Vishnu's Speech to Brahma

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.4.18.1)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । अवतारकारणं चैव देव्याश्चरितमद्भुतम् ॥

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi kṛṣṇasya caritaṁ mahat | avatārakāraṇaṁ caiva devyāścaritamadbhutam ||

Vyasa said: "Listen, O king; I shall relate the great story of Krishna, along with the cause of his avatar, and the wondrous deeds of the Devi."

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.4.18.2)

धरैकदा भराक्रान्ता रुदती चातिकर्शिता । गोरूपधारिणी दीना भीतागच्छत्त्रिविष्टपम् ॥

dharaikadā bharākrāntā rudatī cātikarśitā | gorūpadhāriṇī dīnā bhītāgacchattriviṣṭapam ||

Once, the Earth, oppressed by her burden, weeping and greatly emaciated, taking the form of a cow, went, wretched and afraid, to heaven.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.4.18.3)

पृष्टा शक्रेण किं तेऽद्य वर्तते भयमित्यथ । केन वै पीडितासि त्वं किं ते दुःखं वसुन्धरे ॥

pṛṣṭā śakreṇa kiṁ te'dya vartate bhayamityatha | kena vai pīḍitāsi tvaṁ kiṁ te duḥkhaṁ vasundhare ||

Questioned by Shakra: "What fear troubles you today? By whom are you afflicted? What is your sorrow, O Vasundhara?"

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.4.18.4)

तच्छ्रुत्वेला तदोवाच शृणु देवेश मेऽखिलम् । दुःखं पृच्छसि यत्त्वं मे भाराक्रान्तोऽस्मि मानद ॥

tacchrutvelā tadovāca śṛṇu deveśa me'khilam | duḥkhaṁ pṛcchasi yattvaṁ me bhārākrānto'smi mānada ||

Hearing this, Ila then said: "Listen, O lord of gods, to all of it. You ask me of my sorrow, O giver of honor — I am oppressed by this burden."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.4.18.5)

जरासन्धो महापापी मागधेषु पतिर्मम । शिशुपालस्तथा चैद्यः काशिराजः प्रतापवान् ॥

jarāsandho mahāpāpī māgadheṣu patirmama | śiśupālastathā caidyaḥ kāśirājaḥ pratāpavān ||

"Jarasandha, the great sinner, lord of the Magadhas, weighs upon me; and Shishupala, king of Chedi, and the mighty king of Kashi —"

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.4.18.6)

रुक्मी च बलवान्कंसो नरकश्च महाबलः । शाल्वः सौभपतिः क्रूरः केशी धेनुकवत्सकौ ॥

rukmī ca balavānkaṁso narakaśca mahābalaḥ | śālvaḥ saubhapatiḥ krūraḥ keśī dhenukavatsakau ||

"— and Rukmi, and mighty Kamsa, and Naraka of great strength; Shalva, lord of the Saubha, the cruel Keshi, and Dhenuka and Vatsaka."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.4.18.7)

सर्वे धर्मविहीनाश्च परस्परविरोधिनः । पापाचारा मदोन्मत्ताः कालरूपाश्च पार्थिवाः ॥

sarve dharmavihīnāśca parasparavirodhinaḥ | pāpācārā madonmattāḥ kālarūpāśca pārthivāḥ ||

"All are devoid of dharma, mutually hostile, sinful in conduct, maddened with pride, kings of the very form of Time."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.4.18.8)

तैरहं पीडिता शक्र भाराक्रान्ताक्षमा विभो । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि चिन्ता मे महती स्थिता ॥

tairahaṁ pīḍitā śakra bhārākrāntākṣamā vibho | kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi cintā me mahatī sthitā ||

"By them I am oppressed, O Shakra; overwhelmed by their burden, unable to bear it, O lord. What shall I do, where shall I go? Great anxiety abides in me."

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.4.18.9)

पीडिताहं वराहेण विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । शक्र जानीहि हरिणा दुःखाद्दुःखतरं गता ॥

pīḍitāhaṁ varāheṇa viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā | śakra jānīhi hariṇā duḥkhādduḥkhataraṁ gatā ||

"I was once before afflicted by the Boar, by the all-powerful Vishnu; know, O Shakra, that by Hari I have gone from sorrow to greater sorrow."

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.4.18.10)

यतोऽहं दुष्टदैत्येन कश्यपस्यात्मजेन वै । हृताहं हिरण्याक्षेण मग्ना तस्मिन्महार्णवे ॥

yato'haṁ duṣṭadaityena kaśyapasyātmajena vai | hṛtāhaṁ hiraṇyākṣeṇa magnā tasminmahārṇave ||

"For I was seized by that wicked Daitya, son of Kashyapa — I was carried off by Hiranyaksha, and plunged into that great ocean."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.4.18.11)

तदा सूकररूपेण विष्णुना निहतोऽप्यसौ । उद्धृताहं वराहेण स्थापिता हि स्थिरा कृता ॥

tadā sūkararūpeṇa viṣṇunā nihato'pyasau | uddhṛtāhaṁ varāheṇa sthāpitā hi sthirā kṛtā ||

"Then, that one having been slain by Vishnu in the form of a Boar, I was raised up by that Varaha, and set firmly in place."

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.4.18.12)

नोचेद्रसातले स्वस्था स्थिता स्यां सुखशायिनी । न शक्तास्म्यद्य देवेश भारं वोढुं दुरात्मनाम् ॥

nocedrasātale svasthā sthitā syāṁ sukhaśāyinī | na śaktāsmyadya deveśa bhāraṁ voḍhuṁ durātmanām ||

"Otherwise, I would have remained comfortably reclining in Rasatala; I am not able today, O lord of gods, to bear the burden of the wicked-souled."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.4.18.13)

अग्रे दुष्टः समायाति ह्यष्टाविंशस्तथा कलिः । तदाहं पीडिता शक्र गन्तास्म्याशु रसातलम् ॥

agre duṣṭaḥ samāyāti hyaṣṭāviṁśastathā kaliḥ | tadāhaṁ pīḍitā śakra gantāsmyāśu rasātalam ||

"Ahead comes that wicked twenty-eighth age, and Kali as well; then, O Shakra, oppressed, I shall swiftly go down to Rasatala."

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.4.18.14)

तस्मात्त्वं देवदेवेश दुःखरूपार्णवस्य च । पारदो भव भारं मे हर पादौ नमामि ते ॥

tasmāttvaṁ devadeveśa duḥkharūpārṇavasya ca | pārado bhava bhāraṁ me hara pādau namāmi te ||

"Therefore, O lord of gods, be the one who ferries me across this ocean of sorrow; remove my burden — I bow at your feet."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.4.18.15)

इन्द्र उवाच । इले किं ते करोम्यद्य ब्रह्माणं शरणं व्रज । अहं तत्रागमिष्यामि स ते दुःखं हरिष्यति ॥

indra uvāca | ile kiṁ te karomyadya brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja | ahaṁ tatrāgamiṣyāmi sa te duḥkhaṁ hariṣyati ||

Indra said: "O Ila, what shall I do for you today? Take refuge in Brahma; I shall go there as well — he shall remove your sorrow."

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.4.18.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा त्वरिता पृथ्वी ब्रह्मलोकं गता तदा । शक्रोऽपि पृष्ठतः प्राप्तः सर्वदेवपुरःसरः ॥

tacchrutvā tvaritā pṛthvī brahmalokaṁ gatā tadā | śakro'pi pṛṣṭhataḥ prāptaḥ sarvadevapuraḥsaraḥ ||

Hearing this, the Earth went swiftly to Brahmaloka; and Shakra too arrived behind her, preceded by all the gods.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.4.18.17)

सुरभीमागतां तत्र दृष्ट्वोवाच प्रजापतिः । महीं ज्ञात्वा महाराज ध्यानेन समुपस्थिताम् ॥

surabhīmāgatāṁ tatra dṛṣṭvovāca prajāpatiḥ | mahīṁ jñātvā mahārāja dhyānena samupasthitām ||

Seeing Surabhi arrived there, Prajapati spoke — having known through meditation, O great king, that the Earth had come —

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.4.18.18)

कस्माद्रुदसि कल्याणि किं ते दुःखं वदाधुना । पीडितासि च केन त्वं पापाचारेण भूर्वद ॥

kasmādrudasi kalyāṇi kiṁ te duḥkhaṁ vadādhunā | pīḍitāsi ca kena tvaṁ pāpācāreṇa bhūrvada ||

"Why do you weep, O auspicious one? Tell me now your sorrow. By whom are you afflicted, O Earth? Speak of the sinful conduct."

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.4.18.19)

धरोवाच । कलिरायाति दुष्टोऽयं बिभेमि तद्भयादहम् । पापाचाराः प्रजास्तत्र भविष्यन्ति जगत्पते ॥

dharovāca | kalirāyāti duṣṭo'yaṁ bibhemi tadbhayādaham | pāpācārāḥ prajāstatra bhaviṣyanti jagatpate ||

Dhara said: "This wicked Kali is coming; I am afraid of that fear. Sinful subjects, O lord of the world, shall be there in that age."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.4.18.20)

राजानश्च दुराचाराः परस्परविरोधिनः । चौरकर्मरताः सर्वे राक्षसाः पूर्णवैरिणः ॥

rājānaśca durācārāḥ parasparavirodhinaḥ | caurakarmaratāḥ sarve rākṣasāḥ pūrṇavairiṇaḥ ||

"And evil-conducted kings, mutually hostile, all devoted to thievish deeds, demons full of enmity."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.4.18.21)

तान्हत्वा नृपतीन्भारं हर मेऽद्य पितामह । पीडितास्मि महाराज सैन्यभारेण भूभृताम् ॥

tānhatvā nṛpatīnbhāraṁ hara me'dya pitāmaha | pīḍitāsmi mahārāja sainyabhāreṇa bhūbhṛtām ||

"Slaying those kings, remove my burden today, O grandfather; I am afflicted, O great king, by the burden of the armies of these rulers."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.4.18.22)

ब्रह्योवाच । नाहं शक्तस्तथा देवि भारावतरणे तव । गच्छावः सदनं विष्णोर्देवदेवस्य चक्रिणः ॥

brahyovāca | nāhaṁ śaktastathā devi bhārāvataraṇe tava | gacchāvaḥ sadanaṁ viṣṇordevadevasya cakriṇaḥ ||

Brahma said: "I am not able, O Devi, to relieve you of your burden; let us go to the abode of Vishnu, the god of gods, wielder of the discus."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.4.18.23)

स ते भारापनोदं वै करिष्यति जनार्दनः । पूर्वं मयापि ते कार्यं चिन्तितं सुविचार्य च ॥

sa te bhārāpanodaṁ vai kariṣyati janārdanaḥ | pūrvaṁ mayāpi te kāryaṁ cintitaṁ suvicārya ca ||

"He, Janardana, shall indeed remove your burden. Before, too, this matter was well-considered and reflected upon by me."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.4.18.24)

तत्र गच्छ सुरश्रेष्ठ यत्र देवो जनार्दनः । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा वेदकर्तासौ पुरस्कृत्य सुरांश्च गाम् ॥

tatra gaccha suraśreṣṭha yatra devo janārdanaḥ | vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā vedakartāsau puraskṛtya surāṁśca gām ||

"Go there, O best of gods, where the god Janardana is." Vyasa said: Having said this, the creator of the Vedas, placing the gods and the cow before him —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.4.18.25)

जगाम विष्णुसदनं हंसारूढश्चतुर्मुखः । तुष्टाव वेदवाक्यैश्च भक्तिप्रवणमानसः ॥

jagāma viṣṇusadanaṁ haṁsārūḍhaścaturmukhaḥ | tuṣṭāva vedavākyaiśca bhaktipravaṇamānasaḥ ||

— went to Vishnu's abode, four-faced, mounted upon his swan; he praised him with the words of the Vedas, his mind inclined to devotion.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.4.18.26)

ब्रह्मोवाच । सहस्रशीर्षास्त्वमसि सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् । त्वं वेदपुरुषः पूर्वं देवदेवः सनातनः ॥

brahmovāca | sahasraśīrṣāstvamasi sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt | tvaṁ vedapuruṣaḥ pūrvaṁ devadevaḥ sanātanaḥ ||

Brahma said: "You are the thousand-headed, thousand-eyed, thousand-footed one; you are the primordial Purusha of the Vedas, the eternal god of gods."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.4.18.27)

भूतपूर्वं भविष्यच्च वर्तमानं च यद्विभो । अमरत्वं त्वया दत्तमस्माकं च रमापते ॥

bhūtapūrvaṁ bhaviṣyacca vartamānaṁ ca yadvibho | amaratvaṁ tvayā dattamasmākaṁ ca ramāpate ||

"That which has been, that which shall be, and that which is present, O lord — immortality was granted by you to us, O lord of Rama."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.4.18.28)

एतावान्महिमा तेऽस्ति को न वेत्ति जगत्त्रये । त्वं कर्ताप्यविता हन्ता त्वं सर्वगतिरीश्वरः ॥

etāvānmahimā te'sti ko na vetti jagattraye | tvaṁ kartāpyavitā hantā tvaṁ sarvagatirīśvaraḥ ||

"Such is your greatness — who does not know it in the three worlds? You are the creator, the protector, and the destroyer; you, O Lord, are the refuge of all."

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.4.18.29)

व्यास उवाच । इतीडितः प्रभुर्विष्णुः प्रसन्नो गरुडध्वजः । दर्शनञ्च ददौ तेभ्यो ब्रह्मादिभ्योऽमलाशयः ॥

vyāsa uvāca | itīḍitaḥ prabhurviṣṇuḥ prasanno garuḍadhvajaḥ | darśanañca dadau tebhyo brahmādibhyo'malāśayaḥ ||

Vyasa said: Thus praised, the Lord Vishnu, bearer of the Garuda banner, became pleased, and, of pure heart, gave audience to them — Brahma and the others.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.4.18.30)

पप्रच्छ स्वागतं देवान्प्रसन्नवदनो हरिः । ततस्त्वागमने तेषां कारणञ्च सविस्तरम् ॥

papraccha svāgataṁ devānprasannavadano hariḥ | tatastvāgamane teṣāṁ kāraṇañca savistaram ||

Hari, of gracious countenance, inquired after their welfare, and then asked the reason for their coming, in full detail.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.4.18.31)

तमुवाचाब्जजो नत्वा धरादुःखञ्च संस्मरन् । भारावतरणं विष्णो कर्तव्यं ते जनार्दन ॥

tamuvācābjajo natvā dharāduḥkhañca saṁsmaran | bhārāvataraṇaṁ viṣṇo kartavyaṁ te janārdana ||

The lotus-born, bowing to him, and recalling the Earth's sorrow, said: "O Vishnu, Janardana, the removal of her burden must be done by you."

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.4.18.32)

भुवि धृत्वावतारं त्वं द्वापरान्ते समागते । हत्वा दुष्टान्नृपानुर्व्या हर भारं दयानिधे ॥

bhuvi dhṛtvāvatāraṁ tvaṁ dvāparānte samāgate | hatvā duṣṭānnṛpānurvyā hara bhāraṁ dayānidhe ||

"Taking an avatar upon the earth, when the end of the Dvapara has arrived, slay the wicked kings and remove the earth's burden, O treasury of compassion."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.4.18.33)

विष्णुरुवाच । नाहं स्वतन्त्र एवात्र न ब्रह्मा न शिवस्तथा । नेन्द्रोऽग्निर्न यमस्त्वष्टा न सूर्यो वरुणस्तथा ॥

viṣṇuruvāca | nāhaṁ svatantra evātra na brahmā na śivastathā | nendro'gnirna yamastvaṣṭā na sūryo varuṇastathā ||

Vishnu said: "I am not independent in this matter, nor is Brahma, nor Shiva likewise; nor Indra, Agni, Yama, Tvashta, nor Surya and Varuna."

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.4.18.34)

योगमायावशे सर्वमिदं स्थावरजङ्गमम् । ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तं ग्रथितं गुणसूत्रतः ॥

yogamāyāvaśe sarvamidaṁ sthāvarajaṅgamam | brahmādistambaparyantaṁ grathitaṁ guṇasūtrataḥ ||

"All this — moving and unmoving, from Brahma down to a blade of grass — is under the sway of Yogamaya, strung upon the thread of the gunas."

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.4.18.35)

यथा सा स्वेच्छया पूर्वं कर्तुमिच्छति सुव्रत । तथा करोति सुहिता वयं सर्वेऽपि तद्वशाः ॥

yathā sā svecchayā pūrvaṁ kartumicchati suvrata | tathā karoti suhitā vayaṁ sarve'pi tadvaśāḥ ||

"As she, of her own will, wishes to act, O one of noble vows, so she, the well-disposed one, acts — we are all subject to her sway."

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.4.18.36)

यद्यहं स्यां स्वतन्त्रो वै चिन्तयन्तु धिया किल । कुतोऽभवं मत्स्यवपुः कच्छपो वा महार्णवे ॥

yadyahaṁ syāṁ svatantro vai cintayantu dhiyā kila | kuto'bhavaṁ matsyavapuḥ kacchapo vā mahārṇave ||

"If I were truly independent, then let it be considered by the intellect — why did I become of the form of a fish, or a tortoise, in the great ocean?"

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.4.18.37)

तिर्यग्योनिषु को भोगः का कीर्तिः किं सुखं पुनः । किं पुण्यं किं फलं तत्र क्षुद्रयोनिगतस्य मे ॥

tiryagyoniṣu ko bhogaḥ kā kīrtiḥ kiṁ sukhaṁ punaḥ | kiṁ puṇyaṁ kiṁ phalaṁ tatra kṣudrayonigatasya me ||

"What enjoyment is there in the wombs of beasts, what fame, what happiness again? What merit, what fruit is there for me, having entered a lowly womb?"

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.4.18.38)

कोलो वाथ नृसिंहो वा वामनो वाभवं कुतः । जमदग्निसुतः कस्मात्सम्भवेयं पितामह ॥

kolo vātha nṛsiṁho vā vāmano vābhavaṁ kutaḥ | jamadagnisutaḥ kasmātsambhaveyaṁ pitāmaha ||

"How did I become the Boar, or Narasimha, or the Dwarf? O grandfather, for what reason should I have been born as the son of Jamadagni?"

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.4.18.39)

नृशंसं वा कथं कर्म कृतवानस्मि भूतले । क्षतजैस्तु ह्रदान्सर्वान्पूरयेयं कथं पुनः ॥

nṛśaṁsaṁ vā kathaṁ karma kṛtavānasmi bhūtale | kṣatajaistu hradānsarvānpūrayeyaṁ kathaṁ punaḥ ||

"Or how have I committed such cruel deeds upon the earth? How could I again and again fill entire lakes with blood?"

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.4.18.40)

तत्कथं जमदग्नेश्च पुत्रो भूत्वा द्विजोत्तमः । क्षत्रियान्हतवानाजौ निर्दयो गर्भगानपि ॥

tatkathaṁ jamadagneśca putro bhūtvā dvijottamaḥ | kṣatriyānhatavānājau nirdayo garbhagānapi ||

"How then, having become Jamadagni's son, the best of the twice-born, did I, without mercy, slay the Kshatriyas in battle, even those yet in the womb?"

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.4.18.41)

रामो भूत्वाथ देवेन्द्र प्राविशद्दण्डकं वनम् । पदातिश्चीरवासाश्च जटावल्कलवान्पुनः ॥

rāmo bhūtvātha devendra prāviśaddaṇḍakaṁ vanam | padātiścīravāsāśca jaṭāvalkalavānpunaḥ ||

"O lord of gods, having become Rama, I entered the Dandaka forest, on foot, clad in bark garments, wearing matted locks and tree-bark once more."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.4.18.42)

असहायो ह्यपाथेयो भीषणे निर्जने वने । कुर्वन्नाखेटकं तत्र व्यचरं विगतत्रपः ॥

asahāyo hyapātheyo bhīṣaṇe nirjane vane | kurvannākheṭakaṁ tatra vyacaraṁ vigatatrapaḥ ||

"Helpless, without provisions, in that dreadful, deserted forest, hunting there, I wandered about, devoid of shame."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.4.18.43)

न ज्ञातवान्मृगं हैमं मायया पिहितस्तदा । उटजे जानकीं त्यक्त्वा निर्गतस्तत्पदानुगः ॥

na jñātavānmṛgaṁ haimaṁ māyayā pihitastadā | uṭaje jānakīṁ tyaktvā nirgatastatpadānugaḥ ||

"I did not recognize the golden deer, being then covered by illusion; leaving Janaki in the hut, I went out, following its trail."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.4.18.44)

लक्ष्मणोऽपि च तां त्यक्त्वा निर्गतो मत्पदानुगः । वारितोऽपि मयात्यर्थं मोहितः प्राकृतैर्गुणैः ॥

lakṣmaṇo'pi ca tāṁ tyaktvā nirgato matpadānugaḥ | vārito'pi mayātyarthaṁ mohitaḥ prākṛtairguṇaiḥ ||

"Lakshmana too, leaving her, went out following my trail; though forbidden earnestly by me, he was deluded by the ordinary gunas."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.4.18.45)

भिक्षुरूपं ततः कृत्वा रावणः कपटाकृतिः । जहार तरसा रक्षो जानकीं शोककर्शिताम् ॥

bhikṣurūpaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā rāvaṇaḥ kapaṭākṛtiḥ | jahāra tarasā rakṣo jānakīṁ śokakarśitām ||

"Then Ravana, taking the form of a mendicant, deceitful in appearance, that demon swiftly carried off Janaki, tormented with grief."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.4.18.46)

दुःखार्तेन मया तत्र रुदितञ्च वने वने । सुग्रीवेण च मित्रत्वं कृतं कार्यवशान्मया ॥

duḥkhārtena mayā tatra ruditañca vane vane | sugrīveṇa ca mitratvaṁ kṛtaṁ kāryavaśānmayā ||

"I, afflicted with sorrow, wept there in forest after forest; and I formed friendship with Sugriva, out of necessity."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.4.18.47)

अन्यायेन हतो वाली शापाच्चैव निवारितः । सहायान्वानरान् कृत्वा लङ्कायां चलितः पुनः ॥

anyāyena hato vālī śāpāccaiva nivāritaḥ | sahāyānvānarān kṛtvā laṅkāyāṁ calitaḥ punaḥ ||

"Vali was slain unjustly, and was even held back by a curse; having made allies of the monkeys, I again set out for Lanka."

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.4.18.48)

बद्धोऽहं नागपाशैश्च लक्ष्मणश्च ममानुजः । विसंज्ञौ पतितौ दृष्ट्वा वानरा विस्मयं गताः ॥

baddho'haṁ nāgapāśaiśca lakṣmaṇaśca mamānujaḥ | visaṁjñau patitau dṛṣṭvā vānarā vismayaṁ gatāḥ ||

"I was bound by serpent-nooses, and my younger brother Lakshmana too; seeing us both fallen unconscious, the monkeys were struck with astonishment."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.4.18.49)

गरुडेन तदाऽऽगत्य मोचितौ भ्रातरौ किल । चिन्ता मे महती जाता दैवं किं वा करिष्यति ॥

garuḍena tadā''gatya mocitau bhrātarau kila | cintā me mahatī jātā daivaṁ kiṁ vā kariṣyati ||

"Then Garuda came and freed the two brothers indeed; great anxiety arose in me — what indeed would fate do next?"

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.4.18.50)

हृतं राज्यं वने वासो मृतस्तातः प्रिया हृता । युद्धं कष्टं ददात्येवमग्रे किं वा करिष्यति ॥

hṛtaṁ rājyaṁ vane vāso mṛtastātaḥ priyā hṛtā | yuddhaṁ kaṣṭaṁ dadātyevamagre kiṁ vā kariṣyati ||

"My kingdom was taken away, I dwelt in the forest, my father died, my beloved was abducted; battle brings such hardship — what more would it do ahead?"

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.4.18.51)

प्रथमं तु महद्दुःखमराज्यस्य वनाश्रयम् । राजपुत्र्यान्वितस्यैव धनहीनस्य मे सुराः ॥

prathamaṁ tu mahadduḥkhamarājyasya vanāśrayam | rājaputryānvitasyaiva dhanahīnasya me surāḥ ||

"First indeed came the great sorrow of forest-dwelling without a kingdom — for me, accompanied by a princess, yet devoid of wealth, O gods."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.4.18.52)

वराटिकापि पित्रा मे न दत्ता वननिर्गमे । पदातिरसहायोऽहं धनहीनश्च निर्गतः ॥

varāṭikāpi pitrā me na dattā vananirgame | padātirasahāyo'haṁ dhanahīnaśca nirgataḥ ||

"Not even a small coin was given to me by my father on my departure to the forest; I went out on foot, without help, and without wealth."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.4.18.53)

चतुर्दशैव वर्षाणि नीतानि च तदा मया । क्षात्रं धर्मं परित्यज्य व्याधवृत्त्या महावने ॥

caturdaśaiva varṣāṇi nītāni ca tadā mayā | kṣātraṁ dharmaṁ parityajya vyādhavṛttyā mahāvane ||

"Fourteen years indeed were then spent by me, abandoning the Kshatriya dharma, living by the hunter's mode of livelihood, in the great forest."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.4.18.54)

दैवाद्युद्धे जयः प्राप्तो निहतोऽसौ महासुरः । आनीता च पुनः सीता प्राप्तायोध्या मया तथा ॥

daivādyuddhe jayaḥ prāpto nihato'sau mahāsuraḥ | ānītā ca punaḥ sītā prāptāyodhyā mayā tathā ||

"By fate, victory was obtained in battle; that great demon was slain; and Sita was brought back again, and I likewise reached Ayodhya."

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.4.18.55)

वर्षाणि कतिचित्तत्र सुखं संसारसम्भवम् । प्राप्तं राज्यञ्च सम्पूर्णं कोसलानधितिष्ठता ॥

varṣāṇi katicittatra sukhaṁ saṁsārasambhavam | prāptaṁ rājyañca sampūrṇaṁ kosalānadhitiṣṭhatā ||

"For a few years there, the happiness natural to worldly life was enjoyed, and a complete kingdom was obtained by me, ruling over Kosala."

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.4.18.56)

पुरैवं वर्तमानेन प्राप्तराज्येन वै तदा । लोकापवादभीतेन त्यक्ता सीता वने मया ॥

puraivaṁ vartamānena prāptarājyena vai tadā | lokāpavādabhītena tyaktā sītā vane mayā ||

"While thus living formerly, having attained the kingdom, then, fearful of public censure, Sita was abandoned by me in the forest."

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.4.18.57)

कान्ताविरहजं दुःखं पुनः प्राप्तं दुरासदम् । पातालं सा गता पश्चाद्धरां भित्त्वा धरात्मजा ॥

kāntāvirahajaṁ duḥkhaṁ punaḥ prāptaṁ durāsadam | pātālaṁ sā gatā paścāddharāṁ bhittvā dharātmajā ||

"The sorrow born of separation from my beloved was again obtained, unbearable; afterward, she, daughter of the Earth, went to Patala, the earth having split open."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.4.18.58)

एवं रामावतारेऽपि दुःखं प्राप्तं निरन्तरम् । परतन्त्रेण मे नूनं स्वतन्त्रः को भवेत्तदा ॥

evaṁ rāmāvatāre'pi duḥkhaṁ prāptaṁ nirantaram | paratantreṇa me nūnaṁ svatantraḥ ko bhavettadā ||

"Thus, even in the Rama avatar, sorrow was obtained continually; being dependent, who indeed could then be independent?"

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.4.18.59)

पश्चात्कालवशात्प्राप्तः स्वर्गो मे भ्रातृभिः सह । परतन्त्रस्य का वार्ता वक्तव्या विबुधेन वै ॥

paścātkālavaśātprāptaḥ svargo me bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | paratantrasya kā vārtā vaktavyā vibudhena vai ||

"Afterward, through the working of time, heaven was obtained by me along with my brothers; what then is there to say of one who is dependent, that a wise one should speak of?"

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.4.18.60)

परतन्त्रोऽत्म्यहं नूनं पद्मयोने निशामय । तथा त्वमपि रुद्रश्च सर्वे चान्ये सुरोत्तमाः ॥

paratantro'tmyahaṁ nūnaṁ padmayone niśāmaya | tathā tvamapi rudraśca sarve cānye surottamāḥ ||

"I am indeed dependent, O lotus-born one, know this well; and so too are you, and Rudra, and all the other best of gods."