Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The Killing of the Demons Keśi and Vyoma
This chapter describes the killing of the horse demon, Keśī; Nārada’s glorification of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s future pastimes; and Kṛṣṇa’s killing of Vyomāsura.
On Kaṁsa’s order the Keśī demon assumed the form of a huge horse and went to Vraja. As he approached, his loud neighing terrified all the inhabitants, and they began looking for Śrī Kṛṣṇa. When He saw the demon, Kṛṣṇa came forward and challenged him to come near. Keśī charged Kṛṣṇa and tried to strike Him with his front legs, but the Lord seized them, whirled the demon around several times, and then threw him a distance of one hundred bow-lengths. Keśī remained unconscious for some time. When the demon regained consciousness, he furiously charged Kṛṣṇa again, his mouth agape. The Lord then thrust His left arm into the horse demon’s mouth, and as Keśī tried to bite the arm, it felt like a red-hot iron rod. Kṛṣṇa’s arm expanded more and more, finally choking the demon, and in extreme agony Keśī gave up his life. Lord Kṛṣṇa then removed His arm. He stood calmly, showing no pride at having killed the demon, as the demigods showered down flowers from the sky and glorified the Lord with prayers.
Soon thereafter Nārada Muni, the great sage among the demigods, approached Kṛṣṇa and prayed to Him in various ways, glorifying the Lord’s future pastimes. Then Nārada paid his obeisances and departed.
One day, while tending the cows, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and the cowherd boys became engrossed in playing hide-and-go-seek. Some of the boys took the role of sheep, some the role of thieves, and others shepherds. The shepherds would search for the sheep when the thieves stole them. Taking advantage of this game, a demon named Vyoma, sent by Kaṁsa, dressed himself like a cowherd boy and joined the band of “thieves.” He abducted a few cowherd boys at a time and threw them into a mountain cave, keeping them there by blocking the entrance with a boulder. Gradually Vyomāsura abducted all but four or five cowherd boys. When Kṛṣṇa saw what the demon was doing, He ran after him, grabbed him and killed him just as one would kill a sacrificial animal.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
केशी तु कंसप्रहित: खुरैर्महीं
महाहयो निर्जरयन् मनोजव: ।
सटावधूताभ्रविमानसङ्कुलं
कुर्वन् नभो हेषितभीषिताखिल: ॥ १ ॥
तं त्रासयन्तं भगवान् स्वगोकुलं
तद्धेषितैर्वालविघूर्णिताम्बुदम् ।
आत्मानमाजौ मृगयन्तमग्रणी-
रुपाह्वयत् स व्यनदन्मृगेन्द्रवत् ॥ २ ॥
केशी तु कंसप्रहित: खुरैर्महीं
महाहयो निर्जरयन् मनोजव: ।
सटावधूताभ्रविमानसङ्कुलं
कुर्वन् नभो हेषितभीषिताखिल: ॥ १ ॥
तं त्रासयन्तं भगवान् स्वगोकुलं
तद्धेषितैर्वालविघूर्णिताम्बुदम् ।
आत्मानमाजौ मृगयन्तमग्रणी-
रुपाह्वयत् स व्यनदन्मृगेन्द्रवत् ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
keśī tu kaṁsa-prahitaḥ khurair mahīṁ
mahā-hayo nirjarayan mano-javaḥ
saṭāvadhūtābhra-vimāna-saṅkulaṁ
kurvan nabho heṣita-bhīṣitākhilaḥ
keśī tu kaṁsa-prahitaḥ khurair mahīṁ
mahā-hayo nirjarayan mano-javaḥ
saṭāvadhūtābhra-vimāna-saṅkulaṁ
kurvan nabho heṣita-bhīṣitākhilaḥ
taṁ trāsayantaṁ bhagavān sva-gokulaṁ
tad-dheṣitair vāla-vighūrṇitāmbudam
ātmānam ājau mṛgayantam agra-ṇīr
upāhvayat sa vyanadan mṛgendra-vat
tad-dheṣitair vāla-vighūrṇitāmbudam
ātmānam ājau mṛgayantam agra-ṇīr
upāhvayat sa vyanadan mṛgendra-vat
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; keśī — the demon named Keśī; tu — and then; kaṁsa-prahitaḥ — sent by Kaṁsa; khuraiḥ — with his hooves; mahīm — the earth; mahā-hayaḥ — a huge horse; nirjarayan — ripping apart; manaḥ — like that of the mind; javaḥ — whose speed; saṭā — by the hairs of his mane; avadhūta — scattered; abhra — with the clouds; vimāna — and the airplanes (of the demigods); saṅkulam — crowded; kurvan — making; nabhaḥ — the sky; heṣita — by his neighing; bhīṣita — frightened; akhilaḥ — everyone; tam — him; trāsayantam — terrifying; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sva-gokulam — His cowherd village; tat-heṣitaiḥ — by that neighing; vāla — by the hairs of his tail; vighūrṇita — shaken; ambudam — the clouds; ātmānam — Himself; ājau — for a fight; mṛgayantam — searching after; agra-nīḥ — coming forward; upāhvayat — called out; saḥ — he, Keśī; vyanadan — roared; mṛgendra-vat — like a lion.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The demon Keśī, sent by Kaṁsa, appeared in Vraja as a great horse. Running with the speed of the mind, he tore up the earth with his hooves. The hairs of his mane scattered the clouds and the demigods’ airplanes throughout the sky, and he terrified everyone present with his loud neighing.
Purport
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw how the demon was frightening His village of Gokula by neighing terribly and shaking the clouds with his tail, the Lord came forward to meet him. Keśī was searching for Kṛṣṇa to fight, so when the Lord stood before him and challenged him to approach, the horse responded by roaring like a lion.
Devanagari
स तं निशाम्याभिमुखो मुखेन खं
पिबन्निवाभ्यद्रवदत्यमर्षण: ।
जघान पद्भ्यामरविन्दलोचनं
दुरासदश्चण्डजवो दुरत्यय: ॥ ३ ॥
पिबन्निवाभ्यद्रवदत्यमर्षण: ।
जघान पद्भ्यामरविन्दलोचनं
दुरासदश्चण्डजवो दुरत्यय: ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
sa taṁ niśāmyābhimukho makhena khaṁ
pibann ivābhyadravad aty-amarṣaṇaḥ
jaghāna padbhyām aravinda-locanaṁ
durāsadaś caṇḍa-javo duratyayaḥ
pibann ivābhyadravad aty-amarṣaṇaḥ
jaghāna padbhyām aravinda-locanaṁ
durāsadaś caṇḍa-javo duratyayaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he, Keśī; tam — Him, Kṛṣṇa; niśāmya — seeing; abhimukhaḥ — in front of himself; mukhena — with his mouth; kham — the sky; piban — drinking up; iva — as if; abhyadravat — ran forward; ati-amarṣaṇaḥ — very angry; jaghāna — he attacked; padbhyām — with his two legs; aravinda-locanam — the lotus-eyed Lord; durāsadaḥ — unapproachable; caṇḍa — fierce; javaḥ — whose speed; duratyayaḥ — unconquerable.
Translation
Seeing the Lord standing before him, Keśī ran toward Him in extreme rage, his mouth gaping as if to swallow up the sky. Rushing with furious speed, the unconquerable and unapproachable horse demon tried to strike the lotus-eyed Lord with his two front legs.
Devanagari
तद् वञ्चयित्वा तमधोक्षजो रुषा
प्रगृह्य दोर्भ्यां परिविध्य पादयो: ।
सावज्ञमुत्सृज्य धनु:शतान्तरे
यथोरगं तार्क्ष्यसुतो व्यवस्थित: ॥ ४ ॥
प्रगृह्य दोर्भ्यां परिविध्य पादयो: ।
सावज्ञमुत्सृज्य धनु:शतान्तरे
यथोरगं तार्क्ष्यसुतो व्यवस्थित: ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
tad vañcayitvā tam adhokṣajo ruṣā
pragṛhya dorbhyāṁ parividhya pādayoḥ
sāvajñam utsṛjya dhanuḥ-śatāntare
yathoragaṁ tārkṣya-suto vyavasthitaḥ
pragṛhya dorbhyāṁ parividhya pādayoḥ
sāvajñam utsṛjya dhanuḥ-śatāntare
yathoragaṁ tārkṣya-suto vyavasthitaḥ
Synonyms
tat — that; vañcayitvā — avoiding; tam — him; adhokṣajaḥ — the transcendental Lord; ruṣā — angrily; pragṛhya — seizing; dorbhyām — with His arms; parividhya — whirling around; pādayoḥ — by the legs; sa-avajñam — contemptuously; utsṛjya — discarding; dhanuḥ — of bow-lengths; śata — one hundred; antare — to the distance; yathā — as; uragam — a snake; tārkṣya — of Kardama Muni; sutaḥ — the son (Garuḍa); vyavasthitaḥ — standing.
Translation
But the transcendental Lord dodged Keśī’s blow and then with His arms angrily seized the demon by the legs, whirled him around in the air and contemptuously threw him the distance of one hundred bow-lengths, just as Garuḍa might throw a snake. Lord Kṛṣṇa then stood there.
Devanagari
स: लब्धसंज्ञ: पुनरुत्थितो रुषा
व्यादाय केशी तरसापतद्धरिम् ।
सोऽप्यस्य वक्त्रे भुजमुत्तरं स्मयन्
प्रवेशयामास यथोरगं बिले ॥ ५ ॥
व्यादाय केशी तरसापतद्धरिम् ।
सोऽप्यस्य वक्त्रे भुजमुत्तरं स्मयन्
प्रवेशयामास यथोरगं बिले ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
saḥ labdha-saṁjñaḥ punar utthito ruṣā
vyādāya keśī tarasāpatad dharim
so ’py asya vaktre bhujam uttaraṁ smayan
praveśayām āsa yathoragaṁ bile
vyādāya keśī tarasāpatad dharim
so ’py asya vaktre bhujam uttaraṁ smayan
praveśayām āsa yathoragaṁ bile
Synonyms
saḥ — he, Keśī; labdha — regaining; saṁjñaḥ — consciousness; punaḥ — again; utthitaḥ — rose up; ruṣā — in anger; vyādāya — opening (his mouth) wide; keśī — Keśī; tarasā — rapidly; apatat — ran; harim — toward Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — He, Lord Kṛṣṇa; api — and; asya — his; vaktre — in the mouth; bhujam — His arm; uttaram — left; smayan — smiled; praveśayām āsa — placed within; yathā — as; uragam — a snake; bile — (enters) within a hole.
Translation
Upon regaining consciousness Keśī angrily got up, opened his mouth wide and again rushed to attack Lord Kṛṣṇa. But the Lord just smiled and thrust His left arm into the horse’s mouth as easily as one would make a snake enter a hole in the ground.
Devanagari
दन्ता निपेतुर्भगवद्भुजस्पृश-
स्ते केशिनस्तप्तमयस्पृशो यथा ।
बाहुश्च तद्देहगतो महात्मनो
यथामय: संववृधे उपेक्षित: ॥ ६ ॥
स्ते केशिनस्तप्तमयस्पृशो यथा ।
बाहुश्च तद्देहगतो महात्मनो
यथामय: संववृधे उपेक्षित: ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
dantā nipetur bhagavad-bhuja-spṛśas
te keśinas tapta-maya-spṛśo yathā
bāhuś ca tad-deha-gato mahātmano
yathāmayaḥ saṁvavṛdhe upekṣitaḥ
te keśinas tapta-maya-spṛśo yathā
bāhuś ca tad-deha-gato mahātmano
yathāmayaḥ saṁvavṛdhe upekṣitaḥ
Synonyms
dantāḥ — the teeth; nipetuḥ — fell out; bhagavat — of the Supreme Lord; bhuja — the arm; spṛśaḥ — touching; te — they; keśinaḥ — of Keśī; tapta-maya — red-hot (iron); spṛśaḥ — touching; yathā — as; bāhuḥ — the arm; ca — and; tat — his, Keśī’s; deha — body; gataḥ — having entered; mahā-ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Soul; yathā — like; āmayaḥ — a diseased condition (particularly, distension of the stomach); saṁvavṛdhe — increased greatly in size; upekṣitaḥ — neglected.
Translation
Keśī’s teeth immediately fell out when they touched the Supreme Lord’s arm, which to the demon felt as hot as molten iron. Within Keśī’s body the Supreme Personality’s arm then expanded greatly, like a diseased stomach swelling because of neglect.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that although Lord Kṛṣṇa’s arm is more tender and cooling than a blue lotus, to Keśī it felt extremely hot as if made of lightning bolts.
Devanagari
समेधमानेन स कृष्णबाहुना
निरुद्धवायुश्चरणांश्च विक्षिपन् ।
प्रस्विन्नगात्र: परिवृत्तलोचन:
पपात लण्डं विसृजन् क्षितौ व्यसु: ॥ ७ ॥
निरुद्धवायुश्चरणांश्च विक्षिपन् ।
प्रस्विन्नगात्र: परिवृत्तलोचन:
पपात लण्डं विसृजन् क्षितौ व्यसु: ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
samedhamānena sa kṛṣṇa-bāhunā
niruddha-vāyuś caraṇāṁś ca vikṣipan
prasvinna-gātraḥ parivṛtta-locanaḥ
papāta laṇḍaṁ visṛjan kṣitau vyasuḥ
niruddha-vāyuś caraṇāṁś ca vikṣipan
prasvinna-gātraḥ parivṛtta-locanaḥ
papāta laṇḍaṁ visṛjan kṣitau vyasuḥ
Synonyms
samedhamānena — expanding; saḥ — he; kṛṣṇa-bāhunā — by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s arm; niruddha — stopped; vāyuḥ — his breathing; caraṇān — his legs; ca — and; vikṣipan — throwing about; prasvinna — perspiring; gātraḥ — his body; parivṛtta — rolling; locanaḥ — his eyes; papāta — he fell down; laṇḍam — feces; visṛjan — excreting; kṣitau — onto the ground; vyasuḥ — lifeless.
Translation
As Lord Kṛṣṇa’s expanding arm completely blocked Keśī’s breathing, his legs kicked convulsively, his body became covered with sweat, and his eyes rolled around. The demon then passed stool and fell on the ground, dead.
Devanagari
तद्देहत: कर्कटिकाफलोपमाद्
व्यसोरपाकृष्य भुजं महाभुज: ।
अविस्मितोऽयत्नहतारिक: सुरै:
प्रसूनवर्षैर्वर्षद्भिरीडित: ॥ ८ ॥
व्यसोरपाकृष्य भुजं महाभुज: ।
अविस्मितोऽयत्नहतारिक: सुरै:
प्रसूनवर्षैर्वर्षद्भिरीडित: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
tad-dehataḥ karkaṭikā-phalopamād
vyasor apākṛṣya bhujaṁ mahā-bhujaḥ
avismito ’yatna-hatārikaḥ suraiḥ
prasūna-varṣair varṣadbhir īḍitaḥ
vyasor apākṛṣya bhujaṁ mahā-bhujaḥ
avismito ’yatna-hatārikaḥ suraiḥ
prasūna-varṣair varṣadbhir īḍitaḥ
Synonyms
tat-dehataḥ — from Keśī’s body; karkaṭikā-phala — a karkaṭikā fruit; upamāt — which resembled; vyasoḥ — from which the vital airs had departed; apākṛṣya — withdrawing; bhujam — His arm; mahā-bhujaḥ — the mighty-armed Lord; avismitaḥ — without undue pride; ayatna — without effort; hata — having killed; arikaḥ — His enemy; suraiḥ — by the demigods; prasūna — of flowers; varṣaiḥ — with downpours; varṣadbhiḥ — who were raining upon Him; īḍitaḥ — worshiped.
Translation
The mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa withdrew His arm from Keśī’s body, which now appeared like a long karkaṭikā fruit. Without the least display of pride at having so effortlessly killed His enemy, the Lord accepted the demigods’ worship in the form of flowers rained down from above.
Devanagari
देवर्षिरुपसङ्गम्य भागवतप्रवरो नृप ।
कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्माणं रहस्येतदभाषत ॥ ९ ॥
कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्माणं रहस्येतदभाषत ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
devarṣir upasaṅgamya
bhāgavata-pravaro nṛpa
kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-karmāṇaṁ
rahasy etad abhāṣata
bhāgavata-pravaro nṛpa
kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-karmāṇaṁ
rahasy etad abhāṣata
Synonyms
deva-ṛṣiḥ — the sage among the demigods (Nārada Muni); upasaṅgamya — approaching; bhāgavata — of devotees of the Lord; pravaraḥ — the most exalted; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; akliṣṭa — without trouble; karmāṇam — whose activities; rahasi — in privacy; etat — this; abhāṣata — said.
Translation
My dear King, thereafter Lord Kṛṣṇa was approached in a solitary place by the great sage among the demigods, Nārada Muni. That most exalted devotee spoke as follows to the Lord, who effortlessly performs His pastimes.
Purport
After speaking with Kaṁsa, Nārada went to see Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Lord’s Vṛndāvana pastimes were nearly completed, and Nārada wanted to see those He would enact in Mathurā.
Devanagari
कृष्ण कृष्णाप्रमेयात्मन् योगेश जगदीश्वर ।
वासुदेवाखिलावास सात्वतां प्रवर प्रभो ॥ १० ॥
त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानामेको ज्योतिरिवैधसाम् ।
गूढो गुहाशय: साक्षी महापुरुष ईश्वर: ॥ ११ ॥
वासुदेवाखिलावास सात्वतां प्रवर प्रभो ॥ १० ॥
त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानामेको ज्योतिरिवैधसाम् ।
गूढो गुहाशय: साक्षी महापुरुष ईश्वर: ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāprameyātman
yogeśa jagad-īśvara
vāsudevākhilāvāsa
sātvatāṁ pravara prabho
yogeśa jagad-īśvara
vāsudevākhilāvāsa
sātvatāṁ pravara prabho
tvam ātmā sarva-bhūtānām
eko jyotir ivaidhasām
gūḍho guhā-śayaḥ sākṣī
mahā-puruṣa īśvaraḥ
eko jyotir ivaidhasām
gūḍho guhā-śayaḥ sākṣī
mahā-puruṣa īśvaraḥ
Synonyms
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa; aprameya-ātman — O immeasurable one; yoga-īśa — O source of all mystic power; jagat-īśvara — O Lord of the universe; vāsudeva — O son of Vasudeva; akhila-āvāsa — O shelter of all beings; sātvatām — of the Yadu dynasty; pravara — O You who are the best; prabho — O master; tvam — You; ātmā — the Supreme Soul; sarva — of all; bhūtānām — created beings; ekaḥ — alone; jyotiḥ — fire; iva — like; edhasām — in kindling wood; gūḍhaḥ — hidden; guhā — within the cave of the heart; śayaḥ — sitting; sākṣī — the witness; mahā-puruṣaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller.
Translation
[Nārada Muni said:] O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, unlimited Lord, source of all mystic power, Lord of the universe! O Vāsudeva, shelter of all beings and best of the Yadus! O master, You are the Supreme Soul of all created beings, sitting unseen within the cave of the heart like the fire dormant within kindling wood. You are the witness within everyone, the Supreme Personality and the ultimate controlling Deity.
Devanagari
आत्मनात्माश्रय: पूर्वं मायया ससृजे गुणान् ।
तैरिदं सत्यसङ्कल्प: सृजस्यत्स्यवसीश्वर: ॥ १२ ॥
तैरिदं सत्यसङ्कल्प: सृजस्यत्स्यवसीश्वर: ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
ātmanātmāśrayaḥ pūrvaṁ
māyayā sasṛje guṇān
tair idaṁ satya-saṅkalpaḥ
sṛjasy atsy avasīśvaraḥ
māyayā sasṛje guṇān
tair idaṁ satya-saṅkalpaḥ
sṛjasy atsy avasīśvaraḥ
Synonyms
ātmanā — by Your personal potency; ātma — of the spirit soul; āśrayaḥ — the shelter; pūrvam — first; māyayā — by Your creative energy; sasṛje — You produced; guṇān — the basic modes of material nature; taiḥ — through these; idam — this (universe); satya — always realized in fact; saṅkalpaḥ — whose desires; sṛjasi — You create; atsi — withdraw; avasi — and maintain; īśvaraḥ — the controller.
Translation
You are the shelter of all souls, and being the supreme controller, You fulfill Your desires simply by Your will. By Your personal creative potency You manifested in the beginning the primal modes of material nature, and through their agency You create, maintain and then destroy this universe.
Devanagari
स त्वं भूधरभूतानां दैत्यप्रमथरक्षसाम् ।
अवतीर्णो विनाशाय साधुनां रक्षणाय च ॥ १३ ॥
अवतीर्णो विनाशाय साधुनां रक्षणाय च ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
sa tvaṁ bhūdhara-bhūtānāṁ
daitya-pramatha-rakṣasām
avatīrṇo vināśāya
sādhunāṁ rakṣaṇāya ca
daitya-pramatha-rakṣasām
avatīrṇo vināśāya
sādhunāṁ rakṣaṇāya ca
Synonyms
Translation
You, that very same creator, have now descended to the earth to annihilate the Daitya, Pramatha and Rākṣasa demons who are posing as kings, and also to protect the godly.
Devanagari
दिष्ट्या ते निहतो दैत्यो लीलयायं हयाकृति: ।
यस्य हेषितसन्त्रस्तास्त्यजन्त्यनिमिषा दिवम् ॥ १४ ॥
यस्य हेषितसन्त्रस्तास्त्यजन्त्यनिमिषा दिवम् ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
diṣṭyā te nihato daityo
līlayāyaṁ hayākṛtiḥ
yasya heṣita-santrastās
tyajanty animiṣā divam
līlayāyaṁ hayākṛtiḥ
yasya heṣita-santrastās
tyajanty animiṣā divam
Synonyms
Translation
The horse demon was so terrifying that his neighing frightened the demigods into leaving their heavenly kingdom. But by our good fortune You have enjoyed the sport of killing him.
Devanagari
चाणूरं मुष्टिकं चैव मल्लानन्यांश्च हस्तिनम् ।
कंसं च निहतं द्रक्ष्ये परश्वोऽहनि ते विभो ॥ १५ ॥
तस्यानु शङ्खयवनमुराणां नरकस्य च ।
पारिजातापहरणमिन्द्रस्य च पराजयम् ॥ १६ ॥
उद्वाहं वीरकन्यानां वीर्यशुल्कादिलक्षणम् ।
नृगस्य मोक्षणं शापाद्द्वारकायां जगत्पते ॥ १७ ॥
स्यमन्तकस्य च मणेरादानं सह भार्यया ।
मृतपुत्रप्रदानं च ब्राह्मणस्य स्वधामत: ॥ १८ ॥
पौण्ड्रकस्य वधं पश्चात् काशिपुर्याश्च दीपनम् ।
दन्तवक्रस्य निधनं चैद्यस्य च महाक्रतौ ॥ १९ ॥
यानि चान्यानि वीर्याणि द्वारकामावसन्भवान् ।
कर्ता द्रक्ष्याम्यहं तानि गेयानि कविभिर्भुवि ॥ २० ॥
कंसं च निहतं द्रक्ष्ये परश्वोऽहनि ते विभो ॥ १५ ॥
तस्यानु शङ्खयवनमुराणां नरकस्य च ।
पारिजातापहरणमिन्द्रस्य च पराजयम् ॥ १६ ॥
उद्वाहं वीरकन्यानां वीर्यशुल्कादिलक्षणम् ।
नृगस्य मोक्षणं शापाद्द्वारकायां जगत्पते ॥ १७ ॥
स्यमन्तकस्य च मणेरादानं सह भार्यया ।
मृतपुत्रप्रदानं च ब्राह्मणस्य स्वधामत: ॥ १८ ॥
पौण्ड्रकस्य वधं पश्चात् काशिपुर्याश्च दीपनम् ।
दन्तवक्रस्य निधनं चैद्यस्य च महाक्रतौ ॥ १९ ॥
यानि चान्यानि वीर्याणि द्वारकामावसन्भवान् ।
कर्ता द्रक्ष्याम्यहं तानि गेयानि कविभिर्भुवि ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
cāṇūraṁ muṣṭikaṁ caiva
mallān anyāṁś ca hastinam
kaṁsaṁ ca nihataṁ drakṣye
paraśvo ’hani te vibho
mallān anyāṁś ca hastinam
kaṁsaṁ ca nihataṁ drakṣye
paraśvo ’hani te vibho
tasyānu śaṅkha-yavana-
murāṇāṁ narakasya ca
pārijātāpaharaṇam
indrasya ca parājayam
murāṇāṁ narakasya ca
pārijātāpaharaṇam
indrasya ca parājayam
udvāhaṁ vīra-kanyānāṁ
vīrya-śulkādi-lakṣaṇam
nṛgasya mokṣaṇaṁ śāpād
dvārakāyāṁ jagat-pate
vīrya-śulkādi-lakṣaṇam
nṛgasya mokṣaṇaṁ śāpād
dvārakāyāṁ jagat-pate
syamantakasya ca maṇer
ādānaṁ saha bhāryayā
mṛta-putra-pradānaṁ ca
brāhmaṇasya sva-dhāmataḥ
ādānaṁ saha bhāryayā
mṛta-putra-pradānaṁ ca
brāhmaṇasya sva-dhāmataḥ
pauṇḍrakasya vadhaṁ paścāt
kāśi-puryāś ca dīpanam
dantavakrasya nidhanaṁ
caidyasya ca mahā-kratau
kāśi-puryāś ca dīpanam
dantavakrasya nidhanaṁ
caidyasya ca mahā-kratau
yāni cānyāni vīryāṇi
dvārakām āvasan bhavān
kartā drakṣyāmy ahaṁ tāni
geyāni kavibhir bhuvi
dvārakām āvasan bhavān
kartā drakṣyāmy ahaṁ tāni
geyāni kavibhir bhuvi
Synonyms
cāṇūram — Cāṇūra; muṣṭikam — Muṣṭika; ca — and; eva — also; mallān — the wrestlers; anyān — others; ca — and; hastinam — the elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa); kaṁsam — King Kaṁsa; ca — and; nihatam — killed; drakṣye — I will see; para-śvaḥ — the day after tomorrow; ahani — on that day; te — by You; vibho — O almighty Lord; tasya anu — after that; śaṅkha-yavana-murāṇām — of the demons Śaṅkha (Pañcajana), Kālayavana and Mura; narakasya — of Narakāsura; ca — as well; pārijāta — of the heavenly pārijāta flower; apaharaṇam — the stealing; indrasya — of Lord Indra; ca — and; parājayam — the defeat; udvāham — the marriage; vīra — of heroic kings; kanyānām — of the daughters; vīrya — by Your valor; śulka — as the payment for the brides; ādi — and so forth; lakṣaṇam — characterized; nṛgasya — of King Nṛga; mokṣaṇam — the deliverance; śāpāt — from his curse; dvārakāyām — in the city of Dvārakā; jagat-pate — O master of the universe; syamantakasya — named Syamantaka; ca — and; maṇeḥ — of the jewel; ādānam — the taking; saha — together with; bhāryayā — a wife (Jāmbavatī); mṛta — dead; putra — of the son; pradānam — the presenting; ca — and; brāhmaṇasya — of a brāhmaṇa; sva-dhāmataḥ — from Your own domain (i.e., from the abode of Death); pauṇḍrakasya — of Pauṇḍraka; vadham — the killing; paścāt — after; kāśi-puryāḥ — of the city of Kāśī (Benares); ca — and; dīpanam — the burning; dantavakrasya — of Dantavakra; nidhanam — the demise; caidyasya — of Caidya (Śiśupāla); ca — and; mahā-kratau — during the great sacrificial performance (the Rājasūya-yajña of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira); yāni — which; ca — and; anyāni — other; vīryāṇi — great feats; dvārakām — in Dvārakā; āvasan — dwelling; bhavān — You; kartā — are going to perform; drakṣyāmi — will see; aham — I; tāni — them; geyāni — to be sung about; kavibhiḥ — by poets; bhuvi — on this earth.
Translation
In just two days, O almighty Lord, I will see the deaths of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika and other wrestlers, along with those of the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa and King Kaṁsa — all by Your hand. Then I will see You kill Kālayavana, Mura, Naraka and the conch demon, and I will also see You steal the pārijāta flower and defeat Indra. I will then see You marry many daughters of heroic kings after paying for them with Your valor. Then, O Lord of the universe, in Dvārakā You will deliver King Nṛga from a curse and take for Yourself the Syamantaka jewel, together with another wife. You will bring back a brāhmaṇa’s dead son from the abode of Your servant Yamarāja, and thereafter You will kill Pauṇḍraka, burn down the city of Kāśī and slay Dantavakra, and You will also put an end to the King of Cedi during the great Rājasūya sacrifice. I shall see all these heroic pastimes, along with many others You will perform during Your residence in Dvārakā. These pastimes are glorified on this earth in the songs of transcendental poets.
Devanagari
अथ ते कालरूपस्य क्षपयिष्णोरमुष्य वै ।
अक्षौहिणीनां निधनं द्रक्ष्याम्यर्जुनसारथे: ॥ २१ ॥
अक्षौहिणीनां निधनं द्रक्ष्याम्यर्जुनसारथे: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
atha te kāla-rūpasya
kṣapayiṣṇor amuṣya vai
akṣauhiṇīnāṁ nidhanaṁ
drakṣyāmy arjuna-sāratheḥ
kṣapayiṣṇor amuṣya vai
akṣauhiṇīnāṁ nidhanaṁ
drakṣyāmy arjuna-sāratheḥ
Synonyms
atha — then; te — by You; kāla-rūpasya — who are assuming the form of time; kṣapayiṣṇoḥ — who is intending to effect the destruction; amuṣya — of (the burden of) this world; vai — indeed; akṣauhiṇīnām — of entire armies; nidhanam — the destruction; drakṣyāmi — I will see; arjuna sāratheḥ — by the chariot driver of Arjuna.
Translation
Subsequently I will see You appear as time personified, serving as Arjuna’s chariot driver and destroying entire armies of soldiers to rid the earth of her burden.
Devanagari
विशुद्धविज्ञानघनं स्वसंस्थया
समाप्तसर्वार्थममोघवाञ्छितम् ।
स्वतेजसा नित्यनिवृत्तमाया-
गुणप्रवाहं भगवन्तमीमहि ॥ २२ ॥
समाप्तसर्वार्थममोघवाञ्छितम् ।
स्वतेजसा नित्यनिवृत्तमाया-
गुणप्रवाहं भगवन्तमीमहि ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
viśuddha-vijñāna-ghanaṁ sva-saṁsthayā
samāpta-sarvārtham amogha-vāñchitam
sva-tejasā nitya-nivṛtta-māyā-
guṇa-pravāhaṁ bhagavantam īmahi
samāpta-sarvārtham amogha-vāñchitam
sva-tejasā nitya-nivṛtta-māyā-
guṇa-pravāhaṁ bhagavantam īmahi
Synonyms
viśuddha — perfectly pure; vijñāna — spiritual awareness; ghanam — full of; sva-saṁsthayā — in His original identity; samāpta — already fulfilled; sarva — in all; artham — purposes; amogha — never frustrated; vāñchitam — whose desires; sva-tejasā — by His own potency; nitya — eternally; nivṛtta — desisting; māyā — of the illusory, material energy; guṇa — of the manifest modes; pravāham — from the flowing interaction; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; īmahi — let us approach.
Translation
Let us approach You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for shelter. You are full of perfectly pure spiritual awareness and are always situated in Your original identity. Since Your will is never thwarted, You have already achieved all possible desirable things, and by the power of Your spiritual energy You remain eternally aloof from the flow of the qualities of illusion.
Devanagari
त्वामीश्वरं स्वाश्रयमात्ममायया
विनिर्मिताशेषविशेषकल्पनम् ।
क्रीडार्थमद्यात्तमनुष्यविग्रहं
नतोऽस्मि धुर्यं यदुवृष्णिसात्वताम् ॥ २३ ॥
विनिर्मिताशेषविशेषकल्पनम् ।
क्रीडार्थमद्यात्तमनुष्यविग्रहं
नतोऽस्मि धुर्यं यदुवृष्णिसात्वताम् ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
tvām īśvaraṁ svāśrayam ātma-māyayā
vinirmitāśeṣa-viśeṣa-kalpanam
krīḍārtham adyātta-manuṣya-vigrahaṁ
nato ’smi dhuryaṁ yadu-vṛṣṇi-sātvatām
vinirmitāśeṣa-viśeṣa-kalpanam
krīḍārtham adyātta-manuṣya-vigrahaṁ
nato ’smi dhuryaṁ yadu-vṛṣṇi-sātvatām
Synonyms
tvām — to You; īśvaram — the supreme controller; sva-āśrayam — self-contained; ātma — Your own; māyayā — by the creative potency; vinirmita — constructed; aśeṣa — unlimited; viśeṣa — particular; kalpanam — arrangements; krīḍa — of playing; artham — for the sake; adya — now; ātta — taken on; manuṣya — among humans; vigraham — battle; nataḥ — bowed down; asmi — I am; dhuryam — to the greatest; yadu-vṛṣṇi-sātvatām — of the Yadu, Vṛṣṇi and Sātvata dynasties.
Translation
I bow down to You, the supreme controller, who are dependent only on Yourself. By Your potency You have constructed the unlimited particular arrangements of this universe. Now you have appeared as the greatest hero among the Yadus, Vṛṣṇis and Sātvatas and have chosen to participate in human warfare.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
एवं यदुपतिं कृष्णं भागवतप्रवरो मुनि: ।
प्रणिपत्याभ्यनुज्ञातो ययौ तद्दर्शनोत्सव: ॥ २४ ॥
एवं यदुपतिं कृष्णं भागवतप्रवरो मुनि: ।
प्रणिपत्याभ्यनुज्ञातो ययौ तद्दर्शनोत्सव: ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
evaṁ yadu-patiṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhāgavata-pravaro muniḥ
praṇipatyābhyanujñāto
yayau tad-darśanotsavaḥ
evaṁ yadu-patiṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhāgavata-pravaro muniḥ
praṇipatyābhyanujñāto
yayau tad-darśanotsavaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; yadu-patim — to the chief of the Yadus; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhāgavata — of devotees; pravaraḥ — most eminent; muniḥ — the sage Nārada; praṇipatya — respectfully bowing down; abhyanujñātaḥ — given leave; yayau — went; tat — Him, Kṛṣṇa; darśana — by having seen; utsavaḥ — experiencing great joy.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa, the chief of the Yadu dynasty, Nārada bowed down and offered Him obeisances. Then that great sage and most eminent devotee took his leave from the Lord and went away, feeling great joy at having directly seen Him.
Devanagari
भगवानपि गोविन्दो हत्वा केशिनमाहवे ।
पशूनपालयत् पालै: प्रीतैर्व्रजसुखावह: ॥ २५ ॥
पशूनपालयत् पालै: प्रीतैर्व्रजसुखावह: ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
bhagavān api govindo
hatvā keśinam āhave
paśūn apālayat pālaiḥ
prītair vraja-sukhāvahaḥ
hatvā keśinam āhave
paśūn apālayat pālaiḥ
prītair vraja-sukhāvahaḥ
Synonyms
bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; api — and; govindaḥ — Govinda; hatvā — having killed; keśinam — the demon Keśī; āhave — in battle; paśūn — the animals; apālayat — He tended; pālaiḥ — together with the cowherd boys; prītaiḥ — who were pleased; vraja — to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; sukha — happiness; āvahaḥ — bringing.
Translation
After killing the demon Keśī in battle, the Supreme Personality of Godhead continued to tend the cows and other animals in the company of His joyful cowherd boyfriends. Thus He brought happiness to all the residents of Vṛndāvana.
Devanagari
एकदा ते पशून्पालाश्चारयन्तोऽद्रिसानुषु ।
चक्रुर्निलायनक्रीडाश्चोरपालापदेशत: ॥ २६ ॥
चक्रुर्निलायनक्रीडाश्चोरपालापदेशत: ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
ekadā te paśūn pālāś’
cārayanto ’dri-sānuṣu
cakrur nilāyana-krīḍāś
cora-pālāpadeśataḥ
cārayanto ’dri-sānuṣu
cakrur nilāyana-krīḍāś
cora-pālāpadeśataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
One day the cowherd boys, while grazing their animals on the mountain slopes, played the game of stealing and hiding, acting out the roles of rival thieves and herders.
Devanagari
तत्रासन् कतिचिच्चोरा: पालाश्च कतिचिन्नृप ।
मेषायिताश्च तत्रैके विजह्रुरकुतोभया: ॥ २७ ॥
मेषायिताश्च तत्रैके विजह्रुरकुतोभया: ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
tatrāsan katicic corāḥ
pālāś ca katicin nṛpa
meṣāyitāś ca tatraike
vijahrur akuto-bhayāḥ
pālāś ca katicin nṛpa
meṣāyitāś ca tatraike
vijahrur akuto-bhayāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
In that game, O King, some acted as thieves, others as shepherds and others as sheep. They played their game happily, without fear of danger.
Devanagari
मयपुत्रो महामायो व्योमो गोपालवेषधृक् ।
मेषायितानपोवाह प्रायश्चोरायितो बहून् ॥ २८ ॥
मेषायितानपोवाह प्रायश्चोरायितो बहून् ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
maya-putro mahā-māyo
vyomo gopāla-veṣa-dhṛk
meṣāyitān apovāha
prāyaś corāyito bahūn
vyomo gopāla-veṣa-dhṛk
meṣāyitān apovāha
prāyaś corāyito bahūn
Synonyms
maya-putraḥ — a son of the demon Maya; mahā māyaḥ — a powerful magician; vyomaḥ — named Vyoma; gopāla — of a cowherd boy; veṣa — the disguise; dhṛk — assuming; meṣāyitān — those who were acting as sheep; apovāha — he took away; prāyaḥ — almost all; corāyitaḥ — pretending to be playing as a thief; bahūn — many.
Translation
A powerful magician named Vyoma, son of the demon Maya, then appeared on the scene in the guise of a cowherd boy. Pretending to join the game as a thief, he proceeded to steal most of the cowherd boys who were acting as sheep.
Devanagari
गिरिदर्यां विनिक्षिप्य नीतं नीतं महासुर: ।
शिलया पिदधे द्वारं चतु:पञ्चावशेषिता: ॥ २९ ॥
शिलया पिदधे द्वारं चतु:पञ्चावशेषिता: ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
giri-daryāṁ vinikṣipya
nītaṁ nītaṁ mahāsuraḥ
śilayā pidadhe dvāraṁ
catuḥ-pañcāvaśeṣitāḥ
nītaṁ nītaṁ mahāsuraḥ
śilayā pidadhe dvāraṁ
catuḥ-pañcāvaśeṣitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Gradually the great demon abducted more and more of the cowherd boys and cast them into a mountain cave, which he sealed shut with a boulder. Finally only four or five boys acting as sheep remained in the game.
Devanagari
तस्य तत् कर्म विज्ञाय कृष्ण: शरणद: सताम् ।
गोपान् नयन्तं जग्राह वृकं हरिरिवौजसा ॥ ३० ॥
गोपान् नयन्तं जग्राह वृकं हरिरिवौजसा ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
tasya tat karma vijñāya
kṛṣṇaḥ śaraṇa-daḥ satām
gopān nayantaṁ jagrāha
vṛkaṁ harir ivaujasā
kṛṣṇaḥ śaraṇa-daḥ satām
gopān nayantaṁ jagrāha
vṛkaṁ harir ivaujasā
Synonyms
tasya — of him, Vyomāsura; tat — that; karma — activity; vijñāya — fully understanding; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śaraṇa — of shelter; daḥ — the giver; satām — to saintly devotees; gopān — cowherd boys; nayantam — who was leading; jagrāha — He seized; vṛkam — a wolf; hariḥ — a lion; iva — just as; ojasā — forcefully.
Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa, who shelters all saintly devotees, understood perfectly well what Vyomāsura was doing. Just as a lion grabs a wolf, Kṛṣṇa forcefully seized the demon as he was taking away more cowherd boys.
Devanagari
स निजं रूपमास्थाय गिरीन्द्रसदृशं बली ।
इच्छन्विमोक्तुमात्मानं नाशक्नोद्ग्रहणातुर: ॥ ३१ ॥
इच्छन्विमोक्तुमात्मानं नाशक्नोद्ग्रहणातुर: ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
sa nijaṁ rūpam āsthāya
girīndra-sadṛśaṁ balī
icchan vimoktum ātmānaṁ
nāśaknod grahaṇāturaḥ
girīndra-sadṛśaṁ balī
icchan vimoktum ātmānaṁ
nāśaknod grahaṇāturaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The demon changed into his original form, as big and powerful as a great mountain. But try as he might to free himself, he could not do so, having lost his strength from being held in the Lord’s tight grip.
Devanagari
तं निगृह्याच्युतो दोर्भ्यां पातयित्वा महीतले ।
पश्यतां दिवि देवानां पशुमारममारयत् ॥ ३२ ॥
पश्यतां दिवि देवानां पशुमारममारयत् ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
taṁ nigṛhyācyuto dorbhyāṁ
pātayitvā mahī-tale
paśyatāṁ divi devānāṁ
paśu-māram amārayat
pātayitvā mahī-tale
paśyatāṁ divi devānāṁ
paśu-māram amārayat
Synonyms
tam — him; nigṛhya — holding fast; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dorbhyām — with His arms; pātayitvā — making him fall; mahī-tale — onto the ground; paśyatām — while they were watching; divi — in the heavenly planets; devānām — the demigods; paśu-māram — as a sacrificial animal is slaughtered; amārayat — He killed him.
Translation
Lord Acyuta clutched Vyomāsura between His arms and threw him to the ground. Then, while the demigods in heaven looked on, Kṛṣṇa killed him in the same way that one kills a sacrificial animal.
Purport
The ācāryas inform us that sacrificial animals were killed by means of strangulation.
Devanagari
गुहापिधानं निर्भिद्य गोपान्नि:सार्य कृच्छ्रत: ।
स्तूयमान: सुरैर्गोपै: प्रविवेश स्वगोकुलम् ॥ ३३ ॥
स्तूयमान: सुरैर्गोपै: प्रविवेश स्वगोकुलम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
guhā-pidhānaṁ nirbhidya
gopān niḥsārya kṛcchrataḥ
stūyamānaḥ surair gopaiḥ
praviveśa sva-gokulam
gopān niḥsārya kṛcchrataḥ
stūyamānaḥ surair gopaiḥ
praviveśa sva-gokulam
Synonyms
guhā — of the cave; pidhānam — the blockage; nirbhidya — breaking; gopān — the cowherd boys; niḥsārya — leading out; kṛcchrataḥ — from the dangerous place; stūyamānaḥ — being praised; suraiḥ — by the demigods; gopaiḥ — and by the cowherd boys; praviveśa — He entered; sva — His own; gokulam — cowherd village.
Translation
Kṛṣṇa then smashed the boulder blocking the cave’s entrance and led the trapped cowherd boys to safety. Thereafter, as the demigods and cowherd boys sang His glories, He returned to His cowherd village, Gokula.
Purport
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Thirty-seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Killing of the Demons Keśī and Vyoma.”