The Curse of the Yadu Dynasty by the Brahmanas

Verse 1 (bhagavata.11.1.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच कृत्वा दैत्यवधं कृष्णः सरामो यदुभिर्वृतः । भुवोऽवतारयद् भारं जविष्ठं जनयन् कलिम् ॥ 1.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca kṛtvā daitya-vadhaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ sa-rāmo yadubhir vṛtaḥ bhuvo ’vatārayad bhāraṁ javiṣṭhaṁ janayan kalim

Shri Shuka said: Having slain the demons, Lord Krishna — accompanied by Balarama and surrounded by the Yadus — lightened the burden of the earth still further by swiftly stirring up a quarrel.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.11.1.2)

ये कोपिताः सुबहु पाण्डुसुताः सपत्नै- र्दुर्द्यूतहेलनकचग्रहणादिभिस्तान् । कृत्वा निमित्तमितरेतरतः समेतान् हत्वा नृपान् निरहरत् क्षितिभारमीशः ॥ 1.2 ॥

ye kopitāḥ su-bahu pāṇḍu-sutāḥ sapatnair durdyūta-helana-kaca-grahaṇādibhis tān kṛtvā nimittam itaretarataḥ sametān hatvā nṛpān niraharat kṣiti-bhāram īśaḥ

Making the sons of Pandu — who had again and again been provoked by their rivals through deceitful gambling, insults, and the seizing of Draupadi's hair — the very instrument of His purpose, the Lord brought the assembled kings face to face on opposing sides and, by killing them, removed the burden of the earth.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.11.1.3)

भूभारराजपृतना यदुभिर्निरस्य गुप्तैः स्वबाहुभिरचिन्तयदप्रमेयः । मन्येऽवनेर्ननु गतोऽप्यगतं हि भारं यद् यादवं कुलमहो अविषह्यमास्ते ॥ 1.3 ॥

bhū-bhāra-rāja-pṛtanā yadubhir nirasya guptaiḥ sva-bāhubhir acintayad aprameyaḥ manye ’vaner nanu gato ’py agataṁ hi bhāraṁ yad yādavaṁ kulam aho aviṣahyam āste

Having, through the Yadus protected by His own arms, removed the armies of kings that burdened the earth, the immeasurable Lord reflected: "Though it may be said the earth's burden is gone, I think it is not gone at all — for the Yadava dynasty itself still remains, and its weight is unbearable."

Verse 4 (bhagavata.11.1.4)

नैवान्यतः परिभवोऽस्य भवेत् कथञ्चिन् मत्संश्रयस्य विभवोन्नहनस्य नित्यम् । अन्तःकलिं यदुकुलस्य विधाय वेणु- स्तम्बस्य वह्निमिव शान्तिमुपैमि धाम ॥ 1.4 ॥

naivānyataḥ paribhavo ’sya bhavet kathañcin mat-saṁśrayasya vibhavonnahanasya nityam antaḥ kaliṁ yadu-kulasya vidhāya veṇu- stambasya vahnim iva śāntim upaimi dhāma

"No outside power could ever defeat this dynasty, which has always taken shelter wholly in Me and whose might knows no bounds. But by kindling a quarrel within the Yadu family itself — like fire born from a clump of bamboo rubbing against itself — I shall attain peace and return to My own abode."

Verse 5 (bhagavata.11.1.5)

एवं व्यवसितो राजन् सत्यसङ्कल्प ईश्वरः । शापव्याजेन विप्राणां सञ्जह्रे स्वकुलं विभुः ॥ 1.5 ॥

evaṁ vyavasito rājan satya-saṅkalpa īśvaraḥ śāpa-vyājena viprāṇāṁ sañjahre sva-kulaṁ vibhuḥ

O King, having thus resolved, the almighty Lord — whose every wish comes true — withdrew His own family from the world under the pretext of a curse pronounced by brahmanas.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.11.1.6)

स्वमूर्त्या लोकलावण्यनिर्मुक्त्या लोचनं नृणाम् । गीर्भिस्ताः स्मरतां चित्तं पदैस्तानीक्षतां क्रियाः ॥ 1.6 ॥

sva-mūrtyā loka-lāvaṇya- nirmuktyā locanaṁ nṛṇām gīrbhis tāḥ smaratāṁ cittaṁ padais tān īkṣatāṁ kriyāḥ

With His own form, which eclipsed the beauty of all the worlds, He drew the eyes of men to Himself; with His words, the hearts of those who remembered them; and with the mark of His footsteps, the very deeds of those who beheld them.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.11.1.7)

आच्छिद्य कीर्तिं सुश्लोकां वितत्य ह्यञ्जसा नु कौ । तमोऽनया तरिष्यन्तीत्यगात् स्वं पदमीश्वरः ॥ 1.7 ॥

ācchidya kīrtiṁ su-ślokāṁ vitatya hy añjasā nu kau tamo ’nayā tariṣyantīty agāt svaṁ padam īśvaraḥ

Thus having spread His auspicious glory far and wide with ease, thinking, "By this alone shall people cross over the darkness of this age," the Lord, His purpose fulfilled, departed to His own abode.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.11.1.8)

श्रीराजोवाच ब्रह्मण्यानां वदान्यानां नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनाम् । विप्रशापः कथमभूद् वृष्णीनां कृष्णचेतसाम् ॥ 1.8 ॥

śrī-rājovāca brahmaṇyānāṁ vadānyānāṁ nityaṁ vṛddhopasevinām vipra-śāpaḥ katham abhūd vṛṣṇīnāṁ kṛṣṇa-cetasām

The King said: How did a curse from brahmanas fall upon the Vrishnis — who honored brahmanas, were ever generous, always served their elders, and whose minds were wholly absorbed in Krishna?

Verse 9 (bhagavata.11.1.9)

यन्निमित्तः स वै शापो यादृशो द्विजसत्तम । कथमेकात्मनां भेद एतत् सर्वं वदस्व मे ॥ 1.9 ॥

yan-nimittaḥ sa vai śāpo yādṛśo dvija-sattama katham ekātmanāṁ bheda etat sarvaṁ vadasva me

What was its cause, O best of the twice-born, and of what nature was that curse? And how could disunity arise among those who were, in truth, of one soul? Tell me all of this.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.11.1.10)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच बिभ्रद् वपुः सकलसुन्दरसन्निवेशं कर्माचरन् भुवि सुमङ्गलमाप्तकामः । आस्थाय धाम रममाण उदारकीर्तिः संहर्तुमैच्छत कुलं स्थितकृत्यशेषः ॥ 1.10 ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca bibhrad vapuḥ sakala-sundara-sanniveśaṁ karmācaran bhuvi su-maṅgalam āpta-kāmaḥ āsthāya dhāma ramamāṇa udāra-kīṛtiḥ saṁhartum aicchata kulaṁ sthita-kṛtya-śeṣaḥ

Shri Badarayani [Shukadeva] said: Bearing a form in which every beauty converges, performing the most auspicious deeds upon the earth though His every desire was already fulfilled, and dwelling in His own abode in blissful ease — He whose fame is itself magnanimous — He now wished to gather in His dynasty, for a remnant of His work still remained.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.11.1.11)

कर्माणि पुण्यनिवहानि सुमङ्गलानि गायज्जगत्कलिमलापहराणि कृत्वा । कालात्मना निवसता यदुदेवगेहे पिण्डारकं समगमन् मुनयो निसृष्टाः ॥ 1.11 ॥

karmāni puṇya-nivahāni su-maṅgalāni gāyaj-jagat-kali-malāpaharāṇi kṛtvā kālātmanā nivasatā yadu-deva-gehe piṇḍārakaṁ samagaman munayo nisṛṣṭāḥ

Having performed those most auspicious rites that bestow abundant merit and, when sung of, remove the taints of Kali-yuga from the whole world, the sages — dismissed by Him who dwells as time itself in the house of the Yadu king [Vasudeva] — set out for the pilgrimage site of Pindaraka.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.11.1.12)

विश्वामित्रोऽसितः कण्वो दुर्वासा भृगुरङ्गिराः । कश्यपो वामदेवोऽत्रिर्वसिष्ठो नारदादयः ॥ 1.12 ॥

viśvāmitro ’sitaḥ kaṇvo durvāsā bhṛgur aṅgirāḥ kaśyapo vāmadevo ’trir vasiṣṭho nāradādayaḥ

Vishvamitra, Asita, Kanva, Durvasa, Bhrigu, Angira, Kashyapa, Vamadeva, Atri, Vasishtha, Narada, and others — these were the sages.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.11.1.13)

क्रीडन्तस्तानुपव्रज्य कुमारा यदुनन्दनाः । उपसङ्गृह्य पप्रच्छुरविनीता विनीतवत् ॥ 1.13 ॥

krīḍantas tān upavrajya kumārā yadu-nandanāḥ upasaṅgṛhya papracchur avinītā vinīta-vat

Playing nearby, the young princes of the Yadu line approached the sages, and, though impudent, clasped their feet in feigned humility and questioned them.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.11.1.14)

ते वेषयित्वा स्त्रीवेषैः साम्बं जाम्बवतीसुतम् । एषा पृच्छति वो विप्रा अन्तर्वत्न्यसितेक्षणा ॥ 1.14 ॥

te veṣayitvā strī-veṣaiḥ sāmbaṁ jāmbavatī-sutam eṣā pṛcchati vo viprā antarvatny asitekṣaṇā

They had dressed Samba, the son of Jambavati, in women's clothing, and said: "O learned ones, this dark-eyed woman, who is with child, wishes to ask you something.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.11.1.15)

प्रष्टुं विलज्जती साक्षात् प्रब्रूतामोघदर्शनाः । प्रसोष्यन्ती पुत्रकामा किंस्वित् सञ्जनयिष्यति ॥ 1.15 ॥

praṣṭuṁ vilajjatī sākṣāt prabrūtāmogha-darśanāḥ prasoṣyantī putra-kāmā kiṁ svit sañjanayiṣyati

She is too shy to ask in person, so please tell us, O sages of unfailing insight — she is soon to deliver and longs for a son: what will she bring forth?"

Verse 16 (bhagavata.11.1.16)

एवं प्रलब्धा मुनयस्तानूचुः कुपिता नृप । जनयिष्यति वो मन्दा मुषलं कुलनाशनम् ॥ 1.16 ॥

evaṁ pralabdhā munayas tān ūcuḥ kupitā nṛpa janayiṣyati vo mandā muṣalaṁ kula-nāśanam

Thus deceived, O King, the sages grew angry and said to the boys: "Fools! She will give birth to an iron club that will destroy your entire dynasty."

Verse 17 (bhagavata.11.1.17)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तेऽतिसन्त्रस्ता विमुच्य सहसोदरम् । साम्बस्य ददृशुस्तस्मिन् मुषलं खल्वयस्मयम् ॥ 1.17 ॥

tac chrutvā te ’ti-santrastā vimucya sahasodaram sāmbasya dadṛśus tasmin muṣalaṁ khalv ayasmayam

Hearing this, the boys, thoroughly terrified, at once uncovered Samba's belly and there indeed saw an iron club.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.11.1.18)

किं कृतं मन्दभाग्यैर्नः किं वदिष्यन्ति नो जनाः । इति विह्वलिता गेहानादाय मुषलं ययुः ॥ 1.18 ॥

kiṁ kṛtaṁ manda-bhāgyair naḥ kiṁ vadiṣyanti no janāḥ iti vihvalitā gehān ādāya muṣalaṁ yayuḥ

"What have we, so ill-fated, done? What will our people say to us?" Speaking thus in distress, they took the club and went to their homes.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.11.1.19)

तच्चोपनीय सदसि परिम्लानमुखश्रियः । राज्ञ आवेदयांचक्रुः सर्वयादवसन्निधौ ॥ 1.19 ॥

tac copanīya sadasi parimlāna-mukha-śriyaḥ rājña āvedayāṁ cakruḥ sarva-yādava-sannidhau

Bringing that club into the assembly, their faces drained of all luster, they reported everything to the king in the presence of all the Yadavas.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.11.1.20)

श्रुत्वामोघं विप्रशापं दृष्ट्वा च मुषलं नृप । विस्मिता भयसन्त्रस्ता बभूवुर्द्वारकौकसः ॥ 1.20 ॥

śrutvāmoghaṁ vipra-śāpaṁ dṛṣṭvā ca muṣalaṁ nṛpa vismitā bhaya-santrastā babhūvur dvārakaukasaḥ

O King, hearing of the infallible curse of the brahmanas and seeing the club, the residents of Dvaraka were struck with amazement and overcome with fear.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.11.1.21)

तच्चूर्णयित्वा मुषलं यदुराजः स आहुकः । समुद्रसलिले प्रास्यल्लोहं चास्यावशेषितम् ॥ 1.21 ॥

tac cūrṇayitvā muṣalaṁ yadu-rājaḥ sa āhukaḥ samudra-salile prāsyal lohaṁ cāsyāvaśeṣitam

The Yadu king Ahuka [Ugrasena] had that club ground into powder, and cast both the powder and the remaining lump of iron into the waters of the ocean.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.11.1.22)

कश्चिन्मत्स्योऽग्रसील्लोहं चूर्णानि तरलैस्ततः । उह्यमानानि वेलायां लग्नान्यासन् किलैरकाः ॥ 1.22 ॥

kaścin matsyo ’grasīl lohaṁ cūrṇāni taralais tataḥ uhyamānāni velāyāṁ lagnāny āsan kilairakāḥ

A certain fish swallowed the iron lump, while the powder, carried by the waves to the shore, took root there and grew into sharp reed-grass.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.11.1.23)

मत्स्यो गृहीतो मत्स्यघ्नैर्जालेनान्यैः सहार्णवे । तस्योदरगतं लोहं स शल्ये लुब्धकोऽकरोत् ॥ 1.23 ॥

matsyo gṛhīto matsya-ghnair jālenānyaiḥ sahārṇave tasyodara-gataṁ lohaṁ sa śalye lubdhako ’karot

That fish was caught by fishermen in a net, along with other fish, out on the ocean; and the iron in its belly was taken by a hunter and fashioned into the tip of his arrow.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.11.1.24)

भगवाञ्ज्ञातसर्वार्थ ईश्वरोऽपि तदन्यथा । कर्तुं नैच्छद् विप्रशापं कालरूप्यन्वमोदत ॥ 1.24 ॥

bhagavān jñāta-sarvārtha īśvaro ’pi tad-anyathā kartuṁ naicchad vipra-śāpaṁ kāla-rūpy anvamodata

The Lord, who knew the truth of all things and was fully capable of altering this outcome, nonetheless chose not to undo the brahmanas' curse — rather, appearing in His form as time, He gladly gave it His sanction.