sri-suka uvaca
evam etat pura prsto
maitreyo bhagavan kila
ksattra vanam pravistena
tyaktva sva-grham rddhimat
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam–thus; etat–this;
pura–formerly; prstah–being asked; maitreyah–the great sage Maitreya;
bhagavan–His Grace; kila–certainly; ksattra–by Vidura; vanam–forest;
pravistena–entering; tyaktva–renouncing; sva-grham–own house;
rddhimat–prosperous.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: After renouncing his prosperous home and
entering the forest, King Vidura, the great devotee, asked this question
of His Grace Maitreya Rsi.
TEXT 2
TEXT
yad va ayam mantra-krd vo
bhagavan akhilesvarah
pauravendra-grham hitva
pravivesatmasat krtam
SYNONYMS
yat–the house; vai–what else is there to say; ayam–Sri Krsna;
mantra-krt–minister; vah–you people; bhagavan–the Personality of
Godhead; akhila-isvarah–the Lord of everything; pauravendra–Duryodhana;
grham–house; hitva–giving up; pravivesa–entered; atmasat–identify
with oneself; krtam–so accepted.
TRANSLATION
What else is there to say about the residential house of the Pandavas?
Sri Krsna, the Lord of everything, acted as your minister. He used to
enter that house as if it were His own, and He did not take any care of
Duryodhana’s house.
TEXT 3
TEXT
rajovaca
kutra ksattur bhagavata
maitreyenasa sangamah
kada va saha-samvada
etad varnaya nah prabho
SYNONYMS
raja uvaca–the King said; kutra–wherein; ksattuh–with Vidura;
bhagavata–and with His Grace; maitreyena–with Maitreya; asa–there was;
sangamah–meeting; kada–when; va–also; saha–with; samvadah–
discussion; etat–this; varnaya–describe; nah–unto me; prabho–O my
lord.
TRANSLATION
The King asked Sukadeva Gosvami: Where and when did the meeting and
discussion take place between Saint Vidura and His Grace Maitreya Muni?
TEXT 4
TEXT
na hy alparthodayas tasya
vidurasyamalatmanah
tasmin variyasi prasnah
sadhu-vadopabrmhitah
SYNONYMS
na–never; hi–certainly; alpa-artha–small (unimportant) purpose;
udayah–raised; tasya–his; vidurasya–of Vidura; amala-atmanah–of the
saintly man; tasmin–in that; variyasi–highly purposeful; prasnah–
question; sadhu-vada–things approved by saints and sages; upabrmhitah–
full with.
TRANSLATION
Saint Vidura was a great and pure devotee of the Lord, and therefore
his questions to His Grace Rsi Maitreya must have been very purposeful,
TEXT 5
TEXT
suta uvaca
sa evam rsi-varyo ‘yam
prsto rajna pariksita
praty aha tam subahu-vit
pritatma sruyatam iti
SYNONYMS
sutah uvaca–Sri Suta Gosvami said; sah–he; evam–thus; rsi-varyah–
the great rsi; ayam–Sukadeva Gosvami; prstah–being questioned; rajna–
by the King; pariksita–Maharaja Pariksit; prati–to; aha–replied; tam–
unto the King; su-bahu-vit–highly experienced; prita-atma–fully
satisfied; sruyatam–please hear me; iti–thus.
TRANSLATION
Sri Suta Gosvami said: The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami was highly
experienced and was pleased with the King. Thus being questioned by the
King, he said to him, “Please hear the topics attentively.”
TEXT 6
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
yada tu raja sva-sutan asadhun
pusnan na dharmena vinasta-drstih
bhratur yavisthasya sutan vibandhun
pravesya laksa-bhavane dadaha
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca–Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; yada–when; tu–but; raja-
-King Dhrtarastra; sva-sutan–his own sons; asadhun–dishonest; pusnan–
nourishing; na–never; dharmena–on the right path; vinasta-drstih–one
who has lost his insight; bhratuh–of his brother; yavisthasya–younger;
sutan–sons; vibandhun–having no guardian (father); pravesya–made to
enter; laksa–lacquer; bhavane–in the house; dadaha–set on fire.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Dhrtarastra became blind under the
influence of impious desires to nourish his dishonest sons, and thus he
set fire to the lacquer house to burn his fatherless nephews, the
TEXT 7
TEXT
yada sabhayam kuru-deva-devyah
kesabhimarsam suta-karma garhyam
na varayam asa nrpah snusayah
svasrair harantyah kuca-kunkumani
SYNONYMS
yada–when; sabhayam–the assembly; kuru-deva-devyah–of Draupadi, the
wife of godly Yudhisthira; kesa-abhimarsam–insult by grabbing her hair;
suta-karma–action taken by his son; garhyam–which was abominable; na–
did not; varayam asa–forbid; nrpah–the King; snusayah–of his daughterin-
law; svasraih–by her tears; harantyah–of she who was washing; kucakunkumani–
red dust on her breast.
TRANSLATION
The King did not forbid his son Duhsasana’s abominable action of
grabbing the hair of Draupadi, the wife of the godly King Yudhisthira,
even though her tears washed the red dust on her breast.
TEXT 8
TEXT
dyute tv adharmena jitasya sadhoh
satyavalambasya vanam gatasya
na yacato ‘dat samayena dayam
tamo-jusano yad ajata-satroh
SYNONYMS
dyute–by means of gambling; tu–but; adharmena–by unfair tricks;
jitasya–of the vanquished; sadhoh–a saintly person; satya-avalambasya–
one who embraced truth as shelter; vanam–forest; gatasya–of the goer;
na–never; yacatah–when asked for; adat–delivered; samayena–in due
course; dayam–right share; tamah-jusanah–overwhelmed by illusion; yat–
as much as; ajata-satroh–of one who had no enemy.
TRANSLATION
Yudhisthira, who was born without any enemy, was unfairly defeated in
gambling. But because he had taken the vow of truthfulness, he went off
to the forest. When he came back in due course and begged the return of
his rightful share of the kingdom, he was refused by Dhrtarastra, who was
TEXT 9
TEXT
yada ca partha-prahitah sabhayam
jagad-gurur yani jagada krsnah
na tani pumsam amrtayanani
rajoru mene ksata-punya-lesah
SYNONYMS
yada–when; ca–also; partha-prahitah–being advised by Arjuna;
sabhayam–in the assembly; jagat-guruh–of the teacher of the world;
yani–those; jagada–went; krsnah–Lord Krsna; na–never; tani–such
words; pumsam–of all men of sense; amrta-ayanani–as good as nectar;
raja–the King (Dhrtarastra or Duryodhana); uru–very important; mene–
did consider; ksata–dwindling; punya-lesah–fragment of pious acts.
TRANSLATION
Lord Krsna was sent by Arjuna into the assembly as the spiritual
master of the whole world, and although His words were heard by some
[like Bhisma] as pure nectar, it was not so for the others, who were
completely bereft of the last farthing of past pious works. The King
[Dhrtarastra or Duryodhana] did not take the words of Lord Krsna very
TEXT 10
TEXT
yadopahuto bhavanam pravisto
mantraya prstah kila purvajena
athaha tan mantra-drsam variyan
yan mantrino vaidurikam vadanti
SYNONYMS
yada–when; upahutah–was called by; bhavanam–the palace; pravistah–
entered; mantraya–for consultation; prstah–asked by; kila–of course;
purvajena–by the elder brother; atha–thus; aha–said; tat–that;
mantra–advice; drsam–just suitable; variyan–excellent; yat–that
which; mantrinah–the ministers of state, or expert politicians;
vaidurikam–instructions by Vidura; vadanti–do they say.
TRANSLATION
When Vidura was invited by his elder brother [Dhrtarastra] for
consultation, he entered the house and gave instructions which were
exactly to the point. His advice is well known, and instructions by
Vidura are approved by expert ministers of stateTEXT 11
TEXT
ajata-satroh pratiyaccha dayam
titiksato durvisaham tavagah
sahanujo yatra vrkodarahih
svasan rusa yat tvam alam bibhesi
SYNONYMS
ajata-satroh–of Yudhisthira, who has no enemy; pratiyaccha–return;
dayam–legitimate share; titiksatah–of he who is so forbearing;
durvisaham–unbearable; tava–your; agah–offense; saha–along with;
anujah–younger brothers; yatra–wherein; vrkodara–Bhima; ahih–
revenging snake; svasan–breathing heavily; rusa–in anger; yat–whom;
tvam–you; alam–verily; bibhesi–do fear.
TRANSLATION
[Vidura said:] You must now return the legitimate share to
Yudhisthira, who has no enemies and who has been forbearing through
untold sufferings due to your offenses. He is waiting with his younger
brothers, among whom is the revengeful Bhima, breathing heavily like a
snake. Surely you are afraid of him.
TEXT 12
TEXT
parthams tu devo bhagavan mukundo
grhitavan saksiti-deva-devah
aste sva-puryam yadu-deva-devo
vinirjitasesa-nrdeva-devah
SYNONYMS
parthan–the sons of Prtha (Kunti); tu–but; devah–the Lord;
bhagavan–the Personality of Godhead; mukundah–Sri Krsna, who awards
liberation; grhitavan–has taken up; sa–with; ksiti-deva-devah–the
brahmanas and the demigods; aste–is present; sva-puryam–along with His
family; yadu-deva-devah–worshiped by the royal order of the Yadu
dynasty; vinirjita–who have been conquered; asesa–unlimited; nrdeva–
kings; devah–Lord.
TRANSLATION
Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, has accepted the sons of Prtha
as His kinsmen, and all the kings of the world are with Lord Sri Krsna.
He is present in His home with all His family members, the kings and
princes of the Yadu dynasty, who have conquered an unlimited number of
rulers, and He is their Lord.TEXT 13
TEXT
sa esa dosah purusa-dvid aste
grhan pravisto yam apatya-matya
pusnasi krsnad vimukho gata-sris
tyajasv asaivam kula-kausalaya
SYNONYMS
sah–he; esah–this; dosah–offense personified; purusa-dvit–envious
of Lord Krsna; aste–exists; grhan–household; pravistah–entered; yam–
whom; apatya-matya–thinking to be your son; pusnasi–maintaining;
krsnat–from Krsna; vimukhah–in opposition; gata-srih–devoid of
everything auspicious; tyaja–give up; asu–as soon as possible; asaivam-
-inauspicious; kula–family; kausalaya–for the sake of.
TRANSLATION
You are maintaining offense personified, Duryodhana, as your
infallible son, but he is envious of Lord Krsna. And because you are thus
maintaining a nondevotee of Krsna, you are devoid of all auspicious
qualities. Relieve yourself of this ill fortune as soon as possible and
do good to the whole family!TEXT 14
TEXT
ity ucivams tatra suyodhanena
pravrddha-kopa-sphuritadharena
asat-krtah sat-sprhaniya-silah
ksatta sakarnanuja-saubalena
SYNONYMS
iti–thus; ucivan–while speaking; tatra–there; suyodhanena–by
Duryodhana; pravrddha–swollen with; kopa–anger; sphurita–flapping;
adharena–lips; asat-krtah–insulted; sat–respectable; sprhaniya-silah–
desirable qualities; ksatta–Vidura; sa–with; karna–Karna; anuja–
younger brothers; saubalena–with Sakuni.
TRANSLATION
While speaking thus, Vidura, whose personal character was esteemed by
respectable persons, was insulted by Duryodhana, who was swollen with
anger and whose lips were trembling. Duryodhana was in company with
Karna, his younger brothers and his maternal uncle Sakuni.TEXT 15
TEXT
ka enam atropajuhava jihmam
dasyah sutam yad-balinaiva pustah
tasmin pratipah parakrtya aste
nirvasyatam asu purac chvasanah
SYNONYMS
kah–who; enam–this; atra–here; upajuhava–called for; jihmam–
crooked; dasyah–of a kept mistress; sutam–son; yat–whose; balina–by
whose subsistence; eva–certainly; pustah–grown up; tasmin–unto him;
pratipah–enmity; parakrtya–enemy’s interest; aste–situated;
nirvasyatam–get him out; asu–immediately; purat–from the palace;
svasanah–let him breathe only.
TRANSLATION
Who asked him to come here, this son of a kept mistress? He is so
crooked that he spies in the interest of the enemy against those on whose
support he has grown up. Toss him out of the palace immediately and leave
him with only his breath.TEXT 16
TEXT
svayam dhanur dvari nidhaya mayam
bhratuh puro marmasu tadito ‘pi
sa ittham atyulbana-karna-banair
gata-vyatho ‘yad uru manayanah
SYNONYMS
svayam–he himself; dhanuh dvari–bow on the door; nidhaya–keeping;
mayam–the external nature; bhratuh–brother’s; purah–from the palace;
marmasu–in the core of the heart; taditah–being afflicted; api–in
spite of; sah–he (Vidura); ittham–like this; ati-ulbana–severely;
karna–ear; banaih–by the arrows; gata-vyathah–without being sorry;
ayat–excited; uru–great; mana-yanah–so thinking.
TRANSLATION
Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the
core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his
brother’s palace. He was not sorry, for he considered the acts of the
external energy to be supreme.TEXT 17
TEXT
sa nirgatah kaurava-punya-labdho
gajahvayat tirtha-padah padani
anvakramat punya-cikirsayorvyam
adhisthito yani sahasra-murtih
SYNONYMS
sah–he (Vidura); nirgatah–after having quit; kaurava–the Kuru
dynasty; punya–piety; labdhah–so achieved; gaja-ahvayat–from
Hastinapura; tirtha-padah–of the Supreme Lord; padani–pilgrimages;
anvakramat–took shelter; punya–piety; cikirsaya–desiring so; urvyam–
of high grade; adhisthitah–situated; yani–all those; sahasra–
thousands; murtih–forms.
TRANSLATION
By his piety, Vidura achieved the advantages of the pious Kauravas.
After leaving Hastinapura, he took shelter of many places of pilgrimages,
which are the Lord’s lotus feet. With a desire to gain a high order of
pious life, he traveled to holy places where thousands of transcendental
forms of the Lord are situated.TEXT 18
TEXT
puresu punyopavanadri-kunjesv
apanka-toyesu sarit-sarahsu
ananta-lingaih samalankrtesu
cacara tirthayatanesv ananyah
SYNONYMS
puresu–holy places like Ayodhya, Dvaraka and Mathura; punya–piety;
upavana–the air; adri–hill; kunjesu–in the orchards; apanka–without
sin; toyesu–in the water; sarit–river; sarahsu–lakes; ananta-lingaih–
the forms of the Unlimited; samalankrtesu–being so decorated; cacara–
executed; tirtha–places of pilgrimage; ayatanesu–holy lands; ananyah–
alone or seeing Krsna alone.
TRANSLATION
He began to travel alone, thinking only of Krsna, through various holy
places like Ayodhya, Dvaraka and Mathura. He traveled where the air,
hill, orchard, river and lake are all pure and sinless and where the
forms of the Unlimited decorate the temples. Thus he performed the
pilgrim’s progress.
TEXT 19
TEXT
gam paryatan medhya-vivikta-vrttih
sadapluto ‘dhah sayano ‘vadhutah
alaksitah svair avadhuta-veso
vratani cere hari-tosanani
SYNONYMS
gam–earth; paryatan–traversing; medhya–pure; vivikta-vrttih–
independent occupation for living; sada–always; aplutah–sanctified;
adhah–on the earth; sayanah–lying; avadhutah–without dressing (of the
hair, etc.); alaksitah–without being seen; svaih–alone; avadhuta-vesah-
-dressed like a mendicant; vratani–vows; cere–performed; hari-tosanani-
-that pleased the Lord.
TRANSLATION
While so traversing the earth, he simply performed duties to please
the Supreme Lord Hari. His occupation was pure and independent. He was
constantly sanctified by taking his bath in holy places, although he was
in the dress of a mendicant and had no hair dressing nor a bed on which
to lie. Thus he was always unseen by his various relatives.TEXT 20
TEXT
ittham vrajan bharatam eva varsam
kalena yavad gatavan prabhasam
tavac chasasa ksitim eka cakram
ekatapatram ajitena parthah
SYNONYMS
ittham–like this; vrajan–while traveling; bharatam–India; eva–
only; varsam–the tract of land; kalena–in due course of time; yavat–
when; gatavan–visited; prabhasam–the Prabhasa pilgrimage site; tavat–
at that time; sasasa–ruled; ksitim–the world; eka-cakram–by one
military force; eka–one; atapatram–flag; ajitena–by the mercy of the
unconquerable Krsna; parthah–Maharaja Yudhisthira.
TRANSLATION
Thus, when he was in the land of Bharatavarsa traveling to all the
places of pilgrimage, he visited Prabhasaksetra. At that time Maharaja
Yudhisthira was the emperor and held the world under one military
strength and one flag.TEXT 21
TEXT
tatratha susrava suhrd-vinastim
vanam yatha venuja-vahni-samsrayam
samspardhaya dagdham athanusocan
sarasvatim pratyag iyaya tusnim
SYNONYMS
tatra– there; atha–thereafter; susrava–heard; suhrt–kinsmen;
vinastim–all dead; vanam–forest; yatha–as much as; venuja-vahni–fire
due to the bamboos; samsrayam–friction with one another; samspardhaya–
by violent passion; dagdham–burnt; atha–thus; anusocan–thinking;
sarasvatim–the River Sarasvati; pratyak–westward; iyaya–went; tusnim–
silently.
TRANSLATION
At the place of pilgrimage at Prabhasa, it came to his knowledge that
all his relatives had died due to violent passion, just as an entire
forest burns due to fire produced by the friction of bamboos. After this
he proceeded west, where the River Sarasvati flows.TEXT 22
TEXT
tasyam tritasyosanaso manos ca
prthor athagner asitasya vayoh
tirtham sudasasya gavam guhasya
yac chraddhadevasya sa asiseve
SYNONYMS
tasyam–on the bank of the River Sarasvati; tritasya–the pilgrimage
site named Trita; usanasah–the pilgrimage site named Usana; manoh ca–as
also of the pilgrimage site named Manu; prthoh–that of Prthu; atha–
thereafter; agneh–that of Agni; asitasya–that of Asita; vayoh–that of
Vayu; tirtham–places of pilgrimages; sudasasya–of the name Sudasa;
gavam–that of Go; guhasya–that of Guha; yat–thereupon; sraddhadevasya-
-of the name Sraddhadeva; sah–Vidura; asiseve–duly visited and
performed the rituals.
TRANSLATION
On the bank of the River Sarasvati there were eleven places of
pilgrimage, namely, (1) Trita, (2) Usana, (3) Manu, (4) Prthu, (5) Agni,
(6) Asita, (7) Vayu, (8) Sudasa, (9) Go, (10) Guha and (11) Sraddhadeva.
Vidura visited all of them and duly performed rituals.
TEXT 23
TEXT
anyani ceha dvija-deva-devaih
krtani nanayatanani visnoh
pratyanga-mukhyankita-mandirani
yad-darsanat krsnam anusmaranti
SYNONYMS
anyani–others; ca–also; iha–here; dvija-deva–by the great sages;
devaih–and the demigods; krtani–established by; nana–various;
ayatanani–various forms; visnoh–of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
prati–each and every; anga–part; mukhya–the chief; ankita–marked;
mandirani–temple s; yat–which; darsanat–by seeing from a distance;
krsnam–the original Personality of Godhead; anusmaranti–constantly
remembers.
TRANSLATION
There were also many other temples of various forms of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Visnu, established by great sages and demigods.
These temples were marked with the chief emblems of the Lord, and they
reminded one always of the original Personality of Godhead, Lord KrsnaTEXT 24
TEXT
tatas tv ativrajya surastram rddham
sauvira-matsyan kurujangalams ca
kalena tavad yamunam upetya
tatroddhavam bhagavatam dadarsa
SYNONYMS
tatah–from there; tu–but; ativrajya–by passing over; surastram–the
kingdom of Surat; rddham–very wealthy; sauvira–the kingdom of Sauvira;
matsyan–the kingdom of Matsya; kurujangalan–the kingdom of western
India up to the Delhi province; ca–also; kalena–in course of time;
tavat–as soon as; yamunam–bank of the River Yamuna; upetya–reaching;
tatra–there; uddhavam–Uddhava, one of the prominent Yadus; bhagavatam–
the great devotee of Lord Krsna; dadarsa–happened to see.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter he passed through very wealthy provinces like Surat,
Sauvira and Matsya and through western India, known as Kurujangala. At
last he reached the bank of the Yamuna, where he happened to meet
Uddhava, the great devotee of Lord Krsna.TEXT 25
TEXT
sa vasudevanucaram prasantam
brhaspateh prak tanayam pratitam
alingya gadham pranayena bhadram
svanam aprcchad bhagavat-prajanam
SYNONYMS
sah–he, Vidura; vasudeva–Lord Krsna; anucaram–constant companion;
prasantam–very sober and gentle; brhaspateh–of Brhaspati, the learned
spiritual master of the demigods; prak–formerly; tanayam–son or
disciple; pratitam–acknowledged; alingya–embracing; gadham–very
feelingly; pranayena–in love; bhadram–auspicious; svanam–his own;
aprcchat–asked; bhagavat–of the Personality of Godhead; prajanam–
family.
TRANSLATION
Then, due to his great love and feeling, Vidura embraced him
[Uddhava], who was a constant companion of Lord Krsna and formerly a
great student of Brhaspati’s. Vidura then asked him for news of the
family of Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.TEXT 26
TEXT
kaccit puranau purusau svanabhyapadmanuvrttyeha
kilavatirnau
asata urvyah kusalam vidhaya
krta-ksanau kusalam sura-gehe
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; puranau–the original; purusau–Personalities of
Godhead (Krsna and Balarama); svanabhya–Brahma; padma-anuvrttya–by the
request of the one who is born from the lotus; iha–here; kila–
certainly; avatirnau–incarnated; asate–are; urvyah–in the world;
kusalam–well-being; vidhaya–for doing so; krta-ksanau–the elevators of
everyone’s prosperity; kusalam–all well; sura-gehe–in the house of
Surasena.
TRANSLATION
[Please tell me] whether the original Personalities of Godhead, who
incarnated Themselves at the request of Brahma [who is born out of the
lotus flower from the Lord] and who have increased the prosperity of the
world by elevating everyone, are doing well in the house of Surasena.TEXT 27
TEXT
kaccit kurunam paramah suhrn no
bhamah sa aste sukham anga saurih
yo vai svasrnam pitrvad dadati
varan vadanyo vara-tarpanena
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; kurunam–of the Kurus; paramah–greatest; suhrt–
well-wisher; nah–our; bhamah–brother-in-law; sah–he; aste–is; sukham-
-happy; anga–O Uddhava; saurih–Vasudeva; yah–one who; vai–certainly;
svasrnam–of the sisters; pitr-vat–like a father; dadati–gives; varan–
everything desirable; vadanyah–munificent; vara–wife; tarpanena–by
pleasing.
TRANSLATION
[Please tell me] whether the best friend of the Kurus, our brother-inlaw
Vasudeva, is doing well. He is very munificent. He is like a father
to his sisters, and he is always pleasing to his wives.TEXT 28
TEXT
kaccid varuthadhipatir yadunam
pradyumna aste sukham anga virah
yam rukmini bhagavato ‘bhilebhe
aradhya vipran smaram adi-sarge
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; varutha–of the military; adhipatih–commander-inchief;
yadunam–of the Yadus; pradyumnah–the son of Krsna named
Pradyumna; aste–is; sukham–happy; anga–O Uddhava; virah–the great
warrior; yam–whom; rukmini–the wife of Krsna named Rukmini; bhagavatah-
-from the Personality of Godhead; abhilebhe–got as a prize; aradhya–
pleasing; vipran–brahmanas; smaram–Cupid (Kamadeva); adi-sarge–in his
previous life.
TRANSLATION
O Uddhava, please tell me how is Pradyumna, the commander-in-chief of
the Yadus, who was Cupid in a former life? Rukmini bore him as her son
from Lord Krsna, by the grace of brahmanas whom she pleased.TEXT 29
TEXT
kaccit sukham satvata-vrsni-bhojadasarhakanam
adhipah sa aste
yam abhyasincac chata-patra-netro
nrpasanasam parihrtya durat
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; sukham–is all well; satvata–the Satvata race;
vrsni–the Vrsni dynasty; bhoja–the Bhoja dynasty; dasarhakanam–the
Dasarha race; adhipah–King Ugrasena; sah–he; aste–does exist; yam–
whom; abhyasincat–installed; sata-patra-netrah–Lord Sri Krsna; nrpaasana-
asam–hope of the royal throne; parihrtya–giving up; durat–at a
distant place.
TRANSLATION
O my friend, [tell me] whether Ugrasena, the King of the Satvatas,
Vrsnis, Bhojas and Dasarhas, is now doing well. He went far away from his
kingdom, leaving aside all hopes of his royal throne, but Lord Krsna
again installed him.
TEXT 30
TEXT
kaccid dhareh saumya sutah sadrksa
aste ‘grani rathinam sadhu sambah
asuta yam jambavati vratadhya
devam guham yo ‘mbikaya dhrto ‘gre
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead; saumya–O grave
one; sutah–son; sadrksah–similar; aste–fares well; agranih–foremost;
rathinam–of the warriors; sadhu–well behaved; sambah–Samba; asuta–
gave birth; yam–whom; jambavati–Jambavati, a queen of Lord Krsna’s;
vratadhya–enriched by vows; devam–the demigod; guham–of the name
Karttikeya; yah–whom; ambikaya–unto the wife of Siva; dhrtah–born;
agre–in the previous birth.
TRANSLATION
O gentle one, does Samba fare well? He exactly resembles the son of
the Personality of Godhead. In a previous birth he was born as Karttikeya
in the womb of the wife of Lord Siva, and now he has been born in the
womb of Jambavati, the most enriched wife of Krsna.TEXT 31
TEXT
ksemam sa kaccid yuyudhana aste
yah phalgunal labdha-dhanu-rahasyah
lebhe ‘njasadhoksaja-sevayaiva
gatim tadiyam yatibhir durapam
SYNONYMS
ksemam–all good; sah–he; kaccit–whether; yuyudhanah–Satyaki; aste-
-is there; yah–one who; phalgunat–from Arjuna; labdha–has achieved;
dhanuh-rahasyah–one who understands the intricacies of military art;
lebhe–also achieved; anjasa–summarily; adhoksaja–of the Transcendence;
sevaya–by service; eva–certainly; gatim–destination; tadiyam–
transcendental; yatibhih–by great renouncers; durapam–very difficult to
achieve.
TRANSLATION
O Uddhava, does Yuyudhana fare well? He learned the intricacies of the
military art from Arjuna and attained the transcendental destination
which is very difficult to reach even for great renouncers.TEXT 32
TEXT
kaccid budhah svasty anamiva aste
svaphalka-putro bhagavat-prapannah
yah krsna-padankita-marga-pamsusv
acestata prema-vibhinna-dhairyah
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; budhah–very learned; svasti–well; anamivah–
faultless; aste–does exist; svaphalka-putrah–the son of Svaphalka,
Akrura; bhagavat–regarding the Personality of Godhead; prapannah–
surrendered; yah–one who; krsna–the Lord; pada-ankita–marked with
footprints; marga–path; pamsusu–in the dust; acestata–exhibited;
prema-vibhinna–lost in transcendental love; dhairyah–mental
equilibrium.
TRANSLATION
Please tell me whether Akrura, the son of Svaphalka, is doing well. He
is a faultless soul surrendered unto the Personality of Godhead. He once
lost his mental equilibrium due to his ecstasy of transcendental love and
fell down on the dust of a road which was marked with the footprints of
Lord Krsna.TEXT 33
TEXT
kaccic chivam devaka-bhoja-putrya
visnu-prajaya iva deva-matuh
ya vai sva-garbhena dadhara devam
trayi yatha yajna-vitanam artham
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; sivam–everything well; devaka-bhoja-putryah–of the
daughter of King Devaka-bhoja; visnu-prajayah–of she who gave birth to
the Personality of Godhead; iva–like that of; deva-matuh–of the mother
of the demigods (Aditi); ya–one who; vai–indeed; sva-garbhena–by her
own womb; dadhara–conceived; devam–the Supreme Lord; trayi–the Vedas;
yatha–as much as; yajna-vitanam–of spreading the sacrifice; artham–
purpose.
TRANSLATION
As the Vedas are the reservoir of sacrificial purposes, so the
daughter of King Devaka-bhoja conceived the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in her womb, as did the mother of the demigods. Is she [Devaki]
doing well?TEXT 34
TEXT
apisvid aste bhagavan sukham vo
yah satvatam kama-dugho ‘niruddhah
yam amananti sma hi sabda-yonim
mano-mayam sattva-turiya-tattvam
SYNONYMS
api–as also; svit–whether; aste–does He; bhagavan–the Personality
of Godhead; sukham–all happiness; vah–of you; yah–one who; satvatam–
of the devotees; kama-dughah–source of all desires; aniruddhah–the
plenary expansion Aniruddha; yam–whom; amananti–they accept; sma–from
yore; hi–certainly; sabda-yonim–the cause of the Rg Veda; manah-mayam–
creator of the mind; sattva–transcendental; turiya–the fourth
expansion; tattvam–principle.
TRANSLATION
May I inquire whether Aniruddha is doing well? He is the fulfiller of
all the desires of the pure devotees and has been considered from yore to
be the cause of the Rg Veda, the creator of the mind and the fourth
Plenary expansion of Visnu.TEXT 35
TEXT
apisvid anye ca nijatma-daivam
ananya-vrttya samanuvrata ye
hrdika-satyatmaja-carudesnagadadayah
svasti caranti saumya
SYNONYMS
api–as also; svit–whether; anye–others; ca–and; nija-atma–of
one’s own self; daivam–Sri Krsna; ananya–absolutely; vrttya–faith;
samanuvratah–followers; ye–all those who; hrdika–Hrdika; satya-atmaja-
-the son of Satyabhama; carudesna–Carudesna; gada–Gada; adayah–and
others; svasti–all well; caranti–pass time; saumya–O sober one.
TRANSLATION
O sober one, others, such as Hrdika, Carudesna, Gada and the son of
Satyabhama, who accept Lord Sri Krsna as the soul of the self and thus
follow His path without deviation–are they well?
TEXT 36
TEXT
api sva-dorbhyam vijayacyutabhyam
dharmena dharmah paripati setum
duryodhano ‘tapyata yat-sabhayam
samrajya-laksmya vijayanuvrttya
SYNONYMS
api–as also; sva-dorbhyam–own arms; vijaya–Arjuna; acyuta-bhyam–
along with Sri Krsna; dharmena–on religious principles; dharmah–King
Yudhisthira; paripati–maintains; setum–the respect of religion;
duryodhanah–Duryodhana; atapyata–envied; yat–whose; sabhayam–royal
assembly; samrajya–imperial; laksmya–opulence; vijaya-anuvrttya–by the
service of Arjuna.
TRANSLATION
Also let me inquire whether Maharaja Yudhisthira is now maintaining
the kingdom according to religious principles and with respect for the
path of religion. Formerly Duryodhana was burning with envy because
Yudhisthira was being protected by the arms of Krsna and Arjuna as if
they were his own arms.TEXT 37
TEXT
kim va krtaghesv agham atyamarsi
bhimo ‘hivad dirghatamam vyamuncat
yasyanghri-patam rana-bhur na sehe
margam gadayas carato vicitram
SYNONYMS
kim–whether; va–either; krta–performed; aghesu–unto the sinners;
agham–angry; ati-amarsi–unconquerable; bhimah–Bhima; ahi-vat–like a
cobra; dirgha-tamam–long-cherished; vyamuncat–has released; yasya–
whose; anghri-patam–putting on the steps; rana-bhuh–the field of
battle; na–could not; sehe–tolerate; margam–the path; gadayah–by the
clubs; caratah–playing; vicitram–wonderful.
TRANSLATION
[Please tell me] whether the unconquerable Bhima, who is like a cobra,
has released his long-cherished anger upon the sinners? The field of
battle could not tolerate even the wonderful playing of his club when he
stepped on the path.TEXT 38
TEXT
kaccid yasodha ratha-yuthapanam
gandiva-dhanvoparatarir aste
alaksito yac-chara-kuta-gudho
maya-kirato girisas tutosa
SYNONYMS
kaccit–whether; yasah-dha–famous; ratha-yuthapanam–amongst the
great chariot warriors; gandiva–Gandiva; dhanva–bow; uparata-arih–one
who has vanquished the enemies; aste–doing well; alaksitah–without
being identified; yat–whose; sara-kuta-gudhah–being covered by arrows;
maya-kiratah–false hunter; girisah–Lord Siva; tutosa–was satisfied.
TRANSLATION
[Please tell me] whether Arjuna, whose bow bears the name Gandiva and
who is always famous amongst the chariot warriors for vanquishing his
enemies, is doing well. He once satisfied Lord Siva by covering him with
arrows when Siva came as an unidentified false hunter.TEXT 39
TEXT
yamav utasvit tanayau prthayah
parthair vrtau paksmabhir aksiniva
remata uddaya mrdhe sva-riktham
parat suparnav iva vajri-vaktrat
SYNONYMS
yamau–twins (Nakula and Sahadeva); utasvit–whether; tanayau–sons;
prthayah–of Prtha; parthaih–by the sons of Prtha; vrtau–protected;
paksmabhih–by shields; aksini–of the eyes; iva–like; remate–playing
carelessly; uddaya–snatching; mrdhe–in the fight; sva-riktham–own
property; parat–from the enemy Duryodhana; suparnau–Garuda, the carrier
of Lord Visnu; iva–like; vajri-vaktrat–from the mouth of Indra.
TRANSLATION
Are the twin brothers who are protected by their brothers doing well?
Just as the eye is always protected by the eyelid, they are protected by
the sons of Prtha, who snatched back their rightful kingdom from the
hands of their enemy Duryodhana, just as Garuda snatched nectar from the
mouth of Indra, the thunderbolt carrier.TEXT 40
TEXT
aho prthapi dhriyate ‘rbhakarthe
rajarsi-varyena vinapi tena
yas tv eka-viro ‘dhiratho vijigye
dhanur dvitiyah kakubhas catasrah
SYNONYMS
aho–O my lord; prtha–Kunti; api–also; dhriyate–bears her life;
arbhaka-arthe–for the sake of fatherless children; rajarsi–King Pandu;
varyena–the best; vina api–without him; tena–him; yah–one who; tu–
but; eka–alone; virah–the warrior; adhirathah–commander; vijigye–
could conquer; dhanuh–the bow; dvitiyah–the second; kakubhah–
directions; catasrah–four.
TRANSLATION
O my lord, is Prtha still living? She lived only for the sake of her
fatherless children; otherwise it was impossible for her to live without
King Pandu, who was the greatest commander and who alone conquered the
four directions simply with the help of a second bow.TEXT 41
TEXT
saumyanusoce tam adhah-patantam
bhratre paretaya vidudruhe yah
niryapito yena suhrt sva-purya
aham sva-putran samanuvratena
SYNONYMS
saumya–O gentle one; anusoce–just lamenting; tam–him; adhahpatantam–
gliding down; bhratre–on his brother’s; paretaya–death;
vidudruhe–revolted against; yah–one who; niryapitah–driven out; yena–
by whom; suhrt–well-wisher; sva-puryah–from his own house; aham–
myself; sva-putran–with his own sons; samanu-vratena–accepting the same
line of action.
TRANSLATION
O gentle one, I simply lament for he [Dhrtarastra] who rebelled
against his brother after death. By him I was driven out of my own house,
although I am his sincere well-wisher, because he accepted the line of
action adopted by his own sons.TEXT 42
TEXT
so ‘ham harer martya-vidambanena
drso nrnam calayato vidhatuh
nanyopalaksyah padavim prasadac
carami pasyan gata-vismayo ‘tra
SYNONYMS
sah aham–therefore, I; hareh–of the Personality of Godhead; martya–
in this mortal world; vidambanena–without being recognized; drsah–on
sight; nrnam–of the people in general; calayatah–bewildering; vidhatuh-
-in order to do it; na–not; anya–other; upalaksyah–seen by others;
padavim–glories; prasadat–by the grace of; carami–do travel; pasyan–
by seeing; gata-vismayah–without doubt; atra–in this matter.
TRANSLATION
I am not astonished at this, having traveled over the world without
being seen by others. The activities of the Personality of Godhead, which
are like those of a man in this mortal world, are bewildering to others,
but I know of His greatness by His grace, and thus I am happy in all
respects.TEXT 43
TEXT
nunam nrpanam tri-madotpathanam
mahim muhus calayatam camubhih
vadhat prapannarti-jihirsayeso
‘py upaiksatagham bhagavan kurunam
SYNONYMS
nunam–of course; nrpanam–of the kings; tri–three; mada-utpathanam–
going astray out of false pride; mahim–earth; muhuh–constantly;
calayatam–agitating; camubhih–by movement of soldiers; vadhat–from the
act of killing; prapanna–surrendered; arti-jihirsaya–willing to relieve
the distress of the sufferers; isah–the Lord; api–in spite of;
upaiksata–waited; agham–offenses; bhagavan–the Supreme Lord; kurunam–
of the Kurus.
TRANSLATION
Despite His being the Lord and being always willing to relieve the
distress of sufferers, He [Krsna] refrained from killing the Kurus,
although they committed all sorts of sins and although He saw other kings
constantly agitating the earth by their strong military movements carried
out under the dictation of three kinds of false pride.TEXT 44
TEXT
ajasya janmotpatha-nasanaya
karmany akartur grahanaya pumsam
nanv anyatha ko ‘rhati deha-yogam
paro gunanam uta karma-tantram
SYNONYMS
ajasya–of the unborn; janma–appearance; utpatha-nasanaya–f or the
sake of annihilating the upstarts; karmani–works; akartuh–of one who
has nothing to do; grahanaya–to take up; pumsam–of all persons; nanu
anyatha–otherwise; kah–who; arhati–may deserve; deha-yogam–contact of
the body; parah–transcendental; gunanam–of the three modes of nature;
uta–what to speak of; karma-tantram–the law of action and reaction.
TRANSLATION
The appearance of the Lord is manifested for the annihilation of the
upstarts. His activities are transcendental and are enacted for the
understanding of all persons. Otherwise, since the Lord is transcendental
to all material modes, what purpose could He serve by coming to earth?TEXT 45
TEXT
tasya prapannakhila-lokapanam
avasthitanam anusasane sve
arthaya jatasya yadusv ajasya
vartam sakhe kirtaya tirtha-kirteh
SYNONYMS
tasya–His; prapanna–surrendered; akhila-loka-panam–all rulers of
the entire universe; avasthitanam–situated in; anusasane–under the
control of; sve–own self; arthaya–for the interest of; jatasya–of the
born; yadusu–in the family of the Yadus; ajasya–of the unborn; vartam–
topics; sakhe–O my friend; kirtaya–please narrate; tirtha-kirteh–of
the Lord, whose glories are chanted in the places of pilgrimage.
TRANSLATION
O my friend, please, therefore, chant the glories of the Lord, who is
meant to be glorified in the places of pilgrimage. He is unborn, and yet
He appears by His causeless mercy upon the surrendered rulers of all
parts of the universe. Only for their interest did He appear in the
family of His unalloyed devotees the Yadus.
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