Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 1
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
also the
pdf for this chapter)
Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
1.13.1
sūta uvāca
viduras tīrtha-yātrāyāḿ
maitreyād ātmano gatim
jñātvāgād dhāstinapuraḿ
tayāvāpta-vivitsitaḥ
sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; viduraḥ — Vidura; tīrtha-yātrāyām — while traveling to different places of pilgrimage; maitreyāt — from the great sage Maitreya; ātmanaḥ — of the self; gatim — destination; jñātvā — by knowing it; āgāt — went back; hāstinapuram — the city of Hastināpura; tayā — by that knowledge; avāpta — sufficiently a gainer; vivitsitaḥ — being well versed in everything knowable.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: While traveling on a pilgrimage, Vidura received knowledge of the destination of the self from the great sage Maitreya and then returned to Hastināpura. He became as well versed in the subject as he desired.
1.13.2
yāvataḥ kṛtavān praśnān
kṣattā kauṣāravāgrataḥ
jātaika-bhaktir govinde
tebhyaś copararāma ha
yāvataḥ — all that; kṛtavān — did he put; praśnān — questions; kṣattā — a name of Vidura; kauṣārava — a name of Maitreya; agrataḥ — in the presence of; jāta — having grown up; eka — one; bhaktiḥ — transcendental loving service; govinde — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; tebhyaḥ — regarding further questions; ca — and; upararāma — retired from; ha — in the past.
TRANSLATION
After asking various questions and becoming established in the transcendental loving service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vidura retired from putting questions to Maitreya Muni.
1.13.3-4
taḿ bandhum āgataḿ dṛṣṭvā
dharma-putraḥ sahānujaḥ
dhṛtarāṣṭro yuyutsuś ca
sūtaḥ śāradvataḥ pṛthā
gāndhārī draupadī brahman
subhadrā cottarā kṛpī
anyāś ca jāmayaḥ pāṇḍor
jñātayaḥ sasutāḥ striyaḥ
tam — him; bandhum — relative; āgatam — having arrived there; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing it; dharma-putraḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira; saha-anujaḥ — along with his younger brothers; dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ — Dhṛtarāṣṭra; yuyutsuḥ — Sātyaki; ca — and; sūtaḥ — Sañjaya; śāradvataḥ — Kṛpācārya; pṛthā — Kuntī;
gāndhārī — Gāndhārī; draupadī — Draupadī; brahman — O brāhmaṇas; subhadrā — Subhadrā; ca — and; uttarā — Uttarā; kṛpī — Kṛpī; anyāḥ — others; ca — and; jāmayaḥ — wives of other family members; pāṇḍoḥ — of the Pāṇḍavas; jñātayaḥ — family members; sa-sutāḥ — along with their sons; striyaḥ — the ladies.
TRANSLATION
When they saw Vidura return to the palace, all the inhabitants — Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, his younger brothers, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Sātyaki, Sañjaya, Kṛpācārya, Kuntī, Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, Uttarā, Kṛpī, many other wives of the Kauravas, and other ladies with children — all hurried to him in great delight. It so appeared that they had regained their consciousness after a long period.
1.13.5
pratyujjagmuḥ praharṣeṇa
prāṇaḿ tanva ivāgatam
abhisańgamya vidhivat
pariṣvańgābhivādanaiḥ
prati — towards; ujjagmuḥ — went; praharṣeṇa — with great delight; prāṇam — life; tanvaḥ — of the body; iva — like; āgatam — returned; abhisańgamya — approaching; vidhi-vat — in due form; pariṣvańga — embracing; abhivādanaiḥ — by obeisances.
TRANSLATION
With great delight they all approached him, as if life had returned to their bodies. They exchanged obeisances and welcomed each other with embraces.
1.13.6
mumucuḥ prema-bāṣpaughaḿ
virahautkaṇṭhya-kātarāḥ
rājā tam arhayāḿ cakre
kṛtāsana-parigraham
mumucuḥ — emanated; prema — affectionate; bāṣpa-ogham — emotional tears; viraha — separation; autkaṇṭhya — anxiousness; kātarāḥ — being aggrieved; rājā — King Yudhiṣṭhira; tam — unto him (Vidura); arhayām cakre — offered; kṛta — performance of; āsana — sitting accommodations; parigraham — arrangement of.
TRANSLATION
Due to anxieties and long separation, they all cried out of affection. King Yudhiṣṭhira then arranged to offer sitting accommodations and a reception.
1.13.7
taḿ bhuktavantaḿ viśrāntam
āsīnaḿ sukham āsane
praśrayāvanato rājā
prāha teṣāḿ ca śṛṇvatām
tam — him (Vidura); bhuktavantam — after feeding him sumptuously; viśrāntam — and having taken rest; āsīnam — being seated; sukham āsane — on a comfortable seat; praśraya-avanataḥ — naturally very gentle and meek; rājā — King Yudhiṣṭhira; prāha — began to speak; teṣām ca — and by them; śṛṇvatām — being heard.
TRANSLATION
After Vidura ate sumptuously and took sufficient rest, he was comfortably seated. Then the King began to speak to him, and all who were present there listened.
1.13.8
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
api smaratha no yuṣmat-
pakṣa-cchāyā-samedhitān
vipad-gaṇād viṣāgnyāder
mocitā yat samātṛkāḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca — Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said; api — whether; smaratha — you remember; naḥ — us; yuṣmat — from you; pakṣa — partiality towards us like the wings of a bird; chāyā — protection; samedhitān — we who were brought up by you; vipat-gaṇāt — from various types of calamities; viṣa — by administration of poison; agni-ādeḥ — by setting on fire; mocitāḥ — released from; yat — what you have done; sa — along with; mātṛkāḥ — our mother.
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said: My uncle, do you remember how you always protected us, along with our mother, from all sorts of calamities? Your partiality, like the wings of a bird, saved us from poisoning and arson.
1.13.9
kayā vṛttyā vartitaḿ vaś
caradbhiḥ kṣiti-maṇḍalam
tīrthāni kṣetra-mukhyāni
sevitānīha bhūtale
kayā — by which; vṛttyā — means; vartitam — maintained your livelihood; vaḥ — your good self; caradbhiḥ — while traveling; kṣiti-maṇḍalam — on the surface of the earth; tīrthāni — places of pilgrimage; kṣetra-mukhyāni — the principal holy places; sevitāni — served by you; iha — in this world; bhūtale — on this planet.
TRANSLATION
While traveling on the surface of the earth, how did you maintain your livelihood? At which holy places and pilgrimage sites did you render service?
1.13.10
bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās
tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaḿ vibho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā
bhavat — your good self; vidhāḥ — like; bhāgavatāḥ — devotees; tīrtha — the holy places of pilgrimage; bhūtāḥ — converted into; svayam — personally; vibho — O powerful one; tīrthī-kurvanti — make into a holy place of pilgrimage; tīrthāni — the holy places; sva-antaḥ-sthena — having been situated in the heart; gadā-bhṛtā — the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.
1.13.11
api naḥ suhṛdas tāta
bāndhavāḥ kṛṣṇa-devatāḥ
dṛṣṭāḥ śrutā vā yadavaḥ
sva-puryāḿ sukham āsate
api — whether; naḥ — our; suhṛdaḥ — well-wishers; tāta — O my uncle; bāndhavāḥ — friends; kṛṣṇa-devatāḥ — those who are always rapt in the service of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; dṛṣṭāḥ — by seeing them; śrutāḥ — or by hearing about them; vā — either; yadavaḥ — the descendants of Yadu; sva-puryām — along with their residential place; sukham āsate — if they are all happy.
TRANSLATION
My uncle, you must have visited Dvārakā. In that holy place are our friends and well-wishers, the descendants of Yadu, who are always rapt in the service of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You might have seen them or heard about them. Are they all living happily in their abodes?
1.13.12
ity ukto dharma-rājena
sarvaḿ tat samavarṇayat
yathānubhūtaḿ kramaśo
vinā yadu-kula-kṣayam
iti — thus; uktaḥ — being asked; dharma-rājena — by King Yudhiṣṭhira; sarvam — all; tat — that; samavarṇayat — properly described; yathā-anubhūtam — as he experienced; kramaśaḥ — one after another; vinā — without; yadu-kula-kṣayam — annihilation of the Yadu dynasty.
TRANSLATION
Thus being questioned by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Mahātmā Vidura gradually described everything he had personally experienced, except news of the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty.
1.13.13
nanv apriyaḿ durviṣahaḿ
nṛṇāḿ svayam upasthitam
nāvedayat sakaruṇo
duḥkhitān draṣṭum akṣamaḥ
nanu — as a matter of fact; apriyam — unpalatable; durviṣaham — unbearable; nṛṇām — of humankind; svayam — in its own way; upasthitam — appearance; na — did not; āvedayat — expressed; sakaruṇaḥ — compassionate; duḥkhitān — distressed; draṣṭum — to see; akṣamaḥ — unable.
TRANSLATION
Compassionate Mahātmā Vidura could not stand to see the Pāṇḍavas distressed at any time. Therefore he did not disclose this unpalatable and unbearable incident because calamities come of their own accord.
1.13.14
kañcit kālam athāvātsīt
sat-kṛto devavat sukham
bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya śreyas-kṛt
sarveṣāḿ sukham āvahan
kañcit — for a few days; kālam — time; atha — thus; avātsīt — resided; sat-kṛtaḥ — being well treated; deva-vat — just like a godly personality; sukham — amenities; bhrātuḥ — of the brother; jyeṣṭhasya — of the elder; śreyaḥ-kṛt — for doing good to him; sarveṣām — all others; sukham — happiness; āvahan — made it possible.
TRANSLATION
Thus Mahātmā Vidura, being treated just like a godly person by his kinsmen, remained there for a certain period just to rectify the mentality of his eldest brother and in this way bring happiness to all the others.
1.13.15
abibhrad aryamā daṇḍaḿ
yathāvad agha-kāriṣu
yāvad dadhāra śūdratvaḿ
śāpād varṣa-śataḿ yamaḥ
abibhrat — administered; aryamā — Aryamā; daṇḍam — punishment; yathāvat — as it was suitable; agha-kāriṣu — unto persons who had committed sins; yāvat — as long as; dadhāra — accepted; śūdratvam — the tabernacle of a śūdra; śāpāt — as the result of a curse; varṣa-śatam — for one hundred years; yamaḥ — Yamarāja.
TRANSLATION
As long as Vidura played the part of a śūdra, being cursed by Maṇḍūka Muni, Aryamā officiated at the post of Yamarāja to punish those who committed sinful acts.
1.13.16
yudhiṣṭhiro labdha-rājyo
dṛṣṭvā pautraḿ kulan-dharam
bhrātṛbhir loka-pālābhair
mumude parayā śriyā
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira; labdha-rājyaḥ — possessing his paternal kingdom; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; pautram — the grandson; kulam-dharam — just suitable for the dynasty; bhrātṛbhiḥ — by the brothers; loka-pālābhaiḥ — who were all expert administrators; mumude — enjoyed life; parayā — uncommon; śriyā — opulence.
TRANSLATION
Having won his kingdom and observed the birth of one grandson competent to continue the noble tradition of his family, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira reigned peacefully and enjoyed uncommon opulence in cooperation with his younger brothers, who were all expert administrators to the common people.
1.13.17
evaḿ gṛheṣu saktānāḿ
pramattānāḿ tad-īhayā
atyakrāmad avijñātaḥ
kālaḥ parama-dustaraḥ
evam — thus; gṛheṣu — in the family affairs; saktānām — of persons who are too attached; pramattānām — insanely attached; tat-īhayā — engrossed in such thoughts; atyakrāmat — surpassed; avijñātaḥ — imperceptibly; kālaḥ — eternal time; parama — supremely; dustaraḥ — insurmountable.
TRANSLATION
Insurmountable, eternal time imperceptibly overcomes those who are too much attached to family affairs and are always engrossed in their thought.
1.13.18
viduras tad abhipretya
dhṛtarāṣṭram abhāṣata
rājan nirgamyatāḿ śīghraḿ
paśyedaḿ bhayam āgatam
viduraḥ — Mahātmā Vidura; tat — that; abhipretya — knowing it well; dhṛtarāṣṭram — unto Dhṛtarāṣṭra; abhāṣata — said; rājan — O King; nirgamyatām — please get out immediately; śīghram — without the least delay; paśya — just see; idam — this; bhayam — fear; āgatam — already arrived.
TRANSLATION
Mahātmā Vidura knew all this, and therefore he addressed Dhṛtarāṣṭra, saying: My dear King, please get out of here immediately. Do not delay. Just see how fear has overtaken you.
1.13.19
pratikriyā na yasyeha
kutaścit karhicit prabho
sa eṣa bhagavān kālaḥ
sarveṣāḿ naḥ samāgataḥ
pratikriyā — remedial measure; na — there is none; yasya — of which; iha — in this material world; kutaścit — by any means; karhicit — or by anyone; prabho — O my lord; saḥ — that; eṣaḥ — positively; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; kālaḥ — eternal time; sarveṣām — of all; naḥ — of us; samāgataḥ — arrived.
TRANSLATION
This frightful situation cannot be remedied by any person in this material world. My lord, it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as eternal time [kāla] that has approached us all.
1.13.20
yena caivābhipanno 'yaḿ
prāṇaiḥ priyatamair api
janaḥ sadyo viyujyeta
kim utānyair dhanādibhiḥ
yena — pulled by such time; ca — and; eva — certainly; abhipannaḥ — overtaken; ayam — this; prāṇaiḥ — with life; priya-tamaiḥ — which is most dear to everyone; api — even though; janaḥ — person; sadyaḥ — forthwith; viyujyeta — do give up; kim uta anyaiḥ — what to speak of any other thing; dhana-ādibhiḥ — such as wealth, honor, children, land and house.
TRANSLATION
Whoever is under the influence of supreme kāla [eternal time] must surrender his most dear life, and what to speak of other things, such as wealth, honor, children, land and home.
1.13.21
pitṛ-bhrātṛ-suhṛt-putrā
hatās te vigataḿ vayam
ātmā ca jarayā grastaḥ
para-geham upāsase
pitṛ — father; bhrātṛ — brother; suhṛt — well-wishers; putrāḥ — sons; hatāḥ — all dead; te — yours; vigatam — expended; vayam — age; ātmā — the body; ca — also; jarayā — by invalidity; grastaḥ — overcome; para-geham — another's home; upāsase — you do live.
TRANSLATION
Your father, brother, well-wishers and sons are all dead and passed away. You yourself have expended the major portion of your life, your body is now overtaken by invalidity, and you are living in the home of another.
1.13.22
andhaḥ puraiva vadhiro
manda-prajñāś ca sāmpratam
viśīrṇa-danto mandāgniḥ
sarāgaḥ kapham udvahan
andhaḥ — blind; purā — from the beginning; eva — certainly; vadhiraḥ — hard of hearing; manda-prajñāḥ — memory shortened; ca — and; sāmpratam — recently; viśīrṇa — loosened; dantaḥ — teeth; manda-agniḥ — liver action decreased; sa-rāgaḥ — with sound; kapham — coughing much mucus; udvahan — coming out.
TRANSLATION
You have been blind from your very birth, and recently you have become hard of hearing. Your memory is shortened, and your intelligence is disturbed. Your teeth are loose, your liver is defective, and you are coughing up mucus.
1.13.23
aho mahīyasī jantor
jīvitāśā yathā bhavān
bhīmāpavarjitaḿ piṇḍam
ādatte gṛha-pālavat
aho — alas; mahīyasī — powerful; jantoḥ — of the living beings; jīvita-āśā — hope for life; yathā — as much as; bhavān — you are; bhīma — of Bhīmasena (a brother of Yudhiṣṭhira's); apavarjitam — remnants; piṇḍam — foodstuff; ādatte — eaten by; gṛha-pāla-vat — like a household dog.
TRANSLATION
Alas, how powerful are the hopes of a living being to continue his life. Verily, you are living just like a household dog and are eating remnants of food given by Bhīma.
1.13.24
agnir nisṛṣṭo dattaś ca
garo dārāś ca dūṣitāḥ
hṛtaḿ kṣetraḿ dhanaḿ yeṣāḿ
tad-dattair asubhiḥ kiyat
agniḥ — fire; nisṛṣṭaḥ — set; dattaḥ — given; ca — and; garaḥ — poison; dārāḥ — married wife; ca — and; dūṣitāḥ — insulted; hṛtam — usurped; kṣetram — kingdom; dhanam — wealth; yeṣām — of those; tat — their; dattaiḥ — given by; asubhiḥ — subsisting; kiyat — is unnecessary.
TRANSLATION
There is no need to live a degraded life and subsist on the charity of those whom you tried to kill by arson and poisoning. You also insulted one of their wives and usurped their kingdom and wealth.
1.13.25
tasyāpi tava deho 'yaḿ
kṛpaṇasya jijīviṣoḥ
paraity anicchato jīrṇo
jarayā vāsasī iva
tasya — of this; api — in spite of; tava — your; dehaḥ — body; ayam — this; kṛpaṇasya — of one who is miserly; jijīviṣoḥ — of you who desire life; paraiti — will dwindle; anicchataḥ — even unwilling; jīrṇaḥ — deteriorated; jarayā — old; vāsasī — garments; iva — like.
TRANSLATION
Despite your unwillingness to die and your desire to live even at the cost of honor and prestige, your miserly body will certainly dwindle and deteriorate like an old garment.
1.13.26
gata-svārtham imaḿ dehaḿ
virakto mukta-bandhanaḥ
avijñāta-gatir jahyāt
sa vai dhīra udāhṛtaḥ
gata-sva-artham — without being properly utilized; imam — this; deham — material body; viraktaḥ — indifferently; mukta — being freed; bandhanaḥ — from all obligations; avijñāta-gatiḥ — unknown destination; jahyāt — one should give up this body; saḥ — such a person; vai — certainly; dhīraḥ — undisturbed; udāhṛtaḥ — is said to be so.
TRANSLATION
He is called undisturbed who goes to an unknown, remote place and, freed from all obligations, quits his material body when it has become useless.
1.13.27
yaḥ svakāt parato veha
jāta-nirveda ātmavān
hṛdi kṛtvā hariḿ gehāt
pravrajet sa narottamaḥ
yaḥ — anyone who; svakāt — by his own awakening; parataḥ vā — or by hearing from another; iha — here in this world; jāta — becomes; nirvedaḥ — indifferent to material attachment; ātmavān — consciousness; hṛdi — within the heart; kṛtvā — having been taken by; harim — the Personality of Godhead; gehāt — from home; pravrajet — goes away; saḥ — he is; nara-uttamaḥ — the first-class human being.
TRANSLATION
He is certainly a first-class man who awakens and understands, either by himself or from others, the falsity and misery of this material world and thus leaves home and depends fully on the Personality of Godhead residing within his heart.
1.13.28
athodīcīḿ diśaḿ yātu
svair ajñāta-gatir bhavān
ito 'rvāk prāyaśaḥ kālaḥ
puḿsāḿ guṇa-vikarṣaṇaḥ
atha — therefore; udīcīm — northern side; diśam — direction; yātu — please go away; svaiḥ — by your relatives; ajñāta — without knowledge; gatiḥ — movements; bhavān — of yourself; itaḥ — after this; arvāk — will usher in; prāyaśaḥ — generally; kālaḥ — time; puḿsām — of men; guṇa — qualities; vikarṣaṇaḥ — diminishing.
TRANSLATION
Please, therefore, leave for the North immediately, without letting your relatives know, for soon that time will approach which will diminish the good qualities of men.
1.13.29
evaḿ rājā vidureṇānujena
prajñā-cakṣur bodhita ājamīḍhaḥ
chittvā sveṣu sneha-pāśān draḍhimno
niścakrāma bhrātṛ-sandarśitādhvā
evam — thus; rājā — King Dhṛtarāṣṭra; vidureṇa anujena — by his younger brother Vidura; prajñā — introspective knowledge; cakṣuḥ — eyes; bodhitaḥ — being understood; ājamīḍhaḥ — Dhṛtarāṣṭra, scion of the family of Ajamīḍha; chittvā — by breaking; sveṣu — regarding kinsmen; sneha-pāśān — strong network of affection; draḍhimnaḥ — because of steadfastness; niścakrāma — got out; bhrātṛ — by his brother; sandarśita — direction to; adhvā — the path of liberation.
TRANSLATION
Thus Mahārāja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the scion of the family of Ajamīḍha, firmly convinced by introspective knowledge [prajñā], broke at once the strong network of familial affection by his resolute determination. Thus he immediately left home to set out on the path of liberation, as directed by his younger brother Vidura.
1.13.30
patiḿ prayāntaḿ subalasya putrī
pati-vratā cānujagāma sādhvī
himālayaḿ nyasta-daṇḍa-praharṣaḿ
manasvinām iva sat samprahāraḥ
patim — her husband; prayāntam — while leaving home; subalasya — of King Subala; putrī — the worthy daughter; pati-vratā — devoted to her husband; ca — also; anujagāma — followed; sādhvī — the chaste; himālayam — towards the Himalaya Mountains; nyasta-daṇḍa — one who has accepted the rod of the renounced order; praharṣam — object of delight; manasvinām — of the great fighters; iva — like; sat — legitimate; samprahāraḥ — good lashing.
TRANSLATION
The gentle and chaste Gāndhārī, who was the daughter of King Subala of Kandahar [or Gāndhāra], followed her husband, seeing that he was going to the Himalaya Mountains, which are the delight of those who have accepted the staff of the renounced order like fighters who have accepted a good lashing from the enemy.
1.13.31
ajāta-śatruḥ kṛta-maitro hutāgnir
viprān natvā tila-go-bhūmi-rukmaiḥ
gṛhaḿ praviṣṭo guru-vandanāya
na cāpaśyat pitarau saubalīḿ ca
ajāta — never born; śatruḥ — enemy; kṛta — having performed; maitraḥ — worshiping the demigods; huta-agniḥ — and offering fuel in the fire; viprān — the brāhmaṇas; natvā — offering obeisances; tila-go-bhūmi-rukmaiḥ — along with grains, cows, land and gold; gṛham — within the palace; praviṣṭaḥ — having entered into; guru-vandanāya — for offering respect to the elderly members; na — did not; ca — also; apaśyat — see; pitarau — his uncles; saubalīm — Gāndhārī; ca — also.
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, whose enemy was never born, performed his daily morning duties by praying, offering fire sacrifice to the sun-god, and offering obeisances, grains, cows, land and gold to the brāhmaṇas. He then entered the palace to pay respects to the elderly. However, he could not find his uncles or aunt, the daughter of King Subala.
1.13.32
tatra sañjayam āsīnaḿ
papracchodvigna-mānasaḥ
gāvalgaṇe kva nas tāto
vṛddho hīnaś ca netrayoḥ
tatra — there; sañjayam — unto Sañjaya; āsīnam — seated; papraccha — he inquired from; udvigna-mānasaḥ — filled with anxiety; gāvalgaṇe — the son of Gavalgaṇa, Sañjaya; kva — where is; naḥ — our; tātaḥ — uncle; vṛddhaḥ — old; hīnaḥ ca — and bereft of; netrayoḥ — the eyes.
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, full of anxiety, turned to Sañjaya, who was sitting there, and said: O Sañjaya, where is our uncle, who is old and blind?
1.13.33
ambā ca hata-putrārtā
pitṛvyaḥ kva gataḥ suhṛt
api mayy akṛta-prajñe
hata-bandhuḥ sa bhāryayā
āśaḿsamānaḥ śamalaḿ
gańgāyāḿ duḥkhito 'patat
ambā — mother aunt; ca — and; hata-putrā — who had lost all her sons; ārtā — in a sorry plight; pitṛvyaḥ — uncle Vidura; kva — where; gataḥ — gone; suhṛt — well-wisher; api — whether; mayi — unto me; akṛta-prajñe — ungrateful; hata-bandhuḥ — one who has lost all his sons; saḥ — Dhṛtarāṣṭra; bhāryayā — with his wife; āśaḿsamānaḥ — in doubtful mind; śamalam — offenses; gańgāyām — in the Ganges water; duḥkhitaḥ — in distressed mind; apatat — fell down.
TRANSLATION
Where is my well-wisher, uncle Vidura, and mother Gāndhārī, who is very afflicted due to all her sons' demise? My uncle Dhṛtarāṣṭra was also very mortified due to the death of all his sons and grandsons. Undoubtedly I am very ungrateful. Did he, therefore, take my offenses very seriously and, along with his wife, drown himself in the Ganges?
1.13.34
pitary uparate pāṇḍau
sarvān naḥ suhṛdaḥ śiśūn
arakṣatāḿ vyasanataḥ
pitṛvyau kva gatāv itaḥ
pitari — upon my father; uparate — falling down; pāṇḍau — Mahārāja Pāṇḍu; sarvān — all; naḥ — of us; suhṛdaḥ — well-wishers; śiśūn — small children; arakṣatām — protected; vyasanataḥ — from all kinds of dangers; pitṛvyau — uncles; kva — where; gatau — have departed; itaḥ — from this place.
TRANSLATION
When my father, Pāṇḍu, fell down and we were all small children, these two uncles gave us protection from all kinds of calamities. They were always our good well-wishers. Alas, where have they gone from here?
1.13.35
sūta uvāca
kṛpayā sneha-vaiklavyāt
sūto viraha-karśitaḥ
ātmeśvaram acakṣāṇo
na pratyāhātipīḍitaḥ
sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; kṛpayā — out of full compassion; sneha-vaiklavyāt — mental derangement due to profound affection; sūtaḥ — Sañjaya; viraha-karśitaḥ — distressed by separation; ātma-īśvaram — his master; acakṣāṇaḥ — having not seen; na — did not; pratyāha — replied; ati-pīḍitaḥ — being too aggrieved.
TRANSLATION
Sūta Gosvāmī said: Because of compassion and mental agitation, Sañjaya, not having seen his own master, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, was aggrieved and could not properly reply to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
1.13.36
vimṛjyāśrūṇi pāṇibhyāḿ
viṣṭabhyātmānam ātmanā
ajāta-śatruḿ pratyūce
prabhoḥ pādāv anusmaran
vimṛjya — smearing; aśrūṇi — tears of the eyes; pāṇibhyām — with his hands; viṣṭabhya — situated; ātmānam — the mind; ātmanā — by intelligence; ajāta-śatrum — unto Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira; pratyūce — began to reply; prabhoḥ — of his master; pādau — feet; anusmaran — thinking after.
TRANSLATION
First he slowly pacified his mind by intelligence, and wiping away his tears and thinking of the feet of his master, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, he began to reply to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
1.13.37
sañjaya uvāca
nāhaḿ veda vyavasitaḿ
pitror vaḥ kula-nandana
gāndhāryā vā mahā-bāho
muṣito 'smi mahātmabhiḥ
sañjayaḥ uvāca — Sañjaya said; na — not; aham — I; veda — know; vyavasitam — determination; pitroḥ — of your uncles; vaḥ — your; kula-nandana — O descendant of the Kuru dynasty; gāndhāryāḥ — of Gāndhārī; vā — or; mahā-bāho — O great King; muṣitaḥ — cheated; asmi — I have been; mahā-ātmabhiḥ — by those great souls.
TRANSLATION
Sañjaya said: My dear descendant of the Kuru dynasty, I have no information of the determination of your two uncles and Gāndhārī. O King, I have been cheated by those great souls.
1.13.38
athājagāma bhagavān
nāradaḥ saha-tumburuḥ
pratyutthāyābhivādyāha
sānujo 'bhyarcayan munim
atha — thereafter; ājagāma — arrived; bhagavān — the godly personality; nāradaḥ — Nārada; saha-tumburuḥ — along with his tumburu (musical instrument); pratyutthāya — having gotten up from their seats; abhivādya — offering their due obeisances; āha — said; sa-anujaḥ — along with younger brothers; abhyarcayan — thus while receiving in a proper mood; munim — the sage.
TRANSLATION
While Sañjaya was thus speaking, Śrī Nārada, the powerful devotee of the Lord, appeared on the scene carrying his tumburu. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers received him properly by getting up from their seats and offering obeisances.
1.13.39
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
nāhaḿ veda gatiḿ pitror
bhagavan kva gatāv itaḥ
ambā vā hata-putrārtā
kva gatā ca tapasvinī
yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca — Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said; na — do not; aham — myself; veda — know it; gatim — departure; pitroḥ — of the uncles; bhagavan — O godly personality; kva — where; gatau — gone; itaḥ — from this place; ambā — mother aunt; vā — either; hata-putrā — bereft of her sons; ārtā — aggrieved; kva — where; gatā — gone; ca — also; tapasvinī — ascetic.
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said: O godly personality, I do not know where my two uncles have gone. Nor can I find my ascetic aunt who is grief-stricken by the loss of all her sons.
1.13.40
karṇadhāra ivāpāre
bhagavān pāra-darśakaḥ
athābabhāṣe bhagavān
nārado muni-sattamaḥ
karṇa-dhāraḥ — captain of the ship; iva — like; apāre — in the extensive oceans; bhagavān — representative of the Lord; pāra-darśakaḥ — one who can give directions to the other side; atha — thus; ābabhāṣe — began to say; bhagavān — the godly personality; nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada; muni-sat-tamaḥ — the greatest among the devotee philosophers.
TRANSLATION
You are like a captain of a ship in a great ocean and you can direct us to our destination. Thus addressed, the godly personality, Devarṣi Nārada, greatest of the philosopher devotees, began to speak.
1.13.41
nārada uvāca
mā kañcana śuco rājan
yad īśvara-vaśaḿ jagat
lokāḥ sapālā yasyeme
vahanti balim īśituḥ
sa saḿyunakti bhūtāni
sa eva viyunakti ca
nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada said; mā — never; kañcana — by all means; śucaḥ — do you lament; rājan — O King; yat — because; īśvara-vaśam — under the control of the Supreme Lord; jagat — world; lokāḥ — all living beings; sa-pālāḥ — including their leaders; yasya — whose; ime — all these; vahanti — do bear; balim — means of worship; īśituḥ — for being protected; saḥ — He; saḿyunakti — gets together; bhūtāni — all living beings; saḥ — He; eva — also; viyunakti — disperses; ca — and.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Nārada said: O pious King, do not lament for anyone, for everyone is under the control of the Supreme Lord. Therefore all living beings and their leaders carry on worship to be well protected. It is He only who brings them together and disperses them.
1.13.42
yathā gāvo nasi protās
tantyāḿ baddhāś ca dāmabhiḥ
vāk-tantyāḿ nāmabhir baddhā
vahanti balim īśituḥ
yathā — as much as; gāvaḥ — cow; nasi — by the nose; protāḥ — strung; tantyām — by the thread; baddhāḥ — bound by; ca — also; dāmabhiḥ — by ropes; vāk-tantyām — in the network of Vedic hymns; nāmabhiḥ — by nomenclatures; baddhāḥ — conditioned; vahanti — carry on; balim — orders; īśituḥ — for being controlled by the Supreme Lord.
TRANSLATION
As a cow, bound through the nose by a long rope, is conditioned, so also human beings are bound by different Vedic injunctions and are conditioned to obey the orders of the Supreme.
1.13.43
yathā krīḍopaskarāṇāḿ
saḿyoga-vigamāv iha
icchayā krīḍituḥ syātāḿ
tathaiveśecchayā nṛṇām
yathā — as much as; krīḍa-upaskarāṇām — playthings; saḿyoga — union; vigamau — disunion; iha — in this world; icchayā — by the will of; krīḍituḥ — just to play a part; syātām — takes place; tathā — so also; eva — certainly; īśa — the Supreme Lord; icchayā — by the will of; nṛṇām — of the human beings.
TRANSLATION
As a player sets up and disperses his playthings according to his own sweet will, so the supreme will of the Lord brings men together and separates them.
1.13.44
yan manyase dhruvaḿ lokam
adhruvaḿ vā na cobhayam
sarvathā na hi śocyās te
snehād anyatra mohajāt
yat — even though; manyase — you think; dhruvam — Absolute Truth; lokam — persons; adhruvam — nonreality; vā — either; na — or not; ca — also; ubhayam — or both; sarvathā — in all circumstances; na — never; hi — certainly; śocyāḥ — subject for lamentation; te — they; snehāt — due to affection; anyatra — or otherwise; moha-jāt — due to bewilderment.
TRANSLATION
O King, in all circumstances, whether you consider the soul to be an eternal principle, or the material body to be perishable, or everything to exist in the impersonal Absolute Truth, or everything to be an inexplicable combination of matter and spirit, feelings of separation are due only to illusory affection and nothing more.
1.13.45
tasmāj jahy ańga vaiklavyam
ajñāna-kṛtam ātmanaḥ
kathaḿ tv anāthāḥ kṛpaṇā
varteraḿs te ca māḿ vinā
tasmāt — therefore; jahi — give up; ańga — O King; vaiklavyam — mental disparity; ajñāna — ignorance; kṛtam — due to; ātmanaḥ — of yourself; katham — how; tu — but; anāthāḥ — helpless; kṛpaṇāḥ — poor creatures; varteran — be able to survive; te — they; ca — also; mām — me; vinā — without.
TRANSLATION
Therefore give up your anxiety due to ignorance of the self. You are now thinking of how they, who are helpless poor creatures, will exist without you.
1.13.46
kāla-karma-guṇādhīno
deho 'yaḿ pāñca-bhautikaḥ
katham anyāḿs tu gopāyet
sarpa-grasto yathā param
kāla — eternal time; karma — action; guṇa — modes of nature; adhīnaḥ — under the control of; dehaḥ — material body and mind; ayam — this; pāñca-bhautikaḥ — made of the five elements; katham — how; anyān — others; tu — but; gopāyet — give protection; sarpa-grastaḥ — one who is bitten by the snake; yathā — as much as; param — others.
TRANSLATION
This gross material body made of five elements is already under the control of eternal time [kāla], action [karma] and the modes of material nature [guṇa]. How, then, can it, being already in the jaws of the serpent, protect others?
1.13.47
ahastāni sahastānām
apadāni catuṣ-padām
phalgūni tatra mahatāḿ
jīvo jīvasya jīvanam
ahastāni — those who are devoid of hands; sa-hastānām — of those who are endowed with hands; apadāni — those who are devoid of legs; catuḥ-padām — of those who have four legs; phalgūni — those who are weak; tatra — there; mahatām — of the powerful; jīvaḥ — the living being; jīvasya — of the living being; jīvanam — subsistence.
TRANSLATION
Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid of legs are prey for the four-legged. The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general rule holds that one living being is food for another.
1.13.48
tad idaḿ bhagavān rājann
eka ātmātmanāḿ sva-dṛk
antaro 'nantaro bhāti
paśya taḿ māyayorudhā
tat — therefore; idam — this manifestation; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; rājan — O King; ekaḥ — one without a second; ātmā — the Supersoul; ātmanām — by His energies; sva-dṛk — qualitatively like Him; antaraḥ — without; anantaraḥ — within and by Himself; bhāti — so manifests; paśya — look; tam — unto Him only; māyayā — by manifestations of different energies; urudhā — appears to be many.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, O King, you should look to the Supreme Lord only, who is one without a second and who manifests Himself by different energies and is both within and without.
1.13.49
so 'yam adya mahārāja