O the ruler of earth! O janamejaya! When the kings were held in the cave
along with their followers, the demons were distressed.
The demons being killed by kR^iShNa, ananta (balarAma) and other yAdava-s,
proud with their excellence in war, started running in all
directions.
Then nikumbha, the best among demons, became angry and told them: Why are
you running away with fear, confused, breaking your pledge (to fight)?
To which worlds will you go who break the pledge and run away and who run
away, showing your back without taking revenge for your kinsmen in the
battle, in spite of deciding to do so?
After conquering enemies in the battle, the victor shall enjoy the results.
Even if he is killed in battle, the valiant shall live in heaven enjoying
comforts.
Whose face will you look at after going home, running away from battle?
What will your wives say? Shame! Shame! Are you not ashamed?
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The demons, who were told
thus, returned shamefully to the battlefield and started fighting the
yAdava-s with double the speed.
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) In that great battle of
fighters skilled in varieties of weapons, those demons who reached the
sacrificial stage were killed by dhana~njaya, nakula and sahadeva (yamau),
bhIma as well as the king, the son of dharma, yudhiShThira.
dyAm prayAtA~njaghAnaindriH pravarashcha dvijottamaH ||2-85-9
Those who went to the sky were killed by jayanta (aindri) and the best among
the twice-born, pravara.
athAsurAsR^iktoyADhyA keshashaivalashADvalA |
chakrakUrmarathAvartA gajashailAnushobhinI ||2-85-10
Afterwards, a river of the blood of demons started flowing there mixed
with hair, looking like grass, chariot wheels like tortoises, chariots like
whirlpools, elephants shining like mountain rocks.
dhvajakuntataruchChannA stanitotkruShTanAdinI |
govindashailaprabhavA bhIruchittapramAthinI ||2-85-11
The river of blood, originated from the mountain of govinda (kR^iShNa)
was roaring like a huge river with flags and lances floating like trees,
causing fear in the hearts of timid people.
asR^igbudbudaphenADhyA asimatsyatara~NgiNI |
susrAva shoNitanadI nadIva jaladAgame ||2-85-12
Foams of blood were the foams of the river. The swords were the fish of
the river. The river of blood was flowing like a river flourished by rain
clouds.
tAndR^iShTvaiva nikumbhastu varddhamAnaMshcha shAtravAn |
hatAnsarvAnsahAyAMshcha vIryAdevotpapAta ha ||2-85-13
Seeing that his enemies are flourishing and all his followers are being
killed, nikumbha by his valiancy, rose up in the sky.
sa vArito jayantena pravareNa cha bhArata |
sharaiH kulishasa~NkAshairnikumbho raNakarkashaH ||2-85-14
O the one of bharata race! nikumbha, rough in battle, was blocked in the sky
with a row of arrows as sharp as the thunderbolt of indra, shot by jayanta
and pravara.
sannivR^ityAtha daShToShThaH parigheNa durAsadaH |
pravaraM tADayAmAsa sa papAta mahItale ||2-85-15
In return, nikumbha bit his lips and struck pravara with iron bludgeon,
dangerous to oppose. He fell on the face of earth.
aindristaM patitaM bhUmau bAhubhyAM pariShasvaje |
viditvA chaiva saprANaM hitvAsuramabhidrutaH ||2-85-16
As he fell down on earth, jayanta, indra's son, (aindri) embraced him with
his arms. When he realized that pravara was alive, he left him and quickly
attacked the demons.
abhidrutya nikuMbhaM cha nistriMshena jaghAna ha |
parigheNApi daiteyo jayantaM samatADayat ||2-85-17
He quickly ran towards nikumbha and struck him with his sword. Then the demon
struck jayanta with iron bludgeon.
tatakSha bahulaM gAtraM nikumbhasyaindrirAhave |
sa chintayAmAsa tadA vadhyamAno mahAsuraH ||2-85-18
In the battle, aindri (jayanta) cut nikumbha's body many times. The great
demon, struck by jayanta, thought as follows:
kR^iShNena saha yoddhavyaM vairiNA j~nAtighAtinA |
shrAvayAmi kimAtmAnamAhave shakrasUnunA ||2-85-19
I should fight with kR^iShNa, who is the enemy and killer of my kinsmen. Why
should I receive strikes at the hands of the son of shakra (jayanta) in the
battle?
evaM sa nishchayaM kR^itvA tatraivAntaradhIyata |
jagAma chaiva yuddhArthaM yatra kR^iShNo mahAbalaH ||2-85-20
Deciding thus, he disappeared then and there and went to fight where kR^iShNa
of great power was present.
taM dR^iShTvairAvataskandhamAsthito balanAshanaH |
draShTumabhyAgato yuddhaM jahR^iShe saha daivataiH ||2-85-21
The destroyer of bala (indra) mounted on airAvata, who had arrived with
other deva-s to watch the battle, saw him and was happy.
sAdhu sAdhviti putraM cha parituShTaH sa sasvaje |
pravaraM chApi dharmAtmA sasvaje mohavarjitam ||2-85-22
Happily he congratulated his son, saying, well done, well done, and caressed
him. The one with righteous soul caressed pravara who had become conscious
by then.
devadundubhayashchApi praNedurvAsavAj~nayA |
jayamAnaM raNe dR^iShTvA jayantaM raNadurjayam ||2-85-23
By the order of the lord of deva-s, the divine drums also played, seeing that
jayanta, difficult to conquer in the battle, had become victorious in the
battle.
dadarshAtha nikumbhastu keshavaM raNadurjayam |
arjunena sthitaM sArdhaM yaj~navATAvidUrataH ||2-85-24
nikumbha saw keshava (kR^iShNa), the son of vasudeva, difficult to conquer
in the battle, standing not far away from the stage of sacrifice along with
arjuna.
sa nAdaM sumahAnkR^itvA pakShirAjamatADayat |
parigheNa sughoreNa balaM satyakameva cha ||2-85-25
He roared loudly and struck the king of birds, garuDa, balarAma and sAtyaki
with the terrible iron bludgeon.
nArAyaNaM chArjunaM cha bhImaM chAtha yudhiShThiram |
yamau cha vAsudevaM cha sAmbaM kAmaM cha viryavAn ||2-85-26
(He also struck) nArAyaNa, arjuna, bhIma as well as yudhiShThira, nakula and
sahadeva (yamau), vAsudeva, sAmba and the valiant kAma (pradyumna).
yuyudhe mAyayA daityaH shIghrakArI cha bhArata |
na chainaM dadR^ishuH sarve sarvashastravishAradAH ||2-85-27
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana said) The demon
(nikumbha) fought by illusion, with speed. None of the experts in all the
shAstra-s could see him.
yadA tu naivApashyaMstaM tadA bilvodakeshvaram |
dadhyau devaM hR^iShIkeshaH pramathAnAM gaNeshvaram ||2-85-28
When nikumbha could not be seen, the lord of the senses, (kR^iShNa) meditated
the lord, the lord of the group of demons (shiva) the lord of bilva and
udaka.
tataste dadR^ishuH sarve prabhAvAdatitejasaH |
bilvodakeshvarasyAshu nikumbhaM mAyinAM varam ||2-85-29
Immediately, all could see nikumbha, the best among the creators of illusion,
due to the power of the lord of bilva and udaka, having great splendor.
kailAsashikharAkAraM grasantamiva dhiShThitam |
AhvayantaM raNe kR^iShNaM vairiNaM j~nAtinAshanam ||2-85-30
All could see nikumbha, who was shining, standing tall as though to swallow
the peaks of the mountain kailAsa, who was calling kR^iShNa, the destroyer of
his kinsmen, for battle.
sajjagANDIvamevAtha pArthastasya ratheShubhiH |
parighaM chaiva gAtreShu vivyAdhainamathAsakR^it ||2-85-31
The son of pR^itha (arjuna) strung his bow gANDIva and shot many arrows,
capable of destroying chariots on the iron bludgeon and on his body.
te bAnAstasya gAtreShu parighe cha janAdhipa |
bhagnAH shilAshitAH sarve nipetuH ku~nchitA kShitau ||2-85-32
O the king of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Those arrows,
sharpened on rocks, struck on his body and the iron bludgeon and were
broken and fell on earth.
viphalAnastrayuktAMstAndR^IShTvA bANAndhanaMjayaH |
paprachCha keshavaM vIraH kimetaditi bhArata ||2-85-33
O the one of bharata race! Seeing that the suitable arrows are rendered
useless thus, the valiant dhana~njaya (arjuna) asked kR^iShNa, why is this
so.
parvatAnapi bhindanti mama vajropamAH sharAH |
kimidaM devakIputra vismayo.atra mahAnmama ||2-85-34
My arrows, like the thunderbolt, are capable of splitting the mountains.
O the son of devakI (kR^iShNa)! what is this? This is a great wonder.
tamuvAcha tataH kR^iShNaH prahasanniva bhArata |
mahadbhUtaM nikumbho.ayaM kaunteya shR^iNu vistarAt ||2-85-35
O the one of bharata race! Then, kR^iShNa, laughing, told arjuna: O the son
of kunti (arjuna)! nikumbha is a great demon, most valiant in the world
(see nIlakaNTha commentary). Hear about him in detail.
purA gatvottarakurUMstapashchakre mahAsuraH |
shataM varShasahasrANAM devashatrurdurAsadaH ||2-85-36
Long before, a great demon, enemy of the deva-s, difficult to conquer, did
penance at the place of north kuru for hundred thousand years.
athainaM ChandayAmAsa vareNa bhagavAnharaH |
sa vavre trINi rUpANi na vadhyAni surAsuraiH ||2-85-37
Lord hara (shiva) agreeing to give boon to him, asked him. He asked for
three forms which could not be destroyed by deva-s and demons.
tamuvAcha mahAdevo bhagavAnvR^iShabhadhvajaH |
mama vA brAhmaNAnAM vA viShNorvA priyamAcharan ||2-85-38
bhaviShyasi harervadhyo na tvanyasya mahAsura |
Then the great deva, lord shiva, having the bull as his flag told him:
O great demon! If you do what is not liked by me, brahmins or viShNu,
you will be killed by hari (viShNu - kR^iShNa) and not by others.
brahmaNyo.ahaM cha viShNushcha viprANAM paramA gatiH ||2-85-39
I and viShNu, worshipped by brahmins are the last refuge of brahmins.
sa eva sarvashastrANAmavadhyaH pANDunandana |
trideho.atipramAthI cha varamattashcha dAnavaH ||2-85-40
O the son of pANDu! (kR^iShNa continued) That nikumbha cannot be killed by
any weapon. This demon is a great tormentor, having three bodies,
proud of the boons.
bhAnumatyApaharaNe deho.asyaiko hato mayA |
avadhyaM ShaTpuraM dehamidamasya durAtmanaH ||2-85-41
I destroyed one of his bodies during the abduction of bhAnumati. This
body of the wicked soul, based on ShaTpura cannot be destroyed.
ditiM shushrUShati tveko deho.asya tapasAnvitaH |
anyastu deho ghoro.asya yenAvasati ShaTpuram ||2-85-42
One body is taking care of diti with penance. The other terrible body
residing in ShaTpura is different.
etattu sarvamAkhyAtaM nikumbhacharitaM mayA |
tvarayAsya vadhe vIra kathA pashchAdbhaviShyati ||2-85-43
I have told you all the history of nikumbha. It is getting late to kill him.
I shall tell you the history later.
tayoH kathayatorevaM kR^iShNayorasurastadA |
guhAM shaTpurasaMj~nAM tAM vivesha raNadurjayaH ||2-85-44
While kR^iShNa and arjuna were talking like this, the demon who cannot be
conquered (nikumbha), entered the cave named ShaTpura.
anviShya tasya bhagavAnvivesha madhusUdanaH |
tAm ShaTpuraguhAM ghorAM durdharShAM kurunandana ||2-85-45
O the son of kuru! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The lord,
the slayer of madhu (kr^ishNa) following him, entered the cave, ShaTpura,
difficult to be conquered.
chandrasUryaprabhAhInAM jvalantIM svena tejasA |
sukhaduHkhoShNashItAni prayachChantIM yathepsitam ||2-85-46
The cave was lighted by its own splendor, without the light of moon and the
sun. The cave provided happiness (for the members) and sorrow (for others),
heat and cold as one wished.
tatra pravishya bhagavAnapashyata janAdhipAn |
yuyudhe saha ghoreNa nikumbhena janAdhipa ||2-85-47
Entering the cave, lord kR^ishNa saw the rulers of men (yAdava-s held by
nikumbha). O the ruler of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued).
kR^iShNa fought against the terrible nikumbha.
kR^iShNasyAnupraviShTAstu balAdyA yAdavAstadA |
praviShTAshcha tathA sarve pANdavAste mahAtmanaH ||2-85-48
Following kR^iShNa, balarAma and all other yAdav-s entered the cave. All the
pANDava-s also followed the great soul (kR^iShNa) (and entered the cave).
sametAstu praviShTAste kR^IShNasyAnumatena vai |
All of them entered the cave with kR^iShNa's permission and stood together.
yuyudhe sa tu kR^iShNena raukmiNeyaH prachoditaH |
anayadyAdavAnsarvAnyAnayaM baddhavAnpurA || 2-85-49
Prompted by kR^iShNa, the son of rukmiNI (pradyumna) fought and took away
all the yAdava-s who were tied up and held earlier.
te muktA raukmiNeyena prAptA yatra janArdanaH |
prahR^iShTamanasaH sarve nikumbhavadhakA~NkShiNaH ||2-85-50
They, released by the son of rukmiNI (pradyumna) reached near janArdana
(kR^iShNa). All of them, desiring the death of nikumbha became happy.
rAjAno vIra muncheti punaH kAmaM yathAbruvan |
mumocha chAtha tAnvIro raukmiNeyaH pratApavAn ||2-85-51
As they said: "O valiant! Release the kings" to kAma (pradyumna). The
valiant son of rukmiNI, having splendor, released those valiant kings.
adhomukhamukhAH sarve baddhamaunA narAdhipAH |
lajjayAbhiplutA virAstasthurnaShTashriyastatdA ||2-85-52
All those kings, lowered their faces and remained silent. Feeling ashamed,
the valiant kings stood there, losing their splendor.
nikumbhamapi govindaH prayatantaM jayaM prati |
yodhayAmAsa bhagavAnghoramAtmaripuM hariH ||2-85-53
govinda, lord hari fought with the terrible enemy of his soul, nikumbha who
was trying for victory.
parigheNAhataH kR^iShNo nikumbhena bhR^ishaM vibho |
gadayA chApi kR^iShNena nikumbhastADito bhR^isham ||2-85-54
O lord! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) nikumbha struck kR^iShNa
forcefully with the iron bludgeon. kR^iShNa also struck nikumbha forcefully
with his mace.
tAvubhau prohamApannau suprahArahatau tadA |
Being struck forcefully, both of them became unconscious and leaned to their
sides.
tataH pravyathitAndR^iShTvA pANDavAMshchAtha yAdavAn ||2-85-55
jepurmunigaNAstatra kR^iShNasya hitakAmyayA |
Seeing that the pANDava-s and yAdavAs are stunned (due to kR^iShNa becoming
unconscious) the assembly of sages chanted desiring the benefit of
kR^iShNa.
tuShTuvushcha mahAtmAnaM vedaproktaistathA stavaiH ||2-85-56
They praised the great soul (kR^iShNa) with the hymn stated in veda-s.
tataH pratyAgataprANo bhagavAnkeshavastadA |
dAnavashcha punarvIrAvudyatau samaraM prati ||2-85-57
Then the lord keshava (kR^iShNa) and the demon regained consciousness and
again the valiant prepared to fight.
vR^iShabhAviva nardantau gajAviva cha bhArata |
shAlAvR^ikAviva kruddhau praharantau raNotkaTau ||2-85-58
O the one of bharata race! (O janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Both of
them, strongly fought against each other like bulls, roaring tuskers and
angry wolves.
atha kR^iShNaM tadovAcha nR^ipaM vAgasharIriNI |
chakreNa shamayasvainaM devabrAhmaNakaNTakam ||2-85-59
Then, O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) a body-less voice
spoke to kR^iShNa: O lord! Kill the thorn (enemy) of brahmins with the
discus,
iti hovAcha bhagavAndevo bilvodakeshvaraH |
dharmaM yashashcha vipulaM prApnuhi tvaM mahAbala ||2-85-60
and gain dharma and great fame O highly powerful one. Thus spoke the lord,
deva, the lord of bilva and udaka.
tathetyuktvA namaskR^itvA lokanAthaH satAM gatiH |
sudarshanaM mumochAtha chakraM daityakulAntakam ||2-85-61
The lord of the world, the refuge of the good people said let it be so and
paid obeisance to (lord shiva) and released the discus sudarshana, that
which destroys the race of demons.
tannikumbhasya chichCheda shiraH pravarakuNDalam |
nArAyaNabhujotsR^iShTaM sUryamaNDalavarchasam ||2-85-62
The discus sudarshana released from the hand of nArayaNa (kR^iShNa),
sparkling like the sun cut off the head of nikumbha, decorated with the
best earrings.
utpapAta shirastasya bhUmau jvalitakuNDalam |
meghamatto gireH shR^i~NgAnmayUra iva bhUtale ||2-85-63
His head with sparkling earrings fell on earth like a peacock, excited by
seeing the clouds, falls off from the peak of a mountain.
nikumbhe nihate tasmindevo bilvodakeshvaraH |
tutoSha cha naravyAghra jagattrAsakaro vibhuH ||2-85-64
O the tiger among men! As nikumbha, the one who terrorizes the world,
was killed, lord shiva the lord of bilva and udaka rejoiced.
papAta puShpavR^iShTishcha shakrasR^iShTA nabhastalAt |
devadundubhayashchaiva praNedurarinAshane ||2-85-65
From the sky, shakra (indra) showered flowers. Divine drums were played at
the destruction of the enemy.
nananda cha jagatkR^itsnaM munayashcha visheShataH |
daityakanyAshcha bhagavAnyadubhyaH shatasho dadau ||2-85-66
The entire world rejoiced, especially the sages. Lord KR^iShNa gave hundreds
of demon maidens to yAdava-s.
kShatriyANAM cha bhagavAnsAntvayitvA punaH punaH |
ratnAni cha vichitrANi vAsAMsi pravarANi cha ||2-85-67
Lord kR^iShNa consoled the kShatriya kings again and again and (gave them)
jewels and wonderful and best clothes as well.
rathAnAM vAjiyuktAnAM shaTsahasrANi keshavaH |
adadAtpANDavebhyashcha prItAtmA gadapUrvajaH ||2-85-68
keshava (kR^iShNa), the elder brother of gada, was pleased and gave (chariots)
yoked with six thousand horses and jewels to pANDava-s.
tadeva chAtha pravaraM ShaTpuraM puravardhanaH |
dvijAya brahmadattAya dadau tArkShyavaradhvajaH ||2-85-69
The one who has the best tArkShya (garuDa) as his flag (kR^iShNa), who
flourishes the city presented the best city of ShaTpura, to the twice-born
(Brahmin), brahmadatta.
satre saMapte cha tadA sha~NkhachakragadAdharaH |
visarjayitvA tatkShatraM pANDavAMshcha mahAbalaH ||2-85-70
As the sacrifice concluded, the one who holds the conch, discus and mace
(viShNu - kR^iShNa), the one with great power, bid farewell to the kShatriya
kings as well as the pANDava-s.
bilvodakeshvarasyAtha samAjamakarotprabhuH |
mAMsarUpasamAkIrNaM bahvannaM vya~njanAkulam ||2-85-71
The lord (kR^iShNa) organized an assembly for worshipping the lord of bilva
and udaka (shiva) providing food (rice) with meat and condiments.
niyuddhakushalAnmallAndevo mallapriyastadA |
yodhayitvA dadau bhUri vittaM vastrANi chAtmavAn ||2-85-72
The lord (kR^iShNa) who likes wrestling organized wrestling between expert
wrestlers. The one with (supreme) soul (kR^iShNa) offered plenty of wealth
and clothes to the wrestlers.
mAtApitR^ibhyAM sahito yadubhishcha mahAbalaH |
abhivAdya brahmadattaM yayau dvAravatIM purIm ||2-85-73
The one with high power (kR^iShNa) along with his mother, father and also
the yAdava-s, wished all the best to brahmadatta and went to the city of
dvAravatI.
sa vivesha purIM ramyAM hR^iShTapuShTajanAkulAm |
puShpachitrapathAm vIro vandyamAno naraiH pathi ||2-85-74
The valiant entered the beautiful city (of dvAravatI) full of healthy and
rejoicing people as people paid respect to him and showered wonderous
flowers on him all along the way.
imaM yaH ShaTpuravadhaM vijayaM chakrapANinaH |
shR^iNuyAdvA paThedvApi yuddhe jayamavApnuyAt ||2-85-75
The one who hears or reads this narration of the slaying of ShaTpura
(nikumbha) and the victory of the one who holds discus (viShNu - kR^iShNa)
shall achieve victory in battle.
aputro labhate putramadhano labhate dhanam |
vyAdhito muchyate rogI baddhashchApyatha bandhanAt ||2-85-76
The childless will get children, the poor will become rich, the ill will be
free of diseases and the bound will become free.
idaM puMsavanam proktaM garbhAdAnaM cha bhArata |
shrAddheShu paThitaM samyagakShayyakaraNaM smR^itam ||2-85-77
O the one of bharata race! (O janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) This
narration is recited for conceiving (garbhAdAna) and also during the rite
conducted on the third month of pregnancy (puMsavana). This may be recited \
during the ceremonies held, honouring the dead relatives, for achieving
prosperity.
idamamaravarasya bhArate
prathitabalasya jayaM mahAtmanaH |
satatamidaM hi yaH paThennaraH
sugatimito vrajate gatajvaraH ||2 85-78
This celebrates the victory of the great soul, the best among men, the best
among deva-s in the history of bharata. The one who reads this always will
achieve the ultimate refuge without any difficulty.
maNikanakavichitrapANipAdo
niratishayArkaguNorihAdinAthaH |
chaturudadhishayashchaturvidhAtmA
jayati jagatpuruShaH sahasranAmA ||2-85-79
Let the primal lord, hari, the lord of the world, whose legs and arms are
decorated with jewels and gold, in whom the qualities such as splendor of
the sun etc is present in large measure, the one who rests in the four
oceans, the one who has four souls (vAsudeva, saMkarShaNa, pradyumna and
aniruddha) and thousand names be always victorius.
iti shrImahAbhrate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi
ShaTpuravadho nAma pa~nchAshItitamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the eightyfifth chapter of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of
mahAbhArata, nikumbha and others slain
nIlakaNTha commentary
nikumbhapramukhAnAM cha yadubhirvadha uchyate || 1 ||
- 2-85-1 ruddheShviti ||
- 2-85-25 sumahAn sumahAntam ||
- 2-85-35 mahadbhUtaM lokottaravikramam ||
- 2-85-39 brahmaNyaH brAhmaNakulahitaH gatirAshrayaH ||
- 2-85-45 anviShya tadgamanamArgamiti sheShaH ||
- 2-85-46 sukhaduHkheti | svIyAnAM sukhaM pareShAM duHkhamiti
vaktavyam ||
- 2-85-47 janAdhipAn nikumbhanigR^ihItAn yadUn ||
- 2-85-49 kR^iShNeti | tatra tenAyamarthaH | sa nikumbhaH
kR^iShNena saha yuyudhe raukmiNeyastu kR^iShNenaiva prachoditaH
manasA prerito yAdavAnanayadityuttareNa saMbandhaH ||
- 2-85-62 sUryamaNDalavarchasamiti sudarshanavisheShaNatvAtpuMstvam
||
- 2-85-69 pravaraM shreShTham ||
- 2-85-72 dadau tebhya iti sheShaH ||
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM pa~nchashItitamo.adhyAyaHNote 1: verse 40, line 1 : shAstrANAM is wrong
2: " 45, line 2 : durdarpAM seems wrong
3: " 64, line 2 : trAsakare is right, karo seems wrong.
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 14, 2010 ##