Bhagavata Purana

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.

हाहेतिवादिनः सर्वे मुनयः खिन्नमानसाः। ऊचुः सङ्कर्षणं देवमधर्मस्ते कृतः प्रभो

All the sages, their minds distressed, cried out in lamentation, 'O Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, you have committed a wrongful act!'

अस्य ब्रह्मासनं दत्तमस्माभिर्यदुनन्दन। आयुश्चात्माक्लमं तावद्यावत्सत्रं समाप्यते

'O descendant of Yadu, we had granted him the seat of Brahmā, and life and freedom from fatigue for the duration of this sacrifice.'

अजानतैवाचरितस्त्वया ब्रह्मवधो यथा। योगेश्वरस्य भवतो नाम्नायोऽपि नियामकः

'Unknowingly, you have committed brahma-hatya, O master of yoga; even your name is not exempt from the law.'

यद्येतद्ब्रह्महत्यायाः पावनं लोकपावन। चरिष्यति भवांल्लोक सङ्ग्रहोऽनन्यचोदितः

'If this act will purify the sin of brahma-hatya, O purifier of the worlds, then you yourself should undertake whatever expiation is proper, without being prompted by another.'

श्रीभगवानुवाच। चरिष्ये वधनिर्वेशं लोकानुग्रहकाम्यया। नियमः प्रथमे कल्पे यावान्स तु विधीयताम्

The Blessed Lord said: 'I shall perform the prescribed expiation for the killing, desiring the welfare of the world; let the same rule be established as in the first age.'

दीर्घमायुर्बतैतस्य सत्त्वमिन्द्रि यमेव च। आशासितं यत्तद्ब्रूते साधये योगमायया

'Long life, strength, and senses were indeed promised to him; what you have spoken, I shall accomplish by my yogic power.'

ऋषय ऊचुः। अस्त्रस्य तव वीर्यस्य मृत्योरस्माकमेव च। यथा भवेद्वचः सत्यं तथा राम विधीयताम्

The sages said: 'Let it be so, O Rāma, that your word, and the power of your weapon, and death for us, all remain true.'

श्रीभगवानुवाच। आत्मा वै पुत्र उत्पन्न इति वेदानुशासनम्। तस्मादस्य भवेद्वक्ता आयुरिन्द्रि यसत्त्ववान्

The Blessed Lord said: 'The self is indeed born as the son—so declares the Veda; therefore, let his son be the speaker, endowed with life, senses, and strength.'

किं वः कामो मुनिश्रेष्ठा ब्रूताहं करवाण्यथ। अजानतस्त्वपइ!तिं यथा मे चिन्त्यतां बुधाः

'What is your wish, O best of sages? Speak, and I shall do it. Consider well, O wise ones, how I may atone for my unknowing act.'

ऋषय ऊचुः। इल्वलस्य सुतो घोरो बल्वलो नाम दानवः। स दूषयति नः सत्रमेत्य पर्वणि पर्वणि

The sages said: 'There is a fierce demon named Balvala, son of Ilvala; he comes at every festival and defiles our sacrifice.'