Parva 2 Chapter 71: śakraniśchayakathanārthaṁ nāradasya dvārakām prati gamanam - nārada returns to dvārakaā to convey indra's refusal

vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya !) Hearing the words of the great indra, nārada, the best among speakers, spoke the following words to the king of deva-s in solitude. kāmaṁ priyāṇi rājāno vaktavyā nātra saṁśayaḥ | prāptakālaṁ tu vaktavyaṁ hitamapriyamapyuta ||2-71-2 (nārada said) There is no doubt that the kings shall be told what they like. At the proper time, they shall be advised about the desirable, even though it is disliked by them. aniyuktapurobhāgo na syāditi vadanti hi | sulokagātatattvajṣo nayavijṣānakovidaḥ ||2-71-3 One who is knowledgeable about the course of the world and expert in policies will advise that the king should not proceed without thinking. kāryākārye samutpanne paripṛcchati māṁ bhavān | yatastataḥ pravakṣyāmi gṛhyatāṁ yadi rochate ||2-71-4 You used to ask me also as and when issues come up. That is why I am telling you. If you like, you may accept it. anuktenāpi suhṛdā vaktavyaṁ jānatā hitam | nyāyyaṁ ca prāptakālaṁ ca parābhavamanicchatā ||2-71-5 Friends, who do not desire defeat, should advise the customary step at the proper time, if they know what is desirable even if they are not asked. vaktavyaṁ sarvathā sadbhirapriyaṁ cāpi yaddhitam | ānṛṇyametatsnehasya sadbhirevādṛtaṁ purā ||2-71-6 Good men shall always advise about the desirable step, even though it is not liked. This is an obligation due to affection praised by good men since long. anṛte dharmabhagne ca na śuśrūṣati cāpriye | na priyaṁ na hitaṁ vācyaṁ sadbhireveti ninditāḥ ||2-71-7 To those who speak lies, violate dharma by lying, who do not appreciate and to those who are disliked, one should not advise what is liked or desirable. They despise good men. sarvathā deva vaktavyam śrūyatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ vara | śrutvā ca kuru sarvajṣa mama śreyaskaraṁ vacaḥ ||2-71-8 O lord! I say what is to be told always. O the best among listeners! please listen. O the one who knows all! After listening to my words signifying prosperity, proceed further. anyonyabhedo bhrātṝṇāṁ suhṛdāṁ vā balāntaka | bhavatyānandakṛddeva dviṣatāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ ||2-71-9 O the destroyer of bala! There is no doubt that quarrel between brothers and friends will be providing happiness to enemies. hitānubandhasahitaṁ kāryaṁ jṣeyaṁ sureshvara | viparītaṁ ca tadbuddhvā nityaṁ buddhimatāṁ vara ||2-71-10 O the lord of deva-s! One should know about the matters related to what one likes. O the best among those with intellect! One should always consider the opposites as well. yatsyāttāpakaraṁ paścādārabdhaṁ kāryamīdṛśam | ārabhennaiva tadvidvāneṣa buddhimatāṁ nayaḥ ||2-71-11 If it is something like this which leads to repenting later, one who is wise, will not even initiate it. This is the conduct of those with intellect. vipākamasya kāryasya nānupaśyāmi shobhanam | yadatra kāraṇaṁ deva nibodha vibudhādhipa ||2-71-12 I do not see an auspicious end for this issue. O lord! O the king of deva-s! please understand the reason for this. ya eko viśvamadhyāste pradhānaṁ jagato hariḥ | prakṛtyā yaṁ paraṁ sarve kṣetrajṣaṁ vai vidurbudhāḥ ||2-71-13 hari (viṣṇu - kṛṣṇa) alone rules this universe. He is the source of this universe. He rules the nature and all the bodies. This is what the wise say. tasyāvyaktasya yo vyakto bhāgaḥ sarvabhavodbhavaḥ | tasyātmā paramo devo viṣṇuḥ sarvasya dhīmataḥ ||2-71-14 All the parts which are manifested, of the one who is not manifested, have come from bhava (shiva). Lord viṣṇu is the soul of that supreme lord, shiva, who is the intellect of all beings. prakṛtyāḥ prathamo bhāga umā devī yaśasvinī | vyaktaḥ sarvamayo viśvaḥ strīsaṁjṣo lokabhāvanaḥ ||2-71-15 The principal part of nature is the goddess umā, having fame. The entire world is manifested in her name, for the welfare of the world. rukmiṇyādyāḥ striyastasyā vyaktatvaṁ prathamo guṇaḥ | avyayā prakṛtirdevī guṇī devo maheśvaraḥ ||2-71-16 Women such as rukmiṇī, manifest the goddess's principal qualities. The nature do not suffer any decline due to the qualities of the goddess umā and the great lord, shiva. na viśeṣo'sya rudrasya viṣṇoścāmarasattama | guṇinaścāvyayaḥ śāstā sadā ca prathamo guṇaḥ ||2-71-17 O the best among deva-s! There is no difference between rudra (shiva) and viṣṇu (kṛṣṇa). shiva is always the reason for the qualities which do not suffer any decline as well as the principal qualities. nārāyaṇo mahātejāḥ sarvakṛllokabhāvanaḥ | bhoktā maheshvaro devaḥ kartā viṣnuradhokṣajaḥ ||2-71-18 nārayaṇa (viṣṇu - kṛṣṇa) has great splendour. He creates all considering the welfare of the world. The great lord shiva, deva, is the consumer of all. The creator is viṣṇu (kṛṣṇa), adhokṣaja. brahmā devagaṇāścānye paścātsṛṣṭā mahātmanā | mahādevena devesha prajāpatigaṇāstathā ||2-71-19 brahma and the assembly of other deva-s, as well as the assembly of prajāpati-s were created later by the great soul, the great deva, the lord of deva-s, shiva. evaṁ purāṇapuruṣo viṣṇurdeveṣu paṭḥyate | acintyaścāprameyaścha guṇebhyaścha parastathā ||2-71-20 Thus the viṣṇu celebrated anciently is the prime person among devas. He is inconceivable and immeasurable. He is the abode of supreme qualities. adityā tapasā viṣṇurmahātmā''rādhitaḥ purā | vareṇa cchanditā tena parituṣṭena cāditiḥ ||2-71-21 Long ago, aditi worshipped the great soul viṣṇu with penance. Highly pleased, viṣṇu gave boons to aditi. tayoktastvatsamaṁ putramichcāmīti surottama | praṇipatya ca vijṣāya nārāyaṇamadhokṣajam ||2-71-22 She asked: O the best among devas-! I desire a son equal to you. Bowing to nārāyaṇa, viṣṇu, she requested him. tenoktaṁ bhuvane nāsti matsamaḥ puruṣo'paraḥ | aṁśena tu bhaviṣyāmi putraḥ khalvahameva te ||2-71-23 He said: There is no other person in the world equal to me. I myself will become your son with a portion of mine. sa jātaḥ sarvakṛddevo bhrātā tava sureśvaraḥ | nārāyaṇo mahātejā yamupendraṁ prachakṣate ||2-71-24 O the lord of deva-s! (nārada continued) Thus, he who is the creator of all, was born as your younger brother. It appears that nārāyaṇa with great splendour is upendra. icchanneva harirdeva kāśyapatvamupāgataḥ | taistairbhāvairvikurute bhūtabhavyabhavāpyayaḥ ||2-71-25 Lord hari (viṣṇu) accepted being a son of kashyapa by his own will. The one who does not decline in the past, present or future takes up forms suitable to the occasion. prādurbhāvaṁ gato devo jagato hitakāmyayā | māthuraṁ jagato nāthaḥ kartā hartā ca keśavaḥ ||2-71-26 The lord took up incarnation in mathurā for the benefit of the world. keshava (kṛṣṇa) is the lord of the universe, the creator, as well as the destroyer. yathā palalapiṇḍaḥ syādvyāptaḥ snehena mānada | tathā jagadidaṁ vyāptaṁ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā ||2-71-27 O the one who gives respect to others! As the world of bodies is pervaded with love, this entire universe is pervaded by viṣṇu, the splendour of viṣṇu. brahmaṇyadevaḥ sarvātmā taistairbhāvairvikurvati | jagatyatiguṇo devo vaikuṇṭhaḥ sarvabhāvanaḥ ||2-71-28 The lord of brahmaṇya, the soul of all, manifests in the forms as are required. The lord of vaikuṇṭha, who desires the welfare of all beings, is the one in the universe having all supreme qualities. ataḥ samastadevānāṁ pūjya eva ca keśavaḥ | padmanābhaścha bhagavānprajāsargakaro vibhuḥ ||2-71-29 Hence keshava (kṛṣṇa), the one who has lotus on his navel, the lord who creates all beings, is to be worshipped by all devas. ananto dhāraṇārtaṁ ca bibharti ca mahadyaśaḥ | yajṣa ityapi sadbhishcha kathyate vedavādibhiḥ ||2-71-30 The lord of great fame became the one without an end (ananta, ādiśeṣa - see nīlakaṇṭha commentary) for carrying the earth. The good men as well as those who abide by veda-s pronounce the lord as one to be worshipped with sacrifice. śvetaḥ kṛ+tayuge devo raktastretāyuge tathā | dvāpare ca tathā pītaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kaliyuge vibhuḥ ||2-71-31 In the era of kṛta, the deva is white. He is red in the era of treta. In the dvāpara era, he is yellow and in kali era, the lord is black. (See nīlakaṇṭha commentary below and Note 1) avadhītsa hiraṇyākṣaṁ divyarūpadharo hariḥ | dadhārāpsu nimajjantīmeṣa devo vasundharām ||2-71-32 vārāhaṁ vapurāśritya jagato hitakāmyayā | hari (viṣṇu) taking a divine form, killed hiraṇyākṣa. This lord held the earth which was sinking in water, taking the body of boar for the benefit of the world. jaghne hiraṇyakaśipuṁ nārasimhavapurhariḥ ||2-71-33 jigāya jagatīṁ caiva viṣṇurvāmanarūpadhṛk | hari (viṣṇu) taking the body of man-lion, killed hiraṇyākaśipu. viṣṇu taking the form of vāmana, conquered the world. babandha ca baliṁ devaḥ śrīmānpannagabandhanaiḥ ||2-71-34 The auspicious lord tied bali with the serpent knot. devadānavasaṁbhūtānākrāmayadapi shriyam | tvayyanantaḥ purā viṣṇurudāro'mitavikramaḥ |2-71-35 viṣṇu who is kind and with unlimited valiance and who has no end transferred the auspicious splendour of deva-s and dānava-s to you before. sāvaśeṣaṁ tapo yasya tannihanti janārdanaḥ | alīkeṣvapi vartantaṁ vratametanmahātmanaḥ ||2- 71-36 janārdana (viṣṇu) kills the one who has balance penance to be done. Even though he commits deceit, this is the vow of the great soul. jaghne ca dānavānmukhyāndevānāṁ ye ca śatravaḥ | tava priyārthaṁ govindo dharmanityaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ ||2-71-37 govinda (kṛṣṇa), always fixed in dharma, the refuge of all, killed the prominent dānava-s (daitya-s ) who were the enemies of the deva-s for your benefit. rāmatvamapi cāvāpya jaghne rāvaṇamātmavān | bhūtvā kāmaguṇāṁścaiva jaghāna dviradaṁ hariḥ ||2-71-38 Becoming rāma with great soul, he killed rāvaṇa. hari (viṣnu) killed the asura-s who were born with desired qualities such as valiance. hitāya jagato'dyāpi loke vasati mānuṣe | upendro jagatāṁ nāthaḥ sarvabhutottamottamaḥ ||2-711-39 The lord of the universe, upendra, the best among the best of all beings, is living in the world of men for the benefit of the world. jaṭī kṛṣṇājinī daṇḍī dṛṣṭapūrvo mayā hariḥ | daiteyeṣu carandevastṝṇeṣvagnirivoddhataḥ ||2-71-40 Earlier I saw hari, moving among daitya-s like blazing fire on grass, wearing twisted locks of hair, covered with a skin of black antelope (kṛṣṇājina) and the rod. adrākṣamapi govindaṁ dānavaikārṇavaṁ jagat | kurvāṇaṁ dānavairhīnaṁ jagato hitakāmyayā ||2-71-41 I saw govinda, who makes the world having an ocean of daitya-s, devoid of daitya-s for the benefit of the world. avaśyaṁ pārijātaṁ te nayiṣyati janādanaḥ | dvārakāmamaraśreṣṭha nānṛtaṁ ca bravīmyaham ||2-71-42 O the best among the immortals! janādana (kṛṣṇa) will definitely take your pārijāta tree to dvārakā. I do not speak lie. bhrātṛsnehābhibhūtastvaṁ na kṛṣṇe prahariṣyasi | nāpi kṛṣṇastvayi jyeṣṭho prahariṣyati vāsava ||2-71-43 You, having love for your brother will not strike against kṛṣṇa. O vāsava (indra)! kṛṣṇa will also not strike against you, who is his elder brother. naiva checchroṣyati proktaṁ mayā deva kathaṣchana | pṛccha tvaṁ nayadharmajṣānye hitāstava mantriṇaḥ ||2-71-44 O deva! If you do not listen at all to what I said, ask your ministers who are experts in policies. vaiśampāyana uvāca nāradenaivamuktastu mahendro janamejaya | idamuttaramīśo'tha pratyuvāca jagadgurum ||2-71-45 vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya! The great indra who was told thus by nārada, the lord, replied as follows to the lord of the universe. evaṁvidhaprabhāvaṁ tvaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ vadasi yaddvija | evametatsubahuśaḥ śrutaṁ khalu mayā mune ||2-71-46 (indra said) O twice born (brāhmin) (nārada)! You said that kṛṣṇa is with great splendour as described. O sage! I have heard this many times before. yataścaivaṁvidhaḥ kṛṣṇastato'haṁ tasya vai tarum | na pradāsyāmi dātavyaṁ satāṁ dharmamanusmaran ||2-71-47 If kṛṣṇa is like this (having great splendour), I will not give the tree to him, remembering the dharma of good men, even if the tree is to be given. mahāprabhāvo nālpārthe ruṣyediti vicintayan | vyavasthito'haṁ bhadraṁ te mune sarvaguṇāditi ||2-71-48 Thinking that the one with great splendour will not get angry on a minor issue, I remain firm (on my decision not to give the tree). O sage! let there be good to you by all qualities. mahāprabhāvāḥ satataṁ bhavanti hi sahiṣṇavaḥ | śrotāraścaiva satataṁ vṝddhānāṁ jṣānacakṣuṣām ||2-71-49 Those with great splendour always have tolerance. They always listen to the advice of old men having the eye of wisdom. mahātmā kāraṇe nālpe kṛṣṇo dharmabhṛtāṁ varaḥ | bhrātrā jyeṣṭhena sarvajṣo virodhaṁ gantumarthati ||2-71-50 will kṛṣṇa, the great soul, the best among those who are fixed in dharma, one who knows all, maintain enmity with his elder brother? yathaivaṁ mama mātuḥ sa varaṁ prādādadhokṣajaḥ | tathaiva tasyāḥ putrāṇāṁ jyeṣṭhānāṁ soḍhumarhati ||2-71-51 As viṣṇu provided boon to my mother, he will tolerate her elder sons in the same manner. yathaivopendratāṁ yātaḥ svayamicchaṣjanārdanaḥ | tathaiva bhrāturindrasya sanmānaṁ kartumarhati ||2-71-52 In the same way in which janārdana took up the status of upendra by his own will, he will respect indra who is his elder brother. jyaiṣṭhyametena devena nārabdhaṁ kiṁ purātane | athedānīmapīcchetsa jyeṣṭho'stu madhusūdanaḥ ||2-71-53 Why did that deva not become the elder brother long ago (at the time of his incarnation as vāmana - see nīlakaṇṭa commentary)? Now, if he has some desire like this, let the slayer of madhu (viṣnu-kṛṣṇa) become the elder brother. suniśchitaṁ balaripumīkṣya nārado visarjitastridaśavareṇa dharmabhṛt | yayau purīṁ yaduvṛṣabhābhirakṣitāṁ kuśasthalīṁ dhṛtimatimāṁstapodhanaḥ ||2-71-54 nārada, the righteous soul who was sent by the best among the deva-s saw that the enemy of bala, was fixed in his intention. nārada, having the wealth of penance, proceeded quickly to the city of kushasthali (dvārakā) protected by the best among yādavas. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi pārijātaharaṇe nāradasya svargātpunarāgamane ekasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the seventyfirst chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, nārada returns to dvāraka to convey indra's refusal Note 1: kaliḥ śayāno bhavati saṣjihānastu dvāparaḥ | uttiṣṭhaṁstretā bhavati kṛtaṁ saṁpadyate caran it śruteḥ The summary of nīlakaṇṭha commentary is as follows: According to shruti, those highly ignorant, immersed in the sleep of ignorance are kali. For blessing them, lord viṣṇu (kṛṣṇa) has taken the avatāra of kṛṣṇa. Those half enlightened, and some time desire prosperity are dvāpara. For them, the lord has taken the yellow colour, beautiful like gold. Some are inclined to devotion. For their prosperity is tretā. For blessing them , the lord becomes affectionate (red- rakto'nurakto) like a mother. Those who are highly devoted like yudhiṣṭhira are kṛta and for them the lord is white. By himself, the lord shows his pure form. According to the commentary of shruti, it is seen that the lord has all the forms (colours) in all the four yugas. nīlakaṇṭha commentary athaikasaptatitame'dhyāye śakravinishchayam | sanirbandhaṁ harervaktuṁ nārado dvārakāṁ gataḥ || 1 || · 2-71-1 mahendreti || · 2-71-3 aniyuktapurobhāgaḥ | anājṣaptaḥ | san purovartiṁ na bhavet tannishchitam || · 2-71-4 tathāpi yataḥ bhavānapi kāryākaryaṁ māṁ pṛcchati tato'haṁ ananupṛṣṭo'pi tubhyaṁ hitaṁ vadāmītyarthaḥ || · 2-71-6 apriyaṁ atikaṭukamapi hitaṁ pariṇāmasukhaṁ || · 2-71-7 anṛta iti | tvayyanṛtatvādyabhāvāttvāṁ prati vadāmītyarthaḥ || · 2-71-12 vipākaṁ phalam || · 2-71-13 viśvaṁ kāryaṁ pradhānam kāraṇaṁ ca adhyāste adhitiṣṭhati rathamiva yantā | prakṛtyā māyayā tatkṣetraṁ kāraṇasūkṣmasthūladehākhyaṁ prakāśayatīti kṣetrajṣatvaṁ || · 2-71-14 avyaktasya avyākṛ+tasya vyakto bhāgaḥ kāryaṁ hiraṇyagarbhādiḥ yaḥ sarvabhavodbhavaḥ sarvasaṁsārabījaṁ tasyātmā antaryāmī chetayitā | na kevalaṁ tasyaiva api sarvasya dhīmataḥ chetanāvataḥ jantumātrasyetyarthaḥ || · 2-71-15 rudrādapyayamananya ityāha prakṛtyā iti | prakṛtyāḥ cicchakteḥ prathamo mukhyo'ṁśaḥ vyaktaḥ dṛśyamātrākāraḥ viśvastrīsaṁjṣaḥ kṛtsnabhogyavastusaṁjṣaḥ ityarthaḥ | ata eva lokashchetanastasya bhāvanaḥ saṁtarpayitā | · 2-71-16 tasyāḥ prakṛteḥ prathamo guṇaḥ ubhāvat guṇī umayā rukmiṇyā vā upahito guṇī maheśvaraḥ rudro viṣṇurvā || · 2-71-17 tadevāha - neti ardhena | guṇino māyāvino rudrasya viṣṇorvā viśeṣo bhedako guṇo nāsti | ato viṣnunā drāvitaṁ tvāṁ rudro'pi na rakṣiṣyatīti bhāvaḥ | guṇinā iti sārdhaślokadvayaṁ vākyaṁ | kiṁ ca tasya guṇino'pi yaḥ śāstā avyayo'pariṇābhi prathamo'dhyastātpūrvatvādadhiṣṭānasya yataḥ aguṇo yaḥ sa eva nārāyaṇaḥ | etena turyamūrtirnārāyaṇa iti darśitaṁ | sā ca brahmaviṣṇurudrebhya ekaikaguṇopādhibhyo'nyā sarvagaṇopādhimayī tenaiva yo bhoktā rudraḥ kartā viṣṇuḥ brahmā ca budhyābhimānī devāścha indriyābhimāninaste sarvaṁ sṛṣṭā iti yojanā || · 2-71-21 chanditā anugṛhītā || · 2-71-22 tayetiḥ paṣcānāṁ tātparyam | tvaṁbhrātṛtvānna tavāyaṁ sādhāraṇo'pi tu akarmajanito devabhāvo'syāsti | tvaṁ tu karmadevattvāttato nikṛṣṭho'sītyarthaḥ | · 2-71-25 bhūtasya bhavyasa ca bhavāpyaya utpattipralayasthānaṁ sarvajagadupādānabhūta ityarthaḥ || · 2-71-26 ya evaṁbhūta sa eva sākṣātkṛṣṇa ityāha - prādurbhāvamiti || · 2-71-27 palalapiṇḍaḥ māṁsapiṇḍaḥ || · 2-71-28 sarvātmā vyaṣṭisamaṣṭi dehendriyādyākārastaistairbhāvaistattadharmairvikurvatiḥ vikāraṁ prāpnoti | sarvajṣo'haṁ duḥkhyahamityādyābimānavān bhavatītyarthaḥ | vastutastvadiguṇo guṇātītaḥ || · 2-71-30 anantaḥ śeṣaḥ dhāraṇārthaṁ bhuvaḥ iti śeṣaḥ || · 2-71-31 śveta iti | atra - kaliḥ śayāno bhavati saṣjihānastu dvāparaḥ | uttiṣṭhaṁstretā bhavati kṛtaṁ saṁpadyate caran iti śruteḥ | yo'vidyānidrāyāṁ shete atimūḍha sa pumānkaliḥ | tadanugrahārthe asmin īśvaraḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇāvatārarūpī bhavati | yaḥ kiṣchit śreyodarśī ardhaprabuddhaḥ saḥ dvāparaḥ | taṁ prati pītavarṇaḥ hiraṇyavanmanoharo bhavati | sa kiṣchidbhaktyunmkho bhavatītyarthaḥ | yastu śreyārthe yatate sa tretā | tadanugrahārthe rakto'nurakto mātṛvadbhavati | yastu yudhiṣṭhirādivadatyantaṁ bhaktaḥ sa kṛtaṁ taṁ prati śuklaḥ | svayaṁ shuddhameva rūpaṁ prakāśayatīti | yathāśrutavyākhyānaṁ tu sarveṣu yugeṣu sarveṣāṁ rūpāṇāṁ satvānna yujyata iti dik || · 2-71-35 devānāṁ dānavānāṁ ca yajṣasambhūtāṁ sādhāraṇīmapi śriyāṁ tvayi tvannimittaṁ ākrāmayat ākrāntavān || · 2-71-36 alīkeṣu māyāsu vartamānamapi hantyevetyarthaḥ || · 2-71-38 bhūtvā āvirbhūya teṣvavatāreṣu kāmaguṇānyatheṣṭaṁ śaurādiguṇayuktānasurānharirdviradaṁ siṁho gajāniva jaghāna | dviradamityekatvamārṣaṁ luptopamā ca || · 2-71-49 vṛ+ddhānāṁ vṛ+ddhavākyānām || · 2-71-53 purātane vāmanāvatāre kiṁ nārabdhaṁ nāṅgīkṛtamapi tvārabdameva || iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ ||