The Recovery of Pradyumna

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.27.1)

शम्बरेण हृतो वीरः प्रद्युम्नः स कथं मुने । शम्बरश्च महावीर्यः प्रद्युम्नेन कथं हतः

śambareṇa hṛto vīraḥ pradyumnaḥ sa kathaṁ mune śambaraśca mahāvīryaḥ pradyumnena kathaṁ hataḥ

Maitreya asked: How was the hero Pradyumna, carried off by Shambara, saved, O sage? And how was the mighty Shambara slain by Pradyumna?

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.27.2)

पराशर उवाच । षष्ठेऽह्नि जातमात्रं तु प्रद्युम्नं सूतिकागृहात् । ममैष हन्तेति मुने हृतवान् कालशम्बरः

parāśara uvāca ṣaṣṭhe'hni jātamātraṁ tu pradyumnaṁ sūtikāgṛhāt mamaiṣa hanteti mune hṛtavān kālaśambaraḥ

Parashara said: On the sixth day after his birth, O sage, thinking, 'This child will be my slayer,' Kalashambara carried the newborn Pradyumna off from the birthing-chamber.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.27.3)

हृत्वा चिक्षेप चैवैनं ग्राहोग्रे लवणार्णवे । कल्लोलजनितावर्ते सुघोरे मकरालये

hṛtvā cikṣepa caivainaṁ grāhogre lavaṇārṇave kallolajanitāvarte sughore makarālaye

Having carried him off, Shambara cast him into the terrible, crocodile-infested salt ocean — into a fearsome whirlpool churned up by the waves, the abode of sea-monsters.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.27.4)

पतितं तत्र चैवैको मत्स्यो जग्राह बालकम् । न ममार च तस्यापि जठरानलदीपितः

patitaṁ tatra caivaiko matsyo jagrāha bālakam na mamāra ca tasyāpi jaṭharānaladīpitaḥ

There a fish swallowed the fallen child, but even scorched by the fire within its belly, he did not die.

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.27.5)

मत्स्यबन्धैश्च मत्स्योऽसौ मत्स्यैरन्यैः सह द्विज । घातितोऽसुरवर्याय शम्बराय निवेदितः

matsyabandhaiśca matsyo'sau matsyairanyaiḥ saha dvija ghātito'suravaryāya śambarāya niveditaḥ

That fish, O twice-born, was caught along with other fish by fishermen, killed, and presented to Shambara, chief of the asuras.

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.27.6)

तस्य मायावती नाम पत्नी सर्वगृहेश्वरी । कारयाम् आस सूदानाम् आधिपत्यम् अनिन्दिता

tasya māyāvatī nāma patnī sarvagṛheśvarī kārayām āsa sūdānām ādhipatyam aninditā

His wife, Mayavati by name, blameless mistress of the whole household, took charge of overseeing the cooks.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.27.7)

दारिते मत्स्यजठरे ददृशे सातिशोभनम् । कुमारं मन्मथतरोर्दग्धस्य प्रथमाङ्कुरम्

dārite matsyajaṭhare dadṛśe sātiśobhanam kumāraṁ manmathatarordagdhasya prathamāṅkuram

When the fish's belly was slit open, she beheld inside it a most beautiful boy — like the first shoot springing from the burnt-down tree of Love.

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.27.8)

कोऽयं कथम् अयं मत्स्यजठरं समुपागतः । इत्य् एवं कौतुकाविष्टां तां तन्वीं प्राह नारदः

ko'yaṁ katham ayaṁ matsyajaṭharaṁ samupāgataḥ ity evaṁ kautukāviṣṭāṁ tāṁ tanvīṁ prāha nāradaḥ

'Who is this? How did he come to be inside a fish's belly?' — as the slender woman was seized with such wonder, Narada spoke to her.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.27.9)

अयं समस्तजगतः सूतिसंहारकर्मणः । शम्बरेण हृतो विष्णोस्तनयः सूतिकागृहात्

ayaṁ samastajagataḥ sūtisaṁhārakarmaṇaḥ śambareṇa hṛto viṣṇostanayaḥ sūtikāgṛhāt

This is the son of Vishnu, carried off from the birthing-chamber by Shambara — he who works to destroy the newborn of the whole world.

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.27.10)

क्षिप्तः समुद्रे मत्स्येन निगीर्णस्ते वशं गतः । नररत्नम् इदं सुभ्रु विस्रब्धा परिपालय

kṣiptaḥ samudre matsyena nigīrṇaste vaśaṁ gataḥ nararatnam idaṁ subhru visrabdhā paripālaya

Thrown into the sea and swallowed by a fish, he has now come under your care. O fair-browed one, raise this jewel among men without misgiving.

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.27.11)

पराशर उवाच । नारदेनैवम् उक्ता सा पालयाम् आस तं शिशुम् । बाल्याद् एवातिरागेण रूपातिशयमोहिता

parāśara uvāca nāradenaivam uktā sā pālayām āsa taṁ śiśum bālyād evātirāgeṇa rūpātiśayamohitā

Parashara said: Thus instructed by Narada, she raised the child — and, enchanted by his surpassing beauty, she came to feel an excessive affection for him from his very infancy.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.27.12)

स यदा यौवनाभोगभूषितोऽभून् महामुने । साभिलाषा तदा सा तु बभूव गजगामिनी

sa yadā yauvanābhogabhūṣito'bhūn mahāmune sābhilāṣā tadā sā tu babhūva gajagāminī

O great sage, when he blossomed into the fullness of youth, she — that woman of graceful, elephant-like gait — grew filled with desire for him.

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.27.13)

मायावती ददौ चास्मै मायाः सर्वा महात्मने । प्रद्युम्नायानुरागान्धा तन्न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणा

māyāvatī dadau cāsmai māyāḥ sarvā mahātmane pradyumnāyānurāgāndhā tannyastahṛdayekṣaṇā

Mayavati, blinded by passion, her heart and eyes fixed on him alone, began to bestow upon the great-souled Pradyumna all her powers of illusion.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.27.14)

प्रसज्जन्तीं तु ताम् आह स कार्ष्णिः कमलेक्षणाम् । मातृभावाम् अपाहाय किम् एवं वर्तसेऽन्यथा

prasajjantīṁ tu tām āha sa kārṣṇiḥ kamalekṣaṇām mātṛbhāvām apāhāya kim evaṁ vartase'nyathā

But Krishna's son, seeing the lotus-eyed woman growing attached to him, said: 'Why do you set aside a mother's regard and behave toward me so differently?'

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.27.15)

सा चास्मै कथयाम् आस न पुत्रस्त्वं ममेति वै । तनयं त्वाम् अयं विष्णोर्हृतवान् कालशम्बरः

sā cāsmai kathayām āsa na putrastvaṁ mameti vai tanayaṁ tvām ayaṁ viṣṇorhṛtavān kālaśambaraḥ

Then she said to him: 'You are truly not my son. This Kalashambara carried you off — you, the son of Vishnu.'

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.27.16)

क्षिप्तः समुद्रे मत्स्यस्य संप्राप्तो जठरान् मया । सा तु रोदिति ते माता कान्ताद्याप्य् अतिवत्सला

kṣiptaḥ samudre matsyasya saṁprāpto jaṭharān mayā sā tu roditi te mātā kāntādyāpy ativatsalā

You were thrown into the sea, and I obtained you from a fish's belly. Your own mother, beloved, still weeps for you even now, so great is her love.

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.27.17)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्तः शम्बरं युद्धे प्रद्युम्नः स समाह्वयत् । क्रोधाकुलीकृतमना युयुधे च महाबलः

parāśara uvāca ity uktaḥ śambaraṁ yuddhe pradyumnaḥ sa samāhvayat krodhākulīkṛtamanā yuyudhe ca mahābalaḥ

Parashara said: Hearing this, Pradyumna challenged Shambara to battle, and that mighty one, his mind agitated with anger, fought him.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.27.18)

हत्वा सैन्यम् अशेषं तु तस्य दैत्यस्य माधविः । सप्तमाया व्यतिक्रम्य मायां संयुयुजेऽष्टमीम्

hatvā sainyam aśeṣaṁ tu tasya daityasya mādhaviḥ saptamāyā vyatikramya māyāṁ saṁyuyuje'ṣṭamīm

Having slain the entire army of that daitya, Pradyumna — son of Rukmini — overcame Shambara's seven successive illusions and unleashed an eighth of his own.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.27.19)

तया जघान तं दैत्यं मायया कालशम्बरम् । उत्पत्य च तया सार्धम् आजगाम पितुर्गृहम्

tayā jaghāna taṁ daityaṁ māyayā kālaśambaram utpatya ca tayā sārdham ājagāma piturgṛham

With that illusion he slew the daitya Kalashambara, and then, rising into the sky together with Mayavati, he came to his father's house.

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.27.20)

अन्तःपुरे निपतितं मायावत्या समन्वितम् । तं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णसंकल्पा बभूवुः कृष्णयोषितः

antaḥpure nipatitaṁ māyāvatyā samanvitam taṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇasaṁkalpā babhūvuḥ kṛṣṇayoṣitaḥ

Seeing him, who had descended into the inner apartments together with Mayavati, Krishna's wives found their thoughts turning toward him as toward Krishna himself, so closely did he resemble him.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.27.21)

रुक्मिणी चावदत् प्रेम्णा सास्रदृष्टिरनिन्दिता । धन्याया खल्व् अयं पुत्रो वर्तते नवयौवने

rukmiṇī cāvadat premṇā sāsradṛṣṭiraninditā dhanyāyā khalv ayaṁ putro vartate navayauvane

And Rukmini, blameless, her eyes filling with tears, said lovingly: 'Surely this is the son of some fortunate woman, now standing in the bloom of youth.'

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.27.22)

अस्मिन् वयसि पुत्रो मे प्रद्युम्नो यदि जीवति । सभाग्या जननी वत्स त्वया कापि विभूषिता

asmin vayasi putro me pradyumno yadi jīvati sabhāgyā jananī vatsa tvayā kāpi vibhūṣitā

'If my son Pradyumna were living, he would be just this age. O child, whoever your mother is, she is fortunate indeed, adorned by such a son as you.'

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.27.23)

अथवा यादृशः स्नेहो मम यादृग् वपुस्तव । हरेरपत्यं सुव्यक्तं भवान् वत्स भविष्यति

athavā yādṛśaḥ sneho mama yādṛg vapustava harerapatyaṁ suvyaktaṁ bhavān vatsa bhaviṣyati

'Or rather — given the affection I feel for you, and given your very form — it is plain, O child, that you must be a child of Hari.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.27.24)

पराशर उवाच । एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे प्राप्तः सह कृष्णेन नारदः । अन्तःपुरचरां देवीं रुक्मिणीं प्राह हर्षयन्

parāśara uvāca etasminn antare prāptaḥ saha kṛṣṇena nāradaḥ antaḥpuracarāṁ devīṁ rukmiṇīṁ prāha harṣayan

Parashara said: Meanwhile Narada arrived there together with Krishna, and, filling her with joy, spoke to queen Rukmini as she moved about the inner apartments.

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.27.25)

एष ते तनयः सुभ्रु हत्वा शम्बरम् आगतः । हृतो येनाभवद् बालो भवत्याः सूतिकागृहात्

eṣa te tanayaḥ subhru hatvā śambaram āgataḥ hṛto yenābhavad bālo bhavatyāḥ sūtikāgṛhāt

'O fair-browed one, this is your own son, come here after slaying Shambara — the very Shambara who carried this infant off from your birthing-chamber.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.27.26)

इयं मायावती भार्या तनयस्यास्य ते सती । शम्बरस्य न भार्येयं श्रूयताम् अत्र कारणम्

iyaṁ māyāvatī bhāryā tanayasyāsya te satī śambarasya na bhāryeyaṁ śrūyatām atra kāraṇam

'This virtuous Mayavati is the wife of this son of yours — she is not truly Shambara's wife. Hear the reason for this.'

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.27.27)

मन्मथे तु गते नाशं तदुद्भवपरायणा । शम्बरं मोहयाम् आस मायारूपेण रूपिणी

manmathe tu gate nāśaṁ tadudbhavaparāyaṇā śambaraṁ mohayām āsa māyārūpeṇa rūpiṇī

When Manmatha, the god of Love, had been destroyed, she, devoted to bringing about his rebirth, assumed an illusory form and beguiled Shambara.

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.27.28)

विहाराद्युपभोगेषु रूपं मायामयं शुभम् । दर्शयाम् आस दैत्यस्य तस्येयं मदिरेक्षणा

vihārādyupabhogeṣu rūpaṁ māyāmayaṁ śubham darśayām āsa daityasya tasyeyaṁ madirekṣaṇā

In dalliance and other pleasures, this doe-eyed woman showed the daitya a beautiful, illusion-fashioned form.

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.27.29)

कामोऽवतीर्णः पुत्रस्ते तस्येयं दयिता रतिः । विशङ्का नात्र कर्तव्या स्नुषेयं तव शोभना

kāmo'vatīrṇaḥ putraste tasyeyaṁ dayitā ratiḥ viśaṅkā nātra kartavyā snuṣeyaṁ tava śobhanā

'This son of yours is Kama himself, born again, and this is his beloved Rati. Have no doubt about it — she is your own lovely daughter-in-law.'

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.27.30)

ततो हर्षसमाविष्टा रुक्मिणी केशवस्तथा । नगरी च समस्ता सा साधु साध्व् इत्य् अभाषत

tato harṣasamāviṣṭā rukmiṇī keśavastathā nagarī ca samastā sā sādhu sādhv ity abhāṣata

Then Rukmini, filled with joy, and Keshava as well, and the whole city, cried out, 'Well done! Well done!'

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.27.31)

चिरनष्टेन पुत्रेण संगतां प्रेक्ष्य रुक्मिणीम् । अवाप विस्मयं सर्वो द्वारवत्यां जनस्तदा

ciranaṣṭena putreṇa saṁgatāṁ prekṣya rukmiṇīm avāpa vismayaṁ sarvo dvāravatyāṁ janastadā

Seeing Rukmini reunited with her long-lost son, all the people of Dvaraka were then filled with amazement.