Chapter 19: The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

 

1.19.1

sūta uvāca

mahī-patis tv atha tat-karma garhyaḿ

vicintayann ātma-kṛtaḿ sudurmanāḥ

aho mayā nīcam anārya-vat kṛtaḿ

nirāgasi brahmaṇi gūḍha-tejasi

 

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; mahī-patiḥ — the King; tu — but; atha — thus (while coming back home); tat — that; karma — act; garhyam — abominable; vicintayan — thus thinking; ātma-kṛtam — done by himself; su-durmanāḥ — very much depressed; aho — alas; mayā — by me; nīcam — heinous; anārya — uncivilized; vat — like; kṛtam — done; nirāgasi — unto one who is faultless; brahmaṇi — unto a brāhmaṇa; gūḍha — grave; tejasi — unto the powerful.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: While returning home, the King [Mahārāja Parīkṣit] felt that the act he had committed against the faultless and powerful brāhmaṇa was heinous and uncivilized. Consequently he was distressed.

 

1.19.2

dhruvaḿ tato me kṛta-deva-helanād

duratyayaḿ vyasanaḿ nāti-dīrghāt

tad astu kāmaḿ hy agha-niṣkṛtāya me

yathā na kuryāḿ punar evam addhā

 

dhruvam — sure and certain; tataḥ — therefore; me — my; kṛta-deva-helanāt — because of disobeying the orders of the Lord; duratyayam — very difficult; vyasanam — calamity; na — not; ati — greatly; dīrghāt — far off; tat — that; astu — let it be; kāmam — desire without reservations; hi — certainly; agha — sins; niṣkṛtāya — for getting free; me — my; yathā — so that; na — never; kuryām — shall I do it; punaḥ — again; evam — as I have done; addhā — directly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[King Parīkṣit thought:] Due to my neglecting the injunctions of the Supreme Lord I must certainly expect some difficulty to overcome me in the near future. I now desire without reservation that the calamity come now, for in this way I may be freed of the sinful action and not commit such an offense again.

 

1.19.3

adyaiva rājyaḿ balam ṛddha-kośaḿ

prakopita-brahma-kulānalo me

dahatv abhadrasya punar na me 'bhūt

pāpīyasī dhīr dvija-deva-gobhyaḥ

 

adya — this day; eva — on the very; rājyam — kingdom; balam ṛddha — strength and riches; kośam — treasury; prakopita — ignited by; brahma-kula — by the brāhmaṇa community; analaḥ — fire; me dahatu — let it burn me; abhadrasya — inauspiciousness; punaḥ — again; na — not; me — unto me; abhūt — may occur; pāpīyasī — sinful; dhīḥ — intelligence; dvija — brāhmaṇas; deva — the Supreme Lord; gobhyaḥ — and the cows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am uncivilized and sinful due to my neglect of brahminical culture, God consciousness and cow protection. Therefore I wish that my kingdom, strength and riches burn up immediately by the fire of the brāhmaṇa's wrath so that in the future I may not be guided by such inauspicious attitudes.

 

1.19.4

sa cintayann ittham athāśṛṇod yathā

muneḥ sutokto nirṛtis takṣakākhyaḥ

sa sādhu mene na cireṇa takṣakā-

nalaḿ prasaktasya virakti-kāraṇam

 

saḥ — he, the King; cintayan — thinking; ittham — like this; atha — now; aśṛṇot — heard; yathā — as; muneḥ — of the sage; suta-uktaḥ — uttered by the son; nirṛtiḥ — death; takṣaka-ākhyaḥ — in relation with the snake-bird; saḥ — he (the King); sādhu — well and good; mene — accepted; na — not; cireṇa — very long time; takṣaka — snake-bird; analam — fire; prasaktasya — for one who is too attached; virakti — indifference; kāraṇam — cause.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While the King was thus repenting, he received news of his imminent death, which would be due to the bite of a snake-bird, occasioned by the curse spoken by the sage's son. The King accepted this as good news, for it would be the cause of his indifference toward worldly things.

 

1.19.5

atho vihāyemam amuḿ ca lokaḿ

vimarśitau heyatayā purastāt

kṛṣṇāńghri-sevām adhimanyamāna

upāviśat prāyam amartya-nadyām

 

atho — thus; vihāya — giving up; imam — this; amum — and the next; ca — also; lokam — planets; vimarśitau — all of them being judged; heyatayā — because of inferiority; purastāt — hereinbefore; kṛṣṇa-ańghri — the lotus feet of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; sevām — transcendental loving service; adhimanyamānaḥ — one who thinks of the greatest of all achievements; upāviśat — sat down firmly; prāyam — for fasting; amartya-nadyām — on the bank of the transcendental river (the Ganges or the Yamunā).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat down firmly on the banks of the Ganges to concentrate his mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, rejecting all other practices of self-realization, because transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa is the greatest achievement, superseding all other methods.

 

1.19.6

yā vai lasac-chrī-tulasī-vimiśra-

kṛṣṇāńghri-reṇv-abhyadhikāmbu-netrī

punāti lokān ubhayatra seśān

kas tāḿ na seveta mariṣyamāṇaḥ

 

yā — the river which; vai — always; lasat — floating with; śrī-tulasī — tulasī leaves; vimiśra — mixed; kṛṣṇa-ańghri — the lotus feet of the Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; reṇu — dust; abhyadhika — auspicious; ambu — water; netrī — that which is carrying; punāti — sanctifies; lokān — planets; ubhayatra — both the upper and lower or inside and outside; sa-īśān — along with Lord Śiva; kaḥ — who else; tām — that river; na — does not; seveta — worship; mariṣyamāṇaḥ — one who is to die at any moment.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The river [Ganges, by which the King sat to fast] carries the most auspicious water, which is mixed with the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord and tulasī leaves. Therefore that water sanctifies the three worlds inside and outside and even sanctifies Lord Śiva and other demigods. Consequently everyone who is destined to die must take shelter of this river.

 

1.19.7

iti vyavacchidya sa pāṇḍaveyaḥ

prāyopaveśaḿ prati viṣṇu-padyām

dadhau mukundāńghrim ananya-bhāvo

muni-vrato mukta-samasta-sańgaḥ

 

iti — thus; vyavacchidya — having decided; saḥ — the King; pāṇḍaveyaḥ — worthy descendant of the Pāṇḍavas; prāya-upaveśam — for fasting until death; prati — toward; viṣṇu-padyām — on the bank of the Ganges (emanating from the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu); dadhau — gave himself up; mukunda-ańghrim — unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananya — without deviation; bhāvaḥ — spirit; muni-vrataḥ — with the vows of a sage; mukta — liberated from; samasta — all kinds of; sańgaḥ — association.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus the King, the worthy descendant of the Pāṇḍavas, decided once and for all and sat on the Ganges' bank to fast until death and give himself up to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who alone is able to award liberation. So, freeing himself from all kinds of associations and attachments, he accepted the vows of a sage.

 

1.19.8

tatropajagmur bhuvanaḿ punānā

mahānubhāvā munayaḥ sa-śiṣyāḥ

prāyeṇa tīrthābhigamāpadeśaiḥ

svayaḿ hi tīrthāni punanti santaḥ

 

tatra — there; upajagmuḥ — arrived; bhuvanam — the universe; punānāḥ — those who can sanctify; mahā-anubhāvāḥ — great minds; munayaḥ — thinkers; sa-śiṣyāḥ — along with their disciples; prāyeṇa — almost; tīrtha — place of pilgrimage; abhigama — journey; apadeśaiḥ — on the plea of; svayam — personally; hi — certainly; tīrthāni — all the places of pilgrimage; punanti — sanctify; santaḥ — sages.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that time all the great minds and thinkers, accompanied by their disciples, and sages who could verily sanctify a place of pilgrimage just by their presence, arrived there on the plea of making a pilgrim's journey.

 

1.19.9-10

atrir vasiṣṭhaś cyavanaḥ śaradvān

ariṣṭanemir bhṛgur ańgirāś ca

parāśaro gādhi-suto 'tha rāma

utathya indrapramadedhmavāhau

 

medhātithir devala ārṣṭiṣeṇo

bhāradvājo gautamaḥ pippalādaḥ

maitreya aurvaḥ kavaṣaḥ kumbhayonir

dvaipāyano bhagavān nāradaś ca

 

atri to nārada — all names of the different saintly personalities who arrived there from different parts of the universe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From different parts of the universe there arrived great sages like Atri, Cyavana, Śaradvān, Ariṣṭanemi, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara, Viśvāmitra, Ańgirā, Paraśurāma, Utathya, Indrapramada, Idhmavāhu, Medhātithi, Devala, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, Bhāradvāja, Gautama, Pippalāda, Maitreya, Aurva, Kavaṣa, Kumbhayoni, Dvaipāyana and the great personality Nārada.

 

1.19.11

anye ca devarṣi-brahmarṣi-varyā

rājarṣi-varyā aruṇādayaś ca

nānārṣeya-pravarān sametān

abhyarcya rājā śirasā vavande

 

anye — many others; ca — also; devarṣi — saintly demigods; brahmarṣi — saintly brāhmaṇas; varyāḥ — topmost; rājarṣi-varyāḥ — topmost saintly kings; aruṇa-ādayaḥ — a special rank of rājarṣis; ca — and; nānā — many others; ārṣeya-pravarān — chief amongst the dynasties of the sages; sametān — assembled together; abhyarcya — by worshiping; rājā — the Emperor; śirasā — bowed his head to the ground; vavande — welcomed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There were also many other saintly demigods, kings and special royal orders called aruṇādayas [a special rank of rājarṣis] from different dynasties of sages. When they all assembled together to meet the Emperor [Parīkṣit], he received them properly and bowed his head to the ground.

 

1.19.12

sukhopaviṣṭeṣv atha teṣu bhūyaḥ

kṛta-praṇāmaḥ sva-cikīrṣitaḿ yat

vijñāpayām āsa vivikta-cetā

upasthito 'gre 'bhigṛhīta-pāṇiḥ

 

sukha — happily; upaviṣṭeṣu — all sitting down; atha — thereupon; teṣu — unto them (the visitors); bhūyaḥ — again; kṛta-praṇāmaḥ — having offered obeisances; sva — his own; cikīrṣitam — decision of fasting; yat — who; vijñāpayām āsa — submitted; vivikta-cetāḥ — one whose mind is detached from worldly affairs; upasthitaḥ — being present; agre — before them; abhigṛhīta-pāṇiḥ — humbly with folded hands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After all the ṛṣis and others had seated themselves comfortably, the King, humbly standing before them with folded hands, told them of his decision to fast until death.

 

1.19.13

rājovāca

aho vayaḿ dhanyatamā nṛpāṇāḿ

mahattamānugrahaṇīya-śīlāḥ

rājñāḿ kulaḿ brāhmaṇa-pāda-śaucād

dūrād visṛṣṭaḿ bata garhya-karma

 

rājā uvāca — the fortunate King said; aho — ah; vayam — we; dhanya-tamāḥ — most thankful; nṛpāṇām — of all the kings; mahat-tama — of the great souls; anugrahaṇīya-śīlāḥ — trained to get favors; rājñām — of the royal; kulam — orders; brāhmaṇa-pāda — feet of the brāhmaṇas; śaucāt — refuse after cleaning; dūrāt — at a distance; visṛṣṭam — always left out; bata — on account of; garhya — condemnable; karma — activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The fortunate King said: Indeed, we are the most grateful of all the kings who are trained to get favors from the great souls. Generally you [sages] consider royalty as refuse to be rejected and left in a distant place.

 

1.19.14

tasyaiva me 'ghasya parāvareśo

vyāsakta-cittasya gṛheṣv abhīkṣṇam

nirveda-mūlo dvija-śāpa-rūpo

yatra prasakto bhayam āśu dhatte

 

tasya — his; eva — certainly; me — mine; aghasya — of the sinful; parā — transcendental; avara — mundane; īśaḥ — controller, the Supreme Lord; vyāsakta — overly attached; cittasya — of the mind; gṛheṣu — to family affairs; abhīkṣṇam — always; nirveda-mūlaḥ — the source of detachment; dvija-śāpa — cursing by the brāhmaṇa; rūpaḥ — form of; yatra — whereupon; prasaktaḥ — one who is affected; bhayam — fearfulness; āśu — very soon; dhatte — take place.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of both the transcendental and mundane worlds, has graciously overtaken me in the form of a brāhmaṇa's curse. Due to my being too much attached to family life, the Lord, in order to save me, has appeared before me in such a way that only out of fear I will detach myself from the world.

 

1.19.15

taḿ mopayātaḿ pratiyantu viprā

gańgā ca devī dhṛta-cittam īśe

dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakas takṣako vā

daśatv alaḿ gāyata viṣṇu-gāthāḥ

 

tam — for that reason; mā — me; upayātam — taken shelter of; pratiyantu — just accept me; viprāḥ — O brāhmaṇas; gańgā — mother Ganges; ca — also; devī — direct representative of the Lord; dhṛta — taken into; cittam — heart; īśe — unto the Lord; dvija-upasṛṣṭaḥ — created by the brāhmaṇa; kuhakaḥ — something magical; takṣakaḥ — the snakebird; vā — either; daśatu — let it bite; alam — without further delay; gāyata — please go on singing; viṣṇu-gāthāḥ — narration of the deeds of Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O brāhmaṇas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snake-bird — or whatever magical thing the brāhmaṇa created — bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu.

 

1.19.16

punaś ca bhūyād bhagavaty anante

ratiḥ prasańgaś ca tad-āśrayeṣu

mahatsu yāḿ yām upayāmi sṛṣṭiḿ

maitry astu sarvatra namo dvijebhyaḥ

 

punaḥ — again; ca — and; bhūyāt — let it be; bhagavati — unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; anante — who has unlimited potency; ratiḥ — attracting; prasańgaḥ — association; ca — also; tat — His; āśrayeṣu — with those who are His devotees; mahatsu — within the material creation; yām yām — wherever; upayāmi — I may take; sṛṣṭim — my birth; maitrī — friendly relation; astu — let it be; sarvatra — everywhere; namaḥ — my obeisances; dvijebhyaḥ — unto the brāhmaṇas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Again, offering obeisances unto all you brāhmaṇas, I pray that if I should again take my birth in the material world I will have complete attachment to the unlimited Lord Kṛṣṇa, association with His devotees and friendly relations with all living beings.

 

1.19.17

iti sma rājādhyavasāya-yuktaḥ

prācīna-mūleṣu kuśeṣu dhīraḥ

udań-mukho dakṣiṇa-kūla āste

samudra-patnyāḥ sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ

 

iti — thus; sma — as in the past; rājā — the King; adhyavasāya — perseverance; yuktaḥ — being engaged; prācīna — eastern; mūleṣu — with the root; kuśeṣu — on a seat made of kuśa straw; dhīraḥ — self-controlled; udań-mukhaḥ — facing the northern side; dakṣiṇa — on the southern; kūle — bank; āste — situated; samudra — the sea; patnyāḥ — wife of (the Ganges); sva — own; suta — son; nyasta — given over; bhāraḥ — the charge of administration.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In perfect self-control, Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat down on a seat of straw, with straw-roots facing the east, placed on the southern bank of the Ganges, and he himself faced the north. Just previously he had given charge of his kingdom over to his son.

 

1.19.18

evaḿ ca tasmin nara-deva-deve

prāyopaviṣṭe divi deva-sańghāḥ

praśasya bhūmau vyakiran prasūnair

mudā muhur dundubhayaś ca neduḥ

 

evam — thus; ca — and; tasmin — in that; nara-deva-deve — upon the King's; prāya-upaviṣṭe — being engaged in fasting to death; divi — in the sky; deva — demigods; sańghāḥ — all of them; praśasya — having praised the action; bhūmau — on the earth; vyakiran — scattered; prasūnaiḥ — with flowers; mudā — in pleasure; muhuḥ — continually; dundubhayaḥ — celestial drums; ca — also; neduḥ — beaten.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus the King, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, sat to fast until death. All the demigods of the higher planets praised the King's actions and in pleasure continually scattered flowers over the earth and beat celestial drums.

 

1.19.19

maharṣayo vai samupāgatā ye

praśasya sādhv ity anumodamānāḥ

ūcuḥ prajānugraha-śīla-sārā

yad uttama-śloka-guṇābhirūpam

 

maharṣayaḥ — the great sages; vai — as a matter of course; samupāgatāḥ — assembled there; ye — those who; praśasya — by praising; sādhu — quite all right; iti — thus; anumodamānāḥ — all approving; ūcuḥ — said; prajā-anugraha — doing good to the living being; śīla-sārāḥ — qualitatively powerful; yat — because; uttama-śloka — one who is praised by selected poems; guṇa-abhirūpam — as beautiful as godly qualities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All the great sages who were assembled there also praised the decision of Mahārāja Parīkṣit and they expressed their approval by saying, "Very good." Naturally the sages are inclined to do good to common men, for they have all the qualitative powers of the Supreme Lord. Therefore they were very much pleased to see Mahārāja Parīkṣit, a devotee of the Lord, and they spoke as follows.

 

1.19.20

na vā idaḿ rājarṣi-varya citraḿ

bhavatsu kṛṣṇaḿ samanuvrateṣu

ye 'dhyāsanaḿ rāja-kirīṭa-juṣṭaḿ

sadyo jahur bhagavat-pārśva-kāmāḥ

 

na — neither; vā — like this; idam — this; rājarṣi — saintly king; varya — the chief; citram — astonishing; bhavatsu — unto all of you; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; samanuvrateṣu — unto those who are strictly in the line of; ye — who; adhyāsanam — seated on the throne; rāja-kirīṭa — helmets of kings; juṣṭam — decorated; sadyaḥ — immediately; jahuḥ — gave up; bhagavat — the Personality of Godhead; pārśva-kāmāḥ — desiring to achieve association.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The sages said:] O chief of all the saintly kings of the Pāṇḍu dynasty who are strictly in the line of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa! It is not at all astonishing that you give up your throne, which is decorated with the helmets of many kings, to achieve eternal association with the Personality of Godhead.

 

1.19.21

sarve vayaḿ tāvad ihāsmahe 'tha

kalevaraḿ yāvad asau vihāya

lokaḿ paraḿ virajaskaḿ viśokaḿ

yāsyaty ayaḿ bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ

 

sarve — all; vayam — of us; tāvat — as long as; iha — at this place; āsmahe — shall stay; atha — hereafter; kalevaram — the body; yāvat — so long; asau — the King; vihāya — giving up; lokam — the planet; param — the supreme; virajaskam — completely free from mundane contamination; viśokam — completely freed from all kinds of lamentation; yāsyati — returns; ayam — this; bhāgavata — devotee; pradhānaḥ — the foremost.

 

TRANSLATION

 

We shall all wait here until the foremost devotee of the Lord, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, returns to the supreme planet, which is completely free from all mundane contamination and all kinds of lamentation.

 

1.19.22

āśrutya tad ṛṣi-gaṇa-vacaḥ parīkṣit

samaḿ madhu-cyud guru cāvyalīkam

ābhāṣatainān abhinandya yuktān

śuśrūṣamāṇaś caritāni viṣṇoḥ

 

āśrutya — just after hearing; tat — that; ṛṣi-gaṇa — the sages assembled; vacaḥ — speaking; parīkṣit — Mahārāja Parīkṣit; samam — impartial; madhu-cyut — sweet to hear; guru — grave; ca — also; avyalīkam — perfectly true; ābhāṣata — said; enān — all of them; abhinandya — congratulated; yuktān — appropriately presented; śuśrūṣamāṇaḥ — being desirous to hear; caritāni — activities of; viṣṇoḥ — the Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All that was spoken by the great sages was very sweet to hear, full of meaning and appropriately presented as perfectly true. So after hearing them, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, desiring to hear of the activities of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, congratulated the great sages.

 

1.19.23

samāgatāḥ sarvata eva sarve

vedā yathā mūrti-dharās tri-pṛṣṭhe

nehātha nāmutra ca kaścanārtha

ṛte parānugraham ātma-śīlam

 

samāgatāḥ — assembled; sarvataḥ — from all directions; eva — certainly; sarve — all of you; vedāḥ — supreme knowledge; yathā — as; mūrti-dharāḥ — personified; tri-pṛṣṭhe — on the planet of Brahmā (which is situated above the three planetary systems, namely the upper, intermediate and lower worlds); na — not; iha — in this world; atha — thereafter; na — nor; amutra — in the other world; ca — also; kaścana — any other; arthaḥ — interest; ṛte — save and except; para — others; anugraham — doing good to; ātma-śīlam — own nature.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King said: O great sages, you have all very kindly assembled here, having come from all parts of the universe. You are all as good as supreme knowledge personified, who resides in the planet above the three worlds [Satyaloka]. Consequently you are naturally inclined to do good to others, and but for this you have no interest, either in this life or in the next.

 

1.19.24

tataś ca vaḥ pṛcchyam imaḿ vipṛcche

viśrabhya viprā iti kṛtyatāyām

sarvātmanā mriyamāṇaiś ca kṛtyaḿ

śuddhaḿ ca tatrāmṛśatābhiyuktāḥ

 

tataḥ — as such; ca — and; vaḥ — unto you; pṛcchyam — that which is to be asked; imam — this; vipṛcche — beg to ask you; viśrabhya — trustworthy; viprāḥ — brāhmaṇas; iti — thus; kṛtyatāyām — out of all different duties; sarva-ātmanā — by everyone; mriyamāṇaiḥ — especially those who are just about to die; ca — and; kṛtyam — dutiful; śuddham — perfectly correct; ca — and; tatra — therein; āmṛśata — by complete deliberation; abhiyuktāḥ — just befitting.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O trustworthy brāhmaṇas, I now ask you about my immediate duty. Please, after proper deliberation, tell me of the unalloyed duty of everyone in all circumstances, and specifically of those who are just about to die.

 

1.19.25

tatrābhavad bhagavān vyāsa-putro

yadṛcchayā gām aṭamāno 'napekṣaḥ

alakṣya-lińgo nija-lābha-tuṣṭo

vṛtaś ca bālair avadhūta-veṣaḥ

 

tatra — there; abhavat — appeared; bhagavān — powerful; vyāsa-putraḥ — son of Vyāsadeva; yadṛcchayā — as one desires; gām — the earth; aṭamānaḥ — while traveling; anapekṣaḥ — disinterested; alakṣya — unmanifested; lińgaḥ — symptoms; nija-lābha — self-realized; tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; ca — and; bālaiḥ — by children; avadhūta — neglected by others; veṣaḥ — dressed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that moment there appeared the powerful son of Vyāsadeva, who traveled over the earth disinterested and satisfied with himself. He did not manifest any symptoms of belonging to any social order or status of life. He was surrounded with women and children, and he dressed as if others had neglected him.

 

1.19.26

taḿ dvyaṣṭa-varṣaḿ su-kumāra-pāda-

karoru-bāhv-aḿsa-kapola-gātram

cārv-āyatākṣonnasa-tulya-karṇa-

subhrv-ānanaḿ kambu-sujāta-kaṇṭham

 

tam — him; dvi-aṣṭa — sixteen; varṣam — years; su-kumāra — delicate; pāda — legs; kara — hands; ūru — thighs; bāhu — arms; aḿsa — shoulders; kapola — forehead; gātram — body; cāru — beautiful; āyata — broad; akṣa — eyes; unnasa — high nose; tulya — similar; karṇa — ears; subhru — nice brows; ānanam — face; kambu — conchshell; sujāta — nicely built; kaṇṭham — neck.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This son of Vyāsadeva was only sixteen years old. His legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and the other parts of his body were all delicately formed. His eyes were beautifully wide, and his nose and ears were highly raised. He had a very attractive face, and his neck was well formed and beautiful like a conchshell.

 

1.19.27

nigūḍha-jatruḿ pṛthu-tuńga-vakṣasam

āvarta-nābhiḿ vali-valgūdaraḿ ca

dig-ambaraḿ vaktra-vikīrṇa-keśaḿ

pralamba-bāhuḿ svamarottamābham

 

nigūḍha — covered; jatrum — collarbone; pṛthu — broad; tuńga — swollen; vakṣasam — chest; āvarta — whirled; nābhim — navel; vali-valgu — striped; udaram — abdomen; ca — also; dik-ambaram — dressed by all directions (naked); vaktra — curled; vikīrṇa — scattered; keśam — hair; pralamba — elongated; bāhum — hands; su-amara-uttama — the best among the gods (Kṛṣṇa); ābham — hue.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His collarbone was fleshy, his chest broad and thick, his navel deep and his abdomen beautifully striped. His arms were long, and curly hair was strewn over his beautiful face. He was naked, and the hue of his body reflected that of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

1.19.28

śyāmaḿ sadāpīvya-vayo-'ńga-lakṣmyā

strīṇāḿ mano-jñaḿ rucira-smitena

pratyutthitās te munayaḥ svāsanebhyas

tal-lakṣaṇa-jñā api gūḍha-varcasam

 

śyāmam — blackish; sadā — always; apīvya — excessively; vayaḥ — age; ańga — symptoms; lakṣmyā — by the opulence of; strīṇām — of the fair sex; manaḥ-jñam — attractive; rucira — beautiful; smitena — smiling; pratyutthitāḥ — stood up; te — all of them; munayaḥ — the great sages; sva — own; āsanebhyaḥ — from the seats; tat — those; lakṣaṇa-jñāḥ — expert in the art of physiognomy; api — even; gūḍha-varcasam — covered glories.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He was blackish and very beautiful due to his youth. Because of the glamor of his body and his attractive smiles, he was pleasing to women. Though he tried to cover his natural glories, the great sages present there were all expert in the art of physiognomy, and so they honored him by rising from their seats.

 

1.19.29

sa viṣṇu-rāto 'tithaya āgatāya

tasmai saparyāḿ śirasājahāra

tato nivṛttā hy abudhāḥ striyo 'rbhakā

mahāsane sopaviveśa pūjitaḥ

 

saḥ — he; viṣṇu-rātaḥ — Mahārāja Parīkṣit (who is always protected by Lord Viṣṇu); atithaye — to become a guest; āgatāya — one who arrived there; tasmai — unto him; saparyām — with the whole body; śirasā — with bowed head; ājahāra — offered obeisances; tataḥ — thereafter; nivṛttāḥ — ceased; hi — certainly; abudhāḥ — less intelligent; striyaḥ — women; arbhakāḥ — boys; mahā-āsane — exalted seat; sa — he; upaviveśa — sat down; pūjitaḥ — being respected.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who is also known as Viṣṇurāta [one who is always protected by Viṣṇu], bowed his head to receive the chief guest, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. At that time all the ignorant women and boys ceased following Śrīla Śukadeva. Receiving respect from all, Śukadeva Gosvāmī took his exalted seat.

 

1.19.30

sa saḿvṛtas tatra mahān mahīyasāḿ

brahmarṣi-rājarṣi-devarṣi-sańghaiḥ

vyarocatālaḿ bhagavān yathendur

graharkṣa-tārā-nikaraiḥ parītaḥ

 

saḥ — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī; saḿvṛtaḥ — surrounded by; tatra — there; mahān — great; mahīyasām — of the greatest; brahmarṣi — saint among the brāhmaṇas; rājarṣi — saint among the kings; devarṣi — saint among the demigods; sańghaiḥ — by the assembly of; vyarocata — well deserved; alam — able; bhagavān — powerful; yathā — as; induḥ — the moon; graha — planets; ṛkṣa — heavenly bodies; tārā — stars; nikaraiḥ — by the assembly of; parītaḥ — surrounded by.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī was then surrounded by saintly sages and demigods just as the moon is surrounded by stars, planets and other heavenly bodies. His presence was gorgeous, and he was respected by all.

 

1.19.31

praśāntam āsīnam akuṇṭha-medhasaḿ

muniḿ nṛpo bhāgavato 'bhyupetya

praṇamya mūrdhnāvahitaḥ kṛtāñjalir

natvā girā sūnṛtayānvapṛcchat

 

praśāntam — perfectly pacified; āsīnam — sitting; akuṇṭha — without hesitation; medhasam — one who has sufficient intelligence; munim — unto the great sage; nṛpaḥ — the King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); bhāgavataḥ — the great devotee; abhyupetya — approaching him; praṇamya — bowing down; mūrdhnā — his head; avahitaḥ — properly; kṛta-añjaliḥ — with folded hands; natvā — politely; girā — by words; sūnṛtayā — in sweet voices; anvapṛcchat — inquired.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sage Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī sat perfectly pacified, intelligent and ready to answer any question without hesitation. The great devotee, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, approached him, offered his respects by bowing before him, and politely inquired with sweet words and folded hands.

 

1.19.32

parīkṣid uvāca

aho adya vayaḿ brahman

sat-sevyāḥ kṣatra-bandhavaḥ

kṛpayātithi-rūpeṇa

bhavadbhis tīrthakāḥ kṛtāḥ

 

parīkṣit uvāca — the fortunate Mahārāja Parīkṣit said; aho — ah; adya — today; vayam — we; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; sat-sevyāḥ — eligible to serve the devotee; kṣatra — the ruling class; bandhavaḥ — friends; kṛpayā — by your mercy; atithi-rūpeṇa — in the manner of a guest; bhavadbhiḥ — by your good self; tīrthakāḥ — qualified for being places of pilgrimage; kṛtāḥ — done by you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The fortunate King Parīkṣit said: O brāhmaṇa, by your mercy only, you have sanctified us, making us like unto places of pilgrimage, all by your presence here as my guest. By your mercy, we, who are but unworthy royalty, become eligible to serve the devotee.

 

1.19.33

yeṣāḿ saḿsmaraṇāt puḿsāḿ

sadyaḥ śuddhyanti vai gṛhāḥ

kiḿ punar darśana-sparśa-

pāda-śaucāsanādibhiḥ

 

yeṣām — of whom; saḿsmaraṇāt — by remembrance; puḿsām — of a person; sadyaḥ — instantly; śuddhyanti — cleanses; vai — certainly; gṛhāḥ — all houses; kim — what; punaḥ — then; darśana — meeting; sparśa — touching; pāda — the feet; śauca — washing; āsana-ādibhiḥ — by offering a seat, etc.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Simply by our remembering you, our houses become instantly sanctified. And what to speak of seeing you, touching you, washing your holy feet and offering you a seat in our home?

 

1.19.34

sānnidhyāt te mahā-yogin

pātakāni mahānty api

sadyo naśyanti vai puḿsāḿ

viṣṇor iva suretarāḥ

 

sānnidhyāt — on account of the presence; te — your; mahā-yogin — O great mystic; pātakāni — sins; mahānti — invulnerable; api — in spite of; sadyaḥ — immediately; naśyanti — vanquished; vai — certainly; puḿsām — of a person; viṣṇoḥ — like the presence of the Personality of Godhead; iva — like; sura-itarāḥ — other than the demigods.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just as the atheist cannot remain in the presence of the Personality of Godhead, so also the invulnerable sins of a man are immediately vanquished in your presence, O saint! O great mystic!

 

1.19.35

api me bhagavān prītaḥ

kṛṣṇaḥ pāṇḍu-suta-priyaḥ

paitṛ-ṣvaseya-prīty-arthaḿ

tad-gotrasyātta-bāndhavaḥ

 

api — definitely; me — unto me; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; prītaḥ — pleased; kṛṣṇaḥ — the Lord; pāṇḍu-suta — the sons of King Pāṇḍu; priyaḥ — dear; paitṛ — in relation with the father; svaseya — the sons of the sister; prīti — satisfaction; artham — in the matter of; tat — their; gotrasya — of the descendant; ātta — accepted; bāndhavaḥ — as a friend.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is very dear to the sons of King Pāṇḍu, has accepted me as one of those relatives just to please His great cousins and brothers.

 

1.19.36

anyathā te 'vyakta-gater

darśanaḿ naḥ kathaḿ nṛṇām

nitarāḿ mriyamāṇānāḿ

saḿsiddhasya vanīyasaḥ

 

anyathā — otherwise; te — your; avyakta-gateḥ — of one whose movements are invisible; darśanam — meeting; naḥ — for us; katham — how; nṛṇām — of the people; nitarām — specifically; mriyamāṇānām — of those who are about to die; saḿsiddhasya — of one who is all-perfect; vanīyasaḥ — voluntary appearance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Otherwise [without being inspired by Lord Kṛṣṇa] how is it that you have voluntarily appeared here, though you are moving incognito to the common man and are not visible to us who are on the verge of death?

 

1.19.37

ataḥ pṛcchāmi saḿsiddhiḿ

yogināḿ paramaḿ gurum

puruṣasyeha yat kāryaḿ

mriyamāṇasya sarvathā

 

ataḥ — therefore; pṛcchāmi — beg to inquire; saḿsiddhim — the way of perfection; yoginām — of the saints; paramam — the supreme; gurum — the spiritual master; puruṣasya — of a person; iha — in this life; yat — whatever; kāryam — duty; mriyamāṇasya — of one who is going to die; sarvathā — in every way.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die.

 

1.19.38

yac chrotavyam atho japyaḿ

yat kartavyaḿ nṛbhiḥ prabho

smartavyaḿ bhajanīyaḿ vā

brūhi yad vā viparyayam

 

yat — whatever; śrotavyam — worth hearing; atho — thereof; japyam — chanted; yat — what also; kartavyam — executed; nṛbhiḥ — by the people in general; prabho — O master; smartavyam — that which is remembered; bhajanīyam — worshipable; vā — either; brūhi — please explain; yad vā — what it may be; viparyayam — against the principle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and also what he should not do. Please explain all this to me.

 

1.19.39

nūnaḿ bhagavato brahman

gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām

na lakṣyate hy avasthānam

api go-dohanaḿ kvacit

 

nūnam — because; bhagavataḥ — of you, who are powerful; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; gṛheṣu — in the houses; gṛha-medhinām — of the householders; na — not; lakṣyate — are seen; hi — exactly; avasthānam — staying in; api — even; go-dohanam — milking the cow; kvacit — rarely.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O powerful brāhmaṇa, it is said that you hardly stay in the houses of men long enough to milk a cow.

 

1.19.40

sūta uvāca

evam ābhāṣitaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ

sa rājñā ślakṣṇayā girā

pratyabhāṣata dharma-jño

bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ

 

sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; ābhāṣitaḥ — being spoken; pṛṣṭaḥ — and asked for; saḥ — he; rājñā — by the King; ślakṣṇayā — by sweet; girā — language; pratyabhāṣata — began to reply; dharma-jñaḥ — one who knows the principles of religion; bhagavān — the powerful personality; bādarāyaṇiḥ — son of Vyāsadeva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: The King thus spoke and questioned the sage, using sweet language. Then the great and powerful personality, the son of Vyāsadeva, who knew the principles of religion, began his reply.