Chapter 64: The Deliverance of King Nṛga

 

10.64.1

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

ekadopavanaḿ rājan

jagmur yadu-kumārakāḥ

vihartuḿ sāmba-pradyumna

cāru-bhānu-gadādayaḥ

 

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — the son of Badarāyaṇa (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); uvāca — said; ekadā — one day; upavanam — to a small forest; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); jagmuḥ — went; yadu-kumārakāḥ — boys of the Yadu dynasty; vihartum — to play; sāmba-pradyumna-cāru-bhānu-gada-ādayaḥ — Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and others.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: O King, one day Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and other young boys of the Yadu dynasty went to a small forest to play.

 

10.64.2

krīḍitvā su-ciraḿ tatra

vicinvantaḥ pipāsitāḥ

jalaḿ nirudake kūpe

dadṛśuḥ sattvam adbhutam

 

krīḍitvā — after playing; su-ciram — for a long time; tatra — there; vicinvantaḥ — looking for; pipāsitāḥ — thirsty; jalam — water; nirudake — waterless; kūpe — in a well; dadṛśuḥ — they saw; sattvam — a creature; adbhutam — amazing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After playing for a long time, they became thirsty. As they searched for water, they looked inside a dry well and saw a peculiar creature.

 

10.64.3

kṛkalāsaḿ giri-nibhaḿ

vīkṣya vismita-mānasāḥ

tasya coddharaṇe yatnaḿ

cakrus te kṛpayānvitāḥ

 

kṛkalāsam — a lizard; giri — a mountain; nibham — resembling; vīkṣya — looking at; vismita — astonished; mānasāḥ — whose minds; tasya — of it; ca — and; uddharaṇe — in the lifting up; yatnam — effort; cakruḥ — made; te — they; kṛpayā anvitāḥ — feeling compassion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The boys were astonished to behold this creature, a lizard who looked like a hill. They felt sorry for it and tried to lift it out of the well.

 

10.64.4

carma-jais tāntavaiḥ pāśair

baddhvā patitam arbhakāḥ

nāśaknuran samuddhartuḿ

kṛṣṇāyācakhyur utsukāḥ

 

carma-jaiḥ — made of leather; tāntavaiḥ — and made of spun thread; pāśaiḥ — with ropes; baddhvā — attaching; patitam — the fallen creature; arbhakāḥ — the boys; na aśaknuran — they were not able; samuddhartum — to lift out; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; ācakhyuḥ — they reported; utsukāḥ — excitedly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

They caught on to the trapped lizard with leather thongs and then with woven ropes, but still they could not lift it out. So they went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and excitedly told Him about the creature.

 

10.64.5

tatrāgatyāravindākṣo

bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ

vīkṣyojjahāra vāmena

taḿ kareṇa sa līlayā

 

tatra — there; āgatya — going; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; viśva — of the universe; bhāvanaḥ — the maintainer; vīkṣya — seeing; ujjahāra — picked up; vāmena — left; tam — it; kareṇa — with His hand; saḥ — He; līlayā — easily.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, maintainer of the universe, went to the well and saw the lizard. Then with His left hand He easily lifted it out.

 

10.64.6

sa uttamaḥ-śloka-karābhimṛṣṭo

vihāya sadyaḥ kṛkalāsa-rūpam

santapta-cāmīkara-cāru-varṇaḥ

svargy adbhutālańkaraṇāmbara-srak

 

saḥ — it; uttamaḥ-śloka — of the glorious Lord; kara — by the hand; abhimṛṣṭaḥ — touched; vihāya — giving up; sadyaḥ — immediately; kṛkalāsa — of a lizard; rūpam — the form; santapta — molten; cāmīkara — of gold; caru — beautiful; varṇaḥ — whose complexion; svargī — a resident of heaven; adbhuta — amazing; alańkaraṇa — whose ornaments; ambara — clothing; srak — and garlands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Touched by the hand of the glorious Supreme Lord, the being at once gave up its lizard form and assumed that of a resident of heaven. His complexion was beautifully colored like molten gold, and he was adorned with wonderful ornaments, clothes and garlands.

 

10.64.7

papraccha vidvān api tan-nidānaḿ

janeṣu vikhyāpayituḿ mukundaḥ

kas tvaḿ mahā-bhāga vareṇya-rūpo

devottamaḿ tvāḿ gaṇayāmi nūnam

 

papraccha — He asked; vidvān — well aware; api — although; tat — of this; nidānam — the cause; janeṣu — among people in general; vikhyāpayitum — to make it known; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kaḥ — who; tvam — you; mahā-bhāga — O fortunate one; vareṇya — excellent; rūpaḥ — whose form; deva-uttamam — an exalted demigod; tvām — You; gaṇayāmi — I should consider; nūnam — certainly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa understood the situation, but to inform people in general He inquired as follows: "Who are you, O greatly fortunate one? Seeing your excellent form, I think you must surely be an exalted demigod.

 

10.64.8

daśām imāḿ vā katamena karmaṇā

samprāpito 'sy atad-arhaḥ su-bhadra

ātmānam ākhyāhi vivitsatāḿ no

yan manyase naḥ kṣamam atra vaktum

 

daśām — condition; imām — to this; vā — and; katamena — by what; karmaṇā — action; samprāpitaḥ — brought; asi — you are; atat-arhaḥ — not deserving it; su-bhadra — O good soul; ātmānam — yourself; ākhyāhi — please explain; vivitsatām — who are eager to know; naḥ — to us; yat — if; manyase — you think; naḥ — to us; kṣamam — proper; atra — here; vaktum — to speak.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"By what past activity were you brought to this condition? It seems you did not deserve such a fate, O good soul. We are eager to know about you, so please inform us about yourself — if, that is, you think this the proper time and place to tell us."

 

10.64.9

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti sma rājā sampṛṣṭaḥ

kṛṣṇenānanta-mūrtinā

mādhavaḿ praṇipatyāha

kirīṭenārka-varcasā

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; sma — indeed; rājā — the King; sampṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; mūrtinā — whose forms; mādhavam — to Him, Lord Mādhava; praṇipatya — bowing down; āha — he spoke; kirīṭena — with his helmet; arka — like the sun; varcasa — whose brilliance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by Kṛṣṇa, whose forms are unlimited, the King, his helmet as dazzling as the sun, bowed down to Lord Mādhava and replied as follows.

 

10.64.10

nṛga uvāca

nṛgo nāma narendro 'ham

ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ prabho

dāniṣv ākhyāyamāneṣu

yadi te karṇam aspṛśam

 

nṛgaḥ uvāca — King Nṛga said; nṛgaḥ nāma — named Nṛga; nara-indraḥ — a ruler of men; aham — I; ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ — a son of Ikṣvāku; prabho — O Lord; dāniṣu — among men of charity; ākhyāyamāneṣu — when being enumerated; yadi — perhaps; te — Your; karṇam — ear; aspṛśam — I have touched.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Nṛga said: I am a king known as Nṛga, the son of Ikṣvāku. Perhaps, Lord, You have heard of me when lists of charitable men were recited.

 

10.64.11

kiḿ nu te 'viditaḿ nātha

sarva-bhūtātma-sākṣiṇaḥ

kālenāvyāhata-dṛśo

vakṣye 'thāpi tavājñayā

 

kim — what; nu — indeed: te — to You; aviditam — unknown; nātha — O master; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātma — of the intelligence; sākṣiṇaḥ — to the witness; kālena — by time; avyāhata — undisturbed; dṛśaḥ — whose vision; vakṣye — I will speak; atha api — nevertheless; tava — Your; ājñayā — by the order.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What could possibly be unknown to You, O master? With vision undisturbed by time, You witness the minds of all living beings. Nevertheless, on Your order I will speak.

 

10.64.12

yāvatyaḥ sikatā bhūmer

yāvatyo divi tārakāḥ

yāvatyo varṣa-dhārāś ca

tāvatīr adadaḿ sma gāḥ

 

yāvatyaḥ — as many; sikatāḥ — grains of sand; bhūmeḥ — belonging to the earth; yāvatyaḥ — as many; divi — in the sky; tārakāḥ — stars; yāvatyaḥ — as many; varṣa — of a rainfall; dhārāḥ — drops; ca — and; tāvatīḥ — that many; adadam — I gave; sma — indeed; gāḥ — cows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I gave in charity as many cows as there are grains of sand on the earth, stars in the heavens, or drops in a rain shower.

 

10.64.13

payasvinīs taruṇīḥ śīla-rūpa-

guṇopapannāḥ kapilā hema-sṛńgīḥ

nyāyārjitā rūpya-khurāḥ sa-vatsā

dukūla-mālābharaṇā dadāv aham

 

payaḥ-vinīḥ — having milk; taruṇīḥ — young; śīla — with good behavior; rūpa — beauty; guṇa — and other qualities; upapannāḥ — endowed; kapilāḥ — brown; hema — gold; śṛńgīḥ — with horns; nyāya — fairly; arjitāḥ — earned; rūpya — silver; khurāḥ — with hooves; sa-vatsāḥ — together with their calves; dukūla — fine cloth; mālā — with garlands; ābharaṇāḥ — adorned; dadau — gave; aham — I.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Young, brown, milk-laden cows, who were well behaved, beautiful and endowed with good qualities, who were all acquired honestly, and who had gilded horns, silver-plated hooves and decorations of fine ornamental cloths and garlands — such were the cows, along with their calves, that I gave in charity.

 

10.64.14-15

sv-alańkṛtebhyo guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ

sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ

tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ

prādāḿ yuvabhyo dvija-puńgavebhyaḥ

 

go-bhū-hiraṇyāyatanāśva-hastinaḥ

kanyāḥ sa-dāsīs tila-rūpya-śayyāḥ

vāsāḿsi ratnāni paricchadān rathān

iṣṭaḿ ca yajñaiś caritaḿ ca pūrtam

 

su — well; alańkṛtebhyaḥ — who were ornamented; guṇa — good qualities; śīla — and character; vadbhyaḥ — who possessed; sīdat — distressed; kuṭumbebhyaḥ — whose families; ṛta — to truth; vratebhyaḥ — dedicated; tapaḥ — for austerity; śruta — well known; brahma — in the Vedas; vadānya — vastly learned; sadbhyaḥ — saintly; prādām — I gave; yuvabhyaḥ — who were young; dvija — to brāhmaṇas; pum-gavebhyaḥ — most exceptional;

 

go — cows; bhū — land; hiraṇya — gold; āyatana — houses; aśva — horses; hastinaḥ — and elephants; kanyāḥ — marriageable daughters; sa — with; dāsīḥ — maidservants; tila — sesame; rūpya — silver; śayyāḥ — and beds; vāsāḿsi — clothing; ratnāni — jewels; paricchadān — furniture; rathān — chariots; iṣṭam — worship executed; ca — and; yajñaiḥ — by Vedic fire sacrifices; caritam — done; ca — and; pūrtam — pious works.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I first honored the brāhmaṇas who were recipients of my charity by decorating them with fine ornaments. Those most exalted brāhmaṇas, whose families were in need, were young and possessed of excellent character and qualities. They were dedicated to truth, famous for their austerity, vastly learned in the Vedic scriptures and saintly in their behavior. I gave them cows, land, gold and houses, along with horses, elephants and marriageable girls with maidservants, as well as sesame, silver, fine beds, clothing, jewels, furniture and chariots. In addition, I performed Vedic sacrifices and executed various pious welfare activities.

 

10.64.16

kasyacid dvija-mukhyasya

bhraṣṭā gaur mama go-dhane

sampṛktāviduṣā sā ca

mayā dattā dvijātaye

 

kasyacit — of a certain; dvija — brāhmaṇa; mukhyasya — first class; bhraṣṭā — lost; gauḥ — a cow; mama — my; go-dhane — in the herd; sampṛktā — becoming mixed; aviduṣā — who was unaware; sā — she; ca — and; mayā — by me; dattā — given; dvi-jātaye — to (another) brāhmaṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Once a cow belonging to a certain first-class brāhmaṇa wandered away and entered my herd. Unaware of this, I gave that cow in charity to a different brāhmaṇa.

 

10.64.17

tāḿ nīyamānāḿ tat-svāmī

dṛṣṭrovāca mameti tam

mameti parigrāhy āha

nṛgo me dattavān iti

 

tām — she, the cow; nīyamānām — being led away; tat — her; svāmī — master; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; uvāca — said; mama — mine; iti — thus; tam — to him; mama — mine; iti — thus; parigrāhī — he who had accepted the gift; āha — said; nṛgaḥ — King Nṛga; me — to me; dattavān — gave; iti — thus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the cow's first owner saw her being led away, he said, "She is mine!" The second brāhmaṇa, who had accepted her as a gift, replied, "No, she's mine! Nṛga gave her to me."

 

10.64.18

viprau vivadamānau mām

ūcatuḥ svārtha-sādhakau

bhavān dātāpaharteti

tac chrutvā me 'bhavad bhramaḥ

 

viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; vivadamānau — arguing; mām — to me; ūcatuḥ — said; sva — their own; artha — interest; sādhakau — fulfilling; bhavān — you, sir; dātā — giver; apahartā — taker; iti — thus; tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; me — my; abhavat — there arose; bhramaḥ — consternation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the two brāhmaṇas argued, each trying to fulfill his own purpose, they came to me. One of them said, "You gave me this cow," and the other said, "But you stole her from me." Hearing this, I was bewildered.

 

10.64.19-20

anunītāv ubhau viprau

dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai

gavāḿ lakṣaḿ prakṛṣṭānāḿ

dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām

 

bhavantāv anugṛhṇītāḿ

kińkarasyāvijānataḥ

samuddharataḿ māḿ kṛcchrāt

patantaḿ niraye 'śucau

 

anunītau — humbly requested; ubhau — both; viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; dharma — of religious duty; kṛcchra — a difficult situation; gatena — by (me) who was in; vai — indeed; gavām — of cows; lakṣam — a lakh (one hundred thousand); prakṛṣṭānām — best quality; dāsyāmi — I will give; eṣā — this one; pradīyatām — please give;

 

bhavantau — the two of you; anugṛhṇītām — should please show mercy; kińkarasya — to your servant; avijānataḥ — who was unaware; samuddharatam — please save; mām — me; kṛcchrāt — from danger; patantam — falling; niraye — into hell; aśucau — unclean.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Finding myself in a terrible dilemma concerning my duty in the situation, I humbly entreated both the brāhmaṇas: "I will give one hundred thousand of the best cows in exchange for this one. Please give her back to me. Your good selves should be merciful to me, your servant. I did not know what I was doing. Please save me from this difficult situation, or I'll surely fall into a filthy hell."

 

10.64.21

nāhaḿ pratīcche vai rājann

ity uktvā svāmy apākramat

nānyad gavām apy ayutam

icchāmīty aparo yayau

 

na — not; aham — I; pratīcche — want; vai — indeed; rājan — O King; iti — thus; uktvā — saying; svāmī — the owner; apākramat — went away; na — not; anyat — in addition; gavām — of cows; api — even; ayutam — ten thousand; icchāmi — I want; iti — thus saying; aparaḥ — the other (brāhmaṇa); yayau — left.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The present owner of the cow said, "I don't want anything in exchange for this cow, O King," and went away. The other brāhmaṇa declared, "I don't want even ten thousand more cows [than you are offering]," and he too went away.

 

10.64.22

etasminn antare yāmair

dūtair nīto yama-kṣayam

yamena pṛṣṭas tatrāhaḿ

deva-deva jagat-pate

 

etasmin — at this; antare — opportunity; yāmaiḥ — of Yamarāja, the lord of death; dūtaiḥ — by the messengers; nītaḥ — taken; yama-kṣayam — to the abode of Yamarāja; yamena — by Yamarāja; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — there; aham — I; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; pate — O master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Lord of lords, O master of the universe, the agents of Yamarāja, taking advantage of the opportunity thus created, later carried me to his abode. There Yamarāja himself questioned me.

 

10.64.23

pūrvaḿ tvam aśubhaḿ bhuńkṣa

utāho nṛpate śubham

nāntaḿ dānasya dharmasya

paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ

 

pūrvam — first; tvam — you; aśubham — impious reactions; bhuńkṣe — wish to experience; uta āha u — or else; nṛ-pate — O King; śubham — pious reactions; na — not; antam — the end; dānasya — of charity; dharmasya — religious; paśye — I see; lokasya — of the world; bhāsvataḥ — shining.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Yamarāja said:] My dear King, do you wish to experience the results of your sins first, or those of your piety? Indeed, I see no end to the dutiful charity you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the radiant heavenly planets.

 

10.64.24

pūrvaḿ devāśubhaḿ bhuñja

iti prāha pateti saḥ

tāvad adrākṣam ātmānaḿ

kṛkalāsaḿ patan prabho

 

pūrvam — first; deva — O lord; aśubham — the sinful reactions; bhuñje — I will experience; iti — thus saying; prāha — said; pata — fall; iti — thus; saḥ — he; tāvat — just then; adrākṣam — I saw; ātmānam — myself; kṛkalāsam — a lizard; patan — falling; prabho — O master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I replied, "First, my lord, let me suffer my sinful reactions," and Yamarāja said, "Then fall!" "At once I fell, and while falling I saw myself becoming a lizard, O master.

 

10.64.25

brahmaṇyasya vadānyasya

tava dāsasya keśava

smṛtir nādyāpi vidhvastā

bhavat-sandarśanārthinaḥ

 

brahmaṇyasya — who was devoted to the brāhmaṇas; vadānyasya — who was generous; tava — Your; dāsasya — of the servant; keśava — O Kṛṣṇa; smṛtiḥ — the memory; na — not; adya — today; api — even; vidhvastā — lost; bhavat — Your; sandarśana — audience; arthinaḥ — who hankered for.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Keśava, as Your servant I was devoted to the brāhmaṇas and generous to them, and I always hankered for Your audience. Therefore even till now I have never forgotten [my past life].

 

10.64.26

sa tvaḿ kathaḿ mama vibho 'kṣi-pathaḥ parātmā

yogeśvaraḥ śruti-dṛśāmala-hṛd-vibhāvyaḥ

sākṣād adhokṣaja uru-vyasanāndha-buddheḥ

syān me 'nudṛśya iha yasya bhavāpavargaḥ

 

saḥ — He; tvam — Yourself; katham — how; mama — to me; vibho — O almighty one; akṣi-pathaḥ — visible; para-ātmā — the Supreme Soul; yoga — of mystic yoga; īśvaraiḥ — by masters; śruti — of the scriptures; dṛśā — by the eye; amala — spotless; hṛt — within their hearts; vibhāvyaḥ — to be meditated upon; sākṣāt — directly visible; adhokṣaja — O transcendental Lord, who cannot be seen by material senses; uru — severe; vyasana — by troubles; andha — blinded; buddheḥ — whose intelligence; syāt — it may be; me — for me; anudṛśyaḥ — to be perceived; iha — in this world; yasya — whose; bhava — of material life; apavargaḥ — cessation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O almighty one, how is it that my eyes see You here before me? You are the Supreme Soul, whom the greatest masters of mystic yoga can meditate upon within their pure hearts only by employing the spiritual eye of the Vedas. Then how, O transcendental Lord, are You directly visible to me, since my intelligence has been blinded by the severe tribulations of material life? Only one who has finished his material entanglement in this world should be able to see You.

 

10.64.27-28

deva-deva jagan-nātha

govinda puruṣottama

nārāyaṇa hṛṣīkeśa

puṇya-ślokācyutāvyaya

 

anujānīhi māḿ kṛṣṇa

yāntaḿ deva-gatiḿ prabho

yatra kvāpi sataś ceto

bhūyān me tvat-padāspadam

 

deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; nātha — O master; go-vinda — O Lord of the cows; puruṣa-uttama — O Supreme Personality; nārāyaṇa — O foundation of all living beings; hṛṣīkeśa — O master of the senses; puṇya-śloka — O You who are glorified in transcendental poetry; acyuta — O infallible one; avyaya — O undiminishing one;

 

anujānīhi — please give leave; mām — to me; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; yāntam — who am going; deva-gatim — to the world of the demigods; prabho — O master; yatra kva api — wherever; sataḥ — residing; cetaḥ — the mind; bhūyāt — may it be; me — my; tvat — Your; pada — of the feet; āspadam — whose shelter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Devadeva, Jagannātha, Govinda, Puruṣottama, Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇyaśloka, Acyuta, Avyaya! O Kṛṣṇa, please permit me to depart for the world of the demigods. Wherever I live, O master, may my mind always take shelter of Your feet.

 

10.64.29

namas te sarva-bhāvāya

brahmaṇe 'nanta-śaktaye

kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya

yogānāḿ pataye namaḥ

 

namaḥ — obeisances; te — to You; sarva-bhāvāya — the source of all beings; brahmaṇe — the Supreme Absolute Truth; ananta — unlimited; śaktaye — the possessor of potencies; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vāsudevāya — the son of Vasudeva; yogānām — of all processes of yoga; pataye — to the Lord; namaḥ — obeisances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I offer my repeated obeisances unto You, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva. You are the source of all beings, the Supreme Absolute Truth, the possessor of unlimited potencies, the master of all spiritual disciplines.

 

10.64.30

ity uktvā taḿ parikramya

pādau spṛṣṭvā sva-maulinā

anujñāto vimānāgryam

āruhat paśyatāḿ nṛṇām

 

iti — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; pādau — His feet; spṛṣṭvā — touching; sva — with his; maulinā — crown; anujñātaḥ — given leave; vimāna — a celestial airplane; agryam — excellent; āruhat — he boarded; paśyatām — as they watched; nṛṇām — humans.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having spoken thus, Mahārāja Nṛga circumambulated Lord Kṛṣṇa and touched his crown to the Lord's feet. Granted permission to depart, King Nṛga then boarded a wonderful celestial airplane as all the people present looked on.

 

10.64.31

kṛṣṇaḥ parijanaḿ prāha

bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ

brahmaṇya-devo dharmātmā

rājanyān anuśikṣayan

 

kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; parijanam — His personal associates; prāha — addressed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality; devakī-sutaḥ — son of Devakī; brahmaṇya — devoted to the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — God; dharma — of religion; ātmā — the soul; rājanyān — the royal class; anuśikṣayan — in effect instructing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī — who is especially devoted to the brāhmaṇas and who embodies the essence of religion, then spoke to His personal associates and thus instructed the royal class in general.

 

10.64.32

durjaraḿ bata brahma-svaḿ

bhuktam agner manāg api

tejīyaso 'pi kim uta

rājñāḿ īśvara-māninām

 

durjaram — indigestible; bata — indeed; brahma — of a brāhmaṇa; svam — the property; bhuktam — consumed; agneḥ — than fire; manāk — a little; api — even; tejīyasaḥ — for one who is more intensely potent; api — even; kim uta — what then to speak of; rājñām — for kings; īśvara — controllers; māninām — who presume themselves.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] How indigestible is the property of a brāhmaṇa, even when enjoyed just slightly and by one more potent than fire! What then to speak of kings who try to enjoy it, presuming themselves lords.

 

10.64.33

nāhaḿ hālāhalaḿ manye

viṣaḿ yasya pratikriyā

brahma-svaḿ hi viṣaḿ proktaḿ

nāsya pratividhir bhuvi

 

na — not; aham — I; hālāhalam — the poison named hālāhala, which Lord Śiva is famous for having drunk without toxic effects; manye — I consider; viṣam — poison; yasya — of which; pratikriyā — counteraction; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa's property; hi — indeed; viṣam — poison; proktam — called; na — not; asya — for it; pratividhiḥ — antidote; bhuvi — in the world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I do not consider hālāhala to be real poison, because it has an antidote. But a brāhmaṇa's property, when stolen, can truly be called poison, for it has no antidote in this world.

 

10.64.34

hinasti viṣam attāraḿ

vahnir adbhiḥ praśāmyati

kulaḿ sa-mūlaḿ dahati

brahma-svāraṇi-pāvakaḥ

 

hinasti — destroys; viṣam — poison; attāram — the one who ingests; vahniḥ — fire; adbhiḥ — with water; praśāmyati — is extinguished; kulam — one's family; sa-mūlam — to the root; dahati — burns; brahma-sva — a brāhmaṇa's property; araṇi — whose kindling wood; pāvakaḥ — the fire.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Poison kills only the person who ingests it, and an ordinary fire may be extinguished with water. But the fire generated from the kindling wood of a brāhmaṇa's property burns the thief's entire family down to the root.

 

10.64.35

brahma-svaḿ duranujñātaḿ

bhuktaḿ hanti tri-pūruṣam

prasahya tu balād bhuktaḿ

daśa pūrvān daśāparān

 

brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa's property; duranujñātam — not given proper permission; bhuktam — enjoyed; hanti — destroys; tri — three; pūruṣam — persons; prasahya — by force; tu — but; balāt — resorting to external power (of the government, etc.); bhuktam — enjoyed; daśa — ten; pūrvān — previous; daśa — ten; aparān — subsequent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If a person enjoys a brāhmaṇa's property without receiving due permission, that property destroys three generations of his family. But if he takes it by force or gets the government or other outsiders to help him usurp it, then ten generations of his ancestors and ten generations of his descendants are all destroyed.

 

10.64.36

rājāno rāja-lakṣmyāndhā

nātma-pātaḿ vicakṣate

nirayaḿ ye 'bhimanyante

brahma-svaḿ sādhu bāliśāḥ

 

rājānaḥ — members of the kingly class; rāja — royal; lakṣmyā — by opulence; andhāḥ — blinded; na — do not; ātma — their own; pātam — fall; vicakṣate — foresee; nirayam — hell; ye — who; abhimanyante — hanker for; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa's property; sādhu — as appropriate; bāliśaḥ — childish.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Members of the royal order, blinded by royal opulence, fail to foresee their own downfall. Childishly hankering to enjoy a brāhmaṇa's property, they are actually hankering to go to hell.

 

10.64.37-38

gṛhṇanti yāvataḥ pāḿśūn

krandatām aśru-bindavaḥ

viprāṇāḿ hṛta-vṛttīnām

vadānyānāḿ kuṭumbinām

 

rājāno rāja-kulyāś ca

tāvato 'bdān nirańkuśāḥ

kumbhī-pākeṣu pacyante

brahma-dāyāpahāriṇaḥ

 

gṛhṇanti — touch; yāvataḥ — as many; pāḿśūn — particles of dust; krandatām — who are crying; aśru-bindavaḥ — teardrops; viprāṇām — of brāhmaṇas; hṛta — taken away; vṛttīnām — whose means of support; vadānyānām — generous; kuṭumbinām — family men;

 

rājānaḥ — the kings; rāja-kulyāḥ — other members of the royal families; ca — also; tāvataḥ — that many; abdān — years; nirańkuśāḥ — uncontrolled; kumbhī-pākeṣu — in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka; pacyante — they are cooked; brahma-dāya — of the brāhmaṇa's share; apahāriṇaḥ — the usurpers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For as many years as there are particles of dust touched by the tears of generous brāhmaṇas who have dependent families and whose property is stolen, uncontrolled kings who usurp a brāhmaṇa's property are cooked, along with their royal families, in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka.

 

10.64.39

sva-dattāḿ para-dattāḿ vā

brahma-vṛttiḿ harec ca yaḥ

ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi

viṣṭhāyāḿ jāyate kṛmiḥ

 

sva — by himself; dattām — given; para — by another; dattām — given; vā — or; brahma-vṛttim — a brāhmaṇa's property; haret — steals; ca — and; yaḥ — who; ṣaṣṭi — sixty; varṣa — of years; sahasrāṇi — thousands; viṣṭhāyām — in feces; jāyate — is born; kṛmiḥ — a worm.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whether it be his own gift or someone else's, a person who steals a brāhmaṇa's property will take birth as a worm in feces for sixty thousand years.

 

10.64.40

na me brahma-dhanaḿ bhūyād

yad gṛdhvālpāyuṣo narāḥ

parājitāś cyutā rājyād

bhavanty udvejino 'hayaḥ

 

na — not; me — to Me; brahma — of brāhmaṇas; dhanam — the wealth; bhūyāt — may it come; yat — which; gṛdhvā — desiring; alpa-āyuṣaḥ — short-lived; narāḥ — men; parājitāḥ — defeated; cyutāḥ — deprived; rājyāt — of kingdom; bhavanti — become; udvejinaḥ — creators of distress; ahayaḥ — snakes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I do not desire brāhmaṇas' wealth. Those who lust after it become short-lived and are defeated. They lose their kingdoms and become snakes, who trouble others.

 

10.64.41

vipraḿ kṛtāgasam api

naiva druhyata māmakāḥ

ghnantaḿ bahu śapantaḿ vā

namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ

 

vipram — a learned brāhmaṇa; kṛta — having committed; āgasam — sin; api — even; na — not; eva — indeed; druhyata — do not treat inimically; māmakāḥ — O My followers; ghnantam — striking physically; bahu — repeatedly; śapantam — cursing; vā — or; namaḥ-kuruta — you should offer obeisances; nityaśaḥ — always.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear followers, never treat a learned brāhmaṇa harshly, even if he has sinned. Even if he attacks you physically or repeatedly curses you, always continue to offer him obeisances.

 

10.64.42

yathāhaḿ praṇame viprān

anukālaḿ samāhitaḥ

tathā namata yūyaḿ ca

yo 'nyathā me sa daṇḍa-bhāk

 

yathā — as; aham — I; praṇame — bow down; viprān — to brāhmaṇas; anu-kālam — all the time; samāhitaḥ — carefully; tathā — so; namata — should bow down; yūyam — all of you; ca — also; yaḥ — one who; anyathā — (does) otherwise; me — by Me; saḥ — he; daṇḍa — for punishment; bhāk — a candidate.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just us I always carefully bow down to brāhmaṇas, so all of you should likewise bow down to them. I will punish anyone who acts otherwise.

 

10.64.43

brāhmaṇārtho hy apahṛto

hartāraḿ pātayaty adhaḥ

ajānantam api hy enaḿ

nṛgaḿ brāhmaṇa-gaur iva

 

brāhmaṇa — of a brāhmaṇa; arthaḥ — the property; hi — indeed; apahṛtaḥ — taken away; hartāram — the taker; pātayati — causes to fall; adhaḥ — down; ajānantam — unaware; api — even; hi — indeed; enam — this person; nṛgam — King Nṛga; brāhmaṇa — of the brāhmaṇa; gauḥ — the cow; iva — as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When a brāhmaṇa's property is stolen, even unknowingly, it certainly causes the person who takes it to fall down, just as the brāhmaṇa's cow did to Nṛga.

 

10.64.44

evaḿ viśrāvya bhagavān

mukundo dvārakaukasaḥ

pāvanaḥ sarva-lokānāḿ

viveśa nija-mandiram

 

evam — thus; viśrāvya — making hear; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; mukundaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; pāvanaḥ — the purifier; sarva — of all; lokānām — the worlds; viveśa — He entered; nija — His; mandiram — palace.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having thus instructed the residents of Dvārakā, Lord Mukunda, purifier of all the worlds, entered His palace.