CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
The Deliverance of King Nṛga
This chapter describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa released King Nṛga from a curse and instructed the royal order on the great danger of taking a brāhmaṇa’s property.
One day Sāmba and other young boys of the Yādava dynasty went to the forest to play, and after playing for a long time they became very thirsty and began looking for water. Inside a dry well they found an amazing creature: a huge lizard resembling a hill. The boys felt sorry for it and tried to pull it out. But after several attempts with leather thongs and ropes, they saw that they would not be able to rescue the creature, and thus they went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and told Him what had happened. The Lord accompanied them to the well and, extending His left hand, easily lifted the lizard out. By the touch of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s hand the creature transformed at once into a demigod. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa asked, “Who are you, and how did you assume such a lowly form?”
The divine being replied, “My name was King Nṛga, son of Ikṣvāku, and I was famous for giving charity. Indeed, I gave away countless cows to numerous brāhmaṇas. But on one occasion a cow belonging to a first-class brāhmaṇa wandered into my herd. Unaware of this, I gave this cow in charity to a different brāhmaṇa. When the cow’s previous owner saw the second brāhmaṇa taking this cow away, the first brāhmaṇa claimed the cow as his and began arguing with the second brāhmaṇa. After quarreling for some time they approached me, and I implored them to each take one hundred thousand cows in exchange for that one cow, and to please forgive me for the offense I had unknowingly committed. But neither brāhmaṇa would accept my proposal, and the matter remained unsettled.
“Shortly thereafter I died and was taken by the Yamadūtas to the court of Yamarāja. Yama asked me which I preferred to do first: suffer the results of my sins or enjoy the results of my pious acts. I decided to suffer my sinful reactions first, and thus I assumed the body of a lizard.”
After King Nṛga had told his story, he offered prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa and then mounted a celestial airplane, which transported him to heaven.
Lord Kṛṣṇa then instructed His personal associates, as well as the general mass of people, on the dangers of stealing a brāhmaṇa’s property. Finally, the Lord returned to His palace.
Devanagari
एकदोपवनं राजन् जग्मुर्यदुकुमारका: ।
विहर्तुं साम्बप्रद्युम्नचारुभानुगदादय: ॥ १ ॥
Text
ekadopavanaṁ rājan
jagmur yadu-kumārakāḥ
vihartuṁ sāmba-pradyumna
cāru-bhānu-gadādayaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — the son of Badarāyaṇa (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); uvāca — said; ekadā — one day; upavanam — to a small forest; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); jagmuḥ — went; yadu-kumārakāḥ — boys of the Yadu dynasty; vihartum — to play; sāmba-pradyumna-cāru-bhānu-gada-ādayaḥ — Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and others.
Translation
Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: O King, one day Sāmba, Pradyumna, Cāru, Bhānu, Gada and other young boys of the Yadu dynasty went to a small forest to play.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī states that the story of King Nṛga, narrated in this chapter, is meant to give sober instructions to all proud kings. Through this incident Lord Kṛṣṇa also gave serious lessons to the members of His own family who had become proud of their opulences.
Devanagari
जलं निरुदके कूपे ददृशु: सत्त्वमद्भुतम् ॥ २ ॥
Text
vicinvantaḥ pipāsitāḥ
jalaṁ nirudake kūpe
dadṛśuḥ sattvam adbhutam
Synonyms
Translation
After playing for a long time, they became thirsty. As they searched for water, they looked inside a dry well and saw a peculiar creature.
Devanagari
तस्य चोद्धरणे यत्नं चक्रुस्ते कृपयान्विता: ॥ ३ ॥
Text
vīkṣya vismita-mānasāḥ
tasya coddharaṇe yatnaṁ
cakrus te kṛpayānvitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The boys were astonished to behold this creature, a lizard who looked like a hill. They felt sorry for it and tried to lift it out of the well.
Devanagari
नाशक्नुरन् समुद्धर्तुं कृष्णायाचख्युरुत्सुका: ॥ ४ ॥
Text
baddhvā patitam arbhakāḥ
nāśaknuran samuddhartuṁ
kṛṣṇāyācakhyur utsukāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
They caught on to the trapped lizard with leather thongs and then with woven ropes, but still they could not lift it out. So they went to Lord Kṛṣṇa and excitedly told Him about the creature.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that because in this chapter the Yadu boys, even Śrī Pradyumna, are described as quite young, this must be an early pastime.
Devanagari
वीक्ष्योज्जहार वामेन तं करेण स लीलया ॥ ५ ॥
Text
bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ
vīkṣyojjahāra vāmena
taṁ kareṇa sa līlayā
Synonyms
Translation
The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, maintainer of the universe, went to the well and saw the lizard. Then with His left hand He easily lifted it out.
Devanagari
विहाय सद्य: कृकलासरूपम् ।
सन्तप्तचामीकरचारुवर्ण:
स्वर्ग्यद्भुतालङ्करणाम्बरस्रक् ॥ ६ ॥
Text
vihāya sadyaḥ kṛkalāsa-rūpam
santapta-cāmīkara-cāru-varṇaḥ
svargy adbhutālaṅkaraṇāmbara-srak
Synonyms
saḥ — it; uttamaḥ-śloka — of the glorious Lord; kara — by the hand; abhimṛṣṭaḥ — touched; vihāya — giving up; sadyaḥ — immediately; kṛkalāsa — of a lizard; rūpam — the form; santapta — molten; cāmīkara — of gold; caru — beautiful; varṇaḥ — whose complexion; svargī — a resident of heaven; adbhuta — amazing; alaṅkaraṇa — whose ornaments; ambara — clothing; srak — and garlands.
Translation
Touched by the hand of the glorious Supreme Lord, the being at once gave up its lizard form and assumed that of a resident of heaven. His complexion was beautifully colored like molten gold, and he was adorned with wonderful ornaments, clothes and garlands.
Devanagari
जनेषु विख्यापयितुं मुकुन्द: ।
कस्त्वं महाभाग वरेण्यरूपो
देवोत्तमं त्वां गणयामि नूनम् ॥ ७ ॥
Text
janeṣu vikhyāpayituṁ mukundaḥ
kas tvaṁ mahā-bhāga vareṇya-rūpo
devottamaṁ tvāṁ gaṇayāmi nūnam
Synonyms
papraccha — He asked; vidvān — well aware; api — although; tat — of this; nidānam — the cause; janeṣu — among people in general; vikhyāpayitum — to make it known; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kaḥ — who; tvam — you; mahā-bhāga — O fortunate one; vareṇya — excellent; rūpaḥ — whose form; deva-uttamam — an exalted demigod; tvām — You; gaṇayāmi — I should consider; nūnam — certainly.
Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa understood the situation, but to inform people in general He inquired as follows: “Who are you, O greatly fortunate one? Seeing your excellent form, I think you must surely be an exalted demigod.
Devanagari
आत्मानमाख्याहि विवित्सतां नो
यन्मन्यसे न: क्षममत्र वक्तुम् ॥ ८ ॥
Text
samprāpito ’sy atad-arhaḥ su-bhadra
ātmānam ākhyāhi vivitsatāṁ no
yan manyase naḥ kṣamam atra vaktum
Synonyms
daśām — condition; imām — to this; vā — and; katamena — by what; karmaṇā — action; samprāpitaḥ — brought; asi — you are; atat-arhaḥ — not deserving it; su-bhadra — O good soul; ātmānam — yourself; ākhyāhi — please explain; vivitsatām — who are eager to know; naḥ — to us; yat — if; manyase — you think; naḥ — to us; kṣamam — proper; atra — here; vaktum — to speak.
Translation
“By what past activity were you brought to this condition? It seems you did not deserve such a fate, O good soul. We are eager to know about you, so please inform us about yourself — if, that is, you think this the proper time and place to tell us.”
Devanagari
इति स्म राजा सम्पृष्ट: कृष्णेनानन्तमूर्तिना ।
माधवं प्रणिपत्याह किरीटेनार्कवर्चसा ॥ ९ ॥
Text
iti sma rājā sampṛṣṭaḥ
kṛṣṇenānanta-mūrtinā
mādhavaṁ praṇipatyāha
kirīṭenārka-varcasā
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; sma — indeed; rājā — the King; sampṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; mūrtinā — whose forms; mādhavam — to Him, Lord Mādhava; praṇipatya — bowing down; āha — he spoke; kirīṭena — with his helmet; arka — like the sun; varcasa — whose brilliance.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by Kṛṣṇa, whose forms are unlimited, the King, his helmet as dazzling as the sun, bowed down to Lord Mādhava and replied as follows.
Devanagari
नृगो नाम नरेन्द्रोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुतनय: प्रभो ।
दानिष्वाख्यायमानेषु यदि ते कर्णमस्पृशम् ॥ १० ॥
Text
nṛgo nāma narendro ’ham
ikṣvāku-tanayaḥ prabho
dāniṣv ākhyāyamāneṣu
yadi te karṇam aspṛśam
Synonyms
Translation
King Nṛga said: I am a king known as Nṛga, the son of Ikṣvāku. Perhaps, Lord, You have heard of me when lists of charitable men were recited.
Purport
The ācāryas point out here that although a tentative expression is used — “perhaps You have heard of me” — the implication is that there is no doubt.
Devanagari
कालेनाव्याहतदृशो वक्ष्येऽथापि तवाज्ञया ॥ ११ ॥
Text
sarva-bhūtātma-sākṣiṇaḥ
kālenāvyāhata-dṛśo
vakṣye ’thāpi tavājñayā
Synonyms
kim — what; nu — indeed; te — to You; aviditam — unknown; nātha — O master; sarva — of all; bhūta — beings; ātma — of the intelligence; sākṣiṇaḥ — to the witness; kālena — by time; avyāhata — undisturbed; dṛśaḥ — whose vision; vakṣye — I will speak; atha api — nevertheless; tava — Your; ājñayā — by the order.
Translation
What could possibly be unknown to You, O master? With vision undisturbed by time, You witness the minds of all living beings. Nevertheless, on Your order I will speak.
Purport
Since the Lord knows everything, there is no need to inform Him about anything. Still, to fulfill the Lord’s purpose King Nṛga will speak.
Devanagari
यावत्यो वर्षधाराश्च तावतीरददं स्म गा: ॥ १२ ॥
Text
yāvatyo divi tārakāḥ
yāvatyo varṣa-dhārāś ca
tāvatīr adadaṁ sma gāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
I gave in charity as many cows as there are grains of sand on the earth, stars in the heavens, or drops in a rain shower.
Purport
The idea here is that the King gave innumerable cows in charity.
Devanagari
गुणोपपन्ना: कपिला हेमशृङ्गी: ।
न्यायार्जिता रूप्यखुरा: सवत्सा
दुकूलमालाभरणा ददावहम् ॥ १३ ॥
Text
guṇopapannāḥ kapilā hema-sṛṅgīḥ
nyāyārjitā rūpya-khurāḥ sa-vatsā
dukūla-mālābharaṇā dadāv aham
Synonyms
payaḥ-vinīḥ — having milk; taruṇīḥ — young; śīla — with good behavior; rūpa — beauty; guṇa — and other qualities; upapannāḥ — endowed; kapilāḥ — brown; hema — gold; śṛṅgīḥ — with horns; nyāya — fairly; arjitāḥ — earned; rūpya — silver; khurāḥ — with hooves; sa-vatsāḥ — together with their calves; dukūla — fine cloth; mālā — with garlands; ābharaṇāḥ — adorned; dadau — gave; aham — I.
Translation
Young, brown, milk-laden cows, who were well-behaved, beautiful and endowed with good qualities, who were all acquired honestly, and who had gilded horns, silver-plated hooves and decorations of fine ornamental cloths and garlands — such were the cows, along with their calves, that I gave in charity.
Devanagari
सीदत्कुटुम्बेभ्य ऋतव्रतेभ्य: ।
तप:श्रुतब्रह्मवदान्यसद्भ्य:
प्रादां युवभ्यो द्विजपुङ्गवेभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥
गोभूहिरण्यायतनाश्वहस्तिन:
कन्या: सदासीस्तिलरूप्यशय्या: ।
वासांसि रत्नानि परिच्छदान् रथा-
निष्टं च यज्ञैश्चरितं च पूर्तम् ॥ १५ ॥
Text
sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ
tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ
prādāṁ yuvabhyo dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ
kanyāḥ sa-dāsīs tila-rūpya-śayyāḥ
vāsāṁsi ratnāni paricchadān rathān
iṣṭaṁ ca yajñaiś caritaṁ ca pūrtam
Synonyms
su — well; alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ — who were ornamented; guṇa — good qualities; śīla — and character; vadbhyaḥ — who possessed; sīdat — distressed; kuṭumbebhyaḥ — whose families; ṛta — to truth; vratebhyaḥ — dedicated; tapaḥ — for austerity; śruta — well known; brahma — in the Vedas; vadānya — vastly learned; sadbhyaḥ — saintly; prādām — I gave; yuvabhyaḥ — who were young; dvija — to brāhmaṇas; pum-gavebhyaḥ — most exceptional; go — cows; bhū — land; hiraṇya — gold; āyatana — houses; aśva — horses; hastinaḥ — and elephants; kanyāḥ — marriageable daughters; sa — with; dāsīḥ — maidservants; tila — sesame; rūpya — silver; śayyāḥ — and beds; vāsāṁsi — clothing; ratnāni — jewels; paricchadān — furniture; rathān — chariots; iṣṭam — worship executed; ca — and; yajñaiḥ — by Vedic fire sacrifices; caritam — done; ca — and; pūrtam — pious works.
Translation
I first honored the brāhmaṇas who were recipients of my charity by decorating them with fine ornaments. Those most exalted brāhmaṇas, whose families were in need, were young and possessed of excellent character and qualities. They were dedicated to truth, famous for their austerity, vastly learned in the Vedic scriptures and saintly in their behavior. I gave them cows, land, gold and houses, along with horses, elephants and marriageable girls with maidservants, as well as sesame, silver, fine beds, clothing, jewels, furniture and chariots. In addition, I performed Vedic sacrifices and executed various pious welfare activities.
Devanagari
सम्पृक्ताविदुषा सा च मया दत्ता द्विजातये ॥ १६ ॥
Text
bhraṣṭā gaur mama go-dhane
sampṛktāviduṣā sā ca
mayā dattā dvijātaye
Synonyms
Translation
Once a cow belonging to a certain first-class brāhmaṇa wandered away and entered my herd. Unaware of this, I gave that cow in charity to a different brāhmaṇa.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the term dvija-mukhya, “first-class brāhmaṇa,” here indicates a brāhmaṇa who has stopped accepting charity and would thus refuse to accept even one hundred thousand cows in exchange for the cow that had been improperly given away.
Devanagari
ममेति परिग्राह्याह नृगो मे दत्तवानिति ॥ १७ ॥
Text
dṛṣṭrovāca mameti tam
mameti parigrāhy āha
nṛgo me dattavān iti
Synonyms
Translation
When the cow’s first owner saw her being led away, he said, “She is mine!” The second brāhmaṇa, who had accepted her as a gift, replied, “No, she’s mine! Nṛga gave her to me.”
Devanagari
भवान् दातापहर्तेति तच्छ्रुत्वा मेऽभवद् भ्रम: ॥ १८ ॥
Text
ūcatuḥ svārtha-sādhakau
bhavān dātāpaharteti
tac chrutvā me ’bhavad bhramaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
As the two brāhmaṇas argued, each trying to fulfill his own purpose, they came to me. One of them said, “You gave me this cow,” and the other said, “But you stole her from me.” Hearing this, I was bewildered.
Devanagari
गवां लक्षं प्रकृष्टानां दास्याम्येषा प्रदीयताम् ॥ १९ ॥
भवन्तावनुगृह्णीतां किङ्करस्याविजानत: ।
समुद्धरतं मां कृच्छ्रात् पतन्तं निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ २० ॥
Text
dharma-kṛcchra-gatena vai
gavāṁ lakṣaṁ prakṛṣṭānāṁ
dāsyāmy eṣā pradīyatām
kiṅkarasyāvijānataḥ
samuddharataṁ māṁ kṛcchrāt
patantaṁ niraye ’śucau
Synonyms
anunītau — humbly requested; ubhau — both; viprau — the two brāhmaṇas; dharma — of religious duty; kṛcchra — a difficult situation; gatena — by (me) who was in; vai — indeed; gavām — of cows; lakṣam — a lakh (one hundred thousand); prakṛṣṭānām — best quality; dāsyāmi — I will give; eṣā — this one; pradīyatām — please give; bhavantau — the two of you; anugṛhṇītām — should please show mercy; kiṅkarasya — to your servant; avijānataḥ — who was unaware; samuddharatam — please save; mām — me; kṛcchrāt — from danger; patantam — falling; niraye — into hell; aśucau — unclean.
Translation
Finding myself in a terrible dilemma concerning my duty in the situation, I humbly entreated both the brāhmaṇas: “I will give one hundred thousand of the best cows in exchange for this one. Please give her back to me. Your good selves should be merciful to me, your servant. I did not know what I was doing. Please save me from this difficult situation, or I’ll surely fall into a filthy hell.”
Devanagari
नान्यद् गवामप्ययुतमिच्छामीत्यपरो ययौ ॥ २१ ॥
Text
ity uktvā svāmy apākramat
nānyad gavām apy ayutam
icchāmīty aparo yayau
Synonyms
na — not; aham — I; pratīcche — want; vai — indeed; rājan — O King; iti — thus; uktvā — saying; svāmī — the owner; apākramat — went away; na — not; anyat — in addition; gavām — of cows; api — even; ayutam — ten thousand; icchāmi — I want; iti — thus saying; aparaḥ — the other (brāhmaṇa); yayau — left.
Translation
The present owner of the cow said, “I don’t want anything in exchange for this cow, O King,” and went away. The other brāhmaṇa declared, “I don’t want even ten thousand more cows [than you are offering],” and he too went away.
Purport
In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Thus disagreeing with the King’s proposal, both brāhmaṇas left the palace in anger, thinking that their lawful possession had been usurped.”
Devanagari
यमेन पृष्टस्तत्राहं देवदेव जगत्पते ॥ २२ ॥
Text
dūtair nīto yama-kṣayam
yamena pṛṣṭas tatrāhaṁ
deva-deva jagat-pate
Synonyms
etasmin — at this; antare — opportunity; yāmaiḥ — of Yamarāja, the lord of death; dūtaiḥ — by the messengers; nītaḥ — taken; yama-kṣayam — to the abode of Yamarāja; yamena — by Yamarāja; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; tatra — there; aham — I; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; pate — O master.
Translation
O Lord of lords, O master of the universe, the agents of Yamarāja, taking advantage of the opportunity thus created, later carried me to his abode. There Yamarāja himself questioned me.
Purport
According to the ācāryas, the King’s performance of fruitive activities had previously been flawless. But now an inadvertent discrepancy had arisen, and so when the King died the Yamadūtas took him to the abode of Yamarāja, called Saṁyamanī.
Devanagari
नान्तं दानस्य धर्मस्य पश्ये लोकस्य भास्वत: ॥ २३ ॥
Text
utāho nṛpate śubham
nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya
paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
[Yamarāja said:] My dear King, do you wish to experience the results of your sins first, or those of your piety? Indeed, I see no end to the dutiful charity you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the radiant heavenly planets.
Devanagari
तावदद्राक्षमात्मानं कृकलासं पतन् प्रभो ॥ २४ ॥
Text
iti prāha pateti saḥ
tāvad adrākṣam ātmānaṁ
kṛkalāsaṁ patan prabho
Synonyms
Translation
I replied, “First, my lord, let me suffer my sinful reactions,” and Yamarāja said, “Then fall!” At once I fell, and while falling I saw myself becoming a lizard, O master.
Devanagari
स्मृतिर्नाद्यापि विध्वस्ता भवत्सन्दर्शनार्थिन: ॥ २५ ॥
Text
tava dāsasya keśava
smṛtir nādyāpi vidhvastā
bhavat-sandarśanārthinaḥ
Synonyms
brahmaṇyasya — who was devoted to the brāhmaṇas; vadānyasya — who was generous; tava — Your; dāsasya — of the servant; keśava — O Kṛṣṇa; smṛtiḥ — the memory; na — not; adya — today; api — even; vidhvastā — lost; bhavat — Your; sandarśana — audience; arthinaḥ — who hankered for.
Translation
O Keśava, as Your servant I was devoted to the brāhmaṇas and generous to them, and I always hankered for Your audience. Therefore even till now I have never forgotten [my past life].
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments on this verse as follows: “Since King Nṛga openly declared that he had two outstanding qualities — namely devotion to the brāhmaṇas, and generosity — it is clear that he possessed these qualities only partially, since someone who is truly pure would not boast about them. It is also clear that King Nṛga considered such piety to be a separate goal, desirable for its own sake. Thus he did not fully appreciate pure devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa had not been the only goal of Nṛga’s life, as He was for Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, even in the stage of regulative practice. Nor do we find that King Nṛga overcame obstacles like those Ambarīṣa did when Durvāsā Muni became angry at him. Still, we can conclude that since Nṛga was able to see the Lord for some reason or another, he must have had the good quality of sincerely desiring the Lord’s association.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms the above analysis in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “On the whole, [Nṛga] had not developed Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The Kṛṣṇa conscious person develops love of God, Kṛṣṇa, not love for pious or impious activities; therefore he is not subjected to the results of such action. As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā, a devotee, by the grace of the Lord, does not become subjected to the resultant reactions of fruitive activities.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī offers the following commentary: “When Nṛga mentioned ‘one who hankered to have Your audience,’ he was referring to an incident concerning a certain great devotee King Nṛga had once met. This devotee was very eager to acquire a temple for a most beautiful Deity of the Supreme Lord, and he also wanted copies of such scriptures as the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Being very generous, Nṛga arranged for these things, and the devotee was so satisfied that he blessed the King: ‘My dear King, may you have the audience of the Supreme Lord.’ From that time on, Nṛga desired to see the Lord.”
Devanagari
योगेश्वरै: श्रुतिदृशामलहृद्विभाव्य: ।
साक्षादधोक्षज उरुव्यसनान्धबुद्धे:
स्यान्मेऽनुदृश्य इह यस्य भवापवर्ग: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
yogeśvaraḥ śruti-dṛśāmala-hṛd-vibhāvyaḥ
sākṣād adhokṣaja uru-vyasanāndha-buddheḥ
syān me ’nudṛśya iha yasya bhavāpavargaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — He; tvam — Yourself; katham — how; mama — to me; vibho — O almighty one; akṣi-pathaḥ — visible; para-ātmā — the Supreme Soul; yoga — of mystic yoga; īśvaraiḥ — by masters; śruti — of the scriptures; dṛśā — by the eye; amala — spotless; hṛt — within their hearts; vibhāvyaḥ — to be meditated upon; sākṣāt — directly visible; adhokṣaja — O transcendental Lord, who cannot be seen by material senses; uru — severe; vyasana — by troubles; andha — blinded; buddheḥ — whose intelligence; syāt — it may be; me — for me; anudṛśyaḥ — to be perceived; iha — in this world; yasya — whose; bhava — of material life; apavargaḥ — cessation.
Translation
O almighty one, how is it that my eyes see You here before me? You are the Supreme Soul, whom the greatest masters of mystic yoga can meditate upon within their pure hearts only by employing the spiritual eye of the Vedas. Then how, O transcendental Lord, are You directly visible to me, since my intelligence has been blinded by the severe tribulations of material life? Only one who has finished his material entanglement in this world should be able to see You.
Purport
Even in the body of a lizard, King Nṛga could remember his previous life. And now that he had the opportunity to see the Lord, he could understand that he had received special mercy from the Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
नारायण हृषीकेश पुण्यश्लोकाच्युताव्यय ॥ २७ ॥
अनुजानीहि मां कृष्ण यान्तं देवगतिं प्रभो ।
यत्र क्वापि सतश्चेतो भूयान्मे त्वत्पदास्पदम् ॥ २८ ॥
Text
govinda puruṣottama
nārāyaṇa hṛṣīkeśa
puṇya-ślokācyutāvyaya
yāntaṁ deva-gatiṁ prabho
yatra kvāpi sataś ceto
bhūyān me tvat-padāspadam
Synonyms
deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat — of the universe; nātha — O master; go-vinda — O Lord of the cows; puruṣa-uttama — O Supreme Personality; nārāyaṇa — O foundation of all living beings; hṛṣīkeśa — O master of the senses; puṇya-śloka — O You who are glorified in transcendental poetry; acyuta — O infallible one; avyaya — O undiminishing one; anujānīhi — please give leave; mām — to me; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; yāntam — who am going; deva-gatim — to the world of the demigods; prabho — O master; yatra kva api — wherever; sataḥ — residing; cetaḥ — the mind; bhūyāt — may it be; me — my; tvat — Your; pada — of the feet; āspadam — whose shelter.
Translation
O Devadeva, Jagannātha, Govinda, Puruṣottama, Nārāyaṇa, Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇyaśloka, Acyuta, Avyaya! O Kṛṣṇa, please permit me to depart for the world of the demigods. Wherever I live, O master, may my mind always take shelter of Your feet.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments as follows on this verse: His faith emboldened upon receiving the Lord’s mercy and thus attaining the status of servitude, King Nṛga properly glorifies the Lord by chanting His names and then asks the Lord’s permission to take his leave. The spirit of his prayer is as follows: “You are Devadeva, God even of the gods, and Jagannātha, the master of the universe, so please be my master. O Govinda, please make me Your property with the same merciful glance You use to enchant the cows. You can do this because You are Puruṣottama, the supreme form of Godhead. O Nārāyaṇa, since You are the foundation of the living entities, please be my support, even though I am a bad living entity. O Hṛṣīkeśa, please make my senses Your own. O Puṇyaśloka, now You have become famous as the deliverer of Nṛga. O Acyuta, please never be lost to my mind. O Avyaya, You will never diminish in my mind.” Thus the great Bhāgavatam commentator Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains the purport of these verses.
Devanagari
कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय योगानां पतये नम: ॥ २९ ॥
Text
brahmaṇe ’nanta-śaktaye
kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya
yogānāṁ pataye namaḥ
Synonyms
namaḥ — obeisances; te — to You; sarva-bhāvāya — the source of all beings; brahmaṇe — the Supreme Absolute Truth; ananta — unlimited; śaktaye — the possessor of potencies; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; vāsudevāya — the son of Vasudeva; yogānām — of all processes of yoga; pataye — to the Lord; namaḥ — obeisances.
Translation
I offer my repeated obeisances unto You, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva. You are the source of all beings, the Supreme Absolute Truth, the possessor of unlimited potencies, the master of all spiritual disciplines.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that King Nṛga here offers his obeisances to Brahman — that is, the Absolute Truth — who is unchanged in spite of performing activities. Since ancient times, Western philosophers have puzzled over the question of how God can be unchanging and yet perform activities. Śrīdhara Svāmī states that this doubt is answered here by the term ananta-śaktaye, which describes the Lord as “the possessor of unlimited potency.” Thus through the Lord’s infinite potencies He can perform innumerable activities without changing His essential nature.
The King further offers his obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the possessor of the form of eternal bliss and the supreme goal of life. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is analyzed in a verse from the Mahābhārata (Udyoga-parva 71.4), which is quoted in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 9.30):
ṇaś ca nirvṛti-vācakaḥ
tayor aikyaṁ paraṁ brahma
kṛṣṇa ity abhidhīyate
“The word kṛṣ is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and na means ‘spiritual pleasure.’ When the verb kṛṣ is added to na, it becomes kṛṣṇa, which indicates the Absolute Truth.”
King Nṛga offers the above prayers as he is about to leave the personal association of the Supreme Lord.
Devanagari
अनुज्ञातो विमानाग्र्यमारुहत् पश्यतां नृणाम् ॥ ३० ॥
Text
pādau spṛṣṭvā sva-maulinā
anujñāto vimānāgryam
āruhat paśyatāṁ nṛṇām
Synonyms
Translation
Having spoken thus, Mahārāja Nṛga circumambulated Lord Kṛṣṇa and touched his crown to the Lord’s feet. Granted permission to depart, King Nṛga then boarded a wonderful celestial airplane as all the people present looked on.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मण्यदेवो धर्मात्मा राजन्याननुशिक्षयन् ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ
brahmaṇya-devo dharmātmā
rājanyān anuśikṣayan
Synonyms
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī — who is especially devoted to the brāhmaṇas and who embodies the essence of religion, then spoke to His personal associates and thus instructed the royal class in general.
Devanagari
तेजीयसोऽपि किमुत राज्ञां ईश्वरमानिनाम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
bhuktam agner manāg api
tejīyaso ’pi kim uta
rājñāṁ īśvara-māninām
Synonyms
durjaram — indigestible; bata — indeed; brahma — of a brāhmaṇa; svam — the property; bhuktam — consumed; agneḥ — than fire; manāk — a little; api — even; tejīyasaḥ — for one who is more intensely potent; api — even; kim uta — what then to speak of; rājñām — for kings; īśvara — controllers; māninām — who presume themselves.
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] How indigestible is the property of a brāhmaṇa, even when enjoyed just slightly and by one more potent than fire! What then to speak of kings who try to enjoy it, presuming themselves lords.
Purport
Even those made powerful by austerity, mystic yoga and so on cannot enjoy property stolen from a brāhmaṇa, and what to speak of others.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मस्वं हि विषं प्रोक्तं नास्य प्रतिविधिर्भुवि ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
viṣaṁ yasya pratikriyā
brahma-svaṁ hi viṣaṁ proktaṁ
nāsya pratividhir bhuvi
Synonyms
na — not; aham — I; hālāhalam — the poison named hālāhala, which Lord Śiva is famous for having drunk without toxic effects; manye — I consider; viṣam — poison; yasya — of which; pratikriyā — counteraction; brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; hi — indeed; viṣam — poison; proktam — called; na — not; asya — for it; pratividhiḥ — antidote; bhuvi — in the world.
Translation
I do not consider hālāhala to be real poison, because it has an antidote. But a brāhmaṇa’s property, when stolen, can truly be called poison, for it has no antidote in this world.
Purport
One who takes a brāhmaṇa’s property, thinking to enjoy it, has actually taken the most deadly poison.
Devanagari
कुलं समूलं दहति ब्रह्मस्वारणिपावक: ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
vahnir adbhiḥ praśāmyati
kulaṁ sa-mūlaṁ dahati
brahma-svāraṇi-pāvakaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Poison kills only the person who ingests it, and an ordinary fire may be extinguished with water. But the fire generated from the kindling wood of a brāhmaṇa’s property burns the thief’s entire family down to the root.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī compares the fire ignited by stealing a brāhmaṇa’s property to the fire that blazes within the cavity of an old tree. Such a fire cannot be put out even with the water of numerous rainfalls. Rather, it burns the whole tree from within, all the way down to the roots in the ground. Similarly, the fire ignited by stealing a brāhmaṇa’s property is the most deadly and should be avoided at all costs.
Devanagari
प्रसह्य तु बलाद् भुक्तं दश पूर्वान् दशापरान् ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
bhuktaṁ hanti tri-pūruṣam
prasahya tu balād bhuktaṁ
daśa pūrvān daśāparān
Synonyms
brahma-svam — a brāhmaṇa’s property; duranujñātam — not given proper permission; bhuktam — enjoyed; hanti — destroys; tri — three; pūruṣam — persons; prasahya — by force; tu — but; balāt — resorting to external power (of the government, etc.); bhuktam — enjoyed; daśa — ten; pūrvān — previous; daśa — ten; aparān — subsequent.
Translation
If a person enjoys a brāhmaṇa’s property without receiving due permission, that property destroys three generations of his family. But if he takes it by force or gets the government or other outsiders to help him usurp it, then ten generations of his ancestors and ten generations of his descendants are all destroyed.
Purport
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, tri-pūruṣa refers to oneself, one’s sons and one’s grandsons.
Devanagari
निरयं येऽभिमन्यन्ते ब्रह्मस्वं साधु बालिशा: ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
nātma-pātaṁ vicakṣate
nirayaṁ ye ’bhimanyante
brahma-svaṁ sādhu bāliśāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Members of the royal order, blinded by royal opulence, fail to foresee their own downfall. Childishly hankering to enjoy a brāhmaṇa’s property, they are actually hankering to go to hell.
Devanagari
विप्राणां हृतवृत्तीनां वदान्यानां कुटुम्बिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥
राजानो राजकुल्याश्च तावतोऽब्दान्निरङ्कुशा: ।
कुम्भीपाकेषु पच्यन्ते ब्रह्मदायापहारिण: ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
krandatām aśru-bindavaḥ
viprāṇāṁ hṛta-vṛttīnām
vadānyānāṁ kuṭumbinām
tāvato ’bdān niraṅkuśāḥ
kumbhī-pākeṣu pacyante
brahma-dāyāpahāriṇaḥ
Synonyms
gṛhṇanti — touch; yāvataḥ — as many; pāṁśūn — particles of dust; krandatām — who are crying; aśru-bindavaḥ — teardrops; viprāṇām — of brāhmaṇas; hṛta — taken away; vṛttīnām — whose means of support; vadānyānām — generous; kuṭumbinām — family men; rājānaḥ — the kings; rāja-kulyāḥ — other members of the royal families; ca — also; tāvataḥ — that many; abdān — years; niraṅkuśāḥ — uncontrolled; kumbhī-pākeṣu — in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka; pacyante — they are cooked; brahma-dāya — of the brāhmaṇa’s share; apahāriṇaḥ — the usurpers.
Translation
For as many years as there are particles of dust touched by the tears of generous brāhmaṇas who have dependent families and whose property is stolen, uncontrolled kings who usurp a brāhmaṇa’s property are cooked, along with their royal families, in the hell known as Kumbhīpāka.
Devanagari
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां जायते कृमि: ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
brahma-vṛttiṁ harec ca yaḥ
ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi
viṣṭhāyāṁ jāyate kṛmiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Whether it be his own gift or someone else’s, a person who steals a brāhmaṇa’s property will take birth as a worm in feces for sixty thousand years.
Devanagari
पराजिताश्च्युता राज्याद् भवन्त्युद्वेजिनोऽहय: ॥ ४० ॥
Text
yad gṛdhvālpāyuṣo narāḥ
parājitāś cyutā rājyād
bhavanty udvejino ’hayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
I do not desire brāhmaṇas’ wealth. Those who lust after it become short-lived and are defeated. They lose their kingdoms and become snakes, who trouble others.
Devanagari
घ्नन्तं बहु शपन्तं वा नमस्कुरुत नित्यश: ॥ ४१ ॥
Text
naiva druhyata māmakāḥ
ghnantaṁ bahu śapantaṁ vā
namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ
Synonyms
vipram — a learned brāhmaṇa; kṛta — having committed; āgasam — sin; api — even; na — not; eva — indeed; druhyata — do not treat inimically; māmakāḥ — O My followers; ghnantam — striking physically; bahu — repeatedly; śapantam — cursing; vā — or; namaḥ-kuruta — you should offer obeisances; nityaśaḥ — always.
Translation
My dear followers, never treat a learned brāhmaṇa harshly, even if he has sinned. Even if he attacks you physically or repeatedly curses you, always continue to offer him obeisances.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa offers this instruction not only to His personal associates but to all those who claim to be followers of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
तथा नमत यूयं च योऽन्यथा मे स दण्डभाक् ॥ ४२ ॥
Text
anukālaṁ samāhitaḥ
tathā namata yūyaṁ ca
yo ’nyathā me sa daṇḍa-bhāk
Synonyms
Translation
Just us I always carefully bow down to brāhmaṇas, so all of you should likewise bow down to them. I will punish anyone who acts otherwise.
Devanagari
अजानन्तमपि ह्येनं नृगं ब्राह्मणगौरिव ॥ ४३ ॥
Text
hartāraṁ pātayaty adhaḥ
ajānantam api hy enaṁ
nṛgaṁ brāhmaṇa-gaur iva
Synonyms
Translation
When a brāhmaṇa’s property is stolen, even unknowingly, it certainly causes the person who takes it to fall down, just as the brāhmaṇa’s cow did to Nṛga.
Purport
The Lord here demonstrates that His instructions are not theoretical but practical, as seen concretely in the case of Nṛga Mahārāja.
Devanagari
पावन: सर्वलोकानां विवेश निजमन्दिरम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Text
mukundo dvārakaukasaḥ
pāvanaḥ sarva-lokānāṁ
viveśa nija-mandiram
Synonyms
Translation
Having thus instructed the residents of Dvārakā, Lord Mukunda, purifier of all the worlds, entered His palace.
Purport
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Sixty-fourth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Deliverance of King Nṛga.”