Bhagavatapurana 10.80: athāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.80.1

/0 śrī-rājovāca
bhagavan yāni cānyāni mukundasya mahātmanaḥ /
vīryāṇy ananta-vīryasya śrotum icchāmi he prabho //

The King said:
O Lord, what other heroic deeds of the great Mukunda there may be,
of him of infinite prowess, I desire to hear, O master!

[1. The king said:— O worshipful sages, we wish to hear of all the other glorious acts of the great Mukunda of unlimited energy.

10.80.2

ko nu śrutvāsakṛd brahmann uttamaḥśloka-sat-kathāḥ /
virameta viśeṣa-jño viṣaṇṇaḥ kāma-mārgaṇaiḥ //

Who, indeed, having heard again and again the virtuous tales of He of highest renown,
would cease, if he is a connoisseur afflicted by the arrows of desire?

2. Who, sorely afflicted with the shafts of Manmatha and having discerned what is great and good and having but once listened to the excellent accounts of the most glorious Lord, would cease to listen to them? 3. That is tongue with which one sings His, Ananta’s excellent attributes; those are the hands which do service unto them; that indeed is the mind which constantly remembers the Lord present in all the mobile and immobile beings and that is the ear which hears His sacred stories.

10.80.3

sā vāg yayā tasya guṇān gṛṇīte karau ca tat-karma-karau manaś ca /
smared vasantaṃ sthira-jaṅgameṣu śṛṇoti tat-puṇya-kathāḥ sa karṇaḥ //

That is speech which sings of his virtues; those are hands that perform his work; and that is the mind
which remembers him abiding in the moving and unmoving; that is the ear which hears the purifying tales of him.

10.80.4

śiras tu tasyobhaya-liṅgam ānamet tad eva yat paśyati tad dhi cakṣuḥ /
aṅgāni viṣṇor atha taj-janānāṃ pādodakaṃ yāni bhajanti nityam //

His head indeed should bow down to both symbols [of the Lord], that indeed is an eye which sees them,
and those are limbs which constantly revere the water that has washed the feet of Viṣṇu and his people.

4. That is the head which always bends before His two-fold symbol (mobile and immobile): that is the eye which looks at it and those are the limbs (feet) which always resort to the waters that wash Vishnu’s feet and those of His votaries.

10.80.5

/0 sūta uvāca
viṣṇu-rātena sampṛṣṭo bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ /
vāsudeve bhagavati nimagna-hṛdayo 'bravīt //

Sūta said:
Questioned thus by Viṣṇurāta, the venerable son of Bādarāyaṇa,
his heart immersed in the Lord Vāsudeva, spoke:

5. Suta said:— Requested by Parikshit, the worshipful son of Badarayana, whose heart is always immersed in the glorious Vasudeva, said.

10.80.6

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
kṛṣṇasyāsīt sakhā kaścid brāhmaṇo brahma-vittamaḥ /
virakta indriyārtheṣu praśāntātmā jitendriyaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
There was a certain friend of Kṛṣṇa, a brāhmaṇa foremost among knowers of Brahman,
detached from the objects of the senses, tranquil in self, having conquered his senses.

6. Sri Suka said:— Sri Krishna had a playmate who was a brahmin, thoroughly learned in the Vedas, free from attachment to the objects of sense and possessed of control over his senses and serenity of mind.

10.80.7

yadṛcchayopapannena vartamāno gṛhāśramī /
tasya bhāryā ku-cailasya kṣut-kṣāmā ca tathā-vidhā //

Living on whatever came by chance, a householder,
the wife of that poorly-clad man was likewise emaciated with hunger.

7. He was a householder living on what he got by chance: and he (Kuchela) had a wife, thin with starvation but of the same spirit.

10.80.8

pati-vratā patiṃ prāha mlāyatā vadanena sā /
daridraṃ sīdamānā vai vepamānābhigamya ca //

Devoted to her husband, with a withered face,
suffering and trembling, she approached her impoverished husband and spoke:

8. Poor and afflicted the chaste wife approached him trembling and with a drooping face, and said to her lord:—

10.80.9

nanu brahman bhagavataḥ sakhā sākṣāc chriyaḥ patiḥ /
brahmaṇyaś ca śaraṇyaś ca bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ //

'Is not your friend directly the Lord, the husband of Śrī, O brāhmaṇa,
favorable to brāhmaṇas and a refuge, the Lord, the bull of the Sātvatas?

9. Is it not, O sage, that the Lord of Sri is directly the friend of thy worshipful self? The glorious Lord of the Satvatas is kind to brahmins and an aslyum to all.

10.80.10

tam upaihi mahā-bhāga sādhūnāṃ ca parāyaṇam /
dāsyati draviṇaṃ bhūri sīdate te kuṭumbine //

Approach him, O fortunate one, the supreme refuge of the virtuous;
he will give abundant wealth to you, a householder who is suffering.

10. Be pleased to go to Him, O blessd one, who is the one resort of the righteous: He will bestow abundant wealth on thee, a house-holder in distress.

10.80.11

āste 'dhunā dvāravatyāṃ bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ /
smarataḥ pāda-kamalam ātmānam api yacchati /
kiṃ nv artha-kāmān bhajato nāty-abhīṣṭān jagad-guruḥ //

He now resides in Dvāravatī, the lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas;
he gives even himself to one who remembers his lotus feet.
What then of wealth and desires, which are not very cherished [by comparison], to one who worships him, the teacher of the universe?'

11. Now He is at Dwaravati, the one Ruler of the Bhojas, Vrishnis and Andhakas: He would give His very self to him that remembers (contemplates) His lotus feet. Would He not then, being the father of the world, grant thee wealth and pleasures, not very valuable after all to one that resorts to Him?

10.80.12

sa evaṃ bhāryayā vipro bahuśaḥ prārthito muhuḥ /
ayaṃ hi paramo lābha uttamaḥśloka-darśanam //

Thus repeatedly urged many times by his wife, the brāhmaṇa [thought]:
'This indeed is the highest gain: the sight of Him of highest renown.'

12. Thus frequently and gently (entreated) by the wife, the (gentle) brahmin thought, “there is this great gain, indeed, that I see the most glorious Lord.”

10.80.13

iti sañcintya manasā gamanāya matiṃ dadhe /
apy asty upāyanaṃ kiñcid gṛhe kalyāṇi dīyatām //

Having reflected thus in his mind, he set his resolve on going:
'Is there any gift at all in the house, auspicious woman? Let it be given.'

13. With this idea he made up his mind to go. Then he asked her, “O good one, is there in our house anything fit to be taken as a present? Let me have it.” 14. She begged of (neighbouring) brahmins and secured four handfuls of Prithuka (fried and beaten rice) and tying it up in a piece of rag, gave it to her lord as the present to be taken.

10.80.14

yācitvā caturo muṣṭīn viprān pṛthuka-taṇḍulān /
caila-khaṇḍena tān baddhvā bhartre prādād upāyanam //

Begging four handfuls of flattened rice from fellow brāhmaṇas,
she tied them in a piece of cloth and gave them to her husband as a present.

10.80.15

sa tān ādāya viprāgryaḥ prayayau dvārakāṃ kila /
kṛṣṇa-sandarśanaṃ mahyaṃ kathaṃ syād iti cintayan //

Taking them, that best of brāhmaṇas departed for Dvārakā, it is said,
thinking: 'How will I obtain the sight of Kṛṣṇa?'

15. With those handfuls indeed that foremost brahmin journeyed to Dwaraka, only thinking how he could gain a sight of Krishna.

10.80.16

trīṇi gulmāny atīyāya tisraḥ kakṣāś ca sa-dvijaḥ /
vipro 'gamyāndhaka-vṛṣṇīnāṃ gṛheṣv acyuta-dharmiṇām //

Passing through three guard stations and three courtyards, that twice-born man,
the brāhmaṇa, went among the mansions of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis devoted to Acyuta.

16. The brahmin passed the guards and three enclosures; then the inaccessible houses of Andhakas and Vrishnis who were devoted to Achyuta, (who walked in the righteous way laid down by Achyuta).

10.80.17

gṛhaṃ dvy-aṣṭa-sahasrāṇāṃ mahiṣīṇāṃ harer dvijaḥ /
viveśaikatamaṃ śrīmad brahmānandaṃ gato yathā //

The brāhmaṇa entered one of the splendid mansions
of the sixteen thousand queens of Hari, as if having attained the bliss of Brahman.

17. The brahmin, with the feelings of one who has attained to the bliss of Brahman, entered in one of the sixteen thousand houses of His consorts, which was specially splendid.

10.80.18

taṃ vilokyācyuto dūrāt priyā-paryaṅkam āsthitaḥ /
sahasotthāya cābhyetya dorbhyāṃ paryagrahīn mudā //

Seeing him from afar, seated on his beloved’s couch,
Acyuta suddenly rose, approached, and embraced him with both arms in joy.

18. Seeing Him from a distance, Achyuta, who was seated on a sofa with His consort, suddenly rose and went forth and gladly embraced him with both His arms.

10.80.19

sakhyuḥ priyasya viprarṣer aṅga-saṅgāti-nirvṛtaḥ /
prīto vyamuñcad ab-bindūn netrābhyāṃ puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ //

Intensely delighted by bodily contact with his dear friend, the brāhmaṇa sage,
the lotus-eyed Lord, filled with affection, shed tears from his eyes.

19. Then Pundarikaksha felt happy at touching the body of the brahmin sage (sage brahmin), His beloved friend, and in great joy dropped tears from His eyes.

10.80.20

athopaveśya paryaṅke svayam sakhyuḥ samarhaṇam /
upahṛtyāvanijyāsya pādau pādāvanejanīḥ //

Then, having seated him on the couch, himself offering worship to his friend,
he washed his feet and the water that washed his feet,

20. & 21. At once He made him sit on his sofa and He Himself brought all the articles necessary for worship, washed his feet and sprinkled His head with those drops of water: the glorious Lord who purifies the world smeared him with excellent sandal spiced with Aguru and saffron.

10.80.21

agrahīc chirasā rājan bhagavāṃl loka-pāvanaḥ /
vyalimpad divya-gandhena candanāguru-kuṅkamaiḥ //

the Lord, the purifier of the worlds, took upon his head, O King;
he anointed him with divine fragrances—sandalwood, aguru, and saffron.

10.80.22

dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir mitraṃ pradīpāvalibhir mudā /
arcitvāvedya tāmbūlaṃ gāṃ ca svāgatam abravīt //

Worshiping his friend joyfully with fragrant incense and rows of lamps,
he offered betel nut and a cow, and bid him welcome.

22. He worshipped His friend with scented fumes and lights, gladly offered him betel-leaf and bade him welcome.

10.80.23

ku-cailaṃ malinaṃ kṣāmaṃ dvijaṃ dhamani-santatam /
devī paryacarat sākṣāc cāmara-vyajanena vai //

Upon that poorly clad, dirty, emaciated brāhmaṇa, his veins prominent,
the queen herself waited with a whisk-fan.

24. Directly the queen Rukmini with chamara and fan refreshed the brahmin Kuchela who was untidy, emaciated and only a bundle of veins and tendons.

10.80.24

antaḥ-pura-jano dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇenāmala-kīrtinā /
vismito 'bhūd ati-prītyā avadhūtaṃ sabhājitam //

Seeing the renounced ascetic honored with such great affection
by Kṛṣṇa of spotless renown, the women of the inner apartments were astonished:

24. Those in the harem were astonished to see a poor Brahmin so affectionately honoured by Sri Krishna of purifying glory.

10.80.25

kim anena kṛtaṃ puṇyam avadhūtena bhikṣuṇā /
śriyā hīnena loke 'smin garhitenādhamena ca //

'What merit was performed by this renounced ascetic, a beggar,
devoid of fortune in this world, despised and lowly,

25. Oh, what meritorious work must have been done by this homeless, naked beggar, destitute of grace and scorned as worthless in the world!

10.80.26

yo 'sau tri-loka-guruṇā śrī-nivāsena sambhṛtaḥ /
paryaṅka-sthāṃ śriyaṃ hitvā pariṣvakto 'gra-jo yathā //

that he has been honored by the teacher of the three worlds, the abode of Śrī,
who, leaving Śrī seated on the couch, embraced him like an elder brother?'

26. Leaving His Lakshmi on the sofa, the Father of the world: the abode of Sri, embraced him as if he were His elder brother. 27. Taking each other by the hand, O king, they told each other the sweet stories of their past life, while studying under their teacher.

10.80.27

kathayāṃ cakratur gāthāḥ pūrvā guru-kule satoḥ /
ātmanor lalitā rājan karau gṛhya parasparam //

Holding each other's hands, O King, the two virtuous friends
recounted their charming past stories while living at their guru's home.

10.80.28

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
api brahman guru-kulād bhavatā labdha-dakṣiṇāt /
samāvṛttena dharma-jña bhāryoḍhā sadṛśī na vā //

The Lord said:
'O brāhmaṇa, knower of dharma, after returning from the guru's family
where you paid the teacher's fee, did you marry a worthy wife or not?

28. The Lord said:— Dear brahmin, on leaving the house of the preceptor after honouring him with Dakshina, didst thou, my friend, versed in Dharma, marry a wife worthy of thee, or didst thou not?

10.80.29

prāyo gṛheṣu te cittam akāma-vihitaṃ tathā /
naivāti-prīyase vidvan dhaneṣu viditaṃ hi me //

Generally your mind is not driven by desire in household life;
nor do you take much delight in riches, O learned one; this is indeed known to me.

29. Mostly, I believe, in the house-holder’s life, thy heart is not spoiled by desires: thou doest not, O wise one, as before cherish a love for wealth: indeed I know it.

10.80.30

kecit kurvanti karmāṇi kāmair ahata-cetasaḥ /
tyajantaḥ prakṛtīr daivīr yathāhaṃ loka-saṅgraham //

Some perform actions with minds untouched by desires,
renouncing natural impulses, for the sake of guiding the world, just as I do.

30. (Keeping off the fascinations instituted by the Divine power, some perform prescribed duties with their heart unswayed by desires just as I do for the sake of setting an example to the world.

10.80.31

kaccid guru-kule vāsaṃ brahman smarasi nau yataḥ /
dvijo vijñāya vijñeyaṃ tamasaḥ pāram aśnute //

Do you remember our dwelling in the guru's house, O brāhmaṇa, from which
a twice-born man, having understood what is to be known, reaches the beyond of darkness?

31. Dear brahmin, dost thou remember our stay in the house of the preceptor from whom a brahmin can learn what he should and get to the end of the dark samsara (emerge from the darkness of samsara)?

10.80.32

sa vai sat-karmaṇāṃ sākṣād dvijāter iha sambhavaḥ /
ādyo 'ṅga yatrāśramiṇāṃ yathāhaṃ jñāna-do guruḥ //

The first birth here is indeed of a twice-born from virtuous acts, my dear friend,
wherein for the stages of life, I, as the guru, bestow knowledge.

32. To one in samsara he is the first of fathers from whom a brahmin by birth obtains a knowledge of the Vedas and the righteous course of duties and so the more worthy of worship, dear Sudaman, just as I am, as bestowing the knowledge of Truth to all the four orders of life.

10.80.33

nanv artha-kovidā brahman varṇāśrama-vatām iha /
ye mayā guruṇā vācā taranty añjo bhavārṇavam //

Truly skilled in purpose are those among the orders and stages of life here, O brāhmaṇa,
who, through me as the guru and my word, easily cross the ocean of transmigration.

33. Of all that follow the Varna and Asrama rules, on this earth, O brahmin, those indeed have fully realised the Truth (the real purpose) who, through Myself, the Teacher, and through the word of precept, cross the sea of samsara with ease (i.e., get into that path by which they will surely attain release from samsara).

10.80.34

nāham ijyā-prajātibhyāṃ tapasopaśamena vā /
tuṣyeyaṃ sarva-bhūtātmā guru-śuśrūṣayā yathā //

I, the Self of all beings, am not so pleased
by sacrifices, progeny, austerities, or quietude as by service to the guru.

34. Antaryamin of all beings, I am not so well pleased with sacrifices, or a celibate life, with tapas or (a life of self-denial and contemplation), or with that of an ascetic (sanyasin) as I am with the services rendered to the preceptor.

10.80.35

api naḥ smaryate brahman vṛttaṃ nivasatāṃ gurau /
guru-dāraiś coditānām indhanānayane kvacit //

Do you remember what happened to us, O brāhmaṇa, when living at our guru's,
when we were once directed by the guru's wife to fetch firewood?

35. O Brahmin, dost thou remember what we did when we were under our _guru_, and asked to fetch fuel by the preceptor’s wife?

10.80.36

praviṣṭānāṃ mahāraṇyam apartau su-mahad dvija /
vāta-varṣam abhūt tīvraṃ niṣṭhurāḥ stanayitnavaḥ //

Having entered the great forest out of season, O twice-born,
a very fierce storm of wind and rain arose, with harsh thunderclaps.

36. — How, O Brahmin, when we went into the thick forest, how out of season a violent storm blew and thunders rolled very fearfully?

10.80.37

sūryaś cāstaṃ gatas tāvat tamasā cāvṛtā diśaḥ /
nimnaṃ kūlaṃ jala-mayaṃ na prājñāyata kiñcana //

And the sun set, and the directions were shrouded in darkness;
no depression or rise could be distinguished in the flood of water.

37. — How the sun set, the cardinal points were enveloped in darkness, and hollow or bank, nothing could be distinguished, all immersed in (flood of) water?

10.80.38

vayaṃ bhṛśam tatra mahānilāmbubhir nihanyamānā mahur ambu-samplave /
diśo 'vidanto 'tha parasparaṃ vane gṛhīta-hastāḥ paribabhrimāturāḥ //

Severely battered there by the fierce wind and water in that inundated surge,
not knowing the directions, holding each other's hands, we wandered distressed in the forest.

38. — How severely beaten by violent blasts and torrents of water, often floating on water, not knowing the direction, holding each other by the hand we wandered in anxiety?

10.80.39

etad viditvā udite ravau sāndīpanir guruḥ /
anveṣamāṇo naḥ śiṣyān ācāryo 'paśyad āturān //

Knowing this when the sun rose, our guru Sāndīpani,
the master searching for us, his pupils, saw us distressed.

39. —How, having known it, when the sun rose, our preceptor Sandipini came in search of us, his disciples, and found us in the anxious state? (and not finding us, cried out. D.)

10.80.40

aho he putrakā yūyam asmad-arthe 'ti-duḥkhitāḥ /
ātmā vai prāṇinām preṣṭhas tam anādṛtya mat-parāḥ //

"Ah, my sons, you have suffered great hardship for my sake!
The self is indeed dearest to living beings; yet disregarding that, you were dedicated to me.

40. And how he called out, “O my children, you have been put to much difficulty on our account indeed Atman is the most beloved of all beings: disregarding it you are devoted to me”

10.80.41

etad eva hi sac-chiṣyaiḥ kartavyaṃ guru-niṣkṛtam /
yad vai viśuddha-bhāvena sarvārthātmārpaṇaṃ gurau //

Indeed, this alone is the duty of true disciples to repay their teacher:
that with a completely pure heart they surrender their all—their possessions and their very self—to the teacher.

41. This is indeed (the extent of) the repayment to be made to the guru by good disciples, that with a sincere heart they offer up to the guru all their things and their own self.

10.80.42

tuṣṭo 'haṃ bho dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ satyāḥ santu manorathāḥ /
chandāṃsy ayāta-yāmāni bhavantv iha paratra ca //

I am pleased, O best of the twice-born! May your desires be fulfilled!
May the Vedic verses never lose their efficacy for you, both in this world and the next!"

42. I am pleased with you, foremost among the twice-born: let all your wishes prove fruitful and all the Vedas be ever fresh in your memory both in this and in other lives.

10.80.43

itthaṃ-vidhāny anekāni vasatāṃ guru-veśmani /
guror anugraheṇaiva pumān pūrṇaḥ praśāntaye //

Many such experiences occurred for those residing in the teacher's house;
only by the teacher's grace does a person become complete for attaining peace.

43. These and similar incidents relating to us in the preceptor’s house, thou mayest remember. Only through the grace of the preceptor, man becomes perfect and fit for happiness and Moksha.

10.80.44

/0 śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca
kim asmābhir anirvṛttaṃ deva-deva jagad-guro /
bhavatā satya-kāmena yeṣāṃ vāso guror abhūt //

The brāhmaṇa said:
"What was not accomplished by us, O God of gods, O teacher of the universe,
for whom residence at the teacher's house was shared with You, whose desires are always true?

44. The brahmin said:—O God of gods, O Father of the Universe, what was not done by us through Thee of true thought, when we stayed in the preceptor’s house?

10.80.45

yasya cchando-mayaṃ brahma deha āvapanaṃ vibho /
śreyasāṃ tasya guruṣu vāso 'tyanta-viḍambanam //

For Him whose body is Brahman composed of the Vedic meters, the seedbed of all blessings, O all-pervading Lord,
residing among teachers is an absolute imitation of ordinary life."

45. O Lord, that stay in the preceptor’s house of that Supreme Being whose body is Vedas, and who is the one source of all blessings, is only a wonderful imitation for the sake of the world.