Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha trayastriMsho.adhyayaH ramakR^iShNayorvidyAsaMpAdanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 33 - balarAma and kR^iShNa put under a formal tutor
vaishampAyana uvAcha
sa kR^iShNastatra balavAnrauhiNeyena saMgataH |
mathurAM yAdavAkIrNAM purIM tAM sukhamAvasat ||2-33-1
vaishampAyana said:
Thereafter, powerful kR^iShNa along with son of rohiNI (balarAma) lived comfortably in the city of mathurA, full of yAdava-s.
prAptayauvanadehastu yukto rAjashriyA jvalan |
chachAra mathurAM vIraH sa ratnAkarabhUShaNAm ||2-33-2
His youthful body blazing with royal splendour, decorated with jewels and ornaments, valiant kR^iShNa traveled through the streets of mathura.
kasyachittvatha kAlasya sahitau rAmakeshavau |
guruM sAndIpaniM kAshyamavantipuravAsinam ||2-33-3
After some time, balarAma and keshava (kR^iShNa) went to the teacher sAndIpani of kAshi who was residing in the city of avanti.
dhanurvedachikIrShArthamubhau tAvabhijagmatuH |
nivedya gotraM svAdhyAyamAchAreNAbhyalaMkR^itau ||2-33-4
Both of them informed their lineage and served the teacher to learn the science of archery practicing it as required.
shushrUShU nirahaMkArAvubhau rAmajanArdanau |
pratijagrAha tau kAshyo vidyAH prAdAchcha kevalAH ||2-33-5
Both balarAma and janArdana (kR^iShNa) served the teacher humbly. The teacher of kAshi accepted their service and imparted the knowledge.
tau cha shrutidharau vIrau yathAvatpratipadyatAm |
ahorAtraishchatuShShaShTyA sA~NgavedamadhIyatAm ||2-33-6
Both the valiant (students) capable of learning on hearing once, understood (the subjects taught). They learned the veda-s and their branches in sixty-four days and nights.
chatuShpAdaM dhanurvedaM shastragrAmaM sasaMgraham |
achireNaiva kAlena gurustAvabhyashikShayat ||2-33-7
Without losing time, the teacher taught them the science of archery in all the four parts (dIkShA - initiation, saMgraha - comprehension, siddhi - accomplishment and prayoga - application, see nIlakaNTha commentary below) and the use of weapons.
atIvAmAnuShIM medhAM chintayitvA tayorguruH |
mene tAvAgatau vIrau devau chandradivAkarau ||2-33-8
Observing that they have superior intelligence compared to humans, their teacher considered the valiant as the moon and the sun gods.
dadarsha cha mahAtmAnAvubhau tAvapi parvasu |
pUjayantau mahAdevaM sAkShAdviShNuM vyavasthitam ||2-33-9
During the intervals of the studies, the teacher saw the great souls, worshipping mahAdeva (shiva) and the eternally manifesting viShNu.
guruM sAndIpaniM kR^iShNaH kR^itakR^ityo.abhyabhAShata |
gurvarthaM kiM dadAnIti rAmeNa saha bhArata ||2-33-10
O bhArata (janamejaya)! (After completing the studies\), kR^iShNa and balarAma, fully satisfied, asked the teacher sAndIpani: What should we offer you (as guru-dakShiNa)?
tayoH prabhAvaM sa j~nAtvA guruH provAcha hR^iShTavAn |
putramichChAmyahaM dattaM yo mR^ito lavaNAmbhasi ||2-33-11
Realising their splendour, the jubilant teacher told them: I desire my son who drowned in the salt ocean to be returned to me.
putra eko.api me jAtaH sa chApi timinA hataH |
prabhAse tIrthayAtrAyAM taM me tvaM punarAnaya ||2-33-12
I had only one son who was killed by a whale during the pilgrimage to prabhAsa. You please bring him back to me.
tathetyevAbravItkR^iShNo rAmasyAnumate sthitaH |
gatvA samudraM tejasvI viveshAntarjalaM hariH ||2-33-13
kR^iShNa, with the permission of balarAma, said: Let it be so. Hari (kR^iShNa) dazzling with splendour went to the ocean and entered the water.
samudraH prA~njalirbhUtvA darshayAmAsa svaM tadA |
tamAha kR^iShNaH kvAsau bhoH putraH sAndIpaneriti ||2-33-14
Seeing him there, the ocean, appeared with folded hands. kR^iShNa asked the Ocean: Where is the son of sAndIpani?
samudraH pratyuvAchedaM daityaH pa~nchajano mahAn |
timirUpeNa taM bAlaM grastavAniti mAdhava ||2-33-15
The Ocean answered: O mAdhava (kR^iShNa)! The great daitya pan~nchajana, in the form of a whale, swallowed the boy.
unmathya salilAdasmAdgrastavAniti bhArata |
O bhArata (janamejaya) ! (The ocean said that) the whale churned the water and swallowed (the boy).
sa pa~nchajanamAsAdya jaghAna puruShottamaH |
na chAsasAda taM bAlaM guruputraM tadAchyutaH ||2-33-16
puruShottama (kR^iShNa) went and killed pa~nchajana. Then achyuta (kR^iShNa) did not find the boy, the teacher's son, there.
sa tu pa~nchajanaM hatvA sha~NkhaM lebhe janArdanaH |
yastu devamanuShyeShu pA~nchajanya iti shrutaH ||2-33-17
Killing pa~nchajana, janArdana (kR^iShNa) obtained the conch which is known as pA~nchajanya among the gods and men.
tato vaivasvatapuraM jagAma puruShottamaH |
tato yamo.abhyupAgamya vavande taM gadAdharam ||2-33-18
Then puruShottama (kR^iShNa) went to the city of vaivasvata (god of death). yama (the god of death) immediately went straight and paid obeisance to gadAdhara (kR^iShNa).
tamuvAchAtha vai kR^iShNo guruputraH pradIyatAm |
tayostatra tadA yuddhamAsIdghorataraM mahat ||2-33-19
kR^iShNa told him: give me the teacher's son. Then a terrible, fierce battle took place between them.
tato vaivasvataM ghoraM nirjitya puruShottamaH |
AsasAda cha taM bAlaM guruputraM tadAchyutaH ||2-33-20
Then puruShottama (kRiShNa) defeated the terrible god of death. achyuta (kR^iShNa) obtained the son of the teacher, the boy.
AninAya guroH putraM chiraM naShTaM yamakShayAt |
kR^iShNa brought back the son of the teacher lost to death since a long time.
tataH sAndIpaneH putraH prabhAvAdamitaujasaH ||2-33-21
dIrghakAlagataH pretaH punarAsIchCharIravAn |
Due to the power of splendorous kR^iShNa, the son of sAndIpani, who was dead for a long time, again became one with a body (regained his life).
tadashakyamachintyaM cha dR^iShTvA sumahadadbhutam ||2-33-22
sarveShAmeva bhUtAnAM vismayaH samajAyata |
Seeing the impossible and unthinkable great wonder happening, all the beings were struck with wonder.
sa guroH putramAdAya pA~nchajanyaM cha mAdhavaH |
ratnAni cha mahArhANi punarAyAjjagatprabhuH ||2-33-23
mAdhava (kR^iShNa) got the teacher's son and pA~nchajanyaM (conch). The lord of the universe also brought great jewels with him.
rAkShasaistasya ratnAni mahArhANi bahUni cha |
AnAyyAvedayAmAsa gurave vAsavAnujaH ||2-33-24
The younger brother of vAsava (kR^iShNa) brought many jewels, carried by the servants (of the god of death) and offered them to his teacher.
gadAparighayuddheShu sarvAstreShu cha tAvubhau |
achirAnmukhyatAM prAptau sarvaloke dhanurbhR^itAm ||2-33-25
Both the brothers gained expertise in fights with mace and club and the use of all weapons. Without losing time, they became experts in the use of bow in all worlds.
tataH sAndIpaneH putraM tadrUpavayasaM tadA |
prAdAtkR^iShNaH pratItAtmA saha ratnairudAradhIH ||2-33-26
Kind hearted and pleased kR^iShNa returned the son of sAndIpani according to the form and age along with jewels.
chiranaShTena putreNa kAshyaH sAndIpanistadA |
sametya mumude rAjanpUjayanrAmakeshavau ||2-33-27
O king (janamejaya)! Then sAndIpani of kAshi rejoiced greatly with his son, lost for a long time. He praised balarAma and kR^iShNa.
kR^itAstrau tAvubhau vIrau gurumAmantrya suvratau |
AyAtau mathurAM bhUyo vasudevasutAvubhau ||2-33-28
Both the valiant sons of vasudeva, gaining expertise in the use of weapons, informed the teacher and returned again to mathurA.
tataH pratyudyayuH sarve yAdavA yadunandanau |
sabalA hR^iShTamanasa ugrasenapurogamAH ||2-33-29
All the yAdava-s, lead by ugrasena, along with young men, happily welcomed the sons of yadu.
shreNyaH prakR^itayashchaiva mantriNaH sapurohitAH |
sabAlavR^iddhA sA chaiva purI samabhivartata ||2-33-30
All the residents including common men, ministers, priests, old and young men and the entire city welcomed them.
nanditUryANyavAdyanta tuShTuvushcha janArdanam |
rathyAH patAkAmAlinyo bhrajante sma samantataH ||2-33-31
They played musical instruments such as nandi and tUrya to make janArdana (kR^iShNa) happy. The streets, decorated with flags were dazzling.
prahR^iShTamuditaM sarvamantaHpuramashobhata |
govindAgamane.atyarthaM yathaivendramahe tathA ||2-33-32
By the arrival of govinda, all people including women, became happy and overjoyed as on the occasion of the festival of indra.
muditAshchAtha gAyanti rAjamArgeShu gAyakAH |
tatrAsItprathitA gAthA yAdavAnAM priya~NkarAH ||2-33-33
The singers sang happily in the royal streets. The songs, most dear to yAdava-s were sung there:
govindarAmau saMprAptau bhrAtarau lokavishrutau |
sve pure nirbhayAH sarve krIDadhvaM saha bAndhavaiH ||2-33-34
govinda (kR^iShNa) and rAma (balarAma), the brothers, famous in the world have come. All the residents should enjoy life in the city along with relatives without any fear.
na tatra kashchiddIno vA malino vA vichetanaH |
mathurAyAmabhUdrAjangovinde samupasthite ||2-33-35
O king! As long as kR^iShNa was present in mathurA, there were no miserable, poor or people with lost intellect.
vayAMsi sAdhuvAkyAni prahR^iShTA gohayadvipAH |
naranArIgaNAH sarve bhejire manasaH sukham ||2-33-36
The birds chirped sweetly. The cows, horses and elephants were happy. All men and women enjoyed mental peace.
shivAshcha vAtAH pravavurvirajaskA disho dasha |
daivatAni cha hR^iShTAni sarveShvAyataneShu cha ||2-33-37
Auspicious winds blew. All the ten directions became dust free. The deities were happy in all the places of worship.
yAni li~NgAni lokasya chAsankR^itayuge purA |
tAni sarvANyadR^ishyanta purIM prApte janArdane ||2-33-38
All the signs of the earlier golden age (kR^ita yuga) were seen again in the world, when janArdana (kR^iShNa) arrived in the city (of mathurA).
tataH kAle shive puNye syandanenArimardanaH |
hariyuktena govindo vivesha mathurAM purIm ||2-33-39
At an auspicious and sacred time, govinda (kR^iShNa), the oppressor of enemies, entered the city of mathurA, in a chariot driven by horses.
vishantaM mathurAM ramyAM tamupendramarindamam |
anujagmuryadugaNAH shakraM devagaNA iva ||2-33-40
The yAdava-s followed upendra (kR^iShNa), the suppressor of foes, who entered the beautiful (city of) mathurA, like deva-s follow shakra (indra).
vasudevasya bhavanaM tatastau yadunandanau |
praviShTau hR^iShTavadanau chandrAdityAvivAchalam ||2-33-41
The sons of yadu, with joyful faces, entered the residence of vasudeva like moon and sun enter the mountain.
pareNa tejasopetau surendrAviva rUpiNau |
tAvAyudhAni vinyasya gR^ihe sve svairachAriNau||2-33-42
The brothers, endowed with the splendour of the supreme, like indra-s who have taken bodies, kept their weapons in the house and wandered freely in the city.
mumudAte yaduvarau vasudevasutAvubhau |
udyAneShu vichitreShu phalapuShpAvanAmiShu ||2-33-43
vasudeva's two sons, the great men of yadu race enjoyed traveling in the gardens full of trees bending down with strange fruits and flowers.
cheratuH sumahAtmAnau yAdavaiH parivAritau |
raivatasya samIpeShu saritsu vimalAsu cha ||2-33-44
padmapatravivR^iddhAsu kAraNDavayutAsu cha |
The great good men, accompanied by yAdava-s passed through the clear streams full of lotus flowers and ducks, near the mountain raivata.
evaM tAvekanirmANau mathurAyAM shubhAnanau |
ugrasenAnugau bhUtvA ka~nchitkAlaM mumodatuH ||2-33-45
In this way, the two brothers with auspicious faces, manifesting one soul in two bodies, lived in mathurA for some time as followers of ugrasena.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi rAmakR^iShNapratyAgamane trayastriMsho.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the thirty-third chapter of viShNuparva of harivaMsha, khila of shrimahAbhArata, balarAma and kR^iShNa put under a formal tutor.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
trayatrIMshe tvayadhyAye vidyAM putraM gurormukhAt |
labdhvA tasmai varaM dattvA pratyayAtAvitIryate || 1 ||
iti shrIharivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM trayatriMsho.adhyAyaH ||
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca, July 9, 2008
Note: Verse 30: samabhyavartata is grammatically correct, but metrically inappropriate. A time honoured injunction is: Where there is a conflict between grammar and prosody, the former is given the go-by!
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
December 12, 2009