CHAPTER CXXI
(KRISHNA VISIT WITH ADITI)
Vaishampāyana said:—Having slain Bhumi's son Naraka powerful like Vāsava, Vishnu, the younger brother of Indra began to search his house (1). Having arrived at the Treasury of Naraka, Janārddana saw there, diamonds, pearls, corals, sapphires, emeralds, and various other jems, gold, heaps of jewels and other precious articles, a highly costly bed shining like the moon, a lion-shaped throne effulgent like burning fire, and a huge and beautiful umbrella of the hue of the clouds of the rainy season, of the lustre of the moon and with a golden standard. O Janamejaya, I have heard that there was also the golden fountain of hundreds and thousands of streams, which he had brought from Varuna; what more, we had never seen or heard of even in the palaces of Kuvera, Yama and Indra, the collection of jewels that was in Naraka's treasury. Bhumi’s son Naraka, Nisunda and Hayagriva being slain, the surving warders of his Treasury took to Keshava those costly jems and the damsels of the seraglio, considering them as worthy of him (2-10).
The Daityas said:—O Janārddana, all these various jems and riches, these goods made of corals, these beautiful flags set with golden threads, these twenty thousand grim-visaged elephants carrying bows, Tomaras and other weapons such-like forty-thousand she-elephants, and eight lacs of horses of most excellent breed have been brought to thee. And we will take to the houses of the Andhakas and Vrishnis as many kine as thou shalt desire to have. O Lord, we will despatch to the houses of the Yādavas, bed-steads of fine workmanship, seals, beautiful birds, sandal and Aguru woods and other jems both in mountains or collected from the three worlds that are in Naraka's palace. There are now in Naraka's houses all the riches and jems that were formerly in the possession of the gods, Gandharvas and Pannagas (11-17).
Vaishampāyana said:—Having accepted all those jewels and examined them, Hrishikesha, the slayer of Madhu, sent them all speedily to Dwāravati through the Danavas (18). Taking himself the Varuni umbrella capable of showering gold, he rode Garuda that foremost of birds, the very personification of a cloud, and set out for the foremost of mountains Mani (19–20). Janārddana saw there on the mount Mani, gates, summits of sapphire decorated with flags and doors. At that time adorned with rows of palaces painted in golden colours, the entire mount Mani shone like a cloud adorned with lightings. Madhusudana saw there the pure, gold-coloured and plump-hipped daughters of the Gandharvas and leading Asuras whom Naraka had carried away by force and confined there. Although deprived of all sorts of enjoyments, still residing there as if in the city of the celestials, they lived happily like celestial damsels. And nobody, on account of Naraka's powers, could take them away (21-26.)
In order to behold the large-armed Krishna, the foremost of Yadus, the damsels, controlling their senses, emaciated on account of the observance of vows and fastings, clad in silken raiments and with one braid of hairs approached Janarddana with folded hands and stood encircling him. They fearlessly surrounded Krishna because they had learnt of the death of the great Asuras Naraka, Mura, Hayagriva and Nisunda. The elderly Mānavas who were their guards, although more aged, bowed to Krishna, the descendant of Yadu, with folded hands. Beholding the moon-like countenance of the large-armed Krishna, those beautiful damsels were all worked up with desire and wished to select him as their husband. And they accordingly with joyous hearts said:—(27–32). "What the celestial saint Nārada, knowing the hearts of all creatures, and the Wind-god had said to us before, is all true. They said that the Universal Lord Nārāyana, the holder of conch, discus and club, slaying Bhumi's son Naraka, would in no time become our husband. We behold now our beloved lord, the slayer of his enemies of whom we have been hearing for ever. Oh! we have been blessed to-day by seeing this high-souled deity" (33–35).
Thereupon having delightedly welcomed those lotus eyed damsels Vāsav's younger brother consoled them all. Having welcomed those ladies duly the lotus-eyed Keshava, the slayer of Madhu took them all to Dwāraka in a car protected by servants (36–37). Then there arose a great tumult of the Rākshas quick-coursing like air, while carrying the vehicle. Uprooting the most charming and brilliant summit of that best of mountains, Vishnu the foremost of the strong rode that best of birds Garuda. It was like the clear sun and the moon, had gates made of jewels and gold, abounded in birds, deer, various animals and elephants, was beautified with trees and filled with monkeys. It had spacious rocks, boars, buffaloes and antelopes. Its table-land was filled with springs and it had various sorts of trees. Many beasts and peacocks were roving there and it was wonderful above all comprehension (38–43). Garuda the king of birds easily carried Janarddana with his wife and the mount Meru (44). With the flapping of his strong wings, that king of birds, huge like a big mountain summit, raised up a tumultuous sound on all sides (45). By the weight of his feet the mountain tops were all broken down, the trees were uprooted, huge clouds were dispersed and some of them assumed a wonderful form (46). In this way, as desired by Janarddana that bird, fleet like the wind, went beyond the paths of the sun and the moon (47). O Emperor, O thou the slayer of thy enemies, gradually Keshava, the destroyer of his foes, arrived at the mount Sumeru and saw the abodes of the celestials. And then crossing the shining babitations of the Viswadevas, Sadhyas, Maruts, the two Aswins and other auspicious regions, he arrived at the land of gods, and entered into the palace of their king. Coming down from Garuda's back, Madhava there met the king of gods. And Indra too welcomed him with great delight. Giving to the king of gods the pair of ear-rings belonging to Aditi and saluting him, Janarddana, the foremost of men, along with his wife, was welcomed by him in return. Puloma's daughter duly received Satyabhāmā (48-53).
Thereupon Vasava and Vasudeva together with their wives repaired to the prosperous abode of Aditi, the mother of celestials. Arriving there, those two great gods saw the Asuras, seated all around worshipping the great Aditi engaged in Tapas (54-55). Placing Janārddana before him, Aditi’s son and Sachi's lord Purandara approached his mother, saluted her, gave her over the pair of ear-rings and narrated the glorious deeds of Keshava. Hearing them, Aditi was pleased and took up her two sons on her lap. And welcoming them with auspicious blessings, she honoured them. Thereafter Puloma's daughter and Satyabhama with great delight saluted the feet of the goddess Aditi with veneration; welcoming them duly with affection, the illustrious mother of the gods said to Keshava:—"My son, as this king of gods is worshipful to all the worlds, so you are unslayable by all creatures. This most excellent of all your wives, this beautiful and pleasant looking Satyabhāma celebrated in all the worlds, will be ever youthful and lucky. And from her person she will emit charming and celestial fragrance. O Krishna, as long as you will be in your human form, this your wife will not be visited by decrepitude."
Thus honored by the mother of gods, the highly powerful Krishna was honored by Vāsava with various jewels. Thereupon obtaining the permission of the king of gods, riding Vinata's son with Satyabhamā and worshipped by the entire host of the celestials, he began to range in the celestial gardens. While crossing the garden of Vasava the mighty-armed Keshava saw the most excellent, sacred and celestial huge tree Pārijata always emitting holy fragrance and daily blossoming, approaching which every one regains the recollection of his pristine birth. Although gods were kept there in charge of the tree, Krishna of unlimited powers, forcibly up-rooted it and placed it on Garuda's head. Thereupon viewing the Apsaras, Upendra and Satyabhāma proceeded towards Dwarka by the ethereal way. The celestial damsels from behind saw Satyabhāma (56-69). Hearing of this deed of Krishna the mighty-armed king of gods did not express his disapproval but rather said "Krishna is never successful" (70). Thus adored by the celestials and hymned by the seven saints, the mighty-armed Krishna the slayer of his enemies, set out for Dwarka from the celestial region (71). Wending the long distance like a short one, he espied the city of the Yadavas. Having performed that great feat Vāsava's younger brother the Lord Krishna, riding Garuda, returned to Dwāraka (72-73).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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