Bhagavatapurana 1.11: athaikādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

1.11.1

/0 sūta uvāca
ānartān sa upavrajya svṛddhāñ janapadān svakān /
dadhmau daravaraṃ teṣāṃ viṣādaṃ śamayann iva //

Sūta said:
Having reached Ānarta, his own flourishing provinces, / he blew his supreme conch, as if dispelling their sorrow.

Suta said:—Having reached his own highly prosperous territory known as Anartas, he blew his excellent conch *Panchajanya* so as to remove their anxiety (the anxiety of his subjects).

1.11.2

sa uccakāśe dhavalodaro daro 'pyurukramasyādharaśoṇaśoṇimā /
dādhmāyamānaḥ karakañjasampuṭe yathābjakhaṇḍe kalahaṃsa utsvanaḥ //

The conch, white-bellied yet reddened by the redness of Urukrama's lower lip, / shone as it was blown in the hollow of his lotus hands, like a swan singing loudly amidst a cluster of lotuses.

2. Highly brilliant was that conch of milk-white bulb, looking red (when) applied to the ruby-coloured lips of the omni-

potent Lord; and while it was held in his lotus-like hands and being loudly blown, it looked like a royal swan loudly singing in the middle of a lotus bed.

1.11.3

tam upaśrutya ninadaṃ jagadbhayabhayāvaham /
pratyudyayuḥ prajāḥ sarvā bhartṛdarśanalālasāḥ //

Hearing that blast, which brought fear to the world's fears, / all the subjects came out to meet him, longing for the sight of their master.

3. Hearing the blast that threatens away the fear of the world, and longing to see their Lord, all the subjects came forth to meet Him.

1.11.4

tatropanītabalayo raverdīpam ivādṛtāḥ /
ātmārāmaṃ pūrṇakāmaṃ nijalābhena nityadā //

Bringing offerings there, full of reverence, like lamps to the sun, / to him who rejoices in the self, whose desires are fulfilled, ever contented through his own attainment,

4.—5. Then, they brought presents to Him with great eagerness, in the same way as people offer a light to the Sun (in worship); and with their countenance beaming with affection, like children to their parents, they then spoke in accents faltering with joy to Him, who is eternally in the enjoyment of His essential bliss and who is perfect in all that can be desired; (*lit* who is delighted in His own self), and who is the friend and father of all.

1.11.5

prītyutphullamukhāḥ procurharṣagadgadayā girā /
pitaraṃ sarvasuhṛdam avitāram ivārbhakāḥ //

their faces blossoming with love, they spoke in voices choked with joy, / as children would to a father, the friend of all, and their protector:

1.11.6

natāḥ sma te nātha sadāṅghripaṅkajaṃ viriñcavairiñcyasurendravanditam /
parāyaṇaṃ kṣemam ihecchatāṃ paraṃ na yatra kālaḥ prabhavet paraḥ prabhuḥ //

“O Lord, we bow ever to your lotus feet, worshipped by Viriñca, Viriñca's sons, and the lord of the gods; / they are the supreme refuge for those seeking true welfare here, where supreme time has no power.

6. O Lord, we always bow down before Thy lotus-like feet, worshipped by Brahma, Rudra, Sanaka, and Indra, which is the highest resort to those who long here for the final beatitude—on whom Time, powerful over all others, has no power.

1.11.7

bhavāya nastvaṃ bhava viśvabhāvana tvam eva mātātha suhṛtpatiḥ pitā /
tvaṃ sadgururnaḥ paramaṃ ca daivataṃ yasyānuvṛttyā kṛtino babhūvima //

Be present for our well-being, O creator of the universe! You alone are our mother, friend, husband, and father; / you are our true guru and supreme divinity, by following whom we have attained fulfillment.

7. O Maker of all! Mayest Thou be (the source) of our existence (welfare); for, only Thou art our Mother, Friend, Lord and Father; Thou art the true preceptor, and the Supreme Deity; and, (by) being dutiful to Thee (by worshipping Thee) we have become blessed.

1.11.8

aho sanāthā bhavatā sma yadvayaṃ traiviṣṭapānām api dūradarśanam /
premasmitasnigdhanirīkṣaṇānanaṃ paśyema rūpaṃ tava sarvasaubhagam //

Ah, we are truly protected by you, since we are able to behold your form, all-auspicious, / difficult to see even for the dwellers of heaven, with your face shedding glances tender with love and smiles!

8. How Blessed we are in that Thou art our Lord! for we (may) see Thy form of perfect beauty, and Thy face with its loving smiles and kindly looks—a blessing not to be easily gained even by celestials.

1.11.9

yarhyambujākṣāpasasāra bho bhavān kurūn madhūn vātha suhṛddidṛkṣayā /
tatrābdakoṭipratimaḥ kṣaṇo bhaved raviṃ vinākṣṇoriva nastavācyuta //

Whenever you, O lotus-eyed one, departed to the Kurus or the Madhus in your desire to see friends, / then, O Acyuta, a single moment became to us like tens of millions of years, like eyes deprived of the sun.

9. O Lord of lotus-like eyes, when Thou art gone to the country of the Kurus or Madhus, to see Thy friends, one moment is then felt by us as millions of years, as it must be, O Achyuta, to our eyes, in the absence of the sun.

1.11.10

kathaṃ vayaṃ nātha ciroṣite tvayi prasannadṛṣṭyākhilatāpaśoṣaṇam /
jīvema te sundarahāsaśobhitam apaśyamānā vadanaṃ manoharam //

How can we live, O Lord, when you dwell far away for long, / unable to see your enchanting face, adorned with beautiful smiles, which with its gracious look withers away all sorrow?”

[When Thou art long absent, how can we, O Lord, support our life without seeing Thy face which soothes away the

affliction and longings of those that resort to Thee, and which is so brilliant with bewitching smiles, and so charming to the mind.—(_Vide_ Brindavan edition.]

1.11.11

iti codīritā vācaḥ prajānāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ /
śṛṇvāno 'nugrahaṃ dṛṣṭyā vitanvan prāviśat puram //

Hearing these words uttered by the citizens, he who is affectionate to devotees / entered the city, bestowing his grace upon them with a glance.

10. Suta said:—Receiving these and other addresses of His subjects, Sri Krishna, affectionate to His votaries, entered the city, extending His grace to all by his looks,

1.11.12

madhubhojadaśārhārhakukurāndhakavṛṣṇibhiḥ /
ātmatulyabalairguptāṃ nāgairbhogavatīm iva //

[The city] protected by the Madhus, Bhojas, Daśārhas, Ārhas, Kukuras, Andhakas, and Vṛṣṇis, / whose strength equaled his own, as Bhogavatī is protected by the serpents;

11.—the city defended by warriors who were His equals in strength _viz._ the Madhus, Bhojas, Dasarhas, Arhas, Kukuras, Andhakas, and Vrishnis—the city which was like unto the city of Bhogavati defended by the Nagas;

1.11.13

sarvartusarvavibhavapuṇyavṛkṣalatāśramaiḥ /
udyānopavanārāmairvṛtapadmākaraśriyam //

bearing the splendor of lotus ponds surrounded by gardens, groves, and parks / with hermitages of sacred trees and creepers possessing the richness of all seasons;

12.—the city most charming with its lotus lakes, with gardens and parks all round, with bowers of creepers, with holy trees, rich in the products of all seasons;

1.11.14

gopuradvāramārgeṣu kṛtakautukatoraṇām /
citradhvajapatākāgrairantaḥ pratihatātapām //

adorned with festive triumphal arches set up at the city gates and on the streets, / with the sunshine inside repelled by the tips of colorful flags and banners;

13.—the city where the towers and entrances were adorned with festoons and other festive decorations; where the sun was warded off by the tops of flags and banners of various (and wonderful) designs and colours;

1.11.15

sammārjitamahāmārga rathyāpaṇakacatvarām /
siktāṃ gandhajalairuptāṃ phalapuṣpākṣatāṅkuraiḥ //

with its main avenues, roads, markets, and squares swept clean, / sprinkled with fragrant water and strewn with fruits, flowers, unbroken grains, and fresh sprouts;

14.—the city where the royal roads and streets, market places and quadrangles were thoroughly cleansed, sprinkled with scented waters, and strewn with fruits and flowers, Akshatas and sprouts (blades of corn);

1.11.16

dvāri dvāri gṛhāṇāṃ ca dadhyakṣataphalekṣubhiḥ /
alaṅkṛtāṃ pūrṇakumbhairbalibhirdhūpadīpakaiḥ //

and decorated at every doorway of every house with curd, unbroken grains, fruits, and sugarcane, / with full water jars, offerings, incense, and lamps.

15.—the city made auspicious with (supplies of) curds, Akshatas, fruits and sugarcanes, with Poornakumbhas, offerings, lights and burning frankincense at the entrance of every house.

1.11.17

niśamya preṣṭham āyāntaṃ vasudevo mahāmanāḥ /
akrūraścograsenaśca rāmaścādbhutavikramaḥ //

Hearing that the most beloved one was arriving, the high-minded Vasudeva, / Akrūra, Ugrasena, and Balarāma of wondrous valor,

16. Hearing of the return of their most beloved Krishna, the high-souled Vasudeva, Akrura, Ugrasena, and Balarama of wonderful prowess,

1.11.18

pradyumnaścārudeṣṇaśca sāmbo jāmbavatīsutaḥ /
praharṣavegocchaśitaśayanāsanabhojanāḥ //

as well as Pradyumna, Cārudeṣṇa, and Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, / leaping up from their beds, seats, and meals in an impulse of sheer joy,

17. Pradyumna, Samba, and the son of Jambavati, in transports of joy, hastened from their beds, seats, or meals,

1.11.19

vāraṇendraṃ puraskṛtya brāhmaṇaiḥ sasumaṅgalaiḥ /
śaṅkhatūryaninādena brahmaghoṣeṇa cādṛtāḥ /
pratyujjagmū rathairhṛṣṭāḥ praṇayāgatasādhvasāḥ //

putting a lordly elephant in the lead, along with auspicious brahmins, / reverent with the sounding of conches and kettledrums and the chanting of the Veda, / went out in chariots with delight, seized with awe born of affection.

18. With the state elephant in the front, with Brahmins carrying auspicious things in their hands, conches and trumpets blowing, the Vedas being loudly sung;

19.—they all ardently came forth (to meet Him), rejoicing and trembling with joy and love; also, the foremost among the courtesans, the beauty of their faces being illumined by splendid earrings, came forth in hundreds in vehicles, all yearning to see Him.

1.11.20

vāramukhyāśca śataśo yānaistaddarśanotsukāḥ /
lasatkuṇḍalanirbhātakapolavadanaśriyaḥ //

And hundreds of courtesans [went forth] in carriages, eager to see him, / the beauty of their faces and cheeks illuminated by gleaming earrings.

1.11.21

naṭanartakagandharvāḥ sūtamāgadhavandinaḥ /
gāyanti cottamaślokacaritānyadbhutāni ca //

Actors, dancers, Gandharvas, bards, panegyrists, and heralds / sang the wondrous deeds of He of highest renown.

20. Actors, dancers, singers, eulogists, bards and heralds, then sang the marvellous deeds of the Lord of the most blessed name.

1.11.22

bhagavāṃstatra bandhūnāṃ paurāṇām anuvartinām /
yathāvidhyupasaṅgamya sarveṣāṃ mānam ādadhe //

There the Lord, approaching his kinsmen, citizens, / and attendants in the proper manner, accorded honor to them all.

21. Then the glorious Lord received His kith and kin, the citizens and the attendants and duly did courtesy to them all;

1.11.23

prahvābhivādanāśleṣakarasparśasmitekṣaṇaiḥ /
āśvāsya cāśvapākebhyo varaiścābhimatairvibhuḥ //

The all-pervading Lord, with bowing, salutations, embraces, handclasps, smiles, and glances, / consoled everyone down to the dog-eaters, and granted their cherished boons.

22.—23. Having given delight to all, even down to *swapakas*, with bows, compliments, embraces, taking by the hand, smiles, or smiling looks as well as agreeable gifts (each according to his rank, position or relationship), He entered the city, benedictions being uttered over Him by elders, preceptors, wise Brahmins and their ladies, by aged people, heralds and many others.

1.11.24

svayaṃ ca gurubhirvipraiḥ sadāraiḥ sthavirairapi /
āśīrbhiryujyamāno 'nyairvandibhiścāviśat puram //

And he himself, accompanied by blessings bestowed by elders, / Brahmins with their wives, the aged, and other panegyrists, entered the city.

1.11.25

rājamārgaṃ gate kṛṣṇe dvārakāyāḥ kulastriyaḥ /
harmyāṇyāruruhurvipra tadīkṣaṇamahotsavāḥ //

When Kṛṣṇa entered the royal highway, the noble women of Dvārakā / ascended the mansions, O Brahmin, making his viewing a great festival.

24. When Sri Krishna was on the royal road, O Brahmins, the noble women of Dwaraka ascended to the top of their palaces; for, to see Him was the great feast of their eyes;

1.11.26

nityaṃ nirīkṣamāṇānāṃ yadapi dvārakaukasām /
na vitṛpyanti hi dṛśaḥ śriyo dhāmāṅgam acyutam //

Although the inhabitants of Dvārakā gaze upon him constantly, / their eyes are never satiated by Acyuta's body, the abode of beauty.

25. Though they saw Him every day, the eyes of the citizens of Dwaraka were not satisfied (satiated) with the sight of the Imperishable Lord, the abode of Sri;—

1.11.27

śriyo nivāso yasyoraḥ pānapātraṃ mukhaṃ dṛśām /
bāhavo lokapālānāṃ sāraṅgāṇāṃ padāmbujam //

His chest is the dwelling of the goddess of fortune; his face is a drinking cup for [all] eyes; / his arms belong to the guardians of the worlds, and his lotus feet to the bees [of devotion].

26—with the sight of the Lord, on whose bosom Sri abides, whose face is the cup (of beauty) for all eyes (to drink from) whose arms are the source of the strength of the Lokapalas, whose lotus-like feet are the fascination (resort) of the wise (that realise and sing of Truth).

1.11.28

sitātapatravyajanairupaskṛtaḥ prasūnavarṣairabhivarṣitaḥ pathi /
piśaṅgavāsā vanamālayā babhau ghano yathārkoḍupacāpavaidyutaiḥ //

Honored with a white parasol and fans, showered with rains of blossoms on the path, / dressed in yellow garments and adorned with a forest garland, he shone like a cloud with the sun, moon, rainbow, and lightning.

27. On the royal road, the white umbrella being held overhead, chowries waving on the sides, under shower of flowers, Sri Krishna, clad in *Pitambara*, and (adorned) with *Vanamala*, shone like a cloud between the sun and the moon and between the rainbow and the flashes of lightning.

1.11.29

praviṣṭastu gṛhaṃ pitroḥ pariṣvaktaḥ svamātṛbhiḥ /
vavande śirasā sapta devakīpramukhā mudā //

Having entered his parents' home, embraced by his mothers, / he joyfully bowed with his head to seven of them, headed by Devakī.

28. As soon as He entered the palace of His parents, He bowed His head to Devaki and others, His seven mothers, by whom He was embraced.

1.11.30

tāḥ putram aṅkam āropya snehasnutapayodharāḥ /
harṣavihvalitātmānaḥ siṣicurnetrajairjalaiḥ //

Placing their son on their laps, their breasts flowing with affection, / their hearts overwhelmed with joy, they bathed him with water from their eyes.

29. They placed Him on their lap, when their breasts overflowed with milk out of affection, and, beside themselves with joy, they bathed Him in tears (of joy.)

1.11.31

athāviśat svabhavanaṃ sarvakāmam anuttamam /
prāsādā yatra patnīnāṃ sahasrāṇi ca ṣoḍaśa //

Then he entered his own incomparable palace, which fulfilled all desires, / where stood the sixteen thousand mansions of his wives.

30. Then He entered His own palace, (furnished with) all that might be desired, unsurpassed (by any other), where are (separate) mansions for His wives six and ten thousands; (and also for the eight and a hundred—all wrought with diamonds and cats' eyes.)

1.11.32

patnyaḥ patiṃ proṣya gṛhānupāgataṃ vilokya sañjātamanomahotsavāḥ /
uttasthurārāt sahasāsanāśayāt sākaṃ vratairvrīḍitalocanānanāḥ //

Seeing their husband returned home after a long journey, the wives, with great joy arising in their minds, / quickly rose from their seats and couches from afar, with their vows, their eyes and faces cast down with bashfulness.

31. From a distance seeing their Lord return home after (long) absence, with joy in their hearts, with bashful eyes and faces, the wives suddenly left their seats and beds, as also their vows,

1.11.33

tam ātmajairdṛṣṭibhirantarātmanā durantabhāvāḥ parirebhire patim /
niruddham apyāsravadambu netrayor vilajjatīnāṃ bhṛguvarya vaiklavāt //

With their sons, their glances, and their innermost selves, those women of boundless feeling embraced their husband; / and though restrained, tears flowed from the eyes of those bashful women, O best of the Bhṛgus, out of emotion.

32. Those wives, whose emotions knew no bounds, embraced their Lord with their hearts, with their eyes, and by means of their children, O Saunaka, tears trickled down, and the eyes of those bashful ladies who were overpowered by their feelings, in spite of their endeavours to restrain them.

1.11.34

yadyapyasau pārśvagato rahogatas tathāpi tasyāṅghriyugaṃ navaṃ navam /
pade pade kā virameta tatpadāc calāpi yac chrīrna jahāti karhicit //

Though he was by their side in solitude, his pair of feet appeared ever new; / at every step, what woman could turn away from those feet, which even the fickle goddess of fortune never leaves?

33. Even when He was by their side, or alone with them, His feet were ever new (to them); who would like to lose the sight of His feet which even the fickle Sri never leaves?

1.11.35

evaṃ nṛpāṇāṃ kṣitibhārajanmanām akṣauhiṇībhiḥ parivṛttatejasām /
vidhāya vairaṃ śvasano yathānalaṃ mitho vadhenoparato nirāyudhaḥ //

Having thus stirred up enmity among the kings who were born as a burden to the earth / and whose might was surrounded by whole armies, he, weaponless, withdrew after their mutual slaughter, just as the wind [withdrew after fanning] fire.

34. Having, as the wind kindles a fire, roused enmity among kings who were born a burden to the earth, and who had grown in power (haughty) by their legions, He worked their mutual destruction, while He stood aloof (indifferent) without raising a single weapon.

1.11.36

sa eṣa naraloke 'sminn avatīrṇaḥ svamāyayā /
reme strīratnakūṭastho bhagavān prākṛto yathā //

This very Lord, descended into this mortal world through his creative power, / took pleasure among the jewel-like assembly of women, just like an ordinary man.

35. This is that Lord who, by his own Maya, appeared in this mortal world,—that glorious Lord, who lived a blessed life in midst of the most charming of women, (to all appearance) as a worldly man might.

1.11.36.p1

uddāmabhāvapiśunāmalavalguhāsa $ vrīḍāvalokanihato madano 'pi yāsām &

Even the god of love, struck down by their pure, sweet laughter indicating unrestrained passion / and by their bashful glances,

36. Those excellent women were not by all their (unreal) charms able to perturb His mind; even the conqueror of Madana, struck with their pure and sweet smiles and bashful looks that spoke their deep and boundless motions, was so captivated as to abandon his bow.

1.11.37

sammuhya cāpam ajahāt pramadottamāstā % yasyendriyaṃ vimathituṃ kuhakairna śekuḥ //

became bewildered and dropped his bow; yet those foremost of lovely women / could not disturb his sense organs with their wiles.

1.11.38

tam ayaṃ manyate loko hyasaṅgam api saṅginam /
ātmaupamyena manujaṃ vyāpṛṇvānaṃ yato 'budhaḥ //

This ignorant world thinks him, though unattached, to be attached, / considering him human by analogy to oneself, because he engages in activity.

37. This world ignorant of Truth supposes Him on its own analogy, as capable of activity and attachments, though indeed He has none.

1.11.39

etadīśanam īśasya prakṛtistho 'pi tadguṇaiḥ /
na yujyate sadātmasthairyathā buddhistadāśrayā //

This is the lordship of the Lord: though abiding in material nature, he is not joined with its qualities, / being ever situated in his own self, just as the intellect anchored in him [is not affected].

38. The ruling power of the Omnipotent Ruler consists in that though present in Prakriti, He is never assailed by

its qualities, like Buddhi resting on Atman; [or unlike Buddhi which depending upon Atman acquires the properties or attributes of Atman _i.e._ such as existence and light _i.e._ intelligent nature—or unlike Buddhi _i.e._ Jiva conditioned by Buddhi, which becomes imbued with the qualities of Asad Atman _i e._ the body on which it depends,]

1.11.40

taṃ menire 'balā mūḍhāḥ straiṇaṃ cānuvrataṃ rahaḥ /
apramāṇavido bharturīśvaraṃ matayo yathā //

The simple women thought him submissive to women and obedient in secret, / ignorant of the true greatness of their husband, just as unenlightened minds [misjudge] the Sovereign Lord.

39. The women (who were his wives) through ignorance thought Him to be under women's (their) influence, and as seeking after them at heart,—the women who could not take the measure (of the immeasurable nature) of the Lord, thought Him to be of their own nature, just as the notions of _Aham_, regard Isvara _viz._ Kshetrajna—[or the women regarded him who was Isvara to be like what their thoughts (notions) directed them to do].