Bhagavatapurana 10.86: atha ṣaḍaśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.86.1

* //
/0 śrī-rājovāca
brahman veditum icchāmaḥ svasārāṃ rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ /
yathopayeme vijayo yā mamāsīt pitāmahī //

The king said:
O brāhmaṇa, we wish to know how Vijaya married the sister of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, who was my grandmother.

1. The king said:— O sage, we like to know how Vijaya (Arjuna) married my grand-mother, the sister of Rama and Krishna.

10.86.2

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
arjunas tīrtha-yātrāyāṃ paryaṭann avanīṃ prabhuḥ /
gataḥ prabhāsam aśṛṇon mātuleyīṃ sa ātmanaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
While wandering the earth on a pilgrimage to sacred places, the powerful Arjuna arrived at Prabhāsa, where he heard about his maternal cousin.

2. Sri Suka said:— In the course of his pilgrimage to holy waters, wandering over the earth, the powerful Arjuna went to Prabhasa and heard of his uncle's daughter;

10.86.3

duryodhanāya rāmas tāṃ dāsyatīti na cāpare /
tal-lipsuḥ sa yatir bhūtvā tri-daṇḍī dvārakām agāt //

He heard that Rāma intended to give her to Duryodhana and to no one else. Desiring to obtain her, he assumed the guise of an ascetic carrying three staves and went to Dvārakā.

3. And that Balarama would give her to Duryodhana, but to no other. To obtain her Arjuna, disguised as an ascetic of tridaṇḍa, went to Dwaraka.

10.86.4

tatra vai vārṣitān māsān avātsīt svārtha-sādhakaḥ /
pauraiḥ sabhājito 'bhīkṣṇaṃ rāmeṇājānatā ca saḥ //

There he lived during the rainy months to accomplish his purpose, constantly honored by the citizens and by Rāma, who did not recognize him.

4. There he spent the four months of the rainy season intent upon accomplishing his object: he was often worshipped by the citizens and also by Balarama, (also by the great Rama) who did not perceive who he was.

10.86.5

ekadā gṛham ānīya ātithyena nimantrya tam /
śraddhayopahṛtaṃ bhaikṣyaṃ balena bubhuje kila //

Once, brought to his house and invited for hospitality by Bala, he ate the alms offered with faith.

5. One day invited and brought to the palace to receive hospitality he partook of the dinner which Balarama offered him with great devotion.

10.86.6

so 'paśyat tatra mahatīṃ kanyāṃ vīra-mano-harām /
prīty-utphullekṣaṇas tasyāṃ bhāva-kṣubdhaṃ mano dadhe //

There he saw the noble maiden who captivates the minds of heroes; with eyes blossoming with affection, he set his mind, agitated by emotion, upon her.

6. There he saw the worthy maiden captivating the heart of a warrior. With his eyes wide open through delight he set on her his heart agitated with passion.

10.86.7

sāpi taṃ cakame vīkṣya nārīṇāṃ hṛdayaṃ-gamam /
hasantī vrīḍitāpaṅgī tan-nyasta-hṛdayekṣaṇā //

Seeing him who touches the hearts of women, she too desired him, smiling with bashful glances, fixing her heart and eyes upon him.

7. On seeing the person that is most attractive to women she also conceived a passion for him and with smiles and bashful glances sent her heart and eyes to him.

10.86.8

tāṃ paraṃ samanudhyāyann antaraṃ prepsur arjunaḥ /
na lebhe śaṃ bhramac-cittaḥ kāmenāti-balīyasā //

Contemplating her alone and seeking an opportunity, Arjuna found no peace, his mind wandering under the sway of overpowering desire.

8. He was always thinking of her and waited for an oppurtunity; he was comfortless and his heart was bewildered with overpowering passion.

10.86.9

mahatyāṃ deva-yātrāyāṃ ratha-sthāṃ durga-nirgatāṃ /
jahārānumataḥ pitroḥ kṛṣṇasya ca mahā-rathaḥ //

During a great festival procession of the deity, as she came out of the fortress standing in a chariot, that great car-warrior carried her off with the consent of her parents and of Kṛṣṇa.

9. In a great festival of the gods, with the consent of the parents and Krishna, the warrior carried her away when she came out of the fort in a chariot.

10.86.10

ratha-stho dhanur ādāya śūrāṃś cārundhato bhaṭān /
vidrāvya krośatāṃ svānāṃ sva-bhāgaṃ mṛga-rāḍ iva //

Standing on the chariot and taking up his bow, he drove away the heroic soldiers who attempted to block him, as a lion carries off his own share amidst crying beasts.

10. As soon as he took his seat in the chariot, he took up his bow and put to flight the soldiers that tried to obstruct him: while her relations were screaming out he carried her away just as the lion does his share (prey).

10.86.11

tac chrutvā kṣubhito rāmaḥ parvaṇīva mahārṇavaḥ /
gṛhīta-pādaḥ kṛṣṇena suhṛdbhiś cānusāntvitaḥ //

Hearing of this, Rāma was agitated like the ocean on the full-moon day; but his feet were grasped by Kṛṣṇa, and he was appeased by his friends.

11. On hearing of it Balarama was agitated like the great sea on a full-moon day. But when Krishna and other friends touched his feet and requested him, he became pacified.

10.86.12

prāhiṇot pāribarhāṇi vara-vadhvor mudā balaḥ /
mahā-dhanopaskarebha- rathāśva-nara-yoṣitaḥ //

Bala joyfully sent bridal gifts to the bride and bridegroom: rich treasures, furnishings, elephants, chariots, horses, men, and women.

12. Then Balarama gladly sent presents to the bride and bridegroom, large treasures, furniture, many elephants, chariots, horses, men and women.

10.86.13

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
kṛṣṇasyāsīd dvija-śreṣṭhaḥ śrutadeva iti śrutaḥ /
kṛṣṇaika-bhaktyā pūrṇārthaḥ śāntaḥ kavir alampataḥ //

Śrī Śuka said:
There was a best of the twice-born, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa known as Śrutadeva, who had achieved all goals through exclusive devotion to Kṛṣṇa, peaceful, wise, and free from desire.

13. An excellent brahmin known as Srutadeva was a devotee of Krishna. By his devotion to Him alone he was accomplished of all his purpose: he was serene in mind, destitute of attraction to sense - objects. (Among Vrishnis was a great Yadava, Śruta Deva by name, a devotee etc., D.)

10.86.14

sa uvāsa videheṣu mithilāyāṃ gṛhāśramī /
anīhayāgatāhārya- nirvartita-nija-kriyaḥ //

He lived as a householder in Mithilā in the land of the Videhas, performing his obligatory duties with sustenance that arrived without effort.

14. In the house-holder's estate he lived at Mithila, the Capital of Videhas; he performed all his duties contented only with what he got without any effort and only with what was necessary for his bare subsistence.

10.86.15

yātrā-mātraṃ tv ahar ahar daivād upanamaty uta /
nādhikaṃ tāvatā tuṣṭaḥ kriyā cakre yathocitāḥ //

Only what was needed for bare sustenance came to him day by day by providence, and nothing more; satisfied with just that, he performed his proper duties.

15. Every day by chance he got just what was sufficient for his living and nothing more; contented with it (happy by his tapas) he observed all his duties in the proper manner.

10.86.16

tathā tad-rāṣṭra-pālo 'ṅga bahulāśva iti śrutaḥ /
maithilo niraham-māna ubhāv apy acyuta-priyau //

Likewise, the ruler of that kingdom, known as Bahulāśva, king of Mithilā, was free from egotism; both of them were dear to Acyuta.

16. Similarly there was at Mithila, the Ruler of the country known as Bahulaswa, and he was free from attachments and pride. Both these were beloved of Achyuta.

10.86.17

tayoḥ prasanno bhagavān dārukeṇāhṛtaṃ ratham /
āruhya sākaṃ munibhir videhān prayayau prabhuḥ //

Pleased with them both, the Lord mounted the chariot brought by Dāruka and set out for Videha together with the sages.

17. Pleased with them the Almighty Lord mounted the chariot brought by Daruka and with the sages the Lord journeyed on to Videhas. (with brahmins of rigid life and versed in Vedas).

10.86.18

nārado vāmadevo 'triḥ kṛṣṇo rāmo 'sito 'ruṇiḥ /
ahaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ kaṇvo maitreyaś cyavanādayaḥ //

Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, Asita, Āruṇi, myself, Bṛhaspati, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Cyavana, and others.

18. Narada, Vamadeva, Atri, Krishna, Rama, Asita, Aruni, myself, Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya, (and Parasara), Chyavana and others went with Him.

10.86.19

tatra tatra tam āyāntaṃ paurā jānapadā nṛpa /
upatasthuḥ sārghya-hastā grahaiḥ sūryam ivoditam //

Wherever He went, O king, the townspeople and villagers approached Him with offerings of water in their hands, as planets approach the risen sun.

19. At different stages, as he was journeying on, citizens and villagers came to honour Him with offerings in their hands as they would do unto the sun rising in conjunction with other planets.

10.86.19.p1

ānarta-dhanva-kuru-jāṅgala-kaṅka-matsya- $ pāñcāla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kośalārṇāḥ &

The people of Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pāñcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa,

20. The peoples of Anartas, Dhanva, Kurujangula, Kanka, Matsya, Panchala, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kosala, Dasarna, etc., men and women, with their eyes drank of the lotus of His face graceful with noble smiles and loving looks.

10.86.20

anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udāra-hāsa- % snigdhekṣaṇaṃ nṛpa papur dṛśibhir nr-nāryaḥ //

and others, men and women, O king, drank in with their eyes His lotus face with its generous smile and affectionate glances.

10.86.20.p2

tebhyaḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa-vinaṣṭa-tamisra-dṛgbhyaḥ $ kṣemaṃ tri-loka-gurur artha-dṛśaṃ ca yacchan &

Bestowing well-being and perception of the ultimate truth upon those whose blindness of ignorance was destroyed by His gaze,

21. On those peoples from whose vision darkness has been dispelled by virtue of their seeing Him, the Father of the three worlds, bestowed insight into Truth (a glance on them) and final beatitude and listened on the way to His own absolutely pure and world-wide glory that drives away all evil, sung by the gods and men and slowly journeyed on to Videhas.

10.86.20.p3

tebhyaḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa-vinaṣṭa-tamisra-dṛgbhyaḥ $ kṣemaṃ tri-loka-gurur artha-dṛśaṃ ca yacchan &

bestowing well-being and perception of the ultimate truth upon those whose blindness of ignorance was destroyed by His gaze,

10.86.21

śṛṇvan dig-anta-dhavalaṃ sva-yaśo 'śubha-ghnaṃ % gītaṃ surair nṛbhir agāc chanakair videhān //

hearing His own fame—which brightened the quarters of the sky and destroyed misfortune—sung by gods and men, the spiritual master of the three worlds slowly arrived in Videha.

10.86.22

te 'cyutaṃ prāptam ākarṇya paurā jānapadā nṛpa /
abhīyur muditās tasmai gṛhītārhaṇa-pāṇayaḥ //

Hearing that Acyuta had arrived, O king, the townspeople and villagers joyfully went out toward Him, with offerings in their hands.

22. The people of that city and of the country heard of His arrival, came forth in great delight to meet Him, with offerings in their hands.

10.86.23

dṛṣṭvā ta uttamaḥ-ślokaṃ prīty-utphulānanāśayāḥ /
kair dhṛtāñjalibhir nemuḥ śruta-pūrvāṃs tathā munīn //

Seeing Him of highest renown, their faces and minds blossoming with affection, they bowed with joined hands to Him and to the sages of whom they had previously heard.

23. With their face and mind blooming with delight at the sight of the most glorious Lord, they bowed to Him and with their hands folded on their heads and also to the sages of whom they had already heard. 24. Believing that the (real) Lord of the Universe came to bestow grace on them, Brihadasva and Srutadeva fell at the feet of Krishna.

10.86.24

svānugrahāya samprāptaṃ manvānau taṃ jagad-gurum /
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca pādayoḥ petatuḥ prabhoḥ //

Thinking that the spiritual master of the universe had arrived to bestow grace upon them, both the king of Mithilā and Śrutadeva fell at the feet of the Lord.

10.86.25

nyamantrayetāṃ dāśārham ātithyena saha dvijaiḥ /
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca yugapat saṃhatāñjalī //

Both the king of Mithilā and Śrutadeva simultaneously invited the descendant of Daśārha, together with the twice-born, to accept their hospitality, with folded hands.

25. Simultaneously, with folded hands they both invited Sri Krishna along with the brahmins to partake of their hospitality.

10.86.26

bhagavāṃs tad abhipretya dvayoḥ priya-cikīrṣayā /
ubhayor āviśad geham ubhābhyāṃ tad-alakṣitaḥ //

Understanding their wish and desiring to please them both, the Lord entered the home of each, unseen by the other.

26. The Lord understood their mind and, to delight both, entered the house of both in two forms not noticed by them.

10.86.27

śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān /
ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ //

Then, as they sat comfortably on the finest seats brought for them, though they were fatigued from arriving at his home from afar, the noble-minded Janaka,

27. to 29. When they, who are far away from the unrighteous ear, entered his house and comfortably took the seats offered to them: the high-souled Janaka, Brihadasva, transported with intense devotion, with eyes dimmed with tears, bowed, washed their feet and with His family bore on his head the water that purifies the world and worshipped the World-Rulers (the Lord) with sandal, flowers, cloths, ornaments, scented fumes, lights, water and oxen.

10.86.28

pravṛddha-bhaktyā uddharṣa- hṛdayāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ /
natvā tad-aṅghrīn prakṣālya tad-apo loka-pāvanīḥ //

his heart overflowing with joy from increased devotion and his eyes clouded with tears, bowed down, washed their feet, and with the water that purifies the world,

10.86.29

sa-kuṭumbo vahan mūrdhnā pūjayāṃ cakra īśvarān /
gandha-mālyāmbarākalpa- dhūpa-dīpārghya-go-vṛṣaiḥ //

together with his family, bearing it upon his head, worshipped the lords with fragrances, garlands, garments, ornaments, incense, lamps, guest-offerings, cows, and bulls.

10.86.30

vācā madhurayā prīṇann idam āhānna-tarpitān /
pādāv aṅka-gatau viṣṇoḥ saṃspṛśañ chanakair mudā //

Pleasing them with sweet words, he addressed them as they were satisfied with food, gently massaging the feet of Viṣṇu in his lap with joy.

30. With sweet words he delighted Them and when They had a satisfactory dinner, he laid Vishnu's feet on his lap and, joyfully and gently pressing them, said (this).

10.86.31

/0 śrī-bahulāśva uvāca
bhavān hi sarva-bhūtānām ātmā sākṣī sva-dṛg vibho /
atha nas tvat-padāmbhojaṃ smaratāṃ darśanaṃ gataḥ //

Śrī Bahulāśva said:
You are indeed the Self of all beings, the witness, self-luminous, O omnipresent one; and now You have come into the sight of us who remember Your lotus feet.

31. The king said:— Thou art indeed the Antaryamin of all beings, the witness, the absolute consciousness, O Lord: now Thou hast revealed Thyself to the eyes of us that are contemplating Thy lotus-feet.

10.86.32

sva-vacas tad ṛtaṃ kartum asmad-dṛg-gocaro bhavān /
yad ātthaikānta-bhaktān me nānantaḥ śrīr ajaḥ priyaḥ //

You have come within the range of our sight to make true Your own words, when You said: 'Neither Ananta, nor Śrī, nor the unborn Brahmā is dear to Me as are My unalloyed devotees.'

32. In order to prove Thine own word Thou hast revealed Thyself to our eyes: for Thou hast said. ("Neither Atman nor Sri nor Brahma is more beloved of Me than one who is absolutely devoted to Me".) (for Thou, the absolute, eternal Lord of infinite goodness art most beloved of those that are solely devoted to Thee. D.)

10.86.33

ko nu tvac-caraṇāmbhojam evaṃ-vid visṛjet pumān /
niṣkiñcanānāṃ śāntānāṃ munīnāṃ yas tvam ātma-daḥ //

What person, knowing this, would abandon Your lotus feet, when You give Your own self to peaceful sages who possess nothing?

33. Who, possessed of this knowledge, would abandon Thy lotus-feet, as Thou givest Thyself unto the sages who have nothing to own, but who devote their serene mind to Thee.

10.86.34

yo 'vatīrya yador vaṃśe nṛṇāṃ saṃsaratām iha /
yaśo vitene tac-chāntyai trai-lokya-vṛjināpaham //

Incarnating in the line of Yadu for people wandering in this cycle of rebirth, You spread renown that removes the affliction of the three worlds for the sake of their peace.

34. Thou hast appeared in Yadu's race and for the sake of men here in samsara as a remedy thereof, hast extended that glory which destroys the sin of the three worlds.

10.86.35

namas tubhyaṃ bhagavate kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase /
nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye su-śāntaṃ tapa īyuṣe //

Obeisance to You, the Lord Kṛṣṇa of unobstructed intelligence, and to the sage Nārāyaṇa, who has undertaken perfectly peaceful austerities.

35. I bow to Thee, the Almighty Krishna of unlimited intellect, Narayana, the sage, performing the quietest and happiest tapas. (that makes the world happy. V.) 36. O Perfect One, pray, spend some days in our house along with these sage brahmins and purify this race of Nimi with the dust of Thy feet.

10.86.36

dināni katicid bhūman gṛhān no nivasa dvijaiḥ /
sametaḥ pāda-rajasā punīhīdaṃ nimeḥ kulam //

O boundless one, dwell in our home for a few days together with the twice-born, and purify this family of Nimi with the dust of Your feet.

10.86.37

ity upāmantrito rājñā bhagavāṃl loka-bhāvanaḥ /
uvāsa kurvan kalyāṇaṃ mithilā-nara-yoṣitām //

Thus invited by the king, the Lord, the sustainer of the world, remained, bestowing welfare upon the men and women of Mithilā.

37. Thus prayed to by the king, the Lord who protects the world, spent sometime, promoting the happiness of men and women at Mithila.

10.86.38

śrutadevo 'cyutaṃ prāptaṃ sva-gṛhāñ janako yathā /
natvā munīn su-saṃhṛṣṭo dhunvan vāso nanarta ha //

Śrutadeva, seeing that Acyuta had arrived at his home just as Janaka had, bowed to the sages and, overjoyed, waved his cloth and danced.

38. Also Srutadeva like Janaka bowed to Achyuta and the sages, knowing that it was Achyuta and the sages that came to his house and in great joy waved his cloth and danced.

10.86.39

tṛṇa-pīṭha-bṛṣīṣv etān ānīteṣūpaveśya saḥ /
svāgatenābhinandyāṅghrīn sa-bhāryo 'vanije mudā //

Seating them on grass mats and woven cushions brought forward, he welcomed them with words of greeting and joyfully washed their feet together with his wife.

39. He brought mats of grass, requested them to accept those seats and joyfully bid them welcome and with his wife he gladly washed their feet.

10.86.40

tad-ambhasā mahā-bhāga ātmānaṃ sa-gṛhānvayam /
snāpayāṃ cakra uddharṣo labdha-sarva-manorathaḥ //

With that water, the highly fortunate man, overjoyed and having all his desires fulfilled, / bathed himself along with his household and family.

40. O blessed prince, with that water he bathed himself, his family and all his people, and he was in ecstasy and felt that all his desires were fulfilled.

10.86.41

phalārhaṇośīra-śivāmṛtāmbubhir mṛdā surabhyā tulasī-kuśāmbuyaiḥ /
ārādhayām āsa yathopapannayā saparyayā sattva-vivardhanāndhasā //

With fruits, offerings, fragrant khus grass, auspicious ambrosial water, fragrant earth, tulasī, kuśa grass, and arghya water, / he worshiped them with whatever suitable articles of worship were available, and with food that increases purity.

41. He gladly served them with what he got such as fruits, (with mustard), cool and sweet-scented water, with earth (Gopi-chandana) naturally of good smell, with Tulasi, Darbha and lotus flowers and with food that promotes the quality of satva.

10.86.42

sa tarkayām āsa kuto mamānv abhūt gṛhāndha-kupe patitasya saṅgamaḥ /
yaḥ sarva-tīrthāspada-pāda-reṇubhiḥ kṛṣṇena cāsyātma-niketa-bhūsuraiḥ //

He wondered: “How did this association come to me, fallen into the blind well of household life— / [an association] with Kṛṣṇa, whose feet's dust is the abode of all sacred sites, and with these brāhmaṇas who are His own abode?”

42. He began to think how it was that this association with Krishna and these brahmins came to him fallen in the dark well of domestic life, with the dust of His feet, which is the seat of of all holy waters, and also with these brahmins (the gods on earth) who are His special abode.

10.86.43

sūpaviṣṭān kṛtātithyān śrutadeva upasthitaḥ /
sa-bhārya-svajanāpatya uvācāṅghry-abhimarśanaḥ //

When they were comfortably seated and hospitality had been shown, Śrutadeva approached / along with his wife, kin, and children, and massaging their feet, he said:

43. When they had partaken of his hospitality and comfortably taken their seats, Srutadeva waited on them with his wife, relations and children, shampooed their feet and (to his guest) said.

10.86.44

/0 śrutadeva uvāca
nādya no darśanaṃ prāptaḥ paraṃ parama-pūruṣaḥ /
yarhīdaṃ śaktibhiḥ sṛṣṭvā praviṣṭo hy ātma-sattayā //

Śrutadeva said: / It is not only today that the Supreme Person has come into our sight, / for He already entered this [creation] with His own being after creating it by His powers,

44. Srutadeva said— Not only to-day this Supreme Person has come into our view, but He did so in the very beginning when He created this Universe with His Saktis and entered into it by His own intelligent presence (To-day....Person who created etc. V.),

10.86.45

yathā śayānaḥ puruṣo manasaivātma-māyayā /
sṛṣṭvā lokaṃ paraṃ svāpnam anuviśyāvabhāsate //

just as a sleeping person, having created by his own mind's power / another world of dreams, enters it and appears within it.

45. Just as a sleeping person, through the mind itself under the force of his Avidya or through Thy own Maya, creates a dream world and enters into it and shines with objective consciousness.

10.86.46

śṛṇvatāṃ gadatāṃ śaśvad arcatāṃ tvābhivandatām /
ṇṛṇāṃ saṃvadatām antar hṛdi bhāsy amalātmanām //

For those who constantly listen, speak, worship, bow down to You, / and converse about You, You shine within their hearts, their minds purified.

46. Thou shinest in the heart of those men who are of pure heart, who constantly listen to Thy glories, talk about them, constantly worship (see) Thee and salute Thee and make Thee the subject of their conversation.

10.86.47

hṛdi-stho 'py ati-dūra-sthaḥ karma-vikṣipta-cetasām /
ātma-śaktibhir agrāhyo 'py anty upeta-guṇātmanām //

Though staying in the heart, You are far away for those whose minds are distracted by fruitive deeds; / and though ungraspable by one's own faculties, You are close to those who have realized the virtues of the self.

47. Though in the heart Thou art far away from those whose mind is distracted by Karma; though Thou passest comprehension in all Thy powers, Thou art close to those who have developed the excellent qualities of listening to Thy glories and contemplating them—(Thou art the real object, not touched by gunas, D.)

10.86.47.p1

namo 'stu te 'dhyātma-vidāṃ parātmane $ anātmane svātma-vibhakta-mṛtyave &

Obeisances unto You, the Supreme Self of knowers of the supreme self, non-self to those lacking self, who assign death to them by their own nature,

48. Salutation to Thee that art the highest Atman to those who have the Adhyatma light, that hast made Samsara the lot separate from Thyself of the Jiva who has formed attachments to the body, that enterest into the effected things and their cause (Mula Prakriti) to direct them and that art, O Lord, hidden in Thine own Maya and checkest the vision of others.

10.86.48

sa-kāraṇākāraṇa-liṅgam īyuṣe % sva-māyayāsaṃvṛta-ruddha-dṛṣṭaye //

who have attained the forms of cause and effect, whose vision is never obstructed by Your own creative power!

10.86.49

sa tvaṃ śādhi sva-bhṛtyān naḥ kiṃ deva karavāma he /
etad-anto nṛṇāṃ kleśo yad bhavān akṣi-gocaraḥ //

Command us, Your servants, O Lord—what may we do? / For the affliction of men ends when You come within range of sight.

49. Being that Almighty Lord, I pray, do Thou direct us, Thy servants, to what service we may render: all the sufferings of men are ended the very moment Thou revealest Thyself unto their eyes.

10.86.50

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
tad-uktam ity upākarṇya bhagavān praṇatārti-hā /
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṃ prahasaṃs tam uvāca ha //

Śrī Śuka said: / Hearing what was spoken thus, the Lord, the dispeller of the distress of those surrendered to Him, / grasped his hand with His own hand and smilingly said to him:

50. Sri Suka said:— On hearing what he thus said, the Almighty Lord that removes the affliction of those that bow to Him, took him by the hand and, with a smile, said to him.

10.86.51

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
brahmaṃs te 'nugrahārthāya samprāptān viddhy amūn munīn /
sañcaranti mayā lokān punantaḥ pāda-reṇubhiḥ //

The Lord said:
O brāhmaṇa, know these sages to have arrived to bestow favor upon you;
traveling through the worlds with me, they purify them with the dust of their feet.

51. The Lord said:— O brahmin, to show their grace unto thee, these sages have come: know that, they go about the worlds with Me, purifying them with the dust of their feet.

10.86.52

devāḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni darśana-sparśanārcanaiḥ /
śanaiḥ punanti kālena tad apy arhattamekṣayā //

Gods, sacred sites, and holy waters, through seeing, touching, and worshiping,
purify slowly in time, and that only through the sight of the most worthy.

52. The gods, holy places and holy waters slowly purify them by touch, by sight, and by worship and that too when a most worthy devotee of the Lord is met.

10.86.53

brāhmaṇo janmanā śreyān sarveṣām prāṇinām iha /
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā kim u mat-kalayā yutaḥ //

A brāhmaṇa is superior by birth to all living beings here [on earth];
by austerity, learning, and contentment, how much more so when endowed with my portion?

53. By birth the brahmana is superior to all beings in creation and what need be said of *him* —, who is also possessed of tapas, learning, contentment and specially filled with My presence?

10.86.54

na brāhmaṇān me dayitaṃ rūpam etac catur-bhujam /
sarva-veda-mayo vipraḥ sarva-deva-mayo hy aham //

This four-armed form of mine is not as dear to me as the brāhmaṇa;
for a brāhmaṇa embodies all the Vedas, while I embody all the gods.

54. Even this My own personality with four arms is not dearer to Me than the brahmana. A wise brahmana is an embodiment of all Vedas and I of all the gods.

10.86.55

duṣprajñā aviditvaivam avajānanty asūyavaḥ /
guruṃ māṃ vipram ātmānam arcādāv ijya-dṛṣṭayaḥ //

The foolish, envious, not knowing this, disregard
me, the brāhmaṇa, the guru, the self, seeing deity only in idols and the like.

55. Men of crooked understanding do not know this truth, but full of jealousy, disregard Me, the preceptor and the brahmin who is Myself, only regarding images and other things as objects worthy of worship (as Hari etc).

10.86.56

carācaram idaṃ viśvaṃ bhāvā ye cāsya hetavaḥ /
mad-rūpāṇīti cetasy ādhatte vipro mad-īkṣayā //

This universe of moving and unmoving beings, and the entities that cause it—
a brāhmaṇa holds in mind that they are forms of mine, through seeing me.

56. This Universe of mobile and immobile creatures and these that are its causes are My own forms. This idea a wise brahmin cherishes in his mind, seeing Me (everywhere as their Atman).

56. D. I centre this Universe of mobile and immobile creatures in the Brahmin and of that Brahmin I am the Deity. By means of the knowledge that points to Me he bears in his mind My forms together with all that Universe declared in the Sruti.

10.86.57

tasmād brahma-ṛṣīn etān brahman mac-chraddhayārcaya /
evaṃ ced arcito 'smy addhā nānyathā bhūri-bhūtibhiḥ //

Therefore worship these brāhmaṇa-sages, O brāhmaṇa, with faith in me;
if worshiped thus, I am truly worshiped, not otherwise by abundant offerings.

57. Therefore worship these brahmin Rishis with faith in Me; if that is so done, I am certainly worshipped and not in any other manner— even with one's enormous grandeur and wealth.

10.86.58

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
sa itthaṃ prabhunādiṣṭaḥ saha-kṛṣṇān dvijottamān /
ārādhyaikātma-bhāvena maithilaś cāpa sad-gatim //

Śrī Śuka said:
Thus instructed by the Lord, the king of Mithilā, having worshiped
the best of twice-born along with Kṛṣṇa with single-minded devotion, attained the virtuous destiny.

58. Sri Suka said:— Thus precepted by the Lord, he propitiated Krishna and those great brahmins with faith in one Atman (in absolute devotion) and like Brihadasva attained to the exalted goal (of the righteous).

10.86.59

evaṃ sva-bhaktayo rājan bhagavān bhakta-bhaktimān /
uṣitvādiśya san-mārgaṃ punar dvāravatīm agāt //

Having stayed thus with his devotees, O king, the Lord, who is devoted to his devotees,
and having taught the path of virtue, returned once again to Dvāravatī.

59. Thus the Lord deeply attached to His devotees, stayed with His two devotees and having shown them the right path returned to Dwaravati.