> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > ******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Fifty-five: The History of Pradyumna

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > kâmas tu vâsudevâms'o

> > dagdhah prâg rudra-manyunâ

> > dehopapattaye bhûyas

> > tam eva pratyapadyata

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; kâmah - Cupid; tu - and; vâsudeva - of Lord Vâsudeva; ams'ah - the expansion; dagdhah - burned; prâk - previously; rudra - of Lord S'iva; manyunâ - by the anger; deha - a body; upapattaye - in order to obtain; bhûyah - again; tam - to Him, Lord Vâsudeva; eva - indeed; pratyapadyat - came back.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Kâmadeva [Cupid], an expansion of Vâsudeva, had previously been burned to ashes by Rudra's anger. Now, to obtain a new body, he merged back into the body of Lord Vâsudeva.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > sa eva jâto vaidarbhyâm

> > krishna-vîrya-samudbhavah

> > pradyumna iti vikhyâtah

> > sarvato 'navamah pituh

> > sah - He; eva - indeed; jâtah - taking birth; vaidarbhyâm - in the daughter of the king of Vidarbha; krishna-vîrya - from the seed of Lord Krishna; samudbhavah - generated; pradyumnah - Pradyumna; iti - thus; vikhyâtah - known; sarvatah - in all aspects; anavamah - not inferior; pituh - to His father.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He took birth in the womb of Vaidarbhî from the seed of Lord Krishna and received the name Pradyumna. In no respect was He inferior to His father.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > tam s'ambarah kâma-rûpî

> > hritvâ tokam anirdas'am

> > sa viditvâtmanah s'atrum

> > prâsyodanvaty agâd griham

> > tam - Him; s'ambarah - the demon S'ambara; kâma - as he desired; rûpî - assuming forms; hritvâ - stealing; tokam - the child; anih-das'am - not yet ten days old; sah - he (S'ambara); viditvâ - recognizing; âtmanah - his own; s'atrum - enemy; prâsya - throwing; udanvati - into the sea; agât - went; griham - to his home.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demon S'ambara, who could assume any form he desired, kidnapped the infant before He was even ten days old. Understanding Pradyumna to be his enemy, S'ambara threw Him into the sea and then returned home.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > tam nirjagâra balavân

> > mînah so 'py aparaih saha

> > vrito jâlena mahatâ

> > grihîto matsya-jîvibhih

> > tam - Him; nirjagâra - swallowed; bala-vân - powerful; mînah - a fish; sah - he (the fish); api - and; aparaih - others; saha - together with; vritah - enveloped; jâlena - with a net; mahatâ - huge; grihîtah - seized; matsya-jîvibhih - by fishermen (who gain their livelihood from fish).

> > TRANSLATION

> > A powerful fish swallowed Pradyumna, and this fish, along with others, was caught in a huge net and seized by fishermen.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > tam s'ambarâya kaivartâ

> > upâjahrur upâyanam

> > sûdâ mahânasam nîtvâ-

> > vadyan sudhitinâdbhutam

> > tam - it (the fish); s'ambarâya - to S'ambara; kaivartâh - the fishermen; upâjahruh - presented; upâyanam - the offering; sûdâh - the cooks; mahânasam - to the kitchen; nîtvâ - bringing; avadyan - cut it up; sudhitinâ - with a butcher knife; adbhutam - amazing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The fishermen presented that extraordinary fish to S'ambara, who had his cooks bring it to the kitchen, where they began cutting it up with a butcher knife.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > drishthvâ tad-udare bâlam

> > mâyâvatyai nyavedayan

> > nârado 'kathayat sarvam

> > tasyâh s'ankita-cetasah

> > bâlasya tattvam utpattim

> > matsyodara-nives'anam

> > drishthvâ - seeing; tat - in its; udare - belly; bâlam - a child; mâyâvatyai - to Mâyâvatî; nyavedayan - they gave; nâradah - Nârada Muni; akathayat - related; sarvam - all; tasyâh - to her; s'ankita - astonished; cetasah - whose mind; bâlasya - of the child; tattvam - the facts; utpattim - the birth; matsya - of the fish; udara - in the abdomen; nives'anam - the entrance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing a male child in the belly of the fish, the cooks gave the infant to Mâyâvatî, who was astonished. Nârada Muni then appeared and explained to her everything about the child's birth and His entering the fish's abdomen.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 7 - 8

> > sâ ca kâmasya vai patnî

> > ratir nâma yas'asvinî

> > patyur nirdagdha-dehasya

> > dehotpattim pratîkshatî

> > nirûpitâ s'ambarena

> > sâ sûdaudana-sâdhane

> > kâmadevam s'is'um buddhvâ

> > cakre sneham tadârbhake

> > sâ - she; ca - and; kâmasya - of Cupid; vai - in fact; patnî - the wife; ratih nama - named Rati; yas'asvinî - famous; patyuh - of her husband; nirdagdha - burnt to ashes; dehasya - whose body; deha - of a body; utpattim - the attainment; pratîkshatî - waiting;

> > nirûpitâ - appointed; s'ambarena - by S'ambara; sâ - she; sûda- odana - of vegetables and rice; sâdhane - in the preparation; kâma-devam - as Cupid; s'is'um - the infant; buddhvâ - understanding; cakre - she developed; sneham - love; tadâ - then; arbhake - for the child.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mâyâvatî was in fact Cupid's renowned wife, Rati. While waiting for her husband to obtain a new body - his previous one having been burnt up - she had been assigned by S'ambara to prepare vegetables and rice. Mâyâvatî understood that this infant was actually Kâmadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > nâti-dîrghena kâlena

> > sa kârshni rûdha-yauvanah

> > janayâm âsa nârînâm

> > vîkshantînâm ca vibhramam

> > na - not; ati-dîrghena - very long; kâlena - after a time; sah - He; kârshnih - the son of Krishna; rûdha - attaining; yauvanah - full youth; janayâm âsa - generated; nârînâm - for the women; vîkshantînâm - who looked upon Him; ca - and; vibhramam - enchantment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After a short time, this son of Krishna - Pradyumna - attained His full youth. He enchanted all women who gazed upon Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sâ tam patim padma-dalâyatekshanam

> > pralamba-bâhum nara-loka-sundaram

> > sa-vrîda-hâsottabhita-bhruvekshatî

> > prîtyopatasthe ratir anga saurataih

> > sâ - she; tam - Him; patim - her husband; padma - of a lotus flower; dala- âyata - spread wide like the petals; îkshanam - whose eyes; pralamba - extended; bâhum - whose arms; nara-loka - of human society; sundaram - the greatest object of beauty; sa-vrîda - bashful; hâsa - with a smile; uttabhita - upraised; bhruvâ - and with eyebrows; îkshatî - glancing; prîtyâ - lovingly; upatasthe - approached; ratih - Rati; anga - my dear (King Parîkchit); saurataih - with gestures indicative of conjugal attraction.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, with a bashful smile and raised eyebrows, Mâyâvatî exhibited various gestures of conjugal attraction as she lovingly approached her husband, whose eyes were broad like the petals of a lotus, whose arms were very long and who was the most beautiful of men.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > tâm aha bhagavân kârshnir

> > mâtas te matir anyathâ

> > mâtri-bhâvam atikramya

> > vartase kâminî yathâ

> > tâm - to her; âha - said; bhagavân - the Lord; kârshnih - Pradyumna; mâtah - O mother; te - your; matih - attitude; anyathâ - otherwise; mâtri-bhâvam - the mood or affection of a mother; atikramya - overstepping; vartase - you are acting; kâminî - a girlfriend; yathâ - like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Pradyumna told her, "O mother, your attitude has changed. You are overstepping the proper feelings of a mother and behaving like a lover."

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > ratir uvâca

> > bhavân nârâyana-sutah

> > s'ambarena hrito grihât

> > aham te 'dhikritâ patnî

> > ratih kâmo bhavân prabho

> > ratih uvâca - Rati said; bhavân - You; nârâyana-suta h - the son of Lord Nârâyana; s'ambarena - by S'ambara; hritah - stolen; grihât - from Your home; aham - I; te - Your; adhikritâ - legitimate; patnî - wife; ratih - Rati; kâmah - Cupid; bhavân - You; prabho - O master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Rati said: You are the son of Lord Nârâyana and were kidnapped from Your parents' home by S'ambara. I, Rati, am Your legitimate wife, O master, because You are Cupid.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > esha tvânirdas'am sindhâv

> > akshipac chambaro 'surah

> > matsyo 'grasît tad-udarâd

> > itah prâpto bhavân prabho

> > eshah - he; tvâ - You; anih-das'am - not yet ten days old; sindhau - into the sea; akshipat - threw; s'ambarah - S'ambara; asurah - the demon; matsyah - a fish; agrasît - devoured; tat - its; udarât - from the belly; itah - here; prâptah - obtained; bhavân - You; prabho - O master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That demon, S'ambara, threw You into the sea when You were not even ten days old, and a fish swallowed You. Then in this very place we recovered You from the fish's abdomen, O master.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > tam imam jahi durdharsham

> > durjayam s'atrum âtmanah

> > mâyâ-s'ata-vidam tam ca

> > mâyâbhir mohanâdibhih

> > tam imam - him; jahi - please kill; durdharsham - who is difficult to approach; durjayam - and difficult to conquer; s'atrum - enemy; âtmanah - Your own; mâyâ - magic spells; s'ata - hundreds; vidam - who knows; tam - him; ca - and; mâyâbhih - by magic spells; mohana-âdibhih - of bewilderment and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now kill this dreadful S'ambara, Your formidable enemy. Although he knows hundreds of magic spells, You can defeat him with bewildering magic and other techniques.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > parîs'ocati te mâtâ

> > kurarîva gata-prajâ

> > putra-snehâkulâ dînâ

> > vivatsâ gaur ivâturâ

> > paris'ocati - is crying; te - Your; mâtâ - mother (Rukminî); kurarî iva - like an osprey; gata - gone; prajâ - whose son; putra - for her child; sneha - by love; âkulâ - overwhelmed; dînâ - pitiful; vivatsâ - deprived of its calf; gauh - a cow; iva - as; âturâ - extremely distressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Your poor mother, having lost her son, cries for You like a kurarî bird. She is overwhelmed with love for her child, just like a cow that has lost its calf.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > prabhâshyaivam dadau vidyâm

> > pradyumnâya mahâtmane

> > mâyâvatî mahâ-mâyâm

> > sarva-mâyâ-vinâs'inîm

> > prabhâshya - speaking; evam - thus; dadau - gave; vidyâm - mystic knowledge; pradyumnâya - to Pradyumna; mahâ-âtmane - the great soul; mâyâvatî - Mâyâvatî; mahâ-mâyâm - known as Mahâ-mâyâ; sarva - all; mâyâ - deluding spells; vinâs'inîm - which destroys.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued:] Speaking thus, Mâyâvatî gave to the great soul Pradyumna the mystic knowledge called Mahâmâyâ, which vanquishes all other deluding spells.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > sa ca s'ambaram abhyetya

> > samyugâya samâhvayat

> > avishahyais tam âkshepaih

> > kshipan san'janayan kalim

> > sah - He; ca - and; s'ambaram - S'ambara; abhyetya - approaching; samyugâya - to battle; samâhvayat - called him; avishahyaih - intolerable; tam - him; âkshepaih - with insults; kshipan - reviling; san'janayan - inciting; kalim - a fight.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Pradyumna approached S'ambara and called him to battle, hurling intolerable insults at him to foment a conflict.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > so 'dhikshipto durvâcobhih

> > padâhata ivoragah

> > nis'cakrâma gadâ-pânir

> > amarshât tâmra-locanah

> > sah - he, S'ambara; adhikshiptah - insulted; durvâcobhih - by harsh words; padâ - by a foot; âhatah - struck; iva - like; uragah - a snake; nis'cakrâma - came out; gadâ - a club; pânih - in his hand; amarshât - out of intolerant anger; tâmra - copper-red; locanah - whose eyes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Offended by these harsh words, S'ambara became as agitated as a kicked snake. He came out, club in hand, his eyes red with rage.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > gadâm âvidhya tarasâ

> > pradyumnâya mahâtmane

> > prakshipya vyanadan nâdam

> > vajra-nishpesha-nishthhuram

> > gadâm - his club; âvidhya - whirling; tarasâ - swiftly; pradyumnâya - at Pradyumna; mahâ-âtmane - the wise; prakshipya - threw; vyanadan nâdam - creating a resonance; vajra - of lightning; nishpesha - the striking; nishthhuram - as sharp.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ambara whirled his club swiftly about and then hurled it at the wise Pradyumna, producing a sound as sharp as a thunder crack.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > tâm âpatantîm bhagavân

> > pradyumno gadayâ gadâm

> > apâsya s'atrave kruddhah

> > prâhinot sva-gadâm nripa

> > tâm - that; âpatantîm - flying toward Him; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; pradyumnah - Pradyumna; gadayâ - with His club; gadâm - the club; apâsya - driving off; s'atrave - at His enemy; kruddhah - angered; prâhinot - He threw; sta- gadâm - His own club; nripa - O King (Parîkchit).

> > TRANSLATION

> > As S'ambara's club came flying toward Him, Lord Pradyumna knocked it away with His own. Then, O King, Pradyumna angrily threw His club at the enemy.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > sa ca mâyâm samâs'ritya

> > daiteyîm maya-dars'itam

> > mumuce 'stra-mayam varsham

> > kârshnau vaihâyaso 'surah

> > sah - he, S'ambara; ca - and; mâyâm - magic; samâs'ritya - resorting to; daiteyîm - demoniac; maya - by Maya Dânava; dars'itam - shown; mumuce - he released; astra-mayam - of weapons; varsham - a rainfall; kârshnau - upon the son of Krishna; vaihâyasah - standing in the sky; asurah - the demon.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Resorting to the black magic of the Daityas taught to him by Maya Dânava, S'ambara suddenly appeared in the sky and released a downpour of weapons upon Krishna's son.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > bâdhyamâno 'stra-varshena

> > raukmineyo mahâ-rathah

> > sattvâtmikâm mahâ-vidyâm

> > sarva-mâyopamardinîm

> > bâdhyamânah - harassed; astra - of weapons; varshena - by the rain; raukmineyah - Pradyumna, son of Rukminî; mahâ-rathah - the powerful warrior; sattva-âtmikâm - produced of the mode of goodness; mahâ-vidyâm - (He utilized) the mystic knowledge called Mahâ-mâyâ; sarva - all; mayâ - magic; upamardinîm - which overcomes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Harassed by this rain of weapons, Lord Raukmineya, the greatly powerful warrior, made use of the mystic science called Mahâ-mâyâ, which was created from the mode of goodness and which could defeat all other mystic power.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > tato gauhyaka-gândharva-

> > pais'âcoraga-râkshasîh

> > prâyunkta s'atas'o daityah

> > kârshnir vyadhamayat sa tâh

> > tatah - then; gauhyaka-gândharva-pais'âca-uraga-râkshasîh - (weapons) of the Guhyakas, Gandharvas, witches, celestial serpents and Râkshasas (man- eaters); prâyunkta - he used; s'atas'ah - hundreds; daityah - the demon; kârshnih - Lord Pradyumna; vyadhamayat - struck down; sah - He; tâh - these.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The demon then unleashed hundreds of mystic weapons belonging to the Guhyakas, Gandharvas, Pis'âcas, Uragas and Râkshasas, but Lord Kârshni, Pradyumna, struck them all down.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > nis'âtam asim udyamya

> > sa-kirîtham sa-kundalam

> > s'ambarasya s'irah kâyât

> > tâmra-s'mas'rv ojasâharat

> > nis'âtam - sharp-edged; asim - His sword; udyamya - raising; sa - with; kirîtham - helmet; sa - with; kundalam - earrings; s'ambarasya - of S'ambara; s'irah - the head; kâyât - from his body; tâmra - copper-colored; s'mas'ru - whose mustache; ojasâ - with force; aharat - He removed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Drawing His sharp-edged sword, Pradyumna forcefully cut off S'ambara's head, complete with red mustache, helmet and earrings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > âkîryamâno divi-jaih

> > stuvadbhih kusumotkaraih

> > bhâryayâmbara-cârinyâ

> > puram nîto vihâyasâ

> > âkîryamânah - being showered; divi-jaih - by the residents of heaven; stuvadbhih - who were offering praise; kusuma - of flowers; utkaraih - with the scattering; bhâryayâ - by His wife; ambara - in the sky; cârinyâ - who was traveling; puram - to the city (Dvârakâ); nîtah - He was brought; vihâyasâ - through the sky.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the residents of the higher planets showered Pradyumna with flowers and chanted His praises, His wife appeared in the sky and transported Him through the heavens, back to the city of Dvârakâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > antah-pura-varam râjan

> > lalanâ-s'ata-sankulam

> > vives'a patnyâ gaganâd

> > vidyuteva balâhakah

> > antah-pura - the inner palace; varam - most excellent; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); lalanâ - lovely women; s'ata - with hundreds; sankulam - crowded; vives'a - He entered; patnyâ - with His wife; gaganât - from the sky; vidyutâ - with lightning; iva - as; balâhakah - a cloud.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, Lord Pradyumna and His wife resembled a cloud accompanied by lightning as they descended from the sky into the inner quarters of Krishna's most excellent palace, which were crowded with lovely women.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 27 - 28

> > tam drishthvâ jalada-s'yâmam

> > pîta-kaus'eya-vâsasam

> > pralamba-bâhum tâmrâksham

> > su-smitam rucirânanam

> > sv-alankrita-mukhâmbhojam

> > nîla-vakrâlakâlibhih

> > krishnam matvâ striyo hrîtâ

> > nililyus tatra tatra ha

> > tam - Him; drishthvâ - seeing; jala-da - like a cloud; s'yâmam - of dark blue complexion; pîta - yellow; kaus'eya - silk; vâsasam - whose dress; pralamba - long; bâhum - whose arms; tâmra - reddish; aksham - whose eyes; su-smitam - with a pleasing smile; rucira - charming; ânanam - face;

> > su-alankrita - nicely decorated; mukha - face; ambhojam - lotuslike; nîla - blue; vakra - curling; âlaka- âlibhih - with locks of hair; krishnam - Krishna; matvâ - thinking Him; striyah - the women; hrîtâh - becoming bashful; nililyuh - hid themselves; tatra tatra - here and there; ha - indeed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > avadhârya s'anair îshad

> > vailakshanyena yoshitah

> > upajagmuh pramuditâh

> > sa-strî ratnam su-vismitâh

> > avadhârya - realizing; s'anaih - gradually; îshat - slight; vailakshanyena - by the difference of appearance; yoshitah - the ladies; upajagmuh - they came near; pramuditâh - delighted; sa - together with; strî - of women; ratnam - the jewel; su- vismitah - very surprised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Gradually, from the slight differences between His appearance and Krishna's, the ladies realized He was not the Lord. Delighted and astonished, they approached Pradyumna and His consort, who was a jewel among women.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > atha tatrâsitâpângî

> > vaidarbhî valgu-bhâshinî

> > asmarat sva-sutam nashtham

> > sneha-snuta-payodharâ

> > atha - then; tatra - there; asita - black; apângî - the corners of whose eyes; vaidarbhî - Queen Rukminî; valgu - sweet; bhâshinî - whose speaking; asmarat - remembered; sva-sutam - her son; nashtham - lost; sneha - out of love; snuta - having become moist; payah-dharâ - whose breasts.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing Pradyumna, sweet-voiced, dark-eyed Rukminî remembered her lost son, and her breasts became moist out of affection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > ko nv ayam nara-vaidûryah

> > kasya vâ kamalekshanah

> > dhritah kayâ vâ jathhare

> > keyam labdhâ tv anena vâ

> > kah - who; nu - indeed; ayam - this; nara-vaidûryah - gem among men; kasya - whose (son); vâ - and; kamala-îkshanah - lotus-eyed; dhritah - carried; kayâ - by what woman; vâ - and; jathhare - in her womb; kâ - who; iyam - this woman; labdhâ - obtained; tu - moreover; anena - by Him; vâ - and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [S'rîmatî Rukminî-devî said:] Who is this lotus-eyed jewel among men? What man's son is He, and what woman carried Him in her womb? And who is this woman He has taken as His wife?

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > mama câpy âtmajo nashtho

> > nîto yah sûtikâ-grihât

> > etat-tulya-vayo-rûpo

> > yadi jîvati kutracit

> > mama - my; ca - and; api - also; âtmajah - son; nashthah - lost; nîtah - taken; yah - who; sûtikâ-grihât - from the maternity room; etat - to Him; tulya - equal; vayah - in age; rûpah - and appearance; yadi - if; jîvati - He is living; kutracit - somewhere.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If my lost son, who was kidnapped from the maternity room, were still alive somewhere, He would be of the same age and appearance as this young man.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > katham tv anena samprâptam

> > sârûpyam s'ârnga-dhanvanah

> > âkrityâvayavair gatyâ

> > svara-hâsâvalokanaih

> > katham - how; tu - but; anena - by Him; samprâptam - obtained; sârûpyam - the same appearance; s'ârnga-dhanvanah - as Krishna, the wielder of the S'ârnga bow; âkrityâ - in bodily form; avayavaih - limbs; gatyâ - gait; svara - tone of voice; hâsa - smile; avalokanaih - and glance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > But how is it that this young man so much resembles my own Lord, Krishna, the wielder of S'ârnga, in His bodily form and His limbs, in His gait and the tone of His voice, and in His smiling glance?

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > sa eva vâ bhaven nûnam

> > yo me garbhe dhrito 'rbhakah

> > amushmin prîtir adhikâ

> > vâmah sphurati me bhujah

> > sah - He; eva - indeed; vâ - or else; bhavet - must be; nûnam - for certain; yah - who; me - my; garbhe - in the womb; dhritah - was carried; arbhakah - child; amushmin - for Him; prîtih - affection; adhikâ - great; vâmah - left; sphurati - trembles; me - my; bhujah - arm.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Yes, He must be the same child I bore in my womb, since I feel great affection for Him and my left arm is quivering.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > evam mîmâmsamanâyâm

> > vaidarbhyâm devakî-sutah

> > devaky-ânakadundubhyâm

> > uttamah-s'loka âgamat

> > evam - thus; mîmâmsamânâyâm - as she was conjecturing; vaidarbhyâm - Queen Rukminî; devakî-sutah - the son of Devakî; devakî-ânakadundubhyâm - together with Devakî and Vasudeva; uttamah-s'lokah - Lord Krishna; âgamat - came there.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Queen Rukminî conjectured in this way, Lord Krishna, the son of Devakî, arrived on the scene with Vasudeva and Devakî.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > vijn'âtârtho 'pi bhagavâms

> > tûshnîm âsa janârdanah

> > nârado 'kathayat sarvam

> > s'ambarâharanâdikam

> > vijn'âta - understanding fully; arthah - the matter; api - even though; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tûshnîm - silent; âsa - remained; janârdanah - Krishna; nâradah - Nârada Muni; akathayat - recounted; sarvam - everything; s'ambara - by S'ambara; âharana - the kidnapping; âdikam - beginning with.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although Lord Janârdana knew perfectly well what had transpired, He remained silent. The sage Nârada, however, explained everything, beginning with S'ambara's kidnapping of the child.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > tac chrutvâ mahad âs'caryam

> > krishnântah-pura-yoshitah

> > abhyanandan bahûn abdân

> > nashtham mritam ivâgatam

> > tat - that; s'rutvâ - hearing; mahat - great; âs'caryam - wonder; krishna-antah-pura - of Lord Krishna's personal residence; yoshitah - the women; abhyanandan - they greeted; bahûn - for many; abdân - years; nashtham - lost; mritam - someone dead; iva - as if; âgatam - returned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the women of Lord Krishna's palace heard this most amazing account, they joyfully greeted Pradyumna, who had been lost for many years but who had now returned as if from the dead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > devakî vasudevas' ca

> > krishna-râmau tathâ striyah

> > dampatî tau parishvajya

> > rukminî ca yayur mudam

> > devakî - Devakî; vasudevah - Vasudeva; ca - and; krishna-râmau - Krishna and Balarâma; tathâ - also; striyah - the women; dam-patî - man and wife; tau - these two; parishvajya - embracing; rukminî - Rukminî; ca - and; yayuh mudam - they became full of joy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Devakî, Vasudeva, Krishna, Balarâma and all the women of the palace, especially Queen Rukminî, embraced the young couple and rejoiced.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > nashtham pradyumnam âyâtam

> > âkarnya dvârakaukasah

> > aho mrita ivâyâto

> > bâlo dishthyeti hâbruvan

> > nashtham - lost; pradyumnam - Pradyumna; âyâtam - returned; âkarnya - hearing; dvârakâ-okasah - the residents of Dvârakâ; aho - ah; mritah - dead; iva - as if; âyâtah - come back; bâlah - the child; dishthyâ - by the favor of providence; iti - thus; ha - indeed; abruvan - they spoke.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hearing that lost Pradyumna had come home, the residents of Dvârakâ declared, "Ah, providence has allowed this child to return as if from death!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > yam vai muhuh pitri-sarûpa-nijes'a-bhâvâs

> > tan-mâtaro yad abhajan raha-rûdha-bhâvâh

> > citram na tat khalu ramâspada-bimba-bimbe

> > kâme smare 'ksha-vishaye kim utânya-nâryah

> > yam - whom; vai - indeed; muhuh - repeatedly; pitri - His father; sa-rûpa - who exactly resembled; nija - as their own; îs'a - master; bhâvâh - who thought of Him; tat - His; mâtarah - mothers; yat - inasmuch as; abhajan - they worshiped; raha - in privacy; rûdha - full-blown; bhâvâh - whose ecstatic attraction; citram - amazing; na - not; tat - that; khalu - indeed; ramâ - of the goddess of fortune; âspada - of the shelter (Lord Krishna); bimba - of the form; bimbe - who was the reflection; kâme - lust personified; smare - Cupid; aksha-vishaye - when He was before their eyes; kim uta - what then to speak of; anya - other; nâryah - women.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It is not astonishing that the palace women, who should have felt maternal affection for Pradyumna, privately felt ecstatic attraction for Him as if He were their own Lord. After all, the son exactly resembled His father. Indeed, Pradyumna was a perfect reflection of the beauty of Lord Krishna, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, and appeared before their eyes as Cupid Himself. Since even those on the level of His mother felt conjugal attraction for Him, then what to speak of how other women felt when they saw Him?

> > Back to the running text