ततः कृष्णो महाबाहुर्भीतानामभयङ्करः। अष्टाविंशे युगे राजञ्जज्ञे श्रीवत्सलक्षणः
Then Krishna, mighty-armed, remover of fear for the frightened, was born in the twenty-eighth age, O king, marked with the Srivatsa.
पेशलश्च वदान्यश्चलोके बहुमतो नृषु। स्मृतिमान्देशकालज्ञः शङ्खचक्रगदासिभृत्
He was gracious and generous, widely honored among people; mindful, knowing time and place, bearing the conch, discus, mace, and sword.
वासुदेव इति ख्यातो लोकानां हितकृत्सदा। वृष्णीनां च कुले जातो भूमेः प्रियचिकीर्षया
Known as Vasudeva, always working for the welfare of the worlds, he was born in the clan of the Vrishnis, wishing to do good for the earth.
शत्रूणां भयकृद्दाता मधुहेति स विश्रुतः। शकटार्जुनरामाणां कीलस्थानान्यसूदयत्
He is famed as the destroyer of Madhu, giver, and bringer of fear to enemies; he destroyed the strongholds of Shakata, Arjuna, and Rama.
कंसादीन्निजघानाजौ दैत्यान्मानुषविग्रहान्। अयं लोकहितार्थाय प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः
He slew Kamsa and others in battle, demons in human form; this is the manifestation of the great-souled one for the welfare of the world.
कल्की विष्णुयशा नाम भूयश्चोत्पत्स्यते हरिः। लेर्युगान्ते सम्प्राप्ते धर्मे शिथिलतां गते
Kalki, named Vishnuyasha, will again be born as Hari at the end of the Kali age, when righteousness has declined.
पाषण्डिनां गणानां हि वधार्थं भरतर्षभ। धर्मस्य च विवृद्ध्यर्थं विप्राणां हितकाम्यया
For the destruction of the hosts of heretics, O best of the Bharatas, and for the increase of righteousness, desiring the welfare of the Brahmins.
एते चान्ये च बहवो विष्णोर्देवगणैर्युताः। प्रादुर्भावाः पुराणेषु गीयन्ते ब्रह्मवादिभिः
These and many other manifestations of Vishnu, accompanied by hosts of gods, are sung in the Puranas by those versed in Brahman.
एवमुक्ते तु कौन्तेयस्ततः कौरवनन्दनः। आबभाषे पुनर्भीष्णे धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
When this was said, then the son of Kunti, the joy of the Kauravas, King Yudhishthira, again spoke to Bhishma.
भूय एव मनुष्येन्द्र उपेन्द्रस्य यशस्विनः। जन्म वृष्णिषु विज्ञातुमिच्छामि वदतां वर
Once more, O best of speakers, I wish to know the birth of illustrious Upendra among the Vrishnis, O king of men.
यथैव भगवाञ्जातः क्षिताविह जनार्दनः। माधवेषु महाबुद्धिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
Just as the blessed Janardana was born on earth among the Madhavas, O greatly wise one, tell me that, O grandsire.
एवमुक्तस्ततो भीष्मः केशवस्य महात्मनः। माधवेषु तथा जन्म कथयामास वीर्यवान्
Thus addressed, then Bhishma, the mighty one, began to tell of the birth of the great-souled Kesava among the Madhavas.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि युधिष्ठिर यथातथम्। यतो नारायणस्येह जन्म वृष्णिषु कौरव
Now, Yudhishthira, I shall tell you truly the circumstances under which Narayana was born among the Vrishnis, O Kaurava.
पुरा लोके महाराज वर्तमाने कृते युगे। आसीत्रैलोक्यविख्यातः सङ्ग्रामस्तारकामयः
Long ago, O great king, when the Krita Yuga prevailed in the world, there was a battle renowned throughout the three worlds, known as the Tarakamaya.
विरोचनो मयस्तारो वराहः श्वेत एव च। विप्रचित्तिः प्रलम्बश्च वृत्रजम्भबलादयः
Virochana, Maya, Tāraka, Varaha, Shveta, Viprachitti, Pralamba, Vritra, Jambha, and Bala—
नमुचिः कालनेमिश्च प्रह्लाद इति विश्रुतः। लम्बः किशोरः स्वर्भानुररिष्टो राक्षसेश्वरः
Namuchi, Kalanemi, Prahlada the famed, Lamba, Kishora, Svarbhanu, Arishta, and the lord of the Rakshasas—
एते चान्ये च बहवो दैत्यसङ्घाः सहस्रशः। नानाशस्त्रधरा राजन्नानाभूषणवाहनाः
And many other hosts of Daityas by the thousands, O king, bearing various weapons and adorned with diverse ornaments and mounts—
देवतानामभिमुखास्तस्थुर्दैतेयदानवाः। देवास्तु युध्यमानास्ते दानवानभ्ययू रणे
These Daityas and Danavas stood facing the gods, and the gods, fighting, advanced upon the Danavas in battle.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्राः साध्या विश्वे मरुद्गणाः। इन्द्रो यमश्च वरुणश्चन्द्रश्चैव धनेश्वरः
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the hosts of Maruts, Indra, Yama, Varuna, Chandra, and the lord of wealth—
अश्विनौ च महावीर्यौ ये चान्ये देवतागणाः। चक्रुर्युद्धं महाघोरं दानवैश्च यथाक्रमम्
The two mighty Ashvins and other hosts of gods as well, all engaged in a terrible battle with the Danavas, each according to their order.
युध्यमानाः समेयुश्च देवा दैतेयदानवैः। तद्युद्धमभवद्घोरं देवदानवसङ्कुलम्
Fighting, the gods and the Daityas and Danavas came together; that battle became dreadful, crowded with gods and Danavas.
ताभ्यां बलाभ्यां सञ्जज्ञे तुमुलो विग्रहस्तदा। तीक्ष्णशस्त्रैः किरन्तोऽथ अभ्ययुर्देवदानवाः
Between those two armies, a tumultuous conflict arose; hurling sharp weapons, the gods and Danavas advanced upon each other.
घ्रन्ति देवान्सगन्धर्वान्सयक्षोरगचारणान्। ते वध्यमाना दैतेयैर्देवसङ्घास्तदा रणे
The Daityas then struck down the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Charanas; those hosts of gods were being slain in battle by the Daityas.
त्रातारं मनसा जग्मुर्देवं नारायमं प्रभुम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र जगाम हरिरीश्वरः
In their minds, the gods sought Narayana, the lord, as their protector; at that moment, Hari, the sovereign, arrived there.
दीपयञ्ज्योतिषा भूमिं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। तमागतं सुपर्णस्थं विष्णुं लोकनमस्कृतम्
Illuminating the earth with his radiance, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, Vishnu, honored by all the worlds, appeared mounted on Garuda.
दृष्ट्वा मुदा युताः सर्वे भयं त्यक्त्वा रमे सुराः। चक्रुर्युद्धं पुनः सर्वे देवा दैतेयदानवैः
Seeing him arrive, all the gods, filled with joy and abandoning fear, once more engaged in battle with the Daityas and Danavas.
तद्युद्धमभवद्घोरमचिन्त्यं रोमहर्षणम्। जघ्रुर्दैत्यान्त्रणे घोराः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः
That battle became terrible, inconceivable, and hair-raising; all the fierce gods, led by Shakra, struck down the Daityas in the fight.
ते बाध्यमाना बिबुधैर्दुद्रुवुदैत्यदानवाः
Oppressed by the gods, the Daityas and Danavas fled.
विद्रुतान्दानवान्दृष्ट्वा तदा भारत संयुगे। कालनेमिरिति ख्यातो दानवः प्रत्यदृश्यता
Seeing the Danavas fleeing then on the battlefield, O Bharata, the Danava known as Kalanemi appeared.
शत्रुप्रहरणे घोरः शतबाहुः शताननः। शतशीर्षः स्थितः श्रीमाञ्छतशृङ्गं इवाचलः
Terrible in striking his foes, with a hundred arms, a hundred faces, a hundred heads, splendid as a mountain with a hundred peaks, he stood firm.