The demons were astonished by the statement of the story, the appearance of the actors and the refined acting by the actors.

teraktA vismayaM nedurasurAH parayA mudA |
utthAyotthAya nATyasya viShayeShu punaH punaH ||2-93-11

The demons were astonished and enraptured by the acting. Enjoying the superb acting, the demons got up again and again (for encouraging the actors).

dadur vastrANi tuShTAshcha graiveyavalayAni cha |
hArAnmanoharAMshchaiva hema vaiDUrya bhUShitAn ||2-93-12

Happy with the performance, the demons gave clothes, bangles and necklaces and also beautiful garlands decorated by jewels such as hema and vaiDUrya.

pR^ithagartheShu datteShu lokaiste tuShTuvurnaTAH |
asurAMshchamunIMshchaiva gotrairabhijanairapi ||2-93-13

When the gifts were given separately, the actors praised the demons and sages referring to the races and families.

preShitaM vajranAbhasyashAkhAnagaravAsibhiH |
naTasya divyarUpasya narendrAgamanaM tadA ||2-93-14

O the indra of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The residents of the satellite city sent message to vajranAbha about the arrival of the divine actors.

purAshrutArtho daityendraH preshayAmAsa bhAratA |
AnIyatAM vajrapuraM nato.asAvitiharShitaH ||2-93-15

O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The indra of demons (vajranAbha) who had heard about it before, became happy. He sent a messenger to take the actors to the city of vajra.

dAnavendra vachaHshrutvA shAkhAnagaravAsibhiH |
nItA vajrapuraM ramyaM naTaveSheNa yAdavAH ||2-93-16

Hearing the words of the indra of demons, the residents of the satellite city took the actors who were yAdava-s, to the beautiful city of vajra.

AvAsashcha tato dattaH sukR^ito vishvakarmaNA |
eShTavyaM yachcha tatsarvaM dattaM shataguNottaram ||2-93-17

They were provided with houses, made excellently by vishvakarma. All they needed were provided more than hundred times.

Atha kAlotsavaM chakre vajranAbho mahAsuraH |
kArayAmAsa ramyaM cha chamUvATaM prahR^iShTavAn ||2-93-18

Afterwards, the great demon vajranAbha performed a festival named kAlotsavaM (in the honour of shiva). He happily constructed a beautiful building for the entertainment of his soldiers.

tatastAn parivishrAntAn prekShArthAya prachodayat |
dattvA ratnAnibhUrINi vajranAbho mahAbalaH ||2-93-19

After the actors took full rest, he persuaded them to perform. The greatly powerful vajranAbha gave them jewels in large quantities.

upaviShTashchatAn draShTuM sahaj~nAtibhirAtmavAn |
ChannechAntaHpuraM sthApyachakShurdR^ishye narAdhipaH ||2-93-20

He sat along with his relatives and friends to watch the performance. The ruler of men (king) installed a place so that the women of the inner quarters can watch the performance, concealed.

bhaimApi baddhanepathyA naTaveShadharAstathA |
kAryArthaM bhImakarmANo nRityArthamupachakramuH ||2-93-21

The bhaima-s (yAdava-s), performers of difficult tasks, put on the costumes of actors and began the performance for achieving their purpose.

tato ghanaM sasuShiraM murajAnaka bhUShitam |
tantrIsvaragaNairviddhAnAtodyAnanvavAdayan ||2-93-22

Then they played the musical instruments, ghanaM (idiophones such as cymbals), suShiraM (aerophones such as pipes, flutes), muraja (mR^ida~Nga) and Anaka (large drum) along with musical instruments producing groups of sounds from strings (chordophones such as vINA).

tatastu devagAndhAraM ChAlikyaM shravaNAmR^itam |
bhaimastriyaH prajagiremanaH shrotrasukhAvaham ||2-93-23

Afterwards, the yAdava women (courtesans brought by yAdava-s) sang the devagAndhAraM, ChAlikyaM, sweet to hear like nectar for the ears, providing happiness to the mind as well as ears.

AgAndhAragrAmarAgam ga~NgAvataraNaM tathA |
viddhamAsAritaM ramyaM jagiresvarasampadA ||2-93-24

Expanding the grAma tunes (such as shaDja, madhyama and gAndhAra), they sang the song, the descent of ga~NgA (ga~NgvataraNam), beautifully, with AsAritaM, in a variety of tunes, enriched with beautiful sounds.

layatAlasamaM shrutvA ga~NgAvataraNaM shubham |
asurAMstoShayAmAsa utthAyotthAya bhArata ||2-93-25

O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The yAdava-s, singing the auspicious song, the descent of ga~NgA with appropriate rhythm and tunes, arose great happiness in the demons.

nandiM cha vAdayAmAsapradyumnogadaeva cha |
sAmbashchavIryasampannaHkAryArthaMnaTatAMgataH ||2-93-26

pradyumna, gada and the valiant sAmba, who became actors for achieving their task, performed the preliminaries by playing nandi.

nAndyante cha tadA shlokaM ga~NgAvataraNAshritam |
raukmiNeyastadovAcha samyak svabhinayAnvitam ||2-93-27

At the conclusion of preliminary rituals, the son of rukmiNI, pradyumna recited a shloka in full, beautifully, based on the descent of ga~NgA, along with acting.

rambhAbhisAraM kauberaM nATakaM nanR^itustataH |
shUro rAvaNarUpeNa rambhAveShaM manovatI ||2-93-28

Afterwards, they performed a play named rambhAbhisAraM, regarding kubera. shUra acted as rAvaNa and manovatI acted as rambhA.

Note 1

nalakUbarastu pradyumnaH sAmbastasya vidUShakaH |
kailAsorUpitashchApi mAyayA yadunandanaiH ||2-93-29

pradyumna became nalakUbara and sAmba acted as the vidUShaka (the comic sidekick). The yAdava-s also presented kailAsa, with illusion.

shApashcha dattaH kruddhena rAvaNasya durAtmanaH |
nalakUbareNa cha yathA ramyA chApyathasAntvitA ||2-93-30

They acted how the wicked soul rAvaNa was cursed by the angry nalakUbara and also how the beautiful rambha was consoled.

etat prakaraNaM vIrAn anR^itur yadunandanAH |
nAradasya muneH kIrtiM sarvaj~nasya mahAtmanaH ||2-93-31

The valiant yAdava-s enacted this episode, by which the fame of the wise great soul, sage nArada is presented.

pAdoddhAreNa nR^ityena tathaivAbhinayena cha |
tuShTuvur dAnavA vIrA bhaimAnAmatitejasAm ||2-93-32

The valiant demons were pleased by the foot work, dancing as well as acting of the splendorous bhaima-s (yAdava-s).

tedadur vastramukhyAni ratnAnyAbharaNAni cha |
hArAMstaralaviddhAMshcha vaiDUryamaNibhUShitAn ||2-93-33

They presented best clothes, jewels as well as ornaments and garlands decorated with vaidUrya and maNi to the yAdava-s.

vimAnAni vichitrANi rathAMshchAkAshagAminaH |
gajAnAkAshagAMshchaiva divyanAgakulodbhavAn ||2-93-34

The demons presented wonderful aerial vehicles, chariots capable of travelling in the sky and elephants, moving in the sky, born in the races of divine elephants,

chandanAni cha divyAni shItAni rasavanti cha |
gurUNyagurumukhyAni gandhADhyAni cha bhArata ||2-93-35

and O the one born in the race of bharata (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued), cool as well as fragrant divine sandals, the best aguru (akil) and the best fragrances,

chintAmaNInudArAMshcha chintitesarvakAmadAn |
prekShAsu tAsu bahvIShu dadanto dAnavAstathA ||2-93-36

groups of jewels named chintAmaNi which provide all desires merely by thinking and many other gifts.

dhanaratnairvirahitAH kR^itAH puruShasattama |
striyodAnavamukhyAnAM tathaiva cha janeshvara ||2-93-37

O the best among men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) By giving these presents, the demons became devoid of wealth and jewels. O the lord of men! The women of the prominent demons also became likewise.

tato haMsI prabhAvatyAH sakhI prAha prabhAvatIm |
gatAsmi dvArakAM ramyAM bhaimaguptAmanindite ||2-93-38

Then the swan, friend of prabhAvatI, told prabhAvatI. (shuchimukhI said) O the one who is not despised! I went to the beautiful dvArakA protected by the bhaima-s.

pradyumnashcha mayA dR^iShTo vivikte chArulochane |
bhaktishcha kathitA tasya mayA tava shuchismite |2-93-39

O the one with beautiful eyes! I also saw pradyumna alone. O the one with beautiful smile! I told him about your devotion.

tenah R^iShTena kAlascha kR^itaH kamalalochane |
adya pradoShasamaye tvayA saha samAgame ||2-93-40

O the one with eyes as beautiful as lotus! He happily fixed the time for meeting you. He fixed the time of today evening (pradoSha) as the time for meeting with you.

tadadya ruchirashroNi tavapriya samAgamaH |
nahyAtmavArtAM bhAShanti mithyA bhaimakulodbhavAH ||2-93-41

Hence, O the one with beautiful hair! Today is the time for meeting your beloved. Those born in the race of yAdava-s (bhaima-s) do not speak falsehood.

tataH prabhAvatI hR^iShTA haMsIM tAmidamabravIt |
uShitAsi mamA.a.avAse svaptumarhasi sundari ||2-93-42

(O janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Then prabhAvatI became happy. She told the swan as follows: O beautiful! Stay with me and sleep at my residence tonight.

tvayAhaM sahitAvAse draShTumichChAmi kaishavim |
niHsAdhvasA bhaviShyAmi tvayAsaha viha~Ngame ||2-93-43

I want to see the son of keshava (pradyumna) at my residence along with you. O the one who travels in the sky! With you, I will be fearless.

haMsI tatheti chovAcha sakhIM kamalalochanAm |
Aruroha cha taddharmyaM prabhAvatyA viha~NgamA ||2-93-44

Then the swan, (shuchimukhI) said, "let it be" to her friend (prabhAvatI) with eyes as beautiful as the lotus. The one who travels in the sky (the swan) entered the beautiful residence of prabhAvatI.

vishvakarmakR^ite tatra harmyapR^iShThe prabhAvatI |
saMvidhAnaM chakArAshu pradyumnAgamanakShamam ||2-93-45

Then at the backside of the beautiful residence made by vishvakarma, prabhAvatI made suitable arrangements for the arrival of pradyumna.

tasminkR^ite saMvidhAne kAmamAnayituM yayau |
prabhAvatImanuj~nApya haMsI vAyusamA gatau ||2-93-46

After making suitable arrangements, the swan went away, as permitted by prabhAvatI, with a speed equal to wind to bring kAma (pradyumna).

naTaveShadharaM kAmaM gatvovAcha shuchismitA |
adya bhUtaH sabhagavansamayo vartate nishi ||2-93-47

The one with a beautiful smile (the swan shuchimukhI), went to kAma (pradyumna), who was in the form of the actor and said: O lord! The time fixed by you before is today night.

tatheti prAha tAM kAmaH sAnivR^ittAtha pakShiNI |
abhyAgatA cha sAhaMsI prabhAvatimathAbravIt |

kAma (pradyumna) said: "let it be". Then the swan returned. On her return, the swan told prabhAvatI as follows:

abhyeti raukmiNeyo.asAvAshvasAyatalochane ||2-93-48

The son of rukmiNI is coming now. O the one with long eyes! Be relieved and be comfortable.

pradyumno nIyamAnaMtu dadR^ishe mAlyamAtmavAn |
bhramarairAvR^itaM vIraH sugandhamarimardanaH ||2-93-49

Then the oppressor of enemies, valiant pradyumna with great soul, saw a garland of fragrant flowers, surrounded by bees being taken.

nililye tatra mAlyetu bhUtvA madhukarastadA |
prabhAvatyA nIyamAne viditArthaH pratApavAn ||2-93-50

The one with great splendor, the wise pradyumna, knowing that the garland was being taken to prabhAvatI, becoming a honey bee, hid in the garland.

praveshitaM cha tanmAlyaM strIbhir madhukarAyutam |
upanItaM prabhAvatyaistrIbhistadbhramarAvR^itam ||2-93-51

The women took the garland of flowers along with the honey bees. The women presented the garland of flowers, surrounded by bees to prabhAvatI.

avidUre cha vinyastaM prabhAvatyA janAdhipa |
bhramarAste yayuH saumya sandhyAkAlehyupasthite ||2-93-52

O the ruler of men! The garland was kept not far from prabhAvatI. O gentle one! As the evening arrived, all the bees went away.

sabhaimapravarovIrastaiH sahAyairvihInataH |
karNotpale prabhAvatyA nililye shanakairiva ||2-93-53

That valiant chief of bhaima-s (yAdava-s), without his companions, attached himself, with hesitation, on to the lotus flower, decorating the ear of prabhAvatI.

tataH prabhAvatI haMsImuvAcha vadatAM varA |
udyataM pUrNachandraM sAsamIkShyAtimanoharam ||2-93-54

Then the best among speakers, prabhAvatI, told the swan, looking at the beautiful full moon, rising in the sky.

sakhidahyatime.a~NgAni mukhaM cha parishuShyati |
autsukyaM hR^idi chAtIvako.ayaM vyAdhiranauShadhaH ||2-93-55

(prabhAvatI said) O friend! My limbs are burning. My face is becoming dry as well. I have extreme anxiety in my heart. What is this disease, without any medicine?

dadhaddviguNamautsukyam asau pUrNanishAkaraH |
navoditaH shItarashmiH sakhyaM harati cha priyaH ||2-93-56

The full moon, lord of the night, has risen, doubling my anxiety. I will like it, if the rising moon withdraws his cool rays completely.

nadR^iShTapUrvo hi mayA shrutamAtreNa kA~NkShitaH |
ahodhUmayate.a~NgAni strIsvabhAvasya dhikkhalu |

pradyumna was not seen by me before. I desired him only by hearing about him. Oh! My limbs are fuming. This behavior of women is despicable.

kalpayAmi yathA buddhyA yadi nAbhyeti me priyaH ||2-93-57
kumudvatI gataM mArgaM hA gamiShyAmyaki~nchanA |

I am imagining with my intellect that if my beloved does not come, perhaps, I will follow the path of kumudvatI (I will die young).

madanAshI viSheNAsmi hA hA daShTA manasvinI ||2-93-58

O the one with a good mind! The serpent of kAma (desire) has bitten me.

shItavIryAH prakR^ityaiva jagatau hrAdanAH sukhAH |
dahanti mama gAtrANi kiM nu chandragabhastayaH ||2-93-59

Why are the rays of moon, having the power to cool and provide happiness to the world, by its nature, burning my body?

prakR^ityA shItalo vAyur nAnApuShparajo vahaH |
dAvAgnisadR^isho me.adya dandahIti shubhAM tanum ||2-93-60

The wind, cool by nature, carrying the pollen of many flowers, is now burning my good body like a forest fire.

tataHsa~Nkalpaye evasthairyaM kAryamivAtmanaH |
nAvatiShThati nirvIryaM manaHsa~NkalpadharShitam ||2-93-61

I wish that I should be fixed in mind. My mind, devoid of any power, does not obey my wish.

vimanaskAsmi muhyAmi vepathurme mahAn hR^idi |
babhramIti cha me dR^iShTir hA hA yAmi dhruvaM kShayam ||2-93-62

Losing my will power, I hope for my desires. I have great anxiety in my heart. My eyes are rolling. Oh! Oh! I will definitely perish.

itishrImahAbhAratekhileShuharivaMsheviShNuparvaNi vajranAbhapurepradyumnagamanetrinavatitamo.adhyAyaH

Thus, this is the ninety-third chapter of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbharata, pradyumna enters the city of vajranAbha.

Note 1
The AkyAna involving rAvaNa, raMbhA and nalakUbara is mentioned in the rAmAyaNa section of mahAbhArata. The whole incident is described in adhyAya 26, uttara kANDa, rAmAyaNa.

nIlakaNTha commentary

2- 93-1 tataH pUrvashruto bhadranAmA naTa evAtra prApta iti teShAM buddhirabhUdityarthaH ||
2-93-4 paryAyArthe veShadhAraNArtham ||
2-93-5 vAsInAM dairghyamArSham ||
2-93-7 achyuta he rAjan ||
2-93-10 saMskAraH veShadhAraNam abhinayaH kriyAdarshanaM prastAvaH kriyANAM prasaMjanaM praveshaM pAtrANAM prathamadarshanam ||
2-93-11 vismayaM savismayaM sAshcharyam ||
2-93-18 kAlotsavaM mahAkAlarudrasyotsavaM chakre naTadvArA chamUvATaM sainikAhvAnaM prekShaNArtham ||
2-93-20 Channe jAlajavanikApihitasthAne ata eva chakShudR^ishya chakShuH saMnihitaM dR^ishyaM nATyaM yatra tattathAbhUte ||
2-93-21 bhaimA apIti sandhirArShaH ||
2-93-22 ghanaM kAMsyatAlAdikaM sasuShiraM sachChidraM venuprabhR^itikaM murajA mardalAH Anaka paTahaH tantrIti rudravInAdikAnAmupalakShaNaM evamAdInAtodyAn vAdyavisheShAn ||
2-93-23 bhaimastriyaH bhaimairAnItA vAranAryaH ||
2-93-24 AgAndhAramiti | niShAdarShabhagAndhAraShaDjamadhyamadhaivatAkhyAn saptasvarAn vyApyaH grAmaH katipayasvarsaMghaH | te cha trayaH | rAgo vasantAdiH | sAklyena gAndhArAdayo yatra tat ga~NgvataraNaM nAma gItavishehaviddhaM rAgAntaramishraM AsAritaM mUrchChitaM jagire gItaM kR^itavatyA ||
2-93-26 nAndiM nandikeshvaramukhaM charmakoshamayaM vAdyAH visheSham | dvAdashspaTaha shabdo nAndirityanye nAndImiti pAThe nAndIM devadvijAdInAM shubhashaMsinIM aShTabhirdashsbirva avAntaravAkyayuktAM pUrvara~NgapradhAnAM vAkyAvalIM vAdayAmAsa papATheti kechit ||
2-93-27 nAndyante ma~NgalapadyapAThAnte ||
2-93-28 kubero nalakUbaraH tatsaMbandhinaM kauberaM manovatI nAma kAchidvArA~NganA ||
2-93-29 rUpitaH kalpitaH ||
2-93-32 nR^ityena rAvaNashApajAhlAdapravR^itena ||
2-93-33 taralo vartulo maniH ||
2-93-40 samAgame kAlaH kR^ita iti sabandhaH ||
2-93-41 Atmavati Atmabhakte ||
2-93-45 saMvidhAnaM sa~Nketam ||
2-93-46 kAmaM pradyumnaM gatau gatyAm ||
2-93-48 AshvAseti chChedaH ||
2-93-50 prabhAvatyA prabhAvatyarthaM nIyamAne mAlye ||
2-93-56 priyo.api sakhyaM harati apriyavadbhavatItyarthaH ||
2-93-58 kumudvatIgataM mArgaM jIvatyeva bhartari yauvane maraNam ||
2-93-61 kalpaye eva kalpayAmyeva Atmano manasaH sthairthe kAryamityetamarthaM kalpaye na tu siddhayatItyarthaH ||

iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi tIkAyAM trinavatitamo.adhyAyaH

## itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr@yahoo.ca, January 7, 2009
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition,
send corrections to A. Harindranathharindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
February 12, 2011##