O the lord of earth (janamejaya)! Then the angry shambara told his
charioteer: O valiant! Take my chariot quickly towards the enemy.
With these arrows I shall kill the one who does what I do not like.
Then hearing the words of his master, the charioteer, who does what his
master likes, drove the chariot decorated with gold.
Seeing that chariot approaching, pradyumna, with his eyes wide open,
took up his bow and fixed an arrow decorated with gold.
He shot the arrow so that shambara will get angry in the battle.
That enemy of deva-s (shambara) took up that arrow aimed at his heart with
distress. He lost his consciousness and stood leaning on the chariot's
flagstaff (see nIlakaNTha commentary).
Afterwards, regaining his consciousness, shambara took up his bow. He became
angry and shot seven sharp arrows at the son of kR^iShNa (pradyumna).
Before the arrows reached the target, pradyumna cut the seven arrows in seven
parts. Then pradyumna shot seventy sharp arrows at shambara.
Again he became angry and shot shambara with thousands of arrows adorned
with peacock's feathers like rain showers on a mountain.
All the directions were fully covered with the shower of arrows.
The sky became dark and the sun was not to be seen. Then, with the arrow of
vaidyuta shambara removed the darkness.
shambara released a shower of arrows on the chariot of pradyumna.
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) pradyumna cut those arrows to
many pieces with soft heads, showing the swiftness of his hands.
When the son of kR^iShNa destroyed that group of arrows, kAlashambara
released a shower of trees with his illusion.
Seeing the rising shower of trees, pradyumna was charged with anger. He
destroyed the trees with the astra of fire.
When the shower of trees became ashes, he (shambara) started the shower of
stones.
pradyumna destroyed that with the astra of wind in the battle.
Then, O the lord of earth (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued), taking
up a bow, shambara showered lions, tigers, boars as well as hyenas, bears,
monkeys, elephants as large as rain clouds, horses and camels on the chariot
of pradyumna.
pradyumna cut them into pieces with the astra of gandharva.
shambara saw that pradyumna has destroyed the illusion. shambara became
charged with anger and he released other ill usions.
shambara released sixty year old king elephants in rut, skilled in warfare,
with mahouts mounted on them.
tAmApatantIM mAyAM tu kArShniH kamalalochanaH |
saiMhIM mAyAM samutsraShTuM chakre buddhiM mahAmanAH ||2-106-20
The son of kR^iShNa (pradyumna) with eyes as beautiful as lotus, saw that
illusion. The one with great intellect (pradyumna) decided to use the
illusion of lion.
sA sR^iShTA siMhamAyA tu raukmiNeyena dhImatA |
mAyA nAgavatI naShTA Adityeneve sharvarI ||2-106-21
By the illusion of lion, created by the son of rukmiNI, having intellect,
the illusion of elephants was destroyed, like the darkness is destroyed by
the sun.
nihitAM hastimAyAM tu tAM samIkShya mahAsuraH |
anyAM saMmohinIM mAyAM so.asR^ijaddAnavottamaH ||2-106-22
The great demon saw that the illusion of elephants was destroyed. The best
among the demons created another illusion named mohinI (one which
confuses).
tAM dR^iShTvA mohinIM nAma mAyAM mayavinirmitAm |
samj~nAstreNa tu pradyumno nAshayAmAsa vIryavAn ||2-106-23
Seeing the illusion named mohinI, made by mAya, the valiant pradyumna
destroyed it with the arrow of samj~nA.
shambarastu tataH kruddho hatayA mAyayA tadA |
saiMhIM mAyAM mahAtejAH so.asR^ijaddAnaveshvaraH ||2-106-24
When that illusion was destroyed, shambara became angry. The lord of demons
with great splendor created the illusion of lions.
siMhAnApatato dR^iShTvA raukmiNeyaH pratApavAn |
astraM gAndharvamAdAya sharabhAnasR^ijattadA |
Seeing the lions rushing towards him, the son of rukmiNI, with splendor,
took up the arrow of gandharva and created sharabha-s with eight legs.
te.aShTApadA balodagrA nakhadaMShTrAyudhA raNe ||2-106-25
siMhAnvidrAvayAmAsurvAyurjaladharAniva |
Those powerful animals with eight legs having nails and sharp teeth quickly
made the lions ran away like the wind drives away the rain clouds.
siMhAnvidravato dR^iShTvA mAyayAShTapadena vai ||2-106-26
shambarashchintayAmAsa kathamenaM nihanmi vai |
Seeing that the lions are driven away by the eight legged sharaba-s of
illusion, shambara started thinking: How can I kill him?
aho mUrkhasvabhAvo.ahaM yanmayA na hataH shishuH ||2-106-27
prAptayauvanadehastu kR^itAstrashchApi durmatiH |
Alas! I am stupid, not to kill him when he was a child. Becoming a youth,
the one with intellect has become skilled in the use of arrows.
tatkathaM nihaniShyAmi shatruM raNashiraHsthitam ||2-106-28
Then, how can I kill the enemy who is fighting against me in the battle field?
mAyA sA tiShThate tIvrA pannagI nAma bhIShaNA |
dattA me devadevena hareNAsuraghAtinA ||2-106-29
There is a strong terrible illusion named pannagI which was given to me by
hara (shiva) the Lord of gods, the slayer of demons.
tAM sR^ijAmi mahAmAyAmAshIviShasamAkulAm |
tayA dahyeta duShTAtmA hyeSha mAyAmayo balI ||2-106-30
I will create that great illusion comprising of poisonous snakes. The
powerful one, the creator of illusions, the wicked soul (pradymna) will burn
in that illusion.
sA sR^iShTA pannagI mAyA viShajvAlAsamAkulA |
Then he created the illusion of pannagI comprising of poisonous flames.
tayA pannagamayyA tu sarathaM sahavAjinam ||2-106-31
sasUtaM sa hi pradyumnaM babandha sharabandhanaiH |
With the illusion of serpents, he tied up the chariot along with the horses,
the charioteer and also pradyumna with the tie of arrows.
badhyamAnaM tadA dR^iShTvA AtmAnaM vR^iShNivaMshajaH ||2-106-32
mAyAM sa~nchintayAmAsa sauparNIM sarpanAshinIm |
The one who was born in the race of vR^iShNi-s, (pradyumna) finding himself
bound, thought about the illusion sauparNi, which destroys the serpents.
sA chintitA mahAmAyA pradyumnena mahAtmanA ||2-106-33
suparNA vicharanti sma sarpA naShTA mahAviShAH |
As the great soul pradyumna thought about the great illusion (sauparNi),
suparNa-s (garuDa-s) circled and the serpents of strong poison were destroyed.
bhagnAyAM sarpamAyAyAM prashaMsanti surAsurAH || 2-106-34
As the illusion of serpents was broken (by pradyumna) the deva-s and demons
praised:
sAdhu vIra mahAbAho rukmiNyAnandavardhana |
yattvayA dharShitA mAyA tena sma paritoShitAH ||2-106-35
Well done! O valiant! O the one with powerful arms! O the one who increases
the happiness of rukmiNI! We are happy that you have destroyed this illusion.
hatAyAM sarpamAyAyAM shambarashchintayatpunaH |
asti me kAladaNDAbho mudgaro hemabhUShitaH ||2-106-36
When the illusion of serpents was destroyed, shambara again thought: I have
that weapon of death, a hammer, decorated with gold.
tamapratihataM yuddhe devadAnavamAnavaiH |
purA yo mama pArvatyA dattaH paramatuShTayA ||1-106-37
That weapon cannot be repelled in the battle by gods, demons and men. That
was given to me long ago by pArvatI with great happiness.
gR^ihANa shambaremaM tvaM mudgaraM hemabhUShitam |
mayA sR^iShTaM svadehe vai tapaH paramadushcharam ||2-106-38
(pArvatI said:) Take it, shambara, this hammer decorated with gold, created
by me from my own body with most difficult penance.
mAyAntakaraNaM nAma sarvAsuravinAshanam |
anena dAnavau raudrau balinau kAMarUpiNau ||2-106-39
This is named as the destroyer of all illusions. This destroys all demons.
With this I destroyed terrible demons, the powerful ones, those who could
take any form that they desire,
shumbhashchaiva nishumbhashcha sagaNau sUditau mayA |
prANasaMshayamApanne tvayA mokShyaH sa shatrave ||2-106-40
shumbha as well as nishumbha along with their followers. You may use it
against your enemy, when your life is in doubt (danger).
ityuktvA pArvatI devI tatraivAntaradhIyata |
tadahaM mudgaraM shreShThaM mochayiShyAmi shatrave ||2-106-41
Saying this, Goddess pArvatI disappeared there itself. I will release that
best weapon, that hammer on the enemy.
tasya vij~nAya chittaM tu devarAjo.abhyabhAShata |
gachCha nArada shIghraM tvaM pradyumnasya rathaM prati ||2-106-42
Knowing his mind, the king of deva-s (indra) said: nArada! proceed fast
towards the chariot of pradyumna.
saMbodhaya mahAbAhuM pUrvajAtiM cha mokShaya |
vaiShNavAstraM prayachChAsmai vadhArthaM shambarasya cha ||2-106-43
abhedyaM kavachaM chAsya prayachChAsurasUdana |
Remind the one with powerful arms about his earlier life and relieve him.
Give him the vaiShNava astra for killing shambara and an unbreakable
shield for the slayer of demons.
evamukto maghavatA nAradaH prayayau tvaram ||2-106-44
nArada who was told thus by indra went immediately.
AkAshe.adhiShThito.avochanmakaradhvajaketanam |
Based in the sky, he told the one who has fish on his flag (pradyumna) as
follows:
kumAra pashya mAM prAptaM devagandharvanAradam |
preShitaM devarAjena tava saMbodhanAya vai ||2-106-45
(nArada said) O son! See that, I, nArada, dear to the deva-s and gandharva-s
has come. I was sent here by the king of deva-s (indra) to tell you
something.
smara tvaM pUrvakaM bhAvaM kAmadevo.asi mAnada |
harakopAnalAddagdhastenAna~Nga ihochyate ||2-106-46
Remember your earlier nature! O the one who respects others! You are the
god of love, who was burned in the fire of anger of hara (shiva) and hence
is known as ana~Nga (the one without any limbs).
tvaM vR^iShNivaMshajAto.asi rukmiNyA garbhasaMbhavaH |
jAto.asi keshavena tvaM pradyumna iti kIrtyase ||2-106-47
You are born in the race of vR^iShNi-s, born from the womb of rukmiNI to
keshava (kR^iShNa). You are known as pradyumna.
AhR^itya shambareNa tvamihAnIto.asi mAnada |
saptarAtre tvasaMpUrNe sUtikAgAramadhyataH ||2-106-48
O the one who respects others! You were brought here by shambara from the
house of delivery when seven nights were completed after you were born.
vadhArthaM shambarasya tvaM hriyamANo hyupekShitaH |
keshavena mahAbAho devakAryArthasiddhaye ||2-106-49
O the one with powerful arms! shamabara was spared from death by keshava
(kR^iShNa), when you were taken away by him, for fulfilling the purpose of
deva-s.
yaiShA mAyAvatI nAma bhAryA vai shambarasya tu |
ratiM tAM viddhi kalyANIM tava bhAryAM purAtanIm ||2-106-50
The one with the name of mAyAvatI, who is the wife of shambara, is that
auspicious woman rati, your ancient wife.
tava saMrakShaNArthAya shambarasya gR^ihe.avasat |
mAyAM sharIrajAM tasya mohanArthaM durAtmanaH ||2-106-51
rateH saMpAdanArthAya preShayatyanishaM tadA |
She lived in the house of shambara for your protection. She sent the illusion
born from her body for enjoyment and to confuse the wicked soul (shambara).
evaM pradyumna buddhvA vai tatra bhAryA pratiShThitA ||2-106-52
Understanding this, pradyumna, your wife stayed here.
hatvA taM shambaraM vIra vaiShNavAstreNa saMyuge |
gR^ihya mAyAvatIM bhAryAM dvArakAM gantumarhasi ||2-106-53
O valiant! After slaying shambara in the battle with the vaiShNava astra,
you may proceed to dvAraka taking your wife mAyAvatI.
gR^ihANa vaiShNavaM chAstraM kavachaM cha mahAprabham |
shakreNa tava sa~NgR^ihya preShitaM shatrusUdana ||2-106-54
O slayer of enemies! Take the vaiShNava astra and the splendorous shield,
collected and sent by shakra (indra) for you.
shR^iNu me hyaparaM vAkyam kriyatAmavisha~NkayA |
asya devaripostAta mudgaro nityamUrjitaH ||2-106-55
Hear my other words as well, do accordingly without any doubt. O son!
This enemy of deva-s (shambara) has an eternally powerful hammer.
pArvatyAM parituShTAyAM dattaH shatrunibarhaNaH |
amoghashchaiva sa~NgrAme devadAnavamAnavaiH ||2-106-56
This unfailing weapon, that cannot be opposed in the battle by gods, demons
and men in the battle, which destroys the enemies was given by pAravatI who
was highly pleased.
tadastrapravighAtArthaM devIM tvaM smartumarhasi |
stavyA chaiva namasyA cha mahAdevI raNotsukaiH ||2-106-57
The Goddess has to be remembered by you to block this weapon. Remember that
the great Goddess shall be praised and paid obeisance by those who battle.
tatra vai kriyatAM yatnaH sa~NgrAme ripuNA saha |
ityuktvA nArado vAkyaM prayayau yatra vAsavaH ||2-106-58
Do accordingly, as you battle with the enemy. Saying these words, nArada
went to the place where vAsava (indra) was.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi
shambaravadhe nAradavAkye ShaDadhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the one hundred and sixth chapter of viShNuparva, harivamsha,
khila of mahAbhArata, nArada's message.
nIlakaNTha commentary
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr@yahoo.ca,
January 20, 2009
Note: 1. the title for this Chapter has to be supplied
2. Verse 44. It should be ...sUdane, as is typed here.
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
June 12, 2011 ##
- 2-106-1 shambara iti ||
- 2-106-5 rathashaktiM rathasyotsAhahetuM dhvajaM -
- 2-106-16 vAridaprakhyAn meghavat mR^ijyamAnAn -
- 2-106-45 devaM gandharvapriyo nArado devagandharvanAradastam ||
- 2-106-51 taveti | ratireva mAyamAyaM sharIrAntaraM svasadR^ishaM
kR^itvA
mAyAvatIsaMj~naM kR^itvA daityaM ramayatItyarthaH ||
- 2-106-52 rateH prIteH etena rateH pAtivratyabha~Ngo nAstIti darshitam ||
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAShaDadhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH ||shaktirastrAntare sauryAmusahAdau bale striyAm
iti medinI ||
prakhyA bR^ihatprekShaNe buddhau
iti vishvaH ||