Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.209
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12.209.1
पितामह महाप्राज्ञ केशवस्य महात्मनः ।
वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वेन माहात्म्यं पुनरेव तु ॥ १२.२०९.१ ॥
Grandfather, greatly wise one, you are worthy to speak again, in truth, of the greatness of the great-souled Keśava.
12.209.2
न तृप्याम्यहमप्येनं पश्यञ्शृण्वंश्च भारत ।
एवं कृष्णं महाबाहो तस्मादेतद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥ १२.२०९.२ ॥
Bhārata, even seeing and hearing him, I am not satisfied. Therefore, mighty-armed one, speak this to me of Kṛṣṇa.
12.209.3
शृणु राजन्कथामेतां वैष्णवीं पापनाशनीम् ।
नारदो मां पुरा प्राह यामहं ते वदामि ताम् ॥ १२.२०९.३ ॥
Listen, O king, to this Vaiṣṇava tale, destroyer of sin, which Nārada told me long ago; that I now tell you.
12.209.4
देवर्षिर्नारदः पूर्वं तत्वं वेत्स्यामि वै हरेः ।
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा दध्यौ ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ १२.२०९.४ ॥
The divine sage Nārada, having reflected in mind, "I shall surely come to know the truth of Hari," then meditated upon the eternal Brahman.
12.209.5
हिमालये शुभे दिव्ये दिव्यं वर्षशतं किल ।
अनुच्छ्वसन्निराहारः संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रियः ॥ १२.२०९.५ ॥
In the auspicious, divine Himālaya, for a divine hundred years, not breathing out, fasting, self-restrained and with senses conquered, he practised austerity.
12.209.6
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे वागासीत्तं मुनिप्रवरं प्रति ।
मेघगम्भीरनिर्घोषा दिव्या वाह्याऽशरीरिणी ॥ १२.२०९.६ ॥
Then from the sky a voice came toward that foremost of sages—divine, external, bodiless, deep as the roar of a cloud.
12.209.7
किमर्थं त्वं समापन्नो ध्यानं मुनिवरोत्तम ।
अहं ददामि ते ज्ञानं धर्माद्यं वा वृणीष्व माम् ॥ १२.२०९.७ ॥
Best of sages, why have you fallen into meditation? I will give you knowledge; or choose from me whatever begins with dharma.
12.209.8
तच्छ्रुत्वा मुनिरालोच्य संभ्रमाविष्टमानसः ।
किंनु स्यादिति संचिन्त्य वाक्यमाहापरं प्रति ॥ १२.२०९.८ ॥
Hearing that, the sage, his mind seized with agitation, considered and, pondering 'What can this be?', spoke these words to another.
12.209.9
कस्त्वं भवानण्डं बिभेद मध्ये ।
समास्थितो वाक्यमुदीरयन्माम्।
न रूपमन्यत्तव दृश्यते वै ।
ईदृग्विधस्त्वं समधिष्ठितोऽसि ॥ १२.२०९.९ ॥
Who are you, who split the egg in the middle? Standing there and speaking these words to me, you show no other form; in such a form do you stand.
12.209.10
पुनस्तमाह स मुनिमनन्तोऽहं बृहत्तरः ।
न मां मूढा विजानन्ति ज्ञानिनो मां विदन्त्युत ॥ १२.२०९.१० ॥
Again that sage said to him: 'I am infinite, vaster still. The deluded do not know me; the wise do know me.'
12.209.11
तं प्रत्याह मुनिः श्रीमान्प्रणतो विनयान्वितः ।
भवन्तं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तव तत्वं ब्रवीहि मे ॥ १२.२०९.११ ॥
To him that glorious sage, bowing humbly, said: 'I wish to know you; tell me your true nature.'
12.209.12
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदं प्राह लोकपः ।
ज्ञानेन मां विजानीहि नान्यथा शक्तिरस्ति ते ॥ १२.२०९.१२ ॥
Hearing his words, the lord of the worlds said to Nārada: 'Know me through knowledge; otherwise you have no power to do so.'
12.209.13
कीदृग्विधं तु तज्ज्ञानं येन जानामि ते तनुम् ।
अनन्त तन्मे ब्रूहि त्वं यद्यनुग्रहवानहम् ॥ १२.२०९.१३ ॥
Of what kind is that knowledge by which I may know your form? O Infinite One, if you are gracious to me, tell me that.
12.209.14
विकल्पहीनं विपुलं तस्य चूरं शिवं परम् ।
ज्ञानं तत्तेन जानासि साधनं प्रति ते मुने ॥ १२.२०९.१४ ॥
That knowledge is free from alternatives, vast, pure, auspicious and supreme. O sage, by it you know it as the means.
12.209.15
अत्रावृत्य स्थितं ह्येतत्तच्छुद्धमितरन्मृषा ।
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं संक्षेपान्मुनिसत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.१५ ॥
What abides here, enveloped, is pure; the rest is false. O best of sages, all this has been told to you in brief.
12.209.16
त्वमेव तव यत्तत्वं ब्रूहि लोकगुरो मम ।
भवन्तं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.१६ ॥
You yourself tell me that reality of yours, O teacher of the worlds. O Imperishable One, I wish to know of what nature you are.
12.209.17
ततः प्रहस्य भगवान्मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ।
प्राहेशः सर्वभूतानां न मे चास्यं श्रुतिर्न च ॥ १२.२०९.१७ ॥
Then the Lord, laughing, spoke in a voice deep as a cloud: the Lord of all beings said, I have no mouth, nor have I any hearing.
12.209.18
न घ्राणजिह्वे दृक्चैव त्वचा नास्ति तथा मुने ।
कथं वक्ष्यामि चात्मानमशरीरस्तथाप्यहम् ॥ १२.२०९.१८ ॥
O sage, I have no nose or tongue, nor eye, nor skin either. How then shall I speak of myself, though I am bodiless?
12.209.19
तज्ज्ञात्वा विस्मयाविष्टो मुनिराह प्रणम्य तम् ।
येन त्वं पूर्वमात्मानमनन्तोऽहं बृहत्तरः।
शतोऽहमिति मां प्रीतः प्रोक्तवानसि तत्कथम् ॥ १२.२०९.१९ ॥
Knowing this, the sage, seized with wonder, bowed to him and said: "You earlier declared yourself infinite and greater still, and in your pleasure you called me 'a hundred' — how so?"
12.209.20
पुनस्तमाह भगवांस्तवाप्यक्षाणि सन्ति वै ।
त्वमेनं ब्रूहि चात्मानं यदि शक्नोषि नारद ॥ १२.२०९.२० ॥
The Blessed Lord spoke again to him: "You too have senses. Nārada, if you are able, tell this, and tell your own self."
12.209.21
आत्मा यथा तव मुने विदितस्तु भविष्यति ।
मां च जानासि तेन त्वमेकं साधनमावयोः।
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्देवस्ततो नोवाच किंचन ॥ १२.२०९.२१ ॥
"O sage, your self will be known as it is known. You also know me; therefore this is one means for the two of us." Having said this, the Blessed God then spoke nothing further.
12.209.22
नारदोऽप्युत्स्मयन्खिन्नः क्व गतोऽसाविति प्रभुः ।
स्थित्वा स दीर्घकालं च मुनिर्व्यामूढमानसः ॥ १२.२०९.२२ ॥
Nārada too, smiling and troubled, wondered, "Where has that Lord gone?" The sage stood there for a long time, his mind bewildered.
12.209.23
आह मां भगवान्देवस्त्वनन्तोऽहं बृहत्तरः ।
तेनाहमिति सर्वस्य को वानन्तो बृहत्तरः ॥ १२.२०९.२३ ॥
The Blessed God said to me: "I am infinite and greater still. Therefore, who is the 'I' of all, or who is infinite and greater still?"
12.209.24
केयमुर्वी ह्यनन्ताख्या बृहती नूनमेव सा ।
यस्यां जानन्ति भूतानि विलीनानि ततस्ततः।
एनां पृच्छामि तरुणीं सैषा नूनमुवाच माम् ॥ १२.२०९.२४ ॥
What is this earth named Anantā? Surely she is vast, the one in whom beings are dissolved again and again. I ask this young woman; surely she spoke to me.
12.209.25
इत्येवं स मुनिः श्रीमान्कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः ।
स भूतलं समाविश्य प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२०९.२५ ॥
Thus that glorious sage, having made his resolve, descended onto the surface of the earth, bowed low, and spoke these words.
12.209.26
आश्चर्यासि च धन्यासि वृहती त्वं वसुन्धरे ।
त्वामत्र वेत्तुमिच्छामि याग्दृभूताऽसि शोभने ॥ १२.२०९.२६ ॥
O Vasundharā, you are wondrous and blessed, you are vast. O radiant one, I wish here to know what kind of being you are.
12.209.27
तच्छ्रुत्वा धरणी देवी स्मयमानाऽब्रवीदिदम् ।
नाहं हि बृहती विप्र न चानन्ता च सत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.२७ ॥
Hearing this, the goddess Dharaṇī, smiling, said: I am not vast, O brahmin, nor am I infinite, O best of the good.
12.209.28
कारणं मम यो गन्धो गन्धात्मानं ब्रवीहि तम् ।
ततो मुनिस्तद्धि तत्वं प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२०९.२८ ॥
My cause is that smell; tell me the nature of smell. Then the sage, having understood that truth, bowed and spoke these words.
12.209.29
कारणं मे जलं मत्तो बृहत्तरतमं हि तत् ॥ १२.२०९.२९ ॥
My cause is water; it is vaster still than I am.
12.209.30
स समुद्रं मुनिर्गत्वा प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत् ।
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ॥ १२.२०९.३० ॥
Having gone to the ocean and bowed low, the sage spoke these words: You are wondrous and blessed; indeed you are infinite and greater still.
12.209.31
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्यमव्यय ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा सरितानाथः समुद्रो मुनिमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२०९.३१ ॥
I wish to know you, imperishable one: of what nature are you? Hearing this, the ocean, lord of rivers, spoke to the sage.
12.209.32
कारणं मेऽत्र संपृच्छ रसात्मानं बृहत्तरम् ।
ततो बृहत्तरं विद्वंस्त्वं पृच्छ मुनिसत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.३२ ॥
Here, ask about my cause, whose self is essence and who is greater still. Then, O learned one, best of sages, ask of the one greater still.
12.209.33
ततो मुनिर्यथायोगं जलं तत्वमवेक्ष्य तत् ।
जलात्मानं प्रणम्याह जलतत्वस्थितो मुनिः ॥ १२.२०९.३३ ॥
Then the sage, duly considering the principle of water, bowed to the one whose self is water and spoke; the sage was established in the principle of water.
12.209.34
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामिकीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.३४ ॥
You are wondrous and blessed; indeed you are infinite and greater still. I wish to hear of you: imperishable one, of what nature are you?
12.209.35
ततो रसात्म…मुनिमाह पुनः पुनः ।
ममापि कारणं पृच्छ तेजोरूपं विभावसुम्।
नाहं बृहत्तरो ब्रह्मन्नाप्यनन्तश्च सत्तम् ॥ १२.२०९.३५ ॥
Then the one whose self is essence…spoke again and again to the sage: Ask also about my cause, the one whose form is fire, Vibhāvasu. I am not greater, O Brahmin, nor am I infinite, best of beings.
12.209.36
ततोऽग्निं प्रणिपत्याह मुनिर्विस्मितमानसः ।
यज्ञात्मानं महावासं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम् ॥ १२.२०९.३६ ॥
Then the sage, his mind amazed, bowed to Agni and said: O you whose self is the sacrifice, great dwelling-place, worshipped by all beings.
12.209.37
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तश्च बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.३७ ॥
You are wondrous and blessed; you are infinite and greater still. O imperishable one, I wish to know what kind of being you are.
12.209.38
ततः प्रहस्य भगवान्मुनिं स्विष्टकृदब्रवीत् ।
नाहं बृहत्तरो ब्रह्मन्नाप्यनन्तश्च सत्तम।
कारणं मम रूपं यत्तं पृच्छ मुनिसत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.३८ ॥
Then the blessed Sviṣṭakṛt (Agni), laughing, said to the sage: O Brahmin, I am neither greater nor infinite, O best of the good. Ask him about the cause of my form, O best of sages.
12.209.39
ततो योगक्रमेणैव प्रतीतं तं प्रविश्य सः ।
रूपात्मानं प्रणम्याह नारदो वदतांवरः ॥ १२.२०९.३९ ॥
Then, entering him as he appeared through the method of yoga, Nārada, best of speakers, bowed to the self of form and said:
12.209.40
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.४० ॥
You are wondrous and blessed; you are infinite and greater still. O imperishable one, I wish to know what kind of being you are.
12.209.41
उत्स्मयित्वा तु रूपात्मा तं मुनिं प्रत्युवाच ह ।
वायुर्मे कारणं ब्रह्मंस्तं पृच्छ मुनिसत्तम।
मत्तो बहुतरः श्रीमाननन्तश्च महाविलम् ॥ १२.२०९.४१ ॥
Then the self of form, smiling, said to that sage: O Brahmin, the cause of my form is Vāyu; ask him, O best of sages. Far greater than me, glorious and infinite is that great void.
12.209.42
स मारुतं प्रणम्याह भगवान्मुनिसत्तमः ।
योगसिद्धो महायोगी ज्ञानविज्ञानपारगः ॥ १२.२०९.४२ ॥
Having bowed to the Wind, the blessed best of sages, accomplished in yoga, the great yogin who had crossed to the far shore of knowledge and insight, spoke.
12.209.43
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.४३ ॥
You are wondrous and blessed, indeed infinite, greater still than the great. O imperishable one, I wish to know what kind of being you are.
12.209.44
ततो वायुर्हि संप्राह नारदं मुनिसत्तमम् ।
कारणं पृच्छ भगवन्स्पर्शात्मानं ममाद्य वै ॥ १२.२०९.४४ ॥
Then the Wind spoke to Nārada, best of sages: O blessed one, ask today about the cause, for I am of the nature of touch.
12.209.45
मत्तो बृहत्तरः श्रीमाननन्तश्च तथैव सः ।
ततोस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा स्पर्शात्मानमुवाच सः ॥ १२.२०९.४५ ॥
He is greater than me, glorious and infinite as well. Then, having heard his words, he spoke to the one whose nature is touch.
12.209.46
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.४६ ॥
You are wondrous and blessed, indeed infinite, greater still than the great. O imperishable one, I wish to know what kind of being you are.
12.209.47
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्पर्शात्मा मुनिमब्रवीत् ।
नाहं वृहत्तरो ब्रह्मन्नाप्यनन्तश्च सत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.४७ ॥
Having heard his words, the one whose nature is touch said to the sage: O brahmin, O best of men, I am neither greater than the great, nor infinite.
12.209.48
कारणं मम चैवेममाकाशं च बृहत्तरम् ।
तं पृच्छ मुनिशार्दूल सर्वव्यापिनमव्ययम् ॥ १२.२०९.४८ ॥
The cause of me and of this sky is greater still. O tiger among sages, ask him, the all-pervading and imperishable one.
12.209.49
तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदः श्रीमान्वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ।
आकाशं समुपागम्य प्रणम्याह कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १२.२०९.४९ ॥
Having heard that speech, the glorious Nārada, skilled in words, approached the sky, bowed, and with folded hands said:
12.209.50
आश्चर्योसि न धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.५० ॥
You are wondrous, not fortunate; you are endless and greater still. Imperishable one, I wish to know what your nature is.
12.209.51
आकाशस्तमुवाचेदं प्रहसन्मुनिसत्तमम् ।
नाहं बृहत्तरो ब्रह्मञ्शब्दो वै कारणं मम।
तं पृच्छ मुनिशार्दूल स वै मत्तो बृहत्तरः ॥ १२.२०९.५१ ॥
Laughing, the sky spoke thus to that best of sages: "Brahmin, I am not the greater; sound is indeed my cause. O tiger among sages, ask him; he is greater than I."
12.209.52
ततो ह्याविश्य चाकाशं शब्दात्मानमुवाच ह ।
स्वरव्यञ्जनसंयुक्तं नानाहेतुविभूषितम्।
वेदाख्यं परमं गुह्यं वेदकारणमच्युतम् ॥ १२.२०९.५२ ॥
Then, entering the sky, he spoke to the Self of sound: "Joined with vowels and consonants, adorned with many reasons, the supreme secret called the Veda, the cause of the Vedas, the Imperishable."
12.209.53
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.५३ ॥
You are wondrous and fortunate; you are endless and greater still. Imperishable one, I wish to hear what your nature is.
12.209.54
वेदात्मा प्रत्युवाचेदं नारदं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।
मया कारणभूतेन सर्ववेत्ता पितामहः ॥ १२.२०९.५४ ॥
The Self of the Vedas answered this to Nārada, best of sages: "I, who am the cause, am the grandfather who knows all."
12.209.55
ब्रह्मणो बुद्धिसंस्थानमास्थितोऽहं महामुने ।
तस्माद्वृहत्तरो मत्तः पद्मयोनिर्महामतिः।
तं पृच्छ मुनिशार्दूल सर्वकारणकारणम् ॥ १२.२०९.५५ ॥
Great sage, I dwell in the intellect of Brahmā; therefore the lotus-born Brahmā, of great understanding, is greater than I. Tiger among sages, ask him, the cause of all causes.
12.209.56
ब्रह्मलोकं ततो गत्वा नारदो मुनिपुङ्गवैः ।
सेव्यमानं महात्मानं लोकपालैर्मरुद्गणैः ॥ १२.२०९.५६ ॥
Then Nārada went to the world of Brahmā, and there saw the great soul attended by the best of sages, the world-guardians and the host of Maruts.
12.209.57
समुद्रैश्च सरिद्भिश्च भूततत्वैः सभूधरैः ।
गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च ज्योतिषां च गणैस्तथा ॥ १२.२०९.५७ ॥
He was attended also by the oceans and rivers, the elements with the mountains, the Gandharvas, the Apsarases and the hosts of luminaries.
12.209.58
स्तुतिस्तोमग्रहस्तोभैस्तथा वेदैर्मुनीश्वरैः ।
उपास्यमानं ब्रह्माणं लोकनाथं परात्परम् ॥ १२.२०९.५८ ॥
Brahmā, worshipped with praise-hymns and seizing-chants, by the Vedas and the lords of sages, lord of the worlds, higher than the highest.
12.209.59
हिरण्यगर्भं विश्वेशं चतुर्वक्रेण भूषितम् ।
प्रणम्य प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्वस्तमाह मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥ १२.२०९.५९ ॥
Bowing to him, the golden-wombed lord of the universe adorned with four faces, the best of sages, with folded hands and humbly, spoke to him.
12.209.60
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तोसि बृहत्तरः ।
भवन्तं वेत्तुमिच्छामि कीदृग्भूतस्त्वमव्यय ॥ १२.२०९.६० ॥
You are wonderful, you are blessed, indeed you are infinite and the greatest. I wish to know you: of what nature are you, O imperishable one?
12.209.61
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः ।
उत्स्मयन्मुनिमाहेदं कर्ममूलस्य लोपकम् ॥ १२.२०९.६१ ॥
Hearing that, the blessed Brahmā, grandfather of all worlds, smiled and said this to the sage, which destroys the root of action.
12.209.62
नाहं बृहत्तरो ब्रह्मन्नाप्यनन्तश्च सत्तम ।
लोकानां मम सर्वेषां नाथभूतो बृहत्तरः ॥ १२.२०९.६२ ॥
I am not the greatest, Brahmin, nor am I infinite, O best of the good. The greatest is he who is the lord of all the worlds, including me.
12.209.63
नन्दगोपकुले गोपकुमारैः परिवारितः ।
समस्तजगतां गोप्ता गोपवेषेण संस्थितः ॥ १२.२०९.६३ ॥
In the family of the cowherd Nanda, surrounded by cowherd boys, the protector of all the worlds abides in the guise of a cowherd.
12.209.64
मद्रूपं च समास्थाय जगत्सृष्टिं करोति सः ।
ऐशानमास्थितः श्रीमान्हन्ति नित्यं हि पाति च ॥ १२.२०९.६४ ॥
Taking up my form, he creates the world; taking up the form of Īśāna, the glorious one always destroys and also preserves.
12.209.65
विष्णुः स्वरूपरूपोऽसौ कारणं स हरिर्मम ।
तं पृच्छ मुनिशार्दूल स चानन्तो बृहत्तरः ॥ १२.२०९.६५ ॥
Viṣṇu, whose form is his own essence, that Hari is my cause. Ask him, O tiger among sages; he is the infinite and the greatest.
12.209.66
ततोऽवतीर्य भगवान्ब्रह्मलोकान्महामुनिः ।
नन्दगोपकुले विष्णुमेनं कृष्णं जगत्पतिम् ॥ १२.२०९.६६ ॥
Then the blessed great sage, having descended from the world of Brahmā, saw in the family of the cowherd Nanda this Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, lord of the world.
12.209.67
बालक्रीडनकासक्तं वत्सजालविभूषितम् ।
पाययित्वाथ बध्नन्तं धूलिधूम्राननं परम् ॥ १२.२०९.६७ ॥
Absorbed in childish play, adorned by a herd of calves, making them drink and then tying them, the Supreme One with a face dusky with dust (he saw).
12.209.68
गाहमानैर्हसद्भिश्च नृत्यद्भिश्च समन्ततः ।
पाणिवादनकैश्चैव संवृतं वेणुवादकैः ॥ १२.२०९.६८ ॥
Surrounded on all sides by those who plunged about in the water, laughed, danced, clapped their hands and played the flute.
12.209.69
प्रणिपत्याब्रवीदेनं नारदो भगवान्मुनिः ।
आश्चर्योसि च धन्योसि ह्यनन्तश्च बृहत्तरः।
वेत्ताऽसि चाव्ययश्चासि वेत्तुमिच्छामि यादृशम् ॥ १२.२०९.६९ ॥
Bowing, the blessed sage Nārada said to him: "You are wondrous and blessed; you are infinite and the greatest. You are the knower and imperishable; I wish to know what you are like."
12.209.70
ततः प्रहस्य भगवान्नारदं प्रत्युवाच ह ।
मत्तः परतरं नास्ति मत्तः सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२.२०९.७० ॥
Then the blessed lord, smiling, answered Nārada: "There is nothing higher than me; from me all is established."
12.209.71
मतो बृहत्तरं नान्यदहमेव बृहत्तरः ।
आकाशे च स्थितः पूर्वमुक्तवानहमेव ते ॥ १२.२०९.७१ ॥
There is no other greater than me; I alone am the greatest. Standing in the sky, it was I myself who told this to you before.
12.209.72
न मां वेत्ति जनः कश्चिन्माया मम दुरत्यया ।
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया युक्ता मां विजानन्ति योगिनः ॥ १२.२०९.७२ ॥
No one truly knows me; my illusion is hard to overcome. But yogins united in undivided devotion know me.
12.209.73
प्रियोसि मम भक्तोसि मम तत्वं विलोकय ।
ददामि तव तज्ज्ञानं येन तत्वं प्रपश्यसि ॥ १२.२०९.७३ ॥
You are dear to me, you are my devotee; behold my true nature. I give you that knowledge by which you will see the truth clearly.
12.209.74
अन्येषां चैव भक्तानां मम योगरतात्मनाम् ।
ददामि दिव्यं ज्ञानं च येन तत्वं प्रपश्यसि ॥ १२.२०९.७४ ॥
To the other devotees whose souls delight in my yoga, I also give divine knowledge, by which you will see the truth.
12.209.75
अन्येषां चैव भक्तानां मम योगरतात्मनाम् ।
ददामि दिव्यं ज्ञानं च तेन ते यान्ति मत्पदम् ॥ १२.२०९.७५ ॥
To the other devotees whose souls delight in my yoga, I also give divine knowledge; by it they go to my abode.
12.209.76
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ कृष्णो नन्दगोपगृहं हरिः ॥ १२.२०९.७६ ॥
Having spoken thus, Hari Kṛṣṇa went to the house of Nanda the cowherd.
12.209.77
एतत्ते कथितं राजन्विष्णुतत्वमनुत्तमम् ।
भजस्वैनं विशालाक्षं जपन्कृष्णेति सत्तम ॥ १२.२०९.७७ ॥
O king, this supreme truth of Viṣṇu has been told to you. O best of the good, worship him, the broad-eyed one, reciting the name of Kṛṣṇa.
12.209.78
मोहयन्मां तथा त्वां च शृणोत्येष मयेरितान् ।
धर्मात्मा च महाबाहो भक्तान्रक्षति नान्यथा ॥ १२.२०९.७८ ॥
Bewildering me and you as well, he hears the words spoken by me. O mighty-armed one, he is righteous of soul and protects his devotees, and not otherwise.