Punishment and Reward of Kali

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.17.1)

सूत उवाच तत्र गोमिथुनं राजा हन्यमानमनाथवत् । दण्डहस्तं च वृषलं ददृशे नृपलाञ्छनम् ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca tatra go-mithunaṁ rājā hanyamānam anāthavat daṇḍa-hastaṁ ca vṛṣalaṁ dadṛśe nṛpa-lāñchanam

Suta said: There the King saw a cow and a bull being beaten, helpless as if bereft of any owner, by a shudra bearing a club and dressed like a king.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.17.2)

वृषं मृणालधवलं मेहन्तमिव बिभ्यतम् । वेपमानं पदैकेन सीदन्तं शूद्रताडितम् ॥ २ ॥

vṛṣaṁ mṛṇāla-dhavalaṁ mehantam iva bibhyatam vepamānaṁ padaikena sīdantaṁ śūdra-tāḍitam

The bull, white as a lotus stalk, terrified, trembling and standing on only one leg, urinating out of fear, was being struck by that shudra.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.17.3)

गां च धर्मदुघां दीनां भृशं शूद्रपदाहताम् । विवत्सामाश्रुवदनां क्षामां यवसमिच्छतीम् ॥ ३ ॥

gāṁ ca dharma-dughāṁ dīnāṁ bhṛśaṁ śūdra-padāhatām vivatsām āśru-vadanāṁ kṣāmāṁ yavasam icchatīm

And the cow, from whom religious merit itself may be milked, now pitiable, her legs cruelly struck by that shudra, calfless, her face wet with tears, weak and longing only for a little grass.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.17.4)

पप्रच्छ रथमारूढः कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदम् । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा समारोपितकार्मुकः ॥ ४ ॥

papraccha ratham ārūḍhaḥ kārtasvara-paricchadam megha-gambhīrayā vācā samāropita-kārmukaḥ

Seated on his chariot, adorned with gold, his bow already raised, the King questioned him in a voice as deep as thunder.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.17.5)

कस्त्वं मच्छरणे लोके बलाद्धंस्यबलान् बली । नरदेवोऽसि वेशेण नटवत्कर्मणाद्विजः ॥ ५ ॥

kas tvaṁ mac-charaṇe loke balād dhaṁsy abalān balī nara-devo ’si veṣeṇa naṭavat karmaṇā ’dvijaḥ

Who are you, that dares, strong as you are, to kill the helpless by force within my domain? By your dress you seem a godly king, but by your deeds you are no twice-born at all — you are like an actor merely playing the part.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.17.6)

यस्त्वं कृष्णे गते दूरं सहगाण्डीवधन्वना । शोच्योऽस्यशोच्यान् रहसि प्रहरन् वधमर्हसि ॥ ६ ॥

yas tvaṁ kṛṣṇe gate dūraṁ saha-gāṇḍīva-dhanvanā śocyo ’sy aśocyān rahasi praharan vadham arhasi

Do you, scoundrel, dare strike this innocent creature only because Krishna and Arjuna, wielder of the Gandiva, are far away and out of sight? Beating the innocent in secret, you deserve nothing but death.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.17.7)

त्वं वा मृणालधवलः पादैर्न्यूनः पदा चरन् । वृषरूपेण किं कश्चिद् देवो नः परिखेदयन् ॥ ७ ॥

tvaṁ vā mṛṇāla-dhavalaḥ pādair nyūnaḥ padā caran vṛṣa-rūpeṇa kiṁ kaścid devo naḥ parikhedayan

Then he asked the bull: Are you, white as a lotus stalk, some bull deprived of three of your legs, moving on one alone — or are you some god come in a bull's form to grieve us?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.17.8)

न जातु कौरवेन्द्राणां दोर्दण्डपरिरम्भिते । भूतलेऽनुपतन्त्यस्मिन् विना ते प्राणिनां शुचः ॥ ८ ॥

na jātu kauravendrāṇāṁ dordaṇḍa-parirambhite bhū-tale ’nupatanty asmin vinā te prāṇināṁ śucaḥ

Never before, on this earth protected by the mighty arms of the kings of the Kuru line, have I seen any creature grieve with tears such as yours.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.17.9)

मा सौरभेयात्र शुचो व्येतु ते वृषलाद् भयम् । मा रोदीरम्ब भद्रं ते खलानां मयि शास्तरि ॥ ९ ॥

mā saurabheyātra śuco vyetu te vṛṣalād bhayam mā rodīr amba bhadraṁ te khalānāṁ mayi śāstari

O son of Surabhi, let your grief here depart; have no fear of this shudra. Do not weep, mother — all shall be well for you, so long as I remain the ruler and subduer of the wicked.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.17.10)

यस्य राष्ट्रे प्रजाः सर्वास्त्रस्यन्ते साध्व्यसाधुभिः । तस्य मत्तस्य नश्यन्ति कीर्तिरायुर्भगो गतिः ॥ १० ॥

yasya rāṣṭre prajāḥ sarvās trasyante sādhvy asādhubhiḥ tasya mattasya naśyanti kīrtir āyur bhago gatiḥ

O chaste one, when all beings in a king's realm are terrified by the wicked, that deluded king's fame, lifespan, fortune and good destiny are all destroyed.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.17.11)

एष राज्ञां परो धर्मो ह्यार्तानामार्तिनिग्रहः । अत एनं वधिष्यामि भूतद्रुहमसत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥

eṣa rājñāṁ paro dharmo hy ārtānām ārti-nigrahaḥ ata enaṁ vadhiṣyāmi bhūta-druham asattamam

This indeed is the supreme duty of kings — to remove the suffering of the afflicted. Therefore I shall kill this most vile creature, who does violence to other beings.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.17.12)

कोऽवृश्चत् तव पादांस्त्रीन् सौरभेय चतुष्पद । मा भूवंस्त्वादृशा राष्ट्रे राज्ञां कृष्णानुवर्तिनाम् ॥ १२ ॥

ko ’vṛścat tava pādāṁs trīn saurabheya catuṣ-pada mā bhūvaṁs tvādṛśā rāṣṭre rājñāṁ kṛṣṇānuvartinām

O son of Surabhi, who cut off your three legs, when you were born with four? Never should one such as yourself be found in a kingdom ruled by kings who follow Krishna.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.17.13)

आख्याहि वृष भद्रं वः साधूनामकृतागसाम् । आत्मवैरूप्यकर्तारं पार्थानां कीर्तिदूषणम् ॥ १३ ॥

ākhyāhi vṛṣa bhadraṁ vaḥ sādhūnām akṛtāgasām ātma-vairūpya-kartāraṁ pārthānāṁ kīrti-dūṣaṇam

Tell me, bull, may good come to you — you who are honest and free from offense — who has thus deformed you and blackened the good name of the sons of Pritha?

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.17.14)

जनेऽनागस्यघं युञ्जन् सर्वतोऽस्य च मद्भयम् । साधूनां भद्रमेव स्यादसाधुदमने कृते ॥ १४ ॥

jane ’nāgasy aghaṁ yuñjan sarvato ’sya ca mad-bhayam sādhūnāṁ bhadram eva syād asādhu-damane kṛte

Whoever inflicts suffering on offenseless beings must fear me, wherever he may be; by subduing the dishonest, the good are surely benefited.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.17.15)

अनागःस्विह भूतेषु य आगस्कृन्निरङ्कुशः । आहर्तास्मि भुजं साक्षादमर्त्यस्यापि साङ्गदम् ॥ १५ ॥

anāgaḥsv iha bhūteṣu ya āgas-kṛn niraṅkuśaḥ āhartāsmi bhujaṁ sākṣād amartyasyāpi sāṅgadam

Whoever, unchecked, commits offense against offenseless beings here — I shall directly tear off his very arms, even if he be a demigod adorned with celestial ornaments.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.17.16)

राज्ञो हि परमो धर्मः स्वधर्मस्थानुपालनम् । शासतोऽन्यान् यथाशास्त्रमनापद्युत्पथानिह ॥ १६ ॥

rājño hi paramo dharmaḥ sva-dharma-sthānupālanam śāsato ’nyān yathā-śāstram anāpady utpathān iha

For a king, the supreme duty is surely this — to steadfastly protect those faithful to their own duties, and, in ordinary times free of emergency, to chastise, according to scripture, those who stray from the right path.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.17.17)

धर्म उवाच एतद् वः पाण्डवेयानां युक्तमार्ताभयं वचः । येषां गुणगणैः कृष्णो दौत्यादौ भगवान् कृतः ॥ १७ ॥

dharma uvāca etad vaḥ pāṇḍaveyānāṁ yuktam ārtābhayaṁ vacaḥ yeṣāṁ guṇa-gaṇaiḥ kṛṣṇo dautyādau bhagavān kṛtaḥ

Dharma said: These words befit you, a descendant of the Pandavas, for whose virtues even Lord Krishna Himself once took on the role of a mere messenger.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.17.18)

न वयं क्लेशबीजानि यतः स्युः पुरुषर्षभ । पुरुषं तं विजानीमो वाक्यभेदविमोहिताः ॥ १८ ॥

na vayaṁ kleśa-bījāni yataḥ syuḥ puruṣarṣabha puruṣaṁ taṁ vijānīmo vākya-bheda-vimohitāḥ

O greatest of men, we cannot truly know that person who is the root cause of suffering — we are bewildered by the conflicting statements of different thinkers.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.17.19)

केचिद् विकल्पवसना आहुरात्मानमात्मनः । दैवमन्येऽपरे कर्म स्वभावमपरे प्रभुम् ॥ १९ ॥

kecid vikalpa-vasanā āhur ātmānam ātmanaḥ daivam anye ’pare karma svabhāvam apare prabhum

Some, clothed in the doctrine of non-duality, say that the self alone is responsible for itself; others say fate; still others, one's own past deeds; and others yet, material nature itself as the master.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.17.20)

अप्रतर्क्यादनिर्देश्यादिति केष्वपि निश्चयः । अत्रानुरूपं राजर्षे विमृश स्वमनीषया ॥ २० ॥

apratarkyād anirdeśyād iti keṣv api niścayaḥ atrānurūpaṁ rājarṣe vimṛśa sva-manīṣayā

Yet others hold that the cause lies beyond argument, beyond all designation — this alone is their firm conclusion. O royal sage, ponder over this matter yourself, with your own good judgment.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.17.21)

सूत उवाच एवं धर्मे प्रवदति स सम्राड् द्विजसत्तमाः । समाहितेन मनसा विखेदः पर्यचष्ट तम् ॥ २१ ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ dharme pravadati sa samrāḍ dvija-sattamāḥ samāhitena manasā vikhedaḥ paryacaṣṭa tam

Suta said: O best of the brahmanas, as the personality of religion thus spoke, the Emperor, his mind attentive and free of grief, gave him this reply.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.17.22)

राजोवाच धर्मं ब्रवीषि धर्मज्ञ धर्मोऽसि वृषरूपधृक् । यदधर्मकृतः स्थानं सूचकस्यापि तद्भवेत् ॥ २२ ॥

rājovāca dharmaṁ bravīṣi dharma-jña dharmo ’si vṛṣa-rūpa-dhṛk yad adharma-kṛtaḥ sthānaṁ sūcakasyāpi tad bhavet

The King said: O knower of religion, you speak of religion because you yourself, in the form of a bull, are Dharma; for whatever fate awaits the doer of unrighteous acts also awaits the one who merely points him out.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.17.23)

अथवा देवमायाया नूनं गतिरगोचरा । चेतसो वचसश्चापि भूतानामिति निश्चयः ॥ २३ ॥

athavā deva-māyāyā nūnaṁ gatir agocarā cetaso vacasaś cāpi bhūtānām iti niścayaḥ

Or perhaps this too is certain: the movement of the Lord's own divine energy is truly beyond the reach of the mind or the words of any living being.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.17.24)

तपः शौचं दया सत्यमिति पादाः कृते कृताः । अधर्मांशैस्त्रयो भग्नाः स्मयसङ्गमदैस्तव ॥ २४ ॥

tapaḥ śaucaṁ dayā satyam iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ adharmāṁśais trayo bhagnāḥ smaya-saṅga-madais tava

In the age of Satya your four legs were established as austerity, purity, mercy and truth. But three of them have now been broken by the elements of irreligion — pride, illicit indulgence, and intoxication.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.17.25)

इदानीं धर्म पादस्ते सत्यं निर्वर्तयेद्यतः । तं जिघृक्षत्यधर्मोऽयमनृतेनैधितः कलिः ॥ २५ ॥

idānīṁ dharma pādas te satyaṁ nirvartayed yataḥ taṁ jighṛkṣaty adharmo ’yam anṛtenaidhitaḥ kaliḥ

Now, O Dharma, only your one leg, truthfulness, somehow sustains you; and even that, this irreligion — Kali, flourishing on falsehood — is trying to seize.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.17.26)

इयं च भूमिर्भगवता न्यासितोरुभरा सती । श्रीमद्भिस्तत्पदन्यासैः सर्वतः कृतकौतुका ॥ २६ ॥

iyaṁ ca bhūmir bhagavatā nyāsitoru-bharā satī śrīmadbhis tat-pada-nyāsaiḥ sarvataḥ kṛta-kautukā

This earth too, her heavy burden once lifted away by the Personality of Godhead Himself, stood blessed and content everywhere, marked all about by the auspicious imprint of His feet.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.17.27)

शोचत्यश्रुकला साध्वी दुर्भगेवोज्झिता सती । अब्रह्मण्या नृपव्याजाः शूद्रा भोक्ष्यन्ति मामिति ॥ २७ ॥

śocaty aśru-kalā sādhvī durbhagevojjhitā satī abrahmaṇyā nṛpa-vyājāḥ śūdrā bhokṣyanti mām iti

But now, chaste as she is, she laments with tears, forsaken as if unfortunate — for godless men, posing falsely as kings, will now exploit her, she thinks.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.17.28)

इति धर्मं महीं चैव सान्त्वयित्वा महारथः । निशातमाददे खड्गं कलयेऽधर्महेतवे ॥ २८ ॥

iti dharmaṁ mahīṁ caiva sāntvayitvā mahā-rathaḥ niśātam ādade khaḍgaṁ kalaye ’dharma-hetave

Having thus comforted both Dharma and the earth, that great warrior took up his sharp sword to slay Kali, the very root cause of irreligion.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.17.29)

तं जिघांसुमभिप्रेत्य विहाय नृपलाञ्छनम् । तत्पादमूलं शिरसा समगाद् भयविह्वलः ॥ २९ ॥

taṁ jighāṁsum abhipretya vihāya nṛpa-lāñchanam tat-pāda-mūlaṁ śirasā samagād bhaya-vihvalaḥ

Realizing that the King intended to kill him, Kali abandoned his royal disguise and, overwhelmed with fear, fell with his head at the King's very feet, fully surrendered.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.17.30)

पतितं पादयोर्वीरः कृपया दीनवत्सलः । शरण्यो नावधीच्छ्लोक्य आह चेदं हसन्निव ॥ ३० ॥

patitaṁ pādayor vīraḥ kṛpayā dīna-vatsalaḥ śaraṇyo nāvadhīc chlokya āha cedaṁ hasann iva

The heroic King, compassionate and tender toward the fallen and helpless, worthy to be sung of in every age, did not kill Kali as he lay fallen at his feet, but instead spoke to him thus, smiling.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.17.31)

राजोवाच न ते गुडाकेशयशोधराणां बद्धाञ्जलेर्वै भयमस्ति किञ्चित् । न वर्तितव्यं भवता कथञ्चन क्षेत्रे मदीये त्वमधर्मबन्धुः ॥ ३१ ॥

rājovāca na te guḍākeśa-yaśo-dharāṇāṁ baddhāñjaler vai bhayam asti kiñcit na vartitavyaṁ bhavatā kathañcana kṣetre madīye tvam adharma-bandhuḥ

The King said: For one who stands before us, the inheritors of Gudakesha's [Arjuna's] fame, with folded hands, there is truly no cause for fear at all. But you may in no way remain within my domain, for you are the ally of irreligion.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.17.32)

त्वां वर्तमानं नरदेवदेहे- ष्वनुप्रवृत्तोऽयमधर्मपूगः । लोभोऽनृतं चौर्यमनार्यमंहो ज्येष्ठा च माया कलहश्च दम्भः ॥ ३२ ॥

tvāṁ vartamānaṁ nara-deva-deheṣv anupravṛtto ’yam adharma-pūgaḥ lobho ’nṛtaṁ cauryam anāryam aṁho jyeṣṭhā ca māyā kalahaś ca dambhaḥ

Wherever you dwell within the bodies of men who pose as god-kings, this whole host of unrighteous things follows in your train — greed, falsehood, theft, incivility, sin, deceit foremost among illusions, quarrel, and hypocrisy.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.17.33)

न वर्तितव्यं तदधर्मबन्धो धर्मेण सत्येन च वर्तितव्ये । ब्रह्मावर्ते यत्र यजन्ति यज्ञै- र्यज्ञेश्वरं यज्ञवितानविज्ञाः ॥ ३३ ॥

na vartitavyaṁ tad adharma-bandho dharmeṇa satyena ca vartitavye brahmāvarte yatra yajanti yajñair yajñeśvaraṁ yajña-vitāna-vijñāḥ

Therefore, O ally of irreligion, you have no right to dwell in Brahmavarta, where truth and righteousness alone must prevail, where those expert in the art of sacrifice duly worship the Lord of sacrifice through their rites.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.17.34)

यस्मिन् हरिर्भगवानिज्यमान इज्यात्ममूर्तिर्यजतां शं तनोति । कामानमोघान् स्थिरजङ्गमाना- मन्तर्बहिर्वायुरिवैष आत्मा ॥ ३४ ॥

yasmin harir bhagavān ijyamāna ijyātma-mūrtir yajatāṁ śaṁ tanoti kāmān amoghān sthira-jaṅgamānām antar bahir vāyur ivaiṣa ātmā

There, where Hari the Personality of Godhead, the very soul of all worshiped deities, is worshiped in sacrifice, He grants to those who worship Him all their unfailing desires, dwelling as the Self within and without all moving and unmoving beings, as the air pervades everything.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.17.35)

सूत उवाच परीक्षितैवमादिष्टः स कलिर्जातवेपथुः । तमुद्यतासिमाहेदं दण्डपाणिमिवोद्यतम् ॥ ३५ ॥

sūta uvāca parīkṣitaivam ādiṣṭaḥ sa kalir jāta-vepathuḥ tam udyatāsim āhedaṁ daṇḍa-pāṇim ivodyatam

Suta said: Thus commanded by Parikshit, Kali began to tremble. Seeing the King's sword raised against him, as if Yamaraja himself stood ready with his rod, he spoke these words.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.17.36)

कलिरुवाच यत्र क्व वाथ वत्स्यामि सार्वभौम तवाज्ञया । लक्षये तत्र तत्रापि त्वामात्तेषुशरासनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

kalir uvāca yatra kva vātha vatsyāmi sārva-bhauma tavājñayā lakṣaye tatra tatrāpi tvām ātteṣu-śarāsanam

Kali said: O lord of the earth, wherever I may dwell by your command, I shall see you there too, wherever I look, with bow and arrows raised against me.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.17.37)

तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ स्थानं निर्देष्टुमर्हसि । यत्रैव नियतो वत्स्य आतिष्ठंस्तेऽनुशासनम् ॥ ३७ ॥

tan me dharma-bhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha sthānaṁ nirdeṣṭum arhasi yatraiva niyato vatsya ātiṣṭhaṁs te ’nuśāsanam

Therefore, O foremost among the upholders of religion, kindly assign me some fixed place, where I may dwell always, remaining ever obedient to your rule.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.17.38)

सूत उवाच अभ्यर्थितस्तदा तस्मै स्थानानि कलये ददौ । द्यूतं पानं स्त्रियः सूना यत्राधर्मश्चतुर्विधः ॥ ३८ ॥

sūta uvāca abhyarthitas tadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye dadau dyūtaṁ pānaṁ striyaḥ sūnā yatrādharmaś catur-vidhaḥ

Suta said: Thus petitioned, the King then granted Kali places where the fourfold irreligion — gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter — might be found.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.17.39)

पुनश्च याचमानाय जातरूपमदात्प्रभुः । ततोऽनृतं मदं कामं रजो वैरं च पञ्चमम् ॥ ३९ ॥

punaś ca yācamānāya jāta-rūpam adāt prabhuḥ tato ’nṛtaṁ madaṁ kāmaṁ rajo vairaṁ ca pañcamam

When he begged yet again, the King also granted him gold — whereby follow falsehood, intoxication, lust, passion, and enmity, the fifth.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.1.17.40)

अमूनि पञ्च स्थानानि ह्यधर्मप्रभवः कलिः । औत्तरेयेण दत्तानि न्यवसत् तन्निदेशकृत् ॥ ४० ॥

amūni pañca sthānāni hy adharma-prabhavaḥ kaliḥ auttareyeṇa dattāni nyavasat tan-nideśa-kṛt

These five places, the very sources of irreligion, were thus granted to Kali by the son of Uttara, and Kali, obedient to his command, dwelt in them.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.1.17.41)

अथैतानि न सेवेत बुभूषुः पुरुषः क्वचित् । विशेषतो धर्मशीलो राजा लोकपतिर्गुरुः ॥ ४१ ॥

athaitāni na seveta bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit viśeṣato dharma-śīlo rājā loka-patir guruḥ

Therefore anyone who desires his own welfare — and especially a righteous king, a public leader, or a preceptor — should never, under any circumstance, come into contact with these places.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.1.17.42)

वृषस्य नष्टांस्त्रीन् पादान् तपः शौचं दयामिति । प्रतिसन्दध आश्वास्य महीं च समवर्धयत् ॥ ४२ ॥

vṛṣasya naṣṭāṁs trīn pādān tapaḥ śaucaṁ dayām iti pratisandadha āśvāsya mahīṁ ca samavardhayat

Thereafter the King restored the bull's three lost legs — austerity, purity and mercy — and, encouraging her, caused the earth to flourish once again in every way.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.1.17.43)

स एष एतर्ह्यध्यास्त आसनं पार्थिवोचितम् । पितामहेनोपन्यस्तं राज्ञारण्यं विविक्षता ॥ ४३ ॥

sa eṣa etarhy adhyāsta āsanaṁ pārthivocitam pitāmahenopanyastaṁ rājñāraṇyaṁ vivikṣatā

This same King now occupies the throne befitting a monarch, which was entrusted to him by his grandfather Yudhishthira when he desired to retire to the forest —

Verse 44 (bhagavata.1.17.44)

आस्तेऽधुना स राजर्षिः कौरवेन्द्रश्रियोल्लसन् । गजाह्वये महाभागश्चक्रवर्ती बृहच्छ्रवाः ॥ ४४ ॥

āste ’dhunā sa rājarṣiḥ kauravendra-śriyollasan gajāhvaye mahā-bhāgaś cakravartī bṛhac-chravāḥ

— and even now that most fortunate, highly renowned sage-king reigns at Hastinapura, resplendent with the glory of the Kuru dynasty's foremost rulers.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.1.17.45)

इत्थम्भूतानुभावोऽयमभिमन्युसुतो नृपः । यस्य पालयतः क्षौणीं यूयं सत्राय दीक्षिताः ॥ ४५ ॥

ittham-bhūtānubhāvo ’yam abhimanyu-suto nṛpaḥ yasya pālayataḥ kṣauṇīṁ yūyaṁ satrāya dīkṣitāḥ

Such is the greatness of this King, the son of Abhimanyu, that under his protection of the earth, you have all been able to receive initiation for this very sacrifice.