Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa
VERSE 10.83.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
tathānugṛhya bhagavān
gopīnāṁ sa gurur gatiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiram athāpṛcchat
sarvāṁś ca suhṛdo ’vyayam
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tathā — in this way; anugṛhya — showing favor; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; gopīnām — of the young cowherd women; saḥ — He; guruḥ — their spiritual master; gatiḥ — and goal; yudhiṣṭhiram — from Yudhiṣṭhira; atha — then; apṛcchat — He inquired; sarvān — all; ca — and; su-hṛdaḥ — His well-wishing relatives; avyayam — welfare.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the gopīs and the very purpose of their life, showed them His mercy. He then met with Yudhiṣṭhira and all His other relatives and inquired from them about their welfare.
VERSE 10.83.2
ta evaṁ loka-nāthena
paripṛṣṭāḥ su-sat-kṛtāḥ
pratyūcur hṛṣṭa-manasas
tat-pādekṣā-hatāṁhasaḥ
SYNONYMS
te — they (Yudhiṣṭhira and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s other relatives); evam — thus; loka — of the universe; nāthena — by the Lord; paripṛṣṭāḥ — questioned; su — very much; sat-kṛtāḥ — honored; pratyūcuḥ — replied; hṛṣṭa — joyful; manasaḥ — whose minds; tat — His; pāda — the feet; īkṣā — by seeing; hata — destroyed; aṁhasaḥ — whose sins.
TRANSLATION
Feeling greatly honored, King Yudhiṣṭhira and the others, freed of all sinful reactions by seeing the feet of the Lord of the universe, gladly answered His inquiries.
VERSE 10.83.3
kuto ’śivaṁ tvac-caraṇāmbujāsavaṁ
mahan-manasto mukha-niḥsṛtaṁ kvacit
pibanti ye karṇa-puṭair alaṁ prabho
dehaṁ-bhṛtāṁ deha-kṛd-asmṛti-cchidam
SYNONYMS
kutaḥ — from where; aśivam — inauspiciousness; tvat — Your; caraṇa — of the feet; ambuja — lotuslike; āsavam — the intoxicating nectar; mahat — of great souls; manastaḥ — from the minds; mukha — through their mouths; niḥsṛtam — poured out; kvacit — at any time; pibanti — drink; ye — who; karṇa — of their ears; puṭaiḥ — with the drinking cups; alam — as much as they wish; prabho — O master; deham — material bodies; bhṛtām — for those who possess; deha — of bodies; kṛt — about the creator; asmṛti — of forgetfulness; chidam — the eradicator.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Kṛṣṇa’s relatives said:] O master, how can misfortune arise for those who have even once freely drunk the nectar coming from Your lotus feet? This intoxicating liquor pours into the drinking cups of their ears, having flowed from the minds of great devotees through their mouths. It destroys the embodied souls’ forgetfulness of the creator of their bodily existence.
VERSE 10.83.4
hi tvātma dhāma-vidhutātma-kṛta-try-avasthām
ānanda-samplavam akhaṇḍam akuṇṭha-bodham
kālopasṛṣṭa-nigamāvana ātta-yoga-
māyākṛtiṁ paramahaṁsa-gatiṁ natāḥ sma
SYNONYMS
hi — indeed; tvā — to You; ātma — of Your personal form; dhāma — by the illumination; vidhuta — dispelled; ātma — by material consciousness; kṛta — created; tri — three; avasthām — the material conditions; ānanda — in ecstasy; samplavam — (within whom is) the total immersion; akhaṇḍam — unlimited; akuṇṭha — unrestricted; bodham — whose knowledge; kāla — by time; upasṛṣṭa — endangered; nigama — of the Vedas; avane — for the protection; ātta — having assumed; yoga-māyā — by Your divine power of illusion; ākṛtim — this form; parama-haṁsa — of perfect saints; gatim — the goal; natāḥ sma — (we) have bowed down.
TRANSLATION
The radiance of Your personal form dispels the threefold effects of material consciousness, and by Your grace we become immersed in total happiness. Your knowledge is indivisible and unrestricted. By Your Yoga-māyā potency You have assumed this human form for protecting the Vedas, which had been threatened by time. We bow down to You, the final destination of perfect saints.
VERSE 10.83.5
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca
ity uttamaḥ-śloka-śikhā-maṇiṁ janeṣv
abhiṣṭuvatsv andhaka-kaurava-striyaḥ
sametya govinda-kathā mitho ’gṛnaṁs
tri-loka-gītāḥ śṛṇu varṇayāmi te
SYNONYMS
śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the great sage, Śukadeva, said; iti — thus; uttamaḥ-śloka — of great personalities who are glorified in choice poetry; śikhā-maṇim — the crest jewel (Lord Kṛṣṇa); janeṣu — His devotees; abhiṣṭuvatsu — while they were glorifying; andhaka-kaurava — of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans; striyaḥ — the women; sametya — meeting; govinda-kathāḥ — topics of Lord Govinda; mithaḥ — among one another; agṛṇan — spoke; tri — three; loka — in the worlds; gītāḥ — sung; śṛṇu — please hear; varṇayāmi — I will describe; te — to you (Parīkṣit Mahārāja).
TRANSLATION
The great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As Yudhiṣṭhira and the others were thus praising Lord Kṛṣṇa, the crest jewel of all sublimely glorified personalities, the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans met with one another and began discussing topics about Govinda that are sung throughout the three worlds. Please listen as I relate these to you.
VERSE 10.83.6-7
śrī-draupady uvāca
he vaidarbhy acyuto bhadre
he jāmbavati kauśale
he satyabhāme kālindi
śaibye rohiṇi lakṣmaṇe
he kṛṣṇa-patnya etan no
brūte vo bhagavān svayam
upayeme yathā lokam
anukurvan sva-māyayā
SYNONYMS
śrī-draupadī uvāca — Śrī Draupadī said; he vaidarbhi — O daughter of Vaidarbha (Rukmiṇī); acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhadre — O Bhadrā; he jāmbavati — O daughter of Jāmbavān; kauśale — O Nāgnajitī; he satyabhāme — O Satyabhāmā; kālindi — O Kālindī; śaibye — O Mitravindā; rohiṇi — O Rohiṇī (one of the sixteen thousand queens married after the killing of Narakāsura); lakṣmaṇe — O Lakṣmaṇā; he kṛṣṇa-patnyaḥ — O (other) wives of Kṛṣṇa; etat — this; naḥ — to us; brūte — please speak; vaḥ — you; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; svayam — Himself; upayeme — married; yathā — how; lokam — ordinary society; anukurvan — imitating; sva-māyayā — by His own mystic power.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Draupadī said: O Vaidarbhī, Bhadrā and Jāmbavatī, O Kauśalā, Satyabhāmā and Kālindī, O Śaibyā, Rohiṇī, Lakṣmaṇā and other wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa, please tell me how the Supreme Lord Acyuta, imitating the ways of this world by His mystic power, came to marry each of you.
VERSE 10.83.8
śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
caidyāya mārpayitum udyata-kārmukeṣu
rājasv ajeya-bhaṭa-śekharitāṅghri-reṇuḥ
ninye mṛgendra iva bhāgam ajāvi-yūthāt
tac-chrī-niketa-caraṇo ’stu mamārcanāya
SYNONYMS
śrī-rukmiṇī uvāca — Śrī Rukmiṇī said; caidyāya — to Śiśupāla; mā — me; arpayitum — in order to offer; udyata — holding at the ready; kārmukeṣu — whose bows; rājasu — when the kings; ajeya — invincible; bhaṭa — of soldiers; śekharita — placed upon the heads; aṅghri — of whose feet; reṇuḥ — the dust; ninye — He took away; mṛgendraḥ — a lion; iva — as if; bhāgam — his share; aja — of goats; avi — and sheep; yūthāt — from a group; tat — of Him; śrī — of the supreme goddess of fortune; niketa — who is the abode; caraṇaḥ — the feet; astu — may be; mama — my; arcanāya — for the worship.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Rukmiṇī said: When all the kings held their bows at the ready to assure that I would be presented to Śiśupāla, He who puts the dust of His feet on the heads of invincible warriors took me from their midst, as a lion forcibly takes his prey from the midst of goats and sheep. May I always be allowed to worship those feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the abode of Goddess Śrī.
VERSE 10.83.9
śrī-satyabhāmovāca
yo me sanābhi-vadha-tapta-hṛdā tatena
liptābhiśāpam apamārṣṭum upājahāra
jitvarkṣa-rājam atha ratnam adāt sa tena
bhītaḥ pitādiśata māṁ prabhave ’pi dattām
SYNONYMS
śrī-satyabhāmā uvāca — Śrī Satyabhāmā said; yaḥ — who; me — my; sanābhi — of my brother; vadha — by the killing; tapta — distressed; hṛdā — whose heart; tatena — by my father; lipta — tainted; abhiśāpam — with condemnation; apamārṣṭum — to cleanse away; upājahāra — He removed; jitvā — after defeating; ṛkṣa-rājam — the king of the bears, Jāmbavān; atha — then; ratnam — the jewel (Syamantaka); adāt — gave; saḥ — He; tena — because of this; bhītaḥ — afraid; pitā — my father; adiśata — offered; mām — me; prabhave — to the Lord; api — although; dattām — already given.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Satyabhāmā said: My father, his heart tormented by his brother’s death, accused Kṛṣṇa of killing him. To remove the stain on His reputation, the Lord defeated the king of the bears and took back the Syamantaka jewel, which He then returned to my father. Fearing the consequences of his offense, my father offered me to the Lord, even though I had already been promised to others.
VERSE 10.83.10
śrī-jāmbavaty uvāca
prājñāya deha-kṛd amuṁ nija-nātha-daivaṁ
sītā-patiṁ tri-navahāny amunābhyayudhyat
jñātvā parīkṣita upāharad arhaṇaṁ māṁ
pādau pragṛhya maṇināham amuṣya dāsī
SYNONYMS
śrī-jāmbavatī uvāca — Śrī Jāmbavatī said; prājñāya — unaware; deha — of my body; kṛt — the maker (my father); amum — of Him; nija — his own; nātha — as the master; daivam — and worshipable Deity; sītā — of Goddess Sītā; patim — the husband; tri — three; nava — times nine; ahāni — for days; amunā — with Him; abhyayudhyat — he fought; jñātvā — recognizing; parīkṣitaḥ — awakened to proper understanding; upāharat — he presented; arhaṇam — as a respectful offering; mām — me; pādau — His feet; pragṛhya — taking hold of; maṇinā — with the jewel; aham — I; amuṣya — His; dāsī — maidservant.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Jāmbavatī said: Unaware that Lord Kṛṣṇa was none other than his own master and worshipable Deity, the husband of Goddess Sītā, my father fought with Him for twenty-seven days. When my father finally came to his senses and recognized the Lord, he took hold of His feet and presented Him with both me and the Syamantaka jewel as tokens of his reverence. I am simply the Lord’s maidservant.
VERSE 10.83.11
śrī-kālindy uvāca
tapaś carantīm ājñāya
sva-pāda-sparśanāśayā
sakhyopetyāgrahīt pāṇiṁ
yo ’haṁ tad-gṛha-mārjanī
SYNONYMS
śrī-kālindī uvāca — Śrī Kālindī said; tapaḥ — penances; carantīm — executing; ājñāya — knowing; sva — His; pāda — of the feet; sparśana — for the touch; āśayā — with the desire; sakhyā — together with His friend (Arjuna); upetya — coming; agrahīt — took; pāṇim — my hand; yaḥ — who; aham — I; tat — His; gṛha — of the residence; mārjanī — the cleaner.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Kālindī said: The Lord knew I was performing severe austerities and penances with the hope of one day touching His lotus feet. So He came to me in the company of His friend and took my hand in marriage. Now I am engaged as a sweeper in His palace.
VERSE 10.83.12
śrī-mitravindovāca
yo māṁ svayaṁvara upetya vijitya bhū-pān
ninye śva-yūtha-gaṁ ivātma-baliṁ dvipāriḥ
bhrātṝṁś ca me ’pakurutaḥ sva-puraṁ śriyaukas
tasyāstu me ’nu-bhavam aṅghry-avanejanatvam
SYNONYMS
śrī-mitravindā uvāca — Śrī Mitravindā said; yaḥ — who; mām — me; svayaṁ-vare — during my svayaṁvara (the ceremony in which a princess chooses a husband from a number of eligible suitors); upetya — coming forward; vijitya — after defeating; bhū-pān — kings; ninye — took; śva — of dogs; yūtha — into a group; gam — gone; iva — as if; ātma — own; balim — share; dvipa-ariḥ — a lion (“enemy of elephants”); bhrātṝn — brothers; ca — and; me — my; apakurutaḥ — who were insulting Him; sva — to His; puram — capital city; śrī — of the goddess of fortune; okaḥ — the residence; tasya — His; astu — may be; me — for me; anu-bhavam — life after life; aṅghri — the feet; avanejanatvam — the status of washing.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Mitravindā said: At my svayaṁvara ceremony He came forward, defeated all the kings present — including my brothers, who dared insult Him — and took me away just as a lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life.
VERSE 10.83.13-14
śrī-satyovāca
saptokṣaṇo ’ti-bala-vīrya-su-tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān
pitrā kṛtān kṣitipa-vīrya-parīkṣaṇāya
tān vīra-durmada-hanas tarasā nigṛhya
krīḍan babandha ha yathā śiśavo ’ja-tokān
ya itthaṁ vīrya-śulkāṁ māṁ
dāsībhiś catur-angiṇīm
pathi nirjitya rājanyān
ninye tad-dāsyam astu me
SYNONYMS
śrī-satyā uvāca — Śrī Satyā said; sapta — seven; ukṣaṇaḥ — bulls; ati — great; bala — whose strength; vīrya — and vitality; su — very; tīkṣṇa — sharp; śṛṅgān — whose horns; pitrā — by my father; kṛtān — made; kṣitipa — of the kings; vīrya — the prowess; parīkṣaṇāya — for testing; tān — them (the bulls); vīra — of heroes; durmada — the false pride; hanaḥ — who destroyed; tarasā — quickly; nigṛhya — subduing; krīḍan — playing; babandha ha — He tied up; yathā — as; śiśavaḥ — children; aja — of goats; tokān — the infants; yaḥ — who; ittham — in this manner; vīrya — heroism; śulkām — whose price; mām — me; dāsībhiḥ — with maidservants; catuḥ-aṅgiṇīm — protected by an army of four divisions (chariots, horses, elephants and infantry); pathi — along the road; nirjitya — defeating; rājanyān — the kings; ninye — He took me away; tat — to Him; dāsyam — servitude; astu — may there be; me — my.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Satyā said: My father arranged for seven extremely powerful and vigorous bulls with deadly sharp horns to test the prowess of the kings who desired my hand in marriage. Although these bulls destroyed the false pride of many heroes, Lord Kṛṣṇa subdued them effortlessly, tying them up in the same way that children playfully tie up a goat’s kids. He thus purchased me with His valor. Then He took me away with my maidservants and a full army of four divisions, defeating all the kings who opposed Him along the road. May I be granted the privilege of serving that Lord.
VERSE 10.83.15-16
śrī-bhadrovāca
pitā me mātuleyāya
svayam āhūya dattavān
kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇāya tac-cittām
akṣauhiṇyā sakhī-janaiḥ
asya me pāda-saṁsparśo
bhavej janmani janmani
karmabhir bhrāmyamāṇāyā
yena tac chreya ātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrī-bhadrā uvāca — Śrī Bhadrā said; pitā — father; me — my; mātuleyāya — to my maternal cousin; svayam — of his own accord; āhūya — inviting; dattavān — gave; kṛṣṇe — O Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī); kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; tat — absorbed in whom; cittām — whose heart; akṣauhiṇyā — with an akṣauhiṇī military guard; sakhī-janaiḥ — and with my female companions; asya — His; me — for me; pāda — of the feet; saṁsparśaḥ — the touch; bhavet — may it be; janmani janmani — in one life after another; karmabhiḥ — due to the reactions of material activities; bhrāmyamāṇāyāḥ — who will be wandering; yena — by which; tat — that; śreyaḥ — ultimate perfection; ātmanaḥ — of myself.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Bhadrā said: My dear Draupadī, of his own free will my father invited his nephew Kṛṣṇa, to whom I had already dedicated my heart, and offered me to Him as His bride. My father presented me to the Lord with an akṣauhiṇi military guard and a retinue of my female companions. My ultimate perfection is this: to always be allowed to touch Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet as I wander from life to life, bound by my karma.
VERSE 10.83.17
śrī-lakṣmaṇovāca
mamāpi rājñy acyuta-janma-karma
śrutvā muhur nārada-gītam āsa ha
cittaṁ mukunde kila padma-hastayā
vṛtaḥ su-sammṛśya vihāya loka-pān
SYNONYMS
śrī-lakṣmaṇā uvāca — Śrī Lakṣmaṇā said; mama — my; api — also; rājñi — O Queen; acyuta — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; janma — about the births; karma — and activities; śrutvā — hearing; muhuḥ — repeatedly; nārada — by Nārada Muni; gītam — chanted; āsa ha — became; cittam — my heart; mukunde — (fixed) upon Mukunda; kila — indeed; padma-hastayā — by the supreme goddess of fortune, who holds a lotus in her hand; vṛtaḥ — chosen; su — carefully; sammṛśya — considering; vihāya — rejecting; loka — of planets; pān — the rulers.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Lakṣmaṇā said: O Queen, I repeatedly heard Nārada Muni glorify the appearances and activities of Acyuta, and thus my heart also became attached to that Lord, Mukunda. Indeed, even Goddess Padmahastā chose Him as her husband after careful consideration, rejecting the great demigods who rule various planets.
VERSE 10.83.18
jñātvā mama mataṁ sādhvi
pitā duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ
bṛhatsena iti khyātas
tatropāyam acīkarat
SYNONYMS
jñātvā — knowing; mama — my; matam — mentality; sādhvi — O saintly lady; pitā — my father; duhitṛ — to his daughter; vatsalaḥ — affectionate; bṛhatsenaḥ iti khyātaḥ — known as Bṛhatsena; tatra — toward this end; upāyam — a means; acīkarat — arranged.
TRANSLATION
My father, Bṛhatsena, was by nature compassionate to his daughter, and knowing how I felt, O saintly lady, he arranged to fulfill my desire.
VERSE 10.83.19
yathā svayaṁ-vare rājñi
matsyaḥ pārthepsayā kṛtaḥ
ayaṁ tu bahir ācchanno
dṛśyate sa jale param
SYNONYMS
yathā — just as; svayam-vare — in (your) svayaṁvara ceremony; rājñi — O Queen; matsyaḥ — a fish; pārtha — Arjuna; īpsayā — with the desire of obtaining; kṛtaḥ — made (into a target); ayam — this (fish); tu — however; bahiḥ — outwardly; ācchannaḥ — covered; dṛśyate — was seen; saḥ — it; jale — in water; param — only.
TRANSLATION
Just as a fish was used as a target in your svayaṁvara ceremony, O Queen, to assure that you would obtain Arjuna as your husband, so a fish was also used in my ceremony. In my case, however, it was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.
VERSE 10.83.20
śrutvaitat sarvato bhū-pā
āyayur mat-pituḥ puram
sarvāstra-śastra-tattva-jñāḥ
sopādhyāyāḥ sahasraśaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrutvā — hearing; etat — of this; sarvataḥ — from everywhere; bhū-pāḥ — kings; āyayuḥ — came; mat — my; pituḥ — of the father; puram — to the city; sarva — all; astra — concerning weapons shot as arrows; śastra — and other weapons; tattva — of the science; jñāḥ — expert knowers; sa — along with; upādhyāyāḥ — their teachers; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands.
TRANSLATION
Hearing of this, thousands of kings expert in shooting arrows and in wielding other weapons converged from all directions on my father’s city, accompanied by their military teachers.
VERSE 10.83.21
pitrā sampūjitāḥ sarve
yathā-vīryaṁ yathā-vayaḥ
ādaduḥ sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ
veddhuṁ parṣadi mad-dhiyaḥ
SYNONYMS
pitrā — by my father; sampūjitāḥ — fully honored; sarve — all of them; yathā — according to; vīryam — strength; yathā — according to; vayaḥ — age; ādaduḥ — they took up; sa — with; śaram — arrows; cāpam — the bow; veddhum — to pierce (the target); parṣadi — in the assembly; mat — (fixed) upon me; dhiyaḥ — whose minds.
TRANSLATION
My father properly honored each king according to his strength and seniority. Then those whose minds were fixed on me took up the bow and arrow and one by one tried to pierce the target in the midst of the assembly.
VERSE 10.83.22
ādāya vyasṛjan kecit
sajyaṁ kartum anīśvarāḥ
ā-koṣṭhaṁ jyāṁ samutkṛṣya
petur eke ’munāhatāḥ
SYNONYMS
ādāya — after picking up; vyasṛjan — let go; kecit — some of them; sajyam — strung; kartum — to make it; anīśvarāḥ — unable; ā-koṣṭham — up to the tip (of the bow); jyām — the bowstring; samutkṛṣya — having pulled; petuḥ — fell down; eke — some; amunā — by it (the bow); hatāḥ — hit.
TRANSLATION
Some of them picked up the bow but could not string it, and so they threw it aside in frustration. Some managed to pull the bowstring toward the tip of the bow, only to have the bow spring back and knock them to the ground.
VERSE 10.83.23
sajyaṁ kṛtvāpare vīrā
māgadhāmbaṣṭha-cedipāḥ
bhīmo duryodhanaḥ karṇo
nāvidaṁs tad-avasthitim
SYNONYMS
sajyam — strung; kṛtvā — making (the bow); apare — other; vīrāḥ — heroes; māgadha — the King of Magadha (Jarāsandha); ambaṣṭha — the King of Ambaṣṭha; cedi-pāḥ — the ruler of Cedi (Śiśupāla); bhīmaḥ duryodhanaḥ karṇaḥ — Bhīma, Duryodhana and Karṇa; na avidan — they could not find; tad — of it (the target); avasthitim — the location.
TRANSLATION
A few heroes — namely Jarāsandha, Śiśupāla, Bhīma, Duryodhana, Karṇa and the King of Ambaṣṭha — succeeded in stringing the bow, but none of them could find the target.
VERSE 10.83.24
matsyābhāsaṁ jale vīkṣya
jñātvā ca tad-avasthitim
pārtho yatto ’sṛjad bāṇaṁ
nācchinat paspṛśe param
SYNONYMS
matsya — of the fish; ābhāsam — the reflection; jale — in the water; vīkṣya — looking at; jñātvā — knowing; ca — and; tat — its; avasthitim — location; pārthaḥ — Arjuna; yattaḥ — taking careful aim; asṛjat — shot; bāṇam — the arrow; na acchinat — he did not pierce it; paspṛśe — he touched it; param — only.
TRANSLATION
Then Arjuna looked at the reflection of the fish in the water and determined its position. When he carefully shot his arrow at it, however, he did not pierce the target but merely grazed it.
VERSE 10.83.25-26
rājanyeṣu nivṛtteṣu
bhagna-māneṣu māniṣu
bhagavān dhanur ādāya
sajyaṁ kṛtvātha līlayā
tasmin sandhāya viśikhaṁ
matsyaṁ vīkṣya sakṛj jale
chittveṣuṇāpātayat taṁ
sūrye cābhijiti sthite
SYNONYMS
rājanyeṣu — when the kings; nivṛtteṣu — had given up; bhagna — defeated; māneṣu — whose pride; māniṣu — proud; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; dhanuḥ — the bow; ādāya — taking up; sajyam kṛtvā — stringing it; atha — then; līlayā — as play; tasmin — onto it; sandhāya — fixing; viśikham — the arrow; matsyam — the fish; vīkṣya — looking at; sakṛt — only once; jale — in the water; chittvā — piercing; iṣuṇā — with the arrow; apātayat — He made fall; tam — it; sūrye — when the sun; ca — and; abhijite — in the constellation Abhijit; sthite — situated.
TRANSLATION
After all the arrogant kings had given up, their pride broken, the Supreme Personality of Godhead picked up the bow, easily strung it and then fixed His arrow upon it. As the sun stood in the constellation Abhijit, He looked at the fish in the water only once and then pierced it with the arrow, knocking it to the ground.
VERSE 10.83.27
divi dundubhayo nedur
jaya-śabda-yutā bhuvi
devāś ca kusumāsārān
mumucur harṣa-vihvalāḥ
SYNONYMS
divi — in the sky; dundubhayaḥ — kettledrums; neduḥ — resounded; jaya — “victory”; śabda — the sound; yutāḥ — together with; bhuvi — on the earth; devāḥ — demigods; ca — and; kusuma — of flowers; āsārān — torrents; mumucuḥ — released; harṣa — with joy; vihvalāḥ — overwhelmed.
TRANSLATION
Kettledrums resounded in the sky, and on the earth people shouted “Jaya! Jaya!” Overjoyed, demigods showered flowers.
VERSE 10.83.28
tad raṅgam āviśam ahaṁ kala-nūpurābhyāṁ
padbhyāṁ pragṛhya kanakoijvala-ratna-mālām
nūtne nivīya paridhāya ca kauśikāgrye
sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vadanā kavarī-dhṛta-srak
SYNONYMS
tat — then; raṅgam — the arena; āviśam — entered; aham — I; kala — gently sounding; nūpurābhyām — having ankle bells; padbhyām — with feet; pragṛhya — holding; kanaka — of gold; ujjvala — brilliant; ratna — with jewels; mālām — a necklace; nūtne — new; nivīya — having tied with a belt; paridhāya — wearing; ca — and; kauśika — a pair of silk garments; agrye — excellent; sa-vrīḍa — shy; hāsa — with a smile; vadanā — my face; kavarī — on the locks of my hair; dhṛta — carrying; srak — a wreath of flowers.
TRANSLATION
Just then I walked onto the ceremonial ground, the ankle bells on my feet gently tinkling. I was wearing new garments of the finest silk, tied with a belt, and I carried a brilliant necklace fashioned of gold and jewels. There was a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair.
VERSE 10.83.29
unnīya vaktram uru-kuntala-kuṇḍala-tviḍ-
gaṇḍa-sthalaṁ śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ
rājño nirīkṣya paritaḥ śanakair murārer
aṁse ’nurakta-hṛdayā nidadhe sva-mālām
SYNONYMS
unnīya — lifting; vaktram — my face; uru — abundant; kuntala — with locks of hair; kuṇḍala — of earrings; tviṭ — and with the effulgence; gaṇḍa-sthalam — whose cheeks; śiśira — cooling; hāsa — with a smile; kaṭa-akṣa — of sidelong glances; mokṣaiḥ — and with the casting; rājñaḥ — the kings; nirīkṣya — looking at; paritaḥ — all around; śanakaiḥ — slowly; murāreḥ — of Kṛṣṇa; aṁse — upon the shoulder; anurakta — attracted; hṛdayā — whose heart; nidadhe — I placed; sva — my; mālām — necklace.
TRANSLATION
I lifted my face, which was encircled by my abundant locks and effulgent from the glow of my earrings reflected from my cheeks. Smiling coolly, I glanced about. Then, looking around at all the kings, I slowly placed the necklace on the shoulder of Murāri, who had captured my heart.
VERSE 10.83.30
tāvan mṛdaṅga-paṭahāḥ
śaṅkha-bhery-ānakādayaḥ
ninedur naṭa-nartakyo
nanṛtur gāyakā jaguḥ
SYNONYMS
tāvat — just then; mṛdaṅga-paṭahāḥ — mṛdaṅga and paṭaha drums; śaṅkha — conchshells; bherī — kettledrums; ānaka — large military drums; ādayaḥ — and so on; nineduḥ — resounded; naṭa — male dancers; nartakyaḥ — and female dancers; nanṛtuḥ — danced; gāyakāḥ — singers; jaguḥ — sang.
TRANSLATION
Just then there were loud sounds of conchshells and mṛdaṅga, paṭaha, bherī and ānaka drums, as well as other instruments. Men and women began to dance, and singers began to sing.
VERSE 10.83.31
evaṁ vṛte bhagavati
mayeśe nṛpa-yūthapāḥ
na sehire yājñaseni
spardhanto hṛc-chayāturāḥ
SYNONYMS
evam — thus; vṛte — being chosen; bhagavati — the Personality of Godhead; mayā — by me; īśe — the Lord; nṛpa — of kings; yūtha-pāḥ — the leaders; na sehire — could not tolerate it; yājñaseni — O Draupadī; spardhantaḥ — becoming quarrelsome; hṛt-śaya — by lust; āturāḥ — distressed.
TRANSLATION
The leading kings there could not tolerate my having chosen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Draupadī. Burning with lust, they became quarrelsome.
VERSE 10.83.32
māṁ tāvad ratham āropya
haya-ratna-catuṣṭayam
śārṅgam udyamya sannaddhas
tasthāv ājau catur-bhujaḥ
SYNONYMS
mām — me; tāvat — at that point; ratham — on the chariot; āropya — lifting; haya — of horses; ratna — gems; catuṣṭayam — having four; śārṅgam — His bow, named Śārṅga; udyamya — readying; sannaddhaḥ — putting on His armor; tasthau — He stood; ājau — on the battleground; catuḥ — four; bhujaḥ — with arms.
TRANSLATION
The Lord then placed me on His chariot, drawn by four most excellent horses. Donning His armor and readying His bow Śārṅga, He stood on the chariot, and there on the battleground He manifested His four arms.
VERSE 10.83.33
dārukaś codayām āsa
kāñcanopaskaraṁ ratham
miṣatāṁ bhū-bhujāṁ rājñi
mṛgāṇāṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva
SYNONYMS
dārukaḥ — Dāruka (Lord Kṛṣṇa’s chariot driver); codayām āsa — drove; kāñcana — golden; upaskaram — whose trimmings; ratham — the chariot; miṣatām — as they watched; bhū-bhujām — the kings; rājñi — O Queen; mṛgāṇām — animals; mṛga-rāṭ — the king of animals, the lion; iva — as if.
TRANSLATION
Dāruka drove the Lord’s gold-trimmed chariot as the kings looked on, O Queen, like small animals helplessly watching a lion.
VERSE 10.83.34
te ’nvasajjanta rājanyā
niṣeddhuṁ pathi kecana
saṁyattā uddhṛteṣv-āsā
grāma-siṁhā yathā harim
SYNONYMS
te — they; anvasajjanta — followed from behind; rājanyāḥ — the kings; niṣeddhum — to check Him; pathi — on the path; kecana — some of them; saṁyattāḥ — ready; uddhṛta — raised; iṣu-āsāḥ — whose bows; grāma-siṁhā — “lions of the village” (dogs); yathā — as; harim — a lion.
TRANSLATION
The kings pursued the Lord like village dogs chasing a lion. Some kings, raising their bows, stationed themselves on the road to stop Him as He passed by.
VERSE 10.83.35
te śārṅga-cyuta-bāṇaughaiḥ
kṛtta-bāhv-aṅghri-kandharāḥ
nipetuḥ pradhane kecid
eke santyajya dudruvuḥ
SYNONYMS
te — they; śārṅga — from Lord Kṛṣṇa’s bow; cyuta — shot; bāṇa — of arrows; oghaiḥ — by the floods; kṛtta — severed; bāhu — whose arms; aṅghri — legs; kandharāḥ — and necks; nipetuḥ — fell; pradhane — on the battlefield; kecit — some; eke — some; santyajya — giving up; dudruvuḥ — fled.
TRANSLATION
These warriors were deluged by arrows shot from the Lord’s bow, Śārṅga. Some of the kings fell on the battlefield with severed arms, legs and necks; the rest gave up the fight and fled.
VERSE 10.83.36
tataḥ purīṁ yadu-patir aty-alaṅkṛtāṁ
ravi-cchada-dhvaja-paṭa-citra-toraṇām
kuśasthalīṁ divi bhuvi cābhisaṁstutāṁ
samāviśat taraṇir iva sva-ketanam
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — then; purīm — His city; yadu-patiḥ — the Lord of the Yadus; ati — profusely; alaṅkṛtām — decorated; ravi — the sun; chada — blocking; dhvaja — upon flagpoles; paṭa — with banners; citra — wonderful; toraṇām — and with archways; kuśasthalīm — Dvārakā; divi — in heaven; bhuvi — on the earth; ca — and; abhisaṁstutām — glorified; samāviśat — He entered; taraṇiḥ — the sun; iva — as if; sva — his own; ketanam — abode.
TRANSLATION
The Lord of the Yadus then entered His capital city, Kuśasthalī [Dvārakā], which is glorified in heaven and on earth. The city was elaborately decorated with flagpoles carrying banners that blocked the sun, and also with splendid archways. As Lord Kṛṣṇa entered, He appeared like the sun-god entering his abode.
VERSE 10.83.37
pitā me pūjayām āsa
suhṛt-sambandhi-bāndhavān
mahārha-vāso-’laṅkāraiḥ
śayyāsana-paricchadaiḥ
SYNONYMS
pitā — father; me — my; pūjayām āsa — worshiped; suhṛt — his friends; sambandhi — immediate relations; bāndhavān — and other family members; mahā — very; arha — valuable; vāsaḥ — with clothing; alaṅkāraiḥ — and jewelry; śayyā — with beds; āsana — thrones; paricchadaiḥ — and other furniture.
TRANSLATION
My father honored his friends, family and in-laws with priceless clothing and jewelry and with royal beds, thrones and other furnishings.
VERSE 10.83.38
dāsībhiḥ sarva-sampadbhir
bhaṭebha-ratha-vājibhiḥ
āyudhāni mahārhāṇi
dadau pūrṇasya bhaktitaḥ
SYNONYMS
dāsībhiḥ — along with maidservants; sarva — all; sampadbhiḥ — endowed with riches; bhaṭa — with infantry soldiers; ibha — soldiers riding elephants; ratha — soldiers riding chariots; vājibhiḥ — and soldiers riding horses; āyudhāni — weapons; mahā-arhāṇi — extremely valuable; dadau — he gave; pūrṇasya — to the perfectly complete Lord; bhaktitaḥ — out of devotion.
TRANSLATION
With devotion he presented the perfectly complete Lord with a number of maidservants bedecked with precious ornaments. Accompanying these maidservants were guards walking on foot and others riding elephants, chariots and horses. He also gave the Lord extremely valuable weapons.
VERSE 10.83.39
ātmārāmasya tasyemā
vayaṁ vai gṛha-dāsikāḥ
sarva-saṅga-nivṛttyāddhā
tapasā ca babhūvima
SYNONYMS
ātma-ārāmasya — of the self-satisfied; tasya — Him; imāḥ — these; vayam — we; vai — indeed; gṛha — in the home; dāsikāḥ — maidservants; sarva — all; saṅga — of material association; nivṛttyā — by the cessation; addhā — directly; tapasā — by austerity; ca — and; babhūvima — have become.
TRANSLATION
Thus, by renouncing all material association and practicing austere penances, we queens have all become personal maidservants of the self-satisfied Supreme Lord.
VERSE 10.83.40
mahiṣya ūcuḥ
bhaumaṁ nihatya sa-gaṇaṁ yudhi tena ruddhā
jñātvātha naḥ kṣiti-jaye jita-rāja-kanyāḥ
nirmucya saṁsṛti-vimokṣam anusmarantīḥ
pādāmbujaṁ pariṇināya ya āpta-kāmaḥ
SYNONYMS
mahiṣyaḥ ūcuḥ — the (other) queens said; bhaumam — the demon Bhauma; nihatya — killing; sa — along with; gaṇam — his followers; yudhi — in battle; tena — by him (Bhauma); ruddhāḥ — imprisoned; jñātvā — knowing; atha — then; naḥ — us; kṣiti-jaye — during (Bhauma’s) conquest of the earth; jita — defeated; rāja — of kings; kanyāḥ — the daughters; nirmucya — releasing; saṁsṛti — from material existence; vimokṣam — (the source of) liberation; anusmarantīḥ — constantly remembering; pāda-ambujam — His lotus feet; pariṇināya — married; yaḥ — who; āpta-kāmaḥ — already fulfilled in all desires.
TRANSLATION
Rohiṇī-devi, speaking for the other queens, said: After killing Bhaumāsura and his followers, the Lord found us in the demon’s prison and could understand that we were the daughters of the kings whom Bhauma had defeated during his conquest of the earth. The Lord set us free, and because we had been constantly meditating upon His lotus feet, the source of liberation from material entanglement, He agreed to marry us, though His every desire is already fulfilled.
VERSE 10.83.41-42
na vayaṁ sādhvi sāmrājyaṁ
svārājyaṁ bhaujyam apy uta
vairājyaṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ ca
ānantyaṁ vā hareḥ padam
kāmayāmaha etasya
śrīmat-pāda-rajaḥ śriyaḥ
kuca-kuṅkuma-gandhāḍhyaṁ
mūrdhnā voḍhuṁ gadā-bhṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
na — not; vayam — we; sādhvi — O saintly lady (Draupadī); sāmrājyam — rulership over the entire earth; sva-rājyam — the position of Lord Indra, King of heaven; bhaujyam — unlimited powers of enjoyment; api uta — even; vairājyam — mystic power; pārameṣṭhyam — the position of Lord Brahmā, creator of the universe; ca — and; ānantyam — immortality; vā — or; hareḥ — of the Supreme Lord; padam — the abode; kāmayāmahe — we desire; etasya — His; śrī-mat — divine; pāda — of the feet; rajaḥ — the dust; śrīyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; kuca — from the breast; kuṅkuma — of the cosmetic powder; gandha — by the fragrance; āḍhyam — enriched; mūrdhnā — on our heads; voḍhum — to carry; gadābhṛtaḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the club.
TRANSLATION
O saintly lady, we do not desire dominion over the earth, the sovereignty of the King of heaven, unlimited facility for enjoyment, mystic power, the position of Lord Brahmā, immortality or even attainment of the kingdom of God. We simply desire to carry on our heads the glorious dust of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet, enriched by the fragrance of kuṅkuma from His consort’s bosom.
VERSE 10.83.43
vraja-striyo yad vāñchanti
pulindyas tṛṇa-vīrudhaḥ
gāvaś cārayato gopāḥ
pada-sparśaṁ mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
vraja — of Vraja; striyaḥ — the women; yat — as; vāñchanti — they desire; pulindyaḥ — the women of the aborigine Pulinda tribe in Vraja; tṛṇa — from the grass; vīrudhaḥ — and plants; gāvaḥ — the cows; cārayataḥ — who is grazing; gopāḥ — the cowherd boys; pāda — of the feet; sparśam — the touch; mahā-ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Soul.
TRANSLATION
We desire the same contact with the Supreme Lord’s feet that the young women of Vraja, the cowherd boys and even the aborigine Pulinda women desire — the touch of the dust He leaves on the plants and grass as He tends His cows.