Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 10 · Chapter 73

Lord Kṛṣṇa Blesses the Liberated Kings

10.73.1-6

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ayute dve śatāny aṣṭau niruddhā yudhi nirjitāḥ te nirgatā giridroṇyāṁ malinā mala-vāsasaḥ kṣut-kṣāmāḥ śuṣka-vadanāḥ saṁrodha-parikarśitāḥ dadṛśus te ghana-śyāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ catur-bāhuṁ padma-garbhāruṇekṣaṇam cāru-prasanna-vadanaṁ sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam padma-hastaṁ gadā-śaṅkha rathāṅgair upalakṣitam kirīṭa-hāra-kaṭaka- kaṭi-sūtrāṅgadāñcitam bhrājad-vara-maṇi-grīvaṁ nivītaṁ vana-mālayā pibanta iva cakṣurbhyāṁ lihanta iva jihvayā jighranta iva nāsābhyāṁ rambhanta iva bāhubhiḥ praṇemur hata-pāpmāno mūrdhabhiḥ pādayor hareḥ

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

10.73.7

कृष्णसन्दर्शनाह्लादध्वस्तसंरोधनक्लमा: । प्रशशंसुर्हृषीकेशं गीर्भि: प्राञ्जलयो नृपा: ॥ ७ ॥

kṛṣṇa-sandarśanāhlāda dhvasta-saṁrodhana-klamāḥ praśaśaṁsur hṛṣīkeśaṁ gīrbhiḥ prāñjalayo nṛpāḥ

The ecstasy of beholding Lord Kṛṣṇa having dispelled the weariness of their imprisonment, the kings stood with joined palms and offered words of praise to that supreme master of the senses.

10.73.8

राजान ऊचु: नमस्ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराव्यय । प्रपन्नान् पाहि न: कृष्ण निर्विण्णान्घोरसंसृते: ॥ ८ ॥

rājāna ūcuḥ namas te deva-deveśa prapannārti-harāvyaya prapannān pāhi naḥ kṛṣṇa nirviṇṇān ghora-saṁsṛteḥ

The kings said: Obeisances to You, O Lord of the ruling demigods, O destroyer of Your surrendered devotees’ distress. Since we have surrendered to You, O inexhaustible Kṛṣṇa, please save us from this terrible material life, which has made us so despondent.

10.73.9

नैनं नाथानुसूयामो मागधं मधुसूदन । अनुग्रहो यद् भवतो राज्ञां राज्यच्युतिर्विभो ॥ ९ ॥

nainaṁ nāthānusūyāmo māgadhaṁ madhusūdana anugraho yad bhavato rājñāṁ rājya-cyutir vibho

O master, Madhusūdana, we do not blame this King of Magadha, since it is actually by Your mercy that kings fall from their royal position, O almighty Lord.

10.73.10

राज्यैश्वर्यमदोन्नद्धो न श्रेयो विन्दते नृप: । त्वन्मायामोहितोऽनित्या मन्यते सम्पदोऽचला: ॥ १० ॥

rājyaiśvarya-madonnaddho na śreyo vindate nṛpaḥ tvan-māyā-mohito ’nityā manyate sampado ’calāḥ

Infatuated with his opulence and ruling power, a king loses all self-restraint and cannot obtain his true welfare. Thus bewildered by Your illusory energy, he imagines his temporary assets to be permanent.

10.73.11

मृगतृष्णां यथा बाला मन्यन्त उदकाशयम् । एवं वैकारिकीं मायामयुक्ता वस्तु चक्षते ॥ ११ ॥

mṛga-tṛṣṇāṁ yathā bālā manyanta udakāśayam evaṁ vaikārikīṁ māyām ayuktā vastu cakṣate

Just as men of childish intelligence consider a mirage in the desert to be a pond of water, so those who are irrational look upon the illusory transformations of Māyā as substantial.

10.73.12-13

वयं पुरा श्रीमदनष्टद‍ृष्टयो जिगीषयास्या इतरेतरस्पृध: । घ्नन्त: प्रजा: स्वा अतिनिर्घृणा: प्रभो मृत्युं पुरस्त्वाविगणय्य दुर्मदा: ॥ १२ ॥ त एव कृष्णाद्य गभीररंहसा दुरन्तेवीर्येण विचालिता: श्रिय: । कालेन तन्वा भवतोऽनुकम्पया विनष्टदर्पाश्चरणौ स्मराम ते ॥ १३ ॥

vayaṁ purā śrī-mada-naṣṭa-dṛṣṭayo jigīṣayāsyā itaretara-spṛdhaḥ ghnantaḥ prajāḥ svā ati-nirghṛṇāḥ prabho mṛtyuṁ puras tvāvigaṇayya durmadāḥ ta eva kṛṣṇādya gabhīra-raṁhasā durante-vīryeṇa vicālitāḥ śriyaḥ kālena tanvā bhavato ’nukampayā vinaṣṭa-darpāś caraṇau smarāma te

Previously, blinded by the intoxication of riches, we wanted to conquer this earth, and thus we fought one another to achieve victory, mercilessly harassing our own subjects. We arrogantly disregarded You, O Lord, who stood before us as death. But now, O Kṛṣṇa, that powerful form of Yours called time, moving mysteriously and irresistibly, has deprived us of our opulences. Now that You have mercifully destroyed our pride, we beg simply to remember Your lotus feet.

10.73.14

अथो न राज्यं मृगतृष्णिरूपितं देहेन शश्वत् पतता रुजां भुवा । उपासितव्यं स्पृहयामहे विभो क्रियाफलं प्रेत्य च कर्णरोचनम् ॥ १४ ॥

atho na rājyam mṛga-tṛṣṇi-rūpitaṁ dehena śaśvat patatā rujāṁ bhuvā upāsitavyaṁ spṛhayāmahe vibho kriyā-phalaṁ pretya ca karṇa-rocanam

Never again will we hanker for a miragelike kingdom — a kingdom that must be slavishly served by this mortal body, which is simply a source of disease and suffering and which is declining at every moment. Nor, O almighty Lord, will we hanker to enjoy the heavenly fruits of pious work in the next life, since the promise of such rewards is simply an empty enticement for the ears.

10.73.15

तं न: समादिशोपायं येन ते चरणाब्जयो: । स्मृतिर्यथा न विरमेदपि संसरतामिह ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ naḥ samādiśopāyaṁ yena te caraṇābjayoḥ smṛtir yathā na viramed api saṁsaratām iha

Please tell us how we may constantly remember Your lotus feet, though we continue in the cycle of birth and death in this world.

10.73.16

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने । प्रणतक्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नम: ॥ १६ ॥

kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya haraye paramātmane praṇata-kleśa-nāśāya govindāya namo namaḥ

Again and again we offer our obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, Hari, the son of Vasudeva. That Supreme Soul, Govinda, vanquishes the suffering of all who surrender to Him.

10.73.17

श्रीशुक उवाच संस्तूयमानो भगवान् राजभिर्मुक्तबन्धनै: । तानाह करुणस्तात शरण्य: श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca saṁstūyamāno bhagavān rājabhir mukta-bandhanaiḥ tān āha karuṇas tāta śaraṇyaḥ ślakṣṇayā girā

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus the kings, now freed from bondage, glorified the Supreme Lord. Then, my dear Parīkṣit, that merciful bestower of shelter spoke to them in a gentle voice.

10.73.18

श्रीभगवानुवाच अद्यप्रभृति वो भूपा मय्यात्मन्यखिलेश्वरे । सुद‍ृढा जायते भक्तिर्बाढमाशंसितं तथा ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca adya prabhṛti vo bhūpā mayy ātmany akhileśvare su-dṛḍhā jāyate bhaktir bāḍham āśaṁsitaṁ tathā

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: From now on, my dear kings, you will have firm devotion to Me, the Supreme Self and the Lord of all that be. I assure you this will come to pass, just as you desire.

10.73.19

दिष्‍ट्या व्यवसितं भूपा भवन्त ऋतभाषिण: । श्रीयैश्वर्यमदोन्नाहं पश्य उन्मादकं नृणाम् ॥ १९ ॥

diṣṭyā vyavasitaṁ bhūpā bhavanta ṛta-bhāṣiṇaḥ śrīy-aiśvarya-madonnāhaṁ paśya unmādakaṁ nṛṇām

Fortunately you have come to the proper conclusion, my dear kings, and what you have spoken is true. I can see that human beings’ lack of self-restraint, which arises from their intoxication with opulence and power, simply leads to madness.

10.73.20

हैहयो नहुषो वेणो रावणो नरकोऽपरे । श्रीमदाद् भ्रंशिता: स्थानाद् देवदैत्यनरेश्वरा: ॥ २० ॥

haihayo nahuṣo veṇo rāvaṇo narako ’pare śrī-madād bhraṁśitāḥ sthānād deva-daitya-nareśvarāḥ

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka and many other rulers of demigods, men and demons fell from their elevated positions because of infatuation with material opulence.

10.73.21

भवन्त एतद् विज्ञाय देहाद्युत्पाद्यमन्तवत् । मां यजन्तोऽध्वरैर्युक्ता: प्रजा धर्मेण रक्ष्यथ ॥ २१ ॥

bhavanta etad vijñāya dehādy utpādyam anta-vat māṁ yajanto ’dhvarair yuktāḥ prajā dharmeṇa rakṣyatha

Understanding that this material body and everything connected with it have a beginning and an end, worship Me by Vedic sacrifices, and with clear intelligence protect your subjects in accordance with the principles of religion.

10.73.22

सन्तन्वन्त: प्रजातन्तून् सुखं दु:खं भवाभवौ । प्राप्तं प्राप्तं च सेवन्तो मच्चित्ता विचरिष्यथ ॥ २२ ॥

santanvantaḥ prajā-tantūn sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhavābhavau prāptaṁ prāptaṁ ca sevanto mac-cittā vicariṣyatha

As you live your lives, begetting generations of progeny and encountering happiness and distress, birth and death, always keep your minds fixed on Me.

10.73.23

उदासीनाश्च देहादावात्मारामा धृतव्रता: । मय्यावेश्य मन: सम्यङ्‌मामन्ते ब्रह्म यास्यथ ॥ २३ ॥

udāsīnāś ca dehādāv ātmārāmā dhṛta-vratāḥ mayy āveśya manaḥ samyaṅ mām ante brahma yāsyatha

Be detached from the body and everything connected to it. Remaining self-satisfied, steadfastly keep your vows while concentrating your minds fully on Me. In this way you will ultimately attain Me, the Supreme Absolute Truth.

10.73.24

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिश्य नृपान् कृष्णो भगवान् भुवनेश्वर: । तेषां न्ययुङ्क्त पुरुषान् स्‍त्रियो मज्जनकर्मणि ॥ २४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ādiśya nṛpān kṛṣṇo bhagavān bhuvaneśvaraḥ teṣāṁ nyayuṅkta puruṣān striyo majjana-karmaṇi

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus instructed the kings, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme master of all the worlds, engaged male and female servants in bathing and grooming them.

10.73.25

सपर्यां कारयामास सहदेवेन भारत । नरदेवोचितैर्वस्‍त्रैर्भूषणै: स्रग्विलेपनै: ॥ २५ ॥

saparyāṁ kārayām āsa sahadevena bhārata naradevocitair vastrair bhūṣaṇaiḥ srag-vilepanaiḥ

O descendant of Bharata, the Lord then had King Sahadeva honor them with offerings of clothing, jewelry, garlands and sandalwood paste, all suitable for royalty.

10.73.26

भोजयित्वा वरान्नेन सुस्‍नातान्समलङ्कृतान् । भोगैश्च विविधैर्युक्तांस्ताम्बूलाद्यैर्नृपोचितै: ॥ २६ ॥

bhojayitvā varānnena su-snātān samalaṅkṛtān bhogaiś ca vividhair yuktāṁs tāmbūlādyair nṛpocitaiḥ

After they had been properly bathed and adorned, Lord Kṛṣṇa saw to it that they dined on excellent food. He also presented them with various items befitting the pleasure of kings, such as betel nut.

10.73.27

ते पूजिता मुकुन्देन राजानो मृष्टकुण्डला: । विरेजुर्मोचिता: क्लेशात् प्रावृडन्ते यथा ग्रहा: ॥ २७ ॥

te pūjitā mukundena rājāno mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalāḥ virejur mocitāḥ kleśāt prāvṛḍ-ante yathā grahāḥ

Honored by Lord Mukunda and freed from tribulation, the kings shone splendidly, their earrings gleaming, just as the moon and other celestial bodies shine brilliantly in the sky at the end of the rainy season.

10.73.28

रथान्सदश्वानारोप्य मणिकाञ्चनभूषितान् । प्रीणय्य सुनृतैर्वाक्यै: स्वदेशान् प्रत्ययापयत् ॥ २८ ॥

rathān sad-aśvān āropya maṇi-kāñcana-bhūṣitān prīṇayya sunṛtair vākyaiḥ sva-deśān pratyayāpayat

Then the Lord arranged for the kings to be seated on chariots drawn by fine horses and adorned with jewels and gold, and pleasing them with gracious words, He sent them off to their own kingdoms.

10.73.29

त एवं मोचिता: कृच्छ्रात् कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना । ययुस्तमेव ध्यायन्त: कृतानि च जगत्पते: ॥ २९ ॥

ta evaṁ mocitāḥ kṛcchrāt kṛṣṇena su-mahātmanā yayus tam eva dhyāyantaḥ kṛtāni ca jagat-pateḥ

Thus liberated from all difficulty by Kṛṣṇa, the greatest of personalities, the kings departed, and as they went they thought only of Him, the Lord of the universe, and of His wonderful deeds.

10.73.30

जगदु: प्रकृतिभ्यस्ते महापुरुषचेष्टितम् । यथान्वशासद् भगवांस्तथा चक्रुरतन्द्रिता: ॥ ३० ॥

jagaduḥ prakṛtibhyas te mahā-puruṣa-ceṣṭitam yathānvaśāsad bhagavāṁs tathā cakrur atandritāḥ

The kings told their ministers and other associates what the Personality of Godhead had done, and then they diligently carried out the orders He had imparted to them.

10.73.31

जरासन्धं घातयित्वा भीमसेनेन केशव: । पार्थाभ्यां संयुत: प्रायात् सहदेवेन पूजित: ॥ ३१ ॥

jarāsandhaṁ ghātayitvā bhīmasenena keśavaḥ pārthābhyāṁ saṁyutaḥ prāyāt sahadevena pūjitaḥ

Having arranged for Bhīmasena to kill Jarāsandha, Lord Keśava accepted worship from King Sahadeva and then departed with the two sons of Pṛthā.

10.73.32

गत्वा ते खाण्डवप्रस्थं शङ्खान् दध्मुर्जितारय: । हर्षयन्त: स्वसुहृदो दुर्हृदां चासुखावहा: ॥ ३२ ॥

gatvā te khāṇḍava-prasthaṁ śaṅkhān dadhmur jitārayaḥ harṣayantaḥ sva-suhṛdo durhṛdāṁ cāsukhāvahāḥ

When they arrived at Indraprastha, the victorious heroes blew their conchshells, bringing joy to their well-wishing friends and sorrow to their enemies.

10.73.33

तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीतमनस इन्द्रप्रस्थनिवासिन: । मेनिरे मागधं शान्तं राजा चाप्तमनोरथ: ॥ ३३ ॥

tac chrutvā prīta-manasa indraprastha-nivāsinaḥ menire māgadhaṁ śāntaṁ rājā cāpta-manorathaḥ

The residents of Indraprastha were very pleased to hear that sound, for they understood that now the King of Magadha had been put to rest. King Yudhiṣṭhira felt that his desires were now fulfilled.

10.73.34

अभिवन्द्याथ राजानं भीमार्जुनजनार्दना: । सर्वमाश्रावयां चक्रुरात्मना यदनुष्ठितम् ॥ ३४ ॥

abhivandyātha rājānaṁ bhīmārjuna-janārdanāḥ sarvam āśrāvayāṁ cakrur ātmanā yad anuṣṭhitam

Bhīma, Arjuna and Janārdana offered their respects to the King and informed him fully about what they had done.

10.73.35

निशम्य धर्मराजस्तत् केशवेनानुकम्पितम् । आनन्दाश्रुकलां मुञ्चन् प्रेम्णा नोवाच किञ्चन ॥ ३५ ॥

niśamya dharma-rājas tat keśavenānukampitam ānandāśru-kalāṁ muñcan premṇā novāca kiñcana

Upon hearing their account of the great favor Lord Keśava had mercifully shown him, King Dharmarāja shed tears of ecstasy. He felt such love that he could not say anything.