Bhagavata Purana

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.

हतेषु सर्वानीकेषु नृपो बार्हद्रथस्तदा। उपेक्षितो भगवता मगधान्दुर्मना ययौ

When all his forces had been destroyed, the king of the Barhadratha line was disregarded by the Blessed One and departed for Magadha, troubled in mind.

मुकुन्दोऽप्यक्षतबलो निस्तीर्णारिबलार्णवः। विकीर्यमाणः कुसुमैस्त्रीदशैरनुमोदितः

Mukunda, with his strength unscathed and having crossed the ocean of enemy forces, was showered with flowers and praised by the gods.

माथुरैरुपसङ्गम्य विज्वरैर्मुदितात्मभिः। उपगीयमानविजयः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः

The people of Mathura, free from distress and joyful in spirit, approached him; his victory was sung by charioteers, bards, and minstrels.

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकशः। वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि पुरं प्रविशति प्रभौ

Conch shells and drums resounded, many trumpets and horns were played, as the Lord entered the city, accompanied by lyres, flutes, and mridangas.

सिक्तमार्गां हृष्टजनां पताकाभिरभ्यलङ्कृताम्। निर्घुष्टां ब्रह्मघोषेण कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम्

The streets were sprinkled, the people were joyful, adorned with flags, echoing with the sound of Vedic chants, and festooned with decorated gateways.

निचीयमानो नारीभिर्माल्यदध्यक्षताङ्कुरैः। निरीक्ष्यमाणः सस्नेहं प्रीत्युत्कलितलोचनैः

He was honored by women with garlands, yogurt, and sprouting grains, and gazed upon with loving, eager eyes.

आयोधनगतं वित्तमनन्तं वीरभूषणम्। यदुराजाय तत्सर्वमाहृतं प्रादिशत्प्रभुः

All the wealth, endless and adorned with the ornaments of heroes, gained in battle, was brought and presented by the Lord to the king of the Yadus.

एवं सप्तदशकृत्वस्तावत्यक्षौहिणीबलः। युयुधे मागधो राजा यदुभिः कृष्णपालितैः

Thus, the king of Magadha, with a force as great as seventeen akshauhinis, fought repeatedly with the Yadus, who were protected by Krishna.

अक्षिण्वंस्तद्बलं सर्वं वृष्णयः कृष्णतेजसा। हतेषु स्वेष्वनीकेषु त्यक्तोऽगादरिभिर्नृपः

The Vṛṣṇis, empowered by Krishna's brilliance, destroyed all that force; when his own troops were slain, the king was abandoned by his allies and departed.

अष्टादशम सङ्ग्राम आगामिनि तदन्तरा। नारदप्रेषितो वीरो यवनः प्रत्यदृश्यत

In the eighteenth battle, which was about to occur, a hero sent by Narada, the Yavana, appeared in the midst.

रुरोध मथुरामेत्य तिसृभिर्म्लेच्छकोटिभिः। नृलोके चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो वृष्णीन्श्रुत्वात्मसम्मितान्

The foreigner besieged Mathura with three million barbarian troops; in the world of men, he was unmatched, having heard of the Vṛṣṇis, his equals.

तं दृष्ट्वाचिन्तयत्कृष्णः सङ्कर्षण सहायवान्। अहो यदूनां वृजिनं प्राप्तं ह्युभयतो महत्

Seeing him, Krishna, accompanied by Sankarshana, thought: 'Alas, a great calamity has come upon the Yadus from both sides.'

यवनोऽयं निरुन्धेऽस्मानद्य तावन्महाबलः। मागधोऽप्यद्य वा श्वो वा परश्वो वागमिष्यति

This Yavana, immensely powerful, is besieging us today; the king of Magadha will arrive either today, tomorrow, or the day after.