न ह्यनुल्लंघ्य परपादपं तत्कृतनीडाश्रयिणो विहंगमा वध्यंते तदलममुनास्मत्पुरतः सौकप्रोरितवाक्यपरिकरेणेत्युक्त्वा द्वारकामभ्येत्यैकांते बलदेवं वासुदेवः प्राह
Birds dwelling in nests built by others do not violate the tree they rest upon; therefore, let us not act rashly before all, with words spoken in haste.' Having said this, Vasudeva went to Dwaraka and spoke privately to Baladeva.
मृगयागतं प्रसेनमटव्यां मृगपतिर्जघान
While hunting, Prasena was killed in the forest by a lion.
सत्राजितोऽप्यधुना शतधन्वना निधनं प्रापितः
Now Satrajita has been slain by Shatadhanva.
तदुभयविनाशात्तन्मणिरत्नमावाभ्यां सामान्यं भविष्यति
Since both are dead, the jewel will belong to us both equally.
तदुत्तिष्ठारुह्यतां रथः शतधन्वनिधनायोद्यमं कुर्वित्यभिहितस्तथेति समन्विच्छितवान्
Therefore, rise and mount the chariot; let us undertake the pursuit of Shatadhanva's death.' Thus addressed, he agreed and began the search.
कृतोद्यमौ च तावुभावुपलभ्य शतधन्वा कृतवर्माणमुपेत्य पार्ष्णिपूरणकर्मनिमित्तमचोदयत्
When both had made preparations, Shatadhanva approached Kritavarma and urged him to assist in the task of filling the heels.
आह चैनं कृतवर्मा
Kritavarma spoke to him.
नाऽहं बलदेववासुदेवाभ्यां सह विरोधायालमित्युक्तश्चाक्रूरमचोदयत्
He said, 'I am not capable of opposing Baladeva and Vasudeva.' Then he urged Akrura.
न हि कश्चिद्भगवता पादप्रहारपरिकंपितजगत्त्रयेण सुररिषुवनितावैधव्यकारिणा प्रबलरिपुचक्राप्रतिहतचक्रेण चक्रिणा मदमुदितनयनावलोकनाखिलनिशातनेनातिगुरुवैरिवारणापकर्षणा-विकृतमहिमोरुसीरेम सीरिणा च सह सकलजगद्वंद्यानाममरवराणामपि योद्धुं समर्थः
No one is able to fight against the blessed one, whose three worlds tremble at the strike of his foot, who causes widows among the wives of the gods' enemies, whose mighty discus repels the circle of powerful foes, whose gaze delights the eyes of the proud, whose sword destroys great enemies, and who, together with Satyabhama, is revered by all the worlds, even by the foremost immortals.
किमुताहं तदन्यश्शरणमभिलष्यतामित्युक्तश्शतधनुराह
If you desire another refuge, let it be sought.' Thus addressed, Shatadhanva replied.
यद्यस्मत्परित्राणासमर्थं भवानात्मानमधिगच्छति तदयमस्मत्तस्तावन्मणिः संगृह्य रक्ष्यतामिति
If you find yourself unable to protect me, then take this jewel from me and keep it safe.
एकमुक्तः सोऽप्याह
When he had spoken thus, the other replied.
यद्यंत्ययामप्यवस्थायां न कस्मैचिद्भवान् कथयिष्यति तदहमेतं ग्रहीष्यामीति
Even if, at the final moment, you do not tell anyone, I will obtain that gem.
तथेत्युक्ते चाक्रूरस्तन्मणिरत्नं जग्राह
When this was agreed to, Akrura took that jewel.
शतधनुरप्य तुलवेगां शतयोजनवाहिनीं वडवामारुह्यापक्रांतः
Shatadhanvan, mounting a horse as swift as a balance and able to travel a hundred yojanas, fled.
शैव्यसुग्रीवमेघपुष्पबलाहकाश्वचतुष्टययुक्तरथस्थितौ बलदेववासुदेवौ तमनुप्रयातौ
Balarama and Vasudeva followed him, riding a chariot drawn by four horses—Shaivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa, and Balāhaka.
सा च वडवा शतयोजनप्रमाणमार्गमतीता पुनरपि वाह्यमाना मिथिलावनोद्देशो! प्राणानुत्ससर्ज
That horse, having traversed a road of a hundred yojanas, when again driven, gave up its life in the region of the Mithila forest.
शतधनुरपि तां परित्यज्य पदातिरेवाद्र वत्
Shatadhanvan, abandoning it, continued on foot.
कृष्णोपि बलभद्र माह
Krishna then spoke to Balabhadra.
तावदत्र स्यंदने भवता स्थेयमहमेनमधमाचारं पदातिरेव पदातिमनुगम्य यावद्घातयामि अत्र हि भूभागे दृष्टदोषास्सभया अतो नैतेश्वा भवतेमं भूमिभागमुल्लंघनीयाः
You should remain here in the chariot while I, on foot, pursue this wicked man who is also on foot and kill him. For, in this land, the rulers are vigilant and fearful, and thus, neither you nor I should cross this territory with our chariot.
तथेत्युक्त्वा बलदेवो रथ एव तस्थौ
Balarama, agreeing, stayed in the chariot.
कृष्णोपि द्विक्रोशमात्रं भूमिभागमनुसृत्य दूरस्थितस्यैव चक्रं क्षिप्त्वा शतधनुषश्शिरश्चिच्छेद
Krishna, following the path for about two kroshas, hurled his discus from a distance and cut off Shatadhanvan's head.
तच्छरीरांबरादिषु च बहुप्रकारमन्विच्छन्नपि स्यमंतकमणिं नावाप पदा तदोपगम्य बलभद्र माह
Though he searched thoroughly among the body, clothes, and other things, he did not find the Syamantaka gem. Then he approached Balabhadra and spoke.
वृथैवास्माभिः शतधनुर्घातितः न प्राप्तमखिलजगत्सारभूतं तन्महारत्नं स्यमंतकाख्यमित्याकर्ण्योद्भूतकोपो बलदेवो वासुदेवमाह
"In vain have we killed Shatadhanvan; we have not obtained that great jewel, the Syamantaka, which is the essence of the whole world." Hearing this, Balarama, angered, said to Vasudeva:
धिक्त्वां यस्त्वमेवमर्थलिप्सुरेतच्च ते भ्रातृत्वान्मया क्षांतं तदयं पंथास्स्वेच्छया गम्यतां न मे द्वारकया न त्वया न चाश्षोबंधुभिः कार्य्यमलमलमेभिर्ममाग्रतोऽलीकशपथैरित्याक्षिप्य तत्कथां कथंचित्प्रसाद्यमानोपि न तस्थौ
"Shame on you! You are so greedy for wealth. Because you are my brother, I have tolerated it. Now, go your own way as you wish. I want nothing to do with Dvaraka, with you, or with these false oaths before me. Enough, enough!" Though Krishna tried to appease him, Balarama would not stay.
स विदेहपुरीं प्रविवेश
He entered the city of Videha.
जनकराजश्चार्घ्यपूर्वकमेनं गृहं प्रवेशयामास
King Janaka welcomed him into his house with the customary offering of arghya.
स तत्रैव च तस्थौ
He remained there.
वासुदेवोऽपि द्वारकामाजगाम
Vasudeva also returned to Dvaraka.
यावच्च जनकराजगृहे बलभद्रो ऽवतस्थे तावद्धार्त्तराष्ट्रो दुर्योधनस्तत्सकाशाद्गदाशिक्षामशिक्षयत्
While Balabhadra stayed at King Janaka's house, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, learned the art of mace-fighting from him.