Canto Ten - Chapter 73

Śrī Śuka said: The twenty thousand eight hundred kings, defeated and imprisoned in battle, emerged from the mountain fortress dirty and dressed in soiled clothes.

Emaciated by hunger, their faces dried and their bodies wasted from confinement, they saw the Lord dark as a raincloud and dressed in yellow silk.

He bore the Śrīvatsa, had four arms and eyes red as the center of a lotus, a beautiful serene face, and shining shark-shaped earrings.

His hands and emblems displayed the lotus, club, conch, and disc, and He was adorned with crown, necklace, bracelets, girdle, and armlets.

A splendid jewel shone upon His neck and a forest garland draped His body. The kings seemed to drink Him with their eyes and lick Him with their tongues,

to smell Him with their nostrils and embrace Him with their arms. Their sins destroyed, they bowed their heads at Hari's feet.

The joy of seeing Kṛṣṇa dispelled the exhaustion of imprisonment. With folded hands the kings praised Hṛṣīkeśa in words.

The kings said: Obeisance to You, God of gods, imperishable Lord who removes the suffering of the surrendered. Kṛṣṇa, protect us who have surrendered and grown weary of terrible worldly existence.

Madhusūdana, master, we do not blame the Magadhan. Almighty Lord, a king's loss of sovereignty can be Your grace.

Swollen with pride in royal wealth, a king does not find the highest good. Bewildered by Your māyā, he thinks impermanent riches are unchanging.

Just as children mistake a mirage for a reservoir, the undiscerning regard mutable māyā as reality.

Formerly our vision was destroyed by pride in wealth. Eager to conquer the earth and competing with one another, we mercilessly killed our own subjects, madly disregarding death standing before us, Lord.

Today, Kṛṣṇa, by Your grace our fortunes have been shaken by time, whose force is profound and power insurmountable. Our pride destroyed, we remember Your feet.

We no longer desire to worship the mirage-like kingdom with a body that constantly falls and produces suffering, nor the attractive fruits of ritual after death, almighty Lord.

Teach us the means by which remembrance of Your lotus feet will never cease, even as we wander in this world.

Repeated obeisance to Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, Hari, the Supreme Self; to Govinda, destroyer of the surrendered soul's distress.

Śrī Śuka said: Praised by the kings freed from bondage, the compassionate Supreme Lord, refuge of all, addressed them gently, dear king.

The Supreme Lord said: Kings, from this day firm devotion to Me, the Self and Lord of all, will arise in you. Indeed, this is what you desired.

Fortunately, truthful kings, you have resolved rightly. See how pride in beauty, wealth, and sovereignty drives people mad.

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and other rulers among gods, demons, and humans fell from their positions through pride in fortune.

Knowing that all products beginning with the body are finite, worship Me through sacrifices with disciplined minds and protect your subjects according to dharma.

Continue the line of progeny, accepting each happiness and sorrow, birth and death, as it comes, and move through life with your minds fixed on Me.

Remain detached from body and possessions, delight in the Self, and hold firmly to your vows. Fixing your minds fully upon Me, at death you will attain Me, the Absolute.

Śrī Śuka said: Having thus instructed the kings, Kṛṣṇa, Supreme Lord of the worlds, assigned men and women to bathe them.

O descendant of Bharata, He had Sahadeva honor them with garments, ornaments, garlands, and fragrances befitting kings.

They were bathed, adorned, fed excellent food, and provided various royal comforts, including betel.

Honored by Mukunda and wearing polished earrings, the kings, freed from suffering, shone like planets at the end of the rainy season.

He seated them in chariots with fine horses, adorned with jewels and gold, delighted them with sincere words, and sent them back to their countries.

Thus freed from misery by supremely great Kṛṣṇa, they departed meditating upon Him and upon the deeds of the Lord of the universe.

They related the Supreme Person's deeds to their citizens and diligently followed the Supreme Lord's instructions.

After having Bhīmasena kill Jarāsandha, Keśava departed with the two sons of Pṛthā, honored by Sahadeva.

Upon reaching Khāṇḍavaprastha, the victors sounded their conches, delighting their friends and bringing distress to enemies.

Hearing the sound, the residents of Indraprastha rejoiced, understanding that the Magadhan had been subdued and the king's desire fulfilled.

Bhīma, Arjuna, and Janārdana bowed to the king and reported everything they had accomplished.

Hearing how Keśava had shown him mercy, Dharmarāja shed tears of joy and, overcome with love, could say nothing.