Bhagavata Purana

( अनुष्टुप् ) तस्यामन्तःपुरं श्रीमद् अर्चितं सर्वधिष्ण्यपैः । हरेः स्वकौशलं यत्र त्वष्ट्रा कार्त्स्न्येन दर्शितम्

Within, the splendid inner chambers were honored by all the householders; there, Hari's own skill was fully displayed, as if crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ himself.

तत्र षोडशभिः सद्म सहस्रैः समलङ्कृतम् । विवेशैकतमं शौरेः पत्‍नीनां भवनं महत्

He entered one among the sixteen thousand beautifully adorned mansions, a grand residence belonging to one of Śauri's wives.

विष्टब्धं विद्रुमस्तंभैः वैदूर्यफलकोत्तमैः । इन्द्रनीलमयैः कुड्यैः जगत्या चाहतत्विषा

The palace was supported by coral pillars, with the finest lapis lazuli floors, walls made of sapphire, and the ground shining with unmatched brilliance.

वितानैर्निर्मितैस्त्वष्ट्रा मुक्तादामविलम्बिभिः । दान्तैरासनपर्यङ्कैः मण्युत्तमपरिष्कृतैः

Canopies crafted by Tvaṣṭṛ hung with strings of pearls, and seats and couches were adorned with the finest gems and ivory.

दासीभिर्निष्ककण्ठीभिः सुवासोभिरलङ्कृतम् । पुम्भिः सकञ्चुकोष्णीष सुवस्त्रमणिकुण्डलैः

It was decorated with maidservants wearing splendid garments but no necklaces, and men dressed in fine robes, with sashes, turbans, and jeweled earrings.

( वसंततिलका ) रत्‍नप्रदीपनिकरद्युतिभिर्निरस्त ध्वान्तं विचित्रवलभीषु शिखण्डिनोऽङ्ग । नृत्यन्ति यत्र विहितागुरुधूपमक्षैः निर्यान्तमीक्ष्य घनबुद्धय उन्नदन्तः

The darkness was dispelled by the radiance of jeweled lamps; in the varied balconies, peacocks danced, where incense and sacred offerings were arranged, and those of deep intellect, seeing the exit, sang loudly.

तस्मिन्समानगुणरूपवयःसुवेष दासीसहस्रयुतयानुसवं गृहिण्या । विप्रो ददर्श चमरव्यजनेन रुक्म दण्डेन सात्वतपतिं परिवीजयन्त्या

There, among thousands of maidservants equal in qualities, beauty, youth, and attire, the sage saw the queen fanning the lord of the Sātvatas with a golden-handled camara.

तं सन्निरीक्ष्य भगवान् सहसोत्थितश्री पर्यङ्कतः सकलधर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः । आनम्य पादयुगलं शिरसा किरीट जुष्टेन साञ्जलिरवीविशदासने स्वे

Beholding him, the Blessed Lord, greatest among all upholders of dharma, immediately rose from his couch, bowed his crowned head to the sage's feet, and, with joined palms, welcomed him to his own seat.

तस्यावनिज्य चरणौ तदपः स्वमूर्ध्ना बिभ्रज्जगद्‌गुरुतमोऽपि सतां पतिर्हि । ब्रह्मण्यदेव इति यद्‌गुणनाम युक्तं तस्यैव यच्चरणशौचमशेषतीर्थम्

He washed the sage's feet, placed that water upon his own head, though he is the supreme teacher of the world and lord of the virtuous; for the purity of his feet, known as 'Brahmaṇyadeva,' is the ultimate holy place.

संपूज्य देवऋषिवर्यमृषिः पुराणो नारायणो नरसखो विधिनोदितेन । वाण्याभिभाष्य मितयामृतमिष्टया तं प्राह प्रभो भगवते करवाम हे किम्

Having honored the foremost of divine sages, the ancient ṛṣi Nārāyaṇa, friend of Nara, spoke to him with sweet, measured words, as prescribed by tradition: 'O Lord, what may we do for you, O Blessed One?'

श्रीनारद उवाच - नैवाद्‌भुतं त्वयि विभोऽखिललोकनाथे मैत्री जनेषु सकलेषु दमः खलानाम् । निःश्रेयसाय हि जगत्स्थितिरक्षणाभ्यां स्वैरावतार उरुगाय विदाम सुष्ठु

Śrī Nārada said: 'It is not surprising in you, O master of all worlds, that you show friendship to all people, self-restraint toward the wicked; for the welfare of the world, you maintain and protect it through your free descents, O praised one, as we well know.'

दृष्टं तवाङ्घ्रियुगलं जनतापवर्गं ब्रह्मादिभिर्हृदि विचिन्त्यमगाधबोधैः । संसारकूपपतितोत्तरणावलम्बं ध्यायंश्चराम्यनुगृहाण यथा स्मृतिः स्यात्

Having seen your pair of feet, which grant liberation to people, contemplated in the hearts of Brahmā and others endowed with profound wisdom, and serving as a support for those fallen into the well of worldly existence, I wander, meditating—grant me your grace, so that remembrance may arise.

( अनुष्टुप् ) ततोऽन्यदाविशद्‌ गेहं कृष्णपत्‍न्याः स नारदः । योगेश्वरेश्वरस्याङ्ग योगमायाविवित्सया

Then, on another day, Nārada entered the house of another wife of Kṛṣṇa, desiring to understand the yoga-māyā of the lord of the yogis.

दीव्यन्तमक्षैस्तत्रापि प्रियया चोद्धवेन च । पूजितः परया भक्त्या प्रत्युत्थानासनादिभिः

There, he was engaged in playing dice, together with his beloved and Uddhava, being honored with supreme devotion through rising, offering a seat, and other acts.

पृष्टश्चाविदुषेवासौ कदाऽऽयातो भवानिति । क्रियते किं नु पूर्णानां अपूर्णैरस्मदादिभिः

He was then asked, as if by one ignorant, 'When did you arrive, O Lord? What could those like us, who are incomplete, do for those who are complete?'

अथापि ब्रूहि नो ब्रह्मन् जन्मैतच्छोभनं कुरु । स तु विस्मित उत्थाय तूष्णीमन्यदगाद्‌ गृहम्

Still, O brāhmaṇa, tell us about this beautiful birth; but he, astonished, rose and silently went to another house.

तत्राप्यचष्ट गोविन्दं लालयन्तं सुतान् शिशून् । ततोऽन्यस्मिन्गृहेऽपश्यन् मज्जनाय कृतोद्यमम्

There too, he saw Govinda delighting his young sons; then, in another house, he saw him preparing for bathing.

जुह्वन्तं च वितानाग्नीन् यजन्तं पञ्चभिर्मखैः । भोजयन्तं द्विजान् क्वापि भुञ्जानमवशेषितम्

Elsewhere, he saw him offering oblations into sacrificial fires, performing sacrifices with five kinds of rituals, feeding the brāhmaṇas in some places, and in others, eating what remained.

क्वापि सन्ध्यामुपासीनं जपन्तं ब्रह्म वाग्यतम् । एकत्र चासिचर्माभ्यां चरन्तमसिवर्त्मसु

In some places, he saw him seated at twilight, reciting the Veda with controlled speech; elsewhere, walking on the paths of archers with sword and shield.

अश्वैर्गजै रथैः क्वापि विचरन्तं गदाग्रजम् । क्वचिच्छयानं पर्यङ्के स्तूयमानं च वन्दिभिः

In some places, he saw him traveling with horses, elephants, and chariots, accompanied by Balarāma; elsewhere, reclining on a couch, being praised by bards.

मंत्रयन्तं च कस्मिंश्चित् मंत्रिभिश्चोद्धवादिभिः । जलक्रीडारतं क्वापि वारमुख्याबलावृतम्

In some places, he was seen consulting with ministers like Uddhava; elsewhere, engaged in water sports, surrounded by the foremost women of the palace.

कुत्रचिद्द्विजमुख्येभ्यो ददतं गाः स्वलङ्कृताः । इतिहासपुराणानि श्रृण्वन्तं मङ्गलानि च

Somewhere, he was giving well-adorned cows to the foremost brāhmaṇas; elsewhere, listening to auspicious histories and Purāṇas.

हसन्तं हासकथया कदाचित् प्रियया गृहे । क्वापि धर्मं सेवमानं अर्थकामौ च कुत्रचित्

Sometimes, he was seen laughing at home with his beloved, through humorous stories; elsewhere, engaged in dharma, and in other places, in pursuits of wealth and desire.

ध्यायन्तमेकमासीनं पुरुषं प्रकृतेः परम् । शुश्रूषन्तं गुरून् क्वापि कामैर्भोगैः सपर्यया

In one place, he was seen sitting alone, meditating on the Supreme Person beyond nature; elsewhere, serving his teachers with pleasures and offerings.

कुर्वन्तं विग्रहं कैश्चित् सन्धिं चान्यत्र केशवम् । कुत्रापि सह रामेण चिन्तयन्तं सतां शिवम्

In some places, Keśava was seen making treaties with some, and in others, making war; elsewhere, together with Rāma, contemplating the welfare of the virtuous.

पुत्राणां दुहितॄणां च काले विध्युपयापनम् । दारैर्वरैस्तत्सदृशैः कल्पयन्तं विभूतिभिः

At the proper time, he arranged the marriages of his sons and daughters with spouses equal to them, providing them with appropriate wealth.

प्रस्थापनोपनयनैः अपत्यानां महोत्सवान् । वीक्ष्य योगेश्वरेशस्य येषां लोका विसिस्मिरे

He observed great festivals for his children, such as their departure and initiation ceremonies; seeing these, the worlds were astonished at the Lord of the masters of yoga.

यजन्तं सकलान् देवान् क्वापि क्रतुभिरूर्जितैः । पूर्तयन्तं क्वचिद् धर्मं कूर्पाराममठादिभिः

In some places, he was seen worshipping all the gods with powerful sacrifices; elsewhere, fulfilling dharma through wells, gardens, monasteries, and the like.

चरन्तं मृगयां क्वापि हयमारुह्य सैन्धवम् । घ्नन्तं तत्र पशून् मेध्यान् परीतं यदुपुङ्गवैः

In some places, he was seen hunting, riding a Sindhu horse; there, killing sacrificial animals, surrounded by the foremost of the Yadus.