Bhagavata Purana

यद्यपि ब्रह्मसंबंधात् श्रुतमेतत् सुरर्षिणा । सप्ताहश्रवणविधिः कुमारैस्तस्य भाषितः

Although this was heard from the divine sage due to his connection with Brahman, the method of hearing it in seven days was explained by the Kumāras.

शौनक उवाच - लोकविग्रहमुक्तस्य नारदस्यास्थिरस्य च । विधिश्रवे कुतः प्रीतिः संयोगः कुत्र तैः सह

Śaunaka said: How could Nārada, who is free from worldly ties and ever-moving, feel affection or form a connection with those present at the ritual?

सूत उवाच - अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि भक्तियुक्तं कथानकम् । शुकेन मम यत्प्रोक्तं रहः शिष्यं विचार्य च

Sūta said: I shall recount to you here the narrative, imbued with devotion, which Śuka spoke to me in secret, after considering me his disciple.

एकदा हि विशालायां चत्वार ऋषयोऽमलाः । सत्सङ्गार्थं समायाता ददृशुस्तत्र नारदम्

Once, in Viśālā, four pure sages gathered for the sake of holy association, and there they saw Nārada.

कुमाराः ऊचुः - कथं ब्रह्मन् दीनमुखं कुतश्चिन्तातुरो भवान् । त्वरितं गम्यते कुत्र कुतश्चागमनं तव

The Kumāras said: O Brāhmaṇa, why is your face downcast, and why are you troubled in mind? Where are you hastening to, and from where have you come?

इदानीं शून्यचित्तोऽसि गतवित्तो यथा जनः । तवेदं मुक्तसङ्‌गस्य नोचितं वद कारणम्

Now you seem empty-hearted, as if you have lost your wealth, like an ordinary man. This does not befit one who is free from attachment—tell us the reason.

नारद उवाच - अहं तु पृथिवीं यातो ज्ञात्वा सर्वोत्तममिति । पुष्करं च प्रयागं च काशीं गोदावरीं तथा

Nārada said: I have traveled the earth, thinking it to be the highest, visiting Puṣkara, Prayāga, Kāśī, and also the Godāvarī.

हरिक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रं श्रीरङ्‌गं सेतुबन्धनम् । एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु भ्रममाण इतस्ततः

I wandered among holy places such as Harikṣetra, Kurukṣetra, Śrīraṅga, Setubandha, and others, moving here and there.

नापश्यं कुत्रचित् शर्म मनस्संतोषकारकम् । कलिनाधर्ममित्रेण धरेयं बाधिताधुना

Nowhere did I find happiness that brings satisfaction to the mind; at present, the earth is afflicted by Kali, the friend of unrighteousness.

सत्यं नास्ति तपः शौचं दया दानं न विद्यते । उदरंभरिणो जीवा वराकाः कूटभाषिणः

Truth, austerity, purity, compassion, and charity no longer exist. The unfortunate beings live only to fill their bellies and speak deceitfully.

मन्दाः सुमन्दमतयो मन्दभाग्या हि उपद्रुताः । पाखण्डनिरताः संतो विरक्ताः सपरिग्रहाः

People are dull, of poor understanding, unfortunate, and afflicted. The good are few, absorbed in hypocrisy, and even the renunciants maintain households.

तरुणीप्रभुता गेहे श्यालको बुद्धिदायकः । कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभाद् दंपतीनां च कल्कनम्

Young women rule the household, brothers-in-law give counsel, daughters are sold out of greed, and discord arises between husband and wife.

आश्रमा यवनै रुद्धाः तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा । देवतायतनान्यत्र दुष्टैः नष्टानि भूरिशः

The āśramas are obstructed by foreigners, as are the holy rivers; many temples of the gods have been destroyed by the wicked.

न योगी नैव सिद्धो वा न ज्ञानी सत्क्रियो नरः । कलिदावानलेनाद्य साधनं भस्मतां गतम्

There is no yogī, nor any accomplished one, nor a wise man, nor a person of good conduct; in the wildfire of Kali, all spiritual practices have been reduced to ashes.

अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूला द्विजातयः । कामिन्यः केशशूलिन्यः संभवन्ति कलौ इह

Villages are plagued by bandits, the twice-born are struck by the trident of Śiva, and women, their hair disheveled, become lustful in this age of Kali.

एवं पश्यन् कलेर्दोषान् पर्यटन् अवनीं अहम् । यामुनं तटमापन्नो यत्र लीला हरेरभूत्

Thus, seeing the faults of the age of Kali, I wandered the earth; I came to the bank of the Yamunā, where the Lord's pastimes had taken place.

तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं श्रूयतां तन्मुनीश्वराः । एका तु तरुणी तत्र निषण्णा खिन्नमानसा

There I saw a wonder—listen to it, O great sages: there sat a young woman, her mind weary and distressed.

वृद्धौ द्वौ पतितौ पार्श्वे निःश्वसन्तौ अचेतनौ । शुश्रूषन्ती प्रबोधन्ती रुदती च तयोः पुरः

Beside her lay two old men, collapsed, breathing faintly and unconscious; she served them, tried to rouse them, and wept before them.

दशदिक्षु निरीक्षन्ती रक्षितारं निजं वपुः । वीज्यमाना शतस्त्रीभिः बोध्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः

She looked in all ten directions for her protector, her own form being fanned by hundreds of women, who repeatedly tried to awaken her.

दृष्ट्वा दुराद् गतः सोऽहं कौतुकेन तदन्तिकम् । मां दृष्ट्वा चोत्थिता बाला विह्वला चाब्रवीद् वचः

Seeing this from a distance, I approached out of curiosity; seeing me, the young woman rose, agitated, and spoke these words.

बालोवाच - भो भोः साधो क्षणं तिष्ठ मच्चिन्तामपि नाशय । दर्शनं तव लोकस्य सर्वथाघहरं परम्

The girl said: O holy one, please stay a moment and dispel my anxiety; your very sight utterly destroys the sins of the world.

बहुधा तव वाक्येन दुःखशान्तिर्भविष्यति । यदा भाग्यं भवेद् भूरि भवतो दर्शनं तदा

By your many words, relief from suffering will come; when great fortune arises, then your presence is obtained.

नारद उवाच - कासि त्वं कौ इमौ चेमा नार्यः काः पद्मलोचनाः । वद देवि सविस्तारं स्वस्य दुःखस्य कारणम्

Nārada said: Who are you? Who are these two, and who are these lotus-eyed women? Tell me in detail, O goddess, the cause of your distress.

बालोवाच - अहं भक्तिरिति ख्याता इमौ मे तनयौ मतौ । ज्ञानवैराग्य नामानौ कालयोगेन जर्जरौ

The girl said: I am known as Bhakti; these two are my sons, called Jñāna and Vairāgya, now aged and worn by the influence of time.

गङ्‌गाद्या स्मरितश्चेमा मत्सेवार्थं समागताः । तथापि न च मे श्रेयः सेवितायाः सुरैरपि

These, headed by Gaṅgā, have come here, remembering me, to serve me; yet, though even the gods have served me, I have gained no true welfare.

इदानीं श्रुणु मद्वार्तां सचित्तस्त्वं तपोधन । वार्ता मे वितताप्यस्ति तां श्रुत्वा सुखमावह

Now, listen attentively, O sage rich in austerity, to my story; though it is well known, hearing it will bring you happiness.

उत्पन्ना द्रविडे साहं वृद्धिं कर्नाटके गता । क्वचित् क्वचित् महाराष्ट्रे गुर्जरे जीर्णतां गता

I was born in Drāviḍa, grew up in Karṇāṭaka, and in some places in Mahārāṣṭra and Gurjara I became aged.

तत्र घोर कलेर्योगात् पाखण्डैः खण्डिताङ्गका । दुर्बलाहं चिरं याता पुत्राभ्यां सह मन्दताम्

There, due to the terrible influence of Kali, I was attacked by heretics and became weak; for a long time, I remained feeble along with my sons.

वृन्दावनं पुनः प्राप्य नवीनेव सुरूपिणी । जाताहं उवती सम्यक् श्रेष्ठरूपा तु सांप्रतम्

Having reached Vṛndāvana again, I became youthful and beautiful, a young woman in her prime, now possessing the best form.