॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः - ७० ॥
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Discourse LXX
Śrī Kṛṣṇa's Daily Routine; Kings taken captive by Jarāsandha send their Messenger to Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
अथोषस्युपवृत्तायां कुक्कुटान् कूजतोऽशपन् ।
गृहीतकण्ठ्यः पतिभिर्माधव्यो विरहातुराः ॥ १॥
वयांस्यरोरुवन् कृष्णं बोधयन्तीव वन्दिनः ।
गायत्स्वलिष्वनिद्राणि मन्दारवनवायुभिः ॥ २॥
मुहूर्तं तं तु वैदर्भी नामृष्यदतिशोभनम् ।
परिरम्भणविश्लेषात्प्रियबाह्वन्तरं गता ॥ ३॥
ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त उत्थाय वार्युपस्पृश्य माधवः ।
दध्यौ प्रसन्नकरण आत्मानं तमसः परम् ॥ ४॥
एकं स्वयञ्ज्योतिरनन्यमव्ययं
स्वसंस्थया नित्यनिरस्तकल्मषम् ।
ब्रह्माख्यमस्योद्भवनाशहेतुभिः
स्वशक्तिभिर्लक्षितभावनिर्वृतिम् ॥ ५॥
अथाप्लुतोऽम्भस्यमले यथाविधि
क्रियाकलापं परिधाय वाससी ।
चकार सन्ध्योपगमादि सत्तमो
हुतानलो ब्रह्म जजाप वाग्यतः ॥ ६॥
उपस्थायार्कमुद्यन्तं तर्पयित्वाऽऽत्मनः कलाः ।
देवान् ऋषीन् पितॄन् वृद्धान् विप्रानभ्यर्च्य चात्मवान् ॥ ७॥
धेनूनां रुक्मशृङ्गीणां साध्वीनां मौक्तिकस्रजाम् ।
पयस्विनीनां गृष्टीनां सवत्सानां सुवाससाम् ॥ ८॥
ददौ रूप्यखुराग्राणां क्षौमाजिनतिलैः सह ।
अलङ्कृतेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो बद्वं बद्वं दिने दिने ॥ ९॥
गोविप्रदेवतावृद्धगुरून् भूतानि सर्वशः ।
नमस्कृत्यात्मसम्भूतीर्मङ्गलानि समस्पृशत् ॥ १०॥
आत्मानं भूषयामास नरलोकविभूषणम् ।
वासोभिर्भूषणैः स्वीयैर्दिव्यस्रगनुलेपनैः ॥ ११॥
अवेक्ष्याज्यं तथाऽऽदर्शं गोवृषद्विजदेवताः ।
कामांश्च सर्ववर्णानां पौरान्तःपुरचारिणाम् ।
प्रदाप्य प्रकृतीः कामैः प्रतोष्य प्रत्यनन्दत ॥ १२॥
संविभज्याग्रतो विप्रान् स्रक्ताम्बूलानुलेपनैः ।
सुहृदः प्रकृतीर्दारानुपायुङ्क्त ततः स्वयम् ॥ १३॥
तावत्सूत उपानीय स्यन्दनं परमाद्भुतम् ।
सुग्रीवाद्यैर्हयैर्युक्तं प्रणम्यावस्थितोऽग्रतः ॥ १४॥
गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणी सारथेस्तमथारुहत् ।
सात्यक्युद्धवसंयुक्तः पूर्वाद्रिमिव भास्करः ॥ १५॥
ईक्षितोऽन्तःपुरस्त्रीणां सव्रीडप्रेमवीक्षितैः ।
कृच्छ्राद्विसृष्टो निरगाज्जातहासो हरन् मनः ॥ १६॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : As the dawn approached, Śrī Kṛṣṇa's wives each sleeping with the arms of her husband about her neck would reproach the cocks that crowed for fear of being separated from Him. (1)
Roused from sleep by the breeze blowing through the Mandāra grove in the midst of humming bees, birds sang loudly like bards as if in order to wake up Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (2)
Clasped between His arms Rukmiṇī would not welcome this sacred hour for fear of being torn away from His embrace. (3)
Waking up about two hours and a half before sunrise, Śrī Kṛṣṇa would first wash His hands and feet and rinse His mouth, and with a serene mind meditate on the Self beyond (the realm of) Prakṛti, that is one without a second, self-luminous and indestructible, which is by virtue of its own nature eternally free from the taint of Avidyā (nescience), which goes by the name of Brahma, whose existence and blissful nature are indicated by His own potencies (under the names of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra) that are responsible for the appearance (maintenance) and destruction of the universe. (4-5)
After this Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the foremost among the righteous) would take a plunge bath in pure water, put on two (clean) pieces of cloth, perform according to the injunctions of the scriptures Sandhyā and other (obligatory) rites and having poured oblations into the sacred fire, would silently repeat the (sacred) Gāyatri-Mantra. (6)
He would stand before the rising sun and offer prayers to the sun-god and handfuls of water to the gods, Ṛṣis and manes, His own rays. Then having worshipped the elders of His family as well as Brāhmaṇas with due ceremony, the vigilant Lord would give away from day to day, to well-adorned Brāhmaṇas together with silk clothes, deer-skin and sesamum seeds, thirteen thousand and eighty-four freshly calved and beautifully caparisoned cows, docile by nature, yielding abundant milk and accompanied with their calf, with their horns plated with gold, and hoofs with silver, and with their necks decked with pearl necklaces. (7--9)
He would then salute cows, Brāhmaṇas, gods, elders, preceptors and all created beings, who were but manifestations of His own Self, and would duly touch auspicious things. (10)
He would then adorn Himself, the one ornament of the human world, with clothes and ornaments, peculiarly His own, as well as with excellent garlands and pigments. (11)
(Then,) looking into (liquid) ghee and a mirror, He would (first) have a look at the cows and bulls, Brāhmaṇa and (images of) gods. Thereafter He would take delight in causing boons to be conferred on all classes of people dwelling in the city and in the gynaecium and gratifying His other subjects by granting their desires. (12)
Presenting first (of all) the Brāhmaṇas, (then) His friends and relations, (then) His ministers and counsellors, and (then) His consorts with garlands, betel leaves and pigments, He would last of all accept them for Himself. (13)
By that time His charioteer, (Dāruka) would bring His most wonderful chariot drawn by Sugrīva and other horses and, saluting the Lord, would stand before Him. (14)
Holding the charioteer's hands in His own hand, Śrī Kṛṣṇa would then (proceed to) mount the chariot accompanied by Sātyaki and Uddhava, even as the sun ascends the eastern hills. (15)
Watched with bashful and affectionate glances by the ladies of the gynaecium and reluctantly permitted by them to go, the Lord would smile at them (for a moment) and, thus captivating their heart, would sally forth (to the Council Hall). (16) (1-16)
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सुधर्माख्यां सभां सर्वैर्वृष्णिभिः परिवारितः ।
प्राविशद्यन्निविष्टानां न सन्त्यङ्ग षडूर्मयः ॥ १७॥
तत्रोपविष्टः परमासने विभु-
र्बभौ स्वभासा ककुभोऽवभासयन् ।
वृतो नृसिंहैर्यदुभिर्यदूत्तमो
यथोडुराजो दिवि तारकागणैः ॥ १८॥
तत्रोपमन्त्रिणो राजन् नानाहास्यरसैर्विभुम् ।
उपतस्थुर्नटाचार्या नर्तक्यस्ताण्डवैः पृथक् ॥ १९॥
मृदङ्गवीणामुरजवेणुतालदरस्वनैः ।
ननृतुर्जगुस्तुष्टुवुश्च सूतमागधवन्दिनः ॥ २०॥
तत्राहुर्ब्राह्मणाः केचिदासीना ब्रह्मवादिनः ।
पूर्वेषां पुण्ययशसां राज्ञां चाकथयन् कथाः ॥ २१॥
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Parikṣit, surrounded by all the Yadus, Śrī Kṛṣṇa would (then) enter the Hall bearing the name of Sudharmā, the inmates of which would not experience (for the time being) the six waves of existence (viz., hunger and thirst, grief and delusion, old age and death). (17)
Seated on an exalted throne, illuminating (all) the quarters with His own splendour and surrounded by the lions of Yadu's race, the almighty Lord, the foremost of the Yadus, shone like the moon in the midst of hosts of stars in the heavens. (18)
There the jesters would entertain the Lord with amusements of various kinds, and (even so) master dancers and dancing girls severally with (their) dances. (19)
Sūtas, Māgadhas and Vandis would dance, sing and panegyrize the Lord in accompaniment to clay tomtoms, lutes, tambourines, flutes, cymbals and conchs. (20)
Seated there certain Brāhmaṇas, skilled in exposition, would expound Vedic Mantras, while others would narrate the stories of ancient kings of sacred renown. (21) (17-21)
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तत्रैकः पुरुषो राजन्नागतोऽपूर्वदर्शनः ।
विज्ञापितो भगवते प्रतीहारैः प्रवेशितः ॥ २२॥
स नमस्कृत्य कृष्णाय परेशाय कृताञ्जलिः ।
राज्ञामावेदयद्दुःखं जरासन्धनिरोधजम् ॥ २३॥
ये च दिग्विजये तस्य सन्नतिं न ययुर्नृपाः ।
प्रसह्य रुद्धास्तेनासन्नयुते द्वे गिरिव्रजे ॥ २४॥
कृष्ण कृष्णाप्रमेयात्मन् प्रपन्नभयभञ्जन ।
वयं त्वां शरणं यामो भवभीताः पृथग्धियः ॥ २५॥
लोको विकर्मनिरतः कुशले प्रमत्तः
कर्मण्ययं त्वदुदिते भवदर्चने स्वे ।
यस्तावदस्य बलवानिह जीविताशां
सद्यश्छिनत्त्यनिमिषाय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै ॥ २६॥
लोके भवाञ्जगदिनः कलयावतीर्णः
सद्रक्षणाय खलनिग्रहणाय चान्यः ।
कश्चित्त्वदीयमतियाति निदेशमीश
किं वा जनः स्वकृतमृच्छति तन्न विद्मः ॥ २७॥
स्वप्नायितं नृपसुखं परतन्त्रमीश
शश्वद्भयेन मृतकेन धुरं वहामः ।
हित्वा तदात्मनि सुखं त्वदनीहलभ्यं
क्लिश्यामहेऽतिकृपणास्तव माययेह ॥ २८॥
तन्नो भवान् प्रणतशोकहराङ्घ्रियुग्मो
बद्धान् वियुङ्क्ष्व मगधाह्वयकर्मपाशात् ।
यो भूभुजोऽयुतमतङ्गजवीर्यमेको
बिभ्रद्रुरोध भवने मृगराडिवावीः ॥ २९॥
यो वै त्वया द्विनवकृत्व उदात्तचक्र-
भग्नो मृधे खलु भवन्तमनन्तवीर्यम् ।
जित्वा नृलोकनिरतं सकृदूढदर्पो
युष्मत्प्रजा रुजति नोऽजित तद्विधेहि ॥ ३०॥
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(One day) O king, a certain person, never seen before, made his appearance there. He was announced to the Lord by the porters (on duty) and ushered into His presence. (22)
The man bowed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, with joined palms and communicated to Him the suffering of certain kings caused by their incarceration at the hands of Jarāsandha. (23)
(Parikṣit,) twenty thousand and odd kings who did not pay homage to him during his (expeditions for) the conquest of the (four) quarters, had been forcibly detained by him at (his capital) Girivrajā (the modern Giridih). (24)
(The new comer conveyed their message to Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the following words—)" O Kṛṣṇa, the Embodiment of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss, whose personality is immeasurable and who destroy the fear of those who have taken refuge in You ! we, who are (yet) possessed of a differential outlook and are afraid of (the cycle of) birth and death, resort to You for protection. (25)
(O Lord !) the generality of people on earth are intensely addicted to prohibited acts or those actuated by self-interest and are indifferent to Your worship, which is the only auspicious act enjoined on them by You. (Dogging their foot-steps) in the form of all powerful and ever vigilant Time in the meantime (however,) You suddenly uproot their hope of life. We bow to You (as such). (26)
You are the Lord of the Universe, who have appeared on earth with Your part manifestation (viz., Balarāma) for protecting the virtuous and chastising the wicked. O Lord, we are (therefore) at a loss to understand how anyone other than You (be it Jarāsandha or anyone else) can transgress Your command (and tyrannize over us). Nor do we understand how men who have taken refuge in You (like us) can reap the fruit of their past actions (in the form of suffering). (27)
O Lord, (we are aware that) the joy of rulership is dependent on others and is as unreal as a dream. (Moreover,) it is with this body, which is virtually dead and is subject to constant fear, that we bear (so many) burdens (of the world), having abandoned the joy existing in the self and obtained from You by disinterested people. Foolish as we are, we are suffering in this world due to Your Māyā. (28)
O Lord, Your feet remove the grief of those who fall at them. Therefore, kindly release us, who are bound with the rope of Karma in the form of this Jarāsandha. Possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants himself he has imprisoned us kings in his palace even as the lion would round up (a flock of) sheep. (29)
O wielder of the discus, You fought Jarāsandha eighteen times, vanquishing him in all battles except one. We know that Your power and strength are unlimited; and yet, behaving as You did like a human being, You allowed Yourself to be defeated by him once. This has aggravated his insolence. He now persecutes us knowing us to be Your servants. O invincible Lord, now do whatever You deem fit under the circumstances." (30) (22-30)
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दूत उवाच ।
इति मागधसंरुद्धा भवद्दर्शनकङ्क्षिणः ।
प्रपन्नाः पादमूलं ते दीनानां शं विधीयताम् ॥ ३१॥
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The messenger said : (Lord,) with words these the kings imprisoned by Jarāsandha have sought shelter under Your feet, eager to see You. May those helpless kings be blessed (with Your presence). (31) (31)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
राजदूते ब्रुवत्येवं देवर्षिः परमद्युतिः ।
बिभ्रत्पिङ्गजटाभारं प्रादुरासीद्यथा रविः ॥ ३२॥
तं दृष्ट्वा भगवान् कृष्णः सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः ।
ववन्द उत्थितः शीर्ष्णा ससभ्यः सानुगो मुदा ॥ ३३॥
सभाजयित्वा विधिवत्कृतासनपरिग्रहम् ।
बभाषे सूनृतैर्वाक्यैः श्रद्धया तर्पयन् मुनिम् ॥ ३४॥
अपि स्विदद्य लोकानां त्रयाणामकुतोभयम् ।
ननु भूयान् भगवतो लोकान् पर्यटतो गुणः ॥ ३५॥
न हि तेऽविदितं किञ्चिल्लोकेष्वीश्वरकर्तृषु ।
अथ पृच्छामहे युष्मान् पाण्डवानां चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ३६॥
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Śrī Śuka resumed : (Parikṣit!) when the messenger of the kings was thus delivering the message (of the kings), the celestial sage (Nārada) appeared (on the scene) wearing a mass of golden matted locks, and dazzling like the sun. (32)
Seeing the sage the almighty Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the suzerain Lord of all the worlds, rose (from His seat) with His councillors and attendants and joyfully bowed to the Devarṣi with His head bent low. (33)
The Devarṣi having taken his seat, the Lord worshipped him with due honour and, bringing delight to the sage with His reverence spoke to him in the following sweet words. (34)
"O sage, are all the three worlds now free from fear? Your constantly going about the three worlds surely constitutes a great gain to us (inasmuch as we receive all the news of the world through you). (35)
Nothing in (all) the worlds of God's creation is unknown to you. We, therefore, enquire of you what the Pāṇḍavas and others intend to do (at present)." (36) (32-36)
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श्रीनारद उवाच ।
दृष्टा माया ते बहुशो दुरत्यया
माया विभो विश्वसृजश्च मायिनः ।
भूतेषु भूमंश्चरतः स्वशक्तिभि-
र्वह्नेरिवच्छन्नरुचो न मेऽद्भुतम् ॥ ३७॥
तवेहितं कोऽर्हति साधु वेदितुं
स्वमाययेदं सृजतो नियच्छतः ।
यद्विद्यमानात्मतयावभासते
तस्मै नमस्ते स्वविलक्षणात्मने ॥ ३८॥
जीवस्य यः संसरतो विमोक्षणं
न जानतोऽनर्थवहाच्छरीरतः ।
लीलावतारैः स्वयशःप्रदीपकं
प्राज्वालयत्त्वा तमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३९॥
अथाप्याश्रावये ब्रह्म नरलोकविडम्बनम् ।
राज्ञः पैतृष्वसेयस्य भक्तस्य च चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ४०॥
यक्ष्यति त्वां मखेन्द्रेण राजसूयेन पाण्डवः ।
पारमेष्ठ्यकामो नृपतिस्तद्भवाननुमोदताम् ॥ ४१॥
तस्मिन् देव क्रतुवरे भवन्तं वै सुरादयः ।
दिदृक्षवः समेष्यन्ति राजानश्च यशस्विनः ॥ ४२॥
श्रवणात्कीर्तनाद्ध्यानात्पूयन्तेऽन्तेवसायिनः ।
तव ब्रह्ममयस्येश किमुतेक्षाभिमर्शिनः ॥ ४३॥
यस्यामलं दिवि यशः प्रथितं रसायां
भूमौ च ते भुवनमङ्गल दिग्वितानम् ।
मन्दाकिनीति दिवि भोगवतीति चाधो
गङ्गेति चेह चरणाम्बु पुनाति विश्वम् ॥ ४४॥
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Śrī Nārada replied : O all-pervading Infinite Lord, You are such a great magician that even conjurers like Brahmā (the creator of the world) are unable to penetrate (the veil of) Your Māyā. Lord, You abide in all created beings by virtue of Your (inscrutable) potencies even as fire remains latent in every log of wood. I have witnessed Your Māyā more than once, hence Your inquiry about the Pāṇḍavas does not appear to me as something out of the common. (37)
(Lord,) You bring forth and destroy this universe by Your own Māyā; and by Your Māyā it appears as existent (though without any reality). Who can know Your intentions full well ? You are inconceivable by nature; my salutation be to You. (38)
(Tied down to the body) the soul moves on the whirligig of birth and death and knows not the way to deliverance from this sheath, the source of (all) evil. Descending on earth in so many Forms by way of sport, You kindle the lamp of Your glory (with the help of which he may free himself from the bondage of the body). Lord, I resort to You for protection. (39)
The Supreme Spirit as You are, You nevertheless imitate the ways of the human world; therefore I shall communicate to You what Your cousin and loving devotee, king Yudhiṣṭhira, intends to do. (40)
The Pāṇḍava king enjoys on this very earth all the enjoyments of the abode of Brahmā (the highest Paradise). He is (absolutely) desireless. And yet he would worship You through the supreme sacrifice known as Rājasūya. May You be pleased to give Your consent to his proposal. (41)
Eager to see You, the (principal) gods, Ṛṣis and illustrious kings too will assemble in that grand sacrifice. (42)
Lord, You are an embodiment of the Supreme Spirit; even the low-born are hallowed by hearing of Your glories, singing Your praises and contemplating on Your virtues, to say nothing of those who see and touch Your person. (43)
Lord, whose very presence on this earth constitutes a blessing for the three worlds. Your spotless glory envelops all the quarters and is diffused on earth, in heaven as well as in the subterranean regions, even as the waters washing Your feet hallow the (entire) universe under the name of Mandākini in heaven, Bhogavati in the subterranean regions and the Gaṅgā on earth. (44) (37-44)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
तत्र तेष्वात्मपक्षेष्वगृह्णत्सु विजिगीषया ।
वाचः पेशैः स्मयन् भृत्यमुद्धवं प्राह केशवः ॥ ४५॥
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Śrī Śuka went on : (Parikṣit !) the clansmen of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, assembled there, seized as they were with the desire to conquer Jarāsandha, did not receive with approbation the words of the sage. Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Ruler even of Brahmā and Śiva), smilingly spoke to His devotee Uddhava in sweet words (as below). (45) (45)
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श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
त्वं हि नः परमं चक्षुः सुहृन्मन्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ।
तथात्र ब्रूह्यनुष्ठेयं श्रद्दध्मः करवाम तत् ॥ ४६॥
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The glorious Lord said : (Uddhava !) you are Our disinterested friend and know the secret of what should be decided upon through deliberation. Indeed you are our supreme eye (as it were). Now tell us what should be done under the circumstances. We (fully) rely on you and shall act upon your advice. (46) (46)
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इत्युपामन्त्रितो भर्त्रा सर्वज्ञेनापि मुग्धवत् ।
निदेशं शिरसाऽऽधाय उद्धवः प्रत्यभाषत ॥ ४७॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे भगवद्यान-
विचारो नाम सप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७०॥
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Questioned thus by the Master, who, though omniscient, was behaving like an ignorant man, Uddhava received His command with his head bent low and replied (as below). (47)
Thus ends the seventieth discourse bearing on the deliberations about the Lord's departure in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahāṃsa-Sarhhitā. (47)
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