Bhagavata Purana

ब्रूहि नः तद् इदं सौम्य विदुरस्य विचेष्टितम् । बन्धुत्याग निमित्तं च यथैव आगतवान् पुनः

Please tell us, gentle one, what Vidura did, and for what reason he renounced his family and then returned again.

सूत उवाच । राज्ञा परीक्षिता पृष्टो यद् अवोचत् महामुनिः । तद्वोऽभिधास्ये श्रृणुत राज्ञः प्रश्नानुसारतः

Sūta said: What the great sage replied when King Parīkṣit asked him, I will now relate to you—listen, as it follows the king’s questions.

राजोवाच। कस्मिन्कर्मणि देवस्य मयोऽहन्जगदीशितुः। यथा चोपचिता कीर्तिः कृष्णेनानेन कथ्यताम्

The king said: In which action of the Lord, the maker of the universe and my own self, was his fame increased by Kṛṣṇa? Please describe this.

श्रीनारद उवाच। निर्जिता असुरा देवैर्युध्यनेनोपबृंहितैः। मायिनां परमाचार्यं मयं शरणमाययुः

Śrī Nārada said: When the demons were defeated in battle by the gods, who were strengthened by him, they approached Maya, the supreme master of illusion, for refuge.

स निर्माय पुरस्तिस्रो हैमीरौप्यायसीर्विभुः। दुर्लक्ष्यापायसंयोगा दुर्वितर्क्यपरिच्छदाः

He, the powerful one, constructed three cities—of gold, silver, and iron—difficult to perceive, joined by subtle means, and furnished with defenses beyond imagination.

ताभिस्तेऽसुरसेनान्यो लोकांस्त्रीन्सेश्वरान्नृप। स्मरन्तो नाशयां चक्रुः पूर्ववैरमलक्षिताः

With those cities, the armies of the demons, along with their lords, remembering their ancient enmity, began to destroy the three worlds, O king.

ततस्ते सेश्वरा लोका उपासाद्येश्वरं नताः। त्राहि नस्तावकान्देव विनष्टांस्त्रिपुरालयैः

Then, the rulers of the worlds, along with their lords, approached the Lord, bowed down, and said: 'Protect us, O God! We are being destroyed by the inhabitants of Tripura.'

अथानुगृह्य भगवान्मा भैष्टेति सुरान्विभुः। शरं धनुषि सन्धाय पुरेष्वस्त्रं व्यमुञ्चत

Then the Lord, showing them favor, said, 'Do not fear,' and, stringing an arrow to his bow, released a weapon upon the cities.

ततोऽग्निवर्णा इषव उत्पेतुः सूर्यमण्डलात्। यथा मयूखसन्दोहा नादृश्यन्त पुरो यतः

Then, arrows blazing like fire arose from the solar orb; just as rays of light, they were not seen as they approached the cities.

तैः स्पृष्टा व्यसवः सर्वे निपेतुः स्म पुरौकसः। तानानीय महायोगी मयः कूपरसेऽक्षिपत्

Struck by these, all the inhabitants of the cities lost their lives and fell; Maya, the great yogī, gathered them and cast them into a well of nectar.

सिद्धामृतरसस्पृष्टा वज्रसारा महौजसः। उत्तस्थुर्मेघदलना वैद्युता इव वह्नयः

Touched by the nectar of immortality, they, strong as thunderbolts and full of great energy, rose up, splitting the clouds like flashes of lightning.

विलोक्य भग्नसङ्कल्पं विमनस्कं वृषध्वजम्। तदायं भगवान्विष्णुस्तत्रोपायमकल्पयत्

Seeing his resolve broken, and Vṛṣadhvaja disheartened, the Lord Viṣṇu then devised another means at that place.

वत्सश्चासीत्तदा ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुरयं हि गौः। प्रविश्य त्रिपुरं काले रसकूपामृतं पपौ

At that time, Brahmā became the calf, Viṣṇu himself became the cow, and, entering Tripura at the right moment, drank the nectar from the well.

तेऽसुरा ह्यपि पश्यन्तो न न्यषेधन्विमोहिताः। तद्विज्ञाय महायोगी रसपालानिदं जगौ

Though the demons saw this, they did not prevent it, being deluded; realizing this, the great yogī Maya spoke to the guardians of the nectar.

स्मयन्विशोकः शोकार्तान्स्मरन्दैवगतिं च ताम्। देवोऽसुरो नरोऽन्यो वा नेश्वरोऽस्तीह कश्चन

Smiling and free from sorrow, he remembered those afflicted by grief and the workings of destiny; for god, demon, human, or any other—none here is independent.

आत्मनोऽन्यस्य वा दिष्टं दैवेनापोहितुं द्वयोः। अथासौ शक्तिभिः स्वाभिः शम्भोः प्राधानिकं व्यधात्

What is ordained for oneself or another cannot be averted by either, for fate prevails; then, with his own powers, he performed the principal act of Shiva.

धर्मज्ञानविरक्त्यृद्धि तपोविद्याक्रियादिभिः। रथं सूतं ध्वजं वाहान्धनुर्वर्मशरादि यत्

Through righteousness, knowledge, detachment, prosperity, austerity, learning, and action, he manifested the chariot, charioteer, banner, horses, bow, armor, arrows, and all else.

सन्नद्धो रथमास्थाय शरं धनुरुपाददे। शरं धनुषि सन्धाय मुहूर्तेऽभिजितीश्वरः

Fully armed, mounting the chariot, he took up the bow and arrow; fitting the arrow to the bow, in a moment, the Lord of Victory prepared himself.

ददाह तेन दुर्भेद्या हरोऽथ त्रिपुरो नृप। दिवि दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्विमानशतसङ्कुलाः

With that arrow, O King, Hara burned the three impregnable cities; in the heavens, drums resounded, and the skies were crowded with hundreds of celestial vehicles.

देवर्षिपितृसिद्धेशा जयेति कुसुमोत्करैः। अवाकिरन्जगुर्हृष्टा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः

The gods, sages, ancestors, and perfected beings, joyful, showered flowers and proclaimed victory; the hosts of Apsaras danced in delight.

एवं दग्ध्वा पुरस्तिस्रो भगवान्पुरहा नृप। ब्रह्मादिभिः स्तूयमानः स्वं धाम प्रत्यपद्यत

Thus, having burned the three cities, the Lord, destroyer of cities, praised by Brahma and others, returned to his own abode.

एवं विधान्यस्य हरेः स्वमायया विडम्बमानस्य नृलोकमात्मनः। वीर्याणि गीतान्यृषिभिर्जगद्गुरोर्लोकं पुनानान्यपरं वदामि किम्

In this way, the deeds of Hari, who, by his own power, playfully imitates the ways of mortals, are sung by the sages; what more can I say, for these purify the world.

सूत उवाच । आनर्तान् स उपव्रज्य स्वृद्धाञ्जनपदान् स्वकान् । दध्मौ दरवरं तेषां विषादं शमयन्निव

Sūta said: Approaching the lands of Ānarta and his own prosperous regions, he blew his resounding conch, as if dispelling their sorrow.

स उच्चकाशे धवलोदरो दरोऽपि उरुक्रमस्य अधरशोण शोणिमा । दाध्मायमानः करकञ्जसम्पुटे यथाब्जखण्डे कलहंस उत्स्वनः

That conch, white-bellied and high-pitched, touched by the reddish lower lip of the mighty Lord, when blown in his lotus-like hand, sounded like the call of a swan in a pond of lotuses.

तमुपश्रुत्य निनदं जगद्‍भयभयावहम् । प्रत्युद्ययुः प्रजाः सर्वा भर्तृदर्शनलालसाः

Hearing that resounding, fear-dispelling blast, all the people, eager to see their Lord, came forth.

तत्रोपनीतबलयो रवेर्दीपमिवादृताः । आत्मारामं पूर्णकामं निजलाभेन नित्यदा

Gathered there, their strength renewed, they honored him as one would a lamp in darkness; ever content and fulfilled in themselves, by his very presence.

प्रीत्युत्फुल्लमुखाः प्रोचुः हर्षगद्‍गदया गिरा । पितरं सर्वसुहृदं अवितारं इवार्भकाः

With faces blooming with joy, they spoke in voices choked with happiness, as children to a father who is their protector and dearest friend.

नताः स्म ते नाथ सदाङ्‌घ्रिपङ्‌कजं विरिञ्चवैरिञ्च्य सुरेन्द्र वन्दितम् । परायणं क्षेममिहेच्छतां परं न यत्र कालः प्रभवेत्परः प्रभुः

We bow to you, Master, whose lotus feet are always worshipped by Brahma, Shiva, and Indra; you are the supreme refuge for those who seek well-being, where even time, the supreme lord, holds no sway.

भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता । त्वं सद्‍गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम

For our welfare, you are the creator, sustainer, and protector of the universe; you are our mother, friend, lord, and father; you are our true teacher and highest deity—by following you, we have become accomplished.