30 The Disappearance of the Yadu Dynasty

CHAPTER THIRTY

This chapter discusses the destruction of the Yadu dynasty in connection with the winding up of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

After Śrī Uddhava left for Badarikāśrama, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, taking note of many bad omens, advised the Yādavas to abandon Dvārakā and go to Prabhāsa, on the bank of the Sarasvatī, to perform svasty-ayana and other rituals for counteracting bad fortune. They followed His advice and went to Prabhāsa. There they became absorbed in festivity, and by the illusory power of Lord Kṛṣṇa they became intoxicated from drinking liquor. Thus losing their intelligence, they quarreled among themselves and began killing one another, until not a man was left alive.

Afterward, Śrī Baladeva went to the shore of the ocean and by the mystic strength of yoga gave up His body. Seeing the disappearance of Baladeva, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa sat down silently upon the ground. Then a hunter named Jarā, mistaking the sole of the Lord’s left foot for a deer, pierced it with an arrow. The hunter immediately understood his mistake and, falling at the feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, begged to be punished. In reply Lord Kṛṣṇa told the hunter that what he had done was actually according to His own desire. The Lord then sent the hunter to Vaikuṇṭha.

When Dāruka, Kṛṣṇa’s charioteer, arrived on the scene and saw Lord Kṛṣṇa in that condition, he began to lament. Kṛṣṇa told him that he should go to Dvārakā, inform the residents about the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty, and advise them all to leave Dvārakā for Indraprastha. Dāruka obediently carried out this order.

Text 1

Devanagari

श्रीराजोवाच
ततो महाभागवत उद्धवे निर्गते वनम् ।
द्वारवत्यां किमकरोद् भगवान् भूतभावन- ॥ १ ॥

Verse text

śrī-rājovāca
tato mahā-bhāgavata
uddhave nirgate vanam
dvāravatyāṁ kim akarod
bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-rājā uvāca — the king said; tataḥ — then; mahā-bhāgavate — the great devotee; uddhave — Uddhava; nirgate — when he had gone; vanam — to the forest; dvāravatyām — in Dvārakā; kim — what; akarot — did; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhūta — of all living beings; bhāvanaḥ — the protector.

Translation

King Parīkṣit said: After the great devotee Uddhava left for the forest, what did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the protector of all living beings, do in the city of Dvārakā?

Purport

Parīkṣit Mahārāja now inquires from Śukadeva Gosvāmī about the topic of Chapter One of this canto, namely the annihilation of the Yadu dynasty and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s return to the spiritual sky. Because Lord Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of an ordinary member of the Yadu dynasty, He appeared to react to the curse of the brāhmaṇas by giving up His earthly pastimes. Lord Kṛṣṇa cannot actually be cursed by anyone. Nārada Muni and the other sages who cursed the Yadu dynasty are eternal devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa and could hardly curse Him. Therefore, in giving up His pastimes and leaving the earth with the Yadu dynasty, Lord Kṛṣṇa demonstrated His internal potency and personal will, since no one can challenge the supreme potency of the Personality of Godhead.

Text 2

Devanagari

ब्रह्मशापोपसंसृष्टे स्वकुले यादवर्षभ- ।
प्रेयसीं सर्वनेत्राणां तनुं स कथमत्यजत् ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

brahma-śāpopasaṁsṛṣṭe
sva-kule yādavarṣabhaḥ
preyasīṁ sarva-netrāṇāṁ
tanuṁ sa katham atyajat

Synonyms

brahma-śāpa — by the curse of the brāhmaṇas; upasaṁsṛṣṭe — having been destroyed; sva-kule — His own family; yādava-ṛṣabhaḥ — the chief of the Yadus; preyasīm — most dear; sarva-netrāṇām — to all eyes; tanum — the body; saḥ — He; katham — how; atyajat — gave up.

Translation

After His own dynasty met destruction from the curse of the brāhmaṇas, how could the best of the Yadus give up His body, the dearmost object of all eyes?

Purport

In relation to this verse, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that the Personality of Godhead never gives up His spiritual body, which is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge. The word katham therefore indicates “How is it possible?”, meaning it is not actually possible for Lord Kṛṣṇa to give up His eternal form, which is preyasīṁ sarva-netrāṇām, the most attractive object of pleasure for the eyes and all other senses.

Text 3

Devanagari

प्रत्याक्रष्टुं नयनमबला यत्र लग्नं न शेकु-
कर्णाविष्टं न सरति ततो यत् सतामात्मलग्नम् ।
यच्छ्रीर्वाचां जनयति रतिं किं नु मानं कवीनां
द‍ृष्ट्वा जिष्णोर्युधि रथगतं यच्च तत्साम्यमीयु- ॥ ३ ॥

Verse text

pratyākraṣṭuṁ nayanam abalā yatra lagnaṁ na śekuḥ
karṇāviṣṭaṁ na sarati tato yat satām ātma-lagnam
yac-chrīr vācāṁ janayati ratiṁ kiṁ nu mānaṁ kavīnāṁ
dṛṣṭvā jiṣṇor yudhi ratha-gataṁ yac ca tat-sāmyam īyuḥ

Synonyms

pratyākraṣṭum — to withdraw; nayanam — their eyes; abalāḥ — the women; yatra — in which; lagnam — attached; na śekuḥ — were not able; karṇa — the ears; āviṣṭam — having entered; na sarati — would not leave; tataḥ — thence; yat — which; satām — of the sages; ātma — in their hearts; lagnam — attached; yat — of which; śrīḥ — the beauty; vācām — of the words; janayati — generates; ratim — special pleasurable attraction; kim nu — what to speak of; mānam — the reputation; kavīnām — of the poets; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; jiṣṇoḥ — of Arjuna; yudhi — on the battlefield; ratha-gatam — on the chariot; yat — which; ca — and; tat-sāmyam — an equal status with Him; īyuḥ — they attained.

Translation

Once their eyes were fixed upon His transcendental form, women were unable to withdraw them, and once that form had entered the ears of the sages and become fixed in their hearts, it would never depart. What to speak of acquiring fame, the great poets who described the beauty of the Lord’s form would have their words invested with transcendentally pleasing attraction. And by seeing that form on Arjuna’s chariot, all the warriors on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra attained the liberation of gaining a spiritual body similar to the Lord’s.

Purport

Transcendental, liberated personalities such as the gopīs of Vṛndāvana and Rukmiṇī, the original goddess of fortune, were constantly meditating on the Lord’s spiritual body. Great liberated sages (satām), having heard about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body, could not take it out of their hearts. The Lord’s bodily beauty expanded the love and poetic output of great liberated poets, and simply by seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body, the warriors at Kurukṣetra achieved spiritual liberation with an eternal body similar to the Lord’s. Therefore it is impossible to imagine Lord Kṛṣṇa’s eternal form of bliss to be in any way material. Those who imagine that Lord Kṛṣṇa gave up His eternal form are certainly bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy.

Text 4

Devanagari

श्री ऋषिरुवाच
दिवि भुव्यन्तरिक्षे च महोत्पातान् समुत्थितान् ।
द‍ृष्ट्वासीनान् सुधर्मायां कृष्ण- प्राह यदूनिदम् ॥ ४ ॥

Verse text

śrī ṛṣir uvāca
divi bhuvy antarikṣe ca
mahotpātān samutthitān
dṛṣṭvāsīnān su-dharmāyāṁ
kṛṣṇaḥ prāha yadūn idam

Synonyms

śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the sage (Śukadeva Gosvāmī) said; divi — in the sky; bhuvi — on the earth; antarikṣe — in outer space; ca — and; mahā-utpātān — great disturbances; samutthitān — which had appeared; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; āsīnān — who were seated; su-dharmāyām — in the legislative assembly called the Sudharmā; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāha — spoke; yadūn — to the Yadus; idam — this.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having observed many disturbing signs in the sky, on the earth and in outer space, Lord Kṛṣṇa addressed the Yadus assembled in the Sudharmā council hall as follows.

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the inauspicious sign in the sky was the appearance of a halo around the sun, on the earth there were small earthquakes, and in outer space there was an unnatural redness on the horizon. These and other, similar omens were impossible to counteract, because they were personally arranged by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Text 5

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
एते घोरा महोत्पाता द्वार्वत्यां यमकेतव- ।
मुहूर्तमपि न स्थेयमत्र नो यदुपुङ्गवा- ॥ ५ ॥

Verse text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
ete ghorā mahotpātā
dvārvatyāṁ yama-ketavaḥ
muhūrtam api na stheyam
atra no yadu-puṅgavāḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; ete — these; ghorāḥ — fearful; mahā — great; utpātāḥ — inauspicious omens; dvārvatyām — in Dvārakā; yama — of the king of death; ketavaḥ — the flags; muhūrtam — a moment; api — even; na stheyam — should not remain; atra — here; naḥ — we; yadu-puṅgavāḥ — O best of the Yadus.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O leaders of the Yadu dynasty, please note all these terrible omens that have appeared in Dvārakā just like the flags of death. We should not remain here a moment longer.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has given a great amount of evidence from the Vedic literatures proving that the humanlike form of the Personality of Godhead and His holy name, abode, paraphernalia and associates are all eternal, spiritual manifestations without any tinge of material contamination. (See Appendix). In this regard the ācārya has further explained that because the living entities must suffer the reactions to their sinful activities, the Lord arranges for them to be punished during the Kali-yuga. In other words, it is not Lord Kṛṣṇa’s desire that conditioned souls be sinful and suffer, but since they are already sinful, the Lord creates an appropriate age during which they can experience the bitter fruits of irreligiosity.

Since Lord Kṛṣṇa personally establishes religious principles in His various appearances in this material world, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga religion on the earth was overwhelmingly powerful. All the significant demons had been killed; the great sages, saints and devotees had been greatly encouraged, enlightened and fortified; and there was little scope for irreligion. Had Lord Kṛṣṇa ascended to the spiritual sky in His spiritual body before the eyes of the world, it would have been very difficult for Kali-yuga to flourish. Lord Kṛṣṇa left the world in exactly that way during His appearance as Rāmacandra, and hundreds of thousands of years later, hundreds of millions of pious persons still discuss this wonderful pastime of the Lord. To pave the way for Kali-yuga, however, Lord Kṛṣṇa left this world in a way that puzzles those who are not His staunch devotees.

The eternal form of the Lord is described throughout Vedic literature, and His eternal form constitutes the highest understanding of the Absolute Truth according to all great ācāryas, including Śaṅkarācārya and Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Yet although Lord Kṛṣṇa’s eternal, spiritual form is a realized fact for advanced devotees, for those who are weak in Kṛṣṇa consciousness the inconceivable pastimes and plan of the Lord are sometimes hard to appreciate properly.

Text 6

Devanagari

स्‍त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च शङ्खोद्धारं व्रजन्त्वित- ।
वयं प्रभासं यास्यामो यत्र प्रत्यक् सरस्वती ॥ ६ ॥

Verse text

striyo bālāś ca vṛddhāś ca
śaṅkhoddhāraṁ vrajantv itaḥ
vayaṁ prabhāsaṁ yāsyāmo
yatra pratyak sarasvatī

Synonyms

striyaḥ — the women; bālāḥ — children; ca — and; vṛddhāḥ — old men; ca — and; śaṅkha-uddhāram — to the holy place called Śaṅkhoddhāra (about halfway between Dvārakā and Prabhāsa); vrajantu — they should go; itaḥ — from here; vayam — we; prabhāsam — to Prabhāsa; yāsyāmaḥ — shall go; yatra — where; pratyak — flowing west; sarasvatī — the river Sarasvatī.

Translation

The women, children and old men should leave this city and go to Śaṅkhoddhāra. We shall go to Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the river Sarasvatī flows toward the west.

Purport

The word vayam here refers to the able-bodied male members of the Yadu dynasty.

Text 7

Devanagari

तत्राभिषिच्य शुचय उपोष्य सुसमाहिता- ।
देवता- पूजयिष्याम- स्‍नपनालेपनार्हणै- ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

tatrābhiṣicya śucaya
upoṣya su-samāhitāḥ
devatāḥ pūjayiṣyāmaḥ
snapanālepanārhaṇaiḥ

Synonyms

tatra — there; abhiṣicya — taking bath; śucayaḥ — cleansed; upoṣya — fasting; su-samāhitāḥ — fixing our minds; devatāḥ — the demigods; pūjayiṣyāmaḥ — we shall worship; snapana — by bathing; ālepana — smearing with sandalwood; arhaṇaiḥ — and by various offerings.

Translation

There we should bathe for purification, fast, and fix our minds in meditation. We should then worship the demigods by bathing their images, anointing them with sandalwood pulp, and presenting them various offerings.

Text 8

Devanagari

ब्राह्मणांस्तु महाभागान् कृतस्वस्त्ययना वयम् ।
गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिर्गजाश्वरथवेश्मभि- ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

brāhmaṇāṁs tu mahā-bhāgān
kṛta-svastyayanā vayam
go-bhū-hiraṇya-vāsobhir
gajāśva-ratha-veśmabhiḥ

Synonyms

brāhmaṇān — the brāhmaṇas; tu — and; mahā-bhāgān — greatly fortunate; kṛta — having performed; svasti-ayanāḥ — the ceremonies for good fortune; vayam — we; go — with cows; bhū — land; hiraṇya — gold; vāsobhiḥ — and clothing; gaja — with elephants; aśva — horses; ratha — chariots; veśmabhiḥ — and houses.

Translation

After performing the expiatory rituals with the help of greatly fortunate brāhmaṇas, we will worship those brāhmaṇas by offering them cows, land, gold, clothing, elephants, horses, chariots and dwelling places.

Text 9

Devanagari

विधिरेष ह्यरिष्टघ्नो मङ्गलायनमुत्तमम् ।
देवद्विजगवां पूजा भूतेषु परमो भव- ॥ ९ ॥

Verse text

vidhir eṣa hy ariṣṭa-ghno
maṅgalāyanam uttamam
deva-dvija-gavāṁ pūjā
bhūteṣu paramo bhavaḥ

Synonyms

vidhiḥ — the prescribed process; eṣaḥ — this; hi — indeed; ariṣṭa — inauspicious obstacles; ghnaḥ — which destroys; maṅgala-ayanam — which brings good fortune; uttamam — the best; deva — of the demigods; dvija — brāhmaṇas; gavām — and cows; pūjā — worship; bhūteṣu — among living beings; paramaḥ — excellent; bhavaḥ — rebirth.

Translation

This is indeed the appropriate process for counteracting our imminent adversity, and it is sure to bring about the highest good fortune. Such worship of the demigods, brāhmaṇas and cows can earn the highest birth for all living entities.

Text 10

Devanagari

इति सर्वे समाकर्ण्य यदुवृद्धा मधुद्विष- ।
तथेति नौभिरुत्तीर्य प्रभासं प्रययू रथै- ॥ १० ॥

Verse text

iti sarve samākarṇya
yadu-vṛddhā madhu-dviṣaḥ
tatheti naubhir uttīrya
prabhāsaṁ prayayū rathaiḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus; sarve — all of them; samākarṇya — hearing; yadu-vṛddhāḥ — the elders of the Yadu dynasty; madhu-dviṣaḥ — from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of the demon Madhu; tathā — so be it; iti — thus saying; naubhiḥ — by boats; uttīrya — crossing over (the ocean); prabhāsam — to Prabhāsa; prayayuḥ — they went; rathaiḥ — in chariots.

Translation

Having heard these words from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Madhu, the elders of the Yadu dynasty gave their assent, saying, “So be it.” After crossing over the ocean in boats, they proceeded on chariots to Prabhāsa.

Text 11

Devanagari

तस्मिन् भगवतादिष्टं यदुदेवेन यादवा- ।
चक्रु- परमया भक्त्या सर्वश्रेयोपबृंहितम् ॥ ११ ॥

Verse text

tasmin bhagavatādiṣṭaṁ
yadu-devena yādavāḥ
cakruḥ paramayā bhaktyā
sarva-śreyopabṛṁhitam

Synonyms

tasmin — there; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ādiṣṭam — what was instructed; yadu-devena — by the Lord of the Yadus; yādavāḥ — the Yadus; cakruḥ — performed; paramayā — with transcendental; bhaktyā — devotion; sarva — all; śreyaḥ — with auspicious rituals; upabṛṁhitam — enriched.

Translation

There, with great devotion, the Yādavas performed the religious ceremonies according to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their personal Lord. They also performed various other auspicious rituals.

Text 12

Devanagari

ततस्तस्मिन् महापानं पपुर्मैरेयकं मधु ।
दिष्टविभ्रंशितधियो यद्‌द्रवैर्भ्रश्यते मति- ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

tatas tasmin mahā-pānaṁ
papur maireyakaṁ madhu
diṣṭa-vibhraṁśita-dhiyo
yad-dravair bhraśyate matiḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ — then; tasmin — there; mahā — a large amount; pānam — drink; papuḥ — they drank; maireyakam — called maireya; madhu — sweet-tasting; diṣṭa — by destiny; vibhraṁśita — having lost; dhiyaḥ — their intelligence; yat — of which beverage; dravaiḥ — by the liquid ingredients; bhraśyate — is disrupted; matiḥ — the mind.

Translation

Then, their intelligence covered by Providence, they liberally indulged in drinking the sweet maireya beverage, which can completely intoxicate the mind.

Purport

The word diṣṭa here indicates the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the First Chapter of this canto, “The Curse upon the Yadu Dynasty,” this incident is elaborately explained.

Text 13

Devanagari

महापानाभिमत्तानां वीराणां द‍ृप्तचेतसाम् ।
कृष्णमायाविमूढानां सङ्घर्ष- सुमहानभूत् ॥ १३ ॥

Verse text

mahā-pānābhimattānāṁ
vīrāṇāṁ dṛpta-cetasām
kṛṣṇa-māyā-vimūḍhānāṁ
saṅgharṣaḥ su-mahān abhūt

Synonyms

mahā-pāna — by the excessive drinking; abhimattānām — who became intoxicated; vīrāṇām — of the heroes; dṛpta — becoming arrogant; cetasām — their minds; kṛṣṇa-māyā — by the illusory energy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vimūḍhānām — who became bewildered; saṅgharṣaḥ — friction; su-mahān — very great; abhūt — arose.

Translation

The heroes of the Yadu dynasty became intoxicated from their extravagant drinking and began to feel arrogant. When they were thus bewildered by the personal potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa, a terrible quarrel arose among them.

Text 14

Devanagari

युयुधु- क्रोधसंरब्धा वेलायामाततायिन- ।
धनुर्भिरसिभिर्भल्ल‍ै‌र्गदाभिस्तोमरर्ष्टिभि- ॥ १४ ॥

Verse text

yuyudhuḥ krodha-saṁrabdhā
velāyām ātatāyinaḥ
dhanurbhir asibhir bhallair
gadābhis tomararṣṭibhiḥ

Synonyms

yuyudhuḥ — they fought; krodha — with anger; saṁrabdhāḥ — thoroughly agitated; velāyām — on the shore; ātatāyinaḥ — bearing weapons; dhanurbhiḥ — with bows; asibhiḥ — with swords; bhallaiḥ — with a peculiarly shaped arrow; gadābhiḥ — with clubs; tomara — with lances; ṛṣṭibhiḥ — and spears.

Translation

Infuriated, they seized their bows and arrows, swords, bhallas, clubs, lances and spears and attacked one another on the shore of the ocean.

Text 15

Devanagari

पतत्पताकै रथकुञ्जरादिभि-
खरोष्ट्रगोभिर्महिषैर्नरैरपि ।
मिथ- समेत्याश्वतरै- सुदुर्मदा
न्यहन्शरैर्दद्भ‍िरिव द्विपा वने ॥ १५ ॥

Verse text

patat-patākai ratha-kuñjarādibhiḥ
kharoṣṭra-gobhir mahiṣair narair api
mithaḥ sametyāśvataraiḥ su-durmadā
nyahan śarair dadbhir iva dvipā vane

Synonyms

patat-patākaiḥ — with flags flying; ratha — on chariots; kuñjara — elephants; ādibhiḥ — and other carriers; khara — on asses; uṣṭra — camels; gobhiḥ — and bulls; mahiṣaiḥ — on buffalos; naraiḥ — on human beings; api — even; mithaḥ — together; sametya — meeting; aśvataraiḥ — and on mules; su-durmadāḥ — very much enraged; nyahan — they attacked; śaraiḥ — with arrows; dadbhiḥ — with their tusks; iva — as if; dvipāḥ — elephants; vane — in the forest.

Translation

Riding on elephants and chariots with flags flying, and also on donkeys, camels, bulls, buffalos, mules and even human beings, the extremely enraged warriors came together and violently attacked one another with arrows, just as elephants in the forest attack one another with their tusks.

Text 16

Devanagari

प्रद्युम्नसाम्बौ युधि रूढमत्सराव्-
अक्रूरभोजावनिरुद्धसात्यकी ।
सुभद्रसङ्ग्रामजितौ सुदारुणौ
गदौ सुमित्रासुरथौ समीयतु- ॥ १६ ॥

Verse text

pradyumna-sāmbau yudhi rūḍha-matsarāv
akrūra-bhojāv aniruddha-sātyakī
subhadra-saṅgrāmajitau su-dāruṇau
gadau sumitrā-surathau samīyatuḥ

Synonyms

pradyumna-sāmbau — Pradyumna and Sāmba; yudhi — in the battle; rūḍha — aroused; matsarau — their enmity; akrūra-bhojau — Akrūra and Bhoja; aniruddha-sātyakī — Aniruddha and Sātyaki; subhadra-saṅgrāmajitau — Subhadra and Saṅgrāmajit; su-dāruṇau — ferocious; gadau — the two Gadas (one the brother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the other His son); sumitrā-surathau — Sumitra and Suratha; samīyatuḥ — met together.

Translation

Their mutual enmity aroused, Pradyumna fought fiercely against Sāmba, Akrūra against Kuntibhoja, Aniruddha against Sātyaki, Subhadra against Saṅgrāmajit, Sumitra against Suratha, and the two Gadas against each other.

Text 17

Devanagari

अन्ये च ये वै निशठोल्मुकादय-
सहस्रजिच्छतजिद्भ‍ानुमुख्या- ।
अन्योन्यमासाद्य मदान्धकारिता
जघ्नुर्मुकुन्देन विमोहिता भृशम् ॥ १७ ॥

Verse text

anye ca ye vai niśaṭholmukādayaḥ
sahasrajic-chatajid-bhānu-mukhyāḥ
anyonyam āsādya madāndha-kāritā
jaghnur mukundena vimohitā bhṛśam

Synonyms

anye — others; ca — and; ye — those who; vai — indeed; niśaṭha-ulmaka-ādayaḥ — Niśaṭha, Ulmuka and so on; sahasrajit-śatajit-bhānu-mukhyaḥ — headed by Sahasrajit, Śatajit and Bhānu; anyonyam — each other; āsādya — meeting; mada — by intoxication; andha-kāritāḥ — blinded; jaghnuḥ — they killed; mukundena — by Lord Mukunda; vimohitāḥ — confused; bhṛśam — totally.

Translation

Others also, such as Niśaṭha, Ulmuka, Sahasrajit, Śatajit and Bhānu, confronted and killed one another, being blinded by intoxication and thus completely bewildered by Lord Mukunda Himself.

Text 18

Devanagari

दाशार्हवृष्ण्यन्धकभोजसात्वता
मध्वर्बुदा माथुरशूरसेना- ।
विसर्जना- कुकुरा- कुन्तयश्च
मिथस्तु जघ्नु- सुविसृज्य सौहृदम् ॥ १८ ॥

Verse text

dāśārha-vṛṣṇy-andhaka-bhoja-sātvatā
madhv-arbudā māthura-śūrasenāḥ
visarjanāḥ kukurāḥ kuntayaś ca
mithas tu jaghnuḥ su-visṛjya sauhṛdam

Synonyms

dāśārha-vṛṣṇi-andhaka-bhoja-sātvatāḥ — the Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Bhojas and Sātvatas; madhu-arbudāḥ — the Madhus and Arbudas; māthura-śūrasenāḥ — the inhabitants of Mathurā and Śūrasena; visarjanāḥ — the Visarjanas; kukurāḥ — the Kukuras; kuntayaḥ — the Kuntis; ca — also; mithaḥ — each other; tu — and; jaghnuḥ — they killed; su-visṛjya — completely abandoning; sauhṛdam — their friendship.

Translation

Completely abandoning their natural friendship, the members of the various Yadu clans — the Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, the Bhojas, Sātvatas, Madhus and Arbudas, the Māthuras, Śūrasenas, Visarjanas, Kukuras and Kuntis — all slaughtered one another.

Text 19

Devanagari

पुत्रा अयुध्यन् पितृभिर्भ्रातृभिश्च
स्वस्रीयदौहित्रपितृव्यमातुलै- ।
मित्राणि मित्रै- सुहृद- सुहृद्भ‍ि-
र्ज्ञातींस्त्वहन् ज्ञातय एव मूढा- ॥ १९ ॥

Verse text

putrā ayudhyan pitṛbhir bhrātṛbhiś ca
svasrīya-dauhitra-pitṛvya-mātulaiḥ
mitrāṇi mitraiḥ suhṛdaḥ suhṛdbhir
jñātīṁs tv ahan jñātaya eva mūḍhāḥ

Synonyms

putrāḥ — sons; ayudhyan — fought; pitṛbhiḥ — with their fathers; bhrātṛbhiḥ — with brothers; ca — and; svasrīya — with the sons of sisters; dauhitra — the sons of daughters; pitṛvya — paternal uncles; mātulaiḥ — and maternal uncles; mitrāṇi — friends; mitraiḥ — with friends; suhṛdaḥ — well-wishers; suhṛdbhiḥ — with well-wishers; jñātīn — intimate relatives; tu — and; ahan — killed; jñātayaḥ — intimate relatives; eva — indeed; mūḍhāḥ — bewildered.

Translation

Thus bewildered, sons fought with fathers, brothers with brothers, nephews with paternal and maternal uncles, and grandsons with grandfathers. Friends fought with friends, and well-wishers with well-wishers. In this way intimate friends and relatives all killed one another.

Text 20

Devanagari

शरेषु हीयमानेषु भज्यमानेसु धन्वसु ।
शस्‍त्रेषु क्षीयमानेषु मुष्टिभिर्जह्रुरेरका- ॥ २० ॥

Verse text

śareṣu hīyamāneṣu
bhajyamāneṣu dhanvasu
śastreṣu kṣīyamāneṣu
muṣṭibhir jahrur erakāḥ

Synonyms

śareṣu — the arrows; hīyamāneṣu — as they became depleted; bhajyamāneṣu — as they became broken; dhanvasu — the bows; śastreṣu — the missile weapons; kṣīyamāneṣu — as they were used up; muṣṭibhiḥ — with their fists; jahruḥ — they seized; erakāḥ — cane stalks.

Translation

When all their bows had been broken and their arrows and other missiles spent, they seized the tall stalks of cane with their bare hands.

Text 21

Devanagari

ता वज्रकल्पा ह्यभवन् परिघा मुष्टिना भृता- ।
जघ्नुर्द्विषस्तै- कृष्णेन वार्यमाणास्तु तं च ते ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

tā vajra-kalpā hy abhavan
parighā muṣṭinā bhṛtāḥ
jaghnur dviṣas taiḥ kṛṣṇena
vāryamāṇās tu taṁ ca te

Synonyms

tāḥ — those stalks; vajra-kalpāḥ — as strong as thunderbolts; hi — indeed; abhavan — became; parighāḥ — iron staffs; muṣṭinā — with their fists; bhṛtāḥ — held; jaghnuḥ — they attacked; dviṣaḥ — their enemies; taiḥ — with these; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; vāryamāṇāḥ — being checked; tu — although; tam — Him; ca — as well; te — they.

Translation

As soon as they took these cane stalks in their fists, the stalks changed into iron rods as hard as thunderbolts. With these weapons the warriors began attacking one another again and again, and when Lord Kṛṣṇa tried to stop them they attacked Him as well.

Text 22

Devanagari

प्रत्यनीकं मन्यमाना बलभद्रं च मोहिता- ।
हन्तुं कृतधियो राजन्नापन्ना आततायिन- ॥ २२ ॥

Verse text

pratyanīkaṁ manyamānā
balabhadraṁ ca mohitāḥ
hantuṁ kṛta-dhiyo rājann
āpannā ātatāyinaḥ

Synonyms

pratyanīkam — an enemy; manyamānāḥ — thinking; balabhadram — Lord Balarāma; ca — also; mohitāḥ — confused; hantum — to kill; kṛta-dhiyaḥ — having made up their minds; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; āpannāḥ — they set upon Him; ātatāyinaḥ — wielding weapons.

Translation

In their confused state, O King, they also mistook Lord Balarāma for an enemy. Weapons in hand, they ran toward Him with the intention of killing Him.

Text 23

Devanagari

अथ तावपि सङ्‌क्रु‌द्धावुद्यम्य कुरुनन्दन ।
एरकामुष्टिपरिघौ चरन्तौ जघ्नतुर्युधि ॥ २३ ॥

Verse text

atha tāv api saṅkruddhāv
udyamya kuru-nandana
erakā-muṣṭi-parighau
carantau jaghnatur yudhi

Synonyms

atha — then; tau — those two (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma); api — also; saṅkruddhau — greatly angered; udyamya — joining the fight; kuru-nandana — O favorite son of the Kurus; erakā-muṣṭi — the canes in their fists; parighau — using as clubs; carantau — moving about; jaghnatuḥ — they began to kill; yudhi — in the battle.

Translation

O son of the Kurus, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then became very angry. Picking up cane stalks, They moved about within the battle and began to kill with these clubs.

Text 24

Devanagari

ब्रह्मशापोपसृष्टानां कृष्णमायावृतात्मनाम् ।
स्पर्धाक्रोध- क्षयं निन्ये वैणवोऽग्निर्यथा वनम् ॥ २४ ॥

Verse text

brahma-śāpopasṛṣṭānāṁ
kṛṣṇa-māyāvṛtātmanām
spardhā-krodhaḥ kṣayaṁ ninye
vaiṇavo ’gnir yathā vanam

Synonyms

brahma-śāpa — by the curse of the brāhmaṇas; upasṛṣṭānām — who were overtaken; kṛṣṇa-māyā — by the illusory energy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āvṛta — covered; ātmanām — of those whose minds; spardhā — arising from rivalry; krodhaḥ — the anger; kṣayam — to destruction; ninye — led; vaiṇavaḥ — of bamboo trees; agniḥ — a fire; yathā — as; vanam — the forest.

Translation

The violent anger of these warriors, who were overcome by the brāhmaṇas’ curse and bewildered by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s illusory potency, now led them to their annihilation, just as a fire that starts in a bamboo grove destroys the entire forest.

Text 25

Devanagari

एवं नष्टेषु सर्वेषु कुलेषु स्वेषु केशव- ।
अवतारितो भुवो भार इति मेनेऽवशेषित- ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

evaṁ naṣṭeṣu sarveṣu
kuleṣu sveṣu keśavaḥ
avatārito bhuvo bhāra
iti mene ’vaśeṣitaḥ

Synonyms

evam — in this way; naṣṭeṣu — when they had been destroyed; sarveṣu — all; kuleṣu — the clans of the dynasty; sveṣu — His own; keśavaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; avatāritaḥ — diminished; bhuvaḥ — of the earth; bhāraḥ — the burden; iti — thus; mene — He thought; avaśeṣitaḥ — remaining.

Translation

When all the members of His own dynasty were thus destroyed, Lord Kṛṣṇa thought to Himself that at last the burden of the earth had been removed.

Text 26

Devanagari

राम- समुद्रवेलायां योगमास्थाय पौरुषम् ।
तत्याज लोकं मानुष्यं संयोज्यात्मानमात्मनि ॥ २६ ॥

Verse text

rāmaḥ samudra-velāyāṁ
yogam āsthāya pauruṣam
tatyāja lokaṁ mānuṣyaṁ
saṁyojyātmānam ātmani

Synonyms

rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; samudra — of the ocean; velāyām — on the shore; yogam — meditation; āsthāya — resorting to; pauruṣam — upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tatyāja — He gave up; lokam — the world; mānuṣyam — human; saṁyojya — merging; ātmānam — Himself; ātmani — within Himself.

Translation

Lord Balarāma then sat down on the shore of the ocean and fixed Himself in meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Merging Himself within Himself, He gave up this mortal world.

Text 27

Devanagari

रामनिर्याणमालोक्य भगवान् देवकीसुत- ।
निषसाद धरोपस्थे तुष्णीमासाद्य पिप्पलम् ॥ २७ ॥

Verse text

rāma-niryāṇam ālokya
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ
niṣasāda dharopasthe
tuṣṇīm āsādya pippalam

Synonyms

rāma-niryāṇam — the departure of Lord Balarāma; ālokya — observing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; devakī-sutaḥ — the son of Devakī; niṣasāda — sat down; dharā-upasthe — on the lap of the earth; tuṣṇīm — silently; āsādya — finding; pippalam — a pippala tree.

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, having seen the departure of Lord Rāma, sat down silently on the ground under a nearby pippala tree.

Texts 28-32

Devanagari

बिभ्रच्चतुर्भुजं रूपं भ्राजिष्णु प्रभया स्वया ।
दिशो वितिमिरा- कुर्वन् विधूम इव पावक- ॥ २८ ॥
श्रीवत्साङ्कं घनश्यामं तप्तहाटकवर्चसम् ।
कौशेयाम्बरयुग्मेन परिवीतं सुमङ्गलम् ॥ २९ ॥
सुन्दरस्मितवक्त्राब्जं नीलकुन्तलमण्डितम् ।
पुण्डरीकाभिरामाक्षं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३० ॥
कटिसूत्रब्रह्मसूत्रकिरीटकटकाङ्गदै- ।
हारनूपुरमुद्राभि- कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् ॥ ३१ ॥
वनमालापरीताङ्गं मूर्तिमद्भ‍िर्निजायुधै- ।
कृत्वोरौ दक्षिणे पादमासीनं पङ्कजारुणम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Verse text

bibhrac catur-bhujaṁ rūpaṁ
bhrājiṣṇu prabhayā svayā
diśo vitimirāḥ kurvan
vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ

śrīvatsāṅkaṁ ghana-śyāmaṁ
tapta-hāṭaka-varcasam
kauśeyāmbara-yugmena
parivītaṁ su-maṅgalam

sundara-smita-vaktrābjaṁ
nīla-kuntala-maṇḍitam
puṇḍarīkābhirāmākṣaṁ
sphuran makara-kuṇḍalam

kaṭi-sūtra-brahma-sūtra-
kirīṭa-kaṭakāṅgadaiḥ
hāra-nūpura-mudrābhiḥ
kaustubhena virājitam

vana-mālā-parītāṅgaṁ
mūrtimadbhir nijāyudhaiḥ
kṛtvorau dakṣiṇe pādam
āsīnaṁ paṅkajāruṇam

Synonyms

bibhrat — bearing; catuḥ-bhujam — with four arms; rūpam — His form; bhrājiṣṇu — brilliant; prabhayā — with its effulgence; svayā — own; diśaḥ — all the directions; vitimirāḥ — devoid of darkness; kurvan — making; vidhūmaḥ — without smoke; iva — as; pāvakaḥ — a fire; śrīvatsa-aṅkam — with the mark of Śrīvatsa; ghana-śyāmam — dark blue like the clouds; tapta — molten; hāṭaka — like gold; varcasam — His glowing effulgence; kauśeya — of silk; ambara — of garments; yugmena — a pair; parivītam — wearing; su-maṅgalam — all-auspicious; sundara — beautiful; smita — with smiling; vaktra — His face; abjam — like a lotus; nīla — blue; kuntala — with locks of hair; maṇḍitam — (His head) adorned; puṇḍarīka — lotus; abhirāma — charming; akṣam — eyes; sphurat — trembling; makara — shaped like sharks; kuṇḍalam — His earrings; kaṭi-sūtra — with belt; brahma-sūtra — sacred thread; kirīṭa — helmet; kaṭaka — bracelets; aṅgadaiḥ — and arm ornaments; hāra — with necklaces; nūpura — ankle bells; mudrābhiḥ — and His royal symbols; kaustubhena — with the Kaustubha gem; virājitam — splendid; vana-mālā — by a flower garland; parīta — encircled; aṅgam — His limbs; mūrti-madbhiḥ — personified; nija — His own; āyudhaiḥ — and by the weapons; kṛtvā — placing; urau — on His thigh; dakṣiṇe — right; pādam — His foot; āsīnam — sitting; paṅkaja — like a lotus; aruṇam — reddish.

Translation

The Lord was exhibiting His brilliantly effulgent four-armed form, the radiance of which, just like a smokeless fire, dissipated the darkness in all directions. His complexion was the color of a dark blue cloud and His effulgence the color of molten gold, and His all-auspicious form bore the mark of Śrīvatsa. A beautiful smile graced His lotus face, locks of dark blue hair adorned His head, His lotus eyes were very attractive, and His shark-shaped earrings glittered. He wore a pair of silken garments, an ornamental belt, the sacred thread, bracelets and arm ornaments, along with a helmet, the Kaustubha jewel, necklaces, anklets and other royal emblems. Encircling His body were flower garlands and His personal weapons in their embodied forms. As He sat He held His left foot, with its lotus-red sole, upon His right thigh.

Text 33

Devanagari

मुषलावशेषाय-खण्डकृतेषुर्लुब्धको जरा ।
मृगास्याकारं तच्चरणं विव्याध मृगशङ्कया ॥ ३३ ॥

Verse text

muṣalāvaśeṣāyaḥ-khaṇḍa-
kṛteṣur lubdhako jarā
mṛgāsyākāraṁ tac-caraṇaṁ
vivyādha mṛga-śaṅkayā

Synonyms

muṣala — from the iron club; avaśeṣa — remaining; ayaḥ — of iron; khaṇḍa — with the fragment; kṛta — who had made; iṣuḥ — his arrow; lubdhakaḥ — the hunter; jarā — named Jarā; mṛga — of a deer; āsya — of the face; ākāram — having the form; tat — His; caraṇam — lotus foot; vivyādha — pierced; mṛga-śaṅkayā — thinking it to be a deer.

Translation

Just then a hunter named Jarā, who had approached the place, mistook the Lord’s foot for a deer’s face. Thinking he had found his prey, Jarā pierced the foot with his arrow, which he had fashioned from the remaining iron fragment of Sāmba’s club.

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the statement that the arrow “pierced the Lord’s foot” expresses the point of view of the hunter, who thought he had struck a deer. In fact the arrow merely touched the Lord’s lotus foot and did not pierce it, since the Lord’s limbs are composed of eternity, knowledge and bliss. Otherwise, in the description of the next verse (that the hunter became fearful and fell down with his head upon the Lord’s feet), Śukadeva Gosvāmī would have stated that he extracted his arrow from the Lord’s foot.

Text 34

Devanagari

चतुर्भुजं तं पुरुषं द‍ृष्ट्वा स कृतकिल्बिष- ।
भीत- पपात शिरसा पादयोरसुरद्विष- ॥ ३४ ॥

Verse text

catur-bhujaṁ taṁ puruṣaṁ
dṛṣṭvā sa kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ
bhītaḥ papāta śirasā
pādayor asura-dviṣaḥ

Synonyms

catuḥ-bhujam — four-armed; tam — that; puruṣam — personality; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; saḥ — he; kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ — having committed an offense; bhītaḥ — afraid; papāta — fell; śirasā — with his head; pādayoḥ — at the feet; asura-dviṣaḥ — of the Supreme Lord, the enemy of the demons.

Translation

Then, seeing that four-armed personality, the hunter became terrified of the offense he had committed, and he fell down, placing his head upon the feet of the enemy of the demons.

Text 35

Devanagari

अजानता कृतमिदं पापेन मधुसूदन ।
क्षन्तुमर्हसि पापस्य उत्तम-श्लोक मेऽनघ ॥ ३५ ॥

Verse text

ajānatā kṛtam idaṁ
pāpena madhusūdana
kṣantum arhasi pāpasya
uttamaḥśloka me ’nagha

Synonyms

ajānatā — who was acting without knowledge; kṛtam — has been done; idam — this; pāpena — by a sinful person; madhusūdana — O Madhusūdana; kṣantum arhasi — please forgive; pāpasya — of the sinful person; uttamaḥ-śloka — O glorious Lord; me — my; anagha — O sinless one.

Translation

Jarā said: O Lord Madhusūdana, I am a most sinful person. I have committed this act out of ignorance. O purest Lord, O Uttamaḥśloka, please forgive this sinner.

Text 36

Devanagari

यस्यानुस्मरणं नृणामज्ञानध्वान्तनाशनम् ।
वदन्ति तस्य ते विष्णो मयासाधु कृतं प्रभो ॥ ३६ ॥

Verse text

yasyānusmaraṇaṁ nṛṇām
ajñāna-dhvānta-nāśanam
vadanti tasya te viṣṇo
mayāsādhu kṛtaṁ prabho

Synonyms

yasya — of whom; anusmaraṇam — the constant remembrance; nṛṇām — of all men; ajñāna — of ignorance; dhvānta — the darkness; nāśanam — that which destroys; vadanti — they say; tasya — toward Him; te — You; viṣṇo — O Lord Viṣṇu; mayā — by me; asādhu — wrongly; kṛtam — this has been done; prabho — O master.

Translation

O Lord Viṣṇu, the learned say that for any man, constant remembrance of You will destroy the darkness of ignorance. O master, I have wronged You!

Text 37

Devanagari

तन्माशु जहि वैकुण्ठ पाप्मानं मृगलुब्धकम् ।
यथा पुनरहं त्वेवं न कुर्यां सदतिक्रमम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Verse text

tan māśu jahi vaikuṇṭha
pāpmānaṁ mṛga-lubdhakam
yathā punar ahaṁ tv evaṁ
na kuryāṁ sad-atikramam

Synonyms

tat — therefore; mā — me; āśu — quickly; jahi — please kill; vaikuṇṭha — O Lord of Vaikuṇṭha; pāpmānam — the sinful; mṛga-lubdhakam — hunter of deer; yathā — so that; punaḥ — again; aham — I; tu — indeed; evam — thus; na kuryām — may not do; sat — against saintly persons; atikramam — transgression.

Translation

Therefore, O Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, please kill this sinful hunter of animals immediately so he may not again commit such offenses against saintly persons.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the fratricidal battle of the Yadu dynasty and the hunter’s attack upon Lord Kṛṣṇa are clearly activities of the Lord’s internal potency for the purpose of fulfilling the Lord’s pastime desires. According to the evidence, the quarrel among the members of the Yadu dynasty occurred at sunset; then the Lord sat down on the bank of the Sarasvatī River. It is stated that a hunter then arrived with the intention of killing a deer, but it is highly unlikely — when more than 560 million warriors had just been killed in a great uproarious battle and the place had been flooded with blood and strewn with corpses — that a simple hunter would somehow come along trying to kill a deer. Since deer are by nature fearful and timid, how could any deer possibly be on the scene of such a huge battle, and how could a hunter calmly go about his business in the midst of such carnage? Therefore, the withdrawal of the Yadu dynasty and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s own disappearance from this earth were not material historical events; they were instead a display of the Lord’s internal potency for the purpose of winding up His manifest pastimes on earth.

Text 38

Devanagari

यस्यात्मयोगरचितं न विदुर्विरिञ्चो
रुद्रादयोऽस्य तनया- पतयो गिरां ये ।
त्वन्मायया पिहितद‍ृष्टय एतदञ्ज-
किं तस्य ते वयमसद्गतयो गृणीम- ॥ ३८ ॥

Verse text

yasyātma-yoga-racitaṁ na vidur viriñco
rudrādayo ’sya tanayāḥ patayo girāṁ ye
tvan-māyayā pihita-dṛṣṭaya etad añjaḥ
kiṁ tasya te vayam asad-gatayo gṛṇīmaḥ

Synonyms

yasya — whose; ātma-yoga — by the personal mystic power; racitam — produced; na viduḥ — they do not understand; viriñcaḥ — Lord Brahmā; rudra-ādayaḥ — Śiva and others; asya — his; tanayāḥ — sons; patayaḥ — masters; girām — of the words of the Vedas; ye — who are; tvat-māyayā — by Your illusory potency; pihita — covered; dṛṣṭayaḥ — whose vision; etat — of this; añjaḥ — directly; kim — what; tasya — of Him; te — of You; vayam — we; asat — impure; gatayaḥ — whose birth; gṛṇīmaḥ — shall say.

Translation

Neither Brahmā nor his sons, headed by Rudra, nor any of the great sages who are masters of the Vedic mantras can understand the function of Your mystic power. Because Your illusory potency has covered their sight, they remain ignorant of how Your mystic power works. Therefore, what can I, such a low-born person, possibly say?

Text 39

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
मा भैर्जरे त्वमुत्तिष्ठ काम एष कृतो हि मे ।
याहि त्वं मदनुज्ञात- स्वर्गं सुकृतिनां पदम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Verse text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
mā bhair jare tvam uttiṣṭha
kāma eṣa kṛto hi me
yāhi tvaṁ mad-anujñātaḥ
svargaṁ su-kṛtināṁ padam

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mā bhaiḥ — do not fear; jare — O Jarā; tvam — you; uttiṣṭha — please get up; kāmaḥ — the desire; eṣaḥ — this; kṛtaḥ — done; hi — indeed; me — My; yāhi — go; tvam — you; mat-anujñātaḥ — given permission by Me; svargam — to the spiritual world; su-kṛtinām — of the pious; padam — the abode.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Jarā, do not fear. Please get up. What has been done is actually My own desire. With My permission, go now to the abode of the pious, the spiritual world.

Text 40

Devanagari

इत्यादिष्टो भगवता कृष्णेनेच्छाशरीरिणा ।
त्रि- परिक्रम्य तं नत्वा विमानेन दिवं ययौ ॥ ४० ॥

Verse text

ity ādiṣṭo bhagavatā
kṛṣṇenecchā-śarīriṇā
triḥ parikramya taṁ natvā
vimānena divaṁ yayau

Synonyms

iti — thus; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; icchā-śarīriṇā — whose transcendental body is manifested simply by His own will; triḥ — three times; parikramya — circumambulating; tam — to Him; natvā — bowing down; vimānena — by a celestial airplane; divam — into the sky; yayau — he went.

Translation

So instructed by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, who assumes His transcendental body by His own will, the hunter circumambulated the Lord three times and bowed down to Him. Then the hunter departed in an airplane that had appeared just to carry him to the spiritual sky.

Text 41

Devanagari

दारुक- कृष्णपदवीमन्विच्छन्नधिगम्य ताम् ।
वायुं तुलसिकामोदमाघ्रायाभिमुखं ययौ ॥ ४१ ॥

Verse text

dārukaḥ kṛṣṇa-padavīm
anvicchann adhigamya tām
vāyuṁ tulasikāmodam
āghrāyābhimukhaṁ yayau

Synonyms

dārukaḥ — Dāruka, the chariot driver of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; padavīm — the trail; anvicchan — seeking out; adhigamya — coming upon; tām — it; vāyum — the air; tulasikā-āmodam — fragrant with the aroma of tulasī flowers; āghrāya — scenting; abhimukham — toward Him; yayau — he went.

Translation

At that time Dāruka was searching for his master, Kṛṣṇa. As he neared the place where the Lord was sitting, he perceived the aroma of tulasī flowers in the breeze and went in its direction.

Text 42

Devanagari

तं तत्र तिग्मद्युभिरायुधैर्वृतं
ह्यश्वत्थमूले कृतकेतनं पतिम् ।
स्‍नेहप्लुतात्मा निपपात पादयो
रथादवप्लुत्य सबाष्पलोचन- ॥ ४२ ॥

Verse text

taṁ tatra tigma-dyubhir āyudhair vṛtaṁ
hy aśvattha-mūle kṛta-ketanaṁ patim
sneha-plutātmā nipapāta pādayo
rathād avaplutya sa-bāṣpa-locanaḥ

Synonyms

tam — Him; tatra — there; tigma — brilliant; dyubhiḥ — the effulgence of which; āyudhaiḥ — by His weapons; vṛtam — surrounded; hi — indeed; aśvattha — of the banyan tree; mūle — at the base; kṛta-ketanam — resting; patim — his master; sneha — with affection; pluta — overwhelmed; ātmā — his heart; nipapāta — he fell down; pādayoḥ — at His feet; rathāt — from the chariot; avaplutya — rushing down; sa-bāṣpa — filled with tears; locanaḥ — his eyes.

Translation

Upon seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa resting at the foot of a banyan tree, surrounded by His shining weapons, Dāruka could not control the affection he felt in his heart. His eyes filled with tears as he rushed down from the chariot and fell at the Lord’s feet.

Text 43

Devanagari

अपश्यतस्त्वच्चरणाम्बुजं प्रभो
द‍ृष्टि- प्रणष्टा तमसि प्रविष्टा ।
दिशो न जाने न लभे च शान्तिं
यथा निशायामुडुपे प्रणष्टे ॥ ४३ ॥

Verse text

apaśyatas tvac-caraṇāmbujaṁ prabho
dṛṣṭiḥ praṇaṣṭā tamasi praviṣṭā
diśo na jāne na labhe ca śāntiṁ
yathā niśāyām uḍupe praṇaṣṭe

Synonyms

apaśyataḥ — of me, who am not seeing; tvat — Your; caraṇa-ambujam — lotus feet; prabho — O master; dṛṣṭiḥ — the power of vision; praṇaṣṭā — is destroyed; tamasi — into darkness; praviṣṭā — having entered; diśaḥ — the directions; na jāne — I do not know; na labhe — I cannot obtain; ca — and; śāntim — peace; yathā — just as; niśāyām — in the night; uḍupe — when the moon; praṇaṣṭe — has become new.

Translation

Dāruka said: Just as on a moonless night people are merged into darkness and cannot find their way, now that I have lost sight of Your lotus feet, my Lord, I have lost my vision and am wandering blindly in darkness. I cannot tell my direction, nor can I find any peace.

Text 44

Devanagari

इति ब्रुवति सूते वै रथो गरुडलाञ्छन- ।
खमुत्पपात राजेन्द्र साश्वध्वज उदीक्षत- ॥ ४४ ॥

Verse text

iti bruvati sūte vai
ratho garuḍa-lāñchanaḥ
kham utpapāta rājendra
sāśva-dhvaja udīkṣataḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus; bruvati — while he was speaking; sūte — the chariot driver; vai — indeed; rathaḥ — the chariot; garuḍa-lāñchanaḥ — marked with the flag of Garuḍa; kham — into the sky; utpapāta — arose; rāja-indra — O king of kings (Parīkṣit); sa-aśva — along with the horses; dhvajaḥ — and flag; udīkṣataḥ — as he looked up, watching.

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] O foremost of kings, while the chariot driver was still speaking, before his very eyes the Lord’s chariot rose up into the sky along with its horses and its flag, which was marked with the emblem of Garuḍa.

Text 45

Devanagari

तमन्वगच्छन् दिव्यानि विष्णुप्रहरणानि च ।
तेनातिविस्मितात्मानं सूतमाह जनार्दन- ॥ ४५ ॥

Verse text

tam anvagacchan divyāni
viṣṇu-praharaṇāni ca
tenāti-vismitātmānaṁ
sūtam āha janārdanaḥ

Synonyms

tam — that chariot; anvagacchan — they followed; divyāni — divine; viṣṇu — of Lord Viṣṇu; praharaṇāni — the weapons; ca — and; tena — by that occurrence; ati-vismita — astonished; ātmānam — his mind; sūtam — to the driver; āha — spoke; janārdanaḥ — Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

All the divine weapons of Viṣṇu rose up and followed the chariot. The Lord, Janārdana, then spoke to His chariot driver, who was most astonished to see all this.

Text 46

Devanagari

गच्छ द्वारवतीं सूत ज्ञातीनां निधनं मिथ- ।
सङ्कर्षणस्य निर्याणं बन्धुभ्यो ब्रूहि मद्दशाम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Verse text

gaccha dvāravatīṁ sūta
jñātīnāṁ nidhanaṁ mithaḥ
saṅkarṣaṇasya niryāṇaṁ
bandhubhyo brūhi mad-daśām

Synonyms

gaccha — just go; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; sūta — O chariot driver; jñātīnām — of their close relatives; nidhanam — the destruction; mithaḥ — mutual; saṅkarṣaṇasya — of Lord Balarāma; niryāṇam — the passing away; bandhubhyaḥ — to Our family members; brūhi — speak; mat-daśām — My condition.

Translation

O driver, go to Dvārakā and tell Our family members how their loved ones destroyed one another. Also tell them of the disappearance of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa and of My present condition.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa sent His chariot driverless back to Vaikuṇṭha, along with the horses and weapons, because the chariot driver, Dāruka, had some final service to do on earth.

Text 47

Devanagari

द्वारकायां च न स्थेयं भवद्भ‍िश्च स्वबन्धुभि- ।
मया त्यक्तां यदुपुरीं समुद्र- प्लावयिष्यति ॥ ४७ ॥

Verse text

dvārakāyāṁ ca na stheyaṁ
bhavadbhiś ca sva-bandhubhiḥ
mayā tyaktāṁ yadu-purīṁ
samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati

Synonyms

dvārakāyām — in Dvārakā; ca — and; na stheyam — should not remain; bhavadbhiḥ — you; ca — and; sva-bandhubhiḥ — along with your relatives; mayā — by Me; tyaktām — abandoned; yadu-purīm — the capital of the Yadus; samudraḥ — the ocean; plāvayiṣyati — will drown.

Translation

You and your relatives should not remain in Dvārakā, the capital of the Yadus, because once I have abandoned that city it will be inundated by the ocean.

Text 48

Devanagari

स्वं स्वं परिग्रहं सर्वे आदाय पितरौ च न- ।
अर्जुनेनाविता- सर्व इन्द्रप्रस्थं गमिष्यथ ॥ ४८ ॥

Verse text

svaṁ svaṁ parigrahaṁ sarve
ādāya pitarau ca naḥ
arjunenāvitāḥ sarva
indraprasthaṁ gamiṣyatha

Synonyms

svam svam — each his own; parigraham — family; sarve — all of them; ādāya — taking; pitarau — parents; ca — and; naḥ — Our; arjunena — by Arjuna; avitāḥ — protected; sarve — all; indraprastham — to Indraprastha; gamiṣyatha — you should go.

Translation

You should all take your own families, together with My parents, and under Arjuna’s protection go to Indraprastha.

Text 49

Devanagari

त्वं तु मद्धर्ममास्थाय ज्ञाननिष्ठ उपेक्षक- ।
मन्मायारचितामेतां विज्ञायोपशमं व्रज ॥ ४९ ॥

Verse text

tvaṁ tu mad-dharmam āsthāya
jñāna-niṣṭha upekṣakaḥ
man-māyā-racitām etāṁ
vijñayopaśamaṁ vraja

Synonyms

tvam — you; tu — however; mat-dharmam — in My devotional service; āsthāya — remaining firm; jñāna-niṣṭhaḥ — fixed in knowledge; upekṣakaḥ — indifferent; mat-māyā — by My illusory energy; racitām — created; etām — this; vijñāya — understanding; upaśamam — cessation from agitation; vraja — obtain.

Translation

You, Dāruka, should be firmly situated in devotion to Me, remaining fixed in spiritual knowledge and unattached to material considerations. Understanding these pastimes to be a display of My illusory potency, you should remain peaceful.

Purport

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the word tu here emphasizes that Dāruka is an eternally liberated associate of Lord Kṛṣṇa, having descended from Vaikuṇṭha. Therefore, even though others might be bewildered by the Lord’s pastimes, Dāruka should remain peaceful and fixed in spiritual knowledge.

Text 50

Devanagari

इत्युक्तस्तं परिक्रम्य नमस्कृत्य पुन- पुन- ।
तत्पादौ शीर्ष्ण्युपाधाय दुर्मना- प्रययौ पुरीम् ॥ ५० ॥

Verse text

ity uktas taṁ parikramya
namaskṛtya punaḥ punaḥ
tat-pādau śīrṣṇy upādhāya
durmanāḥ prayayau purīm

Synonyms

iti — thus; uktaḥ — spoken to; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; namaḥ-kṛtya — offering obeisances; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; tat-pādau — His lotus feet; śīrṣṇi — upon his head; upādhāya — placing; durmanāḥ — unhappy in his mind; prayayau — he went; purīm — to the city.

Translation

Thus ordered, Dāruka circumambulated the Lord and offered obeisances to Him again and again. He placed Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet upon his head and then with a sad heart went back to the city.

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Thirtieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Disappearance of the Yadu Dynasty.”