Maharaja Parikshit Cursed by a Brahmana Boy

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.18.1)

सूत उवाच यो वै द्रौण्यस्त्रविप्लुष्टो न मातुरुदरे मृतः । अनुग्रहाद् भगवतः कृष्णस्याद्भुतकर्मणः ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca yo vai drauṇy-astra-vipluṣṭo na mātur udare mṛtaḥ anugrahād bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇasyādbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

Suta said: By the grace of the Personality of Godhead Krishna, whose deeds are wondrous, he who was scorched by the weapon of Drona's son did not die within his mother's womb.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.18.2)

ब्रह्मकोपोत्थिताद् यस्तु तक्षकात्प्राणविप्लवात् । न सम्मुमोहोरुभयाद् भगवत्यर्पिताशयः ॥ २ ॥

brahma-kopotthitād yas tu takṣakāt prāṇa-viplavāt na sammumohorubhayād bhagavaty arpitāśayaḥ

Nor, though it arose from a brahmana's fury, was he ever overwhelmed by the great fear of Takshaka, who was to end his life — for his mind was ever surrendered to the Personality of Godhead.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.18.3)

उत्सृज्य सर्वतः सङ्गं विज्ञाताजितसंस्थितिः । वैयासकेर्जहौ शिष्यो गङ्गायां स्वं कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥

utsṛjya sarvataḥ saṅgaṁ vijñātājita-saṁsthitiḥ vaiyāsaker jahau śiṣyo gaṅgāyāṁ svaṁ kalevaram

Having renounced all worldly ties on every side, understanding fully the true position of the Unconquered Lord, he, as disciple of the son of Vyasa, gave up his own body on the bank of the Ganga.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.18.4)

नोत्तमश्लोकवार्तानां जुषतां तत्कथामृतम् । स्यात्सम्भ्रमोऽन्तकालेऽपि स्मरतां तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥

nottamaśloka-vārtānāṁ juṣatāṁ tat-kathāmṛtam syāt sambhramo ’nta-kāle ’pi smaratāṁ tat-padāmbujam

For those who are devoted to the topics of the all-glorious Lord, ever relishing the nectar of His narrations, there arises no confusion, even at the final hour, since they remain absorbed in remembrance of His lotus feet.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.18.5)

तावत्कलिर्न प्रभवेत् प्रविष्टोऽपीह सर्वतः । यावदीशो महानुर्व्यामाभिमन्यव एकराट् ॥ ५ ॥

tāvat kalir na prabhavet praviṣṭo ’pīha sarvataḥ yāvad īśo mahān urvyām ābhimanyava eka-rāṭ

So long as the great and mighty son of Abhimanyu remains the sole emperor of this earth, Kali, though he has entered everywhere, shall find no power to prevail.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.18.6)

यस्मिन्नहनि यर्ह्येव भगवानुत्ससर्ज गाम् । तदैवेहानुवृत्तोऽसावधर्मप्रभवः कलिः ॥ ६ ॥

yasminn ahani yarhy eva bhagavān utsasarja gām tadaivehānuvṛtto ’sāv adharma-prabhavaḥ kaliḥ

On that very day, the very moment the Lord relinquished the earth, this Kali, the source of all irreligion, began at once to follow in this world.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.18.7)

नानुद्वेष्टि कलिं सम्राट् सारङ्ग इव सारभुक् । कुशलान्याशु सिद्ध्यन्ति नेतराणि कृतानि यत् ॥ ७ ॥

nānudveṣṭi kaliṁ samrāṭ sāraṅga iva sāra-bhuk kuśalāny āśu siddhyanti netarāṇi kṛtāni yat

The Emperor bore no hostility toward Kali, as a bee accepts only the essence of a flower; for he knew that auspicious deeds bear fruit at once, while inauspicious ones require actual performance to take effect.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.18.8)

किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा । अप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते ॥ ८ ॥

kiṁ nu bāleṣu śūreṇa kalinā dhīra-bhīruṇā apramattaḥ pramatteṣu yo vṛko nṛṣu vartate

What indeed could Kali, though heroic, do to one self-controlled and undaunted, when he lurks among the careless like a wolf among unwary men, while such a king remains ever vigilant among the foolish?

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.18.9)

उपवर्णितमेतद्वः पुण्यं पारीक्षितं मया । वासुदेवकथोपेतमाख्यानं यदपृच्छत ॥ ९ ॥

upavarṇitam etad vaḥ puṇyaṁ pārīkṣitaṁ mayā vāsudeva-kathopetam ākhyānaṁ yad apṛcchata

Thus, O sages, I have narrated to you this pious account of Parikshit, interwoven with the topics of Vasudeva, exactly as you had asked of me.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.18.10)

या याः कथा भगवतः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः । गुणकर्माश्रयाः पुम्भिः संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभिः ॥ १० ॥

yā yāḥ kathā bhagavataḥ kathanīyoru-karmaṇaḥ guṇa-karmāśrayāḥ pumbhiḥ saṁsevyās tā bubhūṣubhiḥ

Whatever accounts there are of the Lord, of Him whose deeds are vast and worth narrating, connected with His qualities and His acts — all of these should be diligently attended to by those who desire true welfare.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.18.11)

ऋषय ऊचुः सूत जीव समाः सौम्य शाश्वतीर्विशदं यशः । यस्त्वं शंससि कृष्णस्य मर्त्यानाममृतं हि नः ॥ ११ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta jīva samāḥ saumya śāśvatīr viśadaṁ yaśaḥ yas tvaṁ śaṁsasi kṛṣṇasya martyānām amṛtaṁ hi naḥ

The sages said: O gentle Suta, may you live for many years, for you speak with clear and everlasting fame of Krishna — this is truly nectar for us mortal beings.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.18.12)

कर्मण्यस्मिन्ननाश्वासे धूमधूम्रात्मनां भवान् । आपाययति गोविन्दपादपद्मासवं मधु ॥ १२ ॥

karmaṇy asminn anāśvāse dhūma-dhūmrātmanāṁ bhavān āpāyayati govinda- pāda-padmāsavaṁ madhu

In this uncertain sacrificial rite of ours, our very bodies darkened by smoke, you are causing us to drink the honeyed wine of Govinda's lotus feet.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.18.13)

तुलयाम लवेनापि न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् । भगवत्सङ्गिसङ्गस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिषः ॥ १३ ॥

tulayāma lavenāpi na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ

Not even heaven, nor liberation itself, can we weigh against a single moment's association with one who is himself associated with the Lord — what then to speak of ordinary worldly blessings for mortal men?

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.18.14)

को नाम तृप्येद् रसवित्कथायां महत्तमैकान्तपरायणस्य । नान्तं गुणानामगुणस्य जग्मु- र्योगेश्वरा ये भवपाद्ममुख्याः ॥ १४ ॥

ko nāma tṛpyed rasavit kathāyāṁ mahattamaikānta-parāyaṇasya nāntaṁ guṇānām aguṇasya jagmur yogeśvarā ye bhava-pādma-mukhyāḥ

Who, indeed, expert in relishing the taste of such nectar, could ever feel satisfied hearing the topics of Him who is the sole shelter of the greatest of souls? Even the great masters of yoga, headed by Shiva and Brahma, could not reach the end of the qualities of Him who is beyond all material qualities.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.18.15)

तन्नो भवान् वै भगवत्प्रधानो महत्तमैकान्तपरायणस्य । हरेरुदारं चरितं विशुद्धं शुश्रूषतां नो वितनोतु विद्वन् ॥ १५ ॥

tan no bhavān vai bhagavat-pradhāno mahattamaikānta-parāyaṇasya harer udāraṁ caritaṁ viśuddhaṁ śuśrūṣatāṁ no vitanotu vidvan

Therefore, O learned one, since you are foremost among devotees of the Lord who is the sole shelter of the greatest souls, kindly expand for us, who are eager to hear, the noble and immaculate deeds of Hari.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.18.16)

स वै महाभागवतः परीक्षिद् येनापवर्गाख्यमदभ्रबुद्धिः । ज्ञानेन वैयासकिशब्दितेन भेजे खगेन्द्रध्वजपादमूलम् ॥ १६ ॥

sa vai mahā-bhāgavataḥ parīkṣid yenāpavargākhyam adabhra-buddhiḥ jñānena vaiyāsaki-śabditena bheje khagendra-dhvaja-pāda-mūlam

Please tell us how that great devotee Parikshit, of unwavering intelligence, attained, through the knowledge called liberation as spoken by the son of Vyasa, the very feet of Him whose banner bears Garuda, king of birds.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.18.17)

तन्नः परं पुण्यमसंवृतार्थ- माख्यानमत्यद्भुतयोगनिष्ठम् । आख्याह्यनन्ताचरितोपपन्नं पारीक्षितं भागवताभिरामम् ॥ १७ ॥

tan naḥ paraṁ puṇyam asaṁvṛtārtham ākhyānam atyadbhuta-yoga-niṣṭham ākhyāhy anantācaritopapannaṁ pārīkṣitaṁ bhāgavatābhirāmam

So please narrate to us that supremely purifying, wondrous, yoga-filled account, spoken to Parikshit, full of the deeds of the Unlimited, and so very dear to His devotees.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.18.18)

सूत उवाच अहो वयं जन्मभृतोऽद्य हास्म वृद्धानुवृत्त्यापि विलोमजाताः । दौष्कुल्यमाधिं विधुनोति शीघ्रं महत्तमानामभिधानयोगः ॥ १८ ॥

sūta uvāca aho vayaṁ janma-bhṛto ’dya hāsma vṛddhānuvṛttyāpi viloma-jātāḥ dauṣkulyam ādhiṁ vidhunoti śīghraṁ mahattamānām abhidhāna-yogaḥ

Suta said: Ah, though born in a mixed lineage, by serving those advanced in years and wisdom we too have today, it seems, risen in birth — for association with the truly great swiftly dispels even the affliction of lowly birth.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.18.19)

कुतः पुनर्गृणतो नाम तस्य महत्तमैकान्तपरायणस्य । योऽनन्तशक्तिर्भगवाननन्तो महद्गुणत्वाद् यमनन्तमाहुः ॥ १९ ॥

kutaḥ punar gṛṇato nāma tasya mahattamaikānta-parāyaṇasya yo ’nanta-śaktir bhagavān ananto mahad-guṇatvād yam anantam āhuḥ

What then to speak of one who actually utters the holy name of Him who is the sole shelter of the greatest souls — that Personality of Godhead of unlimited potency, whom, on account of His boundless qualities, they call Ananta, the Unlimited?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.18.20)

एतावतालं ननु सूचितेन गुणैरसाम्यानतिशायनस्य । हित्वेतरान् प्रार्थयतो विभूति- र्यस्याङ्घ्रिरेणुं जुषतेऽनभीप्सोः ॥ २० ॥

etāvatālaṁ nanu sūcitena guṇair asāmyānatiśāyanasya hitvetarān prārthayato vibhūtir yasyāṅghri-reṇuṁ juṣate ’nabhīpsoḥ

This much indication is truly enough, for He is beyond all comparison and none can surpass His qualities; the goddess of fortune herself, leaving aside all others who entreat her, serves only the dust of His feet, though He desires nothing from her.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.18.21)

अथापि यत्पादनखावसृष्टं जगद्विरिञ्चोपहृतार्हणाम्भः । सेशं पुनात्यन्यतमो मुकुन्दात् को नाम लोके भगवत्पदार्थः ॥ २१ ॥

athāpi yat-pāda-nakhāvasṛṣṭaṁ jagad viriñcopahṛtārhaṇāmbhaḥ seśaṁ punāty anyatamo mukundāt ko nāma loke bhagavat-padārthaḥ

Indeed, who else in this world can be worthy of the very name 'Personality of Godhead' but Mukunda, from whose toenails flowed that water which Brahma himself collected as an offering, and which, together with Lord Shiva, purifies the entire universe?

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.18.22)

यत्रानुरक्ताः सहसैव धीरा व्यपोह्य देहादिषु सङ्गमूढम् । व्रजन्ति तत्पारमहंस्यमन्त्यं यस्मिन्नहिंसोपशमः स्वधर्मः ॥ २२ ॥

yatrānuraktāḥ sahasaiva dhīrā vyapohya dehādiṣu saṅgam ūḍham vrajanti tat pārama-haṁsyam antyaṁ yasminn ahiṁsopaśamaḥ sva-dharmaḥ

The self-controlled, deeply attached to Him, can suddenly cast off all bewildered attachment to body and its concerns, and go forth to attain that highest state of the perfected renunciants, in which nonviolence and true peace become one's very nature.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.18.23)

अहं हि पृष्टोऽर्यमणो भवद्भि- राचक्ष आत्मावगमोऽत्र यावान् । नभः पतन्त्यात्मसमं पतत्त्रिण- स्तथा समं विष्णुगतिं विपश्चितः ॥ २३ ॥

ahaṁ hi pṛṣṭo ’ryamaṇo bhavadbhir ācakṣa ātmāvagamo ’tra yāvān nabhaḥ patanty ātma-samaṁ patattriṇas tathā samaṁ viṣṇu-gatiṁ vipaścitaḥ

Since you have asked me, as radiant as the sun, I shall now describe as much as my own understanding permits; for as birds fly through the sky only as far as their own strength allows, so too the wise describe Vishnu's glories only as far as their own realization reaches.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.18.24)

एकदा धनुरुद्यम्य विचरन् मृगयां वने । मृगाननुगतः श्रान्तः क्षुधितस्तृषितो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥

ekadā dhanur udyamya vicaran mṛgayāṁ vane mṛgān anugataḥ śrāntaḥ kṣudhitas tṛṣito bhṛśam

Once, taking up his bow, wandering in the forest in pursuit of deer, the King, following the stags, grew extremely fatigued, hungry and terribly thirsty.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.18.25)

जलाशयमचक्षाणः प्रविवेश तमाश्रमम् । ददर्श मुनिमासीनं शान्तं मीलितलोचनम् ॥ २५ ॥

jalāśayam acakṣāṇaḥ praviveśa tam āśramam dadarśa munim āsīnaṁ śāntaṁ mīlita-locanam

Searching for a reservoir of water, he entered that hermitage, and there he saw a sage seated, tranquil, his eyes closed.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.18.26)

प्रतिरुद्धेन्द्रियप्राणमनोबुद्धिमुपारतम् । स्थानत्रयात्परं प्राप्तं ब्रह्मभूतमविक्रियम् ॥ २६ ॥

pratiruddhendriya-prāṇa- mano-buddhim upāratam sthāna-trayāt paraṁ prāptaṁ brahma-bhūtam avikriyam

The sage's senses, breath, mind and intellect were all fully restrained and stilled; he had gone beyond the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, attaining that unchanging state of oneness with Brahman.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.18.27)

विप्रकीर्णजटाच्छन्नं रौरवेणाजिनेन च । विशुष्यत्तालुरुदकं तथाभूतमयाचत ॥ २७ ॥

viprakīrṇa-jaṭācchannaṁ rauraveṇājinena ca viśuṣyat-tālur udakaṁ tathā-bhūtam ayācata

Covered by a deerskin, his matted hair scattered about him, the King, his palate parched with thirst, asked that very sage for water.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.18.28)

अलब्धतृणभूम्यादिरसम्प्राप्तार्घ्यसूनृतः । अवज्ञातमिवात्मानं मन्यमानश्चुकोप ह ॥ २८ ॥

alabdha-tṛṇa-bhūmy-ādir asamprāptārghya-sūnṛtaḥ avajñātam ivātmānaṁ manyamānaś cukopa ha

Receiving neither a seat of straw, nor a place, nor water of welcome, nor even a kind word, the King, feeling himself thus slighted, grew angry.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.18.29)

अभूतपूर्वः सहसा क्षुत्तृड्भ्यामर्दितात्मनः । ब्राह्मणं प्रत्यभूद् ब्रह्मन् मत्सरो मन्युरेव च ॥ २९ ॥

abhūta-pūrvaḥ sahasā kṣut-tṛḍbhyām arditātmanaḥ brāhmaṇaṁ praty abhūd brahman matsaro manyur eva ca

O brahmanas, distressed as never before by sudden hunger and thirst, an anger and envy toward a brahmana arose in him such as had never arisen before.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.18.30)

स तु ब्रह्मऋषेरंसे गतासुमुरगं रुषा । विनिर्गच्छन्धनुष्कोट्या निधाय पुरमागतः ॥ ३० ॥

sa tu brahma-ṛṣer aṁse gatāsum uragaṁ ruṣā vinirgacchan dhanuṣ-koṭyā nidhāya puram āgataḥ

Then, in his anger, as he was leaving, he lifted a dead snake on the tip of his bow and placed it upon the shoulder of that brahmana sage, and returned to his city.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.18.31)

एष किं निभृताशेषकरणो मीलितेक्षणः । मृषासमाधिराहोस्वित्किं नु स्यात्क्षत्रबन्धुभिः ॥ ३१ ॥

eṣa kiṁ nibhṛtāśeṣa- karaṇo mīlitekṣaṇaḥ mṛṣā-samādhir āhosvit kiṁ nu syāt kṣatra-bandhubhiḥ

[The King, reflecting afterward, wondered:] Was this sage truly absorbed, his senses stilled and eyes closed in genuine trance — or was this merely a false show of meditation, put on for the lowly sons of kshatriyas?

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.18.32)

तस्य पुत्रोऽतितेजस्वी विहरन् बालकोऽर्भकैः । राज्ञाघं प्रापितं तातं श्रुत्वा तत्रेदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३२ ॥

tasya putro ’titejasvī viharan bālako ’rbhakaiḥ rājñāghaṁ prāpitaṁ tātaṁ śrutvā tatredam abravīt

That sage had a son, extremely powerful, who while playing with the other boys, heard of the wrong done to his father by the King, and then and there spoke as follows.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.18.33)

अहो अधर्मः पालानां पीव्नां बलिभुजामिव । स्वामिन्यघं यद् दासानां द्वारपानां शुनामिव ॥ ३३ ॥

aho adharmaḥ pālānāṁ pīvnāṁ bali-bhujām iva svāminy aghaṁ yad dāsānāṁ dvāra-pānāṁ śunām iva

[Shringi said:] Ah, look at this irreligion of the rulers — like crows fattened on stolen offerings, or like watchdogs who commit sin against their very master!

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.18.34)

ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रबन्धुर्हि गृहपालो निरूपितः । स कथं तद्गृहे द्वाःस्थः सभाण्डं भोक्तुमर्हति ॥ ३४ ॥

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatra-bandhur hi gṛha-pālo nirūpitaḥ sa kathaṁ tad-gṛhe dvāḥ-sthaḥ sabhāṇḍaṁ bhoktum arhati

The brahmanas themselves appointed the sons of kshatriyas as mere watchdogs of the household — how then can such a watchman, stationed at the door, dare eat from the very same vessel as the master?

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.18.35)

कृष्णे गते भगवति शास्तर्युत्पथगामिनाम् । तद्भिन्नसेतूनद्याहं शास्मि पश्यत मे बलम् ॥ ३५ ॥

kṛṣṇe gate bhagavati śāstary utpatha-gāminām tad bhinna-setūn adyāhaṁ śāsmi paśyata me balam

Now that Krishna, the Personality of Godhead and supreme ruler, has departed, these upstarts who overstep their bounds have flourished unchecked — today I myself shall punish them who have broken the bridge of law; witness now my strength.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.18.36)

इत्युक्त्वा रोषताम्राक्षो वयस्यानृषिबालकः । कौशिक्याप उपस्पृश्य वाग्वज्रं विससर्ज ह ॥ ३६ ॥

ity uktvā roṣa-tāmrākṣo vayasyān ṛṣi-bālakaḥ kauśiky-āpa upaspṛśya vāg-vajraṁ visasarja ha

Having said this, that son of the sage, his eyes red with anger, touched the water of the Kaushiki river and hurled at his playmates this thunderbolt of words.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.18.37)

इति लङ्घितमर्यादं तक्षकः सप्तमेऽहनि । दङ्क्ष्यति स्म कुलाङ्गारं चोदितो मे ततद्रुहम् ॥ ३७ ॥

iti laṅghita-maryādaṁ takṣakaḥ saptame ’hani daṅkṣyati sma kulāṅgāraṁ codito me tata-druham

'For thus transgressing all propriety, on the seventh day from now, Takshaka shall bite that most wretched one of his line, provoked by his enmity toward my father.'

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.18.38)

ततोऽभ्येत्याश्रमं बालो गले सर्पकलेवरम् । पितरं वीक्ष्य दुःखार्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ३८ ॥

tato ’bhyetyāśramaṁ bālo gale sarpa-kalevaram pitaraṁ vīkṣya duḥkhārto mukta-kaṇṭho ruroda ha

Then the boy went to the hermitage, and seeing the dead snake still lying upon his father's shoulder, cried aloud, overcome with grief.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.18.39)

स वा आङ्गिरसो ब्रह्मन् श्रुत्वा सुतविलापनम् । उन्मील्य शनकैर्नेत्रे दृष्ट्वा चांसे मृतोरगम् ॥ ३९ ॥

sa vā āṅgiraso brahman śrutvā suta-vilāpanam unmīlya śanakair netre dṛṣṭvā cāṁse mṛtoragam

O brahmana, that sage, born in the line of Angira, hearing his son's lament, slowly opened his eyes and saw the dead snake upon his own shoulder.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.1.18.40)

विसृज्य तं च पप्रच्छ वत्स कस्माद्धि रोदिषि । केन वा तेऽपकृतमित्युक्तः स न्यवेदयत् ॥ ४० ॥

visṛjya taṁ ca papraccha vatsa kasmād dhi rodiṣi kena vā te ’pakṛtam ity uktaḥ sa nyavedayat

Throwing it aside, he asked, 'My child, why do you weep? Has someone wronged you?' Thus questioned, the boy told him everything.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.1.18.41)

निशम्य शप्तमतदर्हं नरेन्द्रं स ब्राह्मणो नात्मजमभ्यनन्दत् । अहो बतांहो महदद्य ते कृत- मल्पीयसि द्रोह उरुर्दमो धृतः ॥ ४१ ॥

niśamya śaptam atad-arhaṁ narendraṁ sa brāhmaṇo nātmajam abhyanandat aho batāṁho mahad adya te kṛtam alpīyasi droha urur damo dhṛtaḥ

Hearing that the King — who deserved no such thing — had been cursed, the brahmana did not praise his son, but instead lamented: Alas, what a grave sin you have done today, imposing so severe a punishment for so slight an offense!

Verse 42 (bhagavata.1.18.42)

न वै नृभिर्नरदेवं पराख्यं सम्मातुमर्हस्यविपक्वबुद्धे । यत्तेजसा दुर्विषहेण गुप्ता विन्दन्ति भद्राण्यकुतोभयाः प्रजाः ॥ ४२ ॥

na vai nṛbhir nara-devaṁ parākhyaṁ sammātum arhasy avipakva-buddhe yat-tejasā durviṣaheṇa guptā vindanti bhadrāṇy akutobhayāḥ prajāḥ

O immature one, you should never think to place a king, who represents the Lord Himself, on equal footing with ordinary men — for it is by his unbearable power and protection that the citizens attain all prosperity, free from every fear.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.1.18.43)

अलक्ष्यमाणे नरदेवनाम्नि रथाङ्गपाणावयमङ्ग लोकः । तदा हि चौरप्रचुरो विनङ्क्ष्य- त्यरक्ष्यमाणोऽविवरूथवत् क्षणात् ॥ ४३ ॥

alakṣyamāṇe nara-deva-nāmni rathāṅga-pāṇāv ayam aṅga lokaḥ tadā hi caura-pracuro vinaṅkṣyaty arakṣyamāṇo ’vivarūthavat kṣaṇāt

My child, when the very title of 'king' — the Lord's representative, He who bears the wheel — is disregarded, this world at once fills with thieves, and the unprotected people perish in a moment, like unguarded lambs.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.1.18.44)

तदद्य नः पापमुपैत्यनन्वयं यन्नष्टनाथस्य वसोर्विलुम्पकात् । परस्परं घ्नन्ति शपन्ति वृञ्जते पशून् स्त्रियोऽर्थान् पुरुदस्यवो जनाः ॥ ४४ ॥

tad adya naḥ pāpam upaity ananvayaṁ yan naṣṭa-nāthasya vasor vilumpakāt parasparaṁ ghnanti śapanti vṛñjate paśūn striyo ’rthān puru-dasyavo janāḥ

For this reason a sin without remedy shall now overtake us — for when the protector is gone and wealth is plundered by thieves, people, given wholly to robbery, will kill and curse one another, and steal cattle, women and riches.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.1.18.45)

तदार्यधर्मः प्रविलीयते नृणां वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतस्त्रयीमयः । ततोऽर्थकामाभिनिवेशितात्मनां शुनां कपीनामिव वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ४५ ॥

tadārya-dharmaḥ pravilīyate nṛṇāṁ varṇāśramācāra-yutas trayīmayaḥ tato ’rtha-kāmābhiniveśitātmanāṁ śunāṁ kapīnām iva varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

At that time the righteous conduct of the noble — founded on the Vedas, upheld by the varna and ashrama orders — will dissolve among men; and thereafter, their minds absorbed only in wealth and desire, an unwanted mixed population, like that of dogs and monkeys, will arise.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.1.18.46)

धर्मपालो नरपतिः स तु सम्राड् बृहच्छ्रवाः । साक्षान्महाभागवतो राजर्षिर्हयमेधयाट् । क्षुत्तृट्श्रमयुतो दीनो नैवास्मच्छापमर्हति ॥ ४६ ॥

dharma-pālo nara-patiḥ sa tu samrāḍ bṛhac-chravāḥ sākṣān mahā-bhāgavato rājarṣir haya-medhayāṭ kṣut-tṛṭ-śrama-yuto dīno naivāsmac chāpam arhati

But that King is the very protector of religion — the highly renowned Emperor himself, directly a great devotee of the Lord, a royal sage, a performer of horse sacrifices. Stricken with hunger, thirst and fatigue, he in no way deserved a curse from us.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.1.18.47)

अपापेषु स्वभृत्येषु बालेनापक्वबुद्धिना । पापं कृतं तद्भगवान् सर्वात्मा क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥ ४७ ॥

apāpeṣu sva-bhṛtyeṣu bālenāpakva-buddhinā pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ tad bhagavān sarvātmā kṣantum arhati

May the all-pervading Personality of Godhead pardon this sin, done by an immature boy against His own innocent, sinless servant, who deserved only protection.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.1.18.48)

तिरस्कृता विप्रलब्धाः शप्ताः क्षिप्ता हता अपि । नास्य तत् प्रतिकुर्वन्ति तद्भक्ताः प्रभवोऽपि हि ॥ ४८ ॥

tiraskṛtā vipralabdhāḥ śaptāḥ kṣiptā hatā api nāsya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktāḥ prabhavo ’pi hi

Even when defamed, deceived, cursed, harmed, or even slain, the devotees of the Lord — however powerful they may be — never seek to retaliate.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.1.18.49)

इति पुत्रकृताघेन सोऽनुतप्तो महामुनिः । स्वयं विप्रकृतो राज्ञा नैवाघं तदचिन्तयत् ॥ ४९ ॥

iti putra-kṛtāghena so ’nutapto mahā-muniḥ svayaṁ viprakṛto rājñā naivāghaṁ tad acintayat

Thus the great sage, grieving over the sin committed by his own son, gave no thought at all to the insult the King himself had personally inflicted upon him.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.1.18.50)

प्रायशः साधवो लोके परैर्द्वन्द्वेषु योजिताः । न व्यथन्ति न हृष्यन्ति यत आत्माऽगुणाश्रयः ॥ ५० ॥

prāyaśaḥ sādhavo loke parair dvandveṣu yojitāḥ na vyathanti na hṛṣyanti yata ātmā ’guṇāśrayaḥ

For, generally, the saintly in this world, even when placed by others amid the dualities of life, are neither pained nor pleased — because their very self rests beyond the material qualities.