Narada Counsels Krishna on His Kinsmen

Verse 1 (12.81.1)

एवमग्राह्यके तस्मिञ्ज्ञातिसंबन्धिमण्डले । मित्रेष्वमित्रेष्वपि च कथं भावो विभाव्यते ॥

evamagrāhyake tasmiñjñātisaṃbandhimaṇḍale | mitreṣvamitreṣvapi ca kathaṃ bhāvo vibhāvyate

When the circle of kinsmen and relatives is thus so hard to hold, how is one's disposition toward friends and enemies to be judged?

Verse 2 (12.81.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । संवादं वासुदेवस्य महर्षेर्नारदस्य च ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | saṃvādaṃ vāsudevasya maharṣernāradasya ca

On this point they cite this ancient tale, the conversation between Vasudeva and the great seer Narada.

Verse 3 (12.81.3)

नासुहृत्परमं मन्त्रं नारदार्हति वेदितुम् । अपण्डितो वाऽपि सुहृत्पण्डितो वाप्यनात्मवान् ॥

nāsuhṛtparamaṃ mantraṃ nāradārhati veditum | apaṇḍito vā'pi suhṛtpaṇḍito vāpyanātmavān

Narada, one who is not a friend does not deserve to hear a supreme counsel; neither does a friend who is unlearned, nor one who is learned but not master of himself.

Note on the text: Corrected परर्म → परमं (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; the critical edition reads paramaṃ).

Verse 4 (12.81.4)

स ते सौहृदमास्थाय किंचिद्वक्ष्यामि नारद । कृत्स्नां बुद्धिं च ते प्रेक्ष्य संपृच्छे त्रिदिवङ्गम ॥

sa te sauhṛdamāsthāya kiṃcidvakṣyāmi nārada | kṛtsnāṃ buddhiṃ ca te prekṣya saṃpṛcche tridivaṅgama

Relying on your friendship, Narada, I shall say something to you; having seen your whole understanding, I put my question to you, O wanderer of the sky.

Verse 5 (12.81.5)

दास्यमैश्वर्यवादेन ज्ञातीनां वै करोम्यहम् । अर्धंभोक्ताऽस्मि भोगानां वाग्दुरुक्तानि च क्षमे ॥

dāsyamaiśvaryavādena jñātīnāṃ vai karomyaham | ardhaṃbhoktā'smi bhogānāṃ vāgduruktāni ca kṣame

On the plea that they are lords, I act as a servant to my kinsmen. I am half-sharer in their pleasures, and I put up with their harsh words.

Verse 6 (12.81.6)

अरणीमग्निकामो वा मथ्नाति हृदयं मम । वाचा दुरुक्तं देवर्षे तन्मां दहति नित्यदा ॥

araṇīmagnikāmo vā mathnāti hṛdayaṃ mama | vācā duruktaṃ devarṣe tanmāṃ dahati nityadā

As a man who wants fire churns the fire-stick, so a harsh word spoken churns my heart, divine sage; it burns me constantly.

Note on the text: Corrected दहृयं → हृदयं (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; the critical edition reads hṛdayaṃ).

Verse 7 (12.81.7)

बलं सङ्कर्षणे नित्यं सौकुमार्यं पुनर्गदे । रूपेण मत्तः प्रद्युम्नः सोऽसहायोऽस्मि नारद ॥

balaṃ saṅkarṣaṇe nityaṃ saukumāryaṃ punargade | rūpeṇa mattaḥ pradyumnaḥ so'sahāyo'smi nārada

Sankarshana has strength always, Gada has gentleness, Pradyumna is intoxicated with his beauty; and I am without help, Narada.

Verse 8 (12.81.8)

अन्ये हि सुमहाभागा बलवन्तो दुरासदाः । नित्योत्थानेन संपन्ना नारदान्धकवृष्णयः ॥

anye hi sumahābhāgā balavanto durāsadāḥ | nityotthānena saṃpannā nāradāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ

There are others too, greatly fortunate, mighty, hard to approach, always active in effort: the Andhakas and the Vrishnis, Narada.

Verse 9 (12.81.9)

यस्य न स्युर्न वै स स्याद्यस्य स्युः कृत्स्नमेव तत् । द्वयोरेनं प्रचरतोर्वृणोम्येकरतं न च ॥

yasya na syurna vai sa syādyasya syuḥ kṛtsnameva tat | dvayorenaṃ pracaratorvṛṇomyekarataṃ na ca

The man who does not have them is as if he were not; to the man who has them, everything is his. As the two of them go on acting as they do, I cannot choose to side with either one.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads कृत्स्नमेव तत् where the critical edition (12.82.9) has kṛcchram eva tat (the page's note gives कृत्स्नमेव as a reading); line 2 (द्वयोरेनं प्रचरतोर्वृणोम्येकरतं न च) differs from CE dvābhyāṃ nivārito nityaṃ vṛṇomy ekataraṃ na ca. Wikisource's wording is kept as printed; the translation follows its sense.

Verse 10 (12.81.10)

स्यातां यस्याहुकाक्रूरौ किं नु दुःखतरं ततः । यस्य चापि न तौ स्यातां किं नु दुःखतरं ततः ॥

syātāṃ yasyāhukākrūrau kiṃ nu duḥkhataraṃ tataḥ | yasya cāpi na tau syātāṃ kiṃ nu duḥkhataraṃ tataḥ

For him who has Ahuka and Akrura, what could be more painful than that? And for him who has not those two, what could be more painful than that?

Verse 11 (12.81.11)

सोऽहं कितवमातेव द्वयोरपि महामुने । नैकस्य जयमाशंसे द्वितीयस्य पराजयम् ॥

so'haṃ kitavamāteva dvayorapi mahāmune | naikasya jayamāśaṃse dvitīyasya parājayam

So I, great sage, am like the mother of two gamblers: I cannot wish for the victory of one and the defeat of the other.

Note on the text: Corrected कित्नवमातेव → कितवमातेव (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kitavamāteva, and the page's note glosses कितवमातेव).

Verse 12 (12.81.12)

ममैवं क्लिश्यमानस्य नारदोभयदर्शनात् । वक्तुमर्हसि यच्छ्रेयो ज्ञातीनामात्मनस्तथा ॥

mamaivaṃ kliśyamānasya nāradobhayadarśanāt | vaktumarhasi yacchreyo jñātīnāmātmanastathā

Tormented as I am, Narada, by seeing both sides, you ought to tell me what is best for my kinsmen and for myself.

Verse 13 (12.81.13)

आपदो द्विविधाः कृष्ण बाह्याश्चाभ्यन्तराश्च ह । प्रादुर्भवन्ति वार्ष्णेय स्वकृता यदि वाऽन्यतः ॥

āpado dvividhāḥ kṛṣṇa bāhyāścābhyantarāśca ha | prādurbhavanti vārṣṇeya svakṛtā yadi vā'nyataḥ

Calamities are of two kinds, Krishna, outer and inner. They arise, O Vrishni, either of one's own making or from another.

Note on the text: Corrected चाम्यन्तराश्च → चाभ्यन्तराश्च (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ; the critical edition reads cābhyantarāś ca).

Verse 14 (12.81.14)

सेयमाभ्यन्तरा तुभ्यमापत्कृच्छ्रा स्वकर्मजा । अक्रूरभोजप्रभवा सर्वे ह्येते तदन्वयाः ॥

seyamābhyantarā tubhyamāpatkṛcchrā svakarmajā | akrūrabhojaprabhavā sarve hyete tadanvayāḥ

This is an inner calamity for you, grievous and born of your own deeds; it springs from Akrura and the Bhojas, for all these are of their line.

Note on the text: Corrected तदन्वयः → तदन्वयाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा, the plural सर्वे ... एते needs it; the critical edition reads tadanvayāḥ).

Verse 15 (12.81.15)

अर्थहेतोर्हि कामाद्वा वीरबीभत्सयाऽपि वा । आत्मना प्राप्तमैश्वर्यमन्यत्र प्रतिपादितम् ॥

arthahetorhi kāmādvā vīrabībhatsayā'pi vā | ātmanā prāptamaiśvaryamanyatra pratipāditam

Whether for the sake of wealth, or from desire, or from revulsion, the sovereignty you won by your own hand you handed over to another.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads वीरबीभत्सयाऽपि where the critical edition (12.82.15) has dvārā bībhatsayāpi; Wikisource's reading is kept as a variant.

Verse 16 (12.81.16)

कृतमूलमिदानीं तद्राजशब्दसहायवत् । न शक्यं पुनरादातुं वान्तमन्नमिव स्वयम् ॥

kṛtamūlamidānīṃ tadrājaśabdasahāyavat | na śakyaṃ punarādātuṃ vāntamannamiva svayam

Now it has taken root, with the name of king and with supporters, and it cannot be taken back, like food that has been vomited.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads तद्राजशब्दसहायवत् where the critical edition (12.82.16) has taj jātaśabdaṃ sahāyavat (the page's note gives ज्ञातिशब्दं as a reading); line 2 ends स्वयम् for CE tvayā. Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 17 (12.81.17)

बभ्रूग्रसेनतो राज्यं नाप्तुं शक्यं कथंचन । ज्ञातिभेदभयात्कृष्ण त्वया चापि विशेषतः ॥

babhrūgrasenato rājyaṃ nāptuṃ śakyaṃ kathaṃcana | jñātibhedabhayātkṛṣṇa tvayā cāpi viśeṣataḥ

The kingdom cannot be taken back from Babhru and Ugrasena by any means, Krishna, for fear of splitting the kin, and especially for you.

Note on the text: Corrected नाप्नुं → नाप्तुं (misprint in Wikisource; न for त; the critical edition reads nāptuṃ). Line 1 reads बभ्रूग्रसेनतो where the CE has babhrūgrasenayo, a variant.

Verse 18 (12.81.18)

तच्च सिध्येत्प्रयत्नेन कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम् । महाक्षयं व्ययो वा स्याद्विनाशो वा पुनर्भवेत् ॥

tacca sidhyetprayatnena kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram | mahākṣayaṃ vyayo vā syādvināśo vā punarbhavet

Even if it were achieved with effort, by doing a very hard deed, it would bring great loss and expense, or else ruin would follow again.

Verse 19 (12.81.19)

अनायसेन शस्त्रेण मृदुना हृदयच्छिदा । जिह्वामुद्धर सर्वेषां परिमृज्यानुमृज्य च ॥

anāyasena śastreṇa mṛdunā hṛdayacchidā | jihvāmuddhara sarveṣāṃ parimṛjyānumṛjya ca

With a weapon not made of iron, soft, that cuts the heart, draw out the tongues of them all, smoothing and stroking them.

Note on the text: Corrected परिमृदज्यानुमृज्य → परिमृज्यानुमृज्य (misprint in Wikisource; stray द; the critical edition reads parimṛjyānumṛjya, as does verse 20 on the page).

Verse 20 (12.81.20)

अनायसं मुने शस्त्रं मृदु विद्यामहं कथम् । येनैषामुद्धरे जिह्वां परिमृज्यानुमृज्य च ॥

anāyasaṃ mune śastraṃ mṛdu vidyāmahaṃ katham | yenaiṣāmuddhare jihvāṃ parimṛjyānumṛjya ca

Sage, how am I to know a weapon that is not of iron and is soft, with which I could draw out their tongues, smoothing and stroking them?

Verse 21 (12.81.21)

शक्त्याऽन्नदानं सततं तितिक्षाऽऽर्जवमार्दवम् । यथार्हप्रतिपूजा च शस्त्रमेतदनायसम् ॥

śaktyā'nnadānaṃ satataṃ titikṣā''rjavamārdavam | yathārhapratipūjā ca śastrametadanāyasam

Giving food always as far as one is able, forbearance, uprightness and gentleness, and honouring each as he deserves: this is the weapon that is not of iron.

Verse 22 (12.81.22)

ज्ञातीनां वक्तुकामानां कटुकानि लघूनि च । गिरा त्वं हृदयं वाचं शमयस्व मनांसि च ॥

jñātīnāṃ vaktukāmānāṃ kaṭukāni laghūni ca | girā tvaṃ hṛdayaṃ vācaṃ śamayasva manāṃsi ca

When your kinsmen want to speak words that are harsh and light, calm their speech, their hearts and their minds with your voice.

Note on the text: Corrected लधूनि → लघूनि (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition reads laghūni) and शमयस्य → शमयस्व (misprint; the imperative; the critical edition reads śamayasva). Line 1 reads कटुकानि where the CE has kaṭūni, a variant.

Verse 23 (12.81.23)

नामहापुरुषः कश्चिन्नानात्मा नासहायवान् । महतीं धुरमादाय समुद्यम्योरसा वहेत् ॥

nāmahāpuruṣaḥ kaścinnānātmā nāsahāyavān | mahatīṃ dhuramādāya samudyamyorasā vahet

No one who is not a great man, who is not master of himself, or who has no helpers, can take up a great yoke and carry it, lifting it with his chest.

Verse 24 (12.81.24)

सर्व एव गुरुं भारमनड्वान्वहते समे । दुर्गे प्रतीतः सुगवो भारं वहति दुर्वहम् ॥

sarva eva guruṃ bhāramanaḍvānvahate same | durge pratītaḥ sugavo bhāraṃ vahati durvaham

Every ox bears a heavy load on level ground; but on rough ground the renowned good bull carries a load that is hard to bear.

Note on the text: Corrected अनङ्वान् → अनड्वान् (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ड; the critical edition reads anaḍvān). Line 2 reads प्रतीतः where the CE has pratīkaḥ, a variant.

Verse 25 (12.81.25)

भेदाद्विनाशः सङ्घानां सङ्घमुख्योऽसि केशव । यथा त्वां प्राप्य नोत्सीदेदयं सङ्घस्तथा कुरु ॥

bhedādvināśaḥ saṅghānāṃ saṅghamukhyo'si keśava | yathā tvāṃ prāpya notsīdedayaṃ saṅghastathā kuru

Division is the ruin of confederacies, and you, Keshava, are the head of this one. Act so that this confederacy, having come to you, may not perish.

Verse 26 (12.81.26)

नान्यत्र बुद्धिक्षान्तिभ्यां नान्यत्रेन्द्रियनिग्रहात् । नान्यत्र धनसन्त्यागाद्गुणः प्राज्ञेऽवतिष्ठते ॥

nānyatra buddhikṣāntibhyāṃ nānyatrendriyanigrahāt | nānyatra dhanasantyāgādguṇaḥ prājñe'vatiṣṭhate

Not apart from intelligence and patience, not apart from control of the senses, not apart from generous giving of wealth, does merit abide in the wise man.

Note on the text: Line 2 ends गुणः प्राज्ञेऽवतिष्ठते where the critical edition (12.82.26) has gaṇaḥ prājñe 'vatiṣṭhate; Wikisource's reading is good Sanskrit and is kept.

Verse 27 (12.81.27)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वपक्षोद्भावनं सदा । ज्ञातीनामविनाशः स्याद्यथा कृष्ण तथा कुरु ॥

dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ svapakṣodbhāvanaṃ sadā | jñātīnāmavināśaḥ syādyathā kṛṣṇa tathā kuru

Do so, Krishna, that there may be no ruin of the kinsmen: what brings wealth, fame and long life, and always raises one's own side.

Note on the text: Corrected आयुष्वं → आयुष्यं (misprint in Wikisource; व for य; the critical edition reads āyuṣyam). Line 1 ends सदा where the CE has śubham, a variant.

Verse 28 (12.81.28)

आयत्यां च तदात्वे च न तेऽस्त्यविदितं प्रभो । षाङ्गुण्यस्य विधानेन यात्रा यानविधौ तथा ॥

āyatyāṃ ca tadātve ca na te'styaviditaṃ prabho | ṣāṅguṇyasya vidhānena yātrā yānavidhau tathā

Nothing about the future or the present is unknown to you, lord, nor the use of the six measures of policy, nor marching and the rules of campaigning.

Verse 29 (12.81.29)

यादवाः कुकुरा भोजाः सर्वे चान्धकवृष्णयः । त्वय्यायत्ता महाबाहो लोका लोकेश्वराश्च ये ॥

yādavāḥ kukurā bhojāḥ sarve cāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ | tvayyāyattā mahābāho lokā lokeśvarāśca ye

The Yadavas, the Kukuras, the Bhojas, and all the Andhakas and Vrishnis, and the worlds and the lords of the worlds, O mighty-armed one, depend on you.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads यादवाः where the critical edition (12.82.29) has mādhavāḥ, and line 2 reads आयत्ता for āsaktā; both are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 30 (12.81.30)

उपासन्ते हि त्वद्बुद्धिमृषयश्चापि माधव । त्वं गुरुः सर्वभूतानां जानीषे त्वं परां गतिम् ॥

upāsante hi tvadbuddhimṛṣayaścāpi mādhava | tvaṃ guruḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ jānīṣe tvaṃ parāṃ gatim

The sages too wait upon your counsel, Madhava. You are the teacher of all beings, and you know the supreme goal.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 12.82.30a; line 2 = CE 12.82.30c with जानीषे त्वं परां गतिम् where the CE has jānīṣe tvaṃ gatāgatam, a recension variant.

Verse 31 (12.81.31)

त्वामासाद्य यदुश्रेष्ठमेधन्ते यादवाः सुखम् ॥

tvāmāsādya yaduśreṣṭhamedhante yādavāḥ sukham

Having reached you, best of the Yadus, the Yadavas prosper in happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected वादवाः → यादवाः (misprint in Wikisource; व for य). The page prints only this one line (labelled 12-81-31a), and nothing is lost: it is the third line, 12.82.30e, of the critical edition's three-line verse 30 (tvām āsādya yaduśreṣṭham edhante jñātinaḥ sukham; यादवाः is a variant of jñātinaḥ). Kept as a single-line verse as on the page.