rule





 

Canto 1

Arunodaya-kīrt./Jiv Jāgo

 

 

Chapter 17: Punishment and Reward of Kali

(1) Sūta said: "There [at the Sarasvatī river] the king observed how a lowly, wicked fellow, dressed like a prince, with a club was beating a cow and a bull who had no one to protect them. (2) The bull, that was as white as a lotus, being beaten by the s'ūdra, trembled out of fear and urinated standing on one leg only. (3) The cow also, on itself a religious example but now rendered poor and distressed because the s'ūdra beat her legs, was without a calf and had tears in her eyes while she in her weakness hankered for some grass to eat. (4) Parīkchit, well equipped with bow and arrows, asked from his with gold embossed chariot with a thundering voice: (5) 'Who do you think you are to kill here violently the helpless ones under my protection! As an actor dressed up like a God-conscious man, you appear to be powerful but you behave like someone who never saw the light of civilization [of being twice-born]. (6) Do you think that, now Lord Krishna and the carrier of the bow the Gāndīva [Arjuna] have disappeared from sight, you can secretly beat an innocent cow? Being a culprit you thus deserve it to be killed!'

(7) 'And you', [he said turning to the bull,] 'are you just a bull that, as white as a lotus, moves on one leg, having lost three legs, or are you some demigod making us sad in the form of a bull? (8) Except for you there has till now never been a living being on earth that under the protection [of the arms] of any of the kings of the Kuru dynasty, had such grievance shedding tears. (9)  Oh son of Surabhi [the celestial cow], let me tell you, in my kingdom there will be no lamentation. Therefore do not fear the wicked fellow. And dear mother cow, do not cry, as long as I am alive as the ruler and subduer of the envious ones, you will thrive! (10-11) Oh chaste one, he in whose state all kinds of living beings are terrified because of miscreants, will because of his inattentiveness lose his fame, longevity, fortune and good birth. It is the supreme duty of the rulers to subdue for the purpose of putting an end to the misery of the ones suffering. Therefore I shall kill this most wretched man who is so violent with other living beings. (12) Who has cut your three legs, oh four-legged son of Surabhi? What happened to you has never happened before in this royal state of kings who live in obedience to Krishna. (13) Oh bull, I wish you all the best, you are honest and without offenses, tell me who has mutilated you and tarnished the reputation of the sons of Prithā. (14) Those who make the sinless suffer will have to fear me wherever they go, for I will curb the actions of the miscreants and restore the welfare of the virtuous souls. (15) The upstart of evil acts towards innocent living beings I shall forthwith defeat, whether he is a demigod from heaven with armor and decorations or not. (16) It is the holy duty of the head of state always to protect the ones who faithfully perform their duty and, according to the scriptures, chastise those who in this world for other reasons than misfortune strayed from the path.'

(17) The personality of religion said: 'That what you said to become free from the fear for distress is befitting for someone of the Pāndava dynasty, the descendants of Pāndu to whose qualities attracted Krishna, the Supreme Lord, performed the duty of being a servant and such. (18) Oh greatest among the human beings, being bewildered as a consequence of all the differences of [philosophical and political] opinion, we cannot tell which person [or whatever] would be the cause of our [human] suffering. (19) Some [philosophers], in defiance of all duality, declare that one suffers because of oneself, others speak of fate as the cause, some say that it is all due to karma, while many other authorities say that material nature is responsible. (20) Some also conclude that it is a question that defies explanation and comprehension. Who of them would be right in this matter, oh sage among the kings, is left to your own power of judgement.' "

(21) Sūta said: "Parīkchit, who attentively had followed what the personality of religion had to say, oh best among the brahmins, replied mindfully. (22) The king said: 'Oh knower of the duties, oh dharma in the form of a bull, you say this because the status of a wrong doer will also become the position of the one who points out the wrong done [like the guru who takes up the karma of his follower]. (23) In other words, the Lord's ways within the material world can neither be put in words nor be conceived by living beings. (24) Penance, cleanliness, compassion and truthfulness [tapas, s'auca, dayā, satya] are your legs that thus established the age of truth [Satya-yuga], but because of irreligiosity three of them have broken in conceit, [clinging to] intercourse and intoxication. (25) At present, oh personality of religion, you are hobbling along on the one leg of truthfulness, while quarrel personified [Kali], who flourishes on deceit, irreligiously tries to destroy that leg too. (26) Because of the actions of the Supreme Lord mother earth has been relieved of the great burden that she, this cow, carried. His all-auspicious footprints brought happiness everywhere. (27) Lamenting with tears in her eyes the unfortunate and chaste one [mother earth] being deserted by Him, is now enjoyed by lower-class people who, devoid of the culture of learning, pose as rulers in my place.'

(28) After he thus had pacified the personalities of religion and mother earth, the great warrior took up his sharp sword to kill Kali, the root cause of irreligion. (29) Realizing that the king wanted to kill him, Kali, stressed by the fear, abandoned his royal attire and in full surrender bowed his head down at the feet. (30) The hero who was kind to the poor, a refuge for the people and worthy of being glorified, out of compassion with a smile refrained from killing the one fallen at his feet and addressed him. (31) The king said: 'Because you surrendered yourself with folded hands to the maintainer of Arjuna's glory, you have nothing to fear. But that does not mean that you, as a friend of irreligion, just like that can stay in my kingdom. (32) With you physically present as a god of man, the irreligion of greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, sin, misfortune, cheating, quarrel, vanity and such, will be abound in the masses. (33) For that reason, oh friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in Brahmāvarta, this holy land, where the experts of religion and truth duly and expertly are of worship with sacrifices for the Lord of Sacrifices. (34) In such sacrificial ceremonies the Supreme Personality of God, the Lord, is worshiped as the Soul of all worshipable deities. In that form He spreads welfare, for He is the Supersoul efficacious for all desires, who is present both inside and outside, just like the air is for all that moves and does not move.' "

(35) Sūta said: "That way being ordered by king Parīkchit, the personality of Kali trembled as he saw him ready with a raised sword and speaking like Yamarāja, the Lord of Death. (36) Kali said: 'Wherever I may live under your order, oh Emperor, I will always have to face the reign of your bow and arrows. (37) Therefore please, oh best of the protectors of the religion, allot me a place where I may count on a permanent stay under your rule.' "

(38) Sūta said: "Thus being petitioned, he gave Kali permission to dwell in places where the four sinful activities of gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter [dyūtam, pānam, striyah, sūnā] were practiced. (39) Next to that the master, upon his insistent begging, allotted him a place where there is gold, for the passion for gold that brings falsity, intoxication, lust and enmity, constitutes the fifth sin. (40) Kali, directed by the son of Uttarā, thus occupied the five places given to him where irreligion is encouraged. (41) For that reason a person desiring his well-being should never resort to any of these places, especially not the one who follows the path of liberation and belongs to the royalty, the servants of the state and the teachers. (42) By encouraging activities that restored the bull's three lost legs of austerity, cleanliness and compassion, the earth was perfectly improved [by Parīkchit]. (43-44) He at present is [still] sitting on the earthly throne entrusted by the king, the grandfather [Yudhishthhira] when he wished to withdraw into the forest. From that rule this sage among the kings and chief of the Kuru dynasty is now known in Hastināpura as the most fortunate and famous emperor. (45) Because of the belief of this king, because of the rule over the earth of the son of Abhimanyu, you all could initiate a sacrifice like this."



Read the inspiration to this chapter by Anand Aadhar.


                        

 

Third revised edition, loaded April 15, 2023.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Sūta said: "There [at the Sarasvatī river] the king observed how a lowly wicked fellow, dressed like a prince, with a club was beating a cow and a bull who had no one to protect them.
Sūta said: "It was there [at the Sarasvatī river] that the king observed that a s'ūdra who was dressed like a king was beating a cow and a bull with a club, like there was no one to protect them. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

The bull, that was as white as a lotus, being beaten by the s'ūdra, trembled out of fear and urinated standing on one leg only.

The bull, that was as white as a lotus, terrified of being beaten by the s'ūdra urinated and trembled out of fear, standing on one leg only. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

The cow also, on itself a religious example but now rendered poor and distressed because the s'ūdra beat her legs, was without a calf and had tears in her eyes while she in her weakness hankered for some grass to eat.

The cow also, on itself a religious example but now rendered poor and distressed because of the s'ūdra who beated her legs, was without a calf and had tears in her eyes while she very weak was hankering after some grass to eat. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Parīkchit, well equipped with bow and arrows, asked from his with gold embossed chariot with a thundering voice:

From his with gold embossed chariot questioned Parīkchit, well equipped with bow and arrows, with a thundering voice:  (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

'Who do you think you are to kill here violently the helpless ones under my protection! As an actor dressed up like a God-conscious man, you appear to be powerful but you behave like someone who never saw the light of civilization [of being twice-born].

'Who are you to think that you in this place can violently kill the helpless resorting under my protection! As an actor you make a powerful appearance dressed up like a God-conscious man, but you behave like someone who never saw the light of civilization [of being twice born]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Do you think that, now Lord Krishna and the carrier of the bow the Gāndīva [Arjuna] have disappeared from sight, you can secretly beat an innocent cow? Being a culprit you thus deserve it to be killed!'

Do you think that because Lord Krishna and the carrier of the bow the Gāndīva [Arjuna] have disappeared from the scene, you can secretly beat an innocent cow? Being a culprit that way you deserve it to be killed!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

'And you', [he said turning to the bull,] 'are you just a bull that, as white as a lotus, moves on one leg, having lost three legs, or are you some demigod making us sad in the form of a bull?

'And you', he said turning to the bull, 'are you just a bull that, as white as a lotus, moves on one leg and has lost three legs or are you some demigod who in the form of a bull makes us sad?  (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Except for you there has till now never been a living being on earth that under the protection [of the arms] of any of the kings of the Kuru dynasty, had such grievance shedding tears.

Except for the case of you having tears in your eyes because of someone else, has under the protection [the arms] of any of the kings of the Kuru dynasty there never been such grieving on earth. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Oh son of Surabhi [the celestial cow], let me tell you, in my kingdom there will be no lamentation. Therefore do not fear the wicked fellow. And dear mother cow, do not cry, as long as I am alive as the ruler and subduer of the envious ones, you will thrive!

O son of Surabhi [the celestial cow], in my kingdom there will be no lamentation, so do not fear the s'ūdra, and dear mother cow, do not cry; as long as I am alive as the ruler and subduer of the envious will you fare well! (Vedabase)

 

Text 10-11

Oh chaste one, he in whose state all kinds of living beings are terrified because of miscreants, will because of his inattentiveness lose his fame, longevity, fortune and good birth. It is the supreme duty of the rulers to subdue for the purpose of putting an end to the misery of the ones suffering. Therefore I shall kill this most wretched man who is so violent with other living beings.

O chaste one, he will lose his fame, longevity, fortune and a good birth, in whose state the living beings are terrified of miscreants. It is certainly the supreme duty of the kings to subdue in order to put an end to the misery of the ones who suffer and therefore I shall kill this most wretched man who is so violent with other living beings. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

Who has cut your three legs, oh four-legged son of Surabhi? What happened to you has never happened before in this royal state of kings who live in obedience to Krishna.

Who is the one who has cut your legs, o son of Surabhi - what happened to you has never happened before in this royal state of kings who live in respect of Lord Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Oh bull, I wish you all the best, you are honest and without offenses, tell me who has mutilated you and tarnished the reputation of the sons of Prithā.

O bull, you are honest and without offenses, tell me therefore about him who mutilated you and tarnished the reputation of the sons of Prithā. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Those who make the sinless suffer will have to fear me wherever they go, for I will curb the actions of the miscreants and restore the welfare of the virtuous souls.

Those who make the sinless suffer may fear me wherever they are, for I will curb the actions of the miscreants and restore the wellfare of the ones who are honest. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

The upstart of evil acts towards innocent living beings I shall forthwith defeat, whether he is a demigod from heaven with armor and decorations or not.

The upstart who offends innocent living beings, I shall forthwith defeat, whether he's a demigod from heaven with armor and decorations or not. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

It is the holy duty of the head of state always to protect the ones who faithfully perform their duty and, according to the scriptures, chastise those who in this world for other reasons than misfortune strayed from the path.'

It is certainly the holy duty of the head of state to always protect the ones who faithfully perform their duty and, safely according the scriptures, chastise those in this world who have strayed from the path.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

The personality of religion said: 'That what you said to become free from the fear for distress is befitting for someone of the Pāndava dynasty, the descendants of Pāndu to whose qualities attracted Krishna, the Supreme Lord, performed the duty of being a servant and such.

The personality of religion said: 'All you said speaking for the sake of the freedom from anxiety of those who are suffering is befitting for someone of the Pāndava dynasty, the dynasty of which the qualities led Lord Krishna to behave like a servant and such. (Vedabase)


Text 18

Oh greatest among the human beings, being bewildered as a consequence of all the differences of [philosophical and political] opinion, we cannot tell which person [or whatever] would be the cause of our [human] suffering.

O greatest among the human beings, from the bewilderment of the person as a consequence of all the differences of opinion, we cannot tell what would be the cause of all human suffering. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Some [philosophers], in defiance of all duality, declare that one suffers because of oneself, others speak of fate as the cause, some say that it is all due to karma, while many other authorities say that material nature is responsible.

Some in defiance of all duality declare that one suffers because of one's own actions, others speak of supernatural causes, while still others say that it is all due to the working of material nature or the consequence of accepting outside authorities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

Some also conclude that it is a question that defies explanation and comprehension. Who of them would be right in this matter, oh sage among the kings, is left to your own power of judgement.' "

Some also conclude that it is a matter which defies explanation and comprehension; who of them in this is right, o sage amongst the kings, is left to your own power of judgement.' "  (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Sūta said: "Parīkchit, who attentively had followed what the personality of religion had to say, oh best among the brahmins, replied mindfully.

Sūta said: "Parīkchit, who attentively had followed what the personality of religion had to say, o best among the brahmins, mindfully replied. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

The king said: 'Oh knower of the duties, oh dharma in the form of a bull, you say this because the status of a wrong doer will also become the position of the one who points out the wrong done [like the guru who takes up the karma of his follower].

'You o knower of the duties, o dharma in the form of a bull, speak this way [of not disclosing the cause] only because you know that that [just like with a guru taking up the karma] the position of the one acting against the religion also becomes the position of the one identifying the problem. 'You o knower of the duties, o dharma in the form of a bull, speak this way [of not disclosing the cause] only because you know that [just like with a guru taking up the karma] he who points out the wrongdoer ends up in the position of doing wrong. (Vedabase)


Text 23

In other words, the Lord's ways within the material world can neither be put in words nor be conceived by living beings.
 In other words: the Lord His ways with the material world can by living beings nor be put in words nor be conceived. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Penance, cleanliness, compassion and truthfulness [tapas, s'auca, dayā, satya] are your legs that thus established the age of truth [Satya-yuga], but because of irreligiosity three of them have broken in conceit, [clinging to] intercourse and intoxication.

Penance, cleanliness, compassion and truthfulness [tapas, s'auca, dayā, satya] are the legs that established the age of truth [Satya Yuga, the 'old days'], but because of irreligiosity have three of them broken in conceit, clinging to intercourse and intoxication. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

At present, oh personality of religion, you are hobbling along on the one leg of truthfulness, while quarrel personified [Kali], who flourishes on deceit, irreligiously tries to destroy that leg too.

At present, o personality of religion, you are hobbling along on the one leg of truthfulness while quarrel personified [Kali], flourishing on deceit, irreligiously tries to destroy that leg too.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Because of the actions of the Supreme Lord mother earth has been relieved of the great burden that she, this cow, carried. His all-auspicious footprints brought happiness everywhere.

Through the actions of the Supreme Lord personally has mother earth been released of a great burden, His all-auspicious footprints brought good fortune everywhere.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Lamenting with tears in her eyes the unfortunate and chaste one [mother earth] being deserted by Him, is now enjoyed by lower-class people who, devoid of the culture of learning, pose as rulers in my place.'

Lamenting with tears in her eyes is the unfortunate and chaste one [mother earth] who has been deserted by Him now enjoyed by lower-class people who, devoid of the culture of learning, pose as rulers in my place.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

After he thus had pacified the personalities of religion and mother earth, the great warrior took up his sharp sword to kill Kali, the root cause of irreligion.

Thus were the personalities of religion and mother earth pacified by the great warrior who took up his sharp sword in order to kill Kali, the root cause of irreligion. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Realizing that the king wanted to kill him, Kali, stressed by the fear, abandoned his royal attire and in full surrender bowed his head down at the feet.

Realizing that the king wanted to kill him, abandoned Kali, stressed by fear, the royal dress and bowed he in full surrender his head down at the feet. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

The hero who was kind to the poor, a refuge for the people and worthy of being glorified, out of compassion with a smile refrained from killing the one fallen at his feet and addressed him.

Out of compassion did he who is kind to the poor and capable of handling worship with a smile refrain from killing the one fallen at the feet of the hero, the hero of whom it is said that he is worthy of being sung. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

The king said: 'Because you surrendered yourself with folded hands to the maintainer of Arjuna's glory, you have nothing to fear. But that does not mean that you, as a friend of irreligion, just like that can stay in my kingdom. 

The king said: 'Do not fear, for you have surrendered yourself with folded hands. We certainly inherited the fame of Arjuna, but that doesn't mean that you can be allowed to stay in my kingdom, you are a friend of irreligion after all. (Vedabase)


Text 32

With you physically present as a god of man, the irreligion of greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, sin, misfortune, cheating, quarrel, vanity and such, will be abound in the masses.

With you physically present as a god of man, will everywhere the irreligion of greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, treachery, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity and all of that be abound in the masses. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

For that reason, oh friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in Brahmāvarta, this holy land, where the experts of religion and truth duly and expertly are of worship with sacrifices for the Lord of Sacrifices.

For that reason, o friend of irreligion, do you not deserve it to remain in the vicinity of those places where the experts of religion and the truth duly and expertly are of worship with sacrifices for the Lord of Sacrifices. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

In such sacrificial ceremonies the Supreme Personality of God, the Lord, is worshiped as the Soul of all worshipable deities. In that form He spreads welfare, for He is the Supersoul efficacious for all desires, who is present both inside and outside, just like the air is for all that moves and does not move.' "

In such sacrificial ceremonies is the Supreme Personality of God, the Lord, worshiped as the Soul of all worshipable deities. In that form spreads He welfare, for He is the for all desires inviolable Supersoul who is there inside as well as outside, just like the air is to all that moves and not moves.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

Sūta said: "That way being ordered by king Parīkchit, the personality of Kali trembled as he saw him ready with a raised sword and speaking like Yamarāja, the Lord of Death.

Sūta said: "That way being addressed by king Parīkchit, trembled the personality of Kali seeing him ready with a raised sword speaking like Yamarāja, the Lord of Death.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

Kali said: 'Werever I may live under your order, oh Emperor, I will always have to face the reign of your bow and arrows.

Kali said: 'Wherever I may live under your order, o Emperor, will I always have to face the reign of your bow and arrows.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

Therefore please, oh best of the protectors of the religion, allot me a place where I may count on a permanent stay under your rule.' "

Therefore please, o chief of the protectors of the religion, allot me a place where I may count on a permanent stay under your rule.' " (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

Sūta said: "Thus being petitioned, he gave Kali permission to dwell in places where the four sinful activities of gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter [dyūtam, pānam, striyah, sūnā] were practiced.

Sūta said: "Thus being petitioned, gave he Kali then the permission to dwell in places where the four sinful activities of gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter [dyūtam, pānam, striyah, sūnā] were taking place. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

Next to that  the master, upon his insistent begging, allotted him a place where there is gold, for the passion for gold that brings falsity, intoxication, lust and enmity, constitutes the fifth sin.

Next to that gave the master him, upon his insistent begging, the place where there is gold, for gold by passion is the fifth sin bringing falsity, intoxication, lust and enmity. (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

Kali, directed by the son of Uttarā, thus occupied the five places given to him where irreligion is encouraged.

Thus were under the direction of the son of Uttarā the five dwelling places given to Kali where indeed irreligion is encouraged. (Vedabase)

Text 41

For that reason a person desiring his well-being should never resort to any of these places, especially not the one who follows the path of liberation and belongs to the royalty, the servants of the state and the teachers.

For that reason should a person desiring his well-being never resort to any of these places, especially not those persons following the path of liberation, the royalty, the state officials and the teachers. (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

By encouraging activities that restored the bull's three lost legs of austerity, cleanliness and compassion, the earth was perfectly improved [by Parīkchit].

By encouraging activities restoring the three lost legs of austerity, cleanliness and compassion of the bull, was [by King Parīkchit] the earth perfectly improved. (Vedabase)

 

Text 43-44

He at present is [still] sitting on the earthly throne entrusted by the king, the grandfather [Yudhishthhira] when he wished to withdraw into the forest. From that rule this sage among the kings and chief of the Kuru dynasty is now known in Hastināpura as the most fortunate and famous emperor.

Of him there is the present rule; the throne that was handed over by the king, grandfather [Yudhishthhira] when he wished to withdraw into the forest. From that rule is that sage among the kings and chief of the Kuru dynasty now known in Hastināpura as the most fortunate and famous emperor.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 45

Because of the belief of this king, because of the rule over the earth of the son of Abhimanyu, you all could initiate a sacrifice like this."

Because of this experience of the son of Abhimanyu, the king, may you all thanks to his rule over the earth now have the initiation of the performance of sacrifices like this one." (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 painting indicating Parīkchit controlling Kali is of William Blake.
   It is titled: "The Rout of the Rebel Angels".
Illustrations to Milton's "Paradise Lost", The Thomas Set, object 7.
Source:
William Blake Archive.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


 

 

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