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.
तत्र योगप्रभावेन नीत्वा सर्वजनं हरिः। प्रजापालेन रामेण कृष्णः समनुमन्त्रितः। निर्जगाम पुरद्वारात्पद्ममाली निरायुधः
There, by the power of yoga, Hari brought all the people, and, after consulting with Rāma, the protector of the people, Kṛṣṇa left the city gate, garlanded with lotuses and unarmed.
श्रीशुक उवाच। तं विलोक्य विनिष्क्रान्तमुज्जिहानमिवोडुपम्। दर्शनीयतमं श्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम्
Śrī Śuka said: Seeing Him emerge, shining like the rising moon, most beautiful to behold, dark in complexion, clad in yellow silk—
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभामुक्तकन्धरम्। पृथुदीर्घचतुर्बाहुं नवकञ्जारुणेक्षणम्
With the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, radiant with the Kaustubha gem at His throat, broad, tall, four-armed, with eyes like fresh red lotuses—
नित्यप्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सुकपोलं शुचिस्मितम्। मुखारविन्दं बिभ्राणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम्
Ever joyful, glorious, with rounded cheeks, a pure smile, bearing a lotus-like face, and brilliant makara-shaped earrings—
वासुदेवो ह्ययमिति पुमान्श्रीवत्सलाञ्छनः। चतुर्भुजोऽरविन्दाक्षो वनमाल्यतिसुन्दरः
This is indeed Vāsudeva, marked by the Śrīvatsa, four-armed, lotus-eyed, adorned with a forest garland, supremely beautiful.
लक्षणैर्नारदप्रोक्तैर्नान्यो भवितुमर्हति। निरायुधश्चलन्पद्भ्यां योत्स्येऽनेन निरायुधः
By the signs described by Nārada, no one else could be so; unarmed, walking on foot, I shall fight him unarmed.
इति निश्चित्य यवनः प्राद्रवन्तं पराङ्मुखम्। अन्वधावज्जिघृक्षुस्तं दुरापमपि योगिनाम्
Thus resolved, the Yavana, desiring to seize Him, pursued Him as He fled, though He is unattainable even to yogis.
हस्तप्राप्तमिवात्मानं हरिणा स पदे पदे। नीतो दर्शयता दूरं यवनेशोऽद्रिकन्दरम्
As if he could grasp himself with his own hand, the lord of the Yavanas was led step by step by Hari, who showed himself at a distance, into a mountain cave.
पलायनं यदुकुले जातस्य तव नोचितम्। इति क्षिपन्ननुगतो नैनं प्रापाहताशुभः
‘Flight does not befit one born in the Yadu line, such as you’—thus taunting as he followed, the ill-fated one could not catch Him.
एवं क्षिप्तोऽपि भगवान्प्राविशद्गिरिकन्दरम्। सोऽपि प्रविष्टस्तत्रान्यं शयानं ददृशे नरम्
Though thus taunted, the Blessed Lord entered the mountain cave; he too entered and there saw another man lying down.