Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 11 · Chapter 5

Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

11.5.1

श्रीराजोवाच भगवन्तं हरिं प्रायो न भजन्त्यात्मवित्तमा: । तेषामशान्तकामानां क निष्ठाविजितात्मनाम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca bhagavantaṁ hariṁ prāyo na bhajanty ātma-vittamāḥ teṣām aśānta-kāmānāṁ kā niṣṭhāvijitātmanām

King Nimi further inquired: My dear Yogendras, all of you are most perfect in knowledge of the science of the self. Therefore, kindly explain to me the destination of those who for the most part never worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who are unable to quench their material desires and who are not in control of their own selves.

11.5.2

श्रीचमस उवाच मुखबाहूरुपादेभ्य: पुरुषस्याश्रमै: सह । चत्वारो जज्ञिरे वर्णा गुणैर्विप्रादय: पृथक् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-camasa uvāca mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha catvāro jajñire varṇā guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

Śrī Camasa said: Each of the four social orders, headed by the brāhmaṇas, was born through different combinations of the modes of nature, from the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Supreme Lord in His universal form. Thus the four spiritual orders were also generated.

11.5.3

य एषां पुरुषं साक्षादात्मप्रभवमीश्वरम् । न भजन्त्यवजानन्ति स्थानाद् भ्रष्टा: पतन्त्यध: ॥ ३ ॥

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād ātma-prabhavam īśvaram na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

If any of the members of the four varṇas and four āśramas fail to worship or intentionally disrespect the Personality of Godhead, who is the source of their own creation, they will fall down from their position into a hellish state of life.

11.5.4

दूरे हरिकथा: केचिद् दूरे चाच्युतकीर्तना: । स्त्रिय: शूद्रादयश्चैव तेऽनुकम्प्या भवाद‍ृशाम् ॥ ४ ॥

dūre hari-kathāḥ kecid dūre cācyuta-kīrtanāḥ striyaḥ śūdrādayaś caiva te ’nukampyā bhavādṛśām

There are many persons who have little opportunity to take part in discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and thus it is difficult for them to chant His infallible glories. Persons such as women, śūdras and other fallen classes always deserve the mercy of great personalities like yourself.

11.5.5

विप्रो राजन्यवैश्यौ वा हरे: प्राप्ता: पदान्तिकम् । श्रौतेन जन्मनाथापि मुह्यन्त्याम्नायवादिन: ॥ ५ ॥

vipro rājanya-vaiśyau vā hareḥ prāptāḥ padāntikam śrautena janmanāthāpi muhyanty āmnāya-vādinaḥ

On the other hand, brāhmaṇas, members of the royal order and vaiśyas, even after being allowed to approach the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, Hari, by receiving the second birth of Vedic initiation, can become bewildered and adopt various materialistic philosophies.

11.5.6

कर्मण्यकोविदा: स्तब्धा मूर्खा: पण्डितमानिन: । वदन्ति चाटुकान् मूढा यया माध्व्या गिरोत्सुका: ॥ ६ ॥

karmaṇy akovidāḥ stabdhā mūrkhāḥ paṇḍita-māninaḥ vadanti cāṭukān mūḍhā yayā mādhvyā girotsukāḥ

Ignorant of the art of work, such arrogantly proud fools, enchanted and enlivened by the sweet words of the Vedas, pose as learned authorities and offer flattering entreaties to the demigods.

11.5.7

रजसा घोरसङ्कल्पा: कामुका अहिमन्यव: । दाम्भिका मानिन: पापा विहसन्त्यच्युतप्रियान् ॥ ७ ॥

rajasā ghora-saṅkalpāḥ kāmukā ahi-manyavaḥ dāmbhikā māninaḥ pāpā vihasanty acyuta-priyān

Due to the influence of the mode of passion, the materialistic followers of the Vedas become subject to violent desires and are excessively lusty. Their anger is like that of a snake. Deceitful, overly proud, and sinful in their behavior, they mock the devotees who are dear to Lord Acyuta.

11.5.8

वदन्ति तेऽन्योन्यमुपासितस्त्रियो गृहेषु मैथुन्यपरेषु चाशिष: । यजन्त्यसृष्टान्नविधानदक्षिणं वृत्त्यै परं घ्नन्ति पशूनतद्विद: ॥ ८ ॥

vadanti te ’nyonyam upāsita-striyo gṛheṣu maithunya-pareṣu cāśiṣaḥ yajanty asṛṣṭānna-vidhāna-dakṣiṇaṁ vṛttyai paraṁ ghnanti paśūn atad-vidaḥ

The materialistic followers of Vedic rituals, giving up the worship of the Lord, instead practically worship their wives, and thus their homes become dedicated to sex life. Such materialistic householders encourage one another in such whimsical behavior. Understanding ritualistic sacrifice as a necessary item for bodily maintenance, they perform unauthorized ceremonies in which there is no distribution of foodstuffs or charity to the brāhmaṇas and other respectable persons. Instead, they cruelly slaughter animals such as goats without any understanding of the dark consequences of their activities.

11.5.9

श्रिया विभूत्याभिजनेन विद्यया त्यागेन रूपेण बलेन कर्मणा । जातस्मयेनान्धधिय: सहेश्वरान् सतोऽवमन्यन्ति हरिप्रियान् खला: ॥ ९ ॥

śriyā vibhūtyābhijanena vidyayā tyāgena rūpeṇa balena karmaṇā jāta-smayenāndha-dhiyaḥ saheśvarān sato ’vamanyanti hari-priyān khalāḥ

The intelligence of cruel-minded persons is blinded by false pride based on great wealth, opulence, prestigious family connections, education, renunciation, personal beauty, physical strength and successful performance of Vedic rituals. Being intoxicated with this false pride, such cruel persons blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees.

11.5.10

सर्वेषु शश्वत्तनुभृत्स्ववस्थितं यथा खमात्मानमभीष्टमीश्वरम् । वेदोपगीतं च न श‍ृण्वतेऽबुधा मनोरथानां प्रवदन्ति वार्तया ॥ १० ॥

sarveṣu śaśvat tanu-bhṛtsv avasthitaṁ yathā kham ātmānam abhīṣṭam īśvaram vedopagītaṁ ca na śṛṇvate ’budhā mano-rathānāṁ pravadanti vārtayā

The Personality of Godhead is eternally situated within the heart of every embodied being; still the Lord remains situated apart, just as the sky, which is all-pervading, does not mix with any material object. Thus the Lord is the supreme worshipable object and the absolute controller of everything. He is elaborately glorified in the Vedic literature, but those who are bereft of intelligence do not like to hear about Him. They prefer to waste their time discussing their own mental concoctions, which inevitably deal with gross material sense gratification such as sex life and meat-eating.

11.5.11

लोके व्यवायामिषमद्यसेवा नित्या हि जन्तोर्न हि तत्र चोदना । व्यवस्थितिस्तेषु विवाहयज्ञ- सुराग्रहैरासु निवृत्तिरिष्टा ॥ ११ ॥

loke vyavāyāmiṣa-madya-sevā nityā hi jantor na hi tatra codanā vyavasthitis teṣu vivāha-yajña surā-grahair āsu nivṛttir iṣṭā

In this material world the conditioned soul is always inclined to sex, meat-eating and intoxication. Therefore religious scriptures never actually encourage such activities. Although the scriptural injunctions provide for sex through sacred marriage, for meat-eating through sacrificial offerings and for intoxication through the acceptance of ritual cups of wine, such ceremonies are meant for the ultimate purpose of renunciation.

11.5.12

धनं च धर्मैकफलं यतो वै ज्ञानं सविज्ञानमनुप्रशान्ति । गृहेषु युञ्जन्ति कलेवरस्य मृत्युं न पश्यन्ति दुरन्तवीर्यम् ॥ १२ ॥

dhanaṁ ca dharmaika-phalaṁ yato vai jñānaṁ sa-vijñānam anupraśānti gṛheṣu yuñjanti kalevarasya mṛtyuṁ na paśyanti duranta-vīryam

The only proper fruit of acquired wealth is religiosity, on the basis of which one can acquire a philosophical understanding of life that eventually matures into direct perception of the Absolute Truth and thus liberation from all suffering. Materialistic persons, however, utilize their wealth simply for the advancement of their family situation. They fail to see that insurmountable death will soon destroy the frail material body.

11.5.13

यद् घ्राणभक्षो विहित: सुराया- स्तथा पशोरालभनं न हिंसा । एवं व्यवाय: प्रजया न रत्या इमं विशुद्धं न विदु: स्वधर्मम् ॥ १३ ॥

yad ghrāṇa-bhakṣo vihitaḥ surāyās tathā paśor ālabhanaṁ na hiṁsā evaṁ vyavāyaḥ prajayā na ratyā imaṁ viśuddhaṁ na viduḥ sva-dharmam

According to the Vedic injunctions, when wine is offered in sacrificial ceremonies it is later to be consumed by smelling, and not by drinking. Similarly, the sacrificial offering of animals is permitted, but there is no provision for wide-scale animal slaughter. Religious sex life is also permitted, but only in marriage for begetting children, and not for sensuous exploitation of the body. Unfortunately, however, the less intelligent materialists cannot understand that their duties in life should be performed purely on the spiritual platform.

11.5.14

ये त्वनेवंविदोऽसन्त: स्तब्धा: सदभिमानिन: । पशून् द्रुह्यन्ति विश्रब्धा: प्रेत्य खादन्ति ते च तान् ॥ १४ ॥

ye tv anevaṁ-vido ’santaḥ stabdhāḥ sad-abhimāninaḥ paśūn druhyanti viśrabdhāḥ pretya khādanti te ca tān

Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet consider themselves to be completely pious, without compunction commit violence against innocent animals who are fully trusting in them. In their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in this world.

11.5.15

द्विषन्त: परकायेषु स्वात्मानं हरिमीश्वरम् । मृतके सानुबन्धेऽस्मिन् बद्धस्‍नेहा: पतन्त्यध: ॥ १५ ॥

dviṣantaḥ para-kāyeṣu svātmānaṁ harim īśvaram mṛtake sānubandhe ’smin baddha-snehāḥ patanty adhaḥ

The conditioned souls become completely bound in affection to their own corpselike material bodies and their relatives and paraphernalia. In such a proud and foolish condition, the conditioned souls envy other living entities as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who resides in the heart of all beings. Thus enviously offending others, the conditioned souls gradually fall down into hell.

11.5.16

ये कैवल्यमसम्प्राप्ता ये चातीताश्च मूढताम् । त्रैवर्गिका ह्यक्षणिका आत्मानं घातयन्ति ते ॥ १६ ॥

ye kaivalyam asamprāptā ye cātītāś ca mūḍhatām trai-vargikā hy akṣaṇikā ātmānaṁ ghātayanti te

Those who have not achieved knowledge of the Absolute Truth, yet who are still beyond the darkness of complete ignorance, generally follow the threefold path of pious material life, namely religiosity, economic development and sense gratification. Not having time to reflect on any higher purpose, they become the killers of their own soul.

11.5.17

एत आत्महनोऽशान्ता अज्ञाने ज्ञानमानिन: । सीदन्त्यकृतकृत्या वै कालध्वस्तमनोरथा: ॥ १७ ॥

eta ātma-hano ’śāntā ajñāne jñāna-māninaḥ sīdanty akṛta-kṛtyā vai kāla-dhvasta-manorathāḥ

The killers of the soul are never peaceful, because they consider that human intelligence is ultimately meant for expanding material life. Thus neglecting their real, spiritual duties, they are always in distress. They are filled with great hopes and dreams, but unfortunately these are always destroyed by the inevitable march of time.

11.5.18

हित्वात्ममायारचिता गृहापत्यसुहृत्स्त्रिय: । तमो विशन्त्यनिच्छन्तो वासुदेवपराङ्‍मुखा: ॥ १८ ॥

hitvātma-māyā-racitā gṛhāpatya-suhṛt-striyaḥ tamo viśanty anicchanto vāsudeva-parāṅ-mukhāḥ

Those who have turned away from the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva, being under the spell of the Lord’s illusory energy, are eventually forced to give up their so-called homes, children, friends, wives and lovers, which were all created by the illusory potency of the Supreme Lord, and enter against their will into the darkest regions of the universe.

11.5.19

श्री राजोवाच कस्मिन् काले स भगवान् किं वर्ण: कीद‍ृशो नृभि: । नाम्ना वा केन विधिना पूज्यते तदिहोच्यताम् ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-rājovāca kasmin kāle sa bhagavān kiṁ varṇaḥ kīdṛśo nṛbhiḥ nāmnā vā kena vidhinā pūjyate tad ihocyatām

King Nimi inquired: In what colors and forms does the Supreme Personality of Godhead appear in each of the different ages, and with what names and by what types of regulative principles is the Lord worshiped in human society?

11.5.20

श्रीकरभाजन उवाच कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिरित्येषु केशव: । नानावर्णाभिधाकारो नानैव विधिनेज्यते ॥ २० ॥

śrī-karabhājana uvāca kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kalir ity eṣu keśavaḥ nānā-varṇābhidhākāro nānaiva vidhinejyate

Śrī Karabhājana replied: In each of the four yugas, or ages — Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali — Lord Keśava appears with various complexions, names and forms and is thus worshiped by various processes.

11.5.21

कृते शुक्लश्चतुर्बाहुर्जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: । कृष्णाजिनोपवीताक्षान् बिभ्रद् दण्डकमण्डलू ॥ २१ ॥

kṛte śuklaś catur-bāhur jaṭilo valkalāmbaraḥ kṛṣṇājinopavītākṣān bibhrad daṇḍa-kamaṇḍalū

In Satya-yuga the Lord is white and four-armed, has matted locks and wears a garment of tree bark. He carries a black deerskin, a sacred thread, prayer beads and the rod and waterpot of a brahmacārī.

11.5.22

मनुष्यास्तु तदा शान्ता निर्वैरा: सुहृद: समा: । यजन्ति तपसा देवं शमेन च दमेन च ॥ २२ ॥

manuṣyās tu tadā śāntā nirvairāḥ suhṛdaḥ samāḥ yajanti tapasā devaṁ śamena ca damena ca

People in Satya-yuga are peaceful, nonenvious, friendly to every creature and steady in all situations. They worship the Supreme Personality by austere meditation and by internal and external sense control.

11.5.23

हंस: सुपर्णो वैकुण्ठो धर्मो योगेश्वरोऽमल: । ईश्वर: पुरुषोऽव्यक्त: परमात्मेति गीयते ॥ २३ ॥

haṁsaḥ suparṇo vaikuṇṭho dharmo yogeśvaro ’malaḥ īśvaraḥ puruṣo ’vyaktaḥ paramātmeti gīyate

In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Haṁsa, Suparṇa, Vaikuṇṭha, Dharma, Yogeśvara, Amala, Īśvara, Puruṣa, Avyakta and Paramātmā.

11.5.24

त्रेतायां रक्तवर्णोऽसौ चतुर्बाहुस्त्रिमेखल: । हिरण्यकेशस्त्रय्यात्मा स्रुक्स्रुवाद्युपलक्षण: ॥ २४ ॥

tretāyāṁ rakta-varṇo ’sau catur-bāhus tri-mekhalaḥ hiraṇya-keśas trayy-ātmā sruk-sruvādy-upalakṣaṇaḥ

In Tretā-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.

11.5.25

तं तदा मनुजा देवं सर्वदेवमयं हरिम् । यजन्ति विद्यया त्रय्या धर्मिष्ठा ब्रह्मवादिन: ॥ २५ ॥

taṁ tadā manujā devaṁ sarva-deva-mayaṁ harim yajanti vidyayā trayyā dharmiṣṭhā brahma-vādinaḥ

In Tretā-yuga, those members of human society who are fixed in religiosity and are sincerely interested in achieving the Absolute Truth worship Lord Hari, who contains within Himself all the demigods. The Lord is worshiped by the rituals of sacrifice taught in the three Vedas.

11.5.26

विष्णुर्यज्ञ: पृश्न‍िगर्भ: सर्वदेव उरुक्रम: । वृषाकपिर्जयन्तश्च उरुगाय इतीर्यते ॥ २६ ॥

viṣṇur yajñaḥ pṛśnigarbhaḥ sarvadeva urukramaḥ vṛṣākapir jayantaś ca urugāya itīryate

In Tretā-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Viṣṇu, Yajña, Pṛśnigarbha, Sarvadeva, Urukrama, Vṛṣākapi, Jayanta and Urugāya.

11.5.27

द्वापरे भगवाञ्श्याम: पीतवासा निजायुध: । श्रीवत्सादिभिरङ्कैश्च लक्षणैरुपलक्षित: ॥ २७ ॥

dvāpare bhagavāñ śyāmaḥ pīta-vāsā nijāyudhaḥ śrīvatsādibhir aṅkaiś ca lakṣaṇair upalakṣitaḥ

In Dvāpara-yuga the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears with a dark blue complexion, wearing yellow garments. The Lord’s transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with Śrīvatsa and other distinctive ornaments, and He manifests His personal weapons.

11.5.28

तं तदा पुरुषं मर्त्या महाराजोपलक्षणम् । यजन्ति वेदतन्त्राभ्यां परं जिज्ञासवो नृप ॥ २८ ॥

taṁ tadā puruṣaṁ martyā mahā-rājopalakṣaṇam yajanti veda-tantrābhyāṁ paraṁ jijñāsavo nṛpa

My dear King, in Dvāpara-yuga men who desire to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme enjoyer, worship Him in the mood of honoring a great king, following the prescriptions of both the Vedas and tantras.

11.5.29-30

नमस्ते वासुदेवाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय तुभ्यं भगवते नम: ॥ २९ ॥ नारायणाय ऋषये पुरुषाय महात्मने । विश्वेश्वराय विश्वाय सर्वभूतात्मने नम: ॥ ३० ॥

namas te vāsudevāya namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca pradyumnāyāniruddhāya tubhyaṁ bhagavate namaḥ nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye puruṣāya mahātmane viśveśvarāya viśvāya sarva-bhūtātmane namaḥ

“Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, and to Your forms of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances unto You. O Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, O creator of the universe, best of personalities, master of this cosmos and original form of the universe, O Supersoul of all created entities, all homage unto You.”

11.5.31

इति द्वापर उर्वीश स्तुवन्ति जगदीश्वरम् । नानातन्त्रविधानेन कलावपि तथा श‍ृणु ॥ ३१ ॥

iti dvāpara urv-īśa stuvanti jagad-īśvaram nānā-tantra-vidhānena kalāv api tathā śṛṇu

O King, in this way people in Dvāpara-yuga glorified the Lord of the universe. In Kali-yuga also people worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following various regulations of the revealed scriptures. Now kindly hear of this from me.

11.5.32

कृष्णवर्णं त्विषाकृष्णं साङ्गोपाङ्गास्त्रपार्षदम् । यज्ञै: सङ्कीर्तनप्रायैर्यजन्ति हि सुमेधस: ॥ ३२ ॥

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

11.5.33

ध्येयं सदा परिभवघ्नमभीष्टदोहं तीर्थास्पदं शिवविरिञ्चिनुतं शरण्यम् । भृत्यार्तिहं प्रणतपाल भवाब्धिपोतं वन्दे महापुरुष ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३३ ॥

dhyeyaṁ sadā paribhava-ghnam abhīṣṭa-dohaṁ tīrthāspadaṁ śiva-viriñci-nutaṁ śaraṇyam bhṛtyārti-haṁ praṇata-pāla bhavābdhi-potaṁ vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam

My dear Lord, You are the Mahā-puruṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I worship Your lotus feet, which are the only eternal object of meditation. Those feet destroy the embarrassing conditions of material life and freely award the greatest desire of the soul, the attainment of pure love of Godhead. My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the shelter of all holy places and of all saintly authorities in the line of devotional service and are honored by powerful demigods like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā. My Lord, You are so kind that You willingly protect all those who simply bow down to You with respect, and thus You mercifully relieve all the distress of Your servants. In conclusion, my Lord, Your lotus feet are actually the suitable boat for crossing over the ocean of birth and death, and therefore even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva seek shelter at Your lotus feet.”

11.5.34

त्यक्त्वा सुदुस्त्यजसुरेप्सितराज्यलक्ष्मीं धर्मिष्ठ आर्यवचसा यदगादरण्यम् । मायामृगं दयितयेप्सितमन्वधावद् वन्दे महापुरुष ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३४ ॥

tyaktvā su-dustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīṁ dharmiṣṭha ārya-vacasā yad agād araṇyam māyā-mṛgaṁ dayitayepsitam anvadhāvad vande mahā-puruṣa te caraṇāravindam

O Mahā-puruṣa, I worship Your lotus feet. You gave up the association of the goddess of fortune and all her opulence, which is most difficult to renounce and is hankered after by even the great demigods. Being the most faithful follower of the path of religion, You thus left for the forest in obedience to a brāhmaṇa’s curse. Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord Śyāmasundara.

11.5.35

एवं युगानुरूपाभ्यां भगवान् युगवर्तिभि: । मनुजैरिज्यते राजन् श्रेयसामीश्वरोहरि: ॥ ३५ ॥

evaṁ yugānurūpābhyāṁ bhagavān yuga-vartibhiḥ manujair ijyate rājan śreyasām īśvaro hariḥ

Thus, O King, the Supreme Lord Hari is the giver of all desirable benefits of life. Intelligent human beings worship the particular forms and names that the Lord manifests in different ages.

11.5.36

कलिं सभाजयन्त्यार्या गुणज्ञा: सारभागिन: । यत्र सङ्कीर्तनेनैव सर्वस्वार्थोऽभिलभ्यते ॥ ३६ ॥

kaliṁ sabhājayanty āryā guṇa jñāḥ sāra-bhāginaḥ yatra saṅkīrtanenaiva sarva-svārtho ’bhilabhyate

Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this Age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of saṅkīrtana.

11.5.37

न ह्यत: परमो लाभो देहिनां भ्राम्यतामिह । यतो विन्देत परमां शान्तिं नश्यति संसृति: ॥ ३७ ॥

na hy ataḥ paramo lābho dehināṁ bhrāmyatām iha yato vindeta paramāṁ śāntiṁ naśyati saṁsṛtiḥ

Indeed, there is no higher possible gain for embodied souls forced to wander throughout the material world than the Supreme Lord’s saṅkīrtana movement, by which one can attain the supreme peace and free oneself from the cycle of repeated birth and death.

11.5.38-40

कृतादिषु प्रजा राजन् कलाविच्छन्ति सम्भवम् । कलौ खलु भविष्यन्ति नारायणपरायणा: । क्व‍‍चित् क्व‍‍चिन्महाराज द्रविडेषु च भूरिश: ॥ ३८ ॥ ताम्रपर्णी नदी यत्र कृतमाला पयस्विनी । कावेरी च महापुण्या प्रतीची च महानदी ॥ ३९ ॥ ये पिबन्ति जलं तासां मनुजा मनुजेश्वर । प्रायो भक्ता भगवति वासुदेवेऽमलाशया: ॥ ४० ॥

kṛtādiṣu prajā rājan kalāv icchanti sambhavam kalau khalu bhaviṣyanti nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇāḥ kvacit kvacin mahā-rāja draviḍeṣu ca bhūriśaḥ tāmraparṇī nadī yatra kṛtamālā payasvinī kāverī ca mahā-puṇyā pratīcī ca mahā-nadī ye pibanti jalaṁ tāsāṁ manujā manujeśvara prāyo bhaktā bhagavati vāsudeve ’malāśayāḥ

My dear King, the inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in this Age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. These devotees will appear in various places but will be especially numerous in South India. O master of men, in the Age of Kali those persons who drink the waters of the holy rivers of Draviḍa-deśa, such as the Tāmraparṇī, Krtamālā, Payasvinī, the extremely pious Kāverī and the Pratīcī Mahānadī, will almost all be purehearted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.

11.5.41

देवर्षिभूताप्तनृणां पितृणां न किङ्करो नायमृणी च राजन् । सर्वात्मना य: शरणं शरण्यं गतो मुकुन्दं परिहृत्य कर्तम् ॥ ४१ ॥

devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṝṇāṁ na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam

O King, one who has given up all material duties and has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one’s forefathers who have passed away. Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord’s service has no need to serve such persons separately.

11.5.42

स्वपादमूलं भजत: प्रियस्य त्यक्तान्यभावस्य हरि: परेश: । विकर्म यच्चोत्पतितं कथञ्चिद् धुनोति सर्वं हृदि सन्निविष्ट: ॥ ४२ ॥

sva-pāda-mūlam bhajataḥ priyasya tyaktānya-bhāvasya hariḥ pareśaḥ vikarma yac cotpatitaṁ kathañcid dhunoti sarvaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ

One who has thus given up all other engagements and has taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to the Lord. Indeed, if such a surrendered soul accidentally commits some sinful activity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone’s heart, immediately takes away the reaction to such sin.

11.5.43

श्रीनारद उवाच धर्मान् भागवतानित्थं श्रुत्वाथ मिथिलेश्वर: । जायन्तेयान् मुनीन् प्रीत: सोपाध्यायो ह्यपूजयत् ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca dharmān bhāgavatān itthaṁ śrutvātha mithileśvaraḥ jāyanteyān munīn prītaḥ sopādhyāyo hy apūjayat

Nārada Muni said: Having thus heard the science of devotional service, Nimi, the King of Mithilā, felt extremely satisfied and, along with the sacrificial priests, offered respectful worship to the sagacious sons of Jayantī.

11.5.44

ततोऽन्तर्दधिरे सिद्धा: सर्वलोकस्य पश्यत: । राजा धर्मानुपातिष्ठन्नवाप परमां गतिम् ॥ ४४ ॥

tato ’ntardadhire siddhāḥ sarva-lokasya paśyataḥ rājā dharmān upātiṣṭhann avāpa paramāṁ gatim

The perfect sages then disappeared before the eyes of everyone present. King Nimi faithfully practiced the principles of spiritual life he had learned from them, and thus he achieved the supreme goal of life.

11.5.45

त्वमप्येतान् महाभाग धर्मान् भागवतान् श्रुतान् । आस्थित: श्रद्धया युक्तो नि:सङ्गो यास्यसे परम् ॥ ४५ ॥

tvam apy etān mahā-bhāga dharmān bhāgavatān śrutān āsthitaḥ śraddhayā yukto niḥsaṅgo yāsyase param

O greatly fortunate Vasudeva, simply apply with faith these principles of devotional service which you have heard, and thus, being free from material association, you will attain the Supreme.

11.5.46

युवयो: खलु दम्पत्योर्यशसा पूरितं जगत् । पुत्रतामगमद् यद् वां भगवानीश्वरोहरि: ॥ ४६ ॥

yuvayoḥ khalu dampatyor yaśasā pūritaṁ jagat putratām agamad yad vāṁ bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ

Indeed, the whole world has become filled with the glories of you and your good wife because the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, has taken the position of your son.

11.5.47

दर्शनालिङ्गनालापै: शयनासनभोजनै: । आत्मा वां पावित: कृष्णे पुत्रस्‍नेहं प्रकुर्वतो: ॥ ४७ ॥

darśanāliṅganālāpaiḥ śayanāsana-bhojanaiḥ ātmā vāṁ pāvitaḥ kṛṣṇe putra-snehaṁ prakurvatoḥ

My dear Vasudeva, you and your good wife Devakī have manifested great transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa, accepting Him as your son. Indeed, you are always seeing the Lord, embracing Him, speaking with Him, resting with Him, sitting together with Him and taking your meals with Him. By such affectionate and intimate association with the Lord, undoubtedly both of you have completely purified your hearts. In other words, you are already perfect.

11.5.48

वैरेण यं नृपतय: शिशुपालपौण्ड्र- शाल्वादयो गतिविलासविलोकनाद्यै: । ध्यायन्त आकृतधिय: शयनासनादौ तत्साम्यमापुरनुरक्तधियां पुन: किम् ॥ ४८ ॥

vaireṇa yaṁ nṛpatayaḥ śiśupāla-pauṇḍra- śālvādayo gati-vilāsa-vilokanādyaiḥ dhyāyanta ākṛta-dhiyaḥ śayanāsanādau tat-sāmyam āpur anurakta-dhiyāṁ punaḥ kim

Inimical kings like Śiśupāla, Pauṇḍraka and Śālva were always thinking about Lord Kṛṣṇa. Even while they were lying down, sitting or engaging in other activities, they enviously meditated upon the bodily movements of the Lord, His sporting pastimes, His loving glances upon His devotees, and other attractive features displayed by the Lord. Being thus always absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, they achieved spiritual liberation in the Lord’s own abode. What then can be said of the benedictions offered to those who constantly fix their minds on Lord Kṛṣṇa in a favorable, loving mood?

11.5.49

मापत्यबुद्धिमकृथा: कृष्णे सर्वात्मनीश्वरे । मायामनुष्यभावेन गूढैश्वर्ये परेऽव्यये ॥ ४९ ॥

māpatya-buddhim akṛthāḥ kṛṣṇe sarvātmanīśvare māyā-manuṣya-bhāvena gūḍhaiśvarye pare ’vyaye

Do not think of Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary child, because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, inexhaustible and the Soul of all beings. The Lord has concealed His inconceivable opulences and is thus outwardly appearing to be an ordinary human being.

11.5.50

भूभारासुरराजन्यहन्तवे गुप्तये सताम् । अवतीर्णस्य निर्वृत्यै यशो लोके वितन्यते ॥ ५० ॥

bhū-bhārāsura-rājanya- hantave guptaye satām avatīrṇasya nirvṛtyai yaśo loke vitanyate

The Supreme Personality of Godhead descended to kill the demoniac kings who were the burden of the earth and to protect the saintly devotees. However, both the demons and the devotees are awarded liberation by the Lord’s mercy. Thus, His transcendental fame has spread throughout the universe.

11.5.51

श्रीशुक उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाभागो वसुदेवोऽतिविस्मित: । देवकी च महाभागा जहतुर्मोहमात्मन: ॥ ५१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca etac chrutvā mahā-bhāgo vasudevo ’ti-vismitaḥ devakī ca mahā-bhāgā jahatur moham ātmanaḥ

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Having heard this narration, the greatly fortunate Vasudeva was completely struck with wonder. Thus he and his most blessed wife Devakī gave up all illusion and anxiety that had entered their hearts.

11.5.52

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं धारयेद् य: समाहित: । स विधूयेह शमलं ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ ५२ ॥

itihāsam imaṁ puṇyaṁ dhārayed yaḥ samāhitaḥ sa vidhūyeha śamalaṁ brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

Anyone who meditates on this pious historical narration with fixed attention will purify himself of all contamination in this very life and thus achieve the highest spiritual perfection.