Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha pa~nchaviMsho.adhyAyaH
    akrUrAgamanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 25 - Akrura Arrives
vaishampAyana uvAcha
athAstaM gachChati tada mandarashmau divAkare |
saMdhyAraktatale vyomni shashA~Nke pANDumaNDale ||2-25-1
vaishaMpAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) As sun was setting, with its rays weakened, as the sky was becoming red in the evening, as the moon was becoming white,
nIDastheShu viha~NgeShu satsu prAduShkR^itAgniShu |
IShattamaHsaMvR^ItAsu dikShu sarvAsu sarvashaH ||2-25-2
as the birds were nesting, as the good people were performing oblations to the fire, as the darkness descended covering all directions,
ghoShavAsiShu supteshu vAshantIShu shivAsu cha |
naktaMchareShu hR^iShTeShu pishitAshanakA~NkShiShu ||2-25-3
as the residents of vraja were sleeping, as the jackals were howling, as those moving in the night (naktaMchara) were happy looking forward to eat flesh,
shakragopAhvayAmode pradoshe.abhyAsataskare |
saMdhyAmayImiva guhaM saMpratiShThe divAkare ||2-25-4
as the indragopa insects (shakragopa) became happy, as the recital of Vedas come to an end in the evening, as the sun was entering the cave of twilight,
adhishrayaNavelAyAM prAptAyAM gR^ihamedhinAm |
vanyairvaikhAnasairmantrairhUyamAne hutAshane ||2-25-5
as the time for offering oblation to the fire approached for householders, as the elderly people who retired as householders (vAnaprasthas) offered oblation to the fire in the evening,
upAvR^ittAsu vai goShu duhyamAnAsu cha vraje |
asakR^idvyAharantIShu baddhavatsAsu dhenuShu ||2-25-6
as the cows returned to the cowsheds in vraja and were milked, as the cows bellowed when the calves were tied up,
prakIrNadAmanIkeShu gAstathaivAhvayatsu cha |
saninAdeShu gopeShu kAlyamAne cha godhane ||2-25-7
as the cows were untied and called and as the gopa-s gathered the cows, making sounds,
karISheShu prakL^ipteShu dIpyamAneShu sarvashaH |
kAShThabhArAnataskandhairgopairabhyAgataistathA ||2-25-8
as the dried cowdung was heaped and burned around, as the gopa-s returned carrying firewood on their shoulder,
ki~nchidabhyudyate some mandarashmau virAjati |
IShadvigAhamAnAyAM rajanyAM divase gate ||2-25-9
as the moon rose a little and as the moonlight began to spread, as the day ended completely and the night began,
prApte dinavyuparame pravR^itte kShaNadAmukhe |
bhAskare tejasi gate saumye tejasyupasthite ||2-25-10
as the day ended and the night started, as the sun's splendour ended and the moon's splendour began,
agnihotrAkule kAle saumyendau samupasthite |
agnIShomAtmake saMdhau vartamAne jaganmaye ||2-25-11
as the time for offering oblation to the fire was drenched in the cool moonlight, as the entire world was performing oblation to fire in the twilight,
pashchimenAgnidIptena pUrveNotpalavarchasA |
dagdhAdrisadR^ishe vyomni ki~nchittArAgaNAkule ||2-25-12
as the west appeared in bright red as if on fire, as the east appeared in blue and as the sky looked like a hill on fire with a few stars twinkling,
vayobhirvAsamushatAM bandhubhishcha samAgamam |
shaMsadbhiH syandanenAshu prApto dAnapatirvrajam ||2-25-13
as the flocks of birds flying to their nests indicated sign of meeting with relatives, the dAnapati (akrUra) reached vraja in the chariot.
pravishanneva paprachCha sAnnidhyaM keshavasya saH |
rauhiNeyasya chAkrUro nandagopasya chAsakR^it ||2-25-14
As he entered, akrUra inquired about the residences of keshava, the son of rohiNi (balarAma) and nandagopa.
sa nandagopasya gR^ihaM vAsAya vibudhopamaH |
avatIrya tato yAnAtpravivesha mahAbalaH ||2-25-15
The powerful akrUra, dazzling like a god, left his chariot to stay in the house of nandagopa.
harShapUrNena vaktreNa sAshrunetreNa chaiva hi |
pravishanneva cha dvAri dadarshAdohane gavAm ||2-25-16
vatsamadhye sthitaM kR^iShNaM savatsamiva govR^iSham |
As he entered with a happy face and eyes shredding tears of joy, at the entrance of the shed for milking the cows, he saw kR^iShNa surrounded by calves, looking like a bull with calves.
sa taM harShaparItena vachasA gadgadena vai ||2-25-17
ehi keshava tAteti pravyAharata dharmavit |
He (akrUra), the righteous soul, called him with words faltering with happiness: "Come my son keshava!"
uttAnashAyinaM dR^iShTvA punardR^iShTvA shriyA vR^itam ||2-25-18
avyaktayauvanam kR^iShnamakrUraH prashashaMsa ha |
visualising the auspicious kR^iShNa as a child, lying on his back (sucking his toe, on a banyan leaf floating on the surface of water in the deluge at the end of the era - see nIlakaNTha commentary), akrUra praised kR^iShNa again and again.
ayaM sa puNDarIkAkShaH simhashArdUlavikramaH ||2-25-19
He is the one with lotus eyes, valiant as a lion and tiger.
saMpUrNajalameghAbhaH parvatapravarAkR^itiH |
mR^idheShvadharShaNIyena sashrIvatsena vakShasA |
His colour is like a rain cloud full of water. His body is like a great mountain. His chest is adorned with the auspicious mark of shrIvatsa. He is undefeatable in war.
dviShannidhanadakShAbhyAM bhujAbhyAM sAdhu bhUShitaH ||2-25-20
He is adorned with arms which destroy the enemies in the war.
mUrtimAnsa rahasyAtmA jagato.agryasya bhAjanam |
gopaveShadharo viShNurudagrAgryatanUruhaH ||2-25-21
He, with incomprehensible soul, has appeared in body. He is worshipped by the entire universe. He is viShNu appearing as a gopa. The hair on his body stands on end (seeing his devotees)
kirITalA~nChanenApi shirasA ChatravarchasA |
kuNDalottamayogyAbhyAM shravaNAbhyAM vibhUShitaH ||2-25-22
He dazzles with a head having the sign of crown and the shape of an umbrella and ears fit for best ear-rings.
hArArheNa cha pInena suvistIrNena vakShasA |
dvAbhyAM bhujAbhyAM vR^ittAbhyAM dIrghAbhyAmupashobhitaH ||2-25-23
His chest is broad suitable for garlands. He shines with two long and round arms.
strIsahasropacharyeNa vapuShA manmathAdhinA |
pIte vasAno vasane so.ayaM viShNuH sanAtanaH ||2-25-24
He is viShNu the eternal, wearing yellow dress with a beautiful body blessed by cupid (manmatha) and worshipped by a thousand women.
dharaNyAshrayabhUtAbhyAM charaNAbhyAmarindamaH |
trailokyAkrAntibhUtAbhyAM bhuvi padbhyAM vyavasthitaH ||2-25-25
He, the destroyer of enemies, stands on earth with his auspicious two feet, which is the shelter of the earth and which measured the three worlds.
ruchirAgrakarashchAsya chakrA~Nkita ivekShate |
dvitIya udyatashchApi gadAsaMyogamichChati ||2-25-26
His best (right) hand is suitable for holding the weapon, wheel (chakra). His second (left) hand is suitable for holding the mace.
avatIrNo bhavAyeha prathamaM padamAtmanaH |
shobhate.adya bhuvi shreShThastridashAno dhurandharaH ||2-25-27
He has appeared for the welfare of this world. Now he, the best among the gods, shines on earth.
ayaM bhaviShye kathito bhaviShyakushalairnaraiH |
gopAlo yAdavaM vaMshaM kShINaM vistArayiShyati ||2-25-28
Those who are experts in predicting future have foretold his appearance. This cow tender will revive the weakening yadu dynasty and expand it.
tejasA yAdavAshchAsya shatasho.atha sahasrashaH |
vaMshamApUrayiShyanti hyoghA iva mahArNavam ||2-25-29
Hundreds of thousands of yAdava-s will flourish due to his power like streams enriching the ocean.
asyedaM shAsane sarvaM jagatsthAsyati shAshvatam |
nihatAmitrasAmantaM sphItaM kR^itayuge tathA ||2-25-30
For a long time, the world will be maintained by him. All sinful people will be vanquished and the world will become peaceful as it was in the era of kR^ita.
ayamAsthAya vasudhAM sthApayitvA jagadvashe |
rAj~nAM bhaviShyatyupari na cha rAjA bhaviShyati ||2-25-31
He will live on earth, keeping it under his control. He will conquer all the kings but he will not become a king.
nUnaM tribiH kramairjitvA yathAnena prabhuH kR^itaH |
purA purandaro rAjA devatAnAM triviShTape ||2-25-32
Long ago the lord won the world with three steps and made purandara (indra) the king of gods in heaven.
tathaiva vasudhAM jitvA jitapUrvAM tribhiH kramaiH |
sthApayiShyati rAjAnamugrasenaM na saMshayaH ||2-25-33
Without doubt, he will install ugrasena as king in the same way he won the earth long ago with three steps.
prasR^iShTavairagAdho.ayaM prashnaishcha bahubhiH shrutaH |
brAhmaNAirbrahmavAdaishcha purANo.ayaM hi gIyate ||2-25-34
He is the same brahmavAda pronounced by brahmins, sung by purANA-s and widely heard during (discussion of) many issues. He has appeared to remove the envy and hatred that has spread everywhere.
spR^ihaNIyo hi lokasya bhaviShyati cha keshavaH |
tathA hyasyotthitA buddhirmAnuShyamupajIvitum ||2-25-35
This keshava is to be desired by the world. It is our good fortune that he has human intellect in that manner.
ahaM tvasyAdya vasatiM pUjayiShye yathAvidhi |
viShNutvaM manasA chaiva pUjayiShyAmi mantravat ||2-25-36
I will worship his residence in the ordained manner. I will worship the state of being viShNu mentally by chanting mantra-s.
yachcha j~nAtiparij~nAnaM prAdurbhAvashcha vai nR^iShu |
amAnuShaM vedmi chainaM ye chAnye divyachakShuShaH ||2-25-37
I see his prAdurbhAva (incarnation) as a man. I realize his knowledge of relatives. I understand him as a superhuman being. Others with divine vision also realize this.
so.ahaM kR^iShNena vai rAtrau saMmantrya viditAtmanA |
sahAnena gamiShyAmi savrajo yadi maMsyate ||2-25-38
In the night, I will explain everything to kR^iShNa, who knows the soul. If the entire vraja agrees, I will go (to mathura) with him.
evaM bahuvidhaM kR^iShNaM dR^iShTvA hetvarthakAraNaiH |
vivesha nandagopasya kR^iShNena saha saMsadam ||2-25-39
In this manner, visualising kR^iShNa through many causes, meanings and reasons, akrUra entered the residence of nandagopa along with kR^iShNa.
iti srImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi akrUrAgamane pa~nchaviMsho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the twenty-fifth chapter of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrimahAbhArata, akrUra arrives.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
pa~nchaviMshe tvayadhyAye kR^iShNasmaraNaviklavaH |
nAnAbhilASha AyAtaH sAyaM vrajamitIryate || 1 ||
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM pa~nchaviMsho.adhyAyaH
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca June 5, 2008
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
September 19, 2009 ##