Harivamsha MahA PurANam - bhaviShya Parva
    atha trisaptatitamo.adhyAyaH
    kR^iShNaM prati rukmiNyAH putraprArthanAkathanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva
    Lesson 73 - rukmiNi asks kR^iShNa for a son
janamejaya uvAcha
kimarthaM bhagavAnviShNurdevadevo janArdanaH |
gataH kailAsashikharamAlayaM sha~Nkarasya ha ||3-73-1
janamejaya said:
(O vaishampAyana!) For what purpose did viShNu, the lord of gods, the one who excites men, went to the peak of kailAsa, the abode of the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness (sha~Nkara)?
(Note 1)
nAradAdyaistapovR^iddhairmunibhistattvadarshibhiH |
tatra dR^iShTo mahAdevaH sha~Nkaro nIlalohitaH ||3-73-2
There he saw the great god, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness (sha~Nkara), who has the dark blue and red colour (nIlalohitaH), along with sages such as nArada, who have realized the ultimate principle and who are enriched with penances.
keshavena purA vipra kurvatA tapa uttamam |
archito devadevena sha~Nkarshcheti naH shrutam ||3-73-3
O Brahmin! It is heard by us that, long ago, keshava (kR^iShNa, viShNu) performed the best of penances and worshipped the lord of gods, sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness.
devau tatra jagannAthau dR^iShTavantau purAtanau |
archayA~nchakrire devA indrAdyAH sha~NkaraM harim ||3-73-4
The gods such as indra, saw both the ancient lords of the universe, sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness and hari (viShNu, kR^iShNa) there and worshipped them.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
tau tu devau mahAdevAvekIbhUtau dvidhA kR^itau |
ekAtmAnau jagadyonI sR^iShTisamhArakArakau ||3-73-5
Both the deva-s, the great deva-s are actually one but made in two, who are with one soul, the source of the universe, those who create and destroy the universe.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
parasparasamAveshAjjagataH pAlane sthitau |
tayostatra yathAvR^ittaM kailAse parvatottame ||3-73-6
Joining together, they exist for protecting the world. Tell me about their meeting at kailAsa, the best among mountains.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
R^iShayaH kimacheShTanta dR^iShTvA tau puruShottamau |
etatsarvamasheSheNa vaktumarhasi sattama ||3-73-7
Seeing both the best puruSha among men (viShNu and shiva) there, what did the sages do? O the most virtuous one! (O vaishampAyana! janamejaya continued) All these details deserve to be told without leaving anything.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
yathAgato harirviShNuH kR^iShNo jiShNuH purAtanaH|
yathA cha sha~NkaraH sAkShAtkR^itavAnnAgabhUShaNaH |
etatsarvaM vipravarya brUhi tattvena yatnataH ||3-73-8
How hari, viShNu, kR^iShNa, jiShNu, the ancient one went to kailAsa and how sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness, the one who is decorated by serpents, himself appeared there - O the best of brAhmins! Tell us all these, in principle, taking all efforts.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
vaishampAyana uvAcha
shR^iNuShvAvahito rAjanyathA kR^iShNo gato nagam |
yathA cha dR^iShTo deveshaH sha~Nkaro vR^iShavAhanaH ||3-73-9
yathA chachAra cha tapo yathA te munayo gatAH |
vaishampAyana said:
O king! (janamejaya!) Listen with attention how kR^iShNa (viShNu) went to the mountain (kailAsa) and how the lord of gods, sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness, the one who has a bull as his vehicle, appeared before him, how viShNu performed his penance and how the sages went there.
evaM tayoryathA vR^ittaM tathA shR^iNu narottama ||3-73-10
dvaipAyano.atha bhagavAnyathA provAcha mAM tathA |
O the best among men (janamejaya)! Hear about the meeting between them, in exactly the same way as the lord dvaipAyana (the one who is born on an island, vyAsa) has told me.
namaskR^itvA pravakShyAmi keshavaM khagavAhanam ||3-73-11
yathAshakti yathApraj~naM shR^iNu yatnena suvrata |
I speak on the event, bowing to keshava (kR^iShNa, viShNu) who has the bird (garuDa) as his vehicle, according to my capability, as I know. O the one who performs good penance! Hear this with effort (attention).
na chAshushrUShave vAchyaM nR^ishaMsAyAtapasvine ||3-73-12
nAnadhItAya vaktavyaM puNyaM puNyavatAM sadA |
This auspicious event should not be told by the best among the good men to those who do not serve others, those who injure men, those who do not perform penances and those who are not well read.
svargyaM yashasyaM dhanyaM cha buddhishuddhikaraM sadA ||3-73-13
This event is capable of taking the speaker and the listener to heaven, increasing their fame, making them blessed and purifying their intellect.
dhyeyaM puNyAtmanA nityamidaM vedArthanishchitaM |
anekAraNyasaMyuktaM sevante nityamIdR^isham ||3-73-14
This event, involving the meaning of vedas (the unity of viShNu and shiva) deserves to be always thought upon by those having sacred souls. Many AraNyakas (Upanishads) always praise this event in this manner.
(see nIlakaNtha commentary)
munayo vedaniratA nAradAdyAstapodhanAH |
atyadbhutaM mahApuNyaM vR^ittaM kailAsaparvate ||3-73-15
The sages such as nArada, who are enriched with penance, who always follow the vedas have thought upon this most wonderful and auspicious meeting of viShNu and shiva on the mountain of kailAsa.
shivayordevayostatra hareshchaiva bhavasya cha |
hateShvasurasa~NgheShu narakAdiShu bhUmipaH ||3-73-16
O the lord of earth (king janamejaya)! The meeting of shiva and the lord viShNu, the meeting of hari and bhava took place after the group of demons such as naraka were slain by (kR^iShNa).
hateShvatha nR^ipeShvevaM ki~nchichChiShTeShu shatruShu |
shAsati sma sadA viShNuH pR^ithivIM puruShottamaH ||3-73-17
After the kings were killed thus (by kR^iShNa) and only a few enemies remained, viShNu (kR^iShNa) the best among puruSha-s, ruled the earth.
dvAravatyAM jagannAtho vasanvR^iShNibhirIshvaraH |
rukmiNyA saMgato devo vasaMstatra pure hariH ||3-73-18
The lord, the lord of the world, resided in the city of doors along with vR^iShNi-s. In that city, lord hari (viShNu) resided along with rukmiNI.
kadAchichcha tayA sArdhaM shete rAtrau jagatpatiH |
viharaMshcha yathAyogaM prItaH prItiyujA tayA ||3-73-19
One day the Lord of the world (kR^iShNa, viShNu) lied down with her in the night. The Lord who was pleased, enjoyed with her suitably, who was equally pleased.
athovAcha tathA devI rukmiNI rukmabhUShaNA |
putramichChAmi devesha tvatto mAdhava nandanam ||3-73-20
Then devI rukmiNi who was decorated with golden ornaments said: O the Lord of gods! I want to have a son, O mAdhava, from you, a son dear to you.
balinaM rUpasaMpannaM tvayaiva sadR^ishaM prabho |
vR^iShNInAmapi netAraM vIryavantaM taponidhim ||3-73-21
He shall be powerful. He should be endowed with a beautiful body. O Lord! He should be similar to you. He shall be the leader of vR^iShNi-s as well. He shall be highly valiant and a treasure of penance.
sarvashAstrArthakushalaM rAjavidyApuraskR^itam |
evamAdiguNairyuktaM dAtumarhasi sattama ||3-73-22
He shall be an expert of the meanings of all kinds of knowledge. He should be the expert of the knowledge of rAjavidyA (brahmavidyA - see nIlakaNTha). O the best among good men! I deserve to be given a son who has all these qualities.
tvayi sarvasya dAtR^itvaM nityameva pratiShThitam | tvaM hi sarvasya kartA cha dAtA bhoktA jagatpatiH ||3-73-23
The ability to provide everything is always fixed in you. You are the creator of everything. You are the Lord of the universe, the giver as well as the consumer of the universe.
visheShatastu bhR^ityAnAM shushrUShAniyatAtmanAm |
vaktavyaM kimu devesha yadi bhaktAsmi keshava ||3-73-24
Especially, you are the provider of the servants who serve you with controlled souls. O the Lord of the gods! What shall I tell you? O keshava (kR^iShNa)! If I am your devotee,
anugraho yadi syAnme devadeva jagatpate |
dAtumarhasi putraM tvaM vIryavantaM janArdana ||3-73-25
If I have your blessings, O the Lord of gods! O the Lord of the universe! O the one who agitates men (viShNu, kR^iShNa)! I deserve to be given a son of yours, having the best valiance.
vaishampAyana uvAcha
ityukto devadeveshaH priyayA prIyamANayA |
tayA mahiShyA rukmiNyA rukmishatruryadUdvahaH ||3-73-26
provAcha vachanaM kAle rukmiNIM yAdaveshvaraH |
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) When rukmiNI, the most dear wife of the Lord of gods (viShNu) spoke thus, the enemy of rukmi (kR^iShNa), the one who causes the welfare of the sons of yadu (yAdava-s), the Lord of yAdava-s (kR^iShNa) spoke these words suitable to the occasion to rukmiNI:
dAtAsmi tAdR^ishaM putraM yaM tvamichChasi bhAmini ||3-73-27
O radiant woman! I will give you a son similar to the one you wish.
nityaM bhaktAsi me devi nAtra kAryaM vichAraNA |
avashyaM tava dAsyAmi putraM shatrunibarhaNam ||3-73-28
O devI! You are always my devotee. There is nothing more to be thought on this. I will definitely give you a son, the destroyer of enemies.
putreNa lokA~njayati satAM kAmadughA hi ye |
narakaM puditi khyAtaM duHkhaM cha narakaM viduH ||3-73-29
The world succeeds because of sons who perform good deeds. The hell is known as pud and the hell is sorrow.
pudastrANAttataH putramihechChati paratra cha |
anantAH putriNo lokAH puruShasya priye shubhAH ||3-73-30
The son (putra) saves one from the hell called pud. Hence a son is desirable in this world as well as the other world. O dear! The world is endless and auspicious for the one who has a son.
patirjAyAM pravishati garbho bhUtvA sa mAtaraM |
tasyAM punarnavo bhUtvA dashame mAsi jAyate ||3-73-31
The husband enters the wife as a conception of the mother. The husband is again born as a son in the tenth month.
putravantaM bibhetIndraH kiM nu te nAshitaM bhavet |
nAputro vindate lokAnkuputrAdvandhyatA varA ||3-73-32
indra is afraid of those who has sons. What remains to be conquered by a son? The other worlds do not exist for those who do not have sons. A childless woman is better off than one who has a bad son.
kuputro narake yasmAtsuputrAtsvarga eva hi |
tasmAdvinItaM satputraM shrutavantaM dayAparam ||3-73-33
A bad son leads one to hell. A good son takes you to heaven. A good son is humble, famous as well as kind.
vidyayA vinayo yasmAdvidyAyuktaM sudhArmikam |
ichChetputraM putrakAmaH puruSho yatnavAnbudhaH ||3-73-34
Humility is due to education. The wise one desiring a son will like to have a son who is educated and is fixed on dharma.
tasmAddAsyAmi te putraM vidyAvantaM sudhArmikam |
eSha gachChAmi putrArthaM kailAsaM parvatottamam ||3-73-35
Hence I will give you a wise son who is fixed on dharma. Now I am proceeding to kailAsa, the best among mountains for getting a son.
tatropAsya mahAdevaM sha~NkaraM nIlalohitam |
tato labdhAsmi putraM te bhavAdbhUtahite ratAt ||3-73-36
There, worshipping the great deva, sha~Nkara who has dark blue and red colour, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness, I will get you a son with the blessings of bhava, shiva, who is always concerned with the welfare of the beings.
tapasA brahmacharyeNa bhavaM sha~Nkaramavyayam |
toShayitvA virUpAkShamAdidevamajaM vibhum ||3-73-37
I shall make sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness, the lord who is imperishable, the one having a third eye, the principal god, shiva, happy with my penance and celibacy.
gamiShyAmyahamadyaiva draShTuM sha~Nkaramavyayam |
sa cha me dAsyate putraM toShitastapasA mayA ||3-73-38
I shall now proceed to (kailAsa to) see sha~Nkara, the lord who causes prosperity and auspiciousness, the imperishable lord. The lord who will be pleased with my penance will provide me a son.
tatra gatvA mahAdevaM namaskR^itya sahomayA |
pravishya badarIM puNyAM munijuShTAM tapomayIm ||3-73-39
Going there, I will bow to the great lord shiva, with uma, entering the sacred land of badari, served by the sages who are engaged in penance.
agnihotrAkulAM divyAM ga~NgAmbuplAvitAM sadA |
mR^igapakShisamAyuktAM siMhadvipashatAkulAm ||3-73-40
The land of badari has sacred sacrificial fires. It is always served by the divine river ga~Nga. badari has many animals and birds and hundreds of lions and elephants.
badarIphalasaMpUrNAM vAnarakShobhitadrumAm |
vetrArUDhamahAvR^ikShAM kadalIkhaNDamaNDitAm ||3-73-41
The land of badari has plenty of jujube trees (badari, ziziphus jujuba) with fruits. There are plenty of monkeys, bears and trees. There are giant trees on which cane reeds are entwined. The land is decorated by many forests of plantain trees (Musa sapientum).
munibhirvedatattvArthavichAranipuNaiH sadA |
vedanishchitatattvArthaiH pramANakushalairyutAm ||3-73-42
There are many sages at badari who are always engaged in the discussion about the meanings of the principles of veda, meanings of the conclusions of veda and who are experts of the vedic principles.
idamekamidaM tattvAmiti nishchitamAnasaiH |
upAsyamAnAmanyatra siddhaiH siddhArthatatparaiH ||3-73-43
In badari, there are sages who are having their mind fixed in certain principles. There are other experts who are always engaged in realizing the ultimate principles.
itihAsapurANaj~naiH sevyamAnaM maharShibhiH |
gachChadbhiH svarganilayaM parityajya kalevaram ||3-73-44
badari is served by great sages, who are experts of itihAsa-s and purANa-s. They proceed to heaven after abandoning their bodies.
prasiddhAM mahatIM devIM yAsyAmi sukR^itAlayAm |
ityuktvA virarAmaiva devadevo janArdanaH ||3-73-45
I shall proceed to the famous and great abode of the goddess, badari. (vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya) Saying this, the one who excites men (kR^iShNa), the lord of gods, concluded his words.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi kailAsayAtrAyAM trisaptatitamo.adhyAyaH
This is the seventy-third lesson of bhaviShyaparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, in kailAsayAtra, rukmiNi asks kR^iShNa for a son
Note 1: The narration of the blessed episode of kailAsayAtra begins. See the commentary of nIlakaNTha who connects with the dhanyopAkhyAna and bAnayuddha of viShNuparva and anushAsanaparva of mahAbhArata.
In anushAsanaparva, chapters 14 to 18 describe kR^iShNa's second journey to Kailasa. It all starts with jAMbavati's request to kR^iShNa for a son, seeing the sons pradyumna etc. of RukmiNi. jAMbavati tells kR^iShNa:
tvayA dvAdasha varShANi vAyubhUtena shuSyatA
ArAdhya pashubhartAraM rukmiNyA janitAH sutAH
Now, prompted by janamejaya who has recalled the mention in anushAsanaparva, vaishampAyana describes the first journey in detail in 18 adhyAyas. )
    nIlakaNTha commentary
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi TIkAyAM trisaptatitamo.adhyAyaH || 73 ||
Itranslated by G. Schaufelberger, schaufel@wanadoo.fr July 13, 2008
Proof-read by K S Rmachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca.
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
January 12, 2013 ##