From the Bhagavata Purana

[madanmohandas]

Concluding SB.1.19, and thus concludes Book One.

Thus he, pre-eminent among them sate,
In that gathering, greatest of the great;
The brahman sages, royal sages too.
God-like sages and all their retinue,
Were like the stellar constellations found,
The bright moon in his glory to surround. 30

Thus having been seated with all respect,
That tranquil sage of lofty intellect,
The king approached with deep humility,
And bowing his head, that great devotee,
With modesty and palms together pressed,
In sweet words his inquiry addressed. 31

(The king said)
Ah me, ah me, how fortunate are we!
To serve the great unworthy though we be;
O Brahman, by coming here as a guest,
Thou hast shown thy favour, and we are bless'd. 32

Mere recollection of great ones like thee,
Confers straightway on the home sanctity;
What of seeing, touching, washing thy feet
Can be said, and of offering a seat? 33

Great yogi thy mere presence drives away,
The deadly sins of man without delay,
As Vishnu himself subjugates all those,
Who presume to hold the gods as their foes. 34

Even I, it seems, have been favoured here,
Since Pandu's sons to Krishna were most dear,
For love of them and the whole family,
He hath most graciously accepted me. 35

Elsewise how could such vision be conceived,
Of one who traverses paths unperceived,
Unseen of men, but having approached nigh,
One like myself who am about to die? 36

Therefore I question thee, most worthy lord,
Thou foremost of yoga teachers adored,
What is a man supposed to do and how,
When death approaches, as it does e'en now? 37

What should he hear, and what mantras divine
By man should be recited, master mine?
What should he think, how in worship employed,
And say, what is there that he should avoid? 38

Indeed, potent brahman, you do not wait,
And are not seen at a householders' gate,
And only the limited time allow,
That it would take for milking of a cow. 39

(Suta said)
And thus with his eloquent questioning,
These points of inquiry spoke the king;
And that knower of virtue, seated nigh,
Badarayana's son, made his reply. 40

Thus ends Chapter Nineteen in Book One
of the great and glorious
Bhagavata Purana,
the text beloved of swan-like saints,
sung by the sone of Vyasa.

End of Book One.

[madanmohandas]

Previously I had got as far as the end of Chapter 47 in Book Ten, before finishing Book One. Well, that having been done, it seems only right to continue with SB.10.48. 1-4

Argument
First Krishna visits Sairendhri, the maid,
Whose crooked figure had perfect been made,
Then to Akrura's home to honour him,
And then Akrura's exuberant hymn;
Akrura to Elephantopolis,
Is sent to know if aught were there amiss;
These are the themes that Suka doth relate,
To Pariksit in Chapter Forty Eight.

(Suka said)
Thus having been acquainted with the news,
The Lord, the soul of all, who all souls views,
Desired to oblige that serving maid
Who loved him, and to her house his way made. 1

Her home with costly articles was graced,
With furnishings expediently placed,
With strands of pearls and flower garlands strung,
Which pendant from the flags and banners hung;
With bright arrases and canopies dight,
Calculated to waken soft delight.
A luxurious bed and bolstered seat,
And shining lamps and fragrant sandal sweet. 2

When him she saw arriving at her home,
She swiftly rose to offer him welcome,
And with her friends in fond beatitude,
She worshipped Acyuta, the untransmewed;
And with the articles of honour meet,
She offered him respectfully a seat. 3

Pious Uddhava, who was also there,
Was honoured with the offer of a chair,
But due to his diffidence he forbore,
And sat him contentedly on the floor.
Meanwhile Krishna, without further delay,
According to custom recumbent lay,
Upon the luxurious costly bed,
In keeping with the human life he led. 4

[madanmohandas]

A digression.

The Twenty Four Gurus. SB. 11. 7.33-35

pṛthivī vāyur ākāśam
āpo ’gniś candramā raviḥ
kapoto ’jagaraḥ sindhuḥ
pataṅgo madhukṛd gajaḥ
madhu-hā hariṇo mīnaḥ
piṅgalā kuraro ’rbhakaḥ
kumārī śara-kṛt sarpa
ūrṇanābhiḥ supeśakṛt
ete me guravo rājan
catur-viṁśatir āśritāḥ
śikṣā vṛttibhir eteṣām
anvaśikṣam ihātmanaḥ

The Avadhuta (Dattatreya) to Yadu.

The earth, the wind, the sky of lofty height,
Water, fire, the moon and the sun bright;
The pigeon, the python, and the broad sea,
The moth, the elephant, the honey bee,

The deer, the fish, the honey taker styled,
Pingala, and the osprey, and the child;
The maiden, arrow-smith, the cunning snake,
The wasp, the spider that a web doth make.

All these are my preceptors, mighty king,
That come to twenty four in numbering;
Their teachings by their ways and means discerned,
Whence I myself have many lessons learned.

[madanmohandas]

Srimad Bhagavatam, Book 2, Ch.1. 1-5

(Suka said)
Your question is right excellent, O king,
The answer whereof all welfare doth bring;
Which knowers of the self highly revere,
And approve, and which is worthy to hear. 1

Indeed, mankind, O mighty king of kings,
May listen and discuss thousands of things;
Since they do not of the self see the truth,
Attached to home and household life forsooth. 2

They spend their nights sleeping in weariness,
And but indulge in amorous congress;
Their days are spent accumulating gain,
The burden of their kindred to maintain. 3

Although he sees he does not really see,
Deluded by love of the family;
His body, his children, his wife withal,
As fallible soldiers must die and fall. 4

Therefore, best of the Bharat dynasty,
The soul of all, Illustrious Hari,
Should be heard of and glorified sincere,
And recollected, to be rid of fear. 5

[madanmohandas]

SB.5.6.1-3 On Rishabha Avatara

rājovāca
na nūnaṁ bhagava ātmārāmāṇāṁ yoga-samīrita-jñānāvabharjita-karma-bījānām aiśvaryāṇi punaḥ kleśadāni bhavitum arhanti yadṛc-chayopagatāni. 1

The king said.
Certes, O great one, for those who revel in the self the seeds of action are all burnt up in the fire of yoga meditation and wisdom; how then could the spontaneous development of powers be deemed harmful, and wherefore did he spurn them? 1

ṛṣir uvāca
satyam uktaṁ kintv iha vā eke na manaso ’ddhā viśrambham anavasthānasya śaṭha-kirāta iva saṅgacchante. 2

The Rishi said.
Truly said, and yet though the mind be singularly concentrated, faith should not be reposed in it, as the wily hunter is wary of his captive prey. 2

tathā coktam —
na kuryāt karhicit sakhyaṁ
manasi hy anavasthite
yad-viśrambhāc cirāc cīrṇaṁ
caskanda tapa aiśvaram 3

And so it is said,
Friendship and trust should never be consigned
To the most restless and inconstant mind,
For e'en the great who long penance maintain,
Distracted by the mind, lose all their gain. 3
........................................
ko nv asya kāṣṭhām aparo ’nugacchen
mano-rathenāpy abhavasya yogī
yo yoga-māyāḥ spṛhayaty udastā
hy asattayā yena kṛta-prayatnāḥ 5.6.12

Who is there then his course could emulate?
What yogi could hope to attain his state?
That even powers great ones strive to gain,
He spurned, knowing them as worthless and vain.

[madanmohandas]

Picking up from where I left off in 10th Skandha.

SB. 10.48. 1-22

Argument

First Krishna visits Sairendhri, the maid,
Whose crooked figure had perfect been made,
Then to Akrura's home to honour him,
And then Akrura's exuberant hymn;
Akrura to Elephantopolis,
Is sent to know if aught were there amiss;
These are the themes that Suka doth relate,
To Pariksit in Chapter Forty Eight.

(Suka said)
Thus having been acquainted with the news,
The Lord, the soul of all, who all souls views,
Desired to oblige that serving maid
Who loved him, and to her house his way made. 1

Her home with costly articles was graced,
With furnishings expediently placed,
With strands of pearls and flower garlands strung,
Which pendant from the flags and banners hung;
With bright arrases and canopies dight,
So arranged to awaken soft delight.
A luxurious bed and bolstered seat,
And shining lamps and fragrant sandal sweet. 2

When him she saw arriving at her home,
She swiftly rose to offer him welcome,
And with her friends in fond beatitude,
She worshipped Acyuta, the untransmewed;
And with the articles of honour meet,
She offered him respectfully a seat. 3

Pious Uddhava, who was also there,
Was honoured with the offer of a chair,
But due to his diffidence he forbore,
And sat contentedly upon the floor.
Meanwhile Krishna, without further delay,
According to custom recumbent lay,
Upon the luxurious costly bed,
In keeping with the human life he led. 4

Well bathed and dressed and well adorned she came,
With sandal paste and water as became;
And approached Madhava with modest smiles,
And bashful glances soft that love beguiles. 5

His beloved he drew toward the bed,
Who was by knew contact disquieted;
And took her by the hand with bangles bright,
Then played with her in amorous delight.
The merit gained from offering mere scent,
Brought her supreme fulfilment and content. 6

She was relieved of Cupids' burning heat,
That in her bosom raged, touching the feet
Of Lord Acyuta, and imbibed his scent,
Her eyes were satisfied and well content;
Which all her burning passion did allay,
And all her pain and grief were swept away.
She held him twixt her arms against her breast,
And in embrace her lover fond compressed;
And having gained that state of happiness,
She overcame her long standing distress. 48.7

Thus she the Lord of salvation attained,
The Lord Supreme, by others hardly gained;
By merely anointing him she was bless'd,
Yet made, unfortunately, this request. 48.8

"O most beloved and my dearest friend,
Some days let us the time together spend,
Let pleasure and delight be all our care,
O Lotus-eyed, parting I cannot bear." 48.9

On her he did her wished for boon bestow,
And respectful, he did much honour show;
The Lord of all, with Uddhava, content,
Back to his luxurious palace went. 48.10

Rarely adored is Vishnu, worshipful,
And one who has worshipped him to the full,
Yet seeks from him some rash whimsical gain,
Indeed, such are of wicked and dull brain. 48.11

Now with Rama and Uddhava the twain,
Lord Krishna to Akrura's dwelling came,
With some intent purpose, the Mighty Lord
Arrived, Akrura pleasure to afford. 12

When he those foremost of heroes beheld,
Who were his own kinsmen, he was compelled,
To rise up from his seat in joyful haste,
And greeted them with honour and embraced. 13

He then to Rama and Krishna bowed down,
And by them to him all respect was shown;
With high honour he had them seated there,
Worshipped his guests as holy texts declare. 14

When he the bathing of their feet had sped,
He took that water and sprinkled his head,
And proffered rare gifts of raiment divine,
Scents and garlands and ornaments sublime. 15

He bowed him down when worship was complete,
And taking on his lap massaged their feet;
Then bowing in humility his head,
To Krishna and Rama, Akrura said. 16

"To our good fortune Kamsa hath been slain,
The sinful one hath perished with his train;
The clan, long suffering, hath been relieved,
And increase of prosperity achieved. 17

Ye both are Primal Nature and the Lord,
Cause of the world, one with the world, adored;
There is no cause nor effect but for thee,
Without ye both, no, nothing could there be. 18

The universe is from your self create,
Entering by power you infiltrate;
As Brahman in many forms are perceived,
By hearing and by perception conceived. 19

As earth and other elements involve,
The moving and inert creatures evolve,
In varied species manifest to view,
So all are manifestations of you,
The self Supreme, self-dependant, alone,
Diversely manifest yet always one. 20

To generate, maintain and then destroy,
Raja, Sattva and Tama you employ;
With attributes of your power combined;
But you acts and qualities do not bind.
And how could you by ignorance be bound,
Who are the self of pure wisdom profound. 21

The conditioning adjunct of body
Has never been predicated in thee;
Since thou art Soul Supreme sans distinction,
Thou hast no birth, bondage nor salvation.
And if it should be otherwise conceived,
It is because our learning is deceived. 22

[malati]

Dada Madanmohan dasji

Thanks for posting your translation work on here. I can see that we are the only ones now, posting on here.

The erstwhile regular posters seem to have gone underground or maybe they're having their intimate meetings at the Naimisaranya forest of whatsapp

[madanmohandas]

Well, Malati, it's good to know someone is still here.

[madanmohandas]

Well, here is more. SB.10.48.23-24. Akrura speaking.

From thee the Vedas and their path proceed,
And the great epic chronicles decreed,
Which propagate the codes of holy writ,
For the world and general benefit.
When infidels and heretics abound,
The lessons of the scripture they confound,
And when from the world scriptures disappear,
Then thou dost in thy sacred form appear. 23

And thou, O puissant mighty Lord art he,
Incarnate with thy part divinity;
The burden of the good earth to allay,
And legions* of the royal hosts to slay;
Who are demons as princes incarnate,
Who always strive with the gods whom they hate;
And thus thy high supremacy is shown,
Enhancing thus thy family's renown. 24

* An hundred akshauhinis.