Mausala Parva

[वै] षट तरिंशे तव अथ संप्राप्ते वर्षे कौरवनन्दन ददर्श विपरीतानि निमित्तानि युधिष्ठिरः

Vaishampayana said: When the thirty-sixth year arrived, O joy of the Kurus, Yudhishthira began to see adverse omens.

ववुर वाताः सनिर्घाता रूक्षाः शर्कर वर्षिणः अपसव्यानि शकुना मण्डलानि परचक्रिरे

Harsh winds blew with thunder, raining gravel, and birds flew in ill-omened circles from the wrong direction.

परत्यगूहुर महानद्यॊ दिशॊ नीहारसंवृताः उल्काश चाङ्गार वर्षिण्यः परपेतुर गगनाद भुवि

Great rivers seemed to flow backward, the directions were shrouded in fog, and meteors trailing embers fell from the sky to the earth.

आदित्यॊ रजसा राजन समवच्छन्न मण्डलः विरश्मिर उदये नित्यं कबन्धैः समदृश्यत

O king, the sun's disc was covered with dust and rayless, and every day at its rising it appeared surrounded by headless trunks.

परिवेषाश च दृश्यन्ते दारुणाश चन्द्रसूर्ययॊः तरिवर्णाः शयाम रूक्षान्तास तथा भस्मारुण परभाः

Dreadful three-colored haloes, dark and rough-edged with ash-red glow, were seen around the moon and sun.

एते चान्ये च बहव उत्पाता भयसंसिनः देश्यन्ते ऽहर अहॊ राजन हृदयॊद्वेग कारकाः

These and many other terrifying portents were seen day after day, O king, causing hearts to tremble with dread.

कस्य चित तव अथ कालस्य कुरुराजॊ युधिष्ठिरः शुश्राव वृष्णिचक्रस्य मौसले कदनं कृतम

After some time, King Yudhishthira of the Kurus heard that the Vrishni clan had been destroyed in a slaughter by clubs.

विमुक्तं वासुदेवं च शरुत्वा रामं च पाण्डवः समानीयाब्रवीद भरातॄन किं करिष्याम इत्य उत

Hearing that Vasudeva Krishna and Balarama had departed from their bodies, the Pandava Yudhishthira gathered his brothers and asked, "What shall we do now?"

परस्परं समासाद्य बरह्मदण्डबलत कृतान वृष्णीन विनष्टांस ते शरुत्वा वयथिताः पाण्डवाभवन

Hearing that the Vrishnis, empowered by a brahmin's curse, had struck one another down and perished, the Pandavas were struck with grief.

निधनं वासुदेवस्य समुद्रस्येव शॊषणम वीरा न शरद्दधुस तस्य विनाशं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः

The death of Vasudeva was like the drying up of the ocean; those heroes could not believe that Krishna, the wielder of the Sharnga bow, was truly gone.

मौसलं ते परिश्रुत्य दुःखशॊकसमन्विताः विषण्णा हतसंकल्पाः पाण्डवाः समुपाविशन

Hearing of the club-slaughter, filled with grief and sorrow, dejected and their resolve broken, the Pandavas sat down in despair.

[ज] कथं विनष्टा भगवन्न अन्धका वृष्णिभिः सह पश्यतॊ वासुदेवस्य भॊजाश चैव महारथाः

Janamejaya asked: Holy one, how were the Andhakas destroyed along with the Vrishnis, before the very eyes of Vasudeva and the great Bhoja warriors?

[वै] षट तरिंशे ऽथ ततॊ वर्षे वृष्णीनाम अनयॊ महान अन्यॊन्यं मुसलैस ते तु निजघ्नुः कालचॊदिताः

Vaishampayana said: In the thirty-sixth year, a great calamity befell the Vrishnis, and driven by fate, they slew one another with clubs.

[ज] केनानुशप्तास ते वीराः कषयं वृष्ण्यन्धका ययुः भॊजाश च दविजवर्यत्वं विस्तरेण वदस्व मे

Janamejaya asked: By whose curse did those heroic Vrishnis and Andhakas meet their doom, and the Bhojas too suffer such a fate? Tell me this in detail.

[वै] विश्वामित्रं च कण्वं च नारदं च तपॊधनम सारण परमुखा वीरा ददृशुर दवारकागतान

Vaishampayana said: Sarana and other chief heroes saw the sages Vishvamitra, Kanva, and Narada arrive at Dvaraka.

ते वै साम्बं पुरस्कृत्य भूषयित्वा सत्रियं यथा अब्रुवन्न उपसंगम्य दैवदण्डनिपीडिताः

Those young men, moved by fate's doom, dressed Samba as a woman and approached the sages to mock them.

इयं सत्री पुत्र कामस्य बभ्रॊर अमिततेजसः ऋषयः साधु जानीत किम इयं जनयिष्यति

They said, "This is the wife of Babhru's mighty son who desires a child; O sages, tell us truly what she will give birth to."

इत्य उक्तास ते तदा राजन विप्रलम्भ परधर्षिताः परत्यब्रुवंस तान मुनयॊ यत तच छृणु नराधिप

O king, thus provoked and mocked by that deception, the sages replied — hear what they said, O lord of men.

वृष्ण्यन्धकविनाशाय मुसलं घॊरम आयसम वासुदेवस्य दायादाः साम्बॊ ऽयं जनयिष्यति

"This Samba, descendant of Vasudeva, will give birth to a terrible iron club that will bring about the destruction of the Vrishnis and Andhakas."

येन यूयं सुदुर्वृत्ता नृशंसा जातमन्यवः उच्छेतारः कुलं कृत्स्नम ऋते राम जनार्दनौ

"With that club you, wicked and cruel in your sudden wrath, will destroy your entire clan, except for Rama and Janardana."

समुद्रं यास्यति शरीमांस तयक्त्वा देहं हलायुधः जरा कृष्णं महात्मानं शयानं भुवि भेत्स्यति

"The glorious Balarama, wielder of the plow, will abandon his body and enter the ocean; and Jara will pierce the great Krishna as he lies upon the ground."

इत्य अब्रुवन्त ते राजन परलब्धास तैर दुरात्मभिः मुनयः करॊधरक्ताक्षाः समीक्ष्याथ परस्परम

O king, saying this, the sages, deceived by those wicked youths, looked at one another with eyes red with anger.

तथॊक्ता मुनयस ते तु ततः केशवम अभ्ययुः

Having spoken thus, those sages then went to Keshava.

अथाब्रवीत तदा वृष्णीञ शरुत्वैवं मधुसूदनः अन्तज्ञॊ मतिमांस तस्य भवितव्यं तथेति तान

Hearing this, the wise and all-knowing Madhusudana said to the Vrishnis, "This is what must happen; so be it."

एवम उक्त्वा हृषीकेशः परविवेश पुनर गृहान कृतान्तम अन्यथा नैच्छत कर्तुं स जगतः परभुः

Having said this, Hrishikesha, the lord of the world, returned to his home, for he did not wish to alter the decree of fate.

शवॊभूते ऽथ ततः साम्बॊ मुसालं तद असूत वै वृष्ण्यन्धाक विनाशाय किंकरप्रतिमं महत

The next day, Samba indeed gave birth to that huge iron club, born of the curse, destined for the destruction of the Vrishnis and Andhakas.

परसूतं शापजं घॊरं तच च राज्ञे नयवेदयन विषण्णरूपस तद राजा सूक्ष्मं चूर्णम अकारयत

That dreadful, curse-born thing was reported to the king, and the dismayed king had it ground into fine powder.

पराक्षिपन सागरे तच च पुरुषा राजशासनात अघॊषयंश च नगरे वचनाद आहुकस्य च

By the king's order, men cast that powder into the sea, and by Ahuka's command they made a proclamation throughout the city.

अद्य परभृति सर्वेषु वृष्ण्यन्धकगृहेष्व इह सुरासवॊ न कर्तव्यः सर्वैर नगरवासिभिः

"From today, no one in the households of the Vrishnis and Andhakas shall brew or make intoxicating liquor."

यश च नॊ ऽविदितं कुर्यात पेयं कश चिन नरः कव चित जीवन स शूलम आरॊहेत सवयं कृत्वा सबान्धवः

"And whoever secretly drinks it without our knowledge shall be impaled alive, along with his kinsmen, by his own doing."

ततॊ राजभयात सर्वे नियमं चक्रिरे तदा नराः शासनम आज्ञाय तस्य राज्ञॊ महात्मनः

Then, out of fear of the king, all the people, learning the great king's command, observed this vow.

[वै] एवं परयतमानानां वृष्णीनाम अन्धकैः सह कालॊ गृहाणि सार्वेणां परिचक्राम नित्यशः

Vaishampayana said: Thus, while the Vrishnis and Andhakas strove to keep this vow, time daily circled about the homes of them all.

करालॊ विकटॊ मुण्डः पुरुषः कृष्णपिङ्गलः गृहाण्य अवेक्ष्य वृष्णीनां नादृश्यत पुनः कव चित

A fearsome, bald, dark-tawny man was seen inspecting the houses of the Vrishnis, and then vanished, never to be seen again.

उत्पेदिरे महावाता दारुणाश चा दिने दिने वृष्ण्यन्धकविनाशाय बहवॊ रॊमहर्षणाः

Every day, terrible, hair-raising great winds arose, portents foretelling the destruction of the Vrishnis and Andhakas.

विवृद्धमूषका रथ्या विभिन्नमणिकास तथा चीची कूचीति वाश्यन्त्यः सारिका वृष्णिवेश्मसु नॊपशाम्यति शब्दश च स दिवारात्रम एव हि

Rats multiplied in the streets and jars broke on their own; mynah birds in the Vrishnis' homes cried out ceaselessly day and night.

अनुकुर्वन्न उलूकानां सारसा विरुतं तथा अजाः शिवानां च रुतम अन्वकुर्वत भारत

O Bharata, cranes began to imitate the cries of owls, and goats imitated the howling of jackals.

पाण्डुरा रक्तपादाश च विहगाः कालचॊदिताः वृष्ण्यन्धकानां गेहेषु कपॊता वयचरंस तदा

Pale doves with red feet, driven by fate, wandered about in the houses of the Vrishnis and Andhakas.

वयजायन्त खरा गॊषु करभाश्वतरीषु च शुनीष्व अपि बिडालाश च मूषका नकुलीषु च

Cows gave birth to donkeys, and camels and mules to strange foals; bitches gave birth to cats, and rats to mongooses.

नापत्रपन्त पापानि कुर्वन्तॊ वृष्णयस तदा पराद्विषन बराह्मणांश चापि पितॄन देवांस तथैव च

The Vrishnis, doing sinful deeds, felt no shame; they came to hate brahmins, ancestors, and the gods alike.

गुरूंश चाप्य अवमन्यन्त न तु राम जनार्दनौ पत्न्यः पतीन वयुच्चरन्त पत्नीश च पतयस तथा

They disrespected their elders too — all except Rama and Janardana; wives strayed from husbands, and husbands from wives, alike.

विभावसुः परज्वलितॊ वामं विपरिवर्तते नीललॊहित माञ्जिष्ठा विसृजन्न अर्चिषः पृथक

The sacred fire, though blazing, turned toward the inauspicious left, casting forth flames streaked blue, red, and deep madder.

उदयास्त मने नित्यं पुर्यां तस्यां दिवाकरः वयदृश्यतासकृत पुम्भिः कबन्धैः परिवारितः

Every day in that city, at both sunrise and sunset, the sun repeatedly appeared surrounded by headless trunks.

महानसेषु सिद्धे ऽनने संस्कृते ऽतीव भारत आहार्यमाणे कृमयॊ वयदृश्यन्त नराधिप

O Bharata, O lord of men, even in well-cooked, purified food served in the kitchens, worms were seen appearing.

पुण्याहे वाच्यमाने च जपत्सु च महात्मसु अभिधावन्तः शरूयन्ते न चादृश्यत कश चन

While blessings were being pronounced and the great souls chanted their prayers, running footsteps were heard approaching, yet no one could be seen at all.

परस्परं च नाक्षत्रं हन्यमानं पुनः पुनः गरहैर अपश्यन सार्वे ते नात्मानस तु कथं चन

Everyone saw the constellations being struck again and again by the planets in conflict, yet no one could perceive their own reflection or shadow.

नदन्तं पाञ्चजन्यं च वृष्ण्यन्धकनिवेशने समन्तत परत्यवाश्यन्त रासभा दारुणस्वराः

All around, in the dwellings of the Vrishnis and Andhakas, donkeys brayed harshly, drowning out even the sound of the conch Panchajanya.

एवं पश्यन हृषीकेशः संप्राप्तं कालपर्ययम तरयॊदश्याम अमावास्यां तान दृष्ट्वा पराब्रवीद इदम

Seeing all this, Hrishikesha, realizing that the turn of fate had arrived, on seeing that the fourteenth had merged into the new-moon thirteenth, said this:

चतुर्दशी पञ्चदशी कृतेयं राहुणा पुनः तदा च भरते युद्धे पराप्ता चाद्य कषयाय नः

"This fourteenth and fifteenth tithi has again been swallowed by Rahu, just as it was at the time of the Bharata war — and it has come again today for our destruction."

विमृशन्न एव कालं तं परिचिन्त्य जनार्दनः मेने पराप्तं स षट्त्रिंशं वर्वं वै केशि सूदनः

Reflecting on this time, Janardana, the slayer of Keshi, understood that the thirty-sixth year had indeed arrived.

पुत्रशॊकाभिसंतप्ता गान्धारी हतबान्धवा यद अनुव्याजहारार्ता तद इदं समुपागतम

"What the grief-stricken Gandhari, tormented by the loss of her kinsmen, once uttered in her anguish — that has now come to pass."

इदं च तद अनुप्राप्तम अब्रवीद यद युधिष्ठिरः पुरा वयूठेष्व अनीकेषु दृष्ट्वॊत्पातान सुदारुणान

"And what Yudhishthira once said, seeing terrible omens when the armies stood arrayed before the war, has now come to pass as well."

इत्य उक्त्वा वासुदेवस तु चिकीर्षन सत्यम एव तत आज्ञापयाम आस तदा तीर्थयात्रम अरिंदम

Having said this, O subduer of foes, Vasudeva, resolved to fulfil what was destined, ordered a pilgrimage to the sacred fords.

अघॊषयन्त पुरुषास तत्र केशव शासनात तीर्थयात्रा समुद्रे वः कार्येति पुरुषर्षभाः

By Keshava's order, men proclaimed there, "O best of men, you must go on a pilgrimage to the sacred fords by the sea."

[वै] काली सत्री पाण्डुरैर दन्तैः परविश्य हसती निशि सत्रियः सवप्नेषु मुष्णन्ती दवारकां परिधावति

Vaishampayana said: A dark woman with pale teeth was seen entering at night, laughing, plundering women in their dreams, and running about Dvaraka.

अलंकाराश च छत्त्रं च धवजाश च कवचानि च हरियमाणान्य अदृश्यन्त रक्षॊभिः सुभयानकैः

Ornaments, umbrellas, banners, and armor were seen being carried away by terrifying demonic beings.

तच चाग्ग्नि दत्तं कृष्णस्य वज्रनाभम अयॊ मयम दिवम आचक्रमे चक्रं वृष्णीनां पश्यतां तदा

And that iron discus with an adamantine hub, given by Agni to Krishna, rose up into the sky before the very eyes of the Vrishnis.

युक्तं रथं दिव्यम आदित्यवर्णं; हयाहरन पश्यतॊ दारुकस्य ते सागरस्यॊपरिष्ठाद अवर्तन; मनॊजवाश चतुरॊ वाजिमुख्याः

The divine chariot yoked with sun-colored, mind-swift horses vanished before charioteer Daruka's very eyes and was seen circling above the ocean.

तालः सुपर्णश च महाध्वजौ तौ; सुपूजितौ राम जनार्दनाभ्याम उच्चैर जह्रुर अप्सरसॊ दिवानिशं; वाचश चॊचुर गम्यतां तीर्थयात्रा

The two great banners of Rama and Janardana, the Palm-tree and the Eagle, were carried off day and night by the Apsaras, while voices cried out that the pilgrimage must now begin.

ततॊ जिगमिषन्तस ते वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथाः सान्तःपुरास तदा तीर्थयात्राम ऐच्छन नरर्षभाः

Then the great Vrishni and Andhaka warriors, wishing to go, together with their households, set out for the pilgrimage to the sacred fords.

ततॊ भॊज्यं च भक्ष्यां च पेयं चान्धकवृष्णयः बहु नानाविधं चक्रुर मद्यं मांसम अनेकशः

The Vrishnis and Andhakas prepared abundant food, delicacies, and drinks of many kinds, along with plenty of wine and meat.

ततः सीधुषु सक्ताश च निर्यायुर नगराद बहिः यानैर अश्वैर गजैश चैव शरीमन्तस तिग्मतेजसः

Then, given over to strong liquor, those glorious, fiery ones set out from the city in chariots, on horses, and on elephants.

ततः परभासे नयवसन यथॊद्देशं यथा गृहम परभूतभक्ष्यपेयस ते सदारा यादवास तदा

Then those Yadavas, along with their wives and abundant food and drink, encamped at Prabhasa each in his own place, as if at home.

निविष्टांस तान निशम्याथ सांदुरान्ते स यॊगवित जगामामन्त्र्य तान वीरान उद्धवॊ ऽरथविशारदः

Hearing that they had settled near the shore, the yogi Uddhava, skilled in the spiritual path, went and took leave of those heroes.

तं परस्थितं महात्मानम अभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिम जानन विनाशं वृष्णीनां नैच्छद वारयितुं हरिः

Knowing the destined destruction of the Vrishnis, Hari did not wish to stop Uddhava, who had bowed to him with folded hands before setting out.

ततः कालपरीतास ते वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथाः अपश्यन्न उद्धवं यान्तं तेजसावृत्य रॊदसी

Then those great Vrishni and Andhaka warriors, overtaken by fate, watched Uddhava depart, his radiance filling both heaven and earth.

बराह्मणार्थेषु यत सिद्धम अन्नं तेषां महात्मनाम तद वानरेभ्यः परददुः सुरा गन्धसमन्वितम

The food that had been prepared as an offering for the great brahmins, they instead gave, mixed with liquor, to the monkeys.

ततस तूर्यशताकीर्णं नटनर्तक संकुलम परावर्तत महापानं परभासे तिग्मतेजसाम

Then, amid hundreds of musical instruments and crowds of dancers and actors, a great drinking bout began among those fiery ones at Prabhasa.

कृष्णस्य संनिधौ रामः सहितः कृतवर्मणा अपिबद युयुधानश च गदॊ बभ्रुस तथैव च

In Krishna's presence, Balarama, along with Kritavarma, drank, as did Yuyudhana, Gada, and Babhru likewise.

ततः परिषदॊ मध्ये युयुधानॊ मदॊत्कटः अब्रवीत कृतवर्माणम अवहस्यावमन्य च

Then, in the midst of the assembly, Yuyudhana, intoxicated and arrogant, mocked and disrespected Kritavarma.

कः कषत्रियॊ मन्यमानः सुप्तान हन्यान मृतान इव न तन मृष्यन्ति हार्दिक्य यादवा यत तवया कृतम

"What kshatriya, thinking himself one, would kill men who were asleep as if they were already dead? The Yadavas will not forgive what you did, O son of Hridika."

इत्य उक्ते युयुधानेन पूजयाम आस तद वचः परद्युम्नॊ रथिनां शरेष्ठॊ हार्दिक्यम अवमन्य च

When Yuyudhana had spoken thus, Pradyumna, the foremost of charioteers, praised his words, likewise showing contempt for the son of Hridika.

ततः परमसंक्रुद्धः कृतवर्मा तम अब्रवीत निर्दिशन्न इव सावज्ञं तदा सव्येन पाणिना

Then Kritavarma, greatly enraged, spoke to him, gesturing scornfully with his left hand.

भूरिश्रवाश छिन्नबाहुर युद्धे परायगतस तवया वधेन सुनृशंसेन कथं वीरेण पातितः

"Bhurishravas, his arm cut off, had ceased fighting in battle and sat down — how then, O hero, was he felled by you through so cruel an act?"

इति तस्या वचः शरुत्वा केशवः परवीरहा तिर्यक सरॊषया दृष्ट्या वीक्षां चक्रे स मन्युमान

Hearing these words, Keshava, the slayer of great heroes, filled with anger, cast a sidelong, wrathful glance.

मणिः सयमन्तकश चैव यः स सत्राजितॊ ऽभवत तां कथां समारयाम आस सात्यकिर मधुसूदनम

Then Satyaki recounted to Madhusudana the old story of the Syamantaka jewel that had belonged to Satrajit.

तच छरुत्वा केशवस्याङ्गम अगमद रुदती तदा सत्यभामा परकुपिता कॊपयन्ती जनार्दनम

Hearing that, Satyabhama, weeping and greatly enraged, clung to Krishna's body, further provoking Janardana.

तत उत्थाय सक्रॊधः सात्यकिर वाक्यम अब्रवीत पञ्चानां दरौपदेयानां धृष्टद्युम्न शिखण्डिनॊः

Then Satyaki rose up in fury and spoke, recalling the five sons of Draupadi and also Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandin.

एष गच्छामि पदवीं सत्येन च तथा शपे सौप्तिके ये च निहताः सुप्तानेन दुरात्मना

"I go now upon the very path of those who were killed in their sleep by that wicked man in the night raid — this I swear by truth."

दरॊणपुत्र सहायेन पापेन कृतवर्मणा समाप्तम आयुर अस्याद्य यशश चापि सुमध्यमे

"Aided by the sinful Kritavarma along with Drona's son, his life and fame end here today, O fair-waisted one."

इतीदम उक्त्वा खड्गेन केशवस्य समीपतः अभिद्रुत्य शिरः करुद्धश चिच्छेद कृतवर्मणः

Having said this, in fury, Satyaki rushed forward near Krishna with his sword and cut off Kritavarma's head.

तथान्यान अपि निघ्नन्तं युयुधानं समन्ततः अभ्यधावद धृषीकेशॊ विनिवारयिषुस तदा

Thus, as Yuyudhana struck down others all around, Hrishikesha (Krishna) rushed toward him, intending to restrain him.

एकीभूतास ततः सर्वे कालपर्याय चॊदिताः भॊजान्धका महाराज शैनेयं पर्यवारयन

Then, driven by the turning of fate, all the Bhojas and Andhakas united together, O great king, and surrounded Shaineya (Satyaki).

तान दृष्ट्वा पततस तूर्णम अभिक्रुद्धाञ जनार्दनः न चुक्रॊध महातेजा जानन कालस्य पर्ययम

Seeing them rushing at him in fury, the greatly radiant Janardana did not grow angry, for he knew the turning of time.

ते तु पानमदाविष्टाश चॊदिताश चैव मन्युना युयुधानम अथाभ्यघ्नन्न उच्चिष्टैर भाजनैस तदा

Those men, intoxicated with drink and driven by fury, then struck at Yuyudhana with the leftover vessels of the feast.

हन्यमाने तु शैनेये करुद्धॊ रुक्मिणिनन्दनः तदन्तरम उपाधावन मॊक्षयिष्यञ शिनेः सुतम

When Shaineya was being struck, Rukmini's enraged son (Pradyumna) rushed into the midst to rescue Shini's grandson.

स भॊजैः सह संयुक्तः सात्यकिश चान्धकैः सह बहुत्वान निहतौ तत्र उभौ कृष्णस्य पश्यतः

He (Satyaki), overpowered by the Bhojas and Andhakas together, and Pradyumna too, were both slain there by sheer numbers, before Krishna's very eyes.

हतं दृष्ट्वा तु शैनेयं पुत्रं च यदुनन्दनः एरकाणां तदा मुष्टिं कॊपाज जग्राह केशवः

Seeing Shaineya and his own son slain, Keshava, delight of the Yadus, in fury seized a fistful of the reed grass growing there.

तद अभून मुसलं घॊरं वज्रकल्पम अयॊ मयम जघान तेन कृष्णस तान ये ऽसय परमुखतॊ ऽभवन

That grass turned into a terrible mace, hard as a thunderbolt and made of iron; with it Krishna struck down all who stood before him.

ततॊ ऽनधकाश च भॊजाश च शैनेया वृष्णयस तथा जघ्नुर अन्यॊन्यम आक्रन्दे मुसलैः कालचॊदिताः

Then the Andhakas, Bhojas, and the Vrishnis and Shaineyas alike, driven by fate, struck one another down with such maces amid the uproar.

यस तेषाम एरकां कश चिज जग्राह रुषितॊ नृप वज्रभूतेव सा राजन्न अदृश्यत तदा विभॊ

Whoever among them, in rage, seized a blade of that grass, O king, it appeared to him then like a very thunderbolt, O lord.

तृणं च मुसली भूतम अपि तत्र वयदृश्यत बरह्मा दण्डकृतं सर्वम इति तद विद्धि पार्थिव

Even a mere blade of grass turned into a mace before their eyes; know, O king, that all this was the working of Brahma's curse.

आविध्याविध्य ते राजन परक्षिपन्ति सम यत तृणम तद वज्रभूतं मुसलं वयदृश्यन्त तदा दृढम

Whenever they swung and hurled that grass about, O king, it appeared then as a hard, thunderbolt-like mace.

अवधीत पितरं पुत्रः पिता पुत्रं च भारत मत्ताः परिपतन्ति सम पॊथयन्तः परस्परम

Son slew father and father slew son, O Bharata; intoxicated, they fell upon one another, crushing each other.

पतंगा इव चाग्नौ ते नयपतन कुकुरान्धकाः नासीत पलायने बुद्धिर वध्यमानस्य कस्य चित

Like moths falling into fire, the Kukuras and Andhakas fell there; none among those being slain had any thought of fleeing.

तं तु पश्यन महाबाहुर जानन कालस्य पर्ययम मुसलं सामवष्टभ्य तस्थौ स मधुसूदनः

Seeing this, the mighty-armed Madhusudana, knowing the turning of time, held his mace and stood still.

साम्बं च निहतं दृष्ट्वा चारुदेष्णं च माधवः परद्युम्नं चानिरुद्धं च ततश चुक्रॊध भारत

Seeing Samba slain, along with Charudeshna, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, Madhava then grew furious, O Bharata.

गदं वीक्ष्य शयानं च भृशं कॊपसमन्वितः स निःशेषं तदा चक्रे शार्ङ्गचक्रगदाधरः

Seeing Gada lying fallen, filled with fierce anger, he who bears the bow Sharnga, the discus, and the mace destroyed everyone utterly.

तं निघ्नन्तं महातेजा बभ्रुः परपुरंजयः दारुकश चैव दाशार्हम ऊचतुर यन निबॊध तत

As he, greatly energetic, was striking them down, Babhru, conqueror of enemy cities, and Daruka spoke these words to the descendant of Dashārha (Krishna); hear what they said.

भगवन संहृतं सर्वं तवया भूयिष्ठम अच्युत रामस्य पदम अन्विच्छ तत्र गच्छाम यत्र सः

"Lord Achyuta, you have now yourself destroyed almost everyone; seek out Balarama's whereabouts—let us go where he is."

[वै] ततॊ ययुर दारुकः केशवश च; बभ्रुश च रामस्य पदं पतन्तः अथापश्यन रामम अनन्तवीर्यं; वृक्षे सथितं चिन्तयानं विविक्ते

[Vaishampayana said] Then Daruka, Keshava, and Babhru hastened toward Balarama's place and saw him, of boundless might, seated alone in solitude beneath a tree, lost in thought.