यथा च माहिषं सर्पिर्दधिचाप्युपहार्य वै । गोपास्समानयंत्वाशु तथा वाच्यास्त्वया च ते
Just as ghee and curds are brought for the buffalo, so too must you instruct your people to quickly bring the cowherds.
श्रीपराशर उवाच। इत्याज्ञप्तस्तदाऽक्रूरो महाभागवतो द्विज । प्रीतिमानभवत्कृष्णं श्वो द्रक्ष्यामीति सत्वरः
Śrī Parāśara said: Thus commanded, Akrūra, the great devotee and twice-born, became joyful, eager to see Krishna the next day.
तथेत्युक्त्वा च राजानं रथमारुह्य शोभनम् । निश्चक्राम ततः पुर्य्या मथुराया मधुप्रियः
Having said 'so be it' to the king, he mounted his splendid chariot and departed from the city of Mathura, beloved of Madhu.
श्रीपराशर उवाच । केशी चापि बलोदग्रः कंसदूतः प्रचोदितः । कृष्णस्य निधनाकांक्षी वृंदावनमुपागमत्
Śrī Parāśara said: Keśī, strong in might and sent as Kamsa's messenger, desiring Krishna's death, entered Vrindavan.
स खुरक्षतभूपृष्ठस्सटाक्षेपधुतांबुदः । द्रुतविक्रांतचंद्रार्कमार्गो गोपानुपाद्रवत्
He, with hooves that wounded the earth, clouds scattered by his tail's motion, and rushing along the paths of moon and sun, charged at the cowherds.
तस्य हेषितशब्देन गोपाला दैत्यवाजिनः । गोप्यश्च भयसंविग्ना गोविंदं शरणं ययुः
At the sound of his neighing, the cowherds and the demon-horse's grooms, as well as the frightened cowherd women, sought refuge in Govinda.
त्राहित्राहीति गोविंदः श्रुत्वा तेषां ततो वचः । सतोयजलदध्वानगंभीरमिदमुक्तवान्
Hearing their cries of 'Save us, save us!' Govinda, with a voice deep as thunderclouds, spoke these words.
अलं त्रासेन गोपालाः केशिनः किं भयातुरैः । भवद्भिर्गोपजातीयैर्वीरवीर्यं विलोप्यते
Enough of fear, cowherds! Why be so afraid of Keśī? Among you, born of cowherds, courage is lost through fear.
किमनेनाल्पसारेण हेषिताटोपकारिणा । दैतेयबलवाह्येन वल्गता दुष्टवाजिना
What is there in this lowly creature, whose neighing only causes alarm, this demon-powered, wicked horse leaping about?
एह्येहि दुष्ट कृष्णोऽहं पूष्णस्त्विव पिनाकधृत् । पातयिष्यामि दशनान्वदनादखिलांस्तव
Come, come, wicked one! I am Krishna, like Pinaka-wielder for Pūṣan; I will strike down all your teeth from your mouth.
इत्युक्त्वाऽस्फोट्य गोविंदः केशिनस्संमुखं ययौ । विवृतास्यश्च सोप्येनं दैतेयाश्व उपाद्रवत्
Having spoken thus and clapped his hands, Govinda advanced toward Keśī; with mouth wide open, the demon-horse rushed at him.
बाहुमाभोगिनं कृत्वा मुखे तस्य जनार्दनः । प्रवेशयामास तदा केशिनो दुष्टवाजिनः
Janardana, making his arm serpent-like, then inserted it into the mouth of Keśī, the wicked horse.
केशिनो वदनं तेन विशता कृष्णबाहुना । शातिता दशनाः पेतुः सिताब्भ्रावयवा इव
As Krishna's arm entered Keśī's mouth, his teeth were shattered and fell, like fragments of white clouds.
कृष्णस्य ववृधे बाहुः केशिदेहगतो द्विज । विनाशाय यथा व्याधिरासंभूतेरुपेक्षितः
Krishna's arm, dwelling within Keśī's body, grew in strength, just as a disease increases when neglected, O twice-born.
विपाटितोष्ठो बहुलं सफेनं रुधिरं वमन् । सोक्षिणी विवृते चक्रे विशिष्टे मुक्तबंधने
His lips split open, he vomited much blood mixed with foam; his eyes rolled, and his jaws, freed from restraint, gaped wide.
जघान धरणीं पादैश्शकृन्मूत्रं समुत्सृजन् । स्वेदार्द्र गात्रश्शांतश्च निर्यत्नस्सोऽभवत्तदा
Struck down, he released dung and urine upon the ground with his feet; his body drenched in sweat, subdued and exhausted, he became powerless.
व्यादितास्यमहारंध्रस्सोऽसुरः कृष्णबाहुना । निपातितो द्विधा भूमौ वैद्युतेन यथा द्रुमः
That demon, his mouth and great cavity agape, was struck down by Krishna's arm and fell split in two upon the earth, like a tree struck by lightning.
द्विपादे पृष्ठपुच्छार्द्धे श्रवणैकाक्षिनासिके । केशिनस्ते द्विधा भूते शकले द्वे विरेजतुः
Of the horse, with its two legs, half its back and tail, one ear, eye, and nostril, when split in two, the two halves shone forth.
हत्वा तु केशिनं कृष्णो गोपलैर्मुदितैर्वृतः । अनायस्ततनुस्स्वस्थो हसंस्तत्रैव तस्थिवान्
Having slain Keshi, Krishna, surrounded by joyful cowherds, stood there at ease, his body unwearied and his mind at peace, smiling.
ततो गोप्यश्च गोपाश्च हते केशिनि विस्मिताः । तुष्टुवुः पुंडरीकाक्षमनुरागमनोरमम्
Then the cowherd women and men, astonished at Keshi's death, praised the lotus-eyed one, delightful in his affection.
अथाहांतर्हितो विप्र नारदो जलदे स्थितः । केशिनं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हर्षनिर्भरमानसः
Then I, O sage, Narada, hidden and standing in the clouds, saw Keshi slain and my heart was filled with joy.
साधुसाधु जगन्नाथ लीलयैव यदच्युत । निहतोऽयं त्वया केशी क्लेशदस्त्रिदिवौकसाम्
Well done, well done, Lord of the world! By your play alone, O Achyuta, this Keshi, who brought suffering to the gods, has been slain by you.
युद्धोत्सुकोहमत्यर्थं नरवाजिमहाहवम् । अभूतपूर्वमन्यत्र द्रष्टुं स्वर्गादिहागतः
Eager for battle, I came here from heaven to witness this great, unprecedented contest of men and horses.
कर्माण्यऽत्रावतारे ते कृतानि मधुसूदन । यानि तैर्विस्मितं चेतस्तोषमेतेन मे गतम्
The deeds you have performed in this descent, O slayer of Madhu, have filled my mind with wonder and satisfaction.
तुरंगस्यास्य शक्रोपि कृष्ण देवाश्च बिभ्यति । धुतकेसरजालस्य ह्रेषतोऽभ्रावलोकिनः
Even Indra and the gods were afraid of this horse, O Krishna, as he shook his mane and neighed, gazing up at the clouds.
यस्मात्त्वयैष दुष्टात्मा हतः केशी जनार्दन । तस्मात्केशवनाम्ना त्वं लोके ख्यातो भविष्यसि
Because you have slain this wicked Keshi, O Janardana, you will therefore be renowned in the world by the name 'Kesava.'
स्वस्त्यस्तु ते गमिष्यामि कंसयुद्धेऽधुना पुनः । परश्वोऽहं समेष्यामि त्वया केशिनिषूदन
May all be well with you; I shall go now, and will return again at the battle with Kamsa. Tomorrow I will come to you, O slayer of Keshi.
उग्रसेनसुते कंसे सानुगे विनिपातिते । भारावतारकर्त्ता त्वं पृथिव्या पृथिवीधर
When Kamsa, son of Ugrasena, is slain along with his followers, you, upholder of the earth, will be the one who relieves the burden of the world.
तत्रानेकप्रकाराणि युद्धानि पृथिवीक्षिताम् । द्रष्टव्यानि मया युष्मत्प्रणीतानि जनार्दन
There, many kinds of battles, wondrous to behold, will be led by you, O Janardana, and I must witness them.
सोऽहं यास्यामि गोविंद देवकार्यं महत्कृतम् । त्वयैव विदितं सर्वं स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु व्रजाम्यहम्
So now I go, O Govinda; a great task for the gods has been accomplished. All is known to you; may good fortune be yours, I take my leave.