Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 4 • CHAPTER 10
Ch 10 Verse 1-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
४.१० दशमोऽध्यायः । भृगुशापकारणवर्णनम् । जनमेजय उवाच । सन्देहोऽयं महानत्र पाराशर्य कथानके । नरनारायणौ शान्तौ वैष्णवांशौ तपोधनौ ॥ १ ॥ तीर्थाश्रयौ सत्त्वयुक्तौ वन्याशनपरौ सदा । धर्मपुत्रौ महात्मानौ तापसौ सत्यसंस्थितौ ॥ २ ॥ कथं रागसमायुक्तौ जातौ युद्धे परस्परम् । सङ्ग्रामं चक्रतुः कस्मात्त्यक्त्वा तपिमनुत्तमाम् ॥ ३ ॥ प्रह्लादेन समं पूर्णं दिव्यवर्षशतं किल । हित्वा शान्तिसुखं युद्धं कृतवन्तौ कथं मुनी ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said :-- O Son of Parāśara! There has arisen a great doubt in my mind on hearing just now your words. These Nara Nārāyaṇa are the two sons of Dharma; they are ascetics, calm and quiet, the Aṃśas of Viṣṇu; they reside in a holy place of pilgrimage! They are filled with the Sattvic qualities, subsisting always on roots and fruits of the forest, the highsouled hermits and truthful. How were they addicted to such warfare? Why had they left their invaluable asceticism? And with what object were they fighting for full one thousand Deva years with Prahlāda.
Ch 10 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं तौ चक्रतुर्युद्धं प्रह्लादेन समं मुनी । कथयस्व महाभाग कारणं विग्रहस्य वै ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
What was the end, O Muni, of their fight with Prahlāda? Kindly explain to me in detail the cause of this warfare.
Ch 10 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
(कामिनी कनकं कार्यं कारणं विग्रहस्य वै)॥ युद्धबुद्धिः कथं जाता तयोश्च तद्विरक्तयोः । तथाविधं तपस्तप्तं ताभ्याञ्च केन हेतुना ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
Women, wealth or any other worldly object can be the cause of any quarrel or fight amongst any persons; but, in this case, the two ascetics had none of these; how then this idea of fight sprung within their minds.
Ch 10 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मोहार्थं सुखभोगार्थं स्वर्गार्थं वा परन्तप । कृतमत्युत्कटं ताभ्यां तपः सर्वफलप्रदम् ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
And why did they practise such severe austerities? Was it that they had to overpower others, or enjoy pleasures themselves or to reach Heaven that they practised tapasyā? What fruits did they eventually obtain from such penances?
Ch 10 Verse 8-9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मुनिभ्यां शान्तचित्ताभ्यां प्राप्तं किं फलमद्भुतम् । तपसा पीडितो देहः सङ्ग्रामेण पुनः पुनः ॥ ८ ॥ दिव्यवर्षशतं पूर्णं श्रमेण परिपीडितौ । न राज्यार्थे धने वापि न दारेषु गृहेषु च ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
They became very lean and thin through their asceticism; still how could they fight full one thousand Deva years without getting fatigued.
Ch 10 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किमर्थं तु कृतं युद्धं ताभ्यां तेन महात्मना । निरीहः पुरुषः कस्मात्प्रकुर्याद्युद्धमीदृशम् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
They were not entangled in this fight for kingdom, or wealth or for women or for any other worldly object; then why did they fight with the high souled Prahlāda?
Ch 10 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दुःखदं सर्वथा देहे जानन्धर्मं सनातनम् । सुबुद्धिः सुखदानीह कर्माणि कुरुते सदा ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
Having no attachment for any worldly object nor any desire to gain any thing therefrom, why did they engage themselves so thoroughly, in such pains giving battle?
Ch 10 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न दुःखदानि धर्मज्ञ स्थितिरेषा सनातनी । धर्मपुत्रौ हरेरंशौ सर्वज्ञौ सर्वभूषितौ ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
Intelligent persons always do works leading to bliss; they never do painful works; this is the long standing rule of the world.
Ch 10 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कृतवन्तौ कथं युद्धं दुःखं धर्मविनाशकम् । त्यक्त्वा तपः समाधीतं सुखारामं महत्फलम् ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
The two sons of Dharma were the Aṃśas of Hari, all knowing and adorned with all qualities; why did they fight, subversive of religion?
Ch 10 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
संयुगं दारुणं कृष्ण नैव मूर्खोऽपि वाञ्छति । श्रुतो मया ययातिस्तु च्युतः स्वर्गान्महीपतिः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
O Mahārṣi! Even the dull and stupid persons in the world won’t go to these deadly battles leaving asceticism and samādhi, leading to the purification of all desires.
Ch 10 Verse 15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहङ्कारभवात्पापात्पातितः पृथिवीतले । यज्ञकृद्दानकर्ता च धार्मिकः पृथिवीपतिः ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
I have heard that Yayāti, the Lord of the earth was dropped from Heaven to this world, owing to his Ahamkāra, though he was a virtuous king devoted to charities and sacrifices.
Ch 10 Verse 16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शब्दोच्चारणमात्रेण पातितो वज्रपाणिना । अहङ्कारमृते युद्धं न भवत्येव निश्चयः ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
No sooner Yayāti, said the king :-- did Aśvamedha sacrifice, etc., with Ahamkāra, egoism, he was dropped by Indra with thunderbolt in his hands. So one can see that, without Ahamkāra no fight can occur. The ascetics had no bodily strength; therefore if they had to fight, it is through the waste of their Tapasyā that they could do so.
Ch 10 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किं फलं तस्य युद्धस्य मुनेः पुण्यविनाशनम् । व्यास उवाच । राजन् संसारमूलं हि त्रिविधः परिकीर्तितः ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O king! The all knowing sages that have realised the truth or Dharma declare the threefold Ahamkāra arising out the Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic qualities respectively to be the causes of this world.
Ch 10 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहङ्कारस्तु सर्वज्ञैर्मुनिभिर्धर्मनिश्चये । स कथं मुनिना त्यक्तुं योग्यो देहभृता किल ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
How, then, can these two Munis being embodied forego their Ahamkāras? Without any cause, no actions follow; this is quite certain.
Ch 10 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कारणेन विना कार्यं न भवत्येव निश्चयः । तपो दानं तथा यज्ञाः सात्त्विकात्प्रभवन्ति ते ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Tapas, charities, sacrifices all originate from the Sattvic qualities. And quarrels arise from the Rajasic or Tamasic qualities.
Ch 10 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजसाद्वा महाभाग तामसात्कलहस्तथा । क्रिया स्वल्पापि राजेन्द्र नाहङ्कारं विना क्वचित् ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
All arise from Ahamkāra, whether good or bad; this is quite certain.
Ch 10 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शुभा वाप्यशुभा वापि प्रभवत्यपि निश्चयः । अहङ्काराद् बन्धकारी नान्योऽस्ति जगतीतले ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
There is no other thing that enchains a soul than this Ahamkāra. It is out of Ahamkāra that this Universe is created: how can it be then free from it?
Ch 10 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
येनेदं रचितं विश्वं कथं तद्रहितं भवेत् । ब्रह्मा रुद्रस्तथा विष्णुरहङ्कारयुतास्त्वमी ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
O King! Brahma, Viṣṇu, Maheśha, even these are with Ahamkāras. Then how can you expect other ordinary Munis to be free from it?
Ch 10 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्येषां चैव का वार्ता मुनीनां वसुधाधिप । अहङ्कारावृतं विश्वं भ्रमतीदं चराचरम् ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
Encased with Ahamkāra, this Universe is rolling. Births and death occur repectively through this Karma.
Ch 10 Verse 24-25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पुनर्जन्म पुनर्मृत्युः सर्वं कर्मवशानुगम् । देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्याणां संसारेऽस्मिन्महीपते ॥ २४ ॥ रथाङ्गवदसर्वार्थं भ्रमणं सर्वदा स्मृतम् । विष्णोरप्यवताराणां सङ्ख्यां जानाति कः पुमान् ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
O Lord of the earth. The Devas, birds and men are revolving in this world like the wheel of a chariot.
Ch 10 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विततेऽस्मिंस्तु संसारे उत्तमाधमयोनिषु । नारायणो हरिः साक्षान्मात्स्यं वपुरुपाश्रितः ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
In this wide world who can count how many Avatāras Viṣṇu had to take in all sorts of wombs, good or low.
Ch 10 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कामठं सौकरं चैव नारसिंहञ्च वामनम् । युगे युगे जगन्नाथो वासुदेवो जनार्दनः ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
Ordained by the Lord of the Universe, Nārayāṇa Himself had to take the Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Man Lion and the Dwarf incarnations.
Ch 10 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अवतारानसङ्ख्यातान्करोति विधियन्त्रितः । वैवस्वते महाराज सप्तमे भगवान्हरिः ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
Vasudeva Janārdana the Lord, had to undertake countless Avatāras births in this world.
Ch 10 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मन्वन्तरेऽवतारान्वै चक्रे ताञ्छ्रुणु तत्त्वतः । भृगुशापान्महाराज विष्णुर्देववरः प्रभुः ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
In the Vaivasvata manvantara, the Avatāras of Bhagavān Hari are being mentioned to you. Hear!
Ch 10 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अवताराननेकांस्तु कृतवानखिलेश्वरः । राजोवाच । सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग हृदये मम जायते ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
The all pervading Lord of the world, the God of the Gods, had to take several incarnations in this world, owing to the curses inflicted by Bhrigu.
Ch 10 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अवताराननेकांस्तु कृतवानखिलेश्वरः । राजोवाच । सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग हृदये मम जायते ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
The king said :-- There has now again arisen another fresh doubt, why was Viṣṇu cursed by Bhrigu Muni?
Ch 10 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भृगुणा भगवान्विष्णुः कथं शप्तः पितामह । हरिणा च मुनेस्तस्य विप्रियं किं कृतं मुने ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
O Muni! What injury did Hari commit to that Muni, and whereof the Muni Bhrigu cursed him.
Ch 10 Verse 32-33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यद्रोषाद् भृगुणा शप्तो विष्णुर्देवनमस्कृतः । व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि भृगोः शापस्य कारणम् ॥ ३२ ॥ पुरा कश्यपदायादो हिरण्यकशिपुर्नृपः । यदा तदा सुरैः सार्धं कृतं सङ्ख्यं परस्परम् ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Hear, O king! the cause of the curse; I will narrate to you. In days of yore, the king Hiraṇyakasipu, the son of Kasyapa often quarrelled with the Devas; owing to this incessant warfare, the whole universe was much alarmed and perplexed.
Ch 10 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कृते सङ्ख्ये जगत्सर्वं व्याकुलं समजायत । हते तस्मिन्नृपे राजा प्रह्लादः समजायत ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
And when Hiranyakasipu was slain by the Man-Lion incarnation, Prahlāda, the tormentor of the foes, continued his enmity towards the Devas and began to annoy them.
Ch 10 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
देवान्स पीडयामास प्रह्लादः शत्रुकर्षणः । सङ्ग्रामो ह्यभवद् घोरः शक्रप्रह्लादयोस्तदा ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Thus one hundred years dreadful battle occurred between the Devas and Prahlāda, to the astonishment of all.
Ch 10 Verse 36-37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पूर्णं वर्षशतं राजँल्लोकविस्मयकारकम् । देवैर्युद्धं कृतं चोग्रं प्रह्रादस्तु पराजितः ॥ ३६ ॥ निर्वेदं परमं प्राप्तो ज्ञात्वा धर्मं सनातनम् । विरोचनसुतं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य बलिं नृप ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
O king! The Devas fought very hard and were victorious. Prahlāda was defeated and was sorely grieved. Hearing that the Eternal Religion is the best, he handed his kingdom over to his son Bali and went to the Gandhamādan hill to practise tapasyā.
Ch 10 Verse 38-39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
जगाम स तपस्तप्तुं पर्वते गन्धमादने । प्राप्य राज्यं बलिः श्रीमान्सुरैर्वैरं चकार ह ॥ ३८ ॥ यतः परस्परं युद्धं जातं परमदारुणम् । ततः सुरैर्जिता दैत्या इन्द्रेणामिततेजसा ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
The prosperous Bali, too, on gaining his kingdom, began to quarrel with the Devas and the war thus went on. Ultimately the powerful Indra and the Devas defeated the Asuras.
Ch 10 Verse 40-41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विष्णुना च सहायेन राज्यभ्रष्टाः कृता नृप । ततः पराजिता दैत्याः काव्यस्य शरणं गताः ॥ ४० ॥ किं त्वं न कुरुषे ब्रह्मन् साहाय्यं नः प्रतापवान् । स्थातुं न शक्नुमो ह्यत्र प्रविशामो रसातलम् ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
O king! Indra, of unequalled prowess, with the aid of Viṣṇu, deprived the Daityas of their kingdom. The defeated Daityas took refuge of their family spiritual guide Śukrācārya and addressed him thus, O Brāhmana! You are endowed with your fiery strength of Tapasyā and you are now powerful; why are you not lending your helping hands to your Daitya followers. O foremost of the councillors. If you do not help us and save us, we will not be able to stay in this earth and will soon have to go down to Pātāla.
Ch 10 Verse 42-43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदि त्वं न सहायोऽसि त्रातुं मन्त्रविदुत्तम । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तः सोऽब्रवीद्दैत्यान्काव्यः कारुणिको मुनिः ॥ ४२ ॥ मा भैष्ट धारयिष्यामि तेजसा स्वेन भोऽसुराः । मन्त्रैस्तथौषधीभिश्च साहाय्यं वः सदैव हि ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Thus addressed by the Daityas, the very kind hearted Śukrācārya said, O Daityas! Do not be afraid; I will protect you by my fire of strength and vigour; and help you with sound counsels and medicines. Be brave and energetic and cast aside your mental agony and sorrow.
Ch 10 Verse 44-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
करिष्यामि कृतोत्साहा भवन्तु विगतज्वराः । व्यास उवाच । ततस्ते निर्भया जाता दैत्याः काव्यस्य संश्रयात् ॥ ४४ ॥ देवैः श्रुतस्तु वृत्तान्तः सर्वैश्चारमुखात्किल । तत्र सम्मन्त्र्य ते देवाः शक्रेण च परस्परम् ॥ ४५ ॥ मन्त्रं चक्रुः सुसंविग्नाः काव्यमन्त्रप्रभावतः । योद्धुं गच्छामहे तूर्णं यावन्न च्यावयन्ति वै ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O king! The Daityas became fearless under the patronage of Śukrācārya. The Devas had their spies and knew all about these. They held councils with Indra and settled that before the Daityas had time to dislodge us from our Heaven with the mantra of Śukrācārya, we will speedily go and attack them. Thus attacked all on a sudden, they will all be slain by us and we will drive them down to the Pātāla.
Ch 10 Verse 47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रसह्य हत्वा शिष्टांस्तु पातालं प्रापयामहे । दैत्याञ्जग्मुस्ततो देवाः संरुष्टाः शस्त्रपाणयः ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
Thus forming their resolves, with fully equipped arms and weapons, they went out of rage to fight with the Daityas and orderd by Indra and aided by Viṣṇu, they began to kill the Demons.
Ch 10 Verse 48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
जग्मुस्तान्विष्णुसहिता दानवान् हरिणोदिताः । वध्यमानास्तु ते दैत्याः सन्त्रस्ता भयपीडिताः ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
When the Devas were thus slaying the Demons, they got very much terrified and exclaimed “O Lord! Protect us! Protect us!” and took the refuge of Sukra.
Ch 10 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किमर्थं तु कृतं युद्धं ताभ्यां तेन महात्मना । निरीहः पुरुषः कस्मात्प्रकुर्याद्युद्धमीदृशम् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Śukrācārya, seeing the Daityas very much perplexed and distracted, at once cried aloud out of the influence of his Mantra “No fear, no fear,” Then the Devas on seeing Śukrācārya left the Daityas and fled away to their own places. Here ends the Tenth Chapter of the Fourth Book of the Mahā Purāṇam, Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18000 verses by Maharṣī Veda Vyāsa on the curse on Viṣṇu by Bhrigu.