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.
योगमायांशजा देवी त्रिगुणा दिव्यरूपिणी । जातां तां बालिकां दिव्यां गृहीत्वा करपङ्कजे
The goddess, a portion of Yogamaya, possessing the three qualities and a divine form, was born as a divine girl; he took her in his lotus-like hand.
तत्रागत्य ददौ देवी सैरन्ध्रीरूपधारिणी । वसुदेवः सुतं दत्त्वा सैरन्ध्रीकरपङ्कजे
Arriving there, the goddess, assuming the form of a maidservant, gave the child; Vasudeva handed over his son into the lotus-like hand of the maidservant.
तामादाय ययौ शीघ्रं बालिकां मुदिताशयः । कारागारे ततो गत्वा देवक्याः शयने सुताम्
Taking that girl, he went quickly, his heart joyful; then, entering the prison, he placed the daughter on Devaki's bed.
निःक्षिप्य संस्थितः पार्श्वे चिन्ताविष्टो भयातुरः । रुरोद सुस्वरं कन्या तदैवागतसंज्ञकाः
Placing her, he remained at her side, overwhelmed by anxiety and fear; the girl cried out sweetly, regaining consciousness at that very moment.
उत्तस्थुः सेवका राज्ञः श्रुत्वा तद्रुदितं निशि । तमूचुर्भूपतिं गत्वा त्वरितास्तेऽतिविह्वलाः
The king's servants rose up, hearing that crying in the night; they hurriedly went to the king, greatly agitated.
देवक्याश्च सुतो जातः शीघ्रमेहि महामते । तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां शीघ्रं भोजपतिर्ययौ
Devaki's child has been born—come quickly, O wise one! Hearing their words, the king of the Bhojas went swiftly.
प्रावृतं द्वारमालोक्य वसुदेवमथाह्वयत् । कंस उवाच सुतमानय देवक्या वसुदेव महामते
Seeing the door closed, he summoned Vasudeva; Kamsa said: Bring Devaki's child, O wise Vasudeva.
मृत्युर्मे चाष्टमो गर्भस्तन्निहन्मि रिपुं हरिम् । व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा कंसवचः शौरिर्भयत्रस्तविलोचनः
My death is the eighth child from her womb; I will kill that enemy, Hari. Vyasa said: Hearing Kamsa's words, Shauri's eyes were filled with fear.
तामादाय सुतां पाणौ ददौ चाशु रुदन्निव । दृष्ट्वाथ दारिकां राजा विस्मयं परमं गतः
Taking the daughter in his hand, he gave her quickly, as if weeping; seeing the girl, the king was struck with great astonishment.
देववाणी वृथा जाता नारदस्य च भाषितम् । वसुदेवः कथं कुर्यादनृतं सङ्कटे स्थितः
The divine prophecy and Narada's words have proved false; how could Vasudeva act untruthfully, being in such distress?