Bhagavata Purana

वैश्यवृत्त्या तु राजन्यो जीवेत् मृगययापदि । चरेद् वा विप्ररूपेण न श्ववृत्त्या कथञ्चन

A kṣatriya, in adversity, may live by the occupation of a vaiśya or by hunting, or may act as a brāhmaṇa—but never by a dog-like livelihood.

शूद्रवृत्तिं भजेद् वैश्यः शूद्रः कारुकटक्रियाम् । कृच्छ्रान् मुक्तो न गर्ह्येण वृत्तिं लिप्सेत कर्मणा

A vaiśya may adopt the work of a śūdra, and a śūdra may do menial crafts; but, freed from hardship, one should not seek a blameworthy occupation.

वेदाध्याय स्वधा स्वाहा बलि अन्नाद्यैः यथोदयम् । देवर्षिपितृभूतानि मद् रूपाणि अन्वहं यजेत्

By study of the Vedas, offerings to ancestors and gods, gifts, and food as available, one should daily worship the gods, sages, ancestors, and beings, who are my forms.

यदृच्छया उपपन्नेन शुक्लेन उपार्जितेन वा । धनेन अपीडयन् भृत्यान् न्यायेन एव आहरेत् क्रतून्

With wealth obtained by chance, or earned honestly and without oppression, one should support dependents and perform sacrifices, always by just means.

कुटुंबेषु न सज्जेत न प्रमाद्येत् कुटुंबी अपि । विपश्चित् नश्वरं पश्येद् अदृष्टमपि दृष्टवत्

One should not become attached to family, nor be careless even as a householder; the wise see the perishable as if already gone, even when not yet seen.

पुत्रदारा आप्तबंधूनां संगमः पांथसङ्गमः । अनुदेहं वियन्त्येते स्वप्नो निद्रानुगो यथा

The meeting of sons, wives, and close relatives is like the meeting of travelers; these depart from the body like a dream follows sleep.

इत्थं परिमृशन् मुक्तो गृहेषु अतिथिवद् वसन् । न गृहैः अनुबध्येत निर्ममो निरहङ्कृतः

Thus, reflecting in this way, one who is liberated dwells in households like a guest, not bound by them, free from possessiveness and ego.

कर्मभिः गृहमेधीयैः इष्ट्वा मामेव भक्तिमान् । तिष्ठेद् वनं वोपविशेत् प्रजावान् वा परिव्रजेत्

With devotion, performing the prescribed household duties for My sake alone, one may remain at home, go to the forest, or, if one has offspring, renounce and wander as a mendicant.

यस्तु आसक्तमतिः गेहे पुत्रवित्तैषणा आतुरः । स्त्रैणः कृपणधीः मूढो मम अहं इति बध्यते

But one whose mind is attached to home, tormented by the desire for children and wealth, infatuated with women, pitiable in thought, and deluded, is bound by thinking 'mine' and 'I'.

अहो मे पितरौ वृद्धौ भार्या बालात्मजऽऽत्मजाः । अनाथा मामृते दीनाः कथं जीवन्ति दुःखिताः

Alas, my aged parents, my wife, my young sons and daughters—helpless and miserable without me—how will they live, afflicted by suffering?

एवं गृहाशयाक्षिप्त हृदयो मूढधीः अयम् । अतृप्तस्तान् अनुध्यायन् मृतोऽन्धं विशते तमः

Thus, with his heart seized by attachment to home, his mind deluded, unsatisfied, constantly brooding over them, when he dies he enters into deep darkness.

सूत उवाच । यो वै द्रौण्यस्त्रविप्लुष्टो न मातुरुदरे मृतः । अनुग्रहाद् भगवतः कृष्णस्याद्‍भुतकर्मणः

Sūta said: He who, though burned by the weapon of Aśvatthāmā, was not killed in his mother's womb, was protected by the grace of the wondrously acting Lord Kṛṣṇa.

ब्रह्मकोपोत्थिताद् यस्तु तक्षकात् प्राणविप्लवात् । न सम्मुमोहोरुभयाद् भगवत्यर्पिताशयः

He, whose life was threatened by Takṣaka, born from the wrath of a brāhmaṇa, was not bewildered by the pain of death, for his mind was offered to the Lord.

उत्सृज्य सर्वतः सङ्गं विज्ञाताजितसंस्थितिः । वैयासकेर्जहौ शिष्यो गङ्गायां स्वं कलेवरम्

Having abandoned all attachments, understanding the state of the unconquered, the disciple of Vyāsa gave up his body in the Gaṅgā.

नोत्तमश्लोकवार्तानां जुषतां तत्कथामृतम् । स्यात्सम्भ्रमोऽन्तकालेऽपि स्मरतां तत्पदाम्बुजम्

For those who delight in the nectar of the Lord's glorious stories, there is no confusion even at the time of death, as they remember His lotus feet.

तावत्कलिर्न प्रभवेत् प्रविष्टोऽपीह सर्वतः । यावदीशो महानुर्व्यां आभिमन्यव एकराट्

So long as the great devotee, the son of Abhimanyu, rules the earth, Kali, though present everywhere, cannot prevail.

यस्मिन्नहनि यर्ह्येव भगवान् उत्ससर्ज गाम् । तदैवेहानुवृत्तोऽसौ अधर्मप्रभवः कलिः

On the very day and at the very moment when the Lord departed from the earth, then and there Kali, the source of unrighteousness, followed.

नानुद्वेष्टि कलिं सम्राट् सारङ्ग इव सारभुक् । कुशलान्याशु सिद्ध्यन्ति नेतराणि कृतानि यत्

The emperor does not hate Kali, just as a bee takes the essence from flowers; for him, auspicious results come quickly, not so for others.

किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा । अप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते

What can Kali, who is bold with the weak but fearful of the strong, do to the wise and fearless? Among the careless, he moves like a wolf among men.

उपवर्णितमेतद् वः पुण्यं पारीक्षितं मया । वासुदेव कथोपेतं आख्यानं यदपृच्छत

I have described to you this sacred story of Parīkṣit, filled with the tales of Vāsudeva, as you asked.

या याः कथा भगवतः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः । गुणकर्माश्रयाः पुम्भिः संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभिः

Whatever stories there are of the Lord, the performer of great deeds, based on His virtues and actions, should be served by those who desire true life.

ऋषय ऊचुः सूत जीव समाः सौम्य शाश्वतीर्विशदं यशः । यस्त्वं शंससि कृष्णस्य मर्त्यानां अमृतं हि नः

The sages said: O gentle Sūta, may you live long with everlasting pure fame, for you proclaim to mortals the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's deeds.

कर्मण्यस्मिन् अनाश्वासे धूमधूम्रात्मनां भवान् । आपाययति गोविन्द पादपद्मासवं मधु

In this uncertain world, where people's minds are clouded, you make us drink the honey-wine of Govinda's lotus feet.

तुलयाम लवेनापि न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् । भगवत् सङ्‌गिसंगस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिषः

We would not trade even a moment of association with the Lord's devotees for heaven or liberation—what then of other blessings for mortals?

को नाम तृप्येद् रसवित्कथायां महत्तमैकान्त परायणस्य । नान्तं गुणानां अगुणस्य जग्मुः योगेश्वरा ये भवपाद्ममुख्याः

Who indeed would ever be satisfied by hearing the nectar of stories about the one who is the supreme refuge of the greatest souls? Even the masters of yoga, foremost among those born from Brahma, have not reached the end of the qualities of the one who is beyond all qualities.

तन्नो भवान् वै भगवत्प्रधानो महत्तमैकान्त परायणस्य । हरेरुदारं चरितं विशुद्धं शुश्रूषतां नो वितनोतु विद्वन्

Therefore, you, who are foremost among those devoted to the Supreme, please, O learned one, narrate to us the noble and pure deeds of Hari, for those eager to listen.

स वै महाभागवतः परीक्षिद् येनापवर्गाख्यमदभ्रबुद्धिः । ज्ञानेन वैयासकिशब्दितेन भेजे खगेन्द्रध्वजपादमूलम्

That Parikshit, the great devotee, whose unwavering intelligence was directed toward liberation, attained the feet of the one whose banner bears the eagle, through the knowledge spoken by the son of Vyasa.

तन्नः परं पुण्यमसंवृतार्थं आख्यानमत्यद्‍भुत योगनिष्ठम् । आख्याह्यनन्ता चरितोपपन्नं पारीक्षितं भागवताभिरामम्

Therefore, please narrate to us that supremely auspicious, wondrous, and yoga-centered story, whose meaning is not concealed, which is filled with the endless deeds of the Lord, and which delighted Parikshit and the devotees.

सूत उवाच । अहो वयं जन्मभृतोऽद्य हास्म वृद्धानुवृत्त्यापि विलोमजाताः । दौष्कुल्यमाधिं विधुनोति शीघ्रं महत्तमानामभिधानयोगः

Sūta said: Ah, today we, though born in a lower lineage, have become blessed by following the elders. The association with the words of the greatest souls swiftly removes the impurity of a bad family and mental distress.