इतुक्त्वा तदूगृहात् कृष्णो बलदेवसहायवान् । निर्ज्जगाम मुनिश्वेष्ठ! मालाकारेण पूजितः ।। ५-१९-
Having spoken thus, Krishna, accompanied by Balarama, departed from that place, honored by the garland-maker, O best of sages!
श्रीपराशर उवाच। राजमार्गे ततः कृष्णस्सानुलेपनभाजनाम् । ददर्श कुब्जामायांतीं नवयौवनगोचराम्
Śrī Parāśara said: Then, on the royal road, Krishna saw Kubja approaching, carrying vessels of ointment, radiant in the bloom of youth.
तामाह ललितं कृष्णः कस्येदमनुलेपनम् । भवत्या नीयते सत्यं वदेंदीवरलोचने
Krishna spoke sweetly to her: 'For whom is this ointment being carried by you? Tell me truly, lotus-eyed one.'
सकामेनेव सा प्रोक्ता सानुरागा हरिं प्रति । प्राह सा ललितं कुब्जा तद्दर्शनबलात्कृता
She, as if desiring him and full of affection for Hari, replied sweetly—Kubja, compelled by the power of seeing him.
कांत कस्मान्न जानासि कंसेन विनियोजिताम् । नैकवक्रेति विख्यातामनुलेपनकर्मणि
'Dear one, do you not know? I am appointed by Kamsa, renowned as Trivakra, for the work of preparing ointments.'
नान्यपिष्टं हि कंसस्य प्रीतये ह्यनुलेपनम् । भवाम्यहमतीवास्य प्रसादधनभाजनम्
'No other ointment is desired by Kamsa for his pleasure; I am indeed the chief recipient of his favor and wealth.'
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। सुगंधमेतद्रा जार्हं रुचिरं रुचिरानने । आवयोर्गात्र सदृशं दीयतामनुलेपनम्
Śrī Krishna said: 'This ointment is fragrant and worthy, O beautiful-faced one. Let ointment suitable for our bodies be given to us.'
श्रीपराशर उवाच। श्रुत्वैतदाह सा कुब्जा गृह्यतामिति सादरम् । अनुलेपनं च प्रददौ गात्रयोग्यमथोभयोः
Śrī Parāśara said: Hearing this, Kubja respectfully said, 'Take it,' and gave ointment suitable for both their bodies.
भक्तिच्छेदानुलिप्तांगौ ततस्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ । सेंद्र चापौ व्यराजेतां सितकृष्णाविवांबुदौ
Then those two foremost of men, their bodies smeared with the dust of devotion, shone forth with bows in hand, one white and one black, like two clouds in the sky.
ततस्तां चुबुके शौरिरुल्लापन विधानवित् । उत्पाट्य तोलयामास द्व्यंगुलेनाग्रपाणिना
Thereafter, Śauri, skilled in the art of healing, grasped her chin and, with the tips of his fingers, lifted and gently moved it.
चकर्ष पद्भ्यां च तदा ऋजुत्वं केशवोऽनयत् । ततस्सा ऋजुतां प्राप्ता योषितामभवद्वरा
Then Keśava drew her upright with his feet, restoring her straightness; thus she attained beauty, becoming the best among women.
विलासललितं प्राह प्रेमगर्भभरालसम् । वस्त्रे प्रगृह्य गोविंदं मम गेहं व्रजेति वै
With playful charm, overflowing with the weight of love, she spoke, taking Govinda by his garment: 'Come to my house.'
एवमुक्तस्तया शौरी रामस्यालोक्य चाननम् । प्रहस्य कुब्जां तामाह नैकवक्रामनिंदिताम्
Thus addressed by her, Śauri, seeing Rāma's face, laughed and spoke to Kubjā, who was no longer crooked nor to be scorned.
आयास्ये भवतीगेहमिति तां प्रहसन्हरिः । विससर्ज जहासोच्चै रामस्यालोक्य चाननम्
Hari, laughing, said to her, 'I will come to your house,' and then dismissed her, laughing loudly as he looked at Rāma's face.
भक्तिभेदानुलिप्तांगौ नीलपीतांबरौ तु तौ । धनुश्शालां ततो यातौ चित्रमाल्योपशोभितौ
With bodies smeared by the dust of devotion, clad in blue and yellow garments, those two proceeded to the bow-hall, adorned with splendid garlands.
आयागं तद्धनूरत्नं ताभ्यां पृष्टैस्तु रक्षिभिः । आख्याते सहसा कृष्णो गृहीत्वा पूरयद्धनुः
When the two were asked by the guards about the precious bow, Krishna quickly took it and began to string the bow.
ततः पूरयता तेन भज्यमानं बलाद्धनुः । चकार सुमहच्छब्दं मथुरा येन पूरिता
As he strung it with force, the bow broke and made a tremendous sound, filling Mathurā with its echo.
अनुयुक्तौ ततस्तौ तु भग्ने धनुषि रक्षिभिः । रक्षिसैन्यं निहत्योभौ निष्क्रांतौ कार्मुकालयात्
Then, when the bow was broken, the two were challenged by the guards; having slain the guard troops, both departed from the bow-hall.
अक्रूरागमवृत्तांतमुपलभ्य महद्धनुः । भग्नं श्रुत्वा च कंसोऽपि प्राह चाणूरमुष्टिकौ
Learning of Akrūra's arrival and hearing that the great bow had been broken, Kaṃsa spoke to Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika.
कंस उवाच। गोपालदारकौ प्राप्तौ भवद्भ्यां तु ममाग्रतः । मल्लयुद्धेन हंतव्यौ मम प्राणहरौ हि तौ
Kaṃsa said: 'The cowherd boys have come before me; you must kill them in wrestling, for they threaten my life.'
नियुद्धे तद्विनाश्नो भवद्भ्यां तोषितो ह्यहम् । दास्याम्यभिमतान्कामान्नान्यथैतौ महाबलौ
'If you destroy them in combat, I will be pleased and grant you whatever desires you wish; otherwise, these two are exceedingly strong.'
न्यायतोन्यायतो वापि भवद्भ्यां तौ ममाहितौ । हंताव्यौ तद्वधाद्रा ज्यं सामान्यं वां भविष्यति
'Whether by fair means or foul, those two, my enemies, must be killed by you; from their death, you will gain fame or a common reward.'
इत्यादिश्य स तौ मल्लौ ततश्चाहूय हस्तिपम् । प्रोवाचोच्चैस्त्वया मल्लसमाजद्वारि कुंजरः
Having thus instructed the wrestlers, he summoned the elephant keeper and loudly ordered, 'Let the elephant stand at the entrance to the wrestling arena.'
स्थाप्यः कुवलयापीडस्तेन तौ गोपदारकौ । घातनीयौ नियुद्धाय रंगद्वारमुपागतौ
'Kuvalayāpīḍa must be stationed there, and those cowherd boys, arriving at the arena gate for combat, must be killed.'
तमप्याज्ञाप्य दृष्ट्वा च सर्वान्मंचानुपाकृतान् । आसन्न मरणः कंसः सूर्योदयमुदैक्षत
After ordering him and seeing all the seats prepared, Kaṃsa, close to death, watched for the sunrise.
ततः समस्तमंचेषु नागरस्स तदा जनः । राजमंचेषु चारूढास्सह भृत्यैर्नराधिपाः
Then, upon all the seats, the citizens gathered, and the kings, along with their attendants, took their places on the royal seats.
मल्लप्राश्निकवर्गश्च रंगमध्यसमीपगः । कृतः कंसेन कंसोऽपि तुंगमंचे व्यवस्थितः
The group of wrestlers and spectators, positioned near the center of the arena, was arranged by Kaṃsa; Kaṃsa himself stood upon a lofty platform.
अंतःपुराणां मंचाश्च तथाऽन्ये परिकल्पिताः । अन्ये च वारमुख्यानामन्ये नागरयोषिताम्
Platforms for the women of the inner chambers were likewise prepared, as well as others for the chief courtesans and for the city women.
नंदगोपादयो गोपा मंचेष्वन्येष्ववस्थिताः । अक्रूरवसुदेवौ च मंचप्रांते व्यवस्थितौ
Nanda, the cowherds, and others were stationed on different platforms; Akrūra and Vasudeva stood at the edge of the platform.
नागरीयोषितां मध्ये देवकीपुत्रगर्द्धिनी । अंतकालेऽपि पुत्रस्य द्रक्ष्यामीति मुखं स्थिता
Among the city women was one, longing to see Devakī’s son, who, even at the final moment, kept her face fixed, thinking, 'I will see my son.'