Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha aShTAviMsho.adhyAyaH
    kaMsasya janmAdivR^ittam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 28 - Narrations about Kamsa's birth
vaishampAyana uvAcha
sa chintayitvA dhanuSho bha~NgaM bhojavivardhanaH |
babhUva vimanA rAjA chintayanbhR^ishaduHkhitaH ||2-28-1
vaishampAyana said:
Thinking about breaking of the bow, the king who diminished (*) the glory of bhojas (kaMsa) became depressed. He was highly worried with thoughts.
(*) see nIlakaNTha commentary
kathaM bAlo vigatabhIravamatya mahAbalam |
prekShamANastu puruShairdhanurbha~NktvA vinirgataH ||2-28-2
How could the boy, without any fear, ignore the highly powerful guards? With men watching, how could he leave after breaking the bow?
yasyArthe dAruNaM karma kR^itaM lokavigarhitam |
pitR^isvasrAtmajAnvIrAnShaDevAhaM nyapothayam ||2-28-3
Is this the boy, fearing whom I did terrible deeds despised by people, such as killing the six valiant, newborn sons of my sister?
daivaM puruShakAreNa na shakyamativartitum |
nAradoktaM cha vachanaM nUnaM mahyamupasthitam ||2-28-4
It is not possible to overcome the providence by human effort. The words told by nArada are definitely going to happen.
evaM rAjA vichintyAtha niShkramya svagR^ihottamAt |
prekShAgAraM jagAmAshu ma~nchAnAmavalokakaH ||2-28-5
Thinking in this manner, the king left his best house. He went to the (wrestling) venue to look at the seating arrangements.
sa dR^iShTvA sarvanirmuktaM prekShAgAraM nR^ipottamaH |
shreNInAM dR^iDhaniryuktairma~nchavATairnirantaram ||2-28-6
There the great king saw that the (wrestling) venue was fully ready. Rows of raised platforms were erected there.
sottamAgArayuktAbhirvalabhIbhirvibhUShitam |
ChadIbhiH saMpravR^iddhAbhirekastambhairvibhUShitam ||2-28-7
There were best cabins with suitable balconies having sun shades supported on single pillar.
sarvataH sAranirvyUhaM svAyataM supratiShThitam |
udagrAkliShTasukliShTaM ma~nchArohaNamuttamam ||2-28-8
The walls were of bamboo. The arena was vast and strong. Ladders were provided to reach the platforms easily.
nR^ipAsanaparikShiptaM sa~nchArapathasa~nkulam |
ChannaM tadvedikAbhishcha mAnuShaughabharakShamam ||2-28-9
Royal seats and walkways were arranged. The stage was properly covered. The venue was capable of accommodating many groups of people.
sa dR^iShTvA bhUShitaM ra~NgamAj~nApayata buddhimAn |
Seeing the venue decorated suitably, the intelligent king ordered:
shvaH sachitrAH samAlyAshcha sapatAkAstathaiva cha ||2-28-10
suvAsitA vapuShmanta upanItottarachChadAH |
kriyantAM ma~nchavATAshcha valabhyo vIthayastathA ||2-28-11
"Tomorrow the wrestling arena and the pathways shall be decorated with pictures, garlands and flags. The canopy of the arena shall be decorated with fragrant flowers.
ra~NgavATe karIShasya kalpyantAM rAshayo.avyayAH |
paTAstaraNashobhAshcha valayashchAnurUpataH ||2-28-12
The stage shall be smeared with cow dung. The canopy shall be decorated with curtains.
sthApyantAM sunikhAtAshcha pAnakumbhA yathAkramam |
udabhArasahAH sarve sakA~nchanaghaTottamAH ||2-28-13
Drinking pots shall be arranged in order. Golden pots, full of water, shall also be provided.
valayashcopakalpyantAM kaShAyAshchaiva kumbhashaH |
prAshnikAshcha nimantryantAM shreNyashcha sapurogamAH ||2-28-14
Gifts shall be provided. Pots full of juice shall be arranged. Expert wrestlers shall be invited. Spectators shall be seated in the front.
Aj~nA cha deyA mallAnAM prekShakANAM tathaiva cha |
samAje ma~nchavATAshcha kalpyantAM sUpakalpitAH ||2-28-15
Order the wrestlers and instruct the spectators. Decorate the arena and the viewing area suitably."
evamAj~nApya rAjA sa samAjavidhimuttamam |
samAjavATAnniShkramya vivesha svaM niveshanam ||2-28-16
Thus the king ordered for providing best arrangements (for wrestling). Then he left the arena and returned to his house.
AhvAnaM tatra sa~nchakre tasya malladvayasya vai |
chANUrasyAprameyasya muShTikasya tathaiva cha ||2-28-17
After reaching there he summoned two of his wrestlers, the unconquerable chANUra and muShTika.
tau tu mallau mahAvIryau balinau bAhushAlinau |
kaMsasyAj~nAM puraskR^itya hR^iShTau vivishatustadA ||2-26-18
The wrestlers were great vIras, strong and with powerful arms. As per kaMsa's order they immediately went there happily.
tau samIpagatau dR^iShTvA mallau jagati vishrutau |
uvAcha kaMso nR^ipatiH sopanyAsamidaM vachaH ||2-28-19
Seeing that the famous wrestlers were standing before him, king kaMsa spoke to them with explanations.
bhavantau mama vikhyAtau mallau vIradhvajochChritau |
pUjitau cha yathAnyAyaM satkArArhau visheShataH ||2-28-20
"You are my famous wrestlers, flying the flag of valiancy high. You are respected accordingly. You are specially deserved to be felicitated.
tanmatto yadi satkAraH smaryate sukR^itAni cha |
kartavyaM me mahatkarma bhavadbhyAM svena tejasA ||2-28-21
If you remember my past felicitations and other favours, please do my important work with your prowess.
yAvetau mama saMvR^iddhau vraje gopAlakAvubhau |
sa~NkarShaNashcha kR^iShNashcha bAlAvapi jitashramau ||2-28-22
Those two cow tenders, sa~NkarShaNa (balarAma) and kR^iShNa grew up in my vraja. Even though they are young, they never seem to tire.
etau ra~Ngagatau yuddhe yuddhyamAnau vanecharau |
nipAtAnantaraM shIghraM hantavyau nAtra saMshayaH ||2-28-23
They live in the forest. When they fight in the arena with you, you should quickly throw them on the ground and kill them without any doubt.
bAlAvimau suchapalAvakriyAviti sarvathA |
nAvaj~nA tatra kartavyA kartavyo yatna eva hi ||2-28-24
Never think that these youths are restless and do not know wrestling. Do not underestimate them. You should exert yourself.
tAbhyAM yudhi nirastAbhyAM gopAbhyAM ra~Ngasannidhau |
AyatyAM cha tadAtve cha shreyo mama bhaviShyati ||2-28-25
If you kill these cow tenders in fight in the arena, I will get benefited for the present and future".
nR^ipateH snehasaMyuktairvachobhirhR^iShTamAnasau |
UchaturyuddhasaMmattau mallau chANUramuShTikau ||2-28-26
Hearing the affectionate words of the king, the wrestlers chANUra and muShTika, intoxicated with pride in their wrestling skills, were happy. They replied:
yadyAvayostau pramukhe sthAsyete gopakilbiShau |
hatAvityeva mantavyau pretarUpau tapasvinau ||2-28-27
"If these cow tenders, who are a disgrace to gopa-s stand before us in fight, they are as good as dead. They have already become dead bodies.
yadyAvAM pratiyotsyete tAvariShTapariplutau |
AvAbhyAM roShayuktAbhyAM pramukhe tau vane charau ||2-28-28
If we fight them directly, they will be in great trouble. We shall definitely be angry with those who live in forests."
evaM vAgviShamutsR^ijya tAvubhau mallapu~Ngavau |
anuj~nAtau narendreNa sve gR^ihe tau prajagmatuH ||2-28-29
Uttering these poisonous (insulting) words, the two leading wrestlers, as permitted by the king, returned home.
mahAmAtraM tataH kaMso babhAShe hastijIvinam |
hastI kuvalayApIDaH samAjadvAri tiShThatu || 2-28-30
Then kaMsa spoke to his mahout, mahAmAtra: "Keep the elephant kuvalayApIDa at the entrance of the arena.
balavAnmadalolAkShashchapalaH krodhano nR^iShu |
dAnotkaTakaTashchaNDaH prativAraNaroShaNaH ||2-28-31
The elephant is strong, his eyes are with mada, he is restless and angry on men. He becomes angry seeing another elephant.
sa saMnodayitavyaste tAvuddishya vanaukasau |
vasudevasutau vIrau yathA syAtAM gatAyuShau ||2-28-32
You should direct the elephant towards those residents of forest so that both the valiant sons of vasudeva shall be killed.
tvayA chaiva gajendreNA yadi tau goShThajIvinau |
bhavetAM patitau ra~Nge pashyeyamahamutkaTau ||2-28-33
I wish to see that those powerful residents of vraja are killed in the arena because of you and the elephant.
tatastau patitau dR^iShTvA vasudevaH sabAndhavaH |
ChinnamUlo nirAlambaH sabhAryo vinashiShyati ||2-28-34
Seeing that those are killed, vasudeva along with his wife and relatives will perish without any support.
ye cheme yAdavA mUrkhAH sarve kR^iShNaparAyaNAH |
vinashiShyanti chChinnnAshA dR^iShTvA kR^iShNaM nipAtitam ||2-28-35
Seeing that kR^iShNa is killed, all those ignorant yAdava-s, who are supporters of kR^iShNa shall perish losing all hope.
etau hatvA gajendreNa mallairvA svayameva vA |
purIM niryAdavIM kR^itvA vichariShyAmyahaM sukhI ||2-28-36
Killing them by elephant or wrestlers or myself and making the city devoid of yAdava-s, I shall be comfortable.
pitA hi me parityakto yAdavAnAM kulodvahaH |
sheShAshcha me parityaktA yAdavAH kR^iShNapakShiNaH ||2-28-37
I have abandoned my father, who is the benefactor of yAdava race. I have also abandoned those yAdava-s who are supporters of kR^iShNa.
na chAhamugrasenena jAtaH kila sutArthinA |
mAnuSheNAlpavIryeNa yathA mAmAha nAradaH ||2-28-38
nArada has told me that I was not born to the less valiant man ugrasena who desired to have a son.
mahAmAtra uvAcha
kathamuktaM nAradena rAjandevarShiNA purA |
AshcharymetatkathitaM tvattaH shrutamariMdama ||2-28-39
mahAmAtra said:
O king! What did the devarShi nArada tell you earlier? O killer of enemies! This is a surprise that you are telling me.
kathamanyena jAtastvamugrasenAtpiturvinA |
tava mAtrA kathaM rAjankR^itaM karmedamIdR^isham ||2-28-40
Are you born to someone else other than ugrasena as father? O king! Why did your mother do such a thing?
anyApi prAkR^itA nArI na kuryAchcha jugupsitam |
vistaraM shrotumichChAmi hyetatkautUhalaM hi me ||2-28-41
Even an ordinary woman will not do such a despicable thing. I am curious to hear this in detail.
kaMsa uvAcha
yathA kathitavAnvipro maharShirnAradaH prabhuH |
tathAhaM saMpravakShyAmi yadi te shravaNe matiH ||2-28-42
kaMsa said:
If you are interested to hear about this, I will tell you as the lord brAhmin sage nArada had told me.
AgataH shakrasadanAtsa vai shakrasakho muniH |
chandrAMshushuklavasano jaTAmaNDalamudvahan ||2-28-43
That sage, a friend of shakra (indra), had come from the abode of shakra (indra]), dressed in clothes as white as moon rays, with matted hair.
kR^iShNAjinottarIyeNa rukmayaj~nopavItavAn |
daNDI kamaNDaludharaH prajApatirivAparaH ||2-28-44
A deerskin was hung on his shoulder. He was wearing a golden sacred thread. He was looking like another prajApati carrying a stick and a water pot.
gAtA chaturNAM vedAnAM vidvAngAndharvavedavit |
sa nArado.atha devarShirbrahmalokacharo.avyayaH ||2-8-45
He sings all four veda-s. He is a scholar of music. devarShi nArada is eternal who travels in the world of brahma.
tamAgatamR^iShiM dR^iShTvA pUjayitvA yathAvidhi |
pAdyArghamAsanaM dattvA sampraveshyopavishya ha ||2-28-46
Seeing the sage who arrived, I received and worshipped him as ordained. I offered him pAdya and arghya, offered him a seat and took him inside.
sukhopaviShTo.atha muniH pR^iShTvA cha kushalaM mama |
uvAcha cha prItamanA devarShirbhAvitAtmavAn ||2-28-47
After being seated comfortably, the sage enquired about me. The sage with blessed soul was pleased and told me as follows:
nArada uvAcha
pUjito.ahaM tvayA vIra vidhidR^iShTena karmaNA |
idamekaM mama vachaH shrUyatAM pratigR^ihyatAm ||2-28-48
nArada said:
"You have worshipped me as ordained. Listen to my words and accept them.
gato.ahaM devasadanaM sauvarNaM meruparvatam |
so.ahaM kadAchiddevAnAM samAje merumUrdhani ||2-28-49
I had gone to the residence of deva-s in the golden meru mountain. I was present once in the assembly of deva-s on the top of meru.
tatra mantryatAmevaM devatAnAM mayA shrutaH |
bhavataH sAnugasyaiva vadhopAyaH sudAruNaH ||2-28-50
There, I heard the deva-s discussing about terrible methods of killing you and your associates.
tatra yo devakIgarbho viShNurlokanamask^itaH |
yo.asyA garbho.aShTamaH kaMsa sa te mR^ityurbhaviShyati ||2-28-51
vishNu, worshipped by the world will become devakI's conception. Kamsa, her eighth conception will be the cause of your death.
devAnAM sa tu sarvasvaM tridivasya gatishcha saH |
paraM rahasyaM devAnAM sa te mR^ityurbhaviShyati ||2-28-52
He will be the protector of deva-s and the shelter of heavenly bodies. He, the supreme secret of deva-s will be the cause of your death.
yatnashcha kriyatAM kaMsa garbhANAM pAtanaM prati |
nAvaj~nA ripave kAryA durbale svajane.api vA ||2-28-53
kaMsa, make efforts to destroy the conceptions. Do not ignore your enemies and relatives even though they are weak.
na chAyamugrasenaH sa pitA tava mahAbalaH |
drumilo nAma tejasvI saubhasya patirUrjitaH ||2-28-54
ugrasena is not your father. Your father is the powerful, opulent and energetic master of saubha named drumila."
shrutvAhaM tadvachastasya kiMchidroShasamanvitaH |
bhUyo.apR^ichChaM kathaM brahmandrumilo nAma dAnavaH ||2-28-55
Hearing his words, I became somewhat angry. I asked: "O brahmaNa, how did the dAnava named drumila become my father?
mama mAtrA kathaM tasya brUhi vipra samAgamaH |
etadichChAmyahaM shrotuM vistareNa tapodhana ||2-28-56
O brahmaNa, tell me how he had relations with my mother? O you who are enriched with austerity, I wish to hear about this in detail.
nArada uvAcha
hanta te kathayiShyAmi shR^iNu rAjanyathArthataH |
drumilasya cha mAtrA te saMvAdaM cha samAgamam ||2-28-57
nArada said:
Alas! O king! I will tell you about the conservation and meeting of drumila and your mother. Listen!
suyAmunaM nAma nagaM tava mAta rajasvalA |
prekShituM sahitA strIbhirgatA vai sA kutUhalAt ||2-28-58
Once when her menstrual period had just finished, your mother had gone to see the mountain named suyAmuna, due to curiosity, along with other women.
sA tatra ramaNIyeShu ruchiradrumasAnuShu |
chachAra nagashR^i~NgeShu kandareShu nadIShu cha ||2-28-59
There she walked along the peaks with beautiful trees. She traveled along caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain.
kinnarodgItamadhurAH pratishrutyabhinAditAH |
shR^iNvantI kAmajananIrvAchaH shrotrsukhAvahAH |2-68-60
She heard sweet songs sung by kinnara-s and their echoes as well. She heard words pleasant to the ear and generating desire.
barhiNAM chaiva virutaM khagAnAM cha vikUjitam |
abhIkShNamabhishR^iNvantI strIdharmamabhirochayat ||2-28-61
Hearing the crowing of peacocks and the chirping of birds, again and again, her mind turned towards womanly desire.
etasminnantare vAyurvanarAjiviniHsR^itaH |
hR^idyaH kusumagandhADhyo vavau manmathabodhanaH ||2-28-62
In between this, a cool breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers began to blow in the forest, stimulating passionate desires.
dvirephAbharaNAshchaiva kadambA vAyughaTTitAH |
mumuchurgandhamadhikaM saMtatAsAramUrChitAH ||2-28-63
The kadamba (Nauclea Cadamba) trees with bees hovering around flowers swayed in the wind. Enriched by the ever flowing streams and aided by the wind, the fragrance of the flowers were strong.
kesarAH puShpavarShaishcha vavR^iShurmadabodhanAH |
nIpA dIpA ivAbhAnti puShpakaNTakadhAriNaH ||2-28-64
The kesarA (Mimusops Elengi) trees showered flowers with intoxicating fragrance. The nIpA (Nauclea Cadamba) trees appeared like lamps with their flowers and thorns.
mahI navatR^iNachChannA shakragopavibhUShitA |
yauvanastheva vanitA svaM dadhArArtavaM vapuH ||2-28-65
Covered by fresh green grass and decorated by cochineal insects (shakragopa) the earth looked like the body of a young woman.
atha saubhapatiH shrImAndrumilo nAma dAnavaH |
bhaviShyaddaivayogena vidhAtrA tatra nIyate ||2-28-66
Then the dazzling lord of saubha, the dAnava named drumila, reached there, as directed by the creator, due to the arrangement of providence.
kAmagena rathenAshu taruNAdityavarchasA |
yadR^ichChayA gatastatra suyAmunadidR^ikShayA ||2-28-67
By accident, he went to see suyAmuna, in his chariot which travels according to his desire, sparkling like the morning sunshine.
vihAyasA kAmagamo manaso.apyAshugAminA |
sa taM prApya parvatendramavatIrya rathottamAt ||2-28-68
Arriving at the lord of mountains in the best of chariots, which travels through the sky as he desires at a speed faster than mind, he alighted from the chariot.
parvatopavane nyasya rathaM pararathArujam |
athAsau sUtasahitashchachAra nagamUrdhani ||2-28-69
He stopped his chariot, capable of destroying enemy chariots, in a garden of the mountain. Then he wandered on the peak along with his charioteer.
tato bahUnyapashyetAM kAnanAni vanAni cha |
sarvartuguNasaMpannaM nandanasyeva kAnanam ||2-28-70
There both of them saw many forests and woods, with the qualities of all seasons like the forest of nandana.
cheraturnagashR^i~NgeShu kandareShu nadIShu cha |
nAnAdhAtupinaddhaishcha shR^i~NgairbahubhiruchChritaiH ||2-28-71
They walked near the caves and streams on the peaks of the mountain. The highly tall peaks were covered with many minerals.
nAnAratnavichitreShu kA~nchanA~njanarAjatAn |
nAnAkusumagandhADhyAnnAnAsattvaguNairyutAn ||2-28-72
There were varieties of strange jewels, gold, silver and a~njana. There were varieties of fragrant flowers with varieties of qualities.
nAnAdvijagaNaistuShTAnnAnApuShpaphaladrumAn |
nAnauShadhisamAyuktAnR^iShisiddhAnusevitAn ||2-28-73
There were varieties of birds. There were trees with varieties of flowers and fruits. There were varieties of medicinal plants. Many sages and beatified persons with supernatural qualities lived there.
vidyAdharAnkiMpuruShAnR^ikShavAnararAkShasAn |
simhAnvyAghrAnvarAhAMshcha mahiShA~nCharabhA~nChashAn ||2-28-74
supernatural beings with magical powers (vidyAdhar-s), kiMpurushAs, bears, monkeys and rAkShasAs lived there. Lions, tigers, boars, buffaloes, deers and hares lived there.
sR^imarAMshchamarAnnya~NkUnmAta~NgAnyakSharAkShasAn |
evaM bahuvidhAnpashyaMshcharamANo nagottamam || 2-28-75
They saw wild deer, yaks, antelopes, elephants, yakSha-s, rAkShasa-s and many other beings while wandering on the best mountain.
dUrAddadarsha nR^ipatirdevIM devasutopamAm |
krIDamAnAM sakhIbhishcha puShpaM chaiva vichinvatIm ||2-28-76
The king (of dAnava-s) saw the queen (of ugrasena), who was like a celestial woman, from a distance. She was playing with her companions and plucking flowers from garden.
tatashcharantIM sushroNIM sakhIbhiH saha saMvR^itAm ||
dR^iShTvA saubhapatirdUrAdvismayansUtamabravIt ||2-28-77
Seeing the lady with beautiful hair, moving, surrounded by her companions, from a distance, the lord of saubha was astonished and he spoke to his charioteer.
kasyeyaM mR^igashAvAkShI vanAntaravichAriNI |
rUpaudAryaguNopetA manmathasya ratiryathA ||2-28-78
"Whose is this doe-eyed beautiful lady wandering in this forest? She is beautiful with all good qualities, like rati, wife of manmatha (god of love).
shachI va puruhUtasya utAho vA tilottamA |
nArAyaNoruM nirbhidya saMbhUtA varavarNinI |
ailasya dayitA devI yoShidratnaM kimurvashI ||2-28-79
Is she puruhUta's (indra's) wife sachi or the beautiful tilottamA who manifested from the thigh of nArAyaNa or the wife of aila, urvashI, the jewel of women?
kShIrArNave mathyamAne surAsuragaNaiH saha |
manthAnaM mandaraM kR^itvAmR^itArthamiti naH shrutam ||2-28-80
I have heard that the ocean of milk was churned by deva-s and asura-s using manthara as the churning stick to obtain nectar.
tato.amR^itAtsamuttasthau devI shrIrlokabhAvinI |
nArAyaNA~NkalulitA kiM shrIreShA varA~NganA ||2-28-81
At that time, goddess shrI, benefactor of the entire world appeared along with nectar. Is she that beautiful goddess shrI, who left the lap of nArAyaNa?
nIlameghAntaragatA dyotayantyachiraprabhA |
tathA yoShidgaNAnmadhye rUpaM pradyotayadvanam ||2-28-82
Just as lightning sparkles among dark blue clouds, this beautiful woman among women, lights up this forest.
atIva sukumArA~NgI suprabhendunibhAnanA |
dR^iShTvA rUpamanindyA~NgyA vibhrAnto vyAkulendriyaH ||2-28-83
She has beautiful limbs. Her face shines like full moon. Seeing her faultless form, I have become mad and my senses have become confused.
kAmasya vashamApanno mano vihvalatIva me |
bhR^ishaM kR^intati me.a~NgAni sAyakaiH kusumAyudhaH ||2-28-84
My mind, under the influence of the god of love, has become restless. The one with flowers as weapons (god of love) is piercing my limbs with his arrows.
bhittvA hR^idi sharAnpa~ncha nirdayaM hanti me manaH |
hR^idayAgnirvardhayati Ajyasikta ivAnalaH |
The one with five arrows (god of love) is splitting my heart and burning my mind without any kindness. The fire of the heart increases like fire fed with ghee.
kathamadya bhavetkAryaM shamArthaM manmathAgninA ||2-28-85
What should I do to douse this fire of desire?
kenopAyena kiM kurmo bhajenmAM mattagAminI |
evaM bahu chintayAno nopalabhya cha dAnavaH ||2-28-86
What is the method I should adopt so that this beautiful woman will accept me?" The dAnava thought a lot about this but he could find a solution.
sUtamAha muhUrtaM tu tiShThasva tvamihAnagha |
ahaM yAsyAmi tAM draShTuM kasyeyamiti yoShitam ||2-28-87
pratIkShamANastiShThasva yAvadAgamanam mama |
He told the charioteer: "O sinless one! You wait here for a while. I will go and find out whose wife is this beautiful woman. Wait here for me till I return".
shrutvA tu vachanaM tasya tathAstviti vacho.abravIt ||2-28-88
Hearing his words, the charioteer said: "So be it".
evamuktvA dAnavendro gamanAya mano dadhe |
vAryupaspR^ishya balavAndhyAnamevAnvachintayat ||2-28-89
Saying this, the king of dAnava-s, decided to go. The powerful one, touched water (performed oblation with water) and meditated and thought.
muhUrtaM dhyAnamAtreNa dR^iShTaM j~nAnabalAttataH |
ugrasenasya patnIti j~nAtvA harShamupAgataH ||2-28-90
After meditating for a while, by the power of higher knowledge, he found that the woman was wife of ugrasena. Knowing this he was happy.
ugrasenasya rUpaM vai kR^itvA svaM parivartya saH |
upAsarpanmahAbAhuH prahasandAnaveshvaraH ||2-28-91
Leaving his own form, the lord of dAnava-s with powerful arms assumed the form of ugrasena and smiled.
smayamAnashcha shanakairjagrAhAmitavIryavAn |
ugrasenasya rUpeNa mAtaraM te vyadharShayat ||2-28-92
The highly valiant dAnava slowly embraced her with a smile. He violated your mother in the form of ugrasena.
sA patisnigdhahR^idayA taM bhAvenopasarpatI |
sha~NkitA chAbhavatpashchAttasya gauravadarshanAt ||2-28-93
Due to the love for her husband, she served him, thinking him to be her husband. Later after close contact, she became suspicious on him.
sA tamAhotthitA bhItA na tvaM mama patirdhruvam |
kasya tvaM vikR^itAchAro yenAsmi malinIkR^itA ||2-28-94
She became afraid and stood up. She said: "It is certain that you are not my husband. Who are you, with perverted behavior? Why did you pollute me?"
ekabhartR^ivratamidaM mama saMdUShitaM tvayA |
patyurme rUpamAsthAya nIcha nIchena karmaNA ||2-28-95
You, lowly person, assuming the form of my husband and performing a lowly act, today you have polluted my vow of one husband.
kiM mAM vakShyanti ruShitA bAndhavAH kulapAMsanIm |
jugupsitA cha vatsyAmi patipakShairnirAkR^itA ||2-28--96
What will my angry relatives tell me, who has polluted the race? I have to spend the rest of my life despised by the members of my husband's family.
dhiktvAmIdR^ishamakShAntaM duShkulaM vyutthitendriyam |
avishvAsyamanAyuShyaM paradArAbhimarshanam || 2-28-97
You are condemned to behave like this. You are intolerant and you are of a bad race. Your senses are perverted. You are not trustworthy. You are lustful. You spoiled someone else's wife."
sa tAmAha prasajjantIM kShiptaH krodhena dAnavaH |
ahaM vai drumilo nAma saubhasya patirUrjitaH ||2-28-98
As she condemned him in this way, the dAnava became enraged and said: "I am the powerful lord of saubha, named drumila.
kiM mAM kShipasi roSheNa mUdhe paNDitamAnini |
mAnuShaM patimAshritya nIchaM mR^ityuvashe sthitam ||2-28-99
Why are you condemning me with anger, you fool? You think yourself to be wise, dependent on your human husband, who is low and controlled by death.
vyabhichArAnna duShyanti striyaH strImAnagarvite |
na hyAsAM niyatA buddhirmAnuShINAM visheShataH ||2-28-100
Proud woman! women are not polluted by adultery. Woman, especially of human race, do not have a firm intelligence.
shrUyante hi striyo bahvyo vyabhichAravyatikramaiH |
prasUtA devasa~NkAshAnputrAnnishchalavikramAn ||2-28-101
I have heard that many women, by deviating with adultery, have delivered powerful and valiant children, like deva-s.
atIva hi tvaM strIloke patidharmavatI satI |
shuddhakeshAnvidhunvantI bhAShase yadyadichChasi ||2-28-102
You are the only one among women, who is faithful to her husband. Thinking about purity you are talking as you like.
kasya tvamiti yachchAhaM tvayokto mattakAshini |
kaMsastasmAdripudhvaMsI tava putro bhaviShyati ||2-28-103
Since you asked me , "Who are you?", O beautiful woman! you will have a son named kaMsa, who will destroy his enemies.
sA saroShA punarbhUtvA nindantI tasya taM varam |
uvAcha vyathitA devI dAnavaM dhR^iShTavAdinam ||2-28-104
(On hearing this) she was again enraged. She condemned the boon given by him. The wife of ugrasena, overcome with sorrow, told the dAnava who was reasoning with her.
dhikte vR^IttaM sudurvR^itta yaH sarvA nindasi striyaH |
santi striyo nIchavR^ittAH santi chaiva pativratAH ||2-28-105
"O sinful one! I condemn your action. You condemn all women. Just as there are women of bad character, there are chaste women as well.
yAstvekapatnyaH shrUyante.arundhatIpramukhAH striyaH |
dhR^itA yAbhiH prajAH sarvA lokAshchaiva kulAdhama ||2-28-106
You are a disgrace to your family. There are women such as arundhatI who are chaste. Those women sustain the people as well as the world.
yastvayA mama putro vai datto vR^ittavinAshanaH |
na me bahumatastveSha shR^iNu chApi yaduchyate ||2-28-107
But the son you gave me is a destroyer of good characters. I do not approve him . Hear what I have to say.
utpatsyati pumAnnIchaH pativaMshe mamAdya yaH |
bhaviShyati sa te mR^ityur yashcha dattastvayA sutaH ||2-28-108
O lowly person! A person will appear in my husband's family. He will be the cause of your death as well as the cause of death of the son given by you.
drumilastvevamuktastu jagAmAkAshameva tu |
tenaiva rathamukhyena divyenApratigAminA ||2-28-109
After this was told to drumila (by your mother) he departed to the sky in his best divine chariot which does not have a competitor.
jagAma cha purIm dInA mAtA tadahareva te |
mAmevamuktvA bhagavAnnArado munisattamaH ||2-28-110
Your mother, overcome by sorrow, returned to the city on the same day". Lord nArada, the great sage told me this.
dIpyamAnastapovIryAtsAkShAdagniriva jvalan |
vallakIM vAdyamAno hi saptasvaravimUrchChitAm ||2-28-111
Lighting with the power of penance, blazing like real fire, playing his vInA capable of producing all the seven basic sounds,
gAyano lakShyavIthIM sa jagAma brahmaNo.antikam |
the singing sage went to the abode of brahma by air.
shR^iNuShvedaM mahAmAtra nibodha vachanaM mama ||2-28-112
Hear this, mahAmAtra, understand my words.
tathyaM choktaM nAradena trailokyaj~nena dhImatA |
Whatever the intelligent nAradA, who knows the past, present and future, has told is true.
alaM balena vIryeNAnayena vinayena cha ||2-28-113
pramANairvApi vIryeNa tejasA vikrameNa cha |
satyena chaiva dAnena nAnyo.asti sadR^ishaH pumAn ||2-28-114
There is no one like me with strength, valiancy, arrogance , humility, splendour, power, truth and kindness.
viditvA sarvamAtmAnaM vachanaM shaddadhAmyaham |
kShetrajo.ahaM sutastasya ugrasenasya hastipa ||2-28-115
Knowing me very well , I believe those words. O keeper of elephant! I am the son born to ugrasena's wife.
mAtApitR^ibhyAM saMtyaktaH sthApitaH svena tejasA |
ubhAbhyAmapi vidviShTo bAndhavaishcha visheShataH ||2-18-116
(Note 1)
My mother and father have abandoned me. I have established myself with my power. Both my parents and specially my relatives hate me.
etAnapi haniShyAmi yAdvAnkR^iShNapakShiNaH |
tadimau ghAtayitvA tu hastinA gopakilbiShau ||2-28-117
After getting these sinful gopa-s killed by the elephant, I will kill the yAdava-s who are on kR^iShNa's side.
tadgachCha gajamAruhya sA~NkushaprAsatomaraH |
sthiro bhava mahAmAtra samAjadvAri mA chiram ||2-28-118
Now proceed and come riding on the elephant with all weapons. Station yourself at the entrance of the arena without any delay.
iti srimahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi kaMsavAkye.aShTAviMsho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the twenty-eighth chapter of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrimahAbhArata, narrations about Kamsa's birth.
(Note 1)
The Harivamsa critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Institute, Pune (1969) has the following additional line
While D6, T 1-2, G, M 1-3 ins.
badhvA cha pitaraM rAjye sthito.asmi cha balIyasA |
After imprisoning my father, I will rule the land with my own power.
The Malayalam translation of this line is given on Page 420, lines 117-1, Bhashabharatam, ku~n~nhikkuTTan taMpurAn, volume 6, DC Books, Kottayam, 2007.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
shrImadgopIjanamAnasAya shrIkR^iShNAya namaH |
aShTAviMshe tvthAyadhyAye ma~nchAnAM rachanochyate |
mahAmAtrAya kaMsasya svajanmAtha chikIrShitam || 1 ||
pUrvenAdhyAyena
"yuvaM vastrANi pIvasA vasAthe yuvorachChidrA mantavo ha sargAH"
ityardhachArtha upabR^iMhitaH |
yasyArthastu yuvaM yuvAM yuvAM pIvasA balena rajakaM hatvetyarthaH | vastrANi vasAthe yuvoH yuvayoH mantavo mAnayitAraH mAlAkArakubjAprabhR^itayaH sargAH sR^ijanti mAlyAnulepanAdikaM te sargAH achChidrAH nIchatvakubjatvAdidoShahInA bhavantIti |
"avAtiratamanR^itAni vishvA R^itena mitrAvaruNA sachethe"
ityasyopabR^iMhaNArtha uttaro granthaH | tatra ayAdavo.api kaMso yadUnAmAdipatyanichChannanR^itaH tena prayuktAni mallAdIni anR^itAni vishvA sarvANi tAni avAtirataM tiraskR^itavantau R^itena satyenaiva yAdavatvena gopatvAchChAditatayA prAgaprasiddhena mitrAvaruNau sUtrAntaryAmiNau rAmakR^iShNau sachethe saMgachChethe yuvAM | tatra kaMsasyAnR^itatvamatra mahAmAtrakathayA upabR^iMhyate |
iti shrI harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAmaShTaviMsho.adhyAyaH
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran,_ksr @ yahoo.ca, June 19, 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
October 25, 2009##