Ch 17 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

४.१७ सप्तदशोऽध्यायः । नारायणवरदानम् । जनमेजय उवाच । वाराङ्गनास्त्वयाख्याता नरनारायणाश्रमे । एकं नारायणं शान्तं कामयाना स्मरातुराः ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Janamejaya said :-- O Muni! You told before that the heavenly prostitutes sent by Indra in the hermitage of Nara Nārāyaṇa became lustful and desired to live with Nārāyaṇa only, whose heart was calm and quiet.

Ch 17 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शप्तुकामस्तदा जातो मुनिर्नारायणश्च ताः । निवारितो नरेणाथ भ्रात्रा धर्मविदा नृप ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

At that moment when Nārāyaṇa was about to curse them, his brother Nara desisted him from taking that step.

Ch 17 Verse 3-4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किं कृतं मुनिना तेन व्यसने समुपस्थिते । ताभिः सङ्कल्पितेनाथ कामार्थाभिर्भृशं मुने ॥ ३ ॥ शक्रेणोत्पादिताभिश्च बहुप्रार्थनया पुनः । याचितेन विवाहार्थं किं कृतं तेन जिष्णुना ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

Now I ask you what did that triumphant Nārāyaṇa Muni do, in the critical juncture, when he was repeatedly asked by those prostitutes, sent by lndra, to satisfy their lust?

Ch 17 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं तस्य मोक्षदम् । नारायणस्य मे ब्रूहि विस्तरेण पितामह ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

O Grand Sire! I am very eager to know the deeds of Nārāyaṇa, leading to one’s freedom. Kindly describe in detail and fulfill my wishes.

Ch 17 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा तस्य महात्मनः । धर्मपुत्रस्य धर्मज्ञ विस्तरेण वदामि ते ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Hear, O king! I am describing to you in detail, what that high souled son of Dharma did.

Ch 17 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शप्तुकामस्तु सन्दृष्टो नरेणाथ यदा हरिः । वारितोऽसौ समाश्वास्य मुनिर्नारायणस्तदा ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

When Nārāyaṇa Hari was ready to curse them, the Ṛṣi Nara, seeing this, consoled him and desisted him.

Ch 17 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शान्तकोपस्तदोवाच तास्तपस्वी महामुनिः । स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं मधुरं धर्मनन्दनः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Then the great sage, the ascetic son of Dharma, Nārāyaṇa, leaving aside his anger, began to address them in sweet words with countenance smiling.

Ch 17 Verse 9-10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अस्मिञ्जन्मनि चार्वङ्ग्यः कृतसङ्कल्पवानहम् । आवाभ्याञ्च न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा दारसङ्ग्रहः ॥ ९ ॥ तस्माद् गच्छन्तु त्रिदिवं कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । धर्मज्ञा न प्रकुर्वन्ति व्रतभङ्गं परस्य वै ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

O Fair women! We have determined to practise asceticism in this life; it does not therefore behove us to accept any wife; therefore shew your kindness unto us and go back to your Heaven. You would better think that those who know what is religion, they never desire to break the vow of another.

Ch 17 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शृङ्गारेऽस्मिन् रसे नूनं स्थायीभावो रतिः स्मृतः । कथं करोमि सम्बन्धं तदभावे सुलोचनाः ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O beautiful eyed ones! In the sexual pleasure, it is the delightful feeling of passionate joy that is requisite; and we are wanting in those feelings; then how can we effect that union?

Ch 17 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कारणेन विना कार्यं न भवेदिति निश्चयः । कविभिः कथितं शास्त्रे स्थायीभावो रसः किल ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

No action can come out of no cause; this is all clear. The poets say that the sexual power and pleasure, is the feeling, the mental attitude that corresponds; and that is the only thing, that lasts. And we have no desire for that.

Ch 17 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धन्यः सुचारुसर्वाङ्गः सभाग्योऽहं धरातले । प्रीतिपात्रं यतो जातो भवतीनामकृत्रिमम् ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

However my limbs are all very graceful, I am very fortunate and blessed in this world, otherwise how can I be the object of your sincere love towards me.

Ch 17 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भवतीभिः कृपां कृत्वा रक्षणीयं व्रतं मम । भविष्यामि महाभागाः पतिरप्यन्यजन्मनि ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

You all are very fortunate; therefore do now show this mercy unto me “do not break my vow.” I pray now that, in a subsequent birth, I may become your husband.

Ch 17 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अष्टाविंशे विशालाक्ष्यो द्वापरेऽस्मिन्धरातले । देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं प्रभविष्यामि सर्वथा ॥ १५ ॥ तदा भवत्यो मद्दाराः प्राप्य जन्म पृथक्पृथक् । भूपतीनां सुता भूत्वा पलीभावं गमिष्यथ ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

O large eyed fair women! In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara Yuga, I will certainly incarnate on earth to effect the purpose of the Devas; then you all also would respectively incarnate as the daughters of kings and would also become my wives.

Ch 17 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्याश्वास्य हरिस्तास्तु प्रतिश्रुत्य परिग्रहम् । व्यसर्जयत्स भगवाञ्जग्मुश्च विगतज्वराः ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Nārāyaṇa thus consented to marry them in some other next birth; and consoling them, made them go back to their Heavens. They also abandoned their mental disquietude and, on reaching back to Heavens, they explained everything to Indra.

Ch 17 Verse 18-19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं विसर्जितास्तेन गताः स्वर्गं तदाङ्गनाः । शक्राय कथयामासुः कारणं सकलं पुनः ॥ १८ ॥ आश्रुत्य मघवांस्ताभ्यो वृत्तान्तं तस्य विस्तरात् । तुष्टाव तं महात्मानं नारीर्दृष्ट्वा तथोर्वशीः ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

Indra heard (from these heavenly women) what the two two Ṛṣis did and saw before him Urvaśī and other women created by Nārāyaṇa from his thighs, etc., and began to extol the merits of the high souled Nārāyaṇa.

Ch 17 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्द्र उवाच । अहो धैर्यं मुनेः कामं तथैव च तपोबलम् । येनोर्वश्यः स्वतपसा तादृग्रूपाः प्रकल्पिताः ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Indra said :-- O! How wonderful is the patience of the Muni? What is the wonderful influence of his Tapas! Oh! He has created, by the sheer force of his Tapas, Urvaśī and these fair women, unrivalled for their beauties, from his thighs.

Ch 17 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति स्तुत्वा प्रसन्नात्मा बभूव सुरराट् ततः । नारायणोऽपि धर्मात्मा तपस्यभिरतोऽभवत् ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

The Lord of the Devas thus extolled his merits and became freed from his anxieties. The virtuous Nārāyaṇa, too, devoted himself to the practice of his Tapasyā.

Ch 17 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं मुनेर्वृत्तान्तमद्भुतम् । नारायणस्य सकलं नरस्य च महामुनेः ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

O king! Thus I have described to you, in detail, all the wonderful accounts regarding Nara Nārāyaṇa.

Ch 17 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तौ हि कृष्णार्जुनौ वीरौ भूभारहरणाय च । जातौ तौ भरतश्रेष्ठ भृगोः शापवशादिह ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

O Superior in the descendants of Bharata! These two Nara and Nārāyaṇa afterwards incarnated themselves, due to Bhṛgu’s curse as the two great heroes Arjuṇa and Kṛṣṇa, to relieve the burden of the earth.

Ch 17 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजोवाच । कृष्णावतारचरितं विस्तरेण वदस्व मे । सन्देहो मम चित्तेऽस्ति तं निवारय मानद ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

The king said :-- O respect giving Muni! Now describe in detail the life of the Avatar Kṛṣṇa and dispel my mental doubt.

Ch 17 Verse 25-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ययोः पुत्रत्वमापन्नौ हर्यनन्तौ महाबलौ । देवकीवसुदेवौ तौ दुःखभाजौ कथं मुने ॥ २५ ॥ कंसेन निगडे बद्धौ पीडितौ बहुवत्सरान् । ययोः पुत्रो हरिः साक्षात्तपसा तोषितोऽभवत् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

O best of the Munis! Why were Vāsudeva and Devakī, who were chosen by the very powerful Hari and Ananta as their parents, doomed to so many miseries and afflictions. Why had these parents to remain for good many years in the prison of Kaṃsa, who pleased directly by their Tapasyā that Bhagavān Janārdana.

Ch 17 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जातोऽसौ मथुरायां तु गोकुले स कथं गतः । कंसं हत्वा द्वारवत्यां निवासं कृतवान्कथम् ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

Why did Kṛṣṇa taking his birth at Mathurā, go to Gokula? Also what was his object to go to Dvārkā, situated in the ocean, when he killed the enemy Kaṃsa?

Ch 17 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पित्रादिसेवितं देशं समृद्धं पावनं किल । त्यक्त्वा देशान्तरेऽनार्ये गतवान्स कथं हरिः ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Also why did his father, mother and relatives, leave their old holy places of residences and go abroad to live in a wretched old country?

Ch 17 Verse 29-31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कुलञ्च द्विजशापेन कथमुत्सादितं हरेः । भारावतारणं कृत्वा वासुदेवः सनातनः ॥ २९ ॥ देहं मुमोच तरसा जगाम च दिवं हरिः । पापिष्ठानाञ्च भारेण व्याकुलाभूच्च मेदिनी ॥ ३० ॥ ते हता वासुदेवेन पार्थेनामितकर्मणा । लुण्ठिता यैर्हरेः पत्न्यस्ते कथं न निपातिताः ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

Why was the Yadu race destroyed by the curse from a Brāhmaṇa! How did Śrī Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva leave finally His body after He had relieved the burden of the earth and was about to enter into His Heaven? The evildoers of the earth were slain by Kṛṣṇa and Arjuṇa, of unequalled prowess; but how was it, that those who plundered the wives of Śrī Hari, were not at all punished by Him?

Ch 17 Verse 32-33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भीष्मो द्रोणस्तथा कर्णो बाह्लिकोऽप्यथ पार्थिवः । वैराटोऽथ विकर्णश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्थिवः ॥ ३२ ॥ सोमदत्तादयः सर्वे निहताः समरे नृपाः । तेषामुत्तारितो भारश्चौराणां न हृतः कथम् ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

The great personages Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, the king Vālhīka, Virāṭa, Vikarṇa, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the king Somadatta were destroyed for relieving the burden of the earth; and the plunderers were acquitted! Kindly explain the cause of this.

Ch 17 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृष्णपत्न्यः कथं दुःखं प्राप्ताः प्रान्ते पतिव्रताः । सन्देहोऽयं मुनिश्रेष्ठ चित्ते मे परिवर्तते ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

How was it that those chaste and virtuous wives of Śrī Kṛṣṇa go into troubles at the latter end of their lives? There has arisen a doubt in my mind on this point.

Ch 17 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वसुदेवस्तु धर्मात्मा पुत्रदुःखेन तापितः । त्यक्तवान्स कथं प्राणानपमृत्युं जगाम ह ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Why did the virtuous Vāsudeva leave his mortal coil owing to the death of his sons and why did he die an unusual death?

Ch 17 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पाण्डवा धर्मसंयुक्ताः कृष्णे च निरताः सदा । ते कथं दुःखभोक्तारो ह्यभवन्मुनिसत्तम ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

O best of Munis! The Pāṇḍavas were devoted to Kṛṣṇa and they were religious; they had to suffer so many troubles!

Ch 17 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

द्रौपदी च महाभागा कथं दुःखस्य भागिनी । वेदीमध्याच्च सञ्जाता लक्ष्म्यंशसम्भवा किल ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Why was Draupadī so very unfortunate and she had to suffer so much miseries, and pains, who was born of Lakṣmī from amidst the sacrificial place and from the altar.

Ch 17 Verse 38-39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सभायां सा समानीता रजोदोषसमन्विता । बाला दुःशासनेनाथ केशग्रहणकर्शिता ॥ ३८ ॥ पीडिता सिन्धुराज्ञाथ वनमध्यगता सती । तथैव कीचकेनापि पीडिता रुदती भृशम् ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

Why did Duhśāsan drag Her by Her hairs while She was in Her menstruation period, in the hall of audience and why was it that Sindhu Rāj Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, gave Her exceedingly mental troubles?

Ch 17 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुत्राः पञ्चैव तस्यास्तु निहता द्रौणिना गृहे । सुभद्रायाः सुतो युद्धे बाल एव निपातितः ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

Why was it that Her five sons residing in Her house were killed by Aśvaththāmā? What was the cause that the son of Subhadrā had to die in the battlefield?

Ch 17 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथा च देवकीपुःा: घट्कं केसेन निपूर्तितः । समर्थानि ह्रिणा दैवेन कृतमन्था ॥ 4 1 ॥

English Translation

Why did the king Kaṃsa kill the six sons of Devakī; and why was it that Śrī Hari who was capable of averting the Fate did not at all prevent that?

Ch 17 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथा च देवकीपुत्रा षट् कंसेन निषूदिताः । समर्थेनापि हरिणा दैवं न कृतमन्यथा । ४१॥ यादवानां तथा शापः प्रभासे निधनं पुनः । कुलक्षयस्तथा तीव्रस्तत्पत्नीनाञ्च लुण्ठनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

What a wonder is this that in the matters of Brāhmaṇa’s curse toward the Jādavas, their being killed in the Prabhāsa, the total extermination the Jadu race and the plundering of His wives, why did He allow Fate to do these great momentous things?

Ch 17 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विष्णुना चेश्वरेणापि साक्षान्नारायणेन च । उग्रसेनस्य सेवा वै दासवत्सततं कृता ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

If He was the all-powerful God and He Himself Nārāyaṇa, that why did He incessantly act like a slave towards Ugrasena. N.B. -- Ugrasena was the king of Mathurā and father of Kaṃsa. He was deposed by his son; but Kṛṣṇa after having slain Kaṃsa restored him to the throne.

Ch 17 Verse 44-45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग तत्र नारायणे मुनौ । सर्वजन्तुसमानत्वं व्यवहारे निरन्तरम् ॥ ४४ ॥ हर्षशोकादयो भावाः सर्वेषां सदृशाः कथम् । ईश्वरस्य हरेर्जाता कथमप्यन्यथा गतिः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

All these bring doubt in our minds regarding Nārāyaṇa Muni that His deeds are always like those of ordinary persons; why did his pleasures and pains resemble those of ordinary human beings? Were he God, why his actions were not Godly? (i.e., superhuman)

Ch 17 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्माद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि कृष्णस्य चरितं महत् । अलौकिकेन हरिणा कृतं कर्म महीतले ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Therefore dost Thou describe in detail all the Divine Leelas (playful sports) done by Hari of superhuman powers in this world.

Ch 17 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हता आयुःक्षये दैत्याः क्लेशेन महता पुनः । क्वैश्वर्यशक्तिः प्रथिता हरिणा मुनिसत्तम ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

O Best of Munis! When one’s longevity expires, one dies; then I cannot understand what glory was manifested by Hari in killing the Daityas? For Fate Killed them; not Hari.

Ch 17 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रुक्मिणीहरणे नूनं गृहीत्वाथ पलायनम् । कृतं हि वासुदेवेन चौरवच्चरितं तदा ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Was not the doing of Hari like a thief when he stole away the Lady Rukmiṇī and fled quickly to his own place.

Ch 17 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मथुरामण्डलं त्यक्त्वा समृद्धं कुलसम्मतम् । जरासन्धभयात्तेन द्वारकागमनं कृतम् ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

What did it mean when he fled to Dvārkā city, and quitted his own highly prosperous town Mathurā simply out of the fear of Jarāsandha?

Ch 17 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदा केनापि न ज्ञातो भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः । किञ्चित्प्रब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन् कारणं व्रजगोपनम् ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Did not anybody at that time recognise that he was Śrī Bhagavān Hari? O Respected One! Were he Bhagavān, why did He hide himself in Vraja? Please explain the cause to me.

Ch 17 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एते चान्ये च बहवः सन्देहा वासवीसुत । नाशयाद्य महाभाग सर्वज्ञोऽसि द्विजोत्तम ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

O Muni! These and many other doubts always exist in my mind; you are the best of the Dvijas and blessed; I pray, dost thou remove these doubts.

Ch 17 Verse 52-53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गोप्यस्तथैकः सन्देहो हृदयान्न निवर्तते । पाञ्चाल्याः पञ्चभर्तृत्वं लोके किं न जुगुप्सितम् ॥ ५२ ॥ सदाचारं प्रमाणं हि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । पशुधर्मः कथं तैस्तु समर्थैरपि संश्रितः ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

O best of Munis! Another doubt exists and is not dispelled and that is secret. Was not the taking of the five husbands by Pāñcālī for herself shameful and despised by the society? The good manners and doings are always considered by the learned as the proofs of virtue. Why did those Pāṇḍavas, then, capable in every respect, do this thing like brutes?

Ch 17 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भीष्मेणापि कृतं किं वा देवरूपेण भूतले । गोलकौ तौ समुत्पाद्य यत्तु वंशस्य रक्षणम् ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

And what did Bhīsma do living like a Deva in this world? May I ask, was his act of producing two sons by a widow and thus preserving his line of ancestors worthy of his name?

Ch 17 Verse 55-56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धिग्धर्मनिर्णयः कामं मुनिभिः परिदर्शितः । येन केनाप्युपायेन पुत्रोत्पादनलक्षणः ॥ ५५ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां चतुर्थस्कन्धे सुराङ्गनानां प्रति नारायणवरदानं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ४.१७॥

English Translation

The religious sanction advocated by the Munis “Procreate sons in any way whatsoever” is simply shameful. Fie to this religious sanction. Here ends the 17th Chapter in the 4th Book of Śrī mad Devī Bhagavatam of 18000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa on the questions asked by Janamejaya.