02.040
Pancharatra: Bhishma narrates about the boon given by Krishna to Shishupala’s mother.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
cedirājakule jātastryakṣa eṣa caturbhujaḥ। rāsabhārāvasadṛśaṃ rurāva ca nanāda ca ॥2-40-1॥
Born in the family of the Cedi king, this three-eyed, four-armed being roared and bellowed like a donkey. (2-40-1)
tenāsya mātāpitarau tresatustau sabāndhavau। vaikṛtaṃ tacca tau dṛṣṭvā tyāgāya kurutāṃ matim ॥2-40-2॥
Therefore, his mother and father, along with their relatives, should be alarmed; seeing that misconduct, they both should decide to abandon him. (2-40-2)
tataḥ sabhāryaṃ nṛpatiṃ sāmātyaṃ sapurohitam। cintāsaṃmūḍhahṛdayaṃ vāguvācaaśarīriṇī ॥2-40-3॥
Then, a bodiless voice spoke to the king, who was with his wife, ministers, and priest, and whose heart was bewildered by anxiety. (2-40-3)
eṣa te nṛpate putraḥ śrīmāñ jāto mahābalaḥ। tasmād asmān na bhetavyam avyagraḥ pāhi vai śiśum ॥2-40-4॥
O king, this is your son, prosperous and born with great strength. Therefore, do not fear us; remain unagitated and indeed protect the child. (2-40-4)
na caivaitasya mṛtyustvaṃ na kālaḥ pratyupasthitaḥ। mṛtyur hantāsya śastreṇa sa cotpanno narādhipa ॥2-40-5॥
O king, neither are you the death of this one, nor has his destined time arrived. The killer is death itself, arisen by the weapon.
saṃśrutyodāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ bhūtam antarhitaṃ tataḥ। putrasnehābhisantaptā jananī vākyam abravīt ॥2-40-6॥
After hearing the spoken words about what had happened and was hidden, the mother, overwhelmed by affection for her son, spoke these words. (2-40-6)
yenedamīritaṃ vākyaṃ mamaiva tanayaṃ prati। prāñjalistaṃ namasyāmi bravītu sa punarvacaḥ ॥2-40-7॥
I bow with folded hands to him who spoke this statement to my own son; may he speak those words again. (2-40-7)
śrotum icchāmi putrasya ko'sya mṛtyur bhaviṣyati। antarhitaṃ tato bhūtam uvāca idaṃ punar vacaḥ ॥2-40-8॥
I wish to know whose death among the sons will occur. Then the vanished being spoke these words again. (2-40-8)
yenotsaṅge gṛhītasya bhujāvabhyadhikāvubhau। patiṣyataḥ kṣititale pañcaśīrṣāvivoragau ॥2-40-9॥
By whom, on the lap of the one who is held, both arms, exceeding (in length), as he was falling to the ground, were like two serpents with five heads. (2-40-9)
tṛtīyam etad bālasya lalāṭasthaṃ ca locanam। nimajjiṣyati yaṃ dṛṣṭvā so'sya mṛtyur bhaviṣyati ॥2-40-10॥
This third eye of the boy, situated on his forehead, will sink; whoever sees it, that person will die. (2-40-10)
tryakṣaṃ caturbhujaṃ śrutvā tathā ca samudāhṛtam। dharaṇyāṃ pārthivāḥ sarve abhyagacchandidṛkṣavaḥ ॥2-40-11॥
When they heard the description of the three-eyed, four-armed form, all the kings on earth came there, eager to behold it. (2-40-11)
tān pūjayitvā samprāptān yathārhaṃ sa mahīpatiḥ। ekaikasya nṛpasyāṅke putram āropayat tadā ॥2-40-12॥
After duly honoring those who had arrived, the king then placed the son on the lap of each king. (2-40-12)
evaṃ rājasahasrāṇāṃ pṛthaktvena yathākramam। śiśuraṅke samārūḍho na tatprāpa nidarśanam ॥2-40-13॥
In this way, among thousands of kings, even when considered separately and in due order, the child sitting on the lap did not reach that example. (2-40-13)
tataś cedi-puraṃ prāptau saṅkarṣaṇa-janārdanau। yādavau yādavīṃ draṣṭuṃ svasāraṃ tāṃ pitus tadā ॥2-40-14॥
Then Saṅkarṣaṇa and Janārdana, the two Yādavas, came to the city of the Cedis to visit their sister Subhadrā at that time. (2-40-14)
abhivādya yathā-nyāyaṃ yathā-jyeṣṭhaṃ nṛpāṃś ca tān। kuśalānām ayam pṛṣṭvā niṣaṇṇau rāma-keśavau ॥2-40-15॥
After respectfully saluting the kings as per custom and seniority, and inquiring about their welfare, Rama and Keshava (Lakshmana) sat down. (2-40-15)
abhyarcitau tadā vīrau prītyā cābhyadhikaṃ tataḥ। putraṃ dāmodarotsaṅge devī saṃnyadadhātsvayam ॥2-40-16॥
After the two heroes had been worshipped with great affection, the goddess herself placed her son Dāmodara on her lap. (2-40-16)
nyastamātrasya tasyāṅke bhujāvabhyadhikāvubhau। petatustacca nayanaṃ nimamajja lalāṭajam ॥2-40-17॥
As the body was placed on his lap, both arms, exceeding in length, fell down; and his eye sank into the teardrop that sprang from his forehead. (2-40-17)
taddṛṣṭvā vyathitā trastā varaṃ kṛṣṇamayācata। dadasva me varaṃ kṛṣṇa bhayārtāyā mahābhuja ॥2-40-18॥
Seeing that, distressed and terrified, she sought a boon from Kṛṣṇa. "Grant me a boon, O Kṛṣṇa, to me who am afflicted by fear, O mighty-armed one." (2-40-18)
tvaṃ hyārtānāṃ samāśvāso bhītānām abhayaṅkaraḥ। pitṛṣvasāraṃ mā bhaiṣīr ity uvāca janārdanaḥ ॥2-40-19॥
You are truly the comforter of the distressed and the one who gives fearlessness to the frightened. Janardana said to his cousin, "Do not be afraid." (2-40-19)
dadāni kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ vā karavāṇi pitṛṣvasaḥ। śakyaṃ vā yadi vāśakyaṃ kariṣyāmi vacas tava ॥2-40-20॥
O father's sister, what boon shall I give, or what else shall I do? Whether it is possible or impossible, I will fulfill your word. (2-40-20)
evamuktā tataḥ kṛṣṇam abravīd yadunandanam। śiśupālasya aparādhān kṣamethāḥ tvaṃ mahābala ॥2-40-21॥
After these words, she then said to Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Yadu: "O mighty one, may you forgive the offenses of Śiśupāla." (2-40-21)
kṛṣṇa uvāca॥
Kṛṣṇa said.
aparādhaśataṃ kṣāmyaṃ mayā hyasya pitṛṣvasaḥ। putrasya te vadhārhāṇāṃ mā tvaṃ śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ ॥2-40-22॥
Even if he has committed a hundred offences, I must forgive your paternal aunt's son, even though he deserves death; do not let your mind be overcome with grief. (2-40-22)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evameṣa nṛpaḥ pāpaḥ śiśupālaḥ sumandadhīḥ। tvāṃ samāhvayate vīra govindavaradarpitaḥ ॥2-40-23॥
Thus, this wicked king Śiśupāla, who is very dull-minded and proud because of the boon from Govinda, challenges you, O hero. (2-40-23)
