Brief Translation By Shri Kesava Rao Tadipatri
Art by Smt.Vani Rao, Baton Rouge,LA
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| Art by Chi: Ananya Ravi |
1.The first shloka speaks of Lord Vishnu being
prayed and requested by gods like Brahma, Rudra, Indra and others to
reduce the weight on Earth, and His taking Sri Krishna's incarnation
on Earth as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva and is taken by Vasudeva
to Nanda gokula to please Nanda and Yashoda. He killed Putana, who
was employed to kill the babies. He killed Shakatasura, who entered
the wheel of the chariot at the exciting moment of setting out for
deva darshana. By the kicks of His feet. He killed Trinavarta, when
He made Yashoda put Him down, being unable to handle His weight. May
such Lord Sri Krishna protect us.
2.Second shloka describes Krishna showing the
universe in His mouth to His mother Yashoda (while yawning),
Namakarana, teasing and playful deeds in the houses of milk-maids,
stealing the milk and curds (to remove excessive punya) from them,
showing the universe to His mother again (opening His mouth saying He
did not eat the mud).
3.The third shloka speaks of Sri Krishna's being
tied to the grinding stone by Yashoda, freeing the sons of Kubera
(Nalakubara and Manigriiva) from the curse, reaching vR^indavana
along with Nanda and others, playing music and playing with gopikas
and killing the Vatsasura.
May the Lord who is the receiver of the fruits of
sacrifices protect us.
4.The fourth verse says that Sri Krishna, in the
process of protecting the cows, killed Bakasura and Dhenukasura,
performed Kaliya mardana and drove him off the river, drank the wild
fire and killed vR^ixasura. May such Lord protect us.
Some clarification regarding verse # 4
raxan.h vatsAnvayasyairbakamabhinadatho tigmatuNDe
gR^ihItvA prItiM kartuM sakhInAM kharamapi balato ghAtayan.h
kAliyAhim.h | unmathyodvAsya kR^ishhNAmativimalajalAM yo
vyadhAddAvavahniM suptAnAvR^itya goshhThe sthitamapibadasau
dushhTavR^ixachchhidavyAt.h || 4||
The Bakasura that is mentioned here is different
from the Bakasura that Bheemsena killed. Here “baka” means
crane. The demon comes in the form of big crane and with his big beak
swallows the cows and cowherd boys. He attempts to swallow Sri
Krishna also. But Sri Krishna grows enormously and splits open his
sharp, long beaks, kills him and rescues all those inside his
stomach.
5.The fifth verse says that Sri Krishna saved the
cows that lost their way in the dense forest, drank the wild fire
again, nurtured the cow-herd companions, consumed the food sitting on
a rock on the bank of the river, enraptured the “gopikas” from
the “vraj”. May such Lord protect me.
6. Lord Sri Krishna, who [took and
then] gave back clothes to the gopikas, who were bathing in the river
and who were doing penance to obtain Krishna as their Lord, who
consumed the food brought by the brahmin ladies, who protected all
the gopa, gopikas who were afflicted by the hail stone [storm] from
Indra, by lifting Govardhana mountain, may protect me.
7. Lord Govinda, who brought back
Nanda and others, who were abducted by Varuna while taking the bath
in Kalindi river, who sported with gopikas in the moonlit night, who
attracted the beautiful gopikas with his music [ flute], may protect
us.
8. May the Lord, who vanished in order
to vanquish the vanity of the gopikas, while sporting with one of the
gopikas, and again reappeared to them after the depressed gopikas
regreted for their pride and extolled Him in many words in the form
of “gopikAgIta”, and performed “rAsotsava”, be pleased with
me
9. After killing the demon
Shankhachuda, Lord Sri Krishna removed the pearl or gem from his head
and gave it to His elder brother, Balarama. Lord Sri Krishna's divine
deeds include – being glorified by the Gopis, who were depressed by
His separation, killing the huge bodied vR^ishabhAsura, being praised
by the gods like Indra, slaying the demon by name Keshi, being
extolled by Narada, killing the demon [Vyoma], the son of Mayasura
and releasing the 'gopabalakas'. May such Lord Sri Krishna release us
from the cycle of birth and death.
10. Lord Sri Krishna was taken by
Akrura [at the command of king Kamsa] to Madhura. He consoled the
gopikas of the “gokul”, showed His glorious mUlarUpa on Adishesha
to Akrura, who was bathing, and was extolled by him. He reached
madhura, killed the evil washerman, pleased His devotee Sudama,
transformed the 'kubja' [with three ugly curves in the body shape]
into a beautiful woman and was worshipped by the residents of
Madhura. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect me.
11. Lord Sri Krishna broke the bow of
Shiva. Along with His brother, He vanquished the army of Kamsa, which
was guarding it, killed the elephant Kuvalayapida, the wrestlers like
Chanura, dragged Kamsa from the elevated dais and killed him and
pleased His people. He got 'samskaras' like
'upanayana' and joined the 'gurukula' of
Sandipani. May the omniscient Lord Sri Krishna protect us.
12. Lord Sri Krishna returned the life
of the dead son of His teacher Sandipani. He went to Madhura again,
sent Uddhava to console Nanda and others in “gokula”, delighted
'kubja', pleased Akrura, learnt from him the situation about Pandavas, vanquished the armies of Jarasandha and
made him flee several times. May such Krishna protect us.
13. After that Sri Krishna exited
Madhura along with Balarama, obtained approval from Parashurama,
obtained His crown on Gomanta mountain from Garuda, killed the enemy
“sR^igAla vAsudeva” in karavIrapura, led his kith and kin to
Dwaraka, which was built in the ocean, got Yavana killed by the fire
emited from the eyes of Muchukunda. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect
us.
14. Lord Sri Krishna was extolled by
the king Muchukunda. Then He killed the army of Yavana, went to
Gomanta again, defeated Jarasandha, extinguished the fire on the
mountain peak, returned to Dwaraka, heard the news of Pandavas
through kR^itavarma, brought Rukmini while the kings were looking on
and defeated the kings. May such Lord Sri Krishna be pleased with us.
15. Lord Sri Krishna disfigured
“Rugmi”, married Jambavati and Satyabhama, and also obtained
Syamantakamani. Then He went to Hastinapura on hearing the news of
“laxagR^iha”. He consoled Satyabhama [who was sad because her
father was killed by Shatadhanva]. He left Dwaraka along with
Satyabhama to Panchala kingdom to see Pandavas, who married Draupadi
by “Matsya yantra chedana”. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect us.
16. After reaching Dwaraka, Lord Sri
Krishna killed Shatadhanva, the foe of Satrajita, showed the
Syamantaka gem with Akrura, the son of Shvaphalka, there by calming
the anger of Balarama, set out to Indraprastha to see Pandavas and
then along with Arjuna came to the banks of the river Yamuna,
obtained Kalindi, made Vishvakarma build the city of Indraprastha and
returned to Dwaraka. May such Lord Krishna protect me.
17. Lord Sri Krishna obtained
Mitravinda, and after that He obtained NilAdevi by fastening seven
sturdy and strong oxen, and then obtained Bhadradevi, married
Laxanadevi, the daughter of Madra king. When Indra implored Lord Sri
Krishna, He mounted on Garuda and along with Satyabhama, went to the
fort of Narakasura on the top of Himalayan peaks. Demolished the
bulwarks, beheaded the demon, Mura with His discus. May such Lord Sri
Krishna protect me.
18. Lord Sri Krishna killed thirty
five powerful sons of ministers of Narakasura, engaged in a fierce
battle with him and his army along with his elephants and horses,
beheaded him with the His discus, extolled by Goddess Earth, made
Bhagadatta, the son of Naraka as king, took well dressed and good
looking damsels to Dwaraka, pleased Aditi by handing over the
ear-rings. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect me.
19. After being extolled by Indra,
Lord Sri Krishna procured the divine Parijata tree that is very dear
to Indra, defeated the gods, returned to Dwaraka, obtained a handsome
son through Rukmini, beheaded the evil Paundraka, routed the
“Abhicharika kR^itya” (who was in the form of fire) using His
discus. May such Lord Sri Krishna be like “kAmadhenu” to me.
20. Lord Sri Krishna, along with His
wives, went to “Samanta Panchaka”, a sacred place built by
Parashurama, pleased His relatives and saints that came there, made
His father Vasudeva, returned to Dwaraka, preached tattvas to His
father, pleased mother Devaki by showing her [deceased] sons [by
bringing back alive]. May such Lord Sri Krishna remove all unpleasant
things and protect me.
21. Lord Sri Krishna delighted Rukmini
with mirth and gratified other wives, begot ten sons in each of His
wives, and obtained many grand sons. At the time of Aniruddha's
marriage, He made Balarama [who was overcome with rage] kill Rukmi,
pleased each wife in her house. May such Lord Sri Krishna be my
refuge.
22. Lord Sri Krishna was feasting and
taking repose (shayana)in the peerlessly rich resplendent gem-studded
abodes of His sixteen thousand wives. In some houses, He was doing
Japa, going to forests for hunting. In some houses, He was playing
dice, doing Pravachanas, partaking in political discusions. Thus He
was indulging in many activities and gave darshana to Narada in every
house and amazed him. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect us.
Note : All these activities of the Lord have to be
understood with the background knowledge that the Lord is “pUrNAnanda
(personification of infinitely complete bliss)”. He is “AptakAma”.
Also He is All-present and All-powerful and His
activities are such that they are meant to please His devotees and
delude the “Asuric” people. This “mAnasika anusandhAna” is
very essential.
23. Lord Sri Krishna, performed
prescribed acts like “snana, dhyana and sandhya” in the morning
and reached the king's assembly. He pleased the messenger sent by the
kings (by saying that He will fulfill the desire of thekings to end
the life of Jarasandha). Narada presented all the details to Lord Sri
Krishna [about Pandavas and their intent to perform Rajasuya Yaga].
Then, He set out with His army to the glorious Indraprastha. He was
worshipped by Pandavas and made Bhimasena kill Jarasandha and freed
all the imprisoned kings. May such Lord Sri Krishna be pleased with
me.
24. Lord Sri Krishna made Jarasandha's
son as the king of Magadha, beheaded Shishupala with His discus, made
Dharmaraja perform the Rajasuya yaga successfully and returned to
Dwaraka. There, He saw the city of Dwaraka damaged by the demon
Salva. Enraged by it, He killed Salva, who was in the middle of the
ocean and who was arrogant due to the boon received from Rudra and
returned to Dwaraka. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect me.
25. Lord Sri Krishna heard from a
vipra about Dharmaraja going to the forest along with his brothers
due to the deceitful dice game ofShakuni, visited the Pandavas,
consoled them in many ways and returned to Dwaraka. He granted divine
form to king Nruga, who was lying in the form of an iguana in a well
due to a curse from a brahmin. Then He visited the kingdom of Videha
and spent some days there to please His devotees a great Yadava by
name Shrutadeva and the king of Videha, by name BahulAshva. Then He
set out to Dwaraka and along with a huge army went to Upaplavya.
26. Lord Sri Krishna went as a messenger of peace to the assemblage
of Dhritarashtra. There He granted divine vision to Dhritarashtra and
showed His infinitely pervasive splendid forms. He instructed Gita
tattva to Arjuna in the battle field and granted divine vision to
him, showed His infinitely pervasive splendid forms and blessed him
by acting as Vijaya-sArathi. He took Arjuna to Kailasa and made
Pashupati Rudra grant him divine arrows. He made Bhima kill
Duryodhana. He made Dharmaraja as the king. I bow to such Lord Sri
Krishna.
27. Sri Krishna returned to Dwaraka,
the abode of Yadavas. He made His dear devotee-friend Kuchela very
affluent, granting both laukika and alaukika fruits. He perfrmed
Ashvanedha yAga.
He showed Arjuna His divine abode of Anantasana
and brought back the sons of the vipra. Having killed Dantavaktra and
his brother, He returned to His own Dwaraka, revelled and taught
tattvas to Uddhava. May such Lord Sri Krishna protect me.
28. By protecting all the worlds and
granting joy to the eyes of all the devotees, the Lord Sri Krishna is
devoid of flaws. He is personification of bliss and is showered the
divine flowers by the gods like Brahma, et al and also siddhas and
gandharvas, and all of them are singing His glories. Such Lord Sri
Krishna is extolled by all and is shining with all forms of wealth,
surrounded by wives like Rugmini and Satyabhama, sons like Pradyumna
and grand sons like Aniruddha.
29. Thus A brief work of Sri
KrishnachAritraManjari is composed by Sri Raghavendra yati for
earning the grace of Lord Sri Krishna.
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