Bhagavata Purana

सूत उवाच - आकृष्णनिर्गमात् त्रिंशत् वर्षाधिकगते कलौ । नवमीतो नभस्ये च कथारंभं शुकोऽकरोत्

Sūta said: Thirty years after Kṛṣṇa's departure, when Kali had advanced, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādrapada, Śuka began the narration.

परीक्षित् श्रवणान्ते च कलौ वर्षशतद्वये । शुद्धे शुचौ नवम्यां च धेनुजोऽकथयत्कथाम्

At the end of Parīkṣit's hearing, in Kali, after two hundred years had passed, on a pure and auspicious ninth day, Gokarṇa, born of a cow, recited the story.

तस्मादपि कलौ प्राप्ते त्रिंशत् वर्षगते सति । ऊचुरूर्जे सिते पक्षे नवम्यां ब्रह्मणः सुताः

Then, when Kali had further advanced by thirty years, on the ninth day of the bright half of Kārtika, the sons of Brahmā recited it.

इत्येत्तते समाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयानघ । कलौ भागवती वार्ता भवरोगविनाशिनी

Thus, O sinless one, I have described to you what you asked: the Bhāgavata story in Kali, which destroys the disease of worldly existence.

(वसंततिलका) कृष्णप्रियं सकलकल्मषनाशनं च मुक्त्येकहेतुमिह भक्तिविलासकारि सन्तः कथानकमिदं पिबतादरेण लोके हि तीर्थपरिशीलनसेवया किम्

This narration, dear to Kṛṣṇa, destroys all sins, is the sole cause of liberation, and brings forth the play of devotion. Let the virtuous drink this tale with reverence—what need is there for pilgrimage or ritual service in this world?

(अपरवक्त्र) स्वपुरुषमपि वीक्ष्य पाशहस्तं वदति यमः किल तस्य कर्णमूले । परिहर भगवत्कथासु मत्तान् प्रभुरहमन्युनृणां न वैष्णवानाम्

Even when seeing his own servant holding the noose, Yama is said to whisper in his ear: 'Avoid those intoxicated by the stories of the Lord; I am the master of others' anger, but not of the Vaiṣṇavas.'

(शिखरिणी) असारे संसारे विषयविषसङ्‌गाकुलधियः क्षणार्धं क्षेमार्थं पिबत शुकगाथातुलसुधाम् । किमर्थं व्यर्थं भो व्रजथ कुपथे कुत्सितकथे परीक्षित्साक्षी यत् श्रवणगतमुक्त्युक्तिकथने

In this insubstantial world, where minds are troubled by the poison of sense-objects, drink, even for half a moment, the nectar-like verses of Śuka for your welfare. Why wander uselessly on the wrong path, listening to base stories, when Parīkṣit himself witnessed the narration that grants liberation upon hearing?

(अनुष्टुप्) रसप्रवाहसंस्थेन श्रीशुकेनेरिता कथा । कण्ठे संबध्यते येन स वैकुण्ठप्रभुर्भवेत्

The story spoken by Śuka, flowing with the stream of rasa, binds to the throat the one who recites it—and he becomes the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.

(मालिनी) इति च परमगुह्यं सर्वसिद्धान्तसिद्धं सपदि निगदितं ते शास्त्रपुञ्जं विलोक्य । जगति शुककथातो निर्मलं नास्ति किञ्चित् पिब परसुखहेतोर्द्वादशस्कन्धसारम्

Thus, the most confidential truth, established by all doctrines, has been spoken to you at once; having surveyed the multitude of scriptures, nothing in this world is as pure as the tale of Śuka—drink, for the sake of supreme joy, the essence of the twelve books.

(प्रहर्षिणी) एतां यो नियततया श्रृणोति भक्त्या यश्चैनां कथयति शुद्धवैष्णवाग्रे । तौ सम्यक् विधिकरणात्फलं लभेते याथार्थ्यान्न हि भुवने किमप्यसाध्यम्

Whoever listens to this regularly with devotion, and whoever narrates it before pure Vaiṣṇavas—both, by properly performing this act, obtain its fruit; for them, nothing in this world is unattainable in reality.

शौनक उवाच । (अनुष्टुप्) निर्गते नारदे सूत भगवान् बादरायणः । श्रुतवांस्तदभिप्रेतं ततः किमकरोद् विभुः । सूत उवाच । ब्रह्मनद्यां सरस्वत्यां आश्रमः पश्चिमे तटे । शम्याप्रास इति प्रोक्त ऋषीणां सत्रवर्धनः

Śaunaka said: O Sūta, when Nārada had departed, what did the venerable Bādarāyaṇa, having understood his intent, do next? Sūta said: On the western bank of the divine Sarasvatī river, there is an āśrama called Śamyāprāsa, renowned for fostering the gatherings of sages.

तस्मिन् स्व आश्रमे व्यासो बदरीषण्डमण्डिते । आसीनोऽप उपस्पृश्य प्रणिदध्यौ मनः स्वयम्

In that āśrama, adorned with clusters of badarī trees, Vyāsa sat down, purified himself with water, and concentrated his mind by his own will.

भक्तियोगेन मनसि सम्यक् प्रणिहितेऽमले । अपश्यत् पुरुषं पूर्णं मायां च तदपाश्रयम्

With his mind made pure and steady through devotion, he beheld the complete Person and also Māyā, who stands dependent upon Him.

यया संमोहितो जीव आत्मानं त्रिगुणात्मकम् । परोऽपि मनुतेऽनर्थं तत्कृतं चाभिपद्यते

By her, the living being, though transcendental, becomes deluded and considers himself to be made of the three guṇas, imagines misfortune, and accepts what is caused by her.

अनर्थोपशमं साक्षाद् भक्तियोगमधोक्षजे । लोकस्याजानतो विद्वांन् चक्रे सात्वतसंहिताम्

For the cessation of these miseries, the wise one composed the Sātvata Saṃhitā, teaching direct devotion to the Transcendent, for the benefit of people who do not know.

यस्यां वै श्रूयमाणायां कृष्णे परमपूरुषे । भक्तिरुत्पद्यते पुंसः शोकमोहभयापहा

In this scripture, when it is heard, devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, arises in a person, removing sorrow, delusion, and fear.

स संहितां भागवतीं कृत्वानुक्रम्य चात्मजम् । शुकं अध्यापयामास निवृत्तिनिरतं मुनिः

Having composed this Bhāgavata Saṃhitā in proper order, the sage taught it to his son Śuka, who was devoted to renunciation.

शौनक उवाच । स वै निवृत्तिनिरतः सर्वत्रोपेक्षको मुनिः । कस्य वा बृहतीं एतां आत्मारामः समभ्यसत्

Śaunaka said: That sage, devoted to renunciation and indifferent to all, being self-satisfied—why did he, the self-delighted one, study this great work?

सूत उवाच । आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्युरुक्रमे । कुर्वन्ति अहैतुकीं भक्तिं इत्थंभूतगुणो हरिः

Sūta said: Even sages who are self-satisfied and free from all bonds perform causeless devotion to Hari, for His qualities are such.

हरेर्गुणाक्षिप्तमतिः भगवान् बादरायणिः । अध्यगान् महदाख्यानं नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियः

The venerable son of Badarāyaṇa, whose mind was captivated by Hari's qualities, constantly studied the great narrative, ever dear to the devotees of Viṣṇu.

परीक्षितोऽथ राजर्षेः जन्मकर्मविलापनम् । संस्थां च पाण्डुपुत्राणां वक्ष्ये कृष्णकथोदयम्

Now I will describe the birth, deeds, and departure of King Parīkṣit, and the passing of the sons of Pāṇḍu, as well as the rise of Kṛṣṇa's story.

(इंद्रवज्रा) यदा मृधे कौरवसृञ्जयानां वीरेष्वथो वीरगतिं गतेषु । वृकोदराविद्धगदाभिमर्श भग्नोरुदण्डे धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रे

When, in the battle between the Kauravas and the Sṛñjayas, the heroes had fallen to the fate of warriors, and the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra lay with his thighs broken by the blow of Bhīma's mace—

भर्तुः प्रियं द्रौणिरिति स्म पश्यन् कृष्णासुतानां स्वपतां शिरांसि । उपाहरद् विप्रियमेव तस्य जुगुप्सितं कर्म विगर्हयन्ति

Seeing this, Aśvatthāmā, desiring to please his master, committed a heinous act: he severed the heads of the sleeping sons of Kṛṣṇā, bringing only harm, an act condemned by all.

माता शिशूनां निधनं सुतानां निशम्य घोरं परितप्यमाना । तदारुदद् बाष्पकलाकुलाक्षी तां सांत्वयन्नाह किरीटमाली

Hearing of the dreadful slaughter of her sons, the mother, overwhelmed with grief, wept, her eyes brimming with tears; to console her, the one crowned with a diadem spoke.

तदा शुचस्ते प्रमृजामि भद्रे यद्‍ब्रह्मबंधोः शिर आततायिनः । गाण्डीवमुक्तैः विशिखैरुपाहरे त्वाक्रम्य यत्स्नास्यसि दग्धपुत्रा

He said: O gentle lady, I will wipe away your sorrow—by arrows released from Gāṇḍīva, I will bring you the head of that brahma-bandhu, the aggressor, so that you may bathe after cremating your sons.

(उपेंद्रवज्रा) इति प्रियां वल्गुविचित्रजल्पैः स सान्त्वयित्वाच्युतमित्रसूतः । अन्वाद्रवद् दंशित उग्रधन्वा कपिध्वजो गुरुपुत्रं रथेन

Thus, having comforted his beloved with sweet and varied words, Arjuna, the son of Acyuta's friend, with anger pursued the mighty-armed son of his teacher, his chariot bearing the banner of Hanumān.

तमापतन्तं स विलक्ष्य दूरात् कुमारहोद्विग्नमना रथेन । पराद्रवत् प्राणपरीप्सुरुर्व्यां यावद्‍गमं रुद्रभयाद् यथार्कः

Perceiving him approaching from afar, the prince, his mind agitated, fled with his chariot across the earth, seeking to preserve his life, just as one flees from the sun out of fear of Rudra.

(अनुष्टुप्) यदाशरणमात्मानं ऐक्षत श्रान्तवाजिनम् । अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मजः

When the twice-born son saw himself without refuge, his horses exhausted, he considered the Brahmāstra weapon as his only means of self-protection.

अथोपस्पृश्य सलिलं सन्दधे तत्समाहितः । अजानन् उपसंहारं प्राणकृच्छ्र उपस्थिते

Then, having purified himself with water, he concentrated and invoked that weapon, though he did not know how to withdraw it, as death drew near.