॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः - ३६ ॥
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Discourse XXXVI
Kamsa sends Akrūra to Vraja to bring Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
अथ तर्ह्यागतो गोष्ठमरिष्टो वृषभासुरः ।
महीं महाककुत्कायः कम्पयन् खुरविक्षताम् ॥ १॥
रम्भमाणः खरतरं पदा च विलिखन् महीम् ।
उद्यम्य पुच्छं वप्राणि विषाणाग्रेण चोद्धरन् ॥ २॥
किञ्चित्किञ्चिच्छकृन्मुञ्चन् मूत्रयन् स्तब्धलोचनः ।
यस्य निर्ह्रादितेनाङ्ग निष्ठुरेण गवां नृणाम् ॥ ३॥
पतन्त्यकालतो गर्भाः स्रवन्ति स्म भयेन वै ।
निर्विशन्ति घना यस्य ककुद्यचलशङ्कया ॥ ४॥
तं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गमुद्वीक्ष्य गोप्यो गोपाश्च तत्रसुः ।
पशवो दुद्रुवुर्भीता राजन् सन्त्यज्य गोकुलम् ॥ ५॥
कृष्ण कृष्णेति ते सर्वे गोविन्दं शरणं ययुः ।
भगवानपि तद्वीक्ष्य गोकुलं भयविद्रुतम् ॥ ६॥
मा भैष्टेति गिराऽऽश्वास्य वृषासुरमुपाह्वयत् ।
गोपालैः पशुभिर्मन्द त्रासितैः किमसत्तम ॥ ७॥
बलदर्पहा दुष्टानां त्वद्विधानां दुरात्मनाम् ।
इत्यास्फोट्याच्युतोऽरिष्टं तलशब्देन कोपयन् ॥ ८॥
सख्युरंसे भुजाभोगं प्रसार्यावस्थितो हरिः ।
सोऽप्येवं कोपितोऽरिष्टः खुरेणावनिमुल्लिखन् ।
उद्यत्पुच्छभ्रमन्मेघः क्रुद्धः कृष्णमुपाद्रवत् ॥ ९॥
अग्रन्यस्तविषाणाग्रः स्तब्धासृग्लोचनोऽच्युतम् ।
कटाक्षिप्याद्रवत्तूर्णमिन्द्रमुक्तोऽशनिर्यथा ॥ १०॥
गृहीत्वा शृङ्गयोस्तं वा अष्टादश पदानि सः ।
प्रत्यपोवाह भगवान् गजः प्रतिगजं यथा ॥ ११॥
सोऽपविद्धो भगवता पुनरुत्थाय सत्वरः ।
आपतत्स्विन्नसर्वाङ्गो निःश्वसन् क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ १२॥
तमापतन्तं स निगृह्य शृङ्गयोः
पदा समाक्रम्य निपात्य भूतले ।
निष्पीडयामास यथाऽऽर्द्रमम्बरं
कृत्वा विषाणेन जघान सोऽपतत् ॥ १३॥
असृग्वमन् मूत्रशकृत्समुत्सृजन्
क्षिपंश्च पादाननवस्थितेक्षणः ।
जगाम कृच्छ्रं निरृतेरथ क्षयं
पुष्पैः किरन्तो हरिमीडिरे सुराः ॥ १४॥
एवं कुकुद्मिनं हत्वा स्तूयमानः स्वजातिभिः ।
विवेश गोष्ठं सबलो गोपीनां नयनोत्सवः ॥ १५॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : Some time after (Śrī Kṛṣṇa's return from the forest) there came to Vraja Ariṣṭa, a demon disguised as a bull with a huge body and a large hump, shaking the earth (already) torn by his hoofs. (1)
He was bellowing very harshly and breaking the earth with his hoofs: (nay.) uplifting his tail he was throwing up the mounds of earth with the ends of his horns and was (at the same time) discharging dung and urine in small quantities (at intervals), and staring with unwinking eyes. At his violent and thunder-like roar, O dear Parikṣit, cows and women were prematurely delivered of their offspring at an initial or advanced stage of gestation indeed through fear, and clouds settled on his hump mistaking it for a hillock. (2—4)
Perceiving that animal with sharp horns the cowherds and cowherdesses felt dismayed and the cattle fled in terror leaving Vraja far behind, O king! (5)
Crying "Kṛṣṇa! O Enchanter of all !!" they all sought Govinda as their refuge. Observing this and reassuring the people of Vraja, driven off by fright, in the words "Do not be afraid !" the Lord too challenged the diabolical bull saying, "What will you gain, O fool, through the cattle and the cowherds being terrified thus, O vilest creature ? (6-7)
Here am I to crush the pride, born of might, of the wicked and evil-minded like you !" Slapping His arms (by way of challenge to a duel) and provoking Ariṣṭa by means of the sound produced thereby, the immortal Śrī Hari stood stretching His serpent-like arm on the shoulder of a boy companion. Thus angered, the aforesaid Ariṣṭa too rushed towards Śrī Kṛṣṇa in fury, furrowing the earth with his hoofs, the clouds dispersing at the touch of his erect tail. (8-9)
With the ends of his horns thrust forward and his bloodshot eyes remaining winkless the animal darted forthwith towards Śrī Kṛṣṇa even like the thunderbolt hurled by Indra, threatening Him with his side-glances. (10)
Seizing him by the horns, the Lord actually pushed him back, like an elephant driving a rival elephant, to a distance of eighteen steps. (11)
Knocked down by the Lord, the bull quickly rose again and, filled with fury, rushed forward sweating all over and breathing hard. (12)
Seizing tightly the demon by the horns, even as he came rushing, and throwing him to the ground, the Lord set His foot on him and (pressing him at one end with His feet) wrung him even as a drenched cloth; and (then) pulling his horn struck him with it till he fell prostrate. (13)
Vomiting blood, discharging urine and dung profusely and throwing up his feet with his eyes rolling, the demon experienced (great) agony and (eventually) met his end at the hands of Death (himself in the disguise of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Destroyer of Death). The gods (in heaven) applauded Śrī Hari, covering Him with flowers. (14)
Having thus disposed of the (demon in the form of a) bull and being glorified by His own kinsmen (the cowherds), Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the feast of the Gopis' eyes) accompanied by Bala (who had joined him on hearing of his encounter with the bull) entered Vraja (once more). (15) (1-15)
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अरिष्टे निहते दैत्ये कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा ।
कंसायाथाह भगवान् नारदो देवदर्शनः ॥ १६॥
यशोदायाः सुतां कन्यां देवक्याः कृष्णमेव च ।
रामं च रोहिणीपुत्रं वसुदेवेन बिभ्यता ॥ १७॥
न्यस्तौ स्वमित्रे नन्दे वै याभ्यां ते पुरुषा हताः ।
निशम्य तद्भोजपतिः कोपात्प्रचलितेन्द्रियः ॥ १८॥
निशातमसिमादत्त वसुदेवजिघांसया ।
निवारितो नारदेन तत्सुतौ मृत्युमात्मनः ॥ १९॥
ज्ञात्वा लोहमयैः पाशैर्बबन्ध सहभार्यया ।
प्रतियाते तु देवर्षौ कंस आभाष्य केशिनम् ॥ २०॥
प्रेषयामास हन्येतां भवता रामकेशवौ ।
ततो मुष्टिकचाणूरशलतोशलकादिकान् ॥ २१॥
अमात्यान् हस्तिपांश्चैव समाहूयाह भोजराट् ।
भो भो निशम्यतामेतद्वीरचाणूरमुष्टिकौ ॥ २२॥
नन्दव्रजे किलासाते सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः ।
रामकृष्णौ ततो मह्यं मृत्युः किल निदर्शितः ॥ २३॥
भवद्भ्यामिह सम्प्राप्तौ हन्येतां मल्ललीलया ।
मञ्चाः क्रियन्तां विविधा मल्लरङ्गपरिश्रिताः ।
पौरा जानपदाः सर्वे पश्यन्तु स्वैरसंयुगम् ॥ २४॥
महामात्र त्वया भद्र रङ्गद्वार्युपनीयताम् ।
द्विपः कुवलयापीडो जहि तेन ममाहितौ ॥ २५॥
आरभ्यतां धनुर्यागश्चतुर्दश्यां यथाविधि ।
विशसन्तु पशून् मेध्यान् भूतराजाय मीढुषे ॥ २६॥
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The demon Ariṣṭa having been slain by Śrī Kṛṣṇa of miraculous deeds, the holy Nārada, who was gifted with divine vision, presently (called on and) told Kaṁsa of the female child (which was supposed to be the eighth progeny of Devakī and had escaped death* at his hands) being (as a matter of fact) a daughter of Yaśodā, as well as of Śrī Kṛṣṇa being the (eighth) offspring of Devakī, and of Balarāma being a son of Rohini as also of the two Brothers—by whom Kaṁsa's men (agents) had been actually made short work of—having been placed by the terrified Vasudeva (Their real father) in the charge of his friend, Nanda, Kaṁsa, the chief of the Bhojas, whose mind was agitated through anger to hear this (revelation), snatched a sharp-edged sword with the intention of killing Vasudeva. Stopped (however) by Nārada and coming to know (from the same sage) of the two Sons of Vasudeva to have been ordained (by Providence) to be his Death, he bound Vasudeva alongwith his wife (Devakī) with iron fetters. The celestial sage having (now) returned (to his abode in the highest heaven), Kaṁsa conferred with Keśī and despatched him (to Vraja) with the order "Let Balarāma and Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) be disposed of (by you)!" Summoning in his presence Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośalaka and others (who were renowned experts in wrestling) as well as his ministers and keepers of elephants, Kaṁsa (the king of the Bhojas) then said, "O! Let this (command of mine) be listened to (and obeyed forthwith), O heroic Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika! (16—22)
I hear the two sons of Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva), Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, are dwelling in Nanda's Vraja; at their hands I am told has my death been decreed. (23)
Let the two boys, when arrived here, be killed by you in a game of wrestling. Let galleries of diverse designs be erected (in the form of an amphitheatre) round the arena for the wrestlers, (and) let all the people of the city as well as of the country (the kingdom of Mathurā) witness the voluntary combat. (24)
O keeper of (my) elephants, O blessed one, let the (mighty) elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa be brought to (and stationed at) the (main) entrance of the amphitheatre (and) kill through it my two (juvenile) enemies. (25)
Let a bow-sacrifice (in which Lord Śiva is worshipped in the form of a bow and which is recommended in the works on Śiva-Worship as conducive to victory over enemies) be commenced with due ceremony on the (coming) fourteenth lunar day (which is held particularly sacred to Lord Śiva). Let the priests immolate animals, fit to be sacrificed, to Lord Śiva (the Ruler of the spirits and popularly worshipped even to this day at Mathurā under the name of Śrī Bhūteśwara), the Bestower of (all) boons." (26) (16-26)
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इत्याज्ञाप्यार्थतन्त्रज्ञ आहूय यदुपुङ्गवम् ।
गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं ततोऽक्रूरमुवाच ह ॥ २७॥
भो भो दानपते मह्यं क्रियतां मैत्रमादृतः ।
नान्यस्त्वत्तो हिततमो विद्यते भोजवृष्णिषु ॥ २८॥
अतस्त्वामाश्रितः सौम्य कार्यगौरवसाधनम् ।
यथेन्द्रो विष्णुमाश्रित्य स्वार्थमध्यगमद्विभुः ॥ २९॥
गच्छ नन्दव्रजं तत्र सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः ।
आसाते ताविहानेन रथेनानय मा चिरम् ॥ ३०॥
निसृष्टः किल मे मृत्युर्देवैर्वैकुण्ठसंश्रयैः ।
तावानय समं गोपैर्नन्दाद्यैः साभ्युपायनैः ॥ ३१॥
घातयिष्य इहानीतौ कालकल्पेन हस्तिना ।
यदि मुक्तौ ततो मल्लैर्घातये वैद्युतोपमैः ॥ ३२॥
तयोर्निहतयोस्तप्तान् वसुदेवपुरोगमान् ।
तद्बन्धून्निहनिष्यामि वृष्णिभोजदशार्हकान् ॥ ३३॥
उग्रसेनं च पितरं स्थविरं राज्यकामुकम् ।
तद्भ्रातरं देवकं च ये चान्ये विद्विषो मम ॥ ३४॥
ततश्चैषा मही मित्र भवित्री नष्टकण्टका ।
जरासन्धो मम गुरुर्द्विविदो दयितः सखा ॥ ३५॥
शम्बरो नरको बाणो मय्येव कृतसौहृदाः ।
तैरहं सुरपक्षीयान् हत्वा भोक्ष्ये महीं नृपान् ॥ ३६॥
एतज्ज्ञात्वाऽऽनय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ ।
धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम् ॥ ३७॥
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Having thus commanded his servants, Kaṁsa (who was well-versed in the methods of achieving his personal ends) summoned Akrūra, the foremost of the Yadus (and a kinsman of Vasudeva), and, clasping his hand with his own, addressed him as follows:—(27)
"O chief of the charitably disposed, let an act of friendship be done to me. None else is more honoured and more friendly (to me) than you in the race of the Bhojas and the Vṛṣṇis. (28)
I therefore depend on you, O gentle one, as the means of accomplishing a great purpose, (even) as the mighty Indra attained his end (in the form of sovereignty of the three worlds, that had been usurped by Bali (the demon king), depending as he did on Lord Viṣṇu (descended in the form of Vāmana*, the Divine Dwarf, his younger Brother). (29)
Proceed (at once) to Nanda's Vraja; there reside the two sons of Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva). (Please) bring them both here in this chariot; let there be no delay. (30)
My death, I understand, has been pre-ordained at the hands of the younger one by the gods, who have their (sole) refuge in Viṣṇu. (Therefore) fetch them alongwith the Gopas headed by Nanda and equipped with tributes of various kinds. (31)
I shall have them despatched, when brought down here, by my elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa), who is as good as Death (himself). If (however) they escape it, I shall get them killed by wrestlers (fierce) like thunderbolts. (32)
On the two brothers having been killed I shall do away with their afflicted kinsmen—the Vṛṣṇis, the Bhojas and the Daśārhas—headed by Vasudeva, as well as my aged father, Ugrasena, who is anxious to regain his sovereignty, his (younger) brother, Devaka, and whoever else are my enemies. (33-34)
And then this earth, O friend, will be rid of (all its) thorns, Jarāsandha is (my father-in-law and therefore as good as) my father; while Dwivida (the monkey-chief) is my beloved friend. (35)
(Even so) Sambara, Naraka and Bāṇa have (all) entered into alliance with me. Destroying with their help (all) kings who are siding with the gods, I shall rule over the (entire) globe (myself). (36)
Knowing this (but not disclosing my intention to the people of Vraja), fetch the two youngsters, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, here at once so as to enable them to witness the bow-sacrifice as well as to behold the splendour of Mathurā (the capital of the Yadus)." (37) (27-37)
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अक्रूर उवाच ।
राजन् मनीषितं सध्र्यक् तव स्वावद्यमार्जनम् ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समं कुर्याद्दैवं हि फलसाधनम् ॥ ३८॥
मनोरथान् करोत्युच्चैर्जनो दैवहतानपि ।
युज्यते हर्षशोकाभ्यां तथाप्याज्ञां करोमि ते ॥ ३९॥
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Akrūra replied : Well-thought out is your remedy against the evil that stares you in the face. One should (however) keep one's mind balanced in success and failure; for it is Providence that procures the fruit of our endeavours. (38)
Man entertains high aspirations, even though they are thwarted by Providence, and (thus) meets with joy and grief. Nevertheless I shall do your bidding. (39) (38-39)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
एवमादिश्य चाक्रूरं मन्त्रिणश्च विसृज्य सः ।
प्रविवेश गृहं कंसस्तथाक्रूरः स्वमालयम् ॥ ४०॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां
दशमस्कन्धे पूर्वार्धे अक्रूरसम्प्रेषणं नाम षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३६॥
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Śrī Śuka continued: Having thus instructed Akrūra and sent away his counsellors, Kāṁsa retired into the gynaecium and Akrūra too returned to his house. (40)
Thus ends the thirty-sixth discourse entitled "Kāṁsa despatches Akrūra (to Vraja)", in the first half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahāṁsa-Sarhhitā. (40)
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