॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः - २४ ॥
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Discourse XXIV
An account of the posterity of Yadu (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
तस्यां विदर्भोऽजनयत्पुत्रौ नाम्ना कुशक्रथौ ।
तृतीयं रोमपादं च विदर्भकुलनन्दनम् ॥ १॥
रोमपादसुतो बभ्रुर्बभ्रोः कृतिरजायत ।
उशिकस्तत्सुतस्तस्माच्चेदिश्चैद्यादयो नृप ॥ २॥
क्रथस्य कुन्तिः पुत्रोऽभूद्धृष्टिस्तस्याथ निर्वृतिः ।
ततो दशार्हो नाम्नाभूत्तस्य व्योमः सुतस्ततः ॥ ३॥
जीमूतो विकृतिस्तस्य यस्य भीमरथः सुतः ।
ततो नवरथः पुत्रो जातो दशरथस्ततः ॥ ४॥
करम्भिः शकुनेः पुत्रो देवरातस्तदात्मजः ।
देवक्षत्रस्ततस्तस्य मधुः कुरुवशादनुः ॥ ५॥
पुरुहोत्रस्त्वनोः पुत्रस्तस्यायुः सात्वतस्ततः ।
भजमानो भजिर्दिव्यो वृष्णिर्देवावृधोऽन्धकः ॥ ६॥
सात्वतस्य सुताः सप्त महाभोजश्च मारिष ।
भजमानस्य निम्लोचिः किङ्किणो धृष्टिरेव च ॥ ७॥
एकस्यामात्मजाः पत्न्यामन्यस्यां च त्रयः सुताः ।
शताजिच्च सहस्राजिदयुताजिदिति प्रभो ॥ ८॥
बभ्रुर्देवावृधसुतस्तयोः श्लोकौ पठन्त्यमू ।
यथैव शृणुमो दूरात्सम्पश्यामस्तथान्तिकात् ॥ ९॥
बभ्रुः श्रेष्ठो मनुष्याणां देवैर्देवावृधः समः ।
पुरुषाः पञ्चषष्टिश्च षट् सहस्राणि चाष्ट च ॥ १०॥
येऽमृतत्वमनुप्राप्ता बभ्रोर्देवावृधादपि ।
महाभोजोऽपि धर्मात्मा भोजा आसंस्तदन्वये ॥ ११॥
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Śrī Śuka resumed : Through Bhojyā, Vidarbha begot two sons, Kuśa and Kratha by name, and (also) a third, called Romapāda, who was the delight of Vidarbha's family. (1)
Romapāda's son was Babhru and of Babhru was born Kṛti. His son was Uśika, of whom Cedi was born. And from (the loins of) the latter appeared Damaghoṣa (the son of Cedi) and so on, O protector of men ! (2)
Kratha's son was Kunti, whose son was Dhṛṣṭi; and then came Nirvṛti. Form (the loins of) Nirvṛti appeared a son, Daśārha by name, whose son was Vyoma. From Vyoma followed Jīmutta, and his son was Vikṛti, whose son was Bhīmaratha. From (the loins of) the latter sprang up a son Navaratha (by name). And from him followed Daśara tha. (3-4)
(Daśaratha's son was Śakuni;) Śakuni's son was Karambhi and Karambhi's son was Devarāta, from whom followed Devakṣatra; Devakṣatra's son was Madhu and Madhu's son was Kuruvaśa, of whom was born Anu. (5)
Anu's son again was Puruhotra, whose son was Āyu; and of the latter was born Sātvata, Bhajamāna, Bhaji, Divya, Vṛṣṇi, Devāvṛdha, Andhaka and Mahābhoja were the (seven) sons of Sātvata, O worthy king ! Nimloci, Kinkiṇa and even so Dhṛṣṭi were the sons of Bhajamāna by his one wife; and Śatājit, Sahasrājit and Ayutājit—these were his three sons by the other, O lord ! (6—8)
Devāvṛdha's son was Babhru; of these two (father and son) they recite the following two couplets:—"As we heard from a distance, so do we observe from near. Babhru is the foremost of men, (while) Devāvṛdha compares with the gods. Men who attained immortality (freedom from birth and death) through (the precepts of) Babhru and Devāvṛdha too numbered fourteen thousand and sixty-five." Mahābhoja (the seventh son of Sātvata) too had given his mind to piety, and those born in his line came to be (known as) the Bhojas. (9—11) (1-11)
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वृष्णेः सुमित्रः पुत्रोऽभूद्युधाजिच्च परन्तप ।
शिनिस्तस्यानमित्रश्च निम्नोऽभूदनमित्रतः ॥ १२॥
सत्राजितः प्रसेनश्च निम्नस्याप्यासतुः सुतौ ।
अनमित्रसुतो योऽन्यः शिनिस्तस्याथ सत्यकः ॥ १३॥
युयुधानः सात्यकिर्वै जयस्तस्य कुणिस्ततः ।
युगन्धरोऽनमित्रस्य वृष्णिः पुत्रोऽपरस्ततः ॥ १४॥
श्वफल्कश्चित्ररथश्च गान्दिन्यां च श्वफल्कतः ।
अक्रूरप्रमुखा आसन् पुत्रा द्वादश विश्रुताः ॥ १५॥
आसङ्गः सारमेयश्च मृदुरो मृदुविद्गिरिः ।
धर्मवृद्धः सुकर्मा च क्षेत्रोपेक्षोऽरिमर्दनः ॥ १६॥
शत्रुघ्नो गन्धमादश्च प्रतिबाहुश्च द्वादश ।
तेषां स्वसा सुचीराख्या द्वावक्रूरसुतावपि ॥ १७॥
देववानुपदेवश्च तथा चित्ररथात्मजाः ।
पृथुर्विदूरथाद्याश्च बहवो वृष्णिनन्दनाः ॥ १८॥
कुकुरो भजमानश्च शुचिः कम्बलबर्हिषः ।
कुकुरस्य सुतो वह्निर्विलोमा तनयस्ततः ॥ १९॥
कपोतरोमा तस्यानुः सखा यस्य च तुम्बुरुः ।
अन्धको दुन्दुभिस्तस्मादविद्योतः पुनर्वसुः ॥ २०॥
तस्याहुकश्चाहुकी च कन्या चैवाहुकात्मजौ ।
देवकश्चोग्रसेनश्च चत्वारो देवकात्मजाः ॥ २१॥
देववानुपदेवश्च सुदेवो देववर्धनः ।
तेषां स्वसारः सप्तासन् धृतदेवादयो नृप ॥ २२॥
शान्तिदेवोपदेवा च श्रीदेवा देवरक्षिता ।
सहदेवा देवकी च वसुदेव उवाह ताः ॥ २३॥
कंसः सुनामा न्यग्रोधः कङ्कः शङ्कुः सुहूस्तथा ।
राष्ट्रपालोऽथ सृष्टिश्च तुष्टिमानौग्रसेनयः ॥ २४॥
कंसा कंसवती कङ्का शूरभू राष्ट्रपालिका ।
उग्रसेनदुहितरो वसुदेवानुजस्त्रियः ॥ २५॥
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Sumitra was the son of Vṛṣṇi and (so) Yudhājit too, O chastiser of foes ! Yudhājit's sons were Śini and Anamitra and Nimna was born of Anamitra. (12)
Again, Satrājit and Prasena were born of Nimna; and Satyaka was the son of Śini, who has been shown above to be the other son of Anamitra. The son of Satyaka indeed was Yuyudhāna (also known as Sātyaki), whose son was Jaya, from whom followed Kuṇi; and of him was born Yugandhara. (Yet) another son of Anamitra was Vṛṣṇi, of whom were born Śwaphalka and Citraratha. From (the loins of) Śwaphalka through Gāndini were born twelve celebrated sons (besides Akrūra), Akrūra being the foremost of them all. (13—15)
The twelve sons were Āsaṅga and Sārameya, Mṛdura, Mṛduvid, Giri, Dharmavṛddha and Sukarmā, Kṣetropekṣa, Arimardana and Śatrughna, Gandhamāda and Pratibāhu. They had a sister (also), bearing the name of Sucira. Again, Devavān and Upadeva were the two sons of Akrūra. Similarly, Pṛthu, Vidūratha and many others were the sons of Citraratha (the younger brother of Śwaphalka), (all) scions of Vṛṣṇi. (16—18)
Kukura, Bhajamāna, Śuci and Kambalabarhiṣa were the sons of Andhaka*. Kukura's son was Vahni, whose son was Vilomā and from Vilomā followed Kapotaromā. His son was Anu, whose friend was (the famous Gandharva) Tumburu, a master of music. Anu's son was Andhaka, of whom was born Dundubhi. Then came Aridyota, whose son was Punarvasu. (19-20)
The latter had a son. Āhuka, as well as a daughter, Āhuki. Again, Devaka and Ugrasena were the two sons of Āhuka. Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devavardhana were the four sons of Devaka. They had seven sisters, the eldest of whom was Dhṛtadevā, O protector of men ! (21-22)
They were (besides Dhṛtadevā) Śāntidevā, Upadevā, Śrīdevā, Devarakṣitā, Sahadevā and Devakī. Vasudeva (the father of Śrī Kṛṣṇa) married them (all). (23)
Kaṁsa, Sunāmā and Nyagrodha, Kaṁka and Śaṅku, Suhū, Rāṣṭrapāla, Sṛṣṭi and Tuṣṭimān were the (nine) sons of Ugrasena. (24)
Kaṁsā, Kaṁsavati, Kaṁkā, Śūrabhū and Rāṣṭrapālikā were the daughters of Ugrasena, (all) wives of Vasudeva's younger brothers (Devabhāga and others). (25) (12-25)
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शूरो विदूरथादासीद्भजमानः सुतस्ततः ।
शिनिस्तस्मात्स्वयं भोजो हृदीकस्तत्सुतो मतः ॥ २६॥
देवबाहुः शतधनुः कृतवर्मेति तत्सुताः ।
देवमीढस्य शूरस्य मारिषा नाम पत्न्यभूत् ॥ २७॥
कुकुरभजमानशुचिकम्बलबर्हिषाख्यात्तमान्यकस्य चत्वारः पुत्राः । (IV. XIV 12)
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- The Viṣṇupurāṇa says:—
- It is on the authority of this passage in the Viṣṇupurāṇa that Kukura and others have been concluded to be the sons of Andhaka, although the latter's name has not been mentioned in the text here.
(26-27)
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तस्यां स जनयामास दश पुत्रानकल्मषान् ।
वसुदेवं देवभागं देवश्रवसमानकम् ॥ २८॥
सृञ्जयं श्यामकं कङ्कं शमीकं वत्सकं वृकम् ।
देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुरानका यस्य जन्मनि ॥ २९॥
वसुदेवं हरेः स्थानं वदन्त्यानकदुन्दुभिम् ।
पृथा च श्रुतदेवा च श्रुतकीर्तिः श्रुतश्रवाः ॥ ३०॥
राजाधिदेवी चैतेषां भगिन्यः पञ्च कन्यकाः ।
कुन्तेः सख्युः पिता शूरो ह्यपुत्रस्य पृथामदात् ॥ ३१॥
साऽऽप दुर्वाससो विद्यां देवहूतीं प्रतोषितात् ।
तस्या वीर्यपरीक्षार्थमाजुहाव रविं शुचिम् ॥ ३२॥
तदैवोपागतं देवं वीक्ष्य विस्मितमानसा ।
प्रत्ययार्थं प्रयुक्ता मे याहि देव क्षमस्व मे ॥ ३३॥
अमोघं दर्शनं देवि आदित्से त्वयि चात्मजम् ।
योनिर्यथा न दुष्येत कर्ताहं ते सुमध्यमे ॥ ३४॥
इति तस्यां स आधाय गर्भं सूर्यो दिवं गतः ।
सद्यः कुमारः सञ्जज्ञे द्वितीय इव भास्करः ॥ ३५॥
तं सात्यजन्नदीतोये कृच्छ्राल्लोकस्य बिभ्यती ।
प्रपितामहस्तामुवाह पाण्डुर्वै सत्यविक्रमः ॥ ३६॥
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From (the loins of) Vidūratha (the son of Citraratha) appeared Śūra, whose son was Bhajamāna. From Bhajamāna followed Śīni, of whom was born Swayambhoja; and Hṛdika was recognized as the latter's son. (26)
Devabāhu, Śatadhanvā and Kṛtavarmā were the sons of Hṛdika. Śūra (Śūrasena) was the son of Devamīḍha (who is known from other sources* to be the fourth son of Hṛdika). Śūra's wife was Mārisā by name. (27)
Through her he begot ten faultless sons—Vasudeva, Devabhāga, Devaśravā, Ānaka, Sṛñjaya, Syāmaka, Kaṅka, Samīka, Vatsaka and Vṛka. They call Vasudeva—a (fit) receptacle for the descent of Śrī Hari—as Ānakadundubhi inasmuch as on the (happy) occasion of his birth kettledrums (Dundubhis) and larger drums (Ānakas) of the gods sounded (of themselves). Pṛthā (Kuntī) and Śrutadevā, Śrutakīrti, Śrutaśravā and, Rājādhidevī—these five girls were the sisters of the aforesaid (Vasudeva and others). Their father, Śūra, actually gave Pṛthā (in adoption) to his friend, Kuntī, who was issueless. (28—31)
From the sage Dūrvāsā, who got highly pleased with her (for her services rendered to him when he called on her father as an unexpected guest), she received a (certain) Mantra by means of which gods can be easily invoked; (and) in order to test its efficacy she invoked the lustrous sun-god. (32)
Astonished in mind to behold the god arrived in her presence that very moment, she (apologetically) said, "The spell was employed by me for the sake of trial (alone). (Therefore, kindly) return and forgive me (my audacity)." (33)
(The sun god replied,) "My sight never goes in vain, O godly virgin! I intend to beget a son through you. I shall (so) arrange that your virginity is not impaired, O beautiful damsel!" (34)
So saying, the son-god deposited his seed in her womb and returned to heaven. That very moment a male child—who was another sun as it were, was born of her without any travail. (35)
Afraid of the world (however), she painfully consigned the child to the stream of a river. (Later on) your great grandfather, Pāṇḍu, of genuine valour duly married her. (36) (28-36)
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श्रुतदेवां तु कारूषो वृद्धशर्मा समग्रहीत् ।
यस्यामभूद्दन्तवक्त्रः ऋषिशप्तो दितेः सुतः ॥ ३७॥
कैकेयो धृष्टकेतुश्च श्रुतकीर्तिमविन्दत ।
सन्तर्दनादयस्तस्यां पञ्चासन् कैकयाः सुताः ॥ ३८॥
राजाधिदेव्यामावन्त्यौ जयसेनोऽजनिष्ट ह ।
दमघोषश्चेदिराजः श्रुतश्रवसमग्रहीत् ॥ ३९॥
शिशुपालः सुतस्तस्याः कथितस्तस्य सम्भवः ।
देवभागस्य कंसायां चित्रकेतुबृहद्बलौ ॥ ४०॥
कंसवत्यां देवश्रवसः सुवीर इषुमांस्तथा ।
कङ्कायामानकाज्जातः सत्यजित्पुरुजित्तथा ॥ ४१॥
सृञ्जयो राष्ट्रपाल्यां च वृषदुर्मर्षणादिकान् ।
हरिकेशहिरण्याक्षौ शूरभूम्यां च श्यामकः ॥ ४२॥
मिश्रकेश्यामप्सरसि वृकादीन् वत्सकस्तथा ।
तक्षपुष्करशालादीन् दुर्वार्क्ष्यां वृक आदधे ॥ ४३॥
सुमित्रार्जुनपालादीन् शमीकात्तु सुदामिनी ।
कङ्कश्च कर्णिकायां वै ऋतधामजयावपि ॥ ४४॥
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Again, Vṛddhaśarmā, a scion of Karūṣa, duly espoused Śrutadevā, of whom was born Dantavaktra, who was (first) born of Diti (as the demon Hiranyākṣa), because cursed by the sages (Sanaka and others). (37)
And Dhṛṣṭaketu, the (then) ruler of the territory of Kekaya, took Śrutakiṭī to wife. His sons were Santardana and others, the five princes of Kekaya. (38)
Through Rājādhideyī (his wife) Jayasena—so the tradition goes—begot Vinda and Anuvinda (who became rulers of Avanti); (while) Damaghoṣa, the king of Cedi, accepted (for his wife) Śrutaśravā. (39)
The latter's son was Śiśupāla, the story of whose birth has already been told* Citraketu and Bṛhadbala were the sons of Devābhāga by his wife Kaṁsā. (40)
Suvīra and Iṣumān were the two sons of Devaśravā by Kaṁsāvatī, while Satyajit as well as Purujit were born of Kaṁkā, through Ānaka. (41)
Again, Sṛñjaya begot through Rāṣṭrapālī Vṛṣa, Durmarṣaṇa and others; while Śyāmaka begot through Śūrabhūmi Harikeśa and Hiranyākṣa, (42)
Similarly, Vatsaka begot through Miśrakesī—a celestial nymph—Vṛka and others; while Vṛka begot through (his wife) Durvārkṣī, Takṣa Puṣkara, Śāla and so on. (43)
Through (her union with) Samīka, again, his wife Sudāminī bore Sumitra, Arjunapāla and others; while Kaṁka too, for his part, begot Ṛtadhāma and Jaya. (44) (37-44)
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- The Viṣṇupurāṇa says:—तस्यापि कृतवर्मशतधनुर्देवमोदुषाद्या: पुत्रा बभूवुः। देवमोदुषस्य शूरस्यापि मारिषा नाम पश्यभवत्। तस्यां चासौ दश पुत्रानजनयद् वसुदेवपूर्वान्।
पौरवी रोहिणी भद्रा मदिरा रोचना इला ।
देवकीप्रमुखा आसन् पत्न्य आनकदुन्दुभेः ॥ ४५॥
बलं गदं सारणं च दुर्मदं विपुलं ध्रुवम् ।
वसुदेवस्तु रोहिण्यां कृतादीनुदपादयत् ॥ ४६॥
सुभद्रो भद्रवाहश्च दुर्मदो भद्र एव च ।
पौरव्यास्तनया ह्येते भूताद्या द्वादशाभवन् ॥ ४७॥
नन्दोपनन्दकृतकशूराद्या मदिरात्मजाः ।
कौसल्या केशिनं त्वेकमसूत कुलनन्दनम् ॥ ४८॥
रोचनायामतो जाता हस्तहेमाङ्गदादयः ।
इलायामुरुवल्कादीन् यदुमुख्यानजीजनत् ॥ ४९॥
विपृष्ठो धृतदेवायामेक आनकदुन्दुभेः ।
शान्तिदेवात्मजा राजन् श्रमप्रतिश्रुतादयः ॥ ५०॥
राजानः कल्पवर्षाद्या उपदेवासुता दश ।
वसुहंससुवंशाद्याः श्रीदेवायास्तु षट् सुताः ॥ ५१॥
देवरक्षितया लब्धा नव चात्र गदादयः ।
वसुदेवः सुतानष्टावादधे सहदेवया ॥ ५२॥
पुरुविश्रुतमुख्यांस्तु साक्षाद्धर्मो वसूनिव ।
वसुदेवस्तु देवक्यामष्ट पुत्रानजीजनत् ॥ ५३॥
कीर्तिमन्तं सुषेणं च भद्रसेनमुदारधीः ।
ऋजुं सम्मर्दनं भद्रं सङ्कर्षणमहीश्वरम् ॥ ५४॥
अष्टमस्तु तयोरासीत्स्वयमेव हरिः किल ।
सुभद्रा च महाभागा तव राजन् पितामही ॥ ५५॥
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Pauravī, Rohiṇī, Bhadrā, Madirā, Rocanā, Ilā, Devakī and others (Dhṛtadevā†—and so on, all sisters of Devakī) were the wives of Ānakadundubhī (Vasudeva). (45)
Now, Vasudeva begot through Rohiṇī Bala, Gada, Sāraṇa, Durmada Vipula, Dhruva, Kṛta and others (46)
Bhūta, Subhadra and Bhadravāha, Durmada and also Bhadra and (seven) others—these twelve indeed were the sons born of Pauravī. (47)
Similarly Nanda, Upananda, Kṛtaka, Śūra and so on were the sons of Madirā. Bhadrā (hailing from Kosala), however, brought forth only one son (the delight of his race), Keśi by name. (48)
Through Rocanā from (the loins of) Vasudeva appeared Hasta, Hemāṅgada and others; (and) through Ilā he begot Uruvalka and others, foremost among the Yadus. (49)
Viṛṣṭha alone appeared from (the loins of) Ānakadundubhī through Dhṛtadevā; while Śrama, Pratiśruta and others were the sons of Śāntidevā, O Parikṣit! (50)
Kalpavarṣa and other kings, numbering ten, were the sons of Upadevā; while Vasu, Harīsa, Suvaṇśa and (three others) were the six sons of Śridevā. (51)
. Again, nine sons, Gada and others were obtained by Devarakṣitā through Vasudeva; (while) he begot through Sahadevā eight sons, the foremost of whom was Puruviśruta, as Dharma begot the (eight) Vasus themselves. Further the highminded Vasudeva begot through Devakī (eight) more sons—Kirtimān, Suṣeṇa, Bhadrasena, Bhadra, Rīju, Sammardana and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, who was the same as Śeṣa (the king of serpents); while the eighth son of (the blessed) Vasudeva and Devakī indeed was Lord Śrī Hari Himself. And the highly blessed Subhadrā, your grandmother, was their daughter, O king! (52—55) (45-55)
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यदा यदेह धर्मस्य क्षयो वृद्धिश्च पाप्मनः ।
तदा तु भगवानीश आत्मानं सृजते हरिः ॥ ५६॥
न ह्यस्य जन्मनो हेतुः कर्मणो वा महीपते ।
आत्ममायां विनेशस्य परस्य द्रष्टुरात्मनः ॥ ५७॥
यन्मायाचेष्टितं पुंसः स्थित्युत्पत्त्यप्ययाय हि ।
अनुग्रहस्तन्निवृत्तेरात्मलाभाय चेष्यते ॥ ५८॥
अक्षौहिणीनां पतिभिरसुरैर्नृपलाञ्छनैः ।
भुव आक्रम्यमाणाया अभाराय कृतोद्यमः ॥ ५९॥
कर्माण्यपरिमेयाणि मनसापि सुरेश्वरैः ।
सहसङ्कर्षणश्चक्रे भगवान् मधुसूदनः ॥ ६०॥
कलौ जनिष्यमाणानां दुःखशोकतमोनुदम् ।
अनुग्रहाय भक्तानां सुपुण्यं व्यतनोद्यशः ॥ ६१॥
यस्मिन् सत्कर्णपीयुषे यशस्तीर्थवरे सकृत् ।
श्रोत्राञ्जलिरुपस्पृश्य धुनुते कर्मवासनाम् ॥ ६२॥
भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकमधुशूरसेनदशार्हकैः ।
श्लाघनीयेहितः शश्वत्कुरुसृञ्जयपाण्डुभिः ॥ ६३॥
स्निग्धस्मितेक्षितोदारैर्वाक्यैर्विक्रमलीलया ।
नृलोकं रमयामास मूर्त्या सर्वाङ्गरम्यया ॥ ६४॥
यस्याननं मकरकुण्डलचारुकर्ण-
भ्राजत्कपोलसुभगं सविलासहासम् ।
नित्योत्सवं न ततृपुर्दृशिभिः पिबन्त्यो
नार्यो नराश्च मुदिताः कुपिता निमेश्च ॥ ६५॥
जातो गतः पितृगृहाद्व्रजमेधितार्थो
हत्वा रिपून् सुतशतानि कृतोरुदारः ।
उत्पाद्य तेषु पुरुषः क्रतुभिः समीजे
आत्मानमात्मनिगमं प्रथयन् जनेषु ॥ ६६॥
पृथ्व्याः स वै गुरुभरं क्षपयन् कुरूणा-
मन्तःसमुत्थकलिना युधि भूपचम्वः ।
दृष्ट्या विधूय विजये जयमुद्विघोष्य
प्रोच्योद्धवाय च परं समगात्स्वधाम ॥ ६७॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे वैयासक्यामष्टादशसाहस्र्यां
पारमहंस्यां संहितायां नवमस्कन्धे श्रीसूर्यसोमानुवंशकीर्तने
यदुवंशानुकीर्तनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २४॥
॥ इति नवमस्कन्धः समाप्तः ॥
॥ ॐ तत्सत् ॥
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Whenever there is decline of virtue and growth of sin in this world, the almighty Lord Śrī Hari actually manifests Himself at that time. (56)
Indeed, for the appearance and actions of the all-pervading Lord Śrī Hari, the (absolutely) unattached witness, O ruler of the earth, there is no ground other than His own will to sport. (57)
For, the activity of His Māyā (deluding potency) conduces to the birth, continuance and destruction of every embodied soul; while His grace is intended to bring Self-Realization through cessation of birth. (58)
Endeavouring to remove the burden of the earth, which was overrun by demons disguised as kings, who led more than one Akṣauhiṇīs, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the slayer of the demon Madhu), accompanied by (His elder brother) Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa (better known as Balarāma), performed deeds which cannot be comprehended even in thought by the rulers of gods. (59-60)
(Nay,) in order to shower His grace on the devotees He spread far and wide (through those deeds) a most sacred glory capable of driving away the sorrow, grief and ignorance of those going to be born in the (ensuing) Kali age. (61)
Sipping with the hollow of his joined palms in the form of his ears but once from the holiest stream of His glory, which is nectar to the ears of the righteous, a man shakes off the tendencies of actions (standing in the way of Liberation). (62)
Through words sweetened by His loving smiles and glances, His valourous pastimes and (divine) personality, charming in every limb, He brought joy to mankind, His activities being ever praised by the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Madhus, Śūrasenas and Dāśārhas (on the one hand) and by the Kurus, Śrījasas and Pāṇḍus on the other. (63-64)
Drinking, full of joy, with their eyes the beauty of His face—rendered (all the more) lovely by ears adorned with alligator-shaped ear-rings and lustrous cheeks, (nay,) lit up with a graceful smile and ever steeped in joy—men and women not only did not feel sated but grew angry with Nimi* (who was responsible for the twinkling of their eyes, that interrupted the joy flowing from his sight). (65)
As soon as born, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the supreme Person) went to the dales of Vraja from His father's house (at Mathurā) and, having heightened the joy of the residents of Vraja, returned to Mathurā, slew enemies, married numerous wives, begot through them hundreds of sons, and worshipped His own Self by means of (a number of) sacrifices in order to popularize His own Vedic path (leading to His realization). (66)
Intending to reduce the heavy burden of the earth by means of the internal discord appearing among the Kurus, He swept away by His (mere) glance the armies of kings on the battle-field, loudly proclaimed far and wide the victory of Vijaya (Arjuna), taught the highest truth to (His beloved disciple) Uddhava and returned with an easy mind to His own (divine) Abode. (67)
- We have already seen in Discourse XIII above how Nimi—when his body fell due to the curse of his Guru, the sage Vasiṣṭha—sought and secured a boon from the gods by virtue of which he resides in a subtle form in the eyelids of all living beings and directs their closing and opening.
Thus ends the twenty fourth discourse, entitled "An account of the posterity of Yadu", forming part of an account of the solar and lunar dynasties (of kings), in Book Nine of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā, composed by the sage Vedavyāsa and consisting of eighteen thousand Ślokas.
END OF BOOK NINE
(56-67)
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