Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 10 — Chapter 43
SB 10 43.1
श्री-शुक उवाच अथ कृष्णश् च रामश् च कृत-शौचौ परन्तप मल्ल-दुन्दुभि-निर्घोषं श्रुत्वा द्रष्टुम् उपेयतुः
śrī-śuka uvāca atha kṛṣṇaś ca rāmaś ca kṛta-śaucau parantapa malla-dundubhi-nirghoṣaṃ śrutvā draṣṭum upeyatuḥ
Śrī Śuka said: Then Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, having performed their ablutions, O scorcher of foes, hearing the sound of the wrestling drums, went to see (the event).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.2
रङ्ग-द्वारं समासाद्य तस्मिन् नागम् अवस्थितम् अपश्यत् कुवलयापीडं कृष्णो ऽम्बष्ठ-प्रचोदितम्
raṅga-dvāraṃ samāsādya tasmin nāgam avasthitam apaśyat kuvalayāpīḍaṃ kṛṣṇo 'mbaṣṭha-pracoditam
Reaching the gate of the arena, Kṛṣṇa saw the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa stationed there, urged on by its driver.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.3
बद्ध्वा परिकरं शौरिः समुह्य कुटिलालकान् उवाच हस्तिपं वाचा मेघ-नाद-गभीरया
baddhvā parikaraṃ śauriḥ samuhya kuṭilālakān uvāca hastipaṃ vācā megha-nāda-gabhīrayā
Tightening his belt and gathering up his curly locks, the descendant of Śūra spoke to the elephant-keeper in a voice deep as the thunder of a cloud:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.4
अम्बष्ठाम्बष्ठ मार्गं नौ देह्य् अपक्रम मा चिरम् नो चेत् स-कुञ्जरं त्वाद्य नयामि यम-सादनम्
ambaṣṭhāmbaṣṭha mārgaṃ nau dehy apakrama mā ciram no cet sa-kuñjaraṃ tvādya nayāmi yama-sādanam
"Driver, driver! Give the two of us the way; step aside, don't delay — otherwise I shall send you, elephant and all, to Yama's abode this day."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.5
एवं निर्भर्त्सितो ऽम्बष्ठः कुपितः कोपितं गजम् चोदयाम् आस कृष्णाय कालान्तक-यमोपमम्
evaṃ nirbhartsito 'mbaṣṭhaḥ kupitaḥ kopitaṃ gajam codayām āsa kṛṣṇāya kālāntaka-yamopamam
Thus threatened, the driver grew angry and, having enraged the elephant, drove it at Kṛṣṇa — that beast like Yama the destroyer at the end of time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.6
करीन्द्रस् तम् अभिद्रुत्य करेण तरसाग्रहीत् कराद् विगलितः सो ऽमुं निहत्याङ्घ्रिष्व् अलीयत
karīndras tam abhidrutya kareṇa tarasāgrahīt karād vigalitaḥ so 'muṃ nihatyāṅghriṣv alīyata
The lord of elephants charged at him and swiftly seized him with its trunk; slipping out of the trunk, he struck it and slipped away among its legs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.7
सङ्क्रुद्धस् तम् अचक्षाणो घ्राण-दृष्टिः स केशवम् परामृशत् पुष्करेण स प्रसह्य विनिर्गतः
saṅkruddhas tam acakṣāṇo ghrāṇa-dṛṣṭiḥ sa keśavam parāmṛśat puṣkareṇa sa prasahya vinirgataḥ
Furious, and not seeing him — for (an elephant) sees by smell — it groped for Keśava with the tip of its trunk; he forcibly got free.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.8
पुच्छे प्रगृह्याति-बलं धनुषः पञ्च-विंशतिम् विचकर्ष यथा नागं सुपर्ण इव लीलया
pucche pragṛhyāti-balaṃ dhanuṣaḥ pañca-viṃśatim vicakarṣa yathā nāgaṃ suparṇa iva līlayā
Grasping it by the tail, he of surpassing strength dragged it twenty-five bow-lengths, playfully, as Garuḍa drags a serpent.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.9
स पर्यावर्तमानेन सव्य-दक्षिणतो ऽच्युतः बभ्राम भ्राम्यमाणेन गो-वत्सेनेव बालकः
sa paryāvartamānena savya-dakṣiṇato 'cyutaḥ babhrāma bhrāmyamāṇena go-vatseneva bālakaḥ
As it turned about to the left and to the right, Acyuta, being whirled along by the whirling beast, went round and round, like a boy with a calf.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.10
ततो ऽभिमखम् अभ्येत्य पाणिनाहत्य वारणम् प्राद्रवन् पातयाम् आस स्पृश्यमानः पदे पदे
tato 'bhimakham abhyetya pāṇināhatya vāraṇam prādravan pātayām āsa spṛśyamānaḥ pade pade
Then, coming before its face and striking the elephant with his hand, he ran off, and though touched (by it) at every step, he brought it down.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.11
स धावन् कृईदया भूमौ पतित्वा सहसोत्थितः तम् मत्वा पतितं क्रुद्धो दन्ताभ्यां सो ऽहनत् क्षितिम्
sa dhāvan kṛīdayā bhūmau patitvā sahasotthitaḥ tam matvā patitaṃ kruddho dantābhyāṃ so 'hanat kṣitim
As he ran, he fell to the ground in play and suddenly rose up again; thinking him fallen, it angrily struck the earth with its two tusks.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.12
स्व-विक्रमे प्रतिहते कुञ्जरेन्द्रो ऽत्य्-अमर्षितः चोद्यमानो महामात्रैः कृष्णम् अभ्यद्रवद् रुषा
sva-vikrame pratihate kuñjarendro 'ty-amarṣitaḥ codyamāno mahāmātraiḥ kṛṣṇam abhyadravad ruṣā
Its own prowess thus frustrated, the lord of elephants, extremely enraged and goaded on by its keepers, rushed at Kṛṣṇa in fury.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.13
तम् आपतन्तम् आसाद्य भगवान् मधुसूदनः निगृह्य पाणिना हस्तं पातयाम् आस भू-तले
tam āpatantam āsādya bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ nigṛhya pāṇinā hastaṃ pātayām āsa bhū-tale
As it came charging, the Lord Madhusūdana met it, gripped its trunk with his hand and flung it down on the ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.14
पतितस्य पदाक्रम्य मृगेन्द्र इव लीलया दन्तम् उत्पाट्य तेनेभं हस्तिपांश् चाहनद् धरिः
patitasya padākramya mṛgendra iva līlayā dantam utpāṭya tenebhaṃ hastipāṃś cāhanad dhariḥ
Treading with his foot on the fallen beast, playfully as a lion does, Hari tore out a tusk and with it struck down the elephant and its keepers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.15
मृतकं द्विपम् उत्सृज्य दन्त-पाणिः समाविशत् अंस-न्यस्त-विषाणो ऽसृङ्- मद-बिन्दुभिर् अङ्कितः विरूढ-स्वेद-कणिका वदनाम्बुरुहो बभौ
mṛtakaṃ dvipam utsṛjya danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat aṃsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo 'sṛṅ- mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā vadanāmburuho babhau
Leaving the dead elephant, he entered (the arena) with the tusk in his hand; with the tusk laid on his shoulder, spotted with drops of blood and of the elephant's rut-fluid, and his lotus face bearing risen beads of sweat, he shone.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.16
वृतौ गोपैः कतिपयैर् बलदेव-जनार्दनौ रङ्गं विविशतू राजन् गज-दन्त-वरायुधौ
vṛtau gopaiḥ katipayair baladeva-janārdanau raṅgaṃ viviśatū rājan gaja-danta-varāyudhau
Surrounded by a few cowherd boys, Baladeva and Janārdana entered the arena, O king, with the excellent elephant tusks as their weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.17
मल्लानाम् अशनिर् नृणां नर-वरः स्त्रीणां स्मरो मूर्तिमान् गोपानां स्व-जनो ऽसतां क्षिति-भुजां शास्ता स्व-पित्रोः शिशुः अम्प्;मृत्युर् भोज-पतेर् विराड् अविदुषां तत्त्वं परं योगिनां वृष्णीनां पर-देवतेति विदितो रङ्गं गतः साग्रजः
mallānām aśanir nṛṇāṃ nara-varaḥ strīṇāṃ smaro mūrtimān gopānāṃ sva-jano 'satāṃ kṣiti-bhujāṃ śāstā sva-pitroḥ śiśuḥ mṛtyur bhoja-pater virāḍ aviduṣāṃ tattvaṃ paraṃ yogināṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ para-devateti vidito raṅgaṃ gataḥ sāgrajaḥ
Recognized as a thunderbolt by the wrestlers, as the finest of men by the men, as Love embodied by the women, as their own kinsman by the cowherds, as a chastiser by the wicked among the kings, as a child by his own parents, as death by the lord of the Bhojas, as the cosmic form by the ignorant, as the supreme reality by the yogins, and as the highest deity by the Vṛṣṇis — thus he went into the arena with his elder brother.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.18
हतं कुवलयापीडं दृष्ट्वा ताव् अपि दुर्जयौ कंसो मनस्य् अपि तदा भृशम् उद्विविजे नृप
hataṃ kuvalayāpīḍaṃ dṛṣṭvā tāv api durjayau kaṃso manasy api tadā bhṛśam udvivije nṛpa
Seeing Kuvalayāpīḍa slain and those two hard to conquer, Kaṃsa then became greatly agitated even in his mind, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.19
तौ रेजतू रङ्ग-गतौ महा-भुजौ विचित्र-वेषाभरण-स्रग्-अम्बरौ यथा नटाव् उत्तम-वेष-धारिणौ मनः क्षिपन्तौ प्रभया निरीक्षताम्
tau rejatū raṅga-gatau mahā-bhujau vicitra-veṣābharaṇa-srag-ambarau yathā naṭāv uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau manaḥ kṣipantau prabhayā nirīkṣatām
Those two mighty-armed ones, arrived in the arena, shone with their varied dress, ornaments, garlands and robes, like two actors wearing splendid costumes, striking the minds of the onlookers with their radiance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.20
निरीक्ष्य ताव् उत्तम-पूरुषौ जना मञ्च-स्थिता नागर-राष्ट्रका नृप प्रहर्ष-वेगोत्कलितेक्षणाननाः पपुर् न तृप्ता नयनैस् तद्-आननम्
nirīkṣya tāv uttama-pūruṣau janā mañca-sthitā nāgara-rāṣṭrakā nṛpa praharṣa-vegotkalitekṣaṇānanāḥ papur na tṛptā nayanais tad-ānanam
Beholding those two supreme persons, the people seated on the galleries, townsfolk and country-folk, O king, their eyes and faces opened wide by a rush of delight, drank in his face with their eyes and were not satisfied.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.21
पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां श्लिष्यन्त इव बाहुभिः
pibanta iva cakṣurbhyāṃ lihanta iva jihvayā jighranta iva nāsābhyāṃ śliṣyanta iva bāhubhiḥ
As if drinking (him) with their eyes, as if licking (him) with their tongues, as if smelling (him) with their nostrils, as if embracing (him) with their arms —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.22
ऊचुः परस्परं ते वै यथा-दृष्टं यथा-श्रुतम् तद्-रूप-गुण-माधुर्य- प्रागल्भ्य-स्मारिता इव
ūcuḥ parasparaṃ te vai yathā-dṛṣṭaṃ yathā-śrutam tad-rūpa-guṇa-mādhurya- prāgalbhya-smāritā iva
they spoke to one another of what they had seen and what they had heard, as if made to recall his beauty, qualities, sweetness and boldness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.23
एतौ भगवतः साक्षाद् धरेर् नारायणस्य हि अवतीर्णाव् इहांशेन वसुदेवस्य वेश्मनि
etau bhagavataḥ sākṣād dharer nārāyaṇasya hi avatīrṇāv ihāṃśena vasudevasya veśmani
These two are directly (of) the Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa; they have descended here with a portion (of himself) in the house of Vasudeva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.24
एष वै किल देवक्यां जातो नीतश् च गोकुलम् कालम् एतं वसन् गूढो ववृधे नन्द-वेश्मनि
eṣa vai kila devakyāṃ jāto nītaś ca gokulam kālam etaṃ vasan gūḍho vavṛdhe nanda-veśmani
This one, they say, was indeed born of Devakī and carried off to Gokula; dwelling hidden all this time, he grew up in Nanda's house.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.25
पूतनानेन नीतान्तं चक्रवातश् च दानवः अर्जुनौ गुह्यकः केशी धेनुको ऽन्ये च तद्-विधाः
pūtanānena nītāntaṃ cakravātaś ca dānavaḥ arjunau guhyakaḥ keśī dhenuko 'nye ca tad-vidhāḥ
By him Pūtanā was brought to her end, and the demon of the whirlwind, the two arjuna trees, the Guhyaka, Keśī, Dhenuka and others of that sort.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.26
गावः स-पाला एतेन दावाग्नेः परिमोचिताः कालियो दमितः सर्प इन्द्रश् च विमदः कृतः
gāvaḥ sa-pālā etena dāvāgneḥ parimocitāḥ kāliyo damitaḥ sarpa indraś ca vimadaḥ kṛtaḥ
By him the cows together with their herdsmen were rescued from the forest fire; the serpent Kāliya was subdued, and Indra was stripped of his pride.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.27
सप्ताहम् एक-हस्तेन धृतो ऽद्रि-प्रवरो ऽमुना वर्ष-वाताशनिभ्यश् च परित्रातं च गोकुलम्
saptāham eka-hastena dhṛto 'dri-pravaro 'munā varṣa-vātāśanibhyaś ca paritrātaṃ ca gokulam
For seven days the best of mountains was held up by him with one hand, and Gokula was saved from rain, wind and hail.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.28
गोप्यो ऽस्य नित्य-मुदित- हसित-प्रेक्षणं मुखम् पश्यन्त्यो विविधांस् तापांस् तरन्ति स्माश्रमं मुदा
gopyo 'sya nitya-mudita- hasita-prekṣaṇaṃ mukham paśyantyo vividhāṃs tāpāṃs taranti smāśramaṃ mudā
The cowherd women, gazing on his face with its ever-cheerful, smiling glances, overcome various miseries and get past fatigue with joy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.29
वदन्त्य् अनेन वंशो ऽयं यदोः सु-बहु-विश्रुतः श्रियं यशो महत्वं च लप्स्यते परिरक्षितः
vadanty anena vaṃśo 'yaṃ yadoḥ su-bahu-viśrutaḥ śriyaṃ yaśo mahatvaṃ ca lapsyate parirakṣitaḥ
They say that through him this line of Yadu, exceedingly renowned, being fully protected, will obtain prosperity, fame and greatness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.30
अयं चास्याग्रजः श्रीमान् रामः कमल-लोचनः प्रलम्बो निहतो येन वत्सको ये बकादयः
ayaṃ cāsyāgrajaḥ śrīmān rāmaḥ kamala-locanaḥ pralambo nihato yena vatsako ye bakādayaḥ
And this is his elder brother, the glorious lotus-eyed Rāma, by whom Pralamba was slain, and Vatsaka, and those (demons) beginning with Baka.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.31
जनेष्व् एवं ब्रुवाणेषु तूर्येषु निनदत्सु च कृष्ण-रामौ समाभाष्य चाणूरो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
janeṣv evaṃ bruvāṇeṣu tūryeṣu ninadatsu ca kṛṣṇa-rāmau samābhāṣya cāṇūro vākyam abravīt
While the people were speaking thus and the drums were sounding, Cāṇūra addressed Kṛṣṇa and Rāma and spoke these words.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.32
हे नन्द-सूनो हे राम भवन्तौ वीर-सम्मतौ नियुद्ध-कुशलौ श्रुत्वा राज्ञाहूतौ दिदृक्षुणा
he nanda-sūno he rāma bhavantau vīra-sammatau niyuddha-kuśalau śrutvā rājñāhūtau didṛkṣuṇā
"O son of Nanda, O Rāma, you two are esteemed by heroes; having heard that you are skilled in wrestling, the king, wishing to see (it), has summoned you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.33
प्रियं राज्ञः प्रकुर्वत्यः श्रेयो विन्दन्ति वै प्रजाः मनसा कर्मणा वाचा विपरीतम् अतो ऽन्यथा
priyaṃ rājñaḥ prakurvatyaḥ śreyo vindanti vai prajāḥ manasā karmaṇā vācā viparītam ato 'nyathā
"Subjects who do what is pleasing to the king with mind, deed and speech indeed obtain good fortune; otherwise than this, the opposite (results)."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.34
नित्यं प्रमुदिता गोपा वत्स-पाला यथा-स्फुटम् वनेषु मल्ल-युद्धेन क्रीडन्तश् चारयन्ति गाः
nityaṃ pramuditā gopā vatsa-pālā yathā-sphuṭam vaneṣu malla-yuddhena krīḍantaś cārayanti gāḥ
"The cowherds are always cheerful, and the calf-herders, as is well known, tend the cows in the forests while playing at wrestling."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.35
तस्माद् राज्ञः प्रियं यूयं वयं च करवाम हे भूतानि नः प्रसीदन्ति सर्व-भूत-मयो नृपः
tasmād rājñaḥ priyaṃ yūyaṃ vayaṃ ca karavāma he bhūtāni naḥ prasīdanti sarva-bhūta-mayo nṛpaḥ
"Therefore, sirs, let you and let us too do what pleases the king; (then) all beings are favourable to us, for the king consists of all beings."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.36
तन् निशम्याब्रवीत् कृष्णो देश-कालोचितं वचः नियुद्धम् आत्मनो ऽभीष्टं मन्यमानो ऽभिनन्द्य च
tan niśamyābravīt kṛṣṇo deśa-kālocitaṃ vacaḥ niyuddham ātmano 'bhīṣṭaṃ manyamāno 'bhinandya ca
Hearing that, Kṛṣṇa, considering wrestling to be to his own liking, welcomed (the proposal) and spoke words suited to the place and time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.37
प्रजा भोज-पतेर् अस्य वयं चापि वने-चराः करवाम प्रियं नित्यं तन् नः परम् अनुग्रहः
prajā bhoja-pater asya vayaṃ cāpi vane-carāḥ karavāma priyaṃ nityaṃ tan naḥ param anugrahaḥ
"We too, forest-dwellers though we are, are the subjects of this lord of the Bhojas; we shall always do what pleases him — that is the highest favour for us."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.38
बाला वयं तुल्य-बलैः क्रीडिष्यामो यथोचितम् भवेन् नियुद्धं माधर्मः स्पृशेन् मल्ल-सभा-सदः
bālā vayaṃ tulya-balaiḥ krīḍiṣyāmo yathocitam bhaven niyuddhaṃ mādharmaḥ spṛśen malla-sabhā-sadaḥ
"We are boys; we shall play as is fitting with those of equal strength. Let the bout be such that no unrighteousness touches those seated in this wrestling assembly."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.39
चाणूर उवाच न बालो न किशोरस् त्वं बलश् च बलिनां वरः लीलयेभो हतो येन सहस्र-द्विप-सत्त्व-भृत्
cāṇūra uvāca na bālo na kiśoras tvaṃ balaś ca balināṃ varaḥ līlayebho hato yena sahasra-dvipa-sattva-bhṛt
Cāṇūra said: You are neither a boy nor a youth, and Bala is the best of the strong — he by whom the elephant that had the strength of a thousand elephants was killed in play.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 10 43.40
तस्माद् भवद्भ्यां बलिभिर् योद्धव्यं नानयो ऽत्र वै मयि विक्रम वार्ष्णेय बलेन सह मुष्टिकः
tasmād bhavadbhyāṃ balibhir yoddhavyaṃ nānayo 'tra vai mayi vikrama vārṣṇeya balena saha muṣṭikaḥ
"Therefore you two must fight with strong men; there is surely no impropriety in this. Show your prowess against me, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, and Muṣṭika against Bala."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition