Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Sri Garga-samhita

Chapter Three Akrūrāgamana Akrūra's Arrival

Text 1

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
akrūro ratham āruhya
kartuṁ kāryaṁ nṛpasya vai
praharṣito maithilendra
prayayau nanda-gokulam

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; akrūraḥ — Akrūra ; ratham — a chariot ; āruhya — climbing ; kartum — to do ; kāryam — the mission ; nṛpasya — of the king ; vai — indeed ; praharṣitaḥ — joyful ; maithilendra — O king of Mithilā ; prayayau — went ; nanda-gokulam — *to Nanda's Gokula.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, happy to execute King Kaṁsa's mission, Akrūra climbed on a chariot and went to Nanda's Gokula.
Text 2

Verse text

parāṁ bhaktiṁ hy upagataḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇe puruṣottame
evaṁ vicārayan buddhyā
pathi gacchan mahā-matiḥ

Synonyms

parām — supreme ; bhaktim — devotion ; hy — indeed ; upagataḥ — attained ; śrī-kṛṣṇe — for Śrī Kṛṣṇa ; puruṣottame — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; evam — thus ; vicārayan — thinking ; buddhyā — with intelligence ; pathi — on the road ; gacchan — going ; mahā-matiḥ — *the noble-hearted one.

Translation

As he traveled on the road, noble-hearted Akrūra meditated on Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was filled with devotion for the Lord.
Text 3

Verse text

śrī-akrūra uvāca
kiṁ bhārate vā sukṛtaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā
niṣkāraṇaṁ dānam alaṁ kratūttamam
tīrthāṭanaṁ vā dvija-sevanaṁ śubhaṁ
yenādya drakṣyāmi hariṁ pareśvaram

Synonyms

śrī-akrūra uvāca — Śrī Akrūra said ; kim — what ; bhārate — in Bharata-varsa ; vā — or ; sukṛtam — pious deed ; kṛtam — done ; mayā — by me ; niṣkāraṇam — causeless ; dānam — gift ; alam — great ; kratūttamam — the best of yajnas ; tīrthāṭanam — pilgrimage ; vā — or ; dvija-sevanam — serving the brāhmaṇas ; śubham — beautiful ; yena — by which ; adya — today ; drakṣyāmi — I will see ; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; pareśvaram — *the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

Śrī Akrūra said: How many pious deeds did I perform in the sacred land of Bhārata-varṣa? What unselfish charity did I give? How many great yajṣas did I perform? How many pilgrimages did I make? How many brāhmaṇas did I diligently serve? What did I do that today I will be able to see Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Text 4

Verse text

tapaḥ su-taptaṁ kim alaṁ purā kṛtaṁ
sat-sevanaṁ bhakti-yutaṁ mayā kṛtam
yenaiva me darśanam adya durlabhaṁ
śrī-kṛṣṇadevasya puro bhaviṣyati

Synonyms

tapaḥ su-taptam — performed great austerities ; kim — what? ; alam — great ; purā — before ; kṛtam — done ; sat-sevanam — serving the great souls ; bhakti-yutam — with devotion ; mayā — by me ; kṛtam — done ; yena — by which ; eva — indeed ; me — of me ; darśanam — the sight ; adya — today ; durlabham — difficult to attain ; śrī-kṛṣṇadevasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇadeva ; puraḥ — in the presence ; bhaviṣyati — *will be.

Translation

What great austerities did I perform in my previous births? What saintly devotees did I earnestly serve? What did I do that today I will become able to see Lord Kṛṣṇadeva, who is so difficult to see?
Text 5

Verse text

teṣāṁ bhavo me sa-phalo mahī-tale
yan-netra-gāmī bhagavān sureśvaraḥ
kṛtvātha tad-darśanam adya durlabhaṁ
sadyaḥ kṛtārtho bhavitāsmi sarvataḥ

Synonyms

teṣām — of them ; bhavaḥ — the birth ; me — of me ; sa-phalaḥ — fruitful ; mahī-tale — on this earth ; yan-netra-gāmī — coming before my eyes ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; sureśvaraḥ — the master of the demigods ; kṛtvā — doing ; atha — now ; tad-darśanam — the sight of Him ; adya — today ; durlabham — rare ; sadyaḥ — at once ; kṛtārthaḥ — successful ; bhavitā — will become ; asmi — I ; sarvataḥ — *in all respects.

Translation

My birth on this earth has now borne its perfect fruit, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, will come before my eyes. When I see Him, the Lord who is so difficult to see, my life will attain the greatest success.
Text 6

Verse text

śrī-nārada uvāca
iti sañcintayan kṛṣṇaṁ
paśyaṣ chakunam uttamam
sandhyāyāṁ gokulaṁ prāpto
ratha-stho gandinī-sutaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nārada uvāca — Śrī Nārada said ; iti — thus ; sañcintayan — thinking ; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa ; paśyan — seeing ; śakunam uttamam — a good omen ; sandhyāyām — at sunset ; gokulam — Gokula ; prāptaḥ — attained ; ratha-sthaḥ — riding on a chariot ; gandinī-sutaḥ — *Akrūra.

Translation

Śrī Nārada said: Thinking of Kṛṣṇa in this way, and seeing a very auspicious omen, at sunset Akrūra entered Gokula.
Text 7

Verse text

kṛṣṇa-pādābja-cihnāni
yavāṅkuśa-yutāni ca
tad-rāga-yuk-parāgāṇi
rajāṁsi sa dadarśa kau

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-pādābja-cihnāni — Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus footprints ; yavāṅkuśa-yutāni — marked with a barleycorn adn elephant-goad ; ca — and ; tad-rāga-yuk-parāgāṇi — mixed with kunkuma ; rajāṁsi — the dust ; sa — he ; dadarśa — saw ; kau — *on the ground.

Translation

Then in the dust He saw Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus footprints marked with the signs of a barleycorn and elephant-goad and sprinkled with kuṅkuma powder.
Text 8

Verse text

tad-darśanautsukya-bhakti-
bhāvānanda-samākulaḥ
rathāt samutpatya teṣu luṭhaṁś cāśru mumoca ca

Synonyms

tat — Him ; darśana — to see ; autsukya — eagerness ; bhakti — devotion ; bhāva — love ; ānanda — and bliss ; samākulaḥ — agitated ; rathāt — from the chariot ; samutpatya — descending ; teṣu — in them ; luṭhaṁś — rolling about ; ca — and ; aśru — tears ; mumoca — shed ; ca — *and.

Translation

Shedding tears, and overcome with bliss, love, and great yearning to see the Lord, Akrūra jumped from the chariot and rooled about in those footprints.
Text 9

Verse text

yeṣāṁ śrī-kṛṣṇadevasya
bhaktiḥ syād dhṛdi maithila
teṣām ā-brahmaṇaḥ sarvaṁ
tṛṇavaj jagataḥ sukham

Synonyms

yeṣām — of whom ; śrī-kṛṣṇadevasya — of Śrī Kṛṣṇadeva ; bhaktiḥ — devotion ; syāt — is ; hṛdi — in the heart ; maithila — O king of Mithilā ; teṣām — of them ; ā-brahmaṇaḥ — up to Lord Brahmnā ; sarvam — all ; tṛṇavat — like a piece of straw ; jagataḥ — of the world ; sukham — *the happiness.

Translation

O king of Mithilā, they who in their hearts love Kṛṣṇa think all this material world's happiness, even up Brahmā's happiness, is like a a handful of dry straw.
Text 10

Verse text

rathārūḍhas tato 'krūraḥ
kṣaṇān nanda-puraṁ gataḥ
ghoseṣu sa-balaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
āgacchantaṁ dadarśa ha

Synonyms

rathārūḍhaḥ — riding on a chariot ; tataḥ — then ; akrūraḥ — Akrūra ; kṣaṇāt — in a moment ; nanda-puram — nanda's village ; gataḥ — attained ; ghoseṣu — among the cows ; sa-balam — with Balarāma ; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa ; āgacchantam — coming ; dadarśa — saw ; ha — *indeed.

Translation

Riding on his chariot, in a moment Akrūra entered Nanda's village and saw Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma approaching him.
Texts 11 and 12

Verse text

devau purāṇau puruṣau pareśau
padmekṣaṇau śyāmala-gaura-varṇau
yathendranīla-dhvaja-vajra-śailau
samāśritau tau pathi rāma-kṛṣṇau
bālārka-maulī vasanaṁ taḍid-dyutī
varṣāśaran-megha-rucaṁ dadhānau
dṛṣṭvā sa tūrṇaṁ sva-rathād gato 'dhao
tayor nato bhakti-yutaḥ papāta

Synonyms

devau — the Lord ; purāṇau — ancient ; puruṣau — persons ; pareśau — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; padmekṣaṇau — lotus eyed ; śyāmala-gaura — fair and dark ; varṇau — colors ; yathā — as ; indranīla — of sapphires ; dhvaja — a flag ; vajra — of diamonds ; śailau — a mountain ; samāśritau — taken shelter ; tau — They ; pathi — on the path ; rāma-kṛṣṇau — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma ; bālārka — rising sun ; maulī — crowns ; vasanam — garments ; taḍit — lightning ; dyutī — splendor ; varṣāśaran-megha-rucam — the color of an autumn cloud ; dadhānau — wearing ; dṛṣṭvā — seeing ; sa — he ; tūrṇam — at once ; sva-rathāt — from hus chariot ; gataḥ — come ; adhaḥ — below ; tayoḥ — both ; nataḥ — bowed down ; bhakti-yutaḥ — with devotion ; papāta — *fell.

Translation

Seeing on the pathway the two ancient Supreme Persons, Their eyes lotus flowers, Their complexions fair and dark like a sapphire flag and a diamond mountain, wearing crowns like the rising sun and garments splendid as lightning and autumn clouds, Akrūra, overcome with love, jumped from his chariot and fell down before Them to offer his respects.
Text 13

Verse text

tad-ānanaṁ bāṣpa-kulākulekṣaṇaṁ
romañcitaṁ vīkṣya hariḥ pareśvaraḥ
dorbhyāṁ samutthāpya ghṛṇāturo 'śru
mumoca bhaktaṁ parirabhya mādhavaḥ

Synonyms

tad-ānanam — his face ; bāṣpa-kula — with tears ; ākula — filled ; īkṣaṇam — eyes ; romañcitam — hairs standing erect ; vīkṣya — seeing ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; pareśvaraḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; dorbhyām — with both arms ; samutthāpya — rising ; ghṛṇāturaḥ — overcome with mercy ; aśru — tears ; mumoca — shed ; bhaktam — the devotee ; parirabhya — embraced ; mādhavaḥ — *Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Gazing at Akrūra's face and seeing his eyes filled with tears and the hairs of his body erect with joy, Lord Kṛṣṇa, overcome with feelings of compassion, and shedding tears Himself, picked Akrūra up and with both arms embraced His devotee.
Text 14

Verse text

evaṁ militvā sa-balaś ca taṁ hariḥ
sadyaḥ samānīya varāsanaṁ dadau
nivedya gāṁ cātithaye su-bhojanaṁ
rasāvṛtaṁ prema-yuto hy upāharat

Synonyms

evam — in this way ; militvā — meeting ; sa-balaś — with Balarāma ; ca — and ; tam — Him ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; sadyaḥ — at once ; samānīya — taking ; varāsanam — a nice seat ; dadau — gave ; nivedya — offering ; gām — eloqurnt words ; ca — and ; atithaye — for a guest ; su-bhojanam — food ; rasāvṛtam — delicious ; prema-yutaḥ — filled with love ; hy — indeed ; upāharat — *offered.

Translation

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma offered him a comfortable seat, welcomed him with eloquent words, and offered Their guest a delicious meal.
Text 15

Verse text

tam āha nandaḥ parirabhya dorbhyāṁ
aho kathaṁ jīvasi kaṁsa-rājye
gata-trapo yo nijaghāna balān
svasuḥ kathaṁ so 'nya-janeṣu mohī

Synonyms

tam — to him ; āha — said ; nandaḥ — Nanda ; parirabhya — embracing ; dorbhyām — with both arms ; ahaḥ — Oh ; katham — how? ; jīvasi — you live ; kaṁsa — of Kaṁsa ; rājye — in the kingdom ; gata-trapaḥ — shameless ; yaḥ — who ; nijaghāna — killed ; balān — chuldren ; svasuḥ — of his sister ; katham — how? ; saḥ — he ; anya-janeṣu — other people ; mohī — *kind.

Translation

Nanda embraced Akrūra with both arms and said, "You are kind to others. How can you live in the kingdom of Kaṁsa, who killed the sons of his own sister?
Text 16

Verse text

gṛhaṁ gate nanda-vare haris taṁ
papraccha sarvaṁ kuśalaṁ sva-pitroḥ
tathā yadūnāṁ kila bāndhavānāṁ
kaṁsasya sarvaṁ viparīta-buddhim

Synonyms

gṛham — to the home ; gate — gone ; nanda-vare — when King Nanda ; hariḥ — Kṛṣṇa ; tam — him ; papraccha — asked ; sarvam — all ; kuśalam — welfare ; sva-pitroḥ — of His father ; tathā — then ; yadūnām — of the Yadavas ; kila — indeed ; bāndhavānām — kinsmen ; kaṁsasya — of Kaṁsa ; sarvam — all ; viparīta-buddhim — *wickedness.

Translation

When Nanda had gone, Kṛṣṇa asked about the welfare of His father and His kinsmen, the Yādavas, and about the wicked deeds of Kaṁsa.