Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    athaikasaptatitamo.adhyAyaH
    shakranishchayakathanArthaM nAradasya dvArakAm prati gamanam
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Lesson 71 - nArada returns to dvArakaA to convey indra's refusal
vaishampAyana uvAcha
mahendravachanaM shrutvA nArado vadatAM varaH |
vivikte devarAjAnamidam vachanamabravIt ||2-71-1
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya !) Hearing the words of the great indra, nArada, the best among speakers, spoke the following words to the king of deva-s in solitude.
kAmaM priyANi rAjAno vaktavyA nAtra saMshayaH |
prAptakAlaM tu vaktavyaM hitamapriyamapyuta ||2-71-2
(nArada said) There is no doubt that the kings shall be told what they like. At the proper time, they shall be advised about the desirable, even though it is disliked by them.
aniyuktapurobhAgo na syAditi vadanti hi |
sulokagAtatattvaj~no nayavij~nAnakovidaH ||2-71-3
One who is knowledgeable about the course of the world and expert in policies will advise that the king should not proceed without thinking.
kAryAkArye samutpanne paripR^ichChati mAM bhavAn |
yatastataH pravakShyAmi gR^ihyatAM yadi rochate ||2-71-4
You used to ask me also as and when issues come up. That is why I am telling you. If you like, you may accept it.
anuktenApi suhR^idA vaktavyaM jAnatA hitam |
nyAyyaM cha prAptakAlaM cha parAbhavamanichChatA ||2-71-5
Friends, who do not desire defeat, should advise the customary step at the proper time, if they know what is desirable even if they are not asked.
vaktavyaM sarvathA sadbhirapriyaM chApi yaddhitam |
AnR^iNyametatsnehasya sadbhirevAdR^itaM purA ||2-71-6
Good men shall always advise about the desirable step, even though it is not liked. This is an obligation due to affection praised by good men since long.
anR^ite dharmabhagne cha na shushrUShati chApriye |
na priyaM na hitaM vAchyaM sadbhireveti ninditAH ||2-71-7
To those who speak lies, violate dharma by lying, who do not appreciate and to those who are disliked, one should not advise what is liked or desirable. They despise good men.
sarvathA deva vaktavyam shrUyatAM shR^iNvatAM vara |
shrutvA cha kuru sarvaj~na mama shreyaskaraM vachaH ||2-71-8
O lord! I say what is to be told always. O the best among listeners! please listen. O the one who knows all! After listening to my words signifying prosperity, proceed further.
anyonyabhedo bhrAtR^INAM suhR^idAM vA balAntaka |
bhavatyAnandakR^iddeva dviShatAM nAtra saMshayaH ||2-71-9
O the destroyer of bala! There is no doubt that quarrel between brothers and friends will be providing happiness to enemies.
hitAnubandhasahitaM kAryaM j~neyaM sureshvara |
viparItaM cha tadbuddhvA nityaM buddhimatAM vara ||2-71-10
O the lord of deva-s! One should know about the matters related to what one likes. O the best among those with intellect! One should always consider the opposites as well.
yatsyAttApakaraM pashchAdArabdhaM kAryamIdR^isham |
Arabhennaiva tadvidvAneSha buddhimatAM nayaH ||2-71-11
If it is something like this which leads to repenting later, one who is wise, will not even initiate it. This is the conduct of those with intellect.
vipAkamasya kAryasya nAnupashyAmi shobhanam |
yadatra kAraNaM deva nibodha vibudhAdhipa ||2-71-12
I do not see an auspicious end for this issue. O lord! O the king of deva-s! please understand the reason for this.
ya eko vishvamadhyAste pradhAnaM jagato hariH |
prakR^ityA yaM paraM sarve kShetraj~naM vai vidurbudhAH ||2-71-13
hari (viShNu - kR^iShNa) alone rules this universe. He is the source of this universe. He rules the nature and all the bodies. This is what the wise say.
tasyAvyaktasya yo vyakto bhAgaH sarvabhavodbhavaH |
tasyAtmA paramo devo viShNuH sarvasya dhImataH ||2-71-14
All the parts which are manifested, of the one who is not manifested, have come from bhava (shiva). Lord viShNu is the soul of that supreme lord, shiva, who is the intellect of all beings.
prakR^ityAH prathamo bhAga umA devI yashasvinI |
vyaktaH sarvamayo vishvaH strIsaMj~no lokabhAvanaH ||2-71-15
The principal part of nature is the goddess umA, having fame. The entire world is manifested in her name, for the welfare of the world.
rukmiNyAdyAH striyastasyA vyaktatvaM prathamo guNaH |
avyayA prakR^itirdevI guNI devo maheshvaraH ||2-71-16
Women such as rukmiNI, manifest the goddess's principal qualities. The nature do not suffer any decline due to the qualities of the goddess umA and the great lord, shiva.
na visheSho.asya rudrasya viShNoshchAmarasattama |
guNinashchAvyayaH shAstA sadA cha prathamo guNaH ||2-71-17
O the best among deva-s! There is no difference between rudra (shiva) and viShNu (kR^iShNa). shiva is always the reason for the qualities which do not suffer any decline as well as the principal qualities.
nArAyaNo mahAtejAH sarvakR^illokabhAvanaH |
bhoktA maheshvaro devaH kartA viShnuradhokShajaH ||2-71-18
nArayaNa (viShNu - kR^iShNa) has great splendour. He creates all considering the welfare of the world. The great lord shiva, deva, is the consumer of all. The creator is viShNu (kR^iShNa), adhokShaja.
brahmA devagaNAshchAnye pashchAtsR^iShTA mahAtmanA |
mahAdevena devesha prajApatigaNAstathA ||2-71-19
brahma and the assembly of other deva-s, as well as the assembly of prajApati-s were created later by the great soul, the great deva, the lord of deva-s, shiva.
evaM purANapuruSho viShNurdeveShu paTHyate |
achintyashchAprameyashcha guNebhyashcha parastathA ||2-71-20
Thus the viShNu celebrated anciently is the prime person among deva-s. He is inconceivable and immeasurable. He is the abode of supreme qualities.
adityA tapasA viShNurmahAtmA.a.arAdhitaH purA |
vareNa chChanditA tena parituShTena chAditiH ||2-71-21
Long ago, aditi worshipped the great soul viShNu with penance. Highly pleased, viShNu gave boons to aditi.
tayoktastvatsamaM putramichChAmIti surottama |
praNipatya cha vij~nAya nArAyaNamadhokShajam ||2-71-22
She asked: O the best among devas-! I desire a son equal to you. Bowing to nArAyaNa, viShNu, she requested him.
tenoktaM bhuvane nAsti matsamaH puruSho.aparaH |
aMshena tu bhaviShyAmi putraH khalvahameva te ||2-71-23
He said: There is no other person in the world equal to me. I myself will become your son with a portion of mine.
sa jAtaH sarvakR^iddevo bhrAtA tava sureshvaraH |
nArAyaNo mahAtejA yamupendraM prachakShate ||2-71-24
O the lord of deva-s! (nArada continued) Thus, he who is the creator of all, was born as your younger brother. It appears that nArAyaNa with great splendour is upendra.
ichChanneva harirdeva kAshyapatvamupAgataH |
taistairbhAvairvikurute bhUtabhavyabhavApyayaH ||2-71-25
Lord hari (viShNu) accepted being a son of kashyapa by his own will. The one who does not decline in the past, present or future takes up forms suitable to the occasion.
prAdurbhAvaM gato devo jagato hitakAmyayA |
mAthuraM jagato nAthaH kartA hartA cha keshavaH ||2-71-26
The lord took up incarnation in mathurA for the benefit of the world. keshava (kR^iShNa) is the lord of the universe, the creator, as well as the destroyer.
yathA palalapiNDaH syAdvyAptaH snehena mAnada |
tathA jagadidaM vyAptaM viShNunA prabhaviShNunA ||2-71-27
O the one who gives respect to others! As the world of bodies is pervaded with love, this entire universe is pervaded by viShNu, the splendour of viShNu.
brahmaNyadevaH sarvAtmA taistairbhAvairvikurvati |
jagatyatiguNo devo vaikuNThaH sarvabhAvanaH ||2-71-28
The lord of brahmaNya, the soul of all, manifests in the forms as are required. The lord of vaikuNTha, who desires the welfare of all beings, is the one in the universe having all supreme qualities.
ataH samastadevAnAM pUjya eva cha keshavaH |
padmanAbhashcha bhagavAnprajAsargakaro vibhuH ||2-71-29
Hence keshava (kR^iShNa), the one who has lotus on his navel, the lord who creates all beings, is to be worshipped by all deva-s.
ananto dhAraNArtaM cha bibharti cha mahadyashaH |
yaj~na ityapi sadbhishcha kathyate vedavAdibhiH ||2-71-30
The lord of great fame became the one without an end (ananta, AdisheSha - see nIlakaNTha commentary) for carrying the earth. The good men as well as those who abide by veda-s pronounce the lord as one to be worshipped with sacrifice.
shvetaH kR^tayuge devo raktastretAyuge tathA |
dvApare cha tathA pItaH kR^iShNaH kaliyuge vibhuH ||2-71-31
In the era of kR^ita, the deva is white. He is red in the era of treta. In the dvApara era, he is yellow and in kali era, the lord is black.
(See nIlakaNTha commentary below and Note 1)
avadhItsa hiraNyAkShaM divyarUpadharo hariH |
dadhArApsu nimajjantImeSha devo vasundharAm ||2-71-32
vArAhaM vapurAshritya jagato hitakAmyayA |
hari (viShNu) taking a divine form, killed hiraNyAkSha. This lord held the earth which was sinking in water, taking the body of boar for the benefit of the world.
jaghne hiraNyakashipuM nArasimhavapurhariH ||2-71-33
jigAya jagatIM chaiva viShNurvAmanarUpadhR^ik |
hari (viShNu) taking the body of man-lion, killed hiraNyAkashipu. viShNu taking the form of vAmana, conquered the world.
babandha cha baliM devaH shrImAnpannagabandhanaiH ||2-71-34
The auspicious lord tied bali with the serpent knot.
devadAnavasaMbhUtAnAkrAmayadapi shriyam |
tvayyanantaH purA viShNurudAro.amitavikramaH |2-71-35
viShNu who is kind and with unlimited valiance and who has no end transferred the auspicious splendour of deva-s and dAnava-s to you before.
sAvasheShaM tapo yasya tannihanti janArdanaH |
alIkeShvapi vartantaM vratametanmahAtmanaH ||2- 71-36
janArdana (viShNu) kills the one who has balance penance to be done. Even though he commits deceit, this is the vow of the great soul.
jaghne cha dAnavAnmukhyAndevAnAM ye cha shatravaH |
tava priyArthaM govindo dharmanityaH satAM gatiH ||2-71-37
govinda (kR^iShNa), always fixed in dharma, the refuge of all, killed the prominent dAnava-s (daitya-s ) who were the enemies of the deva-s for your benefit.
rAmatvamapi chAvApya jaghne rAvaNamAtmavAn |
bhUtvA kAmaguNAMshchaiva jaghAna dviradaM hariH ||2-71-38
Becoming rAma with great soul, he killed rAvaNa. hari (viShnu) killed the asura-s who were born with desired qualities such as valiance.
hitAya jagato.adyApi loke vasati mAnuShe |
upendro jagatAM nAthaH sarvabhutottamottamaH ||2-711-39
The lord of the universe, upendra, the best among the best of all beings, is living in the world of men for the benefit of the world.
jaTI kR^iShNAjinI daNDI dR^iShTapUrvo mayA hariH |
daiteyeShu charandevastR^INeShvagnirivoddhataH ||2-71-40
Earlier I saw hari, moving among daitya-s like blazing fire on grass, wearing twisted locks of hair, covered with a skin of black antelope (kR^iShNAjina) and the rod.
adrAkShamapi govindaM dAnavaikArNavaM jagat |
kurvANaM dAnavairhInaM jagato hitakAmyayA ||2-71-41
I saw govinda, who makes the world having an ocean of daitya-s, devoid of daitya-s for the benefit of the world.
avashyaM pArijAtaM te nayiShyati janAdanaH |
dvArakAmamarashreShTha nAnR^itaM cha bravImyaham ||2-71-42
O the best among the immortals! janAdana (kR^iShNa) will definitely take your pArijAta tree to dvArakA. I do not speak lie.
bhrAtR^isnehAbhibhUtastvaM na kR^iShNe prahariShyasi |
nApi kR^iShNastvayi jyeShTho prahariShyati vAsava ||2-71-43
You, having love for your brother will not strike against kR^iShNa. O vAsava (indra)! kR^iShNa will also not strike against you, who is his elder brother.
naiva chechChroShyati proktaM mayA deva katha~nchana |
pR^ichCha tvaM nayadharmaj~nAnye hitAstava mantriNaH ||2-71-44
O deva! If you do not listen at all to what I said, ask your ministers who are experts in policies.
vaishampAyana uvAcha
nAradenaivamuktastu mahendro janamejaya |
idamuttaramIsho.atha pratyuvAcha jagadgurum ||2-71-45
vaishampAyana said:
O janamejaya! The great indra who was told thus by nArada, the lord, replied as follows to the lord of the universe.
evaMvidhaprabhAvaM tvaM kR^iShNaM vadasi yaddvija |
evametatsubahushaH shrutaM khalu mayA mune ||2-71-46
(indra said) O twice born (brAhmin) (nArada)! You said that kR^iShNa is with great splendour as described. O sage! I have heard this many times before.
yatashchaivaMvidhaH kR^iShNastato.ahaM tasya vai tarum |
na pradAsyAmi dAtavyaM satAM dharmamanusmaran ||2-71-47
If kR^iShNa is like this (having great splendour), I will not give the tree to him, remembering the dharma of good men, even if the tree is to be given.
mahAprabhAvo nAlpArthe ruShyediti vichintayan |
vyavasthito.ahaM bhadraM te mune sarvaguNAditi ||2-71-48
Thinking that the one with great splendour will not get angry on a minor issue, I remain firm (on my decision not to give the tree). O sage! let there be good to you by all qualities.
mahAprabhAvAH satataM bhavanti hi sahiShNavaH |
shrotArashchaiva satataM vR^IddhAnAM j~nAnachakShuShAm ||2-71-49
Those with great splendour always have tolerance. They always listen to the advice of old men having the eye of wisdom.
mahAtmA kAraNe nAlpe kR^iShNo dharmabhR^itAM varaH |
bhrAtrA jyeShThena sarvaj~no virodhaM gantumarthati ||2-71-50
will kR^iShNa, the great soul, the best among those who are fixed in dharma, one who knows all, maintain enmity with his elder brother?
yathaivaM mama mAtuH sa varaM prAdAdadhokShajaH |
tathaiva tasyAH putrANAM jyeShThAnAM soDhumarhati ||2-71-51
As viShNu provided boon to my mother, he will tolerate her elder sons in the same manner.
yathaivopendratAM yAtaH svayamichCha~njanArdanaH |
tathaiva bhrAturindrasya sanmAnaM kartumarhati ||2-71-52
In the same way in which janArdana took up the status of upendra by his own will, he will respect indra who is his elder brother.
jyaiShThyametena devena nArabdhaM kiM purAtane |
athedAnImapIchChetsa jyeShTho.astu madhusUdanaH ||2-71-53
Why did that deva not become the elder brother long ago (at the time of his incarnation as vAmana - see nIlakaNTa commentary)? Now, if he has some desire like this, let the slayer of madhu (viShnu-kR^iShNa) become the elder brother.
    sunishchitaM balaripumIkShya nArado
        visarjitastridashavareNa dharmabhR^it |
    yayau purIM yaduvR^iShabhAbhirakShitAM
        kushasthalIM dhR^itimatimAMstapodhanaH ||2-71-54
nArada, the righteous soul who was sent by the best among the deva-s saw that the enemy of bala, was fixed in his intention. nArada, having the wealth of penance, proceeded quickly to the city of kushasthali (dvArakA) protected by the best among yAdava-s.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi pArijAtaharaNe nAradasya svargAtpunarAgamane ekasaptatitamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the seventyfirst lesson of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, nArada returns to dvAraka to convey indra's refusal

Note 1:
kaliH shayAno bhavati sa~njihAnastu dvAparaH |
uttiShThaMstretA bhavati kR^itaM saMpadyate charan

it shruteH
The summary of nIlakaNTha commentary is as follows:
According to shruti, those highly ignorant, immersed in the sleep of ignorance are kali. For blessing them, lord viShNu (kR^iShNa) has taken the avatAra of kR^iShNa. Those half enlightened, and some time desire prosperity are dvApara. For them, the lord has taken the yellow colour, beautiful like gold. Some are inclined to devotion. For their prosperity is tretA. For blessing them , the lord becomes affectionate (red- rakto.anurakto) like a mother. Those who are highly devoted like yudhiShThira are kR^ita and for them the lord is white. By himself, the lord shows his pure form. According to the commentary of shruti, it is seen that the lord has all the forms (colours) in all the four yuga-s.

    nIlakaNTha commentary

athaikasaptatitame.adhyAye shakravinishchayam |
sanirbandhaM harervaktuM nArado dvArakAM gataH || 1 ||
iti shrIharivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAmekasaptatitamo.adhyAyaH ||
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, November 4, 2008
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
June 12, 2010 ##