Bhagavata Purana

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.

आवयोः युध्यतोरस्य यद्यागन्ता जरासुतः। बन्धून्हनिष्यत्यथ वा नेष्यते स्वपुरं बली

If Jarasandha comes while we are engaged in battle, he will either kill our kinsmen or, being strong, carry them off to his own city.

तस्मादद्य विधास्यामो दुर्गं द्विपददुर्गमम्। तत्र ज्ञातीन्समाधाय यवनं घातयामहे

Therefore, today we shall build a fortress, difficult for men to approach; there, after settling our kinsmen, we will destroy the Yavana.

इति सम्मन्त्र्य भगवान्दुर्गं द्वादशयोजनम्। अन्तःसमुद्रे नगरं कृत्स्नाद्भुतमचीकरत्

Thus, after due deliberation, the Blessed Lord created a fortress twelve yojanas wide, a wondrous city within the sea.

दृश्यते यत्र हि त्वाष्ट्रं विज्ञानं शिल्पनैपुणम्। रथ्याचत्वरवीथीभिर्यथावास्तु विनिर्मितम्

There could be seen the skill of Tvaṣṭṛ—expert craftsmanship—its streets, crossroads, and avenues constructed according to proper architectural principles.

सुरद्रुमलतोद्यान विचित्रोपवनान्वितम्। हेमशृङ्गैर्दिविस्पृग्भिः स्फटिकाट्टालगोपुरैः

It was adorned with celestial trees and gardens, with marvelous groves, and towers of gold reaching the sky, with crystal mansions and gateways.

राजतारकुटैः कोष्ठैर्हेमकुम्भैरलङ्कृतैः। रत्नकूतैर्गृहैर्हेमैर्महामारकतस्थलैः

With silver and gold turrets, treasuries decorated with golden jars, houses crowned with jewels, and great emerald platforms.

वास्तोष्पतीनां च गृहैर्वल्लभीभिश्च निर्मितम्। चातुर्वर्ण्यजनाकीर्णं यदुदेवगृहोल्लसत्

Built with the houses of the guardians of the quarters and with the residences of beloved women, it was filled with people of all four varṇas, and shone with the homes of the Yadu gods.

सुधर्मां पारिजातं च महेन्द्रः प्राहिणोद्धरेः। यत्र चावस्थितो मर्त्यो मर्त्यधर्मैर्न युज्यते

Sudharmā and the Pārijāta tree were sent there by Indra, O King, where even mortals residing there are not subject to mortal limitations.

श्यामैकवर्णान्वरुणो हयान्शुक्लान्मनोजवान्। अष्टौ निधिपतिः कोशान्लोकपालो निजोदयान्

Varuṇa gave dark-colored horses, swift as the mind and white in hue; the lord of treasures gave eight treasuries; the guardians of the worlds gave all their own opulences.

यद्यद्भगवता दत्तमाधिपत्यं स्वसिद्धये। सर्वं प्रत्यर्पयामासुर्हरौ भूमिगते नृप

Whatever lordship had been granted by the Blessed Lord for their own perfection, all of it they returned to Hari when He descended to earth, O King.