Chapter 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī's Sons

 

10.85.1

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

athaikadātmajau prāptau

kṛta-pādābhivandanau

vasudevo 'bhinandyāha

prītyā sańkarṣaṇācyutau

 

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śukadeva Gosvāmī) said; atha — then; ekadā — one day; ātmajau — his two sons; prāptau — came to him; kṛta — having done; pāda — of his feet; abhivandanau — honoring; vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; abhinandya — greeting Them; āha — said; prītyā — affectionately; sańkarṣaṇa-acyutau — to Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: One day the two sons of Vasudeva — Sańkarṣaṇa and Acyuta — came to pay him respects, bowing down at his feet. Vasudeva greeted Them with great affection and spoke to Them.

 

10.85.2

munīnāḿ sa vacaḥ śrutvā

putrayor dhāma-sūcakam

tad-vīryair jāta-viśrambhaḥ

paribhāṣyābhyabhāṣata

 

munīnām — of the sages; saḥ — he; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; putrayoḥ — of his two sons; dhāma — the power; sūcakam — which referred to; tat — Their; vīryaiḥ — because of the valorous deeds; jāta — having developed; visrambhaḥ — conviction; paribhāṣya — addressing Them by name; abhyabhāṣata — he told Them.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having heard the great sages' words concerning the power of his two sons, and having seen Their valorous deeds, Vasudeva became convinced of Their divinity. Thus, addressing Them by name, he spoke to Them as follows.

 

10.85.3

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-yogin

sańkarṣaṇa sanātana

jāne vām asya yat sākṣāt

pradhāna-puruṣau parau

 

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa; mahā-yogin — O greatest yogī; sańkarṣaṇa — O Balarāma; sanātana — eternal; jāne — I know; vām — You two; asya — of this (universe); yat — which; sākṣāt — directly; pradhāna — the creative principle of nature; puruṣau — and the creating Personality of Godhead; parau — supreme.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Vasudeva said:] O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, best of yogīs, O eternal Sańkarṣaṇa! I know that You two are personally the source of universal creation and the ingredients of creation as well.

 

10.85.4

yatra yena yato yasya

yasmai yad yad yathā yadā

syād idaḿ bhagavān sākṣāt

pradhāna-puruṣeśvaraḥ

 

yatra — in which; yena — by which; yataḥ — from which; yasya — of which; yasmai — unto which; yat yat — whatever; yathā — however; yadā — whenever; syāt — comes into existence; idam — this (creation); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sākṣāt — in His personal presence; pradhāna-puruṣa — of nature and its creator (Mahā-Viṣṇu); īśvaraḥ — the predominator.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who manifest as the Lord of both nature and the creator of nature [Mahā-Viṣṇu]. Everything that comes into existence, however and whenever it does so, is created within You, by You, from You, for You and in relation to You.

 

10.85.5

etan nānā-vidhaḿ viśvam

ātma-sṛṣṭam adhokṣaja

ātmanānupraviśyātman

prāṇo jīvo bibharṣy aja

 

etat — this; nānā-vidham — variegated; viśvam — universe; ātma — from Yourself; sṛṣṭam — created; adhokṣaja — O transcendental Lord; ātmanā — in Your manifestation (as the Paramātmā); anupraviśya — entering within; ātman — O Supreme Soul; prāṇaḥ — the principle of vitality; jīvaḥ — and the principle of consciousness; bibharṣi — You maintain; aja — O unborn one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O transcendental Lord, from Yourself You created this entire variegated universe, and then You entered within it in Your personal form as the Supersoul. In this way, O unborn Supreme Soul, as the life force and consciousness of everyone, You maintain the creation.

 

10.85.6

prāṇādīnāḿ viśva-sṛjāḿ

śaktayo yāḥ parasya tāḥ

pāratantryād vaisādṛṣyād

dvayoś ceṣṭaiva ceṣṭatām

 

prāṇa — of the life air; ādīnām — and so on; viśva — of the universe; sṛjām — the creative factors; śaktayaḥ — potencies; yāḥ — which; parasya — belonging to the Supreme; tāḥ — they; pāratantryāt — because of being dependent; vaisādṛśyāt — because of being different; dvayoḥ — of both (living and nonliving manifestations in the material world); ceṣṭā — the activity; eva — merely; ceṣṭatām — of those entities (namely, prāṇa and so on) that are active.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whatever potencies the life air and other elements of universal creation exhibit are actually all personal energies of the Supreme Lord, for both life and matter are subordinate to Him and dependent on Him, and also different from one another. Thus everything active in the material world is set into motion by the Supreme Lord.

 

10.85.7

kāntis tejaḥ prabhā sattā

candrāgny-arkarkṣa-vidyutām

yat sthairyaḿ bhū-bhṛtāḿ bhūmer

vṛttir gandho 'rthato bhavān

 

kāntiḥ — the attractive glow; tejaḥ — brilliance; prabhā — luminosity; sattā — and particular existence; candra — of the moon; agni — fire; arka — the sun; ṛkṣa — the stars; vidyutām — and lightning; yat — which; sthairyam — permanence; bhū-bhṛtām — of mountains; bhūmeḥ — of the earth; vṛttiḥ — the quality of sustaining; gandhaḥ — fragrance; arthataḥ — in truth; bhavān — Yourself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The glow of the moon, the brilliance of fire, the radiance of the sun, the twinkling of the stars, the flash of lightning, the permanence of mountains and the aroma and sustaining power of the earth — all these are actually You.

 

10.85.8

tarpaṇaḿ prāṇanam apāḿ

deva tvaḿ tāś ca tad-rasaḥ

ojaḥ saho balaḿ ceṣṭā

gatir vāyos taveśvara

 

tarpaṇam — the capacity to generate satisfaction; prāṇanam — the giving of life; apām — of water; deva — O Lord; tvam — You; tāḥ — (water) itself; ca — and; tat — of it (water); rasaḥ — the taste; ojaḥ — bodily warmth and vitality, due to strength of the vital air; sahaḥ — mental strength; balam — and physical strength; ceṣṭā — endeavor; gatiḥ — and movement; vāyoḥ — of air; tava — Your; īśvara — O supreme controller.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You are water, and also its taste and and its capacities to quench thirst and sustain life. You exhibit Your potencies through the manifestations of the air as bodily warmth, vitality, mental power, physical strength, endeavor and movement.

 

10.85.9

diśāḿ tvam avakāśo 'si

diśaḥ khaḿ sphoṭa āśrayaḥ

nādo varṇas tvam oḿ-kāra

ākṛtīnāḿ pṛthak-kṛtiḥ

 

diśām — of the directions; tvam — You; avakāśaḥ — the power to accommodate; asi — are; diśaḥ — the directions; kham — the ether; sphoṭaḥ — elemental sound; āśrayaḥ — having (ether) as its basis; nādaḥ — sound in its form of unmanifest vibration; varṇaḥ — the primeval syllable; tvam — You; oḿ-kāraḥ — oḿ; ākṛtīnām — of particular forms; pṛthak-kṛtiḥ — the cause of differentiation (namely, manifest language).

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the directions and their accommodating capacity, the all-pervading ether and the elemental sound residing within it. You are the primeval, unmanifested form of sound; the first syllable, oḿ; and audible speech, by which sound, as words, acquires particular references.

 

10.85.10

indriyaḿ tv indriyāṇāḿ tvaḿ

devāś ca tad-anugrahaḥ

avabodho bhavān buddher

jīvasyānusmṛtiḥ satī

 

indriyam — the power to illuminate their objects; tu — and; indriyāṇām — of the senses; tvam — You; devāḥ — the demigods (who regulate the various senses); ca — and; tat — of them (the demigods); anugrahaḥ — the mercy (by which one's senses can act); avabodhaḥ — the power of decision; bhavān — You; buddheḥ — of intelligence; jīvasya — of the living entity; anusmṛtiḥ — the power of recollection; satī — correct.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the power of the senses to reveal their objects, the senses' presiding demigods, and the sanction these demigods give for sensory activity. You are the capacity of the intelligence for decision-making, and the living being's ability to remember things accurately.

 

10.85.11

bhūtānām asi bhūtādir

indriyāṇāḿ ca taijasaḥ

vaikāriko vikalpānāḿ

pradhānam anuśāyinam

 

bhūtānām — of the physical elements; asi — You are; bhūta-ādiḥ — their source, false ego in the mode of ignorance; indriyāṇām — of the senses; ca — and; taijasaḥ — false ego in the mode of passion; vaikārikaḥ — false ego in the mode of goodness; vikalpānām — of the creative demigods; pradhānam — the unmanifest, total material energy; anuśāyinam — underlying.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are false ego in the mode of ignorance, which is the source of the physical elements; false ego in the mode of passion, which is the source of the bodily senses; false ego in the mode of goodness, which is the source of the demigods; and the unmanifest, total material energy, which underlies everything.

 

10.85.12

naśvareṣv iha bhāveṣu

tad asi tvam anaśvaram

yathā dravya-vikāreṣu

dravya-mātraḿ nirūpitam

 

naśvareṣu — subject to destruction; iha — in this world; bhāveṣu — among entities; tat — that; asi — are; tvam — You; anaśvaram — the indestructible; yathā — just as; dravya — of a substance; vikāreṣu — among the transformations; dravya-mātram — the substance itself; nirūpitam — ascertained.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are the one indestructible entity among all the destructible things of this world, like the underlying substance that is seen to remain unchanged while the things made from it undergo transformations.

 

10.85.13

sattvam rajas tama iti

guṇās tad-vṛttayaś ca yāḥ

tvayy addhā brahmaṇi pare

kalpitā yoga-māyayā

 

sattvam rajaḥ tamaḥ iti — known as goodness, passion and ignorance; guṇāḥ — the modes of material nature; tat — their; vṛttayaḥ — functions; ca — and; yāḥ — which; tvayi — within You; addhāḥ — manifestly; brahmaṇi — within the Absolute Truth; pare — supreme; kalpitāḥ — arranged; yoga-māyayā — by Yogamāyā (the internal potency of the Supreme Lord that facilitates His pastimes).

 

TRANSLATION

 

The modes of material nature — namely goodness, passion and ignorance — together with all their functions, become directly manifest within You, the Supreme Absolute Truth, by the arrangement of Your Yogamāyā.

 

10.85.14

tasmān na santy amī bhāvā

yarhi tvayi vikalpitāḥ

tvaḿ cāmīṣu vikāreṣu

hy anyadāvyāvahārikaḥ

 

tasmāt — therefore; na — not; santi — exist; amī — these; bhāvāḥ — entities; yarhi — when; tvayi — within You; vikalpitāḥ — arranged; tvam — You; ca — also; amīṣu — within these; vikāreṣu — products of creation; hi — indeed; anyadā — at any other time; avyāvahārikaḥ — nonmaterial.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus these created entities, transformations of material nature, do not exist except when material nature manifests them within You, at which time You also manifest within them. But aside from such periods of creation, You stand alone as the transcendental reality.

 

10.85.15

guṇa-pravāha etasminn

abudhās tv akhilātmanaḥ

gatiḿ sūkṣmām abodhena

saḿsarantīha karmabhiḥ

 

guṇa — of the material modes; pravāhe — in the flow; etasmin — this; abudhāḥ — those who are ignorant; tu — but; akhila — of everything; ātmanaḥ — of the Soul; gatim — the destination; sūkṣmām — sublime; abodhena — because of their lack of understanding; saḿsaranti — they move through the cycle of birth and death; iha — in this world; karmabhiḥ — forced by their material activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

They are truly ignorant who, while imprisoned within the ceaseless flow of this world's material qualities, fail to know You, the Supreme Soul of all that be, as their ultimate, sublime destination. Because of their ignorance, the entanglement of material work forces such souls to wander in the cycle of birth and death.

 

10.85.16

yadṛcchayā nṛtāḿ prāpya

su-kalpām iha durlabhām

svārthe pramattasya vayo

gataḿ tvan-māyayeśvara

 

yadṛcchayā — somehow or other; nṛtām — human status; prāpya — obtaining; su-kalpām — fit; iha — in this life; durlabhām — difficult to achieve; sva — his own; arthe — about the welfare; pramattasya — of one who is confused; vayaḥ — the span of life; gatam — spent; tvat — Your; māyayā — by the illusory energy; īśvara — O Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By good fortune a soul may obtain a healthy human life — an opportunity rarely achieved. But if he is nonetheless deluded about what is best for him, O Lord, Your illusory Māyā will cause him to waste his entire life.

 

10.85.17

asāv aham mamaivaite

dehe cāsyānvayādiṣu

sneha-pāśair nibadhnāti

bhavān sarvam idaḿ jagat

 

asau — this; aham — I; mama — mine; eva — indeed; ete — these; dehe — in connection with one's body; ca — and; asya — of it; anvaya-ādiṣu — and in connection with progeny and other related things; sneha — of affection; pāśaiḥ — with the ropes; nibadhnāti — tie up; bhavān — You; sarvam — all; idam — this; jagat — world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You keep this whole world bound up by the ropes of affection, and thus when people consider their material bodies, they think, "This is me," and when they consider their progeny and other relations, they think, "These are mine."

 

10.85.18

yuvāḿ na naḥ sutau sākṣāt

pradhāna-puruṣeśvarau

bhū-bhāra-kṣatra-kṣapaṇa

avatīrṇau tathāttha ha

 

yuvām — You two; na — not; naḥ — our; sutau — sons; sākṣāt — directly; pradhāna-puruṣa — of nature and its creator (Mahā-Viṣṇu); īśvarau — the supreme controllers; bhū — of the earth; bhāra — the burden; kṣatra — royalty; kṣapaṇe — for eradicating; avatīrṇau — descended; tathā — so; āttha — You have said; ha — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are not our sons but the very Lords of both material nature and its creator [Mahā-Viṣṇu]. As You Yourself have told us, You have descended to rid the earth of the rulers who are a heavy burden upon her.

 

10.85.19

tat te gato 'smy araṇam adya padāravindam

āpanna-saḿsṛti-bhayāpaham ārta-bandho

etāvatālam alam indriya-lālasena

martyātma-dṛk tvayi pare yad apatya-buddhiḥ

 

tat — therefore; te — Your; gataḥ — come; asmi — I am; araṇam — for shelter; adya — today; pāda-aravindam — to the lotus feet; āpanna — for those who have surrendered; saḿsṛti — of material entanglement; bhaya — the fear; apaham — which remove; ārta — of the distressed; bandho — O friend; etāvatā — this much; alam alam — enough, enough; indriya — for sense enjoyment; lālasena — with hankering; martya — as mortal (the material body); ātma — myself; dṛk — whose seeing; tvayi — toward You; pare — the Supreme; yat — because of which (hankering); apatya — (of Your being my) child; buddhiḥ — the mentality.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, O friend of the distressed, I now approach Your lotus feet for shelter — the same lotus feet that dispel all fear of worldly existence for those who have surrendered to them. Enough! Enough with hankering for sense enjoyment, which makes me identify with this mortal body and think of You, the Supreme, as my child.

 

10.85.20

sūtī-gṛhe nanu jagāda bhavān ajo nau

sañjajña ity anu-yugaḿ nija-dharma-guptyai

nānā-tanūr gagana-vad vidadhaj jahāsi

ko veda bhūmna uru-gāya vibhūti-māyām

 

sūtī-gṛhe — in the maternity room; nanu — indeed; jagāda — said; bhavān — You; ajaḥ — the unborn Lord; nau — to us; sañjajñe — You have taken birth; iti — thus; anu-yugam — in one age after another; nija — Your own; dharma — the principles of religion; guptyai — to protect; nānā — various; tanūḥ — divine bodies; gagana-vat — like a cloud; vidadhat — assuming; jahāsi — You make unmanifest; kaḥ — who; veda — can understand; bhūmnaḥ — of the all-pervading Supreme Lord; uru-gāya — O You who are greatly glorified; vibhūti — of the opulent expansions; māyām — the mystic, deluding potency.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Indeed, while still in the maternity room You told us that You, the unborn Lord, had already been born several times as our son in previous ages. After manifesting each of these transcendental bodies to protect Your own principles of religion, You then made them unmanifest, thus appearing and disappearing like a cloud. O supremely glorified, all-pervading Lord, who can understand the mystic, deluding potency of Your opulent expansions?

 

10.85.21

śrī-śuka uvāca

ākarṇyetthaḿ pitur vākyaḿ

bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ

pratyāha praśrayānamraḥ

prahasan ślakṣṇayā girā

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ākarṇya — hearing; ittham — in this manner; pituḥ — of His father; vākyam — the statements; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvata-ṛṣabhaḥ — best of the Yadus; pratyāha — replied; praśraya — with humility; ānamraḥ — bowing (His head); prahasan — smiling broadly; ślakṣṇayā — gentle; girā — with a voice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having heard His father's words, the Supreme Lord, leader of the Sātvatas, replied in a gentle voice as He bowed His head in humility and smiled.

 

10.85.22

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

vaco vaḥ samavetārthaḿ

tātaitad upamanmahe

yan naḥ putrān samuddiśya

tattva-grāma udāhṛtaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Personality of Godhead said; vacaḥ — words; vaḥ — your; samaveta — appropriate; artham — whose meaning; tāta — O father; etat — these; upamanmahe — I consider; yat — since; naḥ — Us; putrān — your sons; samuddiśya — by referring to; tattva — of categories of fact; grāmaḥ — the totality; udāhṛtaḥ — set forth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: My dear father, I consider your statements appropriate, since you have explained the various categories of existence by referring to Us, your sons.

 

10.85.23

ahaḿ yūyam asāv ārya

ime ca dvārakāukasaḥ

sarve 'py evaḿ yadu-śreṣṭha

vimṛgyāḥ sa-carācaram

 

aham — I; yūyam — you; asau — He; āryaḥ — My respected brother (Balarāma); ime — these; ca — and; dvārakā-okasaḥ — inhabitants of Dvārakā; sarve — all; api — even; evam — in this same way; yadu-śreṣṭha — O best of the Yadus; vimṛgyāḥ — to be considered; sa — along with; cara — that which moves; acaram — and that which does not move.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Not only I, but also you, along with My respected brother and these residents of Dvārakā, should all be considered in this same philosophical light, O best of the Yadus. Indeed, we should include all that exists, both moving and nonmoving.

 

10.85.24

ātmā hy ekaḥ svayaḿ-jyotir

nityo 'nyo nirguṇo guṇaiḥ

ātma-sṛṣṭais tat-kṛteṣu

bhūteṣu bahudheyate

 

ātmā — the Supreme Soul; hi — indeed; ekaḥ — one; svayam-jyotiḥ — self-luminous; nityaḥ — eternal; anyaḥ — distinct (from the material energy); nirguṇaḥ — free from material qualities; guṇaiḥ — by the modes; ātma — from itself; sṛṣṭaiḥ — created; tat — in their; kṛteṣu — products; bhūteṣu — material entities; bahudhā — manifold; īyate — it appears.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The supreme spirit, Paramātmā, is indeed one. He is self-luminous and eternal, transcendental and devoid of material qualities. But through the agency of the very modes He has created, the one Supreme Truth manifests as many among the expansions of those modes.

 

10.85.25

khaḿ vāyur jyotir āpo bhūs

tat-kṛteṣu yathāśayam

āvis-tiro-'lpa-bhūry eko

nānātvaḿ yāty asāv api

 

kham — ether; vāyuḥ — air; jyotiḥ — fire; āpaḥ — water; bhūḥ — earth; tat — their; kṛteṣu — in the products; yathā-āśayam — according to the particular locations; āviḥ — manifest; tiraḥ — unmanifest; alpa — small; bhūri — large; ekaḥ — one; nānātvam — the status of being many; yāti — assumes; asau — it; api — also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth become visible, invisible, minute or extensive as they manifest in various objects. Similarly, the Paramātmā, though one, appears to become many.

 

10.85.26

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaḿ bhagavatā rājan

vasudeva udāhṛtaḥ

śrutvā vinaṣṭa-nānā-dhīs

tūṣṇīḿ prīta-manā abhūt

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); vasudevaḥ — Vasudeva; udāhṛtaḥ — spoken to; śrutvā — hearing; vinaṣṭa — destroyed; nānā — dualistic; dhīḥ — his mentality; tūṣṇīm — silent; prīta — satisfied; manāḥ — in his heart; abhūt — he was.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, hearing these instructions spoken to him by the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva became freed from all ideas of duality. Satisfied at heart, he remained silent.

 

10.85.27-28

atha tatra kuru-śreṣṭha

devakī sarva-devatā

śrutvānītaḿ guroḥ putram

ātmajābhyāḿ su-vismitā

 

kṛṣṇa-rāmau samāśrāvya

putrān kaḿsa-vihiḿsitān

smarantī kṛpaṇaḿ prāha

vaiklavyād aśru-locanā

 

atha — then; tatra — at that place; kuru-śreṣṭha — O best of the Kurus; devakī — mother Devakī; sarva — of everyone; devatā — the supremely worshipable goddess; śrutvā — having heard; nītam — brought back; guroḥ — of Their spiritual master; putram — the son; ātmajābhyām — by her two sons; su — very much; vismitā — amazed;

 

kṛṣṇa-rāmau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; samāśrāvya — clearly addressing; putrān — her sons; kaḿsa-vihiḿsitān — murdered by Kaḿsa; smarantī — remembering; kṛpaṇam — pitifully; prāha — she spoke; vaiklavyāt — due to her distraught condition; aśru — (filled with) tears; locanā — her eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At that time, O best of the Kurus, the universally worshiped Devakī took the opportunity to address her two sons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Previously she had heard with astonishment that They had brought Their spiritual master's son back from death. Now, thinking of her own sons who had been murdered by Kaḿsa, she felt great sorrow, and thus with tear-filled eyes she beseeched Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

 

10.85.29

śrī-devaky uvāca

rāma rāmāprameyātman

kṛṣṇa yogeśvareśvara

vedāhaḿ vāḿ viśva-sṛjām

īśvarāv ādi-pūruṣau

 

śrī-devakī uvāca — Śrī Devakī said; rāma rāma — O Rāma, Rāma; aprameya-ātman — O immeasurable Supersoul; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of mystic yoga; īśvara — O master; veda — know; aham — I; vām — You both; viśva — of the universe; sṛjām — of the creators; īśvarau — the Lords; ādi — original; pūruṣau — the two Personalities of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Devakī said: O Rāma, Rāma, immeasurable Supreme Soul! O Kṛṣṇa, Lord of all masters of yoga! I know that You are the ultimate rulers of all universal creators, the primeval Personalities of Godhead.

 

10.85.30

kala-vidhvasta-sattvānāḿ

rājñām ucchāstra-vartinām

bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānām

avatīrṇau kilādya me

 

kāla — by time; vidhvasta — destroyed; sattvānām — whose good qualities; rājñām — for (killing) the kings; ut-śāstra — outside the scope of scriptural rules; vartinām — who act; bhūmeḥ — for the earth; bhārāyamāṇānām — becoming a burden; avatīrṇau — (both of You) descended; kila — indeed; adya — now; me — to me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Taking birth from me, You have now descended to this world in order to kill those kings whose good qualities have been destroyed by the present age, and who thus defy the authority of revealed scriptures and burden the earth.

 

10.85.31

yasyāḿśāḿśāḿśa-bhāgena

viśvotpatti-layodayāḥ

bhavanti kila viśvātmaḿs

taḿ tvādyāhaḿ gatiḿ gatā

 

yasya — whose; aḿśa — of the expansion; aḿśa — of the expansion; aḿśa — of the expansion; bhāgena — by a part; viśva — of the universe; utpatti — the generation; laya — dissolution; udayāḥ — and prosperity; bhavanti — arise; kila — indeed; viśva-ātman — O Soul of all that be; tat — to Him; tvā — Yourself; adya — today; aham — I; gatim — for shelter; gatā — come.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Soul of all that be, the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe are all carried out by a fraction of an expansion of an expansion of Your expansion. Today I have come to take shelter of You, the Supreme Lord.

 

10.85.32-33

cirān mṛta-sutādāne

guruṇā kila coditau

āninyathuḥ pitṛ-sthānād

gurave guru-dakṣiṇām

 

tathā me kurutaḿ kāmaḿ

yuvāḿ yogeśvareśvarau

bhoja-rāja-hatān putrān

kāmaye draṣṭum āhṛtān

 

cirāt — for a long time; mṛta — dead; suta — the son; ādāne — to return; guruṇā — by Your spiritual master; kila — it has been heard; coditau — ordered; āninyathuḥ — You brought him; pitṛ — of the forefathers; sthānāt — from the place; gurave — to Your spiritual master; guru-dakṣiṇām — as a token of thanksgiving for Your guru's mercy;

 

tathā — in the same way; me — my; kurutam — please fulfill; kāmam — the desire; yuvām — You two; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of yoga; īśvarau — O masters; bhoja-rāja — by the King of Bhoja (Kaḿsa); hatān — killed; putrān — my sons; kāmaye — I wish; draṣṭum — to see; āhṛtān — brought back.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is said that when Your spiritual master ordered You to retrieve his long-dead son, You brought him back from the forefathers' abode as a token of remuneration for Your guru's mercy. Please fulfill my desire in the same way, O supreme masters of all yoga masters. Please bring back my sons who were killed by the King of Bhoja, so that I may see them once again.

 

10.85.34

ṛṣir uvāca

evaḿ sañcoditau mātrā

rāmaḥ kṛṣṇaś ca bhārata

sutalaḿ saḿviviśatur

yoga-māyām upāśritau

 

ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the sage (Śrī Śukadeva) said; evam — thus; sañcoditau — urged; mātrā — by Their mother; rāmaḥ — Balarāma; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; bhārata — O descendant of Bhārata (Parīkṣit); sutalam — the subterranean planet of Sutala, ruled by Bali Mahārāja; saḿviviśatuḥ — They entered; yoga-māyāyam — Their mystic pastime potency; upāśritau — utilizing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sage Śukadeva said: Thus entreated by Their mother, O Bhārata, Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa employed Their mystic Yogamāyā potency and entered the region of Sutala.

 

10.85.35

tasmin praviṣṭāv upalabhya daitya-rāḍ

viśvātma-daivaḿ sutarāḿ tathātmanaḥ

tad-darśanāhlāda-pariplutāśayaḥ

sadyaḥ samutthāya nanāma sānvayaḥ

 

tasmin — there; praviṣṭau — (the two of Them) entered; upalabhya — noticing; daitya-rāṭ — the King of the Daityas (Bali); viśva — of the entire universe; ātma — the Soul; daivam — and supreme Deity; sutarām — especially; tathā — also; ātmanaḥ — of himself; tat — Them; darśana — due to seeing; āhlāda — with the joy; paripluta — overwhelmed; āśayaḥ — his heart; sadyaḥ — immediately; samutthāya — standing up; nanāma — he bowed down; sa — together with; anvayaḥ — his entourage.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the King of the Daityas, Bali Mahārāja, noticed the arrival of the two Lords, his heart overflowed with joy, since he knew Them to be the Supreme Soul and worshipable Deity of the entire universe, and especially of himself. He immediately stood up and then bowed down to offer respects, along with his entire entourage.

 

10.85.36

tayoḥ samānīya varāsanaḿ mudā

niviṣṭayos tatra mahātmanos tayoḥ

dadhāra pādāv avanijya taj jalaḿ

sa-vṛnda ā-brahma punad yad ambu ha

 

tayoḥ — for Them; samānīya — bringing; vara — elevated; āsanam — seats; mudā — happily; niviṣṭayoḥ — who took Their seats; tatra — there; mahā-ātmanoḥ — of the greatest of personalities; tayoḥ — of Them; dadhāra — he took; pādau — the feet; avanijya — washing; tat — that; jalam — water; sa — together with; vṛndaḥ — his followers; ā-brahma — up to Lord Brahmā; punat — purifying; yat — which; ambu — water; ha — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bali took pleasure in offering Them elevated seats. After They sat down, he washed the feet of the two Supreme Personalities. Then he took that water, which purifies the whole world even up to Lord Brahmā, and poured it upon himself and his followers.

 

10.85.37

samarhayām āsa sa tau vibhūtibhir

mahārha-vastrābharaṇānulepanaiḥ

tāmbūla-dīpāmṛta-bhakṣaṇādibhiḥ

sva-gotra-vittātma-samarpaṇena ca

 

samarhayām āsa — worshiped; saḥ — he; tau — Them; vibhūtibhiḥ — with his riches; mahā-arha — greatly valuable; vastra — with garments; ābharaṇa — ornaments; anulepanaiḥ — and fragrant pastes; tāmbūla — with betel nut; dīpa — lamps; amṛta — nectarean; bhakṣaṇa — food; ādibhiḥ — and so on; sva — of his; gotra — family; vitta — of the wealth; ātma — and of himself; samarpaṇena — with the offering; ca — and.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He worshiped Them with all the riches at his disposal — priceless clothing, ornaments, fragrant sandalwood paste, betel nut, lamps, sumptuous food and so on. Thus he offered Them all his family's wealth, and also his own self.

 

10.85.38

sa indraseno bhagavat-padāmbujaḿ

bibhran muhuḥ prema-vibhinnayā dhiyā

uvāca hānanda-jalākulekṣaṇaḥ

prahṛṣṭa-romā nṛpa gadgadākṣaram

 

saḥ — he; indra-senaḥ — Bali, who conquered the army of Indra; bhagavat — of the Supreme Lords; pāda-ambujam — the lotus feet; bibhrat — taking hold of; muhuḥ — repeatedly; prema — out of love; vibhinnayā — which was melting; dhiyā — from his heart; uvāca ha — said; ānanda — caused by his ecstasy; jala — with water (tears); ākula — filled; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes; prahṛṣṭa — standing erect; romā — the hair on whose limbs; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); gadgada — choking; akṣaram — whose syllables.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Taking hold of the Lords' lotus feet again and again, Bali, the conqueror of Indra's army, spoke from his heart, which was melting out of his intense love. O King, as tears of ecstasy filled his eyes and the hair on his limbs stood on end, he began to speak with faltering words.

 

10.85.39

balir uvāca

namo 'nantāya bṛhate

namaḥ kṛṣṇāya vedhase

sāńkhya-yoga-vitānāya

brahmaṇe paramātmane

 

baliḥ uvāca — Bali said; namaḥ — obeisances; anantāya — to Ananta, the unlimited Lord; bṛhate — the greatest being; namaḥ — obeisances; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vedhase — the creator; sāńkhya — of sāńkhya analysis; yoga — and of mystic yoga; vitānāya — the disseminator; brahmaṇe — the Absolute Truth; parama-ātmane — the Supersoul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Bali said: Obeisances to the unlimited Lord, Ananta, the greatest of all beings. And obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the creator of the universe, who appears as the impersonal Absolute and the Supersoul in order to disseminate the principles of sāńkhya and yoga.

 

10.85.40

darśanaḿ vāḿ hi bhūtānāḿ

duṣprāpaḿ cāpy adurlabham

rajas-tamaḥ-svabhāvānāḿ

yan naḥ prāptau yadṛcchayā

 

darśanam — the vision; vām — of You two; hi — indeed; bhūtānām — for living beings in general; duṣprāpam — rarely achieved; ca api — yet still; adurlabham — not difficult to obtain; rajaḥ — in passion; tamaḥ — and ignorance; svabhāvānām — for those whose natures; yat — in that; naḥ — by us; prāptau — obtained; yadṛcchayā — causelessly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing You Lords is a rare achievement for most living beings. But even persons like us, situated in the modes of passion and ignorance, can easily see You when You reveal Yourself by Your own sweet will.

 

10.85.41-43

daitya-dānava-gandharvāḥ

siddha-vidyādhra-cāraṇāḥ

yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśācāś ca

bhūta-pramatha-nāyakāḥ

 

viśuddha-sattva-dhāmny addhā

tvayi śāstra-śarīriṇi

nityaḿ nibaddha-vairās te

vayaḿ cānye ca tādṛśāḥ

 

kecanodbaddha-vaireṇa

bhaktyā kecana kāmataḥ

na tathā sattva-saḿrabdhāḥ

sannikṛṣṭāḥ surādayaḥ

 

daitya-dānava — the Daitya and Dānava demons; gandharvāḥ — and the Gandharvas, celestial singers; siddha-vidyādhara-cāraṇāḥ — the Siddha, Vidyādhara and Cāraṇa demigods; yakṣa — the Yakṣas (semipious spirits); rakṣaḥ — the Rākṣasas (man-eating spirits); piśācāḥ — the carnivorous Piśāca demons; ca — and; bhūta — the ghosts; pramatha-nāyakāḥ — and the evil Pramatha and Nāyaka spirits;

 

viśuddha — perfectly pure; sattva — of goodness; dhāmni — toward the embodiment; addhā — direct; tvayi — You; śāstra — which comprises the revealed scriptures; śarīriṇi — the possessor of such a body; nityam — always; nibaddha — fixed; vairāḥ — in enmity; te — they; vayam — we; ca — also; anye — others; ca — and; tādṛśāḥ — like them;

 

kecana — some; udbaddha — especially obstinate; vaireṇa — with hatred; bhaktyā — with devotion; kecana — some; kāmataḥ — rising out of lust; na — not; tathā — so; sattva — by the material mode of goodness; saḿrabdhāḥ — those who are predominated; sannikṛṣṭāḥ — attracted; sura — demigods; ādayaḥ — and others.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Many who had been constantly absorbed in enmity toward You ultimately became attracted to You, who are the direct embodiment of transcendental goodness and whose divine form comprises the revealed scriptures. These reformed enemies include Daityas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pramathas and Nāyakas, and also ourselves and many others like us. Some of us have become attracted to You because of exceptional hatred, while others have become attracted because of their mood of devotion based on lust. But the demigods and others infatuated by material goodness feel no such attraction for You.

 

10.85.44

idam ittham iti prāyas

tava yogeśvareśvara

na vidanty api yogeśā

yoga-māyāḿ kuto vayam

 

idam — this; ittham — characterized like this; iti — in such terms; prāyaḥ — for the most part; tava — Your; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of yoga; īśvara — O supreme master; na vidanti — they do not know; api — even; yoga-īśāḥ — the masters of yoga; yoga-māyām — Your spiritual power of delusion; kutaḥ — what then of; vayam — us.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What to speak of ourselves, O Lord of all perfect yogīs, even the greatest mystics do not know what Your spiritual power of delusion is or how it acts.

 

10.85.45

tan naḥ prasīda nirapekṣa-vimṛgya-yuṣmat

pādāravinda-dhiṣaṇānya-gṛhāndha-kūpāt

niṣkramya viśva-śaraṇāńghry-upalabdha-vṛttiḥ

śānto yathaika uta sarva-sakhaiś carāmi

 

tat — in such a way; naḥ — to us; prasīda — please be merciful; nirapekṣa — by those who have no material motives; vimṛgya — searched for; yuṣmat — Your; pāda — than the feet; aravinda — lotus; dhiṣaṇa — shelter; anya — other; gṛha — from the home; andha — blind; kūpāt — which is a well; niṣkramya — going out; viśva — to the whole world; śaraṇa — of those who are helpful (the trees); ańghri — at the feet; upalabdha — obtained; vṛttiḥ — whose livelihood; śāntaḥ — peaceful; yathā — as; ekaḥ — alone; uta — or else; sarva — of everyone; sakhaiḥ — with the friends; carāmi — I may wander.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Please be merciful to me so I may get out of the blind well of family life — my false home — and find the true shelter of Your lotus feet, which selfless sages always seek. Then, either alone or in the company of great saints, who are the friends of everyone, I may wander freely, finding life's necessities at the feet of the universally charitable trees.

 

10.85.46

śādhy asmān īśitavyeśa

niṣpāpān kuru naḥ prabho

pumān yac chraddhayātiṣṭhaḿś

codanāyā vimucyate

 

śādhi — please order; asmān — us; īśitavya — of those who are subject to being controlled; īśa — O controller; niṣpāpān — sinless; kuru — please make; naḥ — us; prabho — O master; pumān — a person; yat — which; śraddhayā — with faith; ātiṣṭhan — executing; codanāyāḥ — of scriptural regulation; vimucyate — becomes free.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Lord of all subordinate creatures, please tell us what to do and thus free us of all sin. One who faithfully executes Your command, O master, is no longer obliged to follow the ordinary Vedic rites.

 

10.85.47

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

āsan marīceḥ ṣaṭ putrā

ūrṇāyāḿ prathame 'ntare

devāḥ kaḿ jahasur vīkṣya

sutaḿ yabhitum udyatam

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; āsan — there were; marīceḥ — of Marīci; ṣaṭ — six; putrāḥ — sons; ūrṇāyām — born of Ūrṇā (his wife); prathame — in the first; antare — rule of Manu; devāḥ — demigods; kam — at Lord Brahmā; jahasuḥ — they laughed; vīkṣya — seeing; sutām — with his daughter (Sarasvatī); yabhitum — to copulate; udyatam — prepared.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: During the age of the first Manu, the sage Marīci had six sons by his wife Ūrnā. They were all exalted demigods, but once they laughed at Lord Brahmā when they saw him preparing to have sex with his own daughter.

 

10.85.48-49

tenāsurīm agan yonim

adhunāvadya-karmaṇā

hiraṇyakaśipor jātā

nītās te yoga-māyayā

 

devakyā udare jātā

rājan kaḿsa-vihiḿsitāḥ

sā tān śocaty ātmajān svāḿs

ta ime 'dhyāsate 'ntike

 

tena — by that; āsurīm — demoniac; agan — they entered; yonim — a womb; adhunā — immediately; avadya — improper; karmaṇā — by the act; hiraṇyakaśipoḥ — to Hiraṇyakaśipu; jātāḥ — born; nītāḥ — brought; te — they; yoga-māyayā — by the Lord's divine power of illusion;