Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|Canto 10 Chapter 64

The Deliverance of King Nṛga

VERSE 10.64.1

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

ekadopavanaṁ rājan
jagmur yadu-kumārakāḥ
vihartuṁ sāmba-pradyumna
cāru-bhānu-gadādayaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — the son of Badarāyaṇa (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); uvāca — said; ekadā — one day; upavanam — to a small forest; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); jagmuḥ — went; yadu-kumārakāḥ — boys of the Yadu dynasty; vihartum — to play; sāmba-pradyumna-cāru-bhānu-gada-ādayaḥ — Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and others.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: O King, one day Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and other young boys of the Yadu dynasty went to a small forest to play.

VERSE 10.64.2

krīḍitvā su-ciraṁ tatra
vicinvantaḥ pipāsitāḥ
jalaṁ nirudake kūpe
dadṛśuḥ sattvam adbhutam

SYNONYMS

krīḍitvā — after playing; su-ciram — for a long time; tatra — there; vicinvantaḥ — looking for; pipāsitāḥ — thirsty; jalam — water; nirudake — waterless; kūpe — in a well; dadṛśuḥ — they saw; sattvam — a creature; adbhutam — amazing.

TRANSLATION

After playing for a long time, they became thirsty. As they searched for water, they looked inside a dry well and saw a peculiar creature.

VERSE 10.64.3

kṛkalāsaṁ giri-nibhaṁ
vīkṣya vismita-mānasāḥ
tasya coddharaṇe yatnaṁ
cakrus te kṛpayānvitāḥ

SYNONYMS

kṛkalāsam — a lizard; giri — a mountain; nibham — resembling; vīkṣya — looking at; vismita — astonished; mānasāḥ — whose minds; tasya — of it; ca — and; uddharaṇe — in the lifting up; yatnam — effort; cakruḥ — made; te — they; kṛpayā anvitāḥ — feeling compassion.

TRANSLATION

The boys were astonished to behold this creature, a lizard who looked like a hill. They felt sorry for it and tried to lift it out of the well.

VERSE 10.64.4

carma-jais tāntavaiḥ pāśair
baddhvā patitam arbhakāḥ
nāśaknuran samuddhartuṁ
kṛṣṇāyācakhyur utsukāḥ

SYNONYMS

carma-jaiḥ — made of leather; tāntavaiḥ — and made of spun thread; pāśaiḥ — with ropes; baddhvā — attaching; patitam — the fallen creature; arbhakāḥ — the boys; na aśaknuran — they were not able; samuddhartum — to lift out; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; ācakhyuḥ — they reported; utsukāḥ — excitedly.

TRANSLATION

They caught on to the trapped lizard with leather thongs and then with woven ropes, but still they could not lift it out. So they went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and excitedly told Him about the creature.

VERSE 10.64.5

tatrāgatyāravindākṣo
bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ
vīkṣyojjahāra vāmena
taṁ kareṇa sa līlayā

SYNONYMS

tatra — there; āgatya — going; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; viśva — of the universe; bhāvanaḥ — the maintainer; vīkṣya — seeing; ujjahāra — picked up; vāmena — left; tam — it; kareṇa — with His hand; saḥ — He; līlayā — easily.

TRANSLATION

The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, maintainer of the universe, went to the well and saw the lizard. Then with His left hand He easily lifted it out.

VERSE 10.64.6

sa uttamaḥ-śloka-karābhimṛṣṭo
vihāya sadyaḥ kṛkalāsa-rūpam
santapta-cāmīkara-cāru-varṇaḥ
svargy adbhutālaṅkaraṇāmbara-srak

SYNONYMS

saḥ — it; uttamaḥ-śloka — of the glorious Lord; kara — by the hand; abhimṛṣṭaḥ — touched; vihāya — giving up; sadyaḥ — immediately; kṛkalāsa — of a lizard; rūpam — the form; santapta — molten; cāmīkara — of gold; caru — beautiful; varṇaḥ — whose complexion; svargī — a resident of heaven; adbhuta — amazing; alaṅkaraṇa — whose ornaments; ambara — clothing; srak — and garlands.

TRANSLATION

Touched by the hand of the glorious Supreme Lord, the being at once gave up its lizard form and assumed that of a resident of heaven. His complexion was beautifully colored like molten gold, and he was adorned with wonderful ornaments, clothes and garlands.

VERSE 10.64.7

papraccha vidvān api tan-nidānaṁ
janeṣu vikhyāpayituṁ mukundaḥ
kas tvaṁ mahā-bhāga vareṇya-rūpo
devottamaṁ tvāṁ gaṇayāmi nūnam

SYNONYMS

papraccha — He asked; vidvān — well aware; api — although; tat — of this; nidānam — the cause; janeṣu — among people in general; vikhyāpayitum — to make it known; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kaḥ — who; tvam — you; mahā-bhāga — O fortunate one; vareṇya — excellent; rūpaḥ — whose form; deva-uttamam — an exalted demigod; tvām — You; gaṇayāmi — I should consider; nūnam — certainly.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa understood the situation, but to inform people in general He inquired as follows: “Who are you, O greatly fortunate one? Seeing your excellent form, I think you must surely be an exalted demigod.

VERSE 10.64.8

daśām imāṁ vā katamena karmaṇā
samprāpito ’sy atad-arhaḥ su-bhadra
ātmānam ākhyāhi vivitsatāṁ no
yan manyase naḥ kṣamam atra vaktum

SYNONYMS

daśām — condition; imām — to this; — and; katamena — by what; karmaṇā — action; samprāpitaḥ — brought; asi — you are; atat-arhaḥ — not deserving it; su-bhadra — O good soul; ātmānam — yourself; ākhyāhi — please explain; vivitsatām — who are eager to know; naḥ — to us; yat — if; manyase — you think; naḥ — to us; kṣamam — proper; atra — here; vaktum — to speak.

TRANSLATION

“By what past activity were you brought to this condition? It seems you did not deserve such a fate, O good soul. We are eager to know about you, so please inform us about yourself — if, that is, you think this the proper time and place to tell us.”

VERSE 10.64.9

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti sma rājā sampṛṣṭaḥ
kṛṣṇenānanta-mūrtinā
mādhavaṁ praṇipatyāha
kirīṭenārka-varcasā

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; sma — indeed; rājā — the King; sampṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; mūrtinā — whose forms; mādhavam — to Him, Lord Mādhava; praṇipatya — bowing down; āha — he spoke; kirīṭena — with his helmet; arka — like the sun; varcasa — whose brilliance.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by Kṛṣṇa, whose forms are unlimited, the King, his helmet as dazzling as the sun, bowed down to Lord Mādhava and replied as follows.

VERSE 10.64.10

nṛga uvāca

nṛgo nāma narendro ’ham
ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ prabho
dāniṣv ākhyāyamāneṣu
yadi te karṇam aspṛśam

SYNONYMS

nṛgaḥ uvāca — King Nṛga said; nṛgaḥ nāma — named Nṛga; nara-indraḥ — a ruler of men; aham — I; ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ — a son of Ikṣvāku; prabho — O Lord; dāniṣu — among men of charity; ākhyāyamāneṣu — when being enumerated; yadi — perhaps; te — Your; karṇam — ear; aspṛśam — I have touched.

TRANSLATION

King Nṛga said: I am a king known as Nṛga, the son of Ikṣvāku. Perhaps, Lord, You have heard of me when lists of charitable men were recited.

VERSE 10.64.11

kiṁ nu te ’viditaṁ nātha
sarva-bhūtātma-sākṣiṇaḥ
kālenāvyāhata-dṛśo
vakṣye ’thāpi tavājñayā

SYNONYMS

kim — what; nu — indeed; te — to You; aviditam — unknown; nātha — O master; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātma — of the intelligence; sākṣiṇaḥ — to the witness; kālena — by time; avyāhata — undisturbed; dṛśaḥ — whose vision; vakṣye — I will speak; atha api — nevertheless; tava — Your; ājñayā — by the order.

TRANSLATION

What could possibly be unknown to You, O master? With vision undisturbed by time, You witness the minds of all living beings. Nevertheless, on Your order I will speak.

VERSE 10.64.12

yāvatyaḥ sikatā bhūmer
yāvatyo divi tārakāḥ
yāvatyo varṣa-dhārāś ca
tāvatīr adadaṁ sma gāḥ

SYNONYMS

yāvatyaḥ — as many; sikatāḥ — grains of sand; bhūmeḥ — belonging to the earth; yāvatyaḥ — as many; divi — in the sky; tārakāḥ — stars; yāvatyaḥ — as many; varṣa — of a rainfall; dhārāḥ — drops; ca — and; tāvatīḥ — that many; adadam — I gave; sma — indeed; gāḥ — cows.

TRANSLATION

I gave in charity as many cows as there are grains of sand on the earth, stars in the heavens, or drops in a rain shower.

VERSE 10.64.13

payasvinīs taruṇīḥ śīla-rūpa-
guṇopapannāḥ kapilā hema-sṛṅgīḥ
nyāyārjitā rūpya-khurāḥ sa-vatsā
dukūla-mālābharaṇā dadāv aham

SYNONYMS

payaḥ-vinīḥ — having milk; taruṇīḥ — young; śīla — with good behavior; rūpa — beauty; guṇa — and other qualities; upapannāḥ — endowed; kapilāḥ — brown; hema — gold; śṛṅgīḥ — with horns; nyāya — fairly; arjitāḥ — earned; rūpya — silver; khurāḥ — with hooves; sa-vatsāḥ — together with their calves; dukūla — fine cloth; mālā — with garlands; ābharaṇāḥ — adorned; dadau — gave; aham — I.

TRANSLATION

Young, brown, milk-laden cows, who were well-behaved, beautiful and endowed with good qualities, who were all acquired honestly, and who had gilded horns, silver-plated hooves and decorations of fine ornamental cloths and garlands — such were the cows, along with their calves, that I gave in charity.

VERSE 10.64.14-15

sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ
sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ
tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ
prādāṁ yuvabhyo dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ

go-bhū-hiraṇyāyatanāśva-hastinaḥ
kanyāḥ sa-dāsīs tila-rūpya-śayyāḥ
vāsāṁsi ratnāni paricchadān rathān
iṣṭaṁ ca yajñaiś caritaṁ ca pūrtam

SYNONYMS

su — well; alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ — who were ornamented; guṇa — good qualities; śīla — and character; vadbhyaḥ — who possessed; sīdat — distressed; kuṭumbebhyaḥ — whose families; ṛta — to truth; vratebhyaḥ — dedicated; tapaḥ — for austerity; śruta — well known; brahma — in the Vedas; vadānya — vastly learned; sadbhyaḥ — saintly; prādām — I gave; yuvabhyaḥ — who were young; dvija — to brāhmaṇas; pum-gavebhyaḥ — most exceptional; go — cows; bhū — land; hiraṇya — gold; āyatana — houses; aśva — horses; hastinaḥ — and elephants; kanyāḥ — marriageable daughters; sa — with; dāsīḥ — maidservants; tila — sesame; rūpya — silver; śayyāḥ — and beds; vāsāṁsi — clothing; ratnāni — jewels; paricchadān — furniture; rathān — chariots; iṣṭam — worship executed; ca — and; yajñaiḥ — by Vedic fire sacrifices; caritam — done; ca — and; pūrtam — pious works.

TRANSLATION

I first honored the brāhmaṇas who were recipients of my charity by decorating them with fine ornaments. Those most exalted brāhmaṇas, whose families were in need, were young and possessed of excellent character and qualities. They were dedicated to truth, famous for their austerity, vastly learned in the Vedic scriptures and saintly in their behavior. I gave them cows, land, gold and houses, along with horses, elephants and marriageable girls with maidservants, as well as sesame, silver, fine beds, clothing, jewels, furniture and chariots. In addition, I performed Vedic sacrifices and executed various pious welfare activities.

VERSE 10.64.16

kasyacid dvija-mukhyasya
bhraṣṭā gaur mama go-dhane
sampṛktāviduṣā sā ca
mayā dattā dvijātaye

SYNONYMS

kasyacit — of a certain; dvija — brāhmaṇa; mukhyasya — first class; bhraṣṭā — lost; gauḥ — a cow; mama — my; go-dhane — in the herd; sampṛktā — becoming mixed; aviduṣā — who was unaware; — she; ca — and; mayā — by me; dattā — given; dvi-jātaye — to (another) brāhmaṇa.

TRANSLATION

Once a cow belonging to a certain first-class brāhmaṇa wandered away and entered my herd. Unaware of this, I gave that cow in charity to a different brāhmaṇa.

VERSE 10.64.17

tāṁ nīyamānāṁ tat-svāmī
dṛṣṭrovāca mameti tam
mameti parigrāhy āha
nṛgo me dattavān iti

SYNONYMS

tām — her, the cow; nīyamānām — being led away; tat — her; svāmī — master; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; uvāca — said; mama — mine; iti — thus; tam — to him; mama — mine; iti — thus; parigrāhī — he who had accepted the gift; āha — said; nṛgaḥ — King Nṛga; me — to me; dattavān — gave; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

When the cow’s first owner saw her being led away, he said, “She is mine!” The second brāhmaṇa, who had accepted her as a gift, replied, “No, she’s mine! Nṛga gave her to me.”

VERSE 10.64.18

viprau vivadamānau mām
ūcatuḥ svārtha-sādhakau
bhavān dātāpaharteti
tac chrutvā me ’bhavad bhramaḥ

SYNONYMS

viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; vivadamānau — arguing; mām — to me; ūcatuḥ — said; sva — their own; artha — interest; sādhakau — fulfilling; bhavān — you, sir; dātā — giver; apahartā — taker; iti — thus; tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; me — my; abhavat — there arose; bhramaḥ — consternation.

TRANSLATION

As the two brāhmaṇas argued, each trying to fulfill his own purpose, they came to me. One of them said, “You gave me this cow,” and the other said, “But you stole her from me.” Hearing this, I was bewildered.

VERSE 10.64.19-20

anunītāv ubhau viprau
dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai
gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ
dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām

bhavantāv anugṛhṇītāṁ
kiṅkarasyāvijānataḥ
samuddharataṁ māṁ kṛcchrāt
patantaṁ niraye ’śucau

SYNONYMS

anunītau — humbly requested; ubhau — both; viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; dharma — of religious duty; kṛcchra — a difficult situation; gatena — by (me) who was in; vai — indeed; gavām — of cows; lakṣam — a lakh (one hundred thousand); prakṛṣṭānām — best quality; dāsyāmi — I will give; eṣā — this one; pradīyatām — please give; bhavantau — the two of you; anugṛhṇītām — should please show mercy; kiṅkarasya — to your servant; avijānataḥ — who was unaware; samuddharatam — please save; mām — me; kṛcchrāt — from danger; patantam — falling; niraye — into hell; aśucau — unclean.

TRANSLATION

Finding myself in a terrible dilemma concerning my duty in the situation, I humbly entreated both the brāhmaṇas: “I will give one hundred thousand of the best cows in exchange for this one. Please give her back to me. Your good selves should be merciful to me, your servant. I did not know what I was doing. Please save me from this difficult situation, or I’ll surely fall into a filthy hell.”

VERSE 10.64.21

nāhaṁ pratīcche vai rājann
ity uktvā svāmy apākramat
nānyad gavām apy ayutam
icchāmīty aparo yayau

SYNONYMS

na — not; aham — I; pratīcche — want; vai — indeed; rājan — O King; iti — thus; uktvā — saying; svāmī — the owner; apākramat — went away; na — not; anyat — in addition; gavām — of cows; api — even; ayutam — ten thousand; icchāmi — I want; iti — thus saying; aparaḥ — the other (brāhmaṇa); yayau — left.

TRANSLATION

The present owner of the cow said, “I don’t want anything in exchange for this cow, O King,” and went away. The other brāhmaṇa declared, “I don’t want even ten thousand more cows [than you are offering],” and he too went away.

VERSE 10.64.22

etasminn antare yāmair
dūtair nīto yama-kṣayam
yamena pṛṣṭas tatrāhaṁ
deva-deva jagat-pate

SYNONYMS

etasmin — at this; antare — opportunity; yāmaiḥ — of Yamarāja, the lord of death; dūtaiḥ — by the messengers; nītaḥ — taken; yama-kṣayam — to the abode of Yamarāja; yamena — by Yamarāja; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — there; aham — I; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; pate — O master.

TRANSLATION

O Lord of lords, O master of the universe, the agents of Yamarāja, taking advantage of the opportunity thus created, later carried me to his abode. There Yamarāja himself questioned me.

VERSE 10.64.23

pūrvaṁ tvam aśubhaṁ bhuṅkṣa
utāho nṛpate śubham
nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya
paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ

SYNONYMS

pūrvam — first; tvam — you; aśubham — impious reactions; bhuṅkṣe — wish to experience; uta āha u — or else; nṛ-pate — O King; śubham — pious reactions; na — not; antam — the end; dānasya — of charity; dharmasya — religious; paśye — I see; lokasya — of the world; bhāsvataḥ — shining.

TRANSLATION

[Yamarāja said:] My dear King, do you wish to experience the results of your sins first, or those of your piety? Indeed, I see no end to the dutiful charity you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the radiant heavenly planets.

VERSE 10.64.24

pūrvaṁ devāśubhaṁ bhuñja
iti prāha pateti saḥ
tāvad adrākṣam ātmānaṁ
kṛkalāsaṁ patan prabho

SYNONYMS

pūrvam — first; deva — O lord; aśubham — the sinful reactions; bhuñje — I will experience; iti — thus saying; prāha — said; pata — fall; iti — thus; saḥ — he; tāvat — just then; adrākṣam — I saw; ātmānam — myself; kṛkalāsam — a lizard; patan — falling; prabho — O master.

TRANSLATION

I replied, “First, my lord, let me suffer my sinful reactions,” and Yamarāja said, “Then fall!” At once I fell, and while falling I saw myself becoming a lizard, O master.

VERSE 10.64.25

brahmaṇyasya vadānyasya
tava dāsasya keśava
smṛtir nādyāpi vidhvastā
bhavat-sandarśanārthinaḥ

SYNONYMS

brahmaṇyasya — who was devoted to the brāhmaṇas; vadānyasya — who was generous; tava — Your; dāsasya — of the servant; keśava — O Kṛṣṇa; smṛtiḥ — the memory; na — not; adya — today; api — even; vidhvastā — lost; bhavat — Your; sandarśana — audience; arthinaḥ — who hankered for.

TRANSLATION

O Keśava, as Your servant I was devoted to the brāhmaṇas and generous to them, and I always hankered for Your audience. Therefore even till now I have never forgotten [my past life].

VERSE 10.64.26

sa tvaṁ kathaṁ mama vibho ’kṣi-pathaḥ parātmā
yogeśvaraḥ śruti-dṛśāmala-hṛd-vibhāvyaḥ
sākṣād adhokṣaja uru-vyasanāndha-buddheḥ
syān me ’nudṛśya iha yasya bhavāpavargaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — He; tvam — Yourself; katham — how; mama — to me; vibho — O almighty one; akṣi-pathaḥ — visible; para-ātmā — the Supreme Soul; yoga — of mystic yoga; īśvaraiḥ — by masters; śruti — of the scriptures; dṛśā — by the eye; amala — spotless; hṛt — within their hearts; vibhāvyaḥ — to be meditated upon; sākṣāt — directly visible; adhokṣaja — O transcendental Lord, who cannot be seen by material senses; uru — severe; vyasana — by troubles; andha — blinded; buddheḥ — whose intelligence; syāt — it may be; me — for me; anudṛśyaḥ — to be perceived; iha — in this world; yasya — whose; bhava — of material life; apavargaḥ — cessation.

TRANSLATION

O almighty one, how is it that my eyes see You here before me? You are the Supreme Soul, whom the greatest masters of mystic yoga can meditate upon within their pure hearts only by employing the spiritual eye of the Vedas. Then how, O transcendental Lord, are You directly visible to me, since my intelligence has been blinded by the severe tribulations of material life? Only one who has finished his material entanglement in this world should be able to see You.

VERSE 10.64.27-28

deva-deva jagan-nātha
govinda puruṣottama
nārāyaṇa hṛṣīkeśa
puṇya-ślokācyutāvyaya

anujānīhi māṁ kṛṣṇa
yāntaṁ deva-gatiṁ prabho
yatra kvāpi sataś ceto
bhūyān me tvat-padāspadam

SYNONYMS

deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; nātha — O master; go-vinda — O Lord of the cows; puruṣa-uttama — O Supreme Personality; nārāyaṇa — O foundation of all living beings; hṛṣīkeśa — O master of the senses; puṇya-śloka — O You who are glorified in transcendental poetry; acyuta — O infallible one; avyaya — O undiminishing one; anujānīhi — please give leave; mām — to me; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; yāntam — who am going; deva-gatim — to the world of the demigods; prabho — O master; yatra kva api — wherever; sataḥ — residing; cetaḥ — the mind; bhūyāt — may it be; me — my; tvat — Your; pada — of the feet; āspadam — whose shelter.

TRANSLATION

O Devadeva, Jagannātha, Govinda, Puruṣottama, Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇyaśloka, Acyuta, Avyaya! O Kṛṣṇa, please permit me to depart for the world of the demigods. Wherever I live, O master, may my mind always take shelter of Your feet.

VERSE 10.64.29

namas te sarva-bhāvāya
brahmaṇe ’nanta-śaktaye
kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya
yogānāṁ pataye namaḥ

SYNONYMS

namaḥ — obeisances; te — to You; sarva-bhāvāya — the source of all beings; brahmaṇe — the Supreme Absolute Truth; ananta — unlimited; śaktaye — the possessor of potencies; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vāsudevāya — the son of Vasudeva; yogānām — of all processes of yoga; pataye — to the Lord; namaḥ — obeisances.

TRANSLATION

I offer my repeated obeisances unto You, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva. You are the source of all beings, the Supreme Absolute Truth, the possessor of unlimited potencies, the master of all spiritual disciplines.

VERSE 10.64.30

ity uktvā taṁ parikramya
pādau spṛṣṭvā sva-maulinā
anujñāto vimānāgryam
āruhat paśyatāṁ nṛṇām

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; pādau — His feet; spṛṣṭvā — touching; sva — with his; maulinā — crown; anujñātaḥ — given leave; vimāna — a celestial airplane; agryam — excellent; āruhat — he boarded; paśyatām — as they watched; nṛṇām — humans.

TRANSLATION

Having spoken thus, Mahārāja Nṛga circumambulated Lord Kṛṣṇa and touched his crown to the Lord’s feet. Granted permission to depart, King Nṛga then boarded a wonderful celestial airplane as all the people present looked on.

VERSE 10.64.31

kṛṣṇaḥ parijanaṁ prāha
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ
brahmaṇya-devo dharmātmā
rājanyān anuśikṣayan

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; parijanam — His personal associates; prāha — addressed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality; devakī-sutaḥ — son of Devakī; brahmaṇya — devoted to the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — God; dharma — of religion; ātmā — the soul; rājanyān — the royal class; anuśikṣayan — in effect instructing.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī — who is especially devoted to the brāhmaṇas and who embodies the essence of religion, then spoke to His personal associates and thus instructed the royal class in general.

VERSE 10.64.32

durjaraṁ bata brahma-svaṁ
bhuktam agner manāg api
tejīyaso ’pi kim uta
rājñāṁ īśvara-māninām

SYNONYMS

durjaram — indigestible; bata — indeed; brahma — of a brāhmaṇa; svam — the property; bhuktam — consumed; agneḥ — than fire; manāk — a little; api — even; tejīyasaḥ — for one who is more intensely potent; api — even; kim uta — what then to speak of; rājñām — for kings; īśvara — controllers; māninām — who presume themselves.

TRANSLATION

[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] How indigestible is the property of a brāhmaṇa, even when enjoyed just slightly and by one more potent than fire! What then to speak of kings who try to enjoy it, presuming themselves lords.

VERSE 10.64.33

nāhaṁ hālāhalaṁ manye
viṣaṁ yasya pratikriyā
brahma-svaṁ hi viṣaṁ proktaṁ
nāsya pratividhir bhuvi

SYNONYMS

na — not; aham — I; hālāhalam — the poison named hālāhala, which Lord Śiva is famous for having drunk without toxic effects; manye — I consider; viṣam — poison; yasya — of which; pratikriyā — counteraction; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; hi — indeed; viṣam — poison; proktam — called; na — not; asya — for it; pratividhiḥ — antidote; bhuvi — in the world.

TRANSLATION

I do not consider hālāhala to be real poison, because it has an antidote. But a brāhmaṇa’s property, when stolen, can truly be called poison, for it has no antidote in this world.

VERSE 10.64.34

hinasti viṣam attāraṁ
vahnir adbhiḥ praśāmyati
kulaṁ sa-mūlaṁ dahati
brahma-svāraṇi-pāvakaḥ

SYNONYMS

hinasti — destroys; viṣam — poison; attāram — the one who ingests; vahniḥ — fire; adbhiḥ — with water; praśāmyati — is extinguished; kulam — one’s family; sa-mūlam — to the root; dahati — burns; brahma-sva — a brāhmaṇa’s property; araṇi — whose kindling wood; pāvakaḥ — the fire.

TRANSLATION

Poison kills only the person who ingests it, and an ordinary fire may be extinguished with water. But the fire generated from the kindling wood of a brāhmaṇa’s property burns the thief’s entire family down to the root.

VERSE 10.64.35

brahma-svaṁ duranujñātaṁ
bhuktaṁ hanti tri-pūruṣam
prasahya tu balād bhuktaṁ
daśa pūrvān daśāparān

SYNONYMS

brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; duranujñātam — not given proper permission; bhuktam — enjoyed; hanti — destroys; tri — three; pūruṣam — persons; prasahya — by force; tu — but; balāt — resorting to external power (of the government, etc); bhuktam — enjoyed; daśa — ten; pūrvān — previous; daśa — ten; aparān — subsequent.

TRANSLATION

If a person enjoys a brāhmaṇa’s property without receiving due permission, that property destroys three generations of his family. But if he takes it by force or gets the government or other outsiders to help him usurp it, then ten generations of his ancestors and ten generations of his descendants are all destroyed.

VERSE 10.64.36

rājāno rāja-lakṣmyāndhā
nātma-pātaṁ vicakṣate
nirayaṁ ye ’bhimanyante
brahma-svaṁ sādhu bāliśāḥ

SYNONYMS

rājānaḥ — members of the kingly class; rāja — royal; lakṣmyā — by opulence; andhāḥ — blinded; na — do not; ātma — their own; pātam — fall; vicakṣate — foresee; nirayam — hell; ye — who; abhimanyante — hanker for; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; sādhu — as appropriate; bāliśaḥ — childish.

TRANSLATION

Members of the royal order, blinded by royal opulence, fail to foresee their own downfall. Childishly hankering to enjoy a brāhmaṇa’s property, they are actually hankering to go to hell.

VERSE 10.64.37-38

gṛhṇanti yāvataḥ pāṁśūn
krandatām aśru-bindavaḥ
viprāṇāṁ hṛta-vṛttīnām
vadānyānāṁ kuṭumbinām

rājāno rāja-kulyāś ca
tāvato ’bdān niraṅkuśāḥ
kumbhī-pākeṣu pacyante
brahma-dāyāpahāriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

gṛhṇanti — touch; yāvataḥ — as many; pāṁśūn — particles of dust; krandatām — who are crying; aśru-bindavaḥ — teardrops; viprāṇām — of brāhmaṇas; hṛta — taken away; vṛttīnām — whose means of support; vadānyānām — generous; kuṭumbinām — family men; rājānaḥ — the kings; rāja-kulyāḥ — other members of the royal families; ca — also; tāvataḥ — that many; abdān — years; niraṅkuśāḥ — uncontrolled; kumbhī-pākeṣu — in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka; pacyante — they are cooked; brahma-dāya — of the brāhmaṇa’s share; apahāriṇaḥ — the usurpers.

TRANSLATION

For as many years as there are particles of dust touched by the tears of generous brāhmaṇas who have dependent families and whose property is stolen, uncontrolled kings who usurp a brāhmaṇa’s property are cooked, along with their royal families, in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka.

VERSE 10.64.39

sva-dattāṁ para-dattāṁ vā
brahma-vṛttiṁ harec ca yaḥ
ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi
viṣṭhāyāṁ jāyate kṛmiḥ

SYNONYMS

sva — by himself; dattām — given; para — by another; dattām — given; — or; brahma-vṛttim — a brāhmaṇa’s property; haret — steals; ca — and; yaḥ — who; ṣaṣṭi — sixty; varṣa — of years; sahasrāṇi — thousands; viṣṭhāyām — in feces; jāyate — is born; kṛmiḥ — a worm.

TRANSLATION

Whether it be his own gift or someone else’s, a person who steals a brāhmaṇa’s property will take birth as a worm in feces for sixty thousand years.

VERSE 10.64.40

na me brahma-dhanaṁ bhūyād
yad gṛdhvālpāyuṣo narāḥ
parājitāś cyutā rājyād
bhavanty udvejino ’hayaḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; me — to Me; brahma — of brāhmaṇas; dhanam — the wealth; bhūyāt — may it come; yat — which; gṛdhvā — desiring; alpa-āyuṣaḥ — short-lived; narāḥ — men; parājitāḥ — defeated; cyutāḥ — deprived; rājyāt — of kingdom; bhavanti — become; udvejinaḥ — creators of distress; ahayaḥ — snakes.

TRANSLATION

I do not desire brāhmaṇas’ wealth. Those who lust after it become short-lived and are defeated. They lose their kingdoms and become snakes, who trouble others.

VERSE 10.64.41

vipraṁ kṛtāgasam api
naiva druhyata māmakāḥ
ghnantaṁ bahu śapantaṁ vā
namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

vipram — a learned brāhmaṇa; kṛta — having committed; āgasam — sin; api — even; na — not; eva — indeed; druhyata — do not treat inimically; māmakāḥ — O My followers; ghnantam — striking physically; bahu — repeatedly; śapantam — cursing; — or; namaḥ-kuruta — you should offer obeisances; nityaśaḥ — always.

TRANSLATION

My dear followers, never treat a learned brāhmaṇa harshly, even if he has sinned. Even if he attacks you physically or repeatedly curses you, always continue to offer him obeisances.

VERSE 10.64.42

yathāhaṁ praṇame viprān
anukālaṁ samāhitaḥ
tathā namata yūyaṁ ca
yo ’nyathā me sa daṇḍa-bhāk

SYNONYMS

yathā — as; aham — I; praṇame — bow down; viprān — to brāhmaṇas; anu-kālam — all the time; samāhitaḥ — carefully; tathā — so; namata — should bow down; yūyam — all of you; ca — also; yaḥ — one who; anyathā — (does) otherwise; me — by Me; saḥ — he; daṇḍa — for punishment; bhāk — a candidate.

TRANSLATION

Just us I always carefully bow down to brāhmaṇas, so all of you should likewise bow down to them. I will punish anyone who acts otherwise.

VERSE 10.64.43

brāhmaṇārtho hy apahṛto
hartāraṁ pātayaty adhaḥ
ajānantam api hy enaṁ
nṛgaṁ brāhmaṇa-gaur iva

SYNONYMS

brāhmaṇa — of a brāhmaṇa; arthaḥ — the property; hi — indeed; apahṛtaḥ — taken away; hartāram — the taker; pātayati — causes to fall; adhaḥ — down; ajānantam — unaware; api — even; hi — indeed; enam — this person; nṛgam — King Nṛga; brāhmaṇa — of the brāhmaṇa; gauḥ — the cow; iva — as.

TRANSLATION

When a brāhmaṇa’s property is stolen, even unknowingly, it certainly causes the person who takes it to fall down, just as the brāhmaṇa’s cow did to Nṛga.

VERSE 10.64.44

evaṁ viśrāvya bhagavān
mukundo dvārakaukasaḥ
pāvanaḥ sarva-lokānāṁ
viveśa nija-mandiram

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; viśrāvya — making hear; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; mukundaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; dvārakā-okasaḥ — the residents of Dvārakā; pāvanaḥ — the purifier; sarva — of all; lokānām — the worlds; viveśa — He entered; nija — His; mandiram — palace.

TRANSLATION

Having thus instructed the residents of Dvārakā, Lord Mukunda, purifier of all the worlds, entered His palace.