rule





 

Canto 1
Guru Puja
 
 

Chapter 10: The Departure of Krishna for Dvārakā

(1) S'aunaka Muni asked: "What did Yudhishthhira, the greatest protector of the dharma, together with his younger brothers do, after having killed the aggressors who wanted to usurp the legal inheritance; how did he engage [ruling] in restricting the joys of life?"

(2)
Sūta said: "After the exhausting bamboo fire of the Kuru dynasty, the Lord, the maintainer of the creation, was pleased to see how the seedling of Yudhishthhira's kingdom had been restored. (3) Yudhishthhira, who had heard what Bhīshma and the Infallible One had said, was, being enlightened by perfect knowledge, freed from his bewilderment and then ruled, followed by his brothers and protected by the invincible Lord, over the earth and the seas like he was the king of heaven [Indra]. (4) All the rain that was needed showered, the earth yielded everything desired and the cows out of sheer joy moistened the pastures with their filled udders. (5) The rivers, oceans and hills assured him in every season of all necessary vegetables, greenery and medicinal herbs. (6) Never was, because of themselves, because of nature or because of others, any living being troubled by anxieties, diseases or extreme temperatures, as is always the case with a king who has no enemies.
  
(7)
In order to appease His family and please His sister [Subhadrā, who was married to Arjuna], the Lord stayed for a few months in the city of Hastināpura. (8) After with due permission having announced His departure, He, having embraced the king and having bowed down to him, ascended His chariot. Thereupon He in his turn was respected and embraced by the others. (9- 10) His sister [Subhadrā], [the wife of the Pāndavas] Draupadī, [their mother] Kuntī, [Parīkchit's mother] Uttarā and also [the blind grandfather] Dhritarāshthra and [his wife] Gāndhārī, [their son] Yuyutsu, [the Kuru priest] Kripācārya, [the twin brothers] Nakula and Sahadeva together with Bhīma, and [the Pāndava priest] Dhaumya, the [other] ladies from the palace and [Vyāsa's mother] Satyavatī, had great difficulty with the departure of the One with the bow S'ārnga in His hands, and almost fainted. (11-12)  An intelligent person, in good company being liberated from materialistic association, will never think of forsaking the glorification of His fame, even when he but once heard that pleasant sound. How could the Pāndavas who fixed their minds on Him, then tolerate it to be separated from Him, having seen Him face to face and touching, sleeping, sitting and eating together with Him? (13) All of them, looking at Him with wide open eyes, melted for Him and moved restlessly, being bound by pure affection. (14) The ladies of the family who came from the palace, had difficulty checking their tears from overflowing, as they were afraid that because of it inauspicious things might happen to the son of Devakī. (15) At that time mridangas [drums used in devotional service], conch shells, horns, strings, flutes and more drums, kettledrums, bells and other rhythm instruments were sounded. (16) To have a good view the ladies of the Kuru dynasty climbed on the roof of the palace, from where they showered flowers upon Krishna with love and shy smiles. (17) For the Most Be loved of the Beloved, the conqueror of sleep [Arjuna] took up an embroidered sunshade decorated with pearls and lace that had a handle inlaid with jewels. (18)  Sitting on scattered flowers the master of Madhu, commanding them on the road, was fanned by His cousin brother Uddhava and His driver Sātyaki holding resplendent fans.

(19)
From all sides the truthful respects and sayings of the brahmins could be heard that to the occasion were neither befitting or unbefitting, considering the fact that the Absolute Truth was present there in a form subjected to the modes of nature. (20) The ladies of the capital of the king of the Kurus, were with their hearts absorbed in together talking about Him hailed in the scriptures, in such a manner that it sounded more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas themselves: (21) 'We will definitely remember Him as the Personality of Godhead, as the Original Person who, materially not manifested, existed in His own Self before the creation of the modes of nature. He is the Lord, the Soul of the Universe, in whom the living beings merge with their energies suspended like going asleep at night. (22) He who puts the revealed scriptures into practice wishes thereby, in manifesting His personal potency when He [in the form of an avatāra] engages the illusion of material nature, to assign to His - in fact unnamable -  individual nature, time and again names and forms. (23) He here happens to be the same refuge as the one of the great devotees who managed to get their senses and life under control and who, by the grace of their devotion, could witness the development of a pure mind. It is by their devotion only, that they deserve a purified existence. (24) Oh friends, it is He who for His excellent pastimes, which are confidentially described in the Vedas as also are discussed by the intimate devotees, is respected as the one and only Supreme Controller and Supersoul of the complete creation, He who by the manifestation of His pastimes, creates, maintains and destroys without ever becoming attached to it. (25) Whenever there are rulers who ignorantly like animals wage against the divine principles, He at that moment manifests, for certain out of goodness, His supreme power and positive truth, mercy and wonderful activities in various forms for the sake of maintaining [the dharma] in different periods and ages [see also B.G 4: 7]. (26) Oh, how most praiseworthy is the dynasty of King Yadu, how most deserving the land of Mathurā, for He who has appeared and roamed here is the supreme leader of all living beings as also the husband of the goddess of fortune. (27) How wonderful Dvārakā is [the island where Krishna resides], the place that, adding to the virtue and fame of the earth, defeats the glory of the heavenly worlds, the place the inhabitants of which are used to constantly see the soul of the living being [Krishna] who bestows His grace with the benediction of His smiling glance. (28) In order to relish His lips again and again, the wives He married no doubt, by vow, bath, fire sacrifice and such, must have been of perfect worship for the Lord, oh friends. Often the damsels of Vraja fainted with that in their minds! (29) Of the lady of Dvārakā [Rukminī, Krishna's first wife], who with great valor was taken away by Him from the open selection of the bridegroom as the price that had to be paid by the harassing powerful kings headed by S'is'upāla, and of the other ladies that similarly were brought home after the killing of Bhaumāsura and thousands of his men, there are children like Pradyumna, Sāmba and Amba. (30) All these so very fine women who alas were bereft of their individuality, purity and virtue, were touched to be drawn into the heart of their lotus-eyed husband who never left them alone in their homes.'

(31)
With the ladies of the capital expressing themselves this way, He granted them the grace of His glance. The Lord then greeted them with a smile and departed. (32) Yudhishthhira, the man without enemies, in his affectionate concern about adversaries, engaged four divisions of soldiers [on horseback, elephant, chariot and foot] for the protection of the enemy of Madhu. (33) After thus having accompanied Him over a great distance,  S'auri [Krishna as the grandson of S'ūra] politely and full of affection persuaded the determined Pāndavas to return. They were overtaken by the thought of their future separation. Thereafter He together with His dear companions proceeded towards Dvārakā. (34-35) Traveling through Kurujāngala [the province of Delhi], Pāńcālā [part of Punjab], S'ūrasenā, Brahmāvarta [Uttar Pradesh its north] and the districts along the Yamunā river, He passed Kurukshetra where the battle was fought and traversed the province of Matsyā, Sārasvatān [another part of Punjab] and so on. Then crossing the land of deserts [Rajasthan], the land where there is hardly any water [Madhya Pradesh] and after passing through the provinces of Sauvīra [Saurastra] and Ābhīra [part of Gujarat], He, oh S'aunaka, finally in the western direction reached the province of Dvārakā, with His horses slightly overtaken by fatigue from the long journey. (36) In several places it happened that the Lord was welcomed and served in different ways upon His arrival in the evening after the sun had passed the eastern sky to disappear where the ocean is."
     

  
Read the inspiration to this chapter by Anand Aadhar.

 

                      

 
 

Third revised edition, loaded March 01, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links

Text 1

S'aunaka Muni asked: "What did Yudhishthhira, the greatest protector of the dharma, together with his younger brothers do, after having killed the aggressors who wanted to usurp the legal inheritance; how did he engage [ruling] in restricting the joys of life?"

S'aunaka Muni asked: "How did King Yudhishthhira, the greatest of the strict followers of the religion, with his younger brothers rule the kingdom after having killed the aggressors who wanted to usurp the legal inheritance? The joys of life had to be restricted, isn't it?" (Vedabase)


Text 2

Sūta said: "After the exhausting bamboo fire of the Kuru dynasty, the Lord, the maintainer of the creation, was pleased to see how the seedling of Yudhishthhira's kingdom had been restored.

Sūta said: "After the exhausting bamboo fire of the Kuru dynasty, was the Lord, the maintainer of the creation, pleased to see how the seedling of Yudhishthhira his own kingdom had been restored. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Yudhishthhira, who had heard what Bhīshma and the Infallible One had said, was, being enlightened by perfect knowledge, freed from his bewilderment and then ruled, followed by his brothers and protected by the invincible Lord, over the earth and the seas like he was the king of heaven [Indra].

After having heard what Bhīshma and the Infallible One had said, was Yudhishthhira, enlightened by perfect knowledge, freed from his bewilderment and ruled he, followed by his brothers and protected by the invincible Lord, over the earth and the seas like he was the king of heaven [Indra]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

All the rain that was needed showered, the earth yielded everything desired and the cows out of sheer joy moistened the pastures with their filled udders.

All the rain that was needed showered, the earth yielded everything desired and the cows out of sheer joy moistened the pastures with their filled udders. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The rivers, oceans and hills assured him in every season of all necessary vegetables, greenery and medicinal herbs.

The rivers, oceans and hills assured him in every season of all necessary vegetables, greenery and medicinal herbs. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Never was, because of themselves, because of nature or because of others, any living being troubled by anxieties, diseases or extreme temperatures, as is always the case with a king who has no enemies.

Never was, because of themselves, nature or because of others, any living being troubled by anxieties, diseases or extreme temperatures, as always happens with a king who has no enemies. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

In order to appease His family and please His sister [Subhadrā, who was married to Arjuna], the Lord stayed for a few months in the city of Hastināpura.

In order to appease His family and please His sister [Subhadrā, who was married with Arjuna], stayed the Lord for a few months in the city of Hastināpura. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

After with due permission having announced His departure, He, having embraced the king and having bowed down to him, ascended His chariot. Thereupon He in his turn was respected and embraced by the others.

After that time was He, duly asking permission, permitted to leave, and after embracing and bowing down with the king ascended He His chariot, receiving from others the same respects and embraces. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9-10

His sister [Subhadrā], [the wife of the Pāndavas] Draupadī, [their mother] Kuntī, [Parīkchit's mother] Uttarā and also [the blind grandfather] Dhritarāshthra and [his wife] Gāndhārī, [their son] Yuyutsu, [the Kuru priest] Kripācārya, [the twin brothers] Nakula and Sahadeva together with Bhīma, and [the Pāndava priest] Dhaumya, the [other] ladies from the palace and [Vyāsa's mother] Satyavatī, had great difficulty with the departure of the One with the bow S'ārnga in His hands, and almost fainted.

His sister, [the wife of the Pāndavas] Draupadī, [their mother] Kuntī, [Parīkchit's mother] Uttarā and also [the blind grandfather] Dhritarāshthra and [his wife] Gāndhārī, [their son] Yuyutsu, [the Kuru priest] Kripācārya, [the twin brothers] Nakula and Sahadeva together with Bhīma, and [the Pāndava priest] Dhaumya as also other ladies from the palace and [Vyāsa's mother] Satyavatī, had great difficulty bearing the separation from the One with the conch in His hands, and almost fainted. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11-12

An intelligent person, in good company being liberated from materialistic association, will never think of forsaking the glorification of His fame, even when he but once heard that pleasant sound. How could the Pāndavas who fixed their minds on Him, then tolerate it to be separated from Him, having seen Him face to face and touching, sleeping, sitting and eating together with Him?

An intelligent person will, concerning the fame that is sung, being liberated from materialistic association by the right company, never think of giving it up, when he but once has heard the pleasing. How could the Pāndavas who gave Him their heart then tolerate it to be separated from Him having seen Him face to face and touching, sleeping, sitting and eating together with Him?  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

All of them, looking at Him with wide open eyes, melted for Him and moved restlessly, being bound by pure affection.

All of them, looking at Him with wide open eyes, melted for Him and bound as they were by pure affection, they were moving restlessly. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The ladies of the family who came from the palace, had difficulty checking their tears from overflowing, as they were afraid that because of it inauspicious things might happen to the son of Devakī.

The ladies of the family who came out of the palace, had difficulty checking their tears from overflowing, as they were afraid that because of it inauspicious things might happen to the son of Devakī. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

At that time mridangas [drums used in devotional service], conch shells, horns, strings, flutes and more drums, kettledrums, bells and other rhythm instruments were sounded.

At that time mridangas [drums used in devotional service], conchshells, horns, strings, flutes and more drums, bells and other rhythm-instruments were sounded. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

To have a good view the ladies of the Kuru dynasty climbed on the roof of the palace, from where they showered flowers upon Krishna with love and shy smiles.

To have a good view the ladies of the Kuru dynasty got on the roof of the palace, from where they showered flowers upon Krishna with love and shy smiles. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

For the Most Beloved of the Beloved, the conqueror of sleep [Arjuna] took up an embroidered sunshade decorated with pearls and lace that had a handle inlaid with jewels.

For the Most Beloved of the Beloved took [Arjuna] the conqueror of sleep up an embroidered sun-shade decorated with perls and lace with a handle inlaid with jewels. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Sitting on scattered flowers the master of Madhu, commanding them on the road, was fanned by His cousin brother Uddhava and His driver Sātyaki holding resplendent fans.

He, as the master of Madhu, resplendent sitting on flowers scattered all around was on His way fanned by Uddhava, His cousin brother and His driver Sātyaki. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

From all sides the truthful respects and sayings of the brahmins could be heard that to the occasion were neither befitting or unbefitting, considering the fact that the Absolute Truth was present there in a form subjected to the modes of nature.

From everywhere were heard the truthful respects and sayings of the brahmins which to the occasion were neither befitting or unbefitting considering the Absolute Truth present there in a form subjected to the modes of nature. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The ladies of the capital of the king of the Kurus, were with their hearts absorbed in together talking about Him hailed in the scriptures, in such a manner that it sounded more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas themselves:

The ladies of the capital of the king of the Kurus were with their hearts absorbed in talking amongst each other about Him hailed by the scriptures, in such a manner that it sounded more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas themselves: (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

'We will definitely remember Him as the Personality of Godhead, as the Original Person who, materially not manifested, existed in His own Self before the creation of the modes of nature. He is the Lord, the Soul of the Universe, in whom the living beings merge with their energies suspended like going asleep at night.

'Him we will definitely remember as the Personality of Godhead, as the Original One who existed materially unmanifested in His own Self before the creation of the modes of nature; He, that Supersoul, that Supreme Lord, in whom the living beings merge, with their energies suspended, as if during the night. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

He who puts the revealed scriptures into practice wishes thereby, in manifesting His personal potency when He [in the form of an avatāra] engages the illusion of material nature, to assign to His - in fact unnamable -  individual nature, time and again names and forms.

He in the role of the compiler of the revealed scriptures thus, by the performance of His own personal potency, gave the individual soul time and again names and forms in the re-creation of the outer illusion of material nature; names He assigns to that what factually cannot be named. (Vedabase)


Text 23

He here happens to be the same refuge as the one of the great devotees who managed to get their senses and life under control and who, by the grace of their devotion, could witness the development of a pure mind. It is by their devotion only, that they deserve a purified existence.

He happens to be the same Personality of Godhead as the one seen by those great devotees who managed to control their senses and life and who, by the grace of their devotion, may see the development of a pure mind; it is they who from this, only this, deserve a purified existence.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Oh friends, it is He who for His excellent pastimes, which are confidentially described in the Vedas as also are discussed by the intimate devotees, is respected as the one and only Supreme Controller and Supersoul of the complete creation, He who by the manifestation of His pastimes, creates, maintains and destroys without ever becoming attached to it.

O friends, this is He who for His excellent pastimes, confidentially described in the Vedas as also discussed by the intimate devotees, is respected as the one and only Supreme Controller and Supersoul of the complete creation, who, by the manifestation of His pastimes creates, maintains and destroys, without ever becoming attached to it. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

Whenever there are rulers who ignorantly like animals wage against the divine principles, He at that moment manifests, for certain out of goodness, His supreme power and positive truth, mercy and wonderful activities in various forms for the sake of maintaining [the dharma] in different periods and ages [see also B.G 4: 7].

Whenever there are rulers, who ignorantly, like animals, go against the divine principles, manifests He, for sure out of goodness, His supreme power and positive truth, mercy and wonderful activities, in various forms, for the sake of maintaining [the dharma] in the different periods and ages [see also B.G 4: 7]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Oh, how most praiseworthy is the dynasty of King Yadu, how most deserving the land of Mathurā, for He who has appeared and roamed here is the supreme leader of all living beings as also the husband of the goddess of fortune. 

O, how supremely glorified is the dynasty of King Yadu and how elevated is the virtue of the land of Mathurā, because this, of all the living beings, is the supreme leader and husband of the goddess of fortune who has appeared and roamed here. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

How wonderful Dvārakā is [the island where Krishna resides], the place that, adding to the virtue and fame of the earth, defeats the glory of the heavenly worlds, the place the inhabitants of which are used to constantly see the soul of the living being [Krishna] who bestows His grace with the benediction of His smiling glance.

How wonderful is Dvārakā [the island where Krishna resides], that place that, adding to the virtue and fame of the earth, defeats the glory of the heavenly worlds and whose inhabitants are used to constantly see the soul of the living being [Krishna] bestowing His grace with the benediction of His smiling glance. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

In order to relish His lips again and again, the wives He married no doubt, by vow, bath, fire sacrifice and such, must have been of perfect worship fo r the Lord, oh friends. Often the damsels of Vraja fainted with that in their minds!

For the wives He married to relish His lips again and again, must they certainly by vow, bath, fire-sacrifice and such have been of perfect worship with the Lord, o friends; often fainted the damsels of Vraja with their minds set on that! (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Of the lady of Dvārakā [Rukminī, Krishna's first wife], who with great valor was taken away by Him from the open selection of the bridegroom as the price that had to be paid by the harassing powerful kings headed by S'is'upāla, and of the other ladies that similarly were brought home after the killing of Bhaumāsura and thousands of his men, there are children like Pradyumna, Sāmba and Amba.

Of the lady of Dvārakā [Rukminī, Krishna's first wife], who with great valor was taken away by Him from the open selection of the bridegroom as the price that had to be paid by the harassing powerful kings headed by S'is'upāla, and of the other ladies that were similarly brought home after the killing of thousands of wicked kings [headed by Bhaumāsura], there are children like Pradyumna, Sāmba and Amba. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

All these so very fine women who alas were bereft of their individuality, purity and virtue, were touched to be drawn into the heart of their lotus-eyed husband who never left them alone in their homes.'

All these very fine women of the highest stature who were bereft of their individuality and purity were by their lotus-eyed husband who touched them in drawning them near in the heart, thus never left alone in their homes.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

With the ladies of the capital expressing themselves this way, He granted them the grace of His glance. The Lord then greeted them with a smile and departed.

While the ladies of the capital were praying and talking this way about Him, He granted them the grace of His glance and greeting them with a smile on His face the Lord departed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

Yudhishthhira, the man without enemies, in his affectionate concern about adversaries, engaged four divisions of soldiers [on horseback, elephant, chariot and foot] for the protection of the enemy of Madhu.

Yudhishthhira, the man without enemies, out of affection and being anxious, engaged four divisions of soldiers [on horseback, elephant, chariot and foot] for the protection of the enemy of the atheists. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

After thus having accompanied Him over a great distance,  S'auri [Krishna as the grandson of S'ūra] politely and full of affection persuaded the determined Pāndavas to return. They were overtaken by the thought of their future separation. Thereafter He together with His dear companions proceeded towards Dvārakā.

After thus having accompanied Him for a long distance, persuaded the Lord politely and full of affection the determined Pāndavas to return who were overtaken by the thought of their future separation, after which He with His dear companions proceeded towards Dvārakā. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34-35

Traveling through Kurujāngala [the province of Delhi], Pāńcālā [part of Punjab], S'ūrasenā, Brahmāvarta [Uttar Pradesh its north] and the districts along the Yamunā river, He passed Kurukshetra where the battle was fought and traversed the province of Matsyā, Sārasvatān [another part of Punjab] and so on. Then crossing the land of deserts [Rajasthan], the land where there is hardly any water [Madhya Pradesh] and after passing through the provinces of Sauvīra [Saurastra] and Ābhīra [part of Gujarat], He, oh S'aunaka,  finally in the western direction reached the province of Dvārakā, with His horses slightly overtaken by fatigue from the long journey.

Through Kurujāńgala [the province of Delhi] and Pāńcālā [part of Punjab] and S'ūrasenā and Brahmāvarta [Uttar Pradesh its North] and the districts along the Yamunā river, He came along Kurukshetra where the battle was fought and the province of Matsyā, Sārasvatān [another part of Punjab] and so on. Then through the land of deserts [Rajasthan] and the land where there is hardly any water [Madhya Pradesh], and after passing through the provinces of Sauvīra [Saurastra] and Ābhīra [part of Gujarat], He, o S'aunaka, finally reached the western side of the province of Dvārakā with His horses slightly overtaken by fatigue of the long journey. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

In several places it happened that the Lord was welcomed and served in different ways upon His arrival in the evening after the sun had passed the eastern sky to disappear where the ocean is."

At different places it so happened that the Lord was welcomed and served variously when He arrived in the evening after the sun had passed the eastern sky to be gone where the ocean is." (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

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