Bhagavata Purana

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.

निन्दां भगवतः श्रृण्वन् तत्परस्य जनस्य वा । ततो नापैति यः सोऽपि यात्यधः सुकृताच्च्युतः

He who, hearing blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees, does not leave that place, falls down from virtue, even if he was once pious.

ततः पाण्डुसुताः क्रुद्धा मत्स्यकैकयसृञ्जयाः । उदायुधाः समुत्तस्थुः शिशुपालजिघांसवः

Then, the sons of Pāṇḍu, along with the kings of Matsya, Kekaya, and Sṛñjaya, rose up in anger, weapons in hand, desiring to kill Śiśupāla.

ततश्चैद्यस्त्वसंभ्रान्तो जगृहे खड्गचर्मणी । भर्त्सयन् कृष्णपक्षीयान् राज्ञः सदसि भारत

Then, O Bhārata, the king of Cedi, undisturbed, took up sword and shield, rebuking the kings who sided with Kṛṣṇa in the assembly.

तावदुत्थाय भगवान् स्वान् निवार्य स्वयं रुषा । शिरः क्षुरान्तचक्रेण जहार पततो रिपोः

At that moment, the Lord Himself, rising up and restraining His own supporters, with anger severed the head of His falling enemy with the razor-edged discus.

शब्दः कोलाहलोऽथासीन् शिशुपाले हते महान् । तस्यानुयायिनो भूपा दुद्रुवुर्जीवितैषिणः

A great tumult arose when Śiśupāla was slain, and his follower-kings, seeking to save their lives, fled in all directions.

चैद्यदेहोत्थितं ज्योतिः वासुदेवमुपाविशत् । पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां उल्केव भुवि खाच्च्युता

A radiant light emerged from the body of the king of Cedi and entered Vāsudeva, as all beings watched, like a meteor falling from the sky to earth.

जन्मत्रयानुगुणित वैरसंरब्धया धिया । ध्यायन् तन्मयतां यातो भावो हि भवकारणम्

With a mind inflamed by enmity accumulated over three lifetimes, meditating upon him, he became absorbed in that very being; for indeed, one's state of mind is the cause of future birth.

ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो दक्षिनां विपुलामदात् । सर्वान् संपूज्य विधिवत् चक्रेऽवभृथमेकराट्

He gave abundant gifts to the officiating priests and assistants, duly honoring all according to the prescribed rites, and the emperor performed the concluding bath of the sacrifice.

साधयित्वा क्रतुः राज्ञः कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः । उवास कतिचिन् मासान् सुहृद्‌भिः अभियाचितः

Having completed the king’s sacrifice, Krishna, Lord of the masters of yoga, stayed for a few months at the request of his friends.

ततोऽनुज्ञाप्य राजानं अनिच्छन्तमपीश्वरः । ययौ सभार्यः सामात्यः स्वपुरं देवकीसुतः

Then, having taken leave of the king, though the king did not wish it, the Lord, Devakī’s son, departed with his wives and ministers to his own city.