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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 11, 2023 12:19:02 GMT -6
SB.10.50.7-11
(Krishna thought) 'This mighty host foregathered I will slay, The burden of the good Earth to allay, Mustered by Magadha's king in his pride, Along with those monarchs to him allied. 7
I shall slay these legions of potent force, Of Elephant, chariot, foot and horse, But that he might gather new force again, The king of Magadha shall not be slain. 8
And for this purpose I am incarnate, To lighten Earth of her burdensome weight, To save the holy ones, which to fulfil, The others who are evil I shall kill. 9
I have whilom assumed bodies of old, The codes of righteous conduct to uphold, At such times unrighteousness to arrest, I am from time to time made manifest.' 10
As Govinda was musing, sudden nigh Two sun-bright cars descended from the sky; Each furnished with a brave charioteer, Fully equipped with war-like goodly gear. 11
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 11, 2023 13:24:44 GMT -6
Continuing SB.10.50.12-16
His ancient weapons thereupon appear, That he in olden times was wont to rear, Which seeing Hrishikesh did vastly please, Who spoke to Sankarshan in words like these. 12
(Krishna to Balarama) "Lo and behold, O noble one, adored, The Yadu's plight; thou art their saving Lord; Thy favorite weapons long tested in war, Have come here along with thy mighty car. 13
Did we not take our birth and so commit, To confer on holy ones benefit? These three and twenty legions in array, Constitute Earth's great burden; do thou slay!" 14
Thus he, and having made the case for war, The two Dasarhas mounted each his car, Rode out of the city, weapons in hand, Escorted by a small and loyal band. 15
Daruka took the reins and driving fast, Hari on his conch blew a mighty blast; Which did awe in the enemy awake, Who tremble in their hearts and fearful quake. 16
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 11, 2023 14:01:03 GMT -6
Continuing SB.10.50.17-23
When Magadha beheld the two approach, He loaded the Lord with his vile reproach; 'Base Krishna! I will not with you engage, A shameless coward, a mere boy in age; O fool who hide yourself, I will not slay, O killer of your kin! Be gone, away! 17
But Rama if you in your strength confide, Come forth and let your strength with me be tried; Sliced by my arrows you will not survive, Or haply you may me of life deprive. 18
(The Illustrious One said) "Brave heroes do not boast and bluster so, But show their manliness by what they do; We accept not your speech, mere waste of breath, Indulged in by those on the verge of death." 19
Jara's son the two Madhavas opposed, And like a flood the enemy enclosed, And soldiers, cars, horses and flags enshroud, As hidden is the Sun by windswept cloud. 20
When they the Suparna flag could not see, Nor the Palm flag of Rama and Hari, The damsels who from the rampart survey, Distressed by lamentation swoon away. 21
When Hari saw his own forces oppressed, And by the rain of arrows sore distressed, He reared his mighty horn bow known to fame, As the most excellent Sharnga by name; And raised a loud twanging, puling the cord, By mighty gods and demon hosts adored. 22
He placed an arrow on the cord and drew, And lo! A flood of keen edged arrows flew; And cut down chariots, tuskers and steeds, And slicing men on every side proceeds; His arrows wrought destruction on each hand, And wheeled around like a great fire brand. 23
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 12, 2023 5:01:34 GMT -6
Continuing SB.10.50.24-29
With split heads elephants fell to the ground, And severed necks of steeds were scattered round; The cars were devastated, horses slain, Fluttering flags were shattered in disdain; The car warriors and their drivers too And the infantry who on foot pursue, Were cut down in the conflict and alarms, And shortened of their shoulders, legs and arms. 24
The sliced members of men flowing with blood, And steeds and tuskers, formed a mighty flood; Streams flow with severed arms like serpents dread; And heads protruded as the turtles' head; The slaughtered tuskers represent vast isles, The horses' heads were there the crocodiles. 25
The hands were fish as the river proceeds, The hair of men resembled waterweeds; And bows appeared like ripples in the stream; Like clumps of weeds the heaps of weapons seem. 26
The whirlpools were the wheels of mighty cars, The pebbles are gems that sparkle like stars; For the timid a terrifying sight, But to the wise a source of much delight. Sankarshana with from his mace a blow, The army of the Magadhan laid low. 27
O dear one, it was like an ocean vast, Awesome, unfathomable, unsurpassed; But to that force led by Magadha's king, Vasudeva's sons did destruction bring. To them it was but merely playful sport, Who are Lords of the world and its support. 28
For one who the three worlds doth generate, Maintain and finally annihilate; Merely his playful nature to express, Whose divine attributes are limitless; It is not such a wonder and surprise, That he should thus despatch his enemies; But when to play as a man he proceeds, Poets rejoice and celebrate his deeds. 29
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 12, 2023 12:19:40 GMT -6
Continuing SB.10.50.30-39
The Lordly Rama of the puissant might, Seized Jarasandha and held to him tight; Who lost his army but did breath retain, As lion by greater lion is ta'en. 30
While he with Varuna's ropes gan to bind, And keep the foe destroyer thus confined, Govinda requested him to desist, And for some further purpose be dismissed. 31
Released by the world Lords of mighty fame, He was stung by remorse and bitter shame; And resolved on strict penance to assay, But was forbid by kings met on the way. 32
They convinced him with specious reasoning, That but past deeds their consequences bring, And that due to past actions it was meet, That suffered he at Yadus' hands defeat. 33
To Brhadratha's son naught did remain, The kings grand army was routed and slain; And having been by the Supreme Lord spurned, Woeful, he to Magadha's realm returned. 34
Intact Mukunda's forces did remain, And in the conflict crossed the mighty main; The thirty gods, in exultation high, Sent down a rain of flowers from the sky. 35
The people of Mathura came elate, Relieved of fever to congratulate; And bards and poets in their lofty lays, Recount his victory and sing his praise. 36
Conches and drums and kettledrums resound, The horns and pipes reverberate around; Vinas, flutes, mridangas the concert swell, As the two Lords entered the citadel. 37
The roads were swept and washed with water clean, The city's residents were joyful seen; The chanting of Vedic hymns permeates, And festive wreaths were hung upon the gates. 38
The women having sprinkled him with care, With rice and yogurt, sprouts and garlands fair, To gaze on him with love were gratified, That caused their lovely eyes to blossom wide. 39
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 12, 2023 13:53:10 GMT -6
A bit more, then bed.
The spoils of victory lay scattered round, The ornaments of heroes strewed the ground; And to the Yadu king that precious horde, Was presented with honour by the Lord. 40
Magadha's king seventeen times had led His mighty legions but was defeated; And by the Yadu force was overthrown, Who Krishna as their Lord protector own. 41
Thus every time his puissance forward led, He was by the Vrishnis discomfited, By Krishna's power; and when all were slain, His enemies let the king go again. 42
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 13, 2023 3:52:20 GMT -6
Proceeding further with SB.10.50.43-53
Now when he his eighteenth campaign began, And to invest the city laid his plan, At the instance of Narada, the sage, A Yavana hero came to engage. 43
With thirty million savages he pressed, And Mathura and its realm did invest. He saw no rival among all mankind, But heard that rivals he would Vrishnis find. 44
When Krishna and Sankarshan this beheld, They pondered and deliberation held; "Calamity on Yadus doth betide, Assailed on two fronts and on every side! 45
The Yavana besieges us today, In preparation for the deadly fray; The Magadhan tomorrow may contrive, Or the day after, and with force arrive. 46
While to face the Yavana we advance, The son of Jara may seize on the chance Our kinsmen to encounter and to slay, Or take them to his city far away. 47
Therefore, today we shall a fortress make, That no force of two legged men may take; Conduct our kinsmen there without delay, And then this barbarous Yavana slay." 48
The Lord thus concluded his conference. Full twelve yojanas in circumference, He had a fortress built within the sea, Furnished with all wonderful things to see. 49
The foundations of the city were laid, Where Tvastra's skill in design was displayed; Where wide wayed high roads in quadrangles meet, And many a bazar and market street. There stately trees of celestials shine, Embraced by tendrils of the creeping vine; Fine gardens and gold domes that touch the sky, And towers made of crystal standing high. The magazines and storehouses were made Of silver, brass and gold with gems inlaid; The houses all with golden vessels shine, Were decked with gems and great beryl divine. Adjacent to each finely built abode, Was raised a temple to the chosen God; There crowds of people of four orders dwell; There stands the Yadu-deva's citadel. 50-53
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 13, 2023 5:30:41 GMT -6
Concluding SB.10.50. 54-57
The great Indra brought down to Lord Hari, Sudharma hall and Parijata tree; Who dwell within that hall doth well protect, Though mortal, mortal needs do not affect. 54
Lord Varuna offered with pious care White horses swift that each had a black ear; The lord of eight treasures, treasure conveyed, The guardian gods their wealth before him laid. 55
What power from the Lord they did receive, Fulfilment of their function to achieve; Of that to him they now made offering, While Hari on the Earth remained, O king. 56
Then Hari by yoga power transferred The subjects thence, and with Rama conferred; And having decided in their debate, Krishna then ventured from the city gate, And without arms or weapons forward sped, With lotus flower wreaths engarlanded. 57
Thus ends chapter fifty in Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa.
.................. Visvanatha cites a couple of stanzas from Padma Purana in reference to the above.
While Mathura's inhabitants slumbered, Janardana from the city transferred; And thus they were removed at dead of night, And settled in Dvaraka with delight.
The people thereon awoke to behold And found themselves in palaces of gold; Their offspring and their wives were thither brought; And were amazed and with much wonder frought. (Padma Purana)
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 13, 2023 7:41:12 GMT -6
Argument for chapter 50
With Kamsa slain his widowed wives resort, To their father great Jarasandha's court; Mighty legions in number twenty three, Leads forth, which are destroyed by Lord Hari; To keep his people free from sore distress, He had constructed a mighty fortress, A vast city impregnable and fair, Called Dvaraka, and took his people there. Then he came, unarmed, from the city gate, Which chapter fifty doth at length relate.
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Post by madanmohandas on Dec 17, 2023 2:26:25 GMT -6
The opening passage from SB.10.51. 1-14
(Sri Suka said) He saw him exit the gate with his eyes, Delightsome to behold like the moonrise, He marked his fine complexion of dark blue, In silken raiment clad of yellow hue. 1
He saw the Srivatsa his bosom deck, The Kaustubha and pearls around his neck, He saw him with four long and sturdy arms, Eyes dawn-red with fresh lotus petal charms. 2
His handsome face eternal joy conveyed, His lovely cheeks a pure bright smile displayed, That face was as the lotus flower bright; His ears with Makara pendants were dight. 3
'Certes this one must Vasudeva be, The sign of Srivatsa I clearly see; He has four arms and eyes like lotus too, And flower wreaths, most beautiful to view. 4
The signs and the particulars agree, As described by sage Narada to me. On tender bare feet and unarmed he comes, So I shall him engage without weapons.' 5
The yavana thus thought and forward sped, While the Lord turned away and from him fled; He sought to catch him chasing from behind, Whom yogins in their striving rarely find. 6
At every step by step, deluded, thought That with his hand he seized the Lord and caught; But Hari enticed the yavana brave, To a distance and entered in a cave. 7
"For one born in the Yadu dynasty, It is not meet that you should fearful flee!" Berating thus, he sought the chase to win, But failed since he was still tainted with sin. 8
And so the Lord Divine Illustrious, Entered the cave although insulted thus; The yavana followed him unaware, And saw a man recumbent lying there. 9
"What! having led me all this distant way, He doth like a good man reclining lay!" Thinking him to be Acyuta, at length, He kicked him with his foot with all his strength. 10
The sleeper woke who had long slumbered there, And looked about him with an angry glare; And as he looked around he there descried, The base intruder standing by his side. 11
And as he gazed on him with wrathful ire, The yavana himself burst into fire; And as, O Bharata, his body burned, He was into a heap of ashes turned. 12
(The king said) Who was that man, O brahman, tell to me, What was his name, power and family? What was he doing sleeping in a cave? How did he destroy the yavana brave? 13
(Sri Suka said) He was a scion of Ikshvaku's line, The son of Mandhata of fame sublime; He served brahmans and was of warlike fame, And Muchukunda was his worthy name. 14
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