rule



 

Canto 4

Hari Haraye Namah

 

 

Chapter 20:  Lord Vishnu's Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Prithu Mahârâja

(1) Maitreya said: 'The Supreme Personality, the Lord of Vaikunthha, satisfied by the sacrifices unto Him, the Lord of All Sacrifices, appeared together with the mighty Indra and spoke as the enjoyer of the sacrifice to King Prithu. (2) The Supreme Lord said: 'This person [King Indra] who disturbed the hundredth horse sacrifice you performed, begs your pardon, you ought to forgive him. (3) Considerate souls willing to act in favor of others in this world, oh god of man, belong to the best human beings. They [acting from the soul] will never be malicious toward other living beings. The soul after all is not this vehicle of time, the body. (4) If people like you, who persistently are of service to the elders [the tradition, the wise], become bewildered by the external energy of God, the only thing that is achieved is weariness. (5) Therefore he who is well acquainted and knows that one owes this body to one's ignorance, desires and karma, will never become the slave of it. (6) In other words, which person having life experience would in his detachment call himself the proprietor of the wealth, house and children that result from such a bodily concept? (7) The one pure self that is enlightened and free from material characteristics, constitutes the reservoir of all good qualities that, transcendental to the body and the mind and pervading all, is the undivided witness unrelated to the material world. (8) Anyone who thus knows about the soul that exists within this body is, despite being situated within material nature, as a person never affected by the basic qualities of nature. Such a one is situated in Me. (9) He who free from ulterior motives, always doing his duty, worships Me with faith and devotion will, oh King, discover that his mind step by step finds the highest satisfaction. (10) Free from the modes, the basic qualities, of nature and with an equal vision, he who, innerly free from contaminations, is of peace, will achieve the equipoise of My spirit of emancipation. (11) Any person who knows this changeless soul as simply being the indifferent superintendent of the physical elements, the knowing and working senses and the mind, will find all fortune. (12) They who are bound to Me in friendship and enlightenment will never become disturbed by the happiness or distress they see associated with the different basic qualities and the constant change of the material body consisting of the physical elements, the active senses, its intentions and the mind. (13) Equipoised in happiness and distress, equal to all who are more elevated, lower or situated in between and with the senses and mind controlled, be as such the protector of all citizens, oh hero, together with the others [the officials] arranged by Me. (14) Ruling the populace in goodness it is certain for a king in his next life to be the collector of one sixth of the results of the pious activities [of his subjects]. Being of a different approach, solely collecting taxes, he will have to do without this sixth and be faced with the sins of the citizens he failed to protect. (15) Thus being the protector of the earth as someone whose chief interest it is to be unattached in respect of the principles as approved and handed down by the foremost twice-born souls, you soon will see yourself be loved by the citizens and at home be visited by the perfected souls in person. (16) Because you captivated Me by your excellent qualities*, please request any benediction from Me you desire, oh chief of the humans. I certainly cannot easily be obtained by mere sacrifices, austerities or doing yoga. I am present in the one who is evenminded.'

(17) Maitreya said: 'The conqueror of the world thus being led by the Supreme Master of All, the Personality of Vishnu, bowed his head to the instructions of the Lord. (18) King Indra, ashamed of his own actions then lovingly touched the feet of him [Prithu] who of course with an embrace gave up his anger. (19) The Supreme Lord, the Supersoul, next received worship with all the paraphernalia from Prithu whose devotion, having taken to the lotus feet, gradually increased. (20) Even though he was ready to leave him, the Lord with the lotus eyes, the well-wisher of the devotees, being detained by his kindness, could not depart. (21) He, the first among the kings could, with his eyes full of tears standing before the Lord with folded hands, not look at Him nor utter a word. His voice was choked up and within his heart embracing Him he remained in that position. (22) Looking at Him with insatiable eyes, he thereupon wiping the tears from his face addressed the Original Personality of Godhead who, with His hand resting upon the high shoulder of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes, barely touched the ground with His lotus feet.

(23) Prithu said: 'Oh Almighty One, how can a learned man ask from You, who are the master of all blessings, for benedictions that are also available to all those embodied living beings who are bewildered by the modes of nature, even when they are in hell? Nor do I ask, oh Supreme One, for Your enlightenment [to be one with You]. (24) I do not desire even that, oh Master, because I then have to do without the nectar delivered by the mouths of the devotees at Your lotus feet. Just give me a million ears to [relish that] what rises from the core of their hearts [the stories about You]. Let that be my benediction. (25) That soothing breeze of the nectarean [saffron] particles of Your lotus feet, oh Lord praised in the scriptures as delivered by the mouths of the great ones, restores of those who strayed from the path of devotional service the remembrance of the forgotten truth and makes other benedictions unnecessary. (26) When someone somehow or other, even only once, in association with those who are advanced listens to the all-auspicious glorification of You, oh honored one, how can someone appreciative of Your characteristics, unless he is an animal, then ever cease with that what the Goddess of Fortune in her desire to hear about You has accepted as Your quality? (27) Therefore I shall engage in the service of You, the all-inclusive Supreme, Original Personality [Pûrushottama] and reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Let there with me, who as anxious as the goddess with the lotus in her hand, competes in relation to the one Master, be no quarrel between her and me in the single-mindedness of acting in respect of Your feet. (28) The mother of the universe, oh Ruler of the Cosmic Reality, [being jealous] might ruin my desire to be of her action. But what difference would she make with You who, always favorably inclined to the poor, as a consequence of Your benevolence consider even the most insignificant service very great? (29) Saintly persons therefore rather worship You who dispel the misconceptions produced by the modes of nature. Oh Supreme Lord, I cannot think of any other purpose [in the life] of devotees than the remembrance of Your lotus feet. (30) I consider that what You said [to me] with the words 'make your choice', as a bewildering favor relating to the material world. How [is that supposed to work] when ordinary people [like me], who are not tied to what You say in the Vedic literature, time and again feel attracted to engage in karmic actions? (31) Oh Lord, the people are divided about Your illusory energy because of which they, missing the real knowledge, desire everything but the true matters of the soul. Please bestow that what You deem desirable, just like a father would do for the welfare of his child.'

(32) Maitreya said: 'Thus being worshiped by the original king He, the seer of the entire universe, said to him: 'My dear King, let there be your devotion for Me. By the good fortune of  intelligently having acted unto Me like this, you will certainly overcome My illusory energy that is so difficult to give up. (33) Do therefore without neglect what I ordered you to do, oh protector of the citizens, anyone who acts according to My injunctions, will achieve all good fortune, wherever he is.'

(34) Maitreya said: 'This way showing His appreciation for the words of the wise king, the son of Vena, the Infallible One, after properly having blessed him and being worshiped by him, decided to leave. (35-36) After they [by the king] with an intelligence dedicated to the Lord, with folded hands, sweet words and riches were properly respected in a spirit of devotional service, all the followers of the Lord of Vaikunthha departed: the godly souls, the sages, the forefathers, the artisans, the perfected ones, the heavenly singers, the snakelike beings, the superhuman beings, the nymphs, the earthly humans, the birds and all the other living entities [compare 3.10: 28-29]. (37) Having captivated the minds of the saintly king and all his priests, the protector of the living creation, the infallible Supreme Lord, also returned to His abode. (38) The king who had offered his obeisances to the Supreme Soul, [thus] received the revelation of the Unmanifested One, the God of Gods. He then returned to his home.'


 

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Third revised edition, loaded November 2, 2017.
 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Maitreya said: 'The Supreme Personality, the Lord of Vaikunthha, satisfied by the sacrifices unto Him, the Lord of All Sacrifices, appeared together with the mighty Indra and spoke as the enjoyer of the sacrifice to King Prithu.
Maitreya said: 'The Supreme Lord, the Lord of Vaikunthha, along with the mighty Indra satisfied by the sacrifices unto Him, the Lord of Sacrifice, spoke, as the enjoyer of all sacrifices, to King Prithu. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

The Supreme Lord said: 'This person [King Indra] who disturbed the hundredth horse sacrifice you performed, begs your pardon, you ought to forgive him.

The Supreme Lord said: 'This Lord Indra, who indeed formed a disturbance with the hundredth horse sacrifice you performed, begs your soul to pardon him; you should forgive him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Considerate souls willing to act in favor of others in this world, oh god of man, belong to the best human beings. They [acting from the soul] will never be malicious toward other living beings. The soul after all is not this vehicle of time, the body.

The most intelligent of favor to others in this world, o god of man, belong to the best human beings; they never resort to malice in relation to other living beings, as they never forget the soul within this vehicle of time. (Vedabase)

  

Text 4

If people like you, who persistently are of service to the elders [the tradition, the wise], become bewildered by the external energy of God, the only thing that is achieved is weariness.

If people like you, for long in service of the superiors, become bewildered by the external energy of God, is for sure the only thing that is produced the being sick of it. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

Therefore he who is well acquainted and knows that one owes this body to one's ignorance, desires and karma, will never become the slave of it.

Therefore does he in full knowledge, who knows that this body is derived from nescience, desires and karma, certainly never become the slave of it. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

In other words, which person having life experience would in his detachment call himself the proprietor of the wealth, house and children that result from such a bodily concept?

In other words, what learned person would, being unattached, be of affinity for the wealth, house and children produced from such a bodily concept? (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

The one pure self that is enlightened and free from material characteristics, constitutes the reservoir of all good qualities that, transcendental to the body and the mind and pervading all, is the undivided witness unrelated to the material world. 

Being one, pure, self-effulgent and immaterial is that all-pervading reservoir of good qualities, unmoved by the material world, the selfless witness, transcendental to the body and the mind. (Vedabase)


Text 8

Anyone who thus knows about the soul that exists within this body is, despite being situated within material nature, as a person never affected by the basic qualities of nature. Such a one is situated in Me.

Anyone who thus knows of the soul existing within this body, is, although he is situated within the material nature, as a person never affected by its modes; such a person is situated in Me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

He who free from ulterior motives, always doing his duty, worships Me with faith and devotion will, oh King, discover that his mind step by step finds the highest satisfaction.

He who always doing his duty worships Me, having faith and devotion without any ulterior motive, will, o King, find his mind gradually become very satisfied. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Free from the modes, the basic qualities, of nature and with an equal vision, he who, innerly free from contaminations, is of peace, will achieve the equipoise of My spirit of emancipation.

Free from the modes of nature and with an equal vision will he, who within is uncontaminated and of peace, achieve the evenness of My spirit of emancipation. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

Any person who knows this changeless soul as simply being the indifferent superintendent of the physical elements, the knowing and working senses and the mind, will find all fortune.

Any person who knows this fixed soul as simply being the indifferent superintendent of the physical elements, the knowing and working senses and the mind, will find all good fortune. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

They who are bound to Me in friendship and enlightenment will never become disturbed by the happiness or distress they see associated with the different basic qualities and the constant change of the material body consisting of the physical elements, the active senses, its intentions and the mind.

Those bound to Me in friendship and enlightenment will never become disturbed with the experience of happiness or distress to the different qualities and constant change of the material body consisting of the physical elements, the active senses, its intentions and the mind. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Equipoised in happiness and distress, equal to all who are more elevated, lower or situated in between and with the senses and mind controlled, be as such the protector of all citizens, oh hero, together with the others [the officials] arranged by Me.

Equipoised in happiness and distress, equal to all who are greater, lower or in between and with the senses and mind controlled, be, o hero, the protector of all citizens; by all people being accompanied it is as arranged by Me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Ruling the populace in goodness it is certain for a king in his next life to be the collector of one sixth of the results of the pious activities [of his subjects]. Being of a different approach, solely collecting taxes, he will have to do without this sixth and be faced with the sins of the citizens he failed to protect.

Ruling the populace in goodness is it certain for a king that in his next life he'll be the collector of a sixth of results of the pious activities, otherwise he will have to do without them as solely collecting taxes he will, from the citizens that he does not protect, suffer the sins. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Thus being the protector of the earth as someone whose chief interest it is to be unattached in respect of the principles as approved and handed down by the foremost twice-born souls, you soon will see yourself be loved by the citizens and at home be visited by the perfected souls in person.

Thus being the protector of the earth as one whose chief interest it is to be unattached after the principles as approved by and handed down by the foremost of the twice-born, you will in a short time see yourself being loved by the citizens and have your home visited by the perfected ones personally. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

Because you captivated Me by your excellent qualities*, please request any benediction from Me you desire, oh chief of the humans. I certainly cannot easily be obtained by mere sacrifices, austerities or doing yoga. I am present in the one who is evenminded.'

Please request, as I've been captivated by your excellent qualities *, any benediction from Me that you desire, o chief of the humans; I certainly cannot easily be obtained by mere sacrifices, austerities or the single practice of yoga - I am present in the one who is evenminded.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Maitreya said: 'The conqueror of the world thus being led by the Supreme Master of All, the Personality of Vishnu, bowed his head to the instructions of the Lord. 

Maitreya said: 'The conqueror of the world thus being lead by the Supreme Master of All, the Personality of Vishnu, bowed his head to the instructions of the Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

King Indra, ashamed of his own actions then lovingly touched the feet if him [Prithu] who of course with an embrace gave up his anger.

King Indra, ashamed of his own actions then lovingly touched his feet; embracing him he [Prithu] of course gave up his anger. (Vedabase)
 
Text 19

The Supreme Lord, the Supersoul, next received worship with all the paraphernalia from Prithu whose devotion, having taken to the lotus feet, gradually increased.

The Supreme Lord, the Supersoul, received from Prithu worship with all the paraphernalia and having taken to the lotus feet, his devotion gradually increased. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

Even though he was ready to leave him, the Lord with the lotus eyes, the well-wisher of the devotees, being detained by his kindness, could not depart.

Although ready to leave him was the Lord with the lotus eyes, the well-wisher of the devotees, detained by kindness, not able to depart. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

He, the first among the kings could, with his eyes full of tears standing before the Lord with folded hands, not look at Him nor utter a word. His voice was choked up and within his heart embracing Him he remained in that position.

He, the ideal king, with folded hands before the Lord, was, with his eyes full of tears not able to behold Him, nor could he speak; his voice was choked up and with his heart embracing Him he remained standing there before Him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

Looking at Him with insatiable eyes, he thereupon wiping the tears from his face addressed the Original Personality of Godhead who, with His hand resting upon the high shoulder of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes, barely touched the ground with His lotus feet.

Thereupon wiping the tears from his eyes and not being satisfied with seeing Him visible with his naked eyes, he spoke to the Original Personality who with His lotus feet barely touched the ground and with His raised hand was resting on the shoulder of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes. (Vedabase)

  

Text 23

Prithu said: 'Oh Almighty One, how can a learned man ask from You, who are the master of all blessings, for benedictions that are also available to all those embodied living beings who are bewildered by the modes of nature, even when they are in hell? Nor do I ask, oh Supreme One, for Your enlightenment [to be one with You].

Prithu said: 'How could a learned man ask from You, o Almighty One, who is the Supreme ruler of it, for benedictions that are there also for all those embodied living beings who are bewildered by the modes of nature, even when they are in hell? Nor do I ask, o Supreme One, for You as the Enlightenment.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

I do not desire even that oh Master, because I then have to do without the nectar delivered by the mouths of the devotees at Your lotus feet. Just give me a million ears to [relish that] what rises from the core of their hearts [the stories about You]. Let that be my benediction.

Not even that I do desire o master, when it is then so that I always have to miss the nectar which from the core of the heart is delivered by the mouths of the devotees at Your lotus feet; just give me these one million ears, that is for me the benediction. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

That soothing breeze of the nectarean [saffron] particles of Your lotus feet, oh Lord praised in the scriptures as delivered by the mouths of the great ones, restores of those who strayed from the path of devotional service the remembrance of the forgotten truth and makes other benedictions unnecessary.

That soothing breeze of the nectarean [saffron-] particles of Your lotus feet o Lord, who is praised in the scriptures as delivered by the mouths of the great, restores of those who strayed from the path of devotional service, the remembrance of the forgotten truth and makes other benedictions unnecessary. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

When someone somehow or other, even only once, in association with those who are advanced listens to the all-auspicious glorification of You, oh honored one, how can someone appreciative of Your characteristics, unless he is an animal, then ever cease with that what the Goddess of Fortune in her desire to hear about You has accepted as Your quality?

When someone somehow or other even only once, in the association of the advanced, listens to the all-auspicious glorification of You, o honored one, how can one in favor of the qualities, unless he is an animal, then ever cease with that what the Goddess of Fortune with her desire to receive has accepted as Your quality? (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Therefore I shall engage in the service of You, the all-inclusive Supreme, Original Personality [Pûrushottama] and reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Let there with me, who as anxious as the goddess with the lotus in her hand, competes in relation to the one Master, be no quarrel between her and me in the single-mindedness of acting in respect of Your feet.

Therefore I shall engage in the service of You, the all inclusive Supreme and Original Personality [Pûrushottama] and reservoir of all transcendental qualities; let, with the both of us competing to the one Master, as desirous indeed as the goddess with the lotus in her hand, there not be any quarrel in the one attention of acting in respect at Your feet. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

The mother of the universe, oh Ruler of the Cosmic Reality, [being jealous] might ruin my desire to be of her action. But what difference would she make with You who, always favorably inclined to the poor, as a consequence of Your benevolence consider even the most insignificant service very great?

The mother of the universe o Ruler of the Cosmic Reality, might be angry with my certain desire to her activities; but why would that with her unto You, who considers even the most insignificant service as very great and with Your inclination as a loving parent, be so, to the undoubtedly full satisfaction in Your own opulence? (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Saintly persons therefore rather worship You who dispel the misconceptions produced by the modes of nature. Oh Supreme Lord, I cannot think of any other purpose [in the life] of devotees than the remembrance of Your lotus feet.

They who therefore worship You are thus all saints that dispel the misconceptions originating from the operating modes of nature; I don't see why other persons than the holy, o Supreme Lord, would find a reason for constantly remembering Your lotus feet! (Vedabase)


Text 30

I consider that what You said [to me] with the words 'make your choice', as a bewildering favor relating to the material world. How [is that supposed to work] when ordinary people [like me], who are not tied to what You say in the Vedic literature, time and again feel attracted to engage in karmic actions?

I consider Your words as a bewildering benediction to the material world; if one just accepts what You spoke of this way to your devotees, then how can the people in general, because they are surely not bound by the ropes of Your statements in the Vedas, not be captivated in the repetition of the performance of fruitive activities? (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Oh Lord, the people are divided about Your illusory energy because of which they, missing the real knowledge, desire everything but the true matters of the soul. Please bestow that what You deem desirable, just like a father would do for the welfare of his child.'

The people in general are, o Lord, in rebellion by Your illusory energy because of ignorantly desiring everything other than the real of the self; please, alike a father would do personally for the welfare of a child, bestow that what You deem to be desirable. (Vedabase)


Text 32

Maitreya said: 'Thus being worshiped by the original king He, the seer of the entire universe, said to him: 'My dear King, let there be your devotion for Me. By the good fortune of  intelligently having acted unto Me like this, you will certainly overcome My illusory energy that is so difficult to give up.

Maitreya said: 'Thus being worshiped by the original king said He, the seer of the whole universe, to him: 'My dear King let there be Your devotion for Me; by the good fortune of an intelligence of having acted unto Me like this, will certainly My illusory energy, that is so difficult to relinguish, be overcome. (Vedabase)

Text 33

Do therefore without neglect what I ordered you to do, oh protector of the citizens, anyone who acts according to My injunctions, will achieve all good fortune, wherever he is.'

Do therefore what I ordered You to do without being mistaken, o protector of the citizens, anyone wherever who acts according My injunctions achieves all good fortune.' (Vedabase)

  

Text 34

Maitreya said: 'This way showing His appreciation for the words of the wise king, the son of Vena, the Infallible One, after properly having blessed him and being worshiped by him, decided to leave.

Maitreya said: 'Thus appreciating the meaningful words of the wise king, the son of Vena, decided He, the Infallible One, being worshiped and sufficiently having blessed him, to leave from there. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35-36

After they [by the king] with an intelligence dedicated to the Lord, with folded hands, sweet words and riches were properly respected in a spirit of devotional service, all the followers of the Lord of Vaikunthha departed: the godly souls, the sages, the forefathers, the artisans, the perfected ones, the heavenly singers, the snakelike beings, the superhuman beings, the nymphs, the earthly humans, the birds and all the other living entities [compare 3.10: 28-29].

The godly ones, the sages, the forefathers, the artisans, the perfected ones, the heavenly singers, the ones living with the snakes, the superhuman beings, the nymphs, and the ones of the earth, the birds and all the many living beings [compare 3-10: 28-29], were by the king, with the wealth of an intelligence of perfect sacrifice to the Lord, with folded hands in the spirit of devotional service properly respected, after which all the followers of the Lord of Vaikunthha departed. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 37

Having captivated the minds of the saintly king and all his priests, the protector of the living creation, the infallible Supreme Lord, also returned to His abode.

The protector of the dynamic creation and infallible Supreme Lord, indeed having captivated the mind of him, the saintly king and all his priests, returned to His abode. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

The king who had offered his obeisances to the Supreme Soul, [thus] received the revelation of the Unmanifested One, the God of Gods. He then returned to his home.'

Even though He wasn't materially visible to him received the king, by offering his respects unto the God of the godly, unto the Supersoul beyond the manifestation, His vision and returned he also to his home. (Vedabase)

 

*: The twenty-six qualities of a devotee: (1) kind to everyone, (2) does not quarrel with anyone, (3) fixed in the Absolute Truth, (4) equal to everyone, (5) faultless, (6) charitable, (7) mild, (8) clean, (9) simple, (10) benevolent, (11) peaceful, (12) completely attached to Krishna, (13) has no material hankering, (14) meek, (15) steady, (16) self-controlled, (17) does not eat more than required, (18) sane, (19) respectful, (20) humble, (21) grave, (22) compassionate, (23) friendly, (24) poetic, (25) expert, (26) silent.

 

 

 

 

 

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The painting shows a Vaishnava guru/disciple association. Artist unknown. Source.
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Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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