Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Nine
The Dynasty of Amsuman
SB9.9Summary
This chapter describes the history of the dynasty of Amsuman, up to Khatvanga, and it also describes how Bhagiratha brought the water of the Ganges to this earth.
The son of Maharaja Amsuman was Dilipa, who tried to bring the Ganges to this world but who died without success. Bhagiratha, the son of Dilipa, was determined to bring the Ganges to the material world, and for this purpose he underwent severe austerities. Mother Ganges, being fully satisfied by his austerities, made herself visible to him, wanting to give him a benediction. Bhagiratha then asked her to deliver his forefathers. Although mother Ganges agreed to come down to earth, she made two conditions: first, she wanted some suitable male to be able to control her waves; second, although all sinful men would be freed from sinful reactions by bathing in the Ganges, mother Ganges did not want to keep all these sinful reactions. These two conditions were subject matters for consideration. Bhagiratha replied to mother Ganges, “The Personality of Godhead Lord Siva will be completely able to control the waves of your water, and when pure devotees bathe in your water, the sinful reactions left by sinful men will be counteracted.” Bhagiratha then performed austerities to satisfy Lord Siva, who is called Asutosa because he is naturally satisfied very easily. Lord Siva agreed to Bhagiratha’s proposal to check the force of the Ganges. In this way, simply by the touch of the Ganges, Bhagiratha’s forefathers were delivered and allowed to go to the heavenly planets.
The son of Bhagiratha was Sruta, the son of Sruta was Nabha, and Nabha’s son was Sindhudvipa. The son of Sindhudvipa was Ayutayu, and the son of Ayutayu was Rtuparna, who was a friend of Nala. Rtuparna gave Nala the art of gambling and learned from him the art of asva-vidya. The son of Rtuparna was known as Sarvakama, the son of Sarvakama was Sudasa, and his son was Saudasa. The wife of Saudasa was named Damayanti or Madayanti, and Saudasa was also known as Kalmasapada. Because of some defect in his fruitive activities, Saudasa was cursed by Vasistha to become a Raksasa. While walking through the forest, he saw a brahmana engaged in sex with his wife, and because he had become a Raksasa he wanted to devour the brahmana. Although the brahmana’s wife pleaded with him in many ways, Saudasa devoured the brahmana, and the wife therefore cursed him, saying, “As soon as you engage in sex you will die.” After twelve years, therefore, even though Saudasa was released from the curse of Vasistha Muni, he remained sonless. At that time, with Saudasa’s permission, Vasistha impregnated Saudasa’s wife, Madayanti. Because Madayanti bore the child for many years but still could not give birth, Vasistha struck her abdomen with a stone, and thus a son was born. The son was named Asmaka.
The son of Asmaka was known as Balika. He was protected from the curse of Parasurama because of being surrounded by many women, and therefore he is also known as Narikavaca. When the entire world was devoid of ksatriyas, he became the original father of more ksatriyas. He is therefore sometimes called Mulaka. From Balika, Dasaratha was born, from Dasaratha came Aidavidi, and from Aidavidi came Visvasaha. The son of Visvasaha was Maharaja Khatvanga. Maharaja Khatvanga joined the demigods in fighting the demons and was victorious, and the demigods therefore wanted to give him a benediction. But when the King inquired how long he would live and understood that his life would last only a few seconds more, he immediately left the heavenly planets and returned to his own abode by airplane. He could understand that everything in this material world is insignificant, and thus he fully engaged in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. SB9.9.1 TEXT 1 sri-suka uvaca amsumams ca tapas tepe ganganayana-kamyaya kalam mahantam nasaknot tatah kalena samsthitah SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; amsuman—the king named Amsuman; ca—also; tapah tepe—executed austerity; ganga—the Ganges; anayana-kamyaya—with a desire to bring the Ganges to this material world to deliver his forefathers; kalam—time; mahantam—for a long duration; na—not; asaknot—was successful; tatah—thereafter; kalena—in due course of time; samsthitah—died. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami continued: King Amsuman, like his grandfather, performed austerities for a very long time. Nonetheless, he could not bring the Ganges to this material world, and thereafter, in due course of time, he died. SB9.9.2 TEXT 2 dilipas tat-sutas tadvad asaktah kalam eyivan bhagirathas tasya sutas tepe sa sumahat tapah SYNONYMS dilipah—named Dilipa; tat-sutah—the son of Amsuman; tat-vat—like his father; asaktah—being unable to bring the Ganges to the material world; kalam eyivan—became a victim of time and died; bhagirathah tasya sutah—his son Bhagiratha; tepe—executed penance; sah—he; su-mahat—very great; tapah—austerity. TRANSLATION Like Amsuman himself, Dilipa, his son, was unable to bring the Ganges to this material world, and he also became a victim of death in due course of time. Then Dilipa’s son, Bhagiratha, performed very severe austerities to bring the Ganges to this material world. SB9.9.3 TEXT 3 darsayam asa tam devi prasanna varadasmi te ity uktah svam abhiprayam sasamsavanato nrpah SYNONYMS darsayam asa—appeared; tam—unto him, King Bhagiratha; devi—mother Ganges; prasanna—being very much satisfied; varada asmi—I shall bless with my benediction; te—unto you; iti uktah—thus being addressed; svam—his own; abhiprayam—desire; sasamsa—explained; avanatah—very respectfully bowing down; nrpah—the King (Bhagiratha). TRANSLATION Thereafter, mother Ganges appeared before King Bhagiratha and said, “I am very much satisfied with your austerities and am now prepared to give you benedictions as you desire.” Being thus addressed by Gangadevi, mother Ganges, the King bowed his head before her and explained his desire. PURPORT The King’s desire was to deliver his forefathers, who had been burnt to ashes because of disrespecting Kapila Muni. SB9.9.4 TEXT 4 ko ’pi dharayita vegam patantya me mahi-tale anyatha bhu-talam bhittva nrpa yasye rasatalam SYNONYMS kah—who is that person; api—indeed; dharayita—who can sustain; vegam—the force of the waves; patantyah—while falling down; me—of me; mahi-tale—upon this earth; anyatha—otherwise; bhu-talam—the surface of the earth; bhittva—piercing; nrpa—O King; yasye—I shall go down; rasatalam—to Patala, the lower part of the universe. TRANSLATION Mother Ganges replied: When I fall from the sky to the surface of the planet earth, the water will certainly be very forceful. Who will sustain that force? If I am not sustained, I shall pierce the surface of the earth and go down to Rasatala, the Patala area of the universe. SB9.9.5 TEXT 5 kim caham na bhuvam yasye nara mayy amrjanty agham mrjami tad agham kvaham rajams tatra vicintyatam SYNONYMS kim ca—also; aham—I; na—not; bhuvam—to the planet earth; yasye—shall go; narah—the people in general; mayi—in me, in my water; amrjanti—cleanse; agham—the reactions of their sinful activity; mrjami—I shall wash; tat—that; agham—accumulation of sinful reactions; kva—unto whom; aham—I; rajan—O King; tatra—on this fact; vicintyatam—please consider carefully and decide. TRANSLATION O King, I do not wish to go down to the planet earth, for there the people in general will bathe in my water to cleanse themselves of the reactions of their sinful deeds. When all these sinful reactions accumulate in me, how shall I become free from them? You must consider this very carefully. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead says: sarva-dharman parityajya “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66) The Supreme Personality of Godhead can accept the reactions of anyone’s sinful deeds and neutralize them because He is pavitra, pure, like the sun, which is never contaminated by any worldly infection. Tejiyasam na dosaya vahneh sama-bhujo yatha (Bhag. 10.33.29). One who is very powerful is not affected by any sinful activity. But here we see that mother Ganges fears being burdened with the sins of the people in general who would bathe in her waters. This indicates that no one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is able to neutralize the reactions of sinful deeds, whether one’s own or those of others. Sometimes the spiritual master, after accepting a disciple, must take charge of that disciple’s past sinful activities and, being overloaded, must sometimes suffer—if not fully, then partially—for the sinful acts of the disciple. Every disciple, therefore, must be very careful not to commit sinful activities after initiation. The poor spiritual master is kind and merciful enough to accept a disciple and partially suffer for that disciple’s sinful activities, but Krsna, being merciful to His servant, neutralizes the reactions of sinful deeds for the servant who engages in preaching His glories. Even mother Ganges feared the sinful reactions of the people in general and was anxious about how she would counteract the burden of these sins. SB9.9.6 TEXT 6 sri-bhagiratha uvaca sadhavo nyasinah santa brahmistha loka-pavanah haranty agham te ’nga-sangat tesv aste hy agha-bhid dharih SYNONYMS sri-bhagirathah uvaca—Bhagiratha said; sadhavah—saintly persons; nyasinah—sannyasis; santah—peaceful, free from material disturbances; brahmisthah—expert in following the regulative principles of Vedic scripture; loka-pavanah—who are engaged in delivering the entire world from a fallen condition; haranti—shall remove; agham—the reactions of sinful life; te—of you (mother Ganges); anga-sangat—by bathing in the Ganges water; tesu—within themselves; aste—there is; hi—indeed; agha-bhit—the Supreme Personality, who can vanquish all sinful activities; harih—the Lord. TRANSLATION Bhagiratha said: Those who are saintly because of devotional service and are therefore in the renounced order, free from material desires, and who are pure devotees, expert in following the regulative principles mentioned in the Vedas, are always glorious and pure in behavior and are able to deliver all fallen souls. When such pure devotees bathe in your water, the sinful reactions accumulated from other people will certainly be counteracted, for such devotees always keep in the core of their hearts the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can vanquish all sinful reactions. PURPORT Mother Ganges is available to everyone for bathing. Therefore, not only will sinful persons bathe in the Ganges water, but in Hardwar and other holy places where the Ganges flows, saintly persons and devotees will also bathe in the waters of the Ganges. Devotees and saintly persons advanced in the renounced order can deliver even the Ganges. Tirthi-kurvanti tirthani svantah-sthena gadabhrta (Bhag. 1.13.10). Because saintly devotees always keep the Lord within the core of their hearts, they can perfectly cleanse the holy places of all sinful reactions. Therefore, people in general must always respectfully honor saintly persons. It is ordered that as soon as one sees a Vaisnava, or even a sannyasi, one should immediately offer respects to such a holy man. If one forgets to show respect in this way, one must observe a fast for that day. This is a Vedic injunction. One must be extremely careful to refrain from committing offenses at the lotus feet of a devotee or saintly person. There are methods of prayascitta, or atonement, but they are inadequate to cleanse one of sinful reactions. One can be cleansed of sinful reactions only by devotional service, as stated in regard to the history of Ajamila: kecit kevalaya bhaktya “Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to Krsna can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays.” (Bhag. 6.1.15) If one is under the protection of a devotee and sincerely renders service unto him, by this process of bhakti-yoga one is certainly able to counteract all sinful reactions. SB9.9.7 TEXT 7 dharayisyati te vegam rudras tv atma saririnam yasminn otam idam protam visvam sativa tantusu SYNONYMS dharayisyati—will sustain; te—your; vegam—force of the waves; rudrah—Lord Siva; tu—indeed; atma—the Supersoul; saririnam—of all embodied souls; yasmin—in whom; otam—is situated in its longitude; idam—this whole universe; protam—latitude; visvam—the whole universe; sati—a cloth; iva—as; tantusu—in threads. TRANSLATION Like a cloth woven of threads extending for its length and breadth, this entire universe, in all its latitude and longitude, is situated under different potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Siva is the incarnation of the Lord, and thus he represents the Supersoul in the embodied soul. He can sustain your forceful waves on his head. PURPORT The water of the Ganges is supposed to rest on the head of Lord Siva. Lord Siva is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who sustains the entire universe by different potencies. Lord Siva is described in the Brahma-samhita (5.45): ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat “Milk changes into yogurt when mixed with a yogurt culture, but actually yogurt is constitutionally nothing but milk. Similarly, Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the form of Lord Siva for the special purpose of material transactions. I offer my obeisances at Lord Govinda’s lotus feet.” Lord Siva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the same sense that yogurt is also milk although at the same time it is not milk. For the maintenance of the material world there are three incarnations—Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara (Lord Siva). Lord Siva is Visnu in an incarnation for the mode of ignorance. The material world exists predominantly in the mode of ignorance. Therefore Lord Siva is compared here to the longitude and latitude of the entire universe, which resembles a cloth woven of threads extending for both its length and breadth. SB9.9.8 TEXT 8 ity uktva sa nrpo devam tapasatosayac chivam kalenalpiyasa rajams tasyesas casv atusyata SYNONYMS iti uktva—after saying this; sah—he; nrpah—the King (Bhagiratha); devam—unto Lord Siva; tapasa—by executing austerities; atosayat—pleased; sivam—Lord Siva, the all-auspicious; kalena—by time; alpiyasa—which was not very long; rajan—O King; tasya—upon him (Bhagiratha); isah—Lord Siva; ca—indeed; asu—very soon; atusyata—became satisfied. TRANSLATION After saying this, Bhagiratha satisfied Lord Siva by performing austerities. O King Pariksit, Lord Siva was very quickly satisfied with Bhagiratha. PURPORT The words asv atusyata indicate that Lord Siva was satisfied very soon. Therefore another name for Lord Siva is Asutosa. Materialistic persons become attached to Lord Siva because Lord Siva bestows benedictions upon anyone and everyone very quickly, not caring to know how his devotees prosper or suffer. Although materialistic persons know that material happiness is nothing but another side of suffering, they want it, and to get it very quickly they worship Lord Siva. We find that materialists are generally devotees of many demigods, especially Lord Siva and mother Durga. They do not actually want spiritual happiness, for it is almost unknown to them. But if one is serious about being happy spiritually, he must take shelter of Lord Visnu, as the Lord personally demands: sarva-dharman parityajya “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66) SB9.9.9 TEXT 9 tatheti rajnabhihitam sarva-loka-hitah sivah dadharavahito gangam pada-puta-jalam hareh SYNONYMS tatha—(let it be) so; iti—thus; rajna abhihitam—having been addressed by the King (Bhagiratha); sarva-loka-hitah—the Personality of Godhead, who is always auspicious to everyone; sivah—Lord Siva; dadhara—sustained; avahitah—with great attention; gangam—the Ganges; pada-puta-jalam hareh—whose water is transcendentally pure because of emanating from the toes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu. TRANSLATION When King Bhagiratha approached Lord Siva and requested him to sustain the forceful waves of the Ganges, Lord Siva accepted the proposal by saying, “Let it be so.” Then, with great attention, he sustained the Ganges on his head, for the water of the Ganges is purifying, having emanated from the toes of Lord Visnu. SB9.9.10 TEXT 10 bhagirathah sa rajarsir ninye bhuvana-pavanim yatra sva-pitrnam deha bhasmibhutah sma serate SYNONYMS bhagirathah—King Bhagiratha; sah—he; raja-rsih—the great saintly king; ninye—carried or brought; bhuvana-pavanim—mother Ganges, who can deliver the whole universe; yatra—in that place where; sva-pitrnam—of his forefathers; dehah—the bodies; bhasmibhutah—having been burnt to ashes; sma serate—were lying. TRANSLATION The great and saintly king Bhagiratha brought the Ganges, which can deliver all the fallen souls, to that place on earth where the bodies of his forefathers lay burnt to ashes. SB9.9.11 TEXT 11 rathena vayu-vegena prayantam anudhavati desan punanti nirdagdhan asincat sagaratmajan SYNONYMS rathena—on a chariot; vayu-vegena—driving at the speed of the wind; prayantam—Maharaja Bhagiratha, who was going in front; anudhavati—running after; desan—all the countries; punanti—sanctifying; nirdagdhan—who had been burnt to ashes; asincat—sprinkled over; sagara-atmajan—the sons of Sagara. TRANSLATION Bhagiratha mounted a swift chariot and drove before mother Ganges, who followed him, purifying many countries, until they reached the ashes of Bhagiratha’s forefathers, the sons of Sagara, who were thus sprinkled with water from the Ganges. SB9.9.12 TEXT 12 yaj-jala-sparsa-matrena brahma-danda-hata api sagaratmaja divam jagmuh kevalam deha-bhasmabhih SYNONYMS yat-jala—whose water; sparsa-matrena—simply by touching; brahma-danda-hatah—those who were condemned for offending brahma, the self; api—although; sagara-atmajah—the sons of Sagara; divam—to the heavenly planets; jagmuh—went; kevalam—only; deha-bhasmabhih—by the remaining ashes of their burnt bodies. TRANSLATION Because the sons of Sagara Maharaja had offended a great personality, the heat of their bodies had increased, and they were burnt to ashes. But simply by being sprinkled with water from the Ganges, all of them became eligible to go to the heavenly planets. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her? PURPORT Mother Ganges is worshiped by the water of the Ganges: a devotee takes a little water from the Ganges and offers it back to the Ganges. When the devotee takes the water, mother Ganges does not lose anything, and when the water is offered back, mother Ganges does not increase, but in this way the worshiper of the Ganges is benefited. Similarly, a devotee of the Lord offers the Lord patram puspam phalam toyam—a leaf, flower, fruit or water—in great devotion, but everything, including the leaf, flower, fruit and water, belongs to the Lord, and therefore there is nothing to renounce or to accept. One must simply take advantage of the bhakti process because by following this process one does not lose anything but one gains the favor of the Supreme Person. SB9.9.13 TEXT 13 bhasmibhutanga-sangena svar yatah sagaratmajah kim punah sraddhaya devim sevante ye dhrta-vratah SYNONYMS bhasmibhuta-anga—by the body which had been burnt to ashes; sangena—by contacting the water of the Ganges; svah yatah—went to the heavenly planets; sagara-atmajah—the sons of Sagara; kim—what to speak of; punah—again; sraddhaya—with faith and devotion; devim—unto mother Ganges; sevante—worship; ye—those persons who; dhrta-vratah—with vows of determination. TRANSLATION Simply by having water from the Ganges come in contact with the ashes of their burnt bodies, the sons of Sagara Maharaja were elevated to the heavenly planets. Therefore, what is to be said of a devotee who worships mother Ganges faithfully with a determined vow? One can only imagine the benefit that accrues to such a devotee. SB9.9.14 TEXT 14 na hy etat param ascaryam svardhunya yad ihoditam ananta-caranambhoja- prasutaya bhava-cchidah SYNONYMS na—not; hi—indeed; etat—this; param—ultimate; ascaryam—wonderful thing; svardhunyah—of the water of the Ganges; yat—which; iha—herewith; uditam—has been described; ananta—of the Supreme Lord; carana-ambhoja—from the lotus of the feet; prasutayah—of that which emanates; bhava-chidah—which can liberate from material bondage. TRANSLATION Because mother Ganges emanates from the lotus toe of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, she is able to liberate one from material bondage. Therefore whatever is described herewith about her is not at all wonderful. PURPORT It has actually been seen that anyone who regularly worships mother Ganges simply by bathing in her water keeps very good health and gradually becomes a devotee of the Lord. This is the effect of bathing in the water of the Ganges. Bathing in the Ganges is recommended in all Vedic sastras, and one who takes to this path will certainly be completely freed from all sinful reactions. The practical example of this is that the sons of Maharaja Sagara went to the heavenly planets when water from the Ganges merely touched the ashes of their burnt bodies. SB9.9.15 TEXT 15 sannivesya mano yasmin chraddhaya munayo ’malah traigunyam dustyajam hitva sadyo yatas tad-atmatam SYNONYMS sannivesya—giving full attention; manah—the mind; yasmin—unto whom; sraddhaya—with faith and devotion; munayah—great saintly persons; amalah—freed from all contamination of sins; traigunyam—the three modes of material nature; dustyajam—very difficult to give up; hitva—they can nonetheless give up; sadyah—immediately; yatah—achieved; tat-atmatam—the spiritual quality of the Supreme. TRANSLATION Great sages, completely freed from material lusty desires, devote their minds fully to the service of the Lord. Such persons are liberated from material bondage without difficulty, and they become transcendentally situated, acquiring the spiritual quality of the Lord. This is the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB9.9.16-17 TEXTS 16–17 sruto bhagirathaj jajne tasya nabho ’paro ’bhavat sindhudvipas tatas tasmad ayutayus tato ’bhavat rtuparno nala-sakho yo ’sva-vidyam ayan nalat dattvaksa-hrdayam casmai sarvakamas tu tat-sutam SYNONYMS srutah—a son named Sruta; bhagirathat—from Bhagiratha; jajne—was born; tasya—of Sruta; nabhah—by the name Nabha; aparah—different from the Nabha previously described; abhavat—was born; sindhudvipah—by the name Sindhudvipa; tatah—from Nabha; tasmat—from Sindhudvipa; ayutayuh—a son named Ayutayu; tatah—thereafter; abhavat—was born; rtuparnah—a son named Rtuparna; nala-sakhah—who was a friend of Nala; yah—one who; asva-vidyam—the art of controlling horses; ayat—achieved; nalat—from Nala; dattva—after giving in exchange; aksa-hrdayam—the secrets of the art of gambling; ca—and; asmai—unto Nala; sarvakamah—by the name Sarvakama; tu—indeed; tat-sutam—his son (the son of Rtuparna). TRANSLATION Bhagiratha had a son named Sruta, whose son was Nabha. This son was different from the Nabha previously described. Nabha had a son named Sindhudvipa, from Sindhudvipa came Ayutayu, and from Ayutayu came Rtuparna, who became a friend of Nalaraja. Rtuparna taught Nalaraja the art of gambling, and Nalaraja gave Rtuparna lessons in controlling and maintaining horses. The son of Rtuparna was Sarvakama. PURPORT Gambling is also an art. Ksatriyas are allowed to exhibit talent in this art of gambling. By the grace of Krsna, the Pandavas lost everything by gambling and were deprived of their kingdom, wife, family and home because they were not expert in the gambling art. In other words, a devotee may not be expert in materialistic activities. It is therefore advised in the sastra that materialistic activities are not at all suitable for the living entities, especially the devotees. A devotee should therefore be satisfied to eat whatever is sent as prasada by the Supreme Lord. A devotee remains pure because he does not take to sinful activities such as gambling, intoxication, meat-eating and illicit sex. SB9.9.18 TEXT 18 tatah sudasas tat-putro damayanti-patir nrpah ahur mitrasaham yam vai kalmasanghrim uta kvacit vasistha-sapad rakso ’bhud anapatyah sva-karmana SYNONYMS tatah—from Sarvakama; sudasah—Sudasa was born; tat-putrah—the son of Sudasa; damayanti-patih—the husband of Damayanti; nrpah—he became king; ahuh—it is said; mitrasaham—Mitrasaha; yam vai—also; kalmasanghrim—by Kalmasapada; uta—known; kvacit—sometimes; vasistha-sapat—being cursed by Vasistha; raksah—a man-eater; abhut—became; anapatyah—without any son; sva-karmana—by his own sinful act. TRANSLATION Sarvakama had a son named Sudasa, whose son, known as Saudasa, was the husband of Damayanti. Saudasa is sometimes known as Mitrasaha or Kalmasapada. Because of his own misdeed, Mitrasaha was sonless and was cursed by Vasistha to become a man-eater [Raksasa]. SB9.9.19 TEXT 19 sri-rajovaca kim nimitto guroh sapah saudasasya mahatmanah etad veditum icchamah kathyatam na raho yadi SYNONYMS sri-raja uvaca—King Pariksit said; kim nimittah—for what reason; guroh—of the spiritual master; sapah—curse; saudasasya—of Saudasa; maha-atmanah—of the great soul; etat—this; veditum—to know; icchamah—I wish; kathyatam—please tell me; na—not; rahah—confidential; yadi—if. TRANSLATION King Pariksit said: O Sukadeva Gosvami, why did Vasistha, the spiritual master of Saudasa, curse that great soul? I wish to know of this. If it is not a confidential matter, please describe it to me. SB9.9.20-21 TEXTS 20–21 sri-suka uvaca saudaso mrgayam kincic caran rakso jaghana ha mumoca bhrataram so ’tha gatah praticikirsaya sancintayann agham rajnah suda-rupa-dharo grhe gurave bhoktu-kamaya paktva ninye naramisam SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; saudasah—King Saudasa; mrgayam—in hunting; kincit—sometimes; caran—wandering; raksah—a Raksasa, or man-eater; jaghana—killed; ha—in the past; mumoca—released; bhrataram—the brother of that Raksasa; sah—that brother; atha—thereafter; gatah—went; praticikirsaya—for taking revenge; sancintayan—he thought; agham—to do some harm; rajnah—of the King; suda-rupa-dharah—disguised himself as a cook; grhe—in the house; gurave—unto the King’s spiritual master; bhoktu-kamaya—who came there to take dinner; paktva—after cooking; ninye—gave him; nara-amisam—the flesh of a human being. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: Once Saudasa went to live in the forest, where he killed a man-eater [Raksasa] but forgave and released the man-eater’s brother. That brother, however, decided to take revenge. Thinking to harm the King, he became the cook at the King’s house. One day, the King’s spiritual master, Vasistha Muni, was invited for dinner, and the Raksasa cook served him human flesh. SB9.9.22 TEXT 22 pariveksyamanam bhagavan vilokyabhaksyam anjasa rajanam asapat kruddho rakso hy evam bhavisyasi SYNONYMS pariveksyamanam—while examining the eatables; bhagavan—the most powerful; vilokya—when he saw; abhaksyam—unfit for consumption; anjasa—very easily by his mystic power; rajanam—unto the King; asapat—cursed; kruddhah—being very angry; raksah—a man-eater; hi—indeed; evam—in this way; bhavisyasi—you shall become. TRANSLATION While examining the food given to him, Vasistha Muni, by his mystic power, could understand that it was unfit to eat, being the flesh of a human being. He was very angry at this and immediately cursed Saudasa to become a man-eater. SB9.9.23-24 TEXTS 23–24 raksah-krtam tad viditva cakre dvadasa-varsikam so ’py apo-’njalim adaya gurum saptum samudyatah varito madayantyapo rusatih padayor jahau disah kham avanim sarvam pasyan jivamayam nrpah SYNONYMS raksah-krtam—having been done by the Raksasa only; tat—that serving of human flesh; viditva—after understanding; cakre—(Vasistha) performed; dvadasa-varsikam—twelve years of penance for atonement; sah—that Saudasa; api—also; apah-anjalim—a palmful of water; adaya—taking; gurum—his spiritual master, Vasistha; saptum—to curse; samudyatah—was preparing; varitah—being forbidden; madayantya—by his wife, who was also known as Madayanti; apah—water; rusatih—strong by chanting of a mantra; padayoh jahau—threw on his legs; disah—all directions; kham—in the sky; avanim—on the surface of the world; sarvam—everywhere; pasyan—seeing; jiva-mayam—full of living entities; nrpah—the King. TRANSLATION When Vasistha understood that the human flesh had been served by the Raksasa, not by the King, he undertook twelve years of austerity to cleanse himself for having cursed the faultless King. Meanwhile, King Saudasa took water and chanted the sapa-mantra, preparing to curse Vasistha, but his wife, Madayanti, forbade him to do so. Then the King saw that the ten directions, the sky and the surface of the globe were full of living entities everywhere.
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
vasudeva-parayanah
agham dhunvanti kartsnyena
niharam iva bhaskarah
sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh
yah sambhutam api tatha samupaiti karyad
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah