|
Post by madanmohandas on Jan 31, 2020 5:02:03 GMT -6
Now have a spacious arena prepared, And have fine galleries and platforms reared, Summon the city folk and rural swains, To see the grand and voluntary games. 24
And thou, my worthy elephant mount, hear, Bring tusker Kuvalayapida here, And station him at the grand city gate, These enemies of mine to extirpate. 25
When the fourteenth lunation doth arise, Prepare, as writ ordains, the sacrifice, In worship of the bow, and as is fit, Votive animals to slaughter commit; Propitiate with divine orisons, The Lord of creatures who grants benisons. 26
Having ordered them to do his behest, Kamsa, who knew the codes of self interest, Had the Yadu Akrura to him led, And taking in his hand his hand, he said. 27
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Jan 31, 2020 8:37:49 GMT -6
"O master donor of great charity, A task of friendship deign to do for me; Among the Bhojas and Vrishnis I find, None like to thee who has to me been kind. 28
Thou excecutest thy tasks soberly, And therefore, I have recourse unto thee; E'en as mighty Indra to Vishnu bends, Suppliant, to achieve his purposed ends. 29
To Nanda's cowherd settlement repair, The sons of Anakadundubhi there Are dwelling; them hither you must convey, And bring them in this car without delay. 30
For certain the gods thro' this pair contrive, Who on Vishnu depend, means to deprive Myself of life; thou thus shouldst bring them here, And Nanda and his train should tribute bear. 31
When thou hast brought them here, my firm intent Is that they be slain by my elephant; If they should escape, my wrestlers remain, Like thunderbolts, and shall by them be slain. 32
When these two have been thus deprived of breath, I shall condemn their relatives to death; Those Vrishnis, Bhojas, Dasarhas, who still Defy me; all these I shall also kill. 33
My doting father I shall also slay, Always greedy for imperial sway, His brother Devaka, and all my foes, Who hate me, I shall thus of them dispose. 34
Then, only then, my friend, this earth shall be, From these thorny impediments made free. 35
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Jan 31, 2020 12:25:58 GMT -6
Concluding Srimad Bhagavatam, Book X, Canto XXXVI, 36-40
My elder, Jarasandha, condescends, Myself and Dvividha are best of friends, Sambara and Naraka also share My fortunes, and with me firm friendship bear. With these to take my part in friendship tied, I shall destroy these kings to gods allied. 36
Now that my secret intentions you know, To fetch Rama and Krishna quickly go, That they might of the sacrifice have sight, And see the Yadu city's splendour bright. 37
(Akrura said) O king, you have devised a clever plot, To gain your ends, and purge away the blot Of ill, but one should see with equity, Since fruits are determined by Destiny. 38
A worldly man acts as desire bids, Tho' Destiny his cherished hope forbids; And therefore reaps of woe and happiness, Yet I shall do as bid, nevertheless. 39
(Sri Suka said) Thus having urged Akrura to this deed, Dismissed his ministers with all agreed; Then Kamsa to his own chambers repaired, And wise Akrura also homeward fared. 40
Here endeth Canto XXXVI of Book the Tenth, Srimad Bhagavatam.
......
In wonder at joy it conveys, Divine Rupa of Book Ten says,
Alas! ye fools, the verses, it appears, Of the Tenth Book have entered in your ears, Since now ye forsake duty, wealth, and love, Nay, even liberation's joy reprove!
(Bh R S. Praise with irony.)
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 1, 2020 15:25:54 GMT -6
(And now, my patient gentle reader hear, Those themes that in the next Canto appear; Keshi's destruction, Narad's augury, Vile Vyoma's death; his companions set free.)
Srimad Bhagavatam, Book X, Canto XXXVII, 1-8
Meantime to Vraja Keshi held his course, On Kamsa's hest, as a colossal horse; With speed of mind he came in full career, And tore the earth, and did his main uprear, Which scattered the clouds that around him hung, And off their course the god's chariots flung; His horrid roars the terrors amplified, And all were struck with fear and petrified; Observing his cowherd companion's plight, And how his horrid neighing caused such fright, And how Keshi approached him to assail, And how the clouds he scattered with his tail, He then called out his challenge to defy, And Keshi roared like lion in reply. 1-2
When Keshi heard that challenge to engage, He rushed with gaping mouth, consumed with rage, As if to swallow up the sky, he tried With his forelegs to strike the Lotus-eyed. 3
But the Inscrutable Lord dogged his kick, And seized him with his arm dexterous and quick, And playfully around and round he whirled, And to an hundred bow length distance hurled, E'en as the son of Tarksya casts away A snake; the Lord stood ready for the frey. 4
Reviving consciousness he rose again; Gaping, Keshi at Hari charged amain, But with a smile with his left hand he smote, And thrust his arm down into Keshi's throat; E'en as a serpent doth slither and roll, And enters into a convenient hole. 5
Merely at the touch of the great Lord's arm, Knocked out his teeth, which felt like hot iron; His arm within caused Keshi's guts to burst, E'en like a distempered stomach unnursed. 6
Thus Krishna's arm the swelling did augment, Asphyxiated by blocking the vent, With leg spasms, sweat, eyes rolling around, He voided ordure, then fell to the ground. 7
The strong armed from Keshi his arm withdrew, Which seemed a ripened burst melon to view, Without the least of pride, his aim fulfilled, At thus with ease the demon having killed. He then received the worship of the gods, Who poured down flowers from their bright abodes. 8
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 2, 2020 4:54:18 GMT -6
A little more Bhagavat, X, XXXVII, 9-12. Suka continues his recital.
And now, O king, Narad of godlike fame, The foremost devotee, to Krishna came, Who acts wonderful deeds unceasingly, To consult in a private colloquy. 9
"Krishna, Krishna! immeasurable soul! The Lord of yoga, ruler of the whole! Lord Vasudeva, in whom all abide, Thou Master of Sattvatas and their pride! Thou art the self in all creatures enshrined, The secret spark of fire in wood confined, Concealed, thou art lodged in the heart's recess, As the indwelling spirit and witness; Thou great being called Maha-purusa, Thou art the supreme ruler, Ishvara. 10/11
Thou art resort of souls and antedate, Thy power doth the gunas three create, Whence springs up all 'this', and thine every wish Thou spontaneously dost accomplish; From thee each creature and nature evolves, Under thy sway, and into thee dissolves. 12
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 2, 2020 8:01:36 GMT -6
Thou art that He, who verily I say, Hast made descent to punish and to slay The Daitya host and the Pramatha brood, And to afford protection to the good. 13
This demon who did the horse form assume, Hast been slain by thee to our great fortune; Who had brought terror when he raged and roared, Th'unblinking ones fled heaven and deplored. 14
On the day after tomorrow you will Strong Chanura and vile Mushtika kill; And all the wrestlers and the elephant, And Kamsa shall to Death's abode be sent. 15
Thereafter the Conch demon you will saly, And shall the Yavana invader stay; Mura and Naraka shall meet their end, And you shall to Indra's heaven ascend, And Indra's presumption you will defy, And take the Parijata from the sky; And fair maidens you shall win after fight, By paying the price of heroic might; Salvation to Nriga you shall afford, And dwell in Dvar'ka as the world's great Lord. The Syamantaka gem shall passions rouse, And you shall gain another lovely spouse; On the brahman's dead sons shall life bestow, For which purpose to your own realm will go; The slaying of Paundraka I shall see, And burning down of fair Kashi city; You shall the wicked Dantavakra smite, And Chedi's prince during the holy rite; As all these and many exploits unfold, While in Dvar'ka you dwell, I shall behold; Which poets shall always on earth rehearse, In lofty speech and fine poetic verse. 16-20
Thereafter I shall also see you there, As Time and Arjuna's charioteer, Extirpating the mighty hosts of men, To lighten of the world it's great burden. 21
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 2, 2020 13:11:12 GMT -6
May we approach your grace as refugees, Supreme Lord of infinite potencies, The one Lord whose being does constitute The pure essence of wisdom absolute; Your purpose you unimpeded fulfill, According to your independant will, Always uncircumscribed and unconfined, You the flow of the gunas cannot bind. 22
You are the ruler and your own support, Who manifest this various world in sport, Who now in human warfare would fain play, And with these heroes enter on the frey; I bow to you in salutation Lord, By Yadus, Vrishnis, Sattvatas adored. 23
(Sri Suka said) Thus having Yadu's Lord Krishna addressed, The muni, of devoted saints the best, Bowed down and then to take his leave did pray, Exulting at his sight, and went his way. 24
Thus Govinda having dread Keshi slain, Resumed his task of tending cows again, And bringing joy to the herds and his friends, Delighted, with them back to Vraja weds. 25
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 2, 2020 14:49:39 GMT -6
Concluding Canto XXXVII, Book X, Srimad Bhagavatam, 26-33
One day tending the cattle as they strayed, The young cowherds upon the hill side played, Some played at guarding herds while others steal, And playing as thieves their plunder conceal. 26
Some act the roll of guards the herds to keep, And others as rustlers to steal the sheep, And thus they played, not fearing any harm, Sans the least apprehension or alarm. 27
Then Maya's son, Vyoma, the wizard came, Disguised as a cowherd in form and frame, Feigning he was a thief those boys conducts Who played at sheep, and thus each boy abducts. 28
Little by little many boys he drave, And cast them down into a mountain cave, Then heaved a mighty slab across the door, Till of boys was left only five of four. 29
Now Krishna, who gives shelter to the good, The doings of the demon understood, And as the lion takes the wolf as prey, He seized him while he took more boys away. 30
The demon resumed his colossal might, Dilated his form to a mountain's height, But unable himself to extricate From his firm grip, his power did abate. 31
Lord Achyuta held him in his arms bound, And squeezing hard he threw him to the ground, Then even as the gods were looking on, He like a votive beast to death was done. 32
Then breaking down the slab blocking the door, He led the cowherds out and did restore; Praised by his friends, saluted from the skies By gods, to his own cowherd village hies. 33
Here endeth Canto XXXVII in Book the Tenth, Srimad Bhagavatam;
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 3, 2020 6:15:04 GMT -6
The argument
Gandhini's son at break of day To Shri Vrindavan takes his way; His mind exulted as he thought, While on his car the way he sought. Proceeding on the road he found Those unique footprints on the ground, With ecstasy and love endeared, The dust upon his person smeared. He then arrives at close of day, Beholds the brothers twain at play. Krishna received him and expressed Warm welcome to his worthy guest. Thus Suka does at length relate The themes of Canto thirty eight.
Srimad Bhagavatam, Book X, Canto XXXVIII, 1-6
(Sri Suka said) In Madhu Puri having spent that night, Wise Akrura rose with the morning light, And mounting on his chariot he went, At dawn to Nanda's cowherd settlement. 1
That fortunate one as the road he hied, Felt excess of love for the Lotus-eyed, And while he joyed in that ecstatic state, Within himself gan to deliberate. 2
"What deeds of altruism have I done, And what severe penances undergone, What worship, what largesse in charity, That I today Lord Keshava shall see? 3
I think it is a thing rarely attained, For one to have a sight of the Lord gained, Who is praised in choice verse, consequently, He is not seen by wordlings such as me. E'en as the lowly peasant lacks the worth To recite hymns by stigma of his birth. 4
But nay, think not so, altho' I be base, Today I shall behold Achyuta's face; The soul, tho' to the stream of Time consigned, Sometime the way to get across may find. 5
Today my evils are absolved and gone, The fruit of my existence I have won! Since I this day shall bow and lay prostrate, At lotus-feet which yogins contemplate. 6
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 3, 2020 11:33:33 GMT -6
Kamsa, tho' unaware, has favoured me, Since I shall see those feet of Sri Hari, Those lotus-feet with radiant toenails, Over the gloom of ignorance prevails, Which light many in the past having gained, Have crossed the darkness and freedom attained. 7
Brahma and Bhava and the gods entreat, And goddess Shri adores those lotus-feet, The sages and his voteries adore Those lotus-feet his favour to implore; Upon those tender lotus-feet divine, He treads the forest while tending the kine; Those feet shine with the red powder conferred, From the breasts of cowherd damsels transferred. 8
Surely Mukunda's face I shall espy, Since gentle deer upon my right pass by, With glossy cheeks and glowing countenance, Prominent nose, and a warm smiling glance, And eyes like soft lotus petals divine, Which with the glow of dawn radiant shine, Whose frontal locks hang loose about his face, Enhancing his rare beauty and his grace. 9
Ah me! today I shall see with my eyes, The supreme Lord Vishnu in human guise, The reservoir and store of loveliness, Who to remove the burden and distress Of earth, is now incarnate; and this day There is none who my fortune can gainsay, For I shall have received the rarest prize, And blessing, to behold him with these eyes. 10
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 3, 2020 13:39:56 GMT -6
Continuing Canto XXXVIII, Book X. 11-12
Who is the witness void of ego sense, Whence products of cause and effect commence, Whose innate power and inherent might, The gloom of difference illumines bright; Whose power instrumental generates, And in reception of his glance creates; Breath, senses, and intellect are supplied, Wherein he is indirectly implied. 11
By glory of whose deeds in speech rehearsed, The sins of all are absolved and dispersed, Which of his births and attributes declare, Sanctifies and affords supreme welfare. Whereas speech which to him does not relate, Were like a lifeless corpse to decorate. 12
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 4, 2020 5:07:25 GMT -6
He is that very God by gods revered, Who has in the Sattvata clan appeared, To uphold his own codes of righteousness, Affording to the great gods happiness. Which gods his deeds eloquently proclaim, And spread the glory of his holy fame, Granting to all endless auspiciousness, Final beatitude and blessedness. That ruling Lord who everywhere presides, Now in the cowherd settlement abides. 13
For certain this day I shall see the Lord, The preceptor of great ones and adored, Whose beauty thus exhibited inspires The lovely goddess Shri with soft desires; Of all my dawning days this day I gain, The ultimate fulfilment of life's aim. 14
And then I shall my chariot descend, And straightway at their lotus-feet shall bend, And shall prostrate myself before the pair Of primal beings who one nature share; Who this vasty existence generate, Whose lotus-feet the yogins contemplate. And I shall render homage to their train, To all their friends, each herdsman, and each swain. 15
Then while at his feet I lay prostrated, The Lord shall place his hand upon my head, Indeed, that lotus-hand on me will place, Which fear of the Time-serpent does efface, Whoso his refuge seeks from that despair, The touch of his hand assuages the fear. 16
Indeed, by charity made to that hand, Kausik and Bali gained heaven's command, Ah me! that hand which bears a fragrant scent With Saughandika flower perfume blent, When sporting with the cowherd dames, ispired With love, when they were weary and perspired, With this same hand he stroked their faces bright, Removing their fatigue, giving delight. 17
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 4, 2020 14:54:07 GMT -6
Continuing Book X, Canto XXXVIII, 18-21
Lord Achyuta will not consider me, Tho' sent by Kamsa, as his enemy; Since he, the universal witness sees Within, without, and all activities; All to his taintless vision is revealed, For he indeed is 'knower of the field'. 18
With palm to palm applied, and bowing low, At those soft feet, he will on me bestow A smiling glance beaming with affection, Which shall at once dispel my dejection; And thro' the ecstasy thereby achieved, I shall of all misgivings be relieved. 19
Taking me for a dear kinsman restored, He who is my chosen and cherished Lord, Will fold me in his mighty arms, and I The very bonds of action will untie. 20
Embraced thus by that Lord of high renown, With palms together pressed, still bowing down, He shall address me in sweet tones and clear, And say, ' Oh Akrura, my uncle dear! We shall the choicest fruit of life then win, But who is not so honoured, fie on him! 21
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 5, 2020 4:20:27 GMT -6
To him favoured or belov'ed there are none, Nor does he any hate, despise, or shun; Yet he responds to his own devotee, As those who resort to the wishing tree. 22
His elder, while with bowing head I stand, Will take my folded palms within his hand, With smiles, that Yadu chief will lead the way, And take me to their home and honour pay; And making the guest gift as rule decrees, Of his kinsmen will make inquiries, As to how their livelihoods they maintain, As subjects of the wicked Kamsa's reign. 23
(Sri Suka said) The blessed son of Svaphalka, dear king, Upon Krishna deeply contemplating, On his car, travelling along the road, At last arrived at the cowherd's abode, Just as Surya was going to his rest, Setting behind the mountains of the west. 24
And as toward the cowherd land he drew, He did those unique sacred footprints view, The dust whereof, conveying pure renown, Each world guardian bears upon his crown. He saw those footprints here and there adorn With signs of lotus, goad, and barley corn, The blessed earth lending it sanctity And enhancing her natural beauty. 25
Exulting was he at that sight to see, And was perturbed by loving ecstasy, Thrilled with abundant joy at that sight there, His eyes brimmed over with tears, and his hair Bristled all over from intense delight, Then quickly from his car he did alight, And rolled in the dust uninhibited, Besmearing all his body and his head, And cried aloud in love exuberantly, 'This is the dust from my Lord's feet, ah me!' 26
This verily for embodied souls is, The goal of life and source of supreme bliss, To put all misapprehension aside, Doing away with fear, sorrow, and pride. Tho' he but ensued the command and hest Of Kamsa, he was fortunately bless'd, Absorbing his thoughts, his vision and mind, In things that may one of Hari remind. 27
|
|
|
Post by madanmohandas on Feb 5, 2020 11:29:42 GMT -6
Book X, Canto XXXVIII, 28-33
Thereupon he beheld the princely pair, While to the milking parlour they repair; Krishna and Rama clad in garments fine, One of them dark, the other fair did shine; That one wore raiment of a yellow hue, The other was clad in robes of dark blue, Their eyes as autumnal lotus appear, Thus shone the handsome adolescent pair; Their mighty arms extending to the knee, Their ample bosoms, resting place of Shri, They most handsome countenances display, And as a pair of young elephants play; The flag, the bolt, the goad, the lotus shine, Upon their foot soles, and render sublime The glory of the earth; their glances show Sweet tender smiles, and compassion bestow; He saw them who in lustrous deeds delight, With fragrant forest flower garlands dight, Their limbs with odorous substances smeared, Freshly bathed and ornamented appeared; The source of nature and being, adored, The cause of the world, and the world's great Lord. Who had descended now for the world's sake, And with their parts did incarnation take; As Bala and Keshava, O dear king, Whose refulgence away does darkness fling. One of them seemed a mount of silver bright, With finely polished gold ornaments dight, The other like a mount of emerald, Also adorned in shiny burnished gold. 28-33
|
|