Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 4 — Chapter 17
DB 4 17.1
नारायणवरदानम् जनमेजय उवाच वाराङ्गनास्त्वयाख्याता नरनारायणाश्रमे । एकं नारायणं शान्तं कामयाना स्मरातुराः
nārāyaṇavaradānam janamejaya uvāca vārāṅganāstvayākhyātā naranārāyaṇāśrame | ekaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ śāntaṃ kāmayānā smarāturāḥ
The Granting of a Boon by Nārāyaṇa. Janamejaya said: You have told of the courtesans (celestial women) in the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, who, tormented by love, desired the one Nārāyaṇa, the tranquil one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.2
शप्तुकामस्तदा जातो मुनिर्नारायणश्च ताः । निवारितो नरेणाथ भ्रात्रा धर्मविदा नृप
śaptukāmastadā jāto munirnārāyaṇaśca tāḥ | nivārito nareṇātha bhrātrā dharmavidā nṛpa
Then the sage Nārāyaṇa was minded to curse them, but he was restrained, O king, by his brother Nara, who knew dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.3
किं कृतं मुनिना तेन व्यसने समुपस्थिते । ताभिः संकल्पितेनाथ कामार्थाभिर्भृशं मुने
kiṃ kṛtaṃ muninā tena vyasane samupasthite | tābhiḥ saṃkalpitenātha kāmārthābhirbhṛśaṃ mune
What did that sage do when the calamity had come upon (him), O sage — (he who was) intensely resolved upon by those women whose aim was love,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 4 17.4
शक्रेणोत्पादिताभिश्च बहुप्रार्थनया पुनः । याचितेन विवाहार्थं किं कृतं तेन जिष्णुना
śakreṇotpāditābhiśca bahuprārthanayā punaḥ | yācitena vivāhārthaṃ kiṃ kṛtaṃ tena jiṣṇunā
and who, when they had been produced by Śakra and again besought him with much entreaty, was asked for marriage — what did that victorious one do?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 4 17.5
इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं तस्य मोक्षदम् । नारायणस्य मे ब्रूहि विस्तरेण पितामह
ityetacchrotumicchāmi caritaṃ tasya mokṣadam | nārāyaṇasya me brūhi vistareṇa pitāmaha
This is what I wish to hear — his liberation-giving deeds; tell me of Nārāyaṇa at length, grandfather.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.6
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा तस्य महात्मनः । धर्मपुत्रस्य धर्मज्ञ विस्तरेण वदामि ते
vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi yathā tasya mahātmanaḥ | dharmaputrasya dharmajña vistareṇa vadāmi te
Vyāsa said: Listen, O king, I shall relate how it was with that great soul, the son of Dharma; O knower of dharma, I tell you at length.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.7
शप्तुकामस्तु संदृष्टो नरेणाथ यदा हरिः । वारितोऽसौ समाश्वास्य मुनिर्नारायणस्तदा
śaptukāmastu saṃdṛṣṭo nareṇātha yadā hariḥ | vārito'sau samāśvāsya munirnārāyaṇastadā
But when Hari, wishing to curse, was seen by Nara, and that sage Nārāyaṇa was restrained and reassured, then—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.8
शान्तकोपस्तदोवाच तास्तपस्वी महामुनिः । स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं मधुरं धर्मनन्दनः
śāntakopastadovāca tāstapasvī mahāmuniḥ | smitapūrvamidaṃ vākyaṃ madhuraṃ dharmanandanaḥ
his anger stilled, the ascetic, the great sage, the son of Dharma, then spoke to them this sweet speech, prefaced with a smile:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.9
अस्मिञ्जन्मनि चार्वंग्यः कृतसंकल्पवानहम् । आवाभ्याञ्च न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा दारसंग्रहः
asmiñjanmani cārvaṃgyaḥ kṛtasaṃkalpavānaham | āvābhyāñca na kartavyaḥ sarvathā dārasaṃgrahaḥ
"In this birth, O fair-limbed ones, I have made a resolve: by us two the taking of wives is in no way to be done.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.10
तस्माद् गच्छन्तु त्रिदिवं कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । धर्मज्ञा न प्रकुर्वन्ति व्रतभङ्गं परस्य वै
tasmād gacchantu tridivaṃ kṛpāṃ kṛtvā mamopari | dharmajñā na prakurvanti vratabhaṅgaṃ parasya vai
Therefore let (you) go to heaven, showing mercy upon me; those who know dharma do not bring about the breaking of another's vow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.11
शृङ्गारेऽस्मिन् रसे नूनं स्थायीभावो रतिः स्मृतः । कथं करोमि सम्बन्धं तदभावे सुलोचनाः
śṛṅgāre'smin rase nūnaṃ sthāyībhāvo ratiḥ smṛtaḥ | kathaṃ karomi sambandhaṃ tadabhāve sulocanāḥ
In this erotic sentiment, surely, passion (rati) is held to be the abiding emotion; how then shall I make a union, in its absence, O fair-eyed ones?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.12
कारणेन विना कार्यं न भवेदिति निश्चयः । कविभिः कथितं शास्त्रे स्थायीभावो रसः किल
kāraṇena vinā kāryaṃ na bhavediti niścayaḥ | kavibhiḥ kathitaṃ śāstre sthāyībhāvo rasaḥ kila
It is settled that without a cause no effect can come to be; the poets have declared in the treatise that the abiding emotion is indeed the sentiment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.13
धन्यः सुचारुसर्वाङ्गः सभाग्योऽहं धरातले । प्रीतिपात्रं यतो जातो भवतीनामकृत्रिमम्
dhanyaḥ sucārusarvāṅgaḥ sabhāgyo'haṃ dharātale | prītipātraṃ yato jāto bhavatīnāmakṛtrimam
"Fortunate am I, fair in all my limbs, blessed upon the earth, since I have become the object of your unfeigned affection."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.14
भवतीभिः कृपां कृत्वा रक्षणीयं व्रतं मम । भविष्यामि महाभागाः पतिरप्यन्यजन्मनि
bhavatībhiḥ kṛpāṃ kṛtvā rakṣaṇīyaṃ vrataṃ mama | bhaviṣyāmi mahābhāgāḥ patirapyanyajanmani
"Show me your grace, and let my vow be preserved. I shall become even your husband, O greatly blessed ones, in another birth."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.15
अष्टाविंशे विशालाक्ष्यो द्वापरेऽस्मिन्धरातले । देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रभविष्यामि सर्वथा
aṣṭāviṃśe viśālākṣyo dvāpare'smindharātale | devānāṃ kāryasiddhyarthaṃ prabhaviṣyāmi sarvathā
"In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara (age), O wide-eyed ones, I shall by all means come into being on this earth, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.16
तदा भवत्यो मद्दाराः प्राप्य जन्म पृथक्पृथक् । भूपतीनां सुता भूत्वा पलीभावं गमिष्यथ
tadā bhavatyo maddārāḥ prāpya janma pṛthakpṛthak | bhūpatīnāṃ sutā bhūtvā palībhāvaṃ gamiṣyatha
"Then you, obtaining birth each separately, shall become the daughters of kings and attain the state of being my wives."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.17
इत्याश्वास्य हरिस्तास्तु प्रतिश्रुत्य परिग्रहम् । व्यसर्जयत्स भगवाञ्जग्मुश्च विगतज्वराः सुराङ्गनानां प्रति नारायणवरदानं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः
ityāśvāsya haristāstu pratiśrutya parigraham | vyasarjayatsa bhagavāñjagmuśca vigatajvarāḥ surāṅganānāṃ prati nārāyaṇavaradānaṃ nāma saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ
Having thus consoled them and promised to take them (as wives), the Lord Hari dismissed them, and they went away, their distress gone. — The seventeenth chapter, called "Nārāyaṇa's Granting of a Boon to the Women of the Gods."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.18
एवं विसर्जितास्तेन गताः स्वर्गं तदाङ्गनाः । शक्राय कथयामासुः कारणं सकलं पुनः
evaṃ visarjitāstena gatāḥ svargaṃ tadāṅganāḥ | śakrāya kathayāmāsuḥ kāraṇaṃ sakalaṃ punaḥ
Thus dismissed by him, those women went to heaven, and they told Śakra the whole matter again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.19
आश्रुत्य मघवांस्ताभ्यो वृत्तान्तं तस्य विस्तरात् । तुष्टाव तं महात्मानं नारीर्दृष्ट्वा तथोर्वशीः
āśrutya maghavāṃstābhyo vṛttāntaṃ tasya vistarāt | tuṣṭāva taṃ mahātmānaṃ nārīrdṛṣṭvā tathorvaśīḥ
Having heard from them the account of him in detail, Maghavan praised that great soul, seeing the women, the Urvaśīs, too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.20
इन्द्र उवाच अहो धैर्यं मुनेः कामं तथैव च तपोबलम् । येनोर्वश्यः स्वतपसा तादृग्रूपाः प्रकल्पिताः
indra uvāca aho dhairyaṃ muneḥ kāmaṃ tathaiva ca tapobalam | yenorvaśyaḥ svatapasā tādṛgrūpāḥ prakalpitāḥ
Indra said: Ah, the steadfastness of the sage against desire, and likewise the power of his austerity, by which, through his own austerity, Urvaśīs of such beauty were fashioned!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.21
इति स्तुत्वा प्रसन्नात्मा बभूव सुरराट् ततः । नारायणोऽपि धर्मात्मा तपस्यभिरतोऽभवत्
iti stutvā prasannātmā babhūva surarāṭ tataḥ | nārāyaṇo'pi dharmātmā tapasyabhirato'bhavat
Having praised (him) thus, the king of the gods then became glad at heart; and Nārāyaṇa too, whose nature is righteousness, remained devoted to austerities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.22
इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं मुनेर्वृत्तान्तमद्भुतम् । नारायणस्य सकलं नरस्य च महामुनेः
ityetatsarvamākhyātaṃ munervṛttāntamadbhutam | nārāyaṇasya sakalaṃ narasya ca mahāmuneḥ
Thus all this has been related — the wondrous account of the sage Nārāyaṇa in full, and of the great sage Nara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.23
तौ हि कृष्णार्जुनौ वीरौ भूभारहरणाय च । जातौ तौ भरतश्रेष्ठ भृगोः शापवशादिह
tau hi kṛṣṇārjunau vīrau bhūbhāraharaṇāya ca | jātau tau bharataśreṣṭha bhṛgoḥ śāpavaśādiha
For those two heroes, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, O best of the Bharatas, were born here to remove the burden of the earth, and by force of Bhṛgu's curse.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.24
राजोवाच कृष्णावतारचरितं विस्तरेण वदस्व मे । सन्देहो मम चित्तेऽस्ति तं निवारय मानद
rājovāca kṛṣṇāvatāracaritaṃ vistareṇa vadasva me | sandeho mama citte'sti taṃ nivāraya mānada
The king said: Tell me in detail the deeds of Kṛṣṇa's descent. There is a doubt in my mind; dispel it, O giver of honour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.25
ययोः पुत्रत्वमापन्नौ हर्यनन्तौ महाबलौ । देवकीवसुदेवौ तौ दुःखभाजौ कथं मुने
yayoḥ putratvamāpannau haryanantau mahābalau | devakīvasudevau tau duḥkhabhājau kathaṃ mune
Those two of whom Hari and Ananta, of great strength, became the sons — how were Devakī and Vasudeva partakers of sorrow, O sage?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.26
कंसेन निगडे बद्धौ पीडितौ बहुवत्सरान् । ययोः पुत्रो हरिः साक्षात्तपसा तोषितोऽभवत्
kaṃsena nigaḍe baddhau pīḍitau bahuvatsarān | yayoḥ putro hariḥ sākṣāttapasā toṣito'bhavat
They were bound in fetters by Kaṃsa and tormented for many years — those two whose son was Hari himself, pleased by their austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.27
जातोऽसौ मथुरायां तु गोकुले स कथं गतः । कंसं हत्वा द्वारवत्यां निवासं कृतवान्कथम्
jāto'sau mathurāyāṃ tu gokule sa kathaṃ gataḥ | kaṃsaṃ hatvā dvāravatyāṃ nivāsaṃ kṛtavānkatham
He was born in Mathurā; how then did he go to Gokula? And having killed Kaṃsa, how did he make his dwelling in Dvāravatī?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.28
पित्रादिसेवितं देशं समृद्धं पावनं किल । त्यक्त्वा देशान्तरेऽनार्ये गतवान्स कथं हरिः
pitrādisevitaṃ deśaṃ samṛddhaṃ pāvanaṃ kila | tyaktvā deśāntare'nārye gatavānsa kathaṃ hariḥ
Abandoning a land that was served by his father and forefathers, prosperous and holy indeed, how did that Hari go to another region, an un-Āryan one?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.29
कुलञ्च द्विजशापेन कथमुत्सादितं हरेः । भारावतारणं कृत्वा वासुदेवः सनातनः
kulañca dvijaśāpena kathamutsāditaṃ hareḥ | bhārāvatāraṇaṃ kṛtvā vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ
And how was Hari's family destroyed by a brahmin's curse? And having accomplished the removal of the burden, the eternal Vāsudeva —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.30
देहं मुमोच तरसा जगाम च दिवं हरिः । पापिष्ठानाञ्च भारेण व्याकुलाभूच्च मेदिनी
dehaṃ mumoca tarasā jagāma ca divaṃ hariḥ | pāpiṣṭhānāñca bhāreṇa vyākulābhūcca medinī
— Hari swiftly gave up his body and went to heaven; and the earth became distressed by the burden of the most wicked.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.31
ते हता वासुदेवेन पार्थेनामितकर्मणा । लुण्ठिता यैर्हरेः पत्न्यस्ते कथं न निपातिताः
te hatā vāsudevena pārthenāmitakarmaṇā | luṇṭhitā yairhareḥ patnyaste kathaṃ na nipātitāḥ
They were slain by Vāsudeva and by Pārtha of measureless deeds; (but) those by whom Hari's wives were carried off — how were they not struck down?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.32
भीष्मो द्रोणस्तथा कर्णो बाह्लिकोऽप्यथ पार्थिवः । वैराटोऽथ विकर्णश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्थिवः
bhīṣmo droṇastathā karṇo bāhliko'pyatha pārthivaḥ | vairāṭo'tha vikarṇaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārthivaḥ
Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Karṇa, and also Bāhlika the king, and Vairāṭa and Vikarṇa, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the king —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.33
सोमदत्तादयः सर्वे निहताः समरे नृपाः । तेषामुत्तारितो भारश्चौराणां न हृतः कथम्
somadattādayaḥ sarve nihatāḥ samare nṛpāḥ | teṣāmuttārito bhāraścaurāṇāṃ na hṛtaḥ katham
Somadatta and all the other kings were slain in the battle; the burden of them was lifted away — how then was the burden of the thieves not removed?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.34
कृष्णपत्न्यः कथं दुःखं प्राप्ताः प्रान्ते पतिव्रताः । सन्देहोऽयं मुनिश्रेष्ठ चित्ते मे परिवर्तते
kṛṣṇapatnyaḥ kathaṃ duḥkhaṃ prāptāḥ prānte pativratāḥ | sandeho'yaṃ muniśreṣṭha citte me parivartate
How did Kṛṣṇa's wives, devoted to their husband, come to sorrow at the end? This doubt, best of sages, keeps turning over in my mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.35
वसुदेवस्तु धर्मात्मा पुत्रदुःखेन तापितः । त्यक्तवान्स कथं प्राणानपमृत्युं जगाम ह
vasudevastu dharmātmā putraduḥkhena tāpitaḥ | tyaktavānsa kathaṃ prāṇānapamṛtyuṃ jagāma ha
And Vasudeva, whose nature was righteous, tormented by grief for his son — how did he give up his life-breaths and meet an untimely death?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.36
पाण्डवा धर्मसंयुक्ताः कृष्णे च निरताः सदा । ते कथं दुःखभोक्तारो ह्यभवन्मुनिसत्तम
pāṇḍavā dharmasaṃyuktāḥ kṛṣṇe ca niratāḥ sadā | te kathaṃ duḥkhabhoktāro hyabhavanmunisattama
The Pāṇḍavas were joined to dharma and always devoted to Kṛṣṇa; how then did they become tasters of sorrow, O best of sages?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.37
द्रौपदी च महाभागा कथं दुःखस्य भागिनी । वेदीमध्याच्च सञ्जाता लक्ष्म्यंशसम्भवा किल
draupadī ca mahābhāgā kathaṃ duḥkhasya bhāginī | vedīmadhyācca sañjātā lakṣmyaṃśasambhavā kila
And how was the greatly fortunate Draupadī a sharer in sorrow — she who arose from the midst of the altar and was born, they say, from a portion of Lakṣmī?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.38
सभायां सा समानीता रजोदोषसमन्विता । बाला दुःशासनेनाथ केशग्रहणकर्शिता
sabhāyāṃ sā samānītā rajodoṣasamanvitā | bālā duḥśāsanenātha keśagrahaṇakarśitā
She was dragged into the assembly while in her menstrual impurity — a young woman then tormented by Duḥśāsana's seizing of her hair;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.39
पीडिता सिन्धुराज्ञाथ वनमध्यगता सती । तथैव कीचकेनापि पीडिता रुदती भृशम्
pīḍitā sindhurājñātha vanamadhyagatā satī | tathaiva kīcakenāpi pīḍitā rudatī bhṛśam
and the chaste woman, gone into the midst of the forest, was harassed by the king of Sindhu, and likewise harassed by Kīcaka too, weeping bitterly;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.40
पुत्राः पञ्चैव तस्यास्तु निहता द्रौणिना गृहे । सुभद्रायाः सुतो युद्धे बाल एव निपातितः
putrāḥ pañcaiva tasyāstu nihatā drauṇinā gṛhe | subhadrāyāḥ suto yuddhe bāla eva nipātitaḥ
and her five sons were killed in the house by Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman); and Subhadrā's son, a mere boy, was struck down in the battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.41
तथा च देवकीपुत्रा षट् कंसेन निषूदिताः । समर्थेनापि हरिणा दैवं न कृतमन्यथा
tathā ca devakīputrā ṣaṭ kaṃsena niṣūditāḥ | samarthenāpi hariṇā daivaṃ na kṛtamanyathā
And likewise six sons of Devakī were destroyed by Kaṃsa; though Hari was able, fate was not made otherwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.42
यादवानां तथा शापः प्रभासे निधनं पुनः । कुलक्षयस्तथा तीव्रस्तत्पत्नीनाञ्च लुण्ठनम्
yādavānāṃ tathā śāpaḥ prabhāse nidhanaṃ punaḥ | kulakṣayastathā tīvrastatpatnīnāñca luṇṭhanam
So too the curse upon the Yādavas, and again their destruction at Prabhāsa, and the harsh ruin of the family, and the plundering of their wives;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.43
विष्णुना चेश्वरेणापि साक्षान्नारायणेन च । उग्रसेनस्य सेवा वै दासवत्सततं कृता
viṣṇunā ceśvareṇāpi sākṣānnārāyaṇena ca | ugrasenasya sevā vai dāsavatsatataṃ kṛtā
and by Viṣṇu, the Lord, Nārāyaṇa himself, service was constantly rendered to Ugrasena like a servant.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.44
सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग तत्र नारायणे मुनौ । सर्वजन्तुसमानत्वं व्यवहारे निरन्तरम्
sandeho'yaṃ mahābhāga tatra nārāyaṇe munau | sarvajantusamānatvaṃ vyavahāre nirantaram
This is my doubt, greatly fortunate one, concerning that sage Nārāyaṇa: his being just the same as all creatures in his conduct, without a break.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.45
हर्षशोकादयो भावाः सर्वेषां सदृशाः कथम् । ईश्वरस्य हरेर्जाता कथमप्यन्यथा गतिः
harṣaśokādayo bhāvāḥ sarveṣāṃ sadṛśāḥ katham | īśvarasya harerjātā kathamapyanyathā gatiḥ
How are the states of joy and grief and the rest alike for all? How did they arise in Hari, the Lord — how is his course in any way different?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 4 17.46
तस्माद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । अलौकिकेन हरिणा कृतं कर्म महीतले
tasmādvistarato brūhi kṛṣṇasya caritaṃ mahat | alaukikena hariṇā kṛtaṃ karma mahītale
Therefore tell me in detail the great deeds of Kṛṣṇa — the acts done by Hari on the surface of the earth in an unworldly manner.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.47
हता आयुःक्षये दैत्याः क्लेशेन महता पुनः । क्वैश्वर्यशक्तिः प्रथिता हरिणा मुनिसत्तम
hatā āyuḥkṣaye daityāḥ kleśena mahatā punaḥ | kvaiśvaryaśaktiḥ prathitā hariṇā munisattama
Again, the daityas were slain (only) at the exhaustion of their lifespan and with great trouble; where is the lordly power that is proclaimed of Hari, O best of sages?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.48
रुक्मिणीहरणे नूनं गृहीत्वाथ पलायनम् । कृतं हि वासुदेवेन चौरवच्चरितं तदा
rukmiṇīharaṇe nūnaṃ gṛhītvātha palāyanam | kṛtaṃ hi vāsudevena cauravaccaritaṃ tadā
Surely in the abduction of Rukmiṇī, having seized her, he then fled: conduct like a thief's was practised then by Vāsudeva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.49
मथुरामण्डलं त्यक्त्वा समृद्धं कुलसम्मतम् । जरासन्धभयात्तेन द्वारकागमनं कृतम्
mathurāmaṇḍalaṃ tyaktvā samṛddhaṃ kulasammatam | jarāsandhabhayāttena dvārakāgamanaṃ kṛtam
Abandoning the prosperous region of Mathurā, approved by his family, he made his way to Dvārakā out of fear of Jarāsandha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.50
तदा केनापि न ज्ञातो भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः । किञ्चित्प्रब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन् कारणं व्रजगोपनम्
tadā kenāpi na jñāto bhagavānharirīśvaraḥ | kiñcitprabrūhi me brahman kāraṇaṃ vrajagopanam
Then the Lord Hari, the ruler, was not recognised by anyone. Tell me something, brahmin, of the reason for the concealment in Vraja.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.51
एते चान्ये च बहवः सन्देहा वासवीसुत । नाशयाद्य महाभाग सर्वज्ञोऽसि द्विजोत्तम
ete cānye ca bahavaḥ sandehā vāsavīsuta | nāśayādya mahābhāga sarvajño'si dvijottama
These and many other doubts, O son of Vāsavī — destroy them today, greatly fortunate one; you are all-knowing, best of the twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.52
गोप्यस्तथैकः सन्देहो हृदयान्न निवर्तते । पाञ्चाल्याः पञ्चभर्तृत्वं लोके किं न जुगुप्सितम्
gopyastathaikaḥ sandeho hṛdayānna nivartate | pāñcālyāḥ pañcabhartṛtvaṃ loke kiṃ na jugupsitam
And likewise one doubt, to be kept secret, does not depart from my heart: is the having of five husbands by the Pāñcāla princess not held loathsome in the world?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.53
सदाचारं प्रमाणं हि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । पशुधर्मः कथं तैस्तु समर्थैरपि संश्रितः
sadācāraṃ pramāṇaṃ hi pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | paśudharmaḥ kathaṃ taistu samarthairapi saṃśritaḥ
For the wise declare that good conduct is the standard; how then was the law of beasts resorted to by them, capable though they were?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 17.54
भीष्मेणापि कृतं किं वा देवरूपेण भूतले । गोलकौ तौ समुत्पाद्य यत्तु वंशस्य रक्षणम्
bhīṣmeṇāpi kṛtaṃ kiṃ vā devarūpeṇa bhūtale | golakau tau samutpādya yattu vaṃśasya rakṣaṇam
And what was it that Bhīṣma did on earth, godlike in form — begetting those two golakas (sons born to a widow), and calling that the preservation of the lineage?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 4 17.55
धिग्धर्मनिर्णयः कामं मुनिभिः परिदर्शितः । येन केनाप्युपायेन पुत्रोत्पादनलक्षणः
dhigdharmanirṇayaḥ kāmaṃ munibhiḥ paridarśitaḥ | yena kenāpyupāyena putrotpādanalakṣaṇaḥ
Fie on this settling of dharma shown at will by the sages, whose mark is: the begetting of a son by whatever means!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition