कलिङ्गराजं तरसा गृहीत्वा दशमे पदे। दन्तानपातयत्क्रुद्धो योऽहसद्विवृतैर्द्विजैः
Seizing the king of Kalinga swiftly by his tenth step, Balarama, furious, knocked out his teeth—the same king who had laughed with exposed teeth.
अन्ये निर्भिन्नबाहूरु शिरसो रुधिरोक्षिताः। राजानो दुद्रवुर्भीता बलेन परिघार्दिताः
Other kings, their arms, thighs, and heads broken and covered in blood, fled in fear, battered by Balarama's club.
निहते रुक्मिणि श्याले नाब्रवीत्साध्वसाधु वा। रक्मिणीबलयो राजन्स्नेहभङ्गभयाद्धरिः
When Rukmi, his brother-in-law, was slain, Hari, fearing the breaking of affection between Rukmini and Balarama, neither praised nor condemned the act.
ततोऽनिरुद्धं सह सूर्यया वरं रथं समारोप्य ययुः कुशस्थलीम्। रामादयो भोजकटाद्दशार्हाः सिद्धाखिलार्था मधुसूदनाश्रयाः
Then, having placed Aniruddha and his bride on a splendid chariot, Rama and the Dasharhas departed from Bhojakat for Kushasthali, their purposes fulfilled under the shelter of Madhusudana.
ऊषा-अनिरुद्ध समागमः; अनिरुद्धस्य बंधनं च - श्रीराजोवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) बाणस्य तनयां ऊषां उपयेमे यदूत्तमः । तत्र युद्धमभूद् घोरं हरिशङ्करयोर्महत् । एतत्सर्वं महायोगिन् समाख्यातुं त्वमर्हसि
The king said: The foremost of the Yadus married Bāṇa’s daughter Ūṣā. There was a terrible battle between Hari and Śaṅkara at that time. O great yogi, you are worthy to recount all of this in detail.
श्रीशुक उवाच - बाणः पुत्रशतज्येष्ठो बलेरासीन् महात्मनः । येन वामनरूपाय हरयेऽदायि मेदिनी
Śrī Śuka said: Bāṇa, the eldest among the hundred sons of the great soul Bali—he who gave the earth to Hari in the form of Vāmana—
तस्यौरसः सुतो बानः शिवभक्तिरतः सदा । मान्यो वदान्यो धीमांश्च सत्यसन्धो दृढव्रतः
His own son was Bāṇa, always devoted to Śiva, honored, generous, intelligent, steadfast in truth, and firm in his vows.
शोणिताख्ये पुरे रम्ये स राज्यं अकरोत्पुरा । तस्य शम्भोः प्रसादेन किङ्करा इव तेऽमराः । सहस्रबाहुर्वाद्येन ताण्डवेऽतोषयन्मृडम्
In the beautiful city called Śoṇita, he once ruled as king. By the grace of Śambhu, his attendants were like the immortals. With his thousand arms, he pleased Rudra by playing music during the Tāṇḍava dance.
भगवान् सर्वभूतेशः शरण्यो भक्तवत्सलः । वरेण छन्दयामास स तं वव्रे पुराधिपम्
The Lord, master of all beings, the refuge and lover of devotees, offered him a boon of his choice. He chose Śiva as his city’s protector.
स एकदाऽऽह गिरिशं पार्श्वस्थं वीर्यदुर्मदः । किरीटेनार्कवर्णेन संस्पृशन् तत्पदाम्बुजम्
Once, intoxicated with his own strength, he approached Giriśa, who was nearby, and touched his lotus feet with a crown shining like the sun.
नमस्ये त्वां महादेव लोकानां गुरुमीश्वरम् । पुंसां अपूर्णकामानां कामपूरामराङ्घ्रिपम्
I bow to you, Mahādeva, guru and lord of the worlds, fulfiller of the desires of men whose wishes are unmet, and whose feet are worshipped by the immortals.
दोःसहस्रं त्वया दत्तं परं भाराय मेऽभवत् । त्रिलोक्यां प्रतियोद्धारं न लभे त्वदृते समम्
You have given me a thousand arms, but they have become a great burden to me. In all the three worlds, I find no one equal to fight except you.
कण्डूत्या निभृतैर्दोर्भिः युयुत्सुर्दिग्गजानहम् । आद्यायां चूर्णयन्नद्रीन् भीतास्तेऽपि प्रदुद्रुवुः
Longing for battle, I scratched myself with my restrained arms and fought the elephants of the directions, crushing mountains at the outset. Even they fled in fear.
तत् श्रुत्वा भगवान् क्रुद्धः केतुस्ते भज्यते यदा । त्वद्दर्पघ्नं भवेन्मूढ संयुगं मत्समेन ते
Hearing this, the Lord, enraged, said: When your flag is broken, O fool, then you will find an opponent equal to you in battle who will humble your pride.
इत्युक्तः कुमतिर्हृष्टः स्वगृहं प्राविशन्नृप । प्रतीक्षन् गिरिशादेशं स्ववीर्यनशनं कुधीः
Thus addressed, the misguided one, delighted, entered his own house, awaiting the command of Giriśa, foolishly expecting the destruction of his own strength.
तस्योषा नाम दुहिता स्वप्ने प्राद्युम्निना रतिम् । कन्यालभत कान्तेन प्राग् अदृष्टश्रुतेन सा
He had a daughter named Ūṣā, who in a dream experienced union with Pradyumna’s son, a handsome youth whom she had never seen or heard of before.
सा तत्र तमपश्यन्ती क्वासि कान्तेति वादिनी । सखीनां मध्य उत्तस्थौ विह्वला व्रीडिता भृशम्
Not seeing him there, she rose up among her friends, agitated and deeply embarrassed, calling out, 'Where are you, beloved?'
बाणस्य मंत्री कुम्भाण्डः चित्रलेखा च तत्सुता । सख्यपृच्छत् सखीं ऊषां कौतूहलसमन्विता
Bāṇa’s minister was Kumbhāṇḍa, and his daughter Citralekhā, a friend of Ūṣā, questioned her out of curiosity among their companions.
कं त्वं मृगयसे सुभ्रु कीदृशस्ते मनोरथः । हस्तग्राहं न तेऽद्यापि राजपुत्र्युपलक्षये
'Whom are you seeking, O beautiful-browed one? What kind of man fills your thoughts? Princess, I have not yet seen anyone take your hand.'
दृष्टः कश्चिन्नरः स्वप्ने श्यामः कमललोचनः । पीतवासा बृहद् बाहुः योषितां हृदयंगमः
'I saw a man in my dream—dark, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow, with great arms—who captivates the hearts of women.'
तमहं मृगये कान्तं पाययित्वाधरं मधु । क्वापि यातः स्पृहयतीं क्षिप्त्वा मां वृजिनार्णवे
'I seek that beloved, who made me drink nectar from his lips, but then, desiring me, vanished somewhere, casting me into an ocean of sorrow.'
चित्रलेखोवाच - व्यसनं तेऽपकर्षामि त्रिलोक्यां यदि भाव्यते । तं आनेष्ये वरं यस्ते मनोहर्ता तमादिश
Citralekhā said: 'If your misfortune is destined in the three worlds, I will remove it. Tell me who this enchanting one is, and I will bring him to you.'
इत्युक्त्वा देवगन्धर्व सिद्धचारणपन्नगान् । दैत्यविद्याधरान् यक्षान् मनुजांश्च यथालिखत्
Having spoken thus, she drew the forms of the gods, gandharvas, siddhas, charanas, serpents, demons, vidyadharas, yakshas, and humans as they appeared.
मनुजेषु च सा वृष्नीन् शूरं आनकदुन्दुभिम् । व्यलिखद् रामकृष्णौ च प्रद्युम्नं वीक्ष्य लज्जिता
Among the humans, she depicted the Vrishnis, Shura, Anakadundubhi, and, seeing Pradyumna, she became embarrassed while drawing Rama and Krishna.
अनिरुद्धं विलिखितं वीक्ष्योषावाङ्मुखी ह्रिया । सोऽसावसाविति प्राह स्मयमाना महीपते
When she saw Aniruddha drawn, she turned her face downward in modesty; smiling, she said to the king, 'That one, that one.'
चित्रलेखा तमाज्ञाय पौत्रं कृष्णस्य योगिनी । ययौ विहायसा राजन् द्वारकां कृष्णपालिताम्
Understanding this, Citrālekha, the yogini and granddaughter of Krishna, departed through the sky, O King, to Dvaraka, protected by Krishna.
तत्र सुप्तं सुपर्यङ्के प्राद्युम्निं योगमास्थिता । गृहीत्वा शोणितपुरं सख्यै प्रियमदर्शयत्
There, assuming yogic power, she took Pradyumna's son, Aniruddha, who was sleeping on a fine bed, and brought him to Shonitapura to show her friend.
सा च तं सुन्दरवरं विलोक्य मुदितानना । दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये स्वगृहे पुम्भी रेमे प्राद्युम्निना समम्
Seeing that handsome hero, she, with a joyful face, enjoyed with Aniruddha in her own home, which was difficult for others to enter.
परार्ध्यवासःस्रग्गन्ध धूपदीपासनादिभिः । पानभोजन भक्ष्यैश्च वाक्यैः शुश्रूषणार्चितः
He was honored with excellent garments, garlands, fragrances, incense, lamps, seats, drinks, food, delicacies, and words of service.
गूढः कन्यापुरे शश्वत् प्रवृद्धस्नेहया तया । नाहर्गणान् स बुबुधे ऊषयापहृतेन्द्रियः
Hidden in the maiden's palace, always attended by her growing affection, Aniruddha, whose senses were captivated by Usha, did not notice the passing days.