॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः - ३४ ॥
|
Discourse XXXIV
The Lord makes short work of Śaṅkhacūḍa (Preamble)
|
श्रीशुक उवाच ।
एकदा देवयात्रायां गोपाला जातकौतुकाः ।
अनोभिरनडुद्युक्तैः प्रययुस्तेऽम्बिकावनम् ॥ १॥
तत्र स्नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम् ।
आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च नृपतेऽम्बिकाम् ॥ २॥
गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमादृताः ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः सर्वे देवो नः प्रीयतामिति ॥ ३॥
ऊषुः सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य धृतव्रताः ।
रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादयः ॥ ४॥
|
Śrī Śuka began again: Their interest having been aroused in (undertaking) a pilgrimage for the worship of a god on a certain occasion, the cowherds (of Vraja) rode in their carts drawn by bullocks to (a forest known as) Ambikā Vana (which was sacred to Goddess Pārvatī, the Mother of the universe). (1)
Having bathed in the Saraswatī river there, they worshipped the almighty Lord Śiva as well as Goddess Ambikā (His Consort) with devotion through (various) articles of worship, O protector of men! (2)
Full of reverence they all gifted to the Brahmans cows, gold, clothes, sweets and rice boiled with honey praying "May the Lord be propitious to us!" (3)
Having undertaken sacred vows and subsisting on water (alone for the whole day); the highly blessed ones, Nanda, Sunanda (his younger brother) and others, spent that night on the bank of the Saraswatī. (4) (1-4)
|
|
कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन् विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षितः ।
यदृच्छयाऽऽगतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत् ॥ ५॥
स चुक्रोशाहिना ग्रस्तः कृष्ण कृष्ण महानयम् ।
सर्पो मां ग्रसते तात प्रपन्नं परिमोचय ॥ ६॥
तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपालाः सहसोत्थिताः ।
ग्रस्तं च दृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ताः सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकैः ॥ ७॥
अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गमः ।
तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान् सात्वतां पतिः ॥ ८॥
स वै भगवतः श्रीमत्पादस्पर्शहताशुभः ।
भेजे सर्पवपुर्हित्वा रूपं विद्याधरार्चितम् ॥ ९॥
तमपृच्छद्धृषीकेशः प्रणतं समुपस्थितम् ।
दीप्यमानेन वपुषा पुरुषं हेममालिनम् ॥ १०॥
को भवान् परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भुतदर्शनः ।
कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवशः ॥ ११॥
|
Sore pinched with hunger a huge snake arrived in that forest by the will of Providence and crawling, (imperceptibly), proceeded to swallow Nanda, who was lying down (there). (5)
Seized by the python, he cried, "Kṛṣṇa, O enchanter of all, this huge serpent is devouring me, O darling! (Pray,) deliver me, who have sought you as my refuge." (6)
Hearing his cry as well as his wailing, the cowherds sprang on their feet at once and, bewildered to see him caught (in the coils of a boa constrictor), struck the serpent with fire-brands. (7)
Though being scorched with pieces of burning wood, the reptile did not leave Nanda. Approaching the serpent (in the meantime), Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Protector of the Yadus) touched the animal with His foot. (8)
(All) his evil Karma having been wiped out by the touch of the Lord's glorious foot, the animal cast off the body of a serpent and attained a (shining) form honoured by the Vidyādharas. (9)
Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Ruler of the senses) questioned (as follows) the superhuman being, who stood beside Him adorned with a gold necklace and bowing low with a resplendent body:—(10)
"Who are you that are shining with great splendour, endowed as you are with a weird form? And how were you helplessly cast into this disgusting species (of a serpent)?" (11) (5-11)
|
सर्प उवाच ।
अहं विद्याधरः कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुतः ।
श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरं दिशः ॥ १२॥
ऋषीन् विरूपानङ्गिरसः प्राहसं रूपदर्पितः ।
तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धैः स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ १३॥
शापो मेऽनुग्रहायैव कृतस्तैः करुणात्मभिः ।
यदहं लोकगुरुणा पदा स्पृष्टो हताशुभः ॥ १४॥
तं त्वाहं भवभीतानां प्रपन्नानां भयापहम् ।
आपृच्छे शापनिर्मुक्तः पादस्पर्शादमीवहन् ॥ १५॥
प्रपन्नोऽस्मि महायोगिन् महापुरुष सत्पते ।
अनुजानीहि मां देव सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वर ॥ १६॥
ब्रह्मदण्डाद्विमुक्तोऽहं सद्यस्तेऽच्युत दर्शनात् ।
यन्नाम गृह्णन्नखिलान् श्रोतॄनात्मानमेव च ।
सद्यः पुनाति किं भूयस्तस्य स्पृष्टः पदा हि ते ॥ १७॥
इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च ।
सुदर्शनो दिवं यातः कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचितः ॥ १८॥
निशाम्य कृष्णस्य तदात्मवैभवं
व्रजौकसो विस्मितचेतसस्ततः ।
समाप्य तस्मिन्नियमं पुनर्व्रजं
नृपाययुस्तत्कथयन्त आदृताः ॥ १९॥
|
The (erstwhile) serpent replied: "I am a Vidyādhara known by the name of Sudarśana. Endowed with (extraordinary) splendour and wealth of beauty I used to fly in an aerial car in all directions. (12)
Proud of my comeliness I laughed at some deformed sages born in the line of the sage Aṅgirā. I was cast into this form (of a python) through my own sin by them, derided as they were by me. (13)
(I now feel that) the curse was pronounced by those kind-hearted souls just in order to show their grace to me in that I have been touched with Your foot by You, the Father of the universe, with the result that all my sins have been wiped out. (14)
Completely rid of the curse by the touch of Your feet, O Dispeller of sorrows, I ask leave of You, the celebrated Lord, who dissipate the fears of those who are afraid of rebirth and have sought You as their refuge. (15)
I have approached You as my protector, O great Yogi, O Supreme Person, O Protector of the righteous! (Pray) grant me leave, O Lord. O Ruler of rulers of all the worlds! (16)
I was immediately rid of the Brāhmaṇas' curse through Your very sight, O immortal Lord! A man uttering Your name purifies at once all those who hear him (do so) as well as himself. What wonder, then, that I, who was actually touched by the feet of such a Lord, viz., Yourself, should get purified (at once)!" (17)
Thus taking leave of Śrī Kṛṣṇa (a scion of Daśārha), going round Him (clockwise) and respectfully bowing to Him, Sudarśana ascended to heaven and Nanda was rescued from a perilous situation. (18)
With their mind struck with wonder to witness such peculiar glory of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and completing their religious observances there, the people of Vraja returned home from that (holy) place, O protector of men, talking about it with reverence. (19) (12-19)
|
|
कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रमः ।
विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम् ॥ २०॥
उपगीयमानौ ललितं स्त्रीजनैर्बद्धसौहृदैः ।
स्वलङ्कृतानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्रग्विणौ विरजोऽम्बरौ ॥ २१॥
निशामुखं मानयन्तावुदितोडुपतारकम् ।
मल्लिकागन्धमत्तालिजुष्टं कुमुदवायुना ॥ २२॥
जगतुः सर्वभूतानां मनःश्रवणमङ्गलम् ।
तौ कल्पयन्तौ युगपत्स्वरमण्डलमूर्च्छितम् ॥ २३॥
गोप्यस्तद्गीतमाकर्ण्य मूर्च्छिता नाविदन् नृप ।
स्रंसद्दुकूलमात्मानं स्रस्तकेशस्रजं ततः ॥ २४॥
|
On a certain occasion later on Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Protector of cows) and Balarāma of wonderful prowess sported in the forest at night in the midst of women of Vraja. (20)
They were being melodiously sung by the womenfolk—who had fastened their love on Them—were well-adorned, (nay) had their limbs smeared with sandal-paste, and were decked with garlands and dressed in immaculate garments. (21)
Making much of the advent of night—which was marked by the appearance of the moon and the stars as well as by (the hovering of) black bees intoxicated with the fragrance of jasmines, and was fanned by a breeze charged with the fragrance of water-lilies—and simultaneously going through the whole scale of musical notes with a regulated rise and fall of sound, the two Brothers sang to the delight of the mind and ears of all created beings. (22-23)
Hearing Their song, the cowherd women fell into a trance and did not notice their raiment falling off from their person or their wreaths dropped from their braid due to that trance, O protector of men ! (24) (20-24)
|
|
एवं विक्रीडतोः स्वैरं गायतोः सम्प्रमत्तवत् ।
शङ्खचूड इति ख्यातो धनदानुचरोऽभ्यगात् ॥ २५॥
तयोर्निरीक्षतो राजंस्तन्नाथं प्रमदाजनम् ।
क्रोशन्तं कालयामास दिश्युदीच्यामशङ्कितः ॥ २६॥
क्रोशन्तं कृष्ण रामेति विलोक्य स्वपरिग्रहम् ।
यथा गा दस्युना ग्रस्ता भ्रातरावन्वधावताम् ॥ २७॥
मा भैष्टेत्यभयारावौ शालहस्तौ तरस्विनौ ।
आसेदतुस्तं तरसा त्वरितं गुह्यकाधमम् ॥ २८॥
स वीक्ष्य तावनुप्राप्तौ कालमृत्यू इवोद्विजन् ।
विसृज्य स्त्रीजनं मूढः प्राद्रवज्जीवितेच्छया ॥ २९॥
तमन्वधावद्गोविन्दो यत्र यत्र स धावति ।
जिहीर्षुस्तच्छिरोरत्नं तस्थौ रक्षन् स्त्रियो बलः ॥ ३०॥
अविदूर इवाभ्येत्य शिरस्तस्य दुरात्मनः ।
जहार मुष्टिनैवाङ्ग सहचूडामणिं विभुः ॥ ३१॥
शङ्खचूडं निहत्यैवं मणिमादाय भास्वरम् ।
अग्रजायाददात्प्रीत्या पश्यन्तीनां च योषिताम् ॥ ३२॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां
दशमस्कन्धे पूर्वार्धे शङ्खचूडवधो नाम चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३४॥
|
While the two Brothers were thus revelling unconstrainedly and singing as though highly intoxicated, an attendant of Kubera (the bestower of riches) known by the name of Śaṅkhacūḍa, arrived there. (25)
Nothing daunted, O king, he drove the screaming young women, though protected by Them, towards the north before Their very eyes. (26)
Beholding Their own womenfolk crying "O Kṛṣṇa ! O Balarāma !" even like cows seized by a robber, the two Brothers ran in pursuit. (27)
Shouting Their assurance of safety in the words "Do not be afraid !" with a sal tree in hand, the two nimble-footed Brothers ran with quick steps and speedily overtook that vile Guhyaka (Yakṣa). (28)
Shuddering to perceive the two Brothers, close upon his heels like Kāla (the Time-Spirit) and Death personified, the fool abandoned the womenfolk and ran post-haste with intent to save his life. (29)
Intending to snatch the jewel on his head, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Protector of cows) chased him whithersoever he ran; while Bala stood guard over the women. (30)
Approaching him as though he were not very far off, the almighty Lord severed the head of that evil-minded fellow, including the jewel on his crest with a (stroke of) His fist, O dear Parikṣit ! (31)
Having thus slain Śaṅkhacūḍa and taking his splendid gem, He lovingly presented it to His elder brother in the presence of the women, who stood looking on (with wonder). (32)
Thus ends the thirty-fourth discourse entitled "The Lord slays Śaṅkhacūḍa",
in the first half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa,
otherwise known as the Paramahārhsa-Sarhhitā. (25-32)
|