Chapter 84: The Sages' Teachings at Kurukṣetra

 

10.84.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

śrutvā pṛthā subala-putry atha yājñasenī

mādhavy atha kṣitipa-patnya uta sva-gopyaḥ

kṛṣṇe 'khilātmani harau praṇayānubandhaḿ

sarvā visismyur alam aśru-kalākulākṣyaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; śrutvā — hearing; pṛthā — Kuntī; subala-putrī — Gāndhārī, the daughter of King Subala; atha — and; yājñasenī — Draupadī; mādhavī — Subhadrā; atha — and; kṣiti-pa — of the kings; patnyaḥ — the wives; uta — also; sva — (Lord Kṛṣṇa's) own; gopyaḥ — gopīs; kṛṣṇe — to Kṛṣṇa; akhila — of all; ātmani — the Soul; harau — the Supreme Lord Hari; praṇaya — loving; anubandham — attachment; sarvāḥ — all of them; visismyuḥ — became amazed; alam — greatly; aśru-kala — with tears; ākula — filling; akṣyaḥ — whose eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Pṛthā, Gāndhārī, Draupadī, Subhadrā, the wives of other kings and the Lord's cowherd girīfriends were all amazed to hear of the queens' deep love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Soul of all beings, and their eyes filled with tears.

 

10.84.2-5

iti sambhāṣamāṇāsu

strībhiḥ strīṣu nṛbhir nṛṣu

āyayur munayas tatra

kṛṣṇa-rāma-didṛkṣayā

 

dvaipāyano nāradaś ca

cyavano devalo 'sitaḥ

viśvāmitraḥ śatānando

bharadvājo 'tha gautamaḥ

 

rāmaḥ sa-śiṣyo bhagavān

vasiṣṭho gālavo bhṛguḥ

pulastyaḥ kaśyapo 'triś ca

mārkaṇḍeyo bṛhaspatiḥ

 

dvitas tritaś caikataś ca

brahma-putrās tathāńgirāḥ

agastyo yājñavalkyaś ca

vāmadevādayo 'pare

 

iti — thus; sambhāṣamāṇāsu — as they were conversing; strībhiḥ — with women; strīṣu — women; nṛbhiḥ — with men; nṛṣu — men; āyayuḥ — arrived; munayaḥ — great sages; tatra — at that place; kṛṣṇa-rāma — Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma; didṛkṣayā — with the desire to see;

 

dvaipāyanaḥ — Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa; nāradaḥ — Nārada; ca — and; cyavanaḥ devalaḥ asitaḥ — Cyavana, Devala and Asita; viśvāmitraḥ śatānandaḥ — Viśvāmitra and Śatānanda; bharadvājaḥ atha gautamaḥ — Bharadvāja and Gautama;

 

rāmaḥ — Paraśurāma; sa — with; śiṣyaḥ — his disciples; bhagavān — the incarnation of the Supreme Lord; vasiṣṭhaḥ gālavaḥ bhṛguḥ — Vasiṣṭha, Gālava and Bhṛgu; pulastyaḥ kaśyapaḥ atriḥ ca — Pulastya, Kaśyapa and Atri; mārkaṇḍeyaḥ bṛhaspatiḥ — Mārkaṇḍeya and Bṛhaspati;

 

dvitaḥ tritaḥ ca ekataḥ ca — Dvita, Trita and Ekata; brahma-putrāḥ — sons of Lord Brahmā (Sanaka, Sanat, Sananda and Sanātana); tathā — and also; ańgirāḥ — Ańgirā; agastyaḥ yājñavalkyaḥ ca — Agastya and Yājñavalkya; vāmadeva-ādayaḥ — led by Vāmadeva; apare — others.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the women thus talked among themselves and the men among themselves, a number of great sages arrived there, all of them eager to see Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma. They included Dvaipāyana, Nārada, Cyavana, Devala and Asita, Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, Bharadvāja and Gautama, Lord Paraśurāma and his disciples, Vasiṣṭha, Gālava, Bhṛgu, Pulastya and Kaśyapa, Atri, Mārkaṇḍeya and Bṛhaspati, Dvita, Trita, Ekata and the four Kumāras, and Ańgirā, Agastya, Yājñavalkya and Vāmadeva.

 

10.84.6

tān dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya

prāg āsīnā nṛpādayaḥ

pāṇḍavāḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmau ca

praṇemur viśva-vanditān

 

tān — them; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; sahasā — immediately; utthāya — standing up; prāk — until now; āsīnāḥ — seated; nṛpa-ādayaḥ — the kings and others; pāṇḍavāḥ — the Pāṇḍavas; kṛṣṇa-rāmau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; ca — also; praṇemuḥ — bowed down; viśva — by the whole universe; vanditān — to them who are honored.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As soon as they saw the sages approaching, the kings and other gentlemen who had been seated immediately stood up, including the Pāṇḍava brothers and Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. They all then bowed down to the sages, who are honored throughout the universe.

 

10.84.7

tān ānarcur yathā sarve

saha-rāmo 'cyuto 'rcayat

svāgatāsana-pādyārghya-

mālya-dhūpānulepanaiḥ

 

tān — them; ānarcuḥ — they worshiped; yathā — properly; sarve — all of them; saha-rāma — including Lord Balarāma; acyutaḥ — and Lord Kṛṣṇa; arcayat — worshiped them; sv-āgata — with greetings; āsana — sitting places; pādya — water to wash the feet; arghya — water to drink; mālya — flower garlands; dhūpa — incense; anulepanaiḥ — and sandalwood paste.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Balarāma and the other kings and leaders properly worshiped the sages by offering them words of greeting, sitting places, water for washing their feet, drinking water, flower garlands, incense and sandalwood paste.

 

10.84.8

uvāca sukham āsīnān

bhagavān dharma-gup-tanuḥ

sadasas tasya mahato

yata-vāco 'nuśṛṇvataḥ

 

uvāca — said; sukham — comfortably; āsīnān — to them who were seated; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; dharma — of religion; gup — the means of protection; tanuḥ — whose body; sadasaḥ — in the assembly; tasya — that; mahataḥ — to the great souls; yata — subdued; vācaḥ — whose speech; anuśṛṇvataḥ — as they listened carefully.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the sages were comfortably seated, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose transcendental body protects religious principles, addressed them in the midst of that great assembly. Everyone listened silently with rapt attention.

 

10.84.9

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

aho vayaḿ janma-bhṛto

labdhaḿ kārtsnyena tat-phalam

devānām api duṣprāpaḿ

yad yogeśvara-darśanam

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; aho — ah; vayam — we; janma-bhṛtaḥ — having taken birth successfully; labdham — obtained; kārtsnyena — altogether; tat — of it (one's birth); phalam — the fruit; devānām — for demigods; api — even; duṣprāpam — rarely obtained; yat — which; yoga-īśvara — of masters of yoga; darśanam — the sight.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: Now our lives are indeed successful, for we have obtained life's ultimate goal: the audience of great yoga masters, which even demigods only rarely obtain.

 

10.84.10

kiḿ svalpa-tapasāḿ nṝṇām

arcāyāḿ deva-cakṣuṣām

darśana-sparśana-praśna-

prahva-pādārcanādikam

 

kim — whether; su-alpa — very meager; tapasām — whose austerities; nṝṇām — for human beings; arcāyām — in the Deity in the temple; deva — God; cakṣuṣām — whose perception; darśana — seeing; sparśana — touching; praśna — asking questions; prahva — bowing down; pāda-arcana — worshiping the feet; ādikam — and so on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

How is it that people who are not very austere and who recognize God only in His Deity form in the temple can now see you, touch you, inquire from you, bow down to you, worship your feet and serve you in other ways?

 

10.84.11

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni

na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ

te punanty uru-kālena

darśanād eva sādhavaḥ

 

na — not; hi — indeed; ap — of water; mayāni — composed; tīrthāni — holy places; na — not; devāḥ — deities; mṛt — of earth; śilā — and stone; mayāḥ — composed; te — they; punanti — purify; uru-kālena — after a long time; darśanāt — by being seen; eva — only; sādhavaḥ — saints.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mere bodies of water are not the real sacred places of pilgrimage, nor are mere images of earth and stone the true worshipable deities. These purify one only after a long time, but saintly sages purify one immediately upon being seen.

 

10.84.12

nāgnir na sūryo na ca candra-tārakā

na bhūr jalaḿ khaḿ śvasano 'tha vāń manaḥ

upāsitā bheda-kṛto haranty aghaḿ

vipaścito ghnanti muhūrta-sevayā

 

na — not; agniḥ — fire; na — not; sūryaḥ — the sun; na — not; ca — and; candra — the moon; tārakāḥ — and stars; na — not; bhūḥ — earth; jalam — water; kham — ether; śvasanaḥ — breath; atha — or; vāk — speech; manaḥ — and the mind; upāsitāḥ — worshiped; bheda — differences (between himself and other living beings); kṛtaḥ — of one who creates; haranti — they take away; agham — the sins; vipaścitaḥ — wise men; ghnanti — destroy; muhūrta — for a span of minutes; sevayā — by service.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Neither the demigods controlling fire, the sun, the moon and the stars nor those in charge of earth, water, ether, air, speech and mind actually remove the sins of their worshipers, who continue to see in terms of dualities. But wise sages destroy one's sins when respectfully served for even a few moments.

 

10.84.13

yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke

sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ

yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij

janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ

 

yasya — whose; ātma — as his self; buddhiḥ — idea; kuṇape — in a corpselike body; tri-dhātuke — made of three basic elements; sva — as his own; dhīḥ — idea; kalatra-ādiṣu — in wife and so on; bhaume — in earth; ijya — as worshipable; dhīḥ — idea; yat — whose; tīrtha — as a place of pilgrimage; buddhiḥ — idea; salile — in water; na karhicit — never; janeṣu — in men; abhijñeṣu — wise; saḥ — he; eva — indeed; gaḥ — a cow; kharaḥ — or an ass.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worshipable, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth — such a person is no better than a cow or an ass.

 

10.84.14

śrī-śuka uvāca

niśamyetthaḿ bhagavataḥ

kṛṣṇasyākuṇtha-medhasaḥ

vaco duranvayaḿ viprās

tūṣṇīm āsan bhramad-dhiyaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; niśamya — hearing; ittham — such; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇasya — Kṛṣṇa; akuṇṭha — unrestricted; medhasaḥ — whose wisdom; vacaḥ — the words; duranvayam — difficult to comprehend; viprāḥ — the learned brāhmaṇas; tūṣṇīm — silent; āsan — were; bhramat — unsteady; dhiyaḥ — their minds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing such unfathomable words from the unlimitedly wise Lord Kṛṣṇa, the learned brāhmaṇas remained silent, their minds bewildered.

 

10.84.15

ciraḿ vimṛśya munaya

īśvarasyeśitavyatām

jana-sańgraha ity ūcuḥ

smayantas taḿ jagad-gurum

 

ciram — for some time; vimṛśya — thinking; munayaḥ — the sages; īśvarasya — of the supreme controller; īśitavyatām — the status of being controlled; jana-sańgrahaḥ — the enlightenment of the people in general; iti — thus (concluding); ūcuḥ — they said; smayantaḥ — smiling; tam — to Him; jagat — of the universe; gurum — the spiritual master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For some time the sages pondered the Supreme Lord's behavior, which resembled that of a subordinate living being. They concluded that He was acting this way to instruct the people in general. Thus they smiled and spoke to Him, the spiritual master of the universe.

 

10.84.16

śrī-munaya ūcuḥ

yan-māyayā tattva-vid-uttamā vayaḿ

vimohitā viśva-sṛjām adhīśvarāḥ

yad īśitavyāyati gūḍha īhayā

aho vicitram bhagavad-viceṣṭitam

 

śrī-munayaḥ ūcuḥ — the great sages said; yat — whose; māyayā — by the power of illusion; tattva — of the truth; vit — knowers; uttamāḥ — best; vayam — we; vimohitāḥ — confused; viśva — of the universe; sṛjām — of creators; adhīśvaraḥ — chief; yat — the fact that; īśitavyāyati — (the Supreme Lord) pretends to be subject to higher control; gūḍhaḥ — hidden; īhayā — by His activities; aho — ah; vicitram — amazing; bhagavat — of the Supreme Lord; viceṣṭitam — the activity.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sages said: Your power of illusion has totally bewildered us, the most exalted knowers of the truth and leaders among the universal creators. Ah, how amazing is the behavior of the Supreme Lord! He covers Himself with His humanlike activities and pretends to be subject to superior control.

 

10.84.17

anīha etad bahudhaika ātmanā

sṛjaty avaty atti na badhyate yathā

bhaumair hi bhūmir bahu-nāma-rūpiṇī

aho vibhūmnaś caritaḿ viḍambanam

 

anīhaḥ — exerting no endeavor; etat — this (universe); bahudhā — manifold; ekaḥ — alone; ātmanā — by Himself; sṛjati — He creates; avati — maintains; atti — annihilates; na badhyate — is not bound up; yathā — as; bhaumaiḥ — by the transformations of earth; hi — indeed; bhūmiḥ — earth; bahu — many; nāma-rūpiṇī — having names and forms; aho — ah; vibhūmnaḥ — of the almighty Lord; caritam — the activities; viḍambanam — a pretense.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Indeed, the humanlike pastimes of the Almighty are simply a pretense! Effortlessly, He alone sends forth from His Self this variegated creation, maintains it and then swallows it up again, all without becoming entangled, just as the element earth takes on many names and forms in its various transformations.

 

10.84.18

athāpi kāle sva-janābhiguptaye

bibharṣi sattvaḿ khala-nigrahāya ca

sva-līlayā veda-pathaḿ sanātanaḿ

varṇāśramātmā puruṣaḥ paro bhavān

 

atha api — nonetheless; kāle — at the correct time; sva-jana — of Your devotees; abhiguptaye — for the protection; bibharṣi — You assume; sattvam — the mode of goodness; khala — of the wicked; nigrahāya — for the punishment; ca — and; sva — Your; līlayā — by the pastimes; veda-patham — the path of the Vedas; sanātanam — eternal; varṇa-āśrama — of the divine system of occupational and spiritual divisions of society; ātmā — the Soul; puruṣaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; paraḥ — Supreme; bhavān — Your good self.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nonetheless, at suitable times You assume the pure mode of goodness to protect Your devotees and punish the wicked. Thus You, the Soul of the varṇāśrama social order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintain the eternal path of the Vedas by enjoying Your pleasure pastimes.

 

10.84.19

brahma te hṛdayaḿ śuklaḿ

tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saḿyamaiḥ

yatropalabdhaḿ sad vyaktam

avyaktaḿ ca tataḥ param

 

brahma — the Vedas; te — Your; hṛdayam — heart; śuklam — pure; tapaḥ — by austerities; svādhyāya — study; saḿyamaiḥ — and self-control; yatra — in which; upalabdham — perceived; sat — pure spiritual existence; vyaktam — the manifest (products of material creation); avyaktam — the unmanifest (subtle causes of creation), ca — and; tataḥ — to that; param — transcendental.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Vedas are Your spotless heart, and through them one can perceive — by means of austerity, study and self-control — the manifest, the unmanifest and the pure existence transcendental to both.

 

10.84.20

tasmād brahma-kulaḿ brahman

śāstra-yones tvam ātmanaḥ

sabhājayasi sad dhāma

tad brahmaṇyāgraṇīr bhavān

 

tasmāt — therefore; brahma — of brāhmaṇas; kulam — to the community; brahman — O Absolute Truth; śāstra — the revealed scriptures; yoneḥ — whose means of realization; tvam — You; ātmanaḥ — of Yourself; sabhājayasi — show honor; sat — perfect; dhāma — the abode; tat — consequently; brahmaṇya — of those who respect brahminical culture; agranīḥ — the leader; bhavān — You.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, O Supreme Brahman, You honor the members of the brahminical community, for they are the perfect agents by which one can realize You through the evidence of the Vedas. For that very reason You are the foremost worshiper of the brāhmaṇas.

 

10.84.21

adya no janma-sāphalyaḿ

vidyāyās tapaso dṛśaḥ

tvayā sańgamya sad-gatyā

yad antaḥ śreyasāḿ paraḥ

 

adya — today; naḥ — our; janma — of the birth; sāphalyam — fruition; vidyāyāḥ — of the education; tapasaḥ — of the austerities; dṛśaḥ — of the power of sight; tvayā — with You; sańgamya — obtaining association; sat — of saintly persons; gatyā — who are the goal; yat — because; antaḥ — the limit; śreyasām — of benefits; paraḥ — ultimate.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Today our birth, education, austerity and vision have all become perfect because we have been able to associate with You, the goal of all saintly persons. Indeed, You Yourself are the ultimate, supreme blessing.

 

10.84.22

namas tasmai bhagavate

kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase

sva-yogamāyayācchanna-

mahimne paramātmane

 

namaḥ — obeisances; tasmai — to Him; bhagavate — the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇāya — Kṛṣṇa; akuṇṭha — unrestricted; medhase — whose wisdom; sva — His own; yoga-māyayā — by the internal illusory potency; ācchanna — covered; mahimne — whose glories; parama-ātmane — the Supersoul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Let us offer obeisances unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the infinitely intelligent Supersoul, who has disguised His greatness through His mystic Yogamāyā.

 

10.84.23

na yaḿ vidanty amī bhū-pā

ekārāmāś ca vṛṣṇayaḥ

māyā-javanikācchannam

ātmānaḿ kālam īśvaram

 

na — not; yam — whom; vidanti — know; amī — these; bhū-pāḥ — kings; eka — together; ārāmāḥ — who enjoy; ca — and; vṛṣṇayaḥ — the Vṛṣṇis; māyā — of the divine power of illusion; javanikā — by the curtain; ācchannam — covered; ātmānam — the Supreme Soul; kālam — time; īśvaram — the supreme controller.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Neither these kings nor even the Vṛṣṇis, who enjoy Your intimate association, know You as the Soul of all existence, the force of time and the supreme controller. For them You are covered by the curtain of Māyā.

 

10.84.24-25

yathā śayānaḥ puruṣa

ātmānaḿ guṇa-tattva-dṛk

nāma-mātrendriyābhātaḿ

na veda rahitaḿ param

 

evaḿ tvā nāma-mātreṣu

viṣayeṣv indriyehayā

māyayā vibhramac-citto

na veda smṛty-upaplavāt

 

yathā — as; śayānaḥ — sleeping; puruṣaḥ — a person; ātmānam — himself; guṇa — secondary; tattva — of reality; dṛk — whose vision; nāma — with names; mātra — and forms; indriya — through his mind; ābhātam — manifest; na veda — he does not know; rahitam — separate; param — rather;

 

evam — similarly; tvā — You; nāma-mātreṣu — having names and forms; viṣayeṣu — in objects of material perception; indriya — of the senses; īhayā — by the activity; māyayā — because of the influence of Your illusory energy; vibhramat — becoming bewildered; cittaḥ — whose consciousness; na veda — one does not know; smṛti — of his memory; upaplavāt — due to the disruption.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A sleeping person imagines an alternative reality for himself and, seeing himself as having various names and forms, forgets his waking identity, which is distinct from the dream. Similarly, the senses of one whose consciousness is bewildered by illusion perceive only the names and forms of material objects. Thus such a person loses his memory and cannot know You.

 

10.84.26

tasyādya te dadṛśimāńghrim aghaugha-marṣa-

tīrthāspadaḿ hṛdi kṛtaḿ su-vipakva-yogaiḥ

utsikta-bhakty-upahatāśaya jīva-kośā

āpur bhavad-gatim athānugṛhāna bhaktān

 

tasya — His; adya — today; te — Your; dadṛśima — we have seen; ańghrim — the feet; agha — of sins; ogha — floods; marṣa — which undo; tīrtha — of the holy pilgrimage site (the Ganges); āspadam — the source; hṛdi — in the heart; kṛtam — placed; su — well; vipakva — matured; yogaiḥ — by those whose practice of yoga; utsikta — fully developed; bhakti — by devotional service; upahata — destroyed; āśaya — the material mentality; jīva — of the individual soul; kośāḥ — whose external covering; āpuḥ — they attained; bhavat — Your; gatim — destination; atha — therefore; anugṛhāṇa — please show mercy; bhaktān — to Your devotees.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Today we have directly seen Your feet, the source of the holy Ganges, which washes away volumes of sins. Perfected yogīs can at best meditate upon Your feet within their hearts. But only those who render You wholehearted devotional service and in this way vanquish the soul's covering — the material mind — attain You as their final destination. Therefore kindly show mercy to us, Your devotees.

 

10.84.27

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity anujñāpya dāśārhaḿ

dhṛtarāṣṭraḿ yudhiṣṭhiram

rājarṣe svāśramān gantuḿ

munayo dadhire manaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus speaking; anujñāpya — taking permission to leave; dāśārham — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Mahārāja Daśārha; dhṛtarāṣṭram — of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; yudhiṣṭhiram — of Yudhiṣṭhira; rāja — among kings; ṛṣe — O sage; sva — their own; āśramān — to the hermitages; gantum — to going; munayaḥ — the sages; dadhire — turned; manaḥ — their minds.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus spoken, O wise king, the sages then took leave of Lord Dāśārha, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Yudhiṣṭhira and prepared to depart for their āśramas.

 

10.84.28

tad vīkṣya tān upavrajya

vasudevo mahā-yaśāḥ

praṇamya copasańgṛhya

babhāṣedaḿ su-yantritaḥ

 

tat — this; vīkṣya — seeing; tān — them; upavrajya — approaching; vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; mahā — great; yaśāḥ — whose fame; praṇamya — bowing down; ca — and; upasańgṛhya — taking hold of their feet; babhāṣa — he said; idam — this; su — very; yantritaḥ — carefully composed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing that they were about to leave, the renowned Vasudeva approached the sages. After bowing down to them and touching their feet, he spoke to them with carefully chosen words.

 

10.84.29

śrī-vasudeva uvāca

namo vaḥ sarva-devebhya

ṛṣayaḥ śrotum arhatha

karmaṇā karma-nirhāro

yathā syān nas tad ucyatām

 

śrī-vasudevaḥ uvāca — Śrī Vasudeva said; namaḥ — obeisances; vaḥ — to you; sarva — all; devebhyaḥ — (who comprise) the demigods; ṛṣayaḥ — O sages; śrotum arhatha — please listen; karmaṇā — by material work; karma — of (previous) work; nirhāraḥ — the purging; yathā — how; syāt — there may be; naḥ — to us; tat — that; ucyatām — please say.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Vasudeva said: Obeisances to you, the residence of all the demigods. Please hear me, O sages. Kindly tell us how the reactions of one's work can be counteracted by further work.

 

10.84.30

śrī-nārada uvāca

nāti-citram idaḿ viprā

vasudevo bubhutsayā

kṛṣṇam matvārbhakaḿ yan naḥ

pṛcchati śreya ātmanaḥ

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said; na — not; ati — very; citram — wonderful; idam — this; viprāḥ — O brāhmaṇas; vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; bubhutsayā — with the desire of learning; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; matvā — thinking; arbhakam — a boy; yat — the fact that; naḥ — from us; pṛcchati — he asks; śreyaḥ — about the highest good; ātmanaḥ — for himself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Nārada Muni said: O brāhmaṇas, it is not so amazing that in his eagerness to know, Vasudeva has asked us about his ultimate benefit, for he considers Kṛṣṇa a mere boy.

 

10.84.31

sannikarṣo 'tra martyānām

anādaraṇa-kāraṇam

gāńgaḿ hitvā yathānyāmbhas

tatratyo yāti śuddhaye

 

sannikarṣaḥ — proximity; atra — here (in this world); martyānām — for mortals; anādaraṇa — of disregard; kāraṇam — a cause; gāńgam — (the water) of the Ganges; hitvā — leaving; yathā — as; anya — other; ambhaḥ — to water; tatratyaḥ — one who lives near it; yāti — goes; śuddhaye — for purification.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this world familiarity breeds contempt. For example, one who lives on the banks of the Ganges might travel to some other body of water to be purified.

 

10.84.32-33

yasyānubhūtiḥ kālena

layotpatty-ādināsya vai

svato 'nyasmāc ca guṇato

na kutaścana riṣyati

 

taḿ kleśa-karma-paripāka-guṇa-pravāhair

avyāhatānubhavam īśvaram advitīyam

prāṇādibhiḥ sva-vibhavair upagūḍham anyo

manyeta sūryam iva megha-himoparāgaiḥ

 

yasya — whose; anubhūtiḥ — awareness; kālena — caused by time; laya — by the destruction; utpatti — creation; ādinā — and so on; asya — of this (universe); vai — indeed; svataḥ — on its own; anyasmāt — due to some other agency; ca — or; guṇataḥ — in terms of its qualities; na — not; kutaścana — for any reason; riṣyati — becomes disrupted;

 

tam — Him; kleśa — by material distresses; karma — material activities; paripāka — their consequences; guṇa — of the modes of nature; pravāhaiḥ — and by the constant flow; avyāhata — unaffected; anubhavam — whose consciousness; īśvaram — the supreme controller; advitīyam — who has no second; prāṇa — by the vital air; ādibhiḥ — and other (elements of the material body); sva — His own; vibhavaiḥ — expansions; upagūḍham — disguised; anyaḥ — someone else; manyeta — considers; sūryam iva — like the sun; megha — by clouds; hima — snow; uparāgaiḥ — and eclipses.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord's awareness is never disturbed by time, by the creation and destruction of the universe, by changes in its own qualities, or by anything else, whether self-caused or external. But although the consciousness of the Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme one without a second, is never affected by material distress, by the reactions of material work or by the constant flow of nature's modes, ordinary persons nonetheless think that the Lord is covered by His own creations of prāṇa and other material elements, just as one may think that the sun is covered by clouds, snow or an eclipse.

 

10.84.34

athocur munayo rājann

ābhāṣyānalsadundabhim

sarveṣāḿ śṛṇvatāḿ rājñāḿ

tathaivācyuta-rāmayoḥ

 

atha — then; ūcuḥ — said; munayaḥ — the sages; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); ābhāṣya — speaking; ānaka-dundubhim — to Vasudeva; sarveṣām — all; śṛṇvatām — as they listened; rājñām — the kings; tathā eva — also; acyuta-rāmayoḥ — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:l The sages then spoke again, O King, addressing Vasudeva while all the kings, along with Lord Acyuta and Lord Rāma, listened.

 

10.84.35

karmaṇā karma-nirhāra

eṣa sādhu-nirūpitaḥ

yac chraddhayā yajed viṣṇuḿ

sarva-yajñeśvaraḿ makhaiḥ

 

karmaṇā — by activity; karma — of the reactions of past actions; nirhāraḥ — the counteraction; eṣaḥ — this; sādhu — correctly; nirūpitaḥ — ascertained; yat — that; śraddhayā — with faith; yajet — one should worship; viṣṇum — Viṣṇu; sarva — of all; yajña — sacrifices; īśvaram — the Lord; makhaiḥ — by Vedic fire rituals.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The sages said:] It has been definitely concluded that work is counteracted by further work when one executes Vedic sacrifices as a means of worshiping Viṣṇu, the Lord of all sacrifices, with sincere faith.

 

10.84.36

cittasyopaśamo 'yaḿ vai

kavibhiḥ śāstra-cakṣusā

darśitaḥ su-gamo yogo

dharmaś cātma-mud-āvahaḥ

 

cittasya — of the mind; upaśamaḥ — the pacification; ayam — this; vai — indeed; kavibhiḥ — by learned scholars; śāstra — of scripture; cakṣuṣā — with the eye; darśitaḥ — shown; su-gamaḥ — easily performed; yogaḥ — means of attaining liberation; dharmaḥ — religious duty; ca — and; ātma — to the heart; mut — pleasure; āvahaḥ — which brings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Learned authorities who see through the eye of scripture have demonstrated that this is the easiest method of subduing the agitated mind and attaining liberation, and that it is a sacred duty which brings joy to the heart.

 

10.84.37

ayaḿ svasty-ayanaḥ panthā

dvi-jāter gṛha-medhinaḥ

yac chraddhayāpta-vittena

śuklenejyeta pūruṣaḥ

 

ayam — this; svasti — auspiciousness; ayanaḥ — bringing; panthā — the path; dvi-jāteḥ — for one who is twice-born (being a member of one of the three higher social orders); gṛha — at home; medhinaḥ — who performs sacrifices; yat — that; śraddhayā — selflessly; āpta — obtained by just means; vittena — with his possessions; śuklena — untainted; ījyeta — one should worship; pūruṣaḥ — the Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This is the most auspicious path for a religious householder of the twice-born orders — to selflessly worship the Personality of Godhead with wealth honestly obtained.

 

10.84.38

vittaiṣaṇāḿ yajña-dānair

gṛhair dāra-sutaiṣaṇām

ātma-lokaiṣaṇāḿ deva

kālena visṛjed budhaḥ

grāme tyaktaiṣaṇāḥ sarve

yayur dhīrās tapo-vanam

 

vitta — for wealth; eṣaṇām — the desire; yajña — by sacrifices; dānaiḥ — and by charity; gṛhaiḥ — by engagement in household affairs; dāra — for wife; suta — and children; eṣaṇām — the desire; ātma — for oneself; loka — for an exalted planet (in the next life); eṣaṇām — the desire; deva — O saintly Vasudeva; kālena — because of time; visṛjet — one should renounce; budhaḥ — who is intelligent; grāme — for household life; tyakta — who renounced; eṣaṇāḥ — their desires; sarve — all; yayuḥ — they went; dhīrāḥ — sober sages; tapaḥ — of austerities; vanam — to the forest.

 

TRANSLATION

 

An intelligent person should learn to renounce his desire for wealth by performing sacrifices and acts of charity. He should learn to renounce his desire for wife and children by experiencing family life. And he should learn to renounce his desire for promotion to a higher planet in his next life, O saintly Vasudeva, by studying the effects of time. Self-controlled sages who have thus renounced their attachment to household life go to the forest to perform austerities.

 

10.84.39

ṛṇais tribhir dvijo jāto

devarṣi-pitṝṇāḿ prabho

yajñādhyayana-putrais tāny

anistīrya tyajan patet

 

ṛṇaiḥ — with debts; tribhiḥ — three; dvi-jaḥ — a member of the twice-born classes; jātaḥ — is born; deva — to the demigods; ṛṣi — sages; pitṝṇām — and forefathers; prabho — O master (Vasudeva); yajña — by sacrifice; adhyayana — study of scripture; putraiḥ — and (begetting) children; tāni — these (debts); anistīrya — not liquidating; tyajan — leaving (his body); patet — he falls down.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Dear Prabhu, a member of the twice-born classes is born with three kinds of debts — those owed to the demigods, to the sages and to his forefathers. If he leaves his body without first liquidating these debts by performing sacrifice, studying the scriptures and begetting children, he will fall down into a hellish condition.

 

10.84.40

tvaḿ tv adya mukto dvābhyāḿ vai

ṛṣi-pitror mahā-mate

yajñair devarṇam unmucya

nirṛṇo 'śaraṇo bhava

 

tvam — you; tu — but; adya — now; muktaḥ — freed; dvābhyām — from two (of the debts); vai — certainly; ṛṣi — to the sages; pitroḥ — and to the forefathers; mahā-mate — O generous one; yajñaiḥ — by Vedic sacrifices; deva — to the demigods; ṛṇam — from the debt; unmucya — relieving yourself; nirṛṇaḥ — without debt; aśaraṇaḥ — without material shelter; bhava — become.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But you, O magnanimous soul, are already free from two of your debts — those to the sages and the forefathers. Now absolve yourself of your debt to the demigods by executing Vedic sacrifices, and in this way free yourself completely of debt and renounce all material shelter.

 

10.84.41

vasudeva bhavān nūnaḿ

bhaktyā paramayā harim

jagatām īśvaraḿ prārcaḥ

sa yad vāḿ putratāḿ gataḥ

 

vasudeva — O Vasudeva; bhavān — your good self; nūnam — doubtlessly; bhaktyā — with devotion; paramayā — supreme; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa; jagatām — of all the worlds; īśvaram — the supreme controller; prārcaḥ — have worshiped thoroughly; saḥ — He; yat — inasmuch; vām — of both of you (Vasudeva and Devakī); putratām — the role of son; gataḥ — has taken on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Vasudeva, without doubt you must have previously worshiped Lord Hari, the master of all worlds. Both you and your wife must have perfectly worshiped Him with supreme devotion, since He has accepted the role of your son.

 

10.84.42

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti tad-vacanaḿ śrutvā

vasudevo mahā-manāḥ

tān ṛṣīn ṛtvijo vavre

mūrdhnānamya prasādya ca

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus spoken; tat — their; vacanam — words; śrutvā — having heard; vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; mahā-manāḥ — generous; tān — them; ṛṣīn — the sages; ṛtvijaḥ — as priests; vavre — chose; mūrdhnā — with his head; ānamya — bowing down; prasādya — gratifying them; ca — also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After hearing these statements of the sages, generous Vasudeva bowed his head to the ground and, praising them, requested them to become his priests.

 

10.84.43

ta enam ṛṣayo rājan

vṛtā dharmeṇa dhārmikam

tasminn ayājayan kṣetre

makhair uttama-kalpakaiḥ

 

te — they; enam — him; ṛṣayaḥ — the sages; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); vṛtāḥ — chosen; dharmeṇa — according to religious principles; dhārmikam — who was religious; tasmin — in that; ayājayan — they engaged in executing sacrifices; kṣetre — holy field (of Kurukṣetra); makhaiḥ — with fire rituals; uttama — superexcellent; kalpakaiḥ — whose arrangements.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus requested by him, O King, the sages engaged the pious Vasudeva in performing fire sacrifices at that holy place of Kurukṣetra according to strict religious principles and with most excellent ritual arrangements.

 

10.84.44-45

tad-dīkṣāyāḿ pravṛttāyāḿ

vṛṣṇayaḥ puṣkara-srajaḥ

snātāḥ su-vāsaso rājan

rājānaḥ suṣṭhv-alańkṛtāḥ

 

tan-mahiṣyaś ca muditā

niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ su-vāsasaḥ

dīkṣā-śālām upājagmur

āliptā vastu-pāṇayaḥ

 

tat — of him (Vasudeva); dīkṣāyām — the initiation for the sacrifice; pravṛttāyām — when it was about to begin; vṛṣṇayaḥ — the Vṛṣṇis; puṣkara — of lotuses; srajaḥ — wearing garlands; snātāḥ — bathed; suvāsasaḥ — well dressed; rājan — O King; rājānaḥ — (other) kings; suṣṭhu — elaborately; alańkṛtāḥ — ornamented;

 

tat — their; mahiṣyaḥ — queens; ca — and; muditāḥ — joyful; niṣka — jeweled lockets; kaṇṭhyaḥ — on whose necks; su-vāsasaḥ — well dressed; dīkṣā — of initiation; śālām — the pavilion; upājagmuḥ — they approached; āliptāḥ — anointed; vastu — with auspicious items; pāṇayaḥ — in whose hands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Mahārāja Vasudeva was about to be initiated for the sacrifice, O King, the Vṛṣṇis came to the initiation pavilion after bathing and putting on fine clothes and garlands of lotuses. The other kings also came, elaborately ornamented, as well as all their joyful queens, who wore jeweled lockets around their necks and were also clad in fine garments. The royal wives were anointed with sandalwood paste and carried auspicious items for the worship.

 

10.84.46

nedur mṛdańga-paṭaha-

śańkha-bhery-ānakādayaḥ

nanṛtur naṭa-nartakyas

tuṣṭuvuḥ sūta-māgadhāḥ

jaguḥ su-kaṇṭhyo gandharvyaḥ

sańgītaḿ saha-bhartṛkāḥ

 

neduḥ — sounded; mṛdańga-paṭaha — mṛdańga and paṭaha drums; śańkha — conchshells; bherī-ānaka — bherī and ānaka drums; ādayaḥ — and other instruments; nanṛtuḥ — danced; naṭa-nartakyaḥ — male and female dancers; tuṣṭuvuḥ — recited praise; sūta-māgadhāḥ — sūta and māgadha bards; jaguḥ — sang; su-kaṇṭhyaḥ — sweet-voiced; gandharvyaḥ — female Gandharvas; sańgītam — songs; saha — along with; bhartṛkāḥ — their husbands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mṛdańgas, paṭahas, conchshells, bherīs, ānakas and other instruments resounded, male and female dancers danced, and sūtas and māgadhas recited glorifications. Sweet-voiced Gandharvīs sang, accompanied by their husbands.

 

10.84.47

tam abhyaṣiñcan vidhi-vad

aktam abhyaktam ṛtvijaḥ

patnībhir aṣṭā-daśabhiḥ

soma-rājam ivoḍubhiḥ

 

tam — him; abhyaṣiñcan — they sprinkled with sacred water; vidhivat — according to scriptural rules; aktam — his eyes decorated with mascara; abhyaktam — his body smeared with newly-churned butter; ṛtvijaḥ — the priests; patnībhiḥ — along with his wives; aṣṭā-daśabhiḥ — eighteen; soma-rājam — the kingly; iva — as if; uḍubhiḥ — with stars.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After Vasudeva's eyes had been decorated with black cosmetic and his body smeared with fresh butter, the priests initiated him according to scriptural rules by sprinkling him and his eighteen wives with sacred water. Encircled by his wives, he resembled the regal moon encircled by stars.

 

10.84.48

tābhir dukūla-valayair

hāra-nūpura-kuṇḍalaiḥ

sv-alańkṛtābhir vibabhau

dīkṣito 'jina-saḿvṛtaḥ

 

tābhiḥ — with them; dukūla — with silk sārīs; valayaiḥ — and bangles; hāra — wearing necklaces; nūpura — ankle bells; kuṇḍalaiḥ — and earrings; su — finely; alańkṛtābhiḥ — decorated; vibabhau — he shone brilliantly; dīkṣitaḥ — having been initiated; ajina — by a deerskin; saḿvṛtaḥ — enwrapped.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vasudeva received initiation along with his wives, who wore silk sārīs and were adorned with bangles, necklaces, ankle bells and earrings. With his body wrapped in a deerskin, Vasudeva shone splendidly.

 

10.84.49

tasyartvijo mahā-rāja

ratna-kauśeya-vāsasaḥ

sa-sadasyā virejus te

yathā vṛtra-haṇo 'dhvare