kiṁ bhūyas tasya spṛṣṭaḥ padā hi te

O infallible one, I have been freed from the brahmanas' curse the very instant I beheld you. If merely chanting your name purifies both the one who chants and all who hear it, how much more purifying, then, is the very touch of your feet?

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.34.18)

इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च । सुदर्शनो दिवं यातः कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचितः ॥ १८ ॥

ity anujñāpya dāśārhaṁ parikramyābhivandya ca sudarśano divaṁ yātaḥ kṛcchrān nandaś ca mocitaḥ

Having thus taken Krishna's leave, circling him and bowing before him, Sudarshana departed for the heavens, and Nanda too was freed from his terrible ordeal.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.34.19)

निशाम्य कृष्णस्य तदात्मवैभवं व्रजौकसो विस्मितचेतसस्ततः । समाप्य तस्मिन् नियमं पुनर्व्रजं नृपाययुस्तत् कथयन्त आदृताः ॥ १९ ॥

niśāmya kṛṣṇasya tad ātma-vaibhavaṁ vrajaukaso vismita-cetasas tataḥ samāpya tasmin niyamaṁ punar vrajaṁ nṛpāyayus tat kathayanta ādṛtāḥ

Witnessing this display of Krishna's own majesty, the people of Vraja, their minds filled with wonder, completed their observances there, and then, O King, returned to Vraja, reverently recounting the event all along the way.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.34.20)

कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रमः । विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम् ॥ २० ॥

kadācid atha govindo rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ vijahratur vane rātryāṁ madhya-gau vraja-yoṣitām

On one occasion Govinda and Rama, whose deeds are wondrous, sported at night in the forest, surrounded by the women of Vraja.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.34.21)

उपगीयमानौ ललितं स्त्रीजनैर्बद्धसौहृदैः । स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्रग्विनौ विरजोऽम्बरौ ॥ २१ ॥

upagīyamānau lalitaṁ strī-janair baddha-sauhṛdaiḥ sv-alaṅkṛtānuliptāṅgau sragvinau virajo-’mbarau

Charmingly sung of by the women bound to them in affection, the two brothers stood there, their limbs finely adorned and anointed, garlanded with flowers, their garments spotless.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.34.22)

निशामुखं मानयन्तावुदितोडुपतारकम् । मल्लिकागन्धमत्तालि जुष्टं कुमुदवायुना ॥ २२ ॥

niśā-mukhaṁ mānayantāv uditoḍupa-tārakam mallikā-gandha-mattāli- juṣṭaṁ kumuda-vāyunā

The two of them welcomed the coming of night, with the moon and stars now risen, and the air filled with a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.34.23)

जगतुः सर्वभूतानां मनःश्रवणमङ्गलम् । तौ कल्पयन्तौ युगत्स्वरमण्डलमूर्च्छितम् ॥ २३ ॥

jagatuḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ manaḥ-śravaṇa-maṅgalam tau kalpayantau yugapat svara-maṇḍala-mūrcchitam

Together the two of them sang, weaving at once the entire scale of musical notes, and their song brought auspicious delight to the ears and minds of every living being.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.34.24)

गोप्यस्तद्गीतमाकर्ण्य मूर्च्छिता नाविदन्नृप । स्रंसद्दुकूलमात्मानं स्रस्तकेशस्रजं ततः ॥ २४ ॥

gopyas tad-gītam ākarṇya mūrcchitā nāvidan nṛpa sraṁsad-dukūlam ātmānaṁ srasta-keśa-srajaṁ tataḥ

Hearing that song, O King, the gopis fell into rapture and, quite unaware of themselves, did not notice their fine garments slipping loose or their hair and garlands coming undone.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.34.25)

एवं विक्रीडतोः स्वैरं गायतोः सम्प्रमत्तवत् । शङ्खचूड इति ख्यातो धनदानुचरोऽभ्यगात् ॥ २५ ॥

evaṁ vikrīḍatoḥ svairaṁ gāyatoḥ sampramatta-vat śaṅkhacūḍa iti khyāto dhanadānucaro ’bhyagāt

While the two of them thus played and sang exactly as they pleased, as though caught up in intoxication, a servant of Kuvera named Shankhachuda arrived on the scene.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.34.26)

तयोर्निरीक्षतो राजंस्तन्नाथं प्रमदाजनम् । क्रोशन्तं कालयामास दिश्युदीच्यामशङ्कितः ॥ २६ ॥

tayor nirīkṣato rājaṁs tan-nāthaṁ pramadā-janam krośantaṁ kālayām āsa diśy udīcyām aśaṅkitaḥ

O King, even as the two brothers looked on, Shankhachuda, quite without fear, began driving that company of women — who counted Krishna and Balarama as their lords — off toward the north, while they cried out in alarm.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.34.27)

क्रोशन्तं कृष्ण रामेति विलोक्य स्वपरिग्रहम् । यथा गा दस्युना ग्रस्ता भ्रातरावन्वधावताम् ॥ २७ ॥

krośantaṁ kṛṣṇa rāmeti vilokya sva-parigraham yathā gā dasyunā grastā bhrātarāv anvadhāvatām

Seeing their own beloved ones crying out 'Krishna! Rama!' — like cattle being carried off by a thief — the two brothers ran after him.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.34.28)

मा भैष्टेत्यभयारावौ शालहस्तौ तरस्विनौ । आसेदतुस्तं तरसा त्वरितं गुह्यकाधमम् ॥ २८ ॥

mā bhaiṣṭety abhayārāvau śāla-hastau tarasvinau āsedatus taṁ tarasā tvaritaṁ guhyakādhamam

Calling out 'Do not fear!' in tones that granted fearlessness, and swift of foot with sala-tree logs in hand, they quickly closed in on that lowest of the Guhyakas, who was fleeing as fast as he could.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.34.29)

स वीक्ष्य तावनुप्राप्तौ कालमृत्यू इवोद्विजन् । विषृज्य स्त्रीजनं मूढः प्राद्रवज्जीवितेच्छया ॥ २९ ॥

sa vīkṣya tāv anuprāptau kāla-mṛtyū ivodvijan viṣṛjya strī-janaṁ mūḍhaḥ prādravaj jīvitecchayā

Seeing the two of them closing in on him like Time and Death incarnate, he grew fearful, and, foolishly abandoning the women, fled in his sheer desire to save his own life.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.34.30)

तमन्वधावद् गोविन्दो यत्र यत्र स धावति । जिहीर्षुस्तच्छिरोरत्नं तस्थौ रक्षन् स्त्रियो बलः ॥ ३० ॥

tam anvadhāvad govindo yatra yatra sa dhāvati jihīrṣus tac-chiro-ratnaṁ tasthau rakṣan striyo balaḥ

Govinda chased after him wherever he ran, intent on taking the jewel that crowned his head, while Balarama stayed behind, guarding the women.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.34.31)

अविदूर इवाभ्येत्य शिरस्तस्य दुरात्मनः । जहार मुष्टिनैवाङ्ग सहचूडमणिं विभुः ॥ ३१ ॥

avidūra ivābhyetya śiras tasya durātmanaḥ jahāra muṣṭinaivāṅga saha-cūḍa-maṇiṁ vibhuḥ

My dear King, the almighty Lord closed in on that wicked being as though he were close at hand, though he had run far — and with a single blow of his fist tore off his head, crest-jewel and all.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.34.32)

शङ्खचूडं निहत्यैवं मणिमादाय भास्वरम् । अग्रजायाददात्प्रीत्या पश्यन्तीनां च योषिताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

śaṅkhacūḍaṁ nihatyaivaṁ maṇim ādāya bhāsvaram agrajāyādadāt prītyā paśyantīnāṁ ca yoṣitām

Having thus slain Shankhachuda and taken his radiant jewel, Krishna, with great affection, presented it to his elder brother, while the gopis looked on.