यथा च माहिषं सर्पिर् दधि चाप्य् उपहार्य वै गोपाः समानयन्त्य् आशु त्वया वाच्यास् तथा तथा
Just as cowherds swiftly bring offerings of clarified butter and curds to a buffalo, so too must you speak to them in the same way.
इत्य् आज्ञप्तस् तदाक्रूरो महाभागवतो द्विजाः प्रीतिमान् अभवत् कृष्णं श्वो द्रक्ष्यामीति सत्वरः
Thus commanded, Akrura, the great devotee, became joyful, O twice-born, eager with the thought, 'Tomorrow I shall see Krishna.'
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा तु राजानं रथम् आरुह्य सत्वरः निश्चक्राम तदा पुर्या मथुराया मधुप्रियः
Saying 'So be it,' he quickly mounted the chariot, and then the beloved of Madhu departed from the city of Mathura.
केशी चापि बलोदग्रः कंसदूतः प्रचोदितः कृष्णस्य निधनाकाङ्क्षी वृन्दावनम् उपागमत्
Keśi, the powerful and mighty, urged on by Kamsa as his messenger and desiring Krishna's death, arrived at Vrindavan.
स खुरक्षतभूपृष्ठः सटाक्षेपधुताम्बुदः पुनर् विक्रान्तचन्द्रार्कमार्गो गोपान्तम् आगमत्
With the earth's surface torn by his hooves and clouds shaken by the lash of his mane, he again advanced along the path of the sun and moon, reaching the cowherds.
तस्य ह्रेषितशब्देन गोपाला दैत्यवाजिनः गोप्यश् च भयसंविग्ना गोविन्दं शरणं ययुः
At the sound of his neighing, the cowherds and the cowherd women, terrified by the demon horse, sought refuge in Govinda.
त्राहि त्राहीति गोविन्दस् तेषां श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचः सतोयजलदध्वानगम्भीरम् इदम् उक्तवान्
Hearing their cries of 'Save us! Save us!' Govinda, his voice deep as thunderclouds full of rain, spoke these words.
अलं त्रासेन गोपालाः केशिनः किं भयातुरैः भवद्भिर् गोपजातीयैर् वीरवीर्यं विलोप्यते
Enough of fear, cowherds! Why be so afraid of Keśi? Does the valor of your cowherd race vanish in the face of terror?
किम् अनेनाल्पसारेण ह्रेषितारोपकारिणा दैतेयबलवाह्येन वल्गता दुष्टवाजिना
What is this insignificant, neighing, demon-powered, wicked horse, prancing about, that you should be alarmed?
एह्य् एहि दुष्ट कृष्णो ऽहं पूष्णस् त्व् इव पिनाकधृक् पातयिष्यामि दशनान् वदनाद् अखिलांस् तव
Come, come, you wicked one! I am Krishna, the wielder of the bow like Pūṣan; I shall knock out all your teeth from your mouth.
इत्य् उक्त्वा स तु गोविन्दः केशिनः संमुखं ययौ विवृतास्यश् च सो ऽप्य् एनं दैतेयश् च उपाद्रवत्
Having spoken thus, Govinda went to face Keśi, and the demon, mouth agape, rushed at him.
बाहुम् आभोगिनं कृत्वा मुखे तस्य जनार्दनः प्रवेशयाम् आस तदा केशिनो दुष्टवाजिनः
Janardana made his arm like a serpent and thrust it into the mouth of Keśi, the wicked horse.
केशिनो वदनं तेन विशता कृष्णबाहुना शातिता दशनास् तस्य सिताभ्रावयवा इव
As Krishna's arm entered Keśi's mouth, his teeth were shattered, white as clouds.
कृष्णस्य ववृधे बाहुः केशिदेहगतो द्विजाः विनाशाय यथा व्याधिर् आप्तभूतैर् उपेक्षितः
Krishna's arm, dwelling within Keśi's body, grew in size, O twice-born, for his destruction, just as a disease increases when neglected by those possessed by it.
विपाटितौष्ठो बहुलं सफेनं रुधिरं वमन् सृक्कणी विवृते चक्रे विश्लिष्टे मुक्तबन्धने
With lips torn apart, vomiting copious frothy blood, his jaws wide open and his bonds loosened, he became unbound.
जगाम धरणीं पादैः शकृन्मूत्रं समुत्सृजन् स्वेदार्द्रगात्रः श्रान्तश् च निर्यत्नः सो ऽभवत् ततः
He staggered on the ground, releasing excrement and urine, his body drenched in sweat, exhausted, and powerless.
व्यादितास्यो महारौद्रः सो ऽसुरः कृष्णबाहुना निपपात द्विधाभूतो वैद्युतेन यथा द्रुमः
That fierce demon, mouth agape, struck by Krishna's arm, fell split in two, like a tree struck by lightning.
द्विपादपृष्ठपुच्छार्धश्रवणैकाक्षनासिके केशिनस् ते द्विधा भूते शकले च विरेजतुः
With his two legs, back, tail, half an ear, one eye, and nose, Keśi, split in two, lay shining in pieces.
हत्वा तु केशिनं कृष्णो मुदितैर् गोपकैर् वृतः अनायस्ततनुः स्वस्थो हसंस् तत्रैव संस्थितः
Having slain Keśin, Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by joyful cowherds, stood there, his body unwearied, at ease, and smiling.
ततो गोपाश् च गोप्यश् च हते केशिनि विस्मिताः तुष्टुवुः पुण्डरीकाक्षम् अनुरागमनोरमम्
Then the cowherds and cowherd women, astonished at the slaying of Keśin, praised the lotus-eyed one, delightful in his affection.
आययौ त्वरितो विप्रो नारदो जलदस्थितः केशिनं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हर्षनिर्भरमानसः
Then the sage Nārada, swift and standing upon a cloud, arrived; seeing Keśin slain, his heart was filled with joy.
साधु साधु जगन्नाथ लीलयैव यद् अच्युत निहतो ऽयं त्वया केशी क्लेशदस् त्रिदिवौकसाम्
"Well done, well done, Lord of the universe! O Acyuta, by your play alone this Keśin, bringer of suffering to the gods, has been slain by you."
सुकर्माण्य् अवतारे तु कृतानि मधुसूदन यानि वै विस्मितं चेतस् तोषम् एतेन मे गतम्
"O Madhusūdana, the noble deeds you have performed in your descent amaze the mind; by this my heart is satisfied."
तुरगस्यास्य शक्रो ऽपि कृष्ण देवाश् च बिभ्यति धुतकेसरजालस्य ह्रेषतो ऽभ्रावलोकिनः
"Even Indra and the gods were afraid of this horse, Kṛṣṇa, as he shook his mane and neighed, scattering clouds with his roar."
यस्मात् त्वयैष दुष्टात्मा हतः केशी जनार्दन तस्मात् केशवनाम्ना त्वं लोके गेयो भविष्यसि
"Because you, Janārdana, have slain this wicked Keśin, therefore you will be known in the world by the name Keśava."
स्वस्त्य् अस्तु ते गमिष्यामि कंसयुद्धे ऽधुना पुनः परश्वो ऽहं समेष्यामि त्वया केशिनिषूदन
"Farewell to you; I will go now, and return again at the battle with Kaṃsa. The day after tomorrow I will meet you, O slayer of Keśin."
उग्रसेनसुते कंसे सानुगे विनिपातिते भारावतारकर्ता त्वं पृथिव्या धरणीधर
"When Kaṃsa, son of Ugrasena, along with his followers, is destroyed, you, upholder of the earth, will be the remover of the world's burden."
तत्रानेकप्रकारेण युद्धानि पृथिवीक्षिताम् द्रष्टव्यानि मया युष्मत्प्रणीतानि जनार्दन
"There, many kinds of battles, led by you, Janārdana, are to be witnessed by me on earth."
सो ऽहं यास्यामि गोविन्द देवकार्यं महत् कृतम् त्वया सभाजितश् चाहं स्वस्ति ते ऽस्तु व्रजाम्य् अहम्
"So now I go, Govinda; a great divine task has been accomplished by you. Honored by you, I take my leave; may there be well-being for you, I depart."
नारदे तु गते कृष्णः सह गोपैर् अविस्मितः विवेश गोकुलं गोपीनेत्रपानैकभाजनम्
When Nārada had departed, Kṛṣṇa, undisturbed, entered Gokula with the cowherds, the sole object of the gopīs' gaze.