Chapter 86 - The Son of Sandīpani restored

1-5. On seeing Devakī and Vasudeva as persons who had attained perfect knowledge by annihilating Karmans, Kṛṣṇa stretched his Vaiṣṇavī Māyā once again in order to fascinate the multitude of Yadus. He said “O mother, O father, for a long time Saṃkarṣaṇa and I were eager to see you but we could not because we were afraid of Kaṃsa. Now after a long time you are seen by us.

That portion of one’s life which is spent without worshipping one’s parents is indeed futile in the case of good sons?

O father, if an embodied being performs the worship of preceptors, Devas, brahmins and parents, his life becomes fruitful. Hence, O father, all our defaults and transgressions should be excused. We had been overwhelmed by Kaṃsa’s prowess and exploits. Hence, we were helpless and at the mercy of others.

Vyāsa said:

6. After saying this, both of them bowed down to the elderly persons of Yadus. After worshipping them duly they made them contented.

7. Then Kaṃsa’s wives surrounded the dead body of Kaṃsa and lamented. His mothers too were fully overwhelmed by sorrow and misery.

8. They were upset in various ways. They were agitated due to repentance. Kṛṣṇa consoled them. His own eyes became turbid due to tears.

9. He then released Ugrasena from prison. He crowned Ugrasena whose son had been killed. He crowned him in his own kingdom.

10. After being crowned in the kingdom he, the lion among the descendants of Yadu clan, performed the obsequies of his son as well as of others who were killed there.

11-13. As he concluded the post-funeral rites and re-occupied the throne, Kṛṣṇa said—“O lord, unhesitatingly command us in regard to any task. As a result of the curse of Yayāti this family does not deserve a kingdom. Still now, when I am ready as your servant, you can command even Devas, why not kings?” After saying this to Ugrasena, lord Kṛṣṇa who had assumed human form for a specific task said to Vāyu in the human speech.

Śrīkṛṣṇa said:

14-15. O Vāyu, go to Indra and tell him thus—“O Indra, enough of your pride and arrogance. Let your Assembly hall named Sudharmā be given to Ugrasena by you. It is Kṛṣṇa who says—This excellent jewel as befitting a king, this Assembly hall is named Sudharmā. It is proper for Yadus to sit in it”.

Vyāsa said:

16. Thus urged, the wind god went to Indra and spoke everything to him. Indra gave the assembly hall Sudharmā to Vāyu.

17. All those leading Yadus, having Kṛṣṇa’s arms for support enjoyed that divine assembly hall decorated with jewels and brought over there by Vāyu,

18-19. The two heroic lads, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa had already acquired perfect knowledge. They were perfectly wise. But these excellent scions of the family of Yadu were desirous of maintaining the utility of the contact of disciples and preceptors. Accordingly they went to Sandīpani of the spiritual lineage of Kāśya and resident of the city of Avanti for learning the use of weapons.

20. They accepted his discipleship. They were duly engaged in serving the preceptor. To all the people they thus practically demonstrated their proper conduct.

21. Within sixty-four days and nights they learned the science of Archery along-with its secrets and digests. O brahmins, it was miraculous indeed.

22. Considering their super-human activity that could not at all have been imagined (in persons of their age) Sandīpani thought that the moon and the sun had come to him.

23. The moment they were uttered, (the two brothers) learned the Mantras of all miraculous missiles. They said—“What monetary gift should be paid as the preceptor’s fees? That may be mentioned.”

24. Observing their ability to act beyond the pale of sense-organs the highly intelligent preceptor requested (the resuscitation) of his son who was dead in the holy centre of Prabhāsa on the shore of the briny sea.

25. Equipped with their arms they went to the briny ocean. They said to the sea—“May the son of our preceptor be restored”.

26-27. With palms joined in reverence and having the vessel of Arghya with him, the great ocean said—“The son of Sandīpani has not been abducted by me. An asura named Pañcajana, assumed the form of a conch and abducted the child. O slayer of Asuras, he is staying in my waters.”

28. On being told thus, Kṛṣṇa went inside the water, killed Pañcajana and took the excellent conch originating from his bones.

29-32. The conch Pāñcajanya’s sound reduced the strength of asuras, increased the refulgence of Devas and destroyed evil. Kṛṣṇa and the powerful Balarāma blew the conch Pāñcajanya and went to the city of Yama. There they conquered Yama, son of Vivasvat and regained the boy who was in the tortures of hell, who now got back a body as before. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the most excellent among the strong ones, gave the boy to his father. Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa returned to Mathurā protected by Ugrasena. They delighted men and women there.