Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 10 · Chapter 68

The Marriage of Sāmba

10.68.1

श्रीशुक उवाच दुर्योधनसुतां राजन् लक्ष्मणां समितिंजय: । स्वयंवरस्थामहरत् साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुत: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca duryodhana-sutāṁ rājan lakṣmaṇāṁ samitiṁ-jayaḥ svayaṁvara-sthām aharat sāmbo jāmbavatī-sutaḥ

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, Jāmbavatī’s son Sāmba, ever victorious in battle, kidnapped Duryodhana’s daughter Lakṣmaṇā from her svayaṁvara ceremony.

10.68.2

कौरवा: कुपिता ऊचुर्दुर्विनीतोऽयमर्भक: । कदर्थीकृत्य न: कन्यामकामामहरद् बलात् ॥ २ ॥

kauravāḥ kupitā ūcur durvinīto ’yam arbhakaḥ kadarthī-kṛtya naḥ kanyām akāmām aharad balāt

The angry Kurus said: This ill-behaved boy has offended us, forcibly kidnapping our unmarried daughter against her will.

10.68.3

बध्नीतेमं दुर्विनीतं किं करिष्यन्ति वृष्णय: । येऽस्मत्प्रसादोपचितां दत्तां नो भुञ्जते महीम् ॥ ३ ॥

badhnītemaṁ durvinītaṁ kiṁ kariṣyanti vṛṣṇayaḥ ye ’smat-prasādopacitāṁ dattāṁ no bhuñjate mahīm

Arrest this ill-behaved Sāmba! What will the Vṛṣṇis do? By our grace they are ruling land that we have granted them.

10.68.4

निगृहीतं सुतं श्रुत्वा यद्येष्यन्तीह वृष्णय: । भग्नदर्पा: शमं यान्ति प्राणा इव सुसंयता: ॥ ४ ॥

nigṛhītaṁ sutaṁ śrutvā yady eṣyantīha vṛṣṇayaḥ bhagna-darpāḥ śamaṁ yānti prāṇā iva su-saṁyatāḥ

If the Vṛṣṇis come here when they learn that their son has been captured, we will break their pride. Thus they’ll become subdued, like bodily senses brought under strict control.

10.68.5

इति कर्ण: शलो भूरिर्यज्ञकेतु: सुयोधन: । साम्बमारेभिरे योद्धुं कुरुवृद्धानुमोदिता: ॥ ५ ॥

iti karṇaḥ śalo bhūrir yajñaketuḥ suyodhanaḥ sāmbam ārebhire yoddhuṁ kuru-vṛddhānumoditāḥ

After saying this and having their plan sanctioned by the senior member of the Kuru dynasty, Karṇa, Śala, Bhūri, Yajñaketu and Suyodhana set out to attack Sāmba.

10.68.6

द‍ृष्ट्वानुधावत: साम्बो धार्तराष्ट्रान् महारथ: । प्रगृह्य रुचिरं चापं तस्थौ सिंह इवैकल: ॥ ६ ॥

dṛṣṭvānudhāvataḥ sāmbo dhārtarāṣṭrān mahā-rathaḥ pragṛhya ruciraṁ cāpaṁ tasthau siṁha ivaikalaḥ

Seeing Duryodhana and his companions rushing toward him, Sāmba, the great chariot-fighter, took up his splendid bow and stood alone like a lion.

10.68.7

तं ते जिघृक्षव: क्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषिण: । आसाद्य धन्विनो बाणै: कर्णाग्रण्य: समाकिरन् ॥ ७ ॥

taṁ te jighṛkṣavaḥ kruddhās tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣiṇaḥ āsādya dhanvino bāṇaiḥ karṇāgraṇyaḥ samākiran

Determined to capture him, the angry bowmen led by Karṇa shouted at Sāmba, ‘Stand and fight! Stand and fight!’ They came straight for him and showered him with arrows.

10.68.8

सोऽपविद्ध: कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुरुभिर्यदुनन्दन: । नामृष्यत्तदचिन्त्यार्भ: सिंह क्षुद्रमृगैरिव ॥ ८ ॥

so ’paviddhaḥ kuru-śreṣṭha kurubhir yadu-nandanaḥ nāmṛṣyat tad acintyārbhaḥ siṁha kṣudra-mṛgair iva

O best of the Kurus, as Kṛṣṇa’s son Sāmba was being unjustly harassed by the Kurus, that darling of the Yadu dynasty did not tolerate their attack, any more than a lion would tolerate an attack by puny animals.

10.68.9-10

विस्फूर्ज्य रुचिरं चापं सर्वान् विव्याध सायकै: । कर्णादीन् षड्रथान् वीरस्तावद्भ‍िर्युगपत् पृथक् ॥ ९ ॥ चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहानेकैकेन च सारथीन् । रथिनश्च महेष्वासांस्तस्य तत्तेऽभ्यपूजयन् ॥ १० ॥

visphūrjya ruciraṁ cāpaṁ sarvān vivyādha sāyakaiḥ karṇādīn ṣaḍ rathān vīras tāvadbhir yugapat pṛthak caturbhiś caturo vāhān ekaikena ca sārathīn rathinaś ca maheṣvāsāṁs tasya tat te ’bhyapūjayan

Twanging his wonderful bow, heroic Sāmba struck with arrows the six warriors headed by Karṇa. He pierced the six chariots with as many arrows, each team of four horses with four arrows, and each chariot driver with a single arrow, and he similarly struck the great bowmen who commanded the chariots. The enemy warriors congratulated Sāmba for this display of prowess.

10.68.11

तं तु ते विरथं चक्रुश्चत्वारश्चतुरो हयान् । एकस्तु सारथिं जघ्ने चिच्छेदान्य: शरासनम् ॥ ११ ॥

taṁ tu te virathaṁ cakruś catvāraś caturo hayān ekas tu sārathiṁ jaghne cicchedaṇyaḥ śarāsanam

But they forced him down from his chariot, and thereupon four of them struck his four horses, one of them struck down his chariot driver, and another broke his bow.

10.68.12

तं बद्ध्वा विरथीकृत्य कृच्छ्रेण कुरवो युधि । कुमारं स्वस्य कन्यां च स्वपुरं जयिनोऽविशन् ॥ १२ ॥

taṁ baddhvā virathī-kṛtya kṛcchreṇa kuravo yudhi kumāraṁ svasya kanyāṁ ca sva-puraṁ jayino ’viśan

Having deprived Sāmba of his chariot during the fight, the Kuru warriors tied him up with great difficulty and then returned victorious to their city, taking the young boy and their princess.

10.68.13

तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदोक्तेन राजन् सञ्जातमन्यव: । कुरून् प्रत्युद्यमं चक्रुरुग्रसेनप्रचोदिता: ॥ १३ ॥

tac chrutvā nāradoktena rājan sañjāta-manyavaḥ kurūn praty udyamaṁ cakrur ugrasena-pracoditāḥ

O King, when the Yādavas heard news of this from Śrī Nārada, they became angry. Urged on by King Ugrasena, they prepared for war against the Kurus.

10.68.14-15

सान्‍त्‍वयित्वा तु तान् राम: सन्नद्धान् वृष्णिपुङ्गवान् । नैच्छत् कुरूणां वृष्णीनां कलिं कलिमलापह: ॥ १४ ॥ जगाम हास्तिनपुरं रथेनादित्यवर्चसा । ब्राह्मणै: कुलवृद्धैश्च वृतश्चन्द्र इव ग्रहै: ॥ १५ ॥

sāntvayitvā tu tān rāmaḥ sannaddhān vṛṣṇi-puṅgavān naicchat kurūṇāṁ vṛṣṇīnāṁ kaliṁ kali-malāpahaḥ jagāma hāstina-puraṁ rathenāditya-varcasā brāhmaṇaiḥ kula-vṛddhaiś ca vṛtaś candra iva grahaiḥ

Lord Balarāma, however, cooled the tempers of the Vṛṣṇi heroes, who had already put on their armor. He who purifies the age of quarrel did not want a quarrel between the Kurus and Vṛṣṇis. Thus, accompanied by brāhmaṇas and family elders, He went to Hastināpura on His chariot, which was as effulgent as the sun. As He went, He appeared like the moon surrounded by the ruling planets.

10.68.16

गत्वा गजाह्वयं रामो बाह्योपवनमास्थित: । उद्धवं प्रेषयामास धृतराष्ट्रं बुभुत्सया ॥ १६ ॥

gatvā gajāhvayaṁ rāmo bāhyopavanam āsthitaḥ uddhavaṁ preṣayām āsa dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ bubhutsayā

Upon arriving at Hastināpura, Lord Balarāma remained in a garden outside the city and sent Uddhava ahead to probe King Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s intentions.

10.68.17

सोऽभिवन्द्याम्बिकापुत्रं भीष्मं द्रोणं च बाह्लिकम् । दुर्योधनं च विधिवद् राममागतमब्रवीत् ॥ १७ ॥

so ’bhivandyāmbikā-putraṁ bhīṣmaṁ droṇaṁ ca bāhlikam duryodhanaṁ ca vidhi-vad rāmam āgataṁ abravīt

After he had offered proper respects to the son of Ambikā [Dhṛtarāṣṭra] and to Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Bāhlika and Duryodhana, Uddhava informed them that Lord Balarāma had arrived.

10.68.18

तेऽतिप्रीतास्तमाकर्ण्य प्राप्तं रामं सुहृत्तमम् । तमर्चयित्वाभिययु: सर्वे मङ्गलपाणय: ॥ १८ ॥

te ’ti-prītās tam ākarṇya prāptaṁ rāmaṁ suhṛt-tamam tam arcayitvābhiyayuḥ sarve maṅgala-pāṇayaḥ

Overjoyed to hear that Balarāma, their dearmost friend, had come, they first honored Uddhava and then went forth to meet the Lord, carrying auspicious offerings in their hands.

10.68.19

तं सङ्गय यथान्यायं गामर्घ्यं च न्यवेदयन् । तेषां ये तत्प्रभावज्ञा: प्रणेमु: शिरसा बलम् ॥ १९ ॥

taṁ saṅgamya yathā-nyāyaṁ gām arghyaṁ ca nyavedayan teṣāṁ ye tat-prabhāva-jñāḥ praṇemuḥ śirasā balam

They approached Lord Balarāma and worshiped Him with gifts of cows and arghya, as was fitting. Those among the Kurus who understood His true power bowed down to Him, touching their heads to the ground.

10.68.20

बन्धून् कुशलिन: श्रुत्वा पृष्ट्वा शिवमनामयम् । परस्परमथो रामो बभाषेऽविक्लवं वच: ॥ २० ॥

bandhūn kuśalinaḥ śrutvā pṛṣṭvā śivam anāmayam parasparam atho rāmo babhāṣe ’viklavaṁ vacaḥ

After both parties had heard that their relatives were doing well and both had inquired into each other’s welfare and health, Lord Balarāma forthrightly spoke to the Kurus as follows.

10.68.21

उग्रसेन: क्षितेशेशो यद् व आज्ञापयत् प्रभु: । तदव्यग्रधिय: श्रुत्वा कुरुध्वमविलम्बितम् ॥ २१ ॥

ugrasenaḥ kṣiteśeśo yad va ājñāpayat prabhuḥ tad avyagra-dhiyaḥ śrutvā kurudhvam avilambitam

[Lord Balarāma said:] King Ugrasena is our master and the ruler of kings. With undivided attention you should hear what he has ordered you to do, and then you should do it at once.

10.68.22

यद् यूयं बहवस्त्वेकं जित्वाधर्मेण धार्मिकम् । अबध्नीताथ तन्मृष्ये बन्धूनामैक्यकाम्यया ॥ २२ ॥

yad yūyaṁ bahavas tv ekaṁ jitvādharmeṇa dhārmikam abadhnītātha tan mṛṣye bandhūnām aikya-kāmyayā

[King Ugrasena has said:] Even though by irreligious means several of you defeated a single opponent who follows the religious codes, still I am tolerating this for the sake of unity among family members.

10.68.23

वीर्यशौर्यबलोन्नद्धमात्मशक्तिसमं वच: । कुरवो बलदेवस्य निशम्योचु: प्रकोपिता: ॥ २३ ॥

vīrya-śaurya-balonnaddham ātma-śakti-samaṁ vacaḥ kuravo baladevasya niśamyocuḥ prakopitāḥ

Upon hearing these words of Lord Baladeva’s, which were full of potency, courage and strength and were appropriate to His transcendental power, the Kauravas became furious and spoke as follows.

10.68.24

अहो महच्चित्रमिदं कालगत्या दुरत्यया । आरुरुक्षत्युपानद् वै शिरो मुकुटसेवितम् ॥ २४ ॥

aho mahac citram idaṁ kāla-gatyā duratyayā ārurukṣaty upānad vai śiro mukuṭa-sevitam

[The Kuru nobles said:] Oh, how amazing this is! The force of time is indeed insurmountable: a lowly shoe now wants to climb on the head that bears the royal crown.

10.68.25

एते यौनेन सम्बद्धा: सहशय्यासनाशना: । वृष्णयस्तुल्यतां नीता अस्मद्दत्तनृपासना: ॥ २५ ॥

ete yaunena sambaddhāḥ saha-śayyāsanāśanāḥ vṛṣṇayas tulyatāṁ nītā asmad-datta-nṛpāsanāḥ

It is because these Vṛṣṇis are bound to us by marital ties that we have granted them equality, allowing them to share our beds, seats and meals. Indeed, it is we who have given them their royal thrones.

10.68.26

चामरव्यजने शङ्खमातपत्रं च पाण्डुरम् । किरीटमासनं शय्यां भुञ्जतेऽस्मदुपेक्षया ॥ २६ ॥

cāmara-vyajane śaṅkham ātapatraṁ ca pāṇḍuram kirīṭam āsanaṁ śayyāṁ bhuñjate ’smad-upekṣayā

Only because we looked the other way could they enjoy the pair of yak-tail fans and the conchshell, white umbrella, throne, and royal bed.

10.68.27

अलं यदूनां नरदेवलाञ्छनै- र्दातु: प्रतीपै: फणिनामिवामृतम् । येऽस्मत्प्रसादोपचिता हि यादवा आज्ञापयन्त्यद्य गतत्रपा बत ॥ २७ ॥

alaṁ yadūnāṁ naradeva-lāñchanair dātuḥ pratīpaiḥ phaṇinām ivāmṛtam ye ’smat-prasādopacitā hi yādavā ājñāpayanty adya gata-trapā bata

No longer should the Yadus be allowed to use these royal symbols, which now cause trouble for those who gave them, like milk fed to poisonous snakes. Having prospered by our grace, these Yādavas have now lost all shame and are daring to command us!

10.68.28

कथमिन्द्रोऽपि कुरुभिर्भीष्मद्रोणार्जुनादिभि: । अदत्तमवरुन्धीत सिंहग्रस्तमिवोरण: ॥ २८ ॥

katham indro ’pi kurubhir bhīṣma-droṇārjunādibhiḥ adattam avarundhīta siṁha-grastam ivoraṇaḥ

How would even Indra dare usurp anything that Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Arjuna or the other Kurus have not given him? It would be like a lamb claiming the lion’s kill.

10.68.29

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच जन्मबन्धुश्रियोन्नद्धमदास्ते भरतर्षभ । आश्राव्य रामं दुर्वाच्यमसभ्या: पुरमाविशन् ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca janma-bandhu-śrīyonnaddha- madās te bharatarṣabha āśrāvya rāmaṁ durvācyam asabhyāḥ puram āviśan

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: O best of the Bhāratas, after the arrogant Kurus, thoroughly puffed up by the opulence of their high birth and relations, had spoken these harsh words to Lord Balarāma, they turned and went back to their city.

10.68.30

द‍ृष्ट्वा कुरूणां दौ:शील्यं श्रुत्वावाच्यानि चाच्युत: । अवोचत् कोपसंरब्धो दुष्प्रेक्ष्य: प्रहसन् मुहु: ॥ ३० ॥

dṛṣṭvā kurūnāṁ dauḥśīlyaṁ śrutvāvācyāni cācyutaḥ avocat kopa-saṁrabdho duṣprekṣyaḥ prahasan muhuḥ

Seeing the bad character of the Kurus and hearing their nasty words, the infallible Lord Balarāma became filled with rage. His countenance frightful to behold, He laughed repeatedly and spoke as follows.

10.68.31

नूनं नानामदोन्नद्धा: शान्तिं नेच्छन्त्यसाधव: । तेषां हि प्रशमो दण्ड: पशूनां लगुडो यथा ॥ ३१ ॥

nūnaṁ nānā-madonnaddhāḥ śāntiṁ necchanty asādhavaḥ teṣāṁ hi praśamo daṇḍaḥ paśūnāṁ laguḍo yathā

[Lord Balarāma said:] “Clearly the many passions of these scoundrels have made them so proud that they do not want peace. Then let them be pacified by physical punishment, as animals are with a stick.

10.68.32-33

अहो यदून् सुसंरब्धान् कृष्णं च कुपितं शनै: । सान्‍त्‍वयित्वाहमेतेषां शममिच्छन्निहागत: ॥ ३२ ॥ त इमे मन्दमतय: कलहाभिरता: खला: । तं मामवज्ञाय मुहुर्दुर्भाषान् मानिनोऽब्रुवन् ॥ ३३ ॥

aho yadūn su-saṁrabdhān kṛṣṇaṁ ca kupitaṁ śanaiḥ sāntvayitvāham eteṣāṁ śamam icchann ihāgataḥ ta ime manda-matayaḥ kalahābhiratāḥ khalāḥ taṁ mām avajñāya muhur durbhāṣān mānino ’bruvan

“Ah, only gradually was I able to calm the furious Yadus and Lord Kṛṣṇa, who was also enraged. Desiring peace for these Kauravas, I came here. But they are so dull-headed, fond of quarrel and mischievous by nature that they have repeatedly disrespected Me. Out of conceit they dared to address Me with harsh words!

10.68.34

नोग्रसेन: किल विभुर्भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वर: । शक्रादयो लोकपाला यस्यादेशानुवर्तिन: ॥ ३४ ॥

nograsenaḥ kila vibhur bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ śakrādayo loka-pālā yasyādeśānuvartinaḥ

“King Ugrasena, the lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, is not fit to command, when Indra and other planetary rulers obey his orders?

10.68.35

सुधर्माक्रम्यते येन पारिजातोऽमराङ्‍‍घ्रिप: । आनीय भुज्यते सोऽसौ न किलाध्यासनार्हण: ॥ ३५ ॥

sudharmākramyate yena pārijāto ’marāṅghripaḥ ānīya bhujyate so ’sau na kilādhyāsanārhaṇaḥ

“That same Kṛṣṇa who occupies the Sudharmā assembly hall and for His enjoyment took the pārijāta tree from the immortal demigods — that very Kṛṣṇa is indeed not fit to sit on a royal throne?

10.68.36

यस्य पादयुगं साक्षाच्छ्रीरुपास्तेऽखिलेश्वरी । स नार्हति किल श्रीशो नरदेवपरिच्छदान् ॥ ३६ ॥

yasya pāda-yugaṁ sākṣāc chrīr upāste ’khileśvarī sa nārhati kila śrīśo naradeva-paricchadān

“The goddess of fortune herself, ruler of the entire universe, worships His feet. And the master of the goddess of fortune does not deserve the paraphernalia of a mortal king?

10.68.37

यस्याङ्‍‍घ्रिपङ्कजरजोऽखिललोकपालै- र्मौल्युत्तमैर्धृतमुपासिततीर्थतीर्थम् । ब्रह्मा भवोऽहमपि यस्य कला: कलाया: श्रीश्चोद्वहेम चिरमस्य नृपासनं क्व‍ ॥ ३७ ॥

yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajo ’khila-loka-pālair mauly-uttamair dhṛtam upāsita-tīrtha-tīrtham brahmā bhavo ’ham api yasya kalāḥ kalāyāḥ śrīś codvahema ciram asya nṛpāsanaṁ kva

“The dust of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, which is the source of holiness for all places of pilgrimage, is worshiped by all the great demigods. The principal deities of all planets are engaged in His service, and they consider themselves most fortunate to take the dust of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa on their crowns. Great demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, and even the goddess of fortune and I, are simply parts of His spiritual identity, and we also carefully carry that dust on our heads. And still Kṛṣṇa is not fit to use the royal insignia or even sit on the royal throne?

10.68.38

भुञ्जते कुरुभिर्दत्तं भूखण्डं वृष्णय: किल । उपानह: किल वयं स्वयं तु कुरव: शिर: ॥ ३८ ॥

bhuñjate kurubhir dattaṁ bhū-khaṇḍaṁ vṛṣṇayaḥ kila upānahaḥ kila vayaṁ svayaṁ tu kuravaḥ śiraḥ

“We Vṛṣṇis enjoy only whatever small parcel of land the Kurus allow us? And we are indeed shoes, whereas the Kurus are the head?

10.68.39

अहो ऐश्वर्यमत्तानां मत्तानामिव मानिनाम् । असम्बद्धा गिरो रुक्षा: क: सहेतानुशासिता ॥ ३९ ॥

aho aiśvarya-mattānāṁ mattānām iva māninām asambaddhā giṛo rukṣāḥ kaḥ sahetānuśāsītā

“Just see how these puffed-up Kurus are intoxicated with their so-called power, like ordinary drunken men! What actual ruler, with the power to command, would tolerate their foolish, nasty words?

10.68.40

अद्य निष्कौरवं पृथ्वीं करिष्यामीत्यमर्षित: । गृहीत्वा हलमुत्तस्थौ दहन्निव जगत्‍त्रयम् ॥ ४० ॥

adya niṣkauravāṁ pṛthvīṁ kariṣyāmīty amarṣitaḥ gṛhītvā halam uttasthau dahann iva jagat-trayam

“Today I shall rid the earth of the Kauravas!” declared the furious Balarāma. Thus He took His plow weapon and rose up as if to set the three worlds ablaze.

10.68.41

लाङ्गलाग्रेण नगरमुद्विदार्य गजाह्वयम् । विचकर्ष स गङ्गायां प्रहरिष्यन्नमर्षित: ॥ ४१ ॥

lāṅgalāgreṇa nagaram udvidārya gajāhvayam vicakarṣa sa gaṅgāyāṁ prahariṣyann amarṣitaḥ

The Lord angrily dug up Hastināpura with the tip of His plow and began to drag it, intending to cast the entire city into the Ganges.

10.68.42-43

जलयानमिवाघूर्णं गङ्गायां नगरं पतत् । आकृष्यमाणमालोक्य कौरवा: जातसम्भ्रमा: ॥ ४२ ॥ तमेव शरणं जग्मु: सकुटुम्बा जिजीविषव: । सलक्ष्मणं पुरस्कृत्य साम्बं प्राञ्जलय: प्रभुम् ॥ ४३ ॥

jala-yānam ivāghūrṇaṁ gaṅgāyāṁ nagaraṁ patat ākṛṣyamāṇam ālokya kauravāḥ jāta-sambhramāḥ tam eva śaraṇaṁ jagmuḥ sa-kuṭumbā jijīviṣavaḥ sa-lakṣmaṇaṁ puras-kṛtya sāmbaṁ prāñjalayaḥ prabhum

Seeing that their city was tumbling about like a raft at sea as it was being dragged away, and that it was about to fall into the Ganges, the Kauravas became terrified. To save their lives they approached the Lord for shelter, taking their families with them. Placing Sāmba and Lakṣmaṇā in front, they joined their palms in supplication.

10.68.44

राम रामाखिलाधार प्रभावं न विदाम ते । मूढानां न: कुबुद्धीनां क्षन्तुमर्हस्यतिक्रमम् ॥ ४४ ॥

rāma rāmākhilādhāra prabhāvaṁ na vidāma te mūḍhānāṁ naḥ ku-buddhīnāṁ kṣantum arhasy atikramam

[The Kauravas said:] O Rāma, Rāma, foundation of everything! We know nothing of Your power. Please excuse our offense, for we are ignorant and misguided.

10.68.45

स्थित्युत्पत्त्यप्ययानां त्वमेको हेतुर्निराश्रय: । लोकान् क्रीडनकानीश क्रीडतस्ते वदन्ति हि ॥ ४५ ॥

sthity-utpatty-apyayānāṁ tvam eko hetur nirāśrayaḥ lokān krīḍanakān īśa krīḍatas te vadanti hi

You alone cause the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the cosmos, and of You there is no prior cause. Indeed, O Lord, authorities say that the worlds are mere playthings for You as You perform Your pastimes.

10.68.46

त्वमेव मूर्ध्नीदमनन्त लीलया भूमण्डलं बिभर्षि सहस्रमूर्धन् । अन्ते च य: स्वात्मनिरुद्धविश्व: शेषेऽद्वितीय: परिशिष्यमाण: ॥ ४६ ॥

tvam eva mūrdhnīdam ananta līlayā bhū-maṇḍalaṁ bibharṣi sahasra-mūrdhan ante ca yaḥ svātma-niruddha-viśvaḥ śeṣe ’dvitīyaḥ pariśiṣyamāṇaḥ

O unlimited one of a thousand heads, as Your pastime You carry this earthly globe upon one of Your heads. At the time of annihilation You withdraw the entire universe within Your body and, remaining all alone, lie down to rest.

10.68.47

कोपस्तेऽखिलशिक्षार्थं न द्वेषान्न च मत्सरात् । बिभ्रतो भगवन् सत्त्वं स्थितिपालनतत्पर: ॥ ४७ ॥

kopas te ’khila-śikṣārthaṁ na dveṣān na ca matsarāt bibhrato bhagavan sattvaṁ sthiti-pālana-tatparaḥ

Your anger is meant for instructing everyone; it is not a manifestation of hatred or envy. O Supreme Lord, You sustain the pure mode of goodness, and You become angry only to maintain and protect this world.

10.68.48

नमस्ते सर्वभूतात्मन् सर्वशक्तिधराव्यय । विश्वकर्मन् नमस्तेऽस्तु त्वां वयं शरणं गता: ॥ ४८ ॥

namas te sarva-bhūtātman sarva-śakti-dharāvyaya viśva-karman namas te ’stu tvāṁ vayaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

We bow down to You, O Soul of all beings, O wielder of all potencies, O tireless maker of the universe! Offering You obeisances, we take shelter of You.

10.68.49

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं प्रपन्नै: संविग्नैर्वेपमानायनैर्बल: । प्रसादित: सुप्रसन्नो मा भैष्टेत्यभयं ददौ ॥ ४९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ prapannaiḥ saṁvignair vepamānāyanair balaḥ prasāditaḥ su-prasanno mā bhaiṣṭety abhayaṁ dadau

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus propitiated by the Kurus, whose city was trembling and who were surrendering to Him in great distress, Lord Balarāma became very calm and kindly disposed toward them. “Do not be afraid,” He said, and took away their fear.

10.68.50-51

दुर्योधन: पारिबर्हं कुञ्जरान् षष्टिहायनान् । ददौ च द्वादशशतान्ययुतानि तुरङ्गमान् ॥ ५० ॥ रथानां षट्‍सहस्राणि रौक्‍माणां सूर्यवर्चसाम् । दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां सहस्रं दुहितृवत्सल: ॥ ५१ ॥

duryodhanaḥ pāribarhaṁ kuñjarān ṣaṣṭi-hāyanān dadau ca dvādaśa-śatāny ayutāni turaṅgamān rathānāṁ ṣaṭ-sahasrāṇi raukmāṇāṁ sūrya-varcasām dāsīnāṁ niṣka-kaṇṭhīnāṁ sahasraṁ duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ

Duryodhana, being very affectionate to his daughter, gave as her dowry 1,200 sixty-year-old elephants, 120,000 horses, 6,000 golden chariots shining like the sun, and 1,000 maidservants with jeweled lockets on their necks.

10.68.52

प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं भगवान् सात्वतर्षभ: । ससुत: सस्‍नुष: प्रायात् सुहृद्भ‍िरभिनन्दित: ॥ ५२ ॥

pratigṛhya tu tat sarvaṁ bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ sa-sutaḥ sa-snuṣaḥ prāyāt suhṛdbhir abhinanditaḥ

The Supreme Lord, chief of the Yādavas, accepted all these gifts and then departed with His son and daughter-in-law as His well-wishers bid Him farewell.

10.68.53

तत: प्रविष्ट: स्वपुरं हलायुध: समेत्य बन्धूननुरक्तचेतस: । शशंस सर्वं यदुपुङ्गवानां मध्ये सभायां कुरुषु स्वचेष्टितम् ॥ ५३ ॥

tataḥ praviṣṭaḥ sva-puraṁ halāyudhaḥ sametya bandhūn anurakta-cetasaḥ śaśaṁsa sarvaṁ yadu-puṅgavānāṁ madhye sabhāyāṁ kuruṣu sva-ceṣṭitam

Then Lord Halāyudha entered His city [Dvārakā] and met His relatives, whose hearts were all bound to Him in loving attachment. In the assembly hall He reported to the Yadu leaders everything about His dealings with the Kurus.

10.68.54

अद्यापि च पुरं ह्येतत् सूचयद् रामविक्रमम् । समुन्नतं दक्षिणतो गङ्गायामनुद‍ृश्यते ॥ ५४ ॥

adyāpi ca puraṁ hy etat sūcayad rāma-vikramam samunnataṁ dakṣiṇato gaṅgāyām anudṛśyate

Even today the city of Hastināpura is visibly elevated on its southern side along the Ganges, thus showing the signs of Lord Balarāma’s prowess.