Bhagavata Purana

यष्टव्यम्राजसूयेन दिक् चक्रजयिना विभो । अतो जरासुतजय उभयार्थो मतो मम

The Rājasūya sacrifice should be performed by you, O mighty one, as conqueror of the quarters; thus, the defeat of Jarāsandha serves both purposes, in my view.

अस्माकं च महानर्थो ह्येतेनैव भविष्यति । यशश्च तव गोविन्द राज्ञो बद्धान् विमुञ्चतः

For us, too, a great benefit will arise from this, O Govinda, and your fame will increase by freeing the kings who are imprisoned.

स वै दुर्विषहो राजा नागायुतसमो बले । बलिनामपि चान्येषां भीमं समबलं विना

That king is truly hard to overcome, equal in strength to ten thousand elephants, and among the strong, none can match him except Bhīma.

द्‌वैरथे स तु जेतव्यो मा शताक्षौहिणीयुतः । ब्रह्मण्योऽभ्यर्थितो विप्रैः न प्रत्याख्याति कर्हिचित्

He must be defeated in single combat, not by an army of a hundred divisions; he is devoted to the Brāhmaṇas and never refuses a request from them.

ब्रह्मवेषधरो गत्वा तं भिक्षेत वृकोदरः । हनिष्यति न सन्देहो द्‌वैरथे तव सन्निधौ

Let Vṛkodara, disguised as a Brāhmaṇa, go and beg from him; he will surely kill him in single combat in your presence—there is no doubt.

निमित्तं परमीशस्य विश्वसर्गनिरोधयोः । हिरण्यगर्भः शर्वश्च कालस्यारूपिणस्तव

The Supreme Lord is the cause for both the creation and destruction of the universe; Hiraṇyagarbha and Śarva are forms of your timeless power.

( वसंततिलका ) गायन्ति ते विशदकर्म गृहेषु देव्यो राज्ञां स्वशत्रुवधमात्मविमोक्षणं च । गोप्यश्च कुञ्जरपतेर्जनकात्मजायाः पित्रोश्च लब्धशरणा मुनयो वयं च

Your pure deeds are sung in the homes of the gods: the slaying of the enemies of kings, the liberation of your own self, by the Gopīs, the wives of the elephant-lord, the daughters of Janaka, your parents who found refuge in you, the sages, and by us.

( अनुष्टुप् ) जरासन्धवधः कृष्ण भूर्यर्थायोपकल्पते । प्रायः पाकविपाकेन तव चाभिमतः क्रतुः

O Kṛṣṇa, the killing of Jarāsandha will serve many purposes; and the sacrifice you desire will be accomplished as a result of this act.

श्रीशुक उवाच - इत्युद्धव वचो राजन् सर्वतोभद्रमच्युतम् । देवर्षिर्यदुवृद्धाश्च कृष्णश्च प्रत्यपूजयन्

Śuka said: Thus, O King, all honored Uddhava’s words, which were auspicious in every way for Acyuta—the divine sage, the elders of the Yadus, and Kṛṣṇa himself.

अथादिशत् प्रयाणाय भगवान् देवकीसुतः । भृत्यान् दारुकजैत्रादीन् अनुज्ञाप्य गुरून् विभुः

Then the Lord, son of Devakī, gave orders to depart; having taken leave of his elders and instructing his servants Dāruka, Jaitra, and others, the mighty one prepared for the journey.

निर्गमय्यावरोधान् स्वान् ससुतान् सपरिच्छदान् । सङ्कर्षणमनुज्ञाप्य यदुराजं च शत्रुहन् । सूतोपनीतं स्वरथं आरुहद् गरुडध्वजम्

He sent forth his own women, sons, and attendants, took leave of Saṅkarṣaṇa and the Yadu king, the destroyer of enemies, and ascended his chariot bearing the Garuḍa emblem, which was brought by the charioteer.

( प्रभावती ) ततो रथद्‌विपभटसादिनायकैः करालया परिवृत आत्मसेनया । मृदङ्‌ग भेर्यानक शङ्खगोमुखैः प्रघोषघोषितककुभो निराक्रमत्

Then, surrounded by his own army—commanders of chariots, elephants, infantry, and cavalry—he set out, the quarters resounding with the blare of mṛdaṅgas, kettle-drums, conches, and trumpets.

नृवाजिकाञ्चन शिबिकाभिरच्युतं सहात्मजाः पतिमनु सुव्रता ययुः । वरांबराभरणविलेपनस्रजः सुसंवृता नृभिरसिचर्मपाणिभिः

With their sons, the virtuous wives, adorned with fine garments, ornaments, unguents, and garlands, followed Acyuta, their lord, riding in golden palanquins and chariots, well-guarded by men bearing swords and shields.

नरोष्ट्रगोमहिषखराश्वतर्यनः करेणुभिः परिजनवारयोषितः । स्वलङ्कृताः कटकुटिकम्बलाम्बराद् उपस्करा ययुरधियुज्य सर्वतः

Men, camels, cows, buffaloes, donkeys, horses, and chariots, along with elephants, attendants, and noble women, all adorned with bangles, armlets, blankets, and garments, carrying their belongings, set out in every direction.

बलं बृहद्ध्वजपटछत्रचामरैः वरायुधाभरणकिरीटवर्मभिः । दिवांशुभिस्तुमुलरवं बभौ रवेः यथार्णवः क्षुभिततिमिङ्‌गिलोर्मिभिः

The army, with great banners, cloth canopies, parasols, and fans, bearing splendid weapons, ornaments, crowns, and armor, shone with the brilliance of the sun, its tumultuous roar like the ocean stirred by mighty whales and waves.

अथो मुनिर्यदुपतिना सभाजितः प्रणम्य तं हृदि विदधद् विहायसा । निशम्य तद्‌व्यवसितमाहृतार्हणो मुकुन्दसन्दर्शननिर्वृतेन्द्रियः

Then the sage, honored by the lord of the Yadus, bowed to him, fixing him in his heart, and departed through the sky; hearing his resolve, Mukunda, whose senses were satisfied by the sight of the Lord, brought the proper offerings.

( अनुष्टुप् ) राजदूतमुवाचेदं भगवान् प्रीणयन् गिरा । मा भैष्ट दूत भद्रं वो घातयिष्यामि मागधम्

The Blessed Lord, delighting the royal messenger with his words, spoke: 'Do not fear, O messenger; blessings to you. I will destroy the Magadhan.'

इत्युक्तः प्रस्थितो दूतो यथावद् अवदन् नृपान् । तेऽपि सन्दर्शनं शौरेः प्रत्यैक्षन् यन्मुमुक्षवः

Thus addressed, the messenger departed and properly conveyed the message to the kings; they too witnessed the appearance of Śauri, whom they wished to be freed.

आनर्तसौवीरमरून् तीर्त्वा विनशनं हरिः । गिरीन् नदीरतीयाय पुरग्रामव्रजाकरान्

Hari crossed Ānarta, Sauvīra, Maru, and Vinaśana, then traversed mountains and rivers, arriving at cities, villages, and cattle stations.

ततो दृषद्‌वतीं तीर्त्वा मुकुन्दोऽथ सरस्वतीम् । पञ्चालानथ मत्स्यांश्च शक्रप्रस्थमथागमत्

Then Mukunda crossed the Drishadvati and Sarasvati rivers, reached the Panchalas, then the Matsyas, and finally arrived at Shakraprastha.

तमुपागतमाकर्ण्य प्रीतो दुर्दर्शनं नृणाम् । अजातशत्रुर्निरगात् सोपाध्यायः सुहृद्‌वृतः

Hearing of his arrival, the king, beloved of all and difficult to behold by men, joyfully came out with his teachers and surrounded by friends.

गीतवादित्रघोषेण ब्रह्मघोषेण भूयसा । अभ्ययात् स हृषीकेशं प्राणाः प्राणमिवादृतः

Accompanied by the sound of singing and instruments, and the loud chanting of Brahmins, he approached Hrishikesha, as vital breath approaches the life-breath, with reverence.

दृष्ट्वा विक्लिन्नहृदयः कृष्णं स्नेहेन पाण्डवः । चिराद् दृष्टं प्रियतमं सस्वजेऽथ पुनः पुनः

Seeing Krishna, the Pandava, his heart overwhelmed with affection, embraced his dearest friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, again and again.

( मिश्र ) दोर्भ्यां परिष्वज्य रमामलालयं मुकुन्दगात्रं नृपतिर्हताशुभः । लेभे परां निर्वृतिमश्रुलोचनो हृष्यत्तनुर्विस्मृत लोकविभ्रमः

Embracing with both arms the spotless abode of Lakshmi, the body of Mukunda, the king, freed from misfortune, attained supreme joy, his eyes filled with tears, his body thrilled, forgetting all worldly distractions.

तं मातुलेयं परिरभ्य निर्वृतो भीमः स्मयन् प्रेमजलाकुलेन्द्रियः । यमौ किरीटी च सुहृत्तमं मुदा प्रवृद्धबाष्पाः परिरेभिरेऽच्युतम्

Bhima, overjoyed, embraced his maternal cousin, his senses overwhelmed with love and smiling; the twins and the crowned one, too, with their hearts full, embraced Achyuta, their tears flowing.

( अनुष्टुप् ) अर्जुनेन परिष्वक्तो यमाभ्यामभिवादितः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य वृद्धेभ्यश्च यथार्हतः

Embraced by Arjuna, greeted by the twins, Krishna bowed to the Brahmins and elders, according to their due honor.

मानिनो मानयामास कुरुसृञ्जयकैकयान् । सूतमागधगन्धर्वा वन्दिनश्चोपमंत्रिणः

He honored the proud Kurus, Sṛñjayas, and Kaikeyas, as well as the charioteers, bards, Gandharvas, singers, and counselors.

मृदङ्‌गशङ्खपटह वीणापणवगोमुखैः । ब्राह्मणाश्चारविन्दाक्षं तुष्टुवुर्ननृतुर्जगुः

With drums, conches, kettle-drums, lutes, flutes, and cow-horns, the Brahmins praised Lotus-eyed Krishna, danced, and sang.

एवं सुहृद्‌भिः पर्यस्तः पुण्यश्लोकशिखामणिः । संस्तूयमानो भगवान् विवेशालङ्कृतं पुरम्

Thus surrounded by friends, the jewel among the famed, praised by all, the Blessed Lord entered the adorned city.