Bhagavata Purana

एवमुक्तः स वै देवानभिवन्द्य महायशाः। अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया

Thus addressed, that illustrious one, having bowed to the gods, entered the cave and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep.

यवने भस्मसान्नीते भगवान्सात्वतर्षभः। आत्मानं दर्शयामास मुचुकुन्दाय धीमते

When the Yavana had been reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord, the best of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.

तमालोक्य घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम्। श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम्

Seeing Him, dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, shining with the Kaustubha gem,

चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया। चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम्

With four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful, gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings,

प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम्। अपीच्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम्

He was a sight to behold for all mankind, with eyes smiling affectionately, appearing ever youthful, majestic like a proud lion, and possessing noble prowess.

पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षितः। शङ्कितः शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा

Overwhelmed by His brilliance, the wise king, suspecting and cautious, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power.

श्रीमुचुकुन्द उवाच। को भवानिह सम्प्राप्तो विपिने गिरिगह्वरे। पद्भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां विचरस्युरुकण्टके

Śrī Mucukunda said: Who are you who have come here into this forest, into the mountain cave, wandering with your lotus-petal-like feet among the thorny undergrowth?

किं स्वित्तेजस्विनां तेजो भगवान्वा विभावसुः। सूर्यः सोमो महेन्द्रो वा लोकपालो परोऽपि वा

What is the brilliance of the radiant ones—whether the Lord, fire, sun, moon, Indra, guardian of the worlds, or any other—compared to yours?

मन्ये त्वां देवदेवानां त्रयाणां पुरुषर्षभम्। यद्बाधसे गुहाध्वान्तं प्रदीपः प्रभया यथा

I consider you the foremost among the gods of gods, for you dispel the darkness of the cave as a lamp does with its light.

शुश्रूषतामव्यलीकमस्माकं नरपुङ्गव। स्वजन्म कर्म गोत्रं वा कथ्यतां यदि रोचते

O best of men, if it pleases you, please tell us, who are eager to serve without fault, about your birth, deeds, and lineage.

वयं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र ऐक्ष्वाकाः क्षत्रबन्धवः। मुचुकुन्द इति प्रोक्तो यौवनाश्वात्मजः प्रभो

As for us, O tiger among men, we are the Ikshvaku clan, kshatriya kin; I am called Mucukunda, son of Yuvanashva, O Lord.

चिरप्रजागरश्रान्तो निद्रयापहतेन्द्रियः। शयेऽस्मिन्विजने कामं केनाप्युत्थापितोऽधुना

Exhausted from long wakefulness, my senses dulled by sleep, I lay here alone, until someone awakened me just now.

सोऽपि भस्मीकृतो नूनमात्मीयेनैव पाप्मना। अनन्तरं भवान्श्रीमांल्लक्षितोऽमित्रशासनः

He too was surely reduced to ashes by his own wickedness; immediately after, you, glorious and renowned for subduing enemies, appeared.

तेजसा तेऽविषह्येण भूरि द्रष्टुं न शक्नुमः। हतौजसा महाभाग माननीयोऽसि देहिनाम्

Your unbearable radiance is so great that we cannot gaze upon you; O illustrious one, you are worthy of honor among embodied beings.

एवं सम्भाषितो राज्ञा भगवान्भूतभावनः। प्रत्याह प्रहसन्वाण्या मेघनादगभीरया

Thus addressed by the king, the Lord, creator of beings, replied with a smile, his voice deep as thunderclouds.

श्रीभगवानुवाच। जन्मकर्माभिधानानि सन्ति मेऽङ्ग सहस्रशः। न शक्यन्तेऽनुसङ्ख्यातुमनन्तत्वान्मयापि हि

The Blessed Lord said: My births, deeds, and names are countless, O friend; even I cannot enumerate them, for they are infinite.

क्वचिद्रजांसि विममे पार्थिवान्युरुजन्मभिः। गुणकर्माभिधानानि न मे जन्मानि कर्हिचित्

Sometimes I have examined earthly births with great beings, but my births are never defined by qualities, deeds, or names.

कालत्रयोपपन्नानि जन्मकर्माणि मे नृप। अनुक्रमन्तो नैवान्तं गच्छन्ति परमर्षयः

O king, my births and deeds span all three times; even the greatest sages, tracing them in order, never reach their end.

तथाप्यद्यतनान्यङ्ग शृणुष्व गदतो मम। विज्ञापितो विरिञ्चेन पुराहं धर्मगुप्तये

Yet, O friend, listen now as I speak of my present birth, for I was requested by Brahma long ago to protect dharma.

भूमेर्भारायमाणानामसुराणां क्षयाय च। अवतीर्णो यदुकुले गृह आनकदुन्दुभेः। वदन्ति वासुदेवेति वसुदेवसुतं हि माम्

To relieve the earth's burden and destroy the asuras, I descended into the Yadu lineage, in the house of Anakadundubhi; people call me Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva.

कालनेमिर्हतः कंसः प्रलम्बाद्याश्च सद्द्विषः। अयं च यवनो दग्धो राजंस्ते तिग्मचक्षुषा

Kalanemi, Kamsa, Pralamba, and other evil ones have been slain; this Yavana too has been burned, O king, by your fierce gaze.

सोऽहं तवानुग्रहार्थं गुहामेतामुपागतः। प्रार्थितः प्रचुरं पूर्वं त्वयाहं भक्तवत्सलः

I have come to this cave for your sake, to show you favor; you prayed to me greatly in the past, and I am devoted to my devotees.

वरान्वृणीष्व राजर्षे सर्वान्कामान्ददामि ते। मां प्रसन्नो जनः कश्चिन्न भूयोऽर्हति शोचितुम्

Choose your boons, O royal sage; I grant you all desires. One who has my favor need never grieve again.

श्रीशुक उवाच। इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्याह मुचुकुन्दो मुदान्वितः। ज्ञात्वा नारायणं देवं गर्गवाक्यमनुस्मरन्

Shuka said: Thus addressed, Mucukunda, joyful, bowed to him, recognizing Narayana, and recalling the words of Garga.

श्रीमुचुकुन्द उवाच। विमोहितोऽयं जन ईश मायया त्वदीयया त्वां न भजत्यनर्थदृक्। सुखाय दुःखप्रभवेषु सज्जते गृहेषु योषित्पुरुषश्च वञ्चितः

Mucukunda said: O Lord, people are deluded by your maya and do not worship you, seeing only misfortune; seeking happiness, they become attached to homes, women, and men, and are deceived.

लब्ध्वा जनो दुर्लभमत्र मानुषं। कथञ्चिदव्यङ्गमयत्नतोऽनघ। पादारविन्दं न भजत्यसन्मतिर्। गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशुः

O sinless one, when a person attains this rare human birth here, somehow, with a sound body and without effort, yet does not worship Your lotus feet due to misguided mind, he falls into the dark well of household life like an animal.

ममैष कालोऽजित निष्फलो गतो राज्यश्रियोन्नद्धमदस्य भूपतेः। मर्त्यात्मबुद्धेः सुतदारकोशभूष्वासज्जमानस्य दुरन्तचिन्तया

O Unconquered Lord, this time of mine has passed fruitlessly, being a king intoxicated by royal opulence, absorbed in the mortal conception of self, and deeply attached to children, wife, wealth, and possessions, tormented by endless anxieties.

कलेवरेऽस्मिन्घटकुड्यसन्निभे। निरूढमानो नरदेव इत्यहम्। वृतो रथेभाश्वपदात्यनीकपैर्। गां पर्यटंस्त्वागणयन्सुदुर्मदः

In this body, which is like a clay pot, I was established as 'king of men,' surrounded by chariots, elephants, horses, infantry, and retinues, roaming the earth in great arrogance, not counting anyone else.

प्रमत्तमुच्चैरितिकृत्यचिन्तया प्रवृद्धलोभं विषयेषु लालसम्। त्वमप्रमत्तः सहसाभिपद्यसे क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तकः

Intoxicated, I was absorbed in loud thoughts of what to do next, with ever-increasing greed, craving for sense pleasures; but You, unbewildered, suddenly approach, O Death, like a snake licking a mouse's hole.