Kṛṣṇa visits Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva — exact verses
Follow the complete lila: the qualities of Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva, Kṛṣṇa’s journey to Mithilā, the two invitations, and service to the Lord in a palace and a humble home.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.13
श्रीशुक उवाच
कृष्णस्यासीद् द्विजश्रेष्ठ: श्रुतदेव इति श्रुत: ।
कृष्णैकभक्त्या पूर्णार्थ: शान्त: कविरलम्पट: ॥ १३ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
kṛṣṇasyāsīd dvija-śreṣṭhaḥ
śrutadeva iti śrutaḥ
kṛṣṇaika-bhaktyā pūrṇārthaḥ
śāntaḥ kavir alampataḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: There was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa’s known as Śrutadeva, who was a first-class brāhmaṇa. Perfectly satisfied by rendering unalloyed devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, he was peaceful, learned and free from sense gratification.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.16
तथा तद्राष्ट्रपालोऽङ्ग बहुलाश्व इति श्रुत: ।
मैथिलो निरहम्मान उभावप्यच्युतप्रियौ ॥ १६ ॥
tathā tad-rāṣṭra-pālo ’ṅga
bahulāśva iti śrutaḥ
maithilo niraham-māna
ubhāv apy acyuta-priyau
Similarly free from false ego was the ruler of that kingdom, my dear Parīkṣit, a descendant of the Mithila dynasty named Bahulāśva. Both these devotees were very dear to Lord Acyuta.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.17
तयो: प्रसन्नो भगवान् दारुकेणाहृतं रथम् ।
आरुह्य साकं मुनिभिर्विदेहान् प्रययौ प्रभु: ॥ १७ ॥
tayoḥ prasanno bhagavān
dārukeṇāhṛtaṁ ratham
āruhya sākaṁ munibhir
videhān prayayau prabhuḥ
Pleased with both of them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead mounted His chariot, which Dāruka had brought, and traveled to Videha with a group of sages.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.18
नारदो वामदेवोऽत्रि: कृष्णो रामोऽसितोऽरुणि: ।
अहं बृहस्पति: कण्वो मैत्रेयश्च्यवनादय: ॥ १८ ॥
nārado vāmadevo ’triḥ
kṛṣṇo rāmo ’sito ’ruṇiḥ
ahaṁ bṛhaspatiḥ kaṇvo
maitreyaś cyavanādayaḥ
Among these sages were Nārada, Vāmadeva, Atri, Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Paraśurāma, Asita, Aruṇi, myself, Bṛhaspati, Kaṇva, Maitreya and Cyavana.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.20
आनर्तधन्वकुरुजाङ्गलकङ्कमत्स्य-
पाञ्चालकुन्तिमधुकेकयकोशलार्णा: ।
अन्ये च तन्मुखसरोजमुदारहास-
स्निग्धेक्षणं नृप पपुर्दृशिभिर्नृनार्य: ॥ २० ॥
ānarta-dhanva-kuru-jāṅgala-kaṅka-matsya-
pāñcāla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kośalārṇāḥ
anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udāra-hāsa-
snigdhekṣaṇaṁ nṛpa papur dṛśibhir nr-nāryaḥ
The men and women of Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pañcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa and many other kingdoms drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotuslike face, which was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.23
दृष्ट्वा त उत्तम:श्लोकं प्रीत्युत्फुलाननाशया: ।
कैर्धृताञ्जलिभिर्नेमु: श्रुतपूर्वांस्तथा मुनीन् ॥ २३ ॥
dṛṣṭvā ta uttamaḥ-ślokaṁ
prīty-utphulānanāśayāḥ
kair dhṛtāñjalibhir nemuḥ
śruta-pūrvāṁs tathā munīn
As soon as the people saw Lord Uttamaḥśloka, their faces and hearts blossomed with affection. Joining their palms above their heads, they bowed down to the Lord and to the sages accompanying Him, whom they had previously only heard about.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.24
स्वानुग्रहाय सम्प्राप्तं मन्वानौ तं जगद्गुरुम् ।
मैथिल: श्रुतदेवश्च पादयो: पेततु: प्रभो: ॥ २४ ॥
svānugrahāya samprāptaṁ
manvānau taṁ jagad-gurum
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
pādayoḥ petatuḥ prabhoḥ
Both the King of Mithilā and Śrutadeva fell at the Lord’s feet, each thinking that the spiritual master of the universe had come there just to show him mercy.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.25
न्यमन्त्रयेतां दाशार्हमातिथ्येन सह द्विजै: ।
मैथिल: श्रुतदेवश्च युगपत् संहताञ्जली ॥ २५ ॥
nyamantrayetāṁ dāśārham
ātithyena saha dvijaiḥ
maithilaḥ śrutadevaś ca
yugapat saṁhatāñjalī
At exactly the same time, King Maithila and Śrutadeva each went forward with joined palms and invited the Lord of the Daśārhas to be his guest, along with the brāhmaṇa sages.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.26
भगवांस्तदभिप्रेत्य द्वयो: प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
उभयोराविशद् गेहमुभाभ्यां तदलक्षित: ॥ २६ ॥
bhagavāṁs tad abhipretya
dvayoḥ priya-cikīrṣayā
ubhayor āviśad geham
ubhābhyāṁ tad-alakṣitaḥ
Wanting to please them both, the Lord accepted both their invitations. Thus He simultaneously went to both homes, and neither could see Him entering the other’s house.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.27-29
श्रान्तानप्यथ तान् दूराज्जनक: स्वगृहागतान् ।
आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्येषु सुखासीनान् महामना: ॥ २७ ॥
प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्षहृदयास्राविलेक्षण: ।
नत्वा तदङ्घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनी: ॥ २८ ॥
सकुटुम्बो वहन् मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् ।
गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्पधूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषै: ॥ २९ ॥
śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj
janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān
ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu
sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ
pravṛddha-bhaktyā uddharṣa-
hṛdayāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ
natvā tad-aṅghrīn prakṣālya
tad-apo loka-pāvanīḥ
sa-kuṭumbo vahan mūrdhnā
pūjayāṁ cakra īśvarān
gandha-mālyāmbarākalpa-
dhūpa-dīpārghya-go-vṛṣaiḥ
When King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka, saw Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching his house from a distance with the sages, who were somewhat fatigued from the journey, he immediately arranged to have seats of honor brought out for them. After they were all comfortably seated, the wise King, his heart overflowing with joy and his eyes clouded by tears, bowed down to them and washed their feet with intense devotion. Taking the wash water, which could purify the entire world, he sprinkled it on his head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshiped all those great lords by offering them fragrant sandalwood paste, flower garlands, fine clothing and ornaments, incense, lamps, arghya and cows and bulls.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.32
स्ववचस्तदृतं कर्तुमस्मद्दृग्गोचरो भवान् ।
यदात्थैकान्तभक्तान् मे नानन्त: श्रीरज: प्रिय: ॥ ३२ ॥
sva-vacas tad ṛtaṁ kartum
asmad-dṛg-gocaro bhavān
yad ātthaikānta-bhaktān me
nānantaḥ śrīr ajaḥ priyaḥ
You have said, “Neither Ananta, Goddess Śrī nor unborn Brahmā is dearer to Me than My unalloyed devotee.” To prove Your own words true, You have now revealed Yourself to our eyes.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.38
श्रुतदेवोऽच्युतं प्राप्तं स्वगृहाञ्जनको यथा ।
नत्वा मुनीन् सुसंहृष्टो धुन्वन् वासो ननर्त ह ॥ ३८ ॥
śrutadevo ’cyutaṁ prāptaṁ
sva-gṛhāñ janako yathā
natvā munīn su-saṁhṛṣṭo
dhunvan vāso nanarta ha
Śrutadeva received Lord Acyuta into his home with as much enthusiasm as that shown by King Bahulāśva. After bowing down to the Lord and the sages, Śrutadeva began to dance with great joy, waving his shawl.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.39
तृणपीठबृषीष्वेतानानीतेषूपवेश्य स: ।
स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्याङ्घ्रीन् सभार्योऽवनिजे मुदा ॥ ३९ ॥
tṛṇa-pīṭha-bṛṣīṣv etān
ānīteṣūpaveśya saḥ
svāgatenābhinandyāṅghrīn
sa-bhāryo ’vanije mudā
After bringing mats of grass and darbha straw and seating his guests upon them, he greeted them with words of welcome. Then he and his wife washed their feet with great pleasure.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.41
फलार्हणोशीरशिवामृताम्बुभि-
र्मृदा सुरभ्या तुलसीकुशाम्बुजै: ।
आराधयामास यथोपपन्नया
सपर्यया सत्त्वविवर्धनान्धसा ॥ ४१ ॥
phalārhaṇośīra-śivāmṛtāmbubhir
mṛdā surabhyā tulasī-kuśāmbuyaiḥ
ārādhayām āsa yathopapannayā
saparyayā sattva-vivardhanāndhasā
He worshiped them with offerings of auspicious items easily available to him, such as fruits, uśīra root, pure, nectarean water, fragrant clay, tulasī leaves, kuśa grass and lotus flowers. Then he offered them food that increases the mode of goodness.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.43
सूपविष्टान् कृतातिथ्यान् श्रुतदेव उपस्थित: ।
सभार्यस्वजनापत्य उवाचाङ्घ्र्यभिमर्शन: ॥ ४३ ॥
sūpaviṣṭān kṛtātithyān
śrutadeva upasthitaḥ
sa-bhārya-svajanāpatya
uvācāṅghry-abhimarśanaḥ
When his guests were seated comfortably, having each received a proper welcome, Śrutadeva approached them and sat down nearby with his wife, children and other dependents. Then, while massaging the Lord’s feet, he addressed Kṛṣṇa and the sages.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.45
यथा शयान: पुरुषो मनसैवात्ममायया ।
सृष्ट्वा लोकं परं स्वाप्नमनुविश्यावभासते ॥ ४५ ॥
yathā śayānaḥ puruṣo
manasaivātma-māyayā
sṛṣṭvā lokaṁ paraṁ svāpnam
anuviśyāvabhāsate
The Lord is like a sleeping person who creates a separate world in his imagination and then enters his own dream and sees himself within it.