Chapter 51: The Deliverance of Mucukunda

 

10.51.1-6

śrī-śuka uvāca

taḿ vilokya viniṣkrāntam

ujjihānam ivoḍupam

darśanīyatamaḿ śyāmaḿ

pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam

 

śrīvatsa-vakṣasaḿ bhrājat

kaustubhāmukta-kandharam

pṛthu-dīrgha-catur-bāhuḿ

nava-kañjāruṇekṣaṇam

 

nitya-pramuditaḿ śrīmat

su-kapolaḿ śuci-smitam

mukhāravindaḿ bibhrāṇaḿ

sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam

 

vāsudevo hy ayam iti

pumān śrīvatsa-lāñchanaḥ

catur-bhujo 'ravindākṣo

vana-māly ati-sundaraḥ

 

lakṣaṇair nārada-proktair

nānyo bhavitum arhati

nirāyudhaś calan padbhyāḿ

yotsye 'nena nirāyudhaḥ

 

iti niścitya yavanaḥ

prādravad taḿ parāń-mukham

anvadhāvaj jighṛkṣus taḿ

durāpam api yoginām

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tam — Him; vilokya — seeing; viniṣkrāntam — coming out; ujjihānam — rising; iva — as if; uḍupam — the moon; darśanīya-tamam — the most beautiful to behold; śyāmam — dark blue; pīta — yellow; kauśeya — silk; vāsasam — whose garment;

 

śrīvatsa — the mark of the goddess of fortune, consisting of a special swirl of hair and belonging to the Supreme Lord alone; vakṣasam — upon whose chest; bhrājat — brilliant; kaustubha — with the gem Kaustubha; āmukta — decorated; kandharam — whose neck; pṛthu — broad; dīrgha — and long; catuḥ — four; bāhum — having arms; nava — newly grown; kañja — like lotuses; aruṇa — pink; īkṣaṇam — whose eyes;

 

nitya — always; pramuditam — joyful; śrīmat — effulgent; su — beautiful; kapolam — with cheeks; śuci — clean; smitam — with a smile; mukha — His face; aravindam — lotuslike; bibhrāṇam — displaying; sphuran — glittering; makara — shark; kuṇḍalam — earrings;

 

vāsudevaḥ — Vāsudeva; hi — indeed; ayam — this; iti — thus thinking; pumān — person; śrīvatsa-lāñchanaḥ — marked with Śrīvatsa; catuḥ-bhujaḥ — four-armed; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; vana — of forest flowers; mālī — wearing a garland; ati — extremely; sundaraḥ — beautiful;

 

lakṣaṇaiḥ — by the symptoms; nārada-proktaiḥ — told by Nārada Muni; na — no; anyaḥ — other; bhavitum arhati — can He be; nirāyudhaḥ — without weapons; calan — going; padbhyām — by foot; yotsye — I will fight; anena — with Him; nirāyudhaḥ — without weapons;

 

iti — thus; niścitya — deciding; yavanaḥ — the barbarian Kālayavana; prādravantam — who was fleeing; parāk — turned away; mukham — whose face; anvadhāvat — he pursued; jighṛkṣuḥ — wanting to catch; tam — Him; durāpam — unattainable; api — even; yoginām — by mystic yogīs.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Kālayavana saw the Lord come out from Mathurā like the rising moon. The Lord was most beautiful to behold, with His dark-blue complexion and yellow silk garment. Upon His chest He bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, and the Kaustubha gem adorned His neck. His four arms were sturdy and long. He displayed His ever-joyful lotuslike face, with eyes pink like lotuses, beautifully effulgent cheeks, a pristine smile and glittering shark-shaped earrings. The barbarian thought, "This person must indeed be Vāsudeva, since He possesses the characteristics Nārada mentioned: He is marked with Śrīvatsa, He has four arms, His eyes are like lotuses, He wears a garland of forest flowers, and He is extremely handsome. He cannot be anyone else. Since He goes on foot and unarmed, I will fight Him without weapons." Resolving thus, he ran after the Lord, who turned His back and ran away. Kālayavana hoped to catch Lord Kṛṣṇa, though great mystic yogīs cannot attain Him.

 

10.51.7

hasta-prāptam ivātmānaḿ

harīṇā sa pade pade

nīto darśayatā dūraḿ

yavaneśo 'dri-kandaram

 

hasta — in his hands; prāptam — reached; iva — as if; ātmānam — Himself; hariṇā — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — he; pade pade — at each step; nītaḥ — brought; darśayatā — by Him who was showing; dūram — far; yavana-īśaḥ — the King of the Yavanas; adri — in a mountain; kandaram — to a cave.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Appearing virtually within reach of Kālayavana's hands at every moment, Lord Hari led the King of the Yavanas far away to a mountain cave.

 

10.51.8

palāyanaḿ yadu-kule

jātasya tava nocitam

iti kṣipann anugato

nainaḿ prāpāhatāśubhaḥ

 

palāyanam — fleeing; yadu-kule — in the Yadu dynasty; jātasya — who have been born; tava — for You; na — is not; ucitam — proper; iti — in these words; kṣipan — insulting; anugataḥ — in pursuit; na — not; enam — Him; prāpa — reached; ahata — not cleansed or eliminated; aśubhaḥ — whose sinful reactions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While chasing the Lord, the Yavana cast insults at Him, saying "You took birth in the Yadu dynasty. It's not proper for You to run away!" But still Kālayavana could not reach Lord Kṛṣṇa, because his sinful reactions had not been cleansed away.

 

10.51.9

evaḿ kṣipto 'pi bhagavān

prāviśad giri-kandaram

so 'pi praviṣṭas tatrānyaḿ

śayānaḿ dadṛśe naram

 

evam — thus; kṣiptaḥ — insulted; api — even though; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; prāviśat — entered; giri-kandaram — the mountain cave; saḥ — he, Kālayavana; api — as well; praviṣṭaḥ — entering; tatra — there; anyam — another; śayānam — lying; dadṛśe — saw; naram — man.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although insulted in this way, the Supreme Lord entered the mountain cave. Kālayavana also entered, and there he saw another man lying asleep.

 

10.51.10

nanv asau dūram ānīya

śete mām iha sādhu-vat

iti matvācyutaḿ mūḍhas

taḿ padā samatāḍayat

 

nanu — is it so; asau — He; dūram — a long distance; ānīya — bringing; śete — is lying down; mām — me; iha — here; sādhu-vat — like a saintly person; iti — so; matvā — thinking (him); acyutam — (to be) Lord Kṛṣṇa; mūḍhaḥ — deluded; tam — him; padā — with his foot; samatāḍayat — struck with full force.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"So, after leading me such a long distance, now He is lying here like some saint!" Thus thinking the sleeping man to be Lord Kṛṣṇa, the deluded fool kicked him with all his strength.

 

10.51.11

sa utthāya ciraḿ suptaḥ

śanair unmīlya locane

diśo vilokayan pārśve

tam adrākṣīd avasthitam

 

saḥ — he; utthāya — waking; ciram — for a long time; suptaḥ — asleep; śanaiḥ — slowly; unmīlya — opening; locane — his eyes; diśaḥ — in all directions; vilokayan — looking about; pārśve — at his side; tam — him, Kālayavana; adrākṣīt — he saw; avasthitam — standing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The man awoke aher a long sleep and slowly opened his eyes. Looking all about, he saw Kālayavana standing beside him.

 

10.51.12

sa tāvat tasya ruṣṭasya

dṛṣṭi-pātena bhārata

deha-jenāgninā dagdho

bhasma-sād abhavat kṣaṇāt

 

saḥ — he, Kālayavana; tāvat — that much; tasya — of him, the awakened man; ruṣṭasya — who was angered; dṛṣṭi — of the glance; pātena — by the casting; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata (Parīkṣit Mahārāja); deha-jena — generated in his own body; agninā — by the fire; dagdhaḥ — burned; bhasma-sāt — to ashes; abhavat — he was; kṣaṇāt — in a moment.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The awakened man was angry and cast his glance at Kālayavana, whose body burst into flames. In a single moment, O King Parīkṣit, Kālayavana was burnt to ashes.

 

10.51.13

śrī-rājovāca

ko nāma sa pumān brahman

kasya kiḿ-vīrya eva ca

kasmād guhāḿ gataḥ śiṣye

kiḿ-tejo yavanārdanaḥ

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; kaḥ — who; nāma — in particular; saḥ — that; pumān — person; brahman — O brāhmaṇa (Śukadeva); kasya — of which (family); kim — having what; vīryaḥ — powers; eva ca — as also; kasmāt — why; guhām — in the cave; gataḥ — having gone; śiṣye — lay down to sleep; kim — whose; tejaḥ — semen (offspring); yavana — of the Yavana; ardanaḥ — the destroyer.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Parīkṣit said: Who was that person, O brāhmaṇa? To which family did he belong, and what were his powers? Why did that destroyer of the barbarian lie down to sleep in the cave, and whose son was he?

 

10.51.14

śrī-śuka uvāca

sa ikṣvāku-kule jāto

māndhātṛ-tanayo mahān

mucukunda iti khyāto

brahmaṇyaḥ satya-sańgaraḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he; ikṣvāku-kule — in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku (grandson of Vivasvān, the sun-god); jātaḥ — born; māndhātṛ-tanayaḥ — the son of King Māndhātā; mahān — the great personality; mucukundaḥ iti khyātaḥ — known as Mucukunda; brahmaṇyaḥ — devoted to the brāhmaṇas; satya — true to his vow; sańgaraḥ — in battle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mucukunda was the name of this great personality, who was born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty as the son of Māndhātā. He was devoted to brahminical culture and always true to his vow in battle.

 

10.51.15

sa yācitaḥ sura-gaṇair

indrādyair ātma-rakṣaṇe

asurebhyaḥ paritrastais

tad-rakṣāḿ so 'karoc ciram

 

saḥ — he; yācitaḥ — requested; sura-gaṇaiḥ — by the demigods; indra-ādyaiḥ — headed by Lord Indra; ātma — their own; rakṣaṇe — for protection; asurebhyaḥ — of the demons; paritrastaiḥ — who were terrified; tat — their; rakṣām — protection; saḥ — he; akarot — carried out; ciram — for a long time.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Begged by Indra and the other demigods to help protect them when they were terrorized by the demons, Mucukunda defended them for a long time.

 

10.51.16

labdhvā guhaḿ te svaḥ-pālaḿ

mucukundam athābruvan

rājan viramatāḿ kṛcchrād

bhavān naḥ paripālanāt

 

labdhvā — after obtaining; guham — Kārttikeya; te — they; svaḥ — of heaven; pālam — as the protector; mucukundam — to Mucukunda; atha — then; abruvan — said; rājan — O King; viramatām — please desist; kṛcchrāt — troublesome; bhavān — your good self; naḥ — our; paripālanāt — from the guarding.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the demigods obtained Kārttikeya as their general, they told Mucukunda, "O King, you may now give up your troublesome duty of guarding us.

 

10.51.17

nara-lokaḿ parityajya

rājyaḿ nihata-kaṇṭakam

asmān pālayato vīra

kāmās te sarva ujjhitāḥ

 

nara-lokam — in the world of men; parityajya — abandoning; rājyam — a kingdom; nihata — removed; kaṇṭakam — whose thorns; asmān — us; pālayataḥ — who was protecting; vīra — O hero; kāmaḥ — desires; te — your; sarve — all; ujjhitāḥ — thrown away.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Abandoning an unopposed kingdom in the world of men, O valiant one, you neglected all your personal desires while engaged in protecting us.

 

10.51.18

sutā mahiṣyo bhavato

jñātayo 'mātya-mantrinaḥ

prajāś ca tulya-kālīnā

nādhunā santi kālitāḥ

 

sutāḥ — children; mahiṣyaḥ — queens; bhavataḥ — your; jñātayaḥ — other relatives; amātya — ministers; mantriṇaḥ — and advisers; prajāḥ — subjects; ca — and; tulya-kālīnāḥ — contemporary; na — not; adhunā — now; santi — are alive; kālitāḥ — forced to move on by time.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"The children, queens, relatives, ministers, advisers and subjects who were your contemporaries are no longer alive. They have all been swept away by time.

 

10.51.19

kālo balīyān balināḿ

bhagavān īśvaro 'vyayaḥ

prajāḥ kālayate krīḍan

paśu-pālo yathā paśūn

 

kālaḥ — time; balīyān — more powerful; balinām — than the powerful; bhagavān īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avyayaḥ — inexhaustible; prajāḥ — mortal creatures; kālayate — causes to move; krīḍan — playing; paśu-pālaḥ — a herdsman; yathā — as; paśūn — domestic animals.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"Inexhaustible time, stronger than the strong, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Like a herdsman moving his animals along, He moves mortal creatures as His pastime.

 

10.51.20

varaḿ vṛṇīṣva bhadraḿ te

ṛte kaivalyam adya naḥ

eka eveśvaras tasya

bhagavān viṣṇur avyayaḥ

 

varam — a benediction; vṛṇīṣva — choose; bhadram — all good; te — unto you; ṛte — except; kaivalyam — liberation; adya — today; naḥ — from us; ekaḥ — one; eva — only; īśvaraḥ — capable; tasya — of that; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; viṣṇuḥ — Śrī Viṣṇu; avyayaḥ — the inexhaustible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"All good fortune to you! Now please choose a benediction from us — anything but liberation, since only the infallible Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, can bestow that."

 

10.51.21

evam uktaḥ sa vai devān

abhivandya mahā-yaśāḥ

aśayiṣṭa guhā-viṣṭo

nidrayā deva-dattayā

 

evam — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; saḥ — he; vai — indeed; devān — the demigods; abhivandya — saluting; mahā — great; yaśāḥ — whose fame; aśayiṣṭa — he lay down; guhā-viṣṭaḥ — entering a cave; nidrayā — in sleep; deva — by the demigods; dattayā — given.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Addressed thus, King Mucukunda took his respectful leave of the demigods and went to a cave, where he lay down to enjoy the sleep they had granted him.

 

10.51.22

yavane bhasma-sān nīte

bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ

ātmānaḿ darśayām āsa

mucukundāya dhīmate

 

yavane — after the barbarian; bhasma-sāt — into ashes; nīte — was turned; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvata — of the Sātvata clan; ṛṣabhaḥ — the greatest hero; ātmānam — Himself; darśayām āsa — revealed; mucukundāya — to Mucukunda; dhī-mate — the intelligent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the Yavana was burnt to ashes, the Supreme Lord, chief of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.

 

10.51.23-26

tam ālokya ghana-śyāmaḿ

pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam

śrīvatsa-vakṣasaḿ bhrājat

kaustubhena virājitam

 

catur-bhujaḿ rocamānaḿ

vaijayantyā ca mālayā

cāru-prasanna-vadanaḿ

sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam

 

prekṣaṇīyaḿ nṛ-lokasya

sānurāga-smitekṣaṇam

apīvya-vayasaḿ matta-

mṛgendrodāra-vikramam

 

paryapṛcchan mahā-buddhis

tejasā tasya dharṣitaḥ

śańkitaḥ śanakai rājā

durdharṣam iva tejasā

 

tam — Him; ālokya — looking upon; ghana — like a cloud; śyāmam — dark blue; pīta — yellow; kauśeya — silk; vāsasam — whose garment; śrīvatsa — the Śrīvatsa mark; vakṣasam — on whose chest; bhrājat — brilliant; kaustubhena — with the Kaustubha gem; virājitam — glowing;

 

catuḥ-bhujam — four-armed; rocamānam — beautified; vaijayantyā — named Vaijayantī; ca — and; mālayā — by the flower garland; cāru — attractive; prasanna — and calm; vadanam — whose face; sphurat — glittering; makara — shaped like sharks; kuṇḍalam — whose earrings;

 

prekṣaṇīyam — attracting the eyes; nṛ-lokasya — of mankind; sa — with; anurāga — affection; smita — smiling; īkṣaṇam — whose eyes or glance; apīvya — handsome; vayasam — whose youthful form; matta — angered; mṛga-indra — like a lion; udāra — noble; vikramam — whose walking;

 

parya-pṛcchat — he questioned; mahā-buddhiḥ — having great intelligence; tejasā — by the effulgence; tasya — His; dharṣitaḥ — overwhelmed; śańkitaḥ — having doubt; śanakaiḥ — slowly; rājā — the King; durdharṣam — unassailable; iva — indeed; tejasā — with His effulgence.

 

As he gazed at the Lord, King Mucukunda saw that He was dark blue like a cloud, had four arms, and wore a yellow silk garment. On His chest He bore the Śrīvatsa mark and on His neck the brilliantly glowing Kaustubha gem. Adorned with a Vaijayantī garland, the Lord displayed His handsome, peaceful face, which attracts the eyes of all mankind with its shark-shaped earrings and affectionately smiling glance. The beauty of His youthful form was unexcelled, and He moved with the nobility of an angry lion. The highly intelligent King was overwhelmed by the Lord's effulgence, which showed Him to be invincible. Expressing his uncertainty, Mucukunda hesitantly questioned Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows.

 

10.51.27

śrī-mucukunda uvāca

ko bhavān iha samprāpto

vipine giri-gahvare

padbhyāḿ padma-palāśābhyāḿ

vicarasy uru-kaṇṭake

 

śrī-mucukundaḥ uvāca — śrī Mucukunda said; kaḥ — who; bhavān — are You; iha — here; samprāptaḥ — arrived together (with me); vipine — in the forest; giri-gahvare — in a mountain cave; padbhyām — with Your feet; padma — of a lotus; palāśābhyām — (which are like) the petals; vicarasi — You are walking; uru-kaṇṭake — which is full of thorns.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Mucukunda said: Who are You who have come to this mountain cave in the forest, having walked on the thorny ground with feet as soft as lotus petals?

 

10.51.28

kiḿ svit tejasvināḿ tejo

bhagavān vā vibhāvasuḥ

sūryaḥ somo mahendro vā

loka-pālo paro 'pi vā

 

kim svit — perhaps; tejasvinām — of all potent beings; tejaḥ — the original form; bhagavān — powerful lord; vā — or else; vibhāvasuḥ — the god of fire; sūryaḥ — the sun-god; somaḥ — the moon-god; mahā-indraḥ — the King of heaven; va — or; loka — of a planet; pālaḥ — the ruler; aparaḥ — other; api vā — else.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Perhaps You are the potency of all potent beings. Or maybe You are the powerful god of fire, or the sun-god, the moon-god, the King of heaven or the ruling demigod of some other planet.

 

10.51.29

manye tvāḿ deva-devānāḿ

trayāṇāḿ puruṣarṣabham

yad bādhase guhā-dhvāntaḿ

pradīpaḥ prabhayā yathā

 

manye — I consider; tvām — You; deva-devānām — of the chief of the demigods; trayāṇām — three (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva); puruṣa — of the personalities; ṛṣabham — the greatest; yat — because; bādhase — You drive away; guha — of the cave; dhvāntam — the darkness; pradīpaḥ — a lamp; prabhayā — with its light; yathā — as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I think You are the Supreme Personality among the three chief gods, since You drive away the darkness of this cave as a lamp dispels darkness with its light.

 

10.51.30

śuśrūṣatām avyalīkam

asmākaḿ nara-puńgava

sva-janma karma gotraḿ vā

kathyatāḿ yadi rocate

 

śuśrūṣatām — who are eager to hear; avyalīkam — truthfully; asmākam — to us; nara — among men; pum-gava — O most eminent; sva — Your; janma — birth; karma — activity; gotram — lineage; vā — and; kathyatām — may it be told; yadi — if; rocate — it pleases.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O best among men, if You like, please truly describe Your birth, activities and lineage to us, who are eager to hear.

 

10.51.31

vayaḿ tu puruṣa-vyāghra

aikṣvākāḥ kṣatra-bandhavaḥ

mucukunda iti prokto

yauvanāśvātmajaḥ prabho

 

vayam — we; tu — on the other hand; puruṣa — among men; vyāghra — O tiger; aikṣvākāḥ — descendants of Ikṣvāku; kṣatra — of kṣatriyas; bandhavaḥ — family members; mucukundaḥ — Mucukunda; iti — thus; proktaḥ — called; yauvanāśva — of Yauvanāśva (Māndhātā, the son of Yuvanāśva); ātma-jaḥ — the son; prabho — O Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As for ourselves, O tiger among men, we belong to a family of fallen kṣatriyas, descendants of King Ikṣvāku. My name is Mucukunda, my Lord, and I am the son of Yauvanāśva.

 

10.51.32

cira-prajāgara-śrānto

nidrayāpahatendriyaḥ

śaye 'smin vijane kāmaḿ

kenāpy utthāpito 'dhunā

 

cira — for a long time; prajāgara — because of remaining awake; śrāntaḥ — fatigued; nidrayā — by sleep; apahata — covered over; indriyaḥ — my senses; śaye — I have been lying; asmin — in this; vijane — solitary place; kāmam — as pleases me; kena api — by someone; utthāpitaḥ — awakened; adhunā — now.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I was fatigued after remaining awake for a long time, and my senses were overwhelmed by sleep. Thus I slept comfortably here in this solitary place until, just now, someone woke me.

 

10.51.33

so 'pi bhasmī-kṛto nūnam

ātmīyenaiva pāpmanā

anantaraḿ bhavān śrīmān

lakṣito 'mitra-śāsanaḥ

 

saḥ api — that very person; bhasmī-kṛtaḥ — turned to ashes; nūnam — indeed; ātmīyena — by his own; eva — only; pāpmanā — sinful karma; anantaram — immediately following; bhavān — Your good self; śrīmān — glorious; lakṣitaḥ — observed; amitra — of enemies; śāsanaḥ — the chastiser.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The man who woke me was burned to ashes by the reaction of his sins. Just then I saw You, possessing a glorious appearance and the power to chastise Your enemies.

 

10.51.34

tejasā te 'viṣahyeṇa

bhūri draṣṭuḿ na śaknumaḥ

hataujasā mahā-bhāga

mānanīyo 'si dehinām

 

tejasā — because of the effulgence; te — Your; aviṣahyeṇa — unbearable; bhūri — much; draṣṭum — to see; na śaknumaḥ — we are not able; hata — diminished; ojasā — with our faculties; mahā-bhaga — O most opulent one; mānanīyaḥ — to be honored; asi — You are; dehinam — by embodied beings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your unbearably brilliant effulgence overwhelms our strength, and thus we cannot fix our gaze upon You. O exalted one, You are to be honored by all embodied beings.

 

10.51.35

evaḿ sambhāṣito rājñā

bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

pratyāha prahasan vāṇyā

megha-nāda-gabhīrayā

 

evam — thus; sambhāṣitaḥ — spoken to; rājñā — by the King; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhūta — of all creation; bhāvanaḥ — the origin; pratyāha — He replied; prahasan — smiling broadly; vāṇyā — with words; megha — of clouds; nāda — like the rumbling; gabhīrayā — deep.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus addressed by the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, origin of all creation, smiled and then replied to him in a voice as deep as the rumbling of clouds.

 

10.51.36

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

janma-karmābhidhānāni

santi me 'ńga sahasraśaḥ

na śakyante 'nusańkhyātum

anantatvān mayāpi hi

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; janma — births; karma — activities; abhidhānāni — and names; santi — there are; me — My; ańga — O dear one; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands; na śakyante — they cannot; anusańkhyātum — be enumerated; anantatvāt — because of having no limit; mayā — by Me; api hi — even.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: My dear friend, I have taken thousands of births, lived thousands of lives and accepted thousands of names. In fact My births, activities and names are limitless, and thus even I cannot count them.

 

10.51.37

kvacid rajāḿsi vimame

pārthivāny uru-janmabhiḥ

guṇa-karmābhidhānāni

na me janmāni karhicit

 

kvacit — at some time; rajāḿsi — the particles of dust; vimame — one might count; pārthivāni — on the earth; uru-janmabhiḥ — in many lifetimes; guṇa — qualities; karma — activities; abhidhānāni — and names; na — not; me — My; janmāni — births; karhicit — ever.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After many lifetimes someone might count the dust particles on the earth, but no one can ever finish counting My qualities, activities, names and births.

 

10.51.38

kāla-trayopapannāni

janma-karmāṇi me nṛpa

anukramanto naivāntaḿ

gacchanti paramarṣayaḥ

 

kāla — of time; traya — in three phases (past, present and future); upapannāni — occurring; janma — births; karmāṇi — and activities; me — My; nṛpa — O King (Mucukunda); anukramantaḥ — enumerating; na — not; eva — at all; antam — the end; gacchanti — reach; parama — the greatest; ṛṣayaḥ — sages.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, the greatest sages enumerate My births and activities, which take place throughout the three phases of time, but never do they reach the end of them.

 

10.51.39-40

tathāpy adyatanāny ańga

śṛnuṣva gadato mama

vijñāpito viriñcena

purāhaḿ dharma-guptaye

bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānām

 

asurāṇāḿ kṣayāya ca

avatīrṇo yadu-kule

gṛha ānakadundubheḥ

vadanti vāsudeveti

vasudeva-sutaḿ hi mām

 

tathā api — nevertheless; adyatanāni — those current; ańga — O friend; śṛṇuṣva — just hear; gadataḥ — who am speaking; mama — from Me; vijñāpitaḥ — sincerely requested; viriñcena — by Lord Brahmā; purā — in the past; aham — I; dharma — religious principles; guptaye — to protect; bhūmeḥ — for the earth; bhārāyamāṇānām — who are a burden;

 

asurāṇām — of the demons; kṣayāya — for the destruction; ca — and; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; yadu — of Yadu; kule — into the dynasty; gṛhe — in the home; ānakadundubheḥ — of Vasudeva; vadanti — people call; vāsudevaḥ iti — by the name Vāsudeva; vasudeva-sutam — the son of Vasudeva; hi — indeed; mām — Me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nonetheless, O friend, I will tell you about My current birth, name and activities. Kindly hear. Some time ago, Lord Brahmā requested Me to protect religious principles and destroy the demons who were burdening the earth. Thus I descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Indeed, because I am the son of Vasudeva, people call Me Vāsudeva.

 

10.51.41

kālanemir hataḥ kaḿsaḥ

pralambādyāś ca sad-dviṣaḥ

ayaḿ ca yavano dagdho

rājaḿs te tigma-cakṣuṣā

 

kālanemiḥ — the demon Kālanemi; hataḥ — killed; kaḿsaḥ — Kaḿsa; pralamba — Pralamba; ādyāḥ — and others; ca — also; sat — of those who are pious; dviṣaḥ — envious; ayam — this; ca — and; yavanaḥ — barbarian; dagdhaḥ — burned; rājan — O King; te — your; tigma — sharp; cakṣuṣā — by the glance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I have killed Kālanemi, reborn as Kaḿsa, as well as Pralamba and other enemies of the pious. And now, O King, this barbarian has been burnt to ashes by your piercing glance.

 

10.51.42

so 'haḿ tavānugrahārthaḿ

guhām etām upāgataḥ

prārthitaḥ pracuraḿ pūrvaḿ

tvayāhaḿ bhakta-vatsalaḥ

 

saḥ — that same person; aham — I; tava — your; anugraha — of the favoring; artham — for the sake; guhām — cave; etām — this; upāgataḥ — approached; prārthitaḥ — prayed to; pracuram — abundantly; pūrvam — before; tvayā — by you; aham — I; bhakta — to My devotees; vatsalaḥ — affectionate.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since in the past you repeatedly prayed to Me, I have personally come to this cave to show you mercy, for I am affectionately inclined to My devotees.

 

10.51.43

varān vṛṇīṣva rājarṣe

sarvān kāmān dadāmi te

māḿ prasanno janaḥ kaścin

na bhūyo 'rhati śocitum

 

varān — benedictions; vṛṇīṣva — just choose; rāja-ṛṣe — O saintly King; sarvān — all; kāmān — desirable things; dadāmi — I give; te — to you; mām — Me; prasannaḥ — having satisfied; janaḥ — person; kaścit — any; na bhūyaḥ — never again; arhati — needs; śocitum — to lament.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Now choose some benedictions from Me, O saintly King. I will fulfill all your desires. One who has satisfied Me need never again lament.

 

10.51.44

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity uktas taḿ praṇamyāha

mucukundo mudānvitaḥ

jñātvā nārāyaṇaḿ devaḿ

garga-vākyam anusmaran

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; tam — to Him; praṇamya — after bowing down; āha — said; mucukundaḥ — Mucukunda; mudā — with joy; anvitaḥ — filled; jñātvā — knowing (Him) to be; nārāyaṇam devam — Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Lord; garga-vākyam — the words of the sage Garga; anusmaran — remembering.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mucukunda bowed down to the Lord when he heard this. Remembering the words of the sage Garga, he joyfully recognized Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. The King then addressed Him as follows.

 

10.51.45

śrī-mucukunda uvāca

vimohito 'yaḿ jana īśa māyayā

tvadīyayā tvāḿ na bhajaty anartha-dṛk

sukhāya duḥkha-prabhaveṣu sajjate

gṛheṣu yoṣit puruṣaś ca vañcitaḥ

 

śrī-mucukundaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mucukunda said; vimohitaḥ — bewildered; ayam — this; janaḥ — person; īśa — O Lord; māyayā — by the illusory energy; tvadīyayā — Your own; tvām — You; na bhajati — does not worship; anartha-dṛk — not seeing one's real benefit; sukhāya — for the sake of happiness; duḥkha — misery; prabhaveṣu — in things that cause; sajjate — becomes entangled; gṛheṣu — in affairs of family life; yoṣit — woman; puruṣaḥ — man; ca — and; vañcitaḥ — cheated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Mucukunda said: O Lord, the people of this world, both men and women, are bewildered by Your illusory energy. Unaware of their real benefit, they do not worship You but instead seek happiness by entangling themselves in family affairs, which are actually sources of misery.

 

10.51.46

labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣaḿ

kathañcid avyańgam ayatnato 'nagha

pādāravindaḿ na bhajaty asan-matir

gṛhāndha-kūpe patito yathā paśuḥ

 

labdhvā — attaining; janaḥ — a person; durlabham — rarely obtained; atra — in this world; mānuṣam — the human form of life; kathañcit — somehow or other; avyańgam — with undistorted limbs (unlike the various animal forms); ayatnataḥ — without endeavor; anagha — O sinless one; pāda — Your feet; aravindam — lotuslike; na bhajati — he does not worship; asat — impure; matiḥ — his mentality; gṛha — of home; andha — blind; kūpe — in the well; patitaḥ — fallen; yathā — as; paśuḥ — an animal.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That person has an impure mind who, despite having somehow or other automatically obtained the rare and highly evolved human form of life, does not worship Your lotus feet. Like an animal that has fallen into a blind well, such a person has fallen into the darkness of a material home.

 

10.51.47

mamaiṣa kālo 'jita niṣphalo gato

rājya-śriyonnaddha-madasya bhū-pateḥ

martyātma-buddheḥ suta-dāra-kośa-bhūṣv

āsajjamānasya duranta-cintayā

 

mama — my; eṣaḥ — this; kālaḥ — time; ajita — O unconquerable one; niṣphalaḥ — fruitlessly; gataḥ — now gone; rājya — by kingdom; śriyā — and opulence; unnaddha — built up; madasya — whose intoxication; bhūpateḥ — a king of the earth; martya — the mortal body; ātma — as the self; buddheḥ — whose mentality; suta — to children; dāra — wives; kośa — treasury; bhūṣu — and land; āsajjamānasya — becoming attached; duranta — endless; cintayā — with anxiety.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I have wasted all this time, O unconquerable one, becoming more and more intoxicated by my domain and opulence as an earthly king. Misidentifying the mortal body as the self, becoming attached to children, wives, treasury and land, I suffered endless anxiety.

 

10.51.48

kalevare 'smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe

nirūḍha-māno nara-deva ity aham

vṛto rathebhāśva-padāty-anīkapair

gāḿ paryaṭaḿs tvāgaṇayan su-durmadaḥ

 

kalevare — in the body; asmin — this; ghaṭa — a pot; kuḍya — or a wall; sannibhe — which is like; nirūḍha — exaggerated; mānaḥ — whose false identification; nara-devaḥ — a god among men (king); iti — thus (thinking myself); aham — I; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; ratha — by chariots; ibha — elephants; aśva — horses; padāti — infantry; anīkapaiḥ — and generals; gām — the earth; paryaṭan — traveling; tvā — You; agaṇayan — not regarding seriously; su-durmadaḥ — very much deluded by pride.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With deep arrogance I took myself to be the body, which is a material object like a pot or a wall. Thinking myself a god among men, I traveled the earth surrounded by my charioteers, elephants, cavalry, foot soldiers and generals, disregarding You in my deluding pride.

 

10.51.49

pramattam uccair itikṛtya-cintayā

pravṛddha-lobhaḿ viṣayeṣu lālasam

tvam apramattaḥ sahasābhipadyase

kṣul-lelihāno 'hir ivākhum antakaḥ

 

pramattam — thoroughly deluded; uccaiḥ — extensive; iti-kṛtya — of what needs to be done; cintayā — with thought; pravṛddha — increased fully; lobham — whose greed; viṣayeṣu — for sense objects; lālasam — hankering; tvam — You; apramattaḥ — not deluded; sahasā — suddenly; abhipadyase — confront; kṣut — out of thirst; lelihānaḥ — licking its fangs; ahiḥ — a snake; iva — as; ākhum — a mouse; antakaḥ — death.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A man obsessed with thoughts of what he thinks needs to be done, intensely greedy, and delighting in sense enjoyment is suddenly confronted by You, who are ever alert. Like a hungry snake licking its fangs before a mouse, You appear before him as death.

 

10.51.50

purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran

mataḿ-gajair vā nara-deva-saḿjñitaḥ

sa eva kālena duratyayena te

kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saḿjñitaḥ

 

purā — previously; rathaiḥ — in chariots; hema — with gold; pariṣkṛtaiḥ — furnished; caran — riding; matam — fierce; gajaiḥ — on elephants; vā — or; nara-deva — king; saḿjñitaḥ — named; saḥ — that; eva — same; kālena — by time; duratyayena — unavoidable; te — Your; kalevaraḥ — body; viṭ — as feces; kṛmi — worms; bhasma — ashes; saḿjñitaḥ — named.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The body that at first rides high on fierce elephants or chariots adorned with gold and is known by the name "king" is later, by Your invincible power of time, called "feces," "worms," or "ashes."

 

10.51.51

nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho

varāsana-sthaḥ sama-rāja-vanditaḥ

gṛheṣu maithunya-sukheṣu yoṣitāḿ

krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate

 

nirjitya — having conquered; dik — of directions; cakram — the whole circle; abhūta — nonexistent; vigrahaḥ — any conflict for whom; vara-āsana — on an exalted throne; sthaḥ — seated; sama — equal; rāja — by kings; vanditaḥ — praised; gṛheṣu — in residences; maithunya — sex; sukheṣu — whose happiness; yoṣitām — of women; krīḍā-mṛgaḥ — a pet animal; puruṣaḥ — the person; īśa — O Lord; nīyate — is led about.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having conquered the entire circle of directions and being thus free of conflict, a man sits on a splendid throne, receiving praise from leaders who were once his equals. But when he enters the women's chambers, where sex pleasure is found, he is led about like a pet animal, O Lord.

 

10.51.52

karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito

nivṛtta-bhogas tad-apekṣayādadat

punaś ca bhūyāsam ahaḿ sva-rāḍ iti

pravṛddha-tarṣo na sukhāya kalpate

 

karoti — one performs; karmāṇi — duties; tapaḥ — in the practice of austerities; su-niṣṭhitaḥ — very fixed; nivṛtta — avoiding; bhogaḥ — sense enjoyment; tat — with that (position which he already has); apekṣayā — in comparison; adadat — assuming; punaḥ — further; ca — and; bhūyāsam — greater; aham — I; sva-rāṭ — sovereign ruler; iti — thus thinking; pravṛddha — rampant; tarṣaḥ — whose urges; na — not; sukhāya — happiness; kalpate — can attain.