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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 7, 2022 2:29:34 GMT -6
Concluding the Kunti-stava, the prayers of Kunti devi and SB.1.8.41-52
O universal Soul and Deity! Form of the world, Supreme Divinity! Now sever the bonds of love that confound, That keep me to Yadus and Vrishnis bound. 41
Let my thought be exclusively resigned, O Madhu's Lord, with concentrated mind; May all my love be directed to thee, As Ganga disembogues into the sea. 42
O Sri Krishna, Krishna's friend, hail to thee! O foremost of the Vrishni dynasty! Thou destroyest the royal clans whose reign Afflicts the earth with oppression and pain, With irresistible and potent might. O Govinda, thou affordest delight, To twice-born ones, to gods and to the kine, And remove their distress, O Lord divine, When thou dost incarnate, O yogas' Lord, The universal preceptor adored; Illustrious Supreme Divinity, I bow in salutation unto thee. 43
(Suta said) The Lord of Vaikuntha with love was stirred, When his praises in Pritha's verses heard; And thus adored by her he gently smiled, A smile by which the whole world is beguiled. 44
Receiving honour thus he turned again, And into Elephantopolis came, Bad farewell to the ladies on his way, But lovingly the king came to delay. 45 Though Vyasa and others sought to appease The king by recounting old histories; And Krishna of wondrous deeds also tried, But he was grieving still unpacified. 46 The son of Dharma due to affection, Lamented of his friends the destruction, And, O Vipras, vainly disquieted, The king in his deluded state then said. 47 Ah me! behold the wickedness and sin, Seeking what is meant for others to win; This body and its adjuncts to maintain, Multitudes of warriors have been slain! 48 By killing boys, twice-borns, well-wishers too, Dear friends, parents, brothers, preceptors true; There shall be no escape from hell's dread fears And pains, for millions on millions of years! 49
The king to uphold virtue and maintain The subjects by warfare incurs no stain; But due to palpable iniquity, This rule is not applicable to me. 50
The wrong done to women o'er me impends, By killing of their families and friends; No good works in the house-holders' estate, Is able such a sin to expiate. 51
As muddy clay is not washed off by clay, And wine is not by more wine washed away, The slaying of beings, it must be owned, Cannot by slaying beings be atoned. 52
Thus ends Chapter eight in Book one 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 Jul 7, 2022 6:45:29 GMT -6
Om, hail to Almighty Vasudeva.
Proceeding now with SB.1.9.1-12
(Suta said) Afflicted thus with fear of taint and stain, For having been the cause of subjects slain; He did toward the field of slaughter hie, Where he of god-like vow lay down to die. 1
Thereon with all his brothers he proceeds, On golden cars drawn by excellent steeds, With Vyasa and Dhaumya and vipras too, In procession their forward way pursue. 2
O brahman sage! the Lord of mighty fame, Upon a car with Dhananjaya came; The virtuous king in the train foremost, Shone like Kuvera with his worthy host. 3
Beholding him, to honour him drew nigh, Like a god who had fallen from the sky; The Pandu king with younger brothers found, With the Disc-wielder, Bhishma on the ground. 4
Brahma-sages and god-like sages came, And noble sage-like princes known to fame, Arrived there to honour that worthy man, And elder chief of the Bharata clan. 5
There came Parvata, Narada, Dhaumya, The illustrious Badarayana, Bharadvaja with his disciples came, The son of Renuka of mighty fame, Great Vashishtha and Indrapramada, Trita, and Asita and Gritsmada, Kaksivan and Gautama and Atri, And Kausik and Sudarshan came to see. 6/7
There also the sage Brahmarata* hied, With other holy seers sanctified, Kasyapa and Angirasa came there, With their attendants and disciples dear. 8 (*Brahmarata-Suka)
That greatly fortunate and mighty one, Best of the Vasus, offered them welcome; And knowing virtue honoured every sage, According to time, place and personage. 9
He knew Lord Krishna's power and adored, The dweller in all hearts and the world-Lord; Honouring him his worship he addressed, Whose form is by his power manifest. 10
Then Pandu's sons sate by him on the ground, By fond filial solicitude bound, Which seeing he commended their emprise, While tears of affection fell from his eyes. 11
Ah me! how hard, how unjust, blessed ones! Ye are as Dharma's own virtuous sons; Those who to vipras and virtue repair, And Acyuta, should not such hardship bear. 12
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 7, 2022 23:37:09 GMT -6
Continuing SB.1.8.13-23
When Pandu, the great car warrior died, My daughter-in-law was severely tried; To rear small children, and because of ye She had to endure much adversity. 13
All this, including yourselves, I opine, Are constrained by inexorable time; The subjects and the rulers are controlled, As by the wind the fleecy clouds are rolled. 14
Where Dharma's son, so full of right and grace, And Vrikodara with his pond'rous mace, One Krishna who wields the Gandiva bow, And one Krishna who friendship doth bestow; It is strange and surprising that there be For one so fortunate, adversity! 15
None know, O king, the purposes and ends, Nor what by his enterprise he intends; And great poets and gymnosophists still, Despite effort, cannot perceive his will. 16
Therefore, has Destiny a mighty plan, I maintain, chief of the Bharata clan; Thus you must act as bid by Destiny, To succour men and their protector be. 17
And this Illustrious One is now here, Primal Narayana whom all revere, Moving among the Vrishnis covertly, Deluding with his Maya potency. 18
Lord Shiva knows, god-like Narada too, Consciousness of the Almighty construe; Illustrious Kapila is aware, And thus, O king, it is a secret rare. 19
This is he whom you consider to be, Your cousin, well-wisher and bon ami, Your councillor and attendant most dear, Your envoy, nay, even your charioteer! 20
He looks on all souls indivisibly, And egoless, regards all equally; Whatever he does, whatever he wills, Is pure, immaculate and void of ills. 21
Yet toward his singular devotee, O king, he bears profoundest sympathy; As I am about my life to forsake, Krishna has come before me for loves' sake. 22
By devoutly glorifying his fame, With mind absorbed, speech reciting his name; Such yogin when his body he forsakes, The bondage to all his past actions breaks. 23
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 8, 2022 14:38:30 GMT -6
SB.1.9.24-25
May that God of gods, Almighty and great, While I depart my body kindly wait; As I die may I be favoured with grace, To look on his propitious smiling face; Which face is like a blooming lotus bright, With dawn-red eyes, expressive of delight; May I thus meditate upon the charms Of that Lord Illustrious with four arms. 24
(Suta said) Yudhisthir having heard all Bhishma said, Who lay him down on an arrowy bed, Then made on righteousness inquiries, In that holy gathering of Rishis. 25
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 9, 2022 5:58:35 GMT -6
Continuing SB.1.9.26-31, which bring us to Bhishma Stava from 32 until 42; then Suta concludes the chapter at 49.
He on mans' duty did expatiate, According to their caste and social state; That which passion and dispassion defines, As signified in texts by certain signs. He expounded the codes of charity, And what the conduct of the king should be, He told of salvation in varied parts; And duties for women also imparts; He discoursed on devotion above all, In the particular and general. He told of righteousness, gain and desire, And how the soul salvation may acquire; He was acquainted with intricacies, And recounted the ancient histories. 26-28
While he there on righteousness did discourse, The Sun entered upon his northern course, A time awaited by great yogins still, Who die in accordance with their own will. 29
That leader of thousands so much had said, And then his exposition concluded, His mind with externals became unmixed, While his gaze on the Primal One he fixed; There Krishna stood glorious with four arms, Clad in bright yellow, radiating charms. 30
Then he did deep contemplation maintain, Washed of all ill and purified of stain; Of all the weariness and wounds received In the fierce encounter, he was relieved; And with senses withdrawn as there he laid, As he was dying to Janardan prayed. 31
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 9, 2022 6:25:20 GMT -6
(Bhishma said) May my mental faculty be consigned, Having the thirst for sense objects resigned, To that Almighty and most puissant Lord, Who revels in himself, and is adored As chief of the Saatvata dynasty. Who sometime, in playful felicity, Incarnates to perform his wondrous deeds, Though it is he from whom the world proceeds. 32
May I have fond attraction and hold dear, That cherished object of the triple sphere, Unmotivated, free from vain desire; Oh! may I love for Vijay's friend acquire; Whose person is dark as the Tamal tree, Whose raiment shines with luminosity Like the Sun's bright refulgent golden rays, Which, contrasting, his sweet beauty displays. Whose countenance like a lotus unfurls, Beautified with loosened 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 host surveyed, Who were his own kinsmen, he was dismayed; And was by error and folly confused, And would have the stern engagement refused, But him the Lord with divine wisdom cheered, May his feet be with love by me revered. 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, And by their pure love wondrous dignified; Absorbed in his fond gestures and sweet grace, And the delightsome beauty of his face, They imitated how he moved and smiled, And by their love-frenzy were 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 though the One, in many parts divides; As even by reflected light, the Sun Is seen in receptacles, yet is one. May my contemplation in him abide, From notions of difference purified. 42
(Suta said) His faculties of mind and speech and sight, He 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 Jul 9, 2022 8:15:20 GMT -6
Concluding SB.1.9. 44-49, Suta speaking.
When all those gathered there had understood, That Bhishma had attained beatitude, Absorbed in Brahman of taintless delight, Became silent like birds at fall of night. 44
Then drums were sounded by the gods on high, And men beat drums to praise and glorify; The princes commendation did proclaim, And from heaven flowers descend like rain. 45
When of his obsequies the rites were done, Yudhisthir, O thou worthy Bhrigus' son, As dues were paid and rituals were o'er, Indulged his grief three quarters of an hour. 46
The sages thereon praised Krishna's high fame, And revelled in the wonder of his name; Each holding Lord Krishna within the heart, Again to their hermitages depart. 47
Thereupon Yudhisthir with Krishna came, Back to Elephantopolis again, Consoled his uncle with all courtesies, And Gandhari, strict in austerities. 48
He did with his uncle's approval reign, At Vasudeva's pleasure, the domain; And governed even as his forebears great, In righteousness his ancestral estate. 49
Thus ends Chapter Nine in Book One 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 Jul 11, 2022 13:25:08 GMT -6
Opening passage to SB.1.10. 1-6
(Shaunaka said) Having dispatched the proud usurper vain, Who sought to deprive him of his just reign, How did Yudhisthir, with justice endued, With his brethren, govern the multitude? What forms of righteousness did he pursue, And what else did that pious monarch do? 1
(Suta said) As bamboo is consumed by forest fire, The Kuru clan was about to expire, But that the seed was graciously restored, By the world sustainer, Hari, the Lord; And that Almighty One was pleased to see, Yudhisthir restored to prosperity. 2
After having heard all that Bhishma said, And by the Lord Acyuta comforted; Purity by such discourse he attained, And with right conduct over the earth reigned. He ruled with faithful brothers to attend, As Indra on Ajita doth depend. 3
Parjanya showered timely from the sky, The earth provided for great luxury; The cows graze freely and wander around, And milk, delighted, shower on the ground. 4
From mountains to the sea the rivers glide, And for the king, necessities provide; And plants and flowers in the laboured field, Varieties of herbs and simples yield. 5
During the king Ajatasatru's reign, None were afflicted by the three-fold pain; No distemper, no sore anxieties, In his kingdom who has no enemies. 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 12, 2022 3:35:33 GMT -6
SB.1.10.7-12. The narrative continues, Suta speaking.
For a few months Lord Hari there remained, In the city after elephant named; To give comfort to friends with courtesies, To console them and his sister to please. Taking his permission he came to greet And bowed him down at Yudhisthira's feet; Bowed to and embracing, he mounts his car To journey on to his city afar. 7/8
Subhadra, Draupadi and Kunti came, Virata's child, Gandhari know to fame, Dhritarastra and Yuyutsu his son, The twins and Gautama, the learned one; Vrikodara and Dhaumya there remain, And all the palace ladies forward came; The fisherman's daughter was also there, And none of them the severance could bear; Some faint away, intolerant of woe, Parting from him who bears the Sharnga bow. 9/10
Society of the good and holy, Removes the vice of evil company; Who hearing his glory but once joy takes, Perceiving it he never then forsakes; What then of those whose conscious faculty Is absorbed in the Lord exclusively! How can the sons of Pandu tolerate, The severance from him with whom they sate, Whom they beheld to deep friendship disposed, Whom they touched, and with whom they oft reposed; With whom they partook their meals and conversed, With whom they were in fond friendship immersed. 11/12
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 12, 2022 12:51:21 GMT -6
SB.1.10.13-20
Without blinking they gazed after the Lord, And with soft melting hearts they him adored; By ties of fond affection firmly bound, They move beside, before him and around. 13
The ladies were to self-control compelled, And stifled the tears in their eyes that welled, To avoid ill omen, but came to see, Departing thence, the son of Devaki. 14
Mridanga drums and conches all around, Dhunduri, Anaka and bells resound; The Dhundubhi drums rumble and vibrate, The woodwind and the strings reverberate. 15
The Kuru women mount the palace top, And, flowers, while he passes, on him drop; By fond affection for Krishna beguiled, They glanced upon him bashfully and smiled. 16
The one who over sleep had gained control, Raised up a pearl-rimmed bright white parasol, With gem-studded handle and silk brocade, He reared above his dear friend for to shade. 17
Uddhava and Satyaki on each side, In circling motions chamara whisks plied, Flowers were scattered all along the road, As Madhu's Lord set off for his abode. 18
The benedictions and the benisons, Pronounced by the train of the twice-born ones, Such as, 'Live long!', were true and apposite, Superfluous, but affording delight. 19
The damsels there mutually converse, Of him who is praised in exquisite verse; The city women's soft prattle enchants, More captivating than the Vedic chants. 20
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 13, 2022 3:00:07 GMT -6
Continuing SB.1.10.21-32. The women of Hastinapura converse among themselves in ten verses.
Certainly this is he, the ancient One, Self-subsisting before the creation; He is the ruler whence gunas evolve, In whom thereafter the gunas resolve; Thus having manifest and brought to light, He then withdraws the world in dormant night. 21
And this is he whose power all controls, Who wakens again dormant jiva-souls; And once more forth projecting creation, Endows them with form and designation; And to the benefit of all disposed, The revelation of scripture composed. 22
Verily this is he whom devotees, Who having senses controlled by degrees, By their fond and deep devotion behold; To them the pure conception doth unfold; And certainly with consciousness refined, There is no better way to cleanse the mind. 23
O my dear friend, it is a certainty He is sung in the Vedic mystery, And the knowers of that mystery thus, His deeds and exploits recite and discuss. He is the One ruler who by display, Creates, sustains, dissolves, detached, in play. 24
When ignorance and vice predominate, Kings are degraded to the lowest state, He thereupon makes his divine descent, With truth and right and power radiant; To graciously bestow fortune and weal, His beauty and renown he doth reveal; Wherewith sublime splendour he radiates, And thus from age to age he incarnates. 25
Ah me, alas! how may one praise the grace Bestowed upon the pious Yadu's race! Ah me! with what great fortune hath been blest, The wide dominions of Madhu forest! Where the foremost of beings strays, where he Who is the husband of the Goddess Shri, Was born and crawled about as an infant, Revealing divine glory transcendent. 26
Oh wondrous! how heavens' radiance pales, And now the glory of the earth prevails! Since here is the great glorious city, Replete with bounty, fair Kushasthali; Where with their Lord the dwellers receive grace, To always look upon his smiling face. 27
Certainly, my dear friend, this understand, Those damsels who have given him their hand, Must have performed vows and the sanctities, And sacrificed, the Almighty to please; And thus they may always enjoy the bliss, To sip the nectar of his lips and kiss; Which Vraja's damsels even to recall, Would faint away and into a swoon fall. 28
His valour was the bride-price that he paid, In the bride's own self-election parade, And the vain kings like Chedi he subdued, And overturned the hostile multitude; From him those ladies mighty heroes bore, Like Pradyumna, Samba, and many more; And with thousands of damsels more he wived, When tyrant Bhauma was of life deprived. 29
These women though devoid of purity,* Have glorified their femininity, Though without independence they have raised Themselves to lofty heights and must be praised; Since in their homes the Lotus-eyed One stays, And never from their society strays; And with the gifts and love that he imparts, Profoundly affects them, touching their hearts. 30
*This might have been considered so, referring to the thousands in the last couplet of 29, after they had been abducted and held captive and dependant in Bhauma's seraglio, which by custom would have rendered them disqualified according to some standards.
Thus by the city women he was praised, To the lofty heights of eloquence raised; He did responsive, smiles of love convey, And thus delighted, Hari took his way. 31
The pious king who had no enemy, Sent forth a four-fold armoured company; To escort the one who dread Madhu slew, Not out of fear, but love and honour due. 32
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 13, 2022 11:05:59 GMT -6
Concluding SB.1.10.33-36
After a long way with Sauri they pressed, By thoughts of impending absence distressed; He urged the Kauravas home to repair, And hastened to his city with friends dear. 33
He passed the Kuru-jangala, and land Of five rivers, Surasen, and the strand Of Yamuna, the Brhamavarta famed, Kuruksetra and the land Matsya named; He pressed on through Sarasvata's domain, And crossed the regions of the desert plain; Dhanvan, Sauvira, Abhira he passed, And west to Anarta he came at last; Traversing of land such a wide extent, His noble steeds by weariness were spent. 34/35
Here and there as along the road he sped, Hari was worshipped, gifts were presented, And arrived when the sun went to his rest, Over the ocean in the distant west. 36
Thus ends Chapter ten in Book One 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 Jul 14, 2022 11:38:53 GMT -6
Now, the opening passage to SB.1.11.1-11
(Suta said) Arrived at the confines of his domain, Where good fortune and prosperity reign; He blew a mighty blast on his conch shell, The gloom of separation to dispel. 1
When he of mighty strides his sea shell blew, The pure white conch reflecting the red hue Which from his lower lip and hand divine, With a roseate and pleasing lustre shine; E'en as a swan that on a lake abides, And through the lotus clusters, cooing, glides. 2
The blast of that resounding conch to hear Threatened the very cause of fear with fear; And when the subjects their Master's shell heard They hurried forth, to see him eager stirred. 3
They made gifts to that self-sufficient One, As lamps are offered to Ravi, the sun; Since he it is his subjects for to please, Supplies largesse of all necessities. Their faces bloomed with smiles at his sight, With broken voices expressed their delight; They saw him as the saviour who defends, Like father to his wards, and best of friends. 4/5
"We bow down to your lotus-feet, O Lord, By Virinchi and his offspring adored; And great Indra of the gods worships you. From you ultimate welfare does ensue, To those who desire the supreme gain, And thus favoured, the cherished goal attain; You are the omnipotent Lord divine, Transcendent to the ravages of time. 6
O Lord in whom the universe exists, And by whose operation it subsists; We see in you a Lord who can defend, Our mother, father, preceptor and friend; Since you are our beloved Deity, We flourish in joy and prosperity. 7
Ah me! What grace doth fortune us afford, To have your honoured self as our dear Lord! Since gods themselves can hardy gain the sight Of your smiling, expressive of delight; But we your auspicious beauty can see, With glances full of love and amity. 8
O Lotus-eyed, when with friends far away, You with the Kurus and the Madhus stay, O Acyuta, the time to us appears, As though it were an hundred million years; Or as without the sun, Ravi's fair light, The eyes are blinded and deprived of sight. 9
How can we, Lord, the long severance bear, Without your glance which dries up pain and care? Your most gracious propitious smile divine, Does on your beautiful countenance shine; If we in want of this vision remain, How may we then our weary lives sustain?" 10*
Thus hearing what the faithful subjects said, His glances graciously distributed. The One known for his love and amity For his devotees, entered the city; 10
Which Madhu, Bhoja, Arha dynasties, Dasarha and Kukura families, Strong as himself, Andhaka, and Vrishni, Guarded as Nagas guard Bhogavati. 11
*this verse is missing or not found in some editions.
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 15, 2022 8:40:15 GMT -6
Proceeding further with SB.1.11.12-19
There glory of all seasons was displayed, Where pious trees and creepers offer shade; The forest gardens and each calm retreat, And lotus ponds emitted fragrance sweet. 12
From the high gateway spread the ample road, And decorated arches, festive, glowed; Pennons and flags with colourful displays, Afforded shade, blocking the sun's hot rays. 13
The high roads and the by roads were swept clean, The market stalls with precious objects gleam; The public forum there was sprinkled o'er With water scented with finest odour; There fruits and flowers were scattered around; Unbroken rice was strewn upon the ground. 14
At each and every home from door to door, Unbroken rice was layed upon the floor; Fruit, sugar cane and brimming pots were there, With offerings of lamps and incense rare. 15
Hearing their most beloved one had come, Vasudeva, the great high minded one, With Akrura and Ugrasen proceeds, As well as Rama of the wondrous deeds, And Pradymna with Charudeshna came, And Jambavati's son, well known to fame, Samba; and all were filled with eagerness, With longing, in transport of happiness; Reclining, sitting, eating in the hall, They rose hastily and abandoned all. 16/17
The royal elephants before were lead, The brahmans sacred incantations read, The conch shells and the bugle horns resound, And Vedic hymns were chanted all around, With love the crowd of subjects forth proceeds, Exited, on cars drawn by noble steeds. 18
On their conveyances, approaching nigh, To see him came hundreds of hetaerae, Revealing their beauties and their graces, With earrings' sheen on cheeks and bright faces. 19
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Post by madanmohandas on Jul 15, 2022 13:13:02 GMT -6
Continuing SB.1.11.20-22
Mummers and dancers and choristers came, And bards who genealogies proclaim, And rhapsodists in song the deeds rehearse, Of that Lord wondrous, praised in charming verse. 20
Thereupon to the Almighty One wends, His faithful subjects and his bosom friends; They received him with cordiality, In order due, according to degree. 21
He bowed to some, to others spoke with grace, He seized the hands of some, some would embrace; He pleased all with his smiling glances bright, Exulted the lowly with fond delight; All the blessings to which they might aspire, He granted in accord with their desire. 22
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