The Bhagavata Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 780,972 words | ISBN-10: 8120838203 | ISBN-13: 9788120838208

This page describes Return of Krishna and others to Indraprastha which is chapter 73 of the English translation of the Bhagavata Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas containing roughly 18,000 metrical verses. Topics include ancient Indian history, religion, philosophy, geography, mythology, etc. The text has been interpreted by various schools of philosophy. This is the seventy-third chapter of the Tenth Skandha of the Bhagavatapurana.

Chapter 73 - Return of Kṛṣṇa and others to Indraprastha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Twenty thousand eight hundred kings who were easily defeated in battle (by Jarāsandha) were kept confined in a valley surrounded on all sides by the mountain. (Released from captivity) they came out with unclean bodies and dirty clothes.

2. Emaciated with hunger and with mouths parched up and greatly reduced in bodies due to confinement for a long time, the kings saw Lord Kṛṣṇa of dark blue complexion like a cloud, wearing yellow silken garments.

3. He was bearing the mark of Śrīvatsa; had four arms. His eyes were reddish like the inner part of a lotus-flower and he was charming and gracious in appearance. He was adorned with brilliant alligator-shaped ear-rings.

4. He was holding a lotus in one of his hands and was wielding a mace, a conch and a discus (Sudarśana) in the remaining three arms. He was adorned with a crown, a necklace of pearls, bracelets, a zone and a pair of armlets.

5. His neck was shining with the excellent jewel Kaustubha and had a garland of forest-flowers (Vanamālā) hanging on his bosom. The kings appeared to drink him with eyes and to lick him with tongues.

6. They were as if smelling him with their noses and embracing him with their arms. They bowed to the Lord with their heads touching his feet and rid themselves of all sins.

7. At the sight of Śrī Kṛṣṇa they were so much overjoyed that they got over the languor and exhaustion caused by their incarceration. Folding their palms, the kings eulogized Hṛṣīkeśa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all senses) in the following words:

The kings submitted their prayer:

8. We bow to you, O God of Gods. You remove the distress of those that seek shelter in you, O Immutable Lord, Being disgusted with the terrible saṃsāra we have resorted to you. Pray, be pleased to protect us, O Kṛṣṇa.

9. O Lord! Slayer of the demon Madhu! We do not blame that Jarāsandha, king of Magadhas. It is really your Grace that we kings were deprived of our kingdoms, O Almighty Lord.

10. A king elated with pride of sovereignty and affluence does not attain the Final Beatitude, but being infatuated by your deluding potency (Māyā) looks upon the transient worldly fortune as permanent.

11. Just as children (or foolish people) mistake a mirage as a pool of water, persons without discriminatory power, ascribe reality to the everchanging Māyā which brings about modifications.

12. O Lord! Formerly we were blinded by our pride of kingship and affluence. In our ambition to conquer this earth, we competed with each other slaughtering mercilessly our own subjects. We were so madly proud that we did not think of death or of yourself, who were ahead of us.

13. O Kṛṣṇa! By your form called Time, of inexorable velocity and infinite prowess, we were despoiled of our former affluence and sovereignty. It is through your Grace that today we, with our pride completely destroyed, are contemplating on your feet.

14. We do not aspire after this mirage like sovereignty which is to be enjoyed by this ever-decaying body, a nursery of ailments). Nor do we seek to enjoy after death the fruits of our (religious or meritorious) actions (in heaven) which sound so pleasant to the ears, O Almighty Lord.

15. Pray, be gracious to teach us, that expedient whereby we shall never lose the memory of your lotus-like feet (and continue to contemplate on them) even while we are involved in the series of births and deaths.

16. We repeatedly pay our salutations to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva, the destroyer of the misery of saṃsāra (even of Daityas), the Supreme Self. You are the remover of sufferings of those who bow to you, O Govinda (Lord of Senses).

Śrī Śuka said:

17. O dear Parīkṣit! Thus eulogised by the kings who were now freed from captivity, the merciful Lord who affords protection to those who seek it, spoke to them in sweet language as follows:

The Lord said:

18. O monarchs! As desired by you, from now onwards your unflinching devotion unto me who am the Ruler of the universe and the Self, abiding in all, shall grow strong and deep-rooted.

19. How glad I am at your correct resolution, O kings. What you expressed is the truth. For I have seen how growing pride of affluence and authority has a maddening effect on people.

20. Haihaya (Sahasrārjuna), Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka and other rulers of gods, demons and human beings have fallen down from their positions, in consequence of their arrogance, begotten of their prosperity and power.

21. Being thoroughly cognisant of the fact that everything that is created like the body (and other things connected therewith) is perishable, you worship me by performing sacrifices and be alert and protect your subjects in a righteous manner, O monarchs.

22. You secure the continuity of your family by begetting children. Bear up with equable mind, the weal and woe, prosperity and adversity, birth or death as it comes to your lot and carry on your life devoting your heart to me.

23. Remain indifferent to your body and things connected with it. Take delight in the spiritual bliss of the self and observe vows of self-discipline. Thus, concentrating your mind properly and steadily in me, you will ultimately attain to me who am the supreme Brahman.

Śrī Śuka said:

24. Having enjoined the kings in the above manner. Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Ruler of the Universe ordered male and female servants to give them a bath.

25. He made Sahadeva (now the king of Magadha) to receive them respectfully, by giving them clothes, ornaments, wreaths of flowers and pigments worthy of kings.

26. When the kings had taken an excellent bath and put on their rich clothes and ornaments, they were served with dainty dishes and were offered various luxuries worthy of kings such as betel-leaves, etc.

27. Having been honoured by Mukunda, these kings, wearing brilliant ear-rings and freed from their distressful conditions, looked resplendent like planets at the end of the rainy season.

28. Mounting them in chariots decorated with gold and jewels and drawn by good horses, and cheering up their hearts with sweet yet sincere words, they were sent to their respective countries.

29. The kings who were thus relieved of their hardships by the highly noble-souled Kṛṣṇa, returned contemplating on Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the universe and his noble deeds.

30. (Arriving at their capitals) they told to their ministers (and subjects) the glorious deeds of that Supreme Person and carried on their life (and government) deligently [diligently?] as per instructions of the Lord.

31. Having slain Jarāsandha through the instrumentation of Bhīma, Keśava was worshipped by Sahadeva and accompanied with the two sons of Kuntī (Bhīma and Arjuna), he left for Indraprastha.

32. Having reached Khāṇḍavaprastha, these three warriors who had vanquished their enemies blew their conchs, thrillings their friends with delight and their foes with terror.

33. Hearing that sound, the citizens of Indraprastha became delighted in their minds. They concluded that Jarāsandha had been killed and king Yudhiṣṭhira also felt that he had accomplished his object.

34. Having bowed down to king Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Janārdana and Arjuna reported to him in details all they had severally done.

35. Having heard how compassion had been shown by Kṛṣṇa, Dharmarāja shed tears of joy and was too much overwhelmed with love to express a word.

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