Chapter 44 - Battle with Shrigala

1. Vaishampayana said:—Being informed of their arrival and thinking that they would attack the city, king Shrigala, terrible in battle and endued with the prowess of Indra, issued (out of the city).

2-6. Mounting a car filled with weapons, having the clatter of its axles for its smiles, adorned with variegated ornaments, filled with inexhaustible arrows and quivers, making a sound like that of the ocean, drawn by quick-coursing horses, embellished with strong golden axles, coursing like Garuda, governed by reins resembling the rays of the sun, effulgent like the sun and resembling the car of Indra he issued out of the city.

7. In that foremost of cars capable of striking the chariots of the enemies Shrigala approached Krishna like an insect approaching a flame.

8-10. Bedecked with sharpened arrows, coats of mail, golden garlands, a white cloth and an Ushnisha (turban) the king Shrigala, with a bow in his hand and having fiery eyes, began again and again to whirl his bow endued with the qualities of a lightning. And vomitting air begotten by anger, and effulgent like the flames of fire and burning in the lustre of his ornaments he was seen on the car like Sumeru the foremost of mountains.

11. Stricken with fear at his shouts and the clatter of his car-wheels the Earth sank under his weight.

12. Beholding the beautiful Shrigala approach like unto a patriarch and the incarnation of a mountain Vasudeva was not pained.

13. Gradually under the influence of ire Shrigala, desirous of fighting, approached Vasudeva by the help of a quick-coursing car.

14-15. When beholding Vasudeva seated at ease, Shrigala ran towards him like unto clouds ranging towards a mountain. Vasudeva, smiling a little, addressed himself too for giving him a return battle. Thereupon there took place a dreadful encounter between them like that of two infuriated elephants in a forest.

16. Out of ignorance, the energetic Shrigala, fond of war and proud of his position, said to Krishna who was present for battle.

17-18. "O Krishna, I have heard of your work in the weak army of the stupid kings on the mount Gomanta who had no leader. I have heard too of the defeat of the useless Kshatriyas inexperienced in war and worthy of pity.

19. However I am now stationed in the dignity of the emperor of the world, do you wait before me. You are not expert in the art of war. Surely will you fly away when I will obstruct you.

20-21. You are alone and I am with my army; so I should not fight with you in this way. Come, I shall alone fight with you; what is the use of other inferior men? We shall both engage in fight and one of us will meet with his death in a fair fight.

22. If you are slain, O Krishna, I shall be the only Vasudeva in the world. And if I am slain you shalt be the only one."

23. Hearing those words of Shrigala and saying "Strike me as you wish" the forgiving Madhava held up his discus.

24. Thereupon losing his sense in anger in the battle field Shrigala, of limited prowess, discharged a net of arrows at Krishna.

25-26. The powerful Shrigala showered on Krishna mace and various other weapons. And albeit ruthlessly assailed with weapons covered with flames of fire Krishna stood there motionless like a mountain.

27. Thus attacked again and again he was filled with wrath. And holding up his discus he hurled it at Shrigala’s breast.

28-29. Having slain the highly powerful Shrigala, fearful in battle, of growing pride and ever observant of Kshatriya duties, the discus Sudarshana returned to its preceptor’s hand. Shrigala too, having his heart pierced by the discus, shorn of life and joy, fell down, bleeding like a cleft mountain.

30. Beholding the king fallen like a mountain struck down by a thunder-bolt his soldiers lost heart and fled away, on the death of their king.

31. Some, assailed by grief consequent upon the death of their lord and greatly stricken with sorrow, entered into the city and began to weep there.

32. Some, not being able to forsake their fallen king and performing auspicious rites, began to bewail there with their hearts laden with grief.

33-34. Thereupon declaring safety unto the people assembled there with his fingers adorned with a discus having silvery handles, the lotus-eyed Krishna, the slayer of his enemies, said with a voice like the rumbling of clouds. "Do not fear! Do not fear."

35-38. Thus consoled by Krishna, and beholding their king, with his breast wounded, fallen on earth like a mountain with its summits struck down Shrigala’s subjects and ministers began to shed tears poorly and were filled with sorrow like his son.

39. Hearing their cries and the hoarse noise of the citizens Shrigala’s queens, with their sons, came out weeping from the city.

40. Arriving at the battle-field and beholding their worthy royal husband fallen in that plight they, striking their breasts with their hands, began to weep plaintively.

41-42. Striking their breasts and tearing ruthlessly their curling hairs those women began to weep in a hoarse voice. And stricken with terrible grief and with their eyes full of tears they fell down on their husband’s body like uprooted and roughly handled creepers.

43. The eyes of the queens, full of tears, shone like lotuses divorced from water.

44. Beholding their husband thus fallen, striking their breast and speaking of his actions they began to bewail plaintively.

45. Thereupon taking their weeping boy by name Shakradeva, to their husband’s side, the the ladies, crying aloud with doubled force, said:—"

46. O hero, although endued with prowess, this your boy son has not been able to acquire mastery over the art of administration. Without you how will he be able to attain to the dignity of his father?

47. O lord, we are not satiated with enjoying in your company. How dost you leave us all behind simultaneously What shall we all do, widows as we are?"

48. Thereupon weeping and taking her son with her Shrigala’s beautiful queen Padmavati approached Vasudeva and said:—"

49. This is the son of the king, whom, O hero, you hast slain by your war-like deeds. He seeks your shelter.

50. If his father had bowed unto you and carried out your mandate he would not have been thus assailed with one single stroke.

51. If this wicked king had contracted friendship with you, he would not have, with his life gone, taken shelter on the surface of the earth.

52. O hero, O sinless Krishna, do you protect, like your own son, this son of your dead friend, the perpetuator of his race."

53. Hearing the words of Shrigala’s queen Krishna, of the Yadu race, the foremost of speakers, said to her mildly:—"

54. O queen, our anger is gone with this vicious-souled one. We have regained our temper and we are his friends.

55. With your gracious words, O chaste lady, my anger has been appeased; undoubtedly this son of Shrigala is just like mine. I declare safety unto them and gladly annoint him as the king. Inviting the priest, the ministers and the subjects do you place him on his ancestral throne."

56-59. Thereupon in order to perform the ceremony of installation, all the subjects, priests and ministers appeared before Rama and Keshava. Placing the prince on the throne the powerful Janarddana sprinkled him with celestial water. Having installed Shrigala’s son in the city of Karavira Krishana desired to go away on the very day.

60. Mounting on a car drawn by horses acquired in battle Krishna went away like Vasava entering into the city of the celestials.

61-63. Placing Shrigala, terrible in battle, on a conveyance, and going to a distance in the western quarters the pious-souled Sakradeva, the repressor of his enemies, along with his mother, and subjects, headed by boys, aged people and youthful damsels, performed the obsequial rites of his father according to the ordinances.

64. Thereupon reciting the name of the deceased king he offered oblation of water in his favour and thousands of other funeral presents.

65. Having his mind thus worked up with sorrow consequent upon the death of his father and performed his watery ceremony the king Sakradeva entered into his own city.