Skip to main content

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Kṛṣṇa Marries Five Princesses

This chapter describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa married five brides, beginning with Kālindī, and went to Indraprastha to visit the Pāṇḍavas.

After the Pāṇḍavas had completed their incognito exile, Lord Kṛṣṇa went with Sātyaki and other Yadus to see them in Indraprastha. The Pāṇḍavas greeted the Lord and embraced Him in great ecstasy. Their new bride, Draupadī, shyly approached Kṛṣṇa and bowed down to Him. Then the Pāṇḍavas properly worshiped and welcomed Sātyaki and the Lord’s other companions, offering them sitting places.

Lord Kṛṣṇa paid a visit to Queen Kuntī, and after He had offered her His respects, they inquired from each other about their family members. As Kuntīdevi recalled the various miseries Duryodhana had inflicted upon her and her sons, she remarked that Kṛṣṇa was their only protector. “You are the well-wisher of the entire universe,” she said, “yet even though You are free from all delusion of ‘mine’ and ‘another’s,’ You nonetheless reside within the hearts of those who meditate on You constantly, and from within their hearts You destroy all their miseries.” Then Yudhiṣṭhira told Kṛṣṇa, “Only because we executed many pious acts are we able to see Your lotus feet, which even great yogīs find it impossible to attain.” Honored by King Yudhiṣṭhira, Śrī Kṛṣṇa happily remained as a guest in Indraprastha for several months.

One day, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna went hunting in the forest. While bathing in the Yamunā River, they saw a charming young maiden. On Kṛṣṇa’s request Arjuna went up to the girl and asked who she was. The beautiful maiden replied, “I am Kālindī, the daughter of the sun-god. Hoping to attain Lord Viṣṇu as my husband, I have been performing severe austerities. I will accept no one else as my husband, and until He marries me I will remain in the Yamunā, living in a house my father built for me here.” After Arjuna reported all this to Kṛṣṇa, the omniscient Lord took Kālindī onto His chariot, and then the three of them returned to Yudhiṣṭhira’s residence.

Later the Pāṇḍavas requested Kṛṣṇa to build them a city, and He did so by having Viśvakarmā, the architect of the demigods, construct one that was extremely attractive. The Lord satisfied His beloved devotees by remaining with them there for some time. Then, to please Agni, the fire-god, Kṛṣṇa arranged to offer him the Khāṇḍava forest. The Lord asked Arjuna to burn down the forest and accompanied him as his charioteer. Agni was so satisfied with the offering that he presented Arjuna with the Gāṇḍīva bow, a team of horses, a chariot, two inexhaustible quivers, and armor. While the Khāṇḍava forest burned, Arjuna saved a demon named Maya from the blaze. Maya Dānava reciprocated by building Arjuna a splendid palace. In this building Duryodhana would later get a good drenching after mistaking the surface of a pond for a solid floor, thus embarrassing himself.

Next Lord Kṛṣṇa took permission from Arjuna and His other relatives and went back to Dvārakā with His entourage. There He married Kālindī. Some time later He went to Avantīpura, where, in the presence of many kings, He abducted the King of Avantī’s sister, Mitravindā, who was very much attracted to Him.

In the kingdom of Ayodhyā lived a devout king named Nagnajit. He had an extraordinarily beautiful, marriageable daughter named Satyā, or Nāgnajitī. The girl’s relatives had laid down the stipulation that any man who could subdue a certain group of seven ferocious bulls would win her hand. When Kṛṣṇa heard about this princess, He went to Ayodhyā with a large contingent of soldiers. King Nagnajit greeted Him hospitably and joyfully worshiped Him with various offerings. When Satyā saw Kṛṣṇa, she immediately desired Him as her husband, and King Nagnajit, understanding his daughter’s intentions, informed Lord Kṛṣṇa of his own wish that the Lord and his daughter be married. The King affectionately told the Lord, “You alone would be a suitable husband for my daughter, and if You subdue the seven bulls You may certainly marry her.”

Lord Kṛṣṇa then manifested Himself in seven separate forms and subdued the seven bulls. King Nagnajit duly presented his daughter to the Lord, together with a dowry of abundant gifts, and the Lord took Satyā onto His chariot for the journey back to Dvārakā. Just then the rival kings who had been defeated by the bulls tried to attack Lord Kṛṣṇa. But Arjuna easily beat them back, and Kṛṣṇa proceeded with Nāgnajitī to Dvārakā.

Subsequently Śrī Kṛṣṇa married Lakṣmaṇā after abducting her from her svayaṁvara ceremony, and He also married Bhadrā, the royal sister of Santardana.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
एकदा पाण्डवान् द्रष्टुं प्रतीतान् पुरुषोत्तम: ।
इन्द्रप्रस्थं गत: श्रीमान् युयुधानादिभिर्वृत: ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
ekadā pāṇḍavān draṣṭuṁ
pratītān puruṣottamaḥ
indraprasthaṁ gataḥ śṛīmān
yuyudhānādibhir vṛtaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ekadā — once; pāṇḍavān — the sons of Pāṇḍu; draṣṭum — to see; pratītān — visible; puruṣa-uttamaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; indraprastham — to Indraprastha, the Pāṇḍavas’ capital; gataḥ — went; śrī-mān — the possessor of all opulence; yuyudhāna-ādibhir — by Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki) and others; vṛtaḥ — accompanied.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Once, the supremely opulent Personality of Godhead went to Indraprastha to visit the Pāṇḍavas, who had again appeared in public. Accompanying the Lord were Yuyudhāna and other associates.

Purport

Almost everyone except Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma had thought the Pāṇḍavas perished in the fire set by Duryodhana in the house of lac. Now the Pāṇḍavas had appeared again in public, and Kṛṣṇa was paying them a visit.

Devanagari

द‍ृष्ट्वा तमागतं पार्था मुकुन्दमखिलेश्वरम् ।
उत्तस्थुर्युगपद् वीरा: प्राणा मुख्यमिवागतम् ॥ २ ॥

Text

dṛṣṭvā tam āgataṁ pārthā
mukundam akhileśvaram
uttasthur yugapad vīrāḥ
prāṇā mukhyam ivāgatam

Synonyms

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tam — Him; āgatam — arrived; pārthāḥ — the sons of Pṛthā (Kuntī); mukundam — Kṛṣṇa; akhila — of everything; īśvaram — the Lord; uttasthuḥ — they stood up; yugapat — all at once; vīraḥ — heroes; prāṇāḥ — the senses; mukhyam — their chief, the vital air; iva — as; āgatam — returned.

Translation

When the Pāṇḍavas saw that Lord Mukunda had arrived, those heroic sons of Pṛthā all stood up at once, like the senses responding to the return of the life air.

Purport

The metaphor used here is quite poetic. When a person is unconscious, the senses do not function. But when consciousness returns to the body, all the senses spring to life at once and begin functioning. Similarly, the Pāṇḍavas all stood up at once, enlivened to receive their Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Devanagari

परिष्वज्याच्युतं वीरा अङ्गसङ्गहतैनस: ।
सानुरागस्मितं वक्त्रं वीक्ष्य तस्य मुदं ययु: ॥ ३ ॥

Text

pariṣvajyācyutaṁ vīrā
aṅga-saṅga-hatainasaḥ
sānurāga-smitaṁ vaktraṁ
vīkṣya tasya mudaṁ yayuḥ

Synonyms

pariṣvajya — embracing; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; vīrāḥ — the heroes; aṅga — with His body; saṅga — by the contact; hata — destroyed; enasaḥ — all their sinful reactions; sa-anurāga — affectionate; smitam — with a smile; vaktram — face; vīkṣya — looking upon; tasya — His; mudam — joy; yayuḥ — they experienced.

Translation

The heroes embraced Lord Acyuta, and the touch of His body freed them of sin. Looking at His affectionate, smiling face, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that since the Pāṇḍavas were never sinful, the term enasaḥ here refers to the suffering caused by separation from Kṛṣṇa. That unhappiness was now vanquished by the Lord’s return.

Devanagari

युधिष्ठिरस्य भीमस्य कृत्वा पादाभिवन्दनम् ।
फाल्गुनं परिरभ्याथ यमाभ्यां चाभिवन्दित: ॥ ४ ॥

Text

yudhiṣṭhirasya bhīmasya
kṛtvā pādābhivandanam
phālgunaṁ parirabhyātha
yamābhyāṁ cābhivanditaḥ

Synonyms

yudhiṣṭhirasya bhīmasya — to Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma; kṛtvā — after offering; pāda — at their feet; abhivandanam — obeisances; phālgunam — Arjuna; parirabhya — firmly embracing; atha — then; yamābhyām — by the twin brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva; ca — and; abhivanditaḥ — greeted respectfully.

Translation

After the Lord bowed down at the feet of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma and firmly embraced Arjuna, He accepted obeisances from the twin brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva.

Purport

Externally Kṛṣṇa was the Pāṇḍavas’ cousin, and their relationship was just like that between cousin-brothers. Because Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma were externally senior to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord bowed down at their feet, whereas He embraced His peer Arjuna and accepted obeisances from the younger brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva. Sometimes inexperienced devotees think it is sinful to honor or bow down to an elder brother in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But from Lord Kṛṣṇa’s example here we may conclude that offering all respects to a senior brother in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not sinful.

Devanagari

परमासन आसीनं कृष्णा कृष्णमनिन्दिता ।
नवोढा व्रीडिता किञ्चिच्छनैरेत्याभ्यवन्दत ॥ ५ ॥

Text

paramāsana āsīnaṁ
kṛṣṇā kṛṣṇam aninditā
navoḍhā vrīḍitā kiñcic
chanair etyābhyavandata

Synonyms

parama — exalted; āsane — on a seat; āsīnam — sitting; kṛṣṇā — Draupadī; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; aninditā — blameless; nava — newly; ūḍhā — married; vrīḍitā — shy; kiñcit — somewhat; śanaiḥ — slowly; etya — approaching; abhyavandata — offered her obeisances.

Translation

Faultless Draupadī, the Pāṇḍavas’ newly married wife, slowly and somewhat timidly approached Lord Kṛṣṇa, who sat on an exalted seat, and offered Him her obeisances.

Purport

Śrīmatī Draupadī was so devoted to Kṛṣṇa that she herself was called Kṛṣṇā, which is the feminine form of the name, and Arjuna was also called Kṛṣṇa because of his devotion to the Lord. Similarly, the devotees of the modern Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are often called “the Kṛṣṇas.” So it appears that the custom of addressing Kṛṣṇa’s devotees by His name has a long history.

Devanagari

तथैव सात्यकि: पार्थै: पूजितश्चाभिवन्दित: ।
निषसादासनेऽन्ये च पूजिता: पर्युपासत ॥ ६ ॥

Text

tathaiva sātyakiḥ pārthaiḥ
pūjitaś cābhivanditaḥ
niṣasādāsane ’nye ca
pūjitāḥ paryupāsata

Synonyms

tathā eva — similarly; sātyakiḥ — Sātyaki; pārthaiḥ — by the sons of Pṛthā; pūjitaḥ — worshiped; ca — and; abhivanditaḥ — welcomed; niṣasāda — sat down; āsane — on a seat; anye — the others; ca — also; pūjitāḥ — worshiped; paryupāsata — sat around.

Translation

Sātyaki also accepted a seat of honor after receiving worship and welcome from the Pāṇḍavas, and the Lord’s other companions, being duly honored, sat down in various places.

Devanagari

पृथां समागत्य कृताभिवादन-
स्तयातिहार्दार्द्रद‍ृशाभिरम्भित: ।
आपृष्टवांस्तां कुशलं सहस्‍नुषां
पितृष्वसारं परिपृष्टबान्धव: ॥ ७ ॥

Text

pṛthām samāgatya kṛtābhivādanas
tayāti-hārdārdra-dṛśābhirambhitaḥ
āpṛṣṭavāṁs tāṁ kuśalaṁ saha-snuṣāṁ
pitṛ-ṣvasāram paripṛṣṭa-bāndhavaḥ

Synonyms

pṛthām — to Queen Kuntī; samāgatya — going; kṛta — offering; abhivādanaḥ — His obeisances; tayā — by her; ati — extreme; hārda — with affection; ardra — wet; dṛśā — whose eyes; abhirambhitaḥ — embraced; āpṛṣṭavān — He asked; tām — from her; kuśalam — about her welfare; saha — together; snuṣām — with her daughter-in-law, Draupadī; pitṛ — of His father, Vasudeva; svasāram — the sister; paripṛṣṭa — inquired in detail; bāndhavaḥ — about their relatives (living in Dvārakā).

Translation

The Lord then went to see His aunt, Queen Kuntī. He bowed down to her and she embraced Him, her eyes moist with great affection. Lord Kṛṣṇa inquired from her and her daughter-in-law, Draupadī, about their welfare, and they in turn questioned Him at length about His relatives [in Dvārakā].

Purport

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura envisions that as Lord Kṛṣṇa was sitting on His seat, He saw His aunt Kuntī approaching in great eagerness to see Him. He then rose at once, quickly went up to her and offered His obeisances. Her eyes moistened with extreme love, she embraced Him and smelled His head.

Devanagari

तमाह प्रेमवैक्लव्यरुद्धकण्ठाश्रुलोचना ।
स्मरन्ती तान् बहून् क्लेशान् क्लेशापायात्मदर्शनम् ॥ ८ ॥

Text

tam āha prema-vaiklavya-
ruddha-kaṇṭhāśru-locanā
smarantī tān bahūn kleśān
kleśāpāyātma-darśanam

Synonyms

tam — to Him; āha — she said; prema — of love; vaiklavya — due to the distress; ruddha — choking; kaṇṭhā — whose throat; aśru — (filled) with tears; locanā — whose eyes; smarantī — remembering; tān — those; bahūn — many; kleśān — pains; kleśa — of pain; apāya — for the dispelling; ātma — Himself; darśanam — who shows.

Translation

So overcome by love that her throat choked up and her eyes filled with tears, Queen Kuntī remembered the many troubles she and her sons had endured. Thus she addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appears before His devotees to drive away their distress

Devanagari

तदैव कुशलं नोऽभूत् सनाथास्ते कृता वयम् ।
ज्ञतीन् न: स्मरता कृष्ण भ्राता मे प्रेषितस्त्वया ॥ ९ ॥

Text

tadaiva kuśalaṁ no ’bhūt
sa-nāthās te kṛtā vayam
jñatīn naḥ smaratā kṛṣṇa
bhrātā me preṣitas tvayā

Synonyms

tadā — at that time; eva — only; kuśalam — well-being; naḥ — our; abhūt — arose; sa — with; nāthāḥ — a protector; te — by You; kṛtāḥ — made; vayam — we; jñātīn — Your relatives; naḥ — us; smaratā — who remembered; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; bhrātā — brother (Akrūra); me — my; preṣitaḥ — sent; tvayā — by You.

Translation

[Queen Kuntī said:] My dear Kṛṣṇa, our welfare was assured only when You remembered us, Your relatives, and gave us Your protection by sending my brother to visit us.

Devanagari

न तेऽस्ति स्वपरभ्रान्तिर्विश्वस्य सुहृदात्मन: ।
तथापि स्मरतां शश्वत् क्लेशान् हंसि हृदि स्थित: ॥ १० ॥

Text

na te ’sti sva-para-bhrāntir
viśvasya suhṛd-ātmanaḥ
tathāpi smaratāṁ śaśvat
kleśān haṁsi hṛdi sthitaḥ

Synonyms

na — not; te — for You; asti — there is; sva — of one’s own; para — and of others’; bhrāntiḥ — delusion; viśvasya — of the universe; suhṛt — for the well-wisher; ātmanaḥ — and Soul; tathā api — nonetheless; smaratām — of those who remember; śaśvat — continuously; kleśān — the sufferings; haṁsi — You destroy; hṛdi — in the heart; sthitaḥ — situated.

Translation

For You, the well-wishing friend and Supreme Soul of the universe, there is never any illusion of “us” and “them.” Yet even so, residing within the hearts of all, You eradicate the sufferings of those who remember You constantly.

Purport

The intelligent Queen Kuntī here points out that even though Lord Kṛṣṇa is dealing with her affectionately as a relative, He is not compromising His position as the well-wishing Soul of the universe. In other words, the Lord doesn’t play favorites. As He says in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.29), samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu: “I am equal to everyone.” So while the Lord reciprocates with all souls, it is natural that those who love Him intensely receive His special attention, for they want Him and nothing else.

Devanagari

युधिष्ठिर उवाच
किं न आचरितं श्रेयो न वेदाहमधीश्वर ।
योगेश्वराणां दुर्दर्शो यन्नो द‍ृष्ट: कुमेधसाम् ॥ ११ ॥

Text

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
kiṁ na ācaritaṁ śreyo
na vedāham adhīśvara
yogeśvarāṇāṁ durdarśo
yan no dṛṣṭaḥ ku-medhasām

Synonyms

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca — Yudhiṣṭhira said; kim — what; naḥ — by us; ācaritam — performed; śreyaḥ — pious work; na veda — do not know; aham — I; adhīśvara — O supreme controller; yoga — of mystic yoga; īśvarāṇām — by the masters; durdarśaḥ — rarely seen; yat — that; naḥ — by us; dṛṣṭaḥ — seen; ku-medhasam — who are unintelligent.

Translation

King Yudhiṣṭhira said: O supreme controller, I do not know what pious deeds we fools have done so that we can see You, whom the masters of yogic perfection rarely see.

Devanagari

इति वै वार्षिकान् मासान् राज्ञा सोऽभ्यर्थित: सुखम् ।
जनयन् नयनानन्दमिन्द्रप्रस्थौकसां विभु: ॥ १२ ॥

Text

iti vai vārṣikān māsān
rājñā so ’bhyarthitaḥ sukham
janayan nayanānandam
indraprasthaukasāṁ vibhuḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus; vai — indeed; vārṣikān — of the rainy season; māsān — the months; rājñā — by the King; saḥ — He; abhyarthitaḥ — invited; sukham — happily; janayan — generating; nayana — for the eyes; ānandam — bliss; indraprastha-okasām — of the residents of Indraprastha; vibhuḥ — the almighty Lord.

Translation

Requested by the King to stay with them, the almighty Lord remained happily in Indraprastha during the months of the rainy season, giving joy to the eyes of the city’s residents.

Purport

If possible, the readers of the Bhāgavatam should try to correctly chant the Sanskrit verses, which are exquisitely poetic.

Devanagari

एकदा रथमारुह्य विजयो वानरध्वजम् ।
गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय तूणौ चाक्षयसायकौ ॥ १३ ॥
साकं कृष्णेन सन्नद्धो विहर्तुं विपिनं महत् ।
बहुव्यालमृगाकीर्णं प्राविशत् परवीरहा ॥ १४ ॥

Text

ekadā ratham āruhya
vijayo vānara-dhvajam
gāṇḍīvaṁ dhanur ādāya
tūṇau cākṣaya-sāyakau
sākaṁ kṛṣṇena sannaddho
vihartuṁ vipinaṁ mahat
bahu-vyāla-mṛgākīrṇaṁ
prāviśat para-vīra-hā

Synonyms

ekadā — once; ratham — his chariot; āruhya — mounting; vijayaḥ — Arjuna; vānara — the monkey (Hanumān); dhvajam — on whose flag; gāṇḍīvam — named Gāṇḍīva; dhanuḥ — his bow; ādāya — taking up; tūṇau — his two quivers; ca — and; akṣaya — inexhaustible; sāyakau — whose arrows; sākam — together; kṛṣṇena — with Lord Kṛṣṇa; sannaddhaḥ — wearing armor; vihartum — to sport; vipinam — a forest; mahat — large; bahu — with many; vyāla-mṛga — beasts of prey; ākīrṇam — filled; prāviśat — entered; para — enemy; vīra — of heroes; — the killer.

Translation

Once Arjuna, the slayer of powerful enemies, donned his armor, mounted his chariot flying the flag of Hanumān, took up his bow and his two inexhaustible quivers, and went to sport with Lord Kṛṣṇa in a large forest filled with fierce animals.

Purport

This incident must have taken place after the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest, since Arjuna was now using the Gāṇḍīva bow and other weapons he had acquired during that incident.

Devanagari

तत्राविध्यच्छरैर्व्याघ्रान् शूकरान् महिषान् रुरून् ।
शरभान् गवयान् खड्‍गान् हरिणान् शशशल्ल‍कान् ॥ १५ ॥

Text

tatrāvidhyac charair vyāghrān
śūkarān mahiṣān rurūn
śarabhān gavayān khaḍgān
hariṇān śaśa-śallakān

Synonyms

tatra — there; avidhyat — he shot; śaraiḥ — with his arrows; vyāghrān — tigers; śūkarān — boars; mahiṣān — wild buffalo; rurūn — a species of antelope; śarabhān — a species of deer; gavayān — a wild oxlike mammal; khaḍgān — rhinoceroses; hariṇān — black deer; śaśa — rabbits; śallakān — and porcupines.

Translation

With his arrows Arjuna shot tigers, boars and buffalo in that forest, along with rurus, śarabhas, gavayas, rhinoceroses, black deer, rabbits and porcupines.

Devanagari

तान् निन्यु: किङ्करा राज्ञे मेध्यान् पर्वण्युपागते ।
तृट्परीत: परिश्रान्तो बिभत्सुर्यमुनामगात् ॥ १६ ॥

Text

tān ninyuḥ kiṅkarā rājñe
medhyān parvaṇy upāgate
tṛṭ-parītaḥ pariśrānto
bibhatsur yamunām agāt

Synonyms

tān — them; ninyuḥ — carried; kiṅkarāḥ — servants; rājñe — to the King; medhyān — fit to be offered in sacrifice; parvaṇi — a special occasion; upāgate — approaching; tṛṭ — by thirst; parītaḥ — overcome; pariśrāntaḥ — fatigued; bibhatsuḥ — Arjuna; yamunām — to the Yamunā River; agāt — went.

Translation

A crew of servants carried to King Yudhiṣṭhira the slain animals fit to be offered in sacrifice on some special occasion. Then, feeling thirsty and tired, Arjuna went to the bank of the Yamunā.

Purport

As Śrīla Prabhupāda often explained, the kṣatriyas, or warriors, would hunt in the forest for several purposes: to practice their fighting skills, to control the population of ferocious beasts, who were a threat to human beings, and to provide animals for Vedic sacrifices. The killed animals would be given new bodies by the power of the sacrifices. Since priests no longer have that power, the sacrifices would now constitute mere killing and are thus forbidden.

In the Fourth Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we find that the great sage Nārada severely chastised King Prācīnabarhiṣat for abusing this principle of authorized hunting. In fact, the King had become like modern sportsmen, who cruelly kill animals as a so-called hobby.

Devanagari

तत्रोपस्पृश्य विशदं पीत्वा वारि महारथौ ।
कृष्णौ दद‍ृशतु: कन्यां चरन्तीं चारुदर्शनाम् ॥ १७ ॥

Text

tatropaspṛśya viśadaṁ
pītvā vāri mahā-rathau
kṛṣṇau dadṛśatuḥ kanyāṁ
carantīṁ cāru-darśanām

Synonyms

tatra — there; upaspṛśya — taking bath; viśadam — clear; pītvā — drinking; vāri — the water; mahā-rathau — great chariot warriors; kṛṣṇau — the two Kṛṣṇas; dadṛśatuḥ — saw; kanyām — a maiden; carantīm — walking; cāru-darśanām — charming to see.

Translation

After the two Kṛṣṇas bathed there, they drank the river’s clear water. The great warriors then saw an attractive young girl walking nearby.

Devanagari

तामासाद्य वरारोहां सुद्विजां रुचिराननाम् ।
पप्रच्छ प्रेषित: सख्या फाल्गुन: प्रमदोत्तमाम् ॥ १८ ॥

Text

tām āsādya varārohāṁ
su-dvijāṁ rucirānanām
papraccha preṣitaḥ sakhyā
phālgunaḥ pramadottamām

Synonyms

tām — her; āsādya — approaching; varā — excellent; ārohām — whose hips; su — fine; dvijām — whose teeth; rucira — attractive; ānanām — whose face; papraccha — inquired; preṣitaḥ — sent; sakhyā — by his friend, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; phālgunaḥ — Arjuna; pramadā — the woman; uttamām — extraordinary.

Translation

Sent by his friend, Arjuna approached the exceptional young woman, who possessed beautiful hips, fine teeth and a lovely face, and inquired from her as follows.

Purport

Kṛṣṇa wanted Arjuna to see the deep devotion of this girl, and thus He urged him to make the initial inquiries.

Devanagari

का त्वं कस्यासि सुश्रोणि कुतो वा किं चिकीर्षसि ।
मन्ये त्वां पतिमिच्छन्तीं सर्वं कथय शोभने ॥ १९ ॥

Text

kā tvaṁ kasyāsi su-śroṇi
kuto vā kiṁ cikīrṣasi
manye tvāṁ patim icchantīṁ
sarvaṁ kathaya śobhane

Synonyms

— who; tvam — you; kasya — whose; asi — are you; su-śroṇi — O you with the beautiful waist; kutaḥ — from where; — or; kim — what; cikīrṣasi — do you desire to do; manye — I think; tvām — you; patim — a husband; icchantīm — seeking; sarvam — everything; kathaya — please tell; śobhane — O beautiful one.

Translation

[Arjuna said:] Who are you, O fine-waisted lady? Whose daughter are you, and where do you come from? What are you doing here? I think you must be looking for a husband. Please explain everything, O beautiful one.

Devanagari

श्रीकालिन्द्युवाच
अहं देवस्य सवितुर्दुहिता पतिमिच्छती ।
विष्णुं वरेण्यं वरदं तप: परममास्थित: ॥ २० ॥

Text

śrī-kālindy uvāca
ahaṁ devasya savitur
duhitā patim icchatī
viṣṇuṁ vareṇyaṁ vara-daṁ
tapaḥ paramam āsthitaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-kālindī uvāca — Śrī Kālindī said; aham — I; devasya — of the demigod; savituḥ — Savitā (the sun-god); duhitā — the daughter; patim — as my husband; icchatī — desiring; viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu; vareṇyam — the most choice; vara-dam — bestower of one’s choice; tapaḥ — in austerities; paramam — extreme; āsthitaḥ — engaged.

Translation

Śrī Kālindī said: I am the daughter of the sun-god. I desire to get as my husband the most excellent and munificent Lord Viṣṇu, and to that end I am performing severe penances.

Purport

As Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out, Śrīmatī Kālindī correctly understood that Lord Viṣṇu, being the source of all benedictions, is the supreme husband and can thus fulfill all the desires of His wife.

Devanagari

नान्यं पतिं वृणे वीर तमृते श्रीनिकेतनम् ।
तुष्यतां मे स भगवान् मुकुन्दोऽनाथसंश्रय: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

nānyaṁ patiṁ vṛṇe vīra
tam ṛte śrī-niketanam
tuṣyatāṁ me sa bhagavān
mukundo ’nātha-saṁśrayaḥ

Synonyms

na — no; anyam — other; patim — husband; vṛṇe — will I choose; vīra — O hero; tam — Him; ṛte — except for; śrī — of the goddess of fortune; niketanam — the abode; tuṣyatām — may please be satisfied; me — with me; saḥ — He; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; mukundaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; anātha — of those who have no master; saṁśrayaḥ — the shelter.

Translation

I will accept no husband other than Him, the abode of the goddess of fortune. May that Mukunda, the Supreme Personality, the shelter of the helpless, be pleased with me.

Purport

The beautiful Kālindī here reveals some apprehension. She insists that she will not accept any husband except Lord Kṛṣṇa, and she states that He is the shelter for those who have no other master. Since she will accept no other shelter, Kṛṣṇa must give her shelter. Also, she says, tuṣyatāṁ me sa bhagavān: “May that Supreme Lord be pleased with me.” This is her prayer.

As Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out, although Kālindī is a young, helpless girl staying in a secluded place, she is not afraid. This staunch faith in and devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa is ideal Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and Śrīmatī Kālindī’s desire will soon be fulfilled.

Devanagari

कालिन्दीति समाख्याता वसामि यमुनाजले ।
निर्मिते भवने पित्रा यावदच्युतदर्शनम् ॥ २२ ॥

Text

kālindīti samākhyātā
vasāmi yamunā-jale
nirmite bhavane pitrā
yāvad acyuta-darśanam

Synonyms

kālindī — Kālindī; iti — thus; samākhyātā — named; vasāmi — I am living; yamunā-jale — in the water of the Yamunā; nirmite — built; bhavane — in a mansion; pitrā — by my father; yāvat — until; acyuta — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; darśanam — the seeing.

Translation

I am known as Kālindī, and I live in a mansion my father built for me within the water of the Yamunā. There I will stay until I meet Lord Acyuta.

Purport

Since Kālindī was a beloved child of the sun-god himself, who would dare disturb her? From this incident we can appreciate the beautiful spiritual processes executed in previous ages by great souls. Unlike the so-called love in worldly “love affairs,” beautiful Kālindī’s love for Lord Kṛṣṇa was pure and perfect. Even though Kālindī was a tender young girl, her determination to marry Kṛṣṇa was so strong that she arranged for her father to build her a house in the Yamunā where she could perform severe austerities until the day her beloved came.

Devanagari

तथावदद् गुडाकेशो वासुदेवाय सोऽपि ताम् ।
रथमारोप्य तद् विद्वान् धर्मराजमुपागमत् ॥ २३ ॥

Text

tathāvadad guḍākeśo
vāsudevāya so ’pi tām
ratham āropya tad-vidvān
dharma-rājam upāgamat

Synonyms

tathā — thus; avadat — said; guḍākeśaḥ — Arjuna; vāsudevāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — He; api — and; tām — her; ratham — on His chariot; āropya — taking up; tat — of all this; vidvān — already aware; dharma-rājam — to King Yudhiṣṭhira; upāgamat — He went.

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Arjuna repeated all this to Lord Vāsudeva, who was already aware of it. The Lord then took Kālindī onto His chariot and went back to see King Yudhiṣṭhira.

Devanagari

यदैव कृष्ण: सन्दिष्ट: पार्थानां परमाद्‍भुतम् ।
कारयामास नगरं विचित्रं विश्वकर्मणा ॥ २४ ॥

Text

yadaiva kṛṣṇaḥ sandiṣṭaḥ
pārthānāṁ paramādbutam
kārayām āsa nagaraṁ
vicitraṁ viśvakarmaṇā

Synonyms

yadā eva — when; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sandiṣṭaḥ — requested; pārthānām — for the sons of Pṛthā; parama — most; adbhutam — amazing; kārayām āsa — He had constructed; nagaram — a city; vicitram — full of variety; viśvakarmaṇā — by Viśvakarmā, the architect of the demigods.

Translation

[Describing a previous incident, Śukadeva Gosvāmī said:] Upon the request of the Pāṇḍavas, Lord Kṛṣṇa had Viśvakarmā build them a most wonderful and amazing city.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī mentions that this city was constructed before the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest and hence before the Lord found His bride Kālindī.

Devanagari

भगवांस्तत्र निवसन् स्वानां प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
अग्नये खाण्डवं दातुमर्जुनस्यास सारथि: ॥ २५ ॥

Text

bhagavāṁs tatra nivasan
svānāṁ priya-cikīrṣayā
agnaye khāṇḍavaṁ dātum
arjunasyāsa sārathiḥ

Synonyms

bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tatra — there; nivasan — residing; svānām — for His own (devotees); priya — pleasure; cikīrṣayā — desiring to give; agnaye — to Agni, the demigod of fire; khāṇḍavam — the Khāṇḍava forest; dātum — in order to give; arjunasya — of Arjuna; āsa — He became; sārathiḥ — the chariot driver.

Translation

The Supreme Lord stayed in that city for some time to please His devotees. On one occasion, Śrī Kṛṣṇa wanted to give the Khāṇḍava forest as a gift to Agni, and so the Lord became Arjuna’s charioteer.

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains the sequence of events that occurred during Lord Kṛṣṇa’s stay with the Pāṇḍavas. He states that first the Khāṇḍava forest was burned, then Kālindī was found, then the city was constructed, and then the assembly hall was presented to the Pāṇḍavas.

Devanagari

सोऽग्निस्तुष्टो धनुरदाद्धयान् श्वेतान् रथं नृप ।
अर्जुनायाक्षयौ तूणौ वर्म चाभेद्यमस्‍त्रिभि: ॥ २६ ॥

Text

so ’gnis tuṣṭo dhanur adād
dhayān śvetān rathaṁ nṛpa
arjunāyākṣayau tūṇau
varma cābhedyam astribhiḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — that; agniḥ — Lord Agni; tuṣṭaḥ — pleased; dhanuḥ — a bow; adāt — gave; hayān — horses; śvetān — white; ratham — a chariot; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); arjunāya — to Arjuna; akṣayau — inexhaustible; tūṇau — two quivers; varma — armor; ca — and; abhedyam — unbreakable; astribhiḥ — by wielders of weapons.

Translation

Being pleased, O King, Lord Agni presented Arjuna with a bow, a set of white horses, a chariot, a pair of inexhaustible quivers, and armor that no fighter could pierce with weapons.

Devanagari

मयश्च मोचितो वह्ने: सभां सख्य उपाहरत् ।
यस्मिन् दुर्योधनस्यासीज्जलस्थलद‍ृशिभ्रम: ॥ २७ ॥

Text

mayaś ca mocito vahneḥ
sabhāṁ sakhya upāharat
yasmin duryodhanasyāsīj
jala-sthala-dṛśi-bhramaḥ

Synonyms

mayaḥ — the demon named Maya; ca — and; mocitaḥ — delivered; vahneḥ — from the fire; sabhām — an assembly hall; sakhye — to his friend, Arjuna; upāharat — presented; yasmin — in which; duryodhanasya — of Duryodhana; āsīt — there was; jala — of water; sthala — and dry ground; dṛśi — in seeing; bhramaḥ — confusion.

Translation

When the demon Maya was saved from the fire by his friend Arjuna, Maya presented him with an assembly hall, in which Duryodhana would later mistake water for a solid floor.

Devanagari

स तेन समनुज्ञात: सुहृद्भ‍िश्चानुमोदित: ।
आययौ द्वारकां भूय: सात्यकिप्रमुखैर्वृत: ॥ २८ ॥

Text

sa tena samanujñātaḥ
suhṛdbhiś cānumoditaḥ
āyayau dvārakāṁ bhūyaḥ
sātyaki-pramakhair vṛtaḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — He, Lord Kṛṣṇa; tena — by him, Arjuna; samanujñātaḥ — given leave; su-hṛdbhiḥ — by His well-wishers; ca — and; anumoditaḥ — allowed; āyayau — He went; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; bhūyaḥ — again; sātyaki-pramukhaiḥ — by those headed by Sātyaki; vṛtaḥ — accompanied.

Translation

Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, given leave by Arjuna and other well-wishing relatives and friends, returned to Dvārakā with Sātyaki and the rest of His entourage.

Devanagari

अथोपयेमे कालिन्दीं सुपुण्यर्त्वृक्ष ऊर्जिते ।
वितन्वन् परमानन्दं स्वानां परममङ्गल: ॥ २९ ॥

Text

athopayeme kālindīṁ
su-puṇya-rtv-ṛkṣa ūrjite
vitanvan paramānandaṁ
svānāṁ parama-maṅgalaḥ

Synonyms

atha — then; upayeme — He married; kālindīm — Kālindī; su — very; puṇya — auspicious; ṛtu — the season; ṛkṣe — and the lunar asterism; ūrjite — (on a day) when the configuration of the sun and other heavenly bodies was good; vitanvan — spreading; parama — the greatest; ānandam — pleasure; svānām — for His devotees; parama — supremely; maṅgalaḥ — auspicious.

Translation

The supremely auspicious Lord then married Kālindī on a day when the season, the lunar asterism and the configurations of the sun and other heavenly bodies were all propitious. In this way He brought the greatest pleasure to His devotees.

Devanagari

विन्द्यानुविन्द्यावावन्त्यौ दुर्योधनवशानुगौ ।
स्वयंवरे स्वभगिनीं कृष्णे सक्तां न्यषेधताम् ॥ ३० ॥

Text

vindyānuvindyāv āvantyau
duryodhana-vaśānugau
svayaṁvare sva-bhaginīṁ
kṛṣṇe saktāṁ nyaṣedhatām

Synonyms

vindya-anuvindyau — Vindya and Anuvindya; āvantyau — dual kings of Avantī; duryodhana-vaśa-anugau — subservient to Duryodhana; svayamvare — in the ceremony of choosing her own husband; sva — their; bhaginīm — sister; kṛṣṇe — to Kṛṣṇa; saktām — who was attracted; nyaṣedhatām — they forbade.

Translation

Vindya and Anuvindya, who shared the throne of Avantī, were followers of Duryodhana’s. When the time came for their sister [Mitravindā] to select her husband in the svayaṁvara ceremony, they forbade her to choose Kṛṣṇa, although she was attracted to Him.

Purport

The feelings of enmity between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas were so strong that Mitravindā’s brothers, out of friendship for Duryodhana, forbade the young maiden to accept Kṛṣṇa as her husband.

Devanagari

राजाधिदेव्यास्तनयां मित्रविन्दां पितृष्वसु: ।
प्रसह्य हृतवान् कृष्णो राजन् राज्ञां प्रपश्यताम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

rājādhidevyās tanayāṁ
mitravindāṁ pitṛ-ṣvasuḥ
prasahya hṛtavān kṛṣṇo
rājan rājñāṁ prapaśyatām

Synonyms

rājādhidevyāḥ — of Queen Rājādhidevī; tanayām — the daughter; mitravindām — Mitravindā; pitṛ — of His father; svasuḥ — of the sister; prasahya — forcibly; hṛtavān — took away; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); rājñām — the kings; prapaśyatām — as they watched.

Translation

My dear King, Lord Kṛṣṇa forcibly took away Princess Mitravindā, the daughter of His aunt Rājādhidevī, before the eyes of the rival kings.

Devanagari

नग्नजिन्नाम कौशल्य आसीद् राजातिधार्मिक: ।
तस्य सत्याभवत् कन्या देवी नाग्नजिती नृप ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

nagnajin nāma kauśalya
āsīd rājāti-dhārmikaḥ
tasya satyābhavat kanyā
devī nāgnajitī nṛpa

Synonyms

nagnajit — Nagnajit; nāma — named; kauśalyaḥ — ruler of Kośala (Ayodhyā); āsīt — there was; rājā — a king; ati — very; dhārmikaḥ — religious; tasya — his; satyā — Satyā; abhavat — there was; kanyā — a daughter; devī — lovely; nāgnajitī — also called Nāgnajitī; nṛpa — O King.

Translation

O King, Nagnajit, the very pious King of Kośala, had a lovely daughter named Satyā, or Nāgnajitī.

Devanagari

न तां शेकुर्नृपा वोढुमजित्वा सप्त गोवृषान् ।
तीक्ष्णश‍ृङ्गान् सुदुर्धर्षान् वीर्यगन्धासहान् खलान् ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

na tāṁ śekur nṛpā voḍhum
ajitvā sapta-go-vṛṣān
tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān su-durdharṣān
vīrya-gandhāsahān khalān

Synonyms

na — not; tām — her; śekuḥ — were able; nṛpāḥ — kings; voḍhum — to marry; ajitvā — without defeating; sapta — seven; go-vṛṣān — bulls; tīkṣṇa — sharp; śṛṅgān — whose horns; su — very; durdharṣān — uncontrollable; vīrya — of warriors; gandha — the smell; asahān — not tolerating; khalān — vicious.

Translation

The kings who came as suitors were not allowed to marry her unless they could subdue seven sharp-horned bulls. These bulls were extremely vicious and uncontrollable, and they could not tolerate even the smell of warriors.

Devanagari

तां श्रुत्वा वृषजिल्ल‍भ्यां भगवान् सात्वतां पति: ।
जगाम कौशल्यपुरं सैन्येन महता वृत: ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

tāṁ śrutvā vṛṣa-jil-labhyāṁ
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
jagāma kauśalya-puraṁ
sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ

Synonyms

tām — of her; śrutvā — hearing; vṛṣa — the bulls; jit — by him who conquers; labhyām — attainable; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvatām — of the Vaiṣṇavas; patiḥ — master; jagāma — went; kauśalya-puram — to the capital of the Kauśalya kingdom; sainyena — by an army; mahatā — large; vṛtaḥ — surrounded.

Translation

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the Vaiṣṇavas, heard of the princess who was to be won by the conqueror of the bulls, He went to the capital of Kauśalya with a large army.

Devanagari

स कोशलपति: प्रीत: प्रत्युत्थानासनादिभि: ।
अर्हणेनापि गुरुणा पूजयन् प्रतिनन्दित: ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

sa kośala-patiḥ prītaḥ
pratyutthānāsanādibhiḥ
arhaṇenāpi guruṇā
pūjayan pratinanditaḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — he; kośala-patiḥ — the lord of Kośala; prītaḥ — pleased; pratyutthāna — by standing up; āsana — offering a seat; ādibhiḥ — and so on; arhaṇena — and with offerings; api — also; guruṇā — substantial; pūjayan — worshiping; pratinanditaḥ — was greeted in return.

Translation

The King of Kośala, pleased to see Lord Kṛṣṇa, worshiped Him by rising from his throne and offering Him a seat of honor and substantial gifts. Lord Kṛṣṇa also greeted the King respectfully.

Devanagari

वरं विलोक्याभिमतं समागतं
नरेन्द्रकन्या चकमे रमापतिम् ।
भूयादयं मे पतिराशिषोऽनल:
करोतु सत्या यदि मे धृतो व्रत: ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

varaṁ vilokyābhimataṁ samāgataṁ
narendra-kanyā cakame ramā-patim
bhūyād ayaṁ me patir āśiṣo ’nalaḥ
karotu satyā yadi me dhṛto vrataḥ

Synonyms

varam — suitor; vilokya — seeing; abhimatam — agreeable; samāgatam — arrived; narendra — of the King; kanyā — the daughter; cakame — desired; ramā — of the goddess of fortune; patim — the husband; bhūyāt — may become; ayam — He; me — my; patiḥ — husband; āśiṣaḥ — hopes; analaḥ — the fire; karotu — may it make; satyāḥ — true; yadi — if; me — by me; dhṛtaḥ — sustained; vrataḥ — my vows.

Translation

When the King’s daughter saw that most agreeable suitor arrive, she immediately desired to have Him, the Lord of Goddess Rāma. She prayed, “May He become my husband. If I have kept my vows, may the sacred fire bring about the fulfillment of my hopes.

Devanagari

यत्पादपङ्कजरज: शिरसा बिभर्ति
श्रीरब्जज: सगिरिश: सहलोकपालै: ।
लीलातनु: स्वकृतसेतुपरीप्सया य:
कालेऽदधत्स भगवान् मम केन तुष्येत् ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

yat-pāda-paṅkaja-rajaḥ śirasā bibharti
śṛīr abya-jaḥ sa-giriśaḥ saha loka-pālaiḥ
līlā-tanuḥ sva-kṛta-setu-parīpsayā yaḥ
kāle ’dadhat sa bhagavān mama kena tuṣyet

Synonyms

yat — whose; pāda — of the feet; paṅkaja — lotuslike; rajaḥ — the dust; śirasā — on her head; bibharti — holds; śṛīḥ — the goddess of fortune; abja-jaḥ — Lord Brahmā, who was born from a lotus flower; sa — together with; giri-śaḥ — Lord Śiva, the master of Mount Kailāsa; saha — together with; loka — of the planets; pālaiḥ — the various rulers; līlā — as His pastime; tanuḥ — a body; sva — by Himself; kṛta — created; setu — the codes of religion; parīpsayā — with the desire to protect; yaḥ — who; kāle — in course of time; adadhat — has assumed; saḥ — He; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mama — with me; kena — on account of what; tuṣyet — may be pleased.

Translation

“Goddess Lakṣmī, Lord Brahma, Lord Śiva and the rulers of the various planets place the dust of His lotus feet on their heads, and to protect the codes of religion, which He has created, He assumes pastime incarnations at various times. How may that Supreme Personality of Godhead become pleased with me?”

Devanagari

अर्चितं पुनरित्याह नारायण जगत्पते ।
आत्मानन्देन पूर्णस्य करवाणि किमल्पक: ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

arcitaṁ punar ity āha
nārāyaṇa jagat-pate
ātmānandena pūrṇasya
karavāṇi kim alpakaḥ

Synonyms

arcitam — to Him who had been worshiped; punaḥ — further; iti — as follows; āha — he (King Nagnajit) said; nārāyaṇa — O Nārāyaṇa; jagat — of the universe; pate — O Lord; ātma — within Himself; ānandena — with pleasure; pūrṇasya — for Him who is full; karavāṇi — may I do; kim — what; alpakaḥ — insignificant.

Translation

King Nagnajit first worshiped the Lord properly and then addressed Him: “O Nārāyaṇa, Lord of the universe, You are full in Your own spiritual pleasure. Therefore what can this insignificant person do for You?”

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
तमाह भगवान् हृष्ट: कृतासनपरिग्रह: ।
मेघगम्भीरया वाचा सस्मितं कुरुनन्दन ॥ ३९ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
tam āha bhagavān hṛṣṭaḥ
kṛtāsana-parigrahaḥ
megha-gambhīrayā vācā
sa-smitaṁ kuru-nandana

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tam — to him; āha — said; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; hṛṣṭaḥ — pleased; kṛta — having done; āsana — of a seat; parigrahaḥ — the acceptance; megha — like a cloud; gambhīrayā — deep; vācā — in a voice; sa — with; smitam — a smile; kuru — of the Kurus; nandana — O beloved descendant.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O beloved descendant of Kuru, the Supreme Lord was pleased, and after accepting a comfortable seat He smiled and addressed the King in a voice as deep as the rumbling of a cloud.

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
नरेन्द्र याच्ञा कविभिर्विगर्हिता
राजन्यबन्धोर्निजधर्मवर्तिन: ।
तथापि याचे तव सौहृदेच्छया
कन्यां त्वदीयां न हि शुल्कदा वयम् ॥ ४० ॥

Text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
narendra yācñā kavibhir vigarhitā
rājanya-bandhor nija-dharma-vartinaḥ
tathāpi yāce tava sauhṛdecchayā
kanyāṁ tvadīyāṁ na hi śulka-dā vayam

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; nara-indra — O ruler of men; yācñā — begging; kavibhiḥ — by learned authorities; vigarhitā — condemned; rājanya — of the royal order; bandhoḥ — for a member; nija — in his own; dharma — religious standards; vartinaḥ — who is situated; tathā api — nevertheless; yāce — I am begging; tava — with you; sauhṛda — for friendship; icchayā — out of desire; kanyām — daughter; tvadīyām — your; na — not; hi — indeed; śulka-dāḥ — givers of payment; vayam — We.

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: O ruler of men, learned authorities condemn begging for a person in the royal order who is executing his religious duties. Even so, desiring your friendship, I ask you for your daughter, though We offer no gifts in exchange.

Devanagari

श्रीराजोवाच
कोऽन्यस्तेऽभ्यधिको नाथ कन्यावर इहेप्सित: ।
गुणैकधाम्नो यस्याङ्गे श्रीर्वसत्यनपायिनी ॥ ४१ ॥

Text

śrī-rājovāca
ko ’nyas te ’bhyadhiko nātha
kanyā-vara ihepsitaḥ
guṇaika-dhāmno yasyāṅge
śrīr vasaty anapāyinī

Synonyms

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King, Nagnajit, said; kaḥ — who; anyaḥ — other; te — to You; abhyadhikaḥ — superior; nātha — O master; kanyā — for my daughter; varaḥ — groom; iha — in this world; īpsitaḥ — desirable; guṇa — of transcendental qualities; eka — only; dhāmnaḥ — who is the abode; yasya — on whose; aṅge — body; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; vasati — resides; anapāyinī — never leaving.

Translation

The King said: My Lord, who could be a better husband for my daughter than You, the exclusive abode of all transcendental qualities? On Your body the goddess of fortune herself resides, never leaving You for any reason.

Devanagari

किन्‍त्‍वस्माभि: कृत: पूर्वं समय: सात्वतर्षभ ।
पुंसां वीर्यपरीक्षार्थं कन्यावरपरीप्सया ॥ ४२ ॥

Text

kintv asmābhiḥ kṛtaḥ pūrvaṁ
samayaḥ sātvatarṣabha
puṁsāṁ vīrya-parīkṣārthaṁ
kanyā-vara-parīpsayā

Synonyms

kintu — but; asmābhiḥ — by us (her family); kṛtaḥ — made; pūrvam — previously; samayaḥ — a stipulation; sātvata-ṛṣabha — O chief of the Sātvatas; puṁsām — of the men (who came as suitors); vīrya — the prowess; parīkṣā — of testing; artham — for the purpose; kanyā — for my daughter; vara — the husband; parīpsayā — with the desire of finding.

Translation

But to ascertain the proper husband for my daughter, O chief of the Sātvatas, we previously set a condition to test the prowess of her suitors.

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the King’s actual purpose in setting up the test was to obtain Śrī Kṛṣṇa as his son-in-law, since only He could subdue the bulls. Without such a test it would have been difficult for Nagnajit to refuse the many apparently qualified princes and kings who came to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Devanagari

सप्तैते गोवृषा वीर दुर्दान्ता दुरवग्रहा: ।
एतैर्भग्ना: सुबहवो भिन्नगात्रा नृपात्मजा: ॥ ४३ ॥

Text

saptaite go-vṛṣā vīra
durdāntā duravagrahāḥ
etair bhagnāḥ su-bahavo
bhinna-gātrā nṛpātmajāḥ

Synonyms

sapta — seven; ete — these; go-vṛṣāḥ — bulls; vīra — O hero; durdāntāḥ — wild; duravagrahāḥ — unbreakable; etaiḥ — by them; bhagnāḥ — defeated; su-bahavaḥ — very many; bhinna — broken; gātrāḥ — their limbs; nṛpa — of kings; ātma-jāḥ — sons.

Translation

These seven wild bulls are impossible to tame, O hero. They have defeated many princes, breaking their limbs.

Devanagari

यदिमे निगृहीता: स्युस्त्वयैव यदुनन्दन ।
वरो भवानभिमतो दुहितुर्मे श्रिय:पते ॥ ४४ ॥

Text

yad ime nigṛhītāḥ syus
tvayaiva yadu-nandana
varo bhavān abhimato
duhitur me śriyaḥ-pate

Synonyms

yat — if; ime — they; nigṛhītāḥ — subdued; syuḥ — become; tvayā — by You; eva — indeed; yadu-nandana — O descendant of Yadu; varaḥ — groom; bhavān — You; abhimataḥ — approved; duhituḥ — for the daughter; me — my; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; pate — O husband.

Translation

If You can subdue them, O descendant of Yadu, You will certainly be the appropriate bridegroom for my daughter, O Lord of Śrī.

Devanagari

एवं समयमाकर्ण्य बद्ध्वा परिकरं प्रभु: ।
आत्मानं सप्तधा कृत्वा न्यगृह्णाल्ल‍ीलयैव तान् ॥ ४५ ॥

Text

evaṁ samayam ākarṇya
baddhvā parikaraṁ prabhuḥ
ātmānaṁ saptadhā kṛtvā
nyagṛhṇāl līlayaiva tān

Synonyms

evam — thus; samayam — the condition; ākarṇya — hearing; baddhvā — tightening; parikaram — His clothing; prabhuḥ — the Lord; ātmānam — Himself; saptadhā — as seven; kṛtvā — making; nyagṛhṇāt — He subdued; līlayā — like play; eva — simply; tān — them.

Translation

Upon hearing these terms, the Lord tightened His clothing, expanded Himself into seven forms and easily subdued the bulls.

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Lord Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into seven forms not only to playfully defeat the seven bulls but also to show Princess Satya that she would not have to compete with His other queens, since He could enjoy with all of them simultaneously.

Devanagari

बद्ध्वा तान् दामभि: शौरिर्भग्नदर्पान् हतौजस: ।
व्यकर्षल्ल‍ीलया बद्धान् बालो दारुमयान् यथा ॥ ४६ ॥

Text

baddhvā tān dāmabhiḥ śaurir
bhagna-darpān hataujasaḥ
vyakarsal līlayā baddhān
bālo dāru-mayān yathā

Synonyms

baddhvā — tying up; tān — them; dāmabhiḥ — with ropes; śauriḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhagna — broken; darpān — their pride; hata — lost; ojasaḥ — their strength; vyakarṣat — He dragged; līlayā — playfully; baddhān — tied up; bālaḥ — a boy; dāru — of wood; mayān — made; yathā — as.

Translation

Lord Śauri tied up the bulls, whose pride and strength were now broken, and pulled them with ropes just as a child playfully pulls wooden toy bulls.

Devanagari

तत: प्रीत: सुतां राजा ददौ कृष्णाय विस्मित: ।
तां प्रत्यगृह्णाद् भगवान् विधिवत् सद‍ृशीं प्रभु: ॥ ४७ ॥

Text

tataḥ prītaḥ sutāṁ rājā
dadau kṛṣṇāya vismitaḥ
tāṁ pratyagṛhṇād bhagavān
vidhi-vat sadṛśīṁ prabhuḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ — then; prītaḥ — pleased; sutām — his daughter; rājā — the King; dadau — gave; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vismitaḥ — astonished; tām — her; pratyagṛhṇāt — accepted; bhagavān — the Supreme Person; vidhi-vat — in accordance with Vedic prescriptions; sadṛśīm — compatible; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord.

Translation

Then King Nagnajit, pleased and astonished, presented his daughter to Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted this suitable bride in the proper Vedic fashion.

Purport

The word sadṛśīm indicates that the lovely princess was a fitting bride for the Lord because she possessed wonderful transcendental qualities that complemented His. As Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī points out, the word vismitaḥ indicates that King Nagnajit was certainly astonished at the many extraordinary events suddenly taking place in his life.

Devanagari

राजपत्न्‍यश्च दुहितु: कृष्णं लब्ध्वा प्रियं पतिम् ।
लेभिरे परमानन्दं जातश्च परमोत्सव: ॥ ४८ ॥

Text

rāja-patnyaś ca duhituḥ
kṛṣṇaṁ labdhvā priyaṁ patim
lebhire paramānandaṁ
jātaś ca paramotsavaḥ

Synonyms

rāja — of the King; patnyaḥ — the wives; ca — and; duhituḥ — of his daughter; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; labdhvā — obtaining; priyam — dear; patim — husband; lebhire — they experienced; parama — the greatest; ānandam — ecstasy; jātaḥ — there arose; ca — and; parama — the greatest; utsavaḥ — festivity.

Translation

The King’s wives felt the greatest ecstasy upon attaining Lord Kṛṣṇa as the dear husband of the royal princess, and a mood of great festivity arose.

Devanagari

शङ्खभेर्यानका नेदुर्गीतवाद्यद्विजाशिष: ।
नरा नार्य: प्रमुदिता: सुवास:स्रगलङ्कृता: ॥ ४९ ॥

Text

śaṅkha-bhery-ānakā nedur
gīta-vādya-dvijāśiṣaḥ
narā nāryaḥ pramuditāḥ
suvāsaḥ-srag-alaṅkṛtāḥ

Synonyms

śaṅkha — conchshells; bherī — horns; ānakāḥ — and drums; neduḥ — resounded; gīta — songs; vādya — instrumental music; dvija — of the brāhmaṇas; āśiṣaḥ — and blessings; narāḥ — men; nāryaḥ — women; pramuditāḥ — joyful; su-vāsaḥ — with fine clothing; srak — and garlands; alaṅkṛtāḥ — decorated.

Translation

Conchshells, horns and drums resounded, along with vocal and instrumental music and the sounds of brāhmaṇas, invoking blessings. The joyful men and women adorned themselves with fine clothing and garlands.

Devanagari

दशधेनुसहस्राणि पारिबर्हमदाद् विभु: ।
युवतीनां त्रिसाहस्रं निष्कग्रीवसुवाससम् ॥ ५० ॥
नवनागसहस्राणि नागाच्छतगुणान् रथान् ।
रथाच्छतगुणानश्वानश्वाच्छतगुणान् नरान् ॥ ५१ ॥

Text

daśa-dhenu-sahasrāṇi
pāribarham adād vibhuḥ
yuvatīnāṁ tri-sāhasraṁ
niṣka-grīva-suvāsasam
nava-nāga-sahasrāṇi
nāgāc chata-guṇān rathān
rathāc chata-guṇān aśvān
aśvāc chata-guṇān narān

Synonyms

daśa — ten; dhenu — of cows; sahasrāṇi — thousands; pāribarham — wedding gift; adāt — gave; vibhuḥ — the powerful (King Nagnajit); yuvatīnām — of young women; tri-sāhasram — three thousand; niṣka — golden ornaments; grīva — on whose necks; su — excellent; vāsasam — whose dress; nava — nine; nāga — of elephants; sahasrāṇi — thousands; nāgāt — than the elephants; śata-guṇān — one hundred times more (nine hundred thousand); rathān — chariots; rathāt — than the chariots; śata-guṇān — one hundred times more (ninety million); aśvān — horses; aśvāt — than the horses; śata-guṇān — one hundred times more (nine billion); narān — men.

Translation

As the dowry, powerful King Nagnajit gave ten thousand cows, three thousand young maidservants wearing golden ornaments on their necks and bedecked in fine clothing, nine thousand elephants, a hundred times as many chariots as elephants, a hundred times as many horses as chariots, and a hundred times as many manservants as horses.

Devanagari

दम्पती रथमारोप्य महत्या सेनया वृतौ ।
स्‍नेहप्रक्लिन्नहृदयो यापयामास कोशल: ॥ ५२ ॥

Text

dampatī ratham āropya
mahatyā senayā vṛtau
sneha-praklinna-hṛdayo
yāpayām āsa kośalaḥ

Synonyms

dam-patī — the couple; ratham — their chariot; āropya — having them mount; mahatyā — by a large; senayā — army; vṛtau — accompanied; sneha — with affection; praklinna — melting; hṛdayaḥ — his heart; yāpayām āsa — sent them off; kośalaḥ — the King of Kośala.

Translation

The King of Kośala, his heart melting with affection, had the bride and groom seated on their chariot, and then he sent them on their way surrounded by a great army.

Devanagari

श्रुत्वैतद् रुरुधुर्भूपा नयन्तं पथि कन्यकाम् ।
भग्नवीर्या: सुदुर्मर्षा यदुभिर्गोवृषै: पुरा ॥ ५३ ॥

Text

śrutvaitad rurudhur bhūpā
nayantaṁ pathi kanyakām
bhagna-vīryāḥ su-durmarṣā
yadubhir go-vṛṣaiḥ purā

Synonyms

śrutvā — hearing; etat — this; rurudhuḥ — they obstructed; bhū-pāḥ — the kings; nayantam — who was taking; pathi — along the road; kanyakām — His bride; bhagna — broken; vīryāḥ — whose strength; su — very; durmarṣāḥ — intolerant; yadubhiḥ — by the Yadus; go-vṛṣaiḥ — by the bulls; purā — before.

Translation

When the intolerant kings who had been rival suitors heard what had happened, they tried to stop Lord Kṛṣṇa on the road as He took His bride home. But just as the bulls had broken the kings’ strength before, the Yadu warriors broke it now.

Devanagari

तानस्यत: शरव्रातान् बन्धुप्रियकृदर्जुन: ।
गाण्डीवी कालयामास सिंह: क्षुद्रमृगानिव ॥ ५४ ॥

Text

tān asyataḥ śara-vrātān
bandhu-priya-kṛd arjunaḥ
gāṇḍīvī kālayām āsa
siṁhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgān iva

Synonyms

tān — them; asyataḥ — throwing; śara — of arrows; vrātān — multitudes; bandhu — his friend (Lord Kṛṣṇa); priya — to please; kṛt — acting; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; gaṇḍīvī — the possessor of the bow Gāṇḍīva; kālayām āsa — drove them away; siṁhaḥ — a lion; kṣudra — insignificant; mṛgān — animals; iva — as.

Translation

Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow, was always eager to please his friend Kṛṣṇa, and thus he drove back those opponents, who were shooting torrents of arrows at the Lord. He did this just as a lion drives away insignificant animals.

Devanagari

पारिबर्हमुपागृह्य द्वारकामेत्य सत्यया ।
रेमे यदूनामृषभो भगवान् देवकीसुत: ॥ ५५ ॥

Text

pāribarham upāgṛhya
dvārakām etya satyayā
reme yadūnām ṛṣabho
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ

Synonyms

pāribarham — the dowry; upāgṛhya — taking; dvārakām — at Dvārakā; etya — arriving; satyayā — with Satyā; reme — enjoyed; yadūnām — of the Yadus; ṛṣabhaḥ — the chief; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; devakī-sutaḥ — the son of Devakī.

Translation

Lord Devakī-suta, the chief of the Yadus, then took His dowry and Satyā to Dvārakā and continued to live there happily.

Devanagari

श्रुतकीर्ते: सुतां भद्रां उपयेमे पितृष्वसु: ।
कैकेयीं भ्रातृभिर्दत्तां कृष्ण: सन्तर्दनादिभि: ॥ ५६ ॥

Text

śrutakīrteḥ sutāṁ bhadrāṁ
upayeme pitṛ-ṣvasuḥ
kaikeyīṁ bhrātṛbhir dattāṁ
kṛṣṇaḥ santardanādibhiḥ

Synonyms

śrutakīrteḥ — of Śrutakīrti; sutām — the daughter; bhadrām — named Bhadrā; upayeme — married; pitṛ-svasuḥ — of His father’s sister; kaikeyīm — the princess of Kaikeya; bhrātṛbhiḥ — by her brothers; dattām — given; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; santardana-ādibhiḥ — headed by Santardana.

Translation

Bhadrā was a princess of the Kaikeya kingdom and the daughter of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s paternal aunt Śrutakīrti. The Lord married Bhadrā when her brothers, headed by Santardana, offered her to Him.

Devanagari

सुतां च मद्राधिपतेर्लक्ष्मणां लक्षणैर्युताम् ।
स्वयंवरे जहारैक: स सुपर्ण: सुधामिव ॥ ५७ ॥

Text

sutāṁ ca madrādhipater
lakṣmaṇāṁ lakṣaṇair yatām
svayaṁvare jahāraikaḥ
sa suparṇaḥ sudhām iva

Synonyms

sutām — the daughter; ca — and; madra-adhipateḥ — of the ruler of Madra; lakṣmaṇām — Lakṣmaṇā; lakṣaṇaiḥ — with all good qualities; yutām — endowed; svayam-vare — during her ceremony to choose a husband; jahāra — took away; ekaḥ — alone; saḥ — He, Lord Kṛṣṇa; suparṇaḥ — Garuḍa; sudhām — nectar; iva — as.

Translation

Then the Lord married Lakṣmaṇā, the daughter of the King of Madra. Kṛṣṇa appeared alone at her svayaṁvara ceremony and took her away, just as Garuḍa once stole the demigods’ nectar.

Devanagari

अन्याश्चैवंविधा भार्या: कृष्णस्यासन् सहस्रश: ।
भौमं हत्वा तन्निरोधादाहृताश्चारुदर्शना: ॥ ५८ ॥

Text

anyāś caivaṁ-vidhā bhāryāḥ
kṛṣṇasyāsan sahasraśaḥ
bhaumaṁ hatvā tan-nirodhād
āhṛtāś cāru-darśanāḥ

Synonyms

anyāḥ — other; ca — and; evam-vidhāḥ — just like these; bhāryāḥ — wives; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; āsan — became; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands; bhaumam — (the demon) Bhauma; hatvā — after killing; tat — by him, Bhauma; nirodhāt — from their captivity; āhṛtāḥ — taken; cāru — beautiful; darśanāḥ — whose appearance.

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa also acquired thousands of other wives equal to these when He killed Bhaumāsura and freed the beautiful maidens the demon was holding captive.

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Fifty-eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Kṛṣṇa Marries Five Princesses.”