The Deliverance of King Nṛga

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.64.1)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच एकदोपवनं राजन् जग्मुर्यदुकुमारकाः । विहर्तुं साम्बप्रद्युम्नचारुभानुगदादयः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca ekadopavanaṁ rājan jagmur yadu-kumārakāḥ vihartuṁ sāmba-pradyumna cāru-bhānu-gadādayaḥ

Shri Badarayani said: O King, one day Samba, Pradyumna, Charubhanu, Gada and other young boys of the Yadu dynasty went to a small forest to play.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.64.2)

क्रीडित्वा सुचिरं तत्र विचिन्वन्तः पिपासिताः । जलं निरुदके कूपे ददृशुः सत्त्वमद्भुतम् ॥ २ ॥

krīḍitvā su-ciraṁ tatra vicinvantaḥ pipāsitāḥ jalaṁ nirudake kūpe dadṛśuḥ sattvam adbhutam

After playing there for a long time, they grew thirsty. As they searched for water, they peered into a dry well and saw an astonishing creature.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.64.3)

कृकलासं गिरिनिभं वीक्ष्य विस्मितमानसाः । तस्य चोद्धरणे यत्नं चक्रुस्ते कृपयान्विताः ॥ ३ ॥

kṛkalāsaṁ giri-nibhaṁ vīkṣya vismita-mānasāḥ tasya coddharaṇe yatnaṁ cakrus te kṛpayānvitāḥ

Astonished to see this lizard, huge as a mountain, the boys were filled with compassion and tried to lift it out of the well.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.64.4)

चर्मजैस्तान्तवैः पाशैर्बद्ध्वा पतितमर्भकाः । नाशक्नुरन् समुद्धर्तुं कृष्णायाचख्युरुत्सुकाः ॥ ४ ॥

carma-jais tāntavaiḥ pāśair baddhvā patitam arbhakāḥ nāśaknuran samuddhartuṁ kṛṣṇāyācakhyur utsukāḥ

Binding the trapped creature with leather thongs and then with woven cords, the boys still could not lift it out, and so, eager and excited, they went and told Krishna about it.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.64.5)

तत्रागत्यारविन्दाक्षो भगवान् विश्वभावनः । वीक्ष्योज्जहार वामेन तं करेण स लीलया ॥ ५ ॥

tatrāgatyāravindākṣo bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ vīkṣyojjahāra vāmena taṁ kareṇa sa līlayā

Going there, the lotus-eyed Bhagavan, the maintainer of the universe, beheld the creature and effortlessly lifted it out with His left hand, as if in sport.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.64.6)

स उत्तमःश्लोककराभिमृष्टो विहाय सद्यः कृकलासरूपम् । सन्तप्तचामीकरचारुवर्णः स्वर्ग्यद्भुतालङ्करणाम्बरस्रक् ॥ ६ ॥

sa uttamaḥ-śloka-karābhimṛṣṭo vihāya sadyaḥ kṛkalāsa-rūpam santapta-cāmīkara-cāru-varṇaḥ svargy adbhutālaṅkaraṇāmbara-srak

At the mere touch of the glorious Lord's hand, that being at once cast off its lizard form and took on a complexion beautiful as molten gold, adorned with wondrous heavenly ornaments, garments and garlands.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.64.7)

पप्रच्छ विद्वानपि तन्निदानं जनेषु विख्यापयितुं मुकुन्दः । कस्त्वं महाभाग वरेण्यरूपो देवोत्तमं त्वां गणयामि नूनम् ॥ ७ ॥

papraccha vidvān api tan-nidānaṁ janeṣu vikhyāpayituṁ mukundaḥ kas tvaṁ mahā-bhāga vareṇya-rūpo devottamaṁ tvāṁ gaṇayāmi nūnam

Mukunda, though He already knew the truth, asked this so as to make it known to the people: 'O most fortunate one, seeing your excellent form I take you to be an exalted deity indeed. Who are you?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.64.8)

दशाम् इमां वा कतमेन कर्मणा सम्प्रापितोऽस्यतदर्हः सुभद्र । आत्मानमाख्याहि विवित्सतां नो यन्मन्यसे नः क्षममत्र वक्तुम् ॥ ८ ॥

daśām imāṁ vā katamena karmaṇā samprāpito ’sy atad-arhaḥ su-bhadra ātmānam ākhyāhi vivitsatāṁ no yan manyase naḥ kṣamam atra vaktum

By what deed did you, O good soul, come to be in this condition which you did not deserve? Tell us about yourself, for we are eager to know — if you think it proper to speak of it here.'

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.64.9)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति स्म राजा सम्पृष्टः कृष्णेनानन्तमूर्तिना । माधवं प्रणिपत्याह किरीटेनार्कवर्चसा ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti sma rājā sampṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇenānanta-mūrtinā mādhavaṁ praṇipatyāha kirīṭenārka-varcasā

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus questioned by Krishna of unlimited forms, that king, his crown gleaming like the sun, bowed to Madhava and spoke as follows.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.64.10)

नृग उवाच नृगो नाम नरेन्द्रोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुतनयः प्रभो । दानिष्वाख्यायमानेषु यदि ते कर्णमस्पृशम् ॥ १० ॥

nṛga uvāca nṛgo nāma narendro ’ham ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ prabho dāniṣv ākhyāyamāneṣu yadi te karṇam aspṛśam

King Nriga said: O Lord, I am a king named Nriga, son of Ikshvaku. Perhaps my name reached Your ears when the generous were being recounted.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.64.11)

किं नु तेऽविदितं नाथ सर्वभूतात्मसाक्षिणः । कालेनाव्याहतदृशो वक्ष्येऽथापि तवाज्ञया ॥ ११ ॥

kiṁ nu te ’viditaṁ nātha sarva-bhūtātma-sākṣiṇaḥ kālenāvyāhata-dṛśo vakṣye ’thāpi tavājñayā

O master, what indeed could be unknown to You, the witness of all beings' inmost hearts, whose vision time cannot obstruct? Still, by Your command, I shall speak.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.64.12)

यावत्यः सिकता भूमेर्यावत्यो दिवि तारकाः । यावत्यो वर्षधाराश्च तावतीरददं स्म गाः ॥ १२ ॥

yāvatyaḥ sikatā bhūmer yāvatyo divi tārakāḥ yāvatyo varṣa-dhārāś ca tāvatīr adadaṁ sma gāḥ

As many as the grains of sand on the earth, as many as the stars in the sky, as many as the drops in a rain-shower — that many cows did I give in charity.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.64.13)

पयस्विनीस्तरुणीः शीलरूप- गुणोपपन्नाः कपिला हेमशृङ्गीः । न्यायार्जिता रूप्यखुराः सवत्सा दुकूलमालाभरणा ददावहम् ॥ १३ ॥

payasvinīs taruṇīḥ śīla-rūpa- guṇopapannāḥ kapilā hema-sṛṅgīḥ nyāyārjitā rūpya-khurāḥ sa-vatsā dukūla-mālābharaṇā dadāv aham

Milk-giving, young cows, endowed with good disposition, beauty and virtue, tawny-colored, with golden horns, honestly acquired, silver-hoofed, together with their calves, and adorned with fine silken cloths and ornaments — such were the cows I gave.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.64.14)

स्वलङ्कृतेभ्यो गुणशीलवद्भ्यः सीदत्कुटुम्बेभ्य ऋतव्रतेभ्यः । तपःश्रुतब्रह्मवदान्यसद्भ्यः प्रादां युवभ्यो द्विजपुङ्गवेभ्यः ॥ १४ ॥

sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ prādāṁ yuvabhyo dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ

To well-attired brahmanas endowed with virtue and good character, whose families were in need, who kept true to their vows, learned in austerity and Vedic knowledge, generous and saintly, young and foremost among the twice-born — to them I gave these gifts.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.64.15)

गोभूहिरण्यायतनाश्वहस्तिनः कन्याः सदासीस्तिलरूप्यशय्याः । वासांसि रत्नानि परिच्छदान् रथा- निष्टं च यज्ञैश्चरितं च पूर्तम् ॥ १५ ॥

go-bhū-hiraṇyāyatanāśva-hastinaḥ kanyāḥ sa-dāsīs tila-rūpya-śayyāḥ vāsāṁsi ratnāni paricchadān rathān iṣṭaṁ ca yajñaiś caritaṁ ca pūrtam

Cows, land, gold, houses, horses, elephants, maidens together with their attendants, sesame, silver, fine beds, clothing, jewels, household furnishings, chariots — and I performed the sacrifices of ishta and purta besides.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.64.16)

कस्यचिद् द्विजमुख्यस्य भ्रष्टा गौर्मम गोधने । सम्पृक्ताविदुषा सा च मया दत्ता द्विजातये ॥ १६ ॥

kasyacid dvija-mukhyasya bhraṣṭā gaur mama go-dhane sampṛktāviduṣā sā ca mayā dattā dvijātaye

The cow belonging to a certain eminent brahmana strayed and mixed into my own herd. Unaware of this, I gave that same cow in charity to a different brahmana.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.64.17)

तां नीयमानां तत्स्वामी दृष्ट्वोवाच ममेति तम् । ममेति परिग्राह्याह नृगो मे दत्तवानिति ॥ १७ ॥

tāṁ nīyamānāṁ tat-svāmī dṛṣṭrovāca mameti tam mameti parigrāhy āha nṛgo me dattavān iti

Seeing that cow being led away, her original owner said, 'She is mine!' And the one who had received her as a gift said, 'No, she is mine — Nriga gave her to me.'

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.64.18)

विप्रौ विवदमानौ मामूचतुः स्वार्थसाधकौ । भवान् दातापहर्तेति तच्छ्रुत्वा मेऽभवद् भ्रमः ॥ १८ ॥

viprau vivadamānau mām ūcatuḥ svārtha-sādhakau bhavān dātāpaharteti tac chrutvā me ’bhavad bhramaḥ

The two brahmanas, each asserting his own claim, came to me arguing, and said, 'You gave it, and you took it away.' Hearing this, I fell into confusion.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.64.19)

अनुनीतावुभौ विप्रौ धर्मकृच्छ्रगतेन वै । गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥

anunītāv ubhau viprau dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām

Caught in a dilemma of duty, I humbly entreated both brahmanas: 'I will give a hundred thousand of the finest cows in exchange — please return this one cow to me.'

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.64.20)

भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानतः । समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥

bhavantāv anugṛhṇītāṁ kiṅkarasyāvijānataḥ samuddharataṁ māṁ kṛcchrāt patantaṁ niraye ’śucau

'Be gracious to your ignorant servant, and rescue me from this dire trouble, lest I fall into that unclean hell.'

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.64.21)

नाहं प्रतीच्छे वै राजन्नित्युक्त्वा स्वाम्यपाक्रमत् । नान्यद् गवामप्ययुतमिच्छामीत्यपरो ययौ ॥ २१ ॥

nāhaṁ pratīcche vai rājann ity uktvā svāmy apākramat nānyad gavām apy ayutam icchāmīty aparo yayau

The present owner of the cow said, 'O King, I want nothing,' and departed. The other brahmana said, 'I do not want even ten thousand more cows,' and he too went away.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.64.22)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे यामैर्दूतैर्नीतो यमक्षयम् । यमेन पृष्टस्तत्राहं देवदेव जगत्पते ॥ २२ ॥

etasminn antare yāmair dūtair nīto yama-kṣayam yamena pṛṣṭas tatrāhaṁ deva-deva jagat-pate

O God of gods, O Lord of the universe, meanwhile Yama's messengers carried me off to Yama's abode, and there Yamaraja questioned me.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.64.23)

पूर्वं त्वमशुभं भुङ्क्ष उताहो नृपते शुभम् । नान्तं दानस्य धर्मस्य पश्ये लोकस्य भास्वतः ॥ २३ ॥

pūrvaṁ tvam aśubhaṁ bhuṅkṣa utāho nṛpate śubham nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ

[Yamaraja said:] O King, would you first experience the results of your sin, or of your virtue? Indeed, I see no end to the enjoyment of radiant worlds owed to your charity and righteousness.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.64.24)

पूर्वं देवाशुभं भुञ्ज इति प्राह पतेति सः । तावदद्राक्षमात्मानं कृकलासं पतन् प्रभो ॥ २४ ॥

pūrvaṁ devāśubhaṁ bhuñja iti prāha pateti saḥ tāvad adrākṣam ātmānaṁ kṛkalāsaṁ patan prabho

I said, 'O lord, let me first suffer the fruit of my sin.' Yamaraja said, 'Then fall!' And, O master, as I fell at once, I saw myself becoming a lizard.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.64.25)

ब्रह्मण्यस्य वदान्यस्य तव दासस्य केशव । स्मृतिर्नाद्यापि विध्वस्ता भवत्सन्दर्शनार्थिनः ॥ २५ ॥

brahmaṇyasya vadānyasya tava dāsasya keśava smṛtir nādyāpi vidhvastā bhavat-sandarśanārthinaḥ

O Keshava, the memory of me, Your servant — devoted to the brahmanas and generous toward them, ever longing for Your audience — has not been effaced even to this day.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.64.26)

स त्वं कथं मम विभोऽक्षिपथः परात्मा योगेश्वरैः श्रुतिदृशामलहृद्विभाव्यः । साक्षादधोक्षज उरुव्यसनान्धबुद्धेः स्यान्मेऽनुदृश्य इह यस्य भवापवर्गः ॥ २६ ॥

sa tvaṁ kathaṁ mama vibho ’kṣi-pathaḥ parātmā yogeśvaraḥ śruti-dṛśāmala-hṛd-vibhāvyaḥ sākṣād adhokṣaja uru-vyasanāndha-buddheḥ syān me ’nudṛśya iha yasya bhavāpavargaḥ

O almighty one, how is it that You, the Supreme Soul whom masters of yoga behold only within the pure heart through the eye of the Vedas, the directly transcendent Lord, appear before my very eyes — I whose intelligence is blinded by the harsh sufferings of worldly life — when only one whose material bondage has ended in this world should be able to see You?

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.64.27)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ गोविन्द पुरुषोत्तम । नारायण हृषीकेश पुण्यश्लोकाच्युताव्यय ॥ २७ ॥

deva-deva jagan-nātha govinda puruṣottama nārāyaṇa hṛṣīkeśa puṇya-ślokācyutāvyaya

O Devadeva, O Jagannatha, O Govinda, O Purushottama, O Narayana, O Hrishikesha, O Punyashloka, O Achyuta, O Avyaya —

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.64.28)

अनुजानीहि मां कृष्ण यान्तं देवगतिं प्रभो । यत्र क्वापि सतश्चेतो भूयान्मे त्वत्पदास्पदम् ॥ २८ ॥

anujānīhi māṁ kṛṣṇa yāntaṁ deva-gatiṁ prabho yatra kvāpi sataś ceto bhūyān me tvat-padāspadam

O Krishna, O master, permit me to depart for the world of the gods. Wherever I may dwell, may my mind ever take refuge at Your feet.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.64.29)

नमस्ते सर्वभावाय ब्रह्मणेऽनन्तशक्तये । कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय योगानां पतये नमः ॥ २९ ॥

namas te sarva-bhāvāya brahmaṇe ’nanta-śaktaye kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya yogānāṁ pataye namaḥ

Obeisances to You, who are the Self of all, the Absolute, of unlimited power. Obeisances to You, Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Lord of all yogic disciplines.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.64.30)

इत्युक्त्वा तं परिक्रम्य पादौ स्पृष्ट्वा स्वमौलिना । अनुज्ञातो विमानाग्र्यमारुहत् पश्यतां नृणाम् ॥ ३० ॥

ity uktvā taṁ parikramya pādau spṛṣṭvā sva-maulinā anujñāto vimānāgryam āruhat paśyatāṁ nṛṇām

Having said this, King Nriga circumambulated the Lord, touched His feet with his own crown, and, granted leave, ascended a splendid celestial airplane as everyone watched.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.64.31)

कृष्णः परिजनं प्राह भगवान् देवकीसुतः । ब्रह्मण्यदेवो धर्मात्मा राजन्याननुशिक्षयन् ॥ ३१ ॥

kṛṣṇaḥ parijanaṁ prāha bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ brahmaṇya-devo dharmātmā rājanyān anuśikṣayan

Bhagavan Krishna, son of Devaki, devoted to the brahmanas and the very embodiment of dharma, then spoke to His own kinsfolk, instructing the members of royalty in general.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.64.32)

दुर्जरं बत ब्रह्मस्वं भुक्तमग्नेर्मनागपि । तेजीयसोऽपि किमुत राज्ञां ईश्वरमानिनाम् ॥ ३२ ॥

durjaraṁ bata brahma-svaṁ bhuktam agner manāg api tejīyaso ’pi kim uta rājñāṁ īśvara-māninām

[Krishna said:] Even for one far mightier than fire, a brahmana's wealth, if enjoyed even slightly, is truly hard to digest — what then of kings who, presuming themselves lords, seek to enjoy it!

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.64.33)

नाहं हालाहलं मन्ये विषं यस्य प्रतिक्रिया । ब्रह्मस्वं हि विषं प्रोक्तं नास्य प्रतिविधिर्भुवि ॥ ३३ ॥

nāhaṁ hālāhalaṁ manye viṣaṁ yasya pratikriyā brahma-svaṁ hi viṣaṁ proktaṁ nāsya pratividhir bhuvi

I do not consider halahala true poison, for it has an antidote. A brahmana's wealth alone is called true poison, for it has no remedy anywhere on this earth.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.64.34)

हिनस्ति विषमत्तारं वह्निरद्भिः प्रशाम्यति । कुलं समूलं दहति ब्रह्मस्वारणिपावकः ॥ ३४ ॥

hinasti viṣam attāraṁ vahnir adbhiḥ praśāmyati kulaṁ sa-mūlaṁ dahati brahma-svāraṇi-pāvakaḥ

Poison kills only the one who ingests it, and an ordinary fire is quenched by water — but the fire kindled from a brahmana's wealth burns down the entire family to its very root.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.64.35)

ब्रह्मस्वं दुरनुज्ञातं भुक्तं हन्ति त्रिपूरुषम् । प्रसह्य तु बलाद् भुक्तं दश पूर्वान् दशापरान् ॥ ३५ ॥

brahma-svaṁ duranujñātaṁ bhuktaṁ hanti tri-pūruṣam prasahya tu balād bhuktaṁ daśa pūrvān daśāparān

A brahmana's wealth enjoyed without due permission destroys three generations, while wealth seized and enjoyed by force destroys ten generations before and ten after.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.64.36)

राजानो राजलक्ष्म्यान्धा नात्मपातं विचक्षते । निरयं येऽभिमन्यन्ते ब्रह्मस्वं साधु बालिशाः ॥ ३६ ॥

rājāno rāja-lakṣmyāndhā nātma-pātaṁ vicakṣate nirayaṁ ye ’bhimanyante brahma-svaṁ sādhu bāliśāḥ

Kings, blinded by royal splendor, fail to see their own downfall. Those who foolishly regard a brahmana's wealth as fit to enjoy are, in truth, embracing hell itself.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.64.37)

गृह्णन्ति यावतः पांशून् क्रन्दतामश्रुबिन्दवः । विप्राणां हृतवृत्तीनां वदान्यानां कुटुम्बिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥

gṛhṇanti yāvataḥ pāṁśūn krandatām aśru-bindavaḥ viprāṇāṁ hṛta-vṛttīnām vadānyānāṁ kuṭumbinām

For as many years as there are dust-particles touched by the tear-drops of generous, family-burdened brahmanas whose livelihood has been stolen, and who weep in their distress,

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.64.38)

राजानो राजकुल्याश्च तावतोऽब्दान्निरङ्कुशाः । कुम्भीपाकेषु पच्यन्ते ब्रह्मदायापहारिणः ॥ ३८ ॥

rājāno rāja-kulyāś ca tāvato ’bdān niraṅkuśāḥ kumbhī-pākeṣu pacyante brahma-dāyāpahāriṇaḥ

for that many years unrestrained kings and their royal families, having usurped a brahmana's wealth, are cooked in the hell called Kumbhipaka.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.64.39)

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा ब्रह्मवृत्तिं हरेच्च यः । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां जायते कृमिः ॥ ३९ ॥

sva-dattāṁ para-dattāṁ vā brahma-vṛttiṁ harec ca yaḥ ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi viṣṭhāyāṁ jāyate kṛmiḥ

Whoever seizes a brahmana's endowment — whether given by himself or by another — is born a worm in excrement for sixty thousand years.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.64.40)

न मे ब्रह्मधनं भूयाद् यद् गृध्वाल्पायुषो नराः । पराजिताश्च्युता राज्याद् भवन्त्युद्वेजिनोऽहयः ॥ ४० ॥

na me brahma-dhanaṁ bhūyād yad gṛdhvālpāyuṣo narāḥ parājitāś cyutā rājyād bhavanty udvejino ’hayaḥ

May I never come to possess a brahmana's wealth — for those who covet it become short-lived, are defeated, fall from their kingdoms, and are born as troublesome serpents.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.64.41)

विप्रं कृतागसमपि नैव द्रुह्यत मामकाः । घ्नन्तं बहु शपन्तं वा नमस्कुरुत नित्यशः ॥ ४१ ॥

vipraṁ kṛtāgasam api naiva druhyata māmakāḥ ghnantaṁ bahu śapantaṁ vā namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ

My dear followers, never bear enmity even toward a brahmana who has committed an offense. Even if he strikes you or curses you again and again, always continue to offer him your obeisances.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.64.42)

यथाहं प्रणमे विप्राननुकालं समाहितः । तथा नमत यूयं च योऽन्यथा मे स दण्डभाक् ॥ ४२ ॥

yathāhaṁ praṇame viprān anukālaṁ samāhitaḥ tathā namata yūyaṁ ca yo ’nyathā me sa daṇḍa-bhāk

Just as I always, with careful mindfulness, bow down to the brahmanas, so you too must bow to them. Whoever acts otherwise shall receive my punishment.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.64.43)

ब्राह्मणार्थो ह्यपहृतो हर्तारं पातयत्यधः । अजानन्तमपि ह्येनं नृगं ब्राह्मणगौरिव ॥ ४३ ॥

brāhmaṇārtho hy apahṛto hartāraṁ pātayaty adhaḥ ajānantam api hy enaṁ nṛgaṁ brāhmaṇa-gaur iva

A brahmana's property, when taken away even unknowingly, surely brings its taker down — just as the brahmana's cow brought down Nriga, even though he had acted unknowingly.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.64.44)

एवं विश्राव्य भगवान् मुकुन्दो द्वारकौकसः । पावनः सर्वलोकानां विवेश निजमन्दिरम् ॥ ४४ ॥

evaṁ viśrāvya bhagavān mukundo dvārakaukasaḥ pāvanaḥ sarva-lokānāṁ viveśa nija-mandiram

Having thus instructed the residents of Dvaraka, Bhagavan Mukunda, the purifier of all the worlds, entered His own palace.