SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 1

(1) Sûta said: "O learned ones, thereafter ruled Parîkchit, the great devotee, over the earth under the instructions of the twice-born with the qualities that the astrologers, predicting the future at the time of his birth, had thought he would have. (2) He married Irâvatî, the daughter of King Uttara, and begot four sons in her with Janamejaya as the first. (3) At the Ganges he performed three horse sacrifices with proper rewards for Kripâcârya, whom he selected for his spiritual master, and the God-conscious who came into view with it.

(4) Once on a chastising campaign managed he, the valiant hero, by dint of his prowess to rebuke the master of Kali-yuga who, disguised as a king, but lower than a s'ûdra was hurting the legs of a cow and a bull."

(5) S'aunaka inquired: "Why did he just reprimand the master of Kali during his campaign - he was dressed up like a king, but as someone lower than a s'ûdra striking the legs of a cow. Please describe, o fortunate one, all that to us as far as it relates to the topics of Krishna. (6) Because, what would, for the ones liberated who relish the honey at His lotus feet, be the use of wasting their life with endless illusory discussions? (7) O Sûta, only short is the life of the human beings who are sure to meet death. The eternal is of those who desire herein to call for the representative of the Lord, Yamarâja, the controller of death, to limit the performances. (8) No one will die as long as the one who causes death is present here, for the reason of which he as the great lord has been invited by the sages - let the ones under his grip drink of the nectar of the narrations about His divine pastimes. (9) Those who are lazy, of trivial interest and short-lived pass their days, the way they do sleeping at night, with activities without a purpose."

(10) Sûta said: "When Parîkchit, residing in the Kuru capital, heard that the signs of Kali-yuga had entered the domain of his jurisdiction, thought he the news not very palatable and took he, in his responsibility for military action, up his bow and arrows. (11) Well decorated under the protection of the lion in his flag and with black horses pulling his chariot, he left the capital accompanied by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry troops for the purpose of conquering. (12) Bhadrâs'va, Ketumâla, Bhârata, the northern countries of Kuru and Kimpurusha behind the Himalayas were the lands on earth he conquered keeping strength exacting tribute. (13-15) Everywhere he went he continuously heard what great souls his forefathers were and found he also indications of the glorious acts of Lord Krishna with the people he met. He as well heard about his own deliverance from the powerful rays of the weapon of As'vatthâmâ and about the devotion amongst the descendants of Vrishni and Parthâ for Lord Kes'ava [Krishna as the killer of the demon Kes'î, the mad horse]. Extremely pleased rewarded he, with his eyes wide open of joy, the people magnanimously with clothes, necklaces and other riches. (16) Figuring as a chariot driver, presiding in assemblies, acting as a servant, being a friend and a messenger and keeping the watch at night had the one of Vishnu, who was universally obeyed Himself [Krishna], acted with prayers and obeisances in relating to the God-fearing sons of Pându. This filled the king with devotion for His lotus feet.

(17) You may now hear from me about how astonishingly he, day after day, kept himself close in being absorbed in such thoughts about the good of the forefathers. (18) The wandering personality of the religion, who stood on one leg only [the so called 'bull' of dharma whose legs stand for the four fundamental human values], met with the aggrieved cow [mother Earth] who had tears in her eyes like a mother who has lost her child. (19) He said: 'Madam, are you hale and hearty? Looking aggrieved with a gloomy face you appear to be affected by a disease or to be preoccupied with a friend far away, o mother. (20) Are you lamenting about the diminishing of my legs as I stand on one only, or is it because the offensive meat-eaters want to exploit you? Or is it because the theists are bereft of their share due to a lack of sacrifices or because the living beings increasingly suffer from scarcity, famine and drought? (21) Are you grieving about the unhappy women and children on earth who are without the protection of their men or are you sorry about the way one speaks in the families of the learned against the principles of the goddess [of knowledge]? Or do you lament about the way most of them act against the culture of learning taking shelter with the ruling class? (22) Is it because the unworthy administrators are bewildered under the influence of Kali-yuga and here and there have messed up the affairs of the state? Or is it because of the way society is inclined to take its food and drink and how one sleeps, bathes and has intercourse? (23) Could it be, o mother Earth, that you are thinking of the salvation brought by the activities of the incarnation of the Lord who decreased your heavy load but is now out of sight? (24) Please inform me, o reservoir of all riches, about the reason of your tribulations that reduced you to such weakness. Is it mother, that your good fortune that was adored by even the godly, was forcibly taken away by the very powerful influence of time?'

(25) Mother Earth replied: 'O personality of religion ['Dharma'], I will do my best to answer the series of questions that you have asked me. You are with your four legs [the vidhi] present in all the worlds to bring there the happiness. (26-30) Truthfulness, cleanliness, compassion, self-control, magnanimity, contentment, straightforwardness, concentration, sense-control, responsibility, equality, tolerance, equanimity and loyalty. And certainly also knowledge, detachment, leadership, chivalry, influence, power, dutifulness, independence, dexterity, beauty, serenity and kindheartedness, as well as ingenuity, gentility, mannerliness, determination, knowledgeability, propriety, pleasantness, joyfulness, immovability, faithfulness, fame and dignity - all these and many others are the everlasting qualities of the Supreme Lord, the never diminishing higher nature which can be attained by those who are worthy of that greatness. By Him am I myself, just as the Goddess of Fortune is, such a reservoir of qualities, but in the absence of Him as the being the resting place, is Kali, the source of all sins, seen in all the worlds. (31) I am lamenting for me as well as for you, as well as for the best of the godly, the gods and the ancestors in heaven, the sages and the devotees, as well as for all in their status orientations in society. (32-33) Lakshmî [the Goddess of Fortune] whose grace was sought by demigods like Lord Brahmâ and for whom the gods many times were doing penance in surrender to the Lord, has for the sake of worship forsaken her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers out of attachment to the all-blissful feet. From Him, having myself obtained the special powers of the lotus flower, thunderbolt, flag and driving rod, could I, impressed by the marks of the feet of the Supreme Lord, the owner of all opulence, being decorated that way magnanimously be victorious in the three worlds - but in the end, when I was feeling so fortunate, has He left me. (34) He who relieved me of the burden of the hundreds of military divisions of atheist kings, incarnated also for you in the Yadu family, and that He did for the reason that you lacking in strength had difficulty to keep standing. (35) Who therefore can tolerate it to be separated from the love, glances, smiles and hearty appeal of the Supreme Original Person who conquered the passionate wrath and gravity of women like Satyabhâmâ and made my hair [my grasses] stand on end out of the pleasure of being imprinted by His feet.'

(36) While the earth and the personality of religion were thus conversing, arrived Parîkchit, who was renown for being the saint among the kings, at the Sarasvatî river which was flowing to the east."

Sûta said: "O learned ones, thereafter ruled Parîkchit, the great devotee, over the earth under the instructions of the twice-born with the qualities that the astrologers, predicting the future at the time of his birth, had thought he would have.

Sûta Gosvâmî said: O learned brâhmanas, Mahârâja Parîkshit then began to rule over the world as a great devotee of the Lord under the instructions of the best of the twice-born brâhmanas. He ruled by those great qualities which were foretold by expert astrologers at the time of his birth. (Vedabase)

Text 2

He married Irâvatî, the daughter of King Uttara, and begot four sons in her with Janamejaya as the first.

King Parîkshit married the daughter of King Uttara and begot four sons, headed by Mahârâja Janamejaya. (Vedabase)

Text 3

At the Ganges he performed three horse sacrifices with proper rewards for Kripâcârya, whom he selected for his spiritual master, and the God-conscious who came into view with it.

Mahârâja Parîkshit, after having selected Kripâcârya for guidance as his spiritual master, performed three horse sacrifices on the banks of the Ganges. These were executed with sufficient rewards for the attendants. And at these sacrifices, even the common man could see demigods. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Once on a chastising campaign managed he, the valiant hero, by dint of his prowess to rebuke the master of Kali-yuga who, disguised as a king, but lower than a s'ûdra was hurting the legs of a cow and a bull."

Once, when Mahârâja Parîkshit was on his way to conquer the world, he saw the master of Kali-yuga, who was lower than a s'ûdra, disguised as a king and hurting the legs of a cow and a bull. The King at once caught hold of him to deal sufficient punishment. (Vedabase)

Text 5

S'aunaka inquired: "Why did he just reprimand the master of Kali during his campaign - he was dressed up like a king, but as someone lower than a s'ûdra striking the legs of a cow. Please describe, o fortunate one, all that to us as far as it relates to the topics of Krishna.

S'aunaka Rishi inquired: Why did Mahârâja Parîkshit simply punish him, since he was the lowest of the s'ûdras, having dressed as a king and having struck a cow on the leg? Please describe all these incidents if they relate to the topics of Lord Krishna. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Because, what would, for the ones liberated who relish the honey at His lotus feet, be the use of wasting their life with endless illusory discussions?

The devotees of the Lord are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one's valuable life? (Vedabase)

Text 7

O Sûta, only short is the life of the human beings who are sure to meet death. The eternal is of those who desire herein to call for the representative of the Lord, Yamarâja, the controller of death, to limit the performances.

O Sûta Gosvâmî, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamarâja. (Vedabase)

Text 8

No one will die as long as the one who causes death is present here, for the reason of which he as the great lord has been invited by the sages - let the ones under his grip drink of the nectar of the narrations about His divine pastimes.

As long as Yamarâja, who causes everyone's death, is present here, no one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of death, Yamarâja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 9

Those who are lazy, of trivial interest and short-lived pass their days, the way they do sleeping at night, with activities without a purpose."

Lazy human beings with paltry intelligence and a short duration of life pass the night sleeping and the day performing activities that are for naught. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Sûta said: "When Parîkchit, residing in the Kuru capital, heard that the signs of Kali-yuga had entered the domain of his jurisdiction, thought he the news not very palatable and took he, in his responsibility for military action, up his bow and arrows.

Sûta Gosvâmî said: While Mahârâja Parîkshit was residing in the capital of the Kuru empire, the symptoms of the age of Kali began to infiltrate within the jurisdiction of his state. When he learned about this, he did not think the matter very palatable. This did, however, give him a chance to fight. He took up his bow and arrows and prepared himself for military activities. (Vedabase)

Text 11

Well decorated under the protection of the lion in his flag and with black horses pulling his chariot, left he, decided for the victory, the capital accompanied by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry troups.

Mahârâja Parîkshit sat on a chariot drawn by black horses. His flag was marked with the sign of a lion. Being so decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry soldiers, he left the capital to conquer in all directions. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Bhadrâs'va, Ketumâla, Bhârata, the northern countries of Kuru and Kimpurusha behind the Himalayas were the lands on earth he conquered. In that process he kept his strength by exacting tribute.

Mahârâja Parîkshit then conquered all parts of the earthly planet - Bhadrâs'va, Ketumâla, Bhârata, the northern Kuru, Kimpurusha, etc. - and exacted tributes from their respective rulers. (Vedabase)

Text 13-15:

Everywhere he went he continuously heard what great souls his forefathers were and found he also indications of the glorious acts of Lord Krishna with the people he met. He as well heard about his own deliverance from the powerful rays of the weapon of As'vatthâmâ and about the devotion amongst the decendants of Vrishni and Parthâ for Lord Kes'ava [Krishna as the killer of the demon Kes'î, the mad horse]. Extremely pleased rewarded he, with his eyes wide open of joy, the people magnanimously with clothes, necklaces and other riches.

Wherever the King visited, he continuously heard the glories of his great forefathers, who were all devotees of the Lord, and also of the glorious acts of Lord Krishna. He also heard how he himself had been protected by the Lord from the powerful heat of the weapon of As'vatthâmâ. People also mentioned the great affection between the descendants of Vrishni and Prithâ due to the latter's great devotion to Lord Kes'ava. The King, being very pleased with the singers of such glories, opened his eyes in great satisfaction. Out of magnanimity he was pleased to award them very valuable necklaces and clothing. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Figuring as a chariot driver, presiding in assemblies, acting as a servant, being a friend and a messenger and keeping the watch at night had the one of Vishnu, who was universally obeyed Himself [Krishna], acted with prayers and obeisances in relating to the God-fearing sons of Pându. This filled the king with devotion for His lotus feet.

Mahârâja Parîkshit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Krishna [Vishnu], who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pându by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pândavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Mahârâja Parîkshit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 17

You may now hear from me about how astonishingly he, day after day, kept himself close in being absorbed in such thoughts about the good of the forefathers.

Now you may hear from me of what happened while Mahârâja Parîkshit was passing his days hearing of the good occupations of his forefathers and being absorbed in thought of them. (Vedabase)

Text 18

The wandering personality of the religion, who stood on one leg only [the so called 'bull' of dharma whose legs stand for the four fundamental human values], met with the aggrieved cow [mother Earth] who had tears in her eyes like a mother who has lost her child.

The personality of religious principles, Dharma, was wandering about in the form of a bull. And he met the personality of earth in the form of a cow who appeared to grieve like a mother who had lost her child. She had tears in her eyes, and the beauty of her body was lost. Thus Dharma questioned the earth as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

He said: 'Madam, are you hale and hearty? Looking aggrieved with a gloomy face you appear to be affected by a disease or to be preoccupied with a friend far away, o mother.

Dharma [in the form of a bull] asked: Madam, are you not hale and hearty? Why are you covered with the shadow of grief? It appears by your face that you have become black. Are you suffering from some internal disease, or are you thinking of some relative who is away in a distant place. (Vedabase) ?

Text 20

Are you lamenting about the dimishing of my legs as I stand on one only, or is it because the offensive meat-eaters want to exploit you? Or is it because the theists are bereft of their share due to a lack of sacrifices or because the living beings increasingly suffer from scarcity, famine and drought?

I have lost my three legs and am now standing on one only. Are you lamenting for my state of existence? Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward the unlawful meat-eaters will exploit you? Or are you in a sorry plight because the demigods are now bereft of their share of sacrificial offerings because no sacrifices are being performed at present? Or are you grieving for living beings because of their sufferings due to famine and drought? (Vedabase)

Text 21

Are you grieving about the unhappy women and children on earth who are without the protection of their men or are you sorry about the way one speaks in the families of the learned against the principles of the goddess [of knowledge]? Or do you lament the way most of them act against the culture of learning taking shelter with the ruling class?

Are you feeling compunction for the unhappy women and children who are left forlorn by unscrupulous persons? Or are you unhappy because the goddess of learning is being handled by brâhmanas addicted to acts against the principles of religion? Or are you sorry to see that the brâhmanas have taken shelter of administrative families that do not respect brahminical culture? (Vedabase)

Text 22

Is it because the unworthy administrators are bewildered under the influence of Kali-yuga and here and there have messed up the affairs of the state? Or is it because of the way society is inclined to take its food and drink and how one sleeps, bathes and has intercourse?

The so-called administrators are now bewildered by the influence of this age of Kali, and thus they have put all state affairs into disorder. Are you now lamenting this disorder? Now the general populace does not follow the rules and regulations for eating, sleeping, drinking, mating, etc., and they are inclined to perform such anywhere and everywhere. Are you unhappy because of this? (Vedabase)

Text 23

Could it be, o mother Earth, that you are thinking of the salvation brought by the activities of the incarnation of the Lord who decreased your heavy load but is now out of sight?

O mother earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, incarnated Himself as Lord S'rî Krishna just to unload your heavy burden. All His activities here are transcendental, and they cement the path of liberation. You are now bereft of His presence. You are probably now thinking of those activities and feeling sorry in their absence. (Vedabase)

Text 24

Please inform me, o reservoir of all riches, about the reason of your tribulations that reduced you to such weakness. Is it mother, that your good fortune that was adored by even the godly, was forcibly taken away by the very powerful influence of time?'

Mother, you are the reservoir of all riches. Please inform me of the root cause of your tribulations by which you have been reduced to such a weak state. I think that the powerful influence of time, which conquers the most powerful, might have forcibly taken away all your fortune, which was adored even by the demigods. (Vedabase)

Text 25

Mother Earth replied: 'O personality of religion [Dharma], I will do my best to answer the series of questions that you have asked me. You are with your four legs [the vidhi] present in all the worlds to bring there the happiness.

The earthly deity [in the form of a cow] thus replied to the personality of religious principles [in the form of a bull]: O Dharma, whatever you have inquired from me shall be known to you. I shall try to reply to all those questions. Once you too were maintained by your four legs, and you increased happiness all over the universe by the mercy of the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 26-30:

Truthfulness, cleanliness, compassion, self-control, magnanimity, contentment, straightforwardness, concentration, sense-control, responsibilty, equality, tolerance, equanimity and loyalty. And certainly also knowledge, detachment, leadership, chivalry, influence, power, dutifulness, independence, dexterity, beauty, serenity and kindheartedness, as well as ingenuity, gentility, mannerliness, determination, knowledgeability, propriety, pleasantness, joyfulness, immovabilty, faithfulness, fame and dignity - all these and many others are the everlasting qualities of the Supreme Lord, the never diminishing higher nature which can be attained by those who are worthy of that greatness. By Him am I myself, just as the Goddess of Fortune is, such a reservoir of qualities, but in the absence of Him as the being the resting place, is Kali, the source of all sins, seen in all the worlds.

In Him reside. (1) truthfulness, (2) cleanliness, (3) intolerance of another's unhappiness, (4) the power to control anger, (5) self-satisfaction, (6) straightforwardness, (7) steadiness of mind, (8) control of the sense organs, (9) responsibility, (10) equality, (11) tolerance, (12) equanimity, (13) faithfulness, (14) knowledge, (15) absence of sense enjoyment, (16) leadership, (17) chivalry, (18) influence, (19) the power to make everything possible, (20) the discharge of proper duty, (21) complete independence, (22) dexterity, (23) fullness of all beauty, (24) serenity, (25) kindheartedness, (26) ingenuity, (27) gentility, (28) magnanimity, (29) determination, (30) perfection in all knowledge, (31) proper execution, (32) possession of all objects of enjoyment, (33) joyfulness, (34) immovability, (35) fidelity, (36) fame, (37) worship, (38) pridelessness, (39) being. (as the Personality of Godhead), (40) eternity, and many other transcendental qualities which are eternally present and never to be separated from Him. That Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all goodness and beauty, Lord S'rî Krishna, has now closed His transcendental pastimes on the face of the earth. In His absence the age of Kali has spread its influence everywhere, so I am sorry to see this condition of existence. (Vedabase)

Text 31

I am lamenting for me as well as for you, as well as for the best of the godly, the gods and the ancestors in heaven, the sages and the devotees, as well as for all in their status orientations in society.

I am thinking about myself and also, o best amongst the demigods, about you, as well as about all the demigods, sages, denizens of Pitriloka, devotees of the Lord and all men obedient to the system of varna and âs'rama in human society. (Vedabase)

Text 32-33:

Lakshmî [the Goddess of Fortune] whose grace was sought by demigods like Lord Brahmâ and for whom the gods many times were doing penance in surrender to the Lord, has for the sake of worship forsaken her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers out of attachment to the all-blissful feet. From Him, having myself obtained the special powers of the lotus flower, thunderbolt, flag and driving rod, could I, impressed by the marks of the feet of the Supreme Lord, the owner of all opulence, being decorated that way magnanimously be victorious in the three worlds - but in the end, when I was feeling so fortunate, has He left me.

Lakshmîjî, the goddess of fortune, whose glance of grace was sought by demigods like Brahmâ and for whom they surrendered many a day unto the Personality of Godhead, gave up her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers and engaged herself in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. I was endowed with specific powers to supersede the fortune of all the three planetary systems by being decorated with the impressions of the flag, thunderbolt, elephant-driving rod and lotus flower, which are signs of the lotus feet of the Lord. But at the end, when I felt I was so fortunate, the Lord left me. (Vedabase)

Text 34

He who relieved me of the burden of the hundreds of military divisions of atheïst kings, incarnated also for you in the Yadu family, and that He did for the reason that you lacking in strength had difficulty to keep standing.

O personality of religion, I was greatly overburdened by the undue military phalanxes arranged by atheistic kings, and I was relieved by the grace of the Personality of Godhead. Similarly you were also in a distressed condition, weakened in your standing strength, and thus He also incarnated by His internal energy in the family of the Yadus to relieve you. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

Who therefore can tolerate it to be separated from the love, glances, smiles and hearty appeal of the Supreme Original Person who conquered the passionate wrath and gravity of women like Satyabhâmâ and made my hair [my grasses] stand on end out of the pleasure of being imprinted by His feet.

Who, therefore, can tolerate the pangs of separation from that Supreme Personality of Godhead? He could conquer the gravity and passionate wrath of His sweethearts like Satyabhâmâ by His sweet smile of love, pleasing glance and hearty appeals. When He traversed my [earth's] surface, I would be immersed in the dust of His lotus feet and thus would be sumptuously covered with grass which appeared like hairs standing on me out of pleasure. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

While the earth and the personality of religion were thus conversing, arrived Parîkchit, who was renown for being the saint among the kings, at the Sarasvatî river which was flowing to the east.

While the earth and the personality of religion were thus engaged in conversation, the saintly King Parîkshit reached the shore of the Sarasvatî River, which flowed towards the east. (Vedabase)