Bhagavata Purana

पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्‌गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटक कटिसूत्राङ्‌गदाञ्चितम्

He held a lotus, mace, conch, and discus; adorned with a crown, necklace, bracelets, a girdle, and armlets.

भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया

His neck shone with the best of jewels and was garlanded with forest flowers; they drank him in with their eyes, as if tasting him with their tongues.

जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभिः । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभिः पादयोर्हरेः

They seemed to smell him with their noses, embrace him with their arms; freed from sin, they bowed with their heads at Hari's feet.

कृष्णसन्दर्शनाह्लाद ध्वस्तसंरोधनक्लमाः । प्रशशंसुर्हृषीकेशं गीर्भिः प्राञ्जलयो नृपाः

Delighted by the sight of Kṛṣṇa, their fatigue from captivity vanished; the kings, palms joined, praised Hṛṣīkeśa with their words.

राजान ऊचुः - नमस्ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराव्यय । प्रपन्ना पाहि नः कृष्ण निर्विण्णान् घोरसंसृतेः

The kings said: 'Salutations to you, Lord of gods, imperishable remover of the distress of those who take refuge! We have sought your shelter, O Kṛṣṇa—protect us, who are weary of this terrible cycle of birth and death.'

नैनं नाथानुसूयामो मागधं मधुसूदन । अनुग्रहो यद्‌ भवतो राज्ञां राज्यच्युतिर्विभो

'O Madhusūdana, we do not blame you for the loss of our kingdoms at the hands of the Magadhan; O Lord, for us kings, your favor is the cause.'

राज्यैश्वर्यमदोन्नद्धो न श्रेयो विन्दते नृपः । त्वन्मायामोहितोऽनित्या मन्यते सम्पदोऽचलाः

A king, swollen with pride from sovereignty and opulence, does not attain true welfare; deluded by your māyā, he considers impermanent riches to be unshakable.

मृगतृष्णां यथा बाला मन्यन्त उदकाशयम् । एवं वैकारिकीं मायां अयुक्ता वस्तु चक्षते

Just as children imagine water in a mirage, so too do those lacking discernment mistake illusory things for reality.

( मिश्र ) वयं पुरा श्रीमदनष्टदृष्टयो जिगीषयास्या इतरेतरस्पृधः । घ्नन्तः प्रजाः स्वा अतिनिर्घृणाः प्रभो मृत्युं पुरस्त्वाविगणय्य दुर्मदाः

Formerly, blinded by the intoxication of prosperity, we, driven by the desire to conquer, competed with one another, mercilessly destroying our own subjects, O Lord, recklessly disregarding death before us.

त एव कृष्णाद्य गभीररंहसा दुरन्तवीर्येण विचालिताः श्रियः । कालेन तन्वा भवतोऽनुकम्पया विनष्टदर्पाश्चरणौ स्मराम ते

Those very riches, O Krishna, have been swept away by your profound and irresistible power; by time, by your form, and by your compassion, our pride is destroyed, and we remember your feet.

अथो न राज्यम्मृगतृष्णिरूपितं देहेन शश्वत् पतता रुजां भुवा । उपासितव्यं स्पृहयामहे विभो क्रियाफलं प्रेत्य च कर्णरोचनम्

Therefore, we no longer desire a kingdom, which is like a mirage, with a body that is ever subject to decay and pain; O Lord, we long to worship you, for the fruit of such acts, both in this life and after, is pleasing to the ear.

( अनुष्टुप् ) तं नः समादिशोपायं येन ते चरणाब्जयोः । स्मृतिर्यथा न विरमेद् अपि संसरतामिह

Instruct us in the means by which, even as we wander in this world, our remembrance of your lotus feet may never cease.

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने । प्रणतक्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः

Obeisance again and again to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, to Hari, the Supreme Self, to Govinda, destroyer of the distress of those who take refuge in him.

श्रीशुक उवाच - संस्तूयमानो भगवान् राजभिर्मुक्तबन्धनैः । तानाह करुणस्तात शरण्यः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा

Śuka said: Thus praised by the kings, freed from bondage, the compassionate Lord, the shelter of all, addressed them with gentle words.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - अद्य प्रभृति वो भूपा मय्यात्मन्यखिलेश्वरे । सुदृढा जायते भक्तिः बाढमाशंसितं तथा

The Blessed Lord said: From this day forth, O kings, firm devotion to me, the Self, the Lord of all, will arise in you, as you have earnestly desired.

दिष्ट्या व्यवसितं भूपा भवन्त ऋतभाषिणः । श्रीयैश्वर्यमदोन्नाहं पश्य उन्मादकं नृणाम्

By good fortune, O kings, you have resolved rightly and spoken truthfully; behold how pride in wealth and power drives men mad.

हैहयो नहुषो वेनो रावणो नरकोऽपरे । श्रीमदाद्‌ भ्रंशिताः स्थानाद् देवदैत्यनरेश्वराः

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others—lords of gods, demons, and men—were cast down from their positions by pride in prosperity.

भवन्त एतद्‌ विज्ञाय देहाद्युत्पाद्यमन्तवत् । मां यजन्तोऽध्वरैर्युक्ताः प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षथ

Knowing this, that all arising from body and so on is perishable, worship me through sacrifices, and protect your subjects with righteousness.

संतन्वन्तः प्रजातन्तून् सुखं दुःखं भवाभवौ । प्राप्तं प्राप्तं च सेवन्तो मच्चित्ता विचरिष्यथ

Sustaining the threads of your people, experiencing happiness and sorrow, birth and death as they come, serve what comes your way, and move about with your minds fixed on me.

उदासीनाश्च देहादौ आत्मारामा धृतव्रताः । मय्यावेश्य मनः सम्यङ्‌ मां अन्ते ब्रह्म यास्यथ

Detached from body and so forth, delighting in the Self, firm in your vows, fixing your minds wholly on me, you shall attain Brahman at the end.

श्रीशुक उवाच - इत्यादिश्य नृपान् कृष्णो भगवान् भुवनेश्वरः । तेषां न्ययुङ्क्त पुरुषान् स्त्रियो मज्जनकर्मणि

Śuka said: Having thus instructed the kings, Krishna, Lord of the world, assigned attendants to them for the bathing ceremony of their wives.

सपर्यां कारयामास सहदेवेन भारत । नरदेवोचितैर्वस्त्रैः भूषणैः स्रग्विलेपनैः

He had the ceremonial worship performed by Sahadeva, with garments, ornaments, garlands, and ointments fit for kings.

भोजयित्वा वरान्नेन सुस्नातान् समलङ्कृतान् । भोगैश्च विविधैर्युक्तान् तांबूलाद्यैर्नृपोचितैः

After bathing and adorning them, he fed them with excellent food, provided them with various enjoyments, and with betel and other things suitable for kings.

ते पूजिता मुकुन्देन राजानो मृष्टकुण्डलाः । विरेजुर्मोचिताः क्लेशात् प्रावृडन्ते यथा ग्रहाः

Honored by Mukunda, the kings, with shining earrings, freed from distress, shone like planets released from the rainy season.

रथान् सदश्वान् आरोप्य मणिकाञ्चनभूषितान् । प्रीणय्य सुनृतैर्वाक्यैः स्वदेशान् प्रत्ययापयत्

He had the chariots, adorned with jewels and gold, yoked with fine horses, and, pleasing them with kind words, sent them back to their own lands.

त एवं मोचिताः कृच्छ्रात् कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना । ययुस्तमेव ध्यायन्तः कृतानि च जगत्पतेः

Thus, rescued from hardship by the greatly noble Krishna, they departed, meditating on him and the deeds of the Lord of the universe.

जगदुः प्रकृतिभ्यस्ते महापुरुषचेष्टितम् । यथान्वशासद्‌ भगवान् तथा चक्रुरतन्द्रिताः

The people marveled at the actions of the Supreme Person, and, as the Lord directed, they diligently carried out their duties.

जरासन्धं घातयित्वा भीमसेनेन केशवः । पार्थाभ्यां संयुतः प्रायात् सहदेवेन पूजितः

After Jarasandha was slain by Bhimasena, Krishna, honored by Sahadeva and accompanied by the two sons of Pritha, departed.

गत्वा ते खाण्डवप्रस्थं शङ्खान् दध्मुर्जितारयः । हर्षयन्तः स्वसुहृदो दुर्हृदां चासुखावहाः

Having reached Khandavaprastha, the victorious heroes sounded their conchshells, delighting their friends and bringing distress to their enemies.