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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 22, 2021 12:07:33 GMT -6
SB.X.XLVI. 27-29. A short narrative passage joining the the foregoing speech of Nanda to the forthcoming speech of Uddhava.
Sri Suka said; Thus recalling again and yet again, Nanda was immersed in exquisite pain, His mind engrossed in Krishna fervently, And silent, fell into anxiety. 27
When Yashoda of the exploits had heard Of her son, she was with affection stirred; She felt the pangs of a fond mother's woe, Tears from her eyes, milk from her breast did flow. 28
Observing how their love was manifest, He deemed Nanda and Yashoda most blest; And how by love they were disquieted, Thus Uddhava to Nanda joyful said. 29
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 22, 2021 12:55:17 GMT -6
SB.X.XLVI. 30-31. Commencing Uddhava's eulogy to Nanda and Yashoda.
Sri Uddhava said; Ye are both worthy of highest renown Among all beings, since you make your own, Narayana, the universal Lord; And this I deem the supremest reward.30
Rama and Mukunda are both the seed And repository whence all proceed; They are primal nature and nature's Lord, And enter in all beings with accord; These two are both the primal ancient One, Creator controlling the creation. 31
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 22, 2021 16:10:01 GMT -6
SB.X.XLVI. 32-39. Continuing Uddhava's long didactic speech of exhortation.
Whoso when life and body separate, And even for a moment meditate, And even though their minds may be impure, Release from action's bondage they secure. Then freed from every blemish and distain, A sun-like form of Brahman they attain. 32
But ye both have the supreme Self achieved, And the grace of Narayana received, Who is the final cause of existence, Born as a mortal under some pretense. Great love for him is engendered in you, O great ones! what remains for you to do? 33
Quite soon will come the infallible Lord, To Vraja, and satisfaction afford; The Almighty whom Sattvatas revere, Will greet with honour his fond parents dear. 34
Having slain vile Kamsa and laid him low, Who was to all the Sattvatas the foe, Krishna, the truth of his word to maintain, Will certainly come back to you again. 35
Therefore, O blessed ones, do not lament, You shall see Krishna when he is present; He dwells in all hearts, be it understood, As fire remains latent within wood. 36
There are none to him more agreeable, No one to him is disagreeable; He does not apprehend the high or low, But always doth to others honour show. 37
He has no mother, father, wife, nor son, He is not related to anyone; No one to him is stranger or a friend, He has no body, nor birth and no end. 38
He has no obligation to fulfill, Nor is he born in species good or ill, But to secure safety of holy ones, He manifests playful incarnations. 39
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 23, 2021 4:25:59 GMT -6
SB.X.XLVI. 40-43. Concluding Uddhava's speech addressed to Nanda and Yashoda.
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas, the gunas three, He transcends as supreme divinity; Assuming these as instrumental cause, In play, the birthless, creates and withdraws. 40
For one spinning upon the steady ground, It seemeth that the world is whirling round, Even so by the ego-sense confined, He thinks himself the agent but in mind. 41
Illustrious Hari is not your son; But he is the father of everyone. Indeed he is father, mother and soul, The supreme ruler of this mighty whole. 42
There is nothing that can be heard or seen, That shall be and what is, what shall have been; Nor the great nor the small nor immobile, And no entity among the mobile; Aside from Acyuta no thing subsists, The Supreme Self in whom all this exists. 43
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 23, 2021 5:44:16 GMT -6
SB.X.XLVI. Continuing with the narrative portion, Uddhava having finished his speech. 44-46. There aught really to be a 'Sri Suka said', but the original does not have it. The reason I say it should is that the only time it would normally be omitted is when the text itself clearly states 'so and so said'. That not being evident here it should have. Sri Suka said; As Nanda and Krishna's friend, in delight, Passed by in conversation the whole night, The cowherd damsels rose at early morn, And lighted lamps and matins did perform; They cleansed the house and then set to churning The tasty curds and cream, O my dear king. 44
Those damsels with glistering gems shone bright, Labouring with the ropes in the lamplight, And while they pulled and slackened with their arms, Their bangles make a tinkling sound that charms; Flowing raiment their sturdy thighs bedeck, Their bosoms swayed with garlands round the neck; Pendant earrings diffusive lustre show, Upon their cheeks reflective of the glow; Their faces were with vermilion drawn. And gleamed with radiance as of the dawn. 45
When Vraja's damsels churn the cream and curd, A wonderful and lovely sound is heard, As they sing of the Lord of Lotus-eyes, The strains ascending touch the vaulted skies, And blending in concert harmonious, Drives far away all inauspiciousness. 46
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 23, 2021 17:32:06 GMT -6
Concluding SB.X.XLVI. 47-49.
When Surya illustrious rose on high, To Vraja's gate the eager people hie; They saw the golden car, and in a throng, They made question, 'To whom does it belong?' 47
'Perchance Akrura has come back again, Who, on Kamsa's behest to Vraja came, From the great Madhu-puri on a day, And took the lotus-eyed Krishna away. 48
'His master's obsequies to accomplish, He means, perhaps, to offer up our flesh.' Thus while they spoke Uddhava arrived there, Having dispatched his daily rites with care. 49
Here endeth Canto forty six in book ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 23, 2021 17:44:44 GMT -6
Argument
To Sri Vrindavan Uddhava is sent, Arrives at Nanda's cowherd settlement; Discoursing on Krishna they pass the night; Uddhava praises Nanda with delight; How cowherd damsels at the dawn arise, And glorify the Lord of lotus-eyes; The sun arising spreads genial beams; These are of Canto forty six the themes.
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 28, 2021 22:09:16 GMT -6
I gave away my old copy of Tapasyananda's Bhagavata. six months ago or so to an interested party. Anyway I have been feeling sad about it, so decided to order a brand new edition, which I now have, just waiting for Vol. 4. Everything about it is admirable, the lay out, the binding, the devanagari running along the top half of the page with what seems to me a spirited and lively translation, aside from the odd slip. Well, one verse that set me off was this,
न ह्यस्य कर्हिचिद्राजन् पुमान् वेद विधित्सितम् । यद्विजिज्ञासया युक्ता मुह्यन्ति कवयोऽपि हि ॥ १६ ॥ na hy asya karhicid rājan pumān veda vidhitsitam yad vijijñāsayā yuktā muhyanti kavayo ’pi hi Bhishma commiserating the misfortunes of the Pandavas.
Indeed, O king, none know the Great One's will, Not sages with their intellectual skill; Though seers and poets to know aspire, The mind from such attempts must needs retire. SB.I.9.16
Later on in the same canto is Bhishma's hymn which I had previously worked on, but having revised somewhat and polished the numbers I venture to post it here again.
Srimad Bhagavatam . 1.9.32-43 (Bhishma said) May my mental faculty be consigned, Having the thirst for sense objects resigned, To that almighty and most puissant Lord, Who enjoys in himself, and is adored As chief of the Saatvata dynasty. Who sometime, in playful felicity, Incarnates to perform his wondrous deeds, Albe from him the creation proceeds. 32
May I have fond attraction and hold dear, The cherished object of the triple sphere, Unmotivated, free from vain desire; May I love for Vijaya's friend acquire; Whose person is dark as the Tamal tree, Whose raiment has the luminosity Of the Sun's bright refulgent golden rays, Which, contrasting, his sweet beauty displays. Whose comely face like a lotus unfurls, Beautified with his loose and straying curls. 33
While on the field of battle he remained, His curly locks, dishevelled, were distained By clouds of dust upraised by tramping steeds, His face was dewed with perspiration beads; On his body, his armour, bright of sheen, Received the onslaught of my arrows keen With martial ardour; thus he favoured me, May my soul firm in that Lord Krishna be. 34
Directed by his friend he drove the car Toward the hostile forces in the war And when that mighty Lord had there arrived, His antagonists were of life deprived, By his mere glancing on the hostile train. May I in love with Partha's friend remain! 35
And when his friend the hostile force surveyed, Who were his own kinsmen, he was dismayed; And was by error and folly confused, And the engagement stern would have refused, But the Lord him with divine wisdom cheered, May his feet to me always be endeared. 36
In order to fulfil my earnest vow, His own resolution did disavow; And leapt he from his car in mighty rage, And reared his discus, ready to engage; Like a fierce lion on his prey intent, Assails the regal tusker elephant; And as he did before me forward bound, His upper garment trailed along the ground. 37
Ah me! confronting him upon the field, I launched my sharp arrows and smashed his shield; And wounded him, which roused his angry mood, And drew from him a stream of flowing blood; His fury thus awakened in the strife, He purposed to deprive me of my life; May that Mukunda become pleased with me, And be my final end and destiny. 38
Upon Vijaya's car, with filial care, He did the reigns and whip in his hands bare To guide the steeds; a sight worthy to see, Such sublime beauty and divinity. May I, about to die, his love attain, Whose foes are blest when they by him are slain. 39
The cowherd brides were highly glorified, By their love immaculate dignified; Absorbed in his love gestures and sweet grace, In the delightsome beauty of his face, And imitated how he moved and smiled, And by their love-frenzy where thus beguiled. 40
In the concourse of great sages and kings, When Yudhisthir preffered his offerings, In the grand sacred Rajasuya rite, All onlookers were filled with vast delight. Then he received first honour as was due; Lo! now he stands before my direct view. 41
That birthless one his grace to me imparts, Who dwells in bodies, in the heart of hearts; Who as the Self supreme in all abides, And as the One, in many parts divides; As even by reflected light, the Sun Is seen in receptacles, yet is one. May my meditation in him abide, From differential outlook purified. 42
(Suta said) His faculties of mind and speech and sight, Were absorbed in Krishna, of potent might; His self within the self thus holding fast, The noble god-like Bhishma breathed his last. 43
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 12:38:06 GMT -6
The Raja Pariksit, before making further inquiries to Suka muni, expresses his faith and conviction in the efficacy of hearing the accounts of Hari in words like these,
Whoever of his exploits hears or reads, And faithfully makes study of his deeds, In no long time Hari his grace imparts, And enters in the recess of their hearts. 4
Once having gained entrance into their ears, Lighting upon their lotus-hearts appears, And as the autumn season purifies The waters, the heart Krishna sanctifies. 5
Thoroughly cleansed, the soul with ardour cleaves, To Krishna's foot soles whence he never leaves; As the traveller who doth weary roam, At length arrives, contented, at his home. 3 (SB.2.8.4-6)
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 12:39:10 GMT -6
Suta's observation regarding the conduct of Sameeka rshi, to Saunaka and the sages.
तिरस्कृता विप्रलब्धा: शप्ता: क्षिप्ता हता अपि । नास्य तत् प्रतिकुर्वन्ति तद्भक्ता: प्रभवोऽपि हि ॥ ४८ ॥ tiraskṛtā vipralabdhāḥ śaptāḥ kṣiptā hatā api nāsya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktāḥ prabhavo ’pi hi
He may be cursed, slandered, cheated, defamed, Ill treated and assaulted and arraigned; Though able to retaliate in kind, The devotee to act is disinclined. SB.1.18.48
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 12:39:48 GMT -6
Vidura exhorts his elder brother Dhrtarastra to quit home.
य: स्वकात्परतो वेह जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् । हृदि कृत्वा हरिं गेहात्प्रव्रजेत्स नरोत्तम: ॥ २७ ॥ yaḥ svakāt parato veha jāta-nirveda ātmavān hṛdi kṛtvā hariṁ gehāt pravrajet sa narottamaḥ
The best of men called narottam is he Who having in his heart installed Hari, On the advice of others, or his own, Sets forth, steadfast and self absorbed, from home. (SB.I.13.26 in some 27)
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 12:40:49 GMT -6
Commencing SB.X.47. Bhramara Gita, Ode to the Bee. Here is the introductory passage, connecting the narrative from the previous canto.
Argument
Uddhava the foremost of devotees, Responds to the earnest inquiries; He is astonished to witness and see One of those damsels talking to a bee; He then conveys to them Krishna's message, Which doth their grief of severance assuage; He praises their fortune and love profound In verses that still to this day resound; Then back to the city with gifts repairs; All this canto forty seven declares.
(Sri Suka said) Vraja's damsels, in curiosity, Forgathered to see Krishna's devotee; They saw him handsome with long stately arms, And eyes that show fresh lotus petal's charms; Attired in yellow robes and garlanded With lotuses that sweet fragrances shed; His countenance was like a lotus bright, Reflective of his polished earring's light; With vast astonishment they were beguiled, And questioning each other brightly smiled; 'Who is this handsome noble man we see? Whence is he, and whose attendant is he? Lo! he is dressed in Acyuta's raiment, His decoration and embellishment!' Thus they, and in a throng came forth to greet The one who had attained the lotus-feet Of Uttama-sloka, the worthy Lord, Who is with finest poetry adored. 1/2
With pure bashful glances and modesty, They pleased him with their smiles and pleasantry; They brought a seat, and when seated at ease, They questioned him and made inquiries; In private they urged him his speech address, Sent by the Lord of Ramaa, great Goddess. 3
One edition has suvismita and another sucismita. Easily done I guess. But I think it should be suvismita because pure smiles are brought up in the next sentence, and suvismita has to be there. hahaha Anyway I incorporated them in 'vast astonishment' and 'brightly smiled'.
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 15:09:40 GMT -6
Continuing SB.X.XLVII. 4-11
(The cowherd damsels said;) Having arrived here we know you to be The associate of Yadupati; That you have been commissioned to come here, To comfort his fond parents with good cheer. 4
Indeed, elsewise there is nothing at all In the cow pastures for him to recall, But strong are the bonds of filial ties, And hard to break even for sages wise. 5
Otherwise people friendship but maintain, So long as there is some mutual gain, As lover when fulfilled his lady flees, Ravished flowers deserted are by bees. 6
As even the well adorned courtesan Abandons a good though penniless man, Subjects a king incompetent forswear, No more graduates for their teacher care; When the priest his desired fee receives, He bids farewell and the kind donor leaves. 7
The birds forsake the trees of fruit devoid, The guest after he has his meal enjoyed; The beasts forsake a forest scorched by fire, A damsel is forsworn, though she desire.' 8
The cowherd dames their feelings thus confide, In word and deed and mind identified In Govinda, and Uddhava surround, Krishna's envoy, by fond attachment bound. They put aside all modesty and shame, And weeping, sang of their beloved's fame; Absorbed in recollection and love's pang, Of his boyhood and adolescence sang. 9/10
One of them saw a straying honey bee, And took it for Krishna's envoy to be; In her deep absorption disquieted, In wild fantasy, to the bee she said. 11
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 6, 2021 16:52:55 GMT -6
Continuing SB.X.47.12-14
(The cowherd damsel said;) O honey-sucker! friend of the great cheat, Avaunt! touch not with your moustache my feet! Besmeared with the red Kumkum powder fine, When Madhu's Lord did in his arms entwine His beloved and in embrace he pressed, And crushed the garland draped across her breast; Let him in Yadu's palace sue for grace, His envoy shall be taunted in this place. 12
He enchantment upon us once bestowed, Of flower nectar from his lips that flowed; But forsook us to pine in anxious care, As you yourself ravished flowers forswear. Why does the Lotus-Goddess serve his feet, Renowned for false flattery and a cheat? She must have had her mind stolen away By the deception his praises convey. 13
Why sing of Yadu's Lord with praise replete? O six-footed one, why old tales repeat? We are without a shelter to defend, Be gone from here and praise Vijaya's friend, Surrounded by a train of damsels fair, And his beloved will reward your care, Since she no longer is by heat oppressed, And soothed is burning passion in her breast. 14
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Post by madanmohandas on Nov 7, 2021 10:42:36 GMT -6
SB.X.47.15-18. Continuing the Bhramara Gita.
Who is the damsel on earth or in heaven, Or who abides in the nether region, Whom he cannot with his deceptive smile, And arching brow, win over and beguile? Goddess Fortuna doth herself entreat His grace, and worships the dust off his feet, With all dedication and pious care, But how can we with the Goddess compare? And yet we can recount his hallowed fame, Who bears of Uttama-sloka the name. 15
O bee! remove your head from off my feet, You are a clever flatterer and cheat; Which art from Mukunda you did receive, And come here as messenger to deceive. Since we did husbands and children forsake, And all the world only for his dear sake, Now he, ungrateful, left us here beguiled, Wherefore should we be with him reconciled? 16
Like a cruel hunter from a hidden spot, Unrighteously, the monkey chief he shot; Subdued by one fond damsel's attachment, Another suffered sore disfigurement; He seized Bali's offering like a crow, Then, ungrateful, sent him to realms below; All ties of friendship with him of dark hue, Let us abjure and no longer pursue, Yet to speak of him and his deeds declare, We never can abandon or forswear. 17
Whoever accounts of his exploits hears, Imbibes sweetest nectar into the ears, And tasting but a drop of ecstasy, No longer sees worldly duality; And ruined thus they forsake hearth and home, Subsist on alms and in the forest roam, Like birds who frequent the bower and wood, In wretchedness must make their livelihood. 18
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