Bhagavata Purana

पुनीहि सहलोकं मां लोकपालांश्च मद्गतान्। पादोदकेन भवतस्तीर्थानां तीर्थकारिणा

Purify me, along with the world and the guardians of the world devoted to me, with the water that has washed your feet, O maker of holy places among the holy.

अद्याहं भगवंल्लक्ष्म्या आसमेकान्तभाजनम्। वत्स्यत्युरसि मे भूतिर्भवत्पादहतांहसः

Today, O Lord, I have become the exclusive recipient of Lakṣmī's favor; prosperity, freed from sin by the touch of Your feet, will dwell upon my chest.

श्रीशुक उवाच। एवं ब्रुवाणे वैकुण्ठे भृगुस्तन्मन्द्रया गिरा। निर्वृतस्तर्पितस्तूष्णीं भक्त्युत्कण्ठोऽश्रुलोचनः

Śuka said: While Bhṛgu was thus speaking in Vaikuṇṭha with gentle words, he became deeply satisfied, fulfilled, silent, overwhelmed with devotion, and tears filled his eyes.

पुनश्च सत्रमाव्रज्य मुनीनां ब्रह्मवादिनाम्। स्वानुभूतमशेषेण राजन्भृगुरवर्णयत्

Then, returning again to the assembly of the sages devoted to Brahman, O King, Bhṛgu described to them everything he had directly experienced.

तन्निशम्याथ मुनयो विस्मिता मुक्तसंशयाः। भूयांसं श्रद्दधुर्विष्णुं यतः शान्तिर्यतोऽभयम्

Hearing this, the sages, astonished and free from doubt, placed even greater faith in Viṣṇu, from whom peace and fearlessness arise.

धर्मः साक्षाद्यतो ज्ञानं वैराग्यं च तदन्वितम्। ऐश्वर्यं चाष्टधा यस्माद्यशश्चात्ममलापहम्

Because from Him arises dharma itself, along with knowledge and renunciation, and eightfold sovereignty, and fame that removes the impurities of the self.

मुनीनां न्यस्तदण्डानां शान्तानां समचेतसाम्। अकिञ्चनानां साधूनां यमाहुः परमां गतिम्

He is declared the supreme goal of the sages who have laid down their rods, who are peaceful, equal-minded, possessing nothing, and virtuous.

सत्त्वं यस्य प्रिया मूर्तिर्ब्राह्मणास्त्विष्टदेवताः। भजन्त्यनाशिषः शान्ता यं वा निपुणबुद्धयः

Whose beloved form is sattva, for whom the brāhmaṇas are the chosen deities; whom the peaceful, desireless, and wise worship without seeking reward.

त्रिविधाकृतयस्तस्य राक्षसा असुराः सुराः। गुणिन्या मायया सृष्टाः सत्त्वं तत्तीर्थसाधनम्

By His māyā, endowed with the guṇas, the threefold classes—rākṣasas, asuras, and suras—are created; and sattva is the means to attain that holy place.

श्रीशुक उवाच। इत्थं सारस्वता विप्रा नृणाम्संशयनुत्तये। पुरुषस्य पदाम्भोज सेवया तद्गतिं गताः

Śuka said: Thus, the Sarasvata brāhmaṇas, for the removal of people's doubts, attained the supreme destination by serving the lotus feet of the Supreme Person.

श्रीसूत उवाच। इत्येतन्मुनितनयास्यपद्मगन्ध। पीयूषं भवभयभित्परस्य पुंसः। सुश्लोकं श्रवणपुटैः पिबत्यभीक्ष्णम्। पान्थोऽध्वभ्रमणपरिश्रमं जहाति

Sūta said: Whoever, with the ears as vessels, repeatedly drinks this nectar, fragrant with the lotus feet of the sage's son, which removes the fear of worldly existence and concerns the Supreme Person, that traveler abandons the fatigue of wandering the path.

श्रीशुक उवाच। एकदा द्वारवत्यां तु विप्रपत्न्याः कुमारकः। जातमात्रो भुवं स्पृष्ट्वा ममार किल भारत

Śuka said: Once, in Dvārakā, the newborn son of a brāhmaṇa's wife, having just touched the earth, died, O descendant of Bharata.

विप्रो गृहीत्वा मृतकं राजद्वार्युपधाय सः। इदं प्रोवाच विलपन्नातुरो दीनमानसः

The brāhmaṇa, taking the dead child, placed him at the king's gate and, lamenting in distress and with a sorrowful mind, spoke as follows.

ब्रह्मद्विषः शठधियो लुब्धस्य विषयात्मनः। क्षत्रबन्धोः कर्मदोषात्पञ्चत्वं मे गतोऽर्भकः

Because of the misdeeds of a king who hates the brāhmaṇas, is deceitful, greedy, and attached to sense objects, my child has died.

हिंसाविहारं नृपतिं दुःशीलमजितेन्द्रियम्। प्रजा भजन्त्यः सीदन्ति दरिद्रा नित्यदुःखिताः

When the king delights in violence, is wicked, and has uncontrolled senses, the people suffer, becoming poor and constantly afflicted.

एवं द्वितीयं विप्रर्षिस्तृतीयं त्वेवमेव च। विसृज्य स नृपद्वारि तां गाथां समगायत

In this way, when a second and then a third child died, the brāhmaṇa left them at the king's gate, reciting that lament.

तामर्जुन उपश्रुत्य कर्हिचित्केशवान्तिके। परेते नवमे बाले ब्राह्मणं समभाषत

Hearing this, Arjuna, at some point in Keśava's presence, spoke to the brāhmaṇa when his ninth child had passed away.

किं स्विद्ब्रह्मंस्त्वन्निवासे इह नास्ति धनुर्धरः। राजन्यबन्धुरेते वै ब्राह्मणाः सत्रमासते

O brāhmaṇa, what is lacking in your house here, O wielder of the bow? These brāhmaṇas are performing a sacrifice, attended by kṣatriya friends.

धनदारात्मजापृक्ता यत्र शोचन्ति ब्राह्मणाः। ते वै राजन्यवेषेण नटा जीवन्त्यसुम्भराः

Where brāhmaṇas, surrounded by wealth, wives, and sons, are lamenting, those who live in the guise of kṣatriyas are actually impostors, living in disgrace.

अहं प्रजाः वां भगवन्रक्षिष्ये दीनयोरिह। अनिस्तीर्णप्रतिज्ञोऽग्निं प्रवेक्ष्ये हतकल्मषः

O Lord, I will protect your children here, who are afflicted and helpless; if I fail to fulfill my promise, I shall enter fire, purified of sin.

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच। सङ्कर्षणो वासुदेवः प्रद्युम्नो धन्विनां वरः। अनिरुद्धोऽप्रतिरथो न त्रातुं शक्नुवन्ति यत्

The Brahmana said: Sankarshana, Vasudeva, Pradyumna—best among archers—and Aniruddha, whose chariot is unconquerable, were unable to protect them.

तत्कथं नु भवान्कर्म दुष्करं जगदीश्वरैः। त्वं चिकीर्षसि बालिश्यात्तन्न श्रद्दध्महे वयम्

How then, do you, desiring a deed difficult even for the Lords of the world, intend to accomplish it out of childishness? We do not believe this.

श्रीअर्जुन उवाच। नाहं सङ्कर्षणो ब्रह्मन्न कृष्णः कार्ष्णिरेव च। अहं वा अर्जुनो नाम गाण्डीवं यस्य वै धनुः

Arjuna said: O Brahmana, I am not Sankarshana, nor Krishna, nor the son of Krishna; I am Arjuna by name, whose bow is Gandiva.

मावमंस्था मम ब्रह्मन्वीर्यं त्र्यम्बकतोषणम्। मृत्युं विजित्य प्रधने आनेष्ये ते प्रजाः प्रभो

Do not underestimate my power, O Brahmana, which has pleased Tryambaka; having conquered death in battle, I will bring back your children, O master.

एवं विश्रम्भितो विप्रः फाल्गुनेन परन्तप। जगाम स्वगृहं प्रीतः पार्थवीर्यं निशामयन्

Thus reassured by Phalguna, the scorcher of foes, the Brahmana, pleased after witnessing Partha’s prowess, returned to his own house.

प्रसूतिकाल आसन्ने भार्याया द्विजसत्तमः। पाहि पाहि प्रजां मृत्योरित्याहार्जुनमातुरः

When the time of birth approached for the Brahmana’s wife, the best of twice-born, distressed, called out to Arjuna: 'Protect, protect my child from death!'

स उपस्पृश्य शुच्यम्भो नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम्। दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि संस्मृत्य सज्यं गाण्डीवमाददे

He purified himself with clean water, bowed to Maheshvara, recalled divine weapons, and took up his Gandiva, strung and ready.

न्यरुणत्सूतिकागारं शरैर्नानास्त्रयोजितैः। तिर्यगूर्ध्वमधः पार्थश्चकार शरपञ्जरम्

Partha blocked the birthing chamber with arrows, employing various weapons, and made a cage of arrows on all sides—across, above, and below.

ततः कुमारः सञ्जातो विप्रपत्न्या रुदन्मुहुः। सद्योऽदर्शनमापेदे सशरीरो विहायसा

Then, as the child was born to the Brahmana’s wife, crying repeatedly, he at once vanished, body and all, into the sky.