S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

 

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Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

 

 

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Chapter Seventy: Lord Krishna's Daily Activities

 

 

 

TEXT 1

s'rî-s'uka uvâca

athoshasy upavrittâyâm

kukkuthân kûjato 's'apan

grihîta-kanthhyah patibhir

mâdhavyo virahâturâh

s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; atha - then; ushasi - the dawn; upavrittâyâm - as it was approaching; kukkuthân - the roosters; kûjatah - who were crowing; as'apan - cursed; grihîta - being held; kanthhyah - whose necks; patibhih - by their husbands (Lord Krishna in His multiple manifestations); mâdhavyah - the wives of Lord Krishna; viraha - over separation; âturâh - agitated.

TRANSLATION

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: As dawn approached, the wives of Lord Mâdhava, each embraced around the neck by her husband, cursed the crowing roosters. The ladies were disturbed that now they would be separated from Him.

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TEXT 2

vayâmsy aroruvan krishnam

bodhayantîva vandinah

gâyatsv alishv anidrâni

mandâra-vana-vâyubhih

vayâmsi - birds; aroruvan - sounded loudly; krishnam - Lord Krishna; bodhayanti - waking; iva - as if; vandinah - bards; gâyatsu - as they sang; alishu - bees; anidrâni - aroused from sleep; mandâra - of pârijâta trees; vana - from the garden; vâyubhih - by the breeze.

TRANSLATION

The bees' buzzing, caused by the fragrant breeze from the parijâta garden, roused the birds from sleep. And when the birds began to sing loudly, they woke Lord Krishna like court poets reciting His glories.

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TEXT 3

muhûrtam tam tu vaidarbhî

nâmrishyad ati-s'obhanam

parirambhana-vis'leshât

priya-bâhv-antaram gatâ

muhûrtam - time of the day; tam - that; tu - but; vaidarbhî - Queen Rukminî; na amrishyat - did not like; ati - very; s'obhanam - auspicious; parirambhana - of His embrace; vis'leshât - because of the loss; priya - of her beloved; bâhu - the arms; antaram - between; gatâ - situated.

TRANSLATION

Lying in her beloved's arms, Queen Vaidarbhî did not like this most auspicious hour, for it meant she would lose His embrace.

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TEXTS 4 - 5

brâhme muhûrta utthâya

vâry upaspris'ya mâdhavah

dadhyau prasanna-karana

âtmânam tamasah param

 

ekam svayam-jyotir ananyam avyayam

sva-samsthayâ nitya-nirasta-kalmasham

brahmâkhyam asyodbhava-nâs'a-hetubhih

sva-s'aktibhir lakshita-bhâva-nirvritim

brâhme muhûrte - during the most suitable period of the day for spiritual activity, before sunrise; utthâya - rising; vâri - water; upaspris'ya - touching; mâdhavah - Lord Krishna; dadhyau - meditated; prasanna - clear; karanah - His mind; âtmânam - upon Himself; tamasah - ignorance; param - beyond;

ekam - exclusive; svayam-jyotih - self-luminous; ananyam - without another; avyayam - infallible; sva-samsthayâ - by His own nature; nitya - perpetually; nirasta - dispelling; kalmasham - contamination; brahma-âkhyam - known as Brahman, the Absolute Truth; asya - of this (universe); udbhava - of creation; nâs'a - and destruction; hetubhih - by the causes; sva - His own; s'aktibhih - energies; lakshita - manifest; bhâva - existence; nirvritim - joy.

TRANSLATION

Lord Mâdhava would rise during the brahma-muhûrta period and touch water. With a clear mind He would then meditate upon Himself, the single, self- luminous, unequaled and infallible Supreme Truth, known as Brahman, who by His very nature ever dispels all contamination, and who through His personal energies, which cause the creation and destruction of this universe, manifests His own pure and blissful existence.

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TEXT 6

athâpluto 'mbhasy amale yathâ-vidhi

kriyâ-kalâpam paridhâya vâsasî

cakâra sandhyopagamâdi sattamo

hutânalo brahma jajâpa vâg-yatah

atha - then; âplutah - having bathed; ambhasi - in water; amale - pure; yathâ- vidhi - according to Vedic rules; kriyâ - of rituals; kalâpam - the entire sequence; paridhâya - after dressing; vâsasî - in lower and upper garments; cakâra - He executed; sandhyâ-upagama - worship at dawn; âdi - and so on; sat- tamah - the most saintly of personalities; huta - having offered oblations; analah - to the sacred fire; brahma - the mantra of the Vedas (namely Gâyatrî); jajâpa - He chanted quietly; vâk - speech; yatah - controlling.

TRANSLATION

That most saintly of personalities would then bathe in sanctified water, dress Himself in lower and upper garments and perform the entire sequence of prescribed rituals, beginning with worship at dawn. After offering oblations into the sacred fire, Lord Krishna would silently chant the Gâyatrî mantra.

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TEXTS 7 - 9

upasthâyârkam udyantam

tarpayitvâtmanah kalâh

devân rishîn pitrn vriddhân

viprân abhyarcya câtmavân

 

dhenûnâm rukma-s'ringînâm

sâdhvînâm mauktika-srajâm

payasvinînâm grishthînâm

sa-vatsânâm su-vâsasâm

 

dadau rûpya-khurâgrânâm

kshaumâjina-tilaih saha

alankritebhyo viprebhyo

badvam badvam dine dine

upasthâya - worshiping; arkam - the sun; udyantam - rising; tarpayitvâ - propitiating; âtmanah - His own; kalâh - expansions; devân - the demigods; rishîn - sages; pitrn - and forefathers; vriddhân - His elders; viprân - and brâhmanas; abhyarcya - worshiping; ca - and; âtma-vân - self-possessed;

dhenûnâm - of cows; rukma - (covered with) gold; s'ringînâm - whose horns; sâdhvînâm - good-natured; mauktika - of pearls; srajâm - with necklaces; payasvinînâm - giving milk; grishthînâm - having given birth only once; sa- vatsânâm - together with their calves; su-vâsasâm - nicely dressed;

dadau - He gave; rûpya - (covered with) silver; khura - of their hooves; agrânâm - the fronts; kshauma - linen; ajina - deerskins; tilaih - and sesame seeds; saha - together with; alankritebhyah - who were given ornaments; viprebhyah - to learned brâhmanas; badvam badvam - (one hundred and seven) groups of 13,084 (thus totaling 1,400,000); dine dine - each day.

TRANSLATION

Each day the Lord worshiped the rising sun and propitiated the demigods, sages and forefathers, who are all His expansions. The self-possessed Lord would then carefully worship His elders and the brâhmanas. To those well- attired brâhmanas He would offer herds of tame and peaceful cows with gold- plated horns and pearl necklaces. These cows were also dressed in fine cloth, and the fronts of their hooves were plated with silver. Providers of abundant milk, they had each given birth only once and were accompanied by their calves. Daily the Lord gave many groups of 13,084 cows to the learned brâhmanas, together with linen, deerskins and sesame seeds.

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TEXT 10

go-vipra-devatâ-vriddha-

gurûn bhûtâni sarvas'ah

namaskrityâtma-sambhûtîr

mangalâni samaspris'at

go - to the cows; vipra - brâhmanas; devatâ - demigods; vriddha - elders; gurûn - and spiritual masters; bhûtâni - to living beings; sarvas'ah - all; namaskritya - offering obeisances; âtma - to His own; sambhûtîh - expanded manifestations; mangalâni - auspicious things (such as a brown cow); samaspris'at - He touched.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krishna would offer obeisances to the cows, brâhmanas and demigods, His elders and spiritual masters, and all living beings - all of whom are expansions of His supreme personality. Then He would touch auspicious things.

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TEXT 11

âtmânam bhûshayâm âsa

nara-loka-vibhûshanam

vâsobhir bhûshanaih svîyair

divya-srag-anulepanaih

âtmânam - Himself; bhûshayâm âsa - He decorated; nara-loka - of human society; vibhûshanam - the very ornament; vâsobhih - with clothes; bhûshanaih - and jewelry; svîyaih - belonging to Himself; divya - divine; srak - with flower garlands; anulepanaih - and ointments.

TRANSLATION

He would decorate His body, the very ornament of human society, with His own special clothes and jewelry and with divine flower garlands and ointments.

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TEXT 12

avekshyâjyam tathâdars'am

go-vrisha-dvija-devatâh

kâmâms' ca sarva-varnânâm

paurântah-pura-cârinâm

pradâpya prakritîh kâmaih

pratoshya pratyanandata

avekshya - looking; âjyam - at purified butter; tathâ - and also; âdars'am - at a mirror; go - cows; vrisha - bulls; dvija - brâhmanas; devatâh - and demigods; kâmân - desired objects; ca - and; sarva - all; varnânâm - to the members of the social classes; paura - in the city; antah-pura - and in the palace; cârinâm - living; pradâpya - arranging to give; prakritîh - His ministers; kâmaih - with fulfillment of their desires; pratoshya - fully satisfying; pratyanandata - He greeted them.

TRANSLATION

He would then look at ghee, a mirror, the cows and bulls, the brâhmanas and the demigods and see to it that the members of all the social classes living in the palace and throughout the city were satisfied with gifts. After this He would greet His ministers, gratifying them by fulfilling all their desires.

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TEXT 13

samvibhajyâgrato viprân

srak-tâmbûlânulepanaih

suhridah prakritîr dârân

upâyunkta tatah svayam

samvibhajya - distributing; agratah - first; viprân - to the brâhmanas; srak - garlands; tâmbûla - betel nut; anulepanaih - and sandalwood paste; suhridah - to His friends; prakritîh - to His ministers; dârân - to His wives; upâyunkta - He partook; tatah - then; svayam - Himself.

TRANSLATION

After first distributing flower garlands, pân and sandalwood paste to the brâhmanas, He would give these gifts to His friends, ministers and wives, and finally He would partake of them Himself.

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TEXT 14

tâvat sûta upânîya

syandanam paramâdbhutam

sugrîvâdyair hayair yuktam

pranamyâvasthito 'gratah

tâvat - by then; sûtah - His chariot driver; upânîya - having brought; syandanam - His chariot; parama - supremely; adbhutam - wonderful; sugrîva- âdyaih - named Sugrîva and so on; hayaih - with His horses; yuktam - yoked; pranamya - bowing down; avasthitah - standing; agratah - before Him.

TRANSLATION

By then the Lord's driver would have brought His supremely wonderful chariot, yoked with Sugrîva and His other horses. His charioteer would bow down to the Lord and then stand before Him.

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TEXT 15

grihîtvâ pâninâ pânî

sârathes tam athâruhat

sâtyaky-uddhava-samyuktah

pûrvâdrim iva bhâskarah

grihîtvâ - taking; pâninâ - with His hand; pânî - the hands; sâratheh - of His chariot driver; tam - it; atha - then; âruhat - He mounted; sâtyaki-uddhava - by Sâtyaki and Uddhava; samyuktah - joined; pûrva - of the east; adrim - the mountain; iva - as if; bhâskarah - the sun.

TRANSLATION

Holding on to His charioteer's hands, Lord Krishna would mount the chariot, together with Sâtyaki and Uddhava, just like the sun rising over the easternmost mountain.

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TEXT 16

îkshito 'ntah-pura-strînâm

sa-vrîda-prema-vîkshitaih

kricchrâd visrishtho niragâj

jâta-hâso haran manah

îkshitah - looked upon; antah-pura - of the palace; strînâm - of the women; sa- vrîda - shy; prema - and loving; vîkshitaih - by glances; kricchrât - with difficulty; visrishthah - getting free; niragât - He went out; jâta - appeared; hâsah - a smile; haran - removing; manah - their minds.

TRANSLATION

The palace women would look upon Lord Krishna with shy, loving glances, and thus He would get free from them only with difficulty. He would then set off, His smiling face captivating their minds.

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TEXT 17

sudharmâkhyâm sabhâm sarvair

vrishnibhih parivâritah

prâvis'ad yan-nivishthânâm

na santy anga shad ûrmayah

sudharmâ-âkhyâm - known as Sudharmâ; sabhâm - the royal assembly hall; sarvaih - by all; vrishnibhih - the Vrishnis; parivâritah - attended; prâvis'at - He entered; yat - which; nivistânâm - for those who have entered; na santi - do not occur; anga - my dear King (Parîkchit); shath - the six; ûrmayah - waves.

TRANSLATION

The Lord, attended by all the Vrishnis, would enter the Sudharmâ assembly hall, which protects those who enter it from the six waves of material life, dear King.

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TEXT 18

tatropavistah paramâsane vibhur

babhau sva-bhâsâ kakubho 'vabhâsayan

vrito nri-simhair yadubhir yadûttamo

yathodu-râjo divi târakâ-ganaih

tatra - there; upavishthah - seated; parama-âsane - on His exalted throne; vibhuh - the almighty Supreme Lord; babhau - shone; sva - with His own; bhâsâ - effulgence; kakubhah - all the quarters of the sky; avabhâsayan - making glow; vritah - surrounded; nr - among men; simhaih - by lions; yadubhih - by the Yadus; yadu-uttamah - the most excellent of the Yadus; yathâ - like; udu- râjah - the moon; divi - in the sky; târakâ-ganaih - (surrounded) by the stars.

TRANSLATION

As the almighty Supreme Lord would seat Himself upon His exalted throne there in the assembly hall, He shone with His unique effulgence, illuminating all the quarters of space. Surrounded by the Yadus, lions among men, that best of the Yadus appeared like the moon amidst many stars.

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TEXT 19

tatropamantrino râjan

nânâ-hâsya-rasair vibhum

upatasthur nathâcâryâ

nartakyas tândavaih prithak

tatra - there; upamantrinah - the jesters; râjan - O King; nânâ - with various; hâsya - joking; rasaih - moods; vibhum - the Supreme Lord; upatasthuh - they served; natha-âcâryâh - expert entertainers; nartakyah - female dancers; tândavaih - with energetic dances; prithak - separately.

TRANSLATION

And there, O King, jesters would entertain the Lord by displaying various comic moods, expert entertainers would perform for Him, and female dancers would dance energetically.

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TEXT 20

mridanga-vînâ-muraja-

venu-tâla-dara-svanaih

nanritur jagus tushthuvus' ca

sûta-mâgadha-vandinah

mridanga - of mridanga drums; vînâ - vînâs; muraja - and of murajas, another kind of drum; venu - of flutes; tâla - cymbals; dara - and conchshells; svanaih - with the sounds; nanrituh - they danced; jaguh - sang; tushthuvuh - offered praise; ca - and; sûta - bards; mâgadha - reciters of history; vandinah - and panegyrists.

TRANSLATION

These performers would dance and sing to the sounds of mridangas, vînâs, murajas, flutes, cymbals and conchshells, while professional poets, chroniclers and panegyrists would recite the Lord's glories.

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TEXT 21

tatrâhur brâhmanâh kecid

âsînâ brahma-vâdinah

pûrveshâm punya-yas'asâm

râjñâm câkathayan kathâh

tatra - there; âhuh - spoke; brâhmanâh - brâhmanas; kecit - some; âsînâh - seated; brahma - in the Vedas; vâdinah - fluent; pûrveshâm - of those of the past; punya - pious; yas'asâm - whose fame; râjñâm - of kings; ca - and; âkathayan - they recounted; kathâh - stories.

TRANSLATION

Some brâhmanas sitting in that assembly hall would fluently chant Vedic mantras, while others recounted stories of past kings of pious renown.

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TEXT 22

tatraikah purusho râjann

âgato 'pûrva-dars'anah

vijñâpito bhagavate

pratîhâraih praves'itah

tatra - there; ekah - one; purushah - person; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); âgatah - did come; apûrva - never before; dars'anah - whose appearance; vijñâpitah - announced; bhagavate - to the Supreme Lord; pratîhâraih - by the doorkeepers; praves'itah - made to enter.

TRANSLATION

Once a certain person arrived in the assembly, O King, who had never been seen there before. The doorkeepers announced him to the Lord and then escorted him inside.

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TEXT 23

sa namaskritya krishnâya

pares'âya kritâñjalih

râjñâm âvedayad duhkham

jarâsandha-nirodha-jam

sah - he; namaskritya - after bowing down; krishnâya - to Lord Krishna; para-îs'âya - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krita-añjalih - with joined palms; râjñâm - of the kings; âvedayat - he submitted; duhkham - the suffering; jarâsandha - by Jarâsandha; nirodha-jam - due to imprisonment.

TRANSLATION

That person bowed down to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and with joined palms he described to the Lord how a number of kings were suffering because Jarâsandha had imprisoned them.

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TEXT 24

ye ca dig-vijaye tasya

sannatim na yayur nripâh

prasahya ruddhâs tenâsann

ayute dve girivraje

ye - those who; ca - and; dik-vijaye - during the conquest of all directions; tasya - by him (Jarâsandha); sannatim - complete subservience; na yayuh - did not accept; nripâh - kings; prasahya - by force; ruddhâh - made captive; tena - by him; âsan - they were; ayute - ten thousands; dve - two; giri-vraje - in the fortress known as Girivraja.

TRANSLATION

Twenty thousand kings who had refused to submit absolutely to Jarâsandha during his world conquest had been forcibly imprisoned by him in the fortress named Girivraja.

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TEXT 25

râjâna ûcuh

krishna krishnâprameyâtman

prapanna-bhaya-bhañjana

vayam tvâm s'aranam yâmo

bhava-bhîtâh prithag-dhiyah

râjânah - the kings; ûcuh - said; krishna krishna - O Krishna, Krishna; aprameya-âtman - O immeasurable Soul; prapanna - of those who are surrendered; bhaya - the fear; bhañjana - O You who destroy; vayam - we; tvâm - to You; s'aranam - for shelter; yâmah - have come; bhava - of material existence; bhîtâh - afraid; prithak - separate; dhiyah - whose mentality.

TRANSLATION

The kings said [as related through their messenger]: O Krishna, Krishna, O immeasurable Soul, destroyer of fear for those surrendered to You ! Despite our separatist attitude, we have come to You for shelter out of fear of material existence.

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TEXT 26

loko vikarma-niratah kus'ale pramattah

karmany ayam tvad-udite bhavad-arcane sve

yas tâvad asya balavân iha jîvitâs'âm

sadyas' chinatty animishâya namo 'stu tasmai

lokah - the whole world; vikarma - to sinful activities; niratah - always attached; kus'ale - which are for their benefit; pramattah - bewildered; karmani - about duties; ayam - this (world); tvat - by You; udite - spoken; bhavat - of You; arcane - the worship; sve - their own (beneficial engagement); yah - who; tâvat - inasmuch; asya - of this (world); bala-vân - powerful; iha - in this life; jîvita - for longevity; âs'âm - hope; sadyah - suddenly; chinatti - cuts off; animishâya - to "unblinking" time; namah - obeisances; astu - may there be; tasmai - to Him.

TRANSLATION

People in this world are always engaged in sinful activities and are thus bewildered about their real duty, which is to worship You according to Your commandments. This activity would truly bring them good fortune. Let us offer our obeisances unto the all-powerful Lord, who appears as time and suddenly cuts down one's stubborn hope for a long life in this world.

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TEXT 27

loke bhavân' jagad-inah kalayâvatîrnah

sad-rakshanâya khala-nigrahanâya cânyah

kas'cit tvadîyam atiyâti nides'am îs'a

kim vâ janah sva-kritam ricchati tan na vidmah

loke - into this world; bhavân - You; jagat - of the universe; inah - the predominator; kalayâ - with Your expansion Baladeva, or with Your time potency; avatîrnah - having descended; sat - the saintly; rakshanâya - to protect; khala - the wicked; nigrahanâya - to subdue; ca - and; anyah - other; kas'cit - someone; tvadîyam - Your; atiyâti - transgresses; nides'am - the law; îs'a - O Lord; kim vâ - or else; janah - a person; sva - by himself; kritam - created; ricchati - obtains; tat - that; na vidmah - we do not understand.

TRANSLATION

You are the predominating Lord of the universe and have descended into this world with Your personal power to protect the saintly and suppress the wicked. We cannot understand, O Lord, how anyone can transgress Your law and still continue to enjoy the fruits of his work.

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TEXT 28

svapnâyitam nripa-sukham para-tantram îs'a

s'as'vad-bhayena mritakena dhuram vahâmah

hitvâ tad âtmani sukham tvad-anîha-labhyam

klis'yâmahe 'ti-kripanâs tava mâyayeha

svapnâyitam - like a dream; nripa - of kings; sukham - the happiness; para- tantram - conditional; îs'a - O Lord; s'as'vat - perpetually; bhayena - full of fear; mritakena - with this corpse; dhuram - burden; vahâmah - we carry; hitvâ - rejecting; tat - that; âtmani - within the self; sukham - happiness; tvat - done for You; anîha - by selfless works; labhyam - to be obtained; klis'yâmahe - we suffer; ati - extremely; kripanâh - wretched; tava - Your; mâyayâ - with the illusory energy; iha - in this world.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, with this corpselike body, always full of fear, we bear the burden of the relative happiness of kings, which is just like a dream. Thus we have rejected the real happiness of the soul, which comes by rendering selfless service to You. Being so very wretched, we simply suffer in this life under the spell of Your illusory energy.

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TEXT 29

tan no bhavân pranata-s'oka-harânghri-yugmo

baddhân viyunkshva magadhâhvaya-karma-pâs'ât

yo bhû-bhujo 'yuta-matangaja-vîryam eko

bibhrad rurodha bhavane mriga-râd ivâvîh

tat - therefore; nah - us; bhavân - Your good self; pranata - of those who have surrendered; s'oka - the sorrow; hara - which remove; anghri - of feet; yugmah - whose pair; baddhân - bound; viyunkshva - please release; magadha- âhvaya - going by the name Magadha (Jarâsandha); karma - of fruitive work; pâs'ât - from the fetters; yah - who; bhû-bhujah - kings; ayuta - ten thousand; matam - maddened; gaja - of elephants; vîryam - the prowess; ekah - alone; bibhrat - wielding; rurodha - imprisoned; bhavane - in His residence; mriga- râth - the lion, king of the animals; iva - just as; avîh - sheep.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, since Your feet relieve the sorrow of those who surrender to them, please release us prisoners from the shackles of karma, manifest as the King of Magadha. Wielding alone the prowess of ten thousand maddened elephants, he has locked us up in his house just as a lion captures sheep.

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TEXT 30

yo vai tvayâ dvi-nava-kritva udâtta-cakra

bhagno mridhe khalu bhavantam ananta-vîryam

jitvâ nri-loka-niratam sakrid ûdha-darpo

yushmat-prajâ rujati no 'jita tad vidhehi

yah - who; vai - indeed; tvayâ - by You; dvi - twice; nava - nine; kritvah - times; udâtta - upraised; cakra - O You whose disc weapon; bhagnah - crushed; mridhe - in battle; khalu - surely; bhavantam - You; ananta - unlimited; vîryam - whose power; jitvâ - defeating; nr-loka - in human affairs; niratam - absorbed; sakrit - only once; ûdha - inflated; darpah - whose pride; yushmat - Your; prajâh - subjects; rujati - torments; nah - us; ajita - O unconquerable one; tat - that; vidhehi - please rectify.

TRANSLATION

O wielder of the disc! Your strength is unlimited, and thus seventeen times You crushed Jarâsandha in battle. But then, absorbed in human affairs, You allowed him to defeat You once. Now he is so filled with pride that he dares to torment us, Your subjects. O unconquerable one, please rectify this situation.

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TEXT 31

dûta uvâca

iti mâgadha-samruddhâ

bhavad-dars'ana-kankshinah

prapannâh pâda-mûlam te

dînânâm s'am vidhîyatâm

dûtah uvâca - the messenger said; iti - thus; mâgadha - by Jarâsandha; samruddhâh - imprisoned; bhavat - of You; dars'ana - for the sight; kânkshinah - anxiously awaiting; prapannâh - surrendered; pâda - of the feet; mûlam - to the base; te - Your; dînânâm - to the pitiable; s'am - benefit; vidhîyatâm - please bestow.

TRANSLATION

The messenger continued: This is the message of the kings imprisoned by Jarâsandha, who all hanker for Your audience, having surrendered to Your feet. Please bestow good fortune on these poor souls.

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TEXT 32

s'rî-s'uka uvâca

râja-dûte bruvaty evam

devarshih parama-dyutih

bibhrat pinga-jathâ-bhâram

prâdurâsîd yathâ ravih

s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; râja - of the kings; dûte - the messenger; bruvati - having spoken; evam - in this manner; deva - of the demigods; rishih - the sage (Nârada Muni); parama - supreme; dyutih - whose effulgence; bibhrat - wearing; pinga - yellowish; jathâ - of matted locks; bhâram - a mass; prâdurâsît - appeared; yathâ - like; ravih - the sun.

TRANSLATION

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: When the kings' messenger had thus spoken, the sage of the demigods, Nârada, suddenly appeared. Bearing a mass of golden matted locks on his head, the supremely effulgent sage entered like the brilliant sun.

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TEXT 33

tam drishthvâ bhagavân krishnah

sarva-lokes'vares'varah

vavanda utthitah s'îrshnâ

sa-sabhyah sânugo mudâ

tam - him; drishthvâ - seeing; bhagavan - the Supreme Lord; krishnah - Krishna; sarva - of all; loka - worlds; îs'vara - of the controllers; îs'varah - the supreme controller; vavanda - offered His respects; utthitah - standing up; s'îrshnâ - with His head; sa - along with; sabhyah - the members of the assembly; sa - along with; anugah - His followers; mudâ - joyfully.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krishna is the worshipable master of even planetary rulers like Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva, yet as soon as He saw that Nârada Muni had arrived, He joyfully stood up along with His ministers and secretaries to receive the great sage and offer His respectful obeisances by bowing His head.

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TEXT 34

sabhâjayitvâ vidhi-vat

kritâsana-parigraham

babhâshe sunritair vâkyaih

s'raddhayâ tarpayan munim

sabhâjayitvâ - worshiping; vidhi-vat - according to scriptural injunctions; krita - to him (Nârada) who had done; âsana - of a seat; parigraham - acceptance; babhâshe - He (Lord Krishna) spoke; su-nritaih - truthful and pleasing; vâkyaih - with words; s'raddhayâ - with reverence; tarpayan - gratifying; munim - the sage.

TRANSLATION

After Nârada had accepted the seat offered to him, Lord Krishna honored the sage according to scriptural injunctions and, gratifying him with His reverence, spoke the following truthful and pleasing words.

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TEXT 35

api svid adya lokânâm

trayânâm akuto-bhayam

nanu bhûyân bhagavato

lokân paryathato gunah

api svit - certainly; adya - today; lokânâm - of the worlds; trayânâm - three; akutah-bhayam - complete freedom from fear; nanu - indeed; bhûyân - great; bhagavatah - of the powerful personality; lokân - throughout all the planetary systems; paryathatah - who travels; gunah - the quality.

TRANSLATION

[Lord Krishna said:] It is certain that today the three worlds have attained freedom from all fear, for that is the influence of such a great personality as you, who travel at will throughout all the worlds.

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TEXT 36

na hi te 'viditam kiñcil

lokeshv îs'vara-kartrishu

atha pricchâmahe yushmân

pândavânâm cikîrshitam

na - not; hi - indeed; te - to you; aviditam - unknown; kiñcit - anything; lokeshu - within the worlds; îs'vara - the Supreme Lord; kartrishu - whose maker; atha - thus; pricchâmahe - let Us inquire; yushmân - from you; pândavânâm - of the sons of Pându; cikîrshitam - about the intentions.

TRANSLATION

There is nothing unknown to you within God's creation. Therefore please tell Us what the Pândavas intend to do.

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TEXT 37

s'rî-nârada uvâca

drishthâ mâyâ te bahus'o duratyayâ

mâyâ vibho vis'va-srijas' ca mâyinah

bhûteshu bhûmams' caratah sva-s'aktibhir

vahner iva cchanna-ruco na me 'dbhutam

s'rî-nâradah uvâca - S'rî Nârada said; drishthâ - seen; mayâ - by me; te - Your; bahus'ah - many times; duratyayâ - insurmountable; mâyâ - power of illusion; vibho - O almighty one; vis'va - of the universe; srijah - of the creator (Lord Brahmâ); ca - and; mâyinah - of the bewilderer (You); bhûteshu - among the created beings; bhûman - O all-encompassing one; caratah - (of You) who move; sva - Your own; s'aktibhih - by energies; vahneh - of fire; iva - as; channa - covered; rucah - whose light; na - not; me - for me; adbhutam - amazing.

TRANSLATION

S'rî Nârada said: I have seen many times the insurmountable power of Your Mâyâ, O almighty one, by which You bewilder even the creator of the universe, Brahmâ. O all-encompassing Lord, it does not surprise me that You disguise Yourself by Your own energies while moving among the created beings, as a fire covers its own light with smoke.

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TEXT 38

tavehitam ko 'rhati sâdhu veditum

sva-mâyayedam srijato niyacchatah

yad vidyamânâtmatayâvabhâsate

tasmai namas te sva-vilakshanâtmane

tava - Your; îhitam - purpose; kah - who; arhati - is able; sâdhu - properly; veditum - to understand; sva - by Your own; mâyayâ - material energy; idam - this (universe); srijatah - who creates; niyacchatah - and withdraws; yat - which; vidyamâna - to exist; âtmatayâ - by relation to You, the Supersoul; avabhâsate - appears; tasmai - to Him; namah - obeisances; te - to You; sva - by Your own nature; vilakshana-âtmane - inconceivable.

TRANSLATION

Who can properly understand Your purpose? With Your material energy You expand and also withdraw this creation, which thus appears to have substantial existence. Obeisances to You, whose transcendental position is inconceivable.

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TEXT 39

jîvasya yah samsarato vimokshanam

na jânato 'nartha-vahâc charîratah

lîlâvatâraih sva-yas'ah pradîpakam

prâjvâlayat tvâ tam aham prapadye

jîvasya - for the conditioned living being; yah - He (the Supreme Lord) who; samsaratah - (the conditioned soul) caught in the cycle of birth and death; vimokshanam - liberation; na jânatah - not knowing; anartha - unwanted things; vahât - which brings; s'arîratah - from the material body; lîlâ - for pastimes; avatâraih - by His appearances in this world; sva - His own; yas'ah - fame; pradîpakam - the torch; prâjvâlayat - made to blaze; tvâ - You; tam - that Lord; aham - I; prapadye - approach for shelter.

TRANSLATION

The living being caught in the cycle of birth and death does not know how he can be delivered from the material body, which brings him so much trouble. But You, the Supreme Lord, descend to this world in various personal forms, and by performing Your pastimes You illumine the soul's path with the blazing torch of Your fame. Therefore I surrender unto You.

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TEXT 40

athâpy âs'râvaye brahma

nara-loka-vidambanam

râjñah paitri-shvasreyasya

bhaktasya ca cikîrshitam

atha api - nonetheless; âs'râvaye - I shall tell; brahma - O Supreme Truth; nara- loka - of human society; vidambanam - (to You) who imitate; râjñah - of the King (Yudhishthhira); paitri - of Your father; svasreyasya - of the sister's son; bhaktasya - Your devotee; ca - and; cikîrshitam - the intentions.

TRANSLATION

Nonetheless, O Supreme Truth playing the part of a human being, I shall tell You what Your devotee Yudhishthhira Mahârâja, the son of Your father's sister, intends to do.

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TEXT 41

yakshyati tvâm makhendrena

râjasûyena pândavah

pârameshthhya-kâmo nripatis

tad bhavân anumodatâm

yakshyati - he will perform sacrifice; tvâm - unto You; makha - of fire sacrifices; indrena - with the greatest; râjasûyena - known as Râjasûya; pândavah - the son of Pându; pârameshthhya - uncontested dominion; kâmah - desiring; nri-patih - the King; tat - that; bhavân - You; anumodatâm - please sanction.

TRANSLATION

Desiring unrivaled sovereignty, King Yudhishthhira intends to worship You with the greatest fire sacrifice, the Râjasûya. Please bless his endeavor.

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TEXT 42

tasmin deva kratu-vare

bhavantam vai surâdayah

didrikshavah sameshyanti

râjânas' ca yas'asvinah

tasmin - in that; deva - O Lord; kratu - of sacrifices; vare - best; bhavantam - You; vai - indeed; sura - demigods; âdayah - and other exalted personalities; didrikshavah - eager to see; sameshyanti - will all come; râjânah - kings; ca - also; yas'asvinah - glorious.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, exalted demigods and glorious kings, eager to see You, will all come to that best of sacrifices.

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TEXT 43

s'ravanât kîrtanâd dhyânât

pûyante 'nte-vasâyinah

tava brahma-mayasyes'a

kim utekshâbhimars'inah

s'ravanât - from hearing; kîrtanât - chanting; dhyânât - and meditating; pûyante - become purified; ante-vasâyinah - outcastes; tava - about You; brahma- mayasya - the full manifestation of the Absolute Truth; îs'a - O Lord; kim uta - what then to speak of; îkshâ - those who see; abhimars'inah - and touch.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, even outcastes are purified by hearing and chanting Your glories and meditating upon You, the Absolute Truth. What then to speak of those who see and touch You?

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TEXT 44

yasyâmalam divi yas'ah prathitam rasâyâm

bhûmau ca te bhuvana-mangala dig-vitânam

mandâkinîti divi bhogavatîti câdho

gangeti ceha caranâmbu punâti vis'vam

yasya - whose; amalam - spotless; divi - in heaven; yas'ah - fame; prathitam - disseminated; rasâyâm - in the subterranean region; bhûmau - on the earth; ca - and; te - Your; bhuvana - for all the worlds; mangala - O creator of good fortune; dik - in or of the universal directions; vitânam - the expansion, or decorative canopy; mandâkinî iti - called Mandâkinî; divi - in heaven; bhogavatî iti - called Bhogavatî; ca - and; adhah - below; gangâ iti - called Gangâ; ca - and; iha - here, on the earth; carana - from Your feet; ambu - the water; punâti - purifies; vis'vam - the whole universe.

TRANSLATION

My dear Lord, You are the symbol of everything auspicious. Your transcendental name and fame is spread like a canopy all over the universe, including the higher, middle and lower planetary systems. The transcendental water that washes Your lotus feet is known in the higher planetary systems as the Mandâkinî River, in the lower planetary systems as the Bhogavatî and in this earthly planetary system as the Ganges. This sacred, transcendental water flows throughout the entire universe, purifying wherever it goes.

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TEXT 45

s'rî-s'uka uvâca

tatra teshv âtma-paksheshv a-

grinatsu vijigîshayâ

vâcah pes'aih smayan bhrityam

uddhavam prâha kes'avah

s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; tatra - there; teshu - they (the Yâdavas); âtma - His own; paksheshu - supporters; agrinatsu - not agreeing; vijigîshayâ - because of their desire to conquer (Jarâsandha); vâcah - of speech; pes'aih - with charming usage; smayan - smiling; bhrityam - to His servant; uddhavam - S'rî Uddhava; prâha - spoke; kes'avah - Lord Krishna.

TRANSLATION

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: When His supporters, the Yâdavas, objected to this proposal out of eagerness to defeat Jarâsandha, Lord Kes'ava turned to His servant Uddhava and, smiling, addressed him with fine words.

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TEXT 46

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

tvam hi nah paramam cakshuh

suhrin mantrârtha-tattva-vit

athâtra brûhy anushthheyam

s'raddadhmah karavâma tat

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Personality of Godhead said; tvam - you; hi - indeed; nah - Our; paramam - supreme; cakshuh - eye; suhrit - well-wishing friend; mantra - of counsel; artha - the value; tattva-vit - who knows perfectly; atha - thus; atra - in this regard; brûhi - please say; anushthheyam - what is to be done; s'raddadhmah - We have trust; karavâma - We will carry out; tat - that.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead said: You are indeed Our best eye and closest friend, for you know perfectly the relative value of various kinds of counsel. Therefore please tell Us what should be done in this situation. We trust your judgment and shall do as you say.

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TEXT 47

ity upâmantrito bhartrâ

sarva-jñenâpi mugdha-vat

nides'am s'irasâdhâya

uddhavah pratyabhâshata

iti - thus; upâmantritah - requested; bhartrâ - by his master; sarva-jñena - all- knowing; api - even though; mugdha - perplexed; vat - as if; nides'am - the order; s'irasa - on his head; âdhâya - taking; uddhavah - Uddhava; pratyabhâshata - replied.

TRANSLATION

[S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued:] Thus requested by his master, who, though omniscient, acted as if perplexed, Uddhava took this order upon his head and replied as follows.

 

 

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