७६

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

This chapter relates how the demon Śālva acquired a huge and terrifying airship, how he used it to attack the Vṛṣṇis in Dvārakā, and how Lord Pradyumna was taken from the battlefield during the fighting that ensued.

Śālva was one of the kings who had been defeated at the time of Rukmiṇī-devī’s marriage. Having vowed then that he would rid the earth of all the Yādavas, he began worshiping Lord Śiva each day by eating only a palmful of dust. After a year had passed, Śiva appeared before Śālva and asked him to choose a benediction. Śālva begged for a flying machine that could go anywhere and that would strike terror into the hearts of demigods, demons and humans alike. Lord Śiva granted this request and had Maya Dānava construct for Śālva a flying iron city named Saubha. Śālva took this vehicle to Dvārakā, where he and his huge army laid siege to the city. From his airplane Śālva bombarded Dvārakā with tree trunks, boulders and other missiles, and he produced a mighty whirlwind that obscured everything with dust.

When Pradyumna, Sātyaki and the other Yadu heroes saw the plight of Dvārakā and her residents, they went out to do battle with Śālva’s forces. Pradyumna, the best of warriors, destroyed with His divine weapons all of Śālva’s illusory magic, and He also bewildered Śālva himself. Thus Śālva’s airplane began wandering aimlessly on the earth, in the sky and on the tops of mountains. But then a follower of Śālva’s named Dyumān struck Pradyumna on the chest with his club, whereupon Pradyumna’s chariot driver, thinking his master seriously injured, carried Him from the battlefield. But Pradyumna quickly regained consciousness and sharply criticized His driver for doing this.

Text 1

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
अथान्यदपि कृष्णस्य श‍ृणु कर्माद्भ‍ुतं नृप ।
क्रीडानरशरीरस्य यथा सौभपतिर्हत- ॥ १ ॥

Verse text

śrī-śuka uvāca
athānyad api kṛṣṇasya
śṛṇu karmādbhutaṁ nṛpa
krīḍā-nara-śarīrasya
yathā saubha-patir hataḥ

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — now; anyat — another; api — yet; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; śṛṇu — please hear; karma — deed; adbhutam — wonderful; nṛpa — O King; krīḍā — for playing; nara — humanlike; śarīrasya — whose body; yathā — how; saubha-patiḥ — the lord of Saubha (Śālva); hataḥ — killed.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Now please hear, O King, another wondrous deed performed by Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appeared in His humanlike body to enjoy transcendental pastimes. Hear how He killed the master of Saubha.

Text 2

Devanagari

शिशुपालसख- शाल्वो रुक्‍मिण्युद्वाह आगत- ।
यदुभिर्निर्जित- सङ्ख्ये जरासन्धादयस्तथा ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

śiśupāla-sakhaḥ śālvo
rukmiṇy-udvāha āgataḥ
yadubhir nirjitaḥ saṅkhye
jarāsandhādayas tathā

Synonyms

śiśupāla-sakhaḥ — a friend of Śiśupāla’s; śālvaḥ — named Śālva; rukmiṇī-udvāhe — to Rukmiṇī’s wedding; āgataḥ — having come; yadubhiḥ — by the Yadus; nirjitaḥ — defeated; saṅkhye — in battle; jarāsandha-ādayaḥ — Jarāsandha and others; tathā — as well.

Translation

Śālva was a friend of Śiśupāla’s. When he attended the wedding of Rukmiṇī, the Yadu warriors defeated him in battle, along with Jarāsandha and the other kings.

Text 3

Devanagari

शाल्व- प्रतिज्ञामकरोच्छृण्वतां सर्वभूभुजाम् ।
अयादवां क्ष्मां करिष्ये पौरुषं मम पश्यत ॥ ३ ॥

Verse text

śālvaḥ pratijñām akaroc
chṛṇvatāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām
ayādavāṁ kṣmāṁ kariṣye
pauruṣaṁ mama paśyata

Synonyms

śālvaḥ — Śālva; pratijñām — a promise; akarot — made; śṛṇvatām — as they listened; sarva — all; bhū-bhujām — the kings; ayādavām — devoid of Yādavas; kṣmām — the earth; kariṣye — I will make; pauruṣam — prowess; mama — my; paśyata — just see.

Translation

Śālva swore in the presence of all the kings: “I will rid the earth of Yādavas. Just see my prowess!”

Text 4

Devanagari

इति मूढ- प्रतिज्ञाय देवं पशुपतिं प्रभुम् ।
आराधयामास नृप- पांशुमुष्टिं सकृद्ग्रसन् ॥ ४ ॥

Verse text

iti mūḍhaḥ pratijñāya
devaṁ paśu-patiṁ prabhum
ārādhayām āsa nṛpaḥ
pāṁśu-muṣṭiṁ sakṛd grasan

Synonyms

iti — with these words; mūḍhaḥ — the fool; pratijñāya — having vowed; devam — the lord; paśu-patim — Śiva, the protector of animallike men; prabhum — his master; āradhayām āsa — worshiped; nṛpaḥ — the King; pāṁśu — of dust; muṣṭim — a handful; sakṛt — once (daily); grasan — eating.

Translation

Having thus made his vow, the foolish King proceeded to worship Lord Paśupati [Śiva] as his deity by eating a handful of dust each day, and nothing more.

Text 5

Devanagari

संवत्सरान्ते भगवानाशुतोष उमापति- ।
वरेणच्छन्दयामास शाल्वं शरणमागतम् ॥ ५ ॥

Verse text

saṁvatsarānte bhagavān
āśu-toṣa umā-patiḥ
vareṇa cchandayām āsa
śālvaṁ śaraṇam āgatam

Synonyms

saṁvatsara — of a year; ante — at the end; bhagavān — the great lord; āśu-toṣaḥ — he who is quickly pleased; umā-patiḥ — the master of Umā; vareṇa — with a benediction; chandayām āsa — had him choose; śālvam — Śālva; śaraṇam — for shelter; āgatam — approached.

Translation

The great Lord Umāpati is known as “he who is quickly pleased,” yet only at the end of a year did he gratify Śālva, who had approached him for shelter, by offering him a choice of benedictions.

Purport

Śālva worshiped Lord Śiva, who is famous as Āśutoṣa, “one who is quickly satisfied.” And yet Lord Śiva did not come to Śālva for an entire year because, being bhagavān, a great, all-knowing personality, he understood that any benediction given to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s enemy would be fruitless. Still, as stated by the words śaraṇam āgatam, Śālva had come to Lord Śiva for shelter, and thus to maintain the standard principle that a worshiper receives a benediction, Lord Śiva offered one to Śālva.

Text 6

Devanagari

देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् ।
अभेद्यं कामगं वव्रे स यानं वृष्णिभीषणम् ॥ ६ ॥

Verse text

devāsura-manuṣyāṇāṁ
gandharvoraga-rakṣasām
abhedyaṁ kāma-gaṁ vavre
sa yānaṁ vṛṣṇi-bhīṣaṇam

Synonyms

deva — by demigods; asura — demons; manuṣyāṇām — and humans; gandharva — by Gandharvas; uraga — celestial serpents; rakṣasām — and Rākṣasa spirits; abhedyam — indestructible; kāma — at will; gam — traveling; vavre — chose; saḥ — he; yānam — a vehicle; vṛṣṇi — for the Vṛṣṇis; bhīṣaṇam — terrifying.

Translation

Śālva chose a vehicle that could be destroyed by neither demigods, demons, humans, Gandharvas, Uragas nor Rākṣasas, that could travel anywhere he wished to go, and that would terrify the Vṛṣṇis.

Text 7

Devanagari

तथेति गिरिशादिष्टो मय- परपुरञ्जय- ।
पुरं निर्माय शाल्वाय प्रादात्सौभमयस्मयम् ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

tatheti giriśādiṣṭo
mayaḥ para-puraṁ-jayaḥ
puraṁ nirmāya śālvāya
prādāt saubham ayas-mayam

Synonyms

tathā — so be it; iti — having thus said; giri-śa — by Lord Śiva; ādiṣṭaḥ — ordered; mayaḥ — Maya Dānava; para — of the enemy; puram — the cities; jayaḥ — who conquers; puram — a city; nirmāya — constructing; śālvāya — to Śālva; prādāt — he gave; saubham — named Saubha; ayaḥ — of iron; mayam — made.

Translation

Lord Śiva said, “So be it.” On his order, Maya Dānava, who conquers his enemies’ cities, constructed a flying iron city named Saubha and presented it to Śālva.

Text 8

Devanagari

स लब्ध्वा कामगं यानं तमोधाम दुरासदम् ।
ययौ द्वारवतीं शाल्वो वैरं वृष्णिकृतं स्मरन् ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

sa labdhvā kāma-gaṁ yānaṁ
tamo-dhāma durāsadam
yayas dvāravatīṁ śālvo
vairaṁ vṛṣṇi-kṛtaṁ smaran

Synonyms

saḥ — he; labdhvā — obtaining; kāma-gam — moving at his will; yānam — the vehicle; tamaḥ — of darkness; dhāma — abode; durāsadam — unapproachable; yayau — went; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; śālvaḥ — Śālva; vairam — the enmity; vṛṣṇi-kṛtam — shown by the Vṛṣṇis; smaran — remembering.

Translation

This unassailable vehicle was filled with darkness and could go anywhere. Upon obtaining it, Śālva went to Dvārakā, remembering the Vṛṣṇis’ enmity toward him.

Texts 9-11

Devanagari

निरुध्य सेनया शाल्वो महत्या भरतर्षभ ।
पुरीं बभञ्जोपवनानुद्यानानि च सर्वश- ॥ ९ ॥
सगोपुराणि द्वाराणि प्रासादाट्टालतोलिका- ।
विहारान् स विमानाग्र्‍यान्निपेतु- शस्‍त्रवृष्टय- ॥ १० ॥
शिला द्रुमाश्चाशनय- सर्पा आसारशर्करा- ।
प्रचण्डश्चक्रवातोऽभूद् रजसाच्छादिता दिश- ॥ ११ ॥

Verse text

nirudhya senayā śālvo
mahatyā bharatarṣabha
purīṁ babhañjopavanān
udyānāni ca sarvaśaḥ

sa-gopurāṇi dvārāṇi
prāsādāṭṭāla-tolikāḥ
vihārān sa vimānāgryān
nipetuḥ śastra-vṛṣṭayaḥ

śilā-drumāś cāśanayaḥ
sarpā āsāra-śarkarāḥ
pracaṇḍaś cakravāto ’bhūd
rajasācchāditā diśaḥ

Synonyms

nirudhya — besieging; senayā — with an army; śālvaḥ — Śālva; mahatyā — large; bharata-ṛṣabha — O best of the Bharatas; purīm — the city; babhañja — he broke up; upavanān — the parks; udyanāni — gardens; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — all around; sa-gopurāṇi — with towers; dvārāṇi — and gateways; prāsāda — mansions; aṭṭāla — observatories; tolikāḥ — and surrounding walls; vihārān — recreational areas; saḥ — he, Śālva; vimāna — of airships; agryāt — from the best; nipetuḥ — there fell; śastra — of weapons; vṛṣṭayaḥ — torrents; śilā — stones; drumāḥ — and trees; ca — also; aśanayaḥ — thunderbolts; sarpāḥ — snakes; āsāra-śarkarāḥ — and hailstones; pracaṇḍaḥ — fierce; cakravātaḥ — a whirlwind; abhūt — arose; rajasā — with dust; ācchādditāḥ — covered; diśaḥ — all the directions.

Translation

Śālva besieged the city with a large army, O best of the Bharatas, decimating the outlying parks and gardens, the mansions along with their observatories, towering gateways and surrounding walls, and also the public recreational areas. From his excellent airship he threw down a torrent of weapons, including stones, tree trunks, thunderbolts, snakes and hailstones. A fierce whirlwind arose and blanketed all directions with dust.

Text 12

Devanagari

इत्यर्द्यमाना सौभेन कृष्णस्य नगरी भृशम् ।
नाभ्यपद्यत शं राजंस्‍त्रिपुरेण यथा मही ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

ity ardyamānā saubhena
kṛṣṇasya nagarī bhṛśam
nābhyapadyata śaṁ rājaṁs
tri-pureṇa yathā mahī

Synonyms

iti — thus; ardyamānā — tormented; saubhena — by the airplane Saubha; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nagarī — the city; bhṛśam — terribly; na abhyapadyata — could not have; śam — peace; rājan — O King; tri-pureṇa — by the three aerial cities of the demons; yathā — as; mahī — the earth.

Translation

Thus terribly tormented by the airship Saubha, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s city had no peace, O King, just like the earth when it was attacked by the three aerial cities of the demons.

Text 13

Devanagari

प्रद्युम्नो भगवान् वीक्ष्य बाध्यमाना निजा- प्रजा- ।
मा भैष्टेत्यभ्यधाद् वीरो रथारूढो महायशा- ॥ १३ ॥

Verse text

pradyumno bhagavān vīkṣya
bādhyamānā nijāḥ prajāḥ
ma bhaiṣṭety abhyadhād vīro
rathārūḍho mahā-yaśāḥ

Synonyms

pradyumnaḥ — Pradyumna; bhagavān — the Lord; vīkṣya — seeing; bādhyamānāḥ — being harassed; nijāḥ — His own; prajāḥ — subjects; mā bhaiṣṭa — do not fear; iti — thus; abhyadhāt — addressed; vīraḥ — the great hero; ratha — on His chariot; ārūḍhaḥ — mounted; mahā — immense; yaśāḥ — whose glory.

Translation

Seeing His subjects so harassed, the glorious and heroic Lord Pradyumna told them, “Do not fear,” and mounted His chariot.

Texts 14-15

Devanagari

सात्यकिश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बोऽक्रूर- सहानुज- ।
हार्दिक्यो भानुविन्दश्च गदश्च शुकसारणौ ॥ १४ ॥
अपरे च महेष्वासा रथयूथपयूथपा- ।
निर्ययुर्दंशिता गुप्ता रथेभाश्वपदातिभि- ॥ १५ ॥

Verse text

sātyakiś cārudeṣṇaś ca
sāmbo ’krūraḥ sahānujaḥ
hārdikyo bhānuvindaś ca
gadaś ca śuka-sāraṇau

apare ca maheṣv-āsā
ratha-yūthapa-yūthapāḥ
niryayur daṁśitā guptā
rathebhāśva-padātibhiḥ

Synonyms

sātyakiḥ cārudeṣṇaḥ ca — Sātyaki and Cārudeṣṇa; sāmbaḥ — Sāmba; akrūraḥ — and Akrūra; saha — with; anujaḥ — younger brothers; hārdikyaḥ — Hārdikya; bhānuvindaḥ — Bhānuvinda; ca — and; gadaḥ — Gada; ca — and; śuka-sāraṇau — Śuka and Sāraṇa; apare — others; ca — also; mahā — eminent; iṣv-āsāḥ — archers; ratha — of chariot (warriors); yūtha-pa — of the leaders; yūtha-pāḥ — the leaders; niryayuḥ — they went out; daṁśitāḥ — wearing armor; guptāḥ — protected; ratha — by (soldiers on) chariots; ibha — elephants; aśva — and horses; padātibhiḥ — and by foot soldiers.

Translation

The chief commanders of the chariot warriors — Sātyaki, Cārudeṣṇa, Sāmba, Akrūra and his younger brothers, along with Hārdikya, Bhānuvinda, Gada, Śuka and Sāraṇa — went out of the city with many other eminent bowmen, all girded in armor and protected by contingents of soldiers riding on chariots, elephants and horses, and also by companies of infantry.

Text 16

Devanagari

तत- प्रववृते युद्धं शाल्वानां यदुभि- सह ।
यथासुराणां विबुधैस्तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥ १६ ॥

Verse text

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṁ
śālvānāṁ yadubhiḥ saha
yathāsurāṇāṁ vibudhais
tumulaṁ loma-harṣaṇam

Synonyms

tataḥ — then; pravavṛte — began; yuddham — a battle; śālvānām — of the followers of Śālva; yadubhiḥ saha — with the Yadus; yathā — just like; asurāṇām — of the demons; vibudhaiḥ — with the demigods; tumulam — tumultuous; loma-harṣaṇam — making bodily hair stand on end.

Translation

A tumultuous, hair-raising battle then commenced between Śālva’s forces and the Yadus. It equaled the great battles between the demons and demigods.

Text 17

Devanagari

ताश्च सौभपतेर्माया दिव्यास्‍त्रै रुक्‍मिणीसुत- ।
क्षणेन नाशयामास नैशं तम इवोष्णगु- ॥ १७ ॥

Verse text

tāś ca saubha-pater māyā
divyāstrai rukmiṇī-sutaḥ
kṣaṇena nāśayām āsa
naiśaṁ tama ivoṣṇa-guḥ

Synonyms

tāḥ — those; ca — and; saubha-pateḥ — of the master of Saubha; māyāḥ — the magic illusions; divya — divine; astraiḥ — with weapons; rukmiṇī-sutaḥ — the son of Rukmiṇī (Pradyumna); kṣaṇena — in an instant; nāśayām āsa — destroyed; naiśam — of the night; tamaḥ — the darkness; iva — as; uṣṇa — warm; guḥ — whose rays (the sun).

Translation

With His divine weapons Pradyumna instantly destroyed all of Śālva’s magic illusions, in the same way that the warm rays of the sun dissipate the darkness of night.

Texts 18-19

Devanagari

विव्याध पञ्चविंशत्या स्वर्णपुङ्खैरयोमुखै- ।
शाल्वस्य ध्वजिनीपालं शरै- सन्नतपर्वभि- ॥ १८ ॥
शतेनाताडयच्छाल्वमेकैकेनास्य सैनिकान् ।
दशभिर्दशभिर्नेतृन् वाहनानि त्रिभिस्‍त्रिभि- ॥ १९ ॥

Verse text

vivyādha pañca-viṁśatyā
svarṇa-puṅkhair ayo-mukhaiḥ
śālvasya dhvajinī-pālaṁ
śaraiḥ sannata-parvabhiḥ

śatenātāḍayac chālvam
ekaikenāsya sainikān
daśabhir daśabhir netṝn
vāhanāni tribhis tribhiḥ

Synonyms

vivyādha — He shot; pañca — five; viṁśatyā — plus twenty; svarṇa — gold; puṅkhaiḥ — whose shafts; ayaḥ — iron; mukhaiḥ — whose heads; śālvasya — of Śālva; dhvajinī-pālam — the commander-in-chief; śaraiḥ — with arrows; sannata — level; parvabhiḥ — whose joints; śatena — with one hundred; atāḍayat — He struck; śālvam — Śālva; eka-ekena — with one each; asya — his; sainikān — officers; daśabhiḥ daśabhiḥ — with ten each; netṝn — the chariot drivers; vāhanāni — the carriers; tribhiḥ tribhiḥ — with three each.

Translation

Lord Pradyumna’s arrows all had gold shafts, iron heads and perfectly smooth joints. With twenty-five of them He struck down Śālva’s commander-in-chief [Dyumān], and with one hundred He struck Śālva himself. Then He pierced Śālva’s officers with one arrow each, his chariot drivers with ten arrows each, and his horses and other carriers with three arrows each.

Text 20

Devanagari

तदद्भुचतं महत् कर्म प्रद्युम्नस्य महात्मन- ।
द‍ृष्ट्वा तं पूजयामासु- सर्वे स्वपरसैनिका- ॥ २० ॥

Verse text

tad adbhutaṁ mahat karma
pradyumnasya mahātmanaḥ
dṛṣṭvā taṁ pūjayām āsuḥ
sarve sva-para-sainikāḥ

Synonyms

tat — that; adbhutam — amazing; mahat — mighty; karma — feat; pradyumnasya — of Pradyumna; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the great personality; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tam — Him; pūjayām āsuḥ — honored; sarve — all; sva — of His own side; para — and of the enemy side; sainikāḥ — the soldiers.

Translation

When they saw the glorious Pradyumna perform that amazing and mighty feat, all the soldiers on both sides praised Him.

Text 21

Devanagari

बहुरूपैकरूपं तद् द‍ृश्यते न च द‍ृश्यते ।
मायामयं मयकृतं दुर्विभाव्यं परैरभूत् ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

bahu-rūpaika-rūpaṁ tad
dṛśyate na ca dṛśyate
māyā-mayaṁ maya-kṛtaṁ
durvibhāvyaṁ parair abhūt

Synonyms

bahu — with many; rūpa — forms; eka — with one; rūpam — form; tat — that (Saubha airship); dṛśyate — is seen; na — not; ca — and; dṛśyate — is seen; māyā-mayam — magical; maya — by Maya Dānava; kṛtam — made; durvibhāvyam — impossible to find; paraiḥ — by the enemy (the Yādavas); abhūt — it became.

Translation

At one moment the magic airship built by Maya Dānava appeared in many identical forms, and the next moment it was again only one. Sometimes it was visible, and sometimes not. Thus Śālva’s opponents could never be sure where it was.

Text 22

Devanagari

क्व‍‍चिद्भ‍ूमौ क्व‍‍चिद् व्योम्नि गिरिमूर्ध्‍नि जले क्व‍‍चित् ।
अलातचक्रवद् भ्राम्यत् सौभं तद् दुरवस्थितम् ॥ २२ ॥

Verse text

kvacid bhūmau kvacid vyomni
giri-mūrdhni jale kvacit
alāta-cakra-vad bhrāmyat
saubhaṁ tad duravasthitam

Synonyms

kvacit — at one moment; bhūmau — on the earth; kvacit — at one moment; vyomni — in the sky; giri — of a mountain; mūrdhni — on the top; jale — in the water; kvacit — at one moment; alāta-cakra — a whirling firebrand; vat — like; bhrāmyat — wandering; saubham — Saubha; tat — that; duravasthitam — never remaining in one place.

Translation

From one moment to the next the Saubha airship appeared on the earth, in the sky, on a mountain peak or in the water. Like a whirling, flaming baton, it never remained in any one place.

Text 23

Devanagari

यत्र यत्रोपलक्ष्येत ससौभ- सहसैनिक- ।
शाल्वस्ततस्ततोऽमुञ्चञ् छरान् सात्वतयूथपा- ॥ २३ ॥

Verse text

yatra yatropalakṣyeta
sa-saubhaḥ saha-sainikaḥ
śālvas tatas tato ’muñcañ
charān sātvata-yūthapāḥ

Synonyms

yatra yatra — wherever; upalakṣyeta — would appear; sa-saubhaḥ — with Saubha; saha-sainikaḥ — with his soldiers; śālvaḥ — Śālva; tataḥ tataḥ — in each of those locations; amuñcan — they released; śarān — their arrows; sātvata — of the Yadus; yūtha-pāḥ — the chiefs of the army.

Translation

Wherever Śālva would appear with his Saubha ship and his army, there the Yadu commanders would shoot their arrows.

Text 24

Devanagari

शरैरग्‍न्यर्कसंस्पर्शैराशीविषदुरासदै- ।
पीड्यमानपुरानीक- शाल्वोऽमुह्यत्परेरितै- ॥ २४ ॥

Verse text

śarair agny-arka-saṁsparśair
āśī-viṣa-durāsadaiḥ
pīḍyamāna-purānīkaḥ
śālvo ’muhyat pareritaiḥ

Synonyms

śaraiḥ — by the arrows; agni — like fire; arka — and like the sun; saṁsparśaiḥ — whose contact; āśī — of a snake; viṣa — like the poison; durāsadaiḥ — intolerable; pīḍyamāna — distressed; pura — whose aerial city; anīkaḥ — and whose army; śālvaḥ — Śālva; amuhyat — became bewildered; para — by the enemy; īritaiḥ — shot.

Translation

Śālva became bewildered upon seeing his army and aerial city thus harassed by his enemy’s arrows, which struck like fire and the sun and were as intolerable as snake venom.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the arrows of the Yadu commanders burned like fire, struck simultaneously from all sides like the sun’s rays, and, like snake venom, were lethal by a single touch.

Text 25

Devanagari

शाल्वानीकपशस्‍त्रौघैर्वृष्णिवीरा भृशार्दिता- ।
न तत्यजू रणं स्वं स्वं लोकद्वयजिगीषव- ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

śālvānīkapa-śastraughair
vṛṣṇi-vīrā bhṛśārditāḥ
na tatyajū raṇaṁ svaṁ svaṁ
loka-dvaya-jigīṣavaḥ

Synonyms

śālva — of Śālva; anīka-pa — of the leaders of the army; śastra — of weapons; oghaiḥ — by floods; vṛṣṇi-vīrāḥ — the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan; bhṛśa — extremely; arditāḥ — pained; na tatyajuḥ — they did not abandon; raṇam — the places on the battlefield; svam svam — each their own; loka — the worlds; dvaya — two; jigīṣavaḥ — wishing to conquer.

Translation

Because the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan were eager for victory in this world and the next, they did not abandon their assigned posts on the battlefield, even though the downpour of weapons hurled by Śālva’s commanders tormented them.

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The heroes of the Yadu dynasty were determined to either die on the battlefield or gain victory. They were confident of the fact that if they would die in the fighting they would attain a heavenly planet, and if they would come out victorious they would enjoy the world.”

Text 26

Devanagari

शाल्वामात्यो द्युमान्नाम प्रद्युम्नं प्राक्प्रपीडित- ।
आसाद्य गदया मौर्व्या व्याहत्य व्यनदद् बली ॥ २६ ॥

Verse text

śālvāmātyo dyumān nāma
pradyumnaṁ prak prapīḍitaḥ
āsādya gadayā maurvyā
vyāhatya vyanadad balī

Synonyms

śālva-amātyaḥ — Śālva’s minister; dyumān nāma — named Dyumān; pradyumnam — Pradyumna; prāk — previously; prapīḍitaḥ — hurt; āsādya — confronting; gadayā — with his club; maurvyā — made of carbonized iron; vyāhatya — striking; vyanadat — roared; balī — powerful.

Translation

Śālva’s minister Dyumān, previously wounded by Śrī Pradyumna, now ran up to Him and, roaring loudly, struck Him with his club of black steel.

Text 27

Devanagari

प्रद्युम्नं गदया शीर्णवक्ष-स्थलमरिन्दमम् ।
अपोवाह रणात्सूतो धर्मविद् दारुकात्मज- ॥ २७ ॥

Verse text

pradyumnaṁ gadayā sīrṇa-
vakṣaḥ-sthalam ariṁ-damam
apovāha raṇāt sūto
dharma-vid dārukātmajaḥ

Synonyms

pradyumnam — Pradyumna; gadayā — by the club; śīrṇa — shattered; vakṣaḥ-sthalam — whose chest; arim — of enemies; damam — the subduer; apovāha — removed; raṇāt — from the battlefield; sūtaḥ — His chariot driver; dharma — of his religious duty; vit — the expert knower; dāruka-ātmajaḥ — the son of Dāruka (Lord Kṛṣṇa’s driver).

Translation

Pradyumna’s driver, the son of Dāruka, thought that his valiant master’s chest had been shattered by the club. Knowing well his religious duty, he removed Pradyumna from the battlefield.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that actually Lord Pradyumna has a sac-cid-ānanda body, an eternal, spiritual form that can never be wounded by mundane weapons. Dāruka’s son, however, was a great devotee of the Lord, and out of intense love he feared for the safety of his master and thus removed Him from the battlefield.

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The name of Śālva’s commander-in-chief was Dyumān. He was very powerful, and although bitten by twenty-five of Pradyumna’s arrows, he suddenly attacked Pradyumna with his fierce club and struck Him so strongly that Pradyumna became unconscious. Immediately there was a roaring, ‘Now He is dead! Now He is dead!’ The force of the club on Pradyumna’s chest was very severe, enough to tear asunder the chest of an ordinary man.”

Text 28

Devanagari

लब्धसञ्ज्ञो मुहूर्तेन कार्ष्णि- सारथिमब्रवीत् ।
अहो असाध्विदं सूत यद् रणान्मेऽपसर्पणम् ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

labdha-samjño muhūrtena
kārṣṇiḥ sārathim abravīt
aho asādhv idaṁ sūta
yad raṇān me ’pasarpaṇam

Synonyms

labdha — attaining; saṁjñaḥ — consciousness; muhūrtena — in a moment; kārṣṇiḥ — the son of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sārathim — to His chariot driver; abravīt — said; aho — ah; asādhu — improper; idam — this; sūta — O driver; yat — which; raṇāt — from the battlefield; me — My; apasarpaṇam — being taken away.

Translation

Quickly regaining consciousness, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s son Pradyumna said to His charioteer, “O driver, this is abominable — for Me to have been removed from the battlefield!

Text 29

Devanagari

न यदूनां कुले जात- श्रूयते रणविच्युत- ।
विना मत्क्लीबचित्तेन सूतेन प्राप्तकिल्बिषात् ॥ २९ ॥

Verse text

na yadūnāṁ kule jātaḥ
śrūyate raṇa-vicyutaḥ
vinā mat klība-cittena
sūtena prāpta-kilbiṣāt

Synonyms

na — not; yadūnām — of the Yadus; kule — in the family; jātaḥ — one who was born; śrūyate — is heard of; raṇa — the battlefield; vicyutaḥ — who abandoned; vinā — except for; mat — Me; klība — like that of a eunuch; cittena — whose mentality; sūtena — because of the driver; prāpta — gotten; kilbiṣāt — stain.

Translation

“Except for Me, no one born in the Yadu dynasty has ever been known to abandon the battlefield. My reputation has now been stained by a driver who thinks like a eunuch.

Text 30

Devanagari

किं नु वक्ष्येऽभिसङ्गम्य पितरौ रामकेशवौ ।
युद्धात्सम्यगपक्रान्त- पृष्टस्तत्रात्मन- क्षमम् ॥ ३० ॥

Verse text

kiṁ nu vakṣye ’bhisaṅgamya
pitarau rāma-keśavau
yuddhāt samyag apakrāntaḥ
pṛṣṭas tatrātmanaḥ kṣamam

Synonyms

kim — what; nu — then; vakṣye — will I say; abhisaṅgamya — meeting; pitarau — with My fathers; rāma-keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; yuddhāt — from the battle; samyak — altogether; apakrāntaḥ — fled; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — in that case; ātmanaḥ — for My self; kṣamam — fitting.

Translation

“What will I say to My fathers, Rāma and Keśava, when I return to Them after having simply fled the battle? What can I tell Them that will befit My honor?

Purport

Śrī Pradyumna here uses the word pitarau, “fathers,” loosely. Lord Balarāma was of course His uncle.

Text 31

Devanagari

व्यक्तं मे कथयिष्यन्ति हसन्त्यो भ्रातृजामय- ।
क्लैब्यं कथं कथं वीर तवान्यै- कथ्यतां मृधे ॥ ३१ ॥

Verse text

vyaktaṁ me kathayiṣyanti
hasantyo bhrātṛ-jāmayaḥ
klaibyaṁ kathaṁ kathaṁ vīra
tavānyaiḥ kathyatāṁ mṛdhe

Synonyms

vyaktam — certainly; me — My; kathayiṣyanti — will speak of; hasantyaḥ — laughing; bhrātṛ-jāmayaḥ — My brothers’ wives; klaibyam — unmanliness; katham — how; katham — how; vīra — O hero; tava — Your; anyaiḥ — by Your enemies; kathyatām — tell us; mṛdhe — in battle.

Translation

“Certainly My sisters-in-law will laugh at Me and say, ‘O hero, tell us how in the world Your enemies turned You into such a coward in battle.’”

Text 32

Devanagari

सारथिरुवाच
धर्मं विजानतायुष्मन् कृतमेतन्मया विभो ।
सूत- कृच्छ्रगतं रक्षेद् रथिनं सारथिं रथी ॥ ३२ ॥

Verse text

sārathir uvāca
dharmaṁ vijānatāyuṣman
kṛtam etan mayā vibho
sūtaḥ kṛcchra-gataṁ rakṣed
rathinaṁ sārathiṁ rathī

Synonyms

sārathiḥ uvāca — the driver said; dharmam — prescribed duty; vijānatā — by one who properly understood; āyuḥ-man — O long-lived one; kṛtam — done; etat — this; mayā — by me; vibho — O my Lord; sūtaḥ — a driver; kṛcchra — into difficulty; gatam — gone; rakṣet — should protect; rathinam — the master of the chariot; sārathim — his charioteer; rathī — the chariot owner.

Translation

The driver replied: O long-lived one, I have done this knowing full well my prescribed duty. O my Lord, the chariot driver must protect the master of the chariot when he is in danger, and the master must also protect his driver.

Text 33

Devanagari

एतद्विदित्वा तु भवान्मयापोवाहितो रणात् ।
उपसृष्ट- परेणेति मूर्च्छितो गदया हत- ॥ ३३ ॥

Verse text

etad viditvā tu bhavān
mayāpovāhito raṇāt
upasṛṣṭaḥ pareṇeti
mūrcchito gadayā hataḥ

Synonyms

etat — this; viditvā — knowing; tu — indeed; bhavān — You; mayā — by me; apovāhitaḥ — removed; raṇāt — from the battlefield; upasṛṣṭaḥ — hurt; pareṇa — by the enemy; iti — thus thinking; mūrcchitaḥ — unconscious; gadayā — by his club; hataḥ — struck.

Translation

With this rule in mind, I removed You from the battlefield, since You had been struck unconscious by Your enemy’s club and I thought You were seriously injured.

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Seventy-sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Battle Between Śālva and the Vṛṣṇis.”