Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 10
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
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Chapter 80: The Brāhmaṇa Sudāmā Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā
10.80.1
śrī-rājovāca
bhagavan yāni cānyāni
mukundasya mahātmanaḥ
vīryāṇy ananta-vīryasya
śrotum icchāmi he prabho
śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; bhagavan — my lord (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); yāni — which; ca — and; anyāni — others; mukundasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the Supreme Soul; vīryāṇi — valorous deeds; ananta — unlimited; vīryasya — whose valor; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; he prabho — O master.
TRANSLATION
King Parīkṣit said: My lord, O master, I wish to hear about other valorous deeds performed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, whose valor is unlimited.
10.80.2
ko nu śrutvāsakṛd brahmann
uttamaḥśloka-sat-kathāḥ
virameta viśeṣa-jño
viṣaṇṇaḥ kāma-mārgaṇaiḥ
kaḥ — who; nu — indeed; śrutvā — having heard; asakṛt — repeatedly; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sat — transcendental; kathāḥ — topics; virameta — can desist; viśeṣa — the essence (of life); jñaḥ — who knows; viṣaṇṇaḥ — disgusted; kāma — for material desire; mārgaṇaiḥ — with seeking.
TRANSLATION
O brāhmaṇa, how could anyone who knows the essence of life and is disgusted with endeavoring for sense gratification give up the transcendental topics of Lord Uttamaḥśloka after hearing them repeatedly?
10.80.3
sā vāg yayā tasya guṇān gṛṇīte
karau ca tat-karma-karau manaś ca
smared vasantaḿ sthira-jańgameṣu
śṛṇoti tat-puṇya-kathāḥ sa karṇaḥ
sā — that (is); vāk — power of speech; yayā — by which; tasya — His; guṇān — qualities; gṛṇīte — one describes; karau — pair of hands; ca — and; tat — His; karma — work; karau — doing; manaḥ — mind; ca — and; smaret — remembers; vasantam — dwelling; sthira — within the unmoving; jańgameṣu — and moving; śṛṇoti — hears; tat — His; puṇya — sanctifying; kathāḥ — topics; saḥ — that (is); karṇaḥ — an ear.
TRANSLATION
Actual speech is that which describes the qualities of the Lord, real hands are those that work for Him, a true mind is that which always remembers Him dwelling within everything moving and nonmoving, and actual ears are those that listen to sanctifying topics about Him.
10.80.4
śiras tu tasyobhaya-lińgam ānamet
tad eva yat paśyati tad dhi cakṣuḥ
ańgāni viṣṇor atha taj-janānāḿ
pādodakaḿ yāni bhajanti nityam
śiraḥ — head; tu — and; tasya — of Him; ubhaya — both; lińgam — to the manifestations; ānamet — bows down; tat — that; eva — only; yat — which; paśyati — sees; tat — that; hi — indeed; cakṣuḥ — eye; ańgāni — limbs; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; atha — or; tat — His; janānām — of the devotees; pāda-udakam — the water which has washed the feet; yāni — which; bhajanti — honor; nityam — regularly.
TRANSLATION
An actual head is one that bows down to the Lord in His manifestations among the moving and nonmoving creatures, real eyes are those that see only the Lord, and actual limbs are those which regularly honor the water that has bathed the Lord's feet or those of His devotees.
10.80.5
sūta uvāca
viṣṇu-rātena sampṛṣṭo
bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ
vāsudeve bhagavati
nimagna-hṛdayo 'bravīt
sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; viṣṇu-rātena — by Viṣṇurāta (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); sampṛṣṭaḥ — well questioned; bhagavān — the powerful sage; bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śukadeva; vāsudeve — in Lord Vāsudeva; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nimagna — fully absorbed; hṛdayaḥ — his heart; abravīt — he spoke.
TRANSLATION
Suta Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by King Viṣṇurāta, the powerful sage Bādarāyaṇi replied, his heart fully absorbed in meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.
10.80.6
śrī-śuka uvāca
kṛṣṇasyāsīt sakhā kaścid
brāhmaṇo brahma-vittamaḥ
virakta indriyārtheṣu
praśāntātmā jitendriyaḥ
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āsīt — there was; sakhā — friend (named Sudāmā); kaścit — a certain; brāhmaṇaḥ — brāhmaṇa; brahma — in the Vedas; vit-tamaḥ — most learned; viraktaḥ — detached; indriya-artheṣu — from the objects of sense enjoyment; praśānta — peaceful; ātmā — whose mind; jita — conquered; indriyaḥ — whose senses.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Kṛṣṇa had a certain brāhmaṇa friend [named Sudāmā] who was most learned in Vedic knowledge and detached from all sense enjoyment. Furthermore, his mind was peaceful and his senses subdued.
10.80.7
yadṛcchayopapannena
vartamāno gṛhāśramī
tasya bhāryā ku-cailasya
kṣut-kṣāmā ca tathā-vidhā
yadṛcchayā — of its own accord; upapannena — by what was obtained; vartamānaḥ — existing; gṛha-āśramī — in the household order of life; tasya — of him; bhāryā — the wife; ku-cailasya — who was poorly dressed; kṣut — from hunger; kṣāmā — emaciated; ca — and; tathā-vidhā — similarly.
TRANSLATION
Living as a householder, he maintained himself with whatever came of its own accord. The wife of that poorly dressed brāhmaṇa suffered along with him and was emaciated from hunger.
10.80.8
pati-vratā patiḿ prāha
mlāyatā vadanena sā
daridraḿ sīdamānā vai
vepamānābhigamya ca
pati-vratā — faithful to her husband; patim — to her husband; prāha — she said; mlāyatā — drying up; vadanena — with her face; sā — she; daridram — poor; sīdamānā — distressed; vai — indeed; vepamānā — trembling; abhigamya — approaching; ca — and.
TRANSLATION
The chaste wife of the poverty-stricken brāhmaṇa once approached him, her face dried up because of her distress. Trembling with fear, she spoke as follows.
10.80.9
nanu brahman bhagavataḥ
sakhā sākṣāc chriyaḥ patiḥ
brahmaṇyaś ca śaraṇyaś ca
bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ
nanu — indeed; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; bhagavataḥ — of your exalted self; sakhā — the friend; sākṣāt — directly; śriyaḥ — of the supreme goddess of fortune; patiḥ — the husband; brahmaṇyaḥ — compassionate to brāhmaṇas; ca — and; śaraṇyaḥ — willing to give shelter; ca — and; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvata — of the Yādavas; ṛṣabhaḥ — the best.
TRANSLATION
[Sudāmā's wife said:] O brāhmaṇa, isn't it true that the husband of the goddess of fortune is the personal friend of your exalted self? That greatest of Yādavas, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, is compassionate to brāhmaṇas and very willing to grant them His shelter.
10.80.10
tam upaihi mahā-bhāga
sādhūnāḿ ca parāyaṇam
dāsyati draviṇaḿ bhūri
sīdate te kuṭumbine
tam — Him; upaihi — approach; mahā-bhaga — O fortunate one; sādhūnām — of saintly devotees; ca — and; para-ayaṇam — the ultimate shelter; dāsyati — He will give; draviṇam — wealth; bhūri — plentiful; sīdate — suffering; te — to you; kuṭumbine — who are maintaining a family.
TRANSLATION
O fortunate one, please approach Him, the real shelter of all saints. He will certainly give abundant wealth to such a suffering householder as you.
10.80.11
āste 'dhunā dvāravatyāḿ
bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ
smarataḥ pāda-kamalam
ātmānam api yacchati
kiḿ nv artha-kāmān bhajato
nāty-abhīṣṭān jagad-guruḥ
āste — is present; adhunā — now; dvāravatyām — at Dvārakā; bhoja-vṛṣṇi-andhaka — of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas; īśvaraḥ — the Lord; smarataḥ — to one who remembers; pāda-kamalam — His lotus feet; ātmanām — Himself; api — even; yacchati — He gives; kim nu — what then to speak of; artha — economic success; kāmān — and sense gratification; bhajataḥ — to one who worships Him; na — not; ati — very much; abhīṣṭān — desirable; jagat — of the whole universe; guruḥ — the spiritual master.
TRANSLATION
Lord Kṛṣṇa is now the ruler of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas and is staying at Dvārakā. Since He gives even His own self to anyone who simply remembers His lotus feet, what doubt is there that He, the spiritual master of the universe, will bestow upon His sincere worshiper prosperity and material enjoyment, which are not even very desirable?
10.80.12-13
sa evaḿ bhāryayā vipro
bahuśaḥ prārthito muhuḥ
ayaḿ hi paramo lābha
uttamaḥśloka-darśanam
iti sañcintya manasā
gamanāya matiḿ dadhe
apy asty upāyanaḿ kiñcid
gṛhe kalyāṇi dīyatām
saḥ — he; evam — in this way; bhāryayā — by his wife; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa; bahuśaḥ — profusely; prārthitaḥ — entreated; muhuḥ — over and over; ayam — this; hi — indeed; paramaḥ — the supreme; lābhaḥ — gain; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; darśanam — the sight;
iti — so; sañcintya — thinking; manasā — within his mind; gamanāya — to go; matim dadhe — he made his decision; api — whether; asti — there is; upāyanam — gift; kiñcit — some; gṛhe — in the house; kalyāṇi — my good woman; dīyatām — please give.
TRANSLATION
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] When his wife thus repeatedly implored him in various ways, the brāhmaṇa thought to himself, "To see Lord Kṛṣṇa is indeed the greatest achievement in life." Thus he decided to go, but first he told her, "My good wife, if there is anything in the house I can bring as a gift, please give it to me."
10.80.14
yācitvā caturo muṣṭīn
viprān pṛthuka-taṇḍulān
caila-khaṇḍena tān baddhvā
bhartre prādād upāyanam
yācitvā — begging; caturaḥ — four; muṣṭīn — fistfuls; viprān — from the (neighboring) brāhmaṇas; pṛthuka-taṇḍulān — flat rice; caila — of cloth; khaṇḍena — with a ripped piece; tān — them; baddhvā — tying up; bhartre — to her husband; prādāt — she gave; upāyanam — gift.
TRANSLATION
Sudāmā's wife begged four handfuls of flat rice from neighboring brāhmaṇas, tied up the rice in a torn piece of cloth and gave it to her husband as a present for Lord Kṛṣṇa.
10.80.15
sa tān ādāya viprāgryaḥ
prayayau dvārakāḿ kila
kṛṣṇa-sandarśanaḿ mahyaḿ
kathaḿ syād iti cintayan
saḥ — he; tān — them; ādāya — taking; vipra-agryaḥ — the best of brāhmaṇas; prayayau — went; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; kila — indeed; kṛṣṇa-sandarśanam — the audience of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahyam — for me; katham — how; syāt — will it happen; iti — thus; cintayan — thinking.
TRANSLATION
Taking the flat rice, the saintly brāhmaṇa set off for Dvārakā, all the while wondering "How will I be able to have Kṛṣṇa's audience?"
10.80.16-17
trīṇi gulmāny atīyāya
tisraḥ kakṣāś ca sa-dvijaḥ
vipro 'gamyāndhaka-vṛṣṇīnāḿ
gṛheṣv acyuta-dharmiṇām
gṛhaḿ dvy-aṣṭa-sahasrāṇāḿ
mahiṣīṇāḿ harer dvijaḥ
viveśaikatamaḿ śrīmad
brahmānandaḿ gato yathā
trīṇi — three; gulmāni — contingents of guards; atīyāya — passing; tisraḥ — three; kakṣāḥ — gateways; ca — and; sa-dvijaḥ — accompanied by brāhmaṇas; vipraḥ — the learned brāhmaṇa; agamya — impassable; andhaka-vṛṣṇīnām — of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis; gṛheṣu — between the houses; acyuta — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dharmiṇām — who follow faithfully;
gṛham — residence; dvi — two; aṣṭa — times eight; sahasrāṇām — thousands; mahiṣīṇām — of the queens; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvijaḥ — the brāhmaṇa; viveśa — entered; ekatamam — one of them; śrī-mat — opulent; brahma-ānandam — the bliss of impersonal liberation; gataḥ — attaining; yathā — as if.
TRANSLATION
The learned brāhmaṇa, joined by some local brāhmaṇas, passed three guard stations and went through three gateways, and then he walked by the homes of Lord Kṛṣṇa's faithful devotees, the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, which ordinarily no one could do. He then entered one of the opulent palaces belonging to Lord Hari's sixteen thousand queens, and when he did so he felt as if he were attaining the bliss of liberation.
10.80.18
taḿ vilokyācyuto dūrāt
priyā-paryańkam āsthitaḥ
sahasotthāya cābhyetya
dorbhyāḿ paryagrahīn mudā
tam — him; vilokya — seeing; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dūrāt — at a distance; priyā — of His beloved consort; paryańkam — on the bed; āsthitaḥ — seated; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — rising; ca — and; abhyetya — coming forward; dorbhyām — in His arms; paryagrahīt — embraced; mudā — with pleasure.
TRANSLATION
At that time Lord Acyuta was seated on His consort's bed. Spotting the brāhmaṇa at some distance, the Lord immediately stood up, went forward to meet him and with great pleasure embraced him.
10.80.19
sakhyuḥ priyasya viprarṣer
ańga-sańgāti-nirvṛtaḥ
prīto vyamuñcad ab-bindūn
netrābhyāḿ puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ
sakhyuḥ — of His friend; priyasya — dear; vipra-ṛṣeḥ — the sagacious brāhmaṇa; ańga — of the body; sańga — by the contact; ati — extremely; nirvṛtaḥ — ecstatic; prītaḥ — affectionate; vyamuñcat — He released; ap — of water; bindūn — drops; netrābhyām — from His eyes; puṣkara-īkṣaṇaḥ — the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord felt intense ecstasy upon touching the body of His dear friend, the wise brāhmaṇa, and thus He shed tears of love.
10.80.20-22
athopaveśya paryańke
svayam sakhyuḥ samarhaṇam
upahṛtyāvanijyāsya
pādau pādāvanejanīḥ
agrahīc chirasā rājan
bhagavān loka-pāvanaḥ
vyalimpad divya-gandhena
candanāguru-kuńkamaiḥ
dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir mitraḿ
pradīpāvalibhir mudā
arcitvāvedya tāmbūlaḿ
gāḿ ca svāgatam abravīt
atha — then; upaveśya — having him sit; paryańke — on the bed; svayam — Himself; sakhyuḥ — for His friend; samarhaṇam — items of worship; upahṛtya — bringing forward; avanijya — washing; asya — his; pādau — feet; pāda-avanejanīḥ — the water which had washed his feet;
agrahīt — He took; śirasā — on His head; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; loka — of all worlds; pāvanaḥ — the purifier; vyalimpat — He anointed him; divya — divine; gandhena — whose fragrance; candana — with sandalwood paste; aguru — aloe-wood paste; kuńkumaiḥ — and vermilion;
dhūpaiḥ — with incense; surabhibhiḥ — aromatic; mitram — His friend; pradīpa — of lamps; avalibhiḥ — with rows; mudā — gladly; arcitvā — worshiping; āvedya — offering as refreshment; tāmbūlam — betel nut; gām — a cow; ca — and; su-āgatam — welcome; abravīt — He spoke.
TRANSLATION
Lord Kṛṣṇa seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. Then the Lord, who purifies the whole world, personally offered him various tokens of respect and washed his feet, O King, after which He sprinkled the water on His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuńkuma pastes and happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps. After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.
10.80.23
ku-cailaḿ malinaḿ kṣāmaḿ
dvijaḿ dhamani-santatam
devī paryacarat sākṣāc
cāmara-vyajanena vai
ku — poor; cailam — whose dress; malinam — dirty; kṣāmam — emaciated; dvijam — the brāhmaṇa; dhamani-santatam — his veins visible; devī — the goddess of fortune; paryacarat — served; sākṣāt — personally; cāmara — with a yak-tail fan; vyajanena — by fanning; vai — indeed.
TRANSLATION
By fanning him with her cāmara, the divine goddess of fortune personally served that poor brāhmaṇa, whose clothing was torn and dirty and who was so thin that veins were visible all over his body.
10.80.24
antaḥ-pura-jano dṛṣṭvā
kṛṣṇenāmala-kīrtinā
vismito 'bhūd ati-prītyā
avadhūtaḿ sabhājitam
antaḥ-pura — of the royal palace; janaḥ — the people; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; amala — spotless; kīrtinā — whose fame; vismitaḥ — amazed; abhūt — they became; ati — intense; prītyā — with loving affection; avadhūtam — the unkempt brāhmaṇa; sabhājitam — honored.
TRANSLATION
The people in the royal palace were astonished to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of spotless glory, so lovingly honor this shabbily dressed brāhmaṇa.
10.80.25-26
kim anena kṛtaḿ puṇyam
avadhūtena bhikṣuṇā
śriyā hīnena loke 'smin
garhitenādhamena ca
yo 'sau tri-loka-guruṇā
śrī-nivāsena sambhṛtaḥ
paryańka-sthāḿ śriyaḿ hitvā
pariṣvakto 'gra-jo yathā
kim — what; anena — by him; kṛtam — was done; puṇyam — pious activity; avadhūtena — unwashed; bhikṣuṇā — by the mendicant; śriyā — of prosperity; hīnena — who is deprived; loke — in the world; asmin — this; garhitena — condemned; adhamena — lowly; ca — and;
yaḥ — who; asau — himself; tri — three; loka — of the planetary systems of the universe; guruṇā — by the spiritual master; śrī — of Lakṣmī, the supreme goddess of fortune; nivāsena — the abode; sambhṛtaḥ — served reverentially; paryańka — on her bed; sthām — seated; śrīyam — the goddess of fortune; hitvā — leaving aside; pariṣvaktaḥ — embraced; agra-jaḥ — an elder brother; yathā — as.
TRANSLATION
[The residents of the palace said:] What pious acts has this unkempt, impoverished brāhmaṇa performed? People regard him as lowly and contemptible, yet the spiritual master of the three worlds, the abode of Goddess Śrī, is serving him reverently. Leaving the goddess of fortune sitting on her bed, the Lord has embraced this brāhmaṇa as if he were an older brother.
10.80.27
kathayāḿ cakratur gāthāḥ
pūrvā guru-kule satoḥ
ātmanor lalitā rājan
karau gṛhya parasparam
kathayām cakratuḥ — they discussed; gāthāḥ — topics; pūrvāḥ — of the past; guru-kule — in the school of their spiritual master; satoḥ — who used to reside; ātmanoḥ — of themselves; lalitāḥ — charming; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); karau — hands; gṛhya — taking hold of; parasparam — each other's.
TRANSLATION
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Taking each other's hands, O King, Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā talked pleasantly about how they once lived together in the school of their guru.
10.80.28
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
api brahman guru-kulād
bhavatā labdha-dakṣiṇāt
samāvṛttena dharma-jña
bhāryoḍhā sadṛśī na vā
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; api — whether; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; guru-kulāt — from the spiritual master's school; bhavatā — by your good self; labdha — having received; dakṣiṇāt — remuneration; samāvṛttena — returned; dharma — of religious principles; jña — O knower; bhāryā — a wife; ūḍhā — married; sadṛśī — suitable; na — not; vā — or.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Lord said: My dear brāhmaṇa, you know well the ways of dharma. After you offered the gift of remuneration to our guru and returned home from his school, did you marry a compatible wife or not?
10.80.29
prāyo gṛheṣu te cittam
akāma-vihitaḿ tathā
naivāti-prīyase vidvan
dhaneṣu viditaḿ hi me
prāyaḥ — for the most part; gṛheṣu — in household affairs; te — your; cittam — mind; akāma-vihitam — uninfluenced by material desires; tathā — also; na — not; eva — indeed; ati — very much; prīyase — you take pleasure; vidvan — O wise one; dhaneṣu — in the pursuit of material wealth; viditam — it is known; hi — indeed; me — by Me.
TRANSLATION
Even though you are mostly involved in household affairs, your mind is not affected by material desires. Nor, O learned one, do you take much pleasure in the pursuit of material wealth. This I am well aware of.
10.80.30
kecit kurvanti karmāṇi
kāmair ahata-cetasaḥ
tyajantaḥ prakṛtīr daivīr
yathāhaḿ loka-sańgraham
kecit — some people; kurvanti — execute; karmāṇi — worldly duties; kāmaiḥ — by desires; ahata — undisturbed; cetasaḥ — whose minds; tyayantaḥ — giving up; prakṛtīḥ — propensities; daivīḥ — created by the Supreme Lord's material energy; yathā — as; aham — I; loka-sańgraham — to instruct the people in general.
TRANSLATION
Having renounced all material propensities, which spring from the Lord's illusory energy, some people execute worldly duties with their minds undisturbed by mundane desires. They act as I do, to instruct the general populace.
10.80.31
kaccid guru-kule vāsaḿ
brahman smarasi nau yataḥ
dvijo vijñāya vijñeyaḿ
tamasaḥ pāram aśnute
kaccit — whether; guru-kule — in the spiritual master's school; vāsam — residence; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; smarasi — you remember; nau — our; yataḥ — from which (spiritual master); dvijaḥ — a twice-born person; vijñāya — understanding; vijñeyam — what needs to be known; tamasaḥ — of ignorance; pāram — the transcending; aśnute — experiences.
TRANSLATION
My dear brāhmaṇa, do you remember how we lived together in our spiritual master's school? When a twice-born student has learned from his guru all that is to be learned, he can enjoy spiritual life, which lies beyond all ignorance.
10.80.32
sa vai sat-karmaṇāḿ sākṣād
dvijāter iha sambhavaḥ
ādyo 'ńga yatrāśramiṇāḿ
yathāhaḿ jñāna-do guruḥ
saḥ — he; vai — indeed; sat — sanctified; karmaṇām — of duties; sākṣāt — directly; dvi-jāteḥ — of one who has been twice born; iha — in this material life; sambhavaḥ — birth; ādyaḥ — first; ańga — My dear friend; yatra — through whom; āśramiṇām — for the members of all the spiritual orders of society; yathā — as; aham — Myself; jñāna — of divine knowledge; daḥ — the bestower; guruḥ — spiritual master.
TRANSLATION
My dear friend, he who gives a person his physical birth is his first spiritual master, and he who initiates him as a twice-born brāhmaṇa and engages him in religious duties is indeed more directly his spiritual master. But the person who bestows transcendental knowledge upon the members of all the spiritual orders of society is one's ultimate spiritual master. Indeed, he is as good as My own self.
10.80.33
nanv artha-kovidā brahman
varṇāśrama-vatām iha
ye mayā guruṇā vācā
taranty añjo bhavārṇavam
nanu — certainly; artha — of their true welfare; kovidāḥ — expert knowers; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; varṇāśrama-vatām — among those engaged in the varṇāśrama system; iha — in this world; ye — who; mayā — by Me; guruṇā — as the spiritual master; vācā — through his words; taranti — cross beyond; añjaḥ — easily; bhava — of material life; arṇavam — the ocean.
TRANSLATION
Certainly, O brāhmaṇa, of all the followers of the varṇāśrama system, those who take advantage of the words I speak in My form as the spiritual master and thus easily cross over the ocean of material existence best understand their own true welfare.
10.80.34
nāham ijyā-prajātibhyāḿ
tapasopaśamena vā
tuṣyeyaḿ sarva-bhūtātmā
guru-śuśrūṣayā yathā
na — not; aham — I; ijyā — by ritual worship; prajātibhyām — the higher birth of brāhmaṇa initiation; tapasā — by austerity; upaśamena — by self-control; vā — or; tuṣyeyam — can be satisfied; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātmā — the Soul; guru — to one's spiritual master; śuśrūṣayā — by faithful service; yathā — as.
TRANSLATION
I, the Soul of all beings, am not as satisfied by ritual worship, brahminical initiation, penances or self-discipline as I am by faithful service rendered to one's spiritual master.
10.80.35-36
api naḥ smaryate brahman
vṛttaḿ nivasatāḿ gurau
guru-dāraiś coditānām
indhanānayane kvacit
praviṣṭānāḿ mahāraṇyam
apartau su-mahad dvija
vāta-varṣam abhūt tīvraḿ
niṣṭhurāḥ stanayitnavaḥ
api — whether; naḥ — of us; smaryate — are remembered; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; vṛttam — what we did; nivasatām — who were living; gurau — with our spiritual master; guru — of our guru; dāraiḥ — by the wife; coditānām — who were sent; indhana — firewood; anayane — for fetching; kvacit — once;
praviṣṭānām — having entered; mahā-araṇyam — the large forest; apa-ṛtau — unseasonal; su-mahat — very great; dvija — O twice-born one; vāta — wind; varṣam — and rain; abhūt — arose; tīvram — fierce; niṣṭhurāḥ — harsh; stanayitnavaḥ — thundering.
TRANSLATION
O brāhmaṇa, do you remember what happened to us while we were living with our spiritual master? Once our guru's wife sent us to fetch firewood, and after we entered the vast forest, O twice-born one, an unseasonal storm arose, with fierce wind and rain and harsh thunder.
10.80.37
sūryaś cāstaḿ gatas tāvat
tamasā cāvṛtā diśaḥ
nimnaḿ kūlaḿ jala-mayaḿ
na prājñāyata kiñcana
sūryaḥ — the sun; ca — and; astam gataḥ — having set; tāvat — thereupon; tamasā — by darkness; ca — and; āvṛtāḥ — covered; diśaḥ — all the directions; nimnam — low; kūlam — high land; jala-mayam — with water all around; na prājñāyata — could not be recognized; kiñcana — any.
TRANSLATION
Then, as the sun set, the forest was covered by darkness in every direction, and with all the flooding we could not distinguish high land from low.
10.80.38
vayaḿ bhṛśam tatra mahānilāmbubhir
nihanyamānā mahur ambu-samplave
diśo 'vidanto 'tha parasparaḿ vane
gṛhīta-hastāḥ paribabhrimāturāḥ
vayam — we; bhṛśam — thoroughly; tatra — there; mahā — great; anila — by the wind; ambubhiḥ — and water; nihanyamānāḥ — beset; muhuḥ — continuously; ambu-samplave — in the flooding; diśaḥ — the directions; avidantaḥ — unable to discern; atha — then; parasparam — each other's; vane — in the forest; gṛhīta — holding; hastāḥ — hands; paribabhrima — we wandered; āturāḥ — distressed.
TRANSLATION
Constantly besieged by the powerful wind and rain, we lost our way amidst the flooding waters. We simply held each other's hands and, in great distress, wandered aimlessly about the forest.
10.80.39
etad viditvā udite
ravau sāndīpanir guruḥ
anveṣamāṇo naḥ śiṣyān
ācāryo 'paśyad āturān
etat — this; viditvā — knowing; udite — when it rose; ravau — the sun; sāndīpaniḥ — Sāndīpani; guruḥ — our spiritual master; anveṣamāṇaḥ — searching; naḥ — for us; śiṣyān — his disciples; ācāryaḥ — our teacher; apaśyat — saw; āturān — who were distressed.
TRANSLATION
Our guru, Sāndīpani, understanding our predicament, set out after sunrise to search for us, his disciples, and found us in distress.
10.80.40
aho he putrakā yūyam
asmad-arthe 'ti-duḥkhitāḥ
ātmā vai prāṇinām preṣṭhas
tam anādṛtya mat-parāḥ
aho — ah; he putrakaḥ — O children; yūyam — you; asmat — our; arthe — for the sake; ati — extremely; duḥkhitāḥ — have suffered; ātmā — the body; vai — indeed; prāṇinām — for all living beings; preṣṭhaḥ — the most dear; tam — that; anādṛtya — disregarding; mat — to me; parāḥ — dedicated.
TRANSLATION
[Sāndīpani said:] O my children, you have suffered so much for my sake! The body is most dear to every living creature, but you are so dedicated to me that you completely disregarded your own comfort.
10.80.41
etad eva hi sac-chiṣyaiḥ
kartavyaḿ guru-niṣkṛtam
yad vai viśuddha-bhāvena
sarvārthātmārpaṇaḿ gurau
etat — this; eva — alone; hi — certainly; sat — true; śiṣyaiḥ — by disciples; kartavyam — to be done; guru — to the spiritual master; niṣkṛtam — repayment of one's debt; yat — which; vai — indeed; viśuddha — completely pure; bhāvena — with an attitude; sarva — of all; artha — assets; ātmā — and one's body; arpaṇam — the offering; gurau — to one's spiritual master.
TRANSLATION
This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives.
10.80.42
tuṣṭo 'haḿ bho dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ
satyāḥ santu manorathāḥ
chandāḿsy ayāta-yāmāni
bhavantv iha paratra ca
tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; aham — I am; bho — my dear ones; dvija — of brāhmaṇas; śreṣṭhāḥ — O best; satyāḥ — fulfilled; santu — may they be; manaḥ-rathāḥ — your desires; chandāḿsi — Vedic mantras; ayāta-yāmāni — never growing old; bhavantu — may they be; iha — in this world; paratra — in the next world; ca — and.
TRANSLATION
You boys are first-class brāhmaṇas, and I am satisfied with you. May all your desires be fulfilled, and may the Vedic mantras you have learned never lose their meaning for you, in this world or the next.
10.80.43
itthaḿ-vidhāny anekāni
vasatāḿ guru-veśmani
guror anugraheṇaiva
pumān pūrṇaḥ praśāntaye
ittham-vidhāni — like this; anekāni — many things; vasatām — by us who were living; guru — of our spiritual master; veśmani — in the home; guroḥ — of the spiritual master; anugraheṇa — by the mercy; eva — simply; pumān — a person; pūrṇaḥ — fulfilled; praśāntaye — for attaining total peace.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Kṛṣṇa continued:] We had many similar experiences while living in our spiritual master's home. Simply by the grace of the spiritual master a person can fulfill life's purpose and attain eternal peace.
10.80.44
śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca
kim asmābhir anirvṛttaḿ
deva-deva jagad-guro
bhavatā satya-kāmena
yeṣāḿ vāso guror abhūt
śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa said; kim — what; asmābhiḥ — by us; anirvṛttam — not achieved; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; guro — O spiritual master; bhavatā — with You; satya — fulfilled; kāmena — all whose desires; yeṣām — whose; vāsaḥ — residence; guroḥ — at the home of the spiritual master; abhūt — was.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa said: What could I possibly have failed to achieve, O Lord of lords, O universal teacher, since I was able to personally live with You, whose every desire is fulfilled, at the home of our spiritual master?
10.80.45
yasya cchando-mayaḿ brahma
deha āvapanaḿ vibho
śreyasāḿ tasya guruṣu
vāso 'tyanta-viḍambanam
yasya — whose; chandaḥ — the Vedas; mayam — consisting of; brahma — the Absolute Truth; dehe — within the body; āvapanam — the sowing field; vibho — O almighty Lord; śreyasām — of auspicious goals; tasya — His; guruṣu — with spiritual masters; vāsaḥ — residence; atyanta — extreme; viḍambanam — pretense.
TRANSLATION
O almighty Lord, Your body comprises the Absolute Truth in the form of the Vedas and is thus the source of all auspicious goals of life. That You took up residence at the school of a spiritual master is simply one of Your pastimes in which You play the role of a human being.
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