Bhagavata Purana

निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृष्ण उद्वेलमिव सागरम्। स्वपुरं तेन संरुद्धं स्वजनं च भयाकुलम्

Seeing that army, swelling like the ocean, and his own city thus besieged, and his people filled with fear, Kṛṣṇa considered the situation.

चिन्तयामास भगवान्हरिः कारणमानुषः। तद्देशकालानुगुणं स्वावतारप्रयोजनम्

The Lord Hari, in his human form, reflected on the purpose of his descent, considering the time, place, and circumstances.

हनिष्यामि बलं ह्येतद्भुवि भारं समाहितम्। मागधेन समानीतं वश्यानां सर्वभूभुजाम्

I will destroy this force, which has gathered as a burden upon the earth, brought together by the king of Magadha from all the subjugated rulers.

अक्षौहिणीभिः सङ्ख्यातं भटाश्वरथकुञ्जरैः। मागधस्तु न हन्तव्यो भूयः कर्ता बलोद्यमम्

The armies, counted by akṣauhiṇīs, with soldiers, horses, chariots, and elephants, are to be destroyed, but the king of Magadha is not to be slain, for he will again assemble a force.

एतदर्थोऽवतारोऽयं भूभारहरणाय मे। संरक्षणाय साधूनां कृतोऽन्येषां वधाय च

This is the purpose of my descent: to relieve the earth of its burden, to protect the virtuous, and to destroy others.

अन्योऽपि धर्मरक्षायै देहः संभ्रियते मया। विरामायाप्यधर्मस्य काले प्रभवतः क्वचित्

Another body is also assumed by me for the protection of dharma, and, when adharma arises at certain times, for its cessation.

एवं ध्यायति गोविन्द आकाशात्सूर्यवर्चसौ। रथावुपस्थितौ सद्यः ससूतौ सपरिच्छदौ

As Govinda was thus meditating, two chariots, radiant as the sun, suddenly appeared from the sky, complete with drivers and all equipment.

आयुधानि च दिव्यानि पुराणानि यदृच्छया। दृष्ट्वा तानि हृषीकेशः सङ्कर्षणमथाब्रवीत्

And divine, ancient weapons also appeared by chance; seeing them, Hṛṣīkeśa spoke to Saṅkarṣaṇa.

पश्यार्य व्यसनं प्राप्तं यदूनां त्वावतां प्रभो। एष ते रथ आयातो दयितान्यायुधानि च

Behold, O noble one, the calamity that has befallen the Yadus, O Lord of those who have descended to earth; here is your chariot, along with your beloved weapons.

एतदर्थं हि नौ जन्म साधूनामीश शर्मकृत्। त्रयोविंशत्यनीकाख्यं भूमेर्भारमपाकुरु

Indeed, for this very purpose have we been born, O Lord, bringer of happiness to the virtuous: remove the burden of the earth, known as the twenty-three armies.

एवं सम्मन्त्र्य दाशार्हौ दंशितौ रथिनौ पुरात्। निर्जग्मतुः स्वायुधाढ्य बलेनाल्पीयसा वृतौ

Thus having consulted together, the two sons of Dasharha, resolute and armed for battle since ancient times, set out, equipped with their weapons and accompanied by a small force.

शङ्खं दध्मौ विनिर्गत्य हरिर्दारुकसारथिः। ततोऽभूत्परसैन्यानां हृदि वित्रासवेपथुः

Hari, with Daruka as his charioteer, blew his conch as he set out; then, in the hearts of the enemy soldiers, there arose terror and trembling.

तावाह मागधो वीक्ष्य हे कृष्ण पुरुषाधम। न त्वया योद्धुमिच्छामि बालेनैकेन लज्जया । गुप्तेन हि त्वया मन्द न योत्स्ये याहि बन्धुहन्

Seeing them, the king of Magadha said: 'O Krishna, lowest of men, I do not wish to fight with you, a mere boy, out of shame; nor with you, who hide behind others, O dullard—go away, destroyer of kin, I will not fight you.'

तव राम यदि श्रद्धा युध्यस्व धैर्यमुद्वह। हित्वा वा मच्छरैश्छिन्नं देहं स्वर्याहि मां जहि

'But you, Rama, if you have faith, fight and show your courage; either abandon your body, cut down by my arrows, and ascend to heaven, or kill me.'

श्रीभगवानुवाच। न वै शूरा विकत्थन्ते दर्शयन्त्येव पौरुषम्। न गृह्णीमो वचो राजन्नातुरस्य मुमूर्षतः

The Blessed Lord said: 'Truly, heroes do not boast; they simply display their valor. We do not heed the words of one who is distressed and facing death, O King.'

श्रीशुक उवाच। जरासुतस्तावभिसृत्य माधवौ महाबलौघेन बलीयसाऽऽवृणोत्। ससैन्ययानध्वजवाजिसारथी सूर्यानलौ वायुरिवाभ्ररेणुभिः

Shuka said: The son of Jara then rushed at the two Madhavas, surrounding them with a mighty host, chariots, elephants, horses, and banners, like the wind enveloping the sun and fire with clouds of dust.

सुपर्णतालध्वजचिह्नितौ रथाव्। अलक्षयन्त्यो हरिरामयोर्मृधे। स्त्रियः पुराट्टालकहर्म्यगोपुरं। समाश्रिताः सम्मुमुहुः शुचार्दितः

The women, seeing the two chariots of Hari and Rama, marked with the emblems of Garuda and the palm tree, in the midst of battle, took refuge in the ancient towers, palaces, and gateways, and were overcome with grief and confusion.

हरिः परानीकपयोमुचां मुहुः शिलीमुखात्युल्बणवर्षपीडितम्। स्वसैन्यमालोक्य सुरासुरार्चितं व्यस्फूर्जयच्छार्ङ्गशरासनोत्तमम्

Hari, seeing his own army—honored by gods and demons—afflicted again and again by the fierce rain of arrows from the enemy host, sounded his supreme Sharnga bow with a thunderous twang.

गृह्णन्निशङ्गादथ सन्दधच्छरान्। विकृष्य मुञ्चन्शितबाणपूगान्। निघ्नन्रथान्कुञ्जरवाजिपत्तीन्। निरन्तरं यद्वदलातचक्रम्

Then, drawing arrows from his quiver, stringing and releasing volleys of sharp shafts, he struck down chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, while the whirling discus never left his hand.

निर्भिन्नकुम्भाः करिणो निपेतुरनेकशोऽश्वाः शरवृक्णकन्धराः। रथा हताश्वध्वजसूतनायकाः पदायतश्छिन्नभुजोरुकन्धराः

Elephants with shattered tusks fell in great numbers; horses, their necks severed by arrows, collapsed; chariots, with their horses, banners, drivers, and leaders slain, and foot soldiers with arms, thighs, and necks cut, lay scattered.

सञ्छिद्यमानद्विपदेभवाजिनामङ्गप्रसूताः शतशोऽसृगापगाः। भुजाहयः पूरुषशीर्षकच्छपा हतद्विपद्वीपहय ग्रहाकुलाः

As the limbs of elephants, horses, and men were severed, rivers of blood flowed in hundreds, filled with arms, horse heads, human skulls, and turtle-like torsos, crowded with the corpses of slain elephants, horses, and warriors.

करोरुमीना नरकेशशैवला धनुस्तरङ्गायुधगुल्मसङ्कुलाः। अच्छूरिकावर्तभयानका महा मणिप्रवेकाभरणाश्मशर्कराः

The rivers had waves of arms, hair as waterweeds, bows as currents, and were choked with clusters of weapons; their terrifying whirlpools were formed by spinning swords, and they sparkled with gems, pearls, ornaments, and stones.

प्रवर्तिता भीरुभयावहा मृधे मनस्विनां हर्षकरीः परस्परम्। विनिघ्नतारीन्मुषलेन दुर्मदान्सङ्कर्षणेनापरीमेयतेजसा

In that battle, Sankarshana, of immeasurable brilliance, wielding his mace, struck down the arrogant foes, causing terror among the timid and joy among the brave, as the warriors destroyed each other.

बलं तदङ्गार्णवदुर्गभैरवं दुरन्तपारं मगधेन्द्र पालितम्। क्षयं प्रणीतं वसुदेवपुत्रयोर्विक्रीडितं तज्जगदीशयोः परम्

That army, vast and dreadful as a sea of fire, guarded by the king of Magadha and seemingly insurmountable, was utterly destroyed by the sons of Vasudeva, whose play is supreme in the world.

स्थित्युद्भवान्तं भुवनत्रयस्य यः। समीहितेऽनन्तगुणः स्वलीलया। न तस्य चित्रं परपक्षनिग्रहस्। तथापि मर्त्यानुविधस्य वर्ण्यते

He whose power, infinite in qualities, brings about the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the three worlds by his own play—there is nothing remarkable in his subduing of enemies; yet, for the sake of mortals, it is described.

जग्राह विरथं रामो जरासन्धं महाबलम्। हतानीकावशिष्टासुं सिंहः सिंहमिवौजसा

Rama seized Jarasandha, mighty though he was, after his chariot was destroyed and his army slain, just as a lion seizes another lion, overpowering him by sheer strength.

बध्यमानं हतारातिं पाशैर्वारुणमानुषैः। वारयामास गोविन्दस्तेन कार्यचिकीर्षया

Govinda stopped him from being bound with human and Varuna's ropes, after his enemies had been slain, in order to accomplish a certain purpose.

सा मुक्तो लोकनाथाभ्यां व्रीडितो वीरसम्मतः। तपसे कृतसङ्कल्पो वारितः पथि राजभिः

Freed by the Lords of the world, he, esteemed among heroes, felt ashamed; resolved upon penance, he was blocked on the road by the kings.

वाक्यैः पवित्रार्थपदैर्नयनैः प्राकृतैरपि। स्वकर्मबन्धप्राप्तोऽयं यदुभिस्ते पराभवः

With words whose meanings were pure, and even with ordinary glances, this defeat came upon him through the Yadus, as a result of his own actions.