Bhagavata Purana

न मय्युपैष्यत्यरिबुद्धिमच्युतः कंसस्य दूतः प्रहितोऽपि विश्वदृक् । योऽन्तर्बहिश्चेतस एतदीहितं क्षेत्रज्ञ ईक्षत्यमलेन चक्षुषा

Acyuta, who sees all, will not regard me with enmity, even though I am Kaṁsa's messenger; for He, the knower of the field, perceives with pure vision all that is done, within and without, by the mind.

अप्यङ्‌घ्रिमूलेऽवहितं कृताञ्जलिं मामीक्षिता सस्मितमार्द्रया दृशा । सपद्यपध्वस्तसमस्तकिल्बिषो वोढा मुदं वीतविशङ्‌क ऊर्जिताम्

Perhaps He will look upon me, fallen at His feet with folded hands, with a gentle, smiling, compassionate gaze; and at once, all my sins will be destroyed, and I shall bear great, fearless joy.

सुहृत्तमं ज्ञातिमनन्यदैवतं दोर्भ्यां बृहद्‍भ्यां परिरप्स्यतेऽथ माम् । आत्मा हि तीर्थीक्रियते तदैव मे बन्धश्च कर्मात्मक उच्छ्वसित्यतः

Then, the best of friends, my kinsman, my only deity, will embrace me with His broad arms; for at that very moment, He sanctifies me, and my bondage, born of karma, is dispelled.

लब्ध्वाङ्‌गसङ्‌गं प्रणतं कृताञ्जलिं मां वक्ष्यतेऽक्रूर ततेत्युरुश्रवाः । तदा वयं जन्मभृतो महीयसा नैवादृतो यो धिगमुष्य जन्म तत्

When I, bowing with folded hands, attain the touch of His limbs, He, O Akrūra, will speak to me; then, though we are born as humans, we are not honored by Him—the birth of such a one is indeed to be condemned.

न तस्य कश्चिद् दयितः सुहृत्तमो न चाप्रियो द्वेष्य उपेक्ष्य एव वा । तथापि भक्तान् भजते यथा तथा सुरद्रुमो यद्वदुपाश्रितोऽर्थदः

He has no one as dearest, no best friend, nor anyone unloved, hated, or neglected; yet, just as the wish-fulfilling tree gives to those who approach it, so does He favor His devotees.

किं चाग्रजो मावनतं यदूत्तमः स्मयन् परिष्वज्य गृहीतमञ्जलौ । गृहं प्रवेष्याप्तसमस्तसत्कृतं सम्प्रक्ष्यते कंसकृतं स्वबन्धुषु

Moreover, the eldest, the foremost among the Yadus, smiling, embraced him who had bowed with folded hands, led him into the house, where all honors had been arranged, and inquired about the troubles caused by Kamsa among his relatives.

श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) इति सञ्चिन्तयन्कृष्णं श्वफल्कतनयोऽध्वनि । रथेन गोकुलं प्राप्तः सूर्यश्चास्तगिरिं नृप

Śuka said: Thus reflecting on Krishna, the son of Śvaphalka, while traveling, arrived at Gokula by chariot, just as the sun reaches the western mountain, O King.

( मिश्र ) पदानि तस्याखिललोकपाल किरीटजुष्टामलपादरेणोः । ददर्श गोष्ठे क्षितिकौतुकानि विलक्षितान्यब्जयवाङ्‌कुशाद्यैः

He saw in the cowherd settlement the footprints of the one whose dust is worn by all the rulers of the worlds upon their crowns, distinguished by marks such as the lotus, barleycorn, and goad.

तद्दर्शनाह्लादविवृद्धसम्भ्रमः प्रेम्णोर्ध्वरोमाश्रुकलाकुलेक्षणः । रथादवस्कन्द्य स तेष्वचेष्टत प्रभोरमून्यङ्‌घ्रिरजांस्यहो इति

Filled with joy and reverent excitement at that sight, his eyes overwhelmed with tears and hair standing on end from love, he descended from the chariot and moved among them, exclaiming, 'Ah! These are the dust of the Lord's feet!'

( अनुष्टुप् ) देहंभृतामियानर्थो हित्वा दम्भं भियं शुचम् । सन्देशाद्यो हरेर्लिङ्‌ग दर्शनश्रवणादिभिः

For embodied beings, the greatest benefit is to abandon pride, fear, and sorrow, which is first achieved by seeing, hearing, and other forms of contact with the signs of Hari.

ददर्श कृष्णं रामं च व्रजे गोदोहनं गतौ । पीतनीलाम्बरधरौ शरदम्बुरहेक्षणौ

He saw Krishna and Rama in Vraja, returning from the cow-milking, wearing yellow and blue garments, their eyes like autumn lotuses.

किशोरौ श्यामलश्वेतौ श्रीनिकेतौ बृहद्‍भुजौ । सुमुखौ सुन्दरवरौ बलद्विरदविक्रमौ

They were youthful, one dark and one fair, abodes of beauty, with broad arms, handsome faces, splendid forms, and the strength and gait of young elephants.

ध्वजवज्राङ्‌कुशाम्भोजैः चिह्नितैरङ्‌घ्रिभिर्व्रजम् । शोभयन्तौ महात्मानौ सानुक्रोशस्मितेक्षणौ

The great souls, with feet marked by banners, thunderbolts, goads, and lotuses, adorned Vraja, their glances smiling and full of compassion.

उदाररुचिरक्रीडौ स्रग्विणौ वनमालिनौ । पुण्यगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्‌गौ स्नातौ विरजवाससौ

Noble and charming in play, adorned with garlands and forest wreaths, their bodies were anointed with sacred fragrances, bathed, and clad in spotless garments.

प्रधानपुरुषावाद्यौ जगद्धेतू जगत्पती । अवतीर्णौ जगत्यर्थे स्वांशेन बलकेशवौ

The two, the primeval Purushas, the causes and lords of the world, had descended for the sake of the earth, as Balarama and Keshava, with their own portions.

दिशो वितिमिरा राजन् कुर्वाणौ प्रभया स्वया । यथा मारकतः शैलो रौप्यश्च कनकाचितौ

O King, they dispelled the darkness in all directions with their own radiance, like an emerald mountain and a silver one adorned with gold.

रथात् तूर्णं अवप्लुत्य सोऽक्रूरः स्नेहविह्वलः । पपात चरणोपान्ते दण्डवत् रामकृष्णयोः

Akrura, overwhelmed with affection, swiftly leapt from the chariot and fell prostrate at the feet of Rama and Krishna.

भगवद्दर्शनाह्लाद बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः । पुलकचिताङ्‌ग औत्कण्ठ्यात् स्वाख्याने नाशकन् नृप

Overjoyed at the sight of the Lord, his eyes streaming with tears and his body covered with goosebumps, he was so eager that he could not speak his own name, O King.

भगवान् तमभिप्रेत्य रथाङ्‌गाङ्‌कितपाणिना । परिरेभेऽभ्युपाकृष्य प्रीतः प्रणतवत्सलः

The Lord, approaching him, marked by the chariot wheel upon his hand, embraced him, drawing him near with affection, for he is fond of those who bow before him.

सङ्‌कर्षणश्च प्रणतं उपगुह्य महामनाः । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणी अनयत् सानुजो गृहम्

And Sankarshana, of great mind, embraced the one who had bowed, took his hand in his own, and, together with his brother, led him into the house.

पृष्ट्वाथ स्वागतं तस्मै निवेद्य च वरासनम् । प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत् पादौ मधुपर्कार्हणमाहरत्

After asking him about his welfare and offering him a seat of honor, they washed his feet according to custom and brought the honey-mixture as a welcome gift.

निवेद्य गां चातिथये संवाह्य श्रान्तमादृतः । अन्नं बहुगुणं मेध्यं श्रद्धयोपाहरद् विभुः

Presenting a cow to the guest and respectfully massaging his tired limbs, the Lord offered him abundant, pure food with devotion.

तस्मै भुक्तवते प्रीत्या रामः परमधर्मवित् । मखवासैर्गन्धमाल्यैः परां प्रीतिं व्यधात् पुनः

When he had eaten, Rama, the supreme knower of dharma, with great affection, again honored him with scents and garlands used in sacrifices.

पप्रच्छ सत्कृतं नन्दः कथं स्थ निरनुग्रहे । कंसे जीवति दाशार्ह सौनपाला इवावयः

Nanda, having duly honored him, asked: 'How are you faring in this place without kindness, while Kamsa still lives, O Dāśārha? Are we not like cowherds under a cruel master?'

योऽवधीत् स्वस्वसुस्तोकान् क्रोशन्त्या असुतृप् खलः । किं नु स्वित्तत्प्रजानां वः कुशलं विमृशामहे

That wicked one who killed his own nephews, even as their mothers cried out in anguish—how could there be well-being for you and your people, we wonder?

इत्थं सूनृतया वाचा नन्देन सुसभाजितः । अक्रूरः परिपृष्टेन जहावध्वपरिश्रमम्

Thus, honored by Nanda with sincere words, Akrura, being kindly questioned, let go of the fatigue of his journey.

श्रीकृष्णबलरामयोर्मथुरायां प्रति प्रस्थानं विरहकातर गोपीनां करुणोद्‌गारः कालिंद्यां अक्रूरकर्तृकं भगवद्‌धाम दर्शनं च - श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) सुखोपविष्टः पर्यङ्‌के रमकृष्णोरुमानितः । लेभे मनोरथान् सर्वान् पन्पथि यान् स चकार ह

Śuka said: Comfortably seated on a couch, honored by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, he attained all the desires he had cherished on the road.

किमलभ्यं भगवति प्रसन्ने श्रीनिकेतने । तथापि तत्परा राजन् न हि वाञ्छन्ति किञ्चन

What is unattainable when the Lord, the abode of fortune, is pleased? Yet, O King, those devoted to Him desire nothing at all.

सायंतनाशनं कृत्वा भगवान् देवकीसुतः । सुहृत्सु वृत्तं कंसस्य पप्रच्छान्यच्चिकीर्षितम्

After taking the evening meal, the Blessed One, son of Devakī, inquired among His friends about Kamsa’s conduct and his latest intentions.