विभूतिं द्रष्टुमनसः केशवस्य महात्मनः। प्रीयमाणाः सभां जग्मुरालोकयितुमच्युतम्
Desiring to behold the majesty of the great-souled Keśava, delighted, they went to the assembly to see Acyuta.
देवकी सर्वदेवीनां रोहिणी च पुरस्कृता। ददृशुर्देवमासीनं कृष्णं हलभृता सह
Devakī, foremost among all goddesses, and Rohiṇī at her side, saw Kṛṣṇa, the god, seated with the wielder of the plough.
तौ तु पूर्वमतिक्रम्य रोहिणीमभिवाद्य च। अभ्यवादयतां देवौ देवकीं रामकेशवौ
They first approached Rohiṇī and offered her respect; then Rāma and Keśava respectfully greeted Devakī.
सा ताभ्यामृषभाक्षाभ्यां पुत्राभ्यां शुशुभेऽधिकम्। देवकी देवमातेव मित्रेण वरुणेन च
Devakī shone even more with her two bull-eyed sons, just as Aditi shines with Mitra and Varuṇa.
ततः प्राप्ता यशोदाया दुहिता वै क्षणेन हि। जाज्वल्यमाना वपुषा प्रभयाऽतीव भारत
Then, in a moment, the daughter of Yashoda arrived, shining brilliantly with her radiance, O Bharata.
एकानङ्गेति यामाहुः कन्यां वै कामरूपिणीम्। यत्कृते सगणं कंसं जघान पुरुषोत्तमः
She is called Ekanga, the maiden of changing forms; for her sake, the Supreme Person slew Kamsa and his followers.
ततः स भगवान्रामस्तामुपाक्रम्य भामिनाम्। मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय सव्येन परिजग्राह पाणिना
Then the blessed Rama approached that radiant woman, and, smelling her head, took her by the left hand.
तां च तत्रोपसम्प्राप्य प्रियामिव सखीमिमाम्। दक्षिणेन कराग्रेण पिरजग्राह माधवः
And Madhava, having come near her there as to a dear friend, took her by the right hand with his fingertips.
ददृशुस्तां सभामध्ये भगिनीं रामकृष्णयोः। रुक्मपद्मशां पद्मश्रीमिवोत्तमनाभयोः
In the midst of the assembly, they saw her, the sister of Rama and Krishna, shining like a golden lotus beside the best of lotuses.
अथाक्षतमहावष्ट्या लाजपुष्पघृतैरपि। वृष्णयोऽवाकिरन्प्रीताः सङ्कर्षणजनार्दनौ
Then, with unbroken rice, flowers, and clarified butter, the delighted Vrishnis showered Sankarshana and Janardana.
सबालाः सहवृद्धाश्च ये ज्ञातिकुलबान्धवाः। उपोपविविशुः प्रीता वृष्णयो मधुसूदनम्
With children and elders, all the kinsmen and relatives of the family sat down joyfully with Madhusudana.
पूज्यमानो महाबाहुः पौराणां रतिवर्धनः। विवेश पुरुषव्याघ्रः स्ववेश्म मधुसूदनः
Honored by the citizens, increasing their delight, the mighty-armed tiger among men, Madhusudana, entered his own house.
रुक्मिण्या सहितो देव्या प्रमुमोद सुखी सुखम्। अनन्तरं च सत्याया जाम्बवत्याश्च भारत
Together with the goddess Rukmini, he rejoiced in happiness; and afterwards, with Satyabhama and Jambavati, O Bharata.
सर्वासां च यदुश्रेष्ठो गेहे गेहे विहारवान्। जगाम च हृषीकेशो रुक्मिण्याः सदनं पुनः
The best of the Yadus enjoyed himself in every house with all his wives, and Hrishikesha returned again to Rukmini's dwelling.
एष तात महाबाहो विजयः शार्ङ्गधन्वनः। एतदर्थं च जन्माहुर्मानुषेषु महात्मनः
O mighty-armed one, this is the victory of the wielder of Sharnga; for this purpose, they say, the great soul was born among men.
द्वारकायां ततः कृष्णः स्वदारेषु दिवानिशम्। सुखं लब्ध्वा महाराज प्रमुमोद महायशाः
Then Krishna, in Dvaraka, day and night among his wives, found happiness and rejoiced, O great king, renowned as he was.
पौत्रस्य कारणाच्चक्रे विबुधानां प्रियं तदा। सावसवैः सुरैः सर्वैर्दुष्करं भरतर्षभ
For the sake of his grandson, he performed a deed dear to the gods, difficult even for all the immortals together, O best of the Bharatas.
बाणो नामाऽभवद्राजा बलेर्ज्येष्ठसुतो बली। वीर्यवान्भरतश्रेष्ठ स च बाहुसहस्रवान्
There was a king named Bana, eldest son of Bali, mighty and powerful, O best of the Bharatas, and he had a thousand arms.
ततस्तेपे तपस्तीव्रं सत्वेन मनसा नृप। रुद्रमाराधयामास स च बाणः समा बहु
Then, with steadfast mind, he performed intense austerities for many years, worshipping Rudra, O king.
तस्मै बहुवरा दत्ताः शङ्करेण महात्मना। तांश्च लब्ध्वा वरान्बाणो दुर्लभानसुरैर्भुवि
To him, the great-souled Shankara granted many boons; and Bana obtained those boons, rare even for the gods on earth.
स शोणितपुरे राज्यं चकाराप्रतिमो बली। त्रासिताश्च सुराः सर्वे तेन बाणेन पाण्डव
He ruled his kingdom in Shonitapura, unmatched in strength, and all the gods were terrified by that Bana, O Pandava.
विजित्य विबुधान्सेन्द्रान्बाणः संवत्सरान्बहून्। अशासत महद्राज्यं कुबेर इव भारत
Having conquered the gods and Indra, Bana ruled a great kingdom for many years, like Kubera, O Bharata.
ततो राजन्नुषा नाम बाणस्य दुहिता यथा। येनोपायेन कौन्तेय अनिरुद्धो महाद्युतिः
Then, O King, there was a maiden named Uṣā, the daughter of Bāṇa; by what means, O son of Kuntī, the illustrious Aniruddha—
प्राद्युम्निस्तामुषां प्राप्य प्रच्छन्नः प्रमुमोद ह। अथ बाणो महातेजास्तदा तत्र युधिष्ठिर
Pradyumna, having secretly obtained Uṣā, rejoiced; then, O Yudhiṣṭhira, Bāṇa of great energy—
तं गृह्यनिलयं ज्ञात्वा प्राद्युम्निं सुतया तदा। गृहीत्वा कारयामास वस्तुं कारागृहे बलात्
Knowing that Pradyumna was in his house with his daughter, Bāṇa seized him and forcibly confined him in prison.
स कुमारः सुखार्होऽथ तदा दुःखसमन्वितः। बामेन घातितो राजन्ननिरुद्धो मुमोह च
That prince, though worthy of happiness, was then afflicted with suffering; struck by Bāṇa, O King, Aniruddha lost consciousness.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु नारदो मुनिपुङ्गवः। द्वारकां प्राप्य कौन्तेय कृष्णं दृष्ट्वा वचोऽब्रवीत्
At that very time, the eminent sage Nārada, having reached Dvārakā, spoke these words to Kṛṣṇa, O son of Kuntī.
कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो यदूनां कीर्तिवर्धन। पौत्रस्ते बाध्यमानोऽत्र बाणेनामिततेजसा
"Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, mighty-armed, increaser of the Yadus' fame, your grandson is being tormented here by Bāṇa of immeasurable energy."
कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तोऽनिरुद्धो वै शेते कारागृहे सदा। एतदुक्त्वा सुरर्षिर्वै बाणस्याथ पुरं ययौ
"Aniruddha has fallen into great distress and lies always in prison." Having said this, the sage of the gods went to Bāṇa's city.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ततो राजञ्जनार्दनः। जाहूय बलदेवं हि प्रद्युम्नं च महाद्युतिम्
Hearing Nārada's words, then, O King, Janārdana summoned Baladeva and the illustrious Pradyumna.