Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana

 

4.25.1

maitreya uvāca

iti sandiśya bhagavān

bārhiṣadair abhipūjitaḥ

paśyatāḿ rāja-putrāṇāḿ

tatraivāntardadhe haraḥ

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; iti — thus; sandiśya — giving instruction; bhagavān — the most powerful lord; bārhiṣadaiḥ — by the sons of King Barhiṣat; abhipūjitaḥ — being worshiped; paśyatām — while they were looking on; rāja-putrāṇām — the sons of the King; tatra — there; eva — certainly; antardadhe — became invisible; haraḥ — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya continued speaking to Vidura: My dear Vidura, in this way Lord Śiva instructed the sons of King Barhiṣat. The sons of the King also worshiped Lord Śiva with great devotion and respect. Finally, Lord Śiva became invisible to the princes.

 

4.25.2

rudra-gītaḿ bhagavataḥ

stotraḿ sarve pracetasaḥ

japantas te tapas tepur

varṣāṇām ayutaḿ jale

 

rudra-gītam — the song sung by Lord Śiva; bhagavataḥ — of the Lord; stotram — prayer; sarve — all; pracetasaḥ — the princes known as the Pracetās; japantaḥ — reciting; te — all of them; tapaḥ — austerity; tepuḥ — executed; varṣāṇām — of years; ayutam — ten thousand; jale — within the water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All the Pracetā princes simply stood in the water for ten thousand years and recited the prayers given to them by Lord Śiva.

 

4.25.3

prācīnabarhiṣaḿ kṣattaḥ

karmasv āsakta-mānasam

nārado 'dhyātma-tattva-jñaḥ

kṛpāluḥ pratyabodhayat

 

prācīnabarhiṣam — unto King Prācīnabarhiṣat; kṣattaḥ — O Vidura; karmasu — in fruitive activities; āsakta — attached; mānasam — with this mentality; nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada; adhyātma — spiritualism; tattva-jñaḥ — one who knows the truth; kṛpāluḥ — being compassionate; pratyabodhayat — gave instructions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While the princes were undergoing severe austerities in the water, their father was performing different types of fruitive activities. At this time the great saint Nārada, master and teacher of all spiritual life, became very compassionate upon the King and decided to instruct him about spiritual life.

 

4.25.4

śreyas tvaḿ katamad rājan

karmaṇātmana īhase

duḥkha-hāniḥ sukhāvāptiḥ

śreyas tan neha ceṣyate

 

śreyaḥ — ultimate benediction; tvam — you; katamat — what is that; rājan — O King; karmaṇā — by fruitive activities; ātmanaḥ — of the soul; īhase — you desire; duḥkha-hāniḥ — disappearance of all distresses; sukha-avāptiḥ — attainment of all happiness; śreyaḥ — benediction; tat — that; na — never; iha — in this connection; ca — and; iṣyate — is available.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni asked King Prācīnabarhiṣat: My dear King, what do you desire to achieve by performing these fruitive activities? The chief aim of life is to get rid of all miseries and enjoy happiness, but these two things cannot be realized by fruitive activity.

 

4.25.5

rājovāca

na jānāmi mahā-bhāga

paraḿ karmāpaviddha-dhīḥ

brūhi me vimalaḿ jñānaḿ

yena mucyeya karmabhiḥ

 

rājā uvāca — the King replied; na — not; jānāmi — I know; mahā-bhāga — O great soul; param — transcendental; karma — by fruitive activities; apaviddha — being pierced; dhīḥ — my intelligence; brūhi — please tell; me — to me; vimalam — spotless; jñānam — knowledge; yena — by which; mucyeya — I can get relief; karmabhiḥ — from the fruitive activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King replied: O great soul, Nārada, my intelligence is entangled in fruitive activities; therefore I do not know the ultimate goal of life. Kindly instruct me in pure knowledge so that I can get out of the entanglement of fruitive activities.

 

4.25.6

gṛheṣu kūṭa-dharmeṣu

putra-dāra-dhanārtha-dhīḥ

na paraḿ vindate mūḍho

bhrāmyan saḿsāra-vartmasu

 

gṛheṣu — in family life; kūṭa-dharmeṣu — in false occupational duties; putra — sons; dāra — wife; dhana — wealth; artha — the goal of life; dhīḥ — one who considers; na — not; param — transcendence; vindate — achieves; mūḍhaḥ — rascal; bhrāmyan — wandering; saḿsāra — of material existence; vartmasu — on the paths.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those who are interested only in a so-called beautiful life — namely remaining as a householder entangled by sons and a wife and searching after wealth — think that such things are life's ultimate goal. Such people simply wander in different types of bodies throughout this material existence without finding out the ultimate goal of life.

 

4.25.7

nārada uvāca

bho bhoḥ prajāpate rājan

paśūn paśya tvayādhvare

saḿjñāpitāñ jīva-sańghān

nirghṛṇena sahasraśaḥ

 

nāradaḥ uvāca — the great sage Nārada replied; bhoḥ bhoḥ — hello; prajā-pate — O ruler of the citizens; rājan — O King; paśūn — animals; paśya — please see; tvayā — by you; adhvare — in the sacrifice; saḿjñāpitān — killed; jīva-sańghān — groups of animals; nirghṛṇena — without pity; sahasraśaḥ — in thousands.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great saint Nārada said: O ruler of the citizens, my dear King, please see in the sky those animals which you have sacrificed without compassion and without mercy in the sacrificial arena.

 

4.25.8

ete tvāḿ sampratīkṣante

smaranto vaiśasaḿ tava

samparetam ayaḥ-kūṭaiś

chindanty utthita-manyavaḥ

 

ete — all of them; tvām — you; sampratīkṣante — are awaiting; smarantaḥ — remembering; vaiśasam — injuries; tava — of you; samparetam — after your death; ayaḥ — made of iron; kūṭaiḥ — by the horns; chindanti — pierce; utthita — enlivened; manyavaḥ — anger.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All these animals are awaiting your death so that they can avenge the injuries you have inflicted upon them. After you die, they will angrily pierce your body with iron horns.

 

4.25.9

atra te kathayiṣye 'mum

itihāsaḿ purātanam

purañjanasya caritaḿ

nibodha gadato mama

 

atra — herewith; te — unto you; kathayiṣye — I shall speak; amum — on this subject matter; itihāsam — history; purātanam — very old; purañjanasya — in the matter of Purañjana; caritam — his character; nibodha — try to understand; gadataḥ mama — while I am speaking.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this connection I wish to narrate an old history connected with the character of a king called Purañjana. Please try to hear me with great attention.

 

4.25.10

āsīt purañjano nāma

rājā rājan bṛhac-chravāḥ

tasyāvijñāta-nāmāsīt

sakhāvijñāta-ceṣṭitaḥ

 

āsīt — there was; purañjanaḥ — Purañjana; nāma — named; rājā — king; rājan — O King; bṛhat-śravāḥ — whose activities were great; tasya — his; avijñāta — the unknown one; nāmā — of the name; āsīt — there was; sakhā — friend; avijñāta — unknown; ceṣṭitaḥ — whose activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, once in the past lived a king named Purañjana, who was celebrated for his great activities. He had a friend named Avijñāta ["the unknown one"]. No one could understand the activities of Avijñāta.

 

4.25.11

so 'nveṣamāṇaḥ śaraṇaḿ

babhrāma pṛthivīḿ prabhuḥ

nānurūpaḿ yadāvindad

abhūt sa vimanā iva

 

saḥ — that King Purañjana; anveṣamāṇaḥ — searching after; śaraṇam — shelter; babhrāma — traveled over; pṛthivīm — the whole planet earth; prabhuḥ — to become an independent master; na — never; anurūpam — to his liking; yadā — when; avindat — he could find; abhūt — became; saḥ — he; vimanāḥ — morose; iva — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Purañjana began to search for a suitable place to live, and thus he traveled all over the world. Even after a great deal of traveling, he could not find a place just to his liking. Finally he became morose and disappointed.

 

4.25.12

na sādhu mene tāḥ sarvā

bhūtale yāvatīḥ puraḥ

kāmān kāmayamāno 'sau

tasya tasyopapattaye

 

na — never; sādhu — good; mene — thought; tāḥ — them; sarvāḥ — all; bhū-tale — on this earth; yāvatīḥ — all kinds of; puraḥ — residential houses; kāmān — objects for sense enjoyment; kāmayamānaḥ — desiring; asau — that King; tasya — his; tasya — his; upapattaye — for obtaining.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Purañjana had unlimited desires for sense enjoyment; consequently he traveled all over the world to find a place where all his desires could be fulfilled. Unfortunately he found a feeling of insufficiency everywhere.

 

4.25.13

sa ekadā himavato

dakṣiṇeṣv atha sānuṣu

dadarśa navabhir dvārbhiḥ

puraḿ lakṣita-lakṣaṇām

 

saḥ — that King Purañjana; ekadā — once upon a time; himavataḥ — of the Himalaya Mountains; dakṣiṇeṣu — southern; atha — after this; sānuṣu — on the ridges; dadarśa — found; navabhiḥ — with nine; dvārbhiḥ — gates; puram — a city; lakṣita — visible; lakṣaṇām — having all auspicious facilities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Once, while wandering in this way, he saw on the southern side of the Himalayas, in a place named Bhārata-varṣa [India], a city that had nine gates all about and was characterized by all auspicious facilities.

 

4.25.14

prākāropavanāṭṭāla-

parikhair akṣa-toraṇaiḥ

svarṇa-raupyāyasaiḥ śṛńgaiḥ

sańkulāḿ sarvato gṛhaiḥ

 

prākāra — walls; upavana — parks; aṭṭāla — towers; parikhaiḥ — with trenches; akṣa — windows; toraṇaiḥ — with gates; svarṇa — gold; raupya — silver; ayasaiḥ — made of iron; śṛńgaiḥ — with domes; sańkulām — congested; sarvataḥ — everywhere; gṛhaiḥ — with houses.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That city was surrounded by walls and parks, and within it were towers, canals, windows and outlets. The houses there were decorated with domes made of gold, silver and iron.

 

4.25.15

nīla-sphaṭika-vaidūrya-

muktā-marakatāruṇaiḥ

kḷpta-harmya-sthalīḿ dīptāḿ

śriyā bhogavatīm iva

 

nīla — sapphires; sphaṭika — crystal; vaidūrya — diamonds; muktā — pearls; marakata — emeralds; aruṇaiḥ — with rubies; kḷpta — bedecked; harmya-sthalīm — the floors of the palaces; dīptām — lustrous; śriyā — with beauty; bhogavatīm — the celestial town named Bhogavatī; iva — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The floors of the houses in that city were made of sapphire, crystal, diamonds, pearls, emeralds and rubies. Because of the luster of the houses in the capital, the city was compared to the celestial town named Bhogavatī.

 

4.25.16

sabhā-catvara-rathyābhir

ākrīḍāyatanāpaṇaiḥ

caitya-dhvaja-patākābhir

yuktāḿ vidruma-vedibhiḥ

 

sabhā — assembly houses; catvara — squares; rathyābhiḥ — by streets; ākrīḍa-āyatana — gambling houses; āpaṇaiḥ — by shops; caitya — resting places; dhvaja-patākābhiḥ — with flags and festoons; yuktām — decorated; vidruma — without trees; vedibhiḥ — with platforms.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In that city there were many assembly houses, street crossings, streets, restaurants, gambling houses, markets, resting places, flags, festoons and beautiful parks. All these surrounded the city.

 

4.25.17

puryās tu bāhyopavane

divya-druma-latākule

nadad-vihańgāli-kula-

kolāhala-jalāśaye

 

puryāḥ — of that town; tu — then; bāhya-upavane — in an outside garden; divya — very nice; druma — trees; latā — creepers; ākule — filled with; nadat — vibrating; vihańga — birds; ali — bees; kula — groups of; kolāhala — humming; jala-āśaye — with a lake.

 

TRANSLATION

 

On the outskirts of that city were many beautiful trees and creepers encircling a nice lake. Also surrounding that lake were many groups of birds and bees that were always chanting and humming.

 

4.25.18

hima-nirjhara-vipruṣmat-

kusumākara-vāyunā

calat-pravāla-viṭapa-

nalinī-taṭa-sampadi

 

hima-nirjhara — from the icy mountain waterfall; vipruṭ-mat — carrying particles of water; kusuma-ākara — springtime; vāyunā — by the air; calat — moving; pravāla — branches; viṭapa — trees; nalinī-taṭa — on the bank of the lake with lotus flowers; sampadi — opulent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The branches of the trees standing on the bank of the lake received particles of water carried by the spring air from the falls coming down from the icy mountain.

 

4.25.19

nānāraṇya-mṛga-vrātair

anābādhe muni-vrataiḥ

āhūtaḿ manyate pāntho

yatra kokila-kūjitaiḥ

 

nānā — various; araṇya — forest; mṛga — animals; vrātaiḥ — with groups; anābādhe — in the matter of nonviolence; muni-vrataiḥ — like the great sages; āhūtam — as if invited; manyate — thinks; pānthaḥ — passenger; yatra — where; kokila — of cuckoos; kūjitaiḥ — by the cooing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In such an atmosphere even the animals of the forest became nonviolent and nonenvious like great sages. Consequently, the animals did not attack anyone. Over and above everything was the cooing of the cuckoos. Any passenger passing along that path was invited by that atmosphere to take rest in that nice garden.

 

4.25.20

yadṛcchayāgatāḿ tatra

dadarśa pramadottamām

bhṛtyair daśabhir āyāntīm

ekaika-śata-nāyakaiḥ

 

yadṛcchayā — all of a sudden, without engagement; āgatām — arrived; tatra — there; dadarśa — he saw; pramadā — one woman; uttamām — very beautiful; bhṛtyaiḥ — surrounded by servants; daśabhiḥ — ten; āyāntīm — coming forward; eka-eka — each one of them; śata — of hundreds; nāyakaiḥ — the leaders.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While wandering here and there in that wonderful garden, King Purañjana suddenly came in contact with a very beautiful woman who was walking there without any engagement. She had ten servants with her, and each servant had hundreds of wives accompanying him.

 

4.25.21

pañca-śīrṣāhinā guptāḿ

pratīhāreṇa sarvataḥ

anveṣamāṇām ṛṣabham

aprauḍhāḿ kāma-rūpiṇīm

 

pañca — five; śīrṣa — heads; ahinā — by a snake; guptām — protected; pratīhāreṇa — by a bodyguard; sarvataḥ — all around; anveṣamāṇām — one who is searching after; ṛṣabham — a husband; aprauḍhām — not very old; kāma-rūpiṇīm — very attractive to fulfill lusty desires.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The woman was protected on all sides by a five-hooded snake. She was very beautiful and young, and she appeared very anxious to find a suitable husband.

 

4.25.22

sunāsāḿ sudatīḿ bālāḿ

sukapolāḿ varānanām

sama-vinyasta-karṇābhyāḿ

bibhratīḿ kuṇḍala-śriyam

 

su-nāsām — very beautiful nose; su-datīm — very beautiful teeth; bālām — the young woman; su-kapolām — nice forehead; vara-ānanām — beautiful face; sama — equally; vinyasta — arranged; karṇābhyām — both ears; bibhratīm — dazzling; kuṇḍala-śriyam — having beautiful earrings.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The woman's nose, teeth and forehead were all very beautiful. Her ears were equally very beautiful and were bedecked with dazzling earrings.

 

4.25.23

piśańga-nīvīḿ suśroṇīḿ

śyāmāḿ kanaka-mekhalām

padbhyāḿ kvaṇadbhyāḿ calantīḿ

nūpurair devatām iva

 

piśańga — yellow; nīvīm — garment; su-śroṇīm — beautiful waist; śyāmām — blackish; kanaka — golden; mekhalām — belt; padbhyām — with the feet; kvaṇadbhyām — tinkling; calantīm — walking; nūpuraiḥ — with ankle bells; devatām — a denizen of the heavens; iva — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The waist and hips of the woman were very beautiful. She was dressed in a yellow sārī with a golden belt. While she walked, her ankle bells rang. She appeared exactly like a denizen of the heavens.

 

4.25.24

stanau vyañjita-kaiśorau

sama-vṛttau nirantarau

vastrāntena nigūhantīḿ

vrīḍayā gaja-gāminīm

 

stanau — breasts; vyañjita — indicating; kaiśorau — new youth; sama-vṛttau — equally round; nirantarau — fixed close, side by side; vastra-antena — by the end of the sārī; nigūhantīm — trying to cover; vrīḍayā — out of shyness; gaja-gāminīm — walking just like a great elephant.

 

TRANSLATION

 

With the end of her sārī the woman was trying to cover her breasts, which were equally round and well placed side by side. She again and again tried to cover them out of shyness while she walked exactly like a great elephant.

 

4.25.25

tām āha lalitaḿ vīraḥ

savrīḍa-smita-śobhanām

snigdhenāpāńga-puńkhena

spṛṣṭaḥ premodbhramad-bhruvā

 

tām — unto her; āha — addressed; lalitam — very gently; vīraḥ — the hero; sa-vrīḍa — with shyness; smita — smiling; śobhanām — very beautiful; snigdhena — by sex desire; apāńga-puńkhena — by the arrow of glancing; spṛṣṭaḥ — thus pierced; prema-udbhramat — exciting love; bhruvā — by the eyebrows.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Purañjana, the hero, became attracted by the eyebrows and smiling face of the very beautiful girl and was immediately pierced by the arrows of her lusty desires. When she smiled shyly, she looked very beautiful to Purañjana, who, although a hero, could not refrain from addressing her.

 

4.25.26

kā tvaḿ kañja-palāśākṣi

kasyāsīha kutaḥ sati

imām upa purīḿ bhīru

kiḿ cikīrṣasi śaḿsa me

 

kā — who; tvam — you; kañja-palāśa — like the petals of the lotus; akṣi — eyes; kasya — whose; asi — you are; iha — here; kutaḥ — wherefrom; sati — O chaste one; imām — this; upa — near; purīm — city; bhīru — O timid one; kim — what; cikīrṣasi — you are trying to do; śaḿsa — kindly explain; me — unto me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear lotus-eyed, kindly explain to me where you are coming from, who you are, and whose daughter you are. You appear very chaste. What is the purpose of your coming here? What are you trying to do? Please explain all these things to me.

 

4.25.27

ka ete 'nupathā ye ta

ekādaśa mahā-bhaṭāḥ

etā vā lalanāḥ subhru

ko 'yaḿ te 'hiḥ puraḥ-saraḥ

 

ke — who; ete — all these; anupathāḥ — followers; ye — they who; te — your; ekādaśa — eleven; mahā-bhaṭāḥ — very powerful bodyguards; etāḥ — all of these; vā — also; lalanāḥ — women; su-bhru — O beautiful-eyed one; kaḥ — who; ayam — this; te — your; ahiḥ — the snake; puraḥ — in front; saraḥ — going.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear lotus-eyed, who are those eleven strong bodyguards with you, and who are those ten specific servants? Who are those women following the ten servants, and who is the snake that is preceding you?

 

4.25.28

tvaḿ hrīr bhavāny asy atha vāg ramā patiḿ

vicinvatī kiḿ munivad raho vane

tvad-ańghri-kāmāpta-samasta-kāmaḿ

kva padma-kośaḥ patitaḥ karāgrāt

 

tvam — you; hrīḥ — shyness; bhavānī — the wife of Lord Śiva; asi — are; atha — rather; vāk — Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning; ramā — the goddess of fortune; patim — husband; vicinvatī — searching after, thinking of; kim — are you; muni-vat — like a sage; rahaḥ — in this lonely place; vane — in the forest; tvat-ańghri — your feet; kāma — desiring; āpta — achieved; samasta — all; kāmam — desirable things; kva — where is; padma-kośaḥ — the lotus flower; patitaḥ — fallen; kara — of the hand; agrāt — from the front portion, or palm.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear beautiful girl, you are exactly like the goddess of fortune or the wife of Lord Śiva or the goddess of learning, the wife of Lord Brahmā. Although you must be one of them, I see that you are loitering in this forest. Indeed, you are as silent as the great sages. Is it that you are searching after your own husband? Whoever your husband may be, simply by understanding that you are so faithful to him, he will come to possess all opulences. I think you must be the goddess of fortune, but I do not see the lotus flower in your hand. Therefore I am asking you where you have thrown that lotus.

 

4.25.29

nāsāḿ varorv anyatamā bhuvi-spṛk

purīm imāḿ vīra-vareṇa sākam

arhasy alańkartum adabhra-karmaṇā

lokaḿ paraḿ śrīr iva yajña-puḿsā

 

na — not; āsām — of these; varoru — O most fortunate one; anya-tamā — anyone; bhuvi-spṛk — touching the ground; purīm — city; imām — this; vīra-vareṇa — the great hero; sākam — along with; arhasi — you deserve; alańkartum — to decorate; adabhra — glorious; karmaṇā — whose activities; lokam — world; param — transcendental; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; iva — like; yajña-puḿsā — with the enjoyer of all yajñas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O greatly fortunate one, it appears that you are none of the women I have mentioned because I see that your feet are touching the ground. But if you are some woman of this planet, you can, like the goddess of fortune, who, accompanied by Lord Viṣṇu, increases the beauty of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, also increase the beauty of this city by associating with me. You should understand that I am a great hero and a very powerful king on this planet.

 

4.25.30

yad eṣa māpāńga-vikhaṇḍitendriyaḿ

savrīḍa-bhāva-smita-vibhramad-bhruvā

tvayopasṛṣṭo bhagavān mano-bhavaḥ

prabādhate 'thānugṛhāṇa śobhane

 

yat — because; eṣaḥ — this; mā — me; apāńga — by your glances; vikhaṇḍita — agitated; indriyam — whose senses or mind; sa-vrīḍa — with shyness; bhāva — affection; smita — smiling; vibhramat — bewildering; bhruvā — with eyebrows; tvayā — by you; upasṛṣṭaḥ — being influenced; bhagavān — the most powerful; manaḥ-bhavaḥ — cupid; prabādhate — is harassing; atha — therefore; anugṛhāṇa — be merciful; śobhane — O very beautiful one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Certainly your glancing upon me today has very much agitated my mind. Your smile, which is full of shyness but at the same time lusty, is agitating the most powerful cupid within me. Therefore, O most beautiful, I ask you to be merciful upon me.

 

4.25.31

tvad-ānanaḿ subhru sutāra-locanaḿ

vyālambi-nīlālaka-vṛnda-saḿvṛtam

unnīya me darśaya valgu-vācakaḿ

yad vrīḍayā nābhimukhaḿ śuci-smite

 

tvat — your; ānanam — face; su-bhru — having nice eyebrows; su-tāra — with nice pupils; locanam — eyes; vyālambi — scattered; nīla — bluish; alaka-vṛnda — by locks of hair; saḿvṛtam — surrounded; unnīya — having raised; me — unto me; darśaya — show; valgu-vācakam — having words very sweet to hear; yat — which face; vrīḍayā — by shyness; na — not; abhimukham — face to face; śuci-smite — O woman with lovely smiles.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear girl, your face is so beautiful with your nice eyebrows and eyes and with your bluish hair scattered about. In addition, very sweet sounds are coming from your mouth. Nonetheless, you are so covered with shyness that you do not see me face to face. I therefore request you, my dear girl, to smile and kindly raise your head to see me.

 

4.25.32

nārada uvāca

itthaḿ purañjanaḿ nārī

yācamānam adhīravat

abhyanandata taḿ vīraḿ

hasantī vīra mohitā

 

nāradaḥ uvāca — the great sage Nārada continued to speak; ittham — upon this; purañjanam — unto Purañjana; nārī — the woman; yācamānam — begging; adhīra-vat — being too impatient; abhyanandata — she addressed; tam — him; vīram — the hero; hasantī — smiling; vīra — O hero; mohitā — being attracted by him.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada continued: My dear King, when Purañjana became so attracted and impatient to touch the girl and enjoy her, the girl also became attracted by his words and accepted his request by smiling. By this time she was certainly attracted by the King.

 

4.25.33

na vidāma vayaḿ samyak

kartāraḿ puruṣarṣabha

ātmanaś ca parasyāpi

gotraḿ nāma ca yat-kṛtam

 

na — do not; vidāma — know; vayam — I; samyak — perfectly; kartāram — maker; puruṣa-ṛṣabha — O best of human beings; ātmanaḥ — of myself; ca — and; parasya — of others; api — also; gotram — family history; nāma — name; ca — and; yat-kṛtam — which has been made by whom.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The girl said: O best of human beings, I do not know who has begotten me. I cannot speak to you perfectly about this. Nor do I know the names or the origin of the associates with me.

 

4.25.34

ihādya santam ātmānaḿ

vidāma na tataḥ param

yeneyaḿ nirmitā vīra

purī śaraṇam ātmanaḥ

 

iha — here; adya — today; santam — existing; ātmānam — living entities; vidāma — that much we know; na — not; tataḥ param — beyond that; yena — by whom; iyam — this; nirmitā — created; vīra — O great hero; purī — city; śaraṇam — resting place; ātmanaḥ — of all living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O great hero, we only know that we are existing in this place. We do not know what will come after. Indeed, we are so foolish that we do not care to understand who has created this beautiful place for our residence.

 

4.25.35

ete sakhāyaḥ sakhyo me

narā nāryaś ca mānada

suptāyāḿ mayi jāgarti

nāgo 'yaḿ pālayan purīm

 

ete — all these; sakhāyaḥ — male friends; sakhyaḥ — female associates; me — my; narāḥ — men; nāryaḥ — women; ca — and; māna-da — O very respectful one; suptāyām — while sleeping; mayi — I am; jāgarti — keeps awake; nāgaḥ — snake; ayam — this; pālayan — protecting; purīm — this city.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear gentleman, all these men and women with me are known as my friends, and the snake, who always remains awake, protects this city even during my sleeping hours. So much I know. I do not know anything beyond this.

 

4.25.36

diṣṭyāgato 'si bhadraḿ te

grāmyān kāmān abhīpsase

udvahiṣyāmi tāḿs te 'haḿ

sva-bandhubhir arindama

 

diṣṭyā — fortunately for me; āgataḥ asi — you have come here; bhadram — all auspiciousness; te — unto you; grāmyān — sensual; kāmān — desired enjoyable objects; abhīpsase — you want to enjoy; udvahiṣyāmi — I shall supply; tān — all of them; te — unto you; aham — I; sva-bandhubhiḥ — with all my friends; arim-dama — O killer of the enemy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O killer of the enemy, you have somehow or other come here. This is certainly great fortune for me. I wish all auspicious things for you. You have a great desire to satisfy your senses, and all my friends and I shall try our best in all respects to fulfill your desires.

 

4.25.37

imāḿ tvam adhitiṣṭhasva

purīḿ nava-mukhīḿ vibho

mayopanītān gṛhṇānaḥ

kāma-bhogān śataḿ samāḥ

 

imām — this; tvam — your good self; adhitiṣṭhasva — just remain; purīm — in the city; nava-mukhīm — with nine gates; vibho — O my lord; mayā — by me; upanītān — arranged; gṛhṇānaḥ — taking; kāma-bhogān — the materials for sense gratification; śatam — a hundred; samāḥ — years.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear lord, I have just arranged this city of nine gates for you so that you can have all kinds of sense gratification. You may live here for one hundred years, and everything for your sense gratification will be supplied.

 

4.25.38

kaḿ nu tvad-anyaḿ ramaye

hy arati-jñam akovidam

asamparāyābhimukham

aśvastana-vidaḿ paśum

 

kam — unto whom; nu — then; tvat — than you; anyam — other; ramaye — I shall allow to enjoy; hi — certainly; arati-jñam — without knowledge of sex enjoyment; akovidam — therefore almost foolish; asamparāya — without knowledge of the next life; abhimukham — looking forward; aśvastana-vidam — one who does not know what is happening next; paśum — like animals.

 

TRANSLATION

 

How can I expect to unite with others, who are neither conversant about sex nor capable of knowing how to enjoy life while living or after death? Such foolish persons are like animals because they do not know the process of sense enjoyment in this life and after death.

 

4.25.39

dharmo hy atrārtha-kāmau ca

prajānando 'mṛtaḿ yaśaḥ

lokā viśokā virajā

yān na kevalino viduḥ

 

dharmaḥ — religious ritual; hi — certainly; atra — here (in this gṛhastha-āśrama, or householder life); artha — economic development; kāmau — sense gratification; ca — and; prajā-ānandaḥ — the pleasure of generations; amṛtam — the results of sacrifice; yaśaḥ — reputation; lokāḥ — planetary systems; viśokāḥ — without lamentation; virajāḥ — without disease; yān — which; na — never; kevalinaḥ — the transcendentalists; viduḥ — know.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The woman continued: In this material world, a householder's life brings all kinds of happiness in religion, economic development, sense gratification and the begetting of children, sons and grandsons. After that, one may desire liberation as well as material reputation. The householder can appreciate the results of sacrifices, which enable him to gain promotion to superior planetary systems. All this material happiness is practically unknown to the transcendentalists. They cannot even imagine such happiness.

 

4.25.40

pitṛ-devarṣi-martyānāḿ

bhūtānām ātmanaś ca ha

kṣemyaḿ vadanti śaraṇaḿ

bhave 'smin yad gṛhāśramaḥ

 

pitṛ — forefathers; deva — demigods; ṛṣi — sages; martyānām — of humanity in general; bhūtānām — of the infinite living entities; ātmanaḥ — of oneself; ca — also; ha — certainly; kṣemyam — beneficial; vadanti — they say; śaraṇam — shelter; bhave — in the material world; asmin — this; yat — that which; gṛha-āśramaḥ — householder life.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The woman continued: According to authorities, the householder life is pleasing not only to oneself but to all the forefathers, demigods, great sages, saintly persons and everyone else. A householder life is thus beneficial.

 

4.25.41

kā nāma vīra vikhyātaḿ

vadānyaḿ priya-darśanam

na vṛṇīta priyaḿ prāptaḿ

mādṛśī tvādṛśaḿ patim

 

kā — who; nāma — indeed; vīra — my dear hero; vikhyātam — famous; vadānyam — magnanimous; priya-darśanam — beautiful; na — not; vṛṇīta — would accept; priyam — easily; prāptam — gotten; mādṛśī — like me; tvādṛśam — like you; patim — husband.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my dear hero, who in this world will not accept a husband like you? You are so famous, so magnanimous, so beautiful and so easily gotten.

 

4.25.42

kasyā manas te bhuvi bhogi-bhogayoḥ

striyā na sajjed bhujayor mahā-bhuja

yo 'nātha-vargādhim alaḿ ghṛṇoddhata-

smitāvalokena caraty apohitum

 

kasyāḥ — whose; manaḥ — mind; te — your; bhuvi — in this world; bhogi-bhogayoḥ — like the body of a serpent; striyāḥ — of a woman; na — not; sajjet — becomes attracted; bhujayoḥ — by the arms; mahā-bhuja — O mighty-armed; yaḥ — one who; anātha-vargā — of poor women like me; adhim — distresses of the mind; alam — able; ghṛṇā-uddhata — by aggressive mercy; smita-avalokena — by attractive smiling; carati — travels; apohitum — to dissipate.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O mighty-armed, who in this world will not be attracted by your arms, which are just like the bodies of serpents? Actually you relieve the distress of husbandless women like us by your attractive smile and your aggressive mercy. We think that you are traveling on the surface of the earth just to benefit us only.

 

4.25.43

nārada uvāca

iti tau dam-patī tatra

samudya samayaḿ mithaḥ

tāḿ praviśya purīḿ rājan

mumudāte śataḿ samāḥ

 

nāradaḥ uvāca — the great sage Nārada spoke; iti — thus; tau — they; dam-patī — husband and wife; tatra — there; samudya — being equally enthusiastic; samayam — accepting one another; mithaḥ — mutually; tām — in that place; praviśya — entering; purīm — in that city; rājan — O King; mumudāte — they enjoyed life; śatam — one hundred; samāḥ — years.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Nārada continued: My dear King, those two — the man and the woman — supporting one another through mutual understanding, entered that city and enjoyed life for one hundred years.

 

4.25.44

upagīyamāno lalitaḿ

tatra tatra ca gāyakaiḥ

krīḍan parivṛtaḥ strībhir

hradinīm āviśac chucau

 

upagīyamānaḥ — being sung about; lalitam — very nicely; tatra tatra — here and there; ca — also; gāyakaiḥ — by the singers; krīḍan — playing; parivṛtaḥ — surrounded; strībhiḥ — by women; hradinīm — in the water of the river; āviśat — entered; śucau — when it was too hot.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Many professional singers used to sing about the glories of King Purañjana and his glorious activities. When it was too hot in the summer, he used to enter a reservoir of water. He would surround himself with many women and enjoy their company.

 

4.25.45

saptopari kṛtā dvāraḥ

puras tasyās tu dve adhaḥ

pṛthag-viṣaya-gaty-arthaḿ

tasyāḿ yaḥ kaścaneśvaraḥ

 

sapta — seven; upari — up; kṛtāḥ — made; dvāraḥ — gates; puraḥ — of the city; tasyāḥ — that; tu — then; dve — two; adhaḥ — down; pṛthak — different; viṣaya — to places; gati-artham — for going; tasyām — in that city; yaḥ — one who; kaścana — whoever; īśvaraḥ — governor.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Of the nine gates in that city, seven were on the surface, and two were subterranean. A total of nine doors were constructed, and these led to different places. All the gates were used by the city's governor.

 

4.25.46

pañca dvāras tu paurastyā

dakṣiṇaikā tathottarā

paścime dve amūṣāḿ te

nāmāni nṛpa varṇaye

 

pañca — five; dvāraḥ — doors; tu — then; paurastyāḥ — facing the eastern side; dakṣiṇā — southern; ekā — one; tathā — also; uttarā — one toward the north; paścime — similarly, on the western side; dve — two; amūṣām — of them; te — unto you; nāmāni — names; nṛpa — O King; varṇaye — I shall describe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, of the nine doors, five led toward the eastern side, one led toward the northern side, one led toward the southern side, and two led toward the western side. I shall try to give the names of these different doors.

 

4.25.47

khadyotāvirmukhī ca prāg

dvārāv ekatra nirmite

vibhrājitaḿ janapadaḿ

yāti tābhyāḿ dyumat-sakhaḥ

 

khadyotā — of the name Khadyotā; āvirmukhī — of the name Āvirmukhī; ca — also; prāk — toward the eastern side; dvārau — two gates; ekatra — in one place; nirmite — were constructed; vibhrājitam — of the name Vibhrājita; jana-padam — city; yāti — used to go; tābhyām — by them; dyumat — of the name Dyumān; sakhaḥ — with his friend.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The two gates named Khadyotā and Āvirmukhī were situated facing the eastern side, but they were constructed in one place. Through those two gates the King used to go to the city of Vibhrājita accompanied by a friend whose name was Dyumān.

 

4.25.48

nalinī nālinī ca prāg

dvārāv ekatra nirmite

avadhūta-sakhas tābhyāḿ

viṣayaḿ yāti saurabham

 

nalinī — of the name Nalinī; nālinī — of the name Nālinī; ca — also; prāk — eastern; dvārau — two gates; ekatra — in one place; nirmite — constructed; avadhūta — of the name Avadhūta; sakhaḥ — with his friend; tābhyām — by those two gates; viṣayam — place; yāti — used to go; saurabham — of the name Saurabha.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Similarly in the east there were two sets of gates named Nalinī and Nālinī, and these were also constructed in one place. Through these gates the King, accompanied by a friend named Avadhūta,