DASAKOM 39

STANZA 1

COMING BACK, HE SAW IN FRONT,

THE SWOLLEN YAMUNA, WAVES RISING HIGH UP TO THE SKY,

ALL THAT HUGE MASS OF WATER, SANK TO ANKLE LEVEL,

SUDDENLY AS IN A MAGIC SHOW

STANZA 2

HE ENTERED THE FARMYARDHOUSE,

WHERE THE NEWBORN CHILD WAS MOANING SOFTLY,

AND LAID YOU ON THE BED,

TOOK THE CHILD, AND FAST CAME OUT

STANZA 3

THEN KAMSA, INFORMED OF THE BIRTH OF CHILD BY THE SOLDIERS ON GUARD,

WHO, AWAKENED BY THE CHILD'S CRY, RUSHED TO HIM,

CAME HURRIEDLY WITHOUT EVEN TYING HIS LOOSE HAIR,

AND WAS SURPRIZED AND CONFUSED WHEN HE SAW A GIRL IN DEVAKI'S HANDS

STANZA 4

KAMSA PULLED OUT FROM HIS SISTER'S ARMS,

THE CHILD CLINGING TO ITS MOTHER'S CHEST

LIKE AN ELEPHANT A TENDER LOTUS PLANT,

AND ALAS! THREW HER ON A ROCK

STANZA 5

LO, SHE DID NOT FALL,

ON THE CONTRARY, SLIPPED FROM HIS HAND,

AND LIKE YOUR DEVOTEE FROM THE NOOSE OF DEATH,

ROSE UP IN THE SKY, WHERE SHE STOOD,

WITH EIGHT ARMS, CARRYING WEAPONS OF GREAT SIZE

STANZA 6

YOUR SISTER TOLD HIM,

“YOU, CRUEL KAMSA, WHAT IS THE USE OF KILLING ME?

SOMEWHERE IS BORN THE ONE DESTINED TO KILL YOU

TRY WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF”

AND LEFT, TO THE ACCLAIM OF MARUTS,

GODS PRESIDING OVER THE EIGHT QUARTERS OF THE WORLD

STANZA 7

HEARING THIS, HE GOT FRIGHTENED,

AND TO PROTECT HIMSELF, NEXT DAY,

LET LOOSE A PACK OF CRUEL DEMONS, LIKE PRALAMBA, BAKA, AND POOTHANA

WHO WENT ON A RAMPAGE, SEEKING AND KILLING BOYS BORN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

WHAT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE UNSCRUPULOUS, MY LORD!

STANZA 8

THEN WHEN YOU BEGAN SHAKING YOUR LEGS,

THE WOMEN OF THE HOUSE TOLD NANDAGOPA ABOUT A BOY'S BIRTH,

WHAT SHALL I SAY?

THE WHOLE PLACE WENT INTO A TURMOIL IN JOY!

STANZA 9

HA! YASHODA, LOOKING AT THE DARK HANDSOME BOY,

FELT HERSELF THE MOST FORTUNATE PERSON IN THE WORLD,

DRINKING WITH HER EYES YOUR DARK HANDSOME FACE,

AND THEN GIVING YOU A DRINK OF HER SWEET BREASTMILK

STANZA 10

WHAT ALL DID NANDA NOT GIVE TO BRAHMINS, FOR YOUR HAPPINESS!

WHAT RITUALS DID THE GOPAS NOT PERFORM FOR YOUR ALLROUND GOOD!

YOUR PRESENCE IS IN ITSELF A BLESSING MY LORD

SAVE ME FROM MY ILLNESS, I PRAY