rule




 

 

Canto 1

S'rī Krishna Caitanya

 

 
 

Chapter 14: The Disappearance of Krishna

(1) Sūta said: "Arjuna went to the city of Dvārakā to see his friends and Krishna, the One Glorified in the Vedic Hymns, in order to know what His further plans were. (2) After a few months had passed and Arjuna had not returned from there, Yudhishthhira observed various fearful signs. (3) The time had taken an inauspicious turn: he observed seasonal irregularities and saw that human beings sinfully turned to anger, greed and falsehood in heartening their civil means of livelihood. (4) There was cheating in ordinary transactions, dishonesty mixed itself in the regard of well-wishers, fathers, mothers and brothers and also between man and wife there was quarrel. (5) The people gradually were acquiring godless habits like wantonness and such. The king facing these serious matters and bad omens, spoke with his younger brother about it.

(6) Yudhishthhira said [to Bhīma]: 'Arjuna went to Dvārakā to see his friends and to learn about Krishna's plans. (7) It is now seven months ago that your younger brother left, oh Bhīmasena, and I do not know exactly why he does not return. (8) Might it be so that, as Nārada told us, the Supreme Personality has decided it is time to leave this physical manifestation of Himself? (9) We owe our wealth, kingdom and wives to Him. By His grace the existence of the dynasty and the life of our subjects has become possible and because of His mercy we could defeat our enemies and [live for a better] world. (10) Just look, oh man with the strength of a tiger, at the position of the planets, how things are faring on earth and what is happening to the body and the mind. All these dreadful signs deluding our intelligence indicate a great danger in the near future. (11) Again and again my thighs, eyes, arms and the left side of my body are quivering and I have heart palpitations due to fear. This is all indicative of undesirable happenings. (12) See, oh Bhīma, how the jackal frantically cries at sunrise and how the dog barks at me without any fear. (13) Oh tiger among man, the cows leave me [left] aside and the other animals are turning around me while my horses seem to weep. (14) The pigeon [appears like] a messenger of death and the shrieks of the owls and their rivals the crows make my heart tremble as  if they wish the void of the cosmos. (15) Yuddhisthira and
            bad omensOh Bhīma, see how smoke circles in the sky and how the earth is throbbing along with the hills and mountains with loud thunderbolts out of the blue of a cloudless sky. (16) The wind blows sharply creating darkness with the dust and rain pours like blood from the clouds as an omnipresent disaster. (17) The sun is shining less - see how the stars in the sky seem to clash into one another and how the living beings are confounded and agitated as if they are crying. (18) Rivers and their tributaries, the lakes and the mind are all perturbed while fire does not ignite with the help of butter. What is this extraordinary time? What is going to happen? (19) The calves do not suck the teats and the cows do not want to be milked, looking afraid as if they are weeping, while the bulls do not take pleasure in the pasture ground. (20) The deities seem to be crying and perspiring as if they want to leave the temple and also the cities, villages, towns, gardens, mines and hermitages have lost their beauty being bereft of all happiness. What sort of calamities will befall us? (21) I think that all these great upsurges manifest out of the need for the marks of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality - the earth bereft of the extraordinary signs of the Supreme Person misses that fortune.'

(22) Oh brahmin, while the king [Yudhishthhira] thus was thinking to himself observing the bad omens, Arjuna returned from the kingdom of the Yadus. (23) Bowing down at the feet of the king, his dejection was unprecedented with the tears that fell from the lotus eyes of his downward looking face. (24) Seeing Arjuna pale with a heart full of anxiety, the king, who remembered what Nārada had said, questioned him in the midst of the friends. (25) Yudhishthhira said: 'Are our Yadu relatives of Madhu, Bhoja, Das'ārha, Ārha, Sātvata and Andhaka all happy passing their days in Dvārakā? (26) Is also my respectable [maternal] grandfather S'ūrasena in good health passing his last days and are my [maternal] uncle Vasudeva and his younger brothers all well? (27) Are my aunts - his wives - all the seven sisters headed by Devakī herself, all happy with their sons and daughters-in-law? (28-29) Is King Ugrasena, whose son was so wicked [Kamsa] still alive? Are his younger brother, Hridīka and his son Kritavarmā and Akrūra, Jayanta, Gada, Sārana as also S'atrujit and the rest all happy? Is also Balarāma, the Supreme Personality, the protector of the devotees, doing well? (30) Are the great warrior Pradyumna [a son of Krishna] and all others of the Vrishni family happy? And is the in every respect powerful, plenary expansion of Krishna Aniruddha [a grandson of Krishna] faring well? (31) And how are Sushena, Cārudeshna and Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, doing, as also the other eminent sons of Krishna and their sons like Rishabha? (32-33) Are likewise the constant companions of Krishna such as S'rutadeva, Uddhava and others, as also Sunanda, Nanda and the other leaders and liberated souls of excellence doing well? And are all those who are bound in friendship under the protection of Balarāma and Krishna, also thinking of our well-being? (34) Is the Supreme Lord, who is the pleasure of the cows and the senses and always cares for the devotees and the brahmins, enjoying His assembly hall surrounded by His friends in the city [Dvārakā]? (35-36) In order to protect and elevate all the worlds, the Original, Supreme Enjoyer resides together with Ananta [Balarāma] in the company of the ocean of members of the Yadu dynasty. In His city the members of the Yadu family enjoy the deserved protection of His arms and relish the same transcendental pleasure as the residents of heaven. (37) By giving priority to managing the comforts at His feet, the sixteen thousand wives headed by Sathyabhāmā made the Lord subdue the denizens of heaven, so that they could enjoy matters [like the Pārijāta tree] that are normally the privilege of the wives of [Indra,] the controller of the thunderbolt. (38) The Yadus, enjoying the protection of His arms, always fearlessly enter the Sudharmā assembly hall which, procured by force [from Indra], was worthy of the best of gods.

(39) My dear brother, are you all healthy? You appear to have lost your luster. Is it because of missing the respect in being neglected, my brother, for having been away too long? (40) Has someone addressed you unfriendly with harsh words, or could you not be charitable to someone asking or keep a promise? (41) Oh you who are approached for the protection of the brahmins, the children, the cows, the elderly, the diseased and the women, were you unable to offer shelter to any of them approaching you and deserving your care? (42) Have you contacted a questionable woman, have you treated an acceptable woman improperly maybe or has your good self been defeated on the road by a superior power or by equals? (43) Have you disregarded old men or boys who deserved to dine together with you or have you done something abominable that is hard to forgive? (44) Or is it so that you in your relation to the one most dear, my brother Arjuna, your heart's friend [Krishna], you feel a void missing Him all the time? I can think of no other reason why you should suffer such a mental distress.' "



Read the inspiration to this chapter by Anand Aadhar.

 

                      

 
Third revised edition, loaded March 24, 2025.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Sūta said: "Arjuna went to the city of Dvārakā to see his friends and Krishna, the One Glorified in the Vedic Hymns, in order to know what His further plans were.

Sūta said: "Arjuna went to the city of Dvārakā to see his friends and Krishna, the One Glorified by the Vedic Hymns, in order to know what His further plans were. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

After a few months had passed and Arjuna had not returned from there, Yudhishthhira observed various fearful signs.

After a few months, when Arjuna did not return from there, Yudhishthhira observed various fearful signs. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

The time had taken an inauspicious turn: he observed seasonal irregularities and saw that human beings sinfully turned to anger, greed and falsehood in heartening their civil means of livelihood.

The time had taken an inauspicious turn: he observed seasonal irregularities and saw that the people in their human sins turned to anger, greed and falsehood in heartening their means of livelihood. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

There was cheating in ordinary transactions, dishonesty mixed itself in the regard of well-wishers, fathers, mothers and brothers and also between man and wife there was quarrel.

There was cheating in ordinary transactions, misunderstanding rose in the regard of well-wishers, fathers, mothers and brothers and also between man and wife there was quarrel.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The people gradually were acquiring godless habits like wantonness and such. The king facing these serious matters and bad omens, spoke with his younger brother about it.

The people gradually were acquiring godless habits as wantonness and such. The king facing these serious matters and bad omens, spoke with his younger brother about it. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Yudhishthhira said [to Bhīma]: 'Arjuna went to Dvārakā to see his friends and to learn about Krishna's plans.

Yudhishthhira said [to Bhīma]: 'Arjuna went to see his friends and also wanted to know what Krishna's plans were. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

It is now seven months ago that your younger brother left, oh Bhīmasena, and I do not know exactly why he does not return.

It is now seven months ago that your younger brother left, o Bhīmasena, and I do not know exactly why that is the case. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Might it be so that, as Nārada told us, the Supreme Personality has decided it is time to leave this physical manifestation of Himself?

Is it so, as Nārada instructed, that the Supreme Personality has decided it is time to leave this manifest world? (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

We owe our wealth, kingdom and wives to Him. By His grace the existence of the dynasty and the life of our subjects has become possible and because of His mercy we could defeat our enemies and [live for a better] world.

From Him we have our wealth, kingdom and wives - through Him the existence of the dynasty and the life of our subjects has become possible and by His mercy we could defeat our enemies and live for a better world. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Just look, oh man with the strength of a tiger, at the position of the planets, how things are faring on earth and what is happening to the body and the mind. All these dreadful signs deluding our intelligence indicate a great danger in the near future.

Just look, o man with the strength of a tiger, at the position of the planets, how things are faring on earth and what is happening to the body and the mind; all these dreadful signs deluding our intelligence, indicate a great danger in the near future. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

Again and again my thighs, eyes, arms and the left side of my body are quivering and I have heart palpitations due to fear. This is all indicative of undesirable happenings.

Again and again my thighs, eyes, arms and the left of my body are quivering and I have heart palpitations due to the fear I have. This is all indicative of undesirable happenings. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

See, oh Bhīma, how the jackal frantically cries at sunrise and how the dog barks at me without any fear.

See, o Bhīma, how the jackal frantically cries at sunrise and how the dog barks at me without any fear.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Oh tiger among man, the cows leave me [left] aside and the other animals are turning around me while my horses seem to weep.

O tiger among man, cows keep me to their left and asses and such are turning around me while my horses seem to weep. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The pigeon [appears like] a messenger of death and the shrieks of the owls and their rivals the crows make my heart tremble as if they wish the void of the cosmos.

The pigeon appears like a messenger of death and the shrieks of the owls and their rivals the crows make my heart tremble as if they wish the void of the cosmos. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Oh Bhīma, see how smoke circles in the sky and how the earth is throbbing along with the hills and mountains with loud thunderbolts out of the blue of a cloudless sky.

 O Bhīma, see how smoke circles in the sky and how the earth is throbbing along with the hills and mountains with loud thunderbolts out of the blue of a cloudless sky. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

The wind blows sharply creating darkness with the dust and rain pours like blood from the clouds as an omnipresent disaster.

The wind blows sharply creating darkness with the dust and rain pours like blood from the clouds as an omnipresent disaster. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

The sun is shining less - see how the stars in the sky seem to clash into one another and how the living beings are confounded and agitated as if they are crying.

The sun is shining less - see how the stars in the sky seem to clash into one another and how the living beings are confused and agitated as if they are crying. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Rivers and their tributaries, the lakes and the mind are all perturbed while fire does not ignite with the help of butter. What is this extraordinary time? What is going to happen? 

Rivers and their tributaries, lakes and the mind are all perturbed while with the help of butter the fire doesn't ignite - what is this extraordinary time? What is going to happen? (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The calves do not suck the teats and the cows do not want to be milked, looking afraid as if they are weeping, while the bulls do not take pleasure in the pasture ground.

The calves don't suck the teats and the cows don't want to be milked looking afraid as if weeping, while the bulls don't take pleasure in the pasture ground. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The deities seem to be crying and perspiring as if they want to leave the temple and also the cities, villages, towns, gardens, mines and hermitages have lost their beauty being bereft of all happiness. What sort of calamities will befall us?

The deities seem to be crying and perspiring as if they want to leave the temple and also the cities, villages, towns, gardens, mines and hermitages have lost their beauty, bereft of all happiness - what sort of calamities will befall us? (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

I think that all these great upsurges manifest out of the need for the marks of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality - the earth bereft of the extraordinary signs of the Supreme Person misses that fortune.'

I think that all these great upsurges manifest out of the need for the marks of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality - the earth bereft of the extraordinary of the Supreme Person will be unfortunate without those auspicious signs.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

Oh brahmin, while the king [Yudhishthhira] thus was thinking to himself observing the bad omens, Arjuna returned from the kingdom of the Yadus.

O brahmin, while King Yudhishthhira, observing the bad omens, was thus thinking to himself, returned Arjuna from the kingdom of the Yadus. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Bowing down at the feet of the king, his dejection was unprecedented with the tears that fell from the lotus eyes of his downward looking face.

While he bowed at the feet of the king was his dejection unprecedented with tears falling from the lotus eyes of his downward looking face.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Seeing Arjuna pale with a heart full of anxiety, the king, who remembered what Nārada had said, questioned him in the midst of the friends.

Seeing the anxious heart and pale appearance of Arjuna, questioned the king, who remembered what Nārada had said, him in the midst of friends. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

Yudhishthhira said: 'Are our Yadu relatives of Madhu, Bhoja, Das'ārha, Ārha, Sātvata and Andhaka all happy passing their days in Dvārakā?

Yudhishthhira said: 'Are our relatives Madhu, Bhoja, Das'ārha, Ārha, Sātvata, and Andhaka of the Yadus all happy passing their days in Dvārakā? (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Is also my respectable [maternal] grandfather S'ūrasena in good health passing his last days and are my [maternal] uncle Vasudeva and his younger brothers all well?

Is my respectable [maternal] grandfather S'ūrasena in good health passing his last days and are my [maternal] uncle Vasudeva and his younger brothers all well? (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Are my aunts - his wives - all the seven sisters headed by Devakī herself, all happy with their sons and daughters-in-law?

Are my aunts - his wives - all seven sisters headed by Devakī in person, with their sons and daughters-in-law all happy? (Vedabase)

 

Text 28-29

Is King Ugrasena, whose son was so wicked [Kamsa] still alive? Are his younger brother, Hridīka and his son Kritavarmā and Akrūra, Jayanta, Gada, Sārana as also S'atrujit and the rest all happy? Is also Balarāma, the Supreme Personality, the protector of the devotees, doing well?

Are King Ugrasena, whose son was the mischievous one [Kamsa], and his younger brother, Hridīka and his son Kritavarmā and Akrūra, Jayanta, Gada, Sārana as well as S'atrujit and the rest all happy? Is also the Supreme Personality Balarāma, who is the protector of the devotees, all right? (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Are the great warrior Pradyumna [a son of Krishna] and all others of the Vrishni family happy? And is the in every respect powerful, plenary expansion of Krishna Aniruddha [a grandson of Krishna] faring well?

Are the great warrior Pradyumna [a son of Krishna] and all others of the Vrishni family happy - and is the plenary expansion of Krishna Aniruddha [a grandson of Krishna] faring well?  (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

And how are Sushena, Cārudeshna and Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, doing, as also the other eminent sons of Krishna and their sons like Rishabha? 

And how are Sushena, Cārudeshna and Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavatī, and the eminent other sons of Krishna as also their very best sons doing? (Vedabase)

 

Text 32-33

Are likewise the constant companions of Krishna such as S'rutadeva, Uddhava and others, as also Sunanda, Nanda and the other leaders and liberated souls of excellence doing well? And are all those who are bound in friendship under the protection of Balarāma and Krishna, also thinking of our well-being?

Are likewise the constant companions of Krishna like S'rutadeva, Uddhava and others, Sunanda, Nanda and other leaders doing well, and are the other liberated souls as well in order who are the best of men? And are all who are bound in friendship under the protection of Balarāma and Krishna also remembering our well-being? (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

Is the Supreme Lord, who is the pleasure of the cows and the senses and always cares for the devotees and the brahmins, enjoying His assembly hall surrounded by His friends in the city [Dvārakā]?

Does the Supreme Lord, who is the pleasure of the cows and the senses and always cares for the devoted and the brahmins [the ones versed in sacred knowledge], enjoy the pious assembly of His friends around Him in Dvārakā? (Vedabase)

 

Text 35-36

In order to protect and elevate all the worlds, the Original, Supreme Enjoyer resides together with Ananta [Balarāma] in the company of the ocean of members of the Yadu dynasty. In His city the members of the Yadu family enjoy the deserved protection of His arms and relish the same transcendental pleasure as the residents of heaven.

For the protection and elevation of the good of all and all their worlds is there in their company, in the ocean of the Yadu dynasty, the Original, Supreme Enjoyer and Ananta [Balarāma]. In His own city are the members of the Yadu family, as they deserve it, under the protection of His arms, relishing the transcendental pleasure like the residents of heaven. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

By giving priority to managing the comforts at His feet, the sixteen thousand wives headed by Sathyabhāmā made the Lord subdue the denizens of heaven, so that they could enjoy matters [like the Pārijāta tree]  that are normally the privilege of the wives of [Indra,] the controller of the thunderbolt.

By most importantly managing the comforts at the feet, made the sixteen thousand companions of the fair sex who are headed by Sathyabhāmā, the Lord subdue the denizens of heaven, so that they, as the wives of the Controller of the thunderbolt, could enjoy what is normally the privilege of the demigods. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

The Yadus, enjoying the protection of His arms, always fearlessly enter the Sudharmā assembly hall which, procured by force [from Indra], was worthy of the best of gods.

The Yadus, enjoying the protection of His arms, always fearlessly enter the Sudharmā assembly hall which, procured by force [from Indra], was worthy of the best of gods. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

My dear brother, are you all healthy? You appear to have lost your luster. Is it because of missing the respect in being neglected, my brother, for having been away too long?

My dear brother, are you all healthy? It appears to me that you have lost your luster. Is it because of missing the respect being neglected or, my brother, because you were away so long? (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

Has someone addressed you unfriendly with harsh words, or could you not be charitable to someone asking or keep a promise?

Have you lost your grip because you were addressed unfriendly or have been threatened, or couldn't you give in charity or keep to the hope of doing so? (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

Oh you who are approached for the protection of the brahmins, the children, the cows, the elderly, the diseased and the women, were you unable to offer shelter to any of them approaching you and deserving your care?

Couldn't you, being approached for the protection of the learned ones, the children, the cows, the old aged, the diseased and the women, give shelter to any living being deserving your care? (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

Have you contacted a questionable woman, have you treated an acceptable woman improperly maybe or has your good self been defeated on the road by a superior power or by equals?

Did you contact a reprehensible woman or have you improperly treated an acceptable woman maybe, or has your good self on the road been defeated after all by a superior power or by equals? (Vedabase)

 

Text 43

Have you disregarded old men or boys who deserved to dine together with you or have you done something abominable that is hard to forgive?

Have you disregarded old men or boys deserving to dine with you together or did you do something abominable which is hard to forgive? (Vedabase)

 

Text 44

Or is it so that you in your relation to the one most dear, my brother Arjuna, your heart's friend [Krishna], you feel a void missing Him all the time? I can think of no other reason why you should suffer such a mental distress.' "

Or is it that to the most dear one, my brother Arjuna, your heart's friend Lord Krishna, you feel a void missing Him all the time? I can think of no other reason why you should suffer such a mental distress'." (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons
            License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The picture is titled 'Yudhishthir' and is of Nanda Lāl Bose.
Source: 'Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists', Ballantine Press, Oct. 1913.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.


  

 

Feed-back | Links | Downloads | MusicPictures | What's New | Search | Donations