The Devi Dispels Krishna's (Vasudeva's) Grief

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.4.24.1)

व्यास उवाच । प्रातर्नन्दगृहे जातः पुत्रजन्ममहोत्सवः । किंवदन्त्यथ कंसेन श्रुता चारमुखादपि ॥

vyāsa uvāca | prātarnandagṛhe jātaḥ putrajanmamahotsavaḥ | kiṁvadantyatha kaṁsena śrutā cāramukhādapi ||

Vyasa said: In the morning, in Nanda's house, a great festival of the son's birth took place; then a rumor was heard by Kamsa, even from the mouth of a spy.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.4.24.2)

जानाति वसुदेवस्य दारास्तत्र वसन्ति हि । पशवो दासवर्गश्च सर्वे ते नन्दगोकुले ॥

jānāti vasudevasya dārāstatra vasanti hi | paśavo dāsavargaśca sarve te nandagokule ||

"He knows that Vasudeva's family dwells there; his cattle and his servants — all of them are in Nanda's Gokula."

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.4.24.3)

तेन शङ्कासमाविष्टो गोकुलं प्रति भारत । नारदेनापि तत्सर्वं कथितं कारणं पुरा ॥

tena śaṅkāsamāviṣṭo gokulaṁ prati bhārata | nāradenāpi tatsarvaṁ kathitaṁ kāraṇaṁ purā ||

Filled with suspicion because of this, O descendant of Bharata, he turned his attention toward Gokula; and Narada too had formerly told him all the reason behind it—

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.4.24.4)

गोकुले ये च नन्दाद्यास्तत्पत्न्यश्च सुरांशजाः । देवकीवसुदेवाद्याः सर्वे ते शत्रवः किल ॥

gokule ye ca nandādyāstatpatnyaśca surāṁśajāḥ | devakīvasudevādyāḥ sarve te śatravaḥ kila ||

— that in Gokula, Nanda and the others, and their wives, were portions of the gods; Devaki, Vasudeva, and the rest — all of them were indeed his enemies.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.4.24.5)

इति नारदवाक्येन बोधितोऽसौ कुलाधमः । जातः कोपमना राजन् कंसः परमपापकृत् ॥

iti nāradavākyena bodhito'sau kulādhamaḥ | jātaḥ kopamanā rājan kaṁsaḥ paramapāpakṛt ||

Thus informed by Narada's words, that basest of his lineage, Kamsa, the greatest sinner, O king, became filled with anger.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.4.24.6)

पूतना निहता तत्र कृष्णेनामिततेजसा । बको वत्सासुरश्चापि धेनुकश्च महाबलः ॥

pūtanā nihatā tatra kṛṣṇenāmitatejasā | bako vatsāsuraścāpi dhenukaśca mahābalaḥ ||

Putana was slain there by Krishna, of boundless splendor; Baka, and the demon Vatsa, and the mighty Dhenuka—

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.4.24.7)

प्रलम्बो निहतस्तेन तथा गोवर्धनो धृतः । श्रुत्वैतत्कर्म कंसस्तु मेने मरणमात्मनः ॥

pralambo nihatastena tathā govardhano dhṛtaḥ | śrutvaitatkarma kaṁsastu mene maraṇamātmanaḥ ||

— Pralamba was slain by him, and Govardhana was lifted. Hearing of these deeds, Kamsa considered it his own death approaching.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.4.24.8)

तथा विनिहतः केशी ज्ञात्वा कंसोऽतिदुर्मनाः । धनुर्यागमिषेणाशु तावानेतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥

tathā vinihataḥ keśī jñātvā kaṁso'tidurmanāḥ | dhanuryāgamiṣeṇāśu tāvānetuṁ pracakrame ||

Likewise, when Keshi was slain, Kamsa, exceedingly troubled in mind, under the pretext of a bow-sacrifice, began swiftly to devise a plan to bring the two brothers to Mathura.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.4.24.9)

अक्रूरं प्रेषयामास क्रूरः पापमतिस्तदा । आनेतुं रामकृष्णौ च वधायामितविक्रमौ ॥

akrūraṁ preṣayāmāsa krūraḥ pāpamatistadā | ānetuṁ rāmakṛṣṇau ca vadhāyāmitavikramau ||

That cruel, evil-minded one then sent Akrura to bring Rama and Krishna, of boundless valor, for their slaying.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.4.24.10)

रथमारोप्य गोपालौ गोकुलाद् गान्दिनीसुतः । आगतो मथुरायां तु कंसादेशे स्थितः किल ॥

rathamāropya gopālau gokulād gāndinīsutaḥ | āgato mathurāyāṁ tu kaṁsādeśe sthitaḥ kila ||

The son of Gandini, mounting the two cowherds on his chariot, came from Gokula to Mathura, standing there by Kamsa's order.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.4.24.11)

तावागत्य तदा तत्र धनुर्भङ्गञ्च चक्रतुः । हत्वाथ रजकं कामं गजं चाणूरमुष्टिकम् ॥

tāvāgatya tadā tatra dhanurbhaṅgañca cakratuḥ | hatvātha rajakaṁ kāmaṁ gajaṁ cāṇūramuṣṭikam ||

Having come there then, the two broke the bow; and having slain the washerman as they pleased, and the elephant, and Chanura and Mushtika—

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.4.24.12)

शलं च तोशलं चैव निजघान हरिस्तदा । जघान कंसं देवेशः केशेष्वाकृष्य लीलया ॥

śalaṁ ca tośalaṁ caiva nijaghāna haristadā | jaghāna kaṁsaṁ deveśaḥ keśeṣvākṛṣya līlayā ||

— and Shala and Toshala too, Hari slew then. The lord of gods slew Kamsa, dragging him by the hair, in sport.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.4.24.13)

पितरौ मोचयित्वाथ गतदुःखौ चकार ह । उग्रसेनाय राज्यं तद्ददावरिनिषूदनः ॥

pitarau mocayitvātha gataduḥkhau cakāra ha | ugrasenāya rājyaṁ taddadāvariniṣūdanaḥ ||

Having freed his parents from their sorrow, the destroyer of foes then gave the kingdom to Ugrasena.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.4.24.14)

वसुदेवस्तयोस्तत्र मौञ्जीबन्धनपूर्वकम् । कारयामास विधिवद् व्रतबन्धं महामनाः ॥

vasudevastayostatra mauñjībandhanapūrvakam | kārayāmāsa vidhivad vratabandhaṁ mahāmanāḥ ||

Vasudeva, the great-minded one, there had the sacred-thread ceremony of the two, preceded by the girdle-of-munja rite, performed duly according to rite.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.4.24.15)

उपनीतौ तदा तौ तु गतौ सान्दीपनालयम् । विद्याः सर्वाः समभ्यस्य मथुरामागतौ पुनः ॥

upanītau tadā tau tu gatau sāndīpanālayam | vidyāḥ sarvāḥ samabhyasya mathurāmāgatau punaḥ ||

Having then undergone the sacred-thread ceremony, the two went to the abode of Sandipani; having studied all branches of learning, they returned again to Mathura.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.4.24.16)

जातौ द्वादशवर्षीयौ कृतविद्यौ महाबलौ । मथुरायां स्थितौ वीरौ सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः ॥

jātau dvādaśavarṣīyau kṛtavidyau mahābalau | mathurāyāṁ sthitau vīrau sutāvānakadundubheḥ ||

Having become twelve years old, accomplished in learning, mighty, the two heroes, sons of Anakadundubhi, dwelt in Mathura.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.4.24.17)

मागधस्तु जरासन्धो जामातृवधदुःखितः । कृत्वा सैन्यसमाजं स मथुरामागतः पुरीम् ॥

māgadhastu jarāsandho jāmātṛvadhaduḥkhitaḥ | kṛtvā sainyasamājaṁ sa mathurāmāgataḥ purīm ||

Jarasandha of Magadha, grieved by the slaying of his son-in-law, having gathered an army, came to the city of Mathura.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.4.24.18)

स सप्तदशवारं तु कृष्णेन कृतबुद्धिना । जितः सङ्ग्राममासाद्य मधुपुर्यां निवासिना ॥

sa saptadaśavāraṁ tu kṛṣṇena kṛtabuddhinā | jitaḥ saṅgrāmamāsādya madhupuryāṁ nivāsinā ||

He was defeated seventeen times, in battle after battle, by Krishna, of resolved intellect, who dwelt in Mathura.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.4.24.19)

पश्चाच्च प्रेरितस्तेन स कालयवनाभिधः । सर्वम्लेच्छाधिपः शूरो यादवानां भयङ्करः ॥

paścācca preritastena sa kālayavanābhidhaḥ | sarvamlecchādhipaḥ śūro yādavānāṁ bhayaṅkaraḥ ||

Afterward, incited by him, came the one called Kalayavana, the lord of all the Mlecchas, a hero, a terror to the Yadavas.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.4.24.20)

श्रुत्वा यवनमायान्तं कृष्णः सर्वान् यदूत्तमान् । आनाय्य च तथा राममुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥

śrutvā yavanamāyāntaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ sarvān yadūttamān | ānāyya ca tathā rāmamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ ||

Hearing that the Yavana was coming, Krishna, having summoned all the foremost Yadavas, and Rama as well, Madhusudana said—

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.4.24.21)

भयं नोऽत्र समुत्पन्नं जरासन्धान्महाबलात् । किं कर्तव्यं महाभाग यवनः समुपैति वै ॥

bhayaṁ no'tra samutpannaṁ jarāsandhānmahābalāt | kiṁ kartavyaṁ mahābhāga yavanaḥ samupaiti vai ||

"A fear has arisen for us here, from the mighty Jarasandha. What must be done, O great one? The Yavana is now approaching indeed."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.4.24.22)

प्राणत्राणं प्रकर्तव्यं त्यक्त्वा गेहं बलं धनम् । सुखेन स्थीयते यत्र स देशः खलु पैतृकः ॥

prāṇatrāṇaṁ prakartavyaṁ tyaktvā gehaṁ balaṁ dhanam | sukhena sthīyate yatra sa deśaḥ khalu paitṛkaḥ ||

"The protection of one's life must be undertaken, abandoning house, army, and wealth. Where one may dwell in comfort — that land is truly one's own ancestral home."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.4.24.23)

सदोद्वेगकरः कामं किं कर्तव्यः कुलोचितः । शैलसागरसान्निध्ये स्थातव्यं सुखमिच्छता ॥

sadodvegakaraḥ kāmaṁ kiṁ kartavyaḥ kulocitaḥ | śailasāgarasānnidhye sthātavyaṁ sukhamicchatā ||

"What need is there of clinging to ancestral custom, if it is a constant cause of anxiety? One who desires happiness should dwell near a mountain or the ocean."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.4.24.24)

यत्र वैरिभयं न स्यात्स्थातव्यं तत्र पण्डितैः । शेषशय्यां समाश्रित्य हरिः स्वपिति सागरे ॥

yatra vairibhayaṁ na syātsthātavyaṁ tatra paṇḍitaiḥ | śeṣaśayyāṁ samāśritya hariḥ svapiti sāgare ||

"Where there is no fear from an enemy, there the wise should dwell. Hari, resting upon the couch of Shesha, sleeps in the ocean."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.4.24.25)

तथैव च भयाद्भीतः कैलासे त्रिपुरार्दनः । तस्मान्नात्रैव स्थातव्यमस्माभिः शत्रुतापितैः ॥

tathaiva ca bhayādbhītaḥ kailāse tripurārdanaḥ | tasmānnātraiva sthātavyamasmābhiḥ śatrutāpitaiḥ ||

"So too, out of fear, the destroyer of Tripura dwells on Kailasa. Therefore we, tormented by enemies, ought not to remain here at all."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.4.24.26)

द्वारवत्यां गमिष्यामः सहिताः सर्व एव वै । कथिता गरुडेनाद्य रम्या द्वारवती पुरी ॥

dvāravatyāṁ gamiṣyāmaḥ sahitāḥ sarva eva vai | kathitā garuḍenādya ramyā dvāravatī purī ||

"We shall go, all of us together, to Dvaravati. Garuda has today described to me the beautiful city of Dvaravati—"

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.4.24.27)

रैवताचलसानिध्ये सिन्धुकूले मनोहरा । व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तथ्यं सर्वे यादवपुङ्गवाः ॥

raivatācalasānidhye sindhukūle manoharā | vyāsa uvāca | tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tathyaṁ sarve yādavapuṅgavāḥ ||

"— near Mount Raivataka, on the shore of the sea, most charming." Vyasa said: Hearing this true speech, all the foremost of the Yadavas—

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.4.24.28)

गमनाय मतिं चक्रुः सकुटुम्बाः सवाहनाः । शकटानि तथोष्ट्राश्च वाम्यश्च महिषास्तथा ॥

gamanāya matiṁ cakruḥ sakuṭumbāḥ savāhanāḥ | śakaṭāni tathoṣṭrāśca vāmyaśca mahiṣāstathā ||

— resolved to depart, together with their families and their conveyances. Having filled their carts, camels, mares, and buffaloes—

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.4.24.29)

धनपूर्णानि कृत्वा ते निर्ययुर्नगराद्बहिः । रामकृष्णौ पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते सपरिच्छदाः ॥

dhanapūrṇāni kṛtvā te niryayurnagarādbahiḥ | rāmakṛṣṇau puraskṛtya sarve te saparicchadāḥ ||

— with wealth, they went out from the city, all of them, along with their retinues, placing Rama and Krishna at their head.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.4.24.30)

अग्रे कृत्वा प्रजाः सर्वाश्चेलुः सर्वे यदूत्तमाः । कतिचिद्दिवसैः प्रापुः पुरीं द्वारवतीं किल ॥

agre kṛtvā prajāḥ sarvāśceluḥ sarve yadūttamāḥ | katiciddivasaiḥ prāpuḥ purīṁ dvāravatīṁ kila ||

Placing all the subjects before them, all the foremost Yadavas journeyed on; within a few days they reached the city of Dvaravati indeed.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.4.24.31)

शिल्पिभिः कारयामास जीर्णोद्धारं हि माधवः । संस्थाप्य यादवांस्तत्र तावेतौ बलकेशवौ ॥

śilpibhiḥ kārayāmāsa jīrṇoddhāraṁ hi mādhavaḥ | saṁsthāpya yādavāṁstatra tāvetau balakeśavau ||

Madhava had the city, through craftsmen, restored and renovated; having settled the Yadavas there, those two, Bala and Keshava—

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.4.24.32)

तरसा मथुरामेत्य संस्थितौ निर्जनां पुरीम् । तदा तत्रैव सम्प्राप्तो बलवान् यवनाधिपः ॥

tarasā mathurāmetya saṁsthitau nirjanāṁ purīm | tadā tatraiva samprāpto balavān yavanādhipaḥ ||

— swiftly went to Mathura, and remained there, finding the city deserted. Then the mighty Yavana lord arrived right there as well.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.4.24.33)

ज्ञात्वैनमागतं कृष्णो निर्ययौ नगराद्बहिः । पदातिरग्रे तस्याभूद्यवनस्य जनार्दनः ॥

jñātvainamāgataṁ kṛṣṇo niryayau nagarādbahiḥ | padātiragre tasyābhūdyavanasya janārdanaḥ ||

Knowing he had arrived, Krishna went out of the city; Janardana went on foot, ahead of that Yavana.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.4.24.34)

पीताम्बरधरः श्रीमान्प्राहसन्मधुसूदनः । तं दृष्ट्वा पुरतो यान्तं कृष्णं कमललोचनम् ॥

pītāmbaradharaḥ śrīmānprāhasanmadhusūdanaḥ | taṁ dṛṣṭvā purato yāntaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ kamalalocanam ||

Wearing yellow garments, glorious, Madhusudana smiled; seeing that lotus-eyed Krishna walking ahead of him—

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.4.24.35)

यवनोऽपि पदातिः सन्पृष्ठतोऽनुगतः खलः । प्रसुप्तो यत्र राजर्षिर्मुचुकुन्दो महाबलः ॥

yavano'pi padātiḥ sanpṛṣṭhato'nugataḥ khalaḥ | prasupto yatra rājarṣirmucukundo mahābalaḥ ||

— the Yavana too, wicked one, being on foot, followed behind, to where the mighty royal sage Muchukunda lay sleeping.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.4.24.36)

प्रययौ भगवांस्तत्र सकालयवनो हरिः । तत्रैवान्तर्दधे विष्णुर्मुचुकुन्दं समीक्ष्य च ॥

prayayau bhagavāṁstatra sakālayavano hariḥ | tatraivāntardadhe viṣṇurmucukundaṁ samīkṣya ca ||

The Lord Hari, along with Kalayavana in pursuit, went there; and Vishnu, upon seeing Muchukunda, vanished right there.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.4.24.37)

तत्रैव यवनः प्राप्तः सुप्तभूतमपश्यत । मत्वा तं वासुदेवं स पादेनाताडयन्नृपम् ॥

tatraiva yavanaḥ prāptaḥ suptabhūtamapaśyata | matvā taṁ vāsudevaṁ sa pādenātāḍayannṛpam ||

The Yavana, arriving right there, saw a sleeping figure; taking him to be Vasudeva, he struck that king with his foot.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.4.24.38)

प्रबुद्धः क्रोधरक्ताक्षस्तं ददाह महाबलः । तं दग्ध्वा मुचुकुन्दोऽथ ददर्श कमलेक्षणम् ॥

prabuddhaḥ krodharaktākṣastaṁ dadāha mahābalaḥ | taṁ dagdhvā mucukundo'tha dadarśa kamalekṣaṇam ||

Awakened, his eyes red with anger, that mighty one burned him to ashes. Having burned him, Muchukunda then beheld the lotus-eyed one—

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.4.24.39)

वासुदेवं सुदेवेशं प्रणम्य प्रस्थितो वनम् । जगाम द्वारकां कृष्णो बलदेवसमन्वितः ॥

vāsudevaṁ sudeveśaṁ praṇamya prasthito vanam | jagāma dvārakāṁ kṛṣṇo baladevasamanvitaḥ ||

— Vasudeva, the lord of the very gods; having bowed to him, he set out for the forest. Krishna went to Dvaraka, accompanied by Baladeva.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.4.24.40)

उग्रसेनं नृपं कृत्वा विजहार यथारुचि । अहरद्रुक्मिणी कामं शिशुपालस्वयंवरात् ॥

ugrasenaṁ nṛpaṁ kṛtvā vijahāra yathāruci | aharadrukmiṇī kāmaṁ śiśupālasvayaṁvarāt ||

Having installed King Ugrasena, he sported as he pleased; he carried off Rukmini, as he wished, from Shishupala's svayamvara.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.4.24.41)

राक्षसेन विवाहेन चक्रे दारविधिं हरिः । ततो जाम्बवतीं सत्यां मित्रविन्दाञ्च भामिनीम् ॥

rākṣasena vivāhena cakre dāravidhiṁ hariḥ | tato jāmbavatīṁ satyāṁ mitravindāñca bhāminīm ||

By marriage in the Rakshasa manner, Hari performed the rite of marrying her. Then Jambavati, Satya, and Mitravinda, the radiant one—

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.4.24.42)

कालिन्दीं लक्षणां भद्रां तथा नाग्नजितीं शुभाम् । पृथक्पृथक्समानीयाप्युपयेमे जनार्दनः ॥

kālindīṁ lakṣaṇāṁ bhadrāṁ tathā nāgnajitīṁ śubhām | pṛthakpṛthaksamānīyāpyupayeme janārdanaḥ ||

— Kalindi, Lakshana, Bhadra, and likewise the auspicious Nagnajiti — bringing each one separately, Janardana married them.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.4.24.43)

अष्टावेव महीपाल पत्न्यः परमशोभनाः । प्रासूत रुक्मिणी पुत्रं प्रद्युम्नं चारुदर्शनम् ॥

aṣṭāveva mahīpāla patnyaḥ paramaśobhanāḥ | prāsūta rukmiṇī putraṁ pradyumnaṁ cārudarśanam ||

These eight, O king, were his most beautiful wives; Rukmini bore a son, Pradyumna, of lovely appearance.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.4.24.44)

जातकर्मादिकं तस्य चकार मधुसूदनः । हृतोऽसौ सूतिकागेहाच्छम्बरेण बलीयसा ॥

jātakarmādikaṁ tasya cakāra madhusūdanaḥ | hṛto'sau sūtikāgehācchambareṇa balīyasā ||

Madhusudana performed his birth-rites and the rest. He was carried off from the birthing-chamber by the mighty Shambara.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.4.24.45)

नीतश्च स्वपुरीं बालो मायावत्यै समर्पितः । वासुदेवो हृतं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं शोकसमन्वितः ॥

nītaśca svapurīṁ bālo māyāvatyai samarpitaḥ | vāsudevo hṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā putraṁ śokasamanvitaḥ ||

The infant was taken to his own city, and given over to Mayavati. Vasudeva, seeing his son taken away, filled with sorrow—

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.4.24.46)

जगाम शरणं देवीं भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा । वृत्रासुरादयो दैत्या लीलयैव यया हताः ॥

jagāma śaraṇaṁ devīṁ bhaktiyuktena cetasā | vṛtrāsurādayo daityā līlayaiva yayā hatāḥ ||

— went for refuge to the Devi, with a heart full of devotion — she by whom Vritrasura and other Daityas had been slain, in mere sport.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.4.24.47)

ततोऽसौ योगमायायाश्चकार परमां स्मृतिम् । वचोभिः परमोदारैरक्षरैः स्तवनैः शुभैः ॥

tato'sau yogamāyāyāścakāra paramāṁ smṛtim | vacobhiḥ paramodārairakṣaraiḥ stavanaiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

Then he entered into supreme remembrance of Yogamaya, with speech of the most sublime words, in beautiful syllables of praise.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.4.24.48)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । मातर्मयातितपसा परितोषिता त्वं प्राग्जन्मनि प्रसुमनादिभिरर्चितासि । धर्मात्मजेन बदरीवनखण्डमध्ये किं विस्मृतो जननि ते त्वयि भक्तिभावः ॥

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | mātarmayātitapasā paritoṣitā tvaṁ prāgjanmani prasumanādibhirarcitāsi | dharmātmajena badarīvanakhaṇḍamadhye kiṁ vismṛto janani te tvayi bhaktibhāvaḥ ||

Shri Krishna said: "O Mother, you were made content by me through great austerity in a former birth; you were worshipped with flowers and the rest, by me as the son of Dharma, within the grove of Badari. O mother, has devotion to you been forgotten?"

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.4.24.49)

सूतीगृहादपहृतः किमु बालको मे केनापि दुष्टमनसाप्यथ कौतुकाद्वा । मानापहारकरणाय ममाद्य नूनं लज्जा तवाम्ब खलु भक्तजनस्य युक्ता ॥

sūtīgṛhādapahṛtaḥ kimu bālako me kenāpi duṣṭamanasāpyatha kautukādvā | mānāpahārakaraṇāya mamādya nūnaṁ lajjā tavāmba khalu bhaktajanasya yuktā ||

"Has my infant been stolen from the birthing-chamber by someone of wicked mind, or perhaps merely out of curiosity — surely today, to strip away my honor? O Mother, is such shame truly fitting for your own devotee?"

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.4.24.50)

दुर्गो महानतितरां नगरी सुगुप्ता तत्रापि मेऽस्ति सदनं किल मध्यभागे । अन्तःपुरे च पिहितं ननु सूतिगेहं बालो हृतः खलु तथापि ममैव दोषात् ॥

durgo mahānatitarāṁ nagarī suguptā tatrāpi me'sti sadanaṁ kila madhyabhāge | antaḥpure ca pihitaṁ nanu sūtigehaṁ bālo hṛtaḥ khalu tathāpi mamaiva doṣāt ||

"The fortress is exceedingly great, the city well-guarded; there too, in its very midst, I have my dwelling. And within the inner apartments the birthing-chamber is enclosed indeed — yet the infant was stolen, surely through some fault of my own."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.4.24.51)

नाहं गतः परपुरं न च यादवाश्च रक्षावतीव नगरी किल वीरवर्यैः । माया तवैव जननि प्रकटप्रभावा मे बालकः परिहृतः कुहकेन केन ॥

nāhaṁ gataḥ parapuraṁ na ca yādavāśca rakṣāvatīva nagarī kila vīravaryaiḥ | māyā tavaiva janani prakaṭaprabhāvā me bālakaḥ parihṛtaḥ kuhakena kena ||

"I did not go to another city, nor were the Yadavas absent — the city is indeed exceedingly well-guarded by the finest heroes. Your very Maya, O Mother, of manifest power — by what trickery has my infant been taken from me?"

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.4.24.52)

नो वेद्म्यहं जननि ते चरितं सुगुप्तं को वेद मन्दमतिरल्पविदेव देही । क्वासौ गतो मम भटैर्न च वीक्षितो वा हर्ताम्बिके जवनिका तव कल्पितेयम् ॥

no vedmyahaṁ janani te caritaṁ suguptaṁ ko veda mandamatiralpavideva dehī | kvāsau gato mama bhaṭairna ca vīkṣito vā hartāmbike javanikā tava kalpiteyam ||

"I do not know, O Mother, your well-hidden ways — who indeed can know them, being but a dull-witted, scarcely-knowing embodied being? Where has he gone — was he not even seen by my own soldiers? Take away, O Ambika, this veil that you yourself have devised."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.4.24.53)

चित्रं न तेऽत्र पुरतो मम मातृगर्भो नीतस्त्वयार्धसमये किल माययासौ । यं रोहिणी हलधरं सुषुवे प्रसिद्धं दूरे स्थिता पतिपरा मिथुनं विनापि ॥

citraṁ na te'tra purato mama mātṛgarbho nītastvayārdhasamaye kila māyayāsau | yaṁ rohiṇī haladharaṁ suṣuve prasiddhaṁ dūre sthitā patiparā mithunaṁ vināpi ||

"It is no wonder before you — was I myself not carried away from my mother's womb by you, through Maya, at half-term? He whom Rohini bore, the renowned wielder of the plough — she, devoted to her husband, remained far away, without even a union between the pair."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.4.24.54)

सृष्टिं करोषि जगतामनुपालनं च नाशं तथैव पुनरप्यनिशं गुणैस्त्वम् । को वेद तेऽम्ब चरितं दुरितान्तकारि प्रायेण सर्वमखिलं विहितं त्वयैतत् ॥

sṛṣṭiṁ karoṣi jagatāmanupālanaṁ ca nāśaṁ tathaiva punarapyaniśaṁ guṇaistvam | ko veda te'mba caritaṁ duritāntakāri prāyeṇa sarvamakhilaṁ vihitaṁ tvayaitat ||

"You bring about the creation of the worlds, and their sustaining, and likewise, again and again, their destruction, through the gunas. Who indeed, O Mother, can know your conduct, the ender of sin? Nearly all of this has been ordained by you."

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.4.24.55)

उत्पाद्य पुत्रजननप्रभवं प्रमोदं दत्त्वा पुनर्विरहजं किल दुःखभारम् । त्वं क्रीडसे सुललितैः खलु तैर्विहारै- र्नो चेत्कथं मम सुताप्तिरतिर्वृथा स्यात् ॥

utpādya putrajananaprabhavaṁ pramodaṁ dattvā punarvirahajaṁ kila duḥkhabhāram | tvaṁ krīḍase sulalitaiḥ khalu tairvihārai- rno cetkathaṁ mama sutāptiratirvṛthā syāt ||

"Having brought forth the joy that arises from the birth of a son, and then given again the burden of sorrow born of his loss — you sport with these charming games of yours; otherwise how could my joy in obtaining a son be so suddenly rendered vain?"

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.4.24.56)

मातास्य रोदिति भृशं कुररीव बाला दुःखं तनोति मम सन्निधिगा सदैव । कष्टं न वेत्सि ललितेऽप्रमितप्रभावे मातस्त्वमेव शरणं भवपीडितानाम् ॥

mātāsya roditi bhṛśaṁ kurarīva bālā duḥkhaṁ tanoti mama sannidhigā sadaiva | kaṣṭaṁ na vetsi lalite'pramitaprabhāve mātastvameva śaraṇaṁ bhavapīḍitānām ||

"His mother weeps bitterly, like a female osprey; that child, ever present at my side, causes me sorrow. O playful, boundlessly powerful one, you do not know this hardship. O Mother, you alone are the refuge of those afflicted by worldly existence."

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.4.24.57)

सीमा सुखस्य सुतजन्म तदीयनाशो दुःखस्य देवि भवने विबुधा वदन्ति । तत्किं करोमि जननि प्रथमे प्रनष्टे पुत्रे ममाद्य हृदयं स्फुटतीव मातः ॥

sīmā sukhasya sutajanma tadīyanāśo duḥkhasya devi bhavane vibudhā vadanti | tatkiṁ karomi janani prathame pranaṣṭe putre mamādya hṛdayaṁ sphuṭatīva mātaḥ ||

"'The boundary of happiness is a son's birth; the boundary of sorrow, O Devi, his loss' — thus the wise declare, in ordinary households. So what shall I do, O Mother? Now that my first son is lost, my very heart seems to be bursting, O mother."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.4.24.58)

यज्ञं करोमि तव तुष्टिकरं व्रतं वा दैवं च पूजनमथाखिलदुःखहा त्वम् । मातः सुतोऽत्र यदि जीवति दर्शयाशु त्वं वै क्षमा सकलशोकविनाशनाय ॥

yajñaṁ karomi tava tuṣṭikaraṁ vrataṁ vā daivaṁ ca pūjanamathākhiladuḥkhahā tvam | mātaḥ suto'tra yadi jīvati darśayāśu tvaṁ vai kṣamā sakalaśokavināśanāya ||

"I shall perform a sacrifice pleasing to you, or a vow, or worship of the divine — for you are the remover of all sorrow. O Mother, if my son lives, show him to me swiftly; you alone are capable of destroying all grief."

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.4.24.59)

व्यास उवाच । एवं स्तुता तदा देवी कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । प्रत्यक्षदर्शना भूत्वा तमुवाच जगद्गुरुम् ॥

vyāsa uvāca | evaṁ stutā tadā devī kṛṣṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā | pratyakṣadarśanā bhūtvā tamuvāca jagadgurum ||

Vyasa said: Thus praised by Krishna, of unwearying deeds, the Devi, becoming visibly present, said to that Guru of the worlds—

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.4.24.60)

श्रीदेव्युवाच । शोकं मा कुरु देवेश शापोऽयं ते पुरातनः । तस्य योगेन पुत्रस्ते शम्बरेण हृतो बलात् ॥

śrīdevyuvāca | śokaṁ mā kuru deveśa śāpo'yaṁ te purātanaḥ | tasya yogena putraste śambareṇa hṛto balāt ||

Shri Devi said: "Do not grieve, O lord of gods; this is an ancient curse of yours. By its working, your son has been forcibly carried off by Shambara."

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.4.24.61)

अतस्ते षोडशे वर्षे हत्वा तं शम्बरं बलात् । आगमिष्यति पुत्रस्ते मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः ॥

ataste ṣoḍaśe varṣe hatvā taṁ śambaraṁ balāt | āgamiṣyati putraste matprasādānna saṁśayaḥ ||

"Therefore, in your son's sixteenth year, having forcibly slain that Shambara, your son shall return — by my grace, without doubt."

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.4.24.62)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा । भगवानपि पुत्रस्य शोकं त्यक्त्वाभवत्सुखी ॥

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvāntardadhe devī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā | bhagavānapi putrasya śokaṁ tyaktvābhavatsukhī ||

Vyasa said: Having said this, the Devi Chandika, of fierce prowess, vanished; and the Lord too, abandoning his sorrow for his son, became happy.