Bhagavata Purana

आत्मानं भूषयामास नरलोकविभूषणम् । वासोभिर्भूषणैः स्वीयैः दिव्यस्रग् अनुलेपनैः

He adorned himself—the ornament of mankind—with his own garments, jewels, divine garlands, and fragrant ointments.

अवेक्ष्याज्यं तथाऽऽदर्शं गोवृषद्विजदेवताः । कामांश्च सर्ववर्णानां पौरान्तःपुरचारिणाम् । प्रदाप्य प्रकृतीः कामैः प्रतोष्य प्रत्यनन्दत

He observed the sacrificial fire and the mirror, gave gifts to cows, bulls, Brahmins, and deities, and fulfilled the desires of all classes—citizens and women of the palace—pleasing them and receiving their blessings.

संविभज्याग्रतो विप्रान् स्रक्‌ताम्बूलानुलेपनैः । सुहृदः प्रकृतीर्दारान् उपायुङ्क्त ततः स्वयम्

He distributed garlands, betel, and ointments first to the Brahmins, then to friends, attendants, and wives, and afterwards enjoyed them himself.

तावत् सूत उपानीय स्यन्दनं परमाद्‌भुतम् । सुग्रीवाद्यैर्हयैर्युक्तं प्रणम्यावस्थितोऽग्रतः

Meanwhile, Suta brought forth a wondrous chariot, yoked with horses like Sugriva and others, and stood before him after offering obeisance.

गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणी सारथेस्तमथारुहत् । सात्यक्युद्धवसंयुक्तः पूर्वाद्रिमिव भास्करः

Taking the charioteer's hand in his own, he ascended the chariot, accompanied by Satyaki and Uddhava, shining like the sun rising over the eastern mountain.

ईक्षितोऽन्तःपुरस्त्रीणां सव्रीडप्रेमवीक्षितैः । कृच्छ्राद् विसृष्टो निरगात् जातहासो हरन् मनः

He was gazed upon by the women of the palace with bashful, loving glances; released with difficulty, he departed, smiling and captivating their hearts.

सुधर्माख्यां सभां सर्वैः वृष्णिभिः परिवारितः । प्राविशद् यन्निविष्टानां न सन्त्यङ्ग षडूर्मयः

Surrounded by all the Vrishnis, he entered the assembly hall called Sudharma, where those seated are free from the six waves of suffering.

( वंशस्था ) तत्रोपविष्टः परमासने विभुः बभौ स्वभासा ककुभोऽवभासयन् । वृतो नृसिंहैर्यदुभिर्यदूत्तमो यथोडुराजो दिवि तारकागणैः

Seated upon the highest throne, the Lord shone with his own radiance, illuminating the quarters; surrounded by heroic Yadus, he appeared like the moon among stars in the sky.

( अनुष्टुप् ) तत्रोपमंत्रिणो राजन् नानाहास्यरसैर्विभुम् । उपतस्थुर्नटाचार्या नर्तक्यस्ताण्डवैः पृथक्

There, O King, the master of ceremonies and the dance teachers approached the Lord with various forms of laughter and joy, and the dancers performed distinct tandava dances.

मृदङ्गवीणामुरज वेणुतालदरस्वनैः । ननृतुर्जगुस्तुष्टुवुश्च सूतमागधवन्दिनः

With the sounds of mridanga, vina, muraja, flute, and cymbals, they danced, sang, and praised; the Sutas, Magadhas, and bards offered their eulogies.

तत्राहुर्ब्राह्मणाः केचित् आसीना ब्रह्मवादिनः । पूर्वेषां पुण्ययशसां राज्ञां चाकथयन् कथाः

There, some Brahmins, seated and versed in Brahman, narrated the stories of former kings of virtuous fame.

तत्रैकः पुरुषो राजन् आगतोऽपूर्वदर्शनः । विज्ञापितो भगवते प्रतीहारैः प्रवेशितः

Then, O King, a man of unprecedented appearance arrived; announced to Bhagavan by the doorkeepers, he was ushered in.

स नमस्कृत्य कृष्णाय परेशाय कृताञ्जलिः । राज्ञामावेदयद् दुखं जरासन्धनिरोधजम्

He bowed to Krishna, the supreme Lord, with joined palms, and reported to the kings the distress caused by Jarasandha's imprisonment.

ये च दिग्विजये तस्य सन्नतिं न ययुर्नृपाः । प्रसह्य रुद्धास्तेनासन् अयुते द्वे गिरिव्रजे

Those kings who did not submit to his conquest were forcibly detained by him; two ten-thousand groups are held in Girivraja.

राजान ऊचुः - कृष्ण कृष्णाप्रमेयात्मन् प्रपन्नभयभञ्जन । वयं त्वां शरणं यामो भवभीताः पृथग्धियः

The kings said: 'Krishna, Krishna, immeasurable soul, destroyer of the fears of those who seek refuge, we come to you for shelter, fearful of worldly existence and divided in mind.'

( वसंततिलका ) लोको विकर्मनिरतः कुशले प्रमत्तः कर्मण्ययं त्वदुदिते भवदर्चने स्वे । यस्तावदस्य बलवानिह जीविताशां सद्यश्छिनत्त्यनिमिषाय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै

The world is absorbed in unrighteous deeds, heedless of virtue; yet this action, arising from you, is for worshipping you. Whoever here, strong as he may be, suddenly cuts off the hope of life for the sleepless one—salutations to him.

लोके भवाञ्जगदिनः कलयावतीर्णः सद् रक्षणाय खलनिग्रहणाय चान्यः । कश्चित् त्वदीयमतियाति निदेशमीश किं वा जनः स्वकृतमृच्छति तन्न विद्मः

You, O Lord, have descended into the world for the protection of the righteous and the subjugation of the wicked. Who can transgress your command, O master? Or who attains the fruit of their own actions? We do not know.

स्वप्नायितं नृपसुखं परतंत्रमीश शश्वद्‌भयेन मृतकेन धुरं वहामः । हित्वा तदात्मनि सुखं त्वदनीहलभ्यं क्लिश्यामहेऽतिकृपणास्तव माययेह

O Lord, the happiness of kings is like a dream, dependent on others; ever burdened by fear, we bear the yoke of a life as good as dead. Abandoning the happiness found in the self, which is attainable without anxiety through You, we suffer greatly—how pitiable we are, deluded by Your māyā in this world.

तन्नो भवान् प्रणतशोकहराङ्‌घ्रियुग्मो बद्धान् वियुङ्क्ष्व मगधाह्वयकर्मपाशात् । यो भूभुजोऽयुतमतङ्गजवीर्यमेको बिभ्रद् रुरोध भवने मृगराडिवावीः

Therefore, may You, whose feet remove the sorrow of those who take refuge, release us who are bound by the fetters of the Magadhan's deeds. You alone, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants, restrained the king who, like a lion among beasts, had confined us in his palace.

यो वै त्वया द्विनवकृत्व उदात्तचक्र भग्नो मृधे खलु भवन्तमनन्तवीर्यम् । जित्वा नृलोकनिरतं सकृदूढदर्पो युष्मत्प्रजा रुजति नोऽजित तद्विधेहि

He, whose pride was firm and who delighted in conquering the world, was repeatedly defeated by You—O Lord of infinite power—when You broke his noble disc in battle twenty-two times. Now he afflicts Your people; O unconquered One, please act accordingly.

दूत उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) इति मागधसंरुद्धा भवद्दर्शनकाङ्‌क्षिणः । प्रपन्नाः पादमूलं ते दीनानां शं विधीयताम्

The messenger said: Thus, held captive by the Magadhan and longing to see You, they have taken refuge at Your feet. Please grant well-being to these afflicted ones.

श्रीशुक उवाच - राजदूते ब्रुवत्येवं देवर्षिः परमद्युतिः । बिभ्रत् पिङ्गजटाभारं प्रादुरासीद् यथा रविः

Śuka said: As the royal messenger spoke in this way, the divine sage Nārada, radiant and bearing tawny matted locks, appeared suddenly, like the sun.

तं दृष्ट्वा भगवान् कृष्णः सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः । ववन्द उत्थितः शीर्ष्णा ससभ्यः सानुगो मुदा

Seeing him, Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, Lord of all the lords of the worlds, rose with His assembly and followers, and joyfully bowed His head in respect.

सभाजयित्वा विधिवत् कृतासनपरिग्रहम् । बभाषे सुनृतैर्वाक्यैः श्रद्धया तर्पयन् मुनिम्

Honoring him properly and offering him a seat, Kṛṣṇa addressed the sage with pleasing words, satisfying him with faith and reverence.

अपि स्विदद्य लोकानां त्रयाणां अकुतोभयम् । ननु भूयान् भगवतो लोकान् पर्यटतो गुणः

Is all well today among the three worlds, free from fear? Surely, the virtue of the Lord increases as He travels among the worlds.

न हि तेऽविदितं किञ्चित् लोकेषु ईश्वर कर्तृषु । अथ पृच्छामहे युष्मान् पाण्डवानां चिकीर्षितम्

Nothing is unknown to you in all the worlds, O Lord among creators. Therefore, we ask you: what do the Pāṇḍavas intend?

श्रीनारद उवाच - ( मिश्र ) दृष्टा माया ते बहुशो दुरत्यया माया विभो विश्वसृजश्च मायिनः । भूतेषु भूमंश्चरतः स्वशक्तिभिः वह्नेरिवच्छन्नरुचो न मेऽद्‌भुतम्

Śrī Nārada said: O Lord, I have seen Your māyā many times—difficult to overcome—O Master, Creator of the universe and wielder of māyā. As You move among beings with Your own powers, Your glory is hidden like fire concealed in wood; thus, nothing astonishes me.

तवेहितं कोऽर्हति साधु वेदितुं स्वमाययेदं सृजतो नियच्छतः । यद् विद्यमानात् मतयावभासते तस्मै नमस्ते स्वविलक्षणात्मने

Who indeed is fit to know well Your actions here, as You create and withdraw this world by Your own māyā? What appears to exist is only a reflection of understanding. I bow to You, whose nature is beyond all distinctions.

जीवस्य यः संसरतो विमोक्षणं न जानतोऽनर्थवहाच्छरीरतः । लीलावतारैः स्वयशः प्रदीपकं प्राज्वालयत्त्वा तमहं प्रपद्ये

He who grants liberation to the soul wandering in saṃsāra, who does not know the suffering brought by the body—He, who by His playful descents kindles His own fame—I take refuge in Him, who dispels darkness.