Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 1 Chapter 8:40-52

Book 1: Chapter 8

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 1: Chapter 8: Verses 40-52 The Lord delivers Pariksit in the womb and is extolled by Kunti; Yudhisthira gives way to grief These territories, so highly prosperous and so rich in their ripe crops and vegetation, as well as these woodlands and hills, rivers and oceans, flourish only under Your benign looks. O Lord, You are not only the Ruler and the Soul of the universe but the universe itself; kindly cut asunder the strong bond of affection that binds me with my own people, the Pandus and the Vrsnis (the Yadus). Even as the Ganga incessantly pours its waters into the ocean, so let my thought, 0 Lord of the Madhus, constantly and exclusively find delight in You. O glorious Krsna, friend of Arjuna, foremost among the Vrsnis, You are fire as it were to burn the whole race of princes who are proving the bane of the earth. Your prowess is infinite. Govinda, Your descent on this earth is intended only to relieve the distress of the cows, the Brahmanas and the gods. Obeisance to You, O Master of Yoga, O divine Teacher of the universe!" Suta went on : In this way when Prtha (Kunti) extolled in sweet words the consummate glory of Lord Vaikuntha (Sri Krsna), He gently smiled as if bewitching her by His Maya (deluding potency). "So be it," said Sri Krsna and, taking leave of her,entered the city of Hastinapura once again; then, after bidding adieu to the other ladies as well, He was about to leave for Dwaraka when king Yudhisthira detained Him out of love. The king, who was seized with remorse (for his having been instrumental in bringing about the destruction of his own kinsmen), could not be consoled even though Vyasa and others, who understood the ways of Providence, and even Sri Krsna of marvellous deeds comforted him by means of legends. Brooding over the death of his kinsmen with a bewildered mind, O holy Brahmanas, and overpowered by affection and infatuation, king Yudhisthira (the son of Dharma, the god of righteousness) said:- "Oh, look at this ignorance rooted in my heart! Evil-minded as I am, I brought about the destruction of many Aksauhinis for the sake of this body, which is the food of other creatures (such as jackals and dogs). There can be no redemption from hell even after millions and millions of years for me, an enemy of children, Brahmanas, my own kith and kin, friends, uncles, cousins and preceptors. The saving clause found in the scriptures that the destruction of enemies in a righteous war on the part of a monarch seeking the protection of his subjects is no sin, fails to satisfy me. The wrong that I have done in this life to the womenfolk whose husbands and other relations have been slain by me or on my account I shall not be able to expiate through sacrificial performances enjoined on a householder. One cannot atone for the destruction of a single life by any number of sacrifices (that involve the wilful slaughter of animals), any more than one can purify muddy water by dissolving more mud into it or counteract the pollution caused by spirituous liquor by adding more to it. Thus ends the eighth discourse entitled "Kunti's Song of Praise and Yudhisthira's Remorse" in Book One of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.