Canto Ten - Chapter 70

Śrī Śuka said: When dawn approached, Mādhava's wives, distressed by separation while held around the neck by their husband, cursed the crowing roosters.

Birds cried as though court poets awakening Kṛṣṇa, while sleepless bees sang as breezes blew from the mandāra gardens.

Vaidarbhī, resting between her beloved's arms, could not tolerate that most auspicious moment because it would end His embrace.

Rising during the brāhma hour, Mādhava touched water and, with serene faculties, meditated upon Himself beyond darkness,

the one self-luminous, secondless, imperishable reality, eternally free of impurity by its own nature, called Brahman, whose powers cause this universe's creation and destruction and reveal blissful existence.

Then, having bathed in pure water according to rule and put on two garments, the best of the virtuous performed the prescribed rites beginning with morning worship, offered into the fire, and silently recited the Veda.

He honored the rising sun, offered libations to His own expansions, and worshiped the gods, sages, ancestors, elders, and brāhmaṇas, self-possessed.

He prepared young, milk-rich cows of excellent nature, with golden horns, pearl garlands, calves, and fine coverings,

their hoof tips plated with silver, and gave thirteen thousand eighty-four of them each day to adorned brāhmaṇas along with linen, deerskins, and sesame.

He bowed to cows, brāhmaṇas, gods, elders, teachers, and all beings, His own manifestations, and touched auspicious objects.

He adorned Himself, the ornament of human society, with His own garments and ornaments, divine garlands, and fragrances.

He viewed clarified butter, a mirror, cows, bulls, brāhmaṇas, and deities; fulfilled the desires of citizens of every class and residents of the inner quarters; and pleased His ministers with gifts before accepting their greetings.

First distributing garlands, betel, and fragrances to the brāhmaṇas, then to friends, ministers, and wives, He finally used what remained Himself.

By then His charioteer had brought forward an extraordinary chariot yoked to Sugrīva and the other horses and stood before Him after bowing.

Taking the charioteer's hands in His own, Kṛṣṇa mounted the chariot with Sātyaki and Uddhava, like the sun rising over the eastern mountain.

The women of the inner chambers gazed upon Him with bashful, loving glances. With difficulty they released Him, and He departed smiling, stealing their hearts.

Surrounded by all the Vṛṣṇis, He entered the assembly hall named Sudharmā, where those seated within experience none of the six bodily afflictions.

Seated upon the supreme throne, the almighty Lord shone with His own light, illuminating the directions. Surrounded by the lionlike Yadus, the foremost Yadu resembled the moon among stars.

O King, jesters entertained the Lord with many flavors of humor, while master actors and dancing women separately performed their dances.

To the sounds of mṛdaṅgas, vīṇās, murajas, flutes, cymbals, and conches, performers danced and sang, while Sūtas, Māgadhas, and heralds offered praise.

Some seated brāhmaṇas versed in sacred knowledge recited the holy fame of ancient kings, while others narrated their histories.

O King, a man never seen before arrived there. The gatekeepers announced him to the Lord and admitted him.

He bowed to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, folded his hands, and reported the suffering of the kings imprisoned by Jarāsandha.

The twenty thousand kings who had refused submission during Jarāsandha's conquest of the directions had been forcibly confined by him at Girivraja.

The kings said: Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, immeasurable Self, destroyer of the surrendered soul's fear, frightened by worldly existence and divided in understanding, we take refuge in You.

People are devoted to forbidden acts and negligent of the beneficial duty You prescribe, which is their own worship of You. Powerful time suddenly cuts off their hope of life. Obeisance to that sleepless Lord.

You, Lord of the universe, have descended into this world by Your potency to protect the virtuous and restrain the wicked. Yet someone transgresses Your command. Lord, we do not know whether people merely experience the results of their own deeds.

Lord, royal happiness is like a dream and dependent upon others. Always afraid and as good as dead, we bear its burden. Having abandoned the soul's happiness, obtainable through desireless devotion to You, we pitiable men suffer here under Your māyā.

Your two feet remove the grief of those who bow to You. Please free us captives from the bonds of karma named Magadha. Possessing alone the strength of ten thousand elephants, he confined kings in his palace as a lion pens sheep.

You defeated him in battle eighteen times, exalted wielder of the disc, but once he defeated You while You enacted human life, and his pride swelled. Invincible Lord, he now torments us, Your subjects. Please set this right.

The messenger said: Imprisoned by the Magadhan and longing to see You, the kings have surrendered at Your feet. Please bring welfare to these suffering men.

Śrī Śuka said: As the royal messenger spoke, the brilliantly radiant divine sage appeared, bearing a mass of tawny matted hair like the sun.

Seeing him, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the rulers of all worlds, rose joyfully with His assembly and attendants and bowed His head.

After duly honoring the sage and seating him, the Lord gratified him with sincere, pleasing words spoken in faith.

Is all free from fear in the three worlds today? Surely, venerable sage, your traveling among the worlds brings the greatest good.

Nothing in the worlds ruled by their various lords is unknown to you. Therefore We ask you what the Pāṇḍavas intend to do.

Śrī Nārada said: Almighty Lord, I have repeatedly seen Your insurmountable māyā, and that of Brahmā, the cosmic creator and mystic. Infinite one, as You move among beings through Your powers, Your radiance is hidden like fire's, and I am not astonished.

Who can truly understand Your purpose as You create and withdraw this universe through Your own māyā, making it appear real through Your presence? Obeisance to You, whose nature is distinct from it.

I take refuge in You, who through playful descents ignite the lamp of Your fame to liberate the wandering soul who does not know release from the body that carries suffering.

Nevertheless, O Absolute, I shall tell You the intention of your devoted cousin, the king, though You only imitate the ways of human society.

The Pāṇḍava king, desiring supreme sovereignty, intends to worship You through the greatest sacrifice, the Rājasūya. Please approve it.

God, desiring to see You at that foremost sacrifice, the gods and other celestial beings and renowned kings will assemble.

Even outcastes are purified by hearing, praising, and meditating upon You, whose nature is the Absolute. What then of those who see and touch You, Lord?

Your stainless fame spreads through heaven, the subterranean realm, and earth, blessing every direction. The water from Your feet purifies the universe as Mandākinī in heaven, Bhogavatī below, and Gaṅgā here.

Śrī Śuka said: As His own supporters spoke there, each eager for victory, Keśava smiled and addressed His servant Uddhava with charming words.

The Supreme Lord said: You are Our supreme eye, friend, and knower of the truth of counsel. Tell Us what should be done here. We trust you and shall do it.

Thus invited by his all-knowing master, who acted like an innocent person, Uddhava placed the command upon his head and replied.