वाराहश्च किशोरश्च दैत्यौ परमदारुणौ । मल्लौ तावेव सञ्जातौ ख्यातौ चाणूरमुष्टिकौ
The two fierce Daityas, Vārāha and Kiśora, were reborn as wrestlers, renowned as Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika.
दितिपुत्रस्तथारिष्टो गजः कुवलयाभिधः । बलिपुत्री बकी ख्याता बकस्तदनुजः स्मृतः
Ariṣṭa, son of Diti, and the elephant named Kuvalayā, as well as Bakī, daughter of Bali, and her brother Baka, became known by those names.
यमो रुद्रस्तथा कामः क्रोधश्चैव चतुर्थकः । तेषामंशैस्तु सञ्जातो द्रोणपुत्रो महाबलः
Yama, Rudra, Kāma, and Krodha—by portions of these, the mighty son of Droṇa was born.
अंशावतरणे पूर्वं दैतेया राक्षसास्तथा । जाताः सर्वे सुरांशास्ते क्षितिभारावतारणे
In previous descents of portions, Daityas and Rākṣasas were all born as parts of the gods, for the removal of the burden of the earth.
एतेषां कथितं राजन्नंशावतरणं नृप । सुराणां चासुराणां च पुराणेषु प्रकीर्तितम्
O King, the descent of these portions has been described to you, as it is celebrated in the Purāṇas concerning both gods and demons.
यदा ब्रह्मादयो देवाः प्रार्थनार्थं हरिं गताः । हरिणा च तदा दत्तौ केशौ खलु सितासितौ
When Brahmā and the other gods went to Hari to pray, Hari then gave them two hairs, one dark and one light.
श्यामवर्णस्ततः कृष्णः श्वेतः सङ्कर्षणस्तथा । भारावतारणार्थं तौ जातौ देवांशसम्भवौ
From these, Kṛṣṇa was born with a dark complexion, and Saṅkarṣaṇa with a fair one; both were born from the portions of the gods for the purpose of relieving the earth's burden.
अंशावतरणं चैतच्छृणोति भक्तिभावतः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मोदते स्वजनैर्वृतः
Whoever listens to this account of the descent of portions with devotion is freed from all sins and rejoices, surrounded by their own people.
कंसं प्रति योगमायावाक्यम् व्यास उवाच हतेषु षट्सु पुत्रेषु देवक्या औग्रसेनिना । सप्तमे पतिते गर्भे वचनान्नारदस्य च
Vyāsa said: After Devakī's six sons were killed by Kaṃsa, and upon the seventh pregnancy, following Nārada's words,
अष्टमस्य च गर्भस्य रक्षणार्थमतन्द्रितः । प्रयत्नमकरोद्राजा मरणं स्वं विचिन्तयन्
The king, vigilant to protect the eighth pregnancy, made every effort, constantly thinking of his own death.
समये देवकीगर्भे प्रवेशमकरोद्धरिः । अंशेन वसुदेवे तु समागत्य यथाक्रमम्
At the appointed time, Hari entered Devakī's womb, and by a portion, entered Vasudeva as well, in due order.
तदेयं योगमाया च यशोदायां यथेच्छया । प्रवेशमकरोद्देवी देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये
This very Yogamāyā, at her own will, entered Yaśodā for the accomplishment of the divine purpose.
रोहिण्यास्तनयो रामो गोकुले समजायत । यतः कंसभयोद्विग्ना संस्थिता सा च कामिनी
Rohiṇī's son, Rāma, was born in Gokula, for she, fearful of Kaṃsa, had taken refuge there.
कारागारे ततः कंसो देवकीं देवसंस्तुताम् । स्थापयामास रक्षार्थं सेवकान्समकल्पयत्
Then Kaṃsa placed Devakī, praised by the gods, in prison for her protection, and appointed guards.
वसुदेवस्तु कामिन्याः प्रेमतन्तुनियन्त्रितः । पुत्रोत्पत्तिं च सञ्चिन्त्य प्रविष्टः सह भार्यया
Vasudeva, bound by the ties of love for his wife, considered the birth of a son and entered together with her.
देवकीगर्भगो विष्णुर्देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । संस्तुतोऽमरसङ्घैश्च व्यवर्धत यथाक्रमम्
Viṣṇu, who had entered Devakī's womb for the accomplishment of the divine purpose, was praised by hosts of immortals and grew in due course.
सञ्जाते दशमे तत्र मासेऽथ श्रावणे शुभे । प्राजापत्यर्क्षसंयुक्ते कृष्णपक्षेऽष्टमीदिने
When the tenth month arrived, in the auspicious month of Śrāvaṇa, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, under a constellation of Prajāpati,
कंसस्तु दानवान्सर्वानुवाच भयविह्वलः । रक्षणीया भवद्भिश्च देवकी गर्भमन्दिरे
Kaṃsa, overwhelmed by fear, instructed all the Dānavas: 'You must guard Devakī in the maternity house.'
अष्टमो देवकीगर्भः शत्रुर्मे प्रभविष्यति । रक्षणीयः प्रयत्नेन मृत्युरूपः स बालकः
The eighth child in Devakī's womb will become my enemy and will be powerful; that boy, who is the very form of death, must be guarded with utmost care.
हत्वैनं बालकं दैत्याः सुखं स्वप्स्यामि मन्दिरे । निवृत्तिवर्जिते दुःखे नाशिते चाष्टमे सुते
After killing that boy, O Dānavas, I shall sleep peacefully in my palace, free from the suffering that comes from the threat of the eighth child.
खड्गप्रासधराः सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु धृतकार्मुकाः । निद्रातन्द्राविहीनाश्च सर्वत्र निहितेक्षणाः
Let all of you, armed with swords, spears, and bows, stand ready, ever vigilant and free from sleep or fatigue, keeping watch everywhere.
व्यास उवाच इत्यादिश्यासुरगणान् कृशोऽतिभयविह्वलः । मन्दिरं स्वं जगामाशु न लेभे दानवः सुखम्
Vyāsa said: Having thus commanded the host of Asuras, emaciated and overwhelmed by great fear, the Dānava quickly went to his palace but found no happiness.
निशीथे देवकी तत्र वसुदेवमुवाच ह । किं करोमि महाराज प्रसवावसरो मम
At midnight, Devakī spoke to Vasudeva there: 'What shall I do, O great king? The time for my delivery has come.'
बहवो रक्षपालाश्च तिष्ठन्त्यत्र भयानकाः । नन्दपत्न्या मया सार्धं कृतोऽस्ति समयः पुरा
Many terrifying guards are standing here; long ago, I made an agreement with Nanda's wife.
प्रेषितव्यस्त्वया पुत्रो मन्दिरे मम मानिनि । पालयिष्याम्यहं तत्र तवातिमनसा किल
You must send my son, O proud one, to my house; I will care for him there with all my heart.
अपत्यं ते प्रदास्यामि कंसस्य प्रत्ययाय वै । किं कर्तव्यं प्रभो चात्र विषमे समुपस्थिते
I will give you a child to present to Kaṃsa as proof; what should be done now, O lord, in this difficult situation?
व्यत्ययः सन्ततेः शौरे कथं कर्तुं क्षमो भवेः । दूरे तिष्ठस्व कान्ताद्य लज्जा मेऽतिदुरत्यया
How can you, O Śauri, manage to exchange the children? Stay away from me now, beloved, for my modesty is insurmountable.
परावृत्य मुखं स्वामिन्नन्यथा किं करोम्यहम् । इत्युक्त्वा तं महाभागं देवकी देवसम्मतम्
Turn your face away, my lord; what else can I do? Having spoken thus to that blessed one, Devakī, honored by the gods—
बालकं सुषुवे तत्र निशीथे परमाद्भुतम् । तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं प्राप देवकी बालकं शुभम्
—gave birth there at midnight to a most wondrous boy; seeing that auspicious child, Devakī was filled with amazement.
पतिं प्राह महाभागा हर्षोत्कुल्लकलेवरा । पश्य पुत्रमुखं कान्त दुर्लभं हि तव प्रभो
The blessed lady, her body brimming with joy, spoke to her husband: 'Look, beloved, upon the face of your son, for it is truly rare, O lord.'