Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 1 · Chapter 15
सूत उवाच एवं कृष्णसख: कृष्णो भ्रात्रा राज्ञा विकल्पित: । नानाशङ्कास्पदं रूपं कृष्णविश्लेषकर्शित: ॥ १ ॥
suta uvaca evam krsna-sakhah krsno bhratra rajna vikalpitah nana-sankaspadam rupam krsna-vislesa-karsitah
Suta Gosvami said: Arjuna, the celebrated friend of Lord Krsna, was grief-stricken because of his strong feeling of separation from Krsna, over and above all Maharaja Yudhisthira’s speculative inquiries.
शोकेन शुष्यद्वदनहृत्सरोजो हतप्रभ: । विभुं तमेवानुस्मरन्नाशक्नोत्प्रतिभाषितुम् ॥ २ ॥
sokena susyad-vadana- hrt-sarojo hata-prabhah vibhum tam evanusmaran nasaknot pratibhasitum
Due to grief, Arjuna’s mouth and lotuslike heart had dried up. Therefore his body lost all luster. Now, remembering the Supreme Lord, he could hardly utter a word in reply.
कृच्छ्रेण संस्तभ्य शुच: पाणिनामृज्य नेत्रयो: । परोक्षेण समुन्नद्धप्रणयौत्कण्ठ्यकातर: ॥ ३ ॥
krcchrena samstabhya sucah paninamrjya netrayoh paroksena samunnaddha- pranayautkanthya-katarah
With great difficulty he checked the tears of grief that smeared his eyes. He was very distressed because Lord Krsna was out of his sight, and he increasingly felt affection for Him.
सख्यं मैत्रीं सौहृदं च सारथ्यादिषु संस्मरन् । नृपमग्रजमित्याह बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा ॥ ४ ॥
sakhyam maitrim sauhrdam ca sarathyadisu samsmaran nrpam agrajam ity aha baspa-gadgadaya gira
Remembering Lord Krsna and His well-wishes, benefactions, intimate familial relations and His chariot driving, Arjuna, overwhelmed and breathing very heavily, began to speak.
अर्जुन उवाच वञ्चितोऽहं महाराज हरिणा बन्धुरूपिणा । येन मेऽपहृतं तेजो देवविस्मापनं महत् ॥ ५ ॥
arjuna uvaca vancito ’ham maha-raja harina bandhu-rupina yena me ’pahrtam tejo deva-vismapanam mahat
Arjuna said: O King! The Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari, who treated me exactly like an intimate friend, has left me alone. Thus my astounding power, which astonished even the demigods, is no longer with me.
यस्य क्षणवियोगेन लोको ह्यप्रियदर्शन: । उक्थेन रहितो ह्येष मृतक: प्रोच्यते यथा ॥ ६ ॥
yasya ksana-viyogena loko hy apriya-darsanah ukthena rahito hy esa mrtakah procyate yatha
I have just lost Him whose separation for a moment would render all the universes unfavorable and void, like bodies without life.
यत्संश्रयाद् द्रुपदगेहमुपागतानां राज्ञां स्वयंवरमुखे स्मरदुर्मदानाम् । तेजो हृतं खलु मयाभिहतश्च मत्स्य: सज्जीकृतेन धनुषाधिगता च कृष्णा ॥ ७ ॥
yat-samsrayad drupada-geham upagatanam rajnam svayamvara-mukhe smara-durmadanam tejo hrtam khalu mayabhihatas ca matsyah sajjikrtena dhanusadhigata ca krsna
Only by His merciful strength was I able to vanquish all the lusty princes assembled at the palace of King Drupada for the selection of the bridegroom. With my bow and arrow I could pierce the fish target and thereby gain the hand of Draupadi.
यत्सन्निधावहमु खांडवमग्नयेऽदा- मिन्द्रं च सामरगणं तरसा विजित्य । लब्धा सभा मयकृताद्भुतशिल्पमाया दिग्भ्योऽहरन्नृपतयो बलिमध्वरे ते ॥ ८ ॥
yat-sannidhav aham u khandavam agnaye ’dam indram ca samara-ganam tarasa vijitya labdha sabha maya-krtadbhuta-silpa-maya digbhyo ’haran nrpatayo balim adhvare te
Because He was near me, it was possible for me to conquer with great dexterity the powerful King of heaven, Indradeva, along with his demigod associates and thus enable the fire-god to devastate the Khandava Forest. And only by His grace was the demon named Maya saved from the blazing Khandava Forest, and thus we could build our assembly house of wonderful architectural workmanship, where all the princes assembled during the performance of Rajasuya-yajna and paid you tributes.
यत्तेजसा नृपशिरोऽङ्घ्रिमहन्मखार्थम् आर्योऽनुजस्तव गजायुतसत्त्ववीर्य: । तेनाहृता: प्रमथनाथमखाय भूपा यन्मोचितास्तदनयन्बलिमध्वरे ते ॥ ९ ॥
yat-tejasa nrpa-siro-’nghrim ahan makhartham aryo ’nujas tava gajayuta-sattva-viryah tenahrtah pramatha-natha-makhaya bhupa yan-mocitas tad-anayan balim adhvare te
Your respectable younger brother, who possesses the strength of ten thousand elephants, killed, by His grace, Jarasandha, whose feet were worshiped by many kings. These kings had been brought for sacrifice in Jarasandha’s Mahabhairava-yajna, but they were thus released. Later they paid tribute to Your Majesty.
पत्न्यास्तवाधिमखक्लृप्तमहाभिषेक- श्लाघिष्ठचारुकबरं कितवै: सभायाम् । स्पृष्टं विकीर्य पदयो: पतिताश्रुमुख्या यस्तत्स्त्रियोऽकृतहतेशविमुक्तकेशा: ॥ १० ॥
patnyas tavadhimakha-klpta-mahabhiseka- slaghistha-caru-kabaram kitavaih sabhayam sprstam vikirya padayoh patitasru-mukhya yas tat-striyo ’krta-hatesa-vimukta-kesah
It was He only who loosened the hair of all the wives of the miscreants who dared open the cluster of your Queen’s hair, which had been nicely dressed and sanctified for the great Rajasuya sacrificial ceremony. At that time she fell down at the feet of Lord Krsna with tears in her eyes.
यो नो जुगोप वन एत्य दुरन्तकृच्छ्राद् दुर्वाससोऽरिरचितादयुताग्रभुग् य: । शाकान्नशिष्टमुपयुज्य यतस्त्रिलोकीं तृप्ताममंस्त सलिले विनिमग्नसङ्घ: ॥ ११ ॥
yo no jugopa vana etya duranta-krcchrad durvasaso ’ri-racitad ayutagra-bhug yah sakanna-sistam upayujya yatas tri-lokim trptam amamsta salile vinimagna-sanghah
During our exile, Durvasa Muni, who eats with his ten thousand disciples, intrigued with our enemies to put us in dangerous trouble. At that time He (Lord Krsna), simply by accepting the remnants of food, saved us. By His accepting food thus, the assembly of munis, while bathing in the river, felt sumptuously fed. And all the three worlds were also satisfied.
यत्तेजसाथ भगवान् युधि शूलपाणि- र्विस्मापित: सगिरिजोऽस्त्रमदान्निजं मे । अन्येऽपि चाहममुनैव कलेवरेण प्राप्तो महेन्द्रभवने महदासनार्धम् ॥ १२ ॥
yat-tejasatha bhagavan yudhi sula-panir vismapitah sagirijo ’stram adan nijam me anye ’pi caham amunaiva kalevarena prapto mahendra-bhavane mahad-asanardham
It was by His influence only that in a fight I was able to astonish the personality of god Lord Siva and his wife, the daughter of Mount Himalaya. Thus he (Lord Siva) became pleased with me and awarded me his own weapon. Other demigods also delivered their respective weapons to me, and in addition I was able to reach the heavenly planes in this present body and was allowed a half-elevated seat.
तत्रैव मे विहरतो भुजदण्डयुग्मं गाण्डीवलक्षणमरातिवधाय देवा: । सेन्द्रा: श्रिता यदनुभावितमाजमीढ तेनाहमद्य मुषित: पुरुषेण भूम्ना ॥ १३ ॥
tatraiva me viharato bhuja-danda-yugmam gandiva-laksanam arati-vadhaya devah sendrah srita yad-anubhavitam ajamidha tenaham adya musitah purusena bhumna
When I stayed for some days as a guest in the heavenly planes, all the heavenly demigods, including King Indradeva, took shelter of my arms, which were marked with the Gandiva bow, to kill the demon named Nivatakavaca. O King, descendant of Ajamidha, at the present moment I am bereft of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose influence I was so powerful.
यद्बान्धव: कुरुबलाब्धिमनन्तपार- मेको रथेन ततरेऽहमतीर्यसत्त्वम् । प्रत्याहृतं बहु धनं च मया परेषां तेजास्पदं मणिमयं च हृतं शिरोभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥
yad-bandhavah kuru-balabdhim ananta-param eko rathena tatare ’ham atirya-sattvam pratyahrtam bahu dhanam ca maya paresam tejas-padam manimayam ca hrtam sirobhyah
The military strength of the Kauravas was like an ocean in which there dwelled many invincible existences, and thus it was insurmountable. But because of His friendship, I, seated on the chariot, was able to cross over it. And only by His grace was I able to regain the cows and also collect by force many helmets of the kings which were bedecked with jewels that were sources of all brilliance.
यो भीष्मकर्णगुरुशल्यचमूष्वदभ्र- राजन्यवर्यरथमण्डलमण्डितासु । अग्रेचरो मम विभो रथयूथपाना- मायुर्मनांसि च दृशा सह ओज आर्च्छत् ॥ १५ ॥
yo bhisma-karna-guru-salya-camusv adabhra- rajanya-varya-ratha-mandala-manditasu agrecaro mama vibho ratha-yuthapanam ayur manamsi ca drsa saha oja arcchat
It was He only who withdrew the duration of life from everyone and who, in the battlefield, withdrew the speculative power and strength of enthusiasm from the great military phalanx made by the Kauravas, headed by Bhisma, Karna, Drona, Salya, etc. Their arrangement was expert and more than adequate, but He (Lord Sri Krsna), while going forward, did all this.
यद्दो:षु मा प्रणिहितं गुरुभीष्मकर्ण- नप्तृत्रिगर्तशल्यसैन्धवबाह्लिकाद्यै: । अस्त्राण्यमोघमहिमानि निरूपितानि नोपस्पृशुर्नृहरिदासमिवासुराणि ॥ १६ ॥
yad-dohsu ma pranihitam guru-bhisma-karna- naptr-trigarta-salya-saindhava-bahlikadyaih astrany amogha-mahimani nirupitani nopasprsur nrhari-dasam ivasurani
Great generals like Bhisma, Drona, Karna, Bhurisrava, Susarma, Salya, Jayadratha, and Bahlika all directed their invincible weapons against me. But by His (Lord Krsna’s) grace they could not even touch a hair on my head. Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja, the supreme devotee of Lord Nrsimhadeva, was unaffected by the weapons the demons used against him.
सौत्ये वृत: कुमतिनात्मद ईश्वरो मे यत्पादपद्ममभवाय भजन्ति भव्या: । मां श्रान्तवाहमरयो रथिनो भुविष्ठं न प्राहरन् यदनुभावनिरस्तचित्ता: ॥ १७ ॥
sautye vrtah kumatinatmada isvaro me yat-pada-padmam abhavaya bhajanti bhavyah mam sranta-vaham arayo rathino bhuvi-stham na praharan yad-anubhava-nirasta-cittah
It was by His mercy only that my enemies neglected to kill me when I descended from my chariot to get water for my thirsty horses. And it was due to my lack of esteem for my Lord that I dared engage Him as my chariot driver, for He is worshiped and offered services by the best men to attain salvation.
नर्माण्युदाररुचिरस्मितशोभितानि हे पार्थ हेऽर्जुन सखे कुरुनन्दनेति । सञ्जल्पितानि नरदेव हृदिस्पृशानि स्मर्तुर्लुठन्ति हृदयं मम माधवस्य ॥ १८ ॥
narmany udara-rucira-smita-sobhitani he partha he ’rjuna sakhe kuru-nandaneti sanjalpitani nara-deva hrdi-sprsani smartur luthanti hrdayam mama madhavasya
O King! His jokings and frank talks were pleasing and beautifully decorated with smiles. His addresses unto me as O son of Prtha, O friend, O son of the Kuru dynasty and all such heartiness are now remembered by me, and thus I am overwhelmed.
शय्यासनाटनविकत्थनभोजनादि ष्वैक्याद्वयस्य ऋतवानिति विप्रलब्ध: । सख्यु: सखेव पितृवत्तनयस्य सर्वं सेहे महान्महितया कुमतेरघं मे ॥ १९ ॥
sayyasanatana-vikatthana-bhojanadisv aikyad vayasya rtavan iti vipralabdhah sakhyuh sakheva pitrvat tanayasya sarvam sehe mahan mahitaya kumater agham me
Generally both of us used to live together and sleep, sit and loiter together. And at the time of advertising oneself for acts of chivalry, sometimes, if there were any irregularity, I used to reproach Him by saying, My friend, You are very truthful Even in those hours when His value was minimized, He, being the Supreme Soul, used to tolerate all those utterings of mine, excusing me exactly as a true friend excuses his true friend, or a father excuses his son.
सोऽहं नृपेन्द्र रहित: पुरुषोत्तमेन सख्या प्रियेण सुहृदा हृदयेन शून्य: । अध्वन्युरुक्रमपरिग्रहमङ्ग रक्षन् गोपैरसद्भिरबलेव विनिर्जितोऽस्मि ॥ २० ॥
so ’ham nrpendra rahitah purusottamena sakhya priyena suhrda hrdayena sunyah adhvany urukrama-parigraham anga raksan gopair asadbhir abaleva vinirjito ’smi
O Emperor, now I am separated from my friend and dearmost well-wisher, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore my heart appears to be void of everything. In His absence I have been defeated by a number of infidel cowherd men while I was guarding the bodies of all the wives of Krsna.
तद्वै धनुस्त इषव: स रथो हयास्ते सोऽहं रथी नृपतयो यत आनमन्ति । सर्वं क्षणेन तदभूदसदीशरिक्तं भस्मन्हुतं कुहकराद्धमिवोप्तमूष्याम् ॥ २१ ॥
tad vai dhanus ta isavah sa ratho hayas te so ’ham rathi nrpatayo yata anamanti sarvam ksanena tad abhud asad isa-riktam bhasman hutam kuhaka-raddham ivoptam usyam
I have the very same Gandiva bow, the same arrows, the same chariot drawn by the same horses, and I use them as the same Arjuna to whom all the kings offered their due respects. But in the absence of Lord Krsna, all of them, at a moment’s notice, have become null and void. It is exactly like offering clarified butter on ashes, accumulating money with a magic wand or sowing seeds on barren land.
राजंस्त्वयानुपृष्टानां सुहृदां न: सुहृत्पुरे । विप्रशापविमूढानां निघ्नतां मुष्टिभिर्मिथ: ॥ २२ ॥ वारुणीं मदिरां पीत्वा मदोन्मथितचेतसाम् । अजानतामिवान्योन्यं चतु:पञ्चावशेषिता: ॥ २३ ॥
rajams tvayanuprstanam suhrdam nah suhrt-pure vipra-sapa-vimudhanam nighnatam mustibhir mithah varunim madiram pitva madonmathita-cetasam ajanatam ivanyonyam catuh-pancavasesitah
O King, since you have asked me about our friends and relatives in the city of Dvaraka, I will inform you that all of them were cursed by the brahmanas, and as a result they all became intoxicated with wine made of putrefied rice and fought among themselves with sticks, not even recognizing one another. Now all but four or five of them are dead and gone.
प्रायेणैतद् भगवत ईश्वरस्य विचेष्टितम् । मिथो निघ्नन्ति भूतानि भावयन्ति च यन्मिथ: ॥ २४ ॥
prayenaitad bhagavata isvarasya vicestitam mitho nighnanti bhutani bhavayanti ca yan mithah
Factually this is all due to the supreme will of the Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes people kill one another, and at other times they protect one another.
जलौकसां जले यद्वन्महान्तोऽदन्त्यणीयस: । दुर्बलान्बलिनो राजन्महान्तो बलिनो मिथ: ॥ २५ ॥ एवं बलिष्ठैर्यदुभिर्महद्भिरितरान् विभु: । यदून्यदुभिरन्योन्यं भूभारान् सञ्जहार ह ॥ २६ ॥
jalaukasam jale yadvan mahanto ’danty aniyasah durbalan balino rajan mahanto balino mithah evam balisthair yadubhir mahadbhir itaran vibhuh yadun yadubhir anyonyam bhu-bharan sanjahara ha
O King, as in the ocean the bigger and stronger aquatics swallow up the smaller and weaker ones, so also the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to lighten the burden of the earth, has engaged the stronger Yadu to kill the weaker, and the bigger Yadu to kill the smaller.
देशकालार्थयुक्तानि हृत्तापोपशमानि च । हरन्ति स्मरतश्चित्तं गोविन्दाभिहितानि मे ॥ २७ ॥
desa-kalartha-yuktani hrt-tapopasamani ca haranti smaratas cittam govindabhihitani me
Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead (Govinda) because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space.
सूत उवाच एवं चिन्तयतो जिष्णो: कृष्णपादसरोरुहम् । सौहार्देनातिगाढेन शान्तासीद्विमला मति: ॥ २८ ॥
suta uvaca evam cintayato jisnoh krsna-pada-saroruham sauhardenatigadhena santasid vimala matih
Suta Gosvami said: Thus being deeply absorbed in thinking of the instructions of the Lord, which were imparted in the great intimacy of friendship, and in thinking of His lotus feet, Arjuna’s mind became pacified and free from all material contamination.
वासुदेवाङ्घ्र्यनुध्यानपरिबृंहितरंहसा । भक्त्या निर्मथिताशेषकषायधिषणोऽर्जुन: ॥ २९ ॥
vasudevanghry-anudhyana- paribrmhita-ramhasa bhaktya nirmathitasesa- kasaya-dhisano ’rjunah
Arjuna’s constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna rapidly increased his devotion, and as a result all the trash in his thoughts subsided.
गीतं भगवता ज्ञानं यत् तत् सङ्ग्राममूर्धनि । कालकर्मतमोरुद्धं पुनरध्यगमत् प्रभु: ॥ ३० ॥
gitam bhagavata jnanam yat tat sangrama-murdhani kala-karma-tamo-ruddham punar adhyagamat prabhuh
Because of the Lord’s pastimes and activities and because of His absence, it appeared that Arjuna forgot the instructions left by the Personality of Godhead. But factually this was not the case, and again he became lord of his senses.
विशोको ब्रह्मसम्पत्त्या सञ्छिन्नद्वैतसंशय: । लीनप्रकृतिनैर्गुण्यादलिङ्गत्वादसम्भव: ॥ ३१ ॥
visoko brahma-sampattya sanchinna-dvaita-samsayah lina-prakrti-nairgunyad alingatvad asambhavah
Because of his possessing spiritual assets, the doubts of duality were completely cut off. Thus he was freed from the three modes of material nature and placed in transcendence. There was no longer any chance of his becoming entangled in birth and death, for he was freed from material form.
निशम्य भगवन्मार्गं संस्थां यदुकुलस्य च । स्व:पथाय मतिं चक्रे निभृतात्मा युधिष्ठिर: ॥ ३२ ॥
nisamya bhagavan-margam samstham yadu-kulasya ca svah-pathaya matim cakre nibhrtatma yudhisthirah
Upon hearing of Lord Krsna’s returning to His abode, and upon understanding the end of the Yadu dynasty’s earthly manifestation, Maharaja Yudhisthira decided to go back home, back to Godhead.
पृथाप्यनुश्रुत्य धनञ्जयोदितं नाशं यदूनां भगवद्गतिं च ताम् । एकान्तभक्त्या भगवत्यधोक्षजे निवेशितात्मोपरराम संसृते: ॥ ३३ ॥
prthapy anusrutya dhananjayoditam nasam yadunam bhagavad-gatim ca tam ekanta-bhaktya bhagavaty adhoksaje nivesitatmopararama samsrteh
Kunti, after overhearing Arjuna’s telling of the end of the Yadu dynasty and disappearance of Lord Krsna, engaged in the devotional service of the transcendental Personality of Godhead with full attention and thus gained release from the course of material existence.
ययाहरद् भुवो भारं तां तनुं विजहावज: । कण्टकं कण्टकेनेव द्वयं चापीशितु: समम् ॥ ३४ ॥
yayaharad bhuvo bharam tam tanum vijahav ajah kantakam kantakeneva dvayam capisituh samam
The supreme unborn, Lord Sri Krsna, caused the members of the Yadu dynasty to relinquish their bodies, and thus He relieved the burden of the world. This action was like picking out a thorn with a thorn, though both are the same to the controller.
यथा मत्स्यादिरूपाणि धत्ते जह्याद् यथा नट: । भूभार: क्षपितो येन जहौ तच्च कलेवरम् ॥ ३५ ॥
yatha matsyadi-rupani dhatte jahyad yatha natah bhu-bharah ksapito yena jahau tac ca kalevaram
The Supreme Lord relinquished the body which He manifested to diminish the burden of the earth. Just like a magician, He relinquishes one body to accept different ones, like the fish incarnation and others.
यदा मुकुन्दो भगवानिमां महीं जहौ स्वतन्वा श्रवणीयसत्कथ: । तदाहरेवाप्रतिबुद्धचेतसा- मभद्रहेतु: कलिरन्ववर्तत ॥ ३६ ॥
yada mukundo bhagavan imam mahim jahau sva-tanva sravaniya-sat-kathah tadahar evapratibuddha-cetasam abhadra-hetuh kalir anvavartata
When the Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, left this earthly plane in His selfsame form, from that very day Kali, who had already partially appeared, became fully manifest to create inauspicious conditions for those who are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge.
युधिष्ठिरस्तत्परिसर्पणं बुध: पुरे च राष्ट्रे च गृहे तथात्मनि । विभाव्य लोभानृतजिह्महिंसना- द्यधर्मचक्रं गमनाय पर्यधात् ॥ ३७ ॥
yudhisthiras tat parisarpanam budhah pure ca rastre ca grhe tathatmani vibhavya lobhanrta-jihma-himsanady- adharma-cakram gamanaya paryadhat
Maharaja Yudhisthira was intelligent enough to understand the influence of the age of Kali, characterized by increasing avarice, falsehood, cheating and violence throughout the capital, state, home and among individuals. So he wisely prepared himself to leave home, and he dressed accordingly.
स्वराट् पौत्रं विनयिनमात्मन: सुसमं गुणै: । तोयनीव्या: पतिं भूमेरभ्यषिञ्चद्गजाह्वये ॥ ३८ ॥
sva-rat pautram vinayinam atmanah susamam gunaih toya-nivyah patim bhumer abhyasincad gajahvaye
Thereafter, in the capital of Hastinapura, he enthroned his grandson, who was trained and equally qualified, as the emperor and master of all land bordered by the seas.
मथुरायां तथा वज्रं शूरसेनपतिं तत: । प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमग्नीनपिबदीश्वर: ॥ ३९ ॥
mathurayam tatha vajram surasena-patim tatah prajapatyam nirupyestim agnin apibad isvarah
Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha (grandson of Lord Krsna), at Mathura as the King of Surasena. Afterwards Maharaja Yudhisthira performed a Prajapatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life.
विसृज्य तत्र तत् सर्वं दुकूलवलयादिकम् । निर्ममो निरहङ्कार: सञ्छिन्नाशेषबन्धन: ॥ ४० ॥
visrjya tatra tat sarvam dukula-valayadikam nirmamo nirahankarah sanchinnasesa-bandhanah
Maharaja Yudhisthira at once relinquished all his garments, belt and ornaments of the royal order and became completely disinterested and unattached to everything.
वाचं जुहाव मनसि तत्प्राण इतरे च तम् । मृत्यावपानं सोत्सर्गं तं पञ्चत्वे ह्यजोहवीत् ॥ ४१ ॥
vacam juhava manasi tat prana itare ca tam mrtyav apanam sotsargam tam pancatve hy ajohavit
Then he amalgamated all the sense organs into the mind, then the mind into life, life into breathing, his total existence into the embodiment of the five elements, and his body into death. Then, as pure self, he became free from the material conception of life.
त्रित्वे हुत्वा च पञ्चत्वं तच्चैकत्वेऽजुहोन्मुनि: । सर्वमात्मन्यजुहवीद्ब्रह्मण्यात्मानमव्यये ॥ ४२ ॥
tritve hutva ca pancatvam tac caikatve ’juhon munih sarvam atmany ajuhavid brahmany atmanam avyaye
Thus annihilating the gross body of five elements into the three qualitative modes of material nature, he merged them in one nescience and then absorbed that nescience in the self, Brahman, which is inexhaustible in all circumstances.
चीरवासा निराहारो बद्धवाङ्मुक्तमूर्धज: । दर्शयन्नात्मनो रूपं जडोन्मत्तपिशाचवत् । अनवेक्षमाणो निरगादशृण्वन्बधिरो यथा ॥ ४३ ॥
cira-vasa niraharo baddha-van mukta-murdhajah darsayann atmano rupam jadonmatta-pisacavat anaveksamano niragad asrnvan badhiro yatha
After that, Maharaja Yudhisthira dressed himself in torn clothing, gave up eating all solid foods, voluntarily became dumb and let his hair hang loose. All this combined to make him look like an urchin or madman with no occupation. He did not depend on his brothers for anything. And, just like a deaf man, he heard nothing.
उदीचीं प्रविवेशाशां गतपूर्वां महात्मभि: । हृदि ब्रह्म परं ध्यायन्नावर्तेत यतो गत: ॥ ४४ ॥
udicim pravivesasam gata-purvam mahatmabhih hrdi brahma param dhyayan navarteta yato gatah
He then started towards the north, treading the path accepted by his forefathers and great men, to devote himself completely to the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he lived in that way wherever he went.
सर्वे तमनुनिर्जग्मुर्भ्रातर: कृतनिश्चया: । कलिनाधर्ममित्रेण दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्टा: प्रजा भुवि ॥ ४५ ॥
sarve tam anunirjagmur bhratarah krta-niscayah kalinadharma-mitrena drstva sprstah praja bhuvi
The younger brothers of Maharaja Yudhisthira observed that the age of Kali had already arrived throughout the world and that the citizens of the kingdom were already affected by irreligious practice. Therefore they decided to follow in the footsteps of their elder brother.
ते साधुकृतसर्वार्था ज्ञात्वात्यन्तिकमात्मन: । मनसा धारयामासुर्वैकुण्ठचरणाम्बुजम् ॥ ४६ ॥
te sadhu-krta-sarvartha jnatvatyantikam atmanah manasa dharayam asur vaikuntha-caranambujam
They all had performed all the principles of religion and as a result rightly decided that the lotus feet of the Lord Sri Krsna are the supreme goal of all. Therefore they meditated upon His feet without interruption.
तद्ध्यानोद्रिक्तया भक्त्या विशुद्धधिषणा: परे । तस्मिन् नारायणपदे एकान्तमतयो गतिम् ॥ ४७ ॥ अवापुर्दुरवापां ते असद्भिर्विषयात्मभि: । विधूतकल्मषा स्थानं विरजेनात्मनैव हि ॥ ४८ ॥
tad-dhyanodriktaya bhaktya visuddha-dhisanah pare tasmin narayana-pade ekanta-matayo gatim avapur duravapam te asadbhir visayatmabhih vidhuta-kalmasa sthanam virajenatmanaiva hi
Thus by pure consciousness due to constant devotional remembrance, they attained the spiritual sky, which is ruled over by the Supreme Narayana, Lord Krsna. This is attained only by those who meditate upon the one Supreme Lord without deviation. This abode of the Lord Sri Krsna, known as Goloka Vrndavana, cannot be attained by persons who are absorbed in the material conception of life. But the Pandavas, being completely washed of all material contamination, attained that abode in their very same bodies.
विदुरोऽपि परित्यज्य प्रभासे देहमात्मन: । कृष्णावेशेन तच्चित्त: पितृभि: स्वक्षयं ययौ ॥ ४९ ॥
viduro ’pi parityajya prabhase deham atmanah krsnavesena tac-cittah pitrbhih sva-ksayam yayau
Vidura, while on pilgrimage, left his body at Prabhasa. Because he was absorbed in thought of Lord Krsna, he was received by the denizens of Pitrloka plane, where he returned to his original post.
द्रौपदी च तदाज्ञाय पतीनामनपेक्षताम् । वासुदेवे भगवति ह्येकान्तमतिराप तम् ॥ ५० ॥
draupadi ca tadajnaya patinam anapeksatam vasudeve bhagavati hy ekanta-matir apa tam
Draupadi also saw that her husbands, without caring for her, were leaving home. She knew well about Lord Vasudeva, Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. Both she and Subhadra became absorbed in thoughts of Krsna and attained the same results as their husbands.
य: श्रद्धयैतद् भगवत्प्रियाणां पाण्डो: सुतानामिति सम्प्रयाणम् । शृणोत्यलं स्वस्त्ययनं पवित्रं लब्ध्वा हरौ भक्तिमुपैति सिद्धिम् ॥ ५१ ॥
yah sraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyanam pandoh sutanam iti samprayanam srnoty alam svastyayanam pavitram labdhva harau bhaktim upaiti siddhim
The subject of the departure of the sons of Pandu for the ultimate goal of life, back to Godhead, is fully auspicious and is perfectly pure. Therefore anyone who hears this narration with devotional faith certainly gains the devotional service of the Lord, the highest perfection of life.
