कथाशरीरत्वमवाप यद्वै मांधातृनामा भुवि चक्रवर्त्ती । श्रुत्वापि तत्को हि करोति साधुर्ममत्वमान्मन्यपि मंदचेताः
The emperor Māndhātṛ, whose name was renowned on earth, became only the subject of stories—who, even after hearing this, would, even with a dull mind, cling to possessiveness, thinking it virtuous?
भगीरथाद्यास्सगरं ककुत्स्थो दशननो राघवलक्ष्मणौ च । युधिष्ठिराद्याश्च बभूवुरेते सत्यं न मिथ्या क्व नु ते न विद्मः
Bhagīratha and others, Sagara, Kakutstha, the ten-headed one, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, Yudhiṣṭhira and the rest—these truly existed, not falsely; where are they now? We do not know.
ये सांप्रतं ये च नृपा भविष्याः प्रोक्ता मया विप्रवरोग्रवीयाः । एते तथाऽन्ये च तथाभिधेयाः सर्वे भविष्यंति यथैव पूर्वे
Those kings who are present now, and those who will come in the future, whom I have described as most illustrious among the best of Brāhmaṇas, these and others so named will all become as those before them.
एत द्विदित्वा न नरेण कार्यं ममत्वमात्मन्यपि पंडितेन । तिष्ठंतु तावत्तनयात्मजायाः क्षेत्रादयो ये च शरीरिणोऽन्ये
Knowing this, a wise man should not harbor possessiveness, even towards his own self; let alone sons, wives, fields, and other embodied beings.
मैत्रेय उवाच नृपाणां कथितःसर्वो भवता वंशविस्तरः । वंशानुचरितं चैव यथावदनुवर्णितम् । अंशावतारो ब्रह्मर्षे योऽयं यदुकुलोद्भवः । विष्णोस्तं विस्तरेणाहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥ ५,१.
Maitreya said: You have described in full the expansion of the royal line, and narrated their deeds as they occurred. Now, O great sage, I wish to hear in detail the true account of the portion-incarnation of Viṣṇu, who was born in the Yadu dynasty.
चकार यानि कर्माणि भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः । अंशांशेनावतीर्योर्व्यां तत्र तानि मुने वद ॥ ५,१.
O sage, tell me of the deeds performed by the blessed Supreme Person, who descended to earth in part and in portion.
श्रीपारशर उवाच मैत्रेय श्रूयतामेतद्यत्पृष्टोऽहमिह त्वया । विष्णोरंशांशसंभूतिचरितं जगतो हितम् ॥ ५,१.
Śrī Parāśara said: Maitreya, listen to this which you have asked me here—the deeds of Viṣṇu, who appeared in part and in portion, for the good of the world.
देवकस्य सुतां पूर्वं वसुदेवो महामुने । उपयेमे महाभागां देवकीं देवतोपमाम् ॥ ५,१.
Formerly, O great sage, Vasudeva married Devakī, the daughter of Devaka, who was most fortunate and resembled a goddess.
कंसस्तयोर्वररथं चोदयामास सारथिः । वसुदेवस्य देवक्या संयोगे भोजनन्दनः ॥ ५,१.
Kamsa, the son of Bhoja, became the charioteer for their wedding chariot—Vasudeva and Devakī united.
आथान्तरिक्षे वागुच्चैः कंसमाभाष्य सादरम् । मेघगंभीरनिर्घोषं समाभाष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ ५,१.
Then, a voice spoke loudly in the sky, addressing Kamsa with respect, its sound deep as thunder, and said this:
यामेतां वहसे मूढ सह भर्त्रा रथे स्थिताम् । अस्यास्तवाष्टमो गर्भः प्राणानपहरिष्यति ॥ ५,१.
Fool, you are driving this woman, standing with her husband on the chariot; her eighth child will take your life.
श्रीपराशर उवाच इत्याकर्ण्यं समुत्पाट्य खड्गं कंसो महाबलः । देवकीं हन्तुमारब्धो वसुदेवोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ ५,१.
Śrī Parāśara said: Hearing this, the mighty Kamsa drew his sword and began to kill Devakī, but Vasudeva spoke these words:
न हन्तव्या महाभाग देवकी भवतानघ । समर्पयिष्ये सकलान्गर्भानस्योदरोद्भवान् ॥ ५,१.
O sinless one, you must not kill the blessed Devakī; I will hand over to you all the children born from her womb.
श्रीपराशर उवाच तथेत्याह ततः कंसो वसुदेवं द्विजोत्तम । न घातयामास च तां देवकींसत्यगौरवात् ॥ ५,१.
Śrī Parāśara said: Kamsa then said, 'So be it,' to Vasudeva, O best of Brāhmaṇas, and did not kill Devakī, out of respect for his word.
एतस्मिन्नेवकाले तु भूरिभारावपीडिता । जगाम धरणी मेरौ समाजं त्रिदिवौकसाम् ॥ ५,१.
At that very time, the earth, oppressed by a great burden, went to Mount Meru to the assembly of the gods.
स ब्रह्मकान्सुरान्सर्वान्प्रणिपत्याथ मेदिनि । कथयामास तत्सर्वं खेदात्करुणभाषिणी ॥ ५,१.
There, the earth, bowing to Brahmā and all the gods, spoke to them all, her words filled with distress and compassion.
भूमिरुवाच अग्निःसुवर्णस्य गुरुर्गवां सूर्यः परो गुरुः । ममाप्यखिललो कानां कुरुर्नारायणो गुरुः ॥ ५,१.
The Earth said: Fire is the foremost teacher of gold; among cows, the Sun is the supreme teacher; and for all beings, my own as well, Nārāyaṇa is the teacher.
प्रजापतिपतिर्ब्रह्म पूर्वेषामपि पूर्वजः । कलाकाष्ठानिमेषात्मा कालश्चाव्यक्तमूर्तिमान् ॥ ५,१.
The lord of the progenitors, Brahmā, who is the earliest of the ancients, is time itself, composed of moments, instants, and measures, and possesses an unmanifest form.
तदंशभूतःसर्वैषां समूहो वःसुरोत्तमाः ॥ ५,१.
He is the portion present in all these; the assembly of you, O best of gods.
आदित्या सरुतःसाध्या रुद्रा वस्वश्विवह्नयः । पितरो ये च लोकानां स्रष्टारोऽत्रिपुरोगमाः ॥ ५,१.
The Ādityas, Sādhyas, Rudras, Vasus, the Fires, the Pitṛs, and those who are the creators of the worlds, led by Atri—
एते तस्याप्रमेयस्य विष्णो रूपं महात्मनः ॥ ५,१.
—all these are forms of that immeasurable, great-souled Viṣṇu.
यक्षराक्षसदैतेयपिशाचोरगदानवाः । गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैवरूपं विष्णोर्महात्मनः ॥ ५,१.
Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Daityas, Piśācas, serpents, Dānavas, Gandharvas, and Apsarases—these too are forms of the great-souled Viṣṇu.
ग्रहर्क्षतारकाचित्रगगनाग्निजलानिलाः । अहं च विषयाश्चैव सर्व विष्णुमयं जगत् ॥ ५,१.
Planets, stars, constellations, the variegated sky, fire, water, wind, myself, and the senses—all the universe is pervaded by Viṣṇu.
तथा चानेकरूपस्य यस्य रूपाण्य हर्निशम् । बाध्यबाधकतां यान्ति कल्लोला इव सागरे ॥ ५,१.
Thus, of Him who has many forms, whose forms day and night assume the roles of oppressor and oppressed, like waves in the ocean.
तत्सांप्रतममी दैत्याः कालनेमिपुरोगमाः । मर्त्यलोकं समाक्रम्य बाधन्तेऽहर्निशं प्रजाः ॥ ५,१.
Now, these Daityas, headed by Kālanemi, having seized the world of mortals, oppress the people day and night.
कालनेमिर्हतो योऽसौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । उग्रसेनसुतः कंसःसंभूतःस महासुरः ॥ ५,१.
Kālanemi, who was slain by the mighty Viṣṇu, has now been born as Kaṃsa, son of Ugrasena, that great Asura.
आरिष्टो धेनुकः केशी प्रलंबो नरकस्तथा । सुंदोऽसुरस्तथात्युग्रो बाणश्चापि बलेःसुतः ॥ ५,१.
Ariṣṭa, Dhenuka, Keśī, Pralamba, and also Naraka, Sumba the fierce Asura, and Bāṇa, the son of Bali—
तथान्ये च महावीर्या नृपाणां भवनेषु ये । समुत्पन्ना दुरात्मानस्तान्न संख्यातुमुत्सहे ॥ ५,१.
And others, too, of great might, who have arisen in the houses of kings—these evil-minded ones, I am unable to count.
अक्षोहिण्योत्र बहुला दिव्यमूर्तिधराःसुराः । महाबलानां दृप्तानां दैत्येन्द्रणां ममोपरि ॥ ५,१.
Here are many divisions of armies, gods bearing divine forms, and over me are the proud lords of the Daityas, mighty in strength.
तद्भूरिभार पीडार्ता न शक्नोम्यमरेश्वराः । बिभर्तुमात्मानमहमिति विज्ञापयामि वः ॥ ५,१.
Oppressed by this great burden, O lords of the immortals, I am unable to support myself; thus I inform you.