Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 9 · Chapter 9
श्रीशुक उवाच अंशुमांश्च तपस्तेपे गङ्गानयनकाम्यया । कालं महान्तं नाशक्नोत् तत: कालेन संस्थित: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca amsumams ca tapas tepe ganganayana-kamyaya kalam mahantam nasaknot tatah kalena samsthitah
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: King Amsuman, like his grandfather, performed austerities for a very long time. Nonetheless, he could not bring the Ganges to this material world, and thereafter, in due course of time, he died.
दिलीपस्तत्सुतस्तद्वदशक्त: कालमेयिवान् । भगीरथस्तस्य सुतस्तेपे स सुमहत् तप: ॥ २ ॥
dilipas tat-sutas tadvad asaktah kalam eyivan bhagirathas tasya sutas tepe sa sumahat tapah
Like Amsuman himself, Dilipa, his son, was unable to bring the Ganges to this material world, and he also became a victim of death in due course of time. Then Dilipa’s son, Bhagiratha, performed very severe austerities to bring the Ganges to this material world.
दर्शयामास तं देवी प्रसन्ना वरदास्मि ते । इत्युक्त: स्वमभिप्रायं शशंसावनतो नृप: ॥ ३ ॥
darsayam asa tam devi prasanna varadasmi te ity uktah svam abhiprayam sasamsavanato nrpah
Thereafter, mother Ganges appeared before King Bhagiratha and said, I am very much satisfied with your austerities and am now prepared to give you benedictions as you desire Being thus addressed by Gangadevi, mother Ganges, the King bowed his head before her and explained his desire.
कोऽपि धारयिता वेगं पतन्त्या मे महीतले । अन्यथा भूतलं भित्त्वा नृप यास्ये रसातलम् ॥ ४ ॥
ko ’pi dharayita vegam patantya me mahi-tale anyatha bhu-talam bhittva nrpa yasye rasatalam
Mother Ganges replied: When I fall from the sky to the surface of the plane earth, the water will certainly be very forceful. Who will sustain that force? If I am not sustained, I shall pierce the surface of the earth and go down to Rasatala, the Patala area of the universe.
किं चाहं न भुवं यास्ये नरा मय्यामृजन्त्यघम् । मृजामि तदघं क्वाहं राजंस्तत्र विचिन्त्यताम् ॥ ५ ॥
kim caham na bhuvam yasye nara mayy amrjanty agham mrjami tad agham kvaham rajams tatra vicintyatam
O King, I do not wish to go down to the plane earth, for there the people in general will bathe in my water to cleanse themselves of the reactions of their sinful deeds. When all these sinful reactions accumulate in me, how shall I become free from them? You must consider this very carefully.
श्रीभगीरथ उवाच साधवो न्यासिन: शान्ता ब्रह्मिष्ठा लोकपावना: । हरन्त्यघं तेऽङ्गसङ्गात् तेष्वास्ते ह्यघभिद्धरि: ॥ ६ ॥
sri-bhagiratha uvaca sadhavo nyasinah santa brahmistha loka-pavanah haranty agham te ’nga-sangat tesv aste hy agha-bhid dharih
Bhagaratha said: Those who are saintly because of devotional service and are therefore in the renounced order, free from material desires, and who are pure devotees, expert in following the regulative principles mentioned in the Vedas, are always glorious and pure in behavior and are able to deliver all fallen souls. When such pure devotees bathe in your water, the sinful reactions accumulated from other people will certainly be counteracted, for such devotees always keep in the core of their hearts the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can vanquish all sinful reactions.
धारयिष्यति ते वेगं रुद्रस्त्वात्मा शरीरिणाम् । यस्मिन्नोतमिदं प्रोतं विश्वं शाटीव तन्तुषु ॥ ७ ॥
dharayisyati te vegam rudras tv atma saririnam yasminn otam idam protam visvam sativa tantusu
Like a cloth woven of threads extending for its length and breadth, this entire universe, in all its latitude and longitude, is situated under different potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Siva is the incarnation of the Lord, and thus he represents the Supersoul in the embodied soul. He can sustain your forceful waves on his head.
इत्युक्त्वा स नृपो देवं तपसातोषयच्छिवम् । कालेनाल्पीयसा राजंस्तस्येशश्चाश्वतुष्यत ॥ ८ ॥
ity uktva sa nrpo devam tapasatosayac chivam kalenalpiyasa rajams tasyesas casv atusyata
After saying this, Bhagiratha satisfied Lord Siva by performing austerities. O King Pariksit, Lord Siva was very quickly satisfied with Bhagiratha.
तथेति राज्ञाभिहितं सर्वलोकहित: शिव: । दधारावहितो गङ्गां पादपूतजलां हरे: ॥ ९ ॥
tatheti rajnabhihitam sarva-loka-hitah sivah dadharavahito gangam pada-puta-jalam hareh
When King Bhagiratha approached Lord Siva and requested him to sustain the forceful waves of the Ganges, Lord Siva accepted the proposal by saying, Let it be so Then, with great attention, he sustained the Ganges on his head, for the water of the Ganges is purifying, having emanated from the toes of Lord Visnu.
भगीरथ: स राजर्षिर्निन्ये भुवनपावनीम् । यत्र स्वपितृणां देहा भस्मीभूता: स्म शेरते ॥ १० ॥
bhagirathah sa rajarsir ninye bhuvana-pavanim yatra sva-pitrnam deha bhasmibhutah sma serate
The great and saintly king Bhagiratha brought the Ganges, which can deliver all the fallen souls, to that place on earth where the bodies of his forefathers lay burnt to ashes.
रथेन वायुवेगेन प्रयान्तमनुधावती । देशान्पुनन्ती निर्दग्धानासिञ्चत्सगरात्मजान् ॥ ११ ॥
rathena vayu-vegena prayantam anudhavati desan punanti nirdagdhan asincat sagaratmajan
Bhagaratha mounted a swift chariot and drove before mother Ganges, who followed him, purifying many countries, until they reached the ashes of Bhagiratha’s forefathers, the sons of Sagara, who were thus sprinkled with water from the Ganges.
यज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण ब्रह्मदण्डहता अपि । सगरात्मजा दिवं जग्मु: केवलं देहभस्मभि: ॥ १२ ॥
yaj-jala-sparsa-matrena brahma-danda-hata api sagaratmaja divam jagmuh kevalam deha-bhasmabhih
Because the sons of Sagara Maharaja had offended a great personality, the heat of their bodies had increased, and they were burnt to ashes. But simply by being sprinkled with water from the Ganges, all of them became eligible to go to the heavenly planes. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her?
भस्मीभूताङ्गसङ्गेन स्वर्याता: सगरात्मजा: । किं पुन: श्रद्धया देवीं सेवन्ते ये धृतव्रता: ॥ १३ ॥
bhasmibhutanga-sangena svar yatah sagaratmajah kim punah sraddhaya devim sevante ye dhrta-vratah
Simply by having water from the Ganges come in contact with the ashes of their burnt bodies, the sons of Sagara Maharaja were elevated to the heavenly planes. Therefore, what is to be said of a devotee who worships mother Ganges faithfully with a determined vow? One can only imagine the benefit that accrues to such a devotee.
न ह्येतत् परमाश्चर्यं स्वर्धुन्या यदिहोदितम् । अनन्तचरणाम्भोजप्रसूताया भवच्छिद: ॥ १४ ॥
na hy etat param ascaryam svardhunya yad ihoditam ananta-caranambhoja- prasutaya bhava-cchidah
Because mother Ganges emanates from the lotus toe of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, she is able to liberate one from material bondage. Therefore whatever is described herewith about her is not at all wonderful.
सन्निवेश्य मनो यस्मिञ्छ्रद्धया मुनयोऽमला: । त्रैगुण्यं दुस्त्यजं हित्वा सद्यो यातास्तदात्मताम् ॥ १५ ॥
sannivesya mano yasmin chraddhaya munayo ’malah traigunyam dustyajam hitva sadyo yatas tad-atmatam
Great sages, completely freed from material lusty desires, devote their minds fully to the service of the Lord. Such persons are liberated from material bondage without difficulty, and they become transcendentally situated, acquiring the spiritual quality of the Lord. This is the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
श्रुतो भगीरथाज्जज्ञे तस्य नाभोऽपरोऽभवत् । सिन्धुद्वीपस्ततस्तस्मादयुतायुस्ततोऽभवत् ॥ १६ ॥ ऋतूपर्णो नलसखो योऽश्वविद्यामयान्नलात् । दत्त्वाक्षहृदयं चास्मै सर्वकामस्तु तत्सुतम् ॥ १७ ॥
sruto bhagirathaj jajne tasya nabho ’paro ’bhavat sindhudvipas tatas tasmad ayutayus tato ’bhavat rtuparno nala-sakho yo ’sva-vidyam ayan nalat dattvaksa-hrdayam casmai sarvakamas tu tat-sutam
Bhagiratha had a son named Sruta, whose son was Nabha. This son was different from the Nabha previously described. Nabha had a son named Sindhudvipa, from Sindhudvipa came Ayutayu, and from Ayutayu came Rtuparna, who became a friend of Nalaraja. Rtuparna taught Nalaraja the art of gambling, and Nalaraja gave Rtuparna lessons in controlling and maintaining horses. The son of Rtuparna was Sarvakama.
तत: सुदासस्तत्पुत्रो दमयन्तीपतिर्नृप: । आहुर्मित्रसहं यं वै कल्माषाङ्घ्रिमुत क्वचित् । वसिष्ठशापाद् रक्षोऽभूदनपत्य: स्वकर्मणा ॥ १८ ॥
tatah sudasas tat-putro damayanti-patir nrpah ahur mitrasaham yam vai kalmasanghrim uta kvacit vasistha-sapad rakso ’bhud anapatyah sva-karmana
Sarvakama had a son named Sudasa, whose son, known as Saudasa, was the husband of Damayanti. Saudasa is sometimes known as Mitrasaha or Kalmasapada. Because of his own misdeed, Mitrasaha was sonless and was cursed by Vasistha to become a man-eater (Raksasa).
श्रीराजोवाच किं निमित्तो गुरो: शाप: सौदासस्य महात्मन: । एतद् वेदितुमिच्छाम: कथ्यतां न रहो यदि ॥ १९ ॥
sri-rajovaca kim nimitto guroh sapah saudasasya mahatmanah etad veditum icchamah kathyatam na raho yadi
King Pariksit said: O Sukadeva Gosvami, why did Vasistha, the spiritual master of Saudasa, curse that great soul? I wish to know of this. If it is not a confidential matter, please describe it to me.
श्रीशुक उवाच सौदासो मृगयां किञ्चिच्चरन् रक्षो जघान ह । मुमोच भ्रातरं सोऽथ गत: प्रतिचिकीर्षया ॥ २० ॥ सञ्चिन्तयन्नघं राज्ञ: सूदरूपधरो गृहे । गुरवे भोक्तुकामाय पक्त्वा निन्ये नरामिषम् ॥ २१ ॥
sri-suka uvaca saudaso mrgayam kincic caran rakso jaghana ha mumoca bhrataram so ’tha gatah praticikirsaya sancintayann agham rajnah suda-rupa-dharo grhe gurave bhoktu-kamaya paktva ninye naramisam
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Once Saudasa went to live in the forest, where he killed a man-eater [Raksasa] but forgave and released the man-eater’s brother. That brother, however, decided to take revenge. Thinking to harm the King, he became the cook at the King’s house. One day, the King’s spiritual master, Vasistha Muni, was invited for dinner, and the Raksasa cook served him human flesh.
परिवेक्ष्यमाणं भगवान् विलोक्याभक्ष्यमञ्जसा । राजानमशपत् क्रुद्धो रक्षो ह्येवं भविष्यसि ॥ २२ ॥
pariveksyamanam bhagavan vilokyabhaksyam anjasa rajanam asapat kruddho rakso hy evam bhavisyasi
While examining the food given to him, Vasistha Muni, by his mystic power, could understand that it was unfit to eat, being the flesh of a human being. He was very angry at this and immediately cursed Saudasa to become a man-eater.
रक्ष:कृतं तद् विदित्वा चक्रे द्वादशवार्षिकम् । सोऽप्यपोऽञ्जलिमादाय गुरुं शप्तुं समुद्यत: ॥ २३ ॥ वारितो मदयन्त्यापो रुशती: पादयोर्जहौ । दिश: खमवनीं सर्वं पश्यञ्जीवमयं नृप: ॥ २४ ॥
raksah-krtam tad viditva cakre dvadasa-varsikam so ’py apo-’njalim adaya gurum saptum samudyatah varito madayantyapo rusatih padayor jahau disah kham avanim sarvam pasyan jivamayam nrpah
When Vasistha understood that the human flesh had been served by the Raksasa, not by the King, he undertook twelve years of austerity to cleanse himself for having cursed the faultless King. Meanwhile, King Saudasa took water and chanted the sapa-mantra, preparing to curse Vasistha, but his wife, Madayanti, forbade him to do so. Then the King saw that the ten directions, the sky and the surface of the globe were full of living entities everywhere.
राक्षसं भावमापन्न: पादे कल्माषतां गत: । व्यवायकाले ददृशे वनौकोदम्पती द्विजौ ॥ २५ ॥
raksasam bhavam apannah pade kalmasatam gatah vyavaya-kale dadrse vanauko-dampati dvijau
Saudasa thus acquired the propensity of a man-eater and received on his leg a black spot, for which he was known as Kalmasapada. Once King Kalmasapada saw a brahmana couple engaged in sexual intercourse in the forest.
क्षुधार्तो जगृहे विप्रं तत्पत्न्याहाकृतार्थवत् । न भवान् राक्षस: साक्षादिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथ: ॥ २६ ॥ मदयन्त्या: पतिर्वीर नाधर्मं कर्तुमर्हसि । देहि मेऽपत्यकामाया अकृतार्थं पतिं द्विजम् ॥ २७ ॥
ksudharto jagrhe vipram tat-patny ahakrtarthavat na bhavan raksasah saksad iksvakunam maha-rathah madayantyah patir vira nadharmam kartum arhasi dehi me ’patya-kamaya akrtartham patim dvijam
Being influenced by the propensity of a Raksasa and being very hungry, King Saudasa seized the brahmana. Then the poor woman, the brahmana’s wife, said to the King: O hero, you are not actually a man-eater; rather, you are among the descendants of Maharaja Iksvaku. Indeed, you are a great fighter, the husband of Madayanti. You should not act irreligiously in this way. I desire to have a son. Please, therefore, return my husband, who has not yet impregnated me.
देहोऽयं मानुषो राजन् पुरुषस्याखिलार्थद: । तस्मादस्य वधो वीर सर्वार्थवध उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥
deho ’yam manuso rajan purusasyakhilarthadah tasmad asya vadho vira sarvartha-vadha ucyate
O King, O hero, this human body is meant for universal benefits. If you kill this body untimely, you will kill all the benefits of human life.
एष हि ब्राह्मणो विद्वांस्तप:शीलगुणान्वित: । आरिराधयिषुर्ब्रह्म महापुरुषसंज्ञितम् । सर्वभूतात्मभावेन भूतेष्वन्तर्हितं गुणै: ॥ २९ ॥
esa hi brahmano vidvams tapah-sila-gunanvitah ariradhayisur brahma maha-purusa-samjnitam sarva-bhutatma-bhavena bhutesv antarhitam gunaih
Here is a learned, highly qualified brahmana, engaged in performing austerity and eagerly desiring to worship the Supreme Lord, the Supersoul who lives within the core of the heart in all living entities.
सोऽयं ब्रह्मर्षिवर्यस्ते राजर्षिप्रवराद् विभो । कथमर्हति धर्मज्ञ वधं पितुरिवात्मज: ॥ ३० ॥
so ’yam brahmarsi-varyas te rajarsi-pravarad vibho katham arhati dharma-jna vadham pitur ivatmajah
My lord, you are completely aware of the religious principles. As a son never deserves to be killed by his father, here is a brahmana who should be protected by the king, and never killed. How does he deserve to be killed by a rajarsi like you?
तस्य साधोरपापस्य भ्रूणस्य ब्रह्मवादिन: । कथं वधं यथा बभ्रोर्मन्यते सन्मतो भवान् ॥ ३१ ॥
tasya sadhor apapasya bhrunasya brahma-vadinah katham vadham yatha babhror manyate san-mato bhavan
You are well known and worshiped in learned circles. How dare you kill this brahmana, who is a saintly, sinless person, well versed in Vedic knowledge? Killing him would be like destroying the embryo within the womb or killing a cow.
यद्ययं क्रियते भक्ष्यस्तर्हि मां खाद पूर्वत: । न जीविष्ये विना येन क्षणं च मृतकं यथा ॥ ३२ ॥
yady ayam kriyate bhaksyas tarhi mam khada purvatah na jivisye vina yena ksanam ca mrtakam yatha
Without my husband, I cannot live for a moment. If you want to eat my husband, it would be better to eat me first, for without my husband I am as good as a dead body.
एवं करुणभाषिण्या विलपन्त्या अनाथवत् । व्याघ्र: पशुमिवाखादत् सौदास: शापमोहित: ॥ ३३ ॥
evam karuna-bhasinya vilapantya anathavat vyaghrah pasum ivakhadat saudasah sapa-mohitah
Being condemned by the curse of Vasistha, King Saudasa devoured the brahmana, exactly as a tiger eats its prey. Even though the brahmana’s wife spoke so pitiably, Saudasa was unmoved by her lamentation.
ब्राह्मणी वीक्ष्य दिधिषुं पुरुषादेन भक्षितम् । शोचन्त्यात्मानमुर्वीशमशपत् कुपिता सती ॥ ३४ ॥
brahmani viksya didhisum purusadena bhaksitam socanty atmanam urvisam asapat kupita sati
When the chaste wife of the brahmana saw that her husband, who was about to discharge semen, had been eaten by the man-eater, she was overwhelmed with grief and lamentation. Thus she angrily cursed the King.
यस्मान्मे भक्षित: पाप कामार्ताया: पतिस्त्वया । तवापि मृत्युराधानादकृतप्रज्ञ दर्शित: ॥ ३५ ॥
yasman me bhaksitah papa kamartayah patis tvaya tavapi mrtyur adhanad akrta-prajna darsitah
O foolish, sinful person, because you have eaten my husband when I was sexually inclined and desiring to have the seed of a child, I shall also see you die when you attempt to discharge semen in your wife. In other words, whenever you attempt to sexually unite with your wife, you shall die.
एवं मित्रसहं शप्त्वा पतिलोकपरायणा । तदस्थीनि समिद्धेऽग्नौ प्रास्य भर्तुर्गतिं गता ॥ ३६ ॥
evam mitrasaham saptva pati-loka-parayana tad-asthini samiddhe ’gnau prasya bhartur gatim gata
Thus the wife of the brahmana cursed King Saudasa, known as Mitrasaha. Then, being inclined to go with her husband, she set fire to her husband’s bones, fell into the fire herself, and went with him to the same destination.
विशापो द्वादशाब्दान्ते मैथुनाय समुद्यत: । विज्ञाप्य ब्राह्मणीशापं महिष्या स निवारित: ॥ ३७ ॥
visapo dvadasabdante maithunaya samudyatah vijnapya brahmani-sapam mahisya sa nivaritah
After twelve years, when King Saudasa was released from the curse by Vasistha, he wanted to have sexual intercourse with his wife. But the Queen reminded him about the curse by the brahmani, and thus he was checked from sexual intercourse.
अत ऊर्ध्वं स तत्याज स्त्रीसुखं कर्मणाप्रजा: । वसिष्ठस्तदनुज्ञातो मदयन्त्यां प्रजामधात् ॥ ३८ ॥
ata urdhvam sa tatyaja stri-sukham karmanaprajah vasisthas tad-anujnato madayantyam prajam adhat
After being thus instructed, the King gave up the future happiness of sexual intercourse and by destiny remained sonless. Later, with the King’s permission, the great saint Vasistha begot a child in the womb of Madayanti.
सा वै सप्त समा गर्भमबिभ्रन्न व्यजायत । जघ्नेऽश्मनोदरं तस्या: सोऽश्मकस्तेन कथ्यते ॥ ३९ ॥
sa vai sapta sama garbham abibhran na vyajayata jaghne ’smanodaram tasyah so ’smakas tena kathyate
Madayanti bore the child within the womb for seven years and did not give birth. Therefore Vasistha struck her abdomen with a stone, and then the child was born. Consequently, the child was known as Asmaka (the child born of a ston).
अश्मकाद्बालिको जज्ञे य: स्त्रीभि: परिरक्षित: । नारीकवच इत्युक्तो नि:क्षत्रे मूलकोऽभवत् ॥ ४० ॥
asmakad baliko jajne yah stribhih pariraksitah nari-kavaca ity ukto nihksatre mulako ’bhavat
From Asmaka, Balika took birth. Because Balika was surrounded by women and was therefore saved from the anger of Parasurama, he was known as Narikavaca (one who is protected by wome). When Parasurama vanquished all the ksatriyas, Balika became the progenitor of more ksatriyas. Therefore he was known as Mulaka, the root of the ksatriya dynasty.
ततो दशरथस्तस्मात् पुत्र ऐडविडिस्तत: । राजा विश्वसहो यस्य खट्वाङ्गश्चक्रवर्त्यभूत् ॥ ४१ ॥
tato dasarathas tasmat putra aidavidis tatah raja visvasaho yasya khatvangas cakravarty abhut
From Balika came a son named Dasaratha, from Dasaratha came a son named Aidavidi, and from Aidavidi came King Visvasaha. The son of King Visvasaha was the famous Maharaja Khatvanga.
यो देवैरर्थितो दैत्यानवधीद् युधि दुर्जय: । मुहूर्तमायुर्ज्ञात्वैत्य स्वपुरं सन्दधे मन: ॥ ४२ ॥
yo devair arthito daityan avadhid yudhi durjayah muhurtam ayur jnatvaitya sva-puram sandadhe manah
King Khatvanga was unconquerable in any fight. Requested by the demigods to join them in fighting the demons, he won victory, and the demigods, being very pleased, wanted to give him a benediction. The King inquired from them about the duration of his life and was informed that he had only one moment more. Thus he immediately left his palace and went to his own residence, where he engaged his mind fully on the lotus feet of the Lord.
न मे ब्रह्मकुलात् प्राणा: कुलदैवान्न चात्मजा: । न श्रियो न मही राज्यं न दाराश्चातिवल्लभा: ॥ ४३ ॥
na me brahma-kulat pranah kula-daivan na catmajah na sriyo na mahi rajyam na daras cativallabhah
Maharaja Khatvanga thought: Not even my life is dearer to me than the brahminical culture and the brahmanas, who are worshiped by my family. What then is to be said of my kingdom, land, wife, children and opulence? Nothing is dearer to me than the brahmanas.
न बाल्येऽपि मतिर्मह्यमधर्मे रमते क्वचित् । नापश्यमुत्तमश्लोकादन्यत् किञ्चन वस्त्वहम् ॥ ४४ ॥
na balye ’pi matir mahyam adharme ramate kvacit napasyam uttamaslokad anyat kincana vastv aham
I was never attracted, even in my childhood, by insignificant things or irreligious principles. I did not find anything more substantial than the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
देवै: कामवरो दत्तो मह्यं त्रिभुवनेश्वरै: । न वृणे तमहं कामं भूतभावनभावन: ॥ ४५ ॥
devaih kama-varo datto mahyam tri-bhuvanesvaraih na vrne tam aham kamam bhutabhavana-bhavanah
The demigods, the directors of the three worlds, wanted to give me whatever benediction I desired. I did not want their benedictions, however, because I am interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created everything in this material world. I am more interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead than in all material benedictions.
ये विक्षिप्तेन्द्रियधियो देवास्ते स्वहृदि स्थितम् । न विन्दन्ति प्रियं शश्वदात्मानं किमुतापरे ॥ ४६ ॥
ye viksiptendriya-dhiyo devas te sva-hrdi sthitam na vindanti priyam sasvad atmanam kim utapare
Even though the demigods have the advantages of being situated in the higher planeary system, their minds, senses and intelligence are agitated by material conditions. Therefore, even such elevated persons fail to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally situated in the core of the heart. What then is to be said of others, such as human beings, who have fewer advantages?
अथेशमायारचितेषु सङ्गं गुणेषु गन्धर्वपुरोपमेषु । रूढं प्रकृत्यात्मनि विश्वकर्तु- र्भावेन हित्वा तमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ४७ ॥
athesa-maya-racitesu sangam gunesu gandharva-puropamesu rudham prakrtyatmani visva-kartur bhavena hitva tam aham prapadye
Therefore I should now give up my attachment for things created by the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I should engage in thought of the Lord and should thus surrender unto Him. This material creation, having been created by the external energy of the Lord, is like an imaginary town visualized on a hill or in a forest. Every conditioned soul has a natural attraction and attachment for material things, but one must simply give up this attachment and surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
इति व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या नारायणगृहीतया । हित्वान्यभावमज्ञानं तत: स्वं भावमास्थित: ॥ ४८ ॥
iti vyavasito buddhya narayana-grhitaya hitvanya-bhavam ajnanam tatah svam bhavam asthitah
Thus Maharaja Khatvanga, by his advanced intelligence in rendering service to the Lord, gave up false identification with the body full of ignorance. In his original position of eternal servitorship, he engaged himself in rendering service to the Lord.
यत् तद् ब्रह्म परं सूक्ष्ममशून्यं शून्यकल्पितम् । भगवान् वासुदेवेति यं गृणन्ति हि सात्वता: ॥ ४९ ॥
yat tad brahma param suksmam asunyam sunya-kalpitam bhagavan vasudeveti yam grnanti hi satvatah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, Krsna, is extremely difficult to understand for unintelligent men who accept Him as impersonal or void, which He is not. The Lord is therefore understood and sung about by pure devotees.
