Bhagavata Purana

ततश्च भारतं वर्षं परीत्य सुसमाहितः। चरित्वा द्वादशमासांस्तीर्थस्नायी विशुध्यसि

Then, having left the land of Bharata with a steady mind, after wandering for twelve months and bathing at holy places, you will become purified.

सुदामोपाख्यानम् – पत्‍नीप्रेरणया सुदाम्नो भगवत् समीपे गमनं; भगवता तस्य सत्कारश्च - श्रीराजोवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) भगवन् यानि चान्यानि मुकुन्दस्य महात्मनः । वीर्याण्यनन्तवीर्यस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि हे प्रभो

The king said: O venerable one, I wish to hear other heroic deeds of Mukunda, the great soul, whose power is infinite, O master.

को नु श्रुत्वासकृद् ब्रह्मन् उत्तमःश्लोकसत्कथाः । विरमेत विशेषज्ञो विषण्णः काममार्गणैः

O brāhmaṇa, who, having heard the sacred stories of the praiseworthy Lord even once, would cease listening—except one who is deeply afflicted by the arrows of desire and ignorant of their true worth?

( मिश्र ) सा वाग् यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च । स्मरेद्‌ वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्‌गमेषु श्रृणोति तत्पुण्यकथाः स कर्णः

That speech by which one praises His qualities, those hands that perform His deeds, that mind which remembers Him dwelling among all beings, and those ears that hear His holy stories—these alone are truly speech, hands, mind, and ears.

शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्‌गमानं एत्तदेव यत्पश्यति तद्धि चक्षुः । अङ्‌गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम्

That head is truly a head which bows to Him who bears both forms; those eyes alone see which behold Him; those limbs are truly limbs which always serve the water that has washed the feet of Viṣṇu or His devotees.

सूत उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) विष्णुरातेन सम्पृष्टो भगवान् बादरायणिः । वासुदेवे भगवति निमग्नहृदयोऽब्रवीत्

Sūta said: Thus questioned by Viṣṇurāta, the blessed son of Badarāyaṇa, whose heart was immersed in the Lord Vāsudeva, spoke.

श्रीशुक उवाच - कृष्णस्यासीत् सखा कश्चिद् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेषु प्रशान्तात्मा जितेन्द्रियः

Śuka said: Kṛṣṇa had a certain brāhmaṇa friend, most learned in the Veda, detached from sense pleasures, peaceful in mind, and self-controlled.

यदृच्छयोपपन्नेन वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमी । तस्य भार्या कुचैलस्य क्षुत्क्षामा च तथाविधा

Living as a householder, sustaining himself with whatever came by chance, his wife, thin from hunger, was just like him—her clothing in tatters.

पतिव्रता पतिं प्राह म्लायता वदनेन सा । दरिद्रं सीदमाना वै वेपमानाभिगम्य च

That devoted wife, with a pale face, approached her impoverished, suffering husband, trembling, and spoke to him.

ननु ब्रह्मन् भगवतः सखा साक्षाच्छ्रियः पतिः । ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च भगवान् सात्वतर्षभः

O brāhmaṇa, is not the Lord, the husband of Śrī herself, your friend? He is devoted to the brāhmaṇas, the refuge of all, and the exalted Lord of the Sātvatas.

तमुपैहि महाभाग साधूनां च परायणम् । दास्यति द्रविणं भूरि सीदते ते कुटुम्बिने

Go to Him, O blessed one, who is the supreme shelter of the virtuous. He will surely give abundant wealth to you, the householder, who is in distress.

आस्तेऽधुना द्वारवत्यां भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वरः । स्मरतः पादकमलं आत्मानमपि यच्छति । किं न्वर्थकामान् भजतो नात्यभीष्टान्जगद्‌गुरुः

He now resides in Dvārakā as the Lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas. Even as He remembers His lotus feet, He offers Himself to His devotees. Why would the teacher of the world not grant the desired objects, even those not sought, to one who worships Him?

स एवं भार्यया विप्रो बहुशः प्रार्थितो मृदु । अयं हि परमो लाभ उत्तमःश्लोकदर्शनम्

Thus, repeatedly entreated gently by his wife, the brāhmaṇa thought, 'Indeed, the greatest gain is to see the Lord praised in the highest hymns.'

इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा गमनाय मतिं दधे । अप्यस्त्युपायनं किञ्चिद् गृहे कल्याणि दीयताम्

Thinking thus in his mind, he resolved to go. 'Is there any gift at home, O good lady? Let something be given.'

याचित्वा चतुरो मुष्टीन् विप्रान् पृथुकतण्डुलान् । चैलखण्डेन तान् बद्ध्वा भर्त्रे प्रादादुपायनम्

She begged four handfuls of flat rice from the brāhmaṇas, tied them in a piece of cloth, and gave them to her husband as a gift.

स तानादाय विप्राग्र्यः प्रययौ द्वारकां किल । कृष्णसन्दर्शनं मह्यं कथं स्यादिति चिन्तयन्

Taking them, the foremost brāhmaṇa set out for Dvārakā, thinking, 'How might I obtain a vision of Kṛṣṇa?'

त्रीणि गुल्मान्यतीयाय तिस्रः कक्षाश्च सद्विजः । विप्रोऽगम्यान्धकवृष्णीनां गृहेष्वच्युतधर्मिणाम्

The noble brāhmaṇa passed through three enclosures and three courtyards, entering the homes of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, who followed the path of the infallible Lord.

गृहं द्‌व्यष्टसहस्राणां महिषीणां हरेर्द्विजः । विवेशैकतमं श्रीमद् ब्रह्मानन्दं गतो यथा

He entered one of the houses of Hari's sixteen thousand queens, and, as if attaining divine bliss, became filled with joy.

तं विलोक्याच्युतो दूरात् प्रियापर्यङ्कमास्थितः । सहसोत्थाय चाभ्येत्य दोर्भ्यां पर्यग्रहीन्मुदा

Seeing him from afar, Acyuta, who was seated on his beloved's couch, immediately rose up, approached, and joyfully embraced him with both arms.

सख्युः प्रियस्य विप्रर्षेः अङ्‌गसङ्‌गातिनिर्वृतः । प्रीतो व्यमुञ्चदब्बिन्दून् नेत्राभ्यां पुष्करेक्षणः

Delighted by the touch of his dear friend, the sage among the twice-born, the lotus-eyed Lord, overwhelmed with joy, shed tears from his eyes.

अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्युः समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनीः

Then, after seating his friend upon the couch, he himself performed the proper honors for him, bringing water and washing his feet with his own hands.

अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवान् लोकपावनः । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कमैः

O King, the Lord, purifier of the worlds, respectfully took the water with his head and anointed his guest with divine fragrances of sandalwood, aguru, and saffron.

धूपैः सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वाऽऽवेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत्

With fragrant incense and rows of lamps, he worshipped his friend with joy, offered him betel nut, and, after presenting a cow, spoke words of welcome.

कुचैलं मलिनं क्षामं द्‌विजं धमनिसंततम् । देवी पर्यचरत् साक्षात् चामरव्यजनेन वै

The goddess herself served the twice-born, who was clad in worn, soiled garments, emaciated, and with veins prominent, by fanning him with a yak-tail fan.

अन्तःपुरजनो दृष्ट्वा कृष्णेनामलकीर्तिना । विस्मितोऽभूदतिप्रीत्या अवधूतं सभाजितम्

Seeing the avadhūta, so honored by Kṛṣṇa of spotless fame, the women of the inner chambers were amazed and filled with great affection.

किमनेन कृतं पुण्यं अवधूतेन भिक्षुणा । श्रिया हीनेन लोकेऽस्मिन् गर्हितेनाधमेन च

What pious act has this avadhūta, this mendicant, performed—he who is destitute of fortune, despised and lowly in this world?

योऽसौ त्रिलोकगुरुणा श्रीनिवासेन सम्भृतः । पर्यङ्कस्थां श्रियं हित्वा परिष्वक्तोऽग्रजो यथा

He, who was so honored by Śrīnivāsa, the preceptor of the three worlds, was embraced like an elder brother, even as the goddess of fortune remained seated on the couch.

कथयां चक्रतुर्गाथाः पूर्वा गुरुकुले सतोः । आत्मनोर्ललिता राजन् करौ गृह्य परस्परम्

They began to recount delightful stories from their time together in the preceptor’s house, O King, holding each other's hands as they spoke.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - अपि ब्रह्मन्गुरुकुलाद्‌ भवता लब्धदक्षिणात् । समावृत्तेन धर्मज्ञ भार्योढा सदृशी न वा

The Blessed Lord said: O brāhmaṇa, after you completed your studies in the preceptor’s house and offered the proper fee, did you marry a suitable wife or not, O knower of dharma?