SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 1

Sûta said: "While going home the king thought that the act of what he had done was abominable and he was very depressed saying to himself: 'Alas, it was uncivilized and evil what I did to the faultless, grave and powerful brahmin.

S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: While returning home, the King [Mahârâja Parîkshit] felt that the act he had committed against the faultless and powerful brâhmana was heinous and uncivilized. Consequently he was distressed. (Vedabase)

Text 2

For sure it is because of going against the injunctions that very soon I will meet with a very troublesome calamity. I certainly hope that that will happen as soon as possible, so that I shall be relieved of my sins and never do something like that again.

[King Parîkshit 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. (Vedabase)

Text 3

May I, on this very day, burn with my kingdom, strength and wealth of riches in the fire ignited by the brahmin community, so that the inauspiciousness of sinning against the Lord, the culture and the cows may not return to me.'

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 brâhmanas wrath so that in the future I may not be guided by such inauspicious attitudes. (Vedabase)

Text 4

While he thought like this he came to hear of the curse of death of the sage's son, which he accepted as well and good to happen in the nearby future as the fire of the snakebird caused by the indifference of being too attached.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Thus giving up this and the next world, thinking of all that happened before as being insignificant, he sat down at the bank of the transcendental river to fast in service of Krishna's feet, considering it the greatest achievement.

Mahârâja Parîkshit sat down firmly on the banks of the Ganges to concentrate his mind in Krishna consciousness, rejecting all other practices of self-realization, because transcendental loving service to Krishna is the greatest achievement, superseding all other methods. (Vedabase)

Text 6

That river, always floating mixed with tulasî-leaves [a plant used in worship], carries the auspicious water with the dust from the feet of Lord Krishna that sanctifies both the worlds inside and outside as well as the Lord of Destruction [Lord S'iva] - who else but the one about to die any moment is to worship that river?

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 tulasî leaves. Therefore that water sanctifies the three worlds inside and outside and even sanctifies Lord S'iva and other demigods. Consequently everyone who is destined to die must take shelter of this river. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Thus having decided he, the worthy decendant of the Pândavas, sat down at the feet of Vishnu to fast until the death of giving himself up to the mercy of Mukunda without deviation from the spirit of the vows of sages in being freed from all kinds of association.

Thus the King, the worthy descendant of the Pândavas, 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 Krishna, who alone is able to award liberation. So, freeing himself from all kinds of associations and attachments, he accepted the vows of a sage. (Vedabase)

Text 8

There as good as on the plea of pilgrimaging came together all the world's power of grace of great minds and thinkers along with their disciples that sanctify all places of pilgrimage by their presence:

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. (Vedabase)

Text 9-10:

Atri, Cyavana, S'aradvân, Arishthanemi, Bhrigu, Vasishthha, Parâs'ara, Vis'vâmitra, Angirâ, Paras'urâma, Uthathya, Indrapramada, Idhmavâhu, Medhâtithi, Devala, Ârshthisena, Bhâradvâja, Gautama, Pippalâda, Maitreya, Aurva, Kavasha, Kumbhayoni, Dvaipâyana and the great personality Nârada.

From different parts of the universe there arrived great sages like Atri, Cyavana, S'aradvân, Arishthanemi, Bhrigu, Vasishthha, Parâs'ara, Vis'vâmitra, Angirâ, Paras'urâma, Utathya, Indrapramada, Idhmavâhu, Medhâtithi, Devala, Ârshthisena, Bhâradvâja, Gautama, Pippalâda, Maitreya, Aurva, Kavasha, Kumbhayoni, Dvaipâyana and the great personality Nârada. (Vedabase)

Text 11

The many other wise of God, saintly brahmins, the best of the holy kings and Arunâdayas [a special rank of them] and many other heads of the dynasties of sages who assembled there in worship, were welcomed by the emperor who bowed his head.

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

Text 12

With all sitting down in comfort and after again having offered them his obeisances, he thereupon humbly with folded hands present before them spoke, as one whose mind is detached from worldly affairs, of his decision to fast.

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

Text 13

The king said: 'We indeed are grateful to be the most fortunate of all the kings trained to get favors from the great souls, as to the feet of the brahmins the royal orders are but refuse to be kept at a distance on account of condemnable activities.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Because of my sins, the Controller of the transcendental and mundane worlds was sure to curse me via that twice-born one because of my attachment of always thinking about family affairs - and taking that form will He inspiring with fear very soon overtake my mundane attachment.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of both the transcendental and mundane worlds, has graciously overtaken me in the form of a brâhmana'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. (Vedabase)

Text 15

Therefore just accept me, o brahmins, as one who in surrender has taken to the divine mother Ganges with the Lord in his heart. Let the snakebird, or whatever magical thing the twice-born called for, bite me forthwith; please continue reciting the deeds of Lord Vishnu.

O brâhmanas, 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 brâhmana created--bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Vishnu. (Vedabase)

Text 16

And again let it be so that wherever that, unto the Supreme Unlimited Lord and the association He attracts in the material world, I may take my birth, I will find friendly relations everywhere in obeisance to the twice-born.'

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

Text 17

"Thus, as persevering as in the past, the king sat himself on kus'a-grass laid down to the east in selfcontrol facing the north from the southern bank of the wife of the sea [the Ganges], while having given the administration over to His son.

In perfect self-control, Mahârâja Parîkshit 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. (Vedabase)

Text 18

To that, from the sky seeing that the king would fast until his end, all the gods in praise scattered the earth with flowers, continually beating celestial drums in pleasure.

Thus the King, Mahârâja Parîkshit, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 19

All the great sages that had assembled there thus praised him wise and approvingly said, from the power of their goodness to the living beings, that is in quality as beautifull as the divine praised in the scriptures:

All the great sages who were assembled there also praised the decision of Mahârâja Parîkshit 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 Mahârâja Parîkshit, a devotee of the Lord, and they spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

'It is not astonishing that this saintly king, the chief of all of us who are strict in following Krishna, seated on the throne decorated with the helmets of kings, immediately gave up desiring to achieve association with the Fortunate One.

[The sages said:] O chief of all the saintly kings of the Pându dynasty who are strictly in the line of Lord S'rî Krishna! 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. (Vedabase)

Text 21

All of us, will stay as long at this place as it takes the king to give up his body to attain to the world of the Supreme where this foremost devotee returns to complete freedom from worldy concerns and lamentation.'

We shall all wait here until the foremost devotee of the Lord, Mahârâja Parîkshit, returns to the supreme planet, which is completely free from all mundane contamination and all kinds of lamentation. (Vedabase)

Text 22

After hearing the assembled sages speaking thus impartially, sweet to hear, grave and perfectly true, Parîkchit complimented them all with the appropriate presentation and, desiring to hear of the activities of Vishnu, he said:

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, Mahârâja Parîkshit, desiring to hear of the activities of Lord S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, congratulated the great sages. (Vedabase)

Text 23

'You all have assembled here as the representation of the one above the three worlds [Brahmâ], with no other purpose in this world or a world hereafter, but to act, to your innate nature, for the good of others.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 24

From this, I am begging you, as trustworthy vedic learned ones, to tell me therefore what out of all the different duties of all and especially of those who are about to die, to your opinion would be the proper and befitting conduct.''

O trustworthy brâhmanas, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 25

At that moment, as if called for, the powerful son of Vyâsa, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, appeared who, satisfied in self-realization, traveled around disinterested without any concerns of identity, surrounded by children and dressed in neglect of others [naked].

At that moment there appeared the powerful son of Vyâsadeva, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 26

Being only sixteen years of age he had delicate legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and body. His eyes were beautifully wide and with a high nose and similar ears he had a face with nice brows and a neck as well formed as a conchshell.

This son of Vyâsadeva 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. (Vedabase)

Text 27

With a fleshy collarbone, a broad chest and a deep navel he had a striped abdomen and was naked with curly scattered hair and elongated hands with the hue of the best among the gods [Krishna; a dark complexion].

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 Krishna. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Even though he covered his nakedness, the sages, who had a keen eye for physiognomy, recognized the symptoms of the blackish skin, the beauty of young age and the attraction for the fair sex with his beautiful smiles - and they all stood up from their seats.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 29

To welcome the guest arriving, the one always protected by Vishnu [Parîkchit], bowed before him offering his obeisances, upon which his less intelligent following of boys and women was sure to withdraw itself as he took his exalted seat in reception of the respect.

Mahârâja Parîkshit, who is also known as Vishnurâta [one who is always protected by Vishnu], bowed his head to receive the chief guest, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî. At that time all the ignorant women and boys ceased following S'rîla S'ukadeva. Receiving respect from all, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî took his exalted seat. (Vedabase)

Text 30

S'ukadev, surrounded there by the greatest of the great saints amongst the brahmins, the kings and the godly ones, well deserved made a supreme and able presence, that compared to the moon surrounded by planets, heavenly bodies and stars.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî 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. (Vedabase)

Text 31

Sitting down in calm and self-assured of intelligence the sage was approached by the great devotee, the king, who properly bowed down with folded hands inquiring in sweet polite words.

The sage S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî sat perfectly pacified, intelligent and ready to answer any question without hesitation. The great devotee, Mahârâja Parîkshit, approached him, offered his respects by bowing before him, and politely inquired with sweet words and folded hands. (Vedabase)

Text 32

Parîkchit said: 'O brahmin, today have we from the ruling class become eligible to serve the devotee and to be alike friends by your mercy - as in making your presence as a guest, your good self brings about all the good qualities.

The fortunate King Parîkshit said: O brâhmana, 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. (Vedabase)

Text 33

Thinking of your person certainly instantly purifies all the places we inhabit, not mentioning what it means to see you, touch you, wash your feet and offer you a seat.

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? (Vedabase)

Text 34

On account of your being present, o great mystic, are our sins in spite of their invulnerability immediately vanquished, just like the person not so enlightened is in the presence of Vishnu.

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! (Vedabase)

Text 35:

Definitely has Krishna, the Supreme Lord so dear to the sons of Pându, being pleased with me, for the satisfaction of His cousins in relation with the father [father Pându, for the succession thus], accepted me, their descendant, as a friend.

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

Text 36:

Otherwise, how could you, specifically for me in my last hours before death, out of your own free will appear here to meet us, while normally you are invisible among the common man, being all-perfect as you are?

Otherwise [without being inspired by Lord Krishna] 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? (Vedabase)

Text 37:

Therefore I beg you, as the supreme spiritual master of all ascetics, what for a person in this life would be the perfection, the final beatitude, and what all would be the duty of someone about to die.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 38:

Please explain what the people in general, o master, should hear and chant about, what they should do, what they should remember and share, as also what would be against the principle.

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. (Vedabase)

Text 39:

This because, o supreme devotee, in the house of the householders one rarely sees you staying for longer than the exact time of milking a cow'."

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

Text 40:

Suta said: "Thus pleasantly being adressed and questioned by the king, began the supreme son of Vyâsadeva so well versed in the knowledge of the true duty, with his reply."

S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: The King thus spoke and questioned the sage, using sweet language. Then the great and powerful personality, the son of Vyâsadeva, who knew the principles of religion, began his reply. (Vedabase)