Bhagavatapurana 11.6: atha ṣaṣṭho'dhyāyaḥ

11.6.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
atha brahmātma-jaiḥ devaiḥ prajeśair āvṛto 'bhyagāt /
bhavaś ca bhūta-bhavyeśo yayau bhūta-gaṇair vṛtaḥ //

The glorious Śuka said: / Then Brahmā arrived, surrounded by his sons, the gods, and the lords of creatures; / and Bhava, the lord of past and future beings, went surrounded by hosts of spirits.

1. Sri Suka said:— Then with his sons (born of mind), the gods and the Progenitors, Brahma went (to Krishna), as also Bhava (Siva) the Lord of the past and present with his troops of Bhutas.

11.6.2

indro marudbhir bhagavān ādityā vasavo 'śvinau /
ṛbhavo 'ṅgiraso rudrā viśve sādhyāś ca devatāḥ //

Lord Indra came with the Maruts, the Ādityas, Vasus, the two Aśvins, / the Ṛbhus, Aṅgirases, Rudras, Viśvedevas, and the Sādhya deities,

2. & 3. With Maruts the worshipful Indra, the Adityas, Vasus, Aswins, Ribhus, Angiras, Rudras, all the Sadhyas and the gods, Gandharvas, Apsaras women, Nagas, Siddhas, Charanas and Kinnaras, all eager to see Krishna, went to Dwaraka.

11.6.3

gandharvāpsaraso nāgāḥ siddha-cāraṇa-guhyakāḥ /
ṛṣayaḥ pitaraś caiva sa-vidyādhara-kinnarāḥ //

Gandharvas, Apsarases, Nāgas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Guhyakas, / sages, ancestors, along with Vidyādharas and Kinnaras.

11.6.4

dvārakām upasañjagmuḥ sarve kṛṣṇa-didṛkṣavaḥ /
vapuṣā yena bhagavān nara-loka-manoramaḥ /
yaśo vitene lokeṣu sarva-loka-malāpaham //

They all approached Dvārakā, eager to see Kṛṣṇa, / by whose form the Lord charmed the human world / and spread throughout the realms his fame, which removes the impurities of all the worlds.

4. —To see the almighty Lord in that form by which He delights the mind of human beings and has filled the worlds with His glory which removes the sin of all people.

11.6.5

tasyāṃ vibhrājamānāyāṃ samṛddhāyāṃ maharddhibhiḥ /
vyacakṣatāvitṛptākṣāḥ kṛṣṇam adbhuta-darśanam //

In that [city], resplendent and thriving with great opulence,
they beheld with insatiable eyes Kṛṣṇa of wondrous sight.

5. In that brilliant city rich in all kinds of wealth they saw Krishna of wonderful form with their eyes which were not satisfied (satiated).

11.6.6

svargodyānopagair mālyaiś chādayanto yudūttamam /
gīrbhiś citra-padārthābhis tuṣṭuvur jagad-īśvaram //

Covering the best of the Yadus with garlands brought from celestial gardens,
they praised the Lord of the universe with words of varied meaning.

6. They covered the foremost One of the Yadus' race with flowers brought from the gardens of Swarga and in words of wonderful thoughts they praised the Lord of the Universe.

11.6.7

/0 śrī-devā ūcuḥ
natāḥ sma te nātha padāravindaṃ buddhīndriya-prāṇa-mano-vacobhiḥ /
yac cintyate 'ntar hṛdi bhāva-yuktair mumukṣubhiḥ karma-mayoru-pāśāt //

The gods said:
We bow, O Lord, to Your lotus feet with our intellect, senses, breath, mind, and speech—
[feet] contemplated deep within the heart by those endowed with devotional emotion, seeking release from the mighty bonds of karma.

7. The gods said:— With our reason, the senses, breath and life, the mind and speech, O Lord, We stand bowing to Thy lotus feet which are contemplated at heart by those who cherish devotion, eager to get released from the strong knot of karma.

11.6.7.p1

tvaṃ māyayā tri-guṇayātmani durvibhāvyaṃ $ vyaktaṃ sṛjasy avasi lumpasi tad-guṇa-sthaḥ &

By Your creative power composed of the three qualities, You create, protect, and destroy within Yourself this inconceivable manifest [universe], abiding within its qualities;

8. Through Maya of three qualities Thou, taking Thy stand in those qualities, createst in Thyself, protectest and destroyest the manifest world which transcends comprehension, and by these acts, O Ajita, Thou art not affected; for Thou, destitute of defects, art in the realisation of Thine own blissful nature.

11.6.8

naitair bhavān ajita karmabhir ajyate vai % yat sve sukhe 'vyavahite 'bhirato 'navadyaḥ //

yet You, O Unconquered One, are never tainted by these actions, because, flawless, You delight in Your own uninterrupted bliss.

11.6.8.p2

śuddhir nṛṇāṃ na tu tatheḍya durāśayānāṃ $ vidyā-śrutādhyayana-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyābhiḥ &

The purification of men of impure minds, O Praiseworthy One, is not accomplished by learning, scriptural study, charity, austerities, and ritual acts

9. O most praiseworthy Lord, O most exalted one, to men of evil tendencies, no learning, no process of purification, Vedic study, or other righteous acts are so efficient as is the true devotion developed by listening to Thy glories on the part of those who are of satvic nature.

11.6.8.p3

śuddhir nṛṇāṃ na tu tatheḍya durāśayānāṃ $ vidyā-śrutādhyayana-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyābhiḥ &

The purification of men of impure minds, O Praiseworthy One, is not accomplished by learning, scriptural study, charity, austerities, and ritual acts

11.6.9

sattvātmanām ṛṣabha te yaśasi pravṛddha- % sac-chraddhayā śravaṇa-sambhṛtayā yathā syāt //

in the way it is achieved, O Foremost of pure beings, through ever-growing, true faith in Your renown, gathered by listening.

11.6.9.p2

syān nas tavāṅghrir aśubhāśaya-dhūmaketuḥ $ kṣemāya yo munibhir ārdra-hṛdohyamānaḥ &

May Your foot be a comet [destroying] our impure thoughts, for our well-being—borne by sages with hearts melted [with love],

10. May Thy feet be the comet to our evil tendencies, —Thy feet which are ever borne in the soft and tender heart of the sages for the sake of Moksha and which the Satvatas, with control over their minds, worship in the Vyuha forms for the attainment of godhead and which some of superior wisdom among them do, for passing on to Vaikuntha beyond Swarga.!

11.6.9.p3

syān nas tavāṅghrir aśubhāśaya-dhūmaketuḥ $ kṣemāya yo munibhir ārdra-hṛdohyamānaḥ &

May Your foot be a comet [destroying] our impure thoughts, for our well-being—borne by sages with hearts melted [with love],

11.6.10

yaḥ sātvataiḥ sama-vibhūtaya ātmavadbhir % vyūhe 'rcitaḥ savanaśaḥ svar-atikramāya //

and worshipped at every sacrificial offering by the Sātvatas, of equal glory and self-mastery, for transcending heaven through the manifestation [of Your forms].

11.6.10.p2

yas cintyate prayata-pāṇibhir adhvarāgnau $ trayyā nirukta-vidhineśa havir gṛhītvā &

Which is contemplated with reverent hands by those holding the oblation in the sacrificial fire according to the method prescribed by the three Vedas, O Lord,

11. —Thy feet which are, O Lord, contemplated in the sacrificial fire with the Vedic mantras in the prescribed form by sacrificers with the offering in their piously-folded hands, and which are in the Yogic practice (relating to self) worshipped in various ways by yogins that are most devoted to Thee and who are

11.6.10.p3

yas cintyate prayata-pāṇibhir adhvarāgnau $ trayyā nirukta-vidhineśa havir gṛhītvā &

Which is contemplated with reverent hands by those holding the oblation in the sacrificial fire according to the method prescribed by the three Vedas, O Lord,

11.6.11

adhyātma-yoga uta yogibhir ātma-māyāṃ % jijñāsubhiḥ parama-bhāgavataiḥ parīṣṭaḥ //

as spiritual yoga by yogins desiring to understand Your creative power, and fully worshipped by the foremost of Bhāgavatas.

eager to know the nature of Atman's Maya. (by the Sankhyas. V).!

11.6.11.p2

paryuṣṭayā tava vibho vana-mālayeyaṃ $ saṃspārdhinī bhagavatī pratipatnī-vac chrīḥ &

Vying, like a co-wife, with the withered garland of forest flowers upon You, O all-pervading Lord, the goddess Śrī

12. May those feet always be the comet to our evil tendencies—the feet of Thee who acceptest as the choicest the worship of the (faded) Vanamala on Thy chest, of which, like a co-wife., glorious Lakshmi seems to be jealous!

11.6.11.p3

paryuṣṭayā tava vibho vana-mālayeyaṃ $ saṃspārdhinī bhagavatī pratipatnī-vac chrīḥ &

Vying, like a co-wife, with the withered garland of forest flowers upon You, O all-pervading Lord, the goddess Śrī

11.6.12

yaḥ su-praṇītam amuyārhaṇam ādadan no % bhūyāt sadāṅghrir aśubhāśaya-dhūmaketuḥ //

accepts that offering nicely offered by her—may Your foot ever be a comet [destroying] our impure thoughts.

11.6.12.p2

ketus tri-vikrama-yutas tri-patat-patāko $ yas te bhayābhaya-karo 'sura-deva-camvoḥ &

Which was a pillar advancing in three strides, with a banner falling in three streams, producing fear and fearlessness in the armies of the demons and the gods,

13. May Thy feet, O Lord, O Perfect one, purify the sin of us, Thy worshippers—the feet known for the three (glorious) steps taken in relation to Bali, at which Ganga shines like a flag with three streamers, which are the source of fear and freedom from fear, respectively of the asura and the celestial armies and which lead the righteous to swarga (happiness) and the unrighteous to hell.!

11.6.12.p3

ketus tri-vikrama-yutas tri-patat-patāko $ yas te bhayābhaya-karo 'sura-deva-camvoḥ &

Which was a pillar advancing in three strides, with a banner falling in three streams, producing fear and fearlessness in the armies of the demons and the gods,

11.6.13

svargāya sādhuṣu khaleṣv itarāya bhūman % padaḥ punātu bhagavan bhajatām aghaṃ naḥ //

leading to heaven for the virtuous and the opposite for the wicked, O Infinite One—may that foot, O Lord, purify the sins of us who worship You.

11.6.13.p2

nasy ota-gāva iva yasya vaśe bhavanti $ brahmādayas tanu-bhṛto mithur ardyamānāḥ &

Under whose control, like oxen bound by a nose-rope, Brahmā and the other embodied beings remain, harassed by one another,

14. May the feet of Purushottama confer happiness on us,—who is far superior to Prakriti and Purusha, who is Kala (Time) and under whose control, like bulls held by the nose-strings, remain Brahma and other embodied creatures who are at strife with one another!

11.6.13.p3

nasy ota-gāva iva yasya vaśe bhavanti $ brahmādayas tanu-bhṛto mithur ardyamānāḥ &

Under whose control, like oxen bound by a nose-rope, Brahmā and the other embodied beings remain, harassed by one another,

11.6.14

kālasya te prakṛti-pūruṣayoḥ parasya % śaṃ nas tanotu caraṇaḥ puruṣottamasya //

may the foot of You, Time, who are beyond primordial matter and the spirit, the Supreme Person, grant us peace.

11.6.14.p2

asyāsi hetur udaya-sthiti-saṃyamānām $ avyakta-jīva-mahatām api kālam āhuḥ &

You are the cause of the creation, maintenance, and destruction of this [world]; You are also called Time, [the cause] of the unmanifest, the individual soul, and the cosmic intellect;

15. Thou art the cause of the appearance, existence and the disappearance of this world and they call Thee Kala or Destroyer of Avyakta, Jiva and Mahat: Thou of that supreme nature and having three navels as it were each of four months and active in the destruction of all—Thou art the Time of incalculable speed and the highest Person.

11.6.14.p3

asyāsi hetur udaya-sthiti-saṃyamānām $ avyakta-jīva-mahatām api kālam āhuḥ &

You are the cause of the creation, maintenance, and destruction of this [world]; You are also called Time, [the cause] of the unmanifest, the individual soul, and the cosmic intellect;

11.6.15

so 'yaṃ tri-ṇābhir akhilāpacaye pravṛttaḥ % kālo gabhīra-raya uttama-pūruṣas tvam //

You, this very Time with three naves engaged in the diminution of all things, of deep momentum, are the Supreme Person.

11.6.15.p2

tvattaḥ pumān samadhigamya yayāsya vīryaṃ $ dhatte mahāntam iva garbham amogha-vīryaḥ &

Receiving from You that seed, through which the active Puruṣa of unfailing potency conceives, as it were, the cosmic intellect as his embryo,

16. Having obtained power from Thyself and through that power the Purusha of fruitful energy bears Mahat like unto a child in the womb. That Mahat in conjunction with that power created

11.6.15.p3

tvattaḥ pumān samadhigamya yayāsya vīryaṃ $ dhatte mahāntam iva garbham amogha-vīryaḥ &

Receiving from You that seed, through which the active Puruṣa of unfailing potency conceives, as it were, the cosmic intellect as his embryo,

11.6.16

so 'yaṃ tayānugata ātmana āṇḍa-kośaṃ % haimaṃ sasarja bahir āvaraṇair upetam //

he, accompanied by her, created from himself the golden egg of the universe, surrounded by external coverings.

out of itself the golden sphere together with all its eternal (seven) enclosures.

11.6.16.p2

tat tasthūṣaś ca jagataś ca bhavān adhīśo $ yan māyayottha-guṇa-vikriyayopanītān &

Therefore You are the master of the stationary and the moving universe, since, O Lord of the senses, even while enjoying the objects

17. Therefore Thou art the Lord of the immobile as well as the mobile world and by Thy Maya, though enjoying the objects instituted by the modifications of qualities that are products of Thy Maya, O Lord of the senses, Thou art not touched by them. But all other than Thyself are afraid of those objects though they do not really exist.

11.6.16.p3

tat tasthūṣaś ca jagataś ca bhavān adhīśo $ yan māyayottha-guṇa-vikriyayopanītān &

Therefore You are the master of the stationary and the moving universe, since, O Lord of the senses, even while enjoying the objects

11.6.17

arthāñ juṣann api hṛṣīka-pate na lipto % ye 'nye svataḥ parihṛtād api bibhyati sma //

brought forth by the transformations of the qualities arising from Your creative power, You are not tainted, whereas others fear even what they have personally abandoned.

11.6.17.p2

smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita-bhāva-hāri- $ bhrū-maṇḍala-prahita-saurata-mantra-śauṇḍaiḥ &

Even with charming eyebrows casting erotic incantations that revealed devotional emotion through fleeting, smiling glances,

18. That Thou art not in the least affected by objects is beyond a doubt; for, the sixteen thousand queens were not able to shake Thy energy with all their erotic arts and love-shafts very powerful in conveying messages of pleasure as sent from the extensive brows exhibiting their mind and heart by the accompanying smiles and glances.

11.6.17.p3

smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita-bhāva-hāri- $ bhrū-maṇḍala-prahita-saurata-mantra-śauṇḍaiḥ &

Even with charming eyebrows casting erotic incantations that revealed devotional emotion through fleeting, smiling glances,

11.6.18

patnyas tu ṣoḍaśa-sahasram anaṅga-bāṇair % yasyendriyaṃ vimathituṃ karaṇair na vibhvyaḥ //

the sixteen thousand wives were unable to agitate Your sense[s] through arrows of love or feminine gestures.

11.6.18.p2

vibhvyas tavāmṛta-kathoda-vahās tri-lokyāḥ $ pādāvane-ja-saritaḥ śamalāni hantum &

Potent are the rivers carrying the water of nectar-like narrations of You, and the river born from the washing of Your feet, to destroy the sins of the three worlds;

19. The streams of Thy glories bearing the flood of Thy nectar-like accounts as well as the streams that wash Thy feet (like the Ganges) are powerful enough to destroy all the evils that beset the three worlds--those two kinds of Theerthas in the form of the Vedas (Thy name and glories described in the Vedas) and that which arises from Thy feet—are resorted to and used by

11.6.18.p3

vibhvyas tavāmṛta-kathoda-vahās tri-lokyāḥ $ pādāvane-ja-saritaḥ śamalāni hantum &

Potent are the rivers carrying the water of nectar-like narrations of You, and the river born from the washing of Your feet, to destroy the sins of the three worlds;

11.6.19

ānuśravaṃ śrutibhir aṅghri-jam aṅga-saṅgais % tīrtha-dvayaṃ śuci-ṣadas ta upaspṛśanti //

those residing in purity bathe in these two sacred waters—the scriptural tradition with their ears, and that born from Your feet with their bodies.

those that live in the righteous course of their Asrama,—_that_ with their ears and _this_ with their body.

11.6.20

/0 śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
ity abhiṣṭūya vibudhaiḥ seśaḥ śata-dhṛtir harim /
abhyabhāṣata govindaṃ praṇamyāmbaram āśritaḥ //

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said:
Having thus praised Hari together with the gods and Śiva, Brahmā,
bowing down while abiding in the sky, addressed Govinda:

20. Badarayana said:—With the gods and Siva, Brahma thus offered praises to Hari and taking His stand on the sky and bowing to Him, said to Govinda.

11.6.21

/0 śrī-brahmovāca
bhūmer bhārāvatārāya purā vijñāpitaḥ prabho /
tvam asmābhir aśeṣātman tat tathaivopapāditam //

Śrī Brahmā said:
Formerly, O Lord, You were petitioned by us to relieve the burden of the earth,
O Universal Self, and that has been accomplished exactly so.

21. Brahma said:—O Lord, we formerly petitioned to Thee for reducing the burden of the earth, O Antaryamin of all and that has been accordingly done.

11.6.22

dharmaś ca sthāpitaḥ satsu satya-sandheṣu vai tvayā /
kīrtiś ca dikṣu vikṣiptā sarva-loka-malāpahā //

Dharma has indeed been established by You among the virtuous whose vows are true,
and fame removing the taint of all the worlds has been broadcast across the quarters.

22. The righteous course had been firmly established among the righteous who are truthful and Thy glory absolving all the world from sin has been spread in all directions.

11.6.23

avatīrya yador vaṃśe bibhrad rūpam anuttamam /
karmāṇy uddāma-vṛttāni hitāya jagato 'kṛthāḥ //

Incarnating in the lineage of Yadu and assuming an unsurpassed form,
You performed deeds of unrestrained power for the welfare of the world.

23. Having appeared in Yadus' race, with a form of matchless grace, Thou hast done surpassing deeds for the good of the world.

11.6.24

yāni te caritānīśa manuṣyāḥ sādhavaḥ kalau /
śṛṇvantaḥ kīrtayantaś ca tariṣyanty añjasā tamaḥ //

Hearing and glorifying those deeds of Yours, O Lord,
virtuous men in the Kali age will easily cross beyond darkness.

24. O Lord, the virtuous men who, in the age of Kali, listen to those deeds and sing them, surely and finally cross the darkness.

11.6.25

yadu-vaṃśe 'vatīrṇasya bhavataḥ puruṣottama /
śarac-chataṃ vyatīyāya pañca-viṃśādhikaṃ prabho //

Since You descended into the lineage of Yadu, O Supreme Person,
one hundred and twenty-five autumns have passed, O Lord.

25 & 26. A century and a quarter has elapsed since, O Purushottama, Thou madest Thy appearance in Yadus' race and now, O support of all, there is no celestials' purpose left unaccomplished and Thy race has through brahmin's curse is almost gone.

11.6.26

nādhunā te 'khilādhāra deva-kāryāvaśeṣitam /
kulaṃ ca vipra-śāpena naṣṭa-prāyam abhūd idam //

Now, O Support of All, no duty for the gods remains,
and this lineage has been practically destroyed by the curse of the brāhmaṇas.

11.6.27

tataḥ sva-dhāma paramaṃ viśasva yadi manyase /
sa-lokāl loka-pālān naḥ pāhi vaikuṇṭha-kiṅkarān //

Therefore enter Your supreme realm, if You deem it fit;
protect us, the guardians of the worlds together with our realms, Your servants in Vaikuṇṭha.

27. Therefore mayest Thou, if it pleaseth Thee, return to Thy Supreme abode and protect us, Thy servants, O Vaikuntha, as well as all the regions and their protectors!

11.6.28

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
avadhāritam etan me yad āttha vibudheśvara /
kṛtaṃ vaḥ kāryam akhilaṃ bhūmer bhāro 'vatāritaḥ //

The Lord said:
I have considered that which you have said, O lord of the gods;
all your work has been done, the burden of the earth has been removed.

28. The Lord said:—“I know all that thou sayest, O chief of the gods; all your work has been done: the burden of the earth has been removed.

11.6.29

tad idaṃ yādava-kulaṃ vīrya-śaurya-śriyoddhatam /
lokaṃ jighṛkṣad ruddhaṃ me velayeva mahārṇavaḥ //

Yet this family of the Yādavas, arrogant with power, valor, and fortune,
intent on seizing the world, has been restrained by Me as the great ocean is by the shore.

29 & 30. And this Yadava family very proud of its prowess, heroism and wealth and likely to encompass the whole world was by Me kept under check, like the great sea by the shore: if I should leave it without putting a stop to this enormous race of haughty Yadus, the world would be destroyed by this everflowing sea.

11.6.30

yady asaṃhṛtya dṛptānāṃ yadūnāṃ vipulaṃ kulam /
gantāsmy anena loko 'yam udvelena vinaṅkṣyati //

If I depart without destroying this vast family of arrogant Yadus, / this world will perish, overwhelmed by them having broken their bounds.

11.6.31

idānīṃ nāśa ārabdhaḥ kulasya dvija-śāpa-jaḥ /
yāsyāmi bhavanaṃ brahmann etad-ante tavānagha //

Right now the destruction of the family born of the Brāhmaṇas' curse has begun; / at its conclusion, O sinless Brahmā, I shall go to your abode.

31. Just now the destruction of this race has begun under the brahmin's curse and when that is finished, I shall go to Thy region.

11.6.32

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
ity ukto loka-nāthena svayam-bhūḥ praṇipatya tam /
saha deva-gaṇair devaḥ sva-dhāma samapadyata //

Śrī Śuka said: / Thus addressed by the Lord of the world, Brahmā bowed down to him / and went to his own abode along with the hosts of gods.

32. Sri Suka said:—Thus told by the Lord of the Universe, Brahma bowed to Him and with all the companies of the gods returned to his region.

11.6.33

atha tasyāṃ mahotpātān dvāravatyāṃ samutthitān /
vilokya bhagavān āha yadu-vṛddhān samāgatān //

Then, seeing great portents arisen in Dvārakā, / the Lord spoke to the elders of the Yadus who had assembled there.

33. Then noticing tremendous evil omens that appeared over Dwaraka the Lord said to the aged Yadus assembled.

11.6.34

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
ete vai su-mahotpātā vyuttiṣṭhantīha sarvataḥ /
śāpaś ca naḥ kulasyāsīd brāhmaṇebhyo duratyayaḥ //

The Lord said: / Truly, these very great portents are rising up here on every side, / and insurmountable is the curse cast upon our family by the Brāhmaṇas.

34. The Lord said:—'These indeed are serious portents that are appearing on every side and there has been an insurmountable curse of brahmins on our race.

11.6.35

na vastavyam ihāsmābhir jijīviṣubhir āryakāḥ /
prabhāsaṃ su-mahat-puṇyaṃ yāsyāmo 'dyaiva mā ciram //

We who desire to live must not remain here, O elders; / this very day, without delay, we shall go to the extremely holy Prabhāsa.

35. 'We ought not to dwell here if we wish to live on, O elderly people: let us this very day go to the very sacred place of Prabhasa. Let there be no delay.

11.6.36

yatra snātvā dakṣa-śāpād gṛhīto yakṣmaṇodu-rāṭ /
vimuktaḥ kilbiṣāt sadyo bheje bhūyaḥ kalodayam //

Bathing there, the lord of stars, seized by consumption through Dakṣa’s curse, / was immediately freed from sin and attained once more the waxing of his digits.

36. 'Having bathed in the holy waters of Prabhasa, Chandra, the lord of stars, who had under Daksha's curse been possessed with Yakshma (the disease of consumption) was at once cured of the sin and had his digits restored to him.

11.6.37

vayaṃ ca tasminn āplutya tarpayitvā pitṝn surān /
bhojayitvoṣijo viprān nānā-guṇavatāndhasā //

And there, bathing, gratifying the ancestors and the gods, / and feeding the worthy Brāhmaṇas with food of manifold excellences,

37 & 38. 'Let us also perform ablutions there and pour oblations to Pitris and the gods and having fed good brahmins with excellent food and distributed with faith rich gifts among worthy men we shall thereby cross (get rid of) all our sin and miseries just as people cross the sea with the help of ships.'

11.6.38

teṣu dānāni pātreṣu śraddhayoptvā mahānti vai /
vṛjināni tariṣyāmo dānair naubhir ivārṇavam //

sowing great gifts with faith in those worthy recipients, / we shall cross beyond our misfortunes by means of those gifts, as if crossing an ocean with boats.

11.6.39

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
evaṃ bhagavatādiṣṭā yādavāḥ kuru-nandana /
gantuṃ kṛta-dhiyas tīrthaṃ syandanān samayūyujan //

Śrī Śuka said: / Directed thus by the Lord, O joy of the Kurus, / the Yādavas, having resolved to go to the holy place, yoked their chariots.

39. Sri Suka said:— Thus directed by the Lord Yadavas, O delight of Kurus, made up their mind to go to the holy place and got ready their chariots.

11.6.40

tan nirīkṣyoddhavo rājan śrutvā bhagavatoditam /
dṛṣṭvāriṣṭāni ghorāṇi nityaṃ kṛṣṇam anuvrataḥ //

Seeing that, O King, hearing what had been uttered by the Lord, / and observing the terrible omens, Uddhava, who was ever devoted to Kṛṣṇa,

40. O king, Uddhava, who always waited on Krishna bound to Him in devotion, saw those elders, heard what the Lord said, observed the fearful portents,

11.6.41

vivikta upasaṅgamya jagatām īśvareśvaram /
praṇamya śirisā pādau prāñjalis tam abhāṣata //

approached the Lord of the lords of the worlds in secret, / bowed with his head to his feet, and with joined palms spoke to him.

41. Approached, when alone, the Lord of the lords of the world, bowed to Him, touching His feet with his head, and with folded hands, said to Him.

11.6.42

/0 śrī-uddhava uvāca
deva-deveśa yogeśa puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana /
saṃhṛtyaitat kulaṃ nūnaṃ lokaṃ santyakṣyate bhavān /
vipra-śāpaṃ samartho 'pi pratyahan na yad īśvaraḥ //

Śrī Uddhava said: / O Lord of the gods of gods, O master of yoga, O You whose listening and glorification are purifying, / having destroyed this family, You will surely abandon this world, / since, though capable, as the Lord You did not avert the Brāhmaṇas' curse.

42. Uddhava said:—O the Supreme Lord of the gods, O Master of Yoga, O Lord of hallowed name, certainly I believe that Thou wilt end this race and then wilt leave the world: Thou dost not counteract, though able, the brahmin curse, for Thou art the almighty Ruler.

11.6.43

nāhaṃ tavāṅghri-kamalaṃ kṣaṇārdham api keśava /
tyaktuṃ samutsahe nātha sva-dhāma naya mām api //

I am not able, O Keśava, to leave Your lotus feet / for even half a moment, O master; take me also to Your own abode.

43. O Kesava, I cannot bear to leave Thy lotus-like feet even for half a moment, O Kesava, O Lord, take me also to Thy abode.

11.6.44

tava vikrīḍitaṃ kṛṣṇa nṛnāṃ parama-maṅgalam /
karṇa-pīyūṣam āsādya tyajanty anya-spṛhāṃ janāḥ //

Your divine play, O Kṛṣṇa, is the supreme auspiciousness for men; / having attained that nectar for the ears, people abandon longing for anything else.

44. & 45. Thy sportful activity, O Krishna, is most auspicious to men: having but tasted what is nectar to the ear, people cease to have desire for other things: how could we, Thy devotees, bear to leave Thee, to be separated from Thee with whom we shared the bed, the seats, the rambles, the dwellings, ablutions, sports, the food and the like,

11.6.45

śayyāsanāṭana-sthāna- snāna-krīḍāśanādiṣu /
kathaṃ tvāṃ priyam ātmānaṃ vayaṃ bhaktās tyajema hi //

In lying down, sitting, walking, standing, / bathing, playing, eating, and the rest, how indeed could we, Your devotees, abandon You, our dear self?

11.6.46

tvayopabhukta-srag-gandha- vāso-'laṅkāra-carcitāḥ /
ucchiṣṭa-bhojino dāsās tava māyāṃ jayema hi //

Adorned with the garlands, perfumes, garments, and ornaments enjoyed by You, / and eating the remnants of Your meals, we Your servants will surely conquer Your creative power.

46. How could we who adorned ourselves with flowers, perfumes, cloths and ornaments used by Thee and who ate what was tasted by Thee and who have been servants at Thy feet, how could we be rid of our fascination for Thee?

11.6.47

vāta-vasanā ya ṛṣayaḥ śramaṇā ūrdhra-manthinaḥ /
brahmākhyaṃ dhāma te yānti śāntāḥ sannyāsīno 'malāḥ //

Those sages who are clad in the wind, ascetics who draw up their semen, / peaceful and stainless renunciants, go to the abode known as Brahman.

47. The Rishis who are sky-clad, who lead austere life and a life of celibacy, who have renounced everything worldly, become pure and tranquil and attain to Thy glorious state known as Brahman.

11.6.48

vayaṃ tv iha mahā-yogin bhramantaḥ karma-vartmasu /
tvad-vārtayā tariṣyāmas tāvakair dustaraṃ tamaḥ //

We, however, O great Yogin, wandering here along the paths of action, / shall cross the insurmountable darkness together with Your devotees, through talks of You,

48. O great Yogin, we are here tossed in the paths of Karma, and would along with Thy devotees cross the dark and impassable samsara in the light of conversations about Thee.

11.6.49

smarantaḥ kīrtayantas te kṛtāni gaditāni ca /
gaty-utsmitekṣaṇa-kṣveli yan nṛ-loka-viḍambanam //

remembering and glorifying Your deeds and words, / Your walk, smiles, glances, and sportive jests, which imitate the ways of mortal men.

49. By remembering and singing of Thy deeds and utterances, Thy gait, Thy excellent smiles, glances and jokes, all that Thou didst imitating the world.

11.6.50

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
evaṃ vijñāpito rājan bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ /
ekāntinaṃ priyaṃ bhṛtyam uddhavaṃ samabhāṣata //

Śrī Śuka said: / Being thus petitioned, O King, the Lord, the son of Devakī, / addressed Uddhava, his dear, exclusively devoted servant.

50. Sri Suka said:— Thus prayed to, O king, the Lord, son of Devaki, said to Uddhava, His beloved servant and absolute devotee.