145. The Yādavas sport in the ocean
JANAMEJAYA. said:-O Muni, I have thus listened to an account of the necessary destruction of Andhaka, by which the intelligent Mahādeva restored peace in the three worlds.
It behoves thee to describe to me why the second body of Nikumbha was destroyed by Krishna, the holder of discus (1-2).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—O sinless king, you have the greatest reverences for listening to the history of Hari, the highly powerful lord of the universe. I should therefore describe it to you (3).
O king, while living in the city of Dwārkā Hari, of incomparable energy, sailed by sea for the sacred shrine of Pindaraka (4).
O descendant of Bharata, at that time Ugrasena and Vasudeva remained as the governors of the city. All others followed Nārāyaṇa (5).
O king, Baladeva, Janārddana, and the parties of other princes, energetic like the immortals, set out separately (6).
O king, thousands of dancing girls accompanied the beautiful Vrishni princes adorned with ornaments (7).
O heroe, removing the ocean from its own bed the powerful Yādavas had settled those thousands of dancing girls in Dwāravati (8).
Those beautiful dancing girls, on account of their accomplishments, became the objects of enjoyment to the princes (9).
O lord, thinking that the Yādavas might not suffer from an internal feud for women the intelligent Krishna established this practice amongst the Bhaimas (10).
While sporting in the water, the powerful Baladeva, the foremost of Yadus, inebriate with drinking wine and adorned with a garland of wild flowers, was enjoying only with Revati like a Chakravāka bird.
Making an enclosure with his own persons Govinda, the creator of all, having eyes black like a cloud, was sporting separately in the ocean with his sixteen thousand wives.
O king, at that time, amongst the women of Keshava every one thought:—“I am the most favourite of Keshava: he is sporting only with me” (11-14).
All those damsels, having signs of sporting all over their person, were flirting with Govinda (15).
Amongst those good women the beautiful damsels of Nārāyaṇa felt conceited by thinking “I alone am the most favourite of Keshava.”
Krishna’s women, as if with their eyes, were drinking the ambrosia of Keshava's countenance. All those damsels, whose minds and eyes were fixed only on Keshava, looked more beautiful than before.
The Lord Nārāyaṇa, having pleased them all, those women, having their minds and eyes fixed on one man, did not cherish jealousy against one another.
As if possessed entirely by Keshava those beautiful women began to shake their heads with pride (16-21).
In pursuance of the ways of his universal form the self-controlled Hari began to sport with those women in this way in the pure water of the ocean (22).
O heroe, at that time at the command of Vāsudeva the water of the ocean was freed from salt and the great ocean began to carry transparent water, possessing all sorts of fragrance (23).
The ocean yielded its water to whatever extent the women wanted, either up to their knees, thighs or breast (24).
As the rivers pour their watery contents down into the ocean, and as the clouds pour water on the blossoming creepers, so in that watery sport Keshava's women sprinkled him with water (25).
Some of them, having eyes like a deer, held Hari by the neck, and said:—“O Hari, I am being drowned, save me” (26).
Some handsome damsels began to row in wooden boats of the shape of herons and serpents (27).
Some began to row in Makara-shaped boats and others in boats of various shapes (28).
In order to please Janārddana in the water of the ocean some women swam depending on their own breast and some on water jars. (29).
Krishna himself, filled with joy, began to sport with Rukshmini. Nārāyaṇa's wives did what pleased most Keshava, the foremost of immortals (30).
There amongst those thin-built damsels, having cloud like eyes and wearing clothes of fine texture some imitated the movements of Vāsudeva.
Entering into the minds of those women, Keshava, conversant with the mental desire of all, satisfied whatever they wanted (31–33).
Although lord of all self-controlled persons, the powerful, eternal, divine Hrishikesha, according to the exigencies of time, brought him self under the control of his beloved wives (33).
Wonder! the damsels regarded Janāddana remaining there in human guise as their becoming husband both as regards birth and accomplishments.
In this way those clever women began to seek with devotion and offer sufficient honor to Krishna endued with kindliness and always smiling before speaking (34-35).
In order to sport with the women in water the princes formed a separate party. Those heroes, the mines of accomplishments, were sporting under water (36).
O king, the women, proficient in the art of singing and dancing whom the princes had brought there by force, were pleased with their kind behaviour.
Seeing the charming acting of those beautiful women, and hearing the music of bugles and their songs the Yadu heroes were greatly pleased (37–38).
Thereupon on account of his universal form when Lord Krishna, the master of the world and of immeasurable energy, sent for the most beautiful Apsaras such as Panchachudā, Kouveri and Mahendri, they came with folded hands and saluted him. Consoling them, he said.
MAHĀDEVA said:—“O ye beautiful Apsaras, for satisfying me do you enter here without any anxiety and please the Yādavas as their playing maids.
Show them all the accomplishments that you possess in various musical instruments, dancing, singing and other mysterious arts.
They are all like my limbs. If you please them therefere you will meet with your well-being.”
Having accepted that command of Hari's with lowering heads those Apsaras joined the Yādavas as their playful maids (39–44).
O sinless one, as clouds in the sky are lighted up by a lightning so the water of the ocean was ablaze as soon as they entered there (45).
Standing in the water as if on land they played many notes on water as in the celestial region (46).
Those women, having expansive eyes, pilfered the minds of the Bhaimas with garlands of celestial fragrance, raiments, sportive smiles, gestures, movements of eyes, anger and service after their own hearts (47–48).
Those leading Apsaras repeatedly threw up the inebriete Bhaimas into the sky and brought them down (49).
In order to please the Yādavas the powerful Krishna too, with his sixteen thousand wives, began to sport happily in the sky (50).
The heroic Bhaimas knew the power of Krishna of immeasurable energy and so they were not surprised at this feat of his; rather they observed perfect gravity (51).
O Bhārata, O slayer of enemies, amongst them some, of their own accord, returned to Raivataka, some to their own houses, and some to desired for forests.
The water of the ocean, which no one else can drink, was, by the command of the powerful lord of the world Vishnu, converted into a good drink for all (52–53).
Hoiding the damsels, having lotus eyes, by the hand they began to move about freely in the water as on land and dive again into the water (54).
Various sorts of edibles and drinks were brought before them as soon they thought of them. In this way, those damsels, wearing garlands of fresh flowers, began to sport with those Yadu princes in that solitary place (55–56).
Thereupon when the evening set in the invincible Vrishnis and Andhakas put on unguents on their persons after bathing and began to sport in house-boats (57).
O descendant of Kuru, in all those boats the celestial archetect Viswakarmā had made various palaces such as Chaturasra and Swasthika (58).
Some of those boats were like the mounts Kailāsha, Mandāra and Sumeru. Some of them were like birds and some like deer (59).
The rooms, made on those boats, were spread with carpets, lighted with emeralds, Chandrakānta, Suryakānta and other precious jems.
Its doors were made of Vaiduryas. In those boats painted with gold there were rooms of the form of a joy Garuda, Krounchy, Suka and elephant (60–61).
Those golden boats, guided by boatsmen, beautified greatly the water of the ocean abounding in waves (62).
With floating small boats, large boats, and flats the abode of Varuna was beautified (63).
Like the sky-ranging cities of the Gandharvas the boats of the Bhaimas began to move about in the ocean (64).
O descendant of Bharata, the celestial architect Viswakarmā had made all those boats after the celestial garden Nandana. Garden-halls, trees, tanks, chariots and other works of art were laid out there in imitation of those of the Nandana garden.
O heroe, what more shall I speak, at the command of Nārayana, in those boats, resembling those of the celestial regions, every thing was constructed after its celestial model (65–67).
In the forests that were laid out on the boats of the highly powerful Bhaimas the birds, emitting sweeter notes, were pilfering their minds.
The white coels, born in the celestial region, were emitting various notes liked by the Yādavas. Encircled by she-peacocks the peacocks, emitting sweet notes, were dancing on the roofs of the houses beautiful like the rays of the moon (68–70).
The flags, hoisted on the boats, were filled with diverse birds—and the bees, sitting on the garlands, were humming.
At the mandate of Nārāyaṇa beautiful signs of the season appeared in the sky and the trees were continually showering flowers (71–72).
There blew charming and delightful wind, surcharged with filaments of flowers, carrying the coolness of sandal and exciting desire in men (73).
O king, at that time by the influence of Vāsudeva, the holder of discus, the Bhaimas enjoyed heat and cold according to their pleasure.
None of them experienced, hunger, thirst, exhaustion or sorrow. Thus in their sport in the ocean which was continually enlivened by the sound of trumpets,
music and dancing the Bhaimas, protected by Krishna, sported obstructing that vast watery expanse for many a yojanas (74–77).
The Divine Architect had constructed the boat of the high-souled Deity Nārāyaṇa in imitation of his dress. O king, all the valuable jewels of the three worlds were brought into the boat of the highly energetic Krishna.
O descendant of Bharata, for each of the wives of Krishna, a separate room was made of gold and adorned with pearls and sapphires.
Thus adorned with flowers of all seasons and supplied with all sorts of perfumeries the leading Yadus played with the auspicious gods (78–81).
146. The sport of the Yadus (continued)
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Having lost all control over himself and his movements for drinking Kadamvari wine and with his eyes reddened the highly beautiful Bala, of large arms pasted with sandal, began to sport with Revati (1).
As the full moon shines in a cloud so clad in raiments black like clouds the divine Rāma, fair like the rays of the moon and with eyes rolling in intoxication, shone there (2).
With Kundala on his left ear only and adorned with beatiful lotuses, the smiling Rāma attained to an excess of delight by repeatedly looking at the countenance of his beloved consort adorned with side-long looks (3).
Thereupon at the command of Keshava, the destroyer of Kansa and Nikumbha, the beautiful Apsaras approached the holder of ploughshare prosperous like heaven itself for beholding Revati and Rāma (4).
Those beautiful-bodied Apsaras, endued with charming physical frames, saluted Revati and Rāma and began to dance in accompaniment with time. And some of them sang with gestures expressive of every sort of emotion (5).
According to the command of Baladeva and the daughter of the Ravata king they began to display various gestures acquired by them as desired by the Yādavas (6).
Having dressed themselves after the women of the country of the Yādavas those thin-built and beautiful damsels sang, in their language, songs set to thousands of tunes (7).
O heroe, before that assembly they sang various sacred themes conducive to the pleasure of Rāma and Keshava, such as the destruction of Kansa, Pralamva, and Chanura; the story of Janārddana's being tied to the mortar for which his glory was established by Yashodā and be obtained the name of Damodara;
the destruction of Aristha and Dhenuka: his residence in Vraja: the destruction of Putana; his uprooting of the trees Yamala and Arjuna; his creation of wolves in time;
the suppression of the wicked king of serpents Kālya by Krishna in the lake; the return of Madhusudana from that lake with lotuses, lilies, conches and Nidhis;
the upholding of the mount Govardhana for the benefit of Gokula by Keshava, the source of well-being to the world; how Krishna cured the hump-backed woman, the seller of powdered scents; these accounts of the Lord shorn birth and imperfections.
The Apsaras also described how the Lord, though not a dwarf Himself, assumed the most wretched dwarfish form; how Soubha was slain;
how Baladeva held up his ploughshare in all these battles; the destruction of other enemies of the gods; the battle with the proud kings at the time of the wedding of the Gāndhāra princess;
the carrying away of Subhdrā; the battle with Vālāhaka and Jamvumāli; and how he carried away all the jwels in the very presence of Sakra after defeating him (7-14).
O king, while those beautiful women were singing all these and various other themes pleasant and delightful to Sangkarshana and Adhokshaja, the highly beautiful Balarāma, drunk with Kadamvari wine, began to sing with his wife Revati accom panied with sweet clapping of hands (15-16).
Beholding Rāma sing thus, the intelligent, high-souled and highly powerful Madhusudana, in order to please him, began to sing with Satyā (17).
The greatest heroe of the world, Pārtha, who had come there for the sea-voyage, also delightedly joined the beautiful Subhadrā and Krishna in their singing (18).
O king, the intelligent Gada, Sārana, Pradyumna, Shāmva, Satyaki and the son of Satyarjit, the greatly powerful Chārudeshna also sang there in a chorus.
Rāma's sons, the greatest of heroes, the princes Nishatha and Ulmukha, the commander, Akrura, Sankha and other leading Bhaimas also sang there (19-20).
At that time, O king, by Krishna's power the boats increased in size and Janārddana sang to his best along with the leading Bhaimas (21).
O heroic prince, when the immortal-like Yadu chiefs sang in this way the whole world was filled with joy and sins were dissipated (23).
Thereupon for pleasing Keshava, the slayer of Madhu, Nārada, the guest of the celestials, began to sing in such a way amongst the Yādavas that a portion of his matted hairs melted away (23).
O prince, composing the songs there and then, that Muni, of immeasurable energy, sang them amongst the Bhaimas again and again with various gestures and motions (24).
Thereupon beholding Baladeva, the daughter of the king Revata, Keshava, Prithā's son, Satyabhāmā and Subhadrā, the intelligent Rishi smiled repeatedly (25).
Although the wives of Keshava were patient by nature still the intelligent Nārada, ever fond of joking, with his gestures, smiles, motions and with various other means which could excite their laughter, made them laugh (26).
As if instructed the Divine Muni Nārada sang various tunes high and low; and for pleasing Krishna he began to laugh aloud and shed tears of joy (27).
O Prince, then the youthful damsels, conversant with gestures, gave away at Krishna's command, the best jewels of the world, beautiful raiments, garlands made in heaven, Santānāka flowers, pearls and other flowers born in all seasons (28–29).
Thereupon after the termination of the musical soiree the Divine Krishna, holding the great and incomparable Muni Nārada, by the hand, jumped into the ocean with Satyabhāmā and Arjuna (30).
Smiling a little the highly beautiful Krishna, of incomparable prowess, said to Sini's son —
“Let us form ourselves into two parties and sport in the water of the ocean with the damsels. In this water of the ocean let Baladeva and Revati with my sons and some of the Bhaimas form one party and let the remaining Bhaimas and Bala's sons join my party” (31–32).
Afterwards the highly confident Keshava said to the ocean stationed before him with folded hands:—“Ocean, let your water be sweet and shorn of sharks (33).
May your bed be adorned with jems and may your banks be worthy of a happy touch by the two feet. And may you, by my power, give all that you know of suited to the taste of mankind (34).
May you give every sort of drink liked by people and may gentle fishes, adorned with gold, sapphires and pearls, range in your water (35).
May you hold jems, and fragrant, charming and red lotuses and lilies of sweet touch and served by bees (36).
May you hold numerous jars and golden vessels, from which the Bhaimas will drink, of Maireya, Mādhvika, and Asava wines (37).
O ocean, be thou of cold water fragrant with the scent of flowers. Be thou so very careful that Yādavas with their women may not suffer any inconvenince (38)”.
O king, having said this to the ocean Krishna began to sport with Arjuna. Satrajit’s daughter, well-read in hints given by Krishna, sprinkled water on Nārada's body (39).
Thereupon Rāma, his body reeling with intoxication, held lustfully, with his own hands, those of Revati and jumped sportively into the water of the ocean (40).
Following Rāma the sportive sons of Krishna, with their eyes rolling in intoxication and the other leading Bhaimas, shorn of their unguents, raimaints and ornaments, delightedly jumped into the ocean.
Nishatha, Ulmuka and other sons of Baladeva with garlands of Santānaka flowers around their neck, clad in variegated raiments, drunk and bent on sporting, as well as the remaining Bhaimas joined Keshava's party (41-42).
The powerful Yādavas, having beautiful marks and pastes on their persons, with watering vessels in their hands, began to sing songs of sweet tunes and beautifully suited for that place (43).
Afterwards hundreds of well dressed damsels, fond of music, united with Apsarās living in the celestial region, began to play various notes (44).
Those youthful damsels, conversant with playing instruments in the water of the etherial Ganges, and having their minds fully possessed by Cupid, delightedly played on Jaladaraura1 and sang songs in accompaniment with it (45).
At that time the beautiful celestial dancing girls, having eyes like lotus petals and adorned with lotus stalks, assumed the beauty of lotuses blown by the rays of the sun (46).
O king, filled with the moon-like faces of those women appearing like hundreds of full moon, either going there of their own accord or under the decree of the Providence, the ocean appeared like the sky adorned with a thousand moon (47).
O king, the cloud-like ocean was beautified with lighting like woman. The lord of waters appeared like clouds in the sky dispersed by lightning (48).
Thereupon Nārāyaṇa, who had put beautiful marks on his body, Nārada and other members of his party sprinkled water on Baladeva and his party who had also put on beautiful marks. And the latter also sprinkled water on the former (49).
At that time the wives of Krishna and Sangkarshana, out of intoxication caused by Vāruni wine and worked up with music, delightedly threw water upon one another with hands and watering instruments (50).
The Bhaimas, possessed by wine, Cupid and self-dignity, with eyes reddened with intoxication, threw water upon one another and in this way assumed harsh attitude before the very presence of the ladies: they did not desist although they sported for a long time (51)
Beholding thus their too much familiar intercourse, Krishna, the holder of discus, thought for a moment and then prevented them.
He too, with Pārtha and Nārada, desisted from playing on instruments in the water (52).
The Bhaimas, ever affording delight to their beloved women, although they were highly sensitive, at once understood Krishna’s intention as soon as he gave hints and desisted from playing in the water: but the damsels continued dancing (53).
After the termination of the dancing party Upendra got upon the shore even while the other Yādavas were in the water. He then gave the best of Munis Nārada becoming unguents and afterwards himself partook of them (54).
Then beholding Upendra get out of water the incomparable Bhaimas soon left the water. Then purifying their persons with unguents, they, with the permission of Krishna, retired to the drinking ground (55).
Seated there in order according to their age and position those well-known heroes refreshed themselves with diverse edibles and drinks (56).
Thereupon the cooks, with great pleasure, brought there cooked meat, venegar, pomegranates and meat of beasts fried on iron rods (57).
Then a young buffaloe, well-roasted on a rod, hot, soaked in clarified butter, and mixed with venegar, Sochal salt and acid, was served (58).
Meat of many fat deer roasted according to the process of skillful cooking, and sweetened with venegar was next brought (59).
Legs of beasts, mixed with salt and mustard and fried in clarified butter were also served (60).
The incomparable Yādavas, with great pleasure, partook of those dishes with the roots of Arum campanulatum, pomegranates, common citrons, asafartida, gingerade and other fragrant vegetables. They then drank in beautiful cups (61).
Encircled by their beloved damsels they drank various wines such as Maireya, Madhvika and Asava prepared from the meat of birds roasted on a rod with clarified butter, acid juice, salt and sourish articles (62).
They also partook of other side dishes, various fragrant saited edibles of white and red colour, curd and preparations of clarified butter (63).
O king, Uddhava, Bhoja, and other heroes, who did not drink, delightedly took vegetables, vegetable-curries, cakes, curd and pudding (64).
From the drinking vessel named Pālavi, they drank various fragrant drinks, milk and butter with suger and took various sorts of fruits (65).
In this way the heroic Bhaimas were pleased with eating to their fill. Afterwards, they, having their wives as their companions, joined the music again with pleasure, initiated by their consorts (66).
Thereupon when the night set in the Divine Upendra asked all present in the party to go on with the song. Chhālikya of various tunes sung by the gods and Gandharvas (67).
O king, then Nārada began to play on his Vinā which with six scales and Rāgas2 brings about the concentration of mind, Krishna began to perform Hallishaka3 accompanied with the music of his flute and Pārtha began to play on his Mridanga:4 other leading Apsaras played on various other instruments.
Thereupon after Asārita, the beautiful Rambhā, a clever actress, rose up, played and pleased Rāma and Keshava. Afterwards, O king, Urvashi, having beautiful and expansive eyes, Himā, Mishrakeshi, Tilottamā, Menakā and other celestial actresses rose up in order and pleased Hari with singing and dancing.
Having his mind attracted by their charming singing and dancing Vāsudeva pleased them all with presents after their own heart.
O prince, those honorable and leading Apsaras, who had been brought there, were honored with betel leaves at the desire of Krishna (68–72).
O king, thus the various fragrant fruits and the song Chhālikya, which were brought from the celestial region out of Krishna's desire and his favour to wards mankind, were known only to the intelligent son of Rukshmini.
It was he who could use them: and it was he who distributed betel leaves at that time (73–74).
The Chhālikya song, conducive to the well-being, nourishment, and prosperity of Nārāyaṇa of glorious deeds, and which was great, auspicious and productive of fame and piety to mankind, was sung in chorus by Indra-like Krishna, Rāma, Pradyumna, Anuvindha and Shāmva (75–76).
This Chhālikya, which was sung there, was capable of bearing the axle of virtue and destructive of sorrow and sin. Repairing to the celestial region and hearing this Chhālikya song the illustrious king Revata regarded four thousand Yugas as one day.
From it originated the various divisions of the Gandharvas as Kumarajati, &c., (77–78).
O king, as hundreds of lights are produced by one light so various classes of Gandharvas have emanated from Chhālikya.
O king, with Pradyumna and other leading Bhaimas Krishna and Nārada knew all this (79).
Like unto streams and the water of the ocean people of this world knew Chhālikya only by illustration. It is possible to know the virtues and weight of the Himalaya but it is not so, without practising hard austerities to know the Murchanā5 and time of Chhālikya (80–81).
O king, what of Chhālikya with six scales and Ragas men, with great difficulty, cannot even come to the end of its eleventh division Sukumarajati.
Know it for certain, O king, that the slayer of Madhu had so arranged that the gods, Gandharvas and great Rishis might attain to a devotional spirit on account of the virtues of Chhālikya (82–83).
On account of its being sung by the god, amongst men, Krishna, before the Bhaimas for showing favour unto the world, Chhālikya, sung by the immortals only,
attained to such a celebrity, that formerly on the occasion of a festivity Bhaima boys used to cite it as an example. And the elders used to approve of their saying and the boys, youths and old men used to sing it in a chorus.
“Love is the test and not age”—to remind the mortals of this virtue of their own race, the heroic Yādavas, the ordainers of ancient religious rites, did so in the land of mortals.
O king, friendship is known by love: therefore keeping love before them, the other Vrishnis, Andhakas and Dāsharhas, except Keshava, used to treat their own sons even as friends.
Thereupon saluting the delighted Madhusudana, the slayer of Kansa, the contented Apsaras returned to the celestial region which too was (accordingly) filled with joy (84–88).
Footnotes
1. A kind of musical instrument played in water.
2. A mode of music of which six are enumerated viz. Bhairava, Malava, Saranga, Hindola, Vasanta, Dipaka and Megha: they are personified in poetry and mythology.
3. A minor dramatic entertainment chiefly of singing and dancing by one male and eight or ten female performers, a ballet.
4. A kind of musical instrument.
5. A tone or semitone as placed in its scale, the seventh part of a Grama or scale.
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