English
Indra said:—Mighty and pious sage! After the usual enquiry regarding his health and welfare, Janārddana, that source of happiness to all creatures should be informed of these words of mine by thyself (41):—"There is not the shadow of a doubt that leaving me, thou art the lord of the worlds. O infallible one, the Parijāta and all other precious possessions of heaven are thine own (42). O divine one, thou hast sojourned to the earth only for relieving her of her burden, and thou art behaving thyself in the human way only for the sake of the success of thy mission (43). When after the fulfilment of thy earthly mission thou shalt return to heaven, I shall fulfill, O Adhokshaja, all the cherished desires of thy (beloved) wife (44). O Kesava, it is not at all proper to take the precious things of heaven down to earth merely for the sake of a trifle, and this has been the long-standing practice (45). If, O mighty lord, I trangress this long-standing rule obtaining in heaven, what shall the Prajapatis themselves say (46)? The high-souled Brahman with his sons and grandsons hath established permanent rules regarding all actions in the worlds (47). If I venture to walk beyond the path thus laid down by Prajapati Brahman, surely that intelligent lord when apprised of my transgressions will hurl down curses on me (48). If we ourselves break through these bindings of the standing customs then the Daityas and their partisans, as well as others will violate it without the slightest hesitation (49). If for the sake of thy wife thou takest the excellent Pārijāta down to earth, then, O bestower of honor, the inhabitants of heaven will be much depressed (50). O sage, let my brother, seeing the course of the times, be satisfied with those luxuries only which the uncreate Brahman has ordained for the enjoyment of the human kind (51). O sire, whatever possessions I have got in heaven, Krishna is at liberty to enjoy them when he remains here (52). Janārddana is filled with the arrogance that attends those who eat rich dishes of meat, and therefore it is that he is following the course of sin, leaving virtue aside (53). Born as a man in the human world, the conduct of Krishna towards me his elder brother,—this conduct which he offers me under the influence of his wife—would surely, O Nārada, in my opinion redound much to his discredit (54–55). This seizure of the precious possessions of heaven will be a direct insult to me; and insult offered by the relatives is all the more disgraceful. (56). Let the slayer of Madhu enjoy in succession, virtue, wealth and desire, those possessions of the pious ordained by the lotus-born Brahman (57). If I were to allow this Pārijāta tree to be taken down to earth, who will, even commencing with the daughter of Puloma, pay me the slightest regard (58)? Moreover, seeing and touching the Pārijāta tree on the face of the earth, men will no longer endeavour for the attainment of Heaven, as they will then enjoy the blessings of heaven on earth itself (59). O Nārada, if the mortals enjoy the blessings of the Pārijāta tree, what difference there will be then between themselves and the gods (60)? The acts which men do on earth, they enjoy those acts here; now if they be blessed with the possession of the Pārijāta, they will no longer exert themselves for attaining heaven (61). O sage! Pārijāta is the best of all the precious possessions of heaven, and it is the glory of heaven; this glory removed, the earth with its mortals will be as good as heaven with its immortals (62). Obtaining as they will, the blessings of heaven on the face of the earth, men will not celebrate sacrifices, nor will they perform acts of pious liberality, having been easily raised to the status of the immortals (63). Now, O sage, mortals, out of a desire for attaining heaven, gratify ourselves by reverentially performing sacrifices, _Japas_ and _Anhikas_ everyday (64). Possessed of the blessings of the Pārijāta, they will not think of adhering to these observances; and if they are neglected, we shall also dwindle away in our strength being deprived of their benefit²⁸⁹ (65). We rear the corn on which men on earth live, by showering on them sufficient rain from here; and they also in their turn gratify ourselves by the celebration of sacrifices and acts of pious liberality (66). If when possessed of the blessings of Pārijāta, hunger, thirst, disease decrepitude, death, dissatisfaction, stinking smells and other dreadful visitations of Providence do not afflict men any longer, why should they strive for the attainment of Heaven (67–68)? For these reasons, it is not at all advisable to take down the Pārijāta tree there. Thus, O twice-born sage, should Vishnu that performer of sinless deeds, be addressed by thee (69). If thou wishest to please me, O sage, thou shalt also do, after mature judgment, all that: would go to gratify my brother Kesava (70). Let Kesava if he desires it, take down to Dwarka, garlands, gems, jewels, the _Agura_ sandal, and beautiful garments and such other things which the mortals are entitled to, for the enjoyment of his wife. But it behoves him not to plunder heaven now (71–72). I shall give whatever gems he may desire to have, I shall give beautiful ornaments of all sorts, but I will never give him, O sage, the Pārijāta tree that most beloved possession of the inhabitants of heaven (73)".