Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 1 · Chapter 16

How Parīkṣit Received the Age of Kali

1.16.1

सूत उवाच तत: परीक्षिद् द्विजवर्यशिक्षया महीं महाभागवत: शशास ह । यथा हि सूत्यामभिजातकोविदा: समादिशन् विप्र महद्गुणस्तथा ॥ १ ॥

suta uvaca tatah pariksid dvija-varya-siksaya mahim maha-bhagavatah sasasa ha yatha hi sutyam abhijata-kovidah samadisan vipra mahad-gunas tatha

Suta Gosvami said: O learned brahmanas, Maharaja Pariksit then began to rule over the world as a great devotee of the Lord under the instructions of the best of the twice-born brahmanas. He ruled by those great qualities which were foretold by expert astrologers at the time of his birth.

1.16.2

स उत्तरस्य तनयामुपयेम इरावतीम् । जनमेजयादींश्चतुरस्तस्यामुत्पादयत् सुतान् ॥ २ ॥

sa uttarasya tanayam upayema iravatim janamejayadims caturas tasyam utpadayat sutan

King Pariksit married the daughter of King Uttara and begot four sons, headed by Maharaja Janamejaya.

1.16.3

आजहाराश्वमेधांस्त्रीन् गङ्गायां भूरिदक्षिणान् । शारद्वतं गुरुं कृत्वा देवा यत्राक्षिगोचरा: ॥ ३ ॥

ajaharasva-medhams trin gangayam bhuri-daksinan saradvatam gurum krtva deva yatraksi-gocarah

Maharaja Pariksit, after having selected Krpacarya for guidance as his spiritual master, performed three horse sacrifices on the banks of the Ganges. These were executed with sufficient rewards for the attendants. And at these sacrifices, even the common man could see demigods.

1.16.4

निजग्राहौजसा वीर: कलिं दिग्विजये क्‍वचित् । नृपलिङ्गधरं शूद्रं घ्नन्तं गोमिथुनं पदा ॥ ४ ॥

nijagrahaujasa virah kalim digvijaye kvacit nrpa-linga-dharam sudram ghnantam go-mithunam pada

Once, when Maharaja Pariksit was on his way to conquer the world, he saw the master of Kali-yuga, who was lower than a sudra, disguised as a king and hurting the legs of a cow and bull. The King at once caught hold of him to deal sufficient punishment.

1.16.5

शौनक उवाच कस्य हेतोर्निजग्राह कलिं दिग्विजये नृप: । नृदेवचिह्नधृक्‍शूद्रकोऽसौ गां य: पदाहनत् । तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग यदि कृष्णकथाश्रयम् ॥ ५ ॥

saunaka uvaca kasya hetor nijagraha kalim digvijaye nrpah nrdeva-cihna-dhrk sudra- ko ’sau gam yah padahanat tat kathyatam maha-bhaga yadi krsna-kathasrayam

Saunaka Rsi inquired: Why did Maharaja Pariksit simply punish him, since he was the lowest of the sudras, having dressed as a king and having struck a cow on the leg? Please describe all these incidents if they relate to the topics of Lord Krsna.

1.16.6

अथवास्य पदाम्भोजमकरन्दलिहां सताम् । किमन्यैरसदालापैरायुषो यदसद्व्यय: ॥ ६ ॥

athavasya padambhoja- makaranda-liham satam kim anyair asad-alapair ayuso yad asad-vyayah

The devotees of the Lord are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one’s valuable life?

1.16.7

क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् । इहोपहूतो भगवान्मृत्यु: शामित्रकर्मणि ॥ ७ ॥

ksudrayusam nrnam anga martyanam rtam icchatam ihopahuto bhagavan mrtyuh samitra-karmani

O Suta Gosvami, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamaraja.

1.16.8

न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद् यावदास्त इहान्तक: । एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूत: परमर्षिभि: । अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वच: ॥ ८ ॥

na kascin mriyate tavad yavad asta ihantakah etad-artham hi bhagavan ahutah paramarsibhih aho nr-loke piyeta hari-lilamrtam vacah

As long as Yamaraja, who causes everyone’s death, is present here, no one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of death, Yamaraja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.

1.16.9

मन्दस्य मन्दप्रज्ञस्य वयो मन्दायुषश्च वै । निद्रया ह्रियते नक्तं दिवा च व्यर्थकर्मभि: ॥ ९ ॥

mandasya manda-prajnasya vayo mandayusas ca vai nidraya hriyate naktam diva ca vyartha-karmabhih

Lazy human beings with paltry intelligence and a short duration of life pass the night sleeping and the day performing activities that are for naught.

1.16.10

सूत उवाच यदा परीक्षित् कुरुजाङ्गलेऽवसत् कलिं प्रविष्टं निजचक्रवर्तिते । निशम्य वार्तामनतिप्रियां तत: शरासनं संयुगशौण्डिराददे ॥ १० ॥

suta uvaca yada pariksit kuru-jangale ’vasat kalim pravistam nija-cakravartite nisamya vartam anatipriyam tatah sarasanam samyuga-saundir adade

Suta Gosvami said: While Maharaja Pariksit was residing in the capital of the Kuru empire, the symptoms of the age of Kali began to infiltrate within the jurisdiction of his state. When he learned about this, he did not think the matter very palatable. This did, however, give him a chance to fight. He took up his bow and arrows and prepared himself for military activities.

1.16.11

स्वलङ्‍कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रित: पुरात् । वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गत: ॥ ११ ॥

svalankrtam syama-turanga-yojitam ratham mrgendra-dhvajam asritah purat vrto rathasva-dvipapatti-yuktaya sva-senaya digvijayaya nirgatah

Maharaja Pariksit sat on a chariot drawn by black horses. His flag was marked with the sign of a lion. Being so decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry soldiers, he left the capital to conquer in all directions.

1.16.12

भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् । किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम् ॥ १२ ॥

bhadrasvam ketumalam ca bharatam cottaran kurun kimpurusadini varsani vijitya jagrhe balim

Maharaja Pariksit then conquered all parts of the earthly plane—Bhadrasva, Ketumala, Bharata, the northern Kuru, Kimpurusa, etc.—and exacted tributes from their respective rulers.

1.16.13-15

तत्र तत्रोपश‍ृण्वान: स्वपूर्वेषां महात्मनाम् । प्रगीयमाणं च यश: कृष्णमाहात्म्यसूचकम् ॥ १३ ॥ आत्मानं च परित्रातमश्वत्थाम्नोऽस्त्रतेजस: । स्‍नेहं च वृष्णिपार्थानां तेषां भक्तिं च केशवे ॥ १४ ॥ तेभ्य: परमसन्तुष्ट: प्रीत्युज्जृम्भितलोचन: । महाधनानि वासांसि ददौ हारान् महामना: ॥ १५ ॥

tatra tatropasrnvanah sva-purvesam mahatmanam pragiyamanam ca yasah krsna-mahatmya-sucakam atmanam ca paritratam asvatthamno ’stra-tejasah sneham ca vrsni-parthanam tesam bhaktim ca kesave tebhyah parama-santustah prity-ujjrmbhita-locanah maha-dhanani vasamsi dadau haran maha-manah

Wherever the King visited, he continuously heard the glories of his great forefathers, who were all devotees of the Lord, and also of the glorious acts of Lord Krsna. He also heard how he himself had been protected by the Lord from the powerful heat of the weapon of Asvatthama. People also mentioned the great affection between the descendants of Vrsni and Prtha due to the latter’s great devotion to Lord Kesava. The King, being very pleased with the singers of such glories, opened his eyes in great satisfaction. Out of magnanimity he was pleased to award them very valuable necklaces and clothing.

1.16.16

सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्य- वीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् । स्‍निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णो- र्भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे ॥ १६ ॥

sarathya-parasada-sevana-sakhya-dautya- virasananugamana-stavana-pranaman snigdhesu pandusu jagat-pranatim ca visnor bhaktim karoti nr-patis caranaravinde

Maharaja Pariksit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Krsna (Visnu), who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pandu by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pandavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Maharaja Pariksit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord.

1.16.17

तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् । नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत् तन्निबोध मे ॥ १७ ॥

tasyaivam vartamanasya purvesam vrttim anvaham natidure kilascaryam yad asit tan nibodha me

Now you may hear from me of what happened while Maharaja Pariksit was passing his days hearing of the good occupations of his forefathers and being absorbed in thought of them.

1.16.18

धर्म: पदैकेन चरन् विच्छायामुपलभ्य गाम् । पृच्छति स्माश्रुवदनां विवत्सामिव मातरम् ॥ १८ ॥

dharmah padaikena caran vicchayam upalabhya gam prcchati smasru-vadanam vivatsam iva mataram

The personality of religious principles, Dharma, was wandering about in the form of a bull. And he met the personality of earth in the form of a cow who appeared to grieve like a mother who had lost her child. She had tears in her eyes, and the beauty of her body was lost. Thus Dharma questioned the earth as follows.

1.16.19

धर्म उवाच कच्चिद्भद्रेऽनामयमात्मनस्ते विच्छायासि म्‍लायतेषन्मुखेन । आलक्षये भवतीमन्तराधिं दूरे बन्धुं शोचसि कञ्चनाम्ब ॥ १९ ॥

dharma uvaca kaccid bhadre ’namayam atmanas te vicchayasi mlayatesan mukhena alaksaye bhavatim antaradhim dure bandhum socasi kancanamba

Dharma (in the form of a bull) asked: Madam, are you not hale and hearty? Why are you covered with the shadow of grief? It appears by your face that you have become black. Are you suffering from some internal disease, or are you thinking of some relative who is away in a distant place?

1.16.20

पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपाद- मात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् । आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति ॥ २० ॥

padair nyunam socasi maika-padam atmanam va vrsalair bhoksyamanam aho suradin hrta-yajna-bhagan praja uta svin maghavaty avarsati

I have lost my three legs and am now standing on one only. Are you lamenting for my state of existence? Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward the unlawful meat-eaters will exploit you? Or are you in a sorry plight because the demigods are now bereft of their share of sacrificial offerings because no sacrifices are being performed at present? Or are you grieving for living beings because of their sufferings due to famine and drought?

1.16.21

अरक्ष्यमाणा: स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान् शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् । वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्म- ण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्रयान् ॥ २१ ॥

araksyamanah striya urvi balan socasy atho purusadair ivartan vacam devim brahma-kule kukarmany abrahmanye raja-kule kulagryan

Are you feeling compunction for the unhappy women and children who are left forlorn by unscrupulous persons? Or are you unhappy because the goddess of learning is being handled by brahmanas addicted to acts against the principles of religion? Or are you sorry to see that the brahmanas have taken shelter of administrative families that do not respect brahminical culture?

1.16.22

किं क्षत्रबन्धून् कलिनोपसृष्टान् राष्ट्राणि वा तैरवरोपितानि । इतस्ततो वाशनपानवास: स्‍नानव्यवायोन्मुखजीवलोकम् ॥ २२ ॥

kim ksatra-bandhun kalinopasrstan rastrani va tair avaropitani itas tato vasana-pana-vasah- snana-vyavayonmukha-jiva-lokam

The so-called administrators are now bewildered by the influence of this age of Kali, and thus they have put all state affairs into disorder. Are you now lamenting this disorder? Now the general populace does not follow the rules and regulations for eating, sleeping, drinking, mating, etc., and they are inclined to perform such anywhere and everywhere. Are you unhappy because of this?

1.16.23

यद्वाम्ब ते भूरिभरावतार कृतावतारस्य हरेर्धरित्रि । अन्तर्हितस्य स्मरती विसृष्टा कर्माणि निर्वाणविलम्बितानि ॥ २३ ॥

yadvamba te bhuri-bharavatara- krtavatarasya harer dharitri antarhitasya smarati visrsta karmani nirvana-vilambitani

O mother earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, incarnated Himself as Lord Sri Krsna just to unload your heavy burden. All His activities here are transcendental, and they cement the path of liberation. You are now bereft of His presence. You are probably now thinking of those activities and feeling sorry in their absence.

1.16.24

इदं ममाचक्ष्व तवाधिमूलं वसुन्धरे येन विकर्शितासि । कालेन वा ते बलिनां बलीयसा सुरार्चितं किं हृतमम्ब सौभगम् ॥ २४ ॥

idam mamacaksva tavadhi-mulam vasundhare yena vikarsitasi kalena va te balinam baliyasa surarcitam kim hrtam amba saubhagam

Mother, you are the reservoir of all riches. Please inform me of the root cause of your tribulations by which you have been reduced to such a weak state. I think that the powerful influence of time, which conquers the most powerful, might have forcibly taken away all your fortune, which was adored even by the demigods.

1.16.25

dharany uvaca bhavan hi veda tat sarvam yan mam dharmanuprcchasi caturbhir vartase yena padair loka-sukhavahaih

The earthly deity (in the form of a cow) thus replied to the personality of religious principles (in the form of a bull): O Dharma, whatever you have inquired from me shall be known to you. I shall try to reply to all those questions. Once you too were maintained by your four legs, and you increased happiness all over the universe by the mercy of the Lord.

1.16.26-30

सत्यं शौचं दया क्षान्तिस्त्याग: सन्तोष आर्जवम् । शमो दमस्तप: साम्यं तितिक्षोपरति: श्रुतम् ॥ २६ ॥ ज्ञानं विरक्तिरैश्वर्यं शौर्यं तेजो बलं स्मृति: । स्वातन्त्र्यं कौशलं कान्तिर्धैर्यं मार्दवमेव च ॥ २७ ॥ प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रय: शीलं सह ओजो बलं भग: । गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्‍कृति: ॥ २८ ॥ एते चान्ये च भगवन्नित्या यत्र महागुणा: । प्रार्थ्या महत्त्वमिच्छद्भ‍िर्न वियन्ति स्म कर्हिचित् ॥ २९ ॥ तेनाहं गुणपात्रेण श्रीनिवासेन साम्प्रतम् । शोचामि रहितं लोकं पाप्मना कलिनेक्षितम् ॥ ३० ॥

satyam saucam daya ksantis tyagah santosa arjavam samo damas tapah samyam titiksoparatih srutam jnanam viraktir aisvaryam sauryam tejo balam smrtih svatantryam kausalam kantir dhairyam mardavam eva ca pragalbhyam prasrayah silam saha ojo balam bhagah gambhiryam sthairyam astikyam kirtir mano ’nahankrtih ete canye ca bhagavan nitya yatra maha-gunah prarthya mahattvam icchadbhir na viyanti sma karhicit tenaham guna-patrena sri-nivasena sampratam socami rahitam lokam papmana kalineksitam

In Him reside (1) truthfulness, (2) cleanliness, (3) intolerance of another’s unhappiness, (4) the power to control anger, (5) self-satisfaction, (6) straightforwardness, (7) steadiness of mind, (8) control of the sense organs, (9) responsibility, (10) equality, (11) tolerance, (12) equanimity, (13) faithfulness, (14) knowledge, (15) absence of sense enjoyment, (16) leadership, (17) chivalry, (18) influence, (19) the power to make everything possible, (20) the discharge of proper duty, (21) complete independence, (22) dexterity, (23) fullness of all beauty, (24) serenity, (25) kindheartedness, (26) ingenuity, (27) gentility, (28) magnanimity, (29) determination, (30) perfection in all knowledge, (31) proper execution, (32) possession of all objects of enjoyment, (33) joyfulness, (34) immovability, (35) fidelity, (36) fame, (37) worship, (38) pridelessness, (39) being (as the Personality of Godhead), (40) eternity, and many other transcendental qualities which are eternally present and never to be separated from Him. That Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all goodness and beauty, Lord Sri Krsna, has now closed His transcendental pastimes on the face of the earth. In His absence the Age of Kali has spread its influence everywhere, so I am sorry to see this condition of existence.

1.16.31

आत्मानं चानुशोचामि भवन्तं चामरोत्तमम् । देवान् पितृनृषीन् साधून् सर्वान् वर्णांस्तथाश्रमान् ॥ ३१ ॥

atmanam canusocami bhavantam camarottamam devan pitrn rsin sadhun sarvan varnams tathasraman

I am thinking about myself and also, O best amongst the demigods, about you, as well as about all the demigods, sages, denizens of Pitrloka, devotees of the Lord and all men obedient to the system of varna and asrama in human society.

1.16.32-33

ब्रह्मादयो बहुतिथं यदपाङ्गमोक्ष- कामास्तप: समचरन् भगवत्प्रपन्ना: । सा श्री: स्ववासमरविन्दवनं विहाय यत्पादसौभगमलं भजतेऽनुरक्ता ॥ ३२ ॥ तस्याहमब्जकुलिशाङ्‍कुशकेतुकेतै: श्रीमत्पदैर्भगवत: समलङ्‍कृताङ्गी । त्रीनत्यरोच उपलभ्य ततो विभूतिं लोकान् स मां व्यसृजदुत्स्मयतीं तदन्ते ॥ ३३ ॥

brahmadayo bahu-titham yad-apanga-moksa- kamas tapah samacaran bhagavat-prapannah sa srih sva-vasam aravinda-vanam vihaya yat-pada-saubhagam alam bhajate ’nurakta tasyaham abja-kulisankusa-ketu-ketaih srimat-padair bhagavatah samalankrtangi trin atyaroca upalabhya tato vibhutim lokan sa mam vyasrjad utsmayatim tad-ante

Laksmiji, the goddess of fortune, whose glance of grace was sought by demigods like Brahma and for whom they surrendered many a day unto the Personality of Godhead, gave up her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers and engaged herself in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. I was endowed with specific powers to supersede the fortune of all the three planetary systems by being decorated with the impressions of the flag, thunderbolt, elephant-driving rod and lotus flower, which are signs of the lotus feet of the Lord. But at the end, when I felt I was so fortunate, the Lord left me.

1.16.34

यो वै ममातिभरमासुरवंशराज्ञा- मक्षौहिणीशतमपानुददात्मतन्त्र: । त्वां दु:स्थमूनपदमात्मनि पौरुषेण सम्पादयन् यदुषु रम्यमबिभ्रदङ्गम् ॥ ३४ ॥

yo vai mamatibharam asura-vamsa-rajnam aksauhini-satam apanudad atma-tantrah tvam duhstham una-padam atmani paurusena sampadayan yadusu ramyam abibhrad angam

O personality of religion, I was greatly overburdened by the undue military phalanxes arranged by atheistic kings, and I was relieved by the grace of the Personality of Godhead. Similarly you were also in a distressed condition, weakened in your standing strength, and thus He also incarnated by His internal energy in the family of the Yadus to relieve you.

1.16.35

का वा सहेत विरहं पुरुषोत्तमस्य प्रेमावलोकरुचिरस्मितवल्गुजल्पै: । स्थैर्यं समानमहरन्मधुमानिनीनां रोमोत्सवो मम यदङ्‌घ्रिविटङ्किताया: ॥ ३५ ॥

ka va saheta viraham purusottamasya premavaloka-rucira-smita-valgu-jalpaih sthairyam samanam aharan madhu-manininam romotsavo mama yad-anghri-vitankitayah

Who, therefore, can tolerate the pangs of separation from that Supreme Personality of Godhead? He could conquer the gravity and passionate wrath of His sweethearts like Satyabhama by His sweet smile of love, pleasing glance and hearty appeals. When He traversed my (earth’s) surface, I would be immersed in the dust of His lotus feet and thus would be sumptuously covered with grass which appeared like hairs standing on me out of pleasure.

1.16.36

तयोरेवं कथयतो: पृथिवीधर्मयोस्तदा । परीक्षिन्नाम राजर्षि: प्राप्त: प्राचीं सरस्वतीम् ॥ ३६ ॥

tayor evam kathayatoh prthivi-dharmayos tada pariksin nama rajarsih praptah pracim sarasvatim

While the earth and the personality of religion were thus engaged in conversation, the saintly King Pariksit reached the shore of the Sarasvati River, which flowed towards the east.