Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 1
श्रीशुक उवाच एवमेतत्पुरा पृष्टो मैत्रेयो भगवान् किल । क्षत्त्रा वनं प्रविष्टेन त्यक्त्वा स्वगृहमृद्धिमत् ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam etat pura prsto maitreyo bhagavan kila ksattra vanam pravistena tyaktva sva-grham rddhimat
Sukadeva Gosvami said: After renouncing his prosperous home and entering the forest, King Vidura, the great devotee, asked this question of His Grace Maitreya Rsi.
यद्वा अयं मन्त्रकृद्वो भगवानखिलेश्वर: । पौरवेन्द्रगृहं हित्वा प्रविवेशात्मसात्कृतम् ॥ २ ॥
yad va ayam mantra-krd vo bhagavan akhilesvarah pauravendra-grham hitva pravivesatmasat krtam
What else is there to say about the residential house of the Pandavas? Sri Krsna, the Lord of everything, acted as your minister. He used to enter that house as if it were His own, and He did not take any care of Duryodhana’s house.
राजोवाच कुत्र क्षत्तुर्भगवता मैत्रेयेणास सङ्गम: । कदा वा सह संवाद एतद्वर्णय न: प्रभो ॥ ३ ॥
rajovaca kutra ksattur bhagavata maitreyenasa sangamah kada va saha-samvada etad varnaya nah prabho
The King asked Sukadeva Gosvami: Where and when did the meeting and discussion take place between Saint Vidura and His Grace Maitreya Muni? Kindly oblige, my lord, and describe this to us.
न ह्यल्पार्थोदयस्तस्य विदुरस्यामलात्मन: । तस्मिन् वरीयसि प्रश्न: साधुवादोपबृंहित: ॥ ४ ॥
na hy alparthodayas tasya vidurasyamalatmanah tasmin variyasi prasnah sadhu-vadopabrmhitah
Saint Vidura was a great and pure devotee of the Lord, and therefore his questions to His Grace Rsi Maitreya must have been very purposeful, on the highest level, and approved by learned circles.
सूत उवाच स एवमृषिवर्योऽयं पृष्टो राज्ञा परीक्षिता । प्रत्याह तं सुबहुवित्प्रीतात्मा श्रूयतामिति ॥ ५ ॥
suta uvaca sa evam rsi-varyo ’yam prsto rajna pariksita praty aha tam subahu-vit pritatma sruyatam iti
Sri Suta Gosvami said: The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami was highly experienced and was pleased with the King.
श्रीशुक उवाच यदा तु राजा स्वसुतानसाधून् पुष्णन्नधर्मेण विनष्टदृष्टि: । भ्रातुर्यविष्ठस्य सुतान् विबन्धून् प्रवेश्य लाक्षाभवने ददाह ॥ ६ ॥
sri-suka uvaca yada tu raja sva-sutan asadhun pusnan na dharmena vinasta-drstih bhratur yavisthasya sutan vibandhun pravesya laksa-bhavane dadaha
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Dhrtarastra became blind under the influence of impious desires to nourish his dishonest sons, and thus he set fire to the lacquer house to burn his fatherless nephews, the Pandavas.
यदा सभायां कुरुदेवदेव्या: केशाभिमर्शं सुतकर्म गर्ह्यम् । न वारयामास नृप: स्नुषाया: स्वास्रैर्हरन्त्या: कुचकुङ्कुमानि ॥ ७ ॥
yada sabhayam kuru-deva-devyah kesabhimarsam suta-karma garhyam na varayam asa nrpah snusayah svasrair harantyah kuca-kunkumani
The King did not forbid his son Duhsasana’s abominable action of grabbing the hair of Draupadi, the wife of the godly King Yudhisthira, even though her tears washed the red dust on her breast.
द्यूते त्वधर्मेण जितस्य साधो: सत्यावलम्बस्य वनं गतस्य । न याचतोऽदात्समयेन दायं तमोजुषाणो यदजातशत्रो: ॥ ८ ॥
dyute tv adharmena jitasya sadhoh satyavalambasya vanam gatasya na yacato ’dat samayena dayam tamo-jusano yad ajata-satroh
Yudhisthira, who was born without any enemy, was unfairly defeated in gambling. But because he had taken the vow of truthfulness, he went off to the forest. When he came back in due course and begged the return of his rightful share of the kingdom, he was refused by Dhrtarastra, who was overwhelmed by illusion.
यदा च पार्थप्रहित: सभायां जगद्गुरुर्यानि जगाद कृष्ण: । न तानि पुंसाममृतायनानि राजोरु मेने क्षतपुण्यलेश: ॥ ९ ॥
yada ca partha-prahitah sabhayam jagad-gurur yani jagada krsnah na tani pumsam amrtayanani rajoru mene ksata-punya-lesah
Lord Krsna was sent by Arjuna into the assembly as the spiritual master of the whole world, and although His words were heard by some (like Bhisma) as pure nectar, it was not so for the others, who were completely bereft of the last farthing of past pious works. The King (Dhrtarastra or Duryodhana) did not take the words of Lord Krsna very seriously.
यदोपहूतो भवनं प्रविष्टो मन्त्राय पृष्ट: किल पूर्वजेन । अथाह तन्मन्त्रदृशां वरीयान् यन्मन्त्रिणो वैदुरिकं वदन्ति ॥ १० ॥
yadopahuto bhavanam pravisto mantraya prstah kila purvajena athaha tan mantra-drsam variyan yan mantrino vaidurikam vadanti
When Vidura was invited by his elder brother (Dhrtarastra) for consultation, he entered the house and gave instructions which were exactly to the point. His advice is well known, and instructions by Vidura are approved by expert ministers of state.
अजातशत्रो: प्रतियच्छ दायं तितिक्षतो दुर्विषहं तवाग: । सहानुजो यत्र वृकोदराहि: श्वसन् रुषा यत्त्वमलं बिभेषि ॥ ११ ॥
ajata-satroh pratiyaccha dayam titiksato durvisaham tavagah sahanujo yatra vrkodarahih svasan rusa yat tvam alam bibhesi
(Vidura said:) You must now return the legitimate share to Yudhisthira, who has no enemies and who has been forbearing through untold sufferings due to your offenses. He is waiting with his younger brothers, among whom is the revengeful Bhima, breathing heavily like a snake. Surely you are afraid of him.
पार्थांस्तु देवो भगवान्मुकुन्दो गृहीतवान् सक्षितिदेवदेव: । आस्ते स्वपुर्यां यदुदेवदेवो विनिर्जिताशेषनृदेवदेव: ॥ १२ ॥
parthams tu devo bhagavan mukundo grhitavan saksiti-deva-devah aste sva-puryam yadu-deva-devo vinirjitasesa-nrdeva-devah
Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, has accepted the sons of Prtha as His kinsmen, and all the kings of the world are with Lord Sri Krsna. He is present in His home with all His family members, the kings and princes of the Yadu dynasty, who have conquered an unlimited number of rulers, and He is their Lord.
स एष दोष: पुरुषद्विडास्ते गृहान् प्रविष्टो यमपत्यमत्या । पुष्णासि कृष्णाद्विमुखो गतश्री- स्त्यजाश्वशैवं कुलकौशलाय ॥ १३ ॥
sa esa dosah purusa-dvid aste grhan pravisto yam apatya-matya pusnasi krsnad vimukho gata-sris tyajasv asaivam kula-kausalaya
You are maintaining offense personified, Duryodhana, as your infallible son, but he is envious of Lord Krsna. And because you are thus maintaining a nondevotee of Krsna, you are devoid of all auspicious qualities. Relieve yourself of this ill fortune as soon as possible and do good to the whole family!
इत्यूचिवांस्तत्र सुयोधनेन प्रवृद्धकोपस्फुरिताधरेण । असत्कृत: सत्स्पृहणीयशील: क्षत्ता सकर्णानुजसौबलेन ॥ १४ ॥
ity ucivams tatra suyodhanena pravrddha-kopa-sphuritadharena asat-krtah sat-sprhaniya-silah ksatta sakarnanuja-saubalena
While speaking thus, Vidura, whose personal character was esteemed by respectable persons, was insulted by Duryodhana, who was swollen with anger and whose lips were trembling. Duryodhana was in company with Karna, his younger brothers and his maternal uncle Sakuni.
क एनमत्रोपजुहाव जिह्मं दास्या: सुतं यद्बलिनैव पुष्ट: । तस्मिन् प्रतीप: परकृत्य आस्ते निर्वास्यतामाशु पुराच्छ्वसान: ॥ १५ ॥
ka enam atropajuhava jihmam dasyah sutam yad-balinaiva pustah tasmin pratipah parakrtya aste nirvasyatam asu purac chvasanah
Who asked him to come here, this son of a kept mistress? He is so crooked that he spies in the interest of the enemy against those on whose support he has grown up. Toss him out of the palace immediately and leave him with only his breath.
स्वयं धनुर्द्वारि निधाय मायां र्भ्रातु: पुरो मर्मसु ताडितोऽपि । स इत्थमत्युल्बणकर्णबाणै- र्गतव्यथोऽयादुरु मानयान: ॥ १६ ॥
svayam dhanur dvari nidhaya mayam bhratuh puro marmasu tadito ’pi sa ittham atyulbana-karna-banair gata-vyatho ’yad uru manayanah
Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his brother’s palace. He was not sorry, for he considered the acts of the external energy to be supreme.
स निर्गत: कौरवपुण्यलब्धो गजाह्वयात्तीर्थपद: पदानि । अन्वाक्रमत्पुण्यचिकीर्षयोर्व्यां अधिष्ठितो यानि सहस्रमूर्ति: ॥ १७ ॥
sa nirgatah kaurava-punya-labdho gajahvayat tirtha-padah padani anvakramat punya-cikirsayorvyam adhisthito yani sahasra-murtih
By his piety, Vidura achieved the advantages of the pious Kauravas. After leaving Hastinapura, he took shelter of many places of pilgrimages, which are the Lord’s lotus feet. With a desire to gain a high order of pious life, he traveled to holy places where thousands of transcendental forms of the Lord are situated.
पुरेषु पुण्योपवनाद्रिकुञ्जे- ष्वपङ्कतोयेषु सरित्सर:सु । अनन्तलिङ्गै: समलङ्कृतेषु चचार तीर्थायतनेष्वनन्य: ॥ १८ ॥
puresu punyopavanadri-kunjesv apanka-toyesu sarit-sarahsu ananta-lingaih samalankrtesu cacara tirthayatanesv ananyah
He began to travel alone, thinking only of Krsna, through various holy places like Ayodhya, Dvaraka and Mathura. He traveled where the air, hill, orchard, river and lake are all pure and sinless and where the forms of the Unlimited decorate the temples. Thus he performed the pilgrim’s progress.
गां पर्यटन्मेध्यविविक्तवृत्ति: सदाप्लुतोऽध:शयनोऽवधूत: । अलक्षित: स्वैरवधूतवेषो व्रतानि चेरे हरितोषणानि ॥ १९ ॥
gam paryatan medhya-vivikta-vrttih sadapluto ’dhah sayano ’vadhutah alaksitah svair avadhuta-veso vratani cere hari-tosanani
While so traversing the earth, he simply performed duties to please the Supreme Lord Hari. His occupation was pure and independent. He was constantly sanctified by taking his bath in holy places, although he was in the dress of a mendicant and had no hair dressing nor a bed on which to lie. Thus he was always unseen by his various relatives.
इत्थं व्रजन् भारतमेव वर्षं कालेन यावद्गतवान् प्रभासम् । तावच्छशास क्षितिमेकचक्रा- मेकातपत्रामजितेन पार्थ: ॥ २० ॥
ittham vrajan bharatam eva varsam kalena yavad gatavan prabhasam tavac chasasa ksitim eka cakram ekatapatram ajitena parthah
Thus, when he was in the land of Bharatavarsa traveling to all the places of pilgrimage, he visited Prabhasaksetra. At that time Maharaja Yudhisthira was the emperor and held the world under one military strength and one flag.
तत्राथ शुश्राव सुहृद्विनष्टिं वनं यथा वेणुजवह्निसंश्रयम् । संस्पर्धया दग्धमथानुशोचन् सरस्वतीं प्रत्यगियाय तूष्णीम् ॥ २१ ॥
tatratha susrava suhrd-vinastim vanam yatha venuja-vahni-samsrayam samspardhaya dagdham athanusocan sarasvatim pratyag iyaya tusnim
At the place of pilgrimage at Prabhasa, it came to his knowledge that all his relatives had died due to violent passion, just as an entire forest burns due to fire produced by the friction of bamboos. After this he proceeded west, where the River Sarasvati flows.
तस्यां त्रितस्योशनसो मनोश्च पृथोरथाग्नेरसितस्य वायो: । तीर्थं सुदासस्य गवां गुहस्य यच्छ्राद्धदेवस्य स आसिषेवे ॥ २२ ॥
tasyam tritasyosanaso manos ca prthor athagner asitasya vayoh tirtham sudasasya gavam guhasya yac chraddhadevasya sa asiseve
On the bank of the River Sarasvati there were eleven places of pilgrimage, namely, (1) Trita, (2) Usana, (3) Manu, (4) Prthu, (5) Agni, (6) Asita, (7) Vayu, (8) Sudasa, (9) Go, (10) Guha and (11) Sraddhadeva. Vidura visited all of them and duly performed rituals.
अन्यानि चेह द्विजदेवदेवै: कृतानि नानायतनानि विष्णो: । प्रत्यङ्गमुख्याङ्कितमन्दिराणि यद्दर्शनात्कृष्णमनुस्मरन्ति ॥ २३ ॥
anyani ceha dvija-deva-devaih krtani nanayatanani visnoh pratyanga-mukhyankita-mandirani yad-darsanat krsnam anusmaranti
There were also many other temples of various forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu, established by great sages and demigods. These temples were marked with the chief emblems of the Lord, and they reminded one always of the original Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna.
ततस्त्वतिव्रज्य सुराष्ट्रमृद्धं सौवीरमत्स्यान् कुरुजाङ्गलांश्च । कालेन तावद्यमुनामुपेत्य तत्रोद्धवं भागवतं ददर्श ॥ २४ ॥
tatas tv ativrajya surastram rddham sauvira-matsyan kurujangalams ca kalena tavad yamunam upetya tatroddhavam bhagavatam dadarsa
Thereafter he passed through very wealthy provinces like Surat, Sauvira and Matsya and through western India, known as Kurujangala. At last he reached the bank of the Yamuna, where he happened to meet Uddhava, the great devotee of Lord Krsna.
स वासुदेवानुचरं प्रशान्तं बृहस्पते: प्राक् तनयं प्रतीतम् । आलिङ्ग्य गाढं प्रणयेन भद्रं स्वानामपृच्छद्भगवत्प्रजानाम् ॥ २५ ॥
sa vasudevanucaram prasantam brhaspateh prak tanayam pratitam alingya gadham pranayena bhadram svanam aprcchad bhagavat-prajanam
Then, due to his great love and feeling, Vidura embraced him (Uddhava), who was a constant companion of Lord Krsna and formerly a great student of Brhaspati’s. Vidura then asked him for news of the family of Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.
कच्चित्पुराणौ पुरुषौ स्वनाभ्य- पाद्मानुवृत्त्येह किलावतीर्णौ । आसात उर्व्या: कुशलं विधाय कृतक्षणौ कुशलं शूरगेहे ॥ २६ ॥
kaccit puranau purusau svanabhya- padmanuvrttyeha kilavatirnau asata urvyah kusalam vidhaya krta-ksanau kusalam sura-gehe
(Please tell me) whether the original Personalities of Godhead, who incarnated Themselves at the request of Brahma (who is born out of the lotus flower from the Lord) and who have increased the prosperity of the world by elevating everyone, are doing well in the house of Surasena.
कच्चित्कुरूणां परम: सुहृन्नो भाम: स आस्ते सुखमङ्ग शौरि: । यो वै स्वसृणां पितृवद्ददाति वरान् वदान्यो वरतर्पणेन ॥ २७ ॥
kaccit kurunam paramah suhrn no bhamah sa aste sukham anga saurih yo vai svasrnam pitrvad dadati varan vadanyo vara-tarpanena
(Please tell me) whether the best friend of the Kurus, our brother-in-law Vasudeva, is doing well. He is very munificent. He is like a father to his sisters, and he is always pleasing to his wives.
कच्चिद्वरूथाधिपतिर्यदूनां प्रद्युम्न आस्ते सुखमङ्ग वीर: । यं रुक्मिणी भगवतोऽभिलेभे आराध्य विप्रान् स्मरमादिसर्गे ॥ २८ ॥
kaccid varuthadhipatir yadunam pradyumna aste sukham anga virah yam rukmini bhagavato ’bhilebhe aradhya vipran smaram adi-sarge
O Uddhava, please tell me how is Pradyumna, the commander-in-chief of the Yadus, who was Cupid in a former life? Rukmini bore him as her son from Lord Krsna, by the grace of brahmanas whom she pleased.
कच्चित्सुखं सात्वतवृष्णिभोज- दाशार्हकाणामधिप: स आस्ते । यमभ्यषिञ्चच्छतपत्रनेत्रो नृपासनाशां परिहृत्य दूरात् ॥ २९ ॥
kaccit sukham satvata-vrsni-bhoja- dasarhakanam adhipah sa aste yam abhyasincac chata-patra-netro nrpasanasam parihrtya durat
O my friend, (tell me) whether Ugrasena, the King of the Satvatas, Vrsnis, Bhojas and Dasarhas, is now doing well. He went far away from his kingdom, leaving aside all hopes of his royal throne, but Lord Krsna again installed him.
कच्चिद्धरे: सौम्य सुत: सदृक्ष आस्तेऽग्रणी रथिनां साधु साम्ब: । असूत यं जाम्बवती व्रताढ्या देवं गुहं योऽम्बिकया धृतोऽग्रे ॥ ३० ॥
kaccid dhareh saumya sutah sadrksa aste ’grani rathinam sadhu sambah asuta yam jambavati vratadhya devam guham yo ’mbikaya dhrto ’gre
O gentle one, does Samba fare well? He exactly resembles the son of the Personality of Godhead. In a previous birth he was born as Karttikeya in the womb of the wife of Lord Siva, and now he has been born in the womb of Jambavati, the most enriched wife of Krsna.
क्षेमं स कच्चिद्युयुधान आस्ते य: फाल्गुनाल्लब्धधनूरहस्य: । लेभेऽञ्जसाधोक्षजसेवयैव गतिं तदीयां यतिभिर्दुरापाम् ॥ ३१ ॥
ksemam sa kaccid yuyudhana aste yah phalgunal labdha-dhanu-rahasyah lebhe ’njasadhoksaja-sevayaiva gatim tadiyam yatibhir durapam
O Uddhava, does Yuyudhana fare well? He learned the intricacies of the military art from Arjuna and attained the transcendental destination which is very difficult to reach even for great renouncers.
कच्चिद् बुध: स्वस्त्यनमीव आस्ते श्वफल्कपुत्रो भगवत्प्रपन्न: । य: कृष्णपादाङ्कितमार्गपांसु- ष्वचेष्टत प्रेमविभिन्नधैर्य: ॥ ३२ ॥
kaccid budhah svasty anamiva aste svaphalka-putro bhagavat-prapannah yah krsna-padankita-marga-pamsusv acestata prema-vibhinna-dhairyah
Please tell me whether Akrura, the son of Svaphalka, is doing well. He is a faultless soul surrendered unto the Personality of Godhead. He once lost his mental equilibrium due to his ecstasy of transcendental love and fell down on the dust of a road which was marked with the footprints of Lord Krsna.
कच्चिच्छिवं देवकभोजपुत्र्या विष्णुप्रजाया इव देवमातु: । या वै स्वगर्भेण दधार देवं त्रयी यथा यज्ञवितानमर्थम् ॥ ३३ ॥
kaccic chivam devaka-bhoja-putrya visnu-prajaya iva deva-matuh ya vai sva-garbhena dadhara devam trayi yatha yajna-vitanam artham
As the Vedas are the reservoir of sacrificial purposes, so the daughter of King Devaka-bhoja conceived the Supreme Personality of Godhead in her womb, as did the mother of the demigods. Is she (Devaki) doing well?
अपिस्विदास्ते भगवान् सुखं वो य: सात्वतां कामदुघोऽनिरुद्ध: । यमामनन्ति स्म हि शब्दयोनिं मनोमयं सत्त्वतुरीयतत्त्वम् ॥ ३४ ॥
apisvid aste bhagavan sukham vo yah satvatam kama-dugho ’niruddhah yam amananti sma hi sabda-yonim mano-mayam sattva-turiya-tattvam
May I inquire whether Aniruddha is doing well? He is the fulfiller of all the desires of the pure devotees and has been considered from yore to be the cause of the Rg Veda, the creator of the mind and the fourth Plenary expansion of Visnu.
अपिस्विदन्ये च निजात्मदैव- मनन्यवृत्त्या समनुव्रता ये । हृदीकसत्यात्मजचारुदेष्ण- गदादय: स्वस्ति चरन्ति सौम्य ॥ ३५ ॥
apisvid anye ca nijatma-daivam ananya-vrttya samanuvrata ye hrdika-satyatmaja-carudesna- gadadayah svasti caranti saumya
O sober one, others, such as Hrdika, Carudesna, Gada and the son of Satyabhama, who accept Lord Sri Krsna as the soul of the self and thus follow His path without deviation — are they well?
अपि स्वदोर्भ्यां विजयाच्युताभ्यां धर्मेण धर्म: परिपाति सेतुम् । दुर्योधनोऽतप्यत यत्सभायां साम्राज्यलक्ष्म्या विजयानुवृत्त्या ॥ ३६ ॥
api sva-dorbhyam vijayacyutabhyam dharmena dharmah paripati setum duryodhano ’tapyata yat-sabhayam samrajya-laksmya vijayanuvrttya
Also let me inquire whether Maharaja Yudhisthira is now maintaining the kingdom according to religious principles and with respect for the path of religion. Formerly Duryodhana was burning with envy because Yudhisthira was being protected by the arms of Krsna and Arjuna as if they were his own arms.
किं वा कृताघेष्वघमत्यमर्षी भीमोऽहिवद्दीर्घतमं व्यमुञ्चत् । यस्याङ्घ्रि पातं रणभूर्न सेहे मार्गं गदायाश्चरतो विचित्रम् ॥ ३७ ॥
kim va krtaghesv agham atyamarsi bhimo ’hivad dirghatamam vyamuncat yasyanghri-patam rana-bhur na sehe margam gadayas carato vicitram
(Please tell me) whether the unconquerable Bhima, who is like a cobra, has released his long-cherished anger upon the sinners? The field of battle could not tolerate even the wonderful playing of his club when he stepped on the path.
कच्चिद्यशोधा रथयूथपानां गाण्डीवधन्वोपरतारिरास्ते । अलक्षितो यच्छरकूटगूढो मायाकिरातो गिरिशस्तुतोष ॥ ३८ ॥
kaccid yasodha ratha-yuthapanam gandiva-dhanvoparatarir aste alaksito yac-chara-kuta-gudho maya-kirato girisas tutosa
(Please tell me) whether Arjuna, whose bow bears the name Gandiva and who is always famous amongst the chariot warriors for vanquishing his enemies, is doing well. He once satisfied Lord Siva by covering him with arrows when Siva came as an unidentified false hunter.
यमावुतस्वित्तनयौ पृथाया: पार्थैर्वृतौ पक्ष्मभिरक्षिणीव । रेमात उद्दाय मृधे स्वरिक्थं परात्सुपर्णाविव वज्रिवक्त्रात् ॥ ३९ ॥
yamav utasvit tanayau prthayah parthair vrtau paksmabhir aksiniva remata uddaya mrdhe sva-riktham parat suparnav iva vajri-vaktrat
Are the twin brothers who are protected by their brothers doing well? Just as the eye is always protected by the eyelid, they are protected by the sons of Prtha, who snatched back their rightful kingdom from the hands of their enemy Duryodhana, just as Garuda snatched nectar from the mouth of Indra, the thunderbolt carrier.
अहो पृथापि ध्रियतेऽर्भकार्थे राजर्षिवर्येण विनापि तेन । यस्त्वेकवीरोऽधिरथो विजिग्ये धनुर्द्वितीय: ककुभश्चतस्र: ॥ ४० ॥
aho prthapi dhriyate ’rbhakarthe rajarsi-varyena vinapi tena yas tv eka-viro ’dhiratho vijigye dhanur dvitiyah kakubhas catasrah
O my lord, is Prtha still living? She lived only for the sake of her fatherless children; otherwise it was impossible for her to live without King Pandu, who was the greatest commander and who alone conquered the four directions simply with the help of a second bow.
सौम्यानुशोचे तमध:पतन्तं भ्रात्रे परेताय विदुद्रुहे य: । निर्यापितो येन सुहृत्स्वपुर्या अहं स्वपुत्रान् समनुव्रतेन ॥ ४१ ॥
saumyanusoce tam adhah-patantam bhratre paretaya vidudruhe yah niryapito yena suhrt sva-purya aham sva-putran samanuvratena
O gentle one, I simply lament for he (Dhrtarastra) who rebelled against his brother after death. By him I was driven out of my own house, although I am his sincere well-wisher, because he accepted the line of action adopted by his own sons.
सोऽहं हरेर्मर्त्यविडम्बनेन दृशो नृणां चालयतो विधातु: । नान्योपलक्ष्य: पदवीं प्रसादा- च्चरामि पश्यन् गतविस्मयोऽत्र ॥ ४२ ॥
so ’ham harer martya-vidambanena drso nrnam calayato vidhatuh nanyopalaksyah padavim prasadac carami pasyan gata-vismayo ’tra
I am not astonished at this, having traveled over the world without being seen by others. The activities of the Personality of Godhead, which are like those of a man in this mortal world, are bewildering to others, but I know of His greatness by His grace, and thus I am happy in all respects.
नूनं नृपाणां त्रिमदोत्पथानां महीं मुहुश्चालयतां चमूभि: । वधात्प्रपन्नार्तिजिहीर्षयेशो- ऽप्युपैक्षताघं भगवान् कुरूणाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
nunam nrpanam tri-madotpathanam mahim muhus calayatam camubhih vadhat prapannarti-jihirsayeso ’py upaiksatagham bhagavan kurunam
Despite His being the Lord and being always willing to relieve the distress of sufferers, He (Krsna) refrained from killing the Kurus, although they committed all sorts of sins and although He saw other kings constantly agitating the earth by their strong military movements carried out under the dictation of three kinds of false pride.
अजस्य जन्मोत्पथनाशनाय कर्माण्यकर्तुर्ग्रहणाय पुंसाम् । नन्वन्यथा कोऽर्हति देहयोगं परो गुणानामुत कर्मतन्त्रम् ॥ ४४ ॥
ajasya janmotpatha-nasanaya karmany akartur grahanaya pumsam nanv anyatha ko ’rhati deha-yogam paro gunanam uta karma-tantram
The appearance of the Lord is manifested for the annihilation of the upstarts. His activities are transcendental and are enacted for the understanding of all persons. Otherwise, since the Lord is transcendental to all material modes, what purpose could He serve by coming to earth?
तस्य प्रपन्नाखिललोकपाना- मवस्थितानामनुशासने स्वे । अर्थाय जातस्य यदुष्वजस्य वार्तां सखे कीर्तय तीर्थकीर्ते: ॥ ४५ ॥
tasya prapannakhila-lokapanam avasthitanam anusasane sve arthaya jatasya yadusv ajasya vartam sakhe kirtaya tirtha-kirteh
O my friend, please, therefore, chant the glories of the Lord, who is meant to be glorified in the places of pilgrimage. He is unborn, and yet He appears by His causeless mercy upon the surrendered rulers of all parts of the universe. Only for their interest did He appear in the family of His unalloyed devotees the Yadus.
