SECTION XXVII.Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna?Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters, into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of the deep. A large fish swallowed the child, but he died not, and was born anew from its belly: for that fish, and others, was caught by the fishermen, and delivered by them to the great Asura Sambara. His wife Māyādevi, the mistress of the household, lorded over the cooks. And she espied, when the fish was cut open, a beautiful child looking like a new shoot of tree of love. When struck with curiosity she was asking "Who is this child? How has it come into the belly of the fish?" Nārada came and said to her:—"This is the son of Krishna who creates and destroys the universe. He was stolen away from the nursery room by Samvara. He was devoured by the fish when thrown into the ocean; now he has come under thy control; do thou, O beautiful damsel, tenderly rear this jewel of mankind".Parāçara said:—Thus addressed by Nārada, she took charge of the child and brought it up from boyhood being attracted by the beauty of his person. O great saint, when the boy attained to youth, Māyāvati, moving like a she-elephant, began to cherish desire for him. And fixing her mind and eyes upon the high-minded Pradyumna, Māyāvati, blinded with lust, gave unto him all her magic powers, Beholding that lotus-eyed damsel thus passionately attached unto him, Krishna's son said to her:—"Why dost thou indulge in feelings which do not become a mother?" She said to him:—"Thou art not my son; thou art the son of the illustrious Vishnu; Kāla Samvara stole thee and threw thee into the ocean; thou wast swallowed by a fish but rescued by me from its belly cut open. O lord thy loving mother is still weeping for thee".Parāçara said;—Hearing those words Pradyumna invited Samvara for battle. And worked up with ire that highly powerful one fought with him. In the battle the son of Mādhava killed the entire host of Samvara. Having seven times baffled the delusions and mastered them in the eighth he destroyed that demon Samvara. And having got into the welkin with her he proceeded to his father's house. And beholding him descend into the inner apartment with Māyāvati, Krishna's wives considered him as Krishna himself. The highly beautiful Rukmini with her eyes full of tears lovingly said:—"Blessed is the woman who has got such a son in the bloom of youth. Had he been alive my own son Pradyumna would have been his age. Who is the fortunate mother adorned by thee? From the affection I feel for thee and from thy appearance I think thou art assuredly the son of Hari".Parāçara said:—At this time Krishna arrived there with Nārada; and the latter delightedly said to Rukmini. "This is thy own son who has come here after slaying Sambara, by whom he was carried away when a child from the lying-in chamber. This is the pious Māyāvati, his spouse and not the wife of Samvara. Hear the reason; when Manmatha had perished, the goddess of beauty, being desirous of effecting his revival, fascinated Samvara by the charms of her delusive form. And she, having eyes rolling with inebriation, exhibited herself to him in various illusory enjoyments. This thy son is the incarnation of Kama and this his spouse is the goddess Rati. Do not doubt the least that she is your daughter-in-law".Thereupon Rukmini and Keshava were worked up with delight and the whole city resounded with the exclamations of praise. And beholding Rukmini regain a son who bad been long lost all the people of Dwārakā were surprised.
SECTION XXVII.Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna?Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters, into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of the deep. A large fish swallowed the child, but he died not, and was born anew from its belly: for that fish, and others, was caught by the fishermen, and delivered by them to the great Asura Sambara. His wife Māyādevi, the mistress of the household, lorded over the cooks. And she espied, when the fish was cut open, a beautiful child looking like a new shoot of tree of love. When struck with curiosity she was asking "Who is this child? How has it come into the belly of the fish?" Nārada came and said to her:—"This is the son of Krishna who creates and destroys the universe. He was stolen away from the nursery room by Samvara. He was devoured by the fish when thrown into the ocean; now he has come under thy control; do thou, O beautiful damsel, tenderly rear this jewel of mankind".Parāçara said:—Thus addressed by Nārada, she took charge of the child and brought it up from boyhood being attracted by the beauty of his person. O great saint, when the boy attained to youth, Māyāvati, moving like a she-elephant, began to cherish desire for him. And fixing her mind and eyes upon the high-minded Pradyumna, Māyāvati, blinded with lust, gave unto him all her magic powers, Beholding that lotus-eyed damsel thus passionately attached unto him, Krishna's son said to her:—"Why dost thou indulge in feelings which do not become a mother?" She said to him:—"Thou art not my son; thou art the son of the illustrious Vishnu; Kāla Samvara stole thee and threw thee into the ocean; thou wast swallowed by a fish but rescued by me from its belly cut open. O lord thy loving mother is still weeping for thee".Parāçara said;—Hearing those words Pradyumna invited Samvara for battle. And worked up with ire that highly powerful one fought with him. In the battle the son of Mādhava killed the entire host of Samvara. Having seven times baffled the delusions and mastered them in the eighth he destroyed that demon Samvara. And having got into the welkin with her he proceeded to his father's house. And beholding him descend into the inner apartment with Māyāvati, Krishna's wives considered him as Krishna himself. The highly beautiful Rukmini with her eyes full of tears lovingly said:—"Blessed is the woman who has got such a son in the bloom of youth. Had he been alive my own son Pradyumna would have been his age. Who is the fortunate mother adorned by thee? From the affection I feel for thee and from thy appearance I think thou art assuredly the son of Hari".Parāçara said:—At this time Krishna arrived there with Nārada; and the latter delightedly said to Rukmini. "This is thy own son who has come here after slaying Sambara, by whom he was carried away when a child from the lying-in chamber. This is the pious Māyāvati, his spouse and not the wife of Samvara. Hear the reason; when Manmatha had perished, the goddess of beauty, being desirous of effecting his revival, fascinated Samvara by the charms of her delusive form. And she, having eyes rolling with inebriation, exhibited herself to him in various illusory enjoyments. This thy son is the incarnation of Kama and this his spouse is the goddess Rati. Do not doubt the least that she is your daughter-in-law".Thereupon Rukmini and Keshava were worked up with delight and the whole city resounded with the exclamations of praise. And beholding Rukmini regain a son who bad been long lost all the people of Dwārakā were surprised.
SECTION XXVII.Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna?Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters, into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of the deep. A large fish swallowed the child, but he died not, and was born anew from its belly: for that fish, and others, was caught by the fishermen, and delivered by them to the great Asura Sambara. His wife Māyādevi, the mistress of the household, lorded over the cooks. And she espied, when the fish was cut open, a beautiful child looking like a new shoot of tree of love. When struck with curiosity she was asking "Who is this child? How has it come into the belly of the fish?" Nārada came and said to her:—"This is the son of Krishna who creates and destroys the universe. He was stolen away from the nursery room by Samvara. He was devoured by the fish when thrown into the ocean; now he has come under thy control; do thou, O beautiful damsel, tenderly rear this jewel of mankind".Parāçara said:—Thus addressed by Nārada, she took charge of the child and brought it up from boyhood being attracted by the beauty of his person. O great saint, when the boy attained to youth, Māyāvati, moving like a she-elephant, began to cherish desire for him. And fixing her mind and eyes upon the high-minded Pradyumna, Māyāvati, blinded with lust, gave unto him all her magic powers, Beholding that lotus-eyed damsel thus passionately attached unto him, Krishna's son said to her:—"Why dost thou indulge in feelings which do not become a mother?" She said to him:—"Thou art not my son; thou art the son of the illustrious Vishnu; Kāla Samvara stole thee and threw thee into the ocean; thou wast swallowed by a fish but rescued by me from its belly cut open. O lord thy loving mother is still weeping for thee".Parāçara said;—Hearing those words Pradyumna invited Samvara for battle. And worked up with ire that highly powerful one fought with him. In the battle the son of Mādhava killed the entire host of Samvara. Having seven times baffled the delusions and mastered them in the eighth he destroyed that demon Samvara. And having got into the welkin with her he proceeded to his father's house. And beholding him descend into the inner apartment with Māyāvati, Krishna's wives considered him as Krishna himself. The highly beautiful Rukmini with her eyes full of tears lovingly said:—"Blessed is the woman who has got such a son in the bloom of youth. Had he been alive my own son Pradyumna would have been his age. Who is the fortunate mother adorned by thee? From the affection I feel for thee and from thy appearance I think thou art assuredly the son of Hari".Parāçara said:—At this time Krishna arrived there with Nārada; and the latter delightedly said to Rukmini. "This is thy own son who has come here after slaying Sambara, by whom he was carried away when a child from the lying-in chamber. This is the pious Māyāvati, his spouse and not the wife of Samvara. Hear the reason; when Manmatha had perished, the goddess of beauty, being desirous of effecting his revival, fascinated Samvara by the charms of her delusive form. And she, having eyes rolling with inebriation, exhibited herself to him in various illusory enjoyments. This thy son is the incarnation of Kama and this his spouse is the goddess Rati. Do not doubt the least that she is your daughter-in-law".Thereupon Rukmini and Keshava were worked up with delight and the whole city resounded with the exclamations of praise. And beholding Rukmini regain a son who bad been long lost all the people of Dwārakā were surprised.
Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara killed by Pradyumna?
Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters, into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of the deep. A large fish swallowed the child, but he died not, and was born anew from its belly: for that fish, and others, was caught by the fishermen, and delivered by them to the great Asura Sambara. His wife Māyādevi, the mistress of the household, lorded over the cooks. And she espied, when the fish was cut open, a beautiful child looking like a new shoot of tree of love. When struck with curiosity she was asking "Who is this child? How has it come into the belly of the fish?" Nārada came and said to her:—"This is the son of Krishna who creates and destroys the universe. He was stolen away from the nursery room by Samvara. He was devoured by the fish when thrown into the ocean; now he has come under thy control; do thou, O beautiful damsel, tenderly rear this jewel of mankind".
Parāçara said:—Thus addressed by Nārada, she took charge of the child and brought it up from boyhood being attracted by the beauty of his person. O great saint, when the boy attained to youth, Māyāvati, moving like a she-elephant, began to cherish desire for him. And fixing her mind and eyes upon the high-minded Pradyumna, Māyāvati, blinded with lust, gave unto him all her magic powers, Beholding that lotus-eyed damsel thus passionately attached unto him, Krishna's son said to her:—"Why dost thou indulge in feelings which do not become a mother?" She said to him:—"Thou art not my son; thou art the son of the illustrious Vishnu; Kāla Samvara stole thee and threw thee into the ocean; thou wast swallowed by a fish but rescued by me from its belly cut open. O lord thy loving mother is still weeping for thee".
Parāçara said;—Hearing those words Pradyumna invited Samvara for battle. And worked up with ire that highly powerful one fought with him. In the battle the son of Mādhava killed the entire host of Samvara. Having seven times baffled the delusions and mastered them in the eighth he destroyed that demon Samvara. And having got into the welkin with her he proceeded to his father's house. And beholding him descend into the inner apartment with Māyāvati, Krishna's wives considered him as Krishna himself. The highly beautiful Rukmini with her eyes full of tears lovingly said:—"Blessed is the woman who has got such a son in the bloom of youth. Had he been alive my own son Pradyumna would have been his age. Who is the fortunate mother adorned by thee? From the affection I feel for thee and from thy appearance I think thou art assuredly the son of Hari".
Parāçara said:—At this time Krishna arrived there with Nārada; and the latter delightedly said to Rukmini. "This is thy own son who has come here after slaying Sambara, by whom he was carried away when a child from the lying-in chamber. This is the pious Māyāvati, his spouse and not the wife of Samvara. Hear the reason; when Manmatha had perished, the goddess of beauty, being desirous of effecting his revival, fascinated Samvara by the charms of her delusive form. And she, having eyes rolling with inebriation, exhibited herself to him in various illusory enjoyments. This thy son is the incarnation of Kama and this his spouse is the goddess Rati. Do not doubt the least that she is your daughter-in-law".
Thereupon Rukmini and Keshava were worked up with delight and the whole city resounded with the exclamations of praise. And beholding Rukmini regain a son who bad been long lost all the people of Dwārakā were surprised.