कुलञ्च द्विजशापेन कथमुत्सादितं हरेः । भारावतारणं कृत्वा वासुदेवः सनातनः
How was the lineage of Hari destroyed by a brāhmaṇa’s curse, after Vāsudeva, the eternal one, had removed the burden of the earth?
देहं मुमोच तरसा जगाम च दिवं हरिः । पापिष्ठानाञ्च भारेण व्याकुलाभूच्च मेदिनी
Hari swiftly gave up his body and ascended to heaven, and the earth became distressed by the weight of the most wicked.
ते हता वासुदेवेन पार्थेनामितकर्मणा । लुण्ठिता यैर्हरेः पत्न्यस्ते कथं न निपातिताः
Those evil ones were slain by Vāsudeva and by Arjuna, who performed countless deeds; yet those who plundered Hari’s wives—how were they not destroyed?
भीष्मो द्रोणस्तथा कर्णो बाह्लिकोऽप्यथ पार्थिवः । वैराटोऽथ विकर्णश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्थिवः
Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, Bāhlika the king, Virāṭa, Vikarṇa, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the king—
सोमदत्तादयः सर्वे निहताः समरे नृपाः । तेषामुत्तारितो भारश्चौराणां न हृतः कथम्
All the kings like Somadatta and others were slain in battle; how is it that the burden of the thieves was not removed?
कृष्णपत्न्यः कथं दुःखं प्राप्ताः प्रान्ते पतिव्रताः । सन्देहोऽयं मुनिश्रेष्ठ चित्ते मे परिवर्तते
How did Kṛṣṇa’s wives, devoted to their husbands, come to such suffering in the end? O best of sages, this doubt turns over and over in my mind.
वसुदेवस्तु धर्मात्मा पुत्रदुःखेन तापितः । त्यक्तवान्स कथं प्राणानपमृत्युं जगाम ह
Vasudeva, righteous in soul, was tormented by the sorrow of his sons; how did he give up his life and meet with untimely death?
पाण्डवा धर्मसंयुक्ताः कृष्णे च निरताः सदा । ते कथं दुःखभोक्तारो ह्यभवन्मुनिसत्तम
The Pāṇḍavas, ever devoted to righteousness and always intent on Kṛṣṇa—how did they, O best of sages, come to experience suffering?
द्रौपदी च महाभागा कथं दुःखस्य भागिनी । वेदीमध्याच्च सञ्जाता लक्ष्म्यंशसम्भवा किल
And how did Draupadī, greatly fortunate and born from the altar, a portion of Lakṣmī, become a sharer in suffering?
सभायां सा समानीता रजोदोषसमन्विता । बाला दुःशासनेनाथ केशग्रहणकर्शिता
She was brought into the assembly, afflicted by the stain of her period, and, though a young woman, was seized and dragged by her hair by Duḥśāsana.
पीडिता सिन्धुराज्ञाथ वनमध्यगता सती । तथैव कीचकेनापि पीडिता रुदती भृशम्
She was tormented by the king of Sindhu and, though chaste, went into the forest; likewise, she was grievously afflicted by Kīcaka, weeping greatly.
पुत्राः पञ्चैव तस्यास्तु निहता द्रौणिना गृहे । सुभद्रायाः सुतो युद्धे बाल एव निपातितः
Her five sons were slain at home by Drauni, and Subhadrā’s son was cut down in battle while still a boy.
तथा च देवकीपुत्रा षट् कंसेन निषूदिताः । समर्थेनापि हरिणा दैवं न कृतमन्यथा
Likewise, Devakī’s six sons were killed by Kaṃsa; even though Hari was capable, fate did not turn otherwise.
यादवानां तथा शापः प्रभासे निधनं पुनः । कुलक्षयस्तथा तीव्रस्तत्पत्नीनाञ्च लुण्ठनम्
So too, the curse upon the Yādavas led to their destruction at Prabhāsa, and there was a terrible annihilation of the clan and the plundering of their wives.
विष्णुना चेश्वरेणापि साक्षान्नारायणेन च । उग्रसेनस्य सेवा वै दासवत्सततं कृता
Even Vishnu, the Lord himself, Narayana in person, continually served Ugrasena like a servant.
सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग तत्र नारायणे मुनौ । सर्वजन्तुसमानत्वं व्यवहारे निरन्तरम्
O greatly fortunate one, there is this doubt regarding Narayana, the sage: why does he always behave just like any other being?
हर्षशोकादयो भावाः सर्वेषां सदृशाः कथम् । ईश्वरस्य हरेर्जाता कथमप्यन्यथा गतिः
How is it that feelings such as joy and sorrow arise equally in all, and how could there be any different outcome for Hari, the Lord?
तस्माद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । अलौकिकेन हरिणा कृतं कर्म महीतले
Therefore, tell in detail the great deeds of Krishna, the extraordinary acts performed by Hari on earth.
हता आयुःक्षये दैत्याः क्लेशेन महता पुनः । क्वैश्वर्यशक्तिः प्रथिता हरिणा मुनिसत्तम
When the demons were slain at the end of their lives, again through great suffering, where was the famed power and majesty of Hari, O best of sages?
रुक्मिणीहरणे नूनं गृहीत्वाथ पलायनम् । कृतं हि वासुदेवेन चौरवच्चरितं तदा
Surely, in the abduction of Rukmini, Vasudeva acted like a thief, seizing her and fleeing away.
मथुरामण्डलं त्यक्त्वा समृद्धं कुलसम्मतम् । जरासन्धभयात्तेन द्वारकागमनं कृतम्
Abandoning the prosperous and respected region of Mathura, he went to Dvaraka out of fear of Jarasandha.
तदा केनापि न ज्ञातो भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः । किञ्चित्प्रब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन् कारणं व्रजगोपनम्
At that time, no one recognized Bhagavan Hari, the Lord. Tell me, O Brahmin, for what reason did he become a cowherd in Vraja?
एते चान्ये च बहवः सन्देहा वासवीसुत । नाशयाद्य महाभाग सर्वज्ञोऽसि द्विजोत्तम
These and many other doubts, O son of Vasavi, arise. Dispel them today, O greatly fortunate one, for you are all-knowing, best of the twice-born.
गोप्यस्तथैकः सन्देहो हृदयान्न निवर्तते । पाञ्चाल्याः पञ्चभर्तृत्वं लोके किं न जुगुप्सितम्
O wise one, there is also this doubt among the cowherd women that does not leave their hearts: why is Draupadi's having five husbands not considered disgraceful in the world?
सदाचारं प्रमाणं हि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । पशुधर्मः कथं तैस्तु समर्थैरपि संश्रितः
The wise declare right conduct to be the standard; how then did even the capable ones accept animal-like custom?
भीष्मेणापि कृतं किं वा देवरूपेण भूतले । गोलकौ तौ समुत्पाद्य यत्तु वंशस्य रक्षणम्
What was done by Bhishma, taking the form of a god on earth, and the creation of those two spheres for the protection of the lineage?
धिग्धर्मनिर्णयः कामं मुनिभिः परिदर्शितः । येन केनाप्युपायेन पुत्रोत्पादनलक्षणः
Indeed, the determination of dharma by the sages is to be censured, by whatever means the begetting of sons was accomplished.
ब्रह्माणं प्रति विष्णुवाक्यम् व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । अवतारकारणं चैव देव्याश्चरितमद्भुतम्
Vyasa said: Hear, O King, I will tell you the great deeds of Krishna, the reason for his incarnation, and the wondrous acts of the Goddess.
धरैकदा भराक्रान्ता रुदती चातिकर्शिता । गोरूपधारिणी दीना भीतागच्छत्त्रिविष्टपम्
Once, the earth, oppressed by a heavy burden, weeping and greatly tormented, took the form of a cow, distressed and fearful, and went to the heavenly realm.
पृष्टा शक्रेण किं तेऽद्य वर्तते भयमित्यथ । केन वै पीडितासि त्वं किं ते दुःखं वसुन्धरे
Then, questioned by Indra, 'What is the fear that troubles you today? By whom are you afflicted? What is your sorrow, O Earth?'