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?
रक्षपालाश्च मे सर्वे सावधाना न संशयः । कुतोऽत्र कन्यका कामं क्व गतः स सुतः किल
All my guards are vigilant, without doubt; how has this girl come here, and where has the son gone?
सन्देहोऽत्र न कर्तव्यः कालस्य विषमा गतिः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य तां बालां गृहीत्वा पादयोः खलः
No doubt should be entertained here; time's course is unpredictable. Thinking thus, the wicked one seized the girl by her feet.
पोथयामास पाषाणे निर्घृणः कुलपांसनः । सा करान्निःसृता बाला ययावाकाशमण्डलम्
He mercilessly dashed her against a stone, a disgrace to his lineage; but the girl escaped from his hands and ascended into the sky.
दिव्यरूपा तदा भूत्वा तमुवाच मृदुस्वना । किं मया हतया पाप जातस्ते बलवान् रिपुः
Assuming a divine form, she spoke to him in a gentle voice: 'By killing me, O sinner, what have you achieved? Your powerful enemy has already been born.'
हनिष्यति दुराराध्यः सर्वथा त्वां नराधमम् । इत्युक्त्वा सा गता कन्या गगनं कामगा शिवा
She, who is difficult to propitiate, will surely destroy you, vile man. Having spoken thus, the auspicious maiden departed, moving through the sky at will.
कंसस्तु विस्मयाविष्टो गतो निजगृहं तदा । आनाय्य दानवान्सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Kamsa, filled with astonishment, went to his own house and summoned all the demons, speaking these words to them.
बकधेनुकवत्सादीन्क्रोधाविष्टो भयातुरः । गच्छन्तु दानवाः सर्वे मम कार्यार्थसिद्धये
Overcome by anger and seized by fear, he said: Let all the demons—Baka, Dhenuka, Vatsaka, and others—go forth to accomplish my purpose.
जातमात्राश्च हन्तव्या बालका यत्र कुत्रचित् । पूतनैषा व्रजत्वद्य बालघ्नी नन्दगोकुलम्
Wherever newborn boys are found, they must be slain. Let Putana, the child-killer, go today to Nanda's cowherd village.
जातमात्रान्विनिघ्नन्ती शिशूंस्तत्र ममाज्ञया । धेनुको वत्सकः केशी प्रलम्बो बक एव च
By my command, let her destroy the newborn infants there. Dhenuka, Vatsaka, Kesi, Pralamba, and Baka as well—
सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु तत्रैव मम कार्यचिकीर्षया । इत्याज्ञाप्यासुरान्कंसो ययौ निजगृहं खलः
Let them all remain there, intent on carrying out my will. Thus instructing the demons, the wicked Kamsa returned to his own house.