Adhyaya 73

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 2

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 3

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 4

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 5

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 6

श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । दद‍ृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Jarāsandha had defeated 20,800 kings in combat and thrown them into prison. As these kings emerged from the Giridroṇī fortress, they appeared dirty and shabbily dressed. They were emaciated by hunger, their faces were dried up, and they were greatly weakened by their long imprisonment.

Verse 7

कृष्णसन्दर्शनाह्लादध्वस्तसंरोधनक्लमा: । प्रशशंसुर्हृषीकेशं गीर्भि: प्राञ्जलयो नृपा: ॥ ७ ॥

The ecstasy of beholding Lord Kṛṣṇa having dispelled the weariness of their imprisonment, the kings stood with joined palms and offered words of praise to that supreme master of the senses.

Verse 8

राजान ऊचु: नमस्ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराव्यय । प्रपन्नान् पाहि न: कृष्ण निर्विण्णान्घोरसंसृते: ॥ ८ ॥

The kings said: Obeisances to You, O Lord of the ruling demigods, O destroyer of Your surrendered devotees’ distress. Since we have surrendered to You, O inexhaustible Kṛṣṇa, please save us from this terrible material life, which has made us so despondent.

Verse 9

नैनं नाथानुसूयामो मागधं मधुसूदन । अनुग्रहो यद् भवतो राज्ञां राज्यच्युतिर्विभो ॥ ९ ॥

O master, Madhusūdana, we do not blame this King of Magadha, since it is actually by Your mercy that kings fall from their royal position, O almighty Lord.

Verse 10

राज्यैश्वर्यमदोन्नद्धो न श्रेयो विन्दते नृप: । त्वन्मायामोहितोऽनित्या मन्यते सम्पदोऽचला: ॥ १० ॥

Infatuated with his opulence and ruling power, a king loses all self-restraint and cannot obtain his true welfare. Thus bewildered by Your illusory energy, he imagines his temporary assets to be permanent.

Verse 11

मृगतृष्णां यथा बाला मन्यन्त उदकाशयम् । एवं वैकारिकीं मायामयुक्ता वस्तु चक्षते ॥ ११ ॥

Just as men of childish intelligence consider a mirage in the desert to be a pond of water, so those who are irrational look upon the illusory transformations of Māyā as substantial.

Verse 12

वयं पुरा श्रीमदनष्टद‍ृष्टयो जिगीषयास्या इतरेतरस्पृध: । घ्नन्त: प्रजा: स्वा अतिनिर्घृणा: प्रभो मृत्युं पुरस्त्वाविगणय्य दुर्मदा: ॥ १२ ॥ त एव कृष्णाद्य गभीररंहसा दुरन्तेवीर्येण विचालिता: श्रिय: । कालेन तन्वा भवतोऽनुकम्पया विनष्टदर्पाश्चरणौ स्मराम ते ॥ १३ ॥

Previously, blinded by the intoxication of riches, we wanted to conquer this earth, and thus we fought one another to achieve victory, mercilessly harassing our own subjects. We arrogantly disregarded You, O Lord, who stood before us as death. But now, O Kṛṣṇa, that powerful form of Yours called time, moving mysteriously and irresistibly, has deprived us of our opulences. Now that You have mercifully destroyed our pride, we beg simply to remember Your lotus feet.

Verse 13

वयं पुरा श्रीमदनष्टद‍ृष्टयो जिगीषयास्या इतरेतरस्पृध: । घ्नन्त: प्रजा: स्वा अतिनिर्घृणा: प्रभो मृत्युं पुरस्त्वाविगणय्य दुर्मदा: ॥ १२ ॥ त एव कृष्णाद्य गभीररंहसा दुरन्तेवीर्येण विचालिता: श्रिय: । कालेन तन्वा भवतोऽनुकम्पया विनष्टदर्पाश्चरणौ स्मराम ते ॥ १३ ॥

Previously, blinded by the intoxication of riches, we wanted to conquer this earth, and thus we fought one another to achieve victory, mercilessly harassing our own subjects. We arrogantly disregarded You, O Lord, who stood before us as death. But now, O Kṛṣṇa, that powerful form of Yours called time, moving mysteriously and irresistibly, has deprived us of our opulences. Now that You have mercifully destroyed our pride, we beg simply to remember Your lotus feet.

Verse 14

अथो न राज्यं मृगतृष्णिरूपितं देहेन शश्वत् पतता रुजां भुवा । उपासितव्यं स्पृहयामहे विभो क्रियाफलं प्रेत्य च कर्णरोचनम् ॥ १४ ॥

Never again will we hanker for a miragelike kingdom — a kingdom that must be slavishly served by this mortal body, which is simply a source of disease and suffering and which is declining at every moment. Nor, O almighty Lord, will we hanker to enjoy the heavenly fruits of pious work in the next life, since the promise of such rewards is simply an empty enticement for the ears.

Verse 15

तं न: समादिशोपायं येन ते चरणाब्जयो: । स्मृतिर्यथा न विरमेदपि संसरतामिह ॥ १५ ॥

Please tell us how we may constantly remember Your lotus feet, though we continue in the cycle of birth and death in this world.

Verse 16

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने । प्रणतक्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नम: ॥ १६ ॥

Again and again we offer our obeisances unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, Hari, the son of Vasudeva. That Supreme Soul, Govinda, vanquishes the suffering of all who surrender to Him.

Verse 17

श्रीशुक उवाच संस्तूयमानो भगवान् राजभिर्मुक्तबन्धनै: । तानाह करुणस्तात शरण्य: श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥ १७ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus the kings, now freed from bondage, glorified the Supreme Lord. Then, my dear Parīkṣit, that merciful bestower of shelter spoke to them in a gentle voice.

Verse 18

श्रीभगवानुवाच अद्यप्रभृति वो भूपा मय्यात्मन्यखिलेश्वरे । सुद‍ृढा जायते भक्तिर्बाढमाशंसितं तथा ॥ १८ ॥

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: From now on, my dear kings, you will have firm devotion to Me, the Supreme Self and the Lord of all that be. I assure you this will come to pass, just as you desire.

Verse 19

दिष्‍ट्या व्यवसितं भूपा भवन्त ऋतभाषिण: । श्रीयैश्वर्यमदोन्नाहं पश्य उन्मादकं नृणाम् ॥ १९ ॥

Fortunately you have come to the proper conclusion, my dear kings, and what you have spoken is true. I can see that human beings’ lack of self-restraint, which arises from their intoxication with opulence and power, simply leads to madness.

Verse 20

हैहयो नहुषो वेणो रावणो नरकोऽपरे । श्रीमदाद् भ्रंशिता: स्थानाद् देवदैत्यनरेश्वरा: ॥ २० ॥

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka and many other rulers of demigods, men and demons fell from their elevated positions because of infatuation with material opulence.

Verse 21

भवन्त एतद् विज्ञाय देहाद्युत्पाद्यमन्तवत् । मां यजन्तोऽध्वरैर्युक्ता: प्रजा धर्मेण रक्ष्यथ ॥ २१ ॥

Understanding that this material body and everything connected with it have a beginning and an end, worship Me by Vedic sacrifices, and with clear intelligence protect your subjects in accordance with the principles of religion.

Verse 22

सन्तन्वन्त: प्रजातन्तून् सुखं दु:खं भवाभवौ । प्राप्तं प्राप्तं च सेवन्तो मच्चित्ता विचरिष्यथ ॥ २२ ॥

As you live your lives, begetting generations of progeny and encountering happiness and distress, birth and death, always keep your minds fixed on Me.

Verse 23

उदासीनाश्च देहादावात्मारामा धृतव्रता: । मय्यावेश्य मन: सम्यङ्‌मामन्ते ब्रह्म यास्यथ ॥ २३ ॥

Be detached from the body and everything connected to it. Remaining self-satisfied, steadfastly keep your vows while concentrating your minds fully on Me. In this way you will ultimately attain Me, the Supreme Absolute Truth.

Verse 24

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिश्य नृपान् कृष्णो भगवान् भुवनेश्वर: । तेषां न्ययुङ्क्त पुरुषान् स्‍त्रियो मज्जनकर्मणि ॥ २४ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus instructed the kings, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme master of all the worlds, engaged male and female servants in bathing and grooming them.

Verse 25

सपर्यां कारयामास सहदेवेन भारत । नरदेवोचितैर्वस्‍त्रैर्भूषणै: स्रग्विलेपनै: ॥ २५ ॥

O descendant of Bharata, the Lord then had King Sahadeva honor them with offerings of clothing, jewelry, garlands and sandalwood paste, all suitable for royalty.

Verse 26

भोजयित्वा वरान्नेन सुस्‍नातान्समलङ्कृतान् । भोगैश्च विविधैर्युक्तांस्ताम्बूलाद्यैर्नृपोचितै: ॥ २६ ॥

After they had been properly bathed and adorned, Lord Kṛṣṇa saw to it that they dined on excellent food. He also presented them with various items befitting the pleasure of kings, such as betel nut.

Verse 27

ते पूजिता मुकुन्देन राजानो मृष्टकुण्डला: । विरेजुर्मोचिता: क्लेशात् प्रावृडन्ते यथा ग्रहा: ॥ २७ ॥

Honored by Lord Mukunda and freed from tribulation, the kings shone splendidly, their earrings gleaming, just as the moon and other celestial bodies shine brilliantly in the sky at the end of the rainy season.

Verse 28

रथान्सदश्वानारोप्य मणिकाञ्चनभूषितान् । प्रीणय्य सुनृतैर्वाक्यै: स्वदेशान् प्रत्ययापयत् ॥ २८ ॥

Then the Lord arranged for the kings to be seated on chariots drawn by fine horses and adorned with jewels and gold, and pleasing them with gracious words, He sent them off to their own kingdoms.

Verse 29

त एवं मोचिता: कृच्छ्रात् कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना । ययुस्तमेव ध्यायन्त: कृतानि च जगत्पते: ॥ २९ ॥

Thus liberated from all difficulty by Kṛṣṇa, the greatest of personalities, the kings departed, and as they went they thought only of Him, the Lord of the universe, and of His wonderful deeds.

Verse 30

जगदु: प्रकृतिभ्यस्ते महापुरुषचेष्टितम् । यथान्वशासद् भगवांस्तथा चक्रुरतन्द्रिता: ॥ ३० ॥

The kings told their ministers and other associates what the Personality of Godhead had done, and then they diligently carried out the orders He had imparted to them.

Verse 31

जरासन्धं घातयित्वा भीमसेनेन केशव: । पार्थाभ्यां संयुत: प्रायात् सहदेवेन पूजित: ॥ ३१ ॥

Having arranged for Bhīmasena to kill Jarāsandha, Lord Keśava accepted worship from King Sahadeva and then departed with the two sons of Pṛthā.

Verse 32

गत्वा ते खाण्डवप्रस्थं शङ्खान् दध्मुर्जितारय: । हर्षयन्त: स्वसुहृदो दुर्हृदां चासुखावहा: ॥ ३२ ॥

When they arrived at Indraprastha, the victorious heroes blew their conchshells, bringing joy to their well-wishing friends and sorrow to their enemies.

Verse 33

तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीतमनस इन्द्रप्रस्थनिवासिन: । मेनिरे मागधं शान्तं राजा चाप्तमनोरथ: ॥ ३३ ॥

The residents of Indraprastha were very pleased to hear that sound, for they understood that now the King of Magadha had been put to rest. King Yudhiṣṭhira felt that his desires were now fulfilled.

Verse 34

अभिवन्द्याथ राजानं भीमार्जुनजनार्दना: । सर्वमाश्रावयां चक्रुरात्मना यदनुष्ठितम् ॥ ३४ ॥

Bhīma, Arjuna and Janārdana offered their respects to the King and informed him fully about what they had done.

Verse 35

निशम्य धर्मराजस्तत् केशवेनानुकम्पितम् । आनन्दाश्रुकलां मुञ्चन् प्रेम्णा नोवाच किञ्चन ॥ ३५ ॥

Upon hearing their account of the great favor Lord Keśava had mercifully shown him, King Dharmarāja shed tears of ecstasy. He felt such love that he could not say anything.