by Bibek Debroy
Shounaka asked, ‘O Suta! You said that Kshatta, 680 the supreme devotee of the illustrious one, travelled to all the tirthas on earth, having left his relatives, who are so very difficult to let go off. Where did the conversation between Kshatta and Kousharava 681 about adhyatma take place? What did the illustrious one ask him about? O amiable one! Tell us about it and about what Vidura did. Why did he leave his relatives? When did he return?’
Suta replied, ‘King Parikshit asked questions of the great sage. I will tell you about the replies to the king’s questions. Listen.’
This ends the Second Skandha.
Third Skandha
Chapter 3(1): 45 shlokas
Chapter 3(2): 34 shlokas
Chapter 3(3): 28 shlokas
Chapter 3(4): 36 shlokas
Chapter 3(5): 51 shlokas
Chapter 3(6): 40 shlokas
Chapter 3(7): 42 shlokas
Chapter 3(8): 33 shlokas
Chapter 3(9): 44 shlokas
Chapter 3(10): 28 shlokas
Chapter 3(11): 41 shlokas
Chapter 3(12): 57 shlokas
Chapter 3(13): 51 shlokas
Chapter 3(14): 50 shlokas
Chapter 3(15): 50 shlokas
Chapter 3(16): 36 shlokas
Chapter 3(17): 31 shlokas
Chapter 3(18): 28 shlokas
Chapter 3(19): 38 shlokas
Chapter 3(20): 53 shlokas
Chapter 3(21): 56 shlokas
Chapter 3(22): 39 shlokas
Chapter 3(23): 57 shlokas
Chapter 3(24): 47 shlokas
Chapter 3(25): 44 shlokas
Chapter 3(26): 72 shlokas
Chapter 3(27): 30 shlokas
Chapter 3(28): 44 shlokas
Chapter 3(29): 45 shlokas
Chapter 3(30): 34 shlokas
Chapter 3(31): 48 shlokas
Chapter 3(32): 43 shlokas
Chapter 3(33): 37 shlokas
Chapter 3(1)
‘Shri-Shuka said, “Kshatta gave up his own home and prosperity and entered the forest. In earlier times, he asked the illustrious Maitreya these questions. 682 This residence was one where the illustrious lord of everything 683 had himself entered, after being dishonoured in the palace of the Indra among the Pouravas.”’
The king asked, ‘Where did Kshatta and the illustrious Maitreya meet? What did they converse about? O lord! Tell us this. Vidura’s atman was cleansed and this couldn’t have been about a trifling matter. It must have been a supreme question, praised by virtuous ones.’
Suta replied, ‘The noble rishi 684 was thus asked by King Parikshit. Extremely delighted in his soul, he answered, “Listen.”
‘Shri-Shuka said, “The king’s sons were wicked. However, because his foresight had been destroyed, he supported them in adharma. His younger brother’s sons had no guardian. When they entered the house of lac, it was set on fire. She was the queen of the lord among the Kurus. 685 His son performed the contemptible deed of dragging her to the assembly hall by her hair. Despite her being his daughter-in-law, the king did not restrain him. Her own tears washed away the kunkuma on her breasts. Through adharma, the virtuous one was defeated in gambling with the dice. He stuck to truth and went to the forest. Ajatashatru returned and asked for what had been pledged to him. However, overwhelmed by confusion, he 686 did not grant it to him. Requested by the Parthas, Krishna, the preceptor of the universe, went to the assembly hall. Some men present thought that his words were like amrita. However, the king, 687 with his store of good merits exhausted, did not think that this was the case. He, 688 best among advisers, was invited by his elder brother, who consulted him. Vidura went to his house and the advice he offered is known as Vaidurika. 689 ‘You must give Ajatashatru’s share to him. 690 You have caused terrible hardships to him and he has been patient. You are terrified of Vrikodara, who is hissing like a serpent, along with his younger brothers, because of this. The illustrious god, Mukunda, has accepted the Parthas and so have the gods and the gods on earth. 691 The god of all the lords of the Yadus 692 has vanquished all the kings of men and is now in his own city. You have lost all prosperity because you have turned yourself away from Krishna. You are nurturing him 693 because you take him to be your son. He is evil personified and has entered your house. He hates Purusha. For the sake of the lineage, you should swiftly cast him away.’ Kshatta, whose conduct was praised by the virtuous, spoke in this way. However, because of his increasing rage, Suyodhana’s lips quivered. With Karna, his younger brother 694 and Soubala, 695 he showed him disrespect. ‘Who has invited this deceitful person here? 696 This suta is a servant who has been nourished by our offerings. Yet, he acts against us and serves the cause of the enemy. Let him remain alive, but swiftly banish him from the city.’ In his brother’s presence, he was pierced in his inner organs and suffered severely from arrows that entered through the ears. 697 But he was not distressed or agitated, because he understood that all this was because of maya. He placed his own bow near the door and left. The Kouravas had obtained him because of their good deeds, but he departed. Having left Gajasahvya, he visited, one after another, places that were tirthas, on foot. To accumulate merit, he wished to visit spots where the one with one thousand forms had manifested himself. He travelled to cities, sacred groves, forests, mountains, bowers and the clear water of rivers and lakes. These were decorated with signs of the infinite one. He was unaccompanied by anyone else and travelled to all these tirthas. Alone, he wandered around the earth, pure in conduct. He bathed and lay down on the ground, like an avadhuta. He was alone and unnoticed and in the attire of an avadhuta. He observed vows to satisfy Hari. He thus roamed around Bharatavarsha. In the course of time, he went to Prabhasa. At that time, through the favours of the unvanquished one, 698 Partha 699 ruled the entire earth as an emperor, under one single umbrella. 700 There, he heard about the destruction of his well-wishers, 701 who were burnt down in the forest, just as the fire consumes a grove of bamboo, when one bamboo rubs against another. 702 He thought about their being burnt down and silently went to the Sarasvati, which flows in a western direction. He went to tirthas sacred to Trita, Ushanas, Manu, Prithu, Agni, Asita, Vayu, Sudasa, Go, 703 Guha and Shraddhadeva. There, he also went to many other temples that were constructed by the best among brahmanas and gods and dedicated to the many forms of Vishnu, marked by his many signs. Having seen them, one remembers Krishna. From there, he passed through prosperous tracts like Surashtra, Souvira, Matsya and Kurujangala. In the course of time, he reached the Yamuna and saw Uddhava, who was devoted to the lord, there.
‘“With deep affection, he embraced the fortunate and tranquil one, who followed Vasudeva and earlier, had been like Brihaspati’s son. 704 He asked him about his own relatives, who were the subjects of the illustrious one. ‘Are those two ancient Purushas, 705 who descended because they were requested by the one who was born from his navel, 706 well in Shura’s 707 house? Have they achieved their objective of ensuring the welfare of the world? O dear one! Is the beloved brother-in-law of the Kurus, Shouri, 708 happy? Like a father, he gives generously to his own sisters. He is supreme among those who are generous and causes satisfaction through his gifts. O dear one! Is the brave Pradyumna, the commander of the armies of the Yadus, happy? In an earlier life, he had been the god of life and through the illustrious one, Rukmini obtained him as a son, after worshipping brahmanas. Is the lord 709 of the Satvatas, Vrishnis, Bhojas and Dasharhas happy? He had given up hopes of being a king and had gone far away, but the lotus-eyed one 710 instated him again. O amiable one! The virtuous Samba is foremost among charioteers. He is Hari’s son and is just like him. In earlier life, he used to be Guha, 711 born in Ambika’s womb. Because Jambavati was firm in her vows, he has been born as her son. Is he well? Is Yuyudhana 712 well? He learnt the secrets of wielding the bow from Phalguna. By serving Adhokshaja, he swiftly attained an end that is extremely difficult for even mendicants to achieve. Is Shvaphalka’s learned and faultless son, 713 who has sou
ght refuge with the illustrious one, well? Filled with love, he lost his mental equilibrium and rolled around on the dust in the road, marked by Krishna’s footprints. Is the daughter of Devaka, the Bhoja, well? 714 She gave birth to Vishnu and is like the mother of the gods. She bore the god in her womb, just as the three 715 contain the meanings that expand into sacrifices. Is the illustrious Aniruddha happy? He yields all the objects of desire for the Satvatas and has been thought of as the source of sound. 716 He rules the mind and is the fourth principle presiding over sattva. 717 O amiable one! Are Hridika, Satya’s 718 son, Charudeshna, Gada and the others well? They surround and follow him, 719 like the divinity who rules their atmans. Are they wandering around in peace? Is Dharma 720 using his own two arms and the two arms of Vijaya 721 and Achyuta to maintain the ordinances of dharma? Witnessing the prosperity of his kingdom, obtained through Vijaya’s service, Duryodhana was tormented in his assembly hall. How is Bhima? For a long time, he has sighed like a snake, intolerant and angry at those who had caused them injuries. In the field of battle, the earth could not tolerate the stride of his steps, when he roamed around with his club, executing wonderful modes of action. How is the famous one, the leader of arrays of chariots? He is the one who destroyed the enemy with his Gandiva bow. Once, when Girisha used his maya and arrived undetected, in the form of a hunter, he covered him with his deep and mysterious arrows. The twins were brought up as Pritha’s sons and were surrounded and protected by the eyes of the Parthas. After seizing their share from the enemy in the battle, they found delight, like Suparna from the mouth of the wielder of the vajra. 722 How wonderful! Pritha remained alive for the sake of her fatherless sons, though she was deprived of the noble royal sage. 723 He was a great and brave charioteer and alone, without using a second bow, conquered the four directions. O amiable one! I sorrow over the one who descended into darkness and acted against his brother, 724 after he left for the hereafter. Because he followed his sons, though I was a well-wisher, he drove me out of his city. Despite the scorn, I could see that Hari ordains the actions of men in this mortal world. Through his favours, undetected, I followed in his footsteps. Seeing all this, I wandered around, without any wonder. Indeed, if men seek refuge with him and desire to be freed of their afflictions, the lord frees them from the three kinds of wrong paths. 725 The Kurus repeatedly made the earth tremble with their armies, committing crimes. However, the illustrious one ignored them. He is the one without birth. He has been born to destroy those who tread along wrong paths. Though he has no acts to perform, he takes up acts for the sake of men. He is supreme and beyond the qualities and beyond the course of action. Why else does he resort to yoga and assume a body? Therefore, all the guardians of the world seek refuge with him. Though without birth, he has been born in the lineage of the Yadus for the sake of those who subject themselves to his control. His deeds are chanted about at tirthas. O friend! Recount his conduct to me.’”’
Chapter 3(2)
‘Shri-Shuka said, “The devotee of the illustrious one was thus asked about the news and welfare of the beloved one by Kshatta. However, he 726 remembered the lord and was filled with anxiety. He was not interested in replying. When he was a mere child of five and was invited by his mother to have breakfast, because he was serving him in his childhood pastimes, he was not interested in having it. 727 In the course of time, he continued to serve him until he became old. When he was asked and tried to reply, he remembered his master’s feet. He remained silent for a muhurta, extremely content at the nectar from Krishna’s lotus feet. The virtuous one withdrew and immersed himself in a deep act of bhakti yoga. Every limb in his body was in rapture. His eyes were closed and he wiped away the tears of grief. The signs were evident that he was completely submerged in his great love 728 and that his objective had been completely achieved. Gradually, he again returned from the world of the illustrious one to the world of men. He wiped his eyes. Smiling, Uddhava spoke affectionately to Vidura.
‘“Uddhava replied, ‘How can I speak about our welfare? Our houses have lost their prosperity. Krishna was like the sun and it has set. We have been swallowed by a boa constrictor. 729 This is indeed a great misfortune for this world, and especially for the Yadus. Like fish with the moon, 730 they dwelt with Hari and did not recognize him. The Satvatas possessed the wisdom of experience and could identify signs. However, they did not know him as the one who pervades all living beings, but only as a bull among the Satvatas. The wisdom of those who have surrendered their atmans to Hari’s atman is not confused by those who resort to wickedness and are touched by the god’s maya. He showed himself to men who had not performed austerities, thus possessing imperfect insight. He has now vanished, withdrawing his form from the sight of the world. He used his own yoga for pastimes in the mortal world. He assumed that form to exhibit the strength of his maya. The prosperity and opulence of his form is a reason for surprise. It is a supreme state, the best ornament among all the ornaments on the limbs. At the royal sacrifice performed by Dharma’s son, 731 all the three worlds could see that beautiful form and thought that all of Brahma’s 732 skills had been used up in creating the form that has now left. The women of Vraja were devoted to him. They were overwhelmed by his laughter, dalliances and pastimes. They followed him with their glances and their minds, leaving their tasks incomplete. He is compassionate towards those who are themselves peaceful, according to their own natures, but suffer at the hands of those who are otherwise. He is the lord of the highest and the lowest. 733 Though he has no birth, the illustrious one was born like the fire, 734 united with a part of Mahat. I grieve that the one who has no birth was born in a degraded state in Vasudeva’s house. He was himself infinite in valour. However, because of fear, he left the city and dwelt in Vraja. 735 I grieve when I remember that he worshipped the feet of his parents and said, “O father! O mother! We are extremely scared because of Kamsa. Since we have not been able to perform our duties towards you, please pardon us.” If a man has smelt the dust on the lord’s lotus feet, he will not be able to forget the lord. Like Death, he knit the eyebrows and chastised and removed the earth’s burden. Indeed, you have seen how Chedi hated Krishna, but obtained success at the royal sacrifice. 736 All the yogis desire this ultimate end and practise yoga. How can one tolerate separation from him? In that way, there were other brave ones in the world of men. In the battle, their eyes drank in Krishna’s lotus face, delightful to see. Purified by Partha’s weapons, they obtained his feet. He has no peer and is himself the lord of the three 737 and superior to them. His own kingdom is full of prosperity and all the objects of desire. All the guardians of the worlds offer sacrifices to him. Crores of diadems bow down before his hallowed feet. Thus, we were indeed his servants and attendants. O dear one! It pained us that he stood before Ugrasena, who was seated on a grand throne, addressed him as a lord and asked him to listen to him. Alas! The female crane 738 had virulent poison in her breasts. The wicked one wished to kill him and nurtured him with this. However, she obtained a state 739 that was appropriate for a proper nurse. Who is as compassionate as him? Which refuge will we go to? I think that the asuras are devotees of the illustrious lord of the three. They focused their intelligence along the path of enmity towards him, though they could see him descend with the weapon with the excellent nave, 740 on the shoulders of Tarkshya’s son. 741 He was born to Vasudeva and Devaki, in the prison of the Indra among the Bhojas. 742 This was because the one without birth 743 prayed and wished that the illustrious one should bring about peace. Thereafter, terrified of Kamsa, his father brought him to Nanda in Vraja. With Bala, 744 he dwelt there for eleven years, like a fire whose flames are hidden. He was surrounded by cowherds. The lord wandered around, tending to calves. He roamed around along the banks of the Yamuna, in groves where the trees were thick with the calling of birds. When he was young, his deeds, worthy of being seen, could only be seen by the residents of Vraja. He wept and he laughed. He was enchanting to behold, like a young lion. He tended to the wealth in the
form of cattle, with white cows and bulls, Lakshmi’s abode. He herded them and the cowherds followed him and the tunes of his lovely flute. The king of Bhoja engaged those who could assume any form at will and were accomplished in maya. 745 However, he killed them in sport, like a child destroying a puppet. There were those who were distressed because they had drunk the poison of the lord of the serpents. 746 However, he chastised him, arose 747 and made the cows drink the water, to show that it had been restored to its natural state. With supreme brahmanas, he made the king of the gopas 748 perform a sacrifice dedicated to cattle. The lord desired to use the great wealth in this virtuous way. Enraged at the dishonour and extremely agitated, Indra showered down on Vraja. O fortunate one! Playfully, he showed his favours and saved them by holding up Govardhana like a mountain. The autumn evenings were radiant with the beams of the moon. He showed his respect for this by enjoying himself, singing melodious songs, with him at the centre and surrounded by a circle of women.’”’
Chapter 3(3)
‘“Uddhava said, ‘Desiring to ensure the welfare of his own parents, he went to the city with Baladeva. They brought down the leader of the enemies from his lofty seat. They killed him and energetically dragged him along the ground. Having heard them uttered only once, he studied and learnt all the Vedas from Sandipani. He granted him the boon of bringing his dead son back to life from Panchajana’s stomach. 749 There were those who had been invited by Bhishmaka for his daughter and were attracted by her beauty and complexion. 750 However, he carried her off as his own desire, intending to follow the conduct of gandharvas 751 and taking away his own share, like Suparna. 752 He placed his foot on the heads of others. In a svayamvara, he tamed bulls whose noses had not been pierced and married Nagnajiti. 753 There were ignorant and routed ones who desired her and they wielded weapons. Without being injured, he killed them with his own weapons. The lord behaved like an ordinary person and wished to please his beloved. Therefore, the lord seized the tree 754 from the king of the gods. Blind with rage, the wielder of the vajra rushed towards him, with his companions, like a male deer that has been urged on by its wives. 755 The earth saw that her son was about to devour the sky with his mouth and was crushed by the weapon with the excellent nave in a battle. 756 She prayed to him and he gave what was left of the kingdom to his son 757 and entered his inner quarters. There were daughters of kings who had been abducted by Kuja. 758 On seeing Hari, the friend of the afflicted, they were delighted and immediately arose. They glanced at him, eyes full of bashfulness and affection, and accepted him. 759 Those women were placed in different chambers. He used his maya and simultaneously, in the same muhurta, married all of them, following the respective prescribed rites. He desired to expand his Prakriti. Therefore, through each of them, he had ten sons each, who were like him in every possible way. Kala, 760 Magadha 761 and Shalva laid siege to the city 762 with their armies. He energized his own men with his divine energy and got them killed. 763 There were Shambara, Dvivida, Bana, Mura, Balvala and others like Dantavakra. He killed some himself and had others killed. 764 The lord had the kings who sided with your brothers’ sons, 765 making the earth tremble with their armies, brought down in Kurukshetra. Suyodhana listened to the wicked advice of Karna, Duhshasana and Soubala and was forced to lie down on the ground with his followers, robbed of his prosperity and lifespan. The powerful one’s thighs were shattered. However, on seeing this, he was not happy. “This great burden of the earth has been removed. 766 Eighteen akshouhinis have been uprooted by Drona, Bhishma, Arjuna and Bhima. However, there remains an invincible army of Yadus, born from my portions. They will quarrel with each other. They will be intoxicated by drinking and their eyes will turn coppery red. With the exception of this, there is no other way to destroy them. After I have vanished, this will automatically happen.” Having thought this, the illustrious one established Dharmaja 767 in his own kingdom. He delighted his well-wishers and showed virtuous people the path. Through Abhimanyu, Uttara bore the descendant of the Purus. He was burnt down by the weapon of Drona’s son, but was again brought back to life by the illustrious one. The lord made Dharma’s son perform three horse sacrifices. He followed Krishna and with his younger brothers, happily protected the earth. The illustrious one is the atman of the universe. He traversed the path of the Vedas, followed by the worlds. He enjoyed all the objects of pleasure in Dvaraka. However, he was non-attached and based himself on samkhya. His glances were gentle and smiling. His words were akin to nectar. His character was without blemish. His atman was Shri’s abode. He brought joy to this world and the next, especially to the Yadus. During the night, as a well-wisher, he gave short spans of time to the women and made them enjoy for a while. He thus found pleasure for many years. However, detachment towards the mode of life of householders set in. Objects of pleasure are subject to destiny. Man himself is subject to destiny. A person who follows the lord of yoga cannot find solace in such things alone. Once upon a time, the princes of the Yadus and the Bhojas were playing. The sages, who knew the intentions of the illustrious one, cursed them. Some months passed. Confounded by the god, the Vrishnis, Bhojas, Andhakas and others cheerfully went to Prabhasa on their chariots. They bathed there and offered the water to the ancestors, the gods and the rishis. They satisfied the brahmanas by giving them cows that possessed many qualities. They gave them gold, silver, beds, garments, hides, blankets, vehicles, chariots, elephants, maidens and land for sustenance. They gave them delicious food that had first been offered to the illustrious one. Those brave ones served cattle and brahmanas and bowed their heads down on the ground.’”’