Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 4 — Chapter 20
SB 4 20.1
मैत्रेय उवाच भगवान् अपि वैकुण्ठः साकं मघवता विभुः यज्ञैर् यज्ञ-पतिस् तुष्टो यज्ञ-भुक् तम् अभाषत
maitreya uvāca bhagavān api vaikuṇṭhaḥ sākaṃ maghavatā vibhuḥ yajñair yajña-patis tuṣṭo yajña-bhuk tam abhāṣata
Maitreya said: The Lord too, Vaikuṇṭha, the all-pervading one, master of sacrifice and eater of sacrifice, pleased by the sacrifices, spoke to him together with Maghavan.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.2
श्री-भगवान् उवाच एष ते ऽकार्षीद् भङ्गं हय-मेध-शतस्य ह क्षमापयत आत्मानम् अमुष्य क्षन्तुम् अर्हसि
śrī-bhagavān uvāca eṣa te 'kārṣīd bhaṅgaṃ haya-medha-śatasya ha kṣamāpayata ātmānam amuṣya kṣantum arhasi
The Blessed Lord said: This one caused the breaking off of your hundred horse sacrifices; he is begging pardon; you ought to forgive him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.3
सुधियः साधवो लोके नरदेव नरोत्तमाः नाभिद्रुह्यन्ति भूतेभ्यो यर्हि नात्मा कलेवरम्
sudhiyaḥ sādhavo loke naradeva narottamāḥ nābhidruhyanti bhūtebhyo yarhi nātmā kalevaram
The intelligent and good in this world, O god among men, the best of men, do not bear malice toward living beings, since the self is not the body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.4
पुरुषा यदि मुह्यन्ति त्वादृशा देव-मायया श्रम एव परं जातो दीर्घया वृद्ध-सेवया
puruṣā yadi muhyanti tvādṛśā deva-māyayā śrama eva paraṃ jāto dīrghayā vṛddha-sevayā
If persons such as you are bewildered by the illusion of the gods, then nothing but toil has come of your long service to the elders.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.5
अतः कायम् इमं विद्वान् अविद्या-काम-कर्मभिः आरब्ध इति नैवास्मिन् प्रतिबुद्धो ऽनुषज्जते
ataḥ kāyam imaṃ vidvān avidyā-kāma-karmabhiḥ ārabdha iti naivāsmin pratibuddho 'nuṣajjate
Therefore the learned man, being awakened, knowing that this body has been set going by ignorance, desire and past acts, does not cling to it at all.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.6
असंसक्तः शरीरे ऽस्मिन्न् अमुनोत्पादिते गृहे अपत्ये द्रविणे वापि कः कुर्यान् ममतां बुधः
asaṃsaktaḥ śarīre 'sminn amunotpādite gṛhe apatye draviṇe vāpi kaḥ kuryān mamatāṃ budhaḥ
Being unattached to this body, what wise man would claim as 'mine' a house produced by it, or children, or wealth?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.7
एकः शुद्धः स्वयं-ज्योतिर् निर्गुणो ऽसौ गुणाश्रयः सर्व-गो ऽनावृतः साक्षी निरात्मात्मात्मनः परः
ekaḥ śuddhaḥ svayaṃ-jyotir nirguṇo 'sau guṇāśrayaḥ sarva-go 'nāvṛtaḥ sākṣī nirātmātmātmanaḥ paraḥ
This (self) is one, pure, self-luminous, free of the qualities yet their support, all-pervading, uncovered, a witness, distinct from the body, the self of the self, and beyond (it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 20.8
य एवं सन्तम् आत्मानम् आत्म-स्थं वेद पूरुषः नाज्यते प्रकृति-स्थो ऽपि तद्-गुणैः स मयि स्थितः
ya evaṃ santam ātmānam ātma-sthaṃ veda pūruṣaḥ nājyate prakṛti-stho 'pi tad-guṇaiḥ sa mayi sthitaḥ
The person who knows the self to be such and to abide in itself, though placed in material nature, is not stained by its qualities; he stands in me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.9
यः स्व-धर्मेण मां नित्यं निराशीः श्रद्धयान्वितः भजते शनकैस् तस्य मनो राजन् प्रसीदति
yaḥ sva-dharmeṇa māṃ nityaṃ nirāśīḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ bhajate śanakais tasya mano rājan prasīdati
He who worships me constantly by his own prescribed duty, free of expectations and endowed with faith—his mind, O king, gradually becomes serene.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.10
परित्यक्त-गुणः सम्यग् दर्शनो विशदाशयः शान्तिं मे समवस्थानं ब्रह्म कैवल्यम् अश्नुते
parityakta-guṇaḥ samyag darśano viśadāśayaḥ śāntiṃ me samavasthānaṃ brahma kaivalyam aśnute
Having given up the qualities, with right vision and a clear disposition, he attains peace, my own state, Brahman, the absolute.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.11
उदासीनम् इवाध्यक्षं द्रव्य-ज्ञान-क्रियात्मनाम् कूट-स्थम् इमम् आत्मानं यो वेदाप्नोति शोभनम्
udāsīnam ivādhyakṣaṃ dravya-jñāna-kriyātmanām kūṭa-stham imam ātmānaṃ yo vedāpnoti śobhanam
He who knows this self—the overseer, as though indifferent, of the (bodily principles) whose nature is substance, knowledge and action, and unchanging amid them—attains what is good.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 20.12
भिन्नस्य लिङ्गस्य गुण-प्रवाहो द्रव्य-क्रिया-कारक-चेतनात्मनः दृष्टासु सम्पत्सु विपत्सु सूरयो न विक्रियन्ते मयि बद्ध-सौहृदाः
bhinnasya liṅgasya guṇa-pravāho dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmanaḥ dṛṣṭāsu sampatsu vipatsu sūrayo na vikriyante mayi baddha-sauhṛdāḥ
The stream of the qualities belongs to the separate subtle body, whose nature is substance, action, agent and consciousness; when successes and failures are seen, the wise, who have bound themselves in friendship with me, are not disturbed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 20.13
समः समानोत्तम-मध्यमाधमः सुखे च दुःखे च जितेन्द्रियाशयः मयोपकॢप्ताखिल-लोक-संयुतो विधत्स्व वीराखिल-लोक-रक्षणम्
samaḥ samānottama-madhyamādhamaḥ sukhe ca duḥkhe ca jitendriyāśayaḥ mayopakḷptākhila-loka-saṃyuto vidhatsva vīrākhila-loka-rakṣaṇam
Being even-minded, regarding the superior, the middling and the low as the same, and likewise in pleasure and pain, with senses and mind subdued, and joined with all the people provided by me, carry out, O hero, the protection of all the world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.14
श्रेयः प्रजा-पालनम् एव राज्ञो यत् साम्पराये सुकृतात् षष्ठम् अंशम् हर्तान्यथा हृत-पुण्यः प्रजानाम् अरक्षिता कर-हारो ऽघम् अत्ति
śreyaḥ prajā-pālanam eva rājño yat sāmparāye sukṛtāt ṣaṣṭham aṃśam hartānyathā hṛta-puṇyaḥ prajānām arakṣitā kara-hāro 'gham atti
Protection of the subjects is indeed the best course for a king, whereby at his passing on he takes a sixth part of their merit; otherwise, robbed of his own merit, one who does not protect the subjects while collecting taxes consumes their sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.15
एवं द्विजाग्र्यानुमतानुवृत्त- धर्म-प्रधानो ऽन्यतमो ऽवितास्याः ह्रस्वेन कालेन गृहोपयातान् द्रष्टासि सिद्धान् अनुरक्त-लोकः
evaṃ dvijāgryānumatānuvṛtta- dharma-pradhāno 'nyatamo 'vitāsyāḥ hrasvena kālena gṛhopayātān draṣṭāsi siddhān anurakta-lokaḥ
Thus, with dharma as your chief concern, following it as approved by the foremost of the twice-born, you will be an unrivalled protector of this (earth); in a short time, beloved of the people, you will see the perfected ones coming to your house.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.16
वरं च मत् कञ्चन मानवेन्द्र वृणीष्व ते ऽहं गुण-शील-यन्त्रितः नाहं मखैर् वै सुलभस् तपोभिर् योगेन वा यत् सम-चित्त-वर्ती
varaṃ ca mat kañcana mānavendra vṛṇīṣva te 'haṃ guṇa-śīla-yantritaḥ nāhaṃ makhair vai sulabhas tapobhir yogena vā yat sama-citta-vartī
And choose some boon from me, O lord of men, for I am bound by your qualities and conduct. I am indeed not easily won by sacrifices, by austerities, or by yoga — (I am won) by one who abides in evenness of mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.17
मैत्रेय उवाच स इत्थं लोक-गुरुणा विष्वक्सेनेन विश्व-जित् अनुशासित आदेशं शिरसा जगृहे हरेः
maitreya uvāca sa itthaṃ loka-guruṇā viṣvaksenena viśva-jit anuśāsita ādeśaṃ śirasā jagṛhe hareḥ
Maitreya said: Thus instructed by Viṣvaksena, the teacher of the worlds, the conqueror of all (Pṛthu) received Hari's command upon his head.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.18
स्पृशन्तं पादयोः प्रेम्णा व्रीडितं स्वेन कर्मणा शत-क्रतुं परिष्वज्य विद्वेषं विससर्ज ह
spṛśantaṃ pādayoḥ premṇā vrīḍitaṃ svena karmaṇā śata-kratuṃ pariṣvajya vidveṣaṃ visasarja ha
(Pṛthu) embraced the performer of a hundred sacrifices, who was touching his feet with affection, ashamed of his own deed, and let go of his enmity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.19
भगवान् अथ विश्वात्मा पृथुनोपहृतार्हणः समुज्जिहानया भक्त्या गृहीत-चरणाम्बुजः
bhagavān atha viśvātmā pṛthunopahṛtārhaṇaḥ samujjihānayā bhaktyā gṛhīta-caraṇāmbujaḥ
Then the Lord, the Self of all, being offered worship by Pṛthu, his lotus feet clasped with welling-up devotion —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.20
प्रस्थानाभिमुखो ऽप्य् एनम् अनुग्रह-विलम्बितः पश्यन् पद्म-पलाशाक्षो न प्रतस्थे सुहृत् सताम्
prasthānābhimukho 'py enam anugraha-vilambitaḥ paśyan padma-palāśākṣo na pratasthe suhṛt satām
— though set upon departing, he was held back by (his own) grace, and, the lotus-petal-eyed friend of the good, gazing at him, did not set out.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.21
स आदि-राजो रचिताञ्जलिर् हरिं विलोकितुं नाशकद् अश्रु-लोचनः न किञ्चनोवाच स बाष्प-विक्लवो हृदोपगुह्यामुम् अधाद् अवस्थितः
sa ādi-rājo racitāñjalir hariṃ vilokituṃ nāśakad aśru-locanaḥ na kiñcanovāca sa bāṣpa-viklavo hṛdopaguhyāmum adhād avasthitaḥ
That first of kings, his palms joined, was unable to look at Hari, his eyes (full) of tears; overcome by weeping he said nothing at all, but embracing him with his heart he held him (there) and stood still.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.22
अथावमृज्याश्रु-कला विलोकयन्न् अतृप्त-दृग्-गोचरम् आह पूरुषम् पदा स्पृशन्तं क्षितिम् अंस उन्नते विन्यस्त-हस्ताग्रम् उरङ्ग-विद्विषः
athāvamṛjyāśru-kalā vilokayann atṛpta-dṛg-gocaram āha pūruṣam padā spṛśantaṃ kṣitim aṃsa unnate vinyasta-hastāgram uraṅga-vidviṣaḥ
Then, wiping away his teardrops and gazing at the Person, who never came fully within the range of his unsated sight, he spoke — (to him) who touched the earth with one foot and had the tip of his hand laid on the raised shoulder of the enemy of serpents (Garuḍa).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.23
पृथुर् उवाच वरान् विभो त्वद् वरदेश्वराद् बुधः कथं वृणीते गुण-विक्रियात्मनाम् ये नारकाणाम् अपि सन्ति देहिनां तान् ईश कैवल्य-पते वृणे न च
pṛthur uvāca varān vibho tvad varadeśvarād budhaḥ kathaṃ vṛṇīte guṇa-vikriyātmanām ye nārakāṇām api santi dehināṃ tān īśa kaivalya-pate vṛṇe na ca
Pṛthu said: O all-pervading one, how would a wise man choose boons from you, the lord of the givers of boons — boons which belong even to embodied beings in hell, whose selves are transformed by the guṇas? Those, O Lord, O master of liberation, I do not choose.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.24
न कामये नाथ तद् अप्य् अहं क्वचिन् न यत्र युष्मच्-चरणाम्बुजासवः महत्तमान्तर्-हृदयान् मुख-च्युतो विधत्स्व कर्णायुतम् एष मे वरः
na kāmaye nātha tad apy ahaṃ kvacin na yatra yuṣmac-caraṇāmbujāsavaḥ mahattamāntar-hṛdayān mukha-cyuto vidhatsva karṇāyutam eṣa me varaḥ
Nor do I desire even that, O Master, ever, if the nectar of your lotus feet is not there. Grant me ten thousand ears for (that nectar) which drops from the mouths of the very greatest, out of the depths of their hearts: this is my boon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.25
स उत्तमश्लोक महन्-मुख-च्युतो भवत्-पदाम्भोज-सुधा कणानिलः स्मृतिं पुनर् विस्मृत-तत्त्व-वर्त्मनां कुयोगिनां नो वितरत्य् अलं वरैः
sa uttamaśloka mahan-mukha-cyuto bhavat-padāmbhoja-sudhā kaṇānilaḥ smṛtiṃ punar vismṛta-tattva-vartmanāṃ kuyogināṃ no vitaraty alaṃ varaiḥ
O you who are praised as the highest, that breeze of droplets of the nectar of your lotus feet, fallen from the mouths of the great, bestows memory once more on us, bad yogis who have forgotten the path of truth. Enough of boons!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.26
यशः शिवं सुश्रव आर्य-सङ्गमे यदृच्छया चोपशृणोति ते सकृत् कथं गुण-ज्ञो विरमेद् विना पशुं श्रीर् यत् प्रवव्रे गुण-सङ्ग्रहेच्छया
yaśaḥ śivaṃ suśrava ārya-saṅgame yadṛcchayā copaśṛṇoti te sakṛt kathaṃ guṇa-jño viramed vinā paśuṃ śrīr yat pravavre guṇa-saṅgrahecchayā
O you of glorious fame, if in the company of the noble one hears even once, even by chance, your auspicious glory — how could one who knows worth ever leave off, unless he be a beast? — that glory which Śrī chose out of a wish to obtain your qualities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.27
अथाभजे त्वाखिल-पूरुषोत्तमं गुणालयं पद्म-करेव लालसः अप्य् आवयोर् एक-पति-स्पृधोः कलिर् न स्यात् कृत-त्वच्-चरणैक-तानयोः
athābhaje tvākhila-pūruṣottamaṃ guṇālayaṃ padma-kareva lālasaḥ apy āvayor eka-pati-spṛdhoḥ kalir na syāt kṛta-tvac-caraṇaika-tānayoḥ
Therefore let me worship you, the best of all persons, the abode of all qualities, longing (for you) as the lotus-handed goddess does. May there be no quarrel between us two, who vie for one husband and whose sole intentness is set on your feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.28
जगज्-जनन्यां जगद्-ईश वैशसं स्याद् एव यत्-कर्मणि नः समीहितम् करोषि फल्ग्व् अप्य् उरु दीन-वत्सलः स्व एव धिष्ण्ये ऽभिरतस्य किं तया
jagaj-jananyāṃ jagad-īśa vaiśasaṃ syād eva yat-karmaṇi naḥ samīhitam karoṣi phalgv apy uru dīna-vatsalaḥ sva eva dhiṣṇye 'bhiratasya kiṃ tayā
O Lord of the world, in the matter of that action of ours which we desire there would surely be offence against the Mother of the world. Fond of the lowly, you make even a trifle great; but for one who delights in his own place, what need is there of her?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 20.29
भजन्त्य् अथ त्वाम् अत एव साधवो व्युदस्त-माया-गुण-विभ्रमोदयम् भवत्-पदानुस्मरणाद् ऋते सतां निमित्तम् अन्यद् भगवन् न विद्महे
bhajanty atha tvām ata eva sādhavo vyudasta-māyā-guṇa-vibhramodayam bhavat-padānusmaraṇād ṛte satāṃ nimittam anyad bhagavan na vidmahe
Rather, for this very reason do the good worship you, in whom the arising of the confusions of the guṇas of māyā has been cast out; apart from the constant remembrance of your feet, we know of no other motive of the good, O Lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.30
मन्ये गिरं ते जगतां विमोहिनीं वरं वृणीष्वेति भजन्तम् आत्थ यत् वाचा नु तन्त्या यदि ते जनो ऽसितः कथं पुनः कर्म करोति मोहितः
manye giraṃ te jagatāṃ vimohinīṃ varaṃ vṛṇīṣveti bhajantam āttha yat vācā nu tantyā yadi te jano 'sitaḥ kathaṃ punaḥ karma karoti mohitaḥ
I think your words, when you say to one who worships you, 'Choose a boon,' are bewildering to the worlds; for if a man is bound by your words as by a cord, how then, deluded, does he go on performing works?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 20.31
त्वन्-माययाद्धा जन ईश खण्डितो यद् अन्यद् आशास्त ऋतात्मनो ऽबुधः यथा चरेद् बाल-हितं पिता स्वयं तथा त्वम् एवार्हसि नः समीहितुम्
tvan-māyayāddhā jana īśa khaṇḍito yad anyad āśāsta ṛtātmano 'budhaḥ yathā cared bāla-hitaṃ pitā svayaṃ tathā tvam evārhasi naḥ samīhitum
Truly, O Lord, a man sundered by your māyā, being ignorant, longs for something other than the Self which is real. As a father himself does what is good for a child, so you alone should determine what is good for us.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.32
मैत्रेय उवाच इत्य् आदि-राजेन नुतः स विश्व-दृक् तम् आह राजन् मयि भक्तिर् अस्तु ते दिष्ट्येदृशी धीर् मयि ते कृता यया मायां मदीयां तरति स्म दुस्त्यजाम्
maitreya uvāca ity ādi-rājena nutaḥ sa viśva-dṛk tam āha rājan mayi bhaktir astu te diṣṭyedṛśī dhīr mayi te kṛtā yayā māyāṃ madīyāṃ tarati sma dustyajām
Maitreya said: Thus praised by the first of kings, that all-seeing one said to him: "O King, may you have devotion to me. Happily such an understanding has been fixed on me by you, by which one crosses over my māyā, so hard to abandon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.33
तत् त्वं कुरु मयादिष्टम् अप्रमत्तः प्रजापते मद्-आदेश-करो लोकः सर्वत्राप्नोति शोभनम्
tat tvaṃ kuru mayādiṣṭam apramattaḥ prajāpate mad-ādeśa-karo lokaḥ sarvatrāpnoti śobhanam
So do, undistracted, what has been enjoined by me, O lord of creatures; a man who carries out my command obtains what is good everywhere."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.34
मैत्रेय उवाच इति वैन्यस्य राजर्षेः प्रतिनन्द्यार्थवद् वचः पूजितो ऽनुगृहीत्वैनं गन्तुं चक्रे ऽच्युतो मतिम्
maitreya uvāca iti vainyasya rājarṣeḥ pratinandyārthavad vacaḥ pūjito 'nugṛhītvainaṃ gantuṃ cakre 'cyuto matim
Maitreya said: Thus, having applauded the meaningful words of the royal sage, the son of Vena, and having been honoured (by him), the Infallible one favoured him and set his mind on going.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.35
देवर्षि-पितृ-गन्धर्व- सिद्ध-चारण-पन्नगाः किन्नराप्सरसो मर्त्याः खगा भूतान्य् अनेकशः
devarṣi-pitṛ-gandharva- siddha-cāraṇa-pannagāḥ kinnarāpsaraso martyāḥ khagā bhūtāny anekaśaḥ
Gods, sages, forefathers, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, serpents, Kinnaras, Apsarās, mortals, birds, and beings of many kinds —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.36
यज्ञेश्वर-धिया राज्ञा वाग्-वित्ताञ्जलि-भक्तितः सभाजिता ययुः सर्वे वैकुण्ठानुगतास् ततः
yajñeśvara-dhiyā rājñā vāg-vittāñjali-bhaktitaḥ sabhājitā yayuḥ sarve vaikuṇṭhānugatās tataḥ
— all of them, honored by the king with words, with wealth, with folded hands and with devotion, in the conviction that they were (parts of) the Lord of sacrifice, then departed, following after (the Lord of) Vaikuṇṭha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.37
भगवान् अपि राजर्षेः सोपाध्यायस्य चाच्युतः हरन्न् इव मनो ऽमुष्य स्व-धाम प्रत्यपद्यत
bhagavān api rājarṣeḥ sopādhyāyasya cācyutaḥ harann iva mano 'muṣya sva-dhāma pratyapadyata
And the Lord, the imperishable one, as if carrying off the mind of that royal sage together with his priests, returned to his own abode.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 20.38
अदृष्टाय नमस्कृत्य नृपः सन्दर्शितात्मने अव्यक्ताय च देवानां देवाय स्व-पुरं ययौ
adṛṣṭāya namaskṛtya nṛpaḥ sandarśitātmane avyaktāya ca devānāṃ devāya sva-puraṃ yayau
Having bowed to him who is unseen yet had shown himself, to the unmanifest one, the God of gods, the king went to his own city.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition