śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; bhagavan — my lord (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); yāni — which; ca — and; anyāni — others; mukundasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the Supreme Soul; vīryāṇi — valorous deeds; ananta — unlimited; vīryasya — whose valor; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; he prabho — O master.

kaḥ — who; nu — indeed; śrutvā — having heard; asakṛt — repeatedly; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sat — transcendental; kathāḥ — topics; virameta — can desist; viśeṣa — the essence (of life); jñaḥ — who knows; viṣaṇṇaḥ — disgusted; kāma — for material desire; mārgaṇaiḥ — with seeking.

sā — that (is); vāk — power of speech; yayā — by which; tasya — His; guṇān — qualities; gṛṇīte — one describes; karau — pair of hands; ca — and; tat — His; karma — work; karau — doing; manaḥ — mind; ca — and; smaret — remembers; vasantam — dwelling; sthira — within the unmoving; jaṅgameṣu — and moving; śṛṇoti — hears; tat — His; puṇya — sanctifying; kathāḥ — topics; saḥ — that (is); karṇaḥ — an ear.

śiraḥ — head; tu — and; tasya — of Him; ubhaya — both; liṅgam — to the manifestations; ānamet — bows down; tat — that; eva — only; yat — which; paśyati — sees; tat — that; hi — indeed; cakṣuḥ — eye; aṅgāni — limbs; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; atha — or; tat — His; janānām — of the devotees; pāda-udakam — the water which has washed the feet; yāni — which; bhajanti — honor; nityam — regularly.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; viṣṇu-rātena — by Viṣṇurāta (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); sampṛṣṭaḥ — well questioned; bhagavān — the powerful sage; bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śukadeva; vāsudeve — in Lord Vāsudeva; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nimagna — fully absorbed; hṛdayaḥ — his heart; abravīt — he spoke.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āsīt — there was; sakhā — friend (named Sudāmā); kaścit — a certain; brāhmaṇaḥ — brāhmaṇa; brahma — in the Vedas; vit-tamaḥ — most learned; viraktaḥ — detached; indriya-artheṣu — from the objects of sense enjoyment; praśānta — peaceful; ātmā — whose mind; jita — conquered; indriyaḥ — whose senses.

yadṛcchayā — of its own accord; upapannena — by what was obtained; vartamānaḥ — existing; gṛha-āśramī — in the household order of life; tasya — of him; bhāryā — the wife; ku-cailasya — who was poorly dressed; kṣut — from hunger; kṣāmā — emaciated; ca — and; tathā-vidhā — similarly.

pati-vratā — faithful to her husband; patim — to her husband; prāha — she said; mlāyatā — drying up; vadanena — with her face; sā — she; daridram — poor; sīdamānā — distressed; vai — indeed; vepamānā — trembling; abhigamya — approaching; ca — and.

nanu — indeed; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; bhagavataḥ — of your exalted self; sakhā — the friend; sākṣāt — directly; śriyaḥ — of the supreme goddess of fortune; patiḥ — the husband; brahmaṇyaḥ — compassionate to brāhmaṇas; ca — and; śaraṇyaḥ — willing to give shelter; ca — and; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvata — of the Yādavas; ṛṣabhaḥ — the best.

tam — Him; upaihi — approach; mahā-bhaga — O fortunate one; sādhūnām — of saintly devotees; ca — and; para-ayaṇam — the ultimate shelter; dāsyati — He will give; draviṇam — wealth; bhūri — plentiful; sīdate — suffering; te — to you; kuṭumbine — who are maintaining a family.

āste — is present; adhunā — now; dvāravatyām — at Dvārakā; bhoja-vṛṣṇi-andhaka — of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas; īśvaraḥ — the Lord; smarataḥ — to one who remembers; pāda-kamalam — His lotus feet; ātmanām — Himself; api — even; yacchati — He gives; kim nu — what then to speak of; artha — economic success; kāmān — and sense gratification; bhajataḥ — to one who worships Him; na — not; ati — very much; abhīṣṭān — desirable; jagat — of the whole universe; guruḥ — the spiritual master.

saḥ — he; evam — in this way; bhāryayā — by his wife; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa; bahuśaḥ — profusely; prārthitaḥ — entreated; muhuḥ — over and over; ayam — this; hi — indeed; paramaḥ — the supreme; lābhaḥ — gain; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; darśanam — the sight; iti — so; sañcintya — thinking; manasā — within his mind; gamanāya — to go; matim dadhe — he made his decision; api — whether; asti — there is; upāyanam — gift; kiñcit — some; gṛhe — in the house; kalyāṇi — my good woman; dīyatām — please give.

yācitvā — begging; caturaḥ — four; muṣṭīn — fistfuls; viprān — from the (neighboring) brāhmaṇas; pṛthuka-taṇḍulān — flat rice; caila — of cloth; khaṇḍena — with a ripped piece; tān — them; baddhvā — tying up; bhartre — to her husband; prādāt — she gave; upāyanam — gift.

saḥ — he; tān — them; ādāya — taking; vipra-agryaḥ — the best of brāhmaṇas; prayayau — went; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; kila — indeed; kṛṣṇa-sandarśanam — the audience of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahyam — for me; katham — how; syāt — will it happen; iti — thus; cintayan — thinking.

trīṇi — three; gulmāni — contingents of guards; atīyāya — passing; tisraḥ — three; kakṣāḥ — gateways; ca — and; sa-dvijaḥ — accompanied by brāhmaṇas; vipraḥ — the learned brāhmaṇa; agamya — impassable; andhaka-vṛṣṇīnām — of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis; gṛheṣu — between the houses; acyuta — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dharmiṇām — who follow faithfully; gṛham — residence; dvi — two; aṣṭa — times eight; sahasrāṇām — thousands; mahiṣīṇām — of the queens; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvijaḥ — the brāhmaṇa; viveśa — entered; ekatamam — one of them; śrī-mat — opulent; brahma-ānandam — the bliss of impersonal liberation; gataḥ — attaining; yathā — as if.

tam — him; vilokya — seeing; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dūrāt — at a distance; priyā — of His beloved consort; paryaṅkam — on the bed; āsthitaḥ — seated; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — rising; ca — and; abhyetya — coming forward; dorbhyām — in His arms; paryagrahīt — embraced; mudā — with pleasure.

sakhyuḥ — of His friend; priyasya — dear; vipra-ṛṣeḥ — the sagacious brāhmaṇa; aṅga — of the body; saṅga — by the contact; ati — extremely; nirvṛtaḥ — ecstatic; prītaḥ — affectionate; vyamuñcat — He released; ap — of water; bindūn — drops; netrābhyām — from His eyes; puṣkara-īkṣaṇaḥ — the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead.

atha — then; upaveśya — having him sit; paryaṅke — on the bed; svayam — Himself; sakhyuḥ — for His friend; samarhaṇam — items of worship; upahṛtya — bringing forward; avanijya — washing; asya — his; pādau — feet; pāda-avanejanīḥ — the water which had washed his feet; agrahīt — He took; śirasā — on His head; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; loka — of all worlds; pāvanaḥ — the purifier; vyalimpat — He anointed him; divya — divine; gandhena — whose fragrance; candana — with sandalwood paste; aguru — aloe-wood paste; kuṅkumaiḥ — and vermilion; dhūpaiḥ — with incense; surabhibhiḥ — aromatic; mitram — His friend; pradīpa — of lamps; avalibhiḥ — with rows; mudā — gladly; arcitvā — worshiping; āvedya — offering as refreshment; tāmbūlam — betel nut; gām — a cow; ca — and; su-āgatam — welcome; abravīt — He spoke.

ku — poor; cailam — whose dress; malinam — dirty; kṣāmam — emaciated; dvijam — the brāhmaṇa; dhamani-santatam — his veins visible; devī — the goddess of fortune; paryacarat — served; sākṣāt — personally; cāmara — with a yak-tail fan; vyajanena — by fanning; vai — indeed.

antaḥ-pura — of the royal palace; janaḥ — the people; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; amala — spotless; kīrtinā — whose fame; vismitaḥ — amazed; abhūt — they became; ati — intense; prītyā — with loving affection; avadhūtam — the unkempt brāhmaṇa; sabhājitam — honored.

kim — what; anena — by him; kṛtam — was done; puṇyam — pious activity; avadhūtena — unwashed; bhikṣuṇā — by the mendicant; śriyā — of prosperity; hīnena — who is deprived; loke — in the world; asmin — this; garhitena — condemned; adhamena — lowly; ca — and; yaḥ — who; asau — himself; tri — three; loka — of the planetary systems of the universe; guruṇā — by the spiritual master; śrī — of Lakṣmī, the supreme goddess of fortune; nivāsena — the abode; sambhṛtaḥ — served reverentially; paryaṅka — on her bed; sthām — seated; śrīyam — the goddess of fortune; hitvā — leaving aside; pariṣvaktaḥ — embraced; agra-jaḥ — an elder brother; yathā — as.

kathayām cakratuḥ — they discussed; gāthāḥ — topics; pūrvāḥ — of the past; gurukule — in the school of their spiritual master; satoḥ — who used to reside; ātmanoḥ — of themselves; lalitāḥ — charming; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); karau — hands; gṛhya — taking hold of; parasparam — each other’s.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; api — whether; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; gurukulāt — from the spiritual master’s school; bhavatā — by your good self; labdha — having received; dakṣiṇāt — remuneration; samāvṛttena — returned; dharma — of religious principles; jña — O knower; bhāryā — a wife; ūḍhā — married; sadṛśī — suitable; na — not; vā — or.

prāyaḥ — for the most part; gṛheṣu — in household affairs; te — your; cittam — mind; akāma-vihitam — uninfluenced by material desires; tathā — also; na — not; eva — indeed; ati — very much; prīyase — you take pleasure; vidvan — O wise one; dhaneṣu — in the pursuit of material wealth; viditam — it is known; hi — indeed; me — by Me.

kecit — some people; kurvanti — execute; karmāṇi — worldly duties; kāmaiḥ — by desires; ahata — undisturbed; cetasaḥ — whose minds; tyayantaḥ — giving up; prakṛtīḥ — propensities; daivīḥ — created by the Supreme Lord’s material energy; yathā — as; aham — I; loka-saṅgraham — to instruct the people in general.

kaccit — whether; gurukule — in the spiritual master’s school; vāsam — residence; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; smarasi — you remember; nau — our; yataḥ — from which (spiritual master); dvijaḥ — a twice-born person; vijñāya — understanding; vijñeyam — what needs to be known; tamasaḥ — of ignorance; pāram — the transcending; aśnute — experiences.

saḥ — he; vai — indeed; sat — sanctified; karmaṇām — of duties; sākṣāt — directly; dvi-jāteḥ — of one who has been twice born; iha — in this material life; sambhavaḥ — birth; ādyaḥ — first; aṅga — My dear friend; yatra — through whom; āśramiṇām — for the members of all the spiritual orders of society; yathā — as; aham — Myself; jñāna — of divine knowledge; daḥ — the bestower; guruḥ — spiritual master.

nanu — certainly; artha — of their true welfare; kovidāḥ — expert knowers; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; varṇāśrama-vatām — among those engaged in the varṇāśrama system; iha — in this world; ye — who; mayā — by Me; guruṇā — as the spiritual master; vācā — through his words; taranti — cross beyond; añjaḥ — easily; bhava — of material life; arṇavam — the ocean.

na — not; aham — I; ijyā — by ritual worship; prajātibhyām — the higher birth of brāhmaṇa initiation; tapasā — by austerity; upaśamena — by self-control; vā — or; tuṣyeyam — can be satisfied; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātmā — the Soul; guru — to one’s spiritual master; śuśrūṣayā — by faithful service; yathā — as.

api — whether; naḥ — of us; smaryate — are remembered; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; vṛttam — what we did; nivasatām — who were living; gurau — with our spiritual master; guru — of our guru; dāraiḥ — by the wife; coditānām — who were sent; indhana — firewood; anayane — for fetching; kvacit — once; praviṣṭānām — having entered; mahā-araṇyam — the large forest; apa-ṛtau — unseasonal; su-mahat — very great; dvija — O twice-born one; vāta — wind; varṣam — and rain; abhūt — arose; tīvram — fierce; niṣṭhurāḥ — harsh; stanayitnavaḥ — thundering.

sūryaḥ — the sun; ca — and; astam gataḥ — having set; tāvat — thereupon; tamasā — by darkness; ca — and; āvṛtāḥ — covered; diśaḥ — all the directions; nimnam — low; kūlam — high land; jala-mayam — with water all around; na prājñāyata — could not be recognized; kiñcana — any.

vayam — we; bhṛśam — thoroughly; tatra — there; mahā — great; anila — by the wind; ambubhiḥ — and water; nihanyamānāḥ — beset; muhuḥ — continuously; ambu-samplave — in the flooding; diśaḥ — the directions; avidantaḥ — unable to discern; atha — then; parasparam — each other’s; vane — in the forest; gṛhīta — holding; hastāḥ — hands; paribabhrima — we wandered; āturāḥ — distressed.

etat — this; viditvā — knowing; udite — when it rose; ravau — the sun; sāndīpaniḥ — Sāndīpani; guruḥ — our spiritual master; anveṣamāṇaḥ — searching; naḥ — for us; śiṣyān — his disciples; ācāryaḥ — our teacher; apaśyat — saw; āturān — who were distressed.

aho — ah; he putrakaḥ — O children; yūyam — you; asmat — our; arthe — for the sake; ati — extremely; duḥkhitāḥ — have suffered; ātmā — the body; vai — indeed; prāṇinām — for all living beings; preṣṭhaḥ — the most dear; tam — that; anādṛtya — disregarding; mat — to me; parāḥ — dedicated.

etat — this; eva — alone; hi — certainly; sat — true; śiṣyaiḥ — by disciples; kartavyam — to be done; guru — to the spiritual master; niṣkṛtam — repayment of one’s debt; yat — which; vai — indeed; viśuddha — completely pure; bhāvena — with an attitude; sarva — of all; artha — assets; ātmā — and one’s body; arpaṇam — the offering; gurau — to one’s spiritual master.

tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; aham — I am; bho — my dear ones; dvija — of brāhmaṇas; śreṣṭhāḥ — O best; satyāḥ — fulfilled; santu — may they be; manaḥ-rathāḥ — your desires; chandāṁsi — Vedic mantras; ayāta-yāmāni — never growing old; bhavantu — may they be; iha — in this world; paratra — in the next world; ca — and.

ittham-vidhāni — like this; anekāni — many things; vasatām — by us who were living; guru — of our spiritual master; veśmani — in the home; guroḥ — of the spiritual master; anugraheṇa — by the mercy; eva — simply; pumān — a person; pūrṇaḥ — fulfilled; praśāntaye — for attaining total peace.

śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa said; kim — what; asmābhiḥ — by us; anirvṛttam — not achieved; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; guro — O spiritual master; bhavatā — with You; satya — fulfilled; kāmena — all whose desires; yeṣām — whose; vāsaḥ — residence; guroḥ — at the home of the spiritual master; abhūt — was.

yasya — whose; chandaḥ — the Vedas; mayam — consisting of; brahma — the Absolute Truth; dehe — within the body; āvapanam — the sowing field; vibho — O almighty Lord; śreyasām — of auspicious goals; tasya — His; guruṣu — with spiritual masters; vāsaḥ — residence; atyanta — extreme; viḍambanam — pretense.