SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 10

S'rî S'uka said: 'Cupid [Kâmadeva], an expansion of Vâsudeva who previously got burned by the anger of Rudra, had, in order to again obtain a body, returned to Him [see also 3.1: 28 and 8.10: 32-34 and B.G. 10; 28].

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Kâmadeva [Cupid], an expansion of Vâsudeva, had previously been burned to ashes by Rudra's anger. Now, to obtain a new body, he merged back into the body of Lord Vâsudeva. (Vedabase)

Text 2

He from the seed of Krishna begotten in the daughter of the king of Vidarbha [Rukminî] was thus known as Pradyumna ['the preeminently mighty one', see also vyûha] and was in no respect inferior to His Father.

He took birth in the womb of Vaidarbhî from the seed of Lord Krishna and received the name Pradyumna. In no respect was He inferior to His father. (Vedabase)

Text 3

S'ambara ['the juggler' see 7.2: 4-5, 10.36: 36], who could assume any form he wanted, stole the child away that wasn't even ten days old yet. Understanding He was his enemy, threw he Him in the ocean and returned he home.

The demon S'ambara, who could assume any form he desired, kidnapped the infant before He was even ten days old. Understanding Pradyumna to be his enemy, S'ambara threw Him into the sea and then returned home. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Pradyumna was swallowed by a mighty fish that together with others trapped in a huge net was caught by fishermen.

A powerful fish swallowed Pradyumna, and this fish, along with others, was caught in a huge net and seized by fishermen. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The fishermen presented the amazing fish to S'ambara who sent the gift to the cooks who in the kitchen cut it open with a knife.

The fishermen presented that extraordinary fish to S'ambara, who had his cooks bring it to the kitchen, where they began cutting it up with a butcher knife. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Seeing a child in its belly it was given to Mâyâvatî to whom being astonished Nârada related the facts about the child its birth and how it had ended up in the belly of the fish.

Seeing a male child in the belly of the fish, the cooks gave the infant to Mâyâvatî, who was astonished. Nârada Muni then appeared and explained to her everything about the child's birth and His entering the fish's abdomen. (Vedabase)

Text 7-8

She, who by S'ambara was appointed to prepare rice and vegetables, was in fact Cupid's famous wife named Rati who [after pleading with Lord S'iva being directed to S'ambara] was waiting for her burned husband to attain a new body. Understanding that the infant was Kâmadeva she developed love for the child.

Mâyâvatî was in fact Cupid's renowned wife, Rati. While waiting for her husband to obtain a new body - his previous one having been burnt up - she had been assigned by S'ambara to prepare vegetables and rice. Mâyâvatî understood that this infant was actually Kâmadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him. (Vedabase)

Text 9

Not so long thereafter was He, the son of Krishna, attaining full youth, very enchanting to the women who saw Him.

After a short time, this son of Krishna - Pradyumna - attained His full youth. He enchanted all women who gazed upon Him. (Vedabase)

Text 10

My best, lovingly approached she with a bashful smile, raised eyebrows and glances and gestures of sexual attraction Him, her husband, the most beautiful one in society with His long arms and eyes with the form of a lotus petal.

My dear King, with a bashful smile and raised eyebrows, Mâyâvatî exhibited various gestures of conjugal attraction as she lovingly approached her husband, whose eyes were broad like the petals of a lotus, whose arms were very long and who was the most beautiful of men. (Vedabase)

Text 11

To her said the Supreme Lord in the form of Krishna's own son: 'O mother in your attitude differently acting like a girlfriend you overstep the mood of motherly affection.'

Lord Pradyumna told her, "O mother, your attitude has changed. You are overstepping the proper feelings of a mother and behaving like a lover." (Vedabase)

Text 12

Rati replied: 'You are the son of Nârâyana stolen by S'ambara from Your home and I am Your legitimate wife Rati, o Cupid my Master!'

Rati said: You are the son of Lord Nârâyana and were kidnapped from Your parents' home by S'ambara. I, Rati, am Your legitimate wife, O master, because You are Cupid. (Vedabase)

Text 13

You not yet being ten days old were by him, that demon S'ambara, thrown into the ocean where a fish devoured You from the belly of which we saw You appearing here o master!

That demon, S'ambara, threw You into the sea when You were not even ten days old, and a fish swallowed You. Then in this very place we recovered You from the fish's abdomen, O master. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Please put an end to that hard to approach and difficult to conquer enemy of Yours who knows hundreds of magic spells; that You can realize with the help of the bewilderment of magic and such!

Now kill this dreadful S'ambara, Your formidable enemy. Although he knows hundreds of magic spells, You can defeat him with bewildering magic and other techniques. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Your poor mother with her son gone, pitiful distressed like a cow without her calf, is being overwhelmed with love for her child crying like an osprey.'

Your poor mother, having lost her son, cries for You like a kurarî bird. She is overwhelmed with love for her child, just like a cow that has lost its calf. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Thus speaking gave Mâyâvatî that great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge of Mahâmâyâ ['the great bewildering potency'] that puts an end to all deluding spells.

[S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued:] Speaking thus, Mâyâvatî gave to the great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge called Mahâmâyâ, which vanquishes all other deluding spells. (Vedabase)

Text 17

As He thereupon approached S'ambara for battle, reviled He him with intolerable insults in order to provoke a fight.

Pradyumna approached S'ambara and called him to battle, hurling intolerable insults at him to foment a conflict. (Vedabase)

Text 18

He offended by the harsh words with his eyes turned red as copper, infuriated like a snake is when struck by a foot, came forward holding a mace.

Offended by these harsh words, S'ambara became as agitated as a kicked snake. He came out, club in hand, his eyes red with rage. (Vedabase)

Text 19

Whirling his club swiftly threw he it at Pradyumna the Great Soul, producing a sound as sharp as a stroke of lightning.

S'ambara whirled his club swiftly about and then hurled it at the wise Pradyumna, producing a sound as sharp as a thunder crack. (Vedabase)

Text 20

It was in its flight by the Supreme Lord with His club knocked away, o King, upon which He angered hurled His own club at His enemy.

As S'ambara's club came flying toward Him, Lord Pradyumna knocked it away with His own. Then, O King, Pradyumna angrily threw His club at the enemy. (Vedabase)

Text 21

He, the demon, resorting to the daitya magic he had learned from Maya Dânava, released from above in the sky a downpour of weapons over the son of Krishna [compare: 3.19: 20].

Resorting to the black magic of the Daityas taught to him by Maya Dânava, S'ambara suddenly appeared in the sky and released a downpour of weapons upon Krishna's son. (Vedabase)

Text 22

Harassed by the rain of weapons implemented the powerful warrior, the son of Rukminî, the great charm rooting in goodness which supersedes all magic.

Harassed by this rain of weapons, Lord Raukmineya, the greatly powerful warrior, made use of the mystic science called Mahâ-mâyâ, which was created from the mode of goodness and which could defeat all other mystic power. (Vedabase)

Text 23

The demon then used hundreds of weapons belonging to Kuvera's guardians [Guhyakas], the heavenly singers [Gandharvas], the ogres [Pis'âcas], the celestial snakes [Uragas ] and the man-eaters [Râkshasas], but the son of Krishna stroke them all down.

The demon then unleashed hundreds of mystic weapons belonging to the Guhyakas, Gandharvas, Pis'âcas, Uragas and Râkshasas, but Lord Kârshni, Pradyumna, struck them all down. (Vedabase)

Text 24

Drawing His sharp-edged sword severed he with one violent blow S'ambara's head, complete with his helmet, earrings and red mustache from his body.

Drawing His sharp-edged sword, Pradyumna forcefully cut off S'ambara's head, complete with red mustache, helmet and earrings. (Vedabase)

Text 25

Being showered by the gods from above who of praise scattered flowers, was He by His wife traveling through the sky brought to the city [of Dvârakâ]

As the residents of the higher planets showered Pradyumna with flowers and chanted His praises, His wife appeared in the sky and transported Him through the heavens, back to the city of Dvârakâ. (Vedabase)

Text 26

The inner palace most exquisite, o King, crowded with hundreds of women was by Him with His wife entered from the sky like a cloud with lightning.

O King, Lord Pradyumna and His wife resembled a cloud accompanied by lightning as they descended from the sky into the inner quarters of Krishna's most excellent palace, which were crowded with lovely women. (Vedabase)

Text 27-28

Seeing Him dark as a cloud, dressed in yellow silk, with long arms, reddish eyes, a pleasing smile, His charming countenance; His nicely decorated lotuslike face and the bluish-black curling locks became the women, thinking He was Krishna, bashful and took they off to hide themselves here and there.

The women of the palace thought He was Lord Krishna when they saw His dark-blue complexion the color of a rain cloud, His yellow silk garments, His long arms and red-tinged eyes, His charming lotus face adorned with a pleasing smile, His fine ornaments and His thick, curly blue hair. Thus the women became bashful and hid themselves here and there. (Vedabase)

Text 29

By and by realized the ladies slight differences in appearance and approached they delighted and surprised Him and [Rati,] that jewel among women.

Gradually, from the slight differences between His appearance and Krishna's, the ladies realized He was not the Lord. Delighted and astonished, they approached Pradyumna and His consort, who was a jewel among women. (Vedabase)

Text 30

The breasts of the sweet-voiced and dark-eyed Rukminî, remembering her lost son, then flowed of affection.

Seeing Pradyumna, sweet-voiced, dark-eyed Rukminî remembered her lost son, and her breasts became moist out of affection. (Vedabase)

Text 31

[She thought:] 'Who would this gem among men be, whose son is He and what lotus-eyed woman has carried Him in her womb, and even more, who is this woman won by Him?

[S'rîmatî Rukminî-devî said:] Who is this lotus-eyed jewel among men? What man's son is He, and what woman carried Him in her womb? And who is this woman He has taken as His wife? (Vedabase)

Text 32

If my son lost from the maternity room were alive somewhere, He'd be of the same age and appearance!

If my lost son, who was kidnapped from the maternity room, were still alive somewhere, He would be of the same age and appearance as this young man. (Vedabase)

Text 33

How could He have acquired the same appearance in body, gait, limbs, voice, smile and glance as that of the wielder of S'ârnga [Krishna's bow]?

But how is it that this young man so much resembles my own Lord, Krishna, the wielder of S'ârnga, in His bodily form and His limbs, in His gait and the tone of His voice, and in His smiling glance? (Vedabase)

Text 34

Considering my great affection for Him and the trembling in my left arm, He's no doubt - He must be - for sure, the child I carried in my womb!'

Yes, He must be the same child I bore in my womb, since I feel great affection for Him and my left arm is quivering. (Vedabase)

Text 35

While the daughter of the king of Vaidarbha was thus conjecturing arrived the Lord Hailed in the Scriptures there together with Devakî and Ânakadundhubi.

As Queen Rukminî conjectured in this way, Lord Krishna, the son of Devakî, arrived on the scene with Vasudeva and Devakî. (Vedabase)

Text 36

Even though the Supreme Lord understood the matter remained He, Janârdana, silent; it was Nârada who told the whole story beginning with the kidnapping by S'ambara.

Although Lord Janârdana knew perfectly well what had transpired, He remained silent. The sage Nârada, however, explained everything, beginning with S'ambara's kidnapping of the child. (Vedabase)

Text 37

The women of Krishna's residence hearing of that great wonder then cheered in ecstasy to welcome the one lost for so many years as if someone had returned from death.

When the women of Lord Krishna's palace heard this most amazing account, they joyfully greeted Pradyumna, who had been lost for many years but who had now returned as if from the dead. (Vedabase)

Text 38

Devakî, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarâma as also the women and Rukminî embraced the couple and rejoiced.

Devakî, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarâma and all the women of the palace, especially Queen Rukminî, embraced the young couple and rejoiced. (Vedabase)

Text 39

The residents of Dvârakâ hearing that Pradyumna being lost had returned declared: 'O providence, the child we thought dead has really come back!'

Hearing that lost Pradyumna had come home, the residents of Dvârakâ declared, "Ah, providence has allowed this child to return as if from death!" (Vedabase)

Text 40

It was not that surprising at all that they, who constantly thought of the resemblance with His father their master, in being His mothers in the full of their attraction backed off in respect of Him. With them doing so with the way He appeared before their eyes as the spitting image of the Shelter of the Goddess of Fortune His form, as Cupid the God of Love in person, then what would one expect of other women?'

It is not astonishing that the palace women, who should have felt maternal affection for Pradyumna, privately felt ecstatic attraction for Him as if He were their own Lord. After all, the son exactly resembled His father. Indeed, Pradyumna was a perfect reflection of the beauty of Lord Krishna, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, and appeared before their eyes as Cupid Himself. Since even those on the level of His mother felt conjugal attraction for Him, then what to speak of how other women felt when they saw Him?(Vedabase)