Krishna's Lineage

by Simon Brodbeck

  16 After the Daitya’s daughter had been told this amid the companies of young women, she wandered off happily, rejoicing with delight. 17 And at the end of the day, after they’d had their fun and games in the company of Umā, all those wonderful women departed once more, 18 some of them on horseback, others in palanquins, or on elephants, or on chariots. Some of them entered the town in high spirits, some of them returned to the sky.

  19 Then, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaishākha, while the beautiful woman was sleeping in her palace surrounded by a group of friends, 20 a man impelled by the command of the goddess overpowered Ushā in a dream, exactly as foretold, while she struggled and screamed. 21 When he raped her in a dream and took away her virginity she got up straight away, crying out in the night, smeared with blood.

  22 Her friend Chitralekhā saw her crying full of fear like that, and spoke reassuring words about this extraordinary event:

  23 Don’t be afraid, Ushā. Why are you weeping and suffering like this? You’re the famous granddaughter of Bali, so why are you fearful? 24 For you in particular, lovely-eyebrows, there’s nothing in the world to fear. Your father strikes fear into others, lovely-thighs. He brings death to the gods in battle. 25 Stand up, stand up, bless you. Don’t be downhearted, lovely! There’s nothing to fear in houses like this one, lovely-face. 26 Your father has repeatedly crushed Shachī’s husband the king of the gods in battle, and the gods themselves as well, before they’ve even reached the town. That father of yours strikes fear into the whole community of gods in battle.

  27 Ushā said:

  How can I, a good woman, bear to live when I’ve been defiled like this? What on earth will I say to my father, the foe of the gods and the punisher of his foes? 28 Since I’ve defiled the mighty demon’s lineage in this way, I think dying would be the best thing for me. Life’s no good to me now. 29 How, indeed, can I bear to live now that I’ve been had like that, now that I’m a young woman who’s brought her family into disrepute? A woman who ranks as the foremost of virtuous women might want to live, but there’s no refuge for a woman who’s ruined her family.

  30 Surrounded by her friends, lotus-eyed Ushā lamented like this for a long time, her eyes full of tears. 31 Her friends were beside themselves, and while Ushā wept as if she had no one to protect her, they all came together and spoke to her. With their eyes full of tears, they said:

  32 Princess with the lovely eyebrows. Even if this deed, which may be good or bad, was done with malicious intent, it wasn’t you that did it. Is your intent malicious? 33 Sexual contact doesn’t break any vow if it happens in a dream, noble princess, so there’s no sin at all in your transgression.

  34 In this world, the woman who’s declared to be wicked is the one who’s guilty in these three ways: in her mind, her speech, and above all in her behaviour. 35 The mind is always being provoked, fearful woman, but yours hasn’t done anything wrong, and how could you be guilty of bad behaviour when you practise constant chastity? 36 You’re a true, honourable, sensible, and good-natured woman, and if you were brought into this condition while you were asleep, your virtue is not at all impaired. 37 A woman is labelled contemptible if her intention is bad in the first place, and is then consummated by action. But you’re a good woman, lovely. 38 You were born into a good family, you’re blessed with beauty, you practise constant chastity, and yet you were brought into this condition—for the power of time can’t be overcome.

  39 While they said this, Ushā wept, her eyes full of tears. Then Kumbhānda’s daughter said these important words to her:

  40 Beautiful Ushā. Think about what the goddess said to you in the presence of the god of gods, when you were imagining having a husband. 41 She said that on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaishākha, a man would take away your virginity in your palace at night, while you cried out in your sleep, 42 and that he would be a champion, a crusher of his foes, and your future husband. The delighted goddess said this on that occasion, and it was what you wished for. 43 What Pārvatī said can’t turn out to be false, so why are you crying so much about it coming true, you with your face like the moon?

  44 When Bāna’s daughter heard these words, she remembered what the goddess had said. Her sorrow vanished, and her eyes lit up.

  45 Ushā said:

  I remember what the goddess said when Bhava had gone off to play his love games, my lovely! Every single thing that’s happened to me under the palace roof is as she predicted. 46 But if the wife of the lord of the world has appointed this man to be my husband, then how is he to be identified? That’s the task we must accomplish.

  47 When she heard these words, Kumbhānda’s daughter, who saw how things stood, spoke pertinently once again:

  48 For sure, princess, no one knows the facts about his family, his reputation, or his valour. But even so, why does that hold you back? 49 The man who stole his pleasures with you was neither seen nor heard, but you saw him in your dream. How would we be able to recognise him, fearful but blameless woman? 50 Lustful friend with dark-cornered eyes, how would we be able to recognise the man who entered the palace and took his pleasure with you, forcibly and violently, while you cried out?

  51 If this destroyer of his foes forced his way into our world-famous citadel then he can’t be someone ordinary. He must be unique! 52 The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and the mighty Ashvins are fearsomely powerful, but they’re incapable of penetrating into Shonitapura. 53 If this destroyer of his foes trod on Bāna’s head and penetrated into Shonitapura then he’s a hundred times better than they are— 54 and what use would a woman have for life or pleasures if her husband wasn’t as skilled in battle as that, bright-eyes? 55 You’re lucky, lustful woman. You’re favoured, since you’ve obtained a husband such as this one through the favour of goddess Pārvatī.

  56 Now listen as I tell you what your most pressing task is. You need to discover whose son he is, what his name is, and what family he’s in.

  57 After listening to these words, lovesick Ushā said to Kumbhānda’s daughter: How will we find out, my friend?

  58 Then, filled with anxiety, Ushā spoke immoderate words to the celestial nymph Chitralekhā. She spoke frankly, friend to friend:

  59 Listen to what I’m going to say to you, lovely. It’s important. If you don’t bring me my darling husband today 60 —a handsome man with eyes like lotus petals and the courage of an elephant in musth—then I’ll give up my precious life, lotus-eyed lady!

  61 Smiling softly, Chitralekhā said to Ushā:

  Beautiful and determined woman, we can’t do that. 62 But nonetheless, this task can be achieved. I’ve thought it through, my friend, so listen as I tell you how you’ll get what you want.

  63–64 Capturing their essential characteristics, I’ll paint every one of the gods, Dānavas, dark-elves, light-elves, serpents, and monsters who is distinguished for their brilliance, beauty, and breeding, my friend, as well as the principal male celebrities in the human world. 65 I’ll show them to you in seven days’ time, fearful woman, and then, when you recognise your husband in the painting, you can speak up and say so.

  66 By the time that seven days had passed after saying this, the glorious woman had painted portrait pictures of the principal males. After she’d had them brought in, 67 Chitralekhā the Painter of Pictures arranged the paintings that she’d produced around the place, and she showed them to Ushā and her companions type by type, saying:

  68 These are the principal males of the gods, these are the ones born of Dānava stock, these are the ones born in families of mountain-elves, serpents, dark-elves, and monsters, 69 and these are the most distinguished men out of all the human beings. So look at them all, just as I’ve painted them, 70 and try to recognise the man you saw in your dream, my friend—your husband so handsome and desired.

  71 The lustful woman looked at them all, each in succession, and after she’d passed over all the other Yadus, she looked at the darling of the Yadus, 72 Aniruddha. S
he saw him there, and her eyes opened wide in wonder. She said to Chitralekhā:

  This is the thief, my friend. It’s definitely him! 73 He’s the one who defiled me, a virtuous woman, when I was asleep in the palace that night. I recognise his features. Where’s this robber from, lovely? 74 Tell me the facts about him, glorious Chitralekhā: his qualities, his character, his family. And what’s his name, beautiful?

  75 Chitralekhā said:

  He’s the son of Pradyumna and the grandson of wise Krishna, the lord of the three worlds. This husband of yours is terrifically powerful, wide-eyed woman. 76 There’s no one in the three worlds as bold as he is. He could pull up mountains and use those mountains to cause devastation. 77 You’re lucky and you’re favoured, since the wife of the three-eyed god has assigned you a well-born Yadu bull such as this one as your husband.

  78 Ushā said:

  If you don’t bring me this godlike husband today, handsome and wide-eyed woman, I’ll give up my life immediately.

  79 When she heard Ushā’s words, Chitralekhā said:

  Good woman with the sweet smile, you should listen to my words. 80 Just as Bāna’s town is protected on all sides, anxious princess, likewise Dvārakā too is particularly difficult to access. 81 Strangers are unable to enter the city of Dvārakā. You must guard against trouble for yourself, and for me, and especially for your father.

  82 Ushā said:

  Aniruddha’s face looks like the full moon, my friend, and if I can’t gaze upon it I’m going to go to Yama’s domain. 83 If you view my friendship and my words with affection, then bring me my darling quickly, or I’m going to give up my precious life.

  84 Chitralekhā said:

  I’m going, fearful woman! I’ll enter the city of Dvārakā, and this very day I’ll bring you your husband, the scion of the Vrishni clan.

  85 Those words were true but also inauspicious, since they would bring disaster for the Dānavas. No sooner had Chitralekhā spoken them than she immediately vanished, travelling as fast as thought. 86 She left Bāna’s town in the third hour of the day, and in the blink of an eye she reached Dvārakā, the city guarded by Krishna, 87 and she saw Dvārakā as a star in the sky would see it, standing there decorated with palaces that looked like the peaks of Mount Kailāsa.

  108. Aniruddha Imprisoned in Arrows

  1 Vaishampāyana said:

  In the middle of Dvāravatī, enclosed by a surrounding wall, Chitralekhā saw the house where Pradyumna’s son lived happily. 2 She immediately entered that large house of his, and she found him surrounded by women, like the risen moon surrounded by stars. 3 At that moment he was engaged in amorous fun and games: there he was, reclining on a superb couch in supreme glory, being waited upon by women and drinking delicious liquor, just as if he were Ilavilā’s son Kubera.

  4 Chitralekhā was clever, but her body stiffened with anxious thoughts: How can this task be done? How can it turn out well for me?

  5 After considering the matter, she became invisible. Then the famous and bright-eyed Chitralekhā used her spell of darkness to conceal 6 Pradyumna’s battle-crazy son as well, and once she’d made him invisible she grabbed him from where he sat among companies of women in the palace, and flew off. 7 Travelling at the speed of thought, along a path frequented by perfected saints and celestial singers, she soon reached Shonitapura.

  8 Ushā, waiting there in the palace in the company of her friends, was amazed to see the new arrival, and ushered him into her own room. 9 The amorous woman was wise to the necessities, and after gazing at her lover through eyes wide with excitement, she spoke hurriedly to Chitralekhā. Sick with fear, she said:

  10 How will this business be kept secret, my friend? You know what needs to be done. It’ll be fine as long as it’s kept secret, but if it becomes public someone will die.

  11 After saying that, she adorned herself nicely in some haste, and then she stayed in that secret place and united with her lover Aniruddha, taking her pleasure with him but fearing the worst. And although she wasn’t discovered on that occasion, 12 the moment came when Bāna’s guards discovered the bull of the Yadus, the wearer of celestial robes, garlands, unguents, and crown, making love with Ushā. 13 Bāna’s spies then reported his daughter’s transgression exactly as they had observed it, without leaving anything out. 14 Bali’s son Bāna was a hero of fearful deeds, a destroyer of his enemies, and he gave orders to his army of servant monsters, saying:

  15 Go, all of you together, and kill this fool. In his corrupt state he’s corrupted our family’s reputation, 16 for if Ushā is violated, our great family is violated. He dared to help himself to her because we didn’t give her away, 17 and he was so stupid as to enter this home and fortress of ours. Damn the fool’s virility, damn his courage, and damn his audacity!

  18 Bearing their various forms and brandishing various weapons in their hands, the angry Dānavas were desperate to kill Pradyumna’s son. 19 As soon as he heard the sound of them all roaring at once, the champion immediately leaped up like an elephant pricked by an elephant-hook, 20 and when they saw the strong-armed man descending from the top storey and charging towards them with his lips bitten together, they were frightened and backed away. 21 Skilled as he was with a variety of weapons, he’d grabbed a massive iron bar that was used to lock the door to the women’s quarters, and now he raised it to strike them.

  22 They all attacked him with showers of arrows, and with maces, javelins, swords, spears, and pikes, but he was at home in battle, 23 and while that soul of all beings was being pounded all over by iron arrows and iron clubs, he made noises like a cloud thundering at the end of the hot season, but he didn’t waver. 24 Standing there surrounded by Dānavas like the sun shining in the sky all surrounded by clouds, he swung the terrible iron bar, 25 and when the peerlessly powerful man bludgeoned them with the vicious iron bar they all retreated in terror, like clouds blown away by the wind.

  26 Aniruddha was enjoying himself. Roaring like a lion, he was like a noisy stormcloud thundering in the sky at the end of the hot season. 27 Pradyumna’s son was the destroyer of all his foes: he shouted at the battle-crazed Dānavas to stand and fight, and then he clobbered them, 28 and as the great man was pounding them in battle they all turned their backs on the fight and ran off in terror, to where Bāna was.

  29 The Daityas stood there in Bāna’s presence, groaning and splattered with blood, their eyes clouded with fear. But they found no comfort. 30 The king instructed them:

  Don’t be afraid, Dānava bulls, don’t be afraid! Cast away your fear, stand together as one, and fight. 31 Why have you become feeble like stupid eunuchs, forgetting that your reputation is famous far across the worlds? 32 Who is it that you’re frightened of? You all purport to be from good families, and you’re versed in the various weapons, but you keep running away! 33 You can’t be any help at all to me in battle today, so go away. Get out of my sight.

  After saying that, 34 the mighty demon ordered all his tens of thousands of other warriors into battle, frightening them repeatedly with his fierce words. 35 He ordered a massive army, trained in all manner of weapons and consisting mostly of gangs of tormentor fiends, to capture the intruder that night. 36 The place became filled with Bāna’s troops, their eyes blazing. It was like a sky completely filled with rainclouds riddled with lightning. 37 As they stood on the ground all around, some of them bellowed like elephants, filling the sky with sound, just as stormclouds do at the end of the hot season. 38 Then the great battle was joined once again, and shouts were heard on all sides, telling warriors to stand and fight.

  39 The marvel occurred: Aniruddha came forward and fought alone against all those powerful Dānavas in battle. 40 In that great encounter the mighty man grabbed his opponents’ iron clubs and javelins and used them to attack with, 41 and then he took hold of the terrible iron bar at the battlefront once again, and hewed down mighty Daitya hosts in the fray, 42 and then the solitary destroyer of his foes grabbed a sword and shield that had been discarded at the
battlefront, and used the sword to cut paths through them. 43 They looked on as he performed the thirty-two different kinds of move—whirling, brandishing, swinging, jumping forward, jumping aside, jumping back, and so on. 44 There at the battlefront, they looked on in their thousands as that lone man amused himself in battle in many different ways, like Death with his mouth gaping.

  45 After he’d tormented and frustrated them in the mêlée, they fled once again, soaked in streams of blood, towards where Bāna was stationed. 46 Their energies sapped, they let out terrible howls of pain and scattered in all directions, carried by great numbers of elephants, horses, and chariots, 47 and then they rejoined each other one by one, pouring with blood and stricken with terror, downhearted because of their disappointment in battle. 48 The Dānavas had never suffered such a disaster on the battlefield as they did when Aniruddha waged war against them. 49 Some of the Dānavas collapsed onto the face of the jewel-bearing earth pouring with blood, looking like mountain peaks with clubs, pikes, and swords in their hands, 50 and some of the defeated Dānavas abandoned Bāna in battle and retreated into the expanse of the sky, overcome with fear.

  51 When Bāna saw his great army broken and dispersed, he flared up in anger, like a fire stoked up at a sacrifice. 52 He mounted a chariot driven by Kumbhānda, and he bravely headed straight to where Aniruddha was wielding his merciless sword.

  53 Brandishing pikes, clubs, swords, spears, and axes, Bāna looked as if his thousand arms were hundreds of Shakra’s banners.*54 Armed with his various weapons, and with arm-guards and finger-guards fastened onto his arms, that supreme and strong-armed Dānava looked amazing. 55 His eyes red with rage, the enraged Dānava roared like a lion, drew his huge bow, and repeatedly shouted to Aniruddha, telling him to stand and fight.