स्थाप्यः कुवलयापीडस् तेन तौ गोपदारकौ घातनीयौ नियुद्धाय रङ्गद्वारम् उपागतौ
'Kuvalayapida must be stationed there; those two cowherd boys who come to the gate for wrestling are to be killed by him.'
तम् आज्ञाप्याथ दृष्ट्वा च मञ्चान् सर्वान् उपाहृतान् आसन्नमरणः कंसः सूर्योदयम् उदैक्षत
After giving that order and seeing all the seats arranged, Kamsa, sensing his impending death, awaited the sunrise.
ततः समस्तमञ्चेषु नागरः स तदा जनः राजमञ्चेषु चारूढाः सह भृत्यैर् महीभृतः
Then, on all the platforms, the citizens assembled, and the kings, with their attendants, took their seats on the royal platforms.
मल्लप्राश्निकवर्गश् च रङ्गमध्ये समीपगः कृतः कंसेन कंसो ऽपि तुङ्गमञ्चे व्यवस्थितः
The group of wrestling referees was placed near the center of the arena by Kamsa, and Kamsa himself was stationed on a high platform.
अन्तःपुराणां मञ्चाश् च यथान्ये परिकल्पिताः अन्ये च वारमुख्यानाम् अन्ये नगरयोषिताम्
The seats for the women of the inner apartments were arranged as appropriate, others for the chief courtesans, and others for the women of the city.
नन्दगोपादयो गोपा मञ्चेष्व् अन्येष्व् अवस्थिताः अक्रूरवसुदेवौ च मञ्चप्रान्ते व्यवस्थितौ
Nanda and the other cowherds were seated on other platforms, while Akrura and Vasudeva were stationed at the edge of the platform.
नगरीयोषितां मध्ये देवकी पुत्रगर्धिनी अन्तकाले ऽपि पुत्रस्य द्रक्ष्यामीति मुखं स्थिता
Among the women of the city sat Devaki, longing for her son, her face fixed with the hope, 'Even at the end, I will see my son.'
वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु चाणूरे चातिवल्गति हाहाकारपरे लोक आस्फोटयति मुष्टिके
As the musical instruments played and Chanura leapt about, the people, overcome with excitement, shouted, and struck their fists together.
हत्वा कुवलयापीडं हस्त्यारोहप्रचोदितम् मदासृगनुलिप्ताङ्गौ गजदन्तवरायुधौ
Having slain Kuvalayapida, urged on by the elephant driver, their bodies smeared with the blood and ichor of the elephant, and armed with its great tusks—
मृगमध्ये यथा सिंहौ गर्वलीलावलोकिनौ प्रविष्टौ सुमहारङ्गं बलदेवजनार्दनौ
Like lions among a herd of deer, delighting in their proud play, Baladeva and Janardana entered the great arena.
हाहाकारो महाञ् जज्ञे सर्वरङ्गेष्व् अनन्तरम् कृष्णो ऽयं बलभद्रो ऽयम् इति लोकस्य विस्मयात्
A great outcry arose everywhere immediately, as people marveled, saying, 'This is Krishna, this is Balabhadra.'
सो ऽयं येन हता घोरा पूतना सा निशाचरी प्रक्षिप्तं शकटं येन भग्नौ च यमलार्जुनौ
This is he by whom the dreadful demoness Putana was slain, by whom the cart was hurled, and by whom the twin Arjuna trees were broken.
सो ऽयं यः कालियं नागं ननर्तारुह्य बालकः धृतो गोवर्धनो येन सप्तरात्रं महागिरिः
This is the boy who danced upon the serpent Kaliya, who held up Govardhana, the great mountain, for seven nights.
अरिष्टो धेनुकः केशी लीलयैव महात्मना हतो येन च दुर्वृत्तो दृश्यते सो ऽयम् अच्युतः
Arishta, Dhenuka, and Keshi, all wicked ones, were slain effortlessly by this great soul; behold, this is Acyuta.
अयं चास्य महाबाहुर् बलदेवो ऽग्रजो ऽग्रतः प्रयाति लीलया योषिन्मनोनयननन्दनः
Here, before him, proceeds his elder brother, Baladeva, mighty-armed, delighting the minds and eyes of women with his playful manner.
अयं स कथ्यते प्राज्ञैः पुराणार्थावलोकिभिः गोपालो यादवं वंशं मग्नम् अभ्युद्धरिष्यति
This is he, spoken of by the wise who understand the meaning of the Purāṇas, the cowherd who will uplift the Yadava lineage from its downfall.
अयं स सर्वभूतस्य विष्णोर् अखिलजन्मनः अवतीर्णो महीम् अंशो नूनं भारहरो भुवः
This is he, a portion of Vishnu, the source of all beings, who has descended to earth, surely to relieve its burden.
इत्य् एवं वर्णिते पौरै रामे कृष्णे च तत्क्षणात् उरस् तताप देवक्याः स्नेहस्नुतपयोधरम्
As the people thus described Rama and Krishna, at that moment Devaki's heart burned with affection, her breasts moist with love.
महोत्सवम् इवालोक्य पुत्राव् एव विलोकयन् युवेव वसुदेवो ऽभूद् विहायाभ्यागतां जराम्
Beholding his sons as at a grand festival, Vasudeva gazed only at them, and became youthful again, casting off his old age.
विस्तारिताक्षियुगला राजान्तःपुरयोषितः नागरस्त्रीसमूहश् च द्रष्टुं न विरराम तौ
With widened eyes, the women of the royal palace and the groups of city women did not cease to gaze upon the two.
सख्यः पश्यत कृष्णस्य मुखम् अप्य् अम्बुजेक्षणम् गजयुद्धकृतायासस्वेदाम्बुकणिकाञ्चितम्
Friends, look at Krishna's face, lotus-eyed, adorned with drops of sweat from the exertion of elephant combat.
विकासीव सरोम्भोजम् अवश्यायजलोक्षितम् परिभूताक्षरं जन्म सफलं क्रियतां दृशः
His face blooms like a lotus moistened by dew, and the birth of the eyes is fulfilled by beholding him, surpassing all words.
श्रीवत्साङ्कं जगद्धाम बालस्यैतद् विलोक्यताम् विपक्षक्षपणं वक्षो भुजयुग्मं च भामिनि
Behold the child marked with Śrīvatsa, the abode of the world; O fair one, see his chest, the destroyer of enemies, and his pair of arms.
वल्गता मुष्टिकेनैव चाणूरेण तथा परैः क्रियते बलभद्रस्य हास्यम् ईषद् विलोक्यताम्
See how Balabhadra's laughter arises as he is engaged by Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, and others; observe it subtly.
सख्यः पश्यत चाणूरं नियुद्धार्थम् अयं हरिः समुपैति न सन्त्य् अत्र किं वृद्धा युक्तकारिणः
Friends, see how Hari approaches Cāṇūra for wrestling; are there not elders here who act appropriately?
क्व यौवनोन्मुखीभूतः सुकुमारतनुर् हरिः क्व वज्रकठिनाभोगशरीरो ऽयं महासुरः
Where is Hari, youthful and delicate in form, and where is this great demon, whose body is hard as thunder?
इमौ सुललितौ रङ्गे वर्तेते नवयौवनौ दैतेयमल्लाश् चाणूरप्रमुखास् त्व् अतिदारुणाः
These two, graceful and in the prime of youth, stand in the arena, while the demon wrestlers, led by Cāṇūra, are exceedingly fierce.
नियुद्धप्राश्निकानां तु महान् एष व्यतिक्रमः यद् बालबलिनोर् युद्धं मध्यस्थैः समुपेक्ष्यते
This is a great transgression among wrestling experts, that the fight between two youthful boys is being watched indifferently by those in the middle.
इत्थं पुरस्त्रीलोकस्य वदतश् चालयन् भुवम् ववर्ष हर्षोत्कर्षं च जनस्य भगवान् हरिः
Thus, as he spoke before the three worlds, shaking the earth, the blessed Lord Hari showered forth great joy and exultation upon the people.
बलभद्रो ऽपि चास्फोट्य ववल्ग ललितं यदा पदे पदे तदा भूमिर् न शीर्णा यत् तद् अद्भुतम्
Balabhadra too, leaping and stamping gracefully at every step, did not cause the earth to break—how wondrous that was!