Bhagavata Purana

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.

श्रीर्गुणा नैरपेक्ष्याद्याः सुखं दुःखसुखात्ययः। दुःखं कामसुखापेक्षा पण्डितो बन्धमोक्षवित्

The qualities of Śrī are independence and the like; happiness is the end of pleasure and pain. Pain comes from desire for pleasure. The wise one knows bondage and liberation.

मूर्खो देहाद्यहंबुद्धिः पन्था मन्निगमः स्मृतः। उत्पथश्चित्तविक्षेपः स्वर्गः सत्त्वगुणोदयः

The fool identifies with body and such; my path is called the Veda. Distraction of mind is a wrong path; heaven is the rise of sattva-guṇa.

नरकस्तमउन्नाहो बन्धुर्गुरुरहं सखे। गृहं शरीरं मानुष्यं गुणाढ्यो ह्याढ्य उच्यते

Hell is darkness and pride; friend, teacher, and self are one. Home is the body; humanity is wealth in qualities, and the truly wealthy is so called.

दरिद्रो यस्त्वसन्तुष्टः कृपणो योऽजितेन्द्रियः। गुणेष्वसक्तधीरीशो गुणसङ्गो विपर्ययः

He is poor who is not content; pitiable is he who has not mastered his senses. One whose mind is unattached to the qualities is a lord; attachment to the qualities is the opposite.

एत उद्धव ते प्रश्नाः सर्वे साधु निरूपिताः। किं वर्णितेन बहुना लक्षणं गुणदोषयोः। गुणदोषदृशिर्दोषो गुणस्तूभयवर्जितः

O Uddhava, all your questions have been properly answered. Why elaborate further on the characteristics of virtue and fault? To see faults in virtues is itself a fault, but virtue is that which is free from both.

प्रावृड्वर्णनं शरद्‌वर्णनं च - श्रीशुक उवाच । ( अनुष्टुप् ) तयोस्तदद्‍भुतं कर्म दावाग्नेर्मोक्षमात्मनः । गोपाः स्त्रीभ्यः समाचख्युः प्रलम्बवधमेव च

Śuka said: The cowherds recounted to the women the wondrous deeds of the two—how the forest fire was extinguished and how Pralamba was slain.

गोपवृद्धाश्च गोप्यश्च तदुपाकर्ण्य विस्मिताः । मेनिरे देवप्रवरौ कृष्णरामौ व्रजं गतौ

Hearing this, the elder cowherds and the women, astonished, considered Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, who had come to Vraja, to be foremost among the gods.

ततः प्रावर्तत प्रावृट् सर्वसत्त्वसमुद्‍भवा । विद्योतमानपरिधिः विस्फूर्जित नभस्तला

Then the rainy season began, arising with all living beings, its horizon lit up, the sky and earth resounding with thunder.

सान्द्रनीलाम्बुदैर्व्योम सविद्युत् स्तनयित्‍नुभिः । अस्पष्टज्योतिः आच्छन्नं ब्रह्मेव सगुणं बभौ

The sky, dense with dark clouds, streaked with lightning and roaring thunder, shone dimly, veiled—like Brahman with qualities.

अष्टौ मासान् निपीतं यद् भूम्याश्चोदमयं वसु । स्वगोभिर्मोक्तुमारेभे पर्जन्यः काल आगते

When the time arrived, the clouds began to release, by their own power, the water they had drawn from the earth over eight months.