Bhagavata Purana

आराधनं भगवत ईहमाना निराशिषः। ये तु नेच्छन्त्यपि परं ते स्वार्थकुशलाः स्मृताः

'Those who worship the Lord, desiring nothing, are remembered as truly wise, even if they do not seek anything further; but those who seek only their own benefit are not so.'

आराध्यात्मप्रदं देवं स्वात्मानं जगदीश्वरम्। को वृणीत गुणस्पर्शं बुधः स्यान्नरकेऽपि यत्

'Who, being wise, would choose contact with material qualities, which leads even to hell, when one can worship the Lord who bestows the self, the Lord of the universe and one's own soul?'

तदिदं मम दौर्जन्यं बालिशस्य महीयसि। क्षन्तुमर्हसि मातस्त्वं दिष्ट्या गर्भो मृतोत्थितः

'Therefore, O Mother, you ought to forgive this great offense of mine, who am childish and base. By good fortune, your embryo has arisen again from death.'

श्रीशुक उवाच। इन्द्रस्तयाभ्यनुज्ञातः शुद्धभावेन तुष्टया। मरुद्भिः सह तां नत्वा जगाम त्रिदिवं प्रभुः

Śrī Śuka said: Thus permitted by her, pure-hearted and satisfied, Indra, having bowed to her together with the Maruts, returned to heaven.

एवं ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। मङ्गलं मरुतां जन्म किं भूयः कथयामि ते

'Thus, all that you have asked me has been told, the auspicious birth of the Maruts. What more shall I tell you?'

सूत उवाच । महीपतिस्त्वथ तत्कर्म गर्ह्यं विचिन्तयन् नात्मकृतं सुदुर्मनाः । अहो मया नीचमनार्यवत्कृतं निरागसि ब्रह्मणि गूढतेजसि

Sūta said: The king, deeply troubled, reflected on that blameworthy act, not done by himself, thinking, 'Alas, I have acted basely, like one unworthy, toward the sinless, the hiddenly powerful Brahmin.'

ध्रुवं ततो मे कृतदेवहेलनाद् दुरत्ययं व्यसनं नातिदीर्घात् । तदस्तु कामं ह्यघनिष्कृताय मे यथा न कुर्यां पुनरेवमद्धा

'Surely, because of my disrespect toward the godly, a great calamity, hard to overcome, will soon befall me. Let it come as it will, as expiation for my sin, so that I may never do such a thing again.'

अद्यैव राज्यं बलमृद्धकोशं प्रकोपितब्रह्मकुलानलो मे । दहत्वभद्रस्य पुनर्न मेऽभूत् पापीयसी धीर्द्विजदेवगोभ्यः

'Today, may the fire of the angered Brahmin, which has been kindled against me, consume my kingdom, power, and vast treasury, for I, the unfortunate one, may never again harbor such evil thoughts toward Brahmins, gods, or cows.'

स चिन्तयन्नित्थमथाशृणोद् यथा मुनेः सुतोक्तो निर्‌ऋतिस्तक्षकाख्यः । स साधु मेने न चिरेण तक्षका नलं प्रसक्तस्य विरक्तिकारणम्

Thus reflecting, he heard how the sage's son had pronounced death, Takṣaka by name. He considered it good, for soon Takṣaka would bring detachment to one so attached.

अथो विहायेमममुं च लोकं विमर्शितौ हेयतया पुरस्तात् । कृष्णाङ्‌घ्रिसेवामधिमन्यमान उपाविशत् प्रायममर्त्यनद्याम्

Then, having renounced this world and the next, having weighed their worthlessness beforehand, he resolved to serve Kṛṣṇa's feet and sat down to fast by the immortal river.

या वै लसच्छ्रीतुलसीविमिश्र कृष्णाङ्‌घ्रिरेण्वभ्यधिकाम्बुनेत्री । पुनाति लोकानुभयत्र सेशान् कस्तां न सेवेत मरिष्यमाणः

That river, whose waters are mixed with the dust of Kṛṣṇa's feet and are more purifying than the Ganges, sanctifies all worlds and their rulers—who, facing death, would not serve her?

इति व्यवच्छिद्य स पाण्डवेयः प्रायोपवेशं प्रति विष्णुपद्याम् । दधौ मुकुन्दाङ्‌घ्रिमनन्यभावो मुनिव्रतो मुक्तसमस्तसङ्गः

Thus, the son of Pāṇḍu, having resolved, undertook the vow of fasting unto death at the bank of the Viṣṇu-pada, fixing his mind solely on Mukunda's feet, with the resolve of a sage, freed from all attachments.

तत्रोपजग्मुर्भुवनं पुनाना महानुभावा मुनयः सशिष्याः । प्रायेण तीर्थाभिगमापदेशैः स्वयं हि तीर्थानि पुनन्ति सन्तः

There arrived at that place, purifying the world, great and noble sages with their disciples; mostly, they came under the pretext of visiting holy sites, for the virtuous themselves sanctify the holy places.

अत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च्यवनः शरद्वान् अरिष्टनेमिर्भृगुरङ्‌गिराश्च । पराशरो गाधिसुतोऽथ राम उतथ्य इन्द्रप्रमदेध्मवाहौ

Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Śaradvān, Ariṣṭanemi, Bhṛgu, and Aṅgirā; Parāśara, the son of Gādhi, then Rāma, Utathya, Indrapramada, and Edhmavāha.

मेधातिथिर्देवल आर्ष्टिषेणो भारद्वाजो गौतमः पिप्पलादः । मैत्रेय और्वः कवषः कुम्भयोनिः द्वैपायनो भगवान् नारदश्च

Medhātithi, Devala, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, Bhāradvāja, Gautama, Pippalāda; Maitreya, Aurva, Kavaṣa, Kumbhayoni, Dvaipāyana, and the venerable Nārada.

अन्ये च देवर्षिब्रह्मर्षिवर्या राजर्षिवर्या अरुणादयश्च । नानार्षेयप्रवरान् समेतान् अभ्यर्च्य राजा शिरसा ववन्दे

And others, distinguished among deva-sages, brahma-sages, and royal sages, along with Aruṇa and his companions; the king, having honored the assembled eminent descendants of sages, bowed his head in reverence.

सुखोपविष्टेष्वथ तेषु भूयः कृतप्रणामः स्वचिकीर्षितं यत् । विज्ञापयामास विविक्तचेता उपस्थितोऽग्रेऽभिगृहीतपाणिः

When they were comfortably seated, having offered his respects, with a clear mind and intent to act according to his purpose, he approached them, standing before them with hands joined.

राजोवाच अहो वयं धन्यतमा नृपाणां महत्तमानुग्रहणीयशीलाः । राज्ञां कुलं ब्राह्मणपादशौचाद् दूराद् विसृष्टं बत गर्ह्यकर्म

The king spoke: 'Ah, among rulers, we are the most fortunate, for the greatest have shown us their gracious nature. The dynasty of kings, due to the impurity of neglecting the feet of brāhmaṇas, has been cast far away—alas, such blameworthy deeds.'

तस्यैव मेऽघस्य परावरेशो व्यासक्तचित्तस्य गृहेष्वभीक्ष्णम् । निर्वेदमूलो द्विजशापरूपो यत्र प्रसक्तो भयमाशु धत्ते

For me, the Supreme Lord of all, seeing my mind repeatedly attached to household affairs, has caused a sense of detachment, rooted in the words of the twice-born, where attachment quickly brings fear.

तं मोपयातं प्रतियन्तु विप्रा गङ्गा च देवी धृतचित्तमीशे । द्विजोपसृष्टः कुहकस्तक्षको वा दशत्वलं गायत विष्णुगाथाः

O brāhmaṇas, may you remain with me, who has approached, and may the goddess Gaṅgā, with my mind fixed upon the Lord. Whether by the curse of a brāhmaṇa or by the snake Takṣaka, let it happen; meanwhile, sing the glories of Viṣṇu.

पुनश्च भूयाद्‍भगवत्यनन्ते रतिः प्रसङ्गश्च तदाश्रयेषु । महत्सु यां यामुपयामि सृष्टिं मैत्र्यस्तु सर्वत्र नमो द्विजेभ्यः

May there again be devotion and attachment to the infinite Lord, and to those who take refuge in Him; wherever I am born among the noble, may there always be friendship, and I bow to the brāhmaṇas everywhere.

इति स्म राजाध्यवसाययुक्तः प्राचीनमूलेषु कुशेषु धीरः । उदङ्‌मुखो दक्षिणकूल आस्ते समुद्रपत्‍न्याः स्वसुतन्यस्तभारः

Thus, the king, resolute in his decision, sat facing north on the eastern bank, upon a bed of kuśa grass, steadfast, having placed the burden of his own wife and son with the ocean's daughter.

एवं च तस्मिन् नरदेवदेवे प्रायोपविष्टे दिवि देवसङ्घाः । प्रशस्य भूमौ व्यकिरन् प्रसूनैः मुदा मुहुर्दुन्दुभयश्च नेदुः

As the king of men and gods sat in fasting, the hosts of gods in heaven praised him; they scattered flowers upon the earth with joy, and drums resounded again and again.

महर्षयो वै समुपागता ये प्रशस्य साध्वित्यनुमोदमानाः । ऊचुः प्रजानुग्रहशीलसारा यदुत्तमश्लोकगुणाभिरूपम्

The great sages who had assembled, praising him and approving his actions, spoke: 'His conduct is for the welfare of the people, and is adorned by the virtues of the Lord, praised by the highest.'

न वा इदं राजर्षिवर्य चित्रं भवत्सु कृष्णं समनुव्रतेषु । येऽध्यासनं राजकिरीटजुष्टं सद्यो जहुर्भगवत्पार्श्वकामाः

Nor is it remarkable, O foremost of royal sages, among those devoted to Kṛṣṇa, that they, who once occupied the throne adorned with the royal crown, immediately renounced it, desiring only the Lord's presence.

सर्वे वयं तावदिहास्महेऽद्य कलेवरं यावदसौ विहाय । लोकं परं विरजस्कं विशोकं यास्यत्ययं भागवतप्रधानः

All of us shall remain here today, until he abandons his body; then this foremost devotee of the Lord will attain the supreme world, free from passion and sorrow.

आश्रुत्य तद् ऋषिगणवचः परीक्षित् समं मधुच्युद् गुरु चाव्यलीकम् । आभाषतैनानभिनन्द्य युक्तान् शुश्रूषमाणश्चरितानि विष्णोः

Hearing the words of the assembly of sages, Parīkṣit, along with Madhucyuda, his teacher, and without fault, addressed them, greeting those who were present, eager to hear the deeds of Viṣṇu.

समागताः सर्वत एव सर्वे वेदा यथा मूर्तिधरास्त्रिपृष्ठे । नेहाथवामुत्र च कश्चनार्थ ऋते परानुग्रहमात्मशीलम्

All have gathered here from every direction, as the Vedas take form in the three worlds; here or elsewhere, there is no purpose except the supreme welfare and the nature of the self.

ततश्च वः पृच्छ्यमिमं विपृच्छे विश्रभ्य विप्रा इति कृत्यतायाम् । सर्वात्मना म्रियमाणैश्च कृत्यं शुद्धं च तत्रामृशताभियुक्ताः

Therefore, I ask you, O brāhmaṇas, what should be done, trusting in your guidance; for those who are dying, what is the pure duty, and let those who are engaged deliberate upon it.