CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Palaces in Dvārakā
This chapter relates how Nārada Muni was amazed to see the household pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and how he offered prayers to the Lord.
After killing the demon Naraka, Lord Kṛṣṇa had simultaneously married sixteen thousand maidens, and sage Nārada wanted to observe the Lord’s diverse activities in this unique family situation. Thus he went to Dvārakā. Nārada entered one of the sixteen thousand palaces and saw Goddess Rukmiṇī personally rendering menial service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, despite her being in the company of thousands of maidservants. As soon as Lord Kṛṣṇa noticed Nārada, He got up from His bed, offered obeisances to the sage and seated him on His own seat. Then the Lord bathed Nārada’s feet and sprinkled the water on His own head. Such was the exemplary behavior of the Lord.
After conversing with the Lord for a short while, Nārada went to another of His palaces, where the sage saw Śrī Kṛṣṇa playing at dice with His queen and Uddhava. Going from there to another palace, he found Lord Kṛṣṇa coddling His infant children. In another palace he saw Him preparing to take a bath; in another, performing fire sacrifices, in another, feeding brāhmaṇas; and in another, eating the remnants left by brāhmaṇas. In one palace the Lord was performing noontime rituals; in another, quietly chanting the Gāyatrī mantra; in another, sleeping on His bed; in another, consulting with His ministers; and in yet another, playing in the water with His female companions. Somewhere the Lord was giving charity to brāhmaṇas, in another place He was joking and laughing with His consort, in yet another place He was meditating on the Supersoul, somewhere He was serving His spiritual masters, in another place He was arranging for the marriages of His sons and daughters, somewhere else He was going out to hunt animals, and elsewhere He was moving about in disguise to find out what the citizens were thinking.
Having seen all this, Nārada addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa: “Only because I have served Your lotus feet can I understand these varieties of Your Yoga-māyā potency, which ordinary living beings bewildered by illusion cannot begin to perceive. Thus I am most fortunate, and I simply desire to travel all over the three worlds chanting the glories of Your pastimes, which purify all the worlds.”
Śrī Kṛṣṇa asked Nārada not to be confused by his vision of the Lord’s transcendental opulences, and He described to him the purposes of His appearances in this world. He then honored the sage properly, according to religious principles, and Nārada departed, continuously meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
नरकं निहतं श्रुत्वा तथोद्वाहं च योषिताम् ।
कृष्णेनैकेन बह्वीनां तद् दिदृक्षु: स्म नारद: ॥ १ ॥
चित्रं बतैतदेकेन वपुषा युगपत्पृथक् ।
गृहेषु द्वयष्टसाहस्रं स्त्रिय एक उदावहत् ॥ २ ॥
इत्युत्सुको द्वारवतीं देवर्षिर्द्रष्टुमागमत् ।
पुष्पितोपवनारामद्विजालिकुलनादिताम् ॥ ३ ॥
उत्फुल्लेन्दीवराम्भोजकह्लारकुमुदोत्पलै: ।
छुरितेषु सर:सूच्चै: कूजितां हंससारसै: ॥ ४ ॥
प्रासादलक्षैर्नवभिर्जुष्टां स्फाटिकराजतै: ।
महामरकतप्रख्यै: स्वर्णरत्नपरिच्छदै: ॥ ५ ॥
विभक्तरथ्यापथचत्वरापणै:
शालासभाभी रुचिरां सुरालयै: ।
संसिक्तमार्गाङ्गनवीथिदेहलीं
पतत्पताकध्वजवारितातपाम् ॥ ६ ॥
Text
narakaṁ nihataṁ śrutvā
tathodvāhaṁ ca yoṣitām
kṛṣṇenaikena bahvīnāṁ
tad-didṛkṣuḥ sma nāradaḥ
vapuṣā yugapat pṛthak
gṛheṣu dvy-aṣṭa-sāhasraṁ
striya eka udāvahat
devarṣir draṣṭum āgamat
puṣpitopavanārāma-
dvijāli-kula-nāditām
kahlāra-kumudotpalaiḥ
churiteṣu saraḥsūccaiḥ
kūjitāṁ haṁsa-sārasaiḥ
juṣṭāṁ sphāṭika-rājataiḥ
mahā-marakata-prakhyaiḥ
svarṇa-ratna-paricchadaiḥ
śālā-sabhābhī rucirāṁ surālayaiḥ
saṁsikta-mārgāṅgana-vīthi-dehalīṁ
patat-patāka-dhvaja-vāritātapām
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; narakam — the demon Naraka; nihatam — killed; śrutvā — hearing; tathā — also; udvāham — the marriage; ca — and; yoṣitām — with women; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ekena — one; bahvīnām — with many; tat — that; didṛkṣuḥ — wanting to see; sma — indeed; nāradaḥ — Nārada; citram — wonderful; bata — ah; etat — this; ekena — with a single; vapuṣā — body; yugapat — simultaneously; pṛthak — separate; gṛheṣu — in residences; dvi — two times; aṣṭa — eight; sāhasram — thousand; striyaḥ — women; ekaḥ — alone; udāvahat — He married; iti — thus; utsukaḥ — eager; dvāravatīm — to Dvārakā; deva — of the demigods; ṛṣiḥ — the sage, Nārada; draṣṭum — to see; āgamat — came; puṣpita — flowery; upavana — in parks; ārāma — and pleasure gardens; dvija — of birds; ali — and bees; kula — with flocks and swarms; nāditām — resounding; utphulla — blooming; indīvara — with blue lotuses; ambhoja — day-blooming lotuses; kahlāra — white esculent lotuses; kumuda — moonlight-blooming lotuses; utpalaiḥ — and water lilies; churiteṣu — filled; saraḥsu — within lakes; uccaiḥ — loudly; kūjitām — filled with the calling; haṁsa — by swans; sārasaiḥ — and cranes; prāsāda — with palaces; lakṣaiḥ — hundreds of thousands; navabhiḥ — nine; juṣṭām — adorned; sphāṭika — made of crystal glass; rājataiḥ — and silver; mahā-marakata — with great emeralds; prakhyaiḥ — splendorous; svarṇa — of gold; ratna — and jewels; paricchadaiḥ — whose furnishings; vibhakta — systematically divided; rathyā — with main avenues; patha — roads; catvara — intersections; āpaṇaiḥ — and marketplaces; śālā-sabhābhiḥ — with assembly houses; rucirām — charming; sura — of the demigods; ālayaiḥ — with temples; saṁsikta — sprinkled with water; mārga — whose roads; aṅgana — courtyards; vīthi — commercial streets; dehalīm — and patios; patat — flying; patāka — with banners; dhvaja — by the flagpoles; vārita — warded off; ātapām — the heat of the sun.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing that Lord Kṛṣṇa had killed Narakāsura and had alone married many brides, Nārada Muni desired to see the Lord in this situation. He thought, “It is quite amazing that in a single body Lord Kṛṣṇa simultaneously married sixteen thousand women, each in a separate palace.” Thus the sage of the demigods eagerly went to Dvārakā.
The city was filled with the sounds of birds and bees flying about the parks and pleasure gardens, while its lakes, crowded with blooming indīvara, ambhoja, kahlāra, kumuda and utpala lotuses, resounded with the calls of swans and cranes. Dvārakā boasted nine hundred thousand royal palaces, all constructed with crystal and silver and splendorously decorated with huge emeralds. Inside these palaces, the furnishings were bedecked with gold and jewels. Traffic moved along a well-laid-out system of boulevards, roads, intersections and marketplaces, and many assembly houses and temples of demigods graced the charming city. The roads, courtyards, commercial streets and residential patios were all sprinkled with water and shaded from the sun’s heat by banners waving from flagpoles.
Purport
In Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully describes the city of Dvārakā as follows: “Being inquisitive as to how Kṛṣṇa was managing His household affairs with so many wives, Nārada desired to see these pastimes and so set out to visit Kṛṣṇa’s different homes. When Nārada arrived in Dvārakā, he saw that the gardens and parks were full of various flowers of different colors and orchards that were overloaded with a variety of fruits. Beautiful birds were chirping, and peacocks were delightfully crowing. There were tanks and ponds full of blue and red lotus flowers, and some of these sites were filled with varieties of lilies. The lakes were full of nice swans and cranes, whose voices resounded everywhere. In the city there were as many as 900,000 great palaces built of first-class marble, with gates and doors made of silver. The posts of the houses and palaces were bedecked with jewels such as touchstone, sapphires and emeralds, and the floors gave off a beautiful luster. The highways, lanes, streets, crossings and marketplaces were all beautifully decorated. The whole city was full of residential homes, assembly houses and temples, all of different architectural beauty. All of this made Dvārakā a glowing city. The big avenues, crossings, lanes and streets, and also the thresholds of every residential house, were very clean. On both sides of every path there were bushes, and at regular intervals there were large trees that shaded the avenues so that the sunshine would not bother the passersby.”
Devanagari
हरे: स्वकौशलं यत्र त्वष्ट्रा कार्त्स्न्येन दर्शितम् ॥ ७ ॥
तत्र षोडशभि: सद्मसहस्रै: समलङ्कृतम् ।
विवेशैकतोमं शौरे: पत्नीनां भवनं महत् ॥ ८ ॥
Text
arcitaṁ sarva-dhiṣṇya-paiḥ
hareḥ sva-kauśalaṁ yatra
tvaṣṭrā kārtsnyena darśitam
sahasraiḥ samalaṅkṛtam
viveśaikatomaṁ śaureḥ
patnīnāṁ bhavanaṁ mahat
Synonyms
tasyām — in that (Dvārakā); antaḥ-puram — the private royal precinct; śrī-mat — opulent; arcitam — worshiped; sarva — all; dhiṣṇya — of the various planetary systems; paiḥ — by the maintainers; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; sva — his own; kauśalam — expertise; yatra — where; tvaṣṭrā — by Tvaṣṭā (Viśvakarmā, the architect of heaven); kārtsnyena — completely; darśitam — shown; tatra — there; ṣoḍaśabhiḥ — with sixteen; sadma — of residences; sahasraiḥ — thousands; samalaṅkṛtam — beautified; viveśa — (Nārada) entered; ekatamam — one of them; śaureḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s; patnīnām — of the wives; bhavanam — palace; mahat — great.
Translation
In the city of Dvārakā was a beautiful private quarter worshiped by the planetary rulers. This district, where the demigod Viśvakarmā had shown all his divine skill, was the residential area of Lord Hari, and thus it was gorgeously decorated by the sixteen thousand palaces of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens. Nārada Muni entered one of these immense palaces.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī points out that Tvaṣṭā, Viśvakarmā, manifested the expertise of the Supreme Lord, and thus he was able to build such exquisite palaces. Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The great kings and princes of the world used to visit these palaces just to worship [Lord Kṛṣṇa]. The architectural plans were made personally by Viśvakarmā, the engineer of the demigods, and in the construction of the palaces he exhibited all of his talents and ingenuity.”
Devanagari
इन्द्रनीलमयै: कुड्यैर्जगत्या चाहतत्विषा ॥ ९ ॥
वितानैर्निर्मितैस्त्वष्ट्रा मुक्तादामविलम्बिभि: ।
दान्तैरासनपर्यङ्कैर्मण्युत्तमपरिष्कृतै: ॥ १० ॥
दासीभिर्निष्ककण्ठीभि: सुवासोभिरलङ्कृतम् ।
पुम्भि: सकञ्चुकोष्णीषसुवस्त्रमणिकुण्डलै: ॥ ११ ॥
रत्नप्रदीपनिकरद्युतिभिर्निरस्त-
ध्वान्तं विचित्रवलभीषु शिखण्डिनोऽङ्ग ।
नृत्यन्ति यत्र विहितागुरुधूपमक्षै-
र्निर्यान्तमीक्ष्य घनबुद्धय उन्नदन्त: ॥ १२ ॥
Text
vaidūrya-phalakottamaiḥ
indranīla-mayaiḥ kuḍyair
jagatyā cāhata-tviṣā
muktā-dāma-vilambibhiḥ
dāntair āsana-paryaṅkair
maṇy-uttama-pariṣkṛtaiḥ
su-vāsobhir alaṅkṛtam
pumbhiḥ sa-kañcukoṣṇīṣa
su-vastra-maṇi-kuṇḍalaiḥ
dhvāntaṁ vicitra-valabhīṣu śikhaṇḍino ’ṅga
nṛtyanti yatra vihitāguru-dhūpam akṣair
niryāntam īkṣya ghana-buddhaya unnadantaḥ
Synonyms
viṣṭabdham — supported; vidruma — of coral; stambhaiḥ — by pillars; vaidūrya — of vaidūrya gems; phalaka — with decorative coverings; uttamaiḥ — excellent; indranīla-mayaiḥ — bedecked with sapphires; kuḍyaiḥ — with walls; jagatyā — with a floor; ca — and; ahata — constant; tviṣā — whose effulgence; vitānaiḥ — with canopies; nirmitaiḥ — constructed; tvaṣṭrā — by Viśvakarmā; muktā-dāma — of strands of pearls; vilambibhiḥ — with hangings; dāntaiḥ — of ivory; āsana — with seats; paryaṅkaiḥ — and beds; maṇi — with jewels; uttama — most excellent; pariṣkṛtaiḥ — decorated; dāsībhiḥ — with maidservants; niṣka — lockets; kaṇṭhībhiḥ — upon whose throats; su-vāsobhiḥ — well-dressed; alaṅkṛtam — adorned; pumbhiḥ — with men; sa-kañcuka — wearing armor; uṣṇīṣa — turbans; su-vastra — fine clothing; maṇi — jeweled; kuṇḍalaiḥ — and earrings; ratna — jewel-bedecked; pradīpa — of lamps; nikara — many; dyutibhiḥ — with the light; nirasta — dispelled; dhvāntam — darkness; vicitra — variegated; valabhīṣu — on the ridges of the roof; śikhaṇḍinaḥ — peacocks; aṅga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); nṛtyanti — dance; yatra — wherein; vihita — placed; aguru — of aguru; dhūpam — incense; akṣaiḥ — through the small holes in the latticed windows; niryāntam — going out; īkṣya — seeing; ghana — a cloud; buddhayaḥ — thinking it to be; unnadantaḥ — crying loudly.
Translation
Supporting the palace were coral pillars decoratively inlaid with vaidūrya gems. Sapphires bedecked the walls, and the floors glowed with perpetual brilliance. In that palace Tvaṣṭā had arranged canopies with hanging strands of pearls; there were also seats and beds fashioned of ivory and precious jewels. In attendance were many well-dressed maidservants bearing lockets on their necks, and also armor-clad guards with turbans, fine uniforms and jeweled earrings. The glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled all darkness in the palace. My dear King, on the ornate ridges of the roof danced loudly crying peacocks, who saw the fragrant aguru incense escaping through the holes of the latticed windows and mistook it for a cloud.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “There was so much incense and fragrant gum burning that the scented fumes were coming out of the windows. The peacocks sitting on the steps became illusioned by the fumes, mistaking them for clouds, and began dancing jubilantly. There were many maidservants, all of whom were decorated with gold necklaces, bangles and beautiful sārīs. There were also many male servants, who were nicely decorated in cloaks and turbans and jeweled earrings. Beautiful as they were, the servants were all engaged in different household duties.”
Devanagari
दासीसहस्रयुतयानुसवं गृहिण्या ।
विप्रो ददर्श चमरव्यजनेन रुक्म-
दण्डेन सात्वतपतिं परिवीजयन्त्या ॥ १३ ॥
Text
dāsī-sahasra-yutayānusavaṁ gṛhiṇyā
vipro dadarśa cāmara-vyajanena rukma-
daṇḍena sātvata-patiṁ parivījayantyā
Synonyms
tasmin — therein; samāna — equal; guṇa — whose personal qualities; rūpa — beauty; vayaḥ — youth; su-veṣa — and fine dress; dāsī — by maidservants; sahasra — a thousand; yutayā — joined; anusavam — at every moment; gṛhiṇyā — together with His wife; vipraḥ — the learned brāhmaṇa (Nārada); dadarśa — saw; cāmara — of yak-tail; vyajanena — with a fan; rukma — gold; daṇḍena — whose handle; sātvata-patim — the Lord of the Sātvatas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; parivījayantyā — fanning.
Translation
In that palace the learned brāhmaṇa saw the Lord of the Sātvatas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, together with His wife, who fanned Him with a gold-handled yak-tail fan. She personally served Him in this way, even though she was constantly attended by a thousand maidservants equal to her in personal character, beauty, youth and fine dress.
Devanagari
पर्यङ्कत: सकलधर्मभृतां वरिष्ठ: ।
आनम्य पादयुगलं शिरसा किरीट-
जुष्टेन साञ्जलिरवीविशदासने स्वे ॥ १४ ॥
Text
paryaṅkataḥ sakala-dharma-bhṛtāṁ variṣṭhaḥ
ānamya pāda-yugalaṁ śirasā kirīṭa-
juṣṭena sāñjalir avīviśad āsane sve
Synonyms
tam — him (Nārada); sannirīkṣya — noticing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; sahasā — immediately; utthita — rising; śrī — of the goddess of fortune, Queen Rukmiṇī; paryaṅkataḥ — from the bed; sakala — all; dharma — of religion; bhṛtām — of the upholders; variṣṭhaḥ — the best; ānamya — bowing down; pāda-yugalam — to his two feet; śirasā — with His head; kirīṭa — with a crown; juṣṭena — fitted; sa-añjaliḥ — with joined palms; avīviśat — had him sit down; āsane — on the seat; sve — His own.
Translation
The Supreme Lord is the greatest upholder of religious principles. Thus when He noticed Nārada, He rose at once from Goddess Śrī’s bed, bowed His crowned head at Nārada’s feet and, joining His palms, had the sage sit in His own seat.
Devanagari
बिभ्रज्जगद्गुरुतमोऽपि सतां पतिर्हि ।
ब्रह्मण्यदेव इति यद्गुणनाम युक्तं
तस्यैव यच्चरणशौचमशेषतीर्थम् ॥ १५ ॥
Text
bibhraj jagad-gurutamo ’pi satāṁ patir hi
brahmaṇya-deva iti yad guṇa-nāma yuktaṁ
tasyaiva yac-caraṇa-śaucam aśeṣa-tīrtham
Synonyms
tasya — his; avanijya — washing; caraṇau — the feet; tat — that; apaḥ — water; sva — His own; mūrdhnā — on the head; bibhrat — carrying; jagat — of the entire universe; guru-tamaḥ — the supreme spiritual master; api — even though; satām — of the saintly devotees; patiḥ — the master; hi — indeed; brahmaṇya — who favors the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — the Lord; iti — thus called; yat — since; guṇa — based on His quality; nāma — the name; yuktam — fitting; tasya — His; eva — indeed; yat — whose; caraṇa — of the feet; śaucam — the bathing; aśeṣa — complete; tīrtham — holy shrine.
Translation
The Lord bathed Nārada’s feet and then put the water on His own head. Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme spiritual authority of the universe and the master of His devotees, it was proper for Him to behave in this way, for His name is Brahmaṇya-deva, “the Lord who favors the bṛāhmaṇas.” Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa honored the sage Nārada by bathing his feet, even though the water that bathes the Lord’s own feet becomes the Ganges, the ultimate holy shrine.
Purport
Since Lord Kṛṣṇa’s own lotus feet are the source of the most holy Ganges, the Lord did not have to purify Himself by bathing Nārada Muni’s feet. Rather, as Śrīla Prabhupāda explains: “Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā enjoyed the pastimes of a perfect human being. When, therefore, He washed the feet of the sage Nārada and took the water on His head, Nārada did not object, knowing well that the Lord did so to teach everyone how to respect saintly persons.”
Devanagari
नारायणो नरसखो विधिनोदितेन ।
वाण्याभिभाष्य मितयामृतमिष्टया तं
प्राह प्रभो भगवते करवाम हे किम् ॥ १६ ॥
Text
nārāyaṇo nara-sakho vidhinoditena
vāṇyābhibhāṣya mitayāmṛta-miṣṭayā taṁ
prāha prabho bhagavate karavāma he kim
Synonyms
sampūjya — fully worshiping; deva — among the demigods; ṛṣi — the sage; varyam — greatest; ṛṣiḥ — the sage; purāṇaḥ — primeval; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa; nara-sakhaḥ — the friend of Nara; vidhinā — by scripture; uditena — enjoined; vāṇyā — with speech; abhibhāṣya — conversing; mitayā — measured; amṛta — with nectar; miṣṭayā — sweet; tam — him, Nārada; prāha — He addressed; prabho — O master; bhagavate — for the lord; karavāma — We may do; he — O; kim — what.
Translation
After fully worshiping the great sage of the demigods according to Vedic injunctions, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is Himself the original sage — Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara — conversed with Nārada, and the Lord’s measured speech was as sweet as nectar. Finally the Lord asked Nārada, “What may We do for you, Our lord and master?”
Purport
In this verse the words nārāyaṇo nara-sakhaḥ indicate that Kṛṣṇa is Himself the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, who appeared as the friend of the sage Nara. In other words, Lord Kṛṣṇa is ṛṣiḥ purāṇaḥ, the original and supreme spiritual master. Nevertheless, following the Vedic injunctions (vidhinoditena) that a kṣatriya should worship the brāhmaṇas, Lord Kṛṣṇa happily worshiped His pure devotee Nārada Muni.
Devanagari
नैवाद्भुतं त्वयि विभोऽखिललोकनाथे
मैत्री जनेषु सकलेषु दम: खलानाम् ।
नि:श्रेयसाय हि जगत्स्थितिरक्षणाभ्यां
स्वैरावतार उरुगाय विदाम सुष्ठु ॥ १७ ॥
Text
naivādbhutaṁ tvayi vibho ’khila-loka-nāthe
maitrī janeṣu sakaleṣu damaḥ khalānām
niḥśreyasāya hi jagat-sthiti-rakṣaṇābhyāṁ
svairāvatāra urugāya vidāma suṣṭhu
Synonyms
śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said; na — not; eva — at all; adbhutam — surprising; tvayi — for You; vibho — O almighty one; akhila — of all; loka — worlds; nāthe — for the ruler; maitrī — friendship; janeṣu — toward people; sakaleṣu — all; damaḥ — the subduing; khalānām — of the envious; niḥśreyasāya — for the highest benefit; hi — indeed; jagat — of the universe; sthiti — by maintenance; rakṣaṇābhyām — and protection; svaira — freely chosen; avatāraḥ — descent; uru-gāya — O You who are praised universally; vidāma — we know; suṣṭhu — well.
Translation
Śrī Nārada said: O almighty Lord, it is no surprise that You, the ruler of all worlds, show friendship for all people and yet subdue the envious. As we well know, You descend by Your sweet will in order to bestow the highest good on this universe by maintaining and protecting it. Thus Your glories are widely sung.
Purport
As pointed out by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, all living beings are in fact servants of the Lord. The ācārya quotes the following verse from the Padma Purāṇa to elucidate:
śrīr u-kāreṇa kathyate
ma-kāras tu tayor dāsaḥ
pañca-viṁśaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
“[In the mantra om] the letter a signifies Lord Viṣṇu, the letter u signifies the goddess Śrī, and the letter m refers to their servant, who is the twenty-fifth element.” The twenty-fifth element is the jīva, the living being. Every living being is a servant of the Lord, and the Lord is the true friend of every living being. Thus even when the Lord chastises envious persons like Jarāsandha, such punishment amounts to real friendship, since both the Lord’s chastisement and His blessing are for the benefit of the living being.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मादिभिर्हृदि विचिन्त्यमगाधबोधै: ।
संसारकूपपतितोत्तरणावलम्बं
ध्यायंश्चराम्यनुगृहाण यथा स्मृति: स्यात् ॥ १८ ॥
Text
brahmādibhir hṛdi vicintyam agādha-bodhaiḥ
saṁsāra-kūpa-patitottaraṇāvalambaṁ
dhyāyaṁś carāmy anugṛhāṇa yathā smṛtiḥ syāt
Synonyms
dṛṣṭam — seen; tava — Your; aṅghri — of feet; yugalam — pair; janatā — for Your devotees; apavargam — the source of liberation; brahma-ādibhiḥ — by persons such as Lord Brahmā; hṛdi — within the heart; vicintyam — meditated upon; agādha — unfathomable; bodhaiḥ — whose intelligence; saṁsāra — of material life; kūpa — in the well; patita — of those who are fallen; uttaraṇa — for deliverance; avalambam — the shelter; dhyāyan — constantly thinking; carāmi — I may travel; anugṛhāṇa — please bless me; yathā — so that; smṛtiḥ — remembrance; syāt — may be.
Translation
Now I have seen Your feet, which grant liberation to Your devotees, which even Lord Brahmā and other great personalities of unfathomable intelligence can only meditate upon within their hearts, and which those who have fallen into the well of material existence resort to for deliverance. Please favor me so that I may constantly think of You as I travel about. Please grant Me the power to remember You.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa had asked Nārada Muni, “What can We do for you?” and here Nārada answers. Nārada Muni is a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus his request is sublime.
Devanagari
योगेश्वरेश्वरस्याङ्ग योगमायाविवित्सया ॥ १९ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇa-patnyāḥ sa nāradaḥ
yogeśvareśvarasyāṅga
yoga-māyā-vivitsayā
Synonyms
tataḥ — then; anyat — another; āviśat — entered; geham — residence; kṛṣṇa-patnyāḥ — of a wife of Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — he; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; yoga-īśvara — of the masters of mystic power; īśvarasya — of the supreme master; aṅga — my dear King; yoga-māyā — the spiritual power of bewilderment; vivitsayā — with the desire of knowing.
Translation
Nārada then entered the palace of another of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives, my dear King. He was eager to witness the spiritual potency possessed by the master of all masters of mystic power.
Devanagari
पूजित: परया भक्त्या प्रत्युत्थानासनादिभि: ॥ २० ॥
पृष्टश्चाविदुषेवासौ कदायातो भवानिति ।
क्रियते किं नु पूर्णानामपूर्णैरस्मदादिभि: ॥ २१ ॥
अथापि ब्रूहि नो ब्रह्मन् जन्मैतच्छोभनं कुरु ।
स तु विस्मित उत्थाय तूष्णीमन्यदगाद् गृहम् ॥ २२ ॥
Text
priyayā coddhavena ca
pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā
pratyutthānāsanādibhiḥ
kadāyāto bhavān iti
kriyate kiṁ nu pūrṇānām
apūrṇair asmad-ādibhiḥ
janmaitac chobhanaṁ kuru
sa tu vismita utthāya
tūṣṇīm anyad agād gṛham
Synonyms
dīvyantam — playing; akṣaiḥ — with dice; tatra — there; api — indeed; priyayā — with His beloved; ca — and; uddhavena — with Uddhava; ca — also; pūjitaḥ — he was worshiped; parayā — with transcendental; bhaktyā — devotion; pratyutthāna — by His standing up from His sitting place; āsana — by His offering him a seat; ādibhiḥ — and so on; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; ca — and; aviduṣā — by one who was in ignorance; iva — as if; asau — he, Nārada; kadā — when; āyātaḥ — arrived; bhavān — your good self; iti — thus; kriyate — is intended to be done; kim — what; nu — indeed; pūrṇānām — by those who are full; apūrṇaiḥ — with those who are not full; asmat-ādibhiḥ — such as Ourself; atha api — nonetheless; brūhi — please tell; naḥ — Us; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; janma — Our birth; etat — this; śobhanam — auspicious; kuru — please make; saḥ — he, Nārada; tu — but; vismitaḥ — astonished; utthāya — standing up; tūṣṇīm — silently; anyat — to another; agāt — went; gṛham — palace.
Translation
There he saw the Lord playing at dice with His beloved consort and His friend Uddhava. Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiped Nārada by standing up, offering him a seat, and so on, and then, as if He did not know, asked him, “When did you arrive? What can needy persons like Us do for those who are full in themselves? In any case, My dear brāhmaṇa, please make My life auspicious.” Thus addressed, Nārada was astonished. He simply stood up silently and went to another palace.
Purport
In Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Nārada arrived at the second palace, “Lord Kṛṣṇa acted as if He did not know what had happened in the palace of Rukmiṇī.” Nārada understood that Lord Kṛṣṇa was simultaneously present in both palaces, performing different activities, so “he simply left the palace silently, in great astonishment over the Lord’s activities.”
Devanagari
ततोऽन्यस्मिन् गृहेऽपश्यन्मज्जनाय कृतोद्यमम् ॥ २३ ॥
Text
lālayantaṁ sutān śiśūn
tato ’nyasmin gṛhe ’paśyan
majjanāya kṛtodyamam
Synonyms
Translation
This time Nāradajī saw that Lord Kṛṣṇa was engaged as an affectionate father petting His small children. From there he entered another palace and saw Lord Kṛṣṇa preparing to take His bath.
Purport
This translation is from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that in virtually all the palaces Nārada visited, Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiped and honored him.
Devanagari
भोजयन्तं द्विजान् क्वापि भुञ्जानमवशेषितम् ॥ २४ ॥
Text
yajantaṁ pañcabhir makhaiḥ
bhojayantaṁ dvijān kvāpi
bhuñjānam avaśeṣitam
Synonyms
Translation
In one place the Lord was offering oblations into the sacrificial fires; in another, worshiping through the five mahā-yajñas; in another, feeding brāhmaṇas; and in yet another, eating the remnants of food left by brāhmaṇas.
Purport
The five mahā-yajñas, or great sacrifices, are defined as follows: pāṭho homaś cātithīnāṁ saparyā tarpaṇaṁ baliḥ — “reciting the Vedas, offering oblations into the sacrificial fire, waiting on guests, making offerings to the forefathers, and offering [a share of one’s food] to living entities in general.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments as follows on these sacrifices: “In another palace Kṛṣṇa was found performing the pañca-yajña sacrifice, which is compulsory for a householder. This yajña is also known as pañca-sūnā. Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone, specifically the householder, is committing five kinds of sinful activities. When we receive water from a water pitcher, we kill many germs that are in it. Similarly, when we use a grinding machine or take foodstuffs, we kill many germs. When sweeping the floor or igniting a fire we kill many germs, and when we walk on the street we kill many ants and other insects. Consciously or unconsciously, in all our different activities, we are killing. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every householder to perform the pañca-sūnā sacrifice to rid himself of the reactions to such sinful activities.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, in his commentary on this verse, again points out that all the different times of the day were occurring simultaneously in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s palaces. Thus Nārada saw a fire sacrifice — a morning ritual — and at about the same time he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa feeding the brāhmaṇas and accepting their remnants — a noontime activity.
Devanagari
एकत्र चासिचर्माभ्यां चरन्तमसिवर्त्मसु ॥ २५ ॥
Text
japantaṁ brahma vāg-yatam
ekatra cāsi-carmābhyāṁ
carantam asi-vartmasu
Synonyms
kva api — somewhere; sandhyām — the rituals of sunset; upāsīnam — worshiping; japantam — quietly chanting; brahma — the Vedic mantra (Gāyatrī); vāk-yatam — controlling His speech; ekatra — in one place; ca — and; asi — with sword; carmābhyām — and shield; carantam — moving about; asi-vartmasu — in the corridors set aside for sword practice.
Translation
Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was observing the rituals for worship at sunset by refraining from speech and quietly chanting the Gāyatrī mantra, and elsewhere He was moving about with sword and shield in the areas set aside for sword practice.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the words sandhyām upāsīnam indicate sunset rituals, whereas the words asi-carmābhyāṁ carantam refer to sword practice, which takes place at dawn.
Devanagari
क्वचिच्छयानं पर्यङ्के स्तूयमानं च वन्दिभि: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
vicarantaṁ gadāgrajam
kvacic chayānaṁ paryaṅke
stūyamānaṁ ca vandibhiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
In one place Lord Gadāgraja was riding on horses, elephants and chariots, and in another place He was resting on His bed while bards recited His glories.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that riding on horses and elephants is a noon activity, whereas one lies down during the latter part of night.
Devanagari
जलक्रीडारतं क्वापि वारमुख्याबलावृतम् ॥ २७ ॥
Text
mantribhiś coddhavādibhiḥ
jala-krīḍā-rataṁ kvāpi
vāramukhyābalāvṛtam
Synonyms
Translation
Somewhere He was consulting with royal ministers like Uddhava, and somewhere else He was enjoying in the water, surrounded by many society girls and other young women.
Purport
This translation is based on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Lord Kṛṣṇa met with His counselors around dusk and enjoyed water sports in the afternoon.
Devanagari
इतिहासपुराणानि शृण्वन्तं मङ्गलानि च ॥ २८ ॥
Text
dadataṁ gāḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ
itihāsa-purāṇāni
śṛṇvantaṁ maṅgalāni ca
Synonyms
Translation
Somewhere He was giving well-decorated cows to exalted brāhmaṇas, and elsewhere he was listening to the auspicious narration of epic histories and Purāṇas.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī informs us that giving cows in charity occurs in the morning, while hearing the histories takes place in the afternoon.
Devanagari
क्वापि धर्मं सेवमानमर्थकामौ च कुत्रचित् ॥ २९ ॥
Text
kadācit priyayā gṛhe
kvāpi dharmaṁ sevamānam
artha-kāmau ca kutracit
Synonyms
Translation
Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was found enjoying the company of a particular wife by exchanging joking words with her. Somewhere else He was found engaged, along with His wife, in religious ritualistic functions. Somewhere Kṛṣṇa was found engaged in matters of economic development, and somewhere else He was found enjoying family life according to the regulative principles of the śāstras.
Purport
This translation is based on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa.
Joking conversations take place during the nighttime, whereas religious rituals, economic development and family enjoyment occur during both the day and the night.
Devanagari
शुश्रूषन्तं गुरून् क्वापि कामैर्भोगै: सपर्यया ॥ ३० ॥
Text
puruṣaṁ prakṛteḥ param
śuśrūṣantaṁ gurūn kvāpi
kāmair bhogaiḥ saparyayā
Synonyms
dhyāyantam — meditating; ekam — alone; āsīnam — sitting; puruṣam — on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prakṛteḥ — to material nature; param — transcendental; śuśrūṣantam — rendering menial service; gurūn — to His elders; kva api — somewhere; kāmaiḥ — desirable; bhogaiḥ — with objects of enjoyment; saparyayā — and with worship.
Translation
Somewhere He was sitting alone, meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to material nature, and somewhere He was rendering menial service to His elders, offering them desirable things and reverential worship.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Meditation, as recommended in authorized scripture, is meant for concentrating one’s mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Lord Kṛṣṇa is Himself the original Viṣṇu, but because He played the part of a human being, He taught us definitely by His personal behavior what is meant by meditation.”
This activity of meditation indicates the brāhma-muhūrta, the early morning hours before sunrise.
Devanagari
कुत्रापि सह रामेण चिन्तयन्तं सतां शिवम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
sandhiṁ cānyatra keśavam
kutrāpi saha rāmeṇa
cintayantaṁ satāṁ śivam
Synonyms
Translation
In one place He was planning battles in consultation with some of His advisers, and in another place He was making peace. Somewhere Lord Keśava and Lord Balarāma were together pondering the welfare of the pious.
Devanagari
दारैर्वरैस्तत्सदृशै: कल्पयन्तं विभूतिभि: ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
kāle vidhy-upayāpanam
dārair varais tat-sadṛśaiḥ
kalpayantaṁ vibhūtibhiḥ
Synonyms
putrāṇām — of sons; duhitṝṇām — of daughters; ca — and; kāle — at the suitable time; vidhi — according to religious principles; upayāpanam — getting them married; dāraiḥ — with wives; varaiḥ — and with husbands; tat — for them; sadṛśaiḥ — compatible; kalpayantam — so arranging; vibhūtibhiḥ — in terms of opulences.
Translation
Nārada saw Lord Kṛṣṇa engaged in getting His sons and daughters married to suitable brides and bridegrooms at the appropriate time, and the marriage ceremonies were being performed with great pomp.
Purport
This translation is based on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa.
The word kāle here means that Kṛṣṇa arranged for His sons and daughters to be married when each of them reached the proper age.
Devanagari
वीक्ष्य योगेश्वरेशस्य येषां लोका विसिस्मिरे ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
apatyānāṁ mahotsavān
vīkṣya yogeśvareśasya
yeṣāṁ lokā visismire
Synonyms
Translation
Nārada observed how Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the master of all yoga masters, arranged to send away His daughters and sons-in-law, and also to receive them home again, at the time of great holiday celebrations. All the citizens were astonished to see these celebrations.
Devanagari
पूर्तयन्तं क्वचिद् धर्मं कूर्पाराममठादिभि: ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
kvāpi kratubhir ūrjitaiḥ
pūrtayantaṁ kvacid dharmaṁ
kūrpārāma-maṭhādibhiḥ
Synonyms
yajantam — worshiping; sakalān — all; devān — the demigods; kva api — somewhere; kratubhiḥ — with sacrifices; ūrjitaiḥ — full-blown; pūrtayantam — fulfilling by civil service; kvacit — somewhere; dharmam — religious obligation; kūrpa — with wells; ārāma — public parks; maṭha — monasteries; ādibhiḥ — and so on.
Translation
Somewhere He was worshiping all the demigods with elaborate sacrifices, and elsewhere He was fulfilling His religious obligations by doing public welfare work, such as the construction of wells, public parks and monasteries.
Devanagari
घ्नन्तं तत्र पशून् मेध्यान् परीतं यदुपुङ्गवै: ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
hayam āruhya saindhavam
ghnantaṁ tatra paśūn medhyān
parītaṁ yadu-puṅgavaiḥ
Synonyms
carantam — traveling; mṛgayām — on a hunting expedition; kva api — somewhere; hayam — His horse; āruhya — mounting; saindhavam — of the Sindh country; ghnantam — killing; tatra — there; paśūn — animals; medhyān — offerable in sacrifice; parītam — surrounded; yadu-puṅgavaiḥ — by the most heroic Yadus.
Translation
In another place He was on a hunting expedition. Mounted on His Sindhī horse and accompanied by the most heroic of the Yadus, He was killing animals meant for offering in sacrifice.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “According to Vedic regulations, the kṣatriyas were allowed to kill prescribed animals on certain occasions, either to maintain peace in the forests or to offer the animals in the sacrificial fire. Kṣatriyas are allowed to practice this killing art because they have to kill their enemies mercilessly to maintain peace in society.”
Devanagari
क्वचिच्चरन्तं योगेशं तत्तद्भावबुभुत्सया ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
antaḥ-pura-gṛhādiṣu
kvacic carantaṁ yogeśaṁ
tat-tad-bhāva-bubhutsayā
Synonyms
avyakta — hidden; liṅgam — His identity; prakṛtiṣu — among His ministers; antaḥ-pura — of the royal precincts; gṛha-ādiṣu — among the residences, etc.; kvacit — somewhere; carantam — moving about; yoga-īśam — the Lord of mystic power; tat-tat — of each of them; bhāva — the mentalities; bubhutsayā — with the desire to know.
Translation
Somewhere Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of mystic power, was moving about in disguise among the homes of ministers and other citizens in order to understand what each of them was thinking.
Purport
Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is all-knowing, while executing His pastimes as a typical monarch He sometimes traveled about incognito to acquire necessary information about His kingdom.
Devanagari
योगमायोदयं वीक्ष्य मानुषीमीयुषो गतिम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Text
nāradaḥ prahasann iva
yoga-māyodayaṁ vīkṣya
mānuṣīm īyuṣo gatim
Synonyms
Translation
Having thus seen this display of the Lord’s Yoga-māyā, Nārada mildly laughed and then addressed Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, who was adopting the behavior of a human being.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Nārada fully understood the Lord’s omniscience, and thus when he saw the Lord trying to find out the mood of His ministers, moving about in disguise, Nārada could not help laughing. But remembering the Lord’s supreme position, he somewhat constrained his laughter.
Devanagari
योगेश्वरात्मन् निर्भाता भवत्पादनिषेवया ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
durdarśā api māyinām
yogeśvarātman nirbhātā
bhavat-pāda-niṣevayā
Synonyms
Translation
[Nārada said:] Now we understand Your mystic potencies, which are difficult to comprehend, even for great mystics, O Supreme Soul, master of all mystic power. Only by serving Your feet have I been able to perceive Your powers.
Purport
According to the ācāryas, this verse indicates that even great mystics like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot fully comprehend the mystic power of the Supreme Lord.
Devanagari
पर्यटामि तवोद्गायन् लीला भुवनपावनी: ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
lokāṁs te yaśasāplutān
paryaṭāmi tavodgāyan
līlā bhuvana-pāvanīḥ
Synonyms
Translation
O Lord, please give me Your leave. I will wander about the worlds, which are flooded with Your fame, loudly singing about Your pastimes, which purify the universe.
Purport
Even Nārada Muni was bewildered to see Lord Kṛṣṇa’s amazing pastimes as a human being. Therefore, with the words anujānīhi māṁ deva he requests permission to return to his normal service of traveling and preaching. Inspired by what he has seen, he wants to preach widely the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मन् धर्मस्य वक्ताहं कर्ता तदनुमोदिता ।
तच्छिक्षयन् लोकमिममास्थित: पुत्र मा खिद: ॥ ४० ॥
Text
brahman dhannasya vaktāhaṁ
kartā tad-anumoditā
tac chikṣayan lokam imam
āsthitaḥ putra mā khidaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; dharmasya — of religion; vaktā — the speaker; aham — I; kartā — the executor; tat — of it; anumoditā — the sanctioner; tat — it; śikṣayan — teaching; lokam — to the world; imam — in this; āsthitaḥ — situated; putra — O son; mā khidaḥ — do not be disturbed.
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O brāhmaṇa, I am the speaker of religion, its performer and sanctioner. I observe religious principles to teach them to the world, My child, so do not be disturbed.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to dispel Nārada’s distress, which the sage felt because he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiping the demigods and even Nārada himself. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feelings as follows: “As I state in the Bhagavad-gītā, yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ: [‘Whatever a great person does, ordinary people follow.’] Thus I bathed your feet today in order to help propagate the principles of religion. In the past, before I began My pastimes of directly teaching religious principles, you came and offered prayers to Me after I had killed the Keśī demon, but I simply listened to your elaborate prayers and glorification and did nothing to honor you. Just remember this and consider.
“Do not think that you have committed an offense by allowing Me to bathe your feet today and accept the water as holy remnants. Just as a son does not offend his father by touching him with his foot while sitting on the father’s lap, so you should understand that in the same way, My son, you have not offended Me.”
Devanagari
इत्याचरन्तं सद्धर्मान् पावनान् गृहमेधिनाम् ।
तमेव सर्वगेहेषु सन्तमेकं ददर्श ह ॥ ४१ ॥
Text
ity ācarantaṁ sad-dharmān
pāvanān gṛha-medhinām
tam eva sarva-geheṣu
santam ekaṁ dadarśa ha
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; ācarantam — performing; sat — spiritual; dharmān — the principles of religion; pāvanān — purifying; gṛha-medhinām — for householders; tam — Him; eva — indeed; sarva — in all; geheṣu — the palaces; santam — present; ekam — in one form; dadarśa ha — he saw.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus in every palace Nārada saw the Lord in His same personal form, executing the transcendental principles of religion that purify those engaged in household affairs.
Purport
In this verse Śukadeva Gosvāmī repeats what the Lord has Himself explained. As Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Kṛṣṇa: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead was engaged in His so-called household affairs in order to teach people how one can sanctify one’s household life although one may be attached to the imprisonment of material existence. Actually, one is obliged to continue the term of material existence because of household life. But the Lord, being very kind upon householders, demonstrated the path of sanctifying ordinary household life. Because Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities, a Kṛṣṇa conscious householder’s life is transcendental to Vedic injunctions and is automatically sanctified.”
As stated in text 2 of this chapter, all the Lord’s activities in the many palaces were performed by the Lord’s single spiritual form (ekena vapuṣā), which manifested in many places at once. This vision was revealed to Nārada because of his desire to see it and the Lord’s desire to show it to him. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the other residents of Dvārakā could see Kṛṣṇa only in the particular part of the city they themselves occupied, and not anywhere else, even if they would sometimes go to another precinct on some business. Thus the Lord gave a special view of His pastimes to His beloved devotee Nārada Muni.
Devanagari
मुहुर्दृष्ट्वा ऋषिरभूद् विस्मितो जातकौतुक: ॥ ४२ ॥
Text
yoga-māyā-mahodayam
muhur dṛṣṭvā ṛṣir abhūd
vismito jāta-kautukaḥ
Synonyms
kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ananta — unlimited; vīryasya — whose prowess; yoga-māyā — of the mystic, deluding energy; mahā — elaborate; udayam — the manifestation; muhuḥ — repeatedly; dṛṣṭvā — having witnessed; ṛṣiḥ — the sage, Nārada; abhūt — became; vismitaḥ — amazed; jātakautukaḥ — filled with wonder.
Translation
Having repeatedly seen the vast mystic display of Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose power is unlimited, the sage was amazed and filled with wonder.
Devanagari
सम्यक् सभाजित: प्रीतस्तमेवानुस्मरन् ययौ ॥ ४३ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇena śraddhitātmanā
samyak sabhājitaḥ prītas
tam evānusmaran yayau
Synonyms
iti — thus; artha — with items of utility for economic development; kāma — of sense gratification; dharmeṣu — and of religiosity; kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; śraddhita — faithful; ātmanā — whose heart; samyak — thoroughly; sabhājitaḥ — honored; prītaḥ — pleased; tam — Him; eva — indeed; anusmaran — always remembering; yayau — he went.
Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa greatly honored Nārada, faithfully presenting him with gifts related to economic prosperity, sense gratification and religious duties. Thus fully satisfied, the sage departed, constantly remembering the Lord.
Purport
As Śrīla Prabhupāda points out in Kṛṣṇa, the phrase artha-kāma-dharmeṣu indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa was behaving like an ordinary householder deeply concerned with economic development, sense gratification and religious duties. Nārada could understand the Lord’s purpose, and he was most pleased by Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s exemplary behavior. Thus fully enlivened in his pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he departed.
Devanagari
नारायणोऽखिलभवाय गृहीतशक्ति: ।
रेमेऽङ्ग षोडशसहस्रवराङ्गनानां
सव्रीडसौहृदनिरीक्षणहासजुष्ट: ॥ ४४ ॥
Text
nārāyaṇo ’khila-bhavāya gṛhīta-śaktiḥ
reme ’ṇga ṣoḍaśa-sahasra-varāṅganānāṁ
sa-vrīḍa-sauhṛda-nirīkṣaṇa-hāsa-juṣṭaḥ
Synonyms
evam — thus; manuṣya — of human beings; padavīm — the path; anuvartamānaḥ — following; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; akhila — of everyone; bhavāya — for the welfare; gṛhīta — having manifested; śaktiḥ — His potencies; reme — He enjoyed; aṅga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; sahasra — thousand; vara — most excellent; aṅganānām — of women; sa-vrīḍa — shy; sauhṛda — and affectionate; nirīkṣaṇa — by the glances; hāsa — and laughter; juṣṭaḥ — satisfied.
Translation
In this way Lord Nārāyaṇa imitated the ways of ordinary humans, manifesting His divine potencies for the benefit of all beings. Thus He enjoyed, dear King, in the company of His sixteen thousand exalted consorts, who served the Lord with their shy, affectionate glances and laughter.
Devanagari
कर्माण्यनन्यविषयाणि हरिश्चकार ।
यस्त्वङ्ग गायति शृणोत्यनुमोदते वा
भक्तिर्भवेद् भगवति ह्यपवर्गमार्गे ॥ ४५ ॥
यस्यात्मबुद्धि: कुणपे त्रिधातुके
स्वधी: कलत्रादिषु भौम इज्यधी: ।
यत्तीर्थबुद्धि: सलिले न कर्हिचिज्
जनेष्वभिज्ञेषु स एव गोखर: ॥
Text
karmāṇy ananya-viṣayāṇi harīś cakāra
yas tv aṅga gāyati śṛṇoty anumodate vā
bhaktir bhaved bhagavati hy apavarga-mārge
Synonyms
yāni — which; iha — in this world; viśva — of the universe; vilaya — of the destruction; udbhava — creation; vṛtti — and maintenance; hetuḥ — He who is the cause; karmāṇi — activities; ananya — of no one else; viṣayāṇi — the engagements; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; cakāra — performed; yaḥ — whoever; tu — indeed; aṅga — my dear King; gāyati — chants; śṛṇoti — hears; anumodate — approves; vā — or; bhaktiḥ — devotion; bhavet — arises; bhagavati — for the Supreme Lord; hi — indeed; apavarga — liberation; mārge — the path toward whom.
Translation
Lord Hari is the ultimate cause of universal creation, maintenance and destruction. My dear King, anyone who chants about, hears about or simply appreciates the extraordinary activities He performed in this world, which are impossible to imitate, will surely develop devotion for the Supreme Lord, the bestower of liberation.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has given various meanings for the word ananya-viṣayāṇi. This term may indicate that the Lord performed activities in Dvārakā that were unusual even for His plenary expansions, to say nothing of others. Or the term can be understood to indicate that the Lord performed these activities for the sake of His pure, exclusive devotees. In any case, one who recites or hears accounts of these pastimes will certainly be engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and, as Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “certainly find it very easy to traverse the path of liberation and taste the nectar of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.” Śrīla Prabhupāda further points out that the word anumodate here indicates that one who “supports a preacher of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement” will also receive the benefits mentioned here.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Sixty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Nārada Muni Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Palaces in Dvārakā.”