Adhyaya 2

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच गोविन्दभुजगुप्तायां द्वारवत्यां कुरूद्वह । अवात्सीन्नारदोऽभीक्ष्णं कृष्णोपासनलालस: ॥ १ ॥

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O best of the Kurus, eager to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa, Nārada Muni stayed for some time in Dvārakā, ever protected by the mighty arms of Govinda.

Verse 2

को नु राजन्निन्द्रियवान् मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् । न भजेत् सर्वतोमृत्युरुपास्यममरोत्तमै: ॥ २ ॥

My dear King, in this material world death confronts one at every step. Therefore who, being bound to the senses, would not serve the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda, worshipable even to the greatest liberated souls?

Verse 3

तमेकदा तु देवर्षिं वसुदेवो गृहागतम् । अर्चितं सुखमासीनमभिवाद्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥

One day the divine sage Nārada came to Vasudeva’s home. Vasudeva worshiped him with proper offerings, seated him comfortably, bowed with reverence, and then spoke as follows.

Verse 4

श्रीवसुदेव उवाच भगवन् भवतो यात्रा स्वस्तये सर्वदेहिनाम् । कृपणानां यथा पित्रोरुत्तमश्लोकवर्त्मनाम् ॥ ४ ॥

Śrī Vasudeva said: “O Bhagavān, your visit brings auspiciousness to all embodied beings, like a father coming for the welfare of his children. You especially show mercy to the most wretched and to those advancing on the path toward Uttamaśloka, the Supreme Lord.”

Verse 5

भूतानां देवचरितं दु:खाय च सुखाय च । सुखायैव हि साधूनां त्वाद‍ृशामच्युतात्मनाम् ॥ ५ ॥

The deeds of the demigods bring living beings both misery and happiness; but the deeds of great saints like you, who have accepted Acyuta as their very soul, yield only happiness for all.

Verse 6

भजन्ति ये यथा देवान् देवा अपि तथैव तान् । छायेव कर्मसचिवा: साधवो दीनवत्सला: ॥ ६ ॥

As people worship the demigods, the demigods reciprocate accordingly. The demigods are attendants of karma, like a shadow, whereas sādhus are truly compassionate to the fallen.

Verse 7

ब्रह्मंस्तथापि पृच्छामो धर्मान् भागवतांस्तव । यान् श्रुत्वा श्रद्धया मर्त्यो मुच्यते सर्वतोभयात् ॥ ७ ॥

O brāhmaṇa, although I am satisfied simply by seeing you, I still ask you about the duties of Bhāgavata-dharma, which please the Supreme Lord. Any mortal who hears them with faith is freed from every kind of fear.

Verse 8

अहं किल पुरानन्तं प्रजार्थो भुवि मुक्तिदम् । अपूजयं न मोक्षाय मोहितो देवमायया ॥ ८ ॥

In a former birth on this earth, I worshiped the Supreme Lord Ananta, the giver of liberation; yet, desiring a child, I did not worship Him for moksha. Thus I was bewildered by the Lord’s māyā.

Verse 9

यथा विचित्रव्यसनाद् भवद्भ‍िर्विश्वतोभयात् । मुच्येम ह्यञ्जसैवाद्धा तथा न: शाधि सुव्रत ॥ ९ ॥

O lord true to your vow, please instruct me clearly, so that by your mercy I may easily be freed from material existence—filled with many dangers and binding us everywhere in fear.

Verse 10

श्रीशुक उवाच राजन्नेवं कृतप्रश्न‍ो वसुदेवेन धीमता । प्रीतस्तमाह देवर्षिर्हरे: संस्मारितो गुणै: ॥ १० ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, Devarṣi Nārada was pleased by the questions of the highly intelligent Vasudeva. Since they evoked the transcendental qualities of Hari (Lord Kṛṣṇa), Nārada remembered the Lord and replied as follows.

Verse 11

श्रीनारद उवाच सम्यगेतद् व्यवसितं भवता सात्वतर्षभ । यत् पृच्छसे भागवतान् धर्मांस्त्वं विश्वभावनान् ॥ ११ ॥

Śrī Nārada said: O best of the Sātvatas, you have rightly inquired about the soul’s eternal duty to the Supreme Lord—bhāgavata-dharma. Such devotional service is so potent that it can purify the entire universe.

Verse 12

श्रुतोऽनुपठितो ध्यात आद‍ृतो वानुमोदित: । सद्य: पुनाति सद्धर्मो देव विश्वद्रुहोऽपि हि ॥ १२ ॥

Pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord is so spiritually potent that simply by hearing of it, chanting its glories in response, meditating on it, accepting it with reverence and faith, or praising the devotion of others—even those who hate the devas and all living beings are immediately purified.

Verse 13

त्वया परमकल्याण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: । स्मारितो भगवानद्य देवो नारायणो मम ॥ १३ ॥

Today you have made me remember my Lord, the supremely auspicious Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa. Whoever hears and chants His glories becomes completely purified and filled with piety.

Verse 14

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । आर्षभाणां च संवादं विदेहस्य महात्मन: ॥ १४ ॥

Here also, to explain devotional service to the Lord, the sages recount an ancient history: the dialogue between the great-souled King Videha and the sons of Ṛṣabha.

Verse 15

प्रियव्रतो नाम सुतो मनो: स्वायम्भुवस्य य: । तस्याग्नीध्रस्ततो नाभिऋर्षभस्तत्सुत: स्मृत: ॥ १५ ॥

Svāyambhuva Manu had a son named Priyavrata. Among Priyavrata’s sons was Āgnīdhra; from Āgnīdhra was born Nābhi, and Nābhi’s son was known as Ṛṣabhadeva.

Verse 16

तमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं मोक्षधर्मविवक्षया । अवतीर्णं सुतशतं तस्यासीद् ब्रह्मपारगम् ॥ १६ ॥

Śrī Ṛṣabhadeva is accepted as an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva. He descended to teach the dharma that leads living beings to ultimate liberation. He had one hundred sons, all perfected in Vedic knowledge.

Verse 17

तेषां वै भरतो ज्येष्ठो नारायणपरायण: । विख्यातं वर्षमेतद् यन्नाम्ना भारतमद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ १७ ॥

Of those hundred sons, the eldest, Bharata, was wholly devoted to Lord Nārāyaṇa. Because of Bharata’s fame, this land is celebrated as the wondrous and great Bhārata-varṣa.

Verse 18

स भुक्तभोगां त्यक्त्वेमां निर्गतस्तपसा हरिम् । उपासीनस्तत्पदवीं लेभे वै जन्मभिस्त्रिभि: ॥ १८ ॥

King Bharata, deeming all material pleasures fleeting and futile, renounced this world. Leaving his young wife and family, he worshiped Śrī Hari through severe austerity and, after three lifetimes, attained the Lord’s abode.

Verse 19

तेषां नव नवद्वीपपतयोऽस्य समन्तत: । कर्मतन्त्रप्रणेतार एकाशीतिर्द्विजातय: ॥ १९ ॥

Nine of the remaining sons became rulers of the nine islands of Bhārata-varṣa and exercised full sovereignty. Eighty-one sons became twice-born brāhmaṇas and helped establish the Vedic path of ritual sacrifice, the karma-kāṇḍa.

Verse 20

नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: । श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥ कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥

The nine remaining sons were greatly fortunate sages, vigorous in spreading knowledge of the Absolute Truth. As śramaṇas, they wandered like dikaṃbaras and were expert in spiritual science. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa, and Karabhājana.

Verse 21

नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: । श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥ कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥

The nine remaining sons were greatly fortunate sages, vigorous in spreading knowledge of the Absolute Truth. As śramaṇas, they wandered like dikaṃbaras and were expert in spiritual science. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa, and Karabhājana.

Verse 22

त एते भगवद्रूपं विश्वं सदसदात्मकम् । आत्मनोऽव्यतिरेकेण पश्यन्तो व्यचरन् महीम् ॥ २२ ॥

These sages wandered the earth, beholding the entire universe—gross and subtle, real and unreal—as the very form of Bhagavān, and seeing it as nondifferent from the self.

Verse 23

अव्याहतेष्टगतय: सुरसिद्धसाध्य- गन्धर्वयक्षनरकिन्नरनागलोकान् । मुक्ताश्चरन्ति मुनिचारणभूतनाथ- विद्याधरद्विजगवां भुवनानि कामम् ॥ २३ ॥

The nine Yogendras are liberated souls, and no worldly power can obstruct their desired course. They roam at will among the realms of the devas, siddhas, sādhyas, gandharvas, yakṣas, humans, kinnaras and nāgas, and likewise—according to their wish—among the worlds of sages, cāraṇas, Bhūtanātha’s followers (Śiva’s gaṇas), vidyādharas, brāhmaṇas and the sacred cows.

Verse 24

त एकदा निमे: सत्रमुपजग्मुर्यद‍ृच्छया । वितायमानमृषिभिरजनाभे महात्मन: ॥ २४ ॥

Once, by providence, they came to Ajanābha (the earth’s former name) and arrived at the sattrayajña of the great soul Mahārāja Nimi, being conducted under the guidance of exalted sages.

Verse 25

तान् द‍ृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशान् महाभागवतान् नृप । यजमानोऽग्नयो विप्रा: सर्व एवोपतस्थिरे ॥ २५ ॥

O King, seeing those mahā-bhāgavatas shining like the sun, everyone—the sacrificer, the brāhmaṇas, and even the sacrificial fires—rose in reverence to honor them.

Verse 26

विदेहस्तानभिप्रेत्य नारायणपरायणान् । प्रीत: सम्पूजयां चक्रे आसनस्थान् यथार्हत: ॥ २६ ॥

King Videha (Nimi) understood that the nine sages were exalted devotees surrendered to Nārāyaṇa. Delighted by their auspicious arrival, he offered them suitable seats and worshiped them properly, as one would worship the Supreme Lord.

Verse 27

तान् रोचमानान् स्वरुचा ब्रह्मपुत्रोपमान् नव । पप्रच्छ परमप्रीत: प्रश्रयावनतो नृप: ॥ २७ ॥

Those nine great souls shone with their own effulgence, appearing equal to the four Kumāras, the sons of Brahmā. Filled with transcendental joy, the King bowed his head in humility and then questioned them.

Verse 28

श्रीविदेह उवाच मन्ये भगवत: साक्षात् पार्षदान् वो मधुद्विष: । विष्णोर्भूतानि लोकानां पावनाय चरन्ति हि ॥ २८ ॥

King Videha said: I think you are direct associates of the Supreme Bhagavān, famed as the slayer of the demon Madhu. Indeed, the pure devotees of Lord Viṣṇu wander throughout the universe not for selfish gain, but to purify all conditioned souls.

Verse 29

दुर्लभो मानुषो देहो देहिनां क्षणभङ्गुर: । तत्रापि दुर्लभं मन्ये वैकुण्ठप्रियदर्शनम् ॥ २९ ॥

For conditioned souls, the human body is very difficult to attain and can be lost at any moment. Yet I think rarer still is to gain the darśana and association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.

Verse 30

अत आत्यन्तिकं क्षेमं पृच्छामो भवतोऽनघा: । संसारेऽस्मिन् क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्सङ्ग: शेवधिर्नृणाम् ॥ ३० ॥

Therefore, O sinless ones, I ask you to tell me what the supreme good is. For in this world of birth and death, even half a moment of satsaṅga with pure devotees is a priceless treasure for a human being.

Verse 31

धर्मान् भागवतान् ब्रूत यदि न: श्रुतये क्षमम् । यै: प्रसन्न: प्रपन्नाय दास्यत्यात्मानमप्यज: ॥ ३१ ॥

If you deem me fit to hear, please speak of bhāgavata-dharma—the way of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. By such loving service the unborn Lord, pleased at once, grants even His own Self to the surrendered soul.

Verse 32

श्रीनारद उवाच एवं ते निमिना पृष्टा वसुदेव महत्तमा: । प्रतिपूज्याब्रुवन् प्रीत्या ससदस्यर्त्विजं नृपम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Śrī Nārada said: O Vasudeva, when Mahārāja Nimi thus inquired from the nine Yogendras about devotional service to the Lord, those exalted saints honored his questions and, before the sacrificial assembly and the ṛtvij priests, spoke to the King with affection.

Verse 33

श्रीकविरुवाच मन्येऽकुतश्चिद्भयमच्युतस्य पादाम्बुजोपासनमत्र नित्यम् । उद्विग्नबुद्धेरसदात्मभावाद् विश्वात्मना यत्र निवर्तते भी: ॥ ३३ ॥

Śrī Kavi said: I deem that one whose mind is ever agitated by false identification with the temporary material world attains true fearlessness only by constant worship of the lotus feet of the infallible Lord Acyuta; in devotion to the Supreme Soul of all, all fear wholly ceases.

Verse 34

ये वै भगवता प्रोक्ता उपाया ह्यात्मलब्धये । अञ्ज: पुंसामविदुषां विद्धि भागवतान् हि तान् ॥ ३४ ॥

Know that the means for self-realization spoken by Bhagavān Himself are called bhāgavata-dharma; even the ignorant can very easily come to know the Supreme Lord by adopting them.

Verse 35

यानास्थाय नरो राजन् न प्रमाद्येत कर्हिचित् । धावन् निमील्य वा नेत्रे न स्खलेन्न पतेदिह ॥ ३५ ॥

O King, one who takes shelter of this process of bhakti will never blunder on his path in this world; even running with eyes closed, he will not stumble or fall.

Verse 36

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वानुसृतस्वभावात् । करोति यद् यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयेत्तत् ॥ ३६ ॥

According to one’s acquired nature in conditioned life, whatever one does with body, speech, mind, senses, intelligence, or purified awareness should be offered to the Supreme, thinking, “This is for the pleasure of Lord Nārāyaṇa.”

Verse 37

भयं द्वितीयाभिनिवेशत: स्या- दीशादपेतस्य विपर्ययोऽस्मृति: । तन्माययातो बुध आभजेत्तं भक्त्यैकयेशं गुरुदेवतात्मा ॥ ३७ ॥

Fear arises from absorption in “the second,” in what is other than the Lord; when the living being turns away from Īśa, he falls into perverted understanding and forgets his true position—this is wrought by māyā. Therefore the wise should steadfastly render pure, one-pointed bhakti to the one Lord under the guidance of a genuine guru, accepting that teacher as worshipable deity and as one’s very life and soul.

Verse 38

अविद्यमानोऽप्यवभाति हि द्वयो ध्यातुर्धिया स्वप्नमनोरथौ यथा । तत् कर्मसङ्कल्पविकल्पकं मनो बुधो निरुन्ध्यादभयं तत: स्यात् ॥ ३८ ॥

Though duality does not truly exist, it appears to the meditator’s conditioned intelligence like a dream or a daydream. The wise should restrain the mind that makes plans of acceptance and rejection in action; when the mind is thus checked, real fearlessness arises.

Verse 39

श‍ृण्वन् सुभद्राणि रथाङ्गपाणे- र्जन्मानि कर्माणि च यानि लोके । गीतानि नामानि तदर्थकानि गायन् विलज्जो विचरेदसङ्ग: ॥ ३९ ॥

Free from attachment, the wise should wander without embarrassment, hearing of the auspicious births and deeds of the Lord who bears the chariot wheel, and singing His holy names that reveal those divine acts.

Verse 40

एवंव्रत: स्वप्रियनामकीर्त्या जातानुरागो द्रुतचित्त उच्चै: । हसत्यथो रोदिति रौति गाय- त्युन्मादवन्नृत्यति लोकबाह्य: ॥ ४० ॥

Thus fixed in his vow, the devotee, by chanting his most beloved holy name, becomes filled with love; his heart melts and he laughs loudly, weeps, or cries out. Sometimes he sings and dances like one mad, indifferent to public opinion.

Verse 41

खं वायुमग्निं सलिलं महीं च ज्योतींषि सत्त्वानि दिशो द्रुमादीन् । सरित्समुद्रांश्च हरे: शरीरं यत् किंच भूतं प्रणमेदनन्य: ॥ ४१ ॥

A devotee should see nothing as separate from Kṛṣṇa. Ether, air, fire, water, earth, the sun and all luminaries, all beings, directions, trees and plants, rivers and oceans—whatever exists should be known as the body of Hari, and to all of it one should offer reverent obeisance with single-minded devotion.

Verse 42

भक्ति: परेशानुभवो विरक्ति- रन्यत्र चैष त्रिक एककाल: । प्रपद्यमानस्य यथाश्न‍त: स्यु- स्तुष्टि: पुष्टि: क्षुदपायोऽनुघासम् ॥ ४२ ॥

For one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotion, direct realization of the Lord, and detachment from all else arise together—just as, for one who eats, each bite simultaneously brings satisfaction, nourishment, and the easing of hunger, more and more.

Verse 43

इत्यच्युताङ्‍‍घ्रि भजतोऽनुवृत्त्या भक्तिर्विरक्तिर्भगवत्प्रबोध: । भवन्ति वै भागवतस्य राजं- स्तत: परां शान्तिमुपैति साक्षात् ॥ ४३ ॥

My dear King, one who steadily worships the lotus feet of the infallible Lord Acyuta, with constant endeavor, attains unwavering bhakti, detachment, and awakened realization of Bhagavān; thus the accomplished bhāgavata directly reaches the supreme spiritual peace.

Verse 44

श्रीराजोवाच अथ भागवतं ब्रूत यद्धर्मो याद‍ृशो नृणाम् । यथा चरति यद् ब्रूते यैर्लिङ्गैर्भगवत्प्रिय: ॥ ४४ ॥

The King said: Now please speak about the bhāgavata devotee—what his dharma is among men, how he behaves and how he speaks, and by what signs he becomes dear to Bhagavān. Describe these characteristics in detail.

Verse 45

श्रीहविरुवाच सर्वभूतेषु य: पश्येद् भगवद्भ‍ावमात्मन: । भूतानि भगवत्यात्मन्येष भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ४५ ॥

Śrī Havir said: The most advanced devotee sees Bhagavān present within all beings, and sees all that exists as eternally situated within the Lord; he is the bhāgavata-uttama.

Verse 46

ईश्वरे तदधीनेषु बालिशेषु द्विषत्सु च । प्रेममैत्रीकृपोपेक्षा य: करोति स मध्यम: ॥ ४६ ॥

The intermediate devotee (madhyama) offers love to the Lord, sincere friendship to His devotees, mercy to the innocent ignorant, and disregard for those who envy and oppose Bhagavān.

Verse 47

अर्चायामेव हरये पूजां य: श्रद्धयेहते । न तद्भ‍क्तेषु चान्येषु स भक्त: प्राकृत: स्मृत: ॥ ४७ ॥

One who faithfully worships Hari only as the Deity (arcā) in the temple, yet does not behave properly toward the Lord’s devotees or toward people in general, is called a prākṛta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee on the lowest level.

Verse 48

गृहीत्वापीन्द्रियैरर्थान्यो न द्वेष्टि न हृष्यति । विष्णोर्मायामिदं पश्यन्स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ४८ ॥

Even while his senses engage with their objects, one who neither hates nor exults, seeing this entire world as the māyā-śakti of Lord Viṣṇu—he is truly the greatest bhāgavata.

Verse 49

देहेन्द्रियप्राणमनोधियां यो जन्माप्ययक्षुद्भ‍यतर्षकृच्छ्रै: । संसारधर्मैरविमुह्यमान: स्मृत्या हरेर्भागवतप्रधान: ॥ ४९ ॥

Though body, senses, prāṇa, mind, and intelligence are harassed by the laws of saṁsāra—birth and decay, hunger and thirst, and manifold distress—one who is not bewildered, and who remains aloof simply by remembering Hari’s lotus feet, is known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the foremost devotee.

Verse 50

न कामकर्मबीजानां यस्य चेतसि सम्भव: । वासुदेवैकनिलय: स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ५० ॥

One in whose heart the seeds of lust and fruitive karma do not arise, and who has exclusive shelter in Vāsudeva—he is truly bhāgavatottama, the highest devotee.

Verse 51

न यस्य जन्मकर्मभ्यां न वर्णाश्रमजातिभि: । सज्जतेऽस्मिन्नहंभावो देहे वै स हरे: प्रिय: ॥ ५१ ॥

One whose sense of “I” does not cling to this body because of birth and deeds, nor because of varṇāśrama or lineage—he is Hari’s most beloved servant.

Verse 52

न यस्य स्व: पर इति वित्तेष्वात्मनि वा भिदा । सर्वभूतसम: शान्त: स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ५२ ॥

One who makes no division of “mine” and “another’s,” in wealth or in self—thinking not “this is mine, that is his”—who is equal to all beings and peaceful, is truly bhāgavatottama, the highest devotee.

Verse 53

त्रिभुवनविभवहेतवेऽप्यकुण्ठ- स्मृतिरजितात्मसुरादिभिर्विमृग्यात् । न चलति भगवत्पदारविन्दा- ल्ल‍वनिमिषार्धमपि य: स वैष्णवाग्य्र: ॥ ५३ ॥

Even in exchange for ruling and enjoying the opulence of the three worlds, the pure devotee never forgets the lotus feet of Bhagavān, sought even by Brahmā and Śiva. He does not leave that shelter for a moment—indeed, not even for half a moment. Such a devotee is the foremost Vaiṣṇava.

Verse 54

भगवत उरुविक्रमाङ्‍‍घ्रिशाखा- नखमणिचन्द्रिकया निरस्ततापे । हृदि कथमुपसीदतां पुन: स प्रभवति चन्द्र इवोदितेऽर्कताप: ॥ ५४ ॥

How can the fire of material suffering keep burning in the hearts of those who worship the Supreme Lord? The jewel-like nails upon His heroic lotus feet pour forth a cooling radiance like moonlight, instantly removing the heart’s torment, just as the moon’s rise soothes the sun’s burning heat.

Verse 55

विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षा- द्धरिरवशाभिहितोऽप्यघौघनाश: । प्रणयरसनया धृताङ्‍‍घ्रिपद्म: स भवति भागवतप्रधान उक्त: ॥ ५५ ॥

Hari, who directly destroys torrents of sin, is so merciful that even when His holy name is spoken unintentionally or unwillingly, He is inclined to erase countless sinful reactions from the heart. Therefore, the devotee who has taken shelter of His lotus feet and chants Kṛṣṇa’s name with genuine love holds the Lord within the heart; such a one is known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the foremost devotee.