Canto 10 - part IV:

Summum Bonum
Chapter 69Nrada Muni's Vision of Krishna in His Household Affairs
Chapter 70Krishna's Routines, Troubles and Nrada Pays Another Visit
Chapter 71The Lord Travels to Indraprastha on Advice of Uddhava
Chapter 72Jarsandha Killed by Bhma and the Kings Freed
Chapter 73Lord Krishna Blesses the Liberated Kings
Chapter 74 The Rjasya: Krishna the First and S'is'upla Killed
Chapter 75Concluding the Rjasya and Duryodhana Laughed at
Chapter 76The Battle Between S'lva and the Vrishnis
Chapter 77S'lva and the Saubha-fortress Finished
Chapter 78Dantavakra Killed and Romaharshana Beaten with a Blade of Grass
Chapter 79Lord Balarma Slays Balvala and Visits the Holy Places
Chapter 80An Old Brahmin Friend Visits Krishna
Chapter 81The Brahmin Honored: Lord Krishna the Godhead of the Brahmins
Chapter 82All Kings and the Inhabitants of Vrindvana on Pilgrimage Reunite with Krishna
Chapter 83Draupad Meets the Queens of Krishna
Chapter 84Vasudeva of Sacrifice to the Sages at Kurukshetra Explaining the Path of Success
Chapter 85Lord Krishna Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devak's Sons
Chapter 86Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadr, and Krishna Instructs Bahulas'va and S'rutadeva
Chapter 87The Underlying Mystery: Prayers of the Personified Vedas
Chapter 88Lord S'iva Saved from Vriksura
Chapter 89Vishnu the Best of the Gods and the Krishnas Retrieve a Brhmin's Sons
Chapter 90The Queens Play and Speak and Lord Krishna's Glories Summarized

Chapter 69
Nrada Muni's Vision of Krishna in His Household Affairs
(1-6) S'r S'uka said: 'Hearing that Lord Krishna had killed Naraka [see 10.59] and that He alone had
married so many women, wanted Nrada to see that with his own eyes [and thought he]: 'How wonderful
it is that He with a single body is married to that many, at the same time in sixteen thousand separate
residences being alone with each of the women.' Thus eager to take a look came the sage of the gods to
Dvrak, the place flowery with its parks and pleasure gardens resounding with the noise of flocks of
birds and swarms of bees. Blooming blue lotuses [indvaras], day-blooming ones [ambhojas], white
esculent ones [kahlras], moonlight-blooming lotuses [kumudas] and water lilies [utpalas] filled the lakes
where the sounds were heard of swans and cranes. There were, embellished with crystal glass, silver and
great emeralds, nine hundred thousand palatial mansions splendorously furnished with gold and jewels!
Systematically laid out with many avenues, roads, intersections and squares. With its assembly houses
and charming temples for the gods, were its paths and courtyards, shopping streets and patios, all
sprinkled with water and was the sun warded off by banners that waved from the flagpoles. (7-8) In the
city there was an opulent quarter favored by all the different authorities. There had Tvashth [the architect
Vis'vakarm], for the Lord [who resided there], in full exhibited his talents making the sixteen thousand
residences for S'auri's wives as beautiful as could be. Nrada entered one of the great palaces. (9-12)
The building was supported by coral pillars that were excellently covered with vaidrya ['cat-eye'
gemstone]. The walls were bedecked with sapphires and the floors shone everywhere. It was built with
canopies that by Tvashthwere constructed with hangings of pearls and had seats and beds made of
ivory that were decorated with the finest jewels. There were well-dressed, adorned maidservants with
lockets around their necks and finely clad men with turbans and armor, jewels and earrings. Many gemstudded lamps dispelled with their light the darkness and on the carved eaves, my best, danced the
pacocks crying loudly from the clouds of aguru smoke they saw curling upwards from the latticed
windows.. (13) Inside saw the man of learning the Lord of the Stvatas together with His wife who fanned
Him with a yak-tail fan with a golden handle. She on her turn was at every moment supported by a
thousand maidservants equal to her in personal qualities, beauty, youth and fine dress. (14) The Supreme
Lord, the best of all who are subservient to the dharma, noticing him, immediately rose from S'r her
couch and offered him, as He bowed down with joined palms, His own seat. (15) Even though He was the
Supreme Guru of the Living Being, washed He his feet and carried He that water on His head; [the water
to which] He as the master of the saintly justly carries the name of 'the Well-wisher of the Brahmins'
[Brhmanya deva] because one from the holy shrine of His feet finds complete purification [see also the
stories of the Ganges 5.17 & 9.9]. (16) As enjoined by the scriptures having been of full worship with the
devarishi did the Greatest Sage, the Original Nryana, the friend of Nara, converse with him in weighed
words that were as sweet as nectar and asked: 'O Master what may We do for the Fortunate One?'
(17) S'r Nrada said: 'It is not that surprising at all for You to show friendship with the people, o Almighty
Ruler of All the Worlds who subdues all the envious, for You, widely acclaimed, are well known out of Your
own will to have descended for the highest good of the continuation and the protection of the Living Being
[*]. (18) Having seen Your pair of feet, that for Your devotees are the path of liberation upon which Lord
Brahm and the other gods with their unfathomable intelligence meditate in the heart and which for those
who are fallen in the well of a material existence are the shelter for deliverance, I ask for Your blessing to
remember You so that I in my travels can constantly think of You.'
(19) Next entered Nrada, my dear, another residence of a wife of Krishna, with the desire to know the
mystical power of illusion [yogamy] of the Master of All Masters of Yoga. (20-22) And there indeed he
saw Him as well, with Uddhava playing a game of dice, being of worship with transcendental devotion and
standing up in order to seat him and so on, asking him, as if He didn't know, 'When has your good self
arrived? How can those [householders] who are not so complete, as We are, do what should be done for
those [sannyss] who are complete? Anyway, please tell Us, o brahmin, how to be a success in this
birth', but Nrada, astonished, standing up said nothing and went to another palace. (23) And there he
saw Govinda cuddling His small children. Then, in another house, he saw Him preparing for a bath. (24)
Here he saw Him offering oblations and there worshiping the five sacrificial fires [see mah-yajas] with

the obligatory rituals; then He fed the twice-born and somewhere else He ate of what had remained from
the sacrifices. (25) Somewhere of sunset-worship chanted He controlling His speech the mantra [see
Gyatr and japa] and elsewhere moved He about with His sword and shield in the lanes of practice. (26)
Here the Elder Brother of Gada, rode horses, elephants and chariots and there He was lying on His sofa
being praised by bards. (27) This place He was consulting with advisers, Uddhava and others and that
place was He engaged sporting in the water surrounded by dancing girls and other women. (28)
Somewhere He donated excellent cows well ornamented to the twice-born and elsewhere listened He to
the auspicious classical stories [Purnas] and epic histories [Itihsas]. (29) Laughing and joking with His
beloved in this mansion, practiced He elsewhere the religion [dharma], the economy [artha] and the
[kma] physical lusts [to be regulated, see also purushrthas]. (30) Sitting alone in a place to meditate on
the Original Person Transcendental to the Material Nature, rendered He in another place menial service
to the elders being of worship with things they liked. (31) Planning for war with certain people here and
elsewhere making peace, were Kes'ava together with Rma elsewhere heartening the welfare of the
pious. (32) [He saw Him] arranging opulent weddings of daughters and sons at the right time according
the vidhi with wives and husbands compatible to them. (33) [He saw how] with the people full of wonder
about the celebrations with which the children of the Master of the Masters of Yoga were sent away from
home and brought back. (34) With elaborate sacrifices in worship of all the gods being busy here was He
there according the dharma in civil service arranging for wells, parks and monasteries and such. (35) For
a hunting expedition He this place mounted His horse from Sindh while He that place, surrounded by the
most valorous Yadus, killed the animals to be offered in sacrifice [see **]. (36) Some place moved the
Yogamaster about in disguise in the homes of His ministers, eager to find out with each of them what their
mentality was. (37) Thereupon said Nrada to Hrishkes'a, constraining his laughter to what he had seen
unfolding of His yogamy of assuming the human role: (38) 'From what we saw happening with the
service at Your feet we [now] know of Your mystical potencies, potencies that even for the great mystics
are hard to envision, o Lord of Yoga, o Supreme Soul. (39) Permit me to follow You in humility, o
Godhead, I'll wander about Your places that are flooded with the fame and loudly sing about Your
pastimes that purify all the worlds.'
(40) The Supreme Lord said: 'O brahmin, I am the speaker of it, the performer of it and the sanctioner
teaching it to the world; situated in this spirit, o son, do not be disturbed.'
(41) S'r S'uka said: 'Thus he saw [as no one else could see ***] Him present in one form in all the
mansions where He performed the purifying spiritual duties for householders. (42) Having witnessed
Krishna's unlimited prowess in the elaborate, manifold manifestation of Hisyogamy, fell the seer filled
with wonder in amazement. (43) With the artha, kma and dharma [of household life, see also 7.14] thus
by Lord Krishna's faithful heart thoroughly honored, went he satisfied away with Him in his mind all the
time. (44) Thus following the path of human beings did Nryana, who for the welfare of everyone had
manifested His potencies, my dear, enjoy, being satisfied by the shy affectionate glances and laughter of
sixteen thousand of the finest consorts. (45) Whoever, my dear, but chants, listens or appreciates [reads
about] the sensual activities which, inimitable in this world, are performed by Him who is the cause of the
dissolution, generation and ongoing business of the universe, will develop devotion for the Supreme Lord,
the path to liberation.'
Footnotes:
* Theparampar adds here: 'As pointed out by S'rla Vis'vantha Cakravart, all living beings are in fact servants of the Lord. The crya
quotes the following verse from the Padma Purna to elucidate:
a-krenocyate vishnuh
s'rr u-krena kathyate
ma-kras tu tayor dsah
paca-vims'ah prakrtitah
"[In the mantra AUM] the letter a signifies Lord Vishnu, the letter u signifies the goddess S'r, and the letter m refers to their servant, who is
the twenty-fifth element." The twenty-fifth element is thejva, 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 Jarsandha, such punishment amounts to real
friendship, since both the Lord's chastisement and His blessing are for the benefit of the living being.'

** Though this activity by the vidhi rule of day is forbidden to the common people and the brahmins, in order to basically be compassionate
with all living beings, is it in certain cases allowed to kill animals in the vedic order. S'rla Prabhupda comments: "According to Vedic
regulations, the kshatriyas 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. Kshatriyas are allowed to practice this killing art because they have to kill their enemies mercilessly to maintain
peace in society." [see also e.g. 4: 26, 7.15, 10.1: 4, 10.56: 13,10.58: 13-16 and 10.58: 13-16].
*** Theparampar adds to this: '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 vapush), which manifested in many places at once. This vision was revealed to Nrada because of his desire to
see it and the Lord's desire to show it to him. S'rla Vis'vantha Cakravart points out that the other residents of Dvrak could see Krishna
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 Nrada Muni.'

Chapter 70
Krishna's Routines, Troubles and Nrada Pays Another Visit
(1) S'r S'uka said: 'Then, as dawn was approaching, were the roosters crowing cursed by the wives of the
Sweet Lord who, with their heads being held by their husbands [the One Yogamy Lord in Many], were
disturbed over [the consequent] separation. (2) Birds roused from sleep by the breeze from the parijta
trees with their bees woke Krishna noisily singing like they were the poets at the court. (3) But Vaidarbh
[Rukmin] didn't like that most auspicious time of the day because it would deny her the arms of Krishna
around her. (4-5) Rising during thebrahma-muhrta [the hour before sunrise] touched Mdhava water and
cleared He His mind to meditate upon the unequaled, exclusive, self-luminous Self beyond all dullness of
matter. This True Self dispels, infallible as it is, by its [His] own nature perpetually the impurity and gives
the joy of existence. It is known as the Brahman which with its [His] own energies constitutes the cause of
creation and destruction in this universe [see also 3.29: 31 & 36-37, B.G. 7: 5 & 6 and *]. (6) Then,
according the vidhi having bathed in pure water, performed He, the most truthful One, first dressing in
lower and upper garments, the entire sequence of the worship at dawn and such and chanted He, after
offering oblations in the fire, quietly controlling His speech the vedic mantra [the Gyatr, see also **]. (79) Consequently according His own nature propitiated He in worship of the rising sun His own
expansions: with due respect for the gods, the sages and forefathers, His elders and the ones of learning,
donated He day by day many, many good-natured cows with gold on their horns, silver on the front of
their hooves and pearl necklaces, who were rich with milk and had only one calf born from them. They,
nicely caparisoned were to the ones of learning presented with linen, deerskins, sesame seeds and
ornaments [see also ***]. (10) Paying His respects to the cows, the men of learning, the godly, the elders,
the spiritual teachers and to all living beings who were but expansions of Himself, touched He [giving
darshan, all persons and] things auspicious. (11) He, the very ornament of society, decorated Himself with
the clothes, divine garlands, colors and jewelry befitting Him. (12) Caring as well for the ghee [used in the
sacrifices] as the mirror, attended He to the cows, the bulls, the twice-born, the gods and the objects of
desire, in arranging for gifts to the satisfaction of all societal classes living in the city and the palace and
greeted He His ministers answering in full to all their needs. (13) First distributing garlands, betel nut and
sandalwood paste to the learned, [and then] to His friends, His ministers and His wives, would He next
partake of them Himself. (14) His driver, by then having brought His supremely wonderful chariot yoked
with the horses Sugrva and so on [see 10.53: 5], stood bowing before Him. (15) Holding the charioteer
his hands He then together with Styaki and Uddhava mounted it like He was the sun rising over the
mountains in the east. (16) With difficulty leaving the palace women behind who looked at Him with
glances shy and loving, He left, showing a smile that seized their minds. (17) Awaited by all the Vrishnis
He entered the assembly hall known as Sudharm [see also 10.50: 54] which for those who entered
wards off the six waves, my dear [seeshath-rmi]. (18) The Almighty One, the Best of the Yadus seated
there high on His throne in the midst of the Yadus, the lions among men, illuminated all the quarters as
He with His effulgence shone like the moon in the sky surrounded by the stars. (19) There the jesters, o
King, served the Almighty One with various forms of amusement, just as professional entertainers [like
magicians] and women dancing energetic dances did on their turn. (20) They danced to the sounds of
vns, mridangasand muraja-drums, flutes, cymbals and conches while the bards, storytellers and
panegyrists sang and offered praise. (21) There recited some brahmins sitting continually vedic mantras
while others recounted stories about kings from the past famous for their piety.

(22) Some day was the arrival announced of a person, o King, who, given access to the Fortunate One by
the doorkeepers, had never been seen there before. (23) After his reverence with joined palms before
Krishna, the Supreme Lordship, submitted he the suffering of the kings held captive by Jarsandha. (24)
During a conquest by him of all directions were all those kings who did not accept him in complete
subservience - about twenty thousand of them - by force detained in the fortress of Girivraja. (25) The
kings relayed: 'Krishna, o Krishna, o immeasurable Soul, o You who takes away the fear of the
surrendered; being so different in mentality do we, afraid as we are in our material existence, come to You
for shelter! (26) The whole world prone to doing it wrong is bewildered about the duties out here that are
beneficial in the worship of You to Your command that, in so far one is doing one's own in this, constitutes
the power of existence in serving longevity and hope; may there be the obeisances to Him, the Ever
Vigilant ['unblinking of Time'] who all of a sudden cuts this all off [at the time of one's death]. (27) You, the
predominating authority of this universe, have descended with Your expansion [Balarma] to protect the
saintly and to subdue the wicked; we do not understand o Lord how any other person in transgression
with Your law [like Jarsandha] or else by dint of his own creativity [like us] would achieve that. (28) The
conditional happiness of kings, o Lord, is like a dream, always being full of fear with the burden of this
mortal frame; in rejecting that happiness of the soul that is obtained by selfless service unto You, do we,
with Your bewildering material reality of my out here, suffer the greatest misery. (29) Therefore, o
Goodness whose pair of feet remove the sorrow, please release us, the surrendered, who were bound in
the fetters of karma by him carrying the name of Maghada who, like the king of the animals with sheep,
alone wielding the prowess of a ten thousand mad elephants imprisoned us in His residence. (30)
Eighteen times having raised Your cakra and crushed him defeated he only once in battle You, who
confident in Your unlimited power were absorbed in human affairs [see 10.50: 41 & 10.52: 7]; and now,
filled with pride, he torments us, Your subjects, o Unconquerable One; please rectify that!' (31) The
messenger said: 'Thus do the ones held captive by Jarsandha and who have surrendered to the base of
Your feet hanker for the sight of You; please bestow Your welfare on these poor souls!'
(32) S'r S'uka said: 'After the envoy of the kings thus had spoken, appeared the supremerishi [Nrada]
who with his yellowish mass of matted locks had an effulgence like that of the sun. (33) Seeing him
offered the Supreme Lord Krishna, the Supreme Controller of the controllers of all the worlds, with His
head His respects, gladly standing up along with His followers and the members of the assembly. (34)
With him having been of worship according the rules and his acceptance of a seat, spoke He with truthful,
pleasing words of reverence that pleased the sage: (35) 'It is a fact that today the three worlds are
completely rid of all fear, for that is the quality of the great and fortunate one [of you] traveling the worlds.
(36) With the three worlds the way they are arranged by their Controller is there nothing you don't know;
so, therefore, let's hear from you what the plans of the Pndavas are.'
(37) S'r Nrada said: 'I witnessed the many forms of Your inscrutable my, o Almighty One, Bewilderer
of [even] the Creator of the Universe [see 10.14]; for me it is not that amazing, o All-encompassing One,
that You covered by Your own energies move among the created beings like a fire of which the light is
covered. (38) Who is able to properly understand the purpose of You who by Your own material energy
creates and withdraws this universe which manifests [for its beings] to exist in relation to You; my
obeisances for You inconceivable in Your nature. (39) He who for the individual soul in samsra, not
knowing liberation from the trouble that the material body brings, by Hisavatras for His pastimes lights
His own torch of fame; You, that Lord, I approach for shelter. (40) Nonetheless will I tell You, o Highest
Truth imitating the human ways, what Your devotee the king [Yudhishthhira], the son of Your father's sister
intends to do. (41) The king, the son of Pndu, desiring the top position for Your sake wants to perform
the greatest sacrifice known as Rjasya, please give that Your blessing. (42) O Lord to that best of all
sacrifices will all enlightened and likewise souls as well as the kings of glory eager as they are to see You
attend. (43) When from hearing, chanting and meditating about You, the Full of the Absolute, even the
dregs of society find purification, what then may one expect for those who see You and touch You? (44)
The spotless fame of You is, expanding [like a canopy] in all directions, proclaimed in heaven, in the lower
regions and on the earth, o Bringer of Good Fortune to All the Worlds. In the form of the water washing
from Your feet that purifies the entire unverse, is that grace called the Mandkin in the divine spheres, the
Bhogavat in the lower worlds and the Ganges here on earth.'

(45) S'r S'uka said: 'When His own supporters [the Ydus] did not agree because they wanted to defeat
[Jarsandha] spoke Kes'ava smiling to His servant Uddhava with a charming use of words. (46) The
Fortunate One said: 'You indeed as the apple of Our eye and Our well-wishing friend from that position
perfectly know what expression would be of use in this regard, please tell Us what should be done, We
have full faith in you and will carry that out.'
(47) Thus requested by his Maintainer who acted as if He, the all-knowing One, was puzzled, gave
Uddhava humbly accepting the order on his head, a reply.'
Footnotes
* Concerning the matter of Brahman relating to the person of Krishna adds theparampar: 'One who is favored by the Lord's internal
potency can understand the nature of the Absolute Truth [or Brahman]; this understanding is called Krishna consciousness'.
** According S'rdhara Svm would Lord Krishna in this before sunrise first offering oblations and then doing the mantra follow to the
disciplic succession from Kanva Muni [mentioned in 9.20].
*** With the M.W. dictionary confirming to the term badva used here the meaning of 'a great number' quotes S'rdhara Svm several Vedic
scriptures to show that in the context of Vedic ritual, abadva here refers to 13,084 cows and further gives evidence that the usual practice for
great saintly kings in previous ages was to give 107 such badva, or groups of 13,084 cows. Thus the total number of cows given in this
sacrifice, known as Macra, could have amounted to 14 lakhs, or 1.400.000.

Chapter 71
The Lord Travels to Indraprastha on Advice of Uddhava
(1) S'r S'uka said: 'Hearing thus what was stated by the devarishi, spoke the gifted Uddhava with
understanding for the stance taken by the royal assembly and Krishna. (2) S'r Uddhava said: 'O Lord,
You should do what the rishi said, and be of assistance to him, Your father's son, who intends to perform
sacrifice, and You should as well offer those [the kings] protection who seek their refuge. (3) Since the
Rjasya sacrifice should be performed by the one who gained the upper hand in all directions o Almighty
One, will You, in my opinion, with conquering the son of Jar be serving both purposes. (4) By this there
will be great gain for us and for You, o Govinda, and You will release the kings imprisoned; thus
proceeding will it be Your glory. (5) He [Jarsandha] is a king as strong as a thousand elephants and
cannot be conquered by other men of power, save for Bhma who is equally strong. (6) Only chariot-tochariot can he be defeated, not when he is together with a hundred akshauhins; also will he, devoted as
he is to the brahminical, never refuse what the learned ask from him. (7) Visiting him wearing the dress of
a brahmin must Bhma beg for charity and without hesitation kill him in Your presence in a one-to-one
fight. (8) Hiranyagarbha ['the one of the golden light' or Brahm] and S'arva [he who kills by the arrow, viz.
S'iva, see 7.10: 67], are of You, the Controller of the Universe, of Your formlessness of Time, but the
instrument in creation and annihilation. (9) In their homes do the godly wives of the [imprisoned] kings
sing about Your spotless deeds. They sing about You killing their enemy and delivering their husbands;
just as the gops do [in missing You, see 10.31] and the lord of the elephants [Gajendra being captured
see 8.3], just as the daughter of Janaka did [Rmacandra's St, see 9.10] and Your parents [when in
Kamsa's prison, see 10.3], and so too do the sages upon having obtained your shelter [see e.g. 9.5] as
well as we sing about You. (10) The killing of Jarsandha, o Krishna, surely will bring us an immense
advantage, namely the consequent excellence [of the kings] nd the sacrifice favored by You.'
(11) S'r S'uka said: 'The words Uddhava thus stated, in every way auspicious and infallible o King, were
by the devarishi, the Yadu elders and by Krishna as well praised in response. (12) The Almighty Supreme
Lord, the son of Devak, took leave from those He owed respect [following the human ways] and next
ordered His servants Druka, Jaitra and others to prepare for His departure. (13) Sending away His wives
and sons for the luggage and saying goodbye to Sankarshana [Balarma] and the Yadu king [Ugrasena],
o killer of the enemies, mounted He His chariot brought by His driver, from which the flag of Garuda
waved. (14) Then, surrounded by His chiefs and fierce guards, chariots, elephants, infantry and cavalry His personal army - moved He out with from all sides vibrating the sounds of mridangas, bher horns,

gomukha horns, kettledrums and conchshells. (15) In golden palanquins carried by men, came following
in fine clothes, ornamented, with perfumed oils and garlands, Acyuta's wives along with their children well
guarded by soldiers with shields and swords in their hands. (16) The well ornamented women of the
household and the courtesans came along with human carriers, camels, bulls, buffalo, donkeys, mules,
bullock carts and she-elephants fully loaded with grass-huts, blankets, clothing and more items like that.
(17) The huge army with a choice of flagpoles, banners, sunshades, yak-tail fans, weapons, jewelry,
helmets and armor appeared that day glittering and shining in the rays of the sun; with the rumour of its
sounds was it like an ocean restless with timingilas and waves. (18) After having heard and approved His
plan, bowed the muni [Nrada], being honored by the Lord of the Yadus and feeling happy over the
meeting with Mukunda, down to Him and went he, placing Him in his heart, away through the sky. (19)
The messenger of the kings was by the Supreme Lord, to please him with His word, addressed with: 'Do
not fear, o envoy, all fortune to you [and your kings]. I'll arrange for the killing of the king of Mgadha.'
(20) Thus being addressed departed the messenger who informed the kings in detail. They then, eager
for their liberation, awaited the moment they would meet S'auri. (21) Crossing through narta [the region
of Dvrak], Sauvra [eastern Gujarat], Marudes'a [the Rajasthan desert] and Vinas'ana [the district of
Kurukshetra], passed the Lord through hills, rivers, cities, villages, cow pastures and quarries. (22)
Mukunda first crossing the river Drishadvat then crossed the Sarasvat, then passed through the province
of Pacla and Matsya and finally reached Indraprastha. (23) Hearing that He, so rarely seen by human
beings, had arrived, marched he whose enemy never was born [king Yudhishthhira] out [of his city]
surrounded by his priests and relatives [in order to welcome Him]. (24) With an abundance of sounds of
songs and instrumental music and the vibration of hymns went he forth to Hrishkes'a, being as
reverential as the senses are tuned to life. (25) The heart of the Pndava seeing Lord Krishna after so
long a time melted with affection whereupon he embraced Him, his dearmost friend, over and over. (26)
The ruler of man closing in his arms the body of Mukunda, the shining abode of Ram, found all his illfortune destroyed and achieved the highest bliss, in his exhilaration with tears in his eyes forgetting the
illusory affair of being embodied in the material world. (27) Bhma filled with joy embracing Him, his
maternal nephew, laughed out of love with eyes brimming with tears and also of the twins [Nakula and
Sahadeva] and of Kirt ['he with the helmet' or Arjuna] flowed profusely the tears as they with pleasure
embraced Acyuta, their dearmost friend. (28) After He was embraced by Arjuna and had received the
twins their obeisances, bowed He, according the etiquette, before the brahmins, the elders and the
honorable Kurus, Srijayas and Kaikayas. (29) The bards, the chroniclers, the singers of heaven, the
eulogists and jesters with mridangas, conches, kettledrums,vns, small drums and gomukha horns, all
sang, danced and glorified with hymns the Lotus-eyed one as also did the brahmins. (30) The Supreme
Lord, the Crest Jewel of the Renown of Piety, thus being glorified by His well-wishers around Him,
entered the decorated city. (31-32) In the city of the king of the Kurus He saw the roads sprinkled with
water fragrant of the mada[the rut-liquid] of elephants, colorful flags, gateways decorated with golden pots
full of water and young men and women all in new apparel with ornaments, flower garlands and
sandalwood on their bodies. In each home lamps were lit and offerings of tribute displayed with the
smoke of incense drifting from the latticed windows and banners waving from the roofs that were adorned
with golden domes with large silver bases. (33) Hearing of the arrival of the Reservoir for the Eyes of Man
to Drink from, went the young women, to look on, onto the king's road thereby immediately abandoning
their households or their husbands in bed, with the knots still in their hair and their dresses loosened in
their eagerness. (34) There, very crowded with elephants, horses, chariots and soldiers on foot, caught
they the sight of Krishna with His wives, and while they embraced Him in their hearts, scattered the
women who [because of the commotion] had climbed onto the rooftops, flowers while giving Him a
heartfelt welcome with broad smiles to their glances. (35) Seeing Mukunda's wives on the road like stars
around the moon, exclaimed the women: 'What did they do that the Diadem of Men with the small portion
of His playful smiles and glances grants their eyes the honor of the [complete] festival?' (36) Here and
there approached citizens with auspicious offerings in their hands and performed the masters of the
guilds, who banned their sins, worship for Krishna. (37) As He entered the king's palace approached the
members of the royal household all in a flurry to greet full of love and with blossoming eyes Mukunda.
(38) When Prith [queen Kunt] saw her brother's son, Krishna, the Controller of the Three Worlds, rose
she with a heart full of love from her couch together with her daughter-in-law [Draupad] in order to
embrace Him. (39) The king bringing Govinda, the Supreme God of All Gods, to His quarters could,
overwhelmed by his great joy, not remember anymore what all had to be done for the reverential display

of worship. (40) Krishna performed an offering of obeisances in respect of His father's sister and the
elderly women, o King, and so also did His sister [Subhadr] and Krishn [Draupad] bow down to Him.
(41-42) Prompted by her mother-in-law [Kunt] worshiped Krishn [Draupad] with clothing, flower
garlands, jewelry and so on, all Krishna's wives: Rukmin, Satyabhm, Bhadr, Jmbavat, Klind,
Mitravind the descendant of S'ibi, the chaste Ngnajit as well as the others who had come. (43) The
king of dharma [Yudhishthhira] comfortably accommodating Janrdana with His army, His servants and
ministers and His wives saw to it that they were provided each and every moment. (44-45) Staying
several months according His desire to please the king, went He, sporting with Arjuna and surrounded by
guards, out riding with His chariot. He, accompanied by Arjuna, satisfied the fire-god by offering him the
Khndava forest. Maya [a demon] whom He had saved, then built a celestial assembly hall for the king [in
Hastinpura].'

Chapter 72
Jarsandha Killed by Bhma and the Kings Freed
(1-2) S'r S'uka said: 'Once seated in his court surrounded by the sages, the nobles, the popular
personalities, the business men and his brothers, addressed Yudhishthhira Krishna in the midst of all
thecryas, the family, the elders, his blood relatives, in-laws and friends listening, and said he the
following. (3) S'r Yudhishthhira said: 'O Govinda, I wish to honor the manifold glory of You with the
purifying king of all fire sacrifices named Rjasya; please allow us that to perform o Master. (4) They
who constantly in full service meditate upon and glorify Your slippers, which cause the destruction of all
things inauspicious, are purified; they, and not other persons, o You whose Navel is like a Lotus, manage
to put an end to a material existence or obtain, if they desire something, that what they long for. (5)
Therefore o God of Gods, let the populace see the power in this world of serving the lotus feet; please
show, o All-powerful one, the status of those Kurus and Srijayas who worship You like this, relative to the
status of those who do not worship. (6) In Your mind of Absolute Truth can there be no difference between
what is Your own and what is of others, for You are the Soul of All Beings who equal in Your vision
experience within Yourself the happiness. To those who properly serve You are You like the desire tree
granting the desired results in accordance with the service delivered - in this [catering to desires of You]
there is no contradiction.'
(7) The Supreme Lord said: 'There is nothing wrong with your plan o King, following it will all the world
witness your auspicious fame, o tormentor of the enemies! (8) For the sages, the forefathers, the gods
and the friends also, o master of Us, as well as for all living beings is this king of sacrifices [the literal
meaning of Rjasja] desirable. (9) Bringing the earth under control, conquering all the kings and
collecting all the necessities, [you must next] perform the great sacrifice. (10) These brothers of yours o
King, were born as individual parts of the demigods who rule the worlds [see family-tree], and I,
unconquerable for those who are not in control of themselves, am won by you who are self-controlled.
(11) No person, not even a demigod - not mentioning an earthly ruler -, can by his strength, beauty, fame
or might subdue in this world someone who is dedicated to Me.'
(12) S'r S'uka said: 'With a face blossoming like a lotus, pleased to hear the song [the Gt] of the
Supreme Lord, engaged he, invigorated by the potency of Vishnu, his brothers in the conquest of all the
directions. (13) Sahadeva with the Srijayas he sent to the south, Nakula with the Matsyas in the western
direction, Arjuna with the Kekayas to the north and Bhma with the Madrakas to the east. (14) They, the
heroes, with their personal strength subduing many kings brought from everywhere an abundance of
riches to him of whom, intent upon performing the sacrifice, the enemy wasn't born, o King. (15) The king
pondering over the news that Jarsandha was not defeated, was by the Original Person of the Lord
enlightened on the means which thereto had been mentioned by Uddhava [in 10.71: 2-10]. (16) And so
went Bhmasena, Arjuna and Krishna disguised as brahmins together to Girivraja, my dear, where the son
of Brihadratha [Jarsandha] resided. (17) Going to his residence at the hour appointed for receiving
uninvited guests begged the nobles, appearing as brahmins, with the religious householder who was of
respect for brahmins: (18) 'O King, know us to be guests who in their need have arrived from afar; wishing

you all the best, please grant us all that we desire. (19) What would for a person of patience be
intolerable, what would for the impious all be impossible, what wouldn't be donated by the generous, and
who would exclude those who are equal in their vision? (20) He indeed is contemptible and pitiable who,
very well being able, with the temporary existence of his body fails to acquire the lasting fame as sung by
the saintly. (21) Many like Haris'candra, Rantideva, Uchavritti Mudgala, S'ibi, Bali, and the legendary
hunter and pigeon [see*], attained the permanent by departing from the impermanent.'
(22) S'r S'uka said: 'However, from their voices, their physical stature and the marks of bowstrings on
their arms even, recognized he [Jarsandha] them as nobles, as members of the family he had seen
before. (23) [he thought:] 'These relatives of the royal class wearing the insignia of brahmins I should give
whatever they ask for, even something as difficult to forsake as my own body. (24-25) Isn't it known of Bali
that his glories spread wide in all directions because of his spotless rule of state, even though he was
brought down by Lord Vishnu [Vmana] who, in the guise of a brahmin appearing as a twice-born one of
Vishnu, wanted to take away Indra's opulence? Knowingly gave he away the entire earth, despite the
advise against the daitya king [Bali] received [from his guru, see 8.19]. (26) What use at all is it for a
fallenkshatriya to be alive but with his perishable body not to endeavor for the benefit, the greater glory, of
the brahmins?' (27) Thus being a broad-minded person said he to Krishna, Arjuna and Vrikodara ['wolfbelly' or Bhma]: 'O men of learning, ask me whatever you want, I'll even give my own head to you!'
(28) The Supreme Lord said: 'Please o high and mighty King, accept the challenge to give us battle in a
one-to-one fight; we, members of the royalty, came here wishing a fight and don't want anything else. (29)
That one is Bhma the son of Prith and this other one is Arjuna in person and I, I am Krishna their
maternal cousin, your enemy as you know [see 10.50].'
(30) Thus being invited had the king of Magadha to laugh out loud and said he contemptuously: 'In that
case, I'll give you battle, you fools! (31) But I won't fight with You. Cowardly, You lacked in strength in
battle when You abandoned Your own city Mathur to leave for a safe place in the ocean. (32) As for this
one, Arjuna, he, not old enough nor very strong, is no match for me and shouldn't be the contender;
Bhma is the one equal in strength to me.'
(33) Thus having spoken gave he Bhma a large club and went he outside the city, himself taking another
one. (34) Then, engaged in the fighting area, stroke the two heroes each other with their lightning-bolt like
clubs. The fight drove them to mad fury. (35) Skillfully circling left and right appeared the two thus moving
around in the fight, as splendidly as a couple of actors on a stage. (36) When they swung their clubs
against each other gave that a sound resembling a crash of lightning, o King, or the clattering of the tusks
of elephants. (37) Infuriated vigorously fighting like a couple of elephants were the clubs that with the
rapid force of their arms powerfully were swung against each other's shoulders, hips, feet, hands, thighs
and collarbones, in the contact smashed to pieces like some arka branches. (38) With their clubs thus
ruined pummeled the two great heroes among men angrily each other with their fists iron to the touch.
The slapping of their hands sounded like elephants crashing into each other or as harsh claps of thunder.
(39) With the two thus striking, equally trained, strong and of endurance as they were, remained the fight
undecided and continued it unabated, o King. [**] (40) Knowing of the birth and death of the enemy and
how he was brought to life by Jar [see 9.22: 8 and ***], empowered Krishna the son of Prith with His
own power of thought. (41) Having determined the means to kill their enemy showed He whose Vision is
Infallible it to Bhma by tearing apart a twig as a sign. (42) Understanding that seized the immensely
strong Bhma, the best of fighters, his enemy by the feet and threw he him to the ground. (43) Standing
with his foot on top of one leg took he with both hands hold of the other one and tore he, like a great
elephant with the branch of a tree, him apart from the anus upward. (44) The king's subjects then saw him
separated in two pieces with each one leg, thigh, testicle, hip, backside, shoulder, arm, eye, eyebrow and
ear. (45) With the lord of Magadha being killed arose a great cry of lamentation, while Arjuna and Acyuta
both congratulated Bhma as they embraced him. (46) The Unfathomable One Supreme Lord and
Sustainer of All Living Beings crowned his son Sahadeva to be the lord and master of the Magadhas and
next freed the kings who were imprisoned by the king of Magadha.'
Footnotes

* The story goes that the pigeon and his mate gave their own flesh to a hunter to prove their hospitality, and thus they were taken to heaven in
a celestial airplane. When the hunter understood their situation in the mode of goodness, he also became renounced, gave up hunting and
went off to perform severe austerities. Because he was freed of all sins, was he, after his body burned to death in a forest fire, elevated to
heaven.
** Somecryas include the following two verses in the text of this chapter, and S'rla Prabhupda has also translated them in 'Krishna':
evam tayor mah-rja
yudhyatoh sapta-vims'atih
dinni niragams tatra
suhrid-van nis'i tishthhatoh
ekad mtuleyam vai
prha rjan vrikodarah
na s'akto 'ham jarsandham
nirjetum yudhi mdhava
"Thus, O King, they continued to fight for twenty-seven days. At the end of each day's fighting, both lived at night as friends in Jarsandha's
palace. Then on the twenty-eighth day, O King, Vrikodara [Bhma] told his maternal cousin, 'Mdhava, I cannot defeat Jarsandha in battle.'
"
*** S'rla Prabhupda writes "Jarsandha was born in two different parts from two different mothers. When his father saw that the baby was
useless, he threw the two parts in the forest, where they were later found by a black-hearted witch named Jar. She managed to join the two
parts of the baby from top to bottom. Knowing this, Lord Krishna therefore also knew how to kill him."

Chapter 73
Lord Krishna Blesses the Liberated Kings
(1-6) S'r S'uka said: 'The twenty thousand eight hundred [kings] who in battle were defeated came out of
the fortress of Giridron [the capital] dirty and with dirty clothes. Emaciated of hunger, with dried up faces
and because of their imprisonment being greatly weakened drank they Him in with their eyes and were
they as if licking with their tongues, as if smelling Him with their nostrils and embracing Him with their
arms. He the One dark gray like a cloud, in yellow clothing, marked by the S'rvatsa, by four arms,
charming eyes pinkish as the whorl of a lotus, a pleasant face, the gleaming makara [seamonster shaped]
earrings; with a lotus, a club, a conchshell and a disc in His hands; a helmet, necklace, golden bracelets,
a belt and armlets decorating Him and with the splendid brilliant jewel and a forest flower garland around
His neck. They, whose sins were destroyed, bowed, with their heads down at His feet. (7) And while the
kings with joined palms with their words praised the Master of the Senses was by the ecstasy of seeing
Krishna the weariness of their imprisonment dispelled.
(8) The kings said: 'Obeisances to You, o God of the Gods, o Lord of the Surrendered and Remover of
Distress, o Inexhaustible One; please o Krishna save us, the surrendered ones who are so despondent
about the terrible of a material existence. (9) O Madhusdana, we do not point our finger, o Master, at the
ruler of Magadha since it is by Your furthering of the good, o Almighty One, that kings [in defiance] fall
from their position. (10) Exhilarated and clamoring with the sovereignty and opulence does a king not
obtain the real benefit in his being deluded by Your mythinking that the temporary assets would be
permanent. (11) The same way as a child considers a mirage a reservoir of water, do those lacking in
discrimination see the illusory subject to transformation as substantial. (12-13) We who before in our
lusting about the wealth lost our sight and quarreling with each other about ruling this earth very
mercilessly harassed our own citizens o Master, have with [You as] death standing before us arrogantly
disregarded You. We o Krishna, have been forced to part from our opulence in our pride being hurt by
Your mercy in the form of the irresistible power of the Time which moves so mysteriously. We beg You to
allow us please to live in the remembrance of Your feet. (14) Henceforward we no longer hanker for a
kingdom that appearing like a mirage must constantly be served by the material body that subjected to
demise is a source of disease; nor do we, o Almighty One, hanker for the fruit of pious work in an
hereafter so attractive to the ears [compare B.G. 1: 32-35]. (15) Please instruct us in the means by which
we may remember Your lotus-like feet, even though we time and again keep returning to this world [see
B.G. 8: 14]. (16) Over and over our obeisances for Krishna the son of Vasudeva, the Lord and Supersoul
of the ones of salute; to Govinda, the Destroyer of the Distress.'

(17) S'r S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the Giver of Shelter, commendably praised by the kings freed
from their bondage, my dear, mercifully spoke to them with gentle words. (18) The Supreme Lord said: 'I
assure you, as from now, o Kings, as you wish will rise your very firm devotion to Me, the Self and
Controller of All. (19) Your resolve is fortunate, o rulers, for I see you truthfully speak about the impudent
infatuation one can have with the opulence and power that is so maddening to the human being. (20)
Haihaya [or Krtavryrjuna 9.15: 25], Nahusha [9.18: 1-3], Vena [see 4.14], Rvana [9.10], Naraka [or
Bhauma 10.59: 2-3] and others fell from their positions as gods, demons and men because of their being
intoxicated by the opulence. (21) You, understanding that this material body and such is subject to birth
and finality, should, in being connected to Me in worship with sacrifices, protect your citizens according
the dharma. (22) Facing the facts of happiness and distress, birth and death, should you engage in
begetting generations of progeny, while you in the spirit are fixed in accepting Me. (23) Neutral in relation
to the body and all that and, steadfast in keeping to the vows, being satisfied within, will you, fully
concentrating your minds upon Me, in the end reach Me, the Absolute of the Truth [compare B.G. 4: 9; 8:
7; 9: 28; 12: 3-4].'
(24) S'r S'uka said: 'Krishna, the Supreme Lord and Controller of All the Worlds, who thus had instructed
the kings, engaged menservants and women in bathing them. (25) O descendent of Bharata, He took
care that Sahadeva [Jarsandha's son] served them befittingly with clothing, ornaments, garlands and
sandalwood paste. (26) Properly bathed and well decorated were they fed with excellent food and
bestowed with various pleasures worthy of kings like bethelnut etc. (27) Honored by Mukunda shone the
kings freed from their distress splendidly with their gleaming earrings like they were the planets at the end
of the rainy season. (28) Having them mount chariots with fine horses adorned with gold and jewels sent
He, gratifying them with pleasing words, off to their own kingdoms. (29) They, the greatest of
personalities, who thus by Krishna were liberated from all difficulty went away thinking of nothing but the
deeds of Him, the Lord of the Living Being that is the Universe. (30) To their ministers and other
associates they spoke of the activities of the Supreme Personality and just as the Lord had instructed
carried they out His orders diligently. (31) Having had Jarsandha killed by Bhmasena, departed, after
being worshiped by Sahadeva, Kes'ava, accompanied by the two sons of Prith. (32) Arriving in
Indraprastha blew they the conchshells that brought discomfiture to the enemies they defeated but now
brought delight to their well-wishers. (33) The residents of Indraprastha pleased in their heart to hear that,
understood that Jarsandha was put to rest and that the king [Yudhishthhira] his objectives were met. (34)
Arjuna, Bhma and Janrdana then recounted, after having offered the king their obeisances, everything
they had done. (35) The king of the dharma couldn't speak a word when he heard that. In ecstasy over
Krishna's mercy shed he tears out of love.'

Chapter 74
The Rjasya: Krishna the First and S'is'upla Killed
(1) S'r S'uka said: 'Yudhishthhira, the king, thus hearing of the death of Jarsandha and the display of
power of the almighty Krishna, pleased with that addressed Him. (2) S'r Yudhishthhira said: 'All the
spiritual masters, inhabitants, and great controllers there are of the three worlds, carry the indeed rarely
obtained command [of You] on their heads. (3) That He, the Lotus-eyed Lord Yourself, takes directions of
those to the day living people [like us] who presume themselves to be controllers, is, o All-pervading One,
the greatest annoyance. (4) Like with the sun indeed, does of the One without a Second, the Absolute
Truth, the Supersoul, the power not increase nor diminish by [His] activities [see B.G. 2: 40]. (5) O
Mdhava, the perverted mentality of setting apart 'you and yours' and 'I and mine', as if one is of the
animals, is verily not Yours, o Unconquerable One, nor of your bhaktas.'
(6) S'r S'uka said: 'Thus having spoken chose the son of Prith, at the right time for the sacrifice, with the
permission of Krishna the priests who were suitable, the brahmins who were vedic experts: (7-9)
Dvaipyana [Vysa], Bharadvja, Sumantu, Gotama, Asita, Vasishthha, Cyavana, Kanva, Maitreya,
Kavasha, Trita, Vis'vmitra, Vmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila, Pars'ara, Garga, Vais'ampyana
as also Atharv, Kas'yapa, Dhaumya, Rma of the Bhrgavas [Pras'urma], suri, Vtihotra,

Madhucchand, Vrasena and Akritavrana. (10-11) Also invited were others like Drona, Bhshma, Kripa
and Dhritarshthra with his sons, and the highly intelligent Vidura; kings with their royal entourages,
brahmins, kshatriyas, vais'yas and s'dras, all came there eager to attend the sacrifice, o King. (12) Then
furrowed the brahmins with plowshares of gold the place of worshiping the gods and inaugurated they
there the king according the injunctions. (13-15) The utensils were of gold like it had been in the past
when Varuna sacrificed [compare 9.2: 27]. The rulers of the worlds headed by Indra, including Brahm
and S'iva; the perfected and heavenly singers with their entourage; the scholars, the great serpents
[v.i.p.s, egos], the sages, the wealth keepers and wild men; the birds of heaven [see khaga], the mighty,
the venerable and the earthly kings who were invited, as also the wives of the kings came from
everywhere to the Rjasya sacrifice which they, not being surpised, for a devotee of Krishna deemed
quite appropriate. (16) The priests who were as powerful as the gods performed for the great king the
Rjasya sacrifice as was vedically prescribed, exactly the way the demigods had done it for Varuna.(17)
On the day for extracting the soma-juice worshiped the king very attentively the sacrificers and the
exalted personalities of the assembly. (18) The members seated in the assembly pondering over who of
them deserved to be worshiped first could not arrive at a conclusion because there were many [who
qualified]; then Sahadeva [the Pndava] spoke up: (19) 'Acyuta for sure deserves the supreme position,
He is the Supreme Lord, the leader of the Stvatas, He doubtlessly covers all the demigods as well as the
place, time and necessities and such. (20-21) This universe as well as the great sacrificial performances,
the sacred fire, the oblations and the incantations are founded upon Him and the analytical perspective
and the yoga are aiming at Him. He is the One alone without a second upon whom the Living Being
builds, the Unborn One relying on Himself alone, o members of the assembly, who creates, maintains and
destroys. (22) He generates the various activities out here; to His grace does the whole world endeavor
and follow its ideals known as the religiosity and so on [thepurusharthas]. (23) Therefore should the
greatest honor be given to Krishna, the Supreme One; if we do it this way, will we be honoring all living
beings as well as ourselves. (24) It is to be given to Krishna, the Soul of all beings who sees no one as
separate from Himself; to the One of Peace Perfectly Complete who for one who wishes his love to be
reciprocated, is the Unlimited [the Infinite of Return].'
(25) Sahadeva thus speaking fell silent and all the ones of excellence and truth who heard this and had
awoken to the influence of Krishna said happily: 'This is excellent, very fine!'
(26) Hearing what the twice-born pronounced, worshiped the king overwhelmed by love Hrishkes'a fully,
glad to know that the members of the assembly were content. (27-28) Washing His feet and taking the
water that purifies the world on his own head, carried he it with pleasure to his wife, his brothers, his
ministers and family. And as he with precious yellow silken garments and jewelry was honoring Him, could
he, with the tears filling his eyes, not look Him straight in His face. (29) Seeing Him honored this way
exclaimed all the people with joined palms: 'Obeisances to You, all victory to You!' and to that they bowed
down to Him and showered they Him with flowers.
(30) The son of Damaghosha [S'is'upla, see 10.53] hearing this rose, aroused by the descriptions of
Krishna's qualities, from his seat angrily waving with his arms and said, resolutely addressing the
Fortunate One with harsh words, this in the middle of the assembly: (31) 'The vedic word of truth that
Time is the unavoidable controller, has been proven true since even the intelligence of the elders could be
led astray by the words of a boy! (32) All of you very well know who would be the most praiseworthy;
please, all you leaders of the assembly, pay no attention to the statements of the boy that Krishna should
be chosen for being honored. (33-34) You overlook the leaders in the assembly who are the best among
the wise. They, dedicated to the Absolute Truth, are held high by the local authorities, they are men who
by spiritual understanding, austerity, vedic knowledge and vows eradicated their impurities. How can a
cowherd, who is a disgrace to His family, deserve it to be worshiped? He deserves it no more than a crow
deserves the sacred rice cake! (35) How can He, acting on His own accord and devoid ofkula [a proper
upbringing] varna [vocational propriety] and s'rama [sense of duty to one's age], thus missing the
qualities, deserve it to be worshiped? (36) With their [Yadu-]dynasty cursed by Yayti [see 9.18: 40-44],
being ostracized by well-behaved persons [see 10.52: 9] and wantonly addicted to drinking [e.g. 10.67: 910], how can such a one deserve the worship? (37) Abandoning the lands [of Mathur] graced by the

brahmin sages took these Ones to a fortress in the sea [10.50: 49] where the brahminical is not observed
[10.57: 30], and where They as thieves give a lot of trouble to the people [e.g. 10.61].'
(38) Before him who, with speaking such and more harsh words, had lost all his chances, spoke the
Supreme Lord not a word. He kept silent like a lion to a jackal's cry. (39) Hearing that intolerable criticism,
covered the members of the assembly their ears and went they away cursing the king of Cedi angrily. (40)
A person dedicated to Him who does not leave the place where criticism of the Supreme Lord is heard,
will, having lost his pious credit, fall down. (41) The sons of Pndu, the Matsyas, Kaikayas and Srijayas
then, infuriated raising their weapons, stood prepared to kill S'is'upla. (42) Thereupon, o scion of
Bharata, took S'is'upla undaunted up his sword and shield to challenge with insults the kings in the
assembly who were the proponents of Krishna. (43) The Supreme Lord just then rising stopped His
devotees and displeased attacked His enemy with His sharp-edged disc with which He severed his head.
(44) With S'is'upla killed there was a tumultuous uproar among the audience, which thus offered the
kings who sided with him and feared for their lives the opportunity to flee. (45) Right before the eyes of all
the living rose from the body of S'is'upla a light that entered Krishna like it was a meteor from the sky
falling to earth [see also 10.12: 33]. (46) Extending throughout three lifetimes had he been obsessed by a
mentality of enmity and attained he thus meditating Oneness with Him [B.G. 4: 9]. It is really so that one's
attitude is the cause of one's rebirth! [see B.G. 8: 6 & Jaya and Vijaya] (47) The emperor gave in gratitude
the priests and the members of the assembly abundant gifts, respecting them all properly according the
scriptural injunctions, and performed theavabhritha ceremony [of washing himself and the utensils to
conclude the sacrifice]. (48) Krishna, the Controller of the Controllers of Yoga, seeing to it that the
sacrifice of the king was performed, stayed a couple of months [in Indraprastha] on the request of His
well-wishers. (49) Then asking permission with a reluctant king, went the son of Devak, s'vara, with His
wives and ministers away to His own city. (50) The tale of the two Vaikunthha residents that due to the
curse of the learned ones had to be born again and again, has by me been related to you in detail [see
3.16]. (51) King Yudhishthhira in the midst of the brahmins and kshatriyas bathing at theavabhritha of the
Rjasja shone as brilliant as the king of the demigods. (52) All the gods, humans and beings in the sky
[the lesser gods, the Pramathas] honored by the king happily returned to their own domains, full of praise
for Krishna and the sacrifice. (53) [All were happy], except for the sinful Duryodhana, who was the pest of
the Kuru dynasty and the personification of the Age of Quarrel. To face the flourishing opulence of the
Pndavas was something he couldn't bear.
(54) He who recites these activities of Lord Vishnu, the deliverance of the kings, the sacrifice and the
killing of the king of Cedi and such, is delivered from all sin.'

Chapter 75
Concluding the Rjasya and Duryodhana Laughed at
(1-2) The honorable king said: 'All the human divinity, o brahmin, that assembled at the Rjasya sacrifice
of Ajtas'atru [he whose enemy was never born, or Yudhishthhira], were delighted with the great
festiveness they saw: the kings, the sages and the godly, thus I heard my lord, except for Duryodhana;
please enlighten us on the reason for that.'
(3) The son of Vysa said: 'At the Rjasya sacrifice of the great soul of your grandfather were the family
members who were bound in divine love, engaged in humbly serving him. (4-7) Bhma was in charge of
the kitchen, Duryodhana supervised the finances, Sahadeva did the reception and Nakula procured the
needed items. Arjuna served the preceptors, Krishna washed the feet, the daughter of Drupada served
the food and the magnanimous Karna handed out the gifts. Yuyudhna, Vikarna, Hrdikya, Vidura and
others like the sons of Bhlka headed by Bhris'rav and Santardana, were, eager to please the king,
willing to engage in the diversity of duties at the time of the elaborate sacrifice, o best of kings. (8) The
priests, the prominent officials, the highly learned and all the best well-wishers, being well honored with
pleasing words, auspicious offerings and gifts of gratitude, executed, after the king of Cedi had entered
the feet of the master of the Stvatas, the avabhritha bathing in the river of heaven [the Yamun]. (9) To

begin with the avabhrithacelebration sounded the music of a variety of gomukha horns, kettledrums, large
drums, mridangas, smaller drums and conchshells. (10) Women dancers danced and singers sang
joyfully in groups as the loud sound of their vns, flutes and hand cymbals touched the heavens. (11) The
kings with necklaces of gold took off [to the Yamun] with footsoldiers, flags and banners of different
colors, excellent majestic elephants, chariots and horses that were finely caparisoned. (12) The Yadus,
Srijayas, Kmbojas, Kurus, Kekayas and Kos'alas with their armies, headed by [the king,] the performer
of the sacrifice, made the earth tremble. (13) The ones officiating, the priests and the brahmins of
excellence loudly vibrated the vedic mantras, while the gods and sages, the forefathers and singers of
heaven recited praises and rained down flowers. (14) Men and women nicely adorned with sandalwood
paste, garlands, jewelry and clothes, smeared and sprinkled each other playing with various liquids. (15)
The courtesans were by the men playfully smeared with yogurt and perfumed water with plenty of
turmeric and vermilion powder, and so smeared they in return [*]. (16) The queens guarded by soldiers
went, just as did the wives of the gods in their celestial chariots in the sky, out to witness this firsthand and
as they by their cousins and friends were sprinkled, was it a beautiful sight to see their faces blossoming
with shy smiles. (17) They, their brothers-in-law, their friends and so on, all squirted with syringes to which
their arms, breasts, thighs and waists due to the excitement became visible with their dresses drenched
and loosened, and the braids of small flowers in their hair slipped; and so did they in the process of their
charming play agitate the ones impure of mind. (18) He, the emperor mounted his chariot with excellent
horses and shone, hung with gold, forth with his wives as the king of sacrifices, the Rjasya with all its
rituals, in person. (19) After having executed the patn-samyja- [**] and avabhritha ceremonies, made the
priests him perform thecamana of sipping water for purification, and bathe in the Ganges together with
Draupad. (20) The kettledrums of the gods resounded together with those of the human beings while the
godly, the sages, the forefathers and the humans created a rain of flowers. (21) After this bathed all
humans of all classes and orders in that place where even the greatest sinner can instantly be freed from
all contamination. (22) The king next putting on a new set of silken garments, nicely ornamented honored
the priests, the ones officiating and the brahmins with jewelry and clothing. (23) In diverse ways went the
king, devoted to Nryana, at lengths in proving his respects to the kings, his friends, well-wishers, direct
family, more distant relatives as also to others. (24) All the men, jeweled with earrings, wearing flowers
and turbans, jackets and silks as well as the most precious pearl necklaces, shone like the demigods; just
as did the women who with the beauty of their faces adorned with pairs of earrings and locks of hair
wearing golden belts, radiated brilliantly. (25-26) Then, with his permission, did the priests highly
respected, the officials, the vedic experts, the brahmins, the kshatriyas, vais'yas, s'dras and the kings
who had come and, o king, along with their followers, the local rulers, the spirits, the forefathers and
demigods had been worshiped, go back to their own abodes. (27) Like mortal men drinking the amrita
had they never enough of glorifying the great celebration of the Rjasya sacrifice of the saintly king, the
servant of Lord Krishna. (28) In pain because of being separated from Krishna had king Yudhishthhira as
said [in 10.74: 48] in his love for his family members and relatives difficulty letting them go. (29) My dear,
in order to please him stayed the Supreme Lord there. The Yadu heroes who for that purpose were
headed by Smba he sent off to Dvrak. (30) This way was the king, the son of Dharma [Yamarja or
Dharma, the lord of the duties] successfully crossing over the so difficult to overcome ocean of his
desires, by Krishna freed from the fever [see also 10.63: 23].
(31) Duryodhana was pained when he saw within the palace the opulence of the Rjasya and the
greatness of him [Yudhishthhira] whose very soul was Acyuta. (32) In it were brought together all the
different opulences of the kings of men, the kings of demons and the kings of the godly. Being provided
by the cosmic architect [Maya Dnava], served that wealth the daughter of king Drupada with her
husbands [the Pndavas]. Himself also attracted to her lamented the heart of the Kuru-prince. (33) The
thousands of queens of the lord of Mathur were at the time there present, most attractive with their
waists and heavy hips, moving around slowly with their feet charmingly tinkling, with their pearl necklaces
reddened by thekunkuma from their breasts and with their beautiful faces richly adorned with earrings and
locks of hair. (34-35) In the assembly hall constructed by Maya it so happened that the son of Dharma,
the emperor in person, accompanied by his attendants, his family and also Krishna, his Very Eye, was
seated on a throne of gold as if he, with the opulences of supreme rulership, was Indra, joined and being
praised by the court poets. (36) There, o King, then entered Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers.
Proud as a peacock wearing a crown and necklace, had he constantly his hand on his sword while angrily
insulting [the doorkeepers]. (37) Bewildered by the magic of Maya taking the solid floor he saw for water,

held he the end of his garment high, but further up fell he in water which he took for a solid floor. (38)
Bhma seeing it laughed out loadly as also did the women, the kings and the rest, who, my dear, even
though they were checked by the king, had the approval of Krishna. (39) He [Duryodhana], burning with
anger, embarrassed holding his face low, went hurt inside off to Hastinpura. When that happened rose
from the truthfull a very noisy 'Alas alas!' Ajtas'atru [the king] felt somewhat disheartened while the
Supreme Lord, from whose glance the bewilderment rose, kept silent, being prepared to remove the
burden from the earth [see also 1.15: 25-26, 10.2: 38 and 10.63: 27].
(40) I've now spoken about what you've asked me, o King, regarding the depravity of Duryodhana during
the great Rjasya sacrifice.'
Footnotes:
*: Present day India knows the tradition of the Holi celebrations, the festival of colors once a year on the morning after the full moon in early
March every year, where one plays this game. It celebrates the arrival of spring and the death of the demoness Holika. Holika was the sister of
Hiranyakas'ipu who fighting Prahlda couldn't succeed in killing him [see 7.5]. She, said to be fire resistant, sitting with him in a fire couldn't
harm him. He remained unscathed, but she burned in the fire to ashes. Thus are with Holi the night before great bonfires lit to commemorate
the story. Although Holi is observed all over the north, it's celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathur, Vrindvana, Nandgaon, and
Barsnar (the places where Lord Krishna and S'ri Rdh grew up). Lord Krishna, while growing up in Vraja, popularized the festival with His
ingenious pranks. The gops of Vraja responded with equal enthusiasm and the festivities have continued ever since. Role reversal with
travesty, feminism etc. are accepted customs for the duration of the festival. Men and women of Vraja clash in a colorful display of a mock
battle of the sexes. A naturally occurring orange-red dye, Kesudo, is used to drench all participants.
**: Thepatn-samyja ritual is the ritual performed by the sponsor of the sacrifice and his wife, consisting of oblations to Soma, Tvashth, the
wives of certain demigods, and Agni.

Chapter 76
The Battle Between S'lva and the Vrishnis
(1) S'r S'uka said: 'Please, o King, now hear how Krishna, in His body playing the human, in yet another
wonderful deed of His killed the lord of Saubha. (2) He with the name of S'lva, came as a friend of
S'is'upla to Rukmin's wedding and was by the Yadus defeated in battle together with Jarsandha and
others [see 10.54 and also 10.50]. (3) Before all the kings listening he made the pledge: 'Wait and see, I'll
rid the earth of the Ydavas with all I can.'
(4) The foolish king vowed thus ate only once a day a handful of dust in worshiping as his master the lord
protecting the animallike [pictured as Pas'upati or S'iva with S'lva praying as a boy together with Yama].
(5) At the end of a year gave the great lord who is quickly pleased [s'utosha], the master of Um, S'lva,
who had approached him for shelter, the choice of a benediction. (6) He chose a vehicle terrifying to the
Vrishnis with which he could travel at will and which would be indestructible to the gods, the demons, the
humans, the singers of heaven, the serpents and the wild men. (7) With the lord of the mountain saying
'so be it' was Maya Dnava, there for outdoing the cities of the enemies [see 7.10: 53], commissioned to
construct for, and offer to S'lva a [flying] fortress made of iron named Saubha. (8) When he obtained the
vehicle that, as an abode of darkness, moving to his liking, was unassailable, went S'lva to Dvrak,
bearing in mind the enmity shown by the Vrishnis. (9-11) O best of the Bharatas, S'lva, besieging the city
with a large army, laid in ruins the parks, the gardens and all the towers, gateways, mansions, outer walls,
outlook posts and recreational areas surrounding it. From that superiorvimna of his descended torrents
of weapons, stones and trees as also thunderbolts, snakes and hailstones, while with the rise of a fierce
whirlwind all the directions were covered with dust. (12) The city of Krishna thus terribly tormented by
Saubha could, just as the earth with Tripura [see 7.10: 56], o King, find no peace.
(13) The Great Lord Pradyumna seeing how His subjects were being harassed then said to them: 'Do not
fear!', after which the great hero who was of an untold g