Chapter 69: Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa's Palaces in Dvārakā

 

10.69.1-6

śrī-śuka uvāca

narakaḿ nihataḿ śrutvā

tathodvāhaḿ ca yoṣitām

kṛṣṇenaikena bahvīnāḿ

tad-didṛkṣuḥ sma nāradaḥ

 

citraḿ bataitad ekena

vapuṣā yugapat pṛthak

gṛheṣu dvy-aṣṭa-sāhasraḿ

striya eka udāvahat

 

ity utsuko dvāravatīḿ

devarṣir draṣṭum āgamat

puṣpitopavanārāma-

dvijāli-kula-nāditām

 

utphullendīvarāmbhoja-

kahlāra-kumudotpalaiḥ

churiteṣu saraḥsūccaiḥ

kūjitāḿ haḿsa-sārasaiḥ

 

prāsāda-lakṣair navabhir

juṣṭāḿ sphāṭika-rājataiḥ

mahā-marakata-prakhyaiḥ

svarṇa-ratna-paricchadaiḥ

 

vibhakta-rathyā-patha-catvarāpaṇaiḥ

śālā-sabhābhī rucirāḿ surālayaiḥ

saḿsikta-mārgāńgana-vīthi-dehalīḿ

patat-patāka-dhvaja-vāritātapām

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; narakam — the demon Naraka; nihatam — killed; śrutvā — hearing; tathā — also; udvāham — the marriage; ca — and; yoṣitām — with women; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ekena — one; bahvīnām — with many; tat — that; didṛkṣuḥ — wanting to see; sma — indeed; nāradaḥ — Nārada;

 

citram — wonderful; bata — ah; etat — this; ekena — with a single; vapuṣā — body; yugapat — simultaneously; pṛthak — separate; gṛheṣu — in residences; dvi — two times; aṣṭa — eight; sāhasram — thousand; striyaḥ — women; ekaḥ — alone; udāvahat — He married;

 

iti — thus; utsukaḥ — eager; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; deva — of the demigods; ṛṣiḥ — the sage, Nārada; draṣṭum — to see; āgamat — came; puṣpita — flowery; upavana — in parks; ārāma — and pleasure gardens; dvija — of birds; ali — and bees; kula — with flocks and swarms; nāditām — resounding;

 

utphulla — blooming; indīvara — with blue lotuses; ambhoja — day-blooming lotuses; kahlāra — white esculent lotuses; kumuda — moonlight-blooming lotuses; utpalaiḥ — and water lilies; churiteṣu — filled; saraḥsu — within lakes; uccaiḥ — loudly; kūjitām — filled with the calling; haḿsa — by swans; sārasaiḥ — and cranes;

 

prāsāda — with palaces; lakṣaiḥ — hundreds of thousands; navabhiḥ — nine; juṣṭām — adorned; sphāṭika — made of crystal glass; rājataiḥ — and silver; mahā-marakata — with great emeralds; prakhyaiḥ — splendorous; svarṇa — of gold; ratna — and jewels; paricchadaiḥ — whose furnishings;

 

vibhakta — systematically divided; rathyā — with main avenues; patha — roads; catvara — intersections; āpaṇaiḥ — and marketplaces; śālā-sabhābhiḥ — with assembly houses; rucirām — charming; sura — of the demigods; ālayaiḥ — with temples; saḿsikta — sprinkled with water; mārga — whose roads; ańgana — courtyards; vīthi — commercial streets; dehalīm — and patios; patat — flying; patāka — with banners; dhvaja — by the flagpoles; vārita — warded off; ātapām — the heat of the sun.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing that Lord Kṛṣṇa had killed Narakāsura and had alone married many brides, Nārada Muni desired to see the Lord in this situation. He thought, "It is quite amazing that in a single body Lord Kṛṣṇa simultaneously married sixteen thousand women, each in a separate palace." Thus the sage of the demigods eagerly went to Dvārakā.

The city was filled with the sounds of birds and bees flying about the parks and pleasure gardens, while its lakes, crowded with blooming indīvara, ambhoja, kahlāra, kumuda and utpala lotuses, resounded with the calls of swans and cranes. Dvārakā boasted nine hundred thousand royal palaces, all constructed with crystal and silver and splendorously decorated with huge emeralds. Inside these palaces, the furnishings were bedecked with gold and jewels. Traffic moved along a well laid-out system of boulevards, roads, intersections and marketplaces, and many assembly houses and temples of demigods graced the charming city. The roads, courtyards, commercial streets and residential patios were all sprinkled with water and shaded from the sun's heat by banners waving from flagpoles.

 

10.69.7-8

tasyām antaḥ-puraḿ śrīmad

arcitaḿ sarva-dhiṣṇya-paiḥ

hareḥ sva-kauśalaḿ yatra

tvaṣṭrā kārtsnyena darśitam

 

tatra ṣoḍaśabhiḥ sadma-

sahasraiḥ samalańkṛtam

viveśaikatomaḿ śaureḥ

patnīnāḿ bhavanaḿ mahat

 

tasyām — in that (Dvārakā); antaḥ-puram — the private royal precinct; śrī-mat — opulent; arcitam — worshiped; sarva — all; dhiṣṇya — of the various planetary systems; paiḥ — by the maintainers; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; sva — his own; kauśalam — expertise; yatra — where; tvaṣṭrā — by Tvaṣṭā (Viśvakarmā, the architect of heaven); kārtsnyena — completely; darśitam — shown;

 

tatra — there; ṣoḍaśabhiḥ — with sixteen; sadma — of residences; sahasraiḥ — thousands; samalańkṛtam — beautified; viveśa — (Nārada) entered; ekatamam — one of them; śaureḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa's; patnīnām — of the wives; bhavanam — palace; mahat — great.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the city of Dvārakā was a beautiful private quarter worshiped by the planetary rulers. This district, where the demigod Viśvakarmā had shown all his divine skill, was the residential area of Lord Hari, and thus it was gorgeously decorated by the sixteen thousand palaces of Lord Kṛṣṇa's queens. Nārada Muni entered one of these immense palaces.

 

10.69.9-12

viṣṭabdhaḿ vidruma-stambhair

vaidūrya-phalakottamaiḥ

indranīla-mayaiḥ kuḍyair

jagatyā cāhata-tviṣā

 

vitānair nirmitais tvaṣṭrā

muktā-dāma-vilambibhiḥ

dāntair āsana-paryańkair

maṇy-uttama-pariṣkṛtaiḥ

 

dāsībhir niṣka-kaṇṭhībhiḥ

su-vāsobhir alańkṛtam

pumbhiḥ sa-kañcukoṣṇīṣa

su-vastra-maṇi-kuṇḍalaiḥ

 

ratna-pradīpa-nikara-dyutibhir nirasta-

dhvāntaḿ vicitra-valabhīṣu śikhaṇḍino 'ńga

nṛtyanti yatra vihitāguru-dhūpam akṣair

niryāntam īkṣya ghana-buddhaya unnadantaḥ

 

viṣṭabdham — supported; vidruma — of coral; stambhaiḥ — by pillars; vaidūrya — of vaidūrya gems; phalaka — with decorative coverings; uttamaiḥ — excellent; indranīla-mayaiḥ — bedecked with sapphires; kuḍyaiḥ — with walls; jagatyā — with a floor; ca — and; ahata — constant; tviṣā — whose effulgence;

 

vitānaiḥ — with canopies; nirmitaiḥ — constructed; tvaṣṭrā — by Viśvakarmā; muktā-dāma — of strands of pearls; vilambibhiḥ — with hangings; dāntaiḥ — of ivory; āsana — with seats; paryańkaiḥ — and beds; maṇi — with jewels; uttama — most excellent; pariṣkṛtaiḥ — decorated;

 

dāsībhiḥ — with maidservants; niṣka — lockets; kaṇṭhībhiḥ — upon whose throats; su-vāsobhiḥ — well-dressed; alańkṛtam — adorned; pumbhiḥ — with men; sa-kañcuka — wearing armor; uṣṇīṣa — turbans; su-vastra — fine clothing; maṇi — jeweled; kuṇḍalaiḥ — and earrings;

 

ratna — jewel-bedecked; pradīpa — of lamps; nikara — many; dyutibhiḥ — with the light; nirasta — dispelled; dhvāntam — darkness; vicitra — variegated; valabhīṣu — on the ridges of the roof; śikhaṇḍinaḥ — peacocks; ańga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); nṛtyanti — dance; yatra — wherein; vihita — placed; aguru — of aguru; dhūpam — incense; akṣaiḥ — through the small holes in the latticed windows; niryāntam — going out; īkṣya — seeing; ghana — a cloud; buddhayaḥ — thinking it to be; unnadantaḥ — crying loudly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Supporting the palace were coral pillars decoratively inlaid with vaidūrya gems. Sapphires bedecked the walls, and the floors glowed with perpetual brilliance. In that palace Tvaṣṭā had arranged canopies with hanging strands of pearls; there were also seats and beds fashioned of ivory and precious jewels. In attendance were many well-dressed maidservants bearing lockets on their necks, and also armor-clad guards with turbans, fine uniforms and jeweled earrings. The glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled all darkness in the palace. My dear King, on the ornate ridges of the roof danced loudly crying peacocks, who saw the fragrant aguru incense escaping through the holes of the latticed windows and mistook it for a cloud.

 

10.69.13

tasmin samāna-guṇa-rūpa-vayaḥ-su-veṣa-

dāsī-sahasra-yutayānusavaḿ gṛhiṇyā

vipro dadarśa camara-vyajanena rukma-

daṇḍena sātvata-patiḿ parivījayantyā

 

tasmin — therein; samāna — equal; guṇa — whose personal qualities; rūpa — beauty; vayaḥ — youth; su-veṣa — and fine dress; dāsī — by maidservants; sahasra — a thousand; yutayā — joined; anusavam — at every moment; gṛhiṇyā — together with His wife; vipraḥ — the learned brāhmaṇa (Nārada); dadarśa — saw; camara — of yak-tail; vyajanena — with a fan; rukma — gold; daṇḍena — whose handle; sātvata-patim — the Lord of the Sātvatas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; parivījayantyā — fanning.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In that palace the learned brāhmaṇa saw the Lord of the Sātvatas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, together with His wife, who fanned Him with a gold-handled yak-tail fan. She personally served Him in this way, even though she was constantly attended by a thousand maidservants equal to her in personal character, beauty, youth and fine dress.

 

10.69.14

taḿ sannirīkṣya bhagavān sahasotthita-śrī-

paryańkataḥ sakala-dharma-bhṛtāḿ variṣṭhaḥ

ānamya pāda-yugalaḿ śirasā kirīṭa-

juṣṭena sāñjalir avīviśad āsane sve

 

tam — him (Nārada); sannirīkṣya — noticing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sahasā — immediately; utthita — rising; śrī — of the goddess of fortune, Queen Rukmiṇī; paryańkataḥ — from the bed; sakala — all; dharma — of religion; bhṛtām — of the upholders; variṣṭhaḥ — the best; ānamya — bowing down; pāda-yugalam — to his two feet; śirasā — with His head; kirīṭa — with a crown; juṣṭena — fitted; sa-añjaliḥ — with joined palms; avīviśat — had him sit down; āsane — on the seat; sve — His own.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord is the greatest upholder of religious principles. Thus when He noticed Nārada, He rose at once from Goddess Śrī's bed, bowed His crowned head at Nārada's feet and, joining His palms, had the sage sit in His own seat.

 

10.69.15

tasyāvanijya caraṇau tad-apaḥ sva-mūrdhnā

bibhraj jagad-gurutamo 'pi satāḿ patir hi

brahmaṇya-deva iti yad guṇa-nāma yuktaḿ

tasyaiva yac-caraṇa-śaucam aśeṣa-tīrtham

 

tasya — his; avanijya — washing; caraṇau — the feet; tat — that; apaḥ — water; sva — His own; mūrdhnā — on the head; bibhrat — carrying; jagat — of the entire universe; guru-tamaḥ — the supreme spiritual master; api — even though; satām — of the saintly devotees; patiḥ — the master; hi — indeed; brahmaṇya — who favors the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — the Lord; iti — thus called; yat — since; guṇa — based on His quality; nāma — the name; yuktam — fitting; tasya — His; eva — indeed; yat — whose; caraṇa — of the feet; śaucam — the bathing; aśeṣa — complete; tīrtham — holy shrine.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord bathed Nārada's feet and then put the water on His own head. Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme spiritual authority of the universe and the master of His devotees, it was proper for Him to behave in this way, for His name is Brahmaṇya-deva, "the Lord who favors the bṛāhmaṇas." Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa honored the sage Nārada by bathing his feet, even though the water that bathes the Lord's own feet becomes the Ganges, the ultimate holy shrine.

 

10.69.16

sampūjya deva-ṛṣi-varyam ṛṣiḥ purāṇo

nārāyaṇo nara-sakho vidhinoditena

vāṇyābhibhāṣya mitayāmṛta-miṣṭayā taḿ

prāha prabho bhagavate karavāma he kim

 

sampūjya — fully worshiping; deva — among the demigods; ṛṣi — the sage; varyam — greatest; ṛṣiḥ — the sage; purāṇaḥ — primeval; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa; nara-sakhaḥ — the friend of Nara; vidhinā — by scripture; uditena — enjoined; vāṇyā — with speech; abhibhāṣya — conversing; mitayā — measured; amṛta — with nectar; miṣṭayā — sweet; tam — him, Nārada; prāha — He addressed; prabho — O master; bhagavate — for the lord; karavāma — We may do; he — O; kim — what.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After fully worshiping the great sage of the demigods according to Vedic injunctions, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is Himself the original sage — Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara — conversed with Nārada, and the Lord's measured speech was as sweet as nectar. Finally the Lord asked Nārada, "What may We do for you, Our lord and master?"

 

10.69.17

śrī-nārada uvāca

naivādbhutaḿ tvayi vibho 'khila-loka-nāthe

maitrī janeṣu sakaleṣu damaḥ khalānām

niḥśreyasāya hi jagat-sthiti-rakṣaṇābhyāḿ

svairāvatāra urugāya vidāma suṣṭhu

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said; na — not; eva — at all; adbhutam — surprising; tvayi — for You; vibho — O almighty one; akhila — of all; loka — worlds; nāthe — for the ruler; maitrī — friendship; janeṣu — toward people; sakaleṣu — all; damaḥ — the subduing; khalānām — of the envious; niḥśreyasāya — for the highest benefit; hi — indeed; jagat — of the universe; sthiti — by maintenance; rakṣaṇābhyām — and protection; svaira — freely chosen; avatāraḥ — descent; uru-gāya — O You who are praised universally; vidāma — we know; suṣṭhu — well.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Nārada said: O almighty Lord, it is no surprise that You, the ruler of all worlds, show friendship for all people and yet subdue the envious. As we well know, You descend by Your sweet will in order to bestow the highest good on this universe by maintaining and protecting it. Thus Your glories are widely sung.

 

10.69.18

dṛṣṭaḿ tavāńghri-yugalaḿ janatāpavargaḿ

brahmādibhir hṛdi vicintyam agādha-bodhaiḥ saḿsāra-kūpa-patitottaraṇāvalambaḿ

dhyāyaḿś carāmy anugṛhāṇa yathā smṛtiḥ syāt

 

dṛṣṭam — seen; tava — Your; ańghri — of feet; yugalam — pair; janatā — for Your devotees; apavargam — the source of liberation; brahma-ādibhiḥ — by persons such as Lord Brahmā; hṛdi — within the heart; vicintyam — meditated upon; agādha — unfathomable; bodhaiḥ — whose intelligence; saḿsāra — of material life; kūpa — in the well; patita — of those who are fallen; uttaraṇa — for deliverance; avalambam — the shelter; dhyāyan — constantly thinking; carāmi — I may travel; anugṛhāṇa — please bless me; yathā — so that; smṛtiḥ — remembrance; syāt — may be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Now I have seen Your feet, which grant liberation to Your devotees, which even Lord Brahmā and other great personalities of unfathomable intelligence can only meditate upon within their hearts, and which those who have fallen into the well of material existence resort to for deliverance. Please favor me so that I may constantly think of You as I travel about. Please grant Me the power to remember You.

 

10.69.19

tato 'nyad āviśad gehaḿ

kṛṣṇa-patnyāḥ sa nāradaḥ

yogeśvareśvarasyāńga

yoga-māyā-vivitsayā

 

tataḥ — then; anyat — another; āviśat — entered; geham — residence; kṛṣṇa-patnyāḥ — of a wife of Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — he; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of mystic power; īśvarasya — of the supreme master; ańga — my dear King; yoga-māyā — the spiritual power of bewilderment; vivitsayā — with the desire of knowing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada then entered the palace of another of Lord Kṛṣṇa's wives, my dear King. He was eager to witness the spiritual potency possessed by the master of all masters of mystic power.

 

10.69.20-22

dīvyantam akṣais tatrāpi

priyayā coddhavena ca

pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā

pratyutthānāsanādibhiḥ

 

pṛṣṭaś cāviduṣevāsau

kadāyāto bhavān iti

kriyate kiḿ nu pūrṇānām

apūrṇair asmad-ādibhiḥ

 

athāpi brūhi no brahman

janmaitac chobhanaḿ kuru

sa tu vismita utthāya

tūṣṇīm anyad agād gṛham

 

dīvyantam — playing; akṣaiḥ — with dice; tatra — there; api — indeed; priyayā — with His beloved; ca — and; uddhavena — with Uddhava; ca — also; pūjitaḥ — he was worshiped; parayā — with transcendental; bhaktyā — devotion; pratyutthāna — by His standing up from His sitting place; āsana — by His offering him a seat; ādibhiḥ — and so on;

 

pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; ca — and; aviduṣā — by one who was in ignorance; iva — as if; asau — he, Nārada; kadā — when; āyātaḥ — arrived; bhavān — your good self; iti — thus; kriyate — is intended to be done; kim — what; nu — indeed; pūrṇānām — by those who are full; apūrṇaiḥ — with those who are not full; asmat-ādibhiḥ — such as Ourself;

 

atha api — nonetheless; brūhi — please tell; naḥ — Us; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; janma — Our birth; etat — this; śobhanam — auspicious; kuru — please make; saḥ — he, Nārada; tu — but; vismitaḥ — astonished; utthāya — standing up; tūṣṇīm — silently; anyat — to another; agāt — went; gṛham — palace.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There he saw the Lord playing at dice with His beloved consort and His friend Uddhava. Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiped Nārada by standing up, offering him a seat, and so on, and then, as if He did not know, asked him, "When did you arrive? What can needy persons like Us do for those who are full in themselves? In any case, My dear brāhmaṇa, please make My life auspicious." Thus addressed, Nārada was astonished. He simply stood up silently and went to another palace.

 

10.69.23

tatrāpy acaṣṭa govindaḿ

lālayantaḿ sutān śiśūn

tato 'nyasmin gṛhe 'paśyan

majjanāya kṛtodyamam

 

tatra — there; api — and; acaṣṭa — he saw; govindam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; lālayantam — coddling; sutān — His children; śiśūn — infant; tataḥ — then; anyasmin — in another; gṛhe — palace; apaśyat — he saw (Him); majjanāya — for taking bath; kṛta-udyamam — preparing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This time Nāradajī saw that Lord Kṛṣṇa was engaged as an affectionate father petting His small children. From there he entered another palace and saw Lord Kṛṣṇa preparing to lake His bath.

 

10.69.24

juhvantaḿ ca vitānāgnīn

yajantaḿ pañcabhir makhaiḥ

bhojayantaḿ dvijān kvāpi

bhuñjānam avaśeṣitam

 

juhvantam — offering oblations; ca — and; vitāna-agnīn — to the sacrificial fires; yajantam — worshiping; pañcabhiḥ — five; makhaiḥ — with the obligatory rituals; bhojayantam — feeding; dvijān — brāhmaṇas; kva api — somewhere; bhuñjānam — eating; avaśeṣitam — remnants.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In one place the Lord was offering oblations into the sacrificial fires; in another, worshiping through the five mahā-yajñas; in another, feeding brāhmaṇas; and in yet another, eating the remnants of food left by brāhmaṇas.

 

10.69.25

kvāpi sandhyām upāsīnaḿ

japantaḿ brahma vāg-yatam

ekatra cāsi-carmābhyāḿ

carantam asi-vartmasu

 

kva api — somewhere; sandhyām — the rituals of sunset; upāsīnam — worshiping; japantam — quietly chanting; brahma — the Vedic mantra (Gāyatrī); vāk-yatam — controlling His speech; ekatra — in one place; ca — and; asi — with sword; carmābhyām — and shield; carantam — moving about; asi-vartmasu — in the corridors set aside for sword practice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was observing the rituals for worship at sunset by refraining from speech and quietly chanting the Gāyatrī mantra, and elsewhere He was moving about with sword and shield in the areas set aside for sword practice.

 

10.69.26

aśvair gajai rathaiḥ kvāpi

vicarantaḿ gadāgrajam

kvacic chayānaḿ paryańke

stūyamānaḿ ca vandibhiḥ

 

aśvaiḥ — on horses; gajaiḥ — on elephants; rathaiḥ — on chariots; kva api — somewhere; vicarantam — riding; gada-agrajam — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gada; kvacit — somewhere; śayānam — lying; paryańke — on His bed; stūyamānam — being praised; ca — and; vandibhiḥ — by bards.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In one place Lord Gadāgraja was riding on horses, elephants and chariots, and in another place He was resting on His bed while bards recited His glories.

 

10.69.27

mantrayantaḿ ca kasmiḿścin

mantribhiś coddhavādibhiḥ

jala-krīḍā-rataḿ kvāpi

vāramukhyābalāvṛtam

 

mantrayantam — consulting; ca — and; kasmiḿścit — somewhere; mantri-bhiḥ — with advisers; ca — and; uddhava-ādibhiḥ — Uddhava and others; jala — watery; krīḍā — in sports; ratam — engaged; kva api — somewhere; vāra-mukhyā — by royal dancing girls; abalā — and other women; vṛtam — accompanied.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere He was consulting with royal ministers like Uddhava, and somewhere else He was enjoying in the water, surrounded by many society girls and other young women.

 

10.69.28

kutracid dvija-mukhyebhyo

dadataḿ gāḥ sv-alańkṛtāḥ

itihāsa-purāṇāni

śṛṇvantaḿ mańgalāni ca

 

kutracit — somewhere; dvija — to brāhmaṇas; mukhyebhyaḥ — excellent; dadatam — giving; gāḥ — cows; su — well; alańkṛtāḥ — ornamented; itihāsa — epic histories; purāṇāni — and the Purāṇas; śṛṇvantam — hearing; mańgalāni — auspicious; ca — and.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere He was giving well-decorated cows to exalted brāhmaṇas, and elsewhere he was listening to the auspicious narration of epic histories and Purāṇas.

 

10.69.29

hasantaḿ hāsa-kathayā

kadācit priyayā gṛhe

kvāpi dharmaḿ sevamānam

artha-kāmau ca kutracit

 

hasantam — laughing; hāsa-kathayā — with joking conversation; kadācit — at one time; priyayā — with His beloved; gṛhe — in the palace; kva api — somewhere; dharmam — religiosity; sevamānam — practicing; artha — economic development; kāmau — sense gratification; ca — and; kutracit — somewhere.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was found enjoying the company of a particular wife by exchanging joking words with her. Somewhere else He was found engaged, along with His wife, in religious ritualistic functions. Somewhere Kṛṣṇa was found engaged in matters of economic development, and somewhere else He was found enjoying family life according to the regulative principles of the śāstras.

 

10.69.30

dhyāyantam ekam āsīnaḿ

puruṣaḿ prakṛteḥ param

śuśrūṣantaḿ gurūn kvāpi

kāmair bhogaiḥ saparyayā

 

dhyāyantam — meditating; ekam — alone; āsīnam — sitting; puruṣam — on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prakṛteḥ — to material nature; param — transcendental; śuśrūṣantam — rendering menial service; gurūn — to His elders; kva api — somewhere; kāmaiḥ — desirable; bhogaiḥ — with objects of enjoyment; saparyayā — and with worship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere He was sitting alone, meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to material nature, and somewhere He was rendering menial service to His elders, offering them desirable things and reverential worship.

 

10.69.31

kurvantaḿ vigrahaḿ kaiścit

sandhiḿ cānyatra keśavam

kutrāpi saha rāmeṇa

cintayantaḿ satāḿ śivam

 

kurvantam — making; vigraham — war; kaiścit — with certain persons; sandhim — reconciliation; ca — and; anyatra — elsewhere; keśavam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kutra api — somewhere; saha — together; rāmeṇa — with Lord Balarāma; cintayantam — thinking; satām — of the saintly; śivam — the welfare.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In one place He was planning battles in consultation with some of His advisers, and in another place He was making peace. Somewhere Lord Keśava and Lord Balarāma were together pondering the welfare of the pious.

 

10.69.32

putrāṇāḿ duhitṝṇāḿ ca

kāle vidhy-upayāpanam

dārair varais tat-sadṛśaiḥ

kalpayantaḿ vibhūtibhiḥ

 

putrāṇām — of sons; duhitṝṇām — of daughters; ca — and; kāle — at the suitable time; vidhi — according to religious principles; upayāpanam — getting them married; dāraiḥ — with wives; varaiḥ — and with husbands; tat — for them; sadṛśaiḥ — compatible; kalpayantam — so arranging; vibhūtibhiḥ — in terms of opulences.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada saw Lord Kṛṣṇa engaged in getting His sons and daughters married to suitable brides and bridegrooms at the appropriate time, and the marriage ceremonies were being performed with great pomp.

 

10.69.33

prasthāpanopanayanair

apatyānāḿ mahotsavān

vīkṣya yogeśvareśasya

yeṣāḿ lokā visismire

 

prasthāpana — with sending away; upanayanaiḥ — and bringing home; apatyānām — of the children; mahā — great; utsavān — holiday celebrations; vīkṣya — seeing; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of yoga; īśasya — of the supreme master; yeṣām — whose; lokāḥ — the people; visismire — were amazed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada observed how Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the master of all yoga masters, arranged to send away His daughters and sons-in-law, and also to receive them home again, at the time of great holiday celebrations. All the citizens were astonished to see these celebrations.

 

10.69.34

yajantaḿ sakalān devān

kvāpi kratubhir ūrjitaiḥ

pūrtayantaḿ kvacid dharmaḿ

kūrpārāma-maṭhādibhiḥ

 

yajantam — worshiping; sakalān — all; devān — the demigods; kva api — somewhere; kratubhiḥ — with sacrifices; ūrjitaiḥ — full-blown; pūrtayantam — fulfilling by civil service; kvacit — somewhere; dharmam — religious obligation; kūrpa — with wells; ārāma — public parks; maṭha — monasteries; ādibhiḥ — and so on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere He was worshiping all the demigods with elaborate sacrifices, and elsewhere He was fulfilling His religious obligations by doing public welfare work, such as the construction of wells, public parks and monasteries.

 

10.69.35

carantaḿ mṛgayāḿ kvāpi

hayam āruhya saindhavam

ghnantaḿ tatra paśūn medhyān

parītaḿ yadu-puńgavaiḥ

 

carantam — traveling; mṛgayām — on a hunting expedition; kva api — somewhere; hayam — His horse; āruhya — mounting; saindhavam — of the Sindh country; ghnantam — killing; tatra — there; paśūn — animals; medhyān — offerable in sacrifice; parītam — surrounded; yadu-puńgavaiḥ — by the most heroic Yadus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In another place He was on a hunting expedition. Mounted on His Sindhī horse and accompanied by the most heroic of the Yadus, He was killing animals meant for offering in sacrifice.

 

10.69.36

avyakta-lingaḿ prakṛtiṣv

antaḥ-pura-gṛhādiṣu

kvacic carantaḿ yogeśaḿ

tat-tad-bhāva-bubhutsayā

 

avyakta — hidden; lińgam — His identity; prakṛtiṣu — among His ministers; antaḥ-pura — of the royal precincts; gṛha-ādiṣu — among the residences, etc.; kvacit — somewhere; carantam — moving about; yoga-īśam — the Lord of mystic power; tat-tat — of each of them; bhāva — the mentalities; bubhutsayā — with the desire to know.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Somewhere Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of mystic power, was moving about in disguise among the homes of ministers and other citizens in order to understand what each of them was thinking.

 

10.69.37

athovāca hṛṣīkeśaḿ

nāradaḥ prahasann iva

yoga-māyodayaḿ vīkṣya

mānuṣīm īyuṣo gatim

 

atha — thereupon; uvāca — said; hṛṣīkeśam — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāradaḥ — Nārada; prahasan — laughing; iva — mildly; yoga-māyā — of His spiritual bewildering potencies; udayam — the unfolding; vīkṣya — having seen; mānuṣīm — human; īyuṣaḥ — who was assuming; gatim — ways.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus seen this display of the Lord's Yogamāyā, Nārada mildly laughed and then addressed Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, who was adopting the behavior of a human being.

 

10.69.38

vidāma yoga-māyās te

durdarśā api māyinām

yogeśvarātman nirbhātā

bhavat-pāda-niṣevayā

 

vidāma — we know; yoga-māyāḥ — the mystic potencies; te — Your; durdarśāḥ — impossible to see; api — even; māyinām — for great mystics; yoga-īśvara — 0 Lord of all mystic power; ātman — O Supreme Soul; nirbhātāḥ — perceived; bhavat — Your; pāda — to the feet; niṣevayā — by service.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Nārada said:] Now we understand Your mystic potencies, which are difficult to comprehend, even for great mystics, O Supreme Soul, master of all mystic power. Only by serving Your feet have I been able to perceive Your powers.

 

10.69.39

anujānīhi māḿ deva

lokāḿs te yaśasāplutān

paryaṭāmi tavodgāyan

līlā bhuvana-pāvanīḥ

 

anujānīhi — please give leave; mām — to me; deva — O Lord; lokān — the worlds; te — Your; yaśasā — with the fame; āplutān — flooded; paryaṭāmi — I will wander; tava — Your; udgāyan — loudly singing; līlāḥ — the pastimes; bhuvana — all the planetary systems; pāvanīḥ — which purify.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Lord, please give me Your leave. I will wander about the worlds, which are flooded with Your fame, loudly singing about Your pastimes, which purify the universe.

 

10.69.40

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

brahman dhannasya vaktāhaḿ

kartā tad-anumoditā

tac chikṣayan lokam imam

āsthitaḥ putra mā khidaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; dharmasya — of religion; vaktā — the speaker; aham — I; kartā — the executor; tat — of it; anumoditā — the sanctioner; tat — it; śikṣayan — teaching; lokam — to the world; imam — in this; āsthitaḥ — situated; putra — O son; mā khidaḥ — do not be disturbed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O brāhmaṇa, I am the speaker of religion, its performer and sanctioner. I observe religious principles to teach them to the world, My child, so do not be disturbed.

 

10.69.41

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity ācarantaḿ sad-dharmān

pāvanān gṛha-medhinām

tam eva sarva-geheṣu

santam ekaḿ dadarśa ha

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; ācarantam — performing; sat — spiritual; dharmān — the principles of religion; pāvanān — purifying; gṛha-medhinām — for householders; tam — Him; eva — indeed; sarva — in all; geheṣu — the palaces; santam — present; ekam — in one form; dadarśa ha — he saw.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus in every palace Nārada saw the Lord in His same personal form, executing the transcendental principles of religion that purify those engaged in household affairs.

 

10.69.42

kṛṣṇasyānanta-vīryasya

yoga-māyā-mahodayam

muhur dṛṣṭvā ṛṣir abhūd

vismito jāta-kautukaḥ

 

kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; vīryasya — whose prowess; yoga-māyā — of the mystic, deluding energy; mahā — elaborate; udayam — the manifestation; muhuḥ — repeatedly; dṛṣṭvā — having witnessed; ṛṣiḥ — the sage, Nārada; abhūt — became; vismitaḥ — amazed; jātakautukaḥ — filled with wonder.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having repeatedly seen the vast mystic display of Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose power is unlimited, the sage was amazed and filled with wonder.

 

10.69.43

ity artha-kāma-dharmeṣu

kṛṣṇena śraddhitātmanā

samyak sabhājitaḥ prītas

tam evānusmaran yayau

 

iti — thus; artha — with items of utility for economic development; kāma — of sense gratification; dharmeṣu — and of religiosity; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; śraddhita — faithful; ātmanā — whose heart; samyak — thoroughly; sabhājitaḥ — honored; prītaḥ — pleased; tam — Him; eva — indeed; anusmaran — always remembering; yayau — he went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa greatly honored Nārada, faithfully presenting him with gifts related to economic prosperity, sense gratification and religious duties. Thus fully satisfied, the sage departed, constantly remembering the Lord.

 

10.69.44

evaḿ manuṣya-padavīm anuvartamāno

nārāyaṇo 'khila-bhavāya gṛhīta-śaktiḥ

reme 'ṇga ṣoḍaśa-sahasra-varāńganānāḿ

sa-vrīḍa-sauhṛda-nirīkṣaṇa-hāsa-juṣṭaḥ

 

evam — thus; manuṣya — of human beings; padavīm — the path; anuvartamānaḥ — following; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; akhila — of everyone; bhavāya — for the welfare; gṛhīta — having manifested; śaktiḥ — His potencies; reme — He enjoyed; ańga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; sahasra — thousand; vara — most excellent; ańganānām — of women; sa-vrīḍa — shy; sauhṛda — and affectionate; nirīkṣaṇa — by the glances; hāsa — and laughter; juṣṭaḥ — satisfied.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this way Lord Nārāyaṇa imitated the ways of ordinary humans, manifesting His divine potencies for the benefit of all beings. Thus He enjoyed, dear King, in the company of His sixteen thousand exalted consorts, who served the Lord with their shy, affectionate glances and laughter.

 

10.69.45

yānīha viśva-vilayodbhava-vṛtti-hetuḥ

karmāṇy ananya-viṣayāṇi harīś cakāra

yas tv ańga gāyati śṛṇoty anumodate vā

bhaktir bhaved bhagavati hy apavarga-mārge

 

yāni — which; iha — in this world; viśva — of the universe; vilaya — of the destruction; udbhava — creation; vṛtti — and maintenance; hetuḥ — He who is the cause; karmāṇi — activities; ananya — of no one else; viṣayāṇi — the engagements; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; cakāra — performed; yaḥ — whoever; tu — indeed; ańga — my dear King; gāyati — chants; śṛṇoti — hears; anumodate — approves; vā — or; bhaktiḥ — devotion; bhavet — arises; bhagavati — for the Supreme Lord; hi — indeed; apavarga — liberation; mārge — the path toward whom.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Hari is the ultimate cause of universal creation, maintenance and destruction. My dear King, anyone who chants about, hears about or simply appreciates the extraordinary activities He performed in this world, which are impossible to imitate, will surely develop devotion for the Supreme Lord, the bestower of liberation.