Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 4 — Chapter 23
SB 4 23.1
मैत्रेय उवाच दृष्ट्वात्मानं प्रवयसम् एकदा वैन्य आत्मवान् आत्मना वर्धिताशेष- स्वानुसर्गः प्रजापतिः
maitreya uvāca dṛṣṭvātmānaṃ pravayasam ekadā vainya ātmavān ātmanā vardhitāśeṣa- svānusargaḥ prajāpatiḥ
Maitreya said: One day the son of Vena, self-possessed, the lord of creatures, who had himself increased all his own progeny, seeing that he was advanced in years,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.2
जगतस् तस्थुषश् चापि वृत्तिदो धर्म-भृत् सताम् निष्पादितेश्वरादेशो यद्-अर्थम् इह जज्ञिवान्
jagatas tasthuṣaś cāpi vṛttido dharma-bhṛt satām niṣpāditeśvarādeśo yad-artham iha jajñivān
A giver of livelihood to the moving and the unmoving alike, an upholder of dharma for the good, he had carried out the Lord's command, for the sake of which he had been born here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.3
आत्मजेष्व् आत्मजां न्यस्य विरहाद् रुदतीम् इव प्रजासु विमनःस्व् एकः स-दारो ऽगात् तपो-वनम्
ātmajeṣv ātmajāṃ nyasya virahād rudatīm iva prajāsu vimanaḥsv ekaḥ sa-dāro 'gāt tapo-vanam
Entrusting his daughter to his sons — she as if weeping from the coming separation — while his subjects were downcast, he went off alone, with his wife, to the forest of austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.4
तत्राप्य् अदाभ्य-नियमो वैखानस-सुसम्मते आरब्ध उग्र-तपसि यथा स्व-विजये पुरा
tatrāpy adābhya-niyamo vaikhānasa-susammate ārabdha ugra-tapasi yathā sva-vijaye purā
There too, unshakable in his observances, he began a fierce austerity, well approved among the forest-dwelling (vaikhānasa) ascetics, just as formerly (he had begun) his own conquest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.5
कन्द-मूल-फलाहारः शुष्क-पर्णाशनः क्वचित् अब्-भक्षः कतिचित् पक्षान् वायु-भक्षस् ततः परम्
kanda-mūla-phalāhāraḥ śuṣka-parṇāśanaḥ kvacit ab-bhakṣaḥ katicit pakṣān vāyu-bhakṣas tataḥ param
Living on bulbs, roots and fruits, at times eating dry leaves, for some fortnights drinking only water, and after that living on air.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.6
ग्रीष्मे पञ्च-तपा वीरो वर्षास्व् आसारषाण् मुनिः आकण्ठ-मग्नः शिशिरे उदके स्थण्डिले-शयः
grīṣme pañca-tapā vīro varṣāsv āsāraṣāṇ muniḥ ākaṇṭha-magnaḥ śiśire udake sthaṇḍile-śayaḥ
In summer the hero (stood) amid the five fires, in the rains the sage bore the downpours, in the cold season he was immersed up to the neck in water, and he slept on the bare ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.7
तितिक्षुर् यत-वाग् दान्त ऊर्ध्व-रेता जितानिलः आरिराधयिषुः कृष्णम् अचरत् तप उत्तमम्
titikṣur yata-vāg dānta ūrdhva-retā jitānilaḥ ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇam acarat tapa uttamam
Forbearing, restrained in speech, self-controlled, with his seed drawn upward, having conquered the breath, wishing to propitiate Kṛṣṇa, he practiced the highest austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.8
तेन क्रमानुसिद्धेन ध्वस्त-कर्म-मलाशयः प्राणायामैः सन्निरुद्ध- षड्-वर्गश् छिन्न-बन्धनः
tena kramānusiddhena dhvasta-karma-malāśayaḥ prāṇāyāmaiḥ sanniruddha- ṣaḍ-vargaś chinna-bandhanaḥ
By that (austerity), perfected step by step, the impure dispositions of his past action were destroyed; by breath-control the group of six was fully checked, and his bondage was cut.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.9
सनत्-कुमारो भगवान् यद् आहाध्यात्मिकं परम् योगं तेनैव पुरुषम् अभजत् पुरुषर्षभः
sanat-kumāro bhagavān yad āhādhyātmikaṃ param yogaṃ tenaiva puruṣam abhajat puruṣarṣabhaḥ
That supreme yoga pertaining to the self which the lord Sanat-kumāra had taught — by that very yoga that bull among men worshipped the Puruṣa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.10
भगवद्-धर्मिणः साधोः श्रद्धया यततः सदा भक्तिर् भगवति ब्रह्मण्य् अनन्य-विषयाभवत्
bhagavad-dharmiṇaḥ sādhoḥ śraddhayā yatataḥ sadā bhaktir bhagavati brahmaṇy ananya-viṣayābhavat
For that good man who followed the dharma of the Lord and always strove with faith, devotion to the Lord, to Brahman, arose, having no other object.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.11
तस्यानया भगवतः परिकर्म-शुद्ध- सत्त्वात्मनस् तद्-अनुसंस्मरणानुपूर्त्या अम्प्;ज्ञानं विरक्तिमद् अभून् निशितेन येन चिच्छेद संशय-पदं निज-जीव-कोशम्
tasyānayā bhagavataḥ parikarma-śuddha- sattvātmanas tad-anusaṃsmaraṇānupūrtyā jñānaṃ viraktimad abhūn niśitena yena ciccheda saṃśaya-padaṃ nija-jīva-kośam
For him, whose inner being was purified in its sattva by that service of the Lord, through the unbroken continuity of remembrance of Him, there arose by this (devotion) a knowledge charged with dispassion, sharpened by which he cut through the sheath of his own individual life, the seat of doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.12
छिन्नान्य-धीर् अधिगतात्म-गतिर् निरीहस् तत् तत्यजे ऽच्छिनद् इदं वयुनेन येन छिन्नान्य-धीर् अधिगतात्म-गतिर् निरीहस् तत् तत्यजे ऽच्छिनद् इदं वयुनेन येन तावन् न योग-गतिभिर् यतिर् अप्रमत्तो यावद् गदाग्रज-कथासु रतिं न कुर्यात्
chinnānya-dhīr adhigatātma-gatir nirīhas tat tatyaje 'cchinad idaṃ vayunena yena chinnānya-dhīr adhigatātma-gatir nirīhas tat tatyaje 'cchinad idaṃ vayunena yena tāvan na yoga-gatibhir yatir apramatto yāvad gadāgraja-kathāsu ratiṃ na kuryāt
With every other thought cut away, having attained the goal that is the self, free of striving, he gave up even that (knowledge) by which he had cut through this (bondage); for an ascetic, however heedful, does not (reach the goal) by the paths of yoga so long as he takes no delight in the tales of Gadāgraja (Kṛṣṇa).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 23.13
एवं स वीर-प्रवरः संयोज्यात्मानम् आत्मनि ब्रह्म-भूतो दृढं काले तत्याज स्वं कलेवरम्
evaṃ sa vīra-pravaraḥ saṃyojyātmānam ātmani brahma-bhūto dṛḍhaṃ kāle tatyāja svaṃ kalevaram
Thus that foremost of heroes, joining the self in the Self, become Brahman, firmly, when the time came, gave up his own body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.14
सम्पीड्य पायुं पार्ष्णिभ्यां वायुम् उत्सारयञ् छनैः नाभ्यां कोष्ठेष्व् अवस्थाप्य हृद्-उरः-कण्ठ-शीर्षणि
sampīḍya pāyuṃ pārṣṇibhyāṃ vāyum utsārayañ chanaiḥ nābhyāṃ koṣṭheṣv avasthāpya hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi
Pressing the anus with the two heels, slowly driving the breath upward, and settling it in turn at the navel, in the abdomen, in the heart, the chest, the throat and the head,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.15
उत्सर्पयंस् तु तं मूर्ध्नि क्रमेणावेश्य निःस्पृहः वायुं वायौ क्षितौ कायं तेजस् तेजस्य् अयूयुजत्
utsarpayaṃs tu taṃ mūrdhni krameṇāveśya niḥspṛhaḥ vāyuṃ vāyau kṣitau kāyaṃ tejas tejasy ayūyujat
and raising it up, placing it step by step in the crown, free of craving, he joined air into air, the body into earth, and fire into fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.16
खान्य् आकाशे द्रवं तोये यथा-स्थानं विभागशः क्षितिम् अम्भसि तत् तेजस्य् अदो वायौ नभस्य् अमुम्
khāny ākāśe dravaṃ toye yathā-sthānaṃ vibhāgaśaḥ kṣitim ambhasi tat tejasy ado vāyau nabhasy amum
the openings into space, the fluid into water, each to its own place, part by part: earth into water, that into fire, that into air, and that into space.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.17
इन्द्रियेषु मनस् तानि तन्-मात्रेषु यथोद्भवम् भूतादिनामून्य् उत्कृष्य महत्य् आत्मनि सन्दधे
indriyeṣu manas tāni tan-mātreṣu yathodbhavam bhūtādināmūny utkṛṣya mahaty ātmani sandadhe
The mind (he merged) into the senses, and these into the subtle elements according to their origin; and having drawn these out into the primal element (ego), he set them in the great principle, the mahat.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.18
तं सर्व-गुण-विन्यासं जीवे मायामये न्यधात् तं चानुशयम् आत्म-स्थम् असाव् अनुशयी पुमान् नान-वैराग्य-वीर्येण स्वरूप-स्थो ऽजहात् प्रभुः
taṃ sarva-guṇa-vinyāsaṃ jīve māyāmaye nyadhāt taṃ cānuśayam ātma-stham asāv anuśayī pumān nāna-vairāgya-vīryeṇa svarūpa-stho 'jahāt prabhuḥ
That whole array of the qualities he placed in the individual soul, which is made of māyā; and that residue (of karma) abiding in the self — that lord, bearing the residue, established in his own true form, abandoned by the force of complete dispassion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 23.19
अर्चिर् नाम महा-राज्ञी तत्-पत्न्य् अनुगता वनम् सुकुमार्य् अतद्-अर्हा च यत्-पद्भ्यां स्पर्शनं भुवः
arcir nāma mahā-rājñī tat-patny anugatā vanam sukumāry atad-arhā ca yat-padbhyāṃ sparśanaṃ bhuvaḥ
The great queen named Arci, his wife, followed him to the forest — she, delicate and not fit for it, whose feet had never (even) touched the ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.20
अतीव भर्तुर् व्रत-धर्म-निष्ठया शुश्रूषया चार्ष-देह-यात्रया नाविन्दतार्तिं परिकर्शितापि सा प्रेयस्कर-स्पर्शन-मान-निर्वृतिः
atīva bhartur vrata-dharma-niṣṭhayā śuśrūṣayā cārṣa-deha-yātrayā nāvindatārtiṃ parikarśitāpi sā preyaskara-sparśana-māna-nirvṛtiḥ
By her utter steadfastness in the vows and duties owed to her husband, by her service, and by a bodily regimen fit for sages, she, though wasted away, felt no distress, finding contentment in the touch and the regard of her beloved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.21
देहं विपन्नाखिल-चेतनादिकं पत्युः पृथिव्या दयितस्य चात्मनः आलक्ष्य किञ्चिच् च विलप्य सा सती चिताम् अथारोपयद् अद्रि-सानुनि
dehaṃ vipannākhila-cetanādikaṃ patyuḥ pṛthivyā dayitasya cātmanaḥ ālakṣya kiñcic ca vilapya sā satī citām athāropayad adri-sānuni
Seeing the body of her husband — the beloved of the earth and of herself — with all consciousness and the rest gone from it, and lamenting a little, that faithful wife then laid it on a pyre on the mountain slope.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.22
विधाय कृत्यं ह्रदिनी-जलाप्लुता दत्त्वोदकं भर्तुर् उदार-कर्मणः नत्वा दिवि-स्थांस् त्रिदशांस् त्रिः परीत्य विवेश वह्निं ध्यायती भर्तृ-पादौ
vidhāya kṛtyaṃ hradinī-jalāplutā dattvodakaṃ bhartur udāra-karmaṇaḥ natvā divi-sthāṃs tridaśāṃs triḥ parītya viveśa vahniṃ dhyāyatī bhartṛ-pādau
Having performed the (funeral) rites, bathed in the water of the river, and offered water for her husband of noble deeds, having bowed to the thirty (gods) dwelling in heaven and circled (the pyre) three times, she entered the fire, meditating on her husband's feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.23
विलोक्यानुगतां साध्वीं पृथुं वीर-वरं पतिम् तुष्टुवुर् वरदा देवैर् देव-पत्न्यः सहस्रशः
vilokyānugatāṃ sādhvīṃ pṛthuṃ vīra-varaṃ patim tuṣṭuvur varadā devair deva-patnyaḥ sahasraśaḥ
Seeing the chaste woman follow her husband Pṛthu, the best of heroes, the wives of the gods, granters of boons, together with the gods, praised her by the thousands.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.24
कुर्वत्यः कुसुमासारं तस्मिन् मन्दर-सानुनि नदत्स्व् अमर-तूर्येषु गृणन्ति स्म परस्परम्
kurvatyaḥ kusumāsāraṃ tasmin mandara-sānuni nadatsv amara-tūryeṣu gṛṇanti sma parasparam
Showering flowers there on the slope of Mandara, while the gods' drums sounded, they spoke to one another.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.25
देव्य ऊचुः अहो इयं वधूर् धन्या या चैवं भू-भुजां पतिम् सर्वात्मना पतिं भेजे यज्ञेशं श्रीर् वधूर् इव
devya ūcuḥ aho iyaṃ vadhūr dhanyā yā caivaṃ bhū-bhujāṃ patim sarvātmanā patiṃ bheje yajñeśaṃ śrīr vadhūr iva
The goddesses said: Ah, blessed is this wife, who thus served her husband, the lord of the rulers of the earth, with her whole self, as Śrī serves her husband, the lord of sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.26
सैषा नूनं व्रजत्य् ऊर्ध्वम् अनु वैन्यं पतिं सती पश्यतास्मान् अतीत्यार्चिर् दुर्विभाव्येन कर्मणा
saiṣā nūnaṃ vrajaty ūrdhvam anu vainyaṃ patiṃ satī paśyatāsmān atītyārcir durvibhāvyena karmaṇā
Surely this chaste woman is now going upward, following her husband, the son of Vena, passing beyond us and beyond Arci (the flame / the star Arundhatī) by her inconceivable deed. Look!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 23.27
तेषां दुरापं किं त्व् अन्यन् मर्त्यानां भगवत्-पदम् भुवि लोलायुषो ये वै नैष्कर्म्यं साधयन्त्य् उत
teṣāṃ durāpaṃ kiṃ tv anyan martyānāṃ bhagavat-padam bhuvi lolāyuṣo ye vai naiṣkarmyaṃ sādhayanty uta
But what else is hard for them to attain — the abode of the Lord — for mortals on earth whose lifespan is fleeting, who indeed accomplish freedom from (fruitive) action?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.28
स वञ्चितो बतात्म-ध्रुक् कृच्छ्रेण महता भुवि लब्ध्वापवर्ग्यं मानुष्यं विषयेषु विषज्जते
sa vañcito batātma-dhruk kṛcchreṇa mahatā bhuvi labdhvāpavargyaṃ mānuṣyaṃ viṣayeṣu viṣajjate
Alas, he is cheated and is his own enemy who, having with great difficulty obtained on earth a human birth capable of liberation, clings to sense objects.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.29
मैत्रेय उवाच स्तुवतीष्व् अमर-स्त्रीषु पति-लोकं गता वधूः यं वा आत्म-विदां धुर्यो वैन्यः प्रापाच्युताश्रयः
maitreya uvāca stuvatīṣv amara-strīṣu pati-lokaṃ gatā vadhūḥ yaṃ vā ātma-vidāṃ dhuryo vainyaḥ prāpācyutāśrayaḥ
Maitreya said: While the women of the gods were praising her, the wife went to her husband's world — that (world) which the son of Vena, foremost among the knowers of the self, who took refuge in the infallible Lord, had attained.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.30
इत्थम्-भूतानुभावो ऽसौ पृथुः स भगवत्तमः कीर्तितं तस्य चरितम् उद्दाम-चरितस्य ते
ittham-bhūtānubhāvo 'sau pṛthuḥ sa bhagavattamaḥ kīrtitaṃ tasya caritam uddāma-caritasya te
Such was the power of that Pṛthu, most exalted of the blessed; the deeds of him of unrestrained conduct have (now) been recounted to you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.31
य इदं सुमहत् पुण्यं श्रद्धयावहितः पठेत् श्रावयेच् छृणुयाद् वापि स पृथोः पदवीम् इयात्
ya idaṃ sumahat puṇyaṃ śraddhayāvahitaḥ paṭhet śrāvayec chṛṇuyād vāpi sa pṛthoḥ padavīm iyāt
Whoever, attentive and with faith, recites, causes others to hear, or hears this greatly meritorious (account) will attain the path of Pṛthu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.32
ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्म-वर्चस्वी राजन्यो जगती-पतिः वैश्यः पठन् विट्-पतिः स्याच् छूद्रः सत्तमताम् इयात्
brāhmaṇo brahma-varcasvī rājanyo jagatī-patiḥ vaiśyaḥ paṭhan viṭ-patiḥ syāc chūdraḥ sattamatām iyāt
A brāhmaṇa (reciting it) becomes radiant with brahman, a kṣatriya becomes lord of the earth, a vaiśya reciting it becomes chief of the merchants, and a śūdra attains the state of being the best (of men).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.33
त्रिः कृत्व इदम् आकर्ण्य नरो नार्य् अथवादृता अप्रजः सुप्रजतमो निर्धनो धनवत्तमः
triḥ kṛtva idam ākarṇya naro nāry athavādṛtā aprajaḥ suprajatamo nirdhano dhanavattamaḥ
A man or a woman who hears this three times with reverence, if childless becomes richly blessed with children, if poor becomes most wealthy;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.34
अस्पष्ट-कीर्तिः सुयशा मूर्खो भवति पण्डितः इदं स्वस्त्य्-अयनं पुंसाम् अमङ्गल्य-निवारणम्
aspaṣṭa-kīrtiḥ suyaśā mūrkho bhavati paṇḍitaḥ idaṃ svasty-ayanaṃ puṃsām amaṅgalya-nivāraṇam
one of obscure repute becomes famous, a fool becomes learned. This is auspicious for men and averts what is inauspicious;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.35
धन्यं यशस्यम् आयुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं कलि-मलापहम् धर्मार्थ-काम-मोक्षाणां सम्यक् सिद्धिम् अभीप्सुभिः श्रद्धयैतद् अनुश्राव्यं चतुर्णां कारणं परम्
dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ kali-malāpaham dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṇāṃ samyak siddhim abhīpsubhiḥ śraddhayaitad anuśrāvyaṃ caturṇāṃ kāraṇaṃ param
it brings wealth, fame, long life and heaven, and removes the taint of Kali. By those who desire the full attainment of dharma, wealth, pleasure and liberation, this should be listened to with faith, for it is the supreme cause of (all) four.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.36
विजयाभिमुखो राजा श्रुत्वैतद् अभियाति यान् बलिं तस्मै हरन्त्य् अग्रे राजानः पृथवे यथा
vijayābhimukho rājā śrutvaitad abhiyāti yān baliṃ tasmai haranty agre rājānaḥ pṛthave yathā
A king intent on victory who, having heard this, marches against (his enemies) — kings bring him tribute in advance, as they did to Pṛthu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.37
मुक्तान्य-सङ्गो भगवत्य् अमलां भक्तिम् उद्वहन् वैन्यस्य चरितं पुण्यं शृणुयाच् छ्रावयेत् पठेत्
muktānya-saṅgo bhagavaty amalāṃ bhaktim udvahan vainyasya caritaṃ puṇyaṃ śṛṇuyāc chrāvayet paṭhet
Freed from other attachments and bearing pure devotion to the Lord, one should hear, cause others to hear, and recite the holy deeds of the son of Vena.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 4 23.38
वैचित्रवीर्याभिहितं महन्-माहात्म्य-सूचकम् अस्मिन् कृतम् अतिमर्त्यं पार्थवीं गतिम् आप्नुयात्
vaicitravīryābhihitaṃ mahan-māhātmya-sūcakam asmin kṛtam atimartyaṃ pārthavīṃ gatim āpnuyāt
This (account), told to the son of Vicitravīrya, indicating the greatness of the great, superhuman as it is — one who does (recites) it here would attain the destination of Pṛthu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 4 23.39
अनुदिनम् इदम् आदरेण शृण्वन् पृथु-चरितं प्रथयन् विमुक्त-सङ्गः भगवति भव-सिन्धु-पोत-पादे स च निपुणां लभते रतिं मनुष्यः
anudinam idam ādareṇa śṛṇvan pṛthu-caritaṃ prathayan vimukta-saṅgaḥ bhagavati bhava-sindhu-pota-pāde sa ca nipuṇāṃ labhate ratiṃ manuṣyaḥ
That man who day after day hears this story of Pṛthu with reverence and spreads it, freed from attachment, attains a skilled (firm) love for the Lord, whose feet are a boat upon the ocean of worldly existence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition