Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|Canto 10 Chapter 86

Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

VERSE 10.86.1

śrī-rājovāca

brahman veditum icchāmaḥ
svasārāṁ rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ
yathopayeme vijayo
yā mamāsīt pitāmahī

SYNONYMS

śrī-rājā uvāca — the great King (Parīkṣit) said; brahman — O brāhmaṇa (Śukadeva); veditum — to know; icchāmaḥ — we wish; svasāram — the sister; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; yathā — how; upayeme — married; vijayaḥ — Arjuna; — she who; mama — my; āsīt — was; pitāmahī — the grandmother.

TRANSLATION

King Parīkṣit said: O brāhmaṇa, we would like to learn how Arjuna married Lord Balarāma’s and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sister, who was my grandmother.

VERSE 10.86.2-3

śrī-śuka uvāca

arjunas tīrtha-yātrāyāṁ
paryaṭann avanīṁ prabhuḥ
gataḥ prabhāsam aśṛṇon
mātuleyīṁ sa ātmanaḥ

duryodhanāya rāmas tāṁ
dāsyatīti na cāpare
tal-lipsuḥ sa yatir bhūtvā
tri-daṇḍī dvārakām agāt

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; tīrtha — to holy places; yātrāyām — while on pilgrimage; paryaṭan — wandering; avanīm — the earth; prabhuḥ — the great lord; gataḥ — having gone; prabhāsam — to Prabhāsa; aśṛṇot — heard; mātuleyīm — uncle’s daughter; saḥ — he; ātmanaḥ — his; duryodhanāya — to Duryodhana; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; tām — her; dāsyati — intends to give; iti — thus; na — not; ca — and; apare — anyone else; tat — her; lipsuḥ — desirous of obtaining; saḥ — he, Arjuna; yatiḥ — a sannyāsī; bhūtvā — becoming; tri-daṇḍī — carrying a triple staff; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; agāt — went.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: While traveling far and wide visiting various holy places of pilgrimage, Arjuna came to Prabhāsa. There he heard that Lord Balarāma intended to give his maternal cousin Subhadrā to Duryodhana in marriage, and that no one else approved of this plan. Arjuna wanted to marry her himself, so he disguised himself as a renunciant, complete with triple staff, and went to Dvārakā.

VERSE 10.86.4

tatra vai vārṣitān māsān
avātsīt svārtha-sādhakaḥ
pauraiḥ sabhājito ’bhīkṣṇaṁ
rāmeṇājānatā ca saḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra — there; vai — indeed; vārṣikān — of the rainy season; māsān — for the months; avātsīt — he resided; sva — his own; artha — purpose; sādhakaḥ — trying to achieve; pauraiḥ — by the people of the city; sabhājitaḥ — honored; abhīkṣṇam — constantly; rāmeṇa — by Lord Balarāma; ajānatā — who was unaware; ca — and; saḥ — he.

TRANSLATION

He stayed there during the monsoon months to fulfill his purpose. Lord Balarāma and the other residents of the city, not recognizing him, offered him all honor and hospitality.

VERSE 10.86.5

ekadā gṛham ānīya
ātithyena nimantrya tam
śraddhayopahṛtaṁ bhaikṣyaṁ
balena bubhuje kila

SYNONYMS

ekadā — once; gṛham — to His (Balarāma’s) home; ānīya — bringing; ātithyena — as a guest; nimantrya — inviting; tam — him (Arjuna); śraddhayā — with faith; upahṛtam — presented; bhaikṣyam — food; balena — by Lord Balarāma; bubhuje — he ate; kila — indeed.

TRANSLATION

One day Lord Balarāma brought him to His home as His invited dinner guest, and Arjuna ate the food the Lord respectfully offered him.

VERSE 10.86.6

so ’paśyat tatra mahatīṁ
kanyāṁ vīra-mano-harām
prīty-utphullekṣaṇas tasyāṁ
bhāva-kṣubdhaṁ mano dadhe

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he; apaśyat — saw; tatra — there; mahatīm — wonderful; kanyām — the girl; vīra — to heroes; manaḥ-harām — enchanting; prīti — with happiness; utphulla — blossoming; īkṣanaḥ — his eyes; tasyām — upon her; bhāva — with emotion; kṣubdham — agitated; manaḥ — his mind; dadhe — he put.

TRANSLATION

There he saw the wonderful maiden Subhadrā, who was enchanting to heroes. His eyes opened wide with delight, and his mind became agitated and absorbed in thoughts of her.

VERSE 10.86.7

sāpi taṁ cakame vīkṣya
nārīṇāṁ hṛdayaṁ-gamam
hasantī vrīḍitāpaṅgī
tan-nyasta-hṛdayekṣaṇā

SYNONYMS

— she; api — also; tam — him; cakame — desired; vīkṣya — seeing; nārīṇām — of women; hṛdayam-gamam — the capturer of the hearts; hasantī — smiling; vrīḍitā — bashful; apāṅgī — casting sidelong glances; tat — upon him; nyasta — fixed; hṛdaya — her heart; īkṣaṇā — and eyes.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna was very attractive to women, and as soon as Subhadrā saw him, she wanted to have him as her husband. Smiling bashfully with sidelong glances, she fixed her heart and eyes upon him.

VERSE 10.86.8

tāṁ paraṁ samanudhyāyann
antaraṁ prepsur arjunaḥ
na lebhe śaṁ bhramac-cittaḥ
kāmenāti-balīyasā

SYNONYMS

tām — on her; param — only; samanudhyāyan — meditating; antaram — the right opportunity; prepsuḥ — waiting to obtain; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; na lebhe — could not experience; śam — peace; bhramat — wavering; cittaḥ — his heart; kāmena — due to lust; ati-balīyasā — most strong.

TRANSLATION

Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.

VERSE 10.86.9

mahatyāṁ deva-yātrāyāṁ
ratha-sthāṁ durga-nirgatāṁ
jahārānumataḥ pitroḥ
kṛṣṇasya ca mahā-rathaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahatyām — important; deva — for the Supreme Lord; yātrāyām — during a festival; ratha — on a chariot; sthām — riding; durga — from the fortress; nirgatām — having exited; jahāra — he seized her; anumataḥ — sanctioned; pitroḥ — by her parents; kṛṣṇasya — by Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; mahā-rathaḥ — the mighty chariot warrior.

TRANSLATION

Once, on the occasion of a great temple festival in honor of the Supreme Lord, Subhadrā rode out of the fortresslike palace on a chariot, and at that time the mighty chariot warrior Arjuna took the opportunity to kidnap her. Subhadrā’s parents and Kṛṣṇa had sanctioned this.

VERSE 10.86.10

ratha-stho dhanur ādāya
śūrāṁś cārundhato bhaṭān
vidrāvya krośatāṁ svānāṁ
sva-bhāgaṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva

SYNONYMS

ratha — on his chariot; sthaḥ — standing; dhanuḥ — his bow; ādāya — taking up; śūrān — the heroes; ca — and; arundhataḥ — trying to block him; bhaṭān — and the guards; vidrāvya — driving off; krośatām — as they shouted in anger; svānām — her relatives; sva — his own; bhāgam — rightful portion; mṛga-rāṭ — the king of animals, the lion; iva — just as.

TRANSLATION

Standing on his chariot, Arjuna took up his bow and drove off the valiant fighters and palace guards who tried to block his way. As her relatives shouted in anger, he took Subhadrā away just as a lion takes his prey from the midst of lesser animals.

VERSE 10.86.11

tac chrutvā kṣubhito rāmaḥ
parvaṇīva mahārṇavaḥ
gṛhīta-pādaḥ kṛṣṇena
suhṛdbhiś cānusāntvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; kṣubhitaḥ — disturbed; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; parvaṇi — at the juncture of the month; iva — as if; mahā-arṇavaḥ — the ocean; gṛhīta — grasped; pādaḥ — His feet; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; suhṛdbhiḥ — by His family members; ca — and; anusāntvitaḥ — carefully pacified.

TRANSLATION

When He heard of Subhadrā’s kidnapping, Lord Balarāma became as disturbed as the ocean during the full moon, but Lord Kṛṣṇa respectfully took hold of His feet and, together with other family members, pacified Him by explaining the matter.

VERSE 10.86.12

prāhiṇot pāribarhāṇi
vara-vadhvor mudā balaḥ
mahā-dhanopaskarebha-
rathāśva-nara-yoṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

prāhiṇot — He sent; pāribarhāṇi — as wedding gifts; vara-vadhvoḥ — for the groom and the bride; mudā — with pleasure; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; mahā-dhana — greatly valuable; upaskara — presents; ibha — elephants; ratha — chariots; aśva — horses; nara — men; yoṣitaḥ — and women.

TRANSLATION

Lord Balarāma then happily sent the bride and groom very valuable wedding gifts consisting of elephants, chariots, horses and male and female servants.

VERSE 10.86.13

śrī-śuka uvāca

kṛṣṇasyāsīd dvija-śreṣṭhaḥ
śrutadeva iti śrutaḥ
kṛṣṇaika-bhaktyā pūrṇārthaḥ
śāntaḥ kavir alampataḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva said; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āsīt — there was; dvija — of brāhmaṇas; śreṣṭhaḥ — one of the best; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; iti — thus; śrutaḥ — known; kṛṣṇa — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; eka — exclusive; bhaktyā — by his devotion; pūrṇa — full; arthaḥ — in all goals of desire; śāntaḥ — peaceful; kaviḥ — learned and discriminating; alampaṭaḥ — not desirous of sense gratification.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: There was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa’s known as Śrutadeva, who was a first-class brāhmaṇa. Perfectly satisfied by rendering unalloyed devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, he was peaceful, learned and free from sense gratification.

VERSE 10.86.14

sa uvāsa videheṣu
mithilāyāṁ gṛhāśramī
anīhayāgatāhārya-
nirvartita-nija-kriyaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he; uvāsa — dwelled; videheṣu — in the kingdom of Videha; mithilāyām — in the city of Mithilā; gṛha-āśramī — as a member of the regulated order of family life; anīhayā — without endeavor; āgata — came to him; āhārya — by food and other means of sustenance; nirvartita — carried out; nija — his; kriyaḥ — obligations.

TRANSLATION

Living as a religious householder in the city of Mithilā, within the kingdom of Videha, he managed to fulfill his obligations while maintaining himself with whatever sustenance easily came his way.

VERSE 10.86.15

yātrā-mātraṁ tv ahar ahar
daivād upanamaty uta
nādhikaṁ tāvatā tuṣṭaḥ
kriyā cakre yathocitāḥ

SYNONYMS

yātrā-mātram — bare maintenance; tu — and; ahaḥ ahaḥ — day after day; daivāt — due to his fate; upanamati — came to him; uta — indeed; na adhikam — no more; tāvatā — with that much; tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; kriyāḥ — duties; cakre — he did; yathā — as; ucitāḥ — appropriate.

TRANSLATION

By the will of Providence he obtained each day just what he needed for his maintenance, and no more. Satisfied with this much, he properly executed his religious duties.

VERSE 10.86.16

tathā tad-rāṣṭra-pālo ’ṅga
bahulāśva iti śrutaḥ
maithilo niraham-māna
ubhāv apy acyuta-priyau

SYNONYMS

tathā — also (an advanced devotee of Kṛṣṇa); tat — of that; rāṣṭra — kingdom; pālaḥ — the ruler; aṅga — my dear (Parīkṣit); bahulāśvaḥ iti śrutaḥ — known as Bahulāśva; maithilaḥ — of the royal dynasty descending from King Mithila (Janaka); niraham-mānaḥ — free from false ego; ubhau — both of them; api — indeed; acyuta-priyau — dear to Lord Acyuta.

TRANSLATION

Similarly free from false ego was the ruler of that kingdom, my dear Parīkṣit, a descendant of the Mithila dynasty named Bahulāśva. Both these devotees were very dear to Lord Acyuta.

VERSE 10.86.17

tayoḥ prasanno bhagavān
dārukeṇāhṛtaṁ ratham
āruhya sākaṁ munibhir
videhān prayayau prabhuḥ

SYNONYMS

tayoḥ — with both of them; prasannaḥ — pleased; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; dārukeṇa — by Dāruka; āhṛtam — brought forth; ratham — His chariot; āruhya — mounting; sākam — together with; munibhiḥ — sages; videhān — to the Videha kingdom; prayayau — went; prabhuḥ — the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Pleased with both of them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead mounted His chariot, which Dāruka had brought, and traveled to Videha with a group of sages.

VERSE 10.86.18

nārado vāmadevo ’triḥ
kṛṣṇo rāmo ’sito ’ruṇiḥ
ahaṁ bṛhaspatiḥ kaṇvo
maitreyaś cyavanādayaḥ

SYNONYMS

nāradaḥ vāmadevaḥ atriḥ — the sages Nārada, Vāmadeva and Atri; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; asitaḥ aruṇiḥ — Asita and Aruṇi; aham — I (Śukadeva); bṛhaspatiḥ kaṇvaḥ — Bṛhaspati and Kaṇva; maitreyaḥ — Maitreya; cyavana — Cyavana; ādayaḥ — and others.

TRANSLATION

Among these sages were Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paraśurāma, Asita, Aruṇi, myself, Bṛhaspati, Kaṇva, Maitreya and Cyavana.

VERSE 10.86.19

tatra tatra tam āyāntaṁ
paurā jānapadā nṛpa
upatasthuḥ sārghya-hastā
grahaiḥ sūryam ivoditam

SYNONYMS

tatra tatra — in each place; tam — Him; āyāntam — as He was coming; paurāḥ — city residents; jānapadāḥ — and village residents; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); upatasthuḥ — came forward to greet Him; sa — with; arghya — water to offer as a token of respect; hastāḥ — in their hands; grahaiḥ — by the planets; sūryam — the sun; iva — as; uditam — risen.

TRANSLATION

In every city and town the Lord passed along the way, O King, the people came forward to worship Him with offerings of arghya water in their hands, as if to worship the risen sun surrounded by planets.

VERSE 10.86.20

ānarta-dhanva-kuru-jāṅgala-kaṅka-matsya-
pāñcāla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kośalārṇāḥ
anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udāra-hāsa-
snigdhekṣaṇaṁ nṛpa papur dṛśibhir nr-nāryaḥ

SYNONYMS

ānarta — the people of Ānarta (the region in which Dvārakā is situated); dhanva — the desert (of Gujarat and Rajasthan); kuru-jāṅgala — the region of the Kuru forests (the districts of Thaneswar and Kurukṣetra); kaṅka — Kaṅka; matsya — Matsya (the kingdoms of Jaipur and Aloyar); pāñcāla — the districts surrounding both banks of the Ganges; kunti — Mālava; madhu — Mathurā; kekaya — in northeast Punjab, the region between the Śatadru and Vipāśā rivers; kośala — the ancient kingdom of Lord Rāmacandra, stretching from the northern border of Kāśī to the Himālayas; arṇāḥ — and the kingdom bordering Mithilā on the east; anye — others; ca — also; tat — His; mukha — face; sarojam — lotus; udāra — generous; hāsa — with its smiles; snigdha — and affectionate; īkṣaṇam — glances; nṛpa — O King; papuḥ — drank; dṛśibhiḥ — with their eyes; nṛ-nāryaḥ — the men and women.

TRANSLATION

The men and women of Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pañcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa and many other kingdoms drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotuslike face, which was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.

VERSE 10.86.21

tebhyaḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa-vinaṣṭa-tamisra-dṛgbhyaḥ
kṣemaṁ tri-loka-gurur artha-dṛśaṁ ca yacchan
śṛṇvan dig-anta-dhavalaṁ sva-yaśo ’śubha-ghnaṁ
gītaṁ surair nṛbhir agāc chanakair videhān

SYNONYMS

tebhyaḥ — to them; sva — His; vīkṣaṇa — by the glance; vinaṣṭa — destroyed; tamisra — the darkness; dṛgbhyaḥ — of whose eyes; kṣemam — fearlessness; tri — three; loka — of the worlds; guruḥ — the spiritual master; artha-dṛśam — spiritual vision; ca — and; yacchan — bestowing; śṛṇvan — hearing; dik — of the directions; anta — the ends; dhavalam — which purify; sva — His; yaśaḥ — glories; aśubha — inauspiciousness; ghnam — which eradicate; gītam — sung; suraiḥ — by demigods; nṛbhiḥ — and by men; agāt — He came; śanakaiḥ — gradually; videhān — to the kingdom of Videha.

TRANSLATION

Simply by glancing at those who came to see Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the three worlds, delivered them from the blindness of materialism. As He thus endowed them with fearlessness and divine vision, He heard demigods and men singing His glories, which purify the entire universe and destroy all misfortune. Gradually, He reached Videha.

VERSE 10.86.22

te ’cyutaṁ prāptam ākarṇya
paurā jānapadā nṛpa
abhīyur muditās tasmai
gṛhītārhaṇa-pāṇayaḥ

SYNONYMS

te — they; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāptam — arrived; ākarṇya — hearing; paurāḥ — the people of the city; jānapadāḥ — and of the villages; nṛpa — O King; abhīyuḥ — came forward; muditāḥ — joyful; tasmai — to Him; gṛhīta — holding; arhaṇa — offerings to present to Him; pāṇayaḥ — in their hands.

TRANSLATION

Hearing that Lord Acyuta had arrived, O King, the residents of the cities and villages of Videha joyfully came forth to receive Him with offerings in their hands.

VERSE 10.86.23

dṛṣṭvā ta uttamaḥ-ślokaṁ
prīty-utphulānanāśayāḥ
kair dhṛtāñjalibhir nemuḥ
śruta-pūrvāṁs tathā munīn

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; te — they; uttamaḥ-ślokam — Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is praised in sublime poetry; prīti — with love; utphulla — broadly blossoming; ānana — their faces; āśayāḥ — and hearts; kaiḥ — on their heads; dhṛta — held; añjalibhiḥ — with joined palms; nemuḥ — they bowed down; śruta — heard of; pūrvān — before; tathā — also; munīn — to the sages.

TRANSLATION

As soon as the people saw Lord Uttamaḥśloka, their faces and hearts blossomed with affection. Joining their palms above their heads, they bowed down to the Lord and to the sages accompanying Him, whom they had previously only heard about.

VERSE 10.86.24

svānugrahāya samprāptaṁ
manvānau taṁ jagad-gurum
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
pādayoḥ petatuḥ prabhoḥ

SYNONYMS

sta — to himself; anugrahāya — for showing mercy; samprāptam — now; manvānau — both thinking; tam — Him; jagat — of the universe; gurum — the spiritual master; maithilaḥ — the King of Mithilā; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; ca — and; pādayoḥ — at the feet; petatuḥ — fell; prabhoḥ — of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Both the King of Mithilā and Śrutadeva fell at the Lord’s feet, each thinking that the spiritual master of the universe had come there just to show him mercy.

VERSE 10.86.25

nyamantrayetāṁ dāśārham
ātithyena saha dvijaiḥ
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
yugapat saṁhatāñjalī

SYNONYMS

nyamantrayetām — they both invited; dāśārham — Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Daśārha; ātithyena — to be their guest; saha — along with; dvijaiḥ — the brāhmaṇas; maithilaḥ — Bahulāśva; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; ca — and; yugapat — simultaneously; saṁhata — held firmly together; añjalī — whose palms.

TRANSLATION

At exactly the same time, King Maithila and Śrutadeva each went forward with joined palms and invited the Lord of the Daśārhas to be his guest, along with the brāhmaṇa sages.

VERSE 10.86.26

bhagavāṁs tad abhipretya
dvayoḥ priya-cikīrṣayā
ubhayor āviśad geham
ubhābhyāṁ tad-alakṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tat — this; abhipretya — accepting; dvayoḥ — of the two of them; priya — the pleasing; cikīrṣayā — wishing to do; ubhayoḥ — of both; āviśat — He entered; geham — the houses; ubhābhyām — to both; tat — in that (entering of the other’s house); alakṣitaḥ — unseen.

TRANSLATION

Wanting to please them both, the Lord accepted both their invitations. Thus He simultaneously went to both homes, and neither could see Him entering the other’s house.

VERSE 10.86.27-29

śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj
janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān
ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu
sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ

pravṛddha-bhaktyā uddharṣa-
hṛdayāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ
natvā tad-aṅghrīn prakṣālya
tad-apo loka-pāvanīḥ

sa-kuṭumbo vahan mūrdhnā
pūjayāṁ cakra īśvarān
gandha-mālyāmbarākalpa-
dhūpa-dīpārghya-go-vṛṣaiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrāntān — fatigued; api — indeed; atha — then; tān — them; dūrāt — from a distance; janakaḥ — King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka; sva — to his; gṛha — home; āgatān — come; ānīteṣu — which were brought out; āsana — on seats; agryeṣu — excellent; sukha — comfortably; āsīnān — seated; mahā-manāḥ — very intelligent; pravṛddha — intense; bhaktyā — with devotion; ut-dharṣa — overjoyed; hṛdaya — whose heart; asra — with tears; āvila — clouded; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes; natvā — bowing down; tat — their; aṅghrīn — feet; prakṣālya — washing; tat — from that; apaḥ — the water; loka — the whole world; pāvanīḥ — able to purify; sa — together with; kuṭumbaḥ — his family; vahan — carrying; mūrdhnā — on his head; pūjayām cakre — he worshiped; īśvarān — the lords; gandha — with fragrant (sandalwood) paste; mālya — flower garlands; ambara — clothing; ākalpa — jewelry; dhūpa — incense; dīpa — lamps; arghya — arghya water; go — cows; vṛṣaiḥ — and bulls.

TRANSLATION

When King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka, saw Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching his house from a distance with the sages, who were somewhat fatigued from the journey, he immediately arranged to have seats of honor brought out for them. After they were all comfortably seated, the wise King, his heart overflowing with joy and his eyes clouded by tears, bowed down to them and washed their feet with intense devotion. Taking the wash water, which could purify the entire world, he sprinkled it on his head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshiped all those great lords by offering them fragrant sandalwood paste, flower garlands, fine clothing and ornaments, incense, lamps, arghya and cows and bulls.

VERSE 10.86.30

vācā madhurayā prīṇann
idam āhānna-tarpitān
pādāv aṅka-gatau viṣṇoḥ
saṁspṛśañ chanakair mudā

SYNONYMS

vācā — in a voice; madhurayā — gentle; prīṇan — trying to please them; idam — this; āha — he said; anna — with food; tarpitān — who had been gratified; pādau — the feet; aṅka — on his lap; gatau — situated; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; saṁspṛśan — massaging; śanakaiḥ — slowly; mudā — happily.

TRANSLATION

When they had eaten to their full satisfaction, for their further pleasure the King began to speak slowly and in a gentle voice as he held Lord Viṣṇu’s feet in his lap and happily massaged them.

VERSE 10.86.31

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca

bhavān hi sarva-bhūtānām
ātmā sākṣī sva-dṛg vibho
atha nas tvat-padāmbhojaṁ
smaratāṁ darśanaṁ gataḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-bahulāśvaḥ uvāca — Śrī Bahulāśva said; bhavān — You; hi — indeed; sarva — of all; bhūtānām — created beings; ātmā — the Supreme Soul; sākṣī — the witness; sva-dṛk — self-illumined; vibho — O almighty one; atha — thus; naḥ — to us; tvat — Your; pada-ambhojam — lotus feet; smaratām — who are remembering; darśanam gataḥ — have become visible.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Bahulāśva said: O almighty Lord, You are the Soul of all created beings, their self-illumined witness, and now You are giving Your audience to us, who constantly meditate on Your lotus feet.

VERSE 10.86.32

sva-vacas tad ṛtaṁ kartum
asmad-dṛg-gocaro bhavān
yad ātthaikānta-bhaktān me
nānantaḥ śrīr ajaḥ priyaḥ

SYNONYMS

sva — Your own; vacaḥ — statement; tat — that; ṛtam — true; kartum — to make; asmat — our; dṛk — to the eyes; gocaraḥ — accessible; bhavān — You; yat — which; āttha — spoke; eka-anta — with a single aim; bhaktāt — than the devotee; me — my; na — not; anantaḥ — Lord Ananta; śrīḥ — Goddess Śrī; ajaḥ — unborn Brahmā; priyaḥ — more dear.

TRANSLATION

You have said, “Neither Ananta, Goddess Śrī nor unborn Brahmā is dearer to Me than My unalloyed devotee.” To prove Your own words true, You have now revealed Yourself to our eyes.

VERSE 10.86.33

ko nu tvac-caraṇāmbhojam
evaṁ-vid visṛjet pumān
niṣkiñcanānāṁ śāntānāṁ
munīnāṁ yas tvam ātma-daḥ

SYNONYMS

kaḥ — who; nu — at all; tvat — Your; caraṇa-ambhojam — lotus feet; evam — like this; vit — being in knowledge; visṛjet — would abandon; pumān — person; niṣkiñcanānām — for those who have no material possessions; śāntānām — who are peaceful; munīnām — sages; yaḥ — who; tvam — You; ātma — Yourself; daḥ — giving.

TRANSLATION

What person who knows this truth would ever abandon Your lotus feet, when You are ready to give Your very self to peaceful sages who call nothing their own?

VERSE 10.86.34

yo ’vatīrya yador vaṁśe
nṛṇāṁ saṁsaratām iha
yaśo vitene tac-chāntyai
trai-lokya-vṛjināpaham

SYNONYMS

yaḥ — who; avatīrya — descending; yadoḥ — of Yadu; vaṁśe — into the dynasty; nṛṇām — for people; saṁsaratām — who are caught up in the cycle of birth and death; iha — in this world; yaśaḥ — Your fame; vitene — has disseminated; tat — of that (material existence); śāntyai — for the stopping; trai-lokya — of the three worlds; vṛjina — the sins; apaham — which removes.

TRANSLATION

Appearing in the Yadu dynasty, You have spread Your glories, which can remove all the sins of the three worlds, just to deliver those entrapped in the cycle of birth and death.

VERSE 10.86.35

namas tubhyaṁ bhagavate
kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase
nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye
su-śāntaṁ tapa īyuṣe

SYNONYMS

namaḥ — obeisances; tubhyam — to You; bhagavate — the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇāya — Kṛṣṇa; akuṇṭha — unconstricted; medhase — whose intelligence; nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye — to the sage Nara-Nārāyaṇa; su-śāntam — perfectly peaceful; tapaḥ — austerities; īyuṣe — undergoing.

TRANSLATION

Obeisances to You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose intelligence is ever unrestricted. Obeisances to the sage Nara-Nārāyaṇa, who always undergoes austerities in perfect peace.

VERSE 10.86.36

dināni katicid bhūman
gṛhān no nivasa dvijaiḥ
sametaḥ pāda-rajasā
punīhīdaṁ nimeḥ kulam

SYNONYMS

dināni — days; katicit — a few; bhūman — O omnipresent one; gṛhān — in the home; naḥ — our; nivasa — please dwell; dvijaiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas; sametaḥ — joined; pāda — of Your feet; rajasā — with the dust; punīhi — please sanctify; idam — this; nimeḥ — of King Nimi; kulam — the dynasty.

TRANSLATION

Please stay a few days in our house, along with these brāhmaṇas, O all-pervading one, and with the dust of Your feet sanctify this dynasty of Nimi.

VERSE 10.86.37

ity upāmantrito rājñā
bhagavāḻ loka-bhāvanaḥ
uvāsa kurvan kalyāṇaṁ
mithilā-nara-yoṣitām

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; upāmantritaḥ — invited; rajñā — by the King; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; loka — of the entire world; bhāvanaḥ — the maintainer; uvāsa — resided; kurvan — creating; kalyāṇam — good fortune; mithilā — of the city of Mithilā; nara — for the men; yoṣitām — and women.

TRANSLATION

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus invited by the King, the Supreme Lord, sustainer of the world, consented to stay for some time to bestow good fortune on the men and women of Mithilā.

VERSE 10.86.38

śrutadevo ’cyutaṁ prāptaṁ
sva-gṛhāñ janako yathā
natvā munīn su-saṁhṛṣṭo
dhunvan vāso nanarta ha

SYNONYMS

śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāptam — obtained; sva-gṛhān — at his house; janakaḥ — Bahulāśva; yathā — just as; natvā — bowing down; munīn — to the sages; su — very much; saṁhṛṣṭaḥ — delighted; dhunvan — waving; vāsaḥ — his cloth; nanarta ha — he danced.

TRANSLATION

Śrutadeva received Lord Acyuta into his home with as much enthusiasm as that shown by King Bahulāśva. After bowing down to the Lord and the sages, Śrutadeva began to dance with great joy, waving his shawl.

VERSE 10.86.39

tṛṇa-pīṭha-bṛṣīṣv etān
ānīteṣūpaveśya saḥ
svāgatenābhinandyāṅghrīn
sa-bhāryo ’vanije mudā

SYNONYMS

tṛṇa — of grass; pīṭha — on seats; bṛṣīṣu — and on mats of darbha; etān — them; ānīteṣu — which were brought; upaveśya — making sit; saḥ — he; sva-āgatena — with words of welcome; abhinandya — greeting them; aṅghrīn — their feet; sa-bhāryaḥ — together with his wife; avanije — washed; mudā — with pleasure.

TRANSLATION

After bringing mats of grass and darbha straw and seating his guests upon them, he greeted them with words of welcome. Then he and his wife washed their feet with great pleasure.

VERSE 10.86.40

tad-ambhasā mahā-bhāga
ātmānaṁ sa-gṛhānvayam
snāpayāṁ cakra uddharṣo
labdha-sarva-manorathaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat — with that; ambhasā — water; mahā-bhāgaḥ — very pious; ātmānam — himself; sa — along with; gṛha — his house; anvayam — and his family; snāpayām cakre — he bathed; uddharṣaḥ — overjoyed; labdha — having attained; sarva — all; manaḥ-rathaḥ — desires.

TRANSLATION

With the wash water, the virtuous Śrutadeva copiously sprinkled himself, his house and his family. Overjoyed, he felt that all his desires had now been fulfilled.

VERSE 10.86.41

phalārhaṇośīra-śivāmṛtāmbubhir
mṛdā surabhyā tulasī-kuśāmbuyaiḥ
ārādhayām āsa yathopapannayā
saparyayā sattva-vivardhanāndhasā

SYNONYMS

phala — of fruits; arhaṇa — with offerings; uśīra — with a kind of aromatic root; śiva — pure; amṛta — nectar-sweet; ambubhiḥ — and with water; mṛdā — with clay; surabhyā — fragrant; tulasī — tulasī leaves; kuśa — kuśa grass; ambujaiḥ — and lotus flowers; ārādhayām āsa — he worshiped them; yathā — as; upapannayā — could be obtained; saparyayā — with items of worship; sattva — the mode of goodness; vivardhana — which increases; andhasā — with food.

TRANSLATION

He worshiped them with offerings of auspicious items easily available to him, such as fruits, uśīra root, pure, nectarean water, fragrant clay, tulasī leaves, kuśa grass and lotus flowers. Then he offered them food that increases the mode of goodness.

VERSE 10.86.42

sa tarkayām āsa kuto mamānv abhūt
gṛhāndha-kūpe patitasya saṅgamaḥ
yaḥ sarva-tīrthāspada-pāda-reṇubhiḥ
kṛṣṇena cāsyātma-niketa-bhūsuraiḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he; tarkayām āsa — tried to understand; kutaḥ — for what reason; mama — for me; anu — indeed; abhūt — has happened; gṛha — of home; andha — blind; kūpe — in the well; patitasya — fallen; saṅgamaḥ — association; yaḥ — which; sarva — of all; tīrtha — holy places; āspada — which is the shelter; pāda — of whose feet; reṇubhiḥ — the dust; kṛṣṇena — with Lord Kṛṣṇa; ca — also; asya — this; ātma — of Himself; niketa — who are the place of residence; bhū-suraiḥ — with the brāhmaṇas.

TRANSLATION

He wondered: How is it that I, fallen into the blind well of family life, have been able to meet Lord Kṛṣṇa? And how have I also been allowed to meet these great brāhmaṇas, who always carry the Lord within their hearts? Indeed, the dust of their feet is the shelter of all holy places.

VERSE 10.86.43

sūpaviṣṭān kṛtātithyān
śrutadeva upasthitaḥ
sa-bhārya-svajanāpatya
uvācāṅghry-abhimarśanaḥ

SYNONYMS

su-upaviṣṭān — comfortably seated; kṛta — having been shown; ātithyān — hospitality; śrutadevaḥ — Śrutadeva; upasthitaḥ — sitting near them; sa-bhārya — along with his wife; sva-jana — relatives; apatyaḥ — and children; uvāca — he spoke; aṅghri — (Lord Kṛṣṇa’s) feet; abhimarśanaḥ — massaging.

TRANSLATION

When his guests were seated comfortably, having each received a proper welcome, Śrutadeva approached them and sat down nearby with his wife, children and other dependents. Then, while massaging the Lord’s feet, he addressed Kṛṣṇa and the sages.

VERSE 10.86.44

śrutadeva uvāca

nādya no darśanaṁ prāptaḥ
paraṁ parama-pūruṣaḥ
yarhīdaṁ śaktibhiḥ sṛṣṭvā
praviṣṭo hy ātma-sattayā

SYNONYMS

śrutadevaḥ uvāca — Śrutadeva said; na — not; adya — today; naḥ — by us; darśanam — vision; prāptaḥ — obtained; param — only; parama — the supreme; pūruṣaḥ — person; yarhi — when; idam — this (universe); śaktibhiḥ — with His energies; sṛṣṭvā — creating; praviṣṭaḥ — entered; hi — indeed; ātma — His own; sattayā — in the state of existence.

TRANSLATION

Śrutadeva said: It is not that we have attained the audience of the Supreme Person only today, for we have in fact been associating with Him ever since He created this universe with His energies and then entered it in His transcendental form.

VERSE 10.86.45

yathā śayānaḥ puruṣo
manasaivātma-māyayā
sṛṣṭvā lokaṁ paraṁ svāpnam
anuviśyāvabhāsate

SYNONYMS

yathā — as; śayānaḥ — sleeping; puruṣaḥ — a person; manasā — with his mind; eva — alone; ātma — own; māyayā — by his imagination; sṛṣṭvā — creating; lokam — a world; param — separate; svāpnam — dream; anuviśya — entering; avabhāsate — he appears.

TRANSLATION

The Lord is like a sleeping person who creates a separate world in his imagination and then enters his own dream and sees himself within it.

VERSE 10.86.46

śṛṇvatāṁ gadatāṁ śaśvad
arcatāṁ tvābhivandatām
ṇṛṇāṁ saṁvadatām antar
hṛdi bhāsy amalātmanām

SYNONYMS

śṛṇvatām — for those who are hearing; gadatām — speaking; śaśvat — constantly; arcatām — worshiping; tvā — You; abhivandatām — offering praise; nṛṇām — for men; saṁvadatām — conversing; antaḥ — within; hṛdi — the heart; bhāsi — You appear; amala — spotless; ātmanām — whose minds.

TRANSLATION

You reveal Yourself within the hearts of those persons of pure consciousness who constantly hear about You, chant about You, worship You, glorify You and converse with one another about You.

VERSE 10.86.47

hṛdi-stho ’py ati-dūra-sthaḥ
karma-vikṣipta-cetasām
ātma-śaktibhir agrāhyo
’py anty upeta-guṇātmanām

SYNONYMS

hṛdi — in the heart; sthaḥ — situated; api — although; ati — very; dūra-sthaḥ — far away; karma — by material activities; vikṣipta — disturbed; cetasām — for those whose minds; ātma — by one’s own; śaktibhiḥ — powers; agrāhyaḥ — not to be taken hold of; api — although; anti — near; upeta — realized; guṇa — Your qualities; ātmanām — by whose hearts.

TRANSLATION

But although You reside within the heart, You are very far away from those whose minds are disturbed by their entanglement in material work. Indeed, no one can grasp You by his material powers, for You reveal Yourself only in the hearts of those who have learned to appreciate Your transcendental qualities.

VERSE 10.86.48

namo ’stu te ’dhyātma-vidāṁ parātmane
anātmane svātma-vibhakta-mṛtyave
sa-kāraṇākāraṇa-liṅgam īyuṣe
sva-māyayāsaṁvṛta-ruddha-dṛṣṭaye

SYNONYMS

namaḥ — obeisances; astu — may there be; te — unto You; adhyātma — the Absolute Truth; vidām — for those who know; para-ātmane — the Supreme Soul; anātmane — to the conditioned jīva soul; sva-ātma — from Yourself (in the form of time); vibhakta — who gives; mṛtyave — death; sa-kāraṇa — having a cause; akāraṇa — having no cause; liṅgam — the forms (respectively, the material form of the universe and also Your original spiritual form); īyuṣe — who assume; sva-māyayā — by Your own mystic potency; asaṁvṛta — uncovered; ruddha — and blocked; dṛṣṭaye — vision.

TRANSLATION

Let me offer my obeisances unto You. You are realized as the Supreme Soul by those who know the Absolute Truth, whereas in Your form of time You impose death upon the forgetful souls. You appear both in Your causeless spiritual form and in the created form of this universe, thus simultaneously uncovering the eyes of Your devotees and obstructing the vision of the nondevotees.

VERSE 10.86.49

sa tvaṁ śādhi sva-bhṛtyān naḥ
kiṁ deva karavāma he
etad-anto nṛṇāṁ kleśo
yad bhavān akṣi-gocaraḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — He; tvam — You; śādhi — please order; sva — Your; bhṛtyān — servants; naḥ — us; kim — what; deva — O Lord; karavāma — we should do; he — oh; etat — having this; antaḥ — as its end; nṛṇām — of humans; kleśaḥ — the troubles; yat — that; bhavān — Your good self; akṣi — to the eyes; go-caraḥ — visible.

TRANSLATION

O Lord, You are that Supreme Soul, and we are Your servants. How shall we serve You? My Lord, simply seeing You puts an end to all the troubles of human life.

VERSE 10.86.50

śrī-śuka uvāca

tad-uktam ity upākarṇya
bhagavān praṇatārti-hā
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ
prahasaṁs tam uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tat — by him (Śrutadeva); uktam — what was spoken; iti — thus; upākarṇya — hearing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; praṇata — of the surrendered; ārti — of distress; — the destroyer; gṛhītvā — taking; pāṇinā — with His hand; pāṇim — his hand; prahasan — smiling broadly; tam — to him; uvāca ha — said.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After hearing Śrutadeva speak these words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who relieves His surrendered devotees’ distress, took Śrutadeva’s hand in His own and, smiling, spoke to him as follows.

VERSE 10.86.51

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

brahmaṁs te ’nugrahārthāya
samprāptān viddhy amūn munīn
sañcaranti mayā lokān
punantaḥ pāda-reṇubhiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; te — your; anugraha — of bestowing benedictions; arthāya — for the purpose; samprāptān — come; viddhi — you should know; amūn — these; munīn — sages; sañcaranti — they wander; mayā — together with Me; lokān — all the worlds; punantaḥ — purifying; pāda — of their feet; reṇubhiḥ — with the dust.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord said: My dear brāhmaṇa, you should know that these great sages have come here just to bless you. They travel throughout the worlds with Me, purifying them with the dust of their feet.

VERSE 10.86.52

devāḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni
darśana-sparśanārcanaiḥ
śanaiḥ punanti kālena
tad apy arhattamekṣayā

SYNONYMS

devāḥ — temple deities; kṣetrāṇi — pilgrimage sites; tīrthāni — and sacred rivers; darśana — by being seen; sparśana — being touched; arcanaiḥ — and being worshiped; śanaiḥ — gradually; punanti — purify; kālena — with time; tat api — the same; arhat-tama — of those (brāhmaṇas) who are most worshipable; īkṣayā — by the glance.

TRANSLATION

One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.

VERSE 10.86.53

brāhmaṇo janmanā śreyān
sarveṣām prāṇinām iha
tapasā vidyayā tuṣṭyā
kim u mat-kalayā yutaḥ

SYNONYMS

brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; janmanā — by his birth; śreyān — the best; sarveṣām — of all; prāṇinām — living beings; iha — in this world; tapasā — by his austerity; vidyayā — by his learning; tuṣṭyā — by his satisfaction; kim u — what more, then; mat — upon Me; kalayā — with loving meditation; yutaḥ — endowed.

TRANSLATION

By his very birth, a brāhmaṇa is the best of all living beings in this world, and he becomes even more exalted when he is endowed with austerity, learning and self-satisfaction, what to speak of devotion to Me.

VERSE 10.86.54

na brāhmaṇān me dayitaṁ
rūpam etac catur-bhujam
sarva-veda-mayo vipraḥ
sarva-deva-mayo hy aham

SYNONYMS

na — not; brāhmaṇāt — than a brāhmaṇa; me — to Me; dayitam — more dear; rūpam — personal form; etat — this; catuḥ-bhujam — four-armed; sarva — all; veda — the Vedas; mayaḥ — comprising; vipraḥ — a learned brāhmaṇa; sarva — all; deva — the demigods; mayaḥ — comprising; hi — indeed; aham — I.

TRANSLATION

Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brāhmaṇa. Within himself a learned brāhmaṇa comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods.

VERSE 10.86.55

duṣprajñā aviditvaivam
avajānanty asūyavaḥ
guruṁ māṁ vipram ātmānam
arcādāv ijya-dṛṣṭayaḥ

SYNONYMS

duṣprajñāḥ — those of corrupted intelligence; aviditvā — failing to understand; evam — in this way; avajānanti — neglect; asūyavaḥ — and behave enviously toward; gurum — their spiritual master; mām — Me; vipram — the learned brāhmaṇa; ātmānam — their own self; arcā-ādaū — in the visibly manifest Deity of the Lord; ijya — as being worshipable; dṛṣṭayaḥ — whose vision.

TRANSLATION

Ignorant of this truth, foolish people neglect and enviously offend a learned brāhmaṇa, who, being nondifferent from Me, is their spiritual master and very self. They consider worshipable only such obvious manifestations of divinity as My Deity form.

VERSE 10.86.56

carācaram idaṁ viśvaṁ
bhāvā ye cāsya hetavaḥ
mad-rūpāṇīti cetasy
ādhatte vipro mad-īkṣayā

SYNONYMS

cara — moving; acaram — and nonmoving; idam — this; viśvam — universe; bhāvāḥ — elemental categories; ye — which; ca — and; asya — its; hetavaḥ — sources; mat — My; rūpāṇi — forms; iti — such a thought; cetasi — within his mind; ādhatte — maintains; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa; mat — of Me; īkṣayā — by his perception.

TRANSLATION

Because he has realized Me, a brāhmaṇa is firmly fixed in the knowledge that everything moving and nonmoving in the universe, and also the primary elements of its creation, are all manifest forms expanded from Me.

VERSE 10.86.57

tasmād brahma-ṛṣīn etān
brahman mac-chraddhayārcaya
evaṁ ced arcito ’smy addhā
nānyathā bhūri-bhūtibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmāt — therefore; brahma-ṛṣīn — brāhmaṇa sages; etān — these; brahman — O brāhmaṇa (Śrutadeva); mat — (as you have) for Me; śraddhayā — with faith; arcaya — just worship; evam — thus; cet — if (you do); arcitaḥ — worshiped; asmi — I will be; addhā — directly; na — not; anyathā — otherwise; bhūri — vast; bhūtibhiḥ — with riches.

TRANSLATION

Therefore you should worship these brāhmaṇa sages, O brāhmaṇa, with the same faith you have in Me. If you do so, you will worship Me directly, which you cannot do otherwise, even with offerings of vast riches.

VERSE 10.86.58

śrī-śuka uvāca

sa itthaṁ prabhunādiṣṭaḥ
saha-kṛṣṇān dvijottamān
ārādhyaikātma-bhāvena
maithilaś cāpa sad-gatim

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he (Śrutadeva); ittham — in this manner; prabhunā — by his Lord; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; saha — accompanying; kṛṣṇān — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvija — the brāhmaṇas; uttamān — most exalted; ārādhya — by worshiping; eka-ātma — single-minded; bhavena — with devotion; maithilaḥ — the King of Mithilā; ca — also; āpa — attained; sat — transcendental; gatim — the ultimate destination.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śuka said: So instructed by his Lord, with single-minded devotion Śrutadeva worshiped Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the topmost brāhmaṇas accompanying Him, and King Bahulāśva did the same. Thus both Śrutadeva and the King attained the ultimate transcendental destination.

VERSE 10.86.59

evaṁ sva-bhaktayo rājan
bhagavān bhakta-bhaktimān
uṣitvādiśya san-mārgaṁ
punar dvāravatīm agāt

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; sva — His; bhaktayoḥ — with the two devotees; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhakta — to His devotees; bhakti-man — who is devoted; uṣitvā — staying; ādiśya — teaching; sat — of pure saints; mārgam — the path; punaḥ — again; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; agāt — He went.

TRANSLATION

O King, thus the Personality of Godhead, who is devoted to His own devotees, stayed for some time with His two great devotees Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, teaching them the behavior of perfect saints. Then the Lord returned to Dvārakā.