अध्याय ३८
श्लोक 1
पञ्च तं नाभ्यवर्तन्त विपरीतेन कर्मणा वेदो धर्मः क्षमा सत्यं श्रीश् च नारायणाश्रया
pañca taṃ nābhyavartanta viparītena karmaṇā vedo dharmaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ śrīś ca nārāyaṇāśrayā
हिन्दी अर्थ
“साधारण मनुष्योंको भी स्त्रियोंपर दया हो जाती है, परंतु मेरे द्वारा अपने पतिके मारे जानेपर जो इस प्रकार आर्त होकर रो रही हैं, उन रानियोंके प्रति केवल पश्चात्ताप प्रकट करके मैं अपना शोक प्रकाशित कर रहा हूँ। इन भोली-भाली स्त्रियोंक विलापको सुनकर तो यमराजके हृदयमें भी करुणाका संचार हो सकता है॥ ५-६॥ मैंने तो पहलेसे ही यह निश्चय कर लिया था कि कंसका वध ही श्रेष्ठ है। जो सदा पापोंमें तत्पर रहनेके कारण साधु पुरुषोंकी दृष्टिमें भी उद्देजनीय (उद्देगमें डालने योग्य) हो गया हो, संसारमें सदाचारसे गिर गया हो तथा सब लोग जिससे विद्वेष रखने लगे हों, ऐसे मन्दबुद्धि पुरुषका मर जाना ही श्रेयस्कर है। वही उसे क्लेशसे छुटकारा दिलानेवाला है, जीवित रहना नहीं ॥ ७-८ ॥ कंस सदा पापोंमें ही लगा रहता था, साधु पुरुष भी (उसे दुष्ट समझकर) उसका आदर नहीं करते थे तथा वह सबका धिक्कार पाकर पतित हो गया था,
English
One day while tending his kine, Krishna, having the eyes of a bull, repaired to the bank of Yamunā abounding in trees adorned with creepers (28). He saw the delightful wind blowing on the water; and the foremost of rivers Yamunā, embellished with lilies and lotuses, was as if with her waves, casting her glances (29). All her landing stairs were well-levelled and her water was sweet; she had many lakes and her current was strong. And all the trees (on her bank) were shaken by the watery air (30). It was resonant with the notes of swans, Karandavas and Sārasas and resorted to by Chakravākas and other fowls that range in pairs (31) Her water was filled with acquatic animals, was endued with all the good qualities, was variegated with various water-born flowers and was rendered yellow by water-born corals (32). The passing currents were her feet, the bank was her hip, the whirlpool was her navel, the lotuses were her hairs, the cavity of the bank was her belly, the three curves of the wave were her three marks on the fore-head, the sides of the bank were her expansive face, the foams were her teeth, the swans were her smiles, the dark-blue lotuses were her lips, the water-born flowers were her eyes having bent down eye-brows, the lakes were her forehead, the corals were her beautiful hairs, the long extending currents were her high arms, the serpents were her ears, the geese were her ear-rings, the lotuses were her beautiful eyes, the trees grown on her banks were her ornaments, the fishes were her ornaments for the waist, the other sorts of corals were her silken raiment, the notes of Sārasas were the sound of her Nupuras, the Kāsa flowers were her cloth, the Swans and tortoises were the auspicious marks, fishes and crocodiles were her pastes; the animals were playing in the ditch and men formed her rising breasts. The animals were agitating her water and her banks were filled with hermitages. Seeing this beautiful river Yamunā, the queen of the ocean, Krishna, as if to beautify her the more, was ranging there (33—41). Ranging thus he saw there a vast lake filled with deep water and resembling the sky crested with clouds. It extended over a _Yojana_ and even the celestials could not cross it. Its water was deep and motionless like that of the ocean. It was cast off by beasts, acquatic animals and water-fowls. There being many ponds with serpents on its bank, people, with very great difficulty, could traverse it. It was enveloped with smoke proceeding from poisonous trees. The sages, desirous of performing three oblations in a day, could not enjoy its water. What to speak of its being used by men requiring water it was unworthy even of the beasts. Even the birds could not range in the sky overhanging it and the grass burnt up in no time as soon as it fell into it. Even the gods could not approach that lake extending over a _Yojana_ on all sides. And the trees there were being consumed by the dreadful poisonous fire (42–47). Beholding in that province freed from all calamities, such a huge lake at a distance of a Krosa north of Vraja Krishna began to think (48). "To whom does this huge and deep lake belong? Methinks that dreadful king of serpents Kalya, resembling a heap of collyrium of whom I had heard before and who has left the ocean in fear of the king of birds Garuda, who feeds on serpents, is living here. By him this Yamunā, flowing to the ocean, has been polluted (49–51). And in fear of that king of serpents no one lives here. Protected by the ministers of that serpent king, doing him good, this dreadful forest, filled with grass and various trees and creepers, has become unworthy of being resorted to like the sky and being touched like a poisonous food (52–54). The banks, filled with corals, trees and creepers, are being protected by his attendants, doing him good. And two artificial roads are seen running over its two banks (55). I should, however, vanquish this king of serpents. I should defeat the serpent in such a way as may render the water of lake useful to the inhabitants of Vraja, and so that delightful winds may blow here and the landing stairs may become worthy of use (56–57). In order to vanquish these wicked ones always following the wrong ways I have taken my birth as a milkman and am living amongst the cow-herds (58). Therefore sporting like a child I shall climb this Kadamba tree, jump into the lake and vanquish Kalya (59). Doing this my superior power of arms will be known to all" (60).