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.'
वाद्यमानेषु तूर्येषु चाणूरे चातिवल्गति । हाहाकारपरे लोके ह्यास्फोटयति मुष्टिके
As the instruments played and Cāṇūra leapt about, the crowd, filled with shouts and cries, watched as Muṣṭika struck his hands together.
ईषद्धसंतौ तौ वीरौ बलभद्र जनार्दनौ । गोपवेषधरौ बालौ रंगद्वारमुपागतौ
Then those two heroes, Balabhadra and Janārdana, slightly smiling, dressed as cowherds and still boys, approached the entrance of the arena.
ततः कुवलयापीडो महामात्रप्रचोदितः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन हंतुं गोपकुमारकौ
Then Kuvalayāpīḍa, urged on by the chief mahout, rushed swiftly to kill the two cowherd boys.
हाहाकारो महाञ्जज्ञे रंगमध्ये द्विजोत्तम । बलदेवोऽनुजं दृष्ट्वा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
A great uproar arose in the midst of the arena, O best of twice-born; seeing his younger brother, Baladeva spoke these words:
हंतव्यो हि महाभाग नागोऽयं शत्रुचोदितः
This elephant, O greatly fortunate one, incited by the enemy, must be slain.
इत्युक्तस्सोऽग्रजेनाथ बलदेवेन वै द्विज । सिंहनादं ततश्चक्रे माधवः परवीरहा
Thus addressed by his elder, Baladeva, O brāhmaṇa, Mādhava, destroyer of enemy heroes, then let out a lion’s roar.
करेण करमाकृष्य तस्य केशिनिषूदनः । भ्रामयामास तं शौरिरैरावतसमं बले
Grasping the elephant’s trunk with his hand, Keśini’s slayer, the mighty Śauri, whirled him about with strength equal to Airāvata.
ईशोपि सर्वजगतां बाललीलानुसारतः । क्रीडित्वा सुचिरं कृष्णः करिदंतपदांतरे
The Lord of all worlds, following the play of childhood, Krishna sported for a long time between the elephant’s tusks.
उत्पाट्य वामदंतं तु दक्षिणेनैव पाणिना । ताडयामास यंतारं तस्यासीच्छतधा शिरः
Then, tearing out the left tusk with his right hand, he struck the mahout, whose head was instantly shattered into a hundred pieces.
दक्षिणं दंतमुत्पाट्य बलभद्रो ऽपि तत्क्षणात् । स रोषस्तेन पार्श्वस्थान् गजपालानपोथयत्
At that moment, Balabhadra also tore out the right tusk and, enraged, struck the elephant keepers standing nearby.