Kamsa's Birth and Sudeva's Return

Verse 1 (padma.2.51.1)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच- गते तस्मिन्दुराचारे गोभिले पापचेतसि । पद्मावती रुरोदाथ दुःखेन महतान्विता

brāhmaṇyuvāca- gate tasmindurācāre gobhile pāpacetasi padmāvatī rurodātha duḥkhena mahatānvitā

The brahmin-wife said: When that ill-conducted, sinful-minded Gobhila had gone, Padmavati wept, overwhelmed with great sorrow.

Verse 2 (padma.2.51.2)

तस्यास्तु रुदितं श्रुत्वा सख्यः सर्वा द्विजोत्तम । पप्रच्छुस्तां राजकन्यां ताः सर्वाश्च वराननाः

tasyāstu ruditaṁ śrutvā sakhyaḥ sarvā dvijottama papracchustāṁ rājakanyāṁ tāḥ sarvāśca varānanāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, hearing her weeping, all her friends, those fair-faced maidens, questioned the princess.

Verse 3 (padma.2.51.3)

कस्माद्रोदिषि भद्रं ते कथयस्व हि चेष्टितम् । क्व गतोऽसौ महाराजो माथुराधिपतिस्तव

kasmādrodiṣi bhadraṁ te kathayasva hi ceṣṭitam kva gato'sau mahārājo māthurādhipatistava

'Why do you weep, gentle one? Tell us what has happened. Where has that great king, your lord of Mathura, gone?'

Verse 4 (padma.2.51.4)

येन त्वं हि समाहूता प्रियेत्युक्त्वा वदस्व नः । ता उवाच सुदुःखेन रोदमाना पुनः पुनः

yena tvaṁ hi samāhūtā priyetyuktvā vadasva naḥ tā uvāca suduḥkhena rodamānā punaḥ punaḥ

'—by whom you were called "beloved" — tell us of him.' She spoke to them, weeping again and again in deep sorrow.

Verse 5 (padma.2.51.5)

तया आवेदितं सर्वं यज्जातं दोषसंभवम् । ताभिर्नीता पितुर्गेहं वेपमाना सुदुःखिता

tayā āveditaṁ sarvaṁ yajjātaṁ doṣasaṁbhavam tābhirnītā piturgehaṁ vepamānā suduḥkhitā

She told them everything that had happened, that occasion of sin; and they led her, trembling and grief-stricken, to her father's house.

Verse 6 (padma.2.51.6)

मातुः समक्षं तस्यास्तु आचचक्षुस्तदा स्त्रियः । समाकर्ण्य ततो देवी गता सा भर्तृमंदिरम्

mātuḥ samakṣaṁ tasyāstu ācacakṣustadā striyaḥ samākarṇya tato devī gatā sā bhartṛmaṁdiram

Those women then related everything before her mother; and hearing it, the queen mother went to her husband's chamber.

Verse 7 (padma.2.51.7)

भर्तारं श्रावयामास सुतावृत्तांतमेव हि । समाकर्ण्य ततो राजा महादुःखी अजायत

bhartāraṁ śrāvayāmāsa sutāvṛttāṁtameva hi samākarṇya tato rājā mahāduḥkhī ajāyata

She made her husband hear their daughter's whole account; and hearing it, the king became greatly sorrowful.

Verse 8 (padma.2.51.8)

यानाच्छादनकं दत्वा परिवारसमन्विताम् । मथुरां प्रेषयामास गता सा प्रियमंदिरम्

yānācchādanakaṁ datvā parivārasamanvitām mathurāṁ preṣayāmāsa gatā sā priyamaṁdiram

Giving her a chariot and garments, together with an escort, he sent her to Mathura; and she went to the home of her beloved.

Verse 9 (padma.2.51.9)

सुतादोषं समाच्छाद्य पितामाता द्विजोत्तम । उग्रसेनस्तु धर्मात्मा पद्मावतीं समागताम्

sutādoṣaṁ samācchādya pitāmātā dvijottama ugrasenastu dharmātmā padmāvatīṁ samāgatām

O foremost of brahmins, her father and mother concealed their daughter's misfortune; and the righteous Ugrasena, when Padmavati arrived —

Verse 10 (padma.2.51.10)

स दृष्ट्वा मुमुदे चाशु उवाचेदं वचः पुनः । त्वया विना न शक्तोस्मि जीवितुं हि वरानने

sa dṛṣṭvā mumude cāśu uvācedaṁ vacaḥ punaḥ tvayā vinā na śaktosmi jīvituṁ hi varānane

—seeing her, rejoiced at once and said these words again: 'Without you I am unable to live at all, O fair-faced one.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.51.11)

बहुप्रभासि मे प्रीता गुणशीलैस्तु सर्वदा । भक्त्या सत्येन ते कांते पतिदैवत्यकैर्गुणैः

bahuprabhāsi me prītā guṇaśīlaistu sarvadā bhaktyā satyena te kāṁte patidaivatyakairguṇaiḥ

'You have ever been dear to me, radiant with your many virtues and good character; by your devotion, your truth, my beloved, and your qualities of holding your husband as your very deity.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.51.12)

समाभाष्य प्रियां भार्यां पद्मावतीं नरेश्वरः । तया सार्धं स वै रेमे उग्रसेनो नृपोत्तमः

samābhāṣya priyāṁ bhāryāṁ padmāvatīṁ nareśvaraḥ tayā sārdhaṁ sa vai reme ugraseno nṛpottamaḥ

Having thus spoken to his beloved wife Padmavati, that lord of men, Ugrasena, best of kings, lived happily with her once more.

Verse 13 (padma.2.51.13)

ववृधे दारुणो गर्भः सर्वलोकभयप्रदः । पद्मावती विजानाति तस्य गर्भस्य कारणम्

vavṛdhe dāruṇo garbhaḥ sarvalokabhayapradaḥ padmāvatī vijānāti tasya garbhasya kāraṇam

The terrible fetus grew, a bringer of fear to all the worlds; and Padmavati alone knew the true cause of that pregnancy.

Verse 14 (padma.2.51.14)

स्वोदरे वर्द्धमानस्य चिंतयंती दिवानिशम् । अनेन किमु जातेन लोकनाशकरेण वै

svodare varddhamānasya ciṁtayaṁtī divāniśam anena kimu jātena lokanāśakareṇa vai

Thinking day and night about the one growing in her own womb, she wondered: 'What use is there in the birth of one who will bring ruin to the world?'

Verse 15 (padma.2.51.15)

अनेनापि न मे कार्यं दुष्टपुत्रेण सांप्रतम् । औषधीं पृच्छते सा तु गर्भपातस्य सर्वतः

anenāpi na me kāryaṁ duṣṭaputreṇa sāṁpratam auṣadhīṁ pṛcchate sā tu garbhapātasya sarvataḥ

'I have now no use at all for this wicked son.' She sought everywhere for herbs to cause a miscarriage.

Verse 16 (padma.2.51.16)

नारी महौषधीं सा हि विंदंती च दिने दिने । गर्भस्य पातनायैव उपाया बहुशः कृताः

nārī mahauṣadhīṁ sā hi viṁdaṁtī ca dine dine garbhasya pātanāyaiva upāyā bahuśaḥ kṛtāḥ

That woman, seeking out great herbs day after day, made many attempts, all for the sake of ending that pregnancy.

Verse 17 (padma.2.51.17)

ववृधे दारुणो गर्भः सर्वलोकभयंकरः । तामुवाच ततो गर्भः पद्मावतीं च मातरम्

vavṛdhe dāruṇo garbhaḥ sarvalokabhayaṁkaraḥ tāmuvāca tato garbhaḥ padmāvatīṁ ca mātaram

Yet the terrible fetus grew still, dreadful to all the worlds; then that fetus spoke to Padmavati, its mother —

Verse 18 (padma.2.51.18)

कस्मात्त्वं व्यथसे मातरौषधीभिर्दिनेदिने । पुण्येन वर्द्धते चायुः पापेनाल्पं तु जीवितम्

kasmāttvaṁ vyathase mātarauṣadhībhirdinedine puṇyena varddhate cāyuḥ pāpenālpaṁ tu jīvitam

'—"Why, mother, do you trouble yourself day after day with these herbs? By merit life is lengthened; by sin, life becomes brief indeed."'

Verse 19 (padma.2.51.19)

आत्मकर्मविपाकेन जीवंति च म्रियंति च । आमगर्भाः प्रयांत्यन्ये अपक्वास्तु महीतले

ātmakarmavipākena jīvaṁti ca mriyaṁti ca āmagarbhāḥ prayāṁtyanye apakvāstu mahītale

'"By the ripening of their own deeds, beings live and beings die. Some go while still unripe fetuses, unformed, upon this earth."'

Verse 20 (padma.2.51.20)

जातमात्रा म्रियंतेऽन्ये कति ते यौवनान्विताः । बाला वृद्धाश्च तरुणा आयुषोवशतां गताः

jātamātrā mriyaṁte'nye kati te yauvanānvitāḥ bālā vṛddhāśca taruṇā āyuṣovaśatāṁ gatāḥ

'"Others die the very moment they are born; how many others in the flush of youth? Children, the aged, and the young — all come under the sway of their own allotted lifespan."'

Verse 21 (padma.2.51.21)

सर्वे कर्मविपाकेन जीवंति च म्रियंति च । ओषध्यो मंत्रदेवाश्च निमित्ताः स्युर्न संशयः

sarve karmavipākena jīvaṁti ca mriyaṁti ca oṣadhyo maṁtradevāśca nimittāḥ syurna saṁśayaḥ

'"All beings live and die by the ripening of their own deeds; herbs, mantras, and gods are, without doubt, only the occasion for it."'

Verse 22 (padma.2.51.22)

मामेव हि न जानासि भवती यादृशो ह्यहम् । दृष्टः श्रुतस्त्वया पूर्वं कालनेमिर्महाबलः

māmeva hi na jānāsi bhavatī yādṛśo hyaham dṛṣṭaḥ śrutastvayā pūrvaṁ kālanemirmahābalaḥ

'"You do not truly know who I am. Have you not heard before, or known, of Kalanemi, that demon of great strength?"'

Verse 23 (padma.2.51.23)

दानवानां महावीर्यस्त्रैलोक्यस्य भयप्रदः । देवासुरे महायुद्धे हतोहं विष्णुना पुरा

dānavānāṁ mahāvīryastrailokyasya bhayapradaḥ devāsure mahāyuddhe hatohaṁ viṣṇunā purā

'"—of the demons, of great valor, a bringer of terror to the three worlds. I was slain by Vishnu long ago, in the great battle between gods and demons."'

Verse 24 (padma.2.51.24)

साधयितुं च तद्वैरमागतोऽस्मि तवोदरम् । साहसं च श्रमं मातर्मा कुरुष्व दिन दिने

sādhayituṁ ca tadvairamāgato'smi tavodaram sāhasaṁ ca śramaṁ mātarmā kuruṣva dina dine

'"To settle that very enmity, I have come into your womb. Do not, mother, exert yourself with such effort and hardship day after day."'

Verse 25 (padma.2.51.25)

एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ मातरं विरराम सः । मातोद्यमं परित्यज्य महादुःखादभूत्तदा

evamuktvā dvijaśreṣṭha mātaraṁ virarāma saḥ mātodyamaṁ parityajya mahāduḥkhādabhūttadā

Having spoken thus, O foremost of brahmins, he fell silent before his mother; and the mother, abandoning her effort, then fell into great sorrow.

Verse 26 (padma.2.51.26)

दशाब्दाश्च गता यावत्तावद्वृद्धिमवाप्तवान् । पश्चाज्जज्ञे महातेजाः कंसोभूत्स महाबलः

daśābdāśca gatā yāvattāvadvṛddhimavāptavān paścājjajñe mahātejāḥ kaṁsobhūtsa mahābalaḥ

Ten years passed, during which he grew; and afterward that greatly resplendent, mighty one was born and became Kamsa.

Verse 27 (padma.2.51.27)

येन संत्रासिता लोकास्त्रैलोक्यस्य निवासिनः । यो हतो वासुदेवेन गतो मोक्षं न संशयः

yena saṁtrāsitā lokāstrailokyasya nivāsinaḥ yo hato vāsudevena gato mokṣaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

By whom the dwellers of the three worlds were terrified, and who was slain by Vasudeva's son, attaining liberation, without doubt.

Verse 28 (padma.2.51.28)

एवं श्रुतं मया कांत भविष्यं तु भविष्यति । पुराणेष्वेव सर्वेषु निश्चितं कथितं तव

evaṁ śrutaṁ mayā kāṁta bhaviṣyaṁ tu bhaviṣyati purāṇeṣveva sarveṣu niścitaṁ kathitaṁ tava

'Thus, my dear, have I heard — what is destined to be shall surely come to pass; it is told with certainty in all the Puranas, to you.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.51.29)

पितृगेहेस्थिता कन्या नाशमेवं प्रयाति सा । गृहावासाय मे कांत कन्या मोहं न कारयेत्

pitṛgehesthitā kanyā nāśamevaṁ prayāti sā gṛhāvāsāya me kāṁta kanyā mohaṁ na kārayet

'A daughter who remains in her father's house comes thus to ruin. Therefore, my dear, let no daughter of mine cause delusion about staying in this house.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.51.30)

इमां दुष्टां महापापां परित्यज्य स्थिरो भव । प्राप्तव्यं तु महापापं दुःखं दारुणमेव च

imāṁ duṣṭāṁ mahāpāpāṁ parityajya sthiro bhava prāptavyaṁ tu mahāpāpaṁ duḥkhaṁ dāruṇameva ca

'Forsake this wicked, greatly sinful daughter of ours, and remain firm. Great sin and terrible sorrow indeed await, if you do not.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.51.31)

लोके श्रेयःकरं कांत तद्भुंक्ष्व त्वं मया सह । शूकर्युवाच- एतद्वाक्यं सुमंत्रं तु श्रुत्वा स हि द्विजोत्तमः

loke śreyaḥkaraṁ kāṁta tadbhuṁkṣva tvaṁ mayā saha śūkaryuvāca- etadvākyaṁ sumaṁtraṁ tu śrutvā sa hi dvijottamaḥ

'Enjoy instead, my dear, together with me, what is truly good for us in this world.' The boar-wife said: Hearing this well-reasoned counsel, that foremost of brahmins —

Verse 32 (padma.2.51.32)

त्यागे मतिं चकारासौ समाहूता ह्यहं तदा । सकलं वस्त्रशृंगारं मम दत्तं शुभे शृणु

tyāge matiṁ cakārāsau samāhūtā hyahaṁ tadā sakalaṁ vastraśṛṁgāraṁ mama dattaṁ śubhe śṛṇu

—resolved to forsake me; and I was then summoned. Hear, O auspicious one: all my garments and finery were given back to me.

Verse 33 (padma.2.51.33)

तवैव दुर्नयैर्विप्रः शिवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । गतो वै मतिमान्दुष्टे कुलदुष्टप्रचारिणि

tavaiva durnayairvipraḥ śivaśarmā dvijottamaḥ gato vai matimānduṣṭe kuladuṣṭapracāriṇi

'"By your very own misconduct, O wicked one, spreader of ill repute upon our family, that wise brahmin Shivasharma, foremost of brahmins, has gone away."'

Verse 34 (padma.2.51.34)

यत्र ते तिष्ठते भर्ता तत्र गच्छ न संशयः । तव यद्रोचते स्थानं यथादिष्टं तथा कुरु

yatra te tiṣṭhate bhartā tatra gaccha na saṁśayaḥ tava yadrocate sthānaṁ yathādiṣṭaṁ tathā kuru

'"Go, without doubt, to wherever your husband now dwells. Whatever place pleases you, do as you are instructed."'

Verse 35 (padma.2.51.35)

एवमुक्त्वा महाभागे पितृमातृकुटुंबकैः । परित्यक्ता गता शीघ्रं निर्लज्जाहं वरानने

evamuktvā mahābhāge pitṛmātṛkuṭuṁbakaiḥ parityaktā gatā śīghraṁ nirlajjāhaṁ varānane

Having spoken thus, O blessed one, forsaken by my father, mother, and family, I, shameless one, went away swiftly, O fair one.

Verse 36 (padma.2.51.36)

न लभाम्यहमेवापि वासस्थानं सुखं शुभे । भर्त्सयंति च मां लोकाः पुंश्चलीयं समागता

na labhāmyahamevāpi vāsasthānaṁ sukhaṁ śubhe bhartsayaṁti ca māṁ lokāḥ puṁścalīyaṁ samāgatā

'I could not even find a place to dwell in peace, O auspicious one. People reviled me: "Here comes that wanton woman!"'

Verse 37 (padma.2.51.37)

अटमाना गता देशात्कुलमानेन वर्जिता । देशे गुर्जरके पुण्ये सौराष्ट्रे शिवमंदिरे

aṭamānā gatā deśātkulamānena varjitā deśe gurjarake puṇye saurāṣṭre śivamaṁdire

Wandering about, deprived of my family's honor, I went out of that land, into the sacred country of Gurjara, in Saurashtra, to a temple of Shiva.

Verse 38 (padma.2.51.38)

वनस्थलेति विख्यातं नगरं वृद्धिसंकुलम् । अतीव पीडिता देवि क्षुधयाहं तदा शृणु

vanasthaleti vikhyātaṁ nagaraṁ vṛddhisaṁkulam atīva pīḍitā devi kṣudhayāhaṁ tadā śṛṇu

There was a city known as Vanasthala, full of prosperity. There, O goddess, I was exceedingly afflicted by hunger — hear this.

Verse 39 (padma.2.51.39)

कर्परं हि करे गृह्य भिक्षार्थमुपचक्रमे । गृहिणां द्वारदेशेषु प्रविशामि सुदुःखिता

karparaṁ hi kare gṛhya bhikṣārthamupacakrame gṛhiṇāṁ dvāradeśeṣu praviśāmi suduḥkhitā

Taking a begging-bowl in hand, I set out to beg for alms; grief-stricken, I went to the doorways of householders.

Verse 40 (padma.2.51.40)

मम रूपं विपश्यंति लोकाः कुत्संति भामिनि । न ददंते च मे भिक्षां पापा चेयं समागता

mama rūpaṁ vipaśyaṁti lokāḥ kutsaṁti bhāmini na dadaṁte ca me bhikṣāṁ pāpā ceyaṁ samāgatā

'People, seeing my appearance, O lovely one, scorned me, saying: "This sinner has come here!" and gave me no alms.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.51.41)

एवं दुःखसमाहारा दारिद्र्यपरिपीडिता । अटंत्या च मया दृष्टं गृहमेकमनुत्तमम्

evaṁ duḥkhasamāhārā dāridryaparipīḍitā aṭaṁtyā ca mayā dṛṣṭaṁ gṛhamekamanuttamam

Thus, gathering sorrow upon sorrow, afflicted by poverty, as I wandered about I saw one excellent house.

Verse 42 (padma.2.51.42)

तुंगप्राकारसंवेष्टं वेदशालासमन्वितम् । वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं बहुविप्रसमाकुलम्

tuṁgaprākārasaṁveṣṭaṁ vedaśālāsamanvitam vedadhvanisamākīrṇaṁ bahuviprasamākulam

Enclosed by a tall wall, furnished with a Vedic hall, filled with the resounding of Vedic chant, crowded with many brahmins.

Verse 43 (padma.2.51.43)

धनधान्यसमाकीर्णं दासीदासैरलंकृतम् । प्रविवेश गृहं रम्यं लक्ष्मीमुदितमेव तत्

dhanadhānyasamākīrṇaṁ dāsīdāsairalaṁkṛtam praviveśa gṛhaṁ ramyaṁ lakṣmīmuditameva tat

Filled with wealth and grain, adorned with maidservants and menservants — I entered that lovely house, radiant with fortune.

Verse 44 (padma.2.51.44)

तद्गृहं सर्वतोभद्रं तस्यैव शिवशर्मणः । भिक्षां देहीत्युवाचाथ सुदेवा दुःखपीडिता

tadgṛhaṁ sarvatobhadraṁ tasyaiva śivaśarmaṇaḥ bhikṣāṁ dehītyuvācātha sudevā duḥkhapīḍitā

That auspicious house belonged, in fact, to that very Shivasharma. 'Give me alms,' said Sudeva, grief-stricken.

Verse 45 (padma.2.51.45)

शिवशर्माथ शुश्राव भिक्षाशब्दं द्विजोत्तमः । मंगलां नाम वै भार्यां लक्ष्मीरूपां वराननाम्

śivaśarmātha śuśrāva bhikṣāśabdaṁ dvijottamaḥ maṁgalāṁ nāma vai bhāryāṁ lakṣmīrūpāṁ varānanām

Shivasharma, that foremost of brahmins, heard the call for alms; he had a wife named Mangala, fair-faced, of Lakshmi-like beauty.

Verse 46 (padma.2.51.46)

तां हसन्प्राह धर्मात्मा शिवशर्मा महामतिः । इयं हि दुर्बला प्राप्ता भिक्षार्थं द्वारमागता

tāṁ hasanprāha dharmātmā śivaśarmā mahāmatiḥ iyaṁ hi durbalā prāptā bhikṣārthaṁ dvāramāgatā

Smiling, the righteous, wise Shivasharma said to her: 'This weak, frail one has come to our door seeking alms.'

Verse 47 (padma.2.51.47)

समाहूय प्रिये चैनां देहि त्वं भोजनं शुभे । कृपया परयाविष्टा ज्ञात्वा मां तु समागताम्

samāhūya priye caināṁ dehi tvaṁ bhojanaṁ śubhe kṛpayā parayāviṣṭā jñātvā māṁ tu samāgatām

'Call her in, my dear, and give her food, O auspicious one.' Filled with the greatest compassion, knowing that I had come thus —

Verse 48 (padma.2.51.48)

प्रोवाच मंगला कांतं दास्यामि प्रिय भोजनम् । एवमुक्त्वा च भर्तारं मंगला मंगलान्विता

provāca maṁgalā kāṁtaṁ dāsyāmi priya bhojanam evamuktvā ca bhartāraṁ maṁgalā maṁgalānvitā

—Mangala said to her husband: 'I shall give her food, my love.' Having thus spoken to her husband, Mangala, ever auspicious —

Verse 49 (padma.2.51.49)

पुनर्मां भोजयामास मिष्टान्नेन सुदुर्बलाम् । मामुवाच स धर्मात्मा शिवशर्मा महामुनिः

punarmāṁ bhojayāmāsa miṣṭānnena sudurbalām māmuvāca sa dharmātmā śivaśarmā mahāmuniḥ

—then fed me, so weak and frail as I was, with sweet food. And that righteous, great sage Shivasharma spoke to me —

Verse 50 (padma.2.51.50)

का त्वमत्र समायाता कस्य वा भ्रमसे जगत् । केन कार्येण सर्वत्र कथयस्व ममाग्रतः

kā tvamatra samāyātā kasya vā bhramase jagat kena kāryeṇa sarvatra kathayasva mamāgrataḥ

'Who are you, who have come here? Whose are you, wandering thus through the world? For what purpose do you roam everywhere? Tell me plainly.'

Verse 51 (padma.2.51.51)

एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं भर्तुश्चैव महात्मनः । स्वरेण लक्षितः कांतो मया वै पापया तदा

evamākarṇya tadvākyaṁ bhartuścaiva mahātmanaḥ svareṇa lakṣitaḥ kāṁto mayā vai pāpayā tadā

Hearing these words of that great-souled man — my very husband — I, sinful one, recognized my beloved then by his voice.

Verse 52 (padma.2.51.52)

व्रीडयाधोमुखीजाता दृष्टो भर्ता यदा मया । मंगला चारुसर्वांगी भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्

vrīḍayādhomukhījātā dṛṣṭo bhartā yadā mayā maṁgalā cārusarvāṁgī bhartāramidamabravīt

Overcome with shame, I cast down my face when I recognized my husband; and Mangala, lovely in every limb, said this to her husband —

Verse 53 (padma.2.51.53)

का चेयं हि समाचक्ष्व त्वां दृष्ट्वा हि विलज्जति । कथयस्व प्रसादेन का च एषा भविष्यति

kā ceyaṁ hi samācakṣva tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā hi vilajjati kathayasva prasādena kā ca eṣā bhaviṣyati

'Tell me, who is she? She grows ashamed on seeing you. Tell me kindly, who might she be?'