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.
दिव्यं बिन्दुसरो नाम् तीर्थानां प्रवरं परम् । तत्तोयस्पर्शमात्रेण जीवन्मुक्तो भवेन्नरः
A divine lake named Bindusara, the foremost and highest of sacred places, arose; by the mere touch of its waters, a man becomes liberated while living.
श्रीभगवानुवाच कथमेतादृशी बुद्धिर्मित्र ते निर्मलं मनः । दूतद्वारा कथं चौक्तं निष्ठुरं दारुणं वचः
The Blessed Lord said: How did such understanding arise in you, my friend, with your mind so pure? And how was such harsh, cruel speech spoken through the messenger?
शृगाल उवाच एवमुक्तो मया त्वं च तेन क्रोधादिहाऽऽगतः । अन्यथा दुर्लभं नाथ स्वप्नेऽपि तव दर्शनम्
Shrigala said: Thus addressed by me, you came here out of anger; otherwise, O Lord, even in a dream, your vision is difficult to obtain.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे योगाद्देहं त्यक्त्वा च प्राकृतम् । दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं च यानेन वैकुष्ठं प्रययौ मुदा
Meanwhile, through yoga, he abandoned his natural body; seeing Krishna, he joyfully went to Vaikuntha in a celestial vehicle.
सप्ततालप्रमाणं च ज्योतिस्तत्र महोल्बणम् । पद्मैः पद्मार्चितं पादपद्मं नत्वा जगाम ह
There, a great and blazing light, measuring seven palm trees in height, was worshipped with lotuses; bowing to the lotus feet, he departed.
गत्वा च द्वारकां कृष्णो नत्वा च पितरं प्रसूम् । श्रीकृष्णः सगणः शीघ्रं दृष्ट्वा च परमाद्भुतम्
Having gone to Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa bowed to his father and mother; Śrī Kṛṣṇa, with his companions, quickly beheld something most astonishing.
प्रफुल्लवदनः श्रीमान्द्वारकाभिमुखं ययौ । जगाम रुक्मणीगेहं पुष्पजन्दनवासितम्
With a radiant face, the illustrious one proceeded toward Dvārakā; he went to the house of Rukmiṇī, fragrant with flowers and sandalwood.
पुष्पचन्दनतल्पे च नक्तं रेमे तया सह । मूर्च्छं संप्राप स भैष्मी कृष्णं कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि
At night, on a bed of flowers and sandalwood, he sported there with her; Bhaiṣmī, embracing Kṛṣṇa to her breast, fell into a swoon.
इति श्रीब्रह्मo महाo श्रीकृष्णजन्मखo उत्तo नारदनाo शृगालवासुदेव- मोक्षणं नामैकविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and twenty-first chapter, entitled 'The Liberation of Śṛgāla Vāsudeva,' of the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janma section in the great Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, as narrated by Nārada.
अथ द्वाविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः नारद उवाच सर्वासां रमणीनां च कृष्णेन परमात्मना । समुद्वाहश्च कथितस्त्वया भगवता मुदा
Now begins chapter one hundred and twenty-two. Nārada said: O Lord, you have joyfully recounted the marriages of all the women with Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul.