Prayers by Queen Kunti and Parikshit Saved

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.8.1)

सूत उवाच अथ ते सम्परेतानां स्वानामुदकमिच्छताम् । दातुं सकृष्णा गङ्गायां पुरस्कृत्य ययुः स्त्रियः ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca atha te samparetānāṁ svānām udakam icchatām dātuṁ sakṛṣṇā gaṅgāyāṁ puraskṛtya yayuḥ striyaḥ

Suta said: Then, wishing to offer the water-libation desired by their departed kinsmen, the Pandavas set out for the Ganga together with Draupadi, the women going ahead.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.8.2)

ते निनीयोदकं सर्वे विलप्य च भृशं पुनः । आप्लुता हरिपादाब्जरजःपूतसरिज्जले ॥ २ ॥

te ninīyodakaṁ sarve vilapya ca bhṛśaṁ punaḥ āplutā hari-pādābja- rajaḥ-pūta-sarij-jale

Having offered that water to all of them and lamenting once again deeply, they then bathed in the waters of that river, sanctified by the dust of Hari's lotus feet.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.8.3)

तत्रासीनं कुरुपतिं धृतराष्ट्रं सहानुजम् । गान्धारीं पुत्रशोकार्तां पृथां कृष्णां च माधवः ॥ ३ ॥

tatrāsīnaṁ kuru-patiṁ dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ sahānujam gāndhārīṁ putra-śokārtāṁ pṛthāṁ kṛṣṇāṁ ca mādhavaḥ

There Madhava [Krishna] found seated the Kuru king Dhritarashtra with his younger brother, Gandhari tormented by grief for her sons, and Pritha [Kunti] and Draupadi as well.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.8.4)

सान्त्वयामास मुनिभिर्हतबन्धूञ्शुचार्पितान् । भूतेषु कालस्य गतिं दर्शयन्न प्रतिक्रियाम् ॥ ४ ॥

sāntvayām āsa munibhir hata-bandhūñ śucārpitān bhūteṣu kālasya gatiṁ darśayan na pratikriyām

Along with the assembled sages, He consoled those grief-stricken souls who had lost their kin, showing them the workings of time upon all beings, against which no remedy exists.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.8.5)

साधयित्वाजातशत्रोः स्वं राज्यं कितवैर्हृतम् । घातयित्वासतो राज्ञः कचस्पर्शक्षतायुषः ॥ ५ ॥

sādhayitvājāta-śatroḥ svaṁ rājyaṁ kitavair hṛtam ghātayitvāsato rājñaḥ kaca-sparśa-kṣatāyuṣaḥ

He had recovered for the enemy-less Yudhishthira the kingdom stolen from him by those gamblers, and had brought about the death of the wicked kings — whose lives were already cut short from the day they laid rough hands on the queen's hair.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.8.6)

याजयित्वाश्वमेधैस्तं त्रिभिरुत्तमकल्पकैः । तद्यशः पावनं दिक्षु शतमन्योरिवातनोत् ॥ ६ ॥

yājayitvāśvamedhais taṁ tribhir uttama-kalpakaiḥ tad-yaśaḥ pāvanaṁ dikṣu śata-manyor ivātanot

By having him perform three ashvamedha sacrifices, each conducted with the finest arrangements, He spread that king's purifying fame in every direction, as though it were the fame of Indra, performer of a hundred such rites.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.8.7)

आमन्त्र्य पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च शैनेयोद्धवसंयुतः । द्वैपायनादिभिर्विप्रैः पूजितैः प्रतिपूजितः ॥ ७ ॥

āmantrya pāṇḍu-putrāṁś ca śaineyoddhava-saṁyutaḥ dvaipāyanādibhir vipraiḥ pūjitaiḥ pratipūjitaḥ

Then, accompanied by Satyaki and Uddhava, He took leave of the sons of Pandu, having been honoured by the brahmins headed by Dvaipayana [Vyasa], and honouring them equally in return.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.8.8)

गन्तुं कृतमतिर्ब्रह्मन् द्वारकां रथमास्थितः । उपलेभेऽभिधावन्तीमुत्तरां भयविह्वलाम् ॥ ८ ॥

gantuṁ kṛtamatir brahman dvārakāṁ ratham āsthitaḥ upalebhe ’bhidhāvantīm uttarāṁ bhaya-vihvalām

O brahmin, having resolved to depart for Dvaraka and taken His seat upon the chariot, He saw Uttara running toward Him, overwhelmed with fear.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.8.9)

उत्तरोवाच पाहि पाहि महायोगिन् देवदेव जगत्पते । नान्यं त्वदभयं पश्ये यत्र मृत्युः परस्परम् ॥ ९ ॥

uttarovāca pāhi pāhi mahā-yogin deva-deva jagat-pate nānyaṁ tvad abhayaṁ paśye yatra mṛtyuḥ parasparam

Uttara said: Save me, save me, O greatest of yogis, O God of gods, Lord of the universe! I see no refuge from fear other than You, in this world where death lurks on every side.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.8.10)

अभिद्रवति मामीश शरस्तप्तायसो विभो । कामं दहतु मां नाथ मा मे गर्भो निपात्यताम् ॥ १० ॥

abhidravati mām īśa śaras taptāyaso vibho kāmaṁ dahatu māṁ nātha mā me garbho nipātyatām

O Lord, a fiery iron arrow rushes toward me — let it burn me if it must, O protector, but let it not cause my womb's child to fall.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.8.11)

सूत उवाच उपधार्य वचस्तस्या भगवान् भक्तवत्सलः । अपाण्डवमिदं कर्तुं द्रौणेरस्त्रमबुध्यत ॥ ११ ॥

sūta uvāca upadhārya vacas tasyā bhagavān bhakta-vatsalaḥ apāṇḍavam idaṁ kartuṁ drauṇer astram abudhyata

Suta said: Hearing her words, the Lord, ever affectionate to His devotees, understood at once that the weapon released by Drona's son was meant to leave the Pandava line without an heir.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.8.12)

तर्ह्येवाथ मुनिश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवाः पञ्च सायकान् । आत्मनोऽभिमुखान्दीप्तानालक्ष्यास्त्राण्युपाददुः ॥ १२ ॥

tarhy evātha muni-śreṣṭha pāṇḍavāḥ pañca sāyakān ātmano ’bhimukhān dīptān ālakṣyāstrāṇy upādaduḥ

O foremost of sages, at that very moment the five Pandavas, seeing the blazing weapon rushing toward them, took up their own weapons.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.8.13)

व्यसनं वीक्ष्य तत्तेषामनन्यविषयात्मनाम् । सुदर्शनेन स्वास्त्रेण स्वानां रक्षां व्यधाद्विभुः ॥ १३ ॥

vyasanaṁ vīkṣya tat teṣām ananya-viṣayātmanām sudarśanena svāstreṇa svānāṁ rakṣāṁ vyadhād vibhuḥ

Seeing that danger befalling those who had no refuge but Him, the almighty Lord protected His own with His own weapon, the Sudarshana disc.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.8.14)

अन्तःस्थः सर्वभूतानामात्मा योगेश्वरोहरिः । स्वमाययावृणोद्गर्भं वैराट्याः कुरुतन्तवे ॥ १४ ॥

antaḥsthaḥ sarva-bhūtānām ātmā yogeśvaro hariḥ sva-māyayāvṛṇod garbhaṁ vairāṭyāḥ kuru-tantave

Hari, the master of all mystic power, who dwells as the self within every being, covered Uttara's womb with His own divine power, to preserve the line of Kuru.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.8.15)

यद्यप्यस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्त्वमोघं चाप्रतिक्रियम् । वैष्णवं तेज आसाद्य समशाम्यद् भृगूद्वह ॥ १५ ॥

yadyapy astraṁ brahma-śiras tv amoghaṁ cāpratikriyam vaiṣṇavaṁ teja āsādya samaśāmyad bhṛgūdvaha

O glory of the Bhrigu line, though the supreme Brahmashira weapon was infallible and had no counter, it was pacified the moment it met the radiance of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.8.16)

मा मंस्था ह्येतदाश्चर्यं सर्वाश्चर्यमयेऽच्युते । य इदं मायया देव्या सृजत्यवति हन्त्यजः ॥ १६ ॥

mā maṁsthā hy etad āścaryaṁ sarvāścaryamaye ’cyute ya idaṁ māyayā devyā sṛjaty avati hanty ajaḥ

Do not think this at all wondrous in the infallible One, who is Himself full of every wonder — He who, unborn, creates, sustains and destroys this universe by His own divine power.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.8.17)

ब्रह्मतेजोविनिर्मुक्तैरात्मजैः सह कृष्णया । प्रयाणाभिमुखं कृष्णमिदमाह पृथा सती ॥ १७ ॥

brahma-tejo-vinirmuktair ātmajaiḥ saha kṛṣṇayā prayāṇābhimukhaṁ kṛṣṇam idam āha pṛthā satī

Thus delivered from the radiance of the brahmastra, along with her sons and Draupadi, the chaste Pritha spoke these words to Krishna as He was about to depart.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.8.18)

कुन्त्युवाच नमस्ये पुरुषं त्वाद्यमीश्वरं प्रकृतेः परम् । अलक्ष्यं सर्वभूतानामन्तर्बहिरवस्थितम् ॥ १८ ॥

kunty uvāca namasye puruṣaṁ tvādyam īśvaraṁ prakṛteḥ param alakṣyaṁ sarva-bhūtānām antar bahir avasthitam

Kunti said: I bow to You, the primeval Person, the controller beyond material nature, unseen by all beings though present within and without them.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.8.19)

मायाजवनिकाच्छन्नमज्ञाधोक्षजमव्ययम् । न लक्ष्यसे मूढदृशा नटो नाट्यधरो यथा ॥ १९ ॥

māyā-javanikācchannam ajñādhokṣajam avyayam na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā naṭo nāṭyadharo yathā

Veiled behind the curtain of Maya, imperishable and beyond the senses of the ignorant, You go unrecognised by the deluded eye — as an actor dressed in costume is not recognised.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.8.20)

तथा परमहंसानां मुनीनाममलात्मनाम् । भक्तियोगविधानार्थं कथं पश्येम हि स्त्रियः ॥ २० ॥

tathā paramahaṁsānāṁ munīnām amalātmanām bhakti-yoga-vidhānārthaṁ kathaṁ paśyema hi striyaḥ

You come to establish the discipline of devotion for the sake of the purest paramahamsas and sages, whose minds are stainless — how then could we mere women ever see You as You truly are?

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.8.21)

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकीनन्दनाय च । नन्दगोपकुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥ २१ ॥

kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya devakī-nandanāya ca nanda-gopa-kumārāya govindāya namo namaḥ

Obeisances again and again to Krishna, to Vasudeva's son, to Devaki's joy, to the boy of Nanda the cowherd, to Govinda.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.8.22)

नमः पङ्कजनाभाय नमः पङ्कजमालिने । नमः पङ्कजनेत्राय नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्घ्रये ॥ २२ ॥

namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya namaḥ paṅkaja-māline namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya namas te paṅkajāṅghraye

Obeisances to the lotus-naveled One, obeisances to the wearer of the lotus garland, obeisances to the lotus-eyed One, obeisances to You whose feet bear the lotus mark.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.8.23)

यथा हृषीकेश खलेन देवकी कंसेन रुद्धातिचिरं शुचार्पिता । विमोचिताहं च सहात्मजा विभो त्वयैव नाथेन मुहुर्विपद्गणात् ॥ २३ ॥

yathā hṛṣīkeśa khalena devakī kaṁsena ruddhāticiraṁ śucārpitā vimocitāhaṁ ca sahātmajā vibho tvayaiva nāthena muhur vipad-gaṇāt

O Hrishikesha, just as You released Devaki, long imprisoned and tormented by the wicked Kamsa, so too You, my protector, have again and again rescued me and my sons from an unending series of dangers.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.8.24)

विषान्महाग्नेः पुरुषाददर्शना- दसत्सभाया वनवासकृच्छ्रतः । मृधे मृधेऽनेकमहारथास्त्रतो द्रौण्यस्त्रतश्चास्म हरेऽभिरक्षिताः ॥ २४ ॥

viṣān mahāgneḥ puruṣāda-darśanād asat-sabhāyā vana-vāsa-kṛcchrataḥ mṛdhe mṛdhe ’neka-mahārathāstrato drauṇy-astrataś cāsma hare ’bhirakṣitāḥ

From poison, from the great fire, from the encounter with the man-eating demon, from that wicked assembly, from the hardships of forest exile, from the weapons of countless great warriors battle after battle, and now from the weapon of Drona's son — from all of these, O Hari, we have been protected.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.8.25)

विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत्तत्र तत्र जगद्गुरो । भवतो दर्शनं यत्स्यादपुनर्भवदर्शनम् ॥ २५ ॥

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagad-guro bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād apunar bhava-darśanam

O guru of the universe, let such calamities come again and again, wherever they may, if they bring us the sight of You — for that sight alone means we shall not see birth and death again.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.8.26)

जन्मैश्वर्यश्रुतश्रीभिरेधमानमदः पुमान् । नैवार्हत्यभिधातुं वै त्वामकिञ्चनगोचरम् ॥ २६ ॥

janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna-madaḥ pumān naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai tvām akiñcana-gocaram

A person whose pride swells with high birth, wealth, learning and beauty is never truly able to address You, who are reached only by those who possess nothing.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.8.27)

नमोऽकिञ्चनवित्ताय निवृत्तगुणवृत्तये । आत्मारामाय शान्ताय कैवल्यपतये नमः ॥ २७ ॥

namo ’kiñcana-vittāya nivṛtta-guṇa-vṛttaye ātmārāmāya śāntāya kaivalya-pataye namaḥ

Obeisances to You, the wealth of the destitute, untouched by the workings of the material qualities; obeisances to You, self-satisfied, ever peaceful, the lord of oneness.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.8.28)

मन्ये त्वां कालमीशानमनादिनिधनं विभुम् । समं चरन्तं सर्वत्र भूतानां यन्मिथः कलिः ॥ २८ ॥

manye tvāṁ kālam īśānam anādi-nidhanaṁ vibhum samaṁ carantaṁ sarvatra bhūtānāṁ yan mithaḥ kaliḥ

I consider You to be time itself, the supreme controller without beginning or end, all-pervading, moving equally among all — the strife among beings arises only from their own mutual dealings.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.8.29)

न वेद कश्चिद्भगवंश्चिकीर्षितं तवेहमानस्य नृणां विडम्बनम् । न यस्य कश्चिद्दयितोऽस्ति कर्हिचिद् द्वेष्यश्च यस्मिन् विषमा मतिर्नृणाम् ॥ २९ ॥

na veda kaścid bhagavaṁś cikīrṣitaṁ tavehamānasya nṛṇāṁ viḍambanam na yasya kaścid dayito ’sti karhicid dveṣyaś ca yasmin viṣamā matir nṛṇām

O Lord, no one truly knows Your intent, though You act as though You were a man, in a way that bewilders us; for You have no one dear to You and no one hateful — it is only human minds that imagine partiality in You.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.8.30)

जन्म कर्म च विश्वात्मन्नजस्याकर्तुरात्मनः । तिर्यङ्नृषिषु यादःसु तदत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥ ३० ॥

janma karma ca viśvātmann ajasyākartur ātmanaḥ tiryaṅ-nṝṣiṣu yādaḥsu tad atyanta-viḍambanam

O soul of the universe, that You, the unborn and inactive vital force, should take birth and act — appearing among animals, men, sages and creatures of the water — this indeed is the deepest of mysteries.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.8.31)

गोप्याददे त्वयि कृतागसि दाम तावद् या ते दशाश्रुकलिलाञ्जनसम्भ्रमाक्षम् । वक्त्रं निनीय भयभावनया स्थितस्य सा मां विमोहयति भीरपि यद्बिभेति ॥ ३१ ॥

gopy ādade tvayi kṛtāgasi dāma tāvad yā te daśāśru-kalilāñjana-sambhramākṣam vaktraṁ ninīya bhaya-bhāvanayā sthitasya sā māṁ vimohayati bhīr api yad bibheti

That moment when the cowherd woman [Yashoda] took up a rope against You for some mischief, and Your face, eyes brimming with tears that smudged the kohl, bowed down in a show of fear — that sight, in which even Fear itself feared You, bewilders me utterly.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.8.32)

केचिदाहुरजं जातं पुण्यश्लोकस्य कीर्तये । यदोः प्रियस्यान्ववाये मलयस्येव चन्दनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

kecid āhur ajaṁ jātaṁ puṇya-ślokasya kīrtaye yadoḥ priyasyānvavāye malayasyeva candanam

Some say the Unborn took birth to glorify the pious king, appearing in the beloved line of Yadu just as sandalwood appears on the Malaya hills.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.8.33)

अपरे वसुदेवस्य देवक्यां याचितोऽभ्यगात् । अजस्त्वमस्य क्षेमाय वधाय च सुरद्विषाम् ॥ ३३ ॥

apare vasudevasya devakyāṁ yācito ’bhyagāt ajas tvam asya kṣemāya vadhāya ca sura-dviṣām

Others say that, entreated by Vasudeva and Devaki, You, though unborn, came to them as their son — for their good, and to slay those hostile to the gods.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.8.34)

भारावतारणायान्ये भुवो नाव इवोदधौ । सीदन्त्या भूरिभारेण जातो ह्यात्मभुवार्थितः ॥ ३४ ॥

bhārāvatāraṇāyānye bhuvo nāva ivodadhau sīdantyā bhūri-bhāreṇa jāto hy ātma-bhuvārthitaḥ

Others say the earth, sinking under its own excessive burden like an overladen boat at sea, was pleaded for by Brahma, Your own son, and so You took birth to lighten that load.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.8.35)

भवेऽस्मिन् क्लिश्यमानानामविद्याकामकर्मभिः । श्रवणस्मरणार्हाणि करिष्यन्निति केचन ॥ ३५ ॥

bhave ’smin kliśyamānānām avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ śravaṇa-smaraṇārhāṇi kariṣyann iti kecana

And still others say You appeared so that those suffering in this world from ignorance, desire and the bonds of action might have something worthy to hear of, remember and worship.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.8.36)

शृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्त्यभीक्ष्णशः स्मरन्ति नन्दन्ति तवेहितं जनाः । त एव पश्यन्त्यचिरेण तावकं भवप्रवाहोपरमं पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ३६ ॥

śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanty abhīkṣṇaśaḥ smaranti nandanti tavehitaṁ janāḥ ta eva paśyanty acireṇa tāvakaṁ bhava-pravāhoparamaṁ padāmbujam

Those who ceaselessly hear, sing, repeat, remember and delight in Your deeds — they alone soon come to see Your lotus feet, which alone bring the flow of birth and death to a stop.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.8.37)

अप्यद्य नस्त्वं स्वकृतेहित प्रभो जिहाससि स्वित्सुहृदोऽनुजीविनः । येषां न चान्यद्भवतः पदाम्बुजात् परायणं राजसु योजितांहसाम् ॥ ३७ ॥

apy adya nas tvaṁ sva-kṛtehita prabho jihāsasi svit suhṛdo ’nujīvinaḥ yeṣāṁ na cānyad bhavataḥ padāmbujāt parāyaṇaṁ rājasu yojitāṁhasām

O Lord, having now completed the tasks You set Yourself, are You truly leaving us today — us, Your intimate friends who live by Your mercy alone, who have no refuge but Your lotus feet, now that the kings around us have turned to enmity?

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.8.38)

के वयं नामरूपाभ्यां यदुभिः सह पाण्डवाः । भवतोऽदर्शनं यर्हि हृषीकाणामिवेशितुः ॥ ३८ ॥

ke vayaṁ nāma-rūpābhyāṁ yadubhiḥ saha pāṇḍavāḥ bhavato ’darśanaṁ yarhi hṛṣīkāṇām iveśituḥ

What indeed would remain of the name and fame of us Pandavas, or of the Yadus, the day we no longer see You — as the senses are nothing once their governing spirit departs?

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.8.39)

नेयं शोभिष्यते तत्र यथेदानीं गदाधर । त्वत्पदैरङ्किता भाति स्वलक्षणविलक्षितैः ॥ ३९ ॥

neyaṁ śobhiṣyate tatra yathedānīṁ gadādhara tvat-padair aṅkitā bhāti sva-lakṣaṇa-vilakṣitaiḥ

O Gadadhara, this land will no longer appear as beautiful as it does now, when it shines marked by the impress of Your own distinctive feet.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.1.8.40)

इमे जनपदाः स्वृद्धाः सुपक्वौषधिवीरुधः । वनाद्रिनद्युदन्वन्तो ह्येधन्ते तव वीक्षितैः ॥ ४० ॥

ime jana-padāḥ svṛddhāḥ supakvauṣadhi-vīrudhaḥ vanādri-nady-udanvanto hy edhante tava vīkṣitaiḥ

These lands are prospering, their herbs and crops ripened well, their forests, hills, rivers and seas all flourishing — all because of Your glance upon them.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.1.8.41)

अथ विश्वेश विश्वात्मन् विश्वमूर्ते स्वकेषु मे । स्नेहपाशमिमं छिन्धि दृढं पाण्डुषु वृष्णिषु ॥ ४१ ॥

atha viśveśa viśvātman viśva-mūrte svakeṣu me sneha-pāśam imaṁ chindhi dṛḍhaṁ pāṇḍuṣu vṛṣṇiṣu

Therefore, O Lord of the universe, O soul of the universe, O universal form, sever this strong bond of affection that ties me to my own kin, the Pandavas and the Vrishnis.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.1.8.42)

त्वयि मेऽनन्यविषया मतिर्मधुपतेऽसकृत् । रतिमुद्वहतादद्धा गङ्गेवौघमुदन्वति ॥ ४२ ॥

tvayi me ’nanya-viṣayā matir madhu-pate ’sakṛt ratim udvahatād addhā gaṅgevaugham udanvati

O Lord of Madhu, let my mind flow toward You alone, undivided, continuously — let my devotion carry itself directly to You, as the Ganga's current flows to the sea.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.1.8.43)

श्रीकृष्ण कृष्णसख वृष्ण्यृषभावनिध्रुग् राजन्यवंशदहनानपवर्गवीर्य । गोविन्द गोद्विजसुरार्तिहरावतार योगेश्वराखिलगुरो भगवन्नमस्ते ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa-sakha vṛṣṇy-ṛṣabhāvani-dhrug- rājanya-vaṁśa-dahanānapavarga-vīrya govinda go-dvija-surārti-harāvatāra yogeśvarākhila-guro bhagavan namas te

O Sri Krishna, friend of Arjuna, chief of the Vrishnis, whose unfailing prowess consumes the dynasties of kings who rebel against the earth; O Govinda, who descends to remove the suffering of cows, brahmins and gods; O master of all yoga, preceptor of the whole universe, O Bhagavan, obeisances to You.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.1.8.44)

सूत उवाच पृथयेत्थं कलपदैः परिणूताखिलोदयः । मन्दं जहास वैकुण्ठो मोहयन्निव मायया ॥ ४४ ॥

sūta uvāca pṛthayetthaṁ kala-padaiḥ pariṇūtākhilodayaḥ mandaṁ jahāsa vaikuṇṭho mohayann iva māyayā

Suta said: Thus glorified by Pritha in these chosen and melodious words, the Lord of Vaikuntha, whose glories fill the universe, smiled gently, as if enchanting her still further with His own divine power.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.1.8.45)

तां बाढमित्युपामन्त्र्य प्रविश्य गजसाह्वयम् । स्त्रियश्च स्वपुरं यास्यन् प्रेम्णा राज्ञा निवारितः ॥ ४५ ॥

tāṁ bāḍham ity upāmantrya praviśya gajasāhvayam striyaś ca sva-puraṁ yāsyan premṇā rājñā nivāritaḥ

Saying "So be it" to her, He entered Hastinapura and informed the other ladies as well of His departure for His own city; but as He was about to leave, He was lovingly held back by the King.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.1.8.46)

व्यासाद्यैरीश्वरेहाज्ञैः कृष्णेनाद्भुतकर्मणा । प्रबोधितोऽपीतिहासैर्नाबुध्यत शुचार्पितः ॥ ४६ ॥

vyāsādyair īśvarehājñaiḥ kṛṣṇenādbhuta-karmaṇā prabodhito ’pītihāsair nābudhyata śucārpitaḥ

Though comforted with histories and teachings by great sages headed by Vyasa, who knew the Lord's own will, and by Krishna Himself, the performer of wonders, that grief-stricken king found no consolation.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.1.8.47)

आह राजा धर्मसुतश्चिन्तयन् सुहृदां वधम् । प्राकृतेनात्मना विप्राः स्नेहमोहवशं गतः ॥ ४७ ॥

āha rājā dharma-sutaś cintayan suhṛdāṁ vadham prākṛtenātmanā viprāḥ sneha-moha-vaśaṁ gataḥ

O brahmins, King Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, thinking of the death of his kinsmen, spoke as though he were an ordinary man, overcome by affection and delusion.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.1.8.48)

अहो मे पश्यताज्ञानं हृदि रूढं दुरात्मनः । पारक्यस्यैव देहस्य बह्व्यो मेऽक्षौहिणीर्हताः ॥ ४८ ॥

aho me paśyatājñānaṁ hṛdi rūḍhaṁ durātmanaḥ pārakyasyaiva dehasya bahvyo me ’kṣauhiṇīr hatāḥ

Alas, see the ignorance rooted in my sinful heart! For the sake of this body, which in the end belongs to another, I have caused the death of so many armies.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.1.8.49)

बालद्विजसुहृन्मित्रपितृभ्रातृगुरुद्रुहः । न मे स्यान्निरयान्मोक्षो ह्यपि वर्षायुतायुतैः ॥ ४९ ॥

bāla-dvija-suhṛn-mitra- pitṛ-bhrātṛ-guru-druhaḥ na me syān nirayān mokṣo hy api varṣāyutāyutaiḥ

I, who have brought harm to children, brahmins, well-wishers, friends, elders, brothers and teachers, shall find no release from hell even after countless millions of years.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.1.8.50)

नैनो राज्ञः प्रजाभर्तुर्धर्मयुद्धे वधो द्विषाम् । इति मे न तु बोधाय कल्पते शासनं वचः ॥ ५० ॥

naino rājñaḥ prajā-bhartur dharma-yuddhe vadho dviṣām iti me na tu bodhāya kalpate śāsanaṁ vacaḥ

It is said that a king who protects his subjects incurs no sin by slaying enemies in righteous battle — but such scriptural words bring me no true understanding or comfort.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.1.8.51)

स्त्रीणां मद्धतबन्धूनां द्रोहो योऽसाविहोत्थितः । कर्मभिर्गृहमेधीयैर्नाहं कल्पो व्यपोहितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥

strīṇāṁ mad-dhata-bandhūnāṁ droho yo ’sāv ihotthitaḥ karmabhir gṛhamedhīyair nāhaṁ kalpo vyapohitum

The enmity that has arisen from the women whose kinsmen I have slain — that I am powerless to undo through any ordinary householder's rites.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.1.8.52)

यथा पङ्केन पङ्काम्भः सुरया वा सुराकृतम् । भूतहत्यां तथैवैकां न यज्ञैर्मार्ष्टुमर्हति ॥ ५२ ॥

yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ surayā vā surākṛtam bhūta-hatyāṁ tathaivaikāṁ na yajñair mārṣṭum arhati

Just as muddied water cannot be filtered clean with more mud, nor a vessel tainted by wine purified with wine, so too the killing of living beings can never be washed away by mere sacrifice.