॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ अशीतितमोऽध्यायः - ८० ॥
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Discourse LXXX
Śrī Kṛṣṇa's Reception of Sudāmā (Preamble)
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राजोवाच ।
भगवन् यानि चान्यानि मुकुन्दस्य महात्मनः ।
वीर्याण्यनन्तवीर्यस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामहे प्रभो ॥ १॥
को नु श्रुत्वासकृद्ब्रह्मन्नुत्तमश्लोकसत्कथाः ।
विरमेत विशेषज्ञो विषण्णः काममार्गणैः ॥ २॥
सा वाग्यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते
करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च ।
स्मरेद्वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्गमेषु
शृणोति तत्पुण्यकथाः स कर्णः ॥ ३॥
शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमानमे-
त्तदेव यत्पश्यति तद्धि चक्षुः ।
अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां
पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ४॥
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King Parikṣit submitted : O revered sage, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the same as the Supreme Spirit. His powers are infinite. Therefore, His sports (which manifest His love and glory), are also infinite. We wish to hear now of the other glorious sports of the Lord. (1)
O sage, all beings on earth running after the mirage of worldly enjoyments are sorely afflicted at heart. The manifold desires pierce them every now and then like the shaft. Under the circumstance, what man of taste is there on earth, who having heard of the excellent sports of the most glorious Lord even repeatedly would cease listening to them further ? (2)
That speech alone is worth the name through which one sings His praises; those hands alone which do service to Him deserve to be called, hands; that mind alone is rightly so-called which constantly remembers the Lord dwelling in all mobile and immobile creatures; and those ears alone deserve the title which hear the sacred stories of His sports. (3)
That head alone deserves to be styled as such which bows to all mobile and immobile creatures, regarding them as the very images of God; that eye alone is the real eye, which sees God in everything; and those limbs alone are properly so-called, which are daily sprinkled with the waters which wash the feet of the Lord and of His devotees. (4) (1-4)
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सूत उवाच ।
विष्णुरातेन सम्पृष्टो भगवान् बादरायणिः ।
वासुदेवे भगवति निमग्नहृदयोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ५॥
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Śrī Sūta resumed : O sages, when king Parikṣit made this submission to Śrī Śuka, the latter's heart got completely merged in the thought of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (Then) addressing the king, he said: (5) (5)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
कृष्णस्यासीत्सखा कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तमः ।
विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेषु प्रशान्तात्मा जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ६॥
यदृच्छयोपपन्नेन वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमी ।
तस्य भार्या कुचैलस्य क्षुत्क्षामा च तथाविधा ॥ ७॥
पतिव्रता पतिं प्राह म्लायता वदनेन सा ।
दरिद्रा सीदमाना सा वेपमानाभिगम्य च ॥ ८॥
ननु ब्रह्मन् भगवतः सखा साक्षाच्छ्रियः पतिः ।
ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च भगवान् सात्वतर्षभः ॥ ९॥
तमुपैहि महाभाग साधूनां च परायणम् ।
दास्यति द्रविणं भूरि सीदते ते कुटुम्बिने ॥ १०॥
आस्तेऽधुना द्वारवत्यां भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वरः ।
स्मरतः पादकमलमात्मानमपि यच्छति ।
किं न्वर्थकामान् भजतो नात्यभीष्टान् जगद्गुरुः ॥ ११॥
स एवं भार्यया विप्रो बहुशः प्रार्थितो मृदु ।
अयं हि परमो लाभ उत्तमश्लोकदर्शनम् ॥ १२॥
इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा गमनाय मतिं दधे ।
अप्यस्त्युपायनं किञ्चिद्गृहे कल्याणि दीयताम् ॥ १३॥
याचित्वा चतुरो मुष्टीन् विप्रान् पृथुकतण्डुलान् ।
चैलखण्डेन तान् बद्ध्वा भर्त्रे प्रादादुपायनम् ॥ १४॥
स तानादाय विप्राग्र्यः प्रययौ द्वारकां किल ।
कृष्णसन्दर्शनं मह्यं कथं स्यादिति चिन्तयन् ॥ १५॥
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Śrī Śuka replied : (Parikṣit), there was a certain Brāhmaṇa, who was a (great) friend of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He possessed true knowledge of Brahma and was free from attachment to the objects of the senses. His mind was composed and he had full control over his senses. (6)
Although a householder, he used to remain contented with whatever he got without effort. He was always ill-clad and his wife too had no sufficient clothing to cover her body with. (Due to extreme poverty they seldom had a full meal and) the wife (specially) became very feeble on account of starvation. (7)
(One day) the poor and afflicted wife of the Brāhmaṇa, who was (extremely) devoted to her husband, approached her husband with a withering face and a trembling body, and said to him:—(8)
"Adorable husband! Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the spouse of the Goddess of Wealth, Himself is your friend. He is like a wish-yielding tree to His devotees, the refuge of all and a great devotee of the Brāhmaṇas. (9)
O blessed one, be pleased to approach Him, who is the resort of the righteous. When He comes to know that you are a householder and that you are suffering from want, He will bestow abundant wealth on you. (10)
He now resides at Dwārakā as the protector of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas. He (is so generous that He) gives away His own Self to those who contemplate on His lotus-feet. It is no wonder, then, that He, the Supreme Teacher of the World, should bestow on His devotees wealth and objects of worldly enjoyment, which are after all not very desirable things." (11)
Thus frequently and gently entreated by the wife, the Brāhmaṇa at last agreed to the proposal; for he thought that it would give him an opportunity of seeing Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which was a supreme gain in itself. Developing this idea in his mind he decided to go, and addressing his wife said, "O dear, is there anything in the house fit to be taken as a present ? If so, let me have it." (12-13)
The wife of the Brāhmaṇa begged of her neighbours and secured four handfuls of parched and beaten rice, which she tied up in a piece of rag and gave it to her lord for presentation to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (14)
With those handfuls of beaten rice, it is said, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas set out on his journey to Dwārakā. His only thought on the way was how it would be possible for him to obtain a sight of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (15) (6-15)
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त्रीणि गुल्मान्यतीयाय तिस्रः कक्षाश्च स द्विजः ।
विप्रोऽगम्यान्धकवृष्णीनां गृहेष्वच्युतधर्मिणाम् ॥ १६॥
गृहं द्व्यष्टसहस्राणां महिषीणां हरेर्द्विजः ।
विवेशैकतमं श्रीमद्ब्रह्मानन्दं गतो यथा ॥ १७॥
तं विलोक्याच्युतो दूरात्प्रियापर्यङ्कमास्थितः ।
सहसोत्थाय चाभ्येत्य दोर्भ्यां पर्यग्रहीन्मुदा ॥ १८॥
सख्युः प्रियस्य विप्रर्षेरङ्गसङ्गातिनिर्वृतः ।
प्रीतो व्यमुञ्चदब्बिन्दून् नेत्राभ्यां पुष्करेक्षणः ॥ १९॥
अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्युः समर्हणम् ।
उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनीः ॥ २०॥
अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवांल्लोकपावनः ।
व्यलिम्पद्दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कमैः ॥ २१॥
धूपैः सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा ।
अर्चित्वाऽऽवेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२॥
कुचैलं मलिनं क्षामं द्विजं धमनिसन्ततम् ।
देवी पर्यचरत्साक्षाच्चामरव्यजनेन वै ॥ २३॥
अन्तःपुरजनो दृष्ट्वा कृष्णेनामलकीर्तिना ।
विस्मितोऽभूदतिप्रीत्या अवधूतं सभाजितम् ॥ २४॥
किमनेन कृतं पुण्यमवधूतेन भिक्षुणा ।
श्रिया हीनेन लोकेऽस्मिन् गर्हितेनाधमेन च ॥ २५॥
योऽसौ त्रिलोकगुरुणा श्रीनिवासेन सम्भृतः ।
पर्यङ्कस्थां श्रियं हित्वा परिष्वक्तोऽग्रजो यथा ॥ २६॥
कथयाञ्चक्रतुर्गाथाः पूर्वा गुरुकुले सतोः ।
आत्मनो ललिता राजन् करौ गृह्य परस्परम् ॥ २७॥
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(O Parikṣit, reaching Dwārakā), the Brāhmaṇa together with other Brāhmaṇas passed through three camps of guards and three protective walls (one after another), and then reached the mansions occupied by the Andhaka and Vṛṣṇi chiefs, who followed the righteous ways of the devotees of God, very difficult of access to ordinary people. (16)
There was situated (in the centre of that innermost ring of the city) the palace of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa containing the dwellings of His sixteen thousand and odd consorts. In one of them, which was specially decorated, the Brāhmaṇa entered with the feelings of one who found himself merged in the Bliss of God-realization. (17)
Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa was at that time seated on a couch with His consort Rukmiṇī. Seeing the Brāhmaṇa from a distance, He suddenly rose from His seat and advancing towards him, joyously folded him in both of his arms. (18)
(Parikṣit!) the lotus-eyed Lord (who is the very embodiment of Bliss) felt extremely delighted when He touched the body of His beloved friend, the Brāhmaṇa sage. Tears of joy began to drop from His eyes. (19)
(Taking the Brāhmaṇa by the hand) Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the purifier of the world made His friend sit on His (own) couch, and bringing (Himself) all the articles necessary for worship, washed the Brāhmaṇa's feet and sprinkled His head with the drops of that water. (Then) He smeared the Brāhmaṇa's body with excellent perfumes as well as with the pastes of sandal, aloe-wood and saffron. (20-21)
Having joyfully worshipped His friend with scented fumes and rows of lights, and offering him betel-leaf seasoned with catechu, lime, areca-nut parings and cloves etc., and a cow, the Lord greeted the Brāhmaṇa with sweet words. (22)
The Brāhmaṇa was ill-clad, with an unclean and emaciated body, the veins of which were visible to the eyes. Queen Rukmiṇī herself actually waited on him having the chowry before him. (23)
The women of the palace were astonished to see a raked Brāhmaṇa being so lovingly honoured by Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa of spotless fame. (24)
(They said to one another:—) "What meritorious act was performed by this naked, destitute, condemned and lowly beggar that the Lord of the three worlds, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, should receive him with such honour and respect. Leaving Śrī Rukmiṇī, a manifestation of Goddess Lakṣmī Herself, who was seated (with Him) in His bed, He embraced the Brāhmaṇa as if he were Lord Balarāma Himself." (25-26)
Parikṣit, taking each other by the hand, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Brāhmaṇa recounted the sweet incidents of their boyhood, when they lived together in the house of the same teacher. (27) (16-27)
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श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
अपि ब्रह्मन् गुरुकुलाद्भवता लब्धदक्षिणात् ।
समावृत्तेन धर्मज्ञ भार्योढा सदृशी न वा ॥ २८॥
प्रायो गृहेषु ते चित्तमकामविहितं तथा ।
नैवातिप्रीयसे विद्वन् धनेषु विदितं हि मे ॥ २९॥
केचित्कुर्वन्ति कर्माणि कामैरहतचेतसः ।
त्यजन्तः प्रकृतीर्दैवीर्यथाहं लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥ ३०॥
कच्चिद्गुरुकुले वासं ब्रह्मन् स्मरसि नौ यतः ।
द्विजो विज्ञाय विज्ञेयं तमसः पारमश्नुते ॥ ३१॥
स वै सत्कर्मणां साक्षाद्द्विजातेरिह सम्भवः ।
आद्योऽङ्ग यत्राश्रमिणां यथाहं ज्ञानदो गुरुः ॥ ३२॥
नन्वर्थकोविदा ब्रह्मन् वर्णाश्रमवतामिह ।
ये मया गुरुणा वाचा तरन्त्यञ्जो भवार्णवम् ॥ ३३॥
नाहमिज्याप्रजातिभ्यां तपसोपशमेन वा ।
तुष्येयं सर्वभूतात्मा गुरुशुश्रूषया यथा ॥ ३४॥
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Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa said : O pious Brāhmaṇa, on your return from the preceptor's house, after making the voluntary present to him, did you or did you not marry a wife, who is in every respect worthy of you ? (28)
I know that, even though you are leading (I presume) the life of a householder, your heart is free from worldly desires. I am also aware that having realized the truth, you do not entertain any love for wealth. (29)
(In this world) people who have shaken off worldly desires brought forth by Divine Māyā, and who yet perform their prescribed duties with a heart unswayed by desire, just as I do, for the sake of setting an example before the world, are very rare. (30)
Do you remember, O dear Brāhmaṇa, our stay in the house of the preceptor? It is there that the twice-born acquire the knowledge of that which is worth knowing, and thus cross the darkness of ignorance in the form of mundane existence. (31)
O friend, the father from whom one gets the body is the first Guru in this world. Next, comes the teacher, who invests one with the sacred thread and teaches him his obligatory duties. He is worthy of adoration like Myself. Lastly, comes the teacher who imparts the knowledge of Self to men of all classes and orders and helps one in the realization of God. He is identical with Me. (32)
O dear friend, the teacher is the same as Myself. Among the followers of the Varṇāśrama order in this world, they alone who carry out the preceptor's teachings and thereby cross the ocean of mundane existence without much ado know their true worldly and other-worldly interests. (33)
O friend, I am the Universal Self (I reside in every heart as the Witness.) I am not so pleased with the performance of daily obligatory sacrifices by the householder, nor with investiture with the sacred thread and study of the scriptures, which is the duty of a celibate, nor with the penance of the ascetic, nor again with the quietism of the recluse, as I am with services rendered by a disciple to the preceptor. (34) (28-34)
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अपि नः स्मर्यते ब्रह्मन् वृत्तं निवसतां गुरौ ।
गुरुदारैश्चोदितानामिन्धनानयने क्वचित् ॥ ३५॥
प्रविष्टानां महारण्यमपर्तौ सुमहद्द्विज ।
वातवर्षमभूत्तीव्रं निष्ठुराः स्तनयित्नवः ॥ ३६॥
सूर्यश्चास्तङ्गतस्तावत्तमसा चावृता दिशः ।
निम्नं कूलं जलमयं न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन ॥ ३७॥
वयं भृशं तत्र महानिलाम्बुभि-
र्निहन्यमाना महुरम्बुसम्प्लवे ।
दिशोऽविदन्तोऽथ परस्परं वने
गृहीतहस्ताः परिबभ्रिमातुराः ॥ ३८॥
एतद्विदित्वा उदिते रवौ सान्दीपनिर्गुरुः ।
अन्वेषमाणो नः शिष्यानाचार्योऽपश्यदातुरान् ॥ ३९॥
अहो हे पुत्रका यूयमस्मदर्थेऽतिदुःखिताः ।
आत्मा वै प्राणिनां प्रेष्ठस्तमनादृत्य मत्पराः ॥ ४०॥
एतदेव हि सच्छिष्यैः कर्तव्यं गुरुनिष्कृतम् ।
यद्वै विशुद्धभावेन सर्वार्थात्मार्पणं गुरौ ॥ ४१॥
तुष्टोऽहं भो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सत्याः सन्तु मनोरथाः ।
छन्दांस्ययातयामानि भवन्त्विह परत्र च ॥ ४२॥
इत्थं विधान्यनेकानि वसतां गुरुवेश्मसु ।
गुरोरनुग्रहेणैव पुमान् पूर्णः प्रशान्तये ॥ ४३॥
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O dear Brāhmaṇa, do you remember the incident how, one day, when living in the house of our preceptor, we both were asked by the latter's wife to bring fuel. (35)
We entered a thick forest, O sage, and were overtaken by a mighty and violent storm of wind and rain, which broke unexpectedly out of season, and thunders roared relentlessly over our head. (36)
The sun set in the meanwhile and all sides were enveloped in darkness. The land being covered with water we could not ascertain the high and low level of ground. (37)
Severely and repeatedly beaten by violent blasts of wind and showers in that flood, and not knowing the
directions, we wandered in the forest in great confusion holding each other by the hand. (38)
Our preceptor, sage Sāndipani, when he learnt this, proceeded in search of us at sunrise and discovered us, his disciples, in that bewildered state. (39)
He said, "My dear boys, you have been put to great hardship on my account. One's own self is dear to all more than anything else. How wonderful that you have shown your devotion to me by disregarding even the self. (40)
A good disciple should offer with a sincere heart his all, including his very self, to the Guru. That is precisely what he should actually do in order to repay the debt to the Guru. (41)
O jewels of the twice-born, I am (supremely) pleased (with you); let all your desires be fulfilled, and may all the knowledge of the Vedas, that you have acquired from me, remain ever fresh in your memory. May it never fail you whether here or hereafter." (42)
O friend, numerous incidents of this type occurred during our life at the preceptor's house. It is by the grace of the preceptor alone that man attains perfection and supreme peace. (43) (35-43)
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ब्राह्मण उवाच ।
किमस्माभिरनिर्वृत्तं देवदेव जगद्गुरो ।
भवता सत्यकामेन येषां वासो गुरावभूत् ॥ ४४॥
यस्यच्छन्दोमयं ब्रह्म देह आवपनं विभो ।
श्रेयसां तस्य गुरुषु वासोऽत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥ ४५॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे श्रीदामचरिते
अशीतितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ८०॥
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The Brāhmaṇa replied : O God of gods, Preceptor of the World, what else remains to be achieved by me? ( I have accomplished everything, realized everything) inasmuch as I enjoyed the privilege of staying in the preceptor's house with You, whose resolution is unfailing? (44)
O Lord, the Vedas which are the repository of the four objects of life, viz., Dharma (virtue), Artha (prosperity), Kāma (worldly enjoyments) and Mokṣa (salvation), constitute Your body. You went to the preceptor's house to study those very Vedas only to imitate the ways of men, as a matter of sport. (45)
Thus ends the eightieth discourse forming part of the Story of Sudāmā, in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahārṣa-Sarhhitā. (44-45)
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