वृन्दोवाच देवाः शृणुत मद्वाक्यं दुर्लङ्घ्यं सावधानतः । न हि मिथ्या भवेद्वाक्यं मदीयं च निशामय
Vṛndā said: O gods, listen attentively to my words, which cannot be transgressed; indeed, my words are never false, so heed them.
क्षयो भवेति वाक्यं च मयोक्तं कोपभीतया । वारत्रयं पुनर्वक्तुं वारयामास भास्करः
I spoke the words, 'destruction will occur,' out of anger and fear; but Bhāskara prevented me from repeating them three times.
सत्ये च परिपूर्णोऽयं यथापूर्वो यथाऽधुना । त्रिपादश्चापि त्रेतायां द्वापदो द्विपरे तथा
In Satya Yuga, Dharma is complete, as before and as now; in Treta, it stands on three feet, in Dvāpara on two, and likewise in Kali.
एकपादश्च दर्मोऽयं कलेश्च प्रथमे हरे । शेषे कलाषोडशांशः पुनः सत्ये यथा पुरा
In the first part of Kali, Dharma stands on one foot, O Hari; in the rest, only a sixteenth portion remains, and in Satya it is as before.
त्रिर्निर्गतं मम मुखात्क्षयस्तेन ततः क्रमात् । पुनरुक्ते च मनसि वारयामास भास्करः
Because 'destruction' was spoken three times from my mouth, therefore, gradually, when repeated in my mind, Bhāskara restrained it.
तेनैव रेतुनाऽयं च करिशेषे कलामयः । तथा शप्तः स्थितो दुर्गे कलिशेषे तथा ध्रुवम्
By that very seed, this world in the remainder of Kali will be made of portions; thus, cursed, it remains in difficulty, and so it is certain in the end of Kali.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे नन्द ददृशुर्देवता रथम् । गोलोकादागतं वेगादतीव सुन्दरं शुभम्
Meanwhile, Nanda and the gods saw a chariot, exceedingly beautiful and auspicious, coming swiftly from Goloka.
अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणं हीरहारपरिष्कृतम् । मणिमाणिक्यमुक्ताभिर्वस्त्रैश्च श्वेतचामरै
It was fashioned of priceless jewels, adorned with golden necklaces, decorated with gems, rubies, pearls, fine garments, and white yak-tail fans.
विभूषितं भूषणौश्च रुचिरै स्तनदर्पणैः । नत्वा हरिं हरं वृन्दा ब्रह्माणं सर्वदेवताः
It was embellished with splendid ornaments and radiant breast mirrors; Vṛndā, along with all the gods, bowed to Hari, Hara, and Brahmā.
समारुङ्य रथं दृष्ट्वा गोलोकं च जगाम सा । देवा जग्मुश्च स्वस्थानं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Having mounted the chariot and seen Goloka, she departed; the gods returned to their own places. What more do you wish to hear?
अथ सप्ताशीतितमोध्यायः नन्द उवाच त्वां ज्ञातुं नहि शक्ताश्च वेदा वेदप्रभुं स्वयम् । सुरा ब्रह्मेशसेषाद्या मुनिसिद्धादयस्तथा
Chapter eighty-seven. Nanda said: The Vedas themselves, the lord of the Vedas, the gods, Brahmā, Śiva, and the others, as well as sages and siddhas, are unable to know you.
को भवानिति विज्ञातुं परं कौतूहलं मम । तत्सर्व स्वात्मयाथार्थ्यं निर्जने कथय प्रभो
Who are you? My curiosity is very great to know; please tell me everything truthfully, in solitude, O Lord.
नारायण उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र कृष्णं द्रष्टुं मुनीश्वराः । आजग्मुः सहसा वत्स ज्वलन्तो ब्रह्मतेजसा
Nārāyaṇa said: In the meantime, O child, the foremost sages, blazing with the radiance of Brahman, suddenly arrived there to see Kṛṣṇa.
पुलहश्च पुलस्त्यश्च क्रतुश्च भृगुरङ्गिराः । प्रचेताश्च वसिष्ठश्च दुर्वासाः कण्व एव च
Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Bhṛgu, Aṅgirā, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Durvāsas, and also Kaṇva,
कात्यायनः पाणिनिश्च कणादो गौतमस्तथा । सनकश्च सनन्दश्च दृतीयश्च सनातनः
Kātyāyana, Pāṇini, Kaṇāda, Gautama, Sanaka, Sananda, Dṛti, and Sanātana,
कपिलश्चाऽऽसुरिश्चैव वायुः पञ्चशिखस्तथा । विश्वामित्रो वाल्मीकिश्च कश्यपश्च पराशरः
Kapila, Āsuri, Vāyu, Pañcaśikha, Viśvāmitra, Vālmīki, Kaśyapa, and Parāśara,
विभाण्डको मरीचिश्च शुक्रौऽत्रिश्च बृहस्पतिः । गार्ग्यश्यापि तथा वात्स्यो व्यासश्च जैमिनिस्तथा
Vibhāṇḍaka, Marīci, Śukra, Atri, Bṛhaspati, Gārgya, Vātsya, Vyāsa, and also Jaimini,
मितवागृष्यशृङ्गश्च याज्ञवल्क्यः शुकस्तथा । सौभरिः शुद्धजटिलो भरद्वाजः सुभद्रकः
Mitavāk, Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Yājñavalkya, Śuka, Saubhari, Śuddhajaṭila, Bharadvāja, and Subhadraka,
मार्कण्डेयो लोमशश्च आसुरिश्च विटङ्कणः । अष्टावक्र शतानन्दो वामदेश्च भासुरिः
Mārkaṇḍeya, Lomaśa, Āsuri, Viṭaṅkaṇa, Aṣṭāvakra, Śatānanda, Vāmadeva, and Bhāsuri,
संवर्तश्चाप्युतथ्यश्च नरोऽहं चापि नारद । जाबालिः पर्शुरामश्चाप्यगस्त्यः पैल एव च
Saṃvarta, Utathya, Nara, myself, Nārada, Jābāli, Paraśurāma, Agastya, and also Paila,
युधामन्युर्गौ रमुखोऽप्युपमन्युः श्रृतश्रवाः । मैत्रेयश्च्यवनश्चैव वररुच्यर्षिरेव च
Yudhāmanyu, Gauramukha, Upamanyu, Śrutaśravā, Maitreya, Cyavana, and the sage Vararuci,
तान्दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय नमस्कृत्य पुटाञ्जलिः । सिंहासनेषु रम्येषु वासयामास सादरम्
Seeing them, Kṛṣṇa immediately rose, offered respectful obeisance with folded hands, and with honor seated them on beautiful thrones.
पूजयामास विधिवत्कुशलप्रश्नपूर्वकम् । परस्परं च संभाष्य मध्ये कृष्ण उवास सः
He worshipped them according to proper rites, first inquiring after their welfare; and after they conversed with one another, Kṛṣṇa sat among them.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे कृष्णस्तेजोराशिं ददर्श सः । ददुशुस्ते च मुनयोऽप्याकाशे च समुज्ज्वलम्
Meanwhile, Kṛṣṇa saw a mass of radiant light; and the sages also saw it shining brilliantly in the sky.
तेजसोऽभ्यन्तरे वत्स कुमारं कनकप्रभाम् । यथैव पञ्चवर्षीयं नग्नं बालकमीप्सितम्
Within that radiance, O child, they saw a boy glowing like gold, appearing as a naked five-year-old child, delightful to behold.
आविर्बभूव सहसा समामध्ये च नारद । उत्तिष्टमानं सहसा तं दृष्ट्वा मुनपुंगवाः
Suddenly, in the midst of all, Nārada appeared; and seeing him rise at once, the eminent sages,
प्रणेमुर्मुनयः सर्वे शौरिश्च प्रणनाम तम् । सस्मितं स्निग्धनेत्रं चकृत्वा युक्तिं च सादरम्
All the sages bowed down, and Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) also bowed to him, who looked upon them with a gentle smile and affectionate eyes, acting with due respect.
स सर्वानाशिषं कृत्वा समुवास च संसदि । उवाच तांश्च शौरिं च भगवन्तं सनातनम्
He blessed them all and took his seat in the assembly; and he spoke to them and to the venerable, eternal Lord Śauri.
सनत्कुमार उवाच भद्रं वो मुनयः शश्वत्तपसां फलमीप्सितम् । कृष्णस्य कुशलप्रश्नं सिवबीजस्य निष्फलम्
Sanatkumāra said: Blessings to you, O sages! The fruit of your constant austerities is now at hand; but the inquiry into Kṛṣṇa’s welfare and the seed of Śiva are fruitless.
सांप्रतं कुशुलं वश्च दर्शनं परमात्मनः । भक्तानुरोधाद्देहस्य परस्य प्रकृतेरपि
Now, your welfare is assured by the vision of the Supreme Self; by the devotion of the devotees, even the supreme body, beyond nature, is revealed.