Canto 4 - Story of Pradyumna and Birth of Aniruddha

The fourth canto of the Usaharana describes the union of Krsna and Rukmini, the birth of Pradyumna and of the Aniruddha from former.

30 51 As Lord Krsna accompanied by Rukmini moving towards His place, all subjects were filled with great joy to see the Divine couple. Both Devaki and Vasudeva also eagerly received their son—Krishna and daughter-in-law Rukmini with great festivity. They blessed the Divine couple in due manner. However, Krishna and Rukmini worshipped their parents. Thereafter, the entire folk of young ladies happily greeted Rukmini and closely embraced her with much love and affection.52 he Being prime in her youth, Rukmini appeared very charming with her innate splendour. Seeing this extra-ordinary beauty of her, Krsna entertained a desire of uniting with her. At this juncture, the god of Love, Vasanta arrived there and served Krsna by producing in His mind the longings of love for Rukmini. 53 In due course, a son by name Pradyumna was born to the Divine couple. As Pradyumna was none but an incarnation of Manmatha, he spread his influence all over. 54 The demon-king Sambara came to know about Pradyumna as his future enemy. He carried off the baby from the lying-in-chamber while it was just seven days old. Sambarasura decided that he himself should kill the baby now itself. Holding that lustrous baby Pradyumna, he fled into 51. kamtimamtamatha kamtaya taya yamtamatmabhuvamamtaram puram | akiranagarasumdarijanassadhulajanicayaissamamtatah || Ibid., (IV. 1) 52. sasnusasphuranasammadoccalatkamdharam pranatimatkrtasisam | pritimanpitaramabhyapujayanmataram ca racitamjalirvarah || yositassamupaguhanodyata dusita manasi tamasuyaya | alilimgurapi jatayauvana ko jahati pura agatam sriyam || Ibid., (IV. 3 & 6 ) 53. sevanavasaravinmadhustada dvarakagatamupacaradvaram | 54. atmacihnakusumairupayanam harayannupavanadrikimkaraih || Ibid., (IV.8) jata esa hrdayani kevalam praninamaharadityavismayah | pragapi svavasamanayajjagatka katha sati sarirasamgrahe || Ibid., (IV.14)

31 55 the sky and cast the baby into the sea. Nevertheless, Pradyumna in the baby form, cast by Sambara, was well received with regard by the Ocean just as a servant accepts favour or remnants of food stuff as Prasadam from his king. And a mighty fish swallowed that baby.56 In fact highsouled persons do not find any discrimination between the exalted position and degraded position. They remain unchanged with their innate lustre. As such, the divine soul Pradyumna in a baby form did not feel any uneasyness being in the stomach of a might fish.5 Then that fish was enmeshed in a huge net by a fisherman. He brought it as a present to the king Sambarasura. And that was sent for preparation of food. However, that fish was handed over to Mayavati ho supervising the kitchen. Mayavati was no other than the illustrious consort of Kama, Rati by name. She was eagerly awaiting all the while, her the reincarnation of the spouse. When she got this nice baby out of the stomach of the fish, and understood that it was Kama, her own husband, she naturally took charge of him and with great affection to bathe him.5 As goddess Ratri of bright-fortnight takes care of the moon and makes him grow fully till the full-moon-day (though she is the beloved wife of the Moon), Rati in the form of Mayavati fostered the child Pradyumna without being known to Sambara.59 55. saptame'tha divase kumarakam tam jahara kuhakasca kascana | namdanadrumanavamkuram yatha maruto bhuvanalopalampata || Ibid., (IV.15) 56. sambarena kutilamtaratmana patitam kuvalayamalacchavim | 57. viryasaramudadhirmuda hareragrahena jagrhe bhujisyavat || Ibid., (IV.19) mijatharam gato'budhau minaketurudabhasataujasa | sthulasuksmavapusorivamtarascidgunena purusah svayamprabhah || Ibid., (IV.20) 58. chedite jalacare yadrcchaya bhaskarodaya ivambujanmani | pratyadrsyata purassa kamtaya bhrmgaraja iva bhartrkamaya || Ibid., (IV. 23) 59. pratyaham rahasi tam kumarakam nirvyalikamaciradavardhayat | trasini dinakrdojaso'suracchuklapaksa iva yamini vidhum || Ibid., (IV.24)

32 At no distant date, miraculously the baby very swiftly grew up, and within a very short period, he attained prime youth. Seeing Pradyumna in prime youth, Mayavati (originally Rati) placed him in the temple of her heart. She gradually became captivated and lusty. She was smiling before him with a feminine attractiveness expressing her amorous gestures. Observing Mayavati, he inquired from her "O Mother, I find that your affection towards me has got perverted in as much as having abandoned your motherly sentiment, you behave as a lusty woman. How is it that you do not see the discrimination between the son and husband ?" 60 On hearing the words of Pradyumna, Rati replied: "O high-minded my Lord, you need not show motherly affection and regard to me; there is a reason for my being amorously attached to you. You are indeed my husband in the previous birth. I have been following you since the previous birth just as the moonlight follows autumn-moon, the sea-the shore, the wise person-wisdom, the shade and its object. You are a close friend of Indra. You have the pleasure of having half-seat on the throne of Indra. Just as Cakravaka couple get separated due to the arrival of night, both of us were separated because of Lord Siva. As a creeper loses its support due to a fall of the tree to which it clings, I too feel resortless as soon as you were burnt to ashes by the fire emitted from the third eye of Siva."61 I, the same Rati, (being told by Narada) came to know about your arrival to the residence of wicked Sambarasura; and being entrusted with the work of cooking, I have been living in his house only with the purpose of looking after you. In your absence, the entire heaven has been void. 60. 61. tamuvaca vinayannayanvito matrbuddhibahumanabamdhurah | atmavaktrasarasavalokanacchedakataravikasilocanam || kim na vetsi vihitam sthitikramam bheditam ca patiputrabamdhusu | yena mam smitayutena caksusa viksase svatanayam priyam yatha || Ibid., ( IV. 28 & 30 ) ma krtha bahumatam mahamate putravanmayi rasam kurusva ca | asti te madanuragakaranam sruyatam madana yannivedyate ||

33 In course of time, you are born as the son of Krishna and Rukmini. You should act in such a manner that your mother would be credited by the honour of Viramata. While you were just seven days old, this great demon Sambara threw into the sea, where a fish swallowed you; and from the bowels of that, you have reached this residence of Sambara; therefore I could see you. Now you are to attend to your duty of destroying your enemy Sambarasura, and gratify your mother Rukmini who is very affectionate towards you.° 62 63 Listening to the words of Mayavati, Pradyumna realized his duty. Being empowered by his wife, Pradyumna immediately went before Sambara, and challenged him to a combat. Pradyumna was able to counteract Sambara's strength. When Sambarasura was defeated in 62. 63. → amcayanvirahinam ca pamcatam pamcabana iti yah prapamcyate | satyameva kila madhavapriyah purvajanmani jananuramjanah || jyotsnayeva saradimdurabudhirvelayeva ca dhiyeva kovidah | chayayeva purusastada muda tvam maya dayitaya'nvagamyathah || tvam sakhayamamaravatipateratmavistaravarardhabhoginam | sevakamarasirassikhamanisrenisonakirana vyarocayan || mamasesajagadamganajano nabhyasuyati sarupato'dhikam | sevyameva hrdayam srjan striya mayyanugrahamiva vyadhadvidhih || itthamutthitavibhutikasthayoravayoratiratoparaktayoh | hamta viprakrtimatanoddharascakravakavayasoh pradosavat || asthite tvayi tada dasamtaram mlanatamahamaho muhurgata | patite drumavare yatha lata patita svayamiyam nirasraya || Ibid., (IV. 33, 34, 36-40) sa'surasya grhini grhe'bhavam vamcakam tamapi vamcayantyaham | mayini tava sati pratiksanam catakiva jaladasya kurvati || nisprabha surapuri tvaya vina mamdita tridasamamdalairabhut | hrdyahemavalaya hyalamkrta bhati naiva vigatamsuka vadhuh || gacchata vidhibaladanehasa dvarakapatitanujatam gatah | rukminim priyatamam gadabhrto virasuriti jagatsvavapithah || jatamatramapaniya mayaya praksipajjalanidhau mahasurah | tvamadrsya iva susrumah sriyah ko hyadrsya iha madhavasya kah | tvam kathamcidiha daivayogato jalikairjalanidherihahrtah | piyase sma sarasam drsa maya camdrama iva cakorakanyaya || Ibid., (IV. 41, 42, 44, 45, 46 ) tatkurusva samanam suradviso mayaya sakalaya samahitah | modayasu jananim nijamajam nityatustimapi putravatsalam || Ibid., (IV. 48 )

34 every respect Pradyumna took his sharpened sword and immediately cut off his head. Pradyumna then went to Dvaraka together with his consort Mayavati.64 Rukmini was greatly amazed to find his son Pradyumna who was approaching the inner-section of the palace of Lord Krsna. 65 Then Pradyumna married Rukmavati, daughter of Rukmi. In course of time, Aniruddha was born to the couple Pradyumna-Rukmavati. Having seen His similarities in valour, strenght, splendour etc. with Aniruddha, Lord Krsna was overjoyed. Aniruddha attained prime youth, and advanced in utmost beauty, and became the centre of attraction for all young ladies in Dwaraka.66

64. 65. tam nihatya danujam tamassamam tamupetya ramanimumopamam | dvarakamudayavedikasucim praptavanharisuto ravidyutih || Ibid., (IV.50) apatamtamibharajagaminam mamdiram bhagavato'tisumdaram | rukmini sukhacidatmika'pyamum viksya tatksanamivatimohita || Ibid., (IV.51) 66. tadanu makaraketoraurasasyorukirteravikalarucirodyadyauvanasyatmajasya | yadukulayuvatinamakulabhrulatanam nayanasukhavilasasthanamasinmukhasrih || Ibid., (IV. 57 )