The Deliverance of Śiśupāla at the Rājasūya Sacrifice
VERSE 10.74.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
evaṁ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā
jarāsandha-vadhaṁ vibhoḥ
kṛṣṇasya cānubhāvaṁ taṁ
śrutvā prītas tam abravīt
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; yudhiṣṭhiraḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira; rājā — the King; jarāsandha-vadham — the killing of Jarāsandha; vibhoḥ — of the almighty; kṛṣṇasya — Lord Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; anubhāvam — the (display of) power; tam — that; śrutvā — hearing of; prītaḥ — pleased; tam — Him; abravīt — he addressed.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having thus heard of the killing of Jarāsandha, and also of almighty Kṛṣṇa’s wonderful power, King Yudhiṣṭhira addressed the Lord as follows with great pleasure.
VERSE 10.74.2
śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
ye syus trai-lokya-guravaḥ
sarve lokā maheśvarāḥ
vahanti durlabhaṁ labdvā
śirasaivānuśāsanam
SYNONYMS
śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca — Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira said; ye — who; syuḥ — there are; trai-lokya — of the three worlds; guravaḥ — spiritual masters; sarve — all; lokāḥ — (the inhabitants of) the planets; mahā-īśvarāḥ — and the great controlling demigods; vahanti — they carry; durlabham — rarely obtained; labdhvā — having obtained; śirasā — on their heads; eva — indeed; anuśāsanam — (Your) command.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira said: All the exalted spiritual masters of the three worlds, together with the inhabitants and rulers of the various planets, carry on their heads Your command, which is rarely obtained.
VERSE 10.74.3
sa bhavān aravindākṣo
dīnānām īśa-māninām
dhatte ’nuśāsanaṁ bhūmaṁs
tad atyanta-viḍambanam
SYNONYMS
saḥ — He; bhavān — Yourself; aravinda-akṣaḥ — the lotus-eyed Lord; dīnānām — of those who are wretched; īśa — rulers; māninām — who presume themselves; dhatte — takes upon Himself; anuśāsanam — the order; bhūman — O all-pervading one; tat — that; atyanta — extreme; viḍambanam — pretense.
TRANSLATION
That You, the lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, accept the orders of wretched fools who presume themselves rulers is a great pretense on Your part, O all-pervading one.
VERSE 10.74.4
na hy ekasyādvitīyasya
brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ
karmabhir vardhate tejo
hrasate ca yathā raveḥ
SYNONYMS
na — not; hi — indeed; ekasya — of the one; advitīyasya — without a second; brahmaṇaḥ — the Absolute Truth; parama-ātmanaḥ — the Supreme Soul; karmabhiḥ — by activities; vardhate — increases; tejaḥ — the power; hrasate — diminishes; ca — and; yathā — as; raveḥ — of the sun.
TRANSLATION
But of course the power of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Soul, the primeval one without a second, is neither increased nor diminished by His activities, any more than the sun’s power is by its movements.
VERSE 10.74.5
na vai te ’jita bhaktānāṁ
mamāham iti mādhava
tvaṁ taveti ca nānā-dhīḥ
paśūnām iva vaikṛtī
SYNONYMS
na — not; vai — indeed; te — Your; ajita — O unconquerable one; bhaktānām — of the devotees; mama aham iti — “mine” and “I”; mādhava — O Kṛṣṇa; tvam tava iti — “you” and “yours”; ca — and; nānā — of differences; dhīḥ — mentality; paśūnām — of animals; iva — as if; vaikṛtī — perverted.
TRANSLATION
O unconquerable Mādhava, even Your devotees make no distinctions of “I” and “mine,” “you” and “yours,” for this is the perverted mentality of animals.
VERSE 10.74.6
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uktvā yajñiye kāle
vavre yuktān sa ṛtvijaḥ
kṛṣṇānumoditaḥ pārtho
brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; yajñiye — appropriate for the sacrifice; kāle — at the time; vavre — chose; yuktān — suitable; saḥ — he; ṛtvijaḥ — sacrificial priests; kṛṣṇa — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; anumoditaḥ — sanctioned; pārthaḥ — the son of Pṛthā (Yudhiṣṭhira); brāhmaṇān — brāhmaṇas; brahma — of the Vedas; vādinaḥ — expert authorities.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having said this, King Yudhiṣṭhira waited until the proper time for the sacrifice was at hand. Then with Lord Kṛṣṇa’s permission he selected suitable priests, all expert authorities on the Vedas, to execute the sacrifice.
VERSE 10.74.7-9
dvaipāyano bharadvājaḥ
sumantur gotamo ’sitaḥ
vasiṣṭhaś cyavanaḥ kaṇvo
maitreyaḥ kavaṣas tritaḥ
viśvāmitro vāmadevaḥ
sumatir jaiminiḥ kratuḥ
pailaḥ parāśaro gargo
vaiśampāyana eva ca
atharvā kaśyapo dhaumyo
rāmo bhārgava āsuriḥ
vītihotro madhucchandā
vīraseno ’kṛtavraṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
dvaipāyanaḥ bharadvājaḥ — Dvaipāyana (Vedavyāsa) and Bharadvāja; sumantuḥ gotamaḥ asitaḥ — Sumantu, Gotama and Asita; vasiṣṭhaḥ cyavanaḥ kaṇvaḥ — Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana and Kaṇva; maitreyaḥ kavaṣaḥ tritaḥ — Maitreya, Kavasa and Trita; viśvāmitraḥ vāmadevaḥ — Viśvāmitra and Vāmadeva; sumatiḥ jaiminiḥ kratuḥ — Sumati, Jaimini and Kratu; pailaḥ parāśaraḥ gargaḥ — Paila, Parāśara and Garga; vaiśampāyanaḥ — Vaiśampāyana; eva ca — also; atharvā kaśyapaḥ dhaumyaḥ — Atharvā, Kaśyapa and Dhaumya; rāmaḥ bhārgavaḥ — Pāraśurāma, the descendant of Bhṛgu; āsuriḥ — Āsuri; vītihotraḥ madhucchandāḥ — Vītihotra and Madhucchandā; vīrasenaḥ akṛtavraṇaḥ — Vīrasena and Akṛtavraṇa.
TRANSLATION
He selected Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana, Bharadvāja, Sumantu, Gotama and Asita, along with Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Kavaṣa and Trita. He also selected Viśvāmitra, Vāmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila and Parāśara, as well as Garga, Vaiśampāyana, Atharvā, Kaśyapa, Dhaumya, Rāma of the Bhārgavas, Āsuri, Vītihotra, Madhucchandā, Vīrasena and Akṛtavraṇa.
VERSE 10.74.10-11
upahūtās tathā cānye
droṇa-bhīṣma-kṛpādayaḥ
dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ saha-suto
viduraś ca mahā-matiḥ
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ
śūdrā yajña-didṛkṣavaḥ
tatreyuḥ sarva-rājāno
rājñāṁ prakṛtayo nṛpa
SYNONYMS
upahūtāḥ — invited; tathā — also; ca — and; anye — others; droṇa-bhīṣma-kṛpa-ādayaḥ — headed by Droṇa, Bhīṣma and Kṛpa; dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ — Dhṛtarāṣṭra; saha-sutaḥ — together with his sons; viduraḥ — Vidura; ca — and; mahā-matiḥ — greatly intelligent; brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyāḥ vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras; yajña — the sacrifice; didṛkṣavaḥ — eager to see; tatra — there; īyuḥ — came; sarva — all; rājānaḥ — kings; rājñām — of the kings; prakṛtayaḥ — the entourages; nṛpa — O King.
TRANSLATION
O King, others who were invited included Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra with his sons, the wise Vidura, and many other brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras, all eager to witness the sacrifice. Indeed, all the kings came there with their entourages.
VERSE 10.74.12
tatas te deva-yajanaṁ
brāhmaṇāḥ svarṇa-lāṅgalaiḥ
kṛṣṭvā tatra yathāmnāyaṁ
dīkṣayāṁ cakrire nṛpam
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — then; te — they; deva-yajanam — the place for worshiping the demigods; brāhmaṇāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; svarṇa — gold; lāṅgalaiḥ — with plows; kṛṣṭvā — furrowing; tatra — there; yathā-āmnāyam — according to the standard authorities; dīkṣayām cakrire — they initiated; nṛpam — the King.
TRANSLATION
The brāhmaṇa priests then plowed the sacrificial ground with golden plowshares and initiated King Yudhiṣṭhira for the sacrifice in accordance with the traditions set down by standard authorities.
VERSE 10.74.13-15
haimāḥ kilopakaraṇā
varuṇasya yathā purā
indrādayo loka-pālā
viriñci-bhava-saṁyutāḥ
sa-gaṇāḥ siddha-gandharvā
vidyādhara-mahoragāḥ
munayo yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi
khaga-kinnara-cāraṇāḥ
rājānaś ca samāhūtā
rāja-patnyaś ca sarvaśaḥ
rājasūyaṁ samīyuḥ sma
rājñaḥ pāṇḍu-sutasya vai
menire kṛṣṇa-bhaktasya
sūpapannam avismitāḥ
SYNONYMS
haimāḥ — fashioned out of gold; kila — indeed; upakaraṇāḥ — utensils; varuṇasya — of Varuṇa; yathā — as; purā — in the past; indra-ādayaḥ — headed by Lord Indra; loka-pālāḥ — the rulers of planets; viriñci-bhava-saṁyutāḥ — including Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva; sa-gaṇāḥ — with their attendants; siddha-gandharvāḥ — the Siddhas and Gandharvas; vidyādhara — the Vidyādharas; mahā-uragāḥ — and great serpents; munayaḥ — the exalted sages; yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi — the Yakṣa and Rākṣasa demons; khaga-kinnara-cāraṇāḥ — the celestial birds, the Kinnaras and the Cāraṇas; rājānaḥ — kings; ca — and; samāhūtāḥ — invited; rāja — of the kings; patnyaḥ — the wives; ca — also; sarvaśaḥ — from everywhere; rājasūyam — to the Rājasūya sacrifice; samīyuḥ sma — they came; rājñaḥ — of the King; pāṇḍu-sutasya — the son of Pāṇḍu; vai — indeed; menire — they considered; kṛṣṇa-bhaktasya — for the devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; su-upapannam — quite appropriate; avismitāḥ — not surprised.
TRANSLATION
The utensils used in the sacrifice were made of gold, just as in the ancient Rājasūya performed by Lord Varuṇa. Indra, Brahmā, Śiva and many other planetary rulers; the Siddhas and Gandharvas with their entourage; the Vidyādharas; great serpents; sages; Yakṣas; Rākṣasas; celestial birds; Kinnaras; Cāraṇas; and earthly kings — all were invited, and indeed they all came from every direction to the Rājasūya sacrifice of King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu. They were not in the least astonished to see the opulence of the sacrifice, since it was quite appropriate for a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
VERSE 10.74.16
ayājayan mahā-rājaṁ
yājakā deva-varcasaḥ
rājasūyena vidhi-vat
pracetasam ivāmarāḥ
SYNONYMS
ayājayan — they performed the sacrifice; mahā-rājam — for the great King; yājakāḥ — the sacrificial priests; deva — of demigods; varcasaḥ — possessing the power; rājasūyena — the Rājasūya; vidhi-vat — according to the prescriptions of the Vedas; pracetasam — Varuṇa; iva — as; amarāḥ — the demigods.
TRANSLATION
The priests, as powerful as gods, performed the Rājasūya sacrifice for King Yudhiṣṭhira in accordance with the Vedic injunctions, just as the demigods had previously performed it for Varuṇa.
VERSE 10.74.17
sūtye ’hany avanī-pālo
yājakān sadasas-patīn
apūjayan mahā-bhāgān
yathā-vat su-samāhitaḥ
SYNONYMS
sūtye — of extracting the soma juice; ahani — on the day; avanī-pālaḥ — the King; yājakān — the sacrificers; sadasaḥ — of the assembly; patīn — the leaders; apūjayat — worshiped; mahā-bhāgān — greatly exalted; yathāvat — correctly; su-samāhitaḥ — with careful attention.
TRANSLATION
On the day of extracting the soma juice, King Yudhiṣṭhira properly and very attentively worshiped the priests and the most exalted personalities of the assembly.
VERSE 10.74.18
sadasyāgryārhaṇārhaṁ vai
vimṛśantaḥ sabhā-sadaḥ
nādhyagacchann anaikāntyāt
sahadevas tadābravīt
SYNONYMS
sadasya — of the members of the assembly; agrya — first; arhaṇa — worship; arham — him who deserves; vai — indeed; vimṛśantaḥ — pondering over; sabhā — in the assembly; sadaḥ — those seated; na adhyagacchan — they could not come to a conclusion; anaika-antyāt — because of the great number (of qualified candidates); sahadevaḥ — Sahadeva, the younger brother of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira; tadā — then; abravīt — spoke.
TRANSLATION
The members of the assembly then pondered over who among them should be worshiped first, but since there were many personalities qualified for this honor, they were unable to decide. Finally Sahadeva spoke up.
VERSE 10.74.19
arhati hy acyutaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṁ
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
eṣa vai devatāḥ sarvā
deśa-kāla-dhanādayaḥ
SYNONYMS
arhati — deserves; hi — indeed; acyutaḥ — infallible Kṛṣṇa; śraiṣṭhyam — the supreme position; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sātvatām — of the Yādavas; patiḥ — the chief; eṣaḥ — He; vai — certainly; devatāḥ — demigods; sarvāḥ — all; deśa — the place (for the sacrifice); kāla — the time; dhana — the material paraphernalia; ādayaḥ — and so on.
TRANSLATION
[Sahadeva said:] Certainly it is Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and chief of the Yādavas, who deserves the highest position. In truth, He Himself comprises all the demigods worshiped in sacrifice, along with such aspects of the worship as the sacred place, the time and the paraphernalia.
VERSE 10.74.20-21
yad-ātmakam idaṁ viśvaṁ
kratavaś ca yad-ātmakāḥ
agnir āhutayo mantrā
sāṅkhyaṁ yogaś ca yat-paraḥ
eka evādvitīyo ’sāv
aitad-ātmyam idaṁ jagat
ātmanātmāśrayaḥ sabhyāḥ
sṛjaty avati hanty ajaḥ
SYNONYMS
yat-ātmakam — founded upon whom; idam — this; viśvam — universe; kratavaḥ — great sacrificial performances; ca — and; yat-ātmakāḥ — founded upon whom; agniḥ — the sacred fire; āhutayaḥ — the oblations; mantrāḥ — the incantations; sāṅkhyam — the doctrine of philosophic investigation; yogaḥ — the art of meditation; ca — and; yat — at whom; paraḥ — aimed; ekaḥ — one; eva — alone; advitīyaḥ — without a second; asau — He; aitat-ātmyam — founded upon Him; idam — this; jagat — universe; ātmanā — through Himself (ie, His energies); ātma — Himself alone; āśrayaḥ — having as His shelter; sabhyāḥ — O members of the assembly; sṛjati — He creates; avati — maintains; hanti — and destroys; ajaḥ — the unborn.
TRANSLATION
This entire universe is founded upon Him, as are the great sacrificial performances, with their sacred fires, oblations and mantras. Sāṅkhya and yoga both aim toward Him, the one without a second. O assembly members, that unborn Lord, relying solely on Himself, creates, maintains and destroys this cosmos by His personal energies, and thus the existence of this universe depends on Him alone.
VERSE 10.74.22
vividhānīha karmāṇi
janayan yad-avekṣayā
īhate yad ayaṁ sarvaḥ
śreyo dharmādi-lakṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
vividhāni — various; iha — in this world; karmāṇi — material activities; janayan — generating; yat — by whose; avekṣayā — grace; īhate — endeavors; yat — inasmuch; ayam — this world; sarvaḥ — entire; śreyaḥ — for the ideals; dharma-ādi — religiosity and so on; lakṣaṇam — characterized as.
TRANSLATION
He creates the many activities of this world, and thus by His grace the whole world endeavors for the ideals of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation.
VERSE 10.74.23
tasmāt kṛṣṇāya mahate
dīyatāṁ paramārhaṇam
evaṁ cet sarva-bhūtānām
ātmanaś cārhaṇaṁ bhavet
SYNONYMS
tasmāt — therefore; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahate — the Supreme; dīyatām — should be given; parama — the greatest; arhaṇam — honor; evam — in this manner; cet — if; sarva — of all; bhūtānām — living beings; ātmanaḥ — of oneself; ca — and; arhaṇam — honoring; bhavet — will be.
TRANSLATION
Therefore we should give the highest honor to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord. If we do so, we will be honoring all living beings and also our own selves.
VERSE 10.74.24
sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtāya
kṛṣṇāyānanya-darśine
deyaṁ śāntāya pūrṇāya
dattasyānantyam icchatā
SYNONYMS
sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātma — the Soul; bhūtāya — who comprises; kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananya — never as separate; darśine — who sees; deyam — (honor) should be given; śāntāya — to the peaceful; pūrṇāya — perfectly complete; dattasya — of what is given; ānantyam — unlimited increase; icchatā — by him who desires.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who wishes the honor he gives to be reciprocated infinitely should honor Kṛṣṇa, the perfectly peaceful and perfectly complete Soul of all beings, the Supreme Lord, who views nothing as separate from Himself.
VERSE 10.74.25
ity uktvā sahadevo ’bhūt
tūṣṇīṁ kṛṣṇānubhāva-vit
tac chrutvā tuṣṭuvuḥ sarve
sādhu sādhv iti sattamāḥ
SYNONYMS
iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; sahadevaḥ — Sahadeva; abhūt — became; tūṣṇīm — silent; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; anubhāva — the influence; vit — who knew well; tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; tuṣṭuvuḥ — praised; sarve — all; sādhu sādhu iti — “excellent, excellent!”; sat — of saintly persons; tamāḥ — the best.
TRANSLATION
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Having said this, Sahadeva, who understood Lord Kṛṣṇa’s powers, fell silent. And having heard his words, all the saintly persons present congratulated him, exclaiming “Excellent! Excellent!”
VERSE 10.74.26
śrutvā dvijeritaṁ rājā
jñātvā hārdaṁ sabhā-sadām
samarhayad dhṛṣīkeśaṁ
prītaḥ praṇaya-vihvalaḥ
SYNONYMS
śrutvā — hearing; dvija — by the brāhmaṇas; īritam — what was pronounced; rājā — the King, Yudhiṣṭhira; jñātvā — understanding; hārdam — the inner thoughts; sabhā-sadām — of the members of the assembly; samarhayat — fully worshiped; hṛṣīkeśam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; prītaḥ — pleased; praṇaya — by love; vihvalaḥ — overwhelmed.
TRANSLATION
The King was delighted to hear this pronouncement of the brāhmaṇas, from which he understood the mood of the entire assembly. Overwhelmed with love, he fully worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of the senses.
VERSE 10.74.27-28
tat-pādāv avanijyāpaḥ
śirasā loka-pāvanīḥ
sa-bhāryaḥ sānujāmātyaḥ
sa-kuṭumbo vahan mudā
vāsobhiḥ pīta-kauṣeyair
bhūṣaṇaiś ca mahā-dhanaiḥ
arhayitvāśru-pūrṇākṣo
nāśakat samavekṣitum
SYNONYMS
tat — His; pādau — feet; avanijya — washing; āpaḥ — the water; śirasā — on his head; loka — the world; pāvanīḥ — which purifies; sa — with; bhāryaḥ — his wife; sa — with; anuja — his brothers; amātyaḥ — and his ministers; sa — with; kuṭumbaḥ — his family; vahan — carrying; mudā — with pleasure; vāsobhiḥ — with garments; pīta — yellow; kauṣeyaiḥ — silk; bhūṣaṇaiḥ — with jewelry; ca — and; mahā-dhanaiḥ — precious; arhayitvā — honoring; aśru — with tears; pūrṇa — filled; akṣaḥ — whose eyes; na aśakat — he was unable; samavekṣitum — to look upon Him directly.
TRANSLATION
After bathing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira joyfully sprinkled the water upon his own head, and then upon the heads of his wife, brothers, other family members and ministers. That water purifies the whole world. As he honored the Lord with presentations of yellow silken garments and precious jeweled ornaments, the King’s tear-filled eyes prevented him from looking directly at the Lord.
VERSE 10.74.29
itthaṁ sabhājitaṁ vīkṣya
sarve prāñjalayo janāḥ
namo jayeti nemus taṁ
nipetuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ
SYNONYMS
ittham — in this manner; sabhājitam — honored; vīkṣya — seeing; sarve — all; prāñjalayaḥ — with palms joined in supplication; janāḥ — the people; namaḥ — “obeisances to You”; jaya — “all victory to You”; iti — so saying; nemuḥ — they bowed down; tam — to Him; nipetuḥ — fell; puṣpa — of flowers; vṛṣṭayaḥ — showers.
TRANSLATION
When they saw Lord Kṛṣṇa thus honored, nearly all who were present joined their palms reverentially, exclaiming “Obeisances to You! All victory to You!” and then bowed down to Him. Flowers rained down from above.
VERSE 10.74.30
itthaṁ niśamya damaghoṣa-sutaḥ sva-pīṭhād
utthāya kṛṣṇa-guṇa-varṇana-jāta-manyuḥ
utkṣipya bāhum idam āha sadasy amarṣī
saṁśrāvayan bhagavate paruṣāṇy abhītaḥ
SYNONYMS
ittham — thus; niśamya — hearing; damaghoṣa-sutaḥ — the son of Damaghoṣa (Śiśupāla); sva — his; pīṭhāt — from the seat; utthāya — rising; kṛṣṇa-guṇa — of the great qualities of Lord Kṛṣṇa; varṇana — by the descriptions; jāta — aroused; manyuḥ — whose anger; utkṣipya — waving; bāhum — his arms; idam — this; āha — he said; sadasi — in the midst of the assembly; amarṣī — intolerant; saṁśrāvayan — addressing; bhagavate — at the Supreme Lord; paruṣāṇi — harsh words; abhītaḥ — having no fear.
TRANSLATION
The intolerant son of Damaghoṣa became infuriated upon hearing the glorification of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities. He stood up from his seat and, angrily waving his arms, fearlessly spoke to the entire assembly the following harsh words against the Supreme Lord.
VERSE 10.74.31
īśo duratyayaḥ kāla
iti satyavatī srutiḥ
vṛddhānām api yad buddhir
bāla-vākyair vibhidyate
SYNONYMS
īśaḥ — the supreme controller; duratyayaḥ — unavoidable; kālaḥ — time; iti — thus; satya-vatī — truthful; srutiḥ — the revealed statement of the Vedas; vṛddhānām — of elder authorities; api — even; yat — since; buddhiḥ — the intelligence; bāla — of a boy; vākyaiḥ — by the words; vibhidyate — is diverted.
TRANSLATION
[Śiśupāla said:] The statement of the Vedas that time is the unavoidable controller of all has indeed been proven true, since the intelligence of wise elders has now become diverted by the words of a mere boy.
VERSE 10.74.32
yūyaṁ pātra-vidāṁ śreṣṭhā
mā mandhvaṁ bāla-bhāṣītam
sadasas-patayaḥ sarve
kṛṣṇo yat sammato ’rhaṇe
SYNONYMS
yūyam — all of you; pātra — of worthy candidates; vidām — of knowers; śreṣṭhāḥ — the best; mā mandhvam — please do not heed; bāla — of a boy; bhāṣitam — the statements; sadasaḥ-patayaḥ — O leaders of the assembly; sarve — all; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; yat — the fact that; sammataḥ — chosen; arhaṇe — for being honored.
TRANSLATION
O leaders of the assembly, you know best who is a fit candidate for being honored. Therefore you should not heed the words of a child when he claims that Kṛṣṇa deserves to be worshiped.
VERSE 10.74.33-34
tapo-vidyā-vrata-dharān
jñāna-vidhvasta-kalmaṣān
paramaṛṣīn brahma-niṣṭhāḻ
loka-pālaiś ca pūjitān
sadas-patīn atikramya
gopālaḥ kula-pāṁsanaḥ
yathā kākaḥ puroḍāśaṁ
saparyāṁ katham arhati
SYNONYMS
tapaḥ — austerity; vidyā — Vedic knowledge; vrata — severe vows; dharān — who maintain; jñāna — by spiritual understanding; vidhvasta — eradicated; kalmaṣān — whose impurities; parama — topmost; ṛṣīn — sages; brahma — to the Absolute Truth; niṣṭhān — dedicated; loka-pālaiḥ — by the rulers of the planetary systems; ca — and; pūjitān — worshiped; sadaḥ-patīn — leaders of the assembly; atikramya — passing over; gopālaḥ — a cowherd; kula — of His family; pāṁsanaḥ — the disgrace; yathā — as; kākaḥ — a crow; puroḍāśam — the sacred rice cake (offered to the demigods); saparyām — worship; katham — how; arhati — deserves.
TRANSLATION
How can you pass over the most exalted members of this assembly — topmost sages dedicated to the Absolute Truth endowed with powers of austerity, divine insight and strict adherence to severe vows, sanctified by knowledge and worshiped even by the rulers of the universe? How does this cowherd boy, the disgrace of His family, deserve your worship, any more than a crow deserves to eat the sacred puroḍāśa rice cake?
VERSE 10.74.35
varṇāśrama-kulāpetaḥ
sarva-dharma-bahiṣ-kṛtaḥ
svaira-vartī guṇair hīnaḥ
saparyāṁ katham arhati
SYNONYMS
varṇa — of the principles of the four occupational orders of society; āśrama — of the four spiritual orders; kula — and of proper family upbringing; apetaḥ — devoid; sarva — from all; dharma — codes of religious duty; bahiḥ-kṛtaḥ — excluded; svaira — independently; vartī — behaving; guṇaiḥ — qualities; hīnaḥ — lacking; saparyām — worship; katham — how; arhati — deserves.
TRANSLATION
How does one who follows no principles of the social and spiritual orders or of family ethics, who has been excluded from all religious duties, who behaves whimsically, and who has no good qualities — how does such a person deserve to be worshiped?
VERSE 10.74.36
yayātinaiṣāṁ hi kulaṁ
śaptaṁ sadbhir bahiṣ-kṛtam
vṛthā-pāna-rataṁ śaśvat
saparyāṁ katham arhati
SYNONYMS
yayātinā — by Yayāti; eṣām — their; hi — indeed; kulam — dynasty; śaptam — was cursed; sadbhiḥ — by well-behaved persons; bahiḥ-kṛtam — ostracized; vṛthā — wantonly; pāna — to drinking; ratam — addicted; śaśvat — always; saparyām — worship; katham — how; arhati — does He deserve.
TRANSLATION
Yayāti cursed the dynasty of these Yādavas, and ever since then they have been ostracized by honest men and addicted to liquor. How, then, does Kṛṣṇa deserve to be worshiped?
VERSE 10.74.37
brahmarṣi-sevitān deśān
hitvaite ’brahma-varcasam
samudraṁ durgam āśritya
bādhante dasyavaḥ prajāḥ
SYNONYMS
brahma-ṛṣi — by great brāhmaṇa sages; sevitān — graced; deśān — lands (like Mathurā); hitvā — abandoning; ete — these (Yādavas); abrahma-varcasam — where brahminical principles are not observed; samudram — the ocean; durgam — a fortress; āśritya — taking shelter of; bādhante — they cause trouble; dasyavaḥ — thieves; prajāḥ — to their subjects.
TRANSLATION
These Yādavas have abandoned the holy lands inhabited by saintly sages and have instead taken shelter of a fortress in the sea, a place where no brahminical principles are observed. There, just like thieves, they harass their subjects.
VERSE 10.74.38
evam-ādīny abhadrāṇi
babhāṣe naṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ
novāca kiñcid bhagavān
yathā siṁhaḥ śivā-rutam
SYNONYMS
evam — such; ādīni — and more; abhadrāṇi — harsh words; babhāṣe — he spoke; naṣṭa — ruined; maṅgalaḥ — whose good fortune; na uvāca — He did not say; kiñcit — anything; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; yathā — just as; siṁhaḥ — a lion; śivā — of a jackal; rutam — the cry.
TRANSLATION
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Bereft of all good fortune, Śiśupāla spoke these and other insults. But the Supreme Lord said nothing, just as a lion ignores a jackal’s cry.
VERSE 10.74.39
bhagavan-nindanaṁ śrutvā
duḥsahaṁ tat sabhā-sadaḥ
karṇau pidhāya nirjagmuḥ
śapantaś cedi-paṁ ruṣā
SYNONYMS
bhagavat — of the Supreme Lord; nindanam — criticism; śrutvā — hearing; duḥsaham — intolerable; tat — that; sabhā-sadaḥ — the members of the assembly; karṇau — their ears; pidhāya — covering; nirjagmuḥ — went away; śapantaḥ — cursing; cedi-pam — the King of Cedi (Śiśupāla); ruṣā — angrily.
TRANSLATION
Upon hearing such intolerable blasphemy of the Lord, several members of the assembly covered their ears and walked out, angrily cursing the King of Cedi.
VERSE 10.74.40
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs
tat-parasya janasya vā
tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi
yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
SYNONYMS
nindām — criticism; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; śṛṇvan — hearing; tat — to Him; parasya — who is dedicated; janasya — of a person; vā — or; tataḥ — from that place; na apaiti — does not go away; yaḥ — who; saḥ — he; api — indeed; yāti — goes; adhaḥ — down; su-kṛtāt — from the good results of his pious works; cyutaḥ — fallen.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.
VERSE 10.74.41
tataḥ pāṇḍu-sutāḥ kruddhā
matsya-kaikaya-sṛñjayāḥ
udāyudhāḥ samuttasthuḥ
śiśupāla-jighāṁsavaḥ
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — then; pāṇḍu-sutāḥ — the sons of Pāṇḍu; kruddhāḥ — angered; matsya-kaikaya-sṛñjayāḥ — the Matsyas, Kaikayas and Sṛñjayas; ut-āyudhāḥ — holding up their weapons; samuttasthuḥ — stood; śisupāla-jighāṁsavaḥ — desiring to kill Śiśupāla.
TRANSLATION
Then the sons of Pāṇḍu became furious, and together with the warriors of the Matsya, Kaikaya and Sṛñjaya clans, they rose up from their seats with weapons poised, ready to kill Śiśupāla.
VERSE 10.74.42
tataś caidyas tv asambhrānto
jagṛhe khaḍga-carmaṇī
bhartsayan kṛṣṇa-pakṣīyān
rājñaḥ sadasi bhārata
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — then; caidyaḥ — Śiśupāla; tu — but; asambhrāntaḥ — unshaken; jagṛhe — took up; khaḍga — his sword; carmaṇī — and shield; bhartsayan — insulting; kṛṣṇa — of Kṛṣṇa; pakṣīyān — the proponents; rājñaḥ — the kings; sadasi — in the assembly; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata.
TRANSLATION
Undaunted, Śiśupāla then took up his sword and shield in the midst of all the assembled kings, O Bhārata, and hurled insults at those who sided with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
VERSE 10.74.43
tāvad utthāya bhagavān
svān nivārya svayaṁ ruṣā
śiraḥ kṣurānta-cakreṇa
jahāra patato ripoḥ
SYNONYMS
tāvat — at that point; utthāya — rising; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; svān — His own (devotees); nivārya — stopping; svayam — Himself; ruṣā — angrily; śiraḥ — the head; kṣura — sharp; anta — whose edge; cakreṇa — with His disc weapon; jahāra — severed; patataḥ — attacking; ripoḥ — of His enemy.
TRANSLATION
At that point the Supreme Lord stood up and checked His devotees. He then angrily sent forth His razor-sharp disc and severed the head of His enemy as he was attacking.
VERSE 10.74.44
śabdaḥ kolāhalo ’thāsīc
chiśupāle hate mahān
tasyānuyāyino bhūpā
dudruvur jīvitaiṣiṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
śabdaḥ — a sound; kolāhalaḥ — uproar; atha — thereupon; āsīt — there was; śiśupāle — Śiśupāla; hate — being killed; mahān — huge; tasya — his; anuyāyinaḥ — followers; bhūpāḥ — kings; dudruvuḥ — fled; jīvita — their lives; eṣiṇaḥ — hoping to save.
TRANSLATION
When Śiśupāla was thus killed, a great roar and howl went up from the crowd. Taking advantage of that disturbance, the few kings who were supporters of Śiśupāla quickly left the assembly out of fear for their lives.
VERSE 10.74.45
caidya-dehotthitaṁ jyotir
vāsudevam upāviśat
paśyatāṁ sarva-bhūtānām
ulkeva bhuvi khāc cyutā
SYNONYMS
caidya — of Śiśupāla; deha — from the body; utthitam — risen; jyotiḥ — a light; vāsudevam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; upāviśat — entered; paśyatām — as they watched; sarva — all; bhūtānām — living beings; ulkā — a meteor; iva — as if; bhuvi — on the earth; khāt — from the sky; cyutā — fallen.
TRANSLATION
An effulgent light rose from Śiśupāla’s body and, as everyone watched, entered Lord Kṛṣṇa just like a meteor falling from the sky to the earth.
VERSE 10.74.46
janma-trayānuguṇita-
vaira-saṁrabdhayā dhiyā
dhyāyaṁs tan-mayatāṁ yāto
bhāvo hi bhava-kāraṇam
SYNONYMS
janma — births; traya — three; anuguṇita — extending through; vaira — by enmity; saṁrabdhayā — obsessed; dhiyā — with a mentality; dhyāyan — meditating; tat-mayatām — oneness with Him; yātaḥ — attained; bhāvaḥ — one’s attitude; hi — indeed; bhava — of rebirth; kāraṇam — the cause.
TRANSLATION
Obsessed with hatred of Lord Kṛṣṇa throughout three lifetimes, Śiśupāla attained the Lord’s transcendental nature. Indeed, one’s consciousness determines one’s future birth.
VERSE 10.74.47
ṛtvigbhyaḥ sa-sadasyebhyo
dakṣināṁ vipulām adāt
sarvān sampūjya vidhi-vac
cakre ’vabhṛtham eka-rāṭ
SYNONYMS
ṛtvigbhyaḥ — to the priests; sa-sadasyebhyaḥ — along with the members of the assembly; dakṣiṇām — gifts in gratitude; vipulām — abundant; adāt — he gave; sarvān — all of them; sampūjya — properly worshiping; vidhi-vat — according to scriptural injunctions; cakre — executed; avabhṛtham — the purificatory bathing of the sponsor of the sacrifice and the washing of the sacrificial utensils that mark the end of a major sacrifice; eka-rāṭ — the emperor, Yudhiṣṭhira.
TRANSLATION
Emperor Yudhiṣṭhira gave generous gifts to the sacrificial priests and the members of the assembly, properly honoring them all in the manner prescribed by the Vedas. He then took the avabhṛtha bath.
VERSE 10.74.48
sādhayitvā kratuḥ rājñaḥ
kṛṣṇo yogeśvareśvaraḥ
uvāsa katicin māsān
suhṛdbhir abhiyācitaḥ
SYNONYMS
sādhayitvā — accomplishing; kratuḥ — the soma sacrifice; rājñaḥ — of the King; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of mystic power; īśvaraḥ — the supreme master; uvāsa — resided; katicit — some; māsān — months; su-hṛdbhiḥ — by His well-wishers; abhiyācitaḥ — begged.
TRANSLATION
Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all masters of mystic yoga, saw to the successful execution of this great sacrifice on behalf of King Yudhiṣṭhira. Afterwards, the Lord stayed with His intimate friends for a few months at their earnest request.
VERSE 10.74.49
tato ’nujñāpya rājānam
anicchantam apīśvaraḥ
yayau sa-bhāryaḥ sāmātyaḥ
sva-puraṁ devakī-sutaḥ
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — then; anujñāpya — requesting leave; rājānam — of the King; anicchantam — who did not want it; api — although; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord; yayau — went; sa-bhāryaḥ — with His wives; sa-amātyaḥ — and with His ministers; sva — to His own; puram — city; devakī-sutaḥ — the son of Devakī.
TRANSLATION
Then the Lord, the son of Devakī, took the reluctant permission of the King and returned to His capital with His wives and ministers.
VERSE 10.74.50
varṇitaṁ tad upākhyānaṁ
mayā te bahu-vistaram
vaikuṇṭha-vāsinor janma
vipra-śāpāt punaḥ punaḥ
SYNONYMS
varṇitam — related; tat — that; upākhyānam — account; mayā — by me; te — to you; bahu — much; vistaram — in detail; vaikuṇṭha-vāsinoḥ — of the two residents of the eternal kingdom of God (namely, the doorkeepers Jaya and Vijaya); janma — the material birth; vipra — of brāhmaṇas (the four Kumāras); śāpāt — due to the curse; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again.
TRANSLATION
I have already described to you in detail the history of the two residents of Vaikuṇṭha who had to undergo repeated births in the material world because of being cursed by brāhmaṇas.
VERSE 10.74.51
rājasūyāvabhṛthyena
snāto rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
brahma-kṣatra-sabhā-madhye
śuśubhe sura-rāḍ iva
SYNONYMS
rājasūya — of the Rājasūya sacrifice; avabhṛthyena — by the final, avabhṛtya ritual; snātaḥ — bathed; rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ — King Yudhiṣṭhira; brahma-kṣatra — of brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas; sabhā — of the assembly; madhye — in the midst; śuśubhe — he appeared brilliant; sura — of the demigods; rāṭ — the King (Lord Indra); iva — like.
TRANSLATION
Purified in the final, avabhṛthya ritual, which marked the successful completion of the Rājasūya sacrifice, King Yudhiṣṭhira shone among the assembled brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas like the King of the demigods himself.
VERSE 10.74.52
rājñā sabhājitāḥ sarve
sura-mānava-khecarāḥ
kṛṣṇaṁ kratuṁ ca śaṁsantaḥ
sva-dhāmāni yayur mudā
SYNONYMS
rājñā — by the King; sabhājitāḥ — honored; sarve — all; sura — the demigods; mānava — humans; khe-carāḥ — and travelers of the sky (minor demigods and demons); kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kratum — the sacrifice; ca — and; śaṁsantaḥ — praising; sva — to their own; dhāmāni — domains; yayuḥ — went; mudā — happily.
TRANSLATION
The demigods, humans and residents of intermediate heavens, all properly honored by the King, happily set off for their respective domains while singing the praises of Lord Kṛṣṇa and the great sacrifice.
VERSE 10.74.53
duryodhanam ṛte pāpaṁ
kaliṁ kuru-kulāmayam
yo na sehe śrīyaṁ sphītāṁ
dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍu-sutasya tām
SYNONYMS
duryodhanam — Duryodhana; ṛte — except; pāpam — sinful; kalim — the empowered expansion of the personality of Kali; kuru-kula — of the Kuru dynasty; āmayam — the disease; yaḥ — who; na sehe — could not tolerate; śrīyam — the opulences; sphītām — flourishing; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; pāṇḍu-sutasya — of the son of Pāṇḍu; tām — that.
TRANSLATION
[All were satisfied] except sinful Duryodhana, the personification of the age of quarrel and the disease of the Kuru dynasty. He could not bear to see the flourishing opulence of the son of Pāṇḍu.
VERSE 10.74.54
ya idaṁ kīrtayed viṣṇoḥ
karma caidya-vadhādikam
rāja-mokṣaṁ vitānaṁ ca
sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — who; idam — these; kīrtayet — chants; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; karma — activities; caidya-vadha — the killing of Śiśupāla; ādikam — and so on; rāja — of the kings (who were imprisoned by Jarāsandha); mokṣam — the deliverance; vitānam — the sacrifice; ca — and; sarva — from all; pāpaiḥ — sinful reactions; pramucyate — he is freed.
TRANSLATION
One who recites these activities of Lord Viṣṇu, including the killing of Śiśupāla, the deliverance of the kings and the performance of the Rājasūya sacrifice, is freed from all sins.