तं तु राजन्विभुः शौरी राजानं बलिनां वरम्। स्मृत्वा पुरुषशार्दूलः शार्दूलसमविक्रमम्
That king of great might, the illustrious Shauri, recalling him—who was foremost among the strong, a tiger among men, with the valor of a tiger—
सत्यसन्धो जरासन्धं भुवि भीमपराक्रमम्। भागमन्यस्य निर्दिष्टमवध्यं मधुर्भिर्मृधेः
Jarasandha, steadfast in truth, possessed the valor of Bhima on earth; a portion was assigned to another, and he was invincible in battle by the sweet ones.
नात्मनाऽऽत्मवतां मुख्य इयेष मधुसूदनः। ब्राह्मीमाज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य हन्तुं हलधरानुजः
Madhusudana, chief among the self-possessed, did not wish to slay him himself; having placed the Brahmin's command first, the younger brother of Haladhara sought to kill him.
किमर्थं वैरिणावास्तामुभौ तौ कृष्णमागधौ। कथं च निर्जितः सङ्ख्ये जरासन्धेन माधवः
For what reason did those two enemies, Krishna and the king of Magadha, dwell together? And how was Madhava defeated in battle by Jarasandha?
कश्च कंसो मागधस्य यस्य हेतोः स वैरवान्। एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं वैशम्पायन तत्वतः
Who is Kamsa of Magadha, and for what reason did he bear enmity? Tell me all this in truth, O Vaishampayana.
यादवानामन्ववाये वसुदेवो महामतिः। उदपद्यत वार्ष्णेयो ह्युग्रसेनस्य मन्त्रभृत्
In the lineage of the Yadavas, Vasudeva of great intelligence was born, a descendant of Vrishni, the counselor of Ugrasena.
उग्रसेनस्य कंसस्तु बभूव बलवान्सुतः। ज्येष्ठो बहूनां कौरव्य सर्वशस्त्रविशारदः
Kamsa, the powerful son of Ugrasena, became the eldest among many, O descendant of Kuru, and was skilled in all weapons.
जरासन्धस्य दुहिता तस्य भार्याऽतिविश्रुता। राज्यशुक्लेन दत्ता सा जरासन्धेन धीमता
The daughter of Jarasandha, renowned, became his wife, given by the wise Jarasandha with royal honors.
तदर्थमुग्रसेनस्य मधुरायां सुतस्तदा। अभिषिक्तस्तदाऽमात्यैः स वै तीव्रपराक्रमः
For that reason, the son of Ugrasena was then installed as king in Mathura by the ministers, and he was of fierce prowess.
ऐश्वर्यबलमत्तस्तु स तदा बलमोहितः। निगृह्य पितरं भुङ्क्ते तद्राज्यं मन्त्रिभिः सह
Intoxicated by the strength of his wealth and power, and deluded by that might, he subdued his father and enjoyed the kingdom together with his counselors.
वसुदेवस्य तत्कृत्यं न शृणोति स मन्दधीः। त तेन सह तद्राज्यं धर्मतः पर्यपालयत्
That dull-minded one did not heed the actions of Vasudeva; yet, together with him, he righteously governed that kingdom.
प्रीतिमान्स तु दैत्येन्द्रो वसुदेवस्य देवकीम्। वाह भार्या स तदा दुहिता देवकस्य या
That lord of the Daityas, being pleased, took Devaki, daughter of Devaka, as wife for Vasudeva.
तस्यामुद्वाह्यमानायां रथेन जनमेजय। उपारुरोह वार्ष्णेयं कंसो भूमिपतिस्तदा
When she was being led away in a chariot, O Janamejaya, Kamsa, the king, ascended the chariot of the Vrishni.
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे वागासीद्देवदूतस्य कस्यचित्। वसुदेवश्च शुश्राव तां वाचं पार्थिवश्च सः
Then, in the sky, there was a voice from a certain divine messenger, which Vasudeva and that king both heard.
यामेतां वहमानोऽद्य कंसोद्वहसि देवकीम्। अस्या यश्चाष्टमो गर्भः स ते मृत्युर्भविष्यति
O Kamsa, as you drive this chariot today, carrying Devaki, know that her eighth child will be your death.
सोऽवतीर्य ततो राजा खड्गमुद्धृत्य निर्मलम्। इयेष तस्या मूर्धानं छेत्तुं परमदुर्मतिः
Then the king, descending from the chariot, drew his spotless sword, and, in his utter delusion, sought to strike her head.
सान्त्वयन्स तदा कंसं हसन्कोधवशानुगम्। राजन्ननुनयामास वसुदेवो महामतिः
At that moment, Vasudeva, wise and composed, sought to appease Kamsa, who was overcome by anger, addressing him with conciliatory words and a gentle smile.
अहिंस्यां प्रमदामाहुः सर्वधर्मेषु पार्थिव। अकस्मादबलां नारीं हन्तासीमामनागसीम्
O king, in all codes of conduct, it is said that women must not be harmed; will you kill this innocent, defenseless woman without cause?
यच्च तेऽत्र भयं राजञ्शक्यते बाधितुं त्वया। इयं शक्या पालयितुं समयं चैव रक्षितुम्
And, O king, the fear you have in this matter can be averted by you; she can be guarded, and the agreement can be kept.
अस्यास्त्वमष्टमं गर्भं जातमात्रं महीपते। विध्वंसय तदा प्राप्तमेवं परिहृतं भवेत्
O ruler of the earth, when her eighth child is born, you may destroy him at that time; thus, your fear will be removed.
एवं स राजा कथितो वसुदेवेन भारत। तस्य तद्वचनं चके शूरसेनपतिस्तदा
Thus addressed by Vasudeva, O Bharata, the chief of the Shurasenas then acted according to his words.
ततस्तस्यां सम्बभूवुः कुमाराः सूर्यवर्चसः। जाताञ्चातांस्तु तान्सर्वाञ्जघान मधुरेश्वरः
Thereafter, sons of radiant splendor were born to her, and the lord of Mathura killed each one as they were born.
अथ तस्यां समभवद्बलदेवस्तु सत्तमः। याम्यता मायया तं तु यमो राजा विशाम्पते
Then, O lord of the people, the most excellent Baladeva was conceived in her; by the power of Yama, through illusion, he was transferred.
देवक्या गर्भमतुलं रोहिण्या जठरेऽक्षिपत्। आकृष्य कर्षणात्सम्यक्सङ्कर्षणं इति स्मृतः
Devaki’s incomparable embryo was drawn forth and placed in Rohini’s womb; because he was perfectly drawn out, he is known as Sankarshana.
बलश्रेष्ठतया तस्य बलदेव इति स्मृतः। पुनस्तस्यां समभवदष्टमो मधुमूदनः
Because of his supreme strength, he is called Baladeva; then, in her again, the eighth, the slayer of Madhu, was conceived.
तस्य गर्भस्य रक्षां तु स चक्रेऽभ्यधिकं नृपः। ततः काले रक्षणार्थं वसुदेवस्य तत्वतः।। aउग्रः प्रयुक्तः कंसेन सचिवः क्रूरकर्मकृत्
The king took special measures to guard that embryo; then, in due time, for the protection of Vasudeva’s child, Kamsa appointed a fierce and cruel minister.
जातमात्रं वासुदेवमथाकृष्य पिता ततः। उपजह्रे परिक्रीतां सुतां गोपस्य कस्यचित्
As soon as Vasudeva was born, his father took him and exchanged him for the newborn daughter of a certain cowherd.
अमृष्यमाणस्तं शब्दं देवदूतस्य पार्थिवः। वासुदेवं महात्मानमर्पयामास गोकुले
Unable to endure the sound of the divine messenger, the king delivered the great-souled Vasudeva into Gokula.
वासुदेवोपि गोपेषु ववृधेऽब्जमिवाम्भसि। अज्ञायमानः कंसेन गूढोऽग्निरिव दारुषु
And Vasudeva grew up among the cowherds, like a lotus in water, unknown to Kamsa, concealed as fire in wood.
विप्रचके तदा सर्वान्बल्लवान्मधुरेश्वरः। वर्धमानो महाबाहुस्तेजोबलसमन्वितः
Then the lord of Mathura sent spies among all the cowherds, but the mighty-armed one, endowed with brilliance and strength, continued to grow.