CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees
This chapter describes how Arjuna kidnapped Subhadrā and how Lord Kṛṣṇa went to Mithilā to bless His devotees Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva.
When King Parīkṣit desired to learn about the marriage of his grandmother, Subhadrā-devī, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said, “While touring on pilgrimage, Arjuna heard that Lord Baladeva intended to give the hand of His sister Subhadrā to Duryodhana in marriage. Wanting to kidnap Subhadrā and marry her himself, Arjuna disguised himself as a renunciant and went to Dvārakā. So effective was the disguise that neither Balarāma nor any other resident of Dvārakā recognized him; rather, they all showed him the respect due a Vaiṣṇava mendicant. In this way the four months of the rainy season passed. One day Arjuna received an invitation to dine at Lord Balarāma’s home. There he caught sight of Subhadrā and was immediately overwhelmed with desire for her. Subhadrā also desired to have Arjuna as her husband, and thus she glanced back at him shyly. A few days later, Subhadrā left the palace to participate in a chariot festival. Taking this opportunity, Arjuna abducted Subhadrā and defeated the Yādavas who tried to stop him. Lord Balarāma was at first greatly angered to hear of this, but when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and other family members pacified Him, He became joyful and sent the bride and groom off with elaborate wedding gifts.”
There was a brāhmaṇa devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s named Śrutadeva, who lived in the city of Mithilā. By the will of Providence, he could earn only barely enough to keep himself and his family alive. Still, he was always satisfied and spent all his time executing his religious duties. King Bahulāśva was another great devotee of the Lord residing in Mithilā. A member of the dynasty in which King Janaka had appeared, Bahulāśva ruled over the whole province of Videha, yet he remained as detached from material wealth as Śrutadeva. Pleased with the devotional attitude of both these great souls, Lord Kṛṣṇa went on His chariot to Mithilā to visit them, taking along Nārada and several other learned sages. The people of Mithilā greeted the Lord and His saintly entourage with great delight. Bearing various gifts for Kṛṣṇa, they bowed down and offered obeisances to both Him and the sages.
Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva both stepped forward and respectfully requested Śrī Kṛṣṇa to visit their homes. To satisfy both of them, the Lord expanded Himself and went to each of their homes simultaneously. They each worshiped Him suitably, offered prayers, washed His feet and then sprinkled themselves and all their family members with the wash water. Lord Kṛṣṇa then praised the sages who were with Him and glorified brāhmaṇas in general. He also imparted instructions to His hosts concerning devotional service. Understanding these instructions, both Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva honored the sages and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa with single-minded devotion. Lord Kṛṣṇa then returned to Dvārakā.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मन् वेदितुमिच्छाम: स्वसारां रामकृष्णयो: ।
यथोपयेमे विजयो या ममासीत् पितामही ॥ १ ॥
Text
brahman veditum icchāmaḥ
svasārāṁ rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ
yathopayeme vijayo
yā mamāsīt pitāmahī
Synonyms
Translation
King Parīkṣit said: O brāhmaṇa, we would like to learn how Arjuna married Lord Balarāma’s and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sister, who was my grandmother.
Purport
Parīkṣit Mahārāja turns now to the topic of the marriage of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sister, Subhadrā. In the opinion of Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, King Parīkṣit’s question here follows from the previous narration because Arjuna’s winning the hand of Subhadrā was just as difficult a feat as Lord Kṛṣṇa’s retrieving the sons of Devakī from the realm of the dead, since Lord Balarāma Himself opposed Subhadrā’s marriage to Arjuna.
Devanagari
अर्जुनस्तीर्थयात्रायां पर्यटन्नवनीं प्रभु: ।
गत: प्रभासमशृणोन्मातुलेयीं स आत्मन: ॥ २ ॥
दुर्योधनाय रामस्तां दास्यतीति न चापरे ।
तल्लिप्सु: स यतिर्भूत्वा त्रिदण्डी द्वारकामगात् ॥ ३ ॥
Text
arjunas tīrtha-yātrāyāṁ
paryaṭann avanīṁ prabhuḥ
gataḥ prabhāsam aśṛṇon
mātuleyīṁ sa ātmanaḥ
dāsyatīti na cāpare
tal-lipsuḥ sa yatir bhūtvā
tri-daṇḍī dvārakām agāt
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; tīrtha — to holy places; yātrāyām — while on pilgrimage; paryaṭan — wandering; avanīm — the earth; prabhuḥ — the great lord; gataḥ — having gone; prabhāsam — to Prabhāsa; aśṛṇot — heard; mātuleyīm — uncle’s daughter; saḥ — he; ātmanaḥ — his; duryodhanāya — to Duryodhana; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; tām — her; dāsyati — intends to give; iti — thus; na — not; ca — and; apare — anyone else; tat — her; lipsuḥ — desirous of obtaining; saḥ — he, Arjuna; yatiḥ — a sannyāsī; bhūtvā — becoming; tri-daṇḍī — carrying a triple staff; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; agāt — went.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While traveling far and wide visiting various holy places of pilgrimage, Arjuna came to Prabhāsa. There he heard that Lord Balarāma intended to give his maternal cousin Subhadrā to Duryodhana in marriage, and that no one else approved of this plan. Arjuna wanted to marry her himself, so he disguised himself as a renunciant, complete with triple staff, and went to Dvārakā.
Purport
Arjuna’s plan for obtaining Subhadrā as his wife may have seemed unconventional, but he was not acting without encouragement; in fact, Lord Kṛṣṇa was his prime co-conspirator. And in Dvārakā, most of the members of the royal family, especially Vasudeva, were unhappy about giving their favorite daughter to Duryodhana.
Devanagari
पौरै: सभाजितोऽभीक्ष्णं रामेणाजानता च स: ॥ ४ ॥
Text
avātsīt svārtha-sādhakaḥ
pauraiḥ sabhājito ’bhīkṣṇaṁ
rāmeṇājānatā ca saḥ
Synonyms
tatra — there; vai — indeed; vārṣikān — of the rainy season; māsān — for the months; avātsīt — he resided; sva — his own; artha — purpose; sādhakaḥ — trying to achieve; pauraiḥ — by the people of the city; sabhājitaḥ — honored; abhīkṣṇam — constantly; rāmeṇa — by Lord Balarāma; ajānatā — who was unaware; ca — and; saḥ — he.
Translation
He stayed there during the monsoon months to fulfill his purpose. Lord Balarāma and the other residents of the city, not recognizing him, offered him all honor and hospitality.
Devanagari
श्रद्धयोपहृतं भैक्ष्यं बलेन बुभुजे किल ॥ ५ ॥
Text
ātithyena nimantrya tam
śraddhayopahṛtaṁ bhaikṣyaṁ
balena bubhuje kila
Synonyms
Translation
One day Lord Balarāma brought him to His home as His invited dinner guest, and Arjuna ate the food the Lord respectfully offered him.
Purport
From the explanation of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, it is understood that Arjuna in his sannyāsī role had just finished the four-month vows of the rainy season and could now again accept general invitations from householders. Thus no one would have suspected any unusual motive in his visiting Lord Balarāma at this time.
Devanagari
प्रीत्युत्फुल्लेक्षणस्तस्यां भावक्षुब्धं मनो दधे ॥ ६ ॥
Text
kanyāṁ vīra-mano-harām
prīty-utphullekṣaṇas tasyāṁ
bhāva-kṣubdhaṁ mano dadhe
Synonyms
Translation
There he saw the wonderful maiden Subhadrā, who was enchanting to heroes. His eyes opened wide with delight, and his mind became agitated and absorbed in thoughts of her.
Devanagari
हसन्ती व्रीडितापाङ्गी तन्न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणा ॥ ७ ॥
Text
nārīṇāṁ hṛdayaṁ-gamam
hasantī vrīḍitāpaṅgī
tan-nyasta-hṛdayekṣaṇā
Synonyms
Translation
Arjuna was very attractive to women, and as soon as Subhadrā saw him, she wanted to have him as her husband. Smiling bashfully with sidelong glances, she fixed her heart and eyes upon him.
Purport
As soon as she saw him, Subhadrā knew that Arjuna was no sannyāsī but rather her destined consort. In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda elaborates: “Arjuna, the grandfather of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, was himself extraordinarily beautiful and his bodily structure was very attractive to Subhadrā. Subhadrā also decided within her mind that she would accept only Arjuna as her husband. As a simple girl, she was smiling with great pleasure, looking at Arjuna.”
Devanagari
न लेभे शं भ्रमच्चित्त: कामेनातिबलीयसा ॥ ८ ॥
Text
antaraṁ prepsur arjunaḥ
na lebhe śaṁ bhramac-cittaḥ
kāmenāti-balīyasā
Synonyms
Translation
Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.
Purport
Even while being honored by Lord Balarāma, Arjuna was too distracted to appreciate the Lord’s gracious hospitality. Arjuna’s distraction and Lord Balarāma’s failure to recognize Arjuna in his disguise were both arrangements of the Supreme Lord to enjoy His transcendental pastimes.
Devanagari
जहारानुमत: पित्रो: कृष्णस्य च महारथ: ॥ ९ ॥
Text
ratha-sthāṁ durga-nirgatāṁ
jahārānumataḥ pitroḥ
kṛṣṇasya ca mahā-rathaḥ
Synonyms
mahatyām — important; deva — for the Supreme Lord; yātrāyām — during a festival; ratha — on a chariot; sthām — riding; durga — from the fortress; nirgatām — having exited; jahāra — he seized her; anumataḥ — sanctioned; pitroḥ — by her parents; kṛṣṇasya — by Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; mahā-rathaḥ — the mighty chariot warrior.
Translation
Once, on the occasion of a great temple festival in honor of the Supreme Lord, Subhadrā rode out of the fortresslike palace on a chariot, and at that time the mighty chariot warrior Arjuna took the opportunity to kidnap her. Subhadrā’s parents and Kṛṣṇa had sanctioned this.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī identifies this festival as the annual Ratha-yātrā for Lord Viṣṇu on the occasion of His rising from mystic sleep at the end of Cāturmāsya. Subhadrā’s parents are Vasudeva and Devakī.
Devanagari
विद्राव्य क्रोशतां स्वानां स्वभागं मृगराडिव ॥ १० ॥
Text
śūrāṁś cārundhato bhaṭān
vidrāvya krośatāṁ svānāṁ
sva-bhāgaṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva
Synonyms
ratha — on his chariot; sthaḥ — standing; dhanuḥ — his bow; ādāya — taking up; śūrān — the heroes; ca — and; arundhataḥ — trying to block him; bhaṭān — and the guards; vidrāvya — driving off; krośatām — as they shouted in anger; svānām — her relatives; sva — his own; bhāgam — rightful portion; mṛga-rāṭ — the king of animals, the lion; iva — just as.
Translation
Standing on his chariot, Arjuna took up his bow and drove off the valiant fighters and palace guards who tried to block his way. As her relatives shouted in anger, he took Subhadrā away just as a lion takes his prey from the midst of lesser animals.
Devanagari
गृहीतपाद: कृष्णेन सुहृद्भिश्चानुसान्त्वित: ॥ ११ ॥
Text
parvaṇīva mahārṇavaḥ
gṛhīta-pādaḥ kṛṣṇena
suhṛdbhiś cānusāntvitaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
When He heard of Subhadrā’s kidnapping, Lord Balarāma became as disturbed as the ocean during the full moon, but Lord Kṛṣṇa respectfully took hold of His feet and, together with other family members, pacified Him by explaining the matter.
Devanagari
महाधनोपस्करेभरथाश्वनरयोषित: ॥ १२ ॥
Text
vara-vadhvor mudā balaḥ
mahā-dhanopaskarebha-
rathāśva-nara-yoṣitaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Balarāma then happily sent the bride and groom very valuable wedding gifts consisting of elephants, chariots, horses and male and female servants.
Devanagari
कृष्णस्यासीद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ: श्रुतदेव इति श्रुत: ।
कृष्णैकभक्त्या पूर्णार्थ: शान्त: कविरलम्पट: ॥ १३ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇasyāsīd dvija-śreṣṭhaḥ
śrutadeva iti śrutaḥ
kṛṣṇaika-bhaktyā pūrṇārthaḥ
śāntaḥ kavir alampataḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva said; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āsīt — there was; dvija — of brāhmaṇas; śreṣṭhaḥ — one of the best; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; iti — thus; śrutaḥ — known; kṛṣṇa — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; eka — exclusive; bhaktyā — by his devotion; pūrṇa — full; arthaḥ — in all goals of desire; śāntaḥ — peaceful; kaviḥ — learned and discriminating; alampaṭaḥ — not desirous of sense gratification.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: There was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa’s known as Śrutadeva, who was a first-class brāhmaṇa. Perfectly satisfied by rendering unalloyed devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, he was peaceful, learned and free from sense gratification.
Devanagari
अनीहयागताहार्यनिर्वर्तितनिजक्रिय: ॥ १४ ॥
Text
mithilāyāṁ gṛhāśramī
anīhayāgatāhārya-
nirvartita-nija-kriyaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he; uvāsa — dwelled; videheṣu — in the kingdom of Videha; mithilāyām — in the city of Mithilā; gṛha-āśramī — as a member of the regulated order of family life; anīhayā — without endeavor; āgata — came to him; āhārya — by food and other means of sustenance; nirvartita — carried out; nija — his; kriyaḥ — obligations.
Translation
Living as a religious householder in the city of Mithilā, within the kingdom of Videha, he managed to fulfill his obligations while maintaining himself with whatever sustenance easily came his way.
Devanagari
नाधिकं तावता तुष्ट: क्रिया चक्रे यथोचिता: ॥ १५ ॥
Text
daivād upanamaty uta
nādhikaṁ tāvatā tuṣṭaḥ
kriyā cakre yathocitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
By the will of Providence he obtained each day just what he needed for his maintenance, and no more. Satisfied with this much, he properly executed his religious duties.
Purport
An ideal Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa, even if encumbered by the ties of family life, should work only as hard as required to meet his obligations. Without being unnecessarily agitated for material advancement, he should devote the best part of his time and assets to his higher duties in the Supreme Lord’s service. If a householder can succeed in this program despite the unavoidable difficulties of this degraded age, he can expect Lord Kṛṣṇa’s personal attention, as will be seen in the case of Śrutadeva, the perfect brāhmaṇa of Mithilā.
Devanagari
मैथिलो निरहम्मान उभावप्यच्युतप्रियौ ॥ १६ ॥
Text
bahulāśva iti śrutaḥ
maithilo niraham-māna
ubhāv apy acyuta-priyau
Synonyms
tathā — also (an advanced devotee of Kṛṣṇa); tat — of that; rāṣṭra — kingdom; pālaḥ — the ruler; aṅga — my dear (Parīkṣit); bahulāśvaḥ iti śrutaḥ — known as Bahulāśva; maithilaḥ — of the royal dynasty descending from King Mithila (Janaka); niraham-mānaḥ — free from false ego; ubhau — both of them; api — indeed; acyuta-priyau — dear to Lord Acyuta.
Translation
Similarly free from false ego was the ruler of that kingdom, my dear Parīkṣit, a descendant of the Mithila dynasty named Bahulāśva. Both these devotees were very dear to Lord Acyuta.
Devanagari
आरुह्य साकं मुनिभिर्विदेहान् प्रययौ प्रभु: ॥ १७ ॥
Text
dārukeṇāhṛtaṁ ratham
āruhya sākaṁ munibhir
videhān prayayau prabhuḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Pleased with both of them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead mounted His chariot, which Dāruka had brought, and traveled to Videha with a group of sages.
Purport
In his commentary on this verse, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī states that Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva were unable to travel to Dvārakā to see Lord Kṛṣṇa because both of them had vowed to regularly worship their personal Deity at home. Śrī Kṛṣṇa was very glad to go out of His way to give them both His audience, and while leaving Dvārakā He insisted that the sages who wanted to come with Him should join Him on His chariot, because otherwise they would exhaust themselves following on foot. Renowned sages would ordinarily never even consider traveling in such an opulent conveyance, but on the Lord’s order they put aside their natural aversion and joined Him on His chariot.
Devanagari
अहं बृहस्पति: कण्वो मैत्रेयश्च्यवनादय: ॥ १८ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇo rāmo ’sito ’ruṇiḥ
ahaṁ bṛhaspatiḥ kaṇvo
maitreyaś cyavanādayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Among these sages were Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paraśurāma, Asita, Aruṇi, myself, Bṛhaspati, Kaṇva, Maitreya and Cyavana.
Devanagari
उपतस्थु: सार्घ्यहस्ता ग्रहै: सूर्यमिवोदितम् ॥ १९ ॥
Text
paurā jānapadā nṛpa
upatasthuḥ sārghya-hastā
grahaiḥ sūryam ivoditam
Synonyms
tatra tatra — in each place; tam — Him; āyāntam — as He was coming; paurāḥ — city residents; jānapadāḥ — and village residents; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); upatasthuḥ — came forward to greet Him; sa — with; arghya — water to offer as a token of respect; hastāḥ — in their hands; grahaiḥ — by the planets; sūryam — the sun; iva — as; uditam — risen.
Translation
In every city and town the Lord passed along the way, O King, the people came forward to worship Him with offerings of arghya water in their hands, as if to worship the risen sun surrounded by planets.
Purport
Here the sages traveling with Kṛṣṇa on His chariot are likened to planets around the sun.
Devanagari
पाञ्चालकुन्तिमधुकेकयकोशलार्णा: ।
अन्ये च तन्मुखसरोजमुदारहास-
स्निग्धेक्षणं नृप पपुर्दृशिभिर्नृनार्य: ॥ २० ॥
Text
pāñcāla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kośalārṇāḥ
anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udāra-hāsa-
snigdhekṣaṇaṁ nṛpa papur dṛśibhir nr-nāryaḥ
Synonyms
ānarta — the people of Ānarta (the region in which Dvārakā is situated); dhanva — the desert (of Gujarat and Rajasthan); kuru-jāṅgala — the region of the Kuru forests (the districts of Thaneswar and Kurukṣetra); kaṅka — Kaṅka; matsya — Matsya (the kingdoms of Jaipur and Aloyar); pāñcāla — the districts surrounding both banks of the Ganges; kunti — Mālava; madhu — Mathurā; kekaya — in northeast Punjab, the region between the Śatadru and Vipāśā rivers; kośala — the ancient kingdom of Lord Rāmacandra, stretching from the northern border of Kāśī to the Himālayas; arṇāḥ — and the kingdom bordering Mithilā on the east; anye — others; ca — also; tat — His; mukha — face; sarojam — lotus; udāra — generous; hāsa — with its smiles; snigdha — and affectionate; īkṣaṇam — glances; nṛpa — O King; papuḥ — drank; dṛśibhiḥ — with their eyes; nṛ-nāryaḥ — the men and women.
Translation
The men and women of Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pañcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa and many other kingdoms drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotuslike face, which was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.
Devanagari
क्षेमं त्रिलोकगुरुरर्थदृशं च यच्छन् ।
शृण्वन् दिगन्तधवलं स्वयशोऽशुभघ्नं
गीतं सुरैर्नृभिरगाच्छनकैर्विदेहान् ॥ २१ ॥
Text
kṣemaṁ tri-loka-gurur artha-dṛśaṁ ca yacchan
śṛṇvan dig-anta-dhavalaṁ sva-yaśo ’śubha-ghnaṁ
gītaṁ surair nṛbhir agāc chanakair videhān
Synonyms
tebhyaḥ — to them; sva — His; vīkṣaṇa — by the glance; vinaṣṭa — destroyed; tamisra — the darkness; dṛgbhyaḥ — of whose eyes; kṣemam — fearlessness; tri — three; loka — of the worlds; guruḥ — the spiritual master; artha-dṛśam — spiritual vision; ca — and; yacchan — bestowing; śṛṇvan — hearing; dik — of the directions; anta — the ends; dhavalam — which purify; sva — His; yaśaḥ — glories; aśubha — inauspiciousness; ghnam — which eradicate; gītam — sung; suraiḥ — by demigods; nṛbhiḥ — and by men; agāt — He came; śanakaiḥ — gradually; videhān — to the kingdom of Videha.
Translation
Simply by glancing at those who came to see Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the three worlds, delivered them from the blindness of materialism. As He thus endowed them with fearlessness and divine vision, He heard demigods and men singing His glories, which purify the entire universe and destroy all misfortune. Gradually, He reached Videha.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī raises the logical question of how the ordinary people along the path could even see the Lord, since not only were their eyes covered by ignorance, but the Lord’s chariot was traveling faster than the wind. Supplying the answer, Śrīla Jīva indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s special glance of mercy empowered every one of them with the devotional purity required for entering into His association. Otherwise, He would have remained outside the scope of their power to see, as He Himself states in His instructions to Uddhava: bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ. “I can be perceived only by devotion.” (Bhāg. 11.14.21) By the grammatical rule of compound formation known as eka-śeṣa, the term sta-vīkṣaṇa-vinaṣṭa-tamisra-dṛgbhyaḥ, although in its primary sense inflected as a masculine noun, may be understood in this context as referring to both men and women.
Devanagari
अभीयुर्मुदितास्तस्मै गृहीतार्हणपाणय: ॥ २२ ॥
Text
paurā jānapadā nṛpa
abhīyur muditās tasmai
gṛhītārhaṇa-pāṇayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing that Lord Acyuta had arrived, O King, the residents of the cities and villages of Videha joyfully came forth to receive Him with offerings in their hands.
Devanagari
कैर्धृताञ्जलिभिर्नेमु: श्रुतपूर्वांस्तथा मुनीन् ॥ २३ ॥
Text
prīty-utphulānanāśayāḥ
kair dhṛtāñjalibhir nemuḥ
śruta-pūrvāṁs tathā munīn
Synonyms
dṛṣṭvā — seeing; te — they; uttamaḥ-ślokam — Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is praised in sublime poetry; prīti — with love; utphulla — broadly blossoming; ānana — their faces; āśayāḥ — and hearts; kaiḥ — on their heads; dhṛta — held; añjalibhiḥ — with joined palms; nemuḥ — they bowed down; śruta — heard of; pūrvān — before; tathā — also; munīn — to the sages.
Translation
As soon as the people saw Lord Uttamaḥśloka, their faces and hearts blossomed with affection. Joining their palms above their heads, they bowed down to the Lord and to the sages accompanying Him, whom they had previously only heard about.
Devanagari
मैथिल: श्रुतदेवश्च पादयो: पेततु: प्रभो: ॥ २४ ॥
Text
manvānau taṁ jagad-gurum
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
pādayoḥ petatuḥ prabhoḥ
Synonyms
sta — to himself; anugrahāya — for showing mercy; samprāptam — now; manvānau — both thinking; tam — Him; jagat — of the universe; gurum — the spiritual master; maithilaḥ — the King of Mithilā; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; ca — and; pādayoḥ — at the feet; petatuḥ — fell; prabhoḥ — of the Lord.
Translation
Both the King of Mithilā and Śrutadeva fell at the Lord’s feet, each thinking that the spiritual master of the universe had come there just to show him mercy.
Devanagari
मैथिल: श्रुतदेवश्च युगपत् संहताञ्जली ॥ २५ ॥
Text
ātithyena saha dvijaiḥ
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
yugapat saṁhatāñjalī
Synonyms
Translation
At exactly the same time, King Maithila and Śrutadeva each went forward with joined palms and invited the Lord of the Daśārhas to be his guest, along with the brāhmaṇa sages.
Devanagari
उभयोराविशद् गेहमुभाभ्यां तदलक्षित: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
dvayoḥ priya-cikīrṣayā
ubhayor āviśad geham
ubhābhyāṁ tad-alakṣitaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Wanting to please them both, the Lord accepted both their invitations. Thus He simultaneously went to both homes, and neither could see Him entering the other’s house.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Kṛṣṇa visited Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva at the same time by manifesting Himself in duplicate forms, along with the sages. Thus King Bahulāśva thought that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come only to his house, leaving Śrutadeva to return home disappointed, while Śrutadeva believed that just the reverse was the case.
In Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda remarks: “That [Lord Kṛṣṇa] and His companions were present in both houses, although both the brāhmaṇa and the King thought He was present in his house only, is another opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This opulence is described in the revealed scriptures as vaibhava-prakāśa. Similarly, when Lord Kṛṣṇa married sixteen thousand wives, He also expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms, each one of them as powerful as He Himself. Similarly, in Vṛndāvana, when Brahmā stole away Kṛṣṇa’s cows, calves and cowherd boys, Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into many new cows, calves and cowherd boys.”
Devanagari
आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्येषु सुखासीनान् महामना: ॥ २७ ॥
प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्षहृदयास्राविलेक्षण: ।
नत्वा तदङ्घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनी: ॥ २८ ॥
सकुटुम्बो वहन् मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् ।
गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्पधूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषै: ॥ २९ ॥
Text
janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān
ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu
sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ
hṛdayāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ
natvā tad-aṅghrīn prakṣālya
tad-apo loka-pāvanīḥ
pūjayāṁ cakra īśvarān
gandha-mālyāmbarākalpa-
dhūpa-dīpārghya-go-vṛṣaiḥ
Synonyms
śrāntān — fatigued; api — indeed; atha — then; tān — them; dūrāt — from a distance; janakaḥ — King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka; sva — to his; gṛha — home; āgatān — come; ānīteṣu — which were brought out; āsana — on seats; agryeṣu — excellent; sukha — comfortably; āsīnān — seated; mahā-manāḥ — very intelligent; pravṛddha — intense; bhaktyā — with devotion; ut-dharṣa — overjoyed; hṛdaya — whose heart; asra — with tears; āvila — clouded; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes; natvā — bowing down; tat — their; aṅghrīn — feet; prakṣālya — washing; tat — from that; apaḥ — the water; loka — the whole world; pāvanīḥ — able to purify; sa — together with; kuṭumbaḥ — his family; vahan — carrying; mūrdhnā — on his head; pūjayām cakre — he worshiped; īśvarān — the lords; gandha — with fragrant (sandalwood) paste; mālya — flower garlands; ambara — clothing; ākalpa — jewelry; dhūpa — incense; dīpa — lamps; arghya — arghya water; go — cows; vṛṣaiḥ — and bulls.
Translation
When King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka, saw Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching his house from a distance with the sages, who were somewhat fatigued from the journey, he immediately arranged to have seats of honor brought out for them. After they were all comfortably seated, the wise King, his heart overflowing with joy and his eyes clouded by tears, bowed down to them and washed their feet with intense devotion. Taking the wash water, which could purify the entire world, he sprinkled it on his head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshiped all those great lords by offering them fragrant sandalwood paste, flower garlands, fine clothing and ornaments, incense, lamps, arghya and cows and bulls.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Bahulāśva, the King of Videha, was very intelligent and was a perfect gentleman. He was astonished that so many great sages, along with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, were personally present in his home. He knew perfectly well that conditioned souls engaged in worldly affairs cannot be one-hundred-percent pure whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees are always transcendental to worldly contamination. Therefore, when he found that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and all the great sages were at his home, he was astonished, and he began to thank Lord Krsna for His causeless mercy.”
The word īśvara in this verse refers not only to the Supreme Lord but also to the exalted sages in His company; this is confirmed by Ācāryas Śrīdhara Svāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī.
Devanagari
पादावङ्कगतौ विष्णो: संस्पृशञ्छनकैर्मुदा ॥ ३० ॥
Text
idam āhānna-tarpitān
pādāv aṅka-gatau viṣṇoḥ
saṁspṛśañ chanakair mudā
Synonyms
Translation
When they had eaten to their full satisfaction, for their further pleasure the King began to speak slowly and in a gentle voice as he held Lord Viṣṇu’s feet in his lap and happily massaged them.
Devanagari
भवान् हि सर्वभूतानामात्मा साक्षी स्वदृग् विभो ।
अथ नस्त्वत्पदाम्भोजं स्मरतां दर्शनं गत: ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
bhavān hi sarva-bhūtānām
ātmā sākṣī sva-dṛg vibho
atha nas tvat-padāmbhojaṁ
smaratāṁ darśanaṁ gataḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bahulāśvaḥ uvāca — Śrī Bahulāśva said; bhavān — You; hi — indeed; sarva — of all; bhūtānām — created beings; ātmā — the Supreme Soul; sākṣī — the witness; sva-dṛk — self-illumined; vibho — O almighty one; atha — thus; naḥ — to us; tvat — Your; pada-ambhojam — lotus feet; smaratām — who are remembering; darśanam gataḥ — have become visible.
Translation
Śrī Bahulāśva said: O almighty Lord, You are the Soul of all created beings, their self-illumined witness, and now You are giving Your audience to us, who constantly meditate on Your lotus feet.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains Bahulāśva’s inner thoughts as follows: Bahulāśva glorifies Lord Kṛṣṇa as the inspiring Soul of all life and consciousness, thinking that even an inert dullard like himself could be awakened to devotional awareness by His mercy. He glorifies the Lord as the witness of all pious and impious actions, confident that the Lord remembers whatever little devotional service he has ever done. And he glorifies Him as self-illumined, never needing to be enlightened or informed by any external source, with the knowledge that the Lord has always been aware of Bahulāśva’s long-cherished secret desire to see Him.
Devanagari
यदात्थैकान्तभक्तान् मे नानन्त: श्रीरज: प्रिय: ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
asmad-dṛg-gocaro bhavān
yad ātthaikānta-bhaktān me
nānantaḥ śrīr ajaḥ priyaḥ
Synonyms
sva — Your own; vacaḥ — statement; tat — that; ṛtam — true; kartum — to make; asmat — our; dṛk — to the eyes; gocaraḥ — accessible; bhavān — You; yat — which; āttha — spoke; eka-anta — with a single aim; bhaktāt — than the devotee; me — my; na — not; anantaḥ — Lord Ananta; śrīḥ — Goddess Śrī; ajaḥ — unborn Brahmā; priyaḥ — more dear.
Translation
You have said, “Neither Ananta, Goddess Śrī nor unborn Brahmā is dearer to Me than My unalloyed devotee.” To prove Your own words true, You have now revealed Yourself to our eyes.
Devanagari
निष्किञ्चनानां शान्तानां मुनीनां यस्त्वमात्मद: ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
evaṁ-vid visṛjet pumān
niṣkiñcanānāṁ śāntānāṁ
munīnāṁ yas tvam ātma-daḥ
Synonyms
kaḥ — who; nu — at all; tvat — Your; caraṇa-ambhojam — lotus feet; evam — like this; vit — being in knowledge; visṛjet — would abandon; pumān — person; niṣkiñcanānām — for those who have no material possessions; śāntānām — who are peaceful; munīnām — sages; yaḥ — who; tvam — You; ātma — Yourself; daḥ — giving.
Translation
What person who knows this truth would ever abandon Your lotus feet, when You are ready to give Your very self to peaceful sages who call nothing their own?
Devanagari
यशो वितेने तच्छान्त्यै त्रैलोक्यवृजिनापहम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
nṛṇāṁ saṁsaratām iha
yaśo vitene tac-chāntyai
trai-lokya-vṛjināpaham
Synonyms
yaḥ — who; avatīrya — descending; yadoḥ — of Yadu; vaṁśe — into the dynasty; nṛṇām — for people; saṁsaratām — who are caught up in the cycle of birth and death; iha — in this world; yaśaḥ — Your fame; vitene — has disseminated; tat — of that (material existence); śāntyai — for the stopping; trai-lokya — of the three worlds; vṛjina — the sins; apaham — which removes.
Translation
Appearing in the Yadu dynasty, You have spread Your glories, which can remove all the sins of the three worlds, just to deliver those entrapped in the cycle of birth and death.
Devanagari
नारायणाय ऋषये सुशान्तं तप ईयुषे ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase
nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye
su-śāntaṁ tapa īyuṣe
Synonyms
Translation
Obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose intelligence is ever unrestricted. Obeisances to the sage Nara-Nārāyaṇa, who always undergoes austerities in perfect peace.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that the King offered these prayers to encourage Lord Kṛṣṇa to remain at his home for some days. The King thought, “Since contact with the Supreme Lord can free anyone from misconceptions and doubts, Kṛṣṇa’s presence in my home will fortify my intelligence so that I can withstand the onslaughts of material desires. In His expansion as Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the Lord always resides in Badarikāśrama for the good of the whole land of Bharata, and so He may also create good fortune for the land of Mithilā by remaining here for at least a few days. Since Lord Kṛṣṇa’s propensity is toward peace and simplicity, He will certainly prefer my simple home to the excessive opulence of Dvārakā.”
Devanagari
समेत: पादरजसा पुनीहीदं निमे: कुलम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
gṛhān no nivasa dvijaiḥ
sametaḥ pāda-rajasā
punīhīdaṁ nimeḥ kulam
Synonyms
Translation
Please stay a few days in our house, along with these brāhmaṇas, O all-pervading one, and with the dust of Your feet sanctify this dynasty of Nimi.
Devanagari
उवास कुर्वन् कल्याणं मिथिलानरयोषिताम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Text
bhagavāḻ loka-bhāvanaḥ
uvāsa kurvan kalyāṇaṁ
mithilā-nara-yoṣitām
Synonyms
Translation
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus invited by the King, the Supreme Lord, sustainer of the world, consented to stay for some time to bestow good fortune on the men and women of Mithilā.
Devanagari
नत्वा मुनीन् सुसंहृष्टो धुन्वन् वासो ननर्त ह ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
sva-gṛhāñ janako yathā
natvā munīn su-saṁhṛṣṭo
dhunvan vāso nanarta ha
Synonyms
Translation
Śrutadeva received Lord Acyuta into his home with as much enthusiasm as that shown by King Bahulāśva. After bowing down to the Lord and the sages, Śrutadeva began to dance with great joy, waving his shawl.
Devanagari
स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याङ्घ्रीन् सभार्योऽवनिजे मुदा ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
ānīteṣūpaveśya saḥ
svāgatenābhinandyāṅghrīn
sa-bhāryo ’vanije mudā
Synonyms
tṛṇa — of grass; pīṭha — on seats; bṛṣīṣu — and on mats of darbha; etān — them; ānīteṣu — which were brought; upaveśya — making sit; saḥ — he; sva-āgatena — with words of welcome; abhinandya — greeting them; aṅghrīn — their feet; sa-bhāryaḥ — together with his wife; avanije — washed; mudā — with pleasure.
Translation
After bringing mats of grass and darbha straw and seating his guests upon them, he greeted them with words of welcome. Then he and his wife washed their feet with great pleasure.
Purport
To provide even this simple welcome, Śrutadeva had to go next door to his neighbors and borrow extra mats. This insight is provided by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī.
Devanagari
स्नापयां चक्र उद्धर्षो लब्धसर्वमनोरथ: ॥ ४० ॥
Text
ātmānaṁ sa-gṛhānvayam
snāpayāṁ cakra uddharṣo
labdha-sarva-manorathaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
With the wash water, the virtuous Śrutadeva copiously sprinkled himself, his house and his family. Overjoyed, he felt that all his desires had now been fulfilled.
Devanagari
र्मृदा सुरभ्या तुलसीकुशाम्बुजै: ।
आराधयामास यथोपपन्नया
सपर्यया सत्त्वविवर्धनान्धसा ॥ ४१ ॥
Text
mṛdā surabhyā tulasī-kuśāmbuyaiḥ
ārādhayām āsa yathopapannayā
saparyayā sattva-vivardhanāndhasā
Synonyms
phala — of fruits; arhaṇa — with offerings; uśīra — with a kind of aromatic root; śiva — pure; amṛta — nectar-sweet; ambubhiḥ — and with water; mṛdā — with clay; surabhyā — fragrant; tulasī — tulasī leaves; kuśa — kuśa grass; ambujaiḥ — and lotus flowers; ārādhayām āsa — he worshiped them; yathā — as; upapannayā — could be obtained; saparyayā — with items of worship; sattva — the mode of goodness; vivardhana — which increases; andhasā — with food.
Translation
He worshiped them with offerings of auspicious items easily available to him, such as fruits, uśīra root, pure, nectarean water, fragrant clay, tulasī leaves, kuśa grass and lotus flowers. Then he offered them food that increases the mode of goodness.
Devanagari
गृहान्धकूपे पतितस्य सङ्गम: ।
य: सर्वतीर्थास्पदपादरेणुभि:
कृष्णेन चास्यात्मनिकेतभूसुरै: ॥ ४२ ॥
Text
gṛhāndha-kūpe patitasya saṅgamaḥ
yaḥ sarva-tīrthāspada-pāda-reṇubhiḥ
kṛṣṇena cāsyātma-niketa-bhūsuraiḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he; tarkayām āsa — tried to understand; kutaḥ — for what reason; mama — for me; anu — indeed; abhūt — has happened; gṛha — of home; andha — blind; kūpe — in the well; patitasya — fallen; saṅgamaḥ — association; yaḥ — which; sarva — of all; tīrtha — holy places; āspada — which is the shelter; pāda — of whose feet; reṇubhiḥ — the dust; kṛṣṇena — with Lord Kṛṣṇa; ca — also; asya — this; ātma — of Himself; niketa — who are the place of residence; bhū-suraiḥ — with the brāhmaṇas.
Translation
He wondered: How is it that I, fallen into the blind well of family life, have been able to meet Lord Kṛṣṇa? And how have I also been allowed to meet these great brāhmaṇas, who always carry the Lord within their hearts? Indeed, the dust of their feet is the shelter of all holy places.
Devanagari
सभार्यस्वजनापत्य उवाचाङ्घ्र्यभिमर्शन: ॥ ४३ ॥
Text
śrutadeva upasthitaḥ
sa-bhārya-svajanāpatya
uvācāṅghry-abhimarśanaḥ
Synonyms
su-upaviṣṭān — comfortably seated; kṛta — having been shown; ātithyān — hospitality; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; upasthitaḥ — sitting near them; sa-bhārya — along with his wife; sva-jana — relatives; apatyaḥ — and children; uvāca — he spoke; aṅghri — (Lord Kṛṣṇa’s) feet; abhimarśanaḥ — massaging.
Translation
When his guests were seated comfortably, having each received a proper welcome, Śrutadeva approached them and sat down nearby with his wife, children and other dependents. Then, while massaging the Lord’s feet, he addressed Kṛṣṇa and the sages.
Devanagari
नाद्य नो दर्शनं प्राप्त: परं परमपूरुष: ।
यर्हीदं शक्तिभि: सृष्ट्वा प्रविष्टो ह्यात्मसत्तया ॥ ४४ ॥
Text
nādya no darśanaṁ prāptaḥ
paraṁ parama-pūruṣaḥ
yarhīdaṁ śaktibhiḥ sṛṣṭvā
praviṣṭo hy ātma-sattayā
Synonyms
śrutadevaḥ uvāca — Śrutadeva said; na — not; adya — today; naḥ — by us; darśanam — vision; prāptaḥ — obtained; param — only; parama — the supreme; pūruṣaḥ — person; yarhi — when; idam — this (universe); śaktibhiḥ — with His energies; sṛṣṭvā — creating; praviṣṭaḥ — entered; hi — indeed; ātma — His own; sattayā — in the state of existence.
Translation
Śrutadeva said: It is not that we have attained the audience of the Supreme Person only today, for we have in fact been associating with Him ever since He created this universe with His energies and then entered it in His transcendental form.
Devanagari
सृष्ट्वा लोकं परं स्वाप्नमनुविश्यावभासते ॥ ४५ ॥
Text
manasaivātma-māyayā
sṛṣṭvā lokaṁ paraṁ svāpnam
anuviśyāvabhāsate
Synonyms
Translation
The Lord is like a sleeping person who creates a separate world in his imagination and then enters his own dream and sees himself within it.
Purport
In the illusion of his dream, a sleeping person creates an apparent world, complete with cities populated by the fictional products of his imagination. In somewhat the same way, the Lord manifests the cosmos. Of course, the creation is not illusory for the Lord, but it is for those souls who are put under the control of His Māyā potency. As her service to the Lord, Māyā deludes the conditioned souls into accepting as real her temporary, insubstantial manifestations.
Devanagari
नृणां संवदतामन्तर्हृदि भास्यमलात्मनाम् ॥ ४६ ॥
Text
arcatāṁ tvābhivandatām
ṇṛṇāṁ saṁvadatām antar
hṛdi bhāsy amalātmanām
Synonyms
Translation
You reveal Yourself within the hearts of those persons of pure consciousness who constantly hear about You, chant about You, worship You, glorify You and converse with one another about You.
Devanagari
आत्मशक्तिभिरग्राह्योऽप्यन्त्युपेतगुणात्मनाम् ॥ ४७ ॥
Text
karma-vikṣipta-cetasām
ātma-śaktibhir agrāhyo
’py anty upeta-guṇātmanām
Synonyms
hṛdi — in the heart; sthaḥ — situated; api — although; ati — very; dūra-sthaḥ — far away; karma — by material activities; vikṣipta — disturbed; cetasām — for those whose minds; ātma — by one’s own; śaktibhiḥ — powers; agrāhyaḥ — not to be taken hold of; api — although; anti — near; upeta — realized; guṇa — Your qualities; ātmanām — by whose hearts.
Translation
But although You reside within the heart, You are very far away from those whose minds are disturbed by their entanglement in material work. Indeed, no one can grasp You by his material powers, for You reveal Yourself only in the hearts of those who have learned to appreciate Your transcendental qualities.
Purport
The all-merciful Lord is in everyone’s heart. Seeing Him there, however, is possible only when one’s heart is completely purified. Materialists may demand that God prove His existence by coming into view as a result of their empirical investigations, but God has no need to respond to such impudence. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in Bhagavad-gītā (7.25):
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti
loko mām ajam avyayam
“I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible.”
Devanagari
अनात्मने स्वात्मविभक्तमृत्यवे ।
सकारणाकारणलिङ्गमीयुषे
स्वमाययासंवृतरुद्धदृष्टये ॥ ४८ ॥
Text
anātmane svātma-vibhakta-mṛtyave
sa-kāraṇākāraṇa-liṅgam īyuṣe
sva-māyayāsaṁvṛta-ruddha-dṛṣṭaye
Synonyms
namaḥ — obeisances; astu — may there be; te — unto You; adhyātma — the Absolute Truth; vidām — for those who know; para-ātmane — the Supreme Soul; anātmane — to the conditioned jīva soul; sva-ātma — from Yourself (in the form of time); vibhakta — who gives; mṛtyave — death; sa-kāraṇa — having a cause; akāraṇa — having no cause; liṅgam — the forms (respectively, the material form of the universe and also Your original spiritual form); īyuṣe — who assume; sva-māyayā — by Your own mystic potency; asaṁvṛta — uncovered; ruddha — and blocked; dṛṣṭaye — vision.
Translation
Let me offer my obeisances unto You. You are realized as the Supreme Soul by those who know the Absolute Truth, whereas in Your form of time You impose death upon the forgetful souls. You appear both in Your causeless spiritual form and in the created form of this universe, thus simultaneously uncovering the eyes of Your devotees and obstructing the vision of the nondevotees.
Purport
When the Lord appears before His devotees in His eternal, spiritual form, their eyes become “uncovered” in the sense that all vestiges of illusion are dispelled and they drink in the beautiful vision of the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead. For the nondevotees, on the other hand, the Lord “appears” as material nature, His universal form, and in this way He covers their vision so that His spiritual, personal form remains invisible to them.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives another interpretation of this verse, based on an alternative understanding of anātmane, a form of the word anātmā: Various classes of men know the Absolute Truth in different ways. The devotees of the Lord who are in the reciprocal mood of neutral admiration (śānta-rasa) meditate on the Supreme as possessing a divine, personal form (ātmā or śrī-vigraha) transcending all aspects of material illusion. The impersonal philosophers (jñānīs) conceive of Him as formless (anātmā). And the envious demons see Him in the form of death.
Devanagari
एतदन्तो नृणां क्लेशो यद् भवानक्षिगोचर: ॥ ४९ ॥
Text
kiṁ deva karavāma he
etad-anto nṛṇāṁ kleśo
yad bhavān akṣi-gocaraḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — He; tvam — You; śādhi — please order; sva — Your; bhṛtyān — servants; naḥ — us; kim — what; deva — O Lord; karavāma — we should do; he — oh; etat — having this; antaḥ — as its end; nṛṇām — of humans; kleśaḥ — the troubles; yat — that; bhavān — Your good self; akṣi — to the eyes; go-caraḥ — visible.
Translation
O Lord, You are that Supreme Soul, and we are Your servants. How shall we serve You? My Lord, simply seeing You puts an end to all the troubles of human life.
Devanagari
तदुक्तमित्युपाकर्ण्य भगवान् प्रणतार्तिहा ।
गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं प्रहसंस्तमुवाच ह ॥ ५० ॥
Text
tad-uktam ity upākarṇya
bhagavān praṇatārti-hā
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ
prahasaṁs tam uvāca ha
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tat — by him (Śrutadeva); uktam — what was spoken; iti — thus; upākarṇya — hearing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; praṇata — of the surrendered; ārti — of distress; hā — the destroyer; gṛhītvā — taking; pāṇinā — with His hand; pāṇim — his hand; prahasan — smiling broadly; tam — to him; uvāca ha — said.
Translation
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After hearing Śrutadeva speak these words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who relieves His surrendered devotees’ distress, took Śrutadeva’s hand in His own and, smiling, spoke to him as follows.
Purport
Ācārya Viśvanātha comments that Lord Kṛṣṇa took Śrutadeva’s hand and smiled as a gesture of friendship, to tell Him, “Yes, you know the truth about Me, and I also know all about you. So now I will tell you something special.”
Devanagari
ब्रह्मंस्तेऽनुग्रहार्थाय सम्प्राप्तान् विद्ध्यमून् मुनीन् ।
सञ्चरन्ति मया लोकान् पुनन्त: पादरेणुभि: ॥ ५१ ॥
Text
brahmaṁs te ’nugrahārthāya
samprāptān viddhy amūn munīn
sañcaranti mayā lokān
punantaḥ pāda-reṇubhiḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; te — your; anugraha — of bestowing benedictions; arthāya — for the purpose; samprāptān — come; viddhi — you should know; amūn — these; munīn — sages; sañcaranti — they wander; mayā — together with Me; lokān — all the worlds; punantaḥ — purifying; pāda — of their feet; reṇubhiḥ — with the dust.
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: My dear brāhmaṇa, you should know that these great sages have come here just to bless you. They travel throughout the worlds with Me, purifying them with the dust of their feet.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa thought Śrutadeva had shown too much reverence to Him and not enough to the sages, and thus He turned the brāhmaṇa’s attention to them.
Devanagari
शनै: पुनन्ति कालेन तदप्यर्हत्तमेक्षया ॥ ५२ ॥
Text
darśana-sparśanārcanaiḥ
śanaiḥ punanti kālena
tad apy arhattamekṣayā
Synonyms
devāḥ — temple deities; kṣetrāṇi — pilgrimage sites; tīrthāni — and sacred rivers; darśana — by being seen; sparśana — being touched; arcanaiḥ — and being worshiped; śanaiḥ — gradually; punanti — purify; kālena — with time; tat api — the same; arhat-tama — of those (brāhmaṇas) who are most worshipable; īkṣayā — by the glance.
Translation
One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.
Purport
Rather than remaining in seclusion and concentrating on their own perfection, Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas of the highest order dedicate their lives to sharing the benediction of the Lord’s devotional service. In the words of the sons of King Prācīnabarhi:
tīrthānāṁ pāvanecchayā
bhītasya kiṁ na roceta
tāvakānāṁ samāgamaḥ
“Dear Lord, Your personal associates, Your devotees, wander all over the world to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?” (Bhāg. 4.30.37) And Prahlāda Mahārāja says:
maunaṁ caranti vijane na parārtha-niṣṭhāḥ
naitān vihāya kṛpaṇān vimumukṣa eko
nānyaṁ tvad asya śaraṇam bhramato ’nupaśye
“My dear Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himālayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.” (Bhāg. 7.9.44)
Devanagari
तपसा विद्यया तुष्ट्या किमु मत्कलया युत: ॥ ५३ ॥
Text
sarveṣām prāṇinām iha
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā
kim u mat-kalayā yutaḥ
Synonyms
brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; janmanā — by his birth; śreyān — the best; sarveṣām — of all; prāṇinām — living beings; iha — in this world; tapasā — by his austerity; vidyayā — by his learning; tuṣṭyā — by his satisfaction; kim u — what more, then; mat — upon Me; kalayā — with loving meditation; yutaḥ — endowed.
Translation
By his very birth, a brāhmaṇa is the best of all living beings in this world, and he becomes even more exalted when he is endowed with austerity, learning and self-satisfaction, what to speak of devotion to Me.
Devanagari
सर्ववेदमयो विप्र: सर्वदेवमयो ह्यहम् ॥ ५४ ॥
Text
rūpam etac catur-bhujam
sarva-veda-mayo vipraḥ
sarva-deva-mayo hy aham
Synonyms
Translation
Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brāhmaṇa. Within himself a learned brāhmaṇa comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods.
Purport
It is understood from the Vedic science of epistemology, the Nyāya-śāstra, that knowledge of an object (prameya) depends on a valid means of knowing (pramāṇa). The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be known only by means of the Vedas, and thus He relies on the brāhmaṇa sages, who are the Vedas personified, to reveal Him in this world. Even though Lord Kṛṣṇa embodies all the demigods and viṣṇu-tattva expansions of Nārāyaṇa, He considers Himself obliged to the brāhmaṇas.
Devanagari
गुरुं मां विप्रमात्मानमर्चादाविज्यदृष्टय: ॥ ५५ ॥
Text
avajānanty asūyavaḥ
guruṁ māṁ vipram ātmānam
arcādāv ijya-dṛṣṭayaḥ
Synonyms
duṣprajñāḥ — those of corrupted intelligence; aviditvā — failing to understand; evam — in this way; avajānanti — neglect; asūyavaḥ — and behave enviously toward; gurum — their spiritual master; mām — Me; vipram — the learned brāhmaṇa; ātmānam — their own self; arcā-ādaū — in the visibly manifest Deity of the Lord; ijya — as being worshipable; dṛṣṭayaḥ — whose vision.
Translation
Ignorant of this truth, foolish people neglect and enviously offend a learned brāhmaṇa, who, being nondifferent from Me, is their spiritual master and very self. They consider worshipable only such obvious manifestations of divinity as My Deity form.
Devanagari
मद्रूपाणीति चेतस्याधत्ते विप्रो मदीक्षया ॥ ५६ ॥
Text
bhāvā ye cāsya hetavaḥ
mad-rūpāṇīti cetasy
ādhatte vipro mad-īkṣayā
Synonyms
cara — moving; acaram — and nonmoving; idam — this; viśvam — universe; bhāvāḥ — elemental categories; ye — which; ca — and; asya — its; hetavaḥ — sources; mat — My; rūpāṇi — forms; iti — such a thought; cetasi — within his mind; ādhatte — maintains; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa; mat — of Me; īkṣayā — by his perception.
Translation
Because he has realized Me, a brāhmaṇa is firmly fixed in the knowledge that everything moving and nonmoving in the universe, and also the primary elements of its creation, are all manifest forms expanded from Me.
Devanagari
एवं चेदर्चितोऽस्म्यद्धा नान्यथा भूरिभूतिभि: ॥ ५७ ॥
Text
brahman mac-chraddhayārcaya
evaṁ ced arcito ’smy addhā
nānyathā bhūri-bhūtibhiḥ
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore; brahma-ṛṣīn — brāhmaṇa sages; etān — these; brahman — O brāhmaṇa (Śrutadeva); mat — (as you have) for Me; śraddhayā — with faith; arcaya — just worship; evam — thus; cet — if (you do); arcitaḥ — worshiped; asmi — I will be; addhā — directly; na — not; anyathā — otherwise; bhūri — vast; bhūtibhiḥ — with riches.
Translation
Therefore you should worship these brāhmaṇa sages, O brāhmaṇa, with the same faith you have in Me. If you do so, you will worship Me directly, which you cannot do otherwise, even with offerings of vast riches.
Devanagari
स इत्थं प्रभुनादिष्ट: सहकृष्णान् द्विजोत्तमान् ।
आराध्यैकात्मभावेन मैथिलश्चाप सद्गतिम् ॥ ५८ ॥
Text
sa itthaṁ prabhunādiṣṭaḥ
saha-kṛṣṇān dvijottamān
ārādhyaikātma-bhāvena
maithilaś cāpa sad-gatim
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he (Śrutadeva); ittham — in this manner; prabhunā — by his Lord; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; saha — accompanying; kṛṣṇān — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvija — the brāhmaṇas; uttamān — most exalted; ārādhya — by worshiping; eka-ātma — single-minded; bhavena — with devotion; maithilaḥ — the King of Mithilā; ca — also; āpa — attained; sat — transcendental; gatim — the ultimate destination.
Translation
Śrī Śuka said: So instructed by his Lord, with single-minded devotion Śrutadeva worshiped Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the topmost brāhmaṇas accompanying Him, and King Bahulāśva did the same. Thus both Śrutadeva and the King attained the ultimate transcendental destination.
Devanagari
उषित्वादिश्य सन्मार्गं पुनर्द्वारवतीमगात् ॥ ५९ ॥
Text
bhagavān bhakta-bhaktimān
uṣitvādiśya san-mārgaṁ
punar dvāravatīm agāt
Synonyms
evam — thus; sva — His; bhaktayoḥ — with the two devotees; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhakta — to His devotees; bhakti-man — who is devoted; uṣitvā — staying; ādiśya — teaching; sat — of pure saints; mārgam — the path; punaḥ — again; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; agāt — He went.
Translation
O King, thus the Personality of Godhead, who is devoted to His own devotees, stayed for some time with His two great devotees Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, teaching them the behavior of perfect saints. Then the Lord returned to Dvārakā.
Purport
In his narration of this pastime in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda concludes: “The instruction we receive from this incident is that King Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva the brāhmaṇa were accepted by the Lord on the same level because both were pure devotees. This is the real qualification for being recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because it has become the fashion of this age to become falsely proud of having taken birth in the family of a kṣatriya or a brāhmaṇa, we see persons without any qualification claiming to be brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya or vaiśya. But as it is stated in the scriptures, kalau śūdra-sambhava: ‘In this Age of Kali, everyone is born a śūdra.’ This is because there is no performance of the purificatory process known as saṁskāras, which begin from the time of the mother’s pregnancy and continue up to the point of the individual’s death. No one can be classified as a member of a particular caste, especially of a higher caste — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya — simply by birthright. If one is not purified by the process of the seed-giving ceremony, or garbhādhāna-saṁskāra, he is immediately classified among the śūdras because only the śūdras do not undergo this purificatory process. Sex life without the purificatory process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is merely the seed-giving process of the śūdras or the animals. But Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection, by which everyone can come to the platform of a Vaiṣṇava. This includes having all the qualifications of a brāhmaṇa. The Vaiṣṇavas are trained to become freed from the four kinds of sinful activities — illicit sex, indulgence in intoxicants, gambling and eating animal foodstuffs. No one can be on the brahminical platform without having these preliminary qualifications, and without becoming a qualified brāhmaṇa, one cannot become a pure devotee.”
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Eighty-sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees.”