Bhagavatapurana 10.73: atha trisaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.73.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
ayute dve śatāny aṣṭau niruddhā yudhi nirjitāḥ /
te nirgatā giridroṇyāṃ malinā mala-vāsasaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
Twenty thousand and eight hundred, captured having been conquered in battle,
came out from the mountain valley, filthy and dressed in dirty garments,

1. Sri Suka said:—Twenty-thousand eight hundred princes who had been without any effort subdued in battle and shut up in a mountain valley came out with drooping faces and dirty clothes.

10.73.2

kṣut-kṣāmāḥ śuṣka-vadanāḥ saṃrodha-parikarśitāḥ /
dadṛśus te ghana-śyāmaṃ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam //

emaciated from hunger, their faces dry, wasted by imprisonment;
they beheld Him, dark as a cloud, wearing yellow silk garments,

2 & 3. Thin with starvaion, with parched up mouths, greatly disfigured by being confined, they saw the Lord, blue like the cloud, clad in Pitambara; bearing the mark of Srivatsa and having four-arms, with eyes reddish like the interior of a lotus (flower), winning and gracious face and adorned with radiant ear-rings shaped like Makara.

10.73.3

śrīvatsāṅkaṃ catur-bāhuṃ padma-garbhāruṇekṣaṇam /
cāru-prasanna-vadanaṃ sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam //

marked with the Śrīvatsa, four-armed, with eyes reddish like the interior of a lotus,
with a lovely, serene face, and flashing makara-shaped earrings,

10.73.4

padma-hastaṃ gadā-śaṅkha rathāṅgair upalakṣitam /
kirīṭa-hāra-kaṭaka- kaṭi-sūtrāṅgadāñcitam //

holding a lotus in His hand, marked by the mace, conch, and discus,
adorned with a diadem, necklace, bracelets, waist-chain, and armlets,

4. With a lotus in hand, weilding Gada, Sankha and Chakra, adorned with a crown, wreaths of pearls, bracelets, zones and Angada (gada).

10.73.5

bhrājad-vara-maṇi-grīvaṃ nivītaṃ vana-mālayā /
pibanta iva cakṣurbhyāṃ lihanta iva jihvayā //

His neck adorned with a radiant, precious jewel, draped with a garland of forest flowers;
as if drinking Him in with their eyes, as if licking Him with their tongues,

5. & 6. With the neck shining with the excellent jewel of Kaustubha, Vanamala between the arms, the kings seemed to drink with their eyes, lick with their tongues, smell with their nose, and embrace with their arms, (to be busy with their mind), fell prostrate at the feet of Hari touching them with their heads and became rid of all fatigue of imprisonment.

10.73.6

jighranta iva nāsābhyāṃ rambhanta iva bāhubhiḥ /
praṇemur hata-pāpmāno mūrdhabhiḥ pādayor hareḥ //

as if smelling Him with their nostrils, as if embracing Him with their arms,
their sins destroyed, they bowed down with their heads at Hari's feet.

10.73.7

kṛṣṇa-sandarśanāhlāda dhvasta-saṃrodhana-klamāḥ /
praśaśaṃsur hṛṣīkeśaṃ gīrbhiḥ prāñjalayo nṛpāḥ //

Their fatigue from imprisonment shattered by the joy of seeing Kṛṣṇa,
the kings praised Hṛṣīkeśa with their words, their hands joined in reverence.

7. All their drooping spirits refreshed with joy on seeing Krishna they folded their hands and offered their praises to Hrishikesa (the Lord of all the senses).

10.73.8

/0 rājāna ūcuḥ
namas te deva-deveśa prapannārti-harāvyaya /
prapannān pāhi naḥ kṛṣṇa nirviṇṇān ghora-saṃsṛteḥ //

The kings said:
"Salutations to You, O God of gods, O remover of the distress of the surrendered, O imperishable One!
Protect us, the surrendered, O Kṛṣṇa, who are disgusted with the terrible transmigration!

8. The king said:—"We bow to Thee, O Supreme Ruler of the great gods, undecaying Lord, that removest the affliction of those that resort to Thee. Pray, protect us, fallen at thy feet, O Krishna, we are disgusted with the fearful Samsara.

10.73.9

nainaṃ nāthānusūyāmo māgadhaṃ madhusūdana /
anugraho yad bhavato rājñāṃ rājya-cyutir vibho //

O Lord, we do not blame this ruler of Magadha, O Madhusūdana;
for a king's fall from his kingdom is Your grace, O all-pervading One.

9. "We do not, O Lord, blame this Magadha, O Slayer of Madhu; for, O Lord, it is really Thy grace to us that we, kings, were deprived of our kingdom.

10.73.10

rājyaiśvarya-madonnaddho na śreyo vindate nṛpaḥ /
tvan-māyā-mohito 'nityā manyate sampado 'calāḥ //

A king puffed up with the intoxication of royal power does not attain his true welfare;
deluded by Your creative power, he considers impermanent riches to be permanent.

10. "For (when) of arrogance engendered by the royal fortune and power, a king does not attain to any good, but deluded by Thy Maya, he thinks that his fortune is permanent.

10.73.11

mṛga-tṛṣṇāṃ yathā bālā manyanta udakāśayam /
evaṃ vaikārikīṃ māyām ayuktā vastu cakṣate //

Just as children take a mirage to be a pool of water,
so the undiscerning regard Your creative power, made of modifications, as real substance."

11. "Just as children take mirage for a sheet of water, so the thoughtless do the Maya (of Vikara) of Vaikarika for reality.

10.73.12

vayaṃ purā śrī-mada-naṣṭa-dṛṣṭayo jigīṣayāsyā itaretara-spṛdhaḥ /
ghnantaḥ prajāḥ svā ati-nirghṛṇāḥ prabho mṛtyuṃ puras tvāvigaṇayya durmadāḥ //

Formerly, our sight blinded by the intoxication of royal power, competing with one another in our desire to conquer this earth, / we slaughtered our own subjects, utterly pitiless, O Lord, and mad with pride, disregarding death right before us.

12. "At first we lost our vision, through the pride of fortune and in our desire to conquer this earth we vied with one another mercilessly killing our own subjects and madly proud we did not think of death or Thyself.

10.73.13

ta eva kṛṣṇādya gabhīra-raṃhasā durante-vīryeṇa vicālitāḥ śriyaḥ /
kālena tanvā bhavato 'nukampayā vinaṣṭa-darpāś caraṇau smarāma te //

Those very same kings today, O Kṛṣṇa, stripped of their royal splendor by Time, whose speed is deep and power endless—which is your own form— / having our pride destroyed through your compassion, now remember your feet.

13. "O Krishna, we, the same foolish kings, were pulled down from our prosperity by Time of immeasurable force and inviolable strength, which is Thine own form, and now cured of our pride through Thy mercy we think of (bow to) Thy feet.

10.73.14

atho na rājyam mṛga-tṛṣṇi-rūpitaṃ dehena śaśvat patatā rujāṃ bhuvā /
upāsitavyaṃ spṛhayāmahe vibho kriyā-phalaṃ pretya ca karṇa-rocanam //

Therefore, O pervasive Lord, we no longer desire a kingdom resembling a mirage, [which must be] pursued with a body that constantly falls prey to disease; / nor [do we desire] the fruits of rituals in the hereafter, which merely delight the ear.

14. "Therefore with this ever decaying body, the nursery of diseases, we do not want to seek after the sovereignty which is like a mirage and to reap after death the fruit of our actions which only pleases the ear.

10.73.15

taṃ naḥ samādiśopāyaṃ yena te caraṇābjayoḥ /
smṛtir yathā na viramed api saṃsaratām iha //

Instruct us in that means whereby / our remembrance of your lotus feet may never cease, even as we wander here in the cycle of rebirth.

15. "Therefore pray indicate the way by which we, even in this samsara, may never lose the memory of Thy feet.

10.73.16

kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya haraye paramātmane /
praṇata-kleśa-nāśāya govindāya namo namaḥ //

Obeisances, repeated obeisances to Kṛṣṇa, to Vāsudeva, to Hari, the Supreme Self, / to Govinda, the destroyer of the afflictions of those who surrender to Him!

16. "We repeatedly bow to Thee that art Krishna, Vasudeva, Hari, Paramatman and Govinda, the redresser of all the afflictions of those that bow to Thee."

10.73.17

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
saṃstūyamāno bhagavān rājabhir mukta-bandhanaiḥ /
tān āha karuṇas tāta śaraṇyaḥ ślakṣṇayā girā //

Śrī Śuka said:
Being thus praised by the kings released from their bonds, / the compassionate Lord, the refuge [of all], addressed them, my dear [king], with gentle words.

17. Sri Suka said:— Praised and adored by the kings set at liberty, the merciful Lord, kind to fugitives, briefly and softly said to them, dear Parikshit.

10.73.18

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
adya prabhṛti vo bhūpā mayy ātmany akhileśvare /
su-dṛḍhā jāyate bhaktir bāḍham āśaṃsitaṃ tathā //

The Lord said:
From this day forth, O kings, firm devotion toward me, / the Self and Lord of all, is born within you; so indeed it is desired.

18. The Lord said:— "From now, O kings, your devotion to Me, the Paramatman, the Supreme Ruler of all, becomes deep-rooted, for most worthy is the wish you entertain.

10.73.19

diṣṭyā vyavasitaṃ bhūpā bhavanta ṛta-bhāṣiṇaḥ /
śrīy-aiśvarya-madonnāhaṃ paśya unmādakaṃ nṛṇām //

“By good fortune, O kings, your resolve is right, and you speak the truth; / for I see the swelling pride of wealth and sovereignty driving men mad.

19. "By God's grace, O kings, you have clearly understood the truth and you speak the truth. I do not see anything more maddening to men than the growing pride of wealth and power.

10.73.20

haihayo nahuṣo veṇo rāvaṇo narako 'pare /
śrī-madād bhraṃśitāḥ sthānād deva-daitya-nareśvarāḥ //

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others, / rulers of gods, demons, and men, fell from their station through pride born of wealth.

20. "Haihaya, Nahusha, Naraka, and many among the gods, Daityas and kings fell from their position on account of their pride due to wealth and power.

10.73.21

bhavanta etad vijñāya dehādy utpādyam anta-vat /
māṃ yajanto 'dhvarair yuktāḥ prajā dharmeṇa rakṣyatha //

Knowing this—that the body and other things are produced and have an end— / worshiping Me through sacrifices and keeping your vows, protect your subjects according to dharma.

21. "Do you all understand this that everything produced like the body and its belongings has an end; therefore do you perform sacrifices and worship Me and protect the subjects in the righteous way.

10.73.22

santanvantaḥ prajā-tantūn sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavābhavau /
prāptaṃ prāptaṃ ca sevanto mac-cittā vicariṣyatha //

Carrying on your family lines, enjoying and enduring happiness and suffering, gain and loss, / as they come, and keeping your minds fixed on Me, go about your lives.

22. "Continue the thread of your lines experiencing misery or happiness, good or evil, as it befalls you, and work on, devoting your heart to Me.

10.73.23

udāsīnāś ca dehādāv ātmārāmā dhṛta-vratāḥ /
mayy āveśya manaḥ samyaṅ mām ante brahma yāsyatha //

Detached from the body and other things, delighting in the self, firm in your vows, / fully absorbing your mind in Me, in the end you will attain Me, Brahman.”

23. "Be indifferent to the body and the like, find delight in Atman, be firm in self-discipline, thoroughly set your mind on Me; you will at the end attain unto Me, the perfect Brahman."

10.73.24

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
ity ādiśya nṛpān kṛṣṇo bhagavān bhuvaneśvaraḥ /
teṣāṃ nyayuṅkta puruṣān striyo majjana-karmaṇi //

Śuka said: / Having thus instructed the kings, Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, master of the universe, / appointed men and women to attend to their bath.

24. Sri Suka said:— Having thus precepted the kings Krishna, the Almighty Lord of the Universe, directed men and women to arrange for giving them a bath.

10.73.25

saparyāṃ kārayām āsa sahadevena bhārata /
naradevocitair vastrair bhūṣaṇaiḥ srag-vilepanaiḥ //

Through Sahadeva he arranged for their worship, O descendant of Bharata, / with garments worthy of kings, ornaments, garlands, and ointments.

25. He advised Sahadeva to honour them with cloths, ornaments, flowers and pigments worthy of kings.

10.73.26

bhojayitvā varānnena su-snātān samalaṅkṛtān /
bhogaiś ca vividhair yuktāṃs tāmbūlādyair nṛpocitaiḥ //

Having fed them with excellent food once they were well-bathed and adorned, / and attended with various royal delights such as betel nut and the like,

26. After they had their bath and put on their dress and ornaments they were entertained with excellent dishes and many other comforts, with tambula and other things worthy of kings.

10.73.27

te pūjitā mukundena rājāno mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalāḥ /
virejur mocitāḥ kleśāt prāvṛḍ-ante yathā grahāḥ //

revered by Mukunda and wearing polished earrings, / freed from suffering, the kings shone like planets at the end of the rainy season.

27. The kings thus treated with respect by Mukunda and released from their distress, with their burnished ear-rings shone like planets at the close of the rainy reason.

10.73.28

rathān sad-aśvān āropya maṇi-kāñcana-bhūṣitān /
prīṇayya sunṛtair vākyaiḥ sva-deśān pratyayāpayat //

Mounting them upon chariots adorned with jewels and gold, drawn by fine horses, / and gladdening them with kind and truthful words, he sent them back to their own countries.

28. Furnished with chariots drawn by good horses, adorned with jewels and gold and gladdened with words of sincere kindness they were allowed to return to their own territories.

10.73.29

ta evaṃ mocitāḥ kṛcchrāt kṛṣṇena su-mahātmanā /
yayus tam eva dhyāyantaḥ kṛtāni ca jagat-pateḥ //

Thus freed from distress by the most high-souled Kṛṣṇa, / they went away meditating solely on him and on the deeds of the Lord of the universe.

29. Thus lifted from affliction by the glorious Krishna they journeyed on solely contemplating Him, the Lord of the Universe and His deeds

10.73.30

jagaduḥ prakṛtibhyas te mahā-puruṣa-ceṣṭitam /
yathānvaśāsad bhagavāṃs tathā cakrur atandritāḥ //

They narrated the deeds of the Supreme Person to their ministers and subjects, / and, free from sloth, they acted just as the Lord had instructed.

30. To their ministers they related the work of the Supreme Person and without the least touch of inattention they did as the glorious Lord bid them do.

10.73.31

jarāsandhaṃ ghātayitvā bhīmasenena keśavaḥ /
pārthābhyāṃ saṃyutaḥ prāyāt sahadevena pūjitaḥ //

Having had Jarāsandha slain by Bhīmasena, Keśava, / accompanied by the two sons of Pṛthā, departed, honored by Sahadeva.

31. Having thus got Jarasandha killed by Bhimasena, worshipped by Sahadeva and accompanied by both the sons of Kunti,

10.73.32

gatvā te khāṇḍava-prasthaṃ śaṅkhān dadhmur jitārayaḥ /
harṣayantaḥ sva-suhṛdo durhṛdāṃ cāsukhāvahāḥ //

Reaching Khāṇḍavaprastha, they blew their conches, having conquered their enemies, / delighting their friends and bringing sorrow to their ill-wishers.

32. Sri Krishna returned to Yudhishtira to the Khandava tract, triumphant over the enemies; they blew their conches, gladdened their friends and caused sorrow to those that hated them.

10.73.33

tac chrutvā prīta-manasa indraprastha-nivāsinaḥ /
menire māgadhaṃ śāntaṃ rājā cāpta-manorathaḥ //

Hearing that, the inhabitants of Indraprastha rejoiced in their hearts, / considering the King of Magadha dead and the king's desire fulfilled.

33. On hearing it the residents of Indraprastha were very much delighted at heart and they perceived the fall of Magadha; and king Dharmaraja also felt accomplished of his purpose.

10.73.34

abhivandyātha rājānaṃ bhīmārjuna-janārdanāḥ /
sarvam āśrāvayāṃ cakrur ātmanā yad anuṣṭhitam //

Having bowed to the king, Bhīma, Arjuna, and Janārdana / related everything that had been accomplished by them.

34. Then Bhima, Arjuna, and Krishna bowed to the king (Yudhishtira) and acquainted him with everything they severally did.

10.73.35

niśamya dharma-rājas tat keśavenānukampitam /
ānandāśru-kalāṃ muñcan premṇā novāca kiñcana //

Hearing that which had been graciously done by Keśava, the King of Dharma, / shedding tears of joy, could not speak anything out of love.

35. Having heard how compassion was shown by Sri Krishna, Dharmaraja shed tears of joy in his love and delight and could say nothing.