Bhagavatapurana 6.3: atha tṛtīyo'dhyāyaḥ

6.3.1

/0 śrīrājovāca
niśamya devaḥ svabhaṭopavarṇitaṃ pratyāha kiṃ tān api dharmarājaḥ /
evaṃ hatājño vihatān murārer naideśikairyasya vaśe jano 'yam //

Nowhere before was any breaking of the rod of punishment of the god Yama ever heard of, O seer;
this doubt of the world, O sage, no one other than you can sever; such is my firm conviction.

1. The king said:—What did the god Dharmaraja (king of justice), under whose control all these creatures exist, say on hearing that account, to his messengers when his order was thus set at naught and his men were defeated by the servants of Murari?

6.3.2

yamasya devasya na daṇḍabhaṅgaḥ kutaścanarṣe śrutapūrva āsīt /
etan mune vṛścati lokasaṃśayaṃ na hi tvadanya iti me viniścitam //

Śrī Śuka said:
O King, with their effort frustrated by the Lord’s persons, the servants of Yama
informed their master, Yama, the lord of Saṃyamanī.

2. O Sage, it was never before heard of that the punishment

or authority of god Yama was set aside in any place or for any reason; and I am sure that there is no body other than thyself, O Sage, who could clear this doubt common to all.

6.3.3

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
bhagavatpuruṣai rājan yāmyāḥ pratihatodyamāḥ /
patiṃ vijñāpayāmāsuryamaṃ saṃyamanīpatim //

The messengers of Yama said:
How many rulers are there here in the world of living beings, O lord,
who cause the manifestation of results for one performing threefold action?

3. Sri Suka said:—The servants of Yama (thus) interrupted in their work, O king, by the attendants of the glorious Lord represented the fact to their Lord (Yama), ruler of *Samyamani* (the region where punishment is dealt out to sinners).

6.3.4

/0 yamadūtā ūcuḥ
kati santīha śāstāro jīvalokasya vai prabho /
traividhyaṃ kurvataḥ karma phalābhivyaktihetavaḥ //

If there should be many rulers wielding the staff of punishment in the world,
for whom would there be death, or for whom not, or immortality itself?

4. The messengers of Yama said:—How many rulers are there over the human world, O Lord, and how many are those who confer on people the fruits of Karma which they do in three different forms?

6.3.5

yadi syurbahavo loke śāstāro daṇḍadhāriṇaḥ /
kasya syātāṃ na vā kasya mṛtyuścāmṛtameva vā //

Moreover, if there are many rulers for the many performers of action here,
rulership would be merely a figurative title, like that of local governors.

5. If there should be many rulers in the world wielding the rod of punishment, who could, or, could not expect, (both) misery and happiness (without any law to regulate it)?

6.3.6

kintu śāstṛbahutve syādbahūnāmiha karmiṇām /
śāstṛtvamupacāro hi yathā maṇḍalavartinām //

Therefore, you alone are the supreme master of all beings, along with their lords,
the ruler, the wielder of the staff of punishment for men, the judge of good and evil.

6. But if there be a plurality of rulers severally dealing with many and different creatures that are engaged in their own several activities, the authority of a ruler would be only nominal and limited as in the case of an empire or kingdom where many are invested with equal and independent power.

6.3.7

atastvameko bhūtānāṃ seśvarāṇāmadhīśvaraḥ /
śāstā daṇḍadharo nṝṇāṃ śubhāśubhavivecanaḥ //

The punishment ordained by you does not hold good in the world now:
your command has been deceived by four wondrous perfected beings!

7. Therefore Thou alone art capable of distinguishing the righteous and the unrighteous conduct of men; one great ruler of all beings and their leader to regulate and punish them.

6.3.8

tasya te vihito daṇḍo na loke vartate 'dhunā /
caturbhiradbhutaiḥ siddhairājñā te vipralambhitā //

Severing your nooses by force, they released the sinner
as he was being led by us by your order to the chambers of torment.

8. Such though Thou art, Thy (order of) punishment is to-day set at naught in the world and it has no place therein; by four wonderful Siddhas Thy command has been thwarted.

6.3.9

nīyamānaṃ tavādeśādasmābhiryātanāgṛhān /
vyāmocayan pātakinaṃ chittvā pāśān prasahya te //

We wish to know about them from you, if you deem it proper for us;
when ‘Nārāyaṇa’ was uttered, they arrived swiftly, saying, ‘Do not fear!’”

9. By force they cut the cords and rescued the sinner whom under Thy order we were carrying to the houses of punishment (in hell.)

6.3.10

tāṃste veditumicchāmo yadi no manyase kṣamam /
nārāyaṇety abhihite mā bhairity āyayurdrutam //

The son of Bādarāyaṇa said:
Thus questioned, that god Yama, the restrainer of creatures,
pleased, replied to his messengers, remembering the lotus foot of Hari:

10. We wish to know from Thee (Thy lips) who they are; if Thou thinkest us fit to know who are they that hastened in, saying "no fear, no fear" as soon as the name of Narayana was uttered by him.

6.3.11

/0 śrībādarāyaṇiruvāca
iti devaḥ sa āpṛṣṭaḥ prajāsaṃyamano yamaḥ /
prītaḥ svadūtān pratyāha smaran pādāmbujaṃ hareḥ //

Yama said:
“There is another, higher than me, of the moving and unmoving world, in whom the universe is woven warp and woof like cloth,
by a fraction of whom are its preservation, birth, and destruction, and under whose control is the world, like a bull woven through the nose.

11. Sri Suka said:—Thus requested, the god Yama who holds his rod over all beings, was pleased with them and, contemplating the lotus-like feet of Hari, said to them:

6.3.12

/0 yama uvāca
paro madanyo jagatastasthuṣaśca otaṃ protaṃ paṭavadyatra viśvam /
yadaṃśato 'sya sthitijanmanāśā nasy otavadyasya vaśe ca lokaḥ //

He who binds mankind with names in His Vedic speech as [one binds] cattle with ropes to a main cord;
to Him these [beings], bound by the bonds of name and action, offer tribute in awe.

12. Yama said:—The Supreme Being is one (quite) other than myself, (who rules) all that moves and stands still, into whom, like a cloth, the universe is woven warp and woof, by whose Amsas (Brahma and others) are brought about birth, existence and destruction of this world, and under whose control the world remains like a bull whose nose is pierced.

6.3.13

yo nāmabhirvāci janaṃ nijāyāṃ badhnāti tantryāmiva dāmabhirgāḥ /
yasmai baliṃ ta ime nāmakarma nibandhabaddhāścakitā vahanti //

I, Mahendra, Nirṛti, Pracetas, Soma, Agni, Īśa, Pavana, Viriñci,
the Ādityas, the Viśvedevas, the Vasus, then the Sādhyas, the hosts of Maruts, the hosts of Rudras with the Siddhas,

13. That Supreme Lord keeps creatures under His control by His word (Vedic commandments) as if by means of a wire, under different names (of Brahmana and the like), just as one keeps oxen tied with ropes; to whom all these, Brahma and others, bound by names, Karma (duties) and regulations do, in fear, bear their tribute of offering.

6.3.14

ahaṃ mahendro nirṛtiḥ pracetāḥ somo 'gnirīśaḥ pavano viriñciḥ /
ādityaviśve vasavo 'tha sādhyā marudgaṇā rudragaṇāḥ sasiddhāḥ //

and those other creators of the universe, chiefs of immortals, Bhṛgu and the rest, untouched by passion and darkness—
even they, though predominated by purity, do not know His intention, touched as they are by creative power; how much less can others?

14. & 15. I, Mahendra, Nirriti, Varuna, Soma, Agni, Siva, Vayu, Surya, Sadhyas, the group of Maruts, Rudras, and Siddhas, and those other Progenitors, great gods, Bhrigu, and other Sages, unassailed by Rajas and Tamas,—these being invested by Maya, though Satva predominates in them, do not understand His will and work: there is no need then (to dilate upon the fact) that others cannot.

6.3.15

anye ca ye viśvasṛjo 'mareśā bhṛgvādayo 'spṛṣṭarajastamaskāḥ /
yasyehitaṃ na viduḥ spṛṣṭamāyāḥ sattvapradhānā api kiṃ tato 'nye //

Him indeed living beings do not perceive with the senses, mind, vital breaths,
heart, or speech—He who is the Self abiding within the heart of selves, just as forms do not see the eye, which is beyond them.

6.3.16

yaṃ vai na gobhirmanasāsubhirvā hṛdā girā vāsubhṛto vicakṣate /
ātmānamantarhṛdi santamātmanāṃ cakṣuryathaivākṛtayastataḥ param //

Of that self-dependent Hari, the supreme sovereign, the high master of creative power, the Great Self,
messengers mostly wander here, handsome, possessing His form, virtues, and nature.

16. Jivas (invested with body) cannot comprehend Him, though He is in their heart, with their senses, mind or breaths, with their heart or by means of speech; just as forms do not see the eye which reveals them (lit. which is of a different character).

6.3.17

tasyātmatantrasya hareradhīśituḥ parasya māyādhipatermahātmanaḥ /
prāyeṇa dūtā iha vai manoharāś caranti tadrūpaguṇasvabhāvāḥ //

The attendants of Viṣṇu, worshiped by the gods, of marks difficult to perceive, greatly wondrous,
protect mortals who possess devotion to Him from enemies, from me, and from all sides.”

17. The messengers of the Supreme Ruler Hari who is absolute and perfect, of glorious nature and the Lord of Maya, often go about in this world, possessed of charming (Lakshmi) personalities and endowed with His form, qualities and disposition.

6.3.18

bhūtāni viṣṇoḥ surapūjitāni durdarśaliṅgāni mahādbhutāni /
rakṣanti tadbhaktimataḥ parebhyo mattaśca martyān atha sarvataśca //

The beings of Viṣṇu, worshiped by the gods, whose forms are difficult to see, exceedingly wondrous, / protect those devoted to Him from enemies, from me, and from mortals on every side.

18. The messengers of Vishnu are worshipped by the gods; they are wonderful; their forms do not easily become visible; they protect His votaries, though mortals, from their enemies, from me also, yea, from every (danger).

6.3.19

dharmaṃ tu sākṣādbhagavatpraṇītaṃ na vai vidurṛṣayo nāpi devāḥ /
na siddhamukhyā asurā manuṣyāḥ kuto nu vidyādharacāraṇādayaḥ //

Dharma, however, instituted directly by the Lord, the sages do not know, nor do the gods, / nor the foremost Siddhas, Asuras, or humans; how then the Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas, and the rest?

19. Neither the Rishis nor the gods really understand (the secret of) righteousness directly ordained by the glorious Lord; neither the great Siddhas nor the Asuras nor men could know it, and much less Vidyadharas, Charanas and others.

6.3.20

svayambhūrnāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ /
prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balirvaiyāsakirvayam //

Svayambhū, Nārada, Śambhu, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu,
Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, the son of Vyāsa, and we ourselves:

20. & 21. The four-faced Brahma, Narada, Siva, Sanatkumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahladha, king Janaka, Bhishma, Bali, Sukacharya, and we—these twelve know the truth of righteousness ordained by the Supreme Lord, O my servants, not easy to perceive, secret and pure; one who knows it attains to immortal happiness.

6.3.21

dvādaśaite vijānīmo dharmaṃ bhāgavataṃ bhaṭāḥ /
guhyaṃ viśuddhaṃ durbodhaṃ yaṃ jñātvāmṛtamaśnute //

these twelve know the dharma of the Bhāgavatas, O soldiers—
secret, pure, and difficult to comprehend, knowing which one attains immortality.

6.3.22

etāvān eva loke 'smin puṃsāṃ dharmaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ /
bhaktiyogo bhagavati tannāmagrahaṇādibhiḥ //

Only this much in this world is considered supreme dharma for human beings:
the yoga of devotion to the Lord, beginning with the chanting of his name.

22. In this world that indeed is considered the highest course of Dharma for men, viz., that they should develop devotion to the glorious Lord by remembering and uttering His name and by other similar courses.

6.3.23

nāmoccāraṇamāhātmyaṃ hareḥ paśyata putrakāḥ /
ajāmilo 'pi yenaiva mṛtyupāśādamucyata //

Behold the majesty of uttering the name of Hari, my sons,
by which alone even Ajāmila was released from the noose of death!

23. My children, do you note the great virtue of uttering Sri Hari’s name; for only by virtue thereof even Ajamila escaped from the bonds of Death.

6.3.23.p1

etāvatālamaghanirharaṇāya puṃsāṃ $ saṅkīrtanaṃ bhagavato guṇakarmanāmnām &

Communal chanting of the names, qualities, and deeds of the Lord is quite sufficient to wipe away the sins of human beings,

24. That the singing of Hari’s excellent qualities, deeds and names is capable of removing all the sins of men does not connote the full benefit thereof; for even Ajamila by merely calling out, when about to die, his son with the name Narayana attained to Mukti.

6.3.24

vikruśya putramaghavān yadajāmilo 'pi % nārāyaṇeti mriyamāṇa iyāya muktim //

since even the sinful Ajāmila, crying out to his son 'Nārāyaṇa!' as he died, attained liberation.

6.3.24.p2

prāyeṇa veda tadidaṃ na mahājano 'yaṃ $ devyā vimohitamatirbata māyayālam &

Generally, ordinary folk do not know this, their minds thoroughly deluded by the divine creative power, alas!

25. Mostly all these great men (all Manus) do not know this secret of such great efficacy; it is a pity their judgment is completely deluded by the Lord’s Maya; their mind being focussed in the three-fold Veda, attractive like sweet flowers that promise various fruits, they keep themselves occupied with great sacrificial activities. (This verse is considered by the commentator as capable of manifold interpretations, but they are not translated for fear of increasing the volume).

6.3.24.p3

prāyeṇa veda tadidaṃ na mahājano 'yaṃ $ devyā vimohitamatirbata māyayālam &

Generally, ordinary folk do not know this, their minds thoroughly deluded by the divine creative power, alas!

6.3.25

trayyāṃ jaḍīkṛtamatirmadhupuṣpitāyāṃ % vaitānike mahati karmaṇi yujyamānaḥ //

Stupefied in their intelligence by the threefold Veda with its flowery promises of sweet reward, they engage in vast sacrificial rites.

6.3.25.p2

evaṃ vimṛśya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante $ sarvātmanā vidadhate khalu bhāvayogam &

Considering this, the wise surely direct the yoga of devotional emotion with their whole being toward the infinite Lord;

26. On such mature consideration (having thus reasoned) the wise try to set their mind and heart wholly on the glorious Lord Ananta unlimited by space, time and powers. They do not merit punishment at my hands even if they have committed any sin; for the utterance of the name of Hari who is widely sung in the Vedas destroys that sin (absolves them from sin).

6.3.25.p3

evaṃ vimṛśya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante $ sarvātmanā vidadhate khalu bhāvayogam &

Considering this, the wise surely direct the yoga of devotional emotion with their whole being toward the infinite Lord;

6.3.26

te me na daṇḍamarhanty atha yady amīṣāṃ % syāt pātakaṃ tadapi hanty urugāyavādaḥ //

they do not deserve punishment from me, and even if they incur a sin, uttering the name of Him of wide renown destroys it.

6.3.26.p2

te devasiddhaparigītapavitragāthā $ ye sādhavaḥ samadṛśo bhagavatprapannāḥ &

Those virtuous devotees who have surrendered to the Lord, viewing all equally, whose purifying stories are sung by gods and Siddhas,

27. Do you not go near those righteous souls whose sacred life and deeds are sung by the gods and Siddhas, who, having sought refuge with the glorious Lord regard everything in the same manner

6.3.26.p3

te devasiddhaparigītapavitragāthā $ ye sādhavaḥ samadṛśo bhagavatprapannāḥ &

Those virtuous devotees who have surrendered to the Lord, viewing all equally, whose purifying stories are sung by gods and Siddhas,

6.3.27

tān nopasīdata harergadayābhiguptān % naiṣāṃ vayaṃ na ca vayaḥ prabhavāma daṇḍe //

do not approach them, who are protected by Hari's mace; neither we nor time have the power to punish them.

and who are protected by Hari's Gada (Mace): neither time nor we have power to punish them.

6.3.27.p2

tān ānayadhvamasato vimukhān mukunda $ pādāravindamakarandarasādajasram &

Bring those wicked ones who have turned their faces away from the nectar of Mukunda’s lotus feet,

28. Bring only those wicked souls who are always averse to the excellent qualities, sweet like honey in the lotuses of Mukunda's feet, which is resorted to by the sinless Paramahamsas who know the essence and excellence thereof; and bring also those who have set their heart on the domestic life, the way to hell.

6.3.27.p3

tān ānayadhvamasato vimukhān mukunda $ pādāravindamakarandarasādajasram &

Bring those wicked ones who have turned their faces away from the nectar of Mukunda’s lotus feet,

6.3.28

niṣkiñcanaiḥ paramahaṃsakulairasaṅgair % juṣṭādgṛhe nirayavartmani baddhatṛṣṇān //

relished continually by detached supreme ascetics who possess nothing, and who remain bound by thirst to household life, which is the path to hell.

6.3.28.p2

jihvā na vakti bhagavadguṇanāmadheyaṃ $ cetaśca na smarati taccaraṇāravindam &

The tongue that does not speak the Lord's names and qualities, the mind that does not remember his lotus feet,

29. Bring those whose tongue does not utter the excellent qualities and names of the glorious Lord, whose mind does not remember His lotus-like feet, and whose head does not even once bend to Krishna (Narayana): bring those wicked persons who do not do duties to Vishnu.

6.3.28.p3

jihvā na vakti bhagavadguṇanāmadheyaṃ $ cetaśca na smarati taccaraṇāravindam &

The tongue that does not speak the Lord's names and qualities, the mind that does not remember his lotus feet,

6.3.29

kṛṣṇāya no namati yacchira ekadāpi % tān ānayadhvamasato 'kṛtaviṣṇukṛtyān //

and the head that does not bow even once to Kṛṣṇa—bring those wicked ones, who have never performed an act of worship to Viṣṇu!

6.3.29.p2

tat kṣamyatāṃ sa bhagavān puruṣaḥ purāṇo $ nārāyaṇaḥ svapuruṣairyadasat kṛtaṃ naḥ &

Therefore, may that Lord, the ancient person Nārāyaṇa, forgive the improper act committed by us through our servants.

30. May that Almighty ancient Person, Narayana, forgive that fault which my men, being His own men, have committed that fault of us who are His votaries and who are but ignorant and join their hands in reverence. Forgiveness is indeed proper on the part of the great; and we bow to the Perfect Person.

6.3.29.p3

tat kṣamyatāṃ sa bhagavān puruṣaḥ purāṇo $ nārāyaṇaḥ svapuruṣairyadasat kṛtaṃ naḥ &

Therefore, may that Lord, the ancient person Nārāyaṇa, forgive the improper act committed by us through our servants.

6.3.30

svānāmaho na viduṣāṃ racitāñjalīnāṃ % kṣāntirgarīyasi namaḥ puruṣāya bhūmne //

Ah, for one's own people who do not know and who fold their hands, there is forbearance in the supreme one. Homage to the infinite Person!

6.3.31

tasmāt saṅkīrtanaṃ viṣṇorjaganmaṅgalamaṃhasām /
mahatāmapi kauravya viddhy aikāntikaniṣkṛtam //

Therefore, O Kauravya, know that the communal chanting of Viṣṇu's [names], which brings blessings to the world, is the absolute atonement
even for the greatest sins.

31. Therefore, O Kaurava king, to sing the praises of Vishnu is the auspicious work for the world and know that to be the complete expiation for even great sinful actions.

6.3.32

śṛṇvatāṃ gṛṇatāṃ vīryāṇy uddāmāni harermuhuḥ /
yathā sujātayā bhaktyā śuddhyen nātmā vratādibhiḥ //

The self is not purified by vows and the like as it is by well-developed devotion,
for those who continually hear and recite the boundless heroic exploits of Hari.

32. The mind does not become so purified by fasting and other vows as it does by means of the well-developed devotion of these who constantly listen to and sing the glorious and extraordinary powers of Hari.

6.3.32.p1

kṛṣṇāṅghripadmamadhuliṇ na punarvisṛṣṭa $ māyāguṇeṣu ramate vṛjināvaheṣu &

A bee drinking the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet takes no delight in the qualities produced by creative power that bring sorrow;

33. He, who tastes the sweet juice in the lotuses of Sri Krishna's feet, does not again find delight in the objects created by Maya, leading to sin. The other man whose heart is profaned with desires would only do Karma to wipe off sin (dirt) in his heart; but that Karma would only lead to the growth of sin again.

6.3.33

anyastu kāmahata ātmarajaḥ pramārṣṭum % īheta karma yata eva rajaḥ punaḥ syāt //

but another person, smitten by desire, may endeavor by karmic action to cleanse his own passion, from which passion arises once again.

6.3.33.p2

itthaṃ svabhartṛgaditaṃ bhagavanmahitvaṃ $ saṃsmṛtya vismitadhiyo yamakiṅkarāste &

Recalling thus the Lord’s greatness spoken by their master, their minds filled with astonishment, those servants of Yama,

34. From that day forwards those messengers of Yama distinctly cherish the memory of the glory of Hari thus described by

6.3.33.p3

itthaṃ svabhartṛgaditaṃ bhagavanmahitvaṃ $ saṃsmṛtya vismitadhiyo yamakiṅkarāste &

Recalling thus the Lord’s greatness spoken by their master, their minds filled with astonishment, those servants of Yama,

6.3.34

naivācyutāśrayajanaṃ pratiśaṅkamānā % draṣṭuṃ ca bibhyati tataḥ prabhṛti sma rājan //

never again harbored suspicion toward those who take refuge in Acyuta, and from then on, O King, they feared even to look upon them.

their master and full of wonder, and have been afraid of casting their eyes on people depending upon (devoted to) Achyuta, O king.

6.3.35

itihāsamimaṃ guhyaṃ bhagavān kumbhasambhavaḥ /
kathayāmāsa malaya āsīno harimarcayan //

The venerable pot-born [sage Agastya], seated on Mount Malaya and worshiping Hari,
related this secret narrative.

35. The worshipful Agastya, born of the pot, seated on Mount Malaya worshipped and narrated this secret history.