> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > *****

> > Chapter Nine: The Dynasty of Amsuman

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > amsumâms ca tapas tepe

> > gangânayana-kâmyayâ

> > kâlam mahântam nâsaknot

> > tatah kâlena samsthitah

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; amsumân--the king named Amsumân; ca--also; tapah tepe--executed austerity; gangâ--the Ganges; ânayana-kâmyayâ--with a desire to bring the Ganges to this material world to deliver his forefathers; kâlam--time; mahântam--for a long duration; na--not; asaknot--was successful; tatah--thereafter; kâlena--in due course of time; samsthitah--died.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > dilîpas tat-sutas tadvad

> > asaktah kâlam eyivân

> > bhagîrathas tasya sutas

> > tepe sa sumahat tapah

> > dilîpah--named Dilîpa; tat-sutah--the son of Amsumân; tat-vat--like his father; asaktah--being unable to bring the Ganges to the material world; kâlam eyivân--became a victim of time and died; bhagîrathah tasya sutah--his son Bhagîratha; tepe--executed penance; sah--he; su-mahat--very great; tapah--austerity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > darsayâm âsa tam devî

> > prasannâ varadâsmi te

> > ity uktah svam abhiprâyam

> > sasamsâvanato nrpah

> > darsayâm âsa--appeared; tam--unto him, King Bhagîratha; devî--mother Ganges; prasannâ--being very much satisfied; varadâ asmi--I shall bless with my benediction; te--unto you; iti uktah--thus being addressed; svam--his own; abhiprâyam--desire; sasamsa--explained; avanatah--very respectfully bowing down; nrpah--the King (Bhagîratha).

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > ko 'pi dhârayitâ vegam

> > patantyâ me mahî-tale

> > anyathâ bhû-talam bhittvâ

> > nrpa yâsye rasâtalam

> > kah--who is that person; api--indeed; dhârayitâ--who can sustain; vegam--the force of the waves; patantyâh--while falling down; me--of me; mahî-tale--upon this earth; anyathâ--otherwise; bhû-talam--the surface of the earth; bhittvâ--piercing; nrpa--O King; yâsye--I shall go down; rasâtalam--to Pâtâla, the lower part of the universe.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mother Ganges replied: When I fall from the sky to the surface of the planet 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > kim câham na bhuvam yâsye

> > narâ mayy âmrjanty agham

> > mrjâmi tad agham kvâham

> > râjams tatra vicintyatâm

> > kim ca--also; aham--I; na--not; bhuvam--to the planet earth; yâsye--shall go; narâh--the people in general; mayi--in me, in my water; âmrjanti--cleanse; agham--the reactions of their sinful activity; mrjâmi--I shall wash; tat--that; agham--accumulation of sinful reactions; kva--unto whom; aham--I; râjan--O King; tatra--on this fact; vicintyatâm--please consider carefully and decide.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, I do not wish to go down to the planet 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > srî-bhagîratha uvâca

> > sâdhavo nyâsinah sântâ

> > brahmisthâ loka-pâvanâh

> > haranty agham te 'nga-sangât

> > tesv âste hy agha-bhid dharih

> > srî-bhagîrathah uvâca--Bhagîratha said; sâdhavah--saintly persons; nyâsinah--sannyâsîs; sântâh--peaceful, free from material disturbances; brahmisthâh--expert in following the regulative principles of Vedic scripture; loka-pâvanâh--who are engaged in delivering the entire world from a fallen condition; haranti--shall remove; agham--the reactions of sinful life; te--of you (mother Ganges); anga-sangât--by bathing in the Ganges water; tesu--within themselves; âste--there is; hi--indeed; agha-bhit--the Supreme personality, who can vanquish all sinful activities; harih--the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhagiratha 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > dhârayisyati te vegam

> > rudras tv âtmâ sarîrinâm

> > yasminn otam idam protam

> > visvam sâtîva tantusu

> > dhârayisyati--will sustain; te--your; vegam--force of the waves; rudrah--Lord Siva; tu--indeed; âtmâ--the Supersoul; sarîrinâm--of all embodied souls; yasmin--in whom; otam--is situated in its longitude; idam--this whole universe; protam--latitude; visvam--the whole universe; sâtî--a cloth; iva--as; tantusu--in threads.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > ity uktvâ sa nrpo devam

> > tapasâtosayac chivam

> > kâlenâlpîyasâ râjams

> > tasyesas câsv atusyata

> > iti uktvâ--after saying this; sah--he; nrpah--the King (Bhagîratha); devam--unto Lord Siva; tapasâ--by executing austerities; atosayat--pleased; sivam--Lord Siva, the all-auspicious; kâlena--by time; alpîyasâ--which was not very long; râjan--O King; tasya--upon him (Bhagîratha); îsah--Lord Siva; ca--indeed; âsu--very soon; atusyata--became satisfied.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After saying this, Bhagiratha satisfied Lord Siva by performing austerities. O King Pariksit, Lord Siva was very quickly satisfied with Bhagiratha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tatheti râjnâbhihitam

> > sarva-loka-hitah sivah

> > dadhârâvahito gangâm

> > pâda-pûta-jalâm hareh

> > tathâ--(let it be) so; iti--thus; râjnâ abhihitam--having been addressed by the King (Bhagîratha); sarva-loka-hitah--the Personality of Godhead, who is always auspicious to everyone; sivah--Lord Siva; dadhâra--sustained; avahitah--with great attention; gangâm--the Ganges; pâda-pûta-jalâm hareh--whose water is transcendentally pure because of emanating from the toes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > bhagîrathah sa râjarsir

> > ninye bhuvana-pâvanîm

> > yatra sva-pitrnâm dehâ

> > bhasmîbhûtâh sma serate

> > bhagîrathah--King Bhagîratha; sah--he; râja-rsih--the great saintly king; ninye--carried or brought; bhuvana-pâvanîm--mother Ganges, who can deliver the whole universe; yatra--in that place where; sva-pitrnâm--of his forefathers; dehâh--the bodies; bhasmîbhûtâh--having been burnt to ashes; sma serate--were lying.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > rathena vâyu-vegena

> > prayântam anudhâvatî

> > desân punantî nirdagdhân

> > âsincat sagarâtmajân

> > rathena--on a chariot; vâyu-vegena--driving at the speed of the wind; prayântam--Mahârâja Bhagîratha, who was going in front; anudhâvatî--running after; desân--all the countries; punantî--sanctifying; nirdagdhân--who had been burnt to ashes; âsincat--sprinkled over; sagara-âtmajân--the sons of Sagara.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhagiratha 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yaj-jala-sparsa-mâtrena

> > brahma-danda-hatâ api

> > sagarâtmajâ divam jagmuh

> > kevalam deha-bhasmabhih

> > yat-jala--whose water; sparsa-mâtrena--simply by touching; brahma-danda-hatâh--those who were condemned for offending brahma, the self; api--although; sagara-âtmajâh--the sons of Sagara; divam--to the heavenly planets; jagmuh--went; kevalam--only; deha-bhasmabhih--by the remaining ashes of their burnt bodies.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planets. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her?

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > bhasmîbhûtânga-sangena

> > svar yâtâh sagarâtmajâh

> > kim punah sraddhayâ devîm

> > sevante ye dhrta-vratâh

> > bhasmîbhûta-anga--by the body which had been burnt to ashes; sangena--by contacting the water of the Ganges; svah yâtâh--went to the heavenly planets; sagara-âtmajâh--the sons of Sagara; kim--what to speak of; punah--again; sraddhayâ--with faith and devotion; devîm--unto mother Ganges; sevante--worship; ye--those persons who; dhrta-vratâh--with vows of determination.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planets. 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > na hy etat param âscaryam

> > svardhunyâ yad ihoditam

> > ananta-caranâmbhoja-

> > prasûtâyâ bhava-cchidah

> > na--not; hi--indeed; etat--this; param--ultimate; âscaryam--wonderful thing; svardhunyâh--of the water of the Ganges; yat--which; iha--herewith; uditam--has been described; ananta--of the Supreme Lord; carana-ambhoja--from the lotus of the feet; prasûtâyâh--of that which emanates; bhava-chidah--which can liberate from material bondage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > sannivesya mano yasmin

> > chraddhayâ munayo 'malâh

> > traigunyam dustyajam hitvâ

> > sadyo yâtâs tad-âtmatâm

> > sannivesya--giving full attention; manah--the mind; yasmin--unto whom; sraddhayâ--with faith and devotion; munayah--great saintly persons; amalâh--freed from all contamination of sins; traigunyam--the three modes of material nature; dustyajam--very difficult to give up; hitvâ--they can nonetheless give up; sadyah--immediately; yâtâh--achieved; tat-âtmatâm--the spiritual quality of the Supreme.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 16-17

> > sruto bhagîrathâj jajne

> > tasya nâbho 'paro 'bhavat

> > sindhudvîpas tatas tasmâd

> > ayutâyus tato 'bhavat

> > rtûparno nala-sakho

> > yo 'sva-vidyâm ayân nalât

> > dattvâksa-hrdayam câsmai

> > sarvakâmas tu tat-sutam

> > srutah--a son named Sruta; bhagîrathât--from Bhagîratha; jajne--was born; tasya--of Sruta; nâbhah--by the name Nâbha; aparah--different from the Nâbha previously described; abhavat--was born; sindhudvîpah--by the name Sindhudvîpa; tatah--from Nâbha; tasmât--from Sindhudvîpa; ayutâyuh--a son named Ayutâyu; tatah--thereafter; abhavat--was born;

> > rtûparnah--a son named Rtûparna; nala-sakhah--who was a friend of Nala; yah--one who; asva-vidyâm--the art of controlling horses; ayât--achieved; nalât--from Nala; dattvâ--after giving in exchange; aksa-hrdayam--the secrets of the art of gambling; ca--and; asmai--unto Nala; sarvakâmah--by the name Sarvakâma; tu--indeed; tat-sutam--his son (the son of Rtûparna).

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > tatah sudâsas tat-putro

> > damayantî-patir nrpah

> > âhur mitrasaham yam vai

> > kalmâsânghrim uta kvacit

> > vasistha-sâpâd rakso 'bhûd

> > anapatyah sva-karmanâ

> > tatah--from Sarvakâma; sudâsah--Sudâsa was born; tat-putrah--the son of Sudâsa; damayantî-patih--the husband of Damayantî; nrpah--he became king; âhuh--it is said; mitrasaham--Mitrasaha; yam vai--also; kalmâsânghrim--by Kalmâsapâda; uta--known; kvacit--sometimes; vasistha-sâpât--being cursed by Vasistha; raksah--a man-eater; abhût--became; anapatyah--without any son; sva-karmanâ--by his own sinful act.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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].

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > srî-râjovâca

> > kim nimitto guroh sâpah

> > saudâsasya mahâtmanah

> > etad veditum icchâmah

> > kathyatâm na raho yadi

> > srî-râjâ uvâca--King Parîksit said; kim nimittah--for what reason; guroh--of the spiritual master; sâpah--curse; saudâsasya--of Saudâsa; mahâ-âtmanah--of the great soul; etat--this; veditum--to know; icchâmah--I wish; kathyatâm--please tell me; na--not; rahah--confidential; yadi--if.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 20-21

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > saudâso mrgayâm kincic

> > caran rakso jaghâna ha

> > mumoca bhrâtaram so 'tha

> > gatah praticikîrsayâ

> > sancintayann agham râjnah

> > sûda-rûpa-dharo grhe

> > gurave bhoktu-kâmâya

> > paktvâ ninye narâmisam

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; saudâsah--King Saudâsa; mrgayâm--in hunting; kincit--sometimes; caran--wandering; raksah--a Râksasa, or man-eater; jaghâna--killed; ha--in the past; mumoca--released; bhrâtaram--the brother of that Râksasa; sah--that brother; atha--thereafter; gatah--went; praticikîsayâ--for taking revenge;

> > sancintayan--he thought; agham--to do some harm; râjnah--of the King; sûda-rûpa-dharah--disguised himself as a cook; grhe--in the house; gurave--unto the King's spiritual master; bhoktu-kâmâya--who came there to take dinner; paktvâ--after cooking; ninye--gave him; nara-âmisam--the flesh of a human being.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > pariveksyamânam bhagavân

> > vilokyâbhaksyam anjasâ

> > râjânam asapat kruddho

> > rakso hy evam bhavisyasi

> > pariveksyamânam--while examining the eatables; bhagavân--the most powerful; vilokya--when he saw; abhaksyam--unfit for consumption; anjasâ--very easily by his mystic power; râjânam--unto the King; asapat--cursed; kruddhah--being very angry; raksah--a man-eater; hi--indeed; evam--in this way; bhavisyasi--you shall become.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 23-24

> > raksah-krtam tad viditvâ

> > cakre dvâdasa-vârsikam

> > so 'py apo-'njalim âdâya

> > gurum saptum samudyatah

> > vârito madayantyâpo

> > rusatîh pâdayor jahau

> > disah kham avanîm sarvam

> > pasyan jîvamayam nrpah

> > raksah-krtam--having been done by the Râksasa only; tat--that serving of human flesh; viditvâ--after understanding; cakre--(Vasistha) performed; dvâdasa-vârsikam--twelve years of penance for atonement; sah--that Saudâsa; api--also; apah-anjalim--a palmful of water; âdâya--taking; gurum--his spiritual master, Vasistha; saptum--to curse; samudyatah--was preparing;

> > vâritah--being forbidden; madayantyâ--by his wife, who was also known as Madayantî; apah--water; rusatîh--strong by chanting of a mantra; pâdayoh jahau--threw on his legs; disah--all directions; kham--in the sky; avanîm--on the surface of the world; sarvam--everywhere; pasyan--seeing; jîva-mayam--full of living entities; nrpah--the King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > râksasam bhâvam âpannah

> > pâde kalmâsatâm gatah

> > vyavâya-kâle dadrse

> > vanauko-dampatî dvijau

> > râksasam--man-eating; bhâvam--propensity; âpannah--having gotten; pâde--on the leg; kalmâsatâm--a black spot; gatah--obtained; vyavâya-kâle--at the time of sexual intercourse; dadrse--he saw; vana-okah--living in the forest; dam-patî--a husband and wife; dvijau--who were brâhmanas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 26-27

> > ksudhârto jagrhe vipram

> > tat-patny âhâkrtârthavat

> > na bhavân râksasah sâksâd

> > iksvâkûnâm mahâ-rathah

> > madayantyâh patir vîra

> > nâdharmam kartum arhasi

> > dehi me 'patya-kâmâyâ

> > akrtârtham patim dvijam

> > ksudhâ-ârtah--being aggrieved by hunger; jagrhe--caught; vipram--the brâhmana; tat-patnî--his wife; âha--said; akrta-artha-vat--being unsatisfied, poor and hungry; na--not; bhavân--yourself; râksasah--a man-eater; sâksât--directly or factually; iksvâkûnâm--among thedescendants of Mahârâja Iksvâku; mahâ-rathah--a great fighter; madayantyâh--of

> > Madayantî patih--the husband; vîra--O hero; na--not; adharmam--irreligious act; kartum--to do; arhasi--you deserve; dehi--please deliver; me--my; apatya-kâmâyâh--desiring to get a son; akrta-artham--whose desire has not been fulfilled; patim--husband; dvijam--who is a brâhmana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > deho 'yam mânuso râjan

> > purusasyâkhilârthadah

> > tasmâd asya vadho vîra

> > sarvârtha-vadha ucyate

> > dehah--body; ayam--this; mânusah--human; râjan--O King; purusasya--of the living being; akhila--universal; artha-dah--beneficial; tasmât--therefore; asya--of the body of my husband; vadhah--the killing; vîra--O hero; sarva-artha-vadhah--killing all beneficial opportunities; ucyate--it is said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > esa hi brâhmano vidvâms

> > tapah-sîla-gunânvitah

> > ârirâdhayisur brahma

> > mahâ-purusa-samjnitam

> > sarva-bhûtâtma-bhâvena

> > bhûtesv antarhitam gunaih

> > esah--this; hi--indeed; brâhmanah--a qualified brâhmana; vidvân--learned in Vedic knowledge; tapah--austerity; sîla--good behavior; guna-anvitah--endowed with all good qualities; ârirâdhayisuh--desiring to be engaged in worshiping; brahma--the Supreme Brahman; mahâ-purusa--the Supreme Person, Krsna; samjnitam--known as; sarva-bhûta--of all living entities; âtma-bhâvena--as the Supersoul; bhûtesu--in every living entity; antarhitam--within the core of the heart; gunaih--by qualities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > so 'yam brahmarsi-varyas te

> > râjarsi-pravarâd vibho

> > katham arhati dharma-jna

> > vadham pitur ivâtmajah

> > sah--he, the brâhmana; ayam--this; brahma-rsi-varyah--not only a brâhmana but the best of great sages, or brâhmarsis; te--also from you; râja-rsi-pravarât--who are the best of all saintly kings, or râjarsis; vibho--O master of the state; katham--how; arhati--he deserves; dharma-jna--O you, who are quite aware of religious principles; vadham--killing; pituh--from the father; iva--like; âtmajah--the son.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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?

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > tasya sâdhor apâpasya

> > bhrûnasya brahma-vâdinah

> > katham vadham yathâ babhror

> > manyate san-mato bhavân

> > tasya--of him; sâdhoh--of the great saintly person; apâpasya--of one who has no sinful life; bhrûnasya--of the embryo; brahma-vâdinah--of one who is well versed in Vedic knowledge; katham--how; vadham--the killing; yathâ--as; babhroh--of a cow; manyate--you are thinking; sat-matah--well recognized by higher circles; bhavân--your good self.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > yady ayam kriyate bhaksyas

> > tarhi mâm khâda pûrvatah

> > na jîvisye vinâ yena

> > ksanam ca mrtakam yathâ

> > yadi--if; ayam--this brâhmana; kriyate--is accepted; bhaksyah--as eatable; tarhi--then; mâm--me; khâda--eat; pûrvatah--before that; na--not; jîvisye--I shall live; vinâ--without; yena--whom (my husband); ksanam ca--even for a moment; mrtakam--a dead body; yathâ--like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > evam karuna-bhâsinyâ

> > vilapantyâ anâthavat

> > vyâghrah pasum ivâkhâdat

> > saudâsah sâpa-mohitah

> > evam--in this way; karuna-bhâsinyâh--while the brâhmana's wife was speaking very pitiably; vilapantyâh--lamenting severely; anâtha-vat--exactly like a woman who has no protector; vyâghrah--a tiger; pasum--prey animal; iva--like; akhâdat--ate up; saudâsah--King Saudâsa; sâpa--by the curse; mohitah--because of being condemned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > brâhmanî vîksya didhisum

> > purusâdena bhaksitam

> > socanty âtmânam urvîsam

> > asapat kupitâ satî

> > brâhmanî--the wife of the brâhmana; vîksya--after seeing; didhisum--her husband, who was about to give the seed of a child; purusa-adena--by the man-eater (Râksasa); bhaksitam--having been eaten up; socantî--lamenting very much; âtmânam--for her body or her self; urvîam--unto the King; asapat--cursed; kupitâ--being angry; satî--the chaste woman.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > yasmân me bhaksitah pâpa

> > kâmârtâyâh patis tvayâ

> > tavâpi mrtyur âdhânâd

> > akrta-prajna darsitah

> > yasmât--because; me--my; bhaksitah--was eaten up; pâpa--O sinful one; kâma-ârtâyâh--of a woman very much bereaved because of sexual desire; patih--husband; tvayâ--by you; tava--your; api--also; mrtyuh--death; âdhânât--when you try to discharge semen in your wife; akrta-prajna--O foolish rascal; darsitah--this curse is placed upon you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > evam mitrasaham saptvâ

> > pati-loka-parâyanâ

> > tad-asthîni samiddhe 'gnau

> > prâsya bhartur gatim gatâ

> > evam--in this way; mitrasaham--King Saudâsa; saptvâ--after cursing; pati-loka-parâyanâ--because of being inclined to go with her husband; tat-asthîni--her husband's bones; samiddhe agnau--in the burning fire; prâsya--after placing; bhartuh--of her husband; gatim--to the destination; gatâ--she also went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > visâpo dvâdasâbdânte

> > maithunâya samudyatah

> > vijnâpya brâhmanî-sâpam

> > mahisyâ sa nivâritah

> > visâpah--being released from the period of the curse; dvâdasa-abda-ante--after twelve years; maithunâya--for sexual intercourse with his wife; samudyatah--when Saudâsa was prepared to do it; vijnâpya--reminding him about; brâhmanî-sâpam--the curse given by the brâhmanî; mahisyâ--by the Queen; sah--he (the King); nivâritah--checked.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > ata ûrdhvam sa tatyâja

> > strî-sukham karmanâprajâh

> > vasisthas tad-anujnâto

> > madayantyâm prajâm adhât

> > atah--in this way; ûrdhvam--in the near future; sah--he, the King; tatyâja--gave up; strî-sukham--the happiness of sexual intercourse; karmanâ--by destiny; aprajâh--remained sonless; vasisthah--the great saint Vasistha; tat-anujnâtah--being permitted by the King to beget a son; madayantyâm--in the womb of Madayantî, King Saudâsa's wife; prajâm--a child; adhât--begot.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > sâ vai sapta samâ garbham

> > abibhran na vyajâyata

> > jaghne 'smanodaram tasyâh

> > so 'smakas tena kathyate

> > sâ--she, Queen Madayantî; vai--indeed; sapta--seven; samâh--years; garbham--the child within the womb; abibhrat--continued to bear; na--not; vyajâyata--gave delivery; jaghne--struck; asmanâ--by a stone; udaram--abdomen; tasyâh--of her; sah--a son; asmakah--by the name Asmaka; tena--because of this; kathyate--was called.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 stone"].

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > asmakâd bâliko jajne

> > yah strîbhih pariraksitah

> > nârî-kavaca ity ukto

> > nihksatre mûlako 'bhavat

> > asmakât--from that son named Asmaka; bâlikah--a son named Bâlika; jajne--was born; yah--this child Bâlika; strîbhih--by women; pariraksitah--was protected; nârî-kavacah--having a shield of women; iti uktah--was known as such; nihksatre--when there were no ksatriyas (all ksatriyas having been vanquished by Parasurâma); mûlakah--Mûlaka, the progenitor of the ksatriyas; abhavat--he became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 women"]. 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > tato dasarathas tasmât

> > putra aidavidis tatah

> > râjâ visvasaho yasya

> > khatvângas cakravarty abhût

> > tatah--from Bâlika; dasarathah--a son named Dasaratha; tasmât--from him; putrah--a son; aidavidih--named Aidavidi; tatah--from him; râjâ visvasahah--the famous King Visvasaha was born; yasya--of whom; khatvângah--the king named Khatvânga; cakravartî--emperor; abhût--became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > yo devair arthito daityân

> > avadhîd yudhi durjayah

> > muhûrtam âyur jnâtvaitya

> > sva-puram sandadhe manah

> > yah--King Khatvânga who; devaih--by the demigods; arthitah--being requested; daityân--the demons; avadhît--killed; yudhi--in a fight; durjayah--very fierce; muhûrtam--for a second only; âyuh--duration of life; jnâtvâ--knowing; etya--approached; sva-puram--his own abode; sandadhe--fixed; manah--the mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > na me brahma-kulât prânâh

> > kula-daivân na câtmajâh

> > na sriyo na mahî râjyam

> > na dârâs câtivallabhâh

> > na--not; me--my; brahma-kulât--than the groups of brâhmanas; prânâh--life; kula-daivât--than the personalities worshipable for my family; na--not; ca--also; âtmajâh--sons and daughters; na--nor; sriyah--opulence; na--nor; mahî--the earth; râjyam--kingdom; na--nor; dârâh--wife; ca--also; ati-vallabhâh--extremely dear.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > na bâlye 'pi matir mahyam

> > adharme ramate kvacit

> > nâpasyam uttamaslokâd

> > anyat kincana vastv aham

> > na--not; bâlye--in childhood; api--indeed; matih--attraction; mahyam--of me; adharme--in irreligious principles; ramate--enjoys; kvacit--at any time; na--nor; apasyam--I saw; uttamaslokât--than the Personality of Godhead; anyat--anything else; kincana--anything; vastu--substance; aham--I.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > devaih kâma-varo datto

> > mahyam tri-bhuvanesvaraih

> > na vrne tam aham kâmam

> > bhûtabhâvana-bhâvanah

> > devaih--by the demigods; kâma-varah--the benediction to have whatever he wanted; dattah--was given; mahyam--unto me; tri-bhuvana-îvaraih--by the demigods, the protectors of the three worlds (who can do whatever they like within this material world); na vrne--did not accept; tam--that; aham--I; kâmam--everything desirable within this material world; bhûtabhâvana-bhâvanah--being fully absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead (and therefore not interested in anything material).

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > ye viksiptendriya-dhiyo

> > devâs te sva-hrdi sthitam

> > na vindanti priyam sasvad

> > âtmânam kim utâpare

> > ye--which personalities; viksipta-indriya-dhiyah--whose senses, mind and intelligence are alwaysagitated because of material conditions; devâh--like the demigods; te--such persons; sva-hrdi--in the core of the heart; sthitam--situated; na--not; vindanti--know; priyam--the dearmost Personality of Godhead; sasvat--constantly, eternally; âtmânam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kim uta--what to speak of; apare--others (like human beings).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Even though the demigods have the advantages of being situated in the higher planetary 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?

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > athesa-mâyâ-racitesu sangam

> > gunesu gandharva-puropamesu

> > rûdham prakrtyâtmani visva-kartur

> > bhâvena hitvâ tam aham prapadye

> > atha--therefore; îsa-mâyâ--by the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; racitesu--in things manufactured; sangam--attachment; gunesu--in the modes of material nature; gandharva-pura-upamesu--which are compared to the illusion of a gandharva-pura, a town or houses seen in the forest or on a hill; rûdham--very powerful; prakrtyâ--by material nature; âtmani--unto the Supersoul; visva-kartuh--of the creator of the whole universe; bhâvena--by devotional service; hitvâ--giving up; tam--unto Him (the Lord); aham--I; prapadye--surrender.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > iti vyavasito buddhyâ

> > nârâyana-grhîtayâ

> > hitvânya-bhâvam ajnânam

> > tatah svam bhâvam âsthitah

> > iti--thus; vyavasitah--having firmly decided; buddhyâ--by proper intelligence; nârâyana-grhîtayâ--completely controlled by the mercy of Nârâyana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hitvâ--giving up; anya-bhâvam--consciousness other than Krsna consciousness; ajnânam--which is nothing but constant ignorance and darkness; tatah--thereafter; svam--his original position as an eternal servant of Krsna; bhâvam--devotional service; âsthitah--situated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > yat tad brahma param sûksmam

> > asûnyam sûnya-kalpitam

> > bhagavân vâsudeveti

> > yam grnanti hi sâtvatâh

> > yat--that which; tat--such; brahma param--Parabrahman, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; sûksmam--spiritual, beyond all material conceptions; asûnyam--not impersonal or void; sûnya-kalpitam--imagined to be void by less intelligent men; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vâsudeva--Krsna; iti--thus; yam--whom; grnanti--sing about; hi--indeed; sâtvatâh--pure devotees.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > Back to the running text