The Wish-Fulfilling Tree and Satyabhama

Verse 1 (padma.6.88.1)

सूतउवाच । अतःपरं कार्तिकमाहात्म्यं प्रस्तूयते । सूत उवाच । एकदा द्वारकामागादृषिः कृष्णदिदृक्षया । पुष्पाण्यादाय दिव्यानि कल्पवृक्षोत्थितानि च

sūtauvāca ataḥparaṁ kārtikamāhātmyaṁ prastūyate sūta uvāca ekadā dvārakāmāgādṛṣiḥ kṛṣṇadidṛkṣayā puṣpāṇyādāya divyāni kalpavṛkṣotthitāni ca

Suta said: Hereafter, the glory of the month of Kartika is now related. Once, the sage Narada, desiring to see Krishna, came to Dvaraka bearing divine flowers grown upon the wish-fulfilling tree.

Verse 2 (padma.6.88.2)

नारदं स्वागतेनासौ कृष्णः सत्कारमाचरत् । इदमर्घ्यमिदं पाद्यमित्युवाचासनंददत्

nāradaṁ svāgatenāsau kṛṣṇaḥ satkāramācarat idamarghyamidaṁ pādyamityuvācāsanaṁdadat

Krishna welcomed Narada and honored him. Saying, 'This is arghya, this is padya,' he offered him a seat.

Verse 3 (padma.6.88.3)

नारदस्तानि पुष्पाणि कृष्णायोपाजहार च । कृष्णः षोडशसाहस्रस्त्रीभ्यस्तानि व्यभज्यत

nāradastāni puṣpāṇi kṛṣṇāyopājahāra ca kṛṣṇaḥ ṣoḍaśasāhasrastrībhyastāni vyabhajyata

Narada offered those flowers to Krishna. Krishna distributed them among his sixteen thousand wives.

Verse 4 (padma.6.88.4)

विस्मृत्य सत्यभामां तु सर्वाभ्यस्तान्यदात्प्रभुः । सत्यभामा ततः क्रुद्धा क्रोधागारं समाविशत्

vismṛtya satyabhāmāṁ tu sarvābhyastānyadātprabhuḥ satyabhāmā tataḥ kruddhā krodhāgāraṁ samāviśat

Forgetting Satyabhama, the Lord gave those flowers to all the others. Satyabhama, angered by this, went and sat in the chamber of sulking.

Verse 5 (padma.6.88.5)

समाज्ञाय ततः कृष्णस्तत्र गत्वा समाहितः । सत्यभामां मानयित्वा गरुडं मनसा स्मरन्

samājñāya tataḥ kṛṣṇastatra gatvā samāhitaḥ satyabhāmāṁ mānayitvā garuḍaṁ manasā smaran

Learning of this, Krishna, with full attention, went there, seeking to appease Satyabhama, while calling Garuda to mind.

Verse 6 (padma.6.88.6)

स्मृतमात्रस्तु गरुडस्तदागत्याग्रतः स्थितः । आरुह्य वेगात्पत्रं तमित्युवाच प्रियां प्रभुः

smṛtamātrastu garuḍastadāgatyāgrataḥ sthitaḥ āruhya vegātpatraṁ tamityuvāca priyāṁ prabhuḥ

The very moment he was remembered, Garuda arrived and stood before him. Mounting that winged one swiftly, the Lord said to his beloved —

Verse 7 (padma.6.88.7)

सत्ये त्वं माकृथाः क्रोधं त्वत्कृते देवतैः सह । विरुध्य देवराजानं रोपयिष्ये तवांगणे

satye tvaṁ mākṛthāḥ krodhaṁ tvatkṛte devataiḥ saha virudhya devarājānaṁ ropayiṣye tavāṁgaṇe

'O Satya, do not be angry. For your sake, opposing even the gods, even the very King of the gods, I shall plant it in your courtyard.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.88.8)

कल्पद्रुमं महाभागेऽपराधं मे क्षमां कुरु । इति कृत्वा प्रतिज्ञां तु कृष्णः स सत्यभामया

kalpadrumaṁ mahābhāge'parādhaṁ me kṣamāṁ kuru iti kṛtvā pratijñāṁ tu kṛṣṇaḥ sa satyabhāmayā

'O greatly blessed one, forgive my offense.' Having made this promise, Krishna, together with Satyabhama —

Verse 9 (padma.6.88.9)

देवलोकमगात्तूर्णं यत्र देवः स वृत्रहा । याचितः कल्पवृक्षार्थमुत्तरं दत्तवान्प्रभुम्

devalokamagāttūrṇaṁ yatra devaḥ sa vṛtrahā yācitaḥ kalpavṛkṣārthamuttaraṁ dattavānprabhum

— quickly went to the world of the gods, where dwelt Indra, the slayer of Vritra. When asked for the wish-fulfilling tree, Indra gave this answer to the Lord —

Verse 10 (padma.6.88.10)

नायं देवद्रुमो भूम्यां प्राप्तुं योग्यस्त्वया प्रभो । तदा क्रुद्धो महाबाहुर्वृक्षमुत्पाट्य मूलतः

nāyaṁ devadrumo bhūmyāṁ prāptuṁ yogyastvayā prabho tadā kruddho mahābāhurvṛkṣamutpāṭya mūlataḥ

'O Lord, this divine tree is not fitting for you to take to the earth.' Then the mighty-armed one, angered, uprooted the tree entirely —

Verse 11 (padma.6.88.11)

वाहमारोपयामास वेगेन बलवत्तरः । तदा वज्रधरो वेगाद्वज्रमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्

vāhamāropayāmāsa vegena balavattaraḥ tadā vajradharo vegādvajramudyamya vīryavān

— and, exceedingly powerful, swiftly loaded it upon his mount. Then the mighty thunderbolt-wielder Indra, swiftly lifting his thunderbolt —

Verse 12 (padma.6.88.12)

गरुडं ताडयामास कल्पवृक्षं त्यजेरिति । तदा पत्ररथः पत्रं कुलिशस्यापि गौरवात्

garuḍaṁ tāḍayāmāsa kalpavṛkṣaṁ tyajeriti tadā patrarathaḥ patraṁ kuliśasyāpi gauravāt

— struck at Garuda, saying, 'Release the wish-fulfilling tree!' Then that winged one, because of the sheer weight of the thunderbolt —

Verse 13 (padma.6.88.13)

एकं विसर्जयामास त्वरया प्रजगाम च । तेन वज्रप्रहारेण त्रयोभूव पतत्रिणः

ekaṁ visarjayāmāsa tvarayā prajagāma ca tena vajraprahāreṇa trayobhūva patatriṇaḥ

— dropped one feather and swiftly moved on. From that blow of the thunderbolt, that single bird became three —

Verse 14 (padma.6.88.14)

मयूरो नकुलश्चाषः कृष्णो द्वारावतीमगात् । आगत्य सत्यभामाया गृहे चैनमरोपयत् । तदैव नारदोऽभ्यागात्सत्यया मानितो बहु

mayūro nakulaścāṣaḥ kṛṣṇo dvārāvatīmagāt āgatya satyabhāmāyā gṛhe cainamaropayat tadaiva nārado'bhyāgātsatyayā mānito bahu

— a peacock, a mongoose, and a blue jay arose from that fallen feather. Krishna reached Dvaraka, and, arriving there, planted that tree in Satyabhama's house. At that very moment Narada too arrived there, and Satyabhama honored him greatly.

Verse 15 (padma.6.88.15)

सत्यभामोवाच । ईदृशः कल्पवृक्षोऽयं पतिरेतादृशः प्रभुः । भवेभवे कथं प्राप्यस्तदाख्यातु भवान्मम

satyabhāmovāca īdṛśaḥ kalpavṛkṣo'yaṁ patiretādṛśaḥ prabhuḥ bhavebhave kathaṁ prāpyastadākhyātu bhavānmama

Satyabhama said: Such a wish-fulfilling tree, and such a lord as this husband — how may these be attained birth after birth? Please tell me this.

Verse 16 (padma.6.88.16)

इति पृष्टस्तदा प्राह नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । प्राप्यते सत्यभामेऽयं तुलापुरुष दानतः

iti pṛṣṭastadā prāha nārado munisattamaḥ prāpyate satyabhāme'yaṁ tulāpuruṣa dānataḥ

Thus questioned, Narada, foremost of sages, said: O Satyabhama, this is attained through the gift called 'Tulapurusha' — weighing a person against gold.

Verse 17 (padma.6.88.17)

सत्यभामा तदा कृष्णं कल्पवृक्षसमन्वितम् । नारदायैव सा प्रादात्तोलयित्वा विधानतः । सर्वोपस्करमाकृष्य नारदस्त्रिदिवं ययौ

satyabhāmā tadā kṛṣṇaṁ kalpavṛkṣasamanvitam nāradāyaiva sā prādāttolayitvā vidhānataḥ sarvopaskaramākṛṣya nāradastridivaṁ yayau

Then Satyabhama, having duly weighed Krishna together with the wish-fulfilling tree, gave that gift to Narada himself. Taking all that wealth, Narada departed for the heavenly world.

Verse 18 (padma.6.88.18)

सूत उवाच । श्रियःपतिमथामंत्र्य गते देवर्षिसत्तमे । हर्षोत्फुल्लानना सत्या वासुदेवमथाब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca śriyaḥpatimathāmaṁtrya gate devarṣisattame harṣotphullānanā satyā vāsudevamathābravīt

Suta said: When that foremost of divine sages had departed, having taken leave of the Lord of Shri, Satya, her face blossoming with joy, then spoke to Vasudeva —

Verse 19 (padma.6.88.19)

सत्यभामोवाच । धन्यास्मि कृतकृत्यास्मि सफलं जीवितं च मे । मज्जन्मनि निदाने च धन्यौ तौ पितरौ मम

satyabhāmovāca dhanyāsmi kṛtakṛtyāsmi saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ ca me majjanmani nidāne ca dhanyau tau pitarau mama

Satyabhama said: I am blessed, I am fulfilled, my life has become fruitful. Blessed too are those parents of mine, the very cause of my birth.

Verse 20 (padma.6.88.20)

यौ मां त्रैलोकसुभगां जनयामासतुर्ध्रुवम् । षोडशस्त्रीसहस्राणां वल्लभाहं यतस्तव

yau māṁ trailokasubhagāṁ janayāmāsaturdhruvam ṣoḍaśastrīsahasrāṇāṁ vallabhāhaṁ yatastava

— who surely gave birth to me as one beautiful throughout the three worlds, by which I became beloved among your sixteen thousand wives.

Verse 21 (padma.6.88.21)

यस्मान्मयादिपुरुषः कल्पवृक्षसमन्वितः । यथोक्तविधिना सम्यङ्नारदाय समर्पितः

yasmānmayādipuruṣaḥ kalpavṛkṣasamanvitaḥ yathoktavidhinā samyaṅnāradāya samarpitaḥ

Because of which I have, in accordance with the prescribed rite, duly offered the Primal Person, together with the wish-fulfilling tree, to Narada.

Verse 22 (padma.6.88.22)

यद्वार्तामपि जानंति भूमिसंस्थान जंतवः । सोऽयं कल्पद्रुमो गेहे मम तिष्ठति सांप्रतम्

yadvārtāmapi jānaṁti bhūmisaṁsthāna jaṁtavaḥ so'yaṁ kalpadrumo gehe mama tiṣṭhati sāṁpratam

That very wish-fulfilling tree, whose news even creatures dwelling upon the earth do not know, now stands in my very house.

Verse 23 (padma.6.88.23)

त्रैलोक्याधिपतेश्चाहं श्रीपतेरतिवल्लभा । अतोऽहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि किंचित्त्वां मधुसूदन

trailokyādhipateścāhaṁ śrīpaterativallabhā ato'haṁ praṣṭumicchāmi kiṁcittvāṁ madhusūdana

I am the most beloved of the Lord of the three worlds, the Lord of Shri. Therefore, O Madhusudana, I wish to ask you something.

Verse 24 (padma.6.88.24)

यदि त्वं मत्प्रियकरः कथयस्वात्र विस्तरात् । श्रुत्वा तच्च पुनश्चाहं करोमि हितमात्मनः

yadi tvaṁ matpriyakaraḥ kathayasvātra vistarāt śrutvā tacca punaścāhaṁ karomi hitamātmanaḥ

If you are one who does what pleases me, tell me this at length. Having heard it, I shall then do what is beneficial for myself —

Verse 25 (padma.6.88.25)

यथाकल्पं त्वया देव वियुक्ता स्यां न कर्हिचित् । सूत उवाच । इति प्रियावचः श्रुत्वा स्मेरास्योऽयं गदाग्रजः

yathākalpaṁ tvayā deva viyuktā syāṁ na karhicit sūta uvāca iti priyāvacaḥ śrutvā smerāsyo'yaṁ gadāgrajaḥ

— so that, O god, I may never, even until the end of the cosmic age, be separated from you. Suta said: Hearing these words of his beloved, Krishna, the elder brother of Gada, his face breaking into a smile —

Verse 26 (padma.6.88.26)

सत्या करे करं कृत्वागमत्कल्पतरोस्तलम् । निषिद्ध्यानुचरं लोकं सविलासं प्रियान्वितः

satyā kare karaṁ kṛtvāgamatkalpatarostalam niṣiddhyānucaraṁ lokaṁ savilāsaṁ priyānvitaḥ

— taking Satya's hand in his own, went beneath the wish-fulfilling tree. Sending away his attendants, together with his beloved, in a mood of playful delight —

Verse 27 (padma.6.88.27)

प्रहस्य सत्यामामंत्र्य प्रोवाच जगतांपतिः । तत्प्रीति परितोषार्थं लसत्पुलकितांगजः

prahasya satyāmāmaṁtrya provāca jagatāṁpatiḥ tatprīti paritoṣārthaṁ lasatpulakitāṁgajaḥ

— the Lord of the universe, laughing, addressing Satya, his body thrilling with delight, spoke thus for the satisfaction and pleasure of her love —

Verse 28 (padma.6.88.28)

कृष्ण उवाच। न मे त्वत्तः प्रियतमा काचिदन्या नितंबिनी । षोडशस्त्रीसहस्राणां प्रिये प्राणसमा ह्यसि

kṛṣṇa uvāca na me tvattaḥ priyatamā kācidanyā nitaṁbinī ṣoḍaśastrīsahasrāṇāṁ priye prāṇasamā hyasi

Krishna said: O beloved, no other woman is dearer to me than you. Among sixteen thousand wives, you alone are equal to my very life.

Verse 29 (padma.6.88.29)

त्वदर्थं देवराजेन विरोधो दैवतैः सह । त्वया यत्प्रार्थितं कांते शृणु यच्च महद्भवेत्

tvadarthaṁ devarājena virodho daivataiḥ saha tvayā yatprārthitaṁ kāṁte śṛṇu yacca mahadbhavet

For your sake alone did I oppose Indra, the king of gods, together with the gods. O beloved, whatever you have asked, and whatever great matter it may be, listen —

Verse 30 (padma.6.88.30)

अदेयमथवाकार्यमकथ्यमपि यत्पुनः । त्वत्कृतं तु कथं प्रश्नं कथयामि न तु प्रिये । पृच्छस्व सर्वं कथये यत्ते मनसि वर्तते

adeyamathavākāryamakathyamapi yatpunaḥ tvatkṛtaṁ tu kathaṁ praśnaṁ kathayāmi na tu priye pṛcchasva sarvaṁ kathaye yatte manasi vartate

— even if it be something unfitting to give, to do, or to speak, how, O beloved, could I not answer a question asked by you? Ask whatever is in your heart; I shall tell you everything.

Verse 31 (padma.6.88.31)

सत्योवाच । दानं व्रतं तपो वापि किं तु पूर्वं मयाकृतम् । येनाहं मर्त्यजा मर्त्ये भवानीवाऽभवं किल

satyovāca dānaṁ vrataṁ tapo vāpi kiṁ tu pūrvaṁ mayākṛtam yenāhaṁ martyajā martye bhavānīvā'bhavaṁ kila

Satya said: What gift, vow, or austerity did I perform in a former life, by which I, though born mortal, have become, as it were, equal to Bhavani herself in this mortal world?

Verse 32 (padma.6.88.32)

तवांगार्द्धहरा नित्यं गरुडोपरिगामिनी । इंद्रादिदेवतावासमगमं च त्वया सह

tavāṁgārddhaharā nityaṁ garuḍoparigāminī iṁdrādidevatāvāsamagamaṁ ca tvayā saha

I am ever one who shares half of your very body, one who rides upon Garuda together with you, and I have gone together with you to the abode of Indra and the other gods.

Verse 33 (padma.6.88.33)

अतस्त्वां प्रष्टुमिच्छामि किं कृतं तु मया शुभम् । जन्मांतरे च किं शीला का चाहं कस्य कन्यका

atastvāṁ praṣṭumicchāmi kiṁ kṛtaṁ tu mayā śubham janmāṁtare ca kiṁ śīlā kā cāhaṁ kasya kanyakā

Therefore I wish to ask you: what auspicious deed did I perform? What was my nature in that former birth? Who was I, and whose daughter was I?

Verse 34 (padma.6.88.34)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । शृणुष्वैकमनाः कांते यत्त्वं वै पूर्वजन्मनि । पुण्यं व्रतं कृतवती तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca śṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ kāṁte yattvaṁ vai pūrvajanmani puṇyaṁ vrataṁ kṛtavatī tatsarvaṁ kathayāmi te

Shri Krishna said: Listen, O beloved, with an undivided mind; I shall tell you all about that meritorious vow you performed in your former birth.

Verse 35 (padma.6.88.35)

आसीत्कृतयुगस्यांते मायापुर्यां द्विजोत्तमः । आत्रेयो देवशर्मेति वेदवेदांगपारगः

āsītkṛtayugasyāṁte māyāpuryāṁ dvijottamaḥ ātreyo devaśarmeti vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ

At the end of the Krita Yuga, in the city of Mayapuri, there was an excellent brahmin of the Atri lineage named Devasharma, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliaries.

Verse 36 (padma.6.88.36)

आतिथेयोऽग्निशुश्रूषुः सौरव्रत परायणः । सूर्यमाराधयन्नित्यं साक्षात्सूर्य्य इवापरः

ātitheyo'gniśuśrūṣuḥ sauravrata parāyaṇaḥ sūryamārādhayannityaṁ sākṣātsūryya ivāparaḥ

He was hospitable to guests, devoted to the service of the sacred fire, and given to the vow of sun-worship. He worshipped the sun daily, as if he were himself another sun in person.

Verse 37 (padma.6.88.37)

तस्यातिवयसश्चासीन्नाम्ना गुणवती सुता । अपुत्रः स स्वशिष्याय चंद्र नाम्ने ददौ सुताम्

tasyātivayasaścāsīnnāmnā guṇavatī sutā aputraḥ sa svaśiṣyāya caṁdra nāmne dadau sutām

That man, well advanced in years, had a daughter named Gunavati. Being without a son, he gave his daughter in marriage to his own disciple, named Chandra.

Verse 38 (padma.6.88.38)

तमेव पुत्रवन्मेने स च तं पितृवद्वशी । तौ कदाचिद्वनं यातौ कुशेध्महरणार्थिनौ

tameva putravanmene sa ca taṁ pitṛvadvaśī tau kadācidvanaṁ yātau kuśedhmaharaṇārthinau

He regarded him as a son, and that self-controlled one regarded him as a father. Once, the two of them went into the forest to gather kusha grass and firewood.

Verse 39 (padma.6.88.39)

हिमाद्रिपादजवने चेरतुस्तौ यतस्ततः । तौ ततो राक्षसं घोरमायांतं समपश्यताम्

himādripādajavane ceratustau yatastataḥ tau tato rākṣasaṁ ghoramāyāṁtaṁ samapaśyatām

The two of them wandered here and there in the forest at the foot of the Himalaya. Then they saw a terrible demon approaching.

Verse 40 (padma.6.88.40)

भयविह्वलसर्वांगावसमर्थौ पलायितुम् । निहतौ रक्षसा तेन कृतांतसमरूपिणा

bhayavihvalasarvāṁgāvasamarthau palāyitum nihatau rakṣasā tena kṛtāṁtasamarūpiṇā

Their limbs, overcome with terror, became powerless to flee. That demon, terrible in form like Death himself, slew them both.

Verse 41 (padma.6.88.41)

तौ तु क्षेत्रप्रभावेण धर्मशीलतया पुनः । वैकुंठभवनं नीतौ मद्गणैर्मत्समीपगैः

tau tu kṣetraprabhāveṇa dharmaśīlatayā punaḥ vaikuṁṭhabhavanaṁ nītau madgaṇairmatsamīpagaiḥ

Because of the power of that sacred region and their righteous character, they were both carried to the abode of Vaikuntha by my own attendants, who dwell close to me.

Verse 42 (padma.6.88.42)

यावज्जीवंतु यत्ताभ्यां सूर्यपूजादिकं कृतम् । तेन वै कर्मणा ताभ्यां सुप्रीतोऽहं किलाभवम्

yāvajjīvaṁtu yattābhyāṁ sūryapūjādikaṁ kṛtam tena vai karmaṇā tābhyāṁ suprīto'haṁ kilābhavam

By that act of sun-worship and the rest, which they performed throughout their lives, I indeed became greatly pleased with them.

Verse 43 (padma.6.88.43)

शैवाः सौराश्च गाणेशा वैष्णवाः शक्तिपूजकाः । मामेव प्राप्नुवंतीह वर्षांभः सागरं यथा

śaivāḥ saurāśca gāṇeśā vaiṣṇavāḥ śaktipūjakāḥ māmeva prāpnuvaṁtīha varṣāṁbhaḥ sāgaraṁ yathā

Shaivas, worshippers of the sun, worshippers of Ganesha, Vaishnavas, and worshippers of Shakti — all of them attain me alone here, just as rainwater merges finally into the ocean.

Verse 44 (padma.6.88.44)

एकोऽहं पंचधा जातः क्रीडयन्नामभिः किल । देवदत्तो यथा कश्चित्पुत्राद्याह्वाननामभिः

eko'haṁ paṁcadhā jātaḥ krīḍayannāmabhiḥ kila devadatto yathā kaścitputrādyāhvānanāmabhiḥ

Though I am one, I have, in sport, appeared in five forms, under different names, just as a certain man named Devadatta is called by various names by his son and others.

Verse 45 (padma.6.88.45)

ततश्च तौ मद्भवनाधिवासिनौ विमानयानौ रविवर्चसावुभौ । मत्तुल्यरूपौ मम सन्निधानगौ दिव्यांगना चंदनभोगभोगिनौ

tataśca tau madbhavanādhivāsinau vimānayānau ravivarcasāvubhau mattulyarūpau mama sannidhānagau divyāṁganā caṁdanabhogabhoginau

Thereafter, those two became dwellers in my own abode, travelers by celestial chariot, radiant as the sun, of a form equal to my own, ever near me, and enjoyers of the pleasures of celestial women and sandal-fragrance.