Maitreya saidr—How, Muni, happened it that the hero Pradyumna was
carried away by Sambara? And in what manner was the mighty Sambara
killed by Pradyumna?
Parāçara said:—When Pradyumna was but six days old, he was stolen from
the lying-in chamber by Sambara, terrible as death; for the demon
foreknew that Pradyumna, if he lived, would be his destroyer. Taking
away the boy, Sambara cast him into the ocean, swarming with monsters,
into whirlpool of roaring waves, the haunt of the huge creatures of the
deep. A large fish swallowed the child, but he died not, and was born
anew from its belly: for that fish, and others, was caught by the
fishermen, and delivered by them to the great Asura Sambara. His wife
Māyādevi, the mistress of the household, lorded over the cooks. And she
espied, when the fish was cut open, a beautiful child looking like a new
shoot of tree of love. When struck with curiosity she was asking "Who is
this child? How has it come into the belly of the fish?" Nārada came and
said to her:—"This is the son of Krishna who creates and destroys the
universe. He was stolen away from the nursery room by Samvara. He was
devoured by the fish when thrown into the ocean; now he has come under
thy control; do thou, O beautiful damsel, tenderly rear this jewel of
mankind".
Parāçara said:—Thus addressed by Nārada, she took charge of the child
and brought it up from boyhood being attracted by the beauty of his
person. O great saint, when the boy attained to youth, Māyāvati, moving
like a she-elephant, began to cherish desire for him. And fixing her
mind and eyes upon the high-minded Pradyumna, Māyāvati, blinded with
lust, gave unto him all her magic powers, Beholding that lotus-eyed
damsel thus passionately attached unto him, Krishna's son said to
her:—"Why dost thou indulge in feelings which do not become a mother?"
She said to him:—"Thou art not my son; thou art the son of the
illustrious Vishnu; Kāla Samvara stole thee and threw thee into the
ocean; thou wast swallowed by a fish but rescued by me from its belly
cut open. O lord thy loving mother is still weeping for thee".
Parāçara said;—Hearing those words Pradyumna invited Samvara for battle.
And worked up with ire that highly powerful one fought with him. In the
battle the son of Mādhava killed the entire host of Samvara. Having
seven times baffled the delusions and mastered them in the eighth he
destroyed that demon Samvara. And having got into the welkin with her he
proceeded to his father's house. And beholding him descend into the
inner apartment with Māyāvati, Krishna's wives considered him as Krishna
himself. The highly beautiful Rukmini with her eyes full of tears
lovingly said:—"Blessed is the woman who has got such a son in the bloom
of youth. Had he been alive my own son Pradyumna would have been his
age. Who is the fortunate mother adorned by thee? From the affection I
feel for thee and from thy appearance I think thou art assuredly the son
of Hari".
Parāçara said:—At this time Krishna arrived there with Nārada; and the
latter delightedly said to Rukmini. "This is thy own son who has come
here after slaying Sambara, by whom he was carried away when a child
from the lying-in chamber. This is the pious Māyāvati, his spouse and
not the wife of Samvara. Hear the reason; when Manmatha had perished,
the goddess of beauty, being desirous of effecting his revival,
fascinated Samvara by the charms of her delusive form. And she, having
eyes rolling with inebriation, exhibited herself to him in various
illusory enjoyments. This thy son is the incarnation of Kama and this
his spouse is the goddess Rati. Do not doubt the least that she is your
daughter-in-law".
Thereupon Rukmini and Keshava were worked up with delight and the whole
city resounded with the exclamations of praise. And beholding Rukmini
regain a son who bad been long lost all the people of Dwārakā were
surprised.