Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 4 — Chapter 16
SB 4 16.1
मैत्रेय उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं गायका मुनि-चोदिताः तुष्टुवुस् तुष्ट-मनसस् तद्-वाग्-अमृत-सेवया
maitreya uvāca iti bruvāṇaṃ nṛpatiṃ gāyakā muni-coditāḥ tuṣṭuvus tuṣṭa-manasas tad-vāg-amṛta-sevayā
Maitreya said: To the king who spoke thus, the singers, urged on by the sages, offered praise, their minds delighted by partaking of the nectar of his speech.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.2
नालं वयं ते महिमानुवर्णने यो देव-वर्यो ऽवततार मायया वेनाङ्ग-जातस्य च पौरुषाणि ते वाचस्-पतीनाम् अपि बभ्रमुर् धियः
nālaṃ vayaṃ te mahimānuvarṇane yo deva-varyo 'vatatāra māyayā venāṅga-jātasya ca pauruṣāṇi te vācas-patīnām api babhramur dhiyaḥ
We are not competent to describe your greatness — you, foremost among the gods, who have descended by (your own) māyā; and as for the heroic deeds of you who were born from Vena's body, even the minds of the masters of speech have gone astray.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.3
अथाप्य् उदार-श्रवसः पृथोर् हरेः कलावतारस्य कथामृतादृताः यथोपदेशं मुनिभिः प्रचोदिताः श्लाघ्यानि कर्माणि वयं वितन्महि
athāpy udāra-śravasaḥ pṛthor hareḥ kalāvatārasya kathāmṛtādṛtāḥ yathopadeśaṃ munibhiḥ pracoditāḥ ślāghyāni karmāṇi vayaṃ vitanmahi
Even so, holding dear the nectar of the tales of Pṛthu of noble renown, a partial descent of Hari, and urged on by the sages, we shall set forth his praiseworthy deeds according to their instruction.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.4
एष धर्म-भृतां श्रेष्ठो लोकं धर्मे ऽनुवर्तयन् गोप्ता च धर्म-सेतूनां शास्ता तत्-परिपन्थिनाम्
eṣa dharma-bhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho lokaṃ dharme 'nuvartayan goptā ca dharma-setūnāṃ śāstā tat-paripanthinām
He is the best of the upholders of dharma, making the world follow dharma; he is the guardian of the embankments of dharma and the chastiser of those who oppose it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.5
एष वै लोक-पालानां बिभर्त्य् एकस् तनौ तनूः काले काले यथा-भागं लोकयोर् उभयोर् हितम्
eṣa vai loka-pālānāṃ bibharty ekas tanau tanūḥ kāle kāle yathā-bhāgaṃ lokayor ubhayor hitam
He alone bears in his own body the bodies of the guardians of the worlds, at each due time and each in its proper share, for the welfare of both worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.6
वसु काल उपादत्ते काले चायं विमुञ्चति समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रतपन् सूर्यवद् विभुः
vasu kāla upādatte kāle cāyaṃ vimuñcati samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu pratapan sūryavad vibhuḥ
At the (proper) time he takes wealth, and at the (proper) time he releases it; equal towards all beings, blazing like the sun, he is all-pervading.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.7
तितिक्षत्य् अक्रमं वैन्य उपर्य् आक्रमताम् अपि भूतानां करुणः शश्वद् आर्तानां क्षिति-वृत्तिमान्
titikṣaty akramaṃ vainya upary ākramatām api bhūtānāṃ karuṇaḥ śaśvad ārtānāṃ kṣiti-vṛttimān
The son of Vena endures wrongdoing even from those who trample upon him; ever compassionate to afflicted creatures, he behaves as the earth does.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.8
देवे ऽवर्षत्य् असौ देवो नरदेव-वपुर् हरिः कृच्छ्र-प्राणाः प्रजा ह्य् एष रक्षिष्यत्य् अञ्जसेन्द्रवत्
deve 'varṣaty asau devo naradeva-vapur hariḥ kṛcchra-prāṇāḥ prajā hy eṣa rakṣiṣyaty añjasendravat
When the god (of rain) does not rain, this god, Hari in the body of a man-god, will straightaway protect the people whose lives are in peril, as Indra does.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.9
आप्याययत्य् असौ लोकं वदनामृत-मूर्तिना सानुरागावलोकेन विशद-स्मित-चारुणा
āpyāyayaty asau lokaṃ vadanāmṛta-mūrtinā sānurāgāvalokena viśada-smita-cāruṇā
He refreshes the world with the nectar-form of his face, with its loving glance, charming with a bright smile.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.10
अव्यक्त-वर्त्मैष निगूढ-कार्यो गम्भीर-वेधा उपगुप्त-वित्तः अनन्त-माहात्म्य-गुणैक-धामा पृथुः प्रचेता इव संवृतात्मा
avyakta-vartmaiṣa nigūḍha-kāryo gambhīra-vedhā upagupta-vittaḥ ananta-māhātmya-guṇaika-dhāmā pṛthuḥ pracetā iva saṃvṛtātmā
His course is unmanifest, his work hidden, his purpose deep, his wealth kept concealed; he is the sole abode of endless greatness and virtues — Pṛthu, self-contained like Pracetas (Varuṇa).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.11
दुरासदो दुर्विषह आसन्नो ऽपि विदूरवत् नैवाभिभवितुं शक्यो वेनारण्य्-उत्थितो ऽनलः
durāsado durviṣaha āsanno 'pi vidūravat naivābhibhavituṃ śakyo venāraṇy-utthito 'nalaḥ
Hard to approach, hard to withstand, though near he is as if far away, and he cannot be overpowered at all — a fire risen from the kindling-wood that was Vena.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.12
अन्तर् बहिश् च भूतानां पश्यन् कर्माणि चारणैः उदासीन इवाध्यक्षो वायुर् आत्मेव देहिनाम्
antar bahiś ca bhūtānāṃ paśyan karmāṇi cāraṇaiḥ udāsīna ivādhyakṣo vāyur ātmeva dehinām
Observing, by means of his agents, the deeds of living beings within and without, he is like a detached overseer — like the vital air, the self of embodied beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.13
नादण्ड्यं दण्डयत्य् एष सुतम् आत्म-द्विषाम् अपि दण्डयत्य् आत्मजम् अपि दण्ड्यं धर्म-पथे स्थितः
nādaṇḍyaṃ daṇḍayaty eṣa sutam ātma-dviṣām api daṇḍayaty ātmajam api daṇḍyaṃ dharma-pathe sthitaḥ
He does not punish one who is not to be punished, not even the son of his own enemies; but standing on the path of dharma, he punishes even his own son if he deserves punishment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.14
अस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रं पृथोर् आमानसाचलात् वर्तते भगवान् अर्को यावत् तपति गो-गणैः
asyāpratihataṃ cakraṃ pṛthor āmānasācalāt vartate bhagavān arko yāvat tapati go-gaṇaiḥ
This Pṛthu's wheel (of sovereignty) rolls unobstructed as far as Mount Mānasa, as long as the lord sun burns with his rays.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.15
रञ्जयिष्यति यल् लोकम् अयम् आत्म-विचेष्टितैः अथामुम् आहू राजानं मनो-रञ्जनकैः प्रजाः
rañjayiṣyati yal lokam ayam ātma-viceṣṭitaiḥ athāmum āhū rājānaṃ mano-rañjanakaiḥ prajāḥ
Because he will please the people by his own actions, the subjects will therefore call him 'king' (rājan), on account of his gratifying of their minds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.16
दृढ-व्रतः सत्य-सन्धो ब्रह्मण्यो वृद्ध-सेवकः शरण्यः सर्व-भूतानां मानदो दीन-वत्सलः
dṛḍha-vrataḥ satya-sandho brahmaṇyo vṛddha-sevakaḥ śaraṇyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ mānado dīna-vatsalaḥ
Firm in his vows, true to his word, devoted to brāhmaṇas, a servant of elders, a refuge for all beings, giving honour, tender toward the wretched;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.17
मातृ-भक्तिः पर-स्त्रीषु पत्न्याम् अर्ध इवात्मनः प्रजासु पितृवत् स्निग्धः किङ्करो ब्रह्म-वादिनाम्
mātṛ-bhaktiḥ para-strīṣu patnyām ardha ivātmanaḥ prajāsu pitṛvat snigdhaḥ kiṅkaro brahma-vādinām
having devotion (as) to a mother toward other men's wives, (regarding) his own wife as half of himself, affectionate toward his subjects like a father, a servant of those who speak of Brahman;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.18
देहिनाम् आत्मवत्-प्रेष्ठः सुहृदां नन्दि-वर्धनः मुक्त-सङ्ग-प्रसङ्गो ऽयं दण्ड-पाणिर् असाधुषु
dehinām ātmavat-preṣṭhaḥ suhṛdāṃ nandi-vardhanaḥ mukta-saṅga-prasaṅgo 'yaṃ daṇḍa-pāṇir asādhuṣu
dear to embodied beings as their own self, increasing the joy of his friends, keeping company with those free of attachment — yet with rod in hand toward the wicked.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.19
अयं तु साक्षाद् भगवांस् त्र्य्-अधीशः कूट-स्थ आत्मा कलयावतीर्णः यस्मिन्न् अविद्या-रचितं निरर्थकं पश्यन्ति नानात्वम् अपि प्रतीतम्
ayaṃ tu sākṣād bhagavāṃs try-adhīśaḥ kūṭa-stha ātmā kalayāvatīrṇaḥ yasminn avidyā-racitaṃ nirarthakaṃ paśyanti nānātvam api pratītam
But he is directly the Lord himself, the master of the three, the unchanging Self, descended by a portion (of himself) — in whom (wise men) see the manifold, though it appears, to be fashioned by ignorance and without meaning.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.20
अयं भुवो मण्डलम् ओदयाद्रेर् गोप्तैक-वीरो नरदेव-नाथः आस्थाय जैत्रं रथम् आत्त-चापः पर्यस्यते दक्षिणतो यथार्कः
ayaṃ bhuvo maṇḍalam odayādrer goptaika-vīro naradeva-nāthaḥ āsthāya jaitraṃ ratham ātta-cāpaḥ paryasyate dakṣiṇato yathārkaḥ
This sole hero, protector of the disc of the earth as far as the mountain of sunrise, the lord of the rulers of men, mounting his victorious chariot with bow taken up, will move round toward the right, like the sun.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.21
अस्मै नृ-पालाः किल तत्र तत्र बलिं हरिष्यन्ति सलोक-पालाः मंस्यन्त एषां स्त्रिय आदि-राजं चक्रायुधं तद्-यश उद्धरन्त्यः
asmai nṛ-pālāḥ kila tatra tatra baliṃ hariṣyanti saloka-pālāḥ maṃsyanta eṣāṃ striya ādi-rājaṃ cakrāyudhaṃ tad-yaśa uddharantyaḥ
To him, indeed, the protectors of men in every place, together with the guardians of the (world-)regions, will bring tribute; and their women, lifting up his fame (in song), will regard him as the first king, the wielder of the disc.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.22
अयं महीं गां दुदुहे ऽधिराजः प्रजापतिर् वृत्ति-करः प्रजानाम् यो लीलयाद्रीन् स्व-शरास-कोट्या भिन्दन् समां गाम् अकरोद् यथेन्द्रः
ayaṃ mahīṃ gāṃ duduhe 'dhirājaḥ prajāpatir vṛtti-karaḥ prajānām yo līlayādrīn sva-śarāsa-koṭyā bhindan samāṃ gām akarod yathendraḥ
This supreme king milked the earth as a cow — a lord of creatures, providing the livelihood of his subjects — who, splitting the hills in play with the tip of his bow, made the earth level, as Indra did.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.23
विस्फूर्जयन्न् आज-गवं धनुः स्वयं यदाचरत् क्ष्माम् अविषह्यम् आजौ तदा निलिल्युर् दिशि दिश्य् असन्तो लाङ्गूलम् उद्यम्य यथा मृगेन्द्रः
visphūrjayann āja-gavaṃ dhanuḥ svayaṃ yadācarat kṣmām aviṣahyam ājau tadā nililyur diśi diśy asanto lāṅgūlam udyamya yathā mṛgendraḥ
When, twanging his bow of goat's and bull's horn, he himself moved over the earth, unbearable in battle, then the wicked hid away in every direction, as (beasts do) when the lion lifts its tail.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.24
एषो ऽश्वमेधाञ् शतम् आजहार सरस्वती प्रादुरभावि यत्र अहार्षीद् यस्य हयं पुरन्दरः शत-क्रतुश् चरमे वर्तमाने
eṣo 'śvamedhāñ śatam ājahāra sarasvatī prādurabhāvi yatra ahārṣīd yasya hayaṃ purandaraḥ śata-kratuś carame vartamāne
He performed a hundred horse sacrifices, where the Sarasvatī became manifest; and when the last one was in progress, Purandara, of the hundred rites, carried off his horse.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.25
एष स्व-सद्मोपवने समेत्य सनत्-कुमारं भगवन्तम् एकम् आराध्य भक्त्यालभतामलं तज् ज्ञानं यतो ब्रह्म परं विदन्ति
eṣa sva-sadmopavane sametya sanat-kumāraṃ bhagavantam ekam ārādhya bhaktyālabhatāmalaṃ taj jñānaṃ yato brahma paraṃ vidanti
Having approached, in the garden by his own palace, the blessed Sanat-kumāra, and having worshipped him alone with devotion, he obtained that spotless knowledge by which they know the supreme Brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.26
तत्र तत्र गिरस् तास् ता इति विश्रुत-विक्रमः श्रोष्यत्य् आत्माश्रिता गाथाः पृथुः पृथु-पराक्रमः
tatra tatra giras tās tā iti viśruta-vikramaḥ śroṣyaty ātmāśritā gāthāḥ pṛthuḥ pṛthu-parākramaḥ
There and there, Pṛthu of vast prowess, of far-famed valour, will hear such and such words, verses composed about himself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 16.27
दिशो विजित्याप्रतिरुद्ध-चक्रः स्व-तेजसोत्पाटित-लोक-शल्यः सुरासुरेन्द्रैर् उपगीयमान- महानुभावो भविता पतिर् भुवः
diśo vijityāpratiruddha-cakraḥ sva-tejasotpāṭita-loka-śalyaḥ surāsurendrair upagīyamāna- mahānubhāvo bhavitā patir bhuvaḥ
Having conquered the quarters, his wheel unimpeded, having by his own power torn out the thorn of the world, his great might sung by the lords of gods and demons, he will become the master of the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition