Bhagavatapurana 1.17: atha saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ

1.17.1

/0 sūta uvāca
tatra gomithunaṃ rājā hanyamānam anāthavat /
daṇḍahastaṃ ca vṛṣalaṃ dadṛśe nṛpalāñchanam //

Suta said, “There, king Parikshit saw a cow and a bull that were being beaten, as if they had no protector (as if they had no one to own them), and also a sudra in the guise of a king, with a club in his hand.

1.17.2

vṛṣaṃ mṛṇāladhavalaṃ mehantam iva bibhyatam /
vepamānaṃ padaikena sīdantaṃ śūdratāḍitam //

2. He saw the bull which was white as a lotus stalk terrified, (as if) about to pass urine, tottering on one foot and being beaten by the sudra.

1.17.3

gāṃ ca dharmadughāṃ dīnāṃ bhṛśaṃ śūdrapadāhatām /
vivatsām āśruvadanāṃ kṣāmāṃ yavasam icchatīm //

3. He saw the cow, which yielded materials for sacrificial offerings, quite helpless, being violently kicked by the sudra; bereft of her calf, he saw her face covered with tears, looking emaciated, and gasping for (a blade of) grass.

1.17.4

papraccha ratham ārūḍhaḥ kārtasvaraparicchadam /
meghagambhīrayā vācā samāropitakārmukaḥ //

4. And the king seated in the chariot of golden appurtenances strung his bow and enquired of them, in accents deep as the rolling thunder.

1.17.5

kastvaṃ maccharaṇe loke balāddhaṃsyabalān balī /
naradevo 'si veṣeṇa naṭavat karmaṇādvijaḥ //

5. In the world protected by me who art thou that art strong enough to strike the weak so violently? Thou

art in the guise of a prince like an actor; by thy action thou art no twice born (_i.e._ thou art a sudra).

1.17.6

yastvaṃ kṛṣṇe gate dūraṃ sahagāṇḍīvadhanvanā /
śocyo 'syaśocyān rahasi praharan vadham arhasi //

6. Now that Sri Krishna is far out of sight, along with Arjuna, the owner of the Gandiva, thou strikest the weak and innocent unnoticed, and being thus an offender thou deservest to be killed.

1.17.7

tvaṃ vā mṛṇāladhavalaḥ pādairnyūnaḥ padā caran /
vṛṣarūpeṇa kiṃ kaściddevo naḥ parikhedayan //

7. And who art thou, white like a lotus stalk (fibre) _lamed_ of three feet, and walking on (but) one? Art thou a god in the form of a bull, filling us with distress?

1.17.8

na jātu kauravendrāṇāṃ dordaṇḍaparirambhite /
bhūtale 'nupatantyasmin vinā te prāṇināṃ śucaḥ //

8. On this earth borne on the stout arms of the great Kaurava (Paurava) kings, tears have not been seen to fall from any eyes other than thine.

1.17.9

mā saurabheyātra śuco vyetu te vṛṣalādbhayam /
mā rodīramba bhadraṃ te khalānāṃ mayi śāstari //

9. Do not be grieved in this matter, O son of Surabhi, let thy fear of the sudra be gone; do not weep, mother; may happiness betide thee, while I am (here) to punish the wicked.

1.17.10

yasya rāṣṭre prajāḥ sarvāstrasyante sādhvyasādhubhiḥ /
tasya mattasya naśyanti kīrtirāyurbhago gatiḥ //

10. O virtuous one, reputation, longevity, good fortune, the way to heaven—all these are (to be) lost by that careless and proud king in whose kingdom the subjects are greatly (badly) exposed to fear from (to oppression by) the wicked.

1.17.11

eṣa rājñāṃ paro dharmo hyārtānām ārtinigrahaḥ /
ata enaṃ vadhiṣyāmi bhūtadruham asattamam //

11. This indeed is the foremost duty of a king, that he puts an end to the sufferings of the distressed; wherefore I shall slay this most wicked sudra that does wrong to beings.

1.17.12

ko 'vṛścat tava pādāṃstrīn saurabheya catuṣpada /
mā bhūvaṃstvādṛśā rāṣṭre rājñāṃ kṛṣṇānuvartinām //

12. O son of Surabhi, who is it that cut thy three feet, O four-footed one? There ought not to be any sufferers like thee in the realm of kings who are devoted disciples of Sri Krishna.

1.17.13

ākhyāhi vṛṣa bhadraṃ vaḥ sādhūnām akṛtāgasām /
ātmavairūpyakartāraṃ pārthānāṃ kīrtidūṣaṇam //

13. Tell me, O Bull, (I promise) security of life, to you who are good and innocent; who is it that mutilated you and has sullied the reputation of Pandu's sons?

1.17.14

jane 'nāgasyaghaṃ yuñjan sarvato 'sya ca madbhayam /
sādhūnāṃ bhadram eva syādasādhudamane kṛte //

14. He who does harm to innocent people, has fear from me on all sides, (and) when punishment is inflicted upon the wicked, certainly the result must be security to the righteous.

1.17.15

anāgaḥsviha bhūteṣu ya āgaskṛn niraṅkuśaḥ /
āhartāsmi bhujaṃ sākṣādamartyasyāpi sāṅgadam //

15. Of him who unchecked (unhesitatingly) does wrong to innocent beings I will cut the arm with all its ornament, though it be the arm of a veritable god.

1.17.16

rājño hi paramo dharmaḥ svadharmasthānupālanam /
śāsato 'nyān yathāśāstram anāpadyutpathān iha //

16. It is indeed the highest act of righteousness on the part of a king to defend the people who are constant in their own duties—since according to shastras he ought to punish those other people who in the absence of calamity go astray (go from the path of righteousness).

1.17.17

/0 dharma uvāca
etadvaḥ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ yuktam ārtābhayaṃ vacaḥ /
yeṣāṃ guṇagaṇaiḥ kṛṣṇo dautyādau bhagavān kṛtaḥ //

17. Dharma said, "This promise of protection from fear becomes you that are born of the Pandavas, by whose many virtuous qualities the Almighty Krishna was invited (to help them) to undertake the embassy, etc.

1.17.18

na vayaṃ kleśabījāni yataḥ syuḥ puruṣarṣabha /
puruṣaṃ taṃ vijānīmo vākyabhedavimohitāḥ //

18. O Best of men, we do not know the person from whom the causes of affliction spring forth; (and) we are confounded by different statements (of different thinkers).

1.17.19

kecidvikalpavasanā āhurātmānam ātmanaḥ /
daivam anye 'pare karma svabhāvam apare prabhum //

19. * Some who hide (deny) difference, say that self is the lord of self (i.e. capable of bringing about its own pleasures and pains), others say that it is some deity or Providence; some other thinkers say that it is Karma; and some others still say that it is nature that is so powerful.

1.17.20

apratarkyādanirdeśyāditi keṣvapi niścayaḥ /
atrānurūpaṃ rājarṣe vimṛśa svamanīṣayā //

20. * The persuasion of some few is that those states proceed from the Supreme Lord who is beyond the reach of mind and speech. Do you think out by force of your own judgment, O saintly king, which of these views has the greatest probability on its side.

1.17.21

/0 sūta uvāca
evaṃ dharme pravadati sa samrāḍdvijasattamāḥ /
samāhitena manasā vikhedaḥ paryacaṣṭa tam //

21. O great Brahmin, when Dharma spoke thus the Emperor, unbewildered, and with a calm mind, replied to him (or perceived him).

1.17.22

/0 rājovāca
dharmaṃ bravīṣi dharmajña dharmo 'si vṛṣarūpadhṛk /
yadadharmakṛtaḥ sthānaṃ sūcakasyāpi tadbhavet //

22. O knower of Dharma, thou speakest Dharma (what is righteous); thou art Dharma in the guise of a bull; for, the place that is ordained for the unrighteous men is also the place for the person who points him out (as the offender).

1.17.23

athavā devamāyāyā nūnaṃ gatiragocarā /
cetaso vacasaścāpi bhūtānām iti niścayaḥ //

23. Or, it is also true that the course of Divine power is in fact beyond the range of the mind and speech of beings.

1.17.24

tapaḥ śaucaṃ dayā satyam iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ /
adharmāṃśaistrayo bhagnāḥ smayasaṅgamadaistava //

24. In the Kṛtayuga thou hadst four feet, namely, austerity, purity, compassion, and truthfulness; and three of them are broken by Pride, Attachment, and Intoxication, the three powers of Adharma (unrighteousness).

1.17.25

idānīṃ dharma pādaste satyaṃ nirvartayedyataḥ /
taṃ jighṛkṣatyadharmo 'yam anṛtenaidhitaḥ kaliḥ //

25. Now, O Dharma! only one foot of thine viz. truthfulness, remains, by which thou mightest somehow maintain thyself (by which man might secure thee). Kali has grown strong enough by untruth to seize that, too.

1.17.26

iyaṃ ca bhūmirbhagavatā nyāsitorubharā satī /
śrīmadbhistatpadanyāsaiḥ sarvataḥ kṛtakautukā //

26. And this is the good goddess (chaste) Earth whose burden was removed by the Almighty Lord and who was made very auspicious everywhere by His splendid (most auspicious) footprints.

1.17.27

śocatyaśrukalā sādhvī durbhagevojjhitā satī /
abrahmaṇyā nṛpavyājāḥ śūdrā bhokṣyanti mām iti //

27. Like some unfortunate being the chaste Earth, left by Him, sheds tears in grief, seeing that Śūdras, the haters of Brahmins, will pretend to be kings and make her their property.”

1.17.28

iti dharmaṃ mahīṃ caiva sāntvayitvā mahārathaḥ /
niśātam ādade khaḍgaṃ kalaye 'dharmahetave //

28. The great warrior thus consoled Dharma and the Earth and drew his keen-edged sword against Kali, the spring of unrighteousness.

1.17.29

taṃ jighāṃsum abhipretya vihāya nṛpalāñchanam /
tatpādamūlaṃ śirasā samagādbhayavihvalaḥ //

29. Perceiving that the king was intent upon killing him Kali threw off his royal guise, and, in fear and confusion, fell at his feet.

1.17.30

patitaṃ pādayorvīraḥ kṛpayā dīnavatsalaḥ /
śaraṇyo nāvadhīc chlokya āha cedaṃ hasann iva //

30. The praiseworthy warrior who through mercifulness was (always) kind to the distressed, and who was an asylum to fugitives, smilingly said to Kali who had fallen at his feet, as follows.

1.17.31

/0 rājovāca
na te guḍākeśayaśodharāṇāṃ baddhāñjalervai bhayam asti kiñcit /
na vartitavyaṃ bhavatā kathañcana kṣetre madīye tvam adharmabandhuḥ //

31. No fear to thee that hast folded thy hands to us who continue to cherish the glory of Arjuna; thou, being a close kinsman to Adharma, shouldst by no means remain on the ground belonging to us.

1.17.32

tvāṃ vartamānaṃ naradevadeheṣvanupravṛtto 'yam adharmapūgaḥ /
lobho 'nṛtaṃ cauryam anāryam aṃho jyeṣṭhā ca māyā kalahaśca dambhaḥ //

32. All this host of unrighteous things has come (in thy train) following thee that art present in the bodies of kings—

covetousness, falsehood, theft, evil nature, sinfulness, the goddess of misfortune (the elder Sister of Fortune, Alakshmi), cunning, quarrelsomeness and pride (hypocrisy).

1.17.33

na vartitavyaṃ tadadharmabandho dharmeṇa satyena ca vartitavye /
brahmāvarte yatra yajanti yajñairyajñeśvaraṃ yajñavitānavijñāḥ //

33. Therefore, O father of unrighteousness, thou shouldst not remain in the Brahmavarta where truth and righteousness must thrive, and where men well versed in the extensive sacrificial courses, worship the Lord of sacrifices by performing them.

1.17.34

yasmin harirbhagavān ijyamāna ijyātmamūrtiryajatāṃ śaṃ tanoti /
kāmān amoghān sthirajaṅgamānām antarbahirvāyurivaiṣa ātmā //

34. And there, (in Brahmavarta), the Almighty Hari, of whom sacrifice is a personation, being worshipped by means of sacrifices, bestows happiness and all other desired things upon the sacrificers (worshippers).—Hari who is like Vayu the ruler within and without, of mobile and immobile beings.

1.17.35

/0 sūta uvāca
parīkṣitaivam ādiṣṭaḥ sa kalirjātavepathuḥ /
tam udyatāsim āhedaṃ daṇḍapāṇim ivodyatam //

35. Suta said, “Thus commanded by Parikshit, Kali trembled and said this to the king, who with his sword drawn, looked like Yama ready to strike him :—

1.17.36

/0 kaliruvāca
yatra kva vātha vatsyāmi sārvabhauma tavājñayā /
lakṣaye tatra tatrāpi tvām ātteṣuśarāsanam //

36. O Emperor, wherever I may think of dwelling in obedience to your command, I shall see you (in imagination) with the bow in your hand.

1.17.37

tan me dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha sthānaṃ nirdeṣṭum arhasi /
yatraiva niyato vatsya ātiṣṭhaṃste 'nuśāsanam //

37. Therefore, O foremost supporter of righteousness, be pleased to appoint a place for me, where alone I shall dwell, abiding by your command.”

1.17.38

/0 sūta uvāca
abhyarthitastadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye dadau /
dyūtaṃ pānaṃ striyaḥ sūnā yatrādharmaścaturvidhaḥ //

38. Suta said, “Being thus petitioned, the king then appointed (the following) places for Kali—*viz.* dice, wine, women and shambles, where the four-fold unrighteousness thrives.

1.17.39

punaśca yācamānāya jātarūpam adāt prabhuḥ /
tato 'nṛtaṃ madaṃ kāmaṃ rajo vairaṃ ca pañcamam //

39. To Kali who made further requests, the king assigned gold as the fifth abode; thus the king gave him five spheres *viz*, falsehood, intoxication, passion, and slaughter with animosity as the fifth.

1.17.40

amūni pañca sthānāni hyadharmaprabhavaḥ kaliḥ /
auttareyeṇa dattāni nyavasat tannideśakṛt //

40. So Kali the father of unrighteousness dwelt in obedience to the king’s command in those five places appointed by the son of Uttara (the king.)

1.17.41

athaitāni na seveta bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit /
viśeṣato dharmaśīlo rājā lokapatirguruḥ //

41. Therefore a man intent upon rising higher ought never to resort to these; especially the righteous king who is the protector and preceptor of the world.

1.17.42

vṛṣasya naṣṭāṃstrīn pādān tapaḥ śaucaṃ dayām iti /
pratisandadha āśvāsya mahīṃ ca samavardhayat //

42. The king restored to the bull the three feet that had been lost viz., austerity, purity and compassion, and comforted and cherished both the Earth and the bull.

1.17.43

sa eṣa etarhyadhyāsta āsanaṃ pārthivocitam /
pitāmahenopanyastaṃ rājñāraṇyaṃ vivikṣatā //

43. King Parikshit of such incomparable glory now occupies the royal throne that was bequeathed to him by king Yudhishtira, his grandfather, when retiring to the forest.

1.17.44

āste 'dhunā sa rājarṣiḥ kauravendraśriyollasan /
gajāhvaye mahābhāgaścakravartī bṛhacchravāḥ //

44. Now the same saintly king the most fortunate of emperors of great learning and wisdom, reigns at Hastinapura, who is endowed with the brilliant fortune of the great Kaurava Princes.

1.17.45

itthambhūtānubhāvo 'yam abhimanyusuto nṛpaḥ /
yasya pālayataḥ kṣauṇīṃ yūyaṃ satrāya dīkṣitāḥ //

45. When the son of Abhimanyu endowed with such glory is ruling over the earth, you have entered upon this sacrifice.