Chapter Sixteen

                How Pariksit Received the Age of Kali

 

                                TEXT 1

 

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                              suta uvaca

                  tatah pariksid dvija-varya-siksaya

                   mahim maha-bhagavatah sasasa ha

                   yatha hi sutyam abhijata-kovidah

                  samadisan vipra mahad-gunas tatha

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sutah uvaca--Suta Gosvami said; tatah--thereafter; pariksit--Maharaja Pariksit; dvija-varya--the great twice-born brahmanas; siksaya--by their instructions; mahim--the earth; maha-bhagavatah--the great devotee; sasasa--ruled; ha--in the past; yatha--as they told it; hi--certainly; sutyam--at the time of his birth; abhijata-kovidah--expert astrologers at the time of birth; samadisan--gave their opinions; vipra--O brahmanas; mahat-gunah--great qualities; tatha--true to that.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Suta Gosvami said: O learned brahmanas, Maharaja Pariksit then began to rule over the world as a great devotee of the Lord under the instructions of the best of the twice-born brahmanas. He ruled by those great qualities which were foretold by expert astrologers at the time of his birth.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   At the time of Maharaja Pariksit's birth, the expert astrologer-brahmanas foretold some of his qualities. Maharaja Pariksit developed all those qualities, being a great devotee of the Lord. The real qualification is to become a devotee of the Lord, and gradually all the good qualities worthy of possession develop. Maharaja Pariksit was a maha-bhagavata, or a first-class devotee, who was not only well versed in the science of devotion but also able to convert others to become devotees by his transcendental instructions. Maharaja Pariksit was, therefore, a devotee of the first order, and thus he used to consult great sages and learned brahmanas, who could advise him by the sastras how to execute the state administration. Such great kings were more responsible than modern elected executive heads because they obliged the great authorities by following their instructions left in Vedic literatures. There was no need for impractical fools to enact daily a new legislative bill and to conveniently alter it again and again to serve some purpose. The rules and regulations were already set forth by great sages like Manu, Yajnavalkya, Parasara and other liberated sages, and the enactments were all suitable for all ages in all places. Therefore the rules and regulations were standard and without flaw or defect. Kings like Maharaja Pariksit had their council of advisers, and all the members of that council were either great sages or brahmanas of the first order. They did not accept any salary, nor had they any necessity for such salaries. The state would get the best advice without expenditure. They were themselves sama-darsi, equal to everyone, both man and animal. They would not advise the king to give protection to man and instruct him to kill the poor animals. Such council members were not fools or representatives to compose a fool's paradise. They were all self-realized souls, and they knew perfectly well how all living beings in the state would be happy, both in this life and in the next. They were not concerned with the hedonistic philosophy of eat, drink, be merry and enjoy. They were philosophers in the real sense, and they knew well what is the mission of human life. Under all these obligations, the advisory council of the king would give correct directions, and the king or executive head, being himself a qualified devotee of the Lord, would scrutinizingly follow them for the welfare of the state. The state in the days of Maharaja Yudhisthira or Maharaja Pariksit was a welfare state in the real sense of the term because no one was unhappy in that state, be he man or animal. Maharaja Pariksit was an ideal king for a welfare state of the world.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

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                         sa uttarasya tanayam

                           upayema iravatim

                        janamejayadims caturas

                        tasyam utpadayat sutan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sah--he; uttarasya--of King Uttara; tanayam--daughter; upayeme--married; iravatim--Iravati; janamejaya-adin--headed by Maharaja Janamejaya; caturah--four; tasyam--in her; utpadayat--begot; sutan--sons.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   King Pariksit married the daughter of King Uttara and begot four sons, headed by Maharaja Janamejaya.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Maharaja Uttara was the son of Virata and maternal uncle of Maharaja Pariksit. Iravati, being the daughter of Maharaja Uttara, was the cousin-sister of Maharaja Pariksit, but cousin-brothers and -sisters were allowed to get married if they did not belong to the same gotra, or family. In the Vedic system of marriage, the importance of the gotra, or family, was stressed. Arjuna also married Subhadra, although she was his maternal cousin-sister.

   Janamejaya: One of the rajarsi kings and the famous son of Maharaja Pariksit. His mother's name was Iravati, or according to some, Madravati. Maharaja Janamejaya begot two sons of the names Jnatanika and Sankukarna. He celebrated several sacrifices in the Kuruksetra pilgrimage site, and he had three younger brothers named Srutasena, Ugrasena and Bhimasena II. He invaded Taksala (Ajanta), and he decided to avenge the unlawful curse upon his great father, Maharaja Pariksit. He performed a great sacrifice called Sarpa-yajna, to kill the race of serpents, including the taksaka, which had bitten his father to death. On request from many influential demigods and sages, he had to change his decision to kill the race of snakes, but despite stopping the sacrifice, he satisfied everyone concerned in the sacrifice by rewarding them properly. In the ceremony, Mahamuni Vyasadeva also was present, and he personally narrated the history of the Battle of Kuruksetra before the King. Later on by the order of Vyasadeva, his disciple Vaisampayana narrated before the King the subject matter of Mahabharata. He was much affected by his great father's untimely death and was very anxious to see him again, and he expressed his desire before the great sage Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva also fulfilled his desire. His father was present before him, and he worshiped both his father and Vyasadeva with great respect and pomp. Being fully satisfied, he most munificently gave charities to the brahmanas present at the sacrifice.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

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                       ajaharasva-medhams trin

                       gangayam bhuri-daksinan

                        saradvatam gurum krtva

                        deva yatraksi-gocarah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ajahara--performed; asva-medhan--horse sacrifices; trin--three; gangayam--the bank of the Ganges; bhuri--sufficiently; daksinan--rewards; saradvatam--unto Krpacarya; gurum--spiritual master; krtva--having selected; devah--the demigods; yatra--wherein; aksi--eyes; gocarah--within the purview.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Pariksit, after having selected Krpacarya for guidance as his spiritual master, performed three horse sacrifices on the banks of the Ganges. These were executed with sufficient rewards for the attendants. And at these sacrifices, even the common man could see demigods.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It appears from this verse that interplanetary travel by the denizens of higher planets is easy. In many statements in Bhagavatam, we have observed that the demigods from heaven used to visit this earth to attend sacrifices performed by influential kings and emperors. Herein also we find that during the time of the horse sacrifice ceremony of Maharaja Pariksit, the demigods from other planets were visible even to the common man, due to the sacrificial ceremony. The demigods are not generally visible to common men, as the Lord is not visible. But as the Lord, by His causeless mercy, descends to be visible to the common man, similarly the demigods also become visible to the common man by their own grace. Although celestial beings are not visible to the naked eyes of the inhabitants of this earth, it was due to the influence of Maharaja Pariksit that the demigods also agreed to be visible. The kings used to spend lavishly during such sacrifices, as a cloud distributes rains. A cloud is nothing but another form of water, or, in other words, the waters of the earth transform into clouds. Similarly, the charity made by the kings in such sacrifices are but another form of the taxes collected from the citizens. But, as the rains fall down very lavishly and appear to be more than necessary, the charity made by such kings also seems to be more than what the citizen needs. Satisfied citizens will never organize agitation against the king, and thus there was no need in changing the monarchial state.

   Even for a king like Maharaja Pariksit there was need of a spiritual master for guidance. Without such guidance one cannot make progress in spiritual life. The spiritual master must be bona fide, and one who wants to have self-realization must approach and take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master to achieve real success.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

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                         nijagrahaujasa virah

                        kalim digvijaye kvacit

                       nrpa-linga-dharam sudram

                      ghnantam go-mithunam pada

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nijagraha--sufficiently punished; ojasa--by prowess; virah--valiant hero; kalim--unto Kali, the master of the age; digvijaye--on his way to conquer the world; kvacit--once upon a time; nrpa-linga-dharam--one who passes in the dress of a king; sudram--the lower class; ghnantam--hurting; go-mithunam--a cow and bull; pada--on the leg.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Once, when Maharaja Pariksit was on his way to conquer the world, he saw the master of Kali-yuga, who was lower than a sudra, disguised as a king and hurting the legs of a cow and bull. The King at once caught hold of him to deal sufficient punishment.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The purpose of a king's going out to conquer the world is not for self-aggrandizement. Maharaja Pariksit went out to conquer the world after his ascendance to the throne, but this was not for the purpose of aggression on other states. He was the Emperor of the world, and all small states were already under his regime. His purpose in going out was to see how things were going on in terms of the godly state. The king, being the representative of the Lord, has to execute the will of the Lord duly. There is no question of self-aggrandizement. Thus as soon as Maharaja Pariksit saw that a lower-class man in the dress of a king was hurting the legs of a cow and a bull, at once he arrested and punished him. The king cannot tolerate insults to the most important animal, the cow, nor can he tolerate disrespect for the most important man, the brahmana. Human civilization means to advance the cause of brahminical culture, and to maintain it, cow protection is essential. There is a miracle in milk, for it contains all the necessary vitamins to sustain human physiological conditions for higher achievements. Brahminical culture can advance only when man is educated to develop the quality of goodness, and for this there is a prime necessity of food prepared with milk, fruits and grains. Maharaja Pariksit was astonished to see that a black sudra, dressed like a ruler, was mistreating a cow, the most important animal in human society.

   The age of Kali means mismanagement and quarrel. And the root cause of all mismanagement and quarrel is that worthless men with the modes of lower-class men, who have no higher ambition in life, come to the helm of the state management. Such men at the post of a king are sure to first hurt the cow and the brahminical culture, thereby pushing all society towards hell. Maharaja Pariksit, trained as he was, got the scent of this root cause of all quarrel in the world. Thus he wanted to stop it in the very beginning.

 

                                TEXT 5

 

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                            saunaka uvaca

                        kasya hetor nijagraha

                        kalim digvijaye nrpah

                       nrdeva-cihna-dhrk sudra-

                      ko 'sau gam yah padahanat

                       tat kathyatam maha-bhaga

                        yadi krsna-kathasrayam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   saunakah uvaca--Saunaka Rsi said; kasya--for what; hetoh--reason; nijagraha--sufficiently punished; kalim--the master of the age of Kali; digvijaye--during the time of his world tour; nrpah--the King; nr-deva--royal person; cihna-dhrk--decorated like; sudrakah--lowest of the sudras; asau--he; gam--cow; yah--one who; pada ahanat--struck on the leg; tat--all that; kathyatam--please describe; maha-bhaga--O greatly fortunate one; yadi--if, however; krsna--about Krsna; katha-asrayam--related with His topics.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Saunaka Rsi inquired: Why did Maharaja Pariksit simply punish him, since he was the lowest of the sudras, having dressed as a king and having struck a cow on the leg? Please describe all these incidents if they relate to the topics of Lord Krsna.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Saunaka and the rsis were astonished to hear that the pious Maharaja Pariksit simply punished the culprit and did not kill him. This suggests that a pious king like Maharaja Pariksit should have at once killed an offender who wanted to cheat the public by dressing like a king and at the same time daring to insult the purest of the animals, a cow. The rsis in those days, however, could not even imagine that in the advanced days of the age of Kali the lowest of the sudras will be elected as administrators and will open organized slaughterhouses for killing cows. Anyway, although hearing about a sudraka who was a cheat and insulter of a cow was not very interesting to the great rsis, they nevertheless wanted to hear about it to see if the event had any connection with Lord Krsna. They were simply interested in the topics of Lord Krsna, for anything that is dovetailed with the narration of Krsna is worth hearing. There are many topics in the Bhagavatam about sociology, politics, economics, cultural affairs, etc., but all of them are in relation with Krsna, and therefore all of them are worth hearing. Krsna is the purifying ingredient in all matters, regardless of what they are. In the mundane world, everything is impure due to its being a product of the three mundane qualities. The purifying agent, however, is Krsna.

 

                                TEXT 6

 

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                        athavasya padambhoja-

                        makaranda-liham satam

                       kim anyair asad-alapair

                        ayuso yad asad-vyayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   athava--otherwise; asya--of His (Lord Krsna's); pada-ambhoja--lotus feet; makaranda-liham--of those who lick the honey from such a lotus flower; satam--of those who are to exist eternally; kim anyaih--what is the use of anything else; asat--illusory; alapaih--topics; ayusah--of the duration of life; yat--that which is; asat-vyayah--unnecessary waste of life.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The devotees of the Lord are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one's valuable life?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Lord Krsna and His devotees are both on the transcendental plane; therefore the topics of Lord Krsna and of His pure devotees are equally good. The Battle of Kuruksetra is full of politics and diplomacy, but because the topics are related with Lord Krsna, the Bhagavad-gita is therefore adored all over the world. There is no need to eradicate politics, economics, sociology, etc., which are mundane to the mundaners. To a pure devotee, who is actually related with the Lord, such mundane things are transcendental if dovetailed with the Lord or with His pure devotees. We have heard and talked about the activities of the Pandavas, and we now are dealing with the topics of Maharaja Pariksit, but because all these topics are related to the Lord Sri Krsna, they are all transcendental, and pure devotees have great interest in hearing them. We have already discussed this matter in connection with the prayers of Bhismadeva.

   Our duration of life is not very long, and there is no certainty of when we shall be ordered to leave everything for the next stage. Thus it is our duty to see that not a moment of our life is wasted in topics which are not related with Lord Krsna. Any topic, however pleasant, is not worth hearing if it is devoid of its relation to Krsna.

   The spiritual planet, Goloka Vrndavana, the eternal abode of Lord Krsna, is shaped like the whorl of a lotus flower. Even when the Lord descends to any one of the mundane planets, He does so by manifesting His own abode as it is. Thus His feet remain always on the same big whorl of the lotus flower. His feet are also as beautiful as the lotus flower. Therefore it is said that Lord Krsna has lotus feet.

   A living being is eternal by constitution. He is, so to speak, in the whirlpool of birth and death due to his contact with material energy. Freed from such material energy, a living entity is liberated and is eligible to return home, back to Godhead. Those who want to live forever without changing their material bodies should not waste valuable time with topics other than those relating to Lord Krsna and His devotees.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

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                        ksudrayusam nrnam anga

                       martyanam rtam icchatam

                          ihopahuto bhagavan

                        mrtyuh samitra-karmani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ksudra--very small; ayusam--of the duration of life; nrnam--of the human beings; anga--O Suta Gosvami; martyanam--of those who are sure to meet death; rtam--eternal life; icchatam--of those who desire it; iha--herein; upahutah--called for being present; bhagavan--representing the Lord; mrtyuh--the controller of death, Yamaraja; samitra--suppressing; karmani--performances.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O Suta Gosvami, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamaraja.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The living entity, as he develops from lower animal life to a higher human being and gradually to higher intelligence, becomes anxious to get free from the clutches of death. Modern scientists try to avoid death by physiochemical advancement of knowledge, but alas, the controller of death, Yamaraja, is so cruel that he does not spare even the very life of the scientist himself. The scientist, who puts forward the theory of stopping death by advancement of scientific knowledge, becomes himself a victim of death when he is called by Yamaraja. What to speak of stopping death, no one can enhance the short period of life even by a fraction of a moment. The only hope of suspending the cruel slaughtering process of Yamaraja is to call him to hear and chant the holy name of the Lord. Yamaraja is a great devotee of the Lord, and he likes to be invited to kirtanas and sacrifices by the pure devotees, who are constantly engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus the great sages, headed by Saunaka and others, invited Yamaraja to attend the sacrifice performed at Naimisaranya. This was good for those who did not want to die.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

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                       na kascin mriyate tavad

                         yavad asta ihantakah

                       etad-artham hi bhagavan

                         ahutah paramarsibhih

                          aho nr-loke piyeta

                         hari-lilamrtam vacah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   na--not; kascit--anyone; mriyate--will die; tavat--so long; yavat--as long as; aste--is present; iha--herein; antakah--one who causes the end of life; etat--this; artham--reason; hi--certainly; bhagavan--the representative of the Lord; ahutah--invited; parama-rsibhih--by the great sages; aho--alas; nr-loke--in human society; piyeta--let them drink; hari-lila--transcendental pastimes of the Lord; amrtam--nectar for eternal life; vacah--narrations.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As long as Yamaraja, who causes everyone's death, is present here, no one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of death, Yamaraja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Every human being dislikes meeting death, but he does not know how to get rid of death. The surest remedy for avoiding death is to accustom oneself to hearing the nectarean pastimes of the Lord as they are systematically narrated in the text of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is advised herein, therefore, that any human being who desires freedom from death should take to this course of life as recommended by the rsis headed by Saunaka.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       mandasya manda-prajnasya

                        vayo mandayusas ca vai

                        nidraya hriyate naktam

                      diva ca vyartha-karmabhih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   mandasya--of the lazy; manda--paltry; prajnasya--of intelligence; vayah--age; manda--short; ayusah--of duration of life; ca--and; vai--exactly; nidraya--by sleeping; hriyate--passes away; naktam--night; diva--daytime; ca--also; vyartha--for nothing; karmabhih--by activities.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Lazy human beings with paltry intelligence and a short duration of life pass the night sleeping and the day performing activities that are for naught.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The less intelligent do not know the real value of the human form of life. The human form is a special gift of material nature in the course of her enforcing stringent laws of miseries upon the living being. It is a chance to achieve the highest boon of life, namely to get out of the entanglement of repeated birth and death. The intelligent take care of this important gift by strenuously endeavoring to get out of the entanglement. But the less intelligent are lazy and unable to evaluate the gift of the human body to achieve liberation from the material bondage; they become more interested in so-called economic development and work very hard throughout life simply for the sense enjoyment of the temporary body. Sense enjoyment is also allowed to the lower animals by the law of nature, and thus a human being is also destined to a certain amount of sense enjoyment according to his past or present life. But one should definitely try to understand that sense enjoyment is not the ultimate goal of human life. Herein it is said that during the daytime one works "for nothing" because the aim is nothing but sense enjoyment. We can particularly observe how the human being is engaged for nothing in the great cities and industrial towns. There are so many things manufactured by human energy, but they are all meant for sense enjoyment, and not for getting out of material bondage. And after working hard during the daytime, a tired man either sleeps or engages in sex habits at night. That is the program of materialistic civilized life for the less intelligent. Therefore they are designated herein as lazy, unfortunate and short-lived.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

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                              suta uvaca

                  yada pariksit kuru-jangale 'vasat

                  kalim pravistam nija-cakravartite

                   nisamya vartam anatipriyam tatah

                   sarasanam samyuga-saundir adade

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sutah uvaca--Suta Gosvami said; yada--when; pariksit--Maharaja Pariksit; kuru-jangale--in the capital of Kuru's empire; avasat--was residing; kalim--the symptoms of the age of Kali; pravistam--entered; nija-cakravartite--within his jurisdiction; nisamya--thus hearing; vartam--news; anati-priyam--not very palatable; tatah--thereafter; sarasanam--arrows and bow; samyuga--having gotten a chance for; saundih--martial activities; adade--took up.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Suta Gosvami said: While Maharaja Pariksit was residing in the capital of the Kuru empire, the symptoms of the age of Kali began to infiltrate within the jurisdiction of his state. When he learned about this, he did not think the matter very palatable. This did, however, give him a chance to fight. He took up his bow and arrows and prepared himself for military activities.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The state administration of Maharaja Pariksit was so perfect that he was sitting in his capital peacefully. But he got the news that the symptoms of the age of Kali had already infiltrated into the jurisdiction of his state, and he did not like this news. What are the symptoms of the age of Kali? They are (1) illicit connection with women, (2) indulgence in meat-eating, (3) intoxication and (4) taking pleasure in gambling. The age of Kali literally means the age of quarrel, and the abovementioned four symptoms in human society are the root causes for all kinds of quarrel. Maharaja Pariksit heard that some of the people of the state had already taken to those symptoms, and he wanted to take immediate steps against such causes of unrest. This means that at least up to the regime of Maharaja Pariksit, such symptoms of public life were practically unknown, and as soon as they were slightly detected, he wanted to root them out. The news was not palatable for him, but in a way it was, because Maharaja Pariksit got a chance to fight. There was no need to fight with small states because everyone was peacefully under his subordination, but the Kali-yuga miscreants gave his fighting spirit a chance for exhibition. A perfect ksatriya king is always jubilant as soon as he gets a chance to fight, just as a sportsman is eager when there is a chance for a sporting match. It is no argument that in the age of Kali such symptoms are predestined. If so, then why was there preparation for fighting out such symptoms? Such arguments are offered by lazy and unfortunate men. In the rainy season, rain is predestined, and yet people take precautions to protect themselves. Similarly, in the age of Kali the symptoms as above mentioned are sure to infiltrate into social life, but it is the duty of the state to save the citizens from the association of the agents of the age of Kali. Maharaja Pariksit wanted to punish the miscreants indulging in the symptoms of Kali, and thus save the innocent citizens who were pure in habit by culture of religion. It is the duty of the king to give such protection, and Maharaja Pariksit was perfectly right when he prepared himself to fight.

 

                               TEXT 11

 

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                  svalankrtam syama-turanga-yojitam

                ratham mrgendra-dhvajam asritah purat

                   vrto rathasva-dvipapatti-yuktaya

                   sva-senaya digvijayaya nirgatah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   su-alankrtam--very well decorated; syama--black; turanga--horses; yojitam--tackled; ratham--chariot; mrga-indra--lion; dhvajam--flagged; asritah--under the protection; purat--from the capital; vrtah--surrounded by; ratha--charioteers; asva--cavalry; dvipapatti--elephants; yuktaya--thus being equipped; sva-senaya--along with infantry; digvijayaya--for the purpose of conquering; nirgatah--went out.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Pariksit sat on a chariot drawn by black horses. His flag was marked with the sign of a lion. Being so decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry soldiers, he left the capital to conquer in all directions.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Maharaja Pariksit is distinguished from his grandfather Arjuna, for black horses pulled his chariot instead of white horses. He marked his flag with the mark of a lion, and his grandfather marked his with the mark of Hanumanji. A royal procession like that of Maharaja Pariksit surrounded by well-decorated chariots, cavalry, elephants, infantry and band not only is pleasing to the eyes, but also is a sign of a civilization that is aesthetic even on the fighting front.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

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                       bhadrasvam ketumalam ca

                       bharatam cottaran kurun

                        kimpurusadini varsani

                         vijitya jagrhe balim

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   bhadrasvam--Bhadrasva; ketumalam--Ketumala; ca--also; bharatam--Bharata; ca--and; uttaran--the northern countries; kurun--the kingdom of the Kuru dynasty; kimpurusa-adini--a country beyond the northern side of the Himalayas; varsani--parts of the earth planet; vijitya--conquering; jagrhe--exacted; balim--strength.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Pariksit then conquered all parts of the earthly planet--Bhadrasva, Ketumala, Bharata, the northern Kuru, Kimpurusa, etc.--and exacted tributes from their respective rulers.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Bhadrasva: It is a tract of land near Meru Parvata, and it extends from Gandha-madana Parvata to the saltwater ocean. There is a description of this varsa in the Mahabharata (Bhisma-parva 7.14-18). The description was narrated by Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra.

   Maharaja Yudhisthira also conquered this varsa, and thus the province was included within the jurisdiction of his empire. Maharaja Pariksit was formerly declared to be the emperor of all lands ruled by his grandfather, but still he had to establish his supremacy while he was out of his capital to exact tribute from such states.

   Ketumala: This earth planet is divided into seven dvipas by seven oceans, and the central dvipa, called Jambudvipa, is divided into nine varsas, or parts, by eight huge mountains. Bharata-varsa is one of the above-mentioned nine varsas, and Ketumala is also described as one of the above varsas. It is said that in Ketumala varsa, women are the most beautiful. This varsa was conquered by Arjuna also. A description of this part of the world is available in the Mahabharata (Sabha 28.6).

   It is said that this part of the world is situated on the western side of the Meru Parvata, and inhabitants of this province used to live up to ten thousand years (Bhisma-parva 6.31). Human beings living in this part of the globe are of golden color, and the women resemble the angels of heaven. The inhabitants are free from all kinds of diseases and grief.

   Bharata-varsa: This part of the world is also one of the nine varsas of the Jambudvipa. A description of Bharata-varsa is given in the Mahabharata (Bhisma-parva, Chapters 9 and 10).

   In the center of Jambudvipa is Ilavrta-varsa, and south of Ilavrta-varsa is Hari-varsa. The description of these varsas is given in the Mahabharata (Sabha-parva 28.7-8) as follows:

 

                       nagarams ca vanams caiva

                         nadis ca vimalodakah

                       purusan deva-kalpams ca

                       naris ca priya-darsanah

 

                        adrsta-purvan subhagan

                        sa dadarsa dhananjayah

                         sadanani ca subhrani

                       naris capsarasam nibhah

 

   It is mentioned here that the women in both these varsas are beautiful, and some of them are equal to the Apsaras, or heavenly women.

   Uttarakuru: According to Vedic geography the northernmost portion of Jambudvipa is called Uttarakuru-varsa. It is surrounded by the saltwater ocean from three sides and divided by Srngavan Mountain from the Hiranmaya-varsa.

   Kimpurusa-varsa: It is stated to be situated north of the great Himalaya Mountain, which is eighty thousand miles in length and height and which covers sixteen thousand miles in width. These parts of the world were also conquered by Arjuna (Sabha 28.1-2). The Kimpurusas are descendants of a daughter of Daksa. When Maharaja Yudhisthira performed a horse sacrifice yajna, the inhabitants of these countries were also present to take part in the festival, and they paid tributes to the Emperor. This part of the world is called Kimpurusa-varsa, or sometimes the Himalayan provinces (Himavati). It is said that Sukadeva Gosvami was born in these Himalayan provinces and that he came to Bharata-varsa after crossing the Himalayan countries.

   In other words, Maharaja Pariksit conquered all the world. He conquered all the continents adjoining all the seas and oceans in all directions, namely the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of the world.

 

                             TEXTS 13-15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tatra tatropasrnvanah

                       sva-purvesam mahatmanam

                        pragiyamanam ca yasah

                        krsna-mahatmya-sucakam

 

                        atmanam ca paritratam

                      asvatthamno 'stra-tejasah

                      sneham ca vrsni-parthanam

                       tesam bhaktim ca kesave

 

                       tebhyah parama-santustah

                       prity-ujjrmbhita-locanah

                         maha-dhanani vasamsi

                        dadau haran maha-manah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatra tatra--everywhere the King visited; upasrnvanah--continuously he heard; sva-purvesam--about his own forefathers; maha-atmanam--who were all great devotees of the Lord; pragiyamanam--unto those who were thus addressing; ca--also; yasah--glories; krsna--Lord Krsna; mahatmya--glorious acts; sucakam--indicating; atmanam--his personal self; ca--also; paritratam--delivered; asvatthamnah--of Asvatthama; astra--weapon; tejasah--powerful rays; sneham--affection; ca--also; vrsni-parthanam--between descendants of Vrsni and those of Prtha; tesam--of all of them; bhaktim--devotion; ca--also; kesave--unto Lord Krsna; tebhyah--unto them; parama--extremely; santustah--pleased; priti--attraction; ujjrmbhita--pleasingly open; locanah--one who has such eyes; maha-dhanani--valuable riches; vasamsi--clothing; dadau--gave in charity; haran--necklace; maha-manah--one who has a broader outlook.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Wherever the King visited, he continuously heard the glories of his great forefathers, who were all devotees of the Lord, and also of the glorious acts of Lord Krsna. He also heard how he himself had been protected by the Lord from the powerful heat of the weapon of Asvatthama. People also mentioned the great affection between the descendants of Vrsni and Prtha due to the latter's great devotion to Lord Kesava. The King, being very pleased with the singers of such glories, opened his eyes in great satisfaction. Out of magnanimity he was pleased to award them very valuable necklaces and clothing.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Kings and great personalities of the state are presented with welcome addresses. This is a system from time immemorial, and Maharaja Pariksit, since he was one of the well-known emperors of the world, was also presented with addresses of welcome in all parts of the world as he visited those places. The subject matter of those welcome addresses was Krsna. Krsna means Krsna and His eternal devotees, as the king means the king and his confidential associates.

   Krsna and His unalloyed devotees cannot be separated, and therefore glorifying the devotee means glorifying the Lord and vice versa. Maharaja Pariksit would not have been glad to hear about the glories of his forefathers like Maharaja Yudhisthira and Arjuna had they not been connected with the acts of Lord Krsna. The Lord descends specifically to deliver His devotees (paritranaya sadhunam). The devotees are glorified by the presence of the Lord because they cannot live for a moment without the presence of the Lord and His different energies. The Lord is present for the devotee by His acts and glories, and therefore Maharaja Pariksit felt the presence of the Lord when He was glorified by His acts, especially when he was saved by the Lord in the womb of his mother. The devotees of the Lord are never in danger, but in the material world which is full of dangers at every step, the devotees are apparently placed into dangerous positions, and when they are saved by the Lord, the Lord is glorified. Lord Krsna would not have been glorified as the speaker of the Bhagavad-gita had His devotees like the Pandavas not been entangled in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. All such acts of the Lord were mentioned in the addresses of welcome, and Maharaja Pariksit, in full satisfaction, rewarded those who presented such addresses. The difference between the presentation of welcome addresses today and in those days is that formerly the welcome addresses were presented to a person like Maharaja Pariksit. The welcome addresses were full of facts and figures, and those who presented such addresses were sufficiently rewarded, whereas in the present days the welcome addresses are presented not always with factual statements but to please the postholder, and often they are full of flattering lies. And rarely are those who present such welcome addresses rewarded by the poor receiver.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

               sarathya-parasada-sevana-sakhya-dautya-

                  virasananugamana-stavana-pranaman

              snigdhesu pandusu jagat-pranatim ca visnor

                bhaktim karoti nr-patis caranaravinde

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sarathya--acceptance of the post of a chariot driver; parasada--acceptance of the presidency in the assembly of the Rajasuya sacrifice; sevana--engaging the mind constantly in the service of the Lord; sakhya--to think of the Lord as a friend; dautya--acceptance of the post of a messenger; vira-asana--acceptance of the post of a watchman with a drawn sword at night; anugamana--following in the footsteps; stavana--offering of prayers; pranaman--offering obeisances; snigdhesu--unto them who are malleable to the will of the Lord; pandusu--unto the sons of Pandu; jagat--the universal; pranatim--one who is obeyed; ca--and; visnoh--of Visnu; bhaktim--devotion; karoti--does; nr-patih--the King; carana-aravinde--unto His lotus feet.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Maharaja Pariksit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Krsna [Visnu], who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pandu by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pandavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Maharaja Pariksit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Lord Krsna is everything to the unalloyed devotees like the Pandavas. The Lord was for them the Supreme Lord, the spiritual master, the worshipable Deity, the guide, the chariot driver, the friend, the servant, the messenger and everything they could conceive of. And thus the Lord also reciprocated the feelings of the Pandavas. Maharaja Pariksit, as a pure devotee of the Lord, could appreciate the Lord's transcendental reciprocation of the feelings of His devotees, and thus he himself also was overwhelmed with the dealings of the Lord. Simply by appreciating the dealings of the Lord with His pure devotees, one can attain salvation. The Lord's dealings with His devotees appear to be ordinary human dealings, but one who knows them in truth becomes at once eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. The Pandavas were so malleable to the will of the Lord that they could sacrifice any amount of energy for the service of the Lord, and by such unalloyed determination they could secure the Lord's mercy in any shape they desired.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tasyaivam vartamanasya

                       purvesam vrttim anvaham

                         natidure kilascaryam

                       yad asit tan nibodha me

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasya--of Maharaja Pariksit; evam--thus; vartamanasya--remaining absorbed in such thought; purvesam--of his forefathers; vrttim--good engagement; anvaham--day after day; na--not; ati-dure--far off; kila--verily; ascaryam--astonishing; yat--that; asit--was; tat--which; nibodha--know it; me--from me.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Now you may hear from me of what happened while Maharaja Pariksit was passing his days hearing of the good occupations of his forefathers and being absorbed in thought of them.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       dharmah padaikena caran

                       vicchayam upalabhya gam

                       prcchati smasru-vadanam

                         vivatsam iva mataram

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dharmah--the personality of religious principles; pada--leg; ekena--on one only; caran--wandering; vicchayam--overtaken by the shadow of grief; upalabhya--having met; gam--the cow; prcchati--asking; sma--with; asru-vadanam--with tears on the face; vivatsam--one who has lost her offspring; iva--like; mataram--the mother.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The personality of religious principles, Dharma, was wandering about in the form of a bull. And he met the personality of earth in the form of a cow who appeared to grieve like a mother who had lost her child. She had tears in her eyes, and the beauty of her body was lost. Thus Dharma questioned the earth as follows.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The bull is the emblem of the moral principle, and the cow is the representative of the earth. When the bull and the cow are in a joyful mood, it is to be understood that the people of the world are also in a joyful mood. The reason is that the bull helps production of grains in the agricultural field, and the cow delivers milk, the miracle of aggregate food values. The human society, therefore, maintains these two important animals very carefully so that they can wander everywhere in cheerfulness. But at the present moment in this age of Kali both the bull and the cow are now being slaughtered and eaten up as foodstuff by a class of men who do not know the brahminical culture. The bull and the cow can be protected for the good of all human society simply by the spreading of brahminical culture as the topmost perfection of all cultural affairs. By advancement of such culture, the morale of society is properly maintained, and so peace and prosperity are also attained without extraneous effort. When brahminical culture deteriorates, the cow and bull are mistreated, and the resultant actions are prominent by the following symptoms.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                             dharma uvaca

                  kaccid bhadre 'namayam atmanas te

                    vicchayasi mlayatesan mukhena

                     alaksaye bhavatim antaradhim

                    dure bandhum socasi kancanamba

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dharmah uvaca--Dharma inquired; kaccit--whether; bhadre--madam; anamayam--quite hale and hearty; atmanah--self; te--unto you; vicchaya asi--appear to be covered with the shadow of grief; mlayata--which darkens; isat--slightly; mukhena--by the face; alaksaye--you look; bhavatim--unto yourself; antaradhim--some disease within; dure--long distant; bandhum--friend; socasi--thinking of; kancana--someone; amba--O mother.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dharma [in the form of a bull] asked: Madam, are you not hale and hearty? Why are you covered with the shadow of grief? It appears by your face that you have become black. Are you suffering from some internal disease, or are you thinking of some relative who is away in a distant place?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The people of the world in this age of Kali are always full of anxieties. Everyone is diseased with some kind of ailment. From the very faces of the people of this age, one can find out the index of the mind. Everyone feels the absence of his relative who is away from home. The particular symptom of the age of Kali is that no family is now blessed to live together. To earn a livelihood, the father lives at a place far away from the son, or the wife lives far away from the husband and so on. There are sufferings from internal diseases, separation from those near and dear, and anxieties for maintaining the status quo. These are but some important factors which make the people of this age always unhappy.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   padair nyunam socasi maika-padam

                   atmanam va vrsalair bhoksyamanam

                    aho suradin hrta-yajna-bhagan

                  praja uta svin maghavaty avarsati

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   padaih--by three legs; nyunam--diminished; socasi--if you are lamenting for that; ma--my; eka-padam--only one leg; atmanam--own body; va--or; vrsalaih--by the unlawful meat-eaters; bhoksyamanam--to be exploited; ahoh--in sacrifice; sura-adin--the authorized demigods; hrta-yajna--devoid of sacrificial; bhagan--share; prajah--the living beings; uta--increasing; svit--whether; maghavati--in famine and scarcity; avarsati--because of rainlessness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   I have lost my three legs and am now standing on one only. Are you lamenting for my state of existence? Or are you in great anxiety because henceforward the unlawful meat-eaters will exploit you? Or are you in a sorry plight because the demigods are now bereft of their share of sacrificial offerings because no sacrifices are being performed at present? Or are you grieving for living beings because of their sufferings due to famine and drought?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   With the progress of the age of Kali, four things particularly, namely the duration of life, mercy, the power of recollection, and moral or religious principles will gradually diminish. Since Dharma, or the principles of religion, would be lost in the proportion of three out of four, the symbolic bull was standing on one leg only. When three fourths of the population of the whole world become irreligious, the situation is converted into hell for the animals. In the age of Kali, godless civilizations will create so many so-called religious societies in which the Personality of Godhead will be directly or indirectly defied. And thus faithless societies of men will make the world uninhabitable for the saner section of people. There are gradations of human beings in terms of proportionate faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The first-class faithful men are the Vaisnavas and the brahmanas, then the ksatriyas, then the vaisyas, then the sudras, then the mlecchas, the yavanas and at last the candalas. The degradation of the human instinct begins from the mlecchas, and the candala state of life is the last word in human degradation. All the above terms mentioned in the Vedic literatures are never meant for any particular community or birth. They are different qualifications of human beings in general. There is no question of birthright or community. One can acquire the respective qualifications by one's own efforts, and thus the son of a Vaisnava can become a mleccha, or the son of a candala can become more than a brahmana, all in terms of their association and intimate relation with the Supreme Lord.

   The meat-eaters are generally called mlecchas. But all meat-eaters are not mlecchas. Those who accept meat in terms of scriptural injunctions are not mlecchas, but those who accept meat without restriction are called mlecchas. Beef is forbidden in the scriptures, and the bulls and cows are offered special protection by followers of the Vedas. But in this age of Kali, people will exploit the body of the bull and the cow as they like, and thus they will invite sufferings of various types.

   The people of this age will not perform any sacrifice. The mleccha population will care very little for performances of sacrifices, although performance of sacrifice is essential for persons who are materially engaged in sense enjoyment. In the Bhagavad-gita performance of sacrifices is strongly recommended (Bg. 3.14-16).

   The living beings are created by the creator Brahma, and just to maintain the created living being progressively towards the path back to Godhead, the system of performing sacrifice is also created by him. The system is that living beings live on the produce of grains and vegetables, and by eating such foodstuff they get vital power of the body in the shape of blood and semen, and from blood and semen one living being is able to create other living beings. But the production of grains, grass, etc. becomes possible by rain, and this rain is made to shower properly by performance of recommended sacrifices. Such sacrifices are directed by the rites of the Vedas, namely Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva. In the Manu-smrti it is recommended that by offerings of sacrifice on the altar of the fire, the sun-god is pleased. When the sun-god is pleased, he properly collects water from the sea, and thus sufficient clouds collect on the horizon and rains fall. After sufficient rains fall, there is sufficient production of grains for men and all animals, and thus there is energy in the living being for progressive activity. The mlecchas, however, make plans to install slaughterhouses for killing bulls and cows along with other animals, thinking that they will prosper by increasing the number of factories and live on animal food without caring for performance of sacrifices and production of grains. But they must know that even for the animals they must produce grass and vegetables, otherwise the animals cannot live. And to produce grass for the animals, they require sufficient rains. Therefore they have to depend ultimately on the mercy of the demigods like the sun-god, Indra and Candra, and such demigods must be satisfied by performances of sacrifice.

   This material world is a sort of prison house, as we have several times mentioned. The demigods are the servants of the Lord who see to the proper upkeep of the prison house. These demigods want to see that the rebel living beings, who want to survive faithlessly, are gradually turned towards the supreme power of the Lord. Therefore, the system of offering sacrifice is recommended in the scriptures.

   The materialistic men want to work hard and enjoy fruitive results for sense enjoyment. Thus they are committing many types of sins at every step of life. Those, however, who are consciously engaged in the devotional service of the Lord are transcendental to all varieties of sin and virtue. Their activities are free from the contamination of the three modes of material nature. For the devotees there is no need for performance of prescribed sacrifices because the very life of the devotee is a symbol of sacrifice. But persons who are engaged in fruitive activities for sense enjoyment must perform the prescribed sacrifices because that is the only means to get free from the reaction of all sins committed by fruitive workers. Sacrifice is the means for counteracting such accumulated sins. The demigods are pleased when such sacrifices are performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yajna, or sacrifice, called the sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of Hare Krsna, in which everyone can take part. Thus both devotees and fruitive workers can derive equal benefit from the performances of sankirtana-yajna.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    araksyamanah striya urvi balan

                    socasy atho purusadair ivartan

                  vacam devim brahma-kule kukarmany

                    abrahmanye raja-kule kulagryan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   araksyamanah--unprotected; striyah--women; urvi--on the earth; balan--children; socasi--you are feeling compassion; atho--as such; purusa-adaih--by men; iva--like that; artan--those who are unhappy; vacam--vocabulary; devim--the goddess; brahma-kule--in the family of the brahmana; kukarmani--acts against the principles of religion; abrahmanye--persons against the brahminical culture; raja-kule--in the administrative family; kula-agryan--most of all the families (the brahmanas).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Are you feeling compunction for the unhappy women and children who are left forlorn by unscrupulous persons? Or are you unhappy because the goddess of learning is being handled by brahmanas addicted to acts against the principles of religion? Or are you sorry to see that the brahmanas have taken shelter of administrative families that do not respect brahminical culture?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the age of Kali, the women and the children, along with brahmanas and cows, will be grossly neglected and left unprotected. In this age illicit connection with women will render many women and children uncared for. Circumstantially, the women will try to become independent of the protection of men, and marriage will be performed as a matter of formal agreement between man and woman. In most cases, the children will not be taken care of properly. The brahmanas are traditionally intelligent men, and thus they will be able to pick up modern education to the topmost rank, but as far as moral and religious principles are concerned, they shall be the most fallen. Education and bad character go ill together, but such things will run parallel. The administrative heads as a class will condemn the tenets of Vedic wisdom and will prefer to conduct a so-called secular state, and the so-called educated brahmanas will be purchased by such unscrupulous administrators. Even a philosopher and writer of many books on religious principles may also accept an exalted post in a government which denies all the moral codes of the sastras. The brahmanas are specifically restricted from accepting such service. But in this age they will not only accept service, but they will do so even if it is of the meanest quality. These are some of the symptoms of the Kali age which are harmful to the general welfare of human society.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                  kim ksatra-bandhun kalinopasrstan

                     rastrani va tair avaropitani

                     itas tato vasana-pana-vasah-

                    snana-vyavayonmukha-jiva-lokam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kim--whether; ksatra-bandhun--the unworthy administrators; kalina--by the influence of the age of Kali; upasrstan--bewildered; rastrani--state affairs; va--or; taih--by them; avaropitani--put into disorder; itah--here; tatah--there; va--or; asana--accepting foodstuff; pana--drink; vasah--residence; snana--bath; vyavaya--sexual intercourse; unmukha--inclined; jiva-lokam--human society.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The so-called administrators are now bewildered by the influence of this age of Kali, and thus they have put all state affairs into disorder. Are you now lamenting this disorder? Now the general populace does not follow the rules and regulations for eating, sleeping, drinking, mating, etc., and they are inclined to perform such anywhere and everywhere. Are you unhappy because of this?

 

                               PURPORT

 

   There are some necessities of life on a par with those of the lower animals, and they are eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. These bodily demands are for both the human beings and the animals. But the human being has to fulfill such desires not like animals, but like a human being. A dog can mate with a bitch before the public eyes without hesitation, but if a human being does so the act will be considered a public nuisance, and the person will be criminally prosecuted. Therefore for the human being there are some rules and regulations, even for fulfilling common demands. The human society avoids such rules and regulations when it is bewildered by the influence of the age of Kali. In this age, people are indulging in such necessities of life without following the rules and regulations, and this deterioration of social and moral rules is certainly lamentable because of the harmful effects of such beastly behavior. In this age, the fathers and the guardians are not happy with the behavior of their wards. They should know that so many innocent children are victims of bad association awarded by the influence of this age of Kali. We know from Srimad-Bhagavatam that Ajamila, an innocent son of a brahmana, was walking down a road and saw a sudra pair sexually embracing. This attracted the boy, and later on the boy became a victim of all debaucheries. From a pure brahmana, he fell down to the position of a wretched urchin, and it was all due to bad association. There was but one victim like Ajamila in those days, but in this age of Kali the poor innocent students are daily victims of cinemas which attract men only for sex indulgence. The so-called administrators are all untrained in the affairs of a ksatriya. The ksatriyas are meant for administration, as the brahmanas are meant for knowledge and guidance. The word ksatra-bandhu refers to the so-called administrators or persons promoted to the post of the administrator without proper training by culture and tradition. Nowadays they are promoted to such exalted posts by the votes of the people who are themselves fallen in the rules and regulations of life. How can such people select a proper man when they are themselves fallen in the standard of life? Therefore, by the influence of the age of Kali, everywhere, politically, socially or religiously, everything is topsy-turvy, and therefore for the sane man it is all regrettable.

 

                               TEXT 23

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    yadvamba te bhuri-bharavatara-

                     krtavatarasya harer dharitri

                     antarhitasya smarati visrsta

                     karmani nirvana-vilambitani

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yadva--that may be; amba--O mother; te--your; bhuri--heavy; bhara--load; avatara--decreasing the load; krta--done; avatarasya--one who incarnated; hareh--of Lord Sri Krsna; dharitri--O earth; antarhitasya--of Him who is now out of sight; smarati--while thinking of; visrsta--all that were performed; karmani--activities; nirvana--salvation; vilambitani--that which entails.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O mother earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, incarnated Himself as Lord Sri Krsna just to unload your heavy burden. All His activities here are transcendental, and they cement the path of liberation. You are now bereft of His presence. You are probably now thinking of those activities and feeling sorry in their absence.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The activities of the Lord include liberation, but they are more relishable than the pleasure derived from nirvana, or liberation. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami and Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the word used here is nirvana-vilambitani, that which minimizes the value of liberation. To attain nirvana, liberation, one has to undergo a severe type of tapasya, austerity, but the Lord is so merciful that He incarnates to diminish the burden of the earth. Simply by remembering such activities, one can defy the pleasure derived from nirvana and reach the transcendental abode of the Lord to associate with Him, eternally engaged in His blissful loving service.

 

                               TEXT 24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    idam mamacaksva tavadhi-mulam

                     vasundhare yena vikarsitasi

                    kalena va te balinam baliyasa

                 surarcitam kim hrtam amba saubhagam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   idam--this; mama--unto me; acaksva--kindly inform; tava--your; adhimulam--the root cause of your tribulations; vasundhare--O reservoir of all riches; yena--by which; vikarsita asi--reduced to much weakness; kalena--by the influence of time; va--or; te--your; balinam--very powerful; baliyasa--more powerful; sura-arcitam--adored by the demigods; kim--whether; hrtam--taken away; amba--mother; saubhagam--fortune.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Mother, you are the reservoir of all riches. Please inform me of the root cause of your tribulations by which you have been reduced to such a weak state. I think that the powerful influence of time, which conquers the most powerful, might have forcibly taken away all your fortune, which was adored even by the demigods.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   By the grace of the Lord, each and every planet is created fully equipped. So not only is this earth fully equipped with all the riches for the maintenance of its inhabitants, but also when the Lord descends on the earth the whole earth becomes so enriched with all kinds of opulences that even the denizens of heaven worship it with all affection. But by the will of the Lord, the whole earth can at once be changed. He can do and undo a thing by His sweet will. Therefore no one should consider himself to be self-sufficient or independent of the Lord.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            dharany uvaca

                      bhavan hi veda tat sarvam

                       yan mam dharmanuprcchasi

                        caturbhir vartase yena

                       padair loka-sukhavahaih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dharani uvaca--mother earth replied; bhavan--your good self; hi--certainly; veda--know; tat sarvam--all that you have inquired from me; yat--that; mam--from me; dharma--O personality of religious principles; anuprcchasi--you have inquired one after another; caturbhih--by four; vartase--you exist; yena--by which; padaih--by the legs; loka--in each and every planet; sukha-avahaih--increasing the happiness.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The earthly deity [in the form of a cow] thus replied to the personality of religious principles [in the form of a bull]: O Dharma, whatever you have inquired from me shall be known to you. I shall try to reply to all those questions. Once you too were maintained by your four legs, and you increased happiness all over the universe by the mercy of the Lord.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The principles of religion are laid down by the Lord Himself, and the executor of such laws is Dharmaraja, or Yamaraja. Such principles work fully in the age of Satya-yuga; in the Treta-yuga they are reduced by a fraction of one fourth; in the Dvapara-yuga they are reduced to one half, and in the Kali-yuga they are reduced to one fourth, gradually diminishing to the zero point, and then devastation takes place. Happiness in the world depends proportionately on the maintenance of the religious principles, individually or collectively. The best part of valor is to maintain the principles despite all kinds of odds. Thus one can be happy during the span of life and ultimately return to Godhead.

 

                             TEXTS 26-30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      satyam saucam daya ksantis

                        tyagah santosa arjavam

                       samo damas tapah samyam

                        titiksoparatih srutam

 

                      jnanam viraktir aisvaryam

                      sauryam tejo balam smrtih

                     svatantryam kausalam kantir

                       dhairyam mardavam eva ca

 

                     pragalbhyam prasrayah silam

                        saha ojo balam bhagah

                    gambhiryam sthairyam astikyam

                       kirtir mano 'nahankrtih

 

                        ete canye ca bhagavan

                        nitya yatra maha-gunah

                    prarthya mahattvam icchadbhir

                       na viyanti sma karhicit

 

                         tenaham guna-patrena

                        sri-nivasena sampratam

                         socami rahitam lokam

                         papmana kalineksitam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   satyam--truthfulness; saucam--cleanliness; daya--intolerance of others' unhappiness; ksantih--self-control even if there is cause of anger; tyagah--magnanimity; santosah--self-satisfaction; arjavam--straightforwardness; samah--fixing of the mind; damah--control of the sense organs; tapah--trueness to one's responsibility; samyam--indiscrimination between friend and foe; titiksa--tolerance of the offenses of others; uparatih--indifference to loss and gain; srutam--following scriptural injunctions; jnanam--knowledge (self-realization); viraktih--detachment from sense enjoyment; aisvaryam--leadership; sauryam--chivalry; tejah--influence; balam--to render possible that which is impossible; smrtih--to find one's proper duty; svatantryam--not to depend on others; kausalam--dexterity in all activities; kantih--beauty; dhairyam--freedom from disturbance; mardavam--kindheartedness; eva--thus; ca--also; pragalbhyam--ingenuity; prasrayah--gentility; silam--mannerliness; sahah--determination; ojah--perfect knowledge; balam--proper execution; bhagah--object of enjoyment; gambhiryam--joyfulness; sthairyam--immovability; astikyam--faithfulness; kirtih--fame; manah--worthy of being worshiped; anahankrtih--pridelessness; ete--all these; ca anye--also many others; ca--and; bhagavan--the Personality of Godhead; nityah--everlasting; yatra--where; maha-gunah--great qualities; prarthyah--worthy to possess; mahattvam--greatness; icchadbhih--those who desire so; na--never; viyanti--deteriorates; sma--ever; karhicit--at any time; tena--by Him; aham--myself; guna-patrena--the reservoir of all qualities; sri--the goddess of fortune; nivasena--by the resting place; sampratam--very recently; socami--I am thinking of; rahitam--bereft of; lokam--planets; papmana--by the store of all sins; kalina--by Kali; iksitam--is seen.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In Him reside (1) truthfulness, (2) cleanliness, (3) intolerance of another's unhappiness, (4) the power to control anger, (5) self-satisfaction, (6) straightforwardness, (7) steadiness of mind, (8) control of the sense organs, (9) responsibility, (10) equality, (11) tolerance, (12) equanimity, (13) faithfulness, (14) knowledge, (15) absence of sense enjoyment, (16) leadership, (17) chivalry, (18) influence, (19) the power to make everything possible, (20) the discharge of proper duty, (21) complete independence, (22) dexterity, (23) fullness of all beauty, (24) serenity, (25) kindheartedness, (26) ingenuity, (27) gentility, (28) magnanimity, (29) determination, (30) perfection in all knowledge, (31) proper execution, (32) possession of all objects of enjoyment, (33) joyfulness, (34) immovability, (35) fidelity, (36) fame, (37) worship, (38) pridelessness, (39) being (as the Personality of Godhead), (40) eternity, and many other transcendental qualities which are eternally present and never to be separated from Him. That Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all goodness and beauty, Lord Sri Krsna, has now closed His transcendental pastimes on the face of the earth. In His absence the age of Kali has spread its influence everywhere, so I am sorry to see this condition of existence.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Even if it were possible to count the atoms after smashing the earth into powder, still it would not be possible to estimate the unfathomable transcendental qualities of the Lord. It is said that Lord Anantadeva has tried to expound the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord with His numberless tongues, and that for numberless years together it has been impossible to estimate the qualities of the Lord. The above statement of the qualities of the Lord is just to estimate His qualities as far as a human being is able to see Him. But even if it is so, the above qualities can be divided into many subheadings. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, the third quality, intolerance of another's unhappiness, can be subdivided into (1) protection of the surrendered souls and (2) well wishes for the devotees. In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord states that He wants every soul to surrender unto Him only, and He assures everyone that if one does so He will give protection from the reactions of all sins. Unsurrendered souls are not devotees of the Lord, and thus there is no particular protection for everyone in general. For the devotees He has all good wishes, and for those who are actually engaged in loving transcendental service of the Lord, He gives particular attention. He gives direction to such pure devotees to help them discharge their responsibilities on the path back to Godhead. By equality (10), the Lord is equally kind to everyone, as the sun is equal in distributing its rays over everyone. Yet there are many who are unable to take advantage of the sun's rays. Similarly, the Lord says that surrendering unto Him is the guarantee for all protection from Him, but unfortunate persons are unable to accept this proposition, and therefore they suffer from all material miseries. So even though the Lord is equally well-wishing to everyone, the unfortunate living being, due to bad association only, is unable to accept His instructions in toto, and for this the Lord is never to be blamed. He is called the well-wisher for the devotees only. He appears to be partial to His devotees, but factually the matter rests on the living being to accept or reject equal treatment by the Lord.

   The Lord never deviates from His word of honor. When He gives assurance for protection, the promise is executed in all circumstances. It is the duty of the pure devotee to be fixed in the discharge of the duty entrusted to him by the Lord or the Lord's bona fide representative, the spiritual master. The rest is carried on by the Lord without a break.

   The responsibility of the Lord is also unique. The Lord has no responsibility because all His work is done by His different appointed energies. But still He accepts voluntary responsibilities in displaying different roles in His transcendental pastimes. As a boy, He was playing the part of a cowboy. As the son of Nanda Maharaja, He discharged responsibility perfectly. Similarly, when He was playing the part of a ksatriya as the son of Maharaja Vasudeva, He displayed all the skill of a martially spirited ksatriya. In almost all cases, the ksatriya king has to secure a wife by fighting or kidnapping. This sort of behavior for a ksatriya is praiseworthy in the sense that a ksatriya must show his power of chivalry to his would-be wife so that the daughter of a ksatriya can see the valor of her would-be husband. Even the Personality of Godhead Sri Rama displayed such a spirit of chivalry during His marriage. He broke the strongest bow, called Haradhanur, and achieved the hand of Sitadevi, the mother of all opulence. The ksatriya spirit is displayed during marriage festivals, and there is nothing wrong in such fighting. Lord Sri Krsna discharged such responsibility fully because although He had more than sixteen thousand wives, in each and every case He fought like a chivalrous ksatriya and thus secured a wife. To fight sixteen thousand times to secure sixteen thousand wives is certainly possible only for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, He displayed full responsibility in every action of His different transcendental pastimes.

   The fourteenth quality, knowledge, can be further extended into five subheadings, namely (1) intelligence, (2) gratefulness, (3) power of understanding the circumstantial environments of place, object and time, (4) perfect knowledge of everything, and (5) knowledge of the self. Only fools are ungrateful to their benefactors. The Lord, however, does not require benefit from anyone besides Himself because He is full in Himself; still He feels benefited by the unalloyed services of His devotees. The Lord feels grateful to His devotees for such unsophisticated, unconditional service and tries to reciprocate it by rendering service, although the devotee also has no such desire in his heart. The transcendental service of the Lord is itself a transcendental benefit for the devotee, and therefore the devotee has nothing to expect from the Lord. On the assertion of the Vedic aphorism sarvam khalv idam brahma, we can understand that the Lord, by the omnipresent rays of His effulgence, called brahmajyoti, is all-pervading inside or outside of everything, like the omnipresent material sky, and thus He is also omniscient.

   As far as the beauty of the Lord is concerned, He has some special features that distinguish Him from all other living beings, and over and above that He has some special attractive beautiful features by which He attracts the mind of even Radharani, the supermost beautiful creation of the Lord. He is known, therefore, as Madana-mohana, or one who attracts the mind of even Cupid. Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhu has scrutinizingly analyzed other transcendental qualities of the Lord and affirms that Lord Sri Krsna is the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead (Parabrahman). He is omnipotent by His inconceivable energies, and therefore He is the Yogesvara, or the supreme master of all mystic powers. Being the Yogesvara, His eternal form is spiritual, a combination of eternity, bliss and knowledge. The nondevotee class cannot understand the dynamic nature of His knowledge because they are satisfied to reach up to His eternal form of knowledge. All great souls aspire to be equal in knowledge with Him. This means that all other knowledge is ever insufficient, flexible and measurable, whereas the knowledge of the Lord is ever fixed and unfathomable. Srila Suta Gosvami affirms in the Bhagavatam that although He was observed by the citizens of Dvaraka every day, they were ever increasingly anxious to see Him again and again. The living beings can appreciate the qualities of the Lord as the ultimate goal, but they cannot attain the status quo of such equality. This material world is a product of the mahat-tattva, which is a state of the Lord's dreaming condition in His yoga-nidra mystic slumber in the Causal Ocean, and yet the whole creation appears to be a factual presentation of His creation. This means that the Lord's dreaming conditions are also factual manifestations. He can therefore bring everything under His transcendental control, and thus whenever and wherever He does appear, He does so in His fullness.

   The Lord, being all that is described above, maintains the affairs of the creation, and by His so doing He gives salvation even to His enemies who are killed by Him. He is attractive even to the topmost liberated soul, and thus He is worshipable even by Brahma and Siva, the greatest of all demigods. Even in His incarnation of purusa-avatara He is the Lord of the creative energy. The creative material energy is working under His direction, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (9.10). He is the control switch of the material energy, and to control the material energy in the innumerable universes, He is the root cause of innumerable incarnations in all the universes. There are more than five hundred thousand incarnations of Manu in only one universe, besides other incarnations in different universes. In the spiritual world, however, beyond the mahat-tattva, there is no question of incarnations, but there are plenary expansions of the Lord in different Vaikunthas. The planets in the spiritual sky are at least three times the number of those within the innumerable universes in the mahat-tattva. And all the Narayana forms of the Lord are but expansions of His Vasudeva feature, and thus He is Vasudeva, Narayana and Krsna simultaneously. He is sri-krsna govinda hare murare, he natha narayana vasudeva, all in one. His qualities, therefore, cannot be counted by anyone, however great one may be.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                          atmanam canusocami

                        bhavantam camarottamam

                       devan pitrn rsin sadhun

                      sarvan varnams tathasraman

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   atmanam--myself; ca--also; anusocami--lamenting; bhavantam--yourself; ca--as well as; amara-uttamam--the best amongst the demigods; devan--about the demigods; pitrn--about the denizens of the Pitrloka planet; rsin--about the sages; sadhun--about the devotees; sarvan--all of them; varnan--sections; tatha--as also; asraman--orders of human society.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   I am thinking about myself and also, O best amongst the demigods, about you, as well as about all the demigods, sages, denizens of Pitrloka, devotees of the Lord and all men obedient to the system of varna and asrama in human society.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   To effect the perfection of human life there is cooperation between men and demigods, sages, denizens of the Pitrloka, devotees of the Lord and the scientific system of varna and asrama orders of life. The distinction between human life and animal life therefore begins with the scientific system of varna and asrama, guided by the experience of the sages in relation with the demigods, gradually rising to the summit of reestablishing our eternal relation with the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna. When God-made varnasrama-dharma, which is strictly meant for developing animal consciousness into human consciousness and human consciousness into godly consciousness, is broken by advancement of foolishness, the whole system of peaceful and progressive life is at once disturbed. In the age of Kali, the first attack of the venomous snake strikes against the God-made varnasrama-dharma, and thus a person properly qualified as a brahmana is called a sudra, and a sudra by qualification is passing as a brahmana, all on a false birthright claim. To become a brahmana by a birthright claim is not at all bona fide, although it may be a fulfillment of one of the conditions. But the real qualification of a brahmana is to control the mind and the senses, and to cultivate tolerance, simplicity, cleanliness, knowledge, truthfulness, devotion and faith in the Vedic wisdom. In the present age, consideration of the necessary qualification is being neglected, and the false birthright claim is being supported even by a popular, sophisticated poet, the author of Rama-carita-manasa.

   This is all due to the influence of the age of Kali. Thus mother earth, represented as a cow, was lamenting the regrettable condition.

 

                             TEXTS 32-33

 

                                 TEXT

 

               brahmadayo bahu-titham yad-apanga-moksa-

               kamas tapah samacaran bhagavat-prapannah

               sa srih sva-vasam aravinda-vanam vihaya

               yat-pada-saubhagam alam bhajate 'nurakta

 

                tasyaham abja-kulisankusa-ketu-ketaih

               srimat-padair bhagavatah samalankrtangi

                trin atyaroca upalabhya tato vibhutim

              lokan sa mam vyasrjad utsmayatim tad-ante

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   brahma-adayah--demigods such as Brahma; bahu-titham--for many days; yat--of Laksmi, the goddess of fortune; apanga-moksa--glance of grace; kamah--being desirous of; tapah--penances; samacaran--executing; bhagavat--unto the Personality of Godhead; prapannah--surrendered; sa--she (the goddess of fortune); srih--Laksmiji; sva-vasam--her own abode; aravinda-vanam--the forest of lotus flowers; vihaya--leaving aside; yat--whose; pada--feet; saubhagam--all-blissful; alam--without hesitation; bhajate--worships; anurakta--being attached; tasya--His; aham--myself; abja--lotus flower; kulisa--thunderbolt; ankusa--rod for driving elephants; ketu--flag; ketaih--impressions; srimat--the owner of all opulence; padaih--by the soles of the feet; bhagavatah--of the Personality of Godhead; samalankrta-angi--one whose body is so decorated; trin--three; ati--superseding; aroce--beautifully decorated; upalabhya--having obtained; tatah--thereafter; vibhutim--specific powers; lokan--planetary systems; sah--He; mam--me; vyasrjat--gave up; utsmayatim--while feeling proud; tat-ante--at the end.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Laksmiji, the goddess of fortune, whose glance of grace was sought by demigods like Brahma and for whom they surrendered many a day unto the Personality of Godhead, gave up her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers and engaged herself in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. I was endowed with specific powers to supersede the fortune of all the three planetary systems by being decorated with the impressions of the flag, thunderbolt, elephant-driving rod and lotus flower, which are signs of the lotus feet of the Lord. But at the end, when I felt I was so fortunate, the Lord left me.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The beauty and opulence of the world can be enhanced by the grace of the Lord and not by any man-made planning. When the Lord Sri Krsna was present on this earth, the impressions of the special signs of His lotus feet were stamped on the dust, and as a result of this specific grace, the whole earth was made as perfect as possible. In other words, the rivers, the seas, the forests, the hills and the mines, which are the supplying agents for the necessities of men and animals, were fully discharging their respective duties. Therefore the riches of the world surpassed all the riches of all other planets in the three planetary systems of the universe. One should, therefore, ask that the grace of the Lord always be present on earth so that we may be favored with His causeless mercy and be happy, having all necessities of life. One may ask how we can detain the Supreme Lord on this earth after His mission is fulfilled and He has left this earth for His own abode. The answer is that there is no need to detain the Lord. The Lord, being omnipresent, can be present with us if we want Him at all. By His omnipresence, He can always be with us if we are attached to His devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, etc.

   There is nothing in the world with which the Lord is disconnected. The only thing we must learn is to excavate the source of connection and thus be linked with Him by offenseless service. We can be connected with Him by the transcendental sound representation of the Lord. The holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical, and one who chants the holy name of the Lord in an offenseless manner can at once realize that the Lord is present before him. Even by the vibration of radio sound, we can partially realize sound relativity, and by resounding the sound of transcendence we can verily feel the presence of the Lord. In this age, when everything is polluted by the contamination of Kali, it is instructed in the scriptures and preached by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that by chanting the holy name of the Lord, we can at once be free from contamination and gradually rise to the status of transcendence and go back to Godhead. The offenseless chanter of the holy name of the Lord is as auspicious as the Lord Himself, and the movement of pure devotees of the Lord all over the world can at once change the troublesome face of the world. Only by the propagation of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord can we be immune from all effects of the age of Kali.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                yo vai mamatibharam asura-vamsa-rajnam

                aksauhini-satam apanudad atma-tantrah

               tvam duhstham una-padam atmani paurusena

               sampadayan yadusu ramyam abibhrad angam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yah--He who; vai--certainly; mama--mine; ati-bharam--too burdensome; asura-vamsa--unbelievers; rajnam--of the kings; aksauhini--one military division; satam--hundreds of such divisions; apanudat--extirpated; atma-tantrah--self-sufficient; tvam--unto you; duhstham--put into difficulty; una-padam--devoid of strength to stand; atmani--internal; paurusena--by dint of energy; sampadayan--for executing; yadusu--in the Yadu dynasty; ramyam--transcendentally beautiful; abibhrat--accepted; angam--body.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O personality of religion, I was greatly overburdened by the undue military phalanxes arranged by atheistic kings, and I was relieved by the grace of the Personality of Godhead. Similarly you were also in a distressed condition, weakened in your standing strength, and thus He also incarnated by His internal energy in the family of the Yadus to relieve you.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The asuras want to enjoy a life of sense gratification, even at the cost of others' happiness. In order to fulfill this ambition, the asuras, especially atheistic kings or state executive heads, try to equip themselves with all kinds of deadly weapons to bring about a war in a peaceful society. They have no ambition other than personal aggrandizement, and thus mother earth feels overburdened by such undue increases of military strength. By increase of the asuric population, those who follow the principles of religion become unhappy, especially the devotees, or devas.

   In such a situation, the Personality of Godhead incarnates to vanquish the unwanted asuras and to reestablish the true principles of religion. This was the mission of Lord Sri Krsna, and He fulfilled it.

 

                               TEXT 35

 

                                 TEXT

 

                 ka va saheta viraham purusottamasya

                premavaloka-rucira-smita-valgu-jalpaih

               sthairyam samanam aharan madhu-manininam

                romotsavo mama yad-anghri-vitankitayah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ka--who; va--either; saheta--can tolerate; viraham--separation; purusa-uttamasya--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prema--loving; avaloka--glancing; rucira-smita--pleasing smile; valgu-jalpaih--hearty appeals; sthairyam--gravity; sa-manam--along with passionate wrath; aharat--conquered; madhu--sweethearts; manininam--women such as Satyabhama; roma-utsavah--hair standing on end out of pleasure; mama--mine; yat--whose; anghri--feet; vitankitayah--imprinted with.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Who, therefore, can tolerate the pangs of separation from that Supreme Personality of Godhead? He could conquer the gravity and passionate wrath of His sweethearts like Satyabhama by His sweet smile of love, pleasing glance and hearty appeals. When He traversed my [earth's] surface, I would be immersed in the dust of His lotus feet and thus would be sumptuously covered with grass which appeared like hairs standing on me out of pleasure.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   There were chances of separation between the Lord and His thousands of queens because of the Lord's being absent from home, but as far as His connection with earth was concerned, the Lord would traverse the earth with His lotus feet, and therefore there was no chance of separation. When the Lord left the surface of the earth to return to His spiritual abode, the earth's feelings of separation were therefore more acute.

 

                               TEXT 36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tayor evam kathayatoh

                        prthivi-dharmayos tada

                        pariksin nama rajarsih

                      praptah pracim sarasvatim

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tayoh--between them; evam--thus; kathayatoh--engaged in conversation; prthivi--earth; dharmayoh--and the personality of religion; tada--at that time; pariksit--King Pariksit; nama--of the name; raja-rsih--a saint amongst kings; praptah--arrived; pracim--flowing towards the east; sarasvatim--River Sarasvati.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   While the earth and the personality of religion were thus engaged in conversation, the saintly King Pariksit reached the shore of the Sarasvati River, which flowed towards the east.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the First Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "How Pariksit Received the Age of Kali."