The Killing of Kamsa

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.44.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं चर्चितसङ्कल्पो भगवान् मधुसूदनः । आससादाथ चाणूरं मुष्टिकं रोहिणीसुतः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ carcita-saṅkalpo bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ āsasādātha caṇūraṁ muṣṭtikaṁ rohiṇī-sutaḥ

Sukadeva said: Having thus resolved, Bhagavan Madhusudana, together with Rohini's son, went and stood before Chanura and Mushtika.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.44.2)

हस्ताभ्यां हस्तयोर्बद्ध्वा पद्भ्यामेव च पादयोः । विचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं प्रसह्य विजिगीषया ॥ २ ॥

hastābhyāṁ hastayor baddhvā padbhyām eva ca pādayoḥ vicakarṣatur anyonyaṁ prasahya vijigīṣayā

Locking hands with hands and feet with feet, they began, each eager for victory, to drag one another about with great force.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.44.3)

अरत्नी द्वे अरत्निभ्यां जानुभ्यां चैव जानुनी । शिरः शीर्ष्णोरसोरस्तावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ॥ ३ ॥

aratnī dve aratnibhyāṁ jānubhyāṁ caiva jānunī śiraḥ śīrṣṇorasoras tāv anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ

Fist against fist, knee against knee, head against head, chest against chest — thus they struck at one another.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.44.4)

परिभ्रामणविक्षेपपरिरम्भावपातनैः । उत्सर्पणापसर्पणैश्चान्योन्यं प्रत्यरुन्धताम् ॥ ४ ॥

paribhrāmaṇa-vikṣepa- parirambhāvapātanaiḥ utsarpaṇāpasarpaṇaiś cānyonyaṁ pratyarundhatām

By whirling each other about, by wrenching and crushing embraces, by throwing down, and by advancing and retreating, they strove to check one another.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.44.5)

उत्थापनैरुन्नयनैश्चालनैः स्थापनैरपि । परस्परं जिगीषन्तावपचक्रतुरात्मनः ॥ ५ ॥

utthāpanair unnayanaiś cālanaiḥ sthāpanair api parasparaṁ jigīṣantāv apacakratur ātmanaḥ

By lifting, by raising aloft, by shaking and by pinning down, striving each for victory over the other, they wore down even their own bodies in the contest.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.44.6)

तद् बलाबलवद्युद्धं समेताः सर्वयोषितः । ऊचुः परस्परं राजन् सानुकम्पा वरूथशः ॥ ६ ॥

tad balābalavad yuddhaṁ sametāḥ sarva-yoṣitaḥ ūcuḥ parasparaṁ rājan sānukampā varūthaśaḥ

O King, all the women gathered there, seeing this contest between the strong and the weak, spoke to one another in groups, moved by compassion.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.44.7)

महानयं बताधर्म एषां राजसभासदाम् । ये बलाबलवद्युद्धं राज्ञोऽन्विच्छन्ति पश्यतः ॥ ७ ॥

mahān ayaṁ batādharma eṣāṁ rāja-sabhā-sadām ye balābalavad yuddhaṁ rājño ’nvicchanti paśyataḥ

[The women said:] Alas, what a great impropriety this is, that these men seated in the royal assembly should wish to watch this match between the strong and the weak, even as the king himself looks on!

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.44.8)

क्व वज्रसारसर्वाङ्गौ मल्लौ शैलेन्द्रसन्निभौ । क्व चातिसुकुमाराङ्गौ किशोरौ नाप्तयौवनौ ॥ ८ ॥

kva vajra-sāra-sarvāṅgau mallau śailendra-sannibhau kva cāti-sukumārāṅgau kiśorau nāpta-yauvanau

Where these wrestlers, their every limb hard as a thunderbolt, resembling great mountains — and where these two, their limbs exceedingly tender, not even come to full youth!

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.44.9)

धर्मव्यतिक्रमो ह्यस्य समाजस्य ध्रुवं भवेत् । यत्राधर्मः समुत्तिष्ठेन्न स्थेयं तत्र कर्हिचित् ॥ ९ ॥

dharma-vyatikramo hy asya samājasya dhruvaṁ bhavet yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen na stheyaṁ tatra karhicit

In this assembly, dharma is surely being transgressed; and where irreligion openly shows itself, there one ought not remain even for a moment.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.44.10)

न सभां प्रविशेत् प्राज्ञः सभ्यदोषाननुस्मरन् । अब्रुवन् विब्रुवन्नज्ञो नरः किल्बिषमश्नुते ॥ १० ॥

na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ sabhya-doṣān anusmaran abruvan vibruvann ajño naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute

A wise person should not enter an assembly at all, mindful of the faults that beset it; and one who does enter, yet stays silent, or speaks falsely, or feigns ignorance, incurs sin thereby.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.44.11)

वल्गतः शत्रुमभितः कृष्णस्य वदनाम्बुजम् । वीक्ष्यतां श्रमवार्युप्तं पद्मकोशमिवाम्बुभिः ॥ ११ ॥

valgataḥ śatrum abhitaḥ kṛṣṇasya vadanāmbujam vīkṣyatāṁ śrama-vāry-uptaṁ padma-kośam ivāmbubhiḥ

Just see Krishna's lotus face as He darts about His foe — covered with the sweat of that great effort, it looks like a lotus bud wet with drops of water!

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.44.12)

किं न पश्यत रामस्य मुखमाताम्रलोचनम् । मुष्टिकं प्रति सामर्षं हाससंरम्भशोभितम् ॥ १२ ॥

kiṁ na paśyata rāmasya mukham ātāmra-locanam muṣṭikaṁ prati sāmarṣaṁ hāsa-saṁrambha-śobhitam

Do you not see Rama's face — its eyes gone copper-red with anger at Mushtika, and made all the more radiant by His laughter and His fierce absorption in the fight?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.44.13)

पुण्या बत व्रजभुवो यदयं नृलिङ्ग-गूढः पुराणपुरुषो वनचित्रमाल्यः । गाः पालयन् सहबलः क्वणयंश्च वेणुंविक्रीडयाञ्चति गिरित्ररमार्चिताङ्घ्रिः ॥ १३ ॥

puṇyā bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayaṁ nṛ-liṅga gūḍhaḥ purāṇa-puruṣo vana-citra-mālyaḥ gāḥ pālayan saha-balaḥ kvaṇayaṁś ca veṇuṁ vikrīdayāñcati giritra-ramārcitāṅghriḥ

How blessed are the lands of Vraja, where this primeval Being, hidden beneath a human form, garlanded with wild forest flowers, wanders about tending the cows with Balarama and playing His flute — He whose very feet are worshiped by Shiva and by Lakshmi herself.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.44.14)

गोप्यस्तपः किमचरन् यदमुष्य रूपंलावण्यसारमसमोर्ध्वमनन्यसिद्धम् । दृग्भिः पिबन्त्यनुसवाभिनवं दुराप-मेकान्तधाम यशसः श्रिय ऐश्वरस्य ॥ १४ ॥

gopyas tapaḥ kim acaran yad amuṣya rūpaṁ lāvaṇya-sāram asamordhvam ananya-siddham dṛgbhiḥ pibanty anusavābhinavaṁ durāpam ekānta-dhāma yaśasaḥ śriya aiśvarasya

What penance the gopis must have performed, that their eyes drink again and again of this form — the very essence of loveliness, without equal, self-perfect, ever fresh, hard to attain, the sole abode of fame and glory.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.44.15)

या दोहनेऽवहनने मथनोपलेप-प्रेङ्खेङ्खनार्भरुदितोक्षणमार्जनादौ । गायन्ति चैनमनुरक्तधियोऽश्रुकण्ठ्योधन्या व्रजस्त्रिय उरुक्रमचित्तयानाः ॥ १५ ॥

yā dohane ’vahanane mathanopalepa preṅkheṅkhanārbha-ruditokṣaṇa-mārjanādau gāyanti cainam anurakta-dhiyo ’śru-kaṇṭhyo dhanyā vraja-striya urukrama-citta-yānāḥ

Those women of Vraja are blessed, who, even while milking, churning, applying paste, swinging a cradle, hushing a crying infant, sprinkling the courtyard, or sweeping the house, sing of Him with hearts full of devotion and throats choked with tears — their minds ever drawn toward Urukrama.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.44.16)

प्रातर्व्रजाद् व्रजत आविशतश्च सायंगोभिः समं क्वणयतोऽस्य निशम्य वेणुम् । निर्गम्य तूर्णमबलाः पथि भूरिपुण्याःपश्यन्ति सस्मितमुखं सदयावलोकम् ॥ १६ ॥

prātar vrajād vrajata āviśataś ca sāyaṁ gobhiḥ samaṁ kvaṇayato ’sya niśamya veṇum nirgamya tūrṇam abalāḥ pathi bhūri-puṇyāḥ paśyanti sa-smita-mukhaṁ sa-dayāvalokam

Hearing the sound of His flute in the morning as He leaves Vraja, and again at evening as He returns with the cows, those women, blessed with much merit, hasten outside to see His smiling face and its glance full of compassion.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.44.17)

एवं प्रभाषमाणासु स्त्रीषु योगेश्वरो हरिः । शत्रुं हन्तुं मनश्चक्रे भगवान् भरतर्षभ ॥ १७ ॥

evaṁ prabhāṣamāṇāsu strīṣu yogeśvaro hariḥ śatruṁ hantuṁ manaś cakre bhagavān bharatarṣabha

[Sukadeva continued:] O best of the Bharatas, as the women were speaking in this way, Bhagavan Hari, master of all yoga, resolved within Himself to slay His foe.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.44.18)

सभयाः स्त्रीगिरः श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्नेहशुचातुरौ । पितरावन्वतप्येतां पुत्रयोरबुधौ बलम् ॥ १८ ॥

sa-bhayāḥ strī-giraḥ śrutvā putra-sneha-śucāturau pitarāv anvatapyetāṁ putrayor abudhau balam

Hearing the fearful words of the women, the parents, overwhelmed with grief born of love for their son, fell into sorrow — for they did not know the true strength of their two sons.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.44.19)

तैस्तैर्नियुद्धविधिभिर्विविधैरच्युतेतरौ । युयुधाते यथान्योन्यं तथैव बलमुष्टिकौ ॥ १९ ॥

tais tair niyuddha-vidhibhir vividhair acyutetarau yuyudhāte yathānyonyaṁ tathaiva bala-muṣṭikau

Just as Achyuta and His opponent grappled with each other through those various wrestling holds, so too did Bala and Mushtika contend with one another.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.44.20)

भगवद्गात्रनिष्पातैर्वज्रनीष्पेषनिष्ठुरैः । चाणूरो भज्यमानाङ्गो मुहुर्ग्लानिमवाप ह ॥ २० ॥

bhagavad-gātra-niṣpātair vajra-nīṣpeṣa-niṣṭhuraiḥ cāṇūro bhajyamānāṅgo muhur glānim avāpa ha

Under the crushing blows of the Lord's limbs, hard as thunderbolts, Chanura's body began to break apart, and he fell into fatigue again and again.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.44.21)

स श्येनवेग उत्पत्य मुष्टीकृत्य करावुभौ । भगवन्तं वासुदेवं क्रुद्धो वक्षस्यबाधत ॥ २१ ॥

sa śyena-vega utpatya muṣṭī-kṛtya karāv ubhau bhagavantaṁ vāsudevaṁ kruddho vakṣasy abādhata

Leaping up with the speed of a hawk, and clenching both his fists, the enraged Chanura struck Bhagavan Vasudeva full upon the chest.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.44.22)

नाचलत्तत्प्रहारेण मालाहत इव द्विपः । बाह्वोर्निगृह्य चाणूरं बहुशो भ्रामयन् हरिः ॥ २२ ॥

nācalat tat-prahāreṇa mālāhata iva dvipaḥ bāhvor nigṛhya cāṇūraṁ bahuśo bhrāmayan hariḥ

That blow shook Him no more than a garland's touch might shake an elephant; then Hari, seizing Chanura by both arms, whirled him around again and again.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.44.23)

भूपृष्ठे पोथयामास तरसा क्षीणजीवितम् । विस्रस्ताकल्पकेशस्रगिन्द्रध्वज इवापतत् ॥ २३ ॥

bhū-pṛṣṭhe pothayām āsa tarasā kṣīṇa jīvitam visrastākalpa-keśa-srag indra-dhvaja ivāpatat

Seeing his life ebbing away, He hurled him down with great force upon the ground; his clothes, hair and garland scattering, Chanura fell like a felled Indra-pillar.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.44.24)

तथैव मुष्टिकः पूर्वं स्वमुष्ट्याभिहतेन वै । बलभद्रेण बलिना तलेनाभिहतो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥

tathaiva muṣṭikaḥ pūrvaṁ sva-muṣṭyābhihatena vai balabhadreṇa balinā talenābhihato bhṛśam

In the same way, Mushtika, who had first struck powerful Balabhadra with his own fist, was terribly struck down by a single slap of the mighty Lord's hand.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.44.25)

प्रवेपितः स रुधिरमुद्वमन् मुखतोऽर्दितः । व्यसुः पपातोर्व्युपस्थे वाताहत इवाङ्घ्रिपः ॥ २५ ॥

pravepitaḥ sa rudhiram udvaman mukhato ’rditaḥ vyasuḥ papātorvy-upasthe vātāhata ivāṅghripaḥ

Trembling all over, vomiting blood from his mouth, racked with pain, he fell lifeless to the ground, like a tree struck down by the wind.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.44.26)

ततः कूटमनुप्राप्तं रामः प्रहरतां वरः । अवधील्लीलया राजन्सावज्ञं वाममुष्टिना ॥ २६ ॥

tataḥ kūṭam anuprāptaṁ rāmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ avadhīl līlayā rājan sāvajñaṁ vāma-muṣṭinā

Then, O King, Rama, foremost of fighters, playfully and with utter disdain, slew Kuta, who came against Him, with a single blow of His left fist.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.44.27)

तर्ह्येव हि शलः कृष्णप्रपदाहतशीर्षकः । द्विधा विदीर्णस्तोशलक उभावपि निपेततुः ॥ २७ ॥

tarhy eva hi śalaḥ kṛṣṇa- prapadāhata-śīrṣakaḥ dvidhā vidīrṇas tośalaka ubhāv api nipetatuḥ

At that very moment, Shala's head was shattered by a blow from the tip of Krishna's foot, and Toshala was torn in two — both fell down together.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.44.28)

चाणूरे मुष्टिके कूटे शले तोशलके हते । शेषाः प्रदुद्रुवुर्मल्लाः सर्वे प्राणपरीप्सवः ॥ २८ ॥

cāṇūre muṣṭike kūṭe śale tośalake hate śeṣāḥ pradudruvur mallāḥ sarve prāṇa-parīpsavaḥ

With Chanura, Mushtika, Kuta, Shala and Toshala all slain, the remaining wrestlers, each desiring only to save his own life, fled in every direction.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.44.29)

गोपान्वयस्यानाकृष्य तैः संसृज्य विजह्रतुः । वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु वल्गन्तौ रुतनूपुरौ ॥ २९ ॥

gopān vayasyān ākṛṣya taiḥ saṁsṛjya vijahratuḥ vādyamāneṣu tūryeṣu valgantau ruta-nūpurau

Then, calling Their cowherd friends to Them and joining with them, as the instruments played on, the two Lords danced and sported together, Their anklets ringing.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.44.30)

जनाः प्रजहृषुः सर्वे कर्मणा रामकृष्णयोः । ऋते कंसं विप्रमुख्याः साधवः साधु साध्विति ॥ ३० ॥

janāḥ prajahṛṣuḥ sarve karmaṇā rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ ṛte kaṁsaṁ vipra-mukhyāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu sādhv iti

Everyone present there, save Kamsa alone, rejoiced at this deed of Rama and Krishna; the foremost brahmanas and the saintly cried out, 'Excellent! Excellent!'

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.44.31)

हतेषु मल्लवर्येषु विद्रुतेषु च भोजराट् । न्यवारयत् स्वतूर्याणि वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ ३१ ॥

hateṣu malla-varyeṣu vidruteṣu ca bhoja-rāṭ nyavārayat sva-tūryāṇi vākyaṁ cedam uvāca ha

Seeing his best wrestlers slain and the rest scattered in flight, the lord of the Bhojas had his own musicians silenced, and spoke these words.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.44.32)

निःसारयत दुर्वृत्तौ वसुदेवात्मजौ पुरात् । धनं हरत गोपानां नन्दं बध्नीत दुर्मतिम् ॥ ३२ ॥

niḥsārayata durvṛttau vasudevātmajau purāt dhanaṁ harata gopānāṁ nandaṁ badhnīta durmatim

[Kamsa said:] Drive these two wicked sons of Vasudeva out of the city! Seize the cowherds' wealth, and bind that fool Nanda!

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.44.33)

वसुदेवस्तु दुर्मेधा हन्यतामाश्वसत्तमः । उग्रसेनः पिता चापि सानुगः परपक्षगः ॥ ३३ ॥

vasudevas tu durmedhā hanyatām āśv asattamaḥ ugrasenaḥ pitā cāpi sānugaḥ para-pakṣa-gaḥ

That evil-minded Vasudeva too, most base of men, let him be killed at once! And my own father Ugrasena as well — together with his followers, who have gone over to the side of my enemies!

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.44.34)

एवं विकत्थमाने वै कंसे प्रकुपितोऽव्ययः । लघिम्नोत्पत्य तरसा मञ्चमुत्तुङ्गमारुहत् ॥ ३४ ॥

evaṁ vikatthamāne vai kaṁse prakupito ’vyayaḥ laghimnotpatya tarasā mañcam uttuṅgam āruhat

As Kamsa went on raving in this manner, the imperishable Krishna grew intensely angry, and with a swift, effortless leap sprang up onto the high royal dais.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.44.35)

तमाविशन्तमालोक्य मृत्युमात्मन आसनात् । मनस्वी सहसोत्थाय जगृहे सोऽसिचर्मणी ॥ ३५ ॥

tam āviśantam ālokya mṛtyum ātmana āsanāt manasvī sahasotthāya jagṛhe so ’si-carmaṇī

Seeing death itself approaching his very seat, the quick-witted Kamsa rose at once and seized his sword and shield.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.44.36)

तं खड्गपाणिं विचरन्तमाशुश्येनं यथा दक्षिणसव्यमम्बरे । समग्रहीद् दुर्विषहोग्रतेजायथोरगं तार्क्ष्यसुतः प्रसह्य ॥ ३६ ॥

taṁ khaḍga-pāṇiṁ vicarantam āśu śyenaṁ yathā dakṣiṇa-savyam ambare samagrahīd durviṣahogra-tejā yathoragaṁ tārkṣya-sutaḥ prasahya

As Kamsa moved swiftly to and fro like a hawk in the sky, sword in hand, Krishna, of unbearable and fierce splendor, seized him forcibly, just as Garuda might seize a serpent.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.44.37)

प्रगृह्य केशेषु चलत्किरीटंनिपात्य रङ्गोपरि तुङ्गमञ्चात् । तस्योपरिष्टात् स्वयमब्जनाभःपपात विश्वाश्रय आत्मतन्त्रः ॥ ३७ ॥

pragṛhya keśeṣu calat-kirītaṁ nipātya raṅgopari tuṅga-mañcāt tasyopariṣṭāt svayam abja-nābhaḥ papāta viśvāśraya ātma-tantraḥ

Seizing him by the hair, knocking loose his trembling crown, He cast him down from the high dais onto the arena floor; and the lotus-naveled Lord, refuge of the universe, wholly self-governed, fell upon him from above.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.44.38)

तं सम्परेतं विचकर्ष भूमौहरिर्यथेभं जगतो विपश्यतः । हाहेति शब्दः सुमहांस्तदाभू-दुदीरितः सर्वजनैर्नरेन्द्र ॥ ३८ ॥

taṁ samparetaṁ vicakarṣa bhūmau harir yathebhaṁ jagato vipaśyataḥ hā heti śabdaḥ su-mahāṁs tadābhūd udīritaḥ sarva-janair narendra

O lord of men, before the eyes of all the assembled people, Hari dragged that dead Kamsa along the ground just as a lion drags a dead elephant; and a great cry of 'Alas! Alas!' rose up at once from everyone present.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.44.39)

स नित्यदोद्विग्नधिया तमीश्वरंपिबन्नदन्वा विचरन् स्वपन् श्वसन् । ददर्श चक्रायुधमग्रतो यत-स्तदेव रूपं दुरवापमाप ॥ ३९ ॥

sa nityadodvigna-dhiyā tam īśvaraṁ pibann adan vā vicaran svapan śvasan dadarśa cakrāyudham agrato yatas tad eva rūpaṁ duravāpam āpa

Ever anxious in mind, whether drinking, eating, moving about, sleeping or simply breathing, Kamsa had always beheld that Lord before him, discus in hand — and so, by that constant sight, he attained that rare gift of a form resembling His own.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.44.40)

तस्यानुजा भ्रातरोऽष्टौ कङ्कन्यग्रोधकादयः । अभ्यधावन्नतिक्रुद्धा भ्रातुर्निर्वेशकारिणः ॥ ४० ॥

tasyānujā bhrātaro ’ṣṭau kaṅka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ

His eight younger brothers, led by Kanka and Nyagrodhaka, sought to avenge their brother and charged forward in great fury.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.44.41)

तथातिरभसांस्तांस्तु संयत्तान्रोहिणीसुतः । अहन् परिघमुद्यम्य पशूनिव मृगाधिपः ॥ ४१ ॥

tathāti-rabhasāṁs tāṁs tu saṁyattān rohiṇī-sutaḥ ahan parigham udyamya paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ

As they rushed forward with great speed, ready for battle, Rohini's son took up His club and slew them, just as a lion slays lesser animals.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.44.42)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो व्योम्नि ब्रह्मेशाद्या विभूतयः । पुष्पैः किरन्तस्तं प्रीताः शशंसुर्ननृतुः स्त्रियः ॥ ४२ ॥

nedur dundubhayo vyomni brahmeśādyā vibhūtayaḥ puṣpaiḥ kirantas taṁ prītāḥ śaśaṁsur nanṛtuḥ striyaḥ

Kettledrums resounded in the heavens; Brahma, Shiva and the other great powers, delighted, rained down flowers upon Him and sang His praises, while their consorts danced.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.44.43)

तेषां स्त्रियो महाराज सुहृन्मरणदुःखिताः । तत्राभीयुर्विनिघ्नन्त्यः शीर्षाण्यश्रुविलोचनाः ॥ ४३ ॥

teṣāṁ striyo mahā-rāja suhṛn-maraṇa-duḥkhitāḥ tatrābhīyur vinighnantyaḥ śīrṣāṇy aśru-vilocanāḥ

O great king, their wives, grief-stricken at the death of their beloved husbands, came running there, their eyes full of tears, beating their own heads.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.44.44)

शयानान्वीरशयायां पतीनालिङ्ग्य शोचतीः । विलेपुः सुस्वरं नार्यो विसृजन्त्यो मुहुः शुचः ॥ ४४ ॥

śayānān vīra-śayāyāṁ patīn āliṅgya śocatīḥ vilepuḥ su-svaraṁ nāryo visṛjantyo muhuḥ śucaḥ

Embracing their husbands as they lay upon that hero's bed, those sorrowing women wept aloud again and again, giving voice to their grief.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.44.45)

हा नाथ प्रिय धर्मज्ञ करुणानाथवत्सल । त्वया हतेन निहता वयं ते सगृहप्रजाः ॥ ४५ ॥

hā nātha priya dharma-jña karuṇānātha-vatsala tvayā hatena nihatā vayaṁ te sa-gṛha-prajāḥ

[The women lamented:] Alas, O master! Alas, beloved! O knower of dharma! O compassionate one, tender toward the helpless! With you slain, we too, together with our households and our children, are as good as slain.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.44.46)

त्वया विरहिता पत्या पुरीयं पुरुषर्षभ । न शोभते वयमिव निवृत्तोत्सवमङ्गला ॥ ४६ ॥

tvayā virahitā patyā purīyaṁ puruṣarṣabha na śobhate vayam iva nivṛttotsava-maṅgalā

O foremost of men, bereft of you, its lord, this city has lost its splendor just as we have — no festival, no auspicious rite remains in it now.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.44.47)

अनागसां त्वं भूतानां कृतवान्द्रोहमुल्बणम् । तेनेमां भो दशां नीतो भूतध्रुक्को लभेत शम् ॥ ४७ ॥

anāgasāṁ tvaṁ bhūtānāṁ kṛtavān droham ulbaṇam tenemāṁ bho daśāṁ nīto bhūta-dhruk ko labheta śam

You committed terrible violence against innocent beings, and it is for that alone that you have come to this state; how can one who does harm to others ever find peace?

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.44.48)

सर्वेषामिह भूतानामेष हि प्रभवाप्ययः । गोप्ता च तदवध्यायी न क्वचित्सुखमेधते ॥ ४८ ॥

sarveṣām iha bhūtānām eṣa hi prabhavāpyayaḥ goptā ca tad-avadhyāyī na kvacit sukham edhate

It is from Him alone that the appearance and dissolution of all beings in this world proceed, and He alone is their sustainer; one who disregards Him can never truly prosper anywhere.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.44.49)

श्रीशुक उवाच राजयोषित आश्वास्य भगवाँल्लोकभावनः । यामाहुर्लौकिकीं संस्थां हतानां समकारयत् ॥ ४९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca rāja-yoṣita āśvāsya bhagavāḻ loka-bhāvanaḥ yām āhur laukikīṁ saṁsthāṁ hatānāṁ samakārayat

Sukadeva said: Bhagavan, the sustainer of all the worlds, having comforted the royal wives, then had the customary funeral rites performed for the slain, exactly as prescribed.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.44.50)

मातरं पितरं चैव मोचयित्वाथ बन्धनात् । कृष्णरामौ ववन्दाते शिरसा स्पृश्य पादयोः ॥ ५० ॥

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ caiva mocayitvātha bandhanāt kṛṣṇa-rāmau vavandāte śirasā spṛśya pādayoḥ

Then, having released Their mother and father from their bondage, Krishna and Rama bowed down to them, touching their heads to their parents' feet.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.44.51)

देवकी वसुदेवश्च विज्ञाय जगदीश्वरौ । कृतसंवन्दनौ पुत्रौ सस्वजाते न शङ्कितौ ॥ ५१ ॥

devakī vasudevaś ca vijñāya jagad-īśvarau kṛta-saṁvandanau putrau sasvajāte na śaṅkitau

Devaki and Vasudeva, now recognizing their two sons to be none other than the Lords of the universe, having received their obeisance, did not dare embrace them, held back by awe.