Bhagavata Purana

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा यज्ञदिदृक्षवः । तत्रेयुः सर्वराजानो राज्ञां प्रकृतयो नृप

Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras, all desiring to witness the sacrifice, came there, along with all the kings and the subjects of the rulers, O King.

ततस्ते देवयजनं ब्राह्मणाः स्वर्णलाङ्‌गलैः । कृष्ट्वा तत्र यथाम्नायं दीक्षयां चक्रिरे नृपम्

Then the brāhmaṇas, using golden ploughs, prepared the sacrificial ground according to tradition, and initiated the king for the rite.

हैमाः किलोपकरणा वरुणस्य यथा पुरा । इन्द्रादयो लोकपाला विरिञ्चिभवसंयुताः

The sacrificial implements were all made of gold, just as in ancient times for Varuṇa; the guardians of the worlds, beginning with Indra, accompanied by Brahmā and Śiva, were present.

सगणाः सिद्धगन्धर्वा विद्याधरमहोरगाः । मुनयो यक्षरक्षांसि खगकिन्नरचारणाः

With their retinues came siddhas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, great serpents, sages, yakṣas, rākṣasas, birds, kinnaras, and cāraṇas.

राजानश्च समाहूता राजपत्‍न्यश्च सर्वशः । राजसूयं समीयुः स्म राज्ञः पाण्डुसुतस्य वै

Kings were summoned, along with all their royal consorts, and they came to the rājasūya sacrifice of the son of Pāṇḍu.

मेनिरे कृष्णभक्तस्य सूपपन्नमविस्मिताः । अयाजयन् महाराजं याजका देववर्चसः । राजसूयेन विधिवत् प्रचेतसमिवामराः

Amazed, they considered it fitting for one devoted to Kṛṣṇa; priests of divine radiance performed the rājasūya for the great king, properly, just as the gods did for Pracetasa.

सूत्येऽहन्यवनीपालो याजकान् सदसस्पतीन् । अपूजयन् महाभागान् यथावत् सुसमाहितः

On the day of the sacrifice, the lord of the earth, with full attention, honored the priests and the masters of the assembly, who were greatly fortunate, as was proper.

सदस्याग्र्यार्हणार्हं वै विमृशन्तः सभासदः । नाध्यगच्छन् नन्ननैकान्त्यात् सहदेवस्तदाब्रवीत्

The members of the assembly, deliberating on who was most worthy of the highest honor, could not reach a unanimous decision; then Sahadeva spoke.

अर्हति ह्यच्युतः श्रैष्ठ्यं भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः । एष वै देवताः सर्वा देशकालधनादयः

Indeed, Acyuta, the Lord, master of the Sātvatas, deserves the highest honor; for in him are all the gods, places, times, wealth, and so forth.

यस् आत्मकमिदं विश्वं क्रतवश्च यदात्मकाः । अग्निराहुतयो मंत्राः साङ्ख्यं योगश्च यत्परः

He is the self of this entire universe, and the sacrifices are based in him; the fire offerings, the mantras, Sāṅkhya and Yoga—all are directed toward him.

एक एवाद्‌वितीयोऽसौ अवैतदात्म्यमिदं जगत् । आत्मनात्माश्रयः सभ्याः सृजत्यवति हन्त्यजः

He alone, without a second, is this universe of non-duality; by his own self, O assembly, the unborn one creates, sustains, and destroys the worlds.

विविधानीह कर्माणि जनयन् यदवेक्षया । ईहते यदयं सर्वः श्रेयो धर्मादिलक्षणम्

He, observing, brings about the various actions here; whatever is sought—supreme good marked by dharma and the rest—arises from him.

तस्मात् कृष्णाय महते दीयतां परमार्हणम् । एवं चेत्सर्वभूतानां आत्मनश्चार्हणं भवेत्

Therefore, let the highest honor be given to the great Kṛṣṇa; by this, the honoring of all beings and of the self will be accomplished.

सर्वभूतात्मभूताय कृष्णायानन्यदर्शिने । देयं शान्ताय पूर्णाय दत्तस्यानन्त्यमिच्छता

To Kṛṣṇa, who is the soul of all beings, who sees nothing else, who is peaceful and complete, should honor be given by one desiring the infinite fruit of giving.

इत्युक्त्वा सहदेवोऽभूत् तूष्णीं कृष्णानुभाववित् । तच्छ्रुत्वा तुष्टुवुः सर्वे साधु साध्विति सत्तमाः

Having spoken thus, Sahadeva, knowing Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, fell silent; hearing this, all the best of men praised him, saying, 'Excellent, excellent!'

श्रुत्वा द्‌विजेरितं राजा ज्ञात्वा हार्दं सभासदाम् । समर्हयद्‌धृषीकेशं प्रीतः प्रणयविह्वलः

Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa and understanding the hearts of the assembly, the king, delighted and overwhelmed with affection, honored Hṛṣīkeśa.

तत्पादाववनिज्यापः शिरसा लोकपावनीः । सभार्यः सानुजामात्यः सकुटुम्बो वहन्मुदा

He washed the purifying water from Kṛṣṇa’s feet and, with his wives, brothers, ministers, and family, bore it on his head with joy.

वासोभिः पीतकौषेयैः भूषणैश्च महाधनैः । अर्हयित्वाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो नाशकत् समवेक्षितुम्

Having honored him with garments of yellow silk and precious ornaments, with eyes full of tears, he could not bear to look upon him.

इत्थं सभाजितं वीक्ष्य सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो जनाः । नमो जयेति नेमुस्तं निपेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः

Seeing him thus honored, all the people, with joined palms, bowed to him, exclaiming, 'Victory! Salutations!' and showers of flowers fell upon him.

( वसंततिलका ) इत्थं निशम्य दमघोषसुतः स्वपीठाद् उत्थाय कृष्णगुणवर्णनजातमन्युः । उत्क्षिप्य बाहुमिदमाह सदस्यमर्षी संश्रावयन् भगवते परुषाण्यभीतः

Hearing thus, the son of Damaghoṣa, angered by the praise of Kṛṣṇa's qualities, rose from his seat, stretched out his arms, and, unafraid, spoke harsh words to the assembly, making them known to the Lord.

( अनुष्टुप् ) ईशो दुरत्ययः काल इति सत्यवती श्रुतिः । वृद्धानामपि यद् बुद्धिः बालवाक्यैर्विभिद्यते

The Vedic tradition of Satyavatī declares: 'The Lord is time, insurmountable.' Yet even the wisdom of elders is sometimes confounded by the words of a child.

यूयं पात्रविदां श्रेष्ठा मा मन्ध्वं बालभाषीतम् । सदसस्पतयः सर्वे कृष्णो यत् सम्मतोऽर्हणे

You are the foremost among those who discern worth; do not be swayed by childish speech. All the lords of the assembly have agreed that Kṛṣṇa is worthy of this honor.

तपोविद्याव्रतधरान् ज्ञानविध्वस्तकल्मषान् । परमऋषीन् ब्रह्मनिष्ठान् लोकपालैश्च पूजितान्

Those who observe austerity, knowledge, and vows, whose impurities are destroyed by wisdom, the supreme sages established in Brahman, honored even by the guardians of the worlds—

सदस्पतीन् अतिक्रम्य गोपालः कुलपांसनः । यथा काकः पुरोडाशं सपर्यां कथमर्हति

Surpassing the lords of the assembly, how can a cowherd, a disgrace to his lineage, deserve the honor of worship, just as a crow does not deserve the sacred offering?

वर्णाश्रमकुलापेतः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः । स्वैरवर्ती गुणैर्हीनः सपर्यां कथमर्हति

Devoid of caste, order, and family, excluded from all duties, acting as he pleases, lacking in virtues—how can he deserve the honor of worship?

ययातिनैषां हि कुलं शप्तं सद्‌भिर्बहिष्कृतम् । वृथापानरतं शश्वत् सपर्यां कथमर्हति

Indeed, their lineage was cursed by Yayāti and cast out by the virtuous, being ever addicted to vain drinking—how can they deserve the honor of worship?

ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितान् देशान् हित्वैतेऽब्रह्मवर्चसम् । समुद्रं दुर्गमाश्रित्य बाधन्ते दस्यवः प्रजाः

Abandoning lands served by Brahmarṣis, lacking in Brahmanical splendor, these outlaws, taking refuge in the difficult-to-cross sea, trouble the people like bandits.

एवं आदीन्यभद्राणि बभाषे नष्टमङ्‌गलः । नोवाच किञ्चिद् भगवान् यथा सिंहः शिवारुतम्

Thus, he spoke many inauspicious words, his fortune lost; but the Lord, like a lion hearing the howl of a jackal, said nothing in reply.

भगवन् निन्दनं श्रुत्वा दुःसहं तत्सभासदः । कर्णौ पिधाय निर्जग्मुः शपन्तश्चेदिपं रुषा

Hearing the unbearable blasphemy of the Lord, the members of the assembly covered their ears, left the hall, and angrily cursed the king of Cedi.