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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 194

Chapter 194

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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 194

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सूत उवाच- एवं संप्रार्थितो विप्रास्तया भक्त्यातिदीनया। यतश्चाकथयं तद्वै तच्छृणुध्वं दयालवः १। नारद उवाच- मा खिदस्त्वं वृथा बाले समाधाय मनो हृदि । श्रीकृष्णचरणांभोजं स्मर सौख्यं लभिष्यसि २। द्रौपदी च परित्राता येन कौरवकश्मलात् । पालिता गोपसुंदर्यः स कृष्णः क्वापि नो गतः ३। त्वं तु भक्तिः प्रिया तस्य सततं प्राणतोऽधिका । त्वयाहूतस्तु भगवान्याति नीचगृहेष्वपि ४। सत्यादि त्रियुगे बोधो विरागो मुक्तिसाधकौ । कलौ तु केवला भक्तिर्ब्रह्मसायुज्यकारिणी ५। इति निश्चित्य विद्रूपी स्वकां गात्त्वां ससर्ज ह । परमानंदचिन्मूर्तिः स्वप्रियां प्रीतमानसः ६। बध्वांजलि त्वया पृष्टः किं करोमीति वै हरिः । त्वां तदाज्ञापयत्कृष्णो मद्भक्तान्पोषयेति च ७। अंगीकृतं त्वया तद्वै प्रसन्नोऽभूद्धरिस्तदा । मुक्तिदासीं ददौ तुभ्यं ज्ञानवैराग्य आत्मजौ ८। भक्तानां पोषणं नित्यं वैकुंठस्था करोषि च । भूमौ च भक्तपोषाय छायारूपं समाश्रिता ९। विमुक्ति ज्ञानवैराग्यैः सह चैवागतात्र हि । कृतादिद्वापरांते हि काले मुक्ति मुदास्थिता १०। कलौ तु संक्षयं प्राप्ता पाषंडामयपीडिता । त्वदाज्ञया गता शीघ्रं वैकुंठे पुनरेव सा । स्मृतमात्रा त्वयाद्यापि मुक्तिरायाति सत्वरम् ११। पुत्रीकृत्य त्वयैमौ च स्वपार्श्वे परिरक्षितौ । उपेक्षातः कलौ मंदौ वृद्धौ जातौ सुतौ तव १२। तथापि चिंतां मुंचत्वमुपायं चिंतयाम्यहम् । कलिना सदृशः कोऽपि युगो नास्ति वरानने १३। तस्मिंस्त्वां ख्यापयिष्यामि गेहे गेहे जने जने । अन्यधर्मांस्तिरस्कृत्य पुरस्कृत्य महोत्सवान् १४। यदि प्रवर्त्तये न त्वां तदा दासो हरेर्नहि । त्वदन्विताश्च ये जीवा भविष्यंति कलाविह १५। पापिनोऽपि गमिष्यंति निर्भया हरिमंदिरम् । येषां चित्ते भवेद्भक्तिः सर्वदा प्रेमरूपिणी १६। न ते पश्यंति कीनाशं स्वप्नेऽप्यमलमूर्त्तयः । न प्रेतो न पिशाचो वा राक्षसो वासुरोपि च १७। भक्तियुक्तमनस्कानां स्पर्शने दर्शने प्रभुः । न तपोभिर्न वेदैश्च न ज्ञानेनापि कर्मणा १८। हरिर्हि साध्यते भक्त्या प्रमाणं तत्र गोपिकाः । नृणां जन्मसहस्रेण भक्तिः सुकृतिनां भवेत् १९। कलौ भक्तिः कलौ भक्तिर्भक्त्याकृष्णः पुरः स्थितः । भक्तिद्रोहकरा ये च ते सीदंति जगत्त्रये २०। दुर्वासा दुःखमापन्नः पुरा भक्तिविनिंदकः । अलं वृत्तैरलंतीर्थैरलं योगैरलं मखैः २१। अलं ज्ञानकथालापैर्भक्तिरेकैव मुक्तिदा । एवमुक्तं मया सा तु स्वमाहात्म्यं निशम्य वै २२। सर्वांगहर्षसंयुक्ता मां पुनर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अहो नारद धन्योऽसि प्रीतिस्ते मयि निश्चला २३। न कदाचिन्विमुंचामि चित्तं ते मयि संगतम् । कृपालुना त्वया साधो मद्बाधा ध्वंसिता क्षणात् २४। पुत्रयोश्चेतना नास्ति ममेमौ प्रतिबोधय । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कारुण्येनान्वितो ह्यहम् २५। तयोः प्रबोधनं कर्तुं प्रवृत्तः पाणिना स्पृशन् । मुखं संसृज्य कर्णांते शब्दमुच्चैः समुच्चरन् २६। ज्ञान प्रबुद्ध्य्तां शीघ्रं वैराग्यप्रतिबुध्यताम् । वेदवेदांतघोषैश्च गीता पाठैर्मुहुर्मुहुः २७। बोध्यमानौ तदा तेन कथंचिद्बोधमागतौ । नेत्रैरनवलोकंतौ जृंभंतौ सालसावुभौ २८। बकवत्पलितौ प्रायः शुष्ककाष्ठसमांगकौ । क्षुत्क्षामौ तौ निरीक्ष्यैव पुनः स्वापमुपागतौ २९। तदा चिंतापरोऽभूवं किं विधेयं मयेति च । अहो निद्रा कथं याति वृद्धत्वं चानयोः परम् ३०। चिंतयन्नित गोविंदं स्मरन्नासं द्विजोत्तमाः । व्योमवाणी तदैवाभून्मा ऋषे खिद्यतामिति ३१। उद्यमस्सफलस्ते तु भविष्यति न संशयः । एतदर्थं तु सत्कर्म सुरर्षे त्वं समाचर ३२। तत्कर्मतेऽभिधास्यंति साधवः साधुभूषणाः । सत्कर्मणि कृते तस्मिन्स्वपनं वृद्धतानयोः ३३। गमिष्यति क्षणाद्भक्तिः सर्वतः प्रसरिष्यति । इत्याकाशवचः स्पष्टं निशम्यापि मया द्विजाः ३४। न ज्ञातं यन्नभोवाण्या गोप्यत्वेन निरूपितं । किं तत्कर्म च येनैतौ भवतो ज्ञानसंयुतौ ३५। क्व भविष्यंति ते संतः कथं वक्ष्यंति कर्म सत् । मयात्र किं प्रकर्त्तव्यं यदुक्तं व्योमभाषया ३६। अथ तौ तत्र संस्थाप्य निर्गतोऽहं बहिर्द्विजाः । वृंदारण्यादपृच्छं च यत्र तत्र द्विजोत्तमान् ३७। वृत्तांतं सर्व एवाथ श्रुत्वा विस्मितमानसाः । नैवोत्तरं प्रयच्छंति ह्यनभिज्ञानभोगिरः ३८। असाध्यं केचन प्रोचुराविज्ञेयमथापरे । मूकी बभूवुरन्ये तु चिंतयानाः पुनः पुनः ३९। वेदवेदांतघोषैश्च गीतापाठैर्मुहुर्मुहुः । बोध्यमानं त्रिकं तत्तु नोदतिष्ठदहो विधिः ४०। योगिना नारदेनापि स्वयं न ज्ञायते तु यत् । तत्कथं शक्यते कर्तुमितरैरिह मानुषैः । ततश्चिंतातुरश्चाहं बदरीवनमागतः ४१। तपश्चरामि चात्रैव तदर्थं कृतनिश्चयः । तावद्ददर्श पुरतः सनकाद्यान्मुनीश्वरान् । कोटिसूर्यसमाभासानुवाच मुनिसत्तमान् ४२। इदानीं भूरिभागेन भवतां दर्शनं ह्यभूत् । तदुपायं महाभागा वदंतु प्रीतमानसाः ४३। भवंतो योगिनां श्रेष्ठा बुद्धिमंतो बहुश्रुताः । कुमारा एवपंचाब्दाः पूर्वेषामपिपूर्वजाः ४४। सदा वैकुंठनिलया हरिकीर्त्तनतत्पराः । लीलामृतकथोन्मत्ता हरिस्मरणतत्पराः ४५। अतो हि कालदुहिता युष्मान्नैव प्रबाधते । येषां भ्रूभंगमात्रेण द्वारपालौ हरेः पुरा ४६। दैत्यौ भूत्वा त्रिजन्मानि पुनस्तत्स्थानमास्थितौ । अशरीरगिरोक्तं यत्किंतत्साधनमुच्यताम् ४७। अनुष्ठेयं यथा यत्र प्रब्रुवंतु कृपालवः । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणांसुखमुत्पद्यतेयथा । ख्यातिर्वः सर्वलोकेषु तथा साधूच्यतां बुधाः ४८। कुमारा ऊचुः- मा चिंतां कुरु देवर्षे स्वचित्ते हर्षमावह । उपायः सुखासाध्योऽत्र विद्यते विश्वसौख्यदः ४९। अहो नारद धन्योऽसि विरक्तानां शिरोमणिः । श्रीकृष्णप्रेमपात्राणामग्रणीर्वदतां वरः 6.194.५०। त्वयि चित्रं न देवर्षे भक्तिसाधनतत्परे । उचितं कृष्णदासानां भक्तेः संचारणं भुवि ५१। ऋषिभिर्बहुधा लोके उपायाः सिद्धये कृताः । श्रमसाध्याश्च ते सर्वे प्रायः स्वर्गफलप्रदाः ५२। वैकुंठसाधकः पंथा गुप्तो लोकेषु वर्त्तते । तस्योपदेशकः साधुः प्रायो भाग्येन लभ्यते ५३। यत्ते सत्कर्म निर्दिष्टं व्योमवाचा मुनीश्वर । तज्ज्ञेयमिह सर्वज्ञैर्ज्ञानयज्ञः पुरातनैः ५४। श्रीमद्भागवतालापो ज्ञानयज्ञः शुकोदितः । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां सुखदः प्रतिभाति नः ५५। कलिदोषा इमे सर्वे श्रीमद्भागवत ध्वनेः । प्रभीताः प्रलयायंते सिंहशब्दाद्वृका इव ५६। ज्ञानवैराग्यसंयुक्ता भक्तिः प्रेमरसावहा । प्रतिगेहं प्रतिजनं सुखक्रीडां करिष्यति ५७। सूत उवाच- कुमारोक्तं समाकर्ण्य नारदः प्रीतमानसः । पुनः प्रोवाच भगवांस्तदुत्कर्षं विभावयन् ५८। नारद उवाच- वेदवेदांतघोषैश्च गीतापाठैः प्रबोधितम् । नोदतिष्ठत्त्रिकं तत्तु कलिदोषतिरस्कृतम् ५९। कथं भागवतालापात्तद्विबोधमिहैष्यति । छिंदंतु संशयं ह्येनं भवंतोऽमोघदर्शनाः ६०। विलंबो नात्र कर्त्तव्यः शरणागतवत्सलाः । ततस्ते सनकाद्यास्तु विरक्ता ह्यूर्द्ध्वरेतसः ६१। सिद्धाः सनातना विप्रा नारदं प्रोचुरादरात् ६२। कुमारा ऊचुः । वेदोपनिषदां साराज्जाता भागवती कथा । अत्युत्तमा ततो भाति पृथग्भूता फलोन्नतिः ६३। आमूलाग्रं रसोस्त्येव रसालस्य यथा फले । पृथग्भूतं तु पानेन यथा विश्वमनोहरः ६४। यथा दुग्धेस्थितं सर्पिर्न च स्वादूपकल्प्यते । पृथग्भूतं तु तद्दिव्यं देवानां प्रीतिवर्द्धनम् ६५। इक्षुष्विवादिमध्यांतं शर्करा व्याप्य तिष्ठति । पृथग्भूता तु सा मिष्टा तथा भागवती कथा ६६। श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं रसमेव हि । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां सौख्यायैव प्रकाशितम् ६७। कृष्णेन ब्रह्मणे नाभिकंजस्थाय हृदैव हि । तच्चतुःश्लोकमखिलं ब्रह्मैव प्रतिभासते ६८। तुभ्यं च ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तं तच्चरित्रनिदर्शनम् । त्वयापि व्यासदेवाय प्रोक्तं तत्तापहानये ६९। यदीयस्मरणात्सद्यो निर्विण्णो बादरायणः । चकार महदाख्यातुमात्माराम मनोहरम् ७०। अत्र ते विस्मयः केन येन पृच्छेः पुनः पुनः । श्रीमद्भागवतं शास्त्रं क्षमं कृष्णानुकर्षणे ७१। सूत उवाच- एतन्निशम्य वचनं समुदाहृतं तु योगीश्वरैः सनकमुख्यतमैरभीष्टम् । भक्त्या विधृत्य चरणं च प्रणम्य मूर्ध्ना हृष्टो जगाद जगदाधिनिवर्त्तकांस्तान् ७२। नारद उवाच-। संदर्शनं च भवतां विनिहंत्यघौघं श्रेयस्तनोति भवदुःखदवार्दितानाम् । निःशेषशेषमुखगीतकथैकपानात्प्रेमप्रकाशनकृते शरणं गतो वः ७३। पुण्योदयेन बहुजन्मसमर्जितेन सत्संगमो यदि भवेत्कृतिनो जनस्य । अज्ञानहेतुकृतमोहमहांधकारो नश्येत्तदा ह्युदयमेति महान्विवेकः ७४। इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्रयां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे। श्रीभागवतमाहात्म्ये चतुर्नवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः १९४।

sūta uvāca- evaṃ saṃprārthito viprāstayā bhaktyātidīnayā| yataścākathayaṃ tadvai tacchṛṇudhvaṃ dayālavaḥ 1| nārada uvāca- mā khidastvaṃ vṛthā bāle samādhāya mano hṛdi | śrīkṛṣṇacaraṇāṃbhojaṃ smara saukhyaṃ labhiṣyasi 2| draupadī ca paritrātā yena kauravakaśmalāt | pālitā gopasuṃdaryaḥ sa kṛṣṇaḥ kvāpi no gataḥ 3| tvaṃ tu bhaktiḥ priyā tasya satataṃ prāṇato'dhikā | tvayāhūtastu bhagavānyāti nīcagṛheṣvapi 4| satyādi triyuge bodho virāgo muktisādhakau | kalau tu kevalā bhaktirbrahmasāyujyakāriṇī 5| iti niścitya vidrūpī svakāṃ gāttvāṃ sasarja ha | paramānaṃdacinmūrtiḥ svapriyāṃ prītamānasaḥ 6| badhvāṃjali tvayā pṛṣṭaḥ kiṃ karomīti vai hariḥ | tvāṃ tadājñāpayatkṛṣṇo madbhaktānpoṣayeti ca 7| aṃgīkṛtaṃ tvayā tadvai prasanno'bhūddharistadā | muktidāsīṃ dadau tubhyaṃ jñānavairāgya ātmajau 8| bhaktānāṃ poṣaṇaṃ nityaṃ vaikuṃṭhasthā karoṣi ca | bhūmau ca bhaktapoṣāya chāyārūpaṃ samāśritā 9| vimukti jñānavairāgyaiḥ saha caivāgatātra hi | kṛtādidvāparāṃte hi kāle mukti mudāsthitā 10| kalau tu saṃkṣayaṃ prāptā pāṣaṃḍāmayapīḍitā | tvadājñayā gatā śīghraṃ vaikuṃṭhe punareva sā | smṛtamātrā tvayādyāpi muktirāyāti satvaram 11| putrīkṛtya tvayaimau ca svapārśve parirakṣitau | upekṣātaḥ kalau maṃdau vṛddhau jātau sutau tava 12| tathāpi ciṃtāṃ muṃcatvamupāyaṃ ciṃtayāmyaham | kalinā sadṛśaḥ ko'pi yugo nāsti varānane 13| tasmiṃstvāṃ khyāpayiṣyāmi gehe gehe jane jane | anyadharmāṃstiraskṛtya puraskṛtya mahotsavān 14| yadi pravarttaye na tvāṃ tadā dāso harernahi | tvadanvitāśca ye jīvā bhaviṣyaṃti kalāviha 15| pāpino'pi gamiṣyaṃti nirbhayā harimaṃdiram | yeṣāṃ citte bhavedbhaktiḥ sarvadā premarūpiṇī 16| na te paśyaṃti kīnāśaṃ svapne'pyamalamūrttayaḥ | na preto na piśāco vā rākṣaso vāsuropi ca 17| bhaktiyuktamanaskānāṃ sparśane darśane prabhuḥ | na tapobhirna vedaiśca na jñānenāpi karmaṇā 18| harirhi sādhyate bhaktyā pramāṇaṃ tatra gopikāḥ | nṛṇāṃ janmasahasreṇa bhaktiḥ sukṛtināṃ bhavet 19| kalau bhaktiḥ kalau bhaktirbhaktyākṛṣṇaḥ puraḥ sthitaḥ | bhaktidrohakarā ye ca te sīdaṃti jagattraye 20| durvāsā duḥkhamāpannaḥ purā bhaktiviniṃdakaḥ | alaṃ vṛttairalaṃtīrthairalaṃ yogairalaṃ makhaiḥ 21| alaṃ jñānakathālāpairbhaktirekaiva muktidā | evamuktaṃ mayā sā tu svamāhātmyaṃ niśamya vai 22| sarvāṃgaharṣasaṃyuktā māṃ punarvākyamabravīt | aho nārada dhanyo'si prītiste mayi niścalā 23| na kadācinvimuṃcāmi cittaṃ te mayi saṃgatam | kṛpālunā tvayā sādho madbādhā dhvaṃsitā kṣaṇāt 24| putrayoścetanā nāsti mamemau pratibodhaya | tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā kāruṇyenānvito hyaham 25| tayoḥ prabodhanaṃ kartuṃ pravṛttaḥ pāṇinā spṛśan | mukhaṃ saṃsṛjya karṇāṃte śabdamuccaiḥ samuccaran 26| jñāna prabuddhytāṃ śīghraṃ vairāgyapratibudhyatām | vedavedāṃtaghoṣaiśca gītā pāṭhairmuhurmuhuḥ 27| bodhyamānau tadā tena kathaṃcidbodhamāgatau | netrairanavalokaṃtau jṛṃbhaṃtau sālasāvubhau 28| bakavatpalitau prāyaḥ śuṣkakāṣṭhasamāṃgakau | kṣutkṣāmau tau nirīkṣyaiva punaḥ svāpamupāgatau 29| tadā ciṃtāparo'bhūvaṃ kiṃ vidheyaṃ mayeti ca | aho nidrā kathaṃ yāti vṛddhatvaṃ cānayoḥ param 30| ciṃtayannita goviṃdaṃ smarannāsaṃ dvijottamāḥ | vyomavāṇī tadaivābhūnmā ṛṣe khidyatāmiti 31| udyamassaphalaste tu bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | etadarthaṃ tu satkarma surarṣe tvaṃ samācara 32| tatkarmate'bhidhāsyaṃti sādhavaḥ sādhubhūṣaṇāḥ | satkarmaṇi kṛte tasminsvapanaṃ vṛddhatānayoḥ 33| gamiṣyati kṣaṇādbhaktiḥ sarvataḥ prasariṣyati | ityākāśavacaḥ spaṣṭaṃ niśamyāpi mayā dvijāḥ 34| na jñātaṃ yannabhovāṇyā gopyatvena nirūpitaṃ | kiṃ tatkarma ca yenaitau bhavato jñānasaṃyutau 35| kva bhaviṣyaṃti te saṃtaḥ kathaṃ vakṣyaṃti karma sat | mayātra kiṃ prakarttavyaṃ yaduktaṃ vyomabhāṣayā 36| atha tau tatra saṃsthāpya nirgato'haṃ bahirdvijāḥ | vṛṃdāraṇyādapṛcchaṃ ca yatra tatra dvijottamān 37| vṛttāṃtaṃ sarva evātha śrutvā vismitamānasāḥ | naivottaraṃ prayacchaṃti hyanabhijñānabhogiraḥ 38| asādhyaṃ kecana procurāvijñeyamathāpare | mūkī babhūvuranye tu ciṃtayānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ 39| vedavedāṃtaghoṣaiśca gītāpāṭhairmuhurmuhuḥ | bodhyamānaṃ trikaṃ tattu nodatiṣṭhadaho vidhiḥ 40| yoginā nāradenāpi svayaṃ na jñāyate tu yat | tatkathaṃ śakyate kartumitarairiha mānuṣaiḥ | tataściṃtāturaścāhaṃ badarīvanamāgataḥ 41| tapaścarāmi cātraiva tadarthaṃ kṛtaniścayaḥ | tāvaddadarśa purataḥ sanakādyānmunīśvarān | koṭisūryasamābhāsānuvāca munisattamān 42| idānīṃ bhūribhāgena bhavatāṃ darśanaṃ hyabhūt | tadupāyaṃ mahābhāgā vadaṃtu prītamānasāḥ 43| bhavaṃto yogināṃ śreṣṭhā buddhimaṃto bahuśrutāḥ | kumārā evapaṃcābdāḥ pūrveṣāmapipūrvajāḥ 44| sadā vaikuṃṭhanilayā harikīrttanatatparāḥ | līlāmṛtakathonmattā harismaraṇatatparāḥ 45| ato hi kāladuhitā yuṣmānnaiva prabādhate | yeṣāṃ bhrūbhaṃgamātreṇa dvārapālau hareḥ purā 46| daityau bhūtvā trijanmāni punastatsthānamāsthitau | aśarīragiroktaṃ yatkiṃtatsādhanamucyatām 47| anuṣṭheyaṃ yathā yatra prabruvaṃtu kṛpālavaḥ | bhaktijñānavirāgāṇāṃsukhamutpadyateyathā | khyātirvaḥ sarvalokeṣu tathā sādhūcyatāṃ budhāḥ 48| kumārā ūcuḥ- mā ciṃtāṃ kuru devarṣe svacitte harṣamāvaha | upāyaḥ sukhāsādhyo'tra vidyate viśvasaukhyadaḥ 49| aho nārada dhanyo'si viraktānāṃ śiromaṇiḥ | śrīkṛṣṇapremapātrāṇāmagraṇīrvadatāṃ varaḥ 6.194.50| tvayi citraṃ na devarṣe bhaktisādhanatatpare | ucitaṃ kṛṣṇadāsānāṃ bhakteḥ saṃcāraṇaṃ bhuvi 51| ṛṣibhirbahudhā loke upāyāḥ siddhaye kṛtāḥ | śramasādhyāśca te sarve prāyaḥ svargaphalapradāḥ 52| vaikuṃṭhasādhakaḥ paṃthā gupto lokeṣu varttate | tasyopadeśakaḥ sādhuḥ prāyo bhāgyena labhyate 53| yatte satkarma nirdiṣṭaṃ vyomavācā munīśvara | tajjñeyamiha sarvajñairjñānayajñaḥ purātanaiḥ 54| śrīmadbhāgavatālāpo jñānayajñaḥ śukoditaḥ | bhaktijñānavirāgāṇāṃ sukhadaḥ pratibhāti naḥ 55| kalidoṣā ime sarve śrīmadbhāgavata dhvaneḥ | prabhītāḥ pralayāyaṃte siṃhaśabdādvṛkā iva 56| jñānavairāgyasaṃyuktā bhaktiḥ premarasāvahā | pratigehaṃ pratijanaṃ sukhakrīḍāṃ kariṣyati 57| sūta uvāca- kumāroktaṃ samākarṇya nāradaḥ prītamānasaḥ | punaḥ provāca bhagavāṃstadutkarṣaṃ vibhāvayan 58| nārada uvāca- vedavedāṃtaghoṣaiśca gītāpāṭhaiḥ prabodhitam | nodatiṣṭhattrikaṃ tattu kalidoṣatiraskṛtam 59| kathaṃ bhāgavatālāpāttadvibodhamihaiṣyati | chiṃdaṃtu saṃśayaṃ hyenaṃ bhavaṃto'moghadarśanāḥ 60| vilaṃbo nātra karttavyaḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalāḥ | tataste sanakādyāstu viraktā hyūrddhvaretasaḥ 61| siddhāḥ sanātanā viprā nāradaṃ procurādarāt 62| kumārā ūcuḥ | vedopaniṣadāṃ sārājjātā bhāgavatī kathā | atyuttamā tato bhāti pṛthagbhūtā phalonnatiḥ 63| āmūlāgraṃ rasostyeva rasālasya yathā phale | pṛthagbhūtaṃ tu pānena yathā viśvamanoharaḥ 64| yathā dugdhesthitaṃ sarpirna ca svādūpakalpyate | pṛthagbhūtaṃ tu taddivyaṃ devānāṃ prītivarddhanam 65| ikṣuṣvivādimadhyāṃtaṃ śarkarā vyāpya tiṣṭhati | pṛthagbhūtā tu sā miṣṭā tathā bhāgavatī kathā 66| śrīmadbhāgavataṃ nāma purāṇaṃ rasameva hi | bhaktijñānavirāgāṇāṃ saukhyāyaiva prakāśitam 67| kṛṣṇena brahmaṇe nābhikaṃjasthāya hṛdaiva hi | taccatuḥślokamakhilaṃ brahmaiva pratibhāsate 68| tubhyaṃ ca brahmaṇā proktaṃ taccaritranidarśanam | tvayāpi vyāsadevāya proktaṃ tattāpahānaye 69| yadīyasmaraṇātsadyo nirviṇṇo bādarāyaṇaḥ | cakāra mahadākhyātumātmārāma manoharam 70| atra te vismayaḥ kena yena pṛccheḥ punaḥ punaḥ | śrīmadbhāgavataṃ śāstraṃ kṣamaṃ kṛṣṇānukarṣaṇe 71| sūta uvāca- etanniśamya vacanaṃ samudāhṛtaṃ tu yogīśvaraiḥ sanakamukhyatamairabhīṣṭam | bhaktyā vidhṛtya caraṇaṃ ca praṇamya mūrdhnā hṛṣṭo jagāda jagadādhinivarttakāṃstān 72| nārada uvāca-| saṃdarśanaṃ ca bhavatāṃ vinihaṃtyaghaughaṃ śreyastanoti bhavaduḥkhadavārditānām | niḥśeṣaśeṣamukhagītakathaikapānātpremaprakāśanakṛte śaraṇaṃ gato vaḥ 73| puṇyodayena bahujanmasamarjitena satsaṃgamo yadi bhavetkṛtino janasya | ajñānahetukṛtamohamahāṃdhakāro naśyettadā hyudayameti mahānvivekaḥ 74| iti śrīpādmemahāpurāṇe paṃcapaṃcāśatsāhasrayāṃ saṃhitāyāmuttarakhaṃḍe| śrībhāgavatamāhātmye caturnavatyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 194|

English translation

Sūta said :

1. O kind sages, listen to what was told by Nārada when he was thus requested by that extremely helpless Bhakti .

Nārada said :

2-10. O girl, do not be sad in vain. Having placed your mind in your heart, remember Śrīkṛṣṇa ’s lotus-like feet. (By that) you will obtain happiness. That Kṛṣṇa who protected Draupadī from ignominy from the Kauravas , who looked after the beautiful cowherdesses, has not gone anywhere (else). O Bhakti, you are dear to him, (cared for) even more than his own life. Called by you, the lord will come to even mean houses. In the three ages like Satya knowledge and detachment accomplished salvation. In the Kali age Bhakti (devotion) alone brings about absorption into Brahman . Deciding like this he, of the nature of consciousness, of the form of highest bliss and consciousness, delighted in mind, produced you from his own body. With your palms joined you then asked Hari : “What do I do (now)?” Kṛṣṇa then ordered you: “Nourish my devotees.” You accepted to do so. Hari was then pleased. He gave you Salvation as your maid, and Knowledge and Detachment as your sons. Remaining in Vaikuṇṭha you always nourished your devotees. To nourish your devotees you resorted to the form of your shadow (i.e. semblance). Salvation, Knowledge and Detachment came here (i.e. to the earth) with you. From the Kṛta (age) to the Dvāpara age, Mukti (salvation) stayed (here).

11-22a. But in the Kali age, she became emaciated, and suffered from the disease due to the heretics. By your order she again went (back) to Vaikuṇṭha. On merely being remembered by you, she quickly comes (to this world). Looking upon these two as your sons, you have protected them by your side. Due to being ignored in the Kali age both these your sons have become dull and old. Yet you give up anxiety. I shall think of a means. O you beautiful lady, there is no (other) age like the Kali age. In it I shall make you known in every house. If by obscuring other practices and putting forward great festivals, I shall not (be able to) promote you, then I am not Hari’s servant. Those living beings, even though sinful, who are endowed with you in the Kali age, will, being fearless, go to Hari’s abode. Those of pure forms, who are devoted to you, always of the form of love, will not see Yama even in a dream. An evil spirit, a goblin, a demon or an asura is not capable of touching or seeing those whose minds are ful of devotion. Hari is not obtained by means of austerities, Vedas , knowledge or (religious) acts. He is obtained by devotion (only). The proof thereof are the cowherdesses. Men of righteous act might have devotion after a thousand existences. In the Kali age devotion alone (excels). By means of devotion Kṛṣṇa stands before (the devotee). Those who offend Bhakti, perish in the three worlds. Formerly Durvāsas who condemned Bhakti, suffered misery. Enough of virtuous conduct; enough of (visiting) holy places; enough of abstract meditations; enough of sacrifices; enough of narrations of wise tales; Bhakti alone always gives salvation.

22b-30. Thus addressed by me, and having heard her own greatness, she, with her entire body full of joy, again said these words (to me): “O Nārada, you are blessed. You have a steady affection for me. I shall never let go your attention to me. O good one, by you, kind (to me), my suffering is destroyed in a moment. My two sons do not have understanding. Rouse these two.” Hearing those words of her, I, having pity, touching (them) with my hand, proceeded to rouse (them). Bringing my mouth near their ears, I loudly uttered the words: “ Jñāna , rise quickly. O Vairāgya , awake.” Though repeatedly being roused by the sounds of the Vedas, by the recitals of the Gītā , they did not somehow get roused. Not seeing (anything) with their eyes, and languidly yawning, both were grey-haired like cranes, and had their bodies mostly dry like wood. The two, emaciated with hunger, having observed (me), again went to sleep. Then I was full of thought: ‘What should I do (now)? Oh, how will their sleep go (away)? Their old age is severe.’

31-42. O best brāhmaṇas , thinking like this, I constantly remembered Govinda . Just then there was heard a divine voice: “O sage, do not be dejected. Your exertion will be fruitful. There is no doubt. For this purpose, O divine sage, do a good deed. Good men, ornaments of the virtuous, will tell you that good deed. When that good deed is done, the sleep and the old age of these two will disappear in a moment. Bhakti (devotion) will spread everywhere.” O brāhmaṇas, even after having distinctly heard this divine voice, I could not make out as to what was told by the voice in a secretive manner. What is that deed due to which the two would be endowed with understanding? Where would be the good ones? How will they tell that good deed to me? Now what should I do (about) what the divine voice told me? Then, O brāhmaṇas, having placed them there, I went out of Vṛndāraṇya, and asked the best brāhmaṇas here and there. Having heard the entire account and with their minds amazed, they, not understanding the divine voice, did not give a reply. Some said: “It cannot be comprehended”. Others said: “It cannot be understood.” Others, thinking again and again, kept mum. The triad, though being roused with the sounds of the Vedas, and Vedāntas , and also by repeated recitations of the Gītā, did not rise. ‘Oh, (how cruel) is fate! How can other human beings do that which the meditating saint Nārada himself could not understand?’ Then being thoughtful I came to Badarivana . I determined to practise penance for that purpose. Just then I saw the best sages, Sanaka and others, bright like a crore of suns. I spoke to those best sages:

43-48. “I saw you due to great luck. Therefore, O noble ones, with your minds pleased, you may (please) tell me the means. You are the greatest among the meditating saints. You are intelligent. You are very learned; you, Kumāras , five years old, are the ancestors of the ancient people. You always live in Vaikuṇṭha; you are always engaged in narrating (the glory of) Viṣṇu . You are intoxicated by the account—the nectar—of (Viṣṇu’s) sports. You are devoted to remembering Viṣṇu. Therefore, (old age,) the Daughter of Time does not trouble you. Due just to the knitting of your eye-brows, formerly the two doorkeepers of Viṣṇu became demons for three existences, and again came back to their places. (Please) tell the means which is told by the heavenly voice. O kind ones, (please) tell me what should be done and in what way in this matter. The wise ones should well tell (me) how Bhakti, Jñāna and Vairāgya would secure happiness, and how they would attain fame in all the worlds”.

Kumāras said :

49-57. O divine sage, do not be anxious. Have delight in your mind. There is a means in this matter, which can be easily had, and which gives happiness to the world. O Nārada, you are blessed. You are the crest-jewel of the detached ones. You are the foremost among those who are fit for Śrīkṛṣṇa’s love. You are the best among speakers. O divine sage, it is no wonder for you, engrossed in the means of devotion, to spread devotion properly on the earth. For (securing) divine faculties the sages have designed various means. They could be secured with exertion; and all of them mostly give heaven as their fruit. The path leading to Vaikuṇṭha is hidden in the worlds. A good man, teaching it, is generally not found. O best sage, that good act which the divine voice indicated to you, is known by the ancients to be jñānayajña (knowledge-sacrifice). We feel that the talk (i.e. the recitation) of Śrīmad Bhāgavata is a knowledge-sacrifice, told by Śuka , and would give happiness to Bhakti, Jñāna and Virāga . All these sins of Kali, afraid of the sound of Śrīmad Bhāgavata, run away like wolves at the roar of lion. Bhakti, along with Jñāna and Vairagya , producing the feeling of joy in each house, in each person, will sport happily.

Sūta said :

58. Having heard Kumāras’ words, revered Nārada, with his mind delighted, looking to their prosperity, spoke again.

Nārada said :

59-62. The triad, covered by Kali’s noxious qualities, is not rising (though) roused by sounds of Vedas and Vedāṅgas , and recitations of the Gītā. How (then) will it rise now by the recitation of Bhāgavata? You, whose sight is fruitful should (please) remove this doubt. O you who are affectionate to those who seek your shelter, (please) do not tarry in this matter.

Then Sanaka and others, detached and living in perpetual celibacy, the ancient brāhmaṇas, who had supernatural faculties, respectfully said to Nārada:

Kumāras said :

63-71. The Bhāgavata-account has risen from the quintessence of the Vedas and the Upaniṣads . Therefore, it appears to be the best, and the rise of fruit is different. As the taste is present in a mango fruit from the bottom to the top, but is different when separated and drunk, and delights all, as ghee present in milk is not thought to be pleasant, but when separated is divine, and increases the joy of gods, as sugar remains pervading the bottom, the middle and the end (i.e. the top) of a sugarcane, and is sweet when separated, so is Bhāgavata-story. The Purāṇa named Śrīmad Bhāgavata is relish itself; it is manifested for the happiness of Bhakti, Jñāna and Vairāgya to Brahma , remaining in the lotus born from his navel, by Kṛṣṇa. The four-versed (summary) of it appears to be the entire Brahman. That account was narrated to you by Brahmā . You also narrated it to Vyāsadeva, to destroy torment. By remembering it Bādarāyaṇa ( Vyāsa ) instantly became depressed; and in a manner delighting the soul, composed (the work of) the great name. Due to what are you amazed, that you are asking again and again? The holy text of Śrīmad Bhāgavata is capable of attracting Kṛṣṇa.

Sūta said :

72. Having heard these desired words spoken by the foremost ones like Sanaka, the best meditating saints, Nārada devoutly seized their feet, and saluting them by bowing his head, said to them who destroy the misery of the world.

Nārada said :

73-74. Your sight destroys the stream of sins. It gives bliss to those who are afflicted by the wild fire in the form of the misery of the mundane existence, by drinking it when fully sung by Śeṣa ’s mouth. I have sought your shelter for the manifestation oflove. If due to the rise of religious merit earned in many existences a lucky person gets the company of the good, his great darkness of delusion caused by ignorance would perish, and great discrimination springs (in him).

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24837, revision 333679 (2022-03-15T05:10:22Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365778.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.