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.
भोजयित्वा च संपूज्य ब्राह्मणं च चतुर्विधम् । निनाय रजनीं दुःखाद्वाक्शल्यमान ज्वरात्
After feeding and honoring the brāhmaṇa with four kinds of food, he spent the night in sorrow, afflicted by harsh words and fever.
प्रभाते रथमारुह्य सगणः सत्वरं मुदा । लीलामात्रेण प्रययौ श्रृगालो नृपतिर्यतः
At dawn, mounting his chariot with his retinue, joyfully and swiftly, he set out playfully toward the place where Śṛgāla, the king, was.
श्रुत्वा श्रृगालो वार्तां तां कृत्रिमश्च चतुर्भुजः । आजगाम हरेः स्थानं युद्धाय सगणः स्वयम्
Hearing that news, Śṛgāla, who had assumed a four-armed form, himself came with his followers to the place of Hari for battle.
कृष्णश्चक्रे च संभाषां मित्रबुद्ध्या च लौकिकीम् । आश्लेषं मधुरालापं स्निग्धनेत्रश्च सस्मितः
Kṛṣṇa spoke with friendly and worldly words, embraced him, spoke sweetly, and, with affectionate eyes, smiled.
राजा निमन्त्रणं चक्रे कृष्णो न स्वीचकार तत् । उवाच कृष्णभीतश्चत्यक्त्वा दम्भं च दर्शनात्
The king gave an invitation, but Kṛṣṇa did not accept it; seeing Kṛṣṇa's fear, he spoke, abandoning pride and arrogance.
श्रृगाल उवाच चक्रेण मच्छिरश्छित्त्वा सुशीघ्रं द्वारकां व्रज । पापः पततु देहोऽयमनित्यो नश्वरस्तथा
Śṛgāla said: With your discus, swiftly cut off my head and go to Dvārakā; let this sinful, impermanent, and perishable body fall.
अहं सुभद्रस्ते द्वारि जयश्च विजयो यथा । सर्व जानासि सर्वज्ञ मा विलम्बं कुरु प्रभो
I am Subhadra, standing at your door, just as Jaya and Vijaya; you know everything, O all-knowing one—do not delay, O Lord.
लक्ष्मीशापेन भ्रष्टोऽहं कालः पूर्णो बभूव मे । शतवर्षेण शापान्ते यास्यमि भवनं तव
By Lakshmi's curse I have fallen, and now my appointed time is complete; after a hundred years, when the curse ends, I shall go to your abode.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच पूर्व मां मित्र प्रहर पश्चाद्युद्धं करोभ्यहम् । सर्व जानामि वैकुण्ठं गच्छ वत्स यथासुखम्
Shri Krishna said: First, my friend, strike me; afterwards, I shall engage in battle. I know everything—go to Vaikuntha, child, as you please.
श्रृगालो दशबाणांश्च चिक्षेप माधवं प्रति । ते प्रणभ्य ययुः शीघ्रमाकाशं कालरूपिमः
Shrigala hurled ten arrows at Madhava; they, taking on the form of time, swiftly ascended to the sky after bowing.