Chapter 73: Lord Krishna Blesses the Liberated Kings

(1-6) S'rî S'uka said: 'The twenty thousand eight hundred [kings] who in battle were defeated [by Jarâsandha] came out of the fortress of Giridronî [the capital] being dirty and with dirty clothes. Emaciated of hunger, with dried up faces and because of their imprisonment being greatly weakened drank they Him in with their eyes and were they as if licking with their tongues, as if smelling Him with their nostrils and embracing Him with their arms. He the One dark gray like a cloud, in yellow clothing, marked by the S'rîvatsa, by four arms, charming eyes pinkish as the whorl of a lotus, a pleasant face, the gleaming makara [seamonster shaped] earrings; with a lotus, a club, a conchshell and a disc in His hands; a helmet, necklace, golden bracelets, a belt and armlets decorating Him and with the splendid brilliant jewel and a forest flower garland around His neck. They, whose sins were destroyed, bowed, with their heads down at His feet. (7) And while the kings with joined palms with their words praised the Master of the Senses was by the ecstasy of seeing Krishna the weariness of their imprisonment dispelled.

(8) The kings said: 'Obeisances to You, o God of the Gods, o Lord of the Surrendered and Remover of Distress, o Inexhaustible One; please o Krishna save us, the surrendered ones who are so despondent about the terrible of a material existence. (9) O Madhusûdana, we do not point our finger, o Master, at the ruler of Magadha since it is by Your furthering of the good, o Almighty One, that kings [in defiance] fall from their position. (10) Exhilarated and clamoring with the sovereignty and opulence does a king not obtain the real benefit in his being deluded by Your mâyâ thinking that the temporary assets would be permanent. (11) The same way as a child considers a mirage a reservoir of water, do those lacking in discrimination see the illusory subject to transformation as substantial. (12-13) We who before in our lusting about the wealth lost our sight and quarreling with each other about ruling this earth very mercilessly harassed our own citizens o Master, have with [You as] death standing before us arrogantly disregarded You. We o Krishna, have been forced to part from our opulence in our pride being hurt by Your mercy in the form of the irresistible power of the Time which moves so mysteriously. We beg You to allow us please to live in the remembrance of Your feet. (14) Henceforward we no longer hanker for a kingdom that appearing like a mirage must constantly be served by the material body that subjected to demise is a source of disease; nor do we, o Almighty One, hanker for the fruit of pious work in an hereafter so attractive to the ears [compare B.G. 1: 32-35]. (15) Please instruct us in the means by which we may remember Your lotuslike feet, even though we time and again keep returning to this world [see B.G. 8: 14]. (16) Over and over our obeisances for Krishna the son of Vasudeva, the Lord and Supersoul of the ones of salute; to Govinda, the Destroyer of the Distress.'

(17) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the Giver of Shelter, commendably praised by the kings freed from their bondage, my dear, mercifully spoke to them with gentle words. (18) The Supreme Lord said: 'I assure you, as from now, o Kings, as you wish will rise your very firm devotion to Me, the Self and Controller of All. (19) Your resolve is fortunate, o rulers, for I see you truthfully speak about the impudent infatuation one can have with the opulence and power that is so maddening to the human being. (20) Haihaya [or Kârtavîryârjuna 9.15: 25], Nahusha [9.18: 1-3], Vena [see 4.14], Râvana [9.10], Naraka [or Bhauma 10.59: 2-3] and others fell from their positions as gods, demons and men because of their being intoxicated by the opulence. (21) You, understanding that this material body and such is subject to birth and finality, should, in being connected to Me in worship with sacrifices, protect your citizens according the dharma. (22) Facing the facts of happiness and distress, birth and death, should you engage in begetting generations of progeny, while you in the spirit are fixed in accepting Me. (23) Neutral in relation to the body and all that and, steadfast in keeping to the vows, being satisfied within, will you, fully concentrating your minds upon Me, in the end reach Me, the Absolute of the Truth [compare B.G. 4: 9; 8: 7; 9: 28; 12: 3-4].'

(24) S'rî S'uka said: 'Krishna, the Supreme Lord and Controller of All the Worlds, who thus had instructed the kings, engaged menservants and women in bathing them. (25) O descendent of Bharata, He took care that Sahadeva [Jarâsandha's son] served them befittingly with clothing, ornaments, garlands and sandalwood paste. (26) Properly bathed and well decorated were they fed with excellent food and bestowed with various pleasures worthy of kings like bethelnut etc. (27) Honored by Mukunda shone the kings freed from their distress splendidly with their gleaming earrings like they were the planets at the end of the rainy season. (28) Having them mount chariots with fine horses adorned with gold and jewels sent He, gratifying them with pleasing words, off to their own kingdoms. (29) They, the greatest of personalities, who thus by Krishna were liberated from all difficulty went away thinking of nothing but the deeds of Him, the Lord of the Living Being that is the Universe. (30) To their ministers and other associates they spoke of the activities of the Supreme Personality and just as the Lord had instructed carried they out His orders diligently. (31) Having had Jarâsandha killed by Bhîmasena, departed, after being worshiped by Sahadeva, Kes'ava, accompanied by the two sons of Prithâ. (32) Arriving in Indraprastha blew they the conchshells that brought discomfiture to the enemies they defeated but now brought delight to their well-wishers. (33) The residents of Indraprastha pleased in their heart to hear that, understood that Jarâsandha was put to rest and that the king [Yudhishthhira] his objectives were met. (34) Arjuna, Bhîma and Janârdana then recounted, after having offered the king their obeisances, everything they had done. (35) The king of the dharma couldn't speak a word when he heard that. In ecstasy over Krishna's mercy shed he tears out of love.'