tatastUryaninAdaishcha sha~NkhAnAM cha mahAsvanaiH |
bandimAgadhasUtAnAM stavaishchApi sahasrashaH ||2-122-1

vaishampAyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Then, accompanied by the loud sounds of thousands of tUrya-s and conches, the panegyrists, heralds and bards sang hymns praising kR^iShNa.

sa tUnmukhairjayAshIrbhiH stUyamAno hi mAnavaiH |
babhAra rUpaM somArkashukrANAM pratimaM tadA ||2-122-2

Praised by men looking up with the blessings for victory, kR^iShNa took up a blazing form similar to that of the moon, the sun and the venus.

atIva shushubhe rUpaM vyomni tasyotpatiShyataH |
vainateyasya bhadraM te bR^iMhitaM haritejasA ||2-122-3

(O king! janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Let there be good to you! The form of vinata's son (garuDa) rising up in the sky, expanding by the splendor of hari (viShNu - kR^iShNa), dazzled the most.

athAShTabAhuH kR^iShNAstu parvatAkArasaMnibhaH |
vibabhau puNDarIkAkSho vikA~NkShanbANasa~NkShayam ||2-122-4

kR^iShNa with eight hands appeared huge like a mountainous body. The one with eyes as beautiful as the lotus flower (kR^iShNa) desiring the decline of bANa, dazzled the most.

asichakragadAbANA dakShiNaM pArshvamAsthitAH |
charma shAr~NgaM tathA chApaM shaMkhaM chaivAsya vAmataH ||2-122-5

kR^iShNa was holding the sword, chakra, mace and arrows on his right hands and the shield, the bow shAr~NgaM and the conch on his left hands.

shIrShANAM vai sahasraM tu vihitaM shAr~NgadhanvanA |
sahasraM chaiva kAyAnAM vahansa~NkarShaNastadA ||2-122-6

The one who holds the bow shAr~NgaM (kR^iShNa) formed thousands of heads. Then sa~NkarShaNa (balarAma) created thousands of bodies.

shvetapraharaNo.adhR^iShyaH kailAsa iva shR^i~NgavAn |
prasthito garuDenAtha udyanniva divAkaraH ||2-122-7

The one holding the white-coloured weapons, the unassailable lord, appeared like the mountain kailAsa with peaks. Mounted on garuDa, he looked like the rising lord of the day (sun).

sanatkumArasya vapuH prAdurAsInmahAtmanaH |
pradyumnasya mahAbAhoH sa~NgrAme vikramiShyataH ||2-122-8

As pradyumna, the one with great arms took up valiance in the battlefield, his body became the body of the great soul, sanatkumAra.

sa pakShabalavikShepairvidhunvanparvatAnbahUn |
jagAma mArgaM balavAnvAtasya pratiShedhayan ||2-122-9

Breaking many mountains with the powerful waving of his wings, powerful garuDa went, blocking the path of the wind.

atha vAyoratigatimAsthAya garuDastadA |
siddhachAraNasa~NghAnAM shubhaM mArgamavAtarat ||2-122-10

Then garuDa took up the speed of wind and entered the auspicious path of the groups of siddha-s and chAraNa-s.

atha rAmo.abravIdvAkyaM kR^iShNamapratimaM raNe |

Then (bala)rAma spoke these words to kR^iShNa who is incomparable in battle:

svAbhiH prabhAbhirhInAH sma kR^iShNa kasmAdapUrvavat ||2-122-11

(balarAma said:) O kR^iShNa! We have lost our splendor. How did this happen which never occurred before?

sarve kanakavarNAbhAH samvR^ittAH sma na saMshayaH |
kimidaM brUhi nastattvaM kiM meroH pArshvagA vayam ||2-122-12

All of us are covered by a golden colour. There is no doubt. Tell us the reason why this is so? Are we going by the side of the meru mountain?

shrIbhagavAnuvAcha

manye bANasya nagaramabhyAsasthamariMdama |
rakShArthaM tasya niryAto vahnireSha sthito jvalan ||2-122-13

The auspicious lord (kR^iShNa) said:

O the oppressor of foes (balarAma)! Understand that the city of bANa is certainly near. The fire has come out (of the city) blazing for protecting the city.

agnerAhavanIyasya prabhayA sma samAhatAH |
tena no varNavairUpyamidaM jAtaM halAyudha ||2-122-14

We are opposed all over by the splendor of the fire AhavanIya. O the one who has the plough as weapon (balarAma)! That is why the change of colour has occurred to us.

shrIrAma uvAcha

yadi sma sannikarShasthA yadi niShprabhatAM gatAH |
tadvidhatsva svayaM buddhyA yadatrAnantaraM hitam ||2-122-15

The auspicious (bala)rAma said:

If we are near the city and if we have lost our splendor, then think with your intellect and do the next according to your wish.

shrIbhagavAnuvAcha

kuruShva vainateya tvaM yachcha kAryamanantaram |
tvayA vidhAne vihite kariShyAmyahamuttamam ||2-122-16

The auspicious lord (kR^iShNa) said:

O the son of vinatA (garuDa)! Do what is to be done here next. After you do what is to be done according to you, I shall do the best what is to be done.

vaishampAyana uvAcha

etachChrutvA tu garuDo vAsudevsya bhAShitam |
chakre mukhasahasraM hi kAmarUpI mahAbalaH ||2-122-17

vaishampAyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Hearing what was told by the son of vasudeva (kR^iShNa), the powerful garuDa who can take up any form as he desires, created thousands of faces.

ga~NgAmupAgamattUrNaM vainateyo mahAbalaH |
AplutyAkAshaga~NgAyAmApIya salilaM bahu ||2-122-18

Afterwards, the highly powerful son of vinatA (garuDa) went to the river ga~NgA. Jumping into the divine river AkAshaga~Nga, he drank lots of water.

pravavarShopari gato vainateyaH pratApavAn |
tenAgniM shamayAmAsa buddhimAnvinatAtmajaH ||2-122-19

The splendorous son of vinata (garuDa) showered water standing above. The son of vinata (garuDa), the one having intellect, extinguished the fire with water.

agnirAhavanIyastu tataH shAntimupAgamat |

The fire AhavanIya was thus pacified.

taM dR^iShTvA.a.ahavanIyaM tu shAntamAkAshaga~NgayA |
paramaM vismayaM gatvA suparNo vAkyamabravIt ||2-122-20

Seeing that the fire AhavanIya was pacified by the water of the divine AkAshaga~NgA, the one having beautiful wings, garuDa was highly astonished. He said the following words:

aho vIryamathAgnestu yo dahedyugasa~NkShaye |
yadeva varNavairUpyaM chakre kR^iShNasya dhImataH ||2-122-21

O! The power of fire is strong enough to burn the sky during the decline of the era. This fire had imparted the different colour to kR^iShNa with intellect.

trayastrayANAM lokAnAM paryAptA iti me matiH |
kR^iShNaH sa~NkarShaNashchaiva pradyumnashcha mahabalaH ||2-122-22

I think that the three, kR^iShNa, sa~NkarShaNa (balarAma) as also pradyumna, highly powerful, are capable of opposing the three worlds.

tataH prashAnte dahane saMpratasthe sa pakShirAT |
svapakShabalavikShepaM kurvanghoraM mahAsvanam ||2-122-23

As the fire was subdued, the king of birds, garuDa proceeded further, making terrible and loud sounds by waving his wings powerfully.

taM dR^iShTvA vismayaM tatra rudrasyAnucharAgnayaH |
AsthitA garuDaM hyete nAnArUpA bhayAvahAH ||2-122-24

Seeing them there, the followers of rudra (shiva), the fires wondered: Who are these men having different terrible forms, mounted on garuDa?

kimarthamiha saMprAptAH ke vApIme janAstrayaH |
nishchayaM nAdhigachChanti te girivrajavahnayaH ||2-122-25

What purpose did they come here? Who are these three? Those fires of the mountain could not reach any decision.

prAvartayaMshcha sa~NgrAmaM taistribhiH saha yAdavaiH |
teShAM yuddhaprasaktAnAM saMnAdaH sumahAnabhUt ||2122-26

Then the fires fought the battle with the three yAdava-s. While they were engaged in the battle, loud sounds were heard.

taM cha shrutvA mahAnAdaM siMhAnAmiva garjatAm |
athA~NgirAH svapuruShaM preShayAmAsa buddhimAn ||2-122-27

Hearing those loud sounds, similar to the roaring of lions, a~Ngiras, the one with intellect, sent his man (to find out).

yatra tadvartate yuddhaM tatra gachChasva mA chiram |
dR^iShTvA tatsarvamAgachCha ityuktaH prahitastvaran ||2-122-28

(a~Ngiras said:) Go to the place where the battle is going on. Do not delay. See everything (the battle) and come back. Saying this, the man was sent quickly.

tathetyuktvA sa tadyuddhaM vartamAnamavaikShata |
agnInAM vAsudevena saMsaktAnAM mahAmR^idhe ||2-122-29

Saying let it be, the person went to see the battle between the son of vasudeva (kR^iShNa) and the fires in the great battle field.

te jAtavedasaH sarve kalmAShaH kusumastathA |
dahanaH shoShaNashchaiva tapanashcha mahAbalaH ||2-122-30

All those fires, kalmASha, kusuma, dahana, shoShNa as also the highly powerful tapana,

svAhAkArasya viShaye prakhyAtAH pa~ncha vahnayaH |

those five fires are famous in the consecration by uttering svahA (while offering oblation to fire ).

athApare mahAbhAgAH svairanIkairvyavasthitAH ||2-122-31
piTharaH patagaH svarNaH shvA gAdho bhrAja eva cha |

There are other highly splendorous fires along with their armies, named piThara, pataga, svarNa, shvA, gAdha as well as bhrAja.

svadhAkArAshrayAH pa~ncha ayuddhyaMste.api chAgnayaH ||2-122-32

These five fires based on svadhA were also fighting there.

jyotiShTomavibhAgau cha vaShaTkArAshrayau punaH |
dvAvagnI saMprayudhyete mahAtmAnau mahAdyutI ||2-122-33
AgneyaM rathamAsthAya sharamudyamya bhAsvaram |

Two fires, great souls with the great splendor of jyotiShToma division and based on vaShaTkAra also fought there, mounted on the chariot of fire and holding sparkling arrows.

tayormadhye.a~NgirAshchaiva maharShirvibabhau raNe ||2-122-34

Among them the great sage a~Ngiras dazzled in the battle.

sthitama~NgirasaM dR^iShTvA vimu~nchantaM shitA~nCharAn |
kR^iShNaH provAcha sa~NkruddhaH smayanniva punaH punaH ||2-122-35

Seeing sage a~Ngiras releasing sharp arrows in the battle, kR^iShNa became angry. Smiling again and again, he said:

tiShThadhvamagnayaH sarve eSha vo vidadhe bhayam |
mamAstratejasA dagdhA disho yAsyatha vidrutAH |

All of you fires! Halt! I shall create fear for you. Burning in the splendor of my arrows, you will run far away in all directions.

athA~NgirAstrishUlena dIptena samadhAvata ||2-122-36
AdadAna iva krodhAtkR^iShNaprANAnmahAmR^idhe |

Then sage a~Ngiras came running with a sparkling trident, becoming angry to take away the life of kR^iShNa in the great battle.

trishUlaM tasya dIptaM tu chichCheda parameShubhiH |
ardhachandraistathA tIkShNairyamAntakanibhopamaiH ||2-122-37

kR^iShNa cut the sparkling trident with his crescent shaped sharp arrows similar to those of the god of death.

sthUNAkarNena bANena dIptena sa mahAmanAH |
vivyAdhAntakatulyena vakShasya~NgirasaM tataH ||2-122-38

Then the great soul kR^iShNa split the chest of sage a~Ngiras with sparkling arrows named sthUNakarNa, equal to those of the god of death.

rudhiraughaplutairgAtraira~NgirA vihvalanniva |
viShTabdhagAtraH sahasA papAta dharaNItale ||2-122-39

a~Ngiras was distressed with blood flowing from his body. He suddenly fell down on earth with his stunned body.

sheShAstato.agnayaH sarve chatvAro brahmaNaH sutAH |
AdhAvantastadA shIghraM bANasya puramantikAt ||2-122-40

All the remaining fires, the four sons of brahmA ran away quickly to the city of bANa.

athAgamattataH kR^iShNo yatra bANapuraM tataH |
atha bANapuraM dR^iShTvA dUrAtprovAcha nAradaH ||2-122-41

kR^iShNa went to the place where the city of bANa was located. Seeing the city of bANa from far away, nAradA said:

etattachChoNitapuraM kR^iShNa pashya mahAbhuja |
atra rudro mahAtejA rudrANyA sahito.avasat ||2-122-42

(nArada said:) kR^iShNa! This is the city of blood. O the one with powerful arms! Look! rudra (shiva) having high splendor stays here along with rudrANi (pArvatI).

guhashcha bANaguptyarthaM satataM kShemakAraNAt |
nAradasya vachaH shrutvA kR^iShNaH saMprahasanbravIt ||2-122-43

guha (subrahmaNya) is also staying here always for protecting bANa for his welfare. Hearing the words of nArada, kR^iShNa spoke thus.

kShaNAM chintayatAmatra shrUyatAM cha mahAmune |
yadi vAvataredrudro bANasaMrakShaNaM prati ||2-122-44
shaktito vayamapyatra saha yotsyAma tena vai |

O great sage! Hear my words and think about it quickly. If rudra comes down to protect bANa, we shall definitely fight with him according to our strength.

evaM vivadatostatra kR^iShNanAradayostadA || 2-122-45
prAptA nimeShamAtreNa shIghragA garuDena te |

As kR^iShNa and nArada were discussing among them, they reached the place quickly because of garuDa.

tataH sha~Nkham samAdhAya vadane puShkarekShaNaH ||2-122-46
vAyuvegasamudbhUto meghashchandramivodgiran |

Then the one having eyes as beautiful as the lotus flower, kR^iShNa held the conch on his mouth, like a rain cloud brings out the moon, prompted by the speed of the wind.

tataH pradhmApya taM sha~NkhaM bhayamutpAdya vIryavAn ||2-122-47
pravivesha puraM kR^iShNo bANasyAdbhutakarmaNaH |

Then the valiant kR^iShNa blew the conch and created fear. Then kR^iShNa who performs wonderful tasks entered the city of bANa.

tataH sha~NkhapraNAdaishcha bherINAM cha mahAsvanaiH ||2-122-48
bANAnIkAni sahasA saMnahyanta samantataH |

Then, accompanied by the sounds of conch and the loud sounds of kettle drums (bherI), the army of bANa assembled quickly all around.

tataH ki~NkarasainyaM tu vyAdiShTaM samare bhayAt ||2-122-49
koTishashchApi bahusho dIptapraharaNAstadA |

Then the valiant (bANa) dispatched an army of his servants. There are much more than ten million soldiers, holding lighted arrows.

tadasa~NkhyeyamekasthaM mahAbhravanasaMnibham ||2-122-50
nIlA~njanachayaprakhyamaprameyamathAkShayam |

Then that innumerable army assembled together like a huge cloud having the form of a large dark blue coloured stone which cannot be measured and which do not have any decline.

dIptapraharaNAH sarve daityadAnavarAkShasAH ||2-122-51
pramAthagaNamukhyAshcha ayudhyankR^iShNamavyayam |

All the demons, dAnava-s and rAkShsa-s, holding lighted weapons as well as the major oppressing groups fought against kR^iShNa who does not have any decline.

sarvatastaiH pradIptAsyaiH sArchiShmadbhirivAgnibhiH ||2-122-52
abhyupetya tadAtyugrairyakSharAkShasakinnaraiH |

All those terrible yakSha-s, rAkShasa-s and kinnara-s having blazing mouths similar to those fires who receive oblations, going near them, surrounding them all around,

pIyate rudhiraM teShAM chaturNAmapi saMyuge ||2-122-53

drank the blood of all four of them (kR^iShNa, balarAma, pradyumna and garuDa).

tadbalaM tu samAsAdya balabhadro mahAbalaH |
provAcha vachanaM tatra parasya balanAshanaH ||2-122-54

Approaching the enemy's army, the highly powerful balabhadra (balarAma) spoke the following words: See the destruction of the army.

kR^iShNa kR^iShNa mahAbAho vidhatsvaiShAM mahadbhayam |

kR^iShNa! O kR^iShNa! O the one with powerful arms! Create great fear in them!

iti sa~nchoditaH kR^iShNo balabhadreNa dhImatA ||2-122-55
teShAM vadhArthamAgneyaM jagrAha puruShottamaH |

kR^iShNa, the one with intellect, who was prompted thus by balabhadra (balarAma), the best among men, took up the weapon, Agneya to kill them.

astramastravidAM shreShTho yamAntakasamaprabhaH |
pravidhUyAsuragaNAnkravyAdAnastratejasA ||2-122-56

The best among the experts of archery, took up the arrow, having splendor equal to the god of death and drove away the group of demons such as kravya by the splendor of the arrow.

prayayau tvarayA yukto yatra dR^ishyeta tadbalam |

He went quickly to the place where the army was located.

shUlapatTTishashaktyR^iShTipinAkaparighAyudham ||2-122-57
pramAthagaNabhUyiShThaM balaM tadabhavatkShitau |

That army, enriched by the oppressing groups was standing on the earth (battlefield) holding various weapons such as lances, three point spears (paTTisha), darts, swords (R^iShTi), tridents (pinAka) and clubs studded with iron (parigha).

shailameghapratIkAshairnAnArUpairbhayAnakaiH |
vAhanaiH sa~NghashaH sarve yodhAstatrAvatasthire ||2-122-58

All the warriors of various terrible forms, appearing huge like mountains and clouds, were standing as a group, ready with their chariots,

vAtodbhUtairiva ghanairviprakIrNairivAchalaiH |

appearing like clouds scattered by the wind and sparkling mountains.

shushubhe tatra bahulairanIkairdR^iDhadhanvibhiH |
musalairasibhiH shUlairgadAbhiH parighaistathA ||2-122-59

The numerous warriors, firm with their bows in battle, dazzled in the battlefield, holding weapons such as club, sword, spears, maces and clubs studded with iron.

abAdhaM tadasa~NkhyeyaM shushubhe sarvato balam |

That army crowded by innumerable warriors dazzled all around.

tataH sa~NkarShaNo devamuvAcha madhusUdanam ||2-122-60

Then the sa~NkarShaNa (balarAma) told the lord,slayer of madhu (kR^iShNa):

kR^iShNa kR^iShNa mahAbAho yadetaddR^ishyate balaM |
etaiH saha raNe yoddhumichChAmi puruShottama ||2-122-61

kR^iShNa! O kR^iShNa! O the one with powerful arms! I wish to fight with this army which is seen here, O the best among men.

shrIkR^iShNa uvAcha

mamApyeShaiva sa~njAtA buddhirityabravIchcha tam |
ebhiH saha raNe yoddhumichCheyaM yodhasattamaiH ||2-122-62

The auspicious kR^iShNa said:

I want to tell you that I also have the same intention. I also wish to fight with these warriors, the best among warriors.

yuddhyataH prA~NmukhasyAstu suparNo vai mamAgrataH |
savyapArshve tu pradyumnastathA me dakShiNe bhavAn |

I shall fight on the east side. Let the one with beautiful wings (garuDa) fight before me. pradyumna shall fight on my left side and you shall fight on my right.

rakShitavyamathAnyonyamasminghore mahAmR^idhe ||2-122-63

In this terrible and great battle, we shall fight protecting each other.

vaishampAyana uvAcha

evaM bruvantaste.anyonyamadhirUDhAH khagottamam |

vaishampAyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Speaking thus to each other, they mounted on the best among the birds (garuDa).

girishR^i~NganibhairghorairgadAmusalalA~NgalaiH ||2-122-64
yuddhyato rauhiNeyasya raudraM rUpamabhUttadA |

Then the form of the son of rohiNI (balarAma) became highly terrible, fighting the battle using terrible maces, clubs and ploughs dazzling like the peaks of mountains,

yugAnte sarvabhUtAnAM kAlasyeva didhakShataH ||2-122-65

appearing equal to Time burning all beings at the end of the era.

AkR^iShya lA~NgalAgreNa mushalenAvapothayat |
chachArAtibalo rAmo yuddhamArgavishAradaH ||2-122-66

Dragging the enemies with the tip of his plough, and striking them with his club, the highly powerful (bala)rAma, expert in the methods of battle, moved in the battlefield.

pradyumnaH sharajAlaistAnsamantAtparyavArayat |
dAnavAnpuruShavyAghro yuddhyamAnAnmahAbalaH ||2-122-67

The tiger among men, the highly powerful pradyumna, blocked the fighting demons all around with a group of arrows.

snigdhA~njanachayaprakhyaH sha~NkhachakragadAdharaH |
pradhmAya bahushaH sha~Nkhamayudhyata janArdanaH ||2-122-68

The one who agitates men, the one who holds the conch, chakra and the mace, the one who dazzles like a sparkling black stone (kR^iShNa) blew his conch again and fought the battle.

pakShaprahAranihatA nakhatuNDAgradAritAH |
nItA vaivasvatapuraM vainateyena dhImatA ||2-122-69

The one with intellect, the son of vinatA (garuDa) led the enemies to the city of the god of death (vaivasvata) by striking them with his wings and splitting them with his nails and the tip of his beak.

tairhanyamAnaM daityAnAmanIkaM bhImavikramam |
abhajyata tadA sa~Nkhye bANavarShasamAhatam || 2-122-70

The innumerable army, enriched with the highly valiant demons being killed by them, scattered in the battle with the shower of arms.

bhajyamAneShvanIkeShu trAtukAmaH samabhyayAt |
jvarastripAdastrishirAH ShaDbhujo navalochanaH ||2-122-71

As the army was getting scattered, jvara having three legs, three heads, six arms and nine eyes arrived at the battlefield to protect them.

bhasmapraharaNo raudraH kAlAntakayamopamaH |
nadanmeghasahasreNa tulyo nirghAtaniHsvanaH ||2-122-72

Jvara was smeared with ashes ( all over his body). He was terrible, comparable to the god of death, antaka, yama. He roared with a sound equal to the sound of thunders of a thousand clouds.

niHshvasa~njR^imbhamANashcha nidrAnvitatanurbhR^isham |
netrAbhyAmAkulaM vaktraM muhuH kurvanbhramanmuhuH ||2-122-73

He sighed and yawned. His body was sleepy. He confused and confounded others by showing his face, full of eyes, again and again.

saMhR^iShTaromA glAnAkSho bhagnachitta iva shvasan |
halAyudhamabhikruddhaH sAkShepamidamabravIt ||2-122-74

Hairs stood on his body with excitement. His eyes were dim. He was sighing with a sad mind. Becoming angry, he confronted the one having plough as weapon (balarAma) and said, challenging him:

kimevaM balamatto.asi na mAM pashyasi saMyuge |
tiShTha tiShTha na me jIvanmokShyase raNamUrdhani ||2-122-75

(jvara said): Why are you not seeing me, who is proud with power, in the battle? Halt! Halt! I will not let you live in the battle!

ityevamuktvA prahasanhalAyudhamupAdravat |
yugAntAgninibhairghorairmuShTibhirjanayanbhayam ||2-122-76

(vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) Speaking thus, jvara terrifying with his fists, terrible like the fires at the end of the world (pralaya) laughed and fought with the one having plough as his weapon.

charatastatra sa~NgrAme maNDalAni sahasrashaH |
rauhiNeyasya shIghreNa nAvasthAnamadR^ishyata ||2-122-77

As jvara moved circling the battle field thousands of times, the son of rohiNI (balarAma) was unable to see his position due to the speed.

tasya bhasma tadA kShiptaM jvareNApratimaujasA |
shaighryAdvakSho nipatitaM sharIre parvatopame ||2-122-78

The ashes thrown by jvara with un-equaling splendor quickly fell on the chest, on the body, comparable to a mountain (of balarAma).

tadbhasma vakShasastasya meroH shikharamAgamat |
pradIptaM patitaM tatra girishR^i~NgaM vyadArayat ||2-122-79

Those ashes, from the chest of balarAma, reached the peak of mountain meru , fell on it , blazing and then split the peak of the mountain.

sheSheNa chApi jajvAla bhasmanA kR^iShNapUrvajaH |
niHshvasanjR^imbhamANashcha nidrAnvitatanurbhR^isham ||2-122-80

With the remaining ashes, the elder brother of kR^iShNa burned, sighed and yawned, with a sleepy body.

netrayorAkulatvaM cha muhuH kurvanbhramaMstathA |
saMhR^iShTaromA glAnAkShaH kShiptachitta iva shvasan ||2-122-81

The one who was confused (balarAma) again showed his distress with his eyes, with hair standing up with excitement, sad eyes, lost mind and sighs.

tato haladharo bhagnaH kR^iShNamAha vichetanaH |
kR^iShNa kR^iShNa mahAbAho pratIto.asmyabhayaM kuru ||2-122-82

Then the frustrated one, the one having plough as his weapon (balarAma) losing his mind told kR^iShNa: kR^iShNa! O kR^iShNa! I have fallen down. Give me refuge.

dahyAmi sarvatastAta kathaM shAntirbhavenmama |
ityevamukte vachanaM balenAmitatejasA ||2-122-83

O my brother! I am burning all over. How will I become calm and comfortable? As balarAma with unlimited splendor was speaking these words,

prahasya vachanaM prAha kR^iShNaH praharatAM varaH |
na bhetavyamitItyuktvA pariShvakto halAyudhaH ||2-122-84

the best among strikers, kR^iShNa, spoke these words, laughing: Do not fear. Speaking thus, kR^iShNa caressed the one having plough as weapon (balarAma).

kR^iShNena paramasnehAttato dAhAtpramuchyata |
mokShayitvA balaM tatra dAhAttu madhusUdanaH ||2-122-85

As kR^iShNa caressed him with love, balarAma was released from the burning. The slayer of madhu released balarAma from burning.

provAcha paramakruddho vAsudevo jvaraM tadA |

Then the son of vasudeva (kR^iShNa), becoming highly angry told jvara.

shrIbhagavAnuvacha

ehyehi jvara yudhyasva yA te shaktirmahAmR^idhe ||2-122-86
yachcha te pauruShaM sarvaM taddarshayatu no bhavAn |

The auspicious lord (kR^iShNa) said:

Come, come! jvara! Fight with your power in the great battle. You show all your manliness to me.

savyetarAbhyAM bAhubhyAmevamukto jvarastadA ||2-122-87
chikShepainaM mahadbhasma jvAlAgarbhaM mahAbalaH |

Jvara who was told thus (by kR^iShNa), using his hands, not on the left side, the one with high power, threw the great ashes which were blazing.

tataH pradIptagAtrastu muhUrtamabhavatprabhuH ||2-122-88
kR^iShNaH praharatAM shreShThaH shamaM chAgnirgatastataH |

Then for a moment, the lord, kR^iShNa, the best among strikers, became one having a blazing body. Then the fire was extinguished.

tatastairbhujagAkArairbAhubhistu tribhistadA ||2-122-89
jaghAna kR^iShNaM grIvAyAM muShTinaikena chorasi |

Then jvara struck kR^iShNa on the neck with his three arms having the shape of serpents and on his chest with his fists.

sa saMprahArastumulastayoH puruShasiMhayoH ||2-122-90
jvarasya tu mahAyuddhe kR^iShNasya tu mahaujasaH |

Then there was a great tumultuous battle with strikes between the men among lions, kR^iShNa of great splendor and jvara.

parvateShu patantInAmashanInAmiva svanaH ||2-122-91
kR^iShNajvarabhujAghAtairyuddhamAsItsudAruNam |

The battle between kR^iShNa and jvara became highly terrible with striking of arms with loud sounds like the sounds of thunder falling on the mountains.

naivamevaM prahartavyamiti tatra mahAsvanaH |
muhUrtamabhavadyuddhamanyonyaM tu mahAtmanoH ||2-122-92

Loud sounds were heard there saying: Strike not like this, but like this. A great battle occurred there between the two great souls.

tato jvaraM kanakavichitrabhUShaNaM
nyapIDayadbhujavalayena saMyuge |
jagatkShayaM samupanaya~njagatpatiH
sharIradhR^iggaganacharaM mahAmR^idhe ||2-122-93

Then the lord of the world (kR^iShNa), as if about to cause destruction of the world, suppressed jvara, who was moving in the sky and decorated with beautiful golden ornaments, by encircling him with his arms, in the great battle.

iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi kR^iShNajvarayuddhe dvAviMshatyadhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH

Thus this is the one hundred and twentysecond chapter of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata , kR^iShNa overcomes agni-s in combat, and His battle with jvara.

nIlakaNTha commentary

2-122-1 tata iti ||
2-122-2 sa rathasthaH | ata eva unmukhaiH UrdhvamukhaiH ||
2-122-5 aShTasu bAhuShu aShTAnyAyudhAnyAha | asIti ||
2-122-6 sahasraM anantaM shIrShANi ||
2-122-9 pakShayorbalena ye vikShepAstaiH |
2-122-24 vismayaM prApuriti sheShaH ||
2-122-34 A~NgirAmukhyo.agniH ||
2-122-37 yamAntakanibhopamaiH yamanibhaH krUraiH anatakopamaiH prANaharaiH ||
2-122-38 sthUNAtulyo karNau tiryakphalake yasya tena sthUNakarNena ||
2-122-43 bravIt abravIt ||

iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIKAyAM dvAviMshatyAdhikashatatao.adhyAyaH

##Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca February 16, 2009
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 10, 2011##