Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    athaikanavatitamo.adhyAyaH
    vajranAbhavadhavR^ittAntaH
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 91 - story of the slaying of vajranAbha
janamejaya uvAcha
bhAnumatyApaharaNaM vijayaM keshavasya cha ||2-91-1
krIDAM cha sAgare divyAM vR^iShNInAmatitejasAm |
janamejaya said:
(O vaishampAyana!) I heard the abduction of bhAnumatI, the victory of keshava and the divine sports of the splendorous vR^iShNi-s (yAdava-s) in the ocean.
ashrauShaM paramAshcharyaM mune dharmabhR^itAM vara ||2-91-21
vajranAbhavadhaM yuktaM nikumbhavadhakIrtane |
O sage! (vaishampAyana!) The best among the observers of dharma! I heard about the most wonderful slaying of vajranAbha during the recital of the slaying of nikumbha.
tanme kautUhalaM shrotuM prasAdAdbhavato mune ||2-91-3
O sage! Be pleased to tell me. I am curious to hear about it.
vaishampAyana uvAcha
hanta te vartayiShyAmi vajranAbhavadhaM nR^ipa |
vijayaM chaiva kAmasya sAmbasyaiva cha bhArata ||2-91-4
vaishampAyana said:
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana said) I shall tell you about the slaying of vajranAbha. O the one of bharata race! I shall tell you about the victory of kAma (pradyumna) as well as sAmba.
meroH sAnau narapate tapashchakre mahAsuraH |
vajranAbha iti khyAto nishchitaH samiti~njayaH ||2-91-5
O the king of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The great demon known as vajranAbha, always victorious in battle, performed penance on the peaks of the meru mountain.
tasya tuShTo mahAtejA brahmA lokapitAmahaH |
vareNa chChandayAmAsa tapasA paritoShitaH ||2-91-6
The grandfather of the world, brahma of great splendor was pleased with him. Pleased with his penance, brahma told him to ask for boons as he desired.
avadhyatvaM sa devebyo vavre dAnavasattamaH |
puraM vajrapuraM chApi sarvaratnamayaM shubham ||2-91-7
The best among demons asked for the boons of not being slayable by deva-s and also a city named the city of vajra, with all kinds of auspicious jewels.
svachChandena praveshashcha na vAyorapi bhArata |
achintitena kAmAnAmupapattirnarAdhipa ||2-91-8
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) In that city, even wind was unable to enter freely. O the ruler of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) There, all desires were fulfilled, without even thinking about them.
shAkhAnagaramukhyAnAM saMvAhAnAM shatAni cha |
nagarasyAprameyasya samantAjjanamejaya ||2-91-9
O janamejaya! (vaishampAyana continued) Around that city, there were important satellite cities with hundreds of gardens.
tathA tadabhavattasya varadAnena bhArata |
uvAsa vajranagare vajranAbho mahAsuraH ||2-91-10
O the one of bharata race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The city was established thus due to the boon received by the demon. The great demon vajranAbha lived in the city of vajra.
koTisho varalabdhaM tamasurAH parivArya te |
UShurvajrapure rAjansaMvAheShu tathaiva cha ||2-91-11
O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) All around the demon, who got the boon, tens of millions of demons lived in the city of vajra as well as in the gardens.
shAkhAnagaramukhyeShu ramyeShu cha narAdhipa |
hR^iShTapuShTapramuditA nR^ipa devasya shatravaH ||2-91-12
O the king of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued), in the beautiful important satellite cities, the enemies of deva-s (demons) flourished comfortably and happily.
vajranAbho.atha duShTAtmA varadAnena darpitaH |
pure.asya chAtmanashchaiva jagadbAdhitumudyataH ||2-91-13
vajranAbha of wicked soul, proud due to the boon received by him as well as the city, began to oppress the world.
mahendramabravIdgatvA devalokaM vishAMpate |
ahamIshitumichChAmi trailokyaM pAkashAsana ||2-91-14
O the ruler of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) He went to heaven and told the great indra: O punisher of the demon pAka! I want to rule the three worlds.
athavA me prayachChasva yuddhaM devagaNeshvara |
sAmAnyaM hi jagatkR^itsnaM kAshyapAnAM mahAtmanAm ||2-91-15
O the lord of deva-s! Otherwise give me battle (fight with me). All the sons of kashyapa, the great souls, have equal authority over the world.
sa bR^ihaspatinA sArdhaM mantrayitvA maheshvaraH |
vajranAbhaM surashreShThaH provAcha kuruvaMshaja ||2-91-16
O the one of kuru race! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The great lord indra consulted bR^ihaspati. Then the best among deva-s, indra, told vajranAbha.
satreShu dIkShitaH saumya kashyapo naH pitA muniH |
tasminvR^itte yathAnyAyyaM tathA sa hi kariShyati ||2-91-17
(indra said) O gentle one! our father, sage kashyapa is now observing a sacrifice. After concluding the sacrifice, he will do what is to be done in the right manner.
tataH sa pitaraM gatvA kashyapaM dAnavo.abravIt |
yathoktaM devarAjena tamuvAchAtha kashyapaH ||2-91-18
Then the demon approached his father kashyapa and told him what the king of deva-s, indra told him. Then kashyapa said:
satre vR^itte kariShyAmi yathAnyAyaM bhaviShyati |
tvaM tu vajrapure putra vasa gachCha samAshritaH ||2-91-19
After the sacrifice is concluded, I will do what is to be done in the right way. O son! Go to the city of vajra and stay there.
evamukte vajranAbhaH svameva nagaraM gataH |
mahendro.api yayau devo dvArakAM dvArashAlinIm ||2-91-20
vajranAbha, told thus, returned to his city The great indra went to dvAraka, the city of doors.
gatvA chAntarhito devo vAsudevamathAbravIt |
vajranAbhasya vR^ittAntaM tamuvAcha janArdanaH ||2-91-21
Becoming invisible, going to dvAraka, indra told the son of vasudeva (kR^iShNa) all the incidents (news) about vajranAbha. Then janArdana (kR^iShNa) said:
shaurerupasthito deva vAjimedho mahAkratuH |
tasminvR^itte vajranAbhaM pAtayiShyAmi vAsava ||2-91-22
O deva! (indra!) The grand horse sacrifice of the son of shUra (vasudeva) is approaching. O vAsava! (indra!) After the sacrifice is concluded, I shall slay vajranAbha.
tatropAyaM praveshe tu chintayAvaH satAM gateH |
nAnichChayA pravesho.asti tatra vAyorapi prabho ||2-91-23
O the destination of good people! Let us both think about a way to enter the city. O lord! Even wind cannot enter the city without the permission of vajranAbha.
tato gato devarAjo vAsudevena satkR^itaH |
vAjimedhe cha saMprApte vasudevasya bhArata ||2-91-24
The king of deva-s, indra, duly treated with hospitality by the son of vasudeva (kR^iShNa), left. O the one of bharata race! The horse sacrifice of vasudeva approached.
tasminyaj~ne vartamAne praveshArthaM surottamau |
chintayAmAsaturvIrau devarAjAchyutAvubhau ||2-91-25
When that sacrifice was concluded, the best among deva-s, the valiants, both the king of devas, indra and the one who do not decline, kR^iShNa , thought about ways to enter the city (of vajranAbha).
tatra yaj~ne vartamAne sunATyena naTAstadA |
maharShIMstoShayAmAsa bhadranAmeti nAmataH ||2-91-26
While the sacrifice was in progress, an actor named bhadra pleased the great sages with his best acting.
taM vareNa munishreShThAshChandayAmAsurAtmavat |
sa vavre tu naTo bhadro varaM deveshvaropamaH ||2-91-27
Then the best sages told him to ask for a suitable boon. Then the actor bhadra, comparable to indra, the lord of deva-s, asked for a boon,
devendrakR^iShNachChandena sarasvatyA prachoditaH |
praNipatya munishreShThAnashvamedhe samAgatAn ||2-91-28
prompted by sarasvati as desired by indra of deva-s and kR^iShNa, paying obeisance to the best among sages who had arrived for the horse sacrifice.
naTa uvAcha
bhojyo dvijAnAM sarveShAM bhaveyaM munisattamAH |
saptadvIpAM cha pR^IthivIM vichareyamimAmaham ||2-91-29
The actor said:
O the best among sages! All Brahmins shall offer me food respectfully. I should be able to travel all over the earth having seven islands.
prasiddhAkAshagamanaH shaknuvaMshcha visheShataH |
avadhyaH sarvabhUtAnAM sthAvarA ye cha ja~NgamAH ||2-91-30
I shall have the special skill of travelling in the sky. I shall be unslayable by all living beings, stationary as well as moving.
yasya yasya cha veSheNa pravisheyamahaM khalu |
mR^itasya jIvato vApi bhAvyenotpAditasya vA ||2-91-31
Whomsoever role I take, whether dead, alive or even produced by imagination as well,
sa tUryastAdR^ishaH syAM vai jarArogavivarjitaH |1
tuShteyurmunayo nityamanye cha mama sarvadA ||2-91-32
I shall appear like them in all respects accompanied by musical instruments. I shall be free of old age and disease. The sages as well as others shall be pleased with me always.
evamastviti saMprokto brAhmaNairnR^ipate naTaH |
saptadvIpAM vasumatIM paryaTatyamaropamaH ||2-91-33
O the king of men! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The actor, comparable to deva-s, who was told, "let it be so" by the Brahmins, travelled all over the earth, having seven islands,
purANi dAnavendrANAmuttarAMshcha kurUMstathA |
bhadrAshvAnketumAlAMshcha kAlAbhradvIpameva cha ||2-91-34
the cities of the indra-s of demons, the north kuru, bhadrAshva, the islands of ketumAla and kAlabhadra.
parvaNIShu tu sarvAsu dvArakAM yadumaNDitAm |
AyAti varadattaH sa lokavIro mahAnaTaH ||2-91-35
The great actor, valiant of the world, the one who received the boons, used to visit dvAraka, decorated by the yAdava-s, during particular periods of the year.
tato haMsAndhArtarAShTrAndevalokanivAsinaH |
uvAcha bhagavA~nshakraH sAntvayitvA sureshvaraH ||2-91-36
Then the lord shakra (indra), the lord of deva-s told the swans, dhArtarAShtra-s, who are residents of heaven:
bhavanto bhrAtaro.asmAkaM kAshyapA devapakShiNaH |
vimAnavAhA devAnaM sukR^itInAM tathaiva cha ||2-91-37
(indra said) O swans! You, the divine birds, children of kashyapa, are my brothers. You are the vehicles of deva-s as well as those who do auspicious deeds.
devAnAmasti kartavyaM kAryaM shatruvadhAnvitam |
tatkartavyaM na mantrashcha bhettavyo naH katha~nchana ||2-91-38
Now there is some work to be done by the deva-s, related to killing of enemies. That is to be done and the secret shall never be disclosed.
na kurvatAM devatAj~nAmugro daNDaH patedapi |
sarvatrApratiShiddhaM vo gamanaM haMsasattamAH ||2-91-39
If the order of deva-s is not obeyed, there will be terrible punishment. O the best among swans! You can travel everywhere.
gatvApraveshyamanyeShAM vajranAbhapurottamam |
ito.antaHpuravApIShu charadhvamuchitaM hi vaH ||2-91-40
You shall travel to the ponds of the inner quarters of the best city of vajranAbha, where others cannot go.
tasyAsti kanyAratnaM hi trailokyAtishayaM shubham |
nAmnA prabhAvatI nAma chandrAbheva prabhAvatI ||2-91-41
He has a jewel of maidens, an auspicious maiden, who excels in the three worlds, named prabhAvatI, who shines as beautiful as moonlight.
varadAnena sA labdhA mAtrA kila varAnanA |
haimavatyA mahAdevyAH sakAshAditi naH shrutam ||2-91-42
We hear that her mother got the maiden with a beautiful face by a boon given by the great Goddess, haimavatI, the daughter of himavAn, (pArvatI).
svayaMvarA cha sA kanyA bandhubhiH sthApitA satI |
AtmechChayA patiM haMsA varayiShyati shobhanA || 2-91-43
The relatives have fixed the maiden for choosing a husband herself from suitors. O swans! The beautiful maiden will choose a husband as per her wish.
tadbhavadbhirguNA vAchyAH pradyumnasya mahAtmanaH |
sadbhUtaH kularUpasya shIlasya vayasastathA ||2-91-44
You shall tell her about the qualities of the great soul pradyumna, his race, beauty, habits as well as age.
yadA sA raktabhAvA cha vajranAbhasutA satI |
tasyAH sakAshAtsaMdesho nayitavyaH samAdhinA ||2-91-45
As the daughter of vajranAbha, the faithful woman, becomes passionate, you shall take her message with attention,
pradyumnasya punastasmAdAnayadhvaM tathaiva cha |
svabuddhyA prAptakAlaM cha saMvidheyaM hitaM mama ||2-91-46
to pradyumna and also again take his message to her. Do as desired by me, according to the occasion, with your intelligence.
netravaktraprasAdashcha kartavyastatra sarvathA ||2-91-47
You shall do your work there by all means, with pleasing eyes and face.
tathA tathA guNA vAchyAH pradyumnasya mahAtmanaH |
yathA yathA prabhAvatyA manastatra bhavetsthitam ||2-91-48
You shall speak about the qualities of the great soul pradyumna in such a way that prabhAvati's mind gets fixed on him.
vR^ittAntashchAnudivasaM pradeyo mama sarvathA |
dvAravatyAM cha kR^iShNasya bhrAturmama yavIyasaH ||2-91-49
You shall send me the daily news by all means as also to my younger brother kR^iShNa at the city of doors, dvAraka.
tAvadyatnashcha kartavyaH pradyumno yAvadAtmavit |
paryAvartedvarArohAM vajranAbhasutAM vibhuH ||2-91-50
You shall do your work, till the lord, the great soul pradyumna, brings the most beautiful daughter of vajranAbha.
avadhyAste tu devAnAM brahmaNo varadarpitAH |
devaputrairhi hantavyAH pradyumnapramukhairyudhi ||2-91-51
The demons (such as vajranAbha), proud with the boon given by brahma, cannot be slayed by deva-s. They can be killed only by the sons of deva-s, such as pradyumna and others, in battle.
naTo dattavarastasya veShamAsthAya yAdavAH |
pradyumnAdyA gamiShyanti vajranAbhavinAshanAH ||2-91-52
The yAdava-s such as pradyumna, the destroyers of vajranAbha, will go to the city of vajra, disguising themselves as the actor (bhadra) who received the boon (to travel anywhere).
etachcha sarvaM kartavyamanyachcha sarvameva hi |
prAptakAlaM vidhAtavyamasmAkaM priyakAmyayA ||2-91-53
You shall do all this along with other work. You shall do according to the time as required, desiring my interest.
praveshastatra devAnAM nAsti haMsAH katha~nchana |
vajranAbhepsite tatra praveshaH khalu sarvathA ||2-91-54
O swans! deva-s can never enter there. By all means you shall enter there as desired by vajranAbha.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi vajranAbhavadhe ekanavatitamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the nintyfirst chapter of viShNuparva, harivamsha, khila of mahAbhArata, story of the slaying of vajranAbha
    nIlakaNTha commentary
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNiTIkAyAmekanavatitamo.adhyAyaH ||
## itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca, January 5, 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
January 19, 2011##