व्यास उवाच नारदः कौतुकप्रेक्षी सर्वदा कलहप्रियः । देवकार्यार्थमागत्य सर्वमेतच्चकार ह
Vyasa said: Narada, always eager for spectacle and fond of quarrel, came for the gods' purpose and did all this.
न मिथ्याभाषणे बुद्धिर्मुनेस्तस्य कदाचन । सत्यवक्ता सुराणां स कर्तव्ये निरतः शुचिः
Never does that sage's mind incline to false speech; he is truthful, pure, and devoted to the gods' duty.
एवं षड् बालकास्तेन जाता जाता निपातिताः । षड् गर्भाः शापयोगेन सम्भूय मरणं गताः
Thus, six children were killed by him, one after another; six embryos, by the power of a curse, were born and met their death.
शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि तेषां शापस्य कारणम् । स्वायम्भुवेऽन्तरे पुत्रा मरीचेः षण्महाबलाः
Listen, O king, I will tell you the cause of their curse. In the interval of Svayambhuva, six mighty sons of Marichi...
ऊर्णायां चैव भार्यायामासन्धर्मविचक्षणाः । ब्रह्माणं जहसुर्वीक्ष्य सुतां यभितुमुद्यतम्
When Brahmā, intent on violating his own daughter, was seen by the wise sons born of Ūrṇā, his wife, they laughed at him.
शशाप तांस्तदा ब्रह्मा दैत्ययोनिं विशन्त्वधः । कालनेमिसुता जातास्ते षड्गर्भा विशाम्पते
Then Brahmā, enraged, cursed them: 'Enter the womb of a demon!' Thus, O ruler of men, they were born as the six sons of Kālanemi.
अवतारे परे ते तु हिरण्यकशिपोः सुताः । जातास्ते ज्ञानसंयुक्ताः पूर्वशापभयान्नृप
In another birth, they became the sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu, endowed with knowledge, but fearful of the previous curse.
तस्मिञ्जन्मनि शान्ताश्च तपश्चक्रुः समाहिताः । तेषां प्रीतोऽभवद् ब्रह्मा षड्गर्भाणां वरान्ददौ
In that life, they were peaceful and engaged in austerities with focused minds; Brahmā, pleased with them, granted boons to the six sons.
ब्रह्मोवाच शप्ता यूयं मया पूर्वं क्रोधयुक्तेन पुत्रकाः । तुष्टोऽस्मि वो महाभागा ब्रुवन्तु वाञ्छितं वरम्
Brahmā said: 'Previously, I cursed you, my sons, in anger. Now I am pleased with you, O greatly fortunate ones; speak your desired boon.'
व्यास उवाच ते तु श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मणः प्रीतमानसाः । ब्रह्माणमब्रुवन्कामं सर्वे कार्यार्थतत्पराः
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of Brahmā, their hearts gladdened, all of them intent on their purpose, addressed Brahmā as they wished.
गर्भा ऊचुः पितामहाद्य तुष्टोऽसि देहि नो वाञ्छितं वरम् । अवध्या दैवतैः सर्वैर्मानवैश्च महोरगैः
The embryos said: 'Grandfather, now that you are pleased, grant us the boon we desire: let us not be slain by any gods, humans, or great serpents.'
गन्धर्वसिद्धपतिभिर्वधो माभूत्पितामह । व्यास उवाच तानुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति
'Let us not be killed, O Grandfather, by Gandharvas, Siddhas, or their lords.' Vyāsa said: Then Brahmā replied to them, 'All this shall be.'
गच्छन्तु वो महाभागाः सत्यमेव न संशयः । दत्त्वा वरं गतो ब्रह्मा मुदितास्ते तदाभवन्
'Go, O greatly fortunate ones, it will be so, without doubt.' Having granted the boon, Brahmā departed, and they became joyful.
हिरण्यकशिपुः क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच कुरूद्वह । यस्माद्विहाय मां पुत्रास्तोषितो वै पितामहः
Hiraṇyakaśipu, enraged, spoke to them: 'Because you, my sons, have pleased Grandfather, abandoning me—'
वरेण प्रार्थितोऽत्यर्थं बलवन्तो यतोऽभवन् । युष्माभिर्हापितः स्नेहस्ततो युष्मांस्त्यजाम्यहम्
'—and earnestly sought a boon, becoming powerful, you have cast aside affection for me; therefore, I renounce you.'
यूयं व्रजन्तु पाताले षड्गर्भा विश्रुता भुवि । पाताले निद्रयाविष्टास्तिष्ठन्तु बहुवत्सरान्
'You six, renowned on earth, go to Pātāla; remain there, overcome by sleep, for many years.'
ततस्तु देवकीगर्भे वर्षे वर्षे पुनः पुनः । पिता वः कालनेमिस्तु तत्र कंसो भविष्यति
'Then, year after year, you will again enter the womb of Devakī; your father will be Kālanemi, who will be born there as Kaṃsa.'
स एव जातमात्रान्वो वधिष्यति सुदारुणः । व्यास उवाच एवं शप्तांस्तदा तेन गर्भे जातान्पुनः पुनः
'He, most cruel, will slay you as soon as you are born.' Vyāsa said: Thus cursed by him, they were again and again born in the womb.
जघान देवकीपुत्रान्षड्गर्भाञ्छापनोदितः । शेषांशः सप्तमस्तत्र देवकीगर्भसंस्थितः
He killed the six sons born to Devakī, as foretold by the curse; the seventh, a portion of Śeṣa, was in Devakī's womb.
विस्रंसितश्च गर्भोऽसौ योगेन योगमायया । नीतश्च रोहिणीगर्भे कृत्वा संकर्षणं बलात्
That embryo was withdrawn by yogic power and, through Yogamāyā, transferred into the womb of Rohiṇī, becoming Saṃkarṣaṇa by force.
पतितः पञ्चमे मासि लोकख्यातिं गतस्तदा । कंसोऽपि ज्ञातवांस्तत्र देवकीगर्भपातनम्
Falling in the fifth month, he then became renowned in the world; Kaṃsa also learned of the miscarriage of Devakī's pregnancy.
मुदं प्राप स दुष्टात्मा श्रुत्वा वार्तां सुखावहाम् । अष्टमे देवकीगर्भे भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः
That wicked-minded one rejoiced, hearing the pleasing news; in the eighth pregnancy of Devakī, the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, entered.
उवास देवकार्यार्थं भारावतरणाय च । राजोवाच वसुदेवः कश्यपांशः शेषांशश्च तदाभवत्
He incarnated for the purpose of the gods’ work and to relieve the burden of the earth. The king said: Vasudeva was a portion of Kaśyapa, and Śeṣa also took birth then.
हरेरंशस्तथा प्रोक्तो भवता मुनिसत्तम । अन्ये च येंऽशा देवानां तत्र जातास्तु तान्वद
And you, best of sages, have declared that Hari was also a portion. Tell me about the others who were portions of the gods and were born there.
व्यास उवाच सुराणामसुराणां च ये येंऽशा भुवि विश्रुताः
Vyāsa said: I will tell you of those who were renowned on earth as portions of the gods and the asuras.
तानहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि संक्षेपेण शृणुष्व तान् । वसुदेवः कश्यपांशो देवकी च तथादितिः
I will now briefly recount them; listen to them. Vasudeva was a portion of Kaśyapa, and Devakī was a portion of Aditi.
बलदेवस्त्वनन्तांशो वर्तमानेषु तेषु च । योऽसौ धर्मसुतः श्रीमान्नारायण इति श्रुतः
Baladeva was a portion of Ananta, and among those present, the illustrious son of Dharma, known as Nārāyaṇa, was there.
तस्यांशो वासुदेवस्तु विद्यमाने मुनौ तदा । नरस्तस्यानुजो यस्तु तस्यांशोऽर्जुन एव च
Vāsudeva was a portion of him, the sage present at that time; and his younger brother, Nara, was Arjuna, who was also his portion.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मांशो वाय्वंशो भीम इत्युत । अश्विन्यंशौ ततः प्रोक्तौ माद्रीपुत्रौ महाबलौ
Yudhiṣṭhira was a portion of Dharma, Bhīma was a portion of Vāyu, and the two mighty sons of Mādrī were said to be portions of the Aśvins.
सूर्यांशः कर्ण आख्यातो धर्माशो विदुरः स्मृतः । द्रोणो बृहस्पतेरंशस्तत्सतस्तु शिवांशजः
Karna is said to be a portion of Sūrya, Vidura is remembered as a portion of Dharma, Droṇa is a portion of Bṛhaspati, and Aśvatthāman is a portion of Śiva.