The Slaying of Arishta, the Bull Demon

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.36.1)

श्री बादरायणिरुवाच अथ तर्ह्यागतो गोष्ठमरिष्टो वृषभासुरः । महींमहाककुत्कायः कम्पयन्खुरविक्षताम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī bādarāyaṇir uvāca atha tarhy āgato goṣṭham ariṣṭo vṛṣabhāsuraḥ mahīm mahā-kakut-kāyaḥ kampayan khura-vikṣatām

Shri Shuka said: Then the demon Arishta came to the cowherd settlement in the form of a bull, his body bearing an enormous hump, making the earth tremble as he gouged it with his hooves.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.36.2)

रम्भमाणः खरतरं पदा च विलिखन् महीम् । उद्यम्य पुच्छं वप्राणि विषाणाग्रेण चोद्धरन् । किञ्चित्किञ्चिच्छकृन् मुञ्चन्मूत्रयन्स्तब्धलोचनः ॥ २ ॥

rambhamāṇaḥ kharataraṁ padā ca vilikhan mahīm udyamya pucchaṁ vaprāṇi viṣāṇāgreṇa coddharan kiñcit kiñcic chakṛn muñcan mūtrayan stabdha-locanaḥ

Bellowing most harshly, he scraped the earth with his hoof; lifting his tail, he tore up the embankments with the tips of his horns, again and again passing dung and urine, his eyes fixed in a glare.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.36.3)

यस्य निर्ह्रादितेनाङ्ग निष्ठुरेण गवां नृणाम् । पतन्त्यकालतो गर्भाः स्रवन्ति स्म भयेन वै ॥ ३ ॥

yasya nirhrāditenāṅga niṣṭhureṇa gavāṁ nṛṇām patanty akālato garbhāḥ sravanti sma bhayena vai

O King, at that harsh, thunderous bellow of his, the wombs of both cows and women untimely gave way — out of sheer terror they miscarried.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.36.4)

निर्विशन्ति घना यस्य ककुद्यचलशङ्कया । तं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गमुद्वीक्ष्य गोप्यो गोपाश्च तत्रसुः ॥ ४ ॥

nirviśanti ghanā yasya kakudy acala-śaṅkayā taṁ tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgam udvīkṣya gopyo gopāś ca tatrasuḥ

Clouds settled upon his hump, mistaking it for a mountain; and the gopis and gopas, beholding that sharp-horned beast, were struck with terror.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.36.5)

पशवो दुद्रुवुर्भीता राजन्सन्त्यज्य गोकुलम् । कृष्ण कृष्णेति ते सर्वे गोविन्दं शरणं ययुः ॥ ५ ॥

paśavo dudruvur bhītā rājan santyajya go-kulam kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇeti te sarve govindaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

The cattle, terrified, fled abandoning the pasture, O King, and everyone, crying out ‘Krishna, Krishna!’, ran to Govinda for refuge.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.36.6)

भगवानपि तद् वीक्ष्य गोकुलं भयविद्रुतम् । मा भैष्टेति गिराश्वास्य वृषासुरमुपाह्वयत् ॥ ६ ॥

bhagavān api tad vīkṣya go-kulaṁ bhaya-vidrutam mā bhaiṣṭeti girāśvāsya vṛṣāsuram upāhvayat

The Lord, seeing the cowherd folk driven to panic, reassured them, saying, ‘Do not fear,’ and then called out to the bull demon.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.36.7)

गोपालैः पशुभिर्मन्द त्रासितैः किमसत्तम । मयि शास्तरि दुष्टानां त्वद्विधानां दुरात्मनाम् ॥ ७ ॥

gopālaiḥ paśubhir manda trāsitaiḥ kim asattama mayi śāstari duṣṭānāṁ tvad-vidhānāṁ durātmanām

‘You dullard! What do you gain by terrifying these cowherds and their animals, you vilest of creatures, when I myself stand here to punish wretches like you?’

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.36.8)

इत्यास्फोत्याच्युतोऽरिष्टं तलशब्देन कोपयन् । सख्युरंसे भुजाभोगं प्रसार्यावस्थितो हरिः ॥ ८ ॥

ity āsphotyācyuto ’riṣṭaṁ tala-śabdena kopayan sakhyur aṁse bhujābhogaṁ prasāryāvasthito hariḥ

Speaking thus, the infallible Lord slapped His arms, provoking Arishta with the sound; and He stood there, His mighty arm resting over the shoulder of a friend.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.36.9)

सोऽप्येवं कोपितोऽरिष्टः खुरेणावनिमुल्लिखन् । उद्यत्पुच्छभ्रमन्मेघः क्रुद्धः कृष्णमुपाद्रवत् ॥ ९ ॥

so ’py evaṁ kopito ’riṣṭaḥ khureṇāvanim ullikhan udyat-puccha-bhraman-meghaḥ kruddhaḥ kṛṣṇam upādravat

Arishta, thus provoked, pawed the earth with his hoof and, his upraised tail wreathed in wandering clouds, charged furiously upon Krishna.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.36.10)

अग्रन्यस्तविषाणाग्रः स्तब्धासृग्लोचनोऽच्युतम् । कटाक्षिप्याद्रवत्तूर्णमिन्द्रमुक्तोऽशनिर्यथा ॥ १० ॥

agra-nyasta-viṣāṇāgraḥ stabdhāsṛg-locano ’cyutam kaṭākṣipyādravat tūrṇam indra-mukto ’śanir yathā

With the points of his horns leveled ahead and his eyes fixed and bloodshot, he rushed swiftly at Achyuta, glancing at Him sidelong, like a thunderbolt hurled by Indra.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.36.11)

गृहीत्वा शृङ्गयोस्तं वा अष्टादश पदानि सः । प्रत्यपोवाह भगवान् गजः प्रतिगजं यथा ॥ ११ ॥

gṛhītvā śṛṅgayos taṁ vā aṣṭādaśa padāni saḥ pratyapovāha bhagavān gajaḥ prati-gajaṁ yathā

Grasping him by the horns, the Lord drove him backward eighteen paces, just as one elephant repels a rival elephant.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.36.12)

सोऽपविद्धो भगवता पुनरुत्थाय सत्वरम् । आपतत् स्विन्नसर्वाङ्गो निःश्वसन्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ १२ ॥

so ’paviddho bhagavatā punar utthāya satvaram āpatat svinna-sarvāṅgo niḥśvasan krodha-mūrcchitaḥ

Flung aside by the Lord, he rose again at once and charged, his whole body drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, senseless with rage.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.36.13)

तमापतन्तं स निगृह्य शृङ्गयोः पदा समाक्रम्य निपात्य भूतले । निष्पीडयामास यथार्द्रमम्बरं कृत्वा विषाणेन जघान सोऽपतत् ॥ १३ ॥

tam āpatantaṁ sa nigṛhya śṛṅgayoḥ padā samākramya nipātya bhū-tale niṣpīḍayām āsa yathārdram ambaraṁ kṛtvā viṣāṇena jaghāna so ’patat

Seizing him by the horns as he charged, and pinning him down with His foot, He threw him to the ground and wrung him out like a wet cloth; then, tearing off a horn, He struck him with it, and the demon fell.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.36.14)

असृग् वमन् मूत्रशकृत् समुत्सृजन् क्षिपंश्च पादाननवस्थितेक्षणः । जगाम कृच्छ्रं निऋर्तेरथ क्षयं पुष्पैः किरन्तो हरिमीडिरे सुराः ॥ १४ ॥

asṛg vaman mūtra-śakṛt samutsṛjan kṣipaṁś ca pādān anavasthitekṣaṇaḥ jagāma kṛcchraṁ nirṛter atha kṣayaṁ puṣpaiḥ kiranto harim īḍire surāḥ

Vomiting blood, voiding urine and dung without restraint, kicking out his legs, his eyes rolling wildly, he went in agony to the abode of Death; and the celestials, scattering flowers, glorified Hari.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.36.15)

एवं कुकुद्मिनं हत्वा स्तूयमानः द्विजातिभिः । विवेश गोष्ठं सबलो गोपीनां नयनोत्सवः ॥ १५ ॥

evaṁ kukudminaṁ hatvā stūyamānaḥ dvijātibhiḥ viveśa goṣṭhaṁ sa-balo gopīnāṁ nayanotsavaḥ

Having thus slain the humped demon, praised by the brahmanas, He entered the cowherd village together with Balarama, a festival to the eyes of the gopis.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.36.16)

अरिष्टे निहते दैत्ये कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । कंसायाथाह भगवान् नारदो देवदर्शनः ॥ १६ ॥

ariṣṭe nihate daitye kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā kaṁsāyāthāha bhagavān nārado deva-darśanaḥ

When the demon Arishta had been slain by Krishna, whose deeds are wondrous, the powerful sage Narada, whose vision is divine, then went and spoke to Kamsa.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.36.17)

यशोदायाः सुतां कन्यां देवक्याः कृष्णमेव च । रामं च रोहिणीपुत्रं वसुदेवेन बिभ्यता । न्यस्तौ स्वमित्रे नन्दे वै याभ्यां ते पुरुषा हताः ॥ १७ ॥

yaśodāyāḥ sutāṁ kanyāṁ devakyāḥ kṛṣṇam eva ca rāmaṁ ca rohiṇī-putraṁ vasudevena bibhyatā nyastau sva-mitre nande vai yābhyāṁ te puruṣā hatāḥ

‘Yashoda’s child was in truth a girl; and it is Krishna who is Devaki’s son, and Rama who is Rohini’s son. Fearing you, Vasudeva placed them both with his own friend Nanda — and it is these two who have killed your men.’

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.36.18)

निशम्य तद्भोजपतिः कोपात्प्रचलितेन्द्रियः । निशातमसिमादत्त वसुदेवजिघांसया ॥ १८ ॥

niśamya tad bhoja-patiḥ kopāt pracalitendriyaḥ niśātam asim ādatta vasudeva-jighāṁsayā

Hearing this, the lord of the Bhojas, his senses shaken with rage, seized a sharpened sword, intent on killing Vasudeva.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.36.19)

निवारितो नारदेन तत्सुतौ मृत्युमात्मनः । ज्ञात्वा लोहमयैः पाशैर्बबन्ध सह भार्यया ॥ १९ ॥

nivārito nāradena tat-sutau mṛtyum ātmanaḥ jñātvā loha-mayaiḥ pāśair babandha saha bhāryayā

But restrained by Narada, and now understanding that these two sons were destined to be his death, he bound Vasudeva together with his wife in iron fetters.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.36.20)

प्रतियाते तु देवर्षौ कंस आभाष्य केशिनम् । प्रेषयामास हन्येतां भवता रामकेशवौ ॥ २० ॥

pratiyāte tu devarṣau kaṁsa ābhāṣya keśinam preṣayām āsa hanyetāṁ bhavatā rāma-keśavau

When the celestial sage had taken his leave, Kamsa summoned Keshi and dispatched him, saying, ‘Let Rama and Keshava be killed by you.’

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.36.21)

ततो मुष्टिकचाणूरशलतोशलकादिकान् । अमात्यान् हस्तिपांश्चैव समाहूयाह भोजराट् ॥ २१ ॥

tato muṣṭika-cāṇūra śala-tośalakādikān amātyān hastipāṁś caiva samāhūyāha bhoja-rāṭ

Then the King of the Bhojas summoned his ministers — Mushtika, Chanura, Shala, Toshala, and the rest — together with his elephant-keepers, and addressed them.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.36.22)

भो भो निशम्यतामेतद् वीरचाणूरमुष्टिकौ । नन्दव्रजे किलासाते सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः ॥ २२ ॥

bho bho niśamyatām etad vīra-cāṇūra-muṣṭikau nanda-vraje kilāsāte sutāv ānakadundubheḥ

‘Listen well to this, O heroes Chanura and Mushtika: the two sons of Anakadundubhi are indeed living in Nanda’s cowherd settlement.’

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.36.23)

रामकृष्णौ ततो मह्यं मृत्युः किल निदर्शितः । भवद्भ्यामिह सम्प्राप्तौ हन्येतां मल्ललीलया ॥ २३ ॥

rāma-kṛṣṇau tato mahyaṁ mṛtyuḥ kila nidarśitaḥ bhavadbhyām iha samprāptau hanyetāṁ malla-līlayā

‘It has been foretold that Rama and Krishna will indeed be the cause of my death. Once the two are brought here, let them be killed on the pretext of a wrestling match.’

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.36.24)

मञ्चाः क्रियन्तां विविधा मल्लरङ्गपरिश्रिताः । पौरा जानपदाः सर्वे पश्यन्तु स्वैरसंयुगम् ॥ २४ ॥

mañcāḥ kriyantāṁ vividhā malla-raṅga-pariśritāḥ paurā jānapadāḥ sarve paśyantu svaira-saṁyugam

‘Let various stands be erected around the wrestling arena, so that all the townsfolk and country-folk may witness the open contest.’

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.36.25)

महामात्र त्वया भद्र रङ्गद्वार्युपनीयताम् । द्विपः कुवलयापीडो जहि तेन ममाहितौ ॥ २५ ॥

mahāmātra tvayā bhadra raṅga-dvāry upanīyatām dvipaḥ kuvalayāpīḍo jahi tena mamāhitau

‘O good elephant-keeper, bring the elephant Kuvalayapida to the arena’s gateway, and with him destroy my two enemies.’

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.36.26)

आरभ्यतां धनुर्यागश्चतुर्दश्यां यथाविधि । विशसन्तु पशून्मेध्यान् भूतराजाय मीढुषे ॥ २६ ॥

ārabhyatāṁ dhanur-yāgaś caturdaśyāṁ yathā-vidhi viśasantu paśūn medhyān bhūta-rājāya mīḍhuṣe

‘Let the bow-sacrifice begin on the fourteenth lunar day, according to the prescribed rite; let fit animals be offered to Bhutaraja [Lord Shiva], the giver of boons.’

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.36.27)

इत्याज्ञाप्यार्थतन्त्रज्ञ आहूय यदुपुङ्गवम् । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं ततोऽक्रूरमुवाच ह ॥ २७ ॥

ity ājñāpyārtha-tantra-jña āhūya yadu-puṅgavam gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ tato ’krūram uvāca ha

Having thus given his orders, Kamsa — well-versed in the art of self-interest — summoned the foremost of the Yadus, and taking Akrura’s hand in his own, he spoke to him.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.36.28)

भो भो दानपते मह्यं क्रियतां मैत्रमादृतः । नान्यस्त्वत्तो हिततमो विद्यते भोजवृष्णिषु ॥ २८ ॥

bho bho dāna-pate mahyaṁ kriyatāṁ maitram ādṛtaḥ nānyas tvatto hitatamo vidyate bhoja-vṛṣṇiṣu

‘O most generous one, be so good as to do me this favor; among the Bhojas and Vrishnis there is no one more well-wishing toward me than you.’

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.36.29)

अतस्त्वामाश्रितः सौम्य कार्यगौरवसाधनम् । यथेन्द्रो विष्णुमाश्रित्य स्वार्थमध्यगमद् विभुः ॥ २९ ॥

atas tvām āśritaḥ saumya kārya-gaurava-sādhanam yathendro viṣṇum āśritya svārtham adhyagamad vibhuḥ

‘Therefore, gentle one, I depend upon you, who accomplish weighty undertakings — just as mighty Indra, by taking refuge in Vishnu, attained his own ends.’

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.36.30)

गच्छ नन्दव्रजं तत्र सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः । आसाते ताविहानेन रथेनानय मा चिरम् ॥ ३० ॥

gaccha nanda-vrajaṁ tatra sutāv ānakadundubheḥ āsāte tāv ihānena rathenānaya mā ciram

‘Go to Nanda’s cowherd settlement; there the two sons of Anakadundubhi are living. Bring them here on this chariot, without delay.’

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.36.31)

निसृष्टः किल मे मृत्युर्देवैर्वैकुण्ठसंश्रयैः । तावानय समं गोपैर्नन्दाद्यैः साभ्युपायनैः ॥ ३१ ॥

nisṛṣṭaḥ kila me mṛtyur devair vaikuṇṭha-saṁśrayaiḥ tāv ānaya samaṁ gopair nandādyaiḥ sābhyupāyanaiḥ

‘My death has indeed been decreed by the gods who take shelter in Vaikuntha. Bring the two of Them, together with the cowherds headed by Nanda, bearing gifts of tribute.’

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.36.32)

घातयिष्य इहानीतौ कालकल्पेन हस्तिना । यदि मुक्तौ ततो मल्लैर्घातये वैद्युतोपमैः ॥ ३२ ॥

ghātayiṣya ihānītau kāla-kalpena hastinā yadi muktau tato mallair ghātaye vaidyutopamaiḥ

‘Once brought here, I will have Them slain by the elephant, dreadful as death itself; and should They escape him, then I will have Them slain by my wrestlers, mighty as lightning.’

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.36.33)

तयोर्निहतयोस्तप्तान् वसुदेवपुरोगमान् । तद्बन्धून् निहनिष्यामि वृष्णिभोजदशार्हकान् ॥ ३३ ॥

tayor nihatayos taptān vasudeva-purogamān tad-bandhūn nihaniṣyāmi vṛṣṇi-bhoja-daśārhakān

‘When the two of Them have been slain, I will kill Their grief-stricken kinsmen headed by Vasudeva — the Vrishnis, the Bhojas and the Dasarhas.’

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.36.34)

उग्रसेनं च पितरं स्थविरं राज्यकामुकं । तद्भ्रातरं देवकं च ये चान्ये विद्विषो मम ॥ ३४ ॥

ugrasenaṁ ca pitaraṁ sthaviraṁ rājya-kāmukaṁ tad-bhrātaraṁ devakaṁ ca ye cānye vidviṣo mama

‘And also my aged father Ugrasena, who covets the throne, and his brother Devaka, and whatever other enemies I have.’

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.36.35)

ततश्चैषा मही मित्र भवित्री नष्टकण्टका ॥ ३५ ॥

tataś caiṣā mahī mitra bhavitrī naṣṭa-kaṇṭakā

‘Then, my friend, this earth will at last be rid of its thorns.’

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.36.36)

जरासन्धो मम गुरुर्द्विविदो दयितः सखा । शम्बरो नरको बाणो मय्येव कृतसौहृदाः । तैरहं सुरपक्षीयान् हत्वा भोक्ष्ये महीं नृपान् ॥ ३६ ॥

jarāsandho mama gurur dvivido dayitaḥ sakhā śambaro narako bāṇo mayy eva kṛta-sauhṛdāḥ tair ahaṁ sura-pakṣīyān hatvā bhokṣye mahīṁ nṛpān

‘Jarasandha is my elder kinsman, and Dvivida my cherished friend; Shambara, Naraka and Bana too are bound to me alone in friendship. With their help I shall slay those kings allied with the gods, and enjoy this earth.’

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.36.37)

एतज्ज्ञात्वानय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ । धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम् ॥ ३७ ॥

etaj jñātvānaya kṣipraṁ rāma-kṛṣṇāv ihārbhakau dhanur-makha-nirīkṣārthaṁ draṣṭuṁ yadu-pura-śriyam

‘Understanding this, bring the boys Rama and Krishna here at once, to witness the bow-sacrifice and behold the splendor of the Yadu capital.’

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.36.38)

श्रीअक्रूर उवाच राजन् मनीषितं सध्र्यक् तव स्वावद्यमार्जनम् । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समं कुर्याद्दैवं हि फलसाधनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

śrī-akrūra uvāca rājan manīṣitaṁ sadhryak tava svāvadya-mārjanam siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samaṁ kuryād daivaṁ hi phala-sādhanam

Shri Akrura said: ‘O King, your plan is wholly devised to wash away your own misfortune. Yet one ought to remain equal in success and failure, for it is destiny alone that determines the fruit of any endeavor.’

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.36.39)

मनोरथान् करोत्युच्चैर्जनो दैवहतानपि । युज्यते हर्षशोकाभ्यां तथाप्याज्ञां करोमि ते ॥ ३९ ॥

manorathān karoty uccair jano daiva-hatān api yujyate harṣa-śokābhyāṁ tathāpy ājñāṁ karomi te

‘A man fervently pursues his own desires even when thwarted by fate, and so becomes bound to joy and grief alike. Nonetheless, I shall carry out your command.’

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.36.40)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवमादिश्य चाक्रूरं मन्त्रिणश्च विसृज्य सः । प्रविवेश गृहं कंसस्तथाक्रूरः स्वमालयम् ॥ ४० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evam ādiśya cākrūraṁ mantriṇaś ca viṣṛjya saḥ praviveśa gṛhaṁ kaṁsas tathākrūraḥ svam ālayam

Shri Shuka said: Having thus instructed Akrura and dismissed his ministers, Kamsa retired into his palace, and Akrura likewise returned to his own home.