Source
Texts:
Krishna
Pleases His Devotees
Text
1
S'rî
S'uka said: 'The Supreme lord, the Soul of All and Seer of
Everything, with understanding wishing to please [as He had
promised 10.42:
12], went
to the house of the serving girl [Trivakrâ] who
was troubled by lust [see 10.42:
10].
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Next, after assimilating Uddhava's
report, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the omniscient Soul of all that be, desired to satisfy the
serving girl Trivakrâ, who was troubled by lust. Thus
He went to her house.
Text
2
It
was rich with expensive furnishings, replete with sensual
articles and was beautified with strings of pearls and banners,
canopies, beds and seats as also fragrant incense, oil lamps,
flower garlands and sandalwood.
Trivakrâ's
home was opulently appointed with expensive furnishings and
replete with sensual accoutrements meant to inspire sexual
desire. There were banners, rows of strung pearls, canopies,
fine beds and sitting places, and also fragrant incense, oil
lamps, flower garlands and aromatic sandalwood paste.
Text
3
She,
seeing Him arriving at her house, at once indeed rose in a
hurry with her female companions to welcome properly Acyuta who
was respectfully greeted with an excellent seat and so
on.
When
Trivakrâ saw Him arriving at her house, she at once
rose from her seat in a flurry. Coming forward graciously
with her girlfriends, she respectfully greeted Lord Acyuta
by offering Him an excellent seat and other articles of
worship.
Text
4
Uddhava also
worshiped, saintly as he was, touched the seat [offered to
him] and sat on the floor, and Krishna, faithful to the
ways of human society, without delay laid Himself upon a
luxurious bed [in the inner chambers].
Uddhava
also received a seat of honor, since he was a saintly
person, but he simply touched it and sat on the floor. Then
Lord Krishna, imitating the manners of human society,
quickly made Himself comfortable on an opulent bed.
Text
5
She
by bathing, anointing, dressing up with ornaments, garlands and
perfume, bethel nut and drinking fragrant fluids and so on,
prepared her body and then shy and with playful smiles
approached Mâdhava with tempting glances.
Trivakrâ
prepared herself by bathing, anointing her body, and
dressing in fine garments, by putting on jewelry, garlands
and perfume, and also by chewing betel nut, drinking
fragrant liquor, and so on. She then approached Lord
Mâdhava with shy, playful smiles and coquettish
glances.
Text
6
Calling
forward the lovely woman, who fearful of the new contact
[as a virgin] was shy, seized He her two hands
ornamented with bangles and placed He the beauty on the bed to
enjoy with her whose only proof of piety had been the offering
of ointment.
Calling
forward His beloved, who was anxious and shy at the prospect
of this new contact, the Lord pulled her by her bangled
hands onto the bed. Thus He enjoyed with that beautiful
girl, whose only trace of piety was her having offered
ointment to the Lord.
Text
7
Smelling
the feet of the Unlimited Lord, embracing within her arms,
between her breasts, her Lover, the Personification of All
Ecstasy, wiped the pain away that because of Cupid burned in
her breasts, chest and eyes, so that she could let go of her so
very long standing distress.
Simply
by smelling the fragrance of Krishna's lotus feet,
Trivakrâ cleansed away the burning lust Cupid had
aroused in her breasts, chest and eyes. With her two arms
she embraced between her breasts her lover, S'rî
Krishna, the personification of bliss, and thus she gave up
her long-standing distress.
Text
8
She with having
offered Him, the Master of Enlightenment, body ointment, had
obtained the Controller so hard to obtain, and begged, oh how
unfortunate [compare 4.9:
31], the
following:
Having
thus gotten the hard-to-get Supreme Lord by the simple act
of offering Him body ointment, unfortunate Trivakrâ
submitted to that Lord of freedom the following
request.
Text
9
'Please stay
here together with me for a few days o Beloved, take pleasure,
I cannot bear to give up Your association, o
Lotusflower-eyes.'
[Trivakrâ
said:] O beloved, please stay here with me for a few
days more and enjoy. I cannot bear to give up Your
association, O lotus-eyed one!
Text
10
He with Respect
for Others, in respect of her, promising to come back to that
later granted her the boon of her material desire after which
the Lord of All, together with Uddhava, went back to His
supremely opulent residence.
Promising
her the fulfillment of this lusty desire, considerate
Krishna, Lord of all beings, paid Trivakrâ His
respects and then returned with Uddhava to His own supremely
opulent residence.
Text
11
He who in full
worship of Vishnu, the Controller of All Controllers, who is so
difficult to keep in mind, as a benediction chooses for
something easy to the mind is of that obtaining an
insignificant result a person slow of intelligence [see
also 7.15:
36].
Lord
Vishnu, the Supreme Lord of all lords, is ordinarily
difficult to approach. One who has properly worshiped Him
and then chooses the benediction of mundane sense
gratification is certainly of poor intelligence, for he is
satisfied with an insignificant result.
Text
12
Krishna,
the Master, who wanted some things to be done then with Uddhava
and Râma went to the home of Akrûra with also the
desire to please Akrûra.
Then
Lord Krishna, wanting to have some things done, went to
Akrûra's house with Balarâma and Uddhava. The
Lord also desired to please Akrûra.
Text
13-14
When he saw
Them, the greatest of illustrious personalities from a
distance, rose he joyfully with his relatives to embrace Them
for a welcome. Bowed down to Krishna and Râma was he
greeted by Them and was he of worship according the injunctions
after They had taken their seats.
Akrûra
stood up in great joy when he saw them, his own relatives
and the greatest of exalted personalities, coming from a
distance. After embracing them and greeting them,
Akrûra bowed down to Krishna and Balarâma and
was greeted by Them in return. Then, when his guests had
taken their seats, he worshiped them in accordance with
scriptural rules.
Text
15-16
The
water he had used to wash Their feet he sprinkled over all his
head, o King, after which he presented gifts, the finest
clothing, sandalwood, garlands and excellent ornaments. With
his head bowed down being of worship placed he His feet on his
lap for a massage, and addressed he face down with humility
Krishna and Râma as follows:
O
King, Akrûra bathed the feet of Lord Krishna and Lord
Balarâma and then poured the bath water on his head.
He presented Them with gifts of fine clothing, aromatic
sandalwood paste, flower garlands and excellent jewelry.
After thus worshiping the two Lords, he bowed his head to
the floor. He then began to massage Lord Krishna's feet,
placing them on his lap, and with his head bowed in humility
he addressed Krishna and Balarâma as follows.
Text
17
'To
our good fortune have the two of You killed the sinful Kamsa
together with his brothers and followers and has this dynasty
of Yours been delivered from endless troubles and made
prosperous.
[Akrûra
said:] It is our good fortune that You two Lords have
killed the evil Kamsa and his followers, thus delivering
Your dynasty from endless suffering and causing it to
flourish.
Text
18
You two are the
principal persons who of the Universe are the cause and the
substance apart of whom there is not a single cause or effect
to be found.
You
both are the original Supreme Person, the cause of the
universe and its very substance. Not the slightest subtle
cause or manifest product of creation exists apart from
You.
.
Text
19
This universe
created by You, You subsequently entered by Your own energies
so that You can be perceived in many forms knowable by hearing
from the scriptures and direct experience.
O
Supreme Absolute Truth, with Your personal energies You
create this universe and then enter into it. Thus one can
perceive You in many different forms by hearing from
authorities and by direct experience.
Text
20
The way indeed
the earth- and other elements manifest themselves variously in
species of beings mobile and immobile, do You, the Single One
Self-reliant Self, the Supersoul, the same way in various forms
of life appear to be manifold among them.
Just
as the primary elements - earth and so on - manifest
themselves in abundant variety among all the species of
mobile and immobile life, so You, the one independent
Supreme Soul, appear to be manifold among the variegated
objects of Your creation.
Text
21
You create and
then destroy; You protect the universe but are by Your
qualities, the personal energies, the modes of passion,
ignorance and goodness or by their material activities not
bound to this world; for when You are knowledge itself, what
would for You then be a cause of bondage?
You
create, destroy and also maintain this universe with Your
personal energies - the modes of passion, ignorance and
goodness - yet You are never entangled by these modes or the
activities they generate. Since You are the original source
of all knowledge, what could ever cause You to be bound by
illusion?
Text
22
Because You are
not determined by the coverings of the body and so on is there
no literal birth or duality to Your Self and therefore exists
there no bondage for You, nor in fact any liberation
[compare 10.14:
26]; and
if they show is that to Your sweet will [see e.g.
10-11:
7] so or
either of our erroneous notions of You [like in
10.23:
10-11].
Since
it has never been demonstrated that You are covered by
material, bodily designations, it must be concluded that for
You there is neither birth in a literal sense nor any
duality. Therefore You never undergo bondage or liberation,
and if You appear to, it is only because of Your desire that
we see You in that way, or simply because of our lack of
discrimination.
Text
23
For
the benefit of this universe did You proclaim the ancient path
of the Veda and do You assume a form in the mode of goodness at
the time the path is obstructed by the wicked ones adhering to
godlessness.
You
originally enunciated the ancient religious path of the
Vedas for the benefit of the whole universe. Whenever that
path becomes obstructed by wicked persons following the path
of atheism, You assume one of Your incarnations, which are
all in the transcendental mode of goodness.
Text
24
You
as that very same person o Master, has now descended in the
home of Vasudeva with Your Own plenary portion
[Balarâma] to remove from this earth here the
burden of the hundreds of armies by killing their kings
[see also
1.11:
34],
who are expansions of the adversaries of the god-fearing
[see e.g. 7.1:
40-46],
and to spread the fame of the
[Yadu-]dynasty.
You
are that very same Supreme Person, my Lord, and You have now
appeared in the home of Vasudeva with Your plenary portion.
You have done this to relieve the earth's burden by killing
hundreds of armies led by kings who are expansions of the
demigods' enemies, and also to spread the fame of our
dynasty.
Text
25
Today,
o Lord, is our residence indeed extremely fortunate with You,
Adhokshaja,
having entered; You, the Spiritual Master of the Universe, the
God of all the forefathers and living beings, the humans and
the gods; You as the embodiment of Him from whose feet has
washed the water [of the Ganges, see 5.17]
that purifies the three worlds.
Today,
O Lord, my home has become most fortunate because You have
entered it. As the Supreme Truth, You embody the
forefathers, ordinary creatures, human beings and demigods,
and the water that has washed Your feet purifies the three
worlds. Indeed, O transcendent one, You are the spiritual
master of the universe.
Text
26
What other
scholar is there but You; to whom else should we turn for
shelter but to You, the well-wisher who in Your words of love
for Your devotees are always true; to You who, grateful to the
devoted who positive with You are of worship, gives all that is
desired, even Yourself - You to whom there is never diminution
or increase [see also B.G.
2: 40]
What
learned person would approach anyone but You for shelter,
when You are the affectionate, grateful and truthful
well-wisher of Your devotees? To those who worship You in
sincere friendship You reward everything we desire, even
Your own self, yet You never increase or diminish.
Text
27
To our fortune
have we here with us before our eyes You who even for the
masters of yoga and the rulers of the godly are a goal hard to
reach; please swiftly cut through our ties of delusion given by
Your material energy: our children, wife, wealth, honorable
friends, our home, body and so on.'
It
is by our great fortune, Janârdana, that You are now
visible to us, for even the masters of yoga and the foremost
demigods can achieve this goal only with great difficulty.
Please quickly cut the ropes of our illusory attachment for
children, wife, wealth, influential friends, home and body.
All such attachment is simply the effect of Your illusory
material energy.
Text
28
Thus worshiped
profusely by His devotee smiled Krishna the Supreme Lord at
Akrûra and spoke He with words that as good as swept him
of his feet.
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Thus worshiped and fully
glorified by His devotee, the Supreme Lord Hari smilingly
addressed Akrûra, completely charming him with His
words.
Text
29
The Supreme
Lord said: 'You, our paternal uncle and praiseworthy friend,
are our spiritual master and always are We your dependents to
be protected, maintained and graced.
The
Supreme Lord said: You are Our spiritual master, paternal
uncle and praiseworthy friend, and We are like your sons,
always dependent on your protection, sustenance and
compassion.
Text
30
People like
your good self are of the worshipable ones the most eminent,
worthy to be served by men who desire the most saintly, highest
good, as while demigods are always after their own interests,
are the saintly devotees not so.
Exalted
souls like you are the true objects of service and the most
worshipable authorities for those who desire the highest
good in life. Demigods are generally concerned with their
own interests, but saintly devotees never are.
Text
31
Not to deny the
sacred places consisting of water or either deities made of
clay and stone: they purify in the course of time, but the
saints do so being seen only once.
No
one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers,
or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and
stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time,
whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen.
Text
32
Of
all our well-wishers are You no doubt the very best; I want you
please to go for Us to the city named to the elephant
[Hastinâpura] and find out what for the sake of
their welfare for the Pândavas needs to be
done
You
are indeed the best of Our friends, so please go to
Hastinâpura and, as the well-wisher of the
Pândavas, find out how they are doing.
Text
33
When their
father died were they as young boys together with their mother
in distress by the king [Dhritarâshthra]
brought to his own
capital city, where they thus are residing, so I've
heard.
We
have heard that when their father passed away, the young
Pândavas were brought with their anguished mother to
the capital city by King Dhritarâshthra, and that they
are now living there.
Text
34
Toward the sons
of his bother [Pându] was the king, the son of
Ambikâ [see 9.22:
25], so
wretched of mind, really not equally disposed, blind of vision
being under the control of his wicked sons [one hundred of
them lead by Duryodhana, 9.22:
26].
Indeed,
weak-minded Dhritarâshthra, the son of Ambikâ,
has come under the control of his wicked sons, and therefore
that blind King is not treating his brother's sons
fairly.
Text
35
Go and learn
whether he in his actions at present is good or evil so that to
that knowledge we can arrange for what is to the benefit of our
dear friends.
Go
and see whether Dhritarâshthra is acting properly or
not. When We find out, We will make the necessary
arrangements to help Our dear friends.
Text
36
In full
instructing Akrûra with these words went the Supreme
Lord, the Supreme Personality of Control, with Uddhava and
Sankarshana then to His own residence.
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Thus fully instructing
Akrûra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari then
returned to His residence, accompanied by Lord Sankarshana
and Uddhava.
