10.48.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha vijñāya bhagavān

sarvātmā sarva-darśanaḥ

sairandhryāḥ kāma-taptāyāḥ

priyam icchan gṛhaḿ yayau

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — then; vijñāya — understanding; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sarva — of all; ātmā — the Soul; sarva — of everything; darśanaḥ — the seer; sairandhryāḥ — of the serving girl, Trivakrā; kāma — by lust; taptāyāḥ — troubled; priyam — the satisfaction; icchan — wanting; gṛham — to her house; yayau — He went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Next, after assimilating Uddhava's report, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the omniscient Soul of all that be, desired to satisfy the serving girl Trivakrā, who was troubled by lust. Thus He went to her house.

 

10.48.2

mahārhopaskarair āḍhyaḿ

kāmopāyopabṛḿhitam

muktā-dāma-patākābhir

vitāna-śayanāsanaiḥ

dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir dīpaiḥ

srag-gandhair api maṇḍitam

 

mahā-arha — expensive; upaskaraiḥ — with furnishings; āḍhyam — rich; kāma — of lust; upāya — with accoutrements; upabṛḿhitam — replete; muktā-dāma — with strings of pearls; patākābhiḥ — and banners; vitāna — with canopies; śayana — beds; āsanaiḥ — and seats; dhūpaiḥ — with incense; surabhibhiḥ — fragrant; dīpaiḥ — with oil lamps; srak — with flower garlands; gandhaiḥ — and aromatic sandalwood paste; api — also; maṇḍitam — decorated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Trivakrā's home was opulently appointed with expensive furnishings and replete with sensual accoutrements meant to inspire sexual desire. There were banners, rows of strung pearls, canopies, fine beds and sitting places, and also fragrant incense, oil lamps, flower garlands and aromatic sandalwood paste.

 

10.48.3

gṛhaḿ tam āyāntam avekṣya sāsanāt

sadyaḥ samutthāya hi jāta-sambhramā

yathopasańgamya sakhībhir acyutaḿ

sabhājayām āsa sad-āsanādibhiḥ

 

gṛham — to her house; tam — Him; āyāntam — arrived; avekṣya — seeing; sā — she; āsanāt — from her seat; sadyaḥ — suddenly; samutthāya — rising; hi — indeed; jāta-sambhramā — being in a flurry; yathā — properly; upasaṇgamya — coming toward; sakhībhiḥ — with her female companions; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sabhājayām āsa — respectfully greeted; sat-āsana — with an excellent seat; ādibhiḥ — and so on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Trivakrā saw Him arriving at her house, she at once rose from her seat in a flurry. Coming forward graciously with her girlfriends, she respectfully greeted Lord Acyuta by offering Him an excellent seat and other articles of worship.

 

10.48.4

tathoddhavaḥ sādhutayābhipūjito

nyaṣīdad urvyām abhimṛśya cāsanam

kṛṣṇo 'pi tūrṇaḿ śayanaḿ mahā-dhanaḿ

viveśa lokācaritāny anuvrataḥ

 

tathā — also; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; sādhutayā — as a saintly person; abhipūjitaḥ — worshiped; nyaṣīdat — sat; urvyām — on the ground; abhimṛśya — touching; ca — and; āsanam — the seat; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; api — and; tūrṇam — without delay; śayanam — a bed; mahā-dhanam — very rich; viveśa — lay upon; loka — of human society; ācaritāni — the modes of behavior; anuvrataḥ — imitating.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Uddhava also received a seat of honor, since he was a saintly person, but he simply touched it and sat on the floor. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, imitating the manners of human society, quickly made Himself comfortable on an opulent bed.

 

10.48.5

sā majjanālepa-dukūla-bhūṣaṇa

srag-gandha-tāmbūla-sudhāsavādibhiḥ

prasādhitātmopasasāra mādhavaḿ

sa-vrīḍa-līlotsmita-vibhramekṣitaiḥ

 

sā — she, Trivakrā; majjana — by bathing; ālepa — anointing; dukūla — dressing in fine garments; bhūṣaṇa — with ornaments; srak — garlands; gandha — perfume; tāmbūla — betel nut; sudhā-āsava — drinking fragrant liquor; ādibhiḥ — and so on; prasādhita — prepared; ātmā — her body; upasasāra — she approached; mādhavam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sa-vrīḍa — shy; līlā — playful; utsmita — of her smiles; vibhrama — exhibiting the allurement; īkṣitaiḥ — with glances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Trivakrā prepared herself by bathing, anointing her body, and dressing in fine garments, by putting on jewelry, garlands and perfume, and also by chewing betel nut, drinking fragrant liquor, and so on. She then approached Lord Mādhava with shy, playful smiles and coquettish glances.

 

10.48.6

āhūya kāntāḿ nava-sańgama-hriyā

viśańkitāḿ kańkaṇa-bhūṣite kare

pragṛhya śayyām adhiveśya rāmayā

reme 'nulepārpaṇa-puṇya-leśayā

 

āhūya — calling forward; kāntām — His beloved; nava — new; sańgama — of contact; hriyā — with shyness; viśańkitām — fearful; kańkaṇa — with bangles; bhūṣite — ornamented; kare — her two hands; pragṛhya — taking hold of; śayyām — on the bed; adhiveśya — placing her; rāmayā — with the beautiful girl; reme — He enjoyed; anulepa — of ointment; arpaṇa — the offering; puṇya — of piety; leśayā — whose single trace.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Calling forward His beloved, who was anxious and shy at the prospect of this new contact, the Lord pulled her by her bangled hands onto the bed. Thus He enjoyed with that beautiful girl, whose only trace of piety was her having offered ointment to the Lord.

 

10.48.7

sānańga-tapta-kucayor urasas tathākṣṇor

jighranty ananta-caraṇena rujo mṛjantī

dorbhyāḿ stanāntara-gataḿ parirabhya kāntam

ānanda-mūrtim ajahād ati-dīrgha-tāpam

 

sa — she; anańga — by Cupid; tapta — made to burn; kucayoḥ — of her breasts; urasaḥ — of her chest; tathā — and; akṣṇoḥ — of her eyes; jighrantī — smelling; ananta — of Kṛṣṇa, the unlimited Supreme Lord; caraṇena — by the feet; rujaḥ — the pain; mṛjantī — wiping away; dorbhyām — with her arms; stana — her breasts; antara-gatam — between; parirabhya — embracing; kāntam — her lover; ānanda — of all ecstasy; mūrtim — the personal manifestation; ajahāt — she gave up; ati — extremely; dīrgha — long-standing; tāpam — her distress.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Simply by smelling the fragrance of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, Trivakrā cleansed away the burning lust Cupid had aroused in her breasts, chest and eyes. With her two arms she embraced between her breasts her lover, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the personification of bliss, and thus she gave up her long-standing distress.

 

10.48.8

saivaḿ kaivalya-nāthaḿ taḿ

prāpya duṣprāpyam īśvaram

ańga-rāgārpaṇenāho

durbhagedam ayācata

 

sa — she; evam — thus; kaivalya — of liberation; nātham — the controller; tam — Him; prāpya — obtaining; duṣprāpyam — unobtainable; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; ańga-rāga — body ointment; arpaṇena — by offering; aho — oh; durbhagā — unfortunate; idam — this; ayācata — she begged.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus gotten the hard-to-get Supreme Lord by the simple act of offering Him body ointment, unfortunate Trivakrā submitted to that Lord of freedom the following request.

 

10.48.9

sahoṣyatām iha preṣṭha

dināni katicin mayā

ramasva notsahe tyaktuḿ

sańgaḿ te 'mburuhekṣaṇa

 

saha — together; uṣyatām — please stay; iha — here; preṣṭha — O beloved; dināni — days; katicit — some; mayā — with me; ramasva — please take pleasure; na utsahe — I cannot tolerate; tyaktum — giving up; sańgam — association; te — Your; amburuha-īkṣaṇa — O lotus-eyed one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Trivakrā said:] O beloved, please stay here with me for a few days more and enjoy. I cannot bear to give up Your association, O lotus-eyed one!

 

10.48.10

tasyai kāma-varaḿ dattvā

mānayitvā ca māna-daḥ

sahoddhavena sarveśaḥ

sva-dhāmāgamad ṛddhimat

 

tasyai — to her; kāma — of material desire; varam — her benediction; dattvā — granting; mānayitvā — showing her respect; ca — and; māna-daḥ — He who gives respect to others; saha uddhavena — together with Uddhava; sarva-īśaḥ — the Lord of all beings; sva — to His own; dhāma — residence; agamat — went; ṛddhi-mat — supremely opulent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Promising her the fulfillment of this lusty desire, considerate Kṛṣṇa, Lord of all beings, paid Trivakrā His respects and then returned with Uddhava to His own supremely opulent residence.

 

10.48.11

durārdhyaḿ samārādhya

viṣṇuḿ sarveśvareśvaram

yo vṛṇīte mano-grāhyam

asattvāt kumanīṣy asau

 

durārādhyam — rarely worshiped; samārādhya — fully worshiping; viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu; sarva — of all; īśvara — controllers; īśvaram — the supreme controller; yaḥ — who; vṛṇīte — chooses as a benediction; manaḥ — to the mind; grāhyam — that which is accessible, namely sense gratification; asattvāt — because of its insignificance; kumanīṣī — unintelligent; asau — that person.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord of all lords, is ordinarily difficult to approach. One who has properly worshiped Him and then chooses the benediction of mundane sense gratification is certainly of poor intelligence, for he is satisfied with an insignificant result.

 

10.48.12

akrūra-bhavanaḿ kṛṣṇaḥ

saha-rāmoddhavaḥ prabhuḥ

kiñcic cikīrṣayan prāgād

akrūra-prīya-kāmyayā

 

akrūra-bhavanam — the home of Akrūra; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; saha — with; rāma-uddhavaḥ — Lord Balarāma and Uddhava; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord; kiñcit — something; cikīrṣayan — wanting to have done; prāgāt — went; akrūra — of Akrūra; priya — the satisfaction; kāmyayā — desiring.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, wanting to have some things done, went to Akrūra's house with Balarāma and Uddhava. The Lord also desired to please Akrūra.

 

10.48.13-14

sa tān nara-vara-śreṣṭhān

ārād vīkṣya sva-bāndhavān

pratyutthāya pramuditaḥ

pariṣvajyābhinandya ca

 

nanāma kṛṣṇaḿ rāmaḿ ca

sa tair apy abhivāditaḥ

pūjayām āsa vidhi-vat

kṛtāsana-parigrahān

 

saḥ — he (Akrūra); tān — them (Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Uddhava); nara-vara — of illustrious personalities; śreṣṭhān — the greatest; ārāt — from a distance; vīkṣya — seeing; sva — his (Akrūra's); bāndhavān — relatives; pratyutthāya — rising up; pramuditaḥ — joyful; pariṣvajya — embracing; abhinandya — greeting; ca — and;

 

nanāma — bowed down; kṛṣṇam rāmam ca — to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma; saḥ — he; taiḥ — by Them; api — and; abhivāditaḥ — greeted; pūjayām āsa — he worshiped; vidhi-vat — according to scriptural injunctions; kṛta — who had done; āsana — of seats; parigrahān — acceptance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Akrūra stood up in great joy when he saw them, his own relatives and the greatest of exalted personalities, coming from a distance. After embracing them and greeting them, Akrūra bowed down to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and was greeted by Them in return. Then, when his guests had taken their seats, he worshiped them in accordance with scriptural rules.

 

10.48.15-16

pādāvanejanīr āpo

dhārayan śirasā nṛpa

arhaṇenāmbarair divyair

gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ

 

arcitvā śirasānamya

pādāv ańka-gatau mṛjan

praśrayāvanato 'krūraḥ

kṛṣṇa-rāmāv abhāṣata

 

pāda — Their feet; avanejanīḥ — used for bathing; ā — all over; āpaḥ — the water; dhārayan — putting; śirasā — on his head; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); arhaṇena — with gifts; ambaraiḥ — clothing; divyaiḥ — celestial; gandha — fragrant sandalwood paste; srak — flower garlands; bhūṣaṇa — and ornaments; uttamaiḥ — excellent;

 

arcitvā — worshiping; śirasā — with his head; ānamya — bowing down; pādau — (Lord Kṛṣṇa's) feet; ańka — on his lap; gatau — placed; mṛjan — massaging; praśraya — with humility; avanataḥ — his head lowered; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; kṛṣṇa-rāmau — to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; abhāṣata — spoke.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, Akrūra bathed the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma and then poured the bath water on his head. He presented Them with gifts of fine clothing, aromatic sandalwood paste, flower garlands and excellent jewelry. After thus worshiping the two Lords, he bowed his head to the floor. He then began to massage Lord Kṛṣṇa's feet, placing them on his lap, and with his head bowed in humility he addressed Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as follows.

 

10.48.17

diṣṭyā pāpo hataḥ kaḿsaḥ

sānugo vām idaḿ kulam

bhavadbhyām uddhṛtaḿ kṛcchrād

durantāc ca samedhitam

 

diṣṭyā — by good fortune; pāpaḥ — sinful; hataḥ — killed; kaḿsaḥ — Kaḿsa; sa-anugaḥ — together with his brothers and other followers; vām — of Yours; idam — this; kulam — dynasty; bhavadbhyām — by You two; uddhṛtam — delivered; kṛcchrāt — from difficulty; durantāt — endless; ca — and; samedhitam — made prosperous.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Akrūra said:] It is our good fortune that You two Lords have killed the evil Kaḿsa and his followers, thus delivering Your dynasty from endless suffering and causing it to flourish.

 

10.48.18

yuvāḿ pradhāna-puruṣau

jagad-dhetū jagan-mayau

bhavadbhyāḿ na vinā kiñcit

param asti na cāparam

 

yuvām — You two; pradhāna-puruṣau — the original persons; jagat — of the universe; hetū — the causes; jagat-mayau — identical with the universe; bhavadbhyām — than You; na — not; vinā — apart from; kiñcit — anything; param — cause; asti — there is; na ca — nor; aparam — product.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You both are the original Supreme Person, the cause of the universe and its very substance. Not the slightest subtle cause or manifest product of creation exists apart from You.

 

10.48.19

ātma-sṛṣṭam idaḿ viśvam

anvāviśya sva-śaktibhiḥ

īyate bahudhā brahman

śru ta-pratyakṣa-gocaram

 

ātma-sṛṣṭam — created by You; idam — this; viśvam — universe; anvāviśya — subsequently entering; sva — with Your own; śaktibhiḥ — energies; īyate — You are perceived; bahudhā — manifold; brahman — O Supreme; śruta — by hearing from scripture; pratyakṣa — and by direct perception; gocaram — knowable.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Supreme Absolute Truth, with Your personal energies You create this universe and then enter into it. Thus one can perceive You in many different forms by hearing from authorities and by direct experience.

 

10.48.20

yathā hi bhūteṣu carācareṣu

mahy-ādayo yoniṣu bhānti nānā

evaḿ bhavān kevala ātma-yoniṣv

ātmātma-tantro bahudhā vibhāti

 

yathā — as; hi — indeed; bhūteṣu — among manifested beings; cara — mobile; acareṣu — and immobile; mahī-ādayaḥ — earth and so on (the primary elements of creation); yoniṣu — in species; bhānti — manifest; nānā — variously; evam — so; bhavān — You; kevalaḥ — one alone; ātma — Yourself; yoniṣu — in those whose source; ātmā — the Supreme Soul; ātma-tantraḥ — self-reliant; bahudhā — manifold; vibhāti — appear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just as the primary elements — earth and so on — manifest themselves in abundant variety among all the species of mobile and immobile life, so You, the one independent Supreme Soul, appear to be manifold among the variegated objects of Your creation.

 

10.48.21

sṛjasy atho lumpasi pāsi viśvaḿ

rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇaiḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ

na badhyase tad-guṇa-karmabhir vā

jñānātmanas te kva ca bandha-hetuḥ

 

sṛjasi — You create; atha u — and then; lumpasi — You destroy; pāsi — You protect; viśvam — the universe; rajaḥ — known as passion; tamaḥ — ignorance; sattva — and goodness; guṇaiḥ — by the modes; sva-śaktibhiḥ — Your personal potencies; na badhyase — You are not bound; tat — of this world; guṇa — by the modes; karmabhiḥ — by the material activities; vā — or; jñāna-ātmanaḥ — who are knowledge itself; te — for You; kva ca — where at all; bandha — of bondage; hetuḥ — cause.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You create, destroy and also maintain this universe with Your personal energies — the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness — yet You are never entangled by these modes or the activities they generate. Since You are the original source of all knowledge, what could ever cause You to be bound by illusion?

 

10.48.22

dehādy-upādher anirūpitatvād

bhavo na sākṣān na bhidātmanaḥ syāt

ato na bandhas tava naiva mokṣaḥ

syātām nikāmas tvayi no 'vivekaḥ

 

deha — of the body; ādi — and so on; upādheḥ — as material, designative coverings; anirūpitatvāt — because of not being determined; bhavaḥ — birth; na — not; sākṣāt — literal; na — nor; bhidā — duality; ātmanaḥ — for the Supreme Soul; syāt — exists; ataḥ — therefore; na — no; bandhaḥ — bondage; tava — Your; na eva — nor, in fact; mokṣaḥ — liberation; syātām — if they occur; nikāmaḥ — by Your sweet will; tvayi — concerning You; naḥ — our; avivekaḥ — erroneous discrimination.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since it has never been demonstrated that You are covered by material, bodily designations, it must be concluded that for You there is neither birth in a literal sense nor any duality. Therefore You never undergo bondage or liberation, and if You appear to, it is only because of Your desire that we see You in that way, or simply because of our lack of discrimination.

 

10.48.23

tvayodito 'yaḿ jagato hitāya

yadā yadā veda-pathaḥ purāṇaḥ

bādhyeta pāṣaṇḍa-pathair asadbhis

tadā bhavān sattva-guṇaḿ bibharti

 

tvayā — by You; uditaḥ — enunciated; ayam — this; jagataḥ — of the universe; hitāya — for the benefit; yadā yadā — whenever; veda — of the Vedic scriptures; pathaḥ — the path (of religiousness); purāṇaḥ — ancient; bādhyeta — is obstructed; pāṣaṇḍa — of atheism; pathaiḥ — by those who follow the path; asadbhiḥ — wicked persons; tadā — at that time; bhavān — You; sattva-guṇam — the pure mode of goodness; bibharti — assume.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You originally enunciated the ancient religious path of the Vedas for the benefit of the whole universe. Whenever that path becomes obstructed by wicked persons following the path of atheism, You assume one of Your incarnations, which are all in the transcendental mode of goodness.

 

10.48.24

sa tvam prabho 'dya vasudeva-gṛhe 'vatīrṇaḥ

svāḿśena bhāram apanetum ihāsi bhūmeḥ

akṣauhiṇī-śata-vadhena suretarāḿśa-

rājñām amuṣya ca kulasya yaśo vitanvan

 

saḥ — He; tvam — You; prabho — O master; adya — now; vasudeva-gṛhe — in the home of Vasudeva; avatīrṇaḥ — have descended; sva — with Your own; aḿśena — direct expansion (Lord Balarāma); bharam — the burden; apanetum — to remove; iha — here; asi — You are; bhūmeḥ — of the earth; akṣauhiṇī — of the armies; śata — hundreds; vadhena — by killing; sura-itara — of the opponents of the demigods; aḿśa — who are expansions; rājñām — of the kings; amuṣya — of this; ca — and; kulasya — dynasty (of the descendants of Yadu); yaśaḥ — the fame; vitanvan — spreading.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are that very same Supreme Person, my Lord, and You have now appeared in the home of Vasudeva with Your plenary portion. You have done this to relieve the earth's burden by killing hundreds of armies led by kings who are expansions of the demigods' enemies, and also to spread the fame of our dynasty.

 

10.48.25

adyeśa no vasatayaḥ khalu bhūri-bhāgā

yaḥ sarva-deva-pitṛ-bhūta-nṛ-deva-mūrtiḥ

yat-pāda-śauca-salilaḿ tri-jagat punāti

sa tvaḿ jagad-gurur adhokṣaja yāḥ praviṣṭaḥ

 

adya — today; īśa — O Lord; naḥ — our; vasatayaḥ — residence; khalu — indeed; bhūri — extremely; bhāgāḥ — fortunate; yaḥ — who; sarva-deva — the Supreme Lord; pitṛ — the forefathers; bhūta — all living creatures; nṛ — human beings; deva — and the demigods; mūrtiḥ — who embody; yat — whose; pāda — feet; śauca — which has washed; salilam — the water (of the river Ganges); tri-jagat — the three worlds; punāti — purifies; saḥ — He; tvam — You; jagat — of the universe; guruḥ — the spiritual master; adhokṣaja — O You who are beyond the purview of the material senses; yāḥ — which; praviṣṭaḥ — having entered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Today, O Lord, my home has become most fortunate because You have entered it. As the Supreme Truth, You embody the forefathers, ordinary creatures, human beings and demigods, and the water that has washed Your feet purifies the three worlds. Indeed, O transcendent one, You are the spiritual master of the universe.

 

10.48.26

kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaḿ śaraṇaḿ samīyād

bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛta-jñāt

sarvān dadāti suhṛdo bhajato 'bhikāmān

ātmānam apy upacayāpacayau na yasya

 

kaḥ — what; paṇḍitaḥ — scholar; tvat — other than You; aparam — to another; śaraṇam — for shelter; samīyāt — would go; bhakta — to Your devotees; priyāt — affectionate; ṛta — always true; giraḥ — whose words; suhṛdaḥ — the well-wisher; kṛta-jñāt — grateful; sarvān — all; dadāti — You give; suhṛdaḥ — to Your well-wishing devotees; bhajataḥ — who are engaged in worshiping You; abhikāmān — desires; ātmānam — Yourself; api — even; upacaya — increase; apacayau — or diminution; na — never; yasya — whose.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What learned person would approach anyone but You for shelter, when You are the affectionate, grateful and truthful well-wisher of Your devotees? To those who worship You in sincere friendship You reward everything whey desire, even Your own self, yet You never increase or diminish.

 

10.48.27

diṣṭyā janārdana bhavān iha naḥ pratīto

yogeśvarair api durāpa-gatiḥ sureśaiḥ

chindhy āśu naḥ suta-kalatra-dhanāpta-geha-

dehādi-moha-raśanāḿ bhavadīya-māyām

 

diṣṭyā — by fortune; janārdana — O Kṛṣṇa; bhavān — You; iha — here; naḥ — by us; pratītaḥ — perceivable; yoga-īśvaraiḥ — by the masters of mystic yoga; api — even; durāpa-gatiḥ — a goal hard to achieve; sura-īśaiḥ — and by the rulers of the demigods; chindhi — please cut; āśu — quickly; naḥ — our; suta — for children; kalatra — wife; dhana — wealth; āpta — worthy friends; geha — home; deha — body; ādi — and so on; moha — of delusion; raśanām — the ropes; bhavadīya — Your own; māyām — illusory material energy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is by our great fortune, Janārdana, that You are now visible to us, for even the masters of yoga and the foremost demigods can achieve this goal only with great difficulty. Please quickly cut the ropes of our illusory attachment for children, wife, wealth, influential friends, home and body. All such attachment is simply the effect of Your illusory material energy.

 

10.48.28

ity arcitaḥ saḿstutaś ca

bhaktena bhagavān hariḥ

akrūraḿ sa-smitaḿ prāha

gīrbhiḥ sammohayann iva

 

iti — thus; arcitaḥ — worshiped; saḿstutaḥ — profusely glorified; ca — and; bhaktena — by His devotee; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa; akrūram — to Akrūra; sa-smitam — smiling; prāha — He spoke; gīrbhiḥ — with His words; sammohayan — completely enchanting; iva — almost.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus worshiped and fully glorified by His devotee, the Supreme Lord Hari smilingly addressed Akrūra, completely charming him with His words.

 

10.48.29

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

tvaḿ no guruḥ pitṛvyaś ca

ślāghyo bandhuś ca nityadā

vayaḿ tu rakṣyāḥ poṣyāś ca

anukampyāḥ prajā hi vaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; tvam — you; naḥ — Our; guruḥ — spiritual master; pitṛvyaḥ — paternal uncle; ca — and; ślāghyaḥ — praiseworthy; bandhuḥ — friend; ca — and; nityadā — always; vayam — We; tu — on the other hand; rakṣyāḥ — to be protected; poṣyāḥ — to be maintained; ca — and; anukampyāḥ — to be shown compassion; prajāḥ — dependents; hi — indeed; vaḥ — your.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: You are Our spiritual master, paternal uncle and praiseworthy friend, and We are like your sons, always dependent on your protection, sustenance and compassion.

 

10.48.30

bhavad-vidhā mahā-bhāgā

niṣevyā arha-sattamāḥ

śreyas-kāmair nṛbhir nityaḿ

devāḥ svārthā na sādhavaḥ

 

bhavat-vidhāḥ — like your good self; mahā-bhāgāḥ — most eminent; niṣevyāḥ — worthy of being served; arha — of those who are worshipable; sat-tamāḥ — the most saintly; śreyaḥ — the highest good; kāmaiḥ — who desire; nṛbhiḥ — by men; nityam — always; devaḥ — the demigods; sva-arthāḥ — concerned with their personal interest; na — not so; sādhavaḥ — saintly devotees.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Exalted souls like you are the true objects of service and the most worshipable authorities for those who desire the highest good in life. Demigods are generally concerned with their own interests, but saintly devotees never are.

 

10.48.31

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni

na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ

te punanty uru-kālena

darśanād eva sādhavaḥ

 

na — not; hi — indeed; ap-mayāni — made of water; tīrthāni — holy places; na — such is not the case; devāḥ — deities; mṛt — of earth; śilā — and stone; mayāḥ — made; te — they; punanti — purify; uru-kālena — after a long time; darśanāt — by being seen; eva — only; sādhavaḥ — saints.

 

TRANSLATION

 

No one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen.

 

10.48.32

sa bhavān suhṛdāḿ vai naḥ

śreyān śreyaś-cikīrṣayā

jijñāsārthaḿ pāṇḍavānāḿ

gacchasva tvaḿ gajāhvayam

 

saḥ — that person; bhavān — you; suhṛdām — of the well-wishers; vai — certainly; naḥ — Our; śreyān — the very best; śreyaḥ — for their welfare; cikīrṣayā — wishing to arrange; jijñāsā — of inquiry; artham — for the sake; pāṇḍavānām — about the sons of Pāṇdu; gacchasva — please go; tvam — you; gaja-āhvayam — to Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura, the capital of the Kuru dynasty).

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are indeed the best of Our friends, so please go to Hastināpura and, as the well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas, find out how they are doing.

 

10.48.33

pitary uparate bālāḥ

saha mātrā su-duḥkhitāḥ

ānītāḥ sva-puraḿ rājñā

vasanta iti śuśruma

 

pitari — their father; uparate — when he passed away; bālāḥ — young boys; saha — together with; mātrā — their mother; su — very; duḥkhitāḥ — distressed; ānītāḥ — brought; sva — to his own; puram — capital city; rājñā — by the King; vasante — they are residing; iti — thus; śuśruma — We have heard.

 

TRANSLATION

 

We have heard that when their father passed away, the young Pāṇḍavas were brought with their anguished mother to the capital city by King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and that they are now living there.

 

10.48.34

teṣu rājāmbikā-putro

bhrātṛ-putreṣu dīna-dhīḥ

samo na vartate nūnaḿ

duṣputra-vaśa-go 'ndha-dṛk

 

teṣu — toward them; rājā — the King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra); ambikā — of Ambikā; putraḥ — the son; bhrātṛ — of his brother; putreṣu — toward the sons; dīna-dhīḥ — whose mind is wretched; samaḥ — equally disposed; na vartate — is not; nūnam — surely; duḥ — wicked; putra — of his sons; vaśa-gaḥ — under the control; andha — blinded; dṛk — whose vision.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Indeed, weak-minded Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, has come under the control of his wicked sons, and therefore that blind King is not treating his brother's sons fairly.

 

10.48.35

gaccha jānīhi tad-vṛttam

adhunā sādhv asādhu vā

vijñāya tad vidhāsyāmo

yathā śaḿ suhṛdāḿ bhavet

 

gaccha — go; jānīhi — learn; tat — his (Dhṛtarāṣṭra's); vṛttam — activity; adhunā — at present; sādhu — good; asādhu — evil; vā — or; vijñāya — knowing; tat — that; vidhāsyāmaḥ — We will arrange; yathā — so that; śam — the benefit; suhṛdām — of Our dear ones; bhavet — will be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Go and see whether Dhṛtarāṣṭra is acting properly or not. When We find out, We will make the necessary arrangements to help Our dear friends.

 

10.48.36

ity akrūraḿ samādiśya

bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ

sańkarṣaṇoddhavābhyāḿ vai

tataḥ sva-bhavanaḿ yayau

 

iti — with these words; akrūram — Akrūra; samādiśya — fully instructing; bhagavan — the Personality of Godhead; hariḥ īśvaraḥ — Lord Hari; sańkarṣaṇa — with Lord Balarāma; uddhavābhyām — and Uddhava; vai — indeed; tataḥ — then; sva — to His own; bhavanam — residence; yayau — went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus fully instructing Akrūra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari then returned to His residence, accompanied by Lord Sańkarṣaṇa and Uddhava.