कृष्णस्तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा वेदोक्तं च शुभाशिष्म् । शंकरानुमतेनैव प्रययौ द्वारकां पुरीम्
Kṛṣṇa granted him a boon and auspicious blessings as prescribed in the Vedas, and, with Śaṃkara's approval, departed for the city of Dvārakā.
गत्वा कन्यां नवोढां तां बाणस्यापि महात्मनः । रुक्मिण्यै प्रददौ शीघ्रं देवक्यै च हरिः स्वयम्
Having arrived, he swiftly gave the newly married maiden, the noble Bāṇa's daughter, to Rukmiṇī and also to Devakī, by his own hand.
महोत्सवं मङ्गलं च कारयामास यत्नतः । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामास ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं ददौ
He diligently arranged a great and auspicious festival, fed the brāhmaṇas, and gave wealth to the brāhmaṇas.
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo बाणयुद्धं नाम विंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred twentieth chapter, entitled 'The Battle with Bāṇa,' in the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janma Khaṇḍa of the glorious Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, as narrated by Nārada.
अथैकविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः नारायण उवाच अथ कृष्णः सुधर्मायां निवसन्सगणस्तथा । तत्राऽऽजगाम् विप्रश्च प्रज्वलन्ब्रह्मतेजसा
Now, in the one hundred twenty-first chapter—Nārāyaṇa said: Then Kṛṣṇa, residing in Sudharmā with his companions, was approached by a brāhmaṇa, blazing with the radiance of Brahman.
आगत्य दृष्टाव तुष्टाव भक्त्या च पुरुषोत्तमम् । उवाच मधुरं शान्तो भीतो विनयपूर्वकम्
Having arrived and seen him, the brāhmaṇa praised the Supreme Person with devotion, and, peaceful and fearful, spoke sweetly with humility.
ब्राह्मण उवाच श्रृगालो वासुदेवश्च राजेशो मण्डलेश्वरः । त्वामुवाच स यद्वाक्यं सावधानं निशामय
The brāhmaṇa said: The jackal, Vāsudeva, the lord of kings, the ruler of the realm, spoke these words to you; listen attentively.
श्रृगाल उवाच वैकुण्ठे वासुदेवोऽहं देवेशश्च चतुर्भुजः । लक्ष्मीपतिश्च जगतां धाता धातुश्च पालकः
The jackal said: In Vaikuṇṭha, I am Vāsudeva, lord of the gods, four-armed, husband of Lakṣmī, creator and sustainer of the worlds.
ब्रह्मणा प्रार्थितोऽहं च भारावतरणाय च । भुवो भारतवर्ष च तदर्थ गमनं मम
Requested by Brahmā to relieve the burden of the earth, I came to Bhāratavarṣa for that purpose.
वसुदेवसुतो वैश्यः क्षत्रियश्चाप्यहंकृतः । आत्मानं भक्तविष्णुश्च मायावी च प्रतारकः
Born as the son of Vasudeva, a Vaiśya, and made a Kṣatriya, I am the devotee of Viṣṇu, a master of illusion, and a deceiver.
जनं जनेन निर्जित्य दुर्बलं बलिना सह । जोधयित्वा महाधूर्तो घातयामास भूपतीन्
Conquering people with people, the strong with the weak, I, a great trickster, caused kings to be slain by making them fight each other.
दुर्योधनं जरासंधं भूपमन्यं च दुर्बलम् । भीमेन घातयामास बलिनाऽल्पेन भूतले
Duryodhana, Jarāsandha, and other weak kings were slain on earth by the mighty Bhīma.
द्रोणं भीष्मं च कर्ण च यं यमन्यं च भूतले । बलीयसाऽर्जुनेनैव घातयामास मायया
Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, and others on earth were slain by the powerful Arjuna, through illusion.
यं यमन्यं दुर्बलं च प्रसिद्धमप्रसिद्धकम् । प्रसिद्धेन बलवता घातयामास मायया
Whoever else was weak or well-known or unknown, was slain by the renowned and powerful through illusion.
शिशुपालं दन्तवक्त्रं कंसं च चिररोगिणम् । मत्पुत्रं नरकं चैव दुर्बलं केशिनं मुरम्
Śiśupāla, Dantavakra, Kaṃsa the long-sick, my son Naraka, and the weak Keśin and Mura—
स्वयं जघान संकेताच्छलेन सहसा बत । न धर्मयुद्धे कपटी स च बालो ह्यधार्मिकः
He himself killed them suddenly, by stratagem and in secret; not in righteous battle—he is deceitful, a child, and unrighteous.
जघान पूतनां कुब्जां स्त्रीघाती वस्त्रहेतुना । जघान रजकं शिष्टमशिष्टश्च प्रतारकः
He killed Pūtanā and Kubjā—he is a slayer of women for the sake of garments; he killed the washerman, both the virtuous and the wicked, being a deceiver.
हिरण्यकशिपुं दैत्यं हिरण्याक्षं महाबलम् । मधुं च कैटभं चैव हत्वाऽहं सुष्टिरक्षकः
I slew the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, the mighty Hiraṇyākṣa, as well as Madhu and Kaiṭabha, thus protecting creation.
अहमेव स्वयं ब्रह्मा ह्यहमेव स्वयं शिवः । अहं विष्णुश्च जगतां पाता दुष्टापहारकः
I myself am Brahmā, I myself am Śiva; I am also Viṣṇu, the protector of the worlds and the remover of the wicked.
अंशेन कलया सर्वे मनवो मुनयस्तथा । स्वयं नारायणोऽहं च मिर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः
All the Manus and sages exist by a portion or aspect of me; I myself am Nārāyaṇa, beyond qualities and beyond nature.
लज्जया कृपया चैव मित्रबुद्ध्या ङमा कृता । यद्गतं तद्गतं भद्र युद्धं कुरु मया सह
Out of modesty, compassion, and friendly intent, I have shown you respect; whatever has happened, has happened, O fortunate one—now fight with me.
श्रृणोमि दूतद्वारेण ह्यतीवोच्चैरहंकृतम् । उचितं दमनं तस्याप्युन्नतानां निपातनम्
I have heard, through a messenger, exceedingly arrogant words; it is fitting to subdue such pride and bring down the haughty.
राज्ञश्च परमो धर्मोऽप्यहं शास्ता भुवोऽधुना । शङ्खं चक्रं गदां पद्मं गृहीत्वाऽहं चतुर्भुजः
Even the highest duty of a king—I am now the ruler of the earth; taking conch, discus, mace, and lotus, I stand here with four arms.
द्वारकां ता गमिष्यामि युद्धाय सगणः स्वयं । युद्धं कुरु यदीच्छाऽस्ति मा मां च शरणं व्रज
I myself, along with my retinue, will go to Dvārakā for battle; if you wish, fight, or else take refuge with me.
यदि मा यास्यति मम शरणं शरणागतः । भस्मीभूतां करिष्यामि द्वारकां च क्षणेन च
If he who seeks refuge does not come to me for shelter, I will make Dvārakā into ashes in a moment.
सबलं च सपुत्रं त्वां सगणं च सबान्धवम् । क्षणेन दग्धुं शक्तोऽहमसहायेन लीलया
With your army, sons, followers, and relatives, I am able to burn you all to ashes in an instant, effortlessly and alone.
तपस्विनं च वृद्धं च जित्वा युद्धे च शंकरम् । शक्रं भगाङ्गं जित्वा च रोगिणं ब्रह्मशापतः
Having conquered the ascetic, the elder, and Śaṅkara in battle, and having defeated Indra and Bhaga—who became diseased by Brahmā's curse—
मत्तोऽसि वीरमात्मानं मन्यमानस्त्वमेव च । स्त्रीजितो हि वृथार्थ च पारिजातस्य हेतुना
You think yourself a hero, proud because of me; but, conquered by women, your pursuit of the Pārijāta is in vain.
लमपटो योनिलुब्धश्च राधादीनश्च गोकुले । अधुना किंकरसमः सत्यादीनां च योषिताम्
You are skilled in deceit, lustful for women, and attached to Rādhā and others in Gokula; now you are like a servant to women such as Satyā.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा विप्रश्च तूष्णींभूय स्थितो मुने । शीकुष्णः सगणः श्रुत्वा भृशसुच्छैर्जहास सः
Thus, having spoken in this way, the brāhmaṇa became silent, O sage; hearing this, Kṛṣṇa with his followers laughed loudly and heartily.