ANUSHASANIKA PARVA: Chapter 15

Shiva gives boons to Krishna

कृष्ण उवाच मूर्जा निपत्य नियतस्तेजःसंनिचये ततः। परमं हर्षमागत्य भगवन्तमथाब्रुवम्॥
Krishna said Bending low my head with a controlled soul to that mass of energy and effulgence, I said to the great god, with a joyous heart, these words

धर्मे दृढत्वं युधि शत्रुघातं यशस्तथाग्र्यं परमं बलं च। योगप्रियत्वं तव संनिकर्ष वृणे सुतानां च शतं शतानि॥
I ask for these boons from you, namely firmness in virtue, the destruction of enemies in battle, the highest glory, the greatest power, devotion to Yoga, your nearness, and hundreds upon hundreds of children.

एवमस्त्विति तद्वाक्यं मयोक्तः प्राह शङ्करः। ततो मां जगतो माता धारिणी सर्वपावनी॥ उवाचोमा प्रणिहिता शर्वाणी तपसां निधिः। दत्तो भगवता पुत्रः साम्बो नाम तवानघ।॥
Whereto Shankara said, so be it, repeating the words I had said. After this, the mother of the universe, the upholdress of all things, she who purifies all things, viz., the wife of Sarva that huge receptacle of penances, said with controlled soul, these words to me: The powerful Mahadeva has granted you, O sinless one, a son who shall be named Shamba.

मत्तोऽप्यष्टौ वरानिष्टान् गृहाण त्वं ददामि ते। प्रणम्य शिरसा सा च मयोक्ता पाण्डुनन्दन।॥
Do you take from me also eight boons which you choose. I shall, indeed, grant them to you. Bowing her with my head bended, I said to her, O son of Pandu!

द्विजेष्वकोपं पितृतः प्रसाद शतं सुतानां परमं च भोगम्। कुले प्रीतिं मातृतश्च प्रसाद शमप्राप्तिं प्रवृणे चापि दाक्ष्यम्॥
I pray from you uniform affection for the Brahmanas, the favour of my father, a hundred sons, the highest enjoyments, love for my family, the favour of my mother, the attainment of tranquility and peace, and cleverness in every deed.

उमा उवाच एवं भविष्यत्यमरप्रभाव नाहं मृषा जातु वदे कदाचित्। भार्यासहस्राणि च षोडशैव तासु प्रियत्वं च तथाक्षयं च॥
Uma Said You will have them, O you, who are endued with prowess equal to that of a celestial. I never say what is untrue. You will have sixteen thousand wives. Your love for them and theirs also for you shall be limitless.

प्रीतिं चाग्र्यां बान्धवानां सकाशाद् ददामि तेऽहं वपुषः काम्यतां च। भोक्ष्यन्ते वै सप्ततिं वै शतानि गृहे तुभ्यमतिथीनां च नित्यम्॥
From all your kinsmen also, you will get the highest affection. You will have a most beautiful person. Seven thousand guests will daily feed at your palace.

एवं दत्त्वा वरान् देवो मम देवी च भारत। अन्तर्हितः क्षणे तस्मिन् सगणो भीमपूर्वज॥
Vasudeva continued Having thus granted me boons both the god and the goddess, O Bharata, disappeared there and then with their associates, O elder brother of Bhima.

एतदत्यद्भुतं पूर्वं ब्राह्मणायातितेजसे। उपमन्यवे मया कृत्स्नं व्याख्यातं पार्थिवोत्तम। नमस्कृत्वा तु स प्राह देवदेवाय सुव्रत॥
All those wonderful deeds I described fully, O best of kings, to that highly energetic Brahmana Upamanyu. Bowing down to the great God, Upamanyu said these words to me.

उपमन्युरुवाच नास्ति शर्वसमो देवो नास्ति शर्वसमा गतिः। नास्ति शर्वसमो दाने नास्ति शर्वसमो रणे॥
Upamanyu said There is no god like Sarva. There is no end or refuge like Sarva. There is none who can grant so inany or so high boons. There is none who is his equal in battle.