Source
Texts:
Lord
Krishna's Daily Activities
Text
1
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Hearing thus what was stated by the deva-rishi,
spoke the gifted Uddhava understanding the stance taken by the
royal assembly and Krishna:
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Having thus heard the statements
of Devarshi Nârada, and understanding the opinions of
both the assembly and Lord Krishna, the great-minded Uddhava
began to speak.
Text
2
S'rî
Uddhava said: 'O Lord, You should do what the rishi said, and
be of assistance to him, Your father's son, who intends to
perform sacrifice and as well be of protection for those
[the kings] who seek their refuge.
S'rî
Uddhava said: O Lord, as the sage advised, You should help
Your cousin fulfill his plan for performing the
Râjasûya sacrifice, and You should also protect
the kings who are begging for Your shelter.
Text
3
Since the
Râjasûya sacrifice should be performed by the one
who conquered full circle the directions o Almighty One, will
You, in my opinion, with conquering the son of Jarâ be
serving both purposes.
Only
one who has conquered all opponents in every direction can
perform the Râjasûya sacrifice, O almighty one.
Thus, in my opinion, conquering Jarâsandha will serve
both purposes.
Text
4
By this there
will be great gain for us and for You, o Govinda who will
release the kings imprisoned, that'll be glory this
way.
By
this decision there will be great gain for us, and You will
save the kings. Thus, Govinda, You will be glorified.
Text
5
He
[Jarâsandha] a king in strength as strong as a
thousand elephants is invincible indeed for other men of power,
except then for Bhîma who is equally
strong.
The
invincible King Jarâsandha is as strong as ten
thousand elephants. Indeed, other powerful warriors cannot
defeat him. Only Bhîma is equal to him in
strength.
Text
6
Only
chariot-to-chariot can he be defeated, not by a hundred
akshauhinî's together; also will he, devoted to the
brahminical, never refuse what the learned ask from
him.
He
will be defeated in a match of single chariots, not when he
is with his hundred military divisions. Now,
Jarâsandha is so devoted to brahminical culture that
he never refuses requests from brâhmanas.
Text
7
Wearing the
dress of a brahmin going to him must Bhîma beg for
charity and without hesitation kill him in Your presence in a
one-to-one fight.
Bhîma
should go to him disguised as a brâhmana and beg
charity. Thus he will obtain single combat with
Jarâsandha, and in Your presence Bhîma will no
doubt kill him.
Text
8
Hiranyagarbha
['the one of the golden light' or Brahmâ] and
S'arva [he who kills by the arrow, viz. S'iva, see
7.10:
67], are
of the Controller of the Universe, Your formless of Time, but
the instrument in creation and annihilation.
Even
Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva act only as Your
instruments in cosmic creation and annihilation, which are
ultimately done by You, the Supreme Lord, in Your invisible
aspect of time.
Text
9
In their homes
do the godly wives of the [imprisoned] kings sing of
Your spotless deeds for Your killing their enemy and delivering
them; just as the gopîs [missing You, see
10.31]
and the lord of the elephants [Gajendra being captured see
8.3],
just as the daughter of Janaka [Râmacandra's
Sîtâ, see 9.10]
and Your parents [when in Kamsa's prison, see
10.3],
just as the sages having obtained your shelter [see e.g.
9.5]
as well as we do.
In
their homes, the godly wives of the imprisoned kings sing of
Your noble deeds - about how You will kill their husbands'
enemy and deliver them. The gopîs also sing Your
glories - how You killed the enemy of the elephant king,
Gajendra; the enemy of Sîtâ, daughter of Janaka;
and the enemies of Your own parents as well. So also do the
sages who have obtained Your shelter glorify You, as do we
ourselves.
Text
10
The
killing of Jarâsandha, o Krishna, surely will will bring
us an immense advantage: the consequent excellence [of the
kings] ànd the sacrifice favored by
You.'
O
Krishna, the killing of Jarâsandha, which is certainly
a reaction of his past sins, will bring immense benefit.
Indeed, it will make possible the sacrificial ceremony You
desire.
Text
11
S'rî
S'uka said: 'The words of Uddhava thus stated, in every way
auspicious and infallible o King, were by the deva-rishi, the
yadu elders and by Krishna as well praised in
response.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: O King, Devarshi Nârada, the
Yadu elders and Lord Krishna all welcomed Uddhava's
proposal, which was entirely auspicious and
infallible.
Text
12
The
Almighty Supreme Lord, the son of Devakî, taking
permission from His superiors [in imitating the human
ways], then ordered His servants Dâruka, Jaitra and
others to prepare for His departure.
The
almighty Personality of Godhead, the son of Devakî,
begged His superiors for permission to leave. Then He
ordered His servants, headed by Dâruka and Jaitra, to
prepare for departure.
Text
13
Sending away
His wives and sons for the
baggage
and taking leave of Sankarshana [Balarâma] and
the yadu king [Ugrasena], o killer of the enemies,
mounted He His chariot brought by His driver, waving the flag
of Garuda.
O
slayer of enemies, after He had arranged for the d eparture
of His wives, children and baggage and taken leave of Lord
Sankarshana and King Ugrasena, Lord Krishna mounted His
chariot, which had been brought by His driver. It flew a
flag marked with the emblem of Garuda.
Text
14
Then,
surrounded by His chiefs and fierce guards, chariots,
elephants, infantry and cavalry - His personal army - moved He
out with from all sides vibrating the sounds of mridangas,
bherî horns, gomukha horns, kettledrums and
conchshells.
As
the vibrations resounding from mridangas, bherîs,
kettledrums, conchshells and gomukhas filled the sky in all
directions, Lord Krishna set out on His journey. He was
accompanied by the chief officers of His corps of chariots,
elephants, infantry and cavalry and surrounded on all sides
by His fierce personal guard.
Text
15
In
golden palanquins carried by men, came following in fine
clothes, ornamented, with perfumed oils and garlands, Acyuta's
wives along with their children well guarded by soldiers with
shields and swords in their hands.
Lord
Acyuta's faithful wives, along with their children, followed
the Lord on golden palanquins carried by powerful men. The
queens were adorned with fine clothing, ornaments, fragrant
oils and flower garlands, and they were surrounded on all
sides by soldiers carrying swords and shields in their
hands.
Text
16
The
well ornamented women of the household and the courtesans came
along with human carriers, camels, bulls, buffalo, donkeys,
mules, bullock carts and she-elephants fully loaded with
grass-huts, blankets, clothing and more items like
that.
On
all sides proceeded finely adorned women - attendants of the
royal household, as well as courtesans. They rode on
palanquins and camels, bulls and buffalo, donkeys, mules,
bullock carts and elephants. Their conveyances were fully
loaded with grass tents, blankets, clothes and other items
for the trip.
Text
17
The huge army
with a choice of flagpoles, banners, sunshades, yak-tail fans,
weapons, jewelry, helmets and armor for the day in the rays of
the sun brilliantly shining, was with the tumult of its sounds
like an ocean restless with timingilas and
waves.
The
Lord's army boasted royal umbrellas, câmara fans and
huge flagpoles with waving banners. During the day the sun's
rays reflected brightly from the soldiers' fine weapons,
jewelry, helmets and armor. Thus Lord Krishna's army, noisy
with shouts and clatter, appeared like an ocean stirring
with agitated waves and timingila fish.
Text
18
After having
heard and approved of His plan, bowed the muni
[Nârada], being honored by the Lord of the Yadus
and feeling happy over the meeting with Mukunda, down to Him
and went he, placing Him in his heart, away through the
sky.
Honored
by S'rî Krishna, the chief of the Yadus, Nârada
Muni bowed down to the Lord. All of Nârada's senses
were satisfied by his meeting with Lord Krishna. Thus,
having heard the decision of the Lord and having been
worshiped by Him, Nârada placed Him firmly within his
heart and departed through the sky.
Text
19
The
messenger of the kings was by the Supreme Lord, to please him
with His word, addressed with: 'Do not fear, o envoy, all
fortune to you [and your kings]. I'll arrange for the
killing of the king of Mâgadha.'
With
pleasing words the Lord addressed the messenger sent by the
kings: "My dear messenger, I wish all good fortune to you. I
shall arrange for the killing of King Magadha. Do not
fear."
Text
20
Thus being
addressed departed the messenger and informed he the kings in
detail, upon which they, eager for their liberation then waited
to meet with S'auri.
Thus
addressed, the messenger departed and accurately relayed the
Lord's message to the kings. Eager for freedom, they then
waited expectantly for their meeting with Lord
Krishna.
Text
21
Crossing
through Ânarta [the region of
Dvârakâ], Sauvîra [eastern
Gujarat], Marudes'a [the Rajasthan desert] and
Vinas'ana [the district of Kurukshetra], passed the
Lord through hills, rivers, cities, villages, cow pastures and
quarries.
As
He traveled through the provinces of Ânarta,
Sauvîra, Marudes'a and Vinas'ana, Lord Hari crossed
rivers and passed mountains, cities, villages, cow pastures
and quarries.
Text
22
Mukunda
first crossing the river Drishadvatî then crossed the
Sarasvatî, then passed through the province of
Pañcâla and Matsya and finally reached
Indraprastha.
After
crossing the rivers Drishadvatî and Sarasvatî,
He passed through Pañcâla and Matsya and
finally came to Indraprastha.
Text
23
Hearing
that He, so rarely seen by human beings, had arrived, came he
whose enemy never was born [king Yudhishthhira] out
surrounded by his priests and relatives.
King
Yudhishthhira was delighted to hear that the Lord, whom
human beings rarely see, had now arrived. Accompanied by his
priests and dear associates, the King came out to meet Lord
Krishna.
Text
24
With the
abundant sounds of songs and instrumental music and the
vibration of hymns went he forth to Hrishîkes'a as
reverential as the senses tuned to life.
As
songs and musical instruments resounded along with the loud
vibration of Vedic hymns, the King went forth with great
reverence to meet Lord Hrishîkes'a, just as the senses
go forth to meet the consciousness of life.
Text
25
The
heart of the Pândava seeing Lord Krishna after so long a
time melted with affection whereupon he embraced Him, his
dearmost friend, over and over.
The
heart of King Yudhishthhira melted with affection when he
saw his dearmost friend, Lord Krishna, after such a long
separation, and he embraced the Lord again and again.
Text
26
The
ruler of man closing in his arms the body of Mukunda, the
faultless abode of Ramâ, found all his ill-fortune
destroyed and achieved the highest bliss, exhilarated with
tears in his eyes forgetting the illusory affair of being
embodied in the material world.
The
eternal form of Lord Krishna is the everlasting residence of
the goddess of fortune. As soon as King Yudhishthhira
embraced Him, the King became free of all the contamination
of material existence. He immediately felt transcendental
bliss and merged in an ocean of happiness. There were tears
in his eyes, and his body shook due to ecstasy. He
completely forgot that he was living in this material
world.
Text
27
Bhîma
filled with joy embracing him,
his maternal
nephew,
laughed out of love with eyes brimming with tears and also of
the twins [Nakula and Sahadeva], and of
Kirîtî ['he with the helmet' or Arjuna]
flowed profusely the tears as they with pleasure embraced
Acyuta, their dearmost friend.
Then
Bhîma, his eyes brimming with tears, laughed with joy
as he embraced his maternal cousin, Krishna. Arjuna and the
twins - Nakula and Sahadeva - also joyfully embraced their
dearmost friend, the infallible Lord, and they cried
profusely.
Text
28
Having
been hugged by Arjuna, and of the twins having received their
obeisances bowed He, according the etiquette, before the
brahmins, the elders and the honorable Kurus, Sriñjayas
and Kaikayas.
After
Arjuna had embraced Him once more and Nakula and Sahadeva
had offered Him their obeisances, Lord Krishna bowed down to
the brâhmanas and elders present, thus properly
honoring the respectable members of the Kuru,
Sriñjaya and Kaikaya clans.
Text
29
The
bards, the chroniclers, the singers of heaven, the eulogists
and jesters with mridangas, conches, kettledrums,
vînâs, small drums and gomukha horns, all sang,
danced and glorified with hymns the Lotus-eyed one as also did
the brahmins.
Sûtas,
Mâgadhas, Gandharvas, Vandîs, jesters and
brâhmanas all glorified the lotus-eyed Lord - some
reciting prayers, some dancing and singing - as mridangas,
conchshells, kettledrums, vînâs, panavas and
gomukhas resounded.
Text
30
The
Supreme Lord, the Crest Jewel of the Renown of Piety, thus
being glorified by His well-wishers around Him, entered the
decorated city.
Thus
surrounded by His well-wishing relatives and praised on all
sides, Lord Krishna, the crest jewel of the justly renowned,
entered the decorated city.
Text
31-32
In
the city of the king of the Kurus He saw the roads sprinkled
with water fragrant of the mada [the rut-liquid] of
elephants, colorful flags, gateways decorated with golden pots
full of water and young men and women all in new apparel with
ornaments, flower garlands and sandalwood on their bodies. In
each home lamps were lit and offerings of tribute displayed
with the smoke of incense drifting through the latticed windows
and banners waving from the roofs that were adorned with golden
domes with large silver bases.
The
roads of Indraprastha were sprinkled with water perfumed by
the liquid from elephants' foreheads, and colorful flags,
golden gateways and full waterpots enhanced the city's
splendor. Men and young girls were beautifully arrayed in
fine, new garments, adorned with flower garlands and
ornaments, and anointed with aromatic sandalwood paste.
Every home displayed glowing lamps and respectful offerings,
and from the holes of the latticed windows drifted incense,
further beautifying the city. Banners waved, and the roofs
were decorated with golden domes on broad silver bases. Thus
Lord Krishna saw the royal city of the King of the
Kurus.
Text
33
Hearing
of the arrival of the Reservoir for the Eyes of Man to Drink
from, went the young women to look on, onto the king's road
immediately abandoning their households or their husbands in
bed, with the knots in their hair and dresses loosened in their
eagerness.
When
the young women of the city heard that Lord Krishna, the
reservoir of pleasure for human eyes, had arrived, they
hurriedly went onto the royal road to see Him. They
abandoned their household duties and even left their
husbands in bed, and in their eagerness the knots of their
hair and garments came loose.
Text
34
There,
very crowded with elephants, horses, chariots and soldiers on
foot, caught they the sight of Krishna with His wives, and
scattered, embracing Him in their minds, the women, having
climbed to the tops, flowers in giving Him a heartfelt welcome,
broadly smiling to their glances.
The
royal road being quite crowded with elephants, horses,
chariots and foot soldiers, the women climbed to the top of
their houses, where they caught sight of Lord Krishna and
His queens. The city ladies scattered flowers upon the Lord,
embraced Him in their minds and expressed their heartfelt
welcome with broadly smiling glances.
Text
35
Seeing
Mukunda's wives on the road like stars around the moon,
exclaimed the women: 'What did they do for the Diadem of Men to
bestow for their eyes with the small portion of His playful
smiles and glances the [complete]
festival?
Observing
Lord Mukunda's wives passing on the road like stars
accompanying the moon, the women exclaimed, "What have these
ladies done so that the best of men bestows upon their eyes
the joy of His generous smiles and playful sidelong
glances?"
Text
36
Here
and there approached citizens with auspicious offerings in
their hands and performed the masters of the guilds, who banned
their sins, worship for Krishna.
In
various places citizens of the city came forward holding
auspicious offerings for Lord Krishna, and sinless leaders
of occupational guilds came forward to worship the
Lord.
Text
37
As
He entered the king's palace approached the members of the
royal household all in a flurry to greet, full of love with
blossoming eyes, Mukunda.
With
wide-open eyes, the members of the royal household came
forward in a flurry to lovingly greet Lord Mukunda, and thus
the Lord entered the royal palace.
Text
38
Prithâ
[queen Kuntî] when she saw her brother's son,
Krishna, the Controller of the Three Worlds, rose with a heart
full of love from her couch together with her daughter-in-law
[Draupadî] to embrace Him.
When
Queen Prithâ saw her nephew Krishna, the master of the
three worlds, her heart became filled with love. Rising from
her couch with her daughter-in- law, she embraced the
Lord.
Text
39
The
king bringing Govinda, the Supreme God of All Gods, to His
quarters could, overwhelmed by his great joy, not remember
anymore what all to do for the reverential display of
worship.
King
Yudhishthhira respectfully brought Lord Govinda, the Supreme
God of gods, to his personal quarters. The King was so
overcome with joy that he could not remember all the rituals
of worship.
Text
40
Krishna
performed an offering of obeisances to His fathers sister and
the elderly women, o King, and so also did His sister
[Subhadrâ] and Krishnâ
[Draupadî] bow down to Him.
Lord
Krishna bowed down to His aunt and the wives of His elders,
O King, and then Draupadî and the Lord's sister bowed
down to Him.
Text
41-42
Prompted
by her mother-in-law [Kuntî] honored
Krishnâ with clothing, flower garlands, jewelry and so
on, all Krishna's wives: Rukminî, Satyabhâmâ,
Bhadrâ, Jâmbavatî, Kâlindî,
Mitravindâ the descendant of S'ibi, the chaste
Nâgnajitî as well as the others who had
come.
Encouraged
by her mother-in-law, Draupadî worshiped all of Lord
Krishna's wives, including Rukminî;
Satyabhâmâ; Bhadrâ; Jâmbavatî;
Kâlindî; Mitravindâ, the descendant of
S'ibi; the chaste Nâgnajitî; and the other
queens of the Lord who were present. Draupadî honored
them all with such gifts as clothing, flower garlands and
jewelry.
Text
43
The
king of the dharma
[Yudhishthhira]
comfortably
accommodating Janârdana
with His army, His servants and ministers and His wives saw to
it that they were provided each and every
moment.
King
Yudhishthhira arranged for Krishna's rest and saw to it that
all who came along with Him - namely His queens, soldiers,
ministers and secretaries - were comfortably situated. He
arranged that they would experience a new feature of
reception every day while staying as guests of the
Pândavas.
Text
44-45
Staying
several months to His desire to please the king, went He,
sporting with Arjuna and surrounded by guards, out riding with
His chariot and satisfied He, accompanied by Arjuna, the
fire-god with the Khândava forest to which Maya [a
demon] whom He then saved, built a celestial assembly hall
[in Hastinâpura].
Desiring
to please King Yudhishthhira, the Lord resided at
Indraprastha for several months. During His stay, He and
Arjuna satisfied the fire-god by offering him the
Khândava forest, and they saved Maya Dânava, who
then built King Yudhishthhira a celestial assembly hall. The
Lord also took the opportunity to go riding in His chariot
in the company of Arjuna, surrounded by a retinue of
soldiers.
