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.
गदां चिक्षेप राजा स प्रलयाग्निशिखोपमाम् । कृष्णाङ्गस्पर्शमात्रेण बभञ्ज च क्षणेन च
The king hurled a mace, blazing like the fire of dissolution; by the mere touch of Krishna's body, it was shattered in an instant.
शूलं चिक्षेप मुसलं च परशुं तथा । कृष्णाङ्गस्पर्शमात्रेण बभञ्ज च क्षणेन च
He hurled a spear, a club, and an axe as well; by the mere touch of Krishna's body, they were shattered in an instant.
धनुश्चिक्षेप खङ्गं च कालरूपं सुदारुपाम् । कृष्णाङ्गस्पर्शमात्रेण बभञ्ज च क्षणेन च
He hurled a bow and a sword, both terrible and resembling time itself; by the mere touch of Krishna's body, they were shattered in an instant.
दृप्ट्वा निरस्त्रं राजनमित्युवाच कृपानिधिः । गृहं गत्वा सुतीक्ष्णं च मित्रास्त्रमानयेति च
Seeing the king disarmed, the ocean of compassion spoke: 'Go home and bring the sharp weapon of friendship.'
श्रृगाल उवाच नाऽऽत्माऽऽकाशोऽस्त्रविद्धश्च किं युद्धमात्मना सह । मामुद्धर भवाब्धेश्च धरोद्धारणकारण
Shrigala said: The self and the sky cannot be pierced by weapons—what is the point of fighting with oneself? Uplift me from the ocean of existence, you who raise up the earth.
भवार्ब्धि विषमं नाथ विषयं च विषाधिकम् । छिन्धि मे निगडं मायां मोहजालं स्वकर्मणः
O Lord, the ocean of existence is perilous, and sense-objects are more poisonous than poison; cut my chains of illusion, the net of delusion born of my own actions.
कर्मणामीश्वरस्त्वं च विधाता घातुरेव च । दाता शुभफलानां च प्रदाता सर्वसंपदाम्
You are the Lord of actions, the creator and the destroyer; the giver of auspicious fruits and the bestower of all prosperity.
कारणं प्राक्तनानां च तेषां च खण्डने क्षमः । यामि गेहं च वैकुण्ठं तवैव द्वारसप्तमम्
You are the cause of former deeds and capable of destroying them; I go to your home, to Vaikuntha, to your very seventh gate.
त्यक्त्वा च नशवरं देहं प्राकृतं पाञ्चभौतिकम् । मित्रस्य स्तवनं श्रुत्वा वचनं च सुधोपमम्
Abandoning the perishable body, composed of the five elements, and hearing the praise and words of his friend, sweet as nectar—
रुरोद समरे तत्र कृपया च कृपानिधिः । बभूव तत्र सहसा कृष्णनेत्राश्रुबिन्दुना
He wept there on the battlefield, and the ocean of compassion also wept; suddenly, from Krishna's eye, a drop of tear appeared there.