Post by madanmohandas on Aug 12, 2020 3:06:07 GMT -6
A few lines in observance of the special day, paraphrased from Book Ten
On the eighth day of Bhadra's dark fortnight,
With Brahma's constellation shining bright,
Hari was born at midnight, poets tell,
Of Devaki, within the prison cell.
Thus when Hari appeared upon the earth,
He in a gloomy prison took his birth.
Before the pair he stood with all the charms
Of glowing beauty and four mighty arms;
Whereon Vasudev and Devaki prayed,
And he their virtue praised, their fear allayed;
With palms together pressed Vasudev said,
"O Lord, thy essence I now recollect,
"Thou art the seer of the intellect,
"Transcending nature, soul, and the witness,
"Always absorbed in thy inherent bliss."
With folded palms Devaki made her prayer,
Her heart o'erbrimming with maternal care,
But fear of Kamsa filled her with alarm,
And urged him to conceal his lordly form.
Thus he with fondest love the pair beguiled,
Transfigured to an ordinary child.
Vasudev's chains were loosed, and now he fled,
Conveying in a basket on his head,
The new-born Hari, and so held his way
To Vrindavan, where Nanda made his stay.
The night was dark, thick clouds involve the sky,
The rain descends, the forky flashes fly;
The waters of Yamuna were in spate,
Whence Vasudev to cross did hesitate,
But suddenly a shallow path was laid,
The serpent god held up his hoods for shade,
And thus to Nanda's house his way he made.
Then on Yashoda's bed his son did place,
Gazing with anxious care upon his face,
And took Yashoda's daughter from the bed,
And back unto Mathura city sped.
He fitted on his person, as before,
His binding chains and bolted fast the door.
...........................
Now when the palace guards the bawling heard,
Of the newly born babe, they were perturbed,
And hast'ning to the king, the news relate,
The day has come, predestined by stern fate.
The eighth child who should dread Kamsa destroy
Has now been born, the demons to annoy.
When Kamsa heard this news he was appalled,
And stumbling on the way, by fate impelled,
In despite of Devaki's piteous prayer,
Without for filial piety a care,
He snatched the weeping infant from her breast,
Burning with rage, with consternation pressed,
The shameless, wicked Kamsa, nought abashed,
Would have the infant on the pavement dashed,
But ore he could enact the heinous deed,
The babe slipped from his grip and rose with speed
Up to the firmament, and stationed there,
The mighty Mother Goddess did appear,
Upon a lion seated, with a spear,
And other weapons she is wont to wield,
A conch, a discus, falchion and a shield;
Encompassed by attendants on each side,
And turning to the fearful Kamsa cried,
His inordinate presumption to scorn,
"Thine enemy of old is elsewhere born.
"From infant slaughter, O thou fool, relent
"Refrain from punishing the innocent!"
This said, she disappeared from mortal sight,
And mighty Kamsa was seized with afright.