NARAYANEEYAM DASAKAM 42 - SAKATASURA VADHAM

 

Narayaneeyam Dasakam 42 - Sakatasura Vadham

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An introduction: Utkatca, the son of Hiranyaksa belonging to the Caksusa Manvantara, was cursed to become a ghost by Lomasa Muni, after he troubled the sage often, by felling and breaking the trees around his ashram. Turning immediately in to ghost form, Utkaca repented for his evil acts and pleaded excuse. The sage pleased with Utkaca on his repenting, told that he will be freed from the ghost form in the Vaivasvata manvantra at the end of 28th dwapara yuga, when Krishna will be born and will kick him with his Lotus feet and relieve him of the form and give salvation. 

Yashoda planned to celebrate Krishna's birth star day and invited knowledgeable Brahmins and relatives, friends to her house. She left Krishna in a cloth made as cradle under a cart and got busier in organising feast for guests. 

Suddenly, the trees near the cart crackled and broke making a huge sound. The boys who were appointed by Yashoda to take care of the child in the cradle got frightened and screamed. The screams of boys and the crackling and falling of trees together sounded one.

Hearing the huge noise, the gopikas came running with anxiety and great effort. They found the cart broken and strewn on all four sides and Krishna lying amidst the chaos. Nandagopan, gopas and the Brahmins rushed to the scene, worried as to what happened to the child and became free of anxiety, after seeing the child safe in Yashoda's hands.

Gopas awestruck with fingers on their noses, wondered how the cart could have been broken as there was no sign of any one around. The gopa boys who were guarding the child said that the child was hungry and crying for milk, kicked his lotus legs which hit the cart and broke it. Few Gopas ruled out the statement of boys as baseless. However some gopas who have earlier seen the incident of Putana's moksham could not reject the statement altogether.

Gopikas moved with concern and sympathy, caressed and gently checked for any injury in Krishna's tender leaf like legs and lotus flower like hands. Nandagopan took the child in his hands from Yashoda and hugged the child again and again, saying repeatedly that the child was protected by the Lord Hari in his limitless mercy.

Sakatasura, enemy of devas, disappeared in to the cart and tried to kill Krishna. However Krishna killed the asura and since asura came in contact with sattva-form of Lord, his evil natured body was not seen anywhere. The asura attained salvation and merged with Lord himself.

Nandagopan invited the learned Brahmins and relatives to confer auspiciousness and blessings to the child. Bhattathiri prayed to Lord Guruvayoorappan to remove his affliction and protect him.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 01

कदापि जन्मर्क्षदिने तव प्रभो निमन्त्रितज्ञातिवधूमहीसुरा ।
महानसस्त्वां सविधे निधाय सा महानसादौ ववृते व्रजेश्वरी ॥१॥

kadaa(a)pi janmarkshadine tava prabhO nimantritaj~naati vadhuu mahiisuraa |

mahaanasastvaaM savidhe nidhaaya saa mahaanasaadau vavR^ite vrajeshvarii || 1

Oh Lord ! Once on Thy birth day, Yasoda, the queen of Vraja, had invited the women folk, relatives and Brahmins for a feast in her house. Leaving Thee near a big cart, she was busy in the kitchen, preparing the dishes and making arrangements to receive the guests.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 02 

ततो भवत्त्राणनियुक्तबालकप्रभीतिसङ्क्रन्दनसङ्कुलारवै: ।
विमिश्रमश्रावि भवत्समीपत: परिस्फुटद्दारुचटच्चटारव: ॥२॥

tatO bhavattraaNa niyukta baalaka prabhiiti sankrandana sankulaaravaiH |

vimishramashraavi bhavatsamiipataH parisphuTaddaaru chaTachchaTaaravaH || 2

Then from near Thee, was heard the fearful cries and confused voices of various boys who were appointed to protect Thee, which was mingled with the sound of the crackling and breaking sound of wood.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 03 

ततस्तदाकर्णनसम्भ्रमश्रमप्रकम्पिवक्षोजभरा व्रजाङ्गना: ।
भवन्तमन्तर्ददृशुस्समन्ततो विनिष्पतद्दारुणदारुमध्यगम् ॥३॥

tatastadaakarNana sambhrama shrama prakampi vakshOjabharaa vrajaanganaaH |

bhavantamantardadR^ishussamantatO viniShpataddaaruNa daarumadhyagam || 3

Then hearing the terrific sound, frightened, the Gopikas came running with their heavy breasts heaving because of the effort and anxiety. They saw Thee lying amongst the frightful big pieces of broken wood strewn all around.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 04 

शिशोरहो किं किमभूदिति द्रुतं प्रधाव्य नन्द: पशुपाश्च भूसुरा: ।
भवन्तमालोक्य यशोदया धृतं समाश्वसन्नश्रुजलार्द्रलोचना: ॥४॥

shishOrahO kiM kimabhuuditi drutaM pradhaavya nandaH pashupaashchabhuusuraaH |

bhavantamaalOkya yashOdayaa dhR^itaM samaashvasannashru jalaardralOchanaaH || 4

Alas! What! What has happened to the child!' Nanda, the cowherds and the Brahmins came rushing there, with tears flowing down their eyes, wailing loudly about the child's fate; seeing Thee safe in Yasoda's hands, they sighed happily in relief.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 05 

कस्को नु कौतस्कुत एष विस्मयो विशङ्कटं यच्छकटं विपाटितम् ।
न कारणं किञ्चिदिहेति ते स्थिता: स्वनासिकादत्तकरास्त्वदीक्षका: ॥५॥

kaskO nu kautaskuta eSha vismayO vishankaTaM yachChakaTaM vipaaTitam |

na kaaraNaM ki~nchidiheti te sthitaaH svanaasikaadattakaraasvadiikshakaaH || 5

What ! What happened and how! This is a wonder! This huge cart is shattered! Wonderstruck at who could have done this and what could have caused such a wide and big cart to shatter to pieces, they stood with fingers on their noses, looking at Thee.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 06 

कुमारकस्यास्य पयोधरार्थिन: प्ररोदने लोलपदाम्बुजाहतम् ।
मया मया दृष्टमनो विपर्यगादितीश ते पालकबालका जगु: ॥६॥

kumaarakasyaasya payOdharaarthinaH prarOdane lOlapadaambujaahatam |

mayaa mayaa dR^iShTamanO viparyagaaditiisha te paalaka baalakaa jaguH || 6

Oh Lord ! The children who had been taking care of Thee, averred that the baby, crying for breast milk, had kicked the cart with its beautiful lotus feet and thus the cart was upset and fell down and that they had all seen it happen.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 07 

भिया तदा किञ्चिदजानतामिदं कुमारकाणामतिदुर्घटं वच: ।
भवत्प्रभावाविदुरैरितीरितं मनागिवाशङ्क्यत दृष्टपूतनै: ॥७॥

bhiyaa tadaa kinchidajaanataamidaM kumaarakaaNaaM atidurghaTaM vachaH |

bhavatprabhaavaavidurairitiiritaM manaagivaashankyata dR^iShTapuutanaiH || 7

The people assembled there knew little of Thy greatness. So they treated the children's version of the episode as an outcome of their fear and ignorance, and dismissed it lightly as unlikely and unreliable. But those (like Nanda), who had seen Poothana, suspected that there may be something amiss.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 08 

प्रवालताम्रं किमिदं पदं क्षतं सरोजरम्यौ नु करौ विरोजितौ।
इति प्रसर्पत्करुणातरङ्गितास्त्वदङ्गमापस्पृशुरङ्गनाजना: ॥८॥

pravaalataamraM kimidaM padaM kshataM sarOjaramyau nu karau virOjitau |

iti prasarpatkaruNaatarangitaa stvadangamaapaspR^ishuranganaajanaaH || 8

The women of Vraja, full of solace, caressed Thy body, cooing softly, whether Pink like tender leaves, these legs, have they been hurt? These hands, charming like the lotuses, have they been injured?' Thus with overflowing sympathy and moved with such concern, the women folk stroked Thy body gently.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 09 

अये सुतं देहि जगत्पते: कृपातरङ्गपातात्परिपातमद्य मे ।
इति स्म सङ्गृह्य पिता त्वदङ्गकं मुहुर्मुहु: श्लिष्यति जातकण्टक: ॥९॥

aye sutaM dehi jagatpateH kR^ipaa tarangapaataatparipaatamadya me |

iti sma sangR^ihya pitaa tvadangakaM muhurmuhuH shliShyati jaatakaNTakaH || 9

O Yashoda! Give me my son. By the Lord's showers of mercy today my son was saved!' Thus saying and collecting Thee in his arms, Thy father embraced Thee again and again, with hairs standing on end, unable to control his emotions.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam: 10 

अनोनिलीन: किल हन्तुमागत: सुरारिरेवं भवता विहिंसित: ।
रजोऽपि नो दृष्टममुष्य तत्कथं स शुद्धसत्त्वे त्वयि लीनवान् ध्रुवम् ॥१०॥

anOniliinaH kila hantumaagataH suraarirevaM bhavataa vihimsitaH |

rajO(a)pi nO dR^iShTamamuShya tatkathaM sa shuddhasattve tvayi liinavaandhruvam || 10

The demon who came in the disguise of a cart to kill Thee, was himself destroyed by Thee. How come even the dust of his body was not to be seen? Most certainly, he must have been absorbed in Thy Sublime Purity.

Dasakam: 042 -- Shlokam:11

प्रपूजितैस्तत्र ततो द्विजातिभिर्विशेषतो लम्भितमङ्गलाशिष: ।
व्रजं निजैर्बाल्यरसैर्विमोहयन् मरुत्पुराधीश रुजां जहीहि मे ॥११॥

prapuujitaistatra tatO dvijaatibhiH visheShatO lambhita mangalaashiShaH |

vrajaM nijaiH baalyarasaiH vimOhayan marutpuraadhiisha rujaaM jahiihi me || 11

 

O Lord of Guruvaayur! The Brahmins who were invited and were well honoured specially conferred their auspicious blessings on Thee. With Thy captivating childish sweet ways, Thou delighted the whole of Vraja. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou sheer away my sufferings.