Bhagavata Purana

पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं प्रसाद्य गरुडध्वजम् । ततः प्रीतोऽभ्यनुज्ञातः परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य तम्

Having worshipped the Lord of the universe, pleased Garuda-bannered Krishna, they circumambulated him and offered respectful salutations.

सकलत्रसुहृत्पुत्रो द्वीपमब्धेर्जगाम ह । तदैव सामृतजला यमुना निर्विषाभवत् । अनुग्रहाद् भगवतः क्रीडामानुषरूपिणः

With all his wives, friends, and sons, he departed for the ocean's island; at that moment, the Yamuna became free of poison, by the grace of the Lord who played in human form.

  गन्धधूपादिभिश्चार्चेद् द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

He worshipped with incense, perfumes, and other offerings, using the twelve-syllable mantra.

सूत उवाच तत्र गोमिथुनं राजा हन्यमानमनाथवत् । दण्डहस्तं च वृषलं ददृशे नृपलाञ्छनम्

Sūta said: There, the king saw a cow and bull being beaten as if they were helpless, and he saw a low-born man holding a club, a disgrace to royalty.

वृषं मृणालधवलं मेहन्तमिव बिभ्यतम् । वेपमानं पदैकेन सीदन्तं शूद्रताडितम्

He saw the bull, white as a lotus stalk, trembling as if urinating in fear, shaking, standing on one leg, and weakened by blows from the Śūdra.

गां च घर्मदुघां दीनां भृशं शूद्रपदाहताम् । विवत्सामाश्रुवदनां क्षामां यवसमिच्छतीम्

He saw the cow, who once gave warm milk, now distressed, severely struck by the feet of the Śūdra, separated from her calf, with tearful face, emaciated, and longing for grass.

पप्रच्छ रथमारूढः कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदम् । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा समारोपितकार्मुकः

Mounted on his chariot, adorned with golden fittings, with a deep, thunderous voice and his bow raised, he questioned them.

कस्त्वं मच्छरणे लोके बलाद्धंस्यबलान् बली । नरदेवोऽसि वेषेण नटवत्कर्मणाद्विजः

Who are you, who in this world, under my protection, unjustly harms the weak? Though you appear as a king, your actions are like those of an actor, not a twice-born.

यस्त्वं कृष्णे गते दूरं सहगाण्डीवधन्वना । शोच्योऽस्यशोच्यान् रहसि प्रहरन् वधमर्हसि

You, who attack the innocent in secret, deserve to be killed, now that Kṛṣṇa has departed far away with the bearer of the Gāṇḍīva bow.

त्वं वा मृणालधवलः पादैर्न्यूनः पदा चरन् । वृषरूपेण किं कश्चिद्देवो नः परिखेदयन्

Or are you, white as a lotus stalk, walking with diminished feet, a deity in the form of a bull, causing us distress?

न जातु कौरवेन्द्राणां दोर्दण्डपरिरम्भिते । भूतलेऽनुपतन्त्यस्मिन् विना ते प्राणिनां शुचः

Never, while the earth was embraced by the mighty arms of the Kaurava kings, did grief afflict living beings here, except through you.

मा सौरभेयात्र शुचो व्येतु ते वृषलाद्भयम् । मा रोदीरम्ब भद्रं ते खलानां मयि शास्तरि

O daughter of Surabhi, do not grieve here; let your fear of the low-born vanish. Do not weep, mother; may auspiciousness be yours. I am the punisher of the wicked.

यस्य राष्ट्रे प्रजाः सर्वास्त्रस्यन्ते साध्व्यसाधुभिः । तस्य मत्तस्य नश्यन्ति कीर्तिरायुर्भगो गतिः

In whose kingdom all subjects suffer from the wicked and the good alike, that intoxicated ruler loses his fame, lifespan, fortune, and path.

एष राज्ञां परो धर्मो ह्यार्तानामार्तिनिग्रहः । अत एनं वधिष्यामि भूतद्रुहमसत्तमम्

This is the supreme duty of kings: to subdue the afflicted and punish their tormentors. Therefore, I shall kill this most wicked enemy of living beings.

कोऽवृश्चत्तव पादांस्त्रीन् सौरभेय चतुष्पद । मा भूवंस्त्वादृशा राष्ट्रे राज्ञां कृष्णानुवर्तिनाम्

Who has cut off your three legs, O daughter of Surabhi, you four-footed one? May such as you never exist in the realm of kings who follow Kṛṣṇa.

आख्याहि वृष भद्रं वः साधूनामकृतागसाम् । आत्मवैरूप्यकर्तारं पार्थानां कीर्तिदूषणम्

Tell me, O bull, may auspiciousness be yours, who is the cause of the disfigurement of the innocent, the defamer of the fame of the sons of Pṛthā.

जनेऽनागस्यघं युञ्जन् सर्वतोऽस्य च मद्भयम् । साधूनां भद्रमेव स्यादसाधुदमने कृते

One who inflicts harm on the innocent and spreads fear everywhere, for him only the welfare of the virtuous is ensured when the wicked are subdued.

अनागःस्विह भूतेषु य आगस्कृन्निरङ्कुशः । आहर्तास्मि भुजं साक्षादमर्त्यस्यापि साङ्गदम्

He who, though innocent among beings, commits offenses without restraint, I shall seize his arm directly, even if he is mortal and wears a bracelet.

राज्ञो हि परमो धर्मः स्वधर्मस्थानुपालनम् । शासतोऽन्यान् यथाशास्त्रमनापद्युत्पथानिह

For the king, the highest duty is to uphold his own dharma, to govern others according to the scriptures, and not to deviate from the path in adversity.

धर्म उवाच एतद्वः पाण्डवेयानां युक्तमार्ताभयं वचः । येषां गुणगणैः कृष्णो दौत्यादौ भगवान् कृतः

Dharma said: This speech of yours, O son of Pāṇḍu, is fitting for those who grant safety to the afflicted, for whom the Lord Kṛṣṇa was messenger and leader due to their virtues.

न वयं क्लेशबीजानि यतः स्युः पुरुषर्षभ । पुरुषं तं विजानीमो वाक्यभेदविमोहिताः

We do not possess the seeds of suffering, O best among men; we are bewildered by the divisions in speech and do not recognize that person.

केचिद्विकल्पवसना आहुरात्मानमात्मनः । दैवमन्येऽपरे कर्म स्वभावमपरे प्रभुम्

Some, clothed in speculative opinions, declare the self to be the self; others say it is fate, some say it is action, and others claim nature as the master.

अप्रतर्क्यादनिर्देश्यादिति केष्वपि निश्चयः । अत्रानुरूपं राजर्षे विमृश स्वमनीषया

For some, the conclusion is that it is inconceivable and indescribable; O royal sage, consider this according to your own discernment.

सूत उवाच एवं धर्मे प्रवदति स सम्राड्द्विजसत्तमाः । समाहितेन मनसा विखेदः पर्यचष्ट तम्

Sūta said: As Dharma spoke thus, the emperor addressed him, O best of the twice-born, with a mind focused, expressing his distress.

राजोवाच धर्मं ब्रवीषि धर्मज्ञ धर्मोऽसि वृषरूपधृक् । यदधर्मकृतः स्थानं सूचकस्यापि तद्भवेत्

The king said: You speak of dharma, O knower of dharma, and you are dharma, taking the form of a bull; wherever adharma is committed, the informer shares in its place.

अथवा देवमायाया नूनं गतिरगोचरा । चेतसो वचसश्चापि भूतानामिति निश्चयः

Or perhaps, indeed, the course of divine illusion is inaccessible to the mind and speech of beings—this is certain.

तपः शौचं दया सत्यमिति पादाः कृते कृताः । अधर्मांशैस्त्रयो भग्नाः स्मयसङ्गमदैस्तव

Austerity, purity, compassion, and truth are the legs established in the age of virtue; three have been broken by your pride, attachment, and intoxication.

इदानीं धर्म पादस्ते सत्यं निर्वर्तयेद्यतः । तं जिघृक्षत्यधर्मोऽयमनृतेनैधितः कलिः

Now, Dharma, your remaining leg is truth, which you must uphold; but Kali, established by falsehood, seeks to seize it.

इयं च भूमिर्भगवता न्यासितोरुभरा सती । श्रीमद्भिस्तत्पदन्यासैः सर्वतः कृतकौतुका

And this earth, bearing a great burden, was entrusted by the Lord; adorned everywhere by the footprints of the glorious one.