The Slaying of Keshi

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.16.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच। केशी चापि बलोदग्रः कंसदूतः प्रचोदितः। कृष्णस्य निधनाकांक्षी वृंदावनमुपागमत्

śrīparāśara uvāca keśī cāpi balodagraḥ kaṁsadūtaḥ pracoditaḥ kṛṣṇasya nidhanākāṁkṣī vṛṁdāvanamupāgamat

Parashara said: And Keshi too, of surpassing strength, sent by Kamsa and urged on by him, desiring Krishna's death, came to Vrindavana.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.16.2)

स खुरक्षतभूपृष्ठस्सटाक्षेपधुतांबुदः। द्रुतविक्रांतचंद्रार्कमार्गो गोपानुपाद्रवत्

sa khurakṣatabhūpṛṣṭhassaṭākṣepadhutāṁbudaḥ drutavikrāṁtacaṁdrārkamārgo gopānupādravat

With his hooves he tore the surface of the earth, his tossing mane scattering the clouds, his swift bounds outpacing even the path of the sun and moon; he charged at the cowherds.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.16.3)

तस्य हेषितशब्देन गोपाला दैत्यवाजिनः। गोप्यश्च भयसंविग्ना गोविंदं शरणं ययुः

tasya heṣitaśabdena gopālā daityavājinaḥ gopyaśca bhayasaṁvignā goviṁdaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

At the sound of that demon-horse's neighing, the cowherds and cowherd women, shaken with fear, took refuge in Govinda.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.16.4)

त्राहित्राहीति गोविंदः श्रुत्वा तेषां ततो वचः। सतोयजलदध्वानगंभीरमिदमुक्तवान्

trāhitrāhīti goviṁdaḥ śrutvā teṣāṁ tato vacaḥ satoyajaladadhvānagaṁbhīramidamuktavān

Hearing their cry of 'Save us! Save us!', Govinda spoke these words, deep as the rumble of a rain-laden cloud:

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.16.5)

अलं त्रासेन गोपालाः केशिनः किं भयातुरैः। भवद्भिर्गोपजातीयैर्वीरवीर्यं विलोप्यते

alaṁ trāsena gopālāḥ keśinaḥ kiṁ bhayāturaiḥ bhavadbhirgopajātīyairvīravīryaṁ vilopyate

'Enough of this terror, cowherds! Why be so overcome with fear of Keshi? Born of the cowherd clan, you dishonour the courage that is a hero's own through such fear.'

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.16.6)

किमनेनाल्पसारेण हेषिताटोपकारिणा। दैतेयबलवाह्येन वल्गता दुष्टवाजिना

kimanenālpasāreṇa heṣitāṭopakāriṇā daiteyabalavāhyena valgatā duṣṭavājinā

'What is there to fear from this creature of so little real substance, whose only bluster is his neighing — a wicked horse merely carried along by demon-strength?'

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.16.7)

एह्येहि दुष्ट कृष्णोऽहं पूष्णस्त्विव पिनाकधृत्। पातयिष्यामि दशनान्वदनादखिलांस्तव

ehyehi duṣṭa kṛṣṇo'haṁ pūṣṇastviva pinākadhṛt pātayiṣyāmi daśanānvadanādakhilāṁstava

'Come, come, wicked one! I am Krishna, and as the wielder of the pinaka-bow once did to Pushan, I shall knock every tooth from your mouth.'

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.16.8)

इत्युक्त्वाऽस्फोट्य गोविंदः केशिनस्संमुखं ययौ। विवृतास्यश्च सोप्येनं दैतेयाश्व उपाद्रवत्

ityuktvā'sphoṭya goviṁdaḥ keśinassaṁmukhaṁ yayau vivṛtāsyaśca sopyenaṁ daiteyāśva upādravat

Having said this, Govinda clapped his hands and advanced to face Keshi; and that demon too, mouth gaping wide, charged straight at him.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.16.9)

बाहुमाभोगिनं कृत्वा मुखे तस्य जनार्दनः। प्रवेशयामास तदा केशिनो दुष्टवाजिनः

bāhumābhoginaṁ kṛtvā mukhe tasya janārdanaḥ praveśayāmāsa tadā keśino duṣṭavājinaḥ

Janardana then made his arm like a great serpent's coil and thrust it straight into the mouth of that wicked demon-horse Keshi.

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.16.10)

केशिनो वदनं तेन विशता कृष्णबाहुना। शातिता दशनाः पेतुः सिताब्भ्रावयवा इव

keśino vadanaṁ tena viśatā kṛṣṇabāhunā śātitā daśanāḥ petuḥ sitābbhrāvayavā iva

As Krishna's arm entered Keshi's mouth, its teeth broke and fell out, like fragments of white cloud.

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.16.11)

कृष्णस्य ववृधे बाहुः केशिदेहगतो द्विज। विनाशाय यथा व्याधिरासंभूतेरुपेक्षितः

kṛṣṇasya vavṛdhe bāhuḥ keśidehagato dvija vināśāya yathā vyādhirāsaṁbhūterupekṣitaḥ

O brahmin, having entered Keshi's body, Krishna's arm swelled ever larger, as a disease neglected from its onset grows toward its victim's destruction.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.16.12)

विपाटितोष्ठो बहुलं सफेनं रुधिरं वमन्। सोक्षिणी विवृते चक्रे विशिष्टे मुक्तबंधने

vipāṭitoṣṭho bahulaṁ saphenaṁ rudhiraṁ vaman sokṣiṇī vivṛte cakre viśiṣṭe muktabaṁdhane

His lips split apart, he vomited copious foaming blood, his eyes rolled wide, and his limbs, all restraint broken, hung loose.

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.16.13)

जघान धरणीं पादैश्शकृन्मूत्रं समुत्सृजन्। स्वेदार्द्र गात्रश्शांतश्च निर्यत्नस्सोऽभवत्तदा

jaghāna dharaṇīṁ pādaiśśakṛnmūtraṁ samutsṛjan svedārdra gātraśśāṁtaśca niryatnasso'bhavattadā

He beat the ground with his hooves, voiding dung and urine, his body drenched in sweat, until at last he grew still and his strength was spent.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.16.14)

व्यादितास्यमहारंध्रस्सोऽसुरः कृष्णबाहुना। निपातितो द्विधा भूमौ वैद्युतेन यथा द्रुमः

vyāditāsyamahāraṁdhrasso'suraḥ kṛṣṇabāhunā nipātito dvidhā bhūmau vaidyutena yathā drumaḥ

That demon, his gaping mouth now one great cavity, was felled by Krishna's arm and split in two upon the ground, like a tree struck by lightning.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.16.15)

द्विपादे पृष्ठपुच्छार्द्धे श्रवणैकाक्षिनासिके। केशिनस्ते द्विधा भूते शकले द्वे विरेजतुः

dvipāde pṛṣṭhapucchārddhe śravaṇaikākṣināsike keśinaste dvidhā bhūte śakale dve virejatuḥ

With two legs, half of back and tail, one ear, one eye, one nostril each — Keshi's body, split in two, lay there as two gleaming halves.

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.16.16)

हत्वा तु केशिनं कृष्णो गोपलैर्मुदितैर्वृतः। अनायस्ततनुस्स्वस्थो हसंस्तत्रैव तस्थिवान्

hatvā tu keśinaṁ kṛṣṇo gopalairmuditairvṛtaḥ anāyastatanussvastho hasaṁstatraiva tasthivān

Having slain Keshi, Krishna, surrounded by the rejoicing cowherds, stood there unwearied, at perfect ease, laughing.

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.16.17)

ततो गोप्यश्च गोपाश्च हते केशिनि विस्मिताः। तुष्टुवुः पुंडरीकाक्षमनुरागमनोरमम्

tato gopyaśca gopāśca hate keśini vismitāḥ tuṣṭuvuḥ puṁḍarīkākṣamanurāgamanoramam

Then, astonished at Keshi's slaying, the cowherd women and cowherds praised the lotus-eyed one, so lovely in their devoted affection.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.16.18)

अथाहांतर्हितो विप्र नारदो जलदे स्थितः। केशिनं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हर्षनिर्भरमानसः

athāhāṁtarhito vipra nārado jalade sthitaḥ keśinaṁ nihataṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣanirbharamānasaḥ

Then, O brahmin, Narada, hidden within a cloud, having watched Keshi struck down, his heart brimming with joy, spoke thus:

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.16.19)

साधुसाधु जगन्नाथ लीलयैव यदच्युत। निहतोऽयं त्वया केशी क्लेशदस्त्रिदिवौकसाम्

sādhusādhu jagannātha līlayaiva yadacyuta nihato'yaṁ tvayā keśī kleśadastridivaukasām

'Well done, well done, O Lord of the world! For, Achyuta, this Keshi, who was a torment to the dwellers of the three heavens, has been slain by you as mere sport.'

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.16.20)

युद्धोत्सुकोहमत्यर्थं नरवाजिमहाहवम्। अभूतपूर्वमन्यत्र द्रष्टुं स्वर्गादिहागतः

yuddhotsukohamatyarthaṁ naravājimahāhavam abhūtapūrvamanyatra draṣṭuṁ svargādihāgataḥ

'Eager beyond measure to witness combat, I have come here from heaven to see this unprecedented great battle between a man and a horse, the like of which is seen nowhere else.'

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.16.21)

कर्माण्यऽत्रावतारे ते कृतानि मधुसूदन। यानि तैर्विस्मितं चेतस्तोषमेतेन मे गतम्

karmāṇya'trāvatāre te kṛtāni madhusūdana yāni tairvismitaṁ cetastoṣametena me gatam

'The deeds you have done, O Madhusudana, in this your descent — my mind is astonished by them, and this deed has brought me the greatest delight.'

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.16.22)

तुरंगस्यास्य शक्रोपि कृष्ण देवाश्च बिभ्यति। धुतकेसरजालस्य ह्रेषतोऽभ्रावलोकिनः

turaṁgasyāsya śakropi kṛṣṇa devāśca bibhyati dhutakesarajālasya hreṣato'bhrāvalokinaḥ

'O Krishna, even Shakra and the gods went in fear of this horse, whose mane tossed wildly and whose neighing seemed to reach the very clouds.'

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.16.23)

यस्मात्त्वयैष दुष्टात्मा हतः केशी जनार्दन। तस्मात्केशवनाम्ना त्वं लोके ख्यातो भविष्यसि

yasmāttvayaiṣa duṣṭātmā hataḥ keśī janārdana tasmātkeśavanāmnā tvaṁ loke khyāto bhaviṣyasi

'Because you, Janardana, have slain this wicked-souled Keshi, you shall henceforth be renowned in the world by the name Keshava.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.16.24)

स्वस्त्यस्तु ते गमिष्यामि कंसयुद्धेऽधुना पुनः। परश्वोऽहं समेष्यामि त्वया केशिनिषूदन

svastyastu te gamiṣyāmi kaṁsayuddhe'dhunā punaḥ paraśvo'haṁ sameṣyāmi tvayā keśiniṣūdana

'May all be well with you; I now depart. O slayer of Keshi, I shall meet you again the day after tomorrow, at your battle with Kamsa.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.16.25)

उग्रसेनसुते कंसे सानुगे विनिपातिते। भारावतारकर्त्ता त्वं पृथिव्या पृथिवीधर

ugrasenasute kaṁse sānuge vinipātite bhārāvatārakarttā tvaṁ pṛthivyā pṛthivīdhara

'When Kamsa, Ugrasena's son, is struck down along with his followers, you, O bearer of the earth, shall have lifted her burden.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.16.26)

तत्रानेकप्रकाराणि युद्धानि पृथिवीक्षिताम्। द्रष्टव्यानि मया युष्मत्प्रणीतानि जनार्दन

tatrānekaprakārāṇi yuddhāni pṛthivīkṣitām draṣṭavyāni mayā yuṣmatpraṇītāni janārdana

'There, O Janardana, I shall see the many kinds of battles among the kings of the earth, all brought about through you.'

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.16.27)

सोऽहं यास्यामि गोविंद देवकार्यं महत्कृतम्। त्वयैव विदितं सर्वं स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु व्रजाम्यहम्

so'haṁ yāsyāmi goviṁda devakāryaṁ mahatkṛtam tvayaiva viditaṁ sarvaṁ svasti te'stu vrajāmyaham

'So now I take my leave, O Govinda; the great work of the gods is accomplished. All this is known to you already — may you fare well; I now depart.'

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.16.28)

नारदे गते कृष्णस्सह गोपैस्सभाजितः। विवेश गोकुलं गोपीनेत्रपानैकभाजनम्

nārade gate kṛṣṇassaha gopaissabhājitaḥ viveśa gokulaṁ gopīnetrapānaikabhājanam

When Narada had gone, Krishna, honoured by the cowherds, entered Gokula — that one vessel for the eyes of the gopis to drink in.