Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
The Deliverance of Mucukunda
This chapter describes how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa caused Mucukunda to kill Kālayavana with his harsh glance, and it also relates the conversation between Mucukunda and Lord Kṛṣṇa.
After placing His family members safely within the Dvārakā fortress, Śrī Kṛṣṇa went out of Mathurā. He appeared like the rising moon. Kālayavana saw that Kṛṣṇa’s brilliantly effulgent body matched Nārada’s description of the Lord, and thus the Yavana knew He was the Personality of Godhead. Seeing that the Lord carried no weapons, Kālayavana put his own weapons aside and ran toward Him from behind, wanting to fight with Him. Śrī Kṛṣṇa ran from the Yavana, staying just barely beyond Kālayavana’s grasp at every step and eventually leading him a long distance toward a mountain cave. As Kālayavana ran, he hurled insults at the Lord, but he could not grasp Him, since his stock of impious karma was not yet depleted. Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered the cave, whereupon Kālayavana followed after Him and saw a man lying on the ground. Taking him for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Kālayavana kicked him. The man had been sleeping for a very long time, and now, having been violently awakened, he looked around angrily in all directions and saw Kālayavana. The man stared harshly at him, igniting a fire in Kālayavana’s body and in a moment burning him to ashes.
This extraordinary person was a son of Mandhātā’s named Mucukunda. He was devoted to brahminical culture and always true to his vow. Previously, he had spent many long years helping to protect the demigods from the demons. When the demigods had eventually obtained Kārttikeya as their protector, they allowed Mucukunda to retire, offering him any boon other than liberation, which only Lord Viṣṇu can bestow. Mucukunda had chosen from the demigods the benediction of being covered by sleep, and thus since then he had been lying asleep within the cave.
Upon Kālayavana’s immolation, Śrī Kṛṣṇa showed Himself to Mucukunda, who was struck with wonder at seeing Kṛṣṇa’s incomparable beauty. Mucukunda asked Lord Kṛṣṇa who He was and also explained to the Lord his own identity. Mucukunda said, “After growing weary from remaining awake for a long time, I was enjoying my sleep here in this cave when some stranger disturbed me and, suffering the reaction of his sins, was burnt to ashes. O Lord, O vanquisher of all enemies, it is my great fortune that I now have the vision of Your beautiful form.”
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa then told Mucukunda who He was and offered him a boon. The wise Mucukunda, understanding the futility of material life, asked only that he might be allowed to take shelter of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
Pleased at this request, the Lord said to Mucukunda, “My devotees are never enticed by material benedictions offered to them; only nondevotees, namely yogīs and speculative philosophers, are interested in material benedictions, having mundane desires in their hearts. My dear Mucukunda, you will have perpetual devotion for Me. Now, always remaining surrendered to Me, go perform penances to eradicate the sinful reactions incurred from the killing you had to do in your role as a warrior. In your next life you will become a first-class brāhmaṇa and attain Me.” Thus the Lord offered Mucukunda His blessings.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
तं विलोक्य विनिष्क्रान्तमुज्जिहानमिवोडुपम् ।
दर्शनीयतमं श्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ १ ॥
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभामुक्तकन्धरम् ।
पृथुदीर्घचतुर्बाहुं नवकञ्जारुणेक्षणम् ॥ २ ॥
नित्यप्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सुकपोलं शुचिस्मितम् ।
मुखारविन्दं बिभ्राणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥
वासुदेवो ह्ययमिति पुमान् श्रीवत्सलाञ्छन: ।
चतुर्भुजोऽरविन्दाक्षो वनमाल्यतिसुन्दर: ॥ ४ ॥
लक्षणैर्नारदप्रोक्तैर्नान्यो भवितुमर्हति ।
निरायुधश्चलन् पद्भ्यां योत्स्येऽनेन निरायुध: ॥ ५ ॥
इति निश्चित्य यवन: प्राद्रवद् तं पराङ्मुखम् ।
अन्वधावज्जिघृक्षुस्तं दुरापमपि योगिनाम् ॥ ६ ॥
तं विलोक्य विनिष्क्रान्तमुज्जिहानमिवोडुपम् ।
दर्शनीयतमं श्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ १ ॥
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभामुक्तकन्धरम् ।
पृथुदीर्घचतुर्बाहुं नवकञ्जारुणेक्षणम् ॥ २ ॥
नित्यप्रमुदितं श्रीमत्सुकपोलं शुचिस्मितम् ।
मुखारविन्दं बिभ्राणं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥
वासुदेवो ह्ययमिति पुमान् श्रीवत्सलाञ्छन: ।
चतुर्भुजोऽरविन्दाक्षो वनमाल्यतिसुन्दर: ॥ ४ ॥
लक्षणैर्नारदप्रोक्तैर्नान्यो भवितुमर्हति ।
निरायुधश्चलन् पद्भ्यां योत्स्येऽनेन निरायुध: ॥ ५ ॥
इति निश्चित्य यवन: प्राद्रवद् तं पराङ्मुखम् ।
अन्वधावज्जिघृक्षुस्तं दुरापमपि योगिनाम् ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
taṁ vilokya viniṣkrāntam
ujjihānam ivoḍupam
darśanīyatamaṁ śyāmaṁ
pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam
taṁ vilokya viniṣkrāntam
ujjihānam ivoḍupam
darśanīyatamaṁ śyāmaṁ
pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam
śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat
kaustubhāmukta-kandharam
pṛthu-dīrgha-catur-bāhuṁ
nava-kañjāruṇekṣaṇam
kaustubhāmukta-kandharam
pṛthu-dīrgha-catur-bāhuṁ
nava-kañjāruṇekṣaṇam
nitya-pramuditaṁ śrīmat
su-kapolaṁ śuci-smitam
mukhāravindaṁ bibhrāṇaṁ
sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam
su-kapolaṁ śuci-smitam
mukhāravindaṁ bibhrāṇaṁ
sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam
vāsudevo hy ayam iti
pumān śrīvatsa-lāñchanaḥ
catur-bhujo ’ravindākṣo
vana-māly ati-sundaraḥ
pumān śrīvatsa-lāñchanaḥ
catur-bhujo ’ravindākṣo
vana-māly ati-sundaraḥ
lakṣaṇair nārada-proktair
nānyo bhavitum arhati
nirāyudhaś calan padbhyāṁ
yotsye ’nena nirāyudhaḥ
nānyo bhavitum arhati
nirāyudhaś calan padbhyāṁ
yotsye ’nena nirāyudhaḥ
iti niścitya yavanaḥ
prādravad taṁ parāṅ-mukham
anvadhāvaj jighṛkṣus taṁ
durāpam api yoginām
prādravad taṁ parāṅ-mukham
anvadhāvaj jighṛkṣus taṁ
durāpam api yoginām
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tam — Him; vilokya — seeing; viniṣkrāntam — coming out; ujjihānam — rising; iva — as if; uḍupam — the moon; darśanīya-tamam — the most beautiful to behold; śyāmam — dark blue; pīta — yellow; kauśeya — silk; vāsasam — whose garment; śrīvatsa — the mark of the goddess of fortune, consisting of a special swirl of hair and belonging to the Supreme Lord alone; vakṣasam — upon whose chest; bhrājat — brilliant; kaustubha — with the gem Kaustubha; āmukta — decorated; kandharam — whose neck; pṛthu — broad; dīrgha — and long; catuḥ — four; bāhum — having arms; nava — newly grown; kañja — like lotuses; aruṇa — pink; īkṣaṇam — whose eyes; nitya — always; pramuditam — joyful; śrīmat — effulgent; su — beautiful; kapolam — with cheeks; śuci — clean; smitam — with a smile; mukha — His face; aravindam — lotuslike; bibhrāṇam — displaying; sphuran — glittering; makara — shark; kuṇḍalam — earrings; vāsudevaḥ — Vāsudeva; hi — indeed; ayam — this; iti — thus thinking; pumān — person; śrīvatsa-lāñchanaḥ — marked with Śrīvatsa; catuḥ-bhujaḥ — four-armed; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; vana — of forest flowers; mālī — wearing a garland; ati — extremely; sundaraḥ — beautiful; lakṣaṇaiḥ — by the symptoms; nārada-proktaiḥ — told by Nārada Muni; na — no; anyaḥ — other; bhavitum arhati — can He be; nirāyudhaḥ — without weapons; calan — going; padbhyām — by foot; yotsye — I will fight; anena — with Him; nirāyudhaḥ — without weapons; iti — thus; niścitya — deciding; yavanaḥ — the barbarian Kālayavana; prādravantam — who was fleeing; parāk — turned away; mukham — whose face; anvadhāvat — he pursued; jighṛkṣuḥ — wanting to catch; tam — Him; durāpam — unattainable; api — even; yoginām — by mystic yogīs..
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Kālayavana saw the Lord come out from Mathurā like the rising moon. The Lord was most beautiful to behold, with His dark-blue complexion and yellow silk garment. Upon His chest He bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, and the Kaustubha gem adorned His neck. His four arms were sturdy and long. He displayed His ever-joyful lotuslike face, with eyes pink like lotuses, beautifully effulgent cheeks, a pristine smile and glittering shark-shaped earrings. The barbarian thought, “This person must indeed be Vāsudeva, since He possesses the characteristics Nārada mentioned: He is marked with Śrīvatsa, He has four arms, His eyes are like lotuses, He wears a garland of forest flowers, and He is extremely handsome. He cannot be anyone else. Since He goes on foot and unarmed, I will fight Him without weapons.” Resolving thus, he ran after the Lord, who turned His back and ran away. Kālayavana hoped to catch Lord Kṛṣṇa, though great mystic yogīs cannot attain Him.
Purport
Although Kālayavana was seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa with his own eyes, he could not adequately appreciate the beautiful Lord. Thus instead of worshiping Kṛṣṇa, he attacked Him. Similarly, it is not uncommon for modern men to attack Kṛṣṇa in the name of philosophy, “law and order” and even religion.
Devanagari
हस्तप्राप्तमिवात्मानं हरीणा स पदे पदे ।
नीतो दर्शयता दूरं यवनेशोऽद्रिकन्दरम् ॥ ७ ॥
नीतो दर्शयता दूरं यवनेशोऽद्रिकन्दरम् ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
hasta-prāptam ivātmānaṁ
harīṇā sa pade pade
nīto darśayatā dūraṁ
yavaneśo ’dri-kandaram
harīṇā sa pade pade
nīto darśayatā dūraṁ
yavaneśo ’dri-kandaram
Synonyms
Translation
Appearing virtually within reach of Kālayavana’s hands at every moment, Lord Hari led the King of the Yavanas far away to a mountain cave.
Devanagari
पलायनं यदुकुले जातस्य तव नोचितम् ।
इति क्षिपन्ननुगतो नैनं प्रापाहताशुभ: ॥ ८ ॥
इति क्षिपन्ननुगतो नैनं प्रापाहताशुभ: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
palāyanaṁ yadu-kule
jātasya tava nocitam
iti kṣipann anugato
nainaṁ prāpāhatāśubhaḥ
jātasya tava nocitam
iti kṣipann anugato
nainaṁ prāpāhatāśubhaḥ
Synonyms
palāyanam — fleeing; yadu-kule — in the Yadu dynasty; jātasya — who have been born; tava — for You; na — is not; ucitam — proper; iti — in these words; kṣipan — insulting; anugataḥ — in pursuit; na — not; enam — Him; prāpa — reached; ahata — not cleansed or eliminated; aśubhaḥ — whose sinful reactions.
Translation
While chasing the Lord, the Yavana cast insults at Him, saying “You took birth in the Yadu dynasty. It’s not proper for You to run away!” But still Kālayavana could not reach Lord Kṛṣṇa, because his sinful reactions had not been cleansed away.
Devanagari
एवं क्षिप्तोऽपि भगवान्प्राविशद् गिरिकन्दरम् ।
सोऽपि प्रविष्टस्तत्रान्यं शयानं ददृशे नरम् ॥ ९ ॥
सोऽपि प्रविष्टस्तत्रान्यं शयानं ददृशे नरम् ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ kṣipto ’pi bhagavān
prāviśad giri-kandaram
so ’pi praviṣṭas tatrānyaṁ
śayānaṁ dadṛśe naram
prāviśad giri-kandaram
so ’pi praviṣṭas tatrānyaṁ
śayānaṁ dadṛśe naram
Synonyms
Translation
Although insulted in this way, the Supreme Lord entered the mountain cave. Kālayavana also entered, and there he saw another man lying asleep.
Purport
The Lord exhibits here His opulence of renunciation. Determined to execute His plan and give His blessings to Mucukunda, the Lord ignored Kālayavana’s insults and calmly proceeded with His program.
Devanagari
नन्वसौ दूरमानीय शेते मामिह साधुवत् ।
इति मत्वाच्युतं मूढस्तं पदा समताडयत् ॥ १० ॥
इति मत्वाच्युतं मूढस्तं पदा समताडयत् ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
nanv asau dūram ānīya
śete mām iha sādhu-vat
iti matvācyutaṁ mūḍhas
taṁ padā samatāḍayat
śete mām iha sādhu-vat
iti matvācyutaṁ mūḍhas
taṁ padā samatāḍayat
Synonyms
nanu — is it so; asau — He; dūram — a long distance; ānīya — bringing; śete — is lying down; mām — me; iha — here; sādhu-vat — like a saintly person; iti — so; matvā — thinking (him); acyutam — (to be) Lord Kṛṣṇa; mūḍhaḥ — deluded; tam — him; padā — with his foot; samatāḍayat — struck with full force.
Translation
“So, after leading me such a long distance, now He is lying here like some saint!” Thus thinking the sleeping man to be Lord Kṛṣṇa, the deluded fool kicked him with all his strength.
Devanagari
स उत्थाय चिरं सुप्त: शनैरुन्मील्य लोचने ।
दिशो विलोकयन् पार्श्वे तमद्राक्षीदवस्थितम् ॥ ११ ॥
दिशो विलोकयन् पार्श्वे तमद्राक्षीदवस्थितम् ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
sa utthāya ciraṁ suptaḥ
śanair unmīlya locane
diśo vilokayan pārśve
tam adrākṣīd avasthitam
śanair unmīlya locane
diśo vilokayan pārśve
tam adrākṣīd avasthitam
Synonyms
Translation
The man awoke after a long sleep and slowly opened his eyes. Looking all about, he saw Kālayavana standing beside him.
Devanagari
स तावत्तस्य रुष्टस्य दृष्टिपातेन भारत ।
देहजेनाग्निना दग्धो भस्मसादभवत् क्षणात् ॥ १२ ॥
देहजेनाग्निना दग्धो भस्मसादभवत् क्षणात् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
sa tāvat tasya ruṣṭasya
dṛṣṭi-pātena bhārata
deha-jenāgninā dagdho
bhasma-sād abhavat kṣaṇāt
dṛṣṭi-pātena bhārata
deha-jenāgninā dagdho
bhasma-sād abhavat kṣaṇāt
Synonyms
saḥ — he, Kālayavana; tāvat — that much; tasya — of him, the awakened man; ruṣṭasya — who was angered; dṛṣṭi — of the glance; pātena — by the casting; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata (Parīkṣit Mahārāja); deha-jena — generated in his own body; agninā — by the fire; dagdhaḥ — burned; bhasma-sāt — to ashes; abhavat — he was; kṣaṇāt — in a moment.
Translation
The awakened man was angry and cast his glance at Kālayavana, whose body burst into flames. In a single moment, O King Parīkṣit, Kālayavana was burnt to ashes.
Purport
The man who incinerated Kālayavana with his glance was named Mucukunda. As he will explain to Lord Kṛṣṇa, he had fought for a long time on behalf of the demigods, finally taking as his benediction the right to sleep undisturbed. The Hari-vaṁśa explains that he secured the further benediction of being able to destroy anyone who disturbed his sleep. Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura quotes from the Śrī Hari-vaṁśa as follows:
prasuptaṁ bodhayed yo māṁ
taṁ daheyam ahaṁ surāḥ
cakṣuṣā krodha-dīptena
evam āha punaḥ punaḥ
taṁ daheyam ahaṁ surāḥ
cakṣuṣā krodha-dīptena
evam āha punaḥ punaḥ
“Again and again Mucukunda said, ‘O demigods, with eyes blazing with anger, may I incinerate anyone who awakens me from sleep.’”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Mucukunda made this rather morbid request to scare Lord Indra, who, Mucukunda thought, might otherwise wake him repeatedly to request his help in fighting Indra’s cosmic enemies. Indra’s consent to Mucukunda’s request is described in Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa as follows:
proktaś ca devaiḥ saṁsuptaṁ
yas tvām utthāpayiṣyati
deha-jenāgninā sadyaḥ
sa tu bhasmī-kariṣyati
yas tvām utthāpayiṣyati
deha-jenāgninā sadyaḥ
sa tu bhasmī-kariṣyati
“The demigods declared, ‘Whoever awakens you from sleep will suddenly be burnt to ashes by a fire generated from his own body.’”
Devanagari
श्रीराजोवाच
को नाम स पुमान् ब्रह्मन् कस्य किंवीर्य एव च ।
कस्माद् गुहां गत: शिष्ये किंतेजो यवनार्दन: ॥ १३ ॥
को नाम स पुमान् ब्रह्मन् कस्य किंवीर्य एव च ।
कस्माद् गुहां गत: शिष्ये किंतेजो यवनार्दन: ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
śrī-rājovāca
ko nāma sa pumān brahman
kasya kiṁ-vīrya eva ca
kasmād guhāṁ gataḥ śiṣye
kiṁ-tejo yavanārdanaḥ
ko nāma sa pumān brahman
kasya kiṁ-vīrya eva ca
kasmād guhāṁ gataḥ śiṣye
kiṁ-tejo yavanārdanaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; kaḥ — who; nāma — in particular; saḥ — that; pumān — person; brahman — O brāhmaṇa (Śukadeva); kasya — of which (family); kim — having what; vīryaḥ — powers; eva ca — as also; kasmāt — why; guhām — in the cave; gataḥ — having gone; śiṣye — lay down to sleep; kim — whose; tejaḥ — semen (offspring); yavana — of the Yavana; ardanaḥ — the destroyer.
Translation
King Parīkṣit said: Who was that person, O brāhmaṇa? To which family did he belong, and what were his powers? Why did that destroyer of the barbarian lie down to sleep in the cave, and whose son was he?
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
स इक्ष्वाकुकुले जातो मान्धातृतनयो महान् ।
मुचुकुन्द इति ख्यातो ब्रह्मण्य: सत्यसङ्गर: ॥ १४ ॥
स इक्ष्वाकुकुले जातो मान्धातृतनयो महान् ।
मुचुकुन्द इति ख्यातो ब्रह्मण्य: सत्यसङ्गर: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
sa ikṣvāku-kule jāto
māndhātṛ-tanayo mahān
mucukunda iti khyāto
brahmaṇyaḥ satya-saṅgaraḥ
sa ikṣvāku-kule jāto
māndhātṛ-tanayo mahān
mucukunda iti khyāto
brahmaṇyaḥ satya-saṅgaraḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he; ikṣvāku-kule — in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku (grandson of Vivasvān, the sun-god); jātaḥ — born; māndhātṛ-tanayaḥ — the son of King Māndhātā; mahān — the great personality; mucukundaḥ iti khyātaḥ — known as Mucukunda; brahmaṇyaḥ — devoted to the brāhmaṇas; satya — true to his vow; saṅgaraḥ — in battle.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mucukunda was the name of this great personality, who was born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty as the son of Māndhātā. He was devoted to brahminical culture and always true to his vow in battle.
Devanagari
स याचित: सुरगणैरिन्द्राद्यैरात्मरक्षणे ।
असुरेभ्य: परित्रस्तैस्तद्रक्षां सोऽकरोच्चिरम् ॥ १५ ॥
असुरेभ्य: परित्रस्तैस्तद्रक्षां सोऽकरोच्चिरम् ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
sa yācitaḥ sura-gaṇair
indrādyair ātma-rakṣaṇe
asurebhyaḥ paritrastais
tad-rakṣāṁ so ’karoc ciram
indrādyair ātma-rakṣaṇe
asurebhyaḥ paritrastais
tad-rakṣāṁ so ’karoc ciram
Synonyms
Translation
Begged by Indra and the other demigods to help protect them when they were terrorized by the demons, Mucukunda defended them for a long time.
Devanagari
लब्ध्वा गुहं ते स्व:पालं मुचुकुन्दमथाब्रुवन् ।
राजन् विरमतां कृच्छ्राद् भवान् न: परिपालनात् ॥ १६ ॥
राजन् विरमतां कृच्छ्राद् भवान् न: परिपालनात् ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
labdhvā guhaṁ te svaḥ-pālaṁ
mucukundam athābruvan
rājan viramatāṁ kṛcchrād
bhavān naḥ paripālanāt
mucukundam athābruvan
rājan viramatāṁ kṛcchrād
bhavān naḥ paripālanāt
Synonyms
Translation
When the demigods obtained Kārttikeya as their general, they told Mucukunda, “O King, you may now give up your troublesome duty of guarding us.
Devanagari
नरलोकं परित्यज्य राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् ।
अस्मान् पालयतो वीर कामास्ते सर्व उज्झिता: ॥ १७ ॥
अस्मान् पालयतो वीर कामास्ते सर्व उज्झिता: ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
nara-lokaṁ parityajya
rājyaṁ nihata-kaṇṭakam
asmān pālayato vīra
kāmās te sarva ujjhitāḥ
rājyaṁ nihata-kaṇṭakam
asmān pālayato vīra
kāmās te sarva ujjhitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“Abandoning an unopposed kingdom in the world of men, O valiant one, you neglected all your personal desires while engaged in protecting us.
Devanagari
सुता महिष्यो भवतो ज्ञातयोऽमात्यमन्त्रिण: ।
प्रजाश्च तुल्यकालीना नाधुना सन्ति कालिता: ॥ १८ ॥
प्रजाश्च तुल्यकालीना नाधुना सन्ति कालिता: ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
sutā mahiṣyo bhavato
jñātayo ’mātya-mantrinaḥ
prajāś ca tulya-kālīnā
nādhunā santi kālitāḥ
jñātayo ’mātya-mantrinaḥ
prajāś ca tulya-kālīnā
nādhunā santi kālitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“The children, queens, relatives, ministers, advisers and subjects who were your contemporaries are no longer alive. They have all been swept away by time.
Devanagari
कालो बलीयान् बलिनां भगवानीश्वरोऽव्यय: ।
प्रजा: कालयते क्रीडन् पशुपालो यथा पशून् ॥ १९ ॥
प्रजा: कालयते क्रीडन् पशुपालो यथा पशून् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
kālo balīyān balināṁ
bhagavān īśvaro ’vyayaḥ
prajāḥ kālayate krīḍan
paśu-pālo yathā paśūn
bhagavān īśvaro ’vyayaḥ
prajāḥ kālayate krīḍan
paśu-pālo yathā paśūn
Synonyms
Translation
“Inexhaustible time, stronger than the strong, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Like a herdsman moving his animals along, He moves mortal creatures as His pastime.
Purport
The universe is created to gradually rectify the contaminated souls trying to exploit material nature. The Lord moves the conditioned souls along, according to their karma, through the various stages of spiritual rectification. Thus the Lord is like a herdsman (the word paśu-pāla literally means “protector of animals”), who moves the creatures under his protection to various pastures and watering spots in order to protect them and sustain them. A further analogy is that of a doctor, who moves the patient under his care to various areas of a hospital for diverse kinds of examination and treatment. Similarly, the Lord brings us through the network of material existence in a gradual cleansing process so that we can enjoy our eternal life of bliss and knowledge as His enlightened associates. Thus all of Mucukunda’s relatives, friends and co-workers had long ago been swept away by the force of time, which of course is Kṛṣṇa Himself.
Devanagari
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते ऋते कैवल्यमद्य न: ।
एक एवेश्वरस्तस्य भगवान् विष्णुरव्यय: ॥ २० ॥
एक एवेश्वरस्तस्य भगवान् विष्णुरव्यय: ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te
ṛte kaivalyam adya naḥ
eka eveśvaras tasya
bhagavān viṣṇur avyayaḥ
ṛte kaivalyam adya naḥ
eka eveśvaras tasya
bhagavān viṣṇur avyayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“All good fortune to you! Now please choose a benediction from us — anything but liberation, since only the infallible Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, can bestow that.”
Devanagari
एवमुक्त: स वै देवानभिवन्द्य महायशा: ।
अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया ॥ २१ ॥
अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
evam uktaḥ sa vai devān
abhivandya mahā-yaśāḥ
aśayiṣṭa guhā-viṣṭo
nidrayā deva-dattayā
abhivandya mahā-yaśāḥ
aśayiṣṭa guhā-viṣṭo
nidrayā deva-dattayā
Synonyms
Translation
Addressed thus, King Mucukunda took his respectful leave of the demigods and went to a cave, where he lay down to enjoy the sleep they had granted him.
Purport
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following lines from an alternate reading of this chapter. These lines are to be inserted between the two halves of this verse:
nidrām eva tato vavre
sa rājā śrama-karṣitaḥ
yaḥ kaścin mama nidrāyā
bhaṅgaṁ kuryād surottamāḥ
sa rājā śrama-karṣitaḥ
yaḥ kaścin mama nidrāyā
bhaṅgaṁ kuryād surottamāḥ
sa hi bhasmī-bhaved āśu
tathoktaś ca surais tadā
svāpaṁ yātaṁ yo madhye tu
bodhayet tvām acetanaḥ
sa tvayā dṛṣṭa-mātras tu
bhasmī-bhavatu tat-kṣaṇāt
tathoktaś ca surais tadā
svāpaṁ yātaṁ yo madhye tu
bodhayet tvām acetanaḥ
sa tvayā dṛṣṭa-mātras tu
bhasmī-bhavatu tat-kṣaṇāt
“The King, exhausted by his labor, then chose sleep as his benediction. He further stated, ‘O best of the demigods, may whoever disturbs my sleep be immediately burned to ashes.’ The demigods replied, ‘So be it,’ and told him, ‘That insensitive person who wakes you in the middle of your sleep will immediately turn to ashes simply by your seeing him.’”
Devanagari
यवने भस्मसान्नीते भगवान् सात्वतर्षभ: ।
आत्मानं दर्शयामास मुचुकुन्दाय धीमते ॥ २२ ॥
आत्मानं दर्शयामास मुचुकुन्दाय धीमते ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
yavane bhasma-sān nīte
bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ
ātmānaṁ darśayām āsa
mucukundāya dhīmate
bhagavān sātvatarṣabhaḥ
ātmānaṁ darśayām āsa
mucukundāya dhīmate
Synonyms
Translation
After the Yavana was burnt to ashes, the Supreme Lord, chief of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.
Devanagari
तमालोक्य घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ।
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् ॥ २३ ॥
चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया ।
चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ २४ ॥
प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम् ।
अपीव्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम् ॥ २५ ॥
पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षित: ।
शङ्कित: शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा ॥ २६ ॥
श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् ॥ २३ ॥
चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया ।
चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ २४ ॥
प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम् ।
अपीव्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम् ॥ २५ ॥
पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षित: ।
शङ्कित: शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
tam ālokya ghana-śyāmaṁ
pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam
śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat
kaustubhena virājitam
pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam
śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat
kaustubhena virājitam
catur-bhujaṁ rocamānaṁ
vaijayantyā ca mālayā
cāru-prasanna-vadanaṁ
sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam
vaijayantyā ca mālayā
cāru-prasanna-vadanaṁ
sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalam
prekṣaṇīyaṁ nṛ-lokasya
sānurāga-smitekṣaṇam
apīvya-vayasaṁ matta-
mṛgendrodāra-vikramam
sānurāga-smitekṣaṇam
apīvya-vayasaṁ matta-
mṛgendrodāra-vikramam
paryapṛcchan mahā-buddhis
tejasā tasya dharṣitaḥ
śaṅkitaḥ śanakai rājā
durdharṣam iva tejasā
tejasā tasya dharṣitaḥ
śaṅkitaḥ śanakai rājā
durdharṣam iva tejasā
Synonyms
tam — Him; ālokya — looking upon; ghana — like a cloud; śyāmam — dark blue; pīta — yellow; kauśeya — silk; vāsasam — whose garment; śrīvatsa — the Śrīvatsa mark; vakṣasam — on whose chest; bhrājat — brilliant; kaustubhena — with the Kaustubha gem; virājitam — glowing; catuḥ-bhujam — four-armed; rocamānam — beautified; vaijayantyā — named Vaijayantī; ca — and; mālayā — by the flower garland; cāru — attractive; prasanna — and calm; vadanam — whose face; sphurat — glittering; makara — shaped like sharks; kuṇḍalam — whose earrings; prekṣaṇīyam — attracting the eyes; nṛ-lokasya — of mankind; sa — with; anurāga — affection; smita — smiling; īkṣaṇam — whose eyes or glance; apīvya — handsome; vayasam — whose youthful form; matta — angered; mṛga-indra — like a lion; udāra — noble; vikramam — whose walking; parya-pṛcchat — he questioned; mahā-buddhiḥ — having great intelligence; tejasā — by the effulgence; tasya — His; dharṣitaḥ — overwhelmed; śaṅkitaḥ — having doubt; śanakaiḥ — slowly; rājā — the King; durdharṣam — unassailable; iva — indeed; tejasā — with His effulgence.
Translation
As he gazed at the Lord, King Mucukunda saw that He was dark blue like a cloud, had four arms, and wore a yellow silk garment. On His chest He bore the Śrīvatsa mark and on His neck the brilliantly glowing Kaustubha gem. Adorned with a Vaijayantī garland, the Lord displayed His handsome, peaceful face, which attracts the eyes of all mankind with its shark-shaped earrings and affectionately smiling glance. The beauty of His youthful form was unexcelled, and He moved with the nobility of an angry lion. The highly intelligent King was overwhelmed by the Lord’s effulgence, which showed Him to be invincible. Expressing his uncertainty, Mucukunda hesitantly questioned Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows.
Purport
It is significant that text 24 states, catur-bhujaṁ rocamānam: “The Lord was seen in the beauty of His four-armed form.” Throughout this great work, we find Lord Kṛṣṇa manifesting His various transcendental forms, most prominently the two-armed form of Kṛṣṇa and the four-armed form of Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu. Thus there is no doubt that Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu are nondifferent, or that Kṛṣṇa is the original form of the Lord. These things are sometimes misunderstood, but the great ācāryas, experts in spiritual science, have clarified the matter for us. God in His original form is not merely the creator, maintainer and destroyer, or the punisher of conditioned souls, but rather the infinitely beautiful Godhead, enjoying in His own right, in His own abode. This is the form of Kṛṣṇa, the same Kṛṣṇa who expands Himself into Viṣṇu forms for the maintenance of our bumbling world.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī mentions that the word śaṅkitaḥ, “having some doubt,” indicates that Mucukunda was thinking, “Is this indeed the Supreme Lord?” He expresses himself frankly in the following verses.
Devanagari
श्रीमुचुकुन्द उवाच
को भवानिह सम्प्राप्तो विपिने गिरिगह्वरे ।
पद्भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां विचरस्युरुकण्टके ॥ २७ ॥
को भवानिह सम्प्राप्तो विपिने गिरिगह्वरे ।
पद्भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां विचरस्युरुकण्टके ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-mucukunda uvāca
ko bhavān iha samprāpto
vipine giri-gahvare
padbhyāṁ padma-palāśābhyāṁ
vicarasy uru-kaṇṭake
ko bhavān iha samprāpto
vipine giri-gahvare
padbhyāṁ padma-palāśābhyāṁ
vicarasy uru-kaṇṭake
Synonyms
śrī-mucukundaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mucukunda said; kaḥ — who; bhavān — are You; iha — here; samprāptaḥ — arrived together (with me); vipine — in the forest; giri-gahvare — in a mountain cave; padbhyām — with Your feet; padma — of a lotus; palāśābhyām — (which are like) the petals; vicarasi — You are walking; uru-kaṇṭake — which is full of thorns.
Translation
Śrī Mucukunda said: Who are You who have come to this mountain cave in the forest, having walked on the thorny ground with feet as soft as lotus petals?
Devanagari
किंस्वित्तेजस्विनां तेजो भगवान् वा विभावसु: ।
सूर्य: सोमो महेन्द्रो वा लोकपालोऽपरोऽपि वा ॥ २८ ॥
सूर्य: सोमो महेन्द्रो वा लोकपालोऽपरोऽपि वा ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
kiṁ svit tejasvināṁ tejo
bhagavān vā vibhāvasuḥ
sūryaḥ somo mahendro vā
loka-pālo paro ’pi vā
bhagavān vā vibhāvasuḥ
sūryaḥ somo mahendro vā
loka-pālo paro ’pi vā
Synonyms
kim svit — perhaps; tejasvinām — of all potent beings; tejaḥ — the original form; bhagavān — powerful lord; vā — or else; vibhāvasuḥ — the god of fire; sūryaḥ — the sun-god; somaḥ — the moon-god; mahā-indraḥ — the King of heaven; va — or; loka — of a planet; pālaḥ — the ruler; aparaḥ — other; api vā — else.
Translation
Perhaps You are the potency of all potent beings. Or maybe You are the powerful god of fire, or the sun-god, the moon-god, the King of heaven or the ruling demigod of some other planet.
Devanagari
मन्ये त्वां देवदेवानां त्रयाणां पुरुषर्षभम् ।
यद् बाधसे गुहाध्वान्तं प्रदीप: प्रभया यथा ॥ २९ ॥
यद् बाधसे गुहाध्वान्तं प्रदीप: प्रभया यथा ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
manye tvāṁ deva-devānāṁ
trayāṇāṁ puruṣarṣabham
yad bādhase guhā-dhvāntaṁ
pradīpaḥ prabhayā yathā
trayāṇāṁ puruṣarṣabham
yad bādhase guhā-dhvāntaṁ
pradīpaḥ prabhayā yathā
Synonyms
manye — I consider; tvām — You; deva-devānām — of the chief of the demigods; trayāṇām — three (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva); puruṣa — of the personalities; ṛṣabham — the greatest; yat — because; bādhase — You drive away; guha — of the cave; dhvāntam — the darkness; pradīpaḥ — a lamp; prabhayā — with its light; yathā — as.
Translation
I think You are the Supreme Personality among the three chief gods, since You drive away the darkness of this cave as a lamp dispels darkness with its light.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that with His effulgence Lord Kṛṣṇa dispelled not only the darkness of the mountain cave but also the darkness in Mucukunda’s heart. In Sanskrit the heart is sometimes metaphorically referred to as guha, “cavern,” a deep and secret place.
Devanagari
शुश्रूषतामव्यलीकमस्माकं नरपुङ्गव ।
स्वजन्म कर्म गोत्रं वा कथ्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ ३० ॥
स्वजन्म कर्म गोत्रं वा कथ्यतां यदि रोचते ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
śuśrūṣatām avyalīkam
asmākaṁ nara-puṅgava
sva-janma karma gotraṁ vā
kathyatāṁ yadi rocate
asmākaṁ nara-puṅgava
sva-janma karma gotraṁ vā
kathyatāṁ yadi rocate
Synonyms
Translation
O best among men, if You like, please truly describe Your birth, activities and lineage to us, who are eager to hear.
Purport
When the Supreme Lord descends to this world, He certainly becomes nara-puṅgava, the most eminent member of human society. Of course, the Lord is not actually a human being, and Mucukunda’s questions will lead to a clarification of this point. Thus the term śuśrūṣatām, “to us, who are sincerely eager to hear,” indicates that Mucukunda is inquiring in a noble way for his own and others’ benefit.
Devanagari
वयं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र ऐक्ष्वाका: क्षत्रबन्धव: ।
मुचुकुन्द इति प्रोक्तो यौवनाश्वात्मज: प्रभो ॥ ३१ ॥
मुचुकुन्द इति प्रोक्तो यौवनाश्वात्मज: प्रभो ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
vayaṁ tu puruṣa-vyāghra
aikṣvākāḥ kṣatra-bandhavaḥ
mucukunda iti prokto
yauvanāśvātmajaḥ prabho
aikṣvākāḥ kṣatra-bandhavaḥ
mucukunda iti prokto
yauvanāśvātmajaḥ prabho
Synonyms
vayam — we; tu — on the other hand; puruṣa — among men; vyāghra — O tiger; aikṣvākāḥ — descendants of Ikṣvāku; kṣatra — of kṣatriyas; bandhavaḥ — family members; mucukundaḥ — Mucukunda; iti — thus; proktaḥ — called; yauvanāśva — of Yauvanāśva (Māndhātā, the son of Yuvanāśva); ātma-jaḥ — the son; prabho — O Lord.
Translation
As for ourselves, O tiger among men, we belong to a family of fallen kṣatriyas, descendants of King Ikṣvāku. My name is Mucukunda, my Lord, and I am the son of Yauvanāśva.
Purport
It is common in Vedic culture that a kṣatriya will humbly introduce himself as kṣatra-bandhu, a mere relative in a kṣatriya family, or in other words a fallen kṣatriya. In ancient Vedic culture, to claim a particular status on the basis of one’s family relations was itself indicative of a fallen position. Kṣatriyas and brāhmaṇas should be given status according to their merit, by their qualities of work and character. When the caste system in India became degraded, people proudly claimed to be relatives of kṣatriyas or brāhmaṇas, though in the past such a claim, unaccompanied by tangible qualifications, indicated a fallen position.
Devanagari
चिरप्रजागरश्रान्तो निद्रयापहतेन्द्रिय: ।
शयेऽस्मिन् विजने कामं केनाप्युत्थापितोऽधुना ॥ ३२ ॥
शयेऽस्मिन् विजने कामं केनाप्युत्थापितोऽधुना ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
cira-prajāgara-śrānto
nidrayāpahatendriyaḥ
śaye ’smin vijane kāmaṁ
kenāpy utthāpito ’dhunā
nidrayāpahatendriyaḥ
śaye ’smin vijane kāmaṁ
kenāpy utthāpito ’dhunā
Synonyms
cira — for a long time; prajāgara — because of remaining awake; śrāntaḥ — fatigued; nidrayā — by sleep; apahata — covered over; indriyaḥ — my senses; śaye — I have been lying; asmin — in this; vijane — solitary place; kāmam — as pleases me; kena api — by someone; utthāpitaḥ — awakened; adhunā — now.
Translation
I was fatigued after remaining awake for a long time, and my senses were overwhelmed by sleep. Thus I slept comfortably here in this solitary place until, just now, someone woke me.
Devanagari
सोऽपि भस्मीकृतो नूनमात्मीयेनैव पाप्मना ।
अनन्तरं भवान् श्रीमाल्ँ लक्षितोऽमित्रशासन: ॥ ३३ ॥
अनन्तरं भवान् श्रीमाल्ँ लक्षितोऽमित्रशासन: ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
so ’pi bhasmī-kṛto nūnam
ātmīyenaiva pāpmanā
anantaraṁ bhavān śrīmāḻ
lakṣito ’mitra-śāsanaḥ
ātmīyenaiva pāpmanā
anantaraṁ bhavān śrīmāḻ
lakṣito ’mitra-śāsanaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The man who woke me was burned to ashes by the reaction of his sins. Just then I saw You, possessing a glorious appearance and the power to chastise Your enemies.
Purport
Kālayavana had declared himself the enemy of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Yadu dynasty. Through Mucukunda, Śrī Kṛṣṇa destroyed the opposition of that foolish barbarian.
Devanagari
तेजसा तेऽविषह्येण भूरि द्रष्टुं न शक्नुम: ।
हतौजसा महाभाग माननीयोऽसि देहिनाम् ॥ ३४ ॥
हतौजसा महाभाग माननीयोऽसि देहिनाम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
tejasā te ’viṣahyeṇa
bhūri draṣṭuṁ na śaknumaḥ
hataujasā mahā-bhāga
mānanīyo ’si dehinām
bhūri draṣṭuṁ na śaknumaḥ
hataujasā mahā-bhāga
mānanīyo ’si dehinām
Synonyms
Translation
Your unbearably brilliant effulgence overwhelms our strength, and thus we cannot fix our gaze upon You. O exalted one, You are to be honored by all embodied beings.
Devanagari
एवं सम्भाषितो राज्ञा भगवान् भूतभावन: ।
प्रत्याह प्रहसन् वाण्या मेघनादगभीरया ॥ ३५ ॥
प्रत्याह प्रहसन् वाण्या मेघनादगभीरया ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ sambhāṣito rājñā
bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
pratyāha prahasan vāṇyā
megha-nāda-gabhīrayā
bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
pratyāha prahasan vāṇyā
megha-nāda-gabhīrayā
Synonyms
Translation
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus addressed by the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, origin of all creation, smiled and then replied to him in a voice as deep as the rumbling of clouds.
Devanagari
श्रीभगवानुवाच
जन्मकर्माभिधानानि सन्ति मेऽङ्ग सहस्रश: ।
न शक्यन्तेऽनुसङ्ख्यातुमनन्तत्वान्मयापि हि ॥ ३६ ॥
जन्मकर्माभिधानानि सन्ति मेऽङ्ग सहस्रश: ।
न शक्यन्तेऽनुसङ्ख्यातुमनन्तत्वान्मयापि हि ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
janma-karmābhidhānāni
santi me ’ṅga sahasraśaḥ
na śakyante ’nusaṅkhyātum
anantatvān mayāpi hi
janma-karmābhidhānāni
santi me ’ṅga sahasraśaḥ
na śakyante ’nusaṅkhyātum
anantatvān mayāpi hi
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; janma — births; karma — activities; abhidhānāni — and names; santi — there are; me — My; aṅga — O dear one; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands; na śakyante — they cannot; anusaṅkhyātum — be enumerated; anantatvāt — because of having no limit; mayā — by Me; api hi — even.
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: My dear friend, I have taken thousands of births, lived thousands of lives and accepted thousands of names. In fact My births, activities and names are limitless, and thus even I cannot count them.
Devanagari
क्वचिद् रजांसि विममे पार्थिवान्युरुजन्मभि: ।
गुणकर्माभिधानानि न मे जन्मानि कर्हिचित् ॥ ३७ ॥
गुणकर्माभिधानानि न मे जन्मानि कर्हिचित् ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
kvacid rajāṁsi vimame
pārthivāny uru-janmabhiḥ
guṇa-karmābhidhānāni
na me janmāni karhicit
pārthivāny uru-janmabhiḥ
guṇa-karmābhidhānāni
na me janmāni karhicit
Synonyms
Translation
After many lifetimes someone might count the dust particles on the earth, but no one can ever finish counting My qualities, activities, names and births.
Devanagari
कालत्रयोपपन्नानि जन्मकर्माणि मे नृप ।
अनुक्रमन्तो नैवान्तं गच्छन्ति परमर्षय: ॥ ३८ ॥
अनुक्रमन्तो नैवान्तं गच्छन्ति परमर्षय: ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
kāla-trayopapannāni
janma-karmāṇi me nṛpa
anukramanto naivāntaṁ
gacchanti paramarṣayaḥ
janma-karmāṇi me nṛpa
anukramanto naivāntaṁ
gacchanti paramarṣayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
O King, the greatest sages enumerate My births and activities, which take place throughout the three phases of time, but never do they reach the end of them.
Devanagari
तथाप्यद्यतनान्यङ्ग शृणुष्व गदतो मम ।
विज्ञापितो विरिञ्चेन पुराहं धर्मगुप्तये ।
भूमेर्भारायमाणानामसुराणां क्षयाय च ॥ ३९ ॥
अवतीर्णो यदुकुले गृह आनकदुन्दुभे: ।
वदन्ति वासुदेवेति वसुदेवसुतं हि माम् ॥ ४० ॥
विज्ञापितो विरिञ्चेन पुराहं धर्मगुप्तये ।
भूमेर्भारायमाणानामसुराणां क्षयाय च ॥ ३९ ॥
अवतीर्णो यदुकुले गृह आनकदुन्दुभे: ।
वदन्ति वासुदेवेति वसुदेवसुतं हि माम् ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
tathāpy adyatanāny aṅga
śṛnuṣva gadato mama
vijñāpito viriñcena
purāhaṁ dharma-guptaye
śṛnuṣva gadato mama
vijñāpito viriñcena
purāhaṁ dharma-guptaye
bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānām
asurāṇāṁ kṣayāya ca
avatīrṇo yadu-kule
gṛha ānakadundubheḥ
vadanti vāsudeveti
vasudeva-sutaṁ hi mām
asurāṇāṁ kṣayāya ca
avatīrṇo yadu-kule
gṛha ānakadundubheḥ
vadanti vāsudeveti
vasudeva-sutaṁ hi mām
Synonyms
tathā api — nevertheless; adyatanāni — those current; aṅga — O friend; śṛṇuṣva — just hear; gadataḥ — who am speaking; mama — from Me; vijñāpitaḥ — sincerely requested; viriñcena — by Lord Brahmā; purā — in the past; aham — I; dharma — religious principles; guptaye — to protect; bhūmeḥ — for the earth; bhārāyamāṇānām — who are a burden; asurāṇām — of the demons; kṣayāya — for the destruction; ca — and; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; yadu — of Yadu; kule — into the dynasty; gṛhe — in the home; ānakadundubheḥ — of Vasudeva; vadanti — people call; vāsudevaḥ iti — by the name Vāsudeva; vasudeva-sutam — the son of Vasudeva; hi — indeed; mām — Me.
Translation
Nonetheless, O friend, I will tell you about My current birth, name and activities. Kindly hear. Some time ago, Lord Brahmā requested Me to protect religious principles and destroy the demons who were burdening the earth. Thus I descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Indeed, because I am the son of Vasudeva, people call Me Vāsudeva.
Devanagari
कालनेमिर्हत: कंस: प्रलम्बाद्याश्च सद्द्विष: ।
अयं च यवनो दग्धो राजंस्ते तिग्मचक्षुषा ॥ ४१ ॥
अयं च यवनो दग्धो राजंस्ते तिग्मचक्षुषा ॥ ४१ ॥
Verse text
kālanemir hataḥ kaṁsaḥ
pralambādyāś ca sad-dviṣaḥ
ayaṁ ca yavano dagdho
rājaṁs te tigma-cakṣuṣā
pralambādyāś ca sad-dviṣaḥ
ayaṁ ca yavano dagdho
rājaṁs te tigma-cakṣuṣā
Synonyms
Translation
I have killed Kālanemi, reborn as Kaṁsa, as well as Pralamba and other enemies of the pious. And now, O King, this barbarian has been burnt to ashes by your piercing glance.
Devanagari
सोऽहं तवानुग्रहार्थं गुहामेतामुपागत: ।
प्रार्थित: प्रचुरं पूर्वं त्वयाहं भक्तवत्सल: ॥ ४२ ॥
प्रार्थित: प्रचुरं पूर्वं त्वयाहं भक्तवत्सल: ॥ ४२ ॥
Verse text
so ’haṁ tavānugrahārthaṁ
guhām etām upāgataḥ
prārthitaḥ pracuraṁ pūrvaṁ
tvayāhaṁ bhakta-vatsalaḥ
guhām etām upāgataḥ
prārthitaḥ pracuraṁ pūrvaṁ
tvayāhaṁ bhakta-vatsalaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Since in the past you repeatedly prayed to Me, I have personally come to this cave to show you mercy, for I am affectionately inclined to My devotees.
Purport
It is apparent from this verse that Mucukunda was a devotee of the Supreme Lord. He had prayed for the Lord’s association, and now Śrī Kṛṣṇa granted his fervent request.
Devanagari
वरान्वृणीष्व राजर्षे सर्वान् कामान् ददामि ते ।
मां प्रसन्नो जन: कश्चिन्न भूयोऽर्हति शोचितुम् ॥ ४३ ॥
मां प्रसन्नो जन: कश्चिन्न भूयोऽर्हति शोचितुम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Verse text
varān vṛṇīṣva rājarṣe
sarvān kāmān dadāmi te
māṁ prasanno janaḥ kaścin
na bhūyo ’rhati śocitum
sarvān kāmān dadāmi te
māṁ prasanno janaḥ kaścin
na bhūyo ’rhati śocitum
Synonyms
Translation
Now choose some benedictions from Me, O saintly King. I will fulfill all your desires. One who has satisfied Me need never again lament.
Purport
The ācāryas explain that we lament when we feel incomplete, when we have lost something or when we fail to achieve something desirable. One who has satisfied Kṛṣṇa and thus attained the Lord’s mercy will never be troubled in these ways. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all pleasure, and He enjoys sharing His spiritual bliss with all living beings. We need only cooperate with the Supreme Lord.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्याह मुचुकुन्दो मुदान्वित: ।
ज्ञात्वा नारायणं देवं गर्गवाक्यमनुस्मरन् ॥ ४४ ॥
इत्युक्तस्तं प्रणम्याह मुचुकुन्दो मुदान्वित: ।
ज्ञात्वा नारायणं देवं गर्गवाक्यमनुस्मरन् ॥ ४४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uktas taṁ praṇamyāha
mucukundo mudānvitaḥ
jñātvā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ
garga-vākyam anusmaran
ity uktas taṁ praṇamyāha
mucukundo mudānvitaḥ
jñātvā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ
garga-vākyam anusmaran
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; tam — to Him; praṇamya — after bowing down; āha — said; mucukundaḥ — Mucukunda; mudā — with joy; anvitaḥ — filled; jñātvā — knowing (Him) to be; nārāyaṇam devam — Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Lord; garga-vākyam — the words of the sage Garga; anusmaran — remembering.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Mucukunda bowed down to the Lord when he heard this. Remembering the words of the sage Garga, he joyfully recognized Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. The King then addressed Him as follows.
Purport
Although the Lord here appears as four-handed Nārāyaṇa, we may say that Mucukunda was addressing Śrī Kṛṣṇa. All of this is taking place within the context of kṛṣṇa-līlā, the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It is well known to Vaiṣṇavas that the four-handed forms of Viṣṇu, or Nārāyaṇa, are expansions of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Thus within the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa there may also appear viṣṇu-līlā, the activities of Viṣṇu. Such are the qualities and activities of the Supreme Godhead. Deeds that for us would be extraordinary and even impossible are commonplace, effortless pastimes for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī informs us that Mucukunda was aware of the prediction of the ancient sage Garga that in the twenty-eighth millennium the Supreme Lord would descend. According to Ācārya Viśvanātha, Garga Muni further informed Mucukunda that he would personally see the Lord. Now it was all happening.
Devanagari
श्रीमुचुकुन्द उवाच
विमोहितोऽयं जन ईश मायया
त्वदीयया त्वां न भजत्यनर्थदृक् ।
सुखाय दु:खप्रभवेषु सज्जते
गृहेषु योषित् पुरुषश्च वञ्चित: ॥ ४५ ॥
विमोहितोऽयं जन ईश मायया
त्वदीयया त्वां न भजत्यनर्थदृक् ।
सुखाय दु:खप्रभवेषु सज्जते
गृहेषु योषित् पुरुषश्च वञ्चित: ॥ ४५ ॥
Verse text
śrī-mucukunda uvāca
vimohito ’yaṁ jana īśa māyayā
tvadīyayā tvāṁ na bhajaty anartha-dṛk
sukhāya duḥkha-prabhaveṣu sajjate
gṛheṣu yoṣit puruṣaś ca vañcitaḥ
vimohito ’yaṁ jana īśa māyayā
tvadīyayā tvāṁ na bhajaty anartha-dṛk
sukhāya duḥkha-prabhaveṣu sajjate
gṛheṣu yoṣit puruṣaś ca vañcitaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-mucukundaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mucukunda said; vimohitaḥ — bewildered; ayam — this; janaḥ — person; īśa — O Lord; māyayā — by the illusory energy; tvadīyayā — Your own; tvām — You; na bhajati — does not worship; anartha-dṛk — not seeing one’s real benefit; sukhāya — for the sake of happiness; duḥkha — misery; prabhaveṣu — in things that cause; sajjate — becomes entangled; gṛheṣu — in affairs of family life; yoṣit — woman; puruṣaḥ — man; ca — and; vañcitaḥ — cheated.
Translation
Śrī Mucukunda said: O Lord, the people of this world, both men and women, are bewildered by Your illusory energy. Unaware of their real benefit, they do not worship You but instead seek happiness by entangling themselves in family affairs, which are actually sources of misery.
Purport
Mucukunda immediately makes it clear that he is not going to ask the Lord for material blessings. He has advanced, spiritually, far beyond those who try to exploit religion for all kinds of material benefits. Artha means “value,” and the negation of this word, anartha, means “that which is valueless or useless.” Thus the term anartha-dṛk indicates those whose vision is focused on valueless things, who have not understood what actual artha, or value, is. All that glitters is not gold, and Mucukunda here emphatically states that we should not ruin our spiritual chances by entangling ourselves in the fool’s gold of bodily relationships. We are meant to love the Lord.
Devanagari
लब्ध्वा जनो दुर्लभमत्र मानुषं
कथञ्चिदव्यङ्गमयत्नतोऽनघ ।
पादारविन्दं न भजत्यसन्मति-
र्गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशु: ॥ ४६ ॥
कथञ्चिदव्यङ्गमयत्नतोऽनघ ।
पादारविन्दं न भजत्यसन्मति-
र्गृहान्धकूपे पतितो यथा पशु: ॥ ४६ ॥
Verse text
labdhvā jano durlabham atra mānuṣaṁ
kathañcid avyaṅgam ayatnato ’nagha
pādāravindaṁ na bhajaty asan-matir
gṛhāndha-kūpe patito yathā paśuḥ
kathañcid avyaṅgam ayatnato ’nagha
pādāravindaṁ na bhajaty asan-matir
gṛhāndha-kūpe patito yathā paśuḥ
Synonyms
labdhvā — attaining; janaḥ — a person; durlabham — rarely obtained; atra — in this world; mānuṣam — the human form of life; kathañcit — somehow or other; avyaṅgam — with undistorted limbs (unlike the various animal forms); ayatnataḥ — without endeavor; anagha — O sinless one; pāda — Your feet; aravindam — lotuslike; na bhajati — he does not worship; asat — impure; matiḥ — his mentality; gṛha — of home; andha — blind; kūpe — in the well; patitaḥ — fallen; yathā — as; paśuḥ — an animal.
Translation
That person has an impure mind who, despite having somehow or other automatically obtained the rare and highly evolved human form of life, does not worship Your lotus feet. Like an animal that has fallen into a blind well, such a person has fallen into the darkness of a material home.
Purport
Our real home is in the kingdom of God. Despite our tenacious determination to remain in our material home, death will rudely eject us from the theater of material affairs. To stay at home is not bad, nor is it bad to devote ourselves to our loved ones. But we must understand that our real home is eternal, in the spiritual kingdom.
The word ayatnataḥ indicates that human life has been automatically awarded to us. We have not constructed our human bodies, and therefore we should not foolishly claim, “This body is mine.” The human form is a gift of God and should be used to achieve the perfection of God consciousness. One who does not understand this is asan-mati, possessed of dull, mundane understanding.
Devanagari
ममैष कालोऽजित निष्फलो गतो
राज्यश्रियोन्नद्धमदस्य भूपते: ।
मर्त्यात्मबुद्धे: सुतदारकोशभू-
ष्वासज्जमानस्य दुरन्तचिन्तया ॥ ४७ ॥
राज्यश्रियोन्नद्धमदस्य भूपते: ।
मर्त्यात्मबुद्धे: सुतदारकोशभू-
ष्वासज्जमानस्य दुरन्तचिन्तया ॥ ४७ ॥
Verse text
mamaiṣa kālo ’jita niṣphalo gato
rājya-śriyonnaddha-madasya bhū-pateḥ
martyātma-buddheḥ suta-dāra-kośa-bhūṣv
āsajjamānasya duranta-cintayā
rājya-śriyonnaddha-madasya bhū-pateḥ
martyātma-buddheḥ suta-dāra-kośa-bhūṣv
āsajjamānasya duranta-cintayā
Synonyms
mama — my; eṣaḥ — this; kālaḥ — time; ajita — O unconquerable one; niṣphalaḥ — fruitlessly; gataḥ — now gone; rājya — by kingdom; śriyā — and opulence; unnaddha — built up; madasya — whose intoxication; bhūpateḥ — a king of the earth; martya — the mortal body; ātma — as the self; buddheḥ — whose mentality; suta — to children; dāra — wives; kośa — treasury; bhūṣu — and land; āsajjamānasya — becoming attached; duranta — endless; cintayā — with anxiety.
Translation
I have wasted all this time, O unconquerable one, becoming more and more intoxicated by my domain and opulence as an earthly king. Misidentifying the mortal body as the self, becoming attached to children, wives, treasury and land, I suffered endless anxiety.
Purport
Having in the previous verse condemned those who misuse the valuable human form of life for mundane purposes, Mucukunda now admits that he himself falls into this category. He intelligently wants to take advantage of the Lord’s association and become a pure devotee once and for all.
Devanagari
कलेवरेऽस्मिन् घटकुड्यसन्निभे
निरूढमानो नरदेव इत्यहम् ।
वृतो रथेभाश्वपदात्यनीकपै-
र्गां पर्यटंस्त्वागणयन् सुदुर्मद: ॥ ४८ ॥
निरूढमानो नरदेव इत्यहम् ।
वृतो रथेभाश्वपदात्यनीकपै-
र्गां पर्यटंस्त्वागणयन् सुदुर्मद: ॥ ४८ ॥
Verse text
kalevare ’smin ghaṭa-kuḍya-sannibhe
nirūḍha-māno nara-deva ity aham
vṛto rathebhāśva-padāty-anīkapair
gāṁ paryaṭaṁs tvāgaṇayan su-durmadaḥ
nirūḍha-māno nara-deva ity aham
vṛto rathebhāśva-padāty-anīkapair
gāṁ paryaṭaṁs tvāgaṇayan su-durmadaḥ
Synonyms
kalevare — in the body; asmin — this; ghaṭa — a pot; kuḍya — or a wall; sannibhe — which is like; nirūḍha — exaggerated; mānaḥ — whose false identification; nara-devaḥ — a god among men (king); iti — thus (thinking myself); aham — I; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; ratha — by chariots; ibha — elephants; aśva — horses; padāti — infantry; anīkapaiḥ — and generals; gām — the earth; paryaṭan — traveling; tvā — You; agaṇayan — not regarding seriously; su-durmadaḥ — very much deluded by pride.
Translation
With deep arrogance I took myself to be the body, which is a material object like a pot or a wall. Thinking myself a god among men, I traveled the earth surrounded by my charioteers, elephants, cavalry, foot soldiers and generals, disregarding You in my deluding pride.
Devanagari
प्रमत्तमुच्चैरितिकृत्यचिन्तया
प्रवृद्धलोभं विषयेषु लालसम् ।
त्वमप्रमत्त: सहसाभिपद्यसे
क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तक: ॥ ४९ ॥
प्रवृद्धलोभं विषयेषु लालसम् ।
त्वमप्रमत्त: सहसाभिपद्यसे
क्षुल्लेलिहानोऽहिरिवाखुमन्तक: ॥ ४९ ॥
Verse text
pramattam uccair itikṛtya-cintayā
pravṛddha-lobhaṁ viṣayeṣu lālasam
tvam apramattaḥ sahasābhipadyase
kṣul-lelihāno ’hir ivākhum antakaḥ
pravṛddha-lobhaṁ viṣayeṣu lālasam
tvam apramattaḥ sahasābhipadyase
kṣul-lelihāno ’hir ivākhum antakaḥ
Synonyms
pramattam — thoroughly deluded; uccaiḥ — extensive; iti-kṛtya — of what needs to be done; cintayā — with thought; pravṛddha — increased fully; lobham — whose greed; viṣayeṣu — for sense objects; lālasam — hankering; tvam — You; apramattaḥ — not deluded; sahasā — suddenly; abhipadyase — confront; kṣut — out of thirst; lelihānaḥ — licking its fangs; ahiḥ — a snake; iva — as; ākhum — a mouse; antakaḥ — death.
Translation
A man obsessed with thoughts of what he thinks needs to be done, intensely greedy, and delighting in sense enjoyment is suddenly confronted by You, who are ever alert. Like a hungry snake licking its fangs before a mouse, You appear before him as death.
Purport
We may note here the contrast between the words pramattam and apramattaḥ. Those who are trying to exploit the material world are pramatta: “deluded, bewildered, maddened by desire.” But the Lord is apramatta: “alert, sober, and unbewildered.” In our madness we may deny God or His laws, but the Lord is sober and will not fail to reward or punish us according to the quality of our activities.
Devanagari
पुरा रथैर्हेमपरिष्कृतैश्चरन्
मतंगजैर्वा नरदेवसंज्ञित: ।
स एव कालेन दुरत्ययेन ते
कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञित: ॥ ५० ॥
मतंगजैर्वा नरदेवसंज्ञित: ।
स एव कालेन दुरत्ययेन ते
कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञित: ॥ ५० ॥
Verse text
purā rathair hema-pariṣkṛtaiś caran
mataṁ-gajair vā nara-deva-saṁjñitaḥ
sa eva kālena duratyayena te
kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saṁjñitaḥ
mataṁ-gajair vā nara-deva-saṁjñitaḥ
sa eva kālena duratyayena te
kalevaro viṭ-kṛmi-bhasma-saṁjñitaḥ
Synonyms
purā — previously; rathaiḥ — in chariots; hema — with gold; pariṣkṛtaiḥ — furnished; caran — riding; matam — fierce; gajaiḥ — on elephants; vā — or; nara-deva — king; saṁjñitaḥ — named; saḥ — that; eva — same; kālena — by time; duratyayena — unavoidable; te — Your; kalevaraḥ — body; viṭ — as feces; kṛmi — worms; bhasma — ashes; saṁjñitaḥ — named.
Translation
The body that at first rides high on fierce elephants or chariots adorned with gold and is known by the name “king” is later, by Your invincible power of time, called “feces,” “worms,” or “ashes.”
Purport
In the United States and other materially developed countries, dead bodies are cosmetically disposed of in a tidy ceremonial way, but in many parts of the world old, sickly and injured people die in lonely or neglected places, where dogs and jackals consume their bodies and transform them into stool. And if one is so blessed as to be buried in a coffin, one’s body may very well be consumed by worms and other minuscule creatures. Also, many earthly cadavers are burned and thus transformed into ashes. In any case, death is certain, and the ultimate fate of the body is never sublime. That is the real purport of Mucukunda’s statement here — that the body, though now called “king,” “prince,” “beauty queen,” “upper-middle class” and so on, will eventually be called “stool,” “worms” and “ashes.”
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī quotes the following Vedic statement:
yoneḥ sahasrāṇi bahūni gatvā
duḥkhena labdhvāpi ca mānuṣatvam
sukhāvahaṁ ye na bhajanti viṣṇuṁ
te vai manuṣyātmani śatru-bhūtāḥ
duḥkhena labdhvāpi ca mānuṣatvam
sukhāvahaṁ ye na bhajanti viṣṇuṁ
te vai manuṣyātmani śatru-bhūtāḥ
“After passing through many thousands of species and undergoing great struggle, the conditioned living entities finally obtain the human form. Thus those human beings who still do not worship Lord Viṣṇu, who can bring them real happiness, have certainly become enemies of both themselves and humanity.”
Devanagari
निर्जित्य दिक्चक्रमभूतविग्रहो
वरासनस्थ: समराजवन्दित: ।
गृहेषु मैथुन्यसुखेषु योषितां
क्रीडामृग: पूरुष ईश नीयते ॥ ५१ ॥
वरासनस्थ: समराजवन्दित: ।
गृहेषु मैथुन्यसुखेषु योषितां
क्रीडामृग: पूरुष ईश नीयते ॥ ५१ ॥
Verse text
nirjitya dik-cakram abhūta-vigraho
varāsana-sthaḥ sama-rāja-vanditaḥ
gṛheṣu maithunya-sukheṣu yoṣitāṁ
krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate
varāsana-sthaḥ sama-rāja-vanditaḥ
gṛheṣu maithunya-sukheṣu yoṣitāṁ
krīḍā-mṛgaḥ pūruṣa īśa nīyate
Synonyms
nirjitya — having conquered; dik — of directions; cakram — the whole circle; abhūta — nonexistent; vigrahaḥ — any conflict for whom; vara-āsana — on an exalted throne; sthaḥ — seated; sama — equal; rāja — by kings; vanditaḥ — praised; gṛheṣu — in residences; maithunya — sex; sukheṣu — whose happiness; yoṣitām — of women; krīḍā-mṛgaḥ — a pet animal; puruṣaḥ — the person; īśa — O Lord; nīyate — is led about.
Translation
Having conquered the entire circle of directions and being thus free of conflict, a man sits on a splendid throne, receiving praise from leaders who were once his equals. But when he enters the women’s chambers, where sex pleasure is found, he is led about like a pet animal, O Lord.
Devanagari
करोति कर्माणि तप:सुनिष्ठितो
निवृत्तभोगस्तदपेक्षयाददत् ।
पुनश्च भूयासमहं स्वराडिति
प्रवृद्धतर्षो न सुखाय कल्पते ॥ ५२ ॥
निवृत्तभोगस्तदपेक्षयाददत् ।
पुनश्च भूयासमहं स्वराडिति
प्रवृद्धतर्षो न सुखाय कल्पते ॥ ५२ ॥
Verse text
karoti karmāṇi tapaḥ-suniṣṭhito
nivṛtta-bhogas tad-apekṣayādadat
punaś ca bhūyāsam ahaṁ sva-rāḍ iti
pravṛddha-tarṣo na sukhāya kalpate
nivṛtta-bhogas tad-apekṣayādadat
punaś ca bhūyāsam ahaṁ sva-rāḍ iti
pravṛddha-tarṣo na sukhāya kalpate
Synonyms
karoti — one performs; karmāṇi — duties; tapaḥ — in the practice of austerities; su-niṣṭhitaḥ — very fixed; nivṛtta — avoiding; bhogaḥ — sense enjoyment; tat — with that (position which he already has); apekṣayā — in comparison; adadat — assuming; punaḥ — further; ca — and; bhūyāsam — greater; aham — I; sva-rāṭ — sovereign ruler; iti — thus thinking; pravṛddha — rampant; tarṣaḥ — whose urges; na — not; sukhāya — happiness; kalpate — can attain.
Translation
A king who desires even greater power than he already has strictly performs his duties, carefully practicing austerity and forgoing sense enjoyment. But he whose urges are so rampant, thinking “I am independent and supreme,” cannot attain happiness.
Devanagari
भवापवर्गो भ्रमतो यदा भवे-
ज्जनस्य तर्ह्यच्युत सत्समागम: ।
सत्सङ्गमो यर्हि तदैव सद्गतौ
परावरेशे त्वयि जायते मति: ॥ ५३ ॥
ज्जनस्य तर्ह्यच्युत सत्समागम: ।
सत्सङ्गमो यर्हि तदैव सद्गतौ
परावरेशे त्वयि जायते मति: ॥ ५३ ॥
Verse text
bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ
Synonyms
bhava — of material existence; apavargaḥ — the cessation; bhramataḥ — who has been wandering; yadā — when; bhavet — occurs; janasya — for a person; tarhi — at that time; acyuta — O infallible Lord; sat — of saintly devotees; samāgamaḥ — the association; sat-saṇgamaḥ — saintly association; yarhi — when; tadā — then; eva — only; sat — of the saintly; gatau — who is the goal; para — of superior (the causes of material creation); avara — and inferior (their products); īśe — for the Supreme Lord; tvayi — Yourself; jāyate — is born; matiḥ — devotion.
Translation
When the material life of a wandering soul has ceased, O Acyuta, he may attain the association of Your devotees. And when he associates with them, there awakens in him devotion unto You, who are the goal of the devotees and the Lord of all causes and their effects.
Purport
Ācāryas Jīva Gosvāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī agree on the following point: Although it is stated here that when material life ceases one attains the association of devotees, in fact it is the association of the Lord’s devotees that enables one to transcend material existence. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains this apparent inversion of sequence by quoting the Kāvya-prakāśa (10.153) as follows: kārya-kāraṇayoś ca paurvāparya-viparyayo vijñeyātiśayoktiḥ syāt sa. “A statement in which the logical order of a cause and its effect is reversed should be understood as atiśayokti, emphasis by extreme assertion.” Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī cites the following commentary on this statement: kāraṇasya śīghra-kārītāṁ vaktuṁ kāryasya pūrvam uktau. “To express the swift action of a cause, one may assert the result before the cause.”
In this connection Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the merciful association of the Lord’s devotees makes possible our determination to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. And the ācārya agrees with Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī that this verse is an instance of atiśayokti.
Devanagari
मन्ये ममानुग्रह ईश ते कृतो
राज्यानुबन्धापगमो यदृच्छया ।
य: प्रार्थ्यते साधुभिरेकचर्यया
वनं विविक्षद्भिरखण्डभूमिपै: ॥ ५४ ॥
राज्यानुबन्धापगमो यदृच्छया ।
य: प्रार्थ्यते साधुभिरेकचर्यया
वनं विविक्षद्भिरखण्डभूमिपै: ॥ ५४ ॥
Verse text
manye mamānugraha īśa te kṛto
rājyānubandhāpagamo yadṛcchayā
yaḥ prārthyate sādhubhir eka-caryayā
vanaṁ vivikṣadbhir akhaṇḍa-bhūmi-paiḥ
rājyānubandhāpagamo yadṛcchayā
yaḥ prārthyate sādhubhir eka-caryayā
vanaṁ vivikṣadbhir akhaṇḍa-bhūmi-paiḥ
Synonyms
manye — I think; mama — to me; anugrahaḥ — mercy; īśa — O Lord; te — by You; kṛtaḥ — done; rājya — to kingdom; anubandha — of attachment; apagamaḥ — the removal; yadṛcchayā — spontaneous; yaḥ — which; prārthyate — is prayed for; sādhubhiḥ — saintly; eka-caryayā — in solitude; vanam — the forest; vivikṣadbhiḥ — who desire to enter; akhaṇḍa — unlimited; bhūmi — of lands; paiḥ — by rulers.
Translation
My Lord, I think You have shown me mercy, since my attachment to my kingdom has spontaneously ceased. Such freedom is prayed for by saintly rulers of vast empires who desire to enter the forest for a life of solitude.
Devanagari
न कामयेऽन्यं तव पादसेवना-
दकिञ्चनप्रार्थ्यतमाद्वरं विभो ।
आराध्य कस्त्वां ह्यपवर्गदं हरे
वृणीत आर्यो वरमात्मबन्धनम् ॥ ५५ ॥
दकिञ्चनप्रार्थ्यतमाद्वरं विभो ।
आराध्य कस्त्वां ह्यपवर्गदं हरे
वृणीत आर्यो वरमात्मबन्धनम् ॥ ५५ ॥
Verse text
na kāmaye ’nyaṁ tava pāda-sevanād
akiñcana-prārthyatamād varaṁ vibho
ārādhya kas tvāṁ hy apavarga-daṁ hare
vṛṇīta āryo varam ātma-bandhanam
akiñcana-prārthyatamād varaṁ vibho
ārādhya kas tvāṁ hy apavarga-daṁ hare
vṛṇīta āryo varam ātma-bandhanam
Synonyms
na kāmaye — I do not desire; anyam — another; tava — Your; pāda — of the feet; sevanāt — than the service; akiñcana — by those who want nothing material; prārthya-tamāt — which is the favorite object of entreaty; varam — boon; vibho — O all-powerful one; ārādhya — worshiping; kaḥ — who; tvām — You; hi — indeed; apavarga — of liberation; dam — the bestower; hare — O Lord Hari; vṛṇīta — would choose; āryaḥ — a spiritually advanced person; varam — boon; ātma — his own; bandhanam — (cause of) bondage.
Translation
O all-powerful one, I desire no boon other than service to Your lotus feet, the boon most eagerly sought by those free of material desire. O Hari, what enlightened person who worships You, the giver of liberation, would choose a boon that causes his own bondage?
Purport
The Lord offered Mucukunda anything he desired, but Mucukunda desired only the Lord. This is pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Devanagari
तस्माद्विसृज्याशिष ईश सर्वतो
रजस्तम:सत्त्वगुणानुबन्धना: ।
निरञ्जनं निर्गुणमद्वयं परं
त्वां ज्ञाप्तिमात्रं पुरुषं व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ ५६ ॥
रजस्तम:सत्त्वगुणानुबन्धना: ।
निरञ्जनं निर्गुणमद्वयं परं
त्वां ज्ञाप्तिमात्रं पुरुषं व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ ५६ ॥
Verse text
tasmād visṛjyāśiṣa īśa sarvato
rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇānubandhanāḥ
nirañjanaṁ nirguṇam advayaṁ paraṁ
tvāṁ jñāpti-mātraṁ puruṣaṁ vrajāmy aham
rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇānubandhanāḥ
nirañjanaṁ nirguṇam advayaṁ paraṁ
tvāṁ jñāpti-mātraṁ puruṣaṁ vrajāmy aham
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore; visṛjya — putting aside; āśiṣaḥ — desirable objects; īśa — O Lord; sarvataḥ — entirely; rajaḥ — with passion; tamaḥ — ignorance; sattva — and goodness; guṇa — the material modes; anu-bandhanāḥ — entangled; nirañjanam — free from mundane designations; nirguṇam — transcendental to the material modes; advayam — nondual; param — supreme; tvām — You; jñāpti-mātram — pure knowledge; puruṣam — the original person; vrajāmi — am approaching; aham — I.
Translation
Therefore, O Lord, having put aside all objects of material desire, which are bound to the modes of passion, ignorance and goodness, I am approaching You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for shelter. You are not covered by mundane designations; rather, You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, full in pure knowledge and transcendental to the material modes.
Purport
The word nirguṇam here indicates that the Lord’s existence is beyond the qualities of material nature. One might argue that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body is made of material nature, but here the word advayam refutes that argument. There is no duality in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s existence. His eternal, spiritual body is Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is God.
Devanagari
चिरमिह वृजिनार्तस्तप्यमानोऽनुतापै-
रवितृषषडमित्रोऽलब्धशान्ति: कथञ्चित् ।
शरणद समुपेतस्त्वत्पदाब्जं परात्म-
नभयमृतमशोकं पाहि मापन्नमीश ॥ ५७ ॥
रवितृषषडमित्रोऽलब्धशान्ति: कथञ्चित् ।
शरणद समुपेतस्त्वत्पदाब्जं परात्म-
नभयमृतमशोकं पाहि मापन्नमीश ॥ ५७ ॥
Verse text
ciram iha vṛjinārtas tapyamāno ’nutāpair
avitṛṣa-ṣaḍ-amitro ’labdha-śāntiḥ kathañcit
śaraṇa-da samupetas tvat-padābjaṁ parātman
abhayam ṛtam aśokaṁ pāhi māpannam īśa
avitṛṣa-ṣaḍ-amitro ’labdha-śāntiḥ kathañcit
śaraṇa-da samupetas tvat-padābjaṁ parātman
abhayam ṛtam aśokaṁ pāhi māpannam īśa
Synonyms
ciram — for a long time; iha — in this world; vṛjina — by disturbances; ārtaḥ — distressed; tapyamānaḥ — tormented; anutāpaiḥ — with remorse; avitṛṣa — unsatiated; ṣaṭ — six; amitraḥ — whose enemies (the five senses and the mind); alabdha — not attaining; śāntiḥ — peace; kathañcit — by some means; śaraṇa — of shelter; da — O bestower; samupetaḥ — who have approached; tvat — Your; pada-abjam — lotus feet; para-ātman — O Supreme Soul; abhayam — fearless; ṛtam — the truth; aśokam — free from sorrow; pāhi — please protect; mā — me; āpannam — who am confronted with dangers; īśa — O Lord.
Translation
For so long I have been pained by troubles in this world and have been burning with lamentation. My six enemies are never satiated, and I can find no peace. Therefore, O giver of shelter, O Supreme Soul, please protect me. O Lord, in the midst of danger I have by good fortune approached Your lotus feet, which are the truth and which thus make one fearless and free of sorrow.
Devanagari
श्रीभगवानुवाच
सार्वभौम महाराज मतिस्ते विमलोर्जिता ।
वरै: प्रलोभितस्यापि न कामैर्विहता यत: ॥ ५८ ॥
सार्वभौम महाराज मतिस्ते विमलोर्जिता ।
वरै: प्रलोभितस्यापि न कामैर्विहता यत: ॥ ५८ ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
sārvabhauma mahā-rāja
matis te vimalorjitā
varaiḥ pralobhitasyāpi
na kāmair vihatā yataḥ
sārvabhauma mahā-rāja
matis te vimalorjitā
varaiḥ pralobhitasyāpi
na kāmair vihatā yataḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; sārvabhauma — O emperor; mahā-rāja — great ruler; matiḥ — mind; te — Your; vimala — spotless; ūrjitā — potent; varaiḥ — with benedictions; pralobhitasya — of (you) who were enticed; api — even though; na — not; kāmaiḥ — by material desires; vihatā — spoiled; yataḥ — since.
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: O emperor, great ruler, your mind is pure and potent. Though I enticed You with benedictions, your mind was not overcome by material desires.
Devanagari
प्रलोभितो वरैर्यत्त्वमप्रमादाय विद्धि तत् ।
न धीरेकान्तभक्तानामाशीर्भिर्भिद्यते क्वचित् ॥ ५९ ॥
न धीरेकान्तभक्तानामाशीर्भिर्भिद्यते क्वचित् ॥ ५९ ॥
Verse text
pralobhito varair yat tvam
apramādāya viddhi tat
na dhīr ekānta-bhaktānām
āśīrbhir bhidyate kvacit
apramādāya viddhi tat
na dhīr ekānta-bhaktānām
āśīrbhir bhidyate kvacit
Synonyms
pralobhitaḥ — enticed; varaiḥ — with benedictions; yat — which fact; tvam — you; apramādāya — for (showing your) freedom from bewilderment; viddhi — please know; tat — that; na — not; dhīḥ — the intelligence; ekānta — exclusive; bhaktānām — of devotees; āśīrbhiḥ — by blessings; bhidyate — is diverted; kvacit — ever.
Translation
Understand that I enticed you with benedictions just to prove that you would not be deceived. The intelligence of My unalloyed devotees is never diverted by material blessings.
Devanagari
युञ्जानानामभक्तानां प्राणायामादिभिर्मन: ।
अक्षीणवासनं राजन् दृश्यते पुनरुत्थितम् ॥ ६० ॥
अक्षीणवासनं राजन् दृश्यते पुनरुत्थितम् ॥ ६० ॥
Verse text
yuñjānānām abhaktānāṁ
prāṇāyāmādibhir manaḥ
akṣīṇa-vāsanaṁ rājan
dṛśyate punar utthitam
prāṇāyāmādibhir manaḥ
akṣīṇa-vāsanaṁ rājan
dṛśyate punar utthitam
Synonyms
yuñjānānām — who are engaging themselves; abhaktānām — of nondevotees; prāṇāyāma — with prāṇāyāma (yogic breath control); ādibhiḥ — and other practices; manaḥ — the minds; akṣīṇa — not eliminated; vāsanam — the last traces of whose material desire; rājan — O King (Mucukunda); dṛśyate — is seen; punaḥ — again; utthitam — waking (to thoughts of sense gratification).
Translation
The minds of nondevotees who engage in such practices as prāṇāyama are not fully cleansed of material desires. Thus, O King, material desires are again seen to arise in their minds.
Devanagari
विचरस्व महीं कामं मय्यावेशितमानस: ।
अस्त्वेवं नित्यदा तुभ्यं भक्तिर्मय्यनपायिनी ॥ ६१ ॥
अस्त्वेवं नित्यदा तुभ्यं भक्तिर्मय्यनपायिनी ॥ ६१ ॥
Verse text
vicarasva mahīṁ kāmaṁ
mayy āveśita-mānasaḥ
astv evaṁ nityadā tubhyaṁ
bhaktir mayy anapāyinī
mayy āveśita-mānasaḥ
astv evaṁ nityadā tubhyaṁ
bhaktir mayy anapāyinī
Synonyms
Translation
Wander this earth at will, with your mind fixed on Me. May you always possess such unfailing devotion for Me.
Devanagari
क्षात्रधर्मस्थितो जन्तून् न्यवधीर्मृगयादिभि: ।
समाहितस्तत्तपसा जह्यघं मदुपाश्रित: ॥ ६२ ॥
समाहितस्तत्तपसा जह्यघं मदुपाश्रित: ॥ ६२ ॥
Verse text
kṣātra-dharma-sthito jantūn
nyavadhīr mṛgayādibhiḥ
samāhitas tat tapasā
jahy aghaṁ mad-upāśritaḥ
nyavadhīr mṛgayādibhiḥ
samāhitas tat tapasā
jahy aghaṁ mad-upāśritaḥ
Synonyms
kṣātra — of the ruling class; dharma — in the religious principles; sthitaḥ — situated; jantūn — living beings; nyavadhīḥ — you killed; mṛgayā — in the course of hunting; ādibhiḥ — and other activities; samāhitaḥ — fully concentrated; tat — that; tapasā — by penances; jahi — you should eradicate; agham — sinful reaction; mat — in Me; upāśritaḥ — taking shelter.
Translation
Because you followed the principles of a kṣatriya, you killed living beings while hunting and performing other duties. You must vanquish the sins thus incurred by carefully executing penances while remaining surrendered to Me.
Devanagari
जन्मन्यनन्तरे राजन् सर्वभूतसुहृत्तम: ।
भूत्वा द्विजवरस्त्वं वै मामुपैष्यसि केवलम् ॥ ६३ ॥
भूत्वा द्विजवरस्त्वं वै मामुपैष्यसि केवलम् ॥ ६३ ॥
Verse text
janmany anantare rājan
sarva-bhūta-suhṛttamaḥ
bhūtvā dvija-varas tvaṁ vai
mām upaiṣyasi kevalam
sarva-bhūta-suhṛttamaḥ
bhūtvā dvija-varas tvaṁ vai
mām upaiṣyasi kevalam
Synonyms
Translation
O King, in your very next life you will become an excellent brāhmaṇa, the greatest well-wisher of all creatures, and certainly come to Me alone.
Purport
Śrī Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati: “A person attains peace by understanding Me to be the well-wishing friend of all living beings.” Lord Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees work together to rescue the fallen souls from the ocean of illusion. This is the real purport of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Fifty-first Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Deliverance of Mucukunda.”