Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura
This chapter describes how Akrūra went to Hastināpura, saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s unfair behavior toward his nephews, the Pāṇḍavas, and then returned to Mathurā.
On the order of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Akrūra went to Hastināpura, where he met the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas and then set about to find out how Dhṛtarāṣṭra was treating the latter. This task would keep Akrūra in Hastināpura for several months.
Vidura and Kuntīdevī described to Akrūra in detail how Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, envious of the exalted qualities of the Pāṇḍavas, had tried to destroy them by various evil means and were contemplating further atrocities. With tearful eyes, Kuntīdevī asked Akrūra, “Do my parents and other relatives, headed by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, ever think of me and my sons, and will Kṛṣṇa ever come to console us in our distress?” Then Kuntīdevī began to chant Lord Kṛṣṇa’s names for her protection, and she also chanted mantras expressing surrender to Him. Akrūra assured Kuntīdevī, “Since your sons were born from demigods like Dharma and Vāyu, there is no reason to expect that any misfortune will befall them; rather, you should be confident that very soon they will receive the greatest possible good fortune.”
Akrūra then delivered to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the message from Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Akrūra told the King, “You have assumed the royal throne after the death of Pāṇḍu. Seeing all equally, which is the religious duty of kings, you should protect all your subjects and personal relations. By such fair behavior you will gain all fame and good fortune. But if you act otherwise, you will attain only infamy in this life and condemnation to a hellish existence in the next. A living being takes his birth all alone, and alone he gives up his life. Alone he enjoys the fruits of his piety and sin. If one fails to understand the true identity of the self and instead maintains his progeny by indulging in evil deeds, then surely he will go to hell. One should therefore learn to understand the unsteadiness of material existence, which is like a sleeper’s dream, a magician’s illusion or a flight of fancy, and should thus control his mind in order to remain peaceful and equipoised.”
To this Dhṛtarāṣṭra replied, “I cannot hear enough of your beneficial words, O Akrūra, which are like the sweet nectar of immortality. But because the tight knot of affection for my sons has made me biased toward them, your statements cannot become fixed within my mind. No one can transgress the arrangement of the Supreme Lord; His purpose for descending into the Yadu dynasty will inevitably be fulfilled.”
Knowing now the mentality of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Akrūra took permission from his dear relatives and friends and returned to Mathurā, where he related everything to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् ।
ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥ १ ॥
सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् ।
कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥ २ ॥
स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् ।
ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥ १ ॥
सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् ।
कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
sa gatvā hāstinapuraṁ
pauravendra-yaśo-’ṅkitam
dadarśa tatrāmbikeyaṁ
sa-bhīṣmaṁ viduraṁ pṛthām
sa gatvā hāstinapuraṁ
pauravendra-yaśo-’ṅkitam
dadarśa tatrāmbikeyaṁ
sa-bhīṣmaṁ viduraṁ pṛthām
saha-putraṁ ca bāhlīkaṁ
bhāradvājaṁ sa-gautamam
karnaṁ suyodhanaṁ drauṇiṁ
pāṇḍavān suhṛdo ’parān
bhāradvājaṁ sa-gautamam
karnaṁ suyodhanaṁ drauṇiṁ
pāṇḍavān suhṛdo ’parān
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he (Akrūra); gatvā — going; hāstina-puram — to Hastināpura; paurava-indra — of the rulers of the dynasty of Pūru; yaśaḥ — by the glory; aṅkitam — decorated; dadarśa — he saw; tatra — there; āmbikeyam — the son of Ambikā (Dhṛtarāṣṭra); sa — together with; bhīṣmam — Bhīṣma; viduram — Vidura; pṛthām — Pṛthā (Kuntī, the widow of King Pāṇḍu); saha-putram — with his son (namely, Somadatta); ca — and; bāhlīkam — Mahārāja Bāhlīka; bhāradvājam — Droṇa; sa — and; gautamam — Kṛpa; karṇam — Karṇa; suyodhanam — Duryodhana; drauṇim — the son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā); pāṇḍavān — the sons of Pāṇḍu; suhṛdaḥ — friends; aparān — other.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Akrūra went to Hastināpura, the city distinguished by the glory of the Paurava rulers. There he saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, Vidura and Kuntī, along with Bāhlika and his son Somadatta. He also saw Droṇācārya, Kṛpācārya, Karṇa, Duryodhana, Aśvatthāmā, the Pāṇḍavas and other close friends.
Devanagari
यथावदुपसङ्गम्य बन्धुभिर्गान्दिनीसुत: ।
सम्पृष्टस्तै: सुहृद्वार्तां स्वयं चापृच्छदव्ययम् ॥ ३ ॥
सम्पृष्टस्तै: सुहृद्वार्तां स्वयं चापृच्छदव्ययम् ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
yathāvad upasaṅgamya
bandhubhir gāndinī-sutaḥ
sampṛṣṭas taiḥ suhṛd-vārtāṁ
svayaṁ cāpṛcchad avyayam
bandhubhir gāndinī-sutaḥ
sampṛṣṭas taiḥ suhṛd-vārtāṁ
svayaṁ cāpṛcchad avyayam
Synonyms
yathā-vat — appropriately; upasaṅgamya — meeting; bandhubhiḥ — with his relatives and friends; gāndinī-sutaḥ — Akrūra, son of Gāndinī; sampṛṣṭaḥ — inquired from; taiḥ — by them; suhṛt — of their dear ones; vārtām — for news; svayam — himself; ca — in addition; apṛcchat — asked; avyayam — about their well-being.
Translation
After Akrūra, the son of Gāndinī, had appropriately greeted all his relatives and friends, they asked him for news of their family members, and he in turn asked about their welfare.
Devanagari
उवास कतिचिन्मासान् राज्ञो वृत्तविवित्सया ।
दुष्प्रजस्याल्पसारस्य खलच्छन्दानुवर्तिन: ॥ ४ ॥
दुष्प्रजस्याल्पसारस्य खलच्छन्दानुवर्तिन: ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
uvāsa katicin māsān
rājño vṛtta-vivitsayā
duṣprajasyālpa-sārasya
khala-cchandānuvartinaḥ
rājño vṛtta-vivitsayā
duṣprajasyālpa-sārasya
khala-cchandānuvartinaḥ
Synonyms
uvāsa — resided; katicit — some; māsān — months; rājñaḥ — of the King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra); vṛtta — the activity; vivitsayā — with the desire of finding out; duṣprajasya — whose sons were wicked; alpa — weak; sārasya — whose determination; khala — of mischievous persons (like Karṇa); chanda — the desires; anuvartinaḥ — who tended to follow.
Translation
He remained in Hastināpura for several months to scrutinize the conduct of the weak-willed King, who had bad sons and who was inclined to give in to the whims of mischievous advisers.
Devanagari
तेज ओजो बलं वीर्यं प्रश्रयादींश्च सद्गुणान् ।
प्रजानुरागं पार्थेषु न सहद्भिश्चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ५ ॥
कृतं च धार्तराष्ट्रैर्यद् गरदानाद्यपेशलम् ।
आचख्यौ सर्वमेवास्मै पृथा विदुर एव च ॥ ६ ॥
प्रजानुरागं पार्थेषु न सहद्भिश्चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ५ ॥
कृतं च धार्तराष्ट्रैर्यद् गरदानाद्यपेशलम् ।
आचख्यौ सर्वमेवास्मै पृथा विदुर एव च ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
teja ojo balaṁ vīryaṁ
praśrayādīṁś ca sad-guṇān
prajānurāgaṁ pārtheṣu
na sahadbhiś cikīṛṣitam
praśrayādīṁś ca sad-guṇān
prajānurāgaṁ pārtheṣu
na sahadbhiś cikīṛṣitam
kṛtaṁ ca dhārtarāṣṭrair yad
gara-dānādy apeśalam
ācakhyau sarvam evāsmai
pṛthā vidura eva ca
gara-dānādy apeśalam
ācakhyau sarvam evāsmai
pṛthā vidura eva ca
Synonyms
tejaḥ — the influence; ojaḥ — skill; balam — strength; vīryam — bravery; praśraya — humility; ādīn — and so on; ca — and; sat — excellent; guṇān — qualities; prajā — of the citizens; anurāgam — the great affection; pārtheṣu — for the sons of Pṛthā; na sahadbhiḥ — of those who could not tolerate; cikīrṣitam — the intentions; kṛtam — had been done; ca — also; dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ — by the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; yat — what; gara — of poison; dāna — the giving; ādi — and so on; apeśalam — unbecoming; ācakhyau — told; sarvam — everything; eva — indeed; asmai — to him (Akrūra); pṛthā — Kuntī; viduraḥ — Vidura; eva ca — both.
Translation
Kuntī and Vidura described to Akrūra in detail the evil intentions of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, who could not tolerate the great qualities of Kuntī’s sons — such as their powerful influence, military skill, physical strength, bravery and humility — or the intense affection the citizens had for them. Kuntī and Vidura also told Akrūra about how the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra had tried to poison the Pāṇḍavas and carry out other such plots.
Devanagari
पृथा तु भ्रातरं प्राप्तमक्रूरमुपसृत्य तम् ।
उवाच जन्मनिलयं स्मरन्त्यश्रुकलेक्षणा ॥ ७ ॥
उवाच जन्मनिलयं स्मरन्त्यश्रुकलेक्षणा ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
pṛthā tu bhrātaraṁ prāptam
akrūram upasṛtya tam
uvāca janma-nilayaṁ
smaranty aśru-kalekṣaṇā
akrūram upasṛtya tam
uvāca janma-nilayaṁ
smaranty aśru-kalekṣaṇā
Synonyms
pṛthā — Kuntī; tu — and; bhrātaram — her brother (more exactly, the grandson of Vṛṣṇi, her own and Vasudeva’s tenth-generation ancestor); prāptam — obtained; akrūram — Akrūra; upasṛtya — approaching; tam — him; uvāca — she said; janma — of her birth; nilayam — the home (Mathurā); smarantī — remembering; aśru — of tears; kalā — with traces; īkṣaṇā — whose eyes.
Translation
Kuntīdevī, taking advantage of her brother Akrūra’s visit, approached him confidentially. While remembering her birthplace, she spoke with tears in her eyes.
Devanagari
अपि स्मरन्ति न: सौम्य पितरौ भ्रातरश्च मे ।
भगिन्यौ भ्रातृपुत्राश्च जामय: सख्य एव च ॥ ८ ॥
भगिन्यौ भ्रातृपुत्राश्च जामय: सख्य एव च ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
api smaranti naḥ saumya
pitarau bhrātaraś ca me
bhaginyau bhrātṛ-putrāś ca
jāmayaḥ sakhya eva ca
pitarau bhrātaraś ca me
bhaginyau bhrātṛ-putrāś ca
jāmayaḥ sakhya eva ca
Synonyms
Translation
[Queen Kuntī said:] O gentle one, do my parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, family women and girlhood friends still remember us?
Devanagari
भ्रात्रेयो भगवान् कृष्ण: शरण्यो भक्तवत्सल: । पैतृष्वस्रेयान् स्मरति रामश्चाम्बुरुहेक्षण: ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
bhrātreyo bhagavān kṛṣṇaḥ
śaraṇyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ
paitṛ-ṣvasreyān smarati
rāmaś cāmburuhekṣaṇaḥ
śaraṇyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ
paitṛ-ṣvasreyān smarati
rāmaś cāmburuhekṣaṇaḥ
Synonyms
bhrātreyaḥ — brother’s son; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; śaraṇyaḥ — the giver of shelter; bhakta — to His devotees; vatsalaḥ — compassionate; paitṛ-svasreyān — the sons of His father’s sister; smarati — remembers; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; ca — and; amburuha — like lotus petals; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes.
Translation
Does my nephew Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality and the compassionate shelter of His devotees, still remember His aunt’s sons? And does lotus-eyed Rāma remember them also?
Devanagari
सपत्नमध्ये शोचन्तीं वृकानां हरिणीमिव ।
सान्त्वयिष्यति मां वाक्यै: पितृहीनांश्च बालकान् ॥ १० ॥
सान्त्वयिष्यति मां वाक्यै: पितृहीनांश्च बालकान् ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
sapatna-madhye śocantīṁ
vṛkānāṁ hariṇīm iva
sāntvayiṣyati māṁ vākyaiḥ
pitṛ-hīnāṁś ca bālakān
vṛkānāṁ hariṇīm iva
sāntvayiṣyati māṁ vākyaiḥ
pitṛ-hīnāṁś ca bālakān
Synonyms
Translation
Now that I am suffering in the midst of my enemies like a doe in the midst of wolves, will Kṛṣṇa come to console me and my fatherless sons with His words?
Devanagari
कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिन् विश्वात्मन् विश्वभावन ।
प्रपन्नां पाहि गोविन्द शिशुभिश्चावसीदतीम् ॥ ११ ॥
प्रपन्नां पाहि गोविन्द शिशुभिश्चावसीदतीम् ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-yogin
viśvātman viśva-bhāvana
prapannāṁ pāhi govinda
śiśubhiś cāvasīdatīm
viśvātman viśva-bhāvana
prapannāṁ pāhi govinda
śiśubhiś cāvasīdatīm
Synonyms
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa; mahā-yogin — possessor of the greatest spiritual power; viśva-ātman — O Supreme Soul of the universe; viśva-bhāvana — O protector of the universe; prapannām — a surrendered lady; pāhi — please protect; govinda — O Govinda; śiśubhiḥ — along with my children; ca — and; avasīdatīm — who am sinking down in distress.
Translation
Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa! O great yogi! O Supreme Soul and protector of the universe! O Govinda! Please protect me, who have surrendered to You. I and my sons are being overwhelmed by trouble.
Purport
“Since Lord Kṛṣṇa maintains the entire universe,” thought Kuntīdevī, “surely He can protect our family.” The word avasīdatīm indicates that Kuntīdevī was overwhelmed by troubles; thus exhausted, she was helplessly taking shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In her prayers in the First Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Kuntī admits that all these troubles were actually a blessing, for they forced her to always be intensely Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Devanagari
नान्यत्तव पदाम्भोजात् पश्यामि शरणं नृणाम् ।
बिभ्यतां मृत्युसंसारादीश्वरस्यापवर्गिकात् ॥ १२ ॥
बिभ्यतां मृत्युसंसारादीश्वरस्यापवर्गिकात् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
nānyat tava padāmbhojāt
paśyāmi śaraṇaṁ nṛṇām
bibhyatāṁ mṛtyu-saṁsārād
īsvarasyāpavargikāt
paśyāmi śaraṇaṁ nṛṇām
bibhyatāṁ mṛtyu-saṁsārād
īsvarasyāpavargikāt
Synonyms
Translation
For persons fearful of death and rebirth, I see no shelter other than Your liberating lotus feet, for You are the Supreme Lord.
Devanagari
नम: कृष्णाय शुद्धाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने ।
योगेश्वराय योगाय त्वामहं शरणं गता ॥ १३ ॥
योगेश्वराय योगाय त्वामहं शरणं गता ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
namaḥ kṛṣṇāya śuddhāya
brahmaṇe paramātmane
yogeśvarāya yogāya
tvām ahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatā
brahmaṇe paramātmane
yogeśvarāya yogāya
tvām ahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatā
Synonyms
Translation
I offer my obeisances unto You, Kṛṣṇa, the supreme pure, the Absolute Truth and the Supersoul, the Lord of pure devotional service and the source of all knowledge. I have come to You for shelter.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has translated the word yogāya as “unto Kṛṣṇa, the source of knowledge.” The word yoga indicates connection and also the means to achieve something. As conscious souls, we have a connection with the Supreme Soul through bhakti, or devotion. Through that relationship we experience perfect knowledge of the Supreme Soul. Since the Supreme Soul is the Absolute Truth, perfect knowledge of Him means perfect knowledge of everything. As stated in the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (1.3), yasmin vijñāte sarvam evam vijñātaṁ bhavati: When the Absolute is understood, everything is understood. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, by His spiritual potency, establishes our connection with Him, and that connection is the source of all spiritual knowledge. Thus Ācārya Śrīdhara, by his thoughtful translation, stimulates us to deeper understanding of Kṛṣṇa conscious philosophy.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्यनुस्मृत्य स्वजनं कृष्णं च जगदीश्वरम् ।
प्रारुदद् दु:खिता राजन् भवतां प्रपितामही ॥ १४ ॥
इत्यनुस्मृत्य स्वजनं कृष्णं च जगदीश्वरम् ।
प्रारुदद् दु:खिता राजन् भवतां प्रपितामही ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity anusmṛtya sva-janaṁ
kṛṣṇaṁ ca jagad-īśvaram
prārudad duḥkhitā rājan
bhavatāṁ prapitāmahī
ity anusmṛtya sva-janaṁ
kṛṣṇaṁ ca jagad-īśvaram
prārudad duḥkhitā rājan
bhavatāṁ prapitāmahī
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — as expressed in these words; anusmṛtya — remembering; sva-janam — her own relatives; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; jagat — of the universe; īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; prārudat — she cried loudly; duḥkhitā — unhappy; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhavatām — of your good self; prapitāmahī — the great-grandmother.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus meditating on her family members and also on Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the universe, your great-grandmother Kuntīdevī began to cry out in grief, O King.
Devanagari
समदु:खसुखोऽक्रूरो विदुरश्च महायशा: ।
सान्त्वयामासतु: कुन्तीं तत्पुत्रोत्पत्तिहेतुभि: ॥ १५ ॥
सान्त्वयामासतु: कुन्तीं तत्पुत्रोत्पत्तिहेतुभि: ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
sama-duḥkha-sukho ’krūro
viduraś ca mahā-yaśāḥ
sāntvayām āsatuḥ kuntīṁ
tat-putrotpatti-hetubhiḥ
viduraś ca mahā-yaśāḥ
sāntvayām āsatuḥ kuntīṁ
tat-putrotpatti-hetubhiḥ
Synonyms
sama — equal (with her); duḥkha — in distress; sukhaḥ — and happiness; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; viduraḥ — Vidura; ca — and; mahā-yaśāḥ — most famous; sāntvayām āsatuḥ — the two of them consoled; kuntīm — Śrīmatī Kuntīdevī; tat — her; putra — of the sons; utpatti — of the births; hetubhiḥ — with explanations about the origins.
Translation
Both Akrūra, who shared Queen Kuntī’s distress and happiness, and the illustrious Vidura consoled the Queen by reminding her of the extraordinary way her sons had taken birth.
Purport
Akrūra and Vidura reminded Queen Kuntī that her sons were born of heavenly gods and thus could not be vanquished like ordinary mortals. In fact, an extraordinary victory awaited this most pious family.
Devanagari
यास्यन् राजानमभ्येत्य विषमं पुत्रलालसम् ।
अवदत् सुहृदां मध्ये बन्धुभि: सौहृदोदितम् ॥ १६ ॥
अवदत् सुहृदां मध्ये बन्धुभि: सौहृदोदितम् ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
yāsyan rājānam abhyetya
viṣamaṁ putra-lālasam
avadat suhṛdāṁ madhye
bandhubhiḥ sauhṛdoditam
viṣamaṁ putra-lālasam
avadat suhṛdāṁ madhye
bandhubhiḥ sauhṛdoditam
Synonyms
yāsyan — when he was about to go; rājānam — the King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra); abhyetya — going up to; viṣamam — biased; putra — toward his sons; lālasam — ardently affectionate; avadat — he spoke; suhṛdām — relatives; madhye — among; bandhubhiḥ — by well-wishing relatives (Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma); sauhṛda — in friendship; uditam — what had been said.
Translation
The ardent affection King Dhṛtarāṣṭra felt for his sons had made him act unjustly toward the Pāṇḍavas. Just before leaving, Akrūra approached the King, who was seated among his friends and supporters, and related to him the message that his relatives — Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma — had sent out of friendship.
Devanagari
अक्रूर उवाच
भो भो वैचित्रवीर्य त्वं कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धन ।
भ्रातर्युपरते पाण्डावधुनासनमास्थित: ॥ १७ ॥
भो भो वैचित्रवीर्य त्वं कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धन ।
भ्रातर्युपरते पाण्डावधुनासनमास्थित: ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
akrūra uvāca
bho bho vaicitravīrya tvaṁ
kurūṇāṁ kīrti-vardhana
bhrātary uparate pāṇḍāv
adhunāsanam āsthitaḥ
bho bho vaicitravīrya tvaṁ
kurūṇāṁ kīrti-vardhana
bhrātary uparate pāṇḍāv
adhunāsanam āsthitaḥ
Synonyms
akrūraḥ uvāca — Akrūra said; bhoḥ bhoḥ — O my dear, my dear; vaicitravīrya — son of Vicitravīrya; tvam — you; kurūṇām — of the Kurus; kīrti — the glory; vardhana — O you who increase; bhrātari — your brother; uparate — having passed away; pāṇḍau — Mahārāja Pāṇḍu; adhunā — now; āsanam — the throne; āsthitaḥ — have assumed.
Translation
Akrūra said: O my dear son of Vicitravīrya, O enhancer of the Kurus’ glory, your brother Pāṇḍu having passed away, you have now assumed the royal throne.
Purport
Akrūra was speaking ironically, since the young sons of Pāṇḍu should actually have been occupying the throne. Upon the death of Pāṇḍu, they were too young to immediately govern and so were put in Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s care, but now sufficient time had passed, and their legitimate rights should have been recognized.
Devanagari
धर्मेण पालयन्नुर्वीं प्रजा: शीलेन रञ्जयन् ।
वर्तमान: सम: स्वेषु श्रेय: कीर्तिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १८ ॥
वर्तमान: सम: स्वेषु श्रेय: कीर्तिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
dharmeṇa pālayann urvīṁ
prajāḥ śīlena rañjayan
vartamānaḥ samaḥ sveṣu
śreyaḥ kīrtim avāpsyasi
prajāḥ śīlena rañjayan
vartamānaḥ samaḥ sveṣu
śreyaḥ kīrtim avāpsyasi
Synonyms
Translation
By religiously protecting the earth, delighting your subjects with your noble character, and treating all your relatives equally, you will surely achieve success and glory.
Purport
Akrūra told Dhṛtarāṣṭra that even though he had usurped the throne, if he now ruled according to the principles of dharma and behaved properly, he could be successful.
Devanagari
अन्यथा त्वाचरँल्लोके गर्हितो यास्यसे तम: ।
तस्मात् समत्वे वर्तस्व पाण्डवेष्वात्मजेषु च ॥ १९ ॥
तस्मात् समत्वे वर्तस्व पाण्डवेष्वात्मजेषु च ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
anyathā tv ācaraḻ loke
garhito yāsyase tamaḥ
tasmāt samatve vartasva
pāṇḍaveṣv ātmajeṣu ca
garhito yāsyase tamaḥ
tasmāt samatve vartasva
pāṇḍaveṣv ātmajeṣu ca
Synonyms
Translation
If you act otherwise, however, people will condemn you in this world, and in the next life you will enter the darkness of hell. Remain equally disposed, therefore, toward Pāṇḍu’s sons and your own.
Purport
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s whole problem was his excessive attachment to his nasty sons. That was the fatal flaw that caused his downfall. There was no lack of good advice from all sides, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra even admitted that the advice was sound, but he could not follow it. One can have clear, practical intelligence when the mind and heart are pure.
Devanagari
नेह चात्यन्तसंवास: कस्यचित् केनचित् सह ।
राजन् स्वेनापि देहेन किमु जायात्मजादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
राजन् स्वेनापि देहेन किमु जायात्मजादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
neha cātyanta-saṁvāsaḥ
kasyacit kenacit saha
rājan svenāpi dehena
kim u jāyātmajādibhiḥ
kasyacit kenacit saha
rājan svenāpi dehena
kim u jāyātmajādibhiḥ
Synonyms
na — not; iha — in this world; ca — and; atyanta — perpetual; saṁvāsaḥ — association (dwelling together); kasyacit — of anyone; kenacit saha — with anyone; rājan — O King; svena — with one’s own; api — even; dehena — body; kim u — what to speak then; jāyā — with wife; ātma-ja — children; ādibhiḥ — and so on.
Translation
In this world no one has any permanent relationship with anyone else, O King. We cannot stay forever even with our own body, what to speak of our wife, children and the rest.
Devanagari
एक: प्रसूयते जन्तुरेक एव प्रलीयते ।
एकोऽनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतमेक एव च दुष्कृतम् ॥ २१ ॥
एकोऽनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतमेक एव च दुष्कृतम् ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
ekaḥ prasūyate jantur
eka eva pralīyate
eko ’nubhuṅkte sukṛtam
eka eva ca duṣkṛtam
eka eva pralīyate
eko ’nubhuṅkte sukṛtam
eka eva ca duṣkṛtam
Synonyms
Translation
Every creature is born alone and dies alone, and alone one experiences the just rewards of his good and evil deeds.
Purport
The term anubhuṅkte is significant here. Bhuṅkte means “(the living being) experiences,” and anu means “following,” or “in sequence.” In other words, we experience happiness and distress according to the moral and spiritual quality of our activities. We are responsible for what we do. Dhṛtarāṣṭra was falsely and obsessively attached to his evil-minded sons, forgetting that he alone would have to suffer for his imprudent behavior.
Devanagari
अधर्मोपचितं वित्तं हरन्त्यन्येऽल्पमेधस: ।
सम्भोजनीयापदेशैर्जलानीव जलौकस: ॥ २२ ॥
सम्भोजनीयापदेशैर्जलानीव जलौकस: ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
adharmopacitaṁ vittaṁ
haranty anye ’lpa-medhasaḥ
sambhojanīyāpadeśair
jalānīva jalaukasaḥ
haranty anye ’lpa-medhasaḥ
sambhojanīyāpadeśair
jalānīva jalaukasaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
In the guise of dear dependents, strangers steal the sinfully acquired wealth of a foolish man, just as the offspring of a fish drink up the water that sustains the fish.
Purport
Ordinary people feel they cannot live without their wealth, although their possession of it is circumstantial and temporary. Just as wealth gives life to an ordinary man, water gives life to a fish. One’s dear dependents, however, steal one’s wealth, just as a fish’s offspring drink up the water sustaining the fish. In the words of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, this world is “a weird abode.”
Devanagari
पुष्णाति यानधर्मेण स्वबुद्ध्या तमपण्डितम् ।
तेऽकृतार्थं प्रहिण्वन्ति प्राणा राय: सुतादय: ॥ २३ ॥
तेऽकृतार्थं प्रहिण्वन्ति प्राणा राय: सुतादय: ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
puṣṇāti yān adharmeṇa
sva-buddhyā tam apaṇḍitam
te ’kṛtārthaṁ prahiṇvanti
prāṇā rāyaḥ sutādayaḥ
sva-buddhyā tam apaṇḍitam
te ’kṛtārthaṁ prahiṇvanti
prāṇā rāyaḥ sutādayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
A fool indulges in sin to maintain his life, wealth and children and other relatives, for he thinks, “These things are mine.” In the end, however, these very things all abandon him, leaving him frustrated.
Purport
In these verses, Akrūra is giving rather frank advice to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Those who know the story of the Mahābhārata will realize how relevant and prophetic these instructions are, and how much Dhṛtarāṣṭra suffered for not accepting them. Although one tenaciously clings to his property, in the end all is lost, and the blundering soul is swept away by the wheel of birth and death.
Devanagari
स्वयं किल्बिषमादाय तैस्त्यक्तो नार्थकोविद: ।
असिद्धार्थो विशत्यन्धं स्वधर्मविमुखस्तम: ॥ २४ ॥
असिद्धार्थो विशत्यन्धं स्वधर्मविमुखस्तम: ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
svayaṁ kilbiṣam ādāya
tais tyakto nārtha-kovidaḥ
asiddhārtho viśaty andhaṁ
sva-dharma-vimukhas tamaḥ
tais tyakto nārtha-kovidaḥ
asiddhārtho viśaty andhaṁ
sva-dharma-vimukhas tamaḥ
Synonyms
svayam — for himself; kilbiṣam — sinful reaction; ādāya — taking on; taiḥ — by them; tyaktaḥ — abandoned; na — not; artha — the purpose of his life; kovidaḥ — knowing properly; asiddha — unfulfilled; arthaḥ — whose goals; viśati — he enters; andham — blind; sva — his own; dharma — to the religious duty; vimukhaḥ — indifferent; tamaḥ — darkness (of hell).
Translation
Abandoned by his so-called dependents, ignorant of the actual goal of life, indifferent to his real duty, and having failed to fulfill his purposes, the foolish soul enters the blindness of hell, taking his sinful reactions with him.
Purport
It is sadly ironic that materialistic persons, who labor so assiduously to accumulate insurance, security, property and family, enter the darkness of hell equipped with nothing but the painful reactions of their sins. On the other hand, those who cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, spiritual life, while apparently neglecting to accumulate property, a large family and so on, enter the next life enriched with many spiritual assets and thus enjoy the deep pleasures of the soul.
Devanagari
तस्माल्लोकमिमं राजन् स्वप्नमायामनोरथम् ।
वीक्ष्यायम्यात्मनात्मानं सम: शान्तो भव प्रभो ॥ २५ ॥
वीक्ष्यायम्यात्मनात्मानं सम: शान्तो भव प्रभो ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
tasmāl lokam imaṁ rājan
svapna-māyā-manoratham
vīkṣyāyamyātmanātmānaṁ
samaḥ śānto bhava prabho
svapna-māyā-manoratham
vīkṣyāyamyātmanātmānaṁ
samaḥ śānto bhava prabho
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore; lokam — world; imam — this; rājan — O King; svapna — as a dream; māyā — a magic trick; manaḥ-ratham — or a fantasy in the mind; vīkṣya — seeing; āyamya — bringing under control; ātmanā — by intelligence; ātmānam — the mind; samaḥ — equal; śāntaḥ — peaceful; bhava — become; prabho — my dear master.
Translation
Therefore, O King, looking upon this world as a dream, a magician’s illusion or a flight of fancy, please control your mind with intelligence and become equipoised and peaceful, my lord.
Devanagari
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
यथा वदति कल्याणीं वाचं दानपते भवान् ।
तथानया न तृप्यामि मर्त्य: प्राप्य यथामृतम् ॥ २६ ॥
यथा वदति कल्याणीं वाचं दानपते भवान् ।
तथानया न तृप्यामि मर्त्य: प्राप्य यथामृतम् ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
yathā vadati kalyāṇīṁ
vācaṁ dāna-pate bhavān
tathānayā na tṛpyāmi
martyaḥ prāpya yathāmṛtam
yathā vadati kalyāṇīṁ
vācaṁ dāna-pate bhavān
tathānayā na tṛpyāmi
martyaḥ prāpya yathāmṛtam
Synonyms
dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca — Dhṛtarāṣṭra said; yathā — as; vadati — speak; kalyāṇīm — auspicious; vācam — words; dāna — of charity; pate — O master; bhavān — you; tathā — so; anayā — by this; na tṛpyāmi — I am not satiated; martyaḥ — a mortal; prāpya — attaining; yathā — as if; amṛtam — the nectar of immortality.
Translation
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O master of charity, I can never be satiated while hearing your auspicious words. Indeed, I am like a mortal who has obtained the nectar of the gods.
Purport
In the opinion of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra was in fact proud and felt he already knew everything Akrūra was speaking, but to maintain diplomatic gravity he spoke as a saintly gentleman.
Devanagari
तथापि सूनृता सौम्य हृदि न स्थीयते चले ।
पुत्रानुरागविषमे विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा ॥ २७ ॥
पुत्रानुरागविषमे विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
tathāpi sūnṛtā saumya
hṛdi na sthīyate cale
putrānurāga-viṣame
vidyut saudāmanī yathā
hṛdi na sthīyate cale
putrānurāga-viṣame
vidyut saudāmanī yathā
Synonyms
Translation
Even so, gentle Akrūra, because my unsteady heart is prejudiced by affection for my sons, these pleasing words of yours cannot remain fixed there, just as lightning cannot remain fixed in a cloud.
Devanagari
ईश्वरस्य विधिं को नु विधुनोत्यन्यथा पुमान् ।
भूमेर्भारावताराय योऽवतीर्णो यदो: कुले ॥ २८ ॥
भूमेर्भारावताराय योऽवतीर्णो यदो: कुले ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
īśvarasya vidhiṁ ko nu
vidhunoty anyathā pumān
bhūmer bhārāvatārāya
yo ’vatīrṇo yadoḥ kule
vidhunoty anyathā pumān
bhūmer bhārāvatārāya
yo ’vatīrṇo yadoḥ kule
Synonyms
Translation
Who can defy the injunctions of the Supreme Lord, who has now descended in the Yadu dynasty to diminish the earth’s burden?
Purport
Naturally, we would like to ask Dhṛtarāṣṭra, “If you know all this, why don’t you behave properly?” Of course, this is exactly Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s point: he feels that since events have already been set in motion, he is helpless to change them. In fact, events have been set in motion by his attachment and sinful propensities, and therefore he should have taken responsibility for his own acts. Lord Kṛṣṇa clearly states in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.15), nādatte kasyacit pāpam: “The Supreme Lord does not accept responsibility for anyone’s sinful activities.” It is a dangerous policy to claim that we are acting improperly because of “destiny” or “fate.” We should take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously and create an auspicious future for ourselves and our associates.
Finally, one may argue that, after all, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is involved in the Lord’s pastimes and is actually His eternal associate. In answer to this we may say that the Lord’s pastimes are not only entertaining but also didactic, and the lesson here is that Dhṛtarāṣṭra should have acted properly. This is what the Lord wanted to teach. Dhṛtarāṣṭra claims that Kṛṣṇa came to relieve the burden of the earth, but the earth’s burden is precisely the improper behavior of its inhabitants. So, let us take the lesson the Lord wants to teach here and be instructed for our benefit.
Devanagari
यो दुर्विमर्शपथया निजमाययेदं
सृष्ट्वा गुणान् विभजते तदनुप्रविष्ट: ।
तस्मै नमो दुरवबोधविहारतन्त्र-
संसारचक्रगतये परमेश्वराय ॥ २९ ॥
सृष्ट्वा गुणान् विभजते तदनुप्रविष्ट: ।
तस्मै नमो दुरवबोधविहारतन्त्र-
संसारचक्रगतये परमेश्वराय ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
yo durvimarśa-pathayā nija-māyayedaṁ
sṛṣṭvā guṇān vibhajate tad-anupraviṣṭaḥ
tasmai namo duravabodha-vihāra-tantra-
saṁsāra-cakra-gataye parameśvarāya
sṛṣṭvā guṇān vibhajate tad-anupraviṣṭaḥ
tasmai namo duravabodha-vihāra-tantra-
saṁsāra-cakra-gataye parameśvarāya
Synonyms
yaḥ — who; durvimarśa — inconceivable; pathayā — whose path; nija — by His own; māyayā — creative energy; idam — this universe; sṛṣṭvā — creating; guṇān — its modes; vibhajate — He distributes; tat — within it; anupraviṣṭaḥ — entering; tasmai — to Him; namaḥ — obeisances; duravabodha — unfathomable; vihāra — of whose pastimes; tantra — the purport; saṁsāra — of birth and death; cakra — the cycle; gataye — and liberation (coming from whom); parama-īśvarāya — to the supreme controller.
Translation
I offer my obeisances to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates this universe by the inconceivable activity of His material energy and then distributes the various modes of nature by entering within the creation. From Him, the meaning of whose pastimes is unfathomable, come both the entangling cycle of birth and death and the process of deliverance from it.
Purport
When all is said and done, Dhṛtarāṣṭra was not an ordinary person but an associate of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. Certainly an ordinary person could not offer such a learned hymn to the Lord.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्यभिप्रेत्य नृपतेरभिप्रायं स यादव: । सुहृद्भि: समनुज्ञात: पुनर्यदुपुरीमगात् ॥ ३० ॥
इत्यभिप्रेत्य नृपतेरभिप्रायं स यादव: । सुहृद्भि: समनुज्ञात: पुनर्यदुपुरीमगात् ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity abhipretya nṛpater
abhiprāyaṁ sa yādavaḥ
suhṛdbhiḥ samanujñātaḥ
punar yadu-purīm agāt
ity abhipretya nṛpater
abhiprāyaṁ sa yādavaḥ
suhṛdbhiḥ samanujñātaḥ
punar yadu-purīm agāt
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; abhipretya — ascertaining; nṛpateḥ — of the King; abhiprāyam — the mentality; saḥ — he; yādavaḥ — Akrūra, the descendant of King Yadu; suhṛdbhiḥ — by his well-wishers; samanujñātaḥ — given permission to leave; punaḥ — again; yadu-purīm — to the city of the Yadu dynasty; agāt — went.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus apprised himself of the King’s attitude, Akrūra, the descendant of Yadu, took permission from his well-wishing relatives and friends and returned to the capital of the Yādavas.
Devanagari
शशंस रामकृष्णाभ्यां धृतराष्ट्रविचेष्टितम् ।
पाण्डवान् प्रति कौरव्य यदर्थं प्रेषित: स्वयम् ॥ ३१ ॥
पाण्डवान् प्रति कौरव्य यदर्थं प्रेषित: स्वयम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
śaśaṁsa rāma-kṛṣṇābhyāṁ
dhṛtarāṣṭra-viceṣṭitam
pāṇdavān prati kauravya
yad-arthaṁ preṣitaḥ svayam
dhṛtarāṣṭra-viceṣṭitam
pāṇdavān prati kauravya
yad-arthaṁ preṣitaḥ svayam
Synonyms
śaśaṁsa — he reported; rāma-kṛṣṇābhyām — to Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa; dhṛtarāṣṭra-viceṣṭitam — the behavior of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra; pāṇḍavān prati — toward the sons of Pāṇḍu; kauravya — O descendant of the Kurus (Parīkṣit); yat — for which; artham — purpose; preṣitaḥ — sent; svayam — himself.
Translation
Akrūra reported to Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa how Dhṛtarāṣṭra was behaving toward the Pāṇḍavas. Thus, O descendant of the Kurus, he fulfilled the purpose for which he had been sent.
Purport
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Forty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Akrūra’s Mission in Hastināpura.”