Bhagavata Purana

मयि भृत्य उपासीने भवतो विबुधादयः। बलिं हरन्त्यवनताः किमुतान्ये नराधिपाः

When I, your servant, am present, even the gods and others bow down and offer tribute—what then of other human kings?

सर्वान्स्वान्ज्ञातिसम्बन्धान्दिग्भ्यः कंसभयाकुलान्। यदुवृष्ण्यन्धकमधु दाशार्हकुकुरादिकान्

All their own relatives and kin, the Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasharhas, Kukuras, and others, who were distressed in every direction by fear of Kamsa—

सभाजितान्समाश्वास्य विदेशावासकर्शितान्। न्यवासयत्स्वगेहेषु वित्तैः सन्तर्प्य विश्वकृत्

He honored them, comforted those wearied by exile in foreign lands, and settled them in their own homes, generously providing them with wealth.

कृष्णसङ्कर्षणभुजैर्गुप्ता लब्धमनोरथाः। गृहेषु रेमिरे सिद्धाः कृष्णरामगतज्वराः

Protected by the arms of Krishna and Sankarshana, their cherished wishes fulfilled, they lived happily in their homes, freed from all distress by Krishna and Rama.

वीक्षन्तोऽहरहः प्रीता मुकुन्दवदनाम्बुजम्। नित्यं प्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सदयस्मितवीक्षणम्

Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon the lotus face of Mukunda, always radiant, beautiful, and beaming with a compassionate smile.

तत्र प्रवयसोऽप्यासन्युवानोऽतिबलौजसः। पिबन्तोऽक्षैर्मुकुन्दस्य मुखाम्बुजसुधां मुहुः

There, even the elders appeared youthful and full of great vigor, repeatedly drinking with their eyes the nectar of Mukunda’s lotus-like face.

अथ नन्दं समसाद्य भगवान्देवकीसुतः। सङ्कर्षणश्च राजेन्द्र परिष्वज्येदमूचतुः

Then, O King, the Lord, son of Devaki, along with Sankarshana, approached Nanda and warmly embraced him, speaking these words:

पितर्युवाभ्यां स्निग्धाभ्यां पोषितौ लालितौ भृशम्। पित्रोरभ्यधिका प्रीतिरात्मजेष्वात्मनोऽपि हि

By you, our affectionate father, we were cherished and deeply cared for; indeed, parents have even greater love for their children than for themselves.

स पिता सा च जननी यौ पुष्णीतां स्वपुत्रवत्। शिशून्बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टानकल्पैः पोषरक्षणे

That father and mother who nurture children abandoned by relatives and unable to care for themselves, do so as if they were their own sons.

यात यूयं व्रजं तात वयं च स्नेहदुःखितान्। ज्ञातीन्वो द्रष्टुमेष्यामो विधाय सुहृदां सुखम्

Please, father, return to Vraja; we will come to see you and our dear relatives, who are pained by affection, after ensuring the happiness of our friends here.

एवं सान्त्वय्य भगवान्नन्दं सव्रजमच्युतः। वासोऽलङ्कारकुप्याद्यैरर्हयामास सादरम्

Thus consoling Nanda and the people of Vraja, Achyuta respectfully honored them with clothing, ornaments, vessels, and other gifts.

इत्युक्तस्तौ परिष्वज्य नन्दः प्रणयविह्वलः। पूरयन्नश्रुभिर्नेत्रे सह गोपैर्व्रजं ययौ

Having been thus addressed, Nanda, overwhelmed with affection, embraced them both, his eyes brimming with tears, and departed for Vraja along with the cowherds.

अथ शूरसुतो राजन्पुत्रयोः समकारयत्। पुरोधसा ब्राह्मणैश्च यथावद्द्विजसंस्कृतिम्

Then, O King, Sura’s son (Vasudeva) arranged for the proper sacred thread ceremony for his two sons, performed by priests and brahmins according to tradition.

तेभ्योऽदाद्दक्षिणा गावो रुक्ममालाः स्वलङ्कृताः। स्वलङ्कृतेभ्यः सम्पूज्य सवत्साः क्षौममालिनीः

He gave them gifts: cows adorned with gold necklaces, well-decorated, with calves and draped in fine cloth, honoring the priests who were similarly adorned.

याः कृष्णरामजन्मर्क्षे मनोदत्ता महामतिः। ताश्चाददादनुस्मृत्य कंसेनाधर्मतो हृताः

Those cows which the wise Vasudeva had mentally dedicated at the birth of Krishna and Rama, he now gave, recalling that Kamsa had unlawfully taken them.

ततश्च लब्धसंस्कारौ द्विजत्वं प्राप्य सुव्रतौ। गर्गाद्यदुकुलाचार्याद्गायत्रं व्रतमास्थितौ

Having thus received their initiation and attained the status of twice-born, the two noble sons undertook the vow of study under Garga and other family preceptors.

प्रभवौ सर्वविद्यानां सर्वज्ञौ जगदीश्वरौ। नान्यसिद्धामलं ज्ञानं गूहमानौ नरेहितैः

Though they are the source of all knowledge, all-knowing, and Lords of the universe, they concealed their flawless wisdom, behaving as ordinary humans.

अथो गुरुकुले वासमिच्छन्तावुपजग्मतुः। काश्यं सान्दीपनिं नाम ह्यवन्तिपुरवासिनम्

Desiring to reside in a teacher’s house, they approached Sandipani of Kashi, who lived in Avanti.

यथोपसाद्य तौ दान्तौ गुरौ वृत्तिमनिन्दिताम्। ग्राहयन्तावुपेतौ स्म भक्त्या देवमिवादृतौ

Having properly approached their teacher with self-control, they served him blamelessly, learning from him with devotion, as if he were a god.

तयोर्द्विजवरस्तुष्टः शुद्धभावानुवृत्तिभिः। प्रोवाच वेदानखिलान् साङ्गोपनिषदो गुरुः

The foremost of the twice-born, being pleased by their pure and devoted conduct, instructed them in all the Vedas with their branches and Upanishads, as their teacher.

सरहस्यं धनुर्वेदं धर्मान्न्यायपथांस्तथा। तथा चान्वीक्षिकीं विद्यां राजनीतिं च षड्विधाम्

He taught them the secret Dhanurveda, the principles of righteousness and the paths of justice, as well as the science of reasoning and the sixfold science of royal governance.

सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ। सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप

Those two best among men, initiators of all knowledge, comprehended everything at once, merely from a single utterance, O King.

अहोरात्रैश्चतुःषष्ट्या संयत्तौ तावतीः कलाः*। गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप

In just sixty-four days and nights, they mastered all those arts; then, as their teacher’s fee, they asked their preceptor what he desired.

द्विजस्तयोस्तं महिमानमद्भुतं संलक्ष्य राजन्नतिमानुषीं मतिम्। सम्मन्त्र्य पत्न्या स महार्णवे मृतं बालं प्रभासे वरयां बभूव ह

Observing their wondrous and superhuman intelligence, the twice-born, after consulting with his wife, requested as their fee the return of his son who had died at Prabhasa in the great ocean.

तथेत्यथारुह्य महारथौ रथं प्रभासमासाद्य दुरन्तविक्रमौ। वेलामुपव्रज्य निषीदतुः क्षणं सिन्धुर्विदित्वार्हणमाहरत्तयोः

Agreeing, those two of mighty valor ascended their great chariot, reached Prabhasa, approached the shore, and sat for a moment; the ocean, recognizing them, brought offerings of respect.

तमाह भगवानाशु गुरुपुत्रः प्रदीयताम्। योऽसाविह त्वया ग्रस्तो बालको महतोर्मिणा

The Lord spoke: 'O Ocean, quickly give the son who was swallowed here by you, seized by a great wave.'

श्रीसमुद्र उवाच। न चाहार्षमहं देव दैत्यः पञ्चजनो महान्। अन्तर्जलचरः कृष्ण शङ्खरूपधरोऽसुरः

The Ocean replied: 'O Lord, I did not take him; the great demon Panchajana, who dwells in the waters in the form of a conch, seized him, O Krishna.'

आस्ते तेनाहृतो नूनं तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्वरं प्रभुः। जलमाविश्य तं हत्वा नापश्यदुदरेऽर्भकम्

Hearing this, the Lord swiftly entered the water, slew that being, but did not find the boy within its belly.

तदङ्गप्रभवं शङ्खमादाय रथमागमत्। ततः संयमनीं नाम यमस्य दयितां पुरीम्

Taking the conch that had arisen from its body, he returned to his chariot and then went to the city called Samyamani, beloved of Yama.