Chapter 76 - Indra Fights with Krishna

1-2. Vaishampayana said:—Having saluted then the Lord of Vilva and water, Krishna, the high-minded slayer of Madhu, went away on his own car; and seated thereon he invited the king of gods accompanied by the celestials near Pushkara.

3. Thereupon the effulgent Sakra, the granter of all desires unto the pious and Jayanta got upon cars drawn by most excellent horses.

4-6. O descendant of Kurus, then under the influence of destiny there took place an encounter between those two celestials mounted on their cars on account of the Parijata. With straight-coursing arrows Vishnu, the represser of enemies' army, struck the soldiers of the king of gods. Although capable however, O lord, Indra did not strike Upendra in battle nor the latter the former.

7-8. O king, with ten sharpened arrows Janarddana struck each of the horses of the king of gods: Vasava too, the foremost of the celestials, with dreadful shafts shot off the bow, covered Shaiyya and other horses.

9. With a thousand of arrows Krishna covered the elephant (of Indra) and the highly powerful slayer of Bali covered Garuda too.

10-11. O descendant of Bharata, while in this way, seated on their cars the high-souled Narayana, dreadful unto his enemies and the king of gods fought with each another, the earth shook like a boat sunk in water and the quarters were fully enshrouded with lustre.

12. Mountains shook, hundreds of trees were uprooted and pious mortals fell down on earth.

13-15. O king, hundreds of hurricane blew there. And while that battle raged on, the course of the rivers was changed in an opposite direction, the wind blew wild, fire-brands, shorn of lustre, fell down and creatures repeatedly lost their consciousness at the rattle of the car-wheels. What more, O king, fire was lighted even in the water and planets fought with planets in the sky.

16. And hundreds of stars fell down on earth from the sky. Elephants of the quarters and those ranging on earth began to quiver.

17. The welkin was covered with cranes emitting loud cries, pouring down dreadful blood and ash-coloured like asses.

18. O foremost of kings, beholding those two heroic gods engaged in fighting with each other the earth, heaven and sky as if disappeared from view.

19. At that time for the behoof of the world the ascetics began to recite Mantras and the Brahmanas speedily engaged in carrying on meditations.

20. Thereupon the highly powerful Brahma said to Kashyapa:—"O you of firms vows, go with your wife Aditi and prevent your two sons".

21. Saying "So be it" to the lotus-sprung deity the ascetic speedily went out on his car to that foremost of men.

22-23. Beholding Kashyapa with Aditi in the battle-field those two heroic and highly powerful slayers of their enemies, ever engaged in the welfare of all beings and well-read in the tenets of religions, got down from their cars, and leaving off their arms, saluted the feet of their parents.

24-27. Then holding them both by the hands Aditi said:—"Born of the same parents you are trying to slay each other as if you are not brothers. Let pass what has happened. If you think that you should obey the words of your mother and those of your patriarchal father, then lay down your arms and hear what I say." Saying "So be it" those two highly powerful celestials, conversing with each other, went to the bank of the river Janhavi. Sakra said:—"O Krishna, you are the Lord Creator of the universe and I have been placed by you in my kingdom. Having thyself established me here why dost you disregard me? O you of lotus eyes, having accepted me as your elder brother why dost you wish to destroy me?" (28-29)

30. O king, having bathed in the water of the river Janhavi they both returned to the high-souled Kashyapa of firm vows and Aditi.

31. The ascetics designate that place as the union ground of dear ones where those two lotus-eyed brothers were united with their parents.

32-33. O descendant of Kurus, after Krishna had promised safety unto Indra in the very presence of the pious celestials who were assembled there, they all, shining in their respective beautiful forms, repaired to the celestial region on their own cars.

34. O king, seated on one car Kashyapa, Aditi, Indra and Upendra set out for the celestial region,

35-36. O descendant of Kuru, after those pious gods had come to Sakra, endued with all qualities and taken their seats, Saci, ever fond of virtue, adored the high souled Kashyapa along with his wife, ever engaged in the well-being of all creatures.

37. Thereupon after the night had elapsed Aditi, conversant with the principles of religion, said to Hari ever encompassing good unto creatures. "

38-39. O Upendra! take this Parijata, go to Dvarka and perform the auspicious festival so longed for by your wife. But, O foremost of men, when that ceremony will be over, you are to bring back this tree and place it as before in the garden of Nandana".

40. Hearing this Krishna said to the illustrious mother of the gods "So be it." The high-souled Narada too gave consent to it.

41. Thereupon having saluted his mother, father and Mahendra with Saci Janarddana expressed his desire of going to Dvaraka.

42. The pious daughter of Puloma handed over to Krishna many lovely ornaments for his wives.

43-46. For the sixteen thousand wives of Madhava the high-minded daughter of Puloma gave diverse celestial jewels and raiments of various colours. Having accepted all those presents and been honored by the pious rangers of the sky the highly energetic and effulgent Keshava set out with Pradyumna and Satyaki for Dvaraka and arrived at the mount Raivataka. Having planted there the foremost of trees Parijata Madhava despatched Satyaki to Dvaraka consisting of doors.

47. Krishna said:—"O large-armed king of Bhaimas, communicate this news to the Bhaimas that I brought here Parijata from the abode of Mahendra.

48. Even to-day I shall take to Dvaraka this best of trees Parijata: let the city be decorated with auspicious marks".

49. O lord, thus accosted Satyaki departed. And having communicated Krishna’s words to the Bhaimas he joined the citizens and the princes headed by Samva.

50. Thereupon having placed Parijata on Garuda’s back and taking him before, Pradyumna, the foremost of car-warriors, entered the charming city of Dvaraka.

51-52. Hari, seated on a car drawn by Shaivya and other horses, and Satyaki and Pradyumna, seated on another most excellent car, followed him. O king, speaking highly of that deed of Keshava, other members of the Vrishni family set out delightedly on various conveyances.

53-54. Hearing from Satyaki of the wonderful feat of Keshava of incomparable energy the Yadu citizens of Anartta were filled with surprise. Now beholding that tree covered with heavenly flowers they could not attain to the consummation of delight though they repeatedly looked at it.

55-56. Beholding that unthought-of, most excellent and wonderful tree filled with playful birds, even the decrepitude of the elderly women disappeared. Smelling the fragrance of that tree the blind were gifted with celestial vision and the diseased were shorn of their ailments.

57. Hearing the notes of the birds from that tree resembling those of a koel the inhabitants of Anartta were filled with delight and saluted Janarddana.

58. Though living at a distance people of that city listened to various sweet songs and music proceeding from that tree.

59. At that time every man was favoured with whatever fragrance he wished for proceeding from that Parijata tree.

60-61. Having thus entered the charming city of Dvaraka, Keshava, of Yadu’s race, met with Vasudeva, Devaki, his brother Bala, the king of Kukura, and other Yadavas, worthy of respect like unto the immortals.

62-64. Having honored them duly the eternal and divine Madhusudana, having Gada as his elder brother, dismissed them all and set out for his own residence. And taking that best of trees Parijata he entered into Satyabhama’s palace. Seeing it the divine Satyabhama was highly pleased; and having adored Upendra she accepted that great tree Parijata.

65-69. O descendant of Bharata, according to Vasudeva’s desire that tree used to lessen its proportion. It created great surprise in all. O Janamejaya, it, sometimes assuming a huge proportion, used to cover the whole of Dvaraka, and again it came within the reach of all being of the shape of a thumb. Having thus accomplished her object Satyabhama began to collect all materials for the performance of the rite of Punyaka. Krishna collected all that could be had in the insular continent of Jamvu. O descendant of Kuru, thereupon seated with Satya the self-controlled Keshava, for taking the vow, thought of the ascetic Narada.