Bhagavata Purana

अरिष्टे निहते दैत्ये कृष्णेनाद्‍भुतकर्मणा । कंसायाथाह भगवान् नारदो देवदर्शनः

When the demon Ariṣṭa was slain by Krishna's wondrous deeds, the divine sage Nārada, who beholds the gods, went to inform Kaṃsa.

यशोदायाः सुतां कन्यां देवक्याः कृष्णमेव च । रामं च रोहिणीपुत्रं वसुदेवेन बिभ्यता

He told Kaṃsa that the daughter of Yaśodā, the boy Krishna of Devakī, and Rāma, the son of Rohiṇī, had been entrusted by the fearful Vasudeva.

न्यस्तौ स्वमित्रे नन्दे वै याभ्यां ते पुरुषा हताः । निशम्य तद्‍भोजपतिः कोपात् प्रचलितेन्द्रियः

Entrusting them to his friend Nanda, Vasudeva had placed those two, by whom your men were slain; hearing this, the king of the Bhojas, his senses agitated by anger—

निशातमसिमादत्त वसुदेवजिघांसया निवारितो नारदेन तत्सुतौ मृत्युमात्मनः

—took up a sharp sword, intending to kill Vasudeva, but was restrained by Nārada, who revealed that those two sons were the death of himself.

ज्ञात्वा लोहमयैः पाशैः बबन्ध सह भार्यया । प्रतियाते तु देवर्षौ कंस आभाष्य केशिनम्

Realizing this, Kaṃsa bound Vasudeva and his wife with iron chains; when the divine sage departed, Kaṃsa summoned Keśin and spoke to him.

प्रेषयामास हन्येतां भवता रामकेशवौ । ततो मुष्टिकचाणूर शलतोशलकादिकान्

He sent him forth, saying, 'Go and kill Rāma and Keśava; then send Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośala, and others.'

अमात्यान् हस्तिपांश्चैव समाहूयाह भोजराट् । भो भो निशम्यतामेतद् वीरचाणूरमुष्टिकौ

The king of the Bhojas summoned his ministers and elephant-keepers and said, 'Listen, all of you: these are the mighty wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika.'

नन्दव्रजे किलासाते सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः । रामकृष्णौ ततो मह्यं मृत्युः किल निदर्शितः

'In Nanda's cowherd village reside the two sons of Ānakadundubhi, Rāma and Krishna; therefore, my death has been foretold at their hands.'

भवद्‍भ्यामिह सम्प्राप्तौ हन्येतां मल्ललीलया । मञ्चाः क्रियन्तां विविधा मल्लरङ्‌गपरिश्रिताः । पौरा जानपदाः सर्वे पश्यन्तु स्वैरसंयुगम्

'You two must kill them here in a wrestling match; let various platforms be prepared, surrounded by the wrestling arena, so that all the citizens and country folk may witness their combat.'

महामात्र त्वया भद्र रङ्‌गद्वार्युपनीयताम् । द्विपः कुवलयापीडो जहि तेन ममाहितौ

'O chief minister, have the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa brought to the gate of the arena; let him kill my enemies there.'

आरभ्यतां धनुर्यागः चतुर्दश्यां यथाविधि । विशसन्तु पशून् मेध्यान् भूतराजाय मीढुषे

Let the bow-sacrifice be commenced on the fourteenth day, according to the prescribed rites; let the pure animals be brought in for offering to the Lord of beings, the bestower of blessings.

इत्याज्ञाप्यार्थतन्त्रज्ञ आहूय यदुपुङ्‌गवम् । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं ततोऽक्रूरमुवाच ह

Having thus instructed the expert in practical affairs, he summoned the foremost among the Yadus, took his hand in his own, and then spoke to Akrura.

भो भो दानपते मह्यं क्रियतां मैत्रमादृतः । नान्यस्त्वत्तो हिततमो विद्यते भोजवृष्णिषु

"O generous lord, please, out of respect, establish friendship with me; among the Bhojas and Vrishnis, there is no one more well-wishing than you."

अतस्त्वामाश्रितः सौम्य कार्यगौरवसाधनम् । यथेन्द्रो विष्णुमाश्रित्य स्वार्थमध्यगमद् विभुः

"Therefore, gentle one, I have taken refuge in you, as you are capable of accomplishing important tasks, just as Indra, relying on Vishnu, attained his own purpose, O mighty one."

गच्छ नन्दव्रजं तत्र सुतौ आवानकदुन्दुभेः । आसाते तौ इहानेन रथेनानय मा चिरम्

"Go to Nanda's Vraja; there, the two sons of Anakadundubhi are staying. Bring them here at once in this chariot."

निसृष्टः किल मे मृत्युः देवैर्वैकुण्ठसंश्रयैः । तावानय समं गोपैः नन्दाद्यैः साभ्युपायनैः

"It is said that my death has been sent by the gods who dwell in Vaikuntha; bring those two here together with the cowherds, led by Nanda, along with their gifts."

घातयिष्य इहानीतौ कालकल्पेन हस्तिना । यदि मुक्तौ ततो मल्लैः घातये वैद्युतोपमैः

"When they have been brought here, I will have them killed by the elephant, who is like death itself; if they escape, then I will have them slain by wrestlers, fierce as lightning."

तयोर्निहतयोस्तप्तान् वसुदेवपुरोगमान् । तद्‍बन्धून् निहनिष्यामि वृष्णिभोजदशार्हकान्

"When those two have been killed, I will destroy Vasudeva and the others who are tormented, and I will slay their relatives—the Vrishnis, Bhojas, and Dasharhas."

उग्रसेनं च पितरं स्थविरं राज्यकामुकम् । तद्‍भ्रातरं देवकं च ये चान्ये विद्विषो मम

"I will also kill Ugrasena, my aged father who desires the throne, his brother Devaka, and all others who are hostile to me."

ततश्चैषा मही मित्र भवित्री नष्टकण्टका । जरासन्धो मम गुरुः द्विविदो दयितः सखा

"Then, my friend, this earth will be free of thorns; Jarasandha is my mentor, Dvivida my dear companion and friend."

शम्बरो नरको बाणो मय्येव कृतसौहृदाः । तैरहं सुरपक्षीयान् हत्वा भोक्ष्ये महीं नृपान्

"Shambara, Naraka, and Bana are devoted to me in friendship; with them, I will destroy the kings allied with the gods, and enjoy the earth."

एतज्ज्ञात्वाऽनय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ । धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम्

"Knowing this, quickly bring Rama and Krishna, who delight in play, to witness the bow-sacrifice and to see the splendor of the Yadu city."

श्रीअक्रूर उवाच - राजन् मनीषितं सध्र्यक् तव स्वावद्यमार्जनम् । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समं कुर्याद् दैवं हि फलसाधनम्

Sri Akrura said: "O King, your command is proper, and the removal of your enemies is your own duty; success or failure depends equally on destiny, for destiny is the cause of results."

मनोरथान् करोत्युच्चैः जनो दैवहतानपि । युज्यते हर्षशोकाभ्यां तथाप्याज्ञां करोमि ते

"People strive greatly for their desires, even when hindered by fate; they are subject to both joy and sorrow. Nevertheless, I will carry out your order."

श्रीशुक उवाच - एवमादिश्य चाक्रूरं मन्त्रिणश्च विषृज्य सः । प्रविवेश गृहं कंसः तथाक्रूरः स्वमालयम्

Sri Shuka said: Thus instructing Akrura and dismissing his ministers, Kamsa entered his palace, and Akrura likewise returned to his own house.

केशिवधः; नारदकृतं भगवतस्तवनं निलायन क्रीडायां व्योमासुरवधश्च श्रीशुक उवाच - ( मिश्र ) केशी तु कंसप्रहितः खुरैर्महीं महाहयो निर्जरयन्मनोजवः । सटावधूताभ्रविमानसङ्‌कुलं कुर्वन्नभो हेषितभीषिताखिलः

Sri Shuka said: Then Kesi, sent by Kamsa, a mighty horse as swift as the mind, trampled the earth with his hooves, shaking the sky with his mane and neighing so fiercely that all were terrified.

विशालनेत्रो विकटास्यकोटरो बृहद्‌गलो नीलमहाम्बुदोपमः । दुराशयः कंसहितं चिकीर्षुः व्रजं स नम्दस्य जगाम कम्पयन्

With wide eyes, a monstrous mouth, a huge neck, and dark as a great raincloud, harboring evil intent and wishing to aid Kamsa, he went to Nanda's Vraja, making it tremble.

तं त्रासयन्तं भगवान् स्वगोकुलं तद्धेषितैर्वालविघूर्णिताम्बुदम् । आत्मानमाजौ मृगयन्तमग्रणीः उपाह्वयत् स व्यनदन् मृगेन्द्रवत्

As he frightened Krishna's own cowherd village with his neighing and the clouds tossed by his tail, the Lord, leader of the cowherds, called out to him, roaring like a lion.

स तं निशाम्याभिमुखो मखेन खं पिबन्निवाभ्यद्रवदत्यमर्षणः । जघान पद्‍भ्यामरविन्दलोचनं दुरासदश्चण्डजवो दुरत्ययः

He, facing him as he performed the sacrifice, rushed forward in anger as if to swallow the sky, and struck the lotus-eyed one with his feet—he, whose speed was fierce and unbearable.