In this way the huge-bodied, sinful Dānava Shamvara being slain the gods and Gandharvas were filled with joy. Urvasi, Menakā, Rambhā, Viprachitti, Tilottamā, and other Apsarās and the entire animate and inanimate creation danced. Praising Pradyumna the king of gods, with the celestials, pleased, began to shower flowers on him. The king of Daityas being slain in battle by Madana the son of the slayer of Madhu, the gods were freed from the fear of their enemy, and eulogising Pradyumna they set out for the celestial region. As a lover goes to his love so Rukshmini's son, fatigued with fighting, went with hasty steps into the city and met his consort (22-32).
CHAPTER CCLV. PRADYUMNA GOES TO DWARAKA AND HIS PARENTS RECOGNIZE HIM.
Vaishampāyana said:—Having celebrated his sacrifice the powerful Māyāvin Shamvara was killed in battle on the eighth day of a fortnight (1). Having slain that foremost of Asuras in the city of Rikshavanta Pradyumna, taking Māyāvati with him, set out for his father's city (2). By his illusory powers the quick-coursing hero rose up into the welkin and reached the charming city of Dwāravati protected by his father's power (3). That young man, beautiful like Manmatha (Cupid), descended from the sky with Māyāvati at the inner appartment of Keshava (4). When Pradyumna thus came down Keshava's queens were all filled with surprise, joy and fear (5). Afterwards seeing that young man, resembling Kāma himself, with his wife, their faces grew delighted; and they, with their eyes, as if drank his ambrosial beauty (6). Beholding the bashful countenance of that boy and him filled with shame at every step Krishna's wives were all at their wit’s end (7). Beholding that boy, Rukshmini, the mother of a son, encircled by her hundred co-wives, was striken with sorrow. And shedding tears she said:—"Alas! I saw in a mid-night dream that the slayer of Kansa had given me mango leaves. Keshava took me on his lap and put a garland of pearls resembling the rays of the moon around my neck. A youthful lady, with beautiful curling hairs, clad in a white raiment and with a lotus in her hand, entered into my room. And she sprinkled me with beautiful water. Afterwards that lady touched my head with her hands and gave me a garland of lotuses." Having thus described her dream, Rukshmini, encircled by her female friends, cast her looks again and again on the prince and said:—"Blessed is that woman whose son is such a beautiful, long-lived boy resembling Kāma and just ushered into the first stage of youth. O son, what lucky woman has been blessed with a son like yourself black like clouds Why have you come here with your wife? Alas, if the powerful Death had not carried him away my baby Pradyumna would have been of this age by this time. My surmise can never be untrue. Forsooth you are a prince of the Vrishni family; from the marks of your body you look like Janārddana without his discus. Your face and hairs resemble those of Nārāyana and your thighs, arms and breast resemble those of my father-in-law and Haladhara. Alas, you look like the second celestial body of Nārāyana. With your person you have adorned the entire Vrishni race. Who are you, O my child?"
In the meantime Krishna all on a sudden entered there hearing from Nārada of the destruction of Shamvara (8-20). Beholding his eldest son there, along with his daughter-in-law Māyāvati resembling Cupid himself, Janārddana was filled with joy and said to the goddess-like Rukshmini: "O goddess, here is your son the great bow-man. He has killed Shamvara, an expert of illusion and has learnt all his illusory arts by which he used to torment the gods. This auspicious and chaste lady is the wife of your son. She was up to this time living in Shamvara's house under the name of Māyāvati. Do not distress your mind thinking her as the wife of Shamvara. Know her as Rati, the beloved consort of Kāma. Formerly when Manmatha became limbless being consumed by Harā's fiery anger this auspicious lady, up to this time, always kept that Daitya infatuated with her likeness made by her illusory powers. Even in her youth this beautiful lady did not seek Shamvara; creating her own like-ness by her illusory powers she used to send her to Shamvara. O fair lady, this my son's wife, and your daughter-in-law will help Kāma and please him, She is our eldest daughter-in-law and deserves our affection. Take her to your room and nourish your lost son who has come back" (21–29).
Vaishampāyana said:—Hearing those words given vent to by Krishna Rukshmini attained to an excess of delight and said:—"Most fortunate am I since my heroic son has come back again. Blessed is my birth and I have achieved my object since my lost son has returned with his beloved wife. Come my son and enter this room with your wife." Thereupon having saluted his mother and Govinda Pradyumna bowed unto Haladhara. Thereupon raising up Pradyumna the foremost of the powerful Keshava, the slayer of enemy's warriors, embraced him and smelt his head. The goddess Rukshmini too, with words suppressed with affection, raised up her daughter-in-law adorned with gold, placed her on her lap and embraced her. Thereupon as Aditi conducts the king of gods with Sachi into her own room so Rukshmini took her son who had returned with his wife to her own room (30-36).
CHAPTER CCLVI. BALADEVA'S MANTRA FOR PROTECTING PRADYUMNA.
Vaishampāyana said:—O foremost of victors, after having slain Shamvara, Pradyumna had arrived at the city of Dwārāka a wonderful evening Mantra was recited. I am describing the evening Mantra which Baladeva recited at that time for protecting Pradyumna. If one recites it in the evening he has his soul purified. It has been recited by Baladeva, Vāsudeva, and the pious ascetics and saints:–"May the Lord of the universe Brahmā, the preceptor of the gods and Asuras, protect me. May Om, Vashatkar, Savitri and the three regulations protect me. May the four Vedas, Puranas, Itihāsas, Khilas, Upakhilas, the auxiliaries of the Vedas and their commentaries protect me (1–3). May earth, air, ether, water, light, the senses, mind, intellect, the gunas Sattwa, Raja, Tama, the five vital airs, namely Vyāna, Udana, Samāna, Prāna, and Apāna and the seven other airs which which pervade the universe protect me. May the great Rishis, Marichi, Angira, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu Bhrigu and the divine Vasistha protect me. May the fourteen Munis headed by Kashyapa, and the Lord Nārāyana with ten quarters and Gunas protect me. May the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityās, the eight Vasus and the two Ashwinis protect me. May the mothers of the Daityas, Hri, Shree, Lakshmi, Swadhā, Medhā, Tushthi, Pushthi Smriti, Dhriti, Aditi, Diti, Danu, and Sinhikā protect me. May the mountains Himāvan, Hemkuta, Nishadha, Sweta, Rishabha, Paripatra, Vindhya, Vaidurya, Sahya, Udaya, Malaya, Meru, Mandara, Dardura, Krouncha, Kailāsha, and Maināka protect me (9-16). May the Nāgas, Shesha, Vasuki, Vishalāksha, Takshaka, Elapatrā, Suktikarna, Kamvala, Aswatara, Hastibhadra, Pitharaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Puranaka, Karavira, Sumanasya, Dadhimuka, Sringārapinda the Lord Mani known all over three worlds, the Nāga kings Dadhikarma and Haridraka all those Nagas and others whose names have not been mentioned—all those who are truthful and upholding the universe, protect me. May the four oceans protect me. May the river Ganga, the foremost of streams, Saraswati, Chandrabhaga, Shatadru, Devikā, Shivā, Iravati, Vipasha, Sarayu, Yamunā, Kalmashi, Rathoshmā, Vahinda, Hiranyadā, Plakshmā, Ikshumati, Shravanti, Vrihavrathā, and the celebrated Charmanvati and the sacred Vadhusara, and those whose names have not been mentioned flowing in the north sprinkle me with their water. May Venva, Godāvari, Kaveri, Kongkanāvati, Krishnā, Venva, Shuktimati, Tamasa, Pushpavahimi, Tamraparni, Jyotiratha, Utkala, Udum varāvati, Vaitarani, the sacred Vidarbha, Narmudā, Vitasta, Bhimarathi, Mahānandi, Elā, Kahini, Gomati and Shoma and all those whose names have not been mentioned flowing in the south sprinkle me with their water. May Kshiprā, the sacred Charmanvavati, Mahi, Shuvravati, Sindhu, Vetravati, Bhojanta, Vanamahkā, Purvabhadrā, Aparābhadrā, Urmita, Varadrumā, Vetravati, the well-known Chapadangi, Luthā, the sacred and charming Saraswati, Mitraghni, Indumāla, Madhumati, Umā, Garunar, Tapi, Vimalodaka, Vimalā, Vimalodā, Mattagangā, and Payaswani and all those whose names have not been mentioned here as well as the sacred Bhāgirathi flowing in the west sprinkle me with water (17-34). May the sacred lakes Prabhāsa, Prayaga, Naimisha, Pushkara, Gangā, Kurukshetra, Shrikshetra, Goutamashrama, Ramhrada, Vināshana, Rāmatirtha, Gangādwāra where Soma rose up, Kapālamochana, the well-known Suvarnadindu, Kanakapingala, Dashāswameda, the Naranarayanshrama, the celebrated Vadari, the well-known Phalgu, Chandravata, Kokāmukha, the sacred Gangāsāgara, Tapoda of the Magadha country, the well-known Gangobheda, and those whose names have not been mentioned where the great Rishis live, sprinkle us with their sacred water. May the shrines of Shukara, Yogamārga, Shwetadwipa, Brahmatirtha, Rāmatirtha, Dashāshwamedha, the sin-destroying Gangā with her streams, Vaikuntha-like Kedara, Shukarodvedana and Pāpamochana destroy my sins and purify me. May Dharma, Artha, Kāma, fame, Prapti, Shama, Dama, Varuna, Kuvera, Yama, Niyama, Kāla, Naya, Sannati, anger, stupefaction, forgiveness, patience, lightning, clouds, herbs, planets, Yakshas, Pishachas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Siddhas, Chāranas, night-rangers, sky-rangers, beasts, auspicious planets, Lamvodara, Bali, Pingaksha, Vishwarupa, Indra with airs, Kalā, Truti, Lava. Kshanā and other divisions of time, stars, planets, seasons, months, days, nights, the sun, moon, sorrow, fear and sentiments, pride, truth, Sidhi, Vridhi, Sruti, Dhriti, Rudrāni, Bhadrakāli, Bhadra-Yasthi, Vāruni, Bhāsi, Kalikā, Shandili, Kuhu, Sinivali, Bhima, Chitravati, Rati, Kātyāyani, Sohitya, Ayanamitra, Ganada and other celestial damsels, spoken of, protect me with their friends (35-52)".
CHAPTER CCLVII. NARADA PUTS QUESTIONS: AND THE MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED.
Vaishampāyana said;—In the same month in which Pradyumna was stolen away by Shamvara desirous of killing himself Jāmvavati gave birth to Shāmva (1). From his boyhood he was trained by Rāma in the use of arms and the other Vrishnis used to respect him considering him little inferior to Rāma. From his birth Krishna, shorn of enemies and neighbouring hostile kings, lived in his capital happily as the immortals live in the garden of Nandana (2-3). At that time the hostile kings could not enjoy peace in fear of Janarddana; and witnessing the prosperity of the Yadavas even Vāsava did not like his own riches (4).
Thereupon office on a time Duryodhana undertook the celebration of a sacrifice in Hastināpur and all the kings set out for (that city). Hearing of Janārddana with his sons, his prosperity and the city of Dwārakā situate on the bank of the ocean, those kings, collecting information through their emissaries, arrived at Krishna's palace, who was fond of guests and had controlled his senses, for seeing him (5-7). The king Duryodhana and others who were under the subjection of Dhritarashtra, the sons of Pandu, Dhristadyumna and others, the kings of Pandya, Chola, Kalinga, Vahlika Drāvida and Khasa with eighteen Akshowhinis of soldiers arrived at the city of Yadavas protected by Krishna's arms. After those kings had been accommodated in their respective quarters set apart for them, the lotus-eyed Hrishikesha, with leading Yadavas, went to them. The Yadu king Madhusudana shone in the midst of those kings like the autumnal sun. Thereupon showing them civilities according to their age and place Krishna sat on his golden throne. The kings too occupied seats according to their ranks. As the gods and Asuras shine in Brahma's Durbar-Hall so those kings appeared exquisitely beautiful. Thereupon in the hearing of Keshava, the Yadus and kings discoursed on various themes (8-16). In the meantime there blew a hurricane accompanied with the muttering of clouds charged with lighting. A few moments after riving from that unfair weather, Nārada appeared there covered entirely with matted locks and with the Vinā in his hand (17–18). Sakra's friend, the ascetic Nārada, effulgent like fire, dropped before the kings like a scintillation. As soon as that foremost of ascetics, Nārada touched the ground the unfair weather disappeared. Having entered that ocean-like court of the kings Nārada said to the eternal Yadu king who was seated on his throne:—"O thou of large arms, thou alone hast become an object of wonder to the gods. O Purusottama, there is none blessed like thee in the world." Thus addressed the powerful Krishna, smilingly said:—"Yes I am an object of surprise and good luck, especially in the matter of presents." Thus spoken to in the midst of kings the foremost of Munis, Nārada said, "O Krishna, I have got the proper reply. I now depart for my wished-for region" (19-24).