The
honorable king said: 'Please tell me of this adventure of the
wielder of S'ârnga [Krishna]. How was Bhauma, who
captured these women, killed by the Supreme
Lord?
The
honorable king said: 'Please tell me of this adventure of
the wielder of S'ârnga [Krishna]: how was
Bhauma, who captured these women, killed by the Supreme
Lord?'
(Vedabase)
Text
2-3
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Informed
by Indra, whose parasol of Varuna [his sign of royalty]
as well as a place [called Mani-parvata] on the
mountain of the gods [Mandara hill, see
8.6:
22-23] had
been stolen and whose relative [mother Aditi, see
8.17]
had been robbed of her earrings, went He [Lord Krishna
answering] to what Bhaumâsura all had done together
with His wife [Satyabhâmâ see
*] seated
on Garuda to the city of Prâgjyotisha [Bhauma's
capital now Tejpur of Assam], which lay protected
surrounded by mountains and weapons, fire, water and wind and
was fortified by a [mura-pâs'a] fence
consisting of tens of thousands of tough and dreadful wires on
all sides.
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Informed by Indra, whose parasol [or badge
of royalty] of Varuna and a place [called
Mani-parvata] on the mountain of the gods [Mandara
hill, see 8.6: 22-23] had been stolen and whose relative
[mother Aditi, see 8.17] had been robbed of her
earrings, went He [Lord Krishna answering ] to what
Bhaumâsura all had done together with His wife
[Satyabhâmâ see *] seated on Garuda to
the city of Prâgjyotisha [Bhauma's capital now
Tejpur of Assam], which lay protected surrounded by
mountains and weapons, fire, water and wind and was
fortified by a [mura-pâs'a] fence consisting
of tens of thousands of tough and dreadful wires on all
sides. (Vedabase)
Text
4
With
His club broke He through the rock fortifications, with His
arrows defeated He the weapon systems, with His disc He broke
through the fire, water and wind defense and with His sword
found He likewise His way through the fence.
With
His club broke He through the rock fortifications, with His
arrows defeated He the weapon systems, with His disc He
broke through the fire, water and wind defense and with His
sword came He likewise trough the fence.
(Vedabase)
Text
5
With
the resounding of His conchshell breaking the seals [of the
fortress] and the hearts of the brave warriors, broke
Gadâdhara with His heavy mace through the
ramparts.
With
the resounding of His conchshell breaking the seals [of
the fortress] and the hearts of the brave warriors,
broke Gadâdhara with His heavy mace through the
ramparts. (6) Hearing the vibration of the Lord His
Pañcajanya, that sounded like the thunderclap at the
end of the universe, rose up the five-headed demon Mura who
lay asleep in the water [of the moat].
(Vedabase)
Text
6
Hearing
the vibration of the Lord His Pâñcajanya, that
sounded like the thunder when the universe ends, rose up the
five-headed demon Mura who lay asleep in the water [of the
moat].
Raising
his trident, most difficult to behold with an effulgence as
terrible as the fire of the sun, attacked he, as if he with
his five mouths would swallow the three words, like the son
of Târkshya [Garuda] attacks a snake.
(Vedabase)
Text
7
Raising
his trident, most difficult to behold with an effulgence as
terrible as the fire of the sun, launched he, as if he with his
five mouths would swallow the three worlds, his attack the way
the son of Târkshya [Garuda] would attack a
snake.
Whirling
about his trident threw he it with great force at Garuda
with the roaring of his five mouths penetrating the earth,
the sky and outer space in all directions so massively that
the egglike shell of the universe reverberated.
(Vedabase)
Text
8
Whirling
about his trident threw he it with all his strength at Garuda
with such a tumultuous roar of his five mouths that the earth,
the sky, outer space in all directions and that the egglike
shell of the universe reverberated.
Lord
Krishna then with two arrows broke the trident flying at
Garuda in three pieces and next struck him forcefully in his
faces with more arrows, upon which the demon in anger hurled
his club at Him.
(Vedabase)
Text
9
Lord
Krishna then with two arrows broke the trident flying at Garuda
in three pieces and next hit with great force his faces with
more arrows. Thereupon hurled the demon in anger his club at
Him.
That
club flying at Him was by the Elder Brother of Gada
[Gadâgraja, Krishna] on the battlefield broken
into thousands of pieces and as he with his arms raised
rushed at Him, sliced the unconquerable One with ease the
heads off with His disc. (Vedabase)
Text
10
That
club flying at Him was by the Elder Brother of Gada
[Gadâgraja,
Krishna] on
the battlefield broken into thousands of pieces. With him next
with his arms raised rushing at Him, sliced the unconquerable
One with ease the heads off with His disc.
As
he lifeless fell into the water with his heads severed as if
Indra with his force had split off a mountain peak, roused
his seven sons angered into action to retaliate, feeling
greatly distressed upon their fathers death.
(Vedabase)
Text
11
As
he lifeless fell into the water with his heads severed as if
Indra with his force had split off a mountain peak, moved his
seven sons, feeling greatly distressed upon their father's
death, angered into action to retaliate.
Engaged
by Bhaumâsura came Tâmra, Antariksha, S'ravana,
Vibhâvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvân and Aruna the seventh
with Pîthha leading as their general out to the
battlefield carrying their weapons.
(Vedabase)
Text
12
Engaged
by Bhaumâsura came Tâmra, Antariksha, S'ravana,
Vibhâvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvân and Aruna the seventh
with Pîthha leading as their general out to the
battlefield carrying their weapons.
In
attack they angry and fierce used swords, clubs, spears,
lances and tridents against the Invincible One, but at no
time in his prowess frustrated by their mountain of weapons
cut the Supreme Lord them with His arrows into smithereens.
(Vedabase)
Text
13
In their attack
they angrily used swords, clubs, spears, lances and tridents
against the Invincible One, but at no time was He in His
prowess frustrated by their mountain of weapons; the Supreme
Lord cut them with His arrows all into tiny
pieces.
Them,
headed by Pîthha, He sent to the abode of
Yamarâja cutting off their heads, thighs, arms, legs
and armor so that Bhauma, the son of mother earth, seeing
how his army and leaders succumbed to the arrows and disc of
Krishna, unable to bear that came out with mada exuding
elephants born from the milk ocean.
(Vedabase)
Text
14
Cutting off
their heads, thighs, arms, legs and armor sent He them all who
were headed by Pîthha to the abode of Yamarâja.
Bhauma, the son of mother earth, seeing how his army and
leaders succumbed to the arrows and disc of Krishna, unable to
bear that stepped forward with mada exuding elephants that were
born from the milk ocean.
Seeing
Lord Krishna with His wife sitting upon Garuda like
lightning to a cloud above the sun, released he his
S'ataghnî [spiked missile] at him and attacked
at the same time all his soldiers.
(Vedabase)
Text
15
Seeing Lord
Krishna with His wife sitting upon Garuda like a cloud with
lightning sits above the sun, released he his S'ataghnî
[spiked missile] at Him and attacked at the same time
all his soldiers.
The
Supreme Lord, the Elder Brother of Gada, turned their bodies
- and at the same time the bodies of the horses and
elephants - with diversely feathered sharp arrows into
[a heap of] severed arms, thighs and necks.
(Vedabase)
Text
16
The Supreme
Lord, the Elder Brother of Gada, turned their bodies - and at
the same time the bodies of the horses and elephants - with
diversely feathered sharp arrows into a collection of severed
arms, thighs and necks.
Each
of the sharp and shafted weapons that the warriors employed,
o hero of the Kurus, were by Krishna with three arrows at a
time cut to pieces. Carried by the great winged one, Garuda,
striking with both his wings, were the elephants beaten. The
elephants because of his wings, beak and talons distressed
moved back into the city while Naraka ['hell' or
Bhauma] continued the battle.
(Vedabase)
Text
17-19
Each of the
sharp and shafted weapons that the warriors employed, o hero of
the Kurus, were by Krishna with three arrows at a time cut to
pieces. Carried by the great winged one, were with strokes from
both his wings by Garuda the elephants beaten. The elephants
because of his wings, beak and talons moved in distress back
into the city while Naraka ['hell' or Bhauma] continued
the battle.
Bhauma,
tormented to see how by Garuda the army was forced in
retreat, struck him with the spear that [once]
withstood the thunderbolt [of Indra], but he wasn't
shaken by it like an elephant isn't being hit with a flower.
(Vedabase)
Text
20
Bhauma, annoyed
to see how because of Garuda his army was forced in retreat,
struck him with the spear that [once] withstood the
thunderbolt [of Indra], but he wasn't shaken more by it
than an elephant is upon being hit with a
flower.
To
kill Krishna took Bhauma, frustrated in his endeavors, up
His trident, but before he could even release it, cut the
Lord with the razor-sharp edge of His cakra off the head of
Bhaumâsura as he sat on his elephant.
(Vedabase)
Text
21
Next took
Bhauma, frustrated in his endeavors, up his trident to kill
Krishna, but before he could even release it, cut the Lord with
the razor-sharp edge of His cakra off the head of
Bhaumâsura as he was sitting on his
elephant.
Brilliant,
shining decorated with earrings and a nice helmet, fell it
all together to the ground, and worshiped
[exclaiming] 'Alas, alas' and 'Bravo, bravo!' the
sages and ruling gods Lord Krishna showering Him with
flowers.
(Vedabase)
Text
22
Complete with
its brilliant, shining decorations of earrings and a nice
helmet fell it to the ground. Worshiping Him with
[exclamations of] 'Alas, alas' and 'Bravo bravo!'
showered the sages and ruling gods Lord Krishna with
flowers.
Next
then approaching Krishna presented mother earth golden
earrings glowing with shining jewels, a vaijayanti garland
of forest flowers and gave she the parasol of Varuna and the
Great Gem [the peak of Mandara].
(Vedabase)
Text
23
Thereupon
approaching Krishna presented mother earth golden earrings
glowing with shining jewels, a Vaijayantî garland of
forest flowers and gave she Him the parasol of Varuna and the
Great Gem [the peak of Mandara].
The
goddess then, o King, with a mind full of devotion folding
her palms and bowing down, praised the Lord of the Universe
who is worshiped by the best of the
gods.
(Vedabase)
Text
24
The
goddess then, o King, with a mind full of devotion folding her
palms and bowing down, praised the Lord of the Universe who is
worshiped by the best of the gods.
The
goddess then, o King, with a mind full of devotion folding
her palms and bowing down, praised the Lord of the Universe
who is worshiped by the best of the gods.
(Vedabase)
Text
25
Bhûmi
said: 'To You my obeisances o God of Gods, o Lord, holder of
the conch, the disc and the club, who to the desire of Your
devotees have assumed Your forms, o Supreme Soul; let there be
the praise unto You.
Bhûmi
said: 'To You my obeisances o God of Gods, o Lord, holder of
the conch, the disc and the club, Who to the desire of Your
devotees has assumed Your forms, o Supreme Soul; let there
be the praise unto You. (Vedabase)
Text
26
My homage is
for Him with the lotuslike depression in His belly, my
reverence for the One with the garland of lotuses, my respects
for He whose glance is as cool as a lotus, my praise unto You
with the feet that are like lotuses [as in
1.8:
22].
My
homage is for Him with the lotuslike depression in his
belly, my reverence for the One with the garland of lotuses,
my respects for He whose glance is as cool as a lotus, my
praise unto You with the feet that are like lotuses [as
in 1.8: 22]. (Vedabase)
Text
27
My obeisances
unto You, the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva, Vishnu, the
Original Person, the Seed and Full of Knowledge, unto You my
salutations.
My
obeisances unto You, the Supreme Lord, Vâsudeva,
Vishnu, the Original Person, the Seed and Full of Knowledge,
unto You my salutations.
(Vedabase)
Text
28
May
there be the veneration for You, the Unborn Progenitor, the
Unlimited Absolute, the Soul of the energies higher and lower,
the Soul of the Creation, the Supersoul!
May
there be the veneration for You, the Unborn Progenitor, the
Unlimited Absolute, the Soul of the energies higher and
lower, the Soul of the Creation, the Supersoul!
(Vedabase)
Text
29
You,
desiring to create o Master stand out Unborn [as
Brahmâ], for annihilation You adopt the ignorance
[as S'iva] and for maintenance You are [manifested
as] the goodness [as vishnu-avatâras]
of the Universe [and yet are You] not covered [by
these modes], o Lord of Jagat [the Living Being that is
the Universe]. Being Kâla [time],
Pradhâna [the original state of matter] and
Purusha [the complete as the Original Person] are You
yet of a separate existence.
You,
desiring to create o Master stand out Unborn indeed [as
Brahmâ], for annihilation adopt the ignorance
[as S'iva] and are for maintenance [manifest
as] the goodness [as Vishnu-avatâras] of
the Universe [and yet are You] not covered [by
these modes], o Lord of Jagat [the Living Being that
is the Universe]; being Kâla [time],
Pradhâna [the original state of matter] and
Purusha [the complete as the Original Person] are
You yet separate therefrom. (Vedabase)
Text
30
This
self of mine, the water, the fire and the air, the ether, the
sense objects, the demigods, the mind, the senses, the doer,
the total material energy, in sum everything that moves around
or doesn't move, constitutes [when it exists only for
itself] perplexity o Supreme Lord, because this all resides
within You, the One Without a Second [see also
siddhânta]!
This
self of mine, the water, the fire and the air, the ether,
the sense objects, the demigods, the mind, the senses, the
doer, the total material energy, in sum everything that
moves around or doesn't move, is [on itself]
perplexity o Supreme Lord, as this all resides within You,
the One Without a Second [see also siddhânta]!
(Vedabase)
Text
31
This
son of him [Bhauma's son, Bhûmi's grandson] has
in his fear approached the lotus feet of You who removes the
distress of those who take shelter; please protect him and
place on his head Your lotushand which eradicates all
sins.
This
son of him [Bhauma's son, Bhûmi's grandson]
afraid has approached the lotusfeet of You who removes the
distress of those who take shelter; please protect him and
place on his head Your lotushand eradicating all sins.'
(Vedabase)
Text
32
S'rî
S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, with these words entreated by
Bhûmi with devotion and humility, entered, to take away
the fear, the residence of Bhauma that was rich with all
opulences.
S'rî
S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, with these words entreated by
Bhûmi with devotion and humility, entered, to take
away the fear, the residence of Bhauma rich with all
opulences.
(Vedabase)
Text
33
There
the Lord saw sixteen thousand [**]
maidens of the royal order who by Bhaumâsura by force
were stolen from the kings.
There
the Lord saw sixteen thousand [**] maidens of the
royal order that by Bhaumâsura by force were stolen
from the kings. (Vedabase)
Text
34
The
women upon seeing Him entering, the most excellent of all men,
enchanted chose for Him who was brought by fate to them as the
husband of their desire.
The
women seeing Him, the most excellent of all men, entering,
enchanted chose for Him, who was brought by fate, as the
husband they desired. (Vedabase)
Text
35
Absorbed
in Krishna thinking: 'May providence make that He becomes my
husband', installed they Him thus all individually in their
hearts.
Absorbed
in Krishna thinking: 'May providence make that He becomes my
husband', installed they Him thus all individually in their
hearts.
(Vedabase)
Text
36
Having
them properly washed and clad in spotless clothes, sent He them
in palanquins off to Dvârakâ together with the
enormous treasure of chariots, horses and a great number of
other valuables [that was seized].
Them,
well-cleaned and in spotless clothes, He sent in palanquins
off to Dvârakâ together with great treasures,
chariots and horses and a great number of other valuables.
(Vedabase)
Text
37
Kes'ava
dispatched also sixty-four swift white elephants with four
tusks stemming from the family of Airâvata [Indra's
elephant].
Kes'ava
dispatched also sixty-four swift and white elephants with
four tusks from the family of Airâvata [Indra's
elephant]. (Vedabase)
Text
38-39
Going
to the abode of the king of the gods and giving Aditi her
earrings was He together with His beloved
[Satyabhâmâ] worshiped by Indra the head of
the [chief] thirty demigods and the great king his
wife. Urged by His wife He uprooted the pârijâta,
placed it on Garuda and brought it, defeating the demigods
[who opposed that], to His city.
Going
to the abode of the king of the gods and giving Aditi her
earrings was He together with His beloved
[Satyabhâmâ] worshiped by Indra the head
of the [chief] thirty demigods and the great king
his wife. (Vedabase)
Text
40
All
the way from heaven followed by the bees greedy for its sweet
fragrance and juice, beautified the tree after being planted in
the garden of Satyabhâmâ's
residence.
Urged
by His wife He uprooted the pârijâta, placed it
on Garuda and brought it, defeating the demigods [who
fought that], to His city. Planted beautified it the
garden of Satyabhâmâ's residence to where it was
followed by the bees from heaven greedy for its sweet
fragrance and juice. (Vedabase)
Text
41
After
he [Indra] had bowed down, to the occasion of which he
with the tips of his crown touched His feet, and had begged
Acyuta to fulfill his purpose, started he, that great soul
among the demigods, having achieved his purpose, to quarrel
with Him [about the pârijâta]. To hell with
their wealth, what an ignorance! [see also:
3.3:
5]
After
he [Indra] had bowed down with the tips of his crown
touching His feet and had begged Acyuta to fulfill his
purpose, did he, that great soul indeed of the demigods,
having achieved his purpose, quarrel with Him [over the
pârijâta]; damned that wealth of them, what
an ignorance! [see also: 3.3: 5].
(Vedabase)
Text
42
Then
married the Supreme Lord, all at the same time in various
residences, those women as should, for the purpose of which the
Imperishable One assumed as many forms
[see
10.58:
45,
10.69:
19-45 and B.G.
9:
15;
13:
31].
Then
at the right time married the Supreme Lord, being the same
in various residences, those women properly, as the
Imperishable One assuming as many forms [see 10.58: 45,
10.69: 19-45 and B.G. 9: 15; 13: 3]. [see B.G. 9:
15; 13: 31 and 10.58: 45].
(Vedabase)
Text
43
Remaining
in their unequalled and superior palaces which He never left,
enjoyed He, the performer of the inconceivable, with the women
eager to please Him and fulfilled He, being absorbed in the
pleasure like any other man, His duties as a householder
[see also
1.11:
37-39].
Constantly
remaining in their residences performed He inconceivable,
unequaled and unexcelled, absorbed in His love His deeds
enjoying the pleasing women, like any other man carrying out
the duties of a householder [see also 1.11: 37-39].
(Vedabase)
Text
44
The
women so obtaining the Husband of Ramâ thus knew to
attain Him in a manner not even available to Brahmâ and
the other gods, the way they shared in an ever-increasing
pleasure the always fresh loving attraction of associating with
Him in smiles and glances, intimate talks and
bashfulness.
The
women in this manner obtaining the Husband of Ramâ and
knowing means to attain that not even Brahmâ and the
other gods know, shared in an ever-increasing pleasure the
always fresh loving attraction of associating in smiles and
glances, intimate talks and bashfulness.
(Vedabase)
Text
45
Approaching
Him, offering a seat, being of first-class worship, washing His
feet, serving with betelnut, massages and fanning, fragrances,
garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing and
presenting gifts were they, though having hundreds of
maidservants, [personally] of service to the Almighty
Lord.
Approaching
Him, offering a seat, being of first-class worship, washing
His feet, serving with betelnut, massages and fanning,
fragrances, garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed,
bathing and presenting gifts were they, though having
hundreds of maidservants, [personally] of service to
the Almighty Lord.'
(Vedabase)
*
The âcâryas explain that
Satyabhâmâ would accompany Krishna to give
permission to kill Bhauma despite of the promise He once made
to Bhûmi, the earth-goddess, not to hurt her son Bhauma
without her permission. She would also come along to procure
the pârijâta flower tree Krishna had promised her
after He brought Rukminî one such flower [see also
10.50:
54
and 3.3:
5]
**
As to the number of Krishna's queens there is no absolute
agreement. Here is written 16000. The Vishnu Purâna V.19
- 9.31 mentions 16100 while even others speak of 16001. Not
counting the verse 10.90:
29
which again mentions over 16100 of them, would reasoning from
the Bhâgavatam stories only, there be 16008 queens
[see also previous
footnote].