Bhagavata Purana

ईश्वराणां वचः सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित् । तेषां यत् स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस्तत् समाचरेत्

The words of the lords are true, and so too are their actions at times; the wise should follow only those of their words and deeds that are in accord with reason.

कुशलाचरितेनैषां इह स्वार्थो न विद्यते । विपर्ययेण वानर्थो निरहङ्‌कारिणां प्रभो

By their skillful conduct, they have no personal aim here; nor, O master, is there harm for those without ego, even if the opposite occurs.

किमुताखिलसत्त्वानां तिर्यङ्‌ मर्त्यदिवौकसाम् । ईशितुश्चेशितव्यानां कुशलाकुशलान्वयः

What then of all beings—animals, mortals, and gods—who are ruled and to be ruled? The connection of good and evil applies to them.

( वसंततिलका ) यत्पादपङ्‌कजपरागनिषेवतृप्ता योगप्रभावविधुताखिलकर्मबन्धाः । स्वैरं चरन्ति मुनयोऽपि न नह्यमानाः तस्येच्छयाऽऽत्तवपुषः कुत एव बन्धः

Those who are satisfied by serving the dust of His lotus feet, whose powers of yoga have dissolved all bondage of karma, roam freely as sages, unrestrained; by His will, having assumed a body, how could there be any bondage at all?

( अनुष्टुप् ) गोपीनां तत्पतीनां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् । योऽन्तश्चरति सोऽध्यक्षः क्रीडनेनेह देहभाक्

He who dwells within all beings—the gopīs, their husbands, and everyone embodied—is the overseer, playing here in bodies.

अनुग्रहाय भूतानां मानुषं देहमास्थितः । भजते तादृशीः क्रीड याः श्रुत्वा तत्परो भवेत्

For the sake of showing favor to living beings, He has taken on a human body and performs such pastimes, hearing which one becomes devoted to Him.

नासूयन् खलु कृष्णाय मोहितास्तस्य मायया । मन्यमानाः स्वपार्श्वस्थान् स्वान् स्वान् दारान् व्रजौकसः

Indeed, the residents of Vraja, deluded by His māyā, did not envy Krishna, thinking those beside them to be their own spouses.

ब्रह्मरात्र उपावृत्ते वासुदेवानुमोदिताः । अनिच्छन्त्यो ययुर्गोप्यः स्वगृहान् भगवत्प्रियाः

When the night of Brahmā had ended, the gopīs, beloved of the Lord, though reluctant, returned to their homes, with Vasudeva's approval.

( वसंततिलका ) विक्रीडितं व्रजवधूभिरिदं च विष्णोः श्रद्धान्वितोऽनुश्रृणुयादथ वर्णयेद्यः । भक्तिं परां भगवति प्रतिलभ्य कामं हृद्रोगमाश्वपहिनोत्यचिरेण धीरः

Whoever faithfully hears or recounts this play of the wives of Vraja with Viṣṇu, quickly attains supreme devotion to the Lord, and the wise person swiftly removes the disease of lust from the heart.

अजगरमुखात् अनन्दस्य मोचनम्,अजगरस्य पूर्वविद्याधरप्राप्ति; शंखचूड वधः । श्रीशुक उवाच। एकदा देवयात्रायां गोपाला जातकौतुकाः। अनोभिरनडुद्युक्तैः प्रययुस्तेऽम्बिकावनम्

Śuka said: Once, during a festival for the gods, the cowherds, eager with excitement, set out for Ambikā forest with their oxen yoked to carts.

तत्र स्नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम्। आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च णृपतेऽम्बिकाम्

There, after bathing in the Sarasvatī, they worshipped the mighty Lord Paśupati with offerings, and also the goddess Ambikā, O King, with devotion.

गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमादृताः। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः सर्वे देवो नः प्रीयतामिति

They respectfully gave cows, gold, clothing, honey, and food to the brāhmaṇas, saying, 'May the Lord be pleased with us.'

ऊषुः सरस्वतीतीरे जलं प्राश्य यतव्रताः। रजनीं तां महाभागा नन्दसुनन्दकादयः

On the bank of the Sarasvatī, having drunk water and observed vows, the blessed Nanda, Sunanda, and others spent that night.

कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन्विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षितः। यदृच्छयागतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत्

In that forest, a great serpent, extremely hungry, came by chance and seized Nanda as he lay asleep.

स चुक्रोशाहिना ग्रस्तः कृष्ण कृष्ण महानयम्। सर्पो मां ग्रसते तात प्रपन्नं परिमोचय

Gripped by the serpent, he cried out, 'Krishna, Krishna, this is terrible! Father, a snake is swallowing me—save me, I have taken refuge in you!'

तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपालाः सहसोत्थिताः। ग्रस्तं च दृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ताः सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकैः

Hearing his cries, the cowherds quickly rose; seeing him seized, bewildered, they struck the serpent with sticks.

अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गमः। तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः

Even as it was burned by firebrands, the serpent did not release him; then the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, approached and touched it with His feet.

स वै भगवतः श्रीमत्पादस्पर्शहताशुभः। भेजे सर्पवपुर्हित्वा रूपं विद्याधरार्चितम्

Struck by the touch of the glorious Lord's feet, its evil was destroyed; abandoning its serpent form, it assumed a body honored by the Vidyādharas.

तमपृच्छद्धृषीकेशः प्रणतं समवस्थितम्। दीप्यमानेन वपुषा पुरुषं हेममालिनम्

Hrishikesha questioned him, who stood there bowing, shining with a radiant form, adorned with a golden garland.

को भवान्परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भुतदर्शनः। कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवशः

Who are you, who shines with supreme splendor and wondrous appearance? How were you forced into this despicable state?

सर्प उवाच। अहं विद्याधरः कश्चित्सुदर्शन इति श्रुतः। श्रिया स्वरूपसम्पत्त्या विमानेनाचरन्दिशः

The serpent said: I am a Vidyādhara named Sudarśana, known for my beauty and wealth, traveling the directions in my aerial chariot.

ऋषीन्विरूपाङ्गिरसः प्राहसं रूपदर्पितः। तैरिमां प्रापितो योनिं प्रलब्धैः स्वेन पाप्मना

The sages, Virupa and Angirasa, laughed at me, proud of their own appearance; by their curse, which I earned through my own wrongdoing, I was made to enter this birth.

शापो मेऽनुग्रहायैव कृतस्तैः करुणात्मभिः। यदहं लोकगुरुणा पदा स्पृष्टो हताशुभः

That curse, given by those compassionate souls, was truly for my benefit; for when I was touched by the foot of the teacher of the world, all misfortune was destroyed.

तं त्वाहं भवभीतानां प्रपन्नानां भयापहम्। आपृच्छे शापनिर्मुक्तः पादस्पर्शादमीवहन्

Now, freed from the curse, I ask you—who remove fear for those terrified by worldly existence and who grant refuge—to permit me to depart, having received the blessing of your foot’s touch.

प्रपन्नोऽस्मि महायोगिन्महापुरुष सत्पते। अनुजानीहि मां देव सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वर

I have taken refuge in you, O great yogi, O supreme person, O lord of the virtuous; please grant me leave, O god, master of all worlds and their rulers.

ब्रह्मदण्डाद्विमुक्तोऽहं सद्यस्तेऽच्युत दर्शनात्। यन्नाम गृह्णन्नखिलान्श्रोतॄनात्मानमेव च। सद्यः पुनाति किं भूयस्तस्य स्पृष्टः पदा हि ते

I am freed from Brahma’s punishment at once, O infallible one, by seeing you; your name, when uttered, instantly purifies all listeners and oneself—how much more so, then, when one is touched by your foot.

इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च। सुदर्शनो दिवं यातः कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचितः

Having thus received permission from the descendant of Dasarha, and after circling him and offering obeisance, Sudarshana ascended to heaven, and Nanda was released from his distress.

निशाम्य कृष्णस्य तदात्मवैभवं। व्रजौकसो विस्मितचेतसस्ततः। समाप्य तस्मिन्नियमं पुनर्व्रजं। नृपाययुस्तत्कथयन्त आदृताः

Witnessing Krishna’s divine power, the residents of Vraja were astonished in mind; after completing their observance there, they returned to Vraja, joyfully recounting the events.

कदाचिदथ गोविन्दो रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रमः। विजह्रतुर्वने रात्र्यां मध्यगौ व्रजयोषिताम्

Once, Govinda and Rama, both possessing wondrous strength, enjoyed themselves in the forest at night, surrounded by the women of Vraja.