Canto III.
1. THEN KRISHNA who was ( now ) mollified, his resolution of fighting having given way, started for Indra-prastha, like the sun that has entered upon the winter solstice having left the summer one.
2 The Sun was not fit to touch him, the revered of the world, with his rays, holy though they be to the world, and hence was held over him his large umbrella, beautiful like the full moon.
3. Standing between the two waving chowris of a pure, white colour like that of lotus-filaments, he had the unsurpassed (unprecedented) loveliness of the ocean with the celestial Ganges falling on both its sides.
4. The effulgence of the big jewels of diverse colours set in his diaiem imitated the form ( appearance ) of mount Govardhana with its heaps ( masses ) of (precious) stones tinted with various minerals.
5. His breast, ( overspread ) with the flashing radiance of the emeralds set at the ends of his golden earrings, had, as it were, the necklace of pea-cock feathers that he used to wear in his childhood, fastened about it.
6. Him illuminated (the two) armlets refulgent with the mass of radiance of their jewels-radiance all the greater on account of their being polished by friction with the points of the crests of mount Mandara.
7. He shone with the tips of his nails naturally red and ( also ) overspread with the rays of the rabies set in his bracelet, which were, as it were, ( still ) stained with the blood that had come out of Hiranyakasipu’s breast when torn open ( by Him in the Nârsihâvatâra. )
8. If, in the sky, the celestial Ganges were to flow-in two separate streams, then would his chest, dark as the Tamâla (tree), with the pearl-necklace fastened about it, be compared to it ( i.e.., the sky ).
9. By him was worn the ( Kaustubha ) jewel which illuminated the quarters with its radiance, and which was formed of the essence of the ocean, and reflected in which the world was seen as if actually dwelling in his body.
10. His pearl-necklace, hanging down from his girdle to the toes of his feet, appeared like the water of the Mandâkini sent forth from his toe and flowing, without break, high upwards.
11. He, with his body as blue as a sapphire-field and wearing a garment as yellow as the orpiment, shone like the rolling waters ( lit, flood of the waters) of Yamuná (lit., the sister of Yama ) tinted by the lotus-pollen flying about ( in the air ).
12. It is right (to say) that, when adorned, the enemy of Madhu ( Krishna ) had quite another Lakshmî ( viz:, beauty ); for the one, pleasing to the whole world, dwells in his person, while the other, his own beloved wife, has her place on his bosom.
13. He, who had for his wife Lakshmi resting on his lovely bosom as broad as a door-leaf, had quite another Lakshmî (i.e.., beauty) delighting all people and pervading his whole body.
14. Young women surrounded him — young women having breasts which had evidently the quality of hardness, as they bore the marks of those nails, which had taken away the life of Hiranyakas’ipu, but which had now attained the position of ornaments.
15. The extremely slender waists of the young women bent down, as if quite overwhelmed by their exceedingly large and heavy breasts which, being exceedingly plump, were, as it were, raising (drawing)them (waists) up.
16. Every one ( young woman ) at whom the lover (husband ) looked, hung down, out of bashfulness, her head, with her eyes tremulous through fear and shame. In the meanwhile, the others, filled with jealousy, fearlessly struck him with their glances, all at one and the same time.
17. One hand of him, whose lustre was like that of the blossom of the indigo flax, holding the disc with its throbbing assemblage of the lines of rays, shone like the stream of ( the ) Yamunâ with its great eddying whirlpool.
18. The mace, Kaumodakî, clever in rending the bodies of enemies, never-failing, always at hand, and ( thus) Sakti incarnate, as it were, greatly delighted the heart of Krishna.
19. The Nandaka (sword), which was his own, was there ( with him ),-the sword which was Nandaka (giving delight ) indeed, not only on account its being owned by him, exclusively as it belonged to him, but also by reason of its name, ( which was significant ) as it exceedingly terrified the enemies.
20. The bow Sârnga, which had never been bent by any one else, the string of which reached ( was drawn as far as) the ear in battles, which was obedient (to his will) and very difficult to draw, was near him like a friend who has never been led to crookedness ( i, e., could never be won over or alienated ) by any one else, whose confidence finds its way to the ears ( of his friend ) in all actions, who is pliant ( to his friend’s will ) and very firm (in his friendship ).
21. The ( conch ) Pânchajanya, from which swelled forth a sound which was deep and pleasing like that of a cloud, and which was ( as it were ) the one swan dwelling in the vicinity of the ocean in the form of Krishna, could be heard, as it gave forth a sound produced on account of its being filled with gentle wind.
22. The great warrior, armed with (carrying) the discus and seated in a pleasure chariot, which ( always ) brought about the fulfilment of the desired object, the path of which was unobstructed in all directions, and which was fast (in speed), shone line the Lord of the Night ( the Moon ) when he is in the Pushya constellation.
23. There was seen the enemy of the serpents, (i.e.., Garuda ) who had his seat on the top of the banner-staff of Krishna ( son of áúrasena ) and who, being reflected in the jewelled floors, appeared, as it were, about to enter the nether regions to terrify the serpents.
24. As he was about to start, the loud sound of the drums, powerful enough to split open the cavities of mountains, drowned all other sounds, just as the roll of the great ocean swallows up all other waters.
25. Beneath the way by which he, the supporter of ( all ) worlds, travelled, S’esha, the supporter of the earth, spread himself, in doing which (all) his coils were occupied in helping ( supporting ) his thousand heads bowed down under the great weight ( of this earth ).
26. His armies, with their banners lowered for fear of breaking by striking against the high gateway, followed him, a descendent of the Moon, just as the fruits of one’s actions (measures) follow one who adopts a good policy.
27. The dust of the ground of gold, mingled with the dark streams of the ichor of elephants and thus shining like the powder of peacock-feathers, was pulverised by the multitudes of chariots which had sunk into it (the dust) up to the felly.
28. The ( gold ) dust of the ground of gold, trodden by ( so many ) feet, did not ascend to ( also, disrespect ) the heads of the populace ( also, of great man ) nor did it rise ( also, become insolent ), but only acted in a way in keeping with its heaviness (also, greatness).
29. That the horses, though with great difficulty restrained by the Yadus, did now and again throw up their fore-legs, was certainly because they desired to go ahead of the best elephants who, great and worthy of respect as they were, had obstructed their way.
30. Mothers hastily took away from the roads their children which were playing in the dust and which were seen in their front by the horsemen, who with difficulty curbed their horses by drawing up the reins.
31. Crowds of people came from every street, desirous of having a sight of the sinless Murâri. Oh, new and ever new does great love make a thing that ( though it; has become familiar on many occasions ( in various ways ) I 32. He (Krishna) who knew everything, having fixed his gaze on that city, was not aware of the slow progress of his chariot when it had come to a road, too narrow for his compactly-formed armies.
33. (The city) which, in the midst of the sea, making the quarters tawny by the splendour of its golden rampart, had sprung up in splendour having broken upon the water, as if it were the flame of the fire in mouth of Vadavâ (i.e.., the submarine fire )
34. That extensive ( city ), which was made their site by thousands of mountains, and which had its form ( i.e.., extent ) surrounded by the waters of the ocean, had been made by the creator, as it were, as an image of the earth, while yet he had not been fatigued ( in the work of creation )
, 35. Which ( city ), the highest limit to which excellence of skill in architecture acquired by close study by Visvakarman could go, looked as if it were the reflection of Heaven in the waters of the ocean, as clear as the surface of a mirror, 36. (Hose to her, who was situated near him and had been recently given to the noble Krishna out of love for him, the sea formed multitudes of jewels, just as the father of a bride, who has been just given to a husband, fastens round her neck, while she sits in his lap, necklaces of jewels.
37. By whose rampart, filled with multitudes of conches tossed by the series of rolling waves of the sea, was daily imitated the summit of Sumeru with the constellations of stars moving round it, 38. On account of which the ocean attained the position of — ( treasure of jewels ) by carrying off with its rolling waters, jewels of steady lustre, piled in the market, ceaselessly entering the city through the flood-gates, 39. Where the sea spread on the turrets with his hands in the form of waves heaps of excellent jewels dripping with water and having their lustre concealed in foam ( as it were ) to expose them to the sun, 40. To surpass the rampart of the city in height, the high billows of the sea rose at a great distance, but having been foiled in gaining their desired object when they got near, melted away as if through shame.
41. Outside of which ( i.e.., the city ), the cloud, who, having come with speed as if out of curiosity but being suddenly obstructed by the rampart-wall, shed tears in the form of ( showers of) rain, roaring out loudly, 42. Wishing for some characteristic which would distinguish them from the women of the city, who bore perfect likeness to them in beauty, the celestial nymphs propitiated Manu who undoubtedly, for this reason, made all his offspring ( i.e.., human beings ) have the twinkling of the eye as their distinguishing characterstic, 43. In that city, at night, women, who, having ascended the rows of crystal terraces, were concealed by the flashing masses of the rays of the moon, shone like goddesses in the sky.
“. — In which ( city ), at night the water-courses on the terraces having floors of lovely moonstones carried their flood of waters on high, though the clouds were moving below them, 45. Where, in the houses, the ladies, having, out of bashfulness, extinguished their lamps at the time of coition, were frightened by the rays of the moon which streamed through lattice-windows and looked, being reflected in the walls of Vaidûrya, frightful like the eyes of the cat, 46. Where, in the houses, the youths, unable to draw pictures ( on the walls ) on account of their being exceedingly smooth, made the jewelled walls, in which their forms were reflected, as it were, painted with living pictures, 47. Where, the cheeks of women, conspicuous by their pallor of love-sickness, attained the beauty of crystal mirrors ( set ) in the pillars of the golden mansions, in which the women were reflected and which had the same ( bright yellowish ) colour as they, 48. Where, simple-minded women did not at all besmear the open spaces before the thresholds of their houses with cow-dung, besmeared ( covered ) as they were with the lustre of ( springing from ) the emeralds, green like the bodies of parrots, 49. Where the houses looked beautiful, as it were, with edges of thatches lovely with emerald-green moss, on account of the tails of peacocks hanging down, as they perched for a while on the curved beams of the thatches, 50. ( The city ) which shone with houses which, though having large [Sanskrit Text] (beams) were without gras (incomparable ), which, though covered with series of [Sanskrit Text] ( = canopies ), were without [Sanskrit Text] ( =not empty i.e.., furnished with all sorts of things ), which, though [ ( 1 ) without pictures, ( 2 ) wonderful ], were [Sanskrit Text],( furnished with pictures ), and which, though [ (1) without apartments; (2) spacious; extensive ], were [Sanskrit Text] (=having many apartments ), 51. In which ( city ), men mistook even a real cat for an artificial one, as it lay with its body stretched and Still in order to seize the row of artificial birds on the aviaries of houses, 52. Where, women, though living on the earth, brought down ( i.e.., surpassed in loveliness ) the moon by the lotuses in the form of their faces, and (therefore ) ascended, to no purpose, the spires of their palaces which towered above the path of the stars, 53. Where, the youths betook themselves along with their wives, who were celebrated for their beauty, who augmented passion by their purity, and the folds on whose bellies were curved, to apartments in the topmost parts of houses, which had flags as they were delightful, which augmented passion as they were solitary, and which had curved edges at the ends of the roof, 54. Where, to the great joy of youths, wines and mouths of women, (both) having natural fragrance, used to interchange ( between themselves ) the work of perfuming, 55. Where, in the inner apartments, the multitudes of birds, which had for their nests the aviaries on the turrets of the balconies, evidently became the pupils ( as it were ) of the women, hearing as they did their lascivious murmur during sexual intercourse, 56. Where, the transparent — ( garments ) on the round breasts of women which, though covered ( by them ), could be clearly seen, bore resemblance to the sky, not only in name but also in actuality.
57. In which, both the kinds of [Sanskrit Text] [( 1 ) well laid-out paths; (2) refined courses of conduct ] were never left by the people, thus never ( 1 ) deviating from them; [ ( S ) stumbling on them ] — ways, which were [Sanskrit Text] [ ( 1 ) not crooked; ( 2 ) free from deceit ], which never strayed from the great [Sanskrit Text] [ ( 1 ) boundary-mark; (2) bounds of morality or propriety ], which were [Sanskrit Text] [ (1) free from mud; (2) free from sin ], and which were [ ( i ) very long; ( 2 ) having a long ( prosperous ). future ].
58. Having fashioned the women of which city — women whose most superb charms vied with one another, the creator could wipe off the stain of the censure ex pressed in the comparison with the letter incised by an insect in wood ( mere chance ) that had been incurred (by him ) in the creation of Lakshmî — ( i.e.., censure that the creation of a peerless beauty like Lakshmî was only a fortuitous, lucky circumstance ), 59. The trees having for their prefix the word (i.e.., desire-yielding trees ) produce only that which has been dwelt upon by the mind. But the blessings, which were enjoyed by the people dwelling in the city, were even beyond the reach of imagination, 60. Which ( city ) neither the husband of Revatî ( Balarama ) and son of Robinî, who knew ( was versed in) all the arts, and who illumined the quarters by his lustre white like silver ( or opal ), nor the husband of ltevatî ( a constellation of stars ) and lord of Rohini [ a constellation of stars ( i.e.., the Moon ) ] who assumes all phases, and who illumines the quarters with his rays white on account of nectar, wished to leave, 61. Where Kama (lit., the fish-bannered God of love) of victorious shafts lived fearlessly in a physical form, having obtained ( i.e.., as he had ) the close contact of Janûrdaua ( Krishna ) who had repelled ( struck at ) the might of Sambhu in the fight with Bâna, 62. Occupied for a long time by Hari ( =Krishna ) who was waited upon by pleasant breezes, and situated in ( the midst of ) the ocean, the abode of radiant jewels, she ( i.e.. the city ), as it were, challenged ( the city of) Amaravati which has been occupied for a long time by Hari (Indra) attended by S’ivas ( =Rûdras ) and Maruts (=gods), and which is situated on mount Meru, the abode of radiant jewels, 63. He himself, the ( ornamental ) Tilaka-mark of the three worlds, who was — ( =of a dark lustre like that of the :unctious collyrium ), and who was [Sanskrit Text] ( =virtuous ), heightened the beauty of the city which was — (=the purity of the castes in which was not destroyed ), just as the [Sanskrit Text] ( =well-rounded) tilaka-mark, which is — (=of dark lustre on account of the unctious collyrium ), sets off the beauty of a: young woman who is — (whose colour and loveliness are unimpaired ).
64. Gazing at that city, he, of unsurpassed valour, reached, ( travelling) towards the east, the main street which, — ( = whose beauty was like that of the rainbow, it being refulgent with the lustre of diamonds in the Toranas etc.) as it was, was unassailable by the enemies like the army of the gods which is [Sanskrit Text] (=in which splendour of the weapons of the golds is illuminated, i.e., heightened by the refulgence of the thunderbolt ].
65. The armies of the vanquisher of Mùra (Krishna) issued out o
f the city, just as all beings sprang from the body of Vishnu ( lit. One who has a lotus in his navel), or just as the waters ( of the Ganges ) arose from the mass of the matted hair of S’iva, or just as the Vedas came forth from the mouth of the Oreator.
66. The horsemen, who had their thighs rubbed against those of others, went out with great difficulty, on account of their restive horses who pressed so much, against one another that their bits slipped off on account of their mouths coming into close contact with one another.
67. As the road, narrow though it was, was being left, as if by darkness, by the multitude of beasts (even) from afar, the elephants of great might could go on without confusion, as if they were lamps of very powerful light.
68. The chariots, which were ( before ) running with ( great ) speed, were taken down from the [Sanskrit Text] ( a turret guarding the entrance to the gate of the city ) to the ground by the horses without being fatigued, as the yokes rested ( only ) on the extremities of their necks which were curved by reason of tie reins being pulled up by the careful charioteers.
69. When, at the time of the departure of Krishna, ( lit disc-bearer ), the hands of the city in the from of her streets were shorn of the bracelets in the form of the waves ( ranks ) of armies, probably the city did like her being [ (1) having gates; (2) [Sanskrit Text]].
70. Murâri ( Krishna) beheld, beyond the waters of the ocean, long stretches ( lit rows ) of forests which, with their masses of bluish leaves, had the appearance of moss thrown up every moment by a thousand waves.
The Sanskrit Epics Page 957