śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — the son of Badarāyaṇa (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); uvāca — said; ekadā — one day; upavanam — to a small forest; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); jagmuḥ — went; yadu-kumārakāḥ — boys of the Yadu dynasty; vihartum — to play; sāmba-pradyumna-cāru-bhānu-gada-ādayaḥ — Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and others.

krīḍitvā — after playing; su-ciram — for a long time; tatra — there; vicinvantaḥ — looking for; pipāsitāḥ — thirsty; jalam — water; nirudake — waterless; kūpe — in a well; dadṛśuḥ — they saw; sattvam — a creature; adbhutam — amazing.

kṛkalāsam — a lizard; giri — a mountain; nibham — resembling; vīkṣya — looking at; vismita — astonished; mānasāḥ — whose minds; tasya — of it; ca — and; uddharaṇe — in the lifting up; yatnam — effort; cakruḥ — made; te — they; kṛpayā anvitāḥ — feeling compassion.

carma-jaiḥ — made of leather; tāntavaiḥ — and made of spun thread; pāśaiḥ — with ropes; baddhvā — attaching; patitam — the fallen creature; arbhakāḥ — the boys; na aśaknuran — they were not able; samuddhartum — to lift out; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; ācakhyuḥ — they reported; utsukāḥ — excitedly.

tatra — there; āgatya — going; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; viśva — of the universe; bhāvanaḥ — the maintainer; vīkṣya — seeing; ujjahāra — picked up; vāmena — left; tam — it; kareṇa — with His hand; saḥ — He; līlayā — easily.

saḥ — it; uttamaḥ-śloka — of the glorious Lord; kara — by the hand; abhimṛṣṭaḥ — touched; vihāya — giving up; sadyaḥ — immediately; kṛkalāsa — of a lizard; rūpam — the form; santapta — molten; cāmīkara — of gold; caru — beautiful; varṇaḥ — whose complexion; svargī — a resident of heaven; adbhuta — amazing; alaṅkaraṇa — whose ornaments; ambara — clothing; srak — and garlands.

papraccha — He asked; vidvān — well aware; api — although; tat — of this; nidānam — the cause; janeṣu — among people in general; vikhyāpayitum — to make it known; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kaḥ — who; tvam — you; mahā-bhāga — O fortunate one; vareṇya — excellent; rūpaḥ — whose form; deva-uttamam — an exalted demigod; tvām — You; gaṇayāmi — I should consider; nūnam — certainly.

daśām — condition; imām — to this; vā — and; katamena — by what; karmaṇā — action; samprāpitaḥ — brought; asi — you are; atat-arhaḥ — not deserving it; su-bhadra — O good soul; ātmānam — yourself; ākhyāhi — please explain; vivitsatām — who are eager to know; naḥ — to us; yat — if; manyase — you think; naḥ — to us; kṣamam — proper; atra — here; vaktum — to speak.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; sma — indeed; rājā — the King; sampṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; mūrtinā — whose forms; mādhavam — to Him, Lord Mādhava; praṇipatya — bowing down; āha — he spoke; kirīṭena — with his helmet; arka — like the sun; varcasa — whose brilliance.

nṛgaḥ uvāca — King Nṛga said; nṛgaḥ nāma — named Nṛga; nara-indraḥ — a ruler of men; aham — I; ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ — a son of Ikṣvāku; prabho — O Lord; dāniṣu — among men of charity; ākhyāyamāneṣu — when being enumerated; yadi — perhaps; te — Your; karṇam — ear; aspṛśam — I have touched.

kim — what; nu — indeed; te — to You; aviditam — unknown; nātha — O master; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātma — of the intelligence; sākṣiṇaḥ — to the witness; kālena — by time; avyāhata — undisturbed; dṛśaḥ — whose vision; vakṣye — I will speak; atha api — nevertheless; tava — Your; ājñayā — by the order.

yāvatyaḥ — as many; sikatāḥ — grains of sand; bhūmeḥ — belonging to the earth; yāvatyaḥ — as many; divi — in the sky; tārakāḥ — stars; yāvatyaḥ — as many; varṣa — of a rainfall; dhārāḥ — drops; ca — and; tāvatīḥ — that many; adadam — I gave; sma — indeed; gāḥ — cows.

payaḥ-vinīḥ — having milk; taruṇīḥ — young; śīla — with good behavior; rūpa — beauty; guṇa — and other qualities; upapannāḥ — endowed; kapilāḥ — brown; hema — gold; śṛṅgīḥ — with horns; nyāya — fairly; arjitāḥ — earned; rūpya — silver; khurāḥ — with hooves; sa-vatsāḥ — together with their calves; dukūla — fine cloth; mālā — with garlands; ābharaṇāḥ — adorned; dadau — gave; aham — I.

su — well; alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ — who were ornamented; guṇa — good qualities; śīla — and character; vadbhyaḥ — who possessed; sīdat — distressed; kuṭumbebhyaḥ — whose families; ṛta — to truth; vratebhyaḥ — dedicated; tapaḥ — for austerity; śruta — well known; brahma — in the Vedas; vadānya — vastly learned; sadbhyaḥ — saintly; prādām — I gave; yuvabhyaḥ — who were young; dvija — to brāhmaṇas; pum-gavebhyaḥ — most exceptional; go — cows; bhū — land; hiraṇya — gold; āyatana — houses; aśva — horses; hastinaḥ — and elephants; kanyāḥ — marriageable daughters; sa — with; dāsīḥ — maidservants; tila — sesame; rūpya — silver; śayyāḥ — and beds; vāsāṁsi — clothing; ratnāni — jewels; paricchadān — furniture; rathān — chariots; iṣṭam — worship executed; ca — and; yajñaiḥ — by Vedic fire sacrifices; caritam — done; ca — and; pūrtam — pious works.

kasyacit — of a certain; dvija — brāhmaṇa; mukhyasya — first class; bhraṣṭā — lost; gauḥ — a cow; mama — my; go-dhane — in the herd; sampṛktā — becoming mixed; aviduṣā — who was unaware; sā — she; ca — and; mayā — by me; dattā — given; dvi-jātaye — to (another) brāhmaṇa.

tām — her, the cow; nīyamānām — being led away; tat — her; svāmī — master; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; uvāca — said; mama — mine; iti — thus; tam — to him; mama — mine; iti — thus; parigrāhī — he who had accepted the gift; āha — said; nṛgaḥ — King Nṛga; me — to me; dattavān — gave; iti — thus.

viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; vivadamānau — arguing; mām — to me; ūcatuḥ — said; sva — their own; artha — interest; sādhakau — fulfilling; bhavān — you, sir; dātā — giver; apahartā — taker; iti — thus; tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; me — my; abhavat — there arose; bhramaḥ — consternation.

anunītau — humbly requested; ubhau — both; viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; dharma — of religious duty; kṛcchra — a difficult situation; gatena — by (me) who was in; vai — indeed; gavām — of cows; lakṣam — a lakh (one hundred thousand); prakṛṣṭānām — best quality; dāsyāmi — I will give; eṣā — this one; pradīyatām — please give; bhavantau — the two of you; anugṛhṇītām — should please show mercy; kiṅkarasya — to your servant; avijānataḥ — who was unaware; samuddharatam — please save; mām — me; kṛcchrāt — from danger; patantam — falling; niraye — into hell; aśucau — unclean.

na — not; aham — I; pratīcche — want; vai — indeed; rājan — O King; iti — thus; uktvā — saying; svāmī — the owner; apākramat — went away; na — not; anyat — in addition; gavām — of cows; api — even; ayutam — ten thousand; icchāmi — I want; iti — thus saying; aparaḥ — the other (brāhmaṇa); yayau — left.

etasmin — at this; antare — opportunity; yāmaiḥ — of Yamarāja, the lord of death; dūtaiḥ — by the messengers; nītaḥ — taken; yama-kṣayam — to the abode of Yamarāja; yamena — by Yamarāja; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — there; aham — I; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; pate — O master.

pūrvam — first; tvam — you; aśubham — impious reactions; bhuṅkṣe — wish to experience; uta āha u — or else; nṛ-pate — O King; śubham — pious reactions; na — not; antam — the end; dānasya — of charity; dharmasya — religious; paśye — I see; lokasya — of the world; bhāsvataḥ — shining.

pūrvam — first; deva — O lord; aśubham — the sinful reactions; bhuñje — I will experience; iti — thus saying; prāha — said; pata — fall; iti — thus; saḥ — he; tāvat — just then; adrākṣam — I saw; ātmānam — myself; kṛkalāsam — a lizard; patan — falling; prabho — O master.

brahmaṇyasya — who was devoted to the brāhmaṇas; vadānyasya — who was generous; tava — Your; dāsasya — of the servant; keśava — O Kṛṣṇa; smṛtiḥ — the memory; na — not; adya — today; api — even; vidhvastā — lost; bhavat — Your; sandarśana — audience; arthinaḥ — who hankered for.

saḥ — He; tvam — Yourself; katham — how; mama — to me; vibho — O almighty one; akṣi-pathaḥ — visible; para-ātmā — the Supreme Soul; yoga — of mystic yoga; īśvaraiḥ — by masters; śruti — of the scriptures; dṛśā — by the eye; amala — spotless; hṛt — within their hearts; vibhāvyaḥ — to be meditated upon; sākṣāt — directly visible; adhokṣaja — O transcendental Lord, who cannot be seen by material senses; uru — severe; vyasana — by troubles; andha — blinded; buddheḥ — whose intelligence; syāt — it may be; me — for me; anudṛśyaḥ — to be perceived; iha — in this world; yasya — whose; bhava — of material life; apavargaḥ — cessation.

deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; nātha — O master; go-vinda — O Lord of the cows; puruṣa-uttama — O Supreme Personality; nārāyaṇa — O foundation of all living beings; hṛṣīkeśa — O master of the senses; puṇya-śloka — O You who are glorified in transcendental poetry; acyuta — O infallible one; avyaya — O undiminishing one; anujānīhi — please give leave; mām — to me; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; yāntam — who am going; deva-gatim — to the world of the demigods; prabho — O master; yatra kva api — wherever; sataḥ — residing; cetaḥ — the mind; bhūyāt — may it be; me — my; tvat — Your; pada — of the feet; āspadam — whose shelter.

namaḥ — obeisances; te — to You; sarva-bhāvāya — the source of all beings; brahmaṇe — the Supreme Absolute Truth; ananta — unlimited; śaktaye — the possessor of potencies; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vāsudevāya — the son of Vasudeva; yogānām — of all processes of yoga; pataye — to the Lord; namaḥ — obeisances.

iti — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; pādau — His feet; spṛṣṭvā — touching; sva — with his; maulinā — crown; anujñātaḥ — given leave; vimāna — a celestial airplane; agryam — excellent; āruhat — he boarded; paśyatām — as they watched; nṛṇām — humans.

kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; parijanam — His personal associates; prāha — addressed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality; devakī-sutaḥ — son of Devakī; brahmaṇya — devoted to the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — God; dharma — of religion; ātmā — the soul; rājanyān — the royal class; anuśikṣayan — in effect instructing.

durjaram — indigestible; bata — indeed; brahma — of a brāhmaṇa; svam — the property; bhuktam — consumed; agneḥ — than fire; manāk — a little; api — even; tejīyasaḥ — for one who is more intensely potent; api — even; kim uta — what then to speak of; rājñām — for kings; īśvara — controllers; māninām — who presume themselves.

na — not; aham — I; hālāhalam — the poison named hālāhala, which Lord Śiva is famous for having drunk without toxic effects; manye — I consider; viṣam — poison; yasya — of which; pratikriyā — counteraction; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; hi — indeed; viṣam — poison; proktam — called; na — not; asya — for it; pratividhiḥ — antidote; bhuvi — in the world.

hinasti — destroys; viṣam — poison; attāram — the one who ingests; vahniḥ — fire; adbhiḥ — with water; praśāmyati — is extinguished; kulam — one’s family; sa-mūlam — to the root; dahati — burns; brahma-sva — a brāhmaṇa’s property; araṇi — whose kindling wood; pāvakaḥ — the fire.

brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; duranujñātam — not given proper permission; bhuktam — enjoyed; hanti — destroys; tri — three; pūruṣam — persons; prasahya — by force; tu — but; balāt — resorting to external power (of the government, etc.); bhuktam — enjoyed; daśa — ten; pūrvān — previous; daśa — ten; aparān — subsequent.

rājānaḥ — members of the kingly class; rāja — royal; lakṣmyā — by opulence; andhāḥ — blinded; na — do not; ātma — their own; pātam — fall; vicakṣate — foresee; nirayam — hell; ye — who; abhimanyante — hanker for; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; sādhu — as appropriate; bāliśaḥ — childish.

gṛhṇanti — touch; yāvataḥ — as many; pāṁśūn — particles of dust; krandatām — who are crying; aśru-bindavaḥ — teardrops; viprāṇām — of brāhmaṇas; hṛta — taken away; vṛttīnām — whose means of support; vadānyānām — generous; kuṭumbinām — family men; rājānaḥ — the kings; rāja-kulyāḥ — other members of the royal families; ca — also; tāvataḥ — that many; abdān — years; niraṅkuśāḥ — uncontrolled; kumbhī-pākeṣu — in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka; pacyante — they are cooked; brahma-dāya — of the brāhmaṇa’s share; apahāriṇaḥ — the usurpers.

sva — by himself; dattām — given; para — by another; dattām — given; vā — or; brahma-vṛttim — a brāhmaṇa’s property; haret — steals; ca — and; yaḥ — who; ṣaṣṭi — sixty; varṣa — of years; sahasrāṇi — thousands; viṣṭhāyām — in feces; jāyate — is born; kṛmiḥ — a worm.

na — not; me — to Me; brahma — of brāhmaṇas; dhanam — the wealth; bhūyāt — may it come; yat — which; gṛdhvā — desiring; alpa-āyuṣaḥ — short-lived; narāḥ — men; parājitāḥ — defeated; cyutāḥ — deprived; rājyāt — of kingdom; bhavanti — become; udvejinaḥ — creators of distress; ahayaḥ — snakes.

vipram — a learned brāhmaṇa; kṛta — having committed; āgasam — sin; api — even; na — not; eva — indeed; druhyata — do not treat inimically; māmakāḥ — O My followers; ghnantam — striking physically; bahu — repeatedly; śapantam — cursing; vā — or; namaḥ-kuruta — you should offer obeisances; nityaśaḥ — always.

yathā — as; aham — I; praṇame — bow down; viprān — to brāhmaṇas; anu-kālam — all the time; samāhitaḥ — carefully; tathā — so; namata — should bow down; yūyam — all of you; ca — also; yaḥ — one who; anyathā — (does) otherwise; me — by Me; saḥ — he; daṇḍa — for punishment; bhāk — a candidate.

brāhmaṇa — of a brāhmaṇa; arthaḥ — the property; hi — indeed; apahṛtaḥ — taken away; hartāram — the taker; pātayati — causes to fall; adhaḥ — down; ajānantam — unaware; api — even; hi — indeed; enam — this person; nṛgam — King Nṛga; brāhmaṇa — of the brāhmaṇa; gauḥ — the cow; iva — as.

evam — thus; viśrāvya — making hear; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; mukundaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; pāvanaḥ — the purifier; sarva — of all; lokānām — the worlds; viveśa — He entered; nija — His; mandiram — palace.