Bhagavata Purana

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.

अव्यक्तलिङ्गं प्रकृतिषु अन्तःपुरगृहादिषु । क्वचिच्चरन्तं योगेशं तत्तद्‌भावबुभुत्सया

With unmanifest form, he moved among the residences of the inner apartments and elsewhere, the Lord of yoga, desiring to experience various states.

अथोवाच हृषीकेशं नारदः प्रहसन्निव । योगमायोदयं वीक्ष्य मानुषीं ईयुषो गतिम्

Then Nārada, as if smiling, spoke to Hṛṣīkeśa, having witnessed the manifestation of yogamāyā and the human-like conduct he had assumed.

विदाम योगमायास्ते दुर्दर्शा अपि मायिनाम् । योगेश्वरात्मन् निर्भाता भवत्पादनिषेवया

We know your yoga-maya, which is difficult to perceive even for those skilled in illusion; it shines forth from the Lord of yogis, through service at your feet.

अनुजानीहि मां देव लोकांस्ते यशसाऽऽप्लुतान् । पर्यटामि तवोद्‌गायन् लीला भुवनपावनीम्

Permit me, O Lord, to depart for the worlds flooded with your fame; I will wander, singing your playful deeds that purify the universe.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - ब्रह्मन्धन्नस्य वक्ताहं कर्ता तदनुमोदिता । तच्छिक्षयन्लोकमिमं आस्थितः पुत्र मा खिदः

The Blessed Lord said: I am the speaker and agent of the duties of householders, acting with their approval; teaching this, I have taken up this world—do not grieve, my son.

श्रीशुक उवाच - इत्याचरन्तं सद्धर्मान् पावनान् गृहमेधिनाम् । तमेव सर्वगेहेषु सन्तमेकं ददर्श ह

Śuka said: Thus, as he practiced the pure duties that sanctify householders, he saw the Lord present in every home, the one abiding everywhere.

कृष्णस्यानन्तवीर्यस्य योगमायामहोदयम् । मुहुर्दृष्ट्वा ऋषिरभूद् विस्मितो जातकौतुकः

Repeatedly seeing the great manifestation of yoga-maya of Krishna, whose power is limitless, the sage became astonished and filled with curiosity.

इत्यर्थकामधर्मेषु कृष्णेन श्रद्धितात्मना । सम्यक् सभाजितः प्रीतः तमेवानुस्मरन् ययौ

Thus, honored fully by Krishna, who was devoted in mind to the duties of wealth, pleasure, and righteousness, he departed, remembering only Him, pleased.

( वसंततिलका ) एवं मनुष्यपदवीमनुवर्तमानो नारायणोऽखिलभवाय गृहीतशक्तिः । रेमेऽङ्ग षोडशसहस्रवराङ्गनानां सव्रीडसौहृदनिरीक्षणहासजुष्टः

Thus, following the path of human life, Narayana, whose power is taken up for the sake of all beings, enjoyed himself among sixteen thousand chosen women, surrounded by their bashful, friendly glances and smiles.

यानीह विश्वविलयोद्‌भववृत्तिहेतुः कर्माण्यनन्यविषयाणि हरीश्चकार यस्त्वङ्ग गायति श्रृणोत्यनुमोदते वा भक्तिर्भवेद्‌भगवति ह्यपवर्गमार्गे

Whatever actions Hari performed here, which are the cause of the creation and dissolution of the universe and have no other object, whoever, O dear one, sings, hears, or approves them, devotion arises for the Lord on the path of liberation.