The Breaking of the Sacrificial Bow

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.42.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अथ व्रजन् राजपथेन माधवः स्त्रियं गृहीताङ्गविलेपभाजनाम् । विलोक्य कुब्जां युवतीं वराननां पप्रच्छ यान्तीं प्रहसन् रसप्रदः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca atha vrajan rāja-pathena mādhavaḥ striyaṁ gṛhītāṅga-vilepa-bhājanām vilokya kubjāṁ yuvatīṁ varānanāṁ papraccha yāntīṁ prahasan rasa-pradaḥ

Sukadeva said: Then, as He walked along the royal road, Madhava saw a young hunchbacked woman with a lovely face, carrying a vessel of body-ointment; seeing her, He who bestows delight smiled and questioned her as she passed.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.42.2)

का त्वं वरोर्वेतदु हानुलेपनंकस्याङ्गने वा कथयस्व साधु नः । देह्यावयोरङ्गविलेपमुत्तमंश्रेयस्ततस्ते न चिराद् भविष्यति ॥ २ ॥

kā tvaṁ varorv etad u hānulepanaṁ kasyāṅgane vā kathayasva sādhu naḥ dehy āvayor aṅga-vilepam uttamaṁ śreyas tatas te na cirād bhaviṣyati

[Krishna said:] Who are you, O fair-limbed one? And this fine ointment — whose is it meant for? Tell us truly. Give the two of us some of this excellent body-ointment, and before long great fortune will come to you.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.42.3)

सैरन्ध्र्युवाच दास्यस्म्यहं सुन्दर कंससम्मतात्रिवक्रनामा ह्यनुलेपकर्मणि । मद्भावितं भोजपतेरतिप्रियंविना युवां कोऽन्यतमस्तदर्हति ॥ ३ ॥

sairandhry uvāca dāsy asmy ahaṁ sundara kaṁsa-sammatā trivakra-nāmā hy anulepa-karmaṇi mad-bhāvitaṁ bhoja-pater ati-priyaṁ vinā yuvāṁ ko ’nyatamas tad arhati

The maidservant said: I am a servant, O handsome one, held dear by Kamsa; my name is Trivakra, and I am skilled in preparing ointment. What I prepare is most dear to the lord of the Bhojas himself — but who besides you two truly deserves it?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.42.4)

रूपपेशलमाधुर्यहसितालापवीक्षितैः । धर्षितात्मा ददौ सान्द्रमुभयोरनुलेपनम् ॥ ४ ॥

rūpa-peśala-mādhurya hasitālāpa-vīkṣitaiḥ dharṣitātmā dadau sāndram ubhayor anulepanam

Overwhelmed by their beauty, sweetness, laughter, speech and glances, she gave the two of Them a generous amount of the ointment.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.42.5)

ततस्तावङ्गरागेण स्ववर्णेतरशोभिना । सम्प्राप्तपरभागेन शुशुभातेऽनुरञ्जितौ ॥ ५ ॥

tatas tāv aṅga-rāgeṇa sva-varṇetara-śobhinā samprāpta-para-bhāgena śuśubhāte ’nurañjitau

Anointed then with that cosmetic, which shone in a hue unlike each One's own complexion and lent Them a still greater splendor, the two of Them appeared radiant.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.42.6)

प्रसन्नो भगवान्कुब्जां त्रिवक्रां रुचिराननाम् । ऋज्वीं कर्तुं मनश्चक्रे दर्शयन् दर्शने फलम् ॥ ६ ॥

prasanno bhagavān kubjāṁ trivakrāṁ rucirānanām ṛjvīṁ kartuṁ manaś cakre darśayan darśane phalam

Pleased with her, Bhagavan resolved in His heart to straighten the hunchbacked Trivakra of the lovely face — so as to reveal, then and there, the very fruit of beholding Him.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.42.7)

पद्भ्यामाक्रम्य प्रपदे द्व्यङ्गुल्युत्तानपाणिना । प्रगृह्य चिबुकेऽध्यात्ममुदनीनमदच्युतः ॥ ७ ॥

padbhyām ākramya prapade dry-aṅguly-uttāna-pāṇinā pragṛhya cibuke ’dhyātmam udanīnamad acyutaḥ

Pressing down upon her two feet with His own, and taking hold of her chin between two fingers of His upturned hand, Achyuta drew her body straight.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.42.8)

सा तदर्जुसमानाङ्गी बृहच्छ्रोणिपयोधरा । मुकुन्दस्पर्शनात् सद्यो बभूव प्रमदोत्तमा ॥ ८ ॥

sā tadarju-samānāṅgī bṛhac-chroṇi-payodharā mukunda-sparśanāt sadyo babhūva pramadottamā

Her body now straight and evenly proportioned, with full hips and breasts, she became at once, by the mere touch of Mukunda, a woman of surpassing beauty.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.42.9)

ततो रूपगुणौदार्यसम्पन्ना प्राह केशवम् । उत्तरीयान्तमाकृष्य स्मयन्ती जातहृच्छया ॥ ९ ॥

tato rūpa-guṇaudārya- sampannā prāha keśavam uttarīyāntam akṛṣya smayantī jāta-hṛc-chayā

Then, now endowed with beauty, virtue and grace, her heart stirred by desire, she smiled and, tugging at the end of His upper garment, spoke to Keshava as follows.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.42.10)

एहि वीर गृहं यामो न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे । त्वयोन्मथितचित्तायाः प्रसीद पुरुषर्षभ ॥ १० ॥

ehi vīra gṛhaṁ yāmo na tvāṁ tyaktum ihotsahe tvayonmathita-cittāyāḥ prasīda puruṣarṣabha

[Trivakra said:] Come, O hero, let us go to my house — I cannot bear to leave You here. Be gracious, O best of men, to one whose very heart You have stirred.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.42.11)

एवं स्त्रिया याच्यमानः कृष्णो रामस्य पश्यतः । मुखं वीक्ष्यानु गोपानां प्रहसंस्तामुवाच ह ॥ ११ ॥

evaṁ striyā yācyamānaḥ kṛṣṇo rāmasya paśyataḥ mukhaṁ vīkṣyānu gopānāṁ prahasaṁs tām uvāca ha

Thus entreated by the woman, Krishna glanced first toward Rama, who was watching, and then toward the faces of the cowherd boys; then, laughing, He replied to her.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.42.12)

एष्यामि ते गृहं सुभ्रु पुंसामाधिविकर्शनम् । साधितार्थोऽगृहाणां नः पान्थानां त्वं परायणम् ॥ १२ ॥

eṣyāmi te gṛhaṁ su-bhru puṁsām ādhi-vikarśanam sādhitārtho ’gṛhāṇāṁ naḥ pānthānāṁ tvaṁ parāyaṇam

[Krishna said:] O fair-browed one, once My purpose here is accomplished, I will surely come to your house, which soothes the anxiety of men; you are indeed the true refuge for us homeless wanderers.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.42.13)

विसृज्य माध्व्या वाण्या ताम्व्रजन् मार्गे वणिक्पथैः । नानोपायनताम्बूलस्रग्गन्धैः साग्रजोऽर्चितः ॥ १३ ॥

visṛjya mādhvyā vāṇyā tām vrajan mārge vaṇik-pathaiḥ nānopāyana-tāmbūla- srag-gandhaiḥ sāgrajo ’rcitaḥ

Dismissing her with these sweet words, He went on down the road through the merchants' quarter, where, together with His elder brother, He was honored with various gifts — betel, garlands and fragrant offerings.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.42.14)

तद्दर्शनस्मरक्षोभादात्मानं नाविदन् स्त्रियः । विस्रस्तवासःकवरवलया लेख्यमूर्तयः ॥ १४ ॥

tad-darśana-smara-kṣobhād ātmānaṁ nāvidan striyaḥ visrasta-vāsaḥ-kavara valayā lekhya-mūrtayaḥ

Their minds shaken by desire at the very sight of Him, the women lost all self-possession; their clothes, braided hair and bangles came loose, and they stood motionless, like figures painted on a canvas.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.42.15)

ततः पौरान् पृच्छमानो धनुषः स्थानमच्युतः । तस्मिन् प्रविष्टो ददृशे धनुरैन्द्रमिवाद्भुतम् ॥ १५ ॥

tataḥ paurān pṛcchamāno dhanuṣaḥ sthānam acyutaḥ tasmin praviṣṭo dadṛśe dhanur aindram ivādbhutam

Then Achyuta, having asked the citizens where the place of the bow was, entered there and beheld that wondrous bow, resembling Indra's own.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.42.16)

पुरुषैर्बहुभिर्गुप्तमर्चितं परमर्द्धिमत् । वार्यमाणो नृभिः कृष्णः प्रसह्य धनुराददे ॥ १६ ॥

puruṣair bahubhir guptam arcitaṁ paramarddhimat vāryamāṇo nṛbhiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ prasahya dhanur ādade

Guarded by many men and richly honored with worship, that most opulent bow Krishna forcibly took up, even as the men there tried to stop Him.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.42.17)

करेण वामेन सलीलमुद्धृतंसज्यं च कृत्वा निमिषेण पश्यताम् । नृणां विकृष्य प्रबभञ्ज मध्यतोयथेक्षुदण्डं मदकर्युरुक्रमः ॥ १७ ॥

kareṇa vāmena sa-līlam uddhṛtaṁ sajyaṁ ca kṛtvā nimiṣeṇa paśyatām nṛṇāṁ vikṛṣya prababhañja madhyato yathekṣu-daṇḍaṁ mada-kary urukramaḥ

With His left hand He lifted it playfully, and in the very blink of an eye, before the people's eyes, He strung it; then, drawing it back, Urukrama snapped it in two at its middle, just as an elephant in rut snaps a stalk of sugarcane.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.42.18)

धनुषो भज्यमानस्य शब्दः खं रोदसी दिशः । पूरयामास यं श्रुत्वा कंसस्त्रासमुपागमत् ॥ १८ ॥

dhanuṣo bhajyamānasya śabdaḥ khaṁ rodasī diśaḥ pūrayām āsa yaṁ śrutvā kaṁsas trāsam upāgamat

The sound of the breaking bow filled the sky, the earth and the heavens in every direction; hearing it, Kamsa was seized with terror.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.42.19)

तद् रक्षिणः सानुचरं कुपिता आततायिनः । गृहीतुकामा आवव्रुर्गृह्यतां वध्यतामिति ॥ १९ ॥

tad-rakṣiṇaḥ sānucaraṁ kupitā ātatāyinaḥ gṛhītu-kāmā āvavrur gṛhyatāṁ vadhyatām iti

Its enraged guards, weapons in hand, wishing to seize Him along with His companion, surrounded them, crying out: "Seize him! Kill him!"

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.42.20)

अथ तान्दुरभिप्रायान् विलोक्य बलकेशवौ । क्रुद्धौ धन्वन आदाय शकले तांश्च जघ्नतुः ॥ २० ॥

atha tān durabhiprāyān vilokya bala-keśavau kruddhau dhanvana ādāya śakale tāṁś ca jaghnatuḥ

Then Bala and Keshava, seeing their evil intent, took up the two broken halves of the bow in anger and struck them down.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.42.21)

बलं च कंसप्रहितं हत्वा शालामुखात्ततः । निष्क्रम्य चेरतुर्हृष्टौ निरीक्ष्य पुरसम्पदः ॥ २१ ॥

balaṁ ca kaṁsa-prahitaṁ hatvā śālā-mukhāt tataḥ niṣkramya ceratur hṛṣṭau nirīkṣya pura-sampadaḥ

Having slain also the soldiers Kamsa had dispatched, the two of them came out through the arena's gate, and walked about joyfully, gazing upon the city's riches.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.42.22)

तयोस्तदद्भुतं वीर्यं निशाम्य पुरवासिनः । तेजः प्रागल्भ्यं रूपं च मेनिरे विबुधोत्तमौ ॥ २२ ॥

tayos tad adbhutaṁ vīryaṁ niśāmya pura-vāsinaḥ tejaḥ prāgalbhyaṁ rūpaṁ ca menire vibudhottamau

Seeing that wondrous display of their valor, the citizens, struck by their splendor, boldness and beauty, took the two of them to be great gods among men.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.42.23)

तयोर्विचरतोः स्वैरमादित्योऽस्तमुपेयिवान् । कृष्णरामौ वृतौ गोपैः पुराच्छकटमीयतुः ॥ २३ ॥

tayor vicaratoḥ svairam ādityo ’stam upeyivān kṛṣṇa-rāmau vṛtau gopaiḥ purāc chakaṭam īyatuḥ

As they wandered about freely, the sun set; and Krishna and Rama, surrounded by the cowherd boys, left the city and went to the encampment of wagons.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.42.24)

गोप्यो मुकुन्दविगमे विरहातुरा याआशासताशिष ऋता मधुपुर्यभूवन् । सम्पश्यतां पुरुषभूषणगात्रलक्ष्मींहित्वेतरान् नु भजतश्चकमेऽयनं श्रीः ॥ २४ ॥

gopyo mukunda-vigame virahāturā yā āśāsatāśiṣa ṛtā madhu-pury abhūvan sampaśyatāṁ puruṣa-bhūṣaṇa-gātra-lakṣmīṁ hitvetarān nu bhajataś cakame ’yanaṁ śrīḥ

The gopis, who at Mukunda's departure, afflicted by separation, had voiced this very blessing upon Mathura, now saw their words come true as its people beheld the beauty of that jewel among men — whom even Shri herself, forsaking all her other worshipers, longed to make her sole abode.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.42.25)

अवनिक्ताङ्घ्रियुगलौ भुक्त्वा क्षीरोपसेचनम् । ऊषतुस्तां सुखं रात्रिं ज्ञात्वा कंसचिकीर्षितम् ॥ २५ ॥

avaniktāṅghri-yugalau bhuktvā kṣīropasecanam ūṣatus tāṁ sukhaṁ rātriṁ jñātvā kaṁsa-cikīrṣitam

Their feet washed, and having taken a meal of milk and rice, the two of them passed that night there in comfort, though well aware of what Kamsa intended.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.42.26)

कंसस्तु धनुषो भङ्गं रक्षिणां स्वबलस्य च । वधं निशम्य गोविन्दरामविक्रीडितं परम् ॥ २६ ॥

kaṁsas tu dhanuṣo bhaṅgaṁ rakṣiṇāṁ sva-balasya ca vadhaṁ niśamya govinda- rāma-vikrīḍitaṁ param

Kamsa, hearing how the bow had been broken, his guards slain, and his own army destroyed — all merely as the supreme sport of Govinda and Rama — became greatly disturbed.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.42.27)

दीर्घप्रजागरो भीतो दुर्निमित्तानि दुर्मतिः । बहून्यचष्टोभयथा मृत्योर्दौत्यकराणि च ॥ २७ ॥

dīrgha-prajāgaro bhīto durnimittāni durmatiḥ bahūny acaṣṭobhayathā mṛtyor dautya-karāṇi ca

Long sleepless through fear, his mind disturbed, Kamsa beheld — both waking and in dream — many ill omens, every one a messenger of death.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.42.28)

अदर्शनं स्वशिरसः प्रतिरूपे च सत्यपि । असत्यपि द्वितीये च द्वैरूप्यं ज्योतिषां तथा ॥ २८ ॥

adarśanaṁ sva-śirasaḥ pratirūpe ca saty api asaty api dvitīye ca dvai-rūpyaṁ jyotiṣāṁ tathā

Even though his reflection stood before him, he could not see his own head in it; and though there was no second source, the heavenly bodies appeared doubled to his eyes.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.42.29)

छिद्रप्रतीतिश्छायायां प्राणघोषानुपश्रुतिः । स्वर्णप्रतीतिर्वृक्षेषु स्वपदानामदर्शनम् ॥ २९ ॥

chidra-pratītiś chāyāyāṁ prāṇa-ghoṣānupaśrutiḥ svarṇa-pratītir vṛkṣeṣu sva-padānām adarśanam

He perceived a hole in his own shadow; he could not even hear the sound of his own breath; the trees appeared golden to his eyes; and he could not see his own footprints on the ground.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.42.30)

स्वप्ने प्रेतपरिष्वङ्गः खरयानं विषादनम् । यायान्नलदमाल्येकस्तैलाभ्यक्तो दिगम्बरः ॥ ३० ॥

svapne preta-pariṣvaṅgaḥ khara-yānaṁ viṣādanam yāyān nalada-māly ekas tailābhyakto dig-ambaraḥ

In his dreams he saw himself embraced by ghosts, riding upon a donkey, and drinking poison; and he saw a lone man, smeared with oil, naked, and garlanded with nalada flowers, passing before him.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.42.31)

अन्यानि चेत्थं भूतानि स्वप्नजागरितानि च । पश्यन् मरणसन्त्रस्तो निद्रां लेभे न चिन्तया ॥ ३१ ॥

anyāni cetthaṁ-bhūtāni svapna-jāgaritāni ca paśyan maraṇa-santrasto nidrāṁ lebhe na cintayā

Other signs of this same kind he saw again and again, both in dream and while awake; and terrified of death, he could find no sleep for his anxiety.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.42.32)

व्युष्टायां निशि कौरव्य सूर्ये चाद्भ्यः समुत्थिते । कारयामास वै कंसो मल्लक्रीडामहोत्सवम् ॥ ३२ ॥

vyuṣṭāyāṁ niśi kauravya sūrye cādbhyaḥ samutthite kārayām āsa vai kaṁso malla-krīḍā-mahotsavam

O descendant of Kuru, when that night had passed and the sun rose again out of the waters, Kamsa set about arranging the great wrestling festival.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.42.33)

आनर्चुः पुरुषा रङ्गं तूर्यभेर्यश्च जघ्निरे । मञ्चाश्चालङ्कृताः स्रग्भिः पताकाचैलतोरणैः ॥ ३३ ॥

ānarcuḥ puruṣā raṅgaṁ tūrya-bheryaś ca jaghnire mañcāś cālaṅkṛtāḥ sragbhiḥ patākā-caila-toraṇaiḥ

The men worshiped the arena and sounded trumpets and kettledrums, and the galleries were decorated with garlands, banners, cloth streamers and archways.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.42.34)

तेषु पौरा जानपदा ब्रह्मक्षत्रपुरोगमाः । यथोपजोषं विविशू राजानश्च कृतासनाः ॥ ३४ ॥

teṣu paurā jānapadā brahma-kṣatra-purogamāḥ yathopajoṣaṁ viviśū rājānaś ca kṛtāsanāḥ

There the citizens and the people of the countryside, led by brahmanas and kshatriyas, took their seats each as he pleased, and the assembled kings too sat down in their appointed places.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.42.35)

कंसः परिवृतोऽमात्यै राजमञ्च उपाविशत् । मण्डलेश्वरमध्यस्थो हृदयेन विदूयता ॥ ३५ ॥

kaṁsaḥ parivṛto ’mātyai rāja-mañca upāviśat maṇḍaleśvara-madhya-stho hṛdayena vidūyatā

Kamsa, surrounded by his ministers, took his seat upon the royal dais; yet even there, seated among the lords of his provinces, his heart trembled within him.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.42.36)

वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु मल्लतालोत्तरेषु च । मल्लाः स्वलङ्कृताः दृप्ताः सोपाध्यायाः समासत ॥ ३६ ॥

vādyamānesu tūryeṣu malla-tālottareṣu ca mallāḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ dṛptāḥ sopādhyāyāḥ samāsata

As the instruments played, keeping the rhythm proper to wrestling, the richly adorned and proud wrestlers, together with their trainers, took their seats.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.42.37)

चाणूरो मुष्टिकः कूटः शलस्तोशल एव च । त आसेदुरुपस्थानं वल्गुवाद्यप्रहर्षिताः ॥ ३७ ॥

cāṇūro muṣṭikaḥ kūtaḥ śalas tośala eva ca ta āsedur upasthānaṁ valgu-vādya-praharṣitāḥ

Chanura, Mushtika, Kuta, Shala and Toshala as well — all of them, delighted by the sweet music, came forward and took their places.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.42.38)

नन्दगोपादयो गोपा भोजराजसमाहुताः । निवेदितोपायनास्त एकस्मिन्मञ्च आविशन् ॥ ३८ ॥

nanda-gopādayo gopā bhoja-rāja-samāhutāḥ niveditopāyanās ta ekasmin mañca āviśan

Nanda and the other cowherds, invited by the lord of the Bhojas, presented their offerings and then took their seats together in a single gallery.