Bhagavata Purana

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.

* तस्याहमब्जकुलिशाङ्कुशकेतुकेतैः श्रीमत्पदैर्भगवतः समलङ्कृताङ्गी । त्रीनत्यरोच उपलभ्य ततो विभूतिं लोकान् स मां व्यसृजदुत्स्मयतीं तदन्ते

I was adorned by the glorious footprints of the Lord—marked with the lotus, thunderbolt, goad, banner, and other symbols—yet, having attained such splendor, I did not find favor with Him; at the end, He cast me aside, and the worlds, too, rejected me with disdain.

* यो वै ममातिभरमासुरवंशराज्ञाम् अक्षौहिणीशतमपानुददात्मतन्त्रः । त्वां दुःस्थमूनपदमात्मनि पौरुषेण सम्पादयन् यदुषु रम्यमबिभ्रदङ्गम्

He, who by His own power removed the unbearable burden of the earth—the hundred armies of the demonic kings—established you, though your position was unstable and diminished, in your own strength, and delighted the Yadu dynasty by bearing their charming forms.

* का वा सहेत विरहं पुरुषोत्तमस्य प्रेमावलोकरुचिरस्मितवल्गुजल्पैः । स्थैर्यं समानमहरन्मधुमानिनीनां रोमोत्सवो मम यदङ्घ्रिविटङ्कितायाः

Who could endure separation from the Supreme Person, whose loving glances, radiant smiles, and sweet words steal away the steadfastness even of the honey-bees—when the very dust of His feet, marked with auspicious signs, brings a thrill to my being?

* तयोरेवं कथयतोः पृथिवीधर्मयोस्तदा । परीक्षिन्नाम राजर्षिः प्राप्तः प्राचीं सरस्वतीम्

As the Earth and Dharma thus conversed, at that moment, King Parīkṣit, the royal sage, arrived at the eastern Sarasvatī river.

( अनुष्टुप् ) नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते पुरुषाय महात्मने । भूतावासाय भूताय पराय परमात्मने

Obeisance to You, O Lord, the Supreme Person, the great soul, the abode of all beings, the source of all, the transcendent, the Supreme Self.

ज्ञानविज्ञाननिधये ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये । अगुणायाविकाराय नमस्तेऽप्राकृताय च

Salutations to You, the treasure-house of knowledge and wisdom, the Absolute, of infinite power, beyond qualities, unchanging, and not of this world.

कालाय कालनाभाय कालावयवसाक्षिणे । विश्वाय तदुपद्रष्ट्रे तत्कर्त्रे विश्वहेतवे

Salutations to Time, the source of time, the witness of the divisions of time, the universe itself, the overseer of all, the creator and the cause of the universe.

भूतमात्रेन्द्रियप्राण मनोबुद्ध्याशयात्मने । त्रिगुणेनाभिमानेन गूढस्वात्मानुभूतये

To the Self of elements, senses, life-breath, mind, intellect, and inner disposition, who is experienced inwardly, yet concealed by identification with the three qualities—salutations.

नमोऽनन्ताय सूक्ष्माय कूटस्थाय विपश्चिते । नानावादानुरोधाय वाच्यवाचक शक्तये

Salutations to the infinite, the subtle, the immutable, the all-knowing, who accommodates all doctrines, and is the power behind both the spoken and the unspoken.

नमः प्रमाणमूलाय कवये शास्त्रयोनये । प्रवृत्ताय निवृत्ताय निगमाय नमो नमः

Salutations to the one who is the root of all valid knowledge, the sage, the source of the scriptures, the path of action and renunciation, the Veda itself—again and again, salutations.