Bhagavata Purana

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.

तत्राभवद् भगवान् व्यासपुत्रो यदृच्छया गामटमानोऽनपेक्षः । अलक्ष्यलिङ्गो निजलाभतुष्टो वृतश्च बालैरवधूतवेषः

Then, the son of Vyāsa, the venerable one, arrived there by chance, wandering the earth without expectation; his signs were unrecognizable, content in his own gain, surrounded by children, wearing the garb of a mocker.

तं द्व्यष्टवर्षं सुकुमारपाद करोरुबाह्वंसकपोलगात्रम् । चार्वायताक्षोन्नसतुल्यकर्ण सुभ्र्‌वाननं कम्बुसुजातकण्ठम्

He, in his sixteenth year, had tender feet, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, and cheeks; his limbs were graceful, his eyes large and elongated, his ears equal to his raised nostrils, his brows beautiful, his face radiant, and his neck well-formed like a conch.

निगूढजत्रुं पृथुतुङ्गवक्षसं आवर्तनाभिं वलिवल्गूदरं च । दिगम्बरं वक्त्रविकीर्णकेशं प्रलम्बबाहुं स्वमरोत्तमाभम्

His collarbones were hidden, his chest broad and high, his navel deep and whorled, his belly marked with lines and softly rounded; unclothed, his hair spread over his face, his arms long and hanging, resembling the best among gods.

श्यामं सदापीच्यवयोऽङ्गलक्ष्म्या स्त्रीणां मनोज्ञं रुचिरस्मितेन । प्रत्युत्थितास्ते मुनयः स्वासनेभ्यः तल्लक्षणज्ञा अपि गूढवर्चसम्

His complexion was dark, his youthful beauty ever fresh, his limbs marked by auspicious signs; with a charming smile, he captivated the minds of women. Even the sages, though knowing his true nature, rose from their seats to honor him, for his greatness was concealed.

स विष्णुरातोऽतिथय आगताय तस्मै सपर्यां शिरसाऽऽजहार । ततो निवृत्ता ह्यबुधाः स्त्रियोऽर्भका महासने सोपविवेश पूजितः

Viṣṇurāta (Parīkṣit) offered worship with bowed head to that honored guest who had arrived. Then, as the ignorant women and children withdrew, he was seated with honor upon the great seat.

स संवृतस्तत्र महान् महीयसां ब्रह्मर्षिराजर्षिदेवर्षि सङ्घैः । व्यरोचतालं भगवान् यथेन्दुः ग्रहर्क्षतारानिकरैः परीतः

There, surrounded by the great ones—assemblies of Brahmarṣis, Rājarṣis, and Devarṣis—the illustrious sage shone brilliantly, just as the moon shines surrounded by hosts of planets, stars, and constellations.

प्रशान्तमासीनमकुण्ठमेधसं मुनिं नृपो भागवतोऽभ्युपेत्य । प्रणम्य मूर्ध्नावहितः कृताञ्जलिः नत्वा गिरा सूनृतयान्वपृच्छत्

The king, a devotee of the Lord, approached the sage, who sat peacefully, his wisdom undiminished. Bowing his head with folded hands, he offered respectful words and inquired with gentle speech.

परीक्षिदुवाच । अहो अद्य वयं ब्रह्मन् सत्सेव्याः क्षत्रबन्धवः । कृपयातिथिरूपेण भवद्‌भिस्तीर्थकाः कृताः

Parīkṣit said: O brāhmaṇa, today we, mere kṣatriyas, have become worthy of service, for by your mercy, you have come as a guest and made our land holy.

येषां संस्मरणात् पुंसां सद्यः शुद्ध्यन्ति वै गृहाः । किं पुनर्दर्शनस्पर्श पादशौचासनादिभिः

By remembering you, the houses of men are instantly purified—what then can be said of seeing you, touching you, washing your feet, or offering you a seat and so on?

सान्निध्यात्ते महायोगिन् पातकानि महान्त्यपि । सद्यो नश्यन्ति वै पुंसां विष्णोरिव सुरेतराः

By your presence, O great yogi, even the gravest sins of people are immediately destroyed, just as the demons are by Viṣṇu.

अपि मे भगवान् प्रीतः कृष्णः पाण्डुसुतप्रियः । पैतृष्वसेयप्रीत्यर्थं तद्‍गोत्रस्यात्तबान्धवः

May the Lord, Kṛṣṇa—dear to the sons of Pāṇḍu—be pleased with me, for he has accepted the relatives of his paternal aunt out of affection for his own lineage.

अन्यथा तेऽव्यक्तगतेः दर्शनं नः कथं नृणाम् । नितरां म्रियमाणानां संसिद्धस्य वनीयसः

Otherwise, how could we mortals, especially those about to die, have your audience, you whose mind is fixed in the unmanifest and who are perfected and dwelling in the forest?

अतः पृच्छामि संसिद्धिं योगिनां परमं गुरुम् । पुरुषस्येह यत्कार्यं म्रियमाणस्य सर्वथा

Therefore, I ask you, supreme teacher of yogis, about the highest perfection: what should a person do in every way when death is near?

यच्छ्रोतव्यमथो जप्यं यत्कर्तव्यं नृभिः प्रभो । स्मर्तव्यं भजनीयं वा ब्रूहि यद्वा विपर्ययम्

What should be heard, recited, done, remembered, or worshipped by people, O master? Or, tell me if there is anything else contrary to this.

नूनं भगवतो ब्रह्मन् गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् । न लक्ष्यते ह्यवस्थानं अपि गोदोहनं क्वचित्

Certainly, O brāhmaṇa, the presence of the Lord is not perceived in the homes of householders, not even at the time of milking the cows.

सूत उवाच । एवमाभाषितः पृष्टः स राज्ञा श्लक्ष्णया गिरा । प्रत्यभाषत धर्मज्ञो भगवान् बादरायणिः

Sūta said: Thus addressed and questioned by the king in gentle words, the wise and learned son of Bādarāyaṇa replied.