Adhyaya 45

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच पितरावुपलब्धार्थौ विदित्वा पुरुषोत्तम: । मा भूदिति निजां मायां ततान जनमोहिनीम् ॥ १ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Seeing that His parents were beginning to perceive His transcendental opulences, the Supreme Lord, Puruṣottama, thought, “This must not be,” and thus expanded His Yoga-māyā, which bewilders His devotees.

Verse 2

उवाच पितरावेत्य साग्रज: सात्वतर्षभ: । प्रश्रयावनत: प्रीणन्नम्ब तातेति सादरम् ॥ २ ॥

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the foremost of the Sātvatas, approached His parents with His elder brother. Bowing His head in humility and pleasing them by respectfully saying, “My dear mother” and “My dear father,” He spoke as follows.

Verse 3

नास्मत्तो युवयोस्तात नित्योत्कण्ठितयोरपि । बाल्यपौगण्डकैशोरा: पुत्राभ्यामभवन्‍क्‍वचित् ॥ ३ ॥

The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa said: Dear Father, because of Us—your two sons—you and Mother Devakī always remained in anxious longing, and you could never relish Our childhood, boyhood, or youth.

Verse 4

न लब्धो दैवहतयोर्वासो नौ भवदन्तिके । यां बाला: पितृगेहस्था विन्दन्ते लालिता मुदम् ॥ ४ ॥

Deprived by fate, We could not dwell near you and taste the pampered joy that children, cherished in their parents’ home, naturally enjoy.

Verse 5

सर्वार्थसम्भवो देहो जनित: पोषितो यत: । न तयोर्याति निर्वेशं पित्रोर्मर्त्य: शतायुषा ॥ ५ ॥

Through the body one may attain all aims of life, and it is one’s parents who give that body birth and nourishment. Therefore no mortal can repay the debt to father and mother, even by serving them for a full hundred years.

Verse 6

यस्तयोरात्मज: कल्प आत्मना च धनेन च । वृत्तिं न दद्यात्तं प्रेत्य स्वमांसं खादयन्ति हि ॥ ६ ॥

A son who, though able, does not maintain his parents with his own strength and wealth is, after death, forced to eat his own flesh.

Verse 7

मातरं पितरं वृद्धं भार्यां साध्वीं सुतं शिशुम् । गुरुं विप्रं प्रपन्नं च कल्पोऽबिभ्रच्छ्वसन् मृत: ॥ ७ ॥

A man who, though able, fails to support his aged mother and father, his chaste wife, his small child, and his spiritual master—or who neglects a brāhmaṇa or anyone who comes seeking shelter—is considered dead, though still breathing.

Verse 8

तन्नावकल्पयो: कंसान्नित्यमुद्विग्नचेतसो: । मोघमेते व्यतिक्रान्ता दिवसा वामनर्चतो: ॥ ८ ॥

Because fear of Kaṁsa kept Our minds ever disturbed, We could not properly honor you. Thus these days have passed in vain.

Verse 9

तत् क्षन्तुमर्हथस्तात मातर्नौ परतन्त्रयो: । अकुर्वतोर्वां शुश्रूषां क्लिष्टयोर्दुर्हृदा भृशम् ॥ ९ ॥

Dear Father and Mother, please forgive Us. We were not independent and thus could not serve you; the cruel Kaṁsa grievously oppressed Us.

Verse 10

श्रीशुक उवाच इति मायामनुष्यस्य हरेर्विश्वात्मनो गिरा । मोहितावङ्कमारोप्य परिष्वज्यापतुर्मुदम् ॥ १० ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Enchanted by the words of Hari, the Soul of the universe, who by His inner māyā appeared human, His parents joyfully lifted Him onto their laps and embraced Him.

Verse 11

सिञ्चन्तावश्रुधाराभि: स्‍नेहपाशेन चावृतौ । न किञ्चिदूचतू राजन्बाष्पकण्ठौ विमोहितौ ॥ ११ ॥

Bound by the rope of affection, they drenched the Lord with streams of tears. O King, overwhelmed and with throats choked by sobbing, they could not speak.

Verse 12

एवमाश्वास्य पितरौ भगवान्देवकीसुत: । मातामहं तूग्रसेनं यदूनामकरोन्नृपम् ॥ १२ ॥

Thus, after comforting His mother and father, the Supreme Lord, appearing as Devakī’s son, installed His maternal grandfather Ugrasena as king of the Yadus.

Verse 13

आह चास्मान् महाराज प्रजाश्चाज्ञप्तुमर्हसि । ययातिशापाद् यदुभिर्नासितव्यं नृपासने ॥ १३ ॥

The Lord said: O mighty King, We are your subjects; therefore please command Us. Indeed, because of Yayāti’s curse, no Yadu may sit upon the royal throne.

Verse 14

मयि भृत्य उपासीने भवतो विबुधादय: । बलिं हरन्त्यवनता: किमुतान्ये नराधिपा: ॥ १४ ॥

Since I am present in your retinue as your personal attendant, all the demigods and other exalted beings will come with bowed heads to offer you tribute—what then to speak of the rulers of men?

Verse 15

सर्वान्स्वान्ज्ञतिसम्बन्धान्दिग्भ्य: कंसभयाकुलान् । यदुवृष्ण्यन्धकमधुदाशार्हकुकुरादिकान् ॥ १५ ॥ सभाजितान् समाश्वास्य विदेशावासकर्शितान् । न्यवासयत् स्वगेहेषु वित्तै: सन्तर्प्य विश्वकृत् ॥ १६ ॥

The Lord then brought back all His close family members and other relatives from the various regions to which they had fled in fear of Kaṁsa. He honored the Yadus, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dāśārhas, Kukuras and other clans, consoled them—wearied by life in foreign lands—and, as the creator of the universe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa resettled them in their homes and satisfied them with valuable gifts.

Verse 16

सर्वान्स्वान्ज्ञतिसम्बन्धान्दिग्भ्य: कंसभयाकुलान् । यदुवृष्ण्यन्धकमधुदाशार्हकुकुरादिकान् ॥ १५ ॥ सभाजितान् समाश्वास्य विदेशावासकर्शितान् । न्यवासयत् स्वगेहेषु वित्तै: सन्तर्प्य विश्वकृत् ॥ १६ ॥

The Lord then brought back all His close family members and other relatives from the various regions to which they had fled in fear of Kaṁsa. He honored the Yadus, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Madhus, Dāśārhas, Kukuras and other clans, consoled them—wearied by life in foreign lands—and, as the creator of the universe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa resettled them in their homes and satisfied them with valuable gifts.

Verse 17

कृष्णसङ्कर्षणभुजैर्गुप्ता लब्धमनोरथा: । गृहेषु रेमिरे सिद्धा: कृष्णरामगतज्वरा: ॥ १७ ॥ वीक्षन्तोऽहरह: प्रीता मुकुन्दवदनाम्बुजम् । नित्यं प्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सदयस्मितवीक्षणम् ॥ १८ ॥

Protected by the arms of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, they felt all their desires fulfilled and thus enjoyed perfect happiness in their homes. By the presence of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the fever of material existence left them. Day after day, those loving devotees joyfully beheld Mukunda’s ever-cheerful lotus face, adorned with beautiful, merciful smiling glances.

Verse 18

कृष्णसङ्कर्षणभुजैर्गुप्ता लब्धमनोरथा: । गृहेषु रेमिरे सिद्धा: कृष्णरामगतज्वरा: ॥ १७ ॥ वीक्षन्तोऽहरह: प्रीता मुकुन्दवदनाम्बुजम् । नित्यं प्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सदयस्मितवीक्षणम् ॥ १८ ॥

Protected by the mighty arms of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, the people of those clans felt all their desires fulfilled and thus rejoiced at home in perfect happiness. With Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma present, the fever of saṃsāra left them. Day after day, in loving devotion, they beheld Mukunda’s lotus face—ever cheerful, graced with merciful, smiling glances.

Verse 19

तत्र प्रवयसोऽप्यासन् युवानोऽतिबलौजस: । पिबन्तोऽक्षैर्मुकुन्दस्य मुखाम्बुजसुधां मुहु: ॥ १९ ॥

There, even the most elderly appeared youthful, brimming with strength and vitality, for with their eyes they repeatedly drank the nectar of Mukunda’s lotus face.

Verse 20

अथ नन्दं समसाद्य भगवान् देवकीसुत: । सङ्कर्षणश्च राजेन्द्र परिष्वज्येदमूचतु: ॥ २० ॥

Then, O exalted Parīkṣit, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, together with Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma), approached Nanda Mahārāja. The two Lords embraced him and then spoke as follows.

Verse 21

पितर्युवाभ्यां स्‍निग्धाभ्यां पोषितौ लालितौ भृशम् । पित्रोरभ्यधिका प्रीतिरात्मजेष्वात्मनोऽपि हि ॥ २१ ॥

[Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma said:] O Father, you and mother Yaśodā have lovingly maintained Us and cared for Us with great tenderness. Indeed, parents’ love for their children is greater even than love for their own lives.

Verse 22

स पिता सा च जननी यौ पुष्णीतां स्वपुत्रवत् । शिशून् बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टानकल्पै: पोषरक्षणे ॥ २२ ॥

They alone are the true father and true mother who, as if the children were their own sons, nourish and protect those little ones abandoned by relatives unable to maintain and shelter them.

Verse 23

यात यूयं व्रजं तात वयं च स्‍नेहदु:खितान् । ज्ञातीन् वो द्रष्टुमेष्यामो विधाय सुहृदां सुखम् ॥ २३ ॥

Dear Father, all of you return to Vraja. After granting happiness to your well-wishing friends, We shall soon come to see your relatives, who suffer in separation from Us.

Verse 24

एवं सान्‍त्‍वय्य भगवान् नन्दं सव्रजमच्युत: । वासोऽलङ्कारकुप्याद्यैरर्हयामास सादरम् ॥ २४ ॥

Thus, after consoling Nanda Mahārāja and the men of Vraja, the infallible Lord Acyuta respectfully honored them with gifts of clothing, ornaments, household utensils, and the like.

Verse 25

इत्युक्तस्तौ परिष्वज्य नन्द: प्रणयविह्वल: । पूरयन्नश्रुभिर्नेत्रे सह गोपैर्व्रजं ययौ ॥ २५ ॥

Hearing Kṛṣṇa’s words, Nanda Mahārāja was overwhelmed with affection. With tears filling his eyes, he embraced the two Lords and then returned to Vraja with the cowherd men.

Verse 26

अथ शूरसुतो राजन् पुत्रयो: समकारयत् । पुरोधसा ब्राह्मणैश्च यथावद् द्विजसंस्कृतिम् ॥ २६ ॥

My dear King, then Vasudeva, the son of Śūrasena, arranged for the family priest and other brāhmaṇas to perform, in proper order, the second-birth initiation (upanayana) for his two sons.

Verse 27

तेभ्योऽदाद्दक्षिणा गावो रुक्‍ममाला: स्वलङ्कृता: । स्वलङ्कृतेभ्य: सम्पूज्य सवत्सा: क्षौममालिनी: ॥ २७ ॥

Vasudeva duly worshiped those brāhmaṇas and honored them with dākṣiṇā: beautifully adorned cows with their calves, wearing golden necklaces and garlands of fine linen.

Verse 28

या: कृष्णरामजन्मर्क्षे मनोदत्ता महामति: । ताश्चाददादनुस्मृत्य कंसेनाधर्मतो हृता: ॥ २८ ॥

Then the magnanimous Vasudeva remembered the cows he had mentally offered in charity on the occasion of Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s birth. Kaṁsa had seized them unrighteously, and Vasudeva recovered them and gave them away in charity once again.

Verse 29

ततश्च लब्धसंस्कारौ द्विजत्वं प्राप्य सुव्रतौ । गर्गाद् यदुकुलाचार्याद्गायत्रं व्रतमास्थितौ ॥ २९ ॥

After receiving initiation, the two Lords—steadfast in Their vows—attained the status of twice-born and, from Garga Muni, the ācārya of the Yadu dynasty, accepted the Gāyatrī and the vow of brahmacarya.

Verse 30

प्रभवौ सर्वविद्यानां सर्वज्ञौ जगदीश्वरौ । नान्यसिद्धामलं ज्ञानं गूहमानौ नरेहितै: ॥ ३० ॥ अथो गुरुकुले वासमिच्छन्तावुपजग्मतु: । काश्यं सान्दीपनिं नाम ह्यवन्तिपुरवासिनम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Those two omniscient Lords of the universe, the very source of all branches of knowledge, concealed Their innately perfect and pure wisdom by Their humanlike pastimes. Then, desiring to reside in a spiritual master’s school, They approached Sāndīpani Muni, a native of Kāśī living in the city of Avantī.

Verse 31

प्रभवौ सर्वविद्यानां सर्वज्ञौ जगदीश्वरौ । नान्यसिद्धामलं ज्ञानं गूहमानौ नरेहितै: ॥ ३० ॥ अथो गुरुकुले वासमिच्छन्तावुपजग्मतु: । काश्यं सान्दीपनिं नाम ह्यवन्तिपुरवासिनम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Those two omniscient Lords of the universe, the very source of all branches of knowledge, concealed Their innately perfect and pure wisdom by Their humanlike pastimes. Then, desiring to reside in a spiritual master’s school, They approached Sāndīpani Muni, a native of Kāśī living in the city of Avantī.

Verse 32

यथोपसाद्य तौ दान्तौ गुरौ वृत्तिमनिन्दिताम् । ग्राहयन्तावुपेतौ स्म भक्त्या देवमिवाद‍ृतौ ॥ ३२ ॥

Sāndīpani held those two self-controlled disciples in the highest regard. Serving him with bhakti as one would serve the Supreme Lord Himself, They set forth an irreproachable example of how to honor and worship the spiritual master.

Verse 33

तयोर्द्विजवरस्तुष्ट: शुद्धभावानुवृत्तिभि: । प्रोवाच वेदानखिलान्सङ्गोपनिषदो गुरु: ॥ ३३ ॥

Pleased by Their humble conduct and pure-hearted devotion, the foremost brāhmaṇa, the spiritual master Sāndīpani, taught Them the entire Vedas, together with the Upaniṣads and all auxiliary branches.

Verse 34

सरहस्यं धनुर्वेदं धर्मान् न्यायपथांस्तथा । तथा चान्वीक्षिकीं विद्यां राजनीतिं च षड्‍‍विधाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

He further taught Them the Dhanur-veda with its confidential secrets, the dharma-śāstras, the paths of logic and philosophical debate, and the sixfold science of statecraft.

Verse 35

सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ । सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्‍ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: । गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥

O King, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—the best of persons and the original source of all knowledge—immediately mastered every subject upon hearing it explained just once. Thus, with steady concentration, They learned the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days and nights, and afterward pleased Their teacher by offering guru-dakṣiṇā.

Verse 36

सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ । सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्‍ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: । गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥

O King, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—the best of persons and the original source of all knowledge—immediately mastered every subject upon hearing it explained just once. Thus, with steady concentration, They learned the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days and nights, and afterward pleased Their teacher by offering guru-dakṣiṇā.

Verse 37

द्विजस्तयोस्तं महिमानमद्भ‍ुतं संलक्ष्य राजन्नतिमानुषीं मतिम् । सम्मन्‍त्र्य पत्न्‍या स महार्णवे मृतं बालं प्रभासे वरयां बभूव ह ॥ ३७ ॥

O King, the learned brāhmaṇa Sāndīpani, discerning the two Lords’ wondrous glory and superhuman intelligence, consulted with his wife and chose as his reward the return of his young son, who had died in the ocean at Prabhāsa.

Verse 38

तथेत्यथारुह्य महारथौ रथं प्रभासमासाद्य दुरन्तविक्रमौ । वेलामुपव्रज्य निषीदतु: क्षणं सिन्धुर्विदित्वार्हणमाहरत्तयो: ॥ ३८ ॥

“So be it,” replied the two mighty chariot warriors, and at once They mounted Their chariot and set out for Prabhāsa. Reaching there, They went to the seashore and sat for a moment. Then the deity of the ocean, recognizing Them as the Supreme Lords, quickly approached with offerings of homage.

Verse 39

तमाह भगवानाशु गुरुपुत्र: प्रदीयताम् । योऽसाविह त्वया ग्रस्तो बालको महतोर्मिणा ॥ ३९ ॥

The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa addressed the lord of the ocean: “At once present the son of My guru—the boy you seized here with your mighty waves.”

Verse 40

श्रीसमुद्र उवाच न चाहार्षमहं देव दैत्य: पञ्चजनो महान् । अन्तर्जलचर: कृष्ण शङ्खरूपधरोऽसुर: ॥ ४० ॥

The ocean replied: “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, it was not I who abducted him. A great demon named Pañcajana, a descendant of Diti, who roams within the waters in the form of a conch, carried him away.”

Verse 41

आस्ते तेनाहृतो नूनं तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्वरं प्रभु: । जलमाविश्य तं हत्वा नापश्यदुदरेऽर्भकम् ॥ ४१ ॥

“Indeed, that demon has taken him,” said the ocean. Hearing this, Lord Kṛṣṇa swiftly entered the sea, found Pañcajana and killed him, but He did not see the boy within the demon’s belly.

Verse 42

तदङ्गप्रभवं शङ्खमादाय रथमागमत् । तत: संयमनीं नाम यमस्य दयितां पुरीम् ॥ ४२ ॥ गत्वा जनार्दन: शङ्खं प्रदध्मौ सहलायुध: । शङ्खनिर्ह्रादमाकर्ण्य प्रजासंयमनो यम: ॥ ४३ ॥ तयो: सपर्यां महतीं चक्रे भक्त्युपबृंहिताम् । उवाचावनत: कृष्णं सर्वभूताशयालयम् । लीलामनुष्ययोर्विष्णो युवयो: करवाम किम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Lord Janārdana took the conchshell that had grown upon the demon’s body and returned to the chariot. Then, accompanied by Lord Balarāma, He went to Saṁyamanī, the beloved capital of Yamarāja, and there He blew His conch with a mighty sound. Hearing the resounding blast, Yama, the restrainer of conditioned souls, came at once. With deep devotion he offered elaborate worship to the two Lords and, bowing to Kṛṣṇa who dwells in the heart of all beings, said: “O Supreme Viṣṇu, You both are enacting a human līlā; what may I do in service to You?”

Verse 43

तदङ्गप्रभवं शङ्खमादाय रथमागमत् । तत: संयमनीं नाम यमस्य दयितां पुरीम् ॥ ४२ ॥ गत्वा जनार्दन: शङ्खं प्रदध्मौ सहलायुध: । शङ्खनिर्ह्रादमाकर्ण्य प्रजासंयमनो यम: ॥ ४३ ॥ तयो: सपर्यां महतीं चक्रे भक्त्युपबृंहिताम् । उवाचावनत: कृष्णं सर्वभूताशयालयम् । लीलामनुष्ययोर्विष्णो युवयो: करवाम किम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Lord Janārdana took up the conchshell that had grown from the demon’s body, returned to the chariot, and then went to Saṁyamanī, the beloved capital of Yamarāja, lord of death. Arriving there with Lord Balarāma, He blew His conch with a mighty sound, and Yamarāja, who restrains the conditioned souls, came at once upon hearing that reverberation. With great devotion Yamarāja offered elaborate worship to the two Lords and, bowing to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who dwells in the hearts of all beings, said: “O Supreme Viṣṇu, what shall I do for You and for Balarāma, who are enacting the pastime of ordinary humans?”

Verse 44

तदङ्गप्रभवं शङ्खमादाय रथमागमत् । तत: संयमनीं नाम यमस्य दयितां पुरीम् ॥ ४२ ॥ गत्वा जनार्दन: शङ्खं प्रदध्मौ सहलायुध: । शङ्खनिर्ह्रादमाकर्ण्य प्रजासंयमनो यम: ॥ ४३ ॥ तयो: सपर्यां महतीं चक्रे भक्त्युपबृंहिताम् । उवाचावनत: कृष्णं सर्वभूताशयालयम् । लीलामनुष्ययोर्विष्णो युवयो: करवाम किम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Bowing down, Yamarāja said: “O Kṛṣṇa, who dwells in the hearts of all beings—O Supreme Viṣṇu—since You two are enacting a humanlike pastime, what service shall I render?” Thus he worshiped the two Lords with great devotion.

Verse 45

श्रीभगवानुवाच गुरुपुत्रमिहानीतं निजकर्मनिबन्धनम् । आनयस्व महाराज मच्छासनपुरस्कृत: ॥ ४५ ॥

The Supreme Lord said: “Bound by his own past karma, the son of My spiritual master was brought here. O great king, obey My command and bring this boy to Me at once.”

Verse 46

तथेति तेनोपानीतं गुरुपुत्रं यदूत्तमौ । दत्त्वा स्वगुरवे भूयो वृणीष्वेति तमूचतु: ॥ ४६ ॥

Yamarāja replied, “So be it,” and brought forth the guru’s son. Then the two most exalted Yadus presented the boy to their spiritual master and said again, “Please choose another boon.”

Verse 47

श्रीगुरुरुवाच सम्यक् सम्पादितो वत्स भवद्भ‍य‍ां गुरुनिष्क्रय: । को नु युष्मद्विधगुरो: कामानामवशिष्यते ॥ ४७ ॥

The spiritual master said: “My dear boys, you have perfectly fulfilled the disciple’s duty of guru-dakṣiṇā. Indeed, with disciples like you, what desire could still remain for a guru?”

Verse 48

गच्छतं स्वगृहं वीरौ कीर्तिर्वामस्तु पावनी । छन्दांस्ययातयामानि भवन्‍त्‍विह परत्र च ॥ ४८ ॥

O heroes, now return to your own home. May your purifying fame sanctify the world, and may the Vedic hymns remain ever fresh within your minds, in this life and in the next.

Verse 49

गुरुणैवमनुज्ञातौ रथेनानिलरंहसा । आयातौ स्वपुरं तात पर्जन्यनिनदेन वै ॥ ४९ ॥

Thus, having received their guru’s permission, dear one, the two Lords returned to their city upon a chariot swift as the wind and resounding like thunderclouds.

Verse 50

समनन्दन् प्रजा: सर्वा द‍ृष्ट्वा रामजनार्दनौ । अपश्यन्त्यो बह्वहानि नष्टलब्धधना इव ॥ ५० ॥

All the citizens rejoiced upon seeing Rāma and Janārdana. Having not seen them for many days, they felt like people who had lost their wealth and then regained it.