शम्बरेण ह्टतो वीरः प्रद्यु म्रः स कथं मुने ! शम्बरश्व महावीर्य्यः प्रद्यु म्नेन कथं हतः ।। ५-२७-
O sage, how was the heroic Pradyumna, seized by Shambara, and how did Pradyumna slay the mighty Shambara?
पराशर उवाच । षष्ठेऽह्नि जातमात्रन्तु प्रद्युम्र सूतिकागृहात् । ममैष हन्तेति मुने! ह्टतवान् कालशम्बरः ।। ५-२७-
Parāśara said: On the sixth day after his birth, Pradyumna was taken from the lying-in chamber by Kālaśambara, who thought, 'I must kill him.'
ह्टत्वा चिक्षेप चैवैनं ग्राहोग्र लवणार्णावे । कल्लोलजनितावर्त्ते सुघोरे मकरालये ।। ५-२७-
After seizing him, Kālaśambara cast him into the fierce, salty ocean, into the dreadful domain of sea-monsters, where the waves create terrifying whirlpools.
पतितं तत्र चैवैको मत्स्यो जग्राह बालकम् । न ममार च तस्यापि जठरेऽनलदीपितः ।। ५-२७-
There, a single fish swallowed the boy as he fell, but even in its belly, inflamed by digestive fire, he did not die.
मतूस्यबन्धश्व मत्स्योऽसौ मत्स्यैरन्यैः सह द्रिज ! घातितोऽसुरवर्य्याय शम्बराय निवेदितः ।। ५-२७-
That fish, caught together with other fish by fishermen, was killed and presented to the great asura Shambara.
तस्य मायावती नाम पत्री सर्व्वगृहेश्वरी । कारयामास सूदानामाधिपत्यमनिन्दिता ।। ५-२७-
In Shambara's house, there was a woman named Māyāvatī, mistress of all the kitchens, who was faultless and managed the cooks.
दारिते मत्स्यजठरे सा ददर्शातिशोभनम् । कुमारं मन्मथतरोर्दग्धस्य प्रथमाङ्कुरम् ।। ५-२७-
When the fish's belly was cut open, she saw a most beautiful boy, the first sprout of the god of love, who had been burned before.
कोऽयं कथमयं मत्स्यजठरं समुपागतः । इत्येवं कौतुकाविष्टां तां तन्वीं प्राह नारादः ।। ५-२७-
Filled with wonder, she thought, 'Who is this, and how has he come into the fish's belly?' At that moment, the slender woman was addressed by Nārada.
अयं समस्तजगतः सूतिसंहारकारिणा । शम्बरेण ह्टतः कृष्णृ-तनयः सूतिकागृहात् ।। ५-२७-
This is Krishna's son, taken from the lying-in chamber by Shambara, the destroyer of offspring throughout the worlds.
क्षिप्तः समुद्र मत्स्येन निगीर्णास्ते वशं गतः । नररत्रमिदं सुभ्रू विस्त्रब्धा परिपालय ।। ५-२७-
Thrown into the ocean, swallowed by a fish, he has come under your care. O beautiful-browed one, confidently protect this boy.
नारदेनैवमुक्ता सा पालयामास तं शिशुम् । बाल्यादेवातिरागेण रूपातिशयमोहिता ।। ५-२७-
Thus instructed by Nārada, she raised the child, who from childhood captivated her with his extraordinary beauty.
स यदा यौवनाभोग-भूषितोऽभून्महामते! साभिलाषा तदा साति बभूव गजगामिनी ।। ५-२७-
O wise one, when he reached the adornment of youth, the elephant-gaited woman became filled with longing for him.
मायावती ददौ तस्म मायाः सर्व्वा महामुन ! प्रद्यु म्रायातिरागान्धा तन्नयस्तह्टदयेक्षणा ।। ५-२७-
Māyāvatī, blinded by intense passion for Pradyumna, bestowed upon him all her magical arts, her gaze fixed only on him.
प्रसज्जन्तीन्तु तामाह स कार्ष्णिः कमलेक्षणाम् । मातृभावमपाहाय किमेवं वर्त्तसेऽन्यथा ।। ५-२७-
As she became attached, the son of Krishna, lotus-eyed, said to her, 'Why do you behave otherwise, abandoning a mother's attitude?'
सा चास्मै कथयामास न पुत्रस्त्वं ममेति वै । तनयं त्वामयं विष्णोह्ट तवान् कालशम्बरः ।। ५-२७-
She told him, 'You are not my son; rather, you are the son of Vishnu. This Kālaśambara is your enemy.'
क्षिप्तः समुद्र मत्स्यस्य सम्प्राप्तो जठरान्मया । सा तु रोदिति ते माता कान्ताद्याप्यतिवत्सला ।। ५-२७-
Thrown into the ocean, you were swallowed by a fish and then found by me. Yet your mother, ever affectionate, still weeps for you.
इत्युक्तः शम्बरं युद्धे प्रद्यु म्रः स समाह्वयत् । क्रोधाकुलीकृतमना युयुधे च महाबलः ।। ५-२७-
Hearing this, Pradyumna challenged Śambara to battle, his mind inflamed with anger, and fought with great strength.
हत्वा सैन्यमशेषन्तु तस्य दैत्यस्य माधविः । सप्त माया व्यतिक्रम्य मायां प्रयुयुजेऽशष्टमीम् ।। ५-२७-
Having destroyed the entire army of that demon, Mādhava overcame seven magical illusions and employed the eighth.
तया जघान तं दैत्यं मायया कालशम्बरम् । उत्पत्य च तया सार्द्धमाजगाम पितुर्गृहम् ।। ५-२७-
With that magic, he slew the demon Kālaśambara, and then, together with her, departed for his father's house.
अन्तः परे निपतितं मायावत्या समन्वितम् । तं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णसंकल्पा बभूवुः कृष्णयोषितः ।। ५-२७-
When they saw him, accompanied by Māyāvatī, who had entered the inner chambers, the women of Krishna were filled with Krishna's resolve.
रुक्मिणी चावदत् प्रेमूणा प्रम्णा साश्रुदृष्टिरनिन्दिता । धन्यायाः खल्वयं पुत्रो वर्त्तते नवयौवने ।। ५-२७-
Rukmiṇī, pure and blameless, spoke with loving emotion and tearful eyes: 'This son of mine, blessed, stands in the prime of youth.'
अस्मिन् वयसि पुत्रो मे प्रद्यु म्रो यदि जीवति । सभाग्या जननी वतूस! त्वया कापि विभूषिता ।। ५-२७-
If my son Pradyumna lives at this age, then his mother is indeed fortunate, adorned by you, O youth.
अथवा यादृशः स्नेहो मम यादृगू वपुस्तव । हरेरपत्यं सुव्यक्त भवान् वत्स!भविष्यति ।। ५-२७-
Or, as deep as my affection is, and as your form resembles mine, it is clear, dear one, that you are the child of Hari.
एतिस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राप्तः सह कृष्णेन नारदः । अन्तः पुरचरीं देवीं रुक्मिणीं प्राह हर्षयन् ।। ५-२७-
At that moment, Nārada arrived with Krishna and joyfully addressed Rukmiṇī, who was moving about the inner chambers.
एश ते तनयः सुभ्रु! हत्वा शम्बरमागतः । ह्टतो येनाभवद् बालो भवत्याः सूतिकागृहात् ।। ५-२७-
O beautiful-browed one, this is your son, who has returned after slaying Śambara; he was taken from your birthing chamber as a child.
इयं मायावती भार्य्या तनयस्यास्य ते सती । शम्बरस्य न भार्य्येयं श्रूयतामत्र कारणम् ।। ५-२७-
This Māyāvatī is the virtuous wife of your son; she is not Śambara's wife. Listen to the reason for this.
मन्मथे तु गते नाशं तदुद्भवपरायाणा । शम्बरं मोहयामास मायारूपेण रूपिणी ।। ५-२७-
When Manmatha was destroyed, she, whose purpose was his rebirth, bewildered Śambara by taking on a magical form.
व्यवायाद्यु पभोगेषु रूपं मायामयं शुभम् । दर्शयामास दैत्यस्य तस्येयं मदिरेक्षणा ।। ५-२७-
In pleasures and enjoyments, she revealed her beautiful magical form to the demon; this woman with intoxicating eyes is she.
कामोऽवतीर्णः पुत्रस्ते तस्येयं दयिता रतिः । विशङ्का नात्र कर्त्तव्या स्नुषेयं तव शोभना ।। ५-२७-
Your son is the incarnation of Kāma, and this beloved Rati is his consort. Have no doubt; this splendid woman is your daughter-in-law.
ततो हर्षसमाविष्टा रुक्मिणी केशवस्तथा । नगरी च समस्ता सा साधु साध्वित्यभाषत ।। ५-२७-
Then Rukmiṇī, filled with joy, as was Keśava, and the entire city, exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'