Krishna Pleases His Devotees

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.48.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अथ विज्ञाय भगवान् सर्वात्मा सर्वदर्शनः । सैरन्ध्रयाः कामतप्तायाः प्रियमिच्छन् गृहं ययौ ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca atha vijñāya bhagavān sarvātmā sarva-darśanaḥ sairandhryāḥ kāma-taptāyāḥ priyam icchan gṛhaṁ yayau

Shukadeva said: Thereafter, Bhagavan Krishna, the all-knowing Soul of all and the seer of everything, aware of it all, went to the house of the maidservant Trivakra, desiring to bring happiness to her, who was tormented by desire.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.48.2)

महार्होपस्करैराढ्यं कामोपायोपबृंहितम् । मुक्तादामपताकाभिर्वितानशयनासनैः । धूपैः सुरभिभिर्दीपैः स्रग्गन्धैरपि मण्डितम् ॥ २ ॥

mahārhopaskarair āḍhyaṁ kāmopāyopabṛṁhitam muktā-dāma-patākābhir vitāna-śayanāsanaiḥ dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir dīpaiḥ srag-gandhair api maṇḍitam

Her house was richly furnished with costly appointments, filled with all that might stir desire — strings of pearls and banners, canopies, fine beds and seats — and adorned besides with fragrant incense, lamps, garlands and perfumes.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.48.3)

गृहं तमायान्तमवेक्ष्य सासनात् सद्यः समुत्थाय हि जातसम्भ्रमा । यथोपसङ्गम्य सखीभिरच्युतं सभाजयामास सदासनादिभिः ॥ ३ ॥

gṛhaṁ tam āyāntam avekṣya sāsanāt sadyaḥ samutthāya hi jāta-sambhramā yathopasaṅgamya sakhībhir acyutaṁ sabhājayām āsa sad-āsanādibhiḥ

Seeing Him approaching her home, she rose at once from her seat in flustered eagerness and, coming forward with her companions, welcomed Achyuta with a fine seat and other honors.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.48.4)

तथोद्धवः साधु तयाभिपूजितो न्यषीददुर्व्यामभिमृश्य चासनम् । कृष्णोऽपि तूर्णं शयनं महाधनं विवेश लोकाचरितान्यनुव्रतः ॥ ४ ॥

tathoddhavaḥ sādhutayābhipūjito nyaṣīdad urvyām abhimṛśya cāsanam kṛṣṇo ’pi tūrṇaṁ śayanaṁ mahā-dhanaṁ viveśa lokācaritāny anuvrataḥ

Uddhava too, being honored as a saintly person, was offered a fine seat, but he merely touched it and sat upon the ground instead. Krishna, meanwhile, following the ways of ordinary custom, at once made Himself comfortable upon that opulent bed.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.48.5)

सा मज्जनालेपदुकूलभूषण- स्रग्गन्धताम्बूलसुधासवादिभिः । प्रसाधितात्मोपससार माधवं सव्रीडलीलोत्स्मितविभ्रमेक्षितैः ॥ ५ ॥

sā majjanālepa-dukūla-bhūṣaṇa srag-gandha-tāmbūla-sudhāsavādibhiḥ prasādhitātmopasasāra mādhavaṁ sa-vrīḍa-līlotsmita-vibhramekṣitaiḥ

Having adorned herself with a bath, fine unguents, silken garments, jewelry, garlands, perfume, betel and sweet drink, she came before Madhava with shy, playful, smiling glances.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.48.6)

आहूय कान्तां नवसङ्गमह्रिया विशङ्कितां कङ्कणभूषिते करे । प्रगृह्य शय्यामधिवेश्य रामया रेमेऽनुलेपार्पणपुण्यलेशया ॥ ६ ॥

āhūya kāntāṁ nava-saṅgama-hriyā viśaṅkitāṁ kaṅkaṇa-bhūṣite kare pragṛhya śayyām adhiveśya rāmayā reme ’nulepārpaṇa-puṇya-leśayā

Calling His beloved, shy and hesitant before this new meeting, the Lord took hold of her bangled hand and drew her onto the bed; and with that lovely woman, whose one small merit was the ointment she had offered Him, He passed His time.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.48.7)

सानङ्गतप्तकुचयोरुरसस्तथाक्ष्णो- र्जिघ्रन्त्यनन्तचरणेन रुजो मृजन्ती । दोर्भ्यां स्तनान्तरगतं परिरभ्य कान्त- मानन्दमूर्तिमजहादतिदीर्घतापम् ॥ ७ ॥

sānaṅga-tapta-kucayor urasas tathākṣṇor jighranty ananta-caraṇena rujo mṛjantī dorbhyāṁ stanāntara-gataṁ parirabhya kāntam ānanda-mūrtim ajahād ati-dīrgha-tāpam

Breathing in the fragrance of the infinite Lord's feet, she found the burning that Cupid had kindled in her breasts, her heart and her eyes now soothed; and clasping her beloved, the very embodiment of bliss, close between her arms, she at last let go of her long, long-borne anguish.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.48.8)

सैवं कैवल्यनाथं तं प्राप्य दुष्प्राप्यमीश्वरम् । अङ्गरागार्पणेनाहो दुर्भगेदमयाचत ॥ ८ ॥

saivaṁ kaivalya-nāthaṁ taṁ prāpya duṣprāpyam īśvaram aṅga-rāgārpaṇenāho durbhagedam ayācata

Having thus attained — through the mere offering of ointment — that Lord of liberation, so difficult to obtain, that unfortunate woman then made this request of Him.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.48.9)

सहोष्यतामिह प्रेष्ठ दिनानि कतिचिन्मया । रमस्व नोत्सहे त्यक्तुं सङ्गं तेऽम्बुरुहेक्षण ॥ ९ ॥

sahoṣyatām iha preṣṭha dināni katicin mayā ramasva notsahe tyaktuṁ saṅgaṁ te ’mburuhekṣaṇa

[Trivakra said:] O beloved, stay here with me a few days more, and take Your pleasure with me. O lotus-eyed one, I cannot bear to let go of Your company.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.48.10)

तस्यै कामवरं दत्त्वा मानयित्वा च मानदः । सहोद्धवेन सर्वेशः स्वधामागमद् ऋद्धिमत् ॥ १० ॥

tasyai kāma-varaṁ dattvā mānayitvā ca māna-daḥ sahoddhavena sarveśaḥ sva-dhāmāgamad ṛddhimat

Granting her the boon of that desire, and honoring her with due respect, the Lord of all, He who grants honor to others, then returned with Uddhava to His own splendid abode.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.48.11)

दुराराध्यं समाराध्य विष्णुं सर्वेश्वरेश्वरम् । यो वृणीते मनोग्राह्यमसत्त्वात् कुमनीष्यसौ ॥ ११ ॥

durārdhyaṁ samārādhya viṣṇuṁ sarveśvareśvaram yo vṛṇīte mano-grāhyam asattvāt kumanīṣy asau

One who, having duly worshiped Vishnu — the Lord of all lords, so hard to attain — then chooses only some trifling pleasure agreeable to the mind, is surely of poor understanding, for through his own inner poverty he settles for so small a gain.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.48.12)

अक्रूरभवनं कृष्णः सहरामोद्धवः प्रभुः । किञ्चिच्चिकीर्षयन् प्रागादक्रूरप्रीयकाम्यया ॥ १२ ॥

akrūra-bhavanaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ saha-rāmoddhavaḥ prabhuḥ kiñcic cikīrṣayan prāgād akrūra-priya-kāmyayā

Thereafter, Lord Krishna, together with Balarama and Uddhava, set out for Akrura's house, wishing both to accomplish a certain purpose and to bring joy to Akrura.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.48.13)

स तान्नरवरश्रेष्ठानाराद् वीक्ष्य स्वबान्धवान् । प्रत्युत्थाय प्रमुदितः परिष्वज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥ १३ ॥

sa tān nara-vara-śreṣṭhān ārād vīkṣya sva-bāndhavān pratyutthāya pramuditaḥ pariṣvajyābhinandya ca

Seeing from afar those kinsmen of his, the very best among men, approaching, Akrura rose up in great joy, embraced them, and welcomed them warmly.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.48.14)

ननाम कृष्णं रामं च स तैरप्यभिवादितः । पूजयामास विधिवत् कृतासनपरिग्रहान् ॥ १४ ॥

nanāma kṛṣṇaṁ rāmaṁ ca sa tair apy abhivāditaḥ pūjayām āsa vidhi-vat kṛtāsana-parigrahān

He bowed down to Krishna and Balarama, and was in turn greeted by Them; and once They had taken Their seats, Akrura duly worshiped Them according to proper rite.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.48.15)

पादावनेजनीरापो धारयन् शिरसा नृप । अर्हणेनाम्बरैर्दिव्यैर्गन्धस्रग्भूषणोत्तमैः ॥ १५ ॥

pādāvanejanīr āpo dhārayan śirasā nṛpa arhaṇenāmbarair divyair gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ

O King, Akrura washed the feet of Krishna and Balarama and placed that water upon his own head; then with fine garments, fragrant paste, garlands and excellent jewels, he worshiped Them.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.48.16)

अर्चित्वा शिरसानम्य पादावङ्कगतौ मृजन् । प्रश्रयावनतोऽक्रूरः कृष्णरामावभाषत ॥ १६ ॥

arcitvā śirasānamya pādāv aṅka-gatau mṛjan praśrayāvanato ’krūraḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmāv abhāṣata

Having worshiped Them thus, bowing his head, and, taking Their feet into his lap to gently press them, Akrura, bent low in humility, addressed Krishna and Balarama as follows.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.48.17)

दिष्ट्या पापो हतः कंसः सानुगो वामिदं कुलम् । भवद्भयामुद्धृतं कृच्छ्राद् दुरन्ताच्च समेधितम् ॥ १७ ॥

diṣṭyā pāpo hataḥ kaṁsaḥ sānugo vām idaṁ kulam bhavadbhyām uddhṛtaṁ kṛcchrād durantāc ca samedhitam

[Akrura said:] It is our great fortune that You two have slain the sinful Kamsa along with his followers. By You alone has this dynasty been rescued from unending calamity and made to flourish.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.48.18)

युवां प्रधानपुरुषौ जगद्धेतू जगन्मयौ । भवद्भयां न विना किञ्चित्परमस्ति न चापरम् ॥ १८ ॥

yuvāṁ pradhāna-puruṣau jagad-dhetū jagan-mayau bhavadbhyāṁ na vinā kiñcit param asti na cāparam

You two are the primal Persons, the cause of the universe and its very substance. Apart from You, nothing exists — not the subtlest cause, nor the grossest effect.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.48.19)

आत्मसृष्टमिदं विश्वमन्वाविश्य स्वशक्तिभिः । ईयते बहुधा ब्रह्मन् श्रुतप्रत्यक्षगोचरम् ॥ १९ ॥

ātma-sṛṣṭam idaṁ viśvam anvāviśya sva-śaktibhiḥ īyate bahudhā brahman śruta-pratyakṣa-gocaram

O Absolute Truth, entering by Your own powers into this universe which You Yourself have created, You are perceived in manifold forms, known both through hearing and through direct experience.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.48.20)

यथा हि भूतेषु चराचरेषु मह्यादयो योनिषु भान्ति नाना । एवं भवान् केवल आत्मयोनि- ष्वात्मात्मतन्त्रो बहुधा विभाति ॥ २० ॥

yathā hi bhūteṣu carācareṣu mahy-ādayo yoniṣu bhānti nānā evaṁ bhavān kevala ātma-yoniṣv ātmātma-tantro bahudhā vibhāti

Just as the elements, earth and the rest, appear in countless varied forms among all the species of moving and unmoving beings, so You, the one self-dependent Soul, appear in manifold forms among the beings born of Your own self.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.48.21)

सृजस्यथो लुम्पसि पासि विश्वं रजस्तमःसत्त्वगुणैः स्वशक्तिभिः । न बध्यसे तद्गुणकर्मभिर्वा ज्ञानात्मनस्ते क्व च बन्धहेतुः ॥ २१ ॥

sṛjasy atho lumpasi pāsi viśvaṁ rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇaiḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ na badhyase tad-guṇa-karmabhir vā jñānātmanas te kva ca bandha-hetuḥ

By Your own energies — the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness — You create, destroy and sustain this universe, and yet You are never bound by those modes or by the deeds they produce. You are consciousness itself — where, then, could any cause of bondage exist in You?

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.48.22)

देहाद्युपाधेरनिरूपितत्वाद् भवो न साक्षान्न भिदात्मनः स्यात् । अतो न बन्धस्तव नैव मोक्षः स्यातां निकामस्त्वयि नोऽविवेकः ॥ २२ ॥

dehādy-upādher anirūpitatvād bhavo na sākṣān na bhidātmanaḥ syāt ato na bandhas tava naiva mokṣaḥ syātām nikāmas tvayi no ’vivekaḥ

Since the covering of a body and the like has never truly been established for You, for You there is neither real birth nor any real distinction within the self. Therefore neither bondage nor liberation ever applies to You — if it seems otherwise to us, that is simply the fault of our own lack of discernment.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.48.23)

त्वयोदितोऽयं जगतो हिताय यदा यदा वेदपथः पुराणः । बाध्येत पाषण्डपथैरसद्भि- स्तदा भवान् सत्त्वगुणं बिभर्ति ॥ २३ ॥

tvayodito ’yaṁ jagato hitāya yadā yadā veda-pathaḥ purāṇaḥ bādhyeta pāṣaṇḍa-pathair asadbhis tadā bhavān sattva-guṇaṁ bibharti

Whenever this ancient path of the Vedas, which You Yourself once established for the good of the world, is obstructed by the false ways of heretics, then You take on the mode of goodness and appear among us.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.48.24)

स त्वं प्रभोऽद्य वसुदेवगृहेऽवतीर्णः स्वांशेन भारमपनेतुमिहासि भूमेः । अक्षौहिणीशतवधेन सुरेतरांश- राज्ञाममुष्य च कुलस्य यशो वितन्वन् ॥ २४ ॥

sa tvam prabho ’dya vasudeva-gṛhe ’vatīrṇaḥ svāṁśena bhāram apanetum ihāsi bhūmeḥ akṣauhiṇī-śata-vadhena suretarāṁśa- rājñām amuṣya ca kulasya yaśo vitanvan

You, my Lord, are that very same Being, who has today descended, with Your own portion, into Vasudeva's house — to lighten the earth's burden by destroying the hundreds of armies of kings born of forces hostile to the gods, and, at the same time, to spread abroad the glory of this dynasty.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.48.25)

अद्येश नो वसतयः खलु भूरिभागा यः सर्वदेवपितृभूतनृदेवमूर्तिः । यत्पादशौचसलिलं त्रिजगत् पुनाति स त्वं जगद्गुरुरधोक्षज याः प्रविष्टः ॥ २५ ॥

adyeśa no vasatayaḥ khalu bhūri-bhāgā yaḥ sarva-deva-pitṛ-bhūta-nṛ-deva-mūrtiḥ yat-pāda-śauca-salilaṁ tri-jagat punāti sa tvaṁ jagad-gurur adhokṣaja yāḥ praviṣṭaḥ

Today, my Lord, our home has become richly blessed, for You have entered it — You who embody all the gods, the ancestors, all beings, humankind and the divine forms alike; whose feet, when washed, yield water that purifies the three worlds. O Adhokshaja, You, the very teacher of the universe, have come and entered here.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.48.26)

कः पण्डितस्त्वदपरं शरणं समीयाद् भक्तप्रियादृतगिरः सुहृदः कृतज्ञात् । सर्वान् ददाति सुहृदो भजतोऽभिकामा- नात्मानमप्युपचयापचयौ न यस्य ॥ २६ ॥

kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaṁ śaraṇaṁ samīyād bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛta-jñāt sarvān dadāti suhṛdo bhajato ’bhikāmān ātmānam apy upacayāpacayau na yasya

What wise person would take shelter of anyone but You — You who are dear to Your devotees, truthful in speech, a grateful and loyal friend? To those who worship You in true friendship, You grant everything they desire, even Your own self — and yet You are neither increased nor diminished thereby.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.48.27)

दिष्ट्या जनार्दन भवानिह नः प्रतीतो योगेश्वरैरपि दुरापगतिः सुरेशैः । छिन्ध्याशु नः सुतकलत्रधनाप्तगेह- देहादिमोहरशनां भवदीयमायाम् ॥ २७ ॥

diṣṭyā janārdana bhavān iha naḥ pratīto yogeśvarair api durāpa-gatiḥ sureśaiḥ chindhy āśu naḥ suta-kalatra-dhanāpta-geha- dehādi-moha-raśanāṁ bhavadīya-māyām

It is our great fortune, Janardana, that You now stand visible before us — You whom even the masters of yoga and the greatest of the gods find hard to attain. Please, swiftly cut the cords of delusion binding us to children, wife, wealth, kin, home and body — cords woven, all of them, from Your own maya.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.48.28)

इत्यर्चितः संस्तुतश्च भक्तेन भगवान् हरिः । अक्रूरं सस्मितं प्राह गीर्भिः सम्मोहयन्निव ॥ २८ ॥

ity arcitaḥ saṁstutaś ca bhaktena bhagavān hariḥ akrūraṁ sa-smitaṁ prāha gīrbhiḥ sammohayann iva

Thus worshiped and praised by His devotee, Bhagavan Hari, smiling, spoke to Akrura, His very words seeming almost to enchant him.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.48.29)

श्रीभगवानुवाच त्वं नो गुरुः पितृव्यश्च श्लाघ्यो बन्धुश्च नित्यदा । वयं तु रक्ष्याः पोष्याश्च अनुकम्प्याः प्रजा हि वः ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca tvaṁ no guruḥ pitṛvyaś ca ślāghyo bandhuś ca nityadā vayaṁ tu rakṣyāḥ poṣyāś ca anukampyāḥ prajā hi vaḥ

The Supreme Lord said: You are our teacher, our paternal uncle, and forever a friend worthy of praise; and We are indeed like your own children, to be protected, sustained and shown your compassion.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.48.30)

भवद्विधा महाभागा निषेव्या अर्हसत्तमाः । श्रेयस्कामैर्नृभिर्नित्यं देवाः स्वार्था न साधवः ॥ ३० ॥

bhavad-vidhā mahā-bhāgā niṣevyā arha-sattamāḥ śreyas-kāmair nṛbhir nityaṁ devāḥ svārthā na sādhavaḥ

Great and honorable souls such as yourself are the true objects of service for those who desire their own highest good — always. The gods, generally, look after their own interests; saintly persons never do.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.48.31)

न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामयाः । ते पुनन्त्युरुकालेन दर्शनादेव साधवः ॥ ३१ ॥

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ te punanty uru-kālena darśanād eva sādhavaḥ

Neither the sacred waters of a place of pilgrimage nor the images of the gods, fashioned of clay and stone, can be denied their power — but these purify only over a long time, whereas the saintly purify simply by being seen.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.48.32)

स भवान् सुहृदां वै नः श्रेयान् श्रेयश्चिकीर्षया । जिज्ञासार्थं पाण्डवानां गच्छस्व त्वं गजाह्वयम् ॥ ३२ ॥

sa bhavān suhṛdāṁ vai naḥ śreyān śreyaś-cikīrṣayā jijñāsārthaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ gacchasva tvaṁ gajāhvayam

You are the very best of Our friends. So, out of your wish to do us good, go now to Hastinapura and find out how the Pandavas are faring.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.48.33)

पितर्युपरते बालाः सह मात्रा सुदुःखिताः । आनीताः स्वपुरं राज्ञा वसन्त इति शुश्रुम ॥ ३३ ॥

pitary uparate bālāḥ saha mātrā su-duḥkhitāḥ ānītāḥ sva-puraṁ rājñā vasanta iti śuśruma

We have heard that after their father's passing, those grief-stricken children, together with their mother, were brought by the king to his own city, and now dwell there.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.48.34)

तेषु राजाम्बिकापुत्रो भ्रातृपुत्रेषु दीनधीः । समो न वर्तते नूनं दुष्पुत्रवशगोऽन्धदृक् ॥ ३४ ॥

teṣu rājāmbikā-putro bhrātṛ-putreṣu dīna-dhīḥ samo na vartate nūnaṁ duṣputra-vaśa-go ’ndha-dṛk

King Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, weak-minded and blind, has surely fallen under the sway of his wicked sons, and does not treat his brother's children with equal fairness.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.48.35)

गच्छ जानीहि तद् वृत्तमधुना साध्वसाधु वा । विज्ञाय तद् विधास्यामो यथा शं सुहृदां भवेत् ॥ ३५ ॥

gaccha jānīhi tad-vṛttam adhunā sādhv asādhu vā vijñāya tad vidhāsyāmo yathā śaṁ suhṛdāṁ bhavet

Go now, and see for yourself whether things there are being conducted rightly or wrongly. Once We know, We shall make whatever arrangement will bring about the welfare of Our friends.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.48.36)

इत्यक्रूरं समादिश्य भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । सङ्कर्षणोद्धवाभ्यां वै ततः स्वभवनं ययौ ॥ ३६ ॥

ity akrūraṁ samādiśya bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ saṅkarṣaṇoddhavābhyāṁ vai tataḥ sva-bhavanaṁ yayau

Having thus instructed Akrura, Bhagavan Hari, the Supreme Lord, then returned to His own dwelling, together with Sankarshana and Uddhava.