Balarama Drags Hastinapura

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.35.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच । भूय एवाहम् इच्छामि बलभद्रस्य धीमतः । श्रोतुं पराक्रमं ब्रह्मन् तन् ममाख्यातुम् अर्हसि

maitreya uvāca bhūya evāham icchāmi balabhadrasya dhīmataḥ śrotuṁ parākramaṁ brahman tan mamākhyātum arhasi

Maitreya said: I wish to hear once more, O Brahmin, of the prowess of the wise Balabhadra; please relate this to me.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.35.2)

यमुनाकर्षणादीनि श्रुतानि भगवन् मया । तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग यद् अन्यत् कृतवान् बलः

yamunākarṣaṇādīni śrutāni bhagavan mayā tat kathyatāṁ mahābhāga yad anyat kṛtavān balaḥ

'I have already heard of the drawing forth of the Yamuna and such deeds, O Blessed one; now tell me, most fortunate one, whatever else Bala has done.'

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.35.3)

पराशर उवाच । मैत्रेय श्रूयतां कर्म यद् रामेणाभवत् कृतम् । अनन्तेनाप्रमेयेन शेषेण धरणीभृता

parāśara uvāca maitreya śrūyatāṁ karma yad rāmeṇābhavat kṛtam anantenāprameyena śeṣeṇa dharaṇībhṛtā

Parashara said: Listen, O Maitreya, to the deed performed by Rama — he who is the boundless, immeasurable Shesha, the bearer of the earth.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.35.4)

दुर्योधनस्य तनयां स्वयंवरकृतक्षणाम् । बलाद् आदत्तवान् वीरः साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुतः

duryodhanasya tanayāṁ svayaṁvarakṛtakṣaṇām balād ādattavān vīraḥ sāmbo jāmbavatīsutaḥ

The hero Samba, son of Jambavati, forcibly carried off Duryodhana's daughter at the very moment appointed for her svayamvara.

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.35.5)

ततः क्रुद्धा महावीर्याः कर्णदुर्योधनादयः । भीष्मद्रोणादयश्चैनं बबन्धुर्युधि निर्जितम्

tataḥ kruddhā mahāvīryāḥ karṇaduryodhanādayaḥ bhīṣmadroṇādayaścainaṁ babandhuryudhi nirjitam

Then Karna, Duryodhana, and the other mighty heroes, along with Bhishma, Drona, and the rest, in their fury, overpowered and bound him in battle.

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.35.6)

तच्छ्रुत्वा यादवाः सर्वे क्रोधं दुर्योधनादिषु । मैत्रेय चक्रुश्चक्रुश्च तान् निहन्तुं महोद्यमम्

tacchrutvā yādavāḥ sarve krodhaṁ duryodhanādiṣu maitreya cakruścakruśca tān nihantuṁ mahodyamam

Hearing this, O Maitreya, all the Yadavas grew furious with Duryodhana and the rest, and prepared to make a great effort to destroy them.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.35.7)

तान् निवार्य बलः प्राह मदलोलकलाक्षरम् । मोक्ष्यन्ति ते मद्वचनाद् यास्याम्य् एको हि कौरवान्

tān nivārya balaḥ prāha madalolakalākṣaram mokṣyanti te madvacanād yāsyāmy eko hi kauravān

Restraining them, Bala, his words a little unsteady with wine, said: 'At my word they will release him; I shall go to the Kauravas alone.'

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.35.8)

बलदेवस्ततो गत्वा नगरं नागसाह्वयम् । बाह्योपवनमध्येऽभून् न विवेश च तत् पुरम्

baladevastato gatvā nagaraṁ nāgasāhvayam bāhyopavanamadhye'bhūn na viveśa ca tat puram

Baladeva then went to the city called Nagasahvaya, and remained there in the outer garden, without entering the city itself.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.35.9)

बलम् आगतम् आज्ञाय भूपा दुर्योधनादयः । गाम् अर्घ्यम् उदकं चैव रामाय प्रत्यवेदयन्

balam āgatam ājñāya bhūpā duryodhanādayaḥ gām arghyam udakaṁ caiva rāmāya pratyavedayan

Learning of Bala's arrival, the kings headed by Duryodhana offered Rama a cow, an arghya offering, and water.

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.35.10)

गृहीत्वा विधिवत् सर्वं ततस्तान् आह कौरवान् । आज्ञापयत्य् उग्रसेनः साम्बम् आशु विमुञ्चत

gṛhītvā vidhivat sarvaṁ tatastān āha kauravān ājñāpayaty ugrasenaḥ sāmbam āśu vimuñcata

Having duly accepted all this, he then said to the Kauravas: 'Ugrasena commands: release Samba at once.'

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.35.11)

ततस्ते तद्वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मद्रोणादयो द्विज । कर्णदुर्योधनाद्याश्च चुक्रुधुर्द्विजसत्तम

tataste tadvacaḥ śrutvā bhīṣmadroṇādayo dvija karṇaduryodhanādyāśca cukrudhurdvijasattama

Hearing this word, O best of the twice-born, Bhishma, Drona, and the rest, and Karna, Duryodhana, and the others, grew furious.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.35.12)

ऊचुश्च कुपिताः सर्वे बाह्लिकाद्याश्च कौरवाः । अराज्यार्हं यदोर्वंशम् अवेक्ष्य मुसलायुधम्

ūcuśca kupitāḥ sarve bāhlikādyāśca kauravāḥ arājyārhaṁ yadorvaṁśam avekṣya musalāyudham

And all of them, angered — Bahlika and the other Kauravas — looking upon the plow-and-pestle-bearing line of the Yadus as unworthy of kingship, said:

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.35.13)

भो भोः किम् एतद् भवता बलभद्रेरितं वचः । आज्ञां कुरुकुलोत्थानां यादवः कः प्रदास्यति

bho bhoḥ kim etad bhavatā balabhadreritaṁ vacaḥ ājñāṁ kurukulotthānāṁ yādavaḥ kaḥ pradāsyati

'Ho there, Balabhadra! What is this you have said? What Yadava is fit to command those born of the Kuru line?'

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.35.14)

उग्रसेनोऽपि यद्य् आज्ञां कौरवाणां प्रदास्यति । तद् अलं पाण्डुरैश्छत्रैर्नृपयोग्यैर्विडम्बितैः

ugraseno'pi yady ājñāṁ kauravāṇāṁ pradāsyati tad alaṁ pāṇḍuraiśchatrairnṛpayogyairviḍambitaiḥ

'If Ugrasena too is to give orders to the Kauravas, then enough of these white royal umbrellas — they become a mockery of kingship!'

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.35.15)

तद् गच्छ बल मा वा त्वं साम्बम् अन्यायचेष्टितम् । विमोक्ष्यामो न भवतो नोग्रसेनस्य शासनात्

tad gaccha bala mā vā tvaṁ sāmbam anyāyaceṣṭitam vimokṣyāmo na bhavato nograsenasya śāsanāt

'So go, Bala, or stay as you please — we shall not release Samba, guilty of such wrongful conduct, whether at your command or at Ugrasena's.'

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.35.16)

प्रणतिर्या कृतास्माकं मान्यानां कुकुरान्धकैः । ननाम सा कृता केयम् आज्ञा स्वामिनि भृत्यतः

praṇatiryā kṛtāsmākaṁ mānyānāṁ kukurāndhakaiḥ nanāma sā kṛtā keyam ājñā svāmini bhṛtyataḥ

'The Kukuras and Andhakas once paid us, their honored superiors, due homage — but what is this, a servant now giving orders to his master?'

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.35.17)

गर्वम् आरोपिता यूयं समानासनभोजनैः । को दोषो भवतां नीतिर्यत् प्रीत्या नावलोकिता

garvam āropitā yūyaṁ samānāsanabhojanaiḥ ko doṣo bhavatāṁ nītiryat prītyā nāvalokitā

'You have grown arrogant from being given equal seats and meals alongside us; what fault was there in our courtesy, that it has not been met with due regard?'

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.35.18)

अस्माभिरर्घो भवतो योऽयं बल निवेदितः । प्रेम्णैतन् नैतद् अस्माकं कुलाद् युष्मत्कुलोचितम्

asmābhirargho bhavato yo'yaṁ bala niveditaḥ premṇaitan naitad asmākaṁ kulād yuṣmatkulocitam

'This offering of welcome we have shown you, Bala, was given out of affection — not because it was somehow owed by our lineage to yours.'

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.35.19)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्त्वा कुरवः सर्वे न मुञ्चामो हरेः सुतम् । कृतैकनिश्चयास्तूर्णं विविशुर्गजसाह्वयम्

parāśara uvāca ity uktvā kuravaḥ sarve na muñcāmo hareḥ sutam kṛtaikaniścayāstūrṇaṁ viviśurgajasāhvayam

Parashara said: Having said this, all the Kurus, resolved as one — 'We shall not release Hari's son' — swiftly withdrew back into Gajasahvaya.

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.35.20)

मत्तः कोपेन चाघूर्णस्ततोऽधिक्षेपजन्मना । उत्थाय पार्ष्ण्या वसुधां जघान स हलायुधः

mattaḥ kopena cāghūrṇastato'dhikṣepajanmanā utthāya pārṣṇyā vasudhāṁ jaghāna sa halāyudhaḥ

Then Halayudha, reeling with rage born of that insult, rose up and struck the earth with the heel of his foot.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.35.21)

ततो विदारिता पृथ्वी पार्ष्णिघातान् महात्मनः । आस्फोटयाम् आस तदा दिशः शब्देन पूरयन्

tato vidāritā pṛthvī pārṣṇighātān mahātmanaḥ āsphoṭayām āsa tadā diśaḥ śabdena pūrayan

The earth was rent asunder by that great soul's heel-blow; and he then slapped his arms together, filling every quarter with the sound.

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.35.22)

उवाच चातिताम्राक्षो भृकुटीकुटिलाननः

uvāca cātitāmrākṣo bhṛkuṭīkuṭilānanaḥ

And, his eyes blazing red, his face contorted with a scowl, he spoke:

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.35.23)

अहो मदावलेपोऽयम् असाराणां दुरात्मनाम् । कौरवाणाम् आधिपत्यम् अस्माकं किल कालजम् । उग्रसेनस्य येनाज्ञां मन्यन्तेऽद्यापि लङ्घनम्

aho madāvalepo'yam asārāṇāṁ durātmanām kauravāṇām ādhipatyam asmākaṁ kila kālajam ugrasenasya yenājñāṁ manyante'dyāpi laṅghanam

'Ah, what arrogant conceit in these worthless, wicked men! The very sovereignty of the Kauravas, it is said, has come to them through the course of time from our own house — yet even now they think Ugrasena's command fit to be defied.'

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.35.24)

आज्ञां प्रतीच्छेद् धर्मेण सह देवैः शचीपतिः । समध्यास्ते सुधर्मां ताम् उग्रसेनः शचीपतेः

ājñāṁ pratīcched dharmeṇa saha devaiḥ śacīpatiḥ samadhyāste sudharmāṁ tām ugrasenaḥ śacīpateḥ

'Even Shachi's husband, together with the gods, duly receives our command; and Ugrasena sits enthroned in that very Sudharma hall of Shachi's husband.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.35.25)

धिङ् मनुष्यशतोच्छिष्टे तुष्टिरेषां नृपासने । पारिजाततरोः पुष्पमञ्जरीर्वनिताजनः । बिभर्ति यस्य भृत्यानां सोऽप्य् एषां न महीपतिः

dhiṅ manuṣyaśatocchiṣṭe tuṣṭireṣāṁ nṛpāsane pārijātataroḥ puṣpamañjarīrvanitājanaḥ bibharti yasya bhṛtyānāṁ so'py eṣāṁ na mahīpatiḥ

'Shame on their contentment with a throne that is mere leftovers from a hundred other men! Even he whose very servants' wives wear garlands of Parijata blossoms is, in their eyes, no king at all!'

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.35.26)

समस्तभूभृतां नाथ उग्रसेनः स तिष्ठतु । अद्य निष्कौरवाम् उर्वीं कृत्वा यास्यामि तत्पुरीम्

samastabhūbhṛtāṁ nātha ugrasenaḥ sa tiṣṭhatu adya niṣkauravām urvīṁ kṛtvā yāsyāmi tatpurīm

'Let Ugrasena remain the lord over all kings; today, having rid the earth of Kauravas, I shall go into that very city of theirs.'

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.35.27)

कर्णं दुर्योधनं द्रोणम् अद्य भीष्मं सबाह्लिकम् । दुःशासनादीन् भूरिं च भूरिश्रवसम् एव च

karṇaṁ duryodhanaṁ droṇam adya bhīṣmaṁ sabāhlikam duḥśāsanādīn bhūriṁ ca bhūriśravasam eva ca

'Today, having slain Karna, Duryodhana, Drona, Bhishma along with Bahlika, Duhshasana and the rest, Bhuri and Bhurishrava,

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.35.28)

सोमदत्तं शलं भीमम् अर्जुनं सयुधिष्ठिरम् । यमजौ कौरवांश्चान्यान् हत्वा साश्वरथद्विपान्

somadattaṁ śalaṁ bhīmam arjunaṁ sayudhiṣṭhiram yamajau kauravāṁścānyān hatvā sāśvarathadvipān

Somadatta, Shala, Bhima, Arjuna together with Yudhishthira, the twins, and the other Kauravas as well, together with their horses, chariots, and elephants —'

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.35.29)

वीरम् आदाय तं साम्बं सपत्नीकं ततः पुरीम् । द्वारकाम् उग्रसेनादीन् गत्वा द्रक्ष्यामि बान्धवान्

vīram ādāya taṁ sāmbaṁ sapatnīkaṁ tataḥ purīm dvārakām ugrasenādīn gatvā drakṣyāmi bāndhavān

'— then, taking the hero Samba together with his wife, I shall go to the city of Dvaraka and see Ugrasena and my other kinsfolk there.'

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.35.30)

अथवा कौरवाधानीं समस्तैः कुरुभिः सह । भागीरथ्यां क्षिपाम्य् आशु नगरं नागसाह्वयम्

athavā kauravādhānīṁ samastaiḥ kurubhiḥ saha bhāgīrathyāṁ kṣipāmy āśu nagaraṁ nāgasāhvayam

'Or rather, I shall at once cast the Kauravas' own capital, the city of Nagasahvaya, together with all the Kurus, into the Bhagirathi itself.'

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.35.31)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्त्वा मदरक्ताक्षः कर्षणाधोमुखं हलम् । प्राकारवप्रे विन्यस्य चकर्ष मुसलायुधः

parāśara uvāca ity uktvā madaraktākṣaḥ karṣaṇādhomukhaṁ halam prākāravapre vinyasya cakarṣa musalāyudhaḥ

Parashara said: Having said this, his eyes red with wine, the wielder of the pestle-weapon set the point of his plow, turned downward for dragging, against the foot of the city rampart, and pulled.

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.35.32)

आघूर्णितं तत् सहसा ततो वै हस्तिनापुरम् । दृष्ट्वा संक्षुब्धहृदयाश्चुक्रुशुः सर्वकौरवाः

āghūrṇitaṁ tat sahasā tato vai hastināpuram dṛṣṭvā saṁkṣubdhahṛdayāścukruśuḥ sarvakauravāḥ

Then, seeing Hastinapura suddenly reeling and tottering, all the Kauravas, their hearts thrown into turmoil, cried out.

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.35.33)

राम राम महाबाहो क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतां त्वया । उपसंह्रियतां कोपः प्रसीद मुसलायुध

rāma rāma mahābāho kṣamyatāṁ kṣamyatāṁ tvayā upasaṁhriyatāṁ kopaḥ prasīda musalāyudha

'Rama, Rama, O mighty-armed one! Forgive us, forgive us! Withdraw your wrath — be gracious, O wielder of the pestle!'

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.35.34)

एष साम्बः सपत्नीकस्तव निर्यातितो बल । अविज्ञातप्रभावाणां क्षम्यताम् अपराधिनाम्

eṣa sāmbaḥ sapatnīkastava niryātito bala avijñātaprabhāvāṇāṁ kṣamyatām aparādhinām

'Here, Bala, is Samba, restored to you along with his wife; forgive us, who offended not knowing your true power.'

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.35.35)

पराशर उवाच । ततो निर्यातयाम् आसुः साम्बं पत्न्या समन्वितम् । निष्क्रम्य स्वपुरात् तूर्णं कौरवा मुनिपुंगव

parāśara uvāca tato niryātayām āsuḥ sāmbaṁ patnyā samanvitam niṣkramya svapurāt tūrṇaṁ kauravā munipuṁgava

Parashara said: Then, O foremost of sages, the Kauravas, hastening out from their own city, restored Samba to Bala, together with his wife.

Verse 36 (vishnu.5.35.36)

भीष्मद्रोणकृपादीनां प्रणम्य वदतां प्रियम् । क्षान्तम् एव मयेत्य् आह बलो बलवतां वरः

bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādīnāṁ praṇamya vadatāṁ priyam kṣāntam eva mayety āha balo balavatāṁ varaḥ

Bowing to Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and the others, who spoke kindly to him, Bala, foremost of the mighty, said: 'It is indeed forgiven, by me.'

Verse 37 (vishnu.5.35.37)

अद्याप्य् आघूर्णिताकारं लक्ष्यते तत् पुरं द्विज । एष प्रभावो रामस्य बलशौर्योपलक्षणः

adyāpy āghūrṇitākāraṁ lakṣyate tat puraṁ dvija eṣa prabhāvo rāmasya balaśauryopalakṣaṇaḥ

Even today, O twice-born, that city is seen to bear a tilted, unsteady look; this is the very mark of Rama's power, a token of his strength and valor.

Verse 38 (vishnu.5.35.38)

ततस्तु कौरवाः साम्बं संपूज्य हलिना सह । प्रेषयाम् आसुरुद्वाहधनभार्यासमन्वितम्

tatastu kauravāḥ sāmbaṁ saṁpūjya halinā saha preṣayām āsurudvāhadhanabhāryāsamanvitam

Then the Kauravas, having duly honored Samba together with the plow-bearer, sent him off, laden with wedding gifts and wealth, along with his wife.