Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha ShoDasho.adhyAyaH
    sharadvarNanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    chapter 16 - Description of Autumn Season
vaishampAyana uvAcha
gopavR^iddhasya vachanam shrutvA shakraparigrahe |
prabhAvaj~no.api shakrasya vAkyaM dAmodaro.abravIt ||2-16-1
vaishaMpAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) After hearing the words of the elderly gopa about the shakra (indra) festival, dAmodara (kR^iShNa), even though he knew well about the splendour of shakra, said:
vanaM vanacharA gopAH sadA godhanajIvinaH |
gAvo.asmaddaivataM viddhi girayashcha vanAni cha ||2-16-2
We, cow tenders, live in the forest. Our life is sustained by the wealth of cows. Therefore, cows, hills and the forests are our gods.
karShukANAM kR^iShirvR^ittiH paNyaM vipaNijIvinAm |
gAvo.asmAkaM parA vR^ittiretattraividyamuchyate ||2-16-3
Farming is the livelihood of farmers, trading is the livelihood of merchants. Tending cows is our livelihood. These are said to be three types of livelihoods.
vidyayA yo yathA yuktastasya sA daivataM param |
saiva pUjyArchanIyA cha saiva tasyopakAriNI |
For each, the means of suitable livelihood, is god. One should worship that which is useful for him.
yo.anyasya phalamashnAnaH karotyanyasya satkriyAm ||2-16-4
dvAvanarthau sa labhate pretya cheha cha mAnavaH |
One who worships and respects some one with the benefit received from some one else will inherit misfortune in this world and in the other world.
kR^iShyantA prathitA sImA sImAntaM shrUyate vanam |2-16-5
vanAntA girayaH sarve sA chAsmAkaM gatirdhruvA |
The field ends in a border. That border ends in the forest. The forest ends at the hill. Hence we depend on the hill.
shrUyante girayashchApi vane.asminkAmarUpiNaH |
pravishya tAstAstanavo ramante sveShu sAnuShu ||2-16-6
It is heard that, the hills, taking forms as they like, enjoy in the forest. Manifesting various forms, they wander in their peaks.
bhUtvA kesariNaH simhA vyAghrAshcha nakhinAm varAH |
vanAni svAni rakShanti trAsayanto vanachChidaH ||2-16-7
Taking the form of lions and tigers with nails, the forests frighten the forest destroyers and protect themselves from them.
yadA chaiShAM vikurvanti te vanAlayajIvinaH |
ghnanti tAneva durvR^ittAnpauruShAdena karmaNA ||2-16-8
When those who live depending on the forest engage in destructive acts, the forest will kill those wicked people with appropriate actions.
mantrayaj~naparA viprAH sItAyaj~nAshcha karShukAH |
giriyaj~NAstathA gopA ijyo.asmAbhirgirirvane ||2-16-9
Brahmins are engaged in chanting of mantra-s. Farmers are engaged in tilling. The gopa-s depend on the hill . Hence we should worship the hill and the forest.
tanmahyaM rochate gopA giriyaj~naH pravartatAm |
karma kR^itvA sukhasthAne pAdapeShvatha vA girau ||2-16-10
According to my opinion, we should worship the hill. This should be performed in a comfortable place, under a tree or at the foot of a hill.
tatra hatvA pashUnmedhyAnvitatyAyatane shubhe |
sarvaghoShasya saMdohaH kriyatAM kiM vichAryate ||2-16-11
There, at an auspicious location, performing animal sacrifice, let us milk all the cows. What are we thinking about (Let us not delay)?
taM sharatkusumApIDAH parivArya pradakShiNam |
gAvo girivaraM sarvAstato yAntu punarvrajam ||2-16-12
Let us decorate the cows with autumn flowers and circumambulate the hill. Thereafter let the cows return to the vraja.
prAptA kileyaM hi gavAM svAdutoyatR^iNA guNaiH |
sharatpramuditA ramyA gatameghajalAshayA ||2-16-13
The pleasant and beautiful autumn season has arrived. The water is tasty and grass is good for the cows. There are no clouds in the sky.
priyakaiH puShpitairgauraM shyAmaM bANasanaiH kvachit |
kaThoratR^iNamAbhAti nirmayUrarutaM vanam ||2-16-14
Due to the flowers in full bloom, the forest has a golden colour. Somewhere the forest appears dark due to thick bushes and small plants. The forest is full of tough grass There is no sound of peacocks.
vijalA vimalA vyomni vibalAkA vividyutaH |
vivardhante jaladharA vidantA iva ku~njarAH ||2-16-15
Devoid of water, dirt and lightning, the clear water bearing clouds wander in the sky, like elephants without tusks.
paTunA meghanAdena navatoyAnukarShiNA |
parNotkaraghanAH sarve prasAdaM yAnti pAdapAH ||2-16-16
The trees appeared dense with leaves since they were showered with strong winds loaded with water bearing clouds. All these trees begin to lose their leaves. (There is plenty of light) and hence they look pleased.
sitavarNAmbudoShNIShaM haMsachAmaravIjitam |
pUrNachandrAmalachChatraM sAbhiShekamivAmbaram |2-16-17
The sky looks like a king at his coronation - The white clouds look like his turban, the swans are like fans and the full moon is like an umbrella held over the head.
haMsaiH prahasitAnIva samutkr^iShTAni sArasaiH |
sarvANi tanutAM yAnti jalAni jaladakShaye ||2-16-18
After the rains, the water in the reservoirs begin to decrease. It looks as though the swans are laughing at them and the cranes have abandoned them.
chakravAkastanataTAH pulinashroNimaNDalAH |
haMsalakShaNahAsinyaH patiM yAnti samudragAH ||2-16-19
The river which flow to meet her husband, the ocean, appears beautiful with swans sporting in water as her smile, banks as the hips and a pair of chakravaka birds as the breasts.
kumudotphullamudakaM tArAbhishchitramambaram |
samamabhyutsmayantIva sharvarIShvitaretaram ||2-16-20
In the night, lotus flowers bloom in water and the sky dazzles with many stars. Both appears to compete with each other, saying, "my beauty is superior to yours".
mattakrau~nchAvaghuShTeShu kamalApakvapANDuShu |
nirviShTaramaNIyeShu vaneShu ramate manaH ||2-16-21
The mind finds great pleasure in the forest where, excited birds sing sweetly, paddy fields ready for reaping look like decorated brides, a pleasant atmosphere prevails like in the house of a married couple.
puShkariNyastaDAgAni vApyashcha vikachotpalAH |
kedArAH saritashchaiva sarAMsi cha shriyAjvalan ||2-16-22
The incomparable beauty of ponds and lakes with golden flowers and pools and rivers increase with nourishment.
pa~NkajAni cha tAmrANi tathAnyAni sitAnyapi |
utpalAni cha nIlAni bhejire vArijAM shriyam ||2-16-23
The water-born red, white and blue lotuses increase the beauty of the water of the lakes.
madaM jahuH sitApA~NgA mandaM vavR^idhire.anilAH |
abhavadvyabhramAkAshamabhUchcha nibhR^ito.arNavaH ||2-16-24
The excitement of the peacocks has ended. The wind is blowing slow. The sky is devoid of clouds. The sea appears to be full.
R^ituparyAyashithilairvR^ittanR^ityasamujjhitaiH |
mayUrA~NgaruhairbhUmirbahunetreva lakShyate ||2-16-25
The rainy season has ended and the peacocks have stopped dancing. Due to the scattered peacock feathers, the ground appears to be having many eyes.
svapa~NkamalinaistIraiH kAshapuShpalatAkulaiH |
haMsasArasavinyAsairyamunA bhAti shobhanA ||2-16-26
The banks of yamunA which were dirty with slush, look beautiful with blooming kAsha flowers where the swans and cranes have made their nests.
Translator's Note:
Monier Williams Dictionary gives the botanical name of kAsha as saccharum spontaneum, a species of grass.
kalamApAkaramyeShu kedAreShu janeShu cha |
sasyAdA jalajAdAshcha mattA viruruvuH khagAH ||2-16-27
The birds, eating the grains in the beautiful fields ready for reaping, and the birds eating fish in the lakes, are making various sounds.
siShichuryAni jaladA jalena jaladAgame |
tAni sasyAni bAlAni kaThinatvaM gatAni vai ||2-16-28
The young tender plants, dragged by the clouds in the rainy season, have grown up and become hard.
tyaktvA meghamayaM vAsaH sharadguNavidIpitaH |
eSha vai vimale vyomni hR^iShTo vasati chandramAH ||2-16-29
The moon has abandoned the clothes in the form of clouds. Adorned with the qualities of autumn, the moon happily stays in the clear sky.
kShIriNyo dviguNaM gAvaH pramattA dviguNaM vR^iShAH |
vanAnAM dviguNA lakShmIH sasyairguNavatI mahI ||2-16-30
In the autumn season, the cows give double the quantity of milk. The bulls are doubly excited. The forests are doubly wealthy. Because of abundant vegetation, the earth is enriched with many qualities.
jyotIMShi ghanamuktAni padmavanti jalAni cha |
manAMsi cha manuShyANAM prasAdamupayAnti vai ||2-16-31
The planets and stars released from the cover of clouds, water adorned with lotus flowers, and the minds of people have become pleased.
asR^ijatsavitA vyomni nirmukto jaladairbhR^isham |
sharatprajvalitaM tejastIkShNarashmirvishoShayan ||2-16-32
In autumn, the sun, freed from the rain bearing clouds in the sky, producing rays with higher blaze and weakens the essence of earth.
nIrAjayitvA sainyAni prayAnti vijigIShavaH |
anyonyarAShTrAbhimukhAH pArthivAH pR^ithivIkShitaH ||2-16-33
The kings of earth provide their army with weapons and march towards other kingdoms looking for victory.
bandhujIvAbhitAmrAsu baddhapa~NkavatIShu cha |
manastiShThati kAnTAsu chitrAsu vanarAjiShu ||2-16-34
The mind goes to the beautiful forest lands dazzling with shoeflowers, enriched by mud and sediments.
vaneShu cha virAjante pAdapA vanashobhinaH |
shrasanAH saptaparNAshcha kovidArAshcha puShpitAH ||22-16-35
iShusAhvA nikumbhAshcha priyakAH svarNakAstathA |
sR^imarAH pechukAshchaiva ketakyashcha samantataH ||2-16-36
The trees in full bloom, such as, shrasanA, saptaparNA, kovidAra, iShusAhvA, nikumbhA, priyakA, svarNakA, and ketaki dazzle adding beauty to the forest. Many kinds of deer and owls roam in a happy mood.
Translator's note:
The botanical names of the trees mentioned in this shloka, according to the Monier Williams Dictionary are as follows:
shrasanA - Terminalia Tomentosa
saptaparNA - Alstonia Scholaris
kovidAra -Bauhinia Variegata
iShusAhvA -
nikumbhA - Croton Polyandrum
priyakA - Nauclea - Cadamba - Several plants - Terminalia Tomentosa
svarNakA - suvarNaka - Cathartocarpus Fistula
ketaki -Pandanus odoratissimus
vrajeShu cha visheSheNa gargarodgArahAsiShu |
sharatprakAshayoSheva goShTheShvaTati rUpiNI ||2-16-37
In those vrajas, the autumn season roams like a beautiful young woman, where specially, milk, curd and butter are filled in pots creating sound which appears like the laughter of the season.
nUnaM tridashabhUyiShThaM meghakAlasukhoShitam |
patatriketanaM devaM bodhayanti divaukasaH ||2-16-38
It is sure that the gods are waking up the lord having garuDa on his flag, from his comfortable rest in the rainy season.
sharadyevaM susasyAyAM prAptAyAM prAvR^iShaH kShaye |
nIlachandrArkavarNaishcha rachitaM bahubhirdvijaiH ||2-16-39
After the rainy season, the autumn season decorated with beautiful vegetation has arrived, along with many birds with multiple colours, such as blue like clouds, white like moon and sun.
phalaiH pravAlaishcha ghanamindrachApaghanopamam |
bhavanAkAraviTapaM latAparamamaNDitam ||2-16-40
The trees are full of fruits, dense with tender leaves. They look beautiful, like clouds decorated with rainbow. The huge branches decorated with creepers look like houses.
vishAlamUlAvanataM pavanAbhogamaNDitam |
archayAmo giriM devaM gAshchaiva cha visheShataH ||2-16-41
The roots of the trees have spread far and wide. The trees enjoy good air. We should specially worship the hill along with the cows.
sAvataMsairviShANaishcha barhApIDaishcha daMshitaiH |
ghaNTAbhishcha pralambAbhiH puShpaiH shAradikaistathA ||2-16-42
Let us decorate the horns of the cows with peacock feathers. Let us tie bells on their neck and decorate the cows with autumn flowers.
shivAya gAvaH pUjyantAM giriyaj~naH pravartyatAm |
pUjyatAM tridashaiH shakro girirasmAbhirijyatAm ||2-16-43
Let us worship the cows for our well being. Let us start the worship of the hill. Let the gods worship indra and let us worship the hill.
kArayiShyAmi goyaj~naM balAdapi na saMshayaH |
yadyasti mayi vaH prItiryadi vA suhR^ido vayam ||2-16-44
gAvo hi pUjyAH satataM sarveShAM nAtra saMshayaH |
If you are pleased with me and if we seek the good of all, then I will carry out the cow festival forcefully. There is no doubt that the cows are to be worshipped always by all.
yadi sAmnA bhavetprItirbhavatAM vaibhavAya cha |
etanmama vachastathyaM kriyatAmavichAritam ||2-16-45
If you are happy with my explanation, then for your own progress, accept my words without any hesitation and proceed accordingly.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi sharadvarNane shoDasho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the sixteenth chapter of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrimahAbhArata, description of Autumn season.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
etasmin ShoDashe.adhyAye yuktibhirmaghabhedanaM |
upendreNa mahendrasya sharado varNanaM tathA || 1 ||
iti shrIharivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM Shodasho.adhyAyaH
## itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca, May 15, 2008
Note: verse 35, line 2 - the group of trees referred to here may be ashanAH too - ksr
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
August 16, 2009