Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha chatushchatvAriMsho.adhyAyaH
    shR^igAlAkhyarAjavadhaH
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 44 - The Slaying of King Shrigala
vaishampAyana uvAcha
tAnAgatAnviditvAtha shR^igAlo yuddhadurmadaH |
purasya dharShaNaM matvA nirjagAmendravikramaH ||2-44-1
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) Knowing that they (balarAma and kR^iShNa) have arrived, shR^igAla, full of false pride of fighting, valiant as indra, came out thinking that the city was under assault.
rathenAdityavarNena bhAsvatA raNagAminA |
AyudhapratipUrNena neminirghoShahAsinA ||2-44-2
His chariot was sparkling with the brightness of sun, ready to engage in battle, complete with weapons, accompanied by the sound of horses.
mandarAchalakalpena chitrAbharaNabhUShiNA |
akShayyasAyakaistUrNaiH pUrNenArNavaghoShiNA ||2-44-3
His chariot was huge like the mountain mandara, decorated with strange ornaments, with quiver of unending arrows, complete with the sound of ocean.
haryashvenAshugatinA saktena shikhareShvapi |
hemakUbaragarbheNa dR^iDhAkSheNAtishobhinA ||2-44-4
The chariot was with fast running bay horses, which could not be blocked by peaks of mountains, having a golden carriage, sparkling with strong axle.
subandhureNa dIptena patattrivaragAminA |
khagateneva shakrasya haryashvena rathAdriNA ||2-44-5
It was shining with diadems, with the speed of the king of birds, similar to the chariot of indra with bay horses running in the sky.
sAvitre niyame pUrNe yam dadau savitA svayam |
Adityarashmibhiriva rashmibhiryo nigR^ihyate ||2-44-6
The sun (savitA) had given this chariot (to the king) when he completed the vow of savitra. The chariot was having bright rays equal to the rays of sun.
tena syandanamukhyena dviShatsyandanaghAtinA |
sa shR^igAlo.abhyayAtkR^iShNaM shalabhaH pAvakaM yathA ||2-44-7
With that best chariot capable of breaking the chariot of enemies, shR^igAla confronted kR^iShNa, like a moth attracted by fire.
chApapANiH sutIkShNeShuH kavachI hemamAlikaH |
sitaprAvaraNoShNIShaH pAvakAkAralochanaH ||2-44-8
Holding a bow, armed with sharp arrows, wearing a golden shield, in a ceremonial white dress, having eyes red as fire,
muhurmuhurjyAchapalaM vikShipanduHsahaM dhanuH |
nirvamanroShajaM vAyuM sAnalajvAlamaNDalam ||2-44-9
he was capable of pulling the string of the huge bow whose string was swinging again and again. His sighs of anger were hot like the flames of fire.
bhAbhirbhUShaNapa~NktInAM dIpto merurivAchalaH |
rathastha iva shailendraH shR^igAlaH pratyadR^ishyata ||2-44-10
Sparkling with the brightness of ornaments, like the mountain meru, shR^igAla, mounted on the chariot appeared like a mountain in the sky.
tasyArasitashabdena rathanemisvanena cha |
gurutvena cha nAmyantI chachAlorvI bhayAturA ||2-44-11
With his lion's voice, the sound of the wheels of his chariot and the weight, the earth was frightened and became lowered.
tamApatantaM shrImantaM mUrtimantamivAchalam |
shR^igAlaM lokapAlAbhaM dR^iShTvA kR^iShNo na vivyathe ||2-44-12
kR^iShNa was not affected by seeing that shR^igAla, having the splendour of the protectors of the world, auspicious, appearing huge as if a mountain has arrived.
shR^igAlashchApi saMrabdhaH syandanenAshugAminA |
samIpe vAsudevasya yuyutsuH pratyadR^ishyata ||2-44-13
shR^igAla was seen near vAsudeva (kR^iShNa), ready to fight, with his fast moving chariot.
vAsudevaM sthitaM dR^IShTvA shR^igAlo yuddhalAlasaH |
abhidudrAva vegena megharAshirivAchalam ||2-44-14
Seeing that vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) was standing still, shR^igAla, keen to fight approached fast, like the rain clouds approach a mountain.
vAsudevaH smitaM kR^itvA pratiyuddhAya tasthivAn |
vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) smiled and stood ready to fight.
tadyuddhamabhavattAbhyAM samare ghoradarshanam |
ubhAbhyAmiva mattAbhyAM ku~njarAbhyAM yathA vane ||2-44-15
Then there was a terrific battle between the two, like a battle in the forest between two elephants in rut.
shR^igAlastvabravItkR^iShNaM samare samupasthitam |
yuddharAgeNa tejasvI mohAchchalitagauravaH ||2-44-16
Then shR^igAla, keen to fight, with a false pride, said to kR^iShNa, who was standing in front for fighting.
gomante yuddhamArgeNa yattvayA kR^iShNa cheShTitam |
anAyakAnAM mUrkhANAM nR^ipANAM durbale bale ||2-44-17
(shR^igAla said:) kR^iShNa! (I know) what you did in the battle on the gomanta mountain among the weak armies of the foolish, leaderless kings.
sa me suviditaH kR^iShNa kShatriyANAM parAjayaH |
kR^ipaNAnAmasattvAnAmayuddhAnAM raNotsave ||2-44-18
kR^iShNa! I know very well about the defeat of the undefeatable, weak and powerless kShatriya kings in the battle.
tiShThedAnIM yathAkAmaM sthito.ahaM pArthive pade |
kva yAsyasi mayA ruddho raNeShvapariniShThitaH ||2-44-19
You stand as you wish. I stand as the king. Stopped by me, where can you go who have no experience of battle?
na chAhamekaM sabalo yuktastvAM yoddhumAhave |
ahamekastvamapyeko dvau yuddhyAva raNe sthitau ||2-44-20
I will not fight you who are alone, with my army. I alone will fight with you who are alone. Now let us both fight.
kiM janena nirastena tvaM vAhaM cha rane sthitaH |
dharmayuddhena nidhanaM vrajatvekataro raNe ||2-44-21
When you and I are fighting, what is the use of other lesser people? Let one of us be killed in the (dharmayuddha) fight, as per rules.
loke.asminvAsudevo.ahaM bhaviShyAmi hate tvayi |
hate mayi tvamapyeko vAsudevo bhaviShyasi ||2-44-22
If you are killed, then I will be the only vAsudeva in the world. If I am killed, you will be the only vAsudeva.
shR^igAlasya vachaH shrutvA vAsudevaH kShamAparaH |
IrShayntaM praharasveti tamuktvA chakramAdade ||2-44-23
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Hearing the words of shR^igAla, vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) who has utmost patience, took the discus, saying: Let me beat those having anger.
tataH sAyakajAlAni shR^igAlaH krodhamUrChitaH |
chikShepa kR^iShNe ghorANi yuddhAya laghuvikramaH ||2-44-24
Then the quick and valiant shR^igAla, who was full of anger, shot many terrible arrows towards kR^iShNa in the fight.
shastrANi yAni chAnyAni musalAdyAni saMyuge |
pAtayAmAsa govinde sa shR^igAlaH pratApavAn ||2-44-25
In the fight the splendorous shR^igAla also struck govinda (kR^iShNa) with other weapons such as musala (club) etc.
shR^igAlaprahitairastraiH pAvakajvAlamAlibhiH |
nirdayAbhihataH kR^iShNaH sthito giririvAchalaH ||2-44-26
Bearing the weapons struck by shR^igAla, which were emitting flames of fire, kR^iShNa stood like a still, best mountain, undefeated.
so.astraprahArAbhihataH ki~nchidroShasamanvitaH |
chakramudyamya govindaH shR^igAlasya parikShipat ||2-44-27
govinda (kR^iShNa) was angered by the arrows shot (by shR^igAla). He took the discus and send it towards shR^igAla.
taM rathasthaM pramANasthaM shR^igAlaM yuddhadurmadam |
jaghAna samare chakraM jAtadarpaM mahAbalam ||2-44-28
Entering the chariot quickly, the discus killed the powerful shR^igAla, who was full of false pride of fighting, in the fight.
tataH sudarshanaM chakram punarAyAdguroH kare |
Then the discus sudarshana returned again to the hand of the preceptor.
chakreNorasi nirbhinnaH sa gatAsurgatotsavaH |
papAta kShatajasrAvI shR^igAlo.adririvAhataH ||2-44-29
The discus struck on shR^igAla's chest and split it. Losing his life, shR^igAla fell down like a mountain, with blood flowing out.
nishamya taM nipatitaM vajrapAtAdivAchalam |
tasya sainyAnyapayayurvimanAMsi hate nR^ipe ||2-44-30
Seeing that shR^igAla has fell down like a mountain struck by vajra (thunderbolt), his army retreated, lamenting the king's death.
kechitpravishya nagaraM kashmalAbhihatA bhR^isham |
rurudurduHkhasaMtaptA bhartR^ishokAbhipIDitAH ||2-44-31
Some of them entered the city, struck by the sorrow on the death, went on crying, affected by the sorrow of the death of their king.
kechittatraiva shochantaH smarantaH sukR^itAni cha |
patitaM bhUpatiM bhUmau na tyajanti sma duHkhitAH ||2-44-32
Some of them who gained the benefit of good deeds, lamented there itself. The grieving men did not leave the king who fell dead on the earth.
tato meghaninAdena svareNArivimardanaH |
kR^iShNaH kamalapatrAkSho janAnAmabhayaM dadau ||2-44-33
Then kR^iShNa, with eyes beautiful as the lotus flower, the oppressor of enemies, provided protection to people in a voice, as loud as the thunder of (rain)cloud.
chakrochitena hastena rAjatA~NguliparvaNA |
na bhetavyam na bhetavyamiti tAnabhyabhAShata ||2-44-34
kR^iShNa, whose hands had strong fingers capable of holding the discus told the people: Do not be afraid, do not get afraid.
nAsya pApasya doSheNa nirAbAdhakaraM janam |
ghAtayiShyAmi samare nedaM shUravrataM matam ||2-44-35
(kR^iShNa said:) Due to the crime committed by this sinful person, I will not kill people who are innocent. Nor this is suitable for the conduct of valiant.
ashrupUrNamukhA dInAH krandamAnA bhR^ishaM tadA |
patito vai shR^igAlAkhyo bhraShTaH sandInamAnasaH ||2-44-36
With tears flowing on their face, the people lamented crying. shR^igAla, with a pathetic face fell from grace.
te sma pashyanti patitaM dharaNyAM dharaNIpatim |
chakranirdAritoraskaM bhinnashR^i~NgamivAchalam ||2-44-37
They looked at the lord of earth (king shr^igAla) who had fallen on earth. With his chest split by the discus, he appeared like a mountain with its peak split.
vilapanti sma te sarve sachivAH saprajA bhR^isham |
sAshrupAtekShaNA dInAH shokasya vashmAgatAH ||2-44-38
All the ministers cried along with the people. Overcome with sorrow, they lamented with their eyes filled with tears.
teShAM ruditashabdena paurANAM visvaraiH svaraiH |
mahiShyastasya niShpetuH saputrA ruditAnanAH ||2-44-39
Hearing the sound of the citizens crying in a discordant voice, his wives arrived with crying faces accompanied by sons.
tAstaM nipatitaM dR^iShTvA shlAghyaM bhUmipatiM patim |
stanAnArujya karajairbhR^ishArtAH paryadevayan ||2-44-40
Seeing their fallen husband, the lord of earth (king shR^igAla), they scratched their breasts with their nails, lamenting pathetically.
urAMsyurasijAMshchaiva shirojAnyAkulAnyapi |
nirdayaM tADayantyastA visvaram ruruduH striyaH ||2-44-41
The women cried in a discordant voice, beating mercilessly their chests, breast and heads with hairs spread out.
tasyorasi suduHkhArtA mR^iditAH klinnalochanAH |
peturUrdhvabhujAH sarvAshChinnamUlA latA iva ||2-44-42
Overcome by sorrow, with their eyes wet and running, their (hearts) crushed, raising their arms, all of them fell on his chest, like creepers with severed roots.
tAsAM bAShpAmbupUrNAni netrANi nR^ipayoShitAm |
vAriviprahatAnIva pa~NkajAni chakAshire ||2-44-43
The eyes of the women of the king, full of tears, sparkled like lotus flowers, full of water.
tAH patiM patitaM bhUmau rudantyo hR^idi tADitAH |
lAlapyamANAH karuNaM yoShitaH paryadevayan ||2-44-44
The women cried pathetically, beating their chests, lamenting about their husband, fallen on earth.
putraM chasya puraskR^itya bAlaM prasrutalochanam |
shakradevaM pituH pArshve dviguNaM ruruduH striyaH ||2-44-45
Keeping his son shakradeva in front, a child with his eyes full of tears, by the side of his father, the women lamented more.
ayaM te vIra vikrAnto bAlaH putro na paNDitaH |
tvadvihInaH kathamayaM pade sthAsyati paitR^ike ||2-44-46
(The wives of shR^igAla said:) O valiant! Your son is only a child, and not a knowledgable person. Without you, how can he reign on the ancestral position?
kathamekapade tyaktvA gato.asyantaHpuraM param |
atR^iptAstava saukhyAnAM kiM kurmo vidhavA vayam ||2-44-47
Why did you leave suddenly (the women) who live in the female apartments? What shall we, the widows, do who are still eager for the comforts given by you?
tasya padmAvatI nAma mahiShI pramadottamA |
rudatI putramAdAya vAsudevamupasthitA ||2-44-48
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya !) His queen named padmAvatI, the best among women, came, crying to vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) along with her son.
yastvayA pAtito vIra raNaproktena karmaNA |
tasya pretagatasyAyaM putrastvAM sharaNaM gataH ||2-44-49
(padmAvatI said :) O valiant! The son of the one who was felled by you in the battle and who is dead has come to you for protection.
yadi tvAM praNametAsau kuryAdvA shAsanaM tava |
nAyamekaprahAreNa janastapyeta dAruNam ||2-44-50
If the king had paid obeisance to you or carried out your orders in one stroke, the people would not have suffered terribly.
yadi kuryAdayaM mUDhastvayi bAndhavakaM vidhim |
naivaM parItaH kR^ipaNaH seveta dharaNItalam ||2-44-51
If the expired, miserable, foolish king had established proper relations with you, he would not have fallen down on earth.
ayamasya vipannasya bAndhavasya tavAnagha |
santatI rakShyatAM vIra putraH putra ivAtmajaH ||2-44-52
This is the only son of your relative who is dead. O One without any sin! Please protect him, O valiant, as if he is your own son.
tasyAstadvachanam shrutvA mahiShyA yadunandanaH |
mR^idupUrvamidaM vAkyamuvAcha vadatAM varaH ||2-44-53
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Hearing the words of the queen, the son of yadu (kR^iShNa), the best among speakers, spoke these words sweetly.
rAjapatni gato roShaH sahAnena durAtmanA |
prakR^itisthA vayaM jAtA devi saiSho.asmi bAndhavaH ||2-44-54
(kR^iShNa said!) O king's wife! My anger has gone along with this evil soul. We are of the same nature. O queen! I am your best relative.
roSho me vigataH sAdhvi tava vAkyairakalmaShaiH |
yo.ayam putraH shR^igAlasya mamApyeSha na saMshayaH ||2-44-55
O virtuous woman! My anger has gone with your sinless words. There is no doubt that this son of shR^igAla is my son as well.
abhayaM chabhiShekaM cha dadAmyasmai sukhAya vai |
AhUyantAM prakR^itayaH purodhA mantriNastathA ||2-44-56
I will protect him. I will also install him (as the king) comfortably. We shall summon the preceptors, ministers etc., (for the installation).
pitR^ipaitAmahe rAjye tava putro.abhiShichyatAm |
Let us install your son as the king of the land of his ancestors.
tataH prakR^itayaH sarvAH purodhA mantriNastathA ||244-57
abhiShekArthamAjagmuryato vai rAmakeshavau |
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Then all the preceptors, ministers etc., arrived for the installation (of the king) to the place where (bala)rAma and keshava (kR^iShNa) were staying.
tataH simhAsanasthaM tu rAjaputraM janArdanaH ||2-44-58
abhiShekeNa divyena yojayAmAsa vIryavAn |
Then valiant janArdana (one who excites men, kR^iShNa) installed, in the divine manner as required, the son of the king, who was seated on the throne, as the king.
abhiShichya shR^igAlasya karavIrapure sutam |
kR^iShNastadaharevAshu prasthAnamabhyarochayat ||2-44-59
Installing shR^igAla's son (as the king of) the city of karavIra, kR^iShNa prepared for his journey on the same day.
rathena hariyuktena tena yuddhArjitena vai |
keshavaH prasthito.adhvAnaM vR^itrahA tridivaM yathA ||2-44-60
Mounting on the chariot (of shR^igAla) yoked with horses, which he won in the battle, keshava (kR^iShNa) started his journey, like the killer of vR^itra (indra) goes to heaven.
shakradevo.api dharmAtmA saha mAtrA paraMtapaH |
sabAlavR^iddhayuvatImukhyAH prakR^itayastathA ||2-44-61
(vaishampAyana said:) O the destroyer of foes (janamejaya) The righteous soul, shakradeva, along with his mother, young and old men and women and the chief preceptors,
shibikAyAmathAropya shR^igAlaM yuddhadurmadam |
saMhatA dUramArgeNa pashchimAbhimukhA yayuH ||2-44-62
kept the body of shR^igAla, who was having false pride in battle, on a palanquin, and took it far away towards the western side.
naidhanasya vidhAnena chakruste tasya satkriyAm |
satkAraM kArayAmAsuH pitR^INAM pAralaukikam ||2-44-63
All the funeral rites were performed for the king as required. All the rites for the ancestors were also performed.
uddishyoddishya rAjAnaM shrAddhaM kR^itvA sahasrashaH |
Various rites were performed for the king.
tataste salilaM dattvA nAmagotrAdikIrtanaiH ||2-44-64
pitaryuparate ghore shokasamvignamAnasaH |
Offering water, pronouncing the name, race etc, with his mind lamenting on the terrible death of his father,
kR^itvodakam tadA rAjA pravivesha purottamam ||2-44-65
the king performed the last rites of his father and returned to the best of cities.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNI shR^igAlavadho nAma chatushchatvAriMsho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the translation of the forty-fourth chapter of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrimahAbhArata, the slaying of king sR^igAla.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
chatushchatvAriMshake.atha shR^igAlavadha Iryate | iti shrIharivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM charushchatvAriMsho adhyAyaH
Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca, August 21, 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
February 3, 2010 ##