Bhagavatapurana 10.45: atha pañcacatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.45.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
pitarāv upalabdhārthau viditvā puruṣottamaḥ /
mā bhūd iti nijāṃ māyāṃ tatāna jana-mohinīm //

Śrī-Śuka said:
Knowing that His parents had realized the truth, the Supreme Person,
thinking, "Let this not be so," spread His creative power that bewilders living beings.

1 & 2. Sri Suka said:— Perceiving his parents understood the truth Purushottama thought it should not be and accordingly over them spread His Maya that deludes creatures. With the elder brother, the best of Satvatas (Krishna) approached His parents and modestly and in great affection, called them, Mamma, Pappa, to their great delight and said;

10.45.2

uvāca pitarāv etya sāgrajaḥ sātvanarṣabhaḥ /
praśrayāvanataḥ prīṇann amba tāteti sādaram //

Approaching His parents together with His elder brother, the best of the Sātvatas,
bowing low in deference and gladdening them, said respectfully, "Mother! Father!"

10.45.3

nāsmatto yuvayos tāta nityotkaṇṭhitayor api /
bālya-paugaṇḍa-kaiśorāḥ putrābhyām abhavan kvacit //

"Father, you two, though ever yearning for us, never obtained from us,
your two sons, the pleasures of childhood, boyhood, or youth."

3. “Father, though you were both daily anxious about us, you had no contribution to your joy, from us your sons, at any stage, in infancy, childhood and youth.

10.45.4

na labdho daiva-hatayor vāso nau bhavad-antike /
yāṃ bālāḥ pitṛ-geha-sthā vindante lālitā mudam //

Struck down by fate, we two did not obtain dwelling near you, / [nor] that joy which boys staying in their father's house enjoy when cherished.

4. Nor had we, being ill-fated, the fortune of living by your side and enjoying that happiness which children do in their parents’ home caressed by them.

10.45.5

sarvārtha-sambhavo deho janitaḥ poṣito yataḥ /
na tayor yāti nirveśaṃ pitror martyaḥ śatāyuṣā //

Since the body, the source of all ends, was brought forth and nurtured [by them], / a mortal cannot repay his parents even in a lifespan of a hundred years.

5. No mortal could, even through a complete life of hundred years, recompense the parents from whom he obtains this body, the main condition for achieving all purposes, and by whom it is nourished.

10.45.6

yas tayor ātmajaḥ kalpa ātmanā ca dhanena ca /
vṛttiṃ na dadyāt taṃ pretya sva-māṃsaṃ khādayanti hi //

That son who, capable in himself and with wealth, / does not provide maintenance for them, they indeed make eat his own flesh after death.

6. If a son, when able-bodied, does not, by his personal effort and by his means, contribute to the comfortable living of his parents, Yama’s messengers make him eat his own flesh in hell when he departs this life.

10.45.7

mātaraṃ pitaraṃ vṛddhaṃ bhāryāṃ sādhvīṃ sutam śiśum /
guruṃ vipraṃ prapannaṃ ca kalpo 'bibhrac chvasan-mṛtaḥ //

An aged mother and father, a virtuous wife, an infant child, / a spiritual teacher, a brāhmaṇa, and one who has sought refuge—capable [of maintaining them] and yet not supporting them, he is dead while breathing.

7. He is a dead man, though breathing, who does not, when capable, protect in their old age his mother and father, his chaste wife, his infant son, his preceptor, sage brahmins and one that has taken refuge with him.

10.45.8

tan nāv akalpayoḥ kaṃsān nityam udvigna-cetasoḥ /
mogham ete vyatikrāntā divasā vām anarcatoḥ //

So, because we two were unable, our minds ever anxious on account of Kaṃsa, / these days have passed in vain, without worshiping you two.

8. As we, day and night, in great fear of Kamsa, were unable to worship you both, all these days of our life have passed away in vain.

10.45.9

tat kṣantum arhathas tāta mātar nau para-tantrayoḥ /
akurvator vāṃ śuśrūṣāṃ kliṣṭayor durhṛdā bhṛśam //

Therefore you two should forgive us, father [and] mother, for we were dependent on others, / not rendering service to you two who were severely tormented by the malicious one.

9. O father, O mother, therefore may you be pleased to excuse us, since we, being helpless and dependent, were of no service to you who were very badly treated by the wicked man. 10. Sri Suka said.—Deluded by such words of Hari, the Antaryamin of the Universe, in a mortal form at His own will, they set Him on their lap, embraced Him and felt overjoyed.

10.45.10

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
iti māyā-manuṣyasya harer viśvātmano girā /
mohitāv aṅkam āropya pariṣvajyāpatur mudam //

Śrī Śuka said: / Bewildered by these words of Hari, the Supreme Self who had become a man by His creative power, / they placed [them] on their laps, embraced them, and obtained joy.

10.45.11

siñcantāv aśru-dhārābhiḥ sneha-pāśena cāvṛtau /
na kiñcid ūcatū rājan bāṣpa-kaṇṭhau vimohitau //

Drenching them with streams of tears, bound by the cord of affection, / they said nothing, O King, their throats choked with tears, deeply overcome with love.

11. They showered Them with streams of tears, bound with ties of attachment; tears choking their throat and in a state of bewilderment they could utter nothing, O king.

10.45.12

evam āśvāsya pitarau bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ /
mātāmahaṃ tūgrasenaṃ yadūnām akaron ṇṛpam //

Having thus consoled His parents, the Lord, the son of Devakī, / made His maternal grandfather Ugrasena king of the Yadus.

12. Having thus comforted the parents the glorious son of Devaki made His maternal grandfather, Ugrasena, king of Yadus;

10.45.13

āha cāsmān mahā-rāja prajāś cājñaptum arhasi /
yayāti-śāpād yadubhir nāsitavyaṃ nṛpāsane //

And He said: "O Great King, you should command us and the subjects. / Because of Yayāti's curse, the Yadus must not sit upon the royal throne.

13. And said, O king, "May thou be pleased to command us and these subjects, to do thy will, for under the curse of Yayati, Yadus ought not to sit on the throne.

10.45.14

mayi bhṛtya upāsīne bhavato vibudhādayaḥ /
baliṃ haranty avanatāḥ kim utānye narādhipāḥ //

When I wait upon you as a servant, the gods and others / will humbly bring tribute; what to say of other rulers of men?"

14. "When I am Myself here as thy servant, the gods, rishis and others will be submissive and bring thee tributes; and then much more so the mortal kings."

10.45.15

sarvān svān jñati-sambandhān digbhyaḥ kaṃsa-bhayākulān /
yadu-vṛṣṇy-andhaka-madhu dāśārha-kukurādikān //

All their own kinsmen and relatives who had fled in all directions, troubled by fear of Kaṃsa— / the Yadus, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dāśārhas, Kukuras, and others—

15 & 16. The great Maker of the Universe brought back to their houses and provided with sufficient wealth and means and treated with respect and encouraged with consolation all those kith and kin, Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Dasarhas, Kukuras and others who had been put to great sufferings in foreign places.

10.45.16

sabhājitān samāśvāsya videśāvāsa-karśitān /
nyavāsayat sva-geheṣu vittaiḥ santarpya viśva-kṛt //

honored and consoled, emaciated from living in foreign lands, / the Creator of the universe settled in their own homes, having gratified them with riches.

10.45.17

kṛṣṇa-saṅkarṣaṇa-bhujair guptā labdha-manorathāḥ /
gṛheṣu remire siddhāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-gata-jvarāḥ //

Protected by the arms of Kṛṣṇa and Saṅkarṣaṇa, their desires attained, / their anxieties dispelled by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, they rejoiced in their homes like perfected souls.

17. Defended by the arms of Krishna and Sankarshana, the citizens of Mathura realised their wishes, were rid of all their sufferings and anxieties through Their grace and lived happily in their homes in perfect satisfaction.

10.45.18

vīkṣanto 'har ahaḥ prītā mukunda-vadanāmbujam /
nityaṃ pramuditaṃ śrīmat sa-daya-smita-vīkṣaṇam //

Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon Mukunda's lotus face, / ever joyful, splendid, with its glance of compassionate smiles.

18. They were rejoiced at seeing every day the lotus-like face of Mukunda which was (is) ever joyous, brilliant with generous smiles and looks.

10.45.19

tatra pravayaso 'py āsan yuvāno 'ti-balaujasaḥ /
pibanto 'kṣair mukundasya mukhāmbuja-sudhāṃ muhuḥ //

Even the aged there became young men of immense strength and vigor, / continually drinking through their eyes the nectar of Mukunda's lotus face.

19. There even very aged people who constantly feasted themselves on the nectar of the lotus-like face of Mukunda became youths of immense strength and energy.

10.45.20

atha nandaṃ samasādya bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ /
saṅkarṣaṇaś ca rājendra pariṣvajyedam ūcatuḥ //

Then, approaching Nanda, the Lord, the son of Devakī, / and Saṅkarṣaṇa embraced him, O best of kings, and said this:

20. Now the glorious son of Devaki and Sankarshana approached Nanda and embraced him, O king.

10.45.21

pitar yuvābhyāṃ snigdhābhyāṃ poṣitau lālitau bhṛśam /
pitror abhyadhikā prītir ātmajeṣv ātmano 'pi hi //

"O Father, by you two full of affection we were greatly nourished and cherished; / indeed, the love of parents for their children is greater than for themselves.

21. O father, by you, full of affection, we have been very carefully nourished and caressed; the love of parents to their children far exceeds that to their own selves.

10.45.22

sa pitā sā ca jananī yau puṣṇītāṃ sva-putra-vat /
śiśūn bandhubhir utsṛṣṭān akalpaiḥ poṣa-rakṣaṇe //

He is the father and she the mother who nurture like their own children / infants abandoned by relatives unable to nourish and protect them.

22. He is the father and she is the mother, who nourish like their own children, the babes abandoned by their relations incapable of protecting and nourishing those whom they ought to. 23. O father, you may go back to Vraja; after having looked to the comforts of our friends here, we shall also go to see our kith and kin, who may through love be afflicted (on account of separation).

10.45.23

yāta yūyaṃ vrajaṃn tāta vayaṃ ca sneha-duḥkhitān /
jñātīn vo draṣṭum eṣyāmo vidhāya suhṛdāṃ sukham //

Go you all to Vraja, dear father, and having brought joy to our friends, / we shall come to see you, our kinsmen pained by affection."

10.45.24

evaṃ sāntvayya bhagavān nandaṃ sa-vrajam acyutaḥ /
vāso-'laṅkāra-kupyādyair arhayām āsa sādaram //

Having thus consoled Nanda together with the people of Vraja, the Lord, Acyuta, / honored him respectfully with garments, ornaments, utensils, and other gifts.

24. Having thus comforted Nanda and other Gopas of Vraja, the glorious Achyuta with very kind attentions presented them cloths, ornaments, fashionable utensils and the like.

10.45.25

ity uktas tau pariṣvajya nandaḥ praṇaya-vihvalaḥ /
pūrayann aśrubhir netre saha gopair vrajaṃ yayau //

Addressed thus, having embraced the two, Nanda, overcome with love, / his eyes filling with tears, departed for Vraja with the cowherds.

25. Thus comforted and respected, Nanda embraced them both, was confused with overwhelming affection and returned with the Gopas to Vraja with his eyes brimming with tears.

10.45.26

atha śūra-suto rājan putrayoḥ samakārayat /
purodhasā brāhmaṇaiś ca yathāvad dvija-saṃskṛtim //

Then the son of Śūra, O King, had the ceremony of twice-born initiation performed properly / for his two sons by the family priest and brāhmaṇas.

26. Then Vasudeva, O king, caused the ceremony of initiation to both his sons, due to the twice-born, with the help of his family-priest and brahmins.

10.45.27

tebhyo 'dād dakṣiṇā gāvo rukma-mālāḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ /
sv-alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ sampūjya sa-vatsāḥ kṣauma-mālinīḥ //

He gave them dakṣiṇā of well-adorned cows with gold necklaces, / along with their calves and garlanded with silken cloth, having honored the well-adorned [priests],

27. He adorned the brahmins and priests, worshipped them and gave them Dakshina and cows with chains of gold and other ornaments and decked with silk cloths, together with their calves.

10.45.28

yāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāma-janmarkṣe mano-dattā mahā-matiḥ /
tāś cādadād anusmṛtya kaṃsenādharmato hṛtāḥ //

and remembering those [cows] mentally given on the birth-constellation of Kṛṣṇa and Rāma / which had been taken away unlawfully by Kaṃsa, the noble-minded one gave them too.

28. He also gave away those cows that he had intended to give on the days of their nativity and that had been unrighteously carried away by Kamsa.

10.45.29

tataś ca labdha-saṃskārau dvijatvaṃ prāpya su-vratau /
gargād yadu-kulācāryād gāyatraṃ vratam āsthitau //

Then, having received the saṃskāra, having attained the status of twice-born, the two of good vows / undertook the vow of the Gāyatrī from Garga, the spiritual preceptor of the Yadu clan.

29. Thereupon they both underwent the purifying ceremony of Upanayana, became twice-born, observed the due vows and through Garga, the family-priest of Yadus, learnt Gayatri and strictly kept its observance.

10.45.30

prabhavau sarva-vidyānāṃ sarva-jñau jagad-īśvarau /
nānya-siddhāmalaṃ jñānaṃ gūhamānau narehitaiḥ //

The source of all branches of knowledge, all-knowing, the two Lords of the universe, / hiding their pure knowledge not achieved from another under human actions,

30. Omniscient, source of all knowledge, and full of unclouded wisdom that was not acquired, the Lords of the Universe kept Their own supreme nature concealed by behaving like human beings.

10.45.31

atho guru-kule vāsam icchantāv upajagmatuḥ /
kāśyaṃ sāndīpaniṃ nāma hy avanti-pura-vāsinam //

then, desiring to dwell in the teacher's house, approached / a descendant of Kaśya named Sāndīpani, a resident of the city of Avanti.

31. Then, seeking to undergo training in a preceptor's house They went to the Acharya Sandipini of Kasi, who dwelt in the city of Avanti.

10.45.32

yathopasādya tau dāntau gurau vṛttim aninditām /
grāhayantāv upetau sma bhaktyā devam ivādṛtau //

Approaching him properly, those two self-controlled ones, teaching blameless conduct / toward the guru, served him with devotion, respectfully, as if a deity.

32. They approached the preceptor in perfect docility, and were devoted to him like unto God and behaved towards him so faultlessly as to teach the world how pupils ought to behave towards their preceptor.

10.45.33

tayor dvija-varas tuṣṭaḥ śuddha-bhāvānuvṛttibhiḥ /
provāca vedān akhilān saṅgopaniṣado guruḥ //

Pleased by their pure-hearted attendance, the guru, the best of the twice-born, / taught them the entire Vedas together with their auxiliary branches and the Upaniṣads,

33. The great brahmin was quite satisfied with them for their pure heart and submissive behaviour and as a preceptor he taught Them all the Vedas with Upanishads and Angas (accessory disciplines). 34. He also taught them Dhanur-Veda (archery), with all its secrets, Dharma-sastras, Mimamsa and the like, logic and the political science.

10.45.34

sa-rahasyaṃ dhanur-vedaṃ dharmān nyāya-pathāṃs tathā /
tathā cānvīkṣikīṃ vidyāṃ rāja-nītiṃ ca ṣaḍ-vidhām //

the science of archery along with its esoteric secrets, the codes of dharma, and the paths of logic, / and likewise the philosophical science of inquiry and the sixfold statecraft.

10.45.35

sarvaṃ nara-vara-śreṣṭhau sarva-vidyā-pravartakau /
sakṛn nigada-mātreṇa tau sañjagṛhatur nṛpa //

The two foremost of men, the originators of all branches of knowledge, / grasped everything after being spoken to only once, O King.

35. O king, those two, far superior to all great men, and the source of all knowledge, learnt everything the preceptor uttered but once.

10.45.36

aho-rātraiś catuḥ-ṣaṣṭyā saṃyattau tāvatīḥ kalāḥ /
guru-dakṣiṇayācāryaṃ chandayām āsatur nṛpa //

Disciplined, in sixty-four days and nights they mastered as many arts, / and then requested the preceptor, O King, for his teacher's fee.

36. (In sixty-four days and nights which they spent in strict habits of life they were completely coached up in as many branches of knowledge, and thoroughly accomplished in all sastras and missiles, O king, Rama and Krishna requested their preceptor to accept something as Guru Dakshina).

10.45.36.p1

dvijas tayos taṃ mahimānam adbhutaṃ $ saṃlokṣya rājann ati-mānusīṃ matim &

O King, observing their wondrous greatness and superhuman intellect, / the twice-born,

37. The brahmin marked, O king, the wonderful powers and greatness of the two and Their superhuman intelligence, (then) consulted his wife and then requested Them as Guru Dakshina the restoration of his son who had died in the sea at the holy place of Prabhasa.

10.45.37

sammantrya patnyā sa mahārṇave mṛtaṃ % bālaṃ prabhāse varayāṃ babhūva ha //

having consulted with his wife, chose as his boon his boy who had died in the great ocean at Prabhāsa.

10.45.37.p2

tethety athāruhya mahā-rathau rathaṃ $ prabhāsam āsādya duranta-vikramau &

Saying "So be it," those two of boundless valor, great chariot-warriors, mounted their chariot / and, reaching Prabhāsa,

38. Promising to do his request the great heroes of unlimited prowess mounted Their chariot, went to Prabhasa, and going to the beach, there sat for a short while, when the deity of the sea perceiving Their presence brought Them offerings of worship and tribute.

10.45.37.p3

tethety athāruhya mahā-rathau rathaṃ $ prabhāsam āsādya duranta-vikramau &

saying "So be it," those two of boundless valor, great chariot-warriors, mounted their chariot / and, reaching Prabhāsa,

10.45.38

velām upavrajya niṣīdatuḥ kṣanaṃ % sindhur viditvārhanam āharat tayoḥ //

went up to the shore and sat for a moment; / the ocean, recognizing them, brought them respectful offerings.

10.45.39

tam āha bhagavān āśu guru-putraḥ pradīyatām /
yo 'sāv iha tvayā grasto bālako mahatormiṇā //

The Lord said to him: "Quickly give back the guru's son, / that boy who was swallowed here by you with a huge wave."

39. The glorious Lord said to him, “Soon do thou restore My preceptor’s son, who as a boy was swallowed up by thee in a huge wave.”

10.45.40

/0 śrī-samudra uvāca
na cāhārṣam ahaṃ deva daityaḥ pañcajano mahān /
antar-jala-caraḥ kṛṣṇa śaṅkha-rūpa-dharo 'suraḥ //

The ocean said: / "I did not take him, O Lord; there is a great Daitya, Pañcajana, / an Asura moving inside the water, O Kṛṣṇa, who bears the form of a conch.

40 & 41. The sea said:—‘O Lord, I did not carry him away. O Krishna, there is a great Daitya called Panchajana roaming through my waters; he is an asura in the form of a Sankha: (and by him the boy was indeed abstracted.” On hearing that, the Lord at once) plunged into the waters and killed the Daitya: but the child was not to be found in his bowels.

10.45.41

āste tenāhṛto nūnaṃ tac chrutvā satvaraṃ prabhuḥ /
jalam āviśya taṃ hatvā nāpaśyad udare 'rbhakam //

He surely dwells there, having seized him." Hearing that, the Lord quickly / entered the water, killed him, but did not see the child in his belly.

10.45.42

tad-aṅga-prabhavaṃ śaṅkham ādāya ratham āgamat /
tataḥ saṃyamanīṃ nāma yamasya dayitāṃ purīm //

Taking the conch that arose from his body, He returned to the chariot; / then to Saṃyamanī, the beloved city of Yama,

42. He took up the Sankha (conch) that formed his body and returned to His chariot. Then Sri Krishna went to Samyamini, the beloved city of Yama.

10.45.43

gatvā janārdanaḥ śaṅkhaṃ pradadhmau sa-halāyudhaḥ /
śaṅkha-nirhrādam ākarṇya prajā-saṃyamano yamaḥ //

having gone, Janārdana blew the conch, accompanied by the plow-armed one [Balarāma]. / Hearing the sounding of the conch, Yama, the restrainer of creatures,

43 & 44. Going thither along with Balarama, Janardana blew His conch; on hearing the deep blast of the conch, Yama, the Chastiser of creatures, full of devotion offered Them both a grand worship, and bowing down, he said to Krishna who is enshrined in the mind and heart of all creatures, O Lord in the human form in sportfulness (at Thy own pleasure), O Vishnu, what shall I do for You both?

10.45.44

tayoḥ saparyāṃ mahatīṃ cakre bhakty-upabṛṃhitām /
uvācāvanataḥ kṛṣṇaṃ sarva-bhūtāśayālayam /
līlā-manuṣyayor viṣṇo yuvayoḥ karavāma kim //

performed a great worship of the two, enhanced with devotion. / Bowing low, he said to Kṛṣṇa, the indweller in the hearts of all beings: / "What may we do for you two, who are Viṣṇu in human form by divine play?"

10.45.45

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
guru-putram ihānītaṃ nija-karma-nibandhanam /
ānayasva mahā-rāja mac-chāsana-puraskṛtaḥ //

The Lord said: / "Bring here the guru's son brought here bound by his own karma, / O Great King, honoring My command."

45. The Lord said:—'O great Ruler! I command thee to bring back My preceptor's son who was brought here on account of his own Karma.'

10.45.46

tatheti tenopānītaṃ guru-putraṃ yadūttamau /
dattvā sva-gurave bhūyo vṛṇīṣveti tam ūcatuḥ //

Saying "So be it," the guru's son was brought by him; the two best of the Yadus, / having given him to their guru, said to him: "Choose again [a boon]."

46. The preceptor's son who was accordingly restored by Yama, the two great sons of Yadu race offered to their preceptor and said, 'please ask for any other boon.'

10.45.47

/0 śrī-gurur uvāca
samyak sampādito vatsa bhavadbhyāṃ guru-niṣkrayaḥ /
ko nu yuṣmad-vidha-guroḥ kāmānām avaśiṣyate //

The guru said:
My boys, you have fully provided the guru's fee.
What desires could remain unfulfilled for a teacher of disciples like you?

47. The Guru said:—Children, You both have very well discharged the debt of Your preceptor and what desire of the one who is a preceptor to those like You, could remain unachieved?

10.45.48

gacchataṃ sva-gṛhaṃ vīrau kīrtir vām astu pāvanī /
chandāṃsy ayāta-yāmāni bhavantv iha paratra ca //

Go to your home, O heroes! May your renown be purifying!
May the Vedic verses never lose their potency for you, here and in the hereafter!

48. O heroic ones, do ye return home: let your names be hallowed and glorified in the world. Let all the Vedas be vivid to You unforgotten in this as well as in other lives.

10.45.49

guruṇaivam anujñātau rathenānila-raṃhasā /
āyātau sva-puraṃ tāta parjanya-ninadena vai //

Having thus been granted leave by their guru, my dear,
they returned to their own city in a chariot as swift as the wind, rumbling like a rain-cloud.

49. Thus permitted by the preceptor They returned to the city riding in Their chariot as swift as the wind, and thundering like the clouds, reached Their city.

10.45.50

samanandan prajāḥ sarvā dṛṣṭvā rāma-janārdanau /
apaśyantyo bahv ahāni naṣṭa-labdha-dhanā iva //

All the citizens rejoiced upon seeing Rāma and Janārdana,
having not seen them for many days, like those who recover lost wealth.

50. All the subjects were rejoiced to see again Rama and Krishna, whom they had missed for many days, like the people who recover their lost treasure.