Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 4
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
also the
pdf for this chapter)
Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
4.8.1
maitreya uvāca
sanakādyā nāradaś ca
ṛbhur haḿso 'ruṇir yatiḥ
naite gṛhān brahma-sutā
hy āvasann ūrdhva-retasaḥ
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; sanaka-ādyāḥ — those headed by Sanaka; nāradaḥ — Nārada; ca — and; ṛbhuḥ — Ṛbhu; haḿsaḥ — Haḿsa; aruṇiḥ — Aruṇi; yatiḥ — Yati; na — not; ete — all these; gṛhān — at home; brahma-sutāḥ — sons of Brahmā; hi — certainly; āvasan — did live; ūrdhva-retasaḥ — unadulterated celibates.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: The four great Kumāra sages headed by Sanaka, as well as Nārada, Ṛbhu, Haḿsa, Aruṇi and Yati, all sons of Brahmā did not live at home, but became ūrdhva-retā, or naiṣṭhika-brahmacārīs, unadulterated celibates.
4.8.2
mṛṣādharmasya bhāryāsīd
dambhaḿ māyāḿ ca śatru-han
asūta mithunaḿ tat tu
nirṛtir jagṛhe 'prajaḥ
mṛṣā — Mṛṣā; adharmasya — of Irreligion; bhāryā — wife; āsīt — was; dambham — Bluffing; māyām — Cheating; ca — and; śatru-han — O slayer of enemies; asūta — produced; mithunam — combination; tat — that; tu — but; nirṛtiḥ — Nirṛti; jagṛhe — took; aprajaḥ — being childless.
TRANSLATION
Another son of Lord Brahmā was Irreligion, whose wife's name was Falsity. From their combination were born two demons named Dambha, or Bluffing, and Māyā, or Cheating. These two demons were taken by a demon named Nirṛti, who had no children.
4.8.3
tayoḥ samabhaval lobho
nikṛtiś ca mahā-mate
tābhyāḿ krodhaś ca hiḿsā ca
yad duruktiḥ svasā kaliḥ
tayoḥ — those two; samabhavat — were born; lobhaḥ — Greed; nikṛtiḥ — Cunning; ca — and; mahā-mate — O great soul; tābhyām — from both of them; krodhaḥ — Anger; ca — and; hiḿsā — Envy; ca — and; yat — from both of whom; duruktiḥ — Harsh Speech; svasā — sister; kaliḥ — Kali.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya told Vidura: O great soul, from Dambha and Māyā were born Greed and Nikṛti, or Cunning. From their combination came children named Krodha (Anger) and Hiḿsā (Envy), and from their combination were born Kali and his sister Durukti (Harsh Speech).
4.8.4
duruktau kalir ādhatta
bhayaḿ mṛtyuḿ ca sattama
tayoś ca mithunaḿ jajñe
yātanā nirayas tathā
duruktau — in Durukti; kaliḥ — Kali; ādhatta — produced; bhayam — Fearfulness; mṛtyum — Death; ca — and; sat-tama — O greatest of all good men; tayoḥ — of those two; ca — and; mithunam — by combination; jajñe — were produced; yātanā — Excessive Pain; nirayaḥ — Hell; tathā — as well.
TRANSLATION
O greatest of all good men, by the combination of Kali and Harsh Speech were born children named Mṛtyu (Death) and Bhīti (Fear). From the combination of Mṛtyu and Bhīti came children named Yātanā (Excessive Pain) and Niraya (Hell).
4.8.5
sańgraheṇa mayākhyātaḥ
pratisargas tavānagha
triḥ śrutvaitat pumān puṇyaḿ
vidhunoty ātmano malam
sańgraheṇa — in summary; mayā — by me; ākhyātaḥ — is explained; pratisargaḥ — cause of devastation; tava — your; anagha — O pure one; triḥ — three times; śrutvā — having heard; etat — this description; pumān — one who; puṇyam — piety; vidhunoti — washes off; ātmanaḥ — of the soul; malam — contamination.
TRANSLATION
My dear Vidura, I have summarily explained the causes of devastation. One who hears this description three times attains piety and washes the sinful contamination from his soul.
4.8.6
athātaḥ kīrtaye vaḿśaḿ
puṇya-kīrteḥ kurūdvaha
svāyambhuvasyāpi manor
harer aḿśāḿśa-janmanaḥ
atha — now; ataḥ — hereafter; kīrtaye — I shall describe; vaḿśam — dynasty; puṇya-kīrteḥ — celebrated for virtuous activities; kuru-udvaha — O best of the Kurus; svāyambhuvasya — of Svāyambhuva; api — even; manoḥ — of the Manu; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; aḿśa — plenary expansion; aḿśa — part of; janmanaḥ — born of.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya continued: O best of the Kuru dynasty, I shall now describe before you the descendants of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was born of a part of a plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
4.8.7
priyavratottānapādau
śatarūpā-pateḥ sutau
vāsudevasya kalayā
rakṣāyāḿ jagataḥ sthitau
priyavrata — Priyavrata; uttānapādau — Uttānapāda; śatarūpā-pateḥ — of Queen Śatarūpā and her husband, Manu; sutau — the two sons; vāsudevasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kalayā — by plenary expansion; rakṣāyām — for the protection; jagataḥ — of the world; sthitau — for the maintenance.
TRANSLATION
Svāyambhuva Manu had two sons by his wife, Śatarūpā, and the names of the sons were Uttānapāda and Priyavrata. Because both of them were descendants of a plenary expansion of Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they were very competent to rule the universe to maintain and protect the citizens.
4.8.8
jāye uttānapādasya
sunītiḥ surucis tayoḥ
suruciḥ preyasī patyur
netarā yat-suto dhruvaḥ
jāye — of the two wives; uttānapādasya — of King Uttānapāda; sunītiḥ — Sunīti; suruciḥ — Suruci; tayoḥ — of both of them; suruciḥ — Suruci; preyasī — very dear; patyuḥ — of the husband; na itarā — not the other; yat — whose; sutaḥ — son; dhruvaḥ — Dhruva.
TRANSLATION
King Uttānapāda had two queens, named Sunīti and Suruci. Suruci was much more dear to the King; Sunīti, who had a son named Dhruva, was not his favorite.
4.8.9
ekadā suruceḥ putram
ańkam āropya lālayan
uttamaḿ nārurukṣantaḿ
dhruvaḿ rājābhyanandata
ekadā — once upon a time; suruceḥ — of Queen Suruci; putram — the son; ańkam — on the lap; āropya — placing; lālayan — while patting; uttamam — Uttama; na — did not; ārurukṣantam — trying to get on; dhruvam — Dhruva; rājā — the King; abhyanandata — welcome.
TRANSLATION
Once upon a time, King Uttānapāda was patting the son of Suruci, Uttama, placing him on his lap. Dhruva Mahārāja was also trying to get on the King's lap, but the King did not very much welcome him.
4.8.10
tathā cikīrṣamāṇaḿ taḿ
sapatnyās tanayaḿ dhruvam
suruciḥ śṛṇvato rājñaḥ
serṣyam āhātigarvitā
tathā — thus; cikīrṣamāṇam — the child Dhruva, who was trying to get up; tam — unto him; sa-patnyāḥ — of her co-wife (Sunīti); tanayam — son; dhruvam — Dhruva; suruciḥ — Queen Suruci; śṛṇvataḥ — while hearing; rājñaḥ — of the King; sa-īrṣyam — with envy; āha — said; atigarvitā — being too proud.
TRANSLATION
While the child, Dhruva Mahārāja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself.
4.8.11
na vatsa nṛpater dhiṣṇyaḿ
bhavān āroḍhum arhati
na gṛhīto mayā yat tvaḿ
kukṣāv api nṛpātmajaḥ
na — not; vatsa — my dear child; nṛpateḥ — of the King; dhiṣṇyam — seat; bhavān — yourself; āroḍhum — to get on; arhati — deserve; na — not; gṛhītaḥ — taken; mayā — by me; yat — because; tvam — you; kukṣau — in the womb; api — although; nṛpa-ātmajaḥ — son of the King.
TRANSLATION
Queen Suruci told Dhruva Mahārāja: My dear child, you do not deserve to sit on the throne or on the lap of the King. Surely you are also the son of the King, but because you did not take your birth from my womb, you are not qualified to sit on your father's lap.
4.8.12
bālo 'si bata nātmānam
anya-strī-garbha-sambhṛtam
nūnaḿ veda bhavān yasya
durlabhe 'rthe manorathaḥ
bālaḥ — child; asi — you are; bata — however; na — not; ātmānam — my own; anya — other; strī — woman; garbha — womb; sambhṛtam — born by; nūnam — however; veda — just try to know; bhavān — yourself; yasya — of which; durlabhe — unapproachable; arthe — matter; manaḥ-rathaḥ — desirous.
TRANSLATION
My dear child, you are unaware that you were born not of my womb but of another woman. Therefore you should know that your attempt is doomed to failure. You are trying to fulfill a desire which is impossible to fulfill.
4.8.13
tapasārādhya puruṣaḿ
tasyaivānugraheṇa me
garbhe tvaḿ sādhayātmānaḿ
yadīcchasi nṛpāsanam
tapasā — by austerities; ārādhya — having satisfied; puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasya — by His; eva — only; anugraheṇa — by the mercy of; me — my; garbhe — in the womb; tvam — you; sādhaya — place; ātmānam — yourself; yadi — if; icchasi — you desire; nṛpa-āsanam — on the throne of the King.
TRANSLATION
If you at all desire to rise to the throne of the King, then you have to undergo severe austerities. First of all you must satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, and then, when you are favored by Him because of such worship, you shall have to take your next birth from my womb.
4.8.14
maitreya uvāca
mātuḥ sapatnyāḥ sa durukti-viddhaḥ
śvasan ruṣā daṇḍa-hato yathāhiḥ
hitvā miṣantaḿ pitaraḿ sanna-vācaḿ
jagāma mātuḥ prarudan sakāśam
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; mātuḥ — of his mother; sa-patnyāḥ — of the co-wife; saḥ — he; durukti — harsh words; viddhaḥ — being pierced by; śvasan — breathing very heavily; ruṣā — out of anger; daṇḍa-hataḥ — struck by a stick; yathā — as much as; ahiḥ — a snake; hitvā — giving up; miṣantam — simply looking over; pitaram — his father; sanna-vācam — silently; jagāma — went; mātuḥ — to his mother; prarudan — weeping; sakāśam — near.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, as a snake, when struck by a stick, breathes very heavily, Dhruva Mahārāja, having been struck by the strong words of his stepmother, began to breathe very heavily because of great anger. When he saw that his father was silent and did not protest, he immediately left the palace and went to his mother.
4.8.15
taḿ niḥśvasantaḿ sphuritādharoṣṭhaḿ
sunītir utsańga udūhya bālam
niśamya tat-paura-mukhān nitāntaḿ
sā vivyathe yad gaditaḿ sapatnyā
tam — him; niḥśvasantam — heavily breathing; sphurita — trembling; adhara-oṣṭham — upper and lower lips; sunītiḥ — Queen Sunīti; utsańge — on her lap; udūhya — lifting; bālam — her son; niśamya — after hearing; tat-paura-mukhāt — from the mouths of other inhabitants; nitāntam — all descriptions; sā — she; vivyathe — became aggrieved; yat — that which; gaditam — spoken; sa-patnyā — by her co-wife.
TRANSLATION
When Dhruva Mahārāja reached his mother, his lips were trembling in anger, and he was crying very grievously. Queen Sunīti immediately lifted her son onto her lap, while the palace residents who had heard all the harsh words of Suruci related everything in detail. Thus Sunīti also became greatly aggrieved.
4.8.16
sotsṛjya dhairyaḿ vilalāpa śoka-
dāvāgninā dāva-lateva bālā
vākyaḿ sapatnyāḥ smaratī saroja-
śriyā dṛśā bāṣpa-kalām uvāha
sā — she; utsṛjya — giving up; dhairyam — patience; vilalāpa — lamented; śoka-dāva-agninā — by the fire of grief; dāva-latā iva — like burnt leaves; bālā — the woman; vākyam — words; sa-patnyāḥ — spoken by her co-wife; smaratī — remember; saroja-śriyā — a face as beautiful as a lotus; dṛśā — by looking; bāṣpa-kalām — weeping; uvāha — said.
TRANSLATION
This incident was unbearable to Sunīti's patience. She began to burn as if in a forest fire, and in her grief she became just like a burnt leaf and so lamented. As she remembered the words of her co-wife, her bright, lotuslike face filled with tears, and thus she spoke.
4.8.17
dīrghaḿ śvasantī vṛjinasya pāram
apaśyatī bālakam āha bālā
māmańgalaḿ tāta pareṣu maḿsthā
bhuńkte jano yat para-duḥkhadas tat
dīrgham — heavy; śvasantī — breathing; vṛjinasya — of the danger; pāram — limitation; apaśyatī — without finding; bālakam — to her son; āha — said; bālā — the lady; mā — let there not be; amańgalam — ill fortune; tāta — my dear son; pareṣu — unto others; maḿsthāḥ — desire; bhuńkte — suffered; janaḥ — person; yat — that which; para-duḥkhadaḥ — who is apt to inflict pains upon others; tat — that.
TRANSLATION
She also was breathing very heavily, and she did not know the factual remedy for the painful situation. Not finding any remedy, she said to her son: My dear son, don't wish for anything inauspicious for others. Anyone who inflicts pains upon others suffers himself from that pain.
4.8.18
satyaḿ surucyābhihitaḿ bhavān me
yad durbhagāyā udare gṛhītaḥ
stanyena vṛddhaś ca vilajjate yāḿ
bhāryeti vā voḍhum iḍaspatir mām
satyam — truth; surucyā — by Queen Suruci; abhihitam — narrated; bhavān — unto you; me — of me; yat — because; durbhagāyāḥ — of the unfortunate; udare — in the womb; gṛhītaḥ — taken birth; stanyena — fed by the breast milk; vṛddhaḥ ca — grown up; vilajjate — becomes ashamed; yām — unto one; bhāryā — wife; iti — thus; vā — or; voḍhum — to accept; iḍaḥ-patiḥ — the King; mām — me.
TRANSLATION
Sunīti said: My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci is so, because the King, your father, does not consider me his wife or even his maidservant. He feels ashamed to accept me. Therefore it is a fact that you have taken birth from the womb of an unfortunate woman, and by being fed from her breast you have grown up.
4.8.19
ātiṣṭha tat tāta vimatsaras tvam
uktaḿ samātrāpi yad avyalīkam
ārādhayādhokṣaja-pāda-padmaḿ
yadīcchase 'dhyāsanam uttamo yathā
ātiṣṭha — just execute; tat — that; tāta — my dear son; vimatsaraḥ — without being envious; tvam — unto you; uktam — said; samātrā api — by your stepmother; yat — whatever; avyalīkam — they are all factual; ārādhaya — just begin worshiping; adhokṣaja — the Transcendence; pāda-padmam — lotus feet; yadi — if; icchase — desire; adhyāsanam — to be seated along with; uttamaḥ — your stepbrother; yathā — as much as.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, whatever has been spoken by Suruci, your stepmother, although very harsh to hear, is factual. Therefore, if you desire at all to sit on the same throne as your stepbrother, Uttama, then give up your envious attitude and immediately try to execute the instructions of your stepmother. Without further delay, you must engage yourself in worshiping the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
4.8.20
yasyāńghri-padmaḿ paricarya viśva-
vibhāvanāyātta-guṇābhipatteḥ
ajo 'dhyatiṣṭhat khalu pārameṣṭhyaḿ
padaḿ jitātma-śvasanābhivandyam
yasya — whose; ańghri — leg; padmam — lotus feet; paricarya — worshiping; viśva — universe; vibhāvanāya — for creating; ātta — received; guṇa-abhipatteḥ — for acquiring the required qualifications; ajaḥ — the unborn (Lord Brahmā); adhyatiṣṭhat — became situated; khalu — undoubtedly; pārameṣṭhyam — the supreme position within the universe; padam — position; jita-ātma — one who has conquered his mind; śvasana — by controlling the life air; abhivandyam — worshipable.
TRANSLATION
Sunīti continued: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so great that simply by worshiping His lotus feet, your great-grandfather, Lord Brahmā, acquired the necessary qualifications to create this universe. Although he is unborn and is the chief of all living creatures, he is situated in that exalted post because of the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whom even great yogīs worship by controlling the mind and regulating the life air [prāṇa].
4.8.21
tathā manur vo bhagavān pitāmaho
yam eka-matyā puru-dakṣiṇair makhaiḥ
iṣṭvābhipede duravāpam anyato
bhaumaḿ sukhaḿ divyam athāpavargyam
tathā — similarly; manuḥ — Svāyambhuva Manu; vaḥ — your; bhagavān — worshipable; pitāmahaḥ — grandfather; yam — unto whom; eka-matyā — with unflinching devotion; puru — great; dakṣiṇaiḥ — charity; makhaiḥ — by executing sacrifices; iṣṭvā — worshiping; abhipede — achieved; duravāpam — difficult to achieve; anyataḥ — by any other means; bhaumam — material; sukham — happiness; divyam — celestial; atha — thereafter; āpavargyam — liberation.
TRANSLATION
Sunīti informed her son: Your grandfather Svāyambhuva Manu executed great sacrifices with distribution of charity, and thereby, with unflinching faith and devotion, he worshiped and satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By acting in that way, he achieved the greatest success in material happiness and afterwards achieved liberation, which is impossible to obtain by worshiping the demigods.
4.8.22
tam eva vatsāśraya bhṛtya-vatsalaḿ
mumukṣubhir mṛgya-padābja-paddhatim
ananya-bhāve nija-dharma-bhāvite
manasy avasthāpya bhajasva pūruṣam
tam — Him; eva — also; vatsa — my dear boy; āśraya — take shelter; bhṛtya-vatsalam — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees; mumukṣubhiḥ — also by persons desiring liberation; mṛgya — to be sought; pada-abja — lotus feet; paddhatim — system; ananya-bhāve — in an unflinching situation; nija-dharma-bhāvite — being situated in one's original constitutional position; manasi — unto the mind; avasthāpya — placing; bhajasva — go on executing devotional service; pūruṣam — the Supreme Person.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, you also should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very kind to His devotees. Persons seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death always take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service. Becoming purified by executing your allotted occupation, just situate the Supreme Personality of Godhead in your heart, and without deviating for a moment, engage always in His service.
4.8.23
nānyaḿ tataḥ padma-palāśa-locanād
duḥkha-cchidaḿ te mṛgayāmi kañcana
yo mṛgyate hasta-gṛhīta-padmayā
śriyetarair ańga vimṛgyamāṇayā
na anyam — no others; tataḥ — therefore; padma-palāśa-locanāt — from the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-chidam — one who can mitigate others' difficulties; te — your; mṛgayāmi — I am searching after; kañcana — anyone else; yaḥ — who; mṛgyate — searches; hasta-gṛhīta-padmayā — taking a lotus flower in the hand; śriyā — the goddess of fortune; itaraiḥ — by others; ańga — my dear boy; vimṛgyamāṇayā — one who is worshiped.
TRANSLATION
My dear Dhruva, as far as I am concerned, I do not find anyone who can mitigate your distress but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like lotus petals. Many demigods such as Lord Brahmā seek the pleasure of the goddess of fortune, but the goddess of fortune herself, with a lotus flower in her hand, is always ready to render service to the Supreme Lord.
4.8.24
maitreya uvāca
evaḿ sañjalpitaḿ mātur
ākarṇyārthāgamaḿ vacaḥ
sanniyamyātmanātmānaḿ
niścakrāma pituḥ purāt
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; evam — thus; sañjalpitam — spoken together; mātuḥ — from the mother; ākarṇya — hearing; artha-āgamam — purposeful; vacaḥ — words; sanniyamya — controlling; ātmanā — by the mind; ātmānam — own self; niścakrāma — got out; pituḥ — of the father; purāt — from the house.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: The instruction of Dhruva Mahārāja's mother, Sunīti, was actually meant for fulfilling his desired objective. Therefore, after deliberate consideration and with intelligence and fixed determination, he left his father's house.
4.8.25
nāradas tad upākarṇya
jñātvā tasya cikīrṣitam
spṛṣṭvā mūrdhany agha-ghnena
pāṇinā prāha vismitaḥ
nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada; tat — that; upākarṇya — overhearing; jñātvā — and knowing; tasya — his (Dhruva Mahārāja's); cikīrṣitam — activities; spṛṣṭvā — by touching; mūrdhani — on the head; agha-ghnena — which can drive away all sinful activities; pāṇinā — by the hand; prāha — said; vismitaḥ — being surprised.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada overheard this news, and understanding all the activities of Dhruva Mahārāja, he was struck with wonder. He approached Dhruva, and touching the boy's head with his all-virtuous hand, he spoke as follows.
4.8.26
aho tejaḥ kṣatriyāṇāḿ
māna-bhańgam amṛṣyatām
bālo 'py ayaḿ hṛdā dhatte
yat samātur asad-vacaḥ
aho — how surprising it is; tejaḥ — power; kṣatriyāṇām — of the kṣatriyas; māna-bhańgam — hurting the prestige; amṛṣyatām — unable to tolerate; bālaḥ — only a child; api — although; ayam — this; hṛdā — at heart; dhatte — has taken; yat — that which; sa-mātuḥ — of the stepmother; asat — unpalatable; vacaḥ — words.
TRANSLATION
How wonderful are the powerful kṣatriyas. They cannot tolerate even a slight infringement upon their prestige. Just imagine! This boy is only a small child, yet harsh words from his stepmother proved unbearable to him.
4.8.27
nārada uvāca
nādhunāpy avamānaḿ te
sammānaḿ vāpi putraka
lakṣayāmaḥ kumārasya
saktasya krīḍanādiṣu
nāradaḥ uvāca — the great sage Nārada said; na — not; adhunā — just now; api — although; avamānam — insult; te — unto you; sammānam — offering respects; vā — or; api — certainly; putraka — my dear boy; lakṣayāmaḥ — I can see; kumārasya — of boys like you; saktasya — being attached; krīḍana-ādiṣu — to sports and frivolities.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada told Dhruva: My dear boy, you are only a little boy whose attachment is to sports and other frivolities. Why are you so affected by words insulting your honor?
4.8.28
vikalpe vidyamāne 'pi
na hy asantoṣa-hetavaḥ
puḿso moham ṛte bhinnā
yal loke nija-karmabhiḥ
vikalpe — alternation; vidyamāne api — although there is; na — not; hi — certainly; asantoṣa — dissatisfaction; hetavaḥ — causes; puḿsaḥ — of the persons; moham ṛte — without being illusioned; bhinnāḥ — separated; yat loke — within this world; nija-karmabhiḥ — by his own work.
TRANSLATION
My dear Dhruva, if you feel that your sense of honor has been insulted, you still have no cause for dissatisfaction. This kind of dissatisfaction is another feature of the illusory energy; every living entity is controlled by his previous actions, and therefore there are different varieties of life for enjoying or suffering.
4.8.29
parituṣyet tatas tāta
tāvan-mātreṇa pūruṣaḥ
daivopasāditaḿ yāvad
vīkṣyeśvara-gatiḿ budhaḥ
parituṣyet — one should be satisfied; tataḥ — therefore; tāta — my dear boy; tāvat — up to such; mātreṇa — quality; pūruṣaḥ — a person; daiva — destiny; upasāditam — offered by; yāvat — as; vīkṣya — seeing; īśvara-gatim — the process of the Supreme; budhaḥ — one who is intelligent.
TRANSLATION
The process of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very wonderful. One who is intelligent should accept that process and be satisfied with whatever comes, favorable or unfavorable, by His supreme will.
4.8.30
atha mātropadiṣṭena
yogenāvarurutsasi
yat-prasādaḿ sa vai puḿsāḿ
durārādhyo mato mama
atha — therefore; mātrā — by your mother; upadiṣṭena — being instructed; yogena — by mystic meditation; avarurutsasi — want to elevate yourself; yat-prasādam — whose mercy; saḥ — that; vai — certainly; puḿsām — of the living entities; durārādhyaḥ — very difficult to perform; mataḥ — opinion; mama — my.
TRANSLATION
Now you have decided to undertake the mystic process of meditation under the instruction of your mother, just to achieve the mercy of the Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man. It is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
4.8.31
munayaḥ padavīḿ yasya
niḥsańgenoru-janmabhiḥ
na vidur mṛgayanto 'pi
tīvra-yoga-samādhinā
munayaḥ — great sages; padavīm — path; yasya — whose; niḥsańgena — by detachment; uru-janmabhiḥ — after many births; na — never; viduḥ — understood; mṛgayantaḥ — searching for; api — certainly; tīvra-yoga — severe austerities; samādhinā — by trance.
TRANSLATION
Nārada Muni continued: After trying this process for many, many births and remaining unattached to material contamination, placing themselves continually in trance and executing many types of austerities, many mystic yogīs were unable to find the end of the path of God realization.
4.8.32
ato nivartatām eṣa
nirbandhas tava niṣphalaḥ
yatiṣyati bhavān kāle
śreyasāḿ samupasthite
ataḥ — hereafter; nivartatām — just stop yourself; eṣaḥ — this; nirbandhaḥ — determination; tava — your; niṣphalaḥ — without any result; yatiṣyati — in the future you should try; bhavān — yourself; kāle — in due course of time; śreyasām — opportunities; samupasthite — being present.
TRANSLATION
For this reason, my dear boy, you should not endeavor for this; it will not be successful. It is better that you go home. When you are grown up, by the mercy of the Lord you will get a chance for these mystic performances. At that time you may execute this function.
4.8.33
yasya yad daiva-vihitaḿ
sa tena sukha-duḥkhayoḥ
ātmānaḿ toṣayan dehī
tamasaḥ pāram ṛcchati
yasya — anyone; yat — that which; daiva — by destiny; vihitam — destined; saḥ — such a person; tena — by that; sukha-duḥkhayoḥ — happiness or distress; ātmānam — one's self; toṣayan — being satisfied; dehī — an embodied soul; tamasaḥ — of the darkness; pāram — to the other side; ṛcchati — crosses.
TRANSLATION
One should try to keep himself satisfied in any condition of life — whether distress or happiness — which is offered by the supreme will. A person who endures in this way is able to cross over the darkness of nescience very easily.
4.8.34
guṇādhikān mudaḿ lipsed
anukrośaḿ guṇādhamāt
maitrīḿ samānād anvicchen
na tāpair abhibhūyate
guṇa-adhikāt — one who is more qualified; mudam — pleasure; lipset — one should feel; anukrośam — compassion; guṇa-adhamāt — one who is less qualified; maitrīm — friendship; samānāt — with an equal; anvicchet — one should desire; na — not; tāpaiḥ — by tribulation; abhibhūyate — becomes affected.
TRANSLATION
Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world.
4.8.35
dhruva uvāca
so 'yaḿ śamo bhagavatā
sukha-duḥkha-hatātmanām
darśitaḥ kṛpayā puḿsāḿ
durdarśo 'smad-vidhais tu yaḥ
dhruvaḥ uvāca — Dhruva Mahārāja said; saḥ — that; ayam — this; śamaḥ — equilibrium of mind; bhagavatā — by Your Lordship; sukha-duḥkha — happiness and miseries; hata-ātmanām — those who are affected; darśitaḥ — shown; kṛpayā — by mercy; puḿsām — of the people; durdarśaḥ — very difficult to perceive; asmat-vidhaiḥ — by persons like us; tu — but; yaḥ — whatever you have said.
TRANSLATION
Dhruva Mahārāja said: My dear Lord Nāradajī, for a person whose heart is disturbed by the material conditions of happiness and distress, whatever you have so kindly explained for attainment of peace of mind is certainly a very good instruction. But as far as I am concerned, I am covered by ignorance, and this kind of philosophy does not touch my heart.
4.8.36
athāpi me 'vinītasya
kṣāttraḿ ghoram upeyuṣaḥ
surucyā durvaco-bāṇair
na bhinne śrayate hṛdi
atha api — therefore; me — my; avinītasya — not very submissive; kṣāttram — the spirit of a kṣatriya; ghoram — intolerant; upeyuṣaḥ — achieved; surucyāḥ — of Queen Suruci; durvacaḥ — harsh words; bāṇaiḥ — by the arrows; na — not; bhinne — being pierced; śrayate — remain in; hṛdi — the heart.
TRANSLATION
My dear lord, I am very impudent for not accepting your instructions, but this is not my fault. It is due to my having been born in a kṣatriya family. My stepmother, Suruci, has pierced my heart with her harsh words. Therefore your valuable instruction does not stand in my heart.
4.8.37
padaḿ tri-bhuvanotkṛṣṭaḿ
jigīṣoḥ sādhu vartma me
brūhy asmat-pitṛbhir brahmann
anyair apy anadhiṣṭhitam
padam — position; tri-bhuvana — the three worlds; utkṛṣṭam — the best; jigīṣoḥ — desirous; sādhu — honest; vartma — way; me — unto me; brūhi — please tell; asmat — our; pitṛbhiḥ — by the forefathers, the father and grandfather; brahman — O great brāhmaṇa; anyaiḥ — by others; api — even; anadhiṣṭhitam — not acquired.
TRANSLATION
O learned brāhmaṇa, I want to occupy a position more exalted than any yet achieved within the three worlds by anyone, even by my fathers and grandfathers. If you will oblige, kindly advise me of an honest path to follow by which I can achieve the goal of my life.
4.8.38
nūnaḿ bhavān bhagavato
yo 'ńgajaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ
vitudann aṭate vīṇāḿ
hitāya jagato 'rkavat
nūnam — certainly; bhavān — Your Honor; bhagavataḥ — of the Lord; yaḥ — that which; ańga-jaḥ — born from the body; parameṣṭhinaḥ — Lord Brahmā; vitudan — by playing on; aṭate — travel all over; vīṇām — a musical instrument; hitāya — for the welfare; jagataḥ — of the world; arka-vat — like the sun.
TRANSLATION
My dear lord, you are a worthy son of Lord Brahmā, and you travel, playing on your musical instrument, the vīṇā, for the welfare of the entire universe. You are like the sun, which rotates in the universe for the benefit of all living beings.
4.8.39
maitreya uvāca
ity udāhṛtam ākarṇya
bhagavān nāradas tadā
prītaḥ pratyāha taḿ bālaḿ
sad-vākyam anukampayā
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the sage Maitreya continued; iti — thus; udāhṛtam — being spoken; ākarṇya — hearing; bhagavān nāradaḥ — the great personality Nārada; tadā — thereupon; prītaḥ — being pleased; pratyāha — replied; tam — him; bālam — the boy; sat-vākyam — good advice; anukampayā — being compassionate.
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya continued: The great personality Nārada Muni, upon hearing the words of Dhruva Mahārāja, became very compassionate toward him, and in order to show him his causeless mercy, he gave him the following expert advice.
4.8.40
nārada uvāca
jananyābhihitaḥ panthāḥ
sa vai niḥśreyasasya te
bhagavān vāsudevas taḿ
bhaja taḿ pravaṇātmanā
nāradaḥ uvāca — the great sage Nārada said; jananyā — by your mother; abhihitaḥ — stated; panthāḥ — the path; saḥ — that; vai — certainly; niḥśreyasasya — the ultimate goal of life; te — for you; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vāsudevaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; tam — unto Him; bhaja — render your service; tam — by Him; pravaṇa-ātmanā — fully absorbing your mind.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada told Dhruva Mahārāja: The instruction given by your mother, Sunīti, to follow the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is just suitable for you. You should therefore completely absorb yourself in the devotional service of the Lord.
4.8.41
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣākhyaḿ
ya icchec chreya ātmanaḥ
ekaḿ hy eva hares tatra
kāraṇaḿ pāda-sevanam
dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa — the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation; ākhyam — by the name; yaḥ — who; icchet — may desire; śreyaḥ — the goal of life; ātmanaḥ — of the self; ekam hi eva — only the one; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tatra — in that; kāraṇam — the cause; pāda-sevanam — worshiping the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these.
4.8.42
tat tāta gaccha bhadraḿ te
yamunāyās taṭaḿ śuci
puṇyaḿ madhuvanaḿ yatra
sānnidhyaḿ nityadā hareḥ
tat — that; tāta — my dear son; gaccha — go; bhadram — good fortune; te — for you; yamunāyāḥ — of the Yamunā; taṭam — bank; śuci — being purified; puṇyam — the holy; madhu-vanam — of the name Madhuvana; yatra — where; sānnidhyam — being nearer; nityadā — always; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamunā, where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there, one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives there.
4.8.43
snātvānusavanaḿ tasmin
kālindyāḥ salile śive
kṛtvocitāni nivasann
ātmanaḥ kalpitāsanaḥ
snātvā — after taking bath; anusavanam — three times; tasmin — in that; kālindyāḥ — in the River Kālindī (the Yamunā); salile — in the water; śive — which is very auspicious; kṛtvā — performing; ucitāni — suitable; nivasan — sitting; ātmanaḥ — of the self; kalpita-āsanaḥ — having prepared a sitting place.
TRANSLATION
Nārada Muni instructed: My dear boy, in the waters of the Yamunā River, which is known as Kālindī, you should take three baths daily because the water is very auspicious, sacred and clear. After bathing, you should perform the necessary regulative principles for aṣṭāńga-yoga and then sit down on your āsana [sitting place] in a calm and quiet position.
4.8.44
prāṇāyāmena tri-vṛtā
prāṇendriya-mano-malam
śanair vyudasyābhidhyāyen
manasā guruṇā gurum
prāṇāyāmena — by breathing exercises; tri-vṛtā — by the three recommended ways; prāṇa-indriya — the life air and the senses; manaḥ — mind; malam — impurity; śanaiḥ — gradually; vyudasya — giving up; abhidhyāyet — meditate upon; manasā — by the mind; guruṇā — undisturbed; gurum — the supreme spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
After sitting on your seat, practice the three kinds of breathing exercises, and thus gradually control the life air, the mind and the senses. Completely free yourself from all material contamination, and with great patience begin to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
4.8.45
prasādābhimukhaḿ śaśvat
prasanna-vadanekṣaṇam
sunāsaḿ subhruvaḿ cāru-
kapolaḿ sura-sundaram
prasāda-abhimukham — always prepared to offer causeless mercy; śaśvat — always; prasanna — pleasing; vadana — mouth; īkṣaṇam — vision; su-nāsam — very nicely constructed nose; su-bhruvam — very nicely decorated eyebrows; cāru — beautiful; kapolam — forehead; sura — the demigods; sundaram — good looking.
TRANSLATION
[The form of the Lord is described herein.] The Lord's face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased, and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His nicely decorated eyebrows, His raised nose and His broad forehead are all very beautiful. He is more beautiful than all the demigods.
4.8.46
taruṇaḿ ramaṇīyāńgam
aruṇoṣṭhekṣaṇādharam
praṇatāśrayaṇaḿ nṛmṇaḿ
śaraṇyaḿ karuṇārṇavam
taruṇam — youthful; ramaṇīya — attractive; ańgam — all parts of the body; aruṇa-oṣṭha — lips pinkish like the rising sun; īkṣaṇa-adharam — eyes of the same nature; praṇata — one who is surrendered; āśrayaṇam — shelter of the surrendered; nṛmṇam — transcendentally pleasing in all respects; śaraṇyam — the person unto whom it is just worthy to surrender; karuṇā — merciful like; arṇavam — the ocean.
TRANSLATION
Nārada Muni continued: The Lord's form is always youthful. Every limb and every part of His body is properly formed, free from defect. His eyes and lips are pinkish like the rising sun. He is always prepared to give shelter to the surrendered soul, and anyone so fortunate as to look upon Him feels all satisfaction. The Lord is always worthy to be the master of the surrendered soul, for He is the ocean of mercy.
4.8.47