Bhagavata Purana

तेभ्यः स्ववीक्षणविनष्टतमिस्रदृग्भ्यः क्षेमं त्रिलोकगुरुरर्थदृशं च यच्छन् । श्रृणवन् दिगन्तधवलं स्वयशोऽशुभघ्नं गीतं सुरैर्नृभिरगात् शनकैर्विदेहान्

To those whose darkness of vision was dispelled by his glance, the Guru of the three worlds granted safety and the sight of his form; hearing the praises sung by gods and men, which spread in all directions, white as the sky and destroying misfortune, he slowly entered Videha.

( अनुष्टुप् ) तेऽच्युतं प्राप्तमाकर्ण्य पौरा जानपदा नृप । अभीयुर्मुदितास्तस्मै गृहीतार्हणपाणयः

Hearing that Acyuta had arrived, the citizens and people of the land, O King, joyfully approached him, carrying offerings in their hands.

दृष्ट्वा त उत्तमःश्लोकं प्रीत्युत्फुलाननाशयाः । कैर्धृताञ्जलिभिर्नेमुः श्रुतपूर्वान् तथा मुनीन्

Seeing the illustrious one, their faces blossoming with delight, they bowed with joined palms, as did the sages whom they had only heard of before.

स्वानुग्रहाय सम्प्राप्तं मन्वानौ तं जगद्‌गुरुम् । मैथिलः श्रुतदेवश्च पादयोः पेततुः प्रभोः

Thinking that the Guru of the world had come for their own blessing, the king of Mithilā and Śrutadeva both fell at his feet.

न्यमन्त्रयेतां दाशार्हं आतिथ्येन सह द्विजैः । मैथिलः श्रुतदेवश्च युगपत् संहताञ्जली

With joined palms, both the king of Mithilā and Śrutadeva invited the Dāśārha, along with the brāhmaṇas, to accept their hospitality at the same time.

भगवान् तदभिप्रेत्य द्वयोः प्रियचिकीर्षया । उभयोराविशद्‌ गेहं उभाभ्यां तदलक्षितः

The Lord, perceiving their intent and wishing to please them both, entered the homes of each, unnoticed by the other.

श्रोतुमप्यसतां दूरान् जनकः स्वगृहागतान् । आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्येषु सुखासीनान् महामनाः

Janaka, of great mind, brought those who had come from afar—even those not of good conduct—into his own house, seated them comfortably on the finest seats, and listened to them.

प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्ष हृदयास्राविलेक्षणः । नत्वा तदङ्‌घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनीः

With devotion grown strong, his heart overflowing with joy and tears in his eyes, he bowed to their feet, washed them, and took that water, which purifies the world.

सकुटुम्बो वहन्मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् । गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्प धूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषैः

With his family, he bore on his head the water and worshipped the Lords with fragrances, garlands, garments, incense, lamps, offerings, and cows and bulls.

वाचा मधुरया प्रीणन् इदमाहान्नतर्पितान् । पादावङ्कगतौ विष्णोः संस्पृशञ्छनकैर्मुदा

Pleasing them with sweet words, he spoke as they sat, not yet fully satisfied, gently touching the feet of Viṣṇu, who was seated with his feet drawn up, with joy.

श्रीबहुलाश्व उवाच - भवान्हि सर्वभूतानां आत्मा साक्षी स्वदृग् विभो । अथ नस्त्वत्पदाम्भोजं स्मरतां दर्शनं गतः

King Bahulāśva said: You are indeed the Self, the witness, the seer of all beings, O Lord; and now, for us who remember your lotus feet, you have come into our sight.

स्ववचस्तदृतं कर्तुं अस्मद्‌दृग्गोचरो भवान् । यदात्थैकान्तभक्तान् मे नानन्तः श्रीरजः प्रियः

To fulfill your own words, you have become visible to us; for you said that your devotees, who are exclusively devoted, are dear to you, O Infinite One, more than even Lakṣmī or Brahmā.

को नु त्वच्चरणाम्भोजं एवंविद् विसृजेत् पुमान् । निष्किञ्चनानां शान्तानां मुनीनां यस्त्वमात्मदः

Who indeed would abandon your lotus feet, O giver of the Self to the renounced, peaceful sages who possess nothing?

योऽवतीर्य यदोर्वंशे नृणां संसरतामिह । यशो वितेने तच्छान्त्यै त्रैलोक्यवृजिनापहम्

You, who descended in the Yadu dynasty among men wandering in this world, spread your fame for their peace, removing the suffering of the three worlds.

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते कृष्णायाकुण्ठमेधसे । नारायणाय ऋषये सुशान्तं तप ईयुषे

Obeisance to you, O Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, of unfailing wisdom, Nārāyaṇa, the sage who performed tranquil austerities.

दिनानि कतिचिद्‌ भूमन् गृहान् नो निवस द्विजैः । समेतः पादरजसा पुनीहीदं निमेः कुलम्

O Lord, please dwell in our home for a few days together with these brahmins; sanctify the lineage of Nimi with the dust of your feet.

इत्युपामन्त्रितो राज्ञा भगवान् लोकभावनः । उवास कुर्वन् कल्याणं मिथिलानरयोषिताम्

Thus invited by the king, the Lord, creator of the worlds, stayed there, bringing auspiciousness to the men and women of Mithila.

श्रुतदेवोऽच्युतं प्राप्तं स्वगृहाञ्जनको यथा । नत्वा मुनीन् सुसंहृष्टो धुन्वन् वासो ननर्त ह

Śrutadeva, overjoyed, welcomed Acyuta to his house as Janaka had, bowed to the sages, and danced, shaking his garment.

तृणपीठबृषीष्वेतान् आनीतेषूपवेश्य सः । स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याङ्घ्रीन् सभार्योऽवनिजे मुदा

He seated them on mats of grass and ox hides he had brought, and, together with his wife, joyfully washed their feet and greeted them with hospitality.

तदम्भसा महाभाग आत्मानं सगृहान्वयम् । स्नापयां चक्र उद्धर्षो लब्धसर्वमनोरथः

With that water, O blessed one, he, his family, and his household bathed themselves, elated as all his desires had been fulfilled.

( मिश्र ) फलार्हणोशीरशिवामृताम्बुभिः मृदा सुरभ्या तुलसीकुशाम्बुजैः । आराधयामास यथोपपन्नया सपर्यया सत्त्वविवर्धनान्धसा

He worshipped them with offerings of fruits, fragrant roots, pure water, clay, cow products, tulasi, sacred grass, and lotuses, performing the proper rites that increase goodness and destroy darkness.

स तर्कयामास कुतो ममान्वभूद् गृहान्धकुपे पतितस्य सङ्गमः । यः सर्वतीर्थास्पदपादरेणुभिः कृष्णेन चास्यात्मनिकेतभूसुरैः

He wondered, 'How did I, fallen into the blind well of household life, come to have this meeting—with Krishna himself, the dust of whose feet is the abode of all holy places, and with these brahmins who are his very home?'

( अनुष्टुप् ) सूपविष्टान् कृतातिथ्यान् श्रुतदेव उपस्थितः । सभार्यस्वजनापत्य उवाचाङ्‌घ्र्यभिमर्शनः

When his guests were seated and honored, Śrutadeva, together with his wife, children, and relatives, approached and touched their feet.

श्रुतदेव उवाच - नाद्य नो दर्शनं प्राप्तः परं परमपूरुषः । यर्हीदं शक्तिभिः सृष्ट्वा प्रविष्टो ह्यात्मसत्तया

Śrutadeva said: Today, the Supreme Person, who after creating this world with his energies enters it by his own being, has not come to our sight for the first time.

यथा शयानः पुरुषो मनसैवात्ममायया । सृष्ट्वा लोकं परं स्वाप्नं अनुविश्यावभासते

Just as a man, lying down, creates a dream world by his own mind and then enters and illuminates it, so does he.

श्रृण्वतां गदतां शश्वद् अर्चतां त्वाभिवन्दताम् । नृणां संवदतामन्तः हृदि भास्यमलात्मनाम्

To those who listen, speak, worship, bow to you, and converse sincerely, you reveal yourself within their pure hearts.

हृदिस्थोऽप्यतिदूरस्थः कर्मविक्षिप्तचेतसाम् । आत्मशक्तिभिरग्राह्योऽपि अन्त्युपेतगुणात्मनाम्

Though dwelling in the heart, you remain far away from those whose minds are distracted by action, and, though inaccessible by your own power, you are not grasped by those attached to the qualities of matter.

( वंशस्था ) नमोऽस्तु तेऽध्यात्मविदां परात्मने अनात्मने स्वात्मविभक्तमृत्यवे । सकारणाकारणलिङ्गमीयुषे स्वमाययासंवृतरुद्धदृष्टये

Obeisance to you, the Supreme Self, knower of the inner reality, who is beyond the self, who divides the self from death, who assumes forms with and without cause, and whose vision is veiled by your own maya.

( अनुष्टुप् ) स त्वं शाधि स्वभृत्यान् नः किं देव करवामहे । एतदन्तो नृणां क्लेशो यद्‌भवानक्षिगोचरः

Therefore, O Lord, instruct us, your servants—what should we do? For the greatest suffering of people is that you are beyond the reach of their senses.