rule



 

 

Canto 10

Hari Haraye Namah

 

 
 

Chapter 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Krishna Instructs Bahulas'va and S'rutadeva

(1) The honorable king [Parīkchit] said: 'Oh brahmin, we would like to know how she who is my grandmother, the sister of Krishna and Rāma [Subhadrā, see 9.24: 53-55], got married to Arjuna.'

(2-3) S'rī S'uka said: 'Arjuna, the great lord, while on a pilgrimage wandering the earth, reaching Prabhāsa heard that Balarāma intended to give His maternal cousin away to Duryodhana and to no one else. Desirous of her, he therefore went to Dvārakā disguised as a renunciate with a tridanda [*]. (4) Determined to fulfill his purpose, he resided there during the months of the rainy season and was [according to the custom] all the time honored by Balarāma and the citizens without them being aware who he was. (5) One day being invited as a guest he was brought to the house of Balarāma, who faithfully presented him a meal which he then ate. (6) With his eyes wide open of happiness, he saw the wonderful girl there who enchanted heroes. Smitten he fixed his mind on her. (7) Seeing him who stole each woman's heart, she desired him also. She fixed her heart and eyes upon him and full of desire bashfully smiling cast sidelong glances. (8) Thinking of nothing but her, Arjuna awaited the right opportunity. With his heart trembling of the strongest desire, he could find no peace. (9) When she during an important religious festival rode away from the fortress in a chariot, the mighty warrior seized the opportunity to abduct the girl who had stolen his heart. That occurred with the consent of her parents [see 1o.1: 56] and Krishna. (10) Standing on the chariot he, like the king of the animals claiming his share, raised his bow and drove back the heroes and guards who tried to stop him while her relatives were angrily shouting. (11) Balarāma, upon hearing about it, was as perturbed as the ocean during a full moon. Lord Krishna and His family had to grasp Him respectfully by His feet in order to pacify Him. (12) With pleasure He then sent presents of great value, elephants, horses and male and female servants, as a wedding gift for the groom and bride.'

(13) S'rī S'uka continued: 'There was among Krishna's brahmins one named S'rutadeva. He was one of the best, being exclusively devoted to Krishna, and was known for the fullness of his realization - his serenity, learning and freedom from sense gratification. (14) As a householder dwelling in Mithilā in the kingdom of Videha, he performed his duties without being concerned about what he received for his sustenance. (15) Day by day doing his tasks as required, he was satisfied with just that - and nothing more, of what he by providence acquired as his share for his sober maintenance. (16) The ruler of that kingdom, stemming from the line of King Mithilā  [Janaka], was known by the name of Bahulās'va. He was just as selfless as he was, my dear King. They were both equally dear to Acyuta. (17) Pleased with the two of them, the Supreme Lord mounted His chariot brought by Dāruka. Together with a group of sages the Master went to Videha. (18) He was accompanied by Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paras'urāma, Asita, Aruni, I myself [S'uka], Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya, Cyavana and others. (19) Everywhere He came, the citizens and villagers approached, carrying arghya [offerings of water] to welcome Him, like He was the risen sun surrounded by the planets. (20) In Ānarta [where Dvārakā  is], Dhanva [the desert region], Kuru-jāngala [Thaneswar and Kurukshetra], Kanka, Matsya [Jaipur and Aloyar], Pańcāla [the Ganges region], Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya [northeast Pun jab], Kos'ala [from Kās'ī to the Himalayas], Arna [east of Mithilā] and in many other kingdoms, the men and women drank, with their eyes, the gentle smiles and affectionate glances of His lotus face, oh King. (21) By [thus] bestowing upon them the fearlessness of the spiritual vision, the Spiritual Master of the Three Worlds put an end to the blindness of their eyes. This way gradually reaching Videha, He heard His glories being sung by the God-conscious souls and the commoners, the glories eradicating all misfortune and purifying every corner of the universe. (22) The moment the villagers and citizens heard that Acyuta had arrived, oh King, they joyfully came forward to greet Him with offerings in their hands. (23) Seeing Him who is Praised in the Verses, they, with their faces and hearts blossoming of love and with joined palms held to their heads, bowed down to Him and the sages, whom they till then only knew from hearsay. (24) Both the king of Mithilā and S'rutadeva prostrated at His feet, with each of them in his mind the thought that the Spiritual Master of the Universe especially for him had arrived to be of mercy. (25) Bahulās'va and S'rutadeva then, both with their palms joined, at the same time invited the Descendant of Das'ārha and the brahmins to be their guests. (26) The Supreme Lord wanted to please them both, and accepted their offer by entering each his house [simultaneously] without them seeing this [vaibhava-prakās'a miracle]. (27-29) The descendent of Janaka [Bahulas'va] who, later that day, saw them fatigued coming from a distance to his house, mindfully brought fine seats outside for them, so that they could sit comfortably. Overjoyed at heart with intense devotion and eyes clouded with tears, he bowed down to wash the feet, the water of which is capable of purifying the entire world. Together with his family he took it on his head and honored the Lords [and sages] with sandalwood paste, garlands, clothing, jewelry, incense, lamps, arghya, cows and bulls. (30) After they had eaten their fill, he, while happily massaging the feet of Vishnu on his lap, in order to please them, slowly said the following in a gentle voice. 

(31) S'rī Bahulās'va said: 'You, oh Almighty One, the Self-illumined Witness and Soul of All Created Beings, have now become visible to us, those who are remembering Your lotus feet. (32) To be true to the statement You have made that: 'No one, not even Ananta, S'rī or the Unborn Brahmā is as dear to Me as the unalloyed devotee', You have manifested before our eyes [see also 7.7: 51-52, 10.9: 20-21, 10.47: 58-63]. (33) What person who knows this would abandon Your lotus feet, when You give Yourself to peaceful sages free from possessiveness? (34) Descending in the Yadu dynasty for the sake of those caught in the cycle of birth and death [samsāra], You have, in order to put an end to it, disseminated Your fame removing the sins of the three worlds. (35) All glories to You, oh Krishna, oh Supreme Lord of an unlimited intelligence, oh Nara-Nārāyana who are perfectly peaceful in Your austerity. (36) Please, oh Omnipresent One, dwell together with the brahmins for a few days in our home and sanctify this dynasty of Nimi with the dust of Your feet.'

(37) S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus being invited by the king, the Supreme Lord and Maintainer of the Entire World stayed there, and thus made the men and women of Mithilā happy. (38) S'rutadeva, who just like Bahulas'va received Krishna in his house, bowed down to the sages and [then] in great delight danced with waving clothes. (39) He made them sit on mats of darbha grass that were brought, he greeted them with words of welcome, and then together with his wife washed their feet with pleasure. (40) Overjoyed of having all his desires fulfilled, he most piously sprinkled himself, his house and his family with the water. (41) With offerings of fruits, aromatic root [us'īra], pure nectarean sweet water, fragrant clay, tulsī leaves, kus'a grass and lotus flowers, he honored them with all items of worship at his disposition, as also with food conducive to the mood of goodness [see B.G. 17: 8]. (42) He wondered: 'How could it happen that I, who fell down in the blind well of family life, may enjoy this association with Krishna and these godly people in whom He resides? It is the dust of their feet that constitutes the dignity of all the holy places.' (43) Having shown his hospitality, S'rutadeva, with them comfortably being seated, sat close together with his wife, relatives and children, and addressed them while massaging [the Lord] His feet.

(44) S'rutadeva said: 'It is not just today that we see the Supreme Personality present before us. We in fact enjoy His presence ever since He created this universe with His energies and [as an avatāra] entered it in His [transcendental] state. (45) He enters this world and appears there the way a sleeping person, alone with his mind, creates a separate world in his imagination. (46) You appear in the heart of those persons who, with a pure [by meditation peaceful] mind, time and again hear and speak about You, glorify You, worship You and converse about You. (47) In spite of being situated in the heart You are far removed from minds agitated by material affairs. One [indeed] cannot get hold of You by one's own [material] powers, but You support those souls who know to appreciate Your qualities [see also B.G. 7: 25]. (48) May there be my obeisances unto You, who are the Supersoul for the knowers of the Supreme Spirit, unto You, who [in the form of Time **] brings death to the conditioned soul, unto You, the One who assumes the forms of effect as also the forms of cause, unto You whose vision is not covered by Your deluding potency but who are covered to our vision. (49) Please, oh You as that Supersoul, command us Your servants. What, oh Lord, should we do? Oh, having this form of Your good Self visible before our eyes is what puts an end to the troubles of humanity!'

(50) S' S'uka said: 'Having heard what he thus said to Him, the Supreme Lord, the destroyer of the distress of the surrendered souls, addressed him with a broad smile while taking his hand in His own. (51) The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh brahmin, you should know that these sages came along for the purpose of blessing you. Wandering with Me, they purify all the worlds with the dust of their feet. (52) The deities, pilgrimage sites and sacred rivers being visited, being touched and being worshiped, purify gradually, but the same thing is attained [at once] by the glance of those [sages] who are most worshipable [see also 4.30: 37, 7.9: 44, 10.9: 21, 10.84: 11]. (53) A brahmin is by birth the best of all living beings, and even more so, when he, as a portion of Me, is endowed with austerity, learning and contentment! (54) [Even] this four-armed form is not as dear to Me as a brahmin. A man of [brahminical] learning comprises all the Vedas, the way I comprise all the gods [see also 10.84: 12]. (55) Those whose intelligence is spoiled and fail to understand it thus, lack in respect and are envious. While they do consider the visible form of an idol worthy of worship, they are of neglect towards their guru, the [brahminical] scholar, who in fact is Me, their very Self. (56) A learned man of respect for Me, keeps the moving and nonmoving part of this universe, as also the elementary categories basic to it, in mind as being forms of Me [see also B.G. 5: 18]. (57) Therefore, oh brahmin, just worship these brahmin seers with the same faith as you have in Me. You will thus directly be of worship for Me, and not in any other way as with [e.g. offering] vast riches [and such].'

(58) S'rī S'ūka said: 'He [S'rutadeva] as also the king of Mithilā, who thus received instruction from the Lord, by their single-minded devotion unto Krishna and His company of most exalted brahmins, attained the transcendental destination. (59) The Supreme Lord, who is of devotion for His own devotees, stayed with the two devotees, taught the path of the truthful soul [***], oh King, and returned  to Dvārakā.'

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  Third revised edition, loaded December 23, 2021. 

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

The honorable king [Parīkchit] said: 'Oh brahmin, we would like to know how she who is my grandmother, the sister of Krishna and Rāma [Subhadrā, see 9.24: 53-55], got married to Arjuna.'
The honorable king (Parīkchit) said: 'O brahmin, we'd like to know how she who is my grandmother, the sister of Krishna and Rāma [Subhadrā, see 9.24: 53-55], got married to Arjuna.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 2-3

S'rī S'uka said: 'Arjuna, the great lord, while on a pilgrimage wandering the earth, reaching Prabhāsa heard that Balarāma intended to give His maternal cousin away to Duryodhana and to no one else. Desirous of her, he therefore went to Dvārakā disguised as a renunciate with a tridanda [*].

S'rī S'uka said: 'Arjuna, the great lord, gone on a pilgrimage to Prabhāsa wandering the earth, heard that Rāma intended to give his maternal cousin away to Duryodhana and to no one else, and so went he, desirous of her, to Dvārakā changed into a renunciate with a tridanda [*]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Determined to fulfill his purpose, he resided there during the months of the rainy season and was [according to the custom] all the time honored by Balarāma and the citizens without them being aware who he was.

There did he, sure to fulfill his purpose, reside during the months of the rainy season and was he for the time honored by the citizens and by Rāma unaware of who he was. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

One day being invited as a guest he was brought to the house of Balarāma, who faithfully presented him a meal which he then ate.

One day invited as a guest was he brought to Balarāma's house where He presented him with faith food for him to eat. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

With his eyes wide open of happiness, he saw the wonderful girl there who enchanted heroes. Smitten he fixed his mind on her.

There, with eyes blossoming of happiness seeing the wonderful girl enchanting the heroes, did he, smitten, put his mind on her. (Vedabase)

  

Text 7

Seeing him who stole each woman's heart, she desired him also. She fixed her heart and eyes upon him and full of desire bashfully smiling cast sidelong glances.

She also seeing him who stole each woman's heart, with desire giving him a bashful smile and look, fixed her heart and eyes upon him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Thinking of nothing but her, Arjuna awaited the right opportunity. With his heart trembling of the strongest desire, he could find no peace.

Thinking of nothing but her awaiting the right opportunity could Arjuna, with his heart trembling of the strongest desire, find no peace. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

When she during an important religious festival rode away from the fortress in a chariot, the mighty warrior seized the opportunity to abduct the girl who had stolen his heart. That occurred with the consent of her parents [see 1o.1: 56] and Krishna.

When during an important religious festival she rode out from the fortress in a chariot, did the mighty warrior, with her parents [see 1o.1: 56] and Krishna consenting, seize her who had stolen his heart. (Vedabase)

      

Text 10

Standing on the chariot he, like the king of the animals claiming his share, raised his bow and drove back the heroes and guards who tried to stop him while her relatives were angrily shouting.

Standing on the chariot raising his bow drove he, like the king of the animals claiming his share, back the heroes and guards who, as his relatives were shouting in anger, tried to stop him. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 11

Balarāma, upon hearing about it, was as perturbed as the ocean during a full moon. Lord Krishna and His family had to grasp Him respectfully by His feet in order to pacify Him.

Hearing this was Rāma, being as disturbed as the ocean during a moon in conflict [astrological conjunction or opposition], by Lord Krishna and His family grasped by the feet and carefully pacified. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

With pleasure He then sent presents of great value, elephants, horses and male and female servants, as a wedding gift for the groom and bride.'

So He with pleasure sent presents of great value, elephants and horses and male and female [servants] as a wedding gift for the groom and bride.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

S'rī S'uka continued: 'There was among Krishna's brahmins one named S'rutadeva. He was one of the best, being exclusively devoted to Krishna, and was known for the fullness of his realization - his serenity, learning and freedom from sense gratification.

S'rī S'uka continued: 'Of Lord Krishna there was S'rutadeva, one of the best among the twice born, known for his fullness of realization - his serenity, learning and freedom from sense gratification - in exclusive devotion to Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

As a householder dwelling in Mithilā in the kingdom of Videha, he performed his duties without being concerned about what he received for his sustenance.

He, as a householder dwelling in Mithilā in the kingdom of Videha, carried out his obligations unconcerned about what came to him for his sustenance. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Day by day doing his tasks as required, he was satisfied with just that - and nothing more, of what he by providence acquired as his share for his sober maintenance.

Day by day doing his duties as required was he happy with just that - and nothing more - what to his sober maintenance by providence fell to his share. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

The ruler of that kingdom, stemming from the line of King Mithilā  [Janaka], was known by the name of Bahulās'va. He was just as selfless as he was, my dear King. They were both equally dear to Acyuta.

The ruler of that kingdom from the line of King Mithilā [Janaka] known as Bahulās'va was likewise selfless-minded, my dearest; both indeed were dear to Acyuta. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Pleased with the two of them, the Supreme Lord mounted His chariot brought by Dāruka. Together with a group of sages the Master went to Videha.

Pleased with the two of them mounted the Supreme Lord His chariot brought forth by Dāruka, and mounting together with a group of sages went the Master to Videha. (Vedabase)

   

Text 18

He was accompanied by Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paras'urāma, Asita, Aruni, I myself [S'uka], Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya, Cyavana and others.

Along came Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Krishna-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paras'urāma, Asita, Aruni, I [S'uka], Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya and Cyavana and others. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 19

Everywhere He came, the citizens and villagers approached, carrying arghya [offerings of water] to welcome Him, like He was the risen sun surrounded by the planets.

Everywhere He came approached the citizens and villagers carrying arghya [offerings of water] to greet Him who was as the risen sun surrounded by the planets. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 20

In Ānarta [where Dvārakā is], Dhanva [the desert region], Kuru-jāngala [Thaneswar and Kurukshetra], Kanka, Matsya [Jaipur and Aloyar], Pańcāla [the Ganges region], Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya [northeast Punjab], Kos'ala [from Kās'ī to the Himalayas], Arna [east of Mithilā] and in many other kingdoms, the men and women drank, with their eyes, the gentle smiles and affectionate glances of His lotus face, oh King.

In Ānarta [where Dvārakā is], Dhanva [the desert region], Kuru-jāngala [Thaneswar and Kurukshetra], Kanka, Matsya [Jaipur and Aloyar], Pańcāla [the Ganges region], Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya [northeast Punjab], Kos'ala [from Kas'i to the Himalayas], Arna [east of Mithilā] and in many other kingdoms, drank the men and women with their eyes in the lotus face generous with smiles and affectionate glances, o King. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 21

By [thus] bestowing upon them the fearlessness of the spiritual vision, the Spiritual Master of the Three Worlds put an end to the blindness of their eyes. This way gradually reaching Videha, He heard His glories being sung by the God-conscious souls and the commoners, the glories eradicating all misfortune and purifying every corner of the universe.

As the Spiritual Master of the Three Worlds, destroying the blindness of their eyes, bestowed on them the fearlessness of the spiritual vision, heard He, by and by reaching Videha, His glories that eradicate all misfortune and purify every corner of the universe, being sung by the godly and the commoners. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 22

The moment the villagers and citizens heard that Acyuta had arrived, oh King, they joyfully came forward to greet Him with offerings in their hands.

As soon as the villagers and citizens heard that Acyuta had arrived, o King, came they joyfully out to Him with offerings in their hands. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 23

Seeing Him who is Praised in the Verses, they, with their faces and hearts blossoming of love and with joined palms held to their heads, bowed down to Him and the sages, whom they till then only knew from hearsay.

Seeing Him Who is Praised in the Verses, bowed they with their faces and hearts blossoming of love down with their joined palms held to their heads, as they also did before the sages they knew from hearsay. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 24

Both the king of Mithilā and S'rutadeva prostrated at His feet, with each of them in his mind the thought that the Spiritual Master of the Universe especially for him had arrived to be of mercy.

The king of Mithilā and S'rutadeva each fell at the feet thinking that the Spiritual Master of the Universe had arrived to be of mercy to him. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 25

Bahulās'va and S'rutadeva then, both with their palms joined, at the same time invited the Descendant of Das'ārha and the brahmins to be their guests.

Bahulās'va and S'rutadeva simultaneously joining their palms, invited the Descendant of Das'ārha along with the twiceborn to be their guest. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 26

The Supreme Lord wanted to please them both, and accepted their offer by entering each his house [simultaneously] without them seeing this [vaibhava-prakās'a miracle].

The Supreme Lord eager to please the two of them entered, accepting them both, each his house without them seeing that [He did so at the same time in vaibhava-prakās'a]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 27-29

The descendent of Janaka [Bahulas'va] who, later that day, saw them fatigued coming from a distance to his house, mindfully brought fine seats outside for them, so that they could sit comfortably. Overjoyed at heart with intense devotion and eyes clouded with tears, he bowed down to wash the feet, the water of which is capable of purifying the entire world. Together with his family he took it on his head and honored the Lords [and sages] with sandalwood paste, garlands, clothing, jewelry, incense, lamps, arghya, cows and bulls.

The descendent of Janaka [Bahulas'va] then seeing them, fatigued, from a distance coming to his home, mindfully brought out fine seats to them so that they could comfortably sit. Overjoyed at heart with intense devotion and eyes clouded with tears bowed he down to wash those feet of which the water is able to purify the whole world. Together with his family taking it on their heads, worshiped he the Lords [and sages] with paste, garlands, clothing, jewelry, incense, lamps, arghya, cows and bulls. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 30

After they had eaten their fill, he, while happily massaging the feet of Vishnu on his lap, in order to please them, slowly said the following in a gentle voice.

To them gratified with the food said he slowly, happily massaging the feet of Vishnu on his lap, the following, trying to please in a gentle voice. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 31

S'rī Bahulās'va said: 'You, oh Almighty One, the Self-illumined Witness and Soul of All Created Beings, have now become visible to us, those who are remembering Your lotus feet.

S'rī Bahulās'va said: 'You indeed the Self-illumined Witness and Soul of All Created Beings, o Almighty One, have now become visible to us who are remembering Your lotusfeet. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 32

To be true to the statement You have made that: 'No one, not even Ananta, S'rī or the Unborn Brahmā is as dear to Me as the unalloyed devotee', You have manifested before our eyes [see also 7.7: 51-52, 10.9: 20-21, 10.47: 58-63].

To be true to the statement You made that 'No one, not even Ananta, S'rī or the Unborn Brahmā is as dear to Me as the unalloyed devotee', have you made Yourself accessible to our eyes [see also 7.7: 51-52, 10.9.20-21, 10. 47: 58-63]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 33

What person who knows this would abandon Your lotus feet, when You give Yourself to peaceful sages free from possessiveness?

Who ever, what person being in knowledge like this, would abandon Your lotusfeet with You giving Yourself to sages who are peaceful with no possessions of their own? (Vedabase)

 

 Text 34

Descending in the Yadu dynasty for the sake of those caught in the cycle of birth and death [samsāra], You have, in order to put an end to it, disseminated Your fame removing the sins of the three worlds.

Descending in the Yadu-dynasty for the people caught in worldly love [samsāra] have You, to call it to a stop, disseminated Your fame which removes the sins of the three worlds. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 35

All glories to You, oh Krishna, oh Supreme Lord of an unlimited intelligence, oh Nara-Nārāyana who are perfectly peaceful in Your austerity.

All glories to You Krishna, the Supreme Lord ever fresh in His intelligence, to Nara-Nārāyana, perfect of peace in undergoing the austerities. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 36

Please, oh Omnipresent One, dwell together with the brahmins for a few days in our home and sanctify this dynasty of Nimi with the dust of Your feet.'

Please o Omnipresent One, dwell, joined by the twice born, for a few days in our home and sanctify with the dust of Your feet this dynasty of Nimi. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 37

S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus being invited by the king, the Supreme Lord and Maintainer of the Entire World stayed there, and thus made the men and women of Mithilā happy.

S'rī S'uka said: 'Thus invited by the king stayed the Supreme Lord and Maintainer of the Entire World, bringing good fortune to the men and women of Mithilā. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 38

S'rutadeva, who just like Bahulas'va received Krishna in his house, bowed down to the sages and [then] in great delight danced with waving clothes.

S'rutadeva, just as Bahulas'va receiving Krishna in his house, bowed down to the sages to the occasion of which he delighted danced with waving clothes.(Vedabase)

 

 Text 39

He made them sit on mats of darbha grass that were brought, he greeted them with words of welcome and then together with his wife washed their feet with pleasure.

Making them sit on mats of darbha grass which were brought, greeted he them with words of welcome and washed he pleased together with his wife their feet. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 40

Overjoyed of having all his desires fulfilled, he most piously sprinkled himself, his house and his family with the water.

With the water he, overjoyed of having all desires fulfilled, most piously showered himself, his house and his family. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 41

With offerings of fruits, aromatic root [us'īra], pure nectarean sweet water, fragrant clay, tulsī leaves, kus'a grass and lotus flowers, he honored them with all items of worship at his disposition, as also with food conducive to the mood of goodness [see B.G. 17: 8].

With offerings of fruits, aromatic root [us'īra], pure nectarean sweet water, fragrant clay, tulsī leaves, kus'a-grass and lotus flowers honored he them with all items of worship available and with food conducive to the mood of goodness [see B.G. 17: 8]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 42

He wondered: 'How could it happen that I, who fell down in the blind well of family life, may enjoy this association with Krishna and these godly people in whom He resides? It is the dust of their feet that constitutes the dignity of all the holy places.'

He tried to understand: 'For what reason could befall me, fallen in the blind well of a family life, this association with Krishna and these godly people in whom He resides; it is indeed the dust of their feet that is the dignity of all holy places. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 43

Having shown his hospitality, S'rutadeva, with them comfortably being seated, sat close together with his wife, relatives and children, and addressed them while massaging [the Lord] His feet.

With them comfortably seated and proven the hospitality, spoke S'rutadeva, with his wife, relatives and children sitting near, while massaging His feet. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 44

S'rutadeva said: 'It is not just today that we see the Supreme Personality present before us. We in fact enjoy His presence ever since He created this universe with His energies and [as an avatāra] entered it in His [transcendental] state.

S'rutadeva said: 'It is not just today that we have obtained the vision of the Supreme Personality; in fact is that so ever since He, creating this universe with His energies, entered it in His own state of [transcendental] existence [as avatāras]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 45

He enters this world and appears there the way a sleeping person, alone with his mind, creates a separate world in his imagination.

He appears like a sleeping person enters a dream, alone with his mind by his own imagination creating a separate world. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 46

You appear in the heart of those persons who, with a pure [by meditation peaceful] mind, time and again hear and speak about You, glorify You, worship You and converse about You.

For those people who with minds pure again and again hear about You, speak about You and, offering praise, worship You and converse about You, do You appear within the heart. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 47

In spite of being situated in the heart, You are far removed from minds agitated by material affairs. One [indeed] cannot get hold of You by one's own [material] powers, but You support those souls who know to appreciate Your qualities [see also B.G. 7: 25].

Though situated in the heart are You very far away to minds agitated by material activities; though one by one's own powers cannot take hold of You, are You near to those hearts who realized Your qualities [see also B.G. 7: 25]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 48

May there be my obeisances unto You, who are the Supersoul for the knowers of the Supreme Spirit, unto You, who [in the form of Time **] brings death to the conditioned soul, unto You, the One who assumes the forms of effect as also the forms of cause, unto You whose vision is not covered by Your deluding potency but who are covered to our vision.

Let there be my obeisances unto You, the Supreme Spirit to those who know the Supersoul, the One [as Time] bringing Death to the conditioned soul; the One assuming forms having a cause [the universe] and not having a cause [the transcendental], [respectively] obstructing and [then again descending for Your devotees] uncovering the vision by Your own deluding potency. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 49

Please, oh You as that Supersoul, command us Your servants. What, oh Lord, should we do? Oh, having this form of Your good Self visible before our eyes is what puts an end to the troubles of humanity!'

You as Him, please command us Your servants. What o God should we do? Oh, having this of You, Your good Self, visible to the eyes, is what puts an end to the troubles of humanity!' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 50

S' S'uka said: 'Having heard what he thus said to Him, the Supreme Lord, the destroyer of the distress of the surrendered souls, addressed him with a broad smile while taking his hand in His own.

S'rī S'uka said: 'Hearing what he thus had said to Him, spoke the Supreme Lord, the Destroyer of the Distress of the Surrendered, to him with a broad smile taking his hand into His. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 51

The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh brahmin, you should know that these sages came along for the purpose of blessing you. Wandering with Me, they purify all the worlds with the dust of their feet.

The Supreme Lord said: 'O brahmin, you should know that these sages came for the purpose of blessing you; wandering with Me, they purify all the worlds with the dust of their feet. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 52

The deities, pilgrimage sites and sacred rivers being visited, being touched and being worshiped, purify gradually, but the same thing is attained [at once] by the glance of those [sages] who are most worshipable [see also 4.30: 37, 7.9: 44, 10.9: 21, 10.84: 11].

The deities, pilgrimage sites and sacred rivers being seen, being touched and being worshiped purify gradually, but by the glance of the one most worshipable is that attained all at the same time [see also 4.30: 37, 7.9: 44, 10.9:21, 10.84: 11]. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 53

A brahmin is by birth the best of all living beings, and even more so, when he, as a portion of Me, is endowed with austerity, learning and contentment!

A brahmin is by birth the best of all living beings, and what more would he be unto Me, by his austerity, his learning and his contentment being endowed with a grip on the time [of this age of Kali, see also ** and kāla]! (Vedabase)

 

 Text 54

[Even] this four-armed form is not as dear to Me as a brahmin. A man of [brahminical] learning comprises all the Vedas, the way I comprise all the gods [see also 10.84: 12].

This four-armed form is not as dear to Me as a brahmin is; a man of [brahminical] learning comprises all the Vedas indeed the way I comprise all the gods [see also 10.84: 12]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 55

Those whose intelligence is spoiled and fail to understand it thus, lack in respect and are envious. While they do consider the visible form of an idol worthy of worship, they are of neglect towards their guru, the [brahminical] scholar, who in fact is Me, their very Self.

Those corrupted in their intelligence failing to understand it this way, in neglect behave enviously towards the man of [brahminical] learning, their guru, Me, their very self; while regarding the visible form of an idol worthy of worship. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 56

A learned man of respect for Me, keeps the moving and nonmoving part of this universe, as also the elementary categories basic to it, in mind as being forms of Me [see also B.G. 5: 18].

The moving and nonmoving of this universe as well as the elementary categories basic to it are by a learned one in regard of Me kept in mind as being My forms [see also B.G. 5: 18]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 57

Therefore, oh brahmin, just worship these brahmin seers with the same faith as you have in Me. You will thus directly be of worship for Me, and not in any other way as with [e.g. offering] vast riches [and such].'

Therefore o brahmin just worship, in faith with Me, these brahmin seers, and thus doing so will directly I be worshiped; not by any other way as [e.g. offering] vast riches [and such].' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 58

S'rī S'ūka said: 'He [S'rutadeva] as also the king of Mithilā, who thus received instruction from the Lord, by their single-minded devotion unto Krishna and His company of most exalted brahmins, attained the transcendental destination.

S'rī S'ūka said: 'He as also the king of Mithilā this manner being instructed by the Lord, attained by worshiping with single-minded devotion Krishna and His company of the most exalted twice born ones, the transcendental destination. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 59

The Supreme Lord, who is of devotion for His own devotees, stayed with the two devotees, taught the path of the truthful soul [***], oh King, and returned to Dvārakā.'

The Supreme Lord of Devotion to the Devotees, thus staying and teaching the two devotees the path of the truthful [***], o King, then returned to Dvārakā. (Vedabase)

 

*: The tridanda is a staff carried by vaishnava sannayāsīs symbolizing the threefold austerity of thought, speech and action. In this threefold the renunciate is vowed to serve Vishnu. The staff consists of three sticks wrapped in saffron cloth with a small extra piece wrapped in at the top.

**: Time is the Lord's impersonal feature. The paramparā says: 'It is understood from the Vedic science of epistemology, the 'Nyāya-S'āstra', that knowledge of an object (prameya) depends on a valid means of knowing (pramāna)' (pp 10.86: 54). Thus would knowing Krishna in the form of Time as-He-is (I am the Time, the light of the sun and the moon, as He says to be in the Gītā) - by means of so-called equation clocks managed validly to His nature, knowing the Sun, as with a sundial, and calendars managed validly to His order, the moon, like with its phases - constitute the proper brahminical conduct. With weeks settled to the moon and clocks settled to the sun, standardtime, with its mean time deadness, zone time arbitrary false oneness and summertime instability, then would constitute the time of ignorance in denial of Krishna, the father of Time, even though Krishna does affirm the worship of Time with the pragmatical and thus karmic dictate of standardtime, to which He still calls that demigod (...) worship less attractive and wrong [see also cakra, kāla and 1.2: 26, B.G. 9: 23, 10: 21, 30 & 33, 7: 8 and the Bhāgavatam time quotes].

***: Prabhupāda adds here: "The instruction we receive from this incident is that King Bahulās'va and S'rutadeva the brāhmana, were accepted by the Lord on the same level because both were pure devotees. This is the real qualification for being recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

 

 

 

 

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The painting of Arjuna and Subhadrā is of
Raja Ravi Varma.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

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