Bhagavata Purana

इति श्रीमद्‍भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे सौभवधो नाम सप्तसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the seventy-seventh chapter, called 'The Slaying of Shalva,' in the tenth book, second half, of the great and sacred Bhagavata Purana.

दन्तवक्रविदूरथवधः; बलरामद्‌वारा सूतशिरश्छेदश्च - अथाष्टसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः श्रीशुक उवाच। शिशुपालस्य शाल्वस्य पौण्ड्रकस्यापि दुर्मतिः। परलोकगतानां च कुर्वन्पारोक्ष्यसौहृदम्

The killing of Dantavakra and Viduratha, and the beheading of Suta by Balarama—thus begins the seventy-eighth chapter. Shuka said: The wickedness of Shishupala, Shalva, Paundraka, and others, even after they had departed this world, was met by Krishna with transcendental friendship.

एकः पदातिः सङ्क्रुद्धो गदापाणिः प्रकम्पयन्। पद्भ्यामिमां महाराज महासत्त्वो व्यदृश्यत

Then, a single foot-soldier, furious and wielding a mace, shaking the earth as he came, was seen approaching, O great king, with immense strength.

तं तथायान्तमालोक्य गदामादाय सत्वरः। अवप्लुत्य रथात्कृष्णः सिन्धुं वेलेव प्रत्यधात्

Seeing him advancing in this way, Krishna quickly seized his mace, leapt down from his chariot, and confronted him like the ocean meets the shore.

गदामुद्यम्य कारूषो मुकुन्दं प्राह दुर्मदः। दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्या भवानद्य मम दृष्टिपथं गतः

Raising his mace, the Kārūṣa, arrogant with pride, spoke to Mukunda: 'By fortune, by great fortune, you have today come within my sight.'

त्वं मातुलेयो नः कृष्ण मित्रध्रुङ्मां जिघांससि। अतस्त्वां गदया मन्द हनिष्ये वज्रकल्पया

'You are our maternal uncle, O Kṛṣṇa, yet you seek to kill me, your friend and ally. Therefore, O fool, I shall strike you down with my mace, hard as a thunderbolt.'

तर्ह्यानृण्यमुपैम्यज्ञ मित्राणां मित्रवत्सलः। बन्धुरूपमरिं हत्वा व्याधिं देहचरं यथा

'Then I shall be free of my debt, O friend of friends, by slaying an enemy who appears as a relative—just as one destroys a disease dwelling in the body.'

एवं रूक्षैस्तुदन्वाक्यैः कृष्णं तोत्रैरिव द्विपम्। गदयाताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहवद्व्यनदच्च सः

Thus, with harsh words that stung like goads, he assailed Kṛṣṇa as one would prod an elephant, and struck him on the head with his mace, roaring like a lion.

गदयाभिहतोऽप्याजौ न चचाल यदूद्वहः। कृष्णोऽपि तमहन्गुर्व्या कौमोदक्या स्तनान्तरे

Though struck on the battlefield with the mace, the foremost of the Yadus did not move; and Kṛṣṇa, with his own mace Kaumodakī, struck him in the chest.

गदानिर्भिन्नहृदय उद्वमन्रुधिरं मुखात्। प्रसार्य केशबाह्वङ्घ्रीन्धरण्यां न्यपतद्व्यसुः

His heart shattered by the blow of the mace, blood gushed from his mouth; spreading out his hair, arms, and legs, he fell lifeless to the ground.

ततः सूक्ष्मतरं ज्योतिः कृष्णमाविशदद्भुतम्। पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां यथा चैद्यवधे नृप

Then, a most subtle and wondrous light entered Kṛṣṇa, as all beings looked on—just as happened at the slaying of Śiśupāla, O King.

विदूरथस्तु तद्भ्राता भ्रातृशोकपरिप्लुतः। आगच्छदसिचर्माभ्यामुच्छ्वसंस्तज्जिघांसया

Vidūratha, his brother, overwhelmed with grief for him, came forward with sword and shield, breathing heavily, intent on killing Kṛṣṇa.

तस्य चापततः कृष्णश्चक्रेण क्षुरनेमिना। शिरो जहार राजेन्द्र सकिरीटं सकुण्डलम्

As he rushed forward, Kṛṣṇa, with his discus whose edge is sharp as a razor, cut off his head—along with its crown and earrings, O King.

एवं सौभं च शाल्वं च दन्तवक्रं सहानुजम्। हत्वा दुर्विषहानन्यैरीडितः सुरमानवैः

Thus, having slain Śālva, Saubha, Dantavakra and his brother—foes unbearable to others—he was praised by the gods and men.

मुनिभिः सिद्धगन्धर्वैर्विद्याधरमहोरगैः। अप्सरोभिः पितृगणैर्यक्षैः किन्नरचारणैः

By sages, perfected beings, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, great serpents, Apsarās, hosts of ancestors, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, and Cāraṇas.

उपगीयमानविजयः कुसुमैरभिवर्षितः। वृतश्च वृष्णिप्रवरैर्विवेशालङ्कृतां पुरीम्

His victory was sung by them, and he was showered with flowers; surrounded by the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, he entered the adorned city.

एवं योगेश्वरः कृष्णो भगवान्जगदीश्वरः। ईयते पशुदृष्टीनां निर्जितो जयतीति सः

Thus, Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Yoga, the Blessed One, Lord of the universe, is perceived by those of animal vision as being conquered or victorious.

श्रुत्वा युद्धोद्यमं रामः कुरूणां सह पाण्डवैः। तीर्थाभिषेकव्याजेन मध्यस्थः प्रययौ किल

Hearing of the preparations for war between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, Rāma, under the pretext of pilgrimage, departed, remaining neutral.

स्नात्वा प्रभासे सन्तर्प्य देवर्षिपितृमानवान्। सरस्वतीं प्रतिस्रोतं ययौ ब्राह्मणसंवृतः

Having bathed at Prabhāsa and satisfied the gods, sages, ancestors, and men, he traveled upstream along the Sarasvatī, accompanied by brāhmaṇas.

पृथूदकं बिन्दुसरस्त्रितकूपं सुदर्शनम्। विशालं ब्रह्मतीर्थं च चक्रं प्राचीं सरस्वतीम्

He visited Pṛthūdaka, Bindusaras, Tritakūpa, Sudarśana, Viśāla, Brahmatīrtha, Cakra, and the eastern Sarasvatī.

यमुनामनु यान्येव गङ्गामनु च भारत। जगाम नैमिषं यत्र ऋषयः सत्रमासते

Following the Yamunā and then the Gaṅgā, O Bhārata, he went to Naimiṣa, where the sages were engaged in a sacrificial session.

तमागतमभिप्रेत्य मुनयो दीर्घसत्रिणः। अभिनन्द्य यथान्यायं प्रणम्योत्थाय चार्चयन्

Seeing him arrive, the sages, engaged in their long sacrifice, welcomed him according to custom, rose up, bowed, and honored him.

सोऽर्चितः सपरीवारः कृतासनपरिग्रहः। रोमहर्षणमासीनं महर्षेः शिष्यमैक्षत

Thus honored, together with his attendants, and having accepted the offered seat, he beheld Romaharṣaṇa, the disciple of the great sage, seated there.

अप्रत्युत्थायिनं सूतमकृतप्रह्वणाञ्जलिम्। अध्यासीनं च तान्विप्रांश्चुकोपोद्वीक्ष्य माधवः

Seeing the sūta who did not rise, nor offer respectful folded hands, but remained seated, as did those brāhmaṇas, Mādhava became angry as he looked upon them.

यस्मादसाविमान्विप्रानध्यास्ते प्रतिलोमजः। धर्मपालांस्तथैवास्मान्वधमर्हति दुर्मतिः

Because this low-born man sits above these brāhmaṇas, the protectors of dharma, and above us as well, this wicked-minded one deserves death.

ऋषेर्भगवतो भूत्वा शिष्योऽधीत्य बहूनि च। सेतिहासपुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वशः

Though having become the disciple of the divine sage and having thoroughly studied many histories, Purāṇas, and all the dharma-śāstras—

अदान्तस्याविनीतस्य वृथा पण्डितमानिनः। न गुणाय भवन्ति स्म नटस्येवाजितात्मनः

—for one who is undisciplined and unrestrained, who vainly considers himself learned, such knowledge is of no virtue, just as for an actor who has not mastered himself.

एतदर्थो हि लोकेऽस्मिन्नवतारो मया कृतः। वध्या मे धर्मध्वजिनस्ते हि पातकिनोऽधिकाः

Indeed, for this very purpose have I descended into this world: those who wear the guise of dharma but are most sinful are to be slain by me.

एतावदुक्त्वा भगवान्निवृत्तोऽसद्वधादपि। भावित्वात्तं कुशाग्रेण करस्थेनाहनत्प्रभुः

Having spoken thus, the Lord refrained even from the killing of the wicked; yet, contemplating, he struck him with a blade of kuśa grass held in his hand.