The Slaying of Narakasura

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.29.1)

पराशर उवाच । द्वारवत्यां ततः शौरिं शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । आजगामाथ मैत्रेय मत्तैरावतपृष्ठगः

parāśara uvāca dvāravatyāṁ tataḥ śauriṁ śakrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ ājagāmātha maitreya mattairāvatapṛṣṭhagaḥ

Parashara said: Then, O Maitreya, Shakra, lord of the three worlds, mounted on the back of the rutting elephant Airavata, came to Shauri in Dvaravati.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.29.2)

प्रविश्य द्वारकां सोऽथ समेत्य हरिणा ततः । कथयाम् आस दैत्यस्य नरकस्य विचेष्टितम्

praviśya dvārakāṁ so'tha sametya hariṇā tataḥ kathayām āsa daityasya narakasya viceṣṭitam

Entering Dvaraka and meeting with Hari, he told him of the misdeeds of the daitya Naraka.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.29.3)

त्वया नाथेन देवानां मनुष्यत्वेऽपि तिष्ठता । प्रशमं सर्वदुःखानि नीतानि मधुसूदन

tvayā nāthena devānāṁ manuṣyatve'pi tiṣṭhatā praśamaṁ sarvaduḥkhāni nītāni madhusūdana

'By you, O Madhusudana, our lord even while dwelling in human form, all our sorrows have been brought to an end.'

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.29.4)

तपस्विजननाशाय सोऽरिष्टो धेनुकस्तथा । प्रवृत्तो यस्तथा केशी ते सर्वे निहतास्त्वया

tapasvijananāśāya so'riṣṭo dhenukastathā pravṛtto yastathā keśī te sarve nihatāstvayā

'Arishta, who set out to destroy ascetics, and Dhenuka likewise, and Keshi too — all of them have been slain by you.'

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.29.5)

कंसः कुवलयापीडः पूतना बालघातिनी । नाशं नीतास्त्वया सर्वे येऽन्ये जगदुपद्रवाः

kaṁsaḥ kuvalayāpīḍaḥ pūtanā bālaghātinī nāśaṁ nītāstvayā sarve ye'nye jagadupadravāḥ

'Kamsa, Kuvalayapida, and Putana the slayer of infants — these and whatever other scourges afflicted the world have all been destroyed by you.'

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.29.6)

युष्मद्दोर्दण्डसद्बुद्धिपरित्राते जगत्त्रये । यज्वियज्ञांशसंप्राप्त्या तृप्तिं यान्ति दिवौकसः

yuṣmaddordaṇḍasadbuddhiparitrāte jagattraye yajviyajñāṁśasaṁprāptyā tṛptiṁ yānti divaukasaḥ

'With the three worlds thus protected by the strength and wisdom of your arm, the dwellers of heaven find satisfaction once more in receiving their due share of the sacrificers' offerings.'

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.29.7)

सोऽहं साम्प्रतम् आयातो यन्निमित्तं जनार्दन । तच्छ्रुत्वा तत्प्रतीकारप्रयत्नं कर्तुम् अर्हसि

so'haṁ sāmpratam āyāto yannimittaṁ janārdana tacchrutvā tatpratīkāraprayatnaṁ kartum arhasi

'I have come now for a particular reason, O Janardana; hear it, and you should make the effort to set it right.'

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.29.8)

भौमोऽयं नरको नाम प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरेश्वरः । करोति सर्वभूतानाम् उपघातम् अरिंदम

bhaumo'yaṁ narako nāma prāgjyotiṣapureśvaraḥ karoti sarvabhūtānām upaghātam ariṁdama

'This Naraka, O tamer of foes — son of the Earth, lord of the city of Pragjyotisha — does harm to all beings.'

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.29.9)

देवसिद्धासुरादीनां नृपाणां च जनार्दन । हृत्वा हि सोऽसुरः कन्या रुरोध निजमन्दिरे

devasiddhāsurādīnāṁ nṛpāṇāṁ ca janārdana hṛtvā hi so'suraḥ kanyā rurodha nijamandire

'That asura, O Janardana, has abducted the daughters of gods, siddhas, asuras, and kings, and shut them up in his own palace.'

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.29.10)

छत्रं यत् सलिलस्रावि तज्जहार प्रचेतसः । मन्दरस्य तथा शृङ्गं हृतवान् मणिपर्वतम्

chatraṁ yat salilasrāvi tajjahāra pracetasaḥ mandarasya tathā śṛṅgaṁ hṛtavān maṇiparvatam

'He has stolen Varuna's water-streaming umbrella, and has also carried off the jeweled peak of Mount Mandara.'

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.29.11)

अमृतस्राविणी दिव्ये मन्मातुः कृष्ण कुण्डले । जहार सोऽसुरोऽदित्या वाञ्छत्य् ऐरावतं गजम्

amṛtasrāviṇī divye manmātuḥ kṛṣṇa kuṇḍale jahāra so'suro'dityā vāñchaty airāvataṁ gajam

'O Krishna, that asura has stolen the two divine, nectar-streaming earrings of my mother Aditi, and he now covets the elephant Airavata as well.'

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.29.12)

दुर्नीतम् एतद् गोविन्द मया तस्य तवोदितम् । यद् अत्र प्रतिकर्तव्यं तत् स्वयं परिमृश्यताम्

durnītam etad govinda mayā tasya tavoditam yad atra pratikartavyaṁ tat svayaṁ parimṛśyatām

'I have told you, Govinda, of this misconduct of his. Now consider for yourself what remedy should be taken.'

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.29.13)

पराशर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा स्मितं कृत्वा भगवान् देवकीसुतः । गृहीत्वा वासवं हस्ते समुत्तस्थौ वरासनात्

parāśara uvāca iti śrutvā smitaṁ kṛtvā bhagavān devakīsutaḥ gṛhītvā vāsavaṁ haste samuttasthau varāsanāt

Parashara said: Hearing this, the Lord, son of Devaki, smiled, took Vasava by the hand, and rose up from his splendid seat.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.29.14)

संचिन्तितम् उपारुह्य गरुडं गगनेचरम् । सत्यभामां समारोप्य ययौ प्राग्ज्योतिषं पुरम्

saṁcintitam upāruhya garuḍaṁ gaganecaram satyabhāmāṁ samāropya yayau prāgjyotiṣaṁ puram

Mounting Garuda, the sky-ranging bird summoned by a mere thought, and taking Satyabhama up with him, he set off for the city of Pragjyotisha.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.29.15)

आरुह्यैरावतं नागं शक्रोऽपि त्रिदिशालयम् । ततो जगाम मैत्रेय पश्यतां द्वारकौकसाम्

āruhyairāvataṁ nāgaṁ śakro'pi tridiśālayam tato jagāma maitreya paśyatāṁ dvārakaukasām

Mounting the elephant Airavata, Shakra too then set off for his own heavenly abode, O Maitreya, in full view of the people of Dvaraka.

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.29.16)

प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरस्यासीत् समन्ताच्छतयोजनम् । आचिता मौरवैः पाशैः क्षुरान्तैर्भूर्द्विजोत्तम

prāgjyotiṣapurasyāsīt samantācchatayojanam ācitā mauravaiḥ pāśaiḥ kṣurāntairbhūrdvijottama

All around the city of Pragjyotisha, O foremost of the twice-born, for a hundred yojanas, the ground was strewn with Mura's snares, razor-edged.

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.29.17)

तांश्चिच्छेद हरिः पाशान् क्षिप्त्वा चक्रं सुदर्शनम् । ततो मुरुः समुत्तस्थौ तं जघान च केशवः

tāṁściccheda hariḥ pāśān kṣiptvā cakraṁ sudarśanam tato muruḥ samuttasthau taṁ jaghāna ca keśavaḥ

Hari cut through those snares by hurling his discus Sudarshana; then Mura rose up to fight, and Keshava slew him.

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.29.18)

मुरोस्तु तनयान् सप्त सहस्रांस्तांस्ततो हरिः । चक्रधाराग्निनिर्दग्धांश्चकार शलभान् इव

murostu tanayān sapta sahasrāṁstāṁstato hariḥ cakradhārāgninirdagdhāṁścakāra śalabhān iva

Then Hari, with the fiery edge of his discus, consumed Mura's seven thousand sons, scattering them like moths in a flame.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.29.19)

हत्वा मुरुं हयग्रीवं तथा पञ्चजनं द्विज । प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं धीमांस्त्वरावान् समुपाद्रवत्

hatvā muruṁ hayagrīvaṁ tathā pañcajanaṁ dvija prāgjyotiṣapuraṁ dhīmāṁstvarāvān samupādravat

Having slain Mura, and Hayagriva, and Panchajana as well, O twice-born, the wise Krishna pressed swiftly on toward the city of Pragjyotisha.

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.29.20)

नरकेणास्य तत्राभून् महासैन्येन संयुगः । कृष्णस्य यत्र गोविन्दो जघ्ने दैत्यान् सहस्रशः

narakeṇāsya tatrābhūn mahāsainyena saṁyugaḥ kṛṣṇasya yatra govindo jaghne daityān sahasraśaḥ

There a battle took place between Krishna and Naraka's vast army, in which Govinda slew the daityas by the thousand.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.29.21)

शस्त्रास्त्रवर्षं मुञ्चन्तं तं भौमं नरकं बली । क्षिप्त्वा चक्रं द्विधा चक्रे चक्री दैतेयचक्रहा

śastrāstravarṣaṁ muñcantaṁ taṁ bhaumaṁ narakaṁ balī kṣiptvā cakraṁ dvidhā cakre cakrī daiteyacakrahā

As Naraka, son of the Earth, poured down a shower of weapons and missiles, the mighty discus-bearer, destroyer of the daitya hosts, hurled his discus and cleft him in two.

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.29.22)

हते तु नरके भूमिर्गृहीत्वादितिकुण्डले । उपतस्थे जगन्नाथं वाक्यं चेदम् अथाब्रवीत्

hate tu narake bhūmirgṛhītvāditikuṇḍale upatasthe jagannāthaṁ vākyaṁ cedam athābravīt

When Naraka had been slain, the Earth-goddess, taking up Aditi's earrings, approached the Lord of the universe and spoke these words:

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.29.23)

यदाहम् उद्धृता नाथ त्वया सूकरमूर्तिना । त्वत्स्पर्शसंभवः पुत्रस्तदायं मय्य् अजायत

yadāham uddhṛtā nātha tvayā sūkaramūrtinā tvatsparśasaṁbhavaḥ putrastadāyaṁ mayy ajāyata

'O Lord, when you raised me up in the form of the Boar, this son was born to me then, conceived from your very touch.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.29.24)

सोऽयं त्वयैव दत्तो मे त्वयैव विनिपातितः । गृहाण कुण्डले चेमे पालयास्य च संततिम्

so'yaṁ tvayaiva datto me tvayaiva vinipātitaḥ gṛhāṇa kuṇḍale ceme pālayāsya ca saṁtatim

'He was given to me by you, and by you he has now been struck down. Take these earrings, and grant protection to his offspring.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.29.25)

भारावतरणार्थाय ममैव भगवान् इमम् । अंशेन लोकम् आयातः प्रसादसुमुखः प्रभो

bhārāvataraṇārthāya mamaiva bhagavān imam aṁśena lokam āyātaḥ prasādasumukhaḥ prabho

'O Lord, gracious of countenance, it is to lighten my own burden that you, the Blessed One, have come into this world in a portion of yourself.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.29.26)

त्वं कर्ता च विकर्ता च संहर्ता प्रभवोऽप्ययः । जगतां त्वं जगद्रूपः स्तूयतेऽच्युत किं तव

tvaṁ kartā ca vikartā ca saṁhartā prabhavo'pyayaḥ jagatāṁ tvaṁ jagadrūpaḥ stūyate'cyuta kiṁ tava

'You are the maker and the un-maker, the destroyer, the origin and the dissolution of the worlds; you yourself are the form of the world — O Achyuta, what praise could possibly suffice for you?'

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.29.27)

व्यापी व्याप्यः क्रिया कर्ता कार्यं च भगवान् यदा । सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्य स्तूयते तव किं तदा

vyāpī vyāpyaḥ kriyā kartā kāryaṁ ca bhagavān yadā sarvabhūtātmabhūtasya stūyate tava kiṁ tadā

'When the Blessed Lord is himself the pervader and the pervaded, the act and the actor, the deed and its cause — you who are the very self within all beings — what praise, then, could apply to you?'

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.29.28)

परमात्मा त्वम् आत्मा च भूतात्मा चाव्ययो भवान् । यदा तदा स्तुतिर्नास्ति किमर्था ते प्रवर्तते

paramātmā tvam ātmā ca bhūtātmā cāvyayo bhavān yadā tadā stutirnāsti kimarthā te pravartate

'You are the Supreme Self, and the individual self, and the imperishable self within all beings — when this is so, no true praise is even possible; to what purpose, then, does praise of you proceed?'

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.29.29)

प्रसीद सर्वभूतात्मन् नरकेण कृतं हि यत् । तत् क्षम्यताम् अदोषाय त्वत्सुतः स निपातितः

prasīda sarvabhūtātman narakeṇa kṛtaṁ hi yat tat kṣamyatām adoṣāya tvatsutaḥ sa nipātitaḥ

'Be gracious, O Self of all beings. Whatever wrong Naraka did, let it be forgiven — he bears no more blame now; that son of yours has already been struck down.'

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.29.30)

पराशर उवाच । तथेति चोक्त्वा धरणीं भगवान् भूतभावनः । रत्नानि नरकावासाज्जग्राह मुनिसत्तम

parāśara uvāca tatheti coktvā dharaṇīṁ bhagavān bhūtabhāvanaḥ ratnāni narakāvāsājjagrāha munisattama

Parashara said: Saying 'So be it' to the Earth, O best of sages, the Blessed Lord, the source of all beings, took up the treasures from Naraka's dwelling.

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.29.31)

कन्यापुरे स कन्यानां षोडशातुलविक्रमः । शताधिकानि ददृशे सहस्राणि महामुने

kanyāpure sa kanyānāṁ ṣoḍaśātulavikramaḥ śatādhikāni dadṛśe sahasrāṇi mahāmune

In the women's quarters, O great sage, he of matchless valor beheld sixteen thousand one hundred maidens.

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.29.32)

चतुर्दंष्ट्रान् गजांश्चोग्रान् षट्सहस्रान् स दृष्टवान् । काम्बोजानां तथाश्वानां नियुतान्य् एकविंशतिम्

caturdaṁṣṭrān gajāṁścogrān ṣaṭsahasrān sa dṛṣṭavān kāmbojānāṁ tathāśvānāṁ niyutāny ekaviṁśatim

He saw six thousand fierce, four-tusked elephants, and twenty-one hundred thousand horses of the Kamboja breed.

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.29.33)

कन्यास्ताश्च तथा नागांस्तांश्चाश्वान् द्वारकां पुरीम् । प्रेषयाम् आस गोविन्दः सद्यो नरककिंकरैः

kanyāstāśca tathā nāgāṁstāṁścāśvān dvārakāṁ purīm preṣayām āsa govindaḥ sadyo narakakiṁkaraiḥ

Those maidens, those elephants, and those horses Govinda at once dispatched to the city of Dvaraka, with Naraka's own servants as escort.

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.29.34)

ददृशे वारुणं छत्रं तथैव मणिपर्वतम् । आरोपयाम् आस हरिर्गरुडे पतगेश्वरे

dadṛśe vāruṇaṁ chatraṁ tathaiva maṇiparvatam āropayām āsa harirgaruḍe patageśvare

He saw Varuna's umbrella, and likewise the jeweled mountain-peak; Hari had them loaded onto Garuda, lord of birds.

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.29.35)

आरुह्य च स्वयं कृष्णः सत्यभामासहायवान् । अदित्याः कुण्डले दातुं जगाम त्रिदिवालयम्

āruhya ca svayaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ satyabhāmāsahāyavān adityāḥ kuṇḍale dātuṁ jagāma tridivālayam

And Krishna himself, mounting Garuda with Satyabhama as his companion, set off for the heavenly realm to give Aditi back her earrings.