> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 1
> > 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 1: 'Creation'

> > ******

> > Chapter Fifteen: The Pândavas Retire Timely

> > TEXT 1

> > sûta uvâca

> > evam krishna-sakhah krishno

> > bhrâtrâ râjn'â vikalpitah

> > nânâ-s'an'kâspadam rûpam

> > krishna-vis'lesha-kars'itah

> > sûtah uvâca--Sûta Gosvâmî said; evam--thus; krishna-sakhah--the celebrated friend of Krishna; krishnah--Arjuna; bhrâtrâ--by his elder brother; râjn'â--King Yudhishthhira; vikalpitah--speculated; nânâ--various; s'an'ka-âspadam--based on many doubts; rûpam--forms; krishna--Lord S'rî Krishna; vis'lesha--feelings of separation; kars'itah--became greatly bereaved.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Arjuna, the celebrated friend of Lord Krishna, was grief-stricken because of his strong feeling of separation from Krishna, over and above all Mahârâja Yudhishthhira's speculative inquiries.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > s'okena s'ushyad-vadana-

> > hrit-sarojo hata-prabhah

> > vibhum tam evânusmaran

> > nâs'aknot pratibhâshitum

> > s'okena--due to bereavement; s'ushyat-vadana--drying up of the mouth; hrit-sarojah--lotuslike heart; hata--lost; prabhah--bodily luster; vibhum--the Supreme; tam--unto Lord Krishna; eva--certainly; anusmaran--thinking within; na--could not; as'aknot--be able; pratibhâshitum--properly replying.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Due to grief, Arjuna's mouth and lotuslike heart had dried up. Therefore his body lost all luster. Now, remembering the Supreme Lord, he could hardly utter a word in reply.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > kricchrena samstabhya s'ucah

> > pâninâmrijya netrayoh

> > parokshena samunnaddha-

> > pranayautkanthhya-kâtarah

> > kricchrena--with great difficulty; samstabhya--by checking the force; s'ucah--of bereavement; pâninâ--with his hands; âmrijya--smearing; netrayoh--the eyes; parokshena--due to being out of sight; samunnaddha--increasingly; pranaya-autkanthhya--eagerly thinking of the affection; kâtarah--distressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With great difficulty he checked the tears of grief that smeared his eyes. He was very distressed because Lord Krishna was out of his sight, and he increasingly felt affection for Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > sakhyam maitrîm sauhridam ca

> > sârathyâdishu samsmaran

> > nripam agrajam ity âha

> > bâshpa-gadgadayâ girâ

> > sakhyam--well-wishing; maitrîm--benediction; sauhridam--intimately related; ca--also; sârathya-âdisu--in becoming the chariot driver; samsmaran--remembering all these; nripam--unto the King; agrajam--the eldest brother; iti--thus; âha--said; bâshpa--heavily breathing; gadgadayâ--overwhelmingly; girâ--by speeches.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Remembering Lord Krishna and His well-wishes, benefactions, intimate familial relations and His chariot driving, Arjuna, overwhelmed and breathing very heavily, began to speak.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > arjuna uvâca

> > van'cito 'ham mahâ-râja

> > harinâ bandhu-rûpinâ

> > yena me 'pahritam tejo

> > deva-vismâpanam mahat

> > arjunah uvâca--Arjuna said; van'citah--left by Him; aham--myself; mahârâja--o King; harinâ--by the Personality of Godhead; bandhu-rûpinâ--as if an intimate friend; yena--by whom; me--my; apahritam--I have been bereft; tejah--power; deva--the demigods; vismâpanam--astonishing; mahat--astounding.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Arjuna said: O King! The Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari, who treated me exactly like an intimate friend, has left me alone. Thus my astounding power, which astonished even the demigods, is no longer with me.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > yasya kshana-viyogena

> > loko hy apriya-darshanah

> > ukthena rahito hy esha

> > mritakah procyate yathâ

> > yasya--whose; kshana--a moment; viyogena--by separation; lokah--all the universes; hi--certainly; apriya-dars'anah--everything appears unfavorable; ukthena--by life; rahitah--being devoid of; hi--certainly; eshah--all these bodies; mritakah--dead bodies; procyate--are designated; yathâ--as it were.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I have just lost Him whose separation for a moment would render all the universes unfavorable and void, like bodies without life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > yat-sams'rayâd drupada-geham upâgatânâm

> > râjn'âm svayamvara-mukhe smara-durmadânâm

> > tejo hritam khalu mayâbhihatas' ca matsyah

> > sajjîkritena dhanushâdhigatâ ca krishnâ

> > yat--by whose merciful; sams'rayât--by strength; drupada-geham--in the palace of King Drupada; upâgatânâm--all those assembled; râjn'âm--of the princes; svayamvara-mukhe--on the occasion of the selection of the bridegroom; smara-durmadânâm--all lusty in thought; tejah--power; hritam--vanquished; khalu--as it were; mayâ--by me; abhihatah--pierced; ca--also; matsyah--the fish target; sajjî-kritena--by equipping the bow; dhanushâ--by that bow also; adhigatâ--gained; ca--also; krishnâ--Draupadî.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Only by His merciful strength was I able to vanquish all the lusty princes assembled at the palace of King Drupada for the selection of the bridegroom. With my bow and arrow I could pierce the fish target and thereby gain the hand of Draupadî.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > yat-sannidhâv aham u khândavam agnaye 'dâm

> > indram ca sâmara-ganam tarasâ vijitya

> > labdhâ sabhâ maya-kritâdbhuta-s'ilpa-mâyâ

> > digbhyo 'haran nripatayo balim adhvare te

> > yat--whose; sannidhau--being nearby; aham--myself; u--note of astonishment; khândavam--the protected forest of Indra, King of heaven; agnaye--unto the fire-god; adâm--delivered; indram--Indra; ca--also; sa--along with; amara-ganam--the demigods; tarasâ--with all dexterity; vijitya--having conquered; labdhâ--having obtained; sabhâ--assembly house; maya-krita--built by Maya; adbhuta--very wonderful; s'ilpa--art and workmanship; mâyâ--potency; digbhyah--from all directions; aharan--collected; nripatayah--all princes; balim--presentations; adhvare--brought; te--your.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because He was near me, it was possible for me to conquer with great dexterity the powerful King of heaven, Indradeva, along with his demigod associates and thus enable the fire-god to devastate the Khândava Forest. And only by His grace was the demon named Maya saved from the blazing Khândava Forest, and thus we could build our assembly house of wonderful architectural workmanship, where all the princes assembled during the performance of Râjasûya-yajn'a and paid you tributes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > yat-tejasâ nripa-s'iro-'nghrim ahan makhârtham

> > âryo 'nujas tava gajâyuta-sattva-vîryah

> > tenâhritâh pramatha-nâtha-makhâya bhûpâ

> > yan-mocitâs tad-anayan balim adhvare te

> > yat--whose; tejasâ--by influence; nripa-s'irah-anghrim--one whose feet are adored by the heads of kings; ahan--killed; makha-artham--for the sacrifice; âryah--respectable; anujah--younger brother; tava--your; gaja-ayuta--ten thousand elephants; sattva-vîryah--powerful existence; tena--by him; âhritâh--collected; pramatha-nâtha--the lord of the ghosts (Mahâbhairava); makhâya--for sacrifice; bhûpâh--kings; yat-mocitâh--by whom they were released; tat-anayan--all of them brought; balim--taxes; adhvare--presented; te--your.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Your respectable younger brother, who possesses the strength of ten thousand elephants, killed, by His grace, Jarâsandha, whose feet were worshiped by many kings. These kings had been brought for sacrifice in Jarâsandha's Mahâbhairava-yajn'a, but they were thus released. Later they paid tribute to Your Majesty.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > patnyâs tavâdhimakha-klpta-mahâbhisheka-

> > s'lâghishthha-câru-kabaram kitavaih sabhâyâm

> > sprishtham vikîrya padayoh patitâs'ru-mukhyâ

> > yas tat-striyo 'krita-hates'a-vimukta-kes'âh

> > patnyâh--of the wife; tava--your; adhimakha--during the great sacrificial ceremony; klpta--dressed; mahâ-abhisheka--greatly sanctified; s'lâghishthha--thus glorified; câru--beautiful; kabaram--clustered hair; kitavaih--by the miscreants; sabhâyâm--in the great assembly; sprishtham--being caught; vikîrya--being loosened; padayoh--on the feet; patita-ashru-mukhyâh--of the one who fell down with tears in the eyes; yah--He; tat--their; striyah--wives; akrita--became; hata-îs'a--bereft of husbands; vimukta-kes'âh--loosened hair.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It was He only who loosened the hair of all the wives of the miscreants who dared open the cluster of your Queen's hair, which had been nicely dressed and sanctified for the greatRâjasûya sacrificial ceremony. At that time she fell down at the feet of Lord Krishna with tears in her eyes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > yo no jugopa vana etya duranta-kricchrâd

> > durvâsaso 'ri-racitâd ayutâgra-bhug yah

> > s'âkânna-s'ishtham upayujya yatas tri-lokîm

> > triptâm amamsta salile vinimagna-sanghah

> > yah--one who; nah--us; jugopa--gave protection; vane--forest; etya--getting in; duranta--dangerously; kricchrât--trouble; durvâsasah--of Durvâsâ Muni; ari--enemy; racitât--fabricated by; ayuta--ten thousand; agra-bhuk--one who eats before; yah--that person; s'âka-anna-s'ishtham--remnants of foodstuff; upajyuja--having accepted; yatah--because; tri-lokîm--all the three worlds; triptâm--satisfied; amamsta--thought within the mind; salile--while in the water; vinimagna-sanghah--all merged into the water.

> > TRANSLATION

> > During our exile, Durvâsâ Muni, who eats with his ten thousand disciples, intrigued with our enemies to put us in dangerous trouble. At that time He [Lord Krishna], simply by accepting the remnants of food, saved us. By His accepting food thus, the assembly of munis, while bathing in the river, felt sumptuously fed. And all the three worlds were also satisfied.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yat-tejasâtha bhagavân yudhi s'ûla-pânir

> > vismâpitah sagirijo 'stram adân nijam me

> > anye 'pi câham amunaiva kalevarena

> > prâpto mahendra-bhavane mahad-âsanârdham

> > yat--by whose; tejasâ--by influence; atha--at one time; bhagavân--the personality of god (Lord S'iva); yudhi--in the battle; s'ûla-pânih--one who has a trident in his hand; vismâpitah--astonished; sa-girijah--along with the daughter of the Himalaya Mountains; astram--weapon; adât--awarded; nijam--of his own; me--unto me; anye api--so also others; ca--and; aham--myself; amunâ--by this; eva--definitely; kalevarena--by the body; prâptah--obtained; mahâ-indra-bhavane--in the house of Indradeva; mahat--great; âsana-ardham--half-elevated seat.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It was by His influence only that in a fight I was able to astonish the personality of god Lord S'iva and his wife, the daughter of Mount Himalaya . Thus he [Lord S'iva] became pleased with me and awarded me his own weapon. Other demigods also delivered their respective weapons to me, and in addition I was able to reach the heavenly planets in this present body and was allowed a half-elevated seat.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > tatraiva me viharato bhuja-danda-yugmam

> > gândîva-lakshanam arâti-vadhâya devâh

> > sendrâh s'ritâ yad-anubhâvitam âjamîdha

> > tenâham adya mushitah purushena bhûmnâ

> > tatra--in that heavenly planet; eva--certainly; me--myself; viharatah--while staying as a guest; bhuja-danda-yugmam--both of my arms; gândîva--the bow named Gândîva; lakshanam--mark; arâti--a demon named Nivâtakavaca; vadhâya--for killing; devâh--all the demigods; sa--along with; indrâh--the heavenly King, Indra; s'ritâh--taken shelter of; yat--by whose; anubhâvitam--made it possible to be powerful; âjamîdha--O descendant of King Âjamîdha; tena--by Him; aham--myself; adya--at the present moment; mushitah--bereft of; purushena--the personality; bhûmnâ--supreme.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When I stayed for some days as a guest in the heavenly planets, all the heavenly demigods, including King Indradeva, took shelter of my arms, which were marked with the Gândiva bow, to kill the demon named Nivâtakavaca. O King, descendant of Âjamîdha, at the present moment I am bereft of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose influence I was so powerful.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > yad-bândhavah kuru-balâbdhim ananta-pâram

> > eko rathena tatare 'ham atîrya-sattvam

> > pratyâhritam bahu dhanam ca mayâ pareshâm

> > tejâs-padam manimayam ca hritam s'irobhyah

> > yat-bândhavah--by whose friendship only; kuru-bala-abdhim--the ocean of the military strength of the Kurus; ananta-pâram--which was insurmountable; ekah--alone; rathena--being seated on the chariot; tatare--was able to cross over; aham--myself; atîrya--invincible; sattvam--existence; pratyâhritam--drew back; bahu--very large quantity; dhanam--wealth; ca--also; mayâ--by my; pareshâm--of the enemy; tejâh-padam--source of brilliance; mani-mayam--bedecked with jewels; ca--also; hritam--taken by force; s'irobhyah--from their heads.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The military strength of the Kauravas was like an ocean in which there dwelled many invincible existences, and thus it was insurmountable. But because of His friendship, I, seated on the chariot, was able to cross over it. And only by His grace was I able to regain the cows and also collect by force many helmets of the kings which were bedecked with jewels that were sources of all brilliance.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > yo bhîshma-karna-guru-s'alya-camûshv adabhra-

> > râjanya-varya-ratha-mandala-manditâsu

> > agrecaro mama vibho ratha-yûthapânâm

> > âyur manâmsi ca dris'â saha oja ârcchat

> > yah--it is He only; bhîshma--Bhîshma; karna--Karna; guru--Dronâcârya; s'alya&emdash;S'alya; camûshu--in the midst of the military phalanx; adabhra--immense; râjanya-varya--great royal princes; ratha-mandala--chain of chariots; manditâsu--being decorated with; agrecarah--going forward; mama--of mine; vibho--O great King; ratha-yûtha-pânâm--all the charioteers; âyuh--duration of life or fruitive activities; manâmsi--mental upsurges; ca--also; dris'â--by glance; sahah--power; ojah--strength; ârcchat--withdrew.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It was He only who withdrew the duration of life from everyone and who, in the battlefield, withdrew the speculative power and strength of enthusiasm from the great military phalanx made by the Kauravas, headed by Bhîshma, Karna, Drona, S'alya, etc. Their arrangement was expert and more than adequate, but He [Lord S'rî Krishna], while going forward, did all this.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > yad-dohshu mâ pranihitam guru-bhîshma-karna-

> > naptri-trigarta-s'alya-saindhava-bâhlikâdyaih

> > astrâny amogha-mahimâni nirûpitâni

> > nopaspris'ur nrihari-dâsam ivâsurâni

> > yat--under whose; dohshu--protection of arms; mâ pranihitam--myself being situated; guru--Dronâcârya; bhîshma--Bhîshma; karna--Karna; naptri&emdash;Bhûris'ravâ; trigarta--King Sus'armâ; s'alya&emdash;S'alya; saindhava--King Jayadratha; bâhlika--brother of Mahârâja S'ântanu (Bhîshma's father); âdyaih--etc.; astrâni--weapons; amogha--invincible; mahimâni--very powerful; nirûpitâni--applied; na--not; upaspris'uh--touched; nrihari-dâsam--servitor of Nrisimhadeva (Prahlâda); iva--like; asurâni--weapons employed by the demons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Great generals like Bhîshma, Drona, Karna, Bhûris'ravâ, Sus'armâ, S'alya, Jayadratha, and Bâhlîka all directed their invincible weapons against me. But by His [Lord Krishna's] grace they could not even touch a hair on my head. Similarly, Prahlâda Mahârâja, the supreme devotee of Lord Nrisimhadeva, was unaffected by the weapons the demons used against him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > sautye vritah kumatinâtmada îs'varo me

> > yat-pâda-padmam abhavâya bhajanti bhavyâh

> > mâm s'rânta-vâham arayo rathino bhuvi-shthham

> > na prâharan yad-anubhâva-nirasta-cittâh

> > sautye--regarding a chariot driver; vritah--engaged; kumatinâ--by bad consciousness; âtma-dah--one who delivers; îs'varah--the Supreme Lord; me--my; yat--whose; pâda-padmam--lotus feet; abhavâya--in the matter of salvation; bhajanti--do render service; bhavyâh--the intelligent class of men; mâm--unto me; s'rânta--thirsty; vâham--my horses; arayah--the enemies; rathinah--a great general; bhuvi-shthham--while standing on the ground; na--did not; prâharan--attack; yat--whose; anubhâva--mercy; nirasta--being absent; cittâh--mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It was by His mercy only that my enemies neglected to kill me when I descended from my chariot to get water for my thirsty horses. And it was due to my lack of esteem for my Lord that I dared engage Him as my chariot driver, for He is worshiped and offered services by the best men to attain salvation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > narmâny udâra-rucira-smita-s'obhitâni

> > he pârtha he 'rjuna sakhe kuru-nandaneti

> > san'jalpitâni nara-deva hridi-spris'âni

> > smartur luthhanti hridayam mama mâdhavasya

> > narmâni--conversation in jokes; udâra--talked very frankly; rucira--pleasing; smita-s'obhitâni--decorated with a smiling face; he--note of address; pârtha--O son of Prithâ; he--note of address; arjuna--Arjuna; sakhe--friend; kuru-nandana--son of the Kuru dynasty; iti--and so on; san'jalpitâni--such conversation; nara-deva--O King: hridi--heart; spris'âni--touching; smartuh--by remembering them; luthhanti--overwhelms; hridayam--heart and soul; mama--my; mâdhavasya--of Mâdhava (Krishna).

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King! His jokings and frank talks were pleasing and beautifully decorated with smiles. His addresses unto me as "O son of Prithâ, O friend, O son of the Kuru dynasty," and all such heartiness are now remembered by me, and thus I am overwhelmed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > s'ayyâsanâthana-vikatthana-bhojanâdishv

> > aikyâd vayasya ritavân iti vipralabdhah

> > sakhyuh sakheva pitrivat tanayasya sarvam

> > sehe mahân mahitayâ kumater agham me

> > s'ayya--sleeping on one bed; âsana--sitting on one seat; athana--walking together; vikatthana--self-adoration; bhojana--dining together; âdishu--and in all such dealings; aikyât--because of oneness; vayasya--O my friend; ritavân--truthful; iti--thus; vipralabdhah--misbehaved; sakhyuh--unto a friend; sakhâ iva--just like a friend; pitrivat--just like the father; tanayasya--of a child; sarvam--all; sehe--tolerated; mahân--great; mahitayâ--by glories; kumateh--of one who is of low mentality; agham--offense; me--mine.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Generally both of us used to live together and sleep, sit and loiter together. And at the time of advertising oneself for acts of chivalry, sometimes, if there were any irregularity, I used to reproach Him by saying, "My friend, You are very truthful." Even in those hours when His value was minimized, He, being the Supreme Soul, used to tolerate all those utterings of mine, excusing me exactly as a true friend excuses his true friend, or a father excuses his son.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > so 'ham nripendra rahitah purushottamena

> > sakhyâ priyena suhridâ hridayena s'ûnyah

> > adhvany urukrama-parigraham anga rakshan

> > gopair asadbhir abaleva vinirjito 'smi

> > sah--that; aham--myself; nripa-indra--O Emperor; rahitah--bereft of; purusha-uttamena--by the Supreme Lord; sakhyâ--by my friend; priyena--by my dearmost; suhridâ--by the well-wisher; hridayena--by the heart and soul; s'ûnyah--vacant; adhvani--recently; urukrama-parigraham--the wives of the all-powerful; anga--bodies; rakshan--while protecting; gopaih--by the cowherds; asadbhih--by the infidels; abalâ iva--like a weak woman; vinirjitah asmi--I have been defeated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Emperor, now I am separated from my friend and dearmost well-wisher, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore my heart appears to be void of everything. In His absence I have been defeated by a number of infidel cowherd men while I was guarding the bodies of all the wives of Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > tad vai dhanus ta ishavah sa ratho hayâs te

> > so 'ham rathî nripatayo yata ânamanti

> > sarvam kshanena tad abhûd asad îs'a-riktam

> > bhasman hutam kuhaka-râddham ivoptam ûsyâm

> > tat--the same; vai--certainly; dhanuh te--the same bow; ishavah--arrows; sah--the very same; rathah--chariot; hayâh te--the very same horses; sah aham--I am the same Arjuna; rathî--the chariot-fighter; nripatayah--all the kings; yatah--whom; ânamanti--offered their respects; sarvam--all; kshanena--at a moment's notice; tat--all those; abhût--became; asat--useless; îs'a--because of the Lord; riktam--being void; bhasman--ashes; hutam--offering butter; kuhaka-râddham--money created by magical feats; iva--like that; uptam--sown; ûshyâm--in barren land.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I have the very same Gândiva bow, the same arrows, the same chariot drawn by the same horses, and I use them as the same Arjuna to whom all the kings offered their due respects. But in the absence of Lord Krishna, all of them, at a moment's notice, have become null and void. It is exactly like offering clarified butter on ashes, accumulating money with a magic wand or sowing seeds on barren land.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22-23

> > râjams tvayânuprishthânâm

> > suhridâm nah suhrit-pure

> > vipra-s'âpa-vimûdhânâm

> > nighnatâm mushthibhir mithah

> > vârunîm madirâm pîtvâ

> > madonmathita-cetasâm

> > ajânatâm ivânyonyam

> > catuh-pan'câvas'eshitâh

> > râjan--O King; tvayâ--by you; anuprishthânâm--as you inquired; suhridâm--of friends and relatives; nah--our; suhrit-pure--in the city of Dvârakâ; vipra--the brâhmanas; s'âpa--by the curse of; vimûdhânâm--of the befooled; nighnatâm--of the killed; mushthibhih--with bunches of sticks; mithah--among themselves; vârunîm--fermented rice; madirâm--wine; pîtvâ--having drunk; mada-unmathita--being intoxicated; cetasâm--of that mental situation; ajânatâm--of the unrecognized; iva--like; anyonyam--one another; catuh--four; pan'ca--five; avas'eshitâh--now remaining.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, since you have asked me about our friends and relatives in the city of Dvârakâ, I will inform you that all of them were cursed by the brâhmanas, and as a result they all became intoxicated with wine made of putrefied rice and fought among themselves with sticks, not even recognizing one another. Now all but four or five of them are dead and gone.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > prâyenaitad bhagavata

> > îs'varasya viceshthitam

> > mitho nighnanti bhûtâni

> > bhâvayanti ca yan mithah

> > prâyena etat--it is almost by; bhagavatah--of the Personality of Godhead; îs'varasya--of the Lord; viceshthitam--by the will of; mithah--one another; nighnanti--do kill; bhûtâni--the living beings; bhâvayanti--as also protect; ca--also; yat--of whom; mithah--one another.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Factually this is all due to the supreme will of the Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes people kill one another, and at other times they protect one another.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25-26

> > jalaukasâm jale yadvan

> > mahânto 'danty anîyasah

> > durbalân balino râjan

> > mahânto balino mithah

> > evam balishthhair yadubhir

> > mahadbhir itarân vibhuh

> > yadûn yadubhir anyonyam

> > bhû-bhârân san'jahâra ha

> > jalaukasâm--of the aquatics; jale--in the water; yadvat--as it is; mahântah--the larger one; adanti--swallows; anîyasah--smaller ones; durbalân--the weak; balinah--the stronger; râjan--O King; mahântah--the strongest; balinah--less strong; mithah--in a duel; evam--thus; balishthhaih--by the strongest; yadubhih--by the descendants of Yadu; mahadbhih--one who has greater strength; itarân--the common ones; vibhuh--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yadûn--all the Yadus; yadubhih--by the Yadus; anyonyam--among one another; bhûbhârân--the burden of the world; san'jahâra--has unloaded; ha--in the past.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, as in the ocean the bigger and stronger aquatics swallow up the smaller and weaker ones, so also the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to lighten the burden of the earth, has engaged the stronger Yadu to kill the weaker, and the bigger Yadu to kill the smaller.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > des'a-kâlârtha-yuktâni

> > hrit-tâpopas'amâni ca

> > haranti smaratas' cittam

> > govindâbhihitâni me

> > des'a--space; kâla--time; artha--importance; yuktâni--impregnated with; hrit--the heart; tâpa--burning; upas'amâni--extinguishing; ca--and; haranti--are attracting; smaratah--by remembering; cittam--mind; govinda--the Supreme Personality of pleasure; abhihitâni--narrated by; me--unto me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead [Govinda] because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > sûta uvâca

> > evam cintayato jishnoh

> > krishna-pâda-saroruham

> > sauhârdenâtigâdhena

> > s'ântâsîd vimalâ matih

> > sûtah uvâca--Sûta Gosvâmî said; evam--thus; cintayatah--while thinking of the instructions; jishnoh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krishna-pâda--the feet of Krishna; saroruham--resembling lotuses; sauhârdena--by deep friendship; ati-gâdhena--in great intimacy; s'ântâ--pacified; âsît--it so became; vimalâ--without any tinge of material contamination; matih--mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Thus being deeply absorbed in thinking of the instructions of the Lord, which were imparted in the great intimacy of friendship, and in thinking of His lotus feet, Arjuna's mind became pacified and free from all material contamination.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > vâsudevânghry-anudhyâna-

> > paribrimhita-ramhasâ

> > bhaktyâ nirmathitâs'esa-

> > kashâya-dhishano 'rjunah

> > vâsudeva-anghri--the lotus feet of the Lord; anudhyâna--by constant remembrance; paribrimhita--expanded; ramhasâ--with great velocity; bhaktyâ--in devotion; nirmathita--subsided; as'esha--unlimited; kashâya--dint; dhishanah--conception; arjunah--Arjuna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Arjuna's constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord S'rî Krishna rapidly increased his devotion, and as a result all the trash in his thoughts subsided.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > gîtam bhagavatâ jn'ânam

> > yat tat sangrâma-mûrdhani

> > kâla-karma-tamo-ruddham

> > punar adhyagamat prabhuh

> > gîtam--instructed; bhagavatâ--by the Personality of Godhead; jn'ânam--transcendental knowledge; yat--which; tat--that; sangrâma-mûrdhani--in the midst of battle; kâla-karma--time and actions; tamah-ruddham--enwrapped by such darkness; punah adhyagamat--revived them again; prabhuh--the lord of his senses.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because of the Lord's pastimes and activities and because of His absence, it appeared that Arjuna forgot the instructions left by the Personality of Godhead. But factually this was not the case, and again he became lord of his senses.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > vis'oko brahma-sampattyâ

> > san'chinna-dvaita-sams'ayah

> > lîna-prakriti-nairgunyâd

> > alingatvâd asambhavah

> > vis'okah--free from bereavement; brahma-sampattyâ--by possession of spiritual assets; san'chinna--being completely cut off; dvaita-sams'ayah--from the doubts of relativity; lîna--merged in; prakriti--material nature; nairgunyât--due to being in transcendence; alingat-vât--because of being devoid of a material body; asambhavah--free from birth and death.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because of his possessing spiritual assets, the doubts of duality were completely cut off. Thus he was freed from the three modes of material nature and placed in transcendence. There was no longer any chance of his becoming entangled in birth and death, for he was freed from material form.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > nis'amya bhagavan-mârgam

> > samsthâm yadu-kulasya ca

> > svah-pathâya matim cakre

> > nibhritâtmâ yudhishthhirah

> > nis'amya--deliberating; bhagavat--regarding the Lord; mârgam--the ways of His appearance and disappearance; samsthâm--end; yadu-kulasya--of the dynasty of King Yadu; ca--also; svah--the abode of the Lord; pathâya--on the way of; matim--desire; cakre--gave attention; nibhrita-âtmâ--lonely and alone; yudhishthhirah--King Yudhishthhira.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon hearing of Lord Krishna's returning to His abode, and upon understanding the end of the Yadu dynasty's earthly manifestation, Mahârâja Yudhishthhira decided to go back home, back to Godhead.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > prithâpy anus'rutya dhanan'jayoditam

> > nâs'am yadûnâm bhagavad-gatim ca tâm

> > ekânta-bhaktyâ bhagavaty adhokshaje

> > nives'itâtmopararâma samsriteh

> > prithâ--Kuntî; api--also; anus'rutya--overhearing; dhanan'jaya--Arjuna; uditam--uttered by; nâs'am--end; yadûnâm--of the Yadu dynasty; bhagavat--of the Personality of Godhead; gatim--disappearance; ca--also; tâm--all those; eka-anta--unalloyed; bhaktyâ--devotion; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Lord, S'rî Krishna; adhokshaje--transcendence; nives'ita-âtmâ--with full attention; upararâma--became released from; samsriteh--material existence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kuntî, after overhearing Arjuna's telling of the end of the Yadu dynasty and disappearance of Lord Krishna, engaged in the devotional service of the transcendental Personality of Godhead with full attention and thus gained release from the course of material existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > yayâharad bhuvo bhâram

> > tâm tanum vijahâv ajah

> > kantakam kantakeneva

> > dvayam câpîs'ituh samam

> > yayâ--that by which; aharat--took away; bhuvah--of the world; bhâram--burden; tâm--that; tanum--body; vijahau--relinquished; ajah--the unborn; kantakam--thorn; kantakena--by the thorn; iva--like that; dvayam--both; ca--also; api--although; îs'ituh--controlling; samam--equal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The supreme unborn, Lord S'rî Krishna, caused the members of the Yadu dynasty to relinquish their bodies, and thus He relieved the burden of the world. This action was like picking out a thorn with a thorn, though both are the same to the controller.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > yathâ matsyâdi-rûpâni

> > dhatte jahyâd yathâ nathah

> > bhû-bhârah kshapito yena

> > jahau tac ca kalevaram

> > yathâ--as much as; matsya-âdi--incarnation as a fish, etc.; rûpâni--forms; dhatte--eternally accepts; jahyât--apparently relinquishes; yathâ--exactly like; nathah--magician; bhû-bhârah--burden of the world; kshapitah--relieved; yena--by which; jahau--let go; tat--that; ca--also; kalevaram--body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord relinquished the body which He manifested to diminish the burden of the earth. Just like a magician, He relinquishes one body to accept different ones, like the fish incarnation and others.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > yadâ mukundo bhagavân imâm mahîm

> > jahau sva-tanvâ s'ravanîya-sat-kathah

> > tadâhar evâpratibuddha-cetasâm

> > abhadra-hetuh kalir anvavartata

> > yadâ--when; mukundah--Lord Krishna; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; imâm--this; mahîm--earth; jahau--left; sva-tanvâ--with His selfsame body; s'ravanîya-sat-kathah--hearing about Him is worthwhile; tadâ--at that time; ahah eva--from the very day; apratibuddha-cetasâm--of those whose minds are not sufficientlydeveloped; abhadra-hetuh--cause of all ill fortune; kalih anvavartata--Kali fully manifested.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, left this earthly planet in His selfsame form, from that very day Kali, who had already partially appeared, became fully manifest to create inauspicious conditions for those who are endowed with a poor fund of knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > yudhishthhiras tat parisarpanam budhah

> > pure ca râshthre ca grihe tathâtmani

> > vibhâvya lobhânrita-jihma-himsanâdy-

> > adharma-cakram gamanâya paryadhât

> > yudhishthhirah--Mahârâja Yudhishthhira; tat--that; parisarpanam--expansion; budhah--thoroughly experienced; pure--in the capital; ca--as also; râshthre--in the state; ca--and; grihe--at home; tathâ--as also; âtmani--in person; vibhâvya--observing; lobha--avarice; anrita--untruth; jihma--diplomacy; himsana-âdi--violence, envy; adharma--irreligion; cakram--a vicious circle; gamanâya--for departure; paryadhât--dressed himself accordingly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mahârâja Yudhishthhira was intelligent enough to understand the influence of the age of Kali, characterized by increasing avarice, falsehood, cheating and violence throughout the capital, state, home and among individuals. So he wisely prepared himself to leave home, and he dressed accordingly.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > sva-rât pautram vinayinam

> > âtmanah susamam gunaih

> > toya-nîvyâh patim bhûmer

> > abhyashin'cad gajâhvaye

> > sva-rât--the emperor; pautram--unto the grandson; vinayinam--properly trained; âtmanah--his own self; su-saam--equal in all respects; gunaih--by the qualities; toya-nîvyâh--bordered by the seas; patim--master; bhûmeh--of the land; abhyashin'cat--enthroned; gajâh-vaye--in the capital of Hastinâpura.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, in the capital of Hastinâpura, he enthroned his grandson, who was trained and equally qualified, as the emperor and master of all land bordered by the seas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > mathurâyâm tathâ vajram

> > s'ûrasena-patim tatah

> > prâjâpatyâm nirûpyeshthim

> > agnîn apibad îs'varah

> > mathurâyâm--at Mathurâ; tathâ--also; vajram--Vajra; s'ûrasena-patim--King of the S'ûrasenas; tatah--thereafter; prâjâpatyâm--Prâjâpatya sacrifice; nirûpya--having performed; ishthim--goal; agnîn--fire; apibat--placed in himself; îs'varah--capable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha [grandson of Lord Krishna], at Mathurâ as the King of S'ûrasena. Afterwards Mahârâja Yudhishthhira performed a Prâjâpatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > visrijya tatra tat sarvam

> > dukûla-valayâdikam

> > nirmamo nirahankârah

> > san'chinnâs'esha-bandhanah

> > visrijya--relinquishing; tatra--all those; tat--that; sarvam--everything; dukûla--belt; valaya-âdikam--and bangles; nirmamah--uninterested; nirahankarah--unattached; san'chinna--perfectly cut off; as'esha-bandhanah--unlimited attachment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mahârâja Yudhishthhira at once relinquished all his garments, belt and ornaments of the royal order and became completely disinterested and unattached to everything.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > vâcam juhâva manasi

> > tat prâna itare ca tam

> > mrityâv apânam sotsargam

> > tam pan'catve hy ajohavît

> > vâcam--speeches; juhâva--relinquished; manasi--into the mind; tat prâne--mind into breathing; itare ca--other senses also; tam--into that; mrityau--into death; apânam--breathing; sa-utsargam--with all dedication; tam--that; pan'catve--into the body made of five elements; hi--certainly; ajohavît--amalgamated it.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then he amalgamated all the sense organs into the mind, then the mind into life, life into breathing, his total existence into the embodiment of the five elements, and his body into death. Then, as pure self, he became free from the material conception of life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > tritve hutvâ ca pan'catvam

> > tac caikatve 'juhon munih

> > sarvam âtmany ajuhavîd

> > brahmany âtmânam avyaye

> > tritve--into the three qualities; hutvâ--having offered; ca--also; pan'catvam--five elements; tat--that; ca--also; ekatve--in one nescience; ajuhot--amalgamated; munih--the thoughtful; sarvam--the sum total; âtmani--in the soul; ajuhavît--fixed; brahmani--unto the spirit; âtmânam--the soul; avyaye--unto the inexhaustible.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus annihilating the gross body of five elements into the three qualitative modes of material nature, he merged them in one nescience and then absorbed that nescience in the self, Brahman, which is inexhaustible in all circumstances.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > cîra-vâsâ nirâhâro

> > baddha-vân mukta-mûrdhajah

> > dars'ayann âtmano rûpam

> > jadonmatta-pis'âcavat

> > anavekshamâno niragâd

> > as'rinvan badhiro yathâ

> > cîra-vâsâh--accepted torn clothing; nirâhârah--gave up all solid foodstuff; baddha-vâk--stopped talking; mukta-mûrdhajah--untied his hair; dars'ayan--began to show; âtmanah--of himself; rûpam--bodily features; jada--inert; unmatta--mad; pis'âca-vat--just like an urchin; anavekshamânah--without waiting for; niragât--was situated; as'rinvan--without hearing; badhirah--just like a deaf man; yathâ--as if.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After that, Mahârâja Yudhishthhira dressed himself in torn clothing, gave up eating all solid foods, voluntarily became dumb and let his hair hang loose. All this combined to make him look like an urchin or madman with no occupation. He did not depend on his brothers for anything. And, just like a deaf man, he heard nothing.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > udîcîm pravives'âs'âm

> > gata-pûrvâm mahâtmabhih

> > hridi brahma param dhyâyan

> > nâvarteta yato gatah

> > udîcîm--the northern side; pravives'a-âs'âm--those who wanted to enter there; gata-pûrvâm--the path accepted by his forefathers; mahâ-âtmabhih--by the broad-minded; hridi--within the heart; brahma--the Supreme; param--Godhead; dhyâyan--constantly thinking of; na âvarteta--passed his days; yatah--wherever; gatah--went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He then started towards the north, treading the path accepted by his forefathers and great men, to devote himself completely to the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he lived in that way wherever he went.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > sarve tam anunirjagmur

> > bhrâtarah krita-nis'cayâh

> > kalinâdharma-mitrena

> > drishthvâ sprishthâh prajâ bhuvi

> > sarve--all his younger brothers; tam--him; anunirjagmuh--left home by following the elder; bhrâtarah--brothers; krita-nis'cayâh--decidedly; kalinâ--by the age of Kali; adharma--principle of irreligion; mitrena--by the friend; drishthvâ--observing; sprishthâh--having overtaken; prajâh--all citizens; bhuvi--on the earth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The younger brothers of Mahârâja Yudhishthhira observed that the age of Kali had already arrived throughout the world and that the citizens of the kingdom were already affected by irreligious practice. Therefore they decided to follow in the footsteps of their elder brother.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > te sâdhu-krita-sarvârthâ

> > jn'âtvâtyantikam âtmanah

> > manasâ dhârayâm âsur

> > vaikunthha-caranâmbujam

> > te--all of them; sâdhu-krita--having performed everything worthy of a saint; sarva-arthâh--that which includes everything worthy; jn'âtvâ--knowing it well; âtyantikam--the ultimate; âtmanah--of the living being; manasâ--within the mind; dhârayâm âsuh--sustained; vaikunthha--the Lord of the spiritual sky; carana-ambujam--the lotus feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > They all had performed all the principles of religion and as a result rightly decided that the lotus feet of the Lord S'rî Krishna are the supreme goal of all. Therefore they meditated upon His feet without interruption.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47-48

> > tad-dhyânodriktayâ bhaktyâ

> > vis'uddha-dhishanâh pare

> > tasmin nârâyana-pade

> > ekânta-matayo gatim

> > avâpur duravâpâm te

> > asadbhir vishayâtmabhih

> > vidhûta-kalmashâ sthânam

> > virajenâtmanaiva hi

> > tat--that; dhyâna--positive meditation; utriktayâ--being freed from; bhaktyâ--by a devotional attitude; vis'uddha--purified; dhishanâh--by intelligence; pare--unto the Transcendence; tasmin--in that; nârâyana--the Personality of Godhead S'rî Krishna; pade--unto the lotus feet; ekânta-matayah--of those who are fixed in the Supreme, who is one; gatim--destination; avâpuh--attained; duravâpâm--very difficult to obtain; te--by them; asadbhih--by the materialists; vishaya-âtmabhih--absorbed in material needs; vidhûta--washed off; kalmashâh--material contaminations; sthânam--abode; virajena--without material passion; âtmanâ eva--by the selfsame body; hi--certainly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus by pure consciousness due to constant devotional remembrance, they attained the spiritual sky, which is ruled over by the Supreme Nârâyana, Lord Krishna. This is attained only by those who meditate upon the one Supreme Lord without deviation. This abode of the Lord S'rî Krsna, known as Goloka Vrindâvana, cannot be attained by persons who are absorbed in the material conception of life. But the Pândavas, being completely washed of all material contamination, attained that abode in their very same bodies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > viduro 'pi parityajya

> > prabhâse deham âtmanah

> > krishnâves'ena tac-cittah

> > pitribhih sva-kshayam yayau

> > vidurah--Vidura (the uncle of Mahârâja Yudhishthhira); api--also; parityajya--after quitting the body; prabhâse--in the place of pilgrimage at Prabhâsa; deham âtmanah--his body; krishna--the Personality of Godhead; âves'ena--being absorbed in that thought; tat--his; cittah--thoughts and actions; pitribhih--along with the residents of Pitriloka; sva-kshayam--his own abode; yayau--departed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Vidura, while on pilgrimage, left his body at Prabhâsa. Because he was absorbed in thought of Lord Krishna, he was received by the denizens of Pitriloka planet, where he returned to his original post.

> > ******

> > TEXT 50

> > draupadî ca tadâjn'âya

> > patînâm anapekshatâm

> > vâsudeve bhagavati

> > hy ekânta-matir âpa tam

> > draupadî--Draupadî (the wife of the Pândavas); ca--and; tadâ--at that time: âjn'âya--knowing Lord Krishna fully well; patînâm--of the husbands; anapekshatâm--whodid not care for her; vâsudeve--unto Lord Vâsudeva (Krishna); bhagavati--the personality of Godhead; hi--exactly; eka-anta--absolutely; matih--concentration; âpa--got; tam--Him (the Lord).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Draupadî also saw that her husbands, without caring for her, were leaving home. She knew well about Lord Vâsudeva, Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. Both she and Subhadrâ became absorbed in thoughts of Krishna and attained the same results as their husbands.

> > ******

> > TEXT 51

> > yah s'raddhayaitad bhagavat-priyânâm

> > pândoh sutânâm iti samprayânam

> > s'rinoty alam svastyayanam pavitram

> > labdhvâ harau bhaktim upaiti siddhim

> > yah--anyone who; s'raddhayâ--with devotion; etat--this; bhagavat-priyânâm--of those who are very dear to the Personality of Godhead; pândoh--of Pându; sutânâm--of the sons; iti--thus; samprayânam--departure for the ultimate goal; s'rinoti--hears; alam--only; svastyayanam--good fortune; pavitram--perfectly pure; labdhvâ--by obtaining; harau--unto the Supreme Lord; bhaktim--devotional service; upaiti--gains; siddhim--perfection.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The subject of the departure of the sons of Pându for the ultimate goal of life, back to Godhead, is fully auspicious and is perfectly pure. Therefore anyone who hears this narration with devotional faith certainly gains the devotional service of the Lord, the highest perfection of life.

> Back to the running text