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 Eighty-six: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrâ, and Krishna Blesses His Devotees
TEXT 1
s'rî-râjovâca
brahman veditum icchâmah
svasârâm râma-krishnayoh
yathopayeme vijayo
yâ mamâsît pitâmahî
s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the great King (Parîkchit) said; brahman - O brâhmana (S'ukadeva); veditum - to know; icchâmah - we wish; svasâram - the sister; râma- krishnayoh - of Balarâma and Krishna; yathâ - how; upayeme - married; vijayah - Arjuna; yâ - she who; mama - my; âsît - was; pitâmahî - the grandmother.
TRANSLATION
King Parîkchit said: O brâhmana, we would like to learn how Arjuna married Lord Balarâma's and Lord Krishna's sister, who was my grandmother.
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TEXTS 2 - 3
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
arjunas tîrtha-yâtrâyâm
paryathann avanîm prabhuh
gatah prabhâsam as'rinon
mâtuleyîm sa âtmanah
duryodhanâya râmas tâm
dâsyatîti na câpare
tal-lipsuh sa yatir bhûtvâ
tri-dandî dvârakâm agât
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; arjunah - Arjuna; tîrtha - to holy places; yâtrâyâm - while on pilgrimage; paryathan - wandering; avanîm - the earth; prabhuh - the great lord; gatah - having gone; prabhâsam - to Prabhâsa; as'rinot - heard; mâtuleyîm - uncle's daughter; sah - he; âtmanah - his;
duryodhanâya - to Duryodhana; râmah - Lord Balarâma; tâm - her; dâsyati - intends to give; iti - thus; na - not; ca - and; apare - anyone else; tat - her; lipsuh - desirous of obtaining; sah - he, Arjuna; yatih - a sannyâsî; bhûtvâ - becoming; tri-dandî - carrying a triple staff; dvârakâm - to Dvârakâ; agât - went.
TRANSLATION
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: While traveling far and wide visiting various holy places of pilgrimage, Arjuna came to Prabhâsa. There he heard that Lord Balarâma intended to give his maternal cousin Subhadrâ to Duryodhana in marriage, and that no one else approved of this plan. Arjuna wanted to marry her himself, so he disguised himself as a renunciant, complete with triple staff, and went to Dvârakâ.
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TEXT 4
tatra vai vârshitân mâsân
avâtsît svârtha-sâdhakah
pauraih sabhâjito 'bhîkshnam
râmenâjânatâ ca sah
tatra - there; vai - indeed; vârshikân - of the rainy season; mâsân - for the months; avâtsît - he resided; sva - his own; artha - purpose; sâdhakah - trying to achieve; pauraih - by the people of the city; sabhâjitah - honored; abhîkshnam - constantly; râmena - by Lord Balarâma; ajânatâ - who was unaware; ca - and; sah - he.
TRANSLATION
He stayed there during the monsoon months to fulfill his purpose. Lord Balarâma and the other residents of the city, not recognizing him, offered him all honor and hospitality.
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TEXT 5
ekadâ griham ânîya
âtithyena nimantrya tam
s'raddhayopahritam bhaikshyam
balena bubhuje kila
ekadâ - once; griham - to His (Balarâma's) home; ânîya - bringing; âtithyena - as a guest; nimantrya - inviting; tam - him (Arjuna); s'raddhayâ - with faith; upahritam - presented; bhaikshyam - food; balena - by Lord Balarâma; bubhuje - he ate; kila - indeed.
TRANSLATION
One day Lord Balarâma brought him to His home as His invited dinner guest, and Arjuna ate the food the Lord respectfully offered him.
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TEXT 6
so 'pas'yat tatra mahatîm
kanyâm vîra-mano-harâm
prîty-utphullekshanas tasyâm
bhâva-kshubdham mano dadhe
sah - he; apas'yat - saw; tatra - there; mahatîm - wonderful; kanyâm - the girl; vîra - to heroes; manah-harâm - enchanting; prîti - with happiness; utphulla - blossoming; îkshanah - his eyes; tasyâm - upon her; bhâva - with emotion; kshubdham - agitated; manah - his mind; dadhe - he put.
TRANSLATION
There he saw the wonderful maiden Subhadrâ, who was enchanting to heroes. His eyes opened wide with delight, and his mind became agitated and absorbed in thoughts of her.
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TEXT 7
sâpi tam cakame vîkshya
nârînâm hridayam-gamam
hasantî vrîditâpangî
tan-nyasta-hridayekshanâ
sâ - she; api - also; tam - him; cakame - desired; vîkshya - seeing; nârînâm - of women; hridayam-gamam - the capturer of the hearts; hasantî - smiling; vrîditâ - bashful; apângî - casting sidelong glances; tat - upon him; nyasta - fixed; hridaya - her heart; îkshanâ - and eyes.
TRANSLATION
Arjuna was very attractive to women, and as soon as Subhadrâ saw him, she wanted to have him as her husband. Smiling bashfully with sidelong glances, she fixed her heart and eyes upon him.
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TEXT 8
tâm param samanudhyâyann
antaram prepsur arjunah
na lebhe s'am bhramac-cittah
kâmenâti-balîyasâ
tâm - on her; param - only; samanudhyâyan - meditating; antaram - the right opportunity; prepsuh - waiting to obtain; arjunah - Arjuna; na lebhe - could not experience; s'am - peace; bhramat - wavering; cittah - his heart; kâmena - due to lust; ati-balîyasâ - most strong.
TRANSLATION
Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.
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TEXT 9
mahatyâm deva-yâtrâyâm
ratha-sthâm durga-nirgatâm
jahârânumatah pitroh
krishnasya ca mahâ-rathah
mahatyâm - important; deva - for the Supreme Lord; yâtrâyâm - during a festival; ratha - on a chariot; sthâm - riding; durga - from the fortress; nirgatâm - having exited; jahâra - he seized her; anumatah - sanctioned; pitroh - by her parents; krishnasya - by Krishna; ca - and; mahâ-rathah - the mighty chariot warrior.
TRANSLATION
Once, on the occasion of a great temple festival in honor of the Supreme Lord, Subhadrâ rode out of the fortresslike palace on a chariot, and at that time the mighty chariot warrior Arjuna took the opportunity to kidnap her. Subhadrâ's parents and Krishna had sanctioned this.
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TEXT 10
ratha-stho dhanur âdâya
s'ûrâms' cârundhato bhathân
vidrâvya kros'atâm svânâm
sva-bhâgam mriga-râd iva
ratha - on his chariot; sthah - standing; dhanuh - his bow; âdâya - taking up; s'ûrân - the heroes; ca - and; arundhatah - trying to block him; bhathân - and the guards; vidrâvya - driving off; kros'atâm - as they shouted in anger; svânâm - her relatives; sva - his own; bhâgam - rightful portion; mriga-râth - the king of animals, the lion; iva - just as.
TRANSLATION
Standing on his chariot, Arjuna took up his bow and drove off the valiant fighters and palace guards who tried to block his way. As her relatives shouted in anger, he took Subhadrâ away just as a lion takes his prey from the midst of lesser animals.
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TEXT 11
tac chrutvâ kshubhito râmah
parvanîva mahârnavah
grihîta-pâdah krishnena
suhridbhis' cânusântvitah
tat - this; s'rutvâ - hearing; kshubhitah - disturbed; râmah - Lord Balarâma; parvani - at the juncture of the month; iva - as if; mahâ-arnavah - the ocean; grihîta - grasped; pâdah - His feet; krishnena - by Lord Krishna; suhridbhih - by His family members; ca - and; anusântvitah - carefully pacified.
TRANSLATION
When He heard of Subhadrâ's kidnapping, Lord Balarâma became as disturbed as the ocean during the full moon, but Lord Krishna respectfully took hold of His feet and, together with other family members, pacified Him by explaining the matter.
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TEXT 12
prâhinot pâribarhâni
vara-vadhvor mudâ balah
mahâ-dhanopaskarebha-
rathâs'va-nara-yoshitah
prâhinot - He sent; pâribarhâni - as wedding gifts; vara-vadhvoh - for the groom and the bride; mudâ - with pleasure; balah - Lord Balarâma; mahâ-dhana - greatly valuable; upaskara - presents; ibha - elephants; ratha - chariots; asva - horses; nara - men; yoshitah - and women.
TRANSLATION
Lord Balarâma then happily sent the bride and groom very valuable wedding gifts consisting of elephants, chariots, horses and male and female servants.
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TEXT 13
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
krishnasyâsîd dvija-s'reshthhah
s'rutadeva iti s'rutah
krishnaika-bhaktyâ pûrnârthah
s'ântah kavir alampatah
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva said; krishnasya - of Lord Krishna; âsît - there was; dvija - of brâhmanas; s'reshthhah - one of the best; s'rutadevah - S'rutadeva; iti - thus; s'rutah - known; krishna - to Lord Krishna; eka - exclusive; bhaktyâ - by his devotion; pûrna - full; arthah - in all goals of desire; s'ântah - peaceful; kavih - learned and discriminating; alampathah - not desirous of sense gratification.
TRANSLATION
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: There was a devotee of Krishna's known as S'rutadeva, who was a first-class brâhmana. Perfectly satisfied by rendering unalloyed devotional service to Lord Krishna, he was peaceful, learned and free from sense gratification.
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TEXT 14
sa uvâsa videheshu
mithilâyâm grihâs'ramî
anîhayâgatâhârya-
nirvartita-nija-kriyah
sah - he; uvâsa - dwelled; videheshu - in the kingdom of Videha; mithilâyâm - in the city of Mithilâ; griha-âs'ramî - as a member of the regulated order of family life; anîhayâ - without endeavor; âgata - came to him; âhârya - by food and other means of sustenance; nirvartita - carried out; nija - his; kriyah - obligations.
TRANSLATION
Living as a religious householder in the city of Mithilâ, within the kingdom of Videha, he managed to fulfill his obligations while maintaining himself with whatever sustenance easily came his way.
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TEXT 15
yâtrâ-mâtram tv ahar ahar
daivâd upanamaty uta
nâdhikam tâvatâ tushthah
kriyâ cakre yathocitâh
yâtrâ-mâtram - bare maintenance; tu - and; ahah ahah - day after day; daivât - due to his fate; upanamati - came to him; uta - indeed; na adhikam - no more; tâvatâ - with that much; tushthah - satisfied; kriyâh - duties; cakre - he did; yathâ - as; ucitâh - appropriate.
TRANSLATION
By the will of Providence he obtained each day just what he needed for his maintenance, and no more. Satisfied with this much, he properly executed his religious duties.
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TEXT 16
tathâ tad-râshthra-pâlo 'nga
bahulâs'va iti s'rutah
maithilo niraham-mâna
ubhâv apy acyuta-priyau
tathâ - also (an advanced devotee of Krishna); tat - of that; râshthra - kingdom; pâlah - the ruler; anga - my dear (Parîkchit); bahulâs'vah iti s'rutah - known as Bahulâs'va; maithilah - of the royal dynasty descending from King Mithila (Janaka); niraham-mânah - free from false ego; ubhau - both of them; api - indeed; acyuta-priyau - dear to Lord Acyuta.
TRANSLATION
Similarly free from false ego was the ruler of that kingdom, my dear Parîkchit, a descendant of the Mithila dynasty named Bahulâs'va. Both these devotees were very dear to Lord Acyuta.
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TEXT 17
tayoh prasanno bhagavân
dârukenâhritam ratham
âruhya sâkam munibhir
videhân prayayau prabhuh
tayoh - with both of them; prasannah - pleased; bhagavân - the Personality of Godhead; dârukena - by Dâruka; âhritam - brought forth; ratham - His chariot; âruhya - mounting; sâkam - together with; munibhih - sages; videhân - to the Videha kingdom; prayayau - went; prabhuh - the Lord.
TRANSLATION
Pleased with both of them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead mounted His chariot, which Dâruka had brought, and traveled to Videha with a group of sages.
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TEXT 18
nârado vâmadevo 'trih
krishno râmo 'sito 'runih
aham brihaspatih kanvo
maitreyas' cyavanâdayah
nâradah vâmadevah atrih - the sages Nârada, Vâmadeva and Atri; krishnah - Krishna- dvaipâyana Vyâsa; râmah - Lord Paras'urâma; asitah arunih - Asita and Aruni; aham - I (S'ukadeva); brihaspatih kanvah - Brihaspati and Kanva; maitreyah - Maitreya; cyavana - Cyavana; âdayah - and others.
TRANSLATION
Among these sages were Nârada, Vâmadeva, Atri, Krishna-dvaipâyana Vyâsa, Paras'urâma, Asita, Aruni, myself, Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya and Cyavana.
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TEXT 19
tatra tatra tam âyântam
paurâ jânapadâ nripa
upatasthuh sârghya-hastâ
grahaih sûryam ivoditam
tatra tatra - in each place; tam - Him; âyântam - as He was coming; paurâh - city residents; jânapadâh - and village residents; nripa - O King (Parîkchit); upatasthuh - came forward to greet Him; sa - with; arghya - water to offer as a token of respect; hastâh - in their hands; grahaih - by the planets; sûryam - the sun; iva - as; uditam - risen.
TRANSLATION
In every city and town the Lord passed along the way, O King, the people came forward to worship Him with offerings of arghya water in their hands, as if to worship the risen sun surrounded by planets.
PURPORT
Here the sages traveling with Krishna on His chariot are likened to planets around the sun.
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TEXT 20
ânarta-dhanva-kuru-jângala-kanka-matsya-
pâñcâla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kos'alârnâh
anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udâra-hâsa-
snigdhekshanam nripa papur dris'ibhir nr-nâryah
ânarta - the people of Ânarta (the region in which Dvârakâ is situated); dhanva - the desert (of Gujarat and Rajasthan); kuru-jângala - the region of the Kuru forests (the districts of Thaneswar and Kurukshetra); kanka - Kanka; matsya - Matsya (the kingdoms of Jaipur and Aloyar); pâñcâla - the districts surrounding both banks of the Ganges; kunti - Mâlava; madhu - Mathurâ; kekaya - in northeast Punjab, the region between the S'atadru and Vipâs'â rivers; kos'ala - the ancient kingdom of Lord Râmacandra, stretching from the northern border of Kâs'î to the Himalayas; arnâh - and the kingdom bordering Mithilâ on the east; anye - others; ca - also; tat - His; mukha - face; sarojam - lotus; udâra - generous; hâsa - with its smiles; snigdha - and affectionate; îkshanam - glances; nripa - O King; papuh - drank; dris'ibhih - with their eyes; nri-nâryah - the men and women.
TRANSLATION
The men and women of Ânarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jângala, Kanka, Matsya, Pañcâla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kos'ala, Arna and many other kingdoms drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of Lord Krishna's lotuslike face, which was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.
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TEXT 21
tebhyah sva-vîkshana-vinashtha-tamisra-drigbhyah
kshemam tri-loka-gurur artha-dris'am ca yacchan
s'rinvan dig-anta-dhavalam sva-yas'o 's'ubha-ghnam
gîtam surair nribhir agâc chanakair videhân
tebhyah - to them; sva - His; vîkshana - by the glance; vinashtha - destroyed; tamisra - the darkness; drigbhyah - of whose eyes; kshemam - fearlessness; tri - three; loka - of the worlds; guruh - the spiritual master; artha- dris'am - spiritual vision; ca - and; yacchan - bestowing; s'rinvan - hearing; dik - of the directions; anta - the ends; dhavalam - which purify; sva - His; yas'ah - glories; as'ubha - inauspiciousness; ghnam - which eradicate; gîtam - sung; suraih - by demigods; nribhih - and by men; agât - He came; s'anakaih - gradually; videhân - to the kingdom of Videha.
TRANSLATION
Simply by glancing at those who came to see Him, Lord Krishna, the spiritual master of the three worlds, delivered them from the blindness of materialism. As He thus endowed them with fearlessness and divine vision, He heard demigods and men singing His glories, which purify the entire universe and destroy all misfortune. Gradually, He reached Videha.
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TEXT 22
te 'cyutam prâptam âkarnya
paurâ jânapadâ nripa
abhîyur muditâs tasmai
grihîtârhana-pânayah
te - they; acyutam - Lord Krishna; prâptam - arrived; âkarnya - hearing; paurâh - the people of the city; jânapadâh - and of the villages; nripa - O King; abhîyuh - came forward; muditâh - joyful; tasmai - to Him; grihîta - holding; arhana - offerings to present to Him; pânayah - in their hands.
TRANSLATION
Hearing that Lord Acyuta had arrived, O King, the residents of the cities and villages of Videha joyfully came forth to receive Him with offerings in their hands.
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TEXT 23
drishthvâ ta uttamah-s'lokam
prîty-utphulânanâs'ayâh
kair dhritâñjalibhir nemuh
s'ruta-pûrvâms tathâ munîn
drishthvâ - seeing; te - they; uttamah-s'lokam - Lord Krishna, who is praised in sublime poetry; prîti - with love; utphulla - broadly blossoming; ânana - their faces; âs'ayâh - and hearts; kaih - on their heads; dhrita - held; añjalibhih - with joined palms; nemuh - they bowed down; s'ruta - heard of; pûrvân - before; tathâ - also; munîn - to the sages.
TRANSLATION
As soon as the people saw Lord Uttamahs'loka, their faces and hearts blossomed with affection. Joining their palms above their heads, they bowed down to the Lord and to the sages accompanying Him, whom they had previously only heard about.
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TEXT 24
svânugrahâya samprâptam
manvânau tam jagad-gurum
maithilah s'rutadevas' ca
pâdayoh petatuh prabhoh
sta - to himself; anugrahâya - for showing mercy; samprâptam - now; manvânau - both thinking; tam - Him; jagat - of the universe; gurum - the spiritual master; maithilah - the King of Mithilâ; s'rutadevah - S'rutadeva; ca - and; pâdayoh - at the feet; petatuh - fell; prabhoh - of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
Both the King of Mithilâ and S'rutadeva fell at the Lord's feet, each thinking that the spiritual master of the universe had come there just to show him mercy.
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TEXT 25
nyamantrayetâm dâs'ârham
âtithyena saha dvijaih
maithilah s'rutadevas' ca
yugapat samhatâñjalî
nyamantrayetâm - they both invited; dâs'ârham - Krishna, the descendant of Das'ârha; âtithyena - to be their guest; saha - along with; dvijaih - the brâhmanas; maithilah - Bahulâs'va; s'rutadevah - S'rutadeva; ca - and; yugapat - simultaneously; samhata - held firmly together; añjalî - whose palms.
TRANSLATION
At exactly the same time, King Maithila and S'rutadeva each went forward with joined palms and invited the Lord of the Das'ârhas to be his guest, along with the brâhmana sages.
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TEXT 26
bhagavâms tad abhipretya
dvayoh priya-cikîrshayâ
ubhayor âvis'ad geham
ubhâbhyâm tad-alakshitah
bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; tat - this; abhipretya - accepting; dvayoh - of the two of them; priya - the pleasing; cikîrshayâ - wishing to do; ubhayoh - of both; âvis'at - He entered; geham - the houses; ubhâbhyâm - to both; tat - in that (entering of the other's house); alakshitah - unseen.
TRANSLATION
Wanting to please them both, the Lord accepted both their invitations. Thus He simultaneously went to both homes, and neither could see Him entering the other's house.
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TEXTS 27 - 29
s'rântân apy atha tân dûrâj
janakah sva-grihâgatân
ânîteshv âsanâgryeshu
sukhâsînân mahâ-manâh
pravriddha-bhaktyâ uddharsha-
hridayâsrâvilekshanah
natvâ tad-anghrîn prakshâlya
tad-apo loka-pâvanîh
sa-kuthumbo vahan mûrdhnâ
pûjayâm cakra îs'varân
gandha-mâlyâmbarâkalpa-
dhûpa-dîpârghya-go-vrishaih
s'rântân - fatigued; api - indeed; atha - then; tân - them; dûrât - from a distance; janakah - King Bahulâs'va, a descendant of Janaka; sva - to his; griha - home; âgatân - come; ânîteshu - which were brought out; âsana - on seats; agryeshu - excellent; sukha - comfortably; âsînân - seated; mahâ-manâh - very intelligent;
pravriddha - intense; bhaktyâ - with devotion; ut-dharsha - overjoyed; hridaya - whose heart; asra - with tears; âvila - clouded; îkshanah - whose eyes; natvâ - bowing down; tat - their; anghrîn - feet; prakshâlya - washing; tat - from that; apah - the water; loka - the whole world; pâvanîh - able to purify;
sa - together with; kuthumbah - his family; vahan - carrying; mûrdhnâ - on his head; pûjayâm cakre - he worshiped; îs'varân - the lords; gandha - with fragrant (sandalwood) paste; mâlya - flower garlands; ambara - clothing; âkalpa - jewelry; dhûpa - incense; dîpa - lamps; arghya - arghya water; go - cows; vrishaih - and bulls.
TRANSLATION
When King Bahulâs'va, a descendant of Janaka, saw Lord Krishna approaching his house from a distance with the sages, who were somewhat fatigued from the journey, he immediately arranged to have seats of honor brought out for them. After they were all comfortably seated, the wise King, his heart overflowing with joy and his eyes clouded by tears, bowed down to them and washed their feet with intense devotion. Taking the wash water, which could purify the entire world, he sprinkled it on his head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshiped all those great lords by offering them fragrant sandalwood paste, flower garlands, fine clothing and ornaments, incense, lamps, arghya and cows and bulls.
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TEXT 30
vâcâ madhurayâ prînann
idam âhânna-tarpitân
pâdâv anka-gatau vishnoh
samspris'an' chanakair mudâ
vâcâ - in a voice; madhurayâ - gentle; prînan - trying to please them; idam - this; âha - he said; anna - with food; tarpitân - who had been gratified; pâdau - the feet; anka - on his lap; gatau - situated; vishnoh - of Lord Krishna; samspris'an - massaging; s'anakaih - slowly; mudâ - happily.
TRANSLATION
When they had eaten to their full satisfaction, for their further pleasure the King began to speak slowly and in a gentle voice as he held Lord Vishnu's feet in his lap and happily massaged them.
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TEXT 31
s'rî-bahulâs'va uvâca
bhavân hi sarva-bhûtânâm
âtmâ sâkshî sva-drig vibho
atha nas tvat-padâmbhojam
smaratâm dars'anam gatah
s'rî-bahulâs'vah uvâca - S'rî Bahulâs'va said; bhavân - You; hi - indeed; sarva - of all; bhûtânâm - created beings; âtmâ - the Supreme Soul; sâkshî - the witness; sva- drik - self-illumined; vibho - O almighty one; atha - thus; nah - to us; tvat - Your; pada-ambhojam - lotus feet; smaratâm - who are remembering; dars'anam gatah - have become visible.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Bahulâs'va said: O almighty Lord, You are the Soul of all created beings, their self-illumined witness, and now You are giving Your audience to us, who constantly meditate on Your lotus feet.
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TEXT 32
sva-vacas tad ritam kartum
asmad-drig-gocaro bhavân
yad âtthaikânta-bhaktân me
nânantah s'rîr ajah priyah
sva - Your own; vacah - statement; tat - that; ritam - true; kartum - to make; asmat - our; drik - to the eyes; gocarah - accessible; bhavân - You; yat - which; âttha - spoke; eka-anta - with a single aim; bhaktât - than the devotee; me - my; na - not; anantah - Lord Ananta; s'rîh - Goddess S'rî; ajah - unborn Brahmâ; priyah - more dear.
TRANSLATION
You have said, "Neither Ananta, Goddess S'rî nor unborn Brahmâ is dearer to Me than My unalloyed devotee." To prove Your own words true, You have now revealed Yourself to our eyes.
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TEXT 33
ko nu tvac-caranâmbhojam
evam-vid visrijet pumân
nishkiñcanânâm s'ântânâm
munînâm yas tvam âtma-dah
kah - who; nu - at all; tvat - Your; carana-ambhojam - lotus feet; evam - like this; vit - being in knowledge; visrijet - would abandon; pumân - person; nishkiñcanânâm - for those who have no material possessions; s'ântânâm - who are peaceful; munînâm - sages; yah - who; tvam - You; âtma - Yourself; dah - giving.
TRANSLATION
What person who knows this truth would ever abandon Your lotus feet, when You are ready to give Your very self to peaceful sages who call nothing their own?
******
TEXT 34
yo 'vatîrya yador vams'e
nrinâm samsaratâm iha
yas'o vitene tac-chântyai
trai-lokya-vrijinâpaham
yah - who; avatîrya - descending; yadoh - of Yadu; vams'e - into the dynasty; nrinâm - for people; samsaratâm - who are caught up in the cycle of birth and death; iha - in this world; yas'ah - Your fame; vitene - has disseminated; tat - of that (material existence); s'ântyai - for the stopping; trai-lokya - of the three worlds; vrijina - the sins; apaham - which removes.
TRANSLATION
Appearing in the Yadu dynasty, You have spread Your glories, which can remove all the sins of the three worlds, just to deliver those entrapped in the cycle of birth and death.
******
TEXT 35
namas tubhyam bhagavate
krishnâyâkunthha-medhase
nârâyanâya rishaye
su-s'ântam tapa îyushe
namah - obeisances; tubhyam - to You; bhagavate - the Supreme Lord; krishnâya - Krishna; akunthha - unconstricted; medhase - whose intelligence; nârâyanâya rishaye - to the sage Nara-Nârâyana; su-s'ântam - perfectly peaceful; tapah - austerities; îyushe - undergoing.
TRANSLATION
Obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, whose intelligence is ever unrestricted. Obeisances to the sage Nara-Nârâyana, who always undergoes austerities in perfect peace.
******
TEXT 36
dinâni katicid bhûman
grihân no nivasa dvijaih
sametah pâda-rajasâ
punîhîdam nimeh kulam
dinâni - days; katicit - a few; bhûman - O omnipresent one; grihân - in the home; nah - -our; nivasa - please dwell; dvijaih - by the brâhmanas; sametah - joined; pâda - of Your feet; rajasâ - with the dust; punîhi - please sanctify; idam - this; nimeh - of King Nimi; kulam - the dynasty.
TRANSLATION
Please stay a few days in our house, along with these brâhmanas, O all- pervading one, and with the dust of Your feet sanctify this dynasty of Nimi.
******
TEXT 37
ity upâmantrito râjñâ
bhagavâû loka-bhâvanah
uvâsa kurvan kalyânam
mithilâ-nara-yoshitâm
iti - thus; upâmantritah - invited; rajñâ - by the King; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; loka - of the entire world; bhâvanah - the maintainer; uvâsa - resided; kurvan - creating; kalyânam - good fortune; mithilâ - of the city of Mithilâ; nara - for the men; yoshitâm - and women.
TRANSLATION
[S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued:] Thus invited by the King, the Supreme Lord, sustainer of the world, consented to stay for some time to bestow good fortune on the men and women of Mithilâ.
******
TEXT 38
s'rutadevo 'cyutam prâptam
sva-grihân' janako yathâ
natvâ munîn su-samhrishtho
dhunvan vâso nanarta ha
s'rutadevah - S'rutadeva; acyutam - Lord Krishna; prâptam - obtained; sva-grihân - at his house; janakah - Bahulâs'va; yathâ - just as; natvâ - bowing down; munîn - to the sages; su - very much; samhrishthah - delighted; dhunvan - waving; vâsah - his cloth; nanarta ha - he danced.
TRANSLATION
S'rutadeva received Lord Acyuta into his home with as much enthusiasm as that shown by King Bahulâs'va. After bowing down to the Lord and the sages, S'rutadeva began to dance with great joy, waving his shawl.
******
TEXT 39
trina-pîthha-brishîshv etân
ânîteshûpaves'ya sah
svâgatenâbhinandyânghrîn
sa-bhâryo 'vanije mudâ
trina - of grass; pîthha - on seats; brishîshu - and on mats of darbha; etân - them; ânîteshu - which were brought; upaves'ya - making sit; sah - he; sva-âgatena - with words of welcome; abhinandya - greeting them; anghrîn - their feet; sa- bhâryah - together with his wife; avanije - washed; mudâ - with pleasure.
TRANSLATION
After bringing mats of grass and darbha straw and seating his guests upon them, he greeted them with words of welcome. Then he and his wife washed their feet with great pleasure.
******
TEXT 40
tad-ambhasâ mahâ-bhâga
âtmânam sa-grihânvayam
snâpayâm cakra uddharsho
labdha-sarva-manorathah
tat - with that; ambhasâ - water; mahâ-bhâgah - very pious; âtmânam - himself; sa - along with; griha - his house; anvayam - and his family; snâpayâm cakre - he bathed; uddharshah - overjoyed; labdha - having attained; sarva - all; manah- rathah - desires.
TRANSLATION
With the wash water, the virtuous S'rutadeva copiously sprinkled himself, his house and his family. Overjoyed, he felt that all his desires had now been fulfilled.
******
TEXT 41
phalârhanos'îra-s'ivâmritâmbubhir
mridâ surabhyâ tulasî-kus'âmbuyaih
ârâdhayâm âsa yathopapannayâ
saparyayâ sattva-vivardhanândhasâ
phala - of fruits; arhana - with offerings; us'îra - with a kind of aromatic root; s'iva - pure; amrita - nectar-sweet; ambubhih - and with water; mridâ - with clay; surabhyâ - fragrant; tulasî - tulasî leaves; kus'a - kus'a grass; ambujaih - and lotus flowers; ârâdhayâm âsa - he worshiped them; yathâ - as; upapannayâ - could be obtained; saparyayâ - with items of worship; sattva - the mode of goodness; vivardhana - which increases; andhasâ - with food.
TRANSLATION
He worshiped them with offerings of auspicious items easily available to him, such as fruits, us'îra root, pure, nectarean water, fragrant clay, tulasî leaves, kus'a grass and lotus flowers. Then he offered them food that increases the mode of goodness.
******
TEXT 42
sa tarkayâm âsa kuto mamânv abhût
grihândha-kupe patitasya sangamah
yah sarva-tîrthâspada-pâda-renubhih
krishnena câsyâtma-niketa-bhûsuraih
sah - he; tarkayâm âsa - tried to understand; kutah - for what reason; mama - for me; anu - indeed; abhût - has happened; griha - of home; andha - blind; kûpe - in the well; patitasya - fallen; sangamah - association; yah - which; sarva - of all; tîrtha - holy places; âspada - which is the shelter; pâda - of whose feet; renubhih - the dust; krishnena - with Lord Krishna; ca - also; asya - this; âtma - of Himself; niketa - who are the place of residence; bhû-suraih - with the brâhmanas.
TRANSLATION
He wondered: How is it that I, fallen into the blind well of family life, have been able to meet Lord Krishna? And how have I also been allowed to meet these great brâhmanas, who always carry the Lord within their hearts? Indeed, the dust of their feet is the shelter of all holy places.
******
TEXT 43
sûpavishthân kritâtithyân
s'rutadeva upasthitah
sa-bhârya-svajanâpatya
uvâcânghry-abhimars'anah
su-upavishthân - comfortably seated; krita - having been shown; âtithyân - hospitality; s'rutadevah - S'rutadeva; upasthitah - sitting near them; sa-bhârya - along with his wife; sva-jana - relatives; apatyah - and children; uvâca - he spoke; anghri - (Lord Krishna's) feet; abhimars'anah - massaging.
TRANSLATION
When his guests were seated comfortably, having each received a proper welcome, S'rutadeva approached them and sat down nearby with his wife, children and other dependents. Then, while massaging the Lord's feet, he addressed Krishna and the sages.
******
TEXT 44
s'rutadeva uvâca
nâdya no dars'anam prâptah
param parama-pûrushah
yarhîdam s'aktibhih srishthvâ
pravishtho hy âtma-sattayâ
s'rutadevah uvâca - S'rutadeva said; na - not; adya - today; nah - by us; dars'anam - vision; prâptah - obtained; param - only; parama - the supreme; pûrushah - person; yarhi - when; idam - this (universe); s'aktibhih - with His energies; srishthvâ - creating; pravishthah - entered; hi - indeed; âtma - His own; sattayâ - in the state of existence.
TRANSLATION
S'rutadeva said: It is not that we have attained the audience of the Supreme Person only today, for we have in fact been associating with Him ever since He created this universe with His energies and then entered it in His transcendental form.
******
TEXT 45
yathâ s'ayânah purusho
manasaivâtma-mâyayâ
srishthvâ lokam param svâpnam
anuvis'yâvabhâsate
yathâ - as; s'ayânah - sleeping; purushah - a person; manasâ - with his mind; eva - alone; âtma - own; mâyayâ - by his imagination; srishthvâ - creating; lokam - a world; param - separate; svâpnam - dream; anuvis'ya - entering; avabhâsate - he appears.
TRANSLATION
The Lord is like a sleeping person who creates a separate world in his imagination and then enters his own dream and sees himself within it.
******
TEXT 46
s'rinvatâm gadatâm s'as'vad
arcatâm tvâbhivandatâm
nrinâm samvadatâm antar
hridi bhâsy amalâtmanâm
s'rinvatâm - for those who are hearing; gadatâm - speaking; s'as'vat - constantly; arcatâm - worshiping; tvâ - You; abhivandatâm - offering praise; nrinâm - for men; samvadatâm - conversing; antah - within; hridi - the heart; bhâsi - You appear; amala - spotless; âtmanâm - whose minds.
TRANSLATION
You reveal Yourself within the hearts of those persons of pure consciousness who constantly hear about You, chant about You, worship You, glorify You and converse with one another about You.
******
TEXT 47
hridi-stho 'py ati-dûra-sthah
karma-vikshipta-cetasâm
âtma-s'aktibhir agrâhyo
'py anty upeta-gunâtmanâm
hridi - in the heart; sthah - situated; api - although; ati - very; dûra-sthah - far away; karma - by material activities; vikshipta - disturbed; cetasâm - for those whose minds; âtma - by one's own; s'aktibhih - powers; agrâhyah - not to be taken hold of; api - although; anti - near; upeta - realized; guna - Your qualities; âtmanâm - by whose hearts.
TRANSLATION
But although You reside within the heart, You are very far away from those whose minds are disturbed by their entanglement in material work. Indeed, no one can grasp You by his material powers, for You reveal Yourself only in the hearts of those who have learned to appreciate Your transcendental qualities.
******
TEXT 48
namo 'stu te 'dhyâtma-vidâm parâtmane
anâtmane svâtma-vibhakta-mrityave
sa-kâranâkârana-lingam îyushe
sva-mâyayâsamvrita-ruddha-drishthaye
namah - obeisances; astu - may there be; te - unto You; adhyâtma - the Absolute Truth; vidâm - for those who know; para-âtmane - the Supreme Soul; anâtmane - to the conditioned jîva soul; sva-âtma - from Yourself (in the form of time); vibhakta - who gives; mrityave - death; sa-kârana - having a cause; akârana - having no cause; lingam - the forms (respectively, the material form of the universe and also Your original spiritual form); îyushe - who assume; sva-mâyayâ - by Your own mystic potency; asamvrita - uncovered; ruddha - and blocked; drishthaye - vision.
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my obeisances unto You. You are realized as the Supreme Soul by those who know the Absolute Truth, whereas in Your form of time You impose death upon the forgetful souls. You appear both in Your causeless spiritual form and in the created form of this universe, thus simultaneously uncovering the eyes of Your devotees and obstructing the vision of the nondevotees.
******
TEXT 49
sa tvam s'âdhi sva-bhrityân nah
kim deva karavâma he
etad-anto nrinâm kles'o
yad bhavân akshi-gocarah
sah - He; tvam - You; s'âdhi - please order; sva - Your; bhrityân - servants; nah - us; kim - what; deva - O Lord; karavâma - we should do; he - oh; etat - having this; antah - as its end; nrinâm - of humans; kles'ah - the troubles; yat - that; bhavân - Your good self; akshi - to the eyes; go-carah - visible.
TRANSLATION
O Lord, You are that Supreme Soul, and we are Your servants. How shall we serve You? My Lord, simply seeing You puts an end to all the troubles of human life.
******
TEXT 50
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
tad-uktam ity upâkarnya
bhagavân pranatârti-hâ
grihîtvâ pâninâ pânim
prahasams tam uvâca ha
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; tat - by him (S'rutadeva); uktam - what was spoken; iti - thus; upâkarnya - hearing; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; pranata - of the surrendered; ârti - of distress; hâ - the destroyer; grihîtvâ - taking; pâninâ - with His hand; pânim - his hand; prahasan - smiling broadly; tam - to him; uvâca ha - said.
TRANSLATION
S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After hearing S'rutadeva speak these words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who relieves His surrendered devotees' distress, took S'rutadeva's hand in His own and, smiling, spoke to him as follows.
******
TEXT 51
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
brahmams te 'nugrahârthâya
samprâptân viddhy amûn munîn
sañcaranti mayâ lokân
punantah pâda-renubhih
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Lord said; brahman - O brâhmana; te - your; anugraha - of bestowing benedictions; arthâya - for the purpose; samprâptân - come; viddhi - you should know; amûn - these; munîn - sages; sañcaranti - they wander; mayâ - together with Me; lokân - all the worlds; punantah - purifying; pâda - of their feet; renubhih - with the dust.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Lord said: My dear brâhmana, you should know that these great sages have come here just to bless you. They travel throughout the worlds with Me, purifying them with the dust of their feet.
******
TEXT 52
devâh kshetrâni tîrthâni
dars'ana-spars'anârcanaih
s'anaih punanti kâlena
tad apy arhattamekshayâ
devâh - temple deities; kshetrâni - pilgrimage sites; tîrthâni - and sacred rivers; dars'ana - by being seen; spars'ana - being touched; arcanaih - and being worshiped; s'anaih - gradually; punanti - purify; kâlena - with time; tat api - the same; arhat-tama - of those (brâhmanas) who are most worshipable; îkshayâ - by the glance.
TRANSLATION
One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.
******
TEXT 53
brâhmano janmanâ s'reyân
sarveshâm prâninâm iha
tapasâ vidyayâ tushthyâ
kim u mat-kalayâ yutah
brâhmanah - a brâhmana; janmanâ - by his birth; s'reyân - the best; sarveshâm - of all; prâninâm - living beings; iha - in this world; tapasâ - by his austerity; vidyayâ - by his learning; tushthyâ - by his satisfaction; kim u - what more, then; mat - upon Me; kalayâ - with loving meditation; yutah - endowed.
TRANSLATION
By his very birth, a brâhmana is the best of all living beings in this world, and he becomes even more exalted when he is endowed with austerity, learning and self-satisfaction, what to speak of devotion to Me.
******
TEXT 54
na brâhmanân me dayitam
rûpam etac catur-bhujam
sarva-veda-mayo viprah
sarva-deva-mayo hy aham
na - not; brâhmanât - than a brâhmana; me - to Me; dayitam - more dear; rûpam - personal form; etat - this; catuh-bhujam - four-armed; sarva - all; veda - the Vedas; mayah - comprising; viprah - a learned brâhmana; sarva - all; deva - the demigods; mayah - comprising; hi - indeed; aham - I.
TRANSLATION
Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brâhmana. Within himself a learned brâhmana comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods.
PURPORT
It is understood from the Vedic science of epistemology, the Nyâya-s'âstra, that knowledge of an object (prameya) depends on a valid means of knowing (pramâna). The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be known only by means of the Vedas, and thus He relies on the brâhmana sages, who are the Vedas personified, to reveal Him in this world. Even though Lord Krishna embodies all the demigods and vishnu-tattva expansions of Nârâyana, He considers Himself obliged to the brâhmanas.
******
TEXT 55
dushprajñâ aviditvaivam
avajânanty asûyavah
gurum mâm vipram âtmânam
arcâdâv ijya-drishthayah
dushprajñâh - those of corrupted intelligence; aviditvâ - failing to understand; evam - in this way; avajânanti - neglect; asûyavah - and behave enviously toward; gurum - their spiritual master; mâm - Me; vipram - the learned brâhmana; âtmânam - their own self; arcâ-âdaû - in the visibly manifest Deity of the Lord; ijya - as being worshipable; drishthayah - whose vision.
TRANSLATION
Ignorant of this truth, foolish people neglect and enviously offend a learned brâhmana, who, being nondifferent from Me, is their spiritual master and very self. They consider worshipable only such obvious manifestations of divinity as My Deity form.
******
TEXT 56
carâcaram idam vis'vam
bhâvâ ye câsya hetavah
mad-rûpânîti cetasy
âdhatte vipro mad-îkshayâ
cara - moving; acaram - and nonmoving; idam - this; vis'vam - universe; bhâvâh - elemental categories; ye - which; ca - and; asya - its; hetavah - sources; mat - My; rûpâni - forms; iti - such a thought; cetasi - within his mind; âdhatte - maintains; viprah - a brâhmana; mat - of Me; îkshayâ - by his perception.
TRANSLATION
Because he has realized Me, a brâhmana is firmly fixed in the knowledge that everything moving and nonmoving in the universe, and also the primary elements of its creation, are all manifest forms expanded from Me.
******
TEXT 57
tasmâd brahma-rishîn etân
brahman mac-chraddhayârcaya
evam ced arcito 'smy addhâ
nânyathâ bhûri-bhûtibhih
tasmât - therefore; brahma-rishîn - brâhmana sages; etân - these; brahman - O brâhmana (S'rutadeva); mat - (as you have) for Me; s'raddhayâ - with faith; arcaya - just worship; evam - thus; cet - if (you do); arcitah - worshiped; asmi - I will be; addhâ - directly; na - not; anyathâ - otherwise; bhûri - vast; bhûtibhih - with riches.
TRANSLATION
Therefore you should worship these brâhmana sages, O brâhmana, with the same faith you have in Me. If you do so, you will worship Me directly, which you cannot do otherwise, even with offerings of vast riches.
******
TEXT 58
s'rî-s'uka uvâca
sa ittham prabhunâdishthah
saha-krishnân dvijottamân
ârâdhyaikâtma-bhâvena
maithilas' câpa sad-gatim
s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sah - he (S'rutadeva); ittham - in this manner; prabhunâ - by his Lord; âdishthah - instructed; saha - accompanying; krishnân - Lord Krishna; dvija - the brâhmanas; uttamân - most exalted; ârâdhya - by worshiping; eka-âtma - single-minded; bhavena - with devotion; maithilah - the King of Mithilâ; ca - also; âpa - attained; sat - transcendental; gatim - the ultimate destination.
TRANSLATION
S'rî S'uka said: So instructed by his Lord, with single-minded devotion S'rutadeva worshiped S'rî Krishna and the topmost brâhmanas accompanying Him, and King Bahulâs'va did the same. Thus both S'rutadeva and the King attained the ultimate transcendental destination.
******
TEXT 59
evam sva-bhaktayo râjan
bhagavân bhakta-bhaktimân
ushitvâdis'ya san-mârgam
punar dvâravatîm agât
evam - thus; sva - His; bhaktayoh - with the two devotees; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; bhakta - to His devotees; bhakti- man - who is devoted; ushitvâ - staying; âdis'ya - teaching; sat - of pure saints; mârgam - the path; punah - again; dvâravatîm - to Dvârakâ; agât - He went.
TRANSLATION
O King, thus the Personality of Godhead, who is devoted to His own devotees, stayed for some time with His two great devotees S'rutadeva and Bahulâs'va, teaching them the behavior of perfect saints. Then the Lord returned to Dvârakâ.
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