Krishna said:—"O large-armed king of Bhaimas, communicate this news to the Bhaimas that I brought here Pārijāta from the abode of Mahendra (47). Even to-day I shall take to Dwarakā this best of trees Pārijāta: let the city be decorated with auspicious marks" (48). O lord, thus accosted Satyaki departed. And having communicated Krishna's words to the Bhaimas he joined the citizens and the princes headed by Sāmva (49). Thereupon having placed Pārijāta on Garuda's back and taking him before, Pradyumna, the foremost of car-warriors, entered the charming city of Dwaraka (50). Hari, seated on a car drawn by Shaivya and other horses, and Sātyaki and Pradyumna, seated on another most excellent car, followed him. O king, speaking highly of that deed of Keshava, other members of the Vrishni family set out delightedly on various conveyances (51-52). Hearing from Satyaki of the wonderful feat of Keshava of incomparable energy the Yadu citizens of Anartta were filled with surprise. Now beholding that tree covered with heavenly flowers they could not attain to the consummation of delight though they repeatedly looked at it (53–54). Beholding that unthought-of, most excellent and wonderful tree filled with playful birds, even the decrepitude of the elderly women disappeared. Smelling the fragrance of that tree the blind were gifted with celestial vision and the diseased were shorn of their ailments (55–56). Hearing the notes of the birds from that tree resembling those of a koel the inhabitants of Anartta were filled with delight and saluted Janārddana (57). Though living at a distance people of that city listened to various sweet songs and music proceeding from that tree (58). At that time every man was favoured with whatever fragrance he wished for proceeding from that Pārijāta tree (59). Having thus entered the charming city of Dwārakā, Keshava, of Yadu's race, met with Vasudeva, Devaki, his brother Bala, the king of Kukura, and other Yādavas, worthy of respect like unto the immortals (60–61). Having honored them duly the eternal and divine Madhusudana, having Gada as his elder brother, dismissed them all and set out for his own residence. And taking that best of trees Pārijāta he entered into Satyabhāmā’s palace. Seeing it the divine Satyabhāmā was highly pleased; and having adored Upendra she accepted that great tree Pārijāta (62–64).
O descendant of Bharata, according to Vasudeva's desire that tree used to lessen its proportion. It created great surprise in all. O Janamejaya, it, sometimes assuming a huge proportion, used to cover the whole of Dwarakā, and again it came within the reach of all being of the shape of a thumb. Having thus accomplished her object Satyabhāmā began to collect all materials for the performance of the rite of Punyaka. Krishna collected all that could be had in the insular continent of Jamvu. O descendant of Kuru, thereupon seated with Satya the self-controlled Keshava, for taking the vow, thought of the ascetic Nārada (65–69).
CHAPTER CCXXIII. SATYA PERFORM THE RITE.
Vaishampāyana said:—O descendant of Kuru, as soon as he was thought of by Krishna, that foremost of Munis and speakers, Nārada, having asceticism for his wealth, arrived there (1), O king, having worshipped him duly, the beautiful lord of Sree invited him reverentially to accept the Punyaka ceremonies (2). O descendant of Bharata, thereupon when the appointed hour came, the eternal Vāsudeva, the creator of all creatures, along with the beloved Satyā, delightedly worshipped the great Muni Nārada, who had been well bathed, with scents and garlands and fed him (3–4). Thereupon the lucky damsel, having a put garland of flowers, around Krishna's neck, bound him to the Pārijāta tree (5). Afterwards obtaining his permission she dedicated Keshava unto Nārada. Then she gave away sessamum seeds illumined with the lustre of jems and jewels, gold mixed with rice and other plants, mountains of gold and a thousand kine (6–7).
Having accepted all those articles the Muni Narada, the foremost of speakers, delightedly said to Keshava:—"O Keshava, given by Satya together with water thou hast become mine. Do thou follow me and do what I say." Hearing it Janārddana said "This is the first stage" and began to follow Nārada who was about to go (8–10). Having thus cut various jokes and saying "do thou wait here, I shall go" that foremost of Munis, always clever in cutting jokes, took away (from Krishna's neck) the garland of flowers and said: "In order to release thyself do thou give me a Kapilā cow with a calf and the skin of a black antelope full of sessamum seeds and gold. This means of release has been laid down by the god (Siva) having a bull for his emblem" (11—13). O king, Janārddana said "So be it" and offered him the same fee of release. And then smilingly he said to that foremost of Munis Nārada:—"O Nārada, O you conversant with religion, I have been greatly pleased with you. Pray for a desired-for boon and I will grant it" (14–15).
Narada said:—"O thou eternal and great Vishnu, may thou always remain pleased with me and may I, with thy favour, obtain habitation with thee (16). O Vishnu the refuge of the pious, if I am to take birth again may I be born of no woman and be a Brāhmana" (17).
O descendant of Bharata, the Lord Vishnu said "So it will be" and the highly intelligent Muni Nārada too was pleased (18). O Kuru Emperor, Satyabhāmā, the beloved wife of Hari, had invited on the occasion of the Punyaka ceremony, the sixteen thousand wives of the highly powerful Vishnu. And at the termination of the ceremony she distributed amongst them all those celestial raiments and ornaments which Sachi had previously given to Vāsudeva (19–20). Living there, Pārijāta, at the command of Vāsudeva, began to display its own accomplishments. And invited by the high-souled Nārada and Keshava all their friends and relations began to witness the power of Pārijāta (21–22). On the occasion of that great festival the highly powerful Hari had brought there the Pandavas along with Prithā, Draupadi, and Subhadrā. O Kuru king, Shrutasravā, with her son, Bhishmaka with his son and other friends and relations were also brought there (23–24). O king, in this way, the highly energetic Janārddana, along with Pritha's son Arjuna, began to spend his time happily in the company of the ladies of his seraglio (25). In this way after a year had elapsed the highly powerful Keshava, of incomparable prowess and intelligence, the foremost of immortals and the preserver of all, returned with Pārijāta to the city of the celestials and saluted Sakra, Aditi, and Kashyapa (26-27). After the slayer of Madhu had bowed unto the mother Aditi she said:—"O foremost of immortals, may you both always entertain such a brotherly feeling. O Janārddana, you are to satisfy this desire of mine." Hearing it the intelligent Keshava said to his mother. "It shall be so" (28-29). Thereupon having honored his parents the highly energetic Vāsudeva addressed to the king of gods, the following words suited to the occasion (30). "O king of gods, O giver of honor, I have been commanded by the high-souled Siva, to destroy all the unslayable Dānavas living on earth. From to-day within ten days I will kill all those Asuras. O king of gods, at the time of that battle, Pravara, together with the heroic Jayanta, shall have to wait in the sky for slaying those Dānavas. Of them one is a god in a human form and the other is the son of a god (31–33). Although those Dānavas, proud of the boon conferred on them by Brahmā, are unslayable by the gods, still we will kill them for I am now a man (34)." Then Indra, pleased, said to Krishna "So it will be." And then, O Janamejaya, they embraced each other (35).
CHAPTER CCXXIV. THE HISTORY OF THE PUNYAKA RITE.
Janamejaya said:—O foremost of the twice-born, by the grace of Dwaipāyana you are informed of all things. Relate to me, therefore, the origin of the religious rite of Punyaka (1).
Vaishampāyana said:—O foremost of the pious kings, hear, how, according to the ordinances of Umā, the rite of Punyaka was introduced before amongst mankind (2) O sinless king, after the tree Pārijāta had been carried away from the celestial region by Krishna of unwearied actions, the battle between the gods and demons had commenced and the dreadful slaughter of the Dānavas, of Shatpur, had been brought about the intelligent Muni Nārada went to the city of Dwāravati (3–4). O king, after the goddess-like Jāmvavati, the honorable Satyabhāna, the ascetic daughter of the king of Gāndhāra and numberless other virtuous, chaste and accomplished wives of Keshava had assembled there, Rukshmini, the daughter of Bhishma, asked the foremost of Brāhmanas Nārada, well read in theology, who was there with Krishna. Rukshmini said:—"O Muni, O foremost of speakers and virtuous men, we are greatly stricken with curiosity to listen to an account of the origin of pious rites, the rules regulating their performance, fruits, time and gifts connected with them. Kindly remove it by describing them in detail (5-9)."