English
Vaishampāyana said:—While the virtuous Yadavas were thus sporting the highly wicked and unapproachable Dānava, Nikumbha, the enemy of the gods, desirous of bringing on his self-destruction, finding a loop-hole, stole away the beautiful daughter of Bhānu by name Bhānumati (1–2). O hero, formerly, the daughter of his brother Vajranābhā, by name Prabhāvati, had been taken away by Pradyumna and Vajranābha had been killed. Remembering this former enmity and keeping himself aside that one, proficient in illusions, played upon the women of the Yādavas and stole away Bhānumati (3–4). Although the garden, attached to the female appartment of Bhānu, was unapproachable, still at that time there were no guards for the Yadavas were busy with their sports. Taking advantage of this weak moment the wretched Dānava carried away the maiden (5). O thou the victor of armies, while that weeping maiden was being carried away there arose all on a sudden a great tumult in the female appartment (6). Hearing lamentations in the female appartment of Bhānu, the heroes, Vasudeva and Ahuka issued out, filled with wrath. And not seeing the offender before them, they, in that dress, went where the highly powerful Krishna was (7-8). Hearing of that great insult, Janārddana, the slayer of his enemies, rode, together with Pārtha, Garuda the enemy of the serpents (9). Having commanded the hero having the emblem of a Makara on his flag to follow him on his car he asked Kashyapa's son Garuda to proceed (10). O king, before Nikumbha, unconquerable in battle, could reach the city of Vajra, Pārtha and Krishna, the slayers of their enemies, overtook him in the way (11). Beholding them the highly powerful Pradyumna, the foremost of those conversant with illusions, divided himself into three portions (12). On the other hand, Nikumbha, like unto an immortal, smilingly fought with them all with heavy clubs (13). Holding the maiden Bhānumati by his left hand, the great Asura Nikumbha repeatedly hurled the club with his right hand. Although thus assailed, Keshava, Kāma (Pradyumna) and Arjuna, none, could strike him ruthlessly lest they might wound the maiden (14-15). O king, although capable of slaying that irrepressible enemy they began to sigh piteously out of their excessive compassion for the maiden (16). As when a serpent gets round a camel, a man, well up in the use of arms, strikes the serpent leaving the camel to itself, so Pārtha, the foremost of archers, began to strike the Daitya with his arrows (17). In pursuance of the rules of art, their training and reasoning, Pārtha, Kāma and Krishna did not strike the maiden but wounded the Danavas with their cane-like arrows (18). Thereupon resorting to his illusory powers Nikumbha so disappeared with the maiden from that place that nobody could know it: Krishna, Kāma and Dhananjaya however immediately pursued him: he, however, went on assuming the semblance of a yellow vulture (19-20). Thereupon saving the maiden, the heroic Dhananjaya assailed him again with cane-like arrows piercing his very vitals (21). Thus pursued by those heroes that great Asura, the slayer of his enemies, travelled all over the earth consisting of seven insular continents and dropped down with the maiden at last on the bank of the river Chela Gangā flowing on the summit of the mount Gokarna (22–23). None amongst the gods, Asuras or great ascetics could cross that mountain protected by the energy of Mahadeva (24). Finding this weak point of Nikumbha, the Bhaima chief Pradyumna, invincible in battle and quick coursing, got hold of the maiden Bhānumati. And Krishna, and Arjuna began to assail the Asura greatly with arrows. Then leaving the northern range of the mount Gokarna, Nikumbha fled to the southern range. Both the Krishnas however, riding on Garuda, pursued him (25–26). Gradually the great Asura entered into Shatpura, the abode of his kinsmen and those two heroes spent the night at the mouth of the cave. With Krishna's permission the heroic son of Rukshmini delightedly took Bhaima's daughter to the city of Dwārakā. And keeping her there he returned to Shatpura, full of Dānavas and beheld the two Krishnas of dreadful prowess at the mouth of the cave (27-29). Thus occupying the entrance of the city of Shatpura the highly powerful Krishna and Arjuna, desirous of slaying Nikumbha, waited there with Pradyumna (30).