Adhyaya 80

Verse 1

श्रीराजोवाच भगवन् यानि चान्यानि मुकुन्दस्य महात्मन: । वीर्याण्यनन्तवीर्यस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि हे प्रभो ॥ १ ॥

King Parīkṣit said: My lord, O master, I wish to hear about other valorous deeds performed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, whose valor is unlimited.

Verse 2

को नु श्रुत्वासकृद् ब्रह्मन्नुत्तम:श्लोकसत्कथा: । विरमेत विशेषज्ञो विषण्ण: काममार्गणै: ॥ २ ॥

O brāhmaṇa, how could anyone who knows the essence of life and is disgusted with endeavoring for sense gratification give up the transcendental topics of Lord Uttamaḥśloka after hearing them repeatedly?

Verse 3

सा वाग् यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च । स्मरेद् वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्गमेषु श‍ृणोति तत्पुण्यकथा: स कर्ण: ॥ ३ ॥

Actual speech is that which describes the qualities of the Lord, real hands are those that work for Him, a true mind is that which always remembers Him dwelling within everything moving and nonmoving, and actual ears are those that listen to sanctifying topics about Him.

Verse 4

शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमान- मेत्तदेव यत् पश्यति तद्धि चक्षु: । अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ४ ॥

An actual head is one that bows down to the Lord in His manifestations among the moving and nonmoving creatures, real eyes are those that see only the Lord, and actual limbs are those which regularly honor the water that has bathed the Lord’s feet or those of His devotees.

Verse 5

सूत उवाच विष्णुरातेन सम्पृष्टो भगवान् बादरायणि: । वासुदेवे भगवति निमग्नहृदयोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ५ ॥

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by King Viṣṇurāta, the powerful sage Bādarāyaṇi replied, his heart fully absorbed in meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.

Verse 6

श्रीशुक उवाच कृष्णस्यासीत् सखा कश्चिद् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तम: । विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेषु प्रशान्तात्मा जितेन्द्रिय: ॥ ६ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Kṛṣṇa had a certain brāhmaṇa friend [named Sudāmā] who was most learned in Vedic knowledge and detached from all sense enjoyment. Furthermore, his mind was peaceful and his senses subdued.

Verse 7

यद‍ृच्छयोपपन्नेन वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमी । तस्य भार्या कुचैलस्य क्षुत्क्षामा च तथाविधा ॥ ७ ॥

Living as a householder, he maintained himself with whatever came of its own accord. The wife of that poorly dressed brāhmaṇa suffered along with him and was emaciated from hunger.

Verse 8

पतिव्रता पतिं प्राह म्‍लायता वदनेन सा । दरिद्रं सीदमाना वै वेपमानाभिगम्य च ॥ ८ ॥

The chaste wife of the poverty-stricken brāhmaṇa once approached him, her face dried up because of her distress. Trembling with fear, she spoke as follows.

Verse 9

ननु ब्रह्मन् भगवत: सखा साक्षाच्छ्रिय: पति: । ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च भगवान् सात्वतर्षभ: ॥ ९ ॥

[Sudāmā’s wife said:] O brāhmaṇa, isn’t it true that the husband of the goddess of fortune is the personal friend of your exalted self? That greatest of Yādavas, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, is compassionate to brāhmaṇas and very willing to grant them His shelter.

Verse 10

तमुपैहि महाभाग साधूनां च परायणम् । दास्यति द्रविणं भूरि सीदते ते कुटुम्बिने ॥ १० ॥

O fortunate one, please approach Him, the real shelter of all saints. He will certainly give abundant wealth to such a suffering householder as you.

Verse 11

आस्तेऽधुना द्वारवत्यां भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वर: । स्मरत: पादकमलमात्मानमपि यच्छति । किं न्वर्थकामान् भजतो नात्यभीष्टान् जगद्गुरु: ॥ ११ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa is now the ruler of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas and is staying at Dvārakā. Since He gives even His own self to anyone who simply remembers His lotus feet, what doubt is there that He, the spiritual master of the universe, will bestow upon His sincere worshiper prosperity and material enjoyment, which are not even very desirable?

Verse 12

स एवं भार्यया विप्रो बहुश: प्रार्थितो मुहु: । अयं हि परमो लाभ उत्तम:श्लोकदर्शनम् ॥ १२ ॥ इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा गमनाय मतिं दधे । अप्यस्त्युपायनं किञ्चिद् गृहे कल्याणि दीयताम् ॥ १३ ॥

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] When his wife thus repeatedly implored him in various ways, the brāhmaṇa thought to himself, “To see Lord Kṛṣṇa is indeed the greatest achievement in life.” Thus he decided to go, but first he told her, “My good wife, if there is anything in the house I can bring as a gift, please give it to me.”

Verse 13

स एवं भार्यया विप्रो बहुश: प्रार्थितो मुहु: । अयं हि परमो लाभ उत्तम:श्लोकदर्शनम् ॥ १२ ॥ इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा गमनाय मतिं दधे । अप्यस्त्युपायनं किञ्चिद् गृहे कल्याणि दीयताम् ॥ १३ ॥

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] When his wife thus repeatedly implored him in various ways, the brāhmaṇa thought to himself, “To see Lord Kṛṣṇa is indeed the greatest achievement in life.” Thus he decided to go, but first he told her, “My good wife, if there is anything in the house I can bring as a gift, please give it to me.”

Verse 14

याचित्वा चतुरो मुष्टीन् विप्रान् पृथुकतण्डुलान् । चैलखण्डेन तान् बद्ध्वा भर्त्रे प्रादादुपायनम् ॥ १४ ॥

Sudāmā’s wife begged four handfuls of flat rice from neighboring brāhmaṇas, tied up the rice in a torn piece of cloth and gave it to her husband as a present for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 15

स तानादाय विप्राग्र्‍य: प्रययौ द्वारकां किल । कृष्णसन्दर्शनं मह्यं कथं स्यादिति चिन्तयन् ॥ १५ ॥

Taking the flat rice, the saintly brāhmaṇa set off for Dvārakā, all the while wondering “How will I be able to have Kṛṣṇa’s audience?”

Verse 16

त्रीणि गुल्मान्यतीयाय तिस्र: कक्षाश्च सद्विज: । विप्रोऽगम्यान्धकवृष्णीनां गृहेष्वच्युतधर्मिणाम् ॥ १६ ॥ गृहं द्वय‍ष्टसहस्राणां महिषीणां हरेर्द्विज: । विवेशैकतमं श्रीमद् ब्रह्मानन्दं गतो यथा ॥ १७ ॥

The learned brāhmaṇa, joined by some local brāhmaṇas, passed three guard stations and went through three gateways, and then he walked by the homes of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s faithful devotees, the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, which ordinarily no one could do. He then entered one of the opulent palaces belonging to Lord Hari’s sixteen thousand queens, and when he did so he felt as if he were attaining the bliss of liberation.

Verse 17

त्रीणि गुल्मान्यतीयाय तिस्र: कक्षाश्च सद्विज: । विप्रोऽगम्यान्धकवृष्णीनां गृहेष्वच्युतधर्मिणाम् ॥ १६ ॥ गृहं द्वय‍ष्टसहस्राणां महिषीणां हरेर्द्विज: । विवेशैकतमं श्रीमद् ब्रह्मानन्दं गतो यथा ॥ १७ ॥

The learned brāhmaṇa, joined by some local brāhmaṇas, passed three guard stations and went through three gateways, and then he walked by the homes of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s faithful devotees, the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, which ordinarily no one could do. He then entered one of the opulent palaces belonging to Lord Hari’s sixteen thousand queens, and when he did so he felt as if he were attaining the bliss of liberation.

Verse 18

तं विलोक्याच्युतो दूरात् प्रियापर्यङ्कमास्थित: । सहसोत्थाय चाभ्येत्य दोर्भ्यां पर्यग्रहीन्मुदा ॥ १८ ॥

At that time Lord Acyuta was seated on His consort’s bed. Spotting the brāhmaṇa at some distance, the Lord immediately stood up, went forward to meet him and with great pleasure embraced him.

Verse 19

सख्यु: प्रियस्य विप्रर्षेरङ्गसङ्गातिनिर्वृत: । प्रीतो व्यमुञ्चदब्बिन्दून् नेत्राभ्यां पुष्करेक्षण: ॥ १९ ॥

The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord felt intense ecstasy upon touching the body of His dear friend, the wise brāhmaṇa, and thus He shed tears of love.

Verse 20

अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥ अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्ल‍ोकपावन: । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥ धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. Then the Lord, who purifies the whole world, personally offered him various tokens of respect and washed his feet, O King, after which He sprinkled the water on His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes and happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps. After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.

Verse 21

अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥ अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्ल‍ोकपावन: । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥ धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. Then the Lord, who purifies the whole world, personally offered him various tokens of respect and washed his feet, O King, after which He sprinkled the water on His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes and happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps. After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.

Verse 22

अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥ अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्ल‍ोकपावन: । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥ धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. Then the Lord, who purifies the whole world, personally offered him various tokens of respect and washed his feet, O King, after which He sprinkled the water on His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes and happily worshiped him with aromatic incense and arrays of lamps. After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.

Verse 23

कुचैलं मलिनं क्षामं द्विजं धमनिसन्ततम् । देवी पर्यचरत् साक्षाच्चामरव्यजनेन वै ॥ २३ ॥

By fanning him with her cāmara, the divine goddess of fortune personally served that poor brāhmaṇa, whose clothing was torn and dirty and who was so thin that veins were visible all over his body.

Verse 24

अन्त:पुरजनो द‍ृष्ट्वा कृष्णेनामलकीर्तिना । विस्मितोऽभूदतिप्रीत्या अवधूतं सभाजितम् ॥ २४ ॥

The people in the royal palace were astonished to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of spotless glory, so lovingly honor this shabbily dressed brāhmaṇa.

Verse 25

किमनेन कृतं पुण्यमवधूतेन भिक्षुणा । श्रिया हीनेन लोकेऽस्मिन् गर्हितेनाधमेन च ॥ २५ ॥ योऽसौ त्रिलोकगुरुणा श्रीनिवासेन सम्भृत: । पर्यङ्कस्थां श्रियं हित्वा परिष्वक्तोऽग्रजो यथा ॥ २६ ॥

[The residents of the palace said:] What pious acts has this unkempt, impoverished brāhmaṇa performed? People regard him as lowly and contemptible, yet the spiritual master of the three worlds, the abode of Goddess Śrī, is serving him reverently. Leaving the goddess of fortune sitting on her bed, the Lord has embraced this brāhmaṇa as if he were an older brother.

Verse 26

किमनेन कृतं पुण्यमवधूतेन भिक्षुणा । श्रिया हीनेन लोकेऽस्मिन् गर्हितेनाधमेन च ॥ २५ ॥ योऽसौ त्रिलोकगुरुणा श्रीनिवासेन सम्भृत: । पर्यङ्कस्थां श्रियं हित्वा परिष्वक्तोऽग्रजो यथा ॥ २६ ॥

[The residents of the palace said:] What pious acts has this unkempt, impoverished brāhmaṇa performed? People regard him as lowly and contemptible, yet the spiritual master of the three worlds, the abode of Goddess Śrī, is serving him reverently. Leaving the goddess of fortune sitting on her bed, the Lord has embraced this brāhmaṇa as if he were an older brother.

Verse 27

कथयां चक्रतुर्गाथा: पूर्वा गुरुकुले सतो: । आत्मनोर्ललिता राजन् करौ गृह्य परस्परम् ॥ २७ ॥

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Taking each other’s hands, O King, Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā talked pleasantly about how they once lived together in the school of their guru.

Verse 28

श्रीभगवानुवाच अपि ब्रह्मन् गुरुकुलाद् भवता लब्धदक्षिणात् । समावृत्तेन धर्मज्ञ भार्योढा सद‍ृशी न वा ॥ २८ ॥

The Supreme Lord said: My dear brāhmaṇa, you know well the ways of dharma. After you offered the gift of remuneration to our guru and returned home from his school, did you marry a compatible wife or not?

Verse 29

प्रायो गृहेषु ते चित्तमकामविहितं तथा । नैवातिप्रीयसे विद्वन् धनेषु विदितं हि मे ॥ २९ ॥

Even though you are mostly involved in household affairs, your mind is not affected by material desires. Nor, O learned one, do you take much pleasure in the pursuit of material wealth. This I am well aware of.

Verse 30

केचित् कुर्वन्ति कर्माणि कामैरहतचेतस: । त्यजन्त: प्रकृतीर्दैवीर्यथाहं लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥ ३० ॥

Having renounced all material propensities, which spring from the Lord’s illusory energy, some people execute worldly duties with their minds undisturbed by mundane desires. They act as I do, to instruct the general populace.

Verse 31

कच्चिद् गुरुकुले वासं ब्रह्मन् स्मरसि नौ यत: । द्विजो विज्ञाय विज्ञेयं तमस: पारमश्न‍ुते ॥ ३१ ॥

My dear brāhmaṇa, do you remember how we lived together in our spiritual master’s school? When a twice-born student has learned from his guru all that is to be learned, he can enjoy spiritual life, which lies beyond all ignorance.

Verse 32

स वै सत्कर्मणां साक्षाद् द्विजातेरिह सम्भव: । आद्योऽङ्ग यत्राश्रमिणां यथाहं ज्ञानदो गुरु: ॥ ३२ ॥

My dear friend, he who gives a person his physical birth is his first spiritual master, and he who initiates him as a twice-born brāhmaṇa and engages him in religious duties is indeed more directly his spiritual master. But the person who bestows transcendental knowledge upon the members of all the spiritual orders of society is one’s ultimate spiritual master. Indeed, he is as good as My own self.

Verse 33

नन्वर्थकोविदा ब्रह्मन् वर्णाश्रमवतामिह । ये मया गुरुणा वाचा तरन्त्यञ्जो भवार्णवम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Certainly, O brāhmaṇa, of all the followers of the varṇāśrama system, those who take advantage of the words I speak in My form as the spiritual master and thus easily cross over the ocean of material existence best understand their own true welfare.

Verse 34

नाहमिज्याप्रजातिभ्यां तपसोपशमेन वा । तुष्येयं सर्वभूतात्मा गुरुशुश्रूषया यथा ॥ ३४ ॥

I, the Soul of all beings, am not as satisfied by ritual worship, brahminical initiation, penances or self-discipline as I am by faithful service rendered to one’s spiritual master.

Verse 35

अपि न: स्मर्यते ब्रह्मन् वृत्तं निवसतां गुरौ । गुरुदारैश्चोदितानामिन्धनानयने क्व‍‍चित् ॥ ३५ ॥ प्रविष्टानां महारण्यमपर्तौ सुमहद् द्विज । वातवर्षमभूत्तीव्रं निष्ठुरा: स्तनयित्नव: ॥ ३६ ॥

O brāhmaṇa, do you remember what happened to us while we were living with our spiritual master? Once our guru’s wife sent us to fetch firewood, and after we entered the vast forest, O twice-born one, an unseasonal storm arose, with fierce wind and rain and harsh thunder.

Verse 36

अपि न: स्मर्यते ब्रह्मन् वृत्तं निवसतां गुरौ । गुरुदारैश्चोदितानामिन्धनानयने क्व‍‍चित् ॥ ३५ ॥ प्रविष्टानां महारण्यमपर्तौ सुमहद् द्विज । वातवर्षमभूत्तीव्रं निष्ठुरा: स्तनयित्नव: ॥ ३६ ॥

O brāhmaṇa, do you remember what happened to us while we were living with our spiritual master? Once our guru’s wife sent us to fetch firewood, and after we entered the vast forest, O twice-born one, an unseasonal storm arose, with fierce wind and rain and harsh thunder.

Verse 37

सूर्यश्चास्तं गतस्तावत् तमसा चावृता दिश: । निम्नं कूलं जलमयं न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन ॥ ३७ ॥

Then, as the sun set, the forest was covered by darkness in every direction, and with all the flooding we could not distinguish high land from low.

Verse 38

वयं भृशं तत्र महानिलाम्बुभि- र्निहन्यमाना महुरम्बुसम्प्लवे । दिशोऽविदन्तोऽथ परस्परं वने गृहीतहस्ता: परिबभ्रिमातुरा: ॥ ३८ ॥

Constantly besieged by the powerful wind and rain, we lost our way amidst the flooding waters. We simply held each other’s hands and, in great distress, wandered aimlessly about the forest.

Verse 39

एतद् विदित्वा उदिते रवौ सान्दीपनिर्गुरु: । अन्वेषमाणो न: शिष्यानाचार्योऽपश्यदातुरान् ॥ ३९ ॥

Our guru, Sāndīpani, understanding our predicament, set out after sunrise to search for us, his disciples, and found us in distress.

Verse 40

अहो हे पुत्रका यूयमस्मदर्थेऽतिदु:खिता: । आत्मा वै प्राणिनां प्रेष्ठस्तमनाद‍ृत्य मत्परा: ॥ ४० ॥

[Sāndīpani said:] O my children, you have suffered so much for my sake! The body is most dear to every living creature, but you are so dedicated to me that you completely disregarded your own comfort.

Verse 41

एतदेव हि सच्छिष्यै: कर्तव्यं गुरुनिष्कृतम् । यद् वै विशुद्धभावेन सर्वार्थात्मार्पणं गुरौ ॥ ४१ ॥

This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives.

Verse 42

तुष्टोऽहं भो द्विजश्रेष्ठा: सत्या: सन्तु मनोरथा: । छन्दांस्ययातयामानि भवन्‍त्‍विह परत्र च ॥ ४२ ॥

You boys are first-class brāhmaṇas, and I am satisfied with you. May all your desires be fulfilled, and may the Vedic mantras you have learned never lose their meaning for you, in this world or the next.

Verse 43

इत्थंविधान्यनेकानि वसतां गुरुवेश्मनि । गुरोरनुग्रहेणैव पुमान् पूर्ण: प्रशान्तये ॥ ४३ ॥

[Lord Kṛṣṇa continued:] We had many similar experiences while living in our spiritual master’s home. Simply by the grace of the spiritual master a person can fulfill life’s purpose and attain eternal peace.

Verse 44

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच किमस्माभिरनिर्वृत्तं देवदेव जगद्गुरो । भवता सत्यकामेन येषां वासो गुरोरभूत् ॥ ४४ ॥

The brāhmaṇa said: What could I possibly have failed to achieve, O Lord of lords, O universal teacher, since I was able to personally live with You, whose every desire is fulfilled, at the home of our spiritual master?

Verse 45

यस्यच्छन्दोमयं ब्रह्म देह आवपनं विभो । श्रेयसां तस्य गुरुषु वासोऽत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥ ४५ ॥

O almighty Lord, Your body comprises the Absolute Truth in the form of the Vedas and is thus the source of all auspicious goals of life. That You took up residence at the school of a spiritual master is simply one of Your pastimes in which You play the role of a human being.