by Bibek Debroy
Chapter 28
Vaishampayana said, ‘Bhajamana’s son was Viduratha, foremost among charioteers.398 Viduratha’s son was the brave Rajadhideva. Rajadhideva then had brave sons—Datta, Atidatta, the powerful Shonashva, Shvetavahana, Shami, Dandasharma, Dattashatru and Shatrujit. Their sisters were Shravana and Shravishtha. Shami’s son was Pratikshatra and Pratikshatra’s son was Svayambhoja. Svayambhoja’s son was Hridika. All of Hridika’s sons were terrible in valour. Kritavarma was the eldest and Shatadhanva was in the middle. There were also Devanta, Naranta, Bhishaka, Vaitarana, Sudanta, Adhidanta, Kinasha, Dama and Dambhaka. Devanta had a learned son, Kambalabarhisha. His other sons were the brave Asamouja and Nasamouja. Since Asamouja possessed no sons, it is said that Andhaka bestowed his sons, Sudamshtra, Sucharu and Krishna, on him.
‘Kroshtu had two wives, Gandhari and Madri. Gandhari gave birth to Sumitra, who brought delight to his friends.399 Madri’s sons were Yudhajit and Devamidusha. Anamitra was victorious and extremely strong. There was no one who was not his friend. Anamitra had a son named Nighna400 and Nighna’s two sons were Prasena and Satrajit, who were the conquerors of enemy soldiers. While he dwelt in Dvaravati, from the ocean, Prasena obtained a divine and extremely large gem named Syamantaka. Placed in the abode of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, this gem produced gold. The rain-god showered down at the right time and there was no fear of disease. From Prasena, Govinda desired this gem, Syamantaka.401 However, though he was capable of doing so, he did not seize it. On one occasion, wearing the gem, Prasena went out on a hunt. While he was roaming around in the forest, for the sake of the gem, a lion killed him. The immensely strong king of the bears chased after the lion and killed it. Seizing the gem, it entered its cave. Knowing that Krishna had desired the gem, all the Vrishnis and the Andhakas were scared that Krishna had killed Prasena for the gem. Knowing of their suspicions, the one with dharma in his soul didn’t tell them that he had not done the deed. Instead, he resolved to go to the forest and bring the gem back. Krishna and the men who wished him well402 followed Prasena’s footsteps and searched the supreme Mount Rikshavanta and the excellent Mount Vindhya. After he was tired out from searching, the great-minded one saw the dead bodies of Prasena and his horse. However, he did not find the gem. Not very far from Prasena’s body, he then saw the lion’s dead body. Because of the footprints of the bear, he deduced that it had been killed by a bear. Following those footprints, Madhava entered the cave. In the huge den of the bear, he heard a female voice. O king! This was the nurse speaking to Jambavat’s403 young son, using the Syamantaka gem to play with him. The nurse said, “Do not cry. The lion killed Prasena and Jambavat killed the lion. O excellent child! Do not weep. Here is Syamantaka.” These words swiftly emerged from inside the den. The wielder of the Sharnga bow404 entered the hole and saw Jambavat. Inside the den, Vasudeva405 fought with Jambavat. Govinda used his fists and fought for twenty-one days. When Krishna entered the hole and did not emerge, the others, with Vasudeva406 at the forefront, returned to Dvaravati and reported that Krishna had been killed. Meanwhile, Krishna defeated the immensely strong Jambavat. The king of the bears honoured him and bestowed his daughter, Jambavati, on him. Because of the entreaties of the king of the bears, which were pure, he also accepted the gem Syamantaka and emerged from the hole. Having accepted the gem, Achyuta,407 the one with a cleansed soul, gave it to Satrajit, in an assembly of all the Satvatas. Thus, Krishna, the slayer of enemies, freed himself of the false accusation. By obtaining the Syamantaka back, he cleansed himself of the presumed sin that had tainted him.
‘Satrajit had ten wives and one hundred sons through them. Three of them are famous and Bhangakara was the eldest. The brave Vatapati and Upasvavan were the others. O lord of men! He also had three daughters who were famous in all the directions—Satyabhama, supreme among women, Vratini, firm in her vows and Padmavati. As wives, he gave them to Krishna. Bhangakara had two sons, Samaksha and Nareyu, both supreme among men. They possessed all the qualities and were famous because of these qualities. Madhu408 had two sons, Prishni and Yudhajit. Prishni had two sons named Shvaphalka and Chitraka. Shvaphalka obtained the princess of Kashi as a wife. Her name was Gamdini, because she used to donate a cow every day. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! She gave birth to the brave and learned Akrura. He was immensely fortunate and performed sacrifices at which copious quantities of dakshina were distributed. The other sons were Upasanga, Madgu, Mridu, Arimardana, Girikshipa, Upeksha, Shatruha, Arimejaya, Charmabhrit, Arivarma, Gridhrabhoja, Nara, Avaha and Prativaha. There was a beautiful daughter named Varangana. She was Samba’s famous queen and her daughter was Vasundhara, who possessed beauty and youth and charmed all creatures. O descendant of the Kuru lineage! Through Ugrasena’s beautiful-bodied daughter, Akrura had two sons named Sudeva and Upadeva. They were as radiant as the gods. Chitraka had sons named Prithu, Viprithu, Ashvasena, Ashvabahu, Suparshvaka, Gaveshana, Arishtanemi, Sutadharma, Dharmabhrit, Subahu and Bahubahu. The daughters were Shravishtha and Shravana. Thus is recited the great account of the false accusation against Krishna. If a person knows about it, a false accusation never touches him.’
Chapter 29
Vaishampayana said, ‘In his heart, for a long time, Akrura had desired the gem Syamantaka and he had also desired the unblemished Satyabhama. A similar desire had been harboured by Shatadhanva, descended from Babhru Bhoja. Krishna handed over the gem Syamantaka to Satrajit. In the middle of the night, the immensely strong Shatadhanva killed Satrajit. Seizing the gem, he gave it to Akrura. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Having formed a pact, Akrura accepted the gem. “Let us have a pact and do not tell Achyuta that the gem is with me. We are both going to be attacked by Krishna. There is no doubt that all of Dvaraka will be under my subjugation now.” When her father was slain, the illustrious Satyabhama was afflicted with grief. She ascended a chariot and left for the city of Varanavata.409 She reached her husband’s side and shedding tears, miserably told him about what Bhoja Shatadhanva had done. With the Pandavas having been burnt, Hari was offering oblations of water to them. For the sake of the lineage of his cousins,410 he handed over this task to Satyaki.
‘Madhusudana swiftly arrived in Dvaraka. The handsome one spoke these words to his elder brother, the wielder of the plough.411 “O lord! The lion killed Prasena and Satrajit has been slain by Shatadhanva. It seems to me that Syamantaka is headed towards me and that I will be its owner. Let us quickly ascend a chariot and go and kill that immensely strong Bhoja. O mighty-armed one! Syamantaka will belong to us.” There was a tumultuous encounter between the Bhojas and Krishna. Attacked from all directions, Shatadhanva looked for help towards Akrura. Deciding that Bhoja deserved to be killed by Janardana, Akrura did not help Hridika’s son,412 though he was capable. He resorted to deceit. Afflicted and afraid, Bhoja’s thoughts turned towards running away. Using a foremost horse, he fled for one hundred yojanas.413 O king! Bhoja possessed a famous horse named Hridaya and it could dash for one hundred yojanas. However, wishing to fight with him, Krishna pursued him. After one hundred yojanas, Hridaya tired and slowed down. On seeing the chariot pursuing him, Shatadhanva’s mind was afflicted with grief. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! He abandoned the dead horse, which had fallen down on the ground, because of fatigue and exertion. As he fled on foot, on the chariot, Krishna told Rama, “O mighty-armed one! You remain here. My horses are also tired. I will pursue him on foot and seize the gem Syamantaka.” Achyuta pursued Shatadhanva on foot. O king! The one who knew about supreme weapons slew him near the boundaries of Mithila. But though he killed the immensely strong Bhoja, he did not see Syamantaka. When Krishna returned, the wielder of the plough told him, “Give me the gem.” Krishna replied, “I don’t have it.” Rama became full of anger and told Janardana. “Shame on you. You have dishonoured me earlier too. I have tolerated it because you are my brother. May you be fortunate. I am departing. I have nothing more to do with you, or with Dvaraka, or with the Vrishnis.” Rama, the destroyer of enemies,
entered Mithila. The lord of Mithila honoured him and gave him all the objects of desire.
‘During this time, the supremely intelligent one of the Babhru lineage collected all the diverse kinds of materials required and incessantly performed sacrifices.414 The gem was like a talisman and he consecrated himself for the sacrifices to protect it. Gadhi’s wise and immensely illustrious descendant did this for the sake of Syamantaka. There were many kinds of objects and the best of riches and jewels. The one with dharma in his soul performed sacrifices for sixty years. The great-souled one’s sacrifice has come to be known as Akrura yajna. All the many kinds of dakshina and all the diverse objects of pleasure were offered. King Duryodhana went to the lord who was in Mithila.415 From the powerful Balabhadra,416 he learnt the divine art of fighting with the mace. Later, with the Vrishni and Andhaka maharathas, the great-souled Krishna sought Rama’s favours and brought him back to Dvaraka. O bull among the Bharata lineage! With Satrajit and his relatives having been killed in an encounter, Akrura and the Andhakas became extremely strong. There was a fearful clash within the kin and Krishna remained an indifferent spectator. Akrura and his side was defeated and the chastiser of Paka ceased to shower down.417 When it did not rain down, the kingdom faced many kinds of difficulties. The Kukuras and Andhakas pacified Akrura. When the lord of generosity returned to Dvaravati again, the one with the thousand eyes418 showered down and there were waterbodies in Kachchha.419 O descendant of the Kuru lineage! To please Vasudeva,420 the intelligent Akrura showed him proper honour and bestowed his sister on him. Through his yoga, Krishna deciphered that the jewel was with the descendant of the Babhru lineage. In the midst of an assembly, Janardana told Akrura, “O lord! You have the gem, supreme among jewels, in your possession. O one who deserves respect! Give it to me. Otherwise, do not show me false honours. For sixty years, you have committed many injuries against me. After this great period of time has elapsed, you must show me proper respect.” Thus addressed by Krishna in the assembly of all the Satvatas, with difficulty, the immensely intelligent one from the Babhru lineage yielded the gem. The scorcher of enemies received it from Babhru’s hands. However, cheerfully, the noble Krishna again returned the gem to Babhru. Having obtained the gem Syamantaka from Krishna’s hands, Gamdini’s son no longer concealed it. He was as radiant as the one with the rays.’421
Chapter 30
Janamejaya asked, ‘I wish to hear in detail about the deeds of this slayer of enemies. I wish to hear about the intelligent Hari Krishna, without anything being left out. Tell me progressively about the lord’s incarnations and deeds. You should explain to me his nature in the brahman. The lord Vishnu is the lord of the gods and is the destroyer of enemies. How did the intelligent one become Vasudeva, born in Vasudeva’s lineage?422 He is auspicious and is surrounded by the immortals, adorned by the performers of virtuous deeds. Having abandoned the world of the gods, how did he arrive in the world of mortals? The lord’s powers pervade heaven and earth and he is the origin of gods and men. He is one with a celestial soul. How did he come to be associated with men? He is the one who whirls the cycle, yet he was born amongst inferior men. He is the supreme one who wields the chakra. How did his intelligence turn towards becoming human? He is the one who protects the cycle of the universe and all the worlds. How did the lord Vishnu, the protector, descend on earth? He is the creator and the soul of the great elements. He is the one who sustains and nurtures them. He is the womb of prosperity. How could he have been born in the womb of a woman on earth? He is the one who conquered the worlds and divided them into three, with a part earmarked for the thirty gods. His powers divided the universe into three worlds and the three classes of paths.423 When the time for destruction arrives, he drinks up the entire universe and creates a form that is full of water. In ancient times, the one with an ancient soul assumed the form of a boar. The destroyer of enemies brought up the earth on the points of his tusks.424 In ancient times, for Puruhuta’s425 sake, the supreme among gods conquered the undecaying three worlds and gave them and the earth to the gods. In ancient times, having assumed the form of a lion, he tore the immensely valorous daitya Hiranyakashipu’s body into two parts and killed him.426 In ancient times, the lord assumed the form of the subterranean fire known as Samvartaka.427 In the nether regions beneath the ocean, he drinks oblations offered in the form of water. He is the brahman, with one thousand feet, one thousand rays and one thousand forms. From one yuga to another yuga, he has been invoked as the god with one thousand heads. The grandfather’s428 abode arose from his navel when the entire universe was like a single ocean. A lotus rubbed against another lotus was like the kindling. He killed the daityas in the tarakamaya battle.429 He assumed a form that was of all the gods, wielding all the various weapons. With Garuda holding him aloft, he brought down Kalanemi.430 He obtained amrita from the northern shores of the ocean. When there is great darkness, he lies down in eternal yoga. In ancient times, resorting to divine austerities, he gave birth to the gods through Aditi.431 After they were born, he saved Shakra from difficulties, when he was assailed by large numbers of daityas. He covered the worlds through his steps and banished the daityas to a residence in the oceans.432 He ensured heaven for the gods and made Puruhuta the lord of the gods in heaven. He devised the rites for garhapatya and the anvaharya ordinances.433 He devised techniques for the ahavaniya fire,434 the sacrificial altar, the kusha grass and the sacrificial ladle. He also did this for pots and other sacrificial vessels and the bath at the end of the sacrifice. He created the three spokes of a sacrifice and the offering of havya and kavya.435 Havya is earmarked for the gods and kavya for the ancestors. He decreed the rites for determining shares at sacrifices and the rituals of a sacrifice. He is the one who knows yoga. He is the one who determined sacrificial altars, kindling, soma, strainers for the soma, the wooden frame around the fire, the objects required at a sacrifice and the choice of the place for the fire. For the best of sacrifices, he framed the rules for assisting priests, performers of sacrifices and sacrificial animals. Through his own deeds, the supreme lord classified this in ancient times. Depending on the yuga, he assumes a corresponding form and roams around the worlds. He created kshana, nimesha, kashtha, kala, past, present, future, muhurta, lunar day, month, solar day, year, season and the different kinds of measurements of time prevalent among men.436 He laid down the principles for the development of lifespans and the signs associated with bodily beauty. He is responsible for the three varnas,437 the three worlds, the three kinds of knowledge,438 the three kinds of fire,439 the three kinds of time,440 the three kinds of deeds,441 the three kinds of techniques442 and the three kinds of qualities.443 Through his infinite deeds, the eternal one created the three worlds. He is the creator of all creatures and qualities. His soul pervades all creatures and qualities. He is the one who finds delight in yoga. He is the lord of what is past and what is in the future. Therefore, he is the lord of destiny. But men only seek to comprehend him through their senses. He is the refuge for those who observe dharma. He takes away the refuge of those who perform evil deeds. He created the four varnas and he is the one who protects these four varnas. He is the one who knows about the four kinds of knowledge.444 He is the one who resorts to the four ashramas.445 He is the one who is in the firmament, beyond the directions. He is the one who separates the wind from that which is not the wind. He is the light of both the sun and the moon. He is the lord of yoga. He is the one who dispels the form of darkness. He is said to be supreme radiance. He is said to be supreme austerities. He is said to be supreme among the supreme. He is the supreme paramatman. He is the origin of the celestial Adityas. He is the lord who is the destruction of the daityas. He is the destruction that comes at the end of a yuga. He is the destruction that brings an end to the worlds. He is the bridge that acts like a bridge to the worlds. He is the sacrifice and the rituals of the sacrifice. He is what is known by those who know about the Vedas. He is the lord with power in his soul. His form is in Soma. His form is in the fire that i
s in all creatures. He is as radiant as the fire. His form is in the minds of all humans. He is in all ascetics in the form of austerities. He is humility in those who follow good policy. He is energy in those who are energetic. For the sake of the supreme welfare of the worlds, he is the creator of everything that is created. He is the image for those who want to revere the image. He is mobility amidst those who are mobile. The wind was created from space. The fire, the breath of life, was created from the wind. Fire is the breath of life for the gods. Madhusudana is the breath of life for the fire.