Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
atha saptachatvAriMsho.adhyAyaH
rukmiNIsvayaMvarArthaM kR^iShNasya kuNDinapuraM prati gamanam

harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
Chapter 47 - Krishna goes to Kundinapura to attend Rukmini's Svayamvara

vaishampAyana uvAcha

etasminnantare prAptA lokaprAvR^ittikA narAH |
chakrAyudhagR^ihaM sarve lokapAlagR^ihopamam ||2-47-1

vaishampAyana said:

(O janamejaya!) Meanwhile, men, well acquainted with the affairs in the world, arrived at the house, dazzling like the houses of all the protectors of the world, of the one who has discus as his weapon (kR^iShNa).

teShvAtyayikashaMsIShu lokaprAvR^ittikeShviha |
kR^itasaMj~nA yadushreShThAH sametAH kR^iShNasaMsadi ||2-47-2

As the men, well acquainted with affairs in the world wanted to inform about a destructive battle, the best among yAdava-s, who were informed, arrived at the assembly in kR^iShNa's house.

samAgateShu sarveShu yadumukhyeShu saMsadi |
prAvR^ittikA narAH prAhuH pArthivAtyayikaM vachaH ||2-47-3

When all the important leaders arrived at the assembly, the men acquainted with the affairs, spoke the words, regarding the destruction of the kings.

janArdana narendrANAM pArthivAnAM samAgamaH |
bhaviShyati kShitIshAnAM samUDhAnAmanekashaH ||2-47-4

O janArdana! There will be an assembly of kings of men and the rulers of the earth. Many kings of the land are invited for this assembly.

tvaritAstatra gachChanti nAnAjanapadeshvarAH |
kuNDine puNDarIkAkSha bhojaputrasya shAsanAt |2-47-5

Kings of many regions are going quickly for this assembly at kuNDina, O One with eyes as beautiful as lotus (kR^iShNa)! according to the invitation of the son of bhoja.

prakAshaM sma kathAstatra shrUyante manujeritAH |
rukmiNI kila nAmAsti rukmiNaH prathamA svasA ||2-47-6

As told by people, it is widely known and heard that, rukmi has an eminent sister named rukmiNI.

bhAvI svayaMvarastatra tasyAH kila janArdana |
ityarthamete sabalA gachChanti manujAdhipAH ||2-47-7

O janArdana (kR^iShNa)! Her marriage will be conducted there. All the rulers of men (kings) are going there for the marriage, along with their armies.

tasyAstrailokyasundaryAstR^itIye.ahani yAdava |
rukmabhUShaNabhUShiNyA bhaviShyati svayaMvaraH ||2-47-8

O yAdava (kR^iShNa)! The svayamvara mode of marriage of the most beautiful woman in the three worlds, decorated in golden ornaments, will be conducted there on the third day from today.

rAj~nAM tatra sametANAM hastyashvarathagAminAm |
drakShyAmaH shatashastatra shibirANi mahAtmanAm ||2-47-9

The kings mounted on elephants, horses and chariots will go there. Hundreds of camps of the great souls can be seen there.

simhashArdUladR^iptAnAM mattadviradagAminAm |
sadA yuddhapriyANAM hi parasparamamarShiNAm ||2-47-10

The kings having pride like lions and tigers, moving like elephants in rut, always eager for battle, have hatred towards each other.

jayAya shIghraM sahitA balaughena samanvitAH |
niruddhAH pR^ithivIpAlAH kimekAntacharA vayam ||2-47-11

The rulers of earth (kings) accompanied by groups of their armies are expecting a quick victory, whereas we who are alone,

nirutsAhA bhaviShyAmo gachChAmo yadunandana |
shrutvaitatkeshavo vAkyaM hR^idi shalyamivArpitam |
nirjagAma yadushreShTho yadUnAM sahito balaiH ||2-47-12

are without any enthusiasm. O son of yAdava-s! Let us go. Hearing these words which struck his heart like arrows, keshava (kR^iShNa), the best among yAdava-s, started along with yAdava-s and their armies.

yAdavAste balodagrAH sarve saMgrAmalAlasAH |
niryayuH syandanavarairgarvitAstridashA iva ||2-47-13

All the powerful yAdava-s, eager for battle, started, mounting on the best chariots, proud like deva-s.

balAgreNa niyuktena harirIshAnasaMmataH |
chakrodyatakaraH kR^iShNo gadApANirvyarochata ||2-47-14

kR^iShNa, hari, who is dear to shiva, began his journey leading his army, dazzling with discus on one hand and mace on the other.

yAdavAshchApare tatra vAsudevAnuyAyinaH |
rathairAdityasa~NkAshaiH ki~NkiNIpratinAditaiH ||2-47-15

Other yAdava-s followed vAsudeva( kR^iShNa), mounted on chariots, sparkling like sun rays, echoing with the sound of bells.

ugrasenaM tu govindaH prAha nishchitadarshanaH |
tiShTha tvaM nR^ipashArdUla bhrAtrA me sahito.anagha ||2-47-16

Considering the decision (to proceed) govinda (kR^iShNa) told ugrasena: O tiger among kings! Sinless One! Please stay back along with my brother (balarAma).

kShatriyA vikR^itipraj~nAH shAstranishchitadarshanAH|
purIM shUnyAmimAM vIra jaghanye.abhipatanti ha ||2-47-17

kShatiya-s of crooked intellect, considering the situation technically, will enter this empty city through back door.

asmAkaM sha~NkitAH sarve jarAsaMdhavashAnugAH |
modante sukhinastatra devaloke yathAmarAH ||2-47-18

All the followers of jarAsaMdha, who suspect us, enjoy comfortably there, like deva-s enjoy in heaven.

vaishampAyana uvAcha

tasya tadvachanaM shrutvA bhojarAjo mahAyashAH |
kR^iShNasnehena vikR^itaM babhAShe vachanAmR^itam ||2-47-19

vaishampAyana said:

Hearing these words of kR^iShNa, the king of bhoja-s, having great fame, spoke the words sweet as nectar, in a voice, faltering due to affection for kR^iShNa:

kR^iShNa kR^iShNa mahAbAho yadUnAM nandivarddhana |
shrUyatAM yadahaM tvadya vakShyAmi ripusUdana ||2-47-20

O kR^iShNa! kR^iShNa! One with great arms! One who increases the fortune of yAdava-s! Oppressor of enemies! Hear what I am telling you now.

tvayA vihInAH sarve sma na shaktAH sukhamAsitum |
pure.asminviShayAnte vA patihInA iva striyaH ||2-47-21

Without you, it is not possible for any one of us to live in the city or land comfortably, like women without husbands.

tvatsanAthA vayaM tAta tvadbAhubalamAshritAH |
bibhImo na narendrANAM sendrANAmapi mAnada ||2-47-22

Son! We, having you as leader, depending on the strength of your arms, O one who respects others, are not afraid of the kings, even if indra is with them.

vijayAya yadushreShTha yatra yatra gamiShyasi |
tatra tvaM sahito.asmAbhirgachChethA yAdavarShabha ||2-47-23

O the best among yAdava-s! Wherever you go seeking victory, you should go there, O the best of yAdava-s along with us.

tasya rAj~no vachaH shrutvA sasmitaM devakIsutaH |
yatheShTaM bhavatAmadya tathA kartAsmyasaMshayam ||2-47-24

(vaishaMpAyana said: O janamejaya!) Hearing these words of the king, the son of devakI (kR^iShNa) said, with a smile: I shall do as you wish now. There is no doubt.

vaishampAyana uvAcha

evamuktvA tu vai kR^iShNo jagAmAshu rathena vai |
bhIShmakasya gR^ihaM prApto lohitAyati bhAskare ||2-47-25

vaishaMpAyana said:

Saying this, kR^iShNa went riding in a chariot. He arrived at the residence of bhIShmaka when the sun became red (at sunset).

prApte rAjasamAje tu shibirAkIrNabhUtale |
ra~NgaM suvipulaM dR^IShtvA rAjasIM tanumAvishat ||2-47-26

kR^iShNa arrived at the assembly of kings on the ground covered with camps. Seeing the vast scene, he assumed a body of passion.

vitrAsanArthaM bhUpAnAM prakAshArthaM purAtanam |
manasA chintayAmAsa vainateyaM mahAbalam ||2-47-27

For frightening the kings and to reveal his ancient form, kR^iShNa thought of the highly powerful son of vinatA (garuDa) in his mind.

tatashchintitamAtrastu viditvA vinatAtmajaH |
sukhalakShyaM vapuH kR^itvA nililye keshavAntike ||2-47-28

Immediately upon his thought, the son of vinatA knew about it. He reached near (keshava) kR^iShNa in a comfortable and presentable body.

tasya pakShanipAtena pavanodbhrAntakAriNA |
kampitA manujAH sarve nyubjAshcha patitA bhuvi ||2-47-29

With the strong wind generated by the waving of his wings, all men trembled, bent and fell down on earth.

garuDAbhihatAH sarve pracheShTanto yathoragAH |

All shook as though they were snakes attacked by garuDa.

tAnsaMnipatitAndR^iShTvA kR^iShNo giririvAchalaH ||2-47-30

Watching them falling down, kR^iShNa stood immobile, like a mountain.

sa rAj~naH pakShapAtena mene patagasattamam |
dadarsha garuDaM prAptaM divyasraganulepanam ||2-47-31

kR^iShNa recognized the best among birds (garuDa) by the waving of his wings and respected him mentally. kR^iShNa saw garuDa wearing divine garlands, his body smeared with divine pastes.

pakShavAtena pR^ithivIM chAlayantaM muhurmuhuH |
pR^iShThAsaktaiH praharaNairlelihyantamivoragaiH ||2-47-32

He was shaking the earth again and again with the waving of his wings. Some divine weapons were set on his back, appearing like snakes.

vaiShNavaM hastasaMshleShaM manyamAnairavA~NmukhaiH |
charaNAbhyAM prakarShantaM pANDuraM bhoginAM varam ||2-47-33

He lowered his face out of respect, when viShNu touched him with his hand affectionately. He was dragging a best white serpent with his feet.

hemapatrairupachitaM dhAtumantamivAchalam |
amR^itAraMbhahartAraM dvijihvendravinAshanam ||2-47-34

His wings were golden. His body was sparkling with minerals like a mountain. He had forcefully taken amR^ita. He was the destroyer of the king of those with two tongues (snakes).

trAsanaM daityasa~NghAnAM vAhanaM dhvajalakShaNam |
taM dR^iShTvA sa dhvajaM prAptaM sachivaM sAMparAyikam ||2-47-35

He terrified the demons. He was on the flag of the chariot. kR^iShNa saw that, garuDa, the one who stays on the flag, one who helps with his intellect, one who performs the desirable when in danger, has arrived.

(see nIlakaNTha commentary)

dhR^itimantaM garutmantaM jagAda madhusUdanaH |
dR^iShTvA paramasaMhR^iShTaH sthitaM devamivAparam ||2-47-36

Seeing garuDa, who quickly arrived, the slayer of madhu (kR^iShNa) spoke. Pleased to see garuDa who was standing like another deva, kR^iShNa said:

tulyasAmarthyayA vAchA garutmantamavasthitam |

(kR^iShNa) spoke to garuDa with words equal in adequacy.

shrIkR^iShNa uvAcha

svAgataM khecharashreShTha surasenArimardana |
vinatAhR^idayAnanda svAgataM keshavapriya ||2-47-37

shrIkR^iShNa said:

Welcome to you, the best among birds! O the oppressor of deva army! One who brings happiness to the heart of vinatA! Welcome to you! One who is dear to keshava (kR^iShNa)!

vraja patrarathashreShTha kaishikasya niveshanam |
vayam tatraiva gatvAdya pratIkShAma svayaMvaram ||2-47-38

O the best among birds! Let us go to the house of kaishika (father of bhIShmaka). Let us go there today and await the marriage.

rAjnAM tatra sametAnAM hastyashvarathagAminAm |
drakShyAmaH shatashastatra sametAnAM mahAtmanAm ||2-47-39

There we can see kings, going on elephants, horses and chariots . We can see hundreds of similar great souls who assembled there.

evamuktvA mahAbAhurvainateyaM mahAbalam |
jagAmAtha purIM kR^iShNaH kaishikasya mahAtmanaH ||2-47-40

(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Speaking thus to the powerful son of vinatA (garuDa), kR^iShNa with great arms went to the city of kaishika, the great soul.

vainateyasakhaH shrImAnyAdavaishcha mahArathaiH |
vidarbhanagarIM prApte kR^iShNe devakinandane ||2-47-41

The friend of vinatA's son (garuDa), the splendorous kR^iShNa, along with the yAdava-s, the great chariot fighters, the son of devakI, kR^iShNa, arrived at the city of vidarbha.

hR^iShTAH pramuditAH sarve nivAsAyopachakramuH |
sarve shastrAyudhadharA rAjAno balashAlinaH ||2-47-42

All, joyous, prepared to stay with a happy mind. All the powerful kings were holding arms and weapons.

vaishampAyana uvAcha

etasminneva kAle tu rAjA nayavishAradaH |
kaishikastata utthAya prahR^ShTenAntarAtmanA ||2-47-43

vaishampAyana said:

Meanwhile, the king kaishika, expert in policy, got up then, with a joyous mind.