Vyasa's Instruction

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.16.1)

व्यास उवाच । दृष्ट्वा तं विस्मितं देवं शयानं वटपत्रके । उवाच सस्मितं वाक्यं विष्णो किं विस्मितो ह्यसि ॥ 16.1 ॥

vyāsa uvāca dṛṣṭvā taṁ vismitaṁ devaṁ śayānaṁ vaṭapatrake uvāca sasmitaṁ vākyaṁ viṣṇo kiṁ vismito hyasi

Vyasa said: Seeing that god astonished, lying upon the banyan leaf, she spoke, smiling, these words: 'O Vishnu, why are you so astonished?'

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.16.2)

महाशक्त्याः प्रभावेण त्वं मां विस्मृतवान्पुरा । प्रभवे प्रलये जाते भूत्वा भूत्वा पुनः पुनः ॥ 16.2 ॥

mahāśaktyāḥ prabhāveṇa tvaṁ māṁ vismṛtavānpurā prabhave pralaye jāte bhūtvā bhūtvā punaḥ punaḥ

'By the power of the great Shakti, you have forgotten me before, again and again, having come into being at each creation and dissolution.'

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.16.3)

निर्गुणा सा परा शक्तिः सगुणस्त्वं तथाप्यहम् । सात्त्विकी किल या शक्तिस्तां शक्तिं विद्धि मामिकाम् ॥ 16.3 ॥

nirguṇā sā parā śaktiḥ saguṇastvaṁ tathāpyaham sāttvikī kila yā śaktistāṁ śaktiṁ viddhi māmikām

'That supreme Shakti is beyond qualities; you are qualified, and likewise I too; know me to be that very Shakti which is, indeed, the sattvic one.'

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.16.4)

त्वन्नाभिकमलाद्ब्रह्मा भविष्यति प्रजापतिः । स कर्ता सर्वलोकस्य रजोगुणसमन्वितः ॥ 16.4 ॥

tvannābhikamalādbrahmā bhaviṣyati prajāpatiḥ sa kartā sarvalokasya rajoguṇasamanvitaḥ

'From your navel-lotus, Brahma, the Lord of Creatures, shall come to be; he shall be the maker of all the worlds, endowed with the quality of rajas.'

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.16.5)

स तदा तप आस्थाय प्राप्य शक्तिमनुत्तमाम् । रजसा रक्तवर्णञ्च करिष्यति जगत्त्रयम् ॥ 16.5 ॥

sa tadā tapa āsthāya prāpya śaktimanuttamām rajasā raktavarṇañca kariṣyati jagattrayam

'He, then, having undertaken austerity, and having obtained the unsurpassed Shakti, red in hue through rajas, shall fashion the three worlds.'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.16.6)

सगुणान्पञ्चभूतांश्च समुत्पाद्य महामतिः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियेशांश्च मनःपूर्वान्समन्ततः ॥ 16.6 ॥

saguṇānpañcabhūtāṁśca samutpādya mahāmatiḥ indriyāṇīndriyeśāṁśca manaḥpūrvānsamantataḥ

'That great-minded one, having brought forth the five gross elements, and the senses, and the presiding deities of the senses, headed by the mind, on every side,'

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.16.7)

करिष्यति ततः सर्गं तेन कर्ता स उच्यते । विश्वस्यास्य महाभाग त्वं वै पालयिता तथा ॥ 16.7 ॥

kariṣyati tataḥ sargaṁ tena kartā sa ucyate viśvasyāsya mahābhāga tvaṁ vai pālayitā tathā

'— shall thereupon perform creation; therefore he is called the creator. Of this universe, O greatly fortunate one, you indeed shall be the sustainer likewise.'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.16.8)

तद्भुवोर्मध्यदेशाच्च क्रोधाद्रुद्रो भविष्यति । तपः कृत्वा महाघोरं प्राप्य शक्तिं तु तामसीम् ॥ 16.8 ॥

tadbhuvormadhyadeśācca krodhādrudro bhaviṣyati tapaḥ kṛtvā mahāghoraṁ prāpya śaktiṁ tu tāmasīm

'And from the space between his two brows, out of anger, Rudra shall come to be; having performed the most terrible austerity, and obtained the tamasic Shakti,'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.16.9)

कल्पान्ते सोऽपि संहर्ता भविष्यति महामते । तेनाहं त्वामुपायाता सात्त्विकीं त्वमवेहि माम् ॥ 16.9 ॥

kalpānte so'pi saṁhartā bhaviṣyati mahāmate tenāhaṁ tvāmupāyātā sāttvikīṁ tvamavehi mām

'— he too, at the end of the kalpa, shall become the destroyer, O great-minded one. Therefore I have come to you; know me to be the sattvic one.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.16.10)

स्थास्येऽहं त्वत्समीपस्था सदाहं मधुसूदन । हृदये ते कृतावासा भवामि सततं किल ॥ 16.10 ॥

sthāsye'haṁ tvatsamīpasthā sadāhaṁ madhusūdana hṛdaye te kṛtāvāsā bhavāmi satataṁ kila

'I shall ever remain close by you, O Madhusudana; I shall indeed make my dwelling constantly within your very heart.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.16.11)

विष्णुरुवाच । श्लोकस्यार्धं मया पूर्वं श्रुतं देवि स्फुटाक्षरम् । तत्केनोक्तं वरारोहे रहस्यं परमं शिवम् ॥ 16.11 ॥

viṣṇuruvāca ślokasyārdhaṁ mayā pūrvaṁ śrutaṁ devi sphuṭākṣaram tatkenoktaṁ varārohe rahasyaṁ paramaṁ śivam

Vishnu said: I heard before, O Devi, the half-verse, in clear syllables; by whom, O fair one, was that supreme and auspicious secret spoken?

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.16.12)

तन्मे ब्रूहि वरारोहे संशयोऽयं वरानने । निर्धनो हि यथा द्रव्यं तत्स्मरामि पुनः पुनः ॥ 16.12 ॥

tanme brūhi varārohe saṁśayo'yaṁ varānane nirdhano hi yathā dravyaṁ tatsmarāmi punaḥ punaḥ

Tell me that, O fair one — this is my doubt, O fair-faced one; like a poor man ever recalling a lost treasure, I remember it again and again.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.16.13)

व्यास उवाच । विष्णोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा महालक्ष्मीः स्मितानना । उवाच परया प्रीत्या वचनं चारुहासिनी ॥ 16.13 ॥

vyāsa uvāca viṣṇostadvacanaṁ śrutvā mahālakṣmīḥ smitānanā uvāca parayā prītyā vacanaṁ cāruhāsinī

Vyasa said: Hearing that word of Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, her face smiling, spoke, with the greatest affection, her charming laughter, these words:

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.16.14)

महालक्ष्मीरुवाच । शृणु शौरे वचो मह्यं सगुणाहं चतुर्भुजा । मां जानासि न जानासि निर्गुणां सगुणालयाम् ॥ 16.14 ॥

mahālakṣmīruvāca śṛṇu śaure vaco mahyaṁ saguṇāhaṁ caturbhujā māṁ jānāsi na jānāsi nirguṇāṁ saguṇālayām

Mahalakshmi said: Listen, O Shauri, to my words. I am the qualified one, four-armed; but do you not know me as the unqualified one too, the abode of qualities?

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.16.15)

त्वं जानीहि महाभाग तया तत्प्रकटीकृतम् । पुण्यं भागवतं विद्धि वेदसारं शुभावहम् ॥ 16.15 ॥

tvaṁ jānīhi mahābhāga tayā tatprakaṭīkṛtam puṇyaṁ bhāgavataṁ viddhi vedasāraṁ śubhāvaham

Know, O greatly fortunate one, that this was made manifest by her, the supreme unqualified Shakti; know it to be the sacred Bhagavata, the essence of the Veda, the bringer of good.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.16.16)

कृपां च महतीं मन्ये देव्याः शत्रुनिषूदन । यया प्रोक्तं परं गुह्यं हिताय तव सुव्रत ॥ 16.16 ॥

kṛpāṁ ca mahatīṁ manye devyāḥ śatruniṣūdana yayā proktaṁ paraṁ guhyaṁ hitāya tava suvrata

I consider it the great compassion of the Devi, O slayer of enemies, that she has spoken this supreme secret for your benefit, O one of noble vow.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.16.17)

रक्षणीयं सदा चित्ते न विस्मार्यं कदाचन । सारं हि सर्वशास्त्राणां महाविद्याप्रकाशितम् ॥ 16.17 ॥

rakṣaṇīyaṁ sadā citte na vismāryaṁ kadācana sāraṁ hi sarvaśāstrāṇāṁ mahāvidyāprakāśitam

It is ever to be guarded in your heart, never to be forgotten at any time; for it is the very essence of all the scriptures, revealed by the great Wisdom.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.16.18)

नातः परं वेदितव्यं वर्तते भुवनत्रये । प्रियोऽसि खलु देव्यास्त्वं तेन ते व्याहृतं वचः ॥ 16.18 ॥

nātaḥ paraṁ veditavyaṁ vartate bhuvanatraye priyo'si khalu devyāstvaṁ tena te vyāhṛtaṁ vacaḥ

There is nothing beyond this to be known, existing in all three worlds; you are indeed dear to the Devi — therefore this word was spoken to you.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.16.19)

व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या महालक्ष्याश्चतुर्भुजः । दधार हृदये नित्यं मत्वा मन्त्रमनुत्तमम् ॥ 16.19 ॥

vyāsa uvāca iti śrutvā vaco devyā mahālakṣyāścaturbhujaḥ dadhāra hṛdaye nityaṁ matvā mantramanuttamam

Vyasa said: Hearing these words of the Devi, the four-armed Mahalakshmi, he held them ever in his heart, regarding it as the unsurpassed mantra.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.16.20)

कालेन कियता तत्र तन्नाभिकमलोद्भवः । ब्रह्मा दैत्यभयात्त्रस्तो जगाम शरणं हरेः ॥ 16.20 ॥

kālena kiyatā tatra tannābhikamalodbhavaḥ brahmā daityabhayāttrasto jagāma śaraṇaṁ hareḥ

After some time, Brahma, born there from that lotus of his navel, terrified with fear of the daityas, went for refuge to Hari.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.16.21)

ततः कृत्वा महायुद्धं हत्वा तौ मधुकैटभौ । जजाप भगवान्विष्णुः श्लोकार्धं विशदाक्षरम् ॥ 16.21 ॥

tataḥ kṛtvā mahāyuddhaṁ hatvā tau madhukaiṭabhau jajāpa bhagavānviṣṇuḥ ślokārdhaṁ viśadākṣaram

Then, having waged the great battle, and having slain those two, Madhu and Kaitabha, the Lord Vishnu recited that half-verse, of clear syllables.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.16.22)

जपन्तं वासुदेवं च दृष्ट्वा देवः प्रजापतिः । पप्रच्छ परमप्रीतः कञ्जजः कमलापतिम् ॥ 16.22 ॥

japantaṁ vāsudevaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā devaḥ prajāpatiḥ papraccha paramaprītaḥ kañjajaḥ kamalāpatim

Seeing Vasudeva reciting it, the god Prajapati, the lotus-born one, greatly pleased, questioned the lord of Kamala:

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.16.23)

किं त्वं जपसि देवेश त्वत्तः कोऽप्यधिकोऽस्ति वै । यत्कृत्वा पुण्डरीकाक्ष प्रीतोऽसि जगदीश्वर ॥ 16.23 ॥

kiṁ tvaṁ japasi deveśa tvattaḥ ko'pyadhiko'sti vai yatkṛtvā puṇḍarīkākṣa prīto'si jagadīśvara

'What is it that you recite, O lord of gods? Is there indeed someone even greater than you, O lotus-eyed one, O lord of the world, by whose words you have become so pleased?'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.16.24)

हरिरुवाच । मयि त्वयि च या शक्तिः क्रियाकारणलक्षणा । विचारय महाभाग या सा भगवती शिवा ॥ 16.24 ॥

hariruvāca mayi tvayi ca yā śaktiḥ kriyākāraṇalakṣaṇā vicāraya mahābhāga yā sā bhagavatī śivā

Hari said: The Shakti that exists in me and in you, characterized as the cause of all action — reflect, O greatly fortunate one, upon her, the auspicious Bhagavati —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.16.25)

यस्याधारे जगत्सर्वं तिष्ठत्यत्र महार्णवे । साकारा या महाशक्तिरमेया च सनातनी ॥ 16.25 ॥

yasyādhāre jagatsarvaṁ tiṣṭhatyatra mahārṇave sākārā yā mahāśaktirameyā ca sanātanī

— by whose support this whole world, here in this great ocean, stands; that great Shakti, possessed of form, immeasurable and eternal,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.16.26)

यया विसृज्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सैषा प्रसन्ना वरदा नृणां भवति मुक्तये ॥ 16.26 ॥

yayā visṛjyate viśvaṁ jagadetaccarācaram saiṣā prasannā varadā nṛṇāṁ bhavati muktaye

— by whom this universe, moving and unmoving, is sent forth; she, when pleased, granting boons, becomes the cause of men's liberation.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.16.27)

सा विद्या परमा मुक्तेर्हेतुभूता सनातनी । संसारबन्धहेतुश्च सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी ॥ 16.27 ॥

sā vidyā paramā mukterhetubhūtā sanātanī saṁsārabandhahetuśca saiva sarveśvareśvarī

She is the supreme Wisdom, the eternal cause of liberation; and she alone is likewise the cause of the bondage of worldly existence, the very sovereign of all sovereigns.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.16.28)

अहं त्वमखिलं विश्वं तस्याश्चिच्छक्तिसम्भवम् । विद्धि ब्रह्मन्न सन्देहः कर्तव्यः सर्वदानघ ॥ 16.28 ॥

ahaṁ tvamakhilaṁ viśvaṁ tasyāścicchaktisambhavam viddhi brahmanna sandehaḥ kartavyaḥ sarvadānagha

I, you, and this entire universe have arisen from her power of consciousness; know this, O Brahma — no doubt should ever be entertained, O sinless one.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.16.29)

श्लोकार्धेन तया प्रोक्तं तद्वै भागवतं किल । विस्तरो भविता तस्य द्वापरादौ युगे तथा ॥ 16.29 ॥

ślokārdhena tayā proktaṁ tadvai bhāgavataṁ kila vistaro bhavitā tasya dvāparādau yuge tathā

That very thing which she spoke in half a verse is indeed the Bhagavata; its full extent shall come to be at the start of the Dvapara age.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.16.30)

व्यास उवाच । ब्रह्मणा सङ्गृहीतं च विष्णोस्तु नाभिपङ्कजे । नारदाय च तेनोक्तं पुत्रायामितबुद्धये ॥ 16.30 ॥

vyāsa uvāca brahmaṇā saṅgṛhītaṁ ca viṣṇostu nābhipaṅkaje nāradāya ca tenoktaṁ putrāyāmitabuddhaye

Vyasa said: It was received by Brahma, born from the lotus of Vishnu's navel; and it was told by him to his son Narada, of boundless intellect.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.16.31)

नारदेन तथा मह्यं दत्तं हि मुनिना पुरा । मया कृतमिदं पूर्णं द्वादशस्कन्धविस्तरम् ॥ 16.31 ॥

nāradena tathā mahyaṁ dattaṁ hi muninā purā mayā kṛtamidaṁ pūrṇaṁ dvādaśaskandhavistaram

And it was likewise given to me before by the sage Narada; by me it has been made into this complete work, extended into twelve Skandhas.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.16.32)

तत्पठस्व महाभाग पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । पञ्चलक्षणयुक्तं च देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् ॥ 16.32 ॥

tatpaṭhasva mahābhāga purāṇaṁ brahmasammitam pañcalakṣaṇayuktaṁ ca devyāścaritamuttamam

Read that, O greatly fortunate one — the Purana equal in authority to Brahman, endowed with the five characteristics, the supreme account of the Devi's deeds.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.16.33)

तत्त्वज्ञानरसोपेतं सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् । धर्मशास्त्रसमं पुण्यं वेदार्थेनोपबृंहितम् ॥ 16.33 ॥

tattvajñānarasopetaṁ sarveṣāmuttamottamam dharmaśāstrasamaṁ puṇyaṁ vedārthenopabṛṁhitam

Filled with the essence of the knowledge of Truth, the best of the best of all texts; sacred, equal to the dharma-shastras, augmented with the meaning of the Veda.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.16.34)

वृत्रासुरवधोपेतं नानाख्यानकथायुतम् । ब्रह्मविद्यानिधानं तु संसारार्णवतारकम् ॥ 16.34 ॥

vṛtrāsuravadhopetaṁ nānākhyānakathāyutam brahmavidyānidhānaṁ tu saṁsārārṇavatārakam

Containing the account of the slaying of the asura Vritra, furnished with various tales and stories; a treasury of the wisdom of Brahman, and the vessel for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.16.35)

गृहाण त्वं महाभाग योग्योऽसि मतिमत्तरः । पुण्यं भागवतं नाम पुराणं पुरुषर्षभ ॥ 16.35 ॥

gṛhāṇa tvaṁ mahābhāga yogyo'si matimattaraḥ puṇyaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇaṁ puruṣarṣabha

Take this up, O greatly fortunate one; you are worthy, most intelligent — this sacred Purana named Bhagavata, O bull among men.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.16.36)

अष्टादशसहस्राणां श्लोकानां कुरु सङ्ग्रहम् । अज्ञाननाशनं दिव्यं ज्ञानभास्करबोधकम् ॥ 16.36 ॥

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇāṁ ślokānāṁ kuru saṅgraham ajñānanāśanaṁ divyaṁ jñānabhāskarabodhakam

Make a compendium of its eighteen thousand verses; it is divine, the destroyer of ignorance, the awakener of the sun of knowledge.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.16.37)

सुखदं शान्तिदं धन्यं दीर्घायुष्यकरं शिवम् । शृण्वतां पठतां चेदं पुत्रपौत्रविवर्धनम् ॥ 16.37 ॥

sukhadaṁ śāntidaṁ dhanyaṁ dīrghāyuṣyakaraṁ śivam śṛṇvatāṁ paṭhatāṁ cedaṁ putrapautravivardhanam

Bringer of happiness, giver of peace, blessed, causing long life, auspicious; for those who hear or read it, it brings the increase of sons and grandsons.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.16.38)

शिष्योऽयं मम धर्मात्मा लोमहर्षणसम्भवः । पठिष्यति त्वया सार्धं पुराणीं संहितां शुभाम् ॥ 16.38 ॥

śiṣyo'yaṁ mama dharmātmā lomaharṣaṇasambhavaḥ paṭhiṣyati tvayā sārdhaṁ purāṇīṁ saṁhitāṁ śubhām

This my righteous-souled disciple, born of Lomaharshana, shall study together with you this auspicious Puranic Samhita.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.16.39)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तं तेन पुत्राय मह्यं च कथितं किल । मया गृहीतं तत्सर्वं पुराणं चातिविस्तरम् ॥ 16.39 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktaṁ tena putrāya mahyaṁ ca kathitaṁ kila mayā gṛhītaṁ tatsarvaṁ purāṇaṁ cātivistaram

Suta said: This was thus spoken by him to his son, and it was indeed told to me as well; I received the whole of that most extensive Purana.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.16.40)

शुकोऽधीत्य पुराणं तु स्थितो व्यासाश्रमे शुभे । न लेभे शर्म धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मात्मज इवापरः ॥ 16.40 ॥

śuko'dhītya purāṇaṁ tu sthito vyāsāśrame śubhe na lebhe śarma dharmātmā brahmātmaja ivāparaḥ

Shuka, having studied the Purana, stayed there in Vyasa's auspicious hermitage; that righteous-souled one found no peace, like another son of Brahma.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.1.16.41)

एकान्तसेवी विकलः स शून्य इव लक्ष्यते । नात्यन्तभोजनासक्तो नोपवासरतस्तथा ॥ 16.41 ॥

ekāntasevī vikalaḥ sa śūnya iva lakṣyate nātyantabhojanāsakto nopavāsaratastathā

He kept to solitude, distraught, appearing as if empty within; neither excessively attached to eating, nor likewise given to fasting.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.1.16.42)

चिन्ताविष्टं शुकं दृष्ट्वा व्यासः प्राह सुतं प्रति । किं पुत्र चिन्त्यते नित्यं कस्माद्व्यग्रोऽसि मानद ॥ 16.42 ॥

cintāviṣṭaṁ śukaṁ dṛṣṭvā vyāsaḥ prāha sutaṁ prati kiṁ putra cintyate nityaṁ kasmādvyagro'si mānada

Seeing Shuka absorbed in anxious thought, Vyasa said to his son: 'What is it, my son, that you constantly ponder? Why are you so troubled, O giver of honor?'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.1.16.43)

आस्से ध्यानपरो नित्यमृणग्रस्त इवाधनः । का चिन्ता वर्तते पुत्र मयि ताते तु तिष्ठति ॥ 16.43 ॥

āsse dhyānaparo nityamṛṇagrasta ivādhanaḥ kā cintā vartate putra mayi tāte tu tiṣṭhati

'You sit constantly absorbed in meditation, like a poor man seized by debt; what worry is there, my son, while your father is still here?'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.1.16.44)

सुखं भुङ्क्ष्व यथाकामं मुञ्च शोकं मनोगतम् । ज्ञानं चिन्तय शास्त्रोक्तं विज्ञाने च मतिं कुरु ॥ 16.44 ॥

sukhaṁ bhuṅkṣva yathākāmaṁ muñca śokaṁ manogatam jñānaṁ cintaya śāstroktaṁ vijñāne ca matiṁ kuru

'Enjoy happiness as you please; let go of the grief within your mind. Reflect upon the knowledge declared in the shastras, and fix your understanding upon true discernment.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.1.16.45)

न चेन्मनसि ते शान्तिर्वचसा मम सुव्रत । गच्छ त्वं मिथिलां पुत्र पालितां जनकेन ह ॥ 16.45 ॥

na cenmanasi te śāntirvacasā mama suvrata gaccha tvaṁ mithilāṁ putra pālitāṁ janakena ha

'And if there is no peace in your mind through my words, O one of noble vow, then go, my son, to Mithila, ruled indeed by Janaka.'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.1.16.46)

स ते मोहं महाभाग नाशयिष्यति भूपतिः । जनको नाम धर्मात्मा विदेहः सत्यसागरः ॥ 16.46 ॥

sa te mohaṁ mahābhāga nāśayiṣyati bhūpatiḥ janako nāma dharmātmā videhaḥ satyasāgaraḥ

'That king, O greatly fortunate one, will destroy your delusion — the righteous-souled Janaka, king of Videha, an ocean of truth.'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.1.16.47)

तं गत्वा नृपतिं पुत्र सन्देहं स्वं निवर्तय । वर्णाश्रमाणां धर्मांस्त्वं पृच्छ पुत्र यथातथम् ॥ 16.47 ॥

taṁ gatvā nṛpatiṁ putra sandehaṁ svaṁ nivartaya varṇāśramāṇāṁ dharmāṁstvaṁ pṛccha putra yathātatham

'Having gone to that king, my son, resolve your own doubt; ask him, my son, precisely about the duties of the varnas and ashramas.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.1.16.48)

जीवन्मुक्तः स राजर्षिर्बह्मज्ञानमतिः शुचिः । तथ्यवक्तातिशान्तश्च योगी योगप्रियः सदा ॥ 16.48 ॥

jīvanmuktaḥ sa rājarṣirbahmajñānamatiḥ śuciḥ tathyavaktātiśāntaśca yogī yogapriyaḥ sadā

'That royal sage is liberated while yet living, his mind fixed on the knowledge of Brahman, pure; a speaker of truth, most tranquil, a yogi, ever devoted to yoga.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.1.16.49)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य व्यासस्यामिततेजसः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः शुकश्चारणिसम्भवः ॥ 16.49 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ śukaścāraṇisambhavaḥ

Suta said: Hearing this word of Vyasa of boundless splendor, Shuka, of great splendor, born from the fire-sticks, replied:

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.1.16.50)

दम्भोऽयं किल धर्मात्मन्भाति चित्ते ममाधुना । जीवन्मुक्तो विदेहश्च राज्यं शास्ति मुदान्वितः ॥ 16.50 ॥

dambho'yaṁ kila dharmātmanbhāti citte mamādhunā jīvanmukto videhaśca rājyaṁ śāsti mudānvitaḥ

'This appears now to my mind, O righteous-souled one, as sheer pretense: how can one liberated-while-living, the king of Videha, joyfully govern a kingdom?'

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.1.16.51)

वन्ध्यापुत्र इवाभाति राजासौ जनकः पितः । कुर्वन् राज्यं विदेहः किं सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः ॥ 16.51 ॥

vandhyāputra ivābhāti rājāsau janakaḥ pitaḥ kurvan rājyaṁ videhaḥ kiṁ sandeho'yaṁ mamādbhutaḥ

'That King Janaka, O father, appears as impossible as a barren woman's son — how can the king of Videha rule a kingdom and be liberated? This is my great doubt.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.1.16.52)

द्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यहं भूपं विदेहं नृपसत्तमम् । कथं तिष्ठति संसारे पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसि ॥ 16.52 ॥

draṣṭumicchāmyahaṁ bhūpaṁ videhaṁ nṛpasattamam kathaṁ tiṣṭhati saṁsāre padmapatramivāmbhasi

'I wish to see that king of Videha, that best of kings — how he remains in the world untouched, like a lotus leaf upon water.'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.1.16.53)

सन्देहोऽयं महांस्तात विदेहे परिवर्तते । मोक्षः किं वदतां श्रेष्ठ सौगतानामिवापरः ॥ 16.53 ॥

sandeho'yaṁ mahāṁstāta videhe parivartate mokṣaḥ kiṁ vadatāṁ śreṣṭha saugatānāmivāparaḥ

'This great doubt of mine centers upon the king of Videha, O father: is his liberation, O best of speakers, of some other kind, like that spoken of by the Buddhists?'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.1.16.54)

कथं भुक्तमभुक्तं स्यादकृतं च कृतं कथम् । व्यवहारः कथं त्याज्य इन्द्रियाणां महामते ॥ 16.54 ॥

kathaṁ bhuktamabhuktaṁ syādakṛtaṁ ca kṛtaṁ katham vyavahāraḥ kathaṁ tyājya indriyāṇāṁ mahāmate

'How can what is enjoyed become unenjoyed, and what is done become undone? How, O great-minded one, is the activity of the senses to be renounced?'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.1.16.55)

माता पुत्रस्तथा भार्या भगिनी कुलटा तथा । भेदाभेदः कथं न स्याद्यद्येतन्मुक्तता कथम् ॥ 16.55 ॥

mātā putrastathā bhāryā bhaginī kulaṭā tathā bhedābhedaḥ kathaṁ na syādyadyetanmuktatā katham

'If there is no distinction, how would there be no difference in treatment between mother, son, wife, sister, and an unchaste woman likewise? If this is so, what then is true liberation?'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.1.16.56)

कटु क्षारं तथा तीक्ष्णां कषायं मिष्टमेव च । रसना यदि जानाति भुङ्क्ते भोगाननुत्तमान् ॥ 16.56 ॥

kaṭu kṣāraṁ tathā tīkṣṇāṁ kaṣāyaṁ miṣṭameva ca rasanā yadi jānāti bhuṅkte bhogānanuttamān

'If the tongue still knows the bitter, the alkaline, the pungent, the astringent, and likewise the sweet, and enjoys these unsurpassed pleasures —'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.1.16.57)

शीतोष्णुसुखदुःखादिपरिज्ञानं यदा भवेत् । मुक्तता कीदृशी तात सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः ॥ 16.57 ॥

śītoṣṇusukhaduḥkhādiparijñānaṁ yadā bhavet muktatā kīdṛśī tāta sandeho'yaṁ mamādbhutaḥ

'— when there is still full awareness of cold, heat, pleasure, pain, and the rest, of what kind, then, father, is his liberation? This is my great doubt.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.1.16.58)

शत्रुमित्रपरिज्ञानं वैरं प्रीतिकरं सदा । व्यवहारे परे तिष्ठन्कथं न कुरुते नृपः ॥ 16.58 ॥

śatrumitraparijñānaṁ vairaṁ prītikaraṁ sadā vyavahāre pare tiṣṭhankathaṁ na kurute nṛpaḥ

'If there is still full recognition of foe and friend, of enmity and the ever-affection-producing friendship — how, remaining in ordinary dealings, does the king not act on such distinctions?'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.1.16.59)

चौरं वा तापसं वापि समानं मन्यते कथम् । असमा यदि बुद्धिः स्यान्मुक्तता तर्हि कीदृशी ॥ 16.59 ॥

cauraṁ vā tāpasaṁ vāpi samānaṁ manyate katham asamā yadi buddhiḥ syānmuktatā tarhi kīdṛśī

'How does he regard a thief and an ascetic as equal? If his understanding is not thus made equal toward all, then of what kind, indeed, is his liberation?'

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.1.16.60)

दृष्टपूर्वो न मे कश्चिज्जीवन्मुक्तश्च भूपतिः । शङ्केयं महती तात गृहे मुक्तः कथं नृपः ॥ 16.60 ॥

dṛṣṭapūrvo na me kaścijjīvanmuktaśca bhūpatiḥ śaṅkeyaṁ mahatī tāta gṛhe muktaḥ kathaṁ nṛpaḥ

'I have never before seen any king who is liberated while living; this is my great doubt, father — how can a king be liberated while still ruling at home?'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.1.16.61)

दिदृक्षा महती जाता श्रुत्वा तं भूपतिं तथा । सन्देहविनिवृत्त्यर्थं गच्छामि मिथिलां प्रति ॥ 16.61 ॥

didṛkṣā mahatī jātā śrutvā taṁ bhūpatiṁ tathā sandehavinivṛttyarthaṁ gacchāmi mithilāṁ prati

'A great desire has arisen in me to see that king, having heard of him; for the sake of resolving my doubt, I shall go to Mithila.'