Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 2
श्री शुक उवाच इति भागवत: पृष्ट: क्षत्त्रा वार्तां प्रियाश्रयाम् । प्रतिवक्तुं न चोत्सेह औत्कण्ठ्यात्स्मारितेश्वर: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca iti bhagavatah prstah ksattra vartam priyasrayam prativaktum na cotseha autkanthyat smaritesvarah
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: When the great devotee Uddhava was asked by Vidura to speak on the messages of the dearest (Lord Krsna), Uddhava was unable to answer immediately due to excessive anxiety at the remembrance of the Lord.
य: पञ्चहायनो मात्रा प्रातराशाय याचित: । तन्नैच्छद्रचयन् यस्य सपर्यां बाललीलया ॥ २ ॥
yah panca-hayano matra pratar-asaya yacitah tan naicchad racayan yasya saparyam bala-lilaya
He was one who even in his childhood, at the age of five years, was so absorbed in the service of Lord Krsna that when he was called by his mother for morning breakfast, he did not wish to have it.
स कथं सेवया तस्य कालेन जरसं गत: । पृष्टो वार्तां प्रतिब्रूयाद्भर्तु: पादावनुस्मरन् ॥ ३ ॥
sa katham sevaya tasya kalena jarasam gatah prsto vartam pratibruyad bhartuh padav anusmaran
Uddhava thus served the Lord continually from childhood, and in his old age that attitude of service never slackened. As soon as he was asked about the message of the Lord, he at once remembered all about Him.
स मुहूर्तमभूत्तूष्णीं कृष्णाङ्घ्रि सुधया भृशम् । तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन निमग्न: साधु निर्वृत: ॥ ४ ॥
sa muhurtam abhut tusnim krsnanghri-sudhaya bhrsam tivrena bhakti-yogena nimagnah sadhu nirvrtah
For a moment he remained dead silent, and his body did not move. He became absorbed in the nectar of remembering the Lord’s lotus feet in devotional ecstasy, and he appeared to be going increasingly deeper into that ecstasy.
पुलकोद्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गो मुञ्चन्मीलद्दृशा शुच: । पूर्णार्थो लक्षितस्तेन स्नेहप्रसरसंप्लुत: ॥ ५ ॥
pulakodbhinna-sarvango muncan milad-drsa sucah purnartho laksitas tena sneha-prasara-samplutah
It was so observed by Vidura that Uddhava had all the transcendental bodily changes due to total ecstasy, and he was trying to wipe away tears of separation from his eyes. Thus Vidura could understand that Uddhava had completely assimilated extensive love for the Lord.
शनकैर्भगवल्लोकान्नृलोकं पुनरागत: । विमृज्य नेत्रे विदुरं प्रीत्याहोद्धव उत्स्मयन् ॥ ६ ॥
sanakair bhagaval-lokan nrlokam punar agatah vimrjya netre viduram prityahoddhava utsmayan
The great devotee Uddhava soon came back from the abode of the Lord to the human plane, and wiping his eyes, he awakened his reminiscence of the past and spoke to Vidura in a pleasing mood.
उद्धव उवाच कृष्णद्युमणिनिम्लोचे गीर्णेष्वजगरेण ह । किं नु न: कुशलं ब्रूयां गतश्रीषु गृहेष्वहम् ॥ ७ ॥
uddhava uvaca krsna-dyumani nimloce girnesv ajagarena ha kim nu nah kusalam bruyam gata-srisu grhesv aham
Sri Uddhava said: My dear Vidura, the sun of the world, Lord Krsna, has set, and our house has now been swallowed by the great snake of time. What can I say to you about our welfare?
दुर्भगो बत लोकोऽयं यदवो नितरामपि । ये संवसन्तो न विदुर्हरिं मीना इवोडुपम् ॥ ८ ॥
durbhago bata loko ’yam yadavo nitaram api ye samvasanto na vidur harim mina ivodupam
This universe with all its planes is most unfortunate. And even more unfortunate are the members of the Yadu dynasty because they could not identify Lord Hari as the Personality of Godhead, any more than the fish could identify the moon.
इङ्गितज्ञा: पुरुप्रौढा एकारामाश्च सात्वता: । सात्वतामृषभं सर्वे भूतावासममंसत ॥ ९ ॥
ingita -jnah puru-praudha ekaramas ca satvatah satvatam rsabham sarve bhutavasam amamsata
The Yadus were all experienced devotees, learned and expert in psychic study. Over and above this, they were always with the Lord in all kinds of relaxations, and still they were only able to know Him as the one Supreme who dwells everywhere.
देवस्य मायया स्पृष्टा ये चान्यदसदाश्रिता: । भ्राम्यते धीर्न तद्वाक्यैरात्मन्युप्तात्मनो हरौ ॥ १० ॥
devasya mayaya sprsta ye canyad asad-asritah bhramyate dhir na tad-vakyair atmany uptatmano harau
Under no circumstances can the words of persons bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord deviate the intelligence of those who are completely surrendered souls.
प्रदर्श्यातप्ततपसामवितृप्तदृशां नृणाम् । आदायान्तरधाद्यस्तु स्वबिम्बं लोकलोचनम् ॥ ११ ॥
pradarsyatapta-tapasam avitrpta-drsam nrnam adayantar adhad yas tu sva-bimbam loka-locanam
Lord Sri Krsna, who manifested His eternal form before the vision of all on the earth, performed His disappearance by removing His form from the sight of those who were unable to see Him (as He is) due to not executing required penance.
यन्मर्त्यलीलौपयिकं स्वयोग- मायाबलं दर्शयता गृहीतम् । विस्मापनं स्वस्य च सौभगर्द्धे: परं पदं भूषणभूषणाङ्गम् ॥ १२ ॥
yan martya-lilaupayikam sva-yoga- maya-balam darsayata grhitam vismapanam svasya ca saubhagarddheh param padam bhusana-bhusanangam
The Lord appeared in the mortal world by His internal potency, yoga-maya. He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His pastimes. These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Himself in His form as the Lord of Vaikuntha. Thus His (Sri Krsna’s) transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments.
यद्धर्मसूनोर्बत राजसूये निरीक्ष्य दृक्स्वस्त्ययनं त्रिलोक: । कार्त्स्न्येन चाद्येह गतं विधातु- रर्वाक्सृतौ कौशलमित्यमन्यत ॥ १३ ॥
yad dharma-sunor bata rajasuye niriksya drk-svastyayanam tri-lokah kartsnyena cadyeha gatam vidhatur arvak-srtau kausalam ity amanyata
All the demigods from the upper, lower and middle universal planeary systems assembled at the altar of the rajasuya sacrifice performed by Maharaja Yudhisthira. After seeing the beautiful bodily features of Lord Krsna, they all contemplated that He was the ultimate dexterous creation of Brahma, the creator of human beings.
यस्यानुरागप्लुतहासरास- लीलावलोकप्रतिलब्धमाना: । व्रजस्त्रियो दृग्भिरनुप्रवृत्त- धियोऽवतस्थु: किल कृत्यशेषा: ॥ १४ ॥
yasyanuraga-pluta-hasa-rasa- lilavaloka-pratilabdha-manah vraja-striyo drgbhir anupravrtta- dhiyo ’vatasthuh kila krtya-sesah
The damsels of Vraja, after pastimes of laughter, humor and exchanges of glances, were anguished when Krsna left them. They used to follow Him with their eyes, and thus they sat down with stunned intelligence and could not finish their household duties.
स्वशान्तरूपेष्वितरै: स्वरूपै- रभ्यर्द्यमानेष्वनुकम्पितात्मा । परावरेशो महदंशयुक्तो ह्यजोऽपि जातो भगवान् यथाग्नि: ॥ १५ ॥
sva-santa-rupesv itaraih sva-rupair abhyardyamanesv anukampitatma paravareso mahad-amsa-yukto hy ajo ’pi jato bhagavan yathagnih
The Personality of Godhead, the all-compassionate controller of both the spiritual and material creations, is unborn, but when there is friction between His peaceful devotees and persons who are in the material modes of nature, He takes birth just like fire, accompanied by the mahat-tattva.
मां खेदयत्येतदजस्य जन्म- विडम्बनं यद्वसुदेवगेहे । व्रजे च वासोऽरिभयादिव स्वयं पुराद् व्यवात्सीद्यदनन्तवीर्य: ॥ १६ ॥
mam khedayaty etad ajasya janma- vidambanam yad vasudeva-gehe vraje ca vaso ’ri-bhayad iva svayam purad vyavatsid yad-ananta-viryah
When I think of Lord Krsna—how He was born in the prison house of Vasudeva although He is unborn, how He went away from His father’s protection to Vraja and lived there incognito out of fear of the enemy, and how, although unlimitedly powerful, He fled from Mathura in fear—all these bewildering incidents give me distress.
दुनोति चेत: स्मरतो ममैतद् यदाह पादावभिवन्द्य पित्रो: । ताताम्ब कंसादुरुशङ्कितानां प्रसीदतं नोऽकृतनिष्कृतीनाम् ॥ १७ ॥
dunoti cetah smarato mamaitad yad aha padav abhivandya pitroh tatamba kamsad uru-sankitanam prasidatam no ’krta-niskrtinam
Lord Krsna begged pardon from His parents for Their (Krsna’s and Balarama’s) inability to serve their feet, due to being away from home because of great fear of Kamsa. He said, O mother, O father, please excuse Us for this inability All this behavior of the Lord gives me pain at heart.
को वा अमुष्याङ्घ्रि सरोजरेणुं विस्मर्तुमीशीत पुमान् विजिघ्रन् । यो विस्फुरद्भ्रूविटपेन भूमे- र्भारं कृतान्तेन तिरश्चकार ॥ १८ ॥
ko va amusyanghri-saroja-renum vismartum isita puman vijighran yo visphurad-bhru-vitapena bhumer bharam krtantena tirascakara
Who, after smelling the dust of His lotus feet even once, could ever forget it? Simply by expanding the leaves of His eyebrows, Krsna has given the deathblow to those who were burdening the earth.
दृष्टा भवद्भिर्ननु राजसूये चैद्यस्य कृष्णं द्विषतोऽपि सिद्धि: । यां योगिन: संस्पृहयन्ति सम्यग् योगेन कस्तद्विरहं सहेत ॥ १९ ॥
drsta bhavadbhir nanu rajasuye caidyasya krsnam dvisato ’pi siddhih yam yoginah samsprhayanti samyag yogena kas tad-viraham saheta
You have personally seen how the King of Cedi (Sisupala) achieved success in yoga practice, although he hated Lord Krsna. Even the actual yogis aspire after such success with great interest by performance of their various practices. Who can tolerate separation from Him?
तथैव चान्ये नरलोकवीरा य आहवे कृष्णमुखारविन्दम् । नेत्रै: पिबन्तो नयनाभिरामं पार्थास्त्रपूत: पदमापुरस्य ॥ २० ॥
tathaiva canye nara-loka-vira ya ahave krsna-mukharavindam netraih pibanto nayanabhiramam parthastra-putah padam apur asya
Certainly others who were fighters on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra were purified by the onslaught of Arjuna’s arrows, and while seeing the lotuslike face of Krsna, so pleasing to the eyes, they achieved the abode of the Lord.
स्वयं त्वसाम्यातिशयस्त्र्यधीश: स्वाराज्यलक्ष्म्याप्तसमस्तकाम: । बलिं हरद्भिश्चिरलोकपालै: किरीटकोट्येडितपादपीठ: ॥ २१ ॥
svayam tv asamyatisayas tryadhisah svarajya-laksmy-apta-samasta-kamah balim haradbhis cira-loka-palaih kirita-koty-edita-pada-pithah
Lord Sri Krsna is the Lord of all kinds of threes and is independently supreme by achievement of all kinds of fortune. He is worshiped by the eternal maintainers of the creation, who offer Him the paraphernalia of worship by touching their millions of helmets to His feet.
तत्तस्य कैङ्कर्यमलं भृतान्नो विग्लापयत्यङ्ग यदुग्रसेनम् । तिष्ठन्निषण्णं परमेष्ठिधिष्ण्ये न्यबोधयद्देव निधारयेति ॥ २२ ॥
tat tasya kainkaryam alam bhrtan no viglapayaty anga yad ugrasenam tisthan nisannam paramesthi-dhisnye nyabodhayad deva nidharayeti
Therefore, O Vidura, does it not pain us, His servitors, when we remember that He (Lord Krsna) used to stand before King Ugrasena, who was sitting on the royal throne, and used to submit explanations before him, saying, O My lord, please let it be known to yo?
अहो बकी यं स्तनकालकूटं जिघांसयापाययदप्यसाध्वी । लेभे गतिं धात्र्युचितां ततोऽन्यं कं वा दयालुं शरणं व्रजेम ॥ २३ ॥
aho baki yam stana-kala-kutam jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato ’nyam kam va dayalum saranam vrajema
Alas, how shall I take shelter of one more merciful than He who granted the position of mother to a she-demon (Putana) although she was unfaithful and she prepared deadly poison to be sucked from her breast?
मन्येऽसुरान् भागवतांस्त्र्यधीशे संरम्भमार्गाभिनिविष्टचित्तान् । ये संयुगेऽचक्षत तार्क्ष्यपुत्र- मंसे सुनाभायुधमापतन्तम् ॥ २४ ॥
manye ’suran bhagavatams tryadhise samrambha-margabhinivista-cittan ye samyuge ’caksata tarksya-putram amse sunabhayudham apatantam
I consider the demons, who are inimical toward the Lord, to be more than the devotees because while fighting with the Lord, absorbed in thoughts of enmity, they are able to see the Lord carried on the shoulder of Garuda, the son of Tarksya (Kasyapa), and carrying the wheel weapon in His hand.
वसुदेवस्य देवक्यां जातो भोजेन्द्रबन्धने । चिकीर्षुर्भगवानस्या: शमजेनाभियाचित: ॥ २५ ॥
vasudevasya devakyam jato bhojendra-bandhane cikirsur bhagavan asyah sam ajenabhiyacitah
The Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, being prayed to by Brahma to bring welfare to the earth, was begotten by Vasudeva in the womb of his wife Devaki in the prison of the King of Bhoja.
ततो नन्दव्रजमित: पित्रा कंसाद्विबिभ्यता । एकादश समास्तत्र गूढार्चि: सबलोऽवसत् ॥ २६ ॥
tato nanda-vrajam itah pitra kamsad vibibhyata ekadasa samas tatra gudharcih sa-balo ’vasat
Thereafter, His father, being afraid of Kamsa, brought Him to the cow pastures of Maharaja Nanda, and there He lived for eleven years like a covered flame with His elder brother, Baladeva.
परीतो वत्सपैर्वत्सांश्चारयन् व्यहरद्विभु: । यमुनोपवने कूजद्द्विजसंकुलिताङ्घ्रिपे ॥ २७ ॥
parito vatsapair vatsams carayan vyaharad vibhuh yamunopavane kujad- dvija-sankulitanghripe
In His childhood, the Almighty Lord was surrounded by cowherd boys and calves, and thus He traveled on the shore of the Yamuna River, through gardens densely covered with trees and filled with vibrations of chirping birds.
कौमारीं दर्शयंश्चेष्टां प्रेक्षणीयां व्रजौकसाम् । रुदन्निव हसन्मुग्धबालसिंहावलोकन: ॥ २८ ॥
kaumarim darsayams cestam preksaniyam vrajaukasam rudann iva hasan mugdha- bala-simhavalokanah
When the Lord displayed His activities just suitable for childhood, He was visible only to the residents of Vrndavana. Sometimes He would cry and sometimes laugh, just like a child, and while so doing He would appear like a lion cub.
स एव गोधनं लक्ष्म्या निकेतं सितगोवृषम् । चारयन्ननुगान् गोपान् रणद्वेणुररीरमत् ॥ २९ ॥
sa eva go-dhanam laksmya niketam sita-go-vrsam carayann anugan gopan ranad-venur ariramat
While herding the very beautiful bulls, the Lord, who was the reservoir of all opulence and fortune, used to blow His flute, and thus He enlivened His faithful followers, the cowherd boys.
प्रयुक्तान् भोजराजेन मायिन: कामरूपिण: । लीलया व्यनुदत्तांस्तान् बाल: क्रीडनकानिव ॥ ३० ॥
prayuktan bhoja-rajena mayinah kama-rupinah lilaya vyanudat tams tan balah kridanakan iva
The great wizards who were able to assume any form were engaged by the King of Bhoja, Kamsa, to kill Krsna, but in the course of His pastimes the Lord killed them as easily as a child breaks dolls.
विपन्नान् विषपानेन निगृह्य भुजगाधिपम् । उत्थाप्यापाययद्गावस्तत्तोयं प्रकृतिस्थितम् ॥ ३१ ॥
vipannan visa-panena nigrhya bhujagadhipam utthapyapayayad gavas tat toyam prakrti-sthitam
The inhabitants of Vrndavana were perplexed by great difficulties because a certain portion of the Yamuna was poisoned by the chief of the reptiles (Kaliya). The Lord chastised the snake-king within the water and drove him away, and after coming out of the river, He caused the cows to drink the water and proved that the water was again in its natural state.
अयाजयद्गोसवेन गोपराजं द्विजोत्तमै: । वित्तस्य चोरुभारस्य चिकीर्षन् सद्वययं विभु: ॥ ३२ ॥
ayajayad go-savena gopa-rajam dvijottamaih vittasya coru-bharasya cikirsan sad-vyayam vibhuh
The Supreme Lord, Krsna, desired to utilize the opulent financial strength of Maharaja Nanda for worship of the cows, and also He wanted to give a lesson to Indra, the King of heaven. Thus He advised His father to perform worship of go, or the pasturing land and the cows, with the help of learned brahmanas.
वर्षतीन्द्रे व्रज: कोपाद्भग्नमानेऽतिविह्वल: । गोत्रलीलातपत्रेण त्रातो भद्रानुगृह्णता ॥ ३३ ॥
varsatindre vrajah kopad bhagnamane ’tivihvalah gotra-lilatapatrena trato bhadranugrhnata
O sober Vidura, King Indra, his honor having been insulted, poured water incessantly on Vrndavana, and thus the inhabitants of Vraja, the land of cows, were greatly distressed. But the compassionate Lord Krsna saved them from danger with His pastime umbrella, the Govardhana Hill.
शरच्छशिकरैर्मृष्टं मानयन् रजनीमुखम् । गायन् कलपदं रेमे स्त्रीणां मण्डलमण्डन: ॥ ३४ ॥
sarac-chasi-karair mrstam manayan rajani-mukham gayan kala-padam reme strinam mandala-mandanah
In the third season of the year, the Lord enjoyed as the central beauty of the assembly of women by attracting them with His pleasing songs in an autumn night brightened by moonshine.
