SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 1

Sûta said: "It was there [at the Sarasvatî river] that the king saw that a s'ûdra who was dressed like a king was beating a cow and a bull with a club, like there was no one to protect them.

Sûta Gosvâmî said: After reaching that place, Mahârâja Parîkshit observed that a lower-caste s'ûdra, dressed like a king, was beating a cow and a bull with a club, as if they had no owner. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The bull, that was as white as a lotus, terrified of being beaten by the s'ûdra urinated and trembled out of fear, standing on one leg only.

The bull was as white as a white lotus flower. He was terrified of the s'ûdra who was beating him, and he was so afraid that he was standing on one leg, trembling and urinating. (Vedabase)

Text 3

The cow also, on itself a religious example but now rendered poor and distressed because of the s'ûdra who beated her legs, was without a calf and had tears in her eyes while she very weak was hankering after some grass to eat.

Although the cow is beneficial because one can draw religious principles from her, she was now rendered poor and calfless. Her legs were being beaten by a s'ûdra. There were tears in her eyes, and she was distressed and weak. She was hankering after some grass in the field. (Vedabase)

Text 4

From his with gold embossed chariot questioned Parîkchit, well equipped with bow and arrows, with a thundering voice:

Mahârâja Parîkshit, well equipped with arrows and bow and seated on a gold-embossed chariot, spoke to him [the s'ûdra] with a deep voice sounding like thunder. (Vedabase)

Text 5

'Who are you to think that you in this place can violently kill the helpless resorting under my protection! As an actor you make a powerful appearance dressed up like a God-conscious man, but you behave like someone who never saw the light of civilization [of being twice born].

Oh, who are you? You appear to be strong and yet you dare kill, within my protection, those who are helpless! By your dress you pose yourself to be a godly man [king], but by your deeds you are opposing the principles of the twice-born kshatriyas. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Do you think that because Lord Krishna and the carrier of the bow the Gândîva [Arjuna] have disappeared from the scene, you can secretly beat an innocent cow? Being a culprit that way you deserve it to be killed!'

You rogue, do you dare beat an innocent cow because Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the carrier of the Gândîva bow, are out of sight? Since you are beating the innocent in a secluded place, you are considered a culprit and therefore deserve to be killed. (Vedabase)

Text 7

'And you', he said turning to the bull, 'are you just a bull that, as white as a lotus, moves on one leg and has lost three legs or are you some demigod who in the form of a bull makes us sad?

Then he [Mahârâja Parîkshit] asked the bull: Oh, who are you? Are you a bull as white as a white lotus, or are you a demigod? You have lost three of your legs and are moving on only one. Are you some demigod causing us grief in the form of a bull? (Vedabase)

Text 8

Except for the case of you having tears in your eyes because of someone else, has under the protection [the arms] of any of the kings of the Kuru dynasty there never been such grieving on earth.

Now for the first time in a kingdom well protected by the arms of the kings of the Kuru dynasty, I see you grieving with tears in your eyes. Up till now no one on earth has ever shed tears because of royal negligence. (Vedabase)

Text 9

O son of Surabhi [the celestial cow], in my kingdom there will be no lamentation, so do not fear the s'ûdra, and dear mother cow, do not cry; as long as I am alive as the ruler and subduer of the envious will you fare well!

O son of Surabhi, you need lament no longer now. There is no need to fear this low-class s'ûdra. And, O mother cow, as long as I am living as the ruler and subduer of all envious men, there is no cause for you to cry. Everything will be good for you. (Vedabase)

Text 10-11

O chaste one, he will lose his fame, longevity, fortune and a good birth, in whose state the living beings are terrified of miscreants. It is certainly the supreme duty of the kings to subdue in order to put an end to the misery of the ones who suffer and therefore I shall kill this most wretched man who is so violent with other living beings.

O chaste one, the king's good name, duration of life and good rebirth vanish when all kinds of living beings are terrified by miscreants in his kingdom. It is certainly the prime duty of the king to subdue first the sufferings of those who suffer. Therefore I must kill this most wretched man because he is violent against other living beings. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Who is the one who has cut your legs, o son of Surabhi - what happened to you has never happened before in this royal state of kings who live in respect of Lord Krishna.

He [Mahârâja Parîkshit] repeatedly addressed and questioned the bull thus: O son of Surabhi, who has cut off your three legs? In the state of the kings who are obedient to the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, there is no one as unhappy as you. (Vedabase)

Text 13

O bull, you are honest and without offenses, tell me therefore about him who mutilated you and tarnished the reputation of the sons of Prithâ.

O bull, you are offenseless and thoroughly honest; therefore I wish all good to you. Please tell me of the perpetrator of these mutilations, which blackmail the reputation of the sons of Prithâ. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Those who make the sinless suffer may fear me wherever they are, for I will curb the actions of the miscreants and restore the wellfare of the ones who are honest.

Whoever causes offenseless living beings to suffer must fear me anywhere and everywhere in the world. By curbing dishonest miscreants, one automatically benefits the offenseless. (Vedabase)

Text 15

The upstart who offends innocent living beings, I shall forthwith defeat, whether he's a demigod from heaven with armor and decorations or not.

An upstart living being who commits offenses by torturing those who are offenseless shall be directly uprooted by me, even though he be a denizen of heaven with armor and decorations. (Vedabase)

Text 16

It is certainly the holy duty of the head of state to always protect the ones who faithfully perform their duty and, safely according the scriptures, chastise those in this world who have strayed from the path.'

The supreme duty of the ruling king is to give all protection to law-abiding persons and to chastise those who stray from the ordinances of the scriptures in ordinary times, when there is no emergency. (Vedabase)

Text 17

The personality of religion said: 'All you said speaking for the sake of the freedom from anxiety of those who are suffering is befitting for someone of the Pândava dynasty, the dynasty of which the qualities led Lord Krishna to behave like a servant and such.

The personality of religion said: These words just spoken by you befit a person of the Pândava dynasty. Captivated by the devotional qualities of the Pândavas, even Lord Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, performed duties as a messenger. (Vedabase)

Text 18

O greatest among the human beings, from the bewilderment of the person as a consequence of all the differences of opinion, we cannot tell what would be the cause of all human suffering.

O greatest among human beings, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular miscreant who has caused our sufferings, because we are bewildered by all the different opinions of theoretical philosophers. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

Some in defiance of all duality declare that one suffers because of one's own actions, others speak of supernatural causes, while still others say that it is all due to the working of material nature or the consequence of accepting outside authorities.

Some of the philosophers, who deny all sorts of duality, declare that one's own self is responsible for his personal happiness and distress. Others say that superhuman powers are responsible, while yet others say that activity is responsible, and the gross materialists maintain that nature is the ultimate cause. (Vedabase)

Text 20

Some also conclude that it is a matter which defies explanation and comprehension; who of them in this is right, o sage amongst the kings, is left to your own power of judgement.' "

There are also some thinkers who believe that no one can ascertain the cause of distress by argumentation, nor know it by imagination, nor express it by words. O sage amongst kings, judge for yourself by thinking over all this with your own intelligence. (Vedabase)

Text 21

Sûta said: "Parîkchit, who attentively had followed what the personality of religion had to say, o best among the brahmins, mindfully replied.

Sûta Gosvâmî said: O best among the brâhmanas, the Emperor Parîkshit, thus hearing the personality of religion speak, was fully satisfied, and without mistake or regret he gave his reply. (Vedabase)

Text 22

'You o knower of the duties, o dharma in the form of a bull, speak this way [of not disclosing the cause] only because you know that [just like with a guru taking up the karma] he who points out the wrongdoer ends up in the position of doing wrong.

The King said: O you, who are in the form of a bull! You know the truth of religion, and you are speaking according to the principle that the destination intended for the perpetrator of irreligious acts is also intended for one who identifies the perpetrator. You are no other than the personality of religion. (Vedabase)

Text 23

In other words: the Lord His ways with the material world can by living beings nor be put in words nor be conceived.

Thus it is concluded that the Lord's energies are inconceivable. No one can estimate them by mental speculation or by word jugglery. (Vedabase)

Text 24

Penance, cleanliness, compassion and truthfulness [tapas, s'auca, dayâ, satya] are the legs that established the age of truth [Satya Yuga, the 'old days'], but because of irreligiosity have three of them broken in conceit, clinging to intercourse and intoxication.

In the age of Satya [truthfulness] your four legs were established by the four principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But it appears that three of your legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication. (Ved a base)

Text 25

At present, o personality of religion, you are hobbling along on the one leg of truthfulness while quarrel personified [Kali], flourishing on deceit, irreligiously tries to destroy that leg too

You are now standing on one leg only, which is your truthfulness, and you are somehow or other hobbling along. But quarrel personified [Kali], flourishing by deceit, is also trying to destroy that leg. (Vedabase)

Text 26

Through the actions of the Supreme Lord personally has mother earth been released of a great burden, His all-auspicious footprints brought good fortune everywhere.

The burden of the earth was certainly diminished by the Personality of Godhead and by others as well. When He was present as an incarnation, all good was performed because of His auspicious footprints. (Vedabase)

Text 27

Lamenting with tears in her eyes is the unfortunate and chaste one [mother earth] who has been deserted by Him now enjoyed by lower-class people who, devoid of the culture of learning, pose as rulers in my place.'

Now she, the chaste one, being unfortunately forsaken by the Personality of Godhead, laments her future with tears in her eyes, for now she is being ruled and enjoyed by lower-class men who pose as rulers. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Thus were the personalities of religion and mother earth pacified by the great warrior who took up his sharp sword in order to kill Kali, the root cause of irreligion.

Mahârâja Parîkshit, who could fight one thousand enemies singlehandedly, thus pacified the personality of religion and the earth. Then he took up his sharp sword to kill the personality of Kali, who is the cause of all irreligion. (Vedabase)

Text 29

Realizing that the king wanted to kill him, abandoned Kali, stressed by fear, the royal dress and bowed he in full surrender his head down at the feet.

When the personality of Kali understood that the King was willing to kill him, he at once abandoned the dress of a king and, under pressure of fear, completely surrendered to him, bowing his head. (Vedabase)

Text 30

Out of compassion did he who is kind to the poor and capable of handling worship with a smile refrain from killing the one fallen at the feet of the hero, the hero of whom it is said that he is worthy of being sung.

Mahârâja Parîkshit, who was qualified to accept surrender and worthy of being sung in history, did not kill the poor surrendered and fallen Kali, but smiled compassionately, for he was kind to the poor. (Vedabase)

Text 31

The king said: 'Do not fear, for you have surrendered yourself with folded hands. We certainly inherited the fame of Arjuna, but that doesn't mean that you can be allowed to stay in my kingdom, you are a friend of irreligion after all.

The King thus said: We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; therefore since you have surrendered yourself with folded hands you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion. (Vedabase)

Text 32

With you physically present as a god of man, will everywhere the irreligion of greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, treachery, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity and all of that be abound in the masses.

If the personality of Kali, irreligion, is allowed to act as a man-god or an executive head, certainly irreligious principles like greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, treachery, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity will abound. (Vedabase)

Text 33

For that reason, o friend of irreligion, do you not deserve it to remain in the vicinity of those places where the experts of religion and the truth duly and expertly are of worship with sacrifices for the Lord of Sacrifices.

Therefore, O friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 34

In such sacrificial ceremonies is the Supreme Personality of God, the Lord, worshiped as the Soul of all worshipable deities. In that form spreads He welfare, for He is the for all desires inviolable Supersoul who is there inside as well as outside, just like the air is to all that moves and not moves.'

In all sacrificial ceremonies, although sometimes a demigod is worshiped, the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is worshiped because He is the Supersoul of everyone, and exists both inside and outside like the air. Thus it is He only who awards all welfare to the worshiper. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

Sûta said: "That way being addressed by king Parîkchit, trembled the personality of Kali seeing him ready with a raised sword speaking like Yamarâja, the Lord of Death.

S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: The personality of Kali, thus being ordered by Mahârâja Parîkshit, began to tremble in fear. Seeing the King before him like Yamarâja, ready to kill him, Kali spoke to the King as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

Kali said: 'Werever I may live under your order, o Emperor, will I always have to face the reign of your bow and arrows.

O Your Majesty, though I may live anywhere and everywhere under your order, I shall but see you with bow and arrows wherever I look. (Vedabase)

Text 37:

Therefore please, o chief of the protectors of the religion, allot me a place where I may count on a permanent stay under your rule.' "

Therefore, O chief amongst the protectors of religion, please fix some place for me where I can live permanently under the protection of your government. (Vedabase)

Text 38:

Sûta said: "Thus being petitioned, gave he Kali then the permission to dwell in places where the four sinful activities of gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter [dyûtam, pânam, striyah, sûnâ] were taking place.

Sûta Gosvâmî said: Mahârâja Parîkshit, thus being petitioned by the personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed. (Vedabase)

Text 39:

Next to that gave the master him, upon his insistent begging, the place where there is gold, for gold by passion is the fifth sin bringing falsity, intoxication, lust and enmity.

The personality of Kali asked for something more, and because of his begging, the King gave him permission to live where there is gold because wherever there is gold there is also falsity, intoxication, lust, envy and enmity. (Vedabase)

Text 40:

Thus were under the direction of the son of Uttarâ the five dwelling places given to Kali where indeed irreligion is encouraged.

Thus the personality of Kali, by the directions of Mahârâja Parîkshit, the son of Uttarâ, was allowed to live in those five places. (Vedabase)

Text 41:

For that reason should a person desiring his well-being never resort to any of these places, especially not those persons following the path of liberation, the royalty, the state officials and the teachers.

Therefore, whoever desires progressive well-being, especially kings, religionists, public leaders, brâhmanas and sannyâsîs, should never come in contact with the four above-mentioned irreligious principles. (Vedabase)

Text 42:

By encouraging activities restoring the three lost legs of austerity, cleanliness and compassion of the bull, was [by King Parîkchit] the earth perfectly improved.

Thereafter the King reestablished the lost legs of the personality of religion [the bull], and by encouraging activities he sufficiently improved the condition of the earth. (Vedabase)

Text 43-44:

Of him there is the present rule; the throne that was handed over by the king, grandfather [Yudhishthhira] when he wished to withdraw into the forest. From that rule is that sage among the kings and chief of the Kuru dynasty now known in Hastinâpura as the most fortunate and famous emperor.

The most fortunate Emperor Mahârâja Parîkshit, who was entrusted with the kingdom of Hastinâpura by Mahârâja Yudhishthhira when he desired to retire to the forest, is now ruling the world with great success due to his being glorified by the deeds of the kings of the Kuru dynasty. (Vedabase)

Text 45:

Because of this experience of the son of Abhimanyu, the king, may you all thanks to his rule over the earth now have the initiation of the performance of sacrifices like this one.

Mahârâja Parîkshit, the son of Abhimanyu, is so experienced that by dint of his expert administration and patronage, it has been possible for you to perform a sacrifice such as this. (Vedabase)