Bhagavata Purana

स एष लोके विख्यातः परीक्षिदिति यत्प्रभुः । पूर्वं दृष्टमनुध्यायन् परीक्षेत नरेष्विह

He is renowned in the world as Parikshit, for he, reflecting on what he had seen before, will examine men in this world.

स राजपुत्रो ववृधे आशु शुक्ल इवोडुपः । आपूर्यमाणः पितृभिः काष्ठाभिरिव सोऽन्वहम्

That prince grew quickly, like the waxing moon, nourished daily by his father as with pieces of wood.

यक्ष्यमाणोऽश्वमेधेन ज्ञातिद्रोहजिहासया । राजा लब्धधनो दध्यौ अन्यत्र करदण्डयोः

Desiring to perform a horse sacrifice to atone for the offense against his relatives, the king, having obtained wealth, pondered other means than taxes and fines.

तदभिप्रेतमालक्ष्य भ्रातरोऽच्युतचोदिताः । धनं प्रहीणमाजह्रुः उदीच्यां दिशि भूरिशः

Perceiving his intention, his brothers, prompted by Achyuta, brought abundant wealth from the northern direction.

तेन सम्भृतसम्भारो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । वाजिमेधैः त्रिभिर्भीतो यज्ञैः समयजत् हरिम्

With the resources thus gathered, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, performed three horse sacrifices, worshipping Hari with great fear and reverence.

आहूतो भगवान् राज्ञा याजयित्वा द्विजैर्नृपम् । उवास कतिचित् मासान् सुहृदां प्रियकाम्यया

Invited by the king, the Lord, having had the king consecrated by the brahmins, stayed for some months out of affection for his friends.

ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञातः कृष्णया सहबन्धुभिः । ययौ द्वारवतीं ब्रह्मन् सार्जुनो यदुभिर्वृतः

Then, permitted by the king, Krishna, together with his relatives, departed for Dvaraka, O Brahman, accompanied by Arjuna and the Yadus.

एतत्कौमारजं कर्म हरेरात्माहिमोक्षणम् । मृत्योः पौगण्डके बाला दृष्ट्वोचुर्विस्मिता व्रजे

This childhood deed of Hari, the deliverance of his devotee, was witnessed by the boys in Vraja during their youth, and they spoke of it in wonder.

( मिश्र ) नैतद् विचित्रं मनुजार्भमायिनः परावराणां परमस्य वेधसः । अघोऽपि यत्स्पर्शनधौतपातकः प्रापात्मसाम्यं त्वसतां सुदुर्लभम्

This is not surprising for the Supreme Creator, who assumes human form for his pastimes; even Agha, whose sins were washed away by his touch, attained equality with the self, which is extremely rare for the wicked.

( वंशस्था ) सकृद्यदङ्‌गप्रतिमान्तराहिता मनोमयी भागवतीं ददौ गतिम् । स एव नित्यात्मसुखानुभूत्यभि व्युदस्तमायोऽन्तर्गतो हि किं पुनः

He, who but once placed the image of the Lord within his mind, attained the supreme path of devotion; what then of one who, free from illusion, constantly experiences the bliss of the eternal self?

श्रीसूत उवाच । ( इंद्रवज्रा ) इत्थं द्विजा यादवदेवदत्तः श्रुत्वा स्वरातुश्चरितं विचित्रम् । पप्रच्छ भूयोऽपि तदेव पुण्यं वैयासकिं यन्निगृहीतचेताः

Sūta said: Thus, O twice-born, Yudhishthira, having heard the wondrous deeds of Krishna, again asked Suka, his mind absorbed in that sacred narrative.

श्रीराजोवाच । ( अनुष्टुप् ) ब्रह्मन् कालान्तरकृतं तत्कालीनं कथं भवेत् । यत्कौमारे हरिकृतं जगुः पौगण्डकेऽर्भकाः

The king said: O Brahman, how could that which was done by Hari in childhood be sung by the boys in their youth, when it happened in a different time?

तद् ब्रूहि मे महायोगिन् परं कौतूहलं गुरो । नूनमेतद्धरेरेव माया भवति नान्यथा

O great yogi, O revered teacher, please tell me this supreme wonder; surely, this is nothing but the work of Hari's māyā—there is no other explanation.

वयं धन्यतमा लोके गुरोऽपि क्षत्रबन्धवः । यत् पिबामो मुहुस्त्वत्तः पुण्यं कृष्णकथामृतम्

We are the most fortunate in the world, O teacher, though we are but kṣatriyas in name, for we constantly drink from you the nectar of Krishna's sacred stories.

श्रीसूत उवाच । ( इंद्रवंशा ) इत्थं स्म पृष्टः स तु बादरायणिः तत्स्मारितानन्तहृताखिलेन्द्रियः । कृच्छ्रात् पुनर्लब्धबहिर्दृशिः शनैः प्रत्याह तं भागवतोत्तमोत्तम

Śrī Sūta said: Thus questioned, the son of Badarāyaṇa, whose senses were absorbed in the infinite heart, was reminded; regaining his outward vision with effort, he slowly replied to that foremost devotee of the Bhāgavata.

इति चोक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठा यत्पृष्टोऽहं इहास्मि वः । लीलावतारकर्माणि कीर्तितानीह सर्वशः

O best of the twice-born, as you have asked me here, I have recounted in full the playful incarnations and deeds of the Lord.

पतितः स्खलितश्चार्तः क्षुत्त्वा वा विवशो ब्रुवन् । हरये नम इत्युच्चैः मुच्यते सर्वपातकात्

Whether fallen, stumbling, distressed, cut, or helpless, whoever loudly utters 'obeisance to Hari' is freed from all sin.

(उपेंद्रवज्रा) सङ्‌कीर्त्यमानो भगवान् अनन्तः श्रुतानुभावो व्यसनं हि पुंसाम् । प्रविश्य चित्तं विधुनोत्यशेषं यथा तमोऽर्कोऽभ्रमिवातिवातः

When the infinite Lord is glorified, whose power is realized through hearing, He enters the heart of people and completely cleanses their suffering, just as the sun and a strong wind dispel darkness and clouds.

(मिश्र-१२) मृषा गिरस्ता ह्यसतीरसत्कथा न कथ्यते यद्‌भगवानधोक्षजः । तदेव सत्यं तदुहैव मङ्‌गलं तदेव पुण्यं भगवद्‌गुणोदयम्

Empty words and false stories, which do not speak of the transcendent Lord, are not to be told; only that is truth, only that is auspicious, only that is holy, which brings forth the Lord's virtues.

तदेव रम्यं रुचिरं नवं नवं तदेव शश्वन्मनसो महोत्सवम् । तदेव शोकार्णवशोषणं नृणां यदुत्तमःश्लोकयशोऽनुगीयते

Only that is delightful, charming, ever fresh, and ever new; only that is the constant great festival of the mind; only that dries up the ocean of sorrow for people—when the glories of the Lord of excellent fame are sung.

न यद्वचश्चित्रपदं हरेर्यशो जगत्पवित्रं प्रगृणीत कर्हिचित् । तद् ध्वाङ्‌क्षतीर्थं न तु हंससेवितं यत्राच्युतस्तत्र हि साधवोऽमलाः

Whatever speech, however ornate, does not proclaim the fame of Hari, which sanctifies the world, is like a crow's bathing place, not frequented by swans; where Acyuta is present, there indeed are pure devotees.

तद्वाग्विसर्गो जनताघसंप्लवो यस्मिन् प्रतिश्लोकमबद्धवत्यपि । नामान्यनन्तस्य यशोऽङ्‌कितानि यत् श्रृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्ति साधवः

That creation of speech, even if imperfect in meter, which contains the names and glories of the infinite Lord, washes away the sins of people; the virtuous listen to, sing, and recite it.

नैष्कर्म्यमप्यच्युत भाववर्जितं न शोभते ज्ञानमलं निरञ्जनम् । कुतः पुनः शश्वदभद्रमीश्वरे न ह्यर्पितं कर्म यदप्यनुत्तमम्

Even action free from desire, O Acyuta, and pure knowledge, without devotion to You, does not shine; how much less, then, do even the best works, if not offered to the Lord, bring lasting good?

यशःश्रियामेव परिश्रमः परो वर्णाश्रमाचारतपःश्रुतादिषु । अविस्मृतिः श्रीधरपादपद्मयोः गुणानुवादश्रवणादरादिभिर्हरेः

All effort for fame and prosperity, whether through duties of caste and stage of life, austerity, or study, is supreme only when it brings unfailing remembrance of Śrīdhara's lotus feet, through hearing and praising the virtues of Hari with reverence.

(मिश्र-११,१२) अविस्मृतिः कृष्णपदारविन्दयोः क्षिणोत्यभद्राणि च शं तनोति च । सत्त्वस्य शुद्धिं परमात्मभक्तिं ज्ञानं च विज्ञानविरागयुक्तम्

Remembrance of Krishna's lotus feet destroys all inauspiciousness and bestows well-being; it purifies the mind, brings supreme devotion to the indwelling Lord, and grants knowledge endowed with realization and detachment.

(इंद्रवज्रा) यूयं द्विजाग्र्या बत भूरिभागा यच्छश्वदात्मन्यखिलात्मभूतम् । नारायणं देवमदेवमीशं अजस्रभावा भजताविवेश्य

Truly, you foremost twice-born are greatly blessed, for you constantly worship Nārāyaṇa, the Lord, the God of gods, the ruler, who is the soul of all beings, having fixed Him steadily in your hearts.

(मिश्र-११,१२) अहं च संस्मारित आत्मतत्त्वं श्रुतं पुरा मे परमर्षिवक्त्रात् । प्रायोपवेशे नृपतेः परीक्षितः सदस्यृषीणां महतां च श्रृण्वताम्

And I too have been reminded of the truth of the Self, which I heard long ago from the lips of the supreme sage, when King Parīkṣit was observing his fast, in the presence of the great sages and seers.

(अनुष्टुप्) एतद्वः कथितं विप्राः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः । माहात्म्यं वासुदेवस्य सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्

O brāhmaṇas, I have thus told you the glorious deeds of the Lord of mighty acts, whose greatness destroys all misfortune.

य एतत्श्रावयेन्नित्यं यामक्षणमनन्यधीः । श्रद्धावान् योऽनुश्रृणुयात् पुनात्यात्मानमेव सः

Whoever, with unwavering mind and faith, recites or attentively listens to this daily, even for a moment, purifies himself.