अस्मिन्यागे धनुर्भङ्गो भवेद्यदि नराधिप । विनाशो यजमानस्य भविष्यति न संशयः
If, during this sacrifice, the bow is broken by a man, there will certainly be destruction for the sacrificer—there is no doubt.
भग्ने धनुषि यागश्च भग्नो भवति निश्चितम् । फलं ददाति को वाऽत्र चानिष्पन्ने च कर्मणि
If the bow is broken, the sacrifice is certainly ruined; who would grant the fruit here if the act is not accomplished?
ब्रह्मा च धनुषो मूले मध्ये नारायणः स्वयम् । अग्रे चोग्रप्रतापश्च महादेवो महामते
At the base of the bow is Brahmā, in the middle is Nārāyaṇa himself, and at the tip, O wise one, is Mahādeva of fierce radiance.
धनुर्हि त्रिविकारं च सद्रत्नखचितं वरम् । ग्रीष्ममध्याङ्नमार्तंण्डप्रभाप्रच्छन्नकारण्
This excellent bow, adorned with precious gems, is of threefold form, and its middle part is concealed by the blazing radiance of the summer sun.
अशक्तश्च नमयितुमनन्तश्च महाबलः । सुर्यश्च कार्तिकेयश्च का कथाऽन्यस्य भूमिप
Even the mighty Ananta is unable to bend it, as are Sūrya and Kārtikeya; what need is there to speak of anyone else, O king?
त्रिपुरारिः पुराऽनेन जघान त्रिपुरं मुदा । निर्भयं कुरु स्वच्छन्दं मङ्गलार्ह महोत्सवम्
Long ago, Tripurāri joyfully destroyed Tripura with this bow; celebrate this great festival fearlessly and as you wish, for it is worthy of auspiciousness.
मत्यकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा चन्द्रवंशविवर्धनः । उवाच कंसः सर्वार्थे सततं च हितैषिणम्
Hearing the words of Matyaka, the increaser of the lunar dynasty, Kaṃsa, ever seeking his welfare in all matters, spoke.
कंस उवाच वसुदेवगृहे जज्ञे मद्वधी कुरनाशनः । स्वच्छन्दं नन्दगेहे च वर्धते नन्दनन्दनः
Kaṃsa said: In the house of Vasudeva, he was born who will destroy my life; in Nanda's house, Nandanandana grows freely.
मद्वन्धुवर्गाञ्छूरांश्च मन्त्रिणः सुविशारदान् । भगिनीं पूतनां पूतां जघान बालको बली
That powerful boy has slain my heroic relatives, my wise ministers, and my sister Pūtanā, who was purified.
गोवर्धनं दधार्रककरेण बलवर्धनः । महेन्द्रस्य च शूरस्य चकार च पराभवम्
He, increasing in strength, held up Govardhana with his little finger, and brought defeat to mighty Indra.
ब्रह्माणं दर्शयामास ब्रह्मरूपं चराचरम् । निवहं बारवत्सानां चकार कृत्रिमं मुदा
He revealed to him Brahma, the form of the Absolute encompassing all that moves and does not move, and joyfully created an artificial multitude of Bāravata calves.
तमेव बलिनं हन्तुं मन्त्रणां कुरु सत्यक । मम शत्रुर्विना तेन नास्तिह धरणीतले
Devise a plan, Satyaka, to kill that powerful one; apart from him, I have no enemy on this earth.
नहि स्वर्गे न पाताले त्रिषु लोकेषु निश्चितम् । सन्ति सन्तश्च राजानः सर्वत्र मम बान्धवाः
Truly, in heaven, in the netherworld, or among the three worlds, there are noble kings and relatives of mine everywhere.
महातपस्वी ब्रह्मा च तपस्वीं शंकरः स्वयाम् । विष्णुः सर्वत्र सर्वात्मा समदर्शो सनातनः
Brahma is a great ascetic, and Śaṃkara is also an ascetic by nature; Viṣṇu, the eternal soul of all, sees all with equal vision.
नन्दपुत्रं निहत्याहं त्रिषु लोकेषु पूजितः । मार्वभौमो भविष्यामि सप्तद्वीपेश्वरो महान्
By killing the son of Nanda, I shall be worshipped in all three worlds, and I will become the great sovereign of the earth and lord of the seven islands.
स्वर्गे निहत्य शक्रं च दुर्बलं दैत्यनिर्जितम् । भविष्यामि महेन्द्रश्च तत्र निर्जित्य भास्करम्
Having slain Indra in heaven, weakened and defeated by the demons, I shall become Mahendra there, conquering even the Sun.
यक्ष्मग्रस्तं च चन्द्रं च ममैव पूर्वपूरुषम् । वायुं कुबेरं वरुणं यमं जेष्यामि निश्चितम्
I will surely conquer the Moon, afflicted by consumption and my own ancestor, as well as Vāyu, Kubera, Varuṇa, and Yama.
गच्छ नन्दव्रजं शीघ्रं नन्दं च नन्दनन्दनम् । तद्भ्रातरं च बलिनं बलमानय संप्रतम्
Go swiftly to Nanda's Vraja, bring Nanda, the son of Nanda, his powerful brother, and their strength here at once.
कंसस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच स सत्यकः । हितं सत्यं नीतिसारं परं सामयिकं तथा
Hearing Kaṃsa's words, Satyaka replied to him with counsel that was beneficial, truthful, rooted in policy, and in accordance with propriety.
सत्यक उवाच अक्रूरमुद्धवं वाऽपि वसुदेवमथापि वा । प्रस्थापय महाभाग नन्दव्रजमभीप्सितम्
Satyaka said: Send Akrūra, or Uddhava, or even Vasudeva, O greatly fortunate one, to Nanda's Vraja as desired.
सत्यकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वसन्तं तत्र संसदि । स्वर्णसिंहासनस्थं च वसुदेवमुवाच सः
Hearing Satyaka's words, he, who was present there in the assembly, addressed Vasudeva, who was seated on a golden lion-throne.
कंम उवाच तत्तवज्ञो नीतिशास्त्राणां त्वमुपायविशारदः । व्रज नन्दव्रजं बन्धो वसुदेव मुतालयम्
Kaṃsa said: You are a knower of truth and expert in the science of polity, skilled in means; go, friend, to Nanda's Vraja and to Vasudeva's abode.
वृषभानं च नन्दं च बलं च नन्दनन्दनम् । शीघ्रमानय यज्ञेऽत्र सर्वं गोकुलवासिनम्
Bring Vṛṣabhānu, Nanda, Balarāma, the son of Nanda, and all the residents of Gokula here quickly for the sacrifice.
गृहीत्वा पत्रिकां दूता गच्छन्तु च चतुर्दिश्म् । नृपान्मुनिगणान्सर्वान्कर्तुं विज्ञापनं मुदा
Having taken the letter, let messengers go in all four directions, joyfully inviting all kings and groups of sages.
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः । उवाच वचनं ब्रह्मन् हृदयेन विदूषता
Hearing the king's command, with a dry throat, lips, and palate, he spoke, O Brahman, words from a heart filled with distress.
वसुदेव उवाच नियुक्तमत्र राजेन्द्र गमनं मम सांप्रतम् । विज्ञापितुं नन्दव्रजं नन्दं वा नन्दनन्दनम्
Vasudeva said: O king, I am now appointed to go there, to inform Nanda's Vraja, Nanda, or the son of Nanda.
यद्यायातो नन्दपुत्रो यागो ते च महोत्सवे । अवश्यं तद्विरोधश्च भविष्यति त्वया सह
If the son of Nanda comes to your great festival, there will certainly be opposition between you and him.
तमहं च समानीय कारयिष्यामि संयुतम् । इति मे न हि भद्रं च विध्नस्तस्य तवापि च
If I bring him here, I will cause a confrontation; thus, neither good will come to me nor will there be any obstacle for him or for you.
पित्राऽऽनोतो मृतः कृष्ण इति सर्वो वदिष्यति । वसुदेवः सुतद्वारा जघान नृपमेव च
Everyone will say, 'Krishna has died, struck down by his father.' Vasudeva killed the king through his son.
द्वयोरेकतरस्यापि सद्यो मृत्युर्भविष्यति । पतिष्यन्ति च शूराश्च नास्ति युद्धं निरामिषम्
Of the two, one will die immediately; the warriors will fall, for there is no battle without bloodshed.