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.'
अद्यैनं कालरूपोऽसौ घातयिष्यति भ्रातृजः । वसुदेवस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तमादाय करे सुतम्
'Today, Kaṃsa, who is the very form of death, will kill him.' Vasudeva, saying 'So be it,' took his son in his hand.
अपश्यच्चाननं तस्य सुतस्याद्भुतकर्मणः । वीक्ष्य पुत्रमुखं शौरिश्चिन्ताविष्टो बभूव ह
He gazed upon the face of his son, who performed wondrous deeds; seeing his son's face, Śauri was overcome with anxious thoughts.
किं करोमि कथं न स्याद्दुःखमस्य कृते मम । एवं चिन्तातुरे तस्मिन्वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
'What shall I do? How can I prevent sorrow for myself because of him?' While he was thus tormented by worry, a bodiless voice spoke.
वसुदेवं समाभाष्य गगने विशदाक्षरा । वसुदेव गृहीत्वैनं गोकुलं नय सत्वरः
Addressing Vasudeva with clear words from the sky: 'Vasudeva, take this child and swiftly bring him to Gokula.'
रक्षपालास्तथा सर्वे मया निद्राविमोहिताः । विवृतानि कृतान्यष्ट कपाटानि च शृङ्खलाः
'All the guards have been put to sleep by me, and the eight doors and chains have been opened.'
मुक्त्वैनं नन्दगेहे त्वं योगमायां समानय । श्रुत्वैवं वसुदेवस्तु तस्मिन्कारागृहे गतः
'After leaving him in Nanda's house, bring Yogamāyā here.' Hearing this, Vasudeva went to the prison.
विवृतं द्वारमालोक्य बभूव तरसा नृप । तमादाय ययावाशु द्वारपालैरलक्षितः
Seeing the door open, the king quickly entered; taking the child, he departed swiftly, unnoticed by the gatekeepers.
कालिन्दीतटमासाद्य पूरं दृष्ट्वा सुनिश्चितम् । तदैव कटिदघ्नी सा बभूवाशु सरिद्वरा
Reaching the bank of the Yamuna and seeing the city clearly, at that very moment the river became shallow up to the waist.
योगमायाप्रभावेण ततारानकदुन्दुभिः । गत्वा तु गोकुलं शौरिर्निशीथे निर्जने पथि
By the power of Yogamaya, Anakadundubhi crossed over; then, at midnight, Shauri went to Gokula along a deserted path.
नन्दद्वारे स्थितः पश्यन्विभूतिं पशुसंज्ञिताम् । तदैव तत्र सञ्जाता यशोदा गर्भसम्भवा
Standing at Nanda's door, he saw the wondrous signs of prosperity, likened to those of cattle; at that very moment, Yashoda gave birth there.