|
Post by madanmohandas on Jul 28, 2022 7:22:27 GMT -6
Concluding SB.1.13. 57-60
Indeed, upon the fifth revolving day, O king, from his body will pass away; And in yogic combustion will be burned, And to a heap of ashes will be turned, 57
Beholding his body in flames that rage, As she stands outside of the hermitage, The chaste lady shall to her husband come, And share with him the same fiery doom. 58
Vidura, while upon this he shall gaze, O Kuru's chief, shall be struck with amaze; And with great joy blended with deep sorrow, Thence he shall on his pilgrim's progress go". 59
Thus having spoken Narad did ascend To the heavens, with Tumburu, his friend, Taking to heart his words he found relief, And was no more assailed by woe and grief. 60
Thus ends Chapter Thirteen on Book One of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, The text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa.
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Jul 29, 2022 6:47:51 GMT -6
Well patient reader, now begins SB.1.14. 1-9. It is interesting to note that verse 1 spoken by Suta, is again repeated in verse 6 spoken by the pious king, with a slight adjustment to the tense. This is in keeping with the original. Is such repetition a fault? by no means, but a rhetorical device, the reasons being various; to emphasise a new theme, etc. etc. A modern reader may wonder at it, yet it should be remembered that the text in hand was for recitation, and the audience would most likely have nodded in approval, and gratitude, for the quick reminder. Well, as for that, in western literary tradition it is called 'Homeric repetition' since they trace it to him. With that,
(Suta said) For sometime Jishnu had been gone away At Dvaraka, there with his friends to stay; And of the Lord, praised with fair eloquence, He sought of his affairs intelligence. 1
After some months without Arjuna passed, The upholder of the Kurus, at last, Began to see omens and auguries Portending impending adversities. 2
He saw the critical juncture of time, And disruption of the season and clime, He saw mankind to evil ways inclined, To anger, greed and falsity resigned, 3
He saw how well-wishers would friends betray, And deception the order of the day; Mother, father, friends and brothers at strife, And contention between husband and wife. 4
He saw portents indicative of time, Mankind's degeneration and decline; By signs of greed and vice disquieted, The king unto his younger brother said, 5
(Yudhisthira said) For sometime Jishnu has been gone away At Dvaraka, there with his friends to stay, And of the Lord, praised with fair eloquence, He seeks of his affairs intelligence. 6
Full seven months have passed, O Bhimasen, But your younger has not come back again, The cause whereof for this his long delay, Indeed, I do not know, nor can I say. 7
Or haply the predestined time has sped, As even god-like Narada had said, When the Illustrious One shall depart This pastime, with his emanated part. 8
From him alone our good fortune derives, Our kingdom, dynasty and our good wives; Our conquest of foes, and high destiny; Are all because of his benignity. 9
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 1, 2022 11:09:49 GMT -6
SB.1.14.10-18. Yudhisthira continues his address to Bhima,
O tiger among men, behold and see! The signs portending dire calamity; On earth, in beings, and the firmament, Which causes us fear and bewilderment. 10
There is a nervous twitching in my frame, In my left eye and thigh o'er and again, And in my left arm; my heart palpitates, Which immanent displeasure indicates. 11
O dear one, behold the she-jackal dire, Howling at Aditya and spitting fire; And how the lowly cur barks at me, hear, Grown insolent and now devoid of fear. 12
The good beasts by my left are passing found, And lesser creatures circle me around, The noble steeds in the stables I keep, Seemeth in sore lamentation to weep. 13
See how the pigeon, Deaths' messenger, flies, Hear how the night owl ominously cries, The crow and the owl who always contend, Desire oblivion and the worlds' end. 14
Thick plumes of smoke involve the gloomy sky, Earth trembles with her hills and mountains high, The lightning flashes forth a livid shroud, And thunder rumbles when there is no cloud. 15
The violent wind dusty particles sheds, And all-involving darkness gloomy spreads; Then gathering, the cumulus again, Seemeth to shed a ghastly bloody rain. 16
The blaze of Surya's rays fall in decline, Planets and stars in contention combine; All creatures seem to lament bitterly, Scorched in the flames of dire adversity. 17
The rivers, lakes and flowing streams are stirred, The mind in such confusion is disturbed; The sacred ghee no longer flames ignite; Oh what is this that occasions affright? 18
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 2, 2022 2:42:38 GMT -6
Proceeding further with SB.1.14.19-30, Yudhisthira to Bhima,
The calves drink not from cows whose teats are dry, The cows themselves no longer milk supply, But weep with tearful faces standing round, And bulls no more enjoy the pasture ground. 19
The icons in the temples seem to grieve, They weep, perspire and seem ready to leave; The peopled cities, towns and villages, The forests, quarries, and hermitages, Have ceased to be with joy and plenty blest. What evil shall be to us manifest? 20
I think these portents of calamity, Auger insufferable misery; As earth no more is by the Lord's feet pressed, And thus is of her fortune dispossessed. 21
While thus the king was in perplexity, Observing the signs of adversity, The monkey-bannered hero of high fame, Returning from the Yadu's city came. 22
He saw him bowing at his feet his head, With unwonted sorrow disquieted, He looked down as one who misery bears, And from his lotus-eyes shed streams of tears. 23
The king saw how his younger's heart was pained, Whose face with tears and pallor was distained; And recalling Narada's speech, distressed, In the midst of friends, words like these expressed. 24
((Yudhisthira said) Are those who in Anarta's city dwell, Our dear friends, living happily and well? Madhus, Bhojas, Dasarha families, Arhas, Satvatas, Andhakas, Vrishnis. 25
Does our grandsire happily remain, Spending his days, the worthy Surasen? How does great Anakadundubhi fare, Our uncle with his younger brothers there? 26
How are his wives, the seven sisters fair, Lead by Devaki? speak of the welfare Of sons and daughters-in-law that there dwell, Are all of them content and doing well? 27
Is Ahuka with his brethren, the king, Who had a wicked son, now prospering? Are Akrura, Hridika and his son, Jayanta, Sharana, the mighty one, Gada, Satrujit and the family, Now dwelling in peace and prosperity? And how is Rama, the Almighty Lord, The one by all the Satvatas adored. 28/29
How is the car warrior eminent, Pradyumna? is he at ease and content? Is he of the most profound expertise, Lord Anirudha, dwelling there at ease? 30
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 3, 2022 1:16:05 GMT -6
Concluding SB.1.14. Sometimes the slokas are bunched together when the clauses of the sentence carry over from one stanza to the next. Moreover, while I'm thinking of it, the reader will observe how most verses rendered from the anustubh meter fit well in four heroic lines, but frequently the Bhagavatam goes into a longer measure; in what I'm doing here I'm following the Bengali versification scheme by maintaining the same heroic lines, (payar chanda in Bengali), and to be candid, I have no skill in any other measure, and this will be discernible when the usual four lines spills over to six or even eight (vide 37 and 38 here). Enough of digression,
SB.1.14.31-44. Yudhistira continues his interrogation of Arjuna and makes certain observations.
And what of Krishna's sons and his grandsons? Those puissant heroes and courageous ones; Sushena and Charudeshna and he Samba, the great son of Jambavati? 31
Of Srutadeva, Uddhava, pray tell, Are Nanda and Sunanda faring well? And all these adherents of Lord Sauri, The extended Satvata family; Do they abide in peace, free of alarms, Protected by Rama and Krishna's arms? And do they ever recollection bear Of us, their friends, and ask of our welfare? 32/33
Is Govinda, the Illustrious One, Who bears for his devotees affection, In the Sudharma hall seated at ease, Surrounded by his friends and devotees? 34
To bless the world and all therein to grace, In the broad ocean of the Yadu race, The Primal One did on the earth descend, With Ananta, his other self and friend, Who gives all protection from scathe and harm, By his heroic deeds and mighty arm. And all those Yadus who with him abide, Regale as those who in heaven reside. 35/36
Those damsels who by service to his feet, Like Satya, even the gods could defeat; And sixteen thousand damsels in a train, Enjoy the bounty of heavenly gain; And were more blest than the consorts of he, The mighty thunder wielding deity. 37
Those Yadu heroes were free of alarms, Protected by his victorious arms, And all their adversaries did defeat, Tramping upon them with their haughty feet; Those mighty potentates and heroes all, Foregather in the grand Sudharma hall. 38
Oh say what ails thee dearest brother mine? You no more with your wonted lustre shine; Have you been slighted or even disdained, For certainly you had there long remained? 39
Have you with vile reproaches been accused? Or with unfriendly conduct been abused? Have you been shamed with incapacity To succour suppliants with charity? 40
Or have you failed to succour and to spare Those deserving of your protective care? A brahman, child, a cow or an old man, Those afflicted and a helpless woman. 41
Have you approached an unfit damosel? Or have you failed to treat a damsel well? Or have you been assailed in the affray, By bands of lowly vassals on the way? 42
Had you not seen that old and young were fed, But partaken your meal alone instead? What crime abominable must there be, That is incapable of remedy? 43
Haply your composure has been destroyed, Your heart afflicted by an aching void, And now you are in anxiety tossed, Without your friend, and thinking, 'I am lost!' 44
Thus ends Chapter fourteen in Book One of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa.
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 4, 2022 9:48:54 GMT -6
Proceeding now with SB.1.15.1-6. Suta's verses connecting the theme from the forgoing chapter, and the opening verse of Arjuna's long speech.
(Suta said) Thus Krishna's friend Krishna was deeply stirred, When he the king his brother's speech had heard, And all those conjectures his pain revived, Now grieving sore of Lord Krishna deprived. 1
The lotus of heart wilted for grief, His mouth was parched, he saw no sure relief; As Krishna's recollection gan to rise, He was unable to frame his replies. 2
At length his deep emotion he controlled, With hands from eyes he wiped the tears that rolled; No more by Krishna's direct presence blest, He was by love and loss sorely distressed. 3
The friendship, love and amity withal, His charioteer divine he did recall; With sighs and broken voice disquieted, Unto the king his elder brother said, 4
(Arjuna said) O king, I have by Hari been deceived, With whom I had a fond friendship conceived, And my power derived from him is spent, Which in the gods occasioned wonderment. 5
Parted from whom for e'en a moment's time, The world is displeasing and I repine; Deprived of him the world is void and dead, Like muddy corpses when the life has fled. 6
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 5, 2022 0:53:32 GMT -6
Continuing with SB.1.15.7-12. Arjuna now begins a series of reminiscences,
By whose favour and unremitting grace, When gathered in king Drupada's palace, Those mighty princes under Cupid's sway, On the grand self-election wedding day, Eagerly sought the task to accomplish, But only I could hit the target fish; And thus they were diminished of their pride, And beautiful Krishnaa I took for bride. 7
In whose presence I could ignite the fire, Consuming Khandava forest entire; And could with Indra and the gods dispose, And vanquish the gods who would fain oppose; A wondrous palace Maya did erect, The master divine mystic architect; Then from all directions princes and kings, Brought to your rite bountiful offerings. 8
By whose favour your worthy younger's might, With strength of thousand elephants could smite The one who had subdued the host of kings, To make to the Lord of ghosts offerings. And by his heroic deeds and conduct, Removed impediments that might obstruct The grand sacrifice that you had proposed, And, he, to magnanimity disposed, Those captive kings from their durance released, And by their gratitude your wealth increased. 9
Your consort's beautiful and clustered hair Had been sanctified and anointed fair, But in the concourse of great princes when Her hair was seized upon by wicked men, She lay prostrate her face with tears distained, But contemplation on Krishna maintained. And thence the wives of all those proud heroes, With loosened hair, lamented as widows. 10
Who averted a great calamity, Instigated by the vile enemy, When in the woods we had to entertain Sage Durvasa with thousands in his train; But he, the Lord, a morsel did partake, Which their hunger appeased and thirst did slake; And e'en though submersed in the rivers' stream, They felt they had more than banqueted been. 11
By whose grace I confronted without fear, The Deity who wields a massy spear, And he with the Mountain-king's daughter praised, My deed and were with wonderment amazed, And conferred upon me his own weapon; Nay, in this body I went to heaven, And in the palace of great Indra there I was seated upon half of his chair. 12
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 6, 2022 8:18:11 GMT -6
Continuing SB.1.15. 13-21. In verse 12 Arjuna referred to his sojourn in Indra's heaven, proceeding then,
While there the gods with Indra their great Lord, The prowess of my dext'rous arm implored, And thence with my bow Gandeeva I slew All of the Nivaata-kavacha crew; By his favour these exploits I achieved, By investiture of power received; O king, scion of Ajamidha's line, I am now bereft of that Lord divine! 13
Favoured by whose friendship and amity, I crossed the boundless and turbulent sea Of the Kuru host that my way would bar, And I alone seated upon my car; Then with the foe unable of defence, I did much spoil and booty gather thence, And took away their wealth and costly gems, With glistering bright shiny diadems. 14
'Twas he who drove before me on the car, Into the concourse gathered for the war, Where Bhishma, Karna and the teacher stood, And Salya, with the immense multitude Of great car warriors in vast array, Yet by his glance he took their strength away. 15
Under shelter of whose protective arm, I was defended from all scathe and harm; That neither the teacher nor Bhishma wise, Nor Bhurisrava, nor his brave allies, Trigarta's king, Salya, nor Sindhu's lord Nor Bahlika, with all their weapons stored, Could hurt me, and the darts they did direct, Or went astray or were of no effect; As the servant of Lion-man Hari, Felt neither pain nor discomfort when he Was by his demon tormentors assailed, And all their efforts to injure him failed. 16
From folly and confidence I enjoyed, The Supreme Lord as my driver employed, Whom the wise serve and salvation entreat, By worship of his lotus flower feet; Yet while I stood defenceless on the ground, To let the horses drink, he did confound, And caused distraction midst the enemy, Who thus neglectful did not notice me. 17
His pleasant conversation and his wiles, Attended with his amicable smiles, When he would address me or would commend, 'O Partha, O Arjuna, O my friend, O Kuru's joy!' thus versed in friendships art, His recollection touches deep my heart, And thus, O king, the whelming pain I bear, Without Madhava, fills me with despair! 18
Reposing or reclining on a chair, Or strolling with him in a garden fair, Dining with him, my one beloved most, I would before impudently boast; But he like a true friend with friend forsooth, Would say, ' indeed you speak the very truth.' Or like a father with his wayward son, Would suffer all and grant his benison, And since he is so gentle and so wise, My presumption he would not scrutinise. 19
Thus even I, O king of kings, depend On my Supreme and Illustrious friend, But now of his divine presence deprived, My bosom friend, some herdsmen have contrived To ambush me, escorting on the way, The queens whom I had been sent to convey, And the Lord's consorts safely to conduct, But those herdsmen were able to abduct! 20
This is the bow, the arrows, this the car, The horses these, most excellent by far, And I the same who admiration stirred In mighty kings who high honour conferred; But in a moment all that I could boast, Is useless now, its innate lustre lost, Like sacrificial ghee on ashes thrown, Magic coins, or seeds on barren earth sown. 21
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 7, 2022 0:49:01 GMT -6
Arjuna continues, SB.1.15.22-28
O king, as you have asked, I truly tell Of our dear friends who in the city dwell. Cursed by vipras, with rods of hardened cane, They have each other in delusion slain; 22
They did in frenzy of combat combine, Intoxicated by Varuni wine, Unwitting and of their senses deprived, That only four or five of them survived. 23
As though in the exercise of his will, The Lord has his own purpose to fulfil, And beings are mutually employed, In saving or being saved or destroyed. 24
As the big fish the little fishes seek, The strong, O king, overpower the weak; These beings with each other get enraged, And Yadus have in dread slaughter engaged; 25
By great Yadus lesser Yadus were slain, And thus the Lord fulfilled his mighty aim; The clan of the Yadus to extirpate, And relieve earth of the burdensome weight. 26
Now time and place significance impart, To sooth the burning pain within my heart, As I recall to mind the memory Of Govinda's fair speech addressed to me. 27
(Suta said) Thus contemplating Krishna's lotus-feet, Jishnu was sunk in meditation sweet; Recalling such friendship was pacified, And his mind from all taint was purified. 28
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 8, 2022 14:12:53 GMT -6
Proceeding a bit further with SB.1.15.29-35. Suta speaking.
Now by the constant contemplation sweet, With devotion, on Vasudeva's feet; Arjuna's mind was quickly purified, And the taint of anxieties subside. 29
He recalled that knowledge the Lord revealed, The Gita song, upon the battle field; Which he in time forgot and was deprived, Till now again that knowledge was revived. 30
Sans grief, he had attained beatitude, All without differential he now viewed; Nature into gunas he did sublate, And was fit to attain the supreme state. 31
Of the Lord's departure thus having heard, Yudhisthira was to dispassion stirred; With the fall of great Yadu's dynasty, He fixed his mind on immortality. 32
When Pritha heard what Dhanajaya said, Of Krishna's departure, the Yadus dead, With singular and devout attitude, She was with supreme devotion endued For Adhokaja, mind under control, And from transmigration released her soul. 33
He thus assumed a form to be employed With Yadus, that earths' burden be destroyed, As a thorn is used to remove a thorn, Then both are cast aside by the Unborn. 34
As he wondrous forms as the Fish assumes, And then his wonted shape again resumes, As one actor doth various parts play, Adopting a guise, now casting away; The burden of earth he removed anew, And having done so, his person withdrew. 35
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 10, 2022 1:18:47 GMT -6
Creeping like a snail through SB.1.15.36-45
What time Lord Mukunda did disappear, Whose glad tidings are most worthy to hear, And withdrew from the world his wondrous play, Kali entered the world from that same day; Who does power of intellect subvert Of those who are not wakeful and alert. 36
Yudhisthir could wisely deliberate, Observing in the city and the state, In every home and each person forsooth, The rise of unrighteousness and untruth, Iniquity and hate and violence, And dressed himself for his departure thence. 37
His grandson, like himself in quality, Vested with imperial dignity, Who would from Elephant city command, His vast dominion of the sea-girt land. 38
He appointed Vajra also to reign, At Mathura, the realm of Surasen, Then stablished in himself the sacred fire, In readiness from the world to retire. 39
He discarded his fine royal raiment, Removed from his person each ornament; Sans ego-sense, devoid of worldly hopes, And cut endless attachments' binding ropes. 40
His speech into his vital breath consigned, And sense perception drew into the mind, The body into the five did sublate, And was aloof from the conditioned state. 41
The five into the three he then resolved, And all into the one were then dissolved; Perceiving himself and the self of all, The Supreme Brahman imperishable. 42
He donned coarse garments and gave up the use Of food, was silent, and his hair hung loose; He showed himself as one devoid of wit, Like one possessed of madness in a fit; As one deaf and dumb, in his altered state, He turned not back, nor did for any wait. 43
As the great ones of yore he journeyed forth With high determination to the north; Contemplating within his heart intent, On the Supreme Brahman, away he went. 44
His younger brethren his conduct ensue, And were ready the same path to pursue; They saw how Vice's friend, Kali, had spread, On earth, in subjects, and away they sped. 45
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 10, 2022 6:13:42 GMT -6
Concluding SB.1.15.46-51
Their piety in conduct they maintained, And the supreme ultimate welfare gained, And were absorbed in contemplation sweet, On the Lord of Vaikuntha's lotus-feet. 46
By such contemplation they were endued, With pure devotions' high beatitude, And by their exclusive meditation, Attained the realm of Mighty Narayan. 47
Thus to the goal supreme they did repair, To obtain which is exceedingly rare, For those absorbed in the sense-objects vain, But they attained that region without stain. 48
Vidura also his way did betake, To Prabhasa, his body to forsake, And contemplating on Krishna intent, Back to the realm of the manes he went. 49
Draupadi when she knew her husband's mind, To their indifference she was resigned, And with deep contemplation she adored And attained to Vasudeva, the Lord. 50
Whoever doth this sublime account hear Of Pandu's sons, unto the Lord most dear, Of their departure for the supreme goal, Will purify and sanctify his soul; And will attain thereby most certainly, The highest devotion for Lord Hari. 51
Thus ends Chapter Fifteen in Book One of the great and glorious Bhagavata Purana, the text beloved of swan-like saints, sung by the son of Vyasa.
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 11, 2022 7:33:50 GMT -6
Now, invoking the grace of Sri Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas, commencing SB.1.16.1-6
(Suta said) Thereafter, O Vipras, that mighty one Accepted from the twice-borns instruction; He was a great devotee of high worth, And guided by the wise, governed the earth; He was endued with those virtues extolled At his birth, that the seers had foretold. 1
To Uttara's monarch he was allied, And took princess Iravati for bride, He got four sons on her of worthy fame, Headed by Janamejaya by name. 2
Upon the Ganga's bank he performed thrice, With bounteous gifts, the horse-sacrifice; With Saradvat to guide the sanctities, Where could be viewed the present deities. 3
In the progress of his march of conquest, He saw Kali in royal raiment dressed; Our hero did chastise him and restrain, Who, footing a cow and bull caused them pain. 4
(Shaunaka said) While on his tour of conquest, why did he Merely restrain and but chastise Kali? Who although base wore the signs of a king, Causing a cow and bull much suffering, By striking with his foot, inflicting pain; O fortunate one, the reasons explain; Expound the theme if it has reference, To Krishna's deeds of passing excellence. 5
For those who lick, as 'twere, the honey sweet, Distilled from the Lord's lotus flower feet, What use is there in other topics vain, Which doth away one's longevity drain? 6
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 15, 2022 2:13:49 GMT -6
Proceeding a bit further with SB.1.16. 7-9 Shaunaka addressing Suta.
O dear one, the lifetime of any man, Is short and also of uncertain span; Desirous from Death to gain respite, We have invited him to share the rite. 7
So long as Antaka himself appears, Invited and invoked by the great seers, And since that god of death hath here arrived, None present here shall be of life deprived; Therefore, wondrous deeds of Hari describe, That people may ambrosia imbibe. 8
The dull witted and those of meagre brain, Those who but pass their paltry lives in vain, During the night asleep the time they spend, The day in acts that serve no useful end. 9
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Aug 15, 2022 10:52:41 GMT -6
SB.1.16.10-18
(Suta said) While Pariksit empire did sustain, Over Kuru-jangalas' vast domain, The news was brought to his attentive ear Which was most unpleasant for him to hear, That Kali with his pollution and stain, Had entered regions of his royal reign, Which when these unpleasant tidings he heard, Took up his bow, to martial ardour stirred. 10
The king on his world conquest thus proceeds, On his chariot drawn by sable steeds, Adorned with various decoration, And banner emblazoned with a lion; And left the capitol with puissant force, Of elephant and car and foot and horse. 11
The regions of Bharata he suppressed, His way to the northern Kurus he pressed, Conquest of Kimpurusas he pursued, Exacted tribute, conquered and subdued. 12
Everywhere in the country, in each town, He heard of his great ancestors' renown; He hears in song wherever he proceeds, The fame of Krishna and his mighty deeds. 13
He heard how the Lord did his death prevent, What time Asvatthama his missile sent; His affection for Parthas and Vrishnis, And how they were Keshava's devotees. 14
Hearing all this the king was satisfied, And in wonder his eyes dilated wide, Great wealth, garments, necklaces he consigned, In charity, being of noble mind. 15
He heard how Vishnu, whom the world obeys, The sons of Pandu served in diverse ways; As driver, as president of the rite, Their envoy, who followed them with delight; How he saluted them and loved them well, And stood guard over them as sentinel. When he of the Lord and his servants heard, With love for those lotus-feet he was stirred. 16
He thus observed his great ancestors ways, And in good offices he spent his days; But hear the wonder that to him befell, Not long after, as I to you shall tell. 17
Lo! he beheld Dharma with one leg there, Approaching a cow, fraught with anxious care; With tears, deprived of her offspring, distressed, Then Dharma to her these questions addressed. 18
|
|