Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha tryashItitamo.adhyAyaH
    yashavistaro duShTanigrahashcha
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 83 - expanding glory, annihilation of demons
vaishampAyana uvAcha
etasminneva kAle tu chaturvedaShaDa~Ngavit |
brAhmaNo yAj~navalkyasya shiShyo dharmaguNAnvitaH ||2-83-1
vaishampAyana said
(O janamejaya!) At around this time, a brahmin disciple of yAj~navalkya, with all qualities of dharma, an expert of four veda-s, along with six sections,
brahmadatteti vikhyAto vipro vAjasaneyivAn |
ashvamedhaH kR^itastena vasudevasya dhImataH ||2-83-2
famous by the name brahmadatta, the one who is inwardly excited (brahmin), student of shukla yajurveda, vAjasaneya treatise, who conducted the horse sacrifice for vasudeva, one with high intellect,
sa saMvatsaradIkShAyAM dIkShitaH ShaTpurAlayaH |
AvartAyAH shubhe tIre sunadyA munijuShTayA ||2-83-3
the one who was a resident of ShaTpura, observed a sacrifice lasting for an year, by the shore of the auspicious river Avarta, along with the best among sages.
sakhA cha vasudevasya sahAdhyAyI dvijottamaH |
upAdhyAyashcha kauravya kShIrahotA mahAtmanaH ||2-83-4
O the son of kuru (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued)! The best among brahmins, having a great soul, a preceptor, an officiating priest (an adherent of yajurveda), was a friend of vasudeva, a fellow student.
vasudevastatra yAto devakyA sahitaH prabho |
yAjamAnye ShaTpurasthaM yathA shakro bR^ihaspatim ||2-83-5
O lord (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued)! In the same manner as indra goes to bR^ihaspati, vasudeva went to ShaTpura, along with devakI.
tatsatraM brahmadattasya bahvannaM bahudakShiNam |
upAsanti munishreShThA mahAtmAno dR^iDhavratAH ||2-83-6
That sacrifice of brahmadatta was with plenty of food and donations. The great souls, fixed in vow, the best among the sages, observed the penance.
vyAso.ahaM yAj~navalkyashcha sumanturjaiministathA |
dhR^timA~njAbalishchaiva devalAdyAshcha bhArata ||2-83-7
In the sacrifice, O the one of bhArata race! vyAsa, myself, yAj~navalkya, sumantu, jaimini, the vigourous jAbAli as well as devala and other sages were present.
R^iddhyAnurUpayA yuktaM vasudevasya dhImataH |
yatrepsitAndadau kAmAndevakI dharmachAriNI ||2-83-8
vAsudevaprabhAveNa jagatsraShTurmahItale |
devakI, who proceeds in the path of dharma, offered all that were desired by them on the face of earth, suitable to vasudeva of high intellect, by the splendor of vAsudeva (son of vasudeva, kR^iShNa), the creator of the world.
tasminsatre vartamAne daityAH ShaTpuravAsinaH ||2-83-9
nikumbhAdyAH samAgamya tamUchurvaradarpitAH |
While the sacrifice was in progress, the demons nikumbha and others, the residents of ShaTpura, proud due to the boon (given by brahma), went there, and told (brahmadatta):
kAryatAM yaj~nabhAgo naH somaM pAsyAmahe vayam |
kanyAshcha brahmadatto no yajamAnaH prayachChatu ||2-83-10
(Demons said): Give us the portion of the sacrifice. We shall also drink the essence of soma. The master of the sacrific, brahmadatta, shall offer us maidens.
bahvyaH santyasya kanyAshcha rUpavatyo mahAtamanaH |
AhUya tAH pradAtavyAH sarvathaiva hi naH shrutam ||2-83-11
We have heard that, the great soul, (brahmadatta) has many beautiful maidens. He shall call them and offer them to us by all means.
ratnAni cha brahmadatto vishiShTAni dadAtu naH |
anyathA tu na yaShTavyaM vayamAj~nApayAmahe ||2-83-12
brahmadatta shall also give us best of the jewels. Otherwise , he shall not conduct this sacrifice. This is our order.
etachChrutvA brahmadattastAnuvAcha mahAsurAn |
yaj~nabhAgo na vihitaH purANe.asurasattamAH ||2-83-13
Hearing this , brahmadatta told the great demons: O the best among demons! There is no provision to offer portion of sacrifice to demons in the veda-s (see nIlakaNTha commentary).
kathaM satre somapAnaM shakyaM dAtuM mayA hi vaH |
pR^ichChateha munishreShThAnvedabhAShyArthakovidAn ||2-83-14
As such, how can I offer the essence of soma in the sacrifice to you? The best among the sages, experts in the meaning and commentary of veda-s are present here (in this sacrifice). You may ask them.
kanyA hi mama yA deyAstAshcha sa~NkalpitA mayA |
antarvedyAM pradAtavyAH sadR^ishAnAmasaMshayam ||2-83-15
I have already mentally offered the maidens. There is no doubt the maidens are to be offered to the deserving, at the stage of the sacrifice.
ratnAni tu prayachChAmi sAntvenAhaM vichintyatAm |
balAnnaiva pradAsyAmi devakIputramAshritaH ||2-83-16
I shall offer jewels to you, if you request for the same. If you demand (the jewels) forcefully, nothing shall be offered by me, who is dependent on the son of devakI (kR^iShNa).
nikumbhAdyAstu ruShitAH pApAH ShaTpuravAsinaH |
yaj~navATaM viluluThurjahruH kanyAshcha tAstathA ||2-83-17
Hearing this, the wicked demons such as nikumbha, the residents of ShaTpura, became enraged. They desecrated the sacrificial stage and took away the maidens.
taddR^iShTvA saMpravR^ittaM tu dadhyAvAnakadundubhiH |
vAsudevaM mahAtmAnaM balabhadraM gadaM tathA ||2-83-18
Seeing this Anakadundubhi (vasudeva) was distressed. Then he remembered the great soul vAsudeva (kR^iShNa), balabhadra and gada.
viditArthastataH kR^iShNaH pradyumnamidamabravIt |
gachCha kanyAparitrANaM kuru putrAshu mAyayA ||2-83-19
kR^iShNa understood the matter and he immediately told pradyumna as follows: O son! Go there and save the maidens using illusion.
yAvadyAdavasainyena ShaTpuraM yAmyahaM prabho |
sa yayau ShaTpuraM vIraH piturAj~nAkarastadA ||2--83-20
(pradyumna said) O lord! I will go to SaTpura along with the yAdava army. Then valiant pradyumna, who obeys the order of his father, went to ShaTpura.
nimeShAntaramAtreNa gatvA kAmo mahAbalaH |
kanyAstA mAyayA dhImAnupajahre mahAbalaH ||2-83-21
By the time for closing the eye, kAma (pradyumna) with great power went there (to ShaTpura). Powerful pradyumna, the one with intellect, took away the maidens using illusion.
mAyAmayIshcha kR^itvA.anyA nyastavAnrukmiNIsutaH |
mA bhairiti cha dharmAtmA devakImuktavAMstadA ||2-83-22
The son of rukmiNI created maidens by illusion (and left them with the demons). Then pradyumna, the soul with dharma, told devakI (mother of kR^iShNa): Do not be afraid.
mAyAmayIstato hR^itvA sutA hyasya durAsadAH |
ShaTpuraM vivishurdaityAH parituShTA narAdhipa ||2-83-23
O the ruler of men (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued)! Thinking that they were getting the daughters (of brahmadatta) who were difficult to get, getting the maidens of illusion, the demons went to ShaTpura happily.
karma chAsAryate tatra vidhidR^iShTeNa karmaNA |
yadvishiShTaM bahuguNaM tadabhUchcha narAdhipa ||2-83-24
O the ruler of men (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The sacrifice proceeded as prescribed in the best way. The best sacrifice with many qualities proceeded in the best manner.
etasminnantare prAptA rAjAnastatra bhArata |
satre nimantritAH pUrvaM brahmadattena dhImatA ||2-83-25
O the one of bhArata race (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued)! During this time, many kings, invited to the sacrifice by brahmadatta, the one with intellect, arrived there.
jarAsaMdho dantavaktraH shishupAlastathaiva cha |
pANDavA dhArtarAShTrAshcha mAlavAH sagaNAstathA ||2-83-26
jarAsaMdha, dantavaktra, shishupAla and also pANDava-s, all sons of dhR^itarAShtra, mAlavA king with followers,
rukmI chaivAhvR^itishchaiva nIlo vA dharma eva cha |
vindAnuvindAvAvantyau shalyaH shakunireva cha ||2-83-27
rukmi, AhvR^iti and also nIla, dharma, vinda and anuvinda of Avanti, shalya, shakuni,
rAjAnashchApare vIrA mahAtmAno dR^iDhAyudhAH |
AvAsitA nAtidUre ShaTpurasya cha bhArata ||2-83-28
and also other valiant kings, the great souls, armed with weapons, arrived there, O the one of bhArata race (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) and stayed not very far away from ShaTpura.
tAndR^IShTvA nAradaH shrImAnachintayadaninditaH |
kShattrasya yAdavAnAM cha bhaviShyati samAgamaH ||2-83-29
Seeing them, auspicious nArada, who is not despised, thought: There will be a battle between the kShatriya kings and the yAdava-s.
atra heturahaM yuddhe tasmAttatprayatAmyaham |
evaM sanchintayitvAtha nikumbhabhavanaM gataH ||2-83-30
I will be the reason for that battle. Hence I will start to cause that battle. Thinking thus, he (nArada) went to the house of nikumbha.
pUjitaH sa nikumbhena dAnavaishcha tathAparaiH |
upaviShTaH sa dharmAtmA nikumbhamidamabravIt ||2-83-31
Worshipped by nikumbha and other demons, nArada, having the dharma soul, took his seat and told nikumbha as follows:
kathaM virodhaM yadubhiH kR^itvA svasthairihAsyate |
yo brahmadattaH sa hariH sa hi tasya vibhuH sakhA ||2-83-32
(nArada said) Why are you living pacefully, even after opposing the yadava-s? brahmadatta is lord hari (kR^iShNa) himself because brahmadatta is a friend of him(vasudeva).
shatAni pA~ncha bhAryANAM brahmadattasya dhImataH |
AnItA vasudevasya sutasya priyakAmyayA || 2-83-33
Brahmadatta, with intellect, has five hundred wives who were obtained by the grace of the son of vasudeva.
shatadvayaM brAhmaNInAM rAjanyAnAM shataM tathA |
vaishyAnAm shatamekaM cha shUdrANAM shatameva cha ||2-83-34
Two hundred are Brahmin women, hundred were daughters of kings, hundred vaishya women and hundred shUdra women.
tAbhiH shushrUShito dhImAndurvAsa dharmavittamaH |
tena tAsAM varo datto muninA puNyakarmaNA ||2-83-35
By performing auspicious deeds, they served, sage durvAsa with intellect, the best among the observers of dharma. The sage (pleased with them) gave a boon to them.
ekaikastanayo rAjannekaikA duhitA tathA |
rUpeNAnupamAH sarvA varadAnena dhImataH ||2-83-36
O king (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued)! Each of the wives had a son and daughter each due to the boon given by the sage. All the daughters have incomparable beauty.
kanyA bhavanti tanayAstasyAsura punaH punaH |
sa~Ngame sa~Ngame viIra bhartR^ibhiH shayane saha ||2-83-37
O valiant demon! (nArada continued) The maidens become virgins again and again even after having sexual union with their husbands.
sarvapuShpamayam gandhaM prasravanti varA~NganAH |
sarvadA yauvane nyastAH sarvAshchaiva pativratAH ||2-83-38
The women with beautiful limbs radiate the fragrance of all kinds of flowers. They remain young forever. All of them are faithful to their husbands.
sarvA guNairapsarasAM gItanR^ityaguNodayam |
jAnanti sarvA daiteya varadAnena dhImataH ||2-83-39
All of them have qualities of celestial women. Because of the boon given by the sage of intellect (durvAsa), all of them are skilled in singing and dancing.
putrAshcha rUpasaMpannAH shAstrArthakushalAstathA |
sve sve sthitA varNadharme yathAvadanupUrvashaH ||2-83-40
The sons are also handsome, experts in the meanings of scriptures. All of them remain fixed in the dharma of their own castes, in order.
tAH kanyA bhaimamukhyAnAM dattAH prANena dhimatA |
avasheShaM shataM tvekaM yadAnItaM kila tvayA ||2-83-41
The one with intellect (brahmadatta) has given away most of the maidens to the prominent persons of bhaima (yAdava-s). You have brought here the remaining hundred maidens.
tadarthe yAdavAnvIra yodhayiShyasi sarvathA |
sahAyArthaM tu rAjAno dhriyantAM hetupUrvakam ||2-83-42
O valiant demon! For them (hundred maidens) you have to fight with yAdavas by all means. Request the kings for helping you (in the battle ), along with reasons.
brahmadattasutArthaM cha ratnAni vividhAni cha |
dIyantAM bhUmipAlAnAM sahAyArtham mahAtmanAm ||2-83-43
For the sake of the daughters of brahmadatta, for getting the help of those with great souls (the kings), you may offer varieties of jewels to the kings.
AtithyaM kriyatAM chaiva ye sameShyanti vai nR^ipAH |
Also offer hospitality to the kings who have assembled here.
evamukte tathA chakrurasurAste.atihR^ShTavat ||2-83-44
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) The demons who were told thus (by nArada) did happily as they were told.
labdhvA pa~nchashataM kanyA ratnAni vividhAni cha |
yathArheNa narendraistA vibhaktA bhaktavatsalAH ||2-83-45
The kings, kind to their followers, received five hundred maidens and varieties of jewels and shared them among themselves suitably.
R^ite pANDusutANvIrAnvAritA nAradena te |
nimeShAntaramAtreNa tatra gatvA mahAtmanA ||2-83-46
Except the five pANDava-s, all (kings) had shared the maidens and the jewels. The great soul, nArada had gone there during the time for closing the eye, and prevented the pANDava-s from taking the share.
tuShTaistairasurA hyuktA rAjanbhUmipasattamaiH |
sarvakAmasamR^iddhArthairbhavadbhIH khagamaiH svayam ||2-83-47
O king! (vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) The best among the kings became pleased. They told the demons: You fulfill all your desires and you yourselves travel in the air.
architAH sma yathAnyAyaM kShatraM kiM vaH prayachChatu |
kShatraM chArchitapUrvaM hi divyairvIrairbhavadvidhaiH ||2-83-48
Even then, you have honoured us suitably as required. Now tell us: What shall we, kShatriyas, do for you? kShatriyas were honoured by divine, valiant people like you before as well.
nikumbho.athAbravIddhR^iShTaH kShatraM suraripustadA |
anuvarNayitvA kShatrasya mAhAtmyaM satyameva cha ||2-83-49
Hearing this, nikumbha, the enemy of deva-s became happy. Describing the true greatness of kShatriya-s again and again, he told them:
yuddhaM no ripubhiH sArdhaM bhaviShyati nR^ipottamAH |
sAhAyyaM dAtumichChAmo bhavadbhistatra sarvathA ||2-83-50
O the best among kings! There will be a battle between us and our enemies. We wish that you shall help us in the battle by all means.
evamastviti tAnUchuH kShatriyAH kShINakilbiShAH |
pANDaveyAnR^ite vIrA~nChrutArthAnnAradAdvibho ||2-83-51
O lord! (vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Except the valiant pANDava-s, all others among the kShatriya-s whose sins had lessened, accepted their request and said: let it be so. pANDvA-s had understood the matter from nArada.
kShatriyAH sanniviShTAste yuddhArthaM kurunandana |
patnyastu brahmadattasya yaj~navATaM gatA api ||2-83-52
O the son of kuru! (vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) All the kShatriya-s prepared for the battle. Then, the wives of brahmadatta entered the place of the sacrifice.
kR^iShNo.api senayA sArdhaM prayayau ShaTpuraM vibhuH |
mahAdevasya vachanamudvahanmanasA nR^ipa ||2-83-53
O king! (vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) Remembering the words of the great lord (shiva), lord kR^iShNa also arrived at ShaTpura along with the army.
sthApayitvA dvAravatyAmAhukaM pArthivaM tadA |
sa tayA senayA sArdhaM paurANAM hitakAmyayA ||2-83-54
Keeping king Ahuka (ugrasena) at the city of entrances (dvAravatI) for the benefit of the citizens, he (kR^iShNa) arrived (at ShaTpura) along with the army.
yaj~navATasyAvidUre devo nivivishe vibhuH |
deshe pravarakalyANe vasudevaprachoditaH ||2-83-55
The lord, deva (kR^iShNa), prompted by vasudeva, stayed at an auspicious place, a little away from the place of sacrifice.
dattagulmApratisaraM kR^itvA taM vidhivatprabhuH |
pradyumnamaTane shrImAnrakShArthaM viniyujya cha ||2-83-56
Lord kR^iShNa arranged the army for protection as required and directed pradyumna to guard the army from all directions.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi ShaTpuravadhe kR^iShNasya ShaTpuragamane tryashItitamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the eighty-third chapter of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, in the slaying of ShaTpura demons, expanding glory, annihilation of demons
    nIlakaNTha commentary
tryadhike.athAshItitame.atrAdhyAye yaj~navistaraH |
varNyate brahmadattasya tatra duShTavinigrahaH || 1 ||
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM tryashItitamo.adhyAyaH||
## tanslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca November 26, 2008
Note 1 : verse 22, line 2 : devakIM is correct
2 : " 24, line 2 : visarga for pANdavaH is to be concealed in sandhi
3 : verse ending with dhImatA has to be numbered 25
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
September 10, 2010 ##