> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Fourty-nine: Akrûra's Mission in Hastinâpura

> > TEXTS 1 - 2

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > sa gatvâ hâstinapuram

> > pauravendra-yas'o-'nkitam

> > dadars'a tatrâmbikeyam

> > sa-bhîshmam viduram prithâm

> > saha-putram ca bâhlîkam

> > bhâradvâjam sa-gautamam

> > karnam suyodhanam draunim

> > pândavân suhrido 'parân

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; sah - he (Akrûra); gatvâ - going; hâstina-puram - to Hastinâpura; paurava-indra - of the rulers of the dynasty of Pûru; yas'ah - by the glory; ankitam - decorated; dadars'a - he saw; tatra - there; âmbikeyam - the son of Ambikâ (Dhritarâshthra); sa - together with; bhîshmam - Bhîshma; viduram - Vidura; prithâm - Prithâ (Kuntî, the widow of King Pându);

> > saha-putram - with his son (namely, Somadatta); ca - and; bâhlîkam - Mahârâja Bâhlîka; bhâradvâjam - Drona; sa - and; gautamam - Kripa; karnam - Karna; suyodhanam - Duryodhana; draunim - the son of Drona (As'vatthâmâ); pândavân - the sons of Pându; suhridah - friends; aparân - other.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Akrûra went to Hastinâpura, the city distinguished by the glory of the Paurava rulers. There he saw Dhritarâshthra, Bhîshma, Vidura and Kunti, along with Bâhlika and his son Somadatta. He also saw Dronâcârya, Kripâcârya, Karna, Duryodhana, As'vatthâmâ, the Pândavas and other close friends.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > yathâvad upasangamya

> > bandhubhir gândinî-sutah

> > samprishthas taih suhrid-vârtâm

> > svayam câpricchad avyayam

> > yathâ-vat - appropriately; upasangamya - meeting; bandhubhih - with his relatives and friends; gândinî-sutah - Akrûra, son of Gândinî; samprishthah - inquired from; taih - by them; suhrit - of their dear ones; vârtâm - for news; svayam - himself; ca - in addition; apricchat - asked; avyayam - about their well-being.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After Akrûra, the son of Gândinî, had appropriately greeted all his relatives and friends, they asked him for news of their family members, and he in turn asked about their welfare.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > uvâsa katicin mâsân

> > râjn'o vritta-vivitsayâ

> > dushprajasyâlpa-sârasya

> > khala-cchandânuvartinah

> > uvâsa - resided; katicit - some; mâsân - months; râjn'ah - of the King (Dhritarâshthra); vritta - the activity; vivitsayâ - with the desire of finding out; dushprajasya - whose sons were wicked; alpa - weak; sârasya - whose determination; khala - of mischievous persons (like Karna); chanda - the desires; anuvartinah - who tended to follow.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He remained in Hastinâpura for several months to scrutinize the conduct of the weak-willed King, who had bad sons and who was inclined to give in to the whims of mischievous advisers.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 5 - 6

> > teja ojo balam vîryam

> > pras'rayâdîms' ca sad-gunân

> > prajânurâgam pârtheshu

> > na sahadbhis' cikîrishitam

> > kritam ca dhârtarâshthrair yad

> > gara-dânâdy apes'alam

> > âcakhyau sarvam evâsmai

> > prithâ vidura eva ca

> > tejah - the influence; ojah - skill; balam - strength; vîryam - bravery; pras'raya - humility; âdîn - and so on; ca - and; sat - excellent; gunân - qualities; prajâ - of the citizens; anurâgam - the great affection; pârtheshu - for the sons of Prithâ; na sahadbhih - of those who could not tolerate; cikîrshitam - the intentions;

> > kritam - had been done; ca - also; dhârtarâshthraih - by the sons of Dhritarâshthra; yat - what; gara - of poison; dâna - the giving; âdi - and so on; apes'alam - unbecoming; âcakhyau - told; sarvam - everything; eva - indeed; asmai - to him (Akrûra); prithâ - Kuntî; vidurah - Vidura; eva ca - both.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kuntî and Vidura described to Akrûra in detail the evil intentions of Dhritarâshthra's sons, who could not tolerate the great qualities of Kuntî's sons - such as their powerful influence, military skill, physical strength, bravery and humility - or the intense affection the citizens had for them. Kuntî and Vidura also told Akrûra about how the sons of Dhritarâshthra had tried to poison the Pândavas and carry out other such plots.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > prithâ tu bhrâtaram prâptam

> > akrûram upasritya tam

> > uvâca janma-nilayam

> > smaranty as'ru-kalekshanâ

> > prithâ - Kuntî; tu - and; bhrâtaram - her brother (more exactly, the grandson of Vrishni, her own and Vasudeva's tenth-generation ancestor); prâptam - obtained; akrûram - Akrûra; upasritya - approaching; tam - him; uvâca - she said; janma - of her birth; nilayam - the home (Mathurâ); smarantî - remembering; as'ru - of tears; kalâ - with traces; îkshanâ - whose eyes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Kuntîdevî, taking advantage of her brother Akrûra's visit, approached him confidentially. While remembering her birthplace, she spoke with tears in her eyes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > api smaranti nah saumya

> > pitarau bhrâtaras' ca me

> > bhaginyau bhrâtri-putrâs' ca

> > jâmayah sakhya eva ca

> > api - whether; smaranti - they remember; nah - us; saumya - O gentle one; pitarau - parents; bhrâtarah - brothers; ca - and; me - my; bhaginyau - sisters; bhrâtri-putrâh - brother's sons; ca - and; jâmayah - women of the family; sakhyah - girlfriends; eva ca - also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Queen Kuntî said:] O gentle one, do my parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, family women and girlhood friends still remember us?

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > bhrâtreyo bhagavân krishnah

> > s'aranyo bhakta-vatsalah

> > paitri-shvasreyân smarati

> > râmas' câmburuhekshanah

> > bhrâtreyah - brother's son; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; krishnah - Krishna; s'aranyah - the giver of shelter; bhakta - to His devotees; vatsalah - compassionate; paitri-svasreyân - the sons of His father's sister; smarati - remembers; râmah - Lord Balarâma; ca - and; amburuha - like lotus petals; îkshanah - whose eyes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Does my nephew Krishna, the Supreme Personality and the compassionate shelter of His devotees, still remember His aunt's sons? And does lotus-eyed Râma remember them also?

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sapatna-madhye s'ocantîm

> > vrikânâm harinîm iva

> > sântvayishyati mâm vâkyaih

> > pitri-hînâms' ca bâlakân

> > sapatna - of enemies; madhye - in the midst; s'ocantîm - who is lamenting; vrikânâm - of wolves; harinîm - a doe; iva - like; sântvayishyati - will He console; mâm - me; vâkyaih - with His words; pitri - of their father; hînân - deprived; ca - and; bâlakân - young boys.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now that I am suffering in the midst of my enemies like a doe in the midst of wolves, will Krishna come to console me and my fatherless sons with His words?

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > krishna krishna mahâ-yogin

> > vis'vâtman vis'va-bhâvana

> > prapannâm pâhi govinda

> > s'is'ubhis' câvasîdatîm

> > krishna krishna - O Krishna, Krishna; mahâ-yogin - possessor of the greatest spiritual power; vis'va-âtman - O Supreme Soul of the universe; vis'va-bhâvana - O protector of the universe; prapannâm - a surrendered lady; pâhi - please protect; govinda - O Govinda; s'is'ubhih - along with my children; ca - and; avasîdatîm - who am sinking down in distress.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Krishna, Krishna! O great yogi! O Supreme Soul and protector of the universe! O Govinda! Please protect me, who have surrendered to You. I and my sons are being overwhelmed by trouble.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > nânyat tava padâmbhojât

> > pas'yâmi s'aranam nrinâm

> > bibhyatâm mrityu-samsârâd

> > îsvarasyâpavargikât

> > na - no; anyat - other; tava - Your; pada-ambhojât - than the lotus feet; pas'yâmi - I see; s'aranam - shelter; nrinâm - for men; bibhyatâm - fearful; mrityu - of death; samsârât - and rebirth; îs'varasya - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âpavargikât - which give liberation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > For persons fearful of death and rebirth, I see no shelter other than Your liberating lotus feet, for You are the Supreme Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > namah krishnâya s'uddhâya

> > brahmane paramâtmane

> > yoges'varâya yogâya

> > tvâm aham s'aranam gatâ

> > namah - obeisances; krishnâya - to Krishna; s'uddhâya - the pure; brahmane - the Absolute Truth; parama-âtmane - the Supersoul; yoga - of pure devotional service; îs'varâya - the controller; yogâya - the source of all knowledge; tvâm - You; aham - I; s'aranam - for shelter; gatâ - have approached.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I offer my obeisances unto You, Krishna, the supreme pure, the Absolute Truth and the Supersoul, the Lord of pure devotional service and the source of all knowledge. I have come to You for shelter.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ity anusmritya sva-janam

> > krishnam ca jagad-îs'varam

> > prârudad duhkhitâ râjan

> > bhavatâm prapitâmahî

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - as expressed in these words; anusmritya - remembering; sva-janam - her own relatives; krishnam - Krishna; ca - and; jagat - of the universe; îs'varam - the Supreme Lord; prârudat - she cried loudly; duhkhitâ - unhappy; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); bhavatâm - of your good self; prapitâmahî - the great-grandmother.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus meditating on her family members and also on Krishna, the Lord of the universe, your great-grandmother Kuntîdevî began to cry out in grief, O King.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > sama-duhkha-sukho 'krûro

> > viduras' ca mahâ-yas'âh

> > sântvayâm âsatuh kuntîm

> > tat-putrotpatti-hetubhih

> > sama - equal (with her); duhkha - in distress; sukhah - and happiness; akrûrah - Akrûra; vidurah - Vidura; ca - and; mahâ-yas'âh - most famous; sântvayâm âsatuh - the two of them consoled; kuntîm - S'rîmatî Kuntîdevî; tat - her; putra - of the sons; utpatti - of the births; hetubhih - with explanations about the origins.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Both Akrûra, who shared Queen Kuntî's distress and happiness, and the illustrious Vidura consoled the Queen by reminding her of the extraordinary way her sons had taken birth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > yâsyan râjânam abhyetya

> > vishamam putra-lâlasam

> > avadat suhridâm madhye

> > bandhubhih sauhridoditam

> > yâsyan - when he was about to go; râjânam - the King (Dhritarâshthra); abhyetya - going up to; vishamam - biased; putra - toward his sons; lâlasam - ardently affectionate; avadat - he spoke; suhridâm - relatives; madhye - among; bandhubhih - by well-wishing relatives (Lord Krishna and Lord Balarâma); sauhrida - in friendship; uditam - what had been said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The ardent affection King Dhritarâshthra felt for his sons had made him act unjustly toward the Pândavas. Just before leaving, Akrûra approached the King, who was seated among his friends and supporters, and related to him the message that his relatives - Lord Krishna and Lord Balarâma - had sent out of friendship.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > akrûra uvâca

> > bho bho vaicitravîrya tvam

> > kurûnâm kîrti-vardhana

> > bhrâtary uparate pândâv

> > adhunâsanam âsthitah

> > akrûrah uvâca - Akrûra said; bhoh bhoh - O my dear, my dear; vaicitravîrya - son of Vicitravîrya; tvam - you; kurûnâm - of the Kurus; kîrti - the glory; vardhana - O you who increase; bhrâtari - your brother; uparate - having passed away; pândau - Mahârâja Pându; adhunâ - now; âsanam - the throne; âsthitah - have assumed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Akrûra said: O my dear son of Vicitravîrya, O enhancer of the Kurus' glory, your brother Pându having passed away, you have now assumed the royal throne.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > dharmena pâlayann urvîm

> > prajâh s'îlena ran'jayan

> > vartamânah samah sveshu

> > s'reyah kîrtim avâpsyasi

> > dharmena - religiously; pâlayan - protecting; urvîm - the earth; prajâh - the citizens; s'îlena - by good character; ran'jayan - delighting; vartamânah - remaining; samah - equally disposed; sveshu - to your relatives; s'reyah - perfection; kîrtim - glory; avâpsyasi - you will achieve.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By religiously protecting the earth, delighting your subjects with your noble character, and treating all your relatives equally, you will surely achieve success and glory.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > anyathâ tv âcaraû loke

> > garhito yâsyase tamah

> > tasmât samatve vartasva

> > pândaveshv âtmajeshu ca

> > anyathâ - otherwise; tu - however; âcaran - acting; loke - in this world; garhitah - condemned; yâsyase - you will attain; tamah - darkness; tasmât - therefore; samatve - in equanimity; vartasva - remain situated; pândaveshu - toward the Pândavas; âtma-jeshu - toward your sons; ca - and.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If you act otherwise, however, people will condemn you in this world, and in the next life you will enter the darkness of hell. Remain equally disposed, therefore, toward Pându's sons and your own.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > neha câtyanta-samvâsah

> > kasyacit kenacit saha

> > râjan svenâpi dehena

> > kim u jâyâtmajâdibhih

> > na - not; iha - in this world; ca - and; atyanta - perpetual; samvâsah - association (dwelling together); kasyacit - of anyone; kenacit saha - with anyone; râjan - O King; svena - with one's own; api - even; dehena - body; kim u - what to speak then; jâyâ - with wife; âtma-ja - children; âdibhih - and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this world no one has any permanent relationship with anyone else, O King. We cannot stay forever even with our own body, what to speak of our wife, children and the rest.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > ekah prasûyate jantur

> > eka eva pralîyate

> > eko 'nubhunkte sukritam

> > eka eva ca dushkritam

> > ekah - alone; prasûyate - is born; jantuh - a living creature; ekah - alone; eva - also; pralîyate - meets his demise; ekah - alone; anubhunkte - enjoys as is due him; sukritam - his good reactions; ekah - alone; eva ca - and surely; dushkritam - bad reactions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Every creature is born alone and dies alone, and alone one experiences the just rewards of his good and evil deeds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > adharmopacitam vittam

> > haranty anye 'lpa-medhasah

> > sambhojanîyâpades'air

> > jalânîva jalaukasah

> > adharma - by irreligious means; upacitam - gathered; vittam - wealth; haranti - steal; anye - other persons; alpa-medhasah - of one who is unintelligent; sambhojanîya - as requiring support; apades'aih - by the false designations; jalâni - water; iva - as; jala-okasah - of a resident of the water.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the guise of dear dependents, strangers steal the sinfully acquired wealth of a foolish man, just as the offspring of a fish drink up the water that sustains the fish.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > pushnâti yân adharmena

> > sva-buddhyâ tam apanditam

> > te 'kritârtham prahinvanti

> > prânâ râyah sutâdayah

> > pushnâti - nourishes; yân - which things; adharmena - by sinful activity; sva- buddhyâ - thinking them to be his own; tam - him; apanditam - uneducated; te - they; akrita-artham - his purposes frustrated; prahinvanti - abandon; prânâh - life air; râyah - wealth; suta-âdayah - children and others.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A fool indulges in sin to maintain his life, wealth and children and other relatives, for he thinks, "These things are mine." In the end, however, these very things all abandon him, leaving him frustrated.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > svayam kilbisham âdâya

> > tais tyakto nârtha-kovidah

> > asiddhârtho vis'aty andham

> > sva-dharma-vimukhas tamah

> > svayam - for himself; kilbisham - sinful reaction; âdâya - taking on; taih - by them; tyaktah - abandoned; na - not; artha - the purpose of his life; kovidah - knowing properly; asiddha - unfulfilled; arthah - whose goals; vis'ati - he enters; andham - blind; sva - his own; dharma - to the religious duty; vimukhah - indifferent; tamah - darkness (of hell).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Abandoned by his so-called dependents, ignorant of the actual goal of life, indifferent to his real duty, and having failed to fulfill his purposes, the foolish soul enters the blindness of hell, taking his sinful reactions with him.

> > PURPORT

> > It is sadly ironic that materialistic persons, who labor so assiduously to accumulate insurance, security, property and family, enter the darkness of hell equipped with nothing but the painful reactions of their sins. On the other hand, those who cultivate Krishna consciousness, spiritual life, while apparently neglecting to accumulate property, a large family and so on, enter the next life enriched with many spiritual assets and thus enjoy the deep pleasures of the soul.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > tasmâl lokam imam râjan

> > svapna-mâyâ-manoratham

> > vîkshyâyamyâtmanâtmânam

> > samah s'ânto bhava prabho

> > tasmât - therefore; lokam - world; imam - this; râjan - O King; svapna - as a dream; mâyâ - a magic trick; manah-ratham - or a fantasy in the mind; vîkshya - seeing; âyamya - bringing under control; âtmanâ - by intelligence; âtmânam - the mind; samah - equal; s'ântah - peaceful; bhava - become; prabho - my dear master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore, O King, looking upon this world as a dream, a magician's illusion or a flight of fancy, please control your mind with intelligence and become equipoised and peaceful, my lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > dhritarâshthra uvâca

> > yathâ vadati kalyânîm

> > vâcam dâna-pate bhavân

> > tathânayâ na tripyâmi

> > martyah prâpya yathâmritam

> > dhritarâshthrah uvâca - Dhritarâshthra said; yathâ - as; vadati - speak; kalyânîm - auspicious; vâcam - words; dâna - of charity; pate - O master; bhavân - you; tathâ - so; anayâ - by this; na tripyâmi - I am not satiated; martyah - a mortal; prâpya - attaining; yathâ - as if; amritam - the nectar of immortality.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dhritarâshthra said: O master of charity, I can never be satiated while hearing your auspicious words. Indeed, I am like a mortal who has obtained the nectar of the gods.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > tathâpi sûnritâ saumya

> > hridi na sthîyate cale

> > putrânurâga-vishame

> > vidyut saudâmanî yathâ

> > tathâ api - nevertheless; sûnritâ - pleasing words; saumya - O gentle one; hridi - in my heart; na sthîyate - do not remain steady; cale - which is unsteady; putra - for my sons; anurâga - by affection; vishame - prejudiced; vidyut - lightning; saudâmanî - in a cloud; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Even so, gentle Akrûra, because my unsteady heart is prejudiced by affection for my sons, these pleasing words of yours cannot remain fixed there, just as lightning cannot remain fixed in a cloud.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > îs'varasya vidhim ko nu

> > vidhunoty anyathâ pumân

> > bhûmer bhârâvatârâya

> > yo 'vatîrno yadoh kule

> > îs'varasya - of the Supreme Lord; vidhim - the law; kah - what; nu - at all; vidhunoti - can shake off; anyathâ - otherwise; pumân - person; bhûmeh - of the earth; bhâra - the burden; avatârâya - in order to diminish; yah - who; avatîrnah - has descended; yadoh - of Yadu; kule - in the family.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Who can defy the injunctions of the Supreme Lord, who has now descended in the Yadu dynasty to diminish the earth's burden?

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > yo durvimars'a-pathayâ nija-mâyayedam

> > srishthvâ gunân vibhajate tad-anupravishthah

> > tasmai namo duravabodha-vihâra-tantra-

> > samsâra-cakra-gataye parames'varâya

> > yah - who; durvimars'a - inconceivable; pathayâ - whose path; nija - by His own; mâyayâ - creative energy; idam - this universe; srishthvâ - creating; gunân - its modes; vibhajate - He distributes; tat - within it; anupravishthah - entering; tasmai - to Him; namah - obeisances; duravabodha - unfathomable; vihâra - of whose pastimes; tantra - the purport; samsâra - of birth and death; cakra - the cycle; gataye - and liberation (coming from whom); parama-îs'varâya - to the supreme controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I offer my obeisances to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates this universe by the inconceivable activity of His material energy and then distributes the various modes of nature by entering within the creation. From Him, the meaning of whose pastimes is unfathomable, come both the entangling cycle of birth and death and the process of deliverance from it.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ity abhipretya nripater

> > abhiprâyam sa yâdavah

> > suhridbhih samanujn'âtah

> > punar yadu-purîm agât

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus; abhipretya - ascertaining; nripateh - of the King; abhiprâyam - the mentality; sah - he; yâdavah - Akrûra, the descendant of King Yadu; suhridbhih - by his well-wishers; samanujn'âtah - given permission to leave; punah - again; yadu-purîm - to the city of the Yadu dynasty; agât - went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Having thus apprised himself of the King's attitude, Akrûra, the descendant of Yadu, took permission from his well-wishing relatives and friends and returned to the capital of the Yâdavas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > s'as'amsa râma-krishnâbhyâm

> > dhritarâshthra-viceshthitam

> > pândavân prati kauravya

> > yad-artham preshitah svayam

> > s'as'amsa - he reported; râma-krishnâbhyâm - to Lord Balarâma and Lord Krishna; dhritarâshthra-viceshthitam - the behavior of King Dhritarâshthra; pândavân prati - toward the sons of Pându; kauravya - O descendant of the Kurus (Parîkchit); yat - for which; artham - purpose; preshitah - sent; svayam - himself.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Akrûra reported to Lord Balarâma and Lord Krishna how Dhritarâshthra was behaving toward the Pândavas. Thus, O descendant of the Kurus, he fulfilled the purpose for which he had been sent.

> > Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupâda to the Tenth Canto, Forty-ninth Chapter, of the S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam, entitled "Akrûra's Mission in Hastinâpura."

> > Back to the running text