SB 10.90.50 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

मर्त्यस्तयानुसवमेधितया मुकुन्द- श्रीमत्कथाश्रवणकीर्तनचिन्तयैति । तद्धाम दुस्तरकृतान्तजवापवर्गं ग्रामाद् वनं क्षितिभुजोऽपि ययुर्यदर्था: ॥ ५० ॥

Verse text

martyas tayānusavam edhitayā mukunda śrīmat-kathā-śravaṇa-kīrtana-cintayaiti tad dhāma dustara-kṛtānta-javāpavargaṁ grāmād vanaṁ kṣiti-bhujo ’pi yayur yad-arthāḥ

Synonyms

martyaḥ — a mortal ; tayā — by such ; anusavam — constantly ; edhitayā — increasing ; mukunda — about Lord Kṛṣṇa ; śrīmat — beautiful ; kathā — of the topics ; śravaṇa — by hearing ; kīrtana — chanting ; cintayā — and meditating ; eti — goes ; tat — His ; dhāma — to the abode ; dustara — unavoidable ; kṛta — anta — of death ; java — of the force ; apavargam — the place of cessation ; grāmāt — from one’s mundane home ; vanam — to the forest ; kṣiti — bhujaḥ — kings (like Priyavrata) ; api — even ; yayuḥ — went ; yat — whom ; arthāḥ — for the sake of obtaining .

Translation

By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukunda with ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway. For this purpose, many persons, including great kings, abandoned their mundane homes and took to the forest.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukunda with ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway. For this purpose, many persons, including great kings, abandoned their mundane homes and took to the forest. KB 10.90.50 The transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, are so powerful that simply by hearing, reading and memorizing this book, Kṛṣṇa, one is sure to be transferred to the spiritual world, which is ordinarily very difficult to achieve. The description of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that it automatically gives us an impetus to study repeatedly, and the more we study the pastimes of the Lord, the more we become attached to Him. This very attachment to Kṛṣṇa makes one eligible to be transferred to His abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana. As we have learned from the previous chapter, to cross over the material world is to cross over the stringent laws of material nature. The stringent laws of material nature cannot check the progress of one who is attracted by the spiritual nature. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā by the Lord Himself: “Although the stringent laws of material nature are very difficult to overcome, one who surrenders unto the Lord can very easily cross over nescience.” There is no influence of material nature in the spiritual world. As we have learned from the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the ruling power of the demigods and the influence of material nature are conspicuous by their absence in the spiritual world. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī has therefore advised Mahārāja Parīkṣit in the beginning of the Second Canto that every conditioned soul should engage himself in hearing and chanting the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī also informed King Parīkṣit that previously many other kings and emperors went to the jungle to prosecute severe austerities and penances in order to go back home, back to Godhead. In India it is still a practice that many advanced transcendentalists give up their family lives and go to Vṛndāvana to live there alone and completely engage in hearing and chanting the holy pastimes of the Lord. This system is recommended in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana followed it, but at the present moment many karmīs and pseudo devotees have overcrowded the holy place of Vṛndāvana just to imitate this process recommended by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. It is said that many kings and emperors formerly went to the forest for this purpose, but Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura does not recommend that one take up this solitary life in Vṛndāvana prematurely. One who prematurely goes to Vṛndāvana to live in pursuance of the instructions of Śukadeva Gosvāmī again falls victim to māyā, even while residing in Vṛndāvana. To check such unauthorized residence in Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has sung a nice song in this connection, the purport of which is as follows: “My dear mind, why are you so proud of being a Vaiṣṇava? Your solitary chanting of the holy name of the Lord is based on a desire for cheap popularity, and therefore your chanting is only a pretension. Such an ambition for a cheap reputation may be compared to the stool of a hog because such popularity is another extension of the influence of māyā.” One may go to Vṛndāvana for cheap popularity, and instead of being absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one may always think of money and women, which are simply temporary sources of happiness. It is better that one engage whatever money and women he may have in his possession in the service of the Lord because sense enjoyment is not for the conditioned soul. The master of the senses is Hṛṣīkeśa, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, the senses should always be engaged in His service. As for material reputation, there were many demons like Rāvaṇa who wanted to go against the laws of material nature, but they all failed. One should therefore not take to the demoniac activity of claiming to be a Vaiṣṇava just for false prestige, without performing service to the Lord. But when one engages oneself in the devotional service of the Lord, automatically the Vaiṣṇava reputation comes to him. There is no need to be envious of the devotees who are engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord. We have practical experience of being advised by the so-called bābājīs in Vṛndāvana that there is no need to preach and that it is better to live in Vṛndāvana in a solitary place and chant the holy name. Such bābājīs do not know that if one is engaged in preaching, or in glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the good reputation of a preacher automatically follows one. One should not, therefore, prematurely give up the honest life of a householder to lead a life of debauchery in Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s recommendation to leave home and go to the forest in search of Kṛṣṇa is not for immature persons. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was mature. Even in his householder life, or from the very beginning of his life, he worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mūrti. In his childhood he worshiped the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and later, although he was a householder, he was always detached, and therefore when he got the notice of his death, he immediately gave up all connection with household life and sat down on the bank of the Ganges to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of devotees. Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Ninetieth Chapter of Kṛṣṇa, “Summary Description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes.”

Purport

For the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s Tenth Canto, this verse is the phala-śruti, the promise of success given to one who hears it. The process of devotional service begins with hearing topics about the Supreme Lord. When one has heard these topics properly, he can then proceed to chant them for others’ benefit and reflect on their significance. This leads to faithful adherence to the principles of devotional service, which culminates in absolute faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa. Such perfect faith gives one the right to enter the Lord’s intimate service and, in due course of time, return to one’s eternal, spiritual life in one of the Lord’s personal domains. Humbly offering his comments on the Tenth Canto at the lotus feet of his worshipable Lord, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī prays: mad-gavīr api gopālaḥ svī-kuryāt kṛpayā yadi tadaivāsāṁ payaḥ pītvā hṛṣyeyus tat-priyā janāḥ “If Lord Gopāla mercifully accepts the cows of my words, then His dear devotees may enjoy the pleasure of drinking their milk — the nectar produced by hearing them.” Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Ninetieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Glories.” The Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was completed on December 27, 1988, the anniversary of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s disappearance. END OF THE TENTH CANTO

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

By hearing one will attain his service. That is described. O king! Anyone subject to death, by thinking of, reciting or hearing the topics of Kṛṣṇa who mercifully frees one from all suffering, attains his abode. Those topics are the producer of all wealth (śrīmat). One hears and then in joy sings them and then remembers them with eagerness. The remembrance continually increases by the singing. By that, the person attains Kṛṣṇa’s special abodes such as Vṛndāvana, according to his desires. The abode is described. It cannot be attained by Brahmā and others. It ends (apavargam) the force (java) of time which produces everyone’s end (kṛtānta). pravartate yatra rajas tamas tayoḥ sattvaṁ ca miśraṁ na ca kāla-vikramaḥ na yatra māyā kim utāpare harer anuvratā yatra surāsurārcitāḥ In Vaikuṇṭha there are no rajas or tamas, and no sattva mixed with rajas and tamas. There is no influence of time. There is no influence of māyā at all, what to speak of its products such as material elements. In Vaikuṇṭha the inhabitants are fully dedicated to the Lord and are worshipable by the devas, asuras and devotees. SB 2.9.10 iti sañcintya bhagavān mahā-kāruṇiko hariḥ darśayām āsa lokaṁ svaṁ gopānāṁ tamasaḥ param Thus deeply considering the situation, the all-merciful Supreme Lord revealed to the cowherd men his abode, which is beyond prakṛti. SB 10.28.14 It has desirable beauty even for persons blind to the highest object. What to speak of being attractive to persons desiring liberation or the devotees, who successively value it more and more! Even many persons who enjoy the earth with its seven islands, having the highest goal in mind, gave up all places of human habitation as tasteless, and went to places without materialists, or Mathurā-maṇḍala with the twelve forests, since it is auspicious. Going there, they stayed there eternally since Mathurā-maṇḍala is the place of the highest sādhana (practice) and sādhya (result). Mahā-varāha Purāṇa says: na pāpebhyo bhayaṁ yatra na bhayaṁ yatra vai yamāt na garbhavāsabhīr yatra yat kṣetraṁ ko na saṁśrayet mathurām ca parityajya yo ‘nyatra kurute ratim mūḍho bhramati samṣāre mama māyāvimohitaḥ In Mathurā there is no fear of sins no fear of death, no miscarriages. Who would not take shelter of it? One who leaves Mathurā and develops attraction for another place is a fool. Bewildered by my māyā, he wanders in saṁsāra. tan maṇḍalaṁ māthuraṁ hi viṣṇu-cakropari sthitam padmākāraṁ sadā tatra vartate śāśvataṁ nṛpa O king! The area of Mathurā has Viṣṇu’s cakra situated above and has the shape of a lotus eternally. Skanda Purāṇa lābhānāṁ mathurā lābho jñānānāṁ jñānam uttamam prītīnāṁ paramā prītir gatīnāṁ gatir uttamaḥ Mathurā is the best of all attainments and the highest knowledge among all types of knowledge. It is the dearest among all dear things and is the highest goal among all goals. Varāha Purāṇa aho madhupurī dhanyā vaikuṇṭāc ca garīyasī Oh! Mathurā is most fortunate. It is greater than Vaikuṇṭha. Padma Purāṇa Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Ninetieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa's Glories." The Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was completed on December 27, 1988, the anniversary of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura's disappearance. END OF THE TENTH CANTO Canto 11 Eleventh Canto General History Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 11: "General History" 1. The Curse Upon the Yadu Dynasty • Translations 1-24 2. Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras • Translations 1-55 3. Liberation from the Illusory Energy • Translations 1-55 4. Drumila Explains the Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi • Translations 1-23 5. Nārada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva • Translations 1-52 6. The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa • Translations 1-50 7. Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Uddhava • Translations 1-74 8. The Story of Piṅgalā • Translations 1-44 9. Detachment from All that Is Material • Translations 1-33 10. The Nature of Fruitive Activity • Translations 1-37 11. The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities • Translations 1-49 12. Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge • Translations 1-24 13. The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā • Translations 1-42 14. Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava • Translations 1-46 15. Lord Kṛṣṇa's Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections • Translations 1-36 16. The Lord's Opulence • Translations 1-44 17. Lord Kṛṣṇa's Description of the Varṇāśrama System • Translations 1-58 18. Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma • Translations 1-48 19. The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge • Translations 1-45 20. Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment • Translations 1-37 21. Lord Kṛṣṇa's Explanation of the Vedic Path • Translations 1-43 22. Enumeration of the Elements of Material Creation • Translations 1-61 23. The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa • Translations 1-61 24. The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya • Translations 1-29 25. The Three Modes of Nature and Beyond • Translations 1-36 26. The Aila-gītā • Translations 1-35 27. Lord Kṛṣṇa's Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship • Translations 1-55 28. Jñāna-yoga • Translations 1-44 29. Bhakti-yoga • Translations 1-49 30. The Disappearance of the Yadu Dynasty • Translations 1-50 31. The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa • Translations 1-28 Appendix 11.1: The Curse Upon the Yadu Dynasty 1. The Curse Upon the Yadu Dynasty 11.1 Summary This chapter gives a hint of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, which took place owing to the appearance of an iron club. Hearing this narration is a great impetus for becoming detached from the material world. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa expertly arranged the great Kurukṣetra battle between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas and thus removed to a great extent the earth's burden. But the Supreme Lord, whose influence is inconceivable, was not yet satisfied, because of the continued presence of the undefeatable Yadu family. The Lord desired to bring about the destruction of the Yadu dynasty so that He could completely wind up His pastimes on the earth and go back to His own abode. Using the pretense of a curse by an assembly of brāhmaṇas, He withdrew His entire dynasty from the surface of the earth. By Śrī Kṛṣṇa's desire, many great sages, headed by Nārada and Viśvāmitra, assembled at the holy place named Piṇḍāraka, near the city of Dvārakā. The young boys of the Yadu family, absorbed in a playful mood, also arrived there. These boys dressed Sāmba in the guise of a pregnant woman about to give birth and inquired from the sages about the fruitfulness of Sāmba's so-called pregnancy. The sages cursed the mocking boys by saying, "She will give birth to a club that will destroy your family." The Yadus, frightened by this curse, immediately lifted the garment from Sāmba's abdomen and found a club. Hurrying to the assembly of Ugrasena, the King of the Yadus, they offered a report of everything that had taken place. Fearing the brāhmaṇas' curse, Yadurāja Ugrasena ordered the club ground to powder and thrown into the ocean. Within the ocean, a fish swallowed the last remaining lump of iron, and the waves carried all the bits of ground powder to the shore, where they were implanted and eventually grew into a grove of canes. Fishermen caught the fish, and a hunter named Jarā used the iron lump found in its belly to fashion an arrow. Although the Supersoul, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, understood what was happening, He did not wish to do anything to counteract it. Rather, in the form of time He sanctioned these events.