Bhagavata Purana

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.

नन्वसौ दूरमानीय शेते मामिह साधुवत्। इति मत्वाच्युतं मूढस्तं पदा समताडयत्

Thinking, 'Surely this one has been brought far away and is lying here like a saint,' that foolish Yavana struck Achyuta, who was lying there, with his foot.

स उत्थाय चिरं सुप्तः शनैरुन्मील्य लोचने। दिशो विलोकयन्पार्श्वे तमद्राक्षीदवस्थितम्

He, having slept for a long time, rose and slowly opened his eyes; looking around in all directions, he saw that person standing beside him.

स तावत्तस्य रुष्टस्य दृष्टिपातेन भारत। देहजेनाग्निना दग्धो भस्मसादभवत्क्षणात्

O descendant of Bharata, at that moment, by the angry gaze of that man, the Yavana was instantly burned to ashes by the fire born of his own body.

श्रीराजोवाच। को नाम स पुमान्ब्रह्मन्कस्य किं वीर्य एव च। कस्माद्गुहां गतः शिष्ये किं तेजो यवनार्दनः

The king said: O brāhmaṇa, who was that man, of what lineage and power? For what reason did he go into the cave and sleep there? What was the brilliance of the destroyer of the Yavana?

श्रीशुक उवाच। स इक्ष्वाकुकुले जातो मान्धातृतनयो महान्। मुचुकुन्द इति ख्यातो ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसङ्गरः

Śrī Śuka said: He was born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, the great son of Māndhātṛ, renowned as Mucukunda, devoted to the brāhmaṇas and steadfast in truth.

स याचितः सुरगणैरिन्द्राद्यैरात्मरक्षणे। असुरेभ्यः परित्रस्तैस्तद्रक्षां सोऽकरोच्चिरम्

He was requested by the hosts of gods, including Indra, to protect them from the asuras who were terrified; he performed that protection for a long time.

लब्ध्वा गुहं ते स्वःपालं मुचुकुन्दमथाब्रुवन्। राजन्विरमतां कृच्छ्राद्भवान्नः परिपालनात्

Having found Mucukunda, their protector, in the cave, the gods then said: 'O king, please desist from these hardships of protecting us.'

नरलोकं परित्यज्य राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्। अस्मान्पालयतो वीर कामास्ते सर्व उज्झिताः

O hero, having abandoned the world of men and a kingdom free from enemies, all your desires have been forsaken while you protected us.

सुता महिष्यो भवतो ज्ञातयोऽमात्यमन्त्रिणः। प्रजाश्च तुल्यकालीना नाधुना सन्ति कालिताः

Your sons, wives, relatives, ministers, and counselors, as well as your subjects of the same age, are no longer alive now.

कालो बलीयान्बलिनां भगवानीश्वरोऽव्ययः। प्रजाः कालयते क्रीडन्पशुपालो यथा पशून्

Time, the almighty and imperishable Lord, is stronger than the strong; playing, He brings all beings to their end, just as a herdsman does with cattle.

वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते ऋते कैवल्यमद्य नः। एक एवेश्वरस्तस्य भगवान्विष्णुरव्ययः

Choose a boon, good fortune to you, except for liberation, for today that is not ours to give; there is only one Lord, and He is the imperishable Bhagavān Viṣṇu.

एवमुक्तः स वै देवानभिवन्द्य महायशाः। अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया

Thus addressed, that illustrious one, having bowed to the gods, entered the cave and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep.

यवने भस्मसान्नीते भगवान्सात्वतर्षभः। आत्मानं दर्शयामास मुचुकुन्दाय धीमते

When the Yavana had been reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord, the best of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.

तमालोक्य घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम्। श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम्

Seeing Him, dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, shining with the Kaustubha gem,

चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया। चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम्

With four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful, gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings,

प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम्। अपीच्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम्

He was a sight to behold for all mankind, with eyes smiling affectionately, appearing ever youthful, majestic like a proud lion, and possessing noble prowess.

पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षितः। शङ्कितः शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा

Overwhelmed by His brilliance, the wise king, suspecting and cautious, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power.