The Glory of the Shrimad Bhagavata: Bhakti's Lament

Verse 1 (padma.6.193.1)

पार्वत्युवाच- देवदेव महादेव सर्वज्ञ सकलार्थद । कृपां मयि परां कृत्वा यत्पृच्छे तद्वदस्व मे

pārvatyuvāca- devadeva mahādeva sarvajña sakalārthada kṛpāṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā yatpṛcche tadvadasva me

Parvati said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, all-knowing, giver of every good end — showing me the greatest grace, tell me what I ask.

Verse 2 (padma.6.193.2)

श्रुतं च गीतामाहात्म्यं बह्वाश्चर्यकथायुतम् । तेन मे भक्तिरुत्पन्ना श्रोतुं कृष्णकथां पराम्

śrutaṁ ca gītāmāhātmyaṁ bahvāścaryakathāyutam tena me bhaktirutpannā śrotuṁ kṛṣṇakathāṁ parām

I have heard the glory of the Gita, filled with many wondrous stories; by it, devotion has arisen in me to hear the supreme story of Krishna.

Verse 3 (padma.6.193.3)

पुराणेषु तु सर्वेषु श्रीमद्भागवतं परम् । यत्र प्रतिपदं कृष्णो गीयते बहुधर्षिभिः । तन्माहात्म्यं यथातत्वं सेतिहासं वदाधुना

purāṇeṣu tu sarveṣu śrīmadbhāgavataṁ param yatra pratipadaṁ kṛṣṇo gīyate bahudharṣibhiḥ tanmāhātmyaṁ yathātatvaṁ setihāsaṁ vadādhunā

Among all the Puranas, the Shrimad Bhagavata is supreme, in which, at every step, Krishna is sung by many sages. Now tell me its glory, truly, together with its story.

Verse 4 (padma.6.193.4)

ईश्वर उवाच-। नैमिषे सूतमासीनमभिवाद्य महामतिम् । कथामृतरसास्वादकुशलः शौनकोऽब्रवीत्

īśvara uvāca- naimiṣe sūtamāsīnamabhivādya mahāmatim kathāmṛtarasāsvādakuśalaḥ śaunako'bravīt

Ishvara said: In Naimisha, having bowed to Suta the great-minded, seated there, Shaunaka, skilled in tasting the nectar-essence of stories, spoke.

Verse 5 (padma.6.193.5)

शौनक उवाच । अज्ञानध्वांतविध्वंसि कोटिजन्माघनाशनम्

śaunaka uvāca ajñānadhvāṁtavidhvaṁsi koṭijanmāghanāśanam

Shaunaka said: That which destroys the darkness of ignorance, which removes the sins of millions of births—

Verse 6 (padma.6.193.6)

श्रीमद्भागवताख्यानं सूताख्याहि रसायनम् । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाढ्यो विवेको वर्द्धते कथम्

śrīmadbhāgavatākhyānaṁ sūtākhyāhi rasāyanam bhaktijñānavirāgāḍhyo viveko varddhate katham

—tell us, O Suta, that elixir called the Shrimad Bhagavata narrative. How does discernment, rich in devotion, knowledge, and dispassion, grow?

Verse 7 (padma.6.193.7)

माहामोहनिरासश्च वैष्णवैः क्रियते कथम् । इह घोरे कलौप्रायो जीवश्चासुरतां गतः

māhāmohanirāsaśca vaiṣṇavaiḥ kriyate katham iha ghore kalauprāyo jīvaścāsuratāṁ gataḥ

How is the great delusion cast off by Vaishnavas? In this terrible Kali age, souls have mostly become demonic in nature.

Verse 8 (padma.6.193.8)

क्लेशाक्रांतस्य तस्याथ शोधने किं रसायनम् । श्रेयसां यद्भवेच्छ्रेयः पावनानां च पावनम्

kleśākrāṁtasya tasyātha śodhane kiṁ rasāyanam śreyasāṁ yadbhavecchreyaḥ pāvanānāṁ ca pāvanam

What is the elixir for purifying one overcome with affliction — that which is the good of all goods, the purifier of all purifiers—

Verse 9 (padma.6.193.9)

कृष्णप्रीतिकरं यच्च साधनं तद्वदाधुना। चिंतामणिं लोकसुखं सुरेंद्रास्पदसंपदम्

kṛṣṇaprītikaraṁ yacca sādhanaṁ tadvadādhunā ciṁtāmaṇiṁ lokasukhaṁ sureṁdrāspadasaṁpadam

—and which delights Krishna? Tell us now that means. The wish-fulfilling gem, worldly happiness, the wealth of Indra‘s very rank—

Verse 10 (padma.6.193.10)

प्रयच्छति गुरुः प्रीतो वैकुंठं चातिदुर्लभम्

prayacchati guruḥ prīto vaikuṁṭhaṁ cātidurlabham

—a pleased guru bestows, and even Vaikuntha, so hard to attain.

Verse 11 (padma.6.193.11)

सूत उवाच-। प्रीतोऽहं ते द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कथयिष्ये यथाश्रुतम् । सारात्सारतरं यच्च संसारभयनाशनम्

sūta uvāca- prīto'haṁ te dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kathayiṣye yathāśrutam sārātsārataraṁ yacca saṁsārabhayanāśanam

Suta said: I am pleased, O best of brahmins; I shall tell you as I have heard it — that which is the essence of essences, the destroyer of the fear of worldly existence—

Verse 12 (padma.6.193.12)

भक्तिप्रवर्द्धकं यच्च कृष्णसंतुष्टिहेतुकम् । तन्मे कथयतः साधो सावधानतया शृणु

bhaktipravarddhakaṁ yacca kṛṣṇasaṁtuṣṭihetukam tanme kathayataḥ sādho sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

—which increases devotion and is the cause of Krishna‘s satisfaction. As I tell it, O good ones, listen with care.

Verse 13 (padma.6.193.13)

कालव्यालमुखालीढ जगत्त्राणविधायकम् । श्रीमद्भागवतं शास्त्रं कलौ कृष्णेन भाषितम्

kālavyālamukhālīḍha jagattrāṇavidhāyakam śrīmadbhāgavataṁ śāstraṁ kalau kṛṣṇena bhāṣitam

The scripture Shrimad Bhagavata, which protects the world licked at by the mouth of the serpent of time, was spoken by Krishna for the Kali age.

Verse 14 (padma.6.193.14)

एतस्मादपरं किंचिन्मनः शुद्धिकरं नहि । जन्मांतरकृतैः पुण्यैर्लभ्यते साधुभिस्तु तत्

etasmādaparaṁ kiṁcinmanaḥ śuddhikaraṁ nahi janmāṁtarakṛtaiḥ puṇyairlabhyate sādhubhistu tat

There is nothing else that purifies the mind as this does; it is obtained by the virtuous only through merits performed across other births.

Verse 15 (padma.6.193.15)

राज्ञः परीक्षितो मोक्षं ज्ञात्वा कमलसंभवः । तोलयामास शास्त्राणि पुराणानि महांति च

rājñaḥ parīkṣito mokṣaṁ jñātvā kamalasaṁbhavaḥ tolayāmāsa śāstrāṇi purāṇāni mahāṁti ca

Learning of king Parikshit‘s liberation, the lotus-born Brahma weighed all the scriptures and the great Puranas—

Verse 16 (padma.6.193.16)

श्रीमद्भागवतं तत्र गरीयो भुवि संगतम् । श्रीमद्भागवती वार्ता सुराणामपि दुर्लभा

śrīmadbhāgavataṁ tatra garīyo bhuvi saṁgatam śrīmadbhāgavatī vārtā surāṇāmapi durlabhā

—and found the Shrimad Bhagavata, as it exists on earth, to be the weightiest of all. The account of the Shrimad Bhagavata is hard to obtain even for the gods.

Verse 17 (padma.6.193.17)

इति संचित्य बहुशो मुनयः साधवोऽमलाः । मेनिरे भगवद्रूपं श्रीमद्भागवतं क्षितौ

iti saṁcitya bahuśo munayaḥ sādhavo'malāḥ menire bhagavadrūpaṁ śrīmadbhāgavataṁ kṣitau

Reflecting on this at length, the pure and virtuous sages considered the Shrimad Bhagavata on earth to be the very form of the Lord.

Verse 18 (padma.6.193.18)

पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्यस्य नरो याति हरेः पदम् । वर्षेण श्रवणं तस्य बहुसौख्यप्रदायकम्

paṭhanācchravaṇādyasya naro yāti hareḥ padam varṣeṇa śravaṇaṁ tasya bahusaukhyapradāyakam

By reading and hearing it, a man goes to the abode of Hari; hearing it over a year bestows abundant happiness.

Verse 19 (padma.6.193.19)

मासेन भक्तिराभास्यं लभते द्विजसत्तम । सप्ताहेन श्रुतं चैतत्सर्वथा मुक्तिदायकम्

māsena bhaktirābhāsyaṁ labhate dvijasattama saptāhena śrutaṁ caitatsarvathā muktidāyakam

In a month, O best of brahmins, one attains a semblance of devotion; heard over seven days, it bestows liberation in every way.

Verse 20 (padma.6.193.20)

किं बहूक्तेन वै साधो श्रीमद्भागवताऽमृतम् । नित्यं सद्भिः प्रपातव्यं कृष्णलीलाप्रकाशकम्

kiṁ bahūktena vai sādho śrīmadbhāgavatā'mṛtam nityaṁ sadbhiḥ prapātavyaṁ kṛṣṇalīlāprakāśakam

What need is there to say more, O good one? The nectar of the Shrimad Bhagavata, which reveals the divine play of Krishna, should be drunk daily by the virtuous.

Verse 21 (padma.6.193.21)

सनकाद्यैः पुरा प्रोक्तं नारदाय दयापरैः । ब्रह्मणः श्रुतपूर्वाय सप्ताहश्रवणे विधिः

sanakādyaiḥ purā proktaṁ nāradāya dayāparaiḥ brahmaṇaḥ śrutapūrvāya saptāhaśravaṇe vidhiḥ

The method of the seven-day hearing was told long ago by the compassionate sages beginning with Sanaka to Narada, who had heard it earlier from Brahma.

Verse 22 (padma.6.193.22)

शौनक उवाच-। पितुर्लब्ध्वा वरं ज्ञानं श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम् । नारदो लोकतत्वज्ञः सर्वदा ह्यटते महीम्

śaunaka uvāca- piturlabdhvā varaṁ jñānaṁ śrīmadbhāgavatābhidham nārado lokatatvajñaḥ sarvadā hyaṭate mahīm

Shaunaka said: Having obtained from his father this excellent knowledge called the Shrimad Bhagavata, Narada, knower of the truth of all the worlds, ever wanders the earth.

Verse 23 (padma.6.193.23)

कुत्र तैः संगमो जातो नारदस्य महात्मभिः । श्रुतो देवर्षिणा यत्र सप्ताहश्रवणे विधिः

kutra taiḥ saṁgamo jāto nāradasya mahātmabhiḥ śruto devarṣiṇā yatra saptāhaśravaṇe vidhiḥ

Where did Narada‘s meeting with those great souls take place, where the divine sage heard the method of the seven-day hearing?

Verse 24 (padma.6.193.24)

सूत उवाच-। अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि भक्तियुक्तं कथानकम् । यत्पुरा ब्रह्मरातेन मह्यं प्रोक्तं दयालुना

sūta uvāca- atra te varṇayiṣyāmi bhaktiyuktaṁ kathānakam yatpurā brahmarātena mahyaṁ proktaṁ dayālunā

Suta said: I shall now describe to you this story filled with devotion, which was formerly told to me by the compassionate Brahmarata.

Verse 25 (padma.6.193.25)

एकदा तु विशालायामुपविष्टमधोमुखम् । नारदं सनकाद्यास्ते ददृशुर्दीनमानसम्

ekadā tu viśālāyāmupaviṣṭamadhomukham nāradaṁ sanakādyāste dadṛśurdīnamānasam

Once, at Vishala, the sages beginning with Sanaka saw Narada seated with his face cast down, his mind wretched—

Verse 26 (padma.6.193.26)

तं दृष्ट्वा चिंतयानं तु देवर्षिर्भ्रातरं स्वकम् । पप्रच्छुर्विस्मयाविष्टा मुनयस्तत्वचिंतकाः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā ciṁtayānaṁ tu devarṣirbhrātaraṁ svakam papracchurvismayāviṣṭā munayastatvaciṁtakāḥ

—seeing that divine sage, their own brother, deep in thought, those sages who ponder the truth, filled with astonishment, asked him:

Verse 27 (padma.6.193.27)

कुमारा ऊचुः-। किं त्वं चिंतयसे ब्रह्मन्नतिदीन इवातुरः । तवेत्थं मुक्तिसंगस्य नोचितं वद कारणम्

kumārā ūcuḥ- kiṁ tvaṁ ciṁtayase brahmannatidīna ivāturaḥ tavetthaṁ muktisaṁgasya nocitaṁ vada kāraṇam

The Kumaras said: ‘What are you brooding over, O brahmin, appearing so wretched and afflicted? This is not fitting for you, who are ever in the company of liberation. Tell us the reason.‘

Verse 28 (padma.6.193.28)

नारद उवाच-। अहं पृथ्व्यां समायातो ज्ञात्वा सर्वोत्तमोत्तमाम् । तीर्थैर्नानाविधैर्युक्तां पुण्यदैः पुण्यरूपिणीम्

nārada uvāca- ahaṁ pṛthvyāṁ samāyāto jñātvā sarvottamottamām tīrthairnānāvidhairyuktāṁ puṇyadaiḥ puṇyarūpiṇīm

Narada said: ‘I came to the earth, knowing it to be the very best of all, endowed with various tirthas that grant merit, itself of the very form of merit—‘

Verse 29 (padma.6.193.29)

पुष्करे च प्रयागे च काश्यां गोदावरीतटे । हरिक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे श्रीरंगे सेतुबंधने

puṣkare ca prayāge ca kāśyāṁ godāvarītaṭe harikṣetre kurukṣetre śrīraṁge setubaṁdhane

‘—at Pushkara, at Prayaga, at Kashi, on the bank of the Godavari, at Harikshetra, at Kurukshetra, at Shriranga, at Setubandha—‘

Verse 30 (padma.6.193.30)

एतेष्वन्येषु तीर्थेषु भ्रममाण इतस्ततः । नापश्यं कुत्रचिच्छर्म मनः संतोषकारकम्

eteṣvanyeṣu tīrtheṣu bhramamāṇa itastataḥ nāpaśyaṁ kutraciccharma manaḥ saṁtoṣakārakam

‘—wandering here and there at these and other tirthas, I found nowhere any peace to satisfy the mind.‘

Verse 31 (padma.6.193.31)

कलिना धर्ममित्रेण धरेयं बाधिताऽधुना । सत्यं शौचं दया दानं नास्ति कुत्रापि भूतले

kalinā dharmamitreṇa dhareyaṁ bādhitā'dhunā satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā dānaṁ nāsti kutrāpi bhūtale

‘This earth is now afflicted by Kali, the friend of feigned dharma; truth, purity, compassion, and charity exist nowhere on earth.‘

Verse 32 (padma.6.193.32)

उदरंभरिणो लोका वराकाः कूटसाक्षिणः । मंदाः सुमंदमतयो महापाखंडसंश्रयाः

udaraṁbhariṇo lokā varākāḥ kūṭasākṣiṇaḥ maṁdāḥ sumaṁdamatayo mahāpākhaṁḍasaṁśrayāḥ

‘People merely fill their bellies, wretched, giving false witness, dull, of very base intelligence, given over to great hypocrisy—‘

Verse 33 (padma.6.193.33)

स्त्रीप्रधानगृहस्थाश्च वर्णिनो व्रतवर्जिताः । वानप्रस्थाः पुरावासा न्यासिनो भोगतत्परा

strīpradhānagṛhasthāśca varṇino vratavarjitāḥ vānaprasthāḥ purāvāsā nyāsino bhogatatparā

‘—householders ruled by their wives, celibate students devoid of vows, forest-dwellers living in towns, and renunciates intent on enjoyment—‘

Verse 34 (padma.6.193.34)

कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभात्कृषिकर्मपरायणाः । भ्रष्टाचारा दंभिनश्च स्वेच्छाचारनिदर्शिनः

kanyāvikrayiṇo lobhātkṛṣikarmaparāyaṇāḥ bhraṣṭācārā daṁbhinaśca svecchācāranidarśinaḥ

‘—sellers of daughters out of greed, devoted to farming as forbidden a trade for brahmins, of fallen conduct, hypocrites, given to displaying self-willed behavior—‘

Verse 35 (padma.6.193.35)

आश्रमा यवनै रुद्धास्तीर्थानि सरितो ह्रदाः । देवतायतनान्यत्र दुष्टैरुच्छेदितानि च

āśramā yavanai ruddhāstīrthāni sarito hradāḥ devatāyatanānyatra duṣṭairuccheditāni ca

‘—hermitages blocked by foreigners; tirthas, rivers, lakes, and temples of the gods destroyed there by the wicked.‘

Verse 36 (padma.6.193.36)

योगी सिद्धोऽथवा ज्ञानी सत्क्रियोऽत्र न दृश्यते । कलिदावानलेनाद्य साधनं भस्मतां गतम्

yogī siddho'thavā jñānī satkriyo'tra na dṛśyate kalidāvānalenādya sādhanaṁ bhasmatāṁ gatam

‘No yogi, no adept, no man of knowledge, no one of good conduct is to be seen; today, by the wildfire of Kali, all spiritual practice has been reduced to ash.‘

Verse 37 (padma.6.193.37)

अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूला द्विजातयः । कामिन्यः केशशूलिन्यो दृश्यंते भुवि सर्वतः

aṭṭaśūlā janapadāḥ śivaśūlā dvijātayaḥ kāminyaḥ keśaśūlinyo dṛśyaṁte bhuvi sarvataḥ

‘The countryside is riddled with markets of exploitation, brahmins pierced with the thorn of false auspiciousness, and lustful women are seen everywhere on earth.‘

Verse 38 (padma.6.193.38)

एकदाहमनुप्राप्तो यमुनायास्तटं शुभम् । दृष्टं वृंदावनं तत्र यत्र लीला हरेरभूत्

ekadāhamanuprāpto yamunāyāstaṭaṁ śubham dṛṣṭaṁ vṛṁdāvanaṁ tatra yatra līlā harerabhūt

‘Once I arrived at the auspicious bank of the Yamuna; there I saw Vrindavana, where Hari‘s divine play once took place.‘

Verse 39 (padma.6.193.39)

तत्र यच्चाद्भुतं दृष्टं श्रूयतां तन्मुनीश्वराः । एका तु तरुणी तत्र निषण्णाखिन्नमानसा

tatra yaccādbhutaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ śrūyatāṁ tanmunīśvarāḥ ekā tu taruṇī tatra niṣaṇṇākhinnamānasā

‘Hear, O lords of sages, of the wondrous thing I saw there. A certain young woman sat there, her mind exhausted—‘

Verse 40 (padma.6.193.40)

द्वौ वृद्धौ पतितौ पार्श्वे निःश्वसंतावचेतनौ । शुश्रूषंती प्रबोधंती रुदती च तयोः पुरः

dvau vṛddhau patitau pārśve niḥśvasaṁtāvacetanau śuśrūṣaṁtī prabodhaṁtī rudatī ca tayoḥ puraḥ

‘—two old men lay fallen at her sides, sighing, unconscious; she tended them, tried to revive them, and wept before them—‘

Verse 41 (padma.6.193.41)

दृष्टा दिशो निरीक्षंती रक्षितारमिवात्मनः । वीज्यमाना बहुस्त्रीभिर्बोध्यमाना मुहुर्महुः

dṛṣṭā diśo nirīkṣaṁtī rakṣitāramivātmanaḥ vījyamānā bahustrībhirbodhyamānā muhurmahuḥ

‘—she was seen looking about in every direction as if for her own protector, being fanned by many women and being roused again and again.‘

Verse 42 (padma.6.193.42)

दृष्ट्वा दूराद्गतश्चाऽहं कौतुकेन तदंतिकम् । मां दृष्ट्वोत्थाय सा बाला वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

dṛṣṭvā dūrādgataścā'haṁ kautukena tadaṁtikam māṁ dṛṣṭvotthāya sā bālā vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

‘Seeing her from a distance, I went, out of curiosity, near to her. Seeing me, that young woman rose up and spoke these words:‘

Verse 43 (padma.6.193.43)

बालोवाच-। भो साधोऽत्र क्षणं तिष्ठ मम चिंतामपाकुरु । पुंसां च दर्शनं भद्र सर्वाघौघनिवारणम् । पुण्येन प्राक्तनेनैव दर्शनं तव जायते

bālovāca- bho sādho'tra kṣaṇaṁ tiṣṭha mama ciṁtāmapākuru puṁsāṁ ca darśanaṁ bhadra sarvāghaughanivāraṇam puṇyena prāktanenaiva darśanaṁ tava jāyate

‘The young woman said: “O holy one, stay here a moment, dispel my worry. O good sir, the sight of the righteous removes every mass of sin; it is by former merit alone that I have obtained the sight of you.‘

Verse 44 (padma.6.193.44)

अतो मे मानसं दुःखं च्छेत्तुमर्हसि मानद । नारद उवाच । एवमुक्तस्तया चाहं कृपया स्निग्धमानसः । अपृच्छंतां वरारोहां कौतुकेन समाकुलः

ato me mānasaṁ duḥkhaṁ cchettumarhasi mānada nārada uvāca evamuktastayā cāhaṁ kṛpayā snigdhamānasaḥ apṛcchaṁtāṁ varārohāṁ kautukena samākulaḥ

‘“Therefore you should cut away the sorrow of my mind, O giver of honor.“‘ Narada said: ‘Thus addressed by her, my mind melted with compassion, and, filled with curiosity, I questioned that lovely woman:‘

Verse 45 (padma.6.193.45)

का त्वमेतौ च कौ भद्रे काश्चेमाः पद्मलोचनाः । आख्याहि मत्पुरः सर्वं तव दुःखस्य कारणम्

kā tvametau ca kau bhadre kāścemāḥ padmalocanāḥ ākhyāhi matpuraḥ sarvaṁ tava duḥkhasya kāraṇam

‘“Who are you, O gentle one, and who are these two, and who are these lotus-eyed women? Declare to me the whole cause of your sorrow.“‘

Verse 46 (padma.6.193.46)

इति पृष्टा मया सा तु बाला दुःखितमानसा । प्रोवाच निखिलं दुःखमात्मनो दुःखकारणम्

iti pṛṣṭā mayā sā tu bālā duḥkhitamānasā provāca nikhilaṁ duḥkhamātmano duḥkhakāraṇam

‘Thus questioned by me, that young woman, her mind sorrowful, related the whole of her sorrow and its cause.‘

Verse 47 (padma.6.193.47)

बालोवाच-। अहं भक्तिरिति ख्याता एतौ मे तनयौ वरौ । ज्ञानवैराग्यनामानौ कालयोगेन जर्जरौ

bālovāca- ahaṁ bhaktiriti khyātā etau me tanayau varau jñānavairāgyanāmānau kālayogena jarjarau

‘The young woman said: “I am known as Bhakti; these are my two excellent sons, named Jnana and Vairagya, now decrepit through the passage of time.‘

Verse 48 (padma.6.193.48)

गंगाद्याः सरितश्चेमा मम सेवार्थमागताः । एताभिः सेविता नित्यं सत्कारेणापि नारद

gaṁgādyāḥ saritaścemā mama sevārthamāgatāḥ etābhiḥ sevitā nityaṁ satkāreṇāpi nārada

‘“These, the Ganga and other rivers, have come to serve me; served by them daily, with all honor, O Narada—‘

Verse 49 (padma.6.193.49)

न च श्रेयो लभे किंचित्क्षीणाऽहं सर्वतो मुने । ममपूर्वं तु वृत्तातं शृणु ब्राह्मणसत्तम

na ca śreyo labhe kiṁcitkṣīṇā'haṁ sarvato mune mamapūrvaṁ tu vṛttātaṁ śṛṇu brāhmaṇasattama

‘“—still I obtain no good whatsoever; I am wasted away entirely, O sage. Hear my former history, O best of brahmins—‘

Verse 50 (padma.6.193.50)

येनाऽहं दुःखिता जाता न लभे शर्म कुत्रचित् । उत्पन्ना द्रविडे चाहं कर्णाटे वृद्धिमागता

yenā'haṁ duḥkhitā jātā na labhe śarma kutracit utpannā draviḍe cāhaṁ karṇāṭe vṛddhimāgatā

‘“—by which I have become sorrowful and find peace nowhere. I was born in Dravida, grew to fullness in Karnataka—‘

Verse 51 (padma.6.193.51)

स्थिता किंचिन्महाराष्ट्रे गुर्जरे जीर्णतां गता । तत्र घोरकलेर्योगात्पाखंडैः खंडितांगका

sthitā kiṁcinmahārāṣṭre gurjare jīrṇatāṁ gatā tatra ghorakaleryogātpākhaṁḍaiḥ khaṁḍitāṁgakā

‘“—dwelt a while in Maharashtra, and grew decrepit in Gujarat; there, through the influence of terrible Kali, my limbs were mutilated by hypocrites—‘

Verse 52 (padma.6.193.52)

दुर्बलाहं चिरं जाता पुत्राभ्यां सह मंदताम्

durbalāhaṁ ciraṁ jātā putrābhyāṁ saha maṁdatām

‘“—and I became weak for a long time, along with my two sons, growing feeble—‘

Verse 53 (padma.6.193.53)

वृंदावनमिदं प्राप्ता दैवयोगेन नारद । जाता हं तु पुनर्बाला नवीनेव सुरूपिणी

vṛṁdāvanamidaṁ prāptā daivayogena nārada jātā haṁ tu punarbālā navīneva surūpiṇī

‘“—having reached this Vrindavana, O Narada, by the working of fate, I have become young again, as if renewed, and beautiful of form—‘

Verse 54 (padma.6.193.54)

इमौ तु शयितावत्र सुतौ मे क्लिष्टमानसौ । अतिवृद्धौ परित्यज्य गंतुं नाहं क्षमाधुना

imau tu śayitāvatra sutau me kliṣṭamānasau ativṛddhau parityajya gaṁtuṁ nāhaṁ kṣamādhunā

‘“—but these two sons of mine lie here, their minds afflicted, exceedingly old; I am unable now to leave them and go on.‘

Verse 55 (padma.6.193.55)

अहं बाला कथं जाता सुतौ मे जरठौ कुतः । त्रयाणामेकभावानां वैपरीत्यं कुतोऽभवत्

ahaṁ bālā kathaṁ jātā sutau me jaraṭhau kutaḥ trayāṇāmekabhāvānāṁ vaiparītyaṁ kuto'bhavat

‘“How have I become young, while my two sons remain aged? How has this reversal come about among the three of us, who are of one nature?‘

Verse 56 (padma.6.193.56)

घटते जरठा माता बालकौ तनयाविति । अतः शोचामि चात्मानं विस्मयाविष्टमानसा

ghaṭate jaraṭhā mātā bālakau tanayāviti ataḥ śocāmi cātmānaṁ vismayāviṣṭamānasā

‘“It would befit an aged mother to have young sons — but here it is the reverse; therefore I grieve for myself, my mind filled with astonishment.‘

Verse 57 (padma.6.193.57)

यदि त्वं वेत्सि धर्मज्ञ कृपालो दीनपालक । वद सर्वं यथातत्वं कारणं चात्र यद्भवेत्

yadi tvaṁ vetsi dharmajña kṛpālo dīnapālaka vada sarvaṁ yathātatvaṁ kāraṇaṁ cātra yadbhavet

‘“If you know, O knower of dharma, compassionate protector of the wretched, tell me all this truly, and whatever the cause of this may be.“‘

Verse 58 (padma.6.193.58)

एवं पृष्टस्तया चाहं क्षणं चैव विमृश्य तु । अवोचं भक्तिमाभाष्य क्लिष्टां कालेन भूयसा

evaṁ pṛṣṭastayā cāhaṁ kṣaṇaṁ caiva vimṛśya tu avocaṁ bhaktimābhāṣya kliṣṭāṁ kālena bhūyasā

Thus questioned by her, I, reflecting for a moment, spoke, addressing Bhakti, who was so afflicted by the long passage of time:

Verse 59 (padma.6.193.59)

ज्ञानेनाहं प्रपश्यामि वृत्तं सर्वं तवानघे । मा विषादं कुरु प्राज्ञे हरिः शं ते करिष्यति

jñānenāhaṁ prapaśyāmi vṛttaṁ sarvaṁ tavānaghe mā viṣādaṁ kuru prājñe hariḥ śaṁ te kariṣyati

‘By my knowledge, I perceive the whole of your history, O sinless one. Do not despair, O wise one; Hari shall bring you well-being.‘

Verse 60 (padma.6.193.60)

सर्वसत्वहरो बाले युगोऽयं दारुणः कलि । लुप्तोऽनेन सदाऽचारो योगमार्गस्तपांसि च

sarvasatvaharo bāle yugo'yaṁ dāruṇaḥ kali lupto'nena sadā'cāro yogamārgastapāṁsi ca

‘This dreadful age, O young one, is the Kali that steals away all vigor. By it, right conduct, the path of yoga, and austerities have all vanished.‘

Verse 61 (padma.6.193.61)

जनाश्चाघा (द्या) सुरायंते शाठ्यदुष्कृतकारिणः । संतो ह्यस्मिन्सुदुःखार्ता असंतो हृष्टमानसाः

janāścāghā (dyā) surāyaṁte śāṭhyaduṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ saṁto hyasminsuduḥkhārtā asaṁto hṛṣṭamānasāḥ

‘People have become foremost in sin, acting deceitfully and wickedly; in this age the virtuous are wracked with sorrow, while the wicked are of joyful mind.‘

Verse 62 (padma.6.193.62)

दृश्यते धीरचित्तस्तु पंडितोऽपि न कोऽपि च । अस्पृश्य नवलोक्येयं दुष्टभाराकुलाधरा

dṛśyate dhīracittastu paṁḍito'pi na ko'pi ca aspṛśya navalokyeyaṁ duṣṭabhārākulādharā

‘No one of steady mind, nor any learned person, is to be seen; this earth has become as if untouchable, burdened and overwhelmed by the wicked.‘

Verse 63 (padma.6.193.63)

अन्वब्दं क्रमतो जातो मंगलं हीयतेऽन्वहम् । न त्वां तव सुतौ चेमौ कोऽपि पश्यति भामिनि

anvabdaṁ kramato jāto maṁgalaṁ hīyate'nvaham na tvāṁ tava sutau cemau ko'pi paśyati bhāmini

‘Year after year, as it passes, auspiciousness diminishes day by day; no one, O gracious lady, regards you or these two sons of yours.‘

Verse 64 (padma.6.193.64)

यूयं तु रागबहुलैस्त्यक्ता जर्जरतां गताः । वृंदावनस्य संयोगाद्बालात्वमभवः पुनः

yūyaṁ tu rāgabahulaistyaktā jarjaratāṁ gatāḥ vṛṁdāvanasya saṁyogādbālātvamabhavaḥ punaḥ

‘You were abandoned by people full of passion and thus grew decrepit; but through contact with Vrindavana, you have become young again.‘

Verse 65 (padma.6.193.65)

धन्यं वृंदावनं चेदं भक्तिर्यत्राभवन्नवा । अत्रेमौ ग्राहकाभावान्नवीनत्वं न चागतौ

dhanyaṁ vṛṁdāvanaṁ cedaṁ bhaktiryatrābhavannavā atremau grāhakābhāvānnavīnatvaṁ na cāgatau

‘Blessed indeed is this Vrindavana, where Devotion has become new again; but here, for want of those who would receive them, these two have not attained renewal.‘

Verse 66 (padma.6.193.66)

किंचिदात्मसुखेनेह प्रसुप्ताविति लक्ष्यते । भक्तिरुवाच-। कथं परिक्षिता राज्ञा स्थापितोद्य शुचिः कलि । दयापरेण हरिणा ह्यधर्मः किमुपेक्षितः

kiṁcidātmasukheneha prasuptāviti lakṣyate bhaktiruvāca- kathaṁ parikṣitā rājñā sthāpitodya śuciḥ kali dayāpareṇa hariṇā hyadharmaḥ kimupekṣitaḥ

‘It appears they lie here merely half-asleep in some private happiness of their own.‘ Bhakti said: ‘How is it that this pure Kali has now been established by king Parikshit? How has the compassionate Hari overlooked this adharma?‘

Verse 67 (padma.6.193.67)

एनं मे संशयं छिंधि त्वद्वाचा सुखितास्म्यहम् । तस्या वचः समाकर्ण्य भूयोऽहमवदं द्विजाः

enaṁ me saṁśayaṁ chiṁdhi tvadvācā sukhitāsmyaham tasyā vacaḥ samākarṇya bhūyo'hamavadaṁ dvijāḥ

‘Cut away this doubt of mine; by your words I shall be made happy.‘ Hearing her words, O brahmins, I spoke further:

Verse 68 (padma.6.193.68)

यदि पृष्टस्त्वया बाले प्रेमतः श्रवणं कुरु । यदा मुकुंदो भगवान्क्ष्मां त्यक्त्वा स्वपदं गतः

yadi pṛṣṭastvayā bāle premataḥ śravaṇaṁ kuru yadā mukuṁdo bhagavānkṣmāṁ tyaktvā svapadaṁ gataḥ

‘Since you have asked, O young one, listen with love. When the Blessed Mukunda left the earth and went to his own abode—‘

Verse 69 (padma.6.193.69)

कलिस्तद्दिनमारभ्य प्रवृत्तः सत्यबाधकः । दृष्टो दिग्विजये राज्ञा दीनवच्छरणं गतः

kalistaddinamārabhya pravṛttaḥ satyabādhakaḥ dṛṣṭo digvijaye rājñā dīnavaccharaṇaṁ gataḥ

‘—from that very day Kali arose, the obstructer of truth. He was seen by the king during his conquest of the quarters, having come, like a wretch, seeking refuge.‘

Verse 70 (padma.6.193.70)

न हतोऽस्य गुणद्रष्टा सर्वसाधारणं त्विदम् । यत्फलं तपसा नैति न योगे न समाधिना

na hato'sya guṇadraṣṭā sarvasādhāraṇaṁ tvidam yatphalaṁ tapasā naiti na yoge na samādhinā

‘He was not slain, for the king saw a virtue in him — the fruit that is not attained by austerity, nor by yoga, nor by meditative absorption—‘

Verse 71 (padma.6.193.71)

तत्फलं लभते धीमान्कलौ केशवकीर्तनात् । एतादृशं कलिं दृष्ट्वा सारात्सारफलप्रदम्

tatphalaṁ labhate dhīmānkalau keśavakīrtanāt etādṛśaṁ kaliṁ dṛṣṭvā sārātsāraphalapradam

‘—that fruit the wise man obtains in the Kali age merely by the kirtan of Keshava. Seeing that such a Kali grants, from mere essence, the fruit of the essence itself—‘

Verse 72 (padma.6.193.72)

विष्णुरातः स्थापितवान्कलिजानां हिताय च । कुकर्माचरणात्सारः सर्वतो निर्गतोऽधुना

viṣṇurātaḥ sthāpitavānkalijānāṁ hitāya ca kukarmācaraṇātsāraḥ sarvato nirgato'dhunā

‘—Vishnurata established it, for the benefit of those born in Kali. Now, however, on account of the practice of evil deeds, the essence has departed entirely from all things—‘

Verse 73 (padma.6.193.73)

पदार्थाः संस्थिता भूमौ बीजहीनास्तुषा यथा । विप्रैर्भागवतीवार्त्ता गेहे गेहे जने जने

padārthāḥ saṁsthitā bhūmau bījahīnāstuṣā yathā viprairbhāgavatīvārttā gehe gehe jane jane

‘—and things remain on earth like husks without seed. The account of the Bhagavata, house after house, person after person—‘

Verse 74 (padma.6.193.74)

कारिता धनलोभेन कथासारस्ततो गतः । अत्युग्रभूरिकर्माणो नास्तिका दांभिका जनाः

kāritā dhanalobhena kathāsārastato gataḥ atyugrabhūrikarmāṇo nāstikā dāṁbhikā janāḥ

‘—is now performed by brahmins out of greed for money; the essence has thus departed from the very telling of the story. People, extremely fierce in action, atheistic, hypocritical—‘

Verse 75 (padma.6.193.75)

तिष्ठंति सर्वतीर्थेषु तीर्थसारस्ततो गतः । कामक्रोधमहालोभतृष्णाव्याकुलचेतसः

tiṣṭhaṁti sarvatīrtheṣu tīrthasārastato gataḥ kāmakrodhamahālobhatṛṣṇāvyākulacetasaḥ

‘—dwell now at all the tirthas; the essence has thus departed from the tirthas as well. Their minds distracted by desire, anger, great greed, and craving—‘

Verse 76 (padma.6.193.76)

समारभंते कर्माणि कर्मसारस्ततो गतः । मनसश्चाजयाल्लोभाद्दंभात्पाखंडसंश्रयात्

samārabhaṁte karmāṇi karmasārastato gataḥ manasaścājayāllobhāddaṁbhātpākhaṁḍasaṁśrayāt

‘—they undertake ritual actions; the essence has thus departed from ritual action too. Through failure to conquer the mind, through greed, through hypocrisy, through resort to false doctrine—‘

Verse 77 (padma.6.193.77)

शास्त्रानभ्यसनाच्चैव ध्यानयोगफलं गतम् । पंडितास्ते कलत्रेषु रमंते महिषा इव

śāstrānabhyasanāccaiva dhyānayogaphalaṁ gatam paṁḍitāste kalatreṣu ramaṁte mahiṣā iva

‘—and through the neglect of studying the scriptures, the fruit of meditation and yoga has departed. Those so-called learned men delight in their wives like mere buffaloes—‘

Verse 78 (padma.6.193.78)

पुत्रोत्पादनदक्षाश्च न दक्षा मुक्तिसाधने । न हि वैष्णवता कुत्र संप्रदायपुरःसराः

putrotpādanadakṣāśca na dakṣā muktisādhane na hi vaiṣṇavatā kutra saṁpradāyapuraḥsarāḥ

‘—skilled at begetting children, but not skilled in the means of liberation. Nowhere is there true Vaishnava devotion; people merely go through the motions of tradition—‘

Verse 79 (padma.6.193.79)

देवनिंदापराः सर्वे साधुनिंदापरायणाः । अयं तु युगधर्मोऽस्ति दीयते कस्य दूषणम्

devaniṁdāparāḥ sarve sādhuniṁdāparāyaṇāḥ ayaṁ tu yugadharmo'sti dīyate kasya dūṣaṇam

‘—all are given to reviling the gods, devoted to reviling the saints. But this indeed is the very nature of this age — to whom, then, can blame be given?‘

Verse 80 (padma.6.193.80)

अतस्त्वं पुंडरीकाक्षं स्मृत्वा सौख्यमवाप्स्यसि

atastvaṁ puṁḍarīkākṣaṁ smṛtvā saukhyamavāpsyasi

‘Therefore, remembering the lotus-eyed Lord, you shall attain happiness.‘

Verse 81 (padma.6.193.81)

एवं मयोक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा सा विस्मयं गता । उवाच वचनं भूयो मां प्रशस्य द्विजोत्तमाः

evaṁ mayoktaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā sā vismayaṁ gatā uvāca vacanaṁ bhūyo māṁ praśasya dvijottamāḥ

Hearing these words spoken by me, she was filled with wonder, O best of brahmins, and, praising me, spoke further words:

Verse 82 (padma.6.193.82)

भक्तिरुवाच-। देवर्षे त्वं तु धन्योऽसि मद्भाग्येन समागतः । साधूनां दर्शनं लोके सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम्

bhaktiruvāca- devarṣe tvaṁ tu dhanyo'si madbhāgyena samāgataḥ sādhūnāṁ darśanaṁ loke sarvasiddhipradāyakam

‘Bhakti said: “O divine sage, you are indeed blessed, come to me by my own good fortune; the sight of the saintly in this world bestows every accomplishment.‘

Verse 83 (padma.6.193.83)

सुखोपायो यथा मे स्यात्तथादिश मुनेऽधुना । सर्वज्ञस्य तव ब्रह्मन्न साध्यं किमपीह वै

sukhopāyo yathā me syāttathādiśa mune'dhunā sarvajñasya tava brahmanna sādhyaṁ kimapīha vai

‘“Instruct me now, O sage, in whatever means will bring me happiness; for you, O brahmin, all-knowing, there is nothing here unattainable.“‘

Verse 84 (padma.6.193.84)

अजयदजितमायां यस्य कायाधवस्ते वचनरचनमेकं केवलं चाकलय्य । ध्रुवपदमुपयातो यत्कृपातो ध्रुवो वै तमहमरणभूतं ब्रह्मपुत्रं नतास्मि

ajayadajitamāyāṁ yasya kāyādhavaste vacanaracanamekaṁ kevalaṁ cākalayya dhruvapadamupayāto yatkṛpāto dhruvo vai tamahamaraṇabhūtaṁ brahmaputraṁ natāsmi

By whose single word alone, once grasped, the husband of Kayadhu conquered the invincible power of Maya, and by whose grace Dhruva attained the eternal, unmoving station — to that son of Brahma, the very refuge of all, I bow.