Vajranābha and Prabhāvatī

Vajranābha was a mighty asura. By the vara (boon) of Brahmā he built a city called Vajrapura on Mount Meru, and from it he threatened the three worlds. Indra asked Bhagavān Kṛshṇa for help. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s son Pradyumna, with Sāmba and Gada, entered the city as a troupe of actors. Pradyumna married Vajranābha’s daughter Prabhāvatī in secret. When Vajranābha found out and attacked, Pradyumna fought him. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa came and guided the killing blow. Pradyumna slew Vajranābha with the Sudarśana cakra, and Vajrapura was shared between the Yādavas and Indra.

Vajranābha and his boons

Vajranābha did hard tapas (austerity) in a cave of Mount Meru. Brahmā appeared and gave him these varas:

• He could not be killed by the devas.
• He would have a great city called Vajrapura, adorned with every kind of jewel.
• Even the wind could not enter the city without his leave.
• He would have every pleasure without effort.
• There would be small garden towns (upanagaras) in lakhs all around the city.

Guarded by the varas of Brahmā, Vajranābha lived in Vajrapura. Crores of asuras lived under his protection.

The threat to Indra

Vajranābha’s pride grew without limit. He went to Indra and said he meant to become king of the three worlds. He said there would be war if Indra refused. Indra asked Bṛhaspati for advice and put Vajranābha off. He said that Kaśyapa, the father, was in the vow of a yajña (yajña-dīkshā), and that they should wait for his guidance. Vajranābha went to Kaśyapa himself. Kaśyapa also told him to go back to Vajrapura and wait until the yajña was finished. Meanwhile Indra went in secret to Dvārakā and told the matter to Śrī Kṛshṇa.

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa said to Indra: “Vasudeva is about to begin an Aśvamedha yajña. I will destroy the asura on that occasion. But we must find a way to enter Vajrapura in spite of his vara, because no enemy can enter without his leave.”

The haṃsa messengers

Indra called the haṃsas, a group of divine geese who were sons of Dhṛtarāshṭra. This Dhṛtarāshṭra was a divine being, not the Kaurava king. Indra sent them to Vajrapura with a task. Vajranābha already knew the haṃsas, and they were welcome at the sacred ponds of his city, so they could move about there freely. Indra told them to find Vajranābha’s daughter Prabhāvatī and describe the beauty, the good qualities and the character of Pradyumna until she fell in love with him. Then they were to come back and report.

Śucīmukhī and Prabhāvatī

The haṃsa named Śucīmukhī became a friend of Prabhāvatī. In many talks in the flower gardens and on the banks of the golden ponds of Vajrapura, she described Pradyumna in full: his form, his family, his character and his strength. Prabhāvatī was fully won over. She fell deeply in love with Pradyumna, longed to be his wife, and could think of nothing else. Śucīmukhī then went to and fro between Prabhāvatī and Pradyumna, carrying Prabhāvatī’s love to him and bringing back his answer.

The troupe of actors enters Vajrapura

Vasudeva’s Aśvamedha yajña began in Dvārakā. This gave Bhagavān Kṛshṇa the chance to carry out his plan. A famous performer named Bhadra nāṭa had received varas that let him enter any stronghold by means of a performance. Pradyumna, Sāmba and Gada took the dress of actors (nāṭakas) and joined a troupe of players gathered for the festivities of the Aśvamedha. They entered Vajrapura through the welcome that is given to performers.

The Rāmāyaṇa performance

Inside Vajrapura the Yādavas, in their disguise, performed the Rāmāyaṇa as a full play. It amazed the whole court of Vajranābha. It won them great praise and freedom to move about the city.

Pradyumna and Prabhāvatī

During the festivities Pradyumna took the form of a bhramara (bee), hidden in a flower garland, and came into Prabhāvatī’s private rooms. There he showed himself and made the gāndharva vivāha, the marriage of two people in mutual love, with fire as witness. Prabhāvatī was joined to Pradyumna in this holy union. She later became pregnant.

Gada married Candravatī, and Sāmba married Guṇavatī. These were two other daughters of Vajranābha’s circle. They were married in the same gāndharva way. Three sons were born from these unions: the son of Prabhāvatī, Candraprabhu (son of Gada and Candravatī), and Guṇavanta (son of Sāmba and Guṇavatī).

Vajranābha finds out and attacks

Vajranābha learned that he had been deceived. Yādava heroes had slipped into his strong city dressed as players, married women of his household, and become fathers. His anger was very great. He gathered his asura forces and attacked.

Pradyumna fought back by extraordinary means. He brought forth a māyā-ratha, a chariot of magic power, with the divine Śesha himself as the charioteer (sārathi). From this chariot Pradyumna fought the forces of Vajranābha. Indra also stepped in. He sent his son Jayanta and his great elephant Airāvata to help.

Kṛshṇa arrives

The battle went on through the night. The next morning Śrī Kṛshṇa himself came to Vajrapura. He saw that the vara of Brahmā had to be respected in its exact terms: death had to come from the right weapon and in the right way.

The slaying of Vajranābha

On the word of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, Pradyumna sent the Sudarśana cakra against Vajranābha. The cakra of Bhagavān Vishṇu, which destroys everything, was now in the hand of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s own son, and it slew Vajranābha. In the same battle Gada slew Vajranābha’s brother Sunābha.

The sharing of Vajrapura

After the victory Vajrapura was divided.

• Three parts went to the Yādavas. Pradyumna, Gada and Sāmba each received one part.
• One part went to Indra as his share of the victory.

Pradyumna, Sāmba and Gada stayed in Vajrapura for six months and then went back to Dvārakā. They took with them their wives, Prabhāvatī, Guṇavatī and Candravatī, and their newborn children.

Sources

• Hari Vaṃśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapters 93–100