शौनक उवाच कस्य हेतोर्निजग्राह कलिं दिग्विजये नृपः । नृदेवचिह्नधृक्शूद्र कोऽसौ गां यः पदाहनत् । तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग यदि कृष्णकथाश्रयम्
Śaunaka said: For what reason did the king capture Kali during his conquest? Who was this śūdra, bearing royal insignia, who struck the cow with his foot? O blessed one, please tell us, if it relates to the stories of Kṛṣṇa.
अथवास्य पदाम्भोज मकरन्दलिहां सताम् । किमन्यैरसदालापैरायुषो यदसद्व्ययः
Or, for those devoted to tasting the nectar of the Lord's lotus feet, what use are other fruitless talks, which only waste the span of life?
क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् । इहोपहूतो भगवान्मृत्युः शामित्रकर्मणि
O gentle one, for mortal men of short life who desire immortality, the Lord, as Death, has been invited here by the sage Śāmīka.
न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद्यावदास्त इहान्तकः । एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूतः परमर्षिभिः । अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वचः
No one dies as long as Death remains here; for this reason, the Lord was called by the great sages. Oh, let the nectar of Hari's pastimes be drunk in the world of men!
मन्दस्य मन्दप्रज्ञस्य वयो मन्दायुषश्च वै । निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं दिवा च व्यर्थकर्मभिः
In this age, people are slow, of dull intelligence, and short-lived; their nights are wasted in sleep, and their days in vain activities.
सूत उवाच यदा परीक्षित्कुरुजाङ्गलेऽवसत्कलिं प्रविष्टं निजचक्रवर्तिते । निशम्य वार्तामनतिप्रियां ततः शरासनं संयुगशौण्डिराददे
Sūta said: When Parīkṣit, residing in the land of the Kurus, heard the unwelcome news that Kali had entered his kingdom, the valiant archer took up his bow.
स्वलङ्कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रितः पुरात् । वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गतः
He mounted his well-adorned chariot, yoked with dark horses and bearing the lion banner, and, surrounded by his army of chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry, set out to conquer the directions.
भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् । किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम्
He conquered Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, Bhārata, the northern Kurus, and the regions of Kimpuruṣa and others, and collected tribute from them.
नगरांश्च वनांश्चैव नदीश्च विमलोदकाः । पुरुषान् देवकल्पांश्च नारीश्च प्रियदर्शनाः
He subdued cities and forests, rivers with pure waters, men resembling the gods, and women of pleasing appearance.
अदृष्टपूर्वान् सुभगान् स ददर्श धनञ्जयः । सदनानि च शुभ्राणि नारीश्चाप्सरसां निभाः
Dhanañjaya beheld wondrous sights never seen before, splendid dwellings, and women resembling celestial nymphs.
तत्र तत्रोपशृण्वानः स्वपूर्वेषां महात्मनाम् । प्रगीयमाणं च यशः कृष्णमाहात्म्यसूचकम्
There and elsewhere, he heard the glories of his noble ancestors being sung—praises that revealed the greatness of Krishna.
आत्मानं च परित्रातमश्वत्थाम्नोऽस्त्रतेजसः । स्नेहं च वृष्णिपार्थानां तेषां भक्तिं च केशवे
He also heard of how he himself was saved from the fiery weapon of Ashvatthāman, of the affection between the Vṛṣṇis and the sons of Pāṇḍu, and of their devotion to Keśava.
तेभ्यः परमसन्तुष्टः प्रीत्युज्जृम्भितलोचनः । महाधनानि वासांसि ददौ हारान्महामनाः
Greatly pleased with them, his eyes wide with joy, the noble-hearted one gave them abundant wealth, garments, and necklaces.
सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्य वीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् । स्निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णोर् भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे
The king, devoted to the lotus feet of Viṣṇu, serves the Pāṇḍavas with affection—acting as charioteer, companion, attendant, friend, envoy, sharing their seat of valor, following them, praising and bowing to them, and thus brings the world to bow before Viṣṇu.
* तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् । नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत्तन्निबोध मे
While he was thus engaged, following the conduct of his forebears day by day, a marvelous event occurred not far away—listen as I recount it to you.
धर्मः पदैकेन चरन् विच्छायामुपलभ्य गाम् । पृच्छति स्माश्रुवदनां विवत्सामिव मातरम्
Dharma, moving on one foot, saw the Earth, her shadow diminished, weeping like a cow separated from her calf, and questioned her.
धर्म उवाच कच्चिद्भद्रेऽनामयमात्मनस्ते विच्छायासि म्लायतेषन्मुखेन । आलक्षये भवतीमन्तराधिं दूरे बन्धुं शोचसि कञ्चनाम्ब
Dharma said: O gentle one, is all well with you? Why do you appear so pale and withered? I perceive some inner sorrow in you—are you grieving for a distant relative, O mother?
पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपादमात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् । आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति
Are you grieving for your missing limb, for yourself about to be consumed by the wicked, or for the gods whose shares of sacrifice have been stolen, or for the people, since Indra no longer sends rain?
अरक्ष्यमाणाः स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान् शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् । वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्मण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्र्यान्
Are you mourning for women and children left unprotected on earth, suffering at the hands of cruel men? Or for the sacred speech of the goddess, corrupted in the brahmin class, or for the noble families degraded by unrighteous kings?
किं क्षत्रबन्धून् कलिनोपसृष्टान् राष्ट्राणि वा तैरवरोपितानि । इतस्ततो वाशनपानवासः स्नानव्यवायोन्मुखजीवलोकम्
Is it for the kṣatriya clans afflicted by Kali, or for the kingdoms they have ruined? Or for the people who wander here and there, seeking food, drink, shelter, and baths, their livelihoods disrupted?
यद्वाम्ब ते भूरिभरावतार कृतावतारस्य हरेर्धरित्रि । अन्तर्हितस्य स्मरती विसृष्टा कर्माणि निर्वाणविलम्बितानि
Or, O mother, do you remember the deeds performed by Hari, who incarnated to relieve your heavy burden, but has now departed, delaying your deliverance?
इदं ममाचक्ष्व तवाधिमूलं वसुन्धरे येन विकर्शितासि । कालेन वा ते बलिनां बलीयसा सुरार्चितं किं हृतमम्ब सौभगम्
Tell me, O Earth, what is the root of your distress, by which you have been afflicted. Has your good fortune, worshipped by the gods, been taken away by Time, the strongest of the strong?
धरण्युवाच भवान् हि वेद तत्सर्वं यन्मां धर्मानुपृच्छसि । चतुर्भिर्वर्तसे येन पादैर्लोकसुखावहैः
Earth said: You indeed know all that you ask me about, O Dharma, for you uphold the four legs that bring happiness to the world.
सत्यं शौचं दया क्षान्तिस्त्यागः सन्तोष आर्जवम् । शमो दमस्तपः साम्यं तितिक्षोपरतिः श्रुतम्
Truth, purity, compassion, forgiveness, renunciation, contentment, straightforwardness, tranquility, self-control, austerity, equanimity, forbearance, withdrawal, and learning—
ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो बलं स्मृतिः । स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्तिर्धैर्यं मार्दवमेव च
Knowledge, detachment, lordliness, heroism, brilliance, strength, memory, independence, skill, beauty, courage, and gentleness—
प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रयः शीलं सह ओजो बलं भगः । गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्कृतिः
Boldness, humility, good conduct, endurance, vigor, strength, prosperity, depth, steadiness, faith, fame, honor, and absence of pride—
एते चान्ये च भगवन्नित्या यत्र महागुणाः । प्रार्थ्या महत्त्वमिच्छद्भिर्न वियन्ति स्म कर्हिचित्
All these and other great qualities, O blessed one, ever reside in you; those who desire greatness seek them, for they never diminish in you.
तेनाहं गुणपात्रेण श्रीनिवासेन साम्प्रतम् । शोचामि रहितं लोकं पाप्मना कलिनेक्षितम्
Therefore, I grieve now for the world, bereft of the presence of Śrīnivāsa, the worthy vessel of all virtues, and afflicted by the sinful gaze of Kali.
आत्मानं चानुशोचामि भवन्तं चामरोत्तमम् । देवान् पितॄनृषीन् साधून् सर्वान् वर्णांस्तथाश्रमान्
I lament for myself, for you, the best among the rulers, for the gods, ancestors, sages, all the virtuous, and for all the social orders and stages of life.
ब्रह्मादयो बहुतिथं यदपाङ्गमोक्ष कामास्तपः समचरन् भगवत्प्रपन्नाः । सा श्रीः स्ववासमरविन्दवनं विहाय यत्पादसौभगमलं भजतेऽनुरक्ता
Even Brahmā and the others, longing for a mere sidelong glance, performed severe austerities, having surrendered to the Lord; yet that very goddess Śrī, abandoning her own abode in the lotus forest, lovingly worships the dust of His feet, which is adorned with auspicious marks.