Harivamsha MahA PurANam - bhaviShya Parva
atha saptaviMshAdhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH
shrIkR^iShNahaMsayoryuddham

harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva
Lesson 127 kR^iShNa - hamsa battle

ubhau tau haMsaDimbhakau rAtrAveva mahAgirim |
jagmatuH sahitau rAjan govardhanamatho nR^ipa ||3-127-1

O king! (janamejaya!) Both haMsa and Dimbhaka, together arrived at the great mountain of govardhana, O king (janamejaya!), in the night.

atha prabhAte vimale sUrye chAbhyudite sati |
govardhanaM jagAmAshu keshavaH keshisUdanaH ||3-127-2

In the morning, as the sun rose, keshava (kR^iShNa), the slayer of keshi, reached the mountain of govardhana.

shaineyo balabadrashcha yAdavAH sAraNAdayaH |
gandharvairapsarobhishcha nAditaM bahudhA girim ||3-127-3
jagmatuH sahitau rAjan govardhanamatho girim |
godhanairatha sainyaishcha nAditaM bahudhA girim ||3-127-4

The son of shini, (sAtyaki), balabhadra(rAma) and the yAdava-s such as sAraNa, O king (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued), together reached the mountain of govardhana, where the sounds of many gandharva-s and divine women are heard. The mountain was reverberating with the loud sounds produced by the wealth of cattle as well as the armies.

tasyottaraM nR^ipashreShTha pArshvaM saMprApya yAdavAH |
nikaShA yamunAM rAjaMstato yuddhamavartata ||3-127-5

O the best among kings! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): The best among the yAdava-s went to the north side of govardhana mountain. O king! (janamejaya!vaishampAyana continued) Then they fought the battle near the river yamuna.

vivyAdha haMsaDimbhakau vasudevashcha saptabhiH |
sAraNaH pa~nchaviMshatyA dashabhiH ka~Nka eva cha ||3-127-6

vasudeva shot seven arrows at haMsa and Dimbhaka. sAraNa shot twenty-five arrows and ka~Nka shot ten arrows.

haMsena DimbhakenAtha yAdavaishcha samantataH |
ugrasenastrisaptatyA sharANAM nataparvaNAm ||3-127-7

hamsa and Dimbhaka were surrounded by the yAdava-s all around. ugrasena shot seventy three arrows with ground tips.

virATastriMshatA rAjansAtyakishchApi saptabhiH |
ashItyA vipR^ithU rAjannuddhavo dashabhiH sharaiH ||3-127-8

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): virATa shot thirty arrows. sAtyaki shot seven arrows. O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): vipR^ithu shot eighty arrows and uddhava shot ten arrows.

pradyumnastriMshatA rAjansAmbashchApi cha saptabhiH |
anAdhR^iShTistvekaShaShTyA sharANAM nataparvANAm ||3-127-9

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): pradyumna shot thirty arrows and sAmba shot seven arrows. anAdhR^iShTi shot sixty one arrows with round tips.

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) All of them fought the battle without any sorrow (happily).

atyadbhUtaM mahAghoram yAdavAH sarva eva hi ||3-127-10
chakrustAbhyAM mahAyuddhaM vAsudevasya pashyataH |

As vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) was watching, all the yAdava-s fought a highly wonderful and most terrible great battle with them (haMsa and Dimbhaka).

sarvAnapi mahArAja yAdavAnbaladarpitAn ||3-127-11
tAvubhau haMsaDimbhakau nR^ipAMstAnpratyavidhyatAm |

O great king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): Both the kings, haMsa and Dimbhaka, proud due to their power, shot arrows against all the yAdava-s.

pratyekaM dashabhirviddhvA bANairnishitakomalaiH ||3-127-12
jaghnatushcha sharaistIkShNairatyarthaM yAdaveshvarAn |

They shot ten sharp, beautiful and terrible arrows at each of the lords of yAdava-s. They attacked the yAdava-s by shooting sharp arrows.

vyathitAH sarva evaite vamantaH shoNitaM bahu ||3-127-13
mAdhave kiMshukA rAjanpuShpitA iva te babuH |

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): All of them were tormented by the arrows. They vomited lots of blood. They dazzled like the tree, Butea Frondosa (kiMshuka) full of red flowers in the month of mAdhava (spring season).

O king! ( janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): All the yadava-s became afraid and they attempted to run away (from the battle field).

etAsminnatare rAjanvasudevAtmajo nR^ipa |
vAsudevo balI yuddhe pramukhe dhanvinau tayoH ||3-127-15

During this time, O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) The sons of vasudeva, vAsudeva (kR^iShNa) and the powerful balarAma arrived in the battlefield with powerful bows.

They fought a tumultuous battle like skanda (kArtikeya) and shakra (indra) fought (against the demons) in the sky.

tayoreva sagandharvAH siddhA yakShA maharShayaH ||3-127-16
vimAnasthAshcha dadR^ishuryuddhaM devAsuropamam |

Their battle (with haMsa and Dimbhaka), comparable with the battle with deva-s and asura-s, was seen by gandharva-s, siddha-s, yakSha-s and great sages, staying in aerial carriages.

tataH prAdurabhUtAM tau dUtau bhUteshvarau nR^ipa ||3-127-17
shUlinA preShitau yuddhe rakShArthaM balinostayoH |

Then O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Those messengers, the two lord bhUta-s, sent by shUli (shiva) for protecting the two powerful kings (haMsa and Dimbhaka) were seen in the battle field.

haMso.atha vAsudevashcha yuddhaM chakraturIshvarau ||3-127-18
rAmashcha Dimbhakashchaiva samyuktau yuddhakA~NkShayA |

The lord vAsudeva and haMsa fought each other and balarAma and Dimbhaka attacked each other with the desire to fight.

vishUnyAH sarva evaite hyastre shastre tathA bale ||3-127-19
sha~NkhAndadhmuH pR^ithagghnAdaM sve sve sarve rathe sthitAH |

Both of these, having unlimited arrows, weapons and power, mounting their own chariots, blew conches again and again producing loud sounds.

atha kR^iShNo hR^iShIkeshaH pA~nchajanyaM mahAravam ||3-127-20
dadhmau padmapalAshAkShaH sarvAnvismApayanniva

Then kR^iShNa, the lord of senses, whose eyes are as beautiful as the lotus of creation, blew his conch, pA~nchajanya producing a loud sound, as if to surprise all.

atha bhUtau mahAghorau lambodarasharIriNau ||3-127-21
dudruvaturmAharAja shUlamAdAya keshavam |

Then the highly terrible bhUta-s, with bodies having huge bellies, O great king, (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued), ran towards keshava (kR^iShNa) taking spears.

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) They struck the lord of yAdava-s (kR^iShNa) with the spears.

tAbhyAM samAhato viShNurdevagandharvasaMnidhau |
IShatsmitAdharo devaH ki~nchidutplutya satvaram ||3-127-23

In the presence of the deva-s and gandharva-s, viShNu who was struck by them, somewhat quickly leapt with a smile.

rathAdrathivarashreShThastau pragR^ihya janArdanaH |
bhrAmayitvA shataguNamalAtamiva keshavaH ||3-127-24

The best among the chariot fighters, janArdhana (kR^iShNa) leapt out from the chariot and caught them. Then keshava (kR^iShNa) whirled them around hundred times like firebrand.

Then hari (kR^iShNa, viShNu) threw them forcefully towards the mountain of kailasa.

tAvupetya gireH shR^i~Ngam kailAsasya mahAmate ||3-127-25
dR^iShTvA tatkarma devasya vismayaM jagmatuH param |

O the one with high intellect! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Both of them landed at the peak of kailAsa mountain. (Everyone was) highly wonderstruck by that deed of the deva (kR^iShNa).

haMsashcha dR^iShTvA tatkarma roShatAmrAyatekShaNaH ||3-127-26
uvAcha vachanaM haMsaH shR^iNvatAM tridivaukasAm|

Seeing that deed (of kR^iShNa), haMsa's eyes became red with anger. As all the devas were hearing, haMsa spoke the following words:

kimarthaM rAjasUyasya vighnaM charasi keshava ||3-127-27
brahmadatto mahIpAlo yaShTA tasya mahAkratoH |

O keshava! (kR^iShNa!) Why are you creating obstacles for the rAjasUya (royal sacrifice)? brahmadatta, the protector of the earth is performing that great sacrifice.

atha vA tvaM kShaNaM tiShTha tato j~nAtvA paraM bahu |
dadAsi tvaM nandaputra tato yaShTA sa me guruH ||3-127-29

Or else, O the son of nanda (kR^iShNa), you may stand in front of me for a moment. Then, understanding my greatness, you shall offer lots of tribute and then my father shall begin the sacrifice.

Ishvaro.ahaM sadA rAj~nAM devAnAmiva shUlabhR^it |
eSha te vIryamatulaM nAshayiShyAmi saMyuge ||3-27-30

As shiva who holds the spear is the lord of all deva-s, I am the lord for kings always. I shall now destroy your incomparable strength in this battle.

ityuktvA sasharaM chApaM shAlatAlopamaM nR^ipa |
AkR^iShya cha yathAprANaM nArAchena cha keshavam ||3-127-31
lalATe chikShipe haMso lalAma iva so.abhavat |

O king! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued): Saying thus haMsa shot a sharp arrow at the forehead of keshava (kR^iShNa) by pulling the string of the huge bow, comparable to the sal tree (Vatica Robusta), using as much strength as possible. That appeared like a beautiful ornament for kR^iShNa.

uvAcha sAtyakiM kR^iShNo rathaM vAhaya me prabho ||3-127-32
dArukaM pR^iShThavAhaM taM kR^itvA deshaM tamIshvaraH |

kR^iShNa told sAtyaki: O lord! Please drive the chariot. Then the lord kR^iShNa directed dAruka to be charioteer at the back of the chariot.

atha tena samAdiShTaH sAtyakirvAhayanratham ||3-127-33
maNDalAni bahUnyAjau darshayAmAsa satvaram |

Then sAtyaki, as directed (by kR^iShNa) to be the charioteer, quickly drove the chariot for many rounds in the battle field (showing his skill).

atha viddho dR^iDhaM tena shareNa harirIshvarH ||3-127-34
AgneyamastraM saMyojya sharaM kasmiMshchidavyayaH |

The imperishable lord hari, who was struck by the arrow shot forcefully by haMsa, combined the arrow of the fire god to an arrow.

Then O the indra of kings! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Encouraging sAtyaki in the battle field, lord hari (kR^iShNa) spoke to haMsa:

anena tvAM dahe pApa yadi shakto.asi vAraya |
alaM te bahvabaddhena kShatriyo.asi sadA shaTha ||3-127-36

O sinful one! (haMsa!) With this arrow, I shall burn you. Block this if you are capable to do so. Enough with your many mistakes !O wicked one! Are you not a kShatriya?

mattashchetkaramichChestvaM darshayAdya parAkramam |
yatayo bAdhitA haMsa puShkare saMsthitAstvayA ||3-127-37

If you want to get tribute from me, show your valiance! O haMsa! You have troubled those residing at puShkara, who have restrained their passions and abandoned the material world.

shAstA tvaM khalu viprANAM sthite mayi narAdhama |
sthite mayi jagannAthe hatvA kShatriyakaNTakAn ||3-127-38

O the vilest of men! Are you controlling the brahmins, when I, the lord of the universe, the slayer of the thorns (enemies) of kShariya-s is alive?

shAstAsmyatho satAM loke duShTAnAM brahmavidviShAm |
shApena yatimukhyAnAM hata eva narAdhama ||3-127-39

In the world I control the wicked people who hate brahmins. O the vilest of men! You are already killed by the curses of the prominent sages who have restrained their passions and abandoned the material world.

mR^ityave tvAm nivedyAdya rakShitA brAhmaNAnaham |
iti bruvaMstadastraM tu mumocha yudhi keshavaH ||3-127-40

By offering you to death today, I shall protect the brahmins. (vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) Speaking thus, keshavaH (kR^iShNa) released the great arrow of the fire god in the battle field.

tadastraM vAruNenAtha haMso.api pratyaShedhayat |
vAyavyamatha govindo mumocha yudhi haMsake ||3-127-41

haMsa blocked that great arrow by the arrow of varuNa (the lord of water, ocean). Then govinda (kR^iShNa) released the arrow of the god of wind on haMsa in the battle field.

tadastraM vArayAmAsa mAhendreNa nR^ipottamaH |
atha mAheshvaraM kR^iShNo mumochAtyugramAhave ||3-127-42

That great arrow was blocked with the arrow of the great indra by the best among kings (haMsa). Then, in the battle field, kR^iShNa released the highly terrible arrow of the great god (shiva).

raudreNa tattato haMso vArayAmAsa tatkShaNAt |
gAndharvaM rAkShasaM daivaM paishAchamatha keshavaH |3-127-43

Immediately haMsa blocked that arrow with the arrow of rudra (shiva). Then keshava (kR^iShNa) shot the arrows, gAndharvaM, rAkShasaM, daivaM and paishAchaM.

brahmAstramatha kauberamAsuraM yAmyameva cha |
chatvAryetAni haMsastu mumocha yudhi satvaram ||3-127-44
vAraNArthaM tadastrANAM chaturNAM mAdhavasya ha |

Then haMsa quickly released the four arrows of brahma, kubera, AsuraM and yAmyaM in the battle field, to block the four arrows shot by mAdhava (kR^iShNa).

atha brahmashiro nAma ghoramastraM vinAshakam ||3-127-45
mumocha haMsamuddishya devadevo janArdanaH |
yojayAmAsa taddhaMse mahAghoraparAkramam ||3-127-46

Then the lord of gods, janArdanaH (kR^iShNa) released a terrible arrow named brahmashira, capable of destroying the enemies towards haMsa. The lord shot that highly terrible and valiant arrow towards haMsa.

atha bhIto mahAraudramastraM dR^iShTva nR^ipottamaH |
haMso.api tena rAjendra vArayAmAsa taM sharam ||3-127-47

O the indra of kings! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) Seeing that highly terrible arrow, the best among kings, haMsa became terrified with fear. He blocked that arrow with the same arrow.

yamunApa upaspR^ishya devadevo janArdanaH |
astraM vaiShNavamAdAya share sa nishite hariH ||3-127-48
yojayAmAsa bhUtAtmA bhUtabhAvanabhAvanaH |

The Lord of gods, janArdana, hari (kR^iShNa) touched the water of river yamunA ritually and took up the arrow vaiShNavaM. The soul of all beings, the lord concerned with the welfare of all beings joined the arrow vaiShNavam on a sharp arrow.

yena devA raNe hatvA rAjyamApuH purAsurAn |
tadastraM yojayAmAsa vadhArthaM tasya bhUpate ||3-127-49

O the lord of earth! (janamejaya! vaishampAyana continued) kR^iShNa shot that arrow by which, long ago, the sura-s regained their world by killing asura-s in the battle.

iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi haMsaDimbhakopAkhyAne haMsakeshavayuddhe sapteviMshatyadhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH

This is the one hundred and twenty-seventh lesson of bhaviShyaparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, in the episode of haMsa and Dimbhaka, kR^iShNa - hamsa battle

Note 1: instead of chaiva, daiva is taken as given in shloka 43, chapter 127, page 1118, bhAShAbhArataM, Vol 6, ku~n~nhikkuTTan taMpurAn, DC Books, 2007 . This agrees with the four arrows mentioned in 3-127-45

3-127-1 ubhau tAviti |
3-127-2 sarvaj~no govindo.api sadyastatra gata gatyAha - atheti ||
3-127-5 yamunAM nikaShA yamunAyAH samIpe ||

iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe bhaviShyaparvaNi TIkAyAM haMsaDimbhakopAkhyAne haMsakeshavayuddhe saptaviMshatyAdhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH |

i-translated by G. Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr February 1st 2009
Proof-read by K S Ramachandran, 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