1–çré-çuka uväca
ekadä päëòavän drañöuà
pratétän puruñottamaù
indraprasthaà gataù çåémän
yuyudhänädibhir våtaù
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: Once, the supremely opulent Personality of
Godhead went to Indraprastha to visit the Päëòavas, who had again appeared in
public. Accompanying the Lord were Yuyudhäna and other associates.
2–dåñövä tam ägataà pärthä
mukundam akhileçvaram
uttasthur yugapad véräù
präëä mukhyam ivägatam
When the Päëòavas saw that Lord Mukunda had arrived, those heroic sons
of Påthä all stood up at once, like the senses responding to the return of the life
air.
3–pariñvajyäcyutaà vérä
aìga-saìga-hatainasaù
sänuräga-smitaà vaktraà
vékñya tasya mudaà yayuù
The heroes embraced Lord Acyuta, and the touch of His body freed them of
sin. Looking at His affectionate, smiling face, they were overwhelmed with joy.
4–yudhiñöhirasya bhémasya
kåtvä pädäbhivandanam
phälgunaà parirabhyätha
yamäbhyäà cäbhivanditaù
After the Lord bowed down at the feet of Yudhiñöhira and Bhéma and firmly
embraced Arjuna, He accepted obeisances from the twin brothers, Nakula and
Sahadeva.
5–paramäsana äsénaà
kåñëä kåñëam aninditä
navoòhä vréòitä kiïcic
chanair etyäbhyavandata
Faultless Draupadé, the Päëòavas’ newly married wife, slowly and somewhat
timidly approached Lord Kåñëa, who sat on an exalted seat, and offered Him
her obeisances.
6–tathaiva sätyakiù pärthaiù
püjitaç cäbhivanditaù
niñasädäsane ‘nye ca
püjitäù paryupäsata
Sätyaki also accepted a seat of honor after receiving worship and welcome
from the Päëòavas, and the Lord’s other companions, being duly honored, sat
down in various places
7–påthäm samägatya kåtäbhivädanas
tayäti-härdärdra-dåçäbhirambhitaù
äpåñöaväàs täà kuçalaà saha-snuñäà
pitå-ñvasäram paripåñöa-bändhavaù
The Lord then went to see His aunt, Queen Kunté. He bowed down to her
and she embraced Him, her eyes moist with great affection. Lord Kåñëa
inquired from her and her daughter-in-law, Draupadé, about their welfare, and
they in turn questioned Him at length about His relatives [in Dvärakä].
8–tam äha prema-vaiklavyaruddha-
kaëöhäçru-locanä
smaranté tän bahün kleçän
kleçäpäyätma-darçanam
So overcome by love that her throat choked up and her eyes filled with tears,
Queen Kunté remembered the many troubles she and her sons had endured.
Thus she addressed Lord Kåñëa, who appears before His devotees to drive away
their distress
9–tadaiva kuçalaà no ‘bhüt
sa-näthäs te kåtä vayam
jïatén naù smaratä kåñëa
bhrätä me preñitas tvayä
[Queen Kunté said:] My dear Kåñëa, our welfare was assured only when You
remembered us, Your relatives, and gave us Your protection by sending my
brother to visit us.
10–na te ‘sti sva-para-bhräntir
viçvasya suhåd-ätmanaù
tathäpi smaratäà çaçvat
kleçän haàsi hådi sthitaù
For You, the well-wishing friend and Supreme Soul of the universe, there is
never any illusion of “us” and “them.” Yet even so, residing within the hearts
of all, You eradicate the sufferings of those who remember You constantly.
11–yudhiñöhira uväca
kià na äcaritaà çreyo
na vedäham adhéçvara
yogeçvaräëäà durdarço
yan no dåñöaù ku-medhasäm
King Yudhiñöhira said: O supreme controller, I do not know what pious
deeds we fools have done so that we can see You, whom the masters of yogic
perfection rarely see.
12–iti vai värñikän mäsän
räjïä so ‘bhyarthitaù sukham
janayan nayanänandam
indraprasthaukasäà vibhuù
Requested by the King to stay with them, the almighty Lord remained
happily in Indraprastha during the months of the rainy season, giving joy to the
eyes of the city’s residents.
13/14–ekadä ratham äruhya
vijayo vänara-dhvajam
gäëòévaà dhanur ädäya
tüëau cäkñaya-säyakau
säkaà kåñëena sannaddho
vihartuà vipinaà mahat
bahu-vyäla-mågäkérëaà
präviçat para-véra-hä
Once Arjuna, the slayer of powerful enemies, donned his armor, mounted
his chariot flying the flag of Hanumän, took up his bow and his two
inexhaustible quivers, and went to sport with Lord Kåñëa in a large forest filled
with fierce animals.
15–taträvidhyac charair vyäghrän
çükarän mahiñän rurün
çarabhän gavayän khaògän
hariëän çaça-çallakän
With his arrows Arjuna shot tigers, boars and buffalo in that forest, along
with rurus, çarabhas, gavayas, rhinoceroses, black deer, rabbits and porcupines.
16–tän ninyuù kiìkarä räjïe
medhyän parvaëy upägate
tåö-parétaù pariçränto
bibhatsur yamunäm agät
A crew of servants carried to King Yudhiñöhira the slain animals fit to be
offered in sacrifice on some special occasion. Then, feeling thirsty and tired,
Arjuna went to the bank of the Yamunä.
17–tatropaspåçya viçadaà
pétvä väri mahä-rathau
kåñëau dadåçatuù kanyäà
carantéà cäru-darçanäm
After the two Kåñëas bathed there, they drank the river’s clear water. The
great warriors then saw an attractive young girl walking nearby.
18–täm äsädya varärohäà
su-dvijäà ruciränanäm
papraccha preñitaù sakhyä
phälgunaù pramadottamäm
Sent by his friend, Arjuna approached the exceptional young woman, who
possessed beautiful hips, fine teeth and a lovely face, and inquired from her as
follows.
19–kä tvaà kasyäsi su-çroëi
kuto vä kià cikérñasi
manye tväà patim icchantéà
sarvaà kathaya çobhane
[Arjuna said:] Who are you, O fine-waisted lady? Whose daughter are you,
and where do you come from? What are you doing here? I think you must be
looking for a husband. Please explain everything, O beautiful one.
20–çré-kälindy uväca
ahaà devasya savitur
duhitä patim icchaté
viñëuà vareëyaà vara-daà
tapaù paramam ästhitaù
Çré Kälindé said: I am the daughter of the sun-god. I desire to get as my
husband the most excellent and munificent Lord Viñëu, and to that end I am
performing severe penances.
21–nänyaà patià våëe véra
tam åte çré-niketanam
tuñyatäà me sa bhagavän
mukundo ‘nätha-saàçrayaù
I will accept no husband other than Him, the abode of the goddess of
fortune. May that Mukunda, the Supreme Personality, the shelter of the
helpless, be pleased with me.
22–kälindéti samäkhyätä
vasämi yamunä-jale
nirmite bhavane piträ
yävad acyuta-darçanam
I am known as Kälindé, and I live in a mansion my father built for me within
the water of the Yamunä. There I will stay until I meet Lord Acyuta.
23–tathävadad guòäkeço
väsudeväya so ‘pi täm
ratham äropya tad-vidvän
dharma-räjam upägamat
[Çukadeva Gosvämé continued:] Arjuna repeated all this to Lord Väsudeva,
who was already aware of it. The Lord then took Kälindé onto His chariot and
went back to see King Yudhiñöhira.
24–yadaiva kåñëaù sandiñöaù
pärthänäà paramädbutam
kärayäm äsa nagaraà
vicitraà viçvakarmaëä
[Describing a previous incident, Çukadeva Gosvämé said:] Upon the request
of the Päëòavas, Lord Kåñëa had Viçvakarmä build them a most wonderful and
amazing city.
25–bhagaväàs tatra nivasan
svänäà priya-cikérñayä
agnaye khäëòavaà dätum
arjunasyäsa särathiù
The Supreme Lord stayed in that city for some time to please His devotees.
On one occasion, Çré Kåñëa wanted to give the Khäëòava forest as a gift to
Agni, and so the Lord became Arjuna’s charioteer.
26–so ‘gnis tuñöo dhanur adäd
dhayän çvetän rathaà nåpa
arjunäyäkñayau tüëau
varma cäbhedyam astribhiù
Being pleased, O King, Lord Agni presented Arjuna with a bow, a set of
white horses, a chariot, a pair of inexhaustible quivers, and armor that no
fighter could pierce with weapons.
27–mayaç ca mocito vahneù
sabhäà sakhya upäharat
yasmin duryodhanasyäséj
jala-sthala-dåçi-bhramaù
When the demon Maya was saved from the fire by his friend Arjuna, Maya
presented him with an assembly hall, in which Duryodhana would later mistake
water for a solid floor.
28–sa tena samanujïätaù
suhådbhiç cänumoditaù
äyayau dvärakäà bhüyaù
sätyaki-pramakhair våtaù
Then Lord Kåñëa, given leave by Arjuna and other well-wishing relatives
and friends, returned to Dvärakä with Sätyaki and the rest of His entourage.
29–athopayeme kälindéà
su-puëya-rtv-åkña ürjite
vitanvan paramänandaà
svänäà parama-maìgalaù
The supremely auspicious Lord then married Kälindé on a day when the
season, the lunar asterism and the configurations of the sun and other heavenly
bodies were all propitious. In this way He brought the greatest pleasure to His
devotees.
30–vindyänuvindyäv ävantyau
duryodhana-vaçänugau
svayaà-vare sva-bhaginéà
kåñëe saktäà nyañedhatäm
Vindya and Anuvindya, who shared the throne of Avanté, were followers of
Duryodhana’s. When the time came for their sister [Mitravindä] to select her
husband in the svayaàvara ceremony, they forbade her to choose Kåñëa,
although she was attracted to Him.
31–räjädhidevyäs tanayäà
mitravindäà pitå-ñvasuù
prasahya håtavän kåñëo
räjan räjïäà prapaçyatäm
My dear King, Lord Kåñëa forcibly took away Princess Mitravindä, the
daughter of His aunt Räjädhidevé, before the eyes of the rival kings.
32–nagnajin näma kauçalya
äséd räjäti-dhärmikaù
tasya satyäbhavat kanyä
devé nägnajité nåpa
O King, Nagnajit, the very pious King of Kauçalya, had a lovely daughter
named Satyä, or Nägnajité.
33–na täà çekur nåpä voòhum
ajitvä sapta-go-våñän
tékñëa-çåìgän su-durdharñän
vérya-gandhäsahän khalän
The kings who came as suitors were not allowed to marry her unless they
could subdue seven sharp-horned bulls. These bulls were extremely vicious and
uncontrollable, and they could not tolerate even the smell of warriors.
34–täà çrutvä våña-jil-labhyäà
bhagavän sätvatäà patiù
jagäma kauçalya-puraà
sainyena mahatä våtaù
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the Vaiñëavas,
heard of the princess who was to be won by the conqueror of the bulls, He went
to the capital of Kauçalya with a large army.
35–sa koçala-patiù prétaù
pratyutthänäsanädibhiù
arhaëenäpi guruëä
püjayan pratinanditaù
The King of Koçala, pleased to see Lord Kåñëa, worshiped Him by rising
from his throne and offering Him a seat of honor and substantial gifts. Lord
Kåñëa also greeted the King respectfully.
36–varaà vilokyäbhimataà samägataà
narendra-kanyä cakame ramä-patim
bhüyäd ayaà me patir äçiño ‘nalaù
karotu satyä yadi me dhåto vrataù
When the King’s daughter saw that most agreeable suitor arrive, she
immediately desired to have Him, the Lord of Goddess Räma. She prayed, “May
He become my husband. If I have kept my vows, may the sacred fire bring
about the fulfillment of my hopes.
37–yat-päda-paìkaja-rajaù çirasä bibharti
çåér abya-jaù sa-giriçaù saha loka-pälaiù
lélä-tanuù sva-kåta-setu-parépsayä yaù
käle ‘dadhat sa bhagavän mama kena tuñyet
“Goddess Lakñmé, Lord Brahma, Lord Çiva and the rulers of the various
planets place the dust of His lotus feet on their heads, and to protect the codes
of religion, which He has created, He assumes pastime incarnations at various
times. How may that Supreme Personality of Godhead become pleased with
me?”
38–arcitaà punar ity äha
näräyaëa jagat-pate
ätmänandena pürëasya
karaväëi kim alpakaù
King Nagnajit first worshiped the Lord properly and then addressed Him:
“O Näräyaëa, Lord of the universe, You are full in Your own spiritual pleasure.
Therefore what can this insignificant person do for You?”
39–çré-çuka uväca
tam äha bhagavän håñöaù
kåtäsana-parigrahaù
megha-gambhérayä väcä
sa-smitaà kuru-nandana
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: O beloved descendant of Kuru, the Supreme Lord
was pleased, and after accepting a comfortable seat He smiled and addressed the
King in a voice as deep as the rumbling of a cloud.
40–çré-bhagavän uväca
narendra yäcïä kavibhir vigarhitä
räjanya-bandhor nija-dharma-vartinaù
tathäpi yäce tava sauhådecchayä
kanyäà tvadéyäà na hi çulka-dä vayam
The Supreme Lord said: O ruler of men, learned authorities condemn
begging for a person in the royal order who is executing his religious duties.
Even so, desiring your friendship, I ask you for your daughter, though We offer
no gifts in exchange.
41–çré-räjoväca
ko ‘nyas te ‘bhyadhiko nätha
kanyä-vara ihepsitaù
guëaika-dhämno yasyäìge
çrér vasaty anapäyiné
The King said: My Lord, who could be a better husband for my daughter
than You, the exclusive abode of all transcendental qualities? On Your body the
goddess of fortune herself resides, never leaving You for any reason.
42–kintv asmäbhiù kåtaù pürvaà
samayaù sätvatarñabha
puàsäà vérya-parékñärthaà
kanyä-vara-parépsayä
But to ascertain the proper husband for my daughter, O chief of the
Sätvatas, we previously set a condition to test the prowess of her suitors.
43–saptaite go-våñä véra
durdäntä duravagrahäù
etair bhagnäù su-bahavo
bhinna-gäträ nåpätmajäù
These seven wild bulls are impossible to tame, O hero. They have defeated
many princes, breaking their limbs.
44–yad ime nigåhétäù syus
tvayaiva yadu-nandana
varo bhavän abhimato
duhitur me çriyaù-pate
If You can subdue them, O descendant of Yadu, You will certainly be the
appropriate bridegroom for my daughter, O Lord of Çré.
45–evaà samayam äkarëya
baddhvä parikaraà prabhuù
ätmänaà saptadhä kåtvä
nyagåhëäl lélayaiva tän
Upon hearing these terms, the Lord tightened His clothing, expanded
Himself into seven forms and easily subdued the bulls.
46–baddhvä tän dämabhiù çaurir
bhagna-darpän hataujasaù
vyakarsal lélayä baddhän
bälo däru-mayän yathä
Lord Çauri tied up the bulls, whose pride and strength were now broken, and
pulled them with ropes just as a child playfully pulls wooden toy bulls.
47-tataù prétaù sutäà räjä
dadau kåñëäya vismitaù
täà pratyagåhëäd bhagavän
vidhi-vat sadåçéà prabhuù
Then King Nagnajit, pleased and astonished, presented his daughter to Lord
Kåñëa. The Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted this suitable bride in the
proper Vedic fashion.
48–räja-patnyaç ca duhituù
kåñëaà labdhvä priyaà patim
lebhire paramänandaà
jätaç ca paramotsavaù
The King’s wives felt the greatest ecstasy upon attaining Lord Kåñëa as the
dear husband of the royal princess, and a mood of great festivity arose.
49–çaìkha-bhery-änakä nedur
géta-vädya-dvijäçiñaù
narä näryaù pramuditäù
suväsaù-srag-alaìkåtäù
Conchshells, horns and drums resounded, along with vocal and instrumental
music and the sounds of brähmaëas, invoking blessings. The joyful men and
women adorned themselves with fine clothing and garlands
50/51–daça-dhenu-sahasräëi
päribarham adäd vibhuù
yuvaténäà tri-sähasraà
niñka-gréva-suväsasam
nava-näga-sahasräëi
nägäc chata-guëän rathän
rathäc chata-guëän açvän
açväc chata-guëän narän
As the dowry, powerful King Nagnajit gave ten thousand cows, three
thousand young maidservants wearing golden ornaments on their necks and
bedecked in fine clothing, nine thousand elephants, a hundred times as many
chariots as elephants, a hundred times as many horses as chariots, and a
hundred times as many manservants as horses.
52–dampaté ratham äropya
mahatyä senayä våtau
sneha-praklinna-hådayo
yäpayäm äsa koçalaù
The King of Koçala, his heart melting with affection, had the bride and
groom seated on their chariot, and then he sent them on their way surrounded
by a great army.
53–çrutvaitad rurudhur bhüpä
nayantaà pathi kanyakäm
bhagna-véryäù su-durmarñä
yadubhir go-våñaiù purä
When the intolerant kings who had been rival suitors heard what had
happened, they tried to stop Lord Kåñëa on the road as He took His bride home.
But just as the bulls had broken the kings’ strength before, the Yadu warriors
broke it now.
54–tän asyataù çara-vrätän
bandhu-priya-kåd arjunaù
gäëòévé kälayäm äsa
siàhaù kñudra-mågän iva
Arjuna, wielder of the Gäëòéva bow, was always eager to please his friend
Kåñëa, and thus he drove back those opponents, who were shooting torrents of
arrows at the Lord. He did this just as a lion drives away insignificant animals.
55–päribarham upägåhya
dvärakäm etya satyayä
reme yadünäm åñabho
bhagavän devaké-sutaù
Lord Devaké-suta, the chief of the Yadus, then took His dowry and Satyä to
Dvärakä and continued to live there happily.
56–çrutakérteù sutäà bhadräà
upayeme pitå-ñvasuù
kaikeyéà bhrätåbhir dattäà
kåñëaù santardanädibhiù
Bhadrä was a princess of the Kaikeya kingdom and the daughter of Lord
Kåñëa’s paternal aunt Çrutakérti. The Lord married Bhadrä when her brothers,
headed by Santardana, offered her to Him.
57–sutäà ca madrädhipater
lakñmaëäà lakñaëair yatäm
svayaà-vare jahäraikaù
sa suparëaù sudhäm iva
Then the Lord married Lakñmaëä, the daughter of the King of Madra. Kåñëa
appeared alone at her svayaàvara ceremony and took her away, just as Garuòa
once stole the demigods’ nectar.
58–anyäç caivaà-vidhä bhäryäù
kåñëasyäsan sahasraçaù
bhaumaà hatvä tan-nirodhäd
ähåtäç cäru-darçanäù
Lord Kåñëa also acquired thousands of other wives equal to these when He
killed Bhaumäsura and freed the beautiful maidens the demon was holding
captive.
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