Bhagavata Purana

वसुदेवदेवकी सान्त्वनम्; उग्रसेनस्य राज्याभिषेकः; रामकृष्णयोरुपनयनं विद्याध्ययनं, गुरुर्मृतपुत्रस्यानयनं च - अथ पञ्चचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः। श्रीशुक उवाच। पितरावुपलब्धार्थौ विदित्वा पुरुषोत्तमः। मा भूदिति निजां मायां ततान जनमोहिनीम्

Śuka said: The Supreme Person, understanding that his parents' desires had been fulfilled, spread his own deluding power, saying, 'Do not grieve,' bewildering the minds of people.

उवाच पितरावेत्य साग्रजः सात्वर्षभः। प्रश्रयावनतः प्रीणन्नम्ब तातेति सादरम्

Approaching his parents with his elder brother, the best of the Sātvatas, he bowed respectfully and, to please them, addressed them affectionately as 'Mother' and 'Father.'

नास्मत्तो युवयोस्तात नित्योत्कण्ठितयोरपि। बाल्यपौगण्डकैशोराः पुत्राभ्यामभवन्क्वचित्

O Father, though you and Mother always longed for us, your sons, we were never able to spend our childhood, boyhood, or youth with you.

न लब्धो दैवहतयोर्वासो नौ भवदन्तिके। यां बालाः पितृगेहस्था विन्दन्ते लालिता मुदम्

Because fate prevented us, we could not dwell near you; the happiness that children, cherished in their father's house, usually enjoy, we did not experience.

सर्वार्थसम्भवो देहो जनितः पोषितो यतः। न तयोर्याति निर्वेशं पित्रोर्मर्त्यः शतायुषा

Even if a mortal lives a hundred years, he cannot repay his parents from whom his body, the source of all attainments, is born and nourished.

यस्तयोरात्मजः कल्प आत्मना च धनेन च। वृत्तिं न दद्यात्तं प्रेत्य स्वमांसं खादयन्ति हि

If a son, able in body and wealth, does not provide for the livelihood of his parents, after death he is made to eat his own flesh.

मातरं पितरं वृद्धं भार्यां साध्वीं सुतं शिशुम्। गुरुं विप्रं प्रपन्नं च कल्पोऽबिभ्रच्छ्वसन्मृतः

One who, while able, neglects his aged mother and father, virtuous wife, young child, teacher, brāhmaṇa, or one who has sought refuge, is as good as dead though living.

तन्नावकल्पयोः कंसान्नित्यमुद्विग्नचेतसोः। मोघमेते व्यतिक्रान्ता दिवसा वामनर्चतोः

For us, whose minds were always anxious because of Kaṃsa, these days passed in vain, without worshipping your feet.

तत्क्षन्तुमर्हथस्तात मातर्नौ परतन्त्रयोः। अकुर्वतोर्वां शुश्रूषां क्लिष्टयोर्दुर्हृदा भृशम्

Therefore, O Father and Mother, you should forgive us, who were dependent and much afflicted by a cruel-hearted man, for not serving you.

श्रीशुक उवाच। इति मायामनुष्यस्य हरेर्विश्वात्मनो गिरा। मोहितावङ्कमारोप्य परिष्वज्यापतुर्मुदम्

Śuka said: Thus, by the words of Hari, the Soul of the universe, who had assumed a human form through his māyā, they were deluded; lifting him onto their laps and embracing him, they attained joy.

सिञ्चन्तावश्रुधाराभिः स्नेहपाशेन चावृतौ। न किञ्चिदूचतू राजन्बाष्पकण्ठौ विमोहितौ

Flooded with streams of tears and bound by the ties of affection, they could say nothing, O King, their throats choked with emotion and their minds bewildered.

एवमाश्वास्य पितरौ भगवान्देवकीसुतः। मातामहं तूग्रसेनं यदूनामकरोन्नृपम्

Having thus comforted his parents, the son of Devakī, the Lord, installed Ugrasena, his maternal grandfather, as king over the Yadus.

आह चास्मान्महाराज प्रजाश्चाज्ञप्तुमर्हसि। ययातिशापाद्यदुभिर्नासितव्यं नृपासने

He said, 'O great king, you should command us and the people; because of Yayāti's curse, the Yadus must not sit on the royal throne.'

मयि भृत्य उपासीने भवतो विबुधादयः। बलिं हरन्त्यवनताः किमुतान्ये नराधिपाः

When I, your servant, am present, even the gods and others bow down and offer tribute—what then of other human kings?

सर्वान्स्वान्ज्ञातिसम्बन्धान्दिग्भ्यः कंसभयाकुलान्। यदुवृष्ण्यन्धकमधु दाशार्हकुकुरादिकान्

All their own relatives and kin, the Yadus, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dasharhas, Kukuras, and others, who were distressed in every direction by fear of Kamsa—

सभाजितान्समाश्वास्य विदेशावासकर्शितान्। न्यवासयत्स्वगेहेषु वित्तैः सन्तर्प्य विश्वकृत्

He honored them, comforted those wearied by exile in foreign lands, and settled them in their own homes, generously providing them with wealth.

कृष्णसङ्कर्षणभुजैर्गुप्ता लब्धमनोरथाः। गृहेषु रेमिरे सिद्धाः कृष्णरामगतज्वराः

Protected by the arms of Krishna and Sankarshana, their cherished wishes fulfilled, they lived happily in their homes, freed from all distress by Krishna and Rama.

वीक्षन्तोऽहरहः प्रीता मुकुन्दवदनाम्बुजम्। नित्यं प्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सदयस्मितवीक्षणम्

Day after day, delighted, they gazed upon the lotus face of Mukunda, always radiant, beautiful, and beaming with a compassionate smile.

तत्र प्रवयसोऽप्यासन्युवानोऽतिबलौजसः। पिबन्तोऽक्षैर्मुकुन्दस्य मुखाम्बुजसुधां मुहुः

There, even the elders appeared youthful and full of great vigor, repeatedly drinking with their eyes the nectar of Mukunda’s lotus-like face.

अथ नन्दं समसाद्य भगवान्देवकीसुतः। सङ्कर्षणश्च राजेन्द्र परिष्वज्येदमूचतुः

Then, O King, the Lord, son of Devaki, along with Sankarshana, approached Nanda and warmly embraced him, speaking these words:

पितर्युवाभ्यां स्निग्धाभ्यां पोषितौ लालितौ भृशम्। पित्रोरभ्यधिका प्रीतिरात्मजेष्वात्मनोऽपि हि

By you, our affectionate father, we were cherished and deeply cared for; indeed, parents have even greater love for their children than for themselves.

स पिता सा च जननी यौ पुष्णीतां स्वपुत्रवत्। शिशून्बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टानकल्पैः पोषरक्षणे

That father and mother who nurture children abandoned by relatives and unable to care for themselves, do so as if they were their own sons.

यात यूयं व्रजं तात वयं च स्नेहदुःखितान्। ज्ञातीन्वो द्रष्टुमेष्यामो विधाय सुहृदां सुखम्

Please, father, return to Vraja; we will come to see you and our dear relatives, who are pained by affection, after ensuring the happiness of our friends here.

एवं सान्त्वय्य भगवान्नन्दं सव्रजमच्युतः। वासोऽलङ्कारकुप्याद्यैरर्हयामास सादरम्

Thus consoling Nanda and the people of Vraja, Achyuta respectfully honored them with clothing, ornaments, vessels, and other gifts.

इत्युक्तस्तौ परिष्वज्य नन्दः प्रणयविह्वलः। पूरयन्नश्रुभिर्नेत्रे सह गोपैर्व्रजं ययौ

Having been thus addressed, Nanda, overwhelmed with affection, embraced them both, his eyes brimming with tears, and departed for Vraja along with the cowherds.

अथ शूरसुतो राजन्पुत्रयोः समकारयत्। पुरोधसा ब्राह्मणैश्च यथावद्द्विजसंस्कृतिम्

Then, O King, Sura’s son (Vasudeva) arranged for the proper sacred thread ceremony for his two sons, performed by priests and brahmins according to tradition.

तेभ्योऽदाद्दक्षिणा गावो रुक्ममालाः स्वलङ्कृताः। स्वलङ्कृतेभ्यः सम्पूज्य सवत्साः क्षौममालिनीः

He gave them gifts: cows adorned with gold necklaces, well-decorated, with calves and draped in fine cloth, honoring the priests who were similarly adorned.

याः कृष्णरामजन्मर्क्षे मनोदत्ता महामतिः। ताश्चाददादनुस्मृत्य कंसेनाधर्मतो हृताः

Those cows which the wise Vasudeva had mentally dedicated at the birth of Krishna and Rama, he now gave, recalling that Kamsa had unlawfully taken them.

ततश्च लब्धसंस्कारौ द्विजत्वं प्राप्य सुव्रतौ। गर्गाद्यदुकुलाचार्याद्गायत्रं व्रतमास्थितौ

Having thus received their initiation and attained the status of twice-born, the two noble sons undertook the vow of study under Garga and other family preceptors.